[center][h2][color=salmon]Ace[/color] & Nadia & [color=f49ac2]Sakura[/color][/h2]
Word Count: 3818 (+4 exp)
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After parting with Edward, Ace made a beeline for his room. He needed to de-stress. It wasn't the company (he liked the dreadnought), but the venue that had left him still feeling a little high strung. When he got back to his bunk he stripped off the armor he'd still been walking around in, pushing it away to one side of the room as if ambient magic still clung to it. For all he knew, maybe it did.

When the Cadet reemerged a little while later, he was dressed much more casually in red sweatpants and a white tee. He could have headed for a more mundane workshop, but nah - he'd just use his alchemy barrel in the morning for some quick restocking before shipping out to the Frozen Highlands once more. At the moment he would much rather seek out a certain someone... and, maybe, stop by the kitchen to see if there were still any of those carapaceon leftovers.

Though the hour was getting late, Ace certainly wasn’t the only one out and about. Just about everyone had something to do or someone to talk to before tomorrow’s deployments split the Seekers up and left them missing the airship’s varied facilities. Only after dinner concluded did the memory of the conversation between Sandalphon and Edward about newly-gained firearms lead Nadia to realize that she needed his help, too. Although the organic handguns she obtained in the Qliphoth were hardly good-quality, and she lost them during the brawl with D, something clicked about them that made her want to try dual-wielding once more.

Unfortunately, she failed to track Edward down, but after remembering other misplaced items she made her way to the hangar from which she departed that morning. There she found her shipcase, a fusion of her shipgirl rigging and the blade case for Kagari Rokushikisouken, the special boxcutters picked up from Seam’s Seap in the Home of Tears. While she left them behind for the Qliphoth raid, they might come in handy on the road ahead, so she donned her pack and headed across the ship toward her room.

As Nadia headed across the ship from the vehicle bay, she had to pass by the armory, the workshop, and then the training center. On one of the treadmills was a young woman dressed in what one might consider ‘cool street fashion’. She had a big pastel blue and yellow jacket on, though it was currently tied around her waist. Other than that, she had a black sports bra and a white off shoulder top that spelled out her own name in red letters: ‘Sakura’. 

The treadmill was going very fast, and she was seemingly zoned out as she sprinted on the machine, having not noticed Nadia yet even though she was pretty much in her field of view. Her sneakers pounded against the black canvas spinning beneath her, she had run for about three miles on the machine and was showing no signs of slowing down from her full power run. 

Though weary from the day’s events and ready to go to bed, Nadia was not so tired that she missed the sounds of treadmill motors or pounding feet. When she glanced into the training center, it took a second to recognize the lone runner she was looking at, but when it clicked her face lit up in excitement. A huge, joyful smile spread across her face as she slipped off her shipcase as quietly as possible. After setting it down, she tiptoed across the training center, then crouched down a couple yards away from her target. Her tail wiggled back and forth as she fought to hold in her anticipatory giggling. Then she sprang, launching herself into the air toward the oblivious young woman.

“SAKURAAAAAAA!”

If everything went to plan, she’d latch onto the martial artist in a full-body hug, her arms clasped around Sakura’s back and her legs around her middle, squeezing the girl tight. The two had become fire-forged friends during the Deep Blue Seaside campaign, only to split up between the Underground and Midgar and not meet up afterward. In fact, Nadia had forgotten if anyone mentioned what had become of Sakura in particular, so part of her had been afraid that her pure-hearted pal was no more. A couple weeks in the World of Light could feel like an eternity, and it seemed like Nadia meant to make up for all that lost time in this one hug. Of course, the feral was a lot heavier than she looked, but Sakura was a lot stronger than she looked, too. “I MISSED YOUUUUUUUUU!”

[color=f49ac2][i]”WAAAH?!”[/i][/color] Sakura lost her balance, struggling to stay upright in her surprise. Her foot lost purchase on the treadmill, and it was taken out from under her by the machine. She fell prone onto the track and with Nadia on top of her, and the two toppled onto the training room floor. Or, at least, Sakura did.

