Tadakatsu released at the same time.
This was good.
This was right.
He was ready.
When the seagulls follow the trawler
light house (CW: Suicide and suicide discussion)
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Pippi
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He’d heard ‘em talkin’ once he was about fifteen more steps an’ one more turn from the toppa the lighthouse. Nothin’ distinct, mind. He couldn’t make out any individual words or nothin’, ‘specially not with the wind blusterin’ round the buildin’ now he was this high up. Jus’ the vague, low chatterin’ sounds of people conversatin’ a floor above. Nothin’ outta the ordinary. Nothin’ that made him wanna get up top as fast as he could, eh?
Hell, if anythin’, it made him way more cautious, takin’ the last few steps as light an’ slow as he could, tryin’ to avoid the clankin’ sound his shoes’d make on the metal steps. Couldn’t tell who it was up there just yet, y’know, or what it was they were plannin’. Wouldn’t do to burst in there all gun-hoe, an’ get immediately riddled with bullets, yeah? Prepare for the worst an’ hope for the best, that was a good mindset to have.
Weren’t too long til he could see the top deck of the lighthouse. Hindsight, though, he was gonna look back at this an’ wonder. Had he still dawdled too long, creepin’ up the stairs? Was there anythin’ he coulda done differently, if he was given the chance to try again?
That just wasn’t the way the world worked, though.
He could see both of ‘em, and he could see both of ‘em standin’ hand-in-hand, and he could see both of ‘em on the wrong sidea the railings. An’ Tatsumichi would never claim to be some kinda Noble Prize winnin’ genius or nothin’. But he didn’t haveta be to figure out what was goin’ on here.
Hell. Aw hell.
He sprinted up the last few stairs, that clankin’ sound he’d been tryin’ so hard to avoid echoin’ down the lighthouse now. Fresh air an’ sea winds rushed past him, ice cold, flutterin’ his shirt around him. He flung both arms out, railin’ pilin’ into his stomach as he collided with it at full speed.
One hand grabbed fabric. The other brushed against fingertips for a long, lingerin’ second, before graspin’ round nothin’ but air.
Hell, if anythin’, it made him way more cautious, takin’ the last few steps as light an’ slow as he could, tryin’ to avoid the clankin’ sound his shoes’d make on the metal steps. Couldn’t tell who it was up there just yet, y’know, or what it was they were plannin’. Wouldn’t do to burst in there all gun-hoe, an’ get immediately riddled with bullets, yeah? Prepare for the worst an’ hope for the best, that was a good mindset to have.
Weren’t too long til he could see the top deck of the lighthouse. Hindsight, though, he was gonna look back at this an’ wonder. Had he still dawdled too long, creepin’ up the stairs? Was there anythin’ he coulda done differently, if he was given the chance to try again?
That just wasn’t the way the world worked, though.
He could see both of ‘em, and he could see both of ‘em standin’ hand-in-hand, and he could see both of ‘em on the wrong sidea the railings. An’ Tatsumichi would never claim to be some kinda Noble Prize winnin’ genius or nothin’. But he didn’t haveta be to figure out what was goin’ on here.
Hell. Aw hell.
He sprinted up the last few stairs, that clankin’ sound he’d been tryin’ so hard to avoid echoin’ down the lighthouse now. Fresh air an’ sea winds rushed past him, ice cold, flutterin’ his shirt around him. He flung both arms out, railin’ pilin’ into his stomach as he collided with it at full speed.
One hand grabbed fabric. The other brushed against fingertips for a long, lingerin’ second, before graspin’ round nothin’ but air.
Yuichiro felt gravity take,
and then it took Tadakatsu away.
He watched him fall further,
and further,
and further,
and all he could do was watch.
and then it took Tadakatsu away.
He watched him fall further,
and further,
and further,
and all he could do was watch.
Suddenly, his hand was empty. Tadakatsu was flipped over, falling on his back. The air roared past his ears as he looked up, and saw Yuichiro. He was far away, rocketing upwards. Still on the tower.
Oh.
Yuichiro hadn't jumped. He'd held on, backed out of the jump.
Maybe, at last instant, he'd decided not to die. Maybe he'd been too scared to do it. Maybe he'd never intended to jump, and was playing Tadakatsu for a fool the whole time. But... even if that was the case... then that meant Yuichiro had something he wanted to live for. Something worth staying alive for. And for that, Tadakatsu was jealous.
He reached out his hand, wanting just a piece of whatever it was that had kept Yuichiro up there on the ledge. It was difficult to raise his hand, what with the wind and the gravity. In fact, it took him the rest of his entire life.
Oh.
Yuichiro hadn't jumped. He'd held on, backed out of the jump.
Maybe, at last instant, he'd decided not to die. Maybe he'd been too scared to do it. Maybe he'd never intended to jump, and was playing Tadakatsu for a fool the whole time. But... even if that was the case... then that meant Yuichiro had something he wanted to live for. Something worth staying alive for. And for that, Tadakatsu was jealous.
He reached out his hand, wanting just a piece of whatever it was that had kept Yuichiro up there on the ledge. It was difficult to raise his hand, what with the wind and the gravity. In fact, it took him the rest of his entire life.
