While reading had never been his strong suit, he was absolutely sure that little note said to meet here. Not seven feet to the left - which is an entirely different street - but right here. Yuuki was so absolutely sure he had the right place that he'd been standing and waiting for almost a half hour, shifting from foot to foot and looking the littlest amount of grumpy. This person was supposed to talk about a job with him and Yuuki - for the most part being unemployed - could do with the money. There were things to take care of.
Important things. Like rent and food things.
Pushing a hand through his already messy hair Yuuki sighed and decided fifteen more minutes. He'd already wasted enough time to just wait and it was boring now. The sounds of footsteps echoed down the alley and Yuuki couldn't give enough cares to look up. Until something collided with his shoulder and he and the stranger went tumbling. The man got up quickly, giving Yuuki a good elbow in the face on the way up though there was an unfamiliar weight on his lap left behind. "Hey!" Yuuki called, scrambling to stand up holding the unfamiliar weight before ignoring it and putting it into one of his jacket pockets.
Wait or run after them? The fifteen minutes wasn't up, so maybe that was the guy? Also the thing that was in his pocket but that could come after. Moving a hand to his face to catch any wayward blood that may have poured of the cut in his mouth Yuuki started to jog after the person. Maybe this was a test? It wasn't a very good test.
And from the alleyway the strange running man had come, a small die was thrown out, and tinkled lightly across the cobblestone, perhaps unobserved. It rolled enough to get to exactly where its thrower had wanted, and landed on it's side against Yuuki's boot. And whether it was the wind or the man shuffling, eventually the die fell onto it's side to reveal the single dot in its center.
She rolled a one.
A second later there was a hiss, and a soft explosion as a cloud of dust swelled at the crossroads.
And the confident person who through the dice knew she had that criminal this time! She had been chasing him all week, and despite her best efforts, he got away like the slippery snake he was!
But now that the entire junction of the street was laced with heavy, thick, sight hindering fog, she went in head first with her pole cue and came up around the shadowed figure at the smoke's center, and wasted no time in trying to come up from behind him and choke the man with the cue at his throat.
"Think you could get away this time?" she growled into his ear, trying to sound as menacingly male as she could, but her voice was just a tad too feminine for her efforts to be fully believed. "Now drop all your weapons like a good boy."
That's right! His running days were up!
OOC: Hope it's okay to presume some actions here XD if not I can edit my post :D
There was never a dull day. Yuuki would look back at this and groan quietly before hanging his head and going back to his mundane life. For now though, the smoke made him glad his hand was over his mouth while he frantically looked around for what exactly did that. Was he gonna get mugged? Yeah, normal people didn't just throw smoke bombs.
Of course, Yuuki went down easy down on one knee. He gave a gasp and his hands went to the pool cue pressed against his neck and the voice sent a shiver down his spine. Too close. The only people that whispered into his ear were ones he was doing that with, and usually it was 'you're too heavy, get off of me' or something equally not erotic. "I know I look like an asshole," He wheezed out, not at all enjoying the pool cue pressing against his neck, "But don't you think you're taking this a little far?" It didn't occur to him at all that maybe all this treatment was intended for the man that had run away.
Candy lost count just how long she was after this man for some information, so her patience wasn't exactly presentable. At his statement, she merely pressed the pool cue harder against his throat.
"Trying to sweet talk your way outta this? I don't think so. I want answers, and I want them now. I suggest you start spilling those beans, sugar, or I'm going to have to start placing this pool cue elsewhere and in places a lot more uncomfortable."
This was just uncomfortable. Yuuki couldn't do much besides strong arm this kid and he'd feel bad about it, because he couldn't imagine how awful she's going to feel when she's realized she's gotten the wrong person. Or did she? Was he a criminal!?
"How about you ask some questions?" He grumbled out, not putting up a fight, his hands up to show he was indeed defenseless. There was no desire to be a known criminal at least not here. Somewhere else, sure. This was his home though. "And you better damn well keep that thing away from my dick or we're going to be having some problems." He threatened quietly, doing his best to glare over his shoulder.
"Who said anything about me hurting those goods, hrm? But that's more like it, just keep your hands up like that and we can... talk."
She hadn't thought she'd be able to catch him when she did, but she wasn't about to waste anymore of her time with this ruffian!
"First, what's the reason you've been coming in and out of the Old Weston's joint, huh? I've heard a lot of rumors that people go past that area, but none return. No bodies, no nothin'. Except I saw you there the other day. And the day before that. Now something smells fishy, and you'd best come clean now, because I got a lot of evidence to support you're the murderer the guards around here have been trying to track down for months. So what's the story, huh? Why'd you do it? And you'd best be careful on how you word it, because one of them women you killed- she was my friend."
"Well, they're the only thing I value as much as my life," he quipped quickly before growing silent. Like a gentleman he listened to her talk, accuse him of murdering people and of being here for months. Confusion clouded his brain and a cold sweat broke out over his body, his hands clenched into fists before he opened them again while he processed all this information.
"Wait." Yuuki shook his hands and repeated himself a few times, "I haven't been in town for months, who are you?" His hands went to the pool cue and he grabbed it next to her hands, intending to rip it away from her grasp, it was starting to bother his neck and the ground was hurting his knee.
"Oh, yeah? Nice try but I ain't buyin' it!" But before she could utter another word, she released a.yelp as he tugged at her weapon, and it sent her off balance and falling into his back with an uncomfortable 'Ooof!' She hadn't expected that! But she managed to keep the pool cue in her hands, even if her grip was slipping as it appeared the pair were playing tug of war.
"Hey! You better let go of my pool stick or I'm going to make you wish I only hit your family jewels!"
There was an audible sigh and Yuuki closed his eyes, tugging at the pool cue simply to keep her off balance. "Look, Kid, I don't want to hurt you. Could you just stop? I haven't done anything."
Candy was becoming as irritated as he, and through the commotion, it attracted unseen and unwanted attention. The man she had been originally after looked strikingly similar, even with tattoos in similar places. Though the patterns were obviously different, not that Candy could tell as the man crept up behind her and once he was a good enough distance away, he fired a poison dart, striking her shoulder.
"Owe! What the hell... Did something just bite me?!"
But when she turned to observe the dart sticking out from her shoulder, her jaw slacked, and she paled.
There was only so much stuff someone could handle in a single day. Yuuki was quickly approaching that line, first he gets stood up, then pool cued and now, now he's manage to throw a dart at her from behind himself. If the poor girl didn't look so horrified he would have rolled his eyes and pushed her away.
Yuuki being a big idiot was in her favour though because all he did was remove his hand from the cue and reach to rip out the dart. It couldn't have felt nice, personally he never enjoyed being pierced by anything. He caught a glance of the person that shot the dart but getting the girl to safety was definitely priority number one. Yuuki used her moment of distraction to wrap an arm around her middle and shuffle off, once out of the mans view he place her down gently before picking her back up again bridal style, instead of like a sack of potatoes.
