i'll get by with a little bit of hope and all

[etudes]

[ WHO ]: Battler and Kotomi
[[ WHERE ]: 410, Battler's room
[[ WHEN ]: From evening on and then into the night!
[[ OPEN/CLOSED? ]: Closed
[[ RATING ]: Probably.. PG.. Maybe PG-13 if Battler gets inappropriate we're watching you, Battler..
[[ WARNINGS ]: Aside from Battler nothing.
[[ NOTES ]: Sleepover! Fun times in a not so fun place.

[ Well, it's a good thing that Kotomi is so oblivious. It also makes her oblivious to about 90% of what's going on in the apartments at any given time, including the many ghosts. Thanks to some warnings from other people she does steer clear from the ghosts and monsters, and sometimes she gets a little help too, but.. she just really is a hopeless case. She has noticed though that something is weird about the apartment she shares with Kai, especially at night, but that's probably why the slumber party Battler promised her is taking place here in Battler's room rather than in Kotomi's own room.

Not that she minds. Despite her obliviousness, even Kotomi herself can't escape the faint sense of dread hanging in this place, and it does scare her from time to time. And with some people (looking at you, Kai) being just as scary as the ghosts, she doesn't have anyone to confide in. Again. But Battler's different - he.. promised to be her knight, right? He promised to help her out, that he'd protect her.. so she feels safe whenever she's near him. She's sure she'll sleep so well as long as it's near him.. since surely he can fight off anything that appears.

So Kotomi is just sitting as neatly as possible on her knees on the floor in Battler's room, looking at him with her usual blank, but slightly curious expression. ]

So.. Battler-kun.. what do we do now?

Comments

[etudes]

[ .. Kotomi doesn't step in at first. She just gives him a concerned look, as if she doesn't like hearing that, but.. she wants to know about Battler's life, if it hurt then she wants to cheer him up.. if she can, either way. She never could cheer herself up either, so how could she do that for anyone else..? ]

Hmm. Me too.. I'll tell Battler-kun everything he wants to know.

[ With a short bow of her head she walks into the fort first, sitting down - although not really making herself comfortable since she's just sitting on her knees like usually. ]

[chestboard]

[it hurt, oh yeah it did, and he just wants to know more about her too before taking any other steps, he just met the girl! but she seems... so interesting to him, so adorable and so naive, just the type of girl he wants to protect more than anything, really.

he goes in as well, and instead he sits down cross-legged, staring at her with a frown before he sighs, crossing his arms.]

Alright alright... should I start? I warn you it's.... not a happy story at all.

[etudes]

I.. like happy stories better, but.. since it's Battler-kun's story, I'll listen.

[ She does want to know that about him. Especially if it's a part of getting to know him better - then she does even more. It's just a little worrying that he says he has such a sad story, so her expression is worried too as she sits there overly formally. ]

[chestboard]

[...mmm... might as well just dive into it then.]

There was a family conference. Every year my family held them, and well... when I was young someone I loved very much passed away when I was twelve, my mom actually, and not long after that my dad remarried. I was so mad at him, you know? How could he do something like that, it really fired me up. I left the family for six long years, and it wasn't until how I am now that I returned to those conferences on that island.

But.... it all changed for the worst. Aah it had gone so well in the beginning! All the cousins were there, we were having fun, I never thought...

[he trails off, knowing this is hard to say to someone but.]

....There was an incident on that island, murders, and my entire family, the servants, everyone died.

Even me, I think... [how does one even explain this properly, he's even having a hard time here.]

[etudes]

[ .. This isn't the story she expected. Sure, she prepared herself for something sad, but.. this is just too much! His mother died when he was young, just like how both her parents died, and then.. at another family conference, everyone died?! Even he.. died...?

No way, she can't accept that. Battler's too nice to die, and surely his family was too. There's no way people like that can die, it shouldn't be allowed, it's..

Slowly Kotomi shakes her head, but she doesn't even know what to say. There's nothing she can say. Instead she starts shaking a little, and she holds up her hands to her face before she just starts crying against them without saying anything else. Yes, it hit her that much.. ]

[chestboard]

[...w...wait, what?! no no, this isn't what he wanted, he knew that she was fragile and all but... he thought that was only ghosts and bullies, nothing like this, nothing like just crying over his story!

battler looked surprised at that and he soon scooted closer to her. with hands reaching out to her he grabbed her arms gently, urging her to look at him while he spoke as well.]

H-hold on....! Oi, I didn't mean to make you cry...! Um, you know, I died- yeah I died I know I did, but when I woke up I was in purgatory, ready to fight the witch! It all came as a shock but you know what, I fought back, I was fighting for the souls of me and my family, in order to return to the way things were!

I was winning, I was! So don't.... cry anymore Kotomi-chan....

[etudes]

[ She's still crying. It isn't loud wailing or anything at least, but she's definitely still crying even as she's made to look at him like that when he speaks up again. She sniffs too, soft hiccups leaving her. ]

S.. so.. Battler-kun.. uu.. uuu... isn't dead..? Battler-kun s.. shouldn't be dead, t-that would make me sad... [ It's like her entire body shapes underneath his touch. ] I.. I don't want more people to die..!

[chestboard]

...I might be dead, yeah.

[he won't lie to her, he's someone that just can't lie when it comes to this.]

