Who: ANYONE AND EVERYONE Where: ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE When: May 29 - 31 Summary: GET IN HERE AND MINGLE Rating: BUT PLEASE MARK YOUR THREAD CONTENT ACCORDINGLY Log:
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.]
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?
[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.
[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.]
[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.]
[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.]
... 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.]
[Takatora listens, even though he doesn't know what to say. He gives Mitsuzane's body one last, firm hug before releasing him, though the touch doesn't feel anything like it might have when they were younger. It's as though all of the affection has been taken out of the action and he's doing it more out of obligation than anything else.
Now that the two are apart, Sylveon whines softly and pads back to Takatora, lightly pawing at his leg to be picked back up. He can tell his trainer is still very sad and wants to help him, somehow.]
Do you feel it's helped you, being here?
[Takatora doesn't look down at Sylveon, but he does put one hand back down to his side, which Sylveon gratefully accepts by wrapping one of his feelers around it and pressing his body against Takatora's leg.]
... I think so. I've been trying to help people as much as I can. The right way, I mean.
[He does have his obligations to Team Rocket, but breaking from them right now would just be foolish - and possibly dangerous.]
There are some people who... understand more than I could have imagined. They don't know everything that happened, of course, but... some of them know enough. And Isamu and another one of my Pokemon tend to drag me back whenever I start to get off track. Training them is... interesting, and somewhat humbling in other ways. They can be extremely powerful and extremely intelligent. Even the smallest of them are much smarter than any sort of animal I've ever seen at home.
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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.]
no subject
[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?
no subject
[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.
no subject
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.]
no subject
[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.]
no subject
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.]
no subject
[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 subject
Now that the two are apart, Sylveon whines softly and pads back to Takatora, lightly pawing at his leg to be picked back up. He can tell his trainer is still very sad and wants to help him, somehow.]
Do you feel it's helped you, being here?
[Takatora doesn't look down at Sylveon, but he does put one hand back down to his side, which Sylveon gratefully accepts by wrapping one of his feelers around it and pressing his body against Takatora's leg.]
no subject
[He does have his obligations to Team Rocket, but breaking from them right now would just be foolish - and possibly dangerous.]
There are some people who... understand more than I could have imagined. They don't know everything that happened, of course, but... some of them know enough. And Isamu and another one of my Pokemon tend to drag me back whenever I start to get off track. Training them is... interesting, and somewhat humbling in other ways. They can be extremely powerful and extremely intelligent. Even the smallest of them are much smarter than any sort of animal I've ever seen at home.