Yukiro

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Yukiro stood up and walked over to the wall where the sugar glider was hanging. What did he want? Did he just need some attention? Yukiro reached his hand up, reaching up to pet the little critter, and Yumi immediately bounded from the wall and latched onto Yukiro's hand. Mildly surprised Yukiro brought Yumi back down to his chest level. That's when he noticed that the sugar glider was shaking. 
Was he... 
...Scared of heights? 
Yukiro let out a heavy sigh. He didn't have the energy to think about it. He teetered back off to bed and laid back down. Yumi jumped from his hand to his chest the instant Yukiro had laid on his side and quickly hid it'self inside his shirt. 
"...Alright. Good night, Yumi. Please." 

Yumi shivered inside Yuki's shirt, still recovering from the terrifying experience. 
Thank you, Yuki. I'll never go exploring without you again. 
Five minutes later, both of the tired adventurers were fast asleep. 

Maybe he just had to jump on top of it. But it was so high up! How was he supposed to get up there? 
Oh! I have an idea! 
Yumi hopped over to the wall and started to eagerly climb up it. It was just rough enough that he could get a hold on it. Up and up and up he went until, when he looked down, he could see the whole shop! A little more searching and he found the big black thing. He didn't see anything on it... 
But that's just because he wasn't close enough, of course! Where else would Yuki hide the treats? 
Alright, all he has to do is jump down and glide onto the big thing... 
Just jump down... 
Yuki! Help me I'm scared it's so high up! 

Yukiro woke up to loud barking once again. He sleepily sat up and checked the time. 

1:20 am

With a heavy sigh, he sleepily looked in the direction of the barking. His eyes widened a bit when he found the sugar glider on the wall, almost at the ceiling. How did he get up there? 
Gah, Yukiro was never going to sleep. 

Yumi was finally ready to go outside. He started to struggle a bit and managed to wriggle free of Yuki's hand. Maybe he should wake Yuki up? Nah, Yumi can explore a bit on his own. There's a whole wide world just waiting for him!
The sugar glider dashed across the shop's floor and looked up at the forge. The warm thing. But Yuki never let me get close. Yumi started to climb up the wooden platform that held the thing up, only to discover at the top tat it was way too hot! Why would he have something this hot? It would hurt to play with it! And so Yumi climbed back down. 
The next thing to explore was... the big metal anvil! 
Yumi hopped over to the big, black thing. He could never figure out what it was supposed to be for. He tried to climb it, but it was too hard and smooth. But if it wasn't for climbing, what was it for? 

Yukiro gives Bahr a Christmas gift because 'tis the season.

1 Fish with +1 Vitality snack (+2 Energy Regenerated in Combat for one Thread)

"I think we should continue and finish off whatever monsters left in this cave quickly, before more reinforcement arrives. It looks like we all still have some relatively decent health bar left, as long as we rotate between who tanks and who doesn't none of us would really be in any danger here. I haven't suffer from any damage against me yet so I can tank if needed. But remember that all of us need to pick up a gem stone too, please be sure to pick one up before we leave the cave. So...two more cave guardians to go?" 
Nora grabbed a gem and tossed it to NIGHT. "Here! Take this one!" 
Another stone giant came to life within the darkness. Yukiro could hear when Nora and NIGHT both managed to hit the thing and, squinting, he could make out the barely full HP bar of the Cave Guardian. 
Lonzo and Nora still need to get one. I'll stand down. 
Yukiro took a step back. "I'll let Nora and Lonzo take this one out, alright?" 

@Nora

Yukiro accepts the early christmas gift and now feels guilted into getting him one too

Yukiro looked at Tala. She looked at Yukiro and sighed. "The paddles. Here I got it." 
"Thank you." How she knew what she seemed to know was beyond Yukiro. She started to row them back to shore. Yumi skittered to Yukiro's head to watch the water flow by, splashing at the side of the boat. 