She rolled over onto her back to get a good look at her assailant, though she already had a good idea. [color=f49ac2][i]”Nadia-san!”[/i][/color] She exclaimed. [color=f49ac2]”You scared me!”[/color] She said with a laugh, sitting up, her arms open for a proper reciprocated hug if Nadia wanted it. 

Also not harmed by the tumble, Nadia embraced her friend properly, laughing. “Sorry, sorry! Couldn’t resist.” Thanks to almost a half-dozen fusions, the feral had changed a lot since the two last met, from her hair style and eye color to skin tone and body type. There wasn’t a thing about her that wasn’t at least a little different, and yet, her essence was the same. Meanwhile, Sakura’s time in Midgar had barely changed her, though maybe Nadia just didn’t remember her original form well enough to know the subtle differences. It relieved her that Sakura still recognized her, and that she didn’t seem put off by the feral’s aggressive friendliness.

After a good squeeze, Nadia pulled away and crossed her arms. “Man, you’re a sight for sore eyes after a day like today. How you been? After all that exercising, I betcha feel like a treadmillion bucks!”

Sakura rubbed the back of her head sheepishly, and stood up to turn off the raging treadmill. [color=f49ac2]”What, you mean my running? I just needed to think for a little while.”[/color] She said. [color=f49ac2]”I’ve been good though! I spent two weeks/ a million years in and around Midgar. I’m not sure which.”[/color] She said.
 [color=f49ac2]”But, y’know. I took a break but I guess I couldn’t stay away from the big fight forever. Got restless pretty quick. What about you, Nadia-san?”[/color] She asked. 

Nadia took a deep breath, her eyes widening as if to see the full scope of all that she’d experienced, then let out a heavy sigh. “Well, it was purr-etty good for a while. Me and some other guys hung around a place called Mafia Town for a bit, layin’ low. I worked for a sushi joint catchin’ fish for a few ‘dace’, just for the ‘halibut’. Went divin’ every day and saw all kinds of stuff, even these crazy sea monsters–those things really had me ‘kraken’ jokes.” Now that Sakura had gotten her started, the catgirl’s motor mouth was in full swing. “But Sandalphon -she’s our new boss, by the way- rounded us up last night, and this morning all of us flew down to the Dead Zone to sort the damn place out once and for all. It was a wild ride, start to finish. First we had to hike through this muddy wasteland through rain that ages you, and lemme tell ya, that gets old fast. There were these ghosts that would - I mean, if they caught you, they’d blow up like atomic bombs, and we had to use these babies just to see ‘em…I know, weird, right? There were, like, so many close calls, I nearly had a heart attack.”

She shuddered, trying to shake off the memory. “Anyway, we finally reached the Qliphoth. The instant we get in, bam, zombies and awful flesh monsters everywhere. We qli-fought them off and used these blood veins to get up the tree, but we kept runnin’ into all sorts of monsters, like this nightmare bird that would fake-kill people and this huge fiery cat girl. If only I packed a giant-size spray bottle–woulda really helped meowt.” Nadia grinned. “Finally, we reached the guardian, way up at the top, and whaddya know, it’s a giant alien flesh pile. Not just that, either; there were THREE consuls waitin’ there for us. It was the biggest, messiest fight of my life, and considerin’ our stay on Carcass Isle, that’s really sayin’ somethin’.” She shook her head wearily. “We won, but…we lost a couple friends on the way.” After a moment, we shrugged. “Then we took the afternoon off, screwin’ around in the Paved Wilderness. Turned my arm into a cheeseburger for a couple hours. Made some money. It was fun.” Realizing that she’d been talking for a while now, she gave Sakura an apologetic glance. “Sorry, didn’t mean to be a chatty cat-thy. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

Sakura scratched her head, taking all of that in, her face blank. [color=f49ac2]”...Yeah, I hate punching and kicking gross things. At least they turn into dust when you beat them. But I still have to make sure to trim my nails because I don’t want them getting dirty with dust. I think it’d be even worse if your hands were cheeseburgers. Because then you’d have dirty cheeseburgers for hands, like you just dropped them on the floor twenty times.”[/color] She said flatly, and held up her clenched fist for emphasis. 

[color=f49ac2]”I did babysit for a couple summer jobs so I think I would have been pretty good with the babies, though,”[/color] She hypothesized. 

