[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]

Mm, I'll trust you guys to get on it.

[He gives a smile, though Totsuka is quick to gently usher the two out of the room, saying Mikoto finally found a lead about the ones who attacked them.]

[redstray]

[ Eric tries to protest but lets himself be moved out of the room with Fujishima. The red head smiled at him, asking if he wanted to go down and explore the hospital to find a place to eat. He nodded in response, giving one last look to his brother's room before following after the other. ]

[toremainbehind]

[When Eric leaves, Izumo simply smiles, waving until he and Fujishima were out of sight.

Once they were left alone, Totsuka explained the whole situation to him, and Izumo's not at all happy to hear what he's hearing. Despite being currently bedridden, Izumo's still second-in-command; he still kept tabs on everyone and everything.

What he doesn't expect to hear is how the group is beginning to target Eric specifically after they discovered they're brothers.

It makes Izumo's blood boil, but he only nods when Totsuka warns him to be careful.

Whenever Eric and Fujishima return, they'll find both Totsuka and Izumo missing.]

[redstray]

[ Eric and Fujishima managed to find a cafe where they got some food and Fujishima smiled as he watched Eric eat the majority of it. After they finished, they walked back towards Izumo's room, with a couple of snacks for the two that were there.

Eric's stomach dropped as he saw not only Totsuka missing but his brother wasn't in the bed.

They got in the hospital and took them out, his brother wasn't here his brother was missing. What if he was dead? No no no nononono.

Fujishima came over and grabbed hold of him, calming him down. They'll find him, find both of them, but Eric needed to be calm. He nodded as Fujishima tried to call Totsuka's phone. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Unfortunately for them, Totsuka never picked up his phone.

Izumo knows he'll get yelled at by Eric once his brother discovers what they've been up to. It's not only stupid, it was suicidal given how Izumo's injuries haven't completely healed yet.

His body ached, his muscles screaming at him to take it easy, but Izumo has gone through worse, so he ignores it all.

After all, he's not any different from any of them - he wants revenge, too, after all.

Already, his mind is starting to lock into place, only thinking killkillkill repetitively in his head like a broken record. It's not long before he and Totsuka meets up with Mikoto at the rendezvous, none of them wasting time to get the show done and over with.]

[redstray]

[ As soon as Fujishima hangs up the phone, it rings back showing Kamamoto. As he tried his best to get Eric to calm down, he answered it and listened, if only sighing at what he was hearing. Eric wasn't going to be happy, and for once Fujishima felt like hitting his brother himself, if only to let him feel a little of what Eric was feeling right now.

As he explained what was going on to the other, he watched as Eric's face went from shock, to anger and worry. Calming him down was not going to work, so he merely told the other that they could head back to the bar and wait for them to return. He's glad that the other agrees without a fight.

They walked back, since Totsuka took the car they had been brought in. It wasn't until they were a quarter of the way there that they were stopped by five guys. He protectively placed Eric behind him, asking calmly to be let through.

They stated their clan name and he frowned. Kamamoto only mentioned one clan was going against them, not two. Was there an alliance they didn't know about? This was bad.

'Hand over the blond kid and no one will get hurt.'

Fujishima refused.

He heard his name being yelled at, he felt sticky warm stuff on his head, he didn't feel himself hitting the ground. This was trouble. He felt himself take out his phone and hit a number, any number. He heard a reply that sounded like Kamamoto and he uttered out a help before he slipped away into unconsciousness. ]

[toremainbehind]

[It didn't take long before Izumo gets wind of Eric's kidnapping, and it's not long before he goes to get his brother himself.

Mikoto and Totsuka tags along with him before the latter is waved away with the excuse that he'd be better off taking care of Fujishima.

Two clans against one.

Izumo didn't like how the odds were against them, not at all.

So, when he finally finds their whereabouts, they tell him to stay put, or else his brother will die.

