http://usedrage.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] usedrage.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] route_10652011-01-07 10:00 pm

And when he held his wounded friend in his arms and death was all around

Who: [livejournal.com profile] usedrage [livejournal.com profile] miniworth & [livejournal.com profile] wingless_falcon
Where: The Pokemon Center --> Southeast of Goldenrod City
When: Sunday evening.
Summary: Ken wakes up from his canon-update coma. SHIT GOES DOWN.
Rating: R for Mature Concepts and triggers. TRIGGERS. LIKE MURDER AND DEATH AND SUICIDE. STAY OUT IF YOU CAN'T HANDLE IT.
Log:
Ken was stirring. Only barely, but he was stirring.

His dreams were uncomfortable and dark, and of the place he had once called home. Everything felt cold on his skin, as he felt himself dropping off in the alley behind Port Island Station. The temperatures were mild, even warm, but Ken felt as if he were surrounded in ice, freezing to death with the regret and knowledge of what he had caused--even with the ability to change things. He tried so hard to stop his fingers from shaking in the deserted alley that had been bloodstained only the night before.

Suppressants.

Shinjiro had been taking suppressants. He was going to die anyway. That did not make Ken feel much better--if anything it made him feel worse. If it weren't for him, if it weren't for his mother, for his revenge, Shinjiro would not have had to die.

Conflicted feelings on Shinjiro's actions or not, Ken was certain he no longer desired Shinjiro's death. Not while the man had stood before him and thanklessly taken the shot that would have killed Ken. Not while he had seen Shinjiro's guilt tear at him so badly he felt he needed to die to fix things--at his own hands when Ken could not commit the deed.


Ken's hand twitched in the Pokemon Center as if he were trying to grab something.

He stared at the evoker in his hands. How silly SEES had been not to take it away from him. How silly they had been to give it to him in the first place. Giving an eleven year old boy power beyond most people's wildest dreams? The power to kill in one shot, the power to heal someone on the verge of death... Could that really be trusted with Ken?

He knew if they found him, the would not let him keep it.

There is no reason for him to feel regret. That is the nature of revenge.

Ken wasn't sure, now, that Nemesis would even come to his call. The goddess of Divine Retribution--would she have abandoned him when he showed mercy, when he didn't think that a life for a life was necessary? The thought scared him. Ken was alone, left behind, and maybe powerless.

He lifted the evoker to his forehead. He had to see, he had to know--would she come for him? His breath shaking, his finger rested on the trigger.
Three... two... on--

The evoker clattered to the ground beside him. He couldn't do it--not... not now.

The minutes ticked away, his eyes becoming heavy, tears clinging stubbornly to his lashes, though he swore to himself that he was not crying. Darkness began to close in around the edges of his eyes. He was so very tired... but he was so sure that this was not a good place to fall asleep, his former home or not.

He thought, for only moments before darkness closed in, of the tiny home that had stood here, two years ago, and the woman who had inhabited it with him--

Do not fear, this life is but a stepping stone...


Ken's eyes flickered open. It was very bright for the back alley, he thought. Or perhaps this wasn't the back alley, and he had died there. And now he was in whatever came next.

... No, he wasn't. He couldn't be. He finally tore his eyes away from the ceiling and looked to his side.

Miles-san... The expression he regarded his friend with was something between shock and horror.

Johto... he was back in Johto.
miniworth: (Travelar.)

[personal profile] miniworth 2011-01-08 04:31 am (UTC)(link)
Miles offers a small smile back. The déjà vu was sending chills up his spine as he got to his feet, eyes lingering on his small Growlithe, one hand reaching into his pocket where Pess rested there, in her Pokéball (he disliked having to keep her there, but he couldn't let a now eight-foot-tall Arcanine out inside).

"I'll go get Nurse Joy."

And with a last look at Ken, he stepped out of the room. Leaving his best friend there wasn't making him feel good at all... but he wanted to trust Ken.
miniworth: (Pip)

[personal profile] miniworth 2011-01-08 04:56 am (UTC)(link)
"Yip." Is Pip's answer, one paw raised as he clings, just for a moment, to Ken's sleeve with his tiny claws.

Remus had left with Miles, and the puppy was the only one left in the room. He gets to his feet, a short bark at Ken the only sound he makes as he stares intently up at Ken - "what are you doing," he seemed to ask.
miniworth: (The horror.)

[personal profile] miniworth 2011-01-08 05:10 am (UTC)(link)
He'd had a sinking feeling that Ken wouldn't stay.

Miles hadn't even tried to find Nurse Joy - the tight feeling of fear in his chest tightened with every step he took away from the room, and before he'd even reached the end of the hall, he had turned back, hurrying back to where he hoped, hoped so dearly, that Ken would be there.

But the room was empty, his best friend replaced by one open window, Pip whining up at him in a small voice.

"Ken.."

Miles' memories flashed back momentarily to the day, back home, when he woke up after his father's death. Running out of the hospital room, climbing up the stairs to the roof.. If Alessia Wright hadn't been there--

I have to find him.

Remus jumped off his trainer's shoulder as Miles climbed out of the window himself, his hand flying into his pocket and clicking the lock to the Pokéball, the large Arcanine appearing immediately and - picking up Ken's scent, understanding Miles' intentions - trotting after the trail.

I have to stop him.
miniworth: (The departure.)

[personal profile] miniworth 2011-01-08 05:35 am (UTC)(link)
Running was not a good idea.

