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

[dereban]

Not here. [ She's not talking about it when there's so many people around. It's too personal. ]

[justonezero]

...

Are we going to have time for it?

[Things are coming to an end so quickly.]

[dereban]

It doesn't matter. That's my only condition for talking.

[justonezero]

...Okay. But it'll have to be pretty quick.

We're leaving with everyone, you know?

[dereban]

[ . . .

Her answer manages to come out rather quietly: ]

I know.

[justonezero]

Everyone here's really precious to me. Not just as treasures, but... as individual people.

[That was his mistake, wasn't it? Failing to see the individual.]

So I'm going to work hard so we can stay together even once we're out of here, too.

[dereban]

[ It's another quiet: ] . . . Mm. Yeah.

[justonezero]

[...]

You don't sound very happy, though.

[dereban]

Kind of hard to be entirely happy when. . .

[ just

glances at The State of Ichigo ]

[justonezero]

Mm. I'm worried about him, too. But I'm still excited we'll get to leave together.

[dereban]

[ "Leave together."

Those words make her visibly pause, but she just wears a tired smile. ]

Yeah.

[justonezero]

So...

There's still things to be happy about, Inaba. Let's make sure it can come true.

[dereban]

Yeah.

[ She seems to be in a state where that's... pretty much all she can answer to this. ]

[justonezero]

[...

Pats her on the head!]

[dereban]

Uh.

[ Well, that's a different response. ]

. . . thanks?

[justonezero]

[But can he go for a hug next?!]

[dereban]

[ She certainly won't stop him. ]

You didn't have to.

[justonezero]

I wanted to.

[Eheheh.]

[dereban]

Thanks.

[ Unlike the confusion in her voice before, she eventually manages to calm down, but there's something a little lonely in how she says that single word. ]

[justonezero]

I didn't really hug people until I came here. They're nice, aren't they?

I'm looking forward to getting to hug everyone a lot after this, too.

[He'll just tuck his chin on her shoulder for now, until she makes it clear he needs to let go.]

[dereban]

They are.

They're... warm, and full of affection from the other person.

[justonezero]

Mm. Well, I guess most people didn't feel like that towards me before, but...

[Hugging a little tighter!]

Here's my affection for you, Inaba. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have learned any of this at all.

[dereban]

. . . ah, well.

I was only doing a favor, really. Back then.

[justonezero]

You're doing it again!

[dereban]

What?