Cross Effects- The RP

[OPOI]

Realizing he wasn't needed for the moment, Shirou shrugged and started heading for the kitchen.

"If you need me I'll be helping out in the kitchen. Or fighting for my life if Archer tries to kill me," he called over his shoulder, turning the corner. He had finally memorized the layout, and soon found himself standing before the entrance to the bright kitchen.

Inside, Archer, dressed in an apron, was hustling around the now mostly repaired kitchen. Stepping forward cautiously, placing his coat on a nearby stool, Shirou asked the Servant, "Anything I can help with?"

[Cherry Lover]

Kiyoshi was still somewhat worried about his elder sister, despite her reassurances. Having your hair suddenly change colour was definitely not a good sign. And, further, he knew enough about projection magecraft to know that producing and sustaining something as complex as a van was likely to use up a substantial amount of prana. Even his mother would struggle with such a thing, and Sakura did not have the same constant prana supply she had.

But, still, she had claimed to be OK, and she wasn’t showing any indication that she was in any danger. Plus, there was nothing he could really do about it even if she was. So, Kiyoshi just nodded at the statements of the two adults, and walked towards Taiga.

As he reached her, though, he stopped momentarily. He had seen her reaction to Connor’s attempts to help her, and he didn’t particularly desire the same treatment. He stood in front of her and looked down at her.

“Connor told me to take you inside. Do you need any help?” he asked, politely.

[lantzblades]

"I bit him because he picked me up without asking Kiyo. Only Mama, Papa and big brother are allowed to without asking. Connor know that" Taiga replied.

The fire haired girl paused in thought. "I won't hurt you Kiyo, I don't think you could pick me up and even if you could I don't think you have a reason too. Let's go inside" Taiga finished waiting for Kiyoshi to wheel her into the apartment.

[Daiki]

"Hey, Spiderman kicks ass. The last movies were rather mediocre, though." Nessa smiled to Forest. Her being a vampire wasn't in her expectations, but after few days exploring the city, it wasn't a such a surprise to find people of extraordinary origins or species. A vampire who fights for the innocents... "You're just like a she-Angel then?"

She eyed the only guy among them disappearing quickly, then grinned. "He's just like a lost puppy when you look at him now, but he's really feared in my world. He doesn't seem like a bad person, or maybe he's forcing himself, I dunno. If he could smile just a little more..."  She laughed "Look how destiny works. You're free, and he seems to need a shoulder to cry on, maybe it's a sign." It wasn't necessarily a bad idea, although the twin had no right to dictacte any conduct here.

After Shirou's disappearance, it was only the three girls. Nessa placed her hands in her pockets, her expression serious this time.

"Now would be the good time to talk. What is it about Isa?"

----

Lancer's comment about his parent, tickled Shuya's curiosity, but he would keep this for later. "She's a saint among her kind, then." He didn't like it much, but that was what it seemed to be. "Can't say I understand such devotion to unknown people, but whatever she gets out of it, I'm sure it's not worth the trouble."

And what you are doesn't make who you are, Shuya.

The mixed blood snorted with no attempt to try hiding it. "Do you actually believe that, Irish hero?" It seemed to be a rather empty, convenient line to him. "Look outside, man. The streets are infested with beasts who disagree."

The demigog laughed at his awkward concern and the half-demon felt stupid for even trying. "Only saying that you should think things through. And that will be my only advice, anyway." Shuya grinned at the phrase about children. "Come on, you could just adopt some."

[Elf]

Forest grinned at Nessa's words about her being a "She-Angel" and replied, "Something like that.  I have a better car though."

She started to lead Nessa out of the bathroom with Isa in her arms.  She looked at the elder sister and said, "Because of what happened to Isa . . . I want to make sure that it doesn't get worse for her.  Like an unexpected consequence that wasn't her fault."  The vampire took an unneeded breath and continued. "I want to get her a Morning After Pill, just to make sure she doesn't get pregnant.  Luckily, she's not going to turn into a werewolf.  That's what I was looking for, a pentagram on her left palm.  So that's not a concern, but the other might be."