There was no stopping, the weirdo could be chasing them! Her. The girl.
"Where do you live? We'll lose the weird guy and I'll take you there." It was taking so much effort not to-"and I told you so. Why wouldn't you listen? Now you're hurt."
By the time Candy knew what was going on, her body was starting to feel like leg. She winced, finding her legs give out as she groaned, "D-dart.. dart was... was... p-poisoned."
And she hoped it wasn't lethal, because if it was... she feared her days might be numbered!
Yuuki chewed on his lip while the poor girl obviously was succumbing to the poison on the dart. Either that or this was gonna be a great con and someone was gonna pick his pockets while he tried to help her out. "Some damn fast poison." Yuuki commented to himself, watching it take it's effects on her.
It was tempting to just... Tuck her away and walk along like he'd never been part of this little event. His neck still kinda felt scratchy from the pool cue and it wasn't like he owned this girl anything. A few moments of watching her was all it took before he swore and cradled her like something precious, keeping her tucked close to his chest to be some form of warmth.
"C'mon sweetheart." Yuuki urged quietly, "You gotta help me help you, if you can't we're gonna have to sit in a horse stall until you feel better."
Candy winced. This was hardly the predicament she wished to find herself, and so soon! Her mind was sluggish, or perhaps that was her tongue, but as she tried to reach for her over coat's pocket, her hands fell short, brushing the fabric before the limb fell away.
How frustrating.
"My... my pocket. Inside... vial... I... need.... to.. to drink."
By the Gods, was this ever humiliating, not to mention immensely frustrating! At least she had some poison antidote, though she was unsure if it would work on every poison, for it was a general antiserum, however, did she have much choice if she wanted to live?
Of course, like a good boy, Yuuki went about rifling through the strangers pockets for this vial. Both inappropriately entertained and worried. "You just keep... Vials of antitode in your pockets? I thought I had shit jobs, but at least I've never had to do that." He commented idly before finding it in some pocket by her leg or her butt, he wasn't quite sure. Yuuki cradled the girl closer and hunched down, sitting against a wall, his legs crossed placing her in the place between his knees.
He used one arm to prop her up and another to open the vial. She could talk, that meant she could swallow right? "Alright, Babe, bottoms up!" he put the vial to her lips and tilted it slowly, allowing time for her to drink it or time for him to pull it back if she couldn't.
She'd slap him if she could, but she more or less gave him free range to frisk her! And her life was at stake, so the moment the vial was to her lips, she took it in, but was soon sputtering some out, but did manage to get a good portion of it down. And that made her gag, before she winced and felt the bizarre effects of the antidote wash over her.
Her body still felt tingly, even disconnected, and in her dazed and currently drugged out state, she still managed to give the guy a crooked smile and said, "Thanks, hun. Just give me a minute. The antidote don't work right away." And hopefully it would be quick enough-
But they had acted fast, but it still didn't help her heart was racing at the idea this moment could be her last.
Yuuki's nose wrinkled in distaste. Nicknames were one thing, pet-names-not-names were another. "My name is Yuuki not hun," came out of his mouth before his brain told him it was a bad idea. Now someone with people after her knew his name. While he could pass as Adelan from the back, one look at him from the front, the tattoos, the eye colour, he just didn't pass.
Shifting he moved his weight slightly when his leg started to fall asleep. "So what are you. Some sort of drug dealer?" Curiousity peaked and he looked down at the woman cradled in his arms.
Candy snorted and gave the man a coy grin.
"Okay, hun." But when he went on to accuse her, that expression turned into a soured one. She scrunched her nose. "What? Drug dealer?" She looked the man over as if he were joking. But then.. all things considered....
She shook her head and played it off with a laugh, moving about sluggishly in his arms, but really, moving was still futile.
"You're as far away but just as close in one accusation." After all, a whore's sex, some described, was like a drug, after all...
And she DID have some interesting potions and things on her. And boy, if she had a chance to tell you, it is quite the ordeal to keep those stocked and well hidden in her room at the Peach!
Mirth danced in her eyes.
"Let's just keep it at 'we're strangers' and nothing more." Things tended to get strange when she knew just a tad too much about a man anyway! Though she already knew his name...
Then again, she probably had serviced more than one Yuuki during her career.
Yuuki frowned and pulled a less than impressed face. "Alright, Kiddo." This girl couldn't be any older than Niaaki, that was for sure. Of course his expression changed when she told him to leave it at them being strangers.
"I dunno. I'm spending an awful lot of time being your chair." He looked down at the ground, the ground on which his bottom was sitting on. This was terribly awkward. Never being good with small talk he cleared his throat. At least she was getting better. That was going to be nice. Yuuki didn't want to cart a dead girl around town. Or leave a corpse behind.
"So... How's vigilante...ing treating you?" It seemed like a decent question. "Good business?"
Candy just stared at him. She could have laughed, and perhaps she did? But found herself shaking her head.
"For a chair, you talk an awful lot." She paused a moment and chewed on her lip.
"If you gotta call me something, call me Card Trick."
"Your mother named you Carddrick?" Yuuki looked at her, his face in dismay. Why wouldn't she just rename herself? Take on a better name? Carddrick was an awful name. Maybe he shouldn't have told her that. Maybe it had some sort of familial significance.
"I mean that's a lovely name," Yeah, good save, Yuuki. Smooth as ever. "It's nice to meet you Carddrick. And I'll have you know I talk a lot as anything, even a chair."
She thought she just heard him wrong at first, but nope, he got her vigilante name wrong. A single brow twitched
"Well, its not Carddrick... its Caaaard Trrriick," she went on, adding extra emphasis to what part he was obviously.pronouncing wrong! And her mother would never have named her that in a million years!
"Only good boys get my real name, so you'll just have to deal with it. Besides, its the name I gave myself."
Oh, phew. "Good. Carddrick is a really bad name." Yuuki nodded again shifting his weight and then stared at her for a moment. Good boys? Did she think he was a twelve and needed to go to bed early? What on earth did this girl even do?
"Card Trick is also a silly name." He lifted an eyebrow and then smirked, "So what. I'm not a good boy? I save your ass and I'm what... Your chair." The last part was a statement, not a question. He closed his eyes for a moment and leaned back against the wall, "You feeling any better, Tricksie?"
She snorted. Why did it amuse others to take her name and change it to Trixie? Her fellow 'ladies' tended to do the same, though she minded much less with them.
"Why don't you help.me stand and we can see?" Truthfully, she was eager to get out of this situation. It was bad enough it was her fault for thinkjng this man was the one she was after. And to think she used to pride herself in her attention to detail! Ten minutes with this man had her realizing he was nothing like her target.
Yuuki nodded, letting her legs go but moving to stand up, still supporting her torso. "okay, ready?" His hands went to her waist and he stood up slowly, ready to catch her should she be unable to stand.
