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[blackbeastcoat]

This is Akutagawa. If you need me for whatever reason, leave a message. I'll get back to it when I have the time.

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[blackbeastcoat]

[ The truth of the matter was that he didn't have the strength to argue against her persistence, emotionally drained. So when Setsura came over and put her hand on his shoulder? He didn't have the desire to push her away or hide any more than he already kind of was. ]

If you... insist.

[ For once, his exhaustion leaks into his voice and Akutagawa relaxed a little. Infact he's quiet for a moment or two, and then...? ]

She should have been allowed to stay here, not me.

[chichichi]

Akutagawa-san...?

[ She cants her head just so at that. She figured. She knew he was affected by Higuchi's loss -- "loss" feels right. They all are and... dealing with it in ways she's not yet familiar with, but to hear Akutagawa say something like that --

She waits. ]

[blackbeastcoat]

...tch. Neither of us had anything to go back to, but she deserved better.

[ Akutagawa's tone is a bit more bitter and cold, but directed more at himself than her. At least for a minute or two before he seems to deflate. His tone is a bit quieter when he continues, but still audible with the pillow over his head. ]

Even now... I... wonder if she ever did forgive me. For how I treated her prior to arriving here.

[chichichi]

[ She's quiet for a moment. ]

I don't know anything about your relationship with Higuchi-san before you arrived here and I can't speak for Higuchi-san, but I can say that you don't look at someone the way she looks at you and hold a grudge. Hers weren't the sort of eyes that looked at you like she wished you'd punish yourself either.

[blackbeastcoat]

...It's because she loved me, wasn't it?

[ Gods. He sounded even more tired now, but the sadness is still palpable even as he relinquished his grip on the pillow he'd been using to hide his face. ]

I was... out of tune with my emotions. I never had to... face them as I have had to here. I didn't realize I truly felt the same until recently... and failed to convey that to her.

[ A real sign Akutagawa had come quite far in these past months is the sheer fact he was able to admit things like this at all. The old him never would have even let another person into his room without much more of a fight. ]

[chichichi]

[ There's something about this, about the way Akutagawa is talking and Chuuya's reaction that doesn't make sense to her. ]

But you're from the same world, aren't you? Shigure-san and the others are working toward a way to preserve our memories. I'm sure you'll be able to properly convey your feelings to Higuchi-san.

[ She doesn't want to believe anything else. ]

[blackbeastcoat]

Unless she is to return to Nippon? It will never happen.

[ Akutagawa scoffs, the noise low and gruff. He's almost sounding annoyed but it's not really directed at her. ]

We both share the same world and inevitably, the same fate. [ He pauses a bit, and shifts to actually look at her almost tiredly. ] The dead have no voices of which to speak with.

[chichichi]

[ She searches his face for a moment. She recognizes that expression, just not on Akutagawa's face and it's never coupled with any sort of good thing. Speaking like that -- ]

Akutagawa-san, what do you mean?

[ -- like he, they are already dead, her heart twists in its cage. What does he mean? She feels him and he doesn't feel like he is.

What does he mean? ]

[blackbeastcoat]

I thought it would have been clear.

[ There's a definitive pause, then Akutagawa shifted his gaze downward as one hand reached up and touched against the side of his neck. ]

Outside of Nippon, I am dead. There is nothing for me to return to.

[ His hand falls away and something in his face turns a bit distant, almost regretful. ]

I was told that due to some interference from the man who had slain me, my body was revived in some beastly manner and is no longer 'me' anymore. The first one to see me like that was Higuchi whom I had killed prior to her arrival here.

[chichichi]

But you don't -- you don't feel like it. Higuchi-san didn't either, she was vibrant and alive and [ and ] you can't be!

[ He can't be. Higuchi, too. That's... ]

[blackbeastcoat]

We arrived here within mere seconds before our actual deaths, due to the time loops.

[ There's something resigned, but utterly calm as he looks at her now. Unphased by her reaction in the slightest. ]

That's all it is.

[chichichi]

I won't accept it!

[ She won't. Akutagawa and Higuchi, they're... ]

[blackbeastcoat]

It matters little if you accept it or not. That is the truth and it cannot be changed.

[ The stress on his body emotionally and having been curled up alone in his room prior to her intervening hasn't been good for him to say the least. ]

Had I not died then, I was not to last much longer past that point and I wished to die on my own ter--

[ He stopped short, body wracked with a coughing fit as he brought a hand up to his mouth. It didn't last long, but soon as his hand pulled back? There was definitely blood on his palm. ]

[chichichi]

[ She reaches for that bloodied hand, her grip firm as she pulls him level to lock gazes with him. Hers is intense, unwavering, blood between them. ]

Don't impose such limitations on me. Anything can be changed so long as you're alive and sometimes even after that. If I have to drag your soul kicking and screaming from the depths of some hell, I will.

[blackbeastcoat]

[ Since these small coughing fits always distracted him, he didn't catch her movement until she'd grabbed his hand and he looked up to find that intense gaze fixed on him. ]

...How would you manage that?

[ A tiny bit of irritation leaked into his voice but it wasn't entirely aimed at her as he brought up his free hand to place it against his chest. ]

Unless you can remove this damnable sickness from me, I will eventually die whether anyone wishes it or not.

[chichichi]

[ A hush falls over the room. It lasts all of a moment. ]

Make a contract with me.

[blackbeastcoat]

[ That definitely took him by surprise, blinking a couple times as he registered what it was she'd said to him. ]

A what...?

[ With everything he'd seen here, a lot of things were much more plausible but then he had to wonder why she'd suggest such a thing. A contract to him was something for work, an agreement between two parties for something. ]

What purpose would it serve?

[chichichi]

That depends on the specifics of the contract. What it is you want, Akutagawa?

[blackbeastcoat]

[ He just blinked a bit, opening his mouth as if to answer but stopping short once he realized he didn't have an answer as much as he first thought. ]

...I don't have an answer to that.

[ Akutagawa exhaled a small sigh, closing his eyes. ]

If it had been at home... I would have requested for more strength and power as to have Dazai-san acknowledge me. [ A scoff followed that. ] He did that when he was here, and then I realized that it's alright to feel and fell in love. So I don't know what I want right now.

[chichichi]

It sounded to me like you want to live.

[ She says it simply, easily. ]

[blackbeastcoat]

Don't be ridiculous. I...

[ He was ready to say it. How he really hadn't a problem with dying before, when he'd been back home. Then he stopped to think about it. Here in Nippon, people loved and cared for him and would be legitimately sad if he actually died.

Why did that thought hurt him as much as it had just then? ]

I shouldn't want to. It's... selfish.

[chichichi]

[ She squeezes his hand. ]

It isn't selfish to want to live your life, Akutagawa-san, and I know a thing or two about being selfish.

[blackbeastcoat]

I used to have just... one reason for living, pushing myself to do my best. Be the strongest.

[ His gaze fell to where she held his hand, mind swimming with images and knowledge that his purpose had shifted somewhere along the road. It no longer was about impressing Dazai anymore, and he knew that. ]

My life had little meaning prior to my arrival, but after spending time here? It isn't a place in which I wish to die. Not here.

[chichichi]

Then you have your answer, don't you?

[ She'll say it again. ]

Make a contract with me for your life.

[blackbeastcoat]

[ Months ago? He never would so much as entertained the mere idea of engaging in anything such as this, so it was intriguing to see how his thoughts had vastly shifted all this time. ]

Very well.

[ Akutagawa straightened up properly and there was a definitive light to his eyes now. ]

Tell me what it is I have to do in order to forge one with you.