Soon enough they were back on solid ground, much to Yukiro's delight. Tala soon spoke to the NPC. 
"So, what is this 'something special'?" 
The old fisherman told them to wait where they were while he went and prepared it. Yukiro turned to Tala after he'd gone into his little shack. 
"So, on the boat. Before the fish attacked, I think you were trying to ask me something? Sorry, I forgot what when I was startled." 
Meanwhile, Yumi spun around on Yukiro's head, eventually climbing down and making his way down his arm and back up his shirt. Yukiro did his best to ignore the sugar glider, but nearly giggled a few times. 

@Tala

Yumi woke up slowly. It had been a long day yesterday. Yuki and Tala went out on a boat, and he got to play with both of them, so he had been really tired. But after a long sleep he was ready to wake up and play again. Yumi stretched and slowly squirmed in his pouch. It was nice and warm, but he knew he'd have to leave it to go play. Maybe if he could get Yuki to come get him Yuki would keep him warm. 

A loud, barking noise came from Yumi's pouch, just a few feet away from Yukiro's cot. He sleepily rolled over and checked the time. 

12:36 am.

With an audible groan Yukiro sat up and reached into Yumi's pouch, promptly flopping back down once the sugar glider was in his hand. 
"Yumi, please let me sleep tonight," he moaned, the tiredness overtaking his face. Yumi nuzzled himself in Yukiro's hand. 
Yukiro rolled over to the side and closed his eyes, letting Yumi snuggle his hand. "Thank you." 

Skill(s) Being Dropped: Familiar Mastery: Accurate Rank 3
Mod(s) Being Dropped: N/A
SP Refunded: 18
Cost: 18000 Col (Sent to Banker)

"Yeah, honor isn't worth this fiasco. I'm out, I quit, forfeit whatever this game needs to cancel this duel. Let's get out of here Koga. You talk about honor, and yet here you are taking down the one person who probably would have benefited the most from beating up that little punk that you are protecting. You taking him out, gave her the win, and you knew this. You knew I wasn't about to be the one to actually defeat her. Your honor might as well have just gone out whatever window is around you just now. Go back to the little one who has you so wrapped already, and for the sake of her life. Keep. Her. Away. From. Me."

Yukiro silently looked down at Noctua. Perhaps Koga would benefit from attacking Tala. But that, and older brother feeling better because he beat up his little sister? 
That would be disgusting. 

"Yeah, like you would even dare. You'd worry too much about my brother, when you really shouldn't, should you."

Yukiro nearly turned and slapped her. "Tala, your ignorant words started this mess. Shut up."

Koga walked up to Yukiro and tried to drag Yukiro down to face him. Yukiro complied. "You think this had something to do with honor? What kind of freaking fantasy world are you living in Yukiro? You say this stopped being a family matter once Noctua got dragged in? Now who's freaking fault was that? Tala's. Oh, and let's not freaking forget who sent the damn duel invite. Because it wasn't me. You sent it Yukiro, you did. You did exactly what Tala wanted, pulled others into her messed up, half baked plan to do whatever the hell she's trying." Koga let go of him and pushed him away. Yukiro barely took a step back. "You put yourself right in the middle of this mess. Naw, man. This wasn't about honor, or revenge. She's just using-"

"You," Noctua started to push Koga away from him, "if you wish to go and get yourself killed, let me know now. I'm sure there is a cliff nearby for me or I can just remove the armor and let your sister finish whatever is fueling her hatred for me."
It was a moment before Koga sheathed his sword and turned around. "Good freaking lucky Yuki...you're gonna need it..." 

Yukiro looked at the sky for a moment. "I never excused Tala of her actions. And I will take my share of the responsibility. You have my apologies." He finished with a slight bow as the other two walked away. 

