A throbbing around Okuni's neck

[Blaze]

Okuni sniffles and wipes her eyes before nodding.

"I suppose you did save me... I'm just saying it was an unnecessary sacrifice!"

[Private Crudface]

Cataclysm tilts his head

Well, if you ever get a time machine, we can go warn me, Sound good dear?

The smoke moves, giving her an ashy kiss upon the cheek.

It's good to see you again.

[Blaze]

Okuni blushes and gives a small giggle, raising her hand to wipe the ash from her cheek.

"It's good to see you too." she says, her smile returning.

"So, why are you... like this? Have you not regained enough power to regain your body yet?"

[Private Crudface]

Ah..my body...

There is a slight pause, and a frown.

We-ell. Thing is, Kuni, my old body was...built. I didn't just grow it around my heart, see. I've never quite done this whole 'rebuilding my body from scratch while just a heart' thing before.

[Blaze]

"Oh... I see..."

Okuni frowns slightly.

"Perhaps we should take you to someone who can help you regain your body then?"

[Private Crudface]

Take me to someone...?

The smoke crackles.


I'm pretty sure the fellow that built my body--'dad' if you will, is dead by now. I set his lab on fire pretty good.

[Blaze]

"O-Oh..."

Okuni frowns and rubs her chin.

"What should we do then?"

[Private Crudface]

Well!

He puts a hand to his chin, the smoke seeming to fuse them oddly.

Unless you know any mad scientists, I suppose there's a couple options...Either you find some poor sap you wouldn't mind me looking like and jam the stone down their throat, we go grave robbing, and try and ignore the smell...or I try and summon a body from the warp. You'd have to concentrate real hard while we do that though, on what you wanted it to look like..and even then that kind of thing's pretty unstable. I could probably manage something a more long term like that, but only if it looked almost exactly...like you.

He crosses his arms.

I daresay I think you've been imprinting on my heart.

[Blaze]

Okuni listens carefully, also rubbing her chin. She frowns a bit and sighs.

"I don't feel right putting you inside some random person, not do I want you smelling like a corpse. I imagine it might be somewhat uncomfortable-for both you and me-if you looked like myself, but I feel that is our best option."

She gives a resolute nod.

"Tell me what I need to do."

[Private Crudface]

Hoo....

The smoke begins slowly to curl into the sky.

Alright Kuni. Close your eyes then. Concentrate on me.

[Blaze]

Okuni nods and closes her eyes, focussing on Cataclysm. The coat, the purple hair... she omits the cigarette though.

[Private Crudface]

As she does, the heat on her chest begins to build--slowly at first, then more intensely, like she;s wearing a coal.

Keep it up--just another minute...

[Blaze]

Okuni winces as the heat becomes unbearable, but she keeps her eyes closed and the image of Cataclysm firm in her mind!

[Private Crudface]

The heart crackles and smokes...and all of a sudden...standing next to Okuni...is Okuni! Or well, mostly. She doesn't seem to have come with any clothing, and her hair is still black--looks like it didn't copy the dye. She frowns.

"...Hm. This is gonna take some getting used to."

[Blaze]

Okuni opens her eyes and sees... herself in all her nudity! Her cheeks go red and she takes off her cape and tosses it at Cataclysm!

"Cover yourself for goodness sake!"