Yukiro

Current Level: 20
Current SP: 56
Link to SP Tracking:https://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/18198-yukiro-a-tale-of-something-probably/?do=findComment&comment=582638
Item Upgrades:

Notes:
[any other items that are required to be converted would go here. players may also leave additional clarifications for staff to refer to regarding their application here. note that converted items do not benefit from the same upgrades provided in the field above.]
I previously had my character listed as level 29 with 91 SP, but I couldn't find a lot of the threads that gave me that SP when I came back. I retotaled my SP from what I could find, and have him listed here as having 56 SP at level 20. I'm fine with having him at that amount.

Yukiro froze for the briefest of moments before rushing to add bowls to the table's setup. "Sorry," he quickly apologized, "I'll do that now. Thanks for the reminder." As he moved swiftly the kitchen, he managed to keep mostly out of anybody's way. As he was setting a bowl on top of each of the plates, he took a look into the pot NIGHT had brought to the table. It looked amazing, and smelled even better than that. "Good job on the meal, it looks splendid," he congratulated his friends with a grin, "I promise to only eat my share, unless there are leftovers." Though his tone was mostly jovial, it was laced with what he hoped was a lighthearted apology. He'd have to try and restrain himself at least a little; after all, he had to try and leave a good impression on DAY. Or, maybe because she was an NPC... 
Well, he could decide once they were all ready to eat. 

@Koga

Moving quickly to the edge of the lake thanks to his long strides, Yukiro's crimson eyes scanned the area that a golden-haired player had just pointed out. He could see that something was there, but whatever it was hadn't revealed itself to him yet. He motioned for Tala to keep close to someone of higher level whenever possible; he wasn't about to let her risk herself now that he had her back, even if that meant letting someone else protect her. 

Drawing his stygian sword and holing it in a relaxed guard Yukiro approached the player that had called everyone's attention to the water's surface. It would be safer further back, no doubt, but the boy wasn't going to simply accept a useless position. "Be ready to jump away from the water; we don't know how aggressively it might engage us," he calmly warned, his eyes fixed on the water, "The only thing that may be worse than being off guard would be being unarmed."

Casting a glance at another player that issued a similar warning, Yukiro nodded to him and took a few steps back. He was right; better to take the precaution than risk the fallout. 

Nodding readily to DAY as she directed him to set the table, Yukiro went about his task a little more satisfied than before. He gave the other players a wide berth as he walked around them, not wanted to disturb anyone too much. As the ruby-eyed giant collected enough dishes for everyone in the group, he nodded to Koga's comment. 
"I'm not sure I can quite recall which was the last time. It must have been far too long ago," he pondered aloud, quickly following his thoughts up with, "Regardless, we should try to make this a more consistent habit. Ah, perhaps not always a meal, though." He smiled apologetically to his friends as he moved to set up the table. 
Nodding to NIGHT's mention of drinks, Yukiro quickly finished setting the table. It was set up in a way that felt almost too proper for the casual setting, though Yukiro didn't seem to notice. "I suppose we'll find out together. I've never had it either," he mentioned as he summoned the drink form inside the fridge and brought it over to the table. 

@Koga

"I hope that's a good thing," Yukiro said solemnly, "I don't like hurting others like that." Even if Tala... Aki had needed to hear what he'd said, it pained him to have to be the one to do it. Still, at least there was comfort in the knowledge that maybe he'd influenced her for the better. All he could do was hope it didn't drive her to do something stupid again. 

Yukiro turned to look at Koga as he spoke, watching him sadly. He'd been told why Tala had disappeared, but now that he thought about it, he didn't actually know why Noctua had fled in the first place. "I guess we both tend to say things we regret in the heat of the moment. I'm sorry that all went how it did," the white-haired boy closed his eyes for a moment before continuing, "I'm... Not a great source of advice in these things. But, um... I was taught that, if you feel bad about something, you need to apologize, even if it's not your fault. I still don't know what happened with Noctua, but..." Sighing heavily, Yukiro shook his head. "Sorry, I don't know where I was going with all that. I don't mean to pressure you or anything." 

