[How many times can we fall?]

[toremainbehind]

[It's been a week since they've managed to escape.

Neither of them knew who tipped someone off about their location, who helped them escape while everything became hacked and otherwise useless in keeping them contained. It had been their downfall to let Izumo stay in the frontline, his skills almost legendary now with how effective of an assassin he has become over time. Their downfall led to their deaths, and Izumo has ran away with Eric while the remnants of that group tried to go after them.

They didn't know where to go - who to turn to.

For them, this open world was a mystery, even if Izumo has more experience than Eric when it came to the outside world. There's no one they could trust, and little to no money to their name since their captors often took the money Izumo's earned for his kills. But Izumo is adaptable, taking odd jobs here and there in order to earn enough money to save up and find a place to stay.

It's only been a couple of days ago when Izumo first ran into the leader of HOMRA, the Red King and him having traded blows before it came to a tie. They went their separate ways shortly after when an informant came running towards them, Izumo having escaped before he could be questioned.

Now, he had taken Eric to a refuge in a motel. It's small and not one of the best, but it's the best Izumo could afford on such short notice when it became obvious to him when Eric has to rest again.

His right shoulder blade itched from the burns he received from Mikoto, but he ignores it in favor of in-between watching Eric sleep and looking out the window from his perch on the windowsill.]

Comments

[redstray]

[ Not much longer, before Eric is fast asleep. Curled up as close as possible to his brother for warmth and comfort. ]

[toremainbehind]

[He smiles softly to him, glad Eric is sleep.

This'll be the last time he'll get to see this in a while before he joins his brother in dreamland.

Morning comes quick, though, and Fujishima is waiting for Eric while Mikoto stays by Izumo's side as he sits at the bar.]

[redstray]

[ Eric comes down the stairs with the last bag he will be bringing. Fujishima smiles and walks over to him in greeting which he returns.

His eyes go to Mikoto and his brother though. It was aleady time to go... ]

Hey.

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo gives him a smile.]

Are you all packed up?

[redstray]

[ He fidgets with one of the bags loops ]

As ready as I can be...

[toremainbehind]

[He keeps the smile up, reminding Fujishima to take care of his brother, being replied with a thumbs up and a nod.

Satisfied, Izumo turns to Eric.]

I'll see you again soon.

[redstray]

[ He nods, looking down, still pretty nervous. He feels Fujishima place a hand on his shoulder in reassurance. One small step at a time ]

Yeah.

[toremainbehind]

[He's tempted to hug Eric, but at the same time, he holds himself back.

Was it too soon?

In the end, he beckons Eric to come over.]

[redstray]

[ He spots the motion and walks over, a curious look on his face. ]

[toremainbehind]

[He places a hand on Eric's head and rests their foreheads together.]

Let's get through this so we can be together again, okay?

[redstray]

[ He closes his eyes and smiles ever so slightly, enjoying the feeling as much as he could. ]

Okay.

[ He parts ways after and makes his way back to Fujishima. ]

See you soon...

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo simply gives his brother a big smile and a wave,

After all, it's not like they'll be apart forever.]

What even is this I don't know orz

[redstray]

[ He smiles a bit in return before leaving to Fujishima's place

To say it was easy getting used to a new place, without his brother, he would be lying.

He probably annoyed Fujishima by the amount of times he woke up yelling or knocking something down to hide from a nightmare. He was trying to recognize the place as good, but without his brother around, it took a lot more effort for Eric to snap out of it. He made his friend promise to not tell anyone about it, but whether or not he kept it, he didn't know.

He enjoyed his reunions with his brother, though tired he was, but they began to help slowly. Eric for one, would try and cook the dinners they would share those nights, they were mostly successful. Anyway he could help his brother, he would.

Even if Izumo was a liar, Eric was a bad brother. He had to make up for it somehow.

His dog mindset was still firmly in place that he didn't even realize it was there. Nothing vocal ever came out, but his habits began to show a bit more. Times when he was alone in the apartment he would simply sit and wait, or nap to catch up on his sleep. Fujishima gave him some chorse to help him pass time. Eric was a good dog, and finished them fast and efficiently.