It was nice to feel her boots on the ground, and once a moment of light headedness had passed, she breathed a sigh of relief. Still, she felt far too awkward in this predicament, and wanted nothing more than to salute him in thanks and make chase after the real villain. Or that would have been the plan had another light headed sensation gripped her and she stumbled forward, thankfully caught still within his arms. But a moment later, that seemed to be the lesser concern as a guard barked out their way, "Who goes there? The pair of Ye in that alley, what are you up to?"
And soon Candy was cursing through her teeth. Figures the guards still were making patrols in this Gods awful weather!
Eep!
Yuuki looked over his shoulder quickly, his hands still around Card Tricks waist. He moved again, quickly lifting her up like she weighed nothing, holding her bridal style and moved towards the guard. "I found this poor girl! She was hurt and not moving!" Aahhh... What else.
Should he mention she fights crime?
"I'll just... Take her home..." Yuuki gave a smile and shifted her weight in his arms and backing away slowly. the guard didn't like this answer but stayed quiet for now. "It wasn't me who did this." He said to clarify, because maybe this guard was looking for bad guys? Yuuki could do without another neck bruise, thank you! "Card Tricksie, Uh... Care to tell me where to leave you? I can leave a note. It'll be like I'm your young unwed mother leaving you at a door step. I'll also never see you again."
Though the guard didn't press at first, the longer he stared at their situation, the more odd the scenario seemed. And from his experience, those who confessed before being confronted with guilt, were usually guilty.
"It's raining like dogs and cats. If the woman needs help, I'll take her back to my quarters. And you, as well, for questioning."
He too, had heard about the potential of a serial killer on the prowl.. and this fellow matched those descriptions pretty closely.
Card Trick grit her teeth. Well, this was going south, and fast. Shaking her head, she forced one of her well practiced smiles.
"Oh, but what lies my fiance spins! We were both caught in the rain on purpose. After all..." She went on, snuggling in real close against him. " he's told me more than once he's addicted to my lips."
Yuuki froze for a moment at the turn around. So what, being honest was bad? He had to lie to the guard? Well, shit. Fiance? Shit, when did that happen?
Oh, right. Lies to keep from getting into trouble. Yuuki accepted the snuggling in real close to him and plastered on a goofy smile that he hoped was endearing and then planted a kiss right on her lips. Dipping her back and everything, he tried to make it convincing before he leaned back and gave the guard a goofy grin. "She's just... So odd. Loves the rain so... I gotta take advantage of that, you know how it is."
Gods. Yuuki really hoped this guard knew how it was, because he sure didn't.
The man stared at Yuuki. At first he wasn't buying that grin, but seeing it come on his face again- ugh, it reminded him of his son when he was goo-goo eyed over Lord Mettron's daughter.
"Er...."
Candy could see the man was starting to believe them, if not, at least having second thoughts to reprimand them for anything.
"I can't help it. Life in the city, it's just so stifling."
"Right.." the guard said with a curt nod. "But laws are laws... so er... try not to make too much racket. And er.. be careful not to slip. The streets become real mean when muddied."
Candy saluted the guard as he left them be, knowing full well he was probably thankful to be away from 'the happy' couple.
"Phew, that was a close one," Card Trick said with relief. "But hey.." she nudged him with her elbow. "Just be glad that man was simple. Your acting skills could improve greatly."
Yuuki just held her and let out long sigh of relief.
"I'm not an actor, I'm a mercenary." duh. Yuuki bit his lip and held the girl close, looking up and around for a moment before squeezing his eyes shut.
"I just want to go home, Card Trick." He finally stated, "how about I escort you to your hide out and we can meet up for that sex in the rain tomorrow." The last part was a joke, a dead pan joke that was said completely seriously. Yuuki shifted her weight in his arms started to walk, "just tell me how hot or cold I am to where you live."
Oh if only he knew what her profession was! Whore or not, Candy did not take kindly to that jest, and pinched his arm, hard.
"Ow!"
Yuuki pouted at her, "fine. We won't play the hot and cold game. Are there any orphanages around? I can leave you there, Kid." His voice got lower and sounded pouty "You didn't have to pinch me."
She gave him a dead pan look.
"Keep up this attitude and I'll keep up the lobster pinches."
"Attitude?" Yuuki said, looking surprised. He was giving her attitude. Oh this was rich!
"I'm not the one that needs help here, little girl! You can lobster pinch me all you want. Doesn't make you any less Not Somewhere Safe and me less right." He smiled at her again and kept walking, letting them get rained on because he could and he wasn't about to put her down now! She may fall.
Candy jut out her chin.
"Yeah. Attitude."
But when he went on to call her little girl, her cheeks heated with anger.
"Little girl?" She looked him over. "How old do you think I am, hun?" But then recalling why he got lobster pinched..
"Never mind, don't answer that. Just keep on walking. I'll just direct you to my home." And she pat his shoulders, "Now make a left here, blue eyes. Oh, and be careful, most of the street has become one large puddle." And she gave him the oh most sweetest of grins.
"I dunno." Yuuki started, making sure not to jostle her over much because he was still nice. Obediently he took the left when it was indicated and simply made eye contact and rose an eyebrow at the nickname blue eyes. While it was true, that was not his name.
"You're what... Sixteen? Maybe twenty if we're being generous. You don't look older than Niaaki and you sure don't look my age." Another grin, this one wolfish, "It's adorable that you think puddles will bother me," A raindrop made it's way down his back and he gave a shudder, "I'm glad you got stuck with a devlish handsome man like me for the night, you'd have probably tried to drown that guy that looks like me--" He paused, remembering his tattoos, "Are his tattoos like mine? Or just... Has tattoos on his face?"
Candy's expression was dead pan.
Her arms were folded across her chest now.
"What? Afraid someone's stealing your signature, face painted look and yours has become suddenly unoriginal?"
Yuuki blinked at her, a small smirk on his face.
"That's almost exactly what I'm afraid of."
Tattoos like his were bad news on anyone, if this girl knew what they meant she would have tried to kill him on the spot, he knew it.
"See, it's from the desert. The tattoos. Mine specifically mean something, I'm just wondering if his are like mine," Yuuki shrugged nonchalantly, trying to give as much information away without telling her flat out what they meant
"Oh... that explains it. You're Essyrni."
She went on to give him a patronizing pat.
"Don't worry, I'm sure yours are bigger than better than his."
Despite her earlier aggravations of the situation,s he was actually starting to have a little fun pulling this man's leg. After all, she was forced to be 'sweet' for a living. And just like the rain, the real her was just pouring out.
Yuuki made a slow attempt at being seen pretending to bite at her hand that pat at him.
"What, just because I'm from the desert I'm from Essryn? Pfft."
He gave her a pat on the knee and continued to walk, making sure to go the most uncovered route possible. If his feet were gonna be soaked through when he got him, this girl was sure gonna get at least a bit rained on, too.
