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]

Because they love you.

You're their friend, Nanase.

[He gives Yoshi's shoulder a squeeze.]

And that makes you so very, very valuable to them.

['See?

You're not garbage.

To them, you're a treasure.']

[justonezero]

[Eventually, he has to release her. There's a trial to get to after all - the one for his very own death. But he doesn't return to his seat.

Instead, his legs really do give out from under him, and he stares at the others as they talk and debate, trying to find his killer. Trying to avenge him.]

...I wanted to be with them.

[It's quiet. Shaking.]

I didn't... I didn't want to leave. I wanted to be with them.

[But he can't. And there's an unfamiliar pain now, in his chest. Maybe that's what causes the tears to finally spill over.]

But now I--

[bladeisme]

You can still be with them.

[He's - going to draw Yoshi into a hug, now. He sees those tears, and he figures - this is what he needs, at this moment.

Someone warm to hold.]

Death doesn't separate you from everyone. They'll keep reaching out for you - as long as you keep reaching back.

They're your friends. And - you still love them too, you know? As long as you remember that...

Then you'll never be forgotten. Then...you can keep walking alongside them, Nanase, right along with the bonds you've made.

[justonezero]

[He allows it again, but there's no more blankness, nor smiles.

Actually, he's beginning to bawl.]

It-- it hurts. My chest--

[He's dead. It shouldn't be this way. But it still feels like his heart is so tight, it's going to burst.]

[bladeisme]

I know.

[He just cradles Yoshi's head, softly - yet happy.

Finally, he's allowing himself to feel.]

But - it's good, Yoshi.

Even if it hurts....that's a part of existing, you know?

You can't really be happy without ever experiencing sadness, after all.

[justonezero]

[He curls into the hug, body shaking.]

Wh-why does it have to hurt so much...?

[It's heart-wrenching, terrifying in some ways. Having all these feelings he has no idea how to deal with. No idea if he even wants to.]

[bladeisme]

..I don't know, Nanase. I've asked myself that a lot, too.

[Especially when the isolation got too intense, nearly choking him and stealing his breath away, the pain like a hot knife lancing in his chest.

He knows the pain Yoshi's going through - and he knows that all he can do is be there for him, in a way Ichigo would have wanted for himself.]

But because it hurts so much...it also means you're able to feel the good things that much more.

[justonezero]

It was... never like this before.

[Was he really happy? Hard to say. But he wasn't in pain, and maybe that was worth something after all.]