psychedelica | (no subject)

(no subject)

It was you, wasn't it?

[ wherever he can track down Eichi (before he's presumably off to go ravish Akechi), Hikage finds him and stops him. His voice isn't accusatory; it's simply matter of fact.

The moment he looked at that leg, he knew. ]

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...What?

[Eichi's so startled that his walk back to his room is interrupted that he doesn't know what to do about it. He steps back, eyebrows furrowing.]

That's a bold thing to say out of nowhere, isn't it? Weren't you one of the ones who insisted it wasn't me?

[ at that, he gives Eichi a wry smile, resting a hand on his hip. ]

I'm good at lying... although I guess you don't know that.

[ or maybe he does. he can't control what other people say. ]

Luckily for you, I don't plan on spreading this around. I just want to confirm my suspicions.

[Eichi normally tries to keep a smile on his face, but it's faded by now, his eyes narrowing slightly.]

What sort of impression do you have of me, I wonder, to think that I'd be capable of a brutal three-way murder like that? They were all friends of mine, as well.

Your suspicions are wrong.

You only needed to kill one... No, you didn't need to kill any of them at all. You just had to be a Blotter.

[ Hikage shakes his head. ]

Being friends isn't enough to stop them, either. I know well enough that they'll make you an offer better than friendship. Or should I say worse?

...That may be true, but that doesn't prove me any more than anyone else, does it? Simply because of my strength?

[Hmm. He places a hand over his own chest.]

What is it, exactly, that makes you believe I was a Blotter?

What else is there? There's no one else here who can rip a leg off.

[ except for his partner, maybe. ]

How can you know that for sure? Tiger-chan and Dragon-chan have both been said to be strong, as well.

[He's puffing up a little.]

I wasn't a Blotter.

[ he can't imagine why they'd "need to remove" Jae-ha. Then again, he doesn't understand what they're thinking most of the time, anyway. ]

I'm surprised it matters that much to you.

[This time, he takes a moment to pause, and then he breathes out something between a sigh and a laugh.]

Of course it does. Shouldn't it bother anyone who's accused of something? While everyone else easily let it go, you're still clinging to such an idea... I'm almost flattered.

To be honest, Hikage-kun, I'm interested because if I can discover what points suspicion to me, then I may be able to save suspicion from Goro in an emergency. Neither of us did anything, this time, but when we're left without real answers, people grow desperate.

I intend to protect him with my life.

... I know you are.

[ that's part of the problem. It's difficult for Hikage to articulate what he's thinking - mostly because he's not sure how much of it is actually true, and how much of it is himself projecting, to his chagrin. ]

If you die, you'll break him. That's why I didn't say anything.

...Do you care about him, Hikage-kun?

[The question might seem sudden, with how Eichi's expression softens. He's watching him, judging, curious.]

[ it's not that sudden; he'd been expecting something like this from the moment he pursued Eichi to get answers out of him. ]

... No. [ he doesn't know if that's a lie or not. ] He and I are the same breed. I've just lived - no, existed - for a lot longer.

[ normally, he would have seen that as all the more reason to make him suffer... but he can't think that way any more. ]

Even without my eye, I can understand what he's feeling. He would break.

[Even without his eye. That's an interesting comment, but Eichi puts it aside for now.]

He would break... So, do you intend to stop that out of protection of yourself and others? Or is it actually concern, I wonder?

...

[ Hikage doesn't answer. One of the choices is most certainly not true, but the other one is too hard for him to admit. ]

The only thing worse than your own death is the death of someone you love. Don't do that to him.

Why is it just him who you think will be hurt?

[He takes a step closer to Hikage, a little personal.]

Let me tell you something, Hikage-kun. If anyone dares to target Goro, then I will flip reality on its edges to change that, and this castle will become more of a mess for it. I won't be responsible for the sea of blood that may come if that day arrives.

[He realizes how that sounds, but anyway.] If you'd like to avoid breaking up love, then don't allow anyone to touch either of us.

[ despite how prudish he often seems, he doesn't back away from the intrusion into his personal space; he just stares at Eichi defiantly. ]

Are you trying to threaten me? After I told you I purposefully said nothing for his sake?

[ Hikage actually sounds amused. ]

You're a fool. You have no idea what I could do to you.

It seems as if you're the one threatening me, Hikage-kun. I was merely stating facts.

[Don't excite him with threats, he gets Weird about it and Akechi will get jealous.]

All of the pieces are now in play, and they should move according to my plan. If you worry about my death for Goro's sake, then I'm saying that you should worry for his death, as well. It's a trigger, now, and any subtle thing could set it off.

[ control your weird boner eichi ]

You're awfully arrogant for someone who almost fell down and died last week.

[ what pieces could he have in play? Hikage doesn't miss that. ]

As for Akechi, I'm confident he no longer needs my protection.

[No he can't. Also... yeah he is. But anyway.]

What do you mean by that? Your protection?

If I wanted you to know the details, I would tell you them.

[ frankly, he's a little surprised Akechi didn't say anything... but he's pleased about it, too. ]

He can take care of himself. He has his own strength.

[He narrows his eyes a little.]

...I intend to protect him, and it has nothing to do with his strength. I'm well aware of it.

It's everyone else that I worry for.

[So.]

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