day 5 | 7:24am | kureshima household

[lifegivesyou]

[Ryouma had messaged this world's Takatora multiple times the night before. At first, he'd simply been concerned for the manner in which they'd parted ways, because in all of his years of knowing Takatora, something hadn't felt right. No one else knew Takatora like him, so it wouldn't surprise him if no one else would notice. But he did. After having the first casual text message ignored, he'd pushed a little harder. After a little longer, he'd nearly started spamming the other with playful, teasing remarks. Idle threats.

Nothing.

Takatora would never ignore him like this.

Which is exactly why, before the ban on having to stay inside all day is in effect, Ryouma is unlocking the door to the Kureshima household. He has his own key, obviously, given to him by this world's version at some point in their shared history. He locks the door behind him, checks it twice, and then strides through the mansion as though he's the master of the house and not just a visitor.

The path to Takatora's room is familiar enough. Under normal circumstances, he would knock and give the other a few moments to respond, but not today. There's no time for that. Instead, he opens the door and nudges it shut behind him (if only to avoid Mitsuzane's prying).

Takatora is sleeping. That should be enough to comfort him, but it's not. Something still doesn't feel right. Carefully, he crosses the room to the other's bed. After a moment of hesitation, he sits down next to him, placing a hand on Takatora's left shoulder and firmly nudging him.]

Takatora.

[His voice is in a surprisingly firm wake up now tone.]

Comments

[takatorakureshima]

[Takatora startles a little bit at Ryouma's actions. He's been around the other when he's gotten himself into a mood, but this is...close to affection. He winces at the press against his shoulder, but the only place any pain might show is in his face, which he's fairly certain Ryouma can't see. Odd, though: he's usually so mindful of that old, stupid scar.]

I wasn't planning on it.

[...okay, so he totally was, just a little, but he'd meant to take Ryouma with him. Well, maybe not when he went to see Mitsuzane, but everywhere else would probably be fine. His grip on the other increases, even if he doesn't try to move out of the room again, and when he finally does speak it's in a lowered, calm voice: one he might use to address a worried child.]

But you need to tell me what's going on, and what happened. This isn't like you.

[lifegivesyou]

[It's certainly not like Ryouma at all to get emotional. The only things in life that have ever really had him showing emotion towards Takatora are things like frustration with a stubborn research project (sometimes anger, if bad enough) or a mild depression when something doesn't go right. The only things that have ever made him act like this, to completely lose control of part of himself ... have related to Takatora.

Then again, the last time they saw each other ...

Hearing the comforting words gets Ryouma to relax. A little. His muscles are still tense and he's still holding on to Takatora, though after a few moments he lifts his head and ... looks completely lost as to what to do next. Why can't he plaster on a fake smile like he always does? Why is it so hard?]

I don't know where to start.

[It's hard for Ryouma to even look at him ... so he doesn't.]

[takatorakureshima]

[Oh dear. This isn't like Ryouma at all: usually he knows exactly what he wants to say or do to get things to go a certain way. Why, then, does he seem so flustered and like he has no idea what to say? An act like this could be to get attention from him, but given how they last parted... Takatora is doubtful, to say the least. Besides, Ryouma is usually much more up-front about things he wants. Now, he just looks confused and lost, and that's not like him at all.]

We could start with what brought you to my house in such a frantic rush this morning?

[Actually, that's probably too broad, but Takatora's not usually the one gathering the information.]

Or perhaps with where we are, as it would appear we are not in Zawame.

[lifegivesyou]

[All right. Yes. Good. Takatora is leading him. Back in Zawame, for Ryouma to have followed Takatora? Well, he had in the beginning ... before everything fell apart between them. Right now, however, to have Takatora guiding him? It's comforting. It gives Ryouma something to focus on. Yes. Okay. He works much better when he has steps to follow.

He'll start slowly, with Takatora's questions. ... but he won't let go of Takatora's arm, though he'll loosen his hold on the other's waist.]

