View source for 1296/Don't Jump

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/03/30
|Location=Plot Room #2
|Synopsis=WARNING: Attempted Suicide. Sachiko is about to give up, but Kukai manages to stop her.
|Cast of Characters=129,141
|pretty=yes
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{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:129|Sachiko Hayakawa| (129)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sachiko's life has gone from bad, to worse, to suddenly ... not quite so bad! It's been a crazy whirlwind of insanity and confusion for the poor seven-year-old, and she's still not fully reco vered from the insanity that has become her life.<br /><br />The massive victorian mansion that she now lives in was not designed with children in mind. It's three stories, with a columnade front, and balconies on the second and third floors coming out of the two most luxurious bedrooms in the home. One of those--the third floor bedroom--has been allocated to Sachiko, and the girl has quickly moved all of her things in.<br /><br />Of course, 'all of her things' consist of a few sets of clothing, three pairs of shoes (uwabaki slippers, Heelys, and her dancing flats), a dirty old teddybear, and her utility pouch.<br /><br />There are books in her new room, and a few hastily-bought little girls toys: a dollhouse, a teaset, and a little school desk for her to do her homework at. It's really ''not'' a bad life at all.<br /><br />The problem is, Anshi still isn't here. So on her third night in the Councilman's home, Sachiko finally braves stepping out onto the balcony. Once again she has dressed in her many-layered ribbons-and-chiffon dress, with bows and lace and many, many florid things. It's gothic, it's lolita, and on Sachiko, it just seems to fit. She even has her hair tied up in a bow, keeping about half of that mess of cinnamon out of her face.<br /><br />As she steps out onto the balcony, Sachiko peers out over the edge towards the ground below. It's a ''long'' way down. Hefting her bedsheet, Sachiko ties it off on the ledge, then tosses it over the edge and peers up on her tippiest toes to see just how far down her makeshift rope-ladder goes.<br /><br />Down, down, down the silky sheets go, three bedsheets long until they stop ... still nearly two and a half meters up from the ground. Getting down will be rough, but up will be ''impossible'' for the seven-year-old. <br /><br />Nevertheless, Sachiko is not deterred by such things. Grabbing the silk sheets carefully, the little girl pulls herself up onto the balcony and holds on tight for a moment, balancing as she peers down the very ... very long fall below.<br /><br />Ulp.

:'''{{#var:141|Kukai Souma| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sky Jack was in the middle of a very busy few days. At least, he was trying to keep himself busy. So when he saw online (yay for smartphones) that a particular little girl he knew had been adopted, he imagined most of his problems with her were solved. Certainly they'd keep her in better conditions than her previous home, and hopefully she'd be more willing to stay there and not be a problem. But after a night or two he figured he'd better go check up on her. <br /><br /> So here he is, in the affluent part of town, doing his best to stay out of the bright lights, and looking for a particular mansion he'd seen. And there it is, and it's time to go in for a closer look, and... just on time, there's a strip of bedsheets going down towards the ground, several meters above the surface. He knew he could make that jump both ways, more than likely. Sachiko would break her fool neck if she tried either one. And she's on the railing. Jack grumbles something about bad versions of Peter Pan and goes in. <br /><br /> He speeds up, curling in a little, his flying skateboard picking up speed as he nears Sachiko's location on the balcony. "Sachiko! Hey, stand still a minute, huh? Don't do that!" He tries to get her attention, hoping nobody else hears him...

:'''{{#var:129|Sachiko Hayakawa| (129)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Whether Sachiko notices Sky Jack, or just doesn't care, will remain anyone's guess. But either way, still holding the bed sheets, she puts both arms out wide like a girl on a crucfix and smiles. "An-chi," she mumbles. "I'll see you soon."<br /><br />He probably won't hear those words, but the sudden beatific smile on her face is anything but pleasant to behold. It's too forced, too sad, too ... anything but what it should be.<br /><br />Oh, and she's leaning forward, until her feet no longer have purchase, and she begins to fall out of the sky towards the ground, sliding along the rope ladder at too-fast a speed.

