~ Z ~
Black Jacket
"I, uhh... Like I said. I don't have much to say." Cuki felt all eyes on her and lowered herself slightly on the sofa in a desperate mean to hide. "Just don't worry about it."
Zenta let out a sigh before turning to see how the others reacted to Cuki. He noticed no indication of confusion from the others, no slight concern, not even suspicion. To everyone, Cuki seemed like Cuki, albeit grumpy and out of her usual cheerful persona. He also noticed that Cuki would not budge when pressed and her way of addressing things was entirely out of character for her, even in her current state. To everyone else, the girl would most likely be upset at the things that happened and she was probably holding them all in, but Zenta saw something else. He knew his student, both inside and out.
"Very well, I suppose there is no point to play this game of yours any longer," Zenta said sternly while leering down at Cuki. "You are not Cuki..."
Cuki's eyes widen in both shock and confusion at what her Master was saying. The impact of his words startled her enough where she sat up straight and turned to face him. Her reaction was genuine and pure as she remained shaken.
"What are you talking about? Of course, it's me!" Cuki said with a slight giggle. "I think you bonk your head a little when you came back from a Coin, Zenta. I've grown a bit since last time and my energy has changed, maybe that's why you don't recognize me?"
"Is that what you think?" Zenta replied.
"Well...yeah. Is it because I don't want to talk? I don't want to say much because I'm just a bit tired and I don't want to come off as rude to... certain people." Cuki shot a glare towards the sleeping Gogeta. "I know I'm a bit more hyper than this but we've been through so much."
Zenta said nothing and stood before Cuki, towering over his student. Cuki stared up and saw her reflection on his visor, her expression remained the same and she awkwardly gazed towards the others, almost as if seeking help. Zenta stayed still while his tails swayed behind him hypnotically, waiting for Cuki to defend herself in some way.
"Tell me, how long?" The Master said.
"Huh? How long what?" Cuki tilted her head.
"How long have you fooled them," Zenta lowered himself to meet Cuki at eye level, giving her nearly no room to escape. "Byakko..?"
Cuki's expression seemed to switch from concerned to calm before lowering her head. The youngster let out a long sigh as she gently pushed Zenta away from her space. Cuki said nothing to fight back, nothing to deny it. She didn't have to. A wide smirk smeared across her face as she made her way off the sofa to stand where everyone could see her. She immediately gazed right back towards Zenta, her eyes an icy blue that shined off his visor. Zenta remained undeterred by the action. Finally, Cuki's voice changed from the happy-go-lucky tone everyone knew to a deep and condescending male voice. The markings on Cuki's face lit up slightly while the girl crossed her arms over her chest.
"So, you figured it out, Zenta? I'm not surprised... At least someone in this pathetic batch saw through Cuki." Byakko's voice rang out as he waved a finger towards the group. "Shame, shame, shame on you, Breakers. I thought you all were friends to our little Cuki."
Zenta let out a sigh before turning to see how the others reacted to Cuki. He noticed no indication of confusion from the others, no slight concern, not even suspicion. To everyone, Cuki seemed like Cuki, albeit grumpy and out of her usual cheerful persona. He also noticed that Cuki would not budge when pressed and her way of addressing things was entirely out of character for her, even in her current state. To everyone else, the girl would most likely be upset at the things that happened and she was probably holding them all in, but Zenta saw something else. He knew his student, both inside and out.
"Very well, I suppose there is no point to play this game of yours any longer," Zenta said sternly while leering down at Cuki. "You are not Cuki..."
Cuki's eyes widen in both shock and confusion at what her Master was saying. The impact of his words startled her enough where she sat up straight and turned to face him. Her reaction was genuine and pure as she remained shaken.
"What are you talking about? Of course, it's me!" Cuki said with a slight giggle. "I think you bonk your head a little when you came back from a Coin, Zenta. I've grown a bit since last time and my energy has changed, maybe that's why you don't recognize me?"
"Is that what you think?" Zenta replied.
"Well...yeah. Is it because I don't want to talk? I don't want to say much because I'm just a bit tired and I don't want to come off as rude to... certain people." Cuki shot a glare towards the sleeping Gogeta. "I know I'm a bit more hyper than this but we've been through so much."
Zenta said nothing and stood before Cuki, towering over his student. Cuki stared up and saw her reflection on his visor, her expression remained the same and she awkwardly gazed towards the others, almost as if seeking help. Zenta stayed still while his tails swayed behind him hypnotically, waiting for Cuki to defend herself in some way.
"Tell me, how long?" The Master said.
"Huh? How long what?" Cuki tilted her head.
"How long have you fooled them," Zenta lowered himself to meet Cuki at eye level, giving her nearly no room to escape. "Byakko..?"
Cuki's expression seemed to switch from concerned to calm before lowering her head. The youngster let out a long sigh as she gently pushed Zenta away from her space. Cuki said nothing to fight back, nothing to deny it. She didn't have to. A wide smirk smeared across her face as she made her way off the sofa to stand where everyone could see her. She immediately gazed right back towards Zenta, her eyes an icy blue that shined off his visor. Zenta remained undeterred by the action. Finally, Cuki's voice changed from the happy-go-lucky tone everyone knew to a deep and condescending male voice. The markings on Cuki's face lit up slightly while the girl crossed her arms over her chest.
"So, you figured it out, Zenta? I'm not surprised... At least someone in this pathetic batch saw through Cuki." Byakko's voice rang out as he waved a finger towards the group. "Shame, shame, shame on you, Breakers. I thought you all were friends to our little Cuki."