Fuda #42 [action/video]

[idealism]

[If anyone walks past house 25 today, they will notice that is looks dark and abandoned. On the front door, someone has nailed a piece of paper. It says:

Hisoka and I has moved to Community house 5, room 4 on the ground floor. Draco has gone home.

-Tsuzuki

[The room number is underlined twice.  He doesn't want anyone to come to the wrong part of the building by mistake. 

There are too many goodbyes. After a while the body simply doesn't have enough energy to grieve for all of them, no matter how much it wants to. Tsuzuki doesn't know how to deal with it just yet, but he does know that he needs to at least pretend things are fine.  That's why he takes his normal trip to the bakery and then to the temple during the rainy day.  Rei is nowhere to be found at the temple, which is a huge red flag to him.  She would have never left it without telling anyone.  He does his best to make the temple stay clean and welcoming while he waits for her to come back.

When he goes to his new home, he makes sure to bring some real green and some snacks for Hisoka, as a way to try to cheer him up.]

Sorry about the mess.  Do you want some help with the unpacking?

[Once he's hung his coat to dry, he opens his journal and presses the video function.]

I see we've gotten some more new people in town.  How are you all settling in?

Comments

[idealism]

[Despite himself, it makes him dare to be hopeful. Maybe he doesn't have to hide away from everyone. When he notices the faint blush, the small smile grows on his face. If anything, it convinces him that Eleytheria's desire to listen to him is genuine, and that kind of reassurance is exactly what he needs.]

I don't know where to start, Eley. So many have left.

[winds_voice]

It... must be difficult to see so many friends suddenly disappearing. Are you perhaps afraid of being alone?

[It would make sense. While being alone in some cases wasn't a bad thing, Eley was aware that humans were social creatures. They needed some degree of social contact for their own wellbeing. In a place where anyone could suddenly leave, that fear must be apparent surely.]

[idealism]

[He hasn't realized he's so obvious. A flicker of pain crosses his features, only to be replaced by a concerned hopelessness. He doesn't like being exposed. Not one bit.]

...

Maybe.

[He clears his throat.]

But that doesn't mean I'm alone. I have you, I have Hisoka, Rei... It just makes me sad when people I care about leave.

[winds_voice]

[Eley can see that. Even the word he chooses in answer is suspect; he's still not saying yes outright. Still, he doesn't persist. He doesn't really need to hear it after all.

The Spirit gives a nod.]

Of course, you are far from alone. Even so, you must always wonder just how long we will remain by your side. There is no way of knowing if and when any of us will be sent home. I admit that I would also feel rather... upset... should you or any other of my friends disappeared. Especially if it meant they would not remember me.

[idealism]

This place is cruel. It gives us friends and takes them away again. And the thought of them having their memory wiped... It destroys the only good thing about this place.

[Although he appreciates what Eley is doing for him, he nevertheless becomes defensive when he hears his opinions being spoken out loud.]

I'd be very sad if you went home soon, Eley.

[winds_voice]

I... hope that I would not leave just yet.

[He admits. He might not have said it before... he has a world to get back to after all, a duty to continue what he was made for and his own people to nurture as he was before he came here. But Luceti had opened his eyes to many new experiences and he had far more friends here than he did at home. To suddenly be taken from them and... remember nothing, was rather sobering to think about.]

There is still much I want to learn and experience, with others and with you, Tsuzuki. I am not ready to leave, and I am certainly not willing to forget.

[idealism]

[It's been some time since he's thought about the possibilities that are still left in town. He needs that kind of hope in his life, so he does the only natural thing: he tries to hold onto it.]

Let's try to both stay here, okay? If it's even possible.

[winds_voice]

[Eley wished he could agree to that with some conviction, but... he couldn't help but hesitate. He knew one day he would have to return home and Tsuzuki too. Could he really be willing enough to focus on staying here indefinitely?]

...one day I will have to return to Aether. Even if I have been told that my world is safe, I still cannot trust that that will always be the case. I am a part of that world and I must be present when I can.

However, I am not ready to return just yet. I will do whatever I can to remain here for as long as possible. As long as I have a purpose here then I will survive.

[idealism]

[They both know that one day they'd have to leave and go home. Then their memory will be erased and the friendship would cease to exist. Tsuzuki can't help but hope that maybe it was possible to make friendships that were stronger than Malnosso's ability to erase them. He has to believe in that.]

A purpose?

[winds_voice]

[Eley has similar thoughts. Even if they had to part ways one day he would hate to live without the memory of the many good experiences he had made here and of the friendships he had made. They had... changed him. For better or worse he couldn't be sure, but he didn't want to lose that and revert back to what he once was. Not anymore.]

When I am no longer needed I will fade away and cease to exist. Purpose is what keeps Spirits alive... We were born for a reason. I am... lucky I suppose in that I can find purpose in many things now.

[idealism]

[Tsuzuki's eyes darkens with emotion. Whenever people talk about dying he immediately becomes protective.]

I've said it before. I won't let you cease to exist. I need you here.

[winds_voice]

...need me?

[Okay he is somewhat surprised by that. It was one thing for someone to say they wanted him by his side but to need him?

He... might offer a small smile at those words.]

Thank you. I am sure no harm will come to me as long as you are here.

[idealism]

I wish I could protect you. I'm... I'm not strong like I used to be.

[He hated admitting it. It made him feel inferior. But the feeling is washed away by the faint smile on Eleytheria's face. Tsuzuki stopped in his tracks, suddenly feeling good and warm again.]

...Maybe we'd be stronger together.

[winds_voice]

You are already agreeing to protect me by suggesting that you will stay by my side. Spirits have simple needs. It does not matter how much physical strength you have.

[Eley tilts his head at that last comment though.]

You could be right. The strength of two is bound to be more than one alone.

[idealism]

I used to work with spirits when I was back home. I felt a lot stronger when I knew they trusted me and I trusted them.

[He looks to Eley, sweetness coloring his expression. Tsuzuki genuinely likes being around him, so he doesn't want to insult him.]

I'd really like to stay by your side. Will you stay by mine?

[winds_voice]

[Eley realises that perhaps his prior experience with spirits was why he felt so at ease around him. Part of the reason anyway. He knew it was more than that... just part of who he was.

He certainly didn't feel insulted. He'd never felt any source of disrespect from Tsuzuki in fact. And really when he thought about it, the answer to his question was simple.]

I know that if I were to pass you while you were in trouble, I would go to your aid whether you had asked me or not. I will not decline your help either. So... yes, I would like to stay with you, Tsuzuki.

[idealism]

[Tsuzuki can't help but feel touched. Someone in town actually really cares about him. Before he can think of the reasons why he feels the way he does, he wraps Eleytheria in a tight embrace.]

Thank you. Just... thank you.

[winds_voice]

[...the last thing Eley was expecting was for Tsuzuki to suddenly be hugging him tightly like that. To say he was shocked was perhaps an understatement but... he tries to relax. He has been trying to get used to this after all, right?

In fact... since this obviously means so much to his friend, he might hug him back, albeit rather more tentatively.]

I... You are welcome. [He wasn't exactly sure what else to say in this situation.]

[idealism]

[Eley's hug is tentative and unsure, and it makes Tsuzuki think that he hasn't gotten to hug many people in his life. Eleytheria clearly needs more hugs. That only makes him cling with more determination, burrowing his nose in his neck playfully, before slowly leaning back.]

I won't let you down.