View source for 1527/Green Fire Burns Hearts

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/05/29
|Location=Mitakihara/Pikarigaoka - King Penguin Park
|Synopsis=Kukai's recent issues are finally revealed, and not everyone takes it even as well as one would expect. Remember kids, more than one waifu can ruin your laifu.
|Cast of Characters=141,134,151,29,116,165
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:141|Kukai Souma| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>It is a warm, bright, and windy afternoon, heading towards evening in a secluded part of King Penguin Park. A small copse of trees separates this little square off from the rest of the park, far away from the shrine at the center and the main routes around the park. The trees provide a little sound barrier as well, with two paths in and out of the square. The sun is barely visible over the horizon, and perhaps if you look hard you can see the first glimpses of the moon in the opposite direction. It's a lovely night for romance. <br /><br /> Which is why Kukai Souma has showered and put on one of his better outfits - a classy long green jacket, a button up beige shirt, nice black pants, a little grey hip pouch where Daichi's egg is resting, and his best black shoes, and is heading towards the meeting place where Nadeshiko had told him she'd be waiting. Now, technically he's a little later than he'd like to be, but it shouldn't be a big problem. <br /><br /> For now he's got a good, fun night planned. Maybe a walk through the flower gardens, or over to the amusement park maybe? It's going to be a good time, and there's a flicker of green fire in his eyes as he enters the square.

:'''{{#var:134|Nagihiko Fujisaki| (134)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Nadeshiko has spent the better part of the day getting ready. Getting dressed had been easy. Applying make-up was necessary. Calming her rattled nerves? Hellmode.<br /><br />She's pretty certain Kukai will be ''pissed'' at her by the time the night is done. She's also pretty sure there will be...some emotional outbursts by the other people she's invited along.<br /><br />Really, though, even if he doesn't speak to her ever again, this is something she needs to do. It's not ''right'' and it's not ''fair,'' to them ''or'' to Kukai.<br /><br />Her jealousy is a thing, of course. But that's not her motivation behind this. Ensuring Kukai's happiness in the long run is.<br /><br />She's waiting, sitting on a bench in the strategically located meeting place. Her skirt is long, her waist lightly cinched to give curves that aren't normally there, and she's very much not dressed in a kimono. After all, this is supposed to be a 'date.' Even if it ''does'' serve a different purpose, that doesn't mean she still doesn't want to look pretty.<br /><br />The people she's texted on Kukai's phone to meet here tonight probably won't recognize her. The only one who would recognize her as Nagihiko is Sora. Sora ''may'' recognize the grumpy little chara floating near Nadeshiko's shoulder, decidedly turned away and 'ignoring' the purple haired girl.<br /><br />"Stop, I'm nervous enough as it is."<br /><br />"Serves you right, you meany."<br /><br />"Yeah, yeah. I know."

:'''{{#var:151|Sora Hisakata| (151)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Tell why I shouldn't just punch both of you in the face and be gone." Sora's voice is filled with that most primal of negative emotions, seething hatred. It's directed firmly at both Kukai and Nadeshiko, her fists are balled, and if people aren't quite paying attention to Sora they might get the feeling her eyes are glowing red. This feeling fades upon paying better attention.<br /><br />At least her shadow behaves for now, in large part. Probably because it agrees with her on the matter. The girl is wearing her volleyball uniform, because it's comfortable, familiar, and she's not bothering to dress up for this. "What's the idea? Want to rub it in? Want to make fun of me? I promise you, I'll make sure you end up regretting that."

:'''{{#var:29|Runealy Waldia| (29)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Rune was a little surprised by the message she got from Kukai's number, but she's curious enough to show up for it in formal Waldian dress. This looks very out of place, but she shows up in it on time and looks very confused as she walks up to the gathering here at the park. Things already seem very terse, as she looks over several unfamiliar people. "What's going on here...?" It's a squeaked question, not a demand for immediate information.

