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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Jan 1, 2010 23:56:28 GMT -5
Naoto considered that for a moment. "It's entirely possible he did if Izanagi really was denying him. He seemed oddly tired before, and the Shadows we faced before certainly weren't up for any fights after they calmed down from their berserk modes."
"Yeah, even the guy who didn't accept his Shadow didn't get attacked back," Kanji added.
"Sempai hardly looked to be in any condition to be fighting before either... I agree, though, I'm worried. On several fronts," Naoto stated. She was about to add something else on when she heard Yuugi suggest that Bakura talk to Adachi. She immediately focused her attention on their conversation, but she didn't say anything yet.
Kanji, however, did.
"Why would you wanna talk to that guy?" Kanji asked rather loudly. Which was typical for him.
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Souji forced a smile. "I'm Seta Souji. Also given name last. And it's okay, I live here. I just stepped out for air."
I wouldn't call that "stepping out".
Shut the hell up.
The glowing yellow color had at least faded from his eyes, something Souji was grateful. Why had they done that again? He didn't like this, not one bit.
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Post by mugenginga on Jan 2, 2010 0:08:17 GMT -5
Bakura and Yuugi both looked towards Kanji as he spoke. Yuugi opened his mouth to try and explain. It wasn't that he didn't believe Souji about Adachi. He did. But he knew people, even the worst kinds, could change. Malik, and just Malik not his dark side born from hate, had changed. It wasn't unlikely from what Ishizu had said that Malik had killed people in his quest for revenge. So if he could change, couldn't Adachi. But it was hard to explain that to people. And Yuugi knew he'd be called gullible. It was a pet peeve of his that people always threw that word around towards him.
"He's trying to protect me..." Bakura said before Yuugi could get any words out. He looked back at Yuugi, "He hasn't been home all day though. Ever since... you know... with Seta-san...."
Bakura looked away. Anpu was quiet. If Bakura didn't know any better he would have said Anpu wasn't even surfaced. But he knew better. Anpu was just keeping quiet, he was sure the man was observing the situation. And he was still sure the man was his past life, no matter how insane that was.
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Kisa looked worried. But she nodded and bowed politely, not seeming to notice/care that her hair completely concealed her face as she did so, "I am very sorry to have bothered you then, Seta-san."
She looked like she was going to leave.
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Jan 2, 2010 0:51:34 GMT -5
Kanji scowled. "That guy ain't protecting you, he's just playing with you! He doesn't like anyone." He didn't like how Bakura seemed to think Adachi was actually protecting him. Adachi didn't care for no-one. After all, he hadn't cared that by doing what he was doing, everyone was going to be turned into Shadows. Adachi really hadn't given a flying fuck about people in general.
"If he hasn't been home all day, he might have skipped town again," Naoto brought up. It was possible. Adachi might have realized what kind of trouble he'd gotten himself into with Bakura and run away.
--------------
As it turned out, Adachi was on his way home now.
It hadn't been a fun day. At all. Somehow or another, Takahashi found out about Anpu poisoning Seta and then kidnapping him. Takahashi wasn't bringing this up to the superiors because he had driven the paralyzed Seta to the shrine in the first place, and Takahashi didn't want to be implicated as an accomplice to a kidnapping. But that didn't mean that Takahashi hadn't chewed Adachi out a LOT once he found out what had happened. And Takahashi then informed Adachi that if Seta hadn't returned by morning, Takahashi might let something slip about a couple murders Adachi knew very well.
Oh, Adachi had explained why he had done it. But Takahashi was of the opinion that Adachi's decision to take Bakura in had been a bad idea from the start. There had just been something weird about that kid. And here was the proof.
Adachi stopped as he passed someone wearing a rather flashy outfit. There really wasn't much of a purpose for a trenchcoat like that, in Adachi's opinion. The guy's hairstyle kind of reminded him of Seta. Couldn't be too much older than Seta either; though he was way taller than even the Tatsumi kid.
Adachi just kind of sat there, staring at Kaiba, for a few minutes.
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Souji smiled. "It's fine, really." He straightened up a little.
I do not like her. Izanagi stated.
You don't like anyone. Shut up, please, Souji growled.
-------------------
Minato set Ryoji down on his bed. Ryoji could stay there until he woke back up again. If Ryoji decided this was like the last time, Ryoji would leave immediately afterward, and fade into the darkness of the Dark Hour.
Which was why Minato was going to make sure that things weren't like the last time.
Himitsu had given Ryoji that box of tarot cards for a reason, Minato knew. Especially since they had that odd tarot in there. "Fate." Fate could be changed, Minato knew. He was going to fight to change Ryoji's fate.
