KRW fic: The Melancholy of NEVER (2/2)
Title: The Melancholy of NEVER
Fandom: Kamen Rider W
Character: Philip, Katsumi, the rest of NEVER
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Warning: spoilers for KRW: Forever A to Z movie.
Summary: In which Philip totally fails at being a prisoner.
previous part.
vi.
“She’s jealous.” Kyosui whispers in Gozo’s ear.
Gozo twitches.
“Just look at how hard she’s glaring at Philip-chan’s back!” Kyosui keeps whispering. “She’s totally jealous now Philip-chan’s here, Katsumi-chan pays less attention to her!”
Reika glares daggers and other sharp, pointy objects at them.
Kyosui promptly hides behind Gozo.
Ken rolls his eyes.
On the other side of the room, the kid is babbling away excitedly at Katsumi, newly-drawn blueprint in hands-oblivious to all the glarings happening behind his back.
vii.
“Why,” the kid asks, “do you keep calling me ‘the kid’?”
Gozo stares at him.
“I have a name.” The kid is saying, “and it’s Philip, not ‘the kid’. Shoutarou always says it’s rude to call people other than by their designated names, or the names given by their parents.”
Gozo stares some more. Behind him, he could hear Kyosui’s stifled giggling. Bastard.
“I,” Gozo says, “don’t remember ever calling you anything. At all. Including ‘the kid’. So get lost.”
The kid tilts his head to the side. “True. You never say it to my face. But you,” the kid leans forward, peering into his face, and here’s yet another person who doesn’t know the concept of personal space, “use it in reference to me, when you’re talking to Kyosui-chan-“
-chan? Gozo mouths at Kyosui.
The bastard winks at him.
“-or Ken, or Reika, or Katsumi.” The kid pauses. And then adds, “Or in your monologues.”
“Mono-I don’t do monologues!” Gozo shouts indignantly. Then promptly throws his metal Rod at Kyosui’s way when Kyosui says he totally does under his breath. “Besides, why is Kyosui the only one *you* call with added honorific?”
The kid blinks. “Would you like me to add --chan to your name as well?”
Eyes wide in horror, Gozo opens his mouth-probably to scream his indignation-but nothing comes out. He shuts his lips. Then opens them again, but still-nothing. It’s-it’s bad enough with Kyosui, but at least that asshole has an excuse. But the thought of some… little kid calling him-the big, bad, scary him-by cutesy honorific like -chan is just-
“Are you okay?” the kid asks, crouching in front of him, since apparently he has fallen to his knees in shock.
Him.
Brought to his knees.
Over a stupid honorific.
Oh the indignity!
Faintly, he could hear Kyosui’s roaring laughter in the background.
He glares at the kid. “Don’t you dare-don’t you dare calling me by that-that-”
“What, Gozo-chan?”
Gozo screams. Then lunges for the kid, but the kid jumps out of the way just in time. Damn, but did the kid learn.
“How about this,” the kid’s smile is all teeth, “you call me by my name, and I’ll call you by your name-leaving out the cute honorific, of course.”
Gozo glares at him.
The kid keeps on smiling.
“Fine.” Gozo grits out. “Philip.”
The smile the kid gives him right then? Could practically outshine the sun.
Just saying.
“Aww~ aren’t they adorable?” Kyosui coos from where he’s hidden behind the cabinets with Ken, discreetly watching the whole thing.
“…whatever.” Ken says, handing in several thousand Yen bills to Kyosui.
“Why thank you, Ken-chan.” Kyosui grins. “I told you, didn’t I? It’s bad luck to bet against someone who has the entire knowledge on Earth implanted in his head.”
Ken raises an eyebrow. “Actually, you said Gozo is weak against cuteness, and therefore-“
“It’s the same thing!” Kyosui exclaims hastily. Then blinks. “Wait, why is it suddenly so quiet out there? Do you think maybe they-oh, hi there, Gozo-chan! Nice cabinets we have here, eh?” Kyosui smiles winningly at the approaching storm.
Gozo screams.
Kyosui runs.
“METAL.”
“But Gozo-chan! It’s cheating to turn into a Dopant!” comes Kyosui’s shouts. “Gozo-chan! Besides, why are you only chasing me? Ken-chan was also there! Gozo-”
BOOM!
“LUNA.”
CRASH!
“…is it okay not to stop them?” Philip asks, as the sounds of destruction continue to be heard.
“Let them be.” Ken says. “In the meantime, would you like some tea?”
viii.
“Hey, Philip-chan.” Kyosui says, “would you like a bath?”
Time freezes.
They all stare at Kyosui, who has his eyes on Philip, whose attention solely on Kyosui.
“Huh?” Philip says.
“No, it’s just,” Kyosui gestures vaguely with his hand, “that cut on your cute face still has yet to be cleaned. And you still got some dirt on you. I mean, if you didn’t clean it up soon, there would be spots on your skin, and that’s just…” Kyosui emphasizes it with a shudder.
You’re the only one who cares about such thing, you extravagant exhibitionist…! is what Gozo thinks but doesn’t say.
“Eh?” Philip says, looking a bit put out. “But Shoutarou’s not here, though.”
A pause.
“Shoutarou? You mean your detective partner? But what does he have to do with this?” Kyosui asks, voicing out Gozo (and most probably all of them)’s question.
“But Shoutarou always helps me take a bath.” Philip says bewilderingly. “I couldn’t take a bath if Shoutarou’s not here.”
Just how old are you, kidddd??? Gozo wants to shout but has to bite his lips in order not to. He also has to resist the strong urge to facepalm. Honestly!
On the other hand, Kyosui seems to brighten by tenfold. “Oh really! Why don’t I help you in his place, then?”
Another pause, as they all try to process that offer statement.
Philip tilts his head to the side. Blinks slowly. And then, “…sure.”
Kyosui beams.
After their departure, Gozo immediately elbows Katsumi. “Oi, Katsumi, are you sure it’s wise to let Kyosui bathe the kid?”
Katsumi frowns at him. “Why shouldn’t I?”
Gozo gives him a look. “Katsumi, I know you’re rather slow when it comes to human relationship, but seriously. It’s Kyosui.”
Katsumi continues to stare at him.
Gozo resists the urge to scream. “It’s Kyosui! The one whose hobby is to give people a full body hug at all times! That Kyosui!”
Gozo waits, as Katsumi’s brain’s probably working hard to solve just why it’s not okay to let Kyosui bathe anybody.
“Ah.” Katsumi says, finally getting it. Gozo breathes a sigh of relief. Then Katsumi turns to the rest of the room and announces, “I don’t care who, but somebody please replace Kyosui to help Philip.”
