[[ Kiko- C H A N and Sno - C H A N ]] - Private 1x1

[shigatsusan]

[Ⓚⓘⓚⓞ✩нιиσ AKA Sailor Flame]

xxxxThe arm around her shoulder was reassuring, but not enough to settle her completely. Both times she had seen this man it had felt the same; real, and powerful. There was a nagging voice in the back of her head that was telling her this was far from over.

xxxxWhen they stopped, she shrugged her shoulders. It took her a minute to think of a place...going back to the apartment didn't seem all that great. Once out of the house Kiko liked to stay out at least for a little while to get some air. After a moment she decided, "The arcade. I would enjoy blowing off zombie's heads." While Sno liked to go to the beach, Kiko enjoyed video games. They each had their own niche.

[Sno Magicka]

⊰ - - Α ℓєкsαи∂єя Ӊ σℓт - - ღ

Love is PAIN

Aleks smiled at the thought, remembering the arcade had been the first place they met. Kiko thought he was stalking her, and for fear of getting his face punched in he had revealed to her who he was. Oh, fun times it was. "Sounds like a plan then, all zombies beware!" he said, just as the cab they were in before turned around the corner. To make sure it didn't startle Kiko, he explained what he had whispered to the driver quickly. "I bought the cabbie for the day just to let you know," he said, smiling and opening the door for her once more.

As they reached the arcade, Aleks walked in and frowned as he rarely did, another memory coming back to him, one not as fond as the other. Grabbing about 10 dollars worth of quarters, he handed about 95% of them to Kiko, accompanying her over to the zombie head shooting games as he called them. Reluctantly putting in the required amount, he died just as quickly. After a few more failed attempts, he just gave a quiet huff. "I know boys are apparently fantastic at games or something, but this is ridiculous..." he said, frustration layering his voice.

[shigatsusan]

[Ⓚⓘⓚⓞ✩нιиσ AKA Sailor Flame]

xxxxKiko also couldn't help but recall the first time they had met...it made her a mixture of embarrassed and amused remembering she was two seconds from frying him to a crisp when they first encountered each other. She wasn't quite sure how to respond to him buying the cab for the day. Not only did Kiko not make much money, she wasn't good at saving it either, or spending it wisely. To have enough funds to rent a cab for the day? It was crazy.

xxxxOnce they were at the arcade, Kiko bounded out like a kid at a candy store. She gave a quick thanks to Aleks as he supplied her with plenty of quarters, taking to the shooting game she enjoyed so much. It was obvious Aleks wasn't very big on video games, he had already died twice before they beat the first level...Kiko smiled a little at him, "It's all about skill, Aleks. Nothing to do with gender." she smirked, aiming at a zombie onscreen as she shot it right between the eyes.

[Sno Magicka]

⊰ - - Α ℓєкsαи∂єя Ӊ σℓт - - ღ

Love is PAIN

Aleks just rolled his eyes. "And obviously you have these required skills. Can't say I'm too great at shooting colored pixels..." he said, frustration still layered in his voice. Giving up for the moment being, Aleks chose simply to stand against Kiko's machine, laying the few quarters down he had left in front of her as he watched her play. It seemed that she was calming down, and hopefully the strange sighting would be eased on her mind for the moment.

After a few moments of watching zombie head after zombie head fly off in a gory pixelated mess, Aleks' attention was drawn to just watching Kiko. Even though it was something he did as a 'job', he couldn't help but do it because he wanted to. He had to say he didn't feel like Jirou when it came to protection. If he wanted to woo Kiko, he would, even though he said that word around her she'd probably punch him in the arm. Of course, it took two in it to woo, and even though the fire senshi acted differently around him, he wasn't going to go off and assume it was anything beyond his element that attracted her, if it was that at all in the first place. Kiko was the only thing that Aleks could say he wasn't confident about in his life, and it was certainly something that he wanted to change.

