View source for 2351/Five Nightmares: Delinquent Dreams

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025/02/22
|Location=Plot Room 2
|Synopsis=You can't run from the future, Kaito Yamashit, but maybe you can change it.
|Cast of Characters=176,131,107,52,38
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:176|Emi Hoshino (176)}} has posed:'''<br>Another day, another nightmare, right? That's what Emi would say if she was here -- but she isn't, of course, and it's probably a good thing, too, because there's absolutely no way she could have sustained the chase that long. Boy, can that kid run.<br><br>It started with a text message from Emi to Mamoru and Hinoiri. She was worried about someone, and asked them to come by so she could explain. She seems reluctant to text magical stuff, and given the little spider emoji she put at the end of the message, it was probably a safe guess that this was the case.<br><br> It was.<br><br> As Emi exolained, she gets together with a number of 'super cool delinquent sorts' while side-eyeing Hinoiri and that she had made he trip out today because she owed one of them some yen for a poker game she needed to pay back. Oh yeah, SO tough. SO edgy. You go, Emi.r<br>In any event, she explained that one of them, Kaito Yamashita, seemed very unhappy at the time, and Emi could see the shadow of nightmare clinging to him at the time, as she puts it. He's suddenly gone radio silent over text, and she is -worried-. Worried because she has the impression that Kaito hasn't slept in days.<br><br>She does, at least, know where he'd be. Kid likes to hang out at a particular spot when he's mad. She'd see him there all the time when she was also skipping class (she says, side-eyeing Hinoiri again). He should be around there now.<br><br>Well, the good news is that she was right. The bad news is also that she was right. Almost as soon as they arrive, Mamoru can sense that growing familiar mixture of derealization, as the world seems to shift around you. The city streets are -- of course -- longer than they should appear, the street lamps dimmer, the buildings taller and more ominous. In fact, it looks like the most crime-ridden, ugly, graffiti strewn version of Tokyo possible which is exactly how you can immediately tell you're now immersed in nightmare, because this is probably every civic pride nerd's nightmare too.<br><br> And that's when you heard a voice that must exactly be Kaito Yamashita, bevcause he's screaming 'stay away' 'keep away from me', 'oh god, someone help me!', and there are the sound of *his* running feet, soles slapping against the asphalt in the distance, echoing his desperate fear loudly in your ears. A fleeting glimpse of shadow and the sounds of panic are all you have, and you were off. <br><br> ... and now you've been off for a while, trying to keep up, trying to avoid the garbage that litters your path and threatens to trip you, tries to avoid the swerving car full of drunks, the laughing wannabe yakuza street punks drinking together on the corner -- oh yeah this kid is DEFINITELY a 'Like a Dragon' fan. But it's been ... a while, and while you feel you're gaining on him, it's starting to get hard, even for magical girls and boy.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Emi was in luck, because it seemed Hinoiri didn't have much to say about the missed classes, or poker games. She seemed to either not know what they were, or weren't very concerned.<br><br>Of course, when she found out where they were going, she gave a simple offer. 'Hey, Mamoru, want a ride there?' Well, she had a motorcycle, she was confident. She knew he was learning, but well...<br><br>He'd soon learn that she took things like 'Expected arrival time' on mapping apps as a challenge. She also, fortunately, expected him to wear a helmet (she had two, for these occasions). And was fine if he wanted to henshin. She, technically, followed all of the laws. But she drove like a speed demon and with the confidence of someone who definitely prefered galloping on all fours to walking on two legs, and had taken to bike riding accordingly.<br><br>She came to a skidding stop eventually, parking her bike to the side right before everything got weird and... "Huh. I guess... we should probably henshin, shouldn't we?"<br><br>While Hinoiri had sent him the text, it might not have really locked in. But oh, today? He got to see it alllll happen. Complete with the wild magic hair. Who had hair made of a sunset?<br><br>And then there was... time to run. "So, I've only done like... one dream thing so far and I was actually dreaming, so I was a unicorn. Haven't done these ones before, got any tips? Also, my gosh it is SO much easier to run and talk in henshin, ugh, I sooooo missed having magic!"<br><br>"Also, I didn't mention it much, but ummm... thanks. For helping Emi that day. She *really* needed it and, frankly, I needed the break. She's a good kid, deep down. Just kind of *really* stupid. Do you think your healing can help things like, addiction? I don't know if she is yet, but if she is addicted to cigarettes I figure it's either something to help, or I just keep raiding her room until she gets the hint."