:'''{{#var:141|Kukai Souma| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sky Jack 's eyes go wide in terror and he dives as she leans forward, picking up speed. The smile on her face doesn't help anything at all. But he's a hero, and he's going to try to make it. <br /><br /> Just at the end of the rope, just before her hands are burnt from the friction, just before she falls at far too fast a speed onto the hard ground, Jack sweeps past, arms out, and catches her, just barely at the edge of his reach, arresting her fall. Unfortunately he can't catch her and balance on his board properly, so he ditches, pulling her in close and crashing painfully, back first, into a nearby hedgerow. A deep and questioning bark comes from the other side of the house, but he's alive and so is she and he can get his board back, in a minute.

:'''{{#var:129|Sachiko Hayakawa| (129)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>There's a little yelp of surprise as Sachiko is caught. She'd intended to arrest her fall at the end and land gracefully, like a princess. Because magical girls can do that, right? She certainly hadn't expected her fall to be unecermoniously stopped!<br /><br />"Ow!" she cries unhappily as she tries to get out of Sky Jack's arms. "Ow, ow ow that hurt!" she cries at him, and then begin the waterworks. She's not loud, but she ''is'' crying, and trying to get away from him.

:'''{{#var:141|Kukai Souma| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sky Jack hangs onto Sachiko tightly and looks around for his board - there it is - that's a fist in his nose, good grief, why does she hurt so much for such a lightweight thing - and he's on the board and they're up towards the outer wall, staying close to the ground in case she decides to mash him in the stomach or something. "Sachi, Sachi, ow, stop, it's me, Jack, ow. Stop, come on!" <br /><br /> He looks around - it's fairly dark, here - and sets her down. "Sachiko, what were you doing? You coulda broke your neck, jumping like that!"

:'''{{#var:129|Sachiko Hayakawa| (129)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"You hurt me you hurt me!" Sachiko cries unhappily, until Jack eventually puts her down. She's still crying, then, but at least she's not flailing her arms and trying to get away. She just stumbles backwards a step or two, then falls ontot he grass and continues crying, hugging herself tightly.<br /><br />"I wasn't gonna break my neck," she says through her tears. "I was gonna land and then go try to find An-chi! Why did you hurt me! I was just fine! Magical girls can survive way bigger falls! I've seen Greta-chan fall from way higher and she's just fine!"

:'''{{#var:141|Kukai Souma| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Oh, brother. Sky Jack rolls his eyes and then moves over to sit besides her. "Sachi-chan... c'mon. Here. Let me see, where does it hurt..." He moves to look her over - he's no doctor or healer, but you get scrapes on the playing field, so maybe he can help somehow. <br /><br /> "Sachi-chan.... I'm sorry I hurt you, but I don't think you would have landed safely. Don't you think you should have tried a shorter, slower jump first before you decided to leap from the balcony? Just in case?" It takes him a minute to get this out, after a couple of false starts.

:'''{{#var:129|Sachiko Hayakawa| (129)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sachiko stops crying way too quickly when Sky Jack apologizes. She sniffles once, wipes her eyes, then mumbles, "I forgive you." Her lips quiver a little as she gets control of the emotions ... and then it's just gone. Sure, the big tears are still rolling down her cheek, but there's no new ones. She's not actively crying anymore.<br /><br />"I'm okay," she mumbles. "It was just my arms you hurt. You squished them really tight against me and it hurt," she tells him, then looks up at him.<br /><br />For a long moment the little girl just stares at Kukai, then shrugs. "I jumped off the bed first. That went just fine, even though it's a way bigger bed than I've ever had before. Kimura-sama says it's a Queen's Bed, I guess because he thinks a princess should have a bed ready for when she becomes a queen."

:'''{{#var:141|Kukai Souma| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sky Jack reaches up and uses his thumb and fingers to wipe the tears away off Sachiko's cheek. "There we go... that's better." He dries his hand on his pants, then pats her head. "Good girl. If they still hurt, you tell me, ok? I'll do what I can." <br /><br /> He looks at her when she talks about the bed, then shakes his head. "It's... there's a big difference between jumping off the bed and jumping off a third-story balcony, Sachiko. A big one. And... well, sure, I guess that's right, about being a queen bed." He knows the difference, of course, but... <br /><br /> Jack sighs and looks at her. "Are you going out to look for Anshi again? You know what I told you, don't you?" There's a moment of fear on his face. "Did you tell Greta?"