@Koga

Why was that idiot going to fight a boss on the 22nd floor? Well, it sounded like there would be plenty of others there to help keep her safe, so he shouldn't be worried. He closed the message and continued to go about attempting to cook. Failing quite miserably, but trying.
...Perhaps I could get some free experience out of such a boss myself. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to go. 
After quickly cleaning up the mess he'd created, Yukiro reopened the message and sent a reply saying he was on his way. Quickly donning his usual gear, he rushed out the door with a brief explanation to Koga. 

The weather on floor 22 was idyllic. Upon arrival Yukiro glanced around to take in the scenery. He'd only been here once before, and it had been night then, so this was a nice change of pace. Several players had already gathered, including Tala. He jogged over, a process made quicker by his massive height. "Did I miss anything?" he asked, slowing to a stop and glancing everyone once over. Giving Tala a nod and a smile, he turned to squint at the lake. The sun seemed to reflect completely off it's surface, making it difficult to keep his eyes on the water's surface. "Do we know anything about what we're up against?"

'Especially not you two'..? Yukiro tilted his head slightly at the comment, but didn't ask any of the questions that went through his head. "Well, I'm glad it's happening now, at least," he smiled and nodded, "Feel free to summon me any time you'd like."

Once everyone was back in the kitchen, Yukiro realized he was the only one unable to help prepare the food. And, odds were, he was also the reason so much help was needed. He muttered a quick apology and sat still, watching his friends get to work. He could ask to be taught so it at least felt like he was doing something, but... he didn't want to get in the way. Ah, why had he agreed to this...

"Um, is there anything I can do to help?" he finally convinced himself to ask at the risk of distracting someone, "I can't help much with food, but I can help in other ways. Or perhaps take upon myself a simpler task?" He gave a polite bow as he asked. 

@Koga

Retracting his hand from the mostly unresponsive wolf, Yukiro looked up at Koga for a moment. "Aki..?" he asked quietly. His mind flicked through the people he'd interacted with, but nobody named Aki came to mind. His next couple of lines cleared up what Koga had meant though. Aki must be Tala. Was that her real name? 
Shaking his head, Yukiro tried to return Koga's aching smile. He wasn't sure if he'd even managed that. "Well, it definitely wasn't easy," he admitted softly, "She, uh... Tried to apologize, but she was also trying to put the blame on Noctua. I... I really tore into her. Said some things I regret." Leaning back against the couch, the snow-haired boy closed his eyes. "I told her we could talk again when she was willing to take responsibility for... Everything, really."

Opening his eyes and looking over at Koga, Yuki offered a tiny but forced smile. "How was your conversation with Noctua? I can't help but feel it didn't go any better." After all, Koga was probably going through a lot more than he was right now. "If you want to talk about it."

@Koga

"Oh, right. Um," Yukiro almost stammered, "Sorry. Right, uhm, I guess..." Yukiro went to turn around and help Tala with her ring, but he was still holding her hand behind him, so he just awkwardly rotated the pair a bit. Eventually, he let her hand go so that they could put their rings on, but because they were holding his ring between their hands, he dropped it into the grass. With the sun setting, it took a long while of the snow-haired boy's panicked searching before he found it. 

Yukiro nodded to Tala's instruction to seek her out. "I will, so be careful. Um, I'm sorry, but I'm not going to tell you where Koga's house is. He'll be the one to tell you. Yes," he said before Tala could say anything, "He will. Maybe not soon, but he'll forgive you eventually. I promise." With that, the couple exchanged rings for the third time that day. At Tala's offer of a date, Yukiro gave her the first honest smile he'd shown her since her disappearance. "Yeah, let's do that. You're paying tonight!"

It had been a long day. And a pretty overwhelming one at that. After almost tripping over Akame, Yukiro heard Tala coming up behind him. He wanted to keep running. It wouldn't be hard. He just had to take one step, and he could keep going. 
Just... Just one step, and he wouldn't have to face this. He could get away, he knew he could. But something kept his feet from moving. It was like they were suddenly rooted to the ground. Tala's hand took his, and he closed his eyes, unsure of what to expect. But, of all the things he could have expected, feeling Tala put his ring back in his hand wasn't one of them. 

He didn't move from where he was standing as she spoke. Not even an inch. It was hard to take it in; he felt like he'd been dumped and proposed to by the same person within the span of ten minutes. A part of him was still hurt, another was overwhelmed with relief. But what took him over was a hopeful agony. Slowly, he took Tala's hand and held it without turning around. The ring was pressed between their palms. Using his other hand, he wiped his face to make sure he wasn't crying. 

