IC INBOX | OKADA IZOU

[goei]

@Izou

manslayer

---

ABOUT ME

The strongest, most genius swordsman to ever haunt the streets of Kyoto! That's me! So you better think twice before crossing me, ya hear?

NOTE

As long as you don't get in my way I won't kill you, probably.

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early october??

[beathollow]

( when izou comes in, mafuyu's sitting on her bed staring at something on the coffee table- a familiar hat, and a shinsengumi haori. )

--Oh! Welcome back.

[goei]

[A few months ago, Izou would have reflexively flown into a rage at the mere sight of the hat, at the suggestion that it's innately tied to him so much that it'd be brought here by the dumb cat.

Now he just frowns and actively chooses to ignore it as he walks over to point at the haori instead. He's hoping Mafuyu won't have seen Ryouma wearing it in whatever memories they got flashed in his palace!!!]

We oughta burn that.

[beathollow]

I was thinking about that. It's the hat that caught me off guard.

( ... she seems a bit more subdued, actually.

but she'll just pick it up and toss it in that box in the corner that says "to burn". )

[goei]

[FREEZING UP. DOES SHE KNOW??? NO THAT COULD MEAN ANYTHING. PLAY IT COOL, IZOU.]

What about it?

[beathollow]

It's a little familiar, but I can't put my finger on it...

( ... it's been weeks with a lot of memory-shares, after all. )

[goei]

[Hmmmmmmm..... Well he could lie. Say it's just her imagination!! But no, he can't lie to Mafuyu.]

... S'Ryouma's. Once he got all involved in politics and actin' fancy he started dressin' in Western clothes like this.

also i lied this is post-sou's palace

[beathollow]

Ah.



Why do I keep getting things that are yours-

( that comes out before she means to, but... maintaining is a filter is hard already. she's- tired. )

But, ah... what do you want to do with it?

[goei]

Maybe that dumb cat's got our beds mixed up...

[No he ALSO wants to know why!!! He picks the hat up, turning it over in his hands.]

The Izou that arrived here'd say burn it too. But thanks to you and the others I guess I just ain't that mad anymore.

[beathollow]

... I'm glad. Kaito- the spirit who's taken on my anger... he always seems so tired. So did you. I'm glad you're doing better. You seem happier, and lighter.

[goei]

Yeah. I didn't even really realize it. Or no, more like, sometimes it felt like if I stopped bein' angry I'd... I dunno. Felt like it was keepin' me going, but all it was really doin' was running me ragged.

Kinda the same as you havin' ta try and be perfect was fer you I think.

[beathollow]

( she's happy to listen to his introspection, up until he turns it around on her. that- gets an uncharacteristic flinch from her and she falters. )

... It... I don't... ... Everyone says that I should stop that. And- I'm tired. But mistakes hurt.

[goei]

I mean, sometimes. But a lotta the time people understand and let you off the hook. It's just that yer mom's a b-

[WAIT HE SHOULDN'T SAY THAT.]

A.... I mean she was bein' super crazy about shit.

[beathollow]

...

Nii-san, I really messed up in a palace, recently.

[goei]

[Squints in confusion.]

I mean ain't that just how it always goes? Shit that happens in palaces don't count against you.

[beathollow]

I...

( she's quiet for a moment. )

I got Atem killed. It's only by Sou's grace that it wasn't permanent.

[goei]

[Well it sounds to him like it's fine then, but also;]

What d'you mean you got him killed? What happened?

cw body horror

[beathollow]

His palace recreated the situation that he was in- a dozen strangers with some connection here and there- who had to escape dangerous traps and vote... who among them had to die to proceed, with abstaining not being an option.

The votes were based on his memories, and I- I knew it was the wrong choice, but I pushed for a vote for a more... generous option, instead of the practical but cruel choice.

Atem died for it- a- ( her voice wavers and she can feel hot tears forming again. ) -dozens of small needles stabbed into him and drained him into a husk in minutes- he was catatonic for hours after, even after being brought back.

[goei]

[Izou's like "damn no idea who this sou guy is but that sounds fucked up" because he's bad with names. But more importantly;]

And when he woke up proper, what'd he say to you about it? Was he blamin' you for it?

[He feels like probably no, but also if yes then he'll just have to go kill a pharaoh.]

[beathollow]

I- no... he didn't acknowledge it at all, but he only came to when Maizono and I were in a death trap. ... We got out fine.

[goei]

Well then I'm stickin' with what I said! Palace stuff is palace stuff! It ain't like you were tryin' ta get him killed. I'm sure he ain't mad.

[A pause, before he frowns.]

Unless... yer assumin' that because that's how you feel? You ain't still mad about the time I stabbed you, are ya?

[beathollow]

Wh- no, no, of course not! You were mind controlled.

...

But I wasn't. I was deliberately making a terrible choice to make myself feel better, and I pushed others into making it, too.

[goei]

Right, I forgot yer some sorta iron fisted dictator.

[Flat. A joke.]

If the others really hadn't wanted ta go with you on that choice, if they really all thought you were wrong, you think they wouldn't speak up?

[beathollow]

YOU WEREN'T THERE-

( it's an outburst probably neither of them were expecting, and mafuyu is instantly mortified with herself. )

I- I'm sorry-

[goei]

[Izou's postures shifts to something defensive reflexively, but then;]

No! That's good! You oughta yell more, Mafuyu!! You ain't gotta act how ya think people want you to anymore!!

[beathollow]

( weakly, face in hands: )

I don't want to it makes me feel sick.

( ... take a breath there, girl- )