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[... whoa, wait. This... ... this is nothing like the little brother he'd left behind. ... all right, that's a bit of a lie, because he'd seen the way Mitsuzane could act when he switched himself to 'Mitsuzane' mode, but even this... There's clearly a lot of hatred there, just under the surface. ... not that he doesn't deserve that.
The Sylveon makes a soft noise, not intent on leaving Takatora when he's showing such signs of distress, but he waves a feeler at Mitsuzane in a friendly, 'hey let's talk this out' manner.]
Haunt you?
The Sylveon makes a soft noise, not intent on leaving Takatora when he's showing such signs of distress, but he waves a feeler at Mitsuzane in a friendly, 'hey let's talk this out' manner.]
Haunt you?
[He ignores the Sylveon as best he can. This isn't a matter for Pokemon, it's a matter for them.]
After I killed you. You kept haunting me, berating me, telling me things that I already knew. So just disappear again! I don't need you here. I don't need any of you here. I don't need phantoms.
[Even if he can't see them, they're still haunting his every move. He's trying to build a new life, he's trying to make a new place for himself, but he can't get away from the occasional phantom. They're not as bad anymore, but still... there are sleepless nights where he can't relax for fear of Takatora appearing again.]
[Isamu puts a hand on Mitsuzane's shoulder, and he shakes slightly. He doesn't need him. He doesn't need anyone.]
After I killed you. You kept haunting me, berating me, telling me things that I already knew. So just disappear again! I don't need you here. I don't need any of you here. I don't need phantoms.
[Even if he can't see them, they're still haunting his every move. He's trying to build a new life, he's trying to make a new place for himself, but he can't get away from the occasional phantom. They're not as bad anymore, but still... there are sleepless nights where he can't relax for fear of Takatora appearing again.]
[Isamu puts a hand on Mitsuzane's shoulder, and he shakes slightly. He doesn't need him. He doesn't need anyone.]
[... all right, that outburst definitely leads to Takatora taking a minute or so to process what he just heard, because he can't understand any of it. Mitsuzane believing he'd killed him? ... was it the forest incident? That certainly hadn't been Mitsuzane's fault.
Then, a slight memory clicks into place, a time where Ryouma had spoken to him about the vague possibilities of other worlds, worlds beyond Helheim, that if they truly existed, could be used for their benefit. At the time, Takatora had thought that if these worlds would exist, he could save more people, somehow, and that would be what Ryouma wanted as well. Thinking about it now, he's fairly sure Ryouma would have only wanted those other worlds to use them for his own ends.
... is this... one of those other worlds? A world outside of his own, or Helheim?
... but why is Mitsuzane here, looking at him like this?
Gently, Takatora detaches the Sylveon from his arms (who looks positively mournful at being separated from his trainer, circling Takatora's legs the best he can), taking a step closer towards Mitsuzane. He won't touch him, not when he's so tightly wound.]
Would it make you happier, never seeing me again?
Then, a slight memory clicks into place, a time where Ryouma had spoken to him about the vague possibilities of other worlds, worlds beyond Helheim, that if they truly existed, could be used for their benefit. At the time, Takatora had thought that if these worlds would exist, he could save more people, somehow, and that would be what Ryouma wanted as well. Thinking about it now, he's fairly sure Ryouma would have only wanted those other worlds to use them for his own ends.
... is this... one of those other worlds? A world outside of his own, or Helheim?
... but why is Mitsuzane here, looking at him like this?
Gently, Takatora detaches the Sylveon from his arms (who looks positively mournful at being separated from his trainer, circling Takatora's legs the best he can), taking a step closer towards Mitsuzane. He won't touch him, not when he's so tightly wound.]
Would it make you happier, never seeing me again?
[... Would he? He's not sure, and his expression cracks enough that the confusion in his eyes is evident. He doesn't know. He doesn't know, and that fact alone is hard to deal with. He's not yelling at him, not berating him... could this really be him? But he's dead -]
[But again, these days don't ever seem to make sense.]
[There's something else, too - something he's picked up from other people. People can come from different points in their timelines. Maybe this is what happened. When he speaks again, his voice is tired. Controlled, but just weary.]
... I killed you, Takatora. It's not you who should be the one who goes away.
[But again, these days don't ever seem to make sense.]
[There's something else, too - something he's picked up from other people. People can come from different points in their timelines. Maybe this is what happened. When he speaks again, his voice is tired. Controlled, but just weary.]
... I killed you, Takatora. It's not you who should be the one who goes away.
