bladeisme | IC CONTACT FOR THE BOX // TEXT | VOICE

[oh - he answered after all. that's a relief. the delay is totally excusable.]

Um... not much. I'm out.

[...of jail, that is. and he knew he had to contact Ichigo as soon as he could, but now that he has, he doesn't know what to say. oh hey, I saw your disgusting and horribly mangled body last week?]

...How are you?

Glad to hear it.

[Really, he is. Maybe Adachi did the same thing he'd done for Ichigo? At least, that's what Ichigo'll think, anyway.

But...there's a definite silence as Yosuke asks that. How does he explain what's happened to him? You can't just casually mention hey, I have no eyes in conversation, and he's sure Yosuke is tired of hearing about bad shit happening to him.

The thought of the other teen having seen what happened to him doesn't even cross his mind-because why would Adachi let Yosuke out of his cell?]

I'm, uh....fine. Just...settling in again.

...You?

Could be better. [he says with a bitter laugh. until about an hour ago, he hadn't eaten in two days.

there's a pause.]

Uh... question.

Most people don't arrive here on, like... the same calender day that it was back home, right? Like you could be walking around in the middle of winter, and find yourself here now, in June.

So, like... if someone's birthday passes according to the calender here, but it would have actually happened weeks and weeks ago if you were counting the same days back home, which is the real birthday?

[yes, a very, very random question to bring up as their first topic of conversation after everything that happened this month. but maybe, something so off-topic is exactly what they need.]

[Well that's random as hell, bro. Ichigo actually has to stop and think about it- it had been a little easier for him, being around when they went ahead one whole year.

But honestly, it's a lot more fun to think about than any of the other shit they've both so recently been in.]

Huh. I...actually don't know. I was just going by the time here, since...

[Well. They're all stuck here.]

So I'd have to say if it passes here, it's your real birthday.

Why'd you ask?

Well, my birthday passed when I was in jail. According to this place's calender.

[yeah... lots of fun that was.]

But, I wasn't sure if it was my birthday anyway. After I thought about it, I realized I turned eighteen weeks ago and didn't know it.

Wait, really?

[That sucks....but it does get him thinking a little.

Maybe doing something a little lighter wouldn't be so bad-and it'd distract them for a while.

...Yes, he has forgotten that he neglected to tell Yosuke about his eyes. Blame his eagerness to maybe do something that isn't tempered with horror or sorrow or guilt.]

...Hey-are you still near northtown?

[He should probably explain, whoops.]

I mean...we could hang out, or something. There's not a lot of supplies around, but...at least we could kind of celebrate it.

Um... sure.

[He sounds just as hesitant about it as Ichigo does, but it's really not a bad idea.

He desperately wants to see his friend again, anyway. Alive this time.]

Is it... is it safe to eat the wildlife yet? I could go for a steak, or the closest thing we can get to it.

[He's trying to make it sound like a joke, but he doesn't come off like he's joking.

If only Chie were here.]

...I don't really think so. Sorry.

[Unfortunately, Ichigo thinks he's entirely serious. Whoops.]

But....I do still have some chocolate I found.

[And that he was rationing, but. Yosuke, you don't understand how much that says he likes you. He's willing to share his chocolate. ...Even if he does try to play it off like he just found it because liking chocolate isn't manly.]

...Chocolate?

[alright. they're both Japanese kids. and I don't think either of them have an equivalent for "no homo."

but if they did, Yosuke would be screaming it into Ichigo's ear through a megaphone right now.]

Sure, um, I guess. Better than eating that poisonous gloop, right? Hah...

[Omg Yosuke it's not like he gave it to you on valentine's day, chill. He's trying to be nice because you've honestly been a pretty good friend so far.

....Or are you secretly worried about white day obligations.

At any rate, at hearing Yosuke's tone...he quickly tries to play it off.]

Yeah, yeah...I know, alright? But I found it, and...It's pretty much the only thing I've got that's remotely birthday like.

[Sorry but it's impossible for Yosuke to share chocolate with a guy and not get his gay panic panties all twisted up.]

...well, alright. Yeah, I guess something like that would be pretty rare around here.

Where are you? I'll come meet you.

[One day, Yosuke. One day we'll get rid of those panties because wow you really don't need them bro.

He tries to keep the relief out of his voice when he talks-because he's not entirely sure he could have made it to wherever Yosuke was. At least, not in a timely fashion.]

At my house-it's near the church. I'll be waiting outside, alright?

[And true to his word, he's out on the porch-sitting down, his eyelids closed like he's either trying to catch a nap or meditating or something. Nothing weird with that, right?]

[Alright, sounds like a ~~date~~ plan. Yosuke confirms and gives him a quick goodbye before heading out onto the main road. The church is a short walk away - it should only take him a few minutes.

As he approaches the general area, Yosuke scans the buildings along the street until he finally sees a fiery orange head of spiky hair. Smiling to himself, his footsteps quicken, and by the time he's jogged over, he's slightly out of breath.]

Hey! Ichigo! Man - man, is it ever good to see you. [Last time he saw Ichigo, he was bloody and mangled and dead. Oh, er, but they haven't brought that up yet, have they.] I mean, because... you know, because it's been a while.

[No, they haven't brought it up yet. Ichigo can't help but smile himself as he hears Yosuke's rapid footsteps towards him, standing to greet his friend.]

Yeah, it's been way too long.

[His eyes are still closed, though. And when they're this close, it's easier to see that his eyelids aren't rounded like they're supposed to be-no, they're flat.]

I don't know why you were kept in there longer than I was, though...But I guess Adachi-san had his reasons.