"Just... Be weary of people with tattoos like me."
Yuuki paused, "Except me. Mine ..." He went quite for a moment, "Mine are a mistake. Which way now, Card Trick?"
"Please, I've met men with ten times more tattoos than you. Can't say any of them are more evil than you," she jabbed.
When the directions were asked, she frowned a bit in thought.
"Uh, go left."
Damn, she actually wanted him to go right. But she couldn't have him take her to the Peach...
Especially not in costume, and especially since she hadn't even gotten to the bottom of this case! Though perhaps she was taking it a bit too personally... and shouldn't have gone out on her own...
Maybe it was wise to head back?
"It's not about the having tattoos. It's what they mean. Just... watch out, okay?" Yuuki hoped if this girl ever found out what they mean, she'll be far far away from him. He'd hate to see fear in her eyes. Yuuki had always disliked being a thing someone was afraid of. Luckily, these people didn't know his particular tribes way of dealing out punishment. Which meant he just looked like a tattooed weirdo.
Obediently Yuuki took a left. "Let me guess, another left after this?" He smirked, still walking 'cause why not. "You know, another left and we'll have gone around the block!"
"Yeah! Another left!"
But when he called her out on what that'd mean, she went quiet.
"Err... r-right... Well, perhaps I was too embarrassed to say I sent you the wrong way?"
Yes! Nice save... or so she hoped!
Yuuki shook his head and sighed, his hair was soaked, his shirt was soaked and he just gave his shoulders a roll and went a completely different way.
"Nah, I get it. You don't want me to know where you live 'cause I look like a scary murderer." That was okay, he could deal with that. As long as she didn't think he was a scary murderer.
"Your legs still weak? Wanna try walking again?" He wiggled her legs in his arms and smiled at her earnestly. "I'll have to take you to my home if you can't. I'm not just gonna leave you out in the rain."
Yuuki didn't really want to bring her home but he couldn't just leave a poor girl alone at night with nothing to protect herself but a pool cue. That would be just cruel.
And the last thing Card trick wanted was to go home with a stranger!
"Well, try putting me down and we can see!" she went on in a huff, obviously flustered by the suggestion.
"Alright!"
Yuuki bent down slightly and put her legs down nicely, though still ready to support the poor girl if she was all lamb-weak.
She was glad to be on her feet, and doubly glad she didn't immediately fall over! It gave her enough confidence she was grinning from ear to ear.
"See? Right as rain!"
Probably not the best example, but! Hey... at least she felt well again. Thank you to the antidote! She'd have to make a note she'd need to get more later. Though Starlight might be angry when she finds out (and she normally was when she'd go on her own!) but hey.. she was so close this time to nabbing that man!
A pleased smile was on his face and he'd forgotten himself for a moment and tapped his hands together. He could stop carrying her! Hurray!
"So, are you good to walk home? I realize you don't want me to know your true Identity, Card Trick," he stared into her eyes for a long moment simply because he could, "I mean. I know I'm a bit on the slow side but... Carddrick I could understand. Card Trick. Nah, that's not your name." He moved his hands up to stop his tangent, "I won't ask your real name though, promise."
Candy shot him a glare.
"Oh, you're so perceptive. But Card Trick is what I'm offering, so that's where my name stands."
Sighing,s he stretched out her limbs, thankful to have the feeling back into them and not falling prey to becoming a useless heap.
"So uh.. I suppose a thank you is in order for helping me."
So she offered out her hand for him to shake!
"I don't actually care about your name." He gave the top of her head a pat and then shook her hand, grinning widely at her.
"Now, remember, don't go attacking just anyone." He stuck his tongue out at her, "May be the wrong guy." He started to walk away, not bothering to miss the puddles on the way. Yuuki didn't notice the man standing in the alley, waiting for him to leave, giving the girl a long look before he moved in, ready to finish the job.
That girl wouldn't be too tough, tiny thing that she was.
She rebutted with a, "If you didn't care, you wouldn't have asked."
And asked, twice, was it? She only beamed. But at his retreating form she simply rolled her eyes.
"Just watch your own back, sugar, and I'll watch mine." And she wasted no more time in briskly walking back the way they had came.
The pair had been noisy if ever a pair had been, and despite the rain, the man from earlier had more than enough time to come back around and tail the two. Seeing them part ways, he kept his eyes on both, but focused on Card Trick.
And now that she was well on her way to being alone...
He kept on tailing and moved through the shadows like a snake on water.
Candy was none the wiser, her momentum all but deflated from the little fiasco of a mistaken identity, and also a near death experience. She wondered if she ought to head home. The Peach was definitely a lot safer (if not dryer) than being out here in the alleyways at night.
Pausing a moment, only then did she realize the rain was making her cold as she shivered and sneezed. Great, just great. Not only was she going to get some odd mark on her shoulder from the dart that she'd have to cover up, but now she was getting a cold! Way to go, Card Trick!
He was the predator and she was the sweet prey.
He knew she'd been looking for him, how could he not? The girl was hilariously obvious and while he didn't know who she was the little gettup was easily spotted from a mile away. He licked his lips, tasting the rain before he silent followed her. A sharp smile when she sneezed.
Having never been one for giving the enemy the advantage, his leg kicked out, aiming for her back. The poison hadn't killed her - unfortunate - but he figured she'd at least be as weak as a faun. In fact, he was counting on it. "Though you'd gotten away, huh? Thought I wouldn't come back to finish the job?"
She hadn't heard the approach, the rain could be thanked for that, as was her poor footing when she yelped as she was kicked over and tumbled onto the slick cobbestone. She hit her face, scraping her cheek and a lot more than that. And when she turned around, she bared her teeth at him.
"No, but I came back to finish my job." And she let a small die fall from her pocket, that tinkled across the cobblestone between them and stopped when the dice read three. And upon seeing what she rolled, a hollow smirk crept across her lips before an explosion blew them both away.
She knew it was a risk, her dice were loaded- literally, and with magic! And the fact she rolled the explosive number....
Well, let's just say she hoped he got as burned as she did. Hopefully worse, and she wasted no time in scrambling to her feet and putting out any fire in her hair and clothing.
Great, now she'd have burns on her. More wounds to cover up at night.
The blast knocked him away and he crashed against a wall, falling to his back. His face was burned, his clothing was charred. Still though, he was pissed now.
"You rotten bitch!"
He ripped off his coat, revealing tanned arms. Jagged tattoos ran up and down the arms only to disappear underneath his shirt and his gloves. Pulling a dagger out of his belt he ran for her, more angry than anything else at this point. This little witch was going to die tonight and if he had a chance, he'd wear her like a coat. He jumped for her, one arm ready to grab her and the other arm ready to stab her in the back.
Except another body entered the picture and before the man could get to her Yuuki jumped in. Literally jumped in. He recognized those tattoos. All he saw was red. The man recognized the tattoos on Yuuki's face too and for a few moments they stared at one another.