[ At least Eric has come to tolerate these frequent hair ruffles and hugs that Homra so lovingly provides...
It only took 10 months, Anna becoming the red king and everyone coming back from whatever lives they had had outside of Homra.
His messy hair is free! ]
All cleaned and ready to reopen.
It only took 10 months, Anna becoming the red king and everyone coming back from whatever lives they had had outside of Homra.
His messy hair is free! ]
All cleaned and ready to reopen.
[Oh. He can't remember the last time Mitsuzane ever called him anything but 'nii-san' and he's surprised to find how much it hurts to sense that ever increasing distance between them. The hurt look on his face is obvious before he attempts to bury it, trying his best to stay neutral.
It certainly doesn't fool his Sylveon, who is very distressed by how unhappy her trainer is and how unhappy this other human is, so he wanders over to Isamu and circles him instead, trying to figure out what he should do to make this situation better.]
It's only reasonable, isn't it? That you would want me to go away, if you did such a thing.
[Takatora is well aware of how much space is between them, but he works to close it again, stepping forward until there's only about a foot left.]
You aren't talking about that day in the forest, are you? ... with Ryouma.
It certainly doesn't fool his Sylveon, who is very distressed by how unhappy her trainer is and how unhappy this other human is, so he wanders over to Isamu and circles him instead, trying to figure out what he should do to make this situation better.]
It's only reasonable, isn't it? That you would want me to go away, if you did such a thing.
[Takatora is well aware of how much space is between them, but he works to close it again, stepping forward until there's only about a foot left.]
You aren't talking about that day in the forest, are you? ... with Ryouma.
[Okay, really, Kouta has no idea what's going on right now (which isn't too different from the rest of his life), but this place is really cool and in typical primary Rider fashion, he's already managed to gather up a pair of Pokemon. There's a horribly excited Pachirisu (who seems to be feeding off of Kouta's energy), not only running circles around him but also scaling Kouta's legs and sitting on one shoulder and then the other, before leaping back to the ground to repeat it all over again.
The Glameow, however, seems horribly unamused by all of this, keeping a few feet between him and those horribly unruly children.]
The Glameow, however, seems horribly unamused by all of this, keeping a few feet between him and those horribly unruly children.]
[Isamu looks down and shakes his head. His trainer is... odd. He hasn't been able to really help him yet, and he's not sure what to do.]
... After that. You joined up with Kouta-san and the others... and you tried to stop me. I was only trying to keep her safe. I only wanted... I only wanted her to be safe. So I killed you, because you were in my way. A Kureshima has to get the job done, no matter how dirty it makes his hands, right? ... So I killed you, and I killed him.
But he... but Ryouma-san didn't keep her safe. He killed her, too.
[And it was all his fault, and he can't erase what he did. Isamu lets out a slightly panicked whine as Micchy's aura twists and darkens.]
... After that. You joined up with Kouta-san and the others... and you tried to stop me. I was only trying to keep her safe. I only wanted... I only wanted her to be safe. So I killed you, because you were in my way. A Kureshima has to get the job done, no matter how dirty it makes his hands, right? ... So I killed you, and I killed him.
But he... but Ryouma-san didn't keep her safe. He killed her, too.
[And it was all his fault, and he can't erase what he did. Isamu lets out a slightly panicked whine as Micchy's aura twists and darkens.]
[After seeing Takatora, Micchy is fairly drained. He's riding on his Rapidash, and she trots along at an easy pace, not wanting to bump her rider too much.]
[... But he stops and stares at the second phantom of the day, and slides off of Yuko's back. Hesitantly, he walks towards Kouta, eyes wide. His voice is rough, only slightly above a whisper when he speaks.]
... Kouta-san?
[... But he stops and stares at the second phantom of the day, and slides off of Yuko's back. Hesitantly, he walks towards Kouta, eyes wide. His voice is rough, only slightly above a whisper when he speaks.]
... Kouta-san?
[That's... honestly the worst news Takatora is sure he could have ever received. The expression on his face goes blank and he seems to shut off entirely from giving any sort of reaction, trying to process exactly what his once preciously innocent younger brother is telling him.
Mitsuzane... To think that Mitsuzane was capable of such things, and then to stand here saying them so calmly...
He can't think of much to say, so he goes with the first thing that comes to mind.]
You trusted Ryouma, after what he did to me?
[Of course he did... With that sort of talk, Mitsuzane would have liked to think he would be different...]
Mitsuzane... To think that Mitsuzane was capable of such things, and then to stand here saying them so calmly...
He can't think of much to say, so he goes with the first thing that comes to mind.]
