The First Day [OPEN]

[Kujo Hiragi]

Kris' words made Kujo laugh, as simple as that. She really isn't the person she looked like, or that's what Kujo thought. Neither she wanted to have homework. Kujo felt she was already kind of old for that, but then she thought about how mature she wasn't and it explained itself. She answered after calming herself down.

"Hahah, okay then. Tomorrow it will be"

She then asked herself if she really wanted to fall behind in just her first day, but just shrugged it off. She had time to catch up almost everyday, so that didn't bother her too much. The question about her sister's age made her think. Kujo and Kris were both 5'8, but considering Kris has heel boots then she must be younger than Kujo. Yet her life was a very big mess. She waited a little bit before answering, because she knew Kris well enough to know that she tends to say something else after her questions, and it was the case.

"Yuriko is eleven, she'll turn twelve next month. As for me, I'm twenty. Yeah yeah, I'm too old for being in a place like that school and that I should be in college or something. But it is kind of the same. After all, I'll become a Chaser eventually and I'm getting ready for it"

Kujo thought that she hasn't really given that much thought to her future. Sure she would be part of the force against Darkness, but what about her sister? So far she doesn't seem to have any powers and to say the truth, Kujo really doesn't want to step away from her. But it's her own life. Yuriko will grow up and decide about her own future. She cannot look after her sister forever, but she refuses to accept it. Kujo shook her head and tried to think of something else. Kris' question wasn't so different from her thoughts though.

"As I said, Yuriko'll get out of school in about fifteen minutes and I promised to pick her up. Want to come? I'm sure she'll like you"
Kujo didn't mind Kris coming along; Yuriko's personality was almost like Kujo's, and if her elder sister already befriended Kris then Yuriko wouldn't have problems befriending her as well.

[Deleted]

Kristina nodded her head in agreement, glad they would be dealing with all of this tomorrow and not today. Kujo answered her question and Kristina couldn't help but smile, Kujo had then told her her own age. "Really? You look around my age...." She answered, clearly trying to flatter her, but at the same time she didn't look like she was twenty. "Well no, there are plenty of people who aren't in high school who are here, I think you are the first that I've seen taking classes here though. Most took college courses else where." She answered, trying to make Kujo feel better. "It is kind of the same." She agreed, feeling like the only classes she noticed Kujo in so far were her college course classes and the normally classes that only those training to be a Chaser would take.

She had asked where Kujo wanted to go and was reminded they were getting Yuriko first. "Of course I want to come." She answered back, though she should have been less vague on her question it was her own fault for having Kujo repeat her answer. "Sorry my question came out vague, I meant after we pick up your sister where are you headed after that." She paused before going back on the previous comment, "I hope she likes me..." It would be okay if she didn't, but Kristina found herself liking little kids, in the near future they would likely be her friends over those much older than her anyway.

[Kujo Hiragi]

Kujo didn't know how to take Kris' comment, so she assumed it was a compliment to be told that you look three years younger. Her next comment was something new to her. Kujo assumed that most people in the Chasers' academy were people that were at least above eighteen. But after seeing everyone else, she thought that people that young were recruited because every pair of hands is needed, things that sounds logical if we're talking about a battle for humanity. She just shrugged and moved to something else, like her plans with Yuriko.

"I don't know. I have no money with me so I can't treat her to a restaurant even if I wanted. Maybe the mall or the park"

After picking her sister up, Kujo was planning on going to her mother's house to see if Kujo could borrow some money, but seeing Kris was interested in coming along, she had to think of something else to do. Obviously, it needed to be free since she doesn't have any money left on her. Those were the most plausible options, though the first option would consist of window shopping.

"But I'm sure she'll like you. Her personality is almost like mine. Now where's the exit?"

Kujo then checked her wallet, looking for a special card that was necessary to have the teachers let got of her sister for the day. She found it almost right away, being a yellow colored plastic with her photo and basic info on it, as well as a text that explained Kujo was her sister and that she was authorized to take Yuriko home.

