In a silence, thick as blood, Kishimaru listened to the erratic pulse of his heart. His eyes were continually drawn towards the table in front of him, tracing the collector's edition stamps of tea and coffee. It bore the marks of a jigsaw puzzle of a group called SEES; a mismatched image of traumas and crises with a shiny finish called puberty. He smiled wryly to himself.
Well, at least they had something.
His head jerked towards the feet now clacking and pattering down the wooden staircase: Ice Queen Kirijo and Boxing Prince Sanada in a procession down the steps.
When Kishimaru had barged into the dormitory some minutes prior, Aigis – for whatever the heavy metal hunk was worth after carrying her for a good few kilometres on three hours of sleep – was taken above by Junpei and Akihiko.
"Fukawa. There will be no need for you to worry about Aigis," Mitsuru addressed him. The chairman had been more than accommodating when it came to her repairs.
"Alright, then," he replied, standing up to full height. "Guess I'll be going."
The two seniors strode over. "Well, before that..." Kishimaru stopped mid-step. "We do have a few questions for you."
He sighed and slumped back down onto the couch. "Of course. What do you want to know?"
"Why did you bring her back?" Mitsuru asked. "We were under the impression that you were part of the Shadow Whisperers' group, after all."
Kishimaru met her gaze with a level calmness that seemed to rival even her commanding atmosphere. "I don't think that after that incident that I want to stick anywhere near the other Shadow Whisperers," he explained. "Besides that… Well, I have a need to live up to a promise that I made to one of your own members."
"Minato?" Akihiko wondered aloud.
He gave them all a solemn nod. "Anyways. All I'm saying is that I'm not planning on going back to the Shadow Whisperers. If you're not going to accept my help, then that's fine too," Kishimaru said. "I've done what I can for now."
Mitsuru suppressed the urge to sigh, if only because she could feel her fatigue pouncing on her after chasing her for so long. "I don't think it's pragmatic to be so hasty. Of course, we don't trust you just yet, just as we don't fully trust Minato's... new friend. But if you are willing to lend us your strength, we're not in a position to refuse."
"The plan'll probably be that we'll be monitoring you while we're recuperating, but other than that..." Akihiko trailed off.
Kishimaru furrowed his brow a little. "Right. Then, just so you know... I stay at the boys' dorm when I'm not out and about. And if you look in my student file, you'll know why."
Mitsuru and Akihiko exchanged stern, if slightly uneasy looks. "We'll see what strings we can pull," she eventually said. "It may be a while before the arrangements are finalised, however."
"Fine by me."
"Akihiko, can you take him to one of the spare rooms for now? I'm sure it would be unsafe for any of us to venture out during the early hours of the morning," Mitsuru requested, trying to keep the sleep out of her eyes.
"Sure. We should all probably get some rest."
"Is what you say when you want to go back to your room and train with your punching bag again," Mitsuru pointed out as she walked up the stairs. Akihiko gave her an incredulous look. "You know those of us who are trying to get some sleep can hear you, you know." She muttered something about getting the rooms more thoroughly soundproofed.
Akihiko slowly turned on his heel back towards Kishimaru, awkwardly clearing his throat. "Anyways, just follow me."
As the two of them walked up, Kishimaru whispered, as if to no-one in particular, but knowing full well that the senior could hear him: "I think that's what you call 'busted'."
Akihiko just groaned.
…
Looking at his mathematics homework, he was growing more and more certain of the fact that he had no understanding of how to do any of it. Minato wasn't bad at math – it wasn't one of his strong points, either – but he found it exceedingly difficult to focus on what was happening in his classes.
Though the summer haze was then sharpening into autumn wind, it did nothing to hone his attention span. When he was trying to pay attention in class, he was most certainly hearing words – of a sort, but what those words actually were? Half of them, Minato couldn't tell you. Instead of anything close to articulate, the sounds blended into other sounds, syllables were stirred into other syllables... Quite frankly, it was a mess. The final cherry on the cake was that the things his ears and brain had the mercy to glean weren't retained for long.