"...I don't want to leave," he shakily said, "I never stopped trusting you. Trusting you to trust me. It was so hard, to keep it on when you left... And when you came back." Something broke in his voice, and he paused. Taking a deep breath, he continued with a bit more control. "If I trust you to wear it, I need to know that you'll keep it on even though it's heavy. I need to know you won't give up because it's hard. That you'll come to me because you need help. That you'll help me because it became too much for me." He turned to look at her again. "...I don't want you to prove that your worthy, I want you to try your best to be there for me. Neither of us can do something like this alone..." 

With a small sniffle, he added, "...Idiot."

@Tala

Yukiro let out a heavy sigh, waving off Tala's thanks. "Don't worry about it. Just... Seriously, where did you even get that idea?" He scratched the back of his head, not quite sure how he felt. Disappointed, for sure. Still angry at her, but not nearly as much as before. It was nice to get to spend time with her again, but something was seriously off with her. 
As he felt Tala grab his arm, he paused and turned a bit to look at her. She put something in his hand, and Yukiro recognized the ring immediately. It was an exact match to the one he was wearing, albeit made for a smaller hand. 
...Is she... Trying to tell me that she's over me..? 
Why wouldn't she deserve it? Well, actually, Yukiro could probably answer that pretty easily. But that wasn't the point; why didn't she want it? 
"A-ah," he finally said dejectedly, "I thought..." Instead of finishing, he just looked at his own ring. After a moment of consideration, he slowly slipped the metal band off his finger. "S-sorry, I... Thought you still wanted..." he almost whispered. He shook his head, gritting his teeth. No, he should have seen this coming. He wouldn't let himself cry at a time like this. Tightly gripping the rings in his hand, he put on as brave a face as he could and walked to catch up to Tala. This time, he grabbed her arm, and put both rings in her hand. 

"If you wanted it back, you could have just asked," he said, stepping away quickly to make sure Tala couldn't give the rings back, "I, um... Thank you for the chance you gave me. If you need my help again, please ask," he finished with a quick bow, "I'm sorry I wasn't who you wanted." 

Yukiro stood up straight, taking a final look at Tala, before he turned and walked briskly back toward the Town of Beginnings. 

@Tala

"I... Wait... Hold on, what?" Yukiro asked. He was very lost now. His health once again ticked up to being full, but he hardly even noticed. That was a joke, right? That one had to be a joke. There was no way she actually, legitimately thought he would... Koga's a great friend, but... Yukiro pushed the idea out of his head. He didn't need any of that in his head right now. But, wait... She really thought Yukiro had married Koga? 

"I... Tala, hold on, for real," he put one hand on his forehead and the other on her shoulder, "Look, I'm sorry, but... Are you an idiot? I'm living with Koga because I'm broke and  homeless. I have been since before we met, remember?" Yukiro looked up from his palm, both of his arms dropping to his side. He opened his mouth as if to say something more, but closed it again. He just walked right past her, towards the castle's exit. "Unbelievable. Just... Unbelievable," he muttered to himself as he walked out the castle door. 

@Tala

The monkey..? What was Tala... Oh. Right, of course. That monkey. 
Yukiro didn't like that monkey. It was far to fast for it's own good. With any luck, the next time he encountered that Goku-wannabe, he would be much, much stronger than he had been then. 
Once Tala had landed her attack, Yukiro was able to let out a slight sigh. They'd officially won. The dragon was guaranteed to die now. Still, better not to risk anything. The dragon let out a shriek, freezing Yukiro in place as his cheek was raked by the beast's claws. It had been a critical hit. And yet, despite that, his health barely dropped at all. It was almost comical how little it had done; why had he even been dodging before? Well, probably to keep Tala from worrying. Ah, what a pain. 
Standing up straight, his health ticked right back up to full. Tala was moving to his side as he readied a sword art; he'd rather not let the dragon get another attack, even if it was ineffective against him. He was just taking a step forward when, 

"Kill the thing so I can make sure that you make it home to your girl, alright?"

