1784/Red Means Help

Red Means Help
Date of Scene:	01 August 2016
Location:	Uminari City - Juuban Avenue - North - Kukai Souma's Home
Synopsis:	Warning: blood. A wound taken in the last fight means Kukai needs someone who can take care of it without alerting his family. The only person Kukai can think to call is Nagihiko.
Cast of Characters:	Kukai Souma, Nadeshiko Fujisaki

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Kukai Souma has posed:
It's been a long weekend for Kukai Souma. A long day of studying on Friday and a long date in the evening with Nagi at the Crystal Group's expo, then a long day of practice and air patrol on Saturday, and then a long day of fighting Hannah and Atsuko and Madison and getting mutilated on Sunday.

Kukai sighed, sitting in his bathroom, coat and shirt off, looking over at his shoulder, where he's holding a red-soaked rag over one shoulder, with more red leaking from the sides in slow rivulets. In his other hand is his phone, where he's tapping out words, one at a time.

TXT to Nagihiko Fujisaki: Hey. I hate to do this, but I'm hurt, and I don't want my brothers to see it because I can't explain how I got it to them, and I can't take care of it myself. Can you maybe come over? They're all watching some show and I'm stuck in the bathroom.

Kukai pressed send, then leaned back, waiting for a reply, looking over at Daichi, who's sitting on the sink, nervous. The little Chara speaks up. "We'll be ok. The magic'll take care of it." Kukai nods and leans back. "Yeah. I just... y'know, people start asking why there's a half dozen washcloths covered in blood, and you don't have a good explanation and a knife cut on one shoulder. They'll think I'm in a gang or something."

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
There is a bit of a heart flutter at the sound of Kukai's text tone chiming on his phone. He's at the dinner table, and he ignores the Looks exchanged between adults.

His eyebrows furrow, though, when he reads the text.

"Is everything okay?" His mother looks up, chopsticks poised over her bowl of rice.

"Um...yeah. But I forgot I was supposed to meet Kukai."

More Looks are exchanged. It's his mother who speaks up again. "Of course, dear. You're almost finished anyway."

Nagihiko grins and stands, giving his mother a kiss on the cheek. And then Aunty.

At the door, he spins in his tracks. "Aunty, he had an...agressive game today. Could you...?"

Aunty nods and stands. "Of course. Go get dolled up, I'll prepare something for you."

His mother giggles and Nagihiko splutters! "Aunty!"

Finally, he is free to get ready.

TXT Kukai: Be there soon.

It's not long until he's actually out of his house on on his way. And, of course, the trip is faster, thank you Rhythm.

At the apartment door, he knocks, opens, pokes his head in. "Is Kukai around?"

The answer, along with the sounds of the television, float out to him on distracted waves of sounds. "Yeah, in the back."

"Thank you, Rento-kun."

A quick fastwalk back and he's soon knocking on the bathroom door and sneaking in.

His grip tightens on the satchel he brought with at the sight before him. "Wow. Um. That looks...like it itches."

Temari and Rhythm both float over to Daichi.

Kukai Souma has posed:
Kukai looks up as he hears fast, light steps in the hallway, and the door to the bathroom opens. That first line brings a faint grin to his face and he looks down. "Funny, it doesn't hurt much. It's half cauterized, I think, but it aches a bunch. I just... can't get it to stop bleeding." He looks away for a moment. "Sorry for bothering you, Nagi. I wish I could have dealt with it myself."

Daichi hugs both Temari and Rhythm as Kukai moves to switch cloths. The teenager sighs and looks back. "Was at the Crystal Group expo and Eclipse made their move. Miss White and a couple of her friends. Shiniko was there but she seemed to be trying to help defend against them, which was... weird. And a fox girl I didn't recognize, and Orange, and Madoka and Homura, who basically blew the hinges off the place. Did you know Madoka's a goddess? She's got pink hares everywhere. And we're wrapped up in skirts." Kukai sounds just a liiiittle bit like he's lightheaded.

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
For the second time in less than an hour, Nagihiko's brows furrow in concern. Afrer setting the satchel on the sink, he places warm hands on key points of support as he attempts to guide Kukai toward the toilet seat. "Why don't we get you sitting down."

Once Kukai's settled, Nagihiko sifts his fingers through the boy's hair. "Baka. You're not a bother."

He helps Daichi with the cloth, wincing at the wound. As he does, Temari and Rhythm start pulling out two Thermoses and a couple vials from the satchel.

