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[adventlead]

[Falling to the ground, Kadaj's communicator is accidentally turned on video. If one looks to the corner, they will see that he's in the public library. But not much can be seen other than that, seeing as Kadaj's back is to the screen. As his leg is grabbed, a voice that isn't his can be heard, even though the one in question isn't seen.

A

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[purgatory_maren]

[Unaware of what just happened, Minato was positive by the time he got to the library the fight would be over. Whoever or whatever was involved most likely fled or one of the two would be a big pile of broken bones and bruises while the other laughed, he thought. Kadaj was good at getting into these situations. This time, though, he had a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach, knowing what he would have to do. Kadaj attempted to set fire to the library and assaulted someone. He would have to make good on his promises to keep work and personal life separate and arrest the remnant. All the talks he'd had with him, he figured he'd understand but-

His thoughts were interrupted by his arrival at the library. Time flies when you're mad with thought. He thinks suspiciously of other man, Tsunami, before he goes through those doors. Fighting monsters at the library? He'd check later on if he had anything to do with this. Right then, he needed to focus. Minato pushes through the doors, katana drawn and ready for whatever might be there, monster, human- ...Kadaj. Minato narrowed his eyes and stepped quietly through the dark, mindful of any sound.]

... This is Minato Arisato. If there is anyone here right now I advise you to stop what you're doing and come forward. Do not attempt to slip away unnoticed, you will be caught and arrested.

GET OUT HERE, NOW, KADAJ!

[His voice echoed through the building. His disappointment in the remnant barely showed in his voice. His duty to people in Discedo came first in the moment, he would sit and talk to Kadaj later. Cautiously, he rounded a corner- and something caught his eye in the short distance. Someone in a heap on the floor? Well, that wasn't a surprise. But he couldn't see anyone else around? Nobody answered. No echoing footsteps. As he neared... whoever it was, he spoke again.]

...I can help you, but I'll need you to coope-

[Barely three feet away and it dawned on him. By two he shoos away the wolf lapping up the blood on the floor, who stays nearby growling. He couldn't move forward another step when it sunk in, who that was, barely recognizable until he saw the blood coated strands of silver hair.

Foolishly, Minato lowered his blade. He was cold, in shock. Blank. This had to be a nightmare.]

Kadaj?

[prodigal_axe]

[Shinjiro darted through the city at a ground eating pace. By the time he stopped in front of the library, his lungs were screaming at him. He had to pause and suck in a breath before he could go on. Pieces of conversations floated through his mind, taunting him. What he'd said to Rinoa.]

'He'll be fine.' 'It's all talk, nothing's actually happened...'

[And now, one sick twist of a weapon made lies of all that. Made them ominous. A jinx, even. He felt dizzy and sick-- but had no time to dwell on any of that. After one more impatient breath, he headed inside the library. Steeled himself for the sight that awaited him. But the first person he locked eyes on wasn't one he expected.

Minato. How'd he get there so quick? And beyond him, a fallen, familiar shape with blood pooling underneath it. Shit. He barely noticed the nearby wolf... he was stunned beyond noticing it. It hurt like hell to see Kadaj wrecked like that. No matter how bitter things had gone between them, he'd always cared about the remnant a lot. He had to shove down a hot wave of guilt-- had to try and get Minato away from this.]

Dont... Don't look. Just go outside, I'll take care of it.

[purgatory_maren]

[At the sound of the voice Minato swung around and cut his blade through the air with a lethal downward slash, but way too far away from Shinji to do much else but send a gust of wind from the force. Minato's expression was twisted- crooked and trembling smile, sweating and pale. But his eyes... There's nothing familiar about them. Crazed almost. He stared through the other young man as if the truth stood behind him, horrible and mocking, and if he could only cut it in two none of this would ever have happened. The katana trembled in his burning grip and his dry lips parted, sticking to one another as they peeled apart to make way for his unstable words.]

...N-no... You go outside... YOU get the fuck out...

[Eerily calm as he always was, those words held an underlying bite. What right did he have? What right did anyone have- coming in here and telling him to leave his lover there on the floor for the wolves to-- The wolf. The blue-haired boy swung around without a bit of warning and slashed, ending the wolf that crept up behind him by nearly decapitating it. Then he carelessly stepped over the twitchy corpse and took the final foot to reach Kadaj. Well, what used to be Kadaj. If he could think clearly, he would have thought that he couldn't remember the last time he felt so crazy. How could he even express it? He felt like cupping it all in his arms and pulling him back together. Fixing him somehow, making him whole.

Further ignoring Shinji's words, Minato stepped into the thick puddle of the remnant's blood and knelt beside the mess. He'd done this many a time. None of those times was his lover so destroyed. There was no saving him this time. He didn't run fast enough, wasn't convincing enough with his words. Didn't have the heart to manipulate Kadaj like he'd heard so many others had. If he did, would Kadaj be dead right then? If he tried to twist him to his will and force him to be something he wasn't? Good and trustworthy?

With a trembling sigh and a barely understandable "Oh god", Minato dragged Souba across the floor and away from Kadaj, never breaking his stare from what's left of him.]

What did you think you could do, Shinjiro? Tape him up, good as new? You'll do the same thing as me... You'll just sit here and wait for them to do something about this, like we all always have to do. Because we have to rely on them for every goddamn little thing. We're just their little pets, just like Kadaj always says...

