KAZUNARI CATCHALL

[fleshedout]

Comments

w4, thursday

[dms]

[ there's still vague guilt coming from kazu as he kind of hovers in the med bay to wait for the others. he's only been lightly healed, enough to hold him over, but at least the doc has treated him in the meantime. ]

Gonna be okay, Hottie?

[fleshedout]

[She's got some bandages over her ear and left shoulder, here, glancing over at Kazunari as he hovers.]

Me? [Still a lot of pain and exhaustion from her.] Eh. I've had worse.

[dms]

[ those feelings are mirrored but now there's a little surprise? ]

What do you mean you've had worse? You were really torn up.

[fleshedout]

[Very dryly:]

Once I had both of my hands cut off by falling metal. I've had worse.

[dms]

You what?! But you - what?!

[ ???????????? ]

[fleshedout]

Yeah.

[Just....yeah!]

Danger comes with the territory of the job.

[dms]

[ there's just a few seconds more of alarm and confusion whirling together before it slowly starts to settle into reluctant acceptance. ]

I don't think I'll ever understand your world...

[fleshedout]

Ha. I don't think you would even if you were there. The stuff I deal with...only certain people ever get to experience it. Others have nice normal lives.

[A low hum, exhausted, but accepting.]

Almost makes me jealous, if I didn't choose it that way.

[dms]

[ there's still confusion, but also a spark of curiosity. ]

So why did you choose it? [ ... ] Was it because of your brother?

[fleshedout]

[There's a spike of something - like bittersweet sadness - at that.]

Yes. It's one of the main reasons behind my duty.

[dms]

[ he feels that and just. nods. ]

...I'm sorry. For what happened to you guys.

[fleshedout]

Why are you sorry?

[A sincere question.]

[dms]

Because what happened to you guys was awful. You both deserved to live how you wanted, and be happy, and that was taken away from you because of... what was it? Bad luck that you both happened to be there at the wrong time?

[ he shrugs one shoulder. ]

I wish you didn't have to go through something like that.

[fleshedout]

...

[The wrong place, the wrong time. Of course. But the fact doesn't change.]

[It doesn't change a thing.]

Either way, it was still my hand that pushed him. And that I have to atone for.

[dms]

Just like I have to try to make up for Nines, somehow.

[ he won't argue that. but - ]

It doesn't mean I can't wish that you'd never had to experience it.

[fleshedout]

...

[She feels...touched.]

You're very kind, Kazunari.

[dms]

[ he offers her a small smile. ]

I don't know. I just think everyone deserves a chance at happiness, that's all.

[fleshedout]

[A long pause...and then she's reaching out a hand.]

And that's why you deserve to keep moving forward, Kazunari.

[dms]

[ there's only the barest hesitation before he takes her hand. ]

I'll try. [ ... ] And - I'm sorry. For attacking you earlier.

[fleshedout]

Eh, its fine. Like I said, I know how those work.

[And her feelings really are like "no sweat off my back". She gives Kazunari's hand a squeeze.]

[dms]

[ he gives her an exaggerated pout. ]

Well, I don't know. [ ... ] Thanks for bringing me back, though. Really. I didn't want to hurt either of you.

[fleshedout]

Why wouldn't we bring you back? You're here along the rest of us.

We'll save you, too.

[dms]

[ nods slowly. ]

Yeah, I know. [ ... ] Hey. Did God ask you any weird questions, while we were there?

[fleshedout]

Yes, actually. What is "good"? What is "justice"?

You?

[dms]

"Are you 'evil?' Are you 'right?'"