jida | ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ sᴏɴɢs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ᴏʟᴅ ʀʜʏᴍᴇs

ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ sᴏɴɢs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ᴏʟᴅ ʀʜʏᴍᴇs

[ The four months since the castes were reversed have been... strange, mostly because of how strange it isn't. It was easy to adjust to walking around Tanagura freely, since he'd done it in Midas all the time. It was easy to adjust to the way he and Eichi's responsibilities and schedules had changed. It was easy to adjust to being actually in charge of Eichi now, instead of just managing his life for him.

Truthfully, it's actually kind of nice to be an Elite instead of a Mongrel, and that's what makes it so strange. Because Eichi is miserable, because Eichi can't adjust, because he's never felt quite so helpless about actually fixing a problem that Eichi is facing. Giving him the majority of his monthly wage hadn't helped. Letting him keep his bedroom hadn't helped. Leaving the apartment exactly the way it was (except for his) bedroom hadn't helped. Making it easy for Eichi to keep in touch with his other Elite (well, Mongrel now) friends hadn't helped - if anything, Tori's miserable sobbing coupled with Yuzuru's thinly veiled mania in the face of the swap probably made things worse. It's frustrating and he hates it and that's why he's shopping.

Not because shopping make him feels better, mind, but because Eichi's birthday is soon and maybe a gift with more meaning to it beyond 'please feel less depressed soon' will be helpful. Thus, Keito has tracked down and traveled the one pottery shop in the whole city that still makes their wears by hand. A cute new tea set will definitely make him happy, and if it doesn't then Keito will just throw him off the balcony and--

Why is Eichi here?

It takes Keito a second to realize that it is Eichi standing across the street from the shop (it's been so long since he's seen Eichi fully if a bit sloppily dressed), and once he does recognize him Keito is staring at him with a mix of confusion, horror, frustration, and somehow also relief. Because Eichi is up and moving around and not full starfish on the floor, but of course he decided to celebrate his return to normal function by immediately putting himself in an incredibly dangerous situation. Of course.

Keito charges across the street in a flash, heart racing just from anxiety. He grabs Eichi by the wrist, gentle enough to not hurt him but firm enough that he won't be wiggling away any time soon. ]

What are you doing here?!

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Yumenosaki? [ No, wait, he'll tease you back later, Eichi-kun -- he makes a note to delete all the recordings he has of Chiaki's latest sentai show before anyone can find out he was watching them -- there are more important things to discuss.

When he looks at Eichi, he isn't quite embarrassed anymore. There's curiousity and something almost like distaste on his face, like he's sipped at some oversteeped tea. ]

You've been at Yumenosaki for three years and it hasn't killed you...?

--No, that doesn't make any sense; it would be all over the papers if "Eichi Tenshouin" were at a school like that.

[ And then he finally gets to the teasing, glancing back at Keito out of the corner of his eye: ]

You're taking him to the doctor, right, Keito? [ Don't make him put on real clotheeeees. ]

[ Eichi's teasing - Eichis' teasing - just gets a tired look from Keito. Now's really not the time, though he knows the futility of trying to stop Eichi from being himself. So for the moment, he ignores it.

Regardless, it's clear that Eichi(-kun, now, apparently) has a very different understanding from the two of them when it comes to Yumenosaki. Hearing 'three years' alone is enough to make Keito look alarmed, and he doesn't look any happier about the prospect of graduation. He slides Eichi a worried look before he turns it on Eichi-kun. ]

Yumenosaki is a pet training facility. There's no way you were there for three years.

[ The castes only recently flipped, after all. As for the other question, Keito nods. ]

Yes, that checkup is for him. Yours is next week.

"Pet?"

[Being stared at like that was hardly pleasant, and Eichi is still staring back at himself with almost puffed out cheeks, like he's offended. It's distracting enough to put off commenting on any sort of doctor's appointment right now. Of course, he's a big name, but he can hear those quotations. And now Keito is saying something confusing? The word "pet" falls from his lips like a foreign concept, and his brows furrow as he looks towards him now.]

I'm not sure what you mean? I'm Yumenosaki's top idol. ♪ There's nothing about pets... Ah, though more than a few idols do own animals, I believe...?

[ Eichi considers that for a moment, holding up the wrist that has the bracelet denoting him as someone's property and considering it for a second. An idol... that certainly sounds different than anything Yumenosaki would actually produce.

Does this Eichi really not know...? Eichi can't fathom that -- pets have been in his life since he was born; Keito has been with him for so long he can barely remember a time when he wasn't. To not know... ]

To train the lower-caste in the ways of entertainment, conversation, and pleasure. [ Eichi says it like he's reciting something in an easy sing-song. He doesn't specify sexual pleasure, but -- well. ]

Blondes like us are very highly prized. Someone would absolutely have snapped you up immediately, if you'd been at our Yumenosaki!