A fist connected with the mans face and years of anger and rage poured out of the once seemingly gentle Yuuki. The strangers face was turned into meat, Yuuki's fists were bleeding and before long he was panting, blood splattered on his face, which had gone pale. "You bastard!" Another punch, the meaty noise, the water around the mans head was red with blood.
Yuuki didn't notice the mans dagger had plunged into side and that also was bleeding. Another feeble punch and he breathed heavily, his hands shaking.
Perhaps she wouldn't have to cover anything up. Perhaps this was it, and a silent tear slid down her cheek as she smiled through the man's hold on her, too weak to retaliate. She wished she could have made her peace before this, but perhaps she did. The man had killed... and she tried her best... Her best to do the right thing. To put an end to this before he killed again.
Funny how it seemed it was going to end with another death. Her own.
Except what happened next had her frozen from where she had fallen to the ground.
And there was blood, so much blood. And the men.. they looked so alike yet...
As she realized just who the other man was, fighting the cruel bastard that tried to gut her....
She only found the strength to murmur his name.
"Yuuki?"
An enraged scream left his throat and his bloodied hands were around the mans throat. Feebly his hands were scratched at but he just pressed harder. Angry. So angry. Yuuki snarled through his teeth and gave the man one more murderous look.
And then they were gone. Disappeared from the girls sight. There was at least five seconds of them both having disappeared.
Then he was back. Standing before the girl. The knuckles of his fists were bloody, his shirt was torn and covered in blood. The dagger wound at his side had blood seeping down, staining his pants. He was panting and he quickly turned around, pressing his hands to the wall behind him. Leaning over he panted before vomiting and letting out a shuddering sob.
"I'm sorry."
Yuuki turned away, looked at Card Trick and simply shook his head before he started to stumble away. That was violent. He'd just beaten a man to death. Near death. The fall from the cliff killed him. He'd be a good meal for the wolves. "Oh gods. I'm so sorry." And then he started to walk away, to stumble home. Maybe he could stitch up his side. Maybe he could just fall asleep here and not remember anything.
To say she was still in shock was an understatement. It was hard to believe any of that happened, and the repetitive apologies seemed to fall on def ears as she simply gaped. But what sobered her was when Yuuki began to turn to leave, and at first, she wasn't sure what to say or if she wanted to follow.
But as he disappeared from view, the events replayed inside her head, making her realize...
Had he just... just rescued her?
His hands were pressed to his face and then he stopped dead on the streets.
He didn't make sure she was okay.
The only reason why he'd been so blinded by rage and memories was to protect something. Yuuki rushed back, a wild look in his eyes, his hands out, his eyes red with unshed tears, easily hidden by the rain. "Card Trick." His voice was thick sounding but he moved closer, not sure she'd want to get close to him.
"I didn't even..." He swallowed thickly and wiped at his mouth with the back of his hand, smearing the blood from his knuckles across his chin. Yuuki kneeled down in front of her and reached out to tuck her hair behind her ears before he pulled his hands back, afraid that if he touched her she'd scream. "I didn't even make sure you were okay. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. He's gone." Yuuki swallowed again and pushed his hands through his hair, not really processing what he'd just done. Not yet.
"He.. He's far away from Ketra." The girl hadn't noticed him disappear? No questions? He rubbed at his chest, "Know a good place to get drunk? I want to get drunk."
Still in shock, the entire ordeal didn't fully register, but when Yuuki returned, and she saw the blood and let his words sink in, she was quick to grit her teeth. The man had just saved her, and in whatever means this had been was obviously as shocking to him as it was to her. She couldn't even speak! Lamely, she nodded but her eyes remained glued open to the size of saucers.
And the only thing she could piece together was that when the man disappeared.... Yuuki must've killed him.
With trembling hands he pressed his hands to his face and took a deep breath before he took his hands and gently placed them on her shoulders.
"Card Trick? Please say something."
"Th-th-th-th- That man..... Who are you? And what happened to him?"
It was about all she could spit out while remaining in shock, tensing at his touch and being so close to someone that more or less scared the crap out of her now while saving her life. The only problem with that was...
She really didn't know him that well, and how and why and WHAT just happened!?
How could he tell her who that man was without telling her what the tattoos meant? Yuuki let his hands drop down to his sides and he just stared at the ground. Did she deserve these answers? Yes. she almost died.
"I'm from the Moraki desert. There are a few tribes. The tattoos are the way of punishing criminals before they're exiled." Yuuki swallowed thickly and looked off to the side and down. "My name is Yuuki. His tattoos. They're exactly like mine and I know what they mean. I... I got so angry." He shook his head, still not quite understanding what he was doing with himself at this moment.
"He's dead." Yuuki closed his eyes for a moment, "I dumped him off a cliff. I wasn't thinking. I was just angry. I'll understand if you want me to leave, I don't want to frighten you anymore than I already have." He knew he'd feel like a bag of rocks tomorrow. Maybe not even get out of bed. It'd be nice.
It was so much to take in, but even through her fear, she could see in the way he acted, and had treated her before, that he wasn't lying to her. So a criminal? She could guess there was an endless list to the man he had just killed, but Yuuki?
She could only find herself responding to one pounding thought in her head.
"What crime... did you commit?"
Her question made his chest ache and he squeezed his eyes shut further.
"I didn't do anything." He pressed a fist to his face and took a deep breath, remembering his mother. His brother. The family he had. He'd probably have a normal life, wouldn't hate mirrors. A wife and child. That was a different life though, one he wasn't going to get.
"I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I was the only possible culprit and they had to punish somebody." Yuuki ran his fingers over his cheek, feeling the skin. Knowing what they looked like though he'd avoided looking at them for ages. "These tattoos are for rapists and murderers. But I swear on every god in the sky that despite these tattoos I'm innocent of those crimes." Yuuki paused for a moment and then looked over his shoulder. Sort of. Previously.
Murder? A rapist?
Despite not knowing him for that long, even that was a stretch to her. But as the reality of just what he was saying sunk in, that he was punished for being in the wrong place at the wrong time....
"Gods..."
His life must've been ruined.
"I..."
But what could she say? Her own eyes were wavering, as if threatening with tears to join his.
Damn.. no she did have tears and they were now rolling down her cheeks. She hated feeling so vulnerable like this, but she also hated to see this man in distress.
She could only imagine the shame he had to go through, and the pain of obtaining that shame in a situation he couldn't escape. Her own stomach dropped. It mirrored hers.... her life, at least, a little. Here at the Peach? She really had no other fate but here.
She swallowed the knot in her throat and hesitated to take a step near him and found one shakey hand lifting, and resting on his arm.
"We... we shouldn't linger."
Even if she felt her body would no longer be able to move. She felt too heavy, too cemented in place. The spectacle would surely draw attention, and neither of them could afford a run in with the guards.
