[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 stares at the plate of food, not quite hungry yet so he ignores it for now. Go at his own pace...huh? ]

Who else would there be?

[toremainbehind]

First person who comes to mind is Totsuka, or little Anna.

[He doesn't urge Eric to eat. There's still plenty of food left, but he does slide a cup of juice over to him.]

[redstray]

You talk to Totsuka a lot...

[ He takes the juice and sips it. He sometimes heard mumbled conversations downstairs. Izumo had gotten quite attached to the younger informat. Did they talk about him? Did Totsuka know more about his brother now? ]

[toremainbehind]

He's got that personality.

[Where it's easier to simply talk to someone, but at the same time, not.]

I haven't told him what happened to us, though. [Totsuka has become someone Izumo's learned to somewhat rely on, though he'd never want Totsuka having his back in a fight.]

[redstray]

That so?

[ To say Eric wasn't a little bit jealous of Totsuka for being close to Izumo he would be lying. But the guy was good for his brother he knew that. ]

I feel like he knows something. Not a lot but...he knows something's up. Fujishima too...

[ Fujishima is one hell of am observer. And some things slipped out at some points. But he never seemed to judge him on anything he did. He was the strangest person Eric has ever know.]

[toremainbehind]

He probably does. He's sharp like that.

[Because if he can manage to befriend someone like Mikoto and Izumo, then he's got to be able to shape — if only to stay alive.

He tilts his head though, eyebrow raising.]

Have you told Fujishima anything? [As much as Izumo doesn't like the guy, he'll admit that he's a good influence on his brother. He's helped Eric more than anyone else.]

[redstray]

Some things...nothing heavy but I think he's figured out how things worked on his own.

[ Fujishima was a pretty observant guy. He mumbled out things when he needed to calm down, spouted out others when he was in a mood. Fujishima merely could take thise amd piece together small amounts of Eric's life. And small things were told to him nothing major but things that he needed to be told he was okay by some else other then his brother. ]

[toremainbehind]

It's good you've managed to find someone else to rely on.

[Even if Izumo doesn't like it.

But, he can't complain. He takes a sip of his coffee, though before he starts to clean up his mess before he eats.]

[redstray]

You don't like him...do you?

[ He's seen it when Izumo looks at Fujishima. There was a lot of anger and distrust. Though he himself wasn't 100% comfortable with him...seeing his brother not like the one person he opened up to hurt a litte. ]

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo doesn't say anything for a moment as he cleans up.

It only takes a few minutes before he looks back at Eric.]

I like him well enough. He's good for you. [He pauses.]

I'll admit that I'm wary of him, but I have nothing against the guy.

[redstray]

[ He tilts his head. ]

Why?

[toremainbehind]

Do you think it's easy for me to trust just anyone around my younger brother?

[redstray]

N-no...

[ He looks away, fidgeting a bit. It's the same for him when Izumo is with Mikoto or Totsuka. ]

But...he doesn't replace you. He never will.

[toremainbehind]

[He chuckles, walking over to place a hand on top of Eric's head.

With Izumo, he just has one person to be jealous of. Eric has two people to watch out for.]

And the same for you. Mikoto and Totsuka are good enough friends, but you'll always be my brother.

[redstray]

[ He blushes allowing the headpat and internally flauling at the words. ]

I...I know that. And Fujishima's nice but
...he's not you. And...it's hard talking about things in the past with him...and you.

[toremainbehind]

Just know that neither of us will push you into telling us. We'll wait until whenever you're ready, Eric.

[He gives him a smile.]

Now, I know it's unlikely you're hungry, but just eat a few bites, okay? It'd be bad to let these food get cold.

[redstray]

I know that too...I just wish it was easier.

[ He looks at the plate of food and picks at it a bit, not feeling hungry at all. ]

I'll try...

[toremainbehind]

If everything was easier, we might not even be here right now.

[Knows that look, so he just gives Eric a pat on the head.]

Don't worry. The food won't go to waste, at least. Mikoto'll eat it whenever he decides to get up.

[redstray]

[ He manages to force a couple of bites before pushing it away. He felt a bit guilty but he knew Izumo didn't mind.

But that sentence made a question that he never yet always wanted to ask. He looked up at his brother. ]

Izumo?

[toremainbehind]

[He was just in the process of taking a cigarette out (who cares if it's early), but pauses when Eric addresses him.

He looks over.] Hm?

[redstray]

Was it worth it? To kill all those people...just so I could live?

[ That thought plagued bim for years as soon as he had first heard what Izumo was being forced to do. Not that he was one to talk as he had done the same thing a few times. But he had always made sure to protect him like an older brother does but was his life worth all of those people? What price was equal to bis life. If it weren't for him...maybe Izumo would have run, hide, not been a killer and it made him feel guilty. Incredibly guilty knowing his brother willingly murdered people so be could live for a few more weeks. ]

[toremainbehind]

[At the question, Izumo grows quiet, incredibly so.

He lights his cigarette and takes a drag as he looks away from his brother in order to stare at the wall as he thought about the question.

Was it worth killing just so that Eric could live?

The answer was simple, but at the same time, it wasn't. Killing all of those people haunted him, their blood forever staining his hands in a way that in the dead of night when he was alone, he could still feel it on him. There was nothing that could ever replace the feeling of killing, hearing the screams and pleads as he ended their lives. They were all victims as well, but Izumo could never think of them that way.

He eventually came to view them as his insurance in keeping his brother alive.

After a long silence, he looks back at Eric, his expression carefully blank.]

Was it worth it? No. But none of their lives matters to me as much as yours do. As long as I keep you alive, then that's the only thing that matters to me.

[He's already lost part of his morality, part of the only thing that can keep him human.]

[redstray]

[ Eric watched his brother grow silent. Watching every move he made. He didn't want to ask this question either because it would make Izumo think of what he done.

He flinched a bit when he heard that no. The guilt coming up hard and fast on him. He wished that Izuni didn't have to suffer like that for him. ]

...I'm not going to die anytime soon...

[ Would his answer have been any different? Had it been worth killing those people so Izumo didn't have to suffer like he had? So he could see his brother a fay or two early? His gut wrenched a bit when he came up with a yes.

He would protect his brother in his own way. He already had at times but here it was different. Here just make Izumi smile, to forget those times that had crushed them both. ]

As long as you do the same.

[toremainbehind]

[Izumo watches his brother, watching for any signs that will hint at why Eric's been acting strange.

A hint of a smile flickers on his face.] Of course.

What made you decide to ask, though?

[redstray]

[ He shrugs,looking away as he began to fidget his hair. ]

Can't ask questions anymore without you wondering why?