You trusted Ryouma, after what he did to me?
[Of course he did... With that sort of talk, Mitsuzane would have liked to think he would be different...]
[Kouta stops abruptly when he sees Micchy, a bright smile on his face as he raises his hand in a wave. Pachirisu stops on Kouta's shoulder, perked up and looking in the direction of the newcomer.]
This place is pretty cool, huh?
[And uh, yeah, he's conveniently ignoring the similarities with Inves battles and how horrible things are at home and being in a different world right now.]
This place is pretty cool, huh?
[And uh, yeah, he's conveniently ignoring the similarities with Inves battles and how horrible things are at home and being in a different world right now.]
He was useful. He had the most knowledge of what was going on. Even after the Overlords started to become even more aggressive... if I could use him to get to my goals, to keep her safe, to try to make the best ending for things...
Of course I didn't trust him. But I needed to use him.
[But he didn't expect something like that to happen, true.]
Of course I didn't trust him. But I needed to use him.
[But he didn't expect something like that to happen, true.]
[He doesn't know. Should he tell him? Or maybe he does know, and he's playing it off. Either way, the color drains out of his face. He reaches out to touch Kouta's other shoulder, not totally convinced that he's real. He's never been haunted by Kouta, but there's always a first time...]
Kouta-san...
Kouta-san...
[Honestly, Mitsuzane. Where does he even start with you?
Sylveon is still quite distressed, but he's taken to lightly laying a feeler on Mitsuzane's leg, trying to comfort him. He can tell that his trainer is horribly concerned, but if his trainer won't move forward to comfort this boy, then he's just going to have to try and do it for him.]
... so you risked the lives of everyone in the world for someone you loved? [There's something to be said for that. Nothing good, certainly.] And how did it all end? Suitable for you?
[Does he sound angry? Because he's a little angry.]
Sylveon is still quite distressed, but he's taken to lightly laying a feeler on Mitsuzane's leg, trying to comfort him. He can tell that his trainer is horribly concerned, but if his trainer won't move forward to comfort this boy, then he's just going to have to try and do it for him.]
... so you risked the lives of everyone in the world for someone you loved? [There's something to be said for that. Nothing good, certainly.] And how did it all end? Suitable for you?
[Does he sound angry? Because he's a little angry.]
[Oh. ... uh-oh. Kouta doesn't like that expression. His good mood immediately drops and he raises one hand to touch Micchy's, giving it a light and comforting squeeze. Pachirisu takes the opportunity to hop from Kouta's shoulder to Micchy's, oblivious to the serious atmosphere.]
... what? What's wrong?
... what? What's wrong?
What is all this, then? If no one is taking credit, there are either way too many freak wormholes about or someone wants to cover their tracks - especially since whatever it is is grabbing people from different times or timelines.
[He tries to gently move his leg away. He doesn't want comfort. He wants to speak to his brother, no matter how aggravated he gets.]
The only other options were never going to work. Try to force the strongest to survive? Let Ryouma try to make a new world? At least if I had a say in it I would be able to try to direct it towards a good end.
[His fist clenches, and he longs to just yell and scream and fight this out, but he's not a child anymore. Isamu senses the tension and grabs his trainer's shoulder firmly. No fighting.]
... But no. It didn't work. I lost everything, and everyone's going to die or worse. ... It's my mistake. I won't deny it. But there's nothing that I can do to take it back.
The only other options were never going to work. Try to force the strongest to survive? Let Ryouma try to make a new world? At least if I had a say in it I would be able to try to direct it towards a good end.
[His fist clenches, and he longs to just yell and scream and fight this out, but he's not a child anymore. Isamu senses the tension and grabs his trainer's shoulder firmly. No fighting.]
... But no. It didn't work. I lost everything, and everyone's going to die or worse. ... It's my mistake. I won't deny it. But there's nothing that I can do to take it back.
[The Pachirisu almost makes him smile. Aki's an active little Pachirisu, too. But his attention can't be drawn away from the feeling of a real, solid Kouta in front of him.]
... You're alive. You're...
[He shakes a bit, eyes tearing up.]
Kouta-san...
... You're alive. You're...
[He shakes a bit, eyes tearing up.]
Kouta-san...
[Ohhhhhh no, what is this? Kouta doesn't like where this is going, so he brings his hands up to tug at Micchy's shirt. At first, he was only planning on holding his friend to comfort him, but at the first sign of tears, Kouta is tugging Micchy in and tightly securing his arms around his friend.]
Hey, it's okay. I'm here.
