[Akira's expression mirrors the conflict in Ichigo's pretty soundly, but. . . that isn't important right now, is it? they're here to learn as much as they can, and they can put it all into perspective later]
Of course we'll have you. And trust me, you aren't throwing anything off, here.
[gestures to Ichigo's ONE HORN jfc]
I told you a four-person team was standard when I invited you along.
[It's fine, it's not like this heart matches itself anyway. There's so many different uniforms- the blue ones from before, some ones in all grey and black, some camouflage ones, and even SCP agent uniforms- and they're all mish-mashed with each other. Eventually you reach a point where groups of enemies don't even have the same uniform in a single encounter.
Basically, this heart has been through a lot of organizations, and they all seem to blur together eventually.
But as you go deeper into the heart, there is this feeling that grows stronger and stronger:]
I'm right.
I know how to handle this.
I'm the one who will keep them alive.
I can take care of everything.
They'll all be fine, I will rescue them.
[A million scenarios, with the same feeling to them. This person takes on the burden of leading, and he takes his job very seriously. And the dark side of being a leader leaks through between those sentences:]
They will listen to me.
Anybody who doesn't fall in line will be taught a lesson.
They should just recognize that I'm right.
Why won't he just listen to me? I know what I'm doing!
I just need to push them harder. If they see the consequences of their actions, then they'll understand.
[As they go deeper, Ichigo's expression just...changes from the thrill of battle as he pushes and cuts down mooks (every cut effortless, his zanpakuto moving in tandem like extensions of his own body) to something more pained, with pity and understanding, yet still tinged with that frustration and anger.]
....Goddamnit, you idiot.
[Despite everything - despite being murdered by him -
[Akira allows himself to get swept up with the rush of battle as well, cutting through his enemies just as swiftly. but. . . as the words waft through the air, his walk slows from a brisk trot to something more sedate, head tilted back]
[. . .]
I can't say the core of his desires is bad, but. . .
[... Yeah, it's not like he can't say he doesn't see where these are coming from. Minato's not really a natural born leader, so the more extreme, distorted desires are foreign, but...
Minato tucks his hands into his pockets (he still has some in that get-up?).]
... It's sad, isn't it...? He must have been under so much pressure, to think like this.
[And he ended up hurting others along the way, too.]
But you're getting closer, if the presence of a man up ahead are any indication.
This aren't like the visions before. No, he's actually a cognitive. He is the same blond man from before, in the same blue uniform as the second vision. He is standing tall and strong, but his eyes look tired, betraying the exhaustion within him.
And he's now talking to the group.]
He won't listen, you know. I tried for years, but he only hears what he wants to hear.
He wants me to. He wants me to send you all back where you came from. Especially that one.
[The man indicates to Ichigo.]
He keeps telling me 'Jackie, they'll just get in the way'. And he's right, you will. But sometimes people need to get in the way of his plans. He just can't admit when he messes up. Other people have to show him when he's wrong.
[You all get the feeling that the Outsider sees this person as a bit of a pushover, which is why he's so quick to bend to what you want. Hm.
But then, in an instant, the man is gone. It occurs when you blink, or if you glance away even for a second, but the man is replaced by...Ichigo? It looks like Ichigo, but not quite. He's smaller, younger-looking. Like he's 12 or something, except Ichigo will know this vision of himself isn't exactly what he looked like at 12.
He's crossing his arms and looking irritable.]
You know you won't get through to him, right? He's more stubborn than me.
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Of course we'll have you. And trust me, you aren't throwing anything off, here.
[gestures to Ichigo's ONE HORN jfc]
I told you a four-person team was standard when I invited you along.
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Rather... he flashes Ichigo a small smile.]
I'm looking forward to working with you, Ichigo-san.
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We just need to work well together.
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Basically, this heart has been through a lot of organizations, and they all seem to blur together eventually.
But as you go deeper into the heart, there is this feeling that grows stronger and stronger:]
I'm right.
I know how to handle this.
I'm the one who will keep them alive.
I can take care of everything.
They'll all be fine, I will rescue them.
[A million scenarios, with the same feeling to them. This person takes on the burden of leading, and he takes his job very seriously. And the dark side of being a leader leaks through between those sentences:]
They will listen to me.
Anybody who doesn't fall in line will be taught a lesson.
They should just recognize that I'm right.
Why won't he just listen to me? I know what I'm doing!
I just need to push them harder. If they see the consequences of their actions, then they'll understand.
[This heart is a mess.]
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....Goddamnit, you idiot.
[Despite everything - despite being murdered by him -
He still cares, even now, and this is -]
...It's just like Aizen.
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[. . .]
I can't say the core of his desires is bad, but. . .
[. . .]
He lost sight of himself somewhere along the way.
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Minato tucks his hands into his pockets (he still has some in that get-up?).]
... It's sad, isn't it...? He must have been under so much pressure, to think like this.
[And he ended up hurting others along the way, too.]
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[her voice is soft. She loves battle, but she can't stop thinking about the words they're hearing.]
I wonder if he's got a treasure, too?
[she glances at Akira.]
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But you're getting closer, if the presence of a man up ahead are any indication.
This aren't like the visions before. No, he's actually a cognitive. He is the same blond man from before, in the same blue uniform as the second vision. He is standing tall and strong, but his eyes look tired, betraying the exhaustion within him.
And he's now talking to the group.]
He won't listen, you know. I tried for years, but he only hears what he wants to hear.
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We can help him with that.
Are you going to stop us from going any further?
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This isn't really his place to interject--but he's nonetheless taking in as much of this as he can.]
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Maybe it's a little fool-hardy, but they can help him. She knows they can.]
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[The man indicates to Ichigo.]
He keeps telling me 'Jackie, they'll just get in the way'. And he's right, you will. But sometimes people need to get in the way of his plans. He just can't admit when he messes up. Other people have to show him when he's wrong.
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[Ichigo mumbles that out, looking down and away - not liking what this cognition has to say.]
I can't leave this world. I've told him that, and he still won't listen.
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If he won’t listen in the outside world, then give us a chance to make him listen in here.
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[Surely, with how Makoto and Akira have said this works... They can help in so many ways this way.]
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Trust us. We've done this before.
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I won't get in your way then.
[You all get the feeling that the Outsider sees this person as a bit of a pushover, which is why he's so quick to bend to what you want. Hm.
But then, in an instant, the man is gone. It occurs when you blink, or if you glance away even for a second, but the man is replaced by...Ichigo? It looks like Ichigo, but not quite. He's smaller, younger-looking. Like he's 12 or something, except Ichigo will know this vision of himself isn't exactly what he looked like at 12.
He's crossing his arms and looking irritable.]
You know you won't get through to him, right? He's more stubborn than me.
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OKAY, WHAT.
Ichigo just stares at this....oddly younger looking version of him??? And just says only one thing.]
What the hell?
[That's not even how he looked when he was that young!!! what is this????]
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[STARES AT "JACKIE." THEN ICHIGO. THEN "JACKIE." THEN BACK TO ICHIGO]
Uuuuuh. . .
I think all of us combined are plenty stubborn together. I basically said "fight me" to the Jorogumo and Barghest, after all.
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[Ah...!! More to himself than anything:]
...He's cute and small.
[MINATO.]
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He is.
But more importantly, we have four very different people here. I'm sure we'll find a way around that stubbornness.
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Yeah, and that was pretty dumb, you know?
[And then he holds up his hand and casts a spell:]
Stop trying to befriend the goddamn enemy!
[Yep.
He's casting charm on Akira.
It's battle time.]
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STARES IN HORROR AT ALL OF THIS.
Ichigo is stunned for one turn!]
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