[shigatsusan]

[Ⓚⓘⓚⓞ✩нιиσ AKA Sailor Flame]

xxxxKiko was the type to stick to her guns, and stay with what she was familiar with. She was familiar with being a senshi, being a warrior and being able to look after herself. Aleks presented things she wasn't familiar with, emotions she wasn't quite sure how to deal with. And with her stubborn nature, she more than not ended up just never dealing with those things all together. But Aleks was different. Just how different though, Kiko wasn't quite ready to digest.

xxxxShe finished her game with a high score, per usual, and set the gun up to look at Aleks with a satisfied smirk, "And that is how you smoke baddies." she winked. She looked around the arcade, ready to take on another game. The few other people in the arcade weren't hogging too many of the other games she liked which she was grateful for. Taking Aleks by the wrist, she headed them both over to one of her favorite racing games, waiting for the boy in front of her to put in his quarters. After a few seconds of no reaction, Kiko cleared her throat, "Are you gonna play kid, or what?" Still, no response. Kiko reached out a hand to poke him in the shoulder, and still the boy didn't move. She rounded to face him, and found his face unmoving and frozen, as if he was in a movie on freeze-frame. Her eyes went wide and she turned to survey the other people in the arcade, soon realizing they too were in a state of suspended animation. The only ones not affected by this...whatever it was, were Kiko and Aleks. Immediately she turned to face him, "Well, this isn't good."

[Sno Magicka]

⊰ - - Α ℓєкsαи∂єя Ӊ σℓт - - ღ

Love is PAIN

Aleks couldn't help but smirk in response, the rare feeling of a tingle running down his spine when she winked. She was playful, and it was adorable, no matter how cocky she acted most of the time. None the less, Aleks let himself be dragged across the arcade, almost feeling sad when Kiko let go of his wrist to pay attention to her goal, a racing game. As she tried prodding the boy ahead of her to play, Aleks felt the warm fuzzy feelings he had been having since they reach the arcade begin to die down as the prickling sensation of something being not so right began taking over. Aleks immediately went into protective mode, and even though he didn't make a movement, his eyes were already scanning around, confirming everything Kiko had said. "Can't say I want to cut your time short in pixel paradise, but it's obviously time to leave..." he said, his voice now a serious tone, something he also rarely used.

Out of protective instinct, Aleks put his hand on Kiko's lower back, ushering her towards the door. Yeah, she was a kick a** fighter and all, but if the enemy had the ability to temporarily stop time in a certain area? He obviously wouldn't be a push over, and in a cramped place full of large metal objects wasn't quite the place he would want to encounter said enemy. Naturally, Aleks began running his thumb over the ring he wore on his middle finger of his left hand. It was his transformation object, something he hadn't had to use since his time on earth. Hopefully, he could keep it that way. As they were walking though, the nagging thought smacking his brain was if the person was after Kiko, why not freeze him too?

[shigatsusan]

[Ⓚⓘⓚⓞ✩нιиσ AKA Sailor Flame]

xxxxKiko's fight of flight state of mind kicked in, and in her world there was no flight. Her instincts went to offensive, ready to take on whatever might have caused this because there was no doubt in her mind foul play was about. Having nightmares about some mysterious bloody mars warrior, seeing him twice in one day...something was going on.

xxxxDespite her first instinct to fight, Kiko allowed Aleks to usher her toward the exit. He was not trying to control the situation, he was merely attempting to derail something before it started. But taking them outside might not have been the best option. Across the street from the arcade stood the same man Kiko had been seeing since her nightmare early that morning. Everything was the same; his face was hidden, his cloak bore symbols of her home planet, and it was still caked in blood. Bit this time, he did not disappear after the senshi blinked, rubbing her eyes just to make sure he was really there, and not a figment of her imagination.

xxxxHer hand went into her pocket, fingering the compact there. Just touching it made her feel calmer, but she was still on alert. The man stood there, watching for a long time, before he raised a hand out as if grabbing for Kiko from across the street. Within a second, the store behind her erupted in flames. The flames started green, sickly looking, licked with black shadows. But as the fire took on a life of it's own, it burned red hot. Kiko's attention quickly went from the mysterious fighter to the innocent people inside the arcade. She transformed in a whirl of flames and had her hands outstretched toward the arcade. Feeling the heat of the fire seemed to strengthen her, and after a quick struggle with the sheer power behind the fire, she managed to get the flames under control as they whittled out into nothing. While she was distracted, the man conjured more magic. Around him from the shadows of the city, figures emerged. They had no features, no skin color, nothing aside from the basic form of a man. They were solid black, green flames surrounding their forms. Three rose, and as soon as they were formed, they charged Aleks with surprising speed.

