2507/Strong Chai and Tiger Tails

Strong Chai and Tiger Tails
Date of Scene:	24 February 2017
Location:	Mitakihara/Pikarigaoka - Botanical Gardens
Synopsis:	Kukai-N is out exploring for somebody to eat when she runs into the last person she expected to find outside of his room - Beat Jumper. It ends up being a better meeting than either expected.
Cast of Characters:	Kukai Souma, Nadeshiko Fujisaki

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Kukai Souma has posed:
It's evening in King Penguin Park, a cool, breezy night, with the paths and roads empty, and a singular dark, white haired figure seems to be avoiding the lights and cursing her previous efforts to clear the park out of criminals and other evil doers. Now she's hungry, and her morals would make it a lot easier to eat someone bad.

Kukai-N sighs and keeps moving, exploring the park, watching for people - at this point, any people, all sorts of people, as long as they look healthy enough to snack on. The memory of cinnamon roll scent still rumbles through her mind, and trying to keep her energy and stomach focused enough to not lose it is an effort, even without her disguise up.

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
It's funny how something so simple could change one's outlook.

See, Rhythm is inherently cheerful. Inherently innocent. He loves everyone. This comes through when he fuses with Nagihiko.

And, well, if he'd tried this sooner, the young dancer would have been sorely tempted to just stay in the transformation.

Temari is flying nearby, a second pair of eyes in the sky. Both she and Rhythm know about the Norie and Kukai incident. However, Nagihiko is still wondering how to...bring it up to Nadeshiko.

She's rash, hot headed, and given the chance, she'd probably destroy half the city trying to piece her boyfriend back together.

Not that Nagihiko doesn't want to, but it's easier to think some things through with a filter.

Speaking of...

Temari gasps and flies forward. Beet Jumper follows not close behind, because whatever she sees is important.

The small chara is there first. She blushes shyly at Kukai, as Norie, and hides behind her fan. "Hi, Kukai."

Kukai Souma has posed:
Kukai-N sees movement in the distance. Somebody hiding in the brush? Maybe it's... something interesting? (Read: something she can eat.) She begins moving that direction, unaware of the oncoming company. So when Temari speaks she practically yelps and leaps, spinning to face Temari. Oh, crap. "Hello Temari..."

And there's Beat Jumper. Let's get geared up for an argument! Kukai-N glares at Beat Jumper, then goes over to give Temari a little pat on the head. "Hi Beat..."

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
Temari takes the pat as an invitation and goes to sit on Kukai-N's shoulder. There may even be a slight snuggle against her neck.

And maybe Beat Jumper should just become Nagihiko. But then again, Nagihiko is...about as volatile as Kukai-N.

So he stays like this. And he has a small, adoring smile on his face. Kind of like someone who hasn't seen a loved one in far too long.

"Hi, Kukai..." Then he shakes himself and holds up his hands. "Look, I am so sorry I was a jerk in those texts. I was hurt you didn't come to me, and I shouldn't have lashed out at you like that."

Kukai Souma has posed:
Kukai-N looks over at Temari as she lands on her shoulder, and reaches up, continuing to pet at her head. She sees that little adoring smile and lets out a sigh, looking at the happy, joyful Beat Jumper. "Hi..."

The shake and the hands up help relieve some of the stress that had bowed Kukai-N's back, and she stares at Beat for a moment before sniffing and nodding. "Yes you were a jerk. And I ... didn't want to upset you any more than you had been, or make this whole thing more difficult. It's not been easy for me, either. But I wanted it to be... easier, for you. At least I didn't run away from you when we did meet."

She sighs and then rubs her eyes. "Let's agree that we both did bad things and we can go from there. So... hi."

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
A shy grin and a little wave. "Hi..."

Beat Jumper sighs. "I know you didn't. And I know...you were looking out for me." He blushes a little and tilts his head. "I'm high maintenance, aren't I?" And he laughs.

Because Rhythm is so good at being happy.

"But you're not a burden. Whatever else...whatever. I want to be there for you. Especially during times like this. Because..." He shrugs and just flat out admits the simple truth. "I love you."

Kukai Souma has posed:
Kukai-N eyes Beat for a moment, then takes a few steps forward. "It's hard, looking out for you. Or Nadeshiko. I haven't even told her yet. And yes you two are, but I love you too." She frowns, spitting out the word. "...I can say it, but I don't feel it. I can't feel love for anyone right now. Oh well. I'll just have to think it's real."

She hmphs, then rubs her arms, looking over at Beat. "... I am a life-draining machine who's even worse than the original, because I have to feed a little Chara of my own and hope every night he doesn't vanish because I can't find some poor sod to knock out that night. If I'm not a burden, you must have a strong back."

She stares at Beat for a long moment, then goes over to him, hugging him. "Even if I can't feel love, I can at least feel comfort. And you comfort me."

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
He looks of to the side and clears his throat. Hey, RhythmPower can only go so far. "I haven't told her, either. My first instinct is to tear Tokyo apart until you're you again. And she doesn't have a filter."

And it has NOTHING TO DO WITH BEING JEALOUS NOPE NOPE NOPE. "And I may be mad at her that you chose her shit sorry."

Rhythm is also VERY HONEST.

He sighs.

And then Norie's body is hugging him, and while physically it's Norie's body it doesn't feel like her beneath his skin. So his arms wrap around her, warm and snug and secure, and the him that's been hiding behind Rhythm since the merge began is able to breathe again because it's been so long. "Of course it's real. Or was."