Hey, it's okay. I'm here.
[... fine. Sylveon is just going to curl up at Isamu's side, feelers kept close to his body as he watches the pair. It's obvious that he's not feeling too great about this development, when nothing he's doing is helping to calm the situation.]
Did you even consider anyone else when you made your decisions? Or were you only thinking about what you wanted?
[Takatora hates this. He hates not knowing the full story, not knowing what happened to him, or Kazuraba Kouta, or the type of person Ryouma turned into. He hates the idea that all of his work, everything he'd dedicated his life to, everything he'd sacrificed so much for had been for nothing, all because of his younger brother's recklessness.
... no. No, this is still Takatora's fault, isn't it? He'd had to have done something wrong at some point. When they were younger, Mitsuzane had been fine, but something had shifted in his brother over the last few years. ... but it couldn't be helped. Takatora had no choice but to focus all of his time and attention on his obligations, while still trying to keep Mitsuzane safe.
He'd tried so hard to do the right thing.]
I trusted you, Mitsuzane. ... I wanted you to be the one to help people, even if I couldn't be there.
[It sounds strange and unfamiliar to speak in past tense like this when it feels like he'd only seen the other yesterday, pleading with him to seek out Kazuraba Kouta and work together with him to save everyone.
There's so much he's missing...]
Did you even consider anyone else when you made your decisions? Or were you only thinking about what you wanted?
[Takatora hates this. He hates not knowing the full story, not knowing what happened to him, or Kazuraba Kouta, or the type of person Ryouma turned into. He hates the idea that all of his work, everything he'd dedicated his life to, everything he'd sacrificed so much for had been for nothing, all because of his younger brother's recklessness.
... no. No, this is still Takatora's fault, isn't it? He'd had to have done something wrong at some point. When they were younger, Mitsuzane had been fine, but something had shifted in his brother over the last few years. ... but it couldn't be helped. Takatora had no choice but to focus all of his time and attention on his obligations, while still trying to keep Mitsuzane safe.
He'd tried so hard to do the right thing.]
I trusted you, Mitsuzane. ... I wanted you to be the one to help people, even if I couldn't be there.
[It sounds strange and unfamiliar to speak in past tense like this when it feels like he'd only seen the other yesterday, pleading with him to seek out Kazuraba Kouta and work together with him to save everyone.
There's so much he's missing...]
Dodge by using Dig!
[and the Gible follows suit, quickly going under the ground and digging some tunnels as the small dragon waits for the signal. Not yet.]
[and the Gible follows suit, quickly going under the ground and digging some tunnels as the small dragon waits for the signal. Not yet.]
What I wanted for myself never entered into it. To keep her safe... a full assault against the Overlords was never going to work, and we all knew it. To appear allied with one would have been for everyone's benefit. Redyue... she could have always been deposed later. And if she were the power, I could be the one behind the throne, directing her to do the things that would save the most amount of people.
But none of you wanted to see something like that. Against creatures that were so powerful... even Ryouma's technology had limits. I wanted to keep her safe, yes. I didn't want to make it so that everything was destroyed, though. I wanted to help... but none of you would even listen to me or try to see things my way. Even she didn't want to - and then... and then...
[Isamu senses his trainer moving before he even starts to make the motion, and in a flash he's in front of him rather than at his side, pushing him away before he can go to grab Takatora. Micchy stumbles and blinks in shock, staring at Isamu, before letting out a small, defeated sigh.]
We all did what we thought was right... and... it ended in disaster. At least here - at least here I think I'm doing things right this time.
[Maybe not the police surveillance, but he's trying.]
But none of you wanted to see something like that. Against creatures that were so powerful... even Ryouma's technology had limits. I wanted to keep her safe, yes. I didn't want to make it so that everything was destroyed, though. I wanted to help... but none of you would even listen to me or try to see things my way. Even she didn't want to - and then... and then...
[Isamu senses his trainer moving before he even starts to make the motion, and in a flash he's in front of him rather than at his side, pushing him away before he can go to grab Takatora. Micchy stumbles and blinks in shock, staring at Isamu, before letting out a small, defeated sigh.]
We all did what we thought was right... and... it ended in disaster. At least here - at least here I think I'm doing things right this time.
[Maybe not the police surveillance, but he's trying.]
[He wants to break away, but - oh. Maybe Kouta's... from an earlier time, especially since he seems so confused.]
Kouta-san, this isn't going to make much sense but... I need you to listen to me, okay?
Kouta-san, this isn't going to make much sense but... I need you to listen to me, okay?
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