[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]

[ Hearing that...made him feel sick and angry. He slapped the hand off of his head, frowning. ]

Like hell you wiĺl. Liar.

[ Eric knew the routine by now. He was going on another part of business and wasn't going to tell him where. ]

Just go away amd disappear like you always do.

[ With that he turned around and ran back inside, ignoring the questions and looks.

He glared at Mikoto before he went into his room slamming and locking the door.

He went to his corner and sat there, knees drawn up to his chest as he hid his face in his legs. ]

[toremainbehind]

[If Eric's words hurt, Izumo doesn't show it. He sees Mikoto look at him through the window, returning it with a shrug of his own before he leaves.

Not to be heard from again in the past few days.

It hasn't gone unnoticed by Mikoto or Totsuka, and a search party has been sent out, but Izumo hasn't been in the last place they were informed he would be. All that was left at the scene was blood, his broken sunglasses, and the gun he usually carries on him.

It had been Mikoto who eventually returned with the items in hand as a search party has been sent out for Izumo.]

[redstray]

[ He moped for a couple of hours before he went back downstairs, greeted by a few of them. He had been hoping that Izumo was back by then but from that question, he only received shrugs and shaken heads.

Night time, no luck. Morning, nothing. If Fujishima hadn't volunteered to be a the bar as well Eric would've bolted out in search of a place to sleep. By evening the next day the searches started.

He tried to help with the search on his own, running around looking trying to find some glimpse of his brother. But the world was still overwhelming, and from his distress state, he could barely help in the search before Fujishima brought him back to the bar. Guilt and sadness weighing down on him.

In there, he would look out the window, message his brothers phone, keep the bar clean in a way because Izumo liked it clean he wouldn't be happy when he came back and it was dirty.

Then Mikoto came back and he was carrying things and when he saw just what they were, he stopped moving, stopped breathing just, stopped. Then he began to yell and scream at Mikoto, what had he done to his brother, it was his fault that he had went in the first place. He would've hit him if he could but when Totsuka came to calm him down he swatted him away.

A chorus of 'it's your own fault, you told him to disappear' kept ringing in his ear as he shut himself in his room, locking the door. He hid in his corner, ignoring the knocks and the permission to come in.

Izumo was gone, he might be dead and he was all alone. And it was his fault, it was all his fault. All his fault, all his fault.

He jumped when he felt someone wrap an arm around him and tried to fight Fujishima away. Izumo told him the location of his rooms spare key for emergencies. He kept hold of Eric though, until he stopped fighting, and started to cry and shake, sobbing out that it as his fault, that he didn't even say goodbye. He fell asleep that night curled into Fujishima's arms and refused to move from his spot over the next few days.

Totsuka and Fujishia took turns keeping Eric company, trying and failing to get him to eat, getting him to move and sleep on his bed. But it was all useless, Eric refused to move. He wanted his brother, and if his brother was dead...then...he didn't want to live either. ]

[toremainbehind]

[The search has died down, but even so, it hasn't stopped the members from trying to find Izumo.

Bandou has gone to great lengths to hack into every camera in the city just to find a glimpse.

Chitose and Dewa has gone to the underground for even the slightest hint of info about his whereabouts.

The red King himself often leaves the bar, mostly at night, in hopes of finding his second-in-command.

It's been days now, a couple of weeks at best, before Homra is alerted by one of the other kings, Isana Yashiro, about Izumo's whereabouts.

Izumo, after being ambushed and bested by another King, had been taken and went missing. His life is worth millions, given who he is and what he's done under the command of his previous group. It didn't take him long to escape the first time he's regained consciousness but his injuries were too deep, he was still bleeding out.

He has run into the lieutenant of Scepter 4 and was rushed to the hospital, where his body had collapsed due to exhaustion and blood loss, keeping him in a coma for the remaining days.]

[redstray]

[ Eric was in such a daze, he tried to ignore the dull thumping of the door once again being knocked on. But then he hears a muffled sentence, that when he hears it he stands up and stumbles to the door to open it. Fujishima smiled at the changed and repeated his sentence:

We found your brother.

Eric hated being on a motorcycle but tolerated it as he tightened the grip on Fujishima. They were going to the hospital, he was alive, but also in a coma. He was in bad shape.

