Obscure character, GO!

[underthepines]

Mundane-san, I admire your dedication to scholarship in this instance, but truly, it's not necessary. I've done my part - the future is in their hands, now.

Comments

[alastinglight]

I plan on making them pay, you know. For ending it.

[It's a surprisingly calm admission, given that it's Takasugi.]

[underthepines]

The Amanto? Or your former friends?

[alastinglight]

The Amanto.

[But if Gintoki and Katsura got in the way again...]

[underthepines]

Mmm. But you can't accomplish that alone.

[alastinglight]

[A light scoff.]

I am not alone. Not exactly.

[underthepines]

[A raised eyebrow]

Oh?

[alastinglight]

[A crooked smile.]

What I do, I do because of you.

[Vague? Yeah, probably.]

[underthepines]

[And worrying. Yoshida reaches up to brush a hand on one cheek lightly - it's perhaps a bit too person from one adult to another, but he's starting to see that in a lot of ways, Takasugi is still the hot-headed child he knew]

You honor me. But I would not want you to lose yourself in the process.

[alastinglight]

[The touch makes him freeze. It's brief and subtle, but there.

He suddenly can't meet your eyes.]

...It's a bit too late for that.

[underthepines]

[And don't believe for a second that he missed that. He sighs a little]

I did not want this. Not for my sake.

[alastinglight]

You gave us everything.

[It didn't matter, in that sense, that his teacher did not entirely approve. It was something Takasugi needed to do.]

[underthepines]

And I wish I could have given more.

[alastinglight]

[He does, as well.]

...It's useless regret now. The only thing left to do is destroy the ones responsible for this.

[underthepines]

[He sighs a little]

Will there be anything left standing after you're done, though?

[alastinglight]

Maybe. Maybe not.

[underthepines]

I suppose the best I can do is hope for you, now.

[alastinglight]

...I'll be fine, Sensei.

[Or he'll end up dead in a ditch. Either way.]

[underthepines]

[sigh. He's been avoiding mentioning this at all, but]

You don't look it.

[alastinglight]

[A shrug, dismissive.]

I'd rather not wax poetry about looks and deception.