[color=f49ac2]”One time, I met a ninja that could turn into a grandpa. I wonder what that rain would have done to him?”[/color] Sakura said. 

Nadia snickered with a raised eyebrow, putting her hands on her hips. “That sounds like a crappy power. Could he turn back, at least?” She tried to wrap her head around the ability. Did the ability make him a set number of years older, or did it just set him to an age? Was the ninja old or young by default? “Uh…I dunno. If it caught him in grandpa mode it might age him to death.” Unfortunately, the feral couldn’t think of a relevant pun right now. She scratched her head in the hopes of getting both neurons firing.

[color=f49ac2]”Yeah, of course he could turn back!”[/color] Sakura said. [color=f49ac2]”His name’s Zeku. He seemed nice. When we were fighting he was just going back and forth between old and young. His techniques changed and everything. I thought about asking him to teach me but then I thought I didn’t really wanna turn into a grandpa that badly.”[/color] Sakura said.

“No kitten,” Nadia replied. She imagined Sakura bald and started cracking up.

Sakura was already lively, but her face suddenly lit up even more so. [color=f49ac2]”Hey! Speaking of fighting! You wanna fight?”[/color] Sakura clenched her fists and pushed her face eagerly towards Nadia’s. [color=f49ac2]”I bet you’ve gotten even stronger!”[/color]

“Uh….yeah, totally. Super strong.” Now it was Nadia’s turn to look sheepish, rubbing her neck and all. She wasn’t one to sell herself short, but it was hard to feel great about her performance in the Final Hollow today. “Well…honestly? I’m pretty tired right now. Qliphoth beat me halfway to hell, and then I spent the afternoon drivin’ around the desert on a scavenger hunt…and I’m gettin’ sent to Esaka tomorrow, which is all about fightin’. Could probably use some rest.” She winked. “Plus, I wouldn’t wanna scratch that sweet li’l face of yours,” she joked.

Sakura’s shoulders slumped. [color=f49ac2]”That’s totally fair. The tired thing, not the other thing.”[/color] Sakura was annoyed when people wanted to go easy on her on account of her apparent cuteness. But she perked up quickly. [color=f49ac2]”That’s true. There’s going to be a [i]lot[/i] of fighting in Esaka. It’s literally 100% fighting, all day, all the time. That’s where I first appeared in the world, you know! I’ll tell everyone all about it, uh…gee, I dunno. Probably before we get there, huh?”[/color] She said, eyes widening. 

“Oh!” That was big news. Sandalphon made it sound like some of the Seekers had heard that the Forbidden Kingdom guardian might be in in Esaka, but that was where the team’s knowledge about the city ended. If she’d actually lived there, Sakura’s return was fortuitously timed. “Yeah! You’ve gotta give us the whole scoop so we know what we’re dealin’ with! Maybe at breakfast tomorrow? Y’know, food for thought.”

Sakura wiggled her hands and grinned wide, not helping the problem she had already about the alleged sweetness of her face.  [color=f49ac2]”It’s my favorite place in the whole world!”[/color]

Then she nodded. [color=f49ac2]”I’ll get my thoughts together about it. Hey!”[/color] Sakura switched tracks again. [color=f49ac2]”Look at this.”[/color] She unzipped the yellow backpack on the floor and took out a boxy camera. [color=f49ac2]”Say cheese!”[/color] She looped an arm around Nadia’s shoulders and held the camera out reversed, to take a picture of both of them. As soon as she did, the photo slid out of a gap in the camera. 

“Oh, I- cheese!” Rather than object, Nadia obliged, smiling wide into the camera. Such technology was neither advanced nor wide-spread in her world, so she didn’t know quite where to look nor expect the flash, but seeing the picture pop out immediately amazed her. “Wow!” Of course, she wasn’t looking her best right now, wearing just an oversized t-shirt and some shorts in place of her special outfit, but as someone not used to seeing herself, Nadia had to admit that she looked pretty damn good. “If Esaka is all about KOs, I’ll fit right in–a real knockout, huh?” Her tail waved behind her, tall and fluffed-up with happiness.