:'''{{#var:129|Sachiko Hayakawa| (129)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sachiko sniffles a little, then shrugs and looks away from Sky Jack. "I haven't seen Greta-chan," she mumbles quietly. "I don't think she knows where I am anymore. I was kinda hoping I'd see her tonight, but I know she's very busy being a magical girl and going to help protect An-chi. Everyone gets to go help An-chi but me," she says sadly.<br /><br />Apparently what he said did not sink in. That or she is willfully disregarding it. "Even Momo-chan can probably help An-chi, now," she mumbles softly. "She's so pretty in her pink. I wish I was a Prism Keeper," she says with a soft sigh.

:'''{{#var:141|Kukai Souma| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sky Jack looks down at her and realizes something - this is going to be a reoccuring theme. He's going to save her from her own existance, she's going to cry for Anshi, he's going to tell her she died, and she's going to forget again in a few days. It hits him like a thunderbolt and he lets out a slow breath. OK. Crap. <br /><br /> Jack looks at her for a moment. "You mean you played the game with the other girls?" For one bright, brilliant moment there's hope. Every other girl who'd played with them had ended up with magical powers - if Sachiko actually got them, this way, maybe she wouldn't need to be looked after quite so strenuously.

:'''{{#var:129|Sachiko Hayakawa| (129)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sachiko looks up at Sky Jack with confusion in her eyes. "Game?" she asks, confusedly. "What game?"

:'''{{#var:141|Kukai Souma| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sky Jack swears to himself. Of course she didn't think it was a game. She thought it was real. An idle thought crosses his mind - Anshi never did explain to this girl what 'make-believe' was and it wrecked her for life. "Um... All of the Prism Keeper girls used to know each other a few years ago and played with each other before they got their magical powers. Did you know them then, or are you... y'know, just playing with them now? And which one do you know?" <br /><br /> He stands up, making a decision. "Also, do you want to take a ride on my board and look around for Anshi - as long as you promise to... er, save your magic and not go flying off?" He really wishes he had a rope or something to tie them together, in case.

:'''{{#var:129|Sachiko Hayakawa| (129)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"They used to play a game?" Sachiko asks, withdrawing into herself just a little. "Together?" She withdraws just a little closer. She looks very downcast at that; to the point that she doesn't actually answer his question.<br /><br />But then he offers to take her for a ride, and Sachiko's expression widens. "Really!?" she asks him, staring up at the man with barely contained excitement. "You'd take me to look for An-chi? We can go flying on your board?" That is the face of a truly happy little girl.

:'''{{#var:141|Kukai Souma| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sky Jack nods, then shifts on the board. "Sure, c'mon. Step on board and hang onto me, ok? We'll go look around for her." He waits for her to hop on, then reaches down, strapping his pilot's goggles onto her eyes for safety. "Here, wear these, you'll be able to see better through them." One arm around her back, they carefully lift up over the tops of the buildings to begin moving away and out through the city.

:'''{{#var:129|Sachiko Hayakawa| (129)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sachiko lets Sky Jack help her to her feet, and then up onto the board. She's a little unsteady, but she does smile as she pulls the goggles down over her mess of cinnamon coloured hair. Wrapping her arms around Jack's waist, Sachiko clings to him desperately, then nods her head. "Mm! Ready," she says happily.<br /><br />As the board lifts up into the sky, she makes a soft little noise of excitement, and leans just a tiny bit away from him to peer over the edge. Then she gets scared and clings right back to him tighter, even as she stares out over the city. "So high," she says quietly. "Can An-chi fly like this?"

:'''{{#var:141|Kukai Souma| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sky Jack sighs. "I guess she used to be able to. I think so, anyway." He holds onto her, just cruising over the city skyline at this point, no particular place to go, just driving the kid around. "We shouldn't be out long - you'll be sleepy soon, and you don't wanna get caught away from your bed by the councilman."

:'''{{#var:129|Sachiko Hayakawa| (129)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sachiko wrinkles her nose at Jack's big-brothering. Which, of course, earns him a chiding, "O''nii''-san," of disapproval. "I'm not even tired, and Kimura-sama is not going to be home tonight. He is at a very important conference this week so it's just me and the nanny he hired. I don't think she likes me very much."

