[The kid comes at him with a strange, glowing scythe of sorts but Fushimi dodges it easily. He reaches behind him for one of his knives, only to slip and fall on his back. The kid laughs.]
PB: Lame...You're supposed to challenge the final dungeon after you earn enough experience points!
[The kid flips his scythe up to rest on his shoulders, and the blade seems to vanish. It's energy, then.]
PB: It's too bad I'm not letting you return to your last save point.
[He is so fucking sick of this kid and his metaphors. Fushimi groans as he sits up.]
Fushimi: Shut up, gamer brat...turning off the power won't save you from anything...not when it comes to reality. There are times when you still have to fight even if you know you can't win!
[He flings his knife at the kid only to have it deflected back into his thigh with a smirk. Ow that hurts but he's not going to bleed out from it, it missed anything vital. Fushimi grunts.]
Fushimi: Can't believe I'm the one lecturing kids about reality...[Because out of everyone he knows, he's the one with the weakest grasp on it and he knows it.] This reality sucks...[And it has for years now, but whatever.] Considering the hazard pay, this wasn't worth it. Why the hell did I agree to this job in the first place?
[But he knows. This mission was a suicide mission, but he had to take it. No one else could have taken it, no one else had his history, no one else would have worked. This kid is going to kill him.
And then, in the distance:]
Misaki: Saruhiko!
[What.]
Fushimi: Misaki?
Misaki: Bastard! Where the hell are you, Saruhiko?!
[It's really him. Fushimi scoffs and smiles to himself, a strange and long-forgotten warmth filling his veins. Misaki.]
Fushimi: I don't believe it. That idiot really came after me.
[That's all he has time to think before the kid is back to attacking him. He can hear explosions in the distance, like from Misaki, and then he's getting thrown against the wall. He's too tired and in too much pain to fight back right now, so he just falls to knees and watches as the kid comes racing towards him. Misaki was too slow...
...except he's not, because instead of a sharp pain and then the black abyss, he hears wheels and a clunk as Misaki's pole stops the kid from hitting him.]
PB: Oh, are you switching players? Fine with me!
[Fushimi doesn't see what happens. All he knows is the kid tries to attack, he hears Misaki's pole extend, there's an explosion, and then he's being hefted up and thrown over Misaki's shoulders as they escape the fight. The wound on his leg has stopped bleeding, but god does he hurt. He thinks he hears someone yelling about not getting away, but he's too hazy to really focus.]
Misaki: --still alive? Oi! Monkey!
[Oh, he's being spoken too.]
Fushimi: You're late... And you call yourself the Clan's lead attacker? What a joke...
[Because even in a situation like this, he can't not needle his Misaki. It's the first time in a while he hasn't done it with the goal of pissing him off, though.]
Yata: Shut up! Why didn't you tell me?
Fushimi: You know I can't talk about top secret missions, stupid. Couldn't you guess?
[Obviously not. That's just his way of deflecting, of putting the blame for everything on Misaki again. Though, really? This is the one time it's literally no one's fault.]
Yata:Hah? How was I supposed to guess just from that?! You've always been like this. Yeah, I'm stupid! That's why unless you tell me, I won't get it!
[And suddenly Fushimi gets the feeling this isn't about his suicide mission, but something else. Something they've been avoiding for years.]
Fushimi: Would you have understood even if I told you?
[Of course he wouldn't have. Misaki couldn't understand. That was why--]
Yata: Then say it in a way I understand! Keep saying it until I do understand! If you didn't tell me anything and you died... I would've thought you were a traitor forever!
Fushimi:...I am a traitor.
[He betrayed Misaki, after all.]
Yata: No, you're not!
[...What.]
Yata: Just as I would for Mikoto-san and Anna. That means to you, the Blue King was your King all along. Saruhiko Fushimi of SCEPTER 4, is a stand-up guy in my book.
[Fushimi can't believe he's hearing this. That Misaki is actually saying this. That he's forgiven for everything. Just like that! Then again, why is he so surprised? Misaki's always been good at just knowing things like this. What does he mean by "king all along", though...
But his delight and confusion are cut short by an explosion in front of them. The kid's back, and Fushimi goes flying when Misaki is thrown from his skateboard. He doesn't see what the two of them are doing, too dazed to sit up right away.]