B18 - Tadakatsu Hatagami: DECEASED
16 Students Remain
16 Students Remain
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Pippi
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He was frozen where he was for a split sec, hand still roughly tangled in the shirt of the guy he’d grabbed in time, starin’ all wide-eyed down over the railin’. Didn’t take him too long, though, before somethin’ clicked in his brain to remind him that he really didn’t wanna watch the other guy fall.
So, eh, gettin’ the obvious outta the way; just cause he’d just seen a body already, just now, just downstairs, that sure as hell didn’t mean he wanted to check outtanother one if he could avoid it. ‘Specially not one that was fallin’ at max velocity from the top of a lighthouse. ‘Specially not one that he’d be able to see the face of as they were tumblin’. ‘Specially not when he would no doubt recognise that face, that person who was-
Man, he was gettin’ way too deep inside of his own head now. Had ta snap outta it, yeah?
Even puttin’ that to one side, he really didn’t wanna watch his failure unfoldin’ right in fronta his very eyes. The wrenchin’ in his gut was already makin’ him feel properly at fault for what had just happened. Didn’t need ta watch it all play out in technocolour as well. Sure, he hadn’t pushed anybody. Hadn’t said anythin’ to either of these guys that mighta caused it. Hadn’t done nothin’ at all that anyone in their right mind coulda ‘ccused him of doin’. Still didn’t stop all that guilt from eatin’ away at him from the inside out.
He grabbed the guy’s shirt with his other hand an’ yanked him back up an’ over the railings to level ground. Weren’t too difficult. He’d gone totally limp, posture like a dead fish, but at least he wasn’t tryin’ to struggle or resist or nothin’. Wasn’t super heavy either. Tatsu shifted his grip, so his arms were under the guy’s own, then half-dragged, half-carried him towards the doorway leadin’ to the stairwell.
Couldn’t even feel any sensea victory or pride in savin’ this one dude. Not when the opportunity to rescue both of ‘em had slipped right through his fingers.
He let the guy go, gentle as he could, then collapsed backwards, outer lighthouse wall the only thing keepin’ him propped upright. He looked up, feelin’ his hands turnin’ into fists, feelin’ his teeth grindin’ together.
“Damnit…”
His voice was real quiet at first, almost hidden within the wind, but it sure didn’t take long for him to get louder. Real loud.
“Damnit, god, goddamnit, man! Fuck! This is just fuckin’... god, this is all some bullshit, eh?”
Tatsu slammed his fist against the wall, feelin’ his skin break and his knuckles start to bleed, and not comin’ anywhere close to carin’ about it.
So, eh, gettin’ the obvious outta the way; just cause he’d just seen a body already, just now, just downstairs, that sure as hell didn’t mean he wanted to check outtanother one if he could avoid it. ‘Specially not one that was fallin’ at max velocity from the top of a lighthouse. ‘Specially not one that he’d be able to see the face of as they were tumblin’. ‘Specially not when he would no doubt recognise that face, that person who was-
Man, he was gettin’ way too deep inside of his own head now. Had ta snap outta it, yeah?
Even puttin’ that to one side, he really didn’t wanna watch his failure unfoldin’ right in fronta his very eyes. The wrenchin’ in his gut was already makin’ him feel properly at fault for what had just happened. Didn’t need ta watch it all play out in technocolour as well. Sure, he hadn’t pushed anybody. Hadn’t said anythin’ to either of these guys that mighta caused it. Hadn’t done nothin’ at all that anyone in their right mind coulda ‘ccused him of doin’. Still didn’t stop all that guilt from eatin’ away at him from the inside out.
He grabbed the guy’s shirt with his other hand an’ yanked him back up an’ over the railings to level ground. Weren’t too difficult. He’d gone totally limp, posture like a dead fish, but at least he wasn’t tryin’ to struggle or resist or nothin’. Wasn’t super heavy either. Tatsu shifted his grip, so his arms were under the guy’s own, then half-dragged, half-carried him towards the doorway leadin’ to the stairwell.
Couldn’t even feel any sensea victory or pride in savin’ this one dude. Not when the opportunity to rescue both of ‘em had slipped right through his fingers.
He let the guy go, gentle as he could, then collapsed backwards, outer lighthouse wall the only thing keepin’ him propped upright. He looked up, feelin’ his hands turnin’ into fists, feelin’ his teeth grindin’ together.
“Damnit…”
His voice was real quiet at first, almost hidden within the wind, but it sure didn’t take long for him to get louder. Real loud.
“Damnit, god, goddamnit, man! Fuck! This is just fuckin’... god, this is all some bullshit, eh?”
Tatsu slammed his fist against the wall, feelin’ his skin break and his knuckles start to bleed, and not comin’ anywhere close to carin’ about it.
Yuichiro wasn’t sure how he had got there. He was slumped against a wall. The sound of seagulls was still in the air around him. There was someone else there with him. He had trouble making out his face. Oki-san? Was that who had pulled him over here?
He was saying words that Yuichiro was having trouble understanding. His mind was still stuck on repeat. Katsu-kun had been holding his hand one minute. Then falling away from him the next.
No, that wasn’t right, was it?
He wasn’t sure what it meant. He had been happy for a moment, and now he was alone. Where had Katsu-kun gone?
