[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]

[ His face feels a bit red as he feels his brother's hand on his head, but he gives a small smile all the same. ]

T-thanks...

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo smiles, ruffling his hair lightly before pulling his hand back.]

[redstray]

[ There was a bit more of a party, before Fujishima mentioned heading back home soon. It was getting late. ]

Ah...yeah.

[ It was another start, they've had many ever since they left that place. Eric was going to have to figure out a lot of things that he didn't even know he had.

He looked up to his brother. ]

You're going to be okay while I'm gone, Izumo?

[ He should be saying that too ]

[toremainbehind]

[There were so many starts, but none of them had ever managed to reach the end.

Now?

Now it's time to make sure to see it all through. So, he smiles, giving Eric a nod.]

I will be. Will you be okay?

[redstray]

I don't know...

[ He was trying to be honest. Fujishima's place was still kind of scary and he was sure it was going to be difficult. But things were getting better. ]

But probably.

[toremainbehind]

[His expression softens, and he ruffles Eric's hair a bit.]

If you ever need anything, be sure to tell Fujishima or call, okay?

[But he knows Eric needs to learn to depend on someone else now, and as he glances at Fujishima, he sees the other man give him a short nod of understanding.]

Now, get going. It's getting late.

[redstray]

[ He pouts a bit at the hair ruffle, but enjoys it all the same. ]

I know, I know...

[ He smiles at his brother before cleaning up a bit with the cupcakes and bowls. When that was all done, he nodded to Fujishima before going over to Izumo and gave him a hug. ]

Goodnight Izumo.

[toremainbehind]

[A chuckle escapes from him, but he nods.

After everything is cleaned up, Izumo accepts the hug Eric gives him, tightening his hold a bit.

Parting has and always will be difficult.

But he pulls back a bit.]

Good night, Eric.

[redstray]

[ There was a part of him that didn't want to go. That wanted to stay here and not care if it was a bad idea. To curl up beside his brother and fall asleep to his breathing once again. To feel safe and wanted and calm.

But he couldn't. He had to be strong.

With one final squeeze and good night, Eric leaves with Fujishima back to his place. As they walk back, Fujishima talks to him about how he knew what was going on with his mindset, how they all just wanted to see him get better, and how they were all going to help him at his own pace. Eric could only nod at all of, drained emotionally and mentally.

When they reached Fujishima's place, Eric went for the couch, he couldn't handle the bed, not tonight. He saw the other follow and leaned his head on his shoulder. It wasn't Izumo, not by a long shot, but it was good company. And with that, Eric fell asleep. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Days passed, and everything has quickly become adjustable.

Izumo's finally working on getting better with Totsuka and Mikoto by his side, and the occasional visit from Anna. There were times when Fujishima would give him updates on Eric, learning things about his younger brother that he had never learned before. It made Izumo consider confronting Eric about it, but he knew it would be better to do everything subtly.

But now, it was the weekend and Izumo's doing his best to keep Totsuka out of the kitchen. The younger man had taken a liking to experimenting with food, and so far, none of them were good.]

[redstray]

[ Eric was getting better. There were still the habits, but with Fujishima and the others telling him what he was doing, slowly the habits were unwinding and being forgotten. Eric even began to recognize them and would stop if he could.

The talks he had with Fujishima were always the most difficult thing he had to do, but he was getting better. At first he would only say a few words or just one small topic, but now he managed to give him stories and explain what happened to him while his brother was away.

The training to become a dog, the killings, the poison words that they would place inside his head about his brother and the outside world, the beatings and starvation, and the hours and days of being alone in a room, praying for his brother to come back regardless of what the others had said. Fujishima listened to it all and gave him comfort when it looked like Eric desperately needed some as he continued to talk.

Eric had been doing well, so as he went over to his brother's place, he was in quite good spirits, if not just a bit tired from the occasional sleepless nights. He opened the door to the bar to be greeted by a very pouting Totsuka and irritated looking Izumo. ]

Hello...

[toremainbehind]

Oh, Eric.

[Izumo shoots another glare at Totsuka when he whined, shaking his head and turning to greet his brother properly.]

