"...Guys?" Rin says tenatively. "I think he's...."

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=94683&page=109#1081 Author: Mystiria827 Time Posted: 12/29/2020 at 4:49 PM "...Guys?" Rin says tenatively. "I think he's...."

Shiawase turns to you, still not crying quite yet. ". . .what is it, Rin?"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Why do you think Chaos called you cipher?" they snarl in Hitari's ear, whatever they have around his throat tightening. "Because you a puzzle. A problem. Fate deals a person the same hand, no matter where or when they are. Your existence broke something, and that confuses even one of the greatest powers."

Hitari's vision blurs as his ears start to ring. He can hardly hear what else they say.

". . .do you know what not just Chaos - but my worlds - calls me?" It tightens even more. "An assassin, a murderer, the joker card. I am - you are - my own opposite."

"He's not.... breathing," Rin chokes out, bracing himself for whatever might happen next. He isn't sure how Shiawase is going to react.

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=94683&page=109#1083 Author: Mystiria827 Time Posted: 12/29/2020 at 5:32 PM "He's not.... breathing," Rin chokes out, bracing himself for whatever might happen next. He isn't sure how Shiawase is going to react.

Shiawase's eyes widen as she whips around, kneeling beside Hitari and shaking him. "H-Hitari?" Desperate tears finally start rolling down her cheeks.

I wonder if they're fighting, Itami says, sounding unaffected. If he's choking there, he's choking here.

Shiawase gives Itami a death glare. "Come here."

Itami shrugs and walks over. What?

"You are going to help him," she hisses through her teeth.

I don't think you understand how it works - "I don't care." - seriously, I don't think you - "Do it."

Shiawase's eyes are blazing as she glares Itami down, who seems rather at a loss for words.

He slowly puts his hands up. . . .okay. . .fine. . . His form dissipates and swirls to Hitari.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

They release Hitari, who collapses, motionless, and pull the knife out of his pocket. "Hm. Pretty thing, this." They glance around, feeling something different. "Who's here now? Leave."

Relax, I'm just. . .here to see who's checked in.

". . .are you this world's Itami?"

Itami hesitates before he answers. Yes.

"You sound like a spirit - you're just like Hitari." And, just like with Hitari, they dash behind Itami. "A problem."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Hitari has started breathing - barely. The air rattles through his throat, like he was strangled and suddenly let go.

"Oh, clarity, he's alive," Shiawase gasps.

Rin is still watching with baited breath, hoping Hitari will survive for his sake as well as everyone else's.

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=94683&page=109#1085 Author: Mystiria827 Time Posted: 12/29/2020 at 5:48 PM Rin is still watching with baited breath, hoping Hitari will survive for his sake as well as everyone else's.

Itami's side explodes in pain as he starts turning around. What the -

"Like I said. Problem," they say. "And good riddance - "

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Black mist, quite like how it was when Kanashimi left, spews out, and Itami reforms a few feet away, holding his arm - well, where his arm would be. Inky liquid splashes onto the ground, evaporating as it hits. Well, he's a [rhymes-with-dastard], Itami hisses through pain. But your boyfriend's at least a little alive.

Shiawase stares at him. "Y-your. . .arm. . ."

What about it? Itami asks, dangerously calm.

"N-nothing. . ."

Rin shouts and jumps away, clenching his fists to keep his magic from boiling over. Oh my god, this is NOT good!

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=94683&page=109#1087 Author: Mystiria827 Time Posted: 12/30/2020 at 9:50 AM Rin shouts and jumps away, clenching his fists to keep his magic from boiling over. Oh my god, this is NOT good!

What, never. . .seen an injury before? Itami asks, panting lightly. He just. . .surprised me. I know I'm stronger than that guy.

Shiawase is still staring. ". . .are. . .are you sure?"

Yes, I'm sure, Itami snaps. Now you can two stop being so squeamish? Goodness. He sits down, leaning forward a little.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Are all of your friends weak such as that?" Hitari 2 (sure) asks, pacing around Hitari. Then he chuckles. "Who am I kidding, of course they are - " He kicks Hitari in the ribs.

Hitari's chest erupts in pain, and his natural reflex of gasping makes it hurt more.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Hitari seizes up again, his hands curling into fists so tight his nails cut in his palm.

Wow, I wonder what made that happen, Itami mutters. Surely we'll never know.

Rin scolds himself for being so easily startled, but he is still afraid of what might happen.

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=94683&page=109#1089 Author: Mystiria827 Time Posted: 12/30/2020 at 11:17 AM Rin scolds himself for being so easily startled, but he is still afraid of what might happen.

"You're all pitiful, I don't even need to be outside here to tell," Hitari 2 says, kicking Hitari again.

I'm dying inside my own mind, Hitari thinks to himself as a small amount of blood trickles out of his mouth. Dying to myself, where neither of me can even see. The thought of dying doesn't scare him - the pain is starting to make him feel numb.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Shiawase grabs Hitari by the shoulders and shakes him gently, trying not to hurt him further than he appears to be. "Wake up," she begs. "H-Hitari - "

That won't do him any good - ow - Itami stops halfway through talking, and also halfway through sitting up. His wound is still bleeding? leaking?, but it's a good thing that whatever's pulsing out disappears when it hits the ground. Otherwise it would probably be pretty messy. Hitari won't - ow - die, you know. He would just be repressed so far it would feel like it.

Shiawase wipes the blood from Hitari mouth, cleaning her hand of it on the patchy grass. ". . .do you think we can negotiate with them?"