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Post by mugenginga on Jan 2, 2010 2:07:39 GMT -5
Bakura looked annoyed. He grabbed the edge of the trenchcoat. It was something the original spirit inside the Ring, whatever it had been, had decided on for a fashion. Bakura preferred sleeved long vests. He was aware of the strange looks he was getting as he pulled it off his arm. There was a bandage on the arm, but a bit of blood could be seen even then.
In five seconds from start to finish he had pulled the trenchcoat sleeve off and torn the bandage. A well cleaned wound was there, but it looked to be rather deep. It was in the early stages of healing, but it didn't change that it had been done with a sharp blade and the fact that it looked very deep. Interestingly, it also looked carefully inflicted, slipping between anything truly major in terms of veins and the like. He pointed to it.
"Adachi-san helped Anpu so he wouldn't do this again!" He shook his head, "I don't know what he did to you in the past and I'm sorry if it was terrible but he is helping me. Anpu has threatened to run off, he's using me against Adachi-san, and Adachi-san is still helping me!" He looked pretty indignant now, too, "I can't believe he'd do that unless he was really trying to help me!"
There were other things. Adachi had all but promised to kill both of them to save just him. It wouldn't work if he was the surface personality. It was something only one other person had done before. Bakura's eyes flicked to Atem. If he really was Dark Yuugi... maybe it was nuts to trust Adachi. Anpu seemed to be humored by it, which wasn't a good sign.
At the end, though, it came down to who he'd be putting at the least risk. He couldn't stay with Yuugi and Atem. Yuugi liked Atem and vice versa. Liked. Bakura wasn't quite sure how that worked with two teenagers, and he knew it wouldn't be accepted if they ever got back to their world. But it didn't change the truth. And Anpu wanted to kill Atem. Bakura couldn't take that, he couldn't take how that would probably break Yuugi. The closest he'd ever seen Yuugi coming to breaking... it occurred at the prospect of losing friends.
Which is another reason to keep Yuugi distant. What little he had known about the original spirit was that it was out to cause havoc. Yuugi and "Dark Yuugi" always seemed to cross paths with it, but he'd never really found motivation beyond that. "Dark Bakura" as it had been called had taunted him about a purpose and then he'd passed out and woken up in a place he didn't know twice but it was different. Anpu was out for Atem's life specifically. It all came down to that final fact. Yuugi would break if he lost a friend, how would he shatter if he lost a love?
"I don't believe he's run off. I'm sorry, but I have to go," Bakura pulled the trenchcoat back on and headed back towards Adachi's apartment. He left the bandage on the ground wher it had dropped.
"Ba-"
"Let him go, Partner," Atem said. He placed his hand on Yuugi's shoulder and glanced towards where Souji had gone, "Teddie, are you going to check on him?"
Teddie had already taken several steps towards the stairs, "...I don't know what else to do."
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Kisa straightened up as Souji told her he was fine. He wasn't fine, but Souji was a complete stranger. A male complete stranger. One her father didn't know. Even without her ability to sense two presences in the one body he was weird. His eyes had changed color. Her father often said that just because the Island attracted things like demons and other such monsters didn't mean she should hang out with them. She didn't think Souji was a demon but if her father saw her with someone like him he'd freak.
He didn't want to talk. Kisa didn't like making people who didn't want to talk do so, "Okay. Be sure to get home, though. You really look like you need some sleep!"
She turned and glanced at the Apartments. She decided she would come back another day. If there was really something important there it would stay. If it wasn't something she was supposed to be drawn to it wouldn't matter if it vanished over the next few days. She turned and began making her way back towards the main streets of Void City. At least he'd been polite. She wasn't sure for a few moments there if something bad was going to happen. That ominous presence that had shown up at this area twice was gone again, too.
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Kaiba had been in his own head. Thinking about what the hell he was supposed to do now more than anything else. He never carried much in the way of money on him. He had a few credit cards and after abandoning the idea he'd been mugged in some twisted crime he'd checked his wallet. They'd all been there. He hadn't tried using any of them yet. He didn't like how little he understood about this world.
He'd realized with nothing less than intense bitterness how used he'd gotten to being a "Kaiba". Even with the borderline psychological abuse Gozaburo had put him through, he'd still been the son of the man. Via adoption, even if it was for nothing but a test for his biological and deceased son. It was dawning on him now that at the rate things were going, he was going to have to ask Yuugi for help. Not Atem, the animosity they held for each other was as strong as ever. Even with the incident at the end of Death-T and the respect for a rival Atem had for him, neither of them liked each other.
