Mario pried Luigi off of Kira and hugged him as if he hadn't seen him in ages. He had tears in his eyes.

"L-Luigi, h-how did you-"

"Allow me to explain." Kira sighed, standing and wiping her bloody nose. "I was going to tell you, but I was sure that you would find out on your own. Anyhow, I was just leaving the hospital, but then I realized that I couldn't just leave your brother for dead, so I had to risk my life to save his. But I'm fine now."

"How exactly did you do that?" Mario asked curiously.

"You see," Kira said. "As I said, I left the hospital, but when I realized how bad I felt, I came back. You were gone, so I told the doctor to text you. I tried to revive your brother, but I was sure I had failed because he didn't wake up right away. Then I ran to the house, left a note, and came here."

"That still doesn't explain how you actually revived him." Mario commented.

"Well," Kira said, taking a deep breath. "I had to give up my dark powers to revive him. It was risky, but I would have felt like a jerk had I not done that. Indeed, it could have killed me to give away natural powers, but I did it anyway."

"If that's so…," Luigi added. "Why don't I have dark powers?"

"Your mind is too feeble to understand." Kira sighed. Luigi seemed a bit offended. "When magic is in its pure form, it is only magic, and nothing more. Even though my magic is dark, it's free of impurities."

"W-wait…" Mario said. "YOU saved his life WILLINGLY?"

"Did I not make that crystal clear?" Kira questioned with an irritated sigh, rubbing her face from the excruciating pain that Luigi had brought her only moments ago.

"No, no, no." Luigi said. "This makes no sense. You tried to KILL me, and then you saved me? What kind of sick person does that?"

"I would." Kira sighed, looking at the ground. "I'm so messed up…"

"That's an understatement." Luigi said. "…But why, exactly did you do that?"

"Because I…" Kira looked away. "N-never mind the reason, all that matters is that you're okay."

"And since when do you care about me?" Luigi questioned agitatedly.

"Look, people change." Kira said. "Maybe I just decided to be nice for once…"

"But you must have had a motive." Luigi taunted. "Is it because I'm sexy?"

"WHAT? NO!" Kira exclaimed, slapping the back of his head.

"Guys, it's getting late." Mario said, changing the subject. "Can we head back to the Mushroom Kingdom now?"

"Why?" Kira asked, sitting back down. "So that I could be miserable again?"

"No, so that I can finally get some sleep." Mario said. "And I can't just leave you here."

"But I told you already, I can't go back." Kira sighed. "I'll be fine. Ciao, guys."

"Oh, no you don't!" Mario exclaimed, tugging on her arm. "I carried you for two straight days, and this is the thanks I get?"

"Mario, I saved your sorry butt so we're even." Kira said, not budging. "I'll be fine, dude, don't worry about me."

"Look, Princess, I know you're bound to get into some kind of trouble, just like EVERY other princess I know." Mario sighed, folding his arms. "You don't even have anywhere to stay!"

"Of course I do, silly!" She giggled, lying on the grass. "I've lived without a roof over my head before."

"Then how will you brush your teeth or shower?" Mario questioned.

"Well…"

"Hmm, then you'll get gingivitis. And THEN you'll lose your teeth. And THEN you'll starve. And THEN you'll die." Mario said.

"Mario, that's pretty dramatic." Kira scoffed. "Really, I won't-"

"But there are robbers and magikoopas, Goombas and koopas of all sorts. Not to mention how you were nearly killed by that piranha plant!" Mario exclaimed firmly. "I've known you for about a week, and what I can make out is that you're just an average, accident-prone princess!"

"Th-that's not true at all!" Kira sputtered. "I'm self-sufficient! I can defend myself perfectly well!"

"And that explains why I had to carry you for a few hundred miles, right?" Mario questioned.

"Hey, I had just woken up, and I was already injured by that piranha plant!" Kira protested.

"Yes, and you just supported my statement." Mario said, the slightest smirk on his face.

"Mario, I'm not going! Please stop insisting!" Kira whined.

Mario sniffled and fell to his knees.

"Please…" He said, tears in his eyes. "You don't know how many times I've almost lost some of my friends…and Luigi."

"Dude, I-"

"No, I don't wanna hear it!" Mario shouted with a sob. "I'm starting to see through the wicked demon you can be sometimes."

"Mario…that's er…poignant, but I'm not leaving this spot, and that's final!" Kira huffed.

"Kira, you don't understand!" he cried with yet, another sob. "If I leave you here, anything could happen to you, and I'm really beginning to like you!"

"R-really?"

"Yes…" Mario said before crying hysterically.

Kira didn't know what to say, and Luigi just stood there, an apathetic expression on his face.

"O-okay!" Kira gave in, beginning to tear up a little herself. She stood up and grabbed Mario's arm. "Fine, I'll go! Just, please stop crying!"

Mario stood up and they began heading back to the Mushroom Kingdom.

"It works every time." He snickered under his breath. Luigi nodded knowingly.

Bahah, I believe there's only one chapter left.

Thanks for the reviews, guys :D