She turned her head down the hall to the direction that Shirou went.  She smiled a bit wistfully and said, "He's on a path to ruin, I'd like to help, but I doubt he's interested."

******

"I don't think it is either, but its what she knows," Lancer said with a shrug, "It's not my right to tell her how to live her life."

Lancer shrugged at Shuya and said, "Well, you didn't have to save Isa though did you?  So maybe you're not as bad as you like to pretend."

[Daiki]

She suspected as much. Nessa knew enough of her sister to notice when she was hiding something or forcing herself. A quick glance at her made it awfully obvious back then. Combined with what Shirou hinted at, it didn't took long for her to come to the conclusion.

Nessa didn't feel like becoming emotional in front of  people she barely knew, so she had kept her sadness in check. Besides, Isa's mental state was worrying Nessa. How would she react if her older sister started to cry or acting depressed? Especially since they shared so much. If Nessa could show some positive emotions, then her sister would feel a bit better. So, she had to stay strong and show her usual behavior in order to not add up to her twin's distress. It was hard, but she had to take care of Isa first and foremost.

Forest showed such kindness and concern for them, no, for everyone, that she felt like doing something stupidly childish. Like, hugging her from behind, her arms surrounding the vampire at belt level, her face buried in the woman's hair.

Nessa, let out her gratitude with a little squeeze. And since she couldn't force the words out, she simply hoped for her to read her mind. Thank you, Fore. I don't think I could go through that by myself.

----

Shuya accepted Lancer's reply with a nod. "Probably wouldn't listen, anyway."

The half-demon grunted. "That's different. There was no noble intention involved back then, trust me."

[Cherry Lover]

Hearing Taiga’s words, Kiyoshi smiled and walked behind the wheelchair, taking hold of the handles and pushing her towards the entrance.

“I understand”, Kiyoshi said, kindly. “You’re a person like everyone else, people shouldn’t treat you like a piece of baggage to be carried around just because you can’t walk”.

Kiyoshi laughed slightly.

“And, well, I think I probably could pick you up, with a bit of effort and some self-reinforcement, but mummy would go mad if she saw me doing that. They always tell me it’s too dangerous, that I could hurt myself. So, I don’t do it without good reason, I don’t want to hurt mummy....”

[Elf]

Forest blinked as Nessa was holding her from behind, the young girl's face burred in Forest's hair.  The vampire adjusted Isa's weight so she could hold her with one arm.  She had plenty of practice due to raising Gabriel and helping with other kids.  Then she turned so she could wrap her arm around the elder twin and stroke her hair.

"You're welcome, poppet," Forest said with a sad smile, "And you shouldn't have to go through this alone.  No one should, so you won't."

Then she forced a smile and tousled Nessa's hair.  "Come on now, let's get you both to bed.  I imagine you've had enough horror for one day."

******

Lancer laughed and said, "She might listen, but she wouldn't take it to heart."

Then the Celt tilted his head and asked, "Then why did you try to find my Landlady to give the girl to?  If you truly hadn't cared, you would have just left her there."  Then he turned on his heel to head for the kitchen.

"Anyway, I think my beers and Jamison survived Ruu's little apocalypse."

[Daiki]

The twin behaved herself after that, following Forest to the bedroom. She took place by her sister's side and curled herself against Isa.

"Good night," she whispered to the vampire, before closing her eyes.

It didn't take long for her to fall asleep.

----

Shuya followed the man without a word. He really didn't want to lose his time in pointless argumentation. He frowned when they reached the room, his eyes staring at Emiya Shirou. The half-demon didn't comment on him being there, simply waiting for Lancer to collect what he was looking for.

[OPOI]

Shirou stiffened slightly, hand automatically reaching for a weapon, as he felt eyes staring at him. Looking up, he met the gaze of Touzaki Shuya. When had he returned? Taking a quick look around, he quickly realised that Lancer had also returned, and was scrounging around in the kitchen.

That was sloppy of him. If he had done that on the battlefield, he would be dead.