Izumo's gaze lands on Eric, seeing his unconscious brother bounded, and there's a fury inside of him that keeps on building. He stays put, however, aware of Mikoto's presence coming up behind him as they both wait for the two clans.

'Die.'

A single gunshot rang through - a single prompt that has Izumo moving, instincts kicking in, and he allows himself to slip into that familiar mindset of simply killing again.]

[redstray]

[ Eric went from being beside Fujishima to being shoved into a van and he struggled. He kicked, punched, anything but he was overpowered too easily and he began to panic.

He heard laughter and boasting. They tied him and talked, making fun of his brother, his clan. He hears the click of a lighter and he freezes up.

'Your clan likes fire, huh? Let's give you a present worthy of your title.'

He feels his sweater being lifted and then searing heat being pressed onto his skin and he screamed, flailing trying anything to escape but he was held tight.

As it continued he grew numb, hiding inside himself as he used to. Hide from the pain, from the world. His hands tied, his body on fire, he foggily looked up at a new shadow. He saw a glint of steel before it too began to press into him and his burnt skin. He blacked out, welcoming the nothingness.

When he comes too he has a collar again, he was chained, his hands behind his back, and a blindfold place on him. He was in pain. His lower back seared in pain from the burns and knife cuts. He wondered what they did to him, feeling that part of his sweater sticking to what he thought was blood.

It felt like forever but he heard nothing. No one spoke, no movement, nothing. His senses tried to pick up the tiniest thing but to no avail. He felt other cuts as well, his back the worst but they were everywhere, it hurt to move he didn't dare try.

Then footsteps, clinking of metal, and breath that smelt foul reached him.

'You're brother is coming. Lucky us. But for you, not so much.'

Something goes to his face and he struggles to inhale but in the end, he slips away from consciousness, heavily drugged. ]

[toremainbehind]

[The smell of burnt flesh hung in the air, a rotting sound that made Izumo's stomach curl once he realize exactly what the smell was.

Eric's been burned...

The thought of it stuck to his mind, refusing to move as he allows everything to sink in.

They hurt his brother.

They burned him.

Just the sight of the collar alone has him gritting his teeth. He's weaponless, and even Mikoto isn't too keen on making the first move either.

But it's okay.

They thought they could manipulate Izumo with his brother, that they can use Eric against him, but they're wrong - so, so terribly wrong, and they're about to find out just what kind of killer Izumo can be.

It's not long before screams fill the air, blood painting the walls and floors, and not a single one of them was able to escape. Anyone who's tried found themselves on the floor, covered in gasoline as Izumo finds enjoyment in burning them all into ash while Mikoto decides to let Izumo have his fun and helps Eric out of his binds and away from the carnage.]

[redstray]

[ He couldn't focus, the world fading in and out, muffled noises filtering into his head. He was in so much pain...when was the last time his body hurt so much?

He felt pressure on his body, no more pain that's too much too much! He couldn't even tell if his body was struggling or not but he didn't want to be touched. No more, no more.

He opened his mouth to try and speak but mumbled gibberish softly cooed out before everything felt too heavy, the world too dark. He saw red and wanted to touch it. But his eyes closed before he lifted his heavy hand. ]

[toremainbehind]

[When Izumo is finished killing everyone, he decides to eliminate all traces by burning everything to the ground; after double-checking that both Eric and Mikoto has escaped first.

He returns to Homra some time later, covered in blood, and it has everyone both wary and concerned about him - not that it stopped Fujishima from trying to scold Izumo for making Eric worry.

Izumo takes the scolding calmly, only giving Fujishima a look and a nod before Totsuka comes over to check on him, the sight of the blood too much and already staining his clothes.]

[redstray]

[ Eric doesn't stir as he's taken back to Homra, nor does he move as he's treated. It's only a couple of days later that he slowly lifts his eyelids halfway.

