Week 2, Post-trial

[bladeisme]

[God. That trial was....something. Back at the live house, when he's finished talking to people, he flops down on one of the beds, burying his head in his hands and breathing in and out slowly.

All of this - Junko being a reaper, there being seven goddamn reapers- it's enough to make him want to scream, cry, or do both at the same time.

But he doesn't want to do that, so...He'll just stay like this, for the time being. At least, until someone disturbs him.]

Comments

[purrtagonist]

. . .

It isn't a matter of what I want to hear or not.

[this isn't about him. it's about Ichigo. this is Ichigo's journey, isn't it?]

In the beginning, I asked you to let me guide you towards your answers. Remember?

I just wish I knew how to help you find them.

[bladeisme]

...Maybe there aren't any answers in the end.

[Maybe there's only pain.]

...

I'm, uh - tired. I think - I'm going to sleep.

[He physically pulls away from Akira, not looking at him.

And pulling away from him emotionally, as well.]

Night, Akira.

[purrtagonist]

[ah. no. no, not yet. not after the week they've had]

[he reaches out, snagging Ichigo's sleeve with his hand]

Hey.

[he doesn't like forcing people to talk when they don't want to, but. . .?]

I'm here, all right? If you want to keep talking.

[bladeisme]

[For a second -

When he looks back, it's so very, very vulnerable. He looks at Akira with wide eyes, a gaze that speaks of a deep, old pain, a tiredness that feels years old, beyond what he's said happened to him.

But then he draws back, shakes his arm out of Akira's grasp, and turns away again, unnerved at how quickly his partner could make his drop his guard like that.

You're slipping, Ichigo.]

I, uh - I don't really...feel much like talking anymore.

[Get away get away get away get away don't get attached]

Maybe later.

Goodnight.

[And like that?

He slips away.]

[purrtagonist]

[and there's no stopping him this time around. even as Akira takes another step towards him, fingers outstretched, Ichigo is gone before he can say anything]

[. . .]

[but for a moment-- just. . . just one moment-- there was something in Ichigo's gaze that was different than anything Akira had seen before. something more genuine, but also something a little more worrying]

[. . . what was it?]