battering | ic contact;

[ She's so happy, she's trembling. ]

Do you think Anna will like me? [ She already asked Totsuka, but. Validation... ]

Yeah, of course she will! Everyone else in HOMRA will too.

[ Why are you trembling, are you a chihuahua-- he pats her head :( ]

[ Too late, she's crying. She can't help it—she knows it can't happen. ]

I want to go... I want to go...

[ Shit. Shiiiiit. Hesitantly, he pulls her in for a hug. Three times now!! Totsuka had suggested a hug last time she cried in front of them, so... ]

I know... I'd do anything to make it so you could go, even for just a little while.

[ Overcome with emotion, she hugs her friend back and rests her head on his shoulder. The tears won't stop. She thought they would. She hoped they would. Yata did say it was better to cry than to keep it in, but right now, she feels like a child.

... Well, in the end, she's only a child. ]

I want to meet Anna and the rest of HOMRA, I want to play more games with Eric, I want to take pictures and fill up a million albums with Tatara—

[ Kougyoku sobs, gasps for air, tightens her hold on the back of his shirt— ]

I want Izumo to be there to tell me "Welcome home" like he always does, I want to see Mikoto... and I... With you... [ She can't even say it. ]

[ He's sad the hug doesn't have the intended effect, both because he realizes how much he hates to see her sad and... it's tough, knowing that the right thing to do is to comfort her in some vague way and just let her cry it out, probably lessen their attachment so it hurts less in the end.

Yata has never been very good at that, and his arms tighten around her slightly. ]

... please come with us. [ The words are soft to keep his voice from cracking. ] I know it's really selfish, and everyone in your world needs you, but Kou-chan I-- we need you too...

Yata. [ Yata, not Misaki. There's an edge to her tone, sharp like glass. ] Stop.

[ The next time she speaks, she is meek and pleading. ]

Please, stop.

[ Stop making her want it as bad as you do. ]

I can't. I'm sorry.

[ Even though he can't think differently, as much as he wants to support her and be strong, at least he doesn't outright ask her again. ]

[ Although she clearly isn't ready to, she pulls away from the hug. She's still crying, but as early as now, she has to start learning when to let go. ]

Oh, I'm such a fool. I haven't even known you for that long. [ Kougyoku wipes her tears away to look at him and smile, but it's a sad one. The best friend she's ever had is bound to forget her someday, and isn't that the biggest joke? ] Perhaps it would have been better if I never asked you to be my friend to begin with.

Edited (grammar) 2014-01-11 07:57 (UTC)

[ He reaches out and bonks her head, and through the initial shock he manages his own sad smile. ]

That's the dumbest thing you've ever said. [ Dumber than let's play tag, dumber than her stalker tendencies, dumber than them trying to make soup. Yata's hand drops and moves to curl around one of hers. For once, he's not embarrassed by it, doesn't even think of it. ]

I'm really happy you're my friend, alright? This is dumb. We're dumb, talking about all this sad shit when we could be paying more attention to finishing your list and on making so many good memories that not even a different universe could make us forget 'em.

[ Kougyoku wants to tell him he doesn't understand, Tatara is dead, Izumo is tired—Mikoto is dying, doesn't he know?—but after listening to what he has to say, it's almost as if none of that really matters. Almost. She'd be more than happy to make good memories with everyone, but what happens after? Yata will be all alone and she can't be there with him. That's what hurts the most. ]

You were always better than me at this sort of thing...

[ Thinking positively. She bursts into tears once again as she holds his hand, but the difference is she's crying for him. ]

We still have time. Let's make the most of it.

[ Knowing the future makes parting all the more painful, yet she smiles. He still has a point. ]

... Sorry for about your shirt. [ Because it's wet with her tears now. ]

It's alright, you made the shirt better.

[ Somehow? He laughs it off by giving her hand a squeeze, and this time it's Yata that leans forward and lets his forehead come down to press against Kougyoku's shoulder. ]

Haaaa... I feel like I need a nap after this. [ a beat. ] Hey, wanna make flower crowns to cheer up? It's on your list, right?

[ And less embarrassing than dancing. ]

[ Kougyoku doesn't know where she finds the time to feel embarrassed about that. No comments about it, though. She doesn't want to ruin this. ]

Mm, but making flower crowns... it's not like you.

But you'd be happy, yeah? I'd be willing to try it out just once for that.

...Yeah.

[ Sometimes, she wants to tell him to stop being so nice to her. It only keeps adding to her confusion. ]

But we need to find flowers first...

That shouldn't be too hard... I think there's some in the greenhouse.

[ Yata straightens back up and smiles at her, this time with no sadness attached to it. ]

Getting some fresh air's probably good too.

[ Kougyoku keeps her eyes cast downward as she nods, but ironically, now she's the one feeling sick.

... No, that's not true. She knows what this is; she's felt it before. ]

Mm, let's go.

[ He stands and tugs Kougyoku to her feet, finally letting go of her hand even though he really didn't want to. ]

Did you want to make enough for everyone else? Heh, I bet Kusanagi-san would look great in a flower crown. [ and by great he means hilarious. ]

[ So Yata is basically making Kougyoku Tumblr now. She claps her hands, amused at the idea. ]

Haha, it'd be funny! [ yeah that's what he meant by great kougyoku ] Okay, when we get there, I'll teach you how to make them.

[ And she begins walking the wrong direction on purpose to take the longer path. ]

[ One day he'll teach her about hash tags and different online slang terms. One day. ]

How'd you learn to make them? [ He notices her taking a different way, but he goes along with it just because it means they'll get to talk more. ]

Alibaba taught me! [ Her face seems to light up whenever she talks about him. ] He's really good at it.

Aah, the famous Alibaba! Sometimes I think you've got a crush on him. [ He smirks at her, very much teasing. ]

I do not! [ Stomp, stomp. Too easy. ] I don't! He's just a friend!

...There's someone else I like.

--You do?! You said you'd tell me when you liked someone! Who is it?

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