But even though he had been expecting it, it still made the whole of him halt when he read the words. Simple words - they could have been about anything, but Jin wasn't going to stupidly think otherwise. To lie to himself would be pointless. And if he were wrong? If he was predicting a meeting that wasn't going to be, a meeting about what had been done, what shouldn't have been done
( ... )
[ If Minato was perfectly honest, Jin was the one he was most concerned about.
Jin, smart as he knew he was, was easily the most impressionable out of the three of them. He was loyal to a fault, probably even in that he would rather die first than do something to hurt Takaya.
And he admittedly also cared for Takaya, probably almost as much, but not quite. It left a bitter taste in his mouth--Minato had been the one to get there too late, to talk to Takaya after he'd done what he did.
And the part of him that liked people could not believe it. The part of him that knew Takaya, however, could. As their leader, he was put into a position he never wanted to be in right now. ]
... It's about Takaya. He's gone too far. But before I make any decision on his future with us, I need to hear how you and Chidori feel on this.
[ ... That was why Minato was their leader. He honestly, sincerely cared about the opinions of others, and did not just make snap judgements. ]
[ What he thought about it. When he knew Takaya had gone, Jin had expected the outcome that happened - it was one of few possibilities in his head. Takaya went for the target - a target that he and everyone else knew that weren't going to take down.
Yet if Takaya not only went to the target but completed the hit, didn't there have to be a reason? Don't be reckless-- those were Takaya's words, words he still remembered and had helped him to think things out more thoroughly.
So what did he feel? For certain that us stuck out for him more than the rest and wasn't going to be ignored. ]
Sounds to me you've already got a decision in mind. Why don't you tell me it first?
Ever since she'd heard what Takaya had done- and oh, she had heard, regardless of how she really would have rather not- she had been waiting for Minato's reaction when he found out. She hadn't believed for one instant that he wouldn't, just like she didn't believe for one second that Takaya understood the full extent of what he had done. She was furious herself, in her own way- with how Minato had them operate, she'd begun to have a greater appreciation for the lives of those outside of Strega. Not to the extent that she would go out of her way to protect them, but neither would she be so quick to take them from those who did not deserve to have them taken.
She slipped into the room like a ghost, the analogy made all the more fitting by her pallor and her dress, and closed the door behind her with a click, alerting Minato to her presence. She moved to his side in her careful, elegant way, fingers pressing together, steepled, at the front of her dress.]
[ He sighs. Part of this was their possible exposure. He knew Takaya wouldn't care enough to clean up.
He knew he had done this, mostly, to prove some sort of point probably, perhaps that Minato was too caring about people (he was right, in the end, as much as he attempted to hide his care for life and others, he was nothing if not compassionate), or that he was not making decent choices.
Whatever the case may be, he's spent the last day or so erasing everything and making sure it didn't lead back to them. He is tired, he hasn't slept for some time. He is not amused, either. ]
... I'm going to leave him somewhere and not tell him where we're going. I'm concerned about the things he's been telling Jin. It seems that this has been building for awhile now. ... I know he won't agree.
[Minato did care- a lot. And it was obvious to anyone who spent more than an hour or two in his presence. It was something Chidori had always admired about him- that ability to still care about people, even complete strangers, despite what he had been through. Because the rest of them had been through a lot, but she knew Minato had been through worse, though she wasn't sure if he knew she knew.
He probably did.
She can feel the exhaustion coming from him, and in the back of her mind, Medea is for once concerned. Chidori is capable, and so is Jin, but Minato is their strongest, and if he fails to protect them, they have no real chance. Not at the moment, at least.]
Not before you rest.
[She has no qualms about leaving Takaya behind to his own devices- not if he's not going to bother caring about what his actions could bring upon them all. But she will not leave until they are ready and able to handle what is sure to be a long and likely draining journey.]
What about Jin?
[That is the only real roadblock. Chidori likes Jin,
( ... )
[ He's very aware of this, and it worries him greatly. Jin meant as much to him as Chidori and, when it came down to it, Minato's desire was to protect them.
Takaya and he... were close in that way too, and though he wouldn't admit it, the bond of the fact they'd all been in the same situation was what he respected more than anything. He knew Takaya was using that by this point, and... it hurt him. Even if he would never say it aloud. ]
I'm going to have to convince him this is for the best. I don't know... if it really comes down to it, I'm going to do what needs to be done for his sake. Even if that means going behind his back to make sure that he stays with us and not Takaya...
