reapertoire | KILL LOG; CHUUYA

[a store's fine with chuuya; he's aware one of their enemies could be invisible, so he's headed in here hoping not to be caught in the open. he's sticking close to shelves and walls to try to avoid being snuck up on-- but if there's any sound, that'll definitely make him pause.

hit him up, undine, let's do this.]

[Yeah she's. Not hiding. She's right out there in the middle of the big entryway in AMX just chilling.

There is definitely sound, as she is kicking at the ground as she waits. It's almost like she's reluctant for whatever she's waiting for to actually happen. HMM I WONDER WHY THAT IS?

But as she waits, her eyes are scanning the store around her. Even if she's reluctant, she's not stupid.]

[he finds her easily enough, and while he forces himself into a more relaxed stance, there are still hints of tension in his posture, and his back is against a shelf of merchandise.]

Hey, kiddo. Am I late, or what?

[there are few reasons they'd both be awake and present here, aren't there?

but there's still a chance it isn't her.]

Or are you a mouse tonight and not a cat.

[She sees him, and she tries to smile, but it's very much forced. She's not really as tense as he is, but there is definitely an overwhelming sadness in her words and actions.]

Honestly? I'd rather be asleep right now. But I guess that choice isn't one I can make.

There's always choices. I could've holed up, you could've done the same.

[but he's not the type to chicken out and hide. there's never a good time for that.]

So. Want to tell me what you're doing here?

[He's right. Undine could just walk away and leave this be. She didn't have to erase Chuuya, she had a choice.

But it wasn't really much of a choice, since she would just get erased instead if she didn't do it. Now she just had to work up the resolve to actually go through with it.]

You knew Ranpo before this game, didn't you?

Tch. So he went and blabbed, huh...? We knew each other, briefly.

[the mention of his name makes chuuya's nose wrinkle.]

What's that matter to you now?

Junko killed Eleanor. Ranpo killed Clarke. There were only three murderers, so that means one person killed both Ranpo and Madara.

It was you, wasn't it? That's why you jumped right to Caren's defense: she honestly didn't murder either of them, because it was you.

[-that gets a brief huff of a laugh, actually, a shake of his head.]

Seriously? I told people about him, I figured he'd tell people about me. It'd be stupid of me to go after him-- and what reason would I have to kill Madara too, huh?

I defended Caren because I didn't want my partner to die. Sorry, but it's as simple as that.

But you know... if you know he killed someone else, why are you worried about who killed him?

Because whoever killed him killed Madara too, and that's the part I can't figure out. Madara was a sweet, kind person, and definitely didn't deserve to die at all, much less in the way he did. Why kill him at all?

And...even though Ranpo killed someone, he at least deserves to have his death answered for. Even if there's no trial, an answer alone is enough.

[She's starting to lose her conviction, though. What if Chuuya really didn't murder those two? What if she really is wrong about all of this? Can she really erase him on a 'maybe he did it and is lying'?]

Does he, though? He decided to kill her. Ranpo made his choice, and he answered for it with his own erasure-- that should be that. I think a lot of people here would agree.

But if you know for sure that he's the one who killed her... you're here for more than just questions, aren't you?

[he sets a hand on his hip, there.]

Did you come alone? I can't imagine your invisible friend would let a girl like you wander around alone at night.

I'm fine on my own.

[She's insistent on that point at least.

And she absolutely is here for more than just questions, but she has to know something first. So she keeps talking here, since this hasn't broken down completely yet.]

If you don't agree about Ranpo, then that's fine. I didn't expect you to in the first place. But what about Madara?

Madara probably didn't deserve it, but he could've helped his partner too, you know? Even if he was innocent... bad things happen to decent people. It was unfortunate.

Isn't that kind of thing all part of the job, for some people?

[himself included, really. chuuya is intimately familiar with that-- it's just business, but it's still a job one chooses to take.

his hand shifts slightly on his hip, fingers wrapping subtly around the hilt of his knife.]

['Bad things happen to decent people. It was unfortunate.'

That right there, that makes something snap inside of Undine. Whereas her voice had been calm, if sad, before, now she's angry. And with her anger, water is starting to collect around her too, droplets dancing in the air around her and responding to her anger.]

