[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]

[Ryuhou nods his thanks toward Kazuma, though he won't say it aloud. He glances down at the girl, still holding her hand, as though seeing her for the first time.] Who are you?

[kickinabout.livejournal.com]

My name's Lilynette. Nice to meetcha.

[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[He grins over at Lilynette] Yeah, she's my color consultant. [Nope, he's not gonna explain that, Ryuhou; however--much as he dislikes the prospect, he does take the arm Lilynette's not holding onto and pulls it around his own shoulders, helping to support Ryuhou's weight. Bleh.]

We'll get you stashed somewhere first, then I'll come back and get whatever supplies you need, and stuff. That work?

[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

Good to meet you too.

[Ryuhou won't even ask about the 'color consultant' bit, assuming it's a private joke. He leans almost gratefully on Kazuma's shoulder despite his best efforts not to do so, and takes a shuddering breath. Kazuma's touch seems to ground him, the presence and feel of another Alter-user helping to stabilize his control.]

I hope that doesn't mean I'll need him around all the time...

[Keeping that thought to himself, he nods in the direction of the mountains.] That's fine with me.

[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[Blissfully unaware of Ryuhou's thoughts, Kazuma just nods and heads off in the general direction of the mountains, keeping his pace slow enough so that Ryuhou doesn't have any difficulty keeping up. He doesn't want to end up carrying the jackass, after all.]

When we get closer, let me know where the hell we're supposed to go.

[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

[Ryuhou nods, talking taking too much concentration at the moment. He seems to be gaining strength as they walk, however, and guides Kazuma toward the correct cave. He glances back a few times to see Lilynette following.]

It's... easier. With you here. Your Alter... must be helping. [He says this softly, hoping Kazuma will understand. The Alter light has been quiet for the past few minutes, in any case.]

[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[Once they reach the cave in question, he gets Ryuhou inside and dumps him on the floor eases him down onto the floor. He looks a little surprised at Ryuhou's comment.]

Yeah? Huh. [He gets Ryuhou's meaning--and is more than a little disturbed. This definitely isn't his idea of a good time...but if it keeps the jackass from blowing up half of Luceti, he supposes he can make the sacrifice. Of course...he's not gonna just come out and say that, but Ryuhou will probably get the idea when he comes back with bedrolls and supplies for the both of them.]

So, anything in particular you want me to bring back? Or just, y'know, the usual stuff?

[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

[Ryuhou looks around the semi-empty cave... Leto didn't live with much, out here. There are a few blankets against one wall, but that's all.]

Just the usual things will be fine. [He smiles faintly, slumping against the cold stone, his eyes closing.] Just like... fighting the mainland. Back home.

[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[Kazuma spots the small pile of blankets and grabs a couple and tosses them over Ryuhou's head. It's pretty cold in the cave, so he should probably make up a fire before he leaves. Fortunately, it appears that the mysterious Leto left some dried wood stacked up against one wall of the cave. He takes some and starts building a fire as close to the entrance as possible without being directly in the wind.]

[Laughs a little at Ryuhou's comment.] Yeah, good times, huh?

[rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com]

[Ryuhou groans and pulls the blankets off his head to cast a half-hearted glare in Kazuma's direction before sighing and wrapping himself up tightly.]

...I miss it. Home.

[He sighs and curls up tighter, frowning as something sharp pokes him in the side. After rummaging around a moment, he finds the pendant he once gave Leto (http://rubyeyes-ryuhou.livejournal.com/12353.html?thread=228161#t228161). Closing his eyes, he clutches it to his chest.]

And I miss him too...

[screw-the-rules.livejournal.com]

[Kazuma has survived too many of Ryuhou's glares to worry about this one, so he just goes on with building the fire.Once he has the wood laid, it takes him a little while to light it because all he has is a crappy little disposable lighter. ]

...Yeah. [Kazuma misses home just as much...but he really doesn't want to talk about it. It doesn't help; just makes everything seem farther away. Once he has the wood laid, it takes him a little while to light it because all he has is a crappy little disposable lighter. He finally manages it, however, and stands up.]

That fire should hold you awhile. Think you can keep from blowing the damn place up while I go get our supplies?

[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?