[Well, it takes a bit-but he does eventually call back.]
Adachi-san?
[Gosh, he sounds tired...but then again, he probably had every right to be. He'd heard about the other getting killed by the same crazy bastard that slit his own throat open, so...]
Did you just get back?
[Like dying's an unexpected trip, instead of...well, death.]
That's one way of putting it. I guess you must've gotten back a little while before I did, huh? ...Man, I'm sorry. I would've tried calling you sooner, but...
[But yeah. He got sent on an unexpected vacation. He could almost laugh at how morbid it all sounds but decides against it.]
Hey, don't apologize. It's not like you could've stopped that guy, right?
[Considering he'd been killed by the same guy, right in front of-
-wait shit.]
-People didn't think you killed me, did they?
[From the sudden shock in his voice, it's apparent that he didn't want Adachi to be blamed at all. In his panic, he'd just run as fast as he could-and found himself heading towards the police station automatically. He didn't even think-and now, he has to wonder exactly what he thought Adachi would have been able to do.
[That's the thing that eats him up the most about all this. He could've. He's sure he could've taken that fucker out and yet here he is, still stewing over what went wrong nearly a week after the fact. God, what a pain in the ass...]
...Some people had their suspicions. And given the circumstances, I don't entirely blame them for it. It'd be pretty hard for them not to jump to conclusions that quickly.
[Let the kid think that he's talking about where Kurosaki was found. Not about what Hanamura already knows about the detective.]
As for everyone else, though... [Another heavy sigh.] I dunno. I hope not.
[And Ichigo is just as sure that he couldn't. Sure, he didn't have his powers-but that guy had been like a damned force of nature, almost akin to a hollow like Shrieker who enjoyed hunting and killing. He'd been lucky to even run away with that horrible wound on his chest, honestly.
And of course, Yosuke hasn't said a single word to Ichigo about the horrible person Adachi really is. So of course....he automatically assumes that's what the detective is talking about.]
...If anyone's still suspicious of you, tell me. I'll set them straight.
[There's a determined note in those words-he honestly would go up to bat for Adachi, no questions asked. That's the kind of loyalty Ichigo gives to people when he's determined he can trust them, after all.]
[There's a bit of silence on the other end of the line, as though Adachi's not quite sure what to say in response to that. Even now, Kurosaki's so quick to defend him from just about anyone...
When he finds his voice again, he'll manage a shaky:]
Sure, kid. Will do. ...Thanks.
[Oh, Ichigo. You make this all too easy.]
I just wish there was more I could've done for you back there, y'know?
...Don't worry about it. Guess we both got kinda caught off-guard.
[Another awkward pause.]
Listen, er... If it's not too much trouble, you think I could stop by for a bit? Just to catch up some more. Sounds like we could both use the company.
[Rude, he didn't even manage to say goodbye-but eh. Adachi must really want to see him in person-
WAIT SHIT. He didn't even manage to warn the older man about his eyes! Dammit...was this going to be a repeat of when he met up with Yosuke?
...Ah well. No doubt the detective's seen worse in his line of work.
So when Adachi comes along, Ichigo will be sitting on the porch of the house he stays at-eyelids shut, but with his head up, turning his head every so often to see if he can hear Adachi approaching.]
[Oh, he'll be pretty easy to spot. I mean, have you ever heard the guy whistle before? ...no? Because that's what he's doing now as he makes his way to Ichigo's house: whistling a little ditty to himself, though he stops mid-melody once he catches sight of the kid, giving him a friendly wave.]
Yo!
[It's good to finally see him alive again, means that's one less mess he has to worry about.]
[Ah, that's hard to miss. Ichigo smiles, standing (while keeping a hand against the building, in order to keep himself grounded) and turning his face towards Adachi, waving back.]
Adachi-san!
[He's a little hesitant to move forward, since while he could hear Adachi before, well...He's had his share of bumping into things or falling down, and he'd rather not repeat it in front of someone he actually likes.]
[The smile only wavers slightly as he finally reaches Kurosaki. The kid's eyes have stayed glued shut this whole time and he looks a little shaky on his feet. Probably wouldn't hurt to ask.]
[Yeaaaah, he's not opening his eyelids-at least, that was his intention. But as he moves to greet Adachi, his foot catches on an upraised board.]
Whoa-!
[Hey Adachi, are your reflexes good? Because you have someone flying in your direction from tripping-and you get to see his empty sockets because he opened his eyelids in surprise!
[Adachi quickly moves to keep Kurosaki from hitting the ground and - and - Sorry, kiddo, but he can't quite keep himself from screaming a little, even after he's caught you.]
What the hell?! What - [He brings his voice back down to something a bit lower - kid's probably just as freaked out as he is.] What happened to you...?
[-Ah. Looks like Adachi got a glimpse of his eyes. While he's grateful for the help, he's already feeling bad for freaking the detective out. Getting his feet back under him, he steadies himself and scratches the back of his head.]
[For the record, he just looks...slightly uncomfortable. He doesn't want anyone's pity, not for the loss of his eyes. It was going to be difficult to get around without sight, but he could do it-and it was his problem, so he wasn't going to look for help unless it was on his terms.
And if he were being honest...it affected him far more than he'd admit to. He was still worried about how he was going to get around, if this made him a burden to the people around him or even more useless than he already was-
So he does what he's always done-put on the mask, pretend like it doesn't matter to him at all. Like being blind is just something he's easily taken in stride, a minor annoyance than the life-changer it really was.]
