returnthyname | Second Name

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Second Name - [action/voice]

[When Takashi wakes up, he finds himself sitting on the bridge out in the rain and instantly he feels that somethings wrong. It isn't that he's in an unfamiliar place or out in the rain or the fact that he can feel feathers sticking to his back. It's that he vaguely feels like he knows where he is. But where... ]

....Luceti. [The name leaves his mouth without him even thinking about it.

He was.... brought... back? He was brought back.

It's slow, but the memories he had of this place slowly start to return to him. He's surprised he had forgotten it all; the experiments, the wings, the Malnosso. The Malnosso. What did they want from him?

All Takashi wanted to do was go home. Go back to his home. This is the second time they've done this to him. They have the best timing, really.

--But wait. Now that everythings coming back to him... he can remember Reiko and Tanuma. That's right, they were here with him!! But he isn't sure deep down if they're even here still. He hasn't been here in over year. Well, back home it's been a year.

He has to check though. He has to know that they're safe if they've been stuck here all this time.

So he gets up and grabs his journal, not thinking to use it as he tries to remember his way back house 54. If you're out walking in the rain, you may spot a teenage boy in new feather pants wandering about, sometimes looking completely lost. Some of his memory is fuzzy still, okay! Please help him if you can.

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A little while later, after he's been returned home and caught up with Tanuma on everything, he opens his journal. At first he's quiet, unsure of what to say.

After a moment, he finally speaks up] ...I'm back. [It's said in an almost awkward tone]

Does this kind of thing happen a lot? Being brought back from home and be able to remember Luceti, I mean. I didn't think people could remember anything if they came back. [Well, at least he can't remember if anyone else could remember anything.]

...Also, I think Reiko Natsume has returned home. [There's a hint of sadness in his voice. He didn't even get to say goodbye.] If she took anyone's names, please tell me.

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[When Natsume when home, Kaname hadn't known what to feel. On the one hand, he was glad that Natsume wouldn't have to go through any of the pain or experiments this place brought. He was home, back where he belonged. But even though he was happy for Natsume, there was a definite sense of loss that he hadn't wanted to admit. With just himself and Reiko living there, the house felt so much bigger than before, and so empty...]

[But then Reiko went home. And that's when Kaname realized just how painful it was to feel truly alone. At least back home, he always had his father. But now, alone in this big house, knowing he might remain alone until they decide to send him back -- if they decide to send him back... it was painful. But he couldn't bring himself to just pack up and leave, just on the off chance that maybe one of them might come back.]

[It was a silly hope to cling to, but that silly hope was all he had.]

[But living on his own was still a reality he had to face, and he'd spent more than enough time playing the denial game. He was just heading back from getting some groceries from the shops when he saw someone walking around in the rain, shirtless. Not even an umbrella, geeze! So, he starts heading in that person's direction, thinking maybe he can at least offer to walk with them up to the shops to get dressed or something--]

[And then he realizes who it is and stops.]

....Natsume?

[Caught up in his own thoughts, he doesn't even notice the other boy walking towards him. He's too busy looking left and right for the home he--no. Not his home, the house he had stayed at once before with his grandmother and best friend.

But he feels like his child self again. He forgot his way back, he can't find it. He has to keep trying though.

So he brushes his bangs up and out of his face so he can see and goes to walk in one direction when he hears his name called. It makes him freeze in his place, practically mid-step, he almost goes off balance too but goes back onto his heel.

That voice. He turns to look.]

...Tanuma. [Half of him is glad to see him but the other half... not so much. It means he's been here this whole time under the Malnosso's "care". It makes him feel guilty to the core for leaving in the first place, his fault or not.]

[It's a miracle Kaname doesn't drop his bag of groceries for how quickly he makes his way over, stopping abruptly just in front of Natsume. When he stops, he lifts a hand up, but hesitates without doing anything. It's almost as though he were trying to judge whether Natsume was actually standing there or not. It wouldn't surprise him too much if this place started to make him hallucinate... but no. He's really here, standing right in front of him.]

