[ It's only after a few long minutes of quiet before Chisa finally lifts her head from Juzo's shoulder. She doesn't know what they did to get out, or even how far they are, really; she knows that the sounds of fighting have finally been left behind, but the silence they've entered instead is eerie in its own way. She keeps expecting to hear more screaming, more violence, more inescapable proof that they're in trouble.
But when she looks up, everything seems relatively calm. Maybe they're lucky, and Enoshima's machinations have been contained to the school alone.
Or maybe they've just hit the eye of the storm.
Either way, she shifts her weight against Juzo's back and takes a breath, then points. She does recognize this neighborhood, at least. Her voice is shakier than she wants to admit, but at least it's a little stronger, no longer quite the scratchy wreck when they'd found her in that underground chamber. ]
It's not too far. The old house. ...You'll probably have to put me down for the security code.
[There does come a point at last where they're just running, not running and defending at the same time. Juzo can't say he's entirely relieved. The longer it lasts, the more his world narrows, focusing in sharply on all the things he'd rather keep blurry right now. The weight of Chisa on his back; the growing pain in his ribs; the sounds of carnage he can no longer hear, but can remember and linger on now, and in a way that's even worse. He says little until Chisa finally speaks, which he responds to first with a nod. Her voice sounds better now. His own sounds worse, and he doesn't realize that's the case until it's too late and the words are spoken and he's revealed his shaky wheezing to all three of them.]
[As they finally clear the crowd of deadly students, Kyosuke slows enough to run more beside Juzo than ahead of him. He tries to assess how his friend is doing, difficult as it is navigating and trying to keep an ear out for approaching danger. But he can hear the wheeze when he answers Chisa.]
We can switch if you feel the need, Sakakura.
[But he'll leave that decision to Juzo while they keep going; if Chisa said they were almost there, he wasn't going to question her assessment. He needs them to be honest.]
[ It embarrasses her a little that she doesn't really put together the weird note in Juzo's voice until Kyousuke calls it out -- not explicitly, but still there. She should have known! She should have realized earlier, because it's not like she hadn't noticed the way his body had rocked while they'd been making their way through the murderous crowd, and it's not like she thought they could get out completely unscathed...
How could it have taken her this long to notice? And she still feels more bewildered and numb than upset about it. She should be upset, she knows. She's gotten upset at the injuries Juzo has sustained in boxing matches, and those were a lot more controlled than this! Her arms tighten a little around his neck; this awkward hanging-on hug is the closest she can give him to any sort of comfort right now. ]
Sakakura-kun... I-I can probably walk now, so...
[ She had said she'd need to be on her feet for the security code. Surely she can make it a few blocks on her own feet, rather than forcing either of them to carry her.
(She's not sure that she can, but she wants to try. She doesn't want to be more of a burden than she already has been.) ]
He manages to put a lot of meaning into that one syllable, though, and throws a look back over his shoulder to match. Absolutely not! He's fine. He can make it the last few blocks; maybe he'd concede to either of them if they weren't so close, but like this, he's sure he's got this. The offer only serves to give him another rush of adrenaline. He speeds up, head down now and teeth grit. Without the immediately present danger of the armed students driving him on, he'd been flagging, but now he has a new goal: get to the destination as fast as he can so he can put her down, already, and get his breath back, without anyone having to awkwardly stop and shift her around or allow her to injure herself further.
They know how stubborn he is.
And they are close. It's not much longer before they're coming up on the address Chisa mentioned, to Juzo's great relief, and he finally stops on the sidewalk to let her down, gasping for air.
This neighborhood looks abandoned, sounds too quiet. It's not nearly as reassuring as he'd hoped it would be to be outside the immediate danger zone.]
[Kyosuke's frown tightens at the corner when he hears Chisa and Juzo; neither response is surprising after his own comment. While he could argue about their situation, he doesn't feel it's necessary quite yet--especially if the house is nearby.]
Point out the house for us, Yukizome.
[He can only imagine her frustration about being unable to assist more actively in their situation, so he gives her something explicit to focus on as they continue navigating the neighborhood. He pauses at the sight of an abandoned car left askew on the road, finding its presence disquieting without any signs of police or the car's owner. Maybe they were still close enough to the school that phone service was blocked?
Regardless, he hurries on, towards the older-styled houses further away from the school grounds.]
[ She's just as relieved as anyone when they reach the house, though it's tempered with the same sense of wrongness that had plagued her just before she'd gone looking for her students that morning. This neighborhood isn't a busy one, by any means, but there were a number of households with younger kids. It's still early enough in the day that they should be playing, especially since the rain, at least, has stopped.
At the house, Chisa squirms to be let down, and while she's still wobbly, she at least has the balance to punch in the security code, then duck around the fence to find the key itself, just where it had always been. Thankfully, just keeping herself upright and going is enough (for now) to distract herself from her own uneasiness.
Once she has the key, it's only a short walkway up to the door, and then she's unlocking it to let them inside. ]
Sorry for the intrusion...
