papas_bunnydoll: (pretty!)
Tot ([personal profile] papas_bunnydoll) wrote in [community profile] route_10652011-11-13 10:49 pm

Keep your secrets in the shadows and you'll be sorry



Who: Mamoru Takatori and Tot
Where: some park in Goldenrod
When: sometime after this
Summary: Mamoru has a present and a confession for Tot
Rating: Safe for everyone
Log:
There were several reasons Tot was quite happy to be Johto; the number one would be that she and Nagi were together, something he had told her wasn’t yet possible for them at home. However, there were still times she missed Papa and Schrient.

At least here, she wasn’t totally without someone connected to them, Papa’s brother was here as well, and that helped—even if she couldn’t remember Papa ever saying anything about a younger brother. That was fine though, as far as Tot was concerned she had her family here, which was why she agreed to meet Mamoru at the park after he had made it to Goldenrod.

She sat wrapped up in a coat on a bench and watched as her Lopunny Neu ran around playing while they waited for him to arrive.

[identity profile] deadfreesia.livejournal.com 2011-11-14 04:35 am (UTC)(link)
A great deal of consideration and planning had gone into the decision to tell Tot about Weiss before she found out another way. It was only a matter of time before something slipped, especially with her already knowing Youji was one of them. Her recognition that they were traveling together had cemented in Mamoru's mind it was better to take the chance while it was there-- and hope in the process to soften the blow by having control over the manner of her discovery.

He'd consulted both Aya and Ken and gotten their agreement (even if reluctantly in Ken's case) to offer a collective confession, and had arranged a relatively quiet and peaceful meeting area with Tot. He knew how he wanted to approach the subject and hoped to offer as much reassurance as he could with that approach that there was no need to fear them. He was as ready as he could be. He only hoped that Tot was as well.

He smiled and waved to her as he spotted her on the bench, a magnificent Rapidash walking beside him and warming the air.

"It's nice to see you again, Tot. Have you been well?"

[identity profile] deadfreesia.livejournal.com 2011-11-15 01:22 am (UTC)(link)
Mamoru's smile warmed as he turned his attention to the object of hers. "Do you like him? He's fully leveled-- the strongest. He runs very fast, and can carry two riders when he travels. He's also useful in caves for light, and in cold weather for warmth. Quite an asset, isn't he?"

By the looks of it, the Rapidash was thoroughly enjoying the praise. He walked to Tot and nosed her cheek. Although his mane and tail were made of fire, it did not burn on contact.

[identity profile] deadfreesia.livejournal.com 2011-11-15 02:11 am (UTC)(link)
Mamoru had had the foresight to tell the Rapidash in advance that there was someone important to him he'd like him to protect for him, so the Pokémon understood this must be that person. In his mind, he had already made the transition and adopted Tot.

"He doesn't have one yet, I'm afraid. I'm not good at thinking of them. But you can give him one. What do you think?"

[identity profile] deadfreesia.livejournal.com 2011-11-15 02:51 am (UTC)(link)
Mamoru nodded to confirm that she really could name him before waiting quietly as she considered the options.

"Akihiko? That's a good name. Okay: Akihiko is it."

After a beat, Mamoru continued, "So, about that present for you..."

[identity profile] deadfreesia.livejournal.com 2011-11-15 03:31 am (UTC)(link)
"And I said I wanted to, didn't I? There." And he inclined his head towards Akihiko.

"He's yours, Tot."

[identity profile] deadfreesia.livejournal.com 2011-11-15 03:56 am (UTC)(link)
"Well... That's what you're supposed to do for people who are important to you, right?"

[identity profile] deadfreesia.livejournal.com 2011-11-15 04:46 am (UTC)(link)
Mamoru wasn't expecting the hug, but he accepted it gracefully. He smiled and rested one hand on the back of her shoulder-- about as close as he could be expected to come to returning the gesture.

"I'm glad you like him. You'll take care of each other, right? And the truth is, he's another way we're connected now. Akihiko belonged to a breeder before me. One of the eggs came to my team. She's beautiful, too, although not as strong as he is yet."

[identity profile] deadfreesia.livejournal.com 2011-11-15 06:42 am (UTC)(link)
Mamoru nodded. "I have faith in you."

He moved to the bench and sat on one end, hands coming together in his lap. "Actually... I have a favor to ask as well. Is that all right?"

[identity profile] deadfreesia.livejournal.com 2011-11-15 02:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Mamoru waited until Tot was situated before looking at his hands.

"I understand this might be a strange request, but... could you tell me about my brother?"

[identity profile] deadfreesia.livejournal.com 2011-11-15 03:32 pm (UTC)(link)
"Anything you remember is fine... All that I know is that he was incredibly smart, and that he specialized in genetics."