[He isn't alone anymore. And as horrible as it is to feel glad to see Natsume back here, he just can't bring himself to try and hide the look of relief on his face.]

...you're back. [Stating the obvious first. And then holding his umbrella over Natsume's head second. Then a pause; people were supposed to forget this place when they left, right? Does that mean it would be the same for Natsume?] Do you... remember where we are?

...I'm back. [Said with a gentle smile and reassuring tone in his voice. Yes, he's definitely here, so don't worry.

He honestly isn't surprised Tanuma has that particular look on his face and is reacting the way he is.

Although people here say "It's better that they aren't here, it's too dangerous", they can't help but feel glad when that person is brought here. Surprised and worried for their well being yes but, happy. Happy that someone they know, someone that they care about and trust is here with them so they aren't alone. Especially if they've been without them for so long.

Takashi can even remember himself feeling... well, glad when he first figured out Tanuma was brought to Luceti. Worry quickly taking over that feeling, but glad all the same.

He nods] Yeah, I do. It's all coming back kind of slowly but I can remember. [ ... ] How long have I been gone? [The question comes out with a bit more anxiousness than he intended, but he's worried]

[He remembers. Somehow, that's more of a comfort than Kaname expected it would be. Natsume already knows this place, and knows what to expect from it. At least for now, he would be spared the need to explain just how terrible thing place can be. He manages a smile in return, though he's still not quite back to his usual demeanor yet.]

Almost two weeks. [Not even two weeks might sound a little better. In retrospect, it wasn't very long at all, but...] And... Reiko-san went home a few days after you.

[At first, Takashi is surprised. Only two weeks...

No, less than two weeks.

He had been gone for a year back home but it was only less than two weeks here. This place really is strange, very strange, but he's grateful. Although he still feels guilty that he had left Tanuma in the first place, even for a short time, he feels a bit more relieved.

He didn't have to bear this place for an entire year alone. He didn't have to go on and deal with the Malnosso's experiments and drafts without him. He's safe and okay.

But even though the guilt has slightly lifted from his heart, it's quickly replaced with sadness. Reiko's gone home... Reiko's dead again. Killed by someone somehow.

Despite how bad this place can be, despite how weird the experiments are, he had hoped Reiko would at least get to stay and enjoy herself here. Here, in a place where she could be accepted by society and have friends and... live. She deserved all of that.

And... he had hoped to get to know her better. He has memories of her, but they aren't his. They're the memories of youkai. It would have been nice to create some of his own with her. His own grandmother.

For a moment, he stays quiet, trying to take that in then-] I see. [ ... ] I'm... sorry we left you here all alone.

It's okay. It's not like you had any say in the matter, right?

[Not that Kaname would fault him even if he did. A chance to escape this place, even if it meant leaving someone he knew behind? Even knowing that Natsume would probably never take an opportunity like that, Kaname knows he'd probably be mad at him if he didn't. If anyone deserved to go home and not stay trapped here, it was him.]

[And now he was back.]

[He feels something, but he isn't sure what it is right now. Although he's happy to see Natsume, he feels guilty for being happy. It was a strange and uncomfortable feeling, and he ould only hope for now that it doesn't linger.]

Come on, we should get you out of the rain. It's not too far to the house from here.

[Also he is still holding the umbrella over Natsume because boy, you are all kinds of shirtless right now.]

Still I... [He should've tried, done something to fight against the Malnosso and stay. Whether he had a say in or not, whether it was his fault or not, he still feels guilty for not even trying, for just leaving Tanuma here alone.

He didn't even have Reiko here, someone who could protect him from the Malnosso and everything else.

...But there's nothing he can do about what happened. What matters is that he wasn't gone for that long of a time and the Malnosso were kind enough to bring him back. Now he'll stay here and protect Tanuma right this time.

He shakes his head after a moment and gives the other a gentle, yet somewhat forced, smile] Let's go. [Stepping up beside Tanuma so they can be both under the umbrella. WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUTSIDE THE UMBRELLA BRO.]