[ She says it automatically, but the house is empty, as she'd expected. Thank goodness. It's a pretty nice place, more Western in its decor and furnishing, and so at least it's a nice place for them to hole up for a while. ]
[Juzo isn't one to worry that much about breaking and entering in an emergency, but this feels wrong for different reasons than the legality. The atmosphere inside is oppressively silent. That doesn't make any sense . . . it's exactly as silent as would be expected of a home where the owners are out of town. what else had he expected? No, it's the atmosphere outside that has him on edge. The neighborhood's unnatural lack of activity throws the entire world off-color. Straining his ears—and honestly, not even that much—he can hear the sounds of the world before they close the front door, but the background noise is hardly reassuring. Sirens, the occasional boom that he can't identify from this distance, but which carries with it the certainty of violence happening somewhere out there. It feels like they've stepped onto a movie set where someone forgot to hire any extras.
He swings the door closed and locks it.
Now that there's time to breathe, think, and talk, he doesn't know what to say. At least breathing takes up a lot of his concentration right now: his ribs hurt, though he's almost certain they're not broken. Just bruised enough to constantly nag at his side. Juzo focuses on getting in some air, watching the other two helplessly. Some part of him still wants to believe that one of them will suddenly come out with something that will undo this whole situation—a secret code word that will summon exactly the right invincible authorities to make the problem go away and put everyone in jail within minutes, the way a kid believes calling 119 works.
Damn, isn't he supposed to be one of those authorities now . . . ? Hiding out away from the danger zone with these two?
He lets out an unhappily amused snort, then winces when that twinges his rib again.]
...Perhaps it was too much to hope that the trouble on campus did not affect the nearby neighborhoods.
[Now that they are in relative safety, Kyosuke scans the foyer before moving further into the house; he doesn't want to lead them further in without getting his bearings. There appear to be few places that could be reasonable hiding spots in the living room, and the compact kitchen has little visible mess on the counters. He tries his phone as he returns to the foyer, not surprised to find it still unresponsive.]
Let's move away from the foyer for now. Rest while we can.
[He knows they should try to save more students, but they could be walking to their deaths if they didn't rest and prepare beforehand. It's already bad enough that he's pushing Chisa after she was literally tortured earlier in the day.
The reminder has him quietly reaching out for her hand, a shadow of worry descending over his face.]
He travels a lot. I think he just wanted the prestige of having said he had my services... it was pretty easy work.
[ She starts when Kyousuke's hand brushes hers, but then she grabs it back, clinging more tightly than she wants to admit. Her fingers, usually so warm, are now icy to the touch. Without thinking about it, she drifts a little closer to him, though she turns her head at the sound of Juzo's snort, soon enough to see that wince. ]
Sakakura-kun, are you okay?
[ On the one hand, it's a stupid question to ask. Nothing's okay right now, and Chisa herself still feels like she's teetering on the edge of breaking. What she wants to do, more than anything, is curl up on some stupidly large bed with the both of them, in the same half-pile they'd made back in the infirmary... but now isn't the time to ask for that. Even under better circumstances, Kyousuke's reserved nature would have her hesitating, and now, it just feels like selfish indulgence to ask.
Still, if Juzo's hurt... there's no blood on him, at least, which is a small blessing. ]
There's a first-aid kit in the bathroom, if you need it...
But he turns just then and catches the two of them holding hands, Chisa shifting closer to Kyosuke. In this situation, his sense of jealousy is still a little deadened; it feels like a dull ache rather than a sharp pang. He can't hold it against Chisa. God, not now of all times. There's the niggling feeling in the back of his head of being an intruder in a much less literal sense than the one all three of them are right now, in this man's house: now that they're safe and resting, however temporarily, Chisa deserves a moment along with Kyosuke. Maybe a hug and a kiss to make her feel better. Things they can't or won't do in front of Juzo.
God, he hates himself for thinking about that at all right now, but it's hard to shove away entirely when he's confronted with it.
He turns away again and begins to head to the back of the house.]
. . . go take care of it. You two take care of yourselves too.
[He knows Juzo to be aloof when it comes to his injuries, but it still makes him feel uneasy to watch him walk away. It seems far too easy for any of them to be separated and hurt right now, and things have gone so far awry from his original plans that it's difficult to not think of rash decisions and extreme outcomes.]
Join us when you're finished, Sakakura.
[His eyes continue to follow Juzo for a moment longer before he focuses on Chisa, his grip still firm despite how cold her hand is. He moves slowly to right her when she sways.]
...You must be exhausted. Do you want to lie down again?
[He looks over his shoulder back to the living room, then further into the house, before making a decision. A bed would be preferable over a couch, and the living room felt uncomfortably close to the front door and the possible dangers outside.]
I think your former client will forgive using his bed, under these circumstances.
[ Her voice is a low murmur, almost distracted. She's not terribly surprised to feel her anxiety spike again when Juzo disappears from sight; in a world slowly going mad, of course she's going to feel best when she has them both within sight. It'd be nice if they could both be within arm's reach, but Juzo's habit of holding himself distant can apparently survive even a disaster like this.
She wets her lips in a quick nervous gesture, then bites the lower one hard enough that it hurts. It's a dull pain, but also grounding. In a way, it's a relief to have something physical, something that feels more real than the things she still sees when she closes her eyes. ]
Kyousuke... if I do, will you stay with me?