[Sno Magicka]

⊰ - - Α ℓєкsαи∂єя Ӊ σℓт - - ღ

Love is PAIN

This time, Aleks could easily figure out why Kiko had been shaken up about her dream. The figure in front of them was by no means friendly looking. It looked like death dressed in Mars garb after all. While leading them out of the arcade meant encountering the death Mars man, it meant encountering him in an open setting instead of trying to dodge around arcade machines and getting thrown into them, something Aleks would much more tactically prefer. Figuring the man wasn't there just to look pretty, his intentions became known as he tried to light the arcade on fire. Aleks didn't even have to look back to know, considering the heat from it made his back warm, but he only glanced to his right to see Kiko had transformed and had it under control.

Of course, shortly after that, the man decided to go after Aleks himself, three shadowy figures attacking from what seemed the shadows of the buildings around them. Quickly, Aleks held both of his hands against his chest, and closing his eyes for one second, he transformed into his Venus Knight form. Pulling the Nigotsoru, his bladed staff, from the sheath on his back, he was suddenly gone. Aleks, in any battle situation he was put into, always won the battle of speed. He himself wasn't even sure how or why he had been granted with such agility, but it was certainly something that came in handy during a battle. Knowing Kiko could handle herself, and also knowing he could be back to her in a moment if needed, Aleks speed towards the target nearest him, turning to help bring momentum behind his strike and bringing the blade of his staff down on the enemy in front of him. He wasn't sure how his blade would do against shadows, but ya never know until you try, right?

[shigatsusan]

[Ⓚⓘⓚⓞ✩нιиσ AKA Sailor Flame]

xxxxIn the back of her mind, Kiko wondered to herself if there would ever be a normal day...It seemed like not hours ago after settling her best friend's soul back into place and now this? But it kept the senshi on her toes, that was for sure. And she complained when it got too quiet, thinking the worst. It was one or the other, she couldn't have both. Once the flames fell back at the arcade, Kiko only glanced briefly at the still frozen customers inside the store. To her surprise they were no longer frozen, screaming now like bats as the fire receded. Once it fell back they all bolted in different directions. The man seemed to take pleasure in this, for he grinned the insane cheshire grin that sent chills down Kiko's spine. He raised his arm again, bended at the elbow. He cast his gaze away from Kiko and instead to a fleeing customer. She bolted for the patron just as he launched a solid black ninja star. It clipped the senshi's shoulder, but left the civilian unharmed.

xxxxThe shadows closed in on Aleks with speed and accuracy, but the Knight's speed was nothing to be taken lightly. As he came around on one of them, the blade in it's back caused a shriek to erupt as the shadow's dispersed. The other two did not stop their attack regardless, and closed in from two sides. One seemed to conjure a weapon of sorts; it really just looked like a solid black mass in the creatures hands, but when he swung it at Aleks it was nothing but solid.

xxxxKiko straightened, giving a small wince to the wound on her shoulder but otherwise paying it no mind. She spared a glance to where Aleks had been, quickly noting his relative ease in out maneuvering his enemies; he had his situation under control. She had her sword clutched between her hands, finally feeling the unbelievable fear she had for this mystery man fade behind her warrior's attitude as she locked her gaze on him. "Who are you and why do you wear the symbols of my people?" she maybe should have asked what did he want, why was he here...but her main concern was why did he pretend to belong to Mars? The man's smile remained on his face, and he brought up a finger to his lips like in her dream, as if the two were sharing a secret. "I am your kin, Princess." she heard his dark, raspy voice ring out across the street, and that same feeling of dread crept into her heart. "You lie."

[Sno Magicka]

⊰ - - Α ℓєкsαи∂єя Ӊ σℓт - - ღ

Love is PAIN

Aleks felt relief when his weapon managed to damage the enemy, watching is disappear only for a second when he saw the other two attackers quickly closing in on him. With only a moment more, Aleks concentrated enough that his blade soon had a golden aura over it, and as the enemy closed in with a weapon of his own, he brought his own blade up to match it, and with the concentrated light energy in his sword, dispersed the shadows of the enemy's weapon. Following through with that attack in order to counter both enemies, he spun rapidly, making sure the blade made contact with both of the shadow beings, a heavy spinning gust of wind left when he stopped, one hand on the ground and his blade out to his side. Aleks had always wanted to measure the speed of his spinning attack, but he never could say he had the chance without getting killed.

