[And with that, he'd send Baji the address of a small run-down one room apartment he'd be squatting at since he'd arrived. It wasn't much, and he didn't need much.]
Sorry if it looks like shit. Lemme know when you get here Ill let you in
[Of course he cared, but only insofar as he didn't want Kazutora living in some haunt with no running water and shit bugs everywhere and no proper sleeping place. Interior decor he could give a shit about-- or a mess, for that matter. He'd seen Pah's room, after all.
Baji would head that way quickly, steeling himself for what he'd had to do. Mikey had asked him to do it, sure. But this was a task he'd assigned himself a long time ago... something he had to fix, to make Kazutora well again. Because he'd promised he wouldn't abandon him.
Baji didn't bother with knocking. It was Kazu, so, hands in pockets, he'd just toe open the door with the front of his boot, assuming it was unlocked.]
[The place was dark. It smelled of stale and rotted wood. He could hear the scurry of rats rather than see them.
In the center of the room was a table with a single chair, and on the floor was a stained mattress. Kazutora would be standing facing away from him, hands also in the pockets of his Valhalla jacket.
When Baji would step in, he'd turn around with an unhinged smile, his eyes too wide as ever, gleaming yellow from the one flickering light above him.]
[...yikes. A place straight outta hell-- ...well, literally, yeah.
Baji had long since taken off his own Valhalla jacket, firstly because that shit was ironic in the underworld, and secondly because it gave him a bad taste in his mouth when he was around Mikey. It just didn't work anymore, now that everyone had read ahead. Figured he'd be a few chapters behind, huh?
He'd opted for just his tank top and tee, casual. He didn't have his Toman jacket with him. Sorry to Mitsuya; that stitching had been impeccable, but on the bright side, least he hadn't gotten blood on it.
Around his neck though, hanging on a leather string, was the brown-spattered "Traffic Safety" charm, worn as a necklace. That's how Mikey had been wearing it, before he'd returned to to Baji like this. Put it right over his head and heart.
...There was no shying away from that with Kazutora now. He didn't know what Kazutora remembered, but hopefully he'd find it in himself to remember Baji would never betray him either. Not Mikey, not him. Not really, not ever.]
Kasa...?
[Umbrella? Wasn't 'kasa' umbrella in Japanese--? Did the kanji have another reading??? Holy shit he didn't even speak his own language?????
Shaking his head to clear it of that stress-- whatever, they could have a vocab lesson later-- he'd rub his temple with the heel of his hand and take a deep breath.]
...it smells like rain water and shit in here, Tora. We should get you someplace warmer.
[Mikey had asked him to bring Kazutora back to them. He'd try.]
[He'd laugh when he'd see how clearly confused Baji was, a moment of levity in his otherwise morbid state of mind. He'd turn around to greet him more properly, walking up to him and shrugging.]
Eh, it's all I can get at the moment, but there's a roof at least.
[He'd point up to the ceiling and then grin, looking at him more clearly. He wasn't wearing his jacket. He was wearing...
And here he'd stop, looking at the charm on Baji's neck. The charm that signified his love of his friends. His love of Toman..
His expression would darken and he'd move to lift the charm delicately with his index finger..]
[A brow raise, not taking his eyes off of Kazutora's face, as if it didn't trouble him in the least that he'd closed the distance to thumb at something precious. He wasn't about to treat Kazutora like he couldn't be trusted-- no matter what had happened between them.
So, he'd let him toy with it, rolling a shoulder back and nudging his knuckles softly into the side of his own neck.]
Yeah. You remember that day-?
[He sure did. They'd done it, in part; in large part; for Kazutora.]
Said I'd hang onto it, after all.
Anyway, I might have a better option for you an' this.
...yeah. I lost it, the day Moebius came for Draken.
[Baji would keep his tone even and impassive, his gaze calm and unerring.]
So I didn't have it when I joined you; and Valhalla. ...Guess Takemichi was taking care of it for me.
[...here is the tricky part, the part that might snap his friend into a place of hurt he didn't want for him.
But Baji would be honest.]
Then Mikey held onto it. ...Wore it like this. After I passed.
[Two implications: that Baji knew he'd died, and that he and Mikey were in accord enough that Mikey had entrusted it back to its rightful keeper and protector.]
Mikey... every time Kazutora thought of him, it came with mixed feelings. When he first met him and joined Toman, it was a mix of awe and resentment. After Mikey claimed him, it was adoration and loyalty. After Shinichiro, it was hate like he still couldn't believe. While in jail a second time, it was gratefulness. And since coming to Stygia, it's been a warm build, layer by layer, of comradery.. and determination. To help him, to be by his side, to be the friend and partner Mikey deserved.