He saw the red on Oki’s knuckles. A red smear. There was a red smear on the rocks below. Katsu-kun. Katsu-kun? Was that right?
Katsu-kun had left. Hadn’t he? Left like Niida-san. Like Tendou-san. Oh. That was sad. He had really liked seeing him again. Holding his hand. He wanted to leave with him.
But he was still here. Why was that? He wanted penance. That was right. He wanted to be able to forgive himself for what happened to Niida-san. To Tendou-san. And now Katsu-kun. Had that been a mistake?
He remembered Katsu-kun’s smiling face. Had he been smiling? He had been smiling himself. He thought Katsu-kun had to have been smiling. They were both finally going to be free.
Free.
Free.
He looked up at Oki.
“Oki-san?
“I can’t die yet?”
He was saying words that Yuichiro was having trouble understanding. His mind was still stuck on repeat. Katsu-kun had been holding his hand one minute. Then falling away from him the next.
No, that wasn’t right, was it?
He wasn’t sure what it meant. He had been happy for a moment, and now he was alone. Where had Katsu-kun gone?
He saw the red on Oki’s knuckles. A red smear. There was a red smear on the rocks below. Katsu-kun. Katsu-kun? Was that right?
Katsu-kun had left. Hadn’t he? Left like Niida-san. Like Tendou-san. Oh. That was sad. He had really liked seeing him again. Holding his hand. He wanted to leave with him.
But he was still here. Why was that? He wanted penance. That was right. He wanted to be able to forgive himself for what happened to Niida-san. To Tendou-san. And now Katsu-kun. Had that been a mistake?
He remembered Katsu-kun’s smiling face. Had he been smiling? He had been smiling himself. He thought Katsu-kun had to have been smiling. They were both finally going to be free.
Free.
Free.
He looked up at Oki.
“Oki-san?
“I can’t die yet?”
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Pippi
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Tatsu was real close to slammin’ his fist into the wall again - fat lotta good it woulda done him sides from givin’ him another dose of pain, first hit hadn’t even managed to vent a tiny bitta the anger coursin’ through his veins - when he heard the other guy speak, an’ he stopped short, knuckles inches away from the deep red patch they’d left previously. He turned around, movin’ all steady like, tryin’ his damn best not to startle the guy on the ground. Like, man, the guy had just gone through somethin’ real hellish just now. He was probably still pumped fulla adrenaline an’ fear, an’ right on the edge - metaphorically, not literally no more.
Tatsumichi wanted to help this guy out, as much as he could, ‘specially with his failure to rescue the other guy still loomin’ large over his head. An’ the first step towards doin’ that was actually takin’ a moment to breathe and figure out who this guy actually was. Not least cause referrin’ to him as just ‘This Guy’ all the time was kinda rude, eh?
Yuichiro Takiguchi was slumped against the wall, lookin’ up at Tatsumichi, eyes lookin’ just like those marbles the younger kids at school collected and played with; shiny, bright, totally lifeless and motionless. He was one of those guys that was real into manga and anime, so totally not Tatsu’s zone at all, yet despite that he spent all his time with Tadakatsu, a real caulk and cheese pairin’. Man, an’ baseball wasn’t in Tatsu’s zone at all neither; his old school hadn’t had none of the facilities for a proper baseball team, so he’d never really gotten a chance to try it out.
Man. Maybe somethin’ had happened to Tadakatsu since that last announcement had happened. Somethin’ real bad, and real obvious, and somethin’ that had driven Yuichiro to be doin’... this. It woulda meant sense. Least, that was what he thought anyway. He didn’t have anyone he was that tight with at school, but Tadakatsu an’ Yuichiro had been inseparable. God, that had to be eatin’ him up from the inside.
Well. This weren’t the ideal place to be playin’ catchup, an’ neither of them were in the right stateamind neither. But it wasn’t like they would have many other options, or chances. Had to take these opportunities whenever they landed in front of you, yeah?
“Nah,” Tatsumichi said, slowly, softly as he could muster. “Not yet. Not ever, if I can help it.”
He had interpreted Yuichiro’s words in one real specific way. Never even crossed his mind that there mighta been another meanin’ behind ‘em.
“I know you gotta have gone through some real shit, yeah? An’ I’m real sorry that you had to experience that. Ain’t none of this anythin’ anyone should be dealin’ with. I get it, I swear. But there’s gotta be… I gotta think that there’s some way offa this island that doesn’t just boil down to, eh, shootin’ everyone you see, or… throwin’ it all way. Y’get me?”
He frowned. His mouth twisted itself into a real disgruntled line.
“I still ain’t figured out what that’s actually gotta be, but, eh, hey, we can talk it over, if you got any ideas of your own, whenever you’re feelin’ up to it an’...”
Tatsu bowed his head, an’ let outta long, low sigh.
“I’m… sorry I couldn’t do nothin’ more to save your friend. I tried, I… man. ‘M sorry.”
Tatsumichi wanted to help this guy out, as much as he could, ‘specially with his failure to rescue the other guy still loomin’ large over his head. An’ the first step towards doin’ that was actually takin’ a moment to breathe and figure out who this guy actually was. Not least cause referrin’ to him as just ‘This Guy’ all the time was kinda rude, eh?
