Yatogami Kuroh | Tsukikage Yuri | 062

[arbitrament]

[It's been a long journey to this city. Not that it's his destination--Kibougahana City, was it...?--but nonetheless, he can't deny that it might not hurt to take a short break. Ichigen-sama always did say that he needed to take it easy sometimes so he didn't overdo it, because that wouldn't help anyone.

Except...more poetic.

Because Ichigen-sama is the most poetic of all.

He's taken to the rooftops like batman the slightly anti-social soul he is, but at some point, he notices that there's this old lady who needs help crossing the street, and leaving her to do it on her own would just not be honorable at all, and then there's a cat in a tree and it reminds him of Neko a bit, and then--

He's walking along, passing by a school, and honestly feeling very satisfied with how the day went (even if he hasn't gotten any closer to the end of his journey, sometimes it's the journey itself that is really important, right?) when he steps on something.

Something that goes crunch.

He freezes. This was clearly the first meeting that was meant to be.]

[le list:
- fashion modeling
- dinner
- badass fights
- magical girl transformations
- flower meanings
- post movie thread]

Comments

[socolognely]

[ She'd been thinking that she ought to tighten her glasses, perhaps when she'd gotten home. They'd felt loose all day, and she'd already lost them once, when Momoka had enthusiastically bestowed a back pat on her unsuspecting shoulder blades.

She's knelt to admire a small patch of little blue flowers when they slip off again, clattering to the side.

And that's when she hears it.

CRUNCH. ]

... Ah.

[ When she looks, sure enough, there are her glasses, now in little shards. ]

[arbitrament]

[... Ah.

When he looks down...those sure are glasses, now in tiny shards. Immediately, he's crouching to get a better look but...no, these are definitely not salvageable. Not even the frames. Maybe if he had some pliers to work with he could fix those but... well, the lenses are done for anyway.

... And there's the girl. These are probably her glasses, which he just stepped on and utterly ruined.

"Ah" indeed. Already, he feels terrible.]

These...glasses are yours? [yes obviously. Give him a moment, he needs to stop feeling so STRICKEN IN HIS SOUL enough to come up with a way to make up for this.]

[socolognely]

I'm afraid so. [ She's already reaching out to scoop bits and pieces of the lenses into her palms, plucking the frames up as well. For as dismayed as most people would be, Yuri's voice remains soft and steady, her expression still completely composed. ] I had meant to purchase a new pair, so it's just as well.

[ Sure, that'll work. ]

#kurohno

[arbitrament]

[Despite his odd encounter with an odd young woman, he'd really intended to carry on as soon as he'd gotten some rest. Except. Then he heard the rumors.

Rumors of an odd white-haired child around the city, and after that, there was no rest to be had. After all, his main purpose now was to find Shiro. Nothing could stop him from that.

Except he really shouldn't have forgotten to get rest after such a long journey, because it turned out that after such a long period of travel followed by wacky chase scene shenanigans-- well, after all of that, it's probably not a surprise that he ends up flopped against a river by the building, totally passed out and probably running a fever.]

flopped against a river

[socolognely]

[ He had been an odd young man, but he'd been civil enough and departed without a fuss, and Yuri had new glasses, so all was well.

Or all should have been well. There was a familiar presence in the gardens, one Tsubomi had been thrilled to see, and the visiting had lasted awhile. Now, on her way back, she spots DAT HAIR flopped by the river.

We won't go into detail as to how long it took Yuri to actually go over there, but once she ascertains that he most definitely has a fever-- she'll lightly shake his shoulder. ]

Yatogami-san!

[arbitrament]

[Should have been well indeed.

The shaking of his shoulder gets him to stir a little, but he doesn't open his eyes yet--he mumbles, but quietly, something that can't quite be made out and what sounds like the tail end of 'Ichigen-sama'.

Yeah he really should have rested, huh. What a dummy.]

magical girl fightin' time

[socolognely]

[ A typical day? Not quite, because she'd helped save the world once, and yet here she was, facing down a monster. From what poor soul it had sprung from, she's not sure, but getting in her path on her way to send Kuroh off on his search (again) was rude.

But now's not a good time to transform, not with people still running past her and screaming, so for the time being, Yuri's had to manage by dodging those giant arms. All of her Precure training hasn't left her, at least. ]

[arbitrament]

[Why is he chasing her down?