<br><br>"... Do you think we can like, steal a dream car and it'd make this faster, or no impact at all?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As they head to the spot, Amy's wearing a civilian outfit that kind of looks a bit like her henshin at a glance. Although wearing a cloak might be a little weird. "I... saw her friends once. Walked into their meeting place on patrol... I didn't think they got a good look at me, so I dehenshined and magic'd my clothes to this... maybe it'll help him remember me?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Once they encounter trouble while running, though, she henshins to deal with the hazards, and ends up in a gakuran but with the pants swapped for a skirt. Is she trying to blend in with the delinquents...?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"How... long has it been? It feels like we've been chasing him forever... Hahh, hahh... "He can't ''possibly'' be going faster than us... is running not the way... hahh... hahhh... to catch him?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She turns to look at Hinoiri. "I wonder if you could still turn into a unicorn, here? Hahh... If you wanted to. As for cars... I guess it's worth a shot? If this kid... hahhh... or the dreamer... hahh... doesn't know about stealing cars, maybe we won't have to hotwire it?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:52|Ikiko Hisakata (52)}} has posed:'''<br>Ikiko had been called in for backup by Mamoru, on the premise that it's better to have additional people keeping enemies busy while he seeks out the dreamer from the midst of the nightmare's images, if it comes to that. And she's glad to lend a hand, although she ''does'' breathe a small mental sigh of relief that Usagi isn't here for this. Sailor Moon's purification capabilities are definitely a big plus, but nightmares and supersonic scaredybuns are ''not'' a good combo for wolfgirls with sharp hearing...<br><br>Henshining as she starts heading to the meeting place, Cute Wolf Tsukiko arrives just before reality drops into the dreamscape. The need for pursuit catches her by surprise for a moment, then she grins and chases after the panicked dreamer. The wolf-soul within her might be quite domesticated, to the point where it might seem more like a husky...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;...but if there's one thing huskies like to do, it's <span style="color:#cd853f">run.</span><br><br>"Maybe we should do more jogging in our off-time?" Tsukiko asks the others, pacing her speaking around her breathing. "I'm having fun, but..." ''*pant*'' "...this '''needs''' endurance."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba (38)}} has posed:'''<br>There's actually a mumbled "<span style="color:#00C3FF">R</span><span style="color:#24CBFF">t</span><span style="color:#48D4FF">h</span><span style="color:#6DDCFF">p</span><span style="color:#91E5FF">r</span><span style="color:#B6EDFF">s</span><span style="color:#DAF6FF">m</span><span style="color:#FFFFFF">p</span><span style="color:#DAFFDA">w</span><span style="color:#B6FFB6">r</span><span style="color:#91FF91">m</span><span style="color:#6DFF6D">k</span><span style="color:#48FF48">u</span><span style="color:#24FF24">p</span>," mashed into Hinoiri's helmet like a prayer as they go around the last corner, and that big black cape unfurls behind them as Mamoru hangs on with a full-body perma-flinch and can't make up his mind whether to squinch his eyes shut or keep them open so he can henshin-dive away in case of emergency--<br><br>--he looks ''ridiculous'' folded up behind Hinoiri, as tall as he is.<br><br>But then they park and get off the bike and Mamoru's face is almost as white as his mask. "Thanks. REALLY nice new henshin, I love your hair," he says, and then he makes himself look around, and he comes to a lot of Conclusions about Edgelord Middle Schoolers.<br><br>Then they're running through ''this isn't right'' and Tuxedo Kamen relaxes into thinking differently. "I'm really glad for you," he says as they run, "but yeah tips. Uh-- sometimes there's a thing the dreamer's holding that you can smash and it'll break the nightmare's power and make it a LOT easier to gank. There's probably a way to get the nightmare to stop without breaking the dreamer's stuff, but I don't know what it is. Also, don't--" he says as Amy joins them running, "--don't claim to be cops if Amy-chan is in your adventure party," and then he's laughing and running and he has to stop laughing to keep up, and he wheezes, "Sorry Red yeah they might? I don't know. If you want him to you can always just say who you are..."<br><br>To Hinoiri again when he's recovered, "You're welcome, and actually, stop stealing her cigarettes and let me handle it? You're not going to get anywhere that way. And once she does quit I can heal her lungs," he says of Emi. "And I have no idea what you mean by stealing a dream, but generally speaking I would think that's a bad thing to do...?"