unpocoloco | Daybreak IC Inbox

[She kind of just wants to hug him, but that seems awfully personal and invasive. Still, she hates that he looks so uncertain and ashamed. He's a good person. Anyone who would reject him for something like this would kick themselves for missing out on a warm and selfless friendship.]

I wanted to ask how it happened. Why you're here.

[She folds her fingers around her fist, shoulders hitching.]

If there's anything I can do to help. Things like that. ...And what your power actually is, since I have no idea anymore!

[He winces as she gets to the end of that.]

Oh, right...

[He looks down.]

I'm sorry. I lied to you. That was bad. And you don't have any reason to trust me but I swear I didn't lie about anything else but this.

[Which doesn't change the fact that he's lied to a kid. Again. His hand tightens around the cane handle.]

This is pretty much my whole power. I can change back and forth from normal to this. And I can do partial. As a skeleton, I can come apart a bit and still control and feel my limbs. And I guess... I can see ghosts too, but I was telling the truth when I said I didn't know I could do that. I guess I can't really tell them apart from the living.

Other than that... really, the main thing is that I get to be here. Dead, but not entirely. That's my power.

[Still not particularly useful in any way for the cause.]

When you say "how it happened", do you mean how I got like this? Or how I died? And by here do you mean at Daybreak? Or here here?

What's bad about that? It would be weird to expect you to introduce yourself to people as dead right from the start!

[She laughs a little as she says it.]

And it's not unusual to want people to know you for more than that. I'm sure you probably had plenty of bad experiences that made you feel like you had to hide that part of yourself. So you don't have to apologize to me. I understand.

[Orihime nods once. And with that said...]

Pretty much all of that! Are you stuck this way permanently, or do you have unfinished business that's keeping you here?

[He laughs a little nervously. It's sweet how she puts it, like it's just him feeling shy and self-conscious. Not like an active fear someone's going to put him down or otherwise get in the way when he tries to get back home.

His cane taps and traces a little on the floor. There's a need to fidget and no means to do so but this.]

Uh... well... I got sick. Really sick, really fast and uh... I didn't make it to the hospital. I kind of wound up in the outlands by accident. I don't know how, but that was where I died.

When I woke up, I was un esqueleto. There's others like me, but not a lot. We're pretty rare. We've talked a lot about why or how but we never really figured it out.

[He shrugs helplessly.]

For whatever reason, we've got a second chance. But it's not permanent. I'm still going to die for good one day. And... technically... no... nothing's actually keeping me here I don't think...

But...

[He falls silent for a moment. When his voice comes back, it's quiet.]

There's someone back back home. In Santa Cecelia. I miss her. So much. I've been trying to make it to her since before I died, but it's been hard. All I really want... is to see her again before my time runs out. I came to Daybreak because they got me out of a tight spot, wanted to study my blight, and I thought, if nothing else is working, maybe I could learn something here that would help me get home. So, here I am. I'm not really looking for a way to pass on. I want to see my girl.

[She folds her fingers over her mouth and furrows her brow in thought as she listens. That's definitely a strange experience! It sounds like he didn't suffer for very long at least, but that probably matters little.]

[Right now, she's thinking hard about what she can do. And an idea is starting to rapidly take root.]

How far is it? I'll fly you there.

[She lowers her hand to lay it over the other.]

They teach students to fly planes and helicopters, and I definitely plan to sign up for that! Once I'm good enough, I can practice by flying to your home. It's probably not the fastest solution, but...I'd be happy to do it, and I'll dedicate extra time to studying so they'll go 'Wow she's a natural!'

[She's happy. Excited. Offering to learn to fly a plane and take him there. Dios, he's almost selfish enough to take it, but he can't take the twisting illness in his guts, the guilt curling up in his rib cage. He can't take her offering him anything good when...

His eyes squeeze shut and his head bows. Had he any flesh over his knuckles right now, they would've gone pale.]

Orihime.

[It's a plea. A small one for her to stop and wait a second. She's distracted him enough. If he lets this go on he's going to lose nerve he's not even sure he has as is.]

We need to talk about your brother.

Onii-chan?

[She blinks, but...looking at his face, and the obvious discomfort he's in, and the grim tone of his voice...there's a sudden pit of absolute dread in her stomach.]

What...what about him...?

[She's still smiling, but it's a hollow smile ~~IRONY~~ that doesn't match the fear in her eyes.]

He's not laying low, Orihime. He, uh... I was out the other day. And I heard him, so I went, and--

[Try as he might, he can't keep his voice steady. He can't even keep his hand steady, trembling as it is with the memory.]

That monster has... a lot more working for it. I didn't get there in time. I couldn't do anything. They got him and... I thought they'd killed him. But when I looked, he'd changed. They did something to him to break him and he changed.

I don't think he's okay, Orihime.

...you...you saw it...?

[Her voice is barely a squeak above a whisper. Sora is...but they...there was no time, they didn't even get to prepare! And they were supposed to meet, they were going to...!]