He tried to run to the room as quick as he could. He had barely slept or ate the last while, almost back to how he was before they had arrived in Homra. But he opened the door to the room all the same. He saw all those machines that were helping him, the tubes and needles and he had to stop himself from ripping them out of him.

Izumo was okay.

He walked over, a bit unsure how to proceed. He carefully wrapped his arms around him, and pressed his forehead to his brother's. Tears falling freely. ]

Izumo, you're okay. Izumo...Izumo...

[toremainbehind]

[A doctor outside informs Totsuka and Mikoto about Izumo's condition, telling them how Izumo has been recovering well enough, but his body had shut down after its collapse. It had almost been a close call when they discovered internal bleeding coming from a pierced lung, but they had managed to save him in time.

It's all talked in hushed whispers after Totsuka quietly warned him not to let Eric hear him.

Izumo remains unconscious, not even the slightest hint of him awakening being shown.

His body was aching, but he could hear Eric's voice in the midst of darkness that shrouded his unconscious state.

Somehow, he wished he could tell Eric he's okay, wondering why it took them so long to find him, but he didn't care.

All he could do was lie there, listening to Eric, and trying to get himself to wake up.]

[redstray]

[ He kept mumbling to his brother, mostly his name, mostly 'I'm sorry's and mostly 'you're alive' before Totsuka came in. He smiled and quietly explained that there was some blood loss but he was recovering and needed rest. Eric could only nod, not really understanding except that his brother was going to be okay.

He stayed the rest of the day, holding Izumo's free hand. He talked randomly, about how they searched for him, how he had been so useless in that search. How he felt so bad for snapping at him. What had been going on at the bar, how they found out. Something, and anything that came o his mind, came out of his mouth. Totsuka, Mikoto, Fujishima and the others circulated in and out of the room to visit. Totsuka and Fujishima staying longer to keep an eye on Eric.

But then, this nurse came in, saying visiting hours were closing. He shook his head, not understanding. She smiled and said that he would have to leave soon. His stomach dropped and he shook his head again. ]

N-no I'm staying. I'm family so I'm staying!

[ She tried to explain that Izumo wasn't underage so he can't have family staying and he shook his head again, clinging to Izumo's hand. Totsuka and Fujishima tried to persuade him to leave but he shook his head again. He wasn't leaving, not when they found his brother again.

After awhile these guys with security badges came and he still refused. He wasn't leaving him, even if Totsuka and Fujishima were trying their best to get him to move.

One of them grabbed his legs, Fujishima grabbed his arms, Totsuka trying to calm down the now terrified, flailing, stubborn kid. ]

N-no! NO! LET ME GO! IZUMO! I'M STAYING! STOP IT! NO NO NO! IZUMOOO!

[ They got him out of the hospital still struggling to go back inside. They kept saying tomorrow tomorrow but he wanted to stay with him now, sleep in his room, being near him. He needed his brother. They managed to place him in a car this time, ignoring the protests. He glared at the two, growling at them as they brought him back to the bar. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Tomorrow arrived soon, and it had been Totsuka and Fujishima who agreed to be with Eric for the rest of the day while Mikoto and the others tried to find the guy responsible.

It had taken little convincing for them to get Eric to get ready to go back to the hospital to see Izumo, knowing later on, they would have to pry him away from his brother soon when visiting hours were over again.

Izumo's recovery was finally picking up speed, though he still hasn't shown signs of awakening.

With his body's condition the way it was, it was a miracle in itself he hadn't collapsed sooner.

But it was enough for his lung to finally heal, the tube helping him breathe no longer necessary as Izumo was finally able to breathe on his own.

By the time they come to visit, the doctor has just removed the breathing tube from Izumo's throat.]

[redstray]

[ Eric latches onto Izumo's bed side as soon as they arrive in his room. This time, there wasn't any talking. Eric merely grabbed hold of his hand and rubbed it. He watched Izumo's chest rise and fall all on it's on as he stared at his brother's sleeping face.

They told him he could stay all day, as long as he agreed to leave when the hours were over. If he didn't they wouldn't come back as often. Eric glared at them for saying such things but he agreed. They even managed to get him to nibble on some food while he was here.

But all he did, was hold and watch. ]

[toremainbehind]

[It might take a couple of hours, in fact, it might seem like it's been all day.

However, Izumo's fingers twitches slightly, a slight flutter in his movements.

