[Action] - Back home!

[rubyeyes_ryuhou]

[Ryuhou stumbles into the town square, ignoring the... frills decorating the place and the revelers around the fountain. He looks dirty and his clothes are torn, but more than that, his brow is furrowed in concentration.]

I... I can't...

[A flicker of kaleidoscope light rushes over his body, and a small tree explodes into dust, a small crystal falling to the ground in its place.]


[OOC: Unaffected by event due to Mallynapping, btw.]

Comments

[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

I'll be fine. [He doesn't look up.]

Thank you. [barely audible]

[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[He nods and makes a noncommittal sound, possibly an acknowledgement, then turns and leaves the cave.]

....................................

[A few hours later, he returns dragging a sled with all sorts of stuff piled on it: food, extra blankets, a couple of duffel bags with extra clothing for them both, a couple of cooking pots and eating utensiles, and any other incidentals they'll need for the next few days.]

Looks like you ain't caved the roof in yet, anyways.

[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

[Ryuhou has managed not to bring the cave down on top of his head, though there are several large chunks missing from the walls. He's moved closer to the fire, wrapped tightly in the blankets, the pendant tucked away in his clothes. He lifts his head as Kazuma enters.]

I've done my best.

[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[Another non-committal grunt as he starts unloading the sled, stacking everything more or less neatly against the cavern walls. After he finishes with that, he takes one of the pots and heads outside to fill it with snow, returns and sets the pot near the fire. While that's melting, he takes a couple of the blankets and spreads them out on the ground across from Ryuhou before lowering himself to the ground and stretching out on them.]

So. What'd they do to you? You remember?

[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

[He's a bit surprised that Kazuma is talking to him, but he pulls himself to a sitting position, wrapping a blanket around his shoulders.]

I don't remember much. They tested my Alter... I wasn't even conscious for parts of it. I think they might have been trying to access the Other Side.

[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[Kazuma would be willing to talk to Mujo Kyouji if he had the information he wanted.]

Tch. Always seems to come down to that, don't it? If that could get 'em outta here, don't they think we'd already be out?

[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

I don't know. I think they just like torturing us in any way they can, and this is something unique.

[He stares down at his hands, noticing that the scars have become darker and more pronounced.]

They've done worse to me, anyway.

[He glances back up at Kazuma.] They haven't taken you yet, have they?

[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[Raises an eyebrow at that. He can't imagine anything worse than screwing up his Alter--and if there is something worse, he's not sure he wants to know what that is.]

[Shakes his head] Not yet. So I still got that to look forward to.

I keep hearing 'em over the journals, though--people getting waylaid...trying to fight...calling for help. Whatever happens, happens damn fast, doesn't it?

[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

[He nods, looking at Kazuma seriously.] Yes, it's fast and you don't even get a chance to fight back. I've tried... others have tried. [He smiles just faintly.] I expect that you'll fight, when they come for you. But it'll be the same.

The thing is... it's not the worst thing when they take you. It's worse when they take your friends, because there's nothing you can do to help them until they come back.

[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[He just nods at Ryuhou's first comment. Of course he'll fight--even if he knows there's no chance of winning. At the second part, however, he just looks a bit grim.]

What about staying on the move? Anybody tried that? Does it work? I mean, I know it'd be impossible to move everybody in the town around, but hell, it's a starting point.

[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

I'm fairly certain they track our every move here. They've taken people from places other than their homes... it seems nowhere is safe. It might be worth a try, but I suspect it will be futile.

[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

Hn. [Ponders on that for a moment] You know how they trace us? And is it anything we can do something about?