He'd been walking without paying much attention to where he was going when he felt like someone was staring at him. Great, now he was becoming paranoid to. He stopped and turned to where he felt the gaze. To his surprise (and relief, he wasn't going nuts after all) he saw a man staring at him. He looked like he'd slept in the clothes he was wearing. He glared at the man to show his disapproval of the situation.\
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Minato wouldn't even have time to get out of the room when Ryoji lifted his hand to his head. It hurt a bit, and he sensed someone next to him. He opened his eyes and saw Minato. His thoughts aligned themselves quickly and he remembered what had happened. Bakura had almost died for his interference because he'd almost not pulled back in time. What kind of idiot ran in front of Death, anyhow?
It had been more draining than he'd expected, really. Against Aigis he had passed out because she had forced the memories to surface. And it hadn't been as much a choice to shift form as a matter of self defense. Back in the hall he had chosen to shift form. He couldn't even figure why he'd passed out. He'd shifted in front of Minato before to try and make his point about the futility of fighting The Fall. He sat up.
"Are the others okay?"
He wasn't unaware of his presence in his true form. Even those that sought Death tended to have trouble staring it in the face. And he'd seen Bakura's almost crippling fear. He wasn't sure why he had fought so hard to save Atem. He could have handled it just fine, and no one would have really died. Just a shell. As he'd tried to tell Minato and S.E.E.S. before, shells felt no pain when they were killed.
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Jan 2, 2010 10:48:12 GMT -5
Naoto's eyes had widened as she saw the injury on Bakura's arm, and then heard Bakura's explanation for why Adachi was helping Bakura. It was odd for the officer. Again, like Kanji had said, Adachi didn't care much for anyone... but yet Adachi seemed to be rather protective of Bakura. He was aiding Anpu just so Anpu wouldn't hurt Bakura further.
She didn't say anything as Bakura headed back to Adachi's door.
"Bakura seems to really trust Adachi," she noted out loud. She turned back to the group on hand as Teddie started heading toward the stairs, but once again, couldn't think of anything to say.
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Adachi flinched the person started staring at him, and started walking away more quickly again. What was up with that guy in the trenchcoat?
Eh, probably just the island at work again. In any case, Adachi needed to get back home.
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"Yeah, will do," Souji said. He did need sleep, after all. Though right now, he was just feeling like crap. Mainly over what he had done before. He was so freaked over the Shadow thing he was acting irrationally. And now he had some girl he'd never met before worried about him.
He slid down to a sitting position once Kisa was gone. He wouldn't have cared about the Shadow thing if it hadn't been for how he'd forced Izanagi out.
Going berserk is a completely normal part of any young Shadow's life, and--
Oh, shut up. Souji growled. Now Izanagi was mocking him.
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Minato turned and looked back at Ryoji. Ryoji was awake sooner than he'd expected.
"...Souji had a minor freakout, but yeah, everyone's okay," Minato said. "What about you? You passed out after.. turning back."
Yeah, that still wasn't a fun thought.
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Post by mugenginga on Jan 2, 2010 12:17:51 GMT -5
"Bakura-kun has trouble trusting anyone," Yuugi said, "I think he was shy before he got the Ring, and now he's so scared of hurting someone he doesn't like anyone getting close. It's worse than before, though... he never acted mean like this..."
"It's been going on for almost two years now, and that's assuming Dark Bakura surfaced the same general time I did," Atem looked guilty about something, "In that two years, I think the time Bakura has been in control of his own actions... even aware has spanned weeks on the generous outside. And I'm almost certain Anpu is talking to him more. Considering how much the remnants of his past and now his past self have been effecting him, I'm surprised it's taken him this long to harden..."
The main event of the night seemed to be over. Yuugi looked concerned. His eyes remained on Bakura as he closed the door behind himself. He didn't really know if Adachi had changed, but he wanted the man to get back to his Apartment. Yuugi knew that look more or less. He had a feeling Bakura was going to cry himself to sleep if Anpu let him. All he could do at this point was keep trying. Problem was, he'd only spent half a year or so with a "dark" side... Bakura had had one for almost two years. At this point Bakura probably needed empathy, not sympathy...
Atem had let the implication about his theory out. He didn't mean it as an insult by any means, but Kanji was the type that seemed to miss things being said outright. He caught information when it was important, and even caught things everyone else seemed to miss. He reminded Atem a lot of Jounouchi on all accounts there. Bakura was Anpu's reincarnation. He might have to explain that little theory to the whole group now. And hope no one pulled out a Western pun. He wasn't unaware of the "soul mates" joke that could be made about him and his Partner...
