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[Nothing is broken, thankfully, but the fact that there's a mess that isn't immediately being picked up is... strange. Tsukikage is just standing there at the mirror, looking at it with wide eyes, filled with a mix of fear and longing. It's... Impossible. He knows it's impossible because Hikage is there, in his pocket. He knew he looked similar to his brother, but this...

That reflection was moving. No... not a reflection. It was Hikage. It was Hikage looking back at him and staring him with pained eyes. Such sad, sad disappointed eyes. Tsukikage's heart clenches in his chest as he stares straight ahead, seeing 'Hikage' nod at him.]

I... I didn't know... I... I'm sorry.

[Tsukikage's voice is soft and filled with worry. He doesn't notice Reira, at least for now.]

...Tsukikage..? [She comes closer, looking anxiously to the mirror. It's just reflection-and it seems wrong somehow, to be looking at it so. To see Tsukikage without his mask, his face bare as it was in the dream. Finally, she steels herself, grabbing for the other's arm with her free hand.] Tsukikage!!

What's wrong..!

[Tsukikage at least notices when he's suddenly grabbed and he jumped. Instinctively, his free hand moves the mask around his neck to his face, covering it up quickly, as if he's committed some heinous crime. He looks at Reira almost eye-to-eye, looking alarmed.][He glances back at the mirror and then at Reira. Hikage is there. He's watching him. Now he's reprimanding him. Reira saw...]

I... You didn't see anything, did you, Reira-dono?

[Reira swallows, unsure of how to answer. But in the end, she shakes her head.] ...What was I supposed to see? [she asks quietly, her eyes on his eyes and nothing more. It isn't as though dishonoring the other would make this any better-but for now, it feels almost as if they need a distraction, and she looks to the toothbrush on the ground.] ...You dropped things...

... Nothing. If you saw nothing that's... fine. [Hikage just looks at him. Tsukikage wonders why the other isn't saying anything to him. He still isn't... why? Did he say something wrong?]

... So I did. My apologies. I must have knocked them over. [He bends down to pick them up, his hands surprisingly steady despite the grim look on his face. One would think he would have seen a ghost.] Do not worry about me. I am unharmed, at least.

[It's so strange-so very, very strange, and she finds herself holding her notebook close like a security blanket as the other does so. The way she is now, she is only perhaps half a foot shorter than Tsukikage-but even then, it is strange to not be looking down to him while he has at least something of a normal face. As the objects are put away, she finds herself wondering-should she ask about what just occurred?

...No.

...Only the worst could come of it, at this point.] ...Okay...

...Are you done brushing your teeth? [She adds, attempting to change the subject. Perhaps the more they stay away from the topic, the less...unnerving he'll be.]

... Yes... I am. [He picks up and puts everything on the counter and makes sure the floor is clean with a bit of a brush. Everything is fine. Everything is neat and tidy. It's alright.

Hikage still hasn't said anything.

Why won't he say anything?

Tsukikage nods and bows to Reira.]

My apologies. I can move, if you need to use the bathroom.

Um-! [She hurriedly shakes her head.] I didn't need it, it's fine..!

[...He keeps looking to the mirror, however, and it worries her. So she adjusts her hold on her notebook again, and reaches for his arm once more.] ...Since you're human today though, that means you have the day off right..?

[He has lots of days off, lately. She can guess why, but what's important now is getting him away from the mirror. Somehow, she's certain of that.]

[At least when he's talking to Reira, he looks at her directly. He nods, letting her take his arm and hold on to him and lead him off.] Yes... I do, actually. It's a little strange, not to be working.

[He doesn't work enough.]

Was there something you'd like to do today, Reira-dono?

Ummm... [Honestly, no. She was all ready to double check on Ron to make sure he was still passed out in a tiny kindergarten style nap but...well, this is a little more important for now. So she has to come up with something else, something that isn't a lie.

...If she's going to be honest right now, there's only one thing she can say.] ...I was just working on my notebook, actually. But... ...Did you want to talk?

...After you said I was grounded, I got mad, [She admits, looking down.] ...And then everything else happened, and everyone got busy, or mad, or...

...I just wanted things to be like they used to again.

Your notebook... yes... about your travels and what you saw. [It's good that she's working on something. Tsukikage wonders how detailed it is and what it looks like. He hopes he can see it in the future, it seems really interesting to him.

However, he can't bring that up. Not when Reira says what she actually wants to do.] Did I want to talk? If you permit me so, Reira-dono. I worry about you. [Humorous to say, in this situation]

... I know you do. But you know it won't ever be quite the same because of what happened, right? This... event has taken its toll on all of us.

Yeah! I've been trying to put more pictures in it... [she mutters, before getting back on 'topic'.] We can talk in my room though, and sit on the bed...

[It's easier that way. She can lead him away from the shiny shiny reflections, they can sit in a pile of stuffed animals, and then once they're sitting there they can...talk.

About whatever comes up, she supposes.

Never the same...in her mind, she knows that, she guesses. Even if just Ron survives the mess, or if the park remains the same-if one or both are still corrupted, if the fog corruptions stay behind, the tension will never leave. Just as Yuzu said.]

...It can be normal again in the house though, can't it?

...I'm okay if we talk. ...I just don't like being asked things about what's happening.

[He follows her quietly, letting her pull him along with no resistance, as easily as how Reira used to carry her teddy bear. Tsukikage looks at Reira with distant eyes, filled with melancholy. He does not say anything else to begin with. He follows, like how a good servant should.]