<br><br>But they are running ''way too long'' and there is ''no way'' that kid is faster than they are, just like Amy said, so... Mamoru stops. "This isn't working," he calls, and turns around to see if they've actually made any progress at all, or if Hinoiri's motorcycle is right there. Either way, he crouches and puts his fingertips on the ground, looking for any ''real people''.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:176|Emi Hoshino (176)}} has posed:'''<br>By now, you're in a twisty maze of city streets, all alike. They don't make sense. They don't have to. They spial and lengthen at seeming random and the angles are both sharper and moe unreal. Cars honk in the distance, you can hear them, but the streets themselves are empty of them and it is taking entirely too long to reach him, as the mahou have noted. Things are getting stranger, though,. The shadows of chains splash across buildings. They'd have to be enormous if they were present, but you don't see them, or that they have any source. The audiences on either side of you, those dreamlike concepts of people, are growing more distorted by the oment. The nightmare isn't slowing down: it's speeding up, growing momentum, getting stronger.<br><br> Finally, as you debate plans and consider possibilities, you dart down a city street and ... wait, how did you get *here*? The disorientation is real, but at least you've found Kaito. You're now on a sidewalk littered with trash and the potent smell of alcohol assaulting your nostrils.<br><br>Kaito is a kid, yeah. He can't be any older than fifteen. He's sitting on the ground, heaving breath, eyes wide, skin pale, sweating.<br><br> The world seems to shrink in around him, around you. The shadow is no longer chasing him -- its everything but where you are.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:52|Ikiko Hisakata (52)}} has posed:'''<br>Tsukiko pulls out one of her purified silk handkerchiefs and ties it as a makeshift bandanna over her nose, then takes a moment to catch her breath without the amplified stench of booze in her nostrils. She looks at Kaito, then taps her covered nose contemplatively and glances in the direction she last saw the shadows of chains.<br><br>"I wonder..." the wolfgirl muses, looking at the other mahoujin with a worried expression. "Is Kaito worried about getting addicted to alcohol?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba (38)}} has posed:'''<br>"He might be," Tuxedo Mask says, taking off one of his gloves and moving to crouch next to the kid on the ground. Can't be any more than fifteen? Sure he's a kid, ''just like them''. He's probably a tenth grader like Usagi. Mamoru was drinking with Nephrite when he was fourteen, fifteen.<br><br>"Just so you guys know, we ''are'' still on Earth, we're not in a real dream, we're someplace where there's a break that's letting nightmare reality spill out into consensus reality. Back in consensus reality, there are real people surrounding us. We also haven't moved very far, and... we've probably been doing this tonight longer than it feels."<br><br>He reaches to touch the kid, saying, "Why didn't we chase him down on your bike, Cure... Unicorn...? We parked and ran. We never actually decided to do that."<br><br>Meanwhile, touching the kid -- what he's looking for is A Clue as to what the fuck is going on. But what he's ''doing'' -- his hand glows, healing. Healing and bringing with it, to Kaito, a sense of stillness and calm, a peaceful buzzing breezy meadow in early summer, a still cool cave, bedrock to stand on, the enduring age of the planet that gave them all life--<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>"Ohhhhh. I'd like to be a unicorn, but I think I have to settle for La Licorne," Cure La Licorne said with a grin before glancing back to Tuxedo Mask. "And thanks! Sora's hair was like this, so... I guess it's.... hopefully a good sign. And don't worry, I'd never claim to be the cops or the guard or whatever."<br><br>However, the confirmation from Mamoru tha he could stop her from smoking? That made her relieved. "Oh, good. Cause like... it's a really dumb thing. We didn't have those back home. And definitely nothing like the things you have here. They're wild. And not stealing a dream, stealing one of these cars FROM this dream place. And-- BUCKING--" And they were suddenly THERE! "Gahhhh, I hate dreamness stuff. So weird..." she grumbled.<br><br>However, as the darkness started shrinking in... "I... don't know... maybe... honestly? This looks more like... a panic attack. Like there's too much to do, not enough time to do it. Until you start panicking and..." She trailed off and shook her head. "... Buck it."<br><br>And then she just... walked over to him. Knelt down in front of him... and smiled. "Hey... kid. You're not alone. We're here. And we're going to get you out of this."<br><br>Admittedly, it might have been... more... believable and less awkward if she wasn't all magic hair and poofy skirt and spikes and leather.<br><br>Hopefully, between her doing that, and Tuxedo Mask's attempts to soothe, it would bring the kid a little comfort. A little reality that he wasn't alone.