'It was unfortunate'? That's all you have to say?!

Madara wasn't involved in any of it! He was an innocent party! He wasn't even supposed to be awake that night! The only way he would have been out and about was if you intended to kill him from the start!

Don't you dare act like it was 'unfortunate'. You have no right to say something like that when you're the one who made it happen in the first place!

Do you have any right to be angry with anyone else playing the game, with your own place in it? I didn't fucking know the guy! What, do you want me to cry over a dead person I've never known? It's how the world works.

[her anger is finally met with his own irritation. it wasn't hard to put pieces together-- the concern over ranpo, being here at all, being aware of who he'd killed when they never proved in the trial that ranpo killed clarke, the initial sadness in her voice-- and it sparks annoyance in him, to hear this kind of talk from someone he's sure is here to do the same thing she's angry with him for.]

I've made the same choices, before. I took a job that meant killing whoever my boss told me to.

[-and that's when he moves without warning, pulling the knife out in one fluid motion as he darts right for undine. it's a little too sudden to aim for something vital, and so the knife is directed toward her shoulder.]

And I'll do whatever it takes to live.

Yes I do!

[with a gesture of her hand, a wall of water goes up between herself and Chuuya. It won't stop the knife completely, but it will soften the blow and make the cut shallower than if he had been able to stab her uninhibited.]

You don't have to kill! You're not a reaper, you weren't told 'erase these people or be erased yourself'! You could have gone the whole game without killing someone and still would have lived!

[And then that same water is going to tighten around his stabbing hand, attempting to grab him, to hurt him and get him to let go of the knife.]

I was trying to protect you from the others! And then you went and killed my friend!

Better for me to do it than for him to be a fucking spectacle the next Sunday! His partner was a Reaper. Madara was dead the moment I cut Ranpo's throat.

[there's the admission she wanted; there's no regret in his eyes. does he regret what it did to others? maybe a bit, but... culling the numbers was part of this game, too, and he's not ashamed of what he is.

that display with the water actually gets a grin from him-- good, she can fight after all-- and when it tightens around his hand, he braces himself and keeps a tight grip on the knife. his teeth are grit, words almost a growl.]

Be erased yourself if you've got such a problem with killing. It won't matter. We won't give you what you want-- neither of you are living to eight weeks.

You hear me, Kurusu, you little rat?! Neither of you!

[with that shout, he aims a sweeping kick at her legs, hoping to knock her off balance and interrupt her focus, get her to release his hand.]

[Undine goes down, not even fighting to keep herself upright. She's had this happen many, many times during her years as a magical girl and then subsequently as a reaper. Take the fall, but don't lose concentration. The moment her water fails, that's when she dies.

As she falls, she thrusts her hands out, like she is pushing away from Chuuya. At the same time, the water that had been protecting her pushes against Chuuya as well, attempting to sweep him away from Undine. If he's away from her, then maybe she can get away from him before he can stab her again.]

Akira!

[Though a little help is appreciated there, because hitting the ground does disrupt her concentration, and her control over the water wavers enough that Chuuya could break free if he tried.]

[Akira isn't the sporty type. athletic? sure, but not sporty. but even so, as Undine calls out his name, he channels his inner soccer player to punt a Funko Pop box (hey, it's Boruto!!) right at Chuuya's head. he doesn't expect it to do any damage, but as long as it acts as a distraction? that's good enough for him]

What the hell do you know about this Game?!

[this isn't how he works. he stays invisible, never speaks, helps with crime scene clean up and does his best to keep his fellow Reapers alive. but there's a certain. . . desperation about him this week that he never had before. a desperation to make people understand. to help them see the bigger picture, beyond the weekly murders. beyond the need for vengeance, or blood for blood]

You think we want to do this?! You think we're all bloodthirsty and itching to carve a bloody path through the Players like monsters?!

[Dahlia and Junko were the worst PR folks]

If dying could save the Erased, if dying would give every single person the second chance they deserve, Undine and I would throw ourselves against the knife in a heartbeat! We're not asking for mercy or forgiveness.

[mercy. that's funny. it's the one thing Akira thinks he deserves least]

We're asking for you to not let your anger at us blind you to the point of where you condemn the Erased!