All of this came and went in a flash each time Mikey came to mind, giving him brief pause, before he'd text back.
checking out a new apartment complex, if you wanna head this way--
[And with that, he'd send Mikey an address for a place near the merchants quarters, or as best of an address as he could surmise in a place like this.]
you dont need to. im working on something for us. ill be there soon.
(one step, after another step, and a deep breath. kazutora's forever such a touchy thing for him, someone he's promised to take care and own to the very end of time. owning means, his happiness is mikey's own, so is his sadness, delusions, wars, until he couldn't do it anymore. not when their pain was so deeply shared from different angles, and when the war was against himself.
but it doesn't matter. he has to make an effort, because here, this is what he has. kazutora's been forgiven, and whether that is true in mikey's heart is something he is still to see, to feel and to grasp. he'll do that as he enters the building, plopping on a seat in front of kazutora's own.)
Hey.
(and he's 15. have fun with that mindfuck, kazutora.)
[There'd be a start, a shock to the system that would be visible in the tremor that would pass through Kazutora as he'd stare at Mikey, now young again. His eyes would widen.]
Mikey...? What-- the fuck happened? You're--
[He didn't even know how to finish that sentence. This was the Mikey that until recently he wanted to murder into teeny tiny bits and pieces, wanted to bash through walls, wanted to grind into paste. .. but this was also the Mikey that had forgiven him.. But did he remember the things they'd spoken about? Was he the same, just... younger looking...?]
... Oh. You've met me, right? When I was older. Well, long story short, I looked really fucking hard at a mirror and this happened, no, I don't remember the future, no, I don't remember everything I said or that I did at that time, if at all.
(he's had this conversation over and over and over and over again. that covers most of the questions he's able to answer, if he is able to answer any.
but looking at kazutora like this, it does bring a sense of uneasiness, even if his face remains within the bounds of neutrality as it always had.)
[There's a wave of sadness that passes over Kazutora's eyes. That Mikey from the future, he understood Kazutora in a way he didn't think was possible for Mikey to understand. For anyone to understand. And now he was gone.. And any relationship he'd made with him was gone. Any comradery, even though Mikey had denied it.. was gone.
He'd blink and look at Mikey, really look at him. He wasn't the adult he'd come to rely upon. But this Mikey would eventually become that adult. And when he did, he would suffer from that darkness he'd mentioned. Maybe he already was suffering from it. Kazutora didn't want anyone to feel the way he'd felt the past two years. Not even Mikey.
Especially not Mikey.]
You were sad. [He'd look down at his hands, intertwine his fingers.] You were all alone, and you wanted to be alone. .. it -- [He'd shake his head and glance back up.] It didn't suit you. You weren't the vivacious brat you always are. [A grin.] .. But it did suit me. I related to you so much. Crazy, right? [A soft laugh.]
[Kazutora would sit up with a start, lifting the charm he had wrapped around his wrist to see Mikey's holographic form, looking back at him. He'd immediately tear up, glad beyond reason to see him there and to hear his voice.]
Haha, fuck am I glad to see you, holy shit! We were talking, and next thing I know, I'm in this weird fairytale town!
(not over it, that's for sure, but they were getting somewhere back in the afterlife. if he couldn't save everyone he thought he would, he can at least keep them together. glue.)
We can. I'm living with Takemitchy, I'll make him run errands and I'll bring you some food, yeah? Where you at?
[So Takemichi was there too.. wasn't he also at that other place? The one with the souls? Kazutora had never run into him.. ... did that also mean Baji was here...?]
Food sounds awesome. I'm right outside of town, shacking up at a barn owned by these farmers who said I could stay if I did some work. I have no idea how to do any of this stuff, but eh, money is money, right?
[He'd send Mikey an approximate address]
Hey, Mikey.. have you heard from Baji? Is he here too...?
[Mikey, always helping. Kazutora can't wrap his head around it, just like always. He never could understand how Mikey could act so selfish and then do such selfless things.
He'd smile at the holographic form of his.. friend.]
Yeah, it's okay? I won't be imposing on you and Takemichi? I don't really know the guy, I don't want to freak him out.
[Squinting..]
No, I do want to freak him out. [Decided, grinning.] But I'll be good about it, Mikey, I promise.
I can come to you, then? I just need to tell the owners here and get my money.. And I want to try and find Baji. .. if he's here.
I don't think so. He's worried rather than scared about you and shit. That's just who he is. You should spend more time with him.
(takemitchy is his savior, in so many more ways than one. if he can bring some spark into manjiro's dead eyes, he can bring so much more to kazutora. mikey's sure.)