Yuichiro Takiguchi was slumped against the wall, lookin’ up at Tatsumichi, eyes lookin’ just like those marbles the younger kids at school collected and played with; shiny, bright, totally lifeless and motionless. He was one of those guys that was real into manga and anime, so totally not Tatsu’s zone at all, yet despite that he spent all his time with Tadakatsu, a real caulk and cheese pairin’. Man, an’ baseball wasn’t in Tatsu’s zone at all neither; his old school hadn’t had none of the facilities for a proper baseball team, so he’d never really gotten a chance to try it out.
Man. Maybe somethin’ had happened to Tadakatsu since that last announcement had happened. Somethin’ real bad, and real obvious, and somethin’ that had driven Yuichiro to be doin’... this. It woulda meant sense. Least, that was what he thought anyway. He didn’t have anyone he was that tight with at school, but Tadakatsu an’ Yuichiro had been inseparable. God, that had to be eatin’ him up from the inside.
Well. This weren’t the ideal place to be playin’ catchup, an’ neither of them were in the right stateamind neither. But it wasn’t like they would have many other options, or chances. Had to take these opportunities whenever they landed in front of you, yeah?
“Nah,” Tatsumichi said, slowly, softly as he could muster. “Not yet. Not ever, if I can help it.”
He had interpreted Yuichiro’s words in one real specific way. Never even crossed his mind that there mighta been another meanin’ behind ‘em.
“I know you gotta have gone through some real shit, yeah? An’ I’m real sorry that you had to experience that. Ain’t none of this anythin’ anyone should be dealin’ with. I get it, I swear. But there’s gotta be… I gotta think that there’s some way offa this island that doesn’t just boil down to, eh, shootin’ everyone you see, or… throwin’ it all way. Y’get me?”
He frowned. His mouth twisted itself into a real disgruntled line.
“I still ain’t figured out what that’s actually gotta be, but, eh, hey, we can talk it over, if you got any ideas of your own, whenever you’re feelin’ up to it an’...”
Tatsu bowed his head, an’ let outta long, low sigh.
“I’m… sorry I couldn’t do nothin’ more to save your friend. I tried, I… man. ‘M sorry.”
Yuichiro faded out after the first word. ‘Nah’. No dying yet, Yuichiro. He heard the rest of it, but it didn’t really sink in. None of it sounded sensible.
Maybe Oki-san wasn’t feeling alright. His hands looked really hurt, and he looked disturbed. Yuichiro understood that. He had felt the same way, up until he was on the edge. Katsu-kun probably felt the same way too. Then they had had that brief moment of joy together, and now he was back here.
He was mumbling something. An apology. Yuichiro knew one when he heard one. He didn’t understand it; why would anyone apologise to him? What was Oki-san apologising for? He hadn’t done anything wrong, after all. He had just been there when Yuichiro hadn’t died.
Why hadn’t he died? He had wanted to die. But he hadn’t died. Something had kept him alive, and let Katsu-kun fall down, right after they had both been so happy. Now Katsu-kun was gone, and he was still here, He didn’t feel happy. Neither did Oki-san. He could tell. He could always tell.
“Hey, Oki-san.” He said, in response to nothing at all. He had a question. He could always tell, but he was never sure of himself. He lacked confidence.
“Do you think Katsu-kun was happy, right before he died?”
Maybe Oki-san wasn’t feeling alright. His hands looked really hurt, and he looked disturbed. Yuichiro understood that. He had felt the same way, up until he was on the edge. Katsu-kun probably felt the same way too. Then they had had that brief moment of joy together, and now he was back here.
He was mumbling something. An apology. Yuichiro knew one when he heard one. He didn’t understand it; why would anyone apologise to him? What was Oki-san apologising for? He hadn’t done anything wrong, after all. He had just been there when Yuichiro hadn’t died.
Why hadn’t he died? He had wanted to die. But he hadn’t died. Something had kept him alive, and let Katsu-kun fall down, right after they had both been so happy. Now Katsu-kun was gone, and he was still here, He didn’t feel happy. Neither did Oki-san. He could tell. He could always tell.
“Hey, Oki-san.” He said, in response to nothing at all. He had a question. He could always tell, but he was never sure of himself. He lacked confidence.
“Do you think Katsu-kun was happy, right before he died?”
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Pippi
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It took a second or two - or, eh, maybe even longer, time was feelin’ all kindsa messed up right now, minutes were mergin’ into each other and seconds were feelin’ like decades - before Yuichiro said anythin’. Tatsu sure as hell couldn’t blame him for needin’ a moment to react. Was prob’ly still tryin’ to absorb everythin’ that had just happened in the last few minutes - or years - an’ all.
He looked up again, studyin’ Yuichiro a little. That stained-glass look in his eyes was still present, an’ he was just kinda lookin’ into thin air. Guy was a million miles away. Would explain exactly why his question seemed to come outta nowhere, weren’t related to nothin’. On the planet he was stranded on, it prob’ly made perfect sense.
“I don’t even know, man,” he said, lettin’ out a sigh in the gap in his speech. “I never really knew the guy, an’, like, I ain’t even really met nobody this whole-”
Wait. Hol’ on. The penny was droppin’ right now.
