Sakura Hill

Shizuka, out of habit, stomped her foot weakly against the grass and whined softly, tackling Kukai and clinging to him, hiding her face into his navel.

*continues laughing slightly and puts hand on her head*

It's okay Shizuka.

She spoke in an almost pleading voice, hugging Kukai tightly and breathing out slowly. "Don't laugh... it's embarrassing."

I told you you have to forgive me if I did anything like this.

*laughs again*

It's something I can't help.

Shizuka dealt a weak punch to his chest and dropped to the floor, sniffling childishly. "Do you do this to onee-sama?"

*nods head laughing*

"That's so mean, Kukai-onii-sama!" she scolded, rubbing her eye with the back of her hand slowly but gently as to not irritate her eye.

I am a big brother. Not much else I'm good for.

"So if Sakurai gets hurt or if I get bullied... all... all you'll do is laugh?" Shizuka asked, bringing her index finger up to her mouth and biting on the tip gently, tearing up.

Only if I'm the one doing it.

Shizuka released a chiming laugh and smiled, helping up Kukai from the ground and patting his clothes clean, squinting to make sure no dirt was anywhere. "Kukai is a good older brother. Definitely."

*sighs*

I better be with all that I have to put up with.

*Yagami stirred on the ground, still asleep*

Shizuka stuck out her tongue a small amount teasingly. She heard rustling and turned around to see Iori sleeping peacefully. She moved her tongue back in and looked back up to Kukai, not speaking a single word.

(I'll be back!)

*nods to Shizuka and mouths words*

I'll see you later.

*waves to her and walks off*

*Yagami opens his eyes and looks around*
Hn.
*notices its dark and freaks out abit*
how long did i sleep?

Shizuka overhead Iori speaking and turned around, walking back to the tree as the petals continued their celestial dance in the night. "Good evening, Iori-san. Did you... sleep well?" she reached him and leaned down, resting her hands on her knees and giving a heart melting smile, her face appearing serene.

*Iori turned his head to Shizuka and calmed down from seeing her smiling face*
Oh...hello Shizuka.
Good evening to you too.
*he thought abit*
Did you really stay here with me all this time?

Shizuka gave a completely serious nod, still wearing that calming smile as the petals seemed to be taking advantage of their glowing happiness, the petals now dancing spiritually as the tree itself rustled, whole blossoms fluttering. She found herself a little baffled at how the amount of petals that fell were uncountable, but they never seemed to pile up, the amount around the hill always staying set. "I did. My brother came in the afternoon and left a while ago, but I haven't left you."

*Yagami smiled knowing that she had started to care for him so dearly. It was about the only friend he had other than a few others, but he felt as if she were one of the REAL friends that he had been searching for for so long.*
*he looked around the night sky, gazing at the stars, only moving his eyes, and then looked at the petals ripple all around Shizuka, following a single petal that landed gracefully on her nose*
*he reached out and took the petal in his hand, looking at it, then her*
This scene...
Its beautiful.
*he paused for a moment, taking a deep breath in, then letting it out, the fragrance from the tree making him want to go to sleep again*
I appreciate you staying with me Shizuka.
You're very kind.

Shizuka blinked as her eyes widened in different positive emotions, knowing the smile Iori had shown was completely genuine. To her, that was the most beautiful type of smile. A rare, genuine one. As the petal fluttered down to her nose, she looked at it, going cross eyed and blinking once, afterward emitting a silky soft laugh, closing her eyes. "It is, does Iori-san like the nighttime?" she asked politely, seeing him become drowsy as he inhaled deeply. She blushed lightly as her eyes widened slightly, flattered tremendously by the praise. "I wasn't about to leave you alone... and... I'm too weak to take you somewhere safer. All I could really do was make sure you stayed safe."

The night-time is wonderful.
It allows me to use my pyrokinesis in more entertaining ways than i can do during the day.
*then, after hearing her last statement, he pouted playfully*
You dont think Iori-san can take care of himself?
*he chuckled and tapped her nose lightly*
You shouldnt worry about me so much, especially if it means that you could get a cold from doing it.
*Yagami picked Shizuka up in his arms, cradling her like a baby, or more of a puppy, feeling as though he had gained her respect fully as she had his*
And just from picking you up, i can tell you're cold.
*he smiled down to her*
We did sleep out here on the snow all night, but i hoped my body heat would keep you warm.

"Pyrokinesis? You're a fire user? So is onee-sama!" she exclaimed happily, her volume rising a little in excitement. As she quelled down, she took note of Iori's pout and tilted her head to the side, shaking her head twice. "Just because someone can take care of themselves doesn't mean they don't need an extra set of eyes." As she expressed her opinion delicately to him, in an instant, her feet were off the ground and she was in the comforting arms of her new found friend. She gave a modest laugh that seemed to ring throughout the air like small, silver bells, her teal eyes looking up to Iori pleasantly. "It did. And, t-thank you for that."

Im glad i could be of service to you, Shizuka.
*Iori tried to return the ever-so-greatful smile that Shizuka kept giving him, though he felt as though he could never return such a warming smile anyway*
I didnt know Sakurai was a fire user. Thats interesting to know.
*he tilted his head to the side and his eyes dulled a bit, becoming more relaxed*
*he hugged Shizuka closer to his body, releasing his warmth once more*
You know, you're right.
Thanks again.

Shizuka nodded once slowly, closing her eyes slowly and resting her head on her shoulder, the wind howling and whipping around the petals a little more violently than normal. "Mm, she controls other elements as well." she answered Iori almost in a weak whisper, reopening her eyes halfway and looking down into her lap where her hands were placed, smiling faintly but lethargically. "You're really warm, Iori-san."