[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

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo chuckles.]

Come on, let's head out. [Maybe when they need to rest again, Izumo will take him somewhere he would be able to see the world better. It's been so rushed lately, they didn't even have time to relax properly.

Always on the move, always needing to run.

Izumo needs to change that if he wants Eric to be able to live without fear for their lives.]

[redstray]

Right.

[ Eric follows closely to Izumo, he had no idea where they were going. But Izumo knew the city better then he did, and was able to make decisions so he followed. He knew his brother would help them get out of this. His faith never wavered for him as much as he worried.

But Izumo promised everyday he would come back alive and so far he has kept it. So he believes him. It was that simple. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Sometimes, it makes Izumo feel like he's not doing a very good job of leading his brother and keeping them alive.

There's nowhere they could actually go, and there is one place Izumo knows where they could find a temporary sanctuary.

Unfortunately, it also means that he would have to meet up with Mikoto again, and he's not sure if he wants to ask the redhead for help.

It's a while as they continue to travel around the city before Izumo notices a nearby ramen stand.] Let's stop for a bit and get something to eat.

[redstray]

[ They were still alive...that was more then enough for him. Eric knew nothing of the world of how so many things worked, he could be of no jelp except for support. Even though he wanted to help his brother so much more then he thought he could.

At the sight of the ramen stand, Eric's stomach flipped. He was hungry but eating food was hard. Years of conditioning hurting his simple need of eating when he was hungry. It was the main reason why his body was the way it was.

He grabbed onto Izumo's sleeve again heisitating. His brother needed to eat too.]

O...okay

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo glances over at him when he felt Eric grip his sleeve again.

He knows how difficult it is for his brother to eat again, which is why Izumo's trying his best to slowly have him eat a little more each day. It won't be enough to make him healthy, but enough where his body is able keep moving.

So, he smiles, gently leading Eric in.] If you want, we can share a bowl?

[redstray]

[ As they go into the stand he nods, better a little bit tgen barely any at all. ]

...Make sure it's shoyu ramen

[ Just because it was hard to eat didn't mean he could not still have his favorites. ]

[toremainbehind]

Of course.

[He gestures Eric to sit down first before shortly following, requesting a bowl of shoyu ramen from the chef. It earned him a nod before the chef turns to make and cook their ramen, and Izumo decides to take a glance outside of the stand, just in case.]

[redstray]

[ Eric sat down and watched the chef making their meal. That is until Izumo looked outside, causing him to do the same. ]

...It's safe?

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo is quiet, carefully watching, carefully listening.

Their old group were still assassins — it wouldn't be surprising if they're tracking them in daylight.

But after seeing or hearing anything suspicious, he finally nods.] It's safe.

[redstray]

[ Eric let's out a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. And when the bowl of ramen arrived he was glad enough to eat almost right away.

He held the chopsticks badly. His slurping caused a bit of a mess but he ate. Some noddles gone, half of a pork slice chewed and a handful of veggies done, Eric slid the bowl over to his brother. His stomach in protest by the amount and flavour of the meal that was all he could manage. ]

[toremainbehind]

[When Eric finishes eating, Izumo places a hand on top of his head.

Good job.

A silent congratulatory for being able to eat this much, at least.

He soon picks up his own chopsticks and starts to eat, though it doesn't take him long to finish at all.]

[redstray]

[ The head oat makes him feel warm inside and he gives a shy smile in return. It made it better if just a little.

He watches his brother eat before looking outside as well. He wanted to be on the lookout, but people were starting to swarm about, crowds were forming and it didn't help trying to find anyone that could be targeting them ]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo pays the chef for the ramen, giving him a polite 'thanks' for the meal before he turns to Eric.

He follows his gaze, seeing the people beginning to crowd outside.] C'mon. Let's get moving.

[redstray]

[ He nods a couple of times. If they could avoid crowded areas the netter. Being with too many people was scary, who was neutral and who was someone tracking them down? He gets off of the stool and waits for his brothers signals where to go. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Thanking the chef once more, he leads Eric out and away from the crowds, keeping onto the far side of the sidewalk.

He looks around carefully before moving on forward.] There's a place I know where we can stay for a while.

[redstray]

[ Eric follows along quietky and as best as he can. Grabbing on his sleeve on occassion if someone came close to touching him as they moved, or if it looked like they might get away from each other. ]

Really? Where?

[toremainbehind]

[He slows his pace for Eric, keeping him close and giving a look to anyone who comes near them.]

It's a small apartment belonging to an accomplice of mine. They agreed to let us stay there and rest.

[redstray]

[ That was good news if he ever heard any. Though seeing someone else was leaving Eric a bit wary, if they were Izumo's friend that would be good enough. ]

Is it near here?

[toremainbehind]

Mm, we'll need to cross the street.

[In the crowd. With them possibly being spotted.

But Izumo is always careful, having been carefully planning to avoid those people.] Just continue to stick close to me.

[redstray]

Okay, I trust you.

[ They could be spotted, although there weren't many of them left, they would still patrol and seek them out. If they had to split up to lose them it was a last resort. Eric just hoped they could make it to this place without any trouble. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo reaches to ruffle his hair lightly when they come to a stop at a crosswalk.

He soon reaches for a cigarette and lights it, appearing nonchalant even when his senses starts to scream at him, warning him they're being followed.]

[redstray]

<>[ He pouts a bit at the ruffling but still enjoys it. That is, until he catches something out of the corner of his eye. Eric grabs hold of his brother's jacket and clings to it. ]</>

Izumo...I think...I see someone...

[toremainbehind]

Don't pay attention to them. Don't look in their direction and try to be calm. [He keeps his gaze forward, aware of Eric clinging onto him and aware of the stares in their direction.

He breathes out smoke, lightly gripping it just as the light turned green.]

[redstray]

R-right...

[ The light turns and the crowd slowly starts to make its way to the other side, Eric following Izumo as they made their own way across. Eric kept his head straight ahead amd slightly down, not letting go of Izumo's jacket. They weren't going back, they won't catch them, don't look don't look. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo continues to lead the way, though he's becoming increasingly aware of their pursuers getting closer and getting impatient.

He suddenly grabs Eric and duck around a corner just as gunshots were fired.]