[ She feels stupid asking for that; she's a grown adult woman, and she's entirely capable of being on her own. There's a part of her that is mulling over the long months of his absence, and how lonely and hollow she's felt without him. What if he says no? What if he's still got things to do?
(Then she'll dwell, she knows; she'll linger over that and pick the metaphorical scab wider and wider until it's bleeding along with everything else.)
As she asks this, she tugs at his hand, leading him down the hallway to the master bedroom, then pushing the door open. Even if he doesn't want to, she can at least show him where she'll be. ]
A situation that could be a whole lot worse, all things considered, but no, it's only Juzo. The master bedroom is attached to the master bath, where the first aid kit had been, so after grabbing the kit from the medicine cabinet, he'd headed into the bedroom with it. He's not bleeding, and he'd like to lie down for at least a minute to give his ribs a rest, so this is as good a place as any to take a good look at the damage.
Right now he's standing in front of the bedroom's full-length mirror with his shirt off, breaking the seal on the chemical cold pack that he'd been hoping he'd find in the first aid kit. He can see the bruising beginning on his side, but nothing else looks broken or out of place; there's not much to do except ice the area and prop himself up and rest it for a while. When the door swings open, he turns sharply just in case they'd been followed by someone after all . . . but they're behind multiple locks and a security system, and he needs to chill out. Juzo sighs, his bruised side expanding and contracting in the dim bedroom light, and sets about bandaging the cold pack to his ribs.]
Everything okay? You didn't find anything suspicious out there?
[If he'd been given a chance to reply, Kyosuke would have said 'yes'--but, as it is, Chisa moves to the bedroom without waiting, likely fueled by anxiety and weariness. At that point, it seems redundant to say anything, and so he doesn't.
Juzo's presence in the bedroom staves off any awkwardness from him not replying, and he quietly ushers Chisa over to sit on the bed while he looks over at their friend. While he can't see bruising or open injuries from his vantage point, it's pretty clear that Juzo is also in need of rest.]
Besides what we saw as we entered, nothing. For now.
[Kyosuke looks to the bedroom windows, shrouded by curtains. The quiet is so disconcerting that the sound of a police siren would not be unwelcome.
He shivers a little, startling himself as he recalls they were running through the rain and of course his suit jacket wouldn't do well against it. He releases Chisa's hand long enough to peel off his jacket, setting it on the bedside table while speaking to her.]
I'm sorry. I haven't asked this entire time how you're doing.
[They've literally been following him across and off campus without complaint.]
[ She doesn't answer immediately. Not precisely. The noise she makes is more of a startled little squeak -- first at finding Juzo, then at noticing he's shirtless, and then at Kyousuke shrugging his jacket off. It's an odd situation, made stranger by the bits that are familiar but out of place: with a Talent like his, Juzo's never been exactly body shy, and it's not the first time she's seen deep bruises on his body -- but always in the ring, or in the locker room, brightly lit and with multiple other people around. Not in a quiet, dark, well-kept bedroom, away from everyone else.
And Kyousuke too; she's seen him dressed down and casual, but almost never with other people around. Juzo's presence is both familiar and strange in this moment. She's reminded again of her earlier, out of place desires... but it's almost a relief in this context. It's because of these two, and maybe some lingering adrenaline, not watching children forced into a murder spree and being forced to confront whatever awful appeal that might have...
She swallows hard, wringing her hands. ]
I'm -- I'm fine, really.
[ It doesn't sound any more convincing than any other time she's tried to hide feeling bad. She's glad to be sitting. However: ]
. . . Just needs ice. Nothing got broken. It might look ugly for a few days, but trust me, I know how to deal with a body blow.
[It's all in a day's work for him, getting pummeled and bruised. It just usually involves fists in controlled entertainment circumstances. Not people trying to kill him and his people with a pipe.
The thought runs through his head and brings a frown to his lips. Once the ice pack is bandaged on, he sits shirtless on the edge of the bed, leaning on his knees, looking helplessly up at the two of them. He'd heard Chisa's little squeak of surprise, and he can't parse it other than just her being jumpy. It makes a horrible sense after everything. All three of them look small right now, weak and soaked. Like normal people. Kids who got in over their heads.
He heaves a sigh.]
Yukizome, don't give us that. I can get out of here so you can lie down. After what happened to you . . .
[Juzo shakes his head. The rest doesn't need to be said.]
And you, Munakata, take a hot shower and change before you come down with something. Even rich assholes like this must have a bathrobe you can borrow.
[His brain is caught up at the image, trying to decide whether it has the mental energy to be excited by the thought of Kyosuke stepping out of the shower and into a fluffy robe, or if he's too dead inside to manage a thrill at it.]
[The comment about taking a shower and changing surprises Kyosuke, though he's not immediately sure why. Does he look worse than he thinks he does? ...Considering how worn down Juzo and Chisa both look, that seems highly likely.
It's almost funny how well he can compartmentalize issues, prioritizing others and delaying his own emotions and needs in the process. Things had deteriorated so quickly in Hope's Peak that he'd completely set aside his jetlag.]
I would rather not cause more noise than necessary... [It's as close as he's come to admitting he's unsettled by how quiet it is. It's almost like the entire neighborhood--people and animals all--got up and migrated to another part of the city while the riots were happening.
