Late at night at the rooftop of an office building.
"Here." Judai offered Mukarramma a can of his favorite and only bran of iced tea he had ever drank, IcedTeaOrange. Infused with the bug darkspawn's dark magic, the beverage was taken from a convenience store nearby, mostly empty of people, using his insects to distract the cashier and obfuscate the cameras before stepping inside the place.
Mukarramma, from where she lay exhausted against the locked door that led to the rooftop, exchanged cautious looks between Judai and the iced tea offered."I...don't need to drink." the doll darkspawn mumbled weakly.
"It's not for thirst." Judai deadpanned. "I infused some dark magic in it to help your recovery." He explained matter-of-factly.
Mukarramma frowned in suspicion."Why are you going so far for me?"
That made Judai pause. Why AM I going to such lengths for her? She hasn't made a contract with me and yet I saved her when I did without thinking of forcing her to accept to help me unconditionally for survival. Why? He questioned himself. The first answer that came to mind was that he needed her help to kill Yoshino. But was there something more? Was it because she helped him in the past and he was now repaying the favor? Maybe a newfound sense of empathy due to her suffering a similar, although not as extreme, pain to his? Could it be because it reminded Judai too much of when he was forced into a contract with Life and didn't want to do the same to anyone else?
Or perhaps...a strange combination of all of them. They aren't mutually exclusive... Judai mulled over.
"Uhhh...hello? You still there?" The doll duelist called for the bug-man in human disguise's attention with caution and concern for the latter's sudden zoning out.
Judai turned back his attention to Mukarramma."Because I need you." He suddenly said, truthfully and to the point. Or at least, that was what the cursed doll assumed since they didn't look like they were lying.
Mukarramma stared at Judai, nodding a few times before trying to process what was going on."I see...sorry. I'm flattered, but I don't think you're my type." Mukarramma politely rejected Judai.
Judai tilted his head confused."Excuse me?"
In turn, Mukarramma also turned her head confused at Judai."Hmm? Did I understand something wrong?"
Judai blinked a few times at Mukarramma. Did she? Judai genuinely pondered before deciding to ask. "I don't know...does your understanding end with you helping me to kill someone?" Judai asked blissfully unaware of the conversation he had found himself in.
"Oh. I mean...I'll need some context about who you want dead, but I suppose we could do it as friends?" Mukarramma answered unsure where this was going.
The insectoid darkspawn pondered the wooden doll's words."Friends...I suppose that's one way to call this arrangement...I think. I've never been friends with anyone so I can't be sure." Unintentionally, Judai's stoic expression as he said that made Mukarramma both more baffled and strangely assured that Judai was someone she could trust.
"Anyway, are you going to drink it or not?" Judai asked, getting slightly impatient over Mukarramma not taking the iced tea yet.
"O-oh, yes, thank you." Mukarramma thanked Judai as she finally accepted the drink.
Judai watched Mukarramma take cautious sips of the iced tea, before gulping it down once assured there wouldn't be anything weird mixed in. Soon, a question he had while watching Mukarramma's battle resurfaced.
Judai lowered his head closer to Mukarramma and sniffed, seeing no harm in such action.
It seemed enough to bother Mukarramma though, as she stopped drinking to stare at Judai."What...are you doing?" She asked with genuine concern.
"Just wanted to confirm something, and yeah, you don't smell like bleach...more like burned wood." The bug darkspawn answered bluntly.
Mukarramma gave Judai a baffled look, before scowling at him. "Do you wanna fight!?" The duelist doll threatened.
Judai tilted his head at Mukarramma. Why is she so mad? Was it because mentioning the smell of burned wood reminded her of how she ended up in such a weakened state? Judai returned his attention to the agitated cursed doll. "I mean, yes, but not against you. Please forgive me for saying you smell like burned wood, I didn't realize it would remind you of your recent defeat, which was uncalled for." He gave her an apologetic bow.
"...Are you really that clueless or are you just fucking with me?"Mukarramma asked as she stared in disbelief at Judai.
"I assure you, I have no need or desire for sexual intercourse," After a moment, Judai frowned at Mukarramma."Did anything I said come off as such?"
Mukarramma opened her mouth to answer...before reconsidering, deciding to just get out of this tiring conversation."Nevermind..." She rolled her eyes, deciding to finish the rest of her iced tea.
Judai nodded."If you say so. Now, I'll be gone for a while, but I'll still return before the night ends. Don't move from here." He ordered.
"As if I could in this condition..." Judai heard Mukarramma's grumble from behind him before leaving.
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"Sooo...mind giving me your first impressions Mukarramma?" Life asked Judai as the former blocked a series of punches from the latter. Life figured it was about time he trained Judai, and while Life was at it ask him what were his first impressions of Mukarramma after watching her fight against Nozomi and friends from afar.
The place Life decided to do all that a safari in Africa Life had picked for not sensing any human and much animal life nearby to interrupt them.
"Can I be honest? And I mean, REALLY honest?" Judai asked as he threw a left hook on Life.
Life deflected Judai's attack with ease. "...You may." Life allowed with some hesitance.
