~House of cards~ [Kazuya/Invite]

[Eurydice Sudeki]

.::It was true the scenery was not how it probably should've been. Who should've been where but it was what it was. There was no changing that currently. Where did he stand now that Leon was back? Eury probably didn't even know, hell she wasn't even thinking about everything she was doing. Who she was hurting, what she was probably destroying. She loved Leon she did, but there had been her questioning his love for her and even maybe her own love for him. Why did she love him. What kept her with him even though it seemed they didn't spend that time together she wanted. If there was ever a possibility for her to come out of that doubt she need to see his proof. But most importantly maybe she needed to find herself again. Maybe she needed the time to think about everything. One would think she had all this time but she wasn't attempting to. She was keeping herself constantly moving, constantly busy to avoid the thoughts.

Things upsetted her and with good reason. But it seemed as though if she let her fury get too high she lost control and also began to feel light headed. It wasn't like her to be that way in any way shape or form. This wasn't about vengeance as much as someone could chalk it up as. Kazuya made her feel a certain way, a way she needed and wanted. He had said what she needed to hear. She was drawn to him there was no denying that. When he asked her earlier how she felt around him they were interrupted and it was a blessing for her. It wasn't something she could truly answer at the time. Maybe she could but later on it would be all the more damaging. Eury didn't know how so though, at least not yet. But soon, soon indeed.

Throughout his words she listened as she ate, looking at him from time to time catching some vibe off him. She couldn't place it as it wasn't her using her gift just a natural observation. She finished her own just as he went to the sink to wash his. Gently Eury stood and came to his right placing her dish on the counter for when she would wash her own, speaking softly to him::.

"You know if I'm apologizing just let me and take it."

.::She looked directly up to him if he glanced or turned her way::.

"And I do feel much better.. But I have to ask why are you so lenient with me? It's like I can do no wrong in your eyes. I know I may be asking the same question differently but it seems no matter what you're so accepting of me.. Well minus that one moment, yet still in that I could do no real wrong."

[Kazuya Hikari]

Turning his head slightly to look over at her after he had finished washing his dishes and placed them on the dish rack to dry, he'd look down directly at her back as she looked directly up at him, his hands drying instantly from his Qi.

"... I can't answer that question without repeating what I've already said. I care for you very much and will look out for your well being... and I'll never judge you. No matter what you do or done, or was and will become, I can't or won't. That's all."

Giving a casual shrug of his shoulders, he would step back from the sink, his arms casually folded across his chest, his pupil-less eyes remaining cool and calm, betraying none of the conflicting emotions or anguish he was currently feeling.

"... But I won't hold back my fury, and I'm not afraid to let loose the full brunt of my anger on anyone, not even you."

[Eurydice Sudeki]

~That's saying a lot. I just never really been so wholeheartedly accepted without any real questioning anything. Something. Never judge me? I've always been constantly judged about almost everything, and maybe if I wasn't being it certainly felt like I was. But I can't help but think when he says never that it's not so true. I believe him but there's a part of me that just can't stop second guessing it just a little. It's such a bad habit I still haven't learned to just accept things myself. I doubt I ever will as to me from experience so many have ulterior motives to what they do. When you think they don't that's when you get completely blindsided. But who am I kidding I've still faltered sometimes despite it all.~

.::She could be a bit contradicting to herself sometimes but she knew it. She was always trying to fight against her normal thinking and it led to various things occurring for her or to her. As he moved away she didn't move forward till he was done speaking. Suddenly a smile slowly pulled onto her face a little odd no? Who should be happy to hear that? Well few people would and as you guessed it Eury was one of those few. Her free hand snapped with the back of it against his chest as she laughed and slid in beginning to wash her own plate::.

"Good, I wouldn't want you to hold it back even for me."

.::But as she did somewhere the smile faded into a serious face. A face she hadn't really shown right and she wouldn't look at him as her voice took a serious tone::.

"But what if I became something unacceptable? What if I lost all control? If I was hurting a lot of people maybe even those you love and care for? What would you do? Would you kill me so quickly if you had to? Or would you still believe I could be saved? But what if I couldn't be saved, Kaz."

.::The water would just run without her washing anymore as she just stared at it running into the sink and swirling down the drain::.

[Kazuya Hikari]

Letting out a low 'oof' as Eurydice snapped the back of her hand against his chest, a wry smile would tug at the corners of his mouth hearing her laugh before sliding in to wash her own plate. As he turned his head to look to the side, out the kitchen window, any trace of the wry smile on his face would disappear instantly and replaced with a serious and somber expression.

