...We Could...

Fumi Thirty-Two!

Preuss dashed down to the cliff, not caring if he got hurt. His other half was down below, and he'll torch it all to hell it she hurt herself trying to climb up.

"Perisa!" he called, leaping off the ledge and flying through the air until his feet hit the rock. He slid down, his bright red gaze glued to his twin. But he didn't forget that there was ground; when his eyes were almost down to Perisa's height he pushed off the cliff, flipped over, landed in a crouch, and propelled himself forward to embrace her into a hug, tackling her to the ground.

"Perisa," he choked out, refusing to let tears fall.

His twin returned the hug, almost squeezing him to death. "I'm sorry, Pre-chan," she managed in between hushed sobs. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she said over and over. "Pre-chan, I'm sorry!"

"It's okay, I'm not mad," he reassured. "I'm not mad."

They stayed like that for a while, until finally Preuss sat up and helped his sister into the upright position, wiping away his stray tears before she could see him crying. He couldn't let her see him cry. He wouldn't let her. He was her strong big brother... She'd never before see him cry. He wouldn't let her, now.

"Where's Junpei?" he asked. Now that he knew that he was a mutant, he wanted to keep tabs on him at all times.

She shrugged. "I dunno. Who cares? I'm with my brother, now."

He looked at her with a mixture of confusion an awe.

"What?" she asked.

"You're not talking like a little kid anymore..." he answered, hushed as his face slowly broke into a grin.

Perisa sat up a bit straighter, trying to look regal, and failing miserably at it. The sleeve of her dress was falling over her shoulder, exposing bare skin; the skirt of her dress was a bit rumpled and showing a bit much of her thighs; all of her dress was ripped from the brush she ran through; the pigtails were off symmetry (one was a bit high and the other was sagging way low); and one of her ribbons was untied while the other was missing completely.

"Of course I'm not talking like a little kid," she stated, indigent. "I'm ten years old!"

Preuss smiled, ruffling her head. "You're finally growing up," he chuckled.

"And you're acting like an old man!" she jibbed playfully as he batted his hand away with a giggle.

They fell into a bout of silence, just enjoying the other's company.

Chloe smiled as she watched them from the cliffed edge. She swung her legs gently as her hands held the ragged edge. The gentle breeze ruffled her long, wavy locks, partially covering her face since she didn't bother with tucking away the stray hairs. Tap, tap; Tap, tap went her hard-souled moccasins against the side of the cliff.

"And Junpei is foiled once again," she murmured to herself. She was happy--her worst enemy had been set back in his plans. Not only that, but a pair of twins were reunited.

She shivered, halting her legs so she could snuggle deeper into her cloak and tuck her white skirt under her legs to keep the wind from sneaking up the hem. Up went her hood so she could retain head warmth.

"Are you cold?" Preuss' voice drifted up to her.

"A little," came the girl's reply.

"Fuego," Chloe murmured. On her command a fire appeared next to the twins, stones and all to prevent a wildfire. (A/n: If you get that reference, you are awesome!)

Preuss' head looked up to see the hooded figure faintly above them. He caught himself smiling at her, but quickly changed his smile to a regular face, turning back to the fire where his sister was warming up as she fixed her hair.