Eri had left the ball to get some fresh air , yes she may go back but for right now the cool fresh air and crystal clear night seemed to beautiful to pass up. As she walked she noticed how far she had gotten her kimono might not have been the best to wear in the snow, her feet was the loudest to tell her so. They began to ache in pain so she decided to stop for a moment. She found her self near the lake she loves it here but it all looked so dim with no color of spring or summer. As she took a moment some light speck of color caught her eye. It was a clip of some kind purple in color and she was reminded of a certen someone when she looked at it. Shoka, Eri peered around but didn't see the prince how odd.

Yet then she noticed foot prints of someone , was it a girl the prince had denied alone time with ? She noticed the footprints lead to the deeper snow area. Slipping her wooden sandles off Eri figured they would slow her down more then anything Her feet may suffer a little but from what she new the person in the shadows was going through more pain then her at least that is what she guessed, she only heard rumors of things from girls that got hurt though she did not believe them all it was enough of a reason for her to check up on someone.

Her bare feet touched the fluffy snow as she took a step it crunched like ice under them making her way to the figure she found not a heart broken girl but the prince her self icy tear stained cheeks lay behind a mysterious mask. Eri didn't need a reason to help anyone out but Shoka was good to her, and was to Eri at least a good friend. So Eri quietly at first just sat next to her but then decided to take a small breath she wasn't sure what to say given she didn't know what was wrong. " Shoka... i wasn't going to give you this in person... but...i got you this.."

Reaching into her purse she grabbed the wrapped gift she bought at the mall handing it to Shoka she waited. Inside was the pocket science book and little bunny charm she bought. " I was gonna do a secret Santa thing... but i think this may cheer you up, i know it isn't much and don't feel like you need to get anything for me, i just want to make you a little happy in this time of year."

At some point she realized where she was, sitting in the bank watching the tiny waves lap at the frozen shore. This place, the place where she'd promised her and tried to tell her. Where she first realized her guilt. Sitting in the snow holding her knees, staring out, her mind went black. Who knew how long she sat there in the dark, illuminated only by the moon.

She felt a presence approaching and then speak to her, Shoka didn't respond at first, she didn't want to. But at the precence of this girl she felt silly, how dramatic, coming to sit out here like this, it was childish. She'd get frostbite or hypothermia, already her fingers and toes were numb through her gloves and boots. She didn't even move, sitting like that she was on the precipice. Feeling this broken made part of her want to become truly malevolent, but helplessly she realized that was impossible. She couldn't hurt Peorth any more, even indirectly.

It was a long time that Eri sat there with her gift, Shoka knew it was rude not to take it, and if anything was dear to her other than Peorth, it was science. Eventually she moved one stiff arm, I've on her jacket cracking with the movement. "Thank you." Her voice was hoarse and came out of a dry throat. Even after scoring the gift she still couldn't look away from the water. This was her punishment after all, she didn't deserve her own tears. This was how it had to be.

The gift had been taken yet she knew it hadn't made anything better. Eri didn't know how to handle such pain she had difficulty dealing with pain her self. She knew Shoka enough to know this must have been something huge to hurt her in such a way.

She had only a guess and Eri only knew one way to speak to Shoka. " Shoka , did you know that when you love someone that in your brain it first is lust, then attraction, which leads to you feeling stressed even ... and I don't know much about science but I guess when that someone is away or gone your brain goes into hyper drive it seems like your body gets more stressed doesn't it ?"

Biting her lip she hoped she didn't make things worse, Eri then thought of one last thing to say taking a breath she spoke "Now this is no scientific evidence , but .... I lost people that I love... I don't even fully remember them and still feel pain ... but I need to get over it one day I wont get them back but you I feel can get your person back ... it takes time but I know you , you don't give up "

She listened with a sluggish perception, yes, there was a syndrome that affected a person when they lost someone dear. It was called grief, and there were stages such as denial, anger, and pleading, followed by acceptance. Shoka want denying or angry, she wasn't even pleading. She didn't beg Peorth for anything and for a moment, she thought Eri was going to tell her to get over it. Cruel words like that wouldn't offend the Spican at this point, though that's not what she needed right now.

However instead of cruelty, Eri offered hope and it made her smile a little ruefully. A cruel smile for herself. She wasn't going to explain anything, Eri had enough of an idea of what happened that she didn't need specifics. Besides, this pain was private, meant for Shoka, dealt directly from the hands of the one she loved; she would suffer it willingly. She said Shoka didn't give up and suddenly a switch clicked on in her head. No. She didn't.

Stiffly she pulled her mask off, feeling the sting of cold where some tears had been and handed it to her companion. "It's not much of a gift," she croaked, "but I hope you'll accept it." She didn't need to hide behind this, and she didn't need to cry. She HAD done those terrible things, and she wasn't sorry. But what she was sorry for, was hurting Peorth. Honestly all of this was the scientific process in action, shed known Peorth would do this and she had been correct. What was so upsetting about being right? Peorth did love her right, so it was only a matter of time. This changed nothing.

In reality it changed a great deal. Shoka no longer had the capacity to do the deeds she'd been doing, which gave an incredible amount of power to Peorth. If Shoka couldn't touch anyone, even her, she was going to have to find out how much of a masochist she was in return for Peorth's love. Of course, Peorth wanted her, but Shoka knew better, wanted to protect her, but perhaps now she didn't need protecting, maybe she'd even invite her. When things were better.

She squinted, sore facial muscles telling her to get out of the cold. Patience, that's what she needed. Inwardly she pulled her heart back together with a bloody crash and tied it shut. "You're right." She said. This was only the next part of the battle, everything was going completely according to plan. She only had to wait for Peorth to come to her, and not knowing how long that would be was the hardest part of all. However the only solace granted to the prince was one singular thing, That she would come to her. She had to.

Carefully taking the mask she nodded " um thank you Shoka.."

Eri was a tad confused, had she really helped Shoka , she seemed to, then Shoka even said that she was right which surprised her even more. Yet something felt off, she didn't know what though. " Um Shoka, i don't think it is a thing of right or wrong, i just know what i know, and being happy is what i am all about, yet i must admit, being a little sad makes the happy times better, and of course there is the hole tears of joy..."

She was rambling, Eri knew this was not the way to get to someone, nor a way to keep Shoka's attention, well she guessed no one would listen to anyone ramble would they? She thought for a moment about how she feels when she hurts, and about what Eva had told her. Turning to Shoka she took a breath to get her courage up after all being stern was not her for tay. " Shoka, i need you to understand something."

She allowed her face to look serous which surprisingly made her look more grown up and continued. " Hiding like this and fighting away the pain, isn't the way to do it, it can turn you cold, and you are a interesting , dazzling amazing person...you might see yourself as the dark prince but if i were to think of people as titles i wouldn't be here you might not be the kind sweet fairy tale prince but in my eye there a bit of a cocky mess anyway, i see a mysterious prince in front of me one that is brave, showing how you feel is what is needed , if you want to have that person back. So Shoka i just want you to know right now you are the bravest person ever, take hold of how you feel right now and turn it into something good that you can use... i hope this helps.."

Finally letting her breath go she nodded to her self happy that her sternness lasted so long she hopped she wasn't to harsh though she really did care.