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Wait, when did--" They found Kaito. And the darkness is closing in, but...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She tries to focus on Kaito.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy makes a face at the smell, though. "Ugh... is that alchohol? From where?" She looks to Ikiko. "Huh... I guess we really don't know about him, huh? I was a goodie two-shoes kid and never touched the stuff... turns out alchohol tastes awful anyway..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She pulls her shirt collar over her nose and takes a breath in the hopes that will be better before letting go, and walking over to Kaito. "Hey." She leans over and holds out a hand to help him up. "We're friends. We're here to help you."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:176|Emi Hoshino (176)}} has posed:'''<br>Kaito is grateful. <br><br> The words offered, the gestures made. It's hard not to sense the very authenic relief he feels at friendly faces, but he gives a warning instead: "You don't understand," he whispers, "I can't get away. I can't." He starts mumbling, words tumbling too fast to understand as he seems to shrink in on himself. A panic attack.<br><br>That is an apt description, the way the walls are closing in and the world seems smaller and smaller and the fear in his eyes is palpable. All indicators that Hinoiri is right about that. Of course, there's one more clue.<br><br> One other symptom of anxiety and panic attacks are intrusive thoughts, and they can take several forms, including ear worms. <br><br> It's faint, at first, but it gets louder. Music, in the distance. As it begins to come into focus, the darkness beyond becomes illuminated by a pair of headlights shining in on you directly, the silhouette of a car distinctly fading in from the shadows, a figure in the driver's seat. It is draped in chains. Its stereo is playing the same, all too loud song....<br><br>Is...<br><br>Is... that....<br><br>...Taylor Swift?<br><br>The car's engine revs and as its tires screech as it begins to accelerate towards you, the chorus becomes clear, and plays over and over again. An intrusive thought.<br><br>""IT'S ME, HI, I'M THE PROBLEM ITS ME"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba (38)}} has posed:'''<br>What? No. NO. NOPE. Tuxedo Kamen looks so disgusted on behalf of Kaito, edgelord, that an ''American pop song'' has taken over his intrusive thoughts.<br><br>Mamoru's still trying to be a calming influence. So of course he starts singing a metal song because what could be more calming?<br><br>"C! I! O! Chokoreto Chokoreto! Cho! Cho! Cho! ii ka na?" he goes, putting his hand on Kaito's shoulder, urgently singing in the direction of the car. "Demo ne chotto eight, chotto saikin shinpai nandesu, dakedo chokoreto chokoreto!!!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:52|Ikiko Hisakata (52)}} has posed:'''<br>Tsukiko winces sympathetically at the explanation of the panic attack. She walks over, giving Kaito what meant as a conforting pat on the back, then a warm hug. For a brief moment she considers humming a lullaby, but she lightly shakes her head at that idea -- words are easier to focus on than hummed emotions, even when the humming has a touch of magic backing it up.<br><br>But the sight of Tuxedo Kamen singing a metal song about chocolate in defiance of a car blaring an American pop song reminds the wolfgirl that, sometimes? A bit of no-context ridiculousness can be an ''excellent'' distraction from what's going on, especially if delivered as a non sequitur.<br><br>"Hey... hey, Yamashita-kun," Tsukiko says with her best 'pesky little sister' voice, gently poking Kaito's cheek repeatedly for added effect. "Got a question for you: what flavor is your favorite color?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Cure La Licorne blinked a few times as suddenly... music. Lots of music. Very, very loud music. Coming running at them.<br><br>She did not know tha song, admittedly. And she was normally the music girl, but honestly? She didn't know a lot of american music. She knew a few old things, and stuff she'd picked up... okay, that wasn't fair. She had all kinds of music from different places that she'd picked up here and there, she just liked whatever she liked at the time. But that song? did not know.<br><br>What she did know was that there were a few things magical girls could do that normal people couldn't. And as the car came at her, she... leaped up into the air and came crushing back down, attempting to drive a fist into the engine.<br><br>... Listen, she'd wanted to do something like that for SO LONG! And she was a PRETTY CURE NOW! She could punch CARS! How was tha not AWESOME?! Besides, Mamoru was singing, he had the music handled, she'd handle the PUNCHING CARS CAUSE IT'S AWESOOOOOOME!<br><br>... She may regret this soon, but NOT NOW!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy nods and pats his shoulder. "It's alright. We'll work it out. Talk to us..