:'''{{#var:116|Daisuke Hansuke| (116)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Daisuke Hansuke got a text. 'Meet me in the park' from Kukai. Give or take. He tapped his bottom lip. He'd reply an affirmative, that he'd meet him there. What could this be about. There was some pretty obvious flirting going on last time. Daisuke himself thought it'd be nice to start dating again.<br /><br />Mamoru had even provided him with a list of materials to read, and thusly, he'd spent today reading some of that over. He didn't want to assume much, but it never hurt to be prepared. It's not assuming much is why he's dressed in his usual clothes-- Verone's Uniform, with a shorter sleeve jacket for the weather. Burgandy jacket, white blazer, similar burgandy tie. Black slacks.<br /><br />He arrives on scene and-- there's a fight going on between some people. He arrives from a slightly different direction from Runealy and Sora--- he purses his lips- and frowns a little.<br /><br />"What's going on here?" he asks curtly. Yes that's Kukai, but he has no clue who these other people are.<br /><br />This seems to be confusing him suddenly.

:'''{{#var:141|Kukai Souma| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>There's Nadeshiko. She looks lovely in the light, and seeing her outside of either the traditional kimono or her school uniform is a special treat, something she doesn't do nearly as often as Kukai expected. She looks... nervous? And Temari looks grumpier than usual. "Hey, Nadeshi...ko?" Kukai stops. They are not alone here in the square. <br /><br /> Sora's voice sounds growly and hate-filled and sends a chill up Kukai's spine as she talks. "Wait, what? Sora, what are you doing here? Nobody's gonna make fun of you, I..." And then Rune. "Runealy, you're here too? I'm not sure what's going on. It's.." <br /><br /> And then Daisuke. He looks nice in his uniform, but this is not the time or place to be making that observation. Or is it? Maybe he could slip it in somewhere. Wait. Kukai shakes his head and tries to clear his mind. "Daisuke, too? Wait... Look, wait, what the heck? It's good to see you all, even you Sora, but what's going on here?" <br /><br /> Kukai's little belt pouch pops open from the inside and little eyes peer out at the crowd from well-hidden cover.

:'''{{#var:134|Nagihiko Fujisaki| (134)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Oh boy. The sound of Kukai's voice is like a bucket of cold water down her spine. She quickly stands, and then there's Sora. And then who she suspects is Runealy? That's a very pretty dress...(focus!) Finally, Daisuke shows up.<br /><br />She stands between Kukai and Sora. "Sora-san, this is not like that. Kukai-kun is as unaware as you all. I'm the one that brought you all here. Your...encounter with my brother rose some concerns." For a moment, she looks down at her shoes. ''No, you're not wearing you're Demure Mask. You're wearing your Assertive Mask.'' She looks up, eyes boring on each individual. They pause a moment longer on Daisuke than anyone else, a brief crease between her eyebrows. Of all that's she's texted, he's the one she's actually jealous of. (After all, Daisuke is the only other boy in the group.)<br /><br />"It isn't my intention to cause any of you grief. I'm just...very concerned about someone I care about. Deeply." That mask slips when she looks at Kukai, guilt plainly eating at her.<br /><br />She quickly shakes it off, because Thespian, and turns back to the rest of the group.<br /><br />Temari is, of course, still 'ignoring' Nadeshiko. But she has a keen eye on everyone, especially Sora...

:'''{{#var:151|Sora Hisakata| (151)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Not hearing one." Sora seethes, and she rushes forwards, swinging her right arm in an attempt to punch Kukai right in the face. She's reckless, and not a practiced brawler, relying more on surprise and raw physical strength than skill to get this in. She has put a lot of force behind it. Success or failure, she adds to Nadeshiko, "If you don't want to cause me any grief, you took the wrong approach. I don't want anything to do with this asshole."