Because she forgot her bag. A girl's bag is a very precious thing!!! He couldn't let that state of affairs stand. And thus he follows after her at a quick pace, feminine bag clutched in his hands and--

And that's sure a monster. It's the work of a moment for him to realize that it's not safe (he'll have to take care of this before it hurts someone) and then he puts the bag on (he can't get it dirty, but he needs his hands) and lunges forward, lifting a hand immediately to call upon that telekinetic energy.

The force behind it slams into the monster and forces it back a few steps, which is enough for Kuroh to land neatly and-- see her. Oh!!!]

Tsukikage Yuri. [SPARKLE SPARKLE] You forgot your bag.

[socolognely]

[ ... Kuroh, of all the times for her to realize that you have odd magical powers, now is-- actually a good time, but knowing that beforehand would have prevented her from some matter of alarm!!

As it stands, Yuri is still somewhat concerned, staring at him with a mixture of bewilderment and dismay. ]

Yatogami-san, now isn't really the time-- [ as the monster charges again, actually. ]

sick tiiime

[socolognely]

[ It's been strange, having to remember that she no longer has to hide on secret from Kuroh - and also that he'd accepted it so easily - but Yuri can only be grateful that that's one small burden gone.

And yet, when she wakes up to the quiet chirping of her alarm, she feels heavier than before. Everything aches, her vision swims in fascinatingly blurry lines before her-- odd. She'd been tired lately, but she doesn't remember feeling this poorly. Had there been a bug going around school? The... school she needs to get to?

Sadly, she's only upright and out of bed for about seven seconds, before her knees buckle and she falls into an awkward-looking crouch with a thump. ]

[arbitrament]

[It's been easy to fall into the habit of making breakfast and cleaning in return for his place at their home. It's only natural, after all...and he did even more at the shrine with his master.

He would do more if he was allowed.

But for now, it's enough--

And then he hears the thump. It's a quiet sound, but it's enough for him (paranoid as he is), and immediately (still in a frilly apron), he's heading upstairs and right into her room and--]

Tsukikage Yuri, and you all right?

[... ... ...]

I also apologize for my intrusion....! [Into a girl's room without permission.....how deplorable.]

[socolognely]

[ Yes, how indecent, seeing Cure Moonlight in her pajamas and glasses-less-- but she's already trying to sit up properly, groping for proper purchase on her bed. ]

It's nothing, Yatogami-san. I merely slipped.

[ And that is why she is kind of wobbling, yes, sure. ]

magical fashion show grant our wishes

[arbitrament]

[As far as he's concerned, it's a peaceful day. Admittedly, despite having decided to stay to help take care of the new resurgence of monsters, Kuroh doesn't have that much to do during the day. He splits his time helping Yuri's mother, taking care of housework and looming on rooftops like a lanky batman.

But...it's peaceful.

Maybe that's why his steps led him here. It's keeping him steady and grounded, and he knows that even if it's delaying his search for Shiro, Shiro would approve of this choice.

So he is doing said lanky batman looming one afternoon and totally has no idea that a bunch of hyperactive girls and one very willful lady are about to spice up his life quite a bit more.]

[socolognely]

[ To her credit, Yuri is thinking apologetic thoughts (or will be), but there's quite a bit of activity going on at this middle school. Students rushing around, arms laden with banners and buckets of paint or elaborate props-- and near the gates is Yuri, holding a bag, and three girls in matching uniforms. The shortest one, blue-haired and loud, is gesticulating rather wildly and bemoaning the lack of "good men! Why do the boys always run when we want to do this?!"

Yuri, about to reply, suddenly pauses, turning in time to catch Kuroh out of the corner of her eye. ]

Yatogami-san? What--

[ sorry, Kuroh. You may suddenly be bombarded by a trio of wide-eyed middle-schoolers, all talking at once.

"This is her friend? He's so tall!"

"What a beautiful person... a-ah, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you!"

"I can use this!!" ]

[arbitrament]

[What den of evil has he walked into-- okay no he knows this is a middle school. He hadn't realized his wanderings to explore the city better had taken him this far, but now that he's being Observed, he joins them.

And is bombarded by wide-eyed middle-schoolers. Oh god. He's too quiet for this life...........

Now he doesn't know what to do or say.

Please save him, Yuri.]

heart flowers: the reckoning;

[arbitrament]

[They should have already taken care of this, Yuri had said once. There shouldn't still be these things happening--

But nonetheless, there are people in danger, heart flowers stolen, and the Precure have to mobilize to save them. Honestly, Kuroh doesn't entirely know what's going on, but...Yuri had opened her home to him, and he owes her a debt--he'll help however he can.