But I was fighting to come back, there was no way in hell I would have rolled over and just let things happen the way they were going. No, I had to come back, me and my family.... that witch... she was going to lose and I was going to be the victor!

Kotomi-chan, believe in me, alright? So please, don't cry... [he brought a hand up to her face, wiping her tears.] I'm here with you now in any case.

[etudes]

[ As if she can just stop crying when he tells her that, it's still all just.. way too sad, really. The idea of Battler being dead, the person who was so kind to her, who promised her that he's protect her here.. she can't lose a person like that, ont like she lost her parents too. Even the thought of it hurts, and she shakes her head a little against his hand. ]

Don't leave.. B-.. Battler-kun.. please d-don't leave..

[chestboard]

I won't.

[his voice is firm, trying to get her to understand here that he really will never leave her.]

I'm here, I won't leave you either.

[etudes]

[ He sounds so strong, so determined. Then it's got to be okay, right? Then there's no way he's lying. And besides.. he's still here now. He's not dead yet, since he's this close to her, since she can smell him and feel him, so.. he's still real, still with her. ]

That's.. a promise, right, Battler-kun..? I.. in that case I promise I won't leave Battler-kun's side either, no matter what...

[ Sorry, she just gets so easily attached. ]

[chestboard]

Yeah.... hey, when you say things like that I can't help but think of you like my little guardian angel, you know? Makes me feel so happy!

So come on, no more tears okay? If you start crying then I'll start up too and you don't want to witness something like that! Useless, I wouldn't be able to stop and it would just be so useless!

[he grinned for her though.] You're way prettier when you smile~

[etudes]

[ .. There's a tiny nod. She rubs at her eyes more to stop the crying. At least she's mostly stopped now even though the tear stains are still visible. She doesn't want to make him cry at all.. ]

Being with Battler-kun makes me happy too, that's.. why the thought of Battler-kun being dead or not with me is so scary.. [ She sniffs. ] I.. is that weird..?

[chestboard]

It's not weird at all, no way no way! Hey look at me, I'm the weird one here, aren't I? It's what I've been told always anyways, look at that massive guy, there just has to be something wrong with him....!!

Why, you're the most perfect person ever Kotomi-chan! Let us other commoners catch up to you!

[etudes]

N.. no way.. t-there's nothing wrong with Battler-kun.. nothing at all.

[ She shakes her head, and despite her still being a little wibbly she seems to have made up her mind firmly on this. ]

Battler-kun being big is actually great, since that means he's strong and can protect other people.. everyone should have their very own Battler-kun against bullies. It makes me like Battler-kun..

[chestboard]

...Wait wait, you like me because I'm big, because I can protect you again bullies?

[he scratches the back of his head.]

And here I thought I had a winning personality too...! Drat!

[etudes]

... H... huh..? [ Oh no, Battler, you're doing it again! Her eyes widen in surprise and she starts shaking a little bit.. ]

I.. I'm sorry..! There's actually a lot more reasons I like Battler-kun, b-but if B-Battler-kun d-doesn't like me, then.. um.. th.. that's...

[ She can't even finish her sentence. She's too busy wibbling, the tears in her eyes again. ]

[chestboard]

[NOOOO WHY HIIIMM!]

Kotomi-chan, I can say this with certainty, and I would say it in the red, but I'll just proclaim it now.

I'll never dislike you.

[etudes]

[ Not like Kotomi knows what the red is, but she just assumes it's one of those things everyone seems to know about except for her, so she just accepts it.. instead she nods a little, as if she really wants to believe in those words. ]

I'll.. never dislike Battler-kun either. After all, Battler-kun's my very, very important friend.. [ She means it, if it isn't obvious how attached she is to him to begin with. Kotomi's never particularly subtle. ] I feel so much better when Battler-kun's by my side..

[chestboard]

[...w..whoa... this girl is seriously cute, way too cute! so when she's talking all battler does is stare at her, his eyes widening a bit as he listens to her speak, about how she feels good by his side.

...mm....]

...You're a very important friend to me too, Kotomi-chan. I won't ever let anything bad happen to you, not now, not ever.

[etudes]

[ A very important friend.. the words warm her heart. It's almost the same like way back with Tomoya, when he was the only one there for her. But since it's coming from Battler who she likes a fair amount too, it means even more, it makes her.. really happy, right..?

Still, if he's saying he won't let anything happen to her.. ]

In that case.. can I ask Battler-kun for a favor..?

[chestboard]

[he nods slowly, just smiling at her.]

Anything at all! I'll try and make whatever wishes you have come true.

[etudes]

Well.. it's usually pretty dangerous here at night. Or at least, that's what everyone else says..

[ Kotomi is too oblivious to notice about 90% of the things that happen, but still. She's gullible, so of course she believes it. ]

.. So.. if Battler-kun wants to protect me, I thought it'd be nice if he slept here with me tonight.. [ In their pillow fort together, yes. ]

[chestboard]

[...?! this is iiiit!!

he grins at that, nodding enthusiastically.]

Sure, of course I will! I'll stay here with you and sleep with you! [he meant to word it like that too yupyup.]

[etudes]

[ At least the wording completely goes over her head, that's how Kotomi is. She just imagines sleeping with someone as sleeping next to someone.. so she smiles when he really does agree that easily. ]

Even close to me..? That way Battler-kun could protect me better..