And that was why he was trying to form a coherent sentence to say to Yukari. He might've asked Junpei but from the looks and sounds of it, he didn't study very often. Fuuka was far more tired than the others, so she wasn't an option either, despite her having quite distinguished grades. Aigis was... uh... Aigis, as well as out of commission.
Yeah.
Sure.
By process of elimination, it fell to the lukewarm Yukari.
"Hey, Minato, are you alright?" she asked. As he thought, Yukari couldn't help but be fixated upon the changing creases in his forehead, which only seemed to screw up tighter and deeper, with sweat to fill in the cracks. "You look um... troubled."
Evidently, he didn't think fast enough, and at her words, his lips were frozen into a hard line. "Uh... Well... I was kinda wondering if I could... get some help on my maths homework, if um... that's okay with you," Minato stammered. "Of course, I understand if you're busy..."
The reticent, tight-lipped Minato asking her for help with his homework? Yukari never thought she'd see the day, but... you know what? "Of course that's okay!" She was kinda glad that she could see it. "What do you need help with?"
"I don't really understand the most recent stuff." Minato hung his head in defeat and mumbled, "I've been trying to catch up with my other work, but my brain's too tired from trying to read and process everything else that numbers and signs look like magical runes or something."
Yukari couldn't help but laugh at his comparison. "I get the picture. I'll try to explain it simply," she said, taking his textbook and beginning to summarise what it was saying. As she soon found out, she had to go over it multiple times to make sure that he understood. It wasn't that he wasn't clever – he was, though in other ways. Minato only had a problem with processing everything she was saying.
"You need me to go through the example problem there?" Yukari asked further.
He opened his mouth as if he already had an answer for her (he didn't) and closed it once again. "Yeah, I guess so... Sorry about this..." Minato sighed, the corners of his lips in a permanent downturn.
"For what?" Yukari asked.
A string of words swam in his brain, floundering to seem somewhat cohesive. "I feel like I'm being a huge bother to you," he murmured. "Like, I should be able to understand it. But…"
Yukari's brow furrowed, watching his lips wrestle with his scrambled thoughts. She did have to be honest, of course. Explaining the same thing three times, and slowly? It was a little bit annoying. Of course, 'a normal person should be able to comprehend what she's saying on the first go'.
Of course… Minato wasn't 'normal'. What she had? A head full of fog, and her voice lost within it.
"Minato, I don't – I'm not going to lie to you. It is difficult… But you are infinitely more important than any bit of annoyance that you're causing me right now," Yukari said, hesitantly reaching for his shoulder. Surprisingly, he didn't flinch. "If this is what it takes, this is what it takes. We're friends, okay?"
He met her concerned, yet determined look, his eyes hot and flashing flood signs. How to respond? Should he respond?
"Friends are bound to cause problems for one another, sooner or later. But that's fine. Your strong points lie elsewhere, and you are good enough to go on," Yukari tried to reassure, rubbing his back, and her lips broke into a wry smile. "I mean… You had to deal with my problems so many times before, but you took it like a champ. I'd feel guilty if I wasn't able to do the same for you."
Catching the incoming tears on his fingers, Minato nodded slowly with only desperate breaths riding out into the solemn silence. "Thanks, Yukari," he whispered.
"Of course. Though we probably should take a break soon," Yukari admitted. "Want a drink?"
"Hot chocolate?" Minato asked, rubbing away the rest of his tears with a sheepish smile.
Yukari laughed. She'd never pegged him as a hot chocolate person.
…
It was the sharp squall that drove home how naïve, inexperienced and unpractised Ryoji was when it came to the world. Most of what he knew of the 'everything' outside Minato's mind was an imagined image, superimposed in kaleidoscope patterns above him like an observatory.