That wasn't the complete truth, but it wasn't a complete lie, either. He never had recovered more than bits and pieces of his childhood from the fog of amnesia. And part of him was a little curious-- both to know what he was like, and to know more about how Tot saw him.

[identity profile] deadfreesia.livejournal.com 2011-11-17 03:58 am (UTC)(link)
So the bunny was from him. Mamoru held mixed feelings over the positive report. Masafumi had been evil, and to this day Mamoru understood that he'd needed to be stopped somehow. On the other, his shifted priorities to protecting the Takatori family left him confident that he probably would not repeat his past decision given the opportunity. Masafumi was family, and he did in fact have a kind side, even if it was one only shown to a select few. Was confirmation of his humanity validating or that much more heartbreaking?

"I'm sorry."

[identity profile] deadfreesia.livejournal.com 2011-11-17 04:54 pm (UTC)(link)
"That you don't have him anymore. It's an expression of condolences." And that might seem confusing too. Masafumi was his brother (cousin, technically, but for the sake of simplicity, better to humor the misconception). How strange for a family member to be offering condolences to someone else?

To continue was both uncomfortable and against his nature, but he had already decided this was the best path for the conversation to travel in leading up to his admission. With that goal in mind, Mamoru pressed onward.

"The truth is, I have almost no memories of my brother. Of any of my family."

[identity profile] deadfreesia.livejournal.com 2011-11-20 04:28 pm (UTC)(link)
"No one," Mamoru confirmed.

"Tot... I want to tell you a few things about the time I was young. About the reason I have no memories. This is something I've never told anyone before." And wouldn't be sharing now if it didn't have an express purpose.

"Is that okay?"

[identity profile] deadfreesia.livejournal.com 2011-11-24 05:52 am (UTC)(link)
"When I was young, I was taken from my family. Although I was presumed dead, I had managed to escape with someone's help. But somehow, maybe from trauma, all of my memories were blocked out. I couldn't remember who I was, or where I came from. I couldn't remember my family's faces. Nothing.

"And so, for the next several years, with nothing more to go on, I lived a different life, with a different name. I wanted to find my family, but I didn't know who to look for. And they didn't know there was a reason to keep looking. In the meantime, I had school and a job. And I did things in that time that, looking back, I know I wouldn't do now.

"Have you ever felt that way about something?"

[identity profile] deadfreesia.livejournal.com 2011-11-28 05:51 pm (UTC)(link)
"I see. That's all right. The point is... I was a different person. And the actions I took then, under the name Omi Tsukiyono, are in conflict with who I am and what I want now. Omi wanted to protect the entire city. Mamoru Takatori wants only to protect his family... and those close to it." He said as he looked at her.

"Like you."

[identity profile] deadfreesia.livejournal.com 2011-11-29 04:13 am (UTC)(link)
"...Yes. Omi was Weiss. Mamoru, however, never has been, and never will be." Did Tot understand the difference? Mamoru had the sneaking suspicion it was not being recognized.

"I've told you these things because I think you should know. Weiss does not exist here, and its members, both former and current, have no interest in fighting or hurting you."

[identity profile] deadfreesia.livejournal.com 2011-11-29 04:53 am (UTC)(link)
Mamoru let her be. He did not try to comfort, because it was not his right to even attempt it; far better to let Tot's Lopunny see to that. He did not follow her to the ground, respecting her decision to place more distance between them.

"What...?"

[identity profile] deadfreesia.livejournal.com 2011-11-29 05:14 am (UTC)(link)
"...I don't. But Nagi-kun and I are looking. I want you to get to see him again."

[identity profile] deadfreesia.livejournal.com 2011-11-29 05:39 am (UTC)(link)
Mamoru looked over Tot at Akihiko and nodded indicatively towards her. The Rapidash approached and knelt down beside her, close enough to be touched.

[identity profile] deadfreesia.livejournal.com 2011-11-29 06:30 am (UTC)(link)
Mamoru was glad to see a verification that she still accepted Akihiko in spite of what she'd learned about his giver. He hadn't doubted she was a loving caretaker under normal circumstances, but it would have been understandable for her to refuse him after what had surfaced. He nodded solemnly to her and passed Akihiko's empty Pokéball to her hands.

"What I've said doesn't change that you're someone important to me now. I'll help you here, too."

He carefully stood from the bench, stepping around Tot and her Pokémon, although he hesitated from walking away.

"Thank you for listening. And... please don't be angry with Nagi-kun. He made his choice in an effort to protect you. I accept full responsibility for the consequences of this conversation."

[identity profile] deadfreesia.livejournal.com 2011-12-02 04:43 am (UTC)(link)
Of course she would need space. Mamoru was fully prepared to give her as much of that as she needed. He nodded once in understanding.

"Please get somewhere warmer. Take care."

Feeling strangely cold even inside his coat, Mamoru turned and walked away.