The world spins and it's foggy but he tries to reach out a sluggish hand, trying to grab something that wasn't there. His body was so heavy he couldn't even think of moving it. He also felt pain and he vaguely knew in his clouded state moving made the pain worse.

It took a long while before his moving lips and jaw made any kind of noise. He couldn't complete thoughts, or manage words but he still wanted to speak. ]

...a..aah...

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo has stayed by Eric's side during the entire time he's been unconscious, taking care not to jostle him too much.

The others, mostly Totsuka, tried to get him to eat, but Izumo refuses to budge from his spot. He's quiet the entire time, having changed from his clothes as he didn't want Eric to wake up to a sight of him covered in blood.

But his attention is immediately caught when Eric moves.]

Eric?

[redstray]

[ He vaguely hears something and he strains enough to hear that it's his name. There was someone there and in his fogged state, a voice inside his head told him to run, hide, get away.

But...he focused as best as he could and saw the familiar face of his brother.

He smiled lightly, his hand trying to make its way over to him. It seemed like it was crawling on the bed but it was the best he could do. ]

I...Izu...Izu...

[ His mouth keeps moving a bit but no more sound comes out. The world was still foggy and everything felt so heavy. But he wanted to be awake, be with his brother. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo gently takes his hand, his other hand running fingers through Eric's hair.

Eric's awake — weak, but awake.]

I'm here, Eric. Don't push yourself. I'll be right here.

[redstray]

[ He nods out an okay, closing his eyes as he feels Izumo petting his hair. For a while he was happy. His brother was by his side

Then the closed eyes tightly shut further and his weak hand tries to tighten itself on Izumo's. He was on fire, his whole body started lighting up and he let out a weak whimper. ]

N-no...aa...

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo feels the tightening of his hand, and it clicks in his mind what's going on with his brother.

He's quick to adjust Eric to a more comfortable position, helping him keep off his burns. Turning his head, he calls Totsuka over to help him.]

[redstray]

[ The new touch makes him want to scream, it wasn't his brother. He was going to be hurt. His senses calm as he vaguely registers it's Totsuka. The relief his body feels soon after makes him relax, the pain numbing. It was still there but it wasn't as bad, more tolerable.

He turns his head gently to look at his brother, his hand not leaving Izumo's. ]

W-wha...wha....why...

[toremainbehind]

Get some more rest. Your body is still healing.

[He continues to run his fingers through Eric's hair, already beginning to hum in hopes it'll continue to calm him.

When Totsuka's done, he nods to him, watching Totsuka leave quietly.]

[redstray]

[ Hearing that, along with the humming and petting, makes Eric close his eyes in tired bliss. ]

Mmm But...wha...what happened?

[ His memory was in a fog, nothing that happened recently coming to mind even though it was there. He couldn't grasp it, couldn't comprehend anything his mind tried to bring forward.]

[toremainbehind]

I'll tell you once you're better. I don't want to risk you relapsing now that you're awake.

[redstray]

Mmm..promise?

[ Even as he says this he begins to nod off. To hear Izumo's reply or not he doen't know, as he's back asleep. ]

[toremainbehind]

[He smiles softly, waiting for Eric to fall back to sleep.

Sighing softly, he mulls over his choices, knowing he has to tell Eric the truth as to what happened to him soon enough.]

[redstray]

[ The next time he wakes up, he's more focused, the world wasn't turning as badly and his body didn't feel as heavy.

Eric felt this strange ache all over his body, especially on his lower back. Nothing pieced together as his memories jumbled as he tried to explain why he was feeling this weird.

Still, he tried to reach out, instincts always looking to find his brother. His vision still trying to be fixed to 100% ]

Izu...Izumo?

[toremainbehind]

[The next time he's awake, Izumo is still beside him, though this time, Fujishima is with him as well.

After the two got over their differences (somewhat), they both agreed to never mention what happened to Eric about their confrontation.

It might just hurt Eric more.

But he reaches out and takes Eric's hand, squeezing it lightly.] I'm here, Eric.