A Circle of Zodia

"Mmmmuh..." she was blushing a little, but Yuki decided to step in now, shaking his head just a little as he leaned against Arin.

"Asking that is like loading a gun..." he sighed quietly.

Ahh, okay. Probably has something to do with Akito. Yuki had shared a little bit about him, and none of it was good. If her reaction is anything to go by, the answer is 'yes' but fear keeps her from saying so.

Change the subject.

"Because that's how my mom and dad act now that mom's doing better..." she spoke before she really thought about what she was going to say.

Yuki covered his face with his hands.

"You're very astute then." Arin is going to reach over and playfully ruffle her hair. "Yeah, we're dating. Have been for a while now." He pulls his hand back and sits down on the ground in front of them. The Ram crosses his arms over his chest, tilting his head a bit.

"W--We're not doing that--!!" His face turned red and Kisa watched him curiously. She tilted her head, then noticing a familiarity to this, she seemed to perk up a little.

"Yes." Sorry Yuki. "What makes you ask that?"

"Right now she's small," due to her still being an adolescent, so perhaps it was a good thing. Yuki was glad now that he'd introduced Kisa to Arin, honestly. She already seemed interested and willing to talk a little more.

Just as it had been with Tohru.

"...But we don't transform with our clothes," she murmured, her face turning slightly pink. There were only boys here. Did Arin know that? Wait, had he seen Yuki transform?

"That's true." Arin remembers very well the first time he saw Yuki transform... and all the events that happened after it. "Like I said, it's your choice and if you don't want to that's perfectly okay." What the Ram didn't know was that constantly hugging them prevents them from transforming back.

"...He'd be comfortable...to cuddle with..." she said quietly.

"I am." Not quite arrogance, just fact. "I'm a Fire Sign, so I'm warm. The Water Signs are cold. When they get sick, their body temperature falls and it can get them much sicker. So one of us Fire Signs will actually cuddle with them to warm them back up."

Not going to mention all the times him and Yuki have cuddled (and a variety of other things).

The little fire kitten waddled on closer to Kisa, sitting down at her feet. It's mouth opened, as if mewing, but no sound could be heard.

She'd scooted back just a little--Fire was usually dangerous, it was a reaction of reflex. Hiding behind Yuki again, she felt safe enough to at least watch the little fire kitten.

"...Fire?"

Being startled by fire is a normal reaction. To move away from it, to scream, never really excited. "That's right. Fire. I'm not the only one that can use fire, and some of my other cousins can control water, air, or earth."

"Ah--um..." Was this really okay? Akito wouldn't get mad, would he? She didn't want to remember the last time he got mad at her. But if this guy knew about Yuki already...

Perfect. It wasn't the loudest rawr, but that didn't matter. The moment Kisa's voice is heard (albeit a squeak) a small little fire kitty pops right out in front of her. It hops to the ground and stands at her feet.

Arin stepped closer to the little flame kitty and crouched down. With a finger, he circled around the thing's head-- and as if it was a living being, tried to playfully bat at his fingers.

"Um--" she paused, then ducked fully behind Yuki again, holding his arm tighter as she nuzzled her cheek against his shoulder.

"This is Kisa...she came to see Honda-san, but she already had a prior commitment, so she's staying here until one of us can return her to her mother." His free hand patted the small girl's head.

"I had a feeling, with the way she was clinging to you." So she is, and the Tiger too! Arin turned himself slightly, so that he was now facing both Yuki and Kisa. "It's okay Kisa, I won't tell anyone. I have a little family secret of my own. Would you like to see?"

The Ram stood up from the porch, hopping down from the wood and onto the gravel. With a few steps taken, he turns back towards the two of them. Arin smiles wide.

Early morning and surprisingly Yuki was awake. Truly awake, no hint of still struggling for consciousness. He was out on the porch when Arin emerged from the home. "Oh, good morning."

--But he wasn't alone! There was a guest with them today, one Arin hadn't met yet.

She suddenly froze up a little, then knelt beside Yuki in a small attempt to hide.

She quietly peeked out from behind him, saying nothing.

"Good morning."

Who is this?? She's adorable! And shy, by the looks of it. Is that considered a hug the way she's holding onto his arm? Or no? Or maybe she's one of the Zodiac as well.

Best behave for now.

Arin gave the small girl a smile and a nod before calmly (and slowly) walking over to sit on the other side of Yuki. He leaned forward just a bit, so peer into the young girl's golden colored eyes.

Yukine followed closely--not that he had much a choice, with the boy holding his hand now. Why was it so warm...?

--OH.

Samuel could feel the growing stress from the shorter teen. He gave Yukine's hand a light squeeze. "Don't worry, I got you."

With his free hand, the Archer lightly waved it in front of the two of them. More and more little firefly-like embers danced ahead of them, lighting the way even more so. The way the embers danced was something almost magical.

"We sure can~." Samuel reached a hand out so that he could take Yukine's. He was so warm to the touch. The Archer kept the bright little firefly lights illuminating their path.

"Uuuuh...there's no guarantee Yato won't come looking for me if I agree to stay out late." Sure, Yato wouldn't feel anything wrong with his emotions--hopefully--and he doubted he'd die tonight, so...Maybe he wouldn't come out?

"He can come looking if he wants." Don't know who Yato is, but he sounds like a step-parent. Samuel let his hands open once more, showing open palms to Yukine.

"I can make it just bigger and brighter. I just did a small one to show you. Watch this~."

--!!!

Fire? Was this a--no, it couldn't be a spell or a song, those required talking. Was he a shinki...? Or not?

"I'll tell you more if you agree to stay out late with me."

There's a mix of emotions radiating from him. Confusion, mostly. Maybe nervousness? It's hard to tell. Not afraid, which is unusual.

Samuel closed his palms together, the fire dissipating without leaving any smoke behind.

He grabbed the textbook, placed the sheet of paper in it like a bookmark and closed it. With pencil in hand, he held the book to his chest with a sigh that came as somewhat shaky.

There we go, got it out of him. Samuel stands up alongside Yukine, taking a step closer to the shorter teen. He stands perhaps a bit too close for comfort. "My youngest brother is afraid of the dark too. Here, watch this."

The Archer cupped his hands together between the two of them, so that no one else around them could potentially see. Flames ignited in his palms, the embers dancing beautifully and casting a soft orange glow.

"Because I wouldn't consider a fourteen year old safe at night, you know? Especially someone as small as me." He gestured at himself, all of his 4'10 height.

"And I'm fifteen. You're older than my two younger brothers and I'm capable of looking after both of them after dark."

That being said, his brothers were bigger in size compared to Yukine... taller technically, if Sammy's 5ft 7 was anything to go by.

"...I was going to go home soon, though. The sun's about to set." And that had nothing to do with being a 'goody two-shoes', as much as it sounded like it.

There is stress. When he mentions the sun setting, it was there. Samuel pursed his lips with a small hum, drumming his fingers on the paper. Time to see if he can dig out the answer to that.

Yukine was about to throw his pencil out of frustration--but froze. Huh? He looked at him, practically stunned, and slowly lowered his hand to the table again.

"Not at all~."

Aww, he's adorable! Almost made him want to pinch his cheeks and squish his face. Samuel scooted himself just a tad closer, deciding to trace absentminded circles on the paper now. There's a subtle scent of basil and leather coming from the Archer... and he seems to be radiating warmth.