Yukiro almost tripped at her reassurance. He managed to keep his footing, but his sword art went wild and missed literally everything it could have hit. Slowly, Yuki looked over at Tala with a bewildered expression. Was she joking? Oh, no, she wasn't kidding. After an awkwardly long pause Yukiro managed to pull his thoughts together enough to speak again. 

"We... But we don't live together..?" he asked in a genuinely confused tone, "I... You do know I live with Koga, right? Please tell me you don't think he's a girl."

@Tala

Good, they were starting to get some kind of flow going. Or something like that. All that mattered was that they were still dealing damage. Once Tala had moved behind him, Yukiro stepped forward to go on the offensive. Not wanting to risk another miss, he decided not to trigger a sword art. All he needed to do was maintain the higher hate value. Plus, he could still deal decent damage if he managed a critical hit. He executed a masterful slash across the dragon's face, maintaining a defensive posture the entire time. The dragon's health only made a tiny tick downward. 

Tch. Nothing this time, he thought in annoyance. 

Stepping back a bit and holding his sword ready to deflect whatever came, Yukiro silently prayed for luck to be on his side this time. He wasn't in much danger from the dragon, but if Tala landed more than one critical, she could be very much in danger. It might be unusual to hope that one didn't get lucky, but that's exactly what he was praying for. "Carefully," he muttered, more to himself than to Tala. 

@Tala

Seemingly out of nowhere, an overpowering sound seemed to burst from the dragon. Yukiro was forced to stop and cover his ears to recover from the scream. Right, he'd forgotten about that tiny detail. Well, that didn't matter at the moment, seeing as the dragon had failed to actually follow up the shriek with an attack. After a moment of recovery, he addressed Tala. 
"What do you mean, hurt like before? Anyway, careful of that scream. It'll lock you in place while it attacks." Yukiro warned Tala, skipping over his own question, "Don't even think about trying to be the tank, alright? Focus on the task at hand. Just let me," Yukiro paused, readying a weaker sword art. He was going to have to restart his learning again, wasn't he? "One second."
With a quick step forward, Yukiro leaned into the sword art that activated. To his relief, it actually hit it's mark this time. Purgatory slipped through the dragon's hide, leaving three red gashes where it had struck. And, to Yukiro's disappointment, the dragon's health sunk a decent chunk less than he'd expected. Glancing back at Tala, the boy nodded. "Just trust me to take the hits," he half ordered, half asked. 

@Tala

Once Tala confirmed that she was ready, Yukiro nodded and quietly marched onward. He kept his eyes scanning and ears open; the last time he'd encountered the dragon he and NIGHT had been outside the castle, so it was essential to be ready even now. Hopefully Tala picked up on his seriousness here, because he had neglected to mention that detail to her. 

For the time being, fortune seemed to favor them. The dragon hadn't been out in the fields, so there was nothing to take them by surprise. Without stopping his brisk stride, Yukiro pushed open the door to the castle and led Tala inside. Just as he had suspected, there was debris all over the place; plenty of places to trip and get caught up. And at the center of all the chaos, a small, green dragon stood as though it had been expecting the party's arrival. 

Triggering a sword art right as he drew Purgatory free, Yukiro moved to attack immediately. But as he did, his body seemed to yank him away from his intended course of action. 
Right, he recalled a bit too late, Sword arts move your body for you. I'm an idiot.
With all the grace of a fish out of water, Yukiro's sword swept in a wide arc above the dragon's head. He wanted to mutter an apology, but there wasn't much time before the dragon was going to go on the offensive. 

@Tala

It was going to be about ten more minutes before the pair reached the castle. About time the pair worked out a battle plan. "Right. We're still a little ways off, but in the meantime, we should strategize. Did you bring any items? Potions, crystals, and the like? If so, I'd have them prepped to use in an emergency now." As he spoke, his voice took on a very serious tone. "Given our current level difference, I would recommend having me tank as much as possible. Basically, let me get the first hit or two in. If I miss for whatever reason, don't be afraid to hold off on attacking to help it target me." Yukiro's tone of voice left no room for argument on this particular subject. He was clearly determined to function as the party's tank, and Tala was not going to change his mind. 
"As for the plan of attack, there's unfortunately no environmental advantages for us here. What corridors are left are tight, and the rooms still have some furniture. It'll probably be difficult to make a full swing in many circumstances. Try to avoid being tripped up on any debris, alright?" Yukiro glanced over his shoulder as he spoke, "The castle should be just over this hill. Are you prepared?"