[Deleted]

Kristina nodded her head, the mall or park were both fun places to be, both she hadn't been to in a while. Not since the death of her brothers anyway. Kujo tried making her feel better saying that since Yuriko was just like her that she would likely like her too. Then asked where the exit it, "Almost there." She explained, turning to the right they came to some double doors before Kristina pushed it, holding the door for Kujo before walking out behind her. Kujo then had pulled out her wallet, she opted not to stare, but couldn't help but wonder if Kujo was looking to make sure she had her money on her or this and that, she didn't know that Kujo was looking for a card to allow her to take her little sister off of the campus.

As they walked, Kristina found that she didn't have much to say. It was hard not being jealous of Kujo having a sibling when both of hers were dead, but that wasn't something she was going to bring up to Kujo. She still had their rings back in her dorm, choosing to still wear hers, even though they weren't wearing theirs anymore. She knew they would have wanted her to have theirs over having it buried with their body. The thought still made her flinch slightly, that was why it was so important to help Fang out, because Dream and Fang were like brothers to her, both were miss understood.

She had to help them, she just had to. She wouldn't let the Chasers take him out just because of fear. She swallowed, shifting her backpack she opened it up to grab her own wallet, just making sure her cards were still in it before hiding it back in her backpack. "You know, if you still want to take your sister to a restaurant I can.... I can pick up the tab if you want." She offered, it wasn't everyday that she was the one paying but she didn't mind in the slightest. Besides it would likely make Yuriko very happy which in turn would make her happy. "Only if you are okay with that though." She added, seeing the school up ahead.

[Kujo Hiragi]

Kujo walked through the streets glancing at the occasional car or person coming or going. The silence was entirely comfortable for her, not wanting to break the monotony of a "calm" city. In this moment of calmness, Kujo muttered the lyrics of some song she liked "I'd like to make myself believe...". All the while unaware that Kris checked her own wallet; Kujo turned to her almost inmediately after she purposed to pay the meal. She didn't know what to think, she thought that denying her offer was disrespectful but if she accepted it, she would feel like she is taking advantge of her kindness. She smiled awkwardly and moved her hands in denial, maybe exagerating too much.

"Oh no, it's ok, it would be asking too much. But you can buy an ice-cream for her or something" she ended up saying a mix of both.

Kujo then turned around and walked to the open gate, where a woman was standing, who greeted Kujo when she saw her. Then Kujo handed her the yellow card and the woman turned on his heels to call for Yuriko. After some seconds, Yuriko appeared on the door with her schoolbag in her back. She shared the hair and eye color of Kujo, but she looked like a girl. Once she saw her elder sister, she ran to her, who was crouched with her arms open. "Kujo!" she said, her voice slightly drowned due to being in her sister's embrace. "Hey! How are you little sis'? I promised I would come for you today" Kujo replied and let go of her.

Yuriko's voice was playful, and she didn't notice her sister was with someone, so she made the same request she always asked to Kujo. "I want up!" she extended her arms "You're not a 6 year old anymore, Yuriko..." she stared at her, but her sister's 'Aww' made her agree, as it always did. "Oh, what the hell. Get up" Yuriko climbed on top of Kujo and positioned herself behind her neck, forcing her elder sister to grab her legs so she won't fall. Kujo stood up and then she introduced Yuriko to Kris.

"Yuriko, this is Kristina. Call her Kris, she's a nice person" she said while facing her friend. "Hello, Kris!" her sister said. It was charming she still had the playfulness of a little child.

[Deleted]

Kristina just smiled at her, "Okay." Though I can pay for you to get one too if you want. We'll just wait and see. She stopped after Kujo had greeted too but kept silent the rest of the time until she noticed Kujo pull out a yellow card. "Oh..." It was a whisper though, she had never needed one of those because Garrett was a year younger than her. The lady called for Yuriko and when she saw her, her first thought was of Kujo. They looked the same to her, though Yuriko appeared younger and easier to recognize as a girl. Though she had figured out early that Kujo was a girl not a guy, many of the boys had been surprised that she was a girl.

She watched as Yuriko ran to her, the embrace almost brought tears to her eyes. I'll never have that joy again.... it won't be the same since my brothers are gone.... She took in a breath, just watching as Yurkio told her sister that she wanted up. She found it to be cute and it was cheering her up just watching them. She found herself smiling by the time, Kujo was standing with Yuriko on her shoulders. Yuriko said hello to her, "Hello Yuriko." She answered back, I'm going to have to find a way to get them both ice cream now.... Yup. Not taking no for an answer.