:'''{{#var:116|Daisuke Hansuke| (116)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Daisuke Hansuke hrmmms and reaches up to tap his bottom lip in though, a nervous habit. "Oh.. so..Kukai wasn't... the one... who...." he sighs and shakes his head a bit as he places his hands against his hips.<br /><br />"Alright, what's going on then. I'm really confused." he says with a smile as softly as he can.<br /><br />Then Sora goes to deck Kukai and his eyes go wide--- he attempts to reach out try to stop this- but he's too far away to do much, all he can do is stop and wince about halfway to that point.<br /><br />He frowns at Sora. "Was that really nessacry?" he asks a little. "Can your fists really say anymore than your words can?" he asks more directly and a little sadly.<br /><br />He looks between Nadeshiko and Kukai questiongly a moment after. More specfically at Kukai.

:'''{{#var:29|Runealy Waldia| (29)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>So virtually everyone is either here on a poor mood, or /does not know/ why they're here. What does that mean? Runealy's mind races to think this through. "Is there anything in common about us?"<br /> <br />Nadeshiko ends up answering the question better than Rune's wild guesses. "Ohh... ah, who? If we... ah, I," she shouldn't be speaking for others she doesn't even know! "Can help, I'll do what I can. Though, you mean to suggest you sent the message I got? Even though it was from his phone? Wh... ah!?"<br /> <br />She's alarmed as things turn into a fight - or an attempted one, perhaps, as others intervene. It nonetheless does a fine job of cutting off any further remarks from the princess, now wide-eyed and worried.

:'''{{#var:141|Kukai Souma| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Wait. Na-chan, you asked everyone to come here?" Kukai's eyes crinkle for a moment, looking at her, still a little confused but beginning to get the idea. "Wait, wait. Are you mad at me because I've been fli~" <br /><br /> Oh crap. Sora is lunging hard at him, intent on punching him full in the face! He hops backwards and to one side, wobbling back away from the punch. She doesn't quite hit him, but she's still in range! "Sora, hey! Calm down a second! Please!" <br /><br /> It's maybe a good thing. He misses the bit about Runealy getting the message from his phone. That might have been a bit much just yet. "Look, hey, yes, I've been talking to all of you but, you know, there's nothing wrong with that, is there? I mean, come on, can't we all be friends?" There's a visible green flash from his eyes again, and he looks around at the four of them. "I can still fix this. I can make it all right. Let me just.." He stops for a moment, looking lost, not sure how to proceed in his fixing of everything. "I'm not gonna lose!"

:'''{{#var:134|Nagihiko Fujisaki| (134)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>There's a glint in Nadeshiko's eyes and suddenly there's a naginata in her hands. The wooden shaft aims at Sora's midsection, the blade tucked against Nadeshiko's side. "It's not like he said you were exclusive! Stop acting like a damn child!"<br /><br />The glint ends, and she has to fight it again when Daisuke makes that ''damn smile.'' It's too ''nice.'' Too ''sweet.'' "Even if he did, you don't own him!"<br /><br />Yeah, that's also to herself, not just Sora.<br /><br />She clears her throat and opens her mouth to admit that yes, she's the one who texted. She's looking at Kukai, completely prepared to face, at the very least, annoyance.<br /><br />Then the flash of green, and the sudden shift in temperament. She goes still and she has to clench her jaw.<br /><br />Temari flies toward the pouch Daichi's been hiding in, tiny fists punching against the material. "I told you it wasn't a game! This isn't a ''game!'' DAICHI!"

:'''{{#var:116|Daisuke Hansuke| (116)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Daisuke Hansuke stares very hard at Kukai as he purses his lips. "I dunno if this is a situation of winning OR losing yet." he interjects. "I dunno what's happening here, but I'm still very confused." he purses his lips as he looks between the assembled people.<br /><br />Then there's talking of exclusivity, and and owning people and he squints again and then two plus two equals four and he blinks three times, in rapid succession.<br /><br />Then there's a sudden blush that encompasses his cheecks as he places a hand to his mouth in a fluster. O-oh!<br /><br />Is that what this about? Kukai flirted with him once. He kind of liked it- he'd admit that.<br /><br />"H-hey-- can we stop this please a moment? and talk?" he smiles again, trying to be friendly, and talk. He'd rather not fight.<br /><br />But then a Naginata comes out and he frowns a bit---- he holds out his hands and summons The Staff of Asclepius. No henshin, he just summons the staff. He places it's bussiness end on the ground. Things got serious to him it appears.<br /><br />"Please stop." he begs at Sora and Kukai.

