Back on my feet [Open]

[rainfell-aqua.livejournal.com]

It had taken some time for Aqua to get back on her feet after Signum's attack. She'd gotten herself patched up at Medical, but pain was another thing entirely.

As it was, she was limiting herself to the Masaki house, doing her best to take it easy while trying to recover.

Comments

[saint-sami.livejournal.com]

"Aqua-neesan?"

Sasami felt horrible for Aqua's condition. Someone had attacked her - most likely the same one who attacked Einhart and that horrible man Zedd - and she was busy doing who knows what! She owed it to Aqua to make her feel better, especially after what happened.

"A-Are you okay?"

[stormfall-aqua.livejournal.com]

Aqua saw her little sister and knew right away that she was blaming herself somehow. So she gave her a reassuring smile and insisted, "I'm okay. A little sore, but I'm a lot better."

[saint-sami.livejournal.com]

"I'm glad..." she said, returning the smile somewhat as she approached Aqua. "I... wish I could have done something, though..."

[rainfell-aqua.livejournal.com]

"It's probably better that you didn't," Aqua confessed. "That woman was strong, and fast. I didn't even have a chance to heal, which might have saved me a lot of trouble if I could have." She was trying her hardest not to think too much about the what ifs. She knew it never led anywhere.

[saint-sami.livejournal.com]

Sasami nodded a bit before carefully wrapping her arms around her surrogate sister, trying to be careful just in case.

"...I want to make sure this never happens again. I... I want to protect you, Aqua-neesan."

[stormfall-aqua.livejournal.com]

Aqua hugged Sasami back just as gently, since she was still cut up and bruised.

"You don't have to protect us, Sasami," she insisted. "You should be trying to be a kid."

[saint-sami.livejournal.com]

"But...!" Sasami began, before shrinking back and looking away. Wasn't that what Evangeline said, too? That she should be a kid? But, some of the other kids were doing their part.

"...I just don't want to see anyone hurt..."

[rainfell-aqua.livejournal.com]

"I know," she replied, giving her a sad look. "But at the same time, you don't have to try to do everything. You're too young to be worrying yourself about that all the time. If there's anything I've learned, it's that kids should have the chance to just be kids."

[saint-sami.livejournal.com]

Sasami let out a sigh as she heard Aqua's words. Admittedly, it did make sense. Tsunami wasn't a big presence as she would have been and thus she was, more or less, a kid again, free to do anything she wished.

But, with everything going on here, there was also that sense of duty she felt she had to do. Probably rubbed off from Negi.

"...if you were a kid again, would you do the same thing or would you stay a kid?" she asked, curious.

[radiantcourage.livejournal.com]

Some downtime at the Masaki home was just what the doctor ordered, as well, in Hoshi's case. She was currently in the living area working on some Tai Chi, dressed in a pair of shorts and a simple white t-shirt. Her blond hair was done up in a ponytail with her bangs pulled back and away from her forehead.

"Should be almost done..." she muttered to herself before noticing Aqua. A smile spread on her face and she waved her hand. "Hey Aqua! How are you feeling?"

[stormfall-aqua.livejournal.com]

Aqua smiled at Hoshi. It had been a long time since GLaDoS had taken her, and it was good to see her back.

"A lot better," she admitted. "How about you?"

[radiantcourage.livejournal.com]

Hoshi placed her arm back down at her side and got out of the position she was in. She felt so glad to be out of GLaDoS and be back with her friends.

"Doing okay. I'm trying to get rid of the strain that I have from running mazes and stuff. How are your wounds?"

[stormfall-aqua.livejournal.com]

"Still sore," Aqua admitted. "But I'm getting better. I figured it would be a good idea to walk around a little bit, so I'm not as stiff when I'm completely recovered."

[radiantcourage.livejournal.com]

Hoshi nodded, knowing that recovery technique well herself. "That makes sense. Being laid up in a bed won't do you any good," she admitted, smiling just a bit.

[rainfell-aqua.livejournal.com]

"And there's so much going on that I can't afford not to be ready," she confessed. If for some reason, Signum attacked them here, she had to be ready. Or if there was anyone else. She wasn't about to leave her family on their own.

[radiantcourage.livejournal.com]

"Well, you just step back and take it easy, okay? Seraphiel hasn't been given a proper workout in a while," Hoshi lightly joked, going to sit down on the armrest of the couch.

There was also the DoubleDriver, but Hoshi didn't know if it was in working order. That, and she didn't want to take any risks with it.

Seraphiel cawed in response of that, resting on the windowsill. He was just as eager to get a workout in.

[rainfell-aqua.livejournal.com]

"I could say the same about you," Aqua replied, pointing out the scars on Hoshi's arm.

[hisfathersstaff.livejournal.com]

The rumble of a motorcycle was heard as the engine cut out, and a small figure hopped off it, kicking the stand up. He had borrowed Ren's bike no less.

Dressed in bandages around his middle and a open shirt and slacks, Negi pushed the door open to the Masaki home. "Pardon my intrusion," he called out, hoping someone would be there.

[rainfell-aqua.livejournal.com]

After a bit of walking around the house, Aqua had gotten sore and sat down to work on a beading project with some of the sunstone beads and other things she'd picked up during Shore Leave. When she heard Negi, she smiled and asked, "Here to see Sasami?"

She was still threading a bead and hadn't yet looked up to see the bandages on him.

[hisfathersstaff.livejournal.com]

"Ah possibly not just yet," replied Negi, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I don't want her to see me like this just yet."

He sat down with a wince and rubbed his stomach. "Dumbest thing I ever did."

[rainfell-aqua.livejournal.com]

"What?" Aqua asked.

She didn't like the sound of what Negi had said, and she looked up at him to see the bandages all over him.

"What happened to you?"

[hisfathersstaff.livejournal.com]

"Signum," replied Negi with a wince, rubbing his stomach. "I held back way too much, and paid for it. I had to shut my magic off before she could take most of it. Left me in the medical ward for three days healing the worst of it before they released me."

[stormfall-aqua.livejournal.com]

And now, Aqua gave him a soft smile.

"You too?" she asked. "I didn't have time for a Cure spell, so I took a lot of damage. I managed to get off with just enough that Medical could send me home, but it was still painful."

[hisfathersstaff.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. I could tell she wasn't in her right mind and was fighting to incapacitate. I didn't expect the magic snatching but I guess it was good I turned mine off."

Negi winced as he rotated his shoulder where he took a few cuts. "I'll have a couple new scars since I lost all my old ones."

[stormfall-aqua.livejournal.com]

"It'll get better," Aqua promised.

Sighing, she summoned her Keyblade, just to test everything before dispelling it. "I'm glad it didn't affect the Keyblade. I won't be able to use a few attacks, but at the very least, what she did didn't attack my heart."