Still. Maybe he should at least change out of his clothes. They couldn't afford dealing with him getting sick on top of everything else.]
...But you're right, Sakakura. Things aren't going to improve if we ignore our own needs.
[He gives his friends a reluctant look before standing and heading over to look at what is apparently the homeowner's walk-in closet.]
[ She hunches her shoulders a little, lacing her fingers together into a white-knuckled grip. It's either that or grab again for either of them, and Juzo had a good point about Kyousuke taking care of himself. For the most part, his facade has held up well, but it's true that looking at him, she can see the cracks in it.
And a part of her thinks: it'd be so easy to dig her fingers in and pry them open, leave him exposed and raw and broken. Once he fell, then it'd be easy to do the same to Juzo, and that would leave her--
Ugh. She shakes her head fiercely and takes a breath. Why do these thoughts keep coming back? What had that video done to her? ]
Y, you don't have to go anywhere, Sakakura-kun, I...
[ It's embarrassing to admit. Even to Juzo (and Kyousuke, if he's in hearing range). He could easily say no, and while it might be more gentle than he would to someone else, it's still enough of a possibility that her stomach twists with the idea.
But if she can't ask now, can she ever? ]
I, um. I, please... please stay?
[ She hates how small and weak her voice sounds by the end of it, and she ducks her head for a few seconds, her voice shaky as she forces herself to give him an out: ]
Ahh, but, if you need your own space, that's okay too, n, never mind! Don't worry, I'm fine--
[Is Kyosuke actually going to shower? . . . Well, good, Juzo reminds himself—it's not like he'd said that because he hadn't been worried. He's worried about both of them. As for himself, he can wait, of course. It's more important that these two take care of themselves first, even though he sees the wisdom of what Kyosuke is saying. Of course that's true, it just applies more to Chisa and Kyosuke, for reasons.
When Chisa begins to stammer, Juzo has the fleeting urge to cover her mouth with his hand; he doesn't do it, because now's hardly the time to begin new jokes or playfully violent physicality between them. He lifts his hand, though, and frowns at her. It's fine, his ass.]
Don't give me that. . . . I didn't think you'd want me intruding on you two, but if you really mean that, I'll stay. You think I have anywhere better to be?
[It's both flippant, and a little more earnest than he meant to let slip. Of course he doesn't have anywhere better to be when the world's apparently going to shit outside. But would he anyway? Has he ever had anything he'd rather be doing more than being with these two? That open wound of tenderness crosses his face for just a moment as he looks between the two of them, and then away again.]
[It's more than a little odd sifting through a stranger's clothes, especially with the intent of wearing them. Chisa's former client at least has clothes that somewhat fit him, and he opts for a plain gray undershirt and dark pajama bottoms. But he stays focused on the fact that the circumstances are beyond strange, carrying his wet clothes out of the closet to hang them in the bathroom.
He glances back into the main bedroom as he listens to Chisa and Juzo talk. The comment about 'intruding' is what spurs him to rejoin them.]
I would prefer we stay together, if simply so we are all here should something happen. [His eyes wander to the closed curtains, a conflicted feeling of wanting--and yet not wanting--to know what was going on outside.]
...It would put my mind at ease, at least. Having both of you here.
[ Thank goodness for Kyousuke taking charge here, too. She relaxes a little when he says that, because even if Juzo will argue with her, he (probably) won't with Kyousuke. And if it means he'll stay, she'll seize on that opportunity.
Maybe a bit literally, in fact. She leans closer to Juzo, reaching out to catch hold of his wrist. It's more timid than she would be normally; once upon a time (before today!) she wouldn't have thought twice about grabbing his arm or pulling at him. Maybe she wouldn't have tried to pull him into a hug or anything more affectionate than a bit of play tussling, but she doesn't think she would be quite so uncertain about it, before. ]
It's not intruding. I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it... you've never been an intrusion.
[ Has he thought that before? That explains a lot. And once upon a time, Chisa had taken advantage of that just a little, with her own insecurities about him and Kyousuke, but that all feels pointless now. She just wants to have them both with her, as close as possible. ]
[Ahh, how embarrassing, to have to be talked down now of all times. He stares down at Chisa's hand on his wrist, then shifts closer to sit next to her on the bed, shirtless and bandaged up in ice.]
Tch.
. . . Sorry. Right now, you guys shouldn't be worried about that kinda crap. There's enough else going on, giving me a pep talk shouldn't be on your list of shit to do. I wasn't trying to . . .
[His embarrassment is still catching up to him. Finally, he just trails off, lifting his head to look between Kyosuke and Chisa and then away again.]
. . . I'd rather be here with you too.
[Juzo's out of practice being earnest, or admitting to those feelings, as stupid as that is. And he does recognize the stupidity. What kind of moron has trouble saying they want to spend time with their friends in a crisis? Chisa's hand feels so warm and comforting on his wrist, but he can't bring himself to take it in his own hand and hold it.]
Honestly, I'd lose it if anything happened to you guys, plus I don't trust anyone else to look after you anyway.
I think your hands speak well for you in terms of what you would do if something happened to us, Sakakura.