:'''{{#var:151|Sora Hisakata| (151)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sora is mad, really mad, and though the Naginata at her chest makes her pause... she's too angry to take it seriously, instinctively deciding it's a bluff and recklessly ignoring the risks of it not being one. "I take it you're dating him too, then?" She yells, trying to push the staff aside. "If you didn't want me to break his nose, you shouldn't have called me over, now get out of my way and let me punch him, or I'll go through you."<br /><br />At this point, she attempts to push the weapon to the side and throw another punch. The red gleam to her eyes is, right now, not just a thing that can be seen from the edge of vision, if people aren't quite paying attention. Nope, her eyes just gleam red, period.<br /><br />She isn't even paying attention to what Runaely and Daisuke are saying. To her, they're just background noise right now.

:'''{{#var:29|Runealy Waldia| (29)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Rune cries out in alarm as Nadeshiko produces a polearm. Even if the handle end is being used for these threats, she's still taking this rather seriously and is contemplating running away. Daisuke seems to be trying to calm things down, but this appears to be moving toward 'potentially lethal' and she has /no idea/ why.<br /> <br />For the moment, she backs off a few steps and begins sweeping her gaze every which way to see what she can figure out. "'Dating him too'? What?" All she has to go on is what Sora is shouting about, as far as piecing this together goes...

:'''{{#var:165|Sierra Earhart| (165)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>-Meet Me at the Park.- This week has been mostly quiet and Sierra had not heard from Kukai since their practice flight. When the text came to her phone, Sierra was out on a jog. She actually does that sometimes. When the text came through, she changed directions and ran home.<br /><br />Once home she quickly changes out of her sweat suit and puts on something that looks somewhat more normal. She settles on a red tanktop with the words, 'Semper Fi' emblazened across the chest in gold lettering. On her legs is a gold skirt that actually matches the top rather well. Then there is tights and flats. All in all, a rather cute outfit. From there she wakes up Kit and runs out the door. She is late, after all.<br /><br />A few minutes later she walks into the area. Of the people present she knows two and one of them is trying to kill the other! "What The Hell is goin on!" She quickly moves closer to Sora and Kukai, "Sora, Stop! Let him talk. He brought us all here for some reason, if ya don't like what he's got to say, you can go back to fighting him. Sound fun?" Where's the good cake when ya need it.

:'''{{#var:141|Kukai Souma| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Despite everything going on around them, it's the little Chara drumming on Kukai's belt pouch that causes the most chaos. Daichi acks and peeks out at Temari, glaring out at her! "It's a challenge! It's the best challenge ever! And he's gonna be the best ever!" Daichi shoots up out of the pouch and dives into Kukai's chest, causing him to start as his heart's egg takes over a much more direct control and making Kukai's green eyes shine! A headband appears, running through his hair, with a bright yellow star over one ear. <br /><br /> Kukai points up at Nadeshiko. "Hey, I'm trying to be romantic here, stop getting in my way, I'll get around to you soon enough!" He eyes that polearm hilt and grins. "You're really good at wielding a long stick too, babe." He turns, facing Sora and looking at the others, that cocky, self-assured, hero of everything grin cranked up to max on his face. "Sora, look. If you like it rough, we can play rough later, ok? I've got to sort things out here. Daisuke, you look good in that jacket. We should really talk more soon. Sorry you had to come out to see all this, but it's such a lovely night. Sierra, wow. Are American girls all as uninhibited and flashy as you? I like it! And Runealy, princess, I know this isn't your scene, but it's an honor and a pleasure to see you here - maybe we can go out later?" <br /><br /> Kukai shakes his head for a moment, as if trying to clear it again, but fails, still being much more brazen and bold than any of them have ever seen him before. "See? I can do it, I can get things straightened out, and you'll all think I'm great when this is over with!"