Ah shit. Ah jeez. Now everythin’ really made sense.
“Shit, that was him just now, huh? On the side of the- shit. Aw, man, Yuichiro, I’m real…”
Nah. Nah, he’d already given his apologies, as much as they were worth any longer. Wasn’t anythin’ more to say in that regard. Wasn’t anythin’ he could do to bring Tadakatsu back or nothin’. He’d had his time to feel sorry for himself, now he was gonna get his ass back to helpin’ folks out wherever and however he could.
“Hey, you guys were super tight, yeah? Always hangin’ out together at school, right? Guy was probably real glad he got to meet you again out here, ain’t like everyone can say that.”
If he’d known he weren’t ever gonna see Kazushi again, maybe he’d have paid more attention to what he was blabberin’ on about on the bus. Even if it was just him talkin’ about how bad he had it for Takako.
“So, eh, I can’t say nothin’ for certain. But I think he woulda been happy. Right before… eh, you know.”
He looked up again, studyin’ Yuichiro a little. That stained-glass look in his eyes was still present, an’ he was just kinda lookin’ into thin air. Guy was a million miles away. Would explain exactly why his question seemed to come outta nowhere, weren’t related to nothin’. On the planet he was stranded on, it prob’ly made perfect sense.
“I don’t even know, man,” he said, lettin’ out a sigh in the gap in his speech. “I never really knew the guy, an’, like, I ain’t even really met nobody this whole-”
Wait. Hol’ on. The penny was droppin’ right now.
Ah shit. Ah jeez. Now everythin’ really made sense.
“Shit, that was him just now, huh? On the side of the- shit. Aw, man, Yuichiro, I’m real…”
Nah. Nah, he’d already given his apologies, as much as they were worth any longer. Wasn’t anythin’ more to say in that regard. Wasn’t anythin’ he could do to bring Tadakatsu back or nothin’. He’d had his time to feel sorry for himself, now he was gonna get his ass back to helpin’ folks out wherever and however he could.
“Hey, you guys were super tight, yeah? Always hangin’ out together at school, right? Guy was probably real glad he got to meet you again out here, ain’t like everyone can say that.”
If he’d known he weren’t ever gonna see Kazushi again, maybe he’d have paid more attention to what he was blabberin’ on about on the bus. Even if it was just him talkin’ about how bad he had it for Takako.
“So, eh, I can’t say nothin’ for certain. But I think he woulda been happy. Right before… eh, you know.”
Glad? Happy?
Katsu-kun had been glad and happy, right before you know.
That made Yuichiro happy.
That was what he wanted. He wanted to make Katsu-kun happy. He had only wanted to make everyone happy. Since day one, maybe sooner, that’s all he wanted. People around him to be happy, and for things to be OK.
He didn’t know how to do it. But now he had done it. Because he had been there when Katsu-kun had died. And now Katsu-kun was free. Free to live in that happy moment forever. So maybe he had accomplished something after all.
But he was still here. It wasn’t his time to go yet. He couldn’t be free to live in that happy moment forever. Was it a punishment? It would make sense if it was a punishment. He always seemed to deserve a punishment for some reason. He was sorry for whatever it was he did.
But maybe this wasn’t a punishment? Maybe he had been saved because he still had a job to do. He still wanted to save the people around him. He still wanted them to be happy. He hadn’t been able to do it before. Now he had. What did this mean?
“Oki-san.” he asked again, gazing up at his savoir. “I want to save everyone. Can I?”
Katsu-kun had been glad and happy, right before you know.
That made Yuichiro happy.
That was what he wanted. He wanted to make Katsu-kun happy. He had only wanted to make everyone happy. Since day one, maybe sooner, that’s all he wanted. People around him to be happy, and for things to be OK.
He didn’t know how to do it. But now he had done it. Because he had been there when Katsu-kun had died. And now Katsu-kun was free. Free to live in that happy moment forever. So maybe he had accomplished something after all.
But he was still here. It wasn’t his time to go yet. He couldn’t be free to live in that happy moment forever. Was it a punishment? It would make sense if it was a punishment. He always seemed to deserve a punishment for some reason. He was sorry for whatever it was he did.
But maybe this wasn’t a punishment? Maybe he had been saved because he still had a job to do. He still wanted to save the people around him. He still wanted them to be happy. He hadn’t been able to do it before. Now he had. What did this mean?
“Oki-san.” he asked again, gazing up at his savoir. “I want to save everyone. Can I?”
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Pippi
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“Yeah. Yeah, I think so.”
Didn’t have to hesitate on that answer even a tiny bit. He’d been thinkin’ since the starta this whole godawful rollercoaster of bullshit, that there were so many different whichways of reactin’ to what the hell was goin’ on, an’ he wasn’t in the business of judgin’ any of ‘em. How in the hell could you make a plan for somethin’ totally unplannable? Like steppin’ onto the soccer pitch only to find you were supposed to be playin’ baseball instead.