Again, Gozo resists the urge to facepalm. Fine, he could admit Katsumi’s a strong fighter, but when it comes to certain matters… he immediately pulls Katsumi aside again.
“Katsumi, let me tell you, I won’t come within ten feet of that kid, so you could count me out. And maybe you should count Ken and Reika out too, since Ken would just stand there coolly and let the kid drown himself, while Reika would totally dunk the kid’s head under the water, and would be all too happy to let him stay there!”
Katsumi stares at him some more.
“Yes, Katsumi.” Gozo spells out patiently, “I’m saying you should do it.”
Katsumi rolls his eyes. “Fine.”
A few minutes later, Kyosui could be seen crying outside the bathroom door.
“But Katsumi-chan~” Kyosui whines. “The bathroom still has some room for another person! In fact, it still has some room for a few other persons! I know, why don’t we have a group bath instead? We could rub each other’s back or something!”
Gozo pretends he couldn’t hear anything from the direction of the bathroom, and resolves himself to forget the last hour has ever happened.
ix.
“Look, Katsumi,” Gozo says, pressing one hand to his forehead in order to fend off the impending headache, “It’s obvious Philip couldn’t wear his clothes back, since his clothes are dirty. DIRTY. And in case you forgot, we’re partly responsible for that!”
Katsumi stares at him. “Oi Ken.” he addresses the Trigger Memory user, “Go and fetch his clothes from the detective agency.”
Gozo closes his eyes. Then tells himself to please calm down, since if he hit Katsumi, Katsumi would retaliate by fifty fold, and he might not be able to die (permanently) but the reviving process is still very painful.
“No, Katsumi, you couldn’t do that either, since that partner of Philip would know where he is, and we really wouldn’t want him to even *try* foiling our grand plan, do we?”
Katsumi looks like he’s resisting his automatic urge to sneer at the mention of Philip’s partner. He fails, but Gozo still gives him points for trying.
“So what, we should just let him run around naked in a towel?”
How Katsumi even says that kind of thing with a totally straight face, Gozo has no idea. On the other hand, Kyosui looks like Christmas has come early. Tch. Gozo glares at them all hatefully.
“No, Katsumi.” It certainly feels like he’s repeated that sentence way too many times by now. “I’m saying you should lend Philip *your* spare clothes.”
Katsumi stares him down some more.
Gozo sighs, and resists the urge to scowl. “Ken’s would be too tall for Philip, while Kyosui’s and my clothes would be way too big on him. We probably should give him Reika’s, but she would probably lace it with poison before giving it to Philip. So yours is the only choice.”
If looks could kill… Gozo would most definitely be six feet under by now.
“Now go back to the bathroom and give him your clothes.” Gozo says. “The bathwater is probably already cold by now.”
Katsumi frowns. “You know,” he says with something between a sneer and a smirk, “I have this strange feeling you’re giving me orders. But it couldn’t be, could it?” and then with lasting look, he turns away, back to the direction of the bathroom.
“Of course not, ahahaha.” Gozo says hastily. And then adds under his breath, “…jackass.”
Katsumi pauses. Then turns his head around, eyes slightly narrowed. “I heard that.”
“Of course you do.” Gozo scowls. “It’s meant to be heard, after all.”
Katsumi smiles.
Gozo blinks. Oh crap. “…oops?”
BANG!
A few moments later, when Gozo finally opens his eyes again, Kyosui’s face immediately fills his range of vision.
“Urgh.” Gozo says, turning away.
“…Gozo-chan! Are you okay?” Kyosui asks worriedly.
Taking a deep breath, Gozo tries to regulate his breathing. “I’ve been meaning to ask,” he tells Kyosui, “why is it when it’s you, Katsumi only gives you a few kicks; but when it’s *me*, he shoots me in the head?”
“But you’re a Metal Memory user, Gozo-chan!” Kyosui exclaims in his usual extravagant manner. “So perhaps Katsumi-chan finds it painful to hit you with a fist or a kick? And you’d barely feel it too!”
Gozo stares at him. “You know, I really hope that’s not it.” He sincerely tells Kyosui. “If only because I’d totally die laughing if it’s true.”
x.
“Hey, hey,” Philip says, “You hate cold, right?”
A sudden silence-as sharp intake of breaths are drawn, as the question instantly puts them all on alert. Of all of the things to ask… Gozo curses. While the four of them might never care of such thing, the remaining one member is quite sensitive (violent) about this particular subject. So far, the only person who managed to stay alive after putting the word ‘cold’ and ‘Reika’ in the same sentence is Philip’s partner, and that’s only because he transformed into Double.
So it’s really understandable they all are on alert, since it’s all would be for naught if Reika killed the kid because of some stupid comment about temperature.
“What about it?” Reika glares at Philip.
“I was just wondering-if you hate cold so much, then why do you insist on making yourself cold?”
“What,” Reika grits her teeth, obviously trying to rein back her temper, “are you talking about?”
“You’re wearing shorts,” Philip says, gesturing at Reika’s outfit with a hand. “And an unfastened jacket over a tanktop. So of course you’d always be cold-especially in this weather.”
Silence.
Reika blinks. “Huh…?”
Kyosui glances at Gozo, hands over his mouth, looking like he’s on the verge of giggling. Gozo merely frowns at him. “You know, that doesn’t sound… illogical.”
“No, it’s a perfectly logical conclusion-one that’s usually only thought of by kids who have yet been introduced to the world of metaphor.” Kyosui says in a whisper, trying-and failing-to stifle his giggling.
“Are you stupid?” Reika snarls, her hands fist and unfist themselves, clearly itching for a fight. “This has nothing to do with the weather! Aren’t you supposed to have us investigated already? Then you should have known our bodies’ temperatures are always below that of a normal human’s! We can never, ever, be warm!”
Philip blinks. And then he reaches out-
Bad move-since out of the five of them, Reika has the best reflexes, and her reflexes are never friendly to begin with. In a blink, she has Philip pinned to a pillar, one hand around his neck, the other poised in a punch stance.
“Reika-chan-“ Kyosui tries to step in, but Katsumi’s hand on his shoulder stops him. “But Katsumi-chan-“
Katsumi shakes his head. “Just wait.”
“Shoutarou always says ‘it’s all in the mind.’” Philip says, his hand touching Reika’s, his fingers tracing the visible veins on the inside of Reika’s wrist. “If we think we’re-monsters, then we’re monsters. If we think we’re cold, then we’re cold. And if we think we’re warm,” he uncurls Reika’s fingers from around his neck, and presses them to his cheek instead, “then we are warm.”
