[Week 25, Day 5] [Accidental Video] I Was Not Here, I Did Not Die

[erase_to_forget]

[The video feed starts with a breeze catching the hem of a black coat, and then as the device is kicked by a black boot, looks upward to a pale chin and hints of a cold stern face, hidden by the brim of a tattered hat and sleek black hair

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[pinktintedgamon]

[The day that they’d said their prayers and sent the gods their heartfelt wishes for their friend, Raikou had come to terms with everything. He’d let go the lingering spikes of jealousy and confusion, let go the guilt that he’d failed his friend much as he was able… and he’d let go his hold on his friend.

He’d said his goodbye to the young man that he had grown to consider a brother and sent his most ferverant prayers to the gods that Yoite’s soul be reincarnated to find peace and love and most importantly, a family that would treat him tenderly - far away from the world of Nabari.

Barely had those prayers flown from his lips on wings of hope that he sees this.

This video that brings to mind those beautifully cold eyes he’d once admired, the emotionless mask that had turned out to be more real than projection. Dulled azure eyes faded with the lack of light, devoid of hope.

Devoid of recognition for the thing he's even looking at.

Eyes that held only a grim determination and maybe, if one paused the feed and just gave them a long hard stare, that hint of fear. (Of course, the last could well be his own projection of the boy he’d known onto this one.)

And as he stared at the stilled image of those eyes… he could feel the heat of fury sliding beneath his skin. Because how could they? Everything that they’ve done, everyone that they’ve fought for and lost, the tanned fingers that had slipped from his grasp the night before, the times he’s fought to held the boy in the Hitomi, the struggle to make him see that this life he had was, in fact a life - and that there were people that were glad to hold him in their hearts and memories - all of that.

Gone. As if it had never been.

Effort wasted. Heartache a cold reward.
And he tells himself that he’s just jumping to conclusions. That he could have the entire situation read completely and utterly wrong and that this is just like every other time Yoite has died and that the boy running is running this way.

That he’s running home.

But even that hope felt hollow, as if trying to convince himself of the lie.]

[Video]

[pinktintedgamon]

[So it’s with a deep, slow breath or three that he finally flicks on the feed from the rock where he’d been sitting, slowly dressing from his soak in the hot springs. His face set once again in the old familiar mask of a serenity he doesn’t feel, and smiles a small serene smile.]

Yoite-kun? Are you alright?

Re: [Video]

[erase_to_forget]

I am unharmed. [Yoite answers almost automatically. The way he would have with Hattori, or even Yukimi on those days that Yoite used all his strength to refuse contact with the world outside himself.

And so confronted with another face of the Kairoshu, the habits of a weapon are easily triggered.]

Re: [Video]

[pinktintedgamon]

[Such a terse answer does nothing to ease his suspicions, and so it's with the same neutral tone that he asks simply.]

And your current location?

[Because it's honestly the best way to figure out if Yoite is Yoite or not.]

Re: [Video]

[erase_to_forget]

Is none of your concern. [Yoite states simply, concerned of Raikou's, the right hand of Hattori, intentions with either him and Miharu]

[Video]

[pinktintedgamon]

[Well damn. This Yoite's is clearly not the same. Damndamndamngodsfuckingdammit! How could they do this? How could they bring him back, here, where they'd all have to watch him die, start all over, force them to rebuild all that hard-earned trust - just like that?

Did their prayers mean so little?

Not the time.

So Raikou just locks a small, calm smile into place and continues on as if there were no great shifts in his world with those five cool words.]

Actually, since Miharu-kun lives with me, it is my concern. I promised a... close friend... that I would protect him here, so I need to know that he's going to be safe in going to find you.

Re: [Video]

[erase_to_forget]

[Yoite takes that information with little interest. Whatever relationship Shimizu Raikou had with Rokujo Miharu doesn't matter as of now, as of his arrival because he and Miharu have made a promise. And whatever happens after that promise is fulfilled, well that obviously won't concern him, so Raikou may do as he wishes then, but UNTIL THEN, Yoite wasn't going to relinquish his hold (what he thinks is his hold) on Miharu]

Rokujo Miharu is no longer your concern.

[I said 'good day']

[Video]

[pinktintedgamon]

...It's been a while since I've seen your cold stare. I still like it.

[Raikou's own voice is smooth as silk and firm, yet calm as a summer day as he watches this young man revert and reverse every last shred of trust he'd fought so painstakingly for.]

But that doesn't change the fact that I will continue to fulfill the promise a made to a dear friend and protect my cousin. The you you are today, unfortunately, doesn't get to decide whether Miharu-kun is or isn't a concern of mine.

Re: [Video]

[erase_to_forget]

[Yoite chooses not to respond. Clearly the man is not getting the point, and worse is starting to dip into the nonsensical. It doesn't matter really. If the man is so determined to have some claim on Miharu, then he can come fight Yoite for it, but he's not going to hand the boy over to Hattori's dog.

Raikou's 'promise' is none of Yoite's concern.]