But you know what he’d always been thinkin’? He’d been thinkin’ somethin’ that, eh, maybe some folks mighta labeled as wistful thinkin’. Somethin’ real naive, naive as all hell, somethin’ his old man woulda given him a real stern talkin’ to, tellin’ him that weren’t how the real world worked, well guess what, dad? Your world had sure as hell never been the same as Tatsu’s world, an’ that’d never been more the case than now, y’hear?
Cause he really didn’t think, for even a damn second, that anyone really wanted anyone around ‘em dead an’ buried. No matter how bad they wanted outta this shit. Sure, if they couldn’tsee another avenue of escapin’? Then sure, people would kill, an’ of course, they had killed to grab that chancea bein’ the last person standin’ with both hands. He weren’t too naive to think that wasn’t the case, and weren’t too stupid to pretend that hadn’t happened. But if they saw that there could be another way out? That there was a way of livin’ without killin’? That there was someone in fronta ‘em holdin’ outtan olive branch, real set on escapin’ with no more bloodshed?
Yeah. Yeah, Tatsu was pretty damn sure anyone an’ everyone’d take that offerin’.
“We ain’t got much time left, or… or people left to save, but we can do it. We can save everyone.”
He felt a big-ass grin, one he ain’t felt since, man, early hours of the mornin’, day one, slip onto his face.
“You an’ me, we can do this. Whenever you’re ready.”
Didn’t have to hesitate on that answer even a tiny bit. He’d been thinkin’ since the starta this whole godawful rollercoaster of bullshit, that there were so many different whichways of reactin’ to what the hell was goin’ on, an’ he wasn’t in the business of judgin’ any of ‘em. How in the hell could you make a plan for somethin’ totally unplannable? Like steppin’ onto the soccer pitch only to find you were supposed to be playin’ baseball instead.
But you know what he’d always been thinkin’? He’d been thinkin’ somethin’ that, eh, maybe some folks mighta labeled as wistful thinkin’. Somethin’ real naive, naive as all hell, somethin’ his old man woulda given him a real stern talkin’ to, tellin’ him that weren’t how the real world worked, well guess what, dad? Your world had sure as hell never been the same as Tatsu’s world, an’ that’d never been more the case than now, y’hear?
Cause he really didn’t think, for even a damn second, that anyone really wanted anyone around ‘em dead an’ buried. No matter how bad they wanted outta this shit. Sure, if they couldn’tsee another avenue of escapin’? Then sure, people would kill, an’ of course, they had killed to grab that chancea bein’ the last person standin’ with both hands. He weren’t too naive to think that wasn’t the case, and weren’t too stupid to pretend that hadn’t happened. But if they saw that there could be another way out? That there was a way of livin’ without killin’? That there was someone in fronta ‘em holdin’ outtan olive branch, real set on escapin’ with no more bloodshed?
Yeah. Yeah, Tatsu was pretty damn sure anyone an’ everyone’d take that offerin’.
“We ain’t got much time left, or… or people left to save, but we can do it. We can save everyone.”
He felt a big-ass grin, one he ain’t felt since, man, early hours of the mornin’, day one, slip onto his face.
“You an’ me, we can do this. Whenever you’re ready.”
“Yeah, yeah I’m ready.”
Yuichiro felt better. Thanks, Oki-san. You’d helped him understand what it was he needed to do. Why he was still alive. How he could help save everyone.
He got to his feet, carefully, but surely.
He pulled Mayumi's Colt out of his pocket with one hand, and aimed Kazushi's Uzi, still slung over his shoulder, with the other.
He would save Oki-san first. He smiled at him out of gratitutde.
Yuichiro felt better. Thanks, Oki-san. You’d helped him understand what it was he needed to do. Why he was still alive. How he could help save everyone.
He got to his feet, carefully, but surely.
He pulled Mayumi's Colt out of his pocket with one hand, and aimed Kazushi's Uzi, still slung over his shoulder, with the other.
He would save Oki-san first. He smiled at him out of gratitutde.
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Pippi
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Whoa, whoa, wait, hol’ on. The hell was goin’ on here now?
It was funny just how quick that grin got totally wiped offa Tatsumichi’s face. Real funny. Reeeaaaaal funny. Nobody here was laughin’ - though Yuichiro had suddenly gained a smile of his own that was lookin’ pretty damn sketchy more’n anythin’ else - but you had to trust him on this one. It was a funny ol’ thing.
“Yo, hey, yo, Yuichiro! C’mon, man, what’re you playin’ at? Thought we had an understadin’, yeah? We were gonna… gonna save everyone, yeah?”
There was a river of sweat runnin’ down his forehead, annan ocean of the stuff pourin’ down his back, makin’ his shirt stick to his skin. He didn’t have a clue where things had gone wrong or where they’d broken down between himself an’ Yuichiro. Had the guy just been lullin’ him into a false sense of security? Had a total change of heart but in the wrong direction? Been so messed up by Tadakatsu’s passin’ that he was jus’ runnin’ on total blind panic an’ instinct?
No way of figurin’ that out right now, nor was there any real time to do so. Had to take action instead, an’ while Tatsumichi had never planned on ever shootin’ first - ‘sides from warnin’ shots - he wasn’t just gonna leave his finger offa the trigger when a life was on the line. His very own, in this case.