"So how about we go get some ice cream then?" She asked, figuring there was no harm in getting one now instead of having to wait till later. She walked with them until they came across an icecream truck. "You guys go first, I'm still deciding." There, the hint had been there, if Kujo didn't know about Kristina trying to be sneaking in buying her ice cream, she would know by now. Though she knew what ice cream she wanted already, but appeared to be looking at the menu if still deciding anyway.

[Kujo Hiragi]

Kris' proposal made Yuriko smile. Kujo thought that it would be better to get one once they were in the park, but since Kris already notified her sister of their plans, then she could just agree. "But one ice-cream ball only, alright? No more sweets until dinnertime" Kujo said, making her sister groan in a cute way and smack her elder sister's head, but her punch was so weak Kujo barely felt it, and she chuckled before beginning to walk.

They found an ice cream truck, and she walked to the man inside the truck. Kris said that they sould order first, and Kujo raised her eyebrow, taking her words as if she would also pay for her in case she ordered. She hesitated, and took her time to think while she asked Yuriko what she wanted. "So, which flav-?" Kujo asked, being cut by her sister before she even finished "Chocolate!" she replied. In the end, Kujo thought that if Kris was so insistent in getting one for her, then there was nothing she could do to change her mind. Before asking for hers, she turned to Kris to orded them at the same time.

"Have you decided which one do you want?"

Yuriko turned to her as well, with a childish smile almost identical to Kujo's. It wasn't really hard to miss that they were siblings.

[Deleted]

Kristina was looking at the menu still when Kujo asked her question, "Oh yes I have." She answered her as she slowly moved forward so that she was now next to Kujo instead of behind her. "I want a strawberry ice cream." She answered, waiting for Kujo to order before giving the guy her card. She took the receipt and placed it in her wallet before shoving it back into her backpack. She then took her ice cream and walked with Kujo. She figured it would be much more fun if she let her lead the way since she knew where her sister would be most happiest. For her, she was just glad that Kujo was allowing her to tag along, it wasn't everyday that she spent time with somebody who had a younger sibling. It really was weird not having Dream around to keep her company.

"Where to next?" She asked, feeling like she had zoned out, but lucky for her, the ice cream was still on her cone, meaning she hadn't lost it yet. Kristina's phone went off and she was forced to shift her backpack on her shoulder so that she could open it with her one hand without losing her ice cream. She reached her hand in as she tried grabbing it to see who was calling her and just sighed. Great.... the Chasers want to know if I've seen Fang's next move yet.... She texted back saying no, but got another text message. She turned her phone on silent and threw it back in her backpack, opting to ignore it even though she knew she would have more problems with them later.

She pulled the backpack over her shoulder and just smiled at Kujo. "Where are we going again? Oh wait I remember..." Turned out that phone call, leading to a text message or two had managed to distract her after all. "Just people wondering where I am." She shrugged her shoulders, "I'm not all that worried about it though." She stated, mostly because she planned on handling it as soon as she got back to the school.

[Kujo Hiragi]

Kujo was planning to order for Kris, but it seemed she did it herself, so she ordered just after Kris. "Uhm, and two chocolate ice creams for us. One of them in a vase" she said to the person attending, who gave her a cone and a vase of chocolate ice cream, and she handed the cone to her sister. Kujo felt kind of guilty, making Kris spend money for them. At least knowing that Yuriko was happy calmed her down. It was easier for Kujo to eat it on a vase, since she doesn't have to worry about staining her clothes if it melted. She began walking and then Kris asked where to go, and Kujo decided that the destination was on Yuriko's decision. "Where do you want to go, Yuriko? The park or the mall?" she thought about this while looking up to the sky, answering short after "The park, I want to play on the children area" "Okay then". Her elder sister smiled and began walking to the park.

When they were almost there, Kris asked again where were they headed. She noticed how she checked her phone, and she decided to paid no mind to it and kept going. Kujo was about to answer, but as KRis seemed to remember, she smiled at her, hearing her usual explanations after a question. When she seemed to finish, she nodded, as if saying 'okay' without saying it.