[ Really, the only person Eichi can think of that's more coveted is... Wataru, probably. Izumi and Koga might technically have lighter hair, but please, they're such ill-tempered beasts. ]

[ This conversation just keeps getting worse and worse. Eichi-kun brings up animals and Keito looks uncomfortable, and even more so when Eichi explains in a little more detail. Still, he suspects that isn't quite enough information. He hesitates, then speaks. The two of them are being a little catty, aren't they? Heading them off is hopeless, but Keito can at least try. ]

Pets doesn't mean animals, it means people.

[ This is really strange to explain. How could Eichi-kun not know? ]

Yumenosaki trains people who want to be pets, then sells them later - or if someone already knows a pet, they can send them there for extra lessons. But they only would have accepted- [ He falters. ] -someone like you a few months ago.

...

[He's trying to wrap his head around this, he really is... But... entertainment, conversation and pleasure? Even without saying sexual pleasure, that sounds shady. And Keito's attempt at words after that. People who are pets?]

Is this an entire city filled with people who have interests like that pet of UNDEAD, Oogami-kun? [Eichi please, don't kinkshame.] Ah, but even before understanding all of this, there's something else that I realized... You're not my Keito, either.

[His Keito, he says.] I hope he isn't lost here. He'll go around calling "Eichi, Eichi, where are you?" and draw attention to himself, and it'll be embarrassing.

[ Eichi raises his hand up to laugh at the sheer confusion he could imagine an alternate universe Keito having when confronted with a situation like this. ]

He'll be easy to find, if that's the case. No one would dare touch him when he looks like an elite...

[ Eichi pauses, considering things for a moment. If this Eichi doesn't know about Yumenosaki, and doesn't understand where he is, and is missing a Keito...

Well, Eichi has no interest in seeing himself die, even if it's an alternate version of himself, and certainly not at the hands of the kind of brutes that live within the city. He'll just have to bring this Eichi up to speed.

Two Eichi's are better than one, or something. ]

People like you and I, Eichi-kun -- we're known as "mongrels" these days. We don't have the slightest bit of autonomy. It wasn't like that before, of course, but I was toppled off the throne several months ago...

[ He's still upset. ]

But Keito was here to take care of me! ♥

[ Keito shakes his head. No, he's not 'his' Keito. ]

I've lived here my entire life. [ He pauses, then: ] In Nerima when I was younger, then here in Minato after Eichi registered me as his pet.

[ He doesn't sound the least be dismayed or embarrassed about having been a pet at any point. That's just the way life is here. ]

It used to be that people with dark hair - like Rei and I - were mongrels, and people with light hair - like you and Wataru - elites. But a few months ago there was an uprising, and now everything works the other way around.

[ ... Yeah, explaining something that's just common, every day knowledge to Keito is still really weird. ]

So Eichi is right. If there is another... me... wandering around, he'll get plenty of help so long as he doesn't leave the special wards.

Mongrels?

[The distaste is clear as day, and his head whips over to Eichi in disbelief. It's only at the mention of a throne that he brings a loosely curled fist to his mouth in thought, staring at the ground. He knows himself, of course, and even an alternate universe-him would never use a metaphor like that unless it was personally serious. So he also lost his "throne"...

They meant very different things here, it seems, and he doesn't want to reveal any of his own troubles here, right now. Even if the idea of alternate Wataru and the others is terribly intriguing, he has to focus on the here and now.]

I believe I'm starting to grasp the situation. [No he's not. He's a cat and will get out.] But in this case, what should someone like me do? It seems I'm trapped here, somehow, and now you're telling me I've been stripped of all of my power? Even with this weak body of mine, I won't lay down and be treated like that so easily. I'm not so ignorant as to think slavery doesn't still exist in the world, but isn't this a bit much?

[ Eichi does not trust his other self in the slightest when it comes to actually grasping this situation versus not reacting to it -- but the idea of admitting that he himself has spent the past several weeks in bed watching television instead of actively trying to change his situation...

Please understand, it's very hard when his bank account isn't unlimited anymore. ]

We were stripped very efficiently of both wealth and power. [ It's very matter of fact, and Eichi can almost hide his bitterness when he says it. ]

Keito will take care of you. [ Eichi tilts his head, considering it. ]

Even if he isn't your Keito -- he's still Keito, of course. He could never allow harm to come to either of us.

[ Eichi brightens, because this is getting on slightly easier ground -- ]

You'll just have to be a pet, as well. We'll be the envy of everyone, you know -- twins are very popular.