Distorted assumptions. Not quite tangible; not the most solid thing.
Now that he was feeling it… A childish smile broke out on his face. Ryoji couldn't help but squint at the noon sunlight, so perfectly aware of everything that was now happening around him. The wind, the heat, and the smell of the sun might not have meant much to anybody else.
But it did, to him.
His stomach sank at it all. The wonder and overwhelming rush of experience and emotion swooping beneath his core. Ryoji knew so little; felt little.
Would he hold onto that newborn eagerness as long as the world continued to spin? One's mortal and non-omniscient existence was curated by the limitations of one's body and mind. What he saw, smelled, tasted, touched, and felt was but a sliver of possibility in the cosmic sea of time.
What a shame. What a shame that even someone like him couldn't even begin to cut the ocean; plumb its depths.
That was fine. It was okay. It meant he had a focus.
But how to start?
"Pharos… What're you doing up here?"
There was only one person that called him by his original name. "Just admiring the view, and the wind," Ryoji replied, turning back towards the glimmering city. "It's so different, seeing it for yourself, you know?"
Minato came to stand next to him, eyes turned towards the harbour. "It is," he agreed. "Your filter. It's finally gone."
"I wouldn't say he's gone," Ryoji said, "It's just that he's right next to me, now." He couldn't bring himself to respond. "Minato, I'm… I know I've said it before, but… I'm sorry."
"Uh… For what, exactly? You sound like you're picking up a bad habit from me."
There was a slight upturn to the corners of Ryoji's lips. "Minato, you understand, right?"
A light of recognition flared to life in Minato's eyes. "I'm a part of the thing which has been causing you so much pain for all these years." The dark memories reared their ugly heads, resurfacing from the debris of warmth and the cold of revenge he'd attempted to bury it all under. "Aren't you in the least bit angry?"
He didn't need to look to know that Ryoji was on the verge of tears. Flustered. Wry. Ryoji let out a weak chuckle at Minato's blank expression. "I see why that silence is so much more nerve-wracking…" he murmured.
"I would be lying if I said I wasn't angry," Minato answered. "But it's difficult to separate you from all the words you've said, and the things that you've done for me, too."
"Not even if I feel like I was… using you?" Ryoji asked.
Minato furrowed his brow a little and landed his gaze on the concrete at his feet, pondering what he should do. "Pharos, if you were using me, I was using you, too," he rebutted, his words trailing off into another chuckle. Of course he was. Though he'd shed tears at the thought of it, Ryoji – or, well, Pharos – was one of Minato's anchors; one of the things that kept him from drifting away beyond the shores of life.
"At this point, if there's anyone for me to be angry at, it'll be that Creature."
"But—!"
"Pharos!" Minato grabbed Ryoji's wrist, jolting him in place, their gazes locked upon each other. "Please. You're my best friend. Let me have this. Let me have you."
He was frozen, even as tears were streaming down his cheeks. "Minato… I… God, what do I say to this?"
An awkward smile broke out on Minato's face as he wiped Ryoji's tears away with his thumb. "I dunno," he replied. "I'm also not sure how to feel about how much you seem to take after me."
"I um… I learned from the best?" Ryoji suggested.
Minato snorted in amusement at that. The two of them turned back towards the city, lingering in the brief susurrus and serenity of the rising breeze.
"I still feel awful about what I did to Sachiko-san," Ryoji spoke after a while. "After all, I was the one who caused her so much trouble – awakening her Shadow, making her commit manslaughter… She must hate me for it."
A small, awkward pause. Minato and Ryoji looked at each other, both knowing that they weren't exactly comfortable with the idea, and knowing that Minato already had an idea of what Ryoji wanted to do – for him to do. "Alright, I'll talk to her about it."
