(NYC) Field: Times Square

[Jello]

Mind whirring, Haruka finds himself in the bathroom, staring at a mirror. His insides turning and his heart racing like the motor on a sports car. All he can think of is getting back to sleep. His body is failing, overheating, and exhausted all at one time. There is little to no way Haruka can stay here, not with this extreme nausea. Probably a fever or something...

Haruka races out of the bathroom, holding his stomach and slaps down a few bills on the table where Alex.

"I'm going home.. text me if you need me.." Haruka proceeds to dash out of the diner, tripping over his feet into the New York evening. Something his chest was burning a hole in him. What in the world? The night seemed to become blurry in his vision as he got on the bus, a quicker trip back to the hotel than taking it by foot.

[AlwaysAwake]

Found himself tending to his business, the food having arrived as he stuffed into his pancakes. Eating them happily as he enjoyed their taste surprisingly. Then came Haruka bursting in, catching him by surprise but being unable to react as he zoomed on by. Alexander eyed the money as he caught a glimpse of his words, feeling a pit sink in his stomach. Having had to turn his friendly evening into a solo one.

"Ah.. Hope their okay." Thinking this thought, eating his food with less fervor. He would return back to the hotel room after finishing his meal as he eyed over the cards once more. They seemed renewed, a burning determination within their faces as they seemed prepared to tackle the enemy with all their might. The battleorids looking fiercer than ever, and the determined white beast looking to be the leader of their charge.

"Well, we'll see where we make it then." Having firmed his resolution to see things to the end with the clan, and to make peace with his faults.

Haruka AP +1

[Cherry]

"America... is terrifying..." Yukino groaned, unable to eat any more of the salad. People who actually made bowls these big were crazy, in fact, this country's palette is completely insane. Dad Espoir and the others better enjoy this mess, because Yukino was making a mental note to never visit New York again, let alone the rest of the country.

"W-Well... You still have places to show me around to. You're supposed to be my tour guide..."

The queen was trying to catch her breath some.

[Hope]

There really was only one place that Hana realistically wanted to visit, and it was the center of Time's Square. She led Yukino there, really excited to see it as she''s only heard of it as "a work in progress." A stage was set on top a of a central building, a centerpiece among the numerous skyscrapers. It was hard to imagine in the noon. It still wasn't complete and the lights weren't turned on, but the size was enough to make Hana freeze in awe. It was certainly a dream come true to preform on top of such a large stage, in Time's Square even more so. She imagined the lights and all the screens projecting her performance, the audience standing where she is now, looking up at the stage. The lights, the fireworks, and the music.  Hana started breathing very deeply, and started to fan herself in excitement.

"HANA-CHANNN CALM DOWNNNN!!" Pacifica was not calm.

[Cherry]

The queen was rather surprised with how much was invested into this debut stage, being atop a building as well for even more emphasis on how grand the concert will be. It was an amazing view, though, she didn't think it the safest place for people who wish to watch live, up close. Even so, the entirety of the Espoir blood would view this stage with pride, knowing what transpires. Yukino placed a hand on the thrilled idol-to-be's shoulder.

"It all kicks off tomorrow, the official debut of Isabella, taking America by storm."

[Hope]

A hand on her shoulder and a touch from Yukino brought back memories of her childhood, when Yukino would cheer her on while they played games together, and then fast forward to the events of three months ago where she would do the same whenever she talke about her dreams and everything. a hand on her shoulder with words of encouragement, surely it wasn't much, but in the performance world, an actions impact was all about timing. A certain pop right at the slam of a drum, or burst of vocals piercing through an instrumental silence was what would often give crowds goosebumps. It wasn't that Yukino did some awe inspiring act her that reached Hana, it was the fact that she just simply did what she did at the right time. The childlike and bubbly personality that had been hidden behind a cold facade all along was stripped away by Hana's love for performance world. It tore it down enough for Yukino to get through and for Hana's strong imagination to back track and get lost within memories of the best, further reminding Hana of how she formerly was. She more or less wasn't thinking, she was still forzen from the sight of the stage and even moreso seeing the night lights of the venue turning on and lighting it up. She was too lost in the excitement to think, so she reacted naturally woth a smile and she held her sister's hand.