[color=f49ac2]”Yeah! Though in Esaka the goal is to [i]not[/i] be a knockout.”[/color] Sakura said. [color=f49ac2]”I think I’m going to start scrapbooking again. I lost my picture of Ryu-san, so I hope we run into him so I can get a new one.”[/color] She said, holding the picture of the two of them between her fingers, though as she thought of Ryu, her eyes drifted into the middle distance.

As though summoned by her thoughts, the broad shouldered silhouette of a man passed by the training center's doorway. Of course it wasn't actually Ryu, the mop of bright scarlet hair made that pretty clear. Not a moment later the man backtracked, poking his head inside after glimpsing the calico bob and felyne ears.

[color=salmon]"Oh, Nadia! Purr-fect, I was looking for-"[/color] Ace paused when his eyes caught the room's other occupant, a friend he hadn't seen for a while. [color=salmon]"Sakura?"[/color]

There could be no mistaking the girl's identity. She looked like Sakura, and her shirt even spelled it out for the unsure. Ace had been under the impression she and Karin had remained in Midgar, or what was left of it (he only knew a little of what had actually happened), so seeing her now was a welcome surprise. [color=salmon]"Sakura!"[/color]

“Hey handsome~” Nadia chimed in with a wave.

A wide grin split the Cadet's face as he properly stepped into the room, wasting no time making his way over to the two girls. He did not go for a flying tackle like Nadia had, but he did open his arms to offer Sakura a hug all the same before coming to stand close to Ms. Fortune.

Sakura felt the impulse to go for an especially manly hug, and slapped her hand into one of Ace’s before bringing it in for a pat on the back. 

[color=salmon]"When did you get here? Did they pick you up at some point or did you use that balloon thing?"[/color]

[color=f49ac2]”Hello Cadet-san! I just got here today. Those balloons are like, totally insane, huh?!”[/color] She recalled the experience. 
[color=f49ac2]”Just- fwoosh! Up into the sky. I didn’t know balloons could go that fast. Usually they go very slowly.”[/color] Sakura said. 

[color=salmon]"I know! Kut-kurazy, but pretty convenient, right?"[/color] he chuckled, then looked between Sakura and Nadia. [color=salmon]"Were you two catching up?"[/color]

And then once more back to Sakura when another question occurred to him. [color=salmon]"Did Karin come with you too?"[/color]

[color=f49ac2]”Nah, she stayed behind.”[/color] Sakura said. [color=f49ac2]”She’s way busier in Midgar than me. So, uh, I dunno, I decided to come back! And we’re headed to Esaka, too, which is exciting.”[/color] Sakura said. Then she looked between the two of them, almost expectantly. 

Nadia shrugged, then laid a hand on the monster hunter’s shoulder. “Well, half of us. Sadly Ace here’s gonna be chillin’ with the other half for a bit. Literally, considerin’ they’re headed to the Frozen Highlands. Wanderin’ through the snow sounded cool and all, but I’ve been dyin’ to actually fight people my size and not giant monsters for once. With all my new powers, I bet I could cook up one hell of a combo. Tag ‘em once, and by the time they hit the ground, they ain’t gettin’ up!” Of course, talking a big game was one thing–actually putting in the practice for the hours it took to get a long combo down was another. Nadia then blinked at Sakura, not quite sure what the girl was expecting.

Considering that earlier that same day the Cadet had said something along the lines of not planning to split up from the feral again for a while, he did look a little sheepish when it was brought up. Naturally he wanted the opposite type of opponents that Nadia did, and like he'd mentioned he wanted to finish what he, Band, and the others had started there, so it only made sense for the both of them to play to their respective strengths.

[color=f49ac2]”So… you’re sad? About gettin’ split up?”[/color] Sakura asked, trying to be subtle about something. 

