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[Her words have more bite than she realizes. Not only because they're true, but because she seems to be living a life here that's incredibly inclusive. Not at all how things used to be back in Arendelle.]
You would be a fool to think otherwise, Elsa. But I'm not going to stop you. If that what makes you happy, then by all means! Don't let me get in the way of you and your new friends.
You would be a fool to think otherwise, Elsa. But I'm not going to stop you. If that what makes you happy, then by all means! Don't let me get in the way of you and your new friends.
[Micchy, nothing about anything right now makes sense to Kouta, so he's all for this...]
O-Okay...
O-Okay...
Why would you need to keep her safe, other than your own desire? Part of our responsibility, part of being a Kureshima, is that if we love someone and want to protect them, we can't let ourselves be blinded by putting them as a priority. We aren't the only ones in the world with people we love and it's our responsibility to protect as many people as we can, because they can't fight for themselves.
[He can... understand, somewhat, the idea of trying to ally with the enemy if only in appearance. But the idea that Mitsuzane be the one secretly in charge, manipulating an Overlord? Takatora's not so sure that could have ever ended well. Mitsuzane, despite all of his protests, was still horribly inexperienced.
It's also... painful, and surprising, to hear Mitsuzane speak so strongly of someone he'd wanted to protect. It had never occurred to him that Mitsuzane would have someone like that in his life. He'd only known about Kazuraba Kouta in passing, but nothing about any other members of the team.
When Isamu steps between them, Takatora raises a hand to let the other know it's all right, if Mitsuzane wants to approach him. For any reason.]
How do you feel, about how everything turned out? Disappointed you couldn't protect someone, but is that all?
[He can... understand, somewhat, the idea of trying to ally with the enemy if only in appearance. But the idea that Mitsuzane be the one secretly in charge, manipulating an Overlord? Takatora's not so sure that could have ever ended well. Mitsuzane, despite all of his protests, was still horribly inexperienced.
It's also... painful, and surprising, to hear Mitsuzane speak so strongly of someone he'd wanted to protect. It had never occurred to him that Mitsuzane would have someone like that in his life. He'd only known about Kazuraba Kouta in passing, but nothing about any other members of the team.
When Isamu steps between them, Takatora raises a hand to let the other know it's all right, if Mitsuzane wants to approach him. For any reason.]
How do you feel, about how everything turned out? Disappointed you couldn't protect someone, but is that all?
... When you get back home, if you remember this...
[How does he say this? How does he convey how important this is?]
When... when I fight you, and try to kill you... don't hold back, okay? Please... don't let me kill you... no matter what it takes to make me stop.
[He'll explain more but... he has to get this out.]
[How does he say this? How does he convey how important this is?]
When... when I fight you, and try to kill you... don't hold back, okay? Please... don't let me kill you... no matter what it takes to make me stop.
[He'll explain more but... he has to get this out.]
[The Lucario eyes him warily, but steps aside. He still doesn't really understand humans fully. He's mature enough for his species, but humans live so long... he just doesn't know.]
[At the question, though, Micchy lets out a weak chuckle, hands balling into fists again.]
Of course you'd say that. And... of course I don't. I killed you. I killed Kazuraba Kouta. Even if he was a fool, he was my friend, for a time. And you... you're my brother. Even if I thought you were a fool for trying to go about things the way you did... you're my brother.
Do you think that it's something I enjoyed? Even with being 'blinded'... it was enough that I saw you everywhere after that.
[He doesn't want to say outright 'I felt guilty', but... at least his brother should pick that much up.]
I have nothing left anymore, and it's because of what I did. No, 'disappointed' isn't all I feel about it.
[At the question, though, Micchy lets out a weak chuckle, hands balling into fists again.]
Of course you'd say that. And... of course I don't. I killed you. I killed Kazuraba Kouta. Even if he was a fool, he was my friend, for a time. And you... you're my brother. Even if I thought you were a fool for trying to go about things the way you did... you're my brother.
Do you think that it's something I enjoyed? Even with being 'blinded'... it was enough that I saw you everywhere after that.
[He doesn't want to say outright 'I felt guilty', but... at least his brother should pick that much up.]
I have nothing left anymore, and it's because of what I did. No, 'disappointed' isn't all I feel about it.
[OH, WELL. THIS IS HAPPENING. Thankfully, this Beezy is about as laid back as the real one, and he doesn't even seem to mind being lifted like a sack of potatoes.]
See? He likes you!
See? He likes you!
[That's right. Mitsuzane had yelled at him, said something about being haunted by him when he'd first seen him. ... was that his guilt, somehow, or something deeper than that? There's a brief moment where he senses an unpleasant connection, something he doesn't want to think about too much, but...]
It's difficult to tell how you might feel. ... I believed Ryouma to be a dear friend of mine as well, though it makes me wonder if he ever regretted what he did to me.
