Rin sighs. "I'm.... not quite sure where I stand," he says nervously. "It's dangerous to keep him around.... but flat-out killing him seems a little...... something....."

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=94683&page=123#1221 Author: Mystiria827 Time Posted: 1/12/2021 at 12:36 PM Rin sighs. "I'm.... not quite sure where I stand," he says nervously. "It's dangerous to keep him around.... but flat-out killing him seems a little...... something....."

Alright, now that. . .that they're in there, Hitari thinks. I'm just gonna cut these and go. Easy. Closing his eyes, he concentrates. After a few seconds, shadows start emanating from him. Okay, now I. . .just need to make a pulse. . .

"Inhumane?" Shiawase asks. "Because it is. We may not be strictly human, but morals still exist." She glances at Itami. "At least, with two of us."

Thanks for noting my ability to get past the smallest losses, Itami says. A lack of morals means a lack of problems. Usually.

"Well, right now, we all have a problem. And it's the same one." Shiawase glances towards the door. "Maybe I should've untied him."

And have us all killed? Good plan.

Rin swallows hard. "A-are you sure he can't escape on his own? Because.... that'd be bad."

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=94683&page=123#1223 Author: Mystiria827 Time Posted: 1/12/2021 at 1:50 PM Rin swallows hard. "A-are you sure he can't escape on his own? Because.... that'd be bad."

Everything's tied tight enough that Shiawase had to use her knife, Itami says. And Hitari can't reach his, as his arms and hands are all tied up.

Shiawase nods. "And the knife would really be his only means of escape."

Meanwhile, outside, there's a sound like a soft implosion, almost impossible to hear. The ropes around Hitari fall as he strains against them, their strength weakened by the pulse he channeled. "That's step one done," he mutters to himself as he stands. "Which is always the best one to complete. Now I need to get. . .somewhere."

Looking around, Hitari realizes there's really not many places for him to go apart from up. Sighing, he begins attempting to climb the tree he was tied against. "Not my first choice, but it's something."

Rin sighs in relief. "As long as.... you're sure." He is quiet, watching the other two and waiting for them to come to a conclusion.

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=94683&page=123#1225 Author: Mystiria827 Time Posted: 1/12/2021 at 2:09 PM Rin sighs in relief. "As long as.... you're sure." He is quiet, watching the other two and waiting for them to come to a conclusion.

Shiawase sighs. "I really think our best choice here is to trust him. It's - "

You weren't with him on the way here, Itami says. The other one apparently really, really likes what he calls "psychological warfare". I'd assume that would mean he would pretend to be our Hitari.

"Which is where the trust comes in," Shiawase replies, walking towards the door.

Where are you going.

"To untie Hitari, of course."

Itami sighs. Fine. Don't die.

"I won't," Shiawase says as she walks out. A few seconds later, she pokes her head back in. "So. . .I have some news. . ."

Oh great. NOW what?! Rin panics. Oh no no no no..... if she's gonna say what I think she's gonna say, this is NOT good.

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=94683&page=123#1227 Author: Mystiria827 Time Posted: 1/12/2021 at 2:25 PM Oh great. NOW what?! Rin panics. Oh no no no no..... if she's gonna say what I think she's gonna say, this is NOT good.

Shiawase smiles nervously. "I know I was going to release him anyway, but - "

Are you serious?! Itami yells. He's out already?

She shrinks back a little. "The ropes aren't even cut. It almost looks like they were peppered."

Peppered with what? Itami demands. He doesn't have a gun; even if he did he wouldn't know how to use it!

"I don't know, okay?!" Shiawase shouts back. "All I do know is that he's gone!" Her eyes glow with a pale light as she gets angrier.

High up in the trees outside, Hitari winces. He can hear the shouting despite getting further away. "That doesn't sound like a good time." Looking over the treetops, he tries to see his house. "Where am I heading to, anyway. . ."

"Wait!" Rin says. "Please don't argue! R-remember when he lost his memory, and he did that weird creepy thing with the tendrils of darkness and stuff? M-maybe he did something like that!"

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=94683&page=123#1229 Author: Mystiria827 Time Posted: 1/12/2021 at 2:42 PM "Wait!" Rin says. "Please don't argue! R-remember when he lost his memory, and he did that weird creepy thing with the tendrils of darkness and stuff? M-maybe he did something like that!"

Pretty sure he'd only be able to do something like that if he got emotional enough, Itami says. Like, say, being told his love has been gone for almost half a century? You learned that one. Otherwise, that'd be a lot of energy being torn through. . .

"A half-decade of loneliness is too much for anyone, especially if it's taken all at once," Shiawase says, looking worried. "But he knows we're here."

Why do you think he ran? Itami asks. Clearly he's finally recognized we can't risk his presence, and good riddance.

Hitari takes a break to lean against a branch, feeling a little queasy. "Maybe I should rest for a bit," he pants, carefully sitting. "This is a little exhausting. . ."