[Week 17, Day 3] [Video] Laying low has its merits.
[It's been over a week now, Byakuran realises, that he's been living with Reborn and well.. since arriving here. He's been good, on the most part; he's only teased Chrome twice and stolen Reborn's coffee once. He's stayed out of trouble even! But Byakuran is naturally problematic - he's drawn towards making chaos out of silence and he well, he's
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Did you do something to Irie.
The grin fades instantly and Byakuran's face becomes conflicted, confused - concerned even. He hesitates, just for a moment before he frowns and sits straighter.]
Something's happened to Shou-chan?
[There's a war going in his mind. Part of him is telling him to leave this, to forget about it. Shouichi can look after himself, can do what he likes. Then there's the other part of him; the oldest part, forever twenty-one and-]
He isn't with you?
[Byakuran had assumed that Shouichi had simply gotten cold feet, had ran to Vongola rather than come to him.
He swallows and forces a strained grin onto his face. It's too late now, he knows; Gokudera has seen his worry (if he can call it that; last affection, stupid really..) and Byakuran is loathsome to admit that perhaps showing a little vulnerability here might get him answers quicker than pushing Gokudera's buttons.]
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He'll never be completely convinced of the sincerity of this man, and yet, he can't fully ignore those little slips, if they ever were slips in the first place.
He tilts his head, chin lowering, gaze shifting, considering. Then a decision is made: it's pointless to try bluffing anymore, he already gave away the fact Byakuran is after. Once the man has a moment to think about it at least.]
I don't know. I've not heard of him since... he was in Himorogi. I had the impression that he was heading towards you. [That conversation hadn't been private after all. He can't help but wonder if that was Byakuran's intention or not.]
Did he reach you?
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He thinks quickly and then:]
No.
[He pauses, then gives a rare serious look.]
At least - I didn't see him. Maybe he chickened out, I don't know~. I took a nap, so maybe I missed him~.
[He smiles again; easy, relaxed. The opposite of how he feels.]
If-
[Another pause as he hesitates.]
..If you don't hear from him soon, call me again, OK Gokudera-kun? Shou-chan gets up to lots of mischief if he's left on his own~.
[There's heavy implications behind his words, behind his smile. Shouichi, left to his own devices, hasn't always ended well in the past.]
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He is far from convinced. Byakuran could be faking this all to lead Gokudera's suspicions away.
Irie might not be Gokudera's favorite person, but he's family, valued member, and by that merit alone, protected - or should be at least - Gokudera's responsibility. This is the extend of how far he's willing to go to make sure the family is safe:]
I would suggest that you get your butt out there and looking for him if he means anything to you.
[A pause, another frown, then followed with a level stare.]
I'm not telling you what to do. That is none of my business. However, keep me posted in case you decide to take my advice.
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I'm not his keeper, Gokudera-kun.
[There's a discomfort in his chest as he says this, though it's not obvious on his face. He keeps his mouth schooled into a relaxed smile and then he sighs, his expression oddly nostalgic. It all feels forced.]
He'll show up wherever you are soon enough. I've known him a lot longer than you, you know~. He wanders, sometimes. He's probably gathering data on his surroundings, seeing things for himself~. He doesn't always remember to call and let you know he's OK~.
[He pauses, thinks of some of the posts he's seen on the Network recently.]
..He's good at getting himself out of sticky situations, too Gokudera-kun. There's a reason he was able to keep up with me for so long. I'll keep an eye out though; Shou-chan isn't allowed to die by some nobody's hand, after all~.
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He doesn't reply before he can put two and two together and get four instead of two and half, seeing it clearly and analytically.
He ventures a challenge, playing it upon pride and mockery, reaching for answers he's been craving to have.]
I've known Kannagara a lot longer than you have. This is not our world. You don't know the dangers of this world. [Or do you?]
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His ability, it ages every day, more so when he uses it - the strain on him afterwards is becoming more tiresome, taking longer to shake off. He remembers the time spent in a sick bed the hours leading up towards his final moments. If he used it now, he could be recovering for days.
However. However he's curious about this place - he doesn't know if what he'll see is all the Byakuran's he's seen before, or all the new Byakuran's created from the new future - or if he'll see all the other possible Byakuran's stuck in all the other parallel Kannagara's. He's curious.
He's tempted.
He shifts and raises an eyebrow at Gokudera.]
Gokudera-kun, can I trust you~?
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And so, he will give a little.
See where that goes. ]
No, [ honest and direct, ] but you knew that already. I'm prone to believe that you asked because you're getting somewhere with this.
[ He has, however, already made a point of being willing to work with Byakuran, to some extend. ]
What did you have in mind?
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[He pauses to run his hand through his hair.]
I don't trust you at all, Gokudera-kun, but I know you~. I'm giving you the opportunity monitor me up close while I jump into other worlds, with whatever resources you have. I don't care what you do, or how you do it - my only condition is that you make sure I'm safe afterwards, and you share any abnormalities with me~.
And-
[It's probably obvious on his face by now, how much he does not want to be asking this.]
-If I find anything, that might be of interest to you, I'll tell you~.
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Tilting his chin down, he regards Byakuran with a measuring gaze, but when he speaks, his voice is firm. ]
Deal.
We'll talk about this later. I will see what I can gather.
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That's fine~. I'll be waiting, Gokudera-kun~.
[He has no doubt that Gokudera won't let this opportunity pass. With a small, smug smirk, he gives one final mocking wave and cuts the feed.]
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