January 5th

[gracious_savior]

It would seem I have recently fallen into a difficult and troubling matter if rumors and what some of my patrons are saying is true. Combined with the fact that I haven't seen or spoken to whom it concerns most since all the gossip began only makes it more worrying. And it's because of this that I shall be taking some time away from the business to

Comments

Screened to Jackal-san

[dan_delivery]

Jackal-san, you're talking about...Akaya-kun, right?

Re: Screened to Jackal-san

[gracious_savior]

...Yes, I am....Taichi-kun, was it? Why do you ask?

Re: Screened to Jackal-san

[dan_delivery]

So you don't know where he is either....It's just that I tried calling out to him through the quills, and someone called Akato wrote back instead. He said Akaya-kun was with him. He said that he was safe though. Oh, and that Akaya-kun was asleep and something about not letting anyone wake him up. Didn't really get what he meant by that, but it doesn't sound like he'd hurt Akaya-kun.

Re: Screened to Jackal-san

[gracious_savior]

...You've spoken to Akato? Hmm...I suppose in a way that explains a number of things, including some of the rumors. But yes, while I'm sure he wouldn't voluntarily harm Akaya, I really wish he would take into more consideration just what he does to him when he behaves like this. However, if he's refusing to say where he's at, that probably means that I'm right in guessing that I will have to go out and look for them. I doubt Akato will be in a pleasant mood when I do finally find them, but that's never stopped me before when he's thrown a temper tantrum.

Re: Screened to Jackal-san

[dan_delivery]

Yes, just on through the quills though. You know Akato? Have you met him? Well he did say he was always there, but I've never seen him around Akaya before. I guess it's reassuring to know that you know him though.

Will they be okay though? Everyone says Akaya-kun did it, but Akato said it was him. Not that I want him to get into trouble either, but what's going to happen to Akaya-kun?

Re: Screened to Taichi-kun

[gracious_savior]

Yes, I know him and have met him. It's never exactly an easy experience. But that comes with the territory when dealing with Akato, I've found, and I doubt there's anyone who could have an easy time with him. Even Hiroshi-san has his troubles with him, I'm sure, even if they more than likely can relate better to each other than others.
Though, yes, Akato is always with Akaya...but at the same time, not. It's difficult to explain.

I doubt Akaya has it in him to do what everyone is suggesting himself. So, yes, it most likely was Akato who made it happen. ....As for what will happen to Akaya because of it? ...I don't know yet. It's one of the things I believe I will have to look into considering just how bad this is sounding. And unlike before...he doesn't have the protection of being a fighter to help anymore. But I'll do everything I can to protect him.

Re: Screened to Taichi-kun

[dan_delivery]

Eeeh so he's shown himself to you? Then how come he won't let Akaya-kun know about him. It really does seem like it'd be hard to explain.

Oh...good luck then, Jackal-san. I really hope everything turns out well for you guys. I'm sure this won't be easy at all. I'll keep an eye out for him and tell you if I find out anything. Do you think they're still around here though?

Re: Screened to Taichi-kun

[gracious_savior]

He doesn't wish for Akaya to know he exists, because he believes it will cause him a lot of upset to know about him. But at the same time he seems to not realize that he already does this anyhow along with making Akaya believe he's a demon because of it.

Thank you. Any help you can offer will be greatly welcomed. And right now...I really don't know for sure if he's still around. Especially if it's Akato who's in charge. But alongside visiting the marketplace to ask some questions, there's a few people I plan to ask around here that might have some answers. I know one of them is going to make things extremely difficult for me, though.

Re: Screened to Taichi-kun

[dan_delivery]

And I don't get why Akaya-kun would be upset. It seems like Akato cares a lot for him, so wouldn't Akaya be happy about it? Wait, what do you mean that he'll think he's a demon? What does Akato have to do with that?

You're welcome. Sorry I can't really do much though. Do Sanada-san and Sakuno-chan know about this yet? Have you heard anything from them? I haven't visited them in a while, but I might try to sometime soon.

You really are a nice guy, Jackal-san. I always thought nobles didn't think about their animas so much. At least that's what I've heard.

Re: Screened to Taichi-kun

[gracious_savior]

I don't quite understand it myself, but that may be because Akato never explained it terribly well for me. ...And I take it you've never seen Akaya's anima form?

It's okay. Anything you think you can do is all that matters in helping. Including speaking to the Sanadas. I've not gotten the chance to speak to them yet but plan to eventually once I make my rounds through the city. If you get the chance to do that before me that would be wonderful.

That's the thing. He's not my anima. Nor are any of the others who work for me that are anima. Yes, I might've helped free them, but the moment I did, they were free to choose their lives. Some of them have come to live with me, some have gone off to places unknown. Akaya was the the former...until now, at least. But when it comes down to it, I'm just a possible friend and employer to them. Law may stipulate otherwise, but I've never treated them as slaves. They are more family to me than anything.

Re: Screened to Taichi-kun

[dan_delivery]

No, I haven't. I've never been to the arena before, so I've never seen it. But what's that got to do with Akato? Ah! But now that I think about it, he said it was him and not Akaya-kun. Does Akato have the same anima?

I'll tell you whatever I find out then!

They're really lucky, hehe~ A lot of good things are definitely gonna come you way someday~

Re: Screened to Taichi-kun

[gracious_savior]

Yes...and no. He's probably going to be upset with me for saying all this, but I think you deserve to know. Because in a way, you've already met Akato. You just didn't realize it, because he wasn't showing "himself". In other words, Taichi-kun, Akaya is Akato. ...Or well, somewhat. Anytime Akaya's anima shows, he turns into Akato.

Good. Try to let me know when you go to visit so that I'll hopefully have some more information for you to give them about what's going on.

They seem to think so, yes, though I sometimes wonder if what I do to rescue them will eventually come back to haunt them. It's happened before, but I guess it's things like that which make me not panic when dealing with matters like what Akaya and Akato are going through. I just wish for all of them to be happy with themselves when all is said and done, though.

Re: Screened to Taichi-kun

[dan_delivery]

...Hold on. This is taking a while to sink in. So, when Akaya-kun uses his anima, he turns into...Akato? Is it just his personality that changes, because I've heard of that, or is he literally someone else?

I'm kind of worried about Sakuno-chan though. I really don't want her to worry right now.

Why would it? You still helped them out though. Sure it won't always be smooth sailing, but at least you helped pull them out of whatever slump they were in already.

Re: Screened to Taichi-kun

[gracious_savior]

It's more like, when Akato feels like it, he takes over and when he does, Akaya turns into his anima. But no, it's not just a personality change. Or at least, I don't believe so. Have you ever heard tales of what's called a "chimera twin"? Where one dies before they're born and the other absorbs them? Sometimes the living twin shows signs of another person within them because of it. I'm pretty certain Akaya actually is one, though he's more extreme than any stories I've heard about. That might be because Akato's forever in anima form, though.

Hopefully she will be okay despite it. Try your best to keep her calm, won't you? It would be awful if the baby were affected by her stress.

...It's complicated. But I suppose it's true that as long as they're happy in the end, that's all that matters to me and I'll continue to risk things to make that happen.