"... If that were to happen, I wouldn't kill you, I wouldn't just save you. I'd set you free."

His head turned back to look down at her, even if she continued to have her back facing him, there was not a single hint of teasing or joking found in his voice. He was being completely and utterly serious.

"You'd never be too far gone to me that you couldn't be saved. I'd fight tooth and nail to get you back. ... Even if I'd have to go through the entire damn Dragon gang and Barker's group combined to reach you, even if you yourself wanted to hurt me, I'd do whatever it takes."

[Eurydice Sudeki]

~I didn't ask him solely because all he had been saying. It was a question that was on my mind for sometime now. It started when I realized I had no real control of my abilities. Then I felt the set of emotions that caused such an outburst from me that was far from the norm. Then there was Leon getting into my head causing doubt about myself. Making me doubt if I indeed was truly myself. Or was I some clone or something. But how could I be with all these memories I have. I've always feared snapping like I did all those years ago again, but even more so I fear losing complete control over myself. To be so far gone that simplicity wouldn't reach me. I can't live with the fact of hurting or even killing those that I love or care about and there love ones as well. I would rather be taken out so I couldn't again.~

.::Her face turned somber as she listened and still watched the water run from the faucet almost absentmindedly. Somehow she wasn't so surprised at his answer because she had begun to see a pattern with him. It wasn't hard to tell that he was a passionate person. Right now his heart was on his sleeve anyone could easily see that. It was a good and a bad thing. But there was something he said that gave her pause that he would fight through the Dragon's to get to her. But they were his comrades people she was sure he knew far longer than her. People he probably cared deeply for. Finally she turned the water off and placed the dish on a towel nearby on the countertop as she turned to face him with all the seriousness::.

"You would really face all your comrades, your friends just to reach me huh? That might create a riff between you and them, I wouldn't want that for you because of me. I don't think I'm worth you losing all you've gained...But what if taking me out is the only way to set me free? What if I asked you to do it?"

.::There was a lot of indifference in her eyes that no heat signature could determine, but it was also present in her voice pattern. She lived for her children, for her family, they always kept her going. But if she had to die to protect them from herself she would make that sacrifice even if meant never being physically with them ever again. If she had to remove herself from their lives and watch them from a far to protect them from her past she would live that life of solidarity in the shadows. Maybe it was something she was trying to say but not in so many words. That she was willing to always make that ultimate sacrifice::.

[Kazuya Hikari]

"... I would. There is only one person in the Dragons that I consider a close friend, and that's David. Even if it created a riff between me and him, and all the Dragons came to face off against me, it wouldn't matter to me. I'll do what it is I want. Being a General would be worthless... if I couldn't even save the person I care deeply for. I'm not going to lose you."

Returning the indifference on her face and in her voice with a serious and resolute look not only on his face, but in his pupil-less eyes, despite all the hardships he faced, he was still brash and headstrong just like when he was a teenager. At the same time however, he was devoted and protective, and even a little childish to the point that it made him hard to hate.

"When I do something, I do it right."

[Eurydice Sudeki]

.::Eury listened to every word he spoke without trying to analyze it for once. She took his words for what they were. With him she would have to considering there seemed to be nothing more hidden behind them. She could try and in some paranoia make up something but there was nothing to find. He said what he meant she realized that, and even in realizing that was fighting against her normal way of thinking. She tilted her head to the side taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly. Softly she finally smiled while a shake of her head::.

"You're something else you know that Kazuya?"

.::She turned and dried the dish from before, placing it off to the side once more returning to face him. Again she inhaled and exhaled softly before stepping forward and to his side placing a hand on his bare chest for the moment, giving a little tap with her index finger::.

"You really are something special, don't let anyone tell you otherwise..Thanks for letting me know you wouldn't give up on me.. Ya know I can see you making a really great father. If you had a girl the guys would be in a lot of trouble...You're a man of your word I can see that, but if taking me out is saving me don't hesitate to do it."

.::She would try to walk past him letting her hand fall from his chest if he let her past\s, though she didn't expect him to. Eury never deemed herself special and in some way it's what she was trying to say. That she wasn't really worth the trouble and pain. It would become obvious in the low tone she had and the somber smile towards the end. She just didn't want to hurt anyone she cared for because she lost herself. On a side note, she meant what she said about him being a great father not knowing that maybe he already was one::.

[Kazuya Hikari]

Seeing Eurydice tilt her head to the side while hearing her take in a deep breath and slowly let it out, Kazuya's own head would tilt to the side as well, but in the opposite direction, giving him the appearance of a puppy dog, as he would see her softly smile finally while a shake of her head.