[there's the confirmation he wanted-- another sharp grin tugs at the corners of his mouth even as the water forces him back, the box bouncing off his head.]

I'm not blind. I know what I'm doing, and I know you're doing a job-- I just think you're shit at it. The hell kind of Reaper goes around complaining about killing? I heard exactly what you said, and I'm not the only one who thinks you're full of shit!

[akira does get his distraction; chuuya's attention is on him long enough to scoop the box up and fling it back in the direction it hit him from (because he's a petty little shit), before he throws himself back at undine. if he can just get to her before she's got full control back--]

I don't give a damn what you have to say. We're going to win, I'll make sure of that if it's the last fucking thing I do!

[for the others who are still here. for caren, for assassin, for monika, for everyone else he's liked in this damn game. they don't deserve to have this drawn out to its full length while people continue to get erased. if he has to go out trying to end it...

it's not the first time chuuya has taken that path. he would do anything to live except running away, and he doesn't fear erasure any more than he feared his first death.]

[Undine is back to her feet but doesn't have her water back yet. It'll take a moment to gather it up again into something she can use. But she sees Chuuya coming, so she jumps out of the way at the last moment, tumbling to the side and landing on her feet again. His knife does manage to clip a bit of the end of her hair, though, and a few curls fall to the ground harmlessly before changing from blue to black.]

No!

[She has her right hand out at her side, and she's gathering up water again. She doesn't have much yet, but she won't need a lot for what she's planning to do.]

This isn't about winning to me! I don't want to go back to life! The players are welcome to that prize. But it will be a cold day in Hell before I let a selfish, backstabbing man such as yourself get that chance!

[Just a couple seconds longer...]

[the box Chuuya throws back at Akira bounces harmlessly off of the wall, since Akira is no longer occupying that particular area. his invisible self has shifted, more to Chuuya's left, where another display of Funko Pops is erected. from here? he can see the entire fight, and he filters it through his own battle-honed leader instincts like it's second nature]

[she needs time. she needs a few more seconds. she needs an opening. he'll give her one]

This Game is about so much more than just winning! [it's about. . . trust, and balance, and communication, and somehow working together to figure out how to save the Erased. it's about hurt and pain and betrayal and curbing one's natural instincts when they suffer from same. it's miserable. it's bullshit, and he hates it] You want to win so badly?! Then listen up!

Izaya Orihara. Jacopo. Mary. Alex. Ichigo Kurosaki. Those are the five Reapers you'd have to kill before you even touch Undine or I! Because the moment both of us are dead is the moment you lose, and they win.

[he sends another Funko Pop box flying in Chuuya's direction, punted just like the first]

Backstabbing? When you're the ones hiding among us and killing us off?!

[that pisses him off enough to ignore the second box. chuuya's many things, plenty of them bad-- he knows that well enough, and he won't deny he's a selfish man-- but he knows he's no traitor. his anger's clear in the way his knife slashes wildly at undine, anywhere he might be able to reach. he's not trying to make a decisive, fatal blow; he just wants to make her bleed as much as he wants to stop whatever she's preparing to do.

he will give akira something of an answer, though, between swings of the blade:]

I know who I threw my lot in with. My own allies will kill them if they have to. But we're not letting this shit drag out any more than it already has!

[izaya, he never trusted. jacopo, he knew. it's some consolation that his suspicions about mary were right, but that isn't terribly soothing in the moment.]

Only because we have to! We have no choice in the matter! But you do, and you chose to kill anyway!

[Hence 'selfish' and 'backstabbing'. Also lying to Undine about being a murderer? Not cool at all. Especially when they talked in private later and she apologized for the accusations. That's the part that feels backstabby to her.

Undine steps back as Chuuya comes closer, trying to keep distance between the two of them. And once she has enough water, she's going to hold her hand up and shoot a fast jet of water right at Chuuya. She's doing it without the feather first, mostly because in the heat of the moment she's forgotten about it. But even without the feather powering her up, it's going to sting. It's probably strong enough to rip off a few layers of skin and make Chuuya bleed, but not enough to seriously hurt him.]