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy... doesn't ''know'' this song, but she's heard that line...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;CAR. RAMMING THEM.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy waves her arm and a half-dozen mini-missiles conjure over her head and shoulders in sequence, ripple-firing at the car before she superjumps into the air, summoning her launcher and -- oh, Licorne's already melee-ing the car. Amy lands, ready to shoot it if it comes past Licorne, and trying to figure out what the hell song Mamoru is shouting. Should... should she sing a song too?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And Tsukiko is asking about what flavor colors are. What is happening with this dream...? "Uh... is everybody okay...?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:176|Emi Hoshino (176)}} has posed:'''<br>Mamoru and Tsukiko's efforts seem to be paying off. The distracting nonsense is infiltrating his brain, and the suggestion of cute goth girls isn't hurting either. Baby Metal. Of course he knows Baby Metal. He stares between the two of them, but the arrival of the car sends cold fear into his eyes once more. "He's here," he whispers, scrabbling back and pasting himself against the wall.<br><br> But, is he? Hinoiri leaps into the air and descends on the hoot, smashing the hood and sending a spray of dream particles evertywhere, multicolored dust like some kind of fading aurora borealis further erupts as Amy's firepower is brought to bear, forcing the car to swerve and strike the wall, causing yet still more of it to appear, becoming a thick, heavy smoke that threatens to choke them for a moment, and certainly obscures their vision.<br><br> A car door shuts.<br><br>A figure in the smoke, becoming visible. A shadow wreathed in chains, clad in leather. His spiked brass knuckles are obvious, and the animate chains he wears writhe about him. He steps into the light, into view, for the first time.<br><br> He is also Kaito. This vision is of himself. Himself as an adult. The cruel smile he wears on his face, his eyes full of malice at the people he's hurt, their fear and fate reflected within.<br><br>"I told you what would happen, didn't I? I told you what would happen? I was always going to catch up with you sooner or later. You can't outrun your future. Now, I'm going to have to hurt your friends. I told you I would. You're such a disappointment. *Such* a disappointment. Remember, like father like son, right?"<br><br> The chains shred outwards, piercing the smoke-filled air, driven with only a shadow of malignant cruelty. They seek to pierce, to bind, to strangle, and they are fast.<br><br>"You can't outrun your futures, none of you can."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba (38)}} has posed:'''<br>"Kuso--" chokes out Mamoru, looking out, up, at the Kaito who is not, at the cycle that Kaito's afraid he can't break, at something some of the kids he knew when he was in first or second grade probably would have been in danger of becoming.<br><br>"Kaito-san. ''Yamashite.''" The tone is one of urgency, and the mode of address is carefully calculated to get Kaito's attention the same way a teacher might. Scowling is better than being terrified, right? "Please show me-- please show me what's in your hands?"<br><br>Oh. Oh he's attacking. Hm. Right. Tuxedo Kamen grabs Kaito unceremoniously and jumps almost straight up with him -- and one of the chains gets him hard in the ankle. "Ow, fff-- we can save them and you, because you're ''not'' alone, and you don't have to fight this on your own, right? But what's in your hands? Pockets? Anything?"<br><br>He lands on one foot on the boot of the car, and ducks down behind it as he sets Kaito down again, wobbling, hissing as he ends up leaning on his injured foot. "I know it's a stupid question, but whatever we do, we have to wake you up, because you're dreaming. Who were you hanging out with a minute ago?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Cure La Licorne leaped off the hood as it went flying and... oh. That felt nice. She'd been waiting for a loooong time to do that. She watched it and...<br><br>... And the person came out of the car. And she blinked. "Oh. Huh. So... he dreams about being a delinquent, too? Is this like Emi?" she asked, giving a sigh. But then...<br><br>He talked. He opened his mouth. That was his first mistake.<br><br>Oh. Just a disappointment. She was a disappointment. And you know what? She was. Sora was right. She was a disappointment. But you know what? Sora wasn't the best teacher. She'd had a lot of teachers since then. Wonderful teachers. Like Usagi. Rashmi. Mamoru. Madoka. Sayaka. Laura. Coco. Amy. Jadeite. Even Riventon. So many she couldn't name them all. And you know what?<br><br>The chains came out and she snarled. "Oh *buck* that. Is that what this is about? <span style="color:#c10900">Prodigious flambe!"</span> She punched both her fists togetherand fire erupted from them, spreading out over her hands and feet as she started kicking and punching the chains coming at her.