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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.

... Sometimes I wish he'd listen. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. [He sighs and he shakes his head. Maybe he really is an awful father and just is some glorified babysitter. Ron needs to stop disobeying him, or at least understand he has a reason for wanting to keep him safe.

Tsukikage passes the book back to her.]

I do only what is expected of me, Reira-dono. It's hardly worth praise. But thank you again. It means the world to me, you know.

[You mean the world to him...]

I don't think it's that you're doing wrong things...I think he just doesn't know why it's bad. ...Ron doesn't think about things like they're dangerous, sometimes. ....if he does, he just thinks that we'll keep him safe, [she explains, gently sorting the pages of the book back out.]

...Even when we can't...

Mmmm... [He promised himself that he would never raise Ron how he was raised, but he wonders if he can even do that effectively. Tsukikage wishes he could introduce Ron to the dangers of the world without making him go through the things either Reira or even Sora did.

Hikage... Why can't he see you?]

He didn't enjoy the stitches. Hopefully he'll have some inkling now. If not, we just have to teach him...

....The stitches were a lot longer ago, so probably not. [She's...going to be blunt there.] ...but...I think I gave him a good way to stay home now?

...He said he wanted to go 'concentrate' or it wouldn't work, but I made a shrine for him at the arcade so that he can just pray there instead.

Ah yes, I forgot he doesn't really take into account standard faire recovery and time perception. [Read: He's a child.]

That's very good of you. I hope he'll listen and do just that.

Mnnnh...he has so far...but I think that might just be because I won't let him think about anything else.

You're a good sibling, you know that, Reira-dono? I'm very proud of you. [He may be a little small, and it's a bit weird since they're the same height, but he pets her on the head anyway.]

[Proud? Reira looks up from the papers in quiet surprise, and she stares.] ...You are..?

Of course. You're so kind and caring to Ron, and you take care of him very well. Your patience and your love is admirable, Reira-dono.

[...So she does...

...And it makes her smile-but only for a moment before she turns away in guilt.] ...I get mad at him sometimes though.

...That's not good. ...Like when he kept sneaking out, even after that... ...Even though he's not sneaking out any more, I got mad.

And? Even the closest of siblings get mad at each other. We're humans after all. If they do something wrong, you do get upset. Sometimes anger is born out of love too.

But you got mad again? How come? That doesn't sound like you?

Because he wouldn't listen..! [she insists, shaking her head.] ...Because he was talking about going back again and again and getting in danger, and almost dying, like why he needed stitches...and then even after I promised it'd be okay not to go back, he snuck out again..!

And I don't want him hurt..!

Then that's anger born of worry... and honestly, I'm a bit upset he still wants to go out. I'm going to have a long talk with him, otherwise this is never going to get solved.

[That boy is going to get himself killed...]

...Are you going to talk to him...soon?

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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.