[When he'd said he wished there was more he could've done for Kurosaki, Adachi wasn't exactly imagining a scenario like this in mind. But... the kid says he's fine. So Adachi won't press the matter any further for now.]
Y-Yeah.
[Let's hope they don't. But somehow Adachi doubts they'll be that merciful. Seriously, yeesh.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
July 2nd | Voicemail
[There's a weary sigh from the other end of the line.]
Sorry, just - just gimme a call or something when you get this, okay? ...Seeya.
permavoice
Adachi-san?
[Gosh, he sounds tired...but then again, he probably had every right to be. He'd heard about the other getting killed by the same crazy bastard that slit his own throat open, so...]
Did you just get back?
[Like dying's an unexpected trip, instead of...well, death.]
Permavoice
[But yeah. He got sent on an unexpected vacation. He could almost laugh at how morbid it all sounds but decides against it.]
no subject
[Considering he'd been killed by the same guy, right in front of-
-wait shit.]
-People didn't think you killed me, did they?
[From the sudden shock in his voice, it's apparent that he didn't want Adachi to be blamed at all. In his panic, he'd just run as fast as he could-and found himself heading towards the police station automatically. He didn't even think-and now, he has to wonder exactly what he thought Adachi would have been able to do.
Ah well. Hindsight's a bitch.]
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...Some people had their suspicions. And given the circumstances, I don't entirely blame them for it. It'd be pretty hard for them not to jump to conclusions that quickly.
[Let the kid think that he's talking about where Kurosaki was found. Not about what Hanamura already knows about the detective.]
As for everyone else, though... [Another heavy sigh.] I dunno. I hope not.
no subject
And of course, Yosuke hasn't said a single word to Ichigo about the horrible person Adachi really is. So of course....he automatically assumes that's what the detective is talking about.]
...If anyone's still suspicious of you, tell me. I'll set them straight.
[There's a determined note in those words-he honestly would go up to bat for Adachi, no questions asked. That's the kind of loyalty Ichigo gives to people when he's determined he can trust them, after all.]
no subject
When he finds his voice again, he'll manage a shaky:]
Sure, kid. Will do. ...Thanks.
[Oh, Ichigo. You make this all too easy.]
I just wish there was more I could've done for you back there, y'know?
no subject
Don't mention it.
[A pause, and then-]
It's alright, Adachi-san. I'm sure you did what you could-and that's enough for me.
[He gives a soft tch.]
I'm just sorry that the bastard that got me went for you, too.
no subject
[Another awkward pause.]
Listen, er... If it's not too much trouble, you think I could stop by for a bit? Just to catch up some more. Sounds like we could both use the company.
no subject
Although...he'll let the detective learn about his whole eye situation when he comes over.]
Ah? Yeah, sure-it's not a problem. Sounds pretty good, actually-want me to wait outside for you?
[Because, well...he's pretty hard to miss.]
no subject
[Click.]
action!!
WAIT SHIT. He didn't even manage to warn the older man about his eyes! Dammit...was this going to be a repeat of when he met up with Yosuke?
...Ah well. No doubt the detective's seen worse in his line of work.
So when Adachi comes along, Ichigo will be sitting on the porch of the house he stays at-eyelids shut, but with his head up, turning his head every so often to see if he can hear Adachi approaching.]
no subject
Yo!
[It's good to finally see him alive again, means that's one less mess he has to worry about.]
no subject
Adachi-san!
[He's a little hesitant to move forward, since while he could hear Adachi before, well...He's had his share of bumping into things or falling down, and he'd rather not repeat it in front of someone he actually likes.]
no subject
You doing okay?
no subject
[Yeaaaah, he's not opening his eyelids-at least, that was his intention. But as he moves to greet Adachi, his foot catches on an upraised board.]
Whoa-!
[Hey Adachi, are your reflexes good? Because you have someone flying in your direction from tripping-and you get to see his empty sockets because he opened his eyelids in surprise!
That's fun, right?]
no subject
[Adachi quickly moves to keep Kurosaki from hitting the ground and - and - Sorry, kiddo, but he can't quite keep himself from screaming a little, even after he's caught you.]
What the hell?! What - [He brings his voice back down to something a bit lower - kid's probably just as freaked out as he is.] What happened to you...?
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...I came back like this.
[From the dead, he means.]
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[Fucked up. That's seriously, seriously fucked up. But the word he'll settle for instead is:]
- twisted. [Another shaky breath.] Whoever's in charge up there must have a pretty sick sense of humor.
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[For the record, he just looks...slightly uncomfortable. He doesn't want anyone's pity, not for the loss of his eyes. It was going to be difficult to get around without sight, but he could do it-and it was his problem, so he wasn't going to look for help unless it was on his terms.
And if he were being honest...it affected him far more than he'd admit to. He was still worried about how he was going to get around, if this made him a burden to the people around him or even more useless than he already was-
So he does what he's always done-put on the mask, pretend like it doesn't matter to him at all. Like being blind is just something he's easily taken in stride, a minor annoyance than the life-changer it really was.]
But-don't worry about it. I'll be fine.
[He shakes his head.]
I just hope they don't do this to anyone else.
no subject
Y-Yeah.
[Let's hope they don't. But somehow Adachi doubts they'll be that merciful. Seriously, yeesh.]