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Kaiba made a hmph noise as the man jerked and scurried off. Made him think of a figurative rat. He continued forward after watching the man fade back into the crowd. He'd made the decision, but he wasn't happy about it. When he was done dealing with his current annoyance he'd be heading back to the Apartments. Even if asking Yuugi for help was barely preferable to sleeping on the streets.
He frowned. If Atem expected him to apologize for how he treated Yuugi, he'd take the streets.
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Kisa stopped when she saw Adachi. She'd seen him a few times before with Takahashi. And she knew him because her parents tended to freak if she missed curfew. In their defense, she almost never did. The times she did had never been because anything had happened, but she knew her parents got on the police's nerves sometimes. That and her father sometimes freaked. No one ever got hurt but he was threatening enough the police were keeping their eyes on him. Probably thought she was being abused, too.
Still, she didn't like Adachi. He bothered her. He wasn't "normal", which did exist. Even on the Island, most of the inhabitants were "normal". Her parents were "normal". "Normal" people didn't make the news and always faded into obscurity. She, however, wasn't quite "normal", although she'd been told by her father that if she would just ignore her sensitivity she could seem to be. He wanted her to "seem to be" an awful lot.
She would bow if he noticed her, though.
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Ryoji hesitated. He'd thought it was Souji. He could pick up on things like that now that he wasn't blocking himself. What bothered him was why it was Souji. What had changed Izanagi's mind? And what caused a "minor freakout" as Minato was putting it? He looked up as Minato asked his question. He didn't answer for a bit. First he swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up. His back was to Minato. He didn't feel like looking at the blue haired teenager as he spoke.
"I expect it was because I'm still so human..." Ryoji said, not technically answer the question of if he was alright.
It was really all that could explain it. It wasn't that he'd been forced to that form for self defense. He'd chosen to shift. So it was probably because there was still a bit of time before he had to leave. He closed his eyes and looked a bit pained. No, even more than that it was because Ryoji was still fighting Death.
That hurt too, the fact that he was starting to think of "Ryoji" as someone else. Right now he felt he wasn't Ryoji or Death. He knew the thoughts would arrange themselves into the latter giving a bit more time, but it was as bad as before. This wasn't supposed to happen twice. Nyx had said he shouldn't be here. No shit.
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Jan 2, 2010 14:30:31 GMT -5
"...So Bakura's that Anpu guy's reincarnation?" Kanji asked. "Wait... how would that work if Anpu's still hanging around?"
"That's what I'm wondering too," Naoto said. But she wasn't really focusing on the reincarnation aspect. She was focusing more on how it might be possible Adachi might be exactly what Bakura needed. Not the most reassuring thought, but if Adachi was the only person that Bakura really trusted...
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Adachi was in too much of a hurry to get home at this point that he didn't really see Kisa. He was worried about Bakura now. And he wanted to see if the Seta kid was still alive. Because if he wasn't, Adachi was going to have to think of some creative way to save his skin.
Adachi's questions were answered when he reached the complex. Sitting up against a tree, and still very alive, was the silver haired Seta kid. And he was mumbling to himself. Well, Adachi had always thought Seta was... odd.
And then the Seta kid turned and looked at Adachi. And Adachi jumped about five feet into the air. Adachi didn't know what Anpu and Izanami had done to Seta, but he looked pissed. Which meant the Seta kid knew about the poison. Seta stood up, took a couple steps toward Adachi, and then shook his head.
"...can't lose my temper... Adachi, you're lucky I'm in no condition to be fighting you. Otherwise you'd be a dead man," Souji growled.
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Minato's thoughts moved back to what he'd been thinking. He had to stop the Fall without either of them dying, or being sealed away, or whatever. He didn't want any of them to die to stop the Fall, but he didn't want to lose Ryoji. It was his own selfish wish, but he wasn't going to let Ryoji be lost again.
"Don't talk like that, Ryoji. This time's going to be different. I'm not going to let you be lost," Minato said.
He really couldn't think of much to say. He remembered how impossible it had been for them to convince Ryoji otherwise before. But this time was different. Minato knew.
But it depended on Ryoji's willingness to listen to them. And they didn't have a very large window to convince him.
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Post by mugenginga on Jan 2, 2010 15:10:47 GMT -5
"It's... complicated. I expect it worked for Anpu the same way it worked for me, although even that has me puzzled because it was not Anpu's choice to die. He didn't seal himself," Atem looked up, "It's too long an explanation for here in the hall. I'm fairly sure Minato-kun is going to want to talk to us later, it might be better to leave all the explanations for then."
"I'm really worried about Ryoji-kun, too." Yuugi looked towards the stairs.