... I'd like to think so. Even without Steve and even with Robbie being... Robbie. It will be okay with Sora, Ron, you and me. Vriska too, of course. [He smiles at her gently. She's a child. It's sometimes so easy and so hard to remember that fact.]

... How are you feeling?

...Tired, I guess. [She holds her notebook, and sets it between them, grabbing one of the stuffed toys in its place. Curling up, she clings and forms around it like a pillow, her chin resting on its head quietly.] I'm not as scared of him any more, but...Robbie went to kill people.

...And I think he did kill someone, too, [she says softly.] ...the lake is okay again, and so are some other places now, so it's just the park left, and...

[Well. She stares to the floor.] ....And somewhere in Vandare. [She doesn't know how much Tsukikage knows, but she knows the ninja isn't stupid.

He probably knows Ron is a conduit.]

[He sighs and sits down next to her, looking at Reira's tired face. So many worries burdened upon her. He worries so much for Reira's health. This sort of thing isn't good for her.]

I noticed...

...

[He sighs quietly and rests a hand on her shoulder.] I'll keep you both safe. No matter what. You know that, right?

[He knows, and exactly where Ron is corrupting too.]

...Yeah, [She says softly, nodding her head.] ....I just want everyone to stop hurting each other though. ...Everyone on the computers is talking about killing until they find all of them, and they don't care about what happens if they're wrong..!

And they don't listen when anyone else says to stop, because it just means nothing is fixed anyway..!

[Emotion drowns her words, and Reira shakes considerably as the pressure from the weeks builds and bursts. She shakes, and she looks to Tsukikage with wide-but dry eyes.] ...Why can't there be another way..!?

[This is exactly what he means. But the human has no answers for her, at least at first. Any thoughts about his brother dissipate as he focuses on his young master in front of him, shaking quietly. He sighs quietly and moves his hand off Reira's shoulder so he can look at her properly.]

I do as well. Even when the areas do get fixed, there's nothing good that comes out of all this slaughter, and then they say they're justified when they do end someone's life. It's scary, but unfortunately, as kind as people can be, they can be cruel. People are often very cruel when they're scared, Reira-dono. Especially when they know it will fix things.

[He sighs.] I suppose it is the nature of this world... Death is part of life here. I too wish for another way, for change. Unfortunately... there's not, Reira-dono.

They're not being kind, [she mutters angrily, thinking to the words she sees so many others use on the devices.] They're being dumb, and they're not thinking about anything, even if someone says something to them. ...and then...they think that as long as it's gone, that it's okay and they can just say sorry! [she cries, still keeping the tears at bay.

Her voice is soft, and quiet, and after many moments, she speaks again.]

....I hope the 4ths corruptions stay, [she says quietly. It is barely a whisper, but it is a determined one, filled with anger and exhaustion.] ...I hope they stay, so that everyone can realize that...all the killing won't fix it...

I'm not saying those people are kind. [He sighs.] One of the important things I've learned in my life is not to forget humanity's inherent kindness, despite what happens. If you do that, you submit to despair and become a bitter person. Those people may be awful, but others aren't. You've seen people try to avoid conflict as much as us.

[He looks at her quietly, his eyes dark and quiet, before he shakes his head.]

...If that is what you wish, Reira-dono.

I will do what I can to make it stay, so they may see. And you can get some rest. [He's so worried about you, Reira. Words could not describe the hurt he feels seeing you like this.]

[She listens, but she is quiet. In fact, there is little she says in reply, merely staring at the ground.]

..,I don't want you to have to hurt any one, [She finally replies.] ...but...

...if you just keep Ron and I safe....

...You said, no matter what, we would be safe. ...If Ron lives...it'll be okay.

I know you don't... But your protection comes first. I will do anything for you, Reira-dono.

[He looks at her carefully and he takes her hands into his, squeezing the girl's delicately.]

... You will both live, Reira-dono. I promise you that. You will be safe too.

... You're still worrying me though, Reira-dono. You can tell me anything, Master Reira. Anything on your mind...

[Reira squeezes the hand back, and she nods, chewing her lip.

But she still says nothing. Nothing except...] ....Everyone keeps talking about the trees in the park, [she says softly.]

...but...

...no one is talking about the animals that were there....

I never considered that myself...

[Reira has always been sensitive to the environment around her.]

... Do you know what happened to them? Did they escape? Or did they perish like the plants?

.... [She already knows that answer. They both know, no doubt. But...] ...It didn't kill humans, [She says quietly.] ...So I don't know.

...There's a lot of places that aren't trees in there though. ...There were restaurants...and statues...there was even a really big 'carousel', with different animals that you could ride.

...I wanted to bring all my friends there, [Reira continues, her voice soft.] ...But Nagisa would wilt, I think...

Maybe we'll be lucky. I saw someone walking their dog near there, so we can't do much else but hope they're safe.

[He didn't realise it meant so much to her. No wonder.]

Bavan Central Park is a beautiful place. I regret not noticing it before. [It wasn't really important to him, honestly. Then again, many things don't take his notice unless it involves Reira and the others.] It's an important place, isn't it? To you and many others? I'm not surprised the Fourth took it, if it had that much meaning.

[It's a strategic position, much like how the lake was]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, CCC-REDHORSE. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 134.64.202.69 * CCC-REDHORSE has joined 134.64.202.69 <CCC-REDHORSE> This is Reira Akaba! <CCC-REDHORSE>**I'll try to answer you but sometimes I'm busy or sleeping, so I don't think about the message right away.

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