[Kyosuke offers an ironic tilt of the head as he moves over to sit on the bed, situating himself at the end so he can look over at Juzo and Chisa across the short distance. He's glad to see both of them relaxing somewhat, temporarily leaving behind the horrors they had ran through on the way to the house.]
There's nothing wrong with worrying about each other, regardless of the circumstance. Worry can be a strong motivator.
[It could be paralyzing and drive one into indecision, or encourage intense focus. He liked to think they all fell into the latter category.]
In any case, if we all stay together, I can ensure that both of you actually rest. You two certainly need it.
[ She rallies a little at that; it puts a bit more life back into her voice. She rarely scolds him too much, but she does frown, her fingers tightening reflexively on Juzo's wrist. It'd be nice if she could hold his hand, but she isn't quite ready to take that step herself. Maybe if she holds onto him long enough, he'll take the hint. ]
You were traveling. Did you come straight to Hope's Peak from the airport? That's pushing yourself too hard, Munakata-kun. It's no good if you overdo it.
[ She gives Juzo an entreating look. He understands, right? Surely he'll be on her side on this, even if he's even more reluctant to criticize Kyousuke than she is. When it comes to taking care of him, he's the only other person who can match her. ]
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alloutoflove
no subject
Date: 2018-06-09 03:16 am (UTC)But when she looks up, everything seems relatively calm. Maybe they're lucky, and Enoshima's machinations have been contained to the school alone.
Or maybe they've just hit the eye of the storm.
Either way, she shifts her weight against Juzo's back and takes a breath, then points. She does recognize this neighborhood, at least. Her voice is shakier than she wants to admit, but at least it's a little stronger, no longer quite the scratchy wreck when they'd found her in that underground chamber. ]
It's not too far. The old house. ...You'll probably have to put me down for the security code.
no subject
Date: 2018-06-09 05:22 am (UTC)G, got it—almost there . . .
no subject
Date: 2018-06-09 12:54 pm (UTC)We can switch if you feel the need, Sakakura.
[But he'll leave that decision to Juzo while they keep going; if Chisa said they were almost there, he wasn't going to question her assessment. He needs them to be honest.]
no subject
Date: 2018-06-09 07:51 pm (UTC)How could it have taken her this long to notice? And she still feels more bewildered and numb than upset about it. She should be upset, she knows. She's gotten upset at the injuries Juzo has sustained in boxing matches, and those were a lot more controlled than this! Her arms tighten a little around his neck; this awkward hanging-on hug is the closest she can give him to any sort of comfort right now. ]
Sakakura-kun... I-I can probably walk now, so...
[ She had said she'd need to be on her feet for the security code. Surely she can make it a few blocks on her own feet, rather than forcing either of them to carry her.
(She's not sure that she can, but she wants to try. She doesn't want to be more of a burden than she already has been.) ]
no subject
Date: 2018-06-10 04:51 am (UTC)[Yeah, that's eloquent.
He manages to put a lot of meaning into that one syllable, though, and throws a look back over his shoulder to match. Absolutely not! He's fine. He can make it the last few blocks; maybe he'd concede to either of them if they weren't so close, but like this, he's sure he's got this. The offer only serves to give him another rush of adrenaline. He speeds up, head down now and teeth grit. Without the immediately present danger of the armed students driving him on, he'd been flagging, but now he has a new goal: get to the destination as fast as he can so he can put her down, already, and get his breath back, without anyone having to awkwardly stop and shift her around or allow her to injure herself further.
They know how stubborn he is.
And they are close. It's not much longer before they're coming up on the address Chisa mentioned, to Juzo's great relief, and he finally stops on the sidewalk to let her down, gasping for air.
This neighborhood looks abandoned, sounds too quiet. It's not nearly as reassuring as he'd hoped it would be to be outside the immediate danger zone.]
no subject
Date: 2018-06-11 02:41 am (UTC)Point out the house for us, Yukizome.
[He can only imagine her frustration about being unable to assist more actively in their situation, so he gives her something explicit to focus on as they continue navigating the neighborhood. He pauses at the sight of an abandoned car left askew on the road, finding its presence disquieting without any signs of police or the car's owner. Maybe they were still close enough to the school that phone service was blocked?
Regardless, he hurries on, towards the older-styled houses further away from the school grounds.]
no subject
Date: 2018-06-11 03:36 am (UTC)[ She's just as relieved as anyone when they reach the house, though it's tempered with the same sense of wrongness that had plagued her just before she'd gone looking for her students that morning. This neighborhood isn't a busy one, by any means, but there were a number of households with younger kids. It's still early enough in the day that they should be playing, especially since the rain, at least, has stopped.
At the house, Chisa squirms to be let down, and while she's still wobbly, she at least has the balance to punch in the security code, then duck around the fence to find the key itself, just where it had always been. Thankfully, just keeping herself upright and going is enough (for now) to distract herself from her own uneasiness.
Once she has the key, it's only a short walkway up to the door, and then she's unlocking it to let them inside. ]
Sorry for the intrusion...
