(GS3) Field: Umano Underground Slums

[Jello]

Haruka saw Hana's little signal but it took several seconds to process. The act was on. Haruka was an actor and this was part of his role to play.

Sadly this play was the equivalent of a tragedy layered with romance. Haruka was not prepared to live with the consequences of all of it. He rubbed his forehead, looking up and listening to her little comment about scouting and... recruiting. What was going on in her head?

"R-Right then. Well, I'm glad to have you back home... I-" He stopped himself there. Not of shock. He actually was completely unsure of what to say. Not because he felt awkward with Hana there either. Haruka, even if he wasn't a lying cheater. Even if. He would be responding to Yukino the same way, completely static and awkward and just.

Cold.

Haruka's disposition could almost be considered cold at this point. His face was layered with distraught and confusion. He bit his lip and sighed.

"Sorry you had to catch me under these circumstances. I'm just not feeling so great, recently." He looked up to Yukino, finally able to maintain eye contact. What he said next could be taken anyway the two wanted to take it, but they were his honest feelings.

"I've hated every moment you were gone though." His shoulders drooped a slight amount, as his expression went from confused to depressed. His posture was deteriorating by the second. Haruka was ready to just give up and lay down or something, completely unfazed now by the violence ensuing around them.

He couldn't even, right now.

[Hope]

It was like it was instinct that Isabella rushed behind Haruka-kun and put her hands on his shoulders, supporting his drooping posture. Her first impulse was to hug him, maybe she will, but since it was Yukino's presence seemed to be the reason why he was acting the way he was, causing trouble with her should be avoided for now. This was for Haruka-kun's sake, Hana didn't actually care about what Yukino would think about them together really.

"Stand tall mister!" She said, continuing to support him.

As for Yukino, scouting...?

Like idol scouting?...

That did give her the idea of giving opportunities for people in this community to show off their talents outside of brawling. It would be a good uplifting spirits and bringing hope in this town. Not a bad idea, but that's probably not what Yukino was going for. Judging by how she was, it looked like some boring Chosen Sword work. Which really wasn't anything to get involved in or really be interested in.

Isabella sighed, tilting her head a little so she could Yukino since she was standing behind Haruka-kun, "So... did you find anything interesting?... Also, what have you been doing this past year?.."

[Spectre Diamond]

The Oblivion's engine roared through the streets of Umano as the wind kissed his face. Heading to the main area of Umano to discuss more on their plan of action against the other factions. Nearing the entrance he began to slowly stop and then got off the Oblivion and moving it inside the entrance of the slums. He saw most of his underlings fist fighting each other and others increasing their skills in cardfighting. He spotted Hana, Haruka and....Yukino? Hikaru quickly placed the Oblivion on the wall and looked at the members that were near him and gave them a threat.

Hikaru then walked over to the trio as he dodged some attacks from the others.

"So its seems you returned Yukino? Or is it still Yugure."

[Cherry]

"Yugure", the woman answered the king's arrival. This would be good, as there would be no need to hunt him down after this. Hearing Haruka say what he did last made her happy - it sounded like he missed her. In mind, it was translated as having held onto their feelings for one another. There would be necessary rekindling to be made, but as long as the place in his heart was still welcoming her, she'd take anything. She also noted that Hana attempted to help Haruka get himself together, which she was thankful for.

"I haven't found too much to work with yet", she answered Hana. "For the past year, I've been training in the mountains. ... You two seem closer than you were last year... Haruka, I hope you've been taking care of her in my absence."

[Jello]

Yukino really didn't want to be called Yukino anymore. That actually kind of hit Haruka a bit in heart, considering he still genuinely wanted to call her by the name he had always called her by. The one he said when he confessed it all-

She at least seemed to be a bit happier about Haruka's comment. Maybe things could be salvaged even after a year. He was honestly unsure of his true feelings other than he was honestly still in love with the girl in front of him. Maybe it wasn't too late... But he had to go through with what he started.

The feeling of Hana's hands on his shoulders kept him standing up, but more importantly, he instinctively wanted to sink about so her arms would wrap around him. It wasn't that easy considering Haruka is actually a bit taller than her so it would result in them falling over. Which is partly why he didn't. A lot of thoughts were rushing around his head. Yukino's voice broke the trance though. He really was tired.

"Hmm... Taking care of her?" Haruka's eyes opened a bit more. Life sprang forth again.