"Stay out of this Yuki," Koga spat as he got back to his feet, "I told you. This is a family matter. Stay out of it."
"It stopped being a family matter when Noctua was dragged in," Yukiro said bluntly.
"Have fun explaining your little secrets. Perhaps you should just fly away now." Tala charged Noctua. Yukiro couldn't afford to split his attention; he just trusted that both Tala and Noctua could handle themselves. 
Yukiro raised his sword and activated a sword art. Shooting the tip of his sword forward he stabbed Koga. 
"I won't stand by and let you do something you'll regret!" 
His sword retreated and whirled around into a slash across Koga's midriff. 
"What she said was inexcusable, but it wasn't worth your honor!" 
That stroke chained into a pair of rapid thrusts, piercing the man's shoulder and hip. And with a final stroke Yukiro knocked Koga to the ground as his health drained past the halfway point. 
"Don't seek such brutal revenge against your sister. Please." 
Glancing over at Tala and Noctua's fight, Yukiro thrust the tip of his sword into the ground. 
"Don't worry. I'm not going to interfere. That is a duel for honor." 

@Noctua

"He is okay, just didn't like me making sure that he wasn't going to fall into the water during the fight." Yukiro nodded. Just as long as everything was okay.

Yumi crawled up so he could look out of Tala's pocket. They were still floating in the water. That's okay, I can still play with Tala. Just then, Tala's hand gently lifted the sugar glider out of her pocket. Yumi started to wriggle around. Are we gonna play? A finger started to gently rub Yumi's head. Yumi stopped moving around and let Tala's pet him because it felt nice. Head rubs make me happy. 

Yukiro watched Tala give Yumi just a little more attention before holding out her arms. Yukiro put out his arm, palm facing down. Yumi looked up once Tala stopped rubbing his head. 

Oh, am I going back to Yuki? Okay, thank you for the head rubs! Yumi walked to the edge of Tala's hand and jumoed over to Yukiro's arm, climbing quickly up to his shoulders where he could play. 

Yukiro smiled as Yumi started to climb all over him again. He never realized how much he missed the little critter until he was gone. But Yumi could climb without Yukiro's attention for now. He saw Tala sit down and heard her sigh. 
"Sorry Yumi, I just didn't want you getting lost in the lake." 
Yukiro smiled and sat down as well. "I'm sure he forgives you." 

I'm tired. I wanna go back in a pouch. Yumi crawled into Yukiro's pocket and curled up. 

"Great job, adventurers! That was a massive help! Now, just row us back to shore and I'll make you something special." 

Yukiro looked up at Tala. "Row?" 

@Tala

Yukiro heard Tala unsheathe her sword and slash the fish with a sword art. The fish went flying as though Yukiro had been hitting a home run, splashing into the water. 
Of course that meant it was alive. After a few moments the fish started to jump out of the water. Now ready, with his sword drawn, Yukiro slashed the thing, making it's health drop to zero and it's body shatter. With a sigh of relief Yukiro turned to Tala. 
"We're done." 

Meanwhile, Yumi was pleasantly surprised when he was put in Tala's pocket. He liked pouches. They were nice and warm and cozy, perfect for resting and sleeping. But they weren't very good for playing. Yumi started to climb out so he could see what everyone was doing when Tala's hand trapped him in her pouch! Hey! That wasn't nice! Yumi tried to push around her hand but she wasn't letting him out. Well, there was only one thing he could do now. 

A loud, raspy noise similar to a cicada started to come from Tala's pocket. Yukiro turned and looked at her. 
"Is Yumi okay over there? Should I take him back?" 

@Tala

"Well, that makes two of us then. Shouldn't be too hard." Tala took a fishing pole from the NPC as he joined them on the boat. Yukiro pushed them off. 

"Nope, we cast the fishing rod into the water and wait for the fish to catch on. Here, I have one for each of us," the NPC said, handing Yukiro a fishing rod and throwing his line to the water.
Yukiro watched Tala do something similar and copied her movements.
"Shouldn't be too hard..." Tala mimicked the old fisherman. 