:'''{{#var:134|Nagihiko Fujisaki| (134)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"By all means, I'll just sit here and ''wait my turn'' for you to grace me with your presence."<br /><br />Angry. So ''very'' angry right now.<br /><br />It's better than being hurt, right?<br /><br />She steps away from Sora, waving an arm as though to say 'have at him.' Maybe getting the crap kicked out of him will actually help. "Just don't kill him."<br /><br />She ''knows'' its Daichi. What she ''doesn't'' know if it's been Daichi with her.<br /><br />She turns and walks toward Runealy, Daisuki, and Sierra. She gives a small bow. "I apologize for dragging you all out here. I knew something was wrong, but until now I did not know what."

:'''{{#var:116|Daisuke Hansuke| (116)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Daisuke Hansuke blinks rapidly. Then another blush. Well! "Right- talk more soon!" he says softly. He still grips that staff of his with his off hand. Something seems off about this though-- wait.<br /><br />What the--<br /><br />Wait- is this some sort of weird control thing?<br /><br />He frowns and keeps still and nods at Nadeshiko. "Um. I'll stay here. Something tells me. He's uh."<br /><br />"Gonna need a healer after that. So better if I don't get knocked out. And that happens easily to me." he insists.<br /><br />"Besides. More of a lover than a fighter." he insists softly.<br /><br />"I'm sorry, not much apparently I can say here to stop it." he says apologetically. "What's exactly happened?" he asks Nadeshiko.

:'''{{#var:151|Sora Hisakata| (151)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Idiot." Sora actually stops her attempts to hurt Kukai, and runs off. She is quite visibly still seething, but she leaves the park without another word. There's some flickers with her shadow, and something quite visibly off about her, but she leaves.<br /><br />She hides in an alley, and takes out an old tome, leather bound with gold decorations, and she flips it open. She writes down a quick line. 'Infuse my shadow, you vile tome.' Dark Energy pours of the book and into Sora's shadow. Out of sight, but perhaps detectable to people sensitive to such things. Afterwards, Sora speaks the ancient Sumerian phrase, and her shadow collects the shadows around her, this all bleeds into her skin, and her hair. Garments are made out of this vile magic.<br /><br />And some time later, the Shadow Witch Shiniko arrives, shadows spread around her, making the park a little darker just by her presence. She giggles, while before they may have been unsettling? Now there's a coldness to it, a malice, and the followup statement leaves no doubt. "Silly, silly boy. You shouldn't go around playing games like that and expect there to be no justice~" It's impersonal, Shiniko seems to have no emotional investment in this.<br /><br />Just impersonal, cold malice. The shadows around her form into a bow, which she uses to pull back a wicked arrow, the head of it a heart, albeit it barbed, and it embodies her malice. When she lets go, the magic is aimed straight for Kukai's heart.<br /><br />Not that it'll kill, far from. The dead cannot learn, the dead cannot improve. And beyond that, death would be a mercy. This arrow is made to torture, a curse to equate love and friendship with pain.

:'''{{#var:165|Sierra Earhart| (165)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sierra is being sincere. Kukai is like a brother to her. Seeing him get the tar beat out of him is not very high on her list of things she actually wants to see. The fact that Sora and her got off on the wrong foot didn't help matters much either. So trying to stop a fight seems like the right thing to do at least until Sora runs off.<br /><br />And then that happens. Kukai already has a mess with several of the girls present and now he's hitting on her? Yeah that's a bad idea. She just looks at him with a look of annoyance on her face. "Wow... Kukai, you are like a big brother to me which means that sounds... Oh Forget it." Some girls would just give a guy a slap for that. Sierra isn't one of those girls. She full on decks him right in the mouth for that. Then, she simply turns and steps back towards Nadeshiko and Daisuke.<br /><br />"Hiya, I'm Sierra. Nice to meet you both. Wish it was under better conditions. What is wrong with him?! Sure I've only known him a short time but this isn't the Kukai I know!"<br /><br />Thats about the point that Shiniko shows up. Given that she has no idea who most of these people are and no clue how many were invited, she doesn't pay any mind to Shiniko. That is until an arrow goes whizzing by. "What in the world?!"