<br><br>"No, some lousy jerk you never got to control does NOT get to dictate who you become, or how you live your life!" She charged forward, kicking and punching the chains as she went, the flames growing bright red hot. "And buck the idea that your parents get to decide for you! None of us have to make the mistakes of the people who raised us! WE decide our path! We decide WHO we let influence us! Even if we make mistakes, even if we buck it up, it's OUR mistakes, OUR failures! And it's the people who reach out for us even THEN, in our darkest moments, who we need to pay attention to! The people who raised us can only influence us! BUT WE'RE THE ONES WHO DETERMINE WHO WE BECOME!"<br><br>She, at least, was trying not to unwind her own baggage too much... But then, she was kind of an orphan... but she uhhh... definitely had feelings about Sora's treatment of her. And the much better treatment she'd received since coming here.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He's here.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kaito breathed those words in fear before they attacked, and Amy steels herself to face who has hurt this boy so. A relative, perhaps... But she doesn't expect:<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;''Himself?!''<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'You can't outrun your future' gets a short, sharp chuckle out of her, which is interrupted by chains, binding and strangling. But she still can't help that sharp laughter as the declaration is repeated, to all of them.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I've already outrun one future! An' if anyone can help me outrun another... it's my friends!"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then her face turns serious. Red eyes glance towards Kaito, and towards her friends. "And friends can help ''you'' outrun ''this'' one."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She struggles against the binds, but flashes a grin at the fearsome specter, taunting him to focus on her rather than Kaito: "''Chains'' is the worst you've got for me?! Please! I imagine scarier things than this before breakfast!"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Despite her words, her hands are trying and failing to loosen the chain around her neck. She tries reaching out to hold thermite against the chains, away from her, but has to drop it due to the heat, where it starts burning a little hole in the street unhelpfully.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Listen to... rrgh... them! That you fear this future... That you don't want it..." She struggles to take a breath. "That is the first step towards avoiding it!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:52|Ikiko Hisakata (52)}} has posed:'''<br>Tsukiko narrows her eyes at Future!Kaito, and she touches her Lycan Locket as she thinks about her own tangental similarities. Can't run away from the legacy of one's family, huh? Sometimes, the best way to dodge the fate of a terrible legacy...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;...is by facing it head-on.<br><br>"Kaito-kun!" the wolfgirl calls to the troubled teen as she starts dodging chains, darting around while still making sure that Kaito can hear her. "The fact that ''this'' is your nightmare means you give enough of a damn to not want to walk this path! And that means you have enough strength of will ''to'' walk your own path!"<br><br>She yelps a bit as she scrambles ahead of some converging chains, barely staying ahead of the sparks they kick up. "It's scary at times, defying your family's expectations," Tsukiko continues. "'''I get that.''' But the drive to succeed where your family thinks you'll fail? To defy what they think is an inevitable future? '''''That''''' can be one of your greatest strengths -- especially with good friends to back you up."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:176|Emi Hoshino (176)}} has posed:'''<br>"Don't think you can run away from me!" yells the haunting specter of a future yet unrealized, even as each step taken by it carries the full weight of inevitability behind it. They can feel it each in their bones, like an immutable truth in the universe that you can run from it, but never defy it in the end.<br><br>A the chains snag, tear, and rip, as they start to close in on Amy, wrapping arond her throat ever tighter -- that feeling of inevitably again -- even as it tears at the earth on which Tuxedo Kamen stands, at engages with each of them, the specter speaks with two voices, as one, as of Kaito is giving in.... <br><br> ... but these are Mahou it's talking to, living and breathing examples of light and hope and kindness, and most importantly, at this moment, defiance. As Mamoru speaks, as Hinoiri fights roars with defiance, as Amy taunts, and as Tsukiko speaks, the weight of it all seems to unburden, little by little, and the spectre grows... <br><br> ...weaker. <br><br> "Pathetic," says the smaller Kaito, "...pathetic and weak. *Weak*. I don't need you. I'm not you. They're right. LEAVE. ME. ALONE!" <br><br> He yells, his voice growing louder, more angry with each carrying all the weight of the declaration of a wounded child so *disappointed* in not just himself, but in to a world that has clearly failed him so far. Not anymore. It sags beneath the power of it all, becoming less ... defined. Fuzzy. Weaker. <br><br> Just a pile of empty darkness, a hollow shell wearing a hollow man, speechless and lacking in definition, now.