:'''{{#var:141|Kukai Souma| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sky Jack makes a non-commital grunt at the 'big brother' comment - he's used that very same tone before. "I didn't say we were going back yet, but when you start getting sleepy we're going straight back. And nanny or not, if they catch you out they'll worry about you. And it's a nice house, and a nice place. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you being there." He continues to sweep along, silently flying over top of the people they see, staying well above them and watching for other magical girls. Watching for Anshi.

:'''{{#var:129|Sachiko Hayakawa| (129)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Of course, Anshi isn't there. No matter how much Sachiko argues to the contrary, the girl is dead, and searching the city even form Sky Jack's sky board won't bring her back. Jack knows this. Sachiko knows this, too, even if she'd like to deny it.<br /><br />Eventually, the little girl begins to shiver. She hugs Sky Jack even tighter, putting her hands under his jacket in search of warmth.<br /><br />"Cold," she mumbles. Because she doesn't have a henshin to protect her from the winds at this altitude, or the chill of the early spring air.<br /><br />Cold, because she's not the magical girl she wishes she could be.

:'''{{#var:141|Kukai Souma| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sky Jack crouches down slightly, spreading his stance, and letting the little girl put her hands further into his jacket, hugging her back as he wheels back towards her new home, trying to pass some of his magically-granted warmth off to her, the sky still dark in the night. "It's ok. I'll have you back home soon." <br /><br /> And yes, shortly they are back at the mansion, where Jack comes in slow and careful, looking in to see if there's anyone standing on the balcony or in Sachiko's room to intercept her.

:'''{{#var:129|Sachiko Hayakawa| (129)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Along the way back to the house, Sachiko does seem to grow tired. Her eyes close, and she leans into Sky Jack, almost sagging against him. <br /><br />When they arrive back at Councilman Kimura's home, the balcony is vacant, but for the small figure of Kyubey. Its passive face passes no judgement from its perch on the very railing that Sachiko jumped from an hour ago.<br /><br />"Welcome back, Sachiko Hayakawa," says Kyubey in its typically cheerful voice. "And hello to you, Sky Jack! I heard your wish to become a Prism Keeper, Sachiko Hayakawa. Do you want to make a contract with me and become a magical girl?"<br /><br />Sachiko, bleary-eyed and uncertain, raises her face from Sky Jack's stomach and turns to regard Kyubey confusedly.

:'''{{#var:141|Kukai Souma| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sky Jack still has a chill of fear go down his back every time he sees the little white, red, and pink animal, and it knows his name. Horrifying. He holds onto Sachiko as he moves over the balcony, setting her down onto it. "No, she doesn't want to make a contract with you, rat. If she ends up as a Prism Keeper, it'll be through no doings of yours - Roy, Gigi, and Biv will select her themselves." <br /><br /> He reaches over, beginning to pull up the bedsheets she'd used in her escape, untying them and covering up for her. "Sachiko, go change into your nightgown, it's time for bed." He keeps an eye on Kyubey, moving to block him if he decides to follow her.

:'''{{#var:129|Sachiko Hayakawa| (129)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sachiko would argue against Sky Jack making decisions for her, except for a few very important facts.<br /><br />First, and least importantly, he's ''right''. She doesn't want to make a contract, right now. Especially not to become a Prism Keeper.<br /><br />Yes, absolutely she's jealous of Momo being a real magical girl. It's not fair; she should be one, too! But that is disregarded because she ''is'' a real magical girl. Right?<br /><br />Right.<br /><br />Second, as of this moment, Sky Jack and Greta Legend are practically the only family she's got. And if Anshi really is his guardian angel, then that means Anshi's here with him, right now. And she doesn't want Anshi to worry.<br /><br />Finally, and probably most importantly, she's too tired and cold to argue with an authority figure right now.<br /><br />So she doesn't argue.<br /><br />Kyubey doesn't need to hear the words from her to know her answer, of course. The creature is telepathic, and can easily read the response she would have given on her own.<br /><br />"Don't worry, Sachiko Hayakawa," says Kyubey pleasantly. "If you decide to change your mind, all you have to do is call for me, and I will be ready to make a contract with you!"<br /><br />Sachiko heads into her bedroom through the open double doors, slowly undressing as she goes. Within only a few moments she's down to just a long white underdress and her plain white tights. The rest of the outfit is strewn about carelessly, and she doesn't look inclined to clean it up.<br /><br />Instead, the little girl picks up the dirty, tattered teddy bear in the middle of the room, hugs it gently, and walks back to the doorway to wait for Sky Jack and her bed sheets.