They entered the park, and Kujo looked around, remembering that flowers blossom at this time of the year. It made the park look beautiful, thing that distracted Kujo so much until Yuriko said something. "There's the playground! Can I go?" Kujo looked up and then nodded "Yeah, but what about your ice cream?" as an answer, her sister simply ate the last part of the cone. "Okay, just don't run too much" she said while crouching to let Yuriko jump down. Kujo looked at her run to the playground and then sighed, making her way to a nearby bench, turning to Kris after she sat, stretching herself and then extending her arms on top of the bench.

"Want to sit down for a while?" she realized they hadn't rested since they encountered the boy and his group in the school, her legs aching a little bit.

[Deleted]

Kristina listened to Kujo order chocolate for herself not minding the fact that she was paying for it. Reason, she didn't have many things to blow her money on, so this seemed like a nice way to get rid of her money. No she didn't want Kujo to pay her back but she really couldn't control what the other did now could she? She heard Kujo ask Yuriko where she wanted to go, but the thoughts and phone call had made her forget, proving she had a lot on her mind distracting her. Though she had followed her in the direction of the park anyway, Kujo had nodded her head and she was glad in the end she didn't have to be told because she just flat out remembered. When they entered the park she had slowed her walk to just look around, not really being observant over who was there but just looking at the park, it had been a while since she had last been here after all and truth be told she wanted to savor the moment.

She was pulled from her thoughts when she heard Yuriko talking, catching the last few words between Kujo and Yuriko before Kujo had crouched so that Yuriko could get off, she watched Yuriko running to the playground before Kujo had stood back up and walked over to a bench and sat down. "Oh yes..." She agreed, sighing as she slowly made her way to Kujo, taking a seat right next to her. "Today has been such a long day...." She answered, trying to relax, knowing she would need to be alert when she went back on campus.

[Kujo Hiragi]

Kujo smiled as she looked at Yuriko play with the other children, busying herself with talking to Kris. "Yeah, it was. Oh, I'll pay you back tomorrow" at least that way she doesn't feel like she took advantage of her kindness. She didn't know what else to talk about, so she settled herself on looking at her sister. She may be a bit older now, but she was still a child that needs to be taken care of. And to say the truth, that's the way Kujo liked it to be. Yeah, she is a family person. Then she remembered she still had her ice cream on her and finished it quickly, getting a little brain freeze in the process.

Then she looked back to the playground, where she noticed that the kids in there, including her sister, were playing hide and seek, and a child in a wheelchair was just looking at them from afar. Her heart shrank a little bit, but Yuriko came close to him and asked something to him; he nodded and joined the rest. Kujo smiled brightly at the sight.

"Isn't it curious? Doing things you can't do just because you can" she said still looking at them.

Those words came out of nowhere, but for Kujo they sounded really wise after she thought of it. Then she figured she befriended Kris well enough to tell her a part of her past, more specifically how her power appeared for the first time.

"Let me tell you something. Some time ago, me and my family were walking together, and we heard a scream for help. My father refused to ignore it, and my mother followed him to a dark alleyway to help him. They didn't return after some minutes, so I hid Yuriko and looked for them. My mother was unconscious on the floor and there were no tracks of my father. Everyone thought he was dead, but I cannot accept it. I'm sure he is alive somewhere, waiting to be found. That's what keeps me going. Do you know how to be brave even in the toughest times?"

Not even Kujo knew where this all came from. Maybe she tried to help Kris as best as she could, maybe she just wanted to let it out, maybe both.

[Deleted]

Kristina was watching Yuriko playing with the other children, opting to remain silent, having finished her ice cream, she found herself just looking for distraction from the future that would soon find her back at the school. She watched Yuriko go to the boy in the wheelchair, she found herself smiling to know that Yuriko had found a way for him to join them. Kujo's words pulled her from her thoughts and she found herself looking over at her. Kujo then told her about her past, Kristina flinched when she said that she had found her mother but not her father. I wonder where he could have gone....

Kujo's question had caught her off guard but she just nodded her head, "Yes I do." She answered finally, looking over towards Yuriko. "I know the risks I take, the image I put upon my head for not helping them find my friend, my brother, I know that he doesn't deserve the bounty though and I opt to help him. Though there are somethings happening in the near future that I don't agree with and even though those same Chasers will likely turn their back on me now, I won't turn my back on them when this thing, what ever it is will happen." She paused to look towards Kujo.