PB: Saruhiko's in critical condition and your health bar is starting to turn yellow. What'll you do?
Misaki: Hey! Don't you have any friends to go play games with?
PB: I've always played solo. It's a hundred times better than having to deal with weak players who slow me down. I'm strong enough on my own anyway. The only one who's fun to play with is Nagare. That's why anyone who gets in Nagare's way... will be crushed!
[Something about the name Nagare makes Fushimi sick to his stomach, and not just from the pain and exhaustion. He hates Nagare. He hates Nagare and this kid and their Clan with a passion, but he loved Scepter 4 and the King enough to come here and do this job.
The kid goes after Misaki again, who for some reason isn't even trying to dodge, so Fushimi grabs a knife and throws it at the kid.]
Fushimi: Misaki!
[It throws the kid back and snaps Misaki out of his stupor. The redhead grabs his pole, ready to fight.]
Misaki: So JUNGLE was your refuge, eh? You remind me of how we used to be. [Fushimi thinks he has a point, except the two of them had each other.] Even so, it's time for you to go home, kid.
PB: You're so full of it! I'm still stronger than the two of you put together!
Yata: Guess again!
[The kid goes for Misaki again and Misaki gets him in the gut this time. Fushimi takes his chance to throw a dagger in the kid's shoulder and sends him flying back.]
Yata: It's like old times, fighting side by side with you.
[Fushimi scoffs, slowly pushing himself to his feet.]
Fushimi: It's not the same... as back then.
Yata: Yeah, it's not the same. [But Fushimi can hear him smiling. It's been so long since he saw Misaki's smile.] Misaki Yata, Red Clansman, and....Eh? Say it!
[Misaki oh my god. You nerd. Fushimi adjusts his glasses.]
Fushimi: Saruhiko Fushimi, Blue Clansman...
Both: ...will take you on!
[Okay, he's a nerd too. The kid on the floor jumps to his feet, really pissed now.]
PB: Think you has-beens are so cool?!
[The kid goes for Misaki first, who manages to hold him off long enough for Fushimi to throw at least ten knives at the kid. All of them are dodged, though Misaki gets a good hit on the kid.]
Fushimi: I'm on a job here. And I can't waste time playing games with a kid!
[As he takes another step forward, his leg gives out and he drops to his knees, dropping two of his remaining three daggers. He hears Yata call his name, hears the kid taunt them, feels himself throwing the last dagger--
The week leading up to and the day of November 7, 2008 (K-canon time). This was Fushimi's 15th birthday and Misaki, like Misaki does, made a big deal of the day of and week leading up to it. The memory contains the two of them being stupid teenagers, Misaki teasing Fushimi for being 'younger' and Fushimi sniping back that it's only by a few months, and the overwhelming sense that the only reason Fushimi's having fun on his birthday is because of Misaki, that no one else ever cared.
[The captain won't be pleased with this, but he has to know about why the security at the tower is a waste of manpower. Fushimi sighs and opens the door, heading straight for Munakata's desk.]
Fushimi: Please take a look at this.
[He taps a few things on this tablet and pulls up a video of a masked man carrying a small girl in a red dress over his shoulder...and through the wall.]
Munakata: Hmm? This is...
Fushimi: Higher ranking clansmen possess the Green Clan's manipulation ability.
[He sets the clip to play on a loop while he continues.]
They can break the laws of physics and have much greater strength than the average man. In particular, this masked Clansman--
[Munakata snorts.]
Munakata: He's a ninja. Very interesting.
[Fushimi glances back and--yep. Shit-eating grin. Oh boy. He continues as if he hadn't heard his troll of a King.]
Fushimi: This masked clansman uses the manipulation ability and as you can see, he can pass through walls. This means the security at Mishahara Tower is useless.
Munakata: Huh. This is just like a ninja passing through walls.
[He sits back with a smirk. Fushimi reaches up to adjust his glasses, ready to win this little debate.]
Fushimi: This masked--
Munakta: This ninja--
Fushimi: Ahem. [No argument. He wins.] This masked clansman, like Mishakuji, is extremely skilled.
Munakata: No, this is ninjustu--
Fushimi:In any case...
