voidseeing | Appointments Post

[Gai stares right back, then shrugs, lips curling up into a smirk.]

Suit yourself.

[Fortunately it's not too crowded, so it doesn't take him long at all to find a nice quiet booth for the two of them.]

[Shu nods and orders food for the both of them. He may have ordered way too much food along with the dish Gai wanted.

He sees no problem with this. After a few minutes, Shu returns to the table Gai found.]

There you are.

[He takes the seat across from Gai.]

[Gai sees no problem with this either because he'll eat it and take any leftovers home. He burns enough energy through his training that it's not like he'll gain any weight, anyway.]

This is almost like being back at home again.

Home? [What a broad statement.]

Do you mean the world we left behind or a place where you feel safe?

[A serious question, Gai. Shu's lowering his head and he starts to feel homesick.]

I meant the world we left behind, before everything happened.

[Although perhaps calling that "home" was a misnomer. As far as he's concerned, Luceti is his home now. It's not like he can go back to their world even if he wanted to.]

Oh. [Shu's thought seem to be elsewhere. Mentioning home gets him to think a lot. ]

In that case, I suppose. [He misses those days and it shows.] It's almost time. [It's December first. By December 25th it'll mark another anniversary for Lost Christmas.]

Yeah.

[He frowns, expression darkening. Neither one of them needs to say more; they both know exactly what is meant by "almost time." It's not a subject Gai wants to dwell on, and he suspects it's the same for Shu... although this year might be different now that Shu's memories are back. Whether that will make Shu want to think about it more or less, however, still remains to be seen.]

[Shu's coming to terms with what's happened during Lost Christmas. However, it doesn't make it any easier to deal with. It was a tragedy that affected many lives and threw the world into chaos. Shu can find some comfort in the words that Gai said earlier. Everything's safe thanks to the sacrifice of many people. ]

But it's over now, isn't it? That won't happen again?

[Gai gives a quiet nod, though he's looking off into the distance rather than at Shu.]

It's all over. We stopped it for good this time. The apocalypse has finally been averted.

[But at what a cost...]

My parents would have been happy to hear that. Inori too. And everyone.

It was all thanks to you. [What Gai had to do wasn't something Shu completely understood at first. Was there really no other way to end it?

No matter what options there may have been, they were left with this conclusion. Shu would gladly lose an arm if it mean that no one had to worry about the Apocalypse Virus.]

[That pulls Gai's attention away from whatever it was he'd been staring at and back to Shu. He just stares at his friend for a moment, then shakes his head, and if Shu looks closely he may be able to see the briefest flash of a tiny, sad smile on his lips.]

My plan wouldn't have succeeded if you hadn't done exactly what I'd been counting on you to do.

Isn't that what we've been doing ever since I joined Funeral Parlor?

[When Gai puts it like that....yeah. They haven't changed all that much. Despite whatever events took place between them, Shu finally understood Gai's motives.]

Edited 2013-12-17 07:22 (UTC)

[The laugh Gai lets out now is a genuine one, more relaxed than Shu has probably ever heard from him. No, they really haven't changed much at all.]

That was the plan, except for the times where you had other ideas.

Other ideas? [He's a little curious. What kind of crazy plan did he think of? Gai's laughter catches Shu off guard.]

Come on, Gai. It wasn't that funny.

No, it wasn't funny at all when you were messing things up. But it is now that I can look back on it and know that everything worked out in the end.

[For a second it looks like Shu's going to chew Gai out on saying that he'd messed things up. Shu's aware of the fact that he isn't always on the same page as everyone else. He disliked having it pointed out by someone like Gai.]

Is that so? [He can't say he's entirely happy with how that all turned out. Everything only worked out because of Inori's sacrifice.

This whole conversation reminds Shu of the nightmares he's been having everyday. It's easy enough to tell what Shu's thinking based on his body language alone. He's clutching onto his right arm and staring off somewhere into the distance. ]

[Reading Shu is always an easy task for Gai-- the other boy is like an open book, even when he's trying desperately to conceal what he's really feeling. He could tell that Shu was upset even if he wasn't clutching his arm like that, but that action just serves as further confirmation to him.

He knows exactly what Shu is thinking about right now.]

You still don't trust me.

[It's a statement rather than a question. He doesn't need to ask, not when he already knows.]

[Shu's ashamed of himself for not trusting Gai. He would never admit to it being true. Shu always found it hard to believe Gai's words. This isn't a first.]

You wouldn't understand.

[He knows he's telling himself a lie. Shu knows for a fact the Gai standing before him's changed. He stubbornly didn't want to accept it.]

[Rather than get angry, Gai simply stares at Shu for several seconds before settling back in his chair and folding his hands behind his head in a gesture that's about as relaxed as can be.]

Try me.

Forget it.

[Shu's trying to dodge this conversation. He doesn't like talking about his feelings as he thinks they're ugly. No one should ever have to see how he really is. ]

[Still Gai remains silent, staring at Shu as if challenging him. He's not about to back down, if that's what Shu was hoping would happen.]

[Shu snaps because Gai's not giving up on this.

He can't stay as calm as Gai and starts to shout. ]

How could you possibly understand when I don't?

[He lowers his head and immediately tries to hide his emotions. Shu's trembling on the spot and he can't seem to stop.]

It's always so easy for you.

[Gai has had years and years to practice the art of staying calm under any situation; of course he's going to have the upper hand as far as that's concerned. Shu can snap at him all he wants, but Gai isn't going to take the bait and respond in kind... yet.]

You really still think it's easy for me even after what you've seen?

[The implication there being the incident that occurred before the mission at the Tsukigase Dam.]

[No, he never once believed that it was easy for Gai. Shu was just telling himself a convenient lie so he could keep going like he always has.

Instead of being rational and listening to what his feelings are telling him, Shu continues to yell. He almost wants to walk up to Gai and grab him by the collar.

But instead, he actually looks at Gai. Shu wants to see Gai just how he's feeling.]

What are you going to do? Are you going to tell me I'm weak and I don't understand so I should stay home and not fight? Everything's my fault.

I know you aren't weak, but it's true that you don't understand everything just yet. I've seen what you can become, Shu. But I could tell you everything and it wouldn't mean a thing if you still aren't able to believe in yourself.

[He's not going to look away. Will Shu be the first one to do so?]

I'm not the one who can change things here. The only one who can do that is you.

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