"Arigatouuu Arigatouu Yukinee!!" she paused for a bit and there was look in here eye matching up with her sudden realization. "Er-... yeah.."

[Cherry]

Yukino had froze, and wished time would remain still like it did when she first kissed Haruka. The joyous high that came with mindblowing moments like these for her - ones that ensure a hellish parasite wouldn't hold onto heart again. Finally, the queen found a gap in a steel shield to break through. This nickname that she had to earn back, the proof in their bond that was to be worked for escaped Hana's lips. The suffocating miasma that choked her went away after the princess spoke. Tears came rolling down cheeks, and arms wrapped themselves around the back, embracing Hana.

Thank you? Your welcome? Words couldn't come out, there was so much she could say in response... This hug was all she could do to convey this feeling of happiness.

[Hope]

It took her by surprise this time, her sister suddenly putting her arms around her. It was really at the right time, more or less, Hana ha been wearing an armor to hide her frailness for so long. It was cold inside and it was heavy. It kept her from getting hurt again and pushing away and no longer opening up to her sister more was what she felt would do just that, keep her away from the pain she felt when she learned about how she did what she did had tried to do. it was that she felt that her efforts were thrown away, and that if she stopped trying then they could never be thrown away again. Hana wanted to liberate herself from this pain, and she kept trying to find ways where Yukino would hurt her or disappoint her and she kept using them to convince herself that it was all alright and ok, its better to act cold and be strong. At some point, the armor weighed too heavily on her shoulders, and they kept even the happy things out, rather than only protecting her from the negatives that she no longer wanted to keep around.

Mi-hime also taught her to return to her old self. There are some aspects that she fully cannot ever replicate again, but the joyous and carefree feeling was enough. She hugged Yukino back, its been awhile but it was so obvious by just how her body felt, Yukino wasn't really in tip top of her health. Hana wasn't sure if she was readyto forgive, but giving her effort to see what would happen would at least be a good thing to try, so she did.

"You need to eat more... skipping meals is bad..." She rested her head on Yukino's shoulder, "Mmm... I'm kind of just tired of acting how I was... so I really want you to succeed this time."

[Cherry]

Yukino squeezed her sister tightly, not letting go of what she was finally starting to earn back. The queen chuckled at the bit about skipping meals, knowing it was right. Her bones ached sometimes... she had dizzy spells, and even passed out back at home at some point. Malnourished, she could at least boast she lost weight... in the worst way possible. Even after the war's end, even after coming back from the rift, it was a slow process in getting back to normal. She was trying... and it looked like Hana acknowledged that.

"I'm sorry... I... can't promise success.. But I'll do better than I have... I'll try everything I can to succeed."

Failure was a part of life... yet, still how she yearned to succeed. It wasn't something that could simply be reached out to and obtained. No... There was a way to get it, and all there was to do was to find out. The woman didn't want to lie and say she'd just do it, so she apologized. Apologized for not being absolute, and apologized for what she had done.

"No more cold shoulder... please?"

[Hope]

"Alright..." she looked back up at the sky.

After the long embrace, she pointed at the sky. The city light created layer upon layer of barricades that kept the natural lighf from the stars from being visible in the night sky.Hana spotted a lone star in among the heavens which stretched to infinity. It shone brightly, standing all alone, but it certainly was the strongest of all.

"Do you know why I think idols are called stars? A star's light travels for millions upon millions of years to reach our eyes. We cannot even begin to fathom the journey it took to get where it has reached, but whether we do or don't, it has gone the distance. So many things out there reflect and redirect that light, and yet it's gone beyond those things, becoming what we see now. The final obstacle to reach us was the lights of the town itself. Light versus light, and it didn't let that stop it either. It shines confidently." There was something that Hana wanted to say, it was really something that she wanted to let her sister know. Be confident?..