Yuuki hadn't realized how scared he was of this girl rejecting him simply because she knew about his tattoos until she'd suggested they leave. That sounded like non-rejection to him and he didn't hesitate to take her hand in his when he felt it on his arm.
"The rain will wash it again," He nodded towards the blood on the ground, barely there now in the rain. Though he was now soaked to the bone and his knuckles were still red. Hurt like a bitch, too. "Remember how I said I want to get drunk?" Yuuki took a breath, "Still do. Care to join me?"
As much as that sounded tempting, she knew she couldn't go.
"I.... I can't."
Gods,s he wished her voice could sound brave. She was positively trembling.
"I... I'm not even supposed to be here..."
And her eyes went to the fading blood.
Confused was a good word for this.
"Not even supposed...?" He frowned, how young was she? Were her parents going to scold her for being out here? Well, if he had a kid, he sure as hell would scold them for endangering themselves. Yuuki pushed a hand through his hair, his hands shaking slightly from the adrenaline.
"Where did the girl go that attacked me, huh?" Yuuki tilted his head, "You were so ready to get the bad guy but the bad guy's been got and now you're shaking like a leaf. It was either you or that thing. You're alive." Yuuki shook his head, "You need to remember that. Despite everything that's happened to you, you're alive now." He frowned, "Unless."
"Ha... have you never seen ... " He looked over his shoulder, "Maybe..." Yuuki licked his lips, "Maybe you should go home... Get some sleep, you can pretend this never happened."
Out of instinct, she punched his shoulder- hard.
"Stop treating me like a kid! I just said it ain't a good idea, and it ain't! Not dressed how I am, and not at this hour. Besides.."
She cringed but stopped herself short. No, no. She wasn't about to go tell this man she was a whore.
Even if he had saved her life...
and he was right on some accounts...
She could only be Card Trick for him, and nothing else. And well... after today? They'd part ways and likely never see each other again.
Yuuki allowed her punch to move his shoulder and he just gave her a look. "The fuck! You are a kid! You're prancing around in a fucking costume hunting people down." Yuuki backed up, his hands up before he just let them drop down to his sides.
"You want to be taken seriously, go sign up to be a guard or some sort of law enforcement." He shook his head and pushed his hands through his hair, not enjoying the situation. "Doing this will get you killed, you blew yourself up and you almost died."
Card Trick grit her teeth. He had no idea the complications of her life!
"As if I could just do that. And there's a reason I'm dressed like this!"
She thought that much was obvious!
He clenched his teeth and took a breath, kicking at a puddle of water for good measure. Kids were frustrating. So stubborn.
"Fine. I don't know you and you know more than enough about me." He held his hands out, "I apologize. Just... Go home before you get hurt more."
His words stung a lot more than he probably realized, and she hated herself for feeling the threatening burn of tears in her eyes. So she just glared at his hand before turning away, and stormed down the street without even looking back.
She couldn't anyway. She had to focus on her anger, or she really would cry.
Yuuki stood, rooted to his spot while he watched her leave. Man, he felt like an asshole. It was good though. Sometimes someone had to be an asshole. Maybe that girl would ... Practice more or... Get her act together and... Yuuki sighed and pushed his hands through his now wet hair before he pressed his hand to his side, pulling it away to see blood. Awww, shit. He'd forgotten about that. Typical Yuuki.
Taking a deep breath he decided that maybe walking home wasn't a good idea, he didn't want to land on his face. Instead he sat with his back against a wall and he drifted away with his eyes closed. He whispered the girls weird name in a quiet exhale, not sure if it was a cry for help or what either way, it was too quiet and too soft. Yuuki wasn't sure if he passed out from lack of blood or what, either way, eventually everything was dark and blissful and he didn't have to feel like an asshole anymore. Bonus!
Unfortunately, Card Trick was out of ear shot. However, due to her absence, another one did hear him, as Lady Night stepped into the alley way. The chaos had drawn her this way, and she feared she might be too late to get to Card Trick, but after hearing someone whisper her name, she rushed around the bend and was startled to see a man who looked as if he were bleeding to death.
"Shit."
This was not what she was hoping to find! But she wasn't heartless, nor weak,a nd cursed herself every step of the way as she dragged Yuuki to her room- and while she tended to his wounds, she also, on the other hand, tied him to a chair in case he was some sort of a villian- considering she couldn't ask Card Trick yet..
She hadn't returned. Which worried Starlight greatly as she paced near her door, wishing she could go check on her like she wanted, but knowing full well she couldn't leave this stranger in her room all alone. There would be too many questions asked...
And she wanted to be the one doing the questioning!
OOC: Hope it's okay I had Starlight (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=17039.msg197881#msg197881) find him~
Yuuki woke to a pounding headache and his neck hurting like a bitch. Not only that but he felt like he'd been stabbed. Grimacing he opened his eyes slightly and looked down at himself. Well, at least he knew why he felt like he'd been stabbed. Ouch. Poor guy.
Oh, that was him.
Finally his brilliant blue eyes opened and he blinked slowly and looked around. His face was puffy from sleeping with his head down, his black hair stuck up at odd angles. Clearing his throat he took in his surroundings.
And was extremely confused.
"Uh...." Yuuki cleared his throat again, "Hello? Did I... Did I pay for this?" He was died up, and maybe bloodloss Yuuki was like drunk Yuuki and he decided to do some really weird shit. It was a thing that could happen.
Starlight whirled around upon hearing the man's voice. And at his question, she gave a wary smirk and said, "No, but if you're smart, you'll answer my questions. About... Card Trick, what do you know about her and why were you calling her name just before I found you, passed out? You were bleeding all over the place." And she gestured to her patch job on his body. "But I took care of that. But I didn't help you for free. Granted, I could have dumped you off elsewhere for someone to mend your wounds, but my friend.... Card Trick, she hasn't come home yet and I can't help but wonder if you're to blame..."
She folded her arms across her chest and cut him a look.
"So start talking, sugar, because my patience is already thinned."
"Gods." Yuuki groaned, a pained expression on his face. He felt like he'd just woken up from an awful drinking binge and on top of that he was in some strange woman's room and hadn't gotten laid. Bad night all around. "There was a guy." Yuuki frowned at her, giving her a sideways look.
Was this woman really a friend of that girl? Maybe this was a ploy. Maybe she thought Yuuki was part of Card Trick's little gang and was trying to get information about the girl out of him. Man, tough cookies for this chick, he didn't know anything. "There was a guy," He repeated, licking his lips, "Looked a lot like me. Tanned, tattoos." The exact same tattoos, but she didn't need to know that, "She attacked me thinking I was him and he hit her with a dart and I tried to walk her home but she said nooooo and kept going on her way and then he attacked her " He took a breath," so I punched his face into pulp and," Oh, that's why he felt like two barrels of whiskey deep into the night, "threw him off a cliff and then we exchanged some words she didn't like and I guess I got hurt 'cause I was passing out and that's the last I saw of her." Yuuki took a big breath and looked at the woman, hoping that was enough talking.