[A shaking hand covers her mouth as a choked sound mewls in her throat. Her body is rigid.]

Ah...awuh...!

[Her tears are hot, burning her eyes as she slowly stands, then turns away, her shoulders hunched. There are two quick wheezing breaths before she swallows a sound of grief and goes quiet.]

[A million emotions race through her head. Sorrow. Fear. Regret. Anger. Behind all of it, it's the anger that burns most, and it's getting stronger. She can fix this, she knows what her powers can do. But knowing that monster did this to him...! And it hurt Peter. It destroyed Hector's arm. It turned Tokidoki's beloved sister against him.]

...I...I can't forgive that thing..I'll never forgive it!!!

[He doesn't answer when she asks if he saw it. The press of his mouth, the difficulty in looking at her, it's all telling enough. He can still see it vividly. Even as a skeleton he can feel it churn his absent insides.

Her tears starts and his own eyes close, wishing so bad to undo this moment and every bit that led up to it. He lets her turn away. It's the least he can do, to let her have that moment.]

I'm sorry, Orihime. I'm so sorry.

[It's when she goes quiet that his attention goes back to her. He doesn't know what she means, that she'll never forgive it. He's not sure how she thought she was going to in the first place.

But after that shout, it's a long moment before he tries to speak again. He wants to offer comfort, but he doesn't know if she can get it from him. Not when he's the one to break this news. He can't just go without saying this though.]

Orihime... I don't want you and Peter to go after this thing. I don't want to see it hurt you two any more than it has.

Nnnngh...!

[Her head shakes a little as her shoulders hunch in anger and grief. She hears what he's saying. And she agrees with half of it -- Peter is in no condition to fight beside her right now. She places her palms against the door, then leans her head forward with a light bump.]

I have to... I have to...

[She murmurs, shutting her eyes tightly.]

It's the only way to save him. My powers can reverse it, so I can't just wait for it to go after me.

[Her tears dribble from her jaw. Orihime isn't a pretty crier; her eyes swell up and her nose runs.]

A-and if I can't stop it, it'll keep doing this...over and over...it'll eat him. Eat you. And me, too.

[It's too risky. Far, far too risky and he's shaking his head before she's even gotten half way.]

No, no... there's got to be a better way.

[Even if their fears are the same.]

There's teachers here, powerful people, they know what they're doing. We should get one of them.

[Which he hasn't because... because he's trying to keep these dead families from being obliterated even as he knows and says it aloud that they might have no choice.]

Your brother wouldn't want you risking yourself.

[He slips down off the table and leaves his cane to it for a moment. His hand reaches out to touch her shoulder, to turn her gently around.]

My brother wants to eat me...

[But there's no resistance when he turns Orihime around. Her arms fall limp to her sides, her head and shoulders wilted.]

And I can't trust the teachers. They might kill him. I saw... One of them took a bite of one of them after I managed to trap it. B-besides...he watched over me for all these years, and worked so hard to support me on his own. I have to save him. You'd do the same if it was you.

[Her head lifts a little, but she can't meet his eyes.]

But I'm not going to ask Peter to come until he's fully recovered. I know he'll want to, but until he's better...I don't think I could forgive myself if I forced him into a battle he's not ready to fight, and he got hurt because of it.

[He winces when she says that, the truth of it settling cold within him. What she goes on to say is no better.

By the end his eyes are squeezed shut, fear and grief and guilt all too much. He takes a minute.]

Your brother would not want this. I'll say it again like I said to Peter about his Tío. This is not your brother right now. He might be in there but this is not him. Not his wants, not his true feelings, not who he is. Please remember that.

[No matter what happens.

Meanwhile, though he might be the dead guy in this equation, she makes a good point.]

But you're right about two things. I would do whatever I could for my family. And Peter definitely shouldn't be part of this.

... Which is why I'm coming with you. I'm of no use but I can't let you do this alone.

[Orihime lifts her head to look at him at last. His skeletal face is blurry through her tears, but she can still see how sad he looks. Why...?]

I won't be alone. I wouldn't do something that stupid. I promise.

[Gently she lays her hands over his, her fingers trembling.]

Tatsumaki-chan will be with me. She's incredibly strong, with lots of experience. She can use telekinesis for a lot of things, so pinning down a ghost while I restore it won't be that hard at all.

So please stay. Watch over Peter until he's recovered, he still might be the main target in the end.

[Her hands on his... He can feel them shake upon his bones. She's trying to be brave. She's trying so hard and she doesn't see that only makes him more afraid.

His head shakes, protesting.]

You're so young, niña. So, so young. Nearly the same age as my daughter is now.

[A daughter who grew up without him.]

I'm glad you have Tatsumaki but, dios, you're all kids. You don't understand how important you are, what you're risking. I can't live with myself if something happens to you, Orihime. Any of you. I can't...

[His head keeps shaking.]

I can't make myself turn a blind eye to this. What happens if things don't go to plan?

