GRAVEYARD

[foundationmods]

[On the instant of your death, you're suddenly outside of your body - probably staring down at the remains it's become.

Yet, you're not alone. For all of you (except Szayel), a young man appears from behind you, his face set into a firm, yet sad, scowl. His shaggy strawberry blonde hair is pretty eye-catching, along with the black and white Shihakusho he wears and the large sword on his back, even as he gently tries to lead you back into the lobby and away from what was once your body. You can still clearly hear and see the living, if you want to try - but they can't see or hear you.

'Welcome to the world of the dead in this Resort,' he says, quietly. 'Looks like you're stuck here with the rest of us.'

He hands you a tablet, just like the one you had before. "You'll need this if you want to keep talking to them,' he explains, looking sad.

It looks like you've passed on, and yet...You still feel like you have a role to play in all of this.]

Comments

[bladeisme]

[He'll just let her cry - and try to keep from crying himself - as she clings to him, placing a hand against the back of her head.

There's a major difference now, though - he's warm, and she can feel and hear his heartbeat, steady and clear.]

...I'm so sorry, Inaba. I - couldn't do anything for you.

[She didn't even hear him yelling, and he just -

hates how powerless he is. How scared she had to be, with that.]

[dereban]

It's not--

[ Her voice shakes in spite of herself, but the warmth is a strange comfort that she can cling onto and keep herself close. ]

It's not your fault. I made the decision to go out. I decided not to run. You don't have to apologize, it's all me.

[bladeisme]

No. That's - not what I was apologizing for.

[He draws her in a little closer, shutting his eyes.]

I'm - sorry all of you got drawn into this stupid, shitty game. That you even came here in the first place, and -

[he cuts himself off, sucking in a breath.]

- you were - so scared. So scared, and I knew you were just trying to put on a front, but - I knew, and I couldn't help you!

[Swallowing hard, he shakes his head.]

None of this is your fault, Inaba! Please - don't - don't apologize!

[dereban]

No, that's-

[ She shakes her head, keeping herself close to him. ]

Don't blame yourself for this. For any of it. The bastards that came up with this game are to blame. The people who made us come here are the ones who are really assholes here.

[ Inaba's voice is shaking in spite of her trying to steady it. She's trying so goddamn hard and it hurts. ]

I was the one who chose to leave my room willingly that night. I made my decision to die, even if I was scared. Even if my choice wasn't right, I wanted to choose the lesser of two evils. Okay? So me being here right now... it's partially my fault.

[bladeisme]

But - if we hadn't gotten stuck here - if I hadn't died - then maybe, none of you would have had to come here!

[He looks like he wants to say something else, but he shuts his mouth with a click of his teeth, just looking anguished.]

I get - why you left your room. But a choice between two deaths isn't a choice anyone can make, let alone take responsibility for! You did nothing wrong, Inaba! Stop saying this is something you caused! You don't have to - you shouldn't have to be strong for this! Please -

Just - let yourself go. I don't - think you're weak for it, remember?

[He's trembling a little himself, and he's definitely blinking back tears.]

I...I don't want to see you hiding your hurt anymore.

['I don't want any walls between us.']

[dereban]

You're assuming things again. Saying things like "maybe" and "what if". Stop it. [ Strangely enough, her voice manages to steady and run cold; it's so easy to just slip into that persona when she's trying to pick apart words. When she needs to. But then he continues to talk, continues to say things like it's not her fault, she doesn't have to be strong any further, and she can let herself go... But it's the words after it that make her pause. "I don't - think you're weak for it, remember?" Yeah, she remembers seeing those words in text. But actually hearing it now, seeing him tremble like that, hearing him actually say that and her hearing it? Means so much to her. More than she can ever imagine. So she just practically crumples over and tightens her grip and just buries her head in his shoulder. Her voice cracks slightly as she speaks, but there's genuine emotion in it. Like someone who actually looks like a high school teenager instead of the brave face that she puts on in front of everyone. ] I'm sorry- I just... I feel so useless, compared to everyone else... I couldn't do anything, Ichigo... and I broke so many promises...

[bladeisme]

I know. I know Inaba.

[He's still trembling - but he's also relieved. For once, for once, she let herself fall to pieces in his arms, let herself feel safe enough to let go of her mask and show him her soft side.

It's enough to let his own mask slip, too - the mask of competency and structure, of strength and determination. It's enough to let him show how hurt and scared he is, too - right along with her - and tears begin to fall onto her body as he cries.]

I - feel so helpless. I feel useless too - especially when the people I care about die, or are hurt...

[His grip tightens, just a little.]

It's so - terrifying. To know there's nothing you can do - that this is it - and everything is going to go on regardless of what you try to do. You want to scream, cry...but most of all, you're just -

scared. And hurt. And you want it to stop-

[He breaks into a sob, squeezing his eyes shut.]

Inaba-!!

[dereban]

[ She knows that he's very much aware of that feeling of helplessness. After all, he's been here for six months, right? All alone. And she. She gets that, in a way. As someone who was alone for so long... she understands. But this was a worse isolation than hers, she's certain about that. But wow. She didn't expect this. But even so, it's nice, to be able to see this side of him. A side that she didn't expect, but one that she doesn't hate. ] It's okay, Ichigo... It's okay, you can cry on me, alright? You can scream at me, too, or whatever you want.

[bladeisme]

I don't - want to scream at you -

[But that's all he can get out, as it all...just lets loose, in a torrent of pent up emotion. Letting himself be weak, even against someone he wanted to be so, so strong for.

Despite being a shinigami...he is, after all, only human. And as he cries, he begins to feel...lighter.

Eventually, he stops - and wipes his eyes, shaking his head.]

...I'm sorry. I'm - not supposed to be the one crying on you in this situation, am I...?

[dereban]

[ Honestly? She's kind of surprised herself that she can piece herself back together like this; she's long since past crying, but maybe that's because she's focusing her efforts on someone else now. She hates being like this sometimes, hates caring way too much and being absolutely terrified of what will come out of it. But she does keep him close, doesn't pull him away from her in the slightest bit as she shakes her own head. ] No, it's- [...] It's fine, Ichigo, really. I think I've cried enough myself and I think you've been holding yourself back more than I have.