We're in Nishikigi. It's a small village ... far away from Zawame, I'm assuming. It's a rather long story, but it's easily summarized by an unpleasant organization making it their duty to kidnap individuals from different worlds and bring them here. For fun, it seems.

[Ryouma's voice sounds a little more calm and confident the longer he talks. Good.]

[takatorakureshima]

[Takatora sighs in relief: there's the Ryouma he's used to hearing, a veritable font of knowledge that continues spewing even when it's not appreciated. Takatora isn't always the best at tuning in, but he tries, and he really and truly wants to hear what's going on here. Now he can properly lead Ryouma to the couch and try to sit them both down, the coffee all but forgotten in the kitchen.]

We have time, if you wish to tell it.

[They probably have time, anyway. He hopes. The information has him frowning, however.]

There are more of us? From different worlds? [A pause, as he thinks.] And different times as well, I'm assuming.

[lifegivesyou]

[Takatora should hope to never say those words to Ryouma, even though Ryouma is more than well aware of his ability to put Takatora to sleep with his ramblings if he tries hard enough. Now that he's calmed down, he does allow Takatora to guide him back into the living room, though the moment they reach the couch, Ryouma's entire body seizes up and he hesitates.

The pesky memory of having sat here last night with Takatora. What a predictable idiot, that Takatora, to have made the entire area spotless before he'd left for the night...

Ryouma closes his eyes, swallows, then hesitantly sits down.]

Someone I spoke to estimated fifty. At first, I thought it might be high. Now, I'm not so sure. I don't have an exact headcount as of yet. Some come across worlds together. Mitsuzane-kun arrived before you and I believe some of his friends are here.

The times... I'm not sure of.

[takatorakureshima]

We're certainly from different times. [At least, he's assuming so. Where he comes from, Ryouma is dead, so either Ryouma isn't dead (unlikely) or he was pulled from a different time.]

Fifty... It's not a lot, but it suggests that they've been doing this for a time, perhaps. When did you arrive?

[He pauses to think, and suddenly...]

The last thing I remember is agreeing to help someone in danger, and then I woke up here, in bed.

[lifegivesyou]

Are we?

[It takes a moment for Ryouma to understand why, but then he remembers what Takatora had said when he'd woken up. There's a bitter huff from Ryouma.]

They have the power to bring people back to life as well. As far as I can tell, they've been bringing people here for ... awhile.

[When had he arrived? Hm.]

I've been moving around since yesterday. [He motions at Takatora.] That's the same thing everyone remembers, in one way or another.

[takatorakureshima]

Back to life?

[Okay, this now all has his undivided attention.]

Ah, so...

[So Ryouma had agreed to help someone? That's honestly almost more of a shock: the thought of Ryouma offering a 'no-strings-attached' sort of help....he had a hard time imagining it, to say the least.]

Why are they bringing us here? Do we know?

[lifegivesyou]

[Agreeing to help others? Hardly. Ryouma's just questioned as many Blessed as he can get his hands on without promising any of them anything. He doesn't owe anyone anything or want to be in debt to anyone. Making promises to get information isn't his style when he can coax it out of others by pretending to be their friend.

He keeps his hand on Takatora's arm, giving it a careful squeeze to remind himself that the other is there with him.]

I don't know. I have a few theories, but nothing I can prove.

[takatorakureshima]

[The squeeze doesn't go unnoticed.]

I'd like to hear your theories. But first, can you tell me what's bothering you? Are you alright?

[Genuine worry creeps into his voice, past the usual calm front he puts up. For Ryouma to be acting like this means something relatively big would have needed to happen, and for his friend to desire this sudden close contact and fret...Yeah, Takatora is definitely more than a little worried.]

Are you injured?

[lifegivesyou]

[Of course it wouldn't. Takatora may be naïve, sometimes stupid, sometimes blissfully unaware of the world around him, but when it matters ....

Ryouma gives a small shift away from him, but doesn't let go. He can't manage to do that much, not when Takatora is right here. Even if ...

Ryouma squeezes a little harder, still keeping his gaze lowered. He hasn't looked up at Takatora since sitting down.]