It was Totsuka who noticed first, despite Eric being the one by Izumo's side, and he hurries out of the room to inform a doctor while Fujishima steps up to Eric's side, gently coaxing him to pull back a little.]

[redstray]

[ He looks at Fujishima briefly, complying if only because he didn't want to act out and lose his visiting rights.

He watched as a few doctors came in with Totsuka. He didn't know what they were doing, but they kept checking machines, putting things on and off of his brother. He squeezed Fujishima's hand hard, wondering if this was a good thing or not. ]

[toremainbehind]

[The doctors check his vitals before one gently peeled an eye open to shine some light, seeing the pupil dilate.

As they finished, Izumo lets out a low sound, almost a groan as his fingers twitches again.]

[redstray]

Izumo!

[ He takes a step but the doctors tell him to keep his distance, asking the three to wait outside as they prepared and looked over anything.

Totsuka and Fujishima tried their best to reassure him, that everything will be okay.

The doctors exited out, saying they could see him again. He walks in again, slowly approaching the bed and staring at his brother. ]

...Izumo?

[toremainbehind]

[For a moment, Izumo says nothing, still on the verge of waking up.

But eventually, he does pry his eyes open, almost shutting them again at how blinding it was.

To the side, he could hear Totsuka talking, gently coaxing him to open his eyes again and Izumo eventually does.

He almost hisses, but once his vision adjusted, he takes a good look around the room.]

[redstray]

[ They told him to wait. They told him to not jump on him or else he could hurt him or trigger something.

But, beside the bed, shaking and tears falling, Eric gives a small smile to seeing his big brother alive and here and moving. ]

[toremainbehind]

[It takes a moment for Izumo to process everything, but when he's aware of the presence by his bed, his eyes shift over to see Eric.

He watches Eric for a moment, wondering why his brother is crying until a certain sentence appears in his head.

Just go ahead and disappear like you always do.

Izumo almost lurches back, quickly steadied by Totsuka, who stands by the other side of his bed and Izumo feels a brief pang of panic, his nerves feeling like they were on fire.]

[redstray]

I-Izumo you have to stay down.

[ He tries to help, stealing him with Totsuka as they both bring him back to the bed. ]

You're in the hospital just lie down!

[toremainbehind]

[His instincts are screaming at him to fight and run, to just gogogogogogo.

He almost grabs the first thing he could get his hands on, but Totsuka grabs him tightly, coaxing him to lie back down.

Eventually, Izumo calms down enough to obey, though he still looks around warily.]

[redstray]

[ He knows that look, those instincts. Izumo was suppose to fight before asking questions especially in foreign settings.

He switches to English, hoping that it would help. ]

You're okay, brother, just take it easy.

[ He started to pet his hair, knowing that it calmed him down. And quietly, he began to hum their song. He wasn't good at singing but humming was something he could do. ]

[toremainbehind]

[At hearing the English and the humming, Izumo gradually relaxes enough, finally registering where he is and who's with him.

Closing his eyes, he takes a few deep breaths before he reopens them.]

Eric, what happened?

[redstray]

You didn't come back home...almost two weeks...a lady in the Blues found you and brought you here but you weren't waking up. You were bleeding a lot and you couldn't wake up...But, you're up now.

[ He ignores the two confused looks that he was receiving, they had some English knowledge but he was speaking fast, more natural for Izumo then for those that needed to understand. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo covers his eyes with his hand, struggling to remember.

He remembered pain, someone attacking him from behind.

He remembered laughter — sick and twisted as its delighted in his pain.]

Two weeks?

How bad was I injured?

[redstray]

Blood loss...was what they said

[ He turns to Totsuka, switching back to Japanese ]

Was that all?

[toremainbehind]

[Totsuka looks between the two before he tells Izumo in-depth about his injuries.

Izumo listens to it all calmly, his face revealing nothing about his thoughts as he took in how critical of a condition he was in before the lieutenant found him.

A frown briefly appears before he erases it as Totsuka stops explaining, a hint of concern as he asks Izumo if he's okay now.

He musters up a smile.] I'm fine. Just need to rest more is all.

[redstray]

[ Hearing the full extent of his injuries made him frown at Totsuka, not telling him just how bad condition he really was in. ]

Of course you need rest! Don't just get back up like you're fine!