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[deathlessness]

[There will be a voice message here eventually...]

Comments

Voice, forward dated to after sunset

[bornfromdeath]

Shinji is gone. He has been missing three days while in the pursuit of a dangerous criminal. Urick. I know you bear him no love, but Kazuhiko Amamiya is going to be a victim if he dies. I've waited the length of time that Shinji set. Now time has run out.

I cannot fight. The Darkness will destroy me. But you can. I know that you are capable of it. So, Urick... will you go look for him for me?

[deathlessness]

[Oh, wonderful. Urick's first reaction? Suspicion. He still sounds cheerful as ever when he answers, though.]

You're not telling me he doesn't have other friends to go and look for him, are you?

[bornfromdeath]

[Kimihiko's voice is entirely casual despite his next words.]

Those other people will prefer to go after his enemy, to punish him, rather than to find Kazuhiko Amamiya and save him. But this is retrieval, not elimination. I will take care of the person he was after if he is dead.

Besides, Urick... isn't it better to cast your net wide? It's a very big town. One person is not as good as ten.

[deathlessness]

I see. That's a little contradictory, don't you think? Those other friends would look for revenge rather than search for him, but you still have a metaphorical ten?

[He might sound uncaring, but his mind was already on Kazuhiko. Where was he? Was he really in danger, or were Shinji and Kimihiko toying with him? Perhaps he should try to contact him...]

You're right, though. It's a big city. What makes you think I stand a chance of finding him?

[bornfromdeath]

[Overriding the question...]

I never said that I wasn't going to contact others. But the fact remains that you are one of the few [tools] people I know will not take the opportunity to kill them if you find them

[deathlessness]

[So you do know everything. No dancing around the subject this time, at least.]

I'm out already. I have a job to do, after all. But I'll keep an eye out for him, and get the others to do the same.

[A pause.]

What if he's already dead?

[bornfromdeath]

[Not this time. Kimihiko is trying not to show it but he is not stable enough to focus on his usual dance.]

If you discover his body, inform me.

[A beat.]

If he is dead, I will arrange the elimination of Ruperto Kelly regardless of how many people want that person back alive.

[deathlessness]

[Ruperto Kelly... Where did he recognise that name from...?]

...Ah. So he was after a bounty.

[But that reaction... Well, he won't mention what would most likely happen to the body. Not something Kimihiko needs to be concerned about, though of course it meant that there might not be a body to find. His tone is a little more gentle when he speaks again.]

I'll do what I can.

[bornfromdeath]

...yes. He told me that if he was not back in three days to presume him dead and not returning.

[But he can't.]

[He can't just give up on that hope.]

Thank you, Urick. Sorry to put you to this much trouble.

[deathlessness]

It's not a problem.

[A pause, just a little awkward. It hardly seemed the right time, but...]

-You should try being more open. People might be more inclined to trust you.

[Not that he's a hypocrite or anything.]

[bornfromdeath]

[Be more open...? Has Urick read him that well?]

I get better results the way I act. People would not wish to trust the real me. Shinji is the only one that accepts us as we are.

[Well. Apart from-]

Urick. When did you realise?

[deathlessness]

[And there's another snippet. Shinji, the only one who accepts him?]

Just now. You hardly seem like the vengeful type, yet there you are swearing retribution against the man who might have... well.

[A whole lot of emotion that Kimihiko didn't show. It's hardly surprising. After all, Urick could relate.]

If I hadn't realised, I expect I'd still think you and Shinji were up to something.

[bornfromdeath]

I'm not vengeful. But those two are-

[No. No, he will not confess that truth to this man.]

-important to me. Shinji is like family and Kazuhiko Amamiya is essential for the survival of Shinji Nishizono.

[A beat.] Up to something? Like what?

[Then he pauses again.]

Ah- if you find a body, and Shinji and Kazuhiko aren't alive, let me know where it is. I'll need to arrange a funeral.

[And retrieve the secrets to prevent others finding them.]

[deathlessness]

Oh, I know. That's exactly what I mean. [And you just confirmed it for him.]

Don't worry, I'll let you know if I find anything.

[bornfromdeath]

...why does it stand out to you that my best friend is someone I would mourn?

Thank you. It is imperative that they are found.

[deathlessness]

Ah, I suppose I'm not being very clear. I mean that you aren't a vengeful type, so swearing retribution is... ah, how to put it? It's an emotional reaction. Much more than you seem willing to show normally. Perhaps I'm a fool, but it's proof enough for me that you're serious and not... Well, you know how it is.