[Zipper]

Kioko was a complicated subject.

Anyone who took a few days out of there week to meticulously stalk her would know that. Cue Zipper, an ordinary girl with an obsessive desire to do what’s right in the world. She’s no hero, but she can help heroes reach great heights… eventually. She’s got a way to go herself but she knows what she’s here to do and nothing will stop her.

Zipper caught wind of the story when it first happened a few years ago. There was a quality to her that she couldn’t quite grasp. And now that she was in a position to leverage her insight, even as a first year, she wanted a look for herself to what happened.

Was Kioko redeemable? Did she deserve what happened? Does anyone deserve to be disowned by their family?

The Ghost Festival was a time when people mourned. It was only by coincidence that she stumbled onto Kioko in the wilds — likely to visit her mother’s memorial judging by the location. Opportunity presented itself to those who were ready. And Zipper was prepared. But it wasn’t until she saw the woman with her own eyes that she realized what the mysterious, unique quality about her was…

“Wait,” Zipper said. “I’m gay.”

---

Kushiki Kioko

[Kushiki Kioko]

I HAVE PROMISES TO KEEP

AND MILES TO GO BEFORE I SLEEP

Notoriety had its benefits. Each step Kioko took further rending the sea of pedestrians in her path was on the list. Her trail carved its way through the daytime crowd from where she disembarked the disdainful chariot of public transport to farther down the road where wrought-iron gates framed the entrance of a cemetery at the base of one of Tokyo’s more prominent temples. After all, only the best for those of the Kushiki lineage—except for Kioko.

She entered the hallowed grounds, seemingly unaware of eyes upon her. Or rather, of a specific set of eyes. She was possessed of both looks and the demeanor to draw attention even without her infamy. An enigmatic monolith among mortals. The embodiment of intrigue and mystique within arm’s reach among the masses. Not that any were bold or suicidal enough to attempt it with her reputation and the icy expression adorning her features that rivaled any winter storm.

None so far, that was.

Silence followed Kioko up the twisting path. Ambient crowd chatter composed of whispers about her presence left in favor of the cemetery’s silent residents. Her eyes were drawn by habit to a few of the names. Her mother was not the first Kushiki to have their ashes memorialized here. Nor the last, but Kioko wasn’t quite ready to face the reality of her younger brother's inclusion yet. Even if two and a half years had passed. Hence while there was only one long box clutched within her hands.

Notes & Tags: Zipper | Outfit

[Zipper]

Zipper followed.

It’s difficult to determine whether or not she was actually hidden — the sound of her heart beating deafened the world around her. Her thoughts were riddled with the potential futures these two would share with one another. All of which impossible, which made it all the more difficult to push them out of her mind. Zipper had never wanted anything more.

Pull yourself together. She grounded herself. You’re here for a reason. Don’t fuck this up by being cringe.

How the hell do you introduce yourself at a time like this? Zipper realized the gravitas of the situation. The smart thing to do was to back away and find her another day. It was inappropriate to bring up business while someone mourned the dead. Even more unprofessional to stalk them to the memorial site.

“Kioko Kushiki.” Zipper’s body spoke in defiance. It cared not for her qualms — appropriate, inappropriate, none of that mattered! Zipper came here for a reason. And goddammit nothing was going to stop her. “I love you.”

Zipper stopped in her tracks.

Face red as sin.

Fuck.

---

Kushiki Kioko

[Kushiki Kioko]

I HAVE PROMISES TO KEEP

AND MILES TO GO BEFORE I SLEEP

Quietude was dismantled by a foreign voice giving life to a familiar name—Kioko’s own, in fact. Paranoia beget panic in a surge of electrical sensation and adrenaline throughout her frame. Such was her life that any encounter might be her last. Future heartbeats stolen by a blade plunged through her chest courtesy of one of her uncle’s many assassins. Granted, the possibility of a reporter was nearly as bad. Hounds sent to shred what was left of her reputation.

A pivot brought her face-to-face with the assailant. Whatever harm they intended, she would deal with it directly and with an aura of unrivaled haughty superiority. Sharp serpentine eyes undressed the woman before her with the sole intent of gauging the likelihood of weapons or surveillance tools hidden on her person. A second pass was made just as quickly. This particular scan was meant to pick up on any indicators of intoxication, for were she not a hit-woman or journalist, surely her mental faculties had been altered by some substance to give her the temporary courage to approach Kioko. Especially considering the circumstances.

Yet Kioko found no such indicators of her suspicions. Nor did she recognize the person at all. A face yet unseen by her. Then the woman opened her mouth. All became instantly clear. She was after Kioko’s heart as feared. Not to wound it, but to claim it as her own. Somehow, this was worse. The woman couldn’t possibly know her. Only of her. Which meant she had questionable taste at best. Even if whatever emotion she felt was pure and true, the people that loved Kioko suffered or died. Or suffered then died. Kioko had no need of a simping fangirl, stalker, or another eventual corpse on her conscience to visit during days meant to honor and remember the other ghosts that haunted her. So with all the ice in her heart and venom in her blood brought to bear on her tongue to coat her tone, she replied.

