>Press forward gently
>As we do so, try to share with her some sense of peace or security that we can provide, just as part of Lily and ourselves rubbed off on each other - something reassuring. This is a safe place, and whatever is in her heart is safe with us.
>The sensation of joining your consciousness with Kiku's is remarkably different than Lily. It is as though you were trying to push through thick fog in this case. Not a heavy or conscious resistance but a hazard still, a natural impediment. Straightaway you can sense her fear, not only for what you are doing now, but so much more besides. You can clearly sense that is what the yellow coloring within her is; the fear she carries. The depth of it staggers you. You promised her you would respect her privacy, and you do, but it is impossible not to be startled by the fear Kiku carries within her. And it old fear, too, you sense, stretching back many years. Possibly even as far back as when she ascended from animal to youkai. You can sense that she grapples with this fear every day, that's what the colors within her are. The measures she takes not to give in to the dread that dwells within her.
>Despite all this, however, invading her privacy was not, and is not, your intention. And you can sense that she senses this, too, not just through the connection you share, but in her pale yellow eyes. The tiger youkai grips your wrist with her free hand. She is frightened, perhaps nearly as frightened as that terrible day beneath the CRA, but she wants to trust you. She doesn't know if she can; even that idea scares her, but she wants to trust you.
>Even at this level, you can get a better sense of that grey area deeper within Kiku. You can plainly sense it did not come from her, it has none of Kiku's will or fear. It could be the same sort of phenomenon that you sensed in Lily, in fact you're almost certain it is, but it is much stronger than you saw in Lily, much thicker. It will definitely be harder to remove.