:'''{{#var:141|Kukai Souma| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sky Jack nods at Kyubey, dismissing the rat with all the confidence he can muster, and steps into the room, nodding Sachiko ahead of him and folding up the bedsheets as best he can by himself. "OK Sachi. Time for bed." He looks around and finds a half-open drawer where the bedsheets came from. "No more leaping off the balcony like that, ok? At least not until you know how far you can actually jump. Which is not from a balcony three stories high." <br /><br /> He goes over to the little girl, stroking her hair and sitting besides her for a moment as she gets in under the covers. "I know Anshi is here in spirit, watching over both of us. If she could be with you she would, I promise. It'll be all right. Try and sleep some." He looks around at the outfit, then sighs. It's probably good if the nanny and the councilman both have some idea of what Sachiko'll get up to if she isn't watched like a hawk.

:'''{{#var:129|Sachiko Hayakawa| (129)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sachiko does indeed climb back into bed, as instructed, when Sky Jack enters the room. But she doesn't get under the sheets right away. First, she wraps her arms around him tightly, squeezing her stuffed bear between the two of them.<br /><br />"Sky Jack-Onii-san," she asks him quietly, questioning little voice. "Can we go flying to look for An-chi some time?"

:'''{{#var:141|Kukai Souma| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sky Jack sighs, that long-suffering sigh of older brothers and fathers everywhere who hear a perfectly reasonable question being asked that will only lead to trouble, and gives the only answer he can as he gives Sachiko a big, tight hug. "Sure Sachi-chan, just like tonight. I promise. And next time we'll bring you a jacket." He pats her hair and lets her hang on until she decides to lie down.

:'''{{#var:129|Sachiko Hayakawa| (129)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sachiko's eyes widen at the unexpected approval. She leans back to give Sky Jack a massive look of surprise.<br /><br />Then, for a brief instant, that look of surprise turns to a look of pure happiness--a look that could melt hearts everywhere. He doesn't get to see it long, before Sachiko squeals and bures her face in his chest again, hugging him tightly.<br /><br />"Tomorrow night," she says, eagerly. "I promise I'll be a good girl if you take me flying again tomorrow night."<br /><br />She doesn't even know the power she wields with that tone of voice or that smile. She's never had a loving father or a doting older brother to crush the hearts of before. Only Anshi, who already gave her everything unconditionally.

:'''{{#var:141|Kukai Souma| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sky Jack acks, then smiles, as Sachiko tackles him and hugs him tightly, her chest buried in his face. He returns the tight hug and then nods, patting her back. "I can't make any promises - I never know what's gonna happen from night to night, and I gotta sleep some too, and there's all sorts of new crap coming up - but either tomorrow night or the next night. OK?" <br /><br /> He looks down at her and smiles, then stands up. "Ok. If I'm gonna do this I gotta go make sure everything's clear for tonight. OK? So you sleep."

:'''{{#var:129|Sachiko Hayakawa| (129)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sachiko is briefly disappointed by his lack of commitment, but then he turns it into an ''actual'' commitment. A compromise, but a committed one, nonetheless. So she smiles and nods her head at him, agreeing readily with his instructions. "Good night, Sky Jack-Onii-san," she says, as she finally climbs under the covers, then hugs her bear tight again. "I'll see you tomorrow night." Hopefully.

:'''{{#var:141|Kukai Souma| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sky Jack nods. "And if I don't come by tomorrow, you just sit on your hands - you don't come hopping over the balcony looking for me." He pats her head again and makes sure to take back the pilot's goggles she had on earlier. "G'night Sa-chan." He then turns to head back out onto the balcony, still watching for onlookers, and summons his board to him, taking off up into the night sky to finish his route. It's not a perfect situation, but if it makes her happy, that'll be enough.
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