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.... [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]

[Reira's hand brushes over her notebook, and slowly she opens the pages up. It is the recent ones-the ones she's been working on over the last week or so, that she falls to. Her eyes downcast, the pen and pencil smudging slightly from frequent touch. There are attempts to draw things such as the trees and flowers that were there, but also the birds,
and the dragonflies. There are even drawings of sheep...

...They are among the few pages she hasn't written notes for. The park,
in its death, is in the 4th's view right now after all. He can see it for herself.] ...It was important to lots of people that didn't notice.

...People don't notice things that are important to them until it's too late, I think.

[She's a good artist. Tsukikage looks over her art and sighs.]

Indeed. Loss makes us understand how valuable things are. It reminds us to count our blessings, and to remember how much value it has.

[Hikage...]

It may be too late... I doubt we have much more time and the conduit has yet to be identified. It will be difficult, if not impossible to replace all of that nature.

[Indeed, it must be too late. Time is short before the gods will be done. Remaining conduits need only wait things out, and after all that was the goal in distracting Ron was it not?

To keep him safe until he didn't need to worry.

Something about Tsukikage's words makes her feel, if anything, better. It is strange-to think that such misery could ever be necessary, but it makes her wonder if maybe there can be hope that people find what was important. That they find the beauty in the other parks, care for the other animals, find peace...

But she remembers where they are, and it feels like a dying wish again.] It's probably really hard.

[She doesn't want to think it's impossible though.] ...but...

...I don't think he wanted to do it like 'that'. ...I don't think he wanted to kill everything, [she half whines, returning to clutching her plush. Out of everything, that's the most important part after all. To her, it was the intent.
The accusations. The stories about why.] ....it feels like that just happened.

[Unfortunately, the people here were rash, violent, prone to resentment, anger and revenge. In any other place, most would move on with regret in their hearts, but Tsukikage and Reira have been here long enough to know what this place will continue to bring. Some people will still hunt down followers after this. More will be agitated and fearful. People will continue to do as they have been, and worse.]

There's no reason that he would want to kill everything, huh?

[The intent is important to Tsukikage. As Robbie's actions to Reira were destructive, so too are the Fourth God's. It's wrong. There's no forgiving the damage caused. However, he knows this isn't the time to be talking about things like that when he's talking to Reira. He didn't want to fight about alignments. He knows how Reira feels to the electronic mastermind.] ... The gods of this world seem to inherently be drawn to destruction. The Night and Day destroying each other. The Fog and her tendencies. Whether or not he meant to or not, I suppose it was an inevitability.

...He had to take life from something. [Such is her personal conclusion. The gods are drawing power from various locations. The Fog does one thing. The 4th, another, and...]

...The Fog makes everyone hungry if they go in it. People kill each other faster, or eat more, or do more. ...it feels like she would get stronger that way, with everyone dying.

...but...that's not what happens in his areas. ...Everything's already dead. ...I don't think you can take life without something bad happening...but I don't think that means he knew it would happen either..! [she protests, shaking her head.] ...I gave him flowers at Christmas...from the lake I went to, the ones that made Lusus-and he liked them, and he liked playing games with me...

But all everyone wants to talk about are the things he did wrong..!

They won't even wait to see if he tries to fix it himself, another way!

...they won't even wait to see why he did it...

I wish he would at least tell you for what reason. [He doesn't even want the answers for himself. He just wants answers out there, so Reira didn't feel so lost. If this was Ron, he would have taken Reira into his lap and stroked her hair, trying to calm her down. But she's too big for that, so all he can do is gently hold her, putting an arm around her shoulder.]

I think he knows more than you think, Reira-dono. He's clever, didn't you say? I think he knew, but he's... like Yuzu. He knew sacrifices needed to be made. If what you say is true, he may not have liked the choices he made, but he made it. It doesn't make him bad... it just makes him a someone who wants to further his goals.

It's hard not to throw judgement though... especially when everyone is dying. Especially when the Fog God is doing the same thing as the Fourth in her own way. It's hard not to lump them as the villains. You know that.

.... [Like Yuzu, hmm? ...Somehow, that is a comfort, but all the same.

Tsukikage does not understand, that much, she feels.] ....

[They have not been entirely honest about the 'reason', have they? It was as said on the network. All of the followers knew their reason, even if none of the 4th followers had come clean about it. Ron didn't understand-but Yuzu, absolutely, did, as did others, she could tell. That was why...] ...I said I didn't know why it had to be like this, [she says quietly, leaning against the other.]

...And...I don't know if it's 'why' he did it, either. ....But I know what he said would happen after, [she says more softly, chewing her lip.]

...And it's important. It's the most important thing there ever is, and it would mean no one has to get hurt, like when you stayed at the obelisk...!

...it's not a 'favor', like they said for the fog.

It's something bigger.

[Yuzu being the poster girl for instability amongst the Arc V cast.]

......

[Reira-dono is keeping secrets from him.

As a servant, this is alright. He's supposed to listen to Reira regardless. But as Reira's friend... as someone he sees as close to him as his own flesh and blood, it hurts a little. It makes him curious. It shows in the human's eyes as he looks at the kelpie, leaning against him for support.]

...

Like the Obelisk?

[... He frowns deeper. That explained a lot more than he realised.] I knew the Fourth protected you all from Fog Forms...

But he can protect you from the hunger as well?

...He's trying, [she says quietly, and her voice is weak and strained.] If even just Ron lives, it'll work. If even that happens, then being 'hungry' won't make you lose yourself, it won't do anything..!

[Of course... She chews her lip again.] ...He can't make it go away still. If we don't eat people somehow, then after a while, we'll get weak, and then starve...

