[Closed]

[a_royal_flush]

Characters: Shibuya Yuuri + Teresa
Location: Finland
Rating: G
Time: Feb 7th
Description: Teresa and Yuuri head back out to Finland in an attempt to take out the Kishin Egg they'd been forced to retreat from weeks before.

They had been lucky this time, and not as rash as they'd been their previous visit to the area. Instead of taking on their target head-on, the pair had been far more cautious. It had taken them a little time to discover one of the Kishin Eggs that had chased them the last time, and despite Yuuri's attempt to head in there and stop the threat, they'd sat back an observed as Teresa had suggested.

The patience had paid off, and soon enough the paid had gone in to take the Kishin Egg out once they'd determined that there were no others around in hiding. It hadn't been too difficult for them, thankfully, and Teresa narrowly dodged a number of serious attacks before eventually defeating the Kishin Egg. Glad that there was nothing else in the area that could hurt either of them (especially threaten Teresa), Yuuri transformed himself out of his Weapon form before stretching up above his head to pop his back.

"Aaa that's much better," he contently muttered before swinging his arms around to loosen the muscles. Reaching out to take the soul, he glanced back around to peer up at Teresa with a smile. "It was much easier this time without all the other ones around."

Comments

[of_the_faint_smile]

She had never found the loss of other warriors particularly difficult to deal with, since she had never been close to any of them. In fact, it had been her sword that had struck blows on those who had gone out of control, even removing the former number 1, Rosemary after awakening. She had never felt bad or wrong either.

"No, when a warrior attained a high enough rank, they became feared and formed few bonds with others. I never found it hard to do my duty even as it isolated me," she murmured softly, even though she knew that Yuuri would be able to hear. "I was the strongest in many generations, and my fall was no due to a lack of skill on my part but the thawing of my heart."

She knew that he took the loss of his friends very hard, but he seemed to have coped with Wolfram well enough. She thought that he might be lonely in such a large place for himself, but she had no say in where he chose to live. "He wanted to protect you, it seems. Is there anyone else from your world left?"

[a_royal_flush]

He wondered if it was similar to the way that Conrad was feared... or how he was because of his title back in Shin Makoku, but it was because of that fear that Yuuri tried to do everything he could to show that he was nothing to be feared. Yet when she said that she'd been defeated in such a way.

His reaction was instant, and the young Maou stopped walking as he turned to face Teresa. Reaching out to take her hands in his, he peered up at her with an expression mixed with determination and honesty as he said, "Don't ever think that you're weak because of such a thing."

With his hands still holding hers, he sighed softly as she spoke. Shaking his head lightly, he peered back up as he forced down the feelings he had for Wolfram's departure. "There's still Sara, but everyone else has gone back home."

[of_the_faint_smile]

Teresa came to a stop when Yuuri did, looking to him for indication that there was something wrong with the current situation. She stilled when he took her hand, and his expression along with his words caused her expression to soften again.

"I was weak," she replied softly. "However, I was happy, and that counts for far more than the rank and fear I had attained." She knew there was only one who might have picked up on it, but no doubt even Irene was dead. Nothing could have stopped that monster after it had awakened.

She shifted her footing at his words, nodding her head. "I will remain as close as you need during such a troubling time of adjustment."

[a_royal_flush]

"No, I don't think that you were weak at all. You stood up for what you honestly believed in no matter the outcome, and it takes a strong person to do that," Yuuri honestly said. It was something he believed in with his entire heart, and that much showed in the tone and expression he wore. The fact that Teresa was happy was more important to Yuuri than anything else as well. His smile brightened at her words about happiness, and he in turn was overjoyed by the fact that she thought of it in such a way.

Offering a fond squeeze to her hands at her words, Yuuri couldn't help but find himself saying, "Thank you, but I'd hope that you'd want to remain close regardless of how I'm feeling right now."

[of_the_faint_smile]

She had found a reason to keep on living, which had been an extreme change from her previous arrangements with the Organization. It had also been the first time that she had ever lost control of herself, an experience she had found very interesting and daunting. "All I wanted was to protect Clare and give her a chance to live."

