[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]

<>[ 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.]

[redstray]

[ The grab startles him but he expects him. Same with the gunshot noises, as they ran away from the people targeting them. He wasn't expecting all the screams and others beginning to run however and covered one of his ears. ]

What do we do?

[toremainbehind]

Use the chaos as a distraction.

[Which means they'll need to blend in with the crowd again, though Izumo does make sure to pull Eric's hood up so that it covers his brother's head.] Remember if they get close, defend yourself. Do you still have that knife I gave you?

[redstray]

[ When his hood is pulled up he uses his hand to fix it better, pulling the strings to tighten it so it didn't fall off as they ran. ]

I do but...I don't know if...I could go against them

[ The training he had gone through made it difficult to go against them. If they told him to not hurt them, he just might not as much as he would want to. ]

[toremainbehind]

Just stick close. If they manage to come, then I'll fight them off.

[Because Eric's been trained to obey while Izumo was simply trained to kill. If they thought Izumo would be as obedient as before, they're wrong.

He quickly grabs Eric's hand, though, and leading him back to the crowds, keeping his brother close and blending in as more gunshots were fired when their pursuers caught up to them.]

[redstray]

Right.

[ He doesn't mind the hand grab and being pulled because he felt it again. As they slowed down to blend in, Eric's face was flushed and he was panting. Any energy he had was at it's limits once again but he kept up with Izumo, the burning in his chest and body shaking will have to wait until after this is done. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Unfortunately for Eric, Izumo detects the signs of exhaustion soon enough, causing him to frown.

He takes a quick scan, knowing that if they keep pushing, Eric might collapse and Izumo didn't want that to happen. He soon notices one of the shopping malls off to the side, leading his brother there.

It's not the best place to be, definitely not a place where he wants to draw attention, but it's big enough for them to sneak out through another entrance and perhaps give Izumo enough time to call his accomplice.]

[redstray]

[ He shuts his eyes, knowing Izumo saw, he was going to get them caught. He hated it, hated being so weak like this when Izumo was so strong. He wanted to help, not be a burden to his brother. ]

W-why....why here? I'm okay...

[toremainbehind]

It'll be a good place enough to lose them. Plus, I need to make a call.

[If the situation calls for it, he'll need to tell Eric to go on ahead while he handles their pursuers, but he doesn't tell Eric yet as he leads his brother up to the second floor of the building.]

[redstray]

[ He nods in understanding, following and trying to catch his breath at the same time. He looked around, seeing if he could spot the one following them. Were they close by? ]

[toremainbehind]

[If they were close by, they certainly don't show themselves.

But when Izumo finds a place that seems safe enough, he heads over to a phone booth, giving Eric a silent gesture to be on guard while he makes a call.]

[redstray]

[ Eric obeyed, shuffling over to rest onto a wall across from that hallway so he could have a better look everywhere around him. His eyes scanning evrrything every detail...every person...

They were here.

If they saw him they would know where Izumo was. The phone booths were hidden they would not be able see him if they were coming from that direction. If he went to warn him, they would see him. They would both get caught. Nonono no.

Eric looked where Izumo had gone into before bolting into the store that was closer. Hoodie was on as far as it went as he went to the back of the store. He'll wait for them to leave before getting Izumo. He tried to ignore his chest thumping in his ears, being seperated from his big brother. It was for the best right now, they won't catch either of them this way. ]

[toremainbehind]

[When he's done with the call, Izumo feels a brief flicker of panic when he notices Eric missing.

However, he pushes it down once he notices who is now in the mall with them. He resists the urge to bolt, knowing it would only get him caught and he could only wish Eric has hidden as well.

He hides among the phone booths, crouching a bit so his height wouldn't give him away. He could see them walk past before one decides to stop and search the hallway he's in, causing him to hiss out a curse.]

[redstray]

[ Eric's breathing became faster, not from running but of panic as he saw them walk past his area and for not being near his brother. He waited a bit more before getting out of the store and quickly tirning into the hallway. ]

Izumo, are you done? They're here we have to...

[ Be freezes. There was one he hadn't seen. ]

[toremainbehind]

[The one in Izumo's hallway notices Eric, a grin rising on his face. He starts to make his way towards Eric, his gun held tightly in his hand.

But before he can manage to shoot at Eric, Izumo tackles him down onto the floor, moving quick to knock him unconscious before he runs over to Eric.]

Go!

[redstray]

[ He can't move. He sees the grin and he's paralyzed. All he can do is watch the gun being raised and Izumo coming out of nowhere and tackling him.

Izumo's shout makes him jump and back into reality. He spins around and runs out away from the direction he saw the others going in. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Shortly after Eric runs, he's quick to follow.

Unfortunately, they drew attention to themselves since they heard Izumo's shout, turning around and running after them.

Izumo avoids being shot at, taking out his gun from where it's hooked on his back and tucked into his pants, and fires back at them.] Eric, just keep running!

[redstray]

[ He yelps at the shots and more screaming but with one last look at his brother, he listens to him, running as fast as he could.

Finally, he bursts out of the mall and turns around, eyes scanning the doors for any sign of Izumo. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo uses the chaos from the crowd, having gone hysterical with panic at the shots, going to have to blend in with the mass while the pursuers struggle to get out of it.

He soon bursts out of the mall, running towards Eric.]

[redstray]

[ At the sight of Izumo he grabs hold of him as soon as he can get within reach. Tight enough to bot oet go but ready to run when the other asked. ]

I'm sorry. Sorry, I didn't see....I thought they wouldn't find...I'm sorry.

[toremainbehind]

[He places a hand on top of Eric's head.] It's okay, don't apologize.

But we can't linger any longer. Let's move before they manage to escape the crowd and the police gets here.

[redstray]

[ He nods calming down slightly]

Okay...okay. Lead the way