[ She says it automatically, but the house is empty, as she'd expected. Thank goodness. It's a pretty nice place, more Western in its decor and furnishing, and so at least it's a nice place for them to hole up for a while. ]
no subject
Date: 2018-06-12 09:48 pm (UTC)[Juzo isn't one to worry that much about breaking and entering in an emergency, but this feels wrong for different reasons than the legality. The atmosphere inside is oppressively silent. That doesn't make any sense . . . it's exactly as silent as would be expected of a home where the owners are out of town. what else had he expected? No, it's the atmosphere outside that has him on edge. The neighborhood's unnatural lack of activity throws the entire world off-color. Straining his ears—and honestly, not even that much—he can hear the sounds of the world before they close the front door, but the background noise is hardly reassuring. Sirens, the occasional boom that he can't identify from this distance, but which carries with it the certainty of violence happening somewhere out there. It feels like they've stepped onto a movie set where someone forgot to hire any extras.
He swings the door closed and locks it.
Now that there's time to breathe, think, and talk, he doesn't know what to say. At least breathing takes up a lot of his concentration right now: his ribs hurt, though he's almost certain they're not broken. Just bruised enough to constantly nag at his side. Juzo focuses on getting in some air, watching the other two helplessly. Some part of him still wants to believe that one of them will suddenly come out with something that will undo this whole situation—a secret code word that will summon exactly the right invincible authorities to make the problem go away and put everyone in jail within minutes, the way a kid believes calling 119 works.
Damn, isn't he supposed to be one of those authorities now . . . ? Hiding out away from the danger zone with these two?
He lets out an unhappily amused snort, then winces when that twinges his rib again.]
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Date: 2018-06-13 03:41 am (UTC)[Now that they are in relative safety, Kyosuke scans the foyer before moving further into the house; he doesn't want to lead them further in without getting his bearings. There appear to be few places that could be reasonable hiding spots in the living room, and the compact kitchen has little visible mess on the counters. He tries his phone as he returns to the foyer, not surprised to find it still unresponsive.]
Let's move away from the foyer for now. Rest while we can.
[He knows they should try to save more students, but they could be walking to their deaths if they didn't rest and prepare beforehand. It's already bad enough that he's pushing Chisa after she was literally tortured earlier in the day.
The reminder has him quietly reaching out for her hand, a shadow of worry descending over his face.]
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Date: 2018-06-13 04:13 am (UTC)[ She starts when Kyousuke's hand brushes hers, but then she grabs it back, clinging more tightly than she wants to admit. Her fingers, usually so warm, are now icy to the touch. Without thinking about it, she drifts a little closer to him, though she turns her head at the sound of Juzo's snort, soon enough to see that wince. ]
Sakakura-kun, are you okay?
[ On the one hand, it's a stupid question to ask. Nothing's okay right now, and Chisa herself still feels like she's teetering on the edge of breaking. What she wants to do, more than anything, is curl up on some stupidly large bed with the both of them, in the same half-pile they'd made back in the infirmary... but now isn't the time to ask for that. Even under better circumstances, Kyousuke's reserved nature would have her hesitating, and now, it just feels like selfish indulgence to ask.
Still, if Juzo's hurt... there's no blood on him, at least, which is a small blessing. ]
There's a first-aid kit in the bathroom, if you need it...
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Date: 2018-06-13 05:02 am (UTC)[Be fine.
But he turns just then and catches the two of them holding hands, Chisa shifting closer to Kyosuke. In this situation, his sense of jealousy is still a little deadened; it feels like a dull ache rather than a sharp pang. He can't hold it against Chisa. God, not now of all times. There's the niggling feeling in the back of his head of being an intruder in a much less literal sense than the one all three of them are right now, in this man's house: now that they're safe and resting, however temporarily, Chisa deserves a moment along with Kyosuke. Maybe a hug and a kiss to make her feel better. Things they can't or won't do in front of Juzo.
God, he hates himself for thinking about that at all right now, but it's hard to shove away entirely when he's confronted with it.
He turns away again and begins to head to the back of the house.]
. . . go take care of it. You two take care of yourselves too.
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Date: 2018-06-13 08:18 pm (UTC)Join us when you're finished, Sakakura.
[His eyes continue to follow Juzo for a moment longer before he focuses on Chisa, his grip still firm despite how cold her hand is. He moves slowly to right her when she sways.]
...You must be exhausted. Do you want to lie down again?
[He looks over his shoulder back to the living room, then further into the house, before making a decision. A bed would be preferable over a couch, and the living room felt uncomfortably close to the front door and the possible dangers outside.]
I think your former client will forgive using his bed, under these circumstances.
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Date: 2018-06-13 10:01 pm (UTC)[ Her voice is a low murmur, almost distracted. She's not terribly surprised to feel her anxiety spike again when Juzo disappears from sight; in a world slowly going mad, of course she's going to feel best when she has them both within sight. It'd be nice if they could both be within arm's reach, but Juzo's habit of holding himself distant can apparently survive even a disaster like this.
She wets her lips in a quick nervous gesture, then bites the lower one hard enough that it hurts. It's a dull pain, but also grounding. In a way, it's a relief to have something physical, something that feels more real than the things she still sees when she closes her eyes. ]
Kyousuke... if I do, will you stay with me?