Deeming that the crazed hunter wasn't a danger at the moment, he returned to his task. However, he started stretching out his senses, locating two more figures about to enter the kitchen. He brought up the schematics of Kanshou and Bakuya in his mind, just to be safe.

[lantzblades]

Reaching the door Taiga leaned forward and rapped on the door quite a bit louder than one would expect from a child that size.

back at the curb Connor shouldered Sakura carefully as the van resolved. "Honestly you're as crazy as Alex is, putting yourselves out fer promises no one asked for" the red haired Irishman muttered carrying her toward the entrance arriving right behind the kids.

[Arch-Magos Winter]

Within his dreams, Lawrence could feel it cross the threshold within this area of the Twilight. Something otherworldly, wrong, anathema to his kind and his kin. Them of the abyss and the unnatural realms. A monster, one that would devour reality in whatever guise it took. And spirits and sin-eaters were favorite first targets, along with mages. This entire building was like a feeding trough for it.

He could feel it. So did his geist.

It was right at the front door.

Wake up. This one must die. This Intruder must be sent back.

'...Yes. I know. I understand.'

They know many tricks. Whatever form it takes, destroy it and send it howling back in a puddle of it's own blood.

'This won't be easy. We're both running low.'

Just kill. That's all you need to do. Kill it, before it kills us...

Swinging himself off the bed, Lawrence pumped a round into the nearby shotgun, the closest weapon. Sleeping here might be out of the question now depending on the guise of the monstrosity, but he'd be damned if he'd let it go free. They were worse than Kerberos.

As the Redheaded Driver let the caul go down, Lawrence bolted down the stairs two at a time, not bothering to stop for questions or anyone. The Intruder couldn't wait. Throwing the door open, he leveled the shotgun.

[lantzblades]

Taiga unable to see the weapon simply spoke up "miss forest told Sakura to come here"

Sakura however seeing Lawrence's dangerous weapon aimed her Tonfa blasters at the unfamiliar person, weak as she was she promised that the kids would come to no harm. "put the weapon down and step away from the children now"  she said.

[Arch-Magos Winter]

Sakura however seeing Lawrence's dangerous weapon aimed her Tonfa blasters at the unfamiliar person, weak as she was she promised that the kids would come to no harm. "put the weapon down and step away from the children now"  she said.

Lawrence ignored her, the shotgun pointedly leveled at the Other, standing beside her in the form of what looked like some babyfaced hipster. "Back away. You have three..."

[Cherry Lover]

Kiyoshi waited patiently as Taiga knocked on the door, expecting Forest or even Aunty Rin to come and let them in.

Instead, though, the door suddenly burst open to reveal a man he had never seen before brandishing a shotgun. Immediately, Kiyoshi summoned up his swords and moved to place himself in front of Taiga.

A proper magus could, of course, withstand a shotgun blast with ease, but Kiyoshi was only a child, and didn't have the reflexes or reinforcement skill to be certain of being able to take such a hit. Normally he would have jumped out of the way, but Taiga could not defend herself or move, so Kiyoshi knew he would have to protect her.

As he was moving, Taiga spoke up.

"miss forest told Sakura to come here", she said, innocently.

Despite the situation, Kiyoshi could only barely resist laughing at the obliviousness of her response. He could understand it, of course, she couldn't see the gun but, even so, it was somewhat amusing.

Sakura, however, could see the gun, and was very definitely unhappy with the threat being made.

"put the weapon down and step away from the children now", she said, drawing some unusual kind of gun.

Kiyoshi, however, was mostly interested in protecting Taiga. Walking in front of her and holding his swords menacingly, he added.

"Yeah, leave us alone. We were invited to come here. I will not let you hurt my sisters...", he said, trying to look as threatening as possible.

The other man, however, ignored them. Kiyoshi noticed that his gun was pointed at Connor.

Back away. You have three...", he said, menacingly.

"No, you leave my family alone", Kiyoshi added, angrily. "Is this how Forest expects you to treat invited guests?"