Reika just stares at him. Or, more specifically, at the way he cradles her hand, at the way he doesn’t flinch from her abnormal temperature, at the way he doesn’t look at all wary of her, at the way he-
“So I have to ask,” Philip says, looking at her, smiling at her, “are you warm, Reika?”
And Reika doesn’t-Reika is-
Reika just-
“S-stop joking around!” she shouts, pushing him off. And she watches as he stumbles to the floor, as he looks up at her not in anger, not in fear, but more in bewilderment, and she’s just-
“As I thought, I really hate you, after all.” She spats, her tone purposefully hurtful. Then she storms out of the room without a backward glance, leaving behind warm air and residual heat in the spaces she passes.
They all stare at the doorway in silence.
“Ah.” Philip says, his hand reaches for the nearly visible traces of the Heat Dopant’s influence in the air. “Reika is really warm after all.”
“Hey, Gozo-chan.” Kyosui says, pulling at Gozo’s arm, “She was totally blushing just now, right? It…wasn’t actually a flush of anger on her face, right? Right?”
Gozo merely shifts back to his default expression for every situation: scowling.
Kyosui turns his attention to Ken instead. “Right, Ken-chan?”
Ken merely raises an eyebrow at him.
“Aww~ Ken-chan! What a cool response!” Kyosui beams. Then latches himself onto Ken.
Gozo scowls some more.
“You sure it’s not only the Dopant’s influence?” Katsumi asks, letting Philip use his arm to help himself up.
“No.” Philip shakes his head. “I’m also a Heat Memory user. I know its characteristics. It’s attracted to Reika not because she’s cold. It’s attracted to her because-“ his eyes flick to Katsumi’s face for a second, and then just-lingers.
“It’s…” Philip’s voice is so very, very soft, “…for the same reason Eternal Memory called for you, Katsumi.”
Just then, Gozo could swear the temperature suddenly drops a few degrees.
Katsumi’s expression doesn’t-change, but something about his eyes-
“Aaa Philip-chan!” Kyosui exclaims, putting his arm around Philip and steering him a safe distance away from Katsumi. “You were curious how Luna created all those Masquerade Dopants illusions, right? Let me show you how!”
“Ehh?! Really?!” Philip says excitedly, nearly jumping up and down around Kyosui’s arm.
“Really! Really!” Kyosui nods vigorously, pulling the boy out of the room faster. “See, the first thing you’ve got to do is-“
Kyosui’s voice trails off in the room, getting lower and lower as he gets further away from this place.
Nice save, Kyosui! Gozo coughs. He looks at Ken, only to realize Ken is no longer in the room. He blinks. That bastard…! When did he…?
And then Gozo-discreetly-glances at Katsumi’s still form. “Right. I’ll just,” Gozo says a little desperately, trying not to make it too obvious he’s running away, “make sure they don’t end up destroying the tower further. Or something.”
And then he lets himself out, hurrying after the kid and Kyosui and Ken, trying not to imagine the state the control room would be in when they go back-especially considering how rigid and stiff Katsumi’s back looks just now, or just how tightly wound he seems.
Some things are just better left alone.
xi.
“I’ve been meaning to ask,” Kyosui tells Philip curiously, “you’re the creator of the T1 Gaia Memories, right? Then how come you don’t seem to know anything about them? I mean, every time a new Dopant appeared, it seemed you had to guess which Gaia Memory it came from.”
Gozo and Ken stare at him.
“What?” Kyosui raises an eyebrow. “I did read the reports!”
Gozo continues to stare in disbelief.
“…unbelievable.” Ken says.
“Excuse me?” Kyosui claims indignantly. “I am Katsumi’s right hand man for a reason, you meanie!”
“Are you sure it’s not because Katsumi’s tired of listening to your whining?” Gozo asks.
Kyosui smiles at him. “I know I tried to jump you the least for a reason.”
“Which I’m endlessly grateful for, let me tell you!” Gozo glares.
Kyosui smirks. “Oh, but your face tells a different story, Gozo-chan~”
“Why you…!”
“Guys, guys.” Philip says, trying to contain his laugh behind a hand. “No, no. Kyosui’s right, actually. I’ve been wondering about the same thing.”
“You do?” Kyosui asks, stars in his eyes.
“The thing about Gaia Memories is that, they have-wills.” Philip says, looking down at the three dysfunctional T1 Gaia Memories he still carries with him. “They may not be sentient like Fang, but they do have wills. One does not choose a Memory; the Memory chooses them.”
“Huh? How that’s even possible?” Gozo frowns.
Philip smiles at him. “You tell me. I remember when you found Metal Memory, you claimed how you finally found ‘the right one.’” He leans forward slightly. “What made you say that at the time, Gozo?” Philip asks, walking toward Gozo in slow, measured steps. “Was it because you feel something clicked in your head? Was it because you heard some compelling voices whispering to you, telling you ’this is it’…?”
Kyosui coughs.
Gozo blinks. Philip’s face is right in front of his own, his eyes a bottomless pit of dark orbs, the tips of their noses nearly touching. When did he…?
“Don’t be absurd.” Gozo scowls, and instantly sidesteps him, moving further away-careful to put as much distance between him and the kid as possible. But still Kyosui’s unsubtle smirk compels him to punch the light out of the T2 Luna Memory user-which he tries to resist, since it would just prove Kyosui’s point.
“He didn’t deny it, though.” Kyosui’s smirk grows broader.
Gozo promises himself to crush Kyosui the first chance he got.
“If the T2 Memories’ forces are already that strong, just imagine the forces of the T1 Memories, which are still in their raw forms, totally unpolished.”
“Are you saying the T1 Memories are stronger than their T2 counterparts?” Ken asks, a thoughtful look on his face.
“No.” Philip says, tilting his head to the side. “No, I’m saying the T2 versions are safer. You could draw out the maximum potential of the Memory without the risk of going berserk, or getting out-of-control.”
“Ah! I get it!” Kyosui exclaims, clapping his hands together. “So in essence, the T1 Memories are just like a bunch of moody emo punk kids, while the T2 versions are more like the obedient honor students type, right?”
Gozo smacks him on the head. “Be serious for once, you moron!”
Philip merely tilts his head further. “You know, that comparison is strangely… accurate. In a way.”
Gozo blinks. “Seriously?”
Kyosui puffs out his chest proudly. “See?”
“That still doesn’t answer Kyosui’s initial question, though.” Ken says.
“No, it’s just that-” there’s this complicated twist on the corner of Philip’s lips, like he couldn’t decide what kind of expression is appropriate to use. “It’s just that, unlike the T1 versions, the T2 Memories do not try to push me away.”
Silence, as the three of them stare at Philip.
“Huh?” Gozo says.