Starlight just stared. A part of her lips might have smiled, but it wasn't necessarily a happy one.
"I'd say you're bull shitting me but that sounds like the sort of crazy Candy gets into."
And she went quiet.
Shit.
She didn't meant to call her Candy..
Then again, how much did this man know about 'Card Trick'?
Candy?
That name was almost as weird as Card Trick. Yuuki stared at the woman for a moment, looking around because she'd gotten so quiet. Did something serious happen? He frowned for a moment before his puzzle pieces fit and his eyes went wide with realization, "Ooooh, that's her name that I'm not supposed to know." Yuuki looked away for a moment, "I don't even really know what she is besides tiny and a kid." He shrugged, "Are you part of her gang? The gang leader if you will."
Starlight winced. How was she going to explain that? The man seemed harmless, anyhow, and if what he said was true, he had helped Candy out. Or, in this case 'Card Trick'. She sighed and finally turned to regard him.
"I'll explain some details to you if you explain some details to me," she went on firmly, her tone completely no nonsense as he looked him dead in the eyes.
Yuuki looked at the woman, even leaned in a little after she told him to explain some details. And waited. And blinked a few times. Pursed his lips. "Details... About the night?" Yuuki had ways of getting out of being tied up - to a chair of all things, so easily breakable. He shook the hair from his face and winced when he leaned too far to the side.
His torso got an accusatory look for a moment before he began to speak. "I already told you about what happened during the night. Want me to repeat it with smaller words? We parted ways, I passed out and now I'm here. The guy looked like me. Brownish skin, the same tattoos. I don't know where Card Trick is because I passed out. Getting stabbed hurts." Yuuki frowned, at realizing he was painting himself as the culprit, since he'd already disposed of the body. "I don't know what details you're looking for because you haven't asked for anything specific."
Sighing, she realized she wasn't going to get too far with this.
"Okay, I'll go first," she went on, giving him a pointed look. "I am Card Trick's friend. And as her friend, I'm concerned about her."
Yuuki just stared, giving her a long look. Still confused. "I'm not sure what information you're looking for. I don't know where your friend is. She fucked off and I passed out and now I am here. Can you ask me a question please? I can answer questions. "
Starlight looked at him impatiently. If he was toying with her, oh how she'd love to torture him until he screamed. But as it was, he was still an innocent, and she was trying very hard not to pass judgement on him too quickly.
Setting her jaw, she gave a curt nod.
"I can see you must be jarred by all that happened, but is there anything.. anything else you can recall about what Card Trick was up to? Or who the man was she was after, the one.." she went on, gesturing to Yuuki's body. "That looks just like you. Candy- er.. Card Trick hasn't come back. And I'm concerned. She knows she's not to go out like this alone."
Yuuki just watched her and let his head fall forward, sighing heavily. "Why would I know that? She wanted to get the guy 'cause he was bad or something. He snuck up on her and I took care of him." His clothing was itchy and he wiggled his fingers, growing irritated and tired. He just wanted to go home and sleep. Hopefully he had his key to the house on him somewhere. "I passed out and now I'm here. I don't know where she is. If you would like me to help you look for her, fine, but the longer I'm here with you - while you're here with me - your little friend is out there alone."
Starlight felt her heart drop. The man was right, and it appeared she was getting no where with this. She walked away, leaving him in silence for but a moment before she appeared, knife in hand, and soon she cut him free.
"Help me search for her then," she asked him gently, violet eyes searching for his. "It would mean a lot to me. As her friend."
Oh god.
She was going to slit his throat and discard the body.
Yuuki squeezed his eyes shut when she returned only for them to snap open when his hands were freed. His bright blue eyes stared into her violent ones and he stood up, only to grunt quietly and hold his side where he'd been stabbed. He'd forgotten about that. After a few moments of getting his breath unhitched her nodded down at her. "Well, let's go Card Trick's Friend. If she's as much trouble as you say she is she could be up to anything."
Maybe she just took the long way home. Yuuki hoped so, the kid was cute and deserved much better than the lot in life she'd been dealt.
Starlight smirked at his nick name but was soon focused on his wound. SHe quickly frowned.
"That.."s he went on, pointing to it. "Will probably need bandaged up. Maybe even stitched." She sighed and moved away from him, and moved to pull out purple thread and a needle from her drawer.
"I'm pretty proficient at this." And she didn't go into any more details than that as she moved to sit on the end of her bed, which, if he were to observe, was rather fancy and everythingi n her room seemed to be sparkly, and revolved around a theme about stars.
Yuuki looked at the wound, giving a quiet grunt before nodding. "Yeah, probably," and he'd do it as soon as he was able, though the angle was awkward he'd had worse.
Then the woman got up and he followed her around her room with his eyes. Finally he took in the room and looked between her and the room. A theme'd room. There were two kinds people that had theme'd rooms. Prostitutes and children. This lady wasn't a children.
"You're proficient at stitching people up?" Yuuki said softly before he put his hand to his side. Shame washed over him, knowing she would see at least some part of his tattoo's. Would she know what they meant? Probably not, but the idea was still there and it made his heart race and the back of his neck tingle. "I guess if you're the leader of some kids trying to fight crime then... Yeah, I bet you're pretty good at stitching people up."
Making no comment on his presumptions, she studied the wound. "You'll need to take your shirt off so I can have a better look."
Yuuki hesited, taking a breath before he pulled his shirt off, his hair fluffing every which way, wincing when he pulled at the wound. A quiet grunt and he stood there, topless, presenting the angry wound to his temporary doctor and hoped to all the gods in the sky she didn't know what the tattoos meant. "Alright, Doc, give it to me!"
But she didn't give it to him,a nd it was only when his shirt was removed that she knew exactly who Candy had gone after.
"I'm gonna kill her!" STarlight exclaimed, suddenly shooting to her feet. If he wasn't who he claimed to be and Candy was after the real tattooed freak, she knew it could mean the difference between life and death for Candy the more seconds ticked away on the clock.
"Why?"
Yuuki frowned, tilting his head, "I killed him. I beat the shit out of him and then dropped him off a cliff," he said - not going into detail about how this cliff appeared and how Yuuki dropped him off of it, pushing a hand through his hair and moving to tug his shirt back on. If she wasn't going to stitch him up with ugly purple thread then he was going to pull that shirt on. It was bad enough he was now topless, but if she suspected him then that was worse.
"Maybe she just wants to be alone? How long has she been gone?"
She flinch at his memories, but shook her head and grabbed his wrist.
"Sit. Ill tend to your wound and explain." but she couldn't get past his tatoos. Why were they nearly... Identical?
Yuuki frowned for a moment and looked at her, looked at her hand on his wrist and sighed, holding his shirt at his side. Then he sat. "Are you telling me to explain or are you going to explain something to me?" He rubbed at his neck after dropping his shirt on his lap and sighed.