Ryoji gave him an apologetic smile. "Thanks…"
"Also, Pharos, it just occurred to me," Minato spoke up once more. He hated this… randomness that came to his thoughts; each slipping from his fingers like dry sand before he had the time to appreciate and recognise each grain. "What're you going to do when Aigis comes back from the lab? You don't have the 'you're incorporeal' excuse anymore."
"W-Well. I mean, if it ever comes down to that sort of messy discussion, then…" Ryoji let out a sigh. "I am stronger than her. And by the end of this, I'll be even stronger than I am now. Or I can try getting along with her. I don't know! I'm playing this all by ear."
Minato laughed. "Better than I would've thought."
"Yeah, unfortunately," Ryoji replied absentmindedly.
He gave Ryoji a flat look. "Hey."
Which was returned with an impish grin. "What? It's true, isn't it?"
The two of them shared a laugh.
…
Ken downed a glass of water, brow furrowed as he wiped the leftover drops from his mouth with his sleeve. It was unbecoming of him, he knew, but what sense of decorum he had left was being overtaken by his need to train – to get revenge on Shinjiro for the death of his mother.
And yet, he was torn between that goal and the reality of the crumbling city outside the dormitory's walls. Distracted, he supposed. Practically, he had to wonder what he could do while he was trapped within the dormitory prison along with the rest of SEES. It would be impossible to get away with such a thing. What would it all be worth, at that point? Was it still worth it?
So the thoughts went. They detached him from the twitchiness of his fingers, formerly snapped shut around the shaft of his spear; now shaking, fidgety, craving the feel of his polearm. And his vision, slightly blurred. Slightly delirious from lack of sleep.
It hurt for Koromaru to watch.
He turned towards the tell-tale clinking of his collar and the quiet tapping of his claws against the floor. "Hey, boy," Ken said with a weak smile, bending down to pet Koromaru.
Ken, of course, took notice of the leash that was gently carried in the dog's mouth. Koromaru didn't need the leash, per se – he was amongst the smartest and most loyal of dogs, and, perhaps, the smartest and most loyal. It was more of a signal, or formality, than anything. "You want to go on a walk?" he asked.
His tail began wagging as he dropped the leash on the floor, looking up at Ken with an expression akin to a grin.
The boy looked up longingly towards the stairs. Seeing this, Koromaru whined audibly, snatching Ken from his wishful reverie. "Oh, alright. Let's go," Ken eventually said, giving Koromaru an apologetic smile. He couldn't bring himself to refuse the shiba-inu.
Koromaru barked happily, taking the lead as Ken stumbled out after him.
The sunset winked out over the jagged horizon, and violet streaked through the amber hues along with the breeze. Sharp; decisive, but lukewarm.
Well, Ken supposed that things weren't all bad. Maybe Koromaru was right. Maybe he was just overthinking things. He just needed to clear his head a little. A small walk would do him some good, wouldn't it?
Shaking his head, Ken followed behind Koromaru, who seemed to be taking his usual route. It was always a wonder to Ken that he would be able to remember something like this so methodically, so exactly. Ken let slip a wry smile. Even though Koromaru couldn't speak, one couldn't help but enjoy his company anyways. Maybe that was part of the beauty of his company – this wordless mystery created by a strangely intelligent dog.
Heh. He was feeling a bit better already.
Koromaru headed off towards Naganaki Shrine. Things were peaceful – perhaps, eerily quiet due to the sharp drop in visitors. While Koromaru was sniffing around the offertory box, Ken scanned the park and the path to the graves beyond. Picturesque and silent.
Except for him.
Shinjiro's coughing and hacking broke the sighs of the wind. Hearing this, Koromaru immediately rushed over to the bench where Shinjiro was hunched, groaning and struggling.
Ken was paralysed. Could he move? Did he want to move?
Was his mother's killer really… like this? Why? Something had to have put him in such a state.
Tch. Just his luck, not bringing a weapon with him for this… It could be so easy. Ken was now acutely aware of the twitching in his fingers – blistering spasms of eagerness and fatigue. And yet… Why couldn't he bring himself to move?