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"I'll have to kill him personally now, you realize that," Anpu's spirit presence flickered next to Bakura. The teenager had his head buried in some pillows. Anpu looked very irritated. Ryou didn't even seem to be hearing him, "Are you ignoring me? I know you can hear me even if you don't respond. It would have been better had you let Izanami kill him, you know."
Bakura stayed silent. Anpu "sat" down on the side of the bed and picked out some dirt from under his nails with his thumb. He was aware this form was just a presence, not really there, but it didn't change how tangible it was to him. He waited a few moments before turning his head towards Bakura and continuing to speak.
"You're trying to protect his boyfriend, correct?" Anpu chuckled, "If that's your concern, killing them both isn't a problem. I have a feeling the Pharaoh would snap if that boy were put in danger..."
Bakura's eyes widened, while even buried in the pillow. He pushed himself up and turned towards Anpu. The fear in his eyes was returned with a self-satisfied psychotic grin. Anpu was more than pleased with himself, he'd pushed the right buttons. What was even better was that he was completely serious, he hadn't meant it as a taunt.
"Leave Yuugi-kun out of this! He never did anything to you!"
"So says the teenager who just realized he's my reincarnation," Anpu pointed at his "own" trenchcoat, "I still have more than a few doses of that poison, you know. I doubt the other "useful" purpose has gone unnoticed by the Pharaoh... Ryou-kun, how badly do you think he'd break if I used his boyfriend against him, hmm?"
Bakura looked nothing short of terrified. Anpu was serious. If he'd thought he could he would have grabbed the vial and smashed it against the wall. But he was so exhausted right now. Anpu would wrench control and stop him. The fact that Anpu wasn't doing further harm to him was a horrifying indicator of how entertained he was with his current line of thought.
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Ryoji looked more depressed again. He turned to Minato, "You know... even Nyx doesn't want this. If she can't stop it, how can anyone? Minato, I'm not even supposed to exist. I wasn't supposed to the first time and its my existance that's caused all these problems," he shook his head, "Ryoji isn't supposed to exist."
That was right. Ryoji wasn't supposed to exist. And yet he did, and all it did was cause suffering. If Death hadn't been sealed in Minato, the emotionless being would have simply done what was expected. That world would be gone, but no one would have been the wiser. Again. If Ryoji hadn't somehow managed to come back, Minato wouldn't have to be watching his friend be lost. Again.
Ryoji couldn't even imagine the shoes being reversed. It was hard enough watching Minato suffer from something that couldn't be stopped. Even if The Fall could be, which was an odd thought in itself. Something that Ryoji knew would have never occurred to even Nyx without the events of their past. But even if The Fall could be stopped... Ryoji was looking at his feet. He'd said he'd tell the group personally what was going to happen, but he couldn't bear to stay any longer than that. Like a bandage. It would be better like a bandage...
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Teddie came out from the door leading to the section of the apartments he'd been in. No one had followed him. He wasn't sure if he was thankful or regretting that. One one hand he would have been glad to have back up. On the other he wanted to be alone right now. He didn't want to run away anymore, but he wouldn't mind a trip to his side...
He saw Souji advance towards Adachi. His eyes widened, because if Souji flipped there wasn't really anything he could do. Nothing he was sure he'd want to do. But Souji pulled back and growled something to Adachi. Teddie sped up and joined the group.
"Sensei, are you okay?"
At least Souji had been nearby...
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Jan 2, 2010 16:59:17 GMT -5
Upon Teddie's arrival, Adachi gave a nervous look to Souji again before slowly walking toward the apartments again. He didn't really want to deal with those two. Mainly Souji, but the bear was a pain too. Adachi didn't know what was up with Souji, but he didn't want anything to do with it.
Souji glared after Adachi the whole time the man was walking back toward the apartments. He turned back toward Teddie once Adachi stepped into the complex. "I'm fine, thanks for worrying."
Souji knew quite well he wasn't fine. But he didn't want to worry the others any further than he knew he had with that little freak-out before.
Are you done being depressed about your true self yet? Izanagi asked. Souji didn't answer him, because he wanted to focus on Teddie, but he suddenly realized that Izanagi wasn't whispering anymore.
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"I agree," Naoto said. "Should we wait for Minato to call us, or do you think we should check on them now?"
Adachi sighed as he went up the stairs to the second floor. He was hoping nothing serious had happened to Bakura. All he wanted to do was take a shower and go to bed.
And then he looked up and realized that the two spiky-haired kids, the Tatsumi kid, and Shirogane were in the hallway for some reason. He stopped before he reached his apartment door and looked at them for a moment. Okay, something had definitely happened while he was gone. Broken-down Seta outside, gathering of all the people in their little group in here.