[Takatora has no idea where all of his relationships went so wrong. Ryouma had been such a strong, comforting presence in his life for so long. And Mitsuzane, his precious younger brother...
He's willing to take a chance on being hurt more, because right now Mitsuzane isn't the only one who feels as though he's lost everything. Cautiously, he reaches up to grab Mitsuzane's shoulder, tugging him in the rest of the way to hold him securely against his chest, one arm wrapped around his back.]
It's difficult to tell how you might feel. ... I believed Ryouma to be a dear friend of mine as well, though it makes me wonder if he ever regretted what he did to me.
[Takatora has no idea where all of his relationships went so wrong. Ryouma had been such a strong, comforting presence in his life for so long. And Mitsuzane, his precious younger brother...
He's willing to take a chance on being hurt more, because right now Mitsuzane isn't the only one who feels as though he's lost everything. Cautiously, he reaches up to grab Mitsuzane's shoulder, tugging him in the rest of the way to hold him securely against his chest, one arm wrapped around his back.]
[... ?? ...????? ...what???]
U-uhm.. ... Micchy... Are you feeling okay?
[He's pretty concerned about this, raising one hand up to put the back of his hand against Micchy's forehead, then his cheeks. He doesn't feel warm...]
U-uhm.. ... Micchy... Are you feeling okay?
[He's pretty concerned about this, raising one hand up to put the back of his hand against Micchy's forehead, then his cheeks. He doesn't feel warm...]
[He pulls away slightly, just staring somewhat blankly at him.]
The fact that you're acting like that just proves that you came here from a point before when I did. ... And at some point I'm going to try to kill you. So don't let me.
The fact that you're acting like that just proves that you came here from a point before when I did. ... And at some point I'm going to try to kill you. So don't let me.
[He stiffens, before just falling limply against his brother. He should yell, he should push him away, he should warn him not to get close... but he's just so tired of this. And... this just proves to him, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the phantoms he was seeing were in no way representative of his brother.]
[He lets his hands rest against his sides, and closes his eyes. He doesn't say anything, just tries not to cry and tries not to let his breath start hitching like it keeps threatening to do.]
[He lets his hands rest against his sides, and closes his eyes. He doesn't say anything, just tries not to cry and tries not to let his breath start hitching like it keeps threatening to do.]
[... point before--? Does that--?
Kouta immediately switches to overly concerned older brother mode, tightly grasping Micchy's shoulders.]
Hey... Come on... What are you talking about? You would never hurt me.
[Unless... ...oh. Kouta's heart drops.]
Does... ... does that mean what happens to Yuuya, happens to me?
Kouta immediately switches to overly concerned older brother mode, tightly grasping Micchy's shoulders.]
Hey... Come on... What are you talking about? You would never hurt me.
[Unless... ...oh. Kouta's heart drops.]
Does... ... does that mean what happens to Yuuya, happens to me?
[... He lets out a hoarse laugh, shaking his head.]
No. No, but... I'm... it all goes wrong, Kouta-san. I was... I was blind... it's my fault. I'm so sorry...
[He can't ever really be forgiven, even in a perfect situation where things from now on go as well as they can. There's nothing he can do but try and prevent things from going wrong again.]
No. No, but... I'm... it all goes wrong, Kouta-san. I was... I was blind... it's my fault. I'm so sorry...
[He can't ever really be forgiven, even in a perfect situation where things from now on go as well as they can. There's nothing he can do but try and prevent things from going wrong again.]
[Takatora's never felt at such a loss for what to do as he does right now, except for perhaps when he'd first heard about the forest and had yet to meet Ryouma. Ryouma had managed to give him hope that somehow they could survive, but for that brief time... the feeling in his heart was the same as it is now. What are the chances he can change anything? He's not even sure if he'll be alive when he returns to his own world, or if he'll ever be able to go back.
It really does hurt, to think of all the sacrifices he'd made and all the time he'd spent trying to save the world. ... and this is how it ends, with all of his work being for nothing. Nearly half of his life wasted.]
... I'm sorry, Mitsuzane.
[Takatora's not even sure what he's apologizing for, but he feels like his brother needs to hear it. At the very least, maybe he's apologizing for never being there for his brother in the first place. Maybe that would have changed things, somehow.]
It really does hurt, to think of all the sacrifices he'd made and all the time he'd spent trying to save the world. ... and this is how it ends, with all of his work being for nothing. Nearly half of his life wasted.]
... I'm sorry, Mitsuzane.
[Takatora's not even sure what he's apologizing for, but he feels like his brother needs to hear it. At the very least, maybe he's apologizing for never being there for his brother in the first place. Maybe that would have changed things, somehow.]
... You're not the one who did this. These were my choices. It's my responsibility to bear the consequences for them. I don't know what happens to make us leave this place or come back... but if there's anything left when I get back home, it'll be my responsibility to bear it. I've been trying to keep myself busy and out of trouble here as much as I can, and to try to help other people not make the same sorts of mistakes I did... but it's not enough. Nothing ever will be.