A pang of disappointment? Pity?
Guilt?
But he was responsible for his mother's death! How could he feel guilty over something like this!?
Koromaru's barks tore Ken towards the scene by the scruff of his neck, and in that moment, Ken wasn't sure that his legs were his.
"Senpai! What's wrong?" Ken asked, bending down next to Shinjiro. He had the itch to ask, though he knew that he wouldn't be in any state to answer. Koromaru barked and held his nose towards a small, metal canister on the ground. His eyes followed, and his hand, soon afterwards, fingers fumbling and clenching a rattling can of pills.
Medicine? For his—
For a split second, Ken thought he saw Castor's mirage crushing Shinjiro's body as his head heaved upwards for breath.
Was that it?
No! He didn't have time for this! As Ken forced some of the pills down Shinjiro's throat, he couldn't help but question why he was doing this. Saving this murderer, that is. And yet…
Ken couldn't leave it alone.
As Shinjiro's coughs subsided, and the mirage vanished, both Ken's and Shinjiro's gazes met – Complete and utter disbelief.
…
Junpei let out a small yawn as he idly stirred around some instant noodles in a cup. It wasn't much, or even all that healthy, but it would do for dinner. He stepped out from behind the partitions of the kitchen and into the lounge area, beginning to shuffle his way upstairs.
Well, he was. Until he saw that Fuuka had somehow fallen asleep on the couch. Wasn't she supposed to be upstairs? Apparently so. But, from the looks of the mug on the coffee table (no longer steaming), she'd intended to do her work downstairs, instead. Maybe a change of pace would do her some good, considering how tired she'd always said she was.
Still, not the best posture, and not the best place to take a nap.
Junpei gently shook her awake.
She jolted to life, her eyes wide open. "A-Ah! Junpei-kun?" Fuuka's fingers and eyes darted back between her now sleeping laptop and her friend. "I-I must've fallen asleep…" she muttered to herself.
"Yup… Are you sure you shouldn't be getting some rest in your room, Fuuka-chan?" he asked. "Here's pretty comfy, but your back might get done in something fierce."
Fuuka laughed nervously. "Y-Yeah, I know… I'd just…" she rubbed the back of her head. "I'd been so impressed by how Sachiko's continued working hard despite everything that's happened so far," she tried to explain. "That… I couldn't help wanting to do the same even though…"
When Fuuka trailed off like she did, Junpei couldn't help but think that there was… a little something else involved in her aspirations. Maybe he was imagining it, but at the same time, he didn't feel like he could leave it alone. How odd. "Well, don't push yourself too hard, Fuuka-chan; getting tired and resting isn't anything to be ashamed of. Still, if you're really that set on it… Sachiko-san probably has a few reasons for being like that – maybe you should ask her later!"
Her mouth remained slightly agape as Junpei spoke. Of course, he was quite right on both counts, but she wondered if she could work up the courage to ask her about something like that. What would Sachiko say? From the way she'd delved into her friend's mind earlier, Fuuka figured that it probably wasn't an especially happy reason, after all. "U-Um… thanks, Junpei-kun. I'll think about it."
"No problem!" He gave her a grin.
…
Here they were: Death in the midst of the city.
Still, he never would've imagined that things would come to fruition like this. It certainly would throw a wrench into his original plans, but he supposed that he could work around it.
Minato was sneakier, or, perhaps, greedier than he thought, that he'd actually think that trapping and using the shadows of the full moons would be to his own advantage. Now, it had to be decided: Which one would gain more power? The Shadow? Or the Self?
Of course, that didn't really matter. The end would come regardless. Still, he supposed that his pawns could hope to put on a good show. For now… they could only wait for night to come.
AN: Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed the chapter!
I can't promise faster updates now that I've graduated but I'll try; a little bit of encouragement from some nice reviews would make my day. Cheers, everyone!