He heard his brother mention that Honami would come teach him soon if he was ready and he didn't know.

The world was beginning to become a scary place again. And at the same time, he was coping better then he probably would have been before. Everything was confusing as when he first saw the outside in years.

But he had to prove that he was a good dog, that he was inproving so he could be with his master again. ]

it's okay!

[toremainbehind]

[Being separated from Eric was hard, much like the first time, but it was harder since they were so close but yet they couldn't be with each other.

Totsuka and Mikoto have done their best to keep Izumo's mind occupied; the former usually accompanying the older man out when running errands and the latter a silent company in the midst of a silent noise.

There was guilt, overwhelming guilt that weighed down on his shoulders each time Eric and Fujishima came to visit. No one said it aloud, in fear it'll trigger something in Eric should they decide to confront him about it, but each and every one of them noticed Eric's habits - his doglike manners.

Izumo and Fujishima talked about it once, hushed whispers in the back under the pretense of Izumo asking Fujishima for help to bring some boxes of wine to the front.

Take care of him. Don't let him fall back into those habits, but be subtle.

Days slowly passed, the hands of time seemingly becoming more sluggish as each minute ticked by.

Under Mikoto's supervision, Izumo has (albeit reluctantly) decided to talk to Totsuka about his own demons. Shadows of the past that continuously haunted him, setting every nerve in his body aflame until the coil became too tight and finally snapped. The talking has helped, though there were times when certain buttons were pressed and Mikoto had to physically restrain him from hurting Totsuka.

Now--

Now Izumo sat at the bar, a pair of new sunglasses adorning his face as a gift from young Anna. He fingers the rim of his glass, faint music from the jukebox (courtesy of Totsuka and Chitose) playing in the bar to keep the silence at bay.]

[redstray]

[ Fujishima was trying his best, slowly and carefully trying to bring Eric out of his dog like mind. But as soon as there was some progress, Fujishima would have to leave him alone, or another nightmare would take place, and it was almost back to where it started. The fact that Eric seemed to be unaware of his changing made things almost worse.

It was time for another visit. Eric was excited to see his brother for the rest of the day and came in with Fujishima. He was greeted by whoever else was there and he nodded in greeting.

He wasn't much of a talker, and had been getting quieter as days went. He wasn't sure why, but it made him more comfortable. Using words all the time tired him out sometimes.

But he slipped onto a stool near his brother and smiled in greeting. It was always good to see his liar of a brother. And he had to be there for his brother so he can help him.

He tilts his head, seeing his brother in sunglasses, and yet still being indoors. ]

Those are new.

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo barely budges when Eric moves to sit next to him, though he never fails to give him a smile.

Smile, smile--

Make Eric see that he can trust you again.

He chuckles a bit as he pushes the glass of water away from him in order to face his brother properly.]

Mm, Totsuka got them for me. Do you like it?

[redstray]

[ He smiles a bit in return.

He needs to trust his brother. He's done so much for him, and Eric needs to be a good brother and help him anyway he could. Even if he had lied, Eric had failed in helping him. ]

They look nice, suit you.

[toremainbehind]

Thank you.

[He reaches up to place a hand on Eric's head.]

How has your day been?

[redstray]

[ He fidgets a bit at the hand but lets him place it on his head. He gives a shrug to the question though. ]

Fine...the usual. How about you?

[toremainbehind]

[The fidgeting earns Eric a curious look, but he doesn't push on it.

Instead, he just leaves it there.]

Ah, it's been busy. Honami's stopped by yesterday, though.

[redstray]

[ He tries to show he's okay by giving a small smile but it leaves his face as soon as it's on there.

At the mention of Honami he tenses ever so slightly. ]

She did, huh? What did she want?

[toremainbehind]

[Ah, strained smiles.

Izumo expected that.]

She just wanted to come visit. She's gotten fond of Anna, so she comes to visit her at times.

[redstray]

[ His eyes are down, avoiding whatever look his brother was or will be placing on him. ]

That's good...Anna needs more friends.

[toremainbehind]

[He pats Eric's head once before pulling his hand back.]

Anna's been asking for you, too.

[redstray]

She has? Why?