Keiichi -09-

[homerun_k1]

Who: Keiichi and whoever else
Where: Espoir
Style: Either is fine by me!
Status: OPEN like no tomorrow!

A week. Actually looking at the date on the Dreamberry, it's been a lot longer then that since his run in with Spain. A couple of days since his nightmare. The one that still haunts his mind almost every waking moment

Comments

[bigassmachete]

Rena was passing through Espoir like she usually did when she saw someone that caught her by surprise. Keiichi, walking alone down the street. It had been so long since she had seen him or even spoken with him.

It hurt her to see Keiichi in so much pain. She didn't know how, but she knew that had to make things right once and for all. He couldn't continue to be weighed down by this guilt.

A bit cautiously, Rena walked towards him. "Keiichi...?"

[homerun_k1]

Hearing his name and the voice that said it behind him made him come to a complete stop in an instant. In that second, he thought of whether he should run but put that thought away immediately. He couldn't do it forever.

With that decision, he turned around to face her, a bit of a sad look on his face even though he tried to put a smile on. "Hey..."

[bigassmachete]

She could tell that Keiichi had wanted to continue going, but she was glad he had decided to acknowledge her. Seeing that fake smile, she couldn't help but put on one of her own.

"Hey...it's been a long time since I've seen you, it had."

[homerun_k1]

"Y-Yeah..." he replied hesitantly to Rena. Looks like she was doing the same thing as he was. Keiichi took a minute to look down at the ground in thought. He...had to say something.

"I'm sorry, Rena." he said while he looked back up to her, sad expression not leaving his face.

[bigassmachete]

Renba took a step forward, wanting to close the somewhat distant space they had between each other. Both figuratively and literally she supposed.

"I know, Keiichi. You don't have to apologize for something that happened... back then." She said the last part with hesitation since she still didn't truly understand what those memories were exactly.

[homerun_k1]

"No, I do. It's my fault." he countered not missing a beat.

He knew full well what he was doing at that time, even if he was because of the syndrome it was still himself that did it. He was the one that beat up Spain and for all he knew, killed Rena and Mion. He had no idea if that part of the dream was real or not but his gut was telling him that it had happened but... It's hard to tell real from fake anymore.

[bigassmachete]

Rena flinched at the fast and sureness of his reply.

"That may be true, but you've realized what you've done is wrong. That counts for something."

[homerun_k1]

He pauses a moment to take in what she said.

"...Thank you, Rena," he manages with a very small smile that disappears just as quickly as it came, "but I can't forgive myself yet for what I did. Spain didn't deserve what happened at all and neither did you and Mion, If that really happened."

Just thinking about has made a frown appear on his face. It wasn't as simple or easy as being forgiven for what he did in some weird alternate world. Keiichi beat up his best friend in his frantic state of mind and now he just doesn't know what to do.

[bigassmachete]

Rena let out a small sigh. He was right. Forgiving yourself for doing something that destructive was hard to do. She knew she'd probably be dealing with the same amount of guilt if she had done those things instead of Keiichi.

"No, we didn't and Spain didn't." she says, taking a step forward. "But, we're still your friends despite that. And we'll still be here when you do forgive yourself."

[homerun_k1]

"...Thank you." he whispered in a soft voice that Rena could barely hear as he continued to look downward. Even though he wouldn't be able to forgive himself for a long time, he could still try to make sure it didn't happen ever again.