[Oh for the love of--why is his King like this? Why does he not mind that his King is like this? Why is this their relationship? Fushimi presses on.
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IC Date: August 14th (OOC Date: August 12th)
[The kid comes at him with a strange, glowing scythe of sorts but Fushimi dodges it easily. He reaches behind him for one of his knives, only to slip and fall on his back. The kid laughs.]
PB: Lame...You're supposed to challenge the final dungeon after you earn enough experience points!
[The kid flips his scythe up to rest on his shoulders, and the blade seems to vanish. It's energy, then.]
PB: It's too bad I'm not letting you return to your last save point.
[He is so fucking sick of this kid and his metaphors. Fushimi groans as he sits up.]
Fushimi: Shut up, gamer brat...turning off the power won't save you from anything...not when it comes to reality. There are times when you still have to fight even if you know you can't win!
[He flings his knife at the kid only to have it deflected back into his thigh with a smirk. Ow that hurts but he's not going to bleed out from it, it missed anything vital. Fushimi grunts.]
Fushimi: Can't believe I'm the one lecturing kids about reality...[Because out of everyone he knows, he's the one with the weakest grasp on it and he knows it.] This reality sucks...[And it has for years now, but whatever.] Considering the hazard pay, this wasn't worth it. Why the hell did I agree to this job in the first place?
[But he knows. This mission was a suicide mission, but he had to take it. No one else could have taken it, no one else had his history, no one else would have worked. This kid is going to kill him.
And then, in the distance:]
Misaki: Saruhiko!
[What.]
Fushimi: Misaki?
Misaki: Bastard! Where the hell are you, Saruhiko?!
[It's really him. Fushimi scoffs and smiles to himself, a strange and long-forgotten warmth filling his veins. Misaki.]
Fushimi: I don't believe it. That idiot really came after me.
[That's all he has time to think before the kid is back to attacking him. He can hear explosions in the distance, like from Misaki, and then he's getting thrown against the wall. He's too tired and in too much pain to fight back right now, so he just falls to knees and watches as the kid comes racing towards him. Misaki was too slow...
...except he's not, because instead of a sharp pain and then the black abyss, he hears wheels and a clunk as Misaki's pole stops the kid from hitting him.]
PB: Oh, are you switching players? Fine with me!
[Fushimi doesn't see what happens. All he knows is the kid tries to attack, he hears Misaki's pole extend, there's an explosion, and then he's being hefted up and thrown over Misaki's shoulders as they escape the fight. The wound on his leg has stopped bleeding, but god does he hurt. He thinks he hears someone yelling about not getting away, but he's too hazy to really focus.]
Misaki: --still alive? Oi! Monkey!
[Oh, he's being spoken too.]
Fushimi: You're late... And you call yourself the Clan's lead attacker? What a joke...
[Because even in a situation like this, he can't not needle his Misaki. It's the first time in a while he hasn't done it with the goal of pissing him off, though.]
Yata: Shut up! Why didn't you tell me?
Fushimi: You know I can't talk about top secret missions, stupid. Couldn't you guess?
[Obviously not. That's just his way of deflecting, of putting the blame for everything on Misaki again. Though, really? This is the one time it's literally no one's fault.]
Yata: Hah? How was I supposed to guess just from that?! You've always been like this. Yeah, I'm stupid! That's why unless you tell me, I won't get it!
[And suddenly Fushimi gets the feeling this isn't about his suicide mission, but something else. Something they've been avoiding for years.]
Fushimi: Would you have understood even if I told you?
[Of course he wouldn't have. Misaki couldn't understand. That was why--]
Yata: Then say it in a way I understand! Keep saying it until I do understand! If you didn't tell me anything and you died... I would've thought you were a traitor forever!
Fushimi:...I am a traitor.
[He betrayed Misaki, after all.]
Yata: No, you're not!
[...What.]
Yata: Just as I would for Mikoto-san and Anna. That means to you, the Blue King was your King all along. Saruhiko Fushimi of SCEPTER 4, is a stand-up guy in my book.
[Fushimi can't believe he's hearing this. That Misaki is actually saying this. That he's forgiven for everything. Just like that! Then again, why is he so surprised? Misaki's always been good at just knowing things like this. What does he mean by "king all along", though...