Another sigh. "You'll be okay. And..." He pauses before he continues.

He thinks about what it would mean, how it would be. He thinks of the drain hangover he had.

He calculates and assesses.

"I'm here. I don't want it to get that far for you, so...I'm here."

Kukai Souma has posed:
Kukai-N winces and then nods. "...I should talk to her. I know how I'll be fixed, but I'm not sure how long it will take. I'm still trying to keep myself from feeling that Sakura did this on purpose, even though I know she didn't."

She looks up at Beat, then blinks. "...I didn't choose her, you bastard. You didn't even stop to let me explain what was going on that day." She pushes back away from him, glaring at him. "I was going to tell you that I had to stop looking for those stupid clowns, it was killing me. I was Going to say 'please forgive me for not being able to find them, but I can't look for them day in and out from now on.' I was GOING to say 'can we maybe go somewhere and let me rest for a day or two' but then you decided that oh, no, who wants worthless, flipped out Nagihiko, oh, nooo, no, his boyfriend couldn't possibly want him to stay with him, he couldn't possibly want to beg his forgiveness for failing in something so important. For somebody who has no filter Nadeshiko at least listens!" Every time Kukai-N says 'going', she gets a little louder, until by the end she's if not yelling, then at least speaking loudly.

She glares up at him, gritting her teeth, then presses back in against him. "Hug me, you dick. You've got a lot of making up to do and you better get started. And get that stuff about choosing you or Nadeshiko out of your head or so help me I will make a point to choose her and you will be out of luck, you hear me?" Is it possible Kukai has some unresolved anger issues being Lacrima is helping him work through? Or is she just empowering things that would only be annoyances to become more enraging?

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
"Like I said, she's ten. Of course she didn't. Granted, we were...not much older, but still."

He blinks in shock and stares when she pushes away from him. And his heart breaks a little because oh my, he misunderstood.

"B-b-but--!"

And he breaks himself off. And of course he hugs Kukai-Norie. Not just because of the revelation, but because he was asked, and even if Kukai had broken up with him he still would be now.

"You didn't fail. I was hoping you'd give up on it." He may burry his face in her shoulder just a tiny bit. "You're better off not exausting yourself. And I'm sorry I was...a dummy."

And then maybe his fingernails dig into her just a bit...before he lets her go. "Choose her? Pfff. Please. She's even more high maintenace than I am."

And maybe...he's hugging a bit too tight.

Because until now, he'd been so sure.

Kukai Souma has posed:
Kukai-N hmphs, then sighs. "I know. We're a little older now, though. I can just.. wait." She ignores the b-b-buts, plowing through her statement, and then stares at him when she's finished. The hug at the end is ... nice.

She leans into the hug, listening. "No I did fail, but not for lack of trying. It just wasn't there. And I had exhausted myself."

Those fingertips make her wince as she then snorts. "Yeah, well. She won't fuss as much as you do." Her stomach rolls again and she lets out an angry grimace. ".... dammit. I need to eat." She pokes him. "Before you say anything, I'm not feeding from you again. Amu tried that for a while and she ended up with pneumonia. So no. ..... not unless I have to."

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
"And you're amazing. Who you are, and what you are now? You're amazing." He pulls away and presses warm lips against her forehead. "You didn't fail me. Or us. You tried so hard. How can we think anything other than how much you must love us just or that?" A few seconds more against the forehead because she's so cold.

"When I thought...that. It wasn't because I thought you didn't love me.I never doubted that. It's...more I doubted myself. Because even if she blurts whatever, she's more...open, right?"

He sighs, because augh so frustrating. And he clings to what he thinks is truth. Even if its wrong truth.

"Okay okay. But if you're desparate. If you look and look and can find no one. Come to me, okay? I'd much rather be the drudge of the barrel than anything, okay?"

Kukai Souma has posed:
Kukai-N feels warm lips on her forehead and blushes. For all the fussing she'd done about Norie-K probably kissing her boyfriend or girlfriend or whatever, here she was getting kissed on the forehead. Oh well. "... If I had succeeded, though, it would have been better. So... I'm sorry. And yes. I tried, so hard." She is quite cold, though.

Kukai-N hmphs and then pokes him. "If I didn't love you I'd have already left you, ok? And you shouldn't doubt yourself nearly so much. You're amazing."

She clings to him for a moment more, then leans back. "...Ok. If I can't find anybody I'll come back to you before I go rampant. I'll call you or something. And believe me, you are not the drudge of the barrel." She grins and nuzzles up against Nagihiko's cheek. "You are my tiger tail and strong chai, all sweet and twisted and rich. That's not the bottom of the barrel by a long shot." She hmms. "I wonder what Nadeshiko tastes like? I'll have to ask her later." She grins wickedly, and then with a bounce turns away, moving rapidly back into the park, hungrier now but less stressed, more content.

Nadeshiko Fujisaki has posed:
"If you had succeeded, unicorns would be flying in the air farting rainbows and diamonds and I'd be whole again. But I'm not, so." He shrugs a little.

"I know you tried. Logically, I know all of this. But it's hard to keep all of that in perspective when my brain is so....and I'm sorry." He leans against Kukai-N's forehead, almost butting against her forehead like a giant kitty. "Yes. And if she has any brains, she'll offer, as well. We won't let you starve, ever. You're the one thing we agree on."