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"Don't say things like that!" Minato yelled. "So what if you're not supposed to exist? You're here now! You exist! Don't just give up again because you think that things can't be changed. To hell with what Nyx thinks! You're as human as the rest of us! You can change your own fate! You don't have to do this!"
Again, Minato had to wonder if this kind of stuff just came naturally to Persona users. But what he was saying was what he really felt. He didn't want Ryoji to disappear and he didn't want any of his friends to die to seal Nyx away. It was a selfish wish, but he didn't want anyone else to suffer like his own friends had when he sealed Nyx away.
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Post by mugenginga on Jan 2, 2010 17:58:19 GMT -5
Teddie didn't say anything. He looked concerned enough for three people though. He nodded. He thought for a moment and finally found words.
"Everyone's worried about you too, Sensei."
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"As much as I'd like to give him time to sort his own thoughts out, I'm not sure we have it. We should chek on them now," Atem said.
Atem looked up at the footsteps. His expression didn't shift beyond basic recognition as he saw Adachi. The man looked jumpier than usual. Rather stressed as well, and not in the goofy way Adachi often tried to pull. He looked away from Adachi to await Naoto's response. He looked back towards the man when he saw his Partner take a few steps forward.
"Adachi-san, I think Bakura-kun needs someone to talk to..."
Atem had to remind himself that Yuugi was just trying to watch out for Bakura. This was heading south the way the thing with Noah had. The problem there was by the end of that encounter, Noah had come around. Even if he'd already been dead and even his consciousness was lost at the end of it.
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Bakura's mouth was moving, but he couldn't get words out. To those that could read lips he looked like he was stuttering a mixture of "no", what seemed to be "what", and something like "why". The whole reason he didn't want to hang out near Yuugi was so he wouldn't cause any more trouble for Yuugi than he already had just by knowing him.
This was the worst of both worlds. It wasn't just Atem's death now. It was psychological torture for both of them. Bakura didn't know how much Atem would break, snap, or whatever. But if they really did like each other it would still hurt like hell. And Yuugi would be tortured and then he'd lose Atem and...
Anpu was watching the deepening panic with interest. As much as he knew Ryou didn't like the idea of being his reincarnation, Anpu disliked it too. He focused on some of the clearer thoughts that Bakura was having and he realized something. He looked down at the Ring his phantom self had and picked it up. Despite being only a vision, Bakura could hear the hanging parts chime together as Anpu gave it a firm shake.
"You don't want that boy hurt, and yet you fail to realize that your pain is his fault. As a result of the Pharaoh. His father created the Millenium Items and he didn't have the sense to destroy them at a point in history when he probably could have. Ryou, all of this is because 'Dark Yuugi' as you seem to think of him didn't turn his back on those sins and continues to act for the Items. If the gods won't punish him, shouldn't someone?"
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Ryoji's eyes got wide at how animated Minato got. Even more as he continued to try and make his point. Minato never got this worked up. Considering where his emotions came from, there was a reason why Ryoji always went with the flow of things. With all his memories, he could remember how... well, dull Minato had been when they first really met. That had changed, but this level of animation was still pretty much unheard of.
He wanted to answer now. He found himself wanting to agree. But every second that ticked by, another grain of Ryoji was lost. Ryoji wasn't aware he was hanging there with his mouth open. He wasn't just a Shadow. Comparisons with Teddie wouldn't work. He wasn't just an avatar of a goddess whose purpose was destroying worlds. He wasn't Death in all technicality, but a being whose form had been created by man and functioned enough as it that saying he wasn't was splitting hairs. He wasn't human. He wasn't...
Ryoji sat down on the bed hard. Come to think of it, he didn't know what he was. He'd shifted from being unable to nail down who he was to being unable to nail down what he was. Before, he'd known himself as The Appriser. It had been a simple enough explanation. Not one he wanted to it was an identity. Now he didn't even know that and Nyx still wasn't talking.
"Minato," he finally said. He looked up, "Even if I don't... I don't think it'll stop The Fall."
He couldn't get a fix on any one thought. Maybe he didn't have to. But he didn't think... Ryoji couldn't make that choice. Death didn't really care one way or another. It was a necessity and it happened and... Ryoji looked rather lost. He was looking at Minato but his eyes didn't seem to be seeing much of anything. It wasn't a hollow look, but that kind of cornered panic someone who was truly lost might have. He remembered that he had told S.E.E.S. that if Minato killed him the Fall would be delayed. It meant it didn't matter what his humanity did, The Fall would happen.
