The Perfect Blossom

[Char Aznable]

Her eyes trailed off to the horizon, the thin line only broken by the perfectly round silhouette of Kodo. She'd expected that he would at least try one last time. His understanding of honour demanded it, and she hadn't chosen to live with him if she hadn't at least accepted that part about him. Yet still, the fact that he didn't approve was one of the few gripes she had with her plan.
Back on Kyushu, she knew how she had helped him out of a few dark places, too. After all, back then it was him seeking refuge with her, not the other way around. It was understandable that he now tried to do the same for her, even though she had chosen her path already. Well, not exactly - this path had been chosen for her, but that was neither related, nor did it affect her. She offered a defeated smile.
"He's made His decision over a year ago. He..."
Her voice choked up for a few moments. Memories to that fateful day when the Accords were signed returned, of how the one person she had sworn her life to had just... abandoned his dream. And her, with doing so. She still remembered how Yoshi had convinced her of leaving with him, of going into exile. When the Emperor had signed the accords, he'd given her and the rest of the Guard a choice, and most had chosen what she had.
"He didn't want to hear me. As is His right."
She shook her head and continued on their way further, quietly contemplating what he'd say next.
To be fair, he wasn't entirely wrong.
"I could have. I could have risen up, assembled the guard. Become another Takamori, only to end up like him. In the end, we'd stand before the same decision we stand before now. So... No. Saving face is the only way that fate has left me, and I've made my peace with that. I won't falter in my duty to Him."