[ She feels stupid asking for that; she's a grown adult woman, and she's entirely capable of being on her own. There's a part of her that is mulling over the long months of his absence, and how lonely and hollow she's felt without him. What if he says no? What if he's still got things to do?
(Then she'll dwell, she knows; she'll linger over that and pick the metaphorical scab wider and wider until it's bleeding along with everything else.)
As she asks this, she tugs at his hand, leading him down the hallway to the master bedroom, then pushing the door open. Even if he doesn't want to, she can at least show him where she'll be. ]
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Date: 2018-06-13 10:20 pm (UTC)A situation that could be a whole lot worse, all things considered, but no, it's only Juzo. The master bedroom is attached to the master bath, where the first aid kit had been, so after grabbing the kit from the medicine cabinet, he'd headed into the bedroom with it. He's not bleeding, and he'd like to lie down for at least a minute to give his ribs a rest, so this is as good a place as any to take a good look at the damage.
Right now he's standing in front of the bedroom's full-length mirror with his shirt off, breaking the seal on the chemical cold pack that he'd been hoping he'd find in the first aid kit. He can see the bruising beginning on his side, but nothing else looks broken or out of place; there's not much to do except ice the area and prop himself up and rest it for a while. When the door swings open, he turns sharply just in case they'd been followed by someone after all . . . but they're behind multiple locks and a security system, and he needs to chill out. Juzo sighs, his bruised side expanding and contracting in the dim bedroom light, and sets about bandaging the cold pack to his ribs.]
Everything okay? You didn't find anything suspicious out there?
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Date: 2018-06-14 12:15 am (UTC)Juzo's presence in the bedroom staves off any awkwardness from him not replying, and he quietly ushers Chisa over to sit on the bed while he looks over at their friend. While he can't see bruising or open injuries from his vantage point, it's pretty clear that Juzo is also in need of rest.]
Besides what we saw as we entered, nothing. For now.
[Kyosuke looks to the bedroom windows, shrouded by curtains. The quiet is so disconcerting that the sound of a police siren would not be unwelcome.
He shivers a little, startling himself as he recalls they were running through the rain and of course his suit jacket wouldn't do well against it. He releases Chisa's hand long enough to peel off his jacket, setting it on the bedside table while speaking to her.]
I'm sorry. I haven't asked this entire time how you're doing.
[They've literally been following him across and off campus without complaint.]
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Date: 2018-06-14 12:43 am (UTC)And Kyousuke too; she's seen him dressed down and casual, but almost never with other people around. Juzo's presence is both familiar and strange in this moment. She's reminded again of her earlier, out of place desires... but it's almost a relief in this context. It's because of these two, and maybe some lingering adrenaline, not watching children forced into a murder spree and being forced to confront whatever awful appeal that might have...
She swallows hard, wringing her hands. ]
I'm -- I'm fine, really.
[ It doesn't sound any more convincing than any other time she's tried to hide feeling bad. She's glad to be sitting. However: ]
S, Sakakura-kun, though, that looks pretty bad...
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Date: 2018-06-14 05:29 am (UTC)[It's all in a day's work for him, getting pummeled and bruised. It just usually involves fists in controlled entertainment circumstances. Not people trying to kill him and his people with a pipe.
The thought runs through his head and brings a frown to his lips. Once the ice pack is bandaged on, he sits shirtless on the edge of the bed, leaning on his knees, looking helplessly up at the two of them. He'd heard Chisa's little squeak of surprise, and he can't parse it other than just her being jumpy. It makes a horrible sense after everything. All three of them look small right now, weak and soaked. Like normal people. Kids who got in over their heads.
He heaves a sigh.]
Yukizome, don't give us that. I can get out of here so you can lie down. After what happened to you . . .
[Juzo shakes his head. The rest doesn't need to be said.]
And you, Munakata, take a hot shower and change before you come down with something. Even rich assholes like this must have a bathrobe you can borrow.
[His brain is caught up at the image, trying to decide whether it has the mental energy to be excited by the thought of Kyosuke stepping out of the shower and into a fluffy robe, or if he's too dead inside to manage a thrill at it.]
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Date: 2018-06-15 05:29 am (UTC)It's almost funny how well he can compartmentalize issues, prioritizing others and delaying his own emotions and needs in the process. Things had deteriorated so quickly in Hope's Peak that he'd completely set aside his jetlag.]
I would rather not cause more noise than necessary... [It's as close as he's come to admitting he's unsettled by how quiet it is. It's almost like the entire neighborhood--people and animals all--got up and migrated to another part of the city while the riots were happening.
Still. Maybe he should at least change out of his clothes. They couldn't afford dealing with him getting sick on top of everything else.]
...But you're right, Sakakura. Things aren't going to improve if we ignore our own needs.
[He gives his friends a reluctant look before standing and heading over to look at what is apparently the homeowner's walk-in closet.]
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Date: 2018-06-15 05:32 pm (UTC)[ She hunches her shoulders a little, lacing her fingers together into a white-knuckled grip. It's either that or grab again for either of them, and Juzo had a good point about Kyousuke taking care of himself. For the most part, his facade has held up well, but it's true that looking at him, she can see the cracks in it.