Tilting her head to the side, she gave his hand a gentle squeeze in return to offer what she could in support. "I have no reason to leave you behind no matter how you are feeling."

[a_royal_flush]

His gaze remained fixated on her, and there was no doubt within his mind to just how important Clare was to her. Some part of him wished that he could meet her, because if Teresa cared about her this much, then she had to be an amazing person. That was what he believed, and he was torn with the thought of wanting to meet her, and not wanting her to be trapped here like the rest of them were as well.

"And you gave her that chance. Not many people are able to do that for the people they care about," Yuuri softly murmured with a smile.

The returned squeeze was entirely unexpected, but it warmed him with the knowledge that she would be there for him as much as he wanted to be there for her. All of the guilt and sadness he'd developed over Yuna's silence seemed to fade at her words, and for once, Yuuri couldn't think of anything to say.

Stupid eyes, he thought when they began to blur his vision as moisture tried to gather within them. Looking away, he moved to release her hands so then he could wipe at his eyes with his sleeve. "We should head back," Yuuri muttered a moment later.

[of_the_faint_smile]

She didn't have it within her to confess that Clare was dead, not again. She had avoided thinking about it because it made her heart hurt, which had never happened before. She had always known that a monster like her was a poor substitute for human companionship, but Clare had insisted and then gotten herself into trouble in that village.

"I had nothing else to live for," she replied simply, shaking her head a little.

Tilting her head to the side at the watery look to his eyes, she wondered if she had upset him. She wasn't all that good at being supportive, and she knew she was even worse at being a team player. Irene had once tried, but she was too independent. She wanted to be alone because being close to anyone was only looking for more pain.

She let him go, remaining silent even as her eyes drifted to make certain that their position was still safe. "Yes, that seems reasonable. We have what we came for after all."

[a_royal_flush]

Yuuri paused when she admitted that to him, and he felt his heart clench at the thought. He hoped that didn't mean that something had happened to Clare, and just that maybe she felt that way because she was here while everyone else she knew was back in her own world.

"Teresa..." he trailed off in the next moment as he glanced at her with both sympathy and concern. "Maybe you'll find something to live for here?" Yuuri didn't want her to think that there could never be anything special in her life again, and he wondered if maybe all she needed was for someone to show her?

Making his way through the forest, he partially glanced back to regard Teresa when he'd regained control over his emotions. "Mmm that's right. We can head back and grab something to eat."

[of_the_faint_smile]

Teresa hadn't thought much about finding a reason to live here. She didn't really understand this world to begin with, but she had been drawn here as a request for help. While she still didn't like humans all that much, she had skills which were of no use to anyone if she didn't use them. Her inability to just walk away limited what she could do, and the battles that she fought were interesting enough.

"Perhaps in time, but until then, I use what skills I have," she remarked with a small shrug of her shoulders. If BREW could bring her here, who was to say it wouldn't drag other warriors?

Nodding her head, she didn't mind going back and watching him eat. She wasn't certain if it was worth eating given how little it was indicated "And then you will head to the clinic after that?"

[a_royal_flush]

He nodded his head at that. Yuuri would be fully supportive of Teresa's decisions, and would remain by her side no matter what she did... well... unless that was hurting the innocent, but he knew that she'd never do that without reason.

"We'll see what time we get back. I might just go to bed if it's too late," Yuuri said as he continued walking. He was starting to get a little tired, and he didn't want to risk making any type of mistake at the clinic.

[of_the_faint_smile]

She glanced up at the sky from between the branches of the trees. It didn't seem so late here, but they were apparently in a different aspect of the world entirely. It was probably close to night given how long they had spent out here.

No matter his decision, she would make the appropriate arrangements for her time. "Do as you please," she murmured as she continued to follow him.

[a_royal_flush]

Yuuri didn't say anything further, but simply continued to walk through the forest while humming happily to himself. There was still quite a distance for them to travel until they got to the mirror, but he was more than happy to spend this time with her. After all, he had to think up of other ways to try and show her that she can find new things that were worth living for here.

It was with that in mind that the young Maou continued on.