“The thing is,” Philip says, and there’s this downcast look about him, “Even if I couldn’t remember *how* I made all those Gaia Memories, they still recognize me as their creator. And they feel…betrayed, I guess? For being forgotten.” Philip blinks rapidly. “For being left behind.”
“Ah.” Kyosui says. “Just like children who are abandoned by their parents! They hold resentments, because they don’t understand why their parents leave them; especially when their parents choose to adopt other children, instead of picking up their own!”
Philip blinks.
Gozo smacks Kyosui on the head. Again. “Could you please stop it with all those weird comparisons?”
“It’s… strangely accurate, though.” Philip says, holding up his three T1 Gaia Memories.
Kyosui beams smugly at Gozo.
Gozo smacks him again.
“After all,” Philip continues, “the ones Shoutarou and I use are the ones given by Shroud. Especially also considering as the creator, I’m actually compatible by default to all kind of Gaia Memories.” His grip tightens on the Memories he’s holding, “…and yet, I never try to use any of them.”
And then Philip gets this sad look on his face, one that makes even Gozo hesitate.
“Any particular reason?” Ken, bless him for always being level-headed and reliable, asks.
“Any Gaia Memories we encountered, usually always got destroyed by Double’s Memory Break. Shoutarou said it was the only way to save the human user.”
“Shoutarou?” Kyosui asks. Then his face brightens. “Ah! Your cute detective partner!”
Philip blinks. “…cute?”
Gozo tries to smack Kyosui, but he manages to dodge at the last second.
“He that important to you?” Ken asks Philip. “You granted his wish to save humans before your own desire.”
Philip looks at him. “…my desire?”
“To research the Gaia Memories on your own terms.” Ken explains. “With your faulty memories, surely you would want to research them from the start, right?” when Philip keeps staring at him, Ken gives him a shrug. “I don’t know, it just seems like something you’d do.”
“As expected from Ken-chan! Such a cool observation!” Kyosui exclaims. Then glomps Ken.
“Regardless of the reason,” Philip says determinedly, “Shoutarou is important to me. I will never forgive anyone who tries to hurt him. Including you… Katsumi.”
“Eh?” they all blink. And then follow Philip’s line of sight.
There, standing just within the entrance, with the hallway lights illuminating his profile, is none other than the self-appointed leader of NEVER, Daido Katsumi, with Reika just trailing slightly behind.
Ken immediately stands on attention.
Gozo gulps. How long have they been…?
“Mou~ Katsumi-chan! You should stop sneaking around like that!” Kyosui claims cheerfully.
But it’s like Katsumi couldn’t even hear him; or more like, doesn’t even realize he’s there. His whole attentions are directed to Philip and Philip alone. He steps forward, one step by one step, slowly but surely, until he’s just a step away from where Philip’s standing.
Gozo holds his breath. Beside him, he could feel Kyosui tense, likely in preparation to-intervene.
Then Katsumi reaches out, his touch unusually gentle on Philip’s cheek, and pulls Philip’s head to his shoulder, and then just-holds him.
“Maaan, I’m so jealous~” the tone he’s using is light, and his intonation makes it sound playful, but the look on his face is-
Gozo gulps again.
It’s like Katsumi’s declaring war.
“Katsumi…?” Philip says, voice muffled, pushing at Katsumi’s chest lightly. But when Katsumi finally lets him look up, Katsumi’s earlier look is gone-like it has never been there at all. The face he shows Philip is his usual one, the one with the smirk and belittling eyes and-
A near smile.
“Well.” Katsumi says, ruffling Philip’s hair. “We have our deal.” He shrugs. “You do your part, and I’ll *try* not to do anything unplanned.” He gives Philip another near-smile, this one lasts longer than the ones he’s given him so far.
Gozo and Kyosui exchange glances.
“Right.” Katsumi claps his hands together once, before turning around and striding to the center of the room. “Professor Maria,” he addresses the room at large, “would be here soon, and we should be able to start our plan once she arrives. Reika,” he turns to the doorway, “go to that place I’ve told you about. Make sure you do it properly this time.” Or else is not said, but it’s clearly implied.
Reika salutes him once. And then turns away and disappear in the corridor.
“Ken and Kyosui,” he turns to them next, “I need you two to stand by front gate. You know what to do.”
Ken salutes him, while Kyosui flies him a kiss. Just before he passes the doorway, Kyosui waves energetically at Philip, shouting, “See you later, Philip-chan!!!”
“…and?” Katsumi says.
“What?” Gozo says, because it’s clear Katsumi isn’t addressing Philip.
Katsumi looks at him sideways. “You look like you’ve got something to say.”
Gozo scowls. “Oh I have plenty, alright.” He sighs. Then walks towards Philip. “Yo, kid.”
“I’m not a-” he starts to protest, but Gozo’s laughter cuts him off.
And then Gozo smiles at him-because unlike that jerk Ken and that asshole Katsumi, Gozo could smile properly. You know, the kind of smile that lights up your entire face, starting from the corners of your lips, and then spreads to the your eyes? Yes, that kind of smile.
“Gozo, why. Why do you look so sa-”
Gozo puts his large hand on top of Philip’s head. “You’re still annoying, but I think I’ve gotten used to you now. Besides, this NEVER’s outfit,” he tidies up the collars of Philip’s jacket, and then rests both hands on Philip’s shoulders, “really suits you. Kinda made me wish you were around from the start to annoy us. I’m sure Kyosui thinks the same.”
Philip stares at him. “Gozo-”
“So. Philip.” He emphasizes the name, “until me meet again. Wherever that may be.”
And then he backs away slowly, turning around just as he reaches Katsumi. “What a liar.” He whispers, making sure it’s for Katsumi’s ears only.
“I never say I’m not one.” Katsumi whispers just as low. “But you’ve always known that.”
Gozo chuckles. “That, I have.” He sends a wry smile Katsumi’s way. “I was hoping I was wrong, though.” Then in a louder voice, he says, “I’ll leave the rest to you, then, O Fearless Leader.” He salutes them both, and then closes the door properly behind him.
He takes a deep breath. Looks at the closed door for another moment.
It feels, strangely enough, like it’d be his last.
And then, with a final, lingering glance at the door, and more especially, the rising hope just beyond that door, Gozo goes to his designated post, and just-
Wishes for the best.
.
.
.
End.
A/N: Sorry for this >_< This fic is supposed to only be one post, but I kind of broke the LJ's character limit... xP
A/N2: At first this fic was titled How Daido Katsumi Learns To Be An Awesome Older Brother, except halfway through, Kyosui and Gozo demanded more screen time, and somehow it ended up featuring more of both of them and less of Katsumi LULZ. Next time, Katsumi! I promise! >_<
Fandom: Kamen Rider W
Character: Philip, Katsumi, the rest of NEVER
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Warning: spoilers for KRW: Forever A to Z movie.
