Yuna wasn't sure what had been worse. The scolding the two sisters had gotten had been quite extensive, and the grounding extreme. Their entire summer vacation was going to be spent under the watchful eyes of their mothers and elder brother. The two were not to leave their house unless on a family outting, and were not allowed to have friends over.

Maeva seemed less upset by this. Likely because Maeva had to attend summer school and would still get to see some of her friends. Yuna, on the other hand, was left without internet access or devices of any sort, and would have to fill her time with other things.

Chores, reading, maybe drawing ... skatboaring around the front yard, perhaps. But why was Yuna being punished? Yes, she had gone along with the idea originally, but she have convinced her sister to go back home instead. Of course, there had been no way to hide the sprained ankle, nor a way to magically mask the blood (at least, not at their age ... ).

Maeva got it so easy ...

--

Maeva limped in to the living room, bobbing along uselessly on her crutches. Gently, Maeva set them down as she sat herself down on the couch, tail flopping across her lap like a fluffy body pillow that she hugged gently to herself. Yuna had not lifted her head as Maeva entered the room. Was ... Yuna still mad? That was the last thing that Maeva wanted. Her sister had helped her, and had taken the brunt of the anger from their parents. The guilt had slowly been eating away at Maeva, and she worried that her sister was just ignoring her now for good measure.

“Yuni ... ?” Maeva's voice was quiet and soft, thick with hesitancy. “Yuni, should I ... be trying to talk to you right now?”

--

A quick rub to her nose, punching nostrils between thumb and pointer, Yuna huffed through her mouth. Mae had been following her around like a lost puppy ever since the two had been grounded. One part of Yuna couldn't blame Maeva for being so clingy, and likely the poor girl was bored out of her skull ... but how did she think Yuna felt?

“What?” Yuna said, perhaps a bit too busy. Realizing the sharpness in her tone, Yuna released her nose. “Sorry ... what do you want? No — not ... I don't mean to sound rude. I didn't sleep well. What's up?”

It was a lie. But it was better than the truth.

--

Maeva's ears drooped as she watched her sister struggle to react. She could see the struggle on her sister's face, the way it twisted as she swiftly reworked her words several times. Maeva shifted uncomfortable, large doughy eyes glossing over. So, she's still upset after all. It's already been a week ... how much longer is she going to stay mad at me for?

“Yuni ... “ Maeva tried against, sitting forward, adjusting the positioning the crutches to lay on either side of her small frame. “I'm sorry I got you in so much trouble. It was my fault. Can you forgive me?” She was trying, at least. Didn't that count for something?

--

Yuna chewed on her upper lip, eyes darting towards her sister, looking directly at her for the first time since Maeva entered the room. A heavy sigh gushed from Yuna's longs, the hallowed shifting on to her knees as she slowly knitted her hands together. Did she forgive her? Could was not the question to be asking. Of course she could, but was she ready to?

Again, another sigh as Yuna pressed her hands to the floor and pushed herself upwards, standing up straight and smoothing down her rumbled skirt.
|
“Mae,” Yuna began, hands grabbing fistfuls of her skirt. “You acted really weird that day. I don't know what's gotten in to you lately, but you're ... changing. Becoming different, and someone I don't really recognize anymore ... tell me ... tell me why this is happening, and maybe I can start to forgive you ... “

That seemed fair, didn't it? Yuna always tried to be fair. Her sister at the very least deserved it for everything they had been through as children together. Perhaps Yuna and Maeva weren't the twins in the family, but they were awfully close.

--

Maeva's eyes started to gloss over with tears as she watched her sister move to stand. Maeva had been convinced that she was about to get to her feet and just walk away on her. Instead, when Yuna turned to face her and adjusted her skirt, Maeva felt immediate relief. A smile formed curved the edges of her mouth, only for the expression to fall completely away from her features, replaced by a rather crestfallen look.

“Yuni, what do you mean? I haven't changed ...” Had she? How was she supposed to be sure? If she had been changing, it was too slow and subtle for Maeva to notice it immediately. She was feeling more daring lately, more adventurous. Her thoughts had been taking her further and further outside her comfort zone, leading her to new places and adventures Maeva had once upon a time never imagined going on. Perhaps she was changing.

“I can't tell you why.” Maeva decided on saying. “If I am changing ... it's not something I really noticed ... at least, not until now. I guess maybe I'm finally growing more confident? Or eager to learn? Life is just finally starting to get exciting, Yuni. We're going to be starting our Junior year soon and I actually excited about it. We get to start taking electives and starting to explore what paths we want to take in life. I think ... that's rather thrilling, don't you?”

--

At some point during the conversation, Yuna's eyes had slowly drifted towards the floor, her hands gripping all the more tightly to her skirt as her emotions got the better of her. Where these just excuses that Maeva was feeding her? The larger part of Yuna wanted to believe her sister whole-heartedly, but the change had come so swiftly from Yuna's perspective that it was hard to believe that Maeva really hadn't been aware of the stark shift in characteristics.

“If you really mean that ... “ Yuna began carefully, not wanting to insult her sister in any way. “I have no choice but to forgive you.” Yuna's hands relaxed, drooping limply to her sides as her shoulders fell forward in a slump. “Things get more stressful as we get older. I've started to notice this. We're getting more homework, school is becoming less fun, and there are a lot more consequences for us if we mess up or make the “wrong” judgement call. It feels like life is a trap, and if ... if what you're saying is how you actually feel, then I can see why you're behaving this way. That's not how I view the world, obviously ... but I can get trying to put a positive spin on it.”

--

Maeva's brows furrowed gently together as she noticed the shift in her sister's posture and the way her ears sagged around her face, the way her tail went limp. Maeva's tails slapped against the floor in momentary frustration, her three antenna twitching as she tried to solve the puzzle that was her sister.

It seemed to Maeva like her sister wasn't wholly convinced, and yet was willing to accept Maeva's truth. All Maeva could really do was shrug at her sister. If, for whatever reason, Yuna didn't believe what Maeva had said, that was on Yuna and not on her.

“I do mean it.” Maeva reinforced as a last ditch effort to drop the subject. All she wanted was her sister's genuine forgiveness. Why did it have to be so hard to obtain? As transparent as her sister Yuna had always seemed, she was far more closed off than she wanted to admit.

--

In reality, Yuna just wanted to weird tension between her and her sister to go away. She didn't want to tip-toe around the house anymore trying to avoid Maeva (or mistaking her twin for her by mistake). It had made things awkward, and had garnered odd stares from their parents and eldest sibling. Yuna just wanted a peaceful house, and to go back to how their relationship was before that stupid night ever occured.

Yuna sighed heavily again, stepping forward and stretching out her arms towards her sister. “Yes, I forgive you.” Yuna conceded. “Come and hug it out, you weirdo.” It was meant as endearment, not as an insult. It was just how the sister's talked to one another.

--

Maeva's eyes welled up with tears as she watched her sister come closer, offering the one gesture Maeva had been hoping for the past few weeks. A quiet sob caused Maeva to choke back tears, stepping forward and hugging her sister fiercely as she held her sister close, burrowing her face in to the thick collar of her sweater. “I'm so sorry I worried you so much, Yuna!” Maeva sobbed, whole body shaking as she tried not to lose complete control of her emotions.

“I promise, I won't do something so stupid again. I mean it. I'll listen to you next time and I won't be so reckless.”

It was a promise Maeva was unsure she could keep for all of time. Maybe she shouldn't have promised it at all, but the relief of her sister's forgiveness was enough to make little Maeva say anything her sister wanted to hear.

For now, things could go back to how they were before.