A wry smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, he would watch her turn and dry her plate before placing it off to the side and turn to face him again, hearing her inhale and exhale softly once more before stepping forward and to his side. Feeling her place her hand on his bare chest and give a little tap with her index finger, he would look down at her, a slight smile forming on his face, as he would surprisingly let her walk past, feeling her hand fall from his chest.

"... Eurydice... Thank you. That means a lot to me, but... I already am a father. I have a two year old daughter."

Turning his body slightly to look behind him at her, he would watch her from the corner of his peripheral vision, having unfolded his arms and now held them loosely by his sides, the upper half of his face hidden in shadows.

"What'd I say. I'm not going to lose you."

Others, and she herself, may not think she was worth the trouble and pain, but Kazuya was resolute in his determination to save her if she ever ended up becoming a threat. He would save her and set her free. Even if he himself had to endure innumerable and immense amounts of pain to do so.

"I will save you Eurydice. And don't you forget it."

[Eurydice Sudeki]

.::Just as she got past him she paused at his words. He had a young daughter which only brought irony to Eury's statement. Yet the notion of it gave her great pause. Where was the mother? Was the situation similar or completely different? Time seemed to freeze as she focused seemingly mainly on those words. She brought the thought up before wondering if his attachment was due to her reminding him of someone. Though she heard his tale of her being his first crush but now was overthinking it all again. She was supposed to take his words for what they were but that little revelation placed a new spin on things. Should it have really? Probably not. Eury just had a bad habit of running into people with kids and that only gave her furthered her inner turmoil. Her inner sorrow about her own children.

She didn't want to consider the fact that his strong attachment was from the mother of his child. He said no, so no was no. But that wasn't really the thing weighing on her thoughts so heavily. It was the fact of how far he would go for her knowing he had a little girl at home waiting for her father to return. Eury never met the girl but if she ever did and all had occurred she wouldn't be able to look that girl in her eyes. She already bared witness to Elena's sleepless nights and days longing for them to come back though she understood completely they're death. With that much to lose Eury couldn't ask him to not abandon herself, to fight to his last breath for her. It wasn't like she was asking cause she wouldn't but even more so now she just didn't want him to take any part of that. Slowly she turned to face him destroying the silence that seemed like eternity::.

"You have a daughter? Kazuya you can't put yourself in that kind of position just to save me. Your daughter comes first I know you understand that. I'm not worth the pain that little girl will endure if something happened to you. I know you care about me but - Look just promise me if there was ever a choice between me or her you always pick her... If there was a choice between you potentially dying to save me or killing me brings you safely home to her, you pick option B."

.::She meant it very strongly. It read in her entire body the tension, the serious tone, the stare. She refused to take any part in that. She couldn't have that on her conscious. He would be able to feel the tension in her more as while she spoke she unknowingly held his right hand firmly::.

[Kazuya Hikari]

"... But I can't do that Eurydice... I can't just choose between you or my daughter. ... But I know you wouldn't take that for an answer... so I promise you Eurydice..."

I promise I will save the both of you if it comes to it. It might be an impossible task, but I could never live with myself if I had to give up either of you.

His eyes hidden even more in shadows, feeling her unknowingly hold his right hand firmly, it was difficult to pinpoint exactly which direction Kazuya's eyes were looking at, but more than likely, he was looking directly at Eurydice.

"... I can't and won't kill you Eurydice. If I kill you, your kids lose their mother, just as my daughter already has. If I don't kill you, my daughter loses me, her father. Either way, someone will lose a parent. I can't and won't let that happen. I WILL save you and I WILL not die. I've died once... I'm not dying again."

[Eurydice Sudeki]

~Yes you can Kazuya. It isn't a hard decision, it should never be. I wouldn't even remotely be upset, why would I be she's your daughter. I would be more upset if you didn't leave me after saving her if it ever came to it. But you would wouldn't you? So stubborn. I'm just as stubborn I know. There's no use talking him out of it is there?

.::Eury stared off to the side before returning her gaze up to Kazuya as he continued on. She felt a tug at her heart hearing that Kazuya had lost his daughter's mother. Eury didn't really have that mother dynamic growing up unless of course she counted her older sister Lily. Lily who tried to be so much for Eury in the short time she had on this plain. The kindness she held in her heart now was thanks to Lily and Mrs. Stark; Elena's mother. Eury tried to be the best mother possible with the memories of those two woman in mind. Lately Eury had been feeling like she failed so many times over to achieve this. She was one person that was extremely hard on herself, was it really hard to tell that? With a seldom expression that still held a warm smile her left hand reached up with her index finger extended to touch his chin and raise his face up a bit more. She wasn't entirely sure if he meant figuratively or literally that he had died before but all the same she knew it too. It wasn't a pleasant feeling either version::.