“No you don’t, you simple minded fool.”

Notes & Tags: Zipper

[Zipper]

“You’re right.” Zipper saw the opportunity and seized it. Kioko was offering her a chance at redemption, a chance to get back to the heart of the matter. All Zipper had to do was focus on why she followed Kioko as she mourned her family and then pry about what really happened in the incident — and whether or not she deserved a sentence.

As the thoughts settled, she realized how awful the situation was. No matter how she framed it, she was trapped. And before she could think of a way out, her mouth started speaking on her mind’s behalf. Unfortunately for the mind, neither of which was polished nor graceful.

“I saw you on the news years ago and I didn’t realize it at the time, but I thought you were really pretty, but never gave it much and then I end up seeing you all these years later and I’m like ‘oh, that’s Kioko! I want to talk to her.’ for reasons that probably aren’t great and by the time I realized it I was already following you because I think you’re the most attractive person I’ve ever seen and up to this point I thought I wasn’t into love or romance and no I don’t love you you’re right but I think I could and I never felt that way about someone before so it’s really hitting me all at once and I didn’t mean to bring this up while you were grieving your dead famil—”

Well, now she understood how heroes felt normally. To think, a tiny little crush and she folded like a beach chair.

“I think I should go.”

---

Kushiki Kioko

[Kushiki Kioko]

I HAVE PROMISES TO KEEP

AND MILES TO GO BEFORE I SLEEP

With looks like hers, Kioko was hardly a stranger to being the origin of someone’s sexual awakening. Few rivaled the impact her appearance alone had on men, women, and any in between. Not that the siren’s call was intentional—in most cases. Certainly not here to be sure. Perhaps if Zipper’s dark features were traded for golden hair and eyes of a fairer green…

For a moment, it wasn’t Zipper babbling before Kioko, but another. A confession enacted by someone equally awkward. If not more so. That moment had years of shared memories, sneaking glances, and plenty of double entendres on Kioko’s part behind it. Everything that this encountered lacked. Still, it resonated with an ember kept burning in Kioko’s chest. One filled by old dreams and unspoken hope hidden far out of sight and mind. She understood the woes of unrequited feelings all too well these days. Surely she could summon up the empathy to maintain the boundary she had drawn in a more gentle manner. Just for today. She could do that, right?

“It’s almost impressive watching you tumble out of the closet in such a catastrophic manner.”

Apparently she could, in fact, not do that.

“You probably should go. Unfortunately, you decided to run your mouth in front of the wrong person. So now you have to stay and help to make up for this truly disastrous faux pas made at my expense. I'm devastated, you see.”

She didn't look devastated. Her stoic expression remained fully intact. She did look demanding though, especially as Kioko gestured toward the top of the hill, the base of which they currently stood. “Go on. Up there.” She may not have been an heiress any more, but manual labor was still something to which Kioko was unaccustomed. She planned on keeping it that way for as long as possible. Since love-struck fools and horny twenty-somethings were typically easy to bend to her will when she wanted something, it seemed like a good opportunity to outsource the work of cleaning her mother's gravestone.

Notes & Tags: Zipper

[Zipper]

“Okay, I’ll—” Zipper was too eager to leave. It was better than having to deal with the embarrassment that was coexisting with her newfound crush. Feelings weren’t reciprocated — and why would they be? But it didn’t stop her heart from dropping to the pit of her stomach. All she wanted were long walks on the beach, someone to cheer her on at her events, and the occasional six-inch heel pressed against her throat.

But life was cruel and unforgiving. Kioko ordered her to the grave and Zipper complied, unsure what she was supposed to do. Then, it hit her. This wasn’t rejection. Kioko couldn’t help but return her confession with ye ol’ classic tsundere tactics. Not interested? Then why send her to your mother’s grave? It dawned on her all at once…

“Hey,” Zipper kneeled down in front of it. “I’m gonna take real good care of your daughter.” Zipper gulped. “If you let me.”

Coincidentally to everyone but Zipper, there was a gust of wind. A light breeze, really. Most people wouldn’t have noticed.

With a soft smile, Zipper looks back at Kioko and gives her a thumbs up. Her mother approves. They can finally get married.

---

Kushiki Kioko

[Kushiki Kioko]

I HAVE PROMISES TO KEEP

AND MILES TO GO BEFORE I SLEEP

And so the bizarre two person faux-funeral march proceeded up the hill until they arrived in front of a monument that towered even over Kioko’s lofty stature. It was one of many and if Zipper had been paying more attention to their surroundings rather than her crush, she might have noticed that each one bore the surname of Kushiki. The entire hill had been claimed by their lineage and legacy. Suki, Kioko’s mother, had the largest by far. It was a testament to the impact she had on the world as not only the former CEO of Sovereign Technologies, but as one of Japan’s most beloved Heroes during her time as a Pro.