He was sitting there with that cornered panick look now. Staring at Minato and nothing at the same time. His eyes were wide, the pupils dialated to further lend to the full panic illusion. He had his far hand lifted up and almost covering his eye. The finger tips were tucked into his hair. His fate and the world's fate were two different things, how would one act of defiance from the former do anything for the latter?
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Jan 2, 2010 20:22:30 GMT -5
Souji looked away from Teddie. "I know. I'm sorry." And he was. By this point, he'd realized how much of an idiot he had been before. Even if he was afraid of going berserk on his friends. And besides, if the Fall happened, there wouldn't be any friends of his to worry about. They needed to see Ryoji and Minato.
He started walking back toward the apartments.
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Bakura needed someone to talk to? Why? In any case, Adachi took Yuugi's words to heart and walked past Yuugi down to his apartment. He wasn't panicking... yet.
Once Adachi had entered his apartment, Naoto looked away from him back at Atem. "Lead the way, then."
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Adachi entered the strangely silent apartment. Bakura wasn't in the living room. There weren't that many rooms in the apartment, it was only a one bedroom apartment after all.
"Ryou-kun?" he called. He was walking toward his own bedroom as he walked. He slowly stepped through the doorway. Bakura was sitting on the bed, and he looked absolutely terrified. "Hey, are you alright?"
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Minato looked absolutely torn up over everything. And Ryoji looked panicked. Minato didn't blame him. Ryoji was still human in Minato's honest opinion. His human emotions would be freaking out too. But even still...
"Fine! If the Fall still happens, that's fine! I'd rather spend my last moments with Ryoji than without! I just..." Minato said. He wasn't looking directly at Ryoji now. He couldn't think of anything else to say. This wasn't working. And maybe Ryoji was right. Maybe saving Ryoji wouldn't save everyone else.
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Post by mugenginga on Jan 2, 2010 21:20:07 GMT -5
"You don't have to be..." Teddie said.
Why was he apologizing? It wasn't his fault that deities were all jackasses. Which Teddie was pretty convinced of by now. Izanami had harmed his world and almost destroyed Souji's. Izanagi was trying to take Souji over or at least make his life a living hell. He didn't know about Nyx that much but Minato had mentioned things about Ryoji and avatars. Three out of three. Teddie didn't like deities at all.
He followed after Minato. Ryoji had passed out, so it was probably better to check on him.
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"Just think about that, Ryou. Neither of them are as innocent as you'd like to believe,"
Anpu suppressed himself back into the Ring. He'd heard Adachi come in. Bakura still seemed too panicked for it to register. Bakura looked up, his expression remaining the same. He opened his mouth and it looked for a second that a dam was going to burst but he stopped before any words formed. Adachi got a panicked squeak. Bakura shook his head and tried again.
"Adachi-san, I-I need advice..."
Yuugi had said to talk to him...
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"With... me?"
Ryoji's hand came apart from his face. He stood frozen like that as if something had misfired. He looked deep in thought for several moments. Even as he began to move again it seemed to be in slow motion. He moved his hand and looked at his palm, the fingers curled inwards a bit. With him? With him? It was as if his mind had just been presented with an impossible situation. Something like culture shock was going on in his brain.
With him. That was a thought that had never occurred to him. That was a possibility that had never occurred to him. Before, S.E.E.S had been angry at him. They didn't show it, but they had. It had been the only possible response. Junpei, his closest friend aside from Minato, had been pissed. They had all been panicked and angry and hadn't ever wanted to see him again. They'd said they had, they'd told him to fight it, but that had just been to be nice. They had put him at such a distance when he'd returned on New Year's Eve. That was the reaction they should have had. He'd told them they were going to die. And they'd chosen to fight anyways, but they'd hated him.
So, how was this different? Why didn't he think Minato was just trying to make him feel better? He looked up towards Minato. He wasn't looking at him directly. How was this so different? Ryoji played his memories over and over. It was different because... Minato didn't care that the world was coming to an end. Because he'd take it if he could be with Ryoji when it happened. He didn't care that everyone he knew was going to die. That he was going to die. That they would both be lost.
"You... really mean that? I mean... You won't change your mind as it gets close...?"
Would... would Nyx let me stay like this? I have something I have to do, but its not me. It's Death. I'm Ryoji. Is is really possible we're seperate enough for that to work...?
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Atem wasn't sure why Naoto was asking him to lead the way, but he nodded. Yuugi hoped Adachi would be able to help Bakura. Even if all he did was sit there and listen. Bakura needed someone right now. Minatoi's apartment was at the end of the hall. Atem headed towards it. He doubted any of them would enjoy this conversation, but it had to happen...