:'''{{#var:141|Kukai Souma| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Kukai watches Sora leave, but then turns back to look at the others, grinning. "It's ok, just more of me for the rest of you!" Sierra approaches him, and with a smile on his face he moves towards her - and gets punched in the face. He flails and staggers back, leaning over and rubbing his mouth, staring at the lot of them for a moment, eyes warring back and forth between confusion, pain, and anger. <br /><br /> With a cry of annoyance he moves towards the four remaining people with that green fire in his eyes. "OK, fine. You really want to do it this way, fine, we'll do it this way." A soccer ball pops into appearance in front of him, but he hasn't reared back just yet. "I'm the best guy in the world! How can you not like me?" <br /><br /> This is just in time to hear a cold voice behind him, giggling. One he recognizes. "Wait. Shiniko?" He turns to face her - just in time to see the arrow coming for him. Now, he's still Kukai. Sure, he could dodge it, and probably get completely clear, but if he does, there's four people behind him who could get hit. He can't let that happen, especially if he wants them to love him. Stilll, though, he does his best to curl away from the arrow, and it doesn't hit him in the heart, but it's as close as it can get. He yelps as it blasts into him, not causing any permanent pain, but sending a chilling wave through him and causing him to collapse onto the ground, curled up and shivering! <br /><br /> It only takes a few moments for the magic to evict Daichi, who looks like he's freezing, rubbing his arms and looking at them all. He's angry, too. "Why do you wanna hurt Kukai?! He's trying to be the best romancer ever and you're wrecking it for him!"

:'''{{#var:134|Nagihiko Fujisaki| (134)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Nadeshiko glares ''angrily'' at Kukai.<br /><br />"Its his Chara. Daichi thinks he's...helping him."<br /><br />And then Sora leaves and someone else comes back. The attack barely begins as Nadeshiko calls out for Temari.<br /><br /><br /><br />Kukai's on the ground, and she almost sees red. But the thing about Yamato Maihime is she's not about suppressed frustrations, she's about aspirations.<br /><br />Floating through the air, she's truly a sight to be seen, a fan before her face, literally gliding along as though she were a whisp of smoke.<br /><br />She closes the fan to look at Shiniko. "Dance of the Cherry Blossoms."<br /><br />The petals swirl around to disorient and distract. She she floats to a stop near Kukai, opens her fan again and waves it toward Shiniko.<br /><br />Beautiful crimson ribbons streak through the sky, aiming for Shiniko to bind, to hold her in place.<br /><br />Bending down, she picks up Kukai and gives the little chara a tilt up of her nose. "This is not a ''game,'' Daichi. Human emotions are not to be toyed with."<br /><br />She does not sound angry. She does, however, look very disappointed and incredibly hurt.

:'''{{#var:116|Daisuke Hansuke| (116)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Daisuke Hansuke nrg--- he dissapears into a short flash and appears near Nadeshiko and Kukai. "If you get him someplace safer, I can try to heal whatever just happened. I won't know until I try." he says with a soft frown.<br /><br />He looks up at Shiniko.<br /><br />"I don't know who you are, but an eye for an eye just leaves the whole world blind, so why don't you leave before this escalates further. You've clearly got what you came for if you've hit him pretty good so far." he says as he holds the staff. He's not shifting into Asclepius yet. But he has the staff out, so he has some power right now to bear. Just... never a lot of it. Never enough for combat.<br /><br />Not a fighter.