Standing back up, he immediately noticed the cut on Kiko's shoulder, but suppressed the urge to run over and heal it for the time being, instead just listening to what they were saying back and forth. So, he wasn't just some creepy impersonator, he at least believed he was of Kiko's people, whether or not it be true. In reality, why would a person attack the royalty of their kingdom, especially someone as important as Kiko? Unless...they were a traitor of course. Using his speed once more, he was standing next to Kiko suddenly. "I wouldn't deny it right away...you weren't on Mars long enough to know the politics, and possible traitors of your home..." he spoke quietly. As he spoke, he gently put his hand over Kiko's shoulders, hovering over the wound, a subtle light emitting from his hand as it patched over the cut. He knew his healing abilities were no where near Keiko's, but they were enough for small cuts like the one she had received.

[[ Sorry if you didn't want me to kill the guys right away. D; ]]

[shigatsusan]

[Ⓚⓘⓚⓞ✩нιиσ AKA Sailor Flame]

xxxxKiko felt Alek's presence beside her, but her main focus was on this man in front of them both. There was a tingle in her shoulder, she breathed a soft thank you toward him, but wished he hadn't mentioned it was indeed possible for him to be of her people. It made her sick to think of it, that he was a native to Mars and knowingly betrayed his own kin. She gritted her teeth, raising her sword to point out to him, "If you are my kin then you know what this is. Is this was drove you to betray your kind?"

xxxxThe only response the man gave was a laugh, deep and rumbling. It was as if everything about this man was creepy, dastardly...Something in Kiko had a feeling he was not showing anywhere near what he was capable of. His moved his head just slightly, from Kiko the Aleks, and raised his hand out, palm facing the Knight. Before Kiko could react, green flames erupted around Alek's formed, licked with whips of darkness. While Aleks was light based and light was the dark's weakness, it worked both ways. Kiko shouted out his name, trying to control it like she had the arcade fire but to no avail. Instead she focused on the man, charging for him. He still had his hand raised as he flattened his palm just and Kiko went to strike. With speed she hadn't been aware this man possessed, he hand a ninja star jutting from the ends of his fingers and lodged it in the senshi's stomach. "You are so predictable, Princess. It will be the end of you." Kiko gritted her teeth as pain coursed through her ribs, but also took his moment of arrogance to her advantage. She grabbed on to his wrist and held his hand close to her as to keep him from running, and used her other hand to swing the Pyrotiem down into his neck. Instead of the satisfaction of searing flesh, Kiko was met with a whirl of wind as he dispersed in shadow. Kiko dropped to the ground, her sword falling away from her with a clang.

[Sno Magicka]

⊰ - - Α ℓєкsαи∂єя Ӊ σℓт - - ღ

Love is PAIN

Aleks simply nodded his 'welcome', keeping an eye on their enemy also. He had some hope in the back of his mind that the man would be affected by the sight of the pyrotiem, but he remained unphased, instead laughing at them. Then, with his palm moving over, Aleks realized only a second before it happened what the man was out to do, and brought his arms back to his chest as the fire engulfed him. A fire based of shadows would burn him worse than any regular fire could as it fed off of his elemental energy, but at the same time, the elements were weak to each other, and whichever was stronger was the one to win out. Aleks knew he couldn't prevent the fire from reaching him entirely, but instead focused on pushing his energy out in various places, in effect creating small shields around his body. Even though it was effective, it couldn't completely protect him, and the fire raged in between the gaps, burning his skin with what light users called shadows scars, dark marks on the skin of light users who had been greatly effected by dark energy.