[prodigal_axe]

... Sorry. Not gonna happen.

[The sword flashed in Minato's hand and sent a vicious blast of wind through the air, ruffling Shinjiro's hair and coat-- but not his expression. He didn't even wince. The traces of pain bled off his face. He'd deal with all that later. Had to put them away for now if Minato was going to fall apart like this.

He wanted to just put his coat over Kadaj, or something, until he disappeared into whatever place the scientists kept their dead. Instead he waited uneasily while Minato killed the wolf and then knelt in the cooling puddle of the remnant's blood. An eerie sight. Somehow he hadn't expected this, not this exactly. Psychotic rage or cold, yeah, but what kind of crazy was this? Was it grieving or something worse?

Hell if he knew.

Once Minato dragged Souba away from the body, Shinji took a couple steps closer. Then a couple more. Closed his throat against the sight... he knelt down, unsure of what to do... depended on the reaction he got. He glanced up at those words. His eyes hardened at them and he scoffed, low in his throat.]

Wouldn't do the same thing as you. Talking about them won't change anything... you gotta go calm down. See your friends or something. He's gonna come back...

[purgatory_maren]

[Minato's eyes darted up toward Shinji as he neared, tense and dangerous like an animal guarding it's prey as he assessed the situation. His heart pounded hard in his chest and once in a while an invading thought managed to slip through his clouded mind- 'What are you doing, Minato?' 'Your friend wants to help you', 'He cared, too.' It helped him to ease off of his friend and he turns his gaze back down. Why was he looking at this? Why did he want to reach out and stroke his hair when he shouldn't even be so close?]

Who knows how long it'll be... Two days. Three? A week? What if he doesn't come back, Shinji? If they fix him and ship him off someplace what could we really do about it?

[Minato's trembling made it harder for him to stay balanced, even on his knees and without thinking he sat down. Who even cares anymore... the blood was Kadaj's. Maybe that was why he could look upon him that way, touch his blood. As different as they were, Minato was at one with him and he couldn't just look away from the gory mess in disgust. Strength for his lover, however, was bleeding into temporary insanity.

With a wet sniff, Minato took Souba and set it across his lap, watching Shinji with a slightly calmer expression as he fidgeted with the tassels. He no longer had that twisted smile on his face, but his cheeks were now wet with flowing tears he couldn't even feel. No weeping or choked noises- could it even be considered crying? They dripped from his chin without any acknowledgment, not even aware it was happening.]

The same thing as me? There's nothing you can do, so don't act like you can just walk in and take control of a situation like you always do. You're as helpless as everyone else is... But some are more helpless than others. ...I'm not Going. Anywhere.

[prodigal_axe]

[Though he picked up on the predatory stance, Shinjiro decided to ignore it. Not the time to worry about that. Instead, he slowly looked over Kadaj's ruined, still form-- it had taken seconds, just a few of them, to make him into this broken thing. He slowly moved his scarred left hand and rested it on Kadaj's forehead--brought it back coated in blood. So much of it. He could barely think straight or hear what Minato said, but it sparked a memory from long-ago conversations.]

Three days... I think.

[When Minato sat down in the spreading gore, Shinjiro shot him a guarded, concerned look. Kadaj or no, he ought to drag him right out of there. But he didn't, wouldn't. Any minute now that torn corpse would disappear. Might as well let him stay here until then. And he'd stay, too. But after that...? He wasn't sure where to bring his friend. The hospital, maybe. He didn't seem as crazed, but he didn't look well either.]

Whatever. Stay here for now, if you want. I'll just do the same.

[His stubborn, rough tones were a little distant. More an act than usual, even, but this wasn't the time or place to let his guard down.]

[purgatory_maren]

[Uncontrollable waves of... jealousy? Possessiveness? -Washed over him when Shinji touched Kadaj. Even he hadn't done that. Hadn't even covered him or stroked his hair. If he could think clearly, he'd think there was no reason to feel anything like that. The angry emotions he felt then had no backing, just there because there was something wrong with him. Shinji had done nothing, and he knew it.

Still, Minato removed his jacket and moved closer, on his knees once again, in order to gently drape it over Kadaj, all the while eyeing Shinji. Once he was done fussing over how the jacket was laid, how even it was or wasn't, what parts were more important to him to cover up (all things he normally wouldn't bother with). He was well aware then, that Shinji wasn't going anywhere and with a huff, he plops back down and takes Souba up again, into his lap. Examining the other boy, Minato decided instead that if he were to stay, he would be completely useless with nothing on him. Stomping down on the hilt of his katana, he kicks it across the floor, sending it sliding across, through the blood, to Shinji's feet. If something happened, Minato would fight with Souba.]

Make yourself useful. Take it.

[He hadn't meant anything offensive with his words, not that he could help it. With a final trembling sigh, he scoots back closer to the wall to lean on. He was definitely starting to feel lightheaded, and it was all turning from madness to sadness, very, very slowly but enough for him to get that lump in his throat.

Or maybe that was just him needing to throw up.

He nearly did, heaving and placing a bloody hand to his face to stop it, but managing to force it down, not wanting to do that by Kadaj. Disrespectful, he thought.]

...Stop it. I know it bothers you.