Home Is In Your Arms [Private: Ichijou/Arianda/Kokuto]

Demon world... Not quite as terrible most may wish to make it out to be. However, it certainly was unwise for those who were not demons, or were not in the company of a demon, to simply wander around here alone. A woman Ari once knew, Ceal, had encountered the kind of predatorial behavior demons could exhibit; of course, she had experienced at Ari's own two hands. However, that was the past. Arianda let out a small hum as she watched Ichijou take more than a few selfies, Ari likely being dragged into the pictures some. She didn't mind. Ichijou had taken other pictures of them before; but Arianda had asked Ichijou not to take any pictures of her face. They were, after all, some rather... interesting pictures. However, Arianda simply let that thought skip through her mind as she watched Ichijou speed off in the direction of Kokuto.

Arianda couldn't help but grin some as she watched Ichijou disappear up the mountain, towards her boyfriend; her man. It was quite amusing to see how Ichijou dashed off quite enthusiastically. Arianda followed behind, flying and jumping through the air; taking more time so she could let Ichijou arrive there first. She would be safe, after all.

Eventually, Arianda landed a few feet to Ichijou's left quite silently; humming a quiet tune as she let Ichijou approach and poke Kokuto's back. Afterwards, the demon moved to the side where Kokuto kept his giant sword, and she leaned against it; playfully sticking her tongue out at him. This was a good spot. However, not exactly the best place to hide from your vampire girlfriend and her demonic friend. Besides, Arianda did promise Ichijou she would drag Kokuto back; and she planned to drag him back by his ear if he refused too profusely. After all, in his attempt to protect Ichijou, he had harmed and worried her more than anything else could.

"Fancy seeing you here, Kokutooo~"

Arianda hadn't exactly expected such a reaction from Kokuto, to outright move to punch Ari. However, some part of her did believe it was quite possible. If he was trying to martyr himself for the sake of Ichijou, it made perfect sense he would be pissed. Arianda's eyebrows rose as Kokuto stood up, fists clenched, and aimed a relatively hard right hook for her. However, the demon's gaze simply remained fixed upon him. She raised her left hand and caught his blow; her silver eyes gaining a different gleam. She was tempted to return the blow, to slug him twice as hard for being dumb enough to think he could keep Ichijou from harm by being apart from her; foolish. Instead, as the skin on her hand tore from the force, bleeding briefly as it quickly regenerated, Arianda's grip on his hand increased until it would be quite difficult for Kokuto to extricate his fist from Arianda's grip.

Then, came yelling that did not faze Arianda as she remained leaning against his sword. There was nothing lazy in her gaze as she listened to him; letting Kokuto yell himself hoarse. Really though, it was foolish to think that staying away from Ichijou would help. She'd want to be with him, be in his arms; and that distance harmed her more than anything the world could do to either of them. His attempt was valiant, but cowardly in essence. He ran away from Earth in order to save the woman he loved from ridicule; when he should have stayed and fought said ridicule while keeping Ichijou safe in his arms. However, she didn't utter a single word as her grip increased on his fist. She would not crush his hand, nor harm him. Ichijou was right there; and Ari had no wish to beat the shit out of Kokuto right in front of Ichijou.

"Protect her? So you thought you would protect her by leaving her alone, hm~? No. That's not protection, Kokuto; that's running away. If you mean to protect Ichijou."

Arianda took a step forwards, a shine of the woman she had partially become since Algos invaded Minatumi broke through; an Arianda Vael who was harsh, calculating... Ruthless. Ready to protect what she loved with relentless zeal.

"Then you stay by her side, and be her shield; keep her in your arms!"

Arianda's right hand grabbed the collar of the man's shirt and brought him closer by force; her left hand still holding his fist in a vice grip. His reasons for wanting her safety was understandable; it was sound. He was a demon, and his presence could cause general ridicule. However, his method was still, to Ari, a coward's way out.

"If you wish to protect her, Kokuto; You. Do. Not. LEAVE. HER. SIDE!!!"

Arianda's last words were a yell that echoed across the empty sky. It pissed her off, for him to think that leaving Ichijou would save her. For all he knew, a certain fox could've run around and taken her just because Kokuto had been gone for so long; and he wanted to call that protecting? Rubbish. And Arianda planned to make sure Kokuto understood that as her silver eyes burned holes in Kokuto's own eyes.

"I took her here, Kokuto, because she asked me to; she wanted to find you because she was worried sick. For fuck's sake, any longer and I'm sure Ichi here was going to think you were dead; and perhaps the thought was already crossing her mind. But, no, you hurt her more than anyone ever could have by leaving Ichi for her "protection". That's not protection Kokuto; and you know it."

Arianda let go of Kokuto and pushed him backwards gently. She was not going to strike him like he attempted to strike her; there was no sense unless he needed the message beat into his skull. If that came to pass, she would gladly beat him up and drag him back by his ear like she had promised. If Kokuto continued to think that his absence would be the best thing for Ichijou; then he was the silliest man in the world. After a few moments, Arianda looked towards Ichijou; the steely gaze softening upon looking upon the adorable, and likely worried, woman.

"He'll probably listen to you better than he'll listen to me. Even when he got his Eris Seal, I had to beat him up a bit to listen~"