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

[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..

[chestboard]

I...if you want me to get close to you then... no problem, I will.

[what is this?! battler's mind was racing, his heart beating, all because a pretty girl was asking him to sleep next to him and hold her close!

AAAAAAUUGGGHHHH!!!

there's a brief moment where a flash of worry goes across his face, but it's no more! it's gone! and he's perfectly normal again.]

[etudes]

Of course I want it. If I didn't want it, then I wouldn't ask Battler-kun. But.. if it's Battler-kun who's going to be close to me, then.. that's fine. Battler-kun's the one who gives me this happy and warm feeling, after all..

[ In fact, as she's saying it she's already moving to lie down. Apparently Kotomi's the kind of girl who gets right to action, since she's staring at him as if she's waiting. ]

[chestboard]

[...ah...!?

MOVING SO QUICKLY?!

but um...! he can't just chicken out now, he needs to show her that she's a man, he lives up to his words yeah! so... he just blinks, his face as red as his hair, but then he nods slowly, moving to... lay down beside her.

...

..he's still a little ways away from her though, a little wary and not wanting to get so overly close to her. unless she requests it.]

L...like this Kotomi-chan?

[etudes]

[ Don't worry Battler, she's not saying anything.. yet, at least. She's just lying there, idly watching him lie a little bit away from her with her usual blank stare. ]

Um.. if that's what Battler-kun wants, then it's fine.. [ Not that she realises it's making him awkward, but even so, Kotomi's someone who thinks a lot about other people's feelings in general. ] As long as Battler-kun is happy like this, then I am too..

[chestboard]

Y-...yeah...

[he scooches in a little closer.]

I'm really happy.

[etudes]

[ For a moment she just stares at him. But when she definitely notices him moving closer, she's already moving to do the same, actually - moving closer to him until they're practically lying right next to each other, touching and against each other, even. Kotomi doesn't seem to mind though, she's still smiling. ]

Me too.. [ Despite the blankness, it sounds pretty genuine. ] It's been a really, really long time since I've ever felt like this..

[chestboard]

[with her right against him like that, he slowly reaches out to her, an arm moving around her, he does it hesitantly but... he eventually just rests it there, able to pull her closer so she really is up against him. he can feel her, even her chest against his own and it makes him blush even more.]

I don't think I've... ever felt like this, really, with anyone else.... [it's true, only with her.]