[it isn't as though Akira can blame Chuuya for feeling that way. once upon a time he, too, had to wanted to end this Game as quickly as possible, to avoid prolonging the suffering of its participants. he still feels that way, deep down. the thought of extending this makes his stomach churn with anger]

[but right now. . . he knows that ending this too early condemns those who are already dead. and if there's anything he can't do, it's abandon the Erased]

[he lets out a small hiss at Chuuya's response, and ducks behind another shelf for extra cover, even though his invisibility shields him fairly well already. but he says nothing else. there isn't anything to say, is there? he's spoken his piece. he left his note. he's networked with Players, and now? the Game's ultimate conclusion was in their hands]

[but even then, Akira would fight his hardest to stay alive. not for his sake, but for the sake of everyone else]

You took the job, didn't you? You don't get to complain about it now!

[he ducks close for one more slash at her torso, there-- and the jet of water hits him right after. chuuya winces, but he can feel it hasn't gone too deep; it won't be enough.

maybe this won't be so hard, after all.]

-really? This is what you came to kill me with?

[chuuya presses his free hand to the wound, a glow emanating from both it and the buckle of his choker as he begins to heal it up.]

Maybe you should've come for me instead, Kurusu! Or are you really going to have a cute girl do all the dirty work for you, you coward--

[he doesn't know if akira was involved in any of the other reaper kills, but chuuya knows he hasn't seen anything pointing directly to him in any of them.]

[Undine gasps as she clutches at her midsection. It wasn't a deep cut, thankfully. The decision to wear her magical girl outfit was a good one, the extra layers had helped her there. 'Hold it in,' she wills herself, trying to focus past the pain, 'Hold it in and finish this. Then get help.'

While Chuuya heals himself, Undine raises her hand again. This time, though, she holds her thumb up and get index finger extended, like she's pointing at Chuuya. Which she is, right at his heart. With the feather's help the water gathers more quickly, and then:]

Bang!

[YUP, she said that.

Ever wonder what a quarter-sized jet of water with 60,000 PSI of pressure on it does to a person? Well, you're about to find out.]

[-ah.

chuuya's eyes go wide, a choked sound caught in his throat as the jet rips through; it's reflex to press a hand to the spot, still glowing from healing the other wound, but it's not going to be enough. the glow is flickering, he feels his fingers tremble-- why are they shaking? shock, right? he thinks it must be.

he didn't feel any of this before. it's all new to him, the sensation of dying; chuuya wasn't in control of himself the last time this happened. he'd let his own ability run rampant to destroy and crush him in the process, like a dying star, but... this is much simpler.

chuuya thinks he prefers it this way.]

Not weak... after all.

[he can't save himself. he can feel that the power he can muster isn't even closing the hole his palm is pressed against-- but maybe it can buy him just a few moments. chuuya falls to his knees, then to the floor, struggling to keep his head up so she can hear him, words faint but clear.]

Red... red camellia. Remember? Give it to her... to Caren.

[if he has any regret in coming here tonight, it's leaving his partner behind-- she could still save herself, though. save him, maybe, win just like the two of them were supposed to together... but that's the last thought he has before the last of his energy is gone and the fight leaves him at last.

chuuya nakahara has been erased.]

Edited 2018-04-05 18:03 (UTC)

[Undine isn't the only one who hears those final words. every single one of Akira's senses are finely tuned into the happenings of the battle, even from behind his cover. red camellia. . . passion or desire, if his knowledge from the flowerpedia isn't escaping him]

[he presses his back against the wall and slumps, letting out a sharp exhale as he does so. his invisible cloak melts away]

. . .

Undine?

[it takes all of his power to keep his voice level]

[Undine doesn't respond to Akira right away. Now that she isn't at risk of being stabbed to death, Undine's mind can slow down and actually process what just happened.

She killed someone. Not just anyone either, but someone she was on generally good terms with. It may have been built upon lies- him denying his part in Ranpo and Madara's deaths, and her denying her real role in this game- but that doesn't change the fact that barely a week ago she was teasing him over his drink choices.

Her arm is still across her waist, holding the cut there to slow the bleeding. But her other hand goes up to hold her forehead as she sinks to her knees, the weight of everything proving to be too much.