And a part of her thinks: it'd be so easy to dig her fingers in and pry them open, leave him exposed and raw and broken. Once he fell, then it'd be easy to do the same to Juzo, and that would leave her--
Ugh. She shakes her head fiercely and takes a breath. Why do these thoughts keep coming back? What had that video done to her? ]
Y, you don't have to go anywhere, Sakakura-kun, I...
[ It's embarrassing to admit. Even to Juzo (and Kyousuke, if he's in hearing range). He could easily say no, and while it might be more gentle than he would to someone else, it's still enough of a possibility that her stomach twists with the idea.
But if she can't ask now, can she ever? ]
I, um. I, please... please stay?
[ She hates how small and weak her voice sounds by the end of it, and she ducks her head for a few seconds, her voice shaky as she forces herself to give him an out: ]
Ahh, but, if you need your own space, that's okay too, n, never mind! Don't worry, I'm fine--
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Date: 2018-06-15 09:29 pm (UTC)When Chisa begins to stammer, Juzo has the fleeting urge to cover her mouth with his hand; he doesn't do it, because now's hardly the time to begin new jokes or playfully violent physicality between them. He lifts his hand, though, and frowns at her. It's fine, his ass.]
Don't give me that. . . . I didn't think you'd want me intruding on you two, but if you really mean that, I'll stay. You think I have anywhere better to be?
[It's both flippant, and a little more earnest than he meant to let slip. Of course he doesn't have anywhere better to be when the world's apparently going to shit outside. But would he anyway? Has he ever had anything he'd rather be doing more than being with these two? That open wound of tenderness crosses his face for just a moment as he looks between the two of them, and then away again.]
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Date: 2018-06-27 04:41 am (UTC)He glances back into the main bedroom as he listens to Chisa and Juzo talk. The comment about 'intruding' is what spurs him to rejoin them.]
I would prefer we stay together, if simply so we are all here should something happen. [His eyes wander to the closed curtains, a conflicted feeling of wanting--and yet not wanting--to know what was going on outside.]
...It would put my mind at ease, at least. Having both of you here.
[There. Have it all out there.]
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Date: 2018-06-27 04:51 am (UTC)[ Thank goodness for Kyousuke taking charge here, too. She relaxes a little when he says that, because even if Juzo will argue with her, he (probably) won't with Kyousuke. And if it means he'll stay, she'll seize on that opportunity.
Maybe a bit literally, in fact. She leans closer to Juzo, reaching out to catch hold of his wrist. It's more timid than she would be normally; once upon a time (before today!) she wouldn't have thought twice about grabbing his arm or pulling at him. Maybe she wouldn't have tried to pull him into a hug or anything more affectionate than a bit of play tussling, but she doesn't think she would be quite so uncertain about it, before. ]
It's not intruding. I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it... you've never been an intrusion.
[ Has he thought that before? That explains a lot. And once upon a time, Chisa had taken advantage of that just a little, with her own insecurities about him and Kyousuke, but that all feels pointless now. She just wants to have them both with her, as close as possible. ]
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Date: 2018-06-27 10:51 pm (UTC)Tch.
. . . Sorry. Right now, you guys shouldn't be worried about that kinda crap. There's enough else going on, giving me a pep talk shouldn't be on your list of shit to do. I wasn't trying to . . .
[His embarrassment is still catching up to him. Finally, he just trails off, lifting his head to look between Kyosuke and Chisa and then away again.]
. . . I'd rather be here with you too.
[Juzo's out of practice being earnest, or admitting to those feelings, as stupid as that is. And he does recognize the stupidity. What kind of moron has trouble saying they want to spend time with their friends in a crisis? Chisa's hand feels so warm and comforting on his wrist, but he can't bring himself to take it in his own hand and hold it.]
Honestly, I'd lose it if anything happened to you guys, plus I don't trust anyone else to look after you anyway.
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Date: 2018-06-28 02:10 am (UTC)[Kyosuke offers an ironic tilt of the head as he moves over to sit on the bed, situating himself at the end so he can look over at Juzo and Chisa across the short distance. He's glad to see both of them relaxing somewhat, temporarily leaving behind the horrors they had ran through on the way to the house.]
There's nothing wrong with worrying about each other, regardless of the circumstance. Worry can be a strong motivator.
[It could be paralyzing and drive one into indecision, or encourage intense focus. He liked to think they all fell into the latter category.]
In any case, if we all stay together, I can ensure that both of you actually rest. You two certainly need it.
[More so than him.]
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Date: 2018-06-28 03:09 am (UTC)[ She rallies a little at that; it puts a bit more life back into her voice. She rarely scolds him too much, but she does frown, her fingers tightening reflexively on Juzo's wrist. It'd be nice if she could hold his hand, but she isn't quite ready to take that step herself. Maybe if she holds onto him long enough, he'll take the hint. ]
You were traveling. Did you come straight to Hope's Peak from the airport? That's pushing yourself too hard, Munakata-kun. It's no good if you overdo it.
[ She gives Juzo an entreating look. He understands, right? Surely he'll be on her side on this, even if he's even more reluctant to criticize Kyousuke than she is. When it comes to taking care of him, he's the only other person who can match her. ]
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