In the end, it all boiled down to a single question, one she couldn't answer any better now than she had in the first place. But she had time. She had more time than she ever could have asked for.
I'm Hakurei no Awazuki. I wish to seek revenge against those who wronged me.
For a long time, she entertained the possibility she had simply flown off the handle. Meizuki hadn't betrayed her. She had tried to heal her, only Awazuki hadn't noticed. Or, at the very least, she had been so heavily pressured by the exterminator she had had no choice but to look away.
I'm Hakurei no Awazuki. I wish to seek revenge against those who wronged me.
It didn't make sense. She was making excuses that didn't even erase Meizuki's betrayal. But then...
Why?
I'm Hakurei no Awazuki. Each day, another fragment of me peels off and plummets into the abyss. But I have to remember.
Envy. Meizuki had been so strangely subdued after Awazuki had taken over most of her duties. But there had been nothing to be jealous of! Had she really thought Awazuki could ever reach the same amount the reverence the villagers felt towards her?
Why?
I'm Hakurei no Awazuki. I wish to seek revenge.
Spite. Meizuki had hated her, enough to let her die. Even though Awazuki hadn't been a youkai. Even though Awazuki hadn't betrayed anyone. She should have stood her ground when Meizuki accused her in the first place. She had had every intention of remaining human...
I'm Hakurei no Awazuki. I...
It had been because her sister had been human. A petty, spiteful human. Did it matter if it had been revulsion or jealousy, or even some misguided sense of duty? Did it matter that she too had once been of their kind?
She had been wronged. She would never forgive them. The Hakurei clan...
I'm...