Atonements (Invite Only!)

[mugenginga]

(OOC: Rei no Kaado Invite Only Thread. 'Nuff Said)

Less than a minute after Takahashi had sped away (as in sped. He wasn't in a panic but he seemed to respect that Souji needed help), Anpu's eyes had widened. He tried to hide it under a veil of panic, shaking Souji and repeating that he was going to be okay, but at this point he had to wonder why he was keeping up the facade. He could see the all knowing smirk in the rearview mirror as Takahashi looked up at the initial expression.

Bakura had forced his presence out of supression. He'd kicked up for a moment about a minute earlier and had seen enough in the seconds before being pushed back down. He hadn't even had time to surface in presence form, but it had been long enough to see Souji. He'd clawed his way back out, and finally Anpu let it happen. The energy it would take to fight it would have alerted an already focused Takahashi even more.

The teenager had forced his way out on a hope. He turned to Souji, "C-Can anyone hear me?"

"You're on paper thin ice, Ryou," Anpu growled mentally. Anyone that could sense Bakura would not be able to pick up on Anpu's side of the mental conversation.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Souji hadn't heard anything, but Izanagi had. Izanagi had noticed the presence appear next to Anpu, and had known immediately that this was the presence inside of the Ring. Izanagi also knew that Anpu would be unable to hear whatever he said to Bakura. The only one who would be able to hear his own side of the conversation besides Bakura would be Souji, and Souji was completely paralyzed at the moment.

It was possible Bakura might see a light presence materialize next to Souji. This was the best Izanagi could do without Souji summoning him; a presence that could only be sensed by those with incredible spiritual senses, or those who were already spirits themselves.

I can hear you, Izanagi said to Bakura.

Hey, what's going on? Souji asked.

Stay quiet for a bit, Izanagi said back to Souji. I may be able to find out what is going to happen to us once we arrive at the shrine.

[mugenginga]

Bakura had never been sensitive to spirits and such. The voice had no form, but he could hear it. It wasn't Souji's voice. It was polite and seemed capable of being both tender and rough. Right now it was calmer. Bakura opened his mouth and hesitated, his eyes flicking to Anpu.

"I don't know what you just heard, but remember your arm," Anpu growled. He'd maintain his outward appearance no matter what happened, but he would keep his hold on Bakura.

He winced, grabbing at the location of his arm Souji had seen him cut the day before. He sook his head. He could start with safer things first. He looked towards Souji again.

"A-Are you I-I-Izanagi-sama?" Bakura suttered out. He was clearly frightened.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

I am, Izanagi stated. The presence speaking to him fit with Souji's (albeit few) memories of the boy known as Bakura Ryou; Izanagi's assumption had been correct.

How much can you say without being injured further by the spirit inhabiting your body at the moment? Izanagi asked.

While Izanagi conversed with Bakura, Souji was trying to move anything, anything at all. His muscles were still all paralyzed... except for a small movement in his right hand. It had twitched just a bit, but it was enough to tell Souji that the poison had to be wearing off, even if it was painfully slowly. It had been nearly twenty minutes since when he'd first collapsed, and this was it so far.

[mugenginga]

Bakura looked at his feet, "I don't know... Really, I just wanted to apologize. I...I'm really really sorry! This is all my fault, and now Atem-kun is probably going to... to..." Bakura looked away, feeling a few psychological tears welling up in his eyes. Atem was probably going to die. Or worse.

Anpu kept one ear towards the conversation, but so far nothing sensitive had come up. In truth, Anpu didn't even know if Bakura knew anything senstive at all. He'd worked at suppressing Bakura down whenever something that could be as such came up. He'd have to deal with Adachi over it later, but Bakura was getting another lesson later. He suspected Bakura had been aware of that when he chose to balk this time.

He noticed Souji's finger twitch out of the corner of his eye. He hid behind a veil of worry. Really, it was just a matter of channeling his annoyance at his host into another emotion. It came out as panicked concern. Once again he had to wonder why he was keeping up this charade.

"How much longer!?"

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Takahashi looked up at the rearview mirror so he could see Anpu. "About ten more minutes," Takahashi said. "I'm going as fast as I can."

...I can promise you now we will not let Atem die, Izanagi said. He was not saying that it wasn't Bakura's fault. Because as far as Izanagi knew, it was his fault. It was probably a good thing that Souji couldn't hear Bakura's side of the conversation, otherwise he would have mentally raged at Izanagi too.