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yaaah!" Amy tries to cheer, choking. "That's right, you tell him!" She rasps out.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Guess I'll set you all up... Aura... Pillar...!" She holds up her arm which suddenly has a big launch tube braced to it! A missile flies up into the air... And then a dozen little missiles streak down out of the darkness, raining down around the specter of Bad Futures, a series of explosions going off to stagger him while the others aim their finishers!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"That's... what... you... get.... nightmare...!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba (38)}} has posed:'''<br>The chains slap at the ground and tear out divots of asphalt, and Tuxedo Kamen is moving them as best he can-- and he looks more and more annoyed at the nightmare as it goes on. And then he pulls out a rose. "Yeah -- YEAH!" he calls out after Kaito, and he throws a rose at the chain on Amy, and then he stands up and yells out, "<span style="color:#707070">T</span><span style="color:#797979">u</span><span style="color:#838383">x</span><span style="color:#8C8C8C">e</span><span style="color:#969696">d</span><span style="color:#9F9F9F">o</span> <span style="color:#B2B2B2">G</span><span style="color:#BCBCBC">l</span><span style="color:#C5C5C5">i</span><span style="color:#CFCFCF">t</span><span style="color:#D8D8D8">t</span><span style="color:#E2E2E2">e</span><span style="color:#EBEBEB">r</span><span style="color:#F5F5F5">i</span><span style="color:#FEFEFE">n</span><span style="color:#FCEDED">g</span> <span style="color:#F7CBCB">R</span><span style="color:#F5BABA">o</span><span style="color:#F2A9A9">s</span><span style="color:#F09898">e</span> <span style="color:#EB7676">B</span><span style="color:#E96565">o</span><span style="color:#E65454">m</span><span style="color:#E44343">b</span><span style="color:#E23232">e</span><span style="color:#DF2121">r</span><span style="color:#DD1010">!</span>"<br><br>With that, cape flipping up and billowing, curling weightlessly behind him as he moves, the older teen spins on the heel of the foot that's not in trouble and flings his arm out. Suddenly there's a directed barrage of roses flying at the nightmare petals-first, and each impact is a good smack and a little explosion of bright red rose petals and sparkling gold motes of luminous glitter.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>"The future is what we make of it! It's who we decide to be, not who other people decide FOR us!" Cure La Licorne yelled, before holding out her hand and forming her Heart Rouge Rod.<br><br><span style="color:#c10900">"Scorching ray piercer!"</span> <br><br>One quick lipstrick application later and the setting sun unleashed its rays, which turned into flaming swords raining down on the poor youma. Hinoiri tried to fight it. She struggled, desperately, to resist. and... and she did it. She managed to not do the--<br><br>"Victory!" Cure La Licorne said with a cocky smirk, crossing her arms and a pair of sunglasses appeared on her head as she posed in a 'too cool for cure' moment... Before giving a light chuckle and making a heart with her hands.<br><br>Dang it... she had to do the pose. She then covered her face with both hands and scrunched down. Don't look at herrrrr! She was so weeeeeak! Sob. Silly stupid poses!<br><br>"Mask, how's the foot?" she called out to him, scrunched up in her shaaaaaame.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:52|Ikiko Hisakata (52)}} has posed:'''<br>As Kaito faces down the nightmare, as the chains melt from harsh abyssal metal into soggy noodles of darkness, Tsukiko is finally able to catch her breath. A quick dash of a Silver Wolf Tackle would make quick work of the remnants of the Nightmare, complementing the assault the others are unleashing upon the pile of darkness and negative emotions...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;...but perhaps the best option is to prevent it, or any of its cousins, from ever taking root again in this worried heart.<br><br>Taking a deep breath, the wolfgirl starts to <span style="color:#cd853f">howl</span> a wordless song, encouraging Kaito to pursue his dreams, to chart his own path, and to remember how he faced down his fears here tonight. And in addition to reinforcing the heart of the teenager, each note tears away a layer of the pummeled nightmare, shredding it like a rotted head of cabbage.