But his delight and confusion are cut short by an explosion in front of them. The kid's back, and Fushimi goes flying when Misaki is thrown from his skateboard. He doesn't see what the two of them are doing, too dazed to sit up right away.]
PB: Saruhiko's in critical condition and your health bar is starting to turn yellow. What'll you do?
Misaki: Hey! Don't you have any friends to go play games with?
PB: I've always played solo. It's a hundred times better than having to deal with weak players who slow me down. I'm strong enough on my own anyway. The only one who's fun to play with is Nagare. That's why anyone who gets in Nagare's way... will be crushed!
[Something about the name Nagare makes Fushimi sick to his stomach, and not just from the pain and exhaustion. He hates Nagare. He hates Nagare and this kid and their Clan with a passion, but he loved Scepter 4 and the King enough to come here and do this job.
The kid goes after Misaki again, who for some reason isn't even trying to dodge, so Fushimi grabs a knife and throws it at the kid.]
Fushimi: Misaki!
[It throws the kid back and snaps Misaki out of his stupor. The redhead grabs his pole, ready to fight.]
Misaki: So JUNGLE was your refuge, eh? You remind me of how we used to be. [Fushimi thinks he has a point, except the two of them had each other.] Even so, it's time for you to go home, kid.
PB: You're so full of it! I'm still stronger than the two of you put together!
Yata: Guess again!
[The kid goes for Misaki again and Misaki gets him in the gut this time. Fushimi takes his chance to throw a dagger in the kid's shoulder and sends him flying back.]
Yata: It's like old times, fighting side by side with you.
[Fushimi scoffs, slowly pushing himself to his feet.]
Fushimi: It's not the same... as back then.
Yata: Yeah, it's not the same. [But Fushimi can hear him smiling. It's been so long since he saw Misaki's smile.] Misaki Yata, Red Clansman, and....Eh? Say it!
[Misaki oh my god. You nerd. Fushimi adjusts his glasses.]
Fushimi: Saruhiko Fushimi, Blue Clansman...
Both: ...will take you on!
[Okay, he's a nerd too. The kid on the floor jumps to his feet, really pissed now.]
PB: Think you has-beens are so cool?!
[The kid goes for Misaki first, who manages to hold him off long enough for Fushimi to throw at least ten knives at the kid. All of them are dodged, though Misaki gets a good hit on the kid.]
Fushimi: I'm on a job here. And I can't waste time playing games with a kid!
[As he takes another step forward, his leg gives out and he drops to his knees, dropping two of his remaining three daggers. He hears Yata call his name, hears the kid taunt them, feels himself throwing the last dagger--
And then he wakes up.]
IC Date: September 22nd (OOC Date: December 7th)
IC Date: October 25th (IC Date: March 18th)
IC Date: November 22nd (OOC Date: May 16th)
Fushimi: Please take a look at this.
[He taps a few things on this tablet and pulls up a video of a masked man carrying a small girl in a red dress over his shoulder...and through the wall.]
Munakata: Hmm? This is...
Fushimi: Higher ranking clansmen possess the Green Clan's manipulation ability.
[He sets the clip to play on a loop while he continues.]
They can break the laws of physics and have much greater strength than the average man. In particular, this masked Clansman--
[Munakata snorts.]
Munakata: He's a ninja. Very interesting.
[Fushimi glances back and--yep. Shit-eating grin. Oh boy. He continues as if he hadn't heard his troll of a King.]
Fushimi: This masked clansman uses the manipulation ability and as you can see, he can pass through walls. This means the security at Mishahara Tower is useless.
Munakata: Huh. This is just like a ninja passing through walls.
[He sits back with a smirk. Fushimi reaches up to adjust his glasses, ready to win this little debate.]
Fushimi: This masked--
Munakta: This ninja--
Fushimi: Ahem. [No argument. He wins.] This masked clansman, like Mishakuji, is extremely skilled.
Munakata: No, this is ninjustu--
Fushimi: In any case...
[Oh for the love of--why is his King like this? Why does he not mind that his King is like this? Why is this their relationship? Fushimi presses on.
But the memory doesn't.]
IC Date: January 21st (OOC Date: September 14th)