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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[soft_focus]

[There is a quiet nod, and no answer for a while once again.

...For a while at least.] His computer is gone...

...S...

..So is his name on mine...

[intercalaryninja]

. . .

Oh...

[So... it means he's vanished... not by physical means but... he's gone from Ryslig.]

....

[A hand on the shoulder. It may progress to a hug.]

[soft_focus]

[He sort of hopes it does-because if it doesn't, he'll have to initiate it himself. Clinging to the other tightly, rubbing his head against the spider while somehow avoiding an incident with antlers or bone spikes. Kurt had been here since the day he arrived, after all.

...And it's not even the same as when his brother died, this time.]

[intercalaryninja]

[Tsukikage hugs him quietly, letting the boy have the reprive he needs. In fact, having Kurt gone makes its own hole in Tsukikage's heart. After all, Kurt didn't even get a warning before he disappeared. There was so many other things he wanted to say to the older man, and he was supposed to tell him his response...

It was terrifying to think that Kurt... that anyone could disappear at any time.]

[soft_focus]

[That was the world they lived in. That was this world, and it stung to know it like this; it hurt more than when Yuugo disappeared-perhaps because even though they were from the same world, they didn't know each other in the same way. They didn't live with him, or eat with him, or...]

...what do we do.. ..?

[Hunting wise, there was no doubt that Tsukikage would take over for that; Kurt had until then been the breadwinner both cash and human-wise, but the ninja had a job... ...and experience necessary for that, perhaps.

But it still felt...sour. Bad. ...Empty.]

[intercalaryninja]

. . . We have to simply endure for his sake, and hope he comes back. We move on, but we don't forget him.

[It wasn't a matter that Kurt was impossible to replace, it was a matter that he had to be. It was a matter of he was gone. Tsukikage holds the boy tight, feeling the same ache in his heart. It's a different sort of pain he had after he found out about his brother's fate, but there are disgustingly similar echoes in the two scenes.

But it must be hard on Reira... the two were close.]

When did this happen?

[When did you realise...]

[blurspot]

[When?] ...I don't know, [he starts, shaking his head.]

...He wasn't here when I came home. ...He normally makes food so...

[So he was confused. Scared, even, when it seemed so quiet on top of the darkness. And then he searched, and searched...

...and nothing...]

[intercalaryninja]

. . .

I see...

[He sees, but there's nothing they can really do now. They just have to move on, like he said...]

[blurspot]

[Yes.

....The boy goes quiet. And eventually he pulls away, his eyes shadowed.] ...T...

...Tsukikage..?

[intercalaryninja]

.... Yes, Reira-dono?

[blurspot]

...C...

...I want to tell you something, but... [He swallows, still not looking up.] ...You can't be mad though, ok?

..Y...

You can't...

[intercalaryninja]

. . . I promise, Reira-dono.

[He gets all his composure together because... boy he has a bad feeling about this...]

[blurspot]

[Alright.

Slowly, he reaches into his pocket then-he reaches, and pulls out a card, a card that looks holographic almost, with a rainbow passing through it when he turns it.

It is a keycard.] ...After Nii-sama was gone... ...after that, I wanted to bring him back. ...Th...the god that brought him here... ...he can't do that again. ...but he said...

...he said he had a safe place... [And he swallows. And he continues.] ...Even though it's safe, the others told me they want me to leave. K...Kurosaki...and Yuugo...

...Yuzu said...it was my choice... ...and... ...and Ilia said...

...Ilia said he wasn't lying-it's a safe place..! And he... ...He makes it so that I don't feel worse in the fog..!

...But you... ...and Kurt... ......I didn't want to make you mad, so...

...so even after that night...

[He can't say anything more. Not about that.]

[intercalaryninja]

[One pair of eyes lock on to Reira, the other goes to look at the card in his hand. A small part of him immediately wants to break it, but that bit is stuffed down and buried into the recesses of his mind.]

. . .

The god that brought Reiji-dono here...

[The Fourth... The Fourth God was behind this... Reira was aligned with him. Tsukikage miraculously keeps calm and he waits... waits for the boy to finish speaking first.]

So you're in his army now...

[But it wasn't their fight.]

I'm not mad... I just want to know why do you stay? What did he do to help during the fog? I'm... just a little lost, Reira-dono. I'm sorry.

[And by lost, it means that Tsukikage wants to go and give the god a piece of his mind.]

[blurspot]

[There is a nod. Even if Tsukikage had tried, it would never have worked. Only Reira could break this card. And if the ninja had attacked it would be a surefire way to drive the boy into the arcade for more than enough time to make that card the strongest tool in the world.

In Reira's eyes, it was their fight.

It was absolutely their fight.] ...Because Ilia doesn't lie. ...and he promised...and...

[And tears are dotting his eyes as he speaks.] ...Before you came here... ...when the fog came, everything hurt.

...I couldn't close my mouth... ...and I felt more hungry... [He is breathing, if Tsukikage listens. Breath is needed to speak of course, but he is beginning to breathe faster and faster as he talks.]

I thought... [Swallow. Gasp-] ...I thought I saw a deer... ...but when I looked again, and...

...And after I swallowed..!

[...It was man.] ...After that though...

...I haven't turned into that. I don't make mistakes like that...and when the fog comes, I don't feel heavy...

...He kept his promise. ...He said...he said he'd keep me safe, and he kept his promise..!

[intercalaryninja]

[Tsukikage hugs him tightly. He listens. He understands. The fog must have an additional effect on monsters who've finished becoming what they are... and he can't imagine the pain Reira must feel after that.]

Be calm, Reira. I'm not mad... You don't have to think of such things anymore.

. . .

He kept his promise, and you stayed because of it. That's all there is to it. It's a good reason.

[blurspot]

But I kept it secret. [He sniffs, and shakes his head.] I...

I lied... ..even after I did that to you...

[intercalaryninja]

We all have secrets. You had a good reason to keep it from Kurt and myself... There's no reason to worry about it.

[He affirms it quietly to himself too, before he pats the boy's head.]

It was going to happen one way or another. It helped in the end...

[He was about to say 'he didn't mind it', but he really did, so he stops himself.]

[blurspot]

...I...

...I never got to tell him.

...Kurosaki said not getting rid of it was worse, because... Because I didn't tell you. ...And now it's too late...

[There is silence. And he feels Tsukikage's hand between his antlers, the boy driven to launch himself for a hug once again.] I...

I'm sorry, Tsukikage..! I'm really...more than anything..! I'm sorry...

[intercalaryninja]

[He supposed Kurosaki was right, but he lets Reira hug him and he hugs back, leaning into the boy's embrace. He strokes his head, speaking softly still.]

It's alright, Reira-dono. I know you are... I forgive you.

[And though hurt, he'd be sure Kurt would as well.]

[soft_focus]

[He does not say anything-not anymore. For a while there is simply silent trembling against the arachne's form, breathless tears staining his clothes. Eventually though, he stops moving altogether-eyes closed, body limp...

Sleep, as it seems, has claimed him at last, and he slumps against the other's form.]

[intercalaryninja]

[Tsukikage smiles once the boy is finally asleep and he holds him close. After a moment, he picks Reira up, slowly and carefully walking towards the boy's bedroom and tucking him in. Tomorrow would be the start of a new day... he'd have to prepare for it one way or another.]

I promise... I'll protect you for as long as I can. [He murmurs, pulling the blanket up, and putting both teddies securely in Reira's arms.]