spo...ilers??

[skilful]

Ahaha, well... There are worse ways to go!

[ SHUT UP ]

Comments

[clansman]

[ CASUALLY SMACKS UPSIDE THE HEAD.



TWICE.

(the back and the front, as a good king does.) ]

WHAT ARE YOU, A NINJA??

[skilful]

Ah-- [ The first comes expected, the second not so much. ] Ow, ow!! Hurts...

YOU DISCRIMINATING AGAINST NINJAS.

[clansman]

[ good. ]

You don't get to complain.

ARE YOU ONE...

[skilful]

[ Chuckling, weakly. ]

I'm not. [ Things he didn't know he'd miss: this. Things he wants to say: I wanted to call you, sorry, thank you -- you were angry, weren't you. ] I deserve all of it, I guess.

~ WHO KNOWS ~

[clansman]

[ his fingers twitch towards an absent cigarette, then fall still. he breathes, thinly and steadily. ]

Don't remember saying that.

/casually discriminates

[skilful]

[ exhalation, slowly, until there's no breath left. then, a whisper with the slightest hitch: ]

...Sorry. [ he should smile, really! but it's ... somehow hard to. ]

/ casually flops onto

[clansman]

[ silence --

and there's a slow fixed look, scraping from skin down to marrow. ]

Didn't say you had to do that, either.

[ apologise, that is. ]

[skilful]

[ it's weight off his chest so he laughs, weakly again. ]

I wanted to say it, you know. [ --directly. ] Did Kusanagi-san say anything...?

[clansman]

[ a little tired, a little helpless(, hating both a lot) - ]

What do you think?

[skilful]

As expected of Kusanagi-san!

...But. [ why did you-- it dies in his throat. ]

[clansman]

But. [ echoed with his mouth like a hook. ] But you're fine, huh.

[skilful]

Mmm, I've lived a happy life! I met people I cared for and I had a lot of fun!

[ ... ]

[composure]

[ you get another smack on the head ]

And ya had the fuckin' guts ta' call me.

1/2

[clansman]

[ ..................... DUMB VASSAL BEATDOWN: TAKE THREE - ]

[clansman]

[ except it stops short in the end. except it falls, a fist knotted at his side. ]

Idiot.

Was that everything you wanted?

[skilful]

--Ow!

[skilful]

Oww... [ holding his head, he's smiling, his tone apologetic ] Haha... Sorry.

[skilful]

[ almost steps back, but. ah, king... ]

...There was one other thing.

[clansman]

Yeah?

[skilful]

I...

[skilful]

I wanted to see Anna wearing a cute float in her swimming suit!

[clansman]

[ SO ABOUT THAT MISSED BEATDOWN. ]

[skilful]

[ CROUCHING, NOISES OF PAIN ]

[composure]

You're a dumbass. Hell, both of ya are. [ he doesn't move for a second whack to the head though. just looks at the other man. ] You're happy, huh.

[clansman]

... they can take pictures.

[skilful]

[ he's watching, as if ready to dodge. then, it's inhale, exhale-- ]

I'm an idiot. ...But, I'm a really lucky and happy idiot, Kusanagi-san!

[skilful]

And films!

[ a thoughtful pause, then-- ]

Ahh, I wanted to be the one to film Anna's wedding and her 5 metres cake... Maybe I could have filmed your crying face as you gave the bride away.

1/2

[clansman]

[ a long sigh. ]

Nobody'd cry for something like that.

[clansman]

. . . aaaa. Guess the guy could.

[skilful]

[ laughing! ]

Haha, everyone would gang up on him, wouldn't they... But, if it's the person Anna chooses, I'm sure everything will work out!

[skilful]

[ ... ] It's too bad you can't be there for her.

[composure]

[ there's a pause, a very long one, he just sort of stares at Totsuka, and then--








an audible smack on the head. ] Fuckin' idiot. [ it's that odd combination of exasperation, annoyance, but more importantly-- fondness. he missed you, you fucker. you and mikoto. ]

[skilful]

[ he holds his head, caught between wincing in pain and laughing... ]

Kusanagi-san... [ his voice -- almost shakes. ] ...I'm sorry.

[composure]

—I know.

[ jesus. he is bad at this. ]

Ain't good at this.

[skilful]

[ and then he smiles, brightening- ]

And I bring a message from the afterlife!

[composure]

[ the smallest arch of a brow. ]

Yeah?