"I'm sorry about your lost. I've probably died or come close to more than I can count."

.::She meant it both ways, though he was welcome to have her elaborate::.

"I wouldn't want anyone of them to lose their parents. She still needs you around, though the lives we lead especially now don't make a guarantee that you'll always come home. I believe you won't go easily, neither would I. You really are something."

~Sometimes I think Death enjoys playing with me. It always seems to spare me no matter how close I am and takes someone else from me.~

.::She kept her warm smile as her finger finally started to slide off his chin, her hand letting go of his. She sighed lazily resting her lower back against the edging of the countertop speaking with a small chuckle::.

"Heh, this isn't very good breakfast talk is it? Kinda heavy for the morning hmm."

[Kazuya Hikari]

Seeing Eurydice reach up with her left hand, her index finger extended, as Kazuya felt her touch his chin and raise his face up a bit more, half of his face would be revealed, leaving the other half still in shadows, as his one eye that was visible was shown to have a somber look in it. Nodding his head slightly in appreciation, death was no stranger to him. He neither feared nor dreaded death since then, but what he feared most, was failure. Failure to save those he cared deeply about if he ever perished in battle.

"... Who hasn't? I don't think anyone can say they've never been close to death, and those that can, haven't fought like we've fought. The same goes for you too Eurydice. Your kids still need you around, whether they want it or not."

It may be impossible, but I will make sure your kids will have a mother to come back to. I swear it on my life.

Feeling her finger slide off his chin and his hand being let go, he would continue to keep his head in the same position, giving a small shrug of his shoulders and a slight bow of his head.

"... It was bound to come up eventually. Sooner or later it'd have to be addressed."

Turning his head away from her as he would stare out the kitchen window, though it was not visible to her, the half asleep or bored but piercing expression had formed back on his face, a stark contrast to the warm smile on her face.

"... I will promise you this though. I will come back to you and my daughter alive, no matter what. I will not die and leave either of you alone ever again."

[Eurydice Sudeki]

.::Little did either of them know how similar they were in that aspect of fearing failure. Eury always hated that feeling as much as she hated feeling weak. No one liked feeling weak and certainly disliked showing it more. The world they were living in was not a world where weakness was acceptable. It was forever present though because everyone had a weakness. A weak spot somewhere. Something that could be used against them. Eury had a few things that could be used against her and that was because she opened her world to that when she decided to open her heart. For a long time she had been working hard to protect that world she opened. Intentively she listened as she tilted her head up and to the side giving a bit of a not amused expression. Not that she didn't understand his words but it was more towards the seemingly sense of doom and gloom atmosphere he gave off from time to time about it all. That bit of a cynical nature. The shrugging it off. She gave a little shove to his chest as she pushed herself off the edge of the counter she was leaning::.

"You're so cynical sometimes.. So doom and gloom geez."

.::She reached her arms over her head and stretched a bit widely a little cat like before bringing her arms back down yawning then returning the smirk to her face::.

"I only wake this early to cook and then workout not have these sorts of conversations."

~Even though ok I might've started it.~

"Yup a morning run and some training sound good about now. What about you?"

~Yes I heard every word he said and I take it with a heavy heart because I believe he would go the distance. That's what scares me. I wouldn't want his potential death on my conscious. His blood on my hands, not because I did it personally but just because it was something involving me. I've had enough of that. I know you will come back, Kazuya you don't have a choice or say in that matter.~

.::Eury would wait for his response no matter what it was. Though on a technical sense she was giving an open invitation for him to join her if he wanted. She wouldn't object to it. She'd actually welcome it with open arms. It had been some time after all::.

[Kazuya Hikari]

This time, Kazuya would barely react to the shove to his chest, his body jerking back very slightly, as he would easily maintain his balance and simply continue to look down at Eurydice as he saw her push off of the edge of the counter she had been leaning against. Ironically, when he was sixteen, he had not only been sarcastic and cynical, but brash and headstrong as well. He eventually grew out of his brash and headstrong nature over the years, but he always stayed sarcastic and cynical, the one thing about him that never changed.

"... I've always been sarcastic and cynical, ever since I was fourteen. My life didn't exactly give me a chance to act carefree and light-hearted."