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:176|Emi Hoshino (176)}} has posed:'''<br>Bit by bit, the darkness is wiped away, shredding and dissipating until at last it's gone. <br> <br> There's a single clink as something metal hits the ground. The brass knuckles, it seems, and it still alive with dark energy. KenKen and Emi will need to deal with that. The nightmare dissipates and each find themselves on a city street, beside a sleeping Kaito on the stoop of a building. He looks ... peaceful. The dark circles under his eyes suggest he needs his sleep. A lot of it.<br><br> But there may well be one more thing someone needs to do for him.<br><br> Meanwhile, in Kaito's dream...<br><br>"Today we learned that our future isn't set in stone--- it's shaped by every choice we make. Even when things seem at their darkest, your inner light can guide you to a brighter tomorrow. Keep believing, keep shining!"<br><br> This would be a fantastic lesson for one Emi Hoshino, if only she were here to see it. Instead, she's sitting up in bed, wondering just how long she's been wearing mismatched socks before noticing. "Damn it, Kenken! Why didn't you tell me?!"<br><br> The spider sounds like its laughing.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The chain around her pops out of existence and Amy lands in a crouch on the asphalt with a cough. "Thanks!" She dismisses the launch tube and rubs her throat, then stands up. Takes a deep breath and lets it out, turning to look at the sleeping teenager and idly fiddling with her collar. "He was sleeping out here...? Yikes." She looks to the others. "Should we... do something? Or would it only make it worse if we interfere further?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She smiles at Hinoiri, glad to see her continuing to live her dream of being a magical girl at last, then looks to Tuxedo Mask with concern. "What's wrong with your foot...?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:52|Ikiko Hisakata (52)}} has posed:'''<br>Tsukiko takes a purified silk handkerchief and carefully picks up the darkness-infused brass knuckles. "I'll deliver this to Kenken," she says as she wraps it up, making sure to keep her voice down to avoid disturbing Kaito.<br><br>She muses a bit on Amy's question. "A blanket would probably be a good idea," the wolfgirl notes. "And possibly a safer place to stay -- both overnight, ''and'' long-term."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba (38)}} has posed:'''<br>"Nothing I can't fix," Mamoru calls back over to Hinoiri and Amy, lowering himself onto the ground gingerly to do just that, with a glowing hand and some concentration. "Mmm, nah, broke it. Gonna teleport home and deal with it tonight."<br><br>Then he nods too Amy and Tsukiko. "He's sleeping rough in the winter. I can give him a place to hide out until we can get a social worker for him."<br><br>The masked boy looks deeply unhappy for a moment, regarding Kaito on the ground. "Or a lawyer. Child protective services are... not very, and if that's his blood father, that's going to be really difficult for him."<br><br>He mmphs and reaches over to shake Kaito gently. "Hey, Kaito-san, I'm Emi-san's senpai. Do you want someplace better to sleep for free for a while? Nobody'll find you. Not even the cops."<br><br>Still in henshin of course, though he's taking off his mask.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Cure La Licorne nodded along with Tsukiko. "Yeah... we uhhhh.... can't let him sleep here, that'd be dangerous. If someone came along and he got arrested or... who knows what. Hmmm... mm?"<br><br>Ohhhhh. Mamoru had a solution! Way to go rich boy! She nodded and walked over to him. "And I'm another of Emi's friends. You can trust this guy, he's generally pretty cool."<br><br>... Hopefully it helped that she looked like a bit of a troublemaker herself. Even if she wasn't one. Cause, well...<br><br>She glanced down to Mamoru's foot. "Cat cafe or somewhere else? I could give him a lift and you could meet us there?" she offered.<br><br>Cause then he could teleport and not have to explain that to... well... a civilian.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy summons a cloak and throws it over Kaito like a blanket. It's softer than it looks, but far from enough insulation for winter. "So we carry him there...?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She frowns as Tuxedo Mask describes the issues of dealing with child rights in the Japanese legal system. She rubs her throat again. "Ugh. I'd rather fight the chains again than that. Don't suppose you or Setsuna-chan know a really good one...?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When he wakes, she drops henshin but keeps the 'delinquent' outfit. "Hey. Remember me?" She nods towards Mamoru. "This guy is... this guy is good. He's cool."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:176|Emi Hoshino (176)}} has posed:'''<br>Kaito blinks his eyes ooen, looking *extremely tired*. It's likely he can't exactly be counted on for much right now, but at least he nods. Sure, whatever. I'm going back to sleep. That's pretty much it, even if its unstated, it's probably enough for them. Getting him in contact with services through Radiant Heart will probably be easier, anyway.<br> <br>
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