:'''{{#var:29|Runealy Waldia| (29)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>At first things were confusing and violent. Now with Kukai hitting on her and everyone else simultaneously, it's /weird./ Runealy just blinks at what's going on. "Ah... I already thought you were pretty great. What are you talking about? And why are you trying to... maybe I'm misunderstanding, but it looks like you're trying to get dates with all of us in sequence, or all at once, or something?"<br /> <br />She's more puzzled than angry about this. "Are you okay?"<br /> <br />Nadeshiko seems to understand more about this, and earns an immediate, concerned look. "What /is/ wrong? I don't get it."<br /> <br />Well, there are a plurality of things wrong now. Kukai's acting bizarre, and now some... bizarre witch is here, attacking him. "Summoning Princess' Tiara!" She should have done that some time ago.<br /> <br />Nonetheless, energy hums as the jeweled headwear appears in hand. "The Line of Succession..." It's passed to her other hand, which brings it to her forehead in the same motion, "Transform!"<br /> <br />A flash of red light engulfs her, and when it fades she's in full magical garb. Kukai may be acting odd, but she doesn't immediately think it's worth hitting him over. No, her focus lies on the Shadow Witch. "What are you even doing here!? Why!?"<br /> <br />Wand aimed at Shiniko, Rune begins a sprint in an arcing, circular path around the battle and fires a pair of thin red beams at her! Neither is particularly strong, but they are not attempts at merely tickling her target either; the princess is pacing herself for now.

:'''{{#var:151|Sora Hisakata| (151)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Shiniko watches the arrow hit Kukai, she doesn't even appear to register the presence of others until they start attacking her, she doesn't quite realize how to respond, but her hair already forms a protective shell. Yamato Maihime's ribbins wrap around that shell quite expertly, the trap isn't as strong as it may have been without it, but she's not moving far without doing something about those ribbons.<br /><br />Runealy's beams hit the protective shell, piercing it and causing a slight but clearly noticeable bit of pain. That's when the shell opens up enough to reveal Shiniko's face, and the sheer disdain she has for the people she's looking at. "I am the Shadow Witch Shiniko. The wicked shall learn by my hand, and you are nothing but gnats who stand in the way of justice."<br /><br />That's when a pentagram of shadow covers the ground below Shiniko, before lighting up into a shadow bonfire that seems to consume Shiniko entirely. A little after, the fire fades and Shiniko is gone, the ribbons no longer attached to anything.

:'''{{#var:165|Sierra Earhart| (165)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>The second Kukai summons his ball, Sierra reacts. "Time to Fly, Kit!" The chara nods and flies quickly into her heart. Immediately her appearance changes, becoming much more like that of a classical fighter pilot. Complete with brown leather bomber jacket, goggles and scarf. She poses and looks all cool for a moment before her transformation completes.<br /><br />Sadly, by this point, The damage is done to Sky Jack and out pops Daichi. Nadeshiko says enough. She doesn't follow through with it. She does however turn to face Shiniko. "What is your problem?" She lifts off the ground and begins hovering.<br /><br />Then, Shiniko is gone. "Yeesh This is nuts. This is some party, Kukai, Remind me to bring the Shrimp chips next time." She frowns annd shakes her head. "Kukai, Daichi. I'm your friend. You're the first two who befriended me when I moved here. I see you as family. Not as a romantic hopeful. I'd like to keep it that way. Are we cool then?"

:'''{{#var:141|Kukai Souma| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Kukai has his arms wrapped around himself. He's got his eyes closed and is making a small whimpering sound, balled up, not responding. Every time he tries to open his eyes and look around he lets out another crying yelp and hugs himself, eyes closing and teeth gritting. <br /><br /> Daichi flails above them. "No it's not a game! It's a challenge! It's the most important challenge Kukai's ever faced and I'm gonna make him face it because he can face every challenge in the world and beat it! He won't lose! He's the best person in the world, better than all four of his brothers put together, and I'm not gonna let him think anything less! He'll win everything!" <br /><br /> The little Chara looks down at him and rubs his sides in a similar motion, one Kukai's made several times. "But I dunno what that was... she shot him with an arrow and then took off and I can feel the magic and he's hurting so much." He frowns, then looks around for Temari. "C'mon, Temari! Tell them! Kukai's gonna be the best of everything ever and that means romance stuff too!"

