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There was so much on Takatora's mind. Too much. Not only was the world heading toward the brink on destruction, but his little brother was part of it. He had to deal with that after narrowly escaping death. He couldn't catch a break at all.
There was another matter on his mind as well. There was one person he had yet to see. Sid was dead and Yoko had joined the good side, if that was the right way to put it. However, no one seemed to have any idea where the catalyst of this all was at.
Part of Takatora didn't want to run into Ryouma again. It wanted to leave him behind and never think of him again. Try to forget how he had been so deeply betrayed by the person he thought he could trust with everything. To forget the person who kept him going when things felt hopeless... the person who he had fallen for.
There was the part of him that did want to see Ryouma again. Why? He wasn't entirely sure. Maybe it was to question him. Maybe he wanted to attack Ryouma for what had happened. Or maybe he desperately wanted to believe that there was a good reason for what he had done. Takatora knew that was foolish but he couldn't get over the fact his closest friend had done such a horrible thing.
As it stood, Takatora was wandering around the town where it was safe. He wanted to be alone to ponder everything. He didn't want to have to consider what he had to do about Mitsuzane. He was trying to distract himself for a bit.
He paused as he heard the faint sound of footsteps behind him. Was someone following him? It had to be a human. The sound was nothing like that of the inves. For some reason though, Takatora really didn't feel like he wanted to turn around and see who it was.
"Not going to even look at me?" A voice that Takatora wished he could forget spoke up.
"Ryouma." Takatora said in a cold voice. "You have some guts showing up around here."
"Can't I talk to my boyfriend?"
Takatora felt a chill at that word. "You lost that status the moment you tried to kill me. Don't call me that."
Ryouma laughed. "Aww... am I getting under your skin still? Honestly I gotta say, I am impressed you lived. Can I know how or are you going to give me the cold shoulder?"
"An overlord saved me. That's all you're getting." Takatora finally turned around.
Ryouma seemed a bit startled at what he said. Good. Takatora was glad to throw him off his rhythm. He didn't want to see that smug look on his face.
"Well, I guess it doesn't matter." Ryouma shrugged. "Besides, you've lost all control. Your little brother has gone mad and you can't do anything about it."
"I'll put an end to his behavior." Takatora glared. "What the hell do you even want? Haven't you done enough yet?"
"I told you." Ryouma started walking closer. "I just wanted to talk to my boyfriend."
Takatora shoved him back. "I told you to stop saying that!"
Ryouma chuckled. "So defensive. How cute. What are you gonna do about it, love?"
Takatora stepped up to Ryouma and then he punched him. Ryouma staggered backwards, holding a hand to his cheek. He looked at Takatora. There was amusement in his eyes.
"That's all you got?" Ryouma taunted.
Takatora knew that Ryouma was just trying to get to him. To make him lose it. But he couldn't just ignore him. So, he attacked him again. This time, Ryouma dodged and started fighting back. He seemed to be enjoying this. Takatora so desperately wanted to wipe that look off of his face.
Somehow, Takatora managed to pin Ryouma against a wall. Ryouma smirked at him in reply.
"My... how sensual this position is." Ryouma teased.
Takatora growled and placed his hands on Ryouma's neck. That got Ryouma to finally drop his look and look slightly panicked instead. Takatora tightened his grip slightly, somewhat enjoying the look on Ryouma's face as it grew in panic. He was glaring at Ryouma, rage very present on his face. Ryouma tensed up, his breathing getting heavy.
Bit off more than he could chew? Did he really think antagonizing him wouldn't result in this? He was the one who kept pushing and yet was surprised he was being held in this position now?
Takatora stared him down. This could be it. All he had to do was tighten his grip around Ryouma's throat until he stopped breathing forever. Then he could be free from everything this man had put him through.
...
"Takatora~ Come on, you've been working nonstop for ages. Take a break."
"I'm busy."
"Too busy for me?"
"Ryouma-"
"Come on... let me help you relax a bit. You need it."
...
Takatora couldn't find it in him to actually go and start strangling Ryouma. The happy times the two of them had shared kept playing in his head. Reminding him too much of what they had lost. Reminding him that he would be killing the person who had made all those happy memories back then. Even if he was acting like a monster now, it didn't change the fact they used to be so close.
He dropped his hands and backed away. Despite his anger at Ryouma for everything, he couldn't find the strength to end his life.
"Can't kill me?" Ryouma taunted, though there was a slight nervousness in his voice.
Takatora looked at him for a moment, and then looked away. He didn't know what to even say. Why couldn't he do this? Ryouma was a threat to them all. He needed to put an end to him and he had the chance to now. Why was he hesitating?
"Cat got your tongue?" Ryouma got into his face. There was still some hesitance in his actions. Ryouma seemed a bit wary despite what he was doing.
Takators grabbed Ryouma by his shirt and threw him against the wall. Ryouma grunted in pain and ended up on the ground.
"Stay out of my way." Takatora growled at him. "Next time you won't be so lucky."