"Hmm...I suppose If I were to be fair," Judai throws three quick jabs that are blocked with easy by Life. "If I were to judge from what I've seen, Mukarramma's magic cards seem to give her enough versatility to handle pretty much any situation while not lacking in power if her summoning that sun is anything to go by...that was an actual sun, right?" Judai asked as he attempted a leg sweep on Life, but the latter backed away in time."I couldn't fully sense its magic from where I was so I'd like to know." Judai added.
Life stayed put, waiting for Judai's next move to counterattack."Yes...as much as I'd wish I could call bullshit on that. From what I can gather from its, surprisingly brief, appearance...that was the real deal...or at least as much as it could be while being made out of dark magic."
"And Nozomi blow it up in one shot."Judai threw a kick aimed to the left of Life's torso.
Life backed away from the attack with ease."I'd like to believe that the magical replica WASN'T actually as durable as the actual sun, but as it stands? Yeah, pretty much."
Judai gave Life an unreadable look."I see...I guess I'll just need to train harder then. Anyway, I've yet to confirm if the cards she draws are random or not, but for the sake of argument," Failing to land the kick, Judai tried to hold Life unto a grapple...which failed, the latter sidestepping out of the way and tripping Judai in response. Judai immediately got up, unbothered by the failed attempt. "I'm willing to give her the benefit of the doubt and say she knows what she's doing in either case."
Judai tried to take advantage of his speed by throwing a feint at Life before going around him and grabbing him in a chokehold from behind. Life ended up seeing through the feint before countering Judai by running around him and successfully doing what Judai had failed to do."Speaking of which, I suppose I could learn a thing or two from the kind of barrier she uses."
Life nodded."Noted, anything else?" Life asked as he waited for Judai to give up so the former would let go of the latter.
"Hmm..." The insect darkspawn thought about it as he proceeded to cut off his head in one swift hand chop to free himself from the chokehold Life had on him.
After Judai's headless body regenerated his head he continued."I suppose she hasn't been too troublesome to work with," Judai threw a kick that clashed with Life's kick. The impact immediately broke and twisted the former's leg without much resistance...before putting itself back in place almost instantly, avoiding risking losing his balance and falling on the ground."Although she could be clearer and control her temper a little better, though I suppose that last one is on me." Judai admitted before grabbing some dirt from the ground and throwing it at Outsider.
Life seemingly dodged the distraction and kicked Judai light in the stomach with just enough force that only all of his ribs would be broken and send him only a couple of dozen meters away."What did you do?"Life asked as he raised an eyebrow.
Judai shrugged off whatever damage he was dealt as he got up from the ground."I just said that she didn't smell like bleach but instead burned wood after sniffing a little. In retrospect, I should've seen it coming that she would be upset over being reminded of her recent loss."
Life didn't bother to hide how he rolled his eyes at Judai. At times like this, Life was reminded that Judai's social skills and awareness were in the negatives. Life raised his hand to make a small pause in their training. Not like it was warranted from either side. "I see...What about the cons?" Life asked both to see if he could take advantage of that and to be aware of any potential problems he might need to interfere in the future. Besides Judai's social ineptitude that I've yet to figure out a solution to, of course.
Judai frowned."There's technically a couple, but they all revolve into a single one...I don't know if a partnership with her can work."
"Mind elaborating?" Life asked.
Judai gladly obliged."Besides the obvious that I have zero experience fighting with someone, as it stands, our combat styles don't seem compatible. I thrive on speed, ending things as quickly as I can, while she prefers slow, methodical planning. You showing up and interrupting her just once being enough to force her to end things short before running away only reinforces my judgment."
"Yeah, in retrospect I should've considered she might've run away when outnumbered and outplayed. Usually, the enemies I meet fight until the end...it can't be helped now."Life shrugged. "As for what you could do...How about you bring this up with her? I know it sounds obvious, but have you considered this could serve as a way for you guys to patch out any flaws in your respective styles? Y'know, you can cover for her by being the more active threat while she makes the preparations she needs while she covers your lack of sufficient power with her powerful magic."
Judai pondered for a moment."Hmm...I suppose It wouldn't hurt to at least try this approach."
"Where did you leave her by the way?"Life asked as he realized he hadn't asked that yet.
"I left her at the top of a rooftop and told her to wait until I returned." Judai answered matter-of-factly.
"Wait, what?!" Life asked in genuine surprise at Judai's answer.
"Yeah, I thought in the condition she was in, she wouldn't go anywhere, is there perhaps something that I overlooked?" Judai asked genuinely as he tilted his head at Life.
Life stared at Judai in sheer bafflement before facepalming."Seriously..." The blond man sighed."Okay, no, go back, and take her somewhere there's a roof above her head." The dimensional traveler perfectly copied what he thought would be enough money."Here, 100.000 yen in ten 10.000 yen bills. It should be enough to afford a few days in a hotel until she recovers." He offered the money to the bug darkspawn.
Judai simply nodded before accepting the money. With everything settled, Life teleported the bug darkspawn back to Japan with a spell. The embodiment of living was tempted to forgo the spell and toss his begrudging partner in crime to his destination, but he dropped that idea once he realized the money could end up damaged on the landing.
As he was left alone in the safari, Life decided it was about time he left, with one big leap back to Japan. The ground beneath him did not break thanks to his overmetal-made shoes softening the pressure he exerted.
Life felt his phone vibrating in his pocket in the middle of his leap through the air. Pulling it out, his eyes widened slightly when he saw Science's profile picture. Oh~, is he done already?