"You may not be an idol in a literal sense, but if you want to really be a good role model, a good idol, then I think that you should be more confident in yourself first and foremost. Not egotistic, not a diva, but an inspiring kind of confidence. The scholars of Great Nature taught me that I should never speak in absolutes, its ignorant and uneducated they say. The cheese heads in the United Sanctuary say so otherwise, if something isn't absolute, then you'll fight confidently and make it so. Failure is part of the risk when being a Knight, you put your lives on the light for those whom you protect, and last I checked, I knighted you when you were asleep a few months ago. Don't know if Blaster Cheesehead told you."

[Cherry]

"B-Blaster... C-Cheesehead...?" Ahmes doubled over.

Yukino's bladed eyes watched the lone star shining about. A journey that a star took... it was probably long and arduous. Tedious and painful even, when compared to the spiked floored paths they walked. Still, like said star, this road lead them here, and there was more of it forward, not backward. Gold Paladin was founded for the sake of the alliance, but the entire clan quickly changed its purpose to liberating the heroes from their slumber. Now that they did so, they reached a point of falling action in their journey. ... That purpose being fulfilled didn't have to stop them from symbolizing how far the Sanctuary as a whole got.

"I'm... going to keep my promise to you that I made back home. The one about being the sister you envisioned me as. I might fumble and screw up again, but... um..." Yukino was already fumbling on her words, not sure if saying "I'll try" twice in a row would be a good idea. She didn't really know what she'd do, and that scared her. Messing up again terrified her even. With this unshakable fear, there was still resolution kept in heart. Biting her lip and chewing for a moment, she continued: "I'll do what I can to find confidence in myself again, and be a better role model."

"... Wait, you dubbed me a knight?"

[Hope]

"Yep. I had confidence that you would be able to overcome the trials and certainly uphold the standards of one. Also out of formality since you were going to fight alongside the Paladins. Be one of them and carry the honor of the Sanctuary and the King with you through your actions. Also you were dubbed a wielder of a sword, not the sword itself so... Dad-san told me you felt that you were an object or something, well that was kind of never the case at least title-wise."

As a Knight, Yukino also kind of has to stay healthy, but Hana decided thag she's already talked about that enough. The talk of the action that she took of giving the title months ago brought back how she felt back then. An unconditional confidence in Yukino's ability backed by an unconditional love for her as family was really why Hana did it, but for now, the formal reasons should suffice. Maybe Yukino could fill in the blanks.

[Cherry]

"Yeah... something about how I'm not a weapon, but I make them..." Yukino replied, unsure of how to feel about being dubbed a knight. Fighting with Paladins is what she wanted to do, did, and still wants. Going to Cray would continue that. But to have been one this whole time... It felt happy to get there, and at the same time, a little sick with the fact that she's done a horrendous job as one. "... Sorry", she muttered.

... The queen choked back telling Hana about Cray. Perhaps it was best to save it for after the concert, and not now.

[Spectre Diamond]

The final day.

It was the last day before the competitors of the circuit have to return to japan in a few hours. He heard that there is a concert that is going to feature Yukino's sister, Hana. He dosen't know if he wants to attend or not, they weren't his thing anyway. At the moment he's just walking around aimlessly.

[Cipher Izanagi]

It had been an interesting past few days, and Seifer had left the hospital just before Neo had woken up. He wasn't sure how he was going to tell him or the rest of them. Tsubasa was indeed right, but there was no guarantee that he'd be able to keep his new friends. But that's all he wanted, he wanted his friends at his side. Sighing the male resolved himself to tell the rest of them, after the concert. At least, that's what he believed. There was no real telling what he'd end up doing. Seifer continued to wander around Times Square, thinking about everything that had happened up to this point, the friends he'd made, fights he'd been in. And he'd even gotten Kagero back. Pulling his deck out again, and leaning against a wall in an alleyway, he stared quietly at the cards.