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

[love_lostomates]

Spain was out walking.

Had Rita known he was out walking, she probably would have killed him. Or flailed and worried and yelled a lot, and Spain didn't want that. But...He also didn't want to be cooped up in bed in the mansion any longer. So all he was getting was some quick fresh air. Then he would go back and rest.

Besides, after the visit from Doctor Stiles, he was feeling a little better, thanks to his help and Rita's. Thanks to ther efforts, he had been bandaged up and patched up as well as he possibly could be at that point.

When he saw Keiichi, Spain drew in a sharp breath, wincing ever so slightly as his ribs protested. But things couldn't stay this way between them, so he stepped towards him.

"Keiichi?"

[homerun_k1]

Keiichi froze the instant he heard that voice, eyes wide in disbelief as he never thought Spain would be out-and-about yet. On the inside he was panicking a bit, not sure what to say or what to do-!

Regardless, he can't bring himself to look at him or say anything, still ashamed of himself and what he did. Yet, at the same time he can't bring himself to run away from him.

Keiichi merely glares down at the ground, back facing Spain all the while not saying a word.

[love_lostomates]

Keiichi's reaction made Spain wince more, not from physical pain, but something else entirely. It hurt him to see his friend act like this to him, especially because...Well, Spain had forgiven him the moment he had realized what had happened. He never had blamed Keiichi for what he had done, never. But it was clear that Keiichi blamed himself.

"...Keiichi...Are you okay?" Spain finally asked, quiet, voice sad.

[homerun_k1]

At that, he made a slow turn around to face him with a serious face on. He knew Spain was a nice guy but he had no idea it extended this far.

"I should be asking that, not you." saying something at last, though obviously in disbelief and frustration.

[love_lostomates]

Spain blinked at him for a moment, before shaking his head. "No...We all suffered through it. And a lot of people were getting sick. I was...worried."

He looked at the other again, expression honestly concerned as he asked again, "Are you okay?"

[homerun_k1]

A moment of silence on his part. "I'm fine, what about you though? It must have been even worse for you." feeling even more frustrated at himself more then anything.

[love_lostomates]

Spain smiled a little, a gentle smile and shook his head. "No, I've been much worse. Really, I'm fine."

He hesitated. What could he say that would make this better? How could he convince Keiichi that everything was okay now, and that it always had been?

"Keiichi..." He paused again. What to say?

[homerun_k1]

"Still..." he trails off, trying not to argue with him though it was proving to be kind of hard at the moment. It didn't help that he also didn't know what else to say if he wasn't arguing his point of view. He can't just forgive himself so what should he even do now?

[love_lostomates]

Finally, Spain sighed and just decided to say exactly what he thought. He could only help that it would help, and not hurt the situation.

"You...You know that it doesn't matter, right? I don't care what you did. You're still my friend, and you always will be, so..."

He looked down, sadly. "I wish you wouldn't blame yourself for this."

[homerun_k1]

"How can I not?! I could have killed you!" Keiichi angrily shakes his head at the mere thought of actually doing that. Even though he didn't want this to turn into an argument, that seemed to be the only thing he could think of.

[love_lostomates]

Spain wasn't smiling--this was too serious to smile about. Instead, his face was solemn as he looked at Keiichi, for a long moment saying nothing. Then he shook his head.

"So?" he said, simply, sincerely. Spain sighed, looking up to meet Keiichi's eyes. "You thought I had caused the deaths of everyone you cared about. You didn't know it was me. Keiichi, this wasn't your fault at all. You...Please don't blame yourself for it."

[homerun_k1]

Keiichi tried to calm himself as he listened to Spain. Even though he already knew all that he still couldn't just brush off what he did like he could. It was times like these that he believed that Spain may actually be too nice.

"I'm sorry," he replied calmer than he was previously, "but I can't forgive myself for what I did...Not yet."

[love_lostomates]

"...I understand." Spain's words were more of a quiet sigh than anything. But he did understand, and he looked at Keiichi seriously.

"But I forgive you."

[homerun_k1]

"Yeah, I know you do but still!..." he pauses a moment to think, "Couldn't you at least punch me or something for what I did? You're way too nice, Antonio..." he replies but for some reason sounds more like he lecturing than actually angry at him.

[love_lostomates]

He smiled a little at that and shook his head. "Why? I don't want to punch you, and it wouldn't help anything."

Still, Spain could tell that the atmosphere was lightening a little, and even if Keiichi couldn't forgive himself yet, they were making progress. He could be happy with that.

[homerun_k1]

"No, but it'd make me feel a bit better." he said with a sigh, all tension seemingly gone for now.