CONTACT | Call me, maybe

[intercalaryninja]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, HAZYREFLECTION FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 011.04.151.01 *** HAZYREFLECTION has joined 011.04.151.01 <HAZYREFLECTION> Only contact me if it is necessary. <HAZYREFLECTION> Report to me immediately if it's regarding Reira-dono. <HAZYREFLECTION> I will be checking this nightly when possible.

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[intercalaryninja]

[Tsukikage takes a longer time to get back. While he thankfully does not have to endure the agony of a transformation or the new legs, he does have to figure out where he is. However, once he does, he hurries home as fast as he can, to where smoke and ash replace the fires he had once seen.

The man looks frantically around for Reira, expertly evading anyone who may have stopped his entry, and he almost cries in relief himself when he sees the boy. He hurries towards him, but when he is close, he slows down. He can see that expression and...]

... Reira-dono...

[Tsukikage kneels down behind him, four arms touching the ground, blue skin standing out more than ever.]

[soft_focus]

T-Tsuki- [He starts to call for the other, but as he turns he balks. It is as if the ninja were covered in ash through to the bone, his skin darkened and grey-blue, his new arms practically the same. The boy's eyes are wide, and a thought comes to his mind.

Did that fire...

...It was what he'd feared back then, but...] Tsuki...kage...

[intercalaryninja]

[Tsukikage sighs quietly and bows his head low. He's... ashamed to show his face. He had failed... in protecting Reira and in preserving their home. He wasn't fit to protect the boy, that was for certain.]

I... apologise, Reira-dono. If I had reacted faster and dealt with the situation none of this would have happened.

[blurspot]

[Was that what worried the other? There are tears building in his eyes, and he's silent for a number of moments, unsure of what to say. His body shakes, and his wings practically hum with the rustling that their trembles cause, and finally as a few choked sounds come out from his throat he leaps at the other to cling to him with a hug.]

N...

...no..! ...That's not... [He wasn't here, he almost says, but he doesn't. Something stops him, and instead he sniffles and tightens his hold.]

That's not your fault...it wasn't...!

[intercalaryninja]

R-reira-dono...

[He looks up in surprise when the boy tackles him and holds him tight. He's stunned for the briefest of moments, before he relaxes and brings his arms - all four of them - around Reira and holds him.]

I have done nothing to deserve this sympathy, Reira-dono. If it wasn't for the nature of Ryslig, we would have both been dead. Regardless of fault, I'm still responsible for my negligence.

[But he holds the boy anyway, because he needs the hug as much as him.]

[blurspot]

Mn...Nn...

I don't care..! [He shakes his head against the other, trembling violently.] It's not... You aren't responsible! [the boy protests.] You're not..!

...I just want... ...I just want you to stay alive... I...

[...He doesn't want to lose someone again. Not at all.]

[intercalaryninja]

. . . [Being responsible doesn't mean that he shouldn't be alive, but he won't protest the boy's insistence. He merely continues to hug Reira, one of his lower arms rubbing the boy's back in comfort.]

I wish for that as well, Reira-dono. I would like us both to stay alive... Let us... not make what happened a reoccurring event, alright.

[... Thank you. Thank you for believing in him and still wanting him by your side, Reira.]

[blurspot]

That means you won't d...

That you won't do that again right..?

...That... [He swallows, forcing himself to continue.] ...If something bad happens, and you could die...

...You'll get somewhere safe instead right..?

[intercalaryninja]

.......

[So he knew he didn't try escape straight away. Tsukikage pauses for a long time but eventually comes a low whisper.]

... If that is what you wish.

[blurspot]

[How else, after all, could someone like Tsukikage be taken down?]

Y...yeah.

...Yeah. ...I don't want you to get hurt for me.

...I don't...

...I won't let anyone get hurt for me.

[intercalaryninja]

...... You're very brave, Reira-dono.

[He'll part and look at the boys. No more tears, okay? They're both back now.]

[blurspot]

[...What a confusing response, he thinks.] ...why though..?

[intercalaryninja]

You're not afraid to look forward, even in times of tragedy. It takes strength and bravery to do that.

[blurspot]

...You're supposed to look forward though.

...Nothing happens if you don't... If you don't look forward.

[intercalaryninja]

We both know that, but sometimes it's very easy to forget when you're hurt or scared or sad.

........

. . .

Did you find the box with our things in it?

[soft_focus]

M...Mnh. [...If only he could feel more sure of that.

Instead, he thinks of the box, and nods.] Th...

...My chest, right..?

[intercalaryninja]

Yes. That's right. I put a few things in there before I left to face the person on my arm... Do you have it?

[blurspot]

[...He just got here. So he doesn't know. But he looks toward where his room would be with wide eyes.]

[intercalaryninja]

[Tsukikage frowns and carefully walks around the debris. The door has been burnt down, but traces of dried hemolymph can be seen on it. Not wanting to worry Reira, Tsukikage goes to rip a hole big enough for the both of them to get in, tossing the pieces aside.

Covered in burnt roof and some rubble is the box. Seems like it's been untouched, even if the room was destroyed.]

[blurspot]

[It's a miracle, truly. The boy follows, creeping close before eventually heading for the box to slowly lift up the lid. Will things be safe in there, really?

Will it all be alright?]

[intercalaryninja]

... Ah thank goodness. Everything is okay.

[Duel discs, deck, the bears, some emergency money... anything of worth between the two is in there.

And Hikage is there too, neatly tucked in the corner.]

[soft_focus]

[He can see that everything 'valuable' is in this box. Perhaps not monetarily, but personally, everything is there.

More than everything, in fact, and he reaches in to pick out that unique 'sealed' card.] H...

...Hiikage..?

[intercalaryninja]

... Yes, that's him, Reira-dono.

[Please be careful with him. Tsukikage picks up his duel disc and pockets that away too. Hikage's duel disc... his card are Tsukikage's most precious things.]

[blurspot]

... ...how did...

[...How did it get here, he wants to ask. How did he...

...he shouldn't, really.]

[intercalaryninja]

[He can answer that, at least. It's not personal... how he got to Ryslig, anyway.]

He came with my Duel Disc... or rather with this Duel Disc. When I did the ritual, I ended up with both that card and Hikage's one.