You don't want to know the truth, Takatora.

[takatorakureshima]

[When he speaks, his voice is even and firm, almost commanding.]

I do. I'm willing to listen to what you have to say.

[He recalls the way they parted, Ryouma's cry of you didn't understand! still hanging heavy in the air. What hadn't he understood? What had he missed? He had somehow managed to ruin their friendship in a way that made Ryouma turn on him, and he wanted to know what it was he hadn't understood. If he could understand that, perhaps he could understand the sudden betrayal...And perhaps, if he was careful and he listened, he could prevent something like that from happening again.

He reaches over to gently rest his other hand on Ryouma's arm.]

I'd rather hear it from your lips than from someone else's.

[lifegivesyou]

[Shit. That's one of those voices Ryouma finds it hard to say no to. It's the Kureshima tone that makes someone want to fall into line and obey-

(and a distant memory gone as quickly as it arrives, that makes Ryouma tense up again before it processes fully)

The hand on Ryouma's arm would normally not be unwelcome, not when Ryouma is used to having to be the one to initiate physical contact between them, but the memory mixed with the general mood he's in ... he doesn't expect it. Out of instinct, Ryouma raises his hand knocks the other's touch away, perhaps a bit harder than he should.

Almost instantly, he regrets doing so. ... no. He shouldn't have done that. He knows Takatora is only trying to help. The look on Ryouma's face can convey the apology before-]

... sorry.

[takatorakureshima]

[There's a sharp, hissing intake of breath as Takatora pulls his arm back. He hadn't expected the hit, and certainly not for there to be enough strength to knock the arm away and shove his shoulder blade back. Little things like this shouldn't bother it too much, but somehow he'd slept on it and it was sore. Usually he'd take medication or something for it, but there had been no time.]

Sorry.

[He knows how much his shoulder bothers Ryouma, and he pulls his arm away to rest at his side. It mostly just feels sore, not like it's in any pain, and of course it's nothing to worry about...]

It's alright. You didn't mean it.

[lifegivesyou]

[Ryouma isn't usually one to apologize. Not to anyone and not for anything. He can count the number of exceptions he's ever made on both hands ... counting for the select few who happen to be close to him, but mostly for Takatora. It makes him curious how Takatora will react now to hear such a rare phrase, but-

Ryouma's hand pauses in the air from where he'd pushed Takatora away. It hangs there as Ryouma stares at the other with slightly widened eyes, and its as though all of his processes have stopped. What ...? ... what was that?

There's a confusion on Ryouma's face, one that usually only presents itself when Ryouma is presented with an entirely new project. He lowers his hand -- carefully -- to rest on Takatora's shoulder, as though he's not quite sure where the safest place is to touch.

And it's enough to make Ryouma look up, meeting Takatora's gaze. There's none of Ryouma's usual, sympathetic and apologetic gaze now, as there would be normally when upsetting Takatora's shoulder. Instead, there's ... confusion and a large dose of concern.]

What happened to you?

[No. Being brought into this world ... no one should have hurt Takatora in the process. This couldn't possibly be on purpose, could it? Why ...?]

[takatorakureshima]

[Something within him goes cold. There's no way that Ryouma doesn't know about his shoulder: if anything, he was always remorseful about the whole testing incident in the lab, and he would usually have started to fret by now. But here...Ryouma doesn't seem to even know he had the old injury. The touch around the area is familiar, though. How many times had Ryouma inspected the wound, hoping to find a definitive way to fix the problem. There was no way he wouldn't know, unless...

It hits him suddenly. Different worlds, Ryouma had said.]

I...This is an injury I've had for quite some time, but it's alright. Ryouma...

[He pauses.]

You and I are from different worlds, aren't we?

[lifegivesyou]

[... oh.

Any emotion Ryouma is showing, for a brief moment, seems to lock up. His expression goes neutral as he draws his hand back to himself, releasing Takatora's arm for the first time since they've entered the room. They're still touching, barely, with how close their legs are to each other, but Ryouma drops his hands into his own lap. It's a struggle to figure out how to react to this, when he'd already prepared himself. Or tried.