[He pulls away a little, gently, and looks at Isamu, half a smile on his lips.]
At least I have Pokemon that are better at being heroes than I ever could be. Isn't that right, Isamu?
[The Lucario straightens up, looking somewhat pleased with himself - and the change in his Trainer's aura.]
[He pulls away a little, gently, and looks at Isamu, half a smile on his lips.]
At least I have Pokemon that are better at being heroes than I ever could be. Isn't that right, Isamu?
[The Lucario straightens up, looking somewhat pleased with himself - and the change in his Trainer's aura.]
No one's got it figured out, as far as I've heard. Not even the people who lived here originally. People just show up and everyone just kinda deals with it. And we've got, like, aliens? And people who could do stuff like breathe fire before they got here. [She pulls a face.] It's weird.
... hey. Hey. It's okay.
[Kouta rubs at Micchy's shoulders, frown evident on his face. He really doesn't like seeing his friend like this. He's still not even sure he can believe what Micchy is saying, but...
He manages a small smile, barely.]
No matter what happens, we're still friends, right?
[Kouta rubs at Micchy's shoulders, frown evident on his face. He really doesn't like seeing his friend like this. He's still not even sure he can believe what Micchy is saying, but...
He manages a small smile, barely.]
No matter what happens, we're still friends, right?
[He doesn't answer, and Yuko trots over to nudge at the pair gently. Micchy barely looks at her, just staring down at the ground. 'Friends'? How could Kouta ever want to be friends with him after that?]
[ HE'S BETTER THAN JUST NO ONE D:< ]
Did anyone else show up with you? I've seen you and Anna so far.
[ But hey, it wouldn't be a reunion with San-chan without some pettiness, right? He looks down to the yipping Growlithe and immediately frowns. ]
What the hell, you started with a fire-type too?
[ As far as Bandou's starter goes, he still lumbering up to meet them. He's not as nimble now that he's a Dusclops. ]
Did anyone else show up with you? I've seen you and Anna so far.
[ But hey, it wouldn't be a reunion with San-chan without some pettiness, right? He looks down to the yipping Growlithe and immediately frowns. ]
What the hell, you started with a fire-type too?
[ As far as Bandou's starter goes, he still lumbering up to meet them. He's not as nimble now that he's a Dusclops. ]
[Oh, hey new friend! Pachirisu does a rather dramatic butt-wiggle on Micchy's shoulder before hopping over onto Yuko's back. Personal space? What personal space?
Meanwhile, Kouta shakes Micchy a bit, mostly out of frustration.]
Hey, come on. Right? ... Micchy?
Meanwhile, Kouta shakes Micchy a bit, mostly out of frustration.]
Hey, come on. Right? ... Micchy?
[He's used to the pitter patter of Pachirisu paws, so he doesn't really react much. But at Kouta's question, he looks up, pain written clearly on his face. It was easier to hide it from Takatora - he'd gotten used to it - but hiding it from Kouta is difficult. And the truth is he feels worse about killing Kouta than Takatora in some ways.]
[Sure, Takatora was his brother, but Kouta at least could have saved them from a disastrous end, and he removed that possibility with his former friend's death.]
How can you say that, Kouta-san? When I told you I killed you? It doesn't make sense.
[Sure, Takatora was his brother, but Kouta at least could have saved them from a disastrous end, and he removed that possibility with his former friend's death.]
How can you say that, Kouta-san? When I told you I killed you? It doesn't make sense.
[Despite Pachirisu being so happy to make a new friend, Glameow is sitting very protectively next to Kouta and doesn't seem thrilled at all by whatever is going on between his owner and this new kid.
Kouta does his best to manage a comforting smile, squeezing Micchy's shoulders again.]
Because you're my best friend and I trust you. You wouldn't kill me unless you had a good reason to. So... ... I can't be mad at you.
Kouta does his best to manage a comforting smile, squeezing Micchy's shoulders again.]
Because you're my best friend and I trust you. You wouldn't kill me unless you had a good reason to. So... ... I can't be mad at you.
[He shakes his head, trying to keep it together.]
It wasn't a very good reason in the end. ... It didn't help anything.
It wasn't a very good reason in the end. ... It didn't help anything.
... we'll figure something out, okay?
[Kouta isn't sure he wants to keep pressuring Micchy to talk about it if it's making him talk like this. So, he tugs Micchy in and gives him a tight, comforting hug.]
No matter what, we'll save everyone. ... somehow.
[Kouta isn't sure he wants to keep pressuring Micchy to talk about it if it's making him talk like this. So, he tugs Micchy in and gives him a tight, comforting hug.]
No matter what, we'll save everyone. ... somehow.
[So much hugging. He stares a little, and finally just leans against Kouta, feeling small and weak.]
Okay. ... Okay. If anyone can figure it out, it's you.
Okay. ... Okay. If anyone can figure it out, it's you.
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