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Jan 2, 2010 22:35:46 GMT -5
Souji hadn't reacted to Teddie saying he didn't need to apologize. But Souji had needed to. He would have felt even more like an ass if he hadn't. After all, there were more important things at hand than his possible non-humanity.
He and Teddie would catch up to the group just as they were reaching Minato's door. In true Souji fashion, he decided to sneak up on them instead of saying he was back. He poked Naoto's shoulder, and she jumped before turning back around and looking at him. "Sempai, don't scare me like that..." Naoto said.
"Sorry about before, everyone," Souji said. "I just kind of freaked."
"...It's fine," Naoto said. "We're about to check on Minato and Ryoji."
Souji turned toward Minato's door. Yeah. Ryoji had awakened. This next conversation was inevitable now.
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Adachi took a step back as Bakura asked him for advice. Okay, that never happened. Adachi wasn't exactly what most people called reliable. But Bakura looked close to tears. The shorter spiky-haired kid had been right. Bakura did need someone to talk to.
"Er... well, I don't know how much help I can be..." Adachi said. He sat down on the side of the bed. "But okay."
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Minato smiled a little bit. If they couldn't change anything this time around, then he at least wanted to watch this world end together with someone he was... rather fond of. He'd rather die together with Ryoji than by himself.
"I wouldn't have said it if I hadn't meant it, Ryoji," he said. He was suddenly shaken by a couple knocks from the front door. "...That's gotta be them. Ryoji..." He looked back at Ryoji's face, and then walked past him to open the door.
It had been Souji who had knocked. Minato looked a little surprised at it being Souji. Especially considering how Souji had freaked earlier.
"Hey. Is Ryoji awake yet?" Souji asked. Minato nodded.
"You guys might as well all come in, then," Minato said. He moved to the side.
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Post by mugenginga on Jan 2, 2010 22:57:58 GMT -5
Bakura looked immensely relieved. Of course now he had to figure out how to word it. Anpu's words had really... bothered him. He'd planned on just unloading on Adachi. Those last words, however, meant he had something to ask. He looked down at his lap and flicked at one of the prongs on the Ring with his finger.
"Um.. what do you think of Yuugi-kun and Atem-kun...?"
It was a place to start. He had no idea how he was going to continue. No matter what the response was. But he had to start somewhere.
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Ryoji had looked up at the sound as well. Right now, even with that inevitable knowledge, he felt... better. Minato had said he meant it. He was worried if it could work like that, but he could try. He felt a little weird, although he couldn't put his finger on why. The first reaction when Minato had confirmed what he had said had been something like elation. It mixed with something like the feeling he'd had when Minato had pulled him close enough to almost cut off his air outside. Almost cut off his air, but he hadn't minded in the least.
Ryoji's eyes widened for a moment. That was... he wouldn't know that. He didn't know this, and he wouldn't know that. He felt a wave of depression. If that was the case, it wasn't fair. He had human emotions, and the evidence was all there, but it only made things worse. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. Maybe later. He could decide if he wanted to puzzle it out or even know later. Right now was a conversation he wasn't looking forward to. They all knew already, but Minato wanted them to hear it from him. He pushed himself off the bed and was coming out of the bedroom just as Minato stepped to the side.
Atem walked in and Yuugi came in after him. Yuugi looked up and let out a genuine smile at Ryoji. Ryoji returned it with a look of pained confusion. He looked back towards the others as they came in. Teddie was still hanging close to Souji. He didn't know if Souji would break, but he wanted to be sure there if he did. Maybe he could return that favor Souji had given him before... he didn't want the need to do so to come up, but he would if he could.
"You'll want to sit down," Ryoji said.
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Jan 2, 2010 23:25:43 GMT -5
...And the kid had started off with the hard question. Adachi honestly wasn't sure how to answer this. There was the honest answer, which was, "Not at all, because the Egyptian one freaks me out." And then there was the one Bakura would prefer, or at least, that's what Adachi thought, which was essentially, "They're okay, I guess."
Adachi eventually decided to go with the one that fit with Bakura's image of him. "I suppose they're alright. I don't really talk to them too much."
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Naoto and Kanji both moved into the apartment and sat down on the couch together. Souji moved in behind them, and took a seat in a chair. Minato stayed where he was standing. He didn't have enough chairs in his apartment for everyone to sit down, so he figured he'd let everyone else sit first. This was probably going to be a long explanation... And a painful one for everyone involved. They were going to be told how they were going to die.
Minato had never exactly gone into much detail about this. It was a painful subject for him. After all, this would be the second time he'd have to go through the Fall.
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