He turns his head away and sighs heavily.]

I should have known I wouldn't be able to hide anything from you.

[Ryouma looks back over, setting his jaw in an obvious display of trying to keep himself together and ... distant.]

I suppose that makes things easier for you.

[takatorakureshima]

[So that's why Ryouma's been acting so strange around him. The two of them...they've technically never met. Is there a Takatora in his world, too?

He's briefly upset that this isn't his old friend: he'd had so much he wanted to ask, so many things he wanted to make clear after how they'd parted, but now...

He still reaches out towards Ryouma, offering comfort and contact for if the other wants it.]

Either way, no matter which world.... You're still Ryouma. [A pause.] Then...you're from this world? Is there a Takatora here, as well?

[lifegivesyou]

[Ryouma shifts away, only slightly. He knows he should take the contact. He wants it, desperately, especially since Takatora is the one offering it. His own Takatora ... had offered, often enough, but still not as often as Ryouma would have liked. He'd teased him about it, before, but had understood the reluctance.

One day, he'd hoped, Takatora would have been able to get over his fear of being judged for putting his own needs before anyone else's. ... though Ryouma has a sinking suspicion that his actions the previous night would have been entirely selfish.

Why hadn't Takatora told him anything?

Another deep breath.]

This is my world. Yes. [There's a small hesitation before he can try to answer the next question.] You're the only Takatora here, anymore.

[takatorakureshima]

[Anymore?

His spirits fall.]

So...there was....

[The irony of the situation is overwhelming, and he finds himself laughing. The sound itself holds no mirth and is born of nerves and sorrow rather than actual excitement. Here, this Ryouma's version of himself is dead, and his version of his friend is dead back in his own world.]

I'm sorry.

[And he is, he just doesn't necessarily know what words to use.]

IT's just...I've missed my friend, as you probably have yours, and now... It's all just rather ironic, I suppose.

[lifegivesyou]

[Ryouma doesn't mind the laugh so much, though it's certainly a strange noise to hear coming out of anyone who looks like Takatora. He's never heard him have a reaction like that ... except for ... well, perhaps once. The memory of that time doesn't sit well with Ryouma, either. He'd never told Takatora the whole truth about that time of his life. There had been no reason to.]

I suppose it hasn't sunk in yet. I wasn't sure he was gone until I saw you.

[Might as well get that out of the way now as well.]

[takatorakureshima]

[So his double...would have died recently. When he was pulled though to this world, then. Oh, no...]

I'm sorry.

[His voice is soft again, low and gentle in an attempt to be comforting, though he's not sure how much he can help. He figures Ryouma probably wants no part of him, but leaving no feels wrong, too. He'll just wait until the other wishes to talk about it.]

I....If there's anything that I can do, to help you. I'm so sorry.

[lifegivesyou]

Don't apologize. I don't know what happened, but I can assure you I'm going to find out. Whatever he might have done, he didn't-

[Ryouma pauses. He closes his eyes, takes a moment to steady himself, then opens his eyes once more and continues.]

... he didn't feel it necessary to tell me. He wouldn't answer my messages.

[And there's another moment of hesitation where he watches Takatora, still trying to keep himself as unemotional as possible. ... but there are some obvious cracks.]

None of this is your fault. They wouldn't have brought you here if he wasn't gone.

[... oh. There's another awful weight that hits him, more suddenly than he'd expected, and Ryouma sucks in a breath before turning his head away and bringing one hand up to cover his face. There's a horribly self-defeating attempt at a smile, but it cracks immediately and he looks like he might start crying on the spot.]

... I don't even know where to find his body.

[takatorakureshima]

[He's not entirely sure when he slips into older brother mode, but in moments like this it's a natural state to fall into. Ryouma's own emotions tug at his heartstrings, and before he realizes what exactly he's doing, Takatora has pulled him into a hug.

He doesn't know what to say, or what else there is to be done, but he knows that no one should have to endure this sort of pain alone. If he can take away even an ounce of that loneliness, it'll be enough.]