@Tala

It was true what Tala said. Only she could forgive herself. But, still... Hopefully she could learn to do that eventually. And maybe... Maybe, Yukiro could be there to help her along the way. 
Maybe. 
Failing to comment on that admission of Tala's, Yukiro skipped to what he knew. "No caves," he assured her, "It's in an old, run-down castle. If it can still be called a castle in that shape." He approached Akame when Tala called the wolf over, stopping about a meter from the pair to crouch down and offer his hand for the familiar to smell. As he did so, he allowed for the chance that, if she were to look, Yukiro was wearing a ring on his finger. And an exact match to Tala's. 
Withdrawing his hand quickly afterwards, the snow-haired boy stood up straight and turned to lead Tala toward their destination. "West. I think this is West. Well, it's this way regardless," he said, gesturing in the direction he was walking. "I've only fought this thing once before, and I had... A lot of help when I did, so I'm not sure how useful I'll be. Just to warn you in advance."

@Tala

As Tala's health bar appeared in the corner of Yukiro's vision he nodded. It was better that they be in a party. Or, at least, it was a logical decision. It would make it easier for them to work together... Assuming they still could do something like that. Shaking away any doubting thoughts he was stirring up, Yukiro tried to refocus on where Tala was leading them. Right up until;

"Perhaps, you should lead, since you know the way an all...."

Yukiro nodded, speeding up just enough to get ahead of Tala. "It's over that way. About ten minutes into the forest. Wait, no that's the second one. It's a little ways off from the cave, if I remember correctly," he said, leading Tala in a somewhat different direction that what they had been going in. Taking another deep breath, he considered his options. Should he say something? What would he say? He was just about to open his mouth to speak when Tala decided to vocalize before him. 

Stopping dead in his tracks, Yukiro closed his eyes. After a long moment of complete silence, he turned to face Tala. It was the first time he'd really looked at her since her reappearance; the last time, he'd been too upset to really study her face. "No. Don't say that about yourself," Yuki said almost forcefully, "What you are is whatever you make of yourself. Nothing more, nothing less." Pausing to gather his thoughts, Yukiro looked his companion right in the eyes. "When you wanted to find a villain, you created one. If you're honestly looking for forgiveness, then eventually, you'll find it."  

That... Felt good to say. 

@Tala

...But, if I already know the way, why don't you let me guide you there? 

Yukiro nodded, allowing Tala to lead the party, though he was already confused by her decline. Taking a deep breath, he followed behind her, just a little closer than before. "I wasn't doing anything else today," he assured her as he opened his menu, sending her a party request, "And, um..."

He didn't finish.

Yukiro looked down at the new familiar at Tala's side. A wolf named... Akame? What a strange name. Yuki offered the canine a brief, sad smile before turning his attention to the ground. His own familiar had been lost a while back. Perhaps he should find a new one..? 

...Maybe not. 

Silently following Tala, Yukiro kept a hand softly holding his sword's hilt. Having a weapon at his side was comforting to the snow-haired boy, which was convenient in this world. After all, pretty much everyone had one at all times in here. Not that his real life had been so different... Well, that wasn't important now. He looked up at Tala's feet, just to make sure he was still following her. 

@Tala

Even though a part of him had been hoping to see the message he'd received, the emotions in his body were twisted and confused. He felt some kind of hope, but also a sense of dread. A piercing pain coupled with anger. He was going to go meet her, he'd decided on that much, but he had no idea what he'd say or do once arriving. He donned his usual gear, deciding to equip Purgatory rather than his unnamed sword. He wasn't sure why, but it felt right. 

After telling Koga he'd be out for a bit, Yukiro slipped out into the streets and headed to find the teleporter and head to floor one. 

It was a while before Yukiro saw Tala leaning against a wall at the entrance to the large town. As much as seeing her made him want to turn back, Yukiro walked to stand a couple meters away from her. 
"You know which way you're headed?" he asked with a colder tone than he'd intended, "I know the way, if not."