[.....y...yeah, did I mention Ichigo actually respects Adachi? because he does.]

[As Yosuke stands there, listening to Ichigo speak and watching his face, he notices that he's keeping his eyes closed, for some reason. And... his face looks kind of weird, too. Something is off about it... he can't quite put his finger on it.

He takes a step closer and peers at him.]

...um... are you okay?

[pause.]

What's up with your eyes?

[...He had to ask.

Ichigo pauses, sucking in a little breath.]

I...

[Shit. Okay, he really doesn't want to turn this into something all about him, but...well, he can't just keep Yosuke hanging.]

...I don't have them anymore.

Huh?

[Frowning, Yosuke leans in even closer to him, practically glaring at Ichigo's face, even though his friend won't be able to see it.

And then, realizing it's true -- that his eyelids actually look collapsed in -- because he has no eyes, because what other explanation could there even be for that --]

...Huh?! What the -- what the hell? How did that happen?! They screwed up bringing you back??

[What the fuck. It's stupid to ask how this could be possible when how bringing people back to life, period, should be impossible, but...]

Is that really a thing that can happen here?! [he sounds completely horrified. because he is.]

....I don't think this was a screw up.

[At least, that's what he thinks. There's a note of grim certainty in his voice as he speaks, shaking his head.]

I think they did this on purpose.

[His left hand rests on his scarred right arm, trying to draw Yosuke's attention to it.]

I mean, I came back with these before-It's pretty obvious that they can mess with us however they want.

[He's trying to sound like it doesn't effect him-like it's all fine, that he's perfectly okay without his eyes and no one needs to give him any pity because he's got it all figured out.

It's a lie, of course. But Ichigo doesn't want anyone to be worried over him, or worse....pity him.]

[A sickeningly uncomfortable feeling rises in Yosuke's gut when he sees those twisted scars on Ichigo's arm. He has something similar now, too - his body is stained now too, with the remains of a bullet wound on his chest and deep cut on his thigh. His friend is right... the technicians obviously don't have a perfect system for reviving the dead.

But... but that doesn't make any sense.]

Scars... scars are one thing.

You - you didn't lose your eyes though.

[He says it without thinking. Ichigo probably doesn't know Yosuke saw his mangled body. And even if he did, he probably doesn't know what a good look Yosuke got of his death mask - which definitely involve his eyes being frozen wide open. And fully intact.]

You're saying they brought you back blind for the hell of it? Like, no reason?

I didn't lose my-What are you talking about?

[That's a strange statement, Yosuke. Ichigo can't help but give you a strange look at that.

...Well, as much as a look can be considered strange while your eyelids are shut.]

And yeah, I think so. ...Unless this is a belated punishment for breaking the quarantine.

[Honestly, he wouldn't be surprised if that was also the case.]

...When you died.

[Uh, right. Yosuke has his own little traumatic moment that he failed to mention beforehand, too. He shifts his weight on his feet and looks away, brow furrowed. The expression on the face of Ichigo's dead body is something he'll never be able to forget. It takes all the self-control he can muster to push it out of his mind again.]

I saw you. And, you still had your eyes, so... so, it can't be the same as a scar...

[his voice trailed off. he really doesn't want to talk about the details if he doesn't have to, but he's worried about Ichigo. and himself.]

Belated punishment... [is something like that going to happen to Yosuke, too?]

[And that actually makes Ichigo's eyes widen-which has the unfortunate side effect of him lifting his eyelids.

...Sorry for the view, Yosuke.]

You...

[He's at a loss for words for a moment-at least, until he realizes his eyelids are open and quickly shuts them so Yosuke won't have to keep seeing the holes in his head.

Yosuke saw him like that...He's sure that must have been terrible.]

...I'm sorry. That you had to see that, I mean.

[But like his friend, he's more than willing to drop it. He doesn't want the grisly details either, considering that he had a good idea of how he must have looked.

At the very least, he picks up the worry in Yosuke's voice-and hastens to try to soothe it.]

It's alright. I think...I think it'll just be me, if that's what happened.

[Thankfully for them both, Yosuke doesn't see the holes where Ichigo's eyes were. He's staring down at the dirt, the cogs in his head turning - oiled with worry and confusion.

He had no idea the technicians did stuff like that. They generally didn't seem to single individual people out that much, and when they did, it was for the sake of scaring the shit out of everybody else. (See: the very murder they're talking about now.) This, on the other hand... this is an outright handicap, imposed permanently for all they knew. It just seems... different from usual. Is it really a punishment?]

I'm fine. I mean, you're the one who's - who's blind now. [sigh.] I guess... all we can do is just... hope that's it...

Yeah.

[Although...there was another option that had occured to him about his eyes being taken away. He hesitates, unsure if he should really mention it before deciding to just go for it.]

...But if it wasn't a punishment, then this means they did this for no reason.

[And that's a lot scarier to think about-that the bastards that keep them here can just decide to remove organs and body parts whenever they want. Somehow, that's worse than knowing that they purposefully want to make their captives suffer and die, because it's so much more...hands on.]

[Well - yeah. That's true. If it's not a punishment, then why take his eyes away? Other people don't get revived without body parts. Not as far as Yosuke knows. He's pretty sure he'd have heard about it if anyone had.

Yosuke scratches his chin and wonders. The cogs keep turning.]

... hey, how about that chocolate?

[When he speaks again, it's slow and quiet and distant, like he isn't exactly changing the subject. His foot crunches on the ground as he takes a step forward, and carefully, he pats Ichigo's shoulder with the grace of someone uncomfortably trying to help out a disabled person and not really knowing how.

Which... is... actually pretty accurate.]

Let's, um, sit down.

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