Starlight sighed.
"Though I have a lot of questions to ask you, I'll hold off. Right now... Candy's my concern."
She moved to sit near to him, inspecting the wound before ensuring it was clean before holding out a piece of leather for him.
"Here, bite onto this. Stitching... isn't exactly a fun feeling, if you know what I mean. Especially when it's to stitch close some flesh."
Candy was his concern too.
Okay, not really, but she had been afraid and run off and it was okay that she'd left him in the rain. He hadn't known he got stabbed, how was she to know that?
Yuuki looked at the leather for a moment, confused.
Bite onto it? Yuuki fleetingly remembered a few wounds but obediently - he didn't want to argue - he set it between his teeth and waited for the familiar sting of being stitched up.
Starlight looked at him apologetically as she held the needle to the wound and mouthed softly her apologies before beginning to press the needle through his flesh, as she bound him up. The job was as neat as it could be, and when she was done, she secured her stitching with a tight knot and bit the end of the string off with her teeth before setting the needle aside on a star themed end table as she sighed and looked him over. Then she offered out her hand for him to give back the leather.
"There, now you at least won't bleed out all over the place." And she paused a moment, studying him before asking, "How ya feeling? Think you can stand now or do you feel too much pain?"
The piece of leather was returned with only a slight indent.
"I'm a tough cookie," He said, smiling at her and pressed his hand over the stitches. Better work than what he'd been expecting and he regretted his snappy words earlier. Yuuki sighed and gave her a nod, "Thanks, Doc."
Finally Yuuki stood up and looked down at himself, offering her a kind smile. He gestured to his torso, covered in tattoos. "That was nothin', I've had far worse than that." And it prove his point he reached his arms up high only to quickly whip them back down, holding the stitched up wound, "Okay, bad idea." He gasped out, wincing, "I'll be fine. Are we done? Can I put my shirt back on?"
Though she was on edge by his visual appearance, and by the situation regarding Candy, she found herself chuckling and handing him his shirt.
"Sure.. but you'd be the first man in this room to ask that."
There was a long pause and he looked at her for a long moment...
Then he pulled his shirt on and fixed it so he was covered from neck to wrists.
"I'm usually the first at everything," he said giving her a wink and paused for a long moment before frowning, "No... No wait. I'm last when I do..." He gave her some waggly eyebrows before giving his head a shake. "Okay. We need to find your friend. Last I saw her she was walking across from me. One of those 'I hate to see you go, but I love to watch you leave' kinda things."
Starlight rolled her eyes twice, once when he attempted to flirt, the other when he made the comment about Candy.
"I'm not sure where to begin, but if you could tell me exactly where any of the trouble started for the both of you, that would be the most helpful."
A deep breath and he crossed his arms over his chest only to pull at the stitches and quickly uncross them. "Well, she tackled me because I looked like some tattoo'd guy she was after. We found him, he..." Yuuki looked away for a moment, "shot her with a dart, she got me to give her something to fix it, I had to kiss her to fool a guard and then we got found by the guy again and I may have terrified the girl because I know exactly what his tattoos mean." He frowned slightly and looked down at the ground, "I may not have reacted well."
Starlight frowned, but rested a hand on his shoulder.
"Look, I've seen many men and shared this bed with them. I'd like to think I'm good at reading them. But you...?" her eyes sought to his. "Despite what you might look like, from what I can tell, you acted as a friend to her and for that.... Thank you."
Prostitute.
Yuuki mentally gave himself a pat on the back for picking up the bedroom cue's and he just looked to her hand on his shoulder and wondered fleetingly if he should clap his hand over it or pat it or what. So, he did neither of those and just tried to smile at her and give her that eye contact she was looking for. "Well, she choked me with a pool cue, I think that means we have to be friends" His hand went to his throat and he rubbed at it like it was sore, "You're also welcome? Uhm..." He tilted his head.
"My name is Yuuki and you are...." He looked around the room, "Let me guess... Star."
"Pool cue huh?" she leaned forward to inspect the forming bruise on his neck. "Yep, definitely Candy's signature friendship hug." She planted her hands on her hips, watching him with mirthfilled eyes as he inspected her room than gave a guess at her name.
"Close." She smirked and extended out a hand. "It's Starlight. Perhaps you've heard of me? I'm famous for my singing, the songs I write and well... I don't think I need to explain the rest."
Yuuki reached out a hand to shake hers.
"I was so close."
He sighed, looking around and then back at her, giving her a sheepish smile, "I'm not in Ketra often. This is just where the house is. I'm always out doing some job or another to keep my brother content," Yuuki shrugged like it was no big thing. It really wasn't. He was used to not having a home. "But I know about you now, Starlight." He leaned in to wiggle his eyebrows at her, "And your secret double life."
Though he raised his hands for a moment, "Does Candy have a ... Place she likes to hide?" Then he paused for another moment, "You've checked her room right? Made sure she wasn't sleeping or something?"
"You think I'm that ignorant not to look?" And she sized him up. "And don't get any funny ideas about what you know."
Yuuki stared at Starlight for a long moment. There was a breath a confused look and he frowned, "I'm not following. Funny ideas? I can't think of any jokes."
Starlight's smile tensed a little.
"Either you're that selfless or you're hiding your time. But don't worry about it. Come, we have to leave through the back." And by that she meant the window as she swept the heavy, layered curtains aside.
"Gentlemen, first."
Another confused smile and he went to the window, poking his head out before giving his bag leg a wiggle and going out the window. Gentlemen first, indeed!
"Uuuh," Yuuki started, looking around, "The coast is clear?"
Starlight rolled her eyes and moved closer to him to access that, before she sat on the sill, kicked her legs over it and was jumping down into the street below.
"Come on, we don't have a lot of time."
Like an obedient dog Yuuki simply nodded and watched Starlight. What an odd lady. He pushed a hand through his hair with the side that hadn't been stabbed and watched after her. "Do you have any idea which direction to go in?" He inquired, rolling his shoulders and wishing he had some sort of weapon - just in case.
"Not really," she whispered. "But there's a better chance we'd find her out here then sitting around waiting back at the Peach."
Yuuki just smiled at her and nodded slowly, taking note that she didn't... Go in any specific direction. While he wasn't book smart... Or any kind of smart, he had a knack for remembering layouts and eventually he gave Starlight a smile and began to head back to where he'd passed out. He'd get there and then go in the direction he last saw Candy go in.
Card Trick.
Whichever one was her name.
"Well, we'll go in the direction I saw her go last, unless she has... Places she likes to hide? Library? A church?"
Starlight looked to Yuuki in tight lipped thought.
"Maybe... but something just doesn't seem to smell right," she went on, looking around suspiciously as they walked. "But if Candy found herself in some sort of trouble- I swear I'll throttle her myself."