His single eye visible focused completely on her, watching her raise her arms over her head and stretch cat-like before lowering them back down yawning, while she had a smirk on her face, his face still maintained the half-bored or asleep but piercing look, his face turned away from her.

"... And I only wake up this early for training before breakfast. I'm pretty sure no one wakes up expecting to have these kind of conversations. I was planning on grabbing my clothes and armor and head home, but if you don't mind, I might join you in your morning run before starting my own training."

Continuing to look away from her, without warning, he would suddenly turn, and unless he was stopped, would head out of the kitchen and back into the guest room, to grab his clothing. His armor he would continue to leave here for now, and would pick it up later. Heading into the bathroom, he would turn the faucet on, and letting the water flow, would splash some onto his face, his hands resting on top of the edges of the sink as he'd stare at the flowing water, beads of water running down his face and neck, his grip on the sink slowly tightening up.

"... Don't get sentimental... Only one thing matters... Victory..."

[Eurydice Sudeki]

.::Eury kind of felt like hitting her head against a wall at this point. Why? Because his responses sometimes drove her a bit crazy. The way he seemed to feel the need to explain the reasonings for how he was or why he did what he did wasn't necessary to her. It made it seem all to serious when in actuality it wasn't nearly close. She always had a difficult time with people like that when it came to conversations. Sometimes somethings were just better left unsaid. But despite it all it wasn't hard to quickly sense something was off with him. Just wrong and almost disheartening. He wasn't the same like before and she couldn't help but feel that somehow it was her fault. That this conversation she started sparked something in her. Sometimes she really needed to not say certain things. To leave some conversations alone even if he was right that eventually it might come up but that was only if she brought it up. There was an uncertainty if he would bring it up; any of it.

She had been trying to bring a smile back on his face but it wasn't happening. She hit a chord with him there was no denying it. She pushed when she should've remained still. Eury was trouble in different forms without nearly meaning to be. Her smile easily faded as he turned away from her. She didn't want him to see her sudden sadness and concern::.

~Why do I suddenly feel like my heart was just ripped out?~

.::It was a strange feeling she hadn't expected and didn't even begin to understand where it was coming from or why. All she knew was suddenly she was hurting a bit inside. As he walked off wordless the air suddenly changed as it began to feel so cold. Silently she turned her head only when he just was out of view from the kitchen leaving her to stare into nothingness. She inhaled and exhaled a few times to relax herself from the sudden feeling tugging in her. Turning to face the cabinet's she'd open it retrieving a glass and then pouring herself some water from the fridge. While still keeping control of her breathing, Eury quietly walked out the kitchen and up the stairs taking small sips from her glass. She couldn't fathom what was occurring with her but knew that the run and training would push it away for now. As usual it was time for Eury to run from it for awhile. She entered her room that was still a disaster from that dream she had. Dressers and walls a bit broken and sword markings everywhere. The bed was completely done. The mirror on the dresser was slashed in half at an angle. She walked up to the mirror with her glass in hand.

Standing before it she closed her eyes and sighed taking a sip of her water, reopening them an all too familiar face appeared in the mirror aside from her own. For a split second she didn't notice him having to do a double take. Her eyes immediately widened as the glass fell from her hand shattering against the wooden floor. Her breath left her as if were stolen, ripped completely out of her::.

~Ca-Caleb?!~

.::The image seemed to smile at her as she was frozen until she finally whipped around to see no one behind her. Her heart rate had spiked as her eyes rapidly looked around the room for any sign of him. Her lower back pressed against the broken yet still standing dresser that held the slashed, cracked mirror. She wasn't sure if her mind was starting to play tricks on her. Caleb would be a cruel joke for her mind to play yet she really hoped that it was all in her head. Though Caleb wasn't someone she wanted in her head but still she would rather he be there than tangible. Despite it all she her nerves were suddenly on high and if Kazuya rushed in after figuring out where she went since she was so silent going up the stairs he might think the worst considering the state of the room. With the heat of the sun's rays that entered the room it should've helped him see it's state. How was she going to explain all that? How was she going to get herself out of this situation? She already was feeling a certain way from him and now she was freaking out. Though had already gave a small relieved sigh closing her eyes and trying to focus on breathing control again::.

~He wasn't real. He wasn't here. He wouldn't be here. It's been so long he's probably dead by now. The bomb's probably got him. Why the hell did I see him then? No it's just me overthinking. Just me being nervous about things. Being worried. Fuck..get it together. It was nothing. It was...nothing~