[ ... Well. He'd do it. He wasn't... against underhanded tactics if they were for someone's own good, as much as he loathed using them, the situation might call for it. ]
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But even though he had been expecting it, it still made the whole of him halt when he read the words. Simple words - they could have been about anything, but Jin wasn't going to stupidly think otherwise. To lie to himself would be pointless. And if he were wrong? If he was predicting a meeting that wasn't going to be, a meeting about what had been done, what shouldn't have been done ( ... )
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Jin, smart as he knew he was, was easily the most impressionable out of the three of them. He was loyal to a fault, probably even in that he would rather die first than do something to hurt Takaya.
And he admittedly also cared for Takaya, probably almost as much, but not quite. It left a bitter taste in his mouth--Minato had been the one to get there too late, to talk to Takaya after he'd done what he did.
And the part of him that liked people could not believe it. The part of him that knew Takaya, however, could. As their leader, he was put into a position he never wanted to be in right now. ]
... It's about Takaya. He's gone too far. But before I make any decision on his future with us, I need to hear how you and Chidori feel on this.
[ ... That was why Minato was their leader. He honestly, sincerely cared about the opinions of others, and did not just make snap judgements. ]
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Yet if Takaya not only went to the target but completed the hit, didn't there have to be a reason? Don't be reckless-- those were Takaya's words, words he still remembered and had helped him to think things out more thoroughly.
So what did he feel? For certain that us stuck out for him more than the rest and wasn't going to be ignored. ]
Sounds to me you've already got a decision in mind. Why don't you tell me it first?
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Whatever his reasons, he wasn't okay with it. ]
... There's a reason there are rules in place.
[ Those rules helped them function. It kept the from drawing too much attention to themselves. ]
I've given him multiple warnings before this. He's going to have to leave.
[ There was no way to sugarcoat this, and frankly, he wouldn't want to. Jin wasn't a child, he knew he could handle it. ]
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Ever since she'd heard what Takaya had done- and oh, she had heard, regardless of how she really would have rather not- she had been waiting for Minato's reaction when he found out. She hadn't believed for one instant that he wouldn't, just like she didn't believe for one second that Takaya understood the full extent of what he had done. She was furious herself, in her own way- with how Minato had them operate, she'd begun to have a greater appreciation for the lives of those outside of Strega. Not to the extent that she would go out of her way to protect them, but neither would she be so quick to take them from those who did not deserve to have them taken.
She slipped into the room like a ghost, the analogy made all the more fitting by her pallor and her dress, and closed the door behind her with a click, alerting Minato to her presence. She moved to his side in her careful, elegant way, fingers pressing together, steepled, at the front of her dress.]
What are you going to do?
[About ( ... )
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He knew he had done this, mostly, to prove some sort of point probably, perhaps that Minato was too caring about people (he was right, in the end, as much as he attempted to hide his care for life and others, he was nothing if not compassionate), or that he was not making decent choices.
Whatever the case may be, he's spent the last day or so erasing everything and making sure it didn't lead back to them. He is tired, he hasn't slept for some time. He is not amused, either. ]
... I'm going to leave him somewhere and not tell him where we're going. I'm concerned about the things he's been telling Jin. It seems that this has been building for awhile now. ... I know he won't agree.
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He probably did.
She can feel the exhaustion coming from him, and in the back of her mind, Medea is for once concerned. Chidori is capable, and so is Jin, but Minato is their strongest, and if he fails to protect them, they have no real chance. Not at the moment, at least.]
Not before you rest.
[She has no qualms about leaving Takaya behind to his own devices- not if he's not going to bother caring about what his actions could bring upon them all. But she will not leave until they are ready and able to handle what is sure to be a long and likely draining journey.]
What about Jin?
[That is the only real roadblock. Chidori likes Jin, ( ... )
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Takaya and he... were close in that way too, and though he wouldn't admit it, the bond of the fact they'd all been in the same situation was what he respected more than anything. He knew Takaya was using that by this point, and... it hurt him. Even if he would never say it aloud. ]
I'm going to have to convince him this is for the best. I don't know... if it really comes down to it, I'm going to do what needs to be done for his sake. Even if that means going behind his back to make sure that he stays with us and not Takaya...
[ ... Well. He'd do it. He wasn't... against underhanded tactics if they were for someone's own good, as much as he loathed using them, the situation might call for it. ]
... I'll rest soon. I need to talk to Jin first.
[ He is also way too stubborn. ]
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