"I'm not sure how to explain it, but I'm sure I'll possibly see it in the near future and will be warning many for what is to come...." She answered, trying to not break Fang's promise but at the same time she wouldn't let his plan with Oscuro happen, not without getting into the way with it. "I grew up with my twin, protecting my younger brother, who in turned proved to be smarter than us and got many bullies on his back. I got into many fights protecting him." Once more she paused to look at the ground.

"Then next thing you know, they are both dead and I'm still here.... having many things happen that are good and many things that are bad." I won't let Dream or Fang go down without protecting them, they need me and I will help them even if it ends me. "I'm sorry that it's vague, I feel like I could share your pain, but I'm not ready to talk about my past." She explained, having looked up from the ground to make eye contact with Kujo.

[Kujo Hiragi]

Kujo simply stared at Kris as she explained, with a hint of sadness. That was one of those stories you got sad just hearing about. She wished so hard Kris trusted her enought to help her. But she knew that it was the first day and that it would take time. Besides, Kujo would eventually involve herself in her own problems. So for now she had to settle on listening to her. Still, she felt like she had to do something. Kujo waited for her to finish and then rested a hand on her shoulder, smiling brightly.

"No problem. If you don't want to, nobody has the right to force you" then she let go of her.

Kujo had no problem about talking about her father, but obviously it was not the same for Kris. If she didn't want to, then there's nothing she could do about it.

"As for myself, I have a method to reunite valor. I close my eyes for a moment and think of my best memory, or the smile of a person I care about. That way I can always keep going" of course, she meant her sister's smile.

Kujo then thought that her mother might be worried why Yuriko isn't home. She just hoped she remembers that Kujo promised to pick her up; and her mother knew her well enough to know that she'll take her somewhere in the city no matter if she could afford it or not.

[Deleted]

Kristina nodded her head to Kujo, maybe sometime in the near future she would open up to somebody and talk about about her brothers but today wasn't the day for such sadness to be shared, she did tell Fritz about her nightmares though, so maybe that was something she could talk about though. Kujo had let go of her and she glanced away, "I went from having nightmares to having foresight." She answered, not seeing the harm in telling Kujo since she needed to share it with many others anyway. "Thunderstorms started scaring me." She shrugged her shoulders, "The lightning part is the worst but the thunder noise is bother some too." She explained unsure on if she really needed to go into detail or not.

"I do that too." She answered back in agreement, thinking of her brothers or Dream. Though she did try and find some happy moments with Fang too, he seemed just like Dream so it wasn't very hard. "It's getting late, you might want to head home soon." She explained, she didn't want to risk Yuriko getting harmed by Darkness, it was only around dinner time or so and she had people she had to deal with. "Maybe I can see you around the school?" She asked, mostly to excuse herself, she really didn't want to drag Kujo in it but at the same time she knew exactly what she would do when she got back if there was any trouble. She stood up from the bench. I think I'll visit my brother's graves first...

[Kujo Hiragi]

Maybe it was the first time Kujo heard about a slow development power, but it was rare the time she had a conversation about powers, even after her own power showed up. So hearing how she gained her foresight was interesting. "The power of the human mind, I suppose". But being scared by thunderstorms is kind of... unusual. Kujo looked at her cellphone to check the hour, and decided that the best thing to do was take Yuriko back home so her mother doesn't worry about her.

"You're right"

She stood up and tried to attract her sister's attention by waving a hand, but it was futile. So she had to resort to not exactly screaming, just talking in a high volume. "Yuriko! It's getting late, let's get back home" After she made sure that her sister heard the message, she turned to Kris to answer her question

"Sure. If we're not in classes you can find me training on the gym if you ever need anything" she thought about mentioning the money she owes Kris, but thought that she'll ask it when she needs it.

Yuriko arrived and looked at Kujo with a pout, it was obvious she didn't want to leave, but even she understood the risks she took if she stayed outside too late. This time she didn't ask to be carried, instead she walked to Kris and hugged her. "Goodbye!" she said, but for her elder sister it wasn't enough "Yuriko, you forgot something" she seemed to get the message "Oh, thanks for the ice cream" she said then let go of Kris "Much better".

"Thank you for showing me around. See you" she made a hand motion and grabbed Yuriko's hand, then they began walking quickly to the exit, the little sister struggling to keep up. It really has been a long day, and for Kujo it was finally over.