Summary: In which Philip totally fails at being a prisoner.
previous part.
vi.
“She’s jealous.” Kyosui whispers in Gozo’s ear.
Gozo twitches.
“Just look at how hard she’s glaring at Philip-chan’s back!” Kyosui keeps whispering. “She’s totally jealous now Philip-chan’s here, Katsumi-chan pays less attention to her!”
Reika glares daggers and other sharp, pointy objects at them.
Kyosui promptly hides behind Gozo.
Ken rolls his eyes.
On the other side of the room, the kid is babbling away excitedly at Katsumi, newly-drawn blueprint in hands-oblivious to all the glarings happening behind his back.
vii.
“Why,” the kid asks, “do you keep calling me ‘the kid’?”
Gozo stares at him.
“I have a name.” The kid is saying, “and it’s Philip, not ‘the kid’. Shoutarou always says it’s rude to call people other than by their designated names, or the names given by their parents.”
Gozo stares some more. Behind him, he could hear Kyosui’s stifled giggling. Bastard.
“I,” Gozo says, “don’t remember ever calling you anything. At all. Including ‘the kid’. So get lost.”
The kid tilts his head to the side. “True. You never say it to my face. But you,” the kid leans forward, peering into his face, and here’s yet another person who doesn’t know the concept of personal space, “use it in reference to me, when you’re talking to Kyosui-chan-“
-chan? Gozo mouths at Kyosui.
The bastard winks at him.
“-or Ken, or Reika, or Katsumi.” The kid pauses. And then adds, “Or in your monologues.”
“Mono-I don’t do monologues!” Gozo shouts indignantly. Then promptly throws his metal Rod at Kyosui’s way when Kyosui says he totally does under his breath. “Besides, why is Kyosui the only one *you* call with added honorific?”
The kid blinks. “Would you like me to add --chan to your name as well?”
Eyes wide in horror, Gozo opens his mouth-probably to scream his indignation-but nothing comes out. He shuts his lips. Then opens them again, but still-nothing. It’s-it’s bad enough with Kyosui, but at least that asshole has an excuse. But the thought of some… little kid calling him-the big, bad, scary him-by cutesy honorific like -chan is just-
“Are you okay?” the kid asks, crouching in front of him, since apparently he has fallen to his knees in shock.
Him.
Brought to his knees.
Over a stupid honorific.
Oh the indignity!
Faintly, he could hear Kyosui’s roaring laughter in the background.
He glares at the kid. “Don’t you dare-don’t you dare calling me by that-that-”
“What, Gozo-chan?”
Gozo screams. Then lunges for the kid, but the kid jumps out of the way just in time. Damn, but did the kid learn.
“How about this,” the kid’s smile is all teeth, “you call me by my name, and I’ll call you by your name-leaving out the cute honorific, of course.”
Gozo glares at him.
The kid keeps on smiling.
“Fine.” Gozo grits out. “Philip.”
The smile the kid gives him right then? Could practically outshine the sun.
Just saying.
“Aww~ aren’t they adorable?” Kyosui coos from where he’s hidden behind the cabinets with Ken, discreetly watching the whole thing.
“…whatever.” Ken says, handing in several thousand Yen bills to Kyosui.
“Why thank you, Ken-chan.” Kyosui grins. “I told you, didn’t I? It’s bad luck to bet against someone who has the entire knowledge on Earth implanted in his head.”
Ken raises an eyebrow. “Actually, you said Gozo is weak against cuteness, and therefore-“
“It’s the same thing!” Kyosui exclaims hastily. Then blinks. “Wait, why is it suddenly so quiet out there? Do you think maybe they-oh, hi there, Gozo-chan! Nice cabinets we have here, eh?” Kyosui smiles winningly at the approaching storm.
Gozo screams.
Kyosui runs.
“METAL.”
“But Gozo-chan! It’s cheating to turn into a Dopant!” comes Kyosui’s shouts. “Gozo-chan! Besides, why are you only chasing me? Ken-chan was also there! Gozo-”
BOOM!
“LUNA.”
CRASH!
“…is it okay not to stop them?” Philip asks, as the sounds of destruction continue to be heard.
“Let them be.” Ken says. “In the meantime, would you like some tea?”
viii.
“Hey, Philip-chan.” Kyosui says, “would you like a bath?”
Time freezes.
They all stare at Kyosui, who has his eyes on Philip, whose attention solely on Kyosui.
“Huh?” Philip says.
“No, it’s just,” Kyosui gestures vaguely with his hand, “that cut on your cute face still has yet to be cleaned. And you still got some dirt on you. I mean, if you didn’t clean it up soon, there would be spots on your skin, and that’s just…” Kyosui emphasizes it with a shudder.
You’re the only one who cares about such thing, you extravagant exhibitionist…! is what Gozo thinks but doesn’t say.
“Eh?” Philip says, looking a bit put out. “But Shoutarou’s not here, though.”
A pause.
“Shoutarou? You mean your detective partner? But what does he have to do with this?” Kyosui asks, voicing out Gozo (and most probably all of them)’s question.
“But Shoutarou always helps me take a bath.” Philip says bewilderingly. “I couldn’t take a bath if Shoutarou’s not here.”
Just how old are you, kidddd??? Gozo wants to shout but has to bite his lips in order not to. He also has to resist the strong urge to facepalm. Honestly!
On the other hand, Kyosui seems to brighten by tenfold. “Oh really! Why don’t I help you in his place, then?”
Another pause, as they all try to process that offer statement.
Philip tilts his head to the side. Blinks slowly. And then, “…sure.”
Kyosui beams.
After their departure, Gozo immediately elbows Katsumi. “Oi, Katsumi, are you sure it’s wise to let Kyosui bathe the kid?”
Katsumi frowns at him. “Why shouldn’t I?”
Gozo gives him a look. “Katsumi, I know you’re rather slow when it comes to human relationship, but seriously. It’s Kyosui.”
Katsumi continues to stare at him.
Gozo resists the urge to scream. “It’s Kyosui! The one whose hobby is to give people a full body hug at all times! That Kyosui!”
Gozo waits, as Katsumi’s brain’s probably working hard to solve just why it’s not okay to let Kyosui bathe anybody.
“Ah.” Katsumi says, finally getting it. Gozo breathes a sigh of relief. Then Katsumi turns to the rest of the room and announces, “I don’t care who, but somebody please replace Kyosui to help Philip.”
