musubi | sixteenth breath ✧ accidental voice

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sixteenth breath ✧ accidental voice

[There is a clatter, the sound of the journal and a can of soda falling to the floor, a chair scooting quickly away from the table...]

H-hey--! No way, man. I have plans. You can't just--!

[More struggling, and the loud THUD of the table being upended as Isamu tries to get away with little success.]

NAO--!!

[Then his voice is cut off completely, and the journal goes quiet.]

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Sir Isamu--!

[He's out of bed and making his way towards CH7 as quickly as he can, though it's rather slow going given his condition. Once he gets to the bottom of the stairs, he pauses. He's not sure he can make it all the way up five flights of stairs... but dammit, he's going to try, just in case he can do something to help.

It's clear once he makes it to the apartment that he's too late, however. A rare curse escapes him upon finding this out...]

Damn it...

[Naoki stirs a little from his position as he hears him coming up the stairs, and he lifts his eyes from the floor. It's after a moment, wearily, he unfolds himself from his slumped posture and rises up, hand resting on the wall, just as Richard gets there.]

Richard...you shouldn't be out of bed yet.

Never mind me, Sir Isamu...

[But then he's wobbling, sinking heavily to his knees and mentally cursing how useless he is right now.]

We're--I was too late, he's...

[Naoki's voice is quiet as he moves over to crouch next to him. Pained because he knows he can't do a thing to get them back.]

...Ted, too.

Both of them?

[That's just too cruel. He knows just how upset his disappearance must've made Naoki, and now this...]

... they'll be back. If their belongings are still here, they'll be back.

[His voice is firm.]

[Naoki nods at that, casts a glance around.]

I know... Until they get back, I'm gonna keep a close eye and ear out for them.

[He just hopes they don't come back hurt. Unconsciously, a hand lifts to his head, where the scar on his head is hidden by his hair.]

I'll keep my journal open as well.

[He moves to stand, trying to pull himself up on the doorframe. The last thing he wants to do is worry Naoki further after all of this. He'd invite Naoki to stay with him just so he doesn't have to be alone, but something tells him that he probably wants to stay here just in case.]

[Naoki shifts so as to place a hand on his arm so as to help him up to his feet. He scans his eyes over his face briefly.]

Richard...can I come back with you?

You wouldn't prefer to stay here instead?

[He's a bit surprised; he'd thought that surely Naoki would rather wait here to be ready for when they bring Isamu back.]

Your place is just a little walk from mine. I can come back here every day, but...

[Alone, he hates being alone, doesn't like the thought of sleeping in an empty apartment. He rubs at his arms unconsciously, looks to the side.]

[Richard knows that feeling all too well, especially after what happened to him when he was sent back. He's just going to rest a gentle, understanding hand on Naoki's arm to show that he doesn't have to finish that sentence.]

... I understand.

[Naoki nods at that, covers Richard's hand with his own for a moment. He wishes this didn't happen, wishes he could find a way to bring both Isamu and Ted back.]

...Mm.

Shall we go back?

[Since Naoki seems so upset, he wants to get him out of here as quickly as possible so he doesn't end up brooding even more over this whole situation.]

Yeah...just let me grab some things.

[He squeezes Richard's hand briefly before shifting off toward his room. He pauses to stare into Isamu's room, as though checking his things are still there before continuing on to his own to get some stuff together.]

All right.

[He'll lean on the doorway while he waits, because he's not sure he can make it to the couch or a chair without toppling over again in the process. Let's not give Naoki something ELSE to worry about right now.]

[Naoki returns after a few moments, stopping at Isamu's doorway again to stare inside, moodily, before shrugging the bag over one shoulder with a sigh.]

Okay. [Pausing by him.] You all right...?

[Richard gives a nod with a faint smile. If there's one thing he's good at, it's pretending.]

Yes, I'm fine.

[Lowering his voice slightly to a softer tone, he asks:]

What about you?

I'll be okay.

[When Isamu's back--and Ted. Naoki shakes his head a little, steps closer.]

[Richard just nods and reaches out to take his hand, wondering why all of this had to happen at once.]

[Naoki gives his hand a squeeze, shifting to the door. He's remaining close as a source of balance, though. And tossing one last glance over one shoulder. Why did it all have to happen at once...?]

[Because Naoki can never have nice things, that's why. But Richard doesn't know that, so he's just going to assume it's some run of horrible cosmic bad luck and lean on Naoki as much for comfort as for support as they make their way back to his apartment.]

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sixteenth breath ✧ accidental voice

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