"Temari, also get out the candy bar. Inside pocket."

He has a better vantage point for pressure. Right now, he's hoping to stop the bleeding, or at least get it slowed. "I brought some of Aunty's stinky salve. I know how much you love that. Also brought some orange juice. Some tea for later, though I wasn't sure which one to bring so I brought the light stuff and the heavy stuff. We can get you bandaged up, too, once you're not impersonating Old Faithful."

Nagihiko is quite proud of himself. He's doing a good job of not outwardly fretting as much as he wants.

And if he's leaning a little against Kukai, well, it's better leverage for the washcloth. And, you know, support.

"Goddess like the moon girl, or something else?" This time his brow furrows in confusion. "Wait. Hair hare or rabbit hare?"

Kukai Souma has posed:
It takes a moment for Kukai to move over to sit onto the closed toilet, leaning back against it and sighing. "That's what I figured you would say." He shakes his head, letting out a small noise. "Oh yay. Salve. I'll taste that smell over the orange juice." He tosses the rag over into the tub with another and lets out a breath. "Y'know the magic will save me. It's just not good at all the little details."

He winces as Nagihiko works, trying not to move too much, eyes closed, feeling the purple-haired dancer leaning against him. "Just... don't get your hair in it. 's too pretty." He looks at the thermoses for a second, blinking. "If I wanted a drink the sink's right there... right?" He winces. "Last time I let someone named Heartrazor cut me. Holy crap this sucks. Must be why she was in an outfit the color of old blood."

He blinks for a moment up at Nagihiko, then grins. "Oh. Like something else that fired a bajillion arrows from everywhere at Miss White and the other one. Atsuko, I think." He blinks more. "Hair hare heir hayer? Wha?"

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
"So I'm predictable, hmm?" He bites back a grin as he works. "Yeah, but at least it's not minty. You don't want to taste that with the orange juice."

He's quiet a moment before he continues. "I know. But that doesn't mean I won't worry."

Dangerously close to fretting. So he tries a bit for chipper. "Well! If I do, it'll watch out, but it'll be a touch more red until then." It's time for Kukai's favorite: the gloriously scented salve. And it's a thick coat, too. "And sure, you could drink water, but there's a reason they give you orange juice and cookies when you donate blood. And avoiding people named Heartrazor may be a good rule in general. This one here's too good to get razed." His hand pats over Kukai's chest a moment before he's all business again.

And then he's not, and he's laughing and leaning his forehead into Kukai's hair. "I don't even know, but if we continue we may find ourselves in a hairy situation."

Kukai Souma has posed:
Kukai chuckles and then nods, almost shrugging before he makes a point to keep his shoulder still. "Yeah. I've done that a time or two. It kinda sucks."

He nods and then smiles, leaning back. "I'm just glad it wasn't luckier and worse. I don't think she could've killed me so easy but I worry about myself too." He looks at the shoulder and then chuckles. "But I'm lucky. I mean I had this cut, but I caught it while I was going around a tornado, a few seconds before I leapt off my board and hit a girl in the back with it in both hands - then went through an exploded part of the building into a nearby clothes store and into three rows of women's clothing. so."

He winces as the salve is rubbed on, but then sighs and leans back as it begins to work. "Good grief. That's awful. And amazing." He looks up at Nagihiko for a moment, then hmms. "I guess I could use some orange juice and cookies. And I didn't expect her to show up." He blushes. "She was super pretty. Nagi, why are all the really evil girls so pretty?"

He grins as Nagi leans in, chuckling. "A hare-y situation? With bunnies everywhere? I'd like that." Daichi looks over at Kukai and Nagi, sitting with Temari and Rhythm, then hugs them both.

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
"It does. It's almost as bad as taking a sip of tea and expecting soda."

He gasps and makes a mournful sound. "Not that new store. I wanted to go shopping there before school started again." He archs a brow. "Didn't see anything pretty while you were in there, did you?"

Okay, yeah, he's deflecting. And he knows it.

His eyebrows raise as he looks down at Kukai. "Oh? How pretty?" Well, do you blame him? A man has his pride, you know! He can't be out-prettied by some dime-store villain! "Does this mean I have career choices?"

Temari leans against Daichi while Rhythm just sort of sprawls against him.

He pulls out a roll of bandages and gauze and gets to work wrapping Kukai. "All the cute and the fluffiest of bunnies."