"Y-Yeah. You could say that." Haruka was doing exactly that, by his own definition. A majority of the reason he was responding to Hana's feelings... the reason he was spending his time and all of these emotions with her, was to satisfy their mutual need for care. Comfort. Compassion. That was what he had been telling himself all this time, and nothing had really changed. Just because Yukino was back, didn't mean that Haruka was suddenly cared for again. In fact she had yet to lay a hand on him. No hugs, no kisses, not even a grasp for his hand.

She's changed, definitely. Maybe for the worse, maybe for the better, but Haruka couldn't tell and was a bit too blind by the girl currently holding him on his own two feet anymore. Literally and figuratively.

Hikaru's arrival did break some tension. Despite his title, Hikaru was actually someone Haruka found he could confide in. This was probably do to the major fact that Hikaru was mostly a stranger to him for now... and it's easier to confess your sins, your weaknesses, to those who won't judge you. Haruka smiled at his arrival.

[Hope]

"Training in the mountains?..." She wondered.

Certainly it was a good answer. It sounded like classic Yukino, doing something really weird like that. The purpose can wait, the idol's mind was split into two.

Hana felt frustrated at the fact. Yukino and she promised a new start to their relationship and a rebuilding of their sisterhood,but what ended up happening was that Hana was left alone for a year. It wasn't just any year, it was the beginning of her entire career as an idol. Of course, she had her parents as well as manager-san and all the body guards and friends, but she needed Yukino during her rise to fame. She was lost as she traveled the world and gained more and more popularity, getting known more as Isabella rather than Hana and eventually losing herself to the crowd. With this, she found herself with a growing desire to mature far too quickly and without the guidance of her sister. Yukino was given forgiveness, and she did nothing with the face but disappear when she was needed most.

Isabella on the other hand found it laughable. She didn't have much raw thoughts, but she did have words. "Well, you spend your time in the mountains to get stronger? Alright how about a Cardfight?"

[Cherry]

"Going to the mountains to train isn't exactly a favorable choice", Yugure sweat some. She was tempted to tell them why she ended up in Mount Fuji, but they probably didn't care. There was a tinge of relief in knowing her sister was taken care of by her boyfriend and others around, along with being glad they were getting along. Perhaps he won over enough favor from Dad Espoir to not kill him too... The notion to Cardfight arose. Though, she wasn't really intending on casual games upon her return, and wanted to just focus on talking with them. Yet, if it's what Hana wanted, she supposed just doing it to make her happy would be satisfactory.

The soldier reached for her Liberator deck case, and requested a table be cleared.

"Sure."

[Jello]

Haruka stayed quiet that entire fight. Not just because he was particularly worried about breaking their concentration or anything, but he just didn't know who to cheer for. He wished both of them luck like he would've anyone else, but he couldn't honestly bring himself to cheer for anybody. Being torn right down the middle.

"Good fight, guys." Haruka breathed a sigh of relief, scratching the back of his head. He stepped back, taking a look around the area. It felt desolate around mostly, a lot of the violence earlier had settled down for the evening. I guess not everyone can go fighting all day. There were the occasional brawlers and thugs here and there, but none of them really got to Haruka anymore.

He sort of just stared at Yukino, then Hana, then at the sky in sort of miniature prayer. Haruka actually didn't even really pay attention to see who won. He was too busy worrying. Typical Haru.

[Hope]

She saw the Liberator deck with Tsubasa earlier on today. It was mostly similar with exception of Holy Shine Dragon which she was a unit which she had never seen before. Yukino was fighting with her old friends again, in the form of the new group assembled by the King himself, Liberators. Isabella had her old friends by her side now as well, though they were different, yet from the same batch. The Duos still felt so distant. The only one that came close to her was Reit who seem to have been watching her with those eyes. Certainly, Reit would defeat Pacifica in a staring contest at this rate.

"Hana... Hana..." Reit was being repetitive as always, either just watching or no saying much. A few greetings, here and there is all she usually ever had to say. She was in the same situation a year ago against Neu Edelweiss where none of the Bermuda Triangle units would speak to her, but Reit's voice was the one that was keeping her from breaking. Just a few words, heck, Reit even sounded like a broken record, She just repeated the same phrases over and over, as if she struggled to say them, but she was forcing them out... she wanted to say them... for Hana's sake... to support her just like-

"Naisu faito." Isabella declared, breaking through her continuing train of thought. It was just that she expected her sister to spent the time in which she was gone improving that during her world tour, she took every opportunity to get better. Not only training in a single mountain, but on many mountains and hills, plains, and valleys. Across the countries, she's not only played with Bermuda Triangle, but she's played for and against every clan along with many of their current masters all over the world. Isabella's persona was formed fully on independence, Hana's was on dependence. One was Black, the other was White.