His hand shot down, cause he doubted this was a ‘nobody moves and nobody gets hurt’ kinda deal, more a ‘shoot first ask questions never’ one. It shoved down into his pocket, fingers wrappin’ round the smooth metal handle o-
Hol’ on. Eh?
Tatsu’s blood froze in a split-second, his eyes turnin’ wide as the soccer ball lyin’ in his bedroom closet. Nothin’ about this made sense no more. Everythin’ had suddenly, so instantly, gone totally nonsensical in the blink of an eye. Maybe he’d smacked his head ‘gainst the railings when he’d gone to grab the two guys. Maybe he was totally hallucinatin’ right now.
He’d grasped nothin’ but air. His fingers brushed crumbs, bits of dirt, an’ some old candy wrapper. But no gun. No weapon of any kinda. Score: nil.
Bout a hundred feet below, nestled in a patch of brambles a lil waysaway from Tadakatsu’s body, sat the pristine, unfired, fully-loaded shape of a Smith & Wesson M59 semi-automatic pistol.
It was funny just how quick that grin got totally wiped offa Tatsumichi’s face. Real funny. Reeeaaaaal funny. Nobody here was laughin’ - though Yuichiro had suddenly gained a smile of his own that was lookin’ pretty damn sketchy more’n anythin’ else - but you had to trust him on this one. It was a funny ol’ thing.
“Yo, hey, yo, Yuichiro! C’mon, man, what’re you playin’ at? Thought we had an understadin’, yeah? We were gonna… gonna save everyone, yeah?”
There was a river of sweat runnin’ down his forehead, annan ocean of the stuff pourin’ down his back, makin’ his shirt stick to his skin. He didn’t have a clue where things had gone wrong or where they’d broken down between himself an’ Yuichiro. Had the guy just been lullin’ him into a false sense of security? Had a total change of heart but in the wrong direction? Been so messed up by Tadakatsu’s passin’ that he was jus’ runnin’ on total blind panic an’ instinct?
No way of figurin’ that out right now, nor was there any real time to do so. Had to take action instead, an’ while Tatsumichi had never planned on ever shootin’ first - ‘sides from warnin’ shots - he wasn’t just gonna leave his finger offa the trigger when a life was on the line. His very own, in this case.
His hand shot down, cause he doubted this was a ‘nobody moves and nobody gets hurt’ kinda deal, more a ‘shoot first ask questions never’ one. It shoved down into his pocket, fingers wrappin’ round the smooth metal handle o-
Hol’ on. Eh?
Tatsu’s blood froze in a split-second, his eyes turnin’ wide as the soccer ball lyin’ in his bedroom closet. Nothin’ about this made sense no more. Everythin’ had suddenly, so instantly, gone totally nonsensical in the blink of an eye. Maybe he’d smacked his head ‘gainst the railings when he’d gone to grab the two guys. Maybe he was totally hallucinatin’ right now.
He’d grasped nothin’ but air. His fingers brushed crumbs, bits of dirt, an’ some old candy wrapper. But no gun. No weapon of any kinda. Score: nil.
Bout a hundred feet below, nestled in a patch of brambles a lil waysaway from Tadakatsu’s body, sat the pristine, unfired, fully-loaded shape of a Smith & Wesson M59 semi-automatic pistol.
Oki-san was nervous. That was understandable. He had been nervous before he was going to die with Katsu-kun. He still wanted to do it though. Nerves weren’t a reason not to do something, he'd been taught by his dad before he disappeared.
He was reaching for something, but Yuichiro didn’t react. Didn’t even consider that it might’ve been a gun. It really didn’t matter, since said gun was too far away to stop him. Not that he would think as far ahead as people trying to resist. Maybe he would in time, but this was his first go of euthanasia, after all. He was still learning.
“Shhh, it’s OK Oki-san. I know it’s scary. I’m still kind of scared, but it’s OK. I know how we can save everyone now. Together, I can save you. You’ll be free soon. Free and happy. And for showing me that, that I can do something to help, I’m really grateful. Thank you, Oki-san.”
He smiled again. In the light of the sun, his eyes shone a glazed reflection. Then his fingers twitched, and both guns started unloading in sync.
When firing guns akimbo with no previous experience, most of the bullets went wide as the simultaneous Pow Pow and oh-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho filled the air. But it really didn’t matter under the circumstances; it was much more of a quantity over quality kind of thing.
He was reaching for something, but Yuichiro didn’t react. Didn’t even consider that it might’ve been a gun. It really didn’t matter, since said gun was too far away to stop him. Not that he would think as far ahead as people trying to resist. Maybe he would in time, but this was his first go of euthanasia, after all. He was still learning.
“Shhh, it’s OK Oki-san. I know it’s scary. I’m still kind of scared, but it’s OK. I know how we can save everyone now. Together, I can save you. You’ll be free soon. Free and happy. And for showing me that, that I can do something to help, I’m really grateful. Thank you, Oki-san.”
He smiled again. In the light of the sun, his eyes shone a glazed reflection. Then his fingers twitched, and both guns started unloading in sync.
When firing guns akimbo with no previous experience, most of the bullets went wide as the simultaneous Pow Pow and oh-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho filled the air. But it really didn’t matter under the circumstances; it was much more of a quantity over quality kind of thing.