Takahashi took a look at a sign as he passed by it on the road to the shrine. In truth, if he really pushed it, he could get there faster. At least the shrine was on the outskirts of the village instead of in it itself.

[mugenginga]

"......I don't know what Izanami-sama plans on doing to Souji-kun," Bakura said. His voice had dropped, and the implication was that neither he nor Izanagi may be able to prevent anything.

"You've said enough, Ryou. You've already overstepped your bounds, and I'm sure you remember what happened last time you did that," Anpu warned.

Bakura glanced at him, his face paling. He reached up and touched his tender arm. What was Anpu going to do this time...? He was powerless, that was the bottom line.

"I don't think I can say anything more. Please, just tell Souji-kun I'm sorry. I wish there was something... anything I could do."

Bakura's presence vanished.

----------

Mana jerked her head up. She had been sitting in front of the mirror in the honden. The door had been reattached somewhat shoddily, but it provided seclusion. She hadn't even been there at the moment, her body as much a decoration as anything else in the room. She got to her feet and rubbed the front of her skirt off, turning towards the door.

That's Izanagi's presence... don't tell me that thief already succeeded? I highly doubt Seta would come back here of his own accord...

She waved her hand and a still feeling something like death rippled through the room. The candles went out from the supernaturally still air and she slid open the door of the honden. She stepped out and locked the new lock before heading towards the stairs at the front of the shrine. The presence was drawing closer...

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Even though Bakura would have been unable to see it, Izanagi bowed his head before disappearing back into Souji's head.

Bakura says he is sorry. Izanagi spoke.

For what?!

He says it is his fault that Atem will die and that you were kidnapped.

Dammit... Souji suddenly felt Izanagi seize up. Souji himself was getting a really bad feeling. Hey, what's up?

I sense her. We've arrived.

The car pulled to a stop outside the front of the shrine. Takahashi stepped out, and looked back at Anpu. "You need any help getting him into the shrine?"

[mugenginga]

"That won't be necessary, Takahashi-san."

Anpu had stepped out of his side of the car when he heard Mana's voice. She had watched the car approach. She could feel Izanagi's agitation. It shot right past being a mere powerful presence. Anpu spoke before Takahashi had a chance to respond.

"She's the miko I mentioned," Anpu turned towards Izanami, "Souji fell ill again, I think he skipped a treatment. You have to help him!"

Izanami narrowed her eyes at Anpu. Takahashi likely caught the emotion. It was anything but recognition of what Anpu was talking about or concern. She nodded, but considering her expression it didn't mean much.

"Of course, but I can handle getting him to the treatment. You may leave as soon as Bakura-san helps Seta-san out of the car,"

Anpu nodded. She had used the name of his host, a small blessing. It would not have been beyond her to call him Anpu. Or worse, Masud. He went around to the side of the car Souji was in and opened the door. Souji would have gained a bit more motion by now, he'd be abel to wiggle his fingers.

If Takahashi was watching him closely, he'd notice Bakura clasp his hands around Souji's fingers. He was still careful with getting him out of the car, but the hold was a bit different. Mana walked over and swung Souji's other arm over her shoulder and stood up.

"Long time no see, Izanagi," Izanami spat, using her own spirit powers to speak directly to the presence resting within Souji's soul. The feeling she'd had earlier was more than enough to inform her Izanagi had decided to contact his avatar. She made no attempt to hide the message from said avatar.

"Thank you for your help. I hope you will excuse me for not bowing," she told Takahashi. There was a pretty heavy implication he wasn't welcome there now.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

"It's perfectly fine. Now if you excuse me... I need to be going," Takahashi climbed back into his car and gave a small look toward the three retreating forms before pulling away from the shrine. Once he was far enough away, he pulled over and pulled out his cellphone.

"Hello, is Adachi-san in...?"

-----------------

Souji had actually winced when Anpu grabbed him around the fingers. He was already getting some motion back in his face... all the better to glare at Izanami over there with. He sat there helplessly as Izanami put his other arm around her shoulder. And then her voice had unexpectedly rung through his head.

I have been here the whole time, just sleeping in the form of the Personaes you gifted. On that note, thank you for informing Souji of his role as my avatar, or at least giving the knowledge that lead to that conclusion. I would not have awakened without it. Izanagi said back to Izanami.

Souji grimaced, but he didn't say anything. Rather, he couldn't. Instead, he tried sending a mental message to Izanami the way Izanagi had.

