Crawl Out through the Fallout

Ch 2 Trial Start

The team was at the police station gathering everything they could while another team secured the area better. Haylen and Kimikyo were placed together to gather documents when Haylen caught Kimikyo. She was reading through a document, focused deeply as she read it. It was as if she were in another world. "Is everything alright?" Haylen asked carefully. It took a moment for Kimikyo to respond. "Yes." She spoke softly as she closed it, handing it to Haylen. She moved to another file cabinet while Haylen looked to see what it was that caught her attention. It was a simple case file about a murder-suicide of a wife and husband. She looked at the file before looking at Kimikyo. "Can...I ask why you were so...interested in this?" She asked carefully once more. Kimikyo stopped what she was doing before walking away quietly. Haylen became uneasy after a moment, bringing this behavior up to Paladin Danse. "Leave her be for now. There is no way she's related to this specific file. It's over a hundred years old after all." "I know that but I'm worried about her mental state. She disassociated just now. Maybe we should ask Yuriko about it? It could be an issue down the line if she keeps focusing on stuff like this." Danse looked at Haylen, seeing the determined look in her eyes before he gave in. "Very well. I will bring this up to her sister but for now we leave it alone. Let's just finish our mission here so we can get back." Haylen nodded to him.

The team had finished their mission only hours before nightfall. Danse gave the report to Elder Maxson before seeking out Yuriko. "Oh Paladin Danse, to what do I owe the unwanted pleasure?" "Knight Yuriko." He watched as the knight fixed her power armor from a previous battle. "I didn't want to bring this up seeing as she's just on trial but Scribe Haylen had a growing concern about your sister." Yuriko stopped for a moment. "Alright?" He handed her the file only for her to see the tag. "Oh." She put her tools down. "I see." Her mood became saddened. "Is it something we should worry about?" Danse watched as Yuriko reached for a rag to clean her hands off. "No. Not at all. You see, our father and mother were in a similar circumstance. Mom caught dad cheating so she killed him. She sent us away to stay with family before she killed herself. Kimi was pretty young at the time so I think it messed with her the most. That or she doesn't remember and seeing this brought back that memory. She, unfortunatly, walked in on the murder that day and we were only informed she killed herself a week after the fact. She wrote our aunt a letter about why she did it all." "I'm sorry to hear that." He patted her shoulder, doing his best to console the knight. "Think nothing of it. The cheating bastard had it coming. I just wish mom wouldn't have died but that's what happens when you catch the love of your life cheating I suppose." She shrugged. "You're not at all disturbed are you?" "Look, I've grieved and shed my tears about it all. I've been angry about it too. I've come to terms with it. Yes, I miss them but stuff happens." "And you're sure it won't effect Kimikyo later on?" Yuriko looked at him before shrugging. "I mean it might but it won't effect her on missions. She knows to stay focused and on top of her game. She was trained by one of the best fighters we know." "I thought she wasn't a fighter? That's what she said." Yuriko went to speak but could only laugh at his question. "That's- You're a real hoot, Dense. Not a fighter." She looked at him, her expression serious now. "Kimikyo is very much a fighter. She may act like she's not but just you wait to see her in a real fight. She's the perfect mix of each of brains and brawns. She has been trained in combat and strategy from a very young age." "I see. Then I will have to test these supposed skills." "Might I suggest running her through a solo mission?" Yuriko began working on her armor once more. "That would be up to the Elder but I'm sure everyone is long over due for an exam as is. It's coming up anyways." "That's right the yearly course run." Yuriko groaned as Danse nodded to her.

Yuriko found Kimikyo in the mess hall happily eating her dinner with Haylen when she walked over. She wrapped her arms around Kimikyo's neck loosely, nuzzling her sister as she was being glared at by her. "You really love your sister, don't you?" Haylen looked uneasy at the affection coming from the normally strict and stoic knight. "Of course I do. She's just so cute! I mean look at this hair and her eyes." "Are you sure you're not in love with her?" Rhys had looked at Yuriko with disgust. "Why would I be in love with my sister. That's sick. You're a sick man." Yuriko returned the disgusted look. "I mean ask anyone here I bet they'd agree how cute she is!" Kimikyo silently ate, trying to ignore her sister's words. "Oh, that reminds me. Kimi, since you're on the trial period you'll have to partake in the yearly exam." "Exam?" "It's a physical. You'll be given a standard physical but then we also run an obstacle course to ensure we are still in fighting shape. You'll never know when you'll be with out a weapon, need to run a long distance, or climb to higher platforms. Think you can handle it?" Kimikyo thought for a moment. "Does Cade give everyone an exam?" "No, the girls are taken care of by Ingram." "Is that a woman?" "It is." "Then yes, I can handle this test." Yuriko had joined the three in there meal with Kimikyo ignoring most of what her sister would say from that point on.