He started walking away. He didn't get very far before he was stopped by a pair of arms wrapping around him from behind. Takatora tried to dislodge Ryouma, but he kept a firm grip on him. Just what was he trying to do now?
"I told you-"
"Why are you sparing me?"
Takatora paused. He wasn't sure what to make of that question.
"Why are you asking? You should be running before I decide to not be so kind to you."
"Because I want to know... why are you forgiving me in the slightest for what I've done?"
"How does any of this equal me forgiving you?" Takatora questioned. He didn't forgive him at all.
"If you hated me... you wouldn't have stopped. So why? Why are you... letting me go?"
There was definitely something up. Why did Ryouma seem so concerned about this? Shouldn't he be happy and just go with it? Shouldn't he maybe be mocking Takatora for not ending his life? Why did he seem... this way?
"Ryouma, why is this such a big deal? Why do you care why I've chosen to not end your life right now?" Takatora questioned him.
"I..." Ryouma's grip tightened on him. "Because... no one has ever been kind to me... especially when I've done something like this..."
"You've done something like this before?" Takatora didn't like the sound of that.
"Maybe..."
"Talk. Or maybe I will kill you since this obviously isn't your first offense."
That threat seemed to make Ryouma tense a bit. So whatever had happened left some permanent scars. Not physically, but emotionally. Takatora was trying to gage whatever he could about this situation now.
"I... was part of the human experiments that your father was running..." Ryouma whispered, "I... tried to fight back one time..."
He trailed off, but the implications were easy to read. When he resisted what they wanted, he had almost been killed. While Takatora still didn't know all the details of what happened to anyone caught up in that stuff, he knew enough to be able to understand the severity of what they could do to someone.
"So me doing the same thing brought back those fears?"
"Yes... I hadn't... calculated you trying to kill me..."
Takatora sighed. He didn't know what to do. It didn't feel like this was an act. This did seem like Ryouma's genuine emotions. But why had he switched up so fast? He had just been taunting and toying with Takatora but now all of a sudden he was acting like a completely different person. Had his actions really caused that much distress?
But he didn't know what he was supposed to do now. Ryouma was an enemy. This wasn't going to change that. Was it?
"Even if I don't kill you now, you know someone else will for the things you've done." Takatora stated. "I don't see why you're trying to garner my sympathy. I won't save you. You're an enemy, Ryouma."
Ryouma finally let go of him. Takatora turned around. He didn't really know what he had expected to see, but it wasn't what he saw. Ryouma looked so out of it. Was the experience he was referring to that traumatic that it's completely thrown him off? It probably could be.
"I'm sorry..." Ryouma whispered.
"Sorry?"
"I... just wanted to get vengeance on Yggdrasil for everything they put me through... and because you were running it... I needed you out of the way too if you wouldn't help me."
"So all of this you're doing is because you want to see Yggdrasil burn to the ground? I don't think bringing about the destruction of the world is quite the right way to do that." Takatora replied.
"I... didn't expect this either. I just wanted the fruit so I could run things how I wanted. So I could make those who cause me pain suffer just as much. I didn't want this, Takatora!" Ryouma pleaded. "What good will destroying the entire world do for me? I can't get revenge if everyone is already dead."
Takatora sighed. "Then you have to renounce your goal if you want to make amends and survive this."
"Renounce... my goal?"
"I'm not letting you have the fruit."
"But..."
"I never realized that Yggdrasil was built on such bloodshed. Once this ends, I plan to aid in dismantling it. It needs to be erased from existence. No one shall ever suffer because of them again."
"But I won't-"
Takatora cut him off. "Those in power can be arrested for things. That's the best you can get. Otherwise I will still see you as a threat and not care what anyone does to you."
Ryouma gave him a slight glare, but it turned to defeat. "If I... join you... can I at least get any revenge personally?"
"We'll see." Takatora replied. "Arguably I should be getting you arrested as well for attempted murder but... if you were to help us then maybe I could overlook it."
Takatora wasn't sure about what he was doing. Was it wise to give Ryouma another chance at all? What if he was just going to use him again? Even if he did seem a bit remorseful now, was it possibly just an act? Would anyone even trust him if he brought Ryouma to them? Takatora didn't know what to do. He wanted to trust him but knew it was probably a horrible idea.
"Give me another chance. I'll help. And then... I'm getting revenge on those who've wronged me." Ryouma said.
"Then come on. I can't guarantee you'll be welcomed by everyone but we'll see what happens." Takatora held out a hand. "If you step out of line, I think everyone will not hesitate to end your life. Fair warning."
Takatora opted to not say anything about the latter end of what Ryouma had said. He'd turn a blind eye if a high-up member of Yggdrasil turned up dead suddenly. If Ryouma truly was going to make amends, he would try and give him some leeway for his revenge.
Ryouma hesitantly took his hand. Takatora stared him down for a long moment and then began leading him back to their current base. Hopefully everyone would be at least willing to hear him out about what he was doing. Maybe they could go back to how things used to be...
Though... Takatora couldn't help but worry he was making a horrible mistake by doing this.