During this fight with the fire, he faintly heard Kiko saying his name, and then watched as she tried attacking the man to get him to stop. Granted he hadn't been consumed by the fury of the fire, he would have tried to stop Kiko. She was going into the fight without thinking about it at all, and because of him of all people. Seeing her get hurt made his own mind move away from his pain, and as she managed to kill off the shadow clone of the man, Aleks felt the fire around him die also. Without care for his own wounds, he rushed forward with what energy he had left to devote to another burst of speed, catching Kiko before she hit the ground. His hand immediately flew to the wound in her abdomen, the bright light emitting as it slowly began healing. He wouldn't be able to completely heal a wound like this one, but stopping the bleeding was better than nothing. As soon as he accomplished that, he looked her right in the eye. "Please, don't ever rush in like that again, especially not for me," he said, his voice more serious than he could ever remember it being in his life. It was hard to protect someone who wanted to put their own life in danger for the person trying to do the protecting.

Looking over, he saw the pyrotiem burning brightly on the ground, but he had heard from stories and knew better than to try handling it himself. "Are you alright?" he asked, realizing it was a little late, but better than never to ask.

[shigatsusan]

[Ⓚⓘⓚⓞ✩нιиσ AKA Sailor Flame]

xxxxIt was in Kiko's nature to react before thinking. The less time she spent pondering her next move, the more time she had to actually do it. If it got her killed, well, at least she could get a hit in before she bit the big one. She expected to hit solid ground but instead was caught by a strong pair of arms. Kiko winced, glancing through slitted eyes to see Aleks there, immediately attempting to close up her fresh wound. She gave him a frown at his statement, brows furrowing, "Rushing...is kind of my thing." at least that's what everyone liked to tell her.

xxxxShe could feel a familiar tingle in her gut as Aleks went to work, letting her eyes wander to where her sword had been strewn. She held her breath, closing her eyes in concentration and within seconds, the sword vanished. After the bleeding had stopped, Kiko have him a nonchalant look, "Me? I feel great." and went to push off of the other to stand. She got to her feet, but her wound was still sore and she hunched over just a tad, arm raising to wrap around her middle. So what, she would look like the hunchback of notre dame, but she could walk.

[Sno Magicka]

⊰ - - Α ℓєкsαи∂єя Ӊ σℓт - - ღ

Love is PAIN

Aleks couldn't hold back the small smile that crept into his lips. She was so stubborn, and such a challenge to protect, but at the same time, it was exactly what he loved about her. She was exactly as he always thought of her, a beautiful warrior goddess. As she stood up, talking about how she was fine like she hadn't just suffered a severe wound to her stomach or anything. Watching her hunch over, he stood up immediately, wrapping one around around her side and the other to hold her arm, making sure to keep his arms away from her stomach. "Of course you do, now don't you dare fuss about this," he said, moving himself slightly and very gently lifting her into his arms. "We're getting you to your sister, she can finish what I started..." he said. Plus, he figured she could help Kiko figure more out on this mystery death man, or at least throw ideas back and forth, or something.

Concentrating for a second, he held Kiko closer to himself as he pushed one more insane burst of speed out, running in the direction he knew Keiko's apartment was. While transporting was a nice option, Aleks's speed was the next best thing. Within' only a moment, they were walking up the stairs to the apartment, Aleks setting Kiko down slowly before knocking on the door.

[[ I was thinking maybe Keiko could answer, and since Aleks doesn't know the extent of Kesiom's allegiance to them since he's been gone, that he attacks Kesiom when he sees him standing in the apartment. xD ]]

[shigatsusan]

[Ⓚⓘⓚⓞ✩нιиσ AKA Sailor Flame] & [кєιкσღɧῖɳѳ AKA Sailor Light]

xxxxShe was about to protest to being picked up, but not only did she lack the energy to really refuse anything, Aleks taking the reigns for once didn't bother her as much as she thought it would. Again, this was one of those many things she would probably never admit to the boy. She had a reputation to up hold. There was a rush of wind and then they were climbing stairs. Well, that was fast.

xxxxKeiko was sitting beside Kesiom on the couch, legs curled up beneath her as she leaned her upper half on the other. A knock caught her off guard, not expecting anyone that afternoon...She headed to the door to glance through the peephole, seeing the outline of Aleks and the form of her sister in his arms. She immediately swung the door open and ushered the both of them inside, "What happened?" Normally Keiko would have made nice small talk at seeing Aleks, knowing she hadn't seen him around for awhile....but there were more important tasks at hand. She turned to Kesiom, glad to see he had already gotten up and off the couch, leaving room for Aleks to set her sister down.