The closest marker bore the name of Kushiki Kenta. Kioko wholly ignored it in favor of the next closest. Kushiki Shunsuke. The eldest of her mother’s brothers, and one who passed even before Suki due to an illness. Or so they said. Kioko had her suspicions now, but they weren’t confirmed as of yet.

She set the box on her uncle’s tombstone and began to unpack it as Zipper had her moment with Kioko’s mother. It took every drop of Kioko’s willpower to not snort at the absurd comment. She needed no one to take care of her, much less a stranger who was at the mercy of their hormones.

Two separate flower vases filled with white chrysanthemums and lilies were pulled from the container. One larger than the other. Kioko set the smaller at the base of Shunsuke’s memorial, then turned her attention back to her mother’s in time to see Zipper giving her a thumbs up. If her eyes could have narrowed beyond their serpentine slits, they would have. Especially when she looked past Zipper and saw a flower arrangement already there. Large and ostentatious. Clearly her other uncle’s handiwork and to be expected since there had been a public remembrance for Suki earlier in the day.

Kioko audibly hissed, her forked tongue snaking out past dark painted lips in irritation. She stalked past Zipper, picked up the offensive display, and hurled it off the hill with every bit of force that she could muster. After she confirmed the sound of it crashing at the base, Kioko turned back to retrieve her flowers and placed them on her mother’s grave.

“Alright. There’s some cleaning stuff in the box. Your penance is cleaning up the site,” Kioko started before briefly pausing. “I suppose I should know the name of someone performing such an act in honor of my mother. Introduce yourself then get to work.” Granted, there was hardly that much work to be done. All of the monuments were well maintained and Suki’s in particular had already been cleaned in advance of the public gathering that morning. Still, it was the act that counted on a day such as this—even if Kioko was making someone else do it.

Notes & Tags: Zipper

[Zipper]

It was difficult to tell when Kioko was annoyed. A scowl found its home on her face years ago, and any deviation only seemed to amplify her displeasure. To Zipper's relief, it seemed the flowers were the source this time. A thud resonated through the air marking the beginning of her trial — cleaning a graveside that belonged not to her parents, but another’s. And though the dissonance made her want to resist, being told what to do by a pretty, authoritative girl was like balm to her frazzled soul.

“Zipper,” She didn’t hesitate to get started. Between running a convenience store and managing hero students, she quickly adopted a ‘get to work’ mindset. Even though there was little work to be done, Zipper was diligent in her task. The only thing that could distract her from the voluptuous figure behind her was the monotonous rhythm of labor.

Her intrusive thoughts concocted more than a few terrible angles to prompt conversation. Bringing up her own dead parents would be a faux pas. And despite Zipper’s delusions, she could take a hint — Kioko wasn’t interested. Penance. A small, granule of hope hid deep in her psyche, thinking this was some elaborate courtship before being whisked away to her manor. However, she abandoned those wanton fantasies with a soft, momentary smile.

“Sorry,” It’s all she could muster. And despite wanting to say more, the tone of her voice implying more to be said, she said nothing.

---

Kushiki Kioko

[Kushiki Kioko]

I HAVE PROMISES TO KEEP

AND MILES TO GO BEFORE I SLEEP

Zipper was a terrible name. Especially given the girl’s previous inability to zip it upon initially meeting Kioko. Her rambling had finally tapered off into silence though; silence with a dash of monotony from repetitive manual labor in the wake of an apology. For what, Kioko wondered. Her intrusion? Or was it sympathy. Either way, it was met only with a soft thrum of acknowledgement from the titan as she watched Zipper work with glassy eyes indicative of someone not fully present in the moment.

Her thoughts were elsewhere. Memories scrolling past the marquee of her mind. The last time she had come to the memorial had been with Kenta. She had missed the year after due to her incarcerated status and then the one after that from guilt. There was a chance she wouldn’t live to see the next day of remembrance—or even tomorrow if her uncle had his way. All Kioko had was this moment. She sank into it in spite of her lack of privacy. Deeper still until she had forgotten Zipper’s presence altogether.

Kioko was unaware of when the girl left. She didn’t particularly care as she shook herself free of reverie. When she turned to leave, she found that she still wasn’t alone. A tall broad-shouldered man dressed in a black suit blocked her path back down the hill. Kioko tensed and did not relax even after the familiarity of the figure hit her.

“What are you doing here?”

Notes & Tags: Zipper | Fin.

[Fanthes]

[nospaces]

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✨EVENT SUCCESS!✨

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✓ At least she did shoot her shot! EXP for Kioko and tokens for Zipper, meaning Zipper has now capped out on SE tokens!! [break][break]

+ 75 TOKENS!

[break]
Zipper - 225 // 300[break]
Kioko - 12.500 // 20.000

---

Tag: Kushiki Kioko, Zipper

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