:'''{{#var:134|Nagihiko Fujisaki| (134)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Maihime lets out a breath of relief as Shiniko leaves. She turns to Daisuke. Now that the immediate danger is gone, she's willing to actually let Kukai go.<br /><br />There is a moment of a ''glare.'' Probably an unspoken challenge. And then its gone and she hands Kukai over, carefully brushing unruly hair from the boy's forehead. "Please take good care of him."<br /><br />To Runealy, she flashes a grin before manners take over. They worked well together there. She wonders if it was a fluke.<br /><br />However, her attention is drawn back to Daichi. "He ''is'' the best person! But you saw Sora! Your actions ''hurt'' her! This one only wants to be friends!" This last was said as she gestures to Sierra. "Love isn't a challenge, either. It's a ''gift.'' And if you end up hurting people, how does that make him the best?"

:'''{{#var:29|Runealy Waldia| (29)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Being insulted as a mere insect actually gains some hold on Rune, an odd mix of agreement and defiance. "Maybe, but I'm not just going to stand there and let you do as you like..." Defiance delivered in a near-whisper, and then Shiniko is gone.<br /> <br />Rune lowers her wand, sagging with relief as she acknowledges Maihime's smile. "Looks like it's over. Maybe they'll come back, but I hope not."<br /> <br />Then she's looking over to Kukai and Daichi, even as Daisuke moves to help. "You don't get it, do you? I don't know much about it myself, but it's not a competition where you try to rack up as many people as possible. I never saw that from either of my parents, not even once." Her tone remains very low, quiet... 'hurt' rather than angry.

:'''{{#var:116|Daisuke Hansuke| (116)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Daisuke Hansuke frowns and takes Kukai into his arms and softly walks over to a nearby stout tree and sits him down. He steadies his staff straight as he shakes off that glare. He hefts the snake-entwinted staff and begins to meditate a bit---and begins to cover Kukai with a purple energy aura.<br /><br />He'll do his best to heal, he can take his time right now. He doesn't know if he can heal this, but he can try.

:'''{{#var:165|Sierra Earhart| (165)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Flying Wings just looks at Daichi, "No one said he wasn't the best." She frowns, "I, need to go. I need to think." She looks at the others. "Wish I could heve met you all on better terms." She frowns and launches herself upward into the night sky.<br /><br />Inside her mind, She hears Kit speak up, "Are you alright, Sierra-chan?"<br /><br />The flying girl just frowns for now, "We can talk when we get home. Right now I just need to think."

:'''{{#var:141|Kukai Souma| (141)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Daichi stares at Nadeshiko and then hmphs, looking down. "But he said love was the one challenge he'd never tried. If it's not a challenge, then..." He looks upset. "I wasn't trying to make a big score or anything. I just figured if I could get everybody to love him he'd be just that much more awesome. Cuz Kukai's awesome. He's the best ever." <br /><br /> Kukai's breathing goes easier, at least, when the healing energy washes over him, but this doesn't seem to be a wound of any sort, just.. pain. Aching, heartrending agony, that rises and falls constantly. The energy at least makes his pain not so much, enough for him to open his eyes and look around. "Aah... haaa.." He stands up, looking at the group, then turns to begin walking away quickly, arms around himself, head down. When Daichi goes over to follow him and sit on his shoulder, he rolls it and swats at the Chara, moving that much faster, keeping him off his shoulder, leaving him to follow behind.

:'''{{#var:134|Nagihiko Fujisaki| (134)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Her shoulders droop as Temari pops free from her. "Daichi..."<br /><br />And then Kukai's awake, and then he's running away. Well, sort of.<br /><br />She starts to follow, but pauses before the first step is taken. She turns to Runealy and Daisuke, giving a small bow. "Please consider forgiving him. A chara always has their bearer's best interest at heart, but sometimes they can get overzealous."<br /><br />She smiles at the princess. "I would like to meet you under better circumstances, if you like tea. But another time. Thank you."<br /><br />Then she's off in a mad sprint. "Kukai!"
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