Baji's here for sure. You can just come, that's completely fine, 'Tora.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2022-09-13 04:18 am (UTC)it's me. u free now?
i can head to ur place.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-13 04:31 am (UTC)Yeah ok
[And with that, he'd send Baji the address of a small run-down one room apartment he'd be squatting at since he'd arrived. It wasn't much, and he didn't need much.]
Sorry if it looks like shit. Lemme know when you get here Ill let you in
no subject
Date: 2022-09-13 04:37 am (UTC)[Of course he cared, but only insofar as he didn't want Kazutora living in some haunt with no running water and shit bugs everywhere and no proper sleeping place. Interior decor he could give a shit about-- or a mess, for that matter. He'd seen Pah's room, after all.
Baji would head that way quickly, steeling himself for what he'd had to do. Mikey had asked him to do it, sure. But this was a task he'd assigned himself a long time ago... something he had to fix, to make Kazutora well again. Because he'd promised he wouldn't abandon him.
Baji didn't bother with knocking. It was Kazu, so, hands in pockets, he'd just toe open the door with the front of his boot, assuming it was unlocked.]
It's me.
[Called, voice low.]
no subject
Date: 2022-09-13 04:50 am (UTC)In the center of the room was a table with a single chair, and on the floor was a stained mattress. Kazutora would be standing facing away from him, hands also in the pockets of his Valhalla jacket.
When Baji would step in, he'd turn around with an unhinged smile, his eyes too wide as ever, gleaming yellow from the one flickering light above him.]
Welcome to Casa Kazu, Baji.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-15 12:22 am (UTC)Baji had long since taken off his own Valhalla jacket, firstly because that shit was ironic in the underworld, and secondly because it gave him a bad taste in his mouth when he was around Mikey. It just didn't work anymore, now that everyone had read ahead. Figured he'd be a few chapters behind, huh?
He'd opted for just his tank top and tee, casual. He didn't have his Toman jacket with him. Sorry to Mitsuya; that stitching had been impeccable, but on the bright side, least he hadn't gotten blood on it.
Around his neck though, hanging on a leather string, was the brown-spattered "Traffic Safety" charm, worn as a necklace. That's how Mikey had been wearing it, before he'd returned to to Baji like this. Put it right over his head and heart.
...There was no shying away from that with Kazutora now. He didn't know what Kazutora remembered, but hopefully he'd find it in himself to remember Baji would never betray him either. Not Mikey, not him. Not really, not ever.]
Kasa...?
[Umbrella? Wasn't 'kasa' umbrella in Japanese--? Did the kanji have another reading??? Holy shit he didn't even speak his own language?????
Shaking his head to clear it of that stress-- whatever, they could have a vocab lesson later-- he'd rub his temple with the heel of his hand and take a deep breath.]
...it smells like rain water and shit in here, Tora. We should get you someplace warmer.
[Mikey had asked him to bring Kazutora back to them. He'd try.]
no subject
Date: 2022-09-15 01:09 am (UTC)Eh, it's all I can get at the moment, but there's a roof at least.
[He'd point up to the ceiling and then grin, looking at him more clearly. He wasn't wearing his jacket. He was wearing...
And here he'd stop, looking at the charm on Baji's neck. The charm that signified his love of his friends. His love of Toman..
His expression would darken and he'd move to lift the charm delicately with his index finger..]
Hah, well this is a fucking throwback..
no subject
Date: 2022-09-15 01:17 am (UTC)So, he'd let him toy with it, rolling a shoulder back and nudging his knuckles softly into the side of his own neck.]
Yeah. You remember that day-?
[He sure did. They'd done it, in part; in large part; for Kazutora.]
Said I'd hang onto it, after all.
Anyway, I might have a better option for you an' this.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-15 01:31 am (UTC)[He'd toy with the charm more..]
You never used to wear it like this..
[There was a lilt to his voice, a sing song scratch that sounded foreign and harsh, even as it was upbeat.]
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Date: 2022-09-15 01:35 am (UTC)[Baji would keep his tone even and impassive, his gaze calm and unerring.]
So I didn't have it when I joined you; and Valhalla. ...Guess Takemichi was taking care of it for me.
[...here is the tricky part, the part that might snap his friend into a place of hurt he didn't want for him.
But Baji would be honest.]
Then Mikey held onto it. ...Wore it like this. After I passed.
[Two implications: that Baji knew he'd died, and that he and Mikey were in accord enough that Mikey had entrusted it back to its rightful keeper and protector.]
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From:NUUU TAAAGGG
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Date: 2022-12-14 06:43 pm (UTC)are you free?
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Date: 2022-12-19 05:50 am (UTC)All of this came and went in a flash each time Mikey came to mind, giving him brief pause, before he'd text back.
yeah, im free.
where do you wanna meet?