@Tala

As he moved quietly to join his friend on the couch, Yukiro was working hard to keep his breathing steady. He had to keep it together in front of Koga; the man didn't need any more weight on his shoulders. "Yeah, me neither," he admitted softly, "I, uh..." 
What was he supposed to say? Should he ask about what had happened with Tala? How could he comfort someone like Koga after all that had happened?  He didn't even know how to control himself. What a life the two had been handed... 
"...Not that it eases the pain," Yuki almost mumbled, "But I'm glad they're alive." And it was the truth. For all the suffering it was causing, and that it was likely to cause as time pushed on, Yukiro couldn't make himself wish for the alternative. Well... For them, at least. Leaning forward, he offered a hand to Okami, waiting to see if the wolf reacted. 

@Koga

With the curtains pulled shut and the lights off, it became surprisingly dark inside the guest bedroom of Koga's house. Even though it was a bright, sunny afternoon outside, the somewhat small room was filled with the heavy shadow of regret. The tall, snow-hared boy lay curled up on his bed, only the top of his head peeking out from the covers. Reddish lines that streaked down his face showed that he'd been crying for a long time now, though he'd clearly stopped, content to wallow in his misery. 

After his meeting with Tala, Yukiro had felt bad about what he'd said to her. Was he still angry at her? Absolutely. But he still missed her terribly and still wanted to see her. Did he feel what he said had been wrong? Not at all, he felt he'd spoken very honestly with her. And yet, he still felt like he was in the wrong for having ripped into her like that. Even after everything she'd done...

The sound of the door opening made the boy jump a bit, startling him out of his own thoughts. Right, Koga must  have come home. He should go see if the man was doing any better than him... Well, he probably wasn't, but the least Yuki could do was try to lend a hand. 

Slipping off the bed and attempting to rub the pained look from his face, Yukiro quietly opened his door and slipped down the stairs to see Koga just coming home. 
"He... Hey," he offered his friend quietly, "...Are you okay..?"

@Koga

Casting a glance over at Koga and NIGHT as they moved to speak with each other, Yukiro sighed. Maybe it was a bad idea to come after all; not that he would have if he'd know someone else was already there. Perhaps a customary message should have been sent to ask..? 

Ah, well. Too late to worry about that much now. 

"It's nice to finally meet you. Christmas dinner, I take it?" 

"Ah, yes, something like that, I suppose," the boy affirmed awkwardly. He finished registering Day's words as he spoke. It seemed NIGHT had spoken to this girl of him..? "Day, was it? Thank you for allowing Koga and I to intrude, it's very kind of both you and NIGHT." 
Offering another slight bow, the boy's ruby eyes flashed between NIGHT and DAY. And after a short moment of confusion, it clicked. DAY was an NPC. 

Not that it mattered too much to him. After all, if she was with NIGHT then there was no cause for concern, right? 

"I'm sorry I can't help, but my skills in a kitchen are... shall we say, unfortunate." As he finished he returned the smile with one of his own, a grin radiant enough that it completely contradicted his previous moodiness. 

@Koga

It's out of his hands now. There wasn't anything he could do anymore. The snow-haired boy had to keep reminding himself that he couldn't help Tala or Koga anymore. What happened was entirely up to them right now. Yukiro sulked as he wandered into the streets of the Town of Beginnings. The sun's last rays peeked over the buildings, illuminating the empty path before him. Not that there weren't people on the road, it was just that most of them were actively trying to avoid the guy who had stormed into the fields in a fury and slaughtered everything for hours on end. 

Frustration and pain gnawed at Yukiro's psyche, driving him deeper into his own thoughts. Had he been to harsh on Tala..? No, he was clearly in the right. Right? 

As he turned a corner, a stranger rammed into Yukiro's side, prompting him to angrily hop back, ready to yell. But it wasn't a person after all; just the wall of some shop. Letting out an exasperated sigh, Yuki continued into the alleyway. 

He knew of one more person he could turn to for help. One more person he could trust no matter what. Eventually, as he travelled deep enough into the alleyway, a familiar shop caught his eye. The nearly illegible writing brought back far too few memories. The lack of a second shop also caught his eye. Oscar must have closed down his shop..? 
Refocusing, Yukiro turned to face the remaining door.

The Crusty Bahrnacle

Pushing open the shop door, Yukiro wobbled in, eyes angled downward until he heard a familiar voice. 

"...Hey," he greeted Bahr softly.

@Bahr