Miles' head pounded with pain as his ran, his body feeling sluggish even as he knew that he was running as fast as he could. Eventually, though, Pess bounded back to him and threw him on her back before she resumed pursuing Ken's scent. Catching his breath and clinging to her mane, Miles swallowed the lump of fear that threatened to escape his lips, the burn in the back of his throat as vile rose from his stomach.

His fever and fear-induced delusion was still giving him flashes of that day, in the hospital, as he had stood on the outside of the rooftop's fence. Phoenix's mother had stopped him, then, because she was the only one who was there for him.

He'd felt so alone, before she came. How alone was Ken, now?

"...Stupid Ken." Miles understood, so painfully, what his best friend must be feeling now. Ken had told him about what his future might hold... maybe. Maybe this had something to do with it. It made him feel even more sick, thinking about it.

He crushed his eyes shut, fighting off the headache, and when he opened them again, Pess had brought them to the edge of the beach.
miniworth: (I don't want to regret.)

[personal profile] miniworth 2011-01-08 06:08 am (UTC)(link)
Leaving Pess on the sand with his jacket - he'd need it later - Miles approached Ken. It was already cold, and his body would not cease its shivering, and the moment the water touched his skin, he felt as if he'd stepped into flames instead. He almost forgot to breathe, it was so cold.

He took another, hesitant step forward before he looked up at Ken, a distance away. Alone.

What had that one book once said? A river, between this life and the other. Miles almost kicked himself for the terrible timing of these thoughts. Gritting his teeth against the cold, the fear, and anger, he pressed forward, towards Ken. Slowly, slowly..

One step. Would he be able to save him, he wondered.

A second step. Every other attempt he'd made to help someone had failed.

A third. Why would this be.. any different?

A fourth, and he reached out for Ken.

A fifth, his hand, numb from the cold, the bandages soaked and threatening to unravel, closed around Ken's wrist.

I don't want to see another person get hurt.
miniworth: (Not going to lose this argument!)

[personal profile] miniworth 2011-01-08 06:18 am (UTC)(link)
Miles narrowed his eyes, frowning.

"Neither are you," he said, thickly. He set his jaw and clenched his free hand to keep his voice from shaking. He felt so cold, and his head was going to split any second now, he was sure of it. But he had to take Ken back, first..
Edited 2011-01-08 06:18 (UTC)
miniworth: (If I could shield myself from the pain.)

[personal profile] miniworth 2011-01-08 06:27 am (UTC)(link)
Miles understood. He understood so well what Ken's actions meant. And he steeled his grip, shaking his head.
miniworth: (sad)

[personal profile] miniworth 2011-01-08 06:42 am (UTC)(link)
"Ken-- you can't sit here. You're going to get sick."

But Miles made no move to force Ken to his feet. He couldn't, because he knew how Ken must be feeling. He knelt down to his friend's level, grimacing at the icy water that hit him when he did, and placed his hands on Ken's shoulders.

"Let's go back to the shore."

Come back with me.
miniworth: (trademark sleeve clutching)

[personal profile] miniworth 2011-01-08 06:59 am (UTC)(link)
Miles was suddenly aware, again, of the tightness in his chest and the turning of his stomach. Fighting down the vile - watching Ken was like taking a step back in time, watching himself through an emotional mirror. He grit his teeth and secured his hold on Ken's shoulders - not to pull him to standing, but just to show that he was still there. That Ken was still there.

He could only venture a guess as to what was eating away at his best friend. But how could it be possible? Ken had never left that room..

"....What day was it, Ken?"
miniworth: (If I could shield myself from the pain.)

[personal profile] miniworth 2011-01-08 07:12 am (UTC)(link)
October fifth. Ken's tale about that date came back to Miles immediately, and his frown deepened.

"...Come on, Ken, you've got to get out of here."

He shifted, moving his arms around his friend and pulling Ken to his feet. Miles' legs felt so numb, he was amazed by his own ability to move at all. He pulled Ken closer and took a step forward. If Ken was not willing to walk on his own, he knew, Pess would come to his aid.

"I won't let you die here."
miniworth: (This face I don't want to see you make.)

[personal profile] miniworth 2011-01-08 07:21 am (UTC)(link)
Miles shook his wet hair out of his face, eyes set on the shore, as he pulled Ken forward.

He had no words to give that would make Ken feel better now. He never would have, and he just held onto Ken tighter. He wondered which one of them felt more afraid at the moment - Ken, who failed, or him, who still didn't know what would happen.

Another step, and he looked up to see that Pess, Miles' jacket on her back for safekeeping, was making her way toward them.
miniworth: (Default)

[personal profile] miniworth 2011-01-08 07:33 am (UTC)(link)
".....He was hurt protecting you, wasn't he?"

When she caught up to the two trainers in the water, the first thing Pess did was to nudge Ken with her large muzzle, licking his face. With Pess in tow, Miles dragged Ken the last few feet to the beach, lowering Ken to seating and himself collapsing to his knees, breathing laboredly, once they were well away from the icy waves.

"He died protecting you, didn't he?"
Edited 2011-01-08 07:34 (UTC)
miniworth: (Watching things pass by)

[personal profile] miniworth 2011-01-08 10:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Miles dragged himself to his feet and, with hands shaking badly from the cold, he took his jacket from Pess, bringing it over to Ken. Kneeling by his friend, he gestured for Ken to take off his soaking jacket.

"...You can't die now, Ken."

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