Care explaining why you had Anpu kidnap me? Souji growled.

[mugenginga]

"For once, you're right. I should have known immediately. Damn kid was too polite for his own good, even at the station. Hell, even when he and his friends fought me on the other side he was polite about it. He didn't even rage until the end there. It wasn't my fault they shoved him out of the way."

Izanagi adjusted her shoulders. She felt Anpu adjust on the other side. She caught Souji's glare, "He had the same look then he's giving me now, actually. Almost feel sorry for him, actually. Almost. His misfortune to be picked by you... Mortal frames don't function what you'd call 'well' in Yomi."

She had to hike her shoulders up again. Souji wasn't heavy, but he was at best a dead weight. What little movements he did have were twitches, and they sure as well weren't supporting his kidnapping. During the entire conversation she didn't use Souji's name, nor did she directly refer to him. There was a heavy handed implication she saw him as little more than a shell... if that much.

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Souji had fallen back into glare mode. She either hadn't heard him, or she was ignoring him... or judging by her comments to Izanagi, she didn't even consider him a person. That was the most infuriating bit, they both saw him as little more than a thinking vessel for Izanagi. The "own sentience" bit was just a bit of extra spice on top.

And then Izanami had mentioned Yomi. And Souji's eyes went wide.

You're going to throw him into Yomi?! You did all of this just to throw one person into Yomi?! I'm ashamed of you. Izanagi said back. Oh, wait, it wasn't one person was it? You were planning on pulling the soul of his friend into Yomi. The one that the spirit inside of that artifact hates.

"We are living our lives~"

Souji twitched again as his cell phone went off in his coat pocket. Someone must of figured out he never came back from where ever he'd gone that morning. He didn't blame them for freaking out a bit; he hadn't left a note saying where he was going.

All he could hope for at this point was someone figuring out where he was and them getting down to the shrine as fast as possible. Whatever poison Anpu had used on him wasn't wearing off fast enough.

[mugenginga]

Rage spread on Izanagi's face. She was about to inform him of the error in his thinking when Souji's cellphone rang. It was closer to her side, so she reached across herself and pulled it out of Souji's pocket. She tossed it to Anpu, who barely managed to grab it.

"Answer it as Bakura and make something up," she ordered. She adjusted Souji's weight a bit more, taking more upon herself, "And do it over there. I don't want him whimpering anything that they might hear."

Anpu ducked down and walked away a good ten feet before flipping the phone open. His voice was flawless for Bakura, "H-Hello, this is Seta-kun's phone...."

Izanami turned to Souji. The way she was supporting him was a clear indicator of her strength surpassing her appearance, "It wasn't for one man. It was for you. We'll see how self righteous you are about appearance after being stuck there for a few days, my dear brother."

[Firebreath Fishslap]

You should have stayed where you belonged, Izanami, Izanagi growled. And if I recall correctly, you tried to kill me when I saw you, not the other way around.

"Bakura? Is that you? Where the hell's Souji?" Minato said from the other end of the line. "No one's seen him since early this morning."
On Minato's end of the line, it occurred to Minato that the fact it was Bakura answering the phone was suspicious in of itself. Especially since the group had been suspecting that Anpu was working with Izanami.

Souji was not only pissed, but he was freaking out more than a little. Izanami was going to throw him into Yomi just because he had the misfortune to be Izanagi's avatar.

What Souji said next took all of his will to say; the paralysis made it even harder for him to talk, but with how it was wearing off, he was able to say something at least.

"Izanagi, shut up," Souji growled. "Izanami, go back to whatever hole you crawled out of, you crazy stalker bitch."

[mugenginga]

"Minato-kun...? Oh thank god, Minato-kun! I just found Souji-kun's phone! I-I..." Anpu narrowed his eyes and held the phone away from his head.

He clenched his hand around it and allowed the fingers to hit two of the buttons by "accident". He waited for Minato's voice to ask about him. Preferably with panic, but he'd take any kind of response.

"And you're the one who broke your word, you asshole! I told you to not look back! You insisted that nothing could drive a wedge between us and I fucking believed you! And then you freaked! You looked at me like I was the most horrible thing in the world and you ran! You didn't even try to apologize, you bastard!"

Izanami was giving Souji a horrid glare. She was screeching in her mind, but there was something different there. If Souji had inherited Izanagi's observational skills, the god might catch it. It was grief... possibly heartbreak.