"What's on your mind Yukiro?" Tala asked. 
Yukiro paused for a moment. He wasn't really thinking about anything. He was just about to say that when he felt a gentle tug at the line of his fishing pole. 
"Uh, really quick, I think I got somethin--" 
Before he could finish a giant swordfish burst out of the water, flying straight into the air. YUkiro almost fell back, but instinctively grabbed his sword and, without unsheathing it, bashed the fish off to the side and back into the water. 
"...I think I found it."

@Tala

"Stay with you on your park bench?" Tala smiled slightly and caught up to Yukiro. 
"What?" Yukiro replied. He did not understand what she was asking.

Tala took Yukiro's hand and stepped into the boat. "Guess, it's time to get into the middle of the lake and start fishing." 
Nodding, Yukiro followed her into the boat. "I've never really done anything like this, so, uh... yay." He was admittedly a little scared. He didn't know how to swim, and he'd never been in a boat before, but he was fairly confident that the water wouldn't kill him immediately. 
"Well, uh, here we go, I guess." With that Yukiro pushed off on the dock and let the boat start to drift out to the middle of the lake. He turned to face Tala and sat down in the boat. 
"So, what now? Do we have to do something to call the fish or something?" he asked, not knowing what to do or how to do it. 

@Tala

The fight started faster than Yukiro had hoped. Noctua lunged at Tala, thrusting her sword. Yukiro shot to Tala's side, his right hand gripping the thin blade and wrenching it to the side. His left arm held his sword, blade pointing up, above Noctua's head. 
"Forgive me." 
He slammed the pommel of his sword into the back of Noctua's neck, forcing her to the ground and disarming her, hopefully knocking her out so she didn't suffer. The sound of a sword art drew Yukiro's attention Koga was attacking Tala-- no, it wasn't an attack. That was an execution. And that was not going to happen. 
Yukiro's sword collided with Koga's blade, stopping it dead. His sword started to glow a brilliant scarlet, forcing itself past Koga's sword and slashing into his chest with the force to send him flying. 
"That was quite the attack, Koga. But if you need to unleash your anger, cut me. Not your sister." 

@Noctua

"Uh? Did that sugar glider just bark?" Violet asked, slowly leaning closer to Yukiro. 
"Yeah, he does that when he wants attention." 
"Awwe! He's so cuuuute!" Violet cried when Yumi looked at her. The sugar glider looked up at Yukiro and back at Violet. With a little twisting around in Yukiro's pocket he started to climb out and onto his shoulder. 
Dahlia seemed to be trying to look at Yukiro's familiar as well. 
"It seems Dahlia wants to say hello as well, if that's alright," Violet requested. Dahlia purred innocently at Yukiro. 
With a sigh Yukiro sat down, cross-legged, and gently picked Yumi up and laying the critter on it's back, using his thumb to rub his belly. Yumi immediately stopped trying to climb back up Yukiro's arm and closed his eyes, enjoying the rubs. 
"This is Yumi. Don't worry about scaring him, he's far from shy." 
As he spoke he used his free hand to open his menu and pull out a blueberry. This was one of his secret moves; Yumi couldn't resist his favorite food. 

@Violet Smith

Both Apollo and Oscar were looking at him in silence. He'd never been one to feel the strains of social pressure before, but this time, it daunted him. 

What was a 'Fattening  Paul Blart Log Dog'? What even was a hot dog? Was he supposed to know that names of what he wanted? Was there a sign he'd missed that showed the menu? Truly, Apollo's knowledge was far greater than Yuki could have ever imagined. 

He took a quick glance around the shop, looking for some indicator of what he was supposed to be looking at. Nothing. Glancing between Apollo and Oscar's expectant faces, he finally caved.

"I, uh... Don't know what a hot dog is..." he admitted quietly.

He needed to think of something to recover from his intellectual blunder. His mind began to race, speeding through possible things to say and latching on to absolutely nothing. He just ended up standing there in silence, looking at the ground. 

@Bahr