[She smiles a little. If he can't live with himself, then it's a good thing he's dead? She can't make herself say it, mostly because it's NOT a good thing. And she's not sure she can find it in her heart to laugh right now.]

[Orihime cups his skull in her hands.]

I know. Nothing is certain. But I can't afford to think like that right now.

[She closes her eyes and rests her forehead against his.]

If I can't even save my own brother...I have no right to go to this school.

[Orihime withdraws, her hand fumbling behind her for the doorknob.]

So please have faith in me. I'll be okay. As long as Tatsumaki-chan is there, I'll be okay.

[Maybe another time, over something else, that could be something he finds amusing. Not now. Not with this.

Getting back to earth, it was supposed to be different from the outlands. It was supposed to be safe. Not attack after attack like this, not facing children facing death.

She touches the bare bone of his skull, pulling him down so their foreheads touch. His eyes close, her gentle touch all too painful, the weight of old losses, his familia, stirring as though to prepare and make room for hers.

His own hand goes up, shaking, to touch her face. But just like that she's moving away and his bare-bone fingers instead catch just the few strand of long auburn hair as she turns away.]

Orihime...

[It's one last plea, spoken soft. But he knows she won't listen. He hasn't got anything more to reason with. He can't even go after her. To even walk out that door after her, he'll have to shift back and she'll be gone. Like so many others, he won't see her again.

But, in his mind, he's already planning. He can't stop her. But she can't stop him either. He made a promise already to her brother. Whatever happens, he's got to do what's best for her.

His head bows. There is no promise he could ask that won't taste like the ash of his own broken ones. There is no promise he can give to stay away. He can't say goodbye. So he tries something small in a cracking voice even smaller.]

Bring a jacket, niña. It's still cold out.

[Orihime pauses in the doorway at the sound of her name. She's reluctant to turn around -- it's so hard to keep refusing what he's asking of her. But at the same time, she really can't refuse to hear him out. So her head turns a little...]

[...and he tells her to bring a jacket.]

[Her laugh is a shivery little bleat, torn between warmth and sorrow, and she scrubs her sleeve across her eyes. As much as she just wants to go to her room right now and bury her face into her pillow to cry out all of her frustration, she just doesn't have the heart to leave him looking so lost and forlorn. It's not a good way to end a conversation, especially if he's right, and she does fail to save her brother.]

Ne...can you eat...?

[She smiles back over her shoulder, her face still an utter mess.]

[The question surprises him into lifting his head, blinking at her in wide-eyed confusion with a face only barely shy of being as much a mess as hers. It takes more than a few seconds for his brain to catch up.]

Uh... no? I mean, yes, I can, but it tends to be sort of unpleasant and it rots in me and- and I get sick so I don't. Except for really, really small things, or- or drinks... or...

[Something he wants bad enough to knowingly regret and hate himself later whilst he's praying to the porcelain god as they say.

He grimaces.]

I see...that's too bad...

[Her shoulders rise and fall with a dramatic sigh.]

I was going to ask if you wanted to eat a bunch of ice cream with me. We could get one of every flavor and shovel it in until we get ice cream headaches.

[What are these life goals?]

Sorry about that. I hope I wasn't rubbing it in.

Oh... That's so sweet...!

[He makes a breathy sound, so close to a laugh.]

Well I... maybe can't do that but... I could try small bites? Or I could just sit with you, if you don't mind that... It's not rubbing it in, I really don't mind anymore, but if that's too awkward, I understand.

It's not. I'd like that.

[She smiles, the expression weak but nonetheless genuine and warm. This feels a lot better than turning her back on him and leaving him with the fear that they won't see each other again. If things do go badly, then their last memory should be a happy one.]

Maybe you could tell me what it's like to be a walking skeleton, too? I'm really curious.

[To be honest, while he's still bent on keeping this from being the end of Orihime's life, he could very much get behind a sentiment like that. If he could part on a good note wherever he went, wouldn't that be something?

His own smiles mirrors hers, just as weak but just as genuine. This has all been difficult. It would be nice, for once, to go through this with someone else instead of alone. And if it helps her too, then all the better.]

Okay. Lets do that. And I can tell you all about being a dead guy. Just one second...

[He goes back for his cane, tugging it off the table. And then his eyes close and he takes a breath. Just the same way his markings and bones lit before, they do so again, but this time all the dissolved dust comes back in reverse, reforming him, making him human again. Almost. He stops it before it can entirely complete and do something really gruesome to his shattered arm. It leaves him in a half form, ribs and joints hidden only by clothing and his face sunken in that corpse-like matter, but she didn't comment before so he doesn't worry now.

He looks apologetic and explains.]

I still have to keep low out there.

It's okay. You don't look scary to me at all.

[She's always been pretty quick to adapt, no matter the situation or experience. Sometimes too quick. But at least Hector needn't worry about her staring or treating him any differently.]

I just need to get my wallet and wash my face. I'll meet you by the front doors?

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