It happens, but it doesn't seem to happen often. People are more likely to forget everything than remember it, even if it's only been a short time. If I hadn't been told, I wouldn't have known that I was here before.

[That seems to be what he does remember about this place a least. Everyone would come back or arrive and not know a thing about Luceti]

Do the Malnosso do that on purpose? Make a select few of us remember everything and others not at all?

They might, but no one knows for sure. It could be for the sake of experimenting, or it could just be an accident. They're pretty good at making mistakes.

That's true. [It bothers him too. So he sighs a little] Does it upset you that you can't remember anything from the last time you were here?

It used to. Especially because there were people who did remember. Being told what happened the last time around isn't quite the same, don't you think?

Yeah, it's definitely not the same. [Remembering things for yourself is... way more rewarding.]

I'm sorry to hear that you've lost your memories of your last time here. Do you think you'll ever want them back?

At this point, I'm not sure it matters anymore. My current stay has long outlasted the last one. I suppose I'd rather stick to what I know now than worry about things that happened years ago.

I guess that's a good way to think about it. [Can't dwell on the past, right?] How long have you been here exactly?

I think it'll be three years soon. [Maybe. Something like that.] Far too long to be worrying about things that happened before, don't you think?

Yeah, especially if it's been that long. [Though to be honest, Takashi would still worry. He still worries to this day about everything he forgot 17 years ago. All of those important memories...

Or maybe some not so important. But that's just him]

It still takes some time to get used to, I think. It's strange when there are people around who know things about you that you don't even know yourself.

I can imagine. It'd make me really curious, I think. [Well, these days it would anyways.] At least you're comfortable with it now.

It's probably best not to dwell on things like that for too long. The world might move on without you.

Mm. I agree. [It's hard to move on but he's right, it's for the best sometimes.]

Takashi! You're back!

[Roji hadn't heard from him in a while, and he was beginning to worry that he got mallynapped or went home. Turns out it was a little of both, apparently.]

... I'm sorry about Reiko.

Roji. [It took a second for that name to come back to him.] Yeah, I'm back.

[He pauses for a moment then shakes his head and tries to smile] It's okay. It's... probably for the best, right? [No. No it's not and you know it. Reiko Natsume dies. But he tries to keep positive.]

Now she won't get caught up in the experiments or anything.

Mmhmm, at least there's that. [Of course, the thought doesn't always help to cope with the loss, but at least it's there.]

Did you make it to your house okay?

Yeah, I did. It took me a while since I couldn't really remember which way to go but Tanuma found me. [Laughing sheepishly to himself]

Have you been okay, Roji? I hope nothing too bad happened while I was gone.

That's good to hear. I'm glad it all worked out.

I've been fine. It's actually been kind of quiet lately. I admit that I'm thankful for it.

I'm glad to hear that myself. [Especially glad with the fact that it's been quiet while he was gone. Not that he was afraid that Tanuma didn't tell him about something... well okay he was a little worried that he was hiding something. Tanuma isn't always honest, really only if he gets hurt and doesn't want to worry Takashi.

But still! He's thankful no one's been through any kind of mess] I hope things stay this way, at least for a little while. [Since he knows the Mlanosso don't stay quiet forever]

Yeah, me too. With things being quiet, it's easier to visit with friends and makes plans, y'know?

[He may or may not being implying some things with that, but hey. He likes to catch up with his friends when he can.]

Yeah, it does. [Takashi likes the quiet. He's learned to cherish what peace may ever come his way since the youkai constantly bother him otherwise. Whether it's the book of friends or they're just bored and drunk.

There's always something. Always. Not that he minds too much anymore. It's become a daily thing. But still, it's nice like this.] Maybe we can hang out while it's like this, Roji.

[Roji tries not to jump too quickly to respond to Takashi's suggestion, but he sounds overly eager anyway.]

That'd be great!

[He chuckles a bit at the eagerness] Whenever you're free, just tell me. We'll figure out something to do.

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Second Name - [action/voice]

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/slowest ever wow

its okay bb /pats

<33

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