Kukai Souma has posed:
There is a slightly amused sound from Kukai as Nagihiko gasps. "It all looked pretty as I was going through it at several dozen miles an hour and then fighting my way back from under the pile. I didn't have time to shop, exactly."

He hmms. "...Well. I dunno. Pretty pretty. Not incredible, not as pretty as you, but pretty. All dark and and pirate-themed and with long blonde hair and... wicked, but pretty." He blinks. "Career choices? What do you mean?"

Kukai winces as the bandages start going on. The redness is gone off him, with just a few messed up washcloths here and there, and the pain is fading, and the worst of the bruises are fading too. "Mmph. Fluffy bunnies and fluffy guinea pigs and fluffy fish." He yawns again. "Feels better..."

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
"Well, on the bright side, maybe they'll have a fire sale." There are, of course, warm and soothing fingers rubbing over Kukai's good shoulder.

Despite himself, Nagihiko grins a little as his cheeks turn pink. Not as pretty as him? His ego can deal with that. "Yes. Career choices. If I ever decide to go evil, it's nice to know I'd fit in."

He reaches over for the thermos with orange juice in it and unscrews the cap before handing it over. "Fluffy fish, huh? I wonder if they swim around looking like drowned rats."

Now that Kukai is more or less patched up, Nagihiko's fingers once again find themselves in his hair. "My great detective reasoning tells me you need a nap after this orange juice. I can stay and read from my Kindle app if you didn't want me getting one of your brothers. Keep an eye on you."

Kukai Souma has posed:
"Selling actual fire, more than likely." Kukai grins and then laughs. "Fit in? You'd take over the whole joint with how pretty you are." He leans against Nagihiko. "So pretty. Never matters what you're doing. Just so pretty. Almost too pretty for me, but then again I am the best of everything ever."

He yawns again, then takes the thermos cap, letting Nagi pour him some of the orange juice. "Thank you. ...Prob'ly. Little wet balls of streaking fur under the water, unaerodynamic as crap, swimming around for fish food." He leans his hands against Nagihiko's hands and then thinks. "I like it when you stay. I don't wanna impose more though if you have something to do. Reading sounds nice. I may fall asleep though." He looks around for his shirt, pulling it back on with a bit of difficulty and Nagihiko's help, yawning the whole time.

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
"Everyone could use a nice, solid fire. They'd make millions." He grins as Kukai leans against him. "Well, I promise I'll use my pretty for good, then. Even the playing field. But I think I'm the right amount of pretty for you." His eyebrows raise. "Ever was, is, and will be."

He wonders just how much of this his bloodloss boyfriend would remember tomorrow.

After the orange juice, he helps Kukai stand and get dressed, making sure everything's in order. He keeps an arm around Kukai as he straightens up the counter, and Temari floats over to take care of the rags in the bathtub. When she has them soaking, she floats back over and pulls out two chara-sized sleeping bags, one blue and one purple. And then she pulls out a green one for Daichi!

"That's okay, Sleepy Beauty. You can nap while I read. And I was gonna just read anyway. This way seems better."

Kukai Souma has posed:
Kukai smiles, then yawns again. "Pretty for good? Pretty good. Good pretty. Whoo, boy, this standing thing is for the birds." He blushes. "Glad I'm pretty enough for you. Man, I didn't think I lost this much blood."

He shakes his head and pulls his shirt on, then nods towards the door, opening it up and looking out the door for his brothers. The sound of the TV floats in. "Mm. Coast's clear. C'mon." He hobbles towards his room, leaving the Charas behind in the bathroom. Daichi hugs Temari, then smiles. "Can I help with the washing Temari?"

Kukai grins and enters his room, making his way over to the bed and then sitting down gently before stretching out on the bed, ginger with his shoulder. "OK. Thank you Na-chan. Thanks so much. I love you." He yawns, eyes closing. "Mmph.." It doesn't take long for him to be out cold.

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
"The fighting probably didn't help matters. Wore you out faster." More petting af the pretty boy's hair. "Oh yes. Very pretty."

Temari smiles at Daichi. "I'm just gonna let the soak in some bleach. We can nap while they do!"

Nagihiko helps Kukai across the hall before assisting him onto the bed. He goes so far as to tuck him. At Kukai's declaration, Nagihiko gives him an affectionate smile and a soft peck. "Love you, too."

When Kukai's asleep, Nagihiko crawls in as well, over the covers and sprawled out to read on his phone.

If any of the Souma brothers peek in, Nagihiko tells them the youngest of their bunch had a rough day in practice.