Emma<br/><br/>Emma gives Yuna a solid nod and readjusts Erizen in her arms. Without the bear trap on her leg... she might just make it in time. With everyone already yards ahead of her, it was time to play catch up. With Yuna circling above, Emma tucks Erizen closer to her chest and begins to run at a fairly decent clip, clearing six or so feet at a time with each stride. The trees at either side seem to almost be alive with monsters... which when she thought about it, wasn't too far from how home was, except these monsters were really monsters, not people who weren't fortunate enough to die from a disease...<br/><br/>Erizen remained quite throughout most of the run, one arm wrapped around Emma's neck for support, while the other gripped her scythe tight to her chest. Taking a chance look down at Erizen, she notices the girl's face, her eyes adorned with tears.<br/><br/>"What's your problem?" Emma asks, her harsh voice breaking the silence.<br/><br/>Erizen<br/><br/>Emma's question interrupts her train of thought. Shaking her head she tries to dismiss it. "Nothing." She answers plainly, diverting her gaze.<br/><br/>"Don't give me that. What's your problem?"<br/><br/>"Well it's... you..."<br/><br/>"You have better think about your next words<em>very carefully</em>. I have absolutly no qualms with dropping you like a sack of potatoes." Erizen shakes her head fiercely.<br/><br/>"No, no no, nothing bad... quite the opposite. I don't understand you." She answers right away. "I heckle, chide, and jeer you the whole way here... and you help me..." She snuggles into Emma's chest more. "I don't know if it's because you like me, despite everything... or if it's something different." Her words force Emma to think as she winds through the path, a dark figure leaping over them to distract something large and angry. The figure says something, and Emma's legs begin moving a bit faster, but she can't really make anything out.<br/><br/>"You remind me of someone I know. A hard-as-nails kind of guy on the outside, but on the inside, he's a huge teddy bear." She gives a little smile which vanishes right away as she clears a small log. "He acts that way because no one understands him. He pushes people away, because he doesn't know how to pull them closer. I don't want you to become Francis. I don't want you to go through life hating everyone and everything. I don't want that for you." She inhales a little, ducking a fireball which sets a tree alight. "In my world, every day is a struggle for survival. You go through each minute, each hour of your life... thinking death could wait you on any corner. Kindness is it's own currency, Erizen, and even if you don't give a shit about me..." She leapt over an elemental, kicking it as she did so. "I'm still going to kill you with kindness."<br/><br/>"Emma... Thanks." She responded. "It feels wierd to thank someone... but thank you." For the first time, Emma showed Erizen a caring smile.<br/><br/>"You're welcome."