Again, Gozo resists the urge to facepalm. Fine, he could admit Katsumi’s a strong fighter, but when it comes to certain matters… he immediately pulls Katsumi aside again.
“Katsumi, let me tell you, I won’t come within ten feet of that kid, so you could count me out. And maybe you should count Ken and Reika out too, since Ken would just stand there coolly and let the kid drown himself, while Reika would totally dunk the kid’s head under the water, and would be all too happy to let him stay there!”
Katsumi stares at him some more.
“Yes, Katsumi.” Gozo spells out patiently, “I’m saying you should do it.”
Katsumi rolls his eyes. “Fine.”
A few minutes later, Kyosui could be seen crying outside the bathroom door.
“But Katsumi-chan~” Kyosui whines. “The bathroom still has some room for another person! In fact, it still has some room for a few other persons! I know, why don’t we have a group bath instead? We could rub each other’s back or something!”
Gozo pretends he couldn’t hear anything from the direction of the bathroom, and resolves himself to forget the last hour has ever happened.
ix.
“Look, Katsumi,” Gozo says, pressing one hand to his forehead in order to fend off the impending headache, “It’s obvious Philip couldn’t wear his clothes back, since his clothes are dirty. DIRTY. And in case you forgot, we’re partly responsible for that!”
Katsumi stares at him. “Oi Ken.” he addresses the Trigger Memory user, “Go and fetch his clothes from the detective agency.”
Gozo closes his eyes. Then tells himself to please calm down, since if he hit Katsumi, Katsumi would retaliate by fifty fold, and he might not be able to die (permanently) but the reviving process is still very painful.
“No, Katsumi, you couldn’t do that either, since that partner of Philip would know where he is, and we really wouldn’t want him to even *try* foiling our grand plan, do we?”
Katsumi looks like he’s resisting his automatic urge to sneer at the mention of Philip’s partner. He fails, but Gozo still gives him points for trying.
“So what, we should just let him run around naked in a towel?”
How Katsumi even says that kind of thing with a totally straight face, Gozo has no idea. On the other hand, Kyosui looks like Christmas has come early. Tch. Gozo glares at them all hatefully.
“No, Katsumi.” It certainly feels like he’s repeated that sentence way too many times by now. “I’m saying you should lend Philip *your* spare clothes.”
Katsumi stares him down some more.
Gozo sighs, and resists the urge to scowl. “Ken’s would be too tall for Philip, while Kyosui’s and my clothes would be way too big on him. We probably should give him Reika’s, but she would probably lace it with poison before giving it to Philip. So yours is the only choice.”
If looks could kill… Gozo would most definitely be six feet under by now.
“Now go back to the bathroom and give him your clothes.” Gozo says. “The bathwater is probably already cold by now.”
Katsumi frowns. “You know,” he says with something between a sneer and a smirk, “I have this strange feeling you’re giving me orders. But it couldn’t be, could it?” and then with lasting look, he turns away, back to the direction of the bathroom.
“Of course not, ahahaha.” Gozo says hastily. And then adds under his breath, “…jackass.”
Katsumi pauses. Then turns his head around, eyes slightly narrowed. “I heard that.”
“Of course you do.” Gozo scowls. “It’s meant to be heard, after all.”
Katsumi smiles.
Gozo blinks. Oh crap. “…oops?”
BANG!
A few moments later, when Gozo finally opens his eyes again, Kyosui’s face immediately fills his range of vision.
“Urgh.” Gozo says, turning away.
“…Gozo-chan! Are you okay?” Kyosui asks worriedly.
Taking a deep breath, Gozo tries to regulate his breathing. “I’ve been meaning to ask,” he tells Kyosui, “why is it when it’s you, Katsumi only gives you a few kicks; but when it’s *me*, he shoots me in the head?”
“But you’re a Metal Memory user, Gozo-chan!” Kyosui exclaims in his usual extravagant manner. “So perhaps Katsumi-chan finds it painful to hit you with a fist or a kick? And you’d barely feel it too!”
Gozo stares at him. “You know, I really hope that’s not it.” He sincerely tells Kyosui. “If only because I’d totally die laughing if it’s true.”
x.
“Hey, hey,” Philip says, “You hate cold, right?”
A sudden silence-as sharp intake of breaths are drawn, as the question instantly puts them all on alert. Of all of the things to ask… Gozo curses. While the four of them might never care of such thing, the remaining one member is quite sensitive (violent) about this particular subject. So far, the only person who managed to stay alive after putting the word ‘cold’ and ‘Reika’ in the same sentence is Philip’s partner, and that’s only because he transformed into Double.
So it’s really understandable they all are on alert, since it’s all would be for naught if Reika killed the kid because of some stupid comment about temperature.
“What about it?” Reika glares at Philip.
“I was just wondering-if you hate cold so much, then why do you insist on making yourself cold?”
“What,” Reika grits her teeth, obviously trying to rein back her temper, “are you talking about?”
“You’re wearing shorts,” Philip says, gesturing at Reika’s outfit with a hand. “And an unfastened jacket over a tanktop. So of course you’d always be cold-especially in this weather.”
Silence.
Reika blinks. “Huh…?”
Kyosui glances at Gozo, hands over his mouth, looking like he’s on the verge of giggling. Gozo merely frowns at him. “You know, that doesn’t sound… illogical.”
“No, it’s a perfectly logical conclusion-one that’s usually only thought of by kids who have yet been introduced to the world of metaphor.” Kyosui says in a whisper, trying-and failing-to stifle his giggling.
“Are you stupid?” Reika snarls, her hands fist and unfist themselves, clearly itching for a fight. “This has nothing to do with the weather! Aren’t you supposed to have us investigated already? Then you should have known our bodies’ temperatures are always below that of a normal human’s! We can never, ever, be warm!”
Philip blinks. And then he reaches out-
Bad move-since out of the five of them, Reika has the best reflexes, and her reflexes are never friendly to begin with. In a blink, she has Philip pinned to a pillar, one hand around his neck, the other poised in a punch stance.
“Reika-chan-“ Kyosui tries to step in, but Katsumi’s hand on his shoulder stops him. “But Katsumi-chan-“
Katsumi shakes his head. “Just wait.”
“Shoutarou always says ‘it’s all in the mind.’” Philip says, his hand touching Reika’s, his fingers tracing the visible veins on the inside of Reika’s wrist. “If we think we’re-monsters, then we’re monsters. If we think we’re cold, then we’re cold. And if we think we’re warm,” he uncurls Reika’s fingers from around his neck, and presses them to his cheek instead, “then we are warm.”