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Pippi
- Posts: 1121
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“Wait, wait, wait, don’t be so damn hasty, Yuichiro, c’mon, you don’t gotta fuckin’ do this, man!”
Tatsumichi could barely hear whatever the hell Yuichiro was blabberin’ on about over the thunderin’ of his own heartbeat, an’ he knew damn well this guy wasn’t gonna listen to a word he said. Wasn’t like he was gonna go down without a fight though, eh? End of the road was starin’ him in the face, and, to be honest, he felt like he was gonna piss himself any second now. That ocean of sweat had migrated from just his back to coatin’ his entire body, an’ there was this lump in his throat that was makin’ it real hard to swallow or even goddamn breathe.
But Tatsu knew he had to try somethin’. No matter what. Just had to try your damn hardest at anythin’ you put your hand to. Clock could be runnin’ down an’ his team coulda shipped four goals already, he’d still be bustin’ a gut chasin’ after the ball an’ throwin’ himself into every tackle. He’d learned that from his gramps. Put your whole heart, an’ your whole ass, into whatcha loved, an’ you could be damn proud of everythin’ you did, no matter the results.
His old man had told him that gramps didn’t havea lotta time left, just before Tatsumichi had left for this trip. Every chance the tenacious ol’ bastard woulda passed on before Tatsu even got back. He’d said it so damn matterafactly, bout his own damn father-in-law. He wondered how he’d react to his son’s passin’. How he’d break the news to the resta his extended family.
More’n’ that, he wondered what his gramps would say to him, when this was all over. The botha them would probably find some way of laughin’ about that together. “Quarter my age and you still tap out before me, kiddo? You gotta shape up, now we’ve got eternity together!”
He’d tried his damn best these past few days. Hadn’t done much, but he sure as hell had tried. There was some kinda joke to be made, ‘bout how he’d worked his ass off to save one person, and all they’d done was turn rightaround to point a gun at his chest. What’d have happened if he’d grabbed Tadakatsu’s wrist instead? Would he be walkin’ down the lighthouse steps right now? Or would, eh, fate decide that his time on this planet ended right here, right now, no matter what?
No way of figurin’ that one out, no way at all. But Tatsumichi knew one thing. And that was that his gramps would be real proud of him, no matter what.
An’ he felt somethin’ like a smile form on his face at that.
The bullets scythed through Tatsumichi Oki, ripping his clothes to shreds as they burst through his torso, blood splattering onto the ground and the railings behind him. His body juddered and shook, like an electric charge had been sent coursing through him. Even before he crumpled onto the ground, more a pile of bloody flesh and rags than a teenage boy, his heart had stopped, and his brain had ceased functioning.
Tatsumichi could barely hear whatever the hell Yuichiro was blabberin’ on about over the thunderin’ of his own heartbeat, an’ he knew damn well this guy wasn’t gonna listen to a word he said. Wasn’t like he was gonna go down without a fight though, eh? End of the road was starin’ him in the face, and, to be honest, he felt like he was gonna piss himself any second now. That ocean of sweat had migrated from just his back to coatin’ his entire body, an’ there was this lump in his throat that was makin’ it real hard to swallow or even goddamn breathe.
But Tatsu knew he had to try somethin’. No matter what. Just had to try your damn hardest at anythin’ you put your hand to. Clock could be runnin’ down an’ his team coulda shipped four goals already, he’d still be bustin’ a gut chasin’ after the ball an’ throwin’ himself into every tackle. He’d learned that from his gramps. Put your whole heart, an’ your whole ass, into whatcha loved, an’ you could be damn proud of everythin’ you did, no matter the results.
His old man had told him that gramps didn’t havea lotta time left, just before Tatsumichi had left for this trip. Every chance the tenacious ol’ bastard woulda passed on before Tatsu even got back. He’d said it so damn matterafactly, bout his own damn father-in-law. He wondered how he’d react to his son’s passin’. How he’d break the news to the resta his extended family.
More’n’ that, he wondered what his gramps would say to him, when this was all over. The botha them would probably find some way of laughin’ about that together. “Quarter my age and you still tap out before me, kiddo? You gotta shape up, now we’ve got eternity together!”
He’d tried his damn best these past few days. Hadn’t done much, but he sure as hell had tried. There was some kinda joke to be made, ‘bout how he’d worked his ass off to save one person, and all they’d done was turn rightaround to point a gun at his chest. What’d have happened if he’d grabbed Tadakatsu’s wrist instead? Would he be walkin’ down the lighthouse steps right now? Or would, eh, fate decide that his time on this planet ended right here, right now, no matter what?
No way of figurin’ that one out, no way at all. But Tatsumichi knew one thing. And that was that his gramps would be real proud of him, no matter what.
An’ he felt somethin’ like a smile form on his face at that.
B3: TATSUMICHI OKI - DECEASED
The bullets scythed through Tatsumichi Oki, ripping his clothes to shreds as they burst through his torso, blood splattering onto the ground and the railings behind him. His body juddered and shook, like an electric charge had been sent coursing through him. Even before he crumpled onto the ground, more a pile of bloody flesh and rags than a teenage boy, his heart had stopped, and his brain had ceased functioning.