[color=salmon]"Well sure,"[/color] Ace started, leaning into Nadia while he spoke. She pressed back into him, unable to suppress an almost giddy grin. [color=salmon]"I only got back to everyone a day ago, and now we're gonna be ice-solated from each other. I was hoping to spend some more time together before the next quests started."[/color]

If only there was a convenient way to keep up with someone over long distances. Oblivious to Sakura's indirect inquiry, Ace looked down slightly at the woman next to him, a fond smile in place. [color=salmon]"Which was the reason I came looking for you. Can't believe we found Sakura too!"[/color]

“Yep, blue team’s back together! First time since Rush Hour.” Hopefully if the others hadn’t already adopted that term for the mad scramble through Nyakuza Metro that separated them all, they’d be able to intuit what she meant. “Well, sorta back together,” she corrected herself. Junior and Rika were off doing their own thing, Geralt was probably keeping them out of trouble, Bowser and Kamek were who-knows-where with Consul P. Then there were the others. Delsin she scarcely remembered, he came and went so fast, but the split with Link and especially Mirage was a bummer even now. Of course it was for the best they didn’t die, and she could guess why after the Maw, but still. Their unceremonious exit was a sore spot.

All the more reason to focus on the people with her now. Nadia stood on her tiptoes, extending her leg muscles to boost her height so that she could rub her cheek against Ace’s like an affectionate cat. “It [i]is[/i] a shame we’re partin’ ways already. Honestly, I’m havin’ second thoughts. Big monsters are fun in their own way. And I wouldn’t mind all the cold, with you around to warm me up~” Maybe hoping to embarrass him in front of Sakura, she teased him by saying it as cheesily as possible. She wrapped her arms around his neck and allowed her legs to retract, then dangle over the floor. 

[color=salmon]"I did want to take you to Grammeowster's fur some really good food,"[/color] he mused to play along, [color=salmon]"but then again, I could go to Esaka. It’s guaranteed to have at least one better view if you'll be there."[/color] His cheeks heated up at Nadia's open affection, but he'd never actually be embarrassed about it; her forwardness one of the many things he liked about her.

Sakura bounced on her heels, excited. [color=f49ac2]”Cuuute! I knew it!”[/color]

[color=f49ac2]”We’ll all be back together in no time flat, I’m sure. The Avenger is so totally cool. When this is all over we’ll just get picked up, easy peasy!”[/color] Sakura said. [color=f49ac2]”But if you wanna go with him, Nadia-san, I’m sure no one’s stopping you!”[/color]

“Hmm…” Nadia looked very tempted. “I’ll mull it over. See what the boss thinks. If nothin’ else, can can cat-ch up every day usin’ the Sandal-phone, eh?” It occurred to her that using the archangel as an middleman meant that her conversations wouldn’t be private. Maybe those magic beads Primrose got from the Home of Tears would be better?

After a moment, she dropped back down and returned to Ace’s side. Her fingers slipped in between his, and her tail encircled his leg. “So, you said you were lookin’ for me? For what purr-pose?”

Ace generally shared Sakura's optimistic outlook, though he'd been having some misgivings about the immediate next leg of the Seekers' journey - but her confidentially cheerful comment lifted his spirits (further, since running into her and Nadia already had). She was right, even if they all split up they would end up together again soon enough. That was proven by Sakura here now, and even himself after his group was found in Edinburgh Magicapolis. 

He squeezed Nadia's hand. [color=salmon]"Just to spend some time with you,"[/color] he said. [color=salmon]"I was working on something with Edward and it just stressed meowt a little."[/color]

On top of everything else that had happened that day. Ace moved past the mention, not finding it something to delve into too much at the moment. 

[color=salmon]"So I figured I'd see if you wanted to hang out, before tomorrow."[/color]

After squeezing back, the feral nodded, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Ab-so-lutely!” She glanced over at Sakura, apologetic. “Sorry to cut the grand reunion short, but the two of us could definitely use some qual-kitty time together.” Hopefully the martial artist wouldn’t mind doing her own thing for now and getting together again later, once she and Nadia reached the Forbidden Kingdom.

Sakura raised her hands. [color=f49ac2]”Hey, it’s like totally no problem. Don’t let me get in the way.”[/color] She said with a big smile. [color=f49ac2]”...You’re not kicking me out of the training room, though, right?”[/color] She added. 

“Nope! I’ve had more than enough exercise for today,” Nadia replied cheerfully, gesturing to the treadmill as if to say [i]all yours[/i]. She then nudged Ace. “Lead the way!”