...But it won't be like when you forgot at the obelisk, [she squeaks-and only now do tears start to show in her eyes, as she shakes her head and trembles.] It won't have to happen ever again.

...

[Tsukikage brings both his arms around her so the girl can cry against him if she wanted. Being that monster, having to deal with going crazy with hunger and berserk with the pull of his fog form almost every month, makes him one of the best people to understand how insanely important this all is. Now what cryptic things Yuzu had been saying at the lake begin to make sense, and pieces begin to fall into place.

It's so important. So many lives could be saved...]

The cost is high... but the reward is great. You're all taking a big gamble...

[But by the sound of his voice, it's clear he gets it, a little more at least.]

...But it's important. ....But I don't think anyone would understand, [she cries, breathing picking up the pace as the wall of steel finally rusts and buckles and crumbles away.] Because just like how everyone missed the park, everyone's going to miss this..!

They're just saying, 'the gods are fighting, and we don't want that'..! 'The plants are all gone, and it's his fault'..!

And I know, [she chokes, sniffling,] ...I know those are true...but if you only look at some of the true things, then only wrong things happen..!

I know it is. And I think some people do understand... that's why you're all doing it, isn't it? [He holds her tight, feeling her chest heave and her nails dig a little into his simple human flesh.] That's why it's important for all of you. Why you justify the means to this end...

It's alright, Reira-dono... It's alright. I understand. [He wants to say more, he has questions to say, but he holds her close instead, rubbing her back, letting Reira just release all that's she's clearly been hiding.]

I just want....to have it all be over now, [she sobs, her hold on the stuffed animal swapping over to a hold around Tsukikage. The grip is tight-and likely firmer than he expected, monster arms around human limits. But somehow it is the human who feels most secure, who feels like the sturdiest of stones, and acts as her support while she cries.] I want it to be over already, so I can make birthdays and play with friends and eat cake like everyone says is supposed to happen..!

..And...to just be happy...

[She feels strong, even in her weakness. The contrast is apparent, and yet strangely comforting too. Selfishly, Tsukikage feels like he's still needed to her, and that makes him happy. He closes his eyes and keeps rubbing her back gently]

I know... I know you do, Reira-dono. I wish nothing more for that as well. I want nothing more than all of this to stop burdening you, and let you have your chance to live. I want your happiness, Reira-dono... And I promise you'll have it soon. Just a little while longer you need to hold out...

['Just keep us safe', she mutters a few more times, shaking violently against the other's side. 'Just keep us safe', she seems to beg, as her sobbing goes from its fever pitch and back down into choked and muffled sobs, light hiccups that fade away.]

...just keep everyone safe...

I will. I promise you, Reira. With everything I have, I promise to protect us all.

[And he will. Even if he soaks the land red with his own blood. Even if he forgets everything but the very instinctive desire to protect her. He will give everything he has to protect her, so he can bring back Reira's smile and let her have the happy life she deserves.]

[The note book slides off the bed, its pages folding and fluttering as Reira nods softly. They'll be safe. Ron, her...and everyone in the house. They'll be safe....]

...Okay...

[It is easier to sit like this. In silence, in peaceful silence, and safety. Reira's weeping slowly comes to its end, her eyes on the fallen notebook, and soon perhaps, it becomes 'alright' to speak again.

Not her though.

She won't be initiating this conversation.]

Edited 2017-04-19 15:35 (UTC)

[Tsukikage would be all for pulling her on the bed and hugging her until she fell asleep from emotional exhaustion, but that time isn't now. When she lets go and pulls away, Tsukikage moves to pick up her book. He smoothes the pages out and closes it, placing it away from the two of them.]

... I need to know though, Reira-dono... Does the conduit business affect all of the Fourth's Followers? Or just the ones who survived channelling his powers?

All of them.

[Duh.] ...It wouldn't make sense if it was just conduits. That's only a few people, [she half scolds, wiping her eyes to frown.] ...It's only two now, even...

So all Fourth Followers will end up without the hunger. I see... No wonder.

[All the more to keep Ron and Reira safe. If he didn't hate the Fourth so much himself, it was definitely an incentive to join. It sounded incredible.] So you just have to survive? Or have more people alive than the Fog does?

Just one place needs to stay his.

Just one at the least, [she explains, looking back to the ground.] ...I thought...it would be easy, when nothing happened to all the places...

But then suddenly, three were gone so fast, and now there's just Ron and the other one... [It's frightening, to think so much rides on such shoulders. Terrifying, even.]

...I wanted to ask... ...if maybe, instead of bringing you back in the arcade, he could give you that 'prize'. ...Keep you from ever feeling that way, ever again...

... As long as we can keep Ron under wraps then, we have this. We can help all of you. [It's a start. And as scary as it is, the goal seems very much possible with just needing to keep Ron alive. He was going to do that anyway. He doubts anyone can stand against him.

Though... he words surprise her. He stares at the young girl, feeling his mortal heart skip a beat. What did she say?]

Ah... Really? [Not to have that fear... It's too good. More than he deserves. He is unworthy.] ...It makes me happy that you want to do that for me... And if he can't, do not worry about it, Reira-dono. I appreciate even being considered for such a generous gift. We should do our best to protect Ron then.

Edited 2017-04-19 15:57 (UTC)

Yeah. ...I've been trying to play with him a lot, so that he doesn't think about sneaking away, or anything like that...so...

[So that should work, shouldn't it? ...It's good to hear that if it doesn't work, it's alright though. Even if it's just the followers...well.

...Maybe one day, there can be some convincing done. Beyond that, she reaches to take her notebook with another nod.] ...You're really important, after all. ...You keep everyone here safe, and make all the food, and clean everything...

...If I could do something back, it'd be good, I think.

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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