I barely knew the girl...

(Chris is sulking in the woods around Yamaku.) {Hitomi is dead... And people might suspect that I played a role in her death...} (Christ sits on a familiar tree stump. Then, he looks out at the row of trees that he destroyed whilst fighting Shinto Sequence. I don't want to hurt Sumiko...}

*Whistle! Thup!*

The sound of separating air and the penetration of metal into wood emanates from the remaining half of a trunk of a broken tree a few meters from Cook's position.

It's a bit far but what would be more sensible, dramatic effect with the possibility of a one way trip to the hospital or a reasonably interesting entrance?

I appear from around the worry tree (because who else would come this far into the woods).

"Salve, Cook."

"Cava?"

Y'know-I wonder how annoying my frequent changing of languages is to people. I mean, I just spoke Italian and the French back-to-back for God's sake.

(Chris doesn't look at Satoshi to fully acknowledge him) Hey, man. What brings you out here?

"A place to clear my mind. Practice grounds."

Upon hearing Cook's vocal signature I notice it is definitely off and put the knife I was about to throw back into it's respective sheath.

Something's off...

"What about you, Cook, what brings you out here?"

If he has his lance I cannot see it from this angle and if he's come to a place like this without his weapon, I'm certain there is something wrong...

I came out here to clear my thoughts a little... You can go ahead & train if you want. I won't stop you.

I care about the boy but I've never been the type to ever want help unless I am asked and I open up.

If he doesn't want to open up with something like that, there is no way in Hell I would try prying it from him.

Though, I simply cannot sit back and not at least offer a hand up.

"Well, bro,-"

*snap*

The fascine on one of the blades' holsters is unsnapped when I pull on the handle of a kunai.

"I'm here if you need anything."

*Whistle! Thup!*

*E* "My family ain't call me 'Doc' for nothin'."

I have a grin on my face as I reach into my hoodie for another like a cowboy ordering another shot of whiskey.

Train to your heart's content. (Chris turns one of his hands into a paw, and proceeds to start etching cryptic messages into various trees.)

"Hm."

I let the matter be and continue.

By the time I first spotted Chris, I had thrown 10 of my 15 kunai so it doesn't take long for me to get down to one.

It is at this point I rush up to the trunk, take my last one out,(instead of keeping it in it's sheath I keep it in my back pocket) and hold it facing down before plunging it in with a quick exhale.

"sseh!"

At this time I begin to rearm myself with the knives, get the ones in the Worry Tree, and then reappear.

Cook is still sitting there moping around.

"Care if I sit?"

I may not know what's wrong but y'damn well bet I'm smart enough to not let that hinder my ability to help a friend in need.

You know that Hitomi Hikari died earlier this week, right?

Well, there goes the challenge.

"I've not met her, but I had heard of there being tragedy."

I sit down anyway.

"The look of discontent was plastered all over. So that's the cause?"

The death of a student at a school can easily put grief into the hearts and minds of other pupils so it would make sense.

And then a posibility of why Cook is this sad hits me.

"Chris...was she...aqcuainted with you?.."

For all the wrong reasons; she accused me of being a rapist shortly before she was pronounced dead. I figured that I might become a suspect in her death.

Aaah, it's all clear to me now. He is sad out of fear of the future and not for any type of relationship.

"Being accused of rape from someone doesn't have to mean they told anyone in particular."

"You said it was shortly after, correct?"

"Chances are you're clear if that's the case."

(Chris sighs.) That's a relief. Pity what happened to hitomi.

"Of course."

Hmm...

"I-...if I may...what happened to her?"

I don't know the specifics, but I heard she was burnt badly. Her burns led to her demise...

My voice becomes bleak and quiet.

"Hmm...Likely knocked out by smoke inhilation and then consumed."

"...What a way to go, man-I tell ya. Poor thing..."

I might have gone to visit her in the hospital if I knew about her fate a little earlier.

I put my hand on Christopher's shoulder before speaking in the same voice as before.

*E* "It ain't nothing' worth worrying too much about. Best to just have no regrets and honor the memory of the dead simply by remembering them."

"It ain't the way t'live, man."

"Always remember this: It isn't all cool if you ain't all cool."

"Keep no worries, ma'e."

I stand and stretch.

Thanks, Satoshi. (Chris looks at Satoshi with an honest attempt at a slasher smile.)

I take out a kunai as I'm walking and whip it into a tree I'm toward the general direction of.

*Snap. Whisle-thup!*

While walking past it I grab the projectile and continue on my way.

"Later, bredduh. Hope I helped!"