warmwood, evening 2; tsukiyama + banjou

[lasuaspada]

[Tsukiyama doesn't return home immediately after the trial; rather, the first part of his evening is full of the sort of questionable life choices that lead to him getting violently ill immediately after he does. It'd been reckless, and he's aware that it's a bad idea to be spending time anywhere near someone possessed while he's in a less than ideal physical state, but at the same time he can't say that he can be bothered to care, and in its own way it had been entirely worth it.

After a while, however, he'd forced himself up and straightened himself up, and even if he's still looking...slightly disheveled he's more composed than he has been for the better part of the day, and when he finally finds Banjou he doesn't approach him properly. Instead he just leans up against the doorframe and watches him for a moment; when he finally speaks, his voice is perhaps surprisingly calm, even if his expression is a bit unnervingly blank.]

Why did you abstain?

[The question is straightforward; it's all he offers for now. No greeting, but not screaming insults either. Just a question.]

Comments

[lasuaspada]

[He swipes at his eyes again, the gesture angry.]

...Until I get in your way. Isn't that right...?

[irenicly]

[He gives a sad smile.]

Shuu-san, if the Maddened takes you out tonight, I will die tomorrow. I will try to discourage the other demons, but there are two other people who can target you.

If the worst happens, if you do not wake in the morning....

I won't be there to greet you when you awaken at the end.

[....]

This is goodbye, brother.

[lasuaspada]

...Don't call me that.

[He breathes deeply; makes one more pass over his eyes before he looks up.

He's smiling when he does, though the expression is a bit distant.]

I hate you, you know. With all the passion I'm capable of, I hate you.

And if what you say is true, I hope that cuts you as deeply as it would him.

[irenicly]

[That stings. It burns so deeply that Banjou has to look away.

He needs to keep his composure, but what can he do? He's going to die tomorrow. He's thrown his own brother under the bus, and he's probably doomed his entire group single-handed, just like he's done before.

Just like he always done.]

It's my fault you're losing your brother. I can let you talk to him one last time.

[lasuaspada]

[His kneejerk response is to say no - to be contrary as hell and say that he doesn't want any favors a demon has to offer him, but he manages to bite it back.]

Or you could just stop tormenting both of us and give him back, if you're capable of doing so at will. But fine. Let me see him.

[That smile is still present, dissonant though it is; it's obvious that he's trying to remain calm, and for the most part he seems to be succeeding.]

[irenicly]

[He doesn't know what he can say to that. Banjou feels exhausted. He wants to sleep and to hope he won't wake up in the morning-- that Tsukiyama will.

He's already tired of this act.]

Shuu-san?

[lasuaspada]

...Kazuichi-san.

[Something tightens in his chest then, in ways that he doesn't like; he tries to disregard it for now, to shake it off.

He'll be fine. He needs Banjou to believe that, at least.]

Are you all right?

[irenicly]

[He nods, rubbing his face, trying to make his face look less awful, though Banjou is pretty certain this isn't going to work.]

I'm... I'm okay, Shuu-san.

[lasuaspada]

It's going to continue to be fine. You trust me, don't you?

[irenicly]

Of course I do. I trust you more than anyone.

[lasuaspada]

...All right, then.

I'm probably going to be struck down by someone tonight; they're going to make sure I don't wake up. But I promise I'll see you when I finally do, do you understand me?

And when I do, it's going to really be you. Do you believe me?

[irenicly]

[He nods.

He's aware of that, of course. It's what he wants, it's how he'll know he can protect Tsukiyama, but it's far from ideal.]

I believe you, Shuu-san.

[lasuaspada]

[And unlike the last time he was tempted, this time he does reach out, closing some of the distance between them and laying his hand lightly on Banjou's shoulder.

The gesture is almost tentative at first, his brow furrowing a bit as though he finds it strange and isn't entirely sure why; he shakes it off eventually, though. Smiles again.]

Have faith, Kazuichi-san. We were created to survive, and that's exactly what we're going to do.