Reika just stares at him. Or, more specifically, at the way he cradles her hand, at the way he doesn’t flinch from her abnormal temperature, at the way he doesn’t look at all wary of her, at the way he-
“So I have to ask,” Philip says, looking at her, smiling at her, “are you warm, Reika?”
And Reika doesn’t-Reika is-
Reika just-
“S-stop joking around!” she shouts, pushing him off. And she watches as he stumbles to the floor, as he looks up at her not in anger, not in fear, but more in bewilderment, and she’s just-
“As I thought, I really hate you, after all.” She spats, her tone purposefully hurtful. Then she storms out of the room without a backward glance, leaving behind warm air and residual heat in the spaces she passes.
They all stare at the doorway in silence.
“Ah.” Philip says, his hand reaches for the nearly visible traces of the Heat Dopant’s influence in the air. “Reika is really warm after all.”
“Hey, Gozo-chan.” Kyosui says, pulling at Gozo’s arm, “She was totally blushing just now, right? It…wasn’t actually a flush of anger on her face, right? Right?”
Gozo merely shifts back to his default expression for every situation: scowling.
Kyosui turns his attention to Ken instead. “Right, Ken-chan?”
Ken merely raises an eyebrow at him.
“Aww~ Ken-chan! What a cool response!” Kyosui beams. Then latches himself onto Ken.
Gozo scowls some more.
“You sure it’s not only the Dopant’s influence?” Katsumi asks, letting Philip use his arm to help himself up.
“No.” Philip shakes his head. “I’m also a Heat Memory user. I know its characteristics. It’s attracted to Reika not because she’s cold. It’s attracted to her because-“ his eyes flick to Katsumi’s face for a second, and then just-lingers.
“It’s…” Philip’s voice is so very, very soft, “…for the same reason Eternal Memory called for you, Katsumi.”
Just then, Gozo could swear the temperature suddenly drops a few degrees.
Katsumi’s expression doesn’t-change, but something about his eyes-
“Aaa Philip-chan!” Kyosui exclaims, putting his arm around Philip and steering him a safe distance away from Katsumi. “You were curious how Luna created all those Masquerade Dopants illusions, right? Let me show you how!”
“Ehh?! Really?!” Philip says excitedly, nearly jumping up and down around Kyosui’s arm.
“Really! Really!” Kyosui nods vigorously, pulling the boy out of the room faster. “See, the first thing you’ve got to do is-“
Kyosui’s voice trails off in the room, getting lower and lower as he gets further away from this place.
Nice save, Kyosui! Gozo coughs. He looks at Ken, only to realize Ken is no longer in the room. He blinks. That bastard…! When did he…?
And then Gozo-discreetly-glances at Katsumi’s still form. “Right. I’ll just,” Gozo says a little desperately, trying not to make it too obvious he’s running away, “make sure they don’t end up destroying the tower further. Or something.”
And then he lets himself out, hurrying after the kid and Kyosui and Ken, trying not to imagine the state the control room would be in when they go back-especially considering how rigid and stiff Katsumi’s back looks just now, or just how tightly wound he seems.
Some things are just better left alone.
xi.
“I’ve been meaning to ask,” Kyosui tells Philip curiously, “you’re the creator of the T1 Gaia Memories, right? Then how come you don’t seem to know anything about them? I mean, every time a new Dopant appeared, it seemed you had to guess which Gaia Memory it came from.”
Gozo and Ken stare at him.
“What?” Kyosui raises an eyebrow. “I did read the reports!”
Gozo continues to stare in disbelief.
“…unbelievable.” Ken says.
“Excuse me?” Kyosui claims indignantly. “I am Katsumi’s right hand man for a reason, you meanie!”
“Are you sure it’s not because Katsumi’s tired of listening to your whining?” Gozo asks.
Kyosui smiles at him. “I know I tried to jump you the least for a reason.”
“Which I’m endlessly grateful for, let me tell you!” Gozo glares.
Kyosui smirks. “Oh, but your face tells a different story, Gozo-chan~”
“Why you…!”
“Guys, guys.” Philip says, trying to contain his laugh behind a hand. “No, no. Kyosui’s right, actually. I’ve been wondering about the same thing.”
“You do?” Kyosui asks, stars in his eyes.
“The thing about Gaia Memories is that, they have-wills.” Philip says, looking down at the three dysfunctional T1 Gaia Memories he still carries with him. “They may not be sentient like Fang, but they do have wills. One does not choose a Memory; the Memory chooses them.”
“Huh? How that’s even possible?” Gozo frowns.
Philip smiles at him. “You tell me. I remember when you found Metal Memory, you claimed how you finally found ‘the right one.’” He leans forward slightly. “What made you say that at the time, Gozo?” Philip asks, walking toward Gozo in slow, measured steps. “Was it because you feel something clicked in your head? Was it because you heard some compelling voices whispering to you, telling you ’this is it’…?”
Kyosui coughs.
Gozo blinks. Philip’s face is right in front of his own, his eyes a bottomless pit of dark orbs, the tips of their noses nearly touching. When did he…?
“Don’t be absurd.” Gozo scowls, and instantly sidesteps him, moving further away-careful to put as much distance between him and the kid as possible. But still Kyosui’s unsubtle smirk compels him to punch the light out of the T2 Luna Memory user-which he tries to resist, since it would just prove Kyosui’s point.
“He didn’t deny it, though.” Kyosui’s smirk grows broader.
Gozo promises himself to crush Kyosui the first chance he got.
“If the T2 Memories’ forces are already that strong, just imagine the forces of the T1 Memories, which are still in their raw forms, totally unpolished.”
“Are you saying the T1 Memories are stronger than their T2 counterparts?” Ken asks, a thoughtful look on his face.
“No.” Philip says, tilting his head to the side. “No, I’m saying the T2 versions are safer. You could draw out the maximum potential of the Memory without the risk of going berserk, or getting out-of-control.”
“Ah! I get it!” Kyosui exclaims, clapping his hands together. “So in essence, the T1 Memories are just like a bunch of moody emo punk kids, while the T2 versions are more like the obedient honor students type, right?”
Gozo smacks him on the head. “Be serious for once, you moron!”
Philip merely tilts his head further. “You know, that comparison is strangely… accurate. In a way.”
Gozo blinks. “Seriously?”
Kyosui puffs out his chest proudly. “See?”
“That still doesn’t answer Kyosui’s initial question, though.” Ken says.
“No, it’s just that-” there’s this complicated twist on the corner of Philip’s lips, like he couldn’t decide what kind of expression is appropriate to use. “It’s just that, unlike the T1 versions, the T2 Memories do not try to push me away.”
Silence, as the three of them stare at Philip.
“Huh?” Gozo says.