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Date: 2022-12-19 12:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-12-21 11:46 pm (UTC)[And with that, he'd send Mikey an address for a place near the merchants quarters, or as best of an address as he could surmise in a place like this.]
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Date: 2022-12-22 12:00 am (UTC)(one step, after another step, and a deep breath. kazutora's forever such a touchy thing for him, someone he's promised to take care and own to the very end of time. owning means, his happiness is mikey's own, so is his sadness, delusions, wars, until he couldn't do it anymore. not when their pain was so deeply shared from different angles, and when the war was against himself.
but it doesn't matter. he has to make an effort, because here, this is what he has. kazutora's been forgiven, and whether that is true in mikey's heart is something he is still to see, to feel and to grasp. he'll do that as he enters the building, plopping on a seat in front of kazutora's own.)
Hey.
(and he's 15. have fun with that mindfuck, kazutora.)
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Date: 2022-12-22 12:16 am (UTC)Mikey...? What-- the fuck happened? You're--
[He didn't even know how to finish that sentence. This was the Mikey that until recently he wanted to murder into teeny tiny bits and pieces, wanted to bash through walls, wanted to grind into paste. .. but this was also the Mikey that had forgiven him.. But did he remember the things they'd spoken about? Was he the same, just... younger looking...?]
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Date: 2022-12-22 12:22 am (UTC)(he's had this conversation over and over and over and over again. that covers most of the questions he's able to answer, if he is able to answer any.
but looking at kazutora like this, it does bring a sense of uneasiness, even if his face remains within the bounds of neutrality as it always had.)
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Date: 2022-12-22 02:55 pm (UTC)He'd blink and look at Mikey, really look at him. He wasn't the adult he'd come to rely upon. But this Mikey would eventually become that adult. And when he did, he would suffer from that darkness he'd mentioned. Maybe he already was suffering from it. Kazutora didn't want anyone to feel the way he'd felt the past two years. Not even Mikey.
Especially not Mikey.]
You were sad. [He'd look down at his hands, intertwine his fingers.] You were all alone, and you wanted to be alone. .. it -- [He'd shake his head and glance back up.] It didn't suit you. You weren't the vivacious brat you always are. [A grin.] .. But it did suit me. I related to you so much. Crazy, right? [A soft laugh.]
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Date: 2023-02-20 10:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-02-22 02:55 am (UTC)[Kazutora would sit up with a start, lifting the charm he had wrapped around his wrist to see Mikey's holographic form, looking back at him. He'd immediately tear up, glad beyond reason to see him there and to hear his voice.]
Haha, fuck am I glad to see you, holy shit! We were talking, and next thing I know, I'm in this weird fairytale town!
Where are you? Can we meet up??
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Date: 2023-02-22 10:22 pm (UTC)(not over it, that's for sure, but they were getting somewhere back in the afterlife. if he couldn't save everyone he thought he would, he can at least keep them together. glue.)
We can. I'm living with Takemitchy, I'll make him run errands and I'll bring you some food, yeah? Where you at?
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Date: 2023-02-26 12:11 am (UTC)Food sounds awesome. I'm right outside of town, shacking up at a barn owned by these farmers who said I could stay if I did some work. I have no idea how to do any of this stuff, but eh, money is money, right?
[He'd send Mikey an approximate address]
Hey, Mikey.. have you heard from Baji? Is he here too...?
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Date: 2023-02-26 06:13 pm (UTC)(alright. it's not far. he can go soon.)
I feel he is, I just haven't seen him yet.
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Date: 2023-03-02 02:22 pm (UTC)He'd smile at the holographic form of his.. friend.]
Yeah, it's okay? I won't be imposing on you and Takemichi? I don't really know the guy, I don't want to freak him out.
[Squinting..]
No, I do want to freak him out. [Decided, grinning.] But I'll be good about it, Mikey, I promise.
I can come to you, then? I just need to tell the owners here and get my money.. And I want to try and find Baji. .. if he's here.
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Date: 2023-03-06 07:57 pm (UTC)(takemitchy is his savior, in so many more ways than one. if he can bring some spark into manjiro's dead eyes, he can bring so much more to kazutora. mikey's sure.)
Baji's here for sure. You can just come, that's completely fine, 'Tora.
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Date: 2023-03-10 05:49 am (UTC)[That strikes Kazutora as odd; he barely knows Takemichi, after all..
But he smiles at Mikey's hologram and tilts his head, his earring, the only thing he still had with him, tinkling in response.]
Yeah okay, I'll just come to you then, eh? [He stands up and brushes dirt off his knees.]
Where am I going?