The elevator opened to Wally holding Kuki's hand, much to the surprise of the rest of the team. They hadn't expected to see Kuki again, much less see her and Wally in such an interesting position.
"So what just happened here?" Hoagie asked, interrupting the mood.
"Good going." Abby muttered, jabbing him in the side with her elbow. He recoiled and glared at her as she asked Kuki, "So you're staying here in America?"
"Yeah, I think so." Kuki said, shooting a glance at Wally, who had dropped her hand and walked over to the couch to finish his game of Budokai.
"What made your mother change her mind?" Nigel inquired. Kuki gave another uneasy glance at Wally.
"Well, it was actually Wally." Kuki replied. Nigel choked on his soda and Hoagie started laughing as she spoke those words.
"Wally? You're joking right? What'd he have to do, propose or something?" Hoagie stuttered. Wally's eyes widened slightly as he let his controller fall.
"Who cares what I did, she's staying and that's all that matters, got it?" he menacingly growled, as he darted over and picked Hoagie up by the collar. Hoagie squeaked out a 'yes' and rubbed his neck when Wally released him.
"Hit a nerve?" Hoagie weakly joked, earning another jab in the stomach from Abby.
"You just don't get it, do you?" she asked him.
"What?!" Hoagie exaggeratedly screeched.
"Obviously, Wally did to exactly that." Abby said. It had been obvious to her from the elevator what Wally had done, Nigel had picked up on it probably seconds later but Hoagie seemed to be lacking in the observation skills. (A/N: and they say Wally is the stupid one...)
"He did what he thought would keep Kuki here, even if it meant sacrificing his future." Nigel finished for her.
"Are they serious?" Hoagie inquired, confused. Kuki nodded and Hoagie got a sudden look of terror on his face. "But we're only 13, they can't expect us to get married! It's like forcing us to eat our vegetables, it's just unheard of, unspeakable!"
"It's just how my culture is. We go tosee the matchmaker, and then we prepare to get married when we turn of age. Wally, he did something I can never repay him for. I don't know why he did it, but he's the reason that I'm staying in America, with all of you." Kuki said, tears forming in her eyes.
"Why are you crying then, shouldn't you be happy?" Hoagie asked.
"It's just, I realized as I said it that I thinkreally do know, deep inside, why Wally did that. I think, I think I need to go." Kuki said, running out of the room. Hoagie got a confused look, but Abby and Nigel had an idea of what she was thinking. They shared a secret smile and decided to watch a little TV until their friends got back.
"What just—" Hoagie started, but Abby cut him off.
"You know what, why don't you just ask that a little later." She suggested. She motioned for him to join them, so he walked over to the easy chair and sat down. He looked over at Abby and Nigel, who were sitting on the couch with Abby using Nigel's shoulder as a pillow. He grinned to himself as he figured out that they were going out.
'Boy do I have a lot to tell Michelle on Monday!' he thought to himself.
Upstairs, Kuki was heading straight for Wally's room. She knew that's exactly where he'd be. Sure enough when she knocked on his door, he answered. His hair was ruffled and he wasn't wearing a shirt, but he invited her in.
"Hi…" she whispered, blushing slightly.
"Hi…" he replied. "Uh, what did you want Kuks?"
"I uh, wanted to tell you that…" she stuttered, suddenly finding her voice failing her. "Tell you that… uh, thanks for what you did today."
"Ah, it was nothing. Any one of us would have done what we could to keep you here." Wally blushed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I don't know that they would. I'm easily replaceable." Kuki muttered, gazing at the ground. "I'm the distraction, and if needed I'm a nurse, but Hoagie is a better doctor then I am."
"How can you even think that you aren't needed around here? We'd fall apart if you weren't here to keep us together." Wally compellingly argued. "You're the one who keeps us on our toes, keeps our spirits up, not to mention you're an awesome fighter."
"Fighter, yeah right, that's your job Wally."
"Remember when Stickybeard attacked the treehouse? You took out five of his men without even breaking a sweat. Now if that's not impressive fighting, I don't know what is." Wally said.
"It's all just luck, nothing I do ever turns out right, and I always endanger every one." Kuki cried with tears in her eyes.
"Hey, hey! That's just silly Kuks, if anybody endangers the team, it's the Delightful Children." Wally chuckled softly, wrapping his arm around her shoulder as she sobbed silently into his chest.
"The… Delightful Children?"
"Yeah, leave it up to them to ruin a perfectly good toy store or actually want to visit the Museum of Boring History." Wally replied. 'For someone so perfect, she sure is insecure…'
"So I'm not the worst thing to happen to the team?" Kuki sniffled, her tears slowly ceasing.
"Trust me Kuks, you are the best thing that's ever happened to the team."
"Really?" Kuki asked, with hope in her voice.
"Really. Now quit worrying and get some sleep. It's been some birthday, huh?"
"Yeah." Kuki said, making her way towards the door. "Hey Wally," she said, turning back towards him.
"Eh?"
"Thanks." Kuki shyly smiled, running up to him and giving him a heartfelt hug. Wally stood in shock for a second before reacting by hugging her back.
"Anytime." He whispered into her ear. They separated and Kuki got halfway out the door before looking back and giving Wally a smile that stayed with him until sleep took him.
A/N: Fluffiness overload… o.0 I think I'm going to choke on the fluffiness!!!! Coming soon: The truth about Abby! Your writing extrodinaire, Signy