Suki, as habit, despite little sleep, woke at 0400. Unable to stay in her room for any longer, she escaped outside. The night air was cool, and she drew in a few deep breaths, letting herself relax happily. She found her way up to sitting on the top of a building, and stretched out. There was something to be said for the night sky, and it had been reconstructed here in Aincrad exceptionally well. Use to doing things straight from when she woke up, this leisure had unnerved her to begin with. It wasn't so bad now. 

As the sky lightened, Suki shifted to watch the sun rise. She let her thoughts flow, but didn't focus on any. They would be facing the floor boss, sooner rather than later, she knew. It still unnerved her. She worried about what would happen. About what they were going to do. And about how they would defeat the boss. And she knew she was just tying herself up in knots over it, and that wasn't going to do any of them any good. So She took another deep breath, and let herself relax once more. It wasn't an act, and she feared it wouldn't last. 

She glanced at the time, seeing it was approaching 0700. She started back down, deciding to be waiting and ready for when the others came down. She would choose to cook, but decided against it. She didn't have a high enough cooking level, nor did she think she would make a good breakfast, the way she felt right then. Nervous. Scared. Uneasy. Hopeful. Terrified for her friends. She sighed, and got a drink of juice, sitting down and waiting for the others to join her. She would just have to do her best to make sure they all survived. 

Paka was the first to come down, and Suki was grateful for that. She felt that Paka was resentful of how Suki was here,or perhaps worried that she was going to get herself hurt. She wanted to reassure him that everything was going to be okay. Even if she didn't believe it herself. But before she could even begin to speak, Paka had sat down, and said "I'm leaving after we defeat the boss. I'm not needed here, and other people could use my help" 

Suki didn't know what to say. .Could she say anything? What could she say, to convince him not to leave? Nothing. Paka was stubborn. Once he put his mind to something, he followed through. She swallowed, and glanced down. "I guess I knew that. Why though?"

Paka sighed heavily, "because if I stay, I'm just holding you back. and you don't need that. And I don't want to know I am. You second guess yourself with me around. You know it's true. You've been sheltered, protected, because of your father and brothers, and that's spilled over to the rest of the family. With me around, you'll always be constantly thinking 'what am I doing?'. I can't do it anymore" he said, rising, "I'm going to go out, see about some more supplies. You can never be too prepared" 

He shoved his hands in his pockets, and headed out. Suki watched him go. 

----

Paka headed outside, blinking at the light, and glancing about, he saw Umichi, either returning from being out of the safe zone, or just going for a walk. He debated for a moment and then went over to Umichi. Once more, he didn't wait to be greeted, but instead just spoke. "You hurt her, let anything happen to her, and I will make your life a living hell, got it?" Without waiting for a response, Paka headed off towards the market area. 

[i]Your watch now.[/i]