And then she starts screaming.]

[he's out from behind the shelf like a lightning bolt as soon as Undine starts screaming, his strides large and fast as he crosses the room towards her. despite his speed, he's careful not to step in any wayward blood spatters, and he vaults over some display cases in order to achieve this]

[he kneels at Undine's side, wraps his arms around her tightly, and pulls her close]

[he says nothing. what is there to say, except to apologize for his own cowardice? to apologize for making the others carry this burden in his stead-- Terra, Ranpo, now Undine and even fucking Junko, all officially killers because he refused to raise his own weapons to do his fucking job]

[this fucking. . . job, that none of them wanted. their place in this narrative as villains, as entities to be hated. to be killed by those seeking justice and righteousness]

[he doesn't let go]

[That's good because Undine is clinging to Akira now, screaming and crying and letting out all of her guilt and sadness over what just happened. Over what she just did.]

He- why did I- I should have-

[It's hovering more around guilt right now. Even though Chuuya was trying to kill her too, she feels like she should have done more to stop him, instead of kill him. Even though failing to erase a player means erasure for herself, he was her friend, wasn't he? She should have figured something else out.]

We- we can't leave him-!

I know.

[. . . he knows. he wishes there was something he could do, to make this all better. to take the rules of this Game and shove them through a shredder, to break through this carefully constructed prison that is the Reaper's Game. to free the Players, the Reapers, and the Erased, from this nightmare]

[but he can't. as always. . . he's helpless]

We'll take care of him, Undine. I promise.

[mercy. respect. that's what Chuuya deserves. whether he killed Ranpo and Madara, or not]

[Yeah, she. She can't just leave his body like that on the ground. That's so rude and disrespectful, she can't do that to him. Even if he went crazy there at the end, he was still her friend.

Which just brings back the tears again because she killed her friend.

Except now she's trying to pull away to stand up and move over to him, to start cleaning up. Partially to cover her tracks, and partially because it's what Chuuya deserves.]

[he doesn't hold onto her when she pulls away, but he does rest a hand on her shoulder and stand to help her]

Be careful-- [there's. . . a lot of blood. they can't step in it and leave footprints]

[Right, the blood.

Let's just. drag him out of that a bit. So that he can be laid down on his back and all.

Once he's moved though she's going to use her powers to pull the water off of him though. Because his clothes are wet, and she can't leave water around like that, even though it would probably be dry by morning.

Her hands are shaking as she does that though. Both because of how upset she is, and how drained she is. That one attack took a lot out of her.]

[. . . while Undine does that, Akira is going to gently close Chuuya's eyes and move his hands so they're crossed against his (extremely bloody) chest. he's doing his best to stay out of said blood, too. because yeah]

[when he pulls back, he claps his hands together and shuts his eyes to utter a quick, silent prayer. he's not really the religious type, but. . . you know]

[showing respects]

[Yeah, they can just. Have a quiet moment there.

Well, quiet-ish. Because Undine is definitely crying there. So much for getting the water off of him, now there's tears there.]

[he glances up at her when he's done, immediately wiping all hints of pain and guilt from his expression]

Check his pockets.

[he doesn't want to steal anything, of course. but just in case]

His pockets? Why?

Just. . . in case. That's all.

[he's a little paranoid. also, I regret this decision oocly now. fuck. Caren didn't deserve this]

[They definitely don't deserve this.

BUT UH hair found I guess?]

What...is this?

[there are many things that go through Akira's head when he sees this]

[a conversation with Setz, about Players with Player advantages. the knowledge that Chuuya and others want him dead, regardless of what was said about saving the Erased. the fact that he has no freakin' clue what these Player advantages are, or how they work, or who even has them]

[it's paranoia. it's 100% paranoia, and a desire to survive, that makes him say what he says next]

Burn it.

[AND I STILL OOCLY FEEL AWFUL FOR THIS]

[WHOO BOY SO DO I]

How?

[If Akira's telling her to burn it, it's probably for a good reason. But she doesn't exactly have matches on her or anything.]

We can use one of the burners at McDonald's. It'll be quick and easy.

[and only leave a small amount of evidence behind]

KILL LOG; CHUUYA

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