[... except that there's nothing to heal, because Gai only took the pain, not the injuries. So he's just going to be looking at Shu with a 'what are you trying to do?' expression on his face.]
What would your people do if they didn't have a leader?
[Serious question.]
You can't go pushing yourself this hard.
As far as we know Funeral Parlor's disbanded here. The only ones present are you myself and Inori. We aren't even in Tokyo anymore. Asgard is a completely different place. People can't get into contact with those they love and they get hated by others.
Without much knowledge of the situation there shouldn't be anymore need for you to push yourself so recklessly.
[Gai is actually silent for a moment, eyes distant.]
If I died, someone else would just rise to take my place. Maybe Shibungi, or maybe someone I haven't even considered. That's the way things are. It's a cycle, just like everything else.
I'm only where I am because things came together in a way for me to end up as the leader. That doesn't mean there aren't others who would be just as fitting for the job as I.
[His lips quirk up in a slight smirk.] I was just lucky. That's all there is to it.
[How can Gai talk about dying so easily? Shu's so tempted to punch him in the face right now but he'll refrain from doing so because Gai took Shu's pain earlier. ]
What about Inori and Ayase?
How would they feel if you left?
[There's some indication in his tone that he's angry, but he's doing a good job of controlling his inner turmoil. Getting mad at Gai isn't anything new to him at all. He knows he'll get over it in due time.]
Inori is a member of Funeral Parlor. All of us are prepared to accept the death of a comrade at any point. Those who can't handle the thought of losing someone they care about aren't cut out to be one of us.
From the very beginning I was never ready to join you.
Sacrifices are something I never accept. It's not normal to give up your life for a cause.
When you don't even realize who you're hurting in the process of it. Accepting death right away without even fighting or thinking of alternative strategies that'll result in less death rates. That's crazy.
Death should be prevented at all costs. Not accepted.
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This is screwing with Shu's mind but the better question is 'what did you do, Gai?']
Try telling me exactly what you did.
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[Wow Shu, you really are dense.]
I'm in Heimdall. That means I can eliminate someone else's pain by transferring it to myself.
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Does that mean--
[You took his injuries away. Now it makes sense. Something like this has definitely happened in the past. ]
Back then you--
[Sob. Why didn't he realize this earlier? He is mad at himself.]
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I overlooked it, but you--
[Are crazy.]
Does it hurt?
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It's nothing I can't handle. I've dealt with worse than this before.
[Like when he got skewered by multiple crystal spikes YEP. That kind of hurt a lot.]
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[Gai's been injured during Funeral Parlor operations. That was to be expected considering his position, but Shu gets the feeling it's something else.]
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let him sit here and think about everything that is irrelevant and useless to the situation at hand.]
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Do you even want to know what he's thinking about now, Tsutsugami Gai?]
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[You should know that much by now, Shu.]
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What would your people do if they didn't have a leader?
[Serious question.]
You can't go pushing yourself this hard.
As far as we know Funeral Parlor's disbanded here. The only ones present are you myself and Inori. We aren't even in Tokyo anymore. Asgard is a completely different place. People can't get into contact with those they love and they get hated by others.
Without much knowledge of the situation there shouldn't be anymore need for you to push yourself so recklessly.
Don't be stupid, Gai.
[Look who's talking.]
We're here to help too.
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If I died, someone else would just rise to take my place. Maybe Shibungi, or maybe someone I haven't even considered. That's the way things are. It's a cycle, just like everything else.
I'm only where I am because things came together in a way for me to end up as the leader. That doesn't mean there aren't others who would be just as fitting for the job as I.
[His lips quirk up in a slight smirk.] I was just lucky. That's all there is to it.
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What about Inori and Ayase?
How would they feel if you left?
[There's some indication in his tone that he's angry, but he's doing a good job of controlling his inner turmoil. Getting mad at Gai isn't anything new to him at all. He knows he'll get over it in due time.]
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Inori would be fine. In the end, I wasn't the one chosen.
[So you take care of her in his place, Shu.]
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[You better explain more, Gai.]
Inori's strong, but you're close to her. She'd be upset if you hurt yourself. You should know that better than anyone.
Being chosen or not has nothing to do with it. Your well being.
That is.
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Sacrifices are something I never accept. It's not normal to give up your life for a cause.
When you don't even realize who you're hurting in the process of it. Accepting death right away without even fighting or thinking of alternative strategies that'll result in less death rates. That's crazy.
Death should be prevented at all costs. Not accepted.
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But whether it's normal or not, it's something you're going to have to accept. There's no getting around that fact.
[This is code for 'drop it now, Shu.']
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For him that means 'keep going'. Let's go with that.]
Someone who can fake being a lawyer and see voids definitely isn't normal.
What if I can't accept it?
[He's still pushing on it. You may have to spell it out more clearly.]
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You don't have a choice.
[Now drop it.]
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[Nope. Never dropping it.]
We're not even fighting anymore. Why do I have to accept it?
[Now he's just whining.]
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Because I'm already dead.
[Yeah. Chew on that for a moment.]
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1/ 2 action Bending time aw yes
2/2
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