Do you mind watching over Totsuka? I need to salvage what I can for lunch.

[Immediately, Totsuka protests, but Izumo ignored him completely as he continues to face his brother.]

Do you want anything to drink while I'm at it?

[redstray]

Uhm, yeah sure.

[ He walks over to the older man and sits beside him. He wasn't sure what the fuss was all about but Izumo prized his bar over a lot, best to stay clear ]

Maybe some lemonade?

[toremainbehind]

Make sure Totsuka doesn't come anywhere near the kitchen.

[Because he left a mess that was a hassle to clean up, so Totsuka is now grounded.

Which explains the pouting.

But Izumo gives a nod, and after giving Totsuka another glare, he goes back into the kitchen to make Eric's lemonade.]

[redstray]

Right.

[ As Izumo leaves for the kitchen, Totsuka tries to get pass Eric or convince him to let him through because of this food he was trying to make.

When Izumo comes back, he'll find Eric on top of a lying down Totsuka, sitting on his back. ]

[toremainbehind]

[He hears a ruckus outside, wondering if he should be concerned.

Eric can handle Totsuka, right?

As Izumo leaves the kitchen with a tray of food and Eric's lemonade in hand, he raises an eyebrow at the display in front of him.]

What happened?

[redstray]

He tried to go to the kitchen, I stopped him.

[ He was kind of proud of himself as Totsuka moped. He got off of him shortly after Izumo came in, his job done. ]

[toremainbehind]

I knew I can count on you.

[Walking over, he hands Eric his drink before hitting Totsuka on the head.]

Let's eat lunch now that everything's no longer a mess.

[redstray]

Happy to help.

[ He takes the drink and gives it a few sips before heading over to the bar for food. ]

Always good to have the best food ever made

[toremainbehind]

Totsuka, get off your ass and stop pouting.

[His words only has Totsuka whining at him, but Izumo simply shakes his head at him before walking over to the bar and places the food in front of Eric.]

How have you been, Eric?

[redstray]

Good, well...better, I think.

[ He thinks for a moment, trying to put it into words. He did feel better, less tense. But there was still work to be done. ]

Somethings...are still there but, I can see them a lot more often.

[ The habit weren't going to go away all at once but he was catching them now with some help from Fujishima. ]

How are you?

[toremainbehind]

That's always a good thing.

[And it is. Izumo may be informed almost daily about Eric's condition, but it never hurts to hear it come directly from his brother himself.]

Are you working on them? [A genuine question, but one that has Izumo pause, his face scrunching up just the slightest.

That...might not be the best question to ask, but he can't take it back now.

At his question, Izumo blinks once before he smiles.]

...Better, I suppose you can say. I've had a few relapses; otherwise, I've been fine.

[redstray]

[ There was a long pause at the question, a small frown of guilt forming on his face ]

Not as much...as I should...

[ He'll see them, and Fujishima will try and point them out, but there was s till a thought of 'does it matter if I do it this way or not?' that is harder to break than the habits themselves.

He looks up again at his brother at the mention of relapses. He wondered what kind of things his brother went through. He struggled as well, but kept fighting. ]

I'm glad that, you're doing better.

[toremainbehind]

[He places a hand on top of Eric's head.]

Remember, one step at a time. You're used to doing it unconsciously, so it'll be difficult to stop them all at a short time.

[Izumo can relate. It's why his relapses are occurring frequently, and why Totsuka's lingering longer than usual at the bar. Usually, by now, the younger man would have gone to go do his job since Mikoto's somewhere in the bar, too, but Izumo's relapses has been dangerous lately.

Even so, he smiles.]

Well, it helps when you have friends by your side. [He nods in greeting towards Fujishima when the other man enters.] Now, eat up.

[redstray]

[ He gives a small smile and a nod in return. ]

I know. Things will change, slowly...

[ He was noticing that Totsuka was staying at the bar a lot longer then normal, and it did have him curious. ]

It does, I'm glad Fujishima has been really supportive and patient with me. [ He nods back at his friend as he comes in. ] Are things...changing okay for you, Izumo?