“The thing is,” Philip says, and there’s this downcast look about him, “Even if I couldn’t remember *how* I made all those Gaia Memories, they still recognize me as their creator. And they feel…betrayed, I guess? For being forgotten.” Philip blinks rapidly. “For being left behind.”
“Ah.” Kyosui says. “Just like children who are abandoned by their parents! They hold resentments, because they don’t understand why their parents leave them; especially when their parents choose to adopt other children, instead of picking up their own!”
Philip blinks.
Gozo smacks Kyosui on the head. Again. “Could you please stop it with all those weird comparisons?”
“It’s… strangely accurate, though.” Philip says, holding up his three T1 Gaia Memories.
Kyosui beams smugly at Gozo.
Gozo smacks him again.
“After all,” Philip continues, “the ones Shoutarou and I use are the ones given by Shroud. Especially also considering as the creator, I’m actually compatible by default to all kind of Gaia Memories.” His grip tightens on the Memories he’s holding, “…and yet, I never try to use any of them.”
And then Philip gets this sad look on his face, one that makes even Gozo hesitate.
“Any particular reason?” Ken, bless him for always being level-headed and reliable, asks.
“Any Gaia Memories we encountered, usually always got destroyed by Double’s Memory Break. Shoutarou said it was the only way to save the human user.”
“Shoutarou?” Kyosui asks. Then his face brightens. “Ah! Your cute detective partner!”
Philip blinks. “…cute?”
Gozo tries to smack Kyosui, but he manages to dodge at the last second.
“He that important to you?” Ken asks Philip. “You granted his wish to save humans before your own desire.”
Philip looks at him. “…my desire?”
“To research the Gaia Memories on your own terms.” Ken explains. “With your faulty memories, surely you would want to research them from the start, right?” when Philip keeps staring at him, Ken gives him a shrug. “I don’t know, it just seems like something you’d do.”
“As expected from Ken-chan! Such a cool observation!” Kyosui exclaims. Then glomps Ken.
“Regardless of the reason,” Philip says determinedly, “Shoutarou is important to me. I will never forgive anyone who tries to hurt him. Including you… Katsumi.”
“Eh?” they all blink. And then follow Philip’s line of sight.
There, standing just within the entrance, with the hallway lights illuminating his profile, is none other than the self-appointed leader of NEVER, Daido Katsumi, with Reika just trailing slightly behind.
Ken immediately stands on attention.
Gozo gulps. How long have they been…?
“Mou~ Katsumi-chan! You should stop sneaking around like that!” Kyosui claims cheerfully.
But it’s like Katsumi couldn’t even hear him; or more like, doesn’t even realize he’s there. His whole attentions are directed to Philip and Philip alone. He steps forward, one step by one step, slowly but surely, until he’s just a step away from where Philip’s standing.
Gozo holds his breath. Beside him, he could feel Kyosui tense, likely in preparation to-intervene.
Then Katsumi reaches out, his touch unusually gentle on Philip’s cheek, and pulls Philip’s head to his shoulder, and then just-holds him.
“Maaan, I’m so jealous~” the tone he’s using is light, and his intonation makes it sound playful, but the look on his face is-
Gozo gulps again.
It’s like Katsumi’s declaring war.
“Katsumi…?” Philip says, voice muffled, pushing at Katsumi’s chest lightly. But when Katsumi finally lets him look up, Katsumi’s earlier look is gone-like it has never been there at all. The face he shows Philip is his usual one, the one with the smirk and belittling eyes and-
A near smile.
“Well.” Katsumi says, ruffling Philip’s hair. “We have our deal.” He shrugs. “You do your part, and I’ll *try* not to do anything unplanned.” He gives Philip another near-smile, this one lasts longer than the ones he’s given him so far.
Gozo and Kyosui exchange glances.
“Right.” Katsumi claps his hands together once, before turning around and striding to the center of the room. “Professor Maria,” he addresses the room at large, “would be here soon, and we should be able to start our plan once she arrives. Reika,” he turns to the doorway, “go to that place I’ve told you about. Make sure you do it properly this time.” Or else is not said, but it’s clearly implied.
Reika salutes him once. And then turns away and disappear in the corridor.
“Ken and Kyosui,” he turns to them next, “I need you two to stand by front gate. You know what to do.”
Ken salutes him, while Kyosui flies him a kiss. Just before he passes the doorway, Kyosui waves energetically at Philip, shouting, “See you later, Philip-chan!!!”
“…and?” Katsumi says.
“What?” Gozo says, because it’s clear Katsumi isn’t addressing Philip.
Katsumi looks at him sideways. “You look like you’ve got something to say.”
Gozo scowls. “Oh I have plenty, alright.” He sighs. Then walks towards Philip. “Yo, kid.”
“I’m not a-” he starts to protest, but Gozo’s laughter cuts him off.
And then Gozo smiles at him-because unlike that jerk Ken and that asshole Katsumi, Gozo could smile properly. You know, the kind of smile that lights up your entire face, starting from the corners of your lips, and then spreads to the your eyes? Yes, that kind of smile.
“Gozo, why. Why do you look so sa-”
Gozo puts his large hand on top of Philip’s head. “You’re still annoying, but I think I’ve gotten used to you now. Besides, this NEVER’s outfit,” he tidies up the collars of Philip’s jacket, and then rests both hands on Philip’s shoulders, “really suits you. Kinda made me wish you were around from the start to annoy us. I’m sure Kyosui thinks the same.”
Philip stares at him. “Gozo-”
“So. Philip.” He emphasizes the name, “until me meet again. Wherever that may be.”
And then he backs away slowly, turning around just as he reaches Katsumi. “What a liar.” He whispers, making sure it’s for Katsumi’s ears only.
“I never say I’m not one.” Katsumi whispers just as low. “But you’ve always known that.”
Gozo chuckles. “That, I have.” He sends a wry smile Katsumi’s way. “I was hoping I was wrong, though.” Then in a louder voice, he says, “I’ll leave the rest to you, then, O Fearless Leader.” He salutes them both, and then closes the door properly behind him.
He takes a deep breath. Looks at the closed door for another moment.
It feels, strangely enough, like it’d be his last.
And then, with a final, lingering glance at the door, and more especially, the rising hope just beyond that door, Gozo goes to his designated post, and just-
Wishes for the best.
.
.
.
End.
A/N: Sorry for this >_< This fic is supposed to only be one post, but I kind of broke the LJ's character limit... xP
A/N2: At first this fic was titled How Daido Katsumi Learns To Be An Awesome Older Brother, except halfway through, Kyosui and Gozo demanded more screen time, and somehow it ended up featuring more of both of them and less of Katsumi LULZ. Next time, Katsumi! I promise! >_<