But it's after saving a young girl who had been distraught at the loss of her favorite toy that Kuroh (neatly sewing the arm back onto the tiny teddy), blinked at Yuri and finally, finally asked--]

What are these heart flowers, exactly? [He returns the teddy to its rightful owner, to her glee.

But you can't blame him too much for taking forever to ask, usually he's mr. exposition.]

[socolognely]

As you might imagine by the name... they represent a person's heart. What kind of flower and the shape it's in are determined by the state its owner is in.

[ Heart Flower Cliffnotes with Tsukikage Yuri. ]

[arbitrament]

[That sure was direct and to the point!!! But he's curious.]

I see. In that case, what is yours?

post-movie shindig;

[arbitrament]

[He's...admittedly had better fights. He'd told Yuri that he would only be gone for a short period of time (he had to find Anna, had to resolve this issue), but-- Well. That fight certainly hadn't gone his way.

And so, with a sigh, shoulders slumping, he wipes blood from his mouth, slumps against the wall and sends her a text--]

Would you be capable of meeting me here?

[He's honestly not sure if he would make it there on his own. Neko's gone with Kukuri, the kings busy doing their kingly thing, but Kuroh... Kuroh just wants to see something familiar (that doesn't awake in him the urge to stab someone in the face).]

[socolognely]

[ Yuri's just finishing tending to Kaoruko's flowers when the text comes. For a minute, she simply peers at the message, reading the message beyond the words. If Kuroh's asking her, instead of simply showing up-- concern flares sharp in her chest. ]

Of course. I'll be there shortly.

[arbitrament]

I have made it to near the river.

[At least there's that??

No, it's not great... But either way, he managed to drag his sorry self there, and he's seated against the wall of the underpass of the bridge, willing to at least focus on resting.]

valentines; THE SHIPPENING

[socolognely]

[ It's absurd. Completely absurd. She'd been so certain that Momoka, that her teammates, would have laughed at her when she'd finally admitted it.

But no, Tsubomi and Erika had squealed in tandem and the former had started listing off floral possibilities to convey intentions while the latter had started coming out with outfit combinations, and it took Itsuki and Momoka both pointing out that it was just a matter of presenting chocolate.

Which is why she'd all but ordered Kuroh out of her home for half the day to commandeer the kitchen, and why she's finally coming back from school the following day with a neatly wrapped bag inside of her schoolbag.

She's been having second thoughts all day, of course. Kuroh was a friend, a valuable ally, and hinting at feelings beyond that... would he get it? Worse, would it just make him uncomfortable? ]

[arbitrament]

[He......was kicked out of the kitchen.

Kuroh doesn't know what he's done to deserve this fate, but nonetheless, this is his fate. So he went grocery shopping to try to give her the time she apparently needed, and when he was out there were a bunch of cute decorations and chocolates and things, and so he picked up some ingredients for some dessert because why not? Yuri was always incredibly kind, as was her mother for lodging him, so a treat would be good for them.

And then he gets home, laden down with bags, and........ stands outside the kitchen door.]

...Yuri, are you finished?

separation;

[arbitrament]

[It was a reasonably content period of time, admittedly. It would be hard for Kuroh to admit that out loud, considering it almost feels like a betrayal of the King he has fought so hard for, but... he really does think that he's happy here.

Happy.

What a strange thought. But it's honestly because of Yuri, and he has had a very good time spent with her--but he knew the moment Yukari showed up that it wouldn't last. Neko at his doorstep, however, makes it quite obvious: he can't delay any longer. The only positive here is that he knows that Yuri herself has been preparing to leave. Admittedly, it's for school and not because she's trying to protect him from psychopaths of her past, but...well, those are minor details.

Still, the topic has to be breached.

He sighs, and knocks lightly on her open door.]

Yuri, are you available to speak?

Re: separation;

[socolognely]

[ She's nearly packed, turned in her forms... it's starting to take on an air of finality. But... she thinks, really, it'll be good, to have a fresh new start with the wisdom she's acquired and the relationships she's nurtured. That leaves one particular relationship to address, however, and the other party is the one on her mind when he knocks.

She looks up from taping another box closed, offering him a smile. ]

Kuroh... of course. What is it?