Both of them mixed together developed an inferiority complex where surpassing Yukino was the mission, to get strong no matter what. Was it for her own sake? At the moment, it seems to be.

She looked towards Haruka-kun, he wasn't too glad or anything, but she did wish both of them luck. He was impartial, but she didn't mind, though she did wish that he was totally on her side. Isabella couldn't blame him, she just had to understand him fully. She went up to him and flicked his head with her index finger. "Feeeeel Betttteeerrr!" She chanted repeatedly. "Magic spell for feeling better! Thought I do change it constantly. Also I kind of make them up constantly. But feel better."

[Cherry]

Yugure's bad luck didn't seem to go away with a year's passing time, but she was mostly disinterested in the normality of the fight. Still, Hana seemed to be just fine, even a bit cheery with helping Haruka. The Liberator deck floated back in place, and several apologies from the golden warriors were made. She simply reassured them that it was simple sparring and watching the performance of Bermuda Triangle, nothing they should all be upset over. Marron seemed the most upset, and Ahmes took his time trying to get the little sage to stop babbling like a baby.

They should be thankful Yunos isn't here to smack him silly instead.

The queen turned her attention back to Haruka, and spoke: "Yes, do feel better. I want you to be happy."

Should she offer to do something for him? What would he want? If he was expecting a gift, she'd consider buying him one tomorrow. Though, if it was physical contact, she'd prefer saving that for another time when nobody else is around.

[Jello]

They sort of happened at the same time. Hana had flicked him on the forehead as a way of kicking him into gear for a moment. But what happened nearly simultaneously was a sudden splitting ache in the back of his head. He nearly dropped at just the impact of it. It's not like the flick did it, but he must be having a migraine at the same time.

"A-Ah.. yeah, yeah, I'm sorry guys." He shook his head like a dog kind of, half-waking up, half-trying to get rid of the sudden headache. He smiled for them, or at least his excuse for a smile. It was one of those smiles you gave when someone wants to take your picture but you just really don't want them to take your picture so you give a crappy little smile. It was that sort of smile.

He rubbed the back of his neck, looking at the two girls.

Guilty. Haruka was so so so so so guilty right now but he just couldn't come to fess up. He couldn't even really look at them all too hard before he instinctively blurred out his vision.

"I need to get some rest or something, uh... Text me or something later if you need me." He looked up nonchalantly, one more smile for the road and wave to seal the deal. He turned his on heels rubbing his head, moving his jaw around to try and set everything back up right, but nothing was working. Pain relievers and a bit of sleep would fix everything. He needed someone to talk to, some way to explain the situation. All the emotions in him would come pouring out to the next person he saw at this rate.

"2morrow, wanna meet up? got some stuff i wanna get off my chest -haru"

He sent a message out to, well... the person he least expected to ever send that to.

Akama Shiki.

[Spectre Diamond]

The fight was spectacular on both sides of the fight. The fight was now over and then Hikaru then decided to get to business.

"Alright since were all here, we need to discuss some things." Grabbing a list from his pocket he led it down on the table where Hana and Yugure had their fight. "This here is the list of the factions that have been taken down and what factions are left."

[Hope]

It seems that the Underground King had something to say.

She stil had a piece of string tugging on her hear, and her mind began drifting back to Reit. It was so familiar, that voice. Isabella decided to think about this later, for now it was time to focus on the situation at hand.

"I see... The factions that are left, what do you suppose that we do to take them down?"

[Spectre Diamond]

"At the moment, the 4 remaining factions are in a alliance so its best to take them down one at the time. We have one of the Blueblood commanders here and he hasn't spilled anything yet. That guy is a tough cookie." As he rubs his chin with his index finger. He thought about releasing the Blueblood commander so he can unknowingly lead them to the stronghold of the bluebloods. His first option of their base was at cardshop Handsome, but he thought that they'll be that stupid.

"At most we just need to track their bases and hopefully get most of them arrested for their crimes. After that it'll just be clean up on capturing any other faction members as you can see on the least on who is missing." 

[Cherry]

"What is this about?" Yugure inquired, seeing the Underground King was fighting a war of his own with Hana's assistance. This could be the gateway in getting a favor from him to join her in another upcoming battle, along with the rest of the slums' dogs.