[ There's a lot to address and unpack right now, so of course Eichi jumps right in with the idea of both of them being pets. Keito doesn't hesitate to shoot him a sharp look and an even sharper: ]

Eichi.

[ Seriously, what the hell? The last thing he needs is for either of them to get even more worked up than they already are. ]

The only thing either of you are doing right now is waiting for Sagami-sensei to get here and make sure you're alright. We can discuss what to do next after that, alright?

[ Hah. He may as well tell a tsunami to turn around, and he knows it - but still, letting Eichi just tantrum his way through the situation isn't anything he's ever put up with or ever will. ]

Hold on.

[Slowly, he unwinds the scarf from his neck and steps closer to Keito to return it to him. They're inside now, so it shouldn't be a problem. He can tell that Eichi-kun is speaking to put him at ease, and in a way, it works. They have similar thinking, after all.]

Though the idea of being a pet is distressing, being Keito's pet doesn't sound bad at all. [Ah, it's a shame if he can't fluster him by saying that, though. He drops his hands away once they're free of the scarf, stepping back next to the other Eichi.] Once again, and just like always, I'll entrust it all to Keito. Fufu, you're always so capable... Even with something like this, I can almost feel at ease.

[A pause, and he glances back to Eichi, leaning in and covering his mouth with a hand to shield his words from Keito. Barely.] By the way, wasn't he saying it was an appointment for just one of us, and now he's included both...? Let's revolt.

[ It's... surprisingly easy, to fall in line with himself, with the easy rhythm of something as intrinsic to Eichi's being as teasing Keito. It should be harder, and Eichi has no doubt that it will be harder later, when this other version of himself feels the crippling loneliness that Eichi is certain will come with being a stranger in a strange land, but for now?

For now, this is easy. Eichi leans in, nodding, raising his own hand to block the conspiratorial whisper. ]

There's two of us and one of him, I think we could easily stage a revolution. [ If nothing else, it helps indicate that even if Eichi is a "pet", marked and owned with a bracelet that has all the technology bells, whistles, and tracking components you'd expect -- the status quo hasn't entirely changed, and his relationship with Keito is the same.

Thankfully, Keito doesn't actually expect obedience, which makes insubordination all the more fun. ]

You don't think he's already having trouble telling us apart, do you?

[ Of course not, when Eichi is still in his pyjamas -- but all the same. ]

It's easy to tell you apart when only one of you is dressed.

[ That is, perhaps, a bit unduly harsh, but Keito's never been one to worry too much about briefly damaging Eichi's pride, and besides - he started it. He takes the scarf from the other Eichi and folds it up out of simple habit, rising to his feet. ]

If you revolt you'll just stress yourselves and collapse again, and then I'll have to put you on bed rest.

[ Which won't last very long, of course, but the message in Keito's tired voice is clear: for now, at least, behave.

The two of them are left to their own devices (mostly, Keito is still supervising) until Sagami arrives a few minutes later. When he does he stares openly at the two of them, then examines them both without questioning the situation and leaves after giving Keito the standard battery of advice for preventing future attacks.

Once Jin is gone and everyone has been provided with tea and made to calm down, Keito finally broaches a subject that had come up previously. ]

What Eichi said earlier, about becoming a pet as well - it isn't necessary, but it's much safer. It's dangerous for a former elite to wander around unattended right now.

It's something where I could end up being attacked, then?

[He's thinking like, punches, kicks... Really, the kinky insinuation was just a joke, right? He is a pure virgin who may only be pure and a virgin because he didn't want to die mid-idol career, but a pure virgin all the same.

He feels relaxed, after tea, and even if the loneliness is already beginning to eat at the edges of his walls, Keito is here, and that always helps.]

Like I said before, I wouldn't mind, so long as it's Keito. Is there something that needs to be done for that?

[ Eichi sits next to his double, automatically. While Eichi has never been one for skinship in the same way that others he knows are, it still feels like they should be close. He can't imagine a world without the familiar support of Keito, and he doesn't want to, so as much as he intends to tease the new Eichi-kun, he also intends to support him. After all, isn't it just supporting himself...? ]

They'll think you're me, which is grounds for assassination, kidnapping, resale... even if they didn't know who Eichi Tenshouin is, we're still at the top of the aesthetic that many people look for.

[ Eichi sips his tea, considering how to phrase it with some degree of delicacy. He's never had to talk about the situation as bluntly as this before. He offers his wrist over to his double, the thin bracelet that encircles his wrist too small to slip over his hand, but large enough to still be more than comfortable. ]

He'll register you, and give you something like this. With Keito, it doesn't mean very much, but there are other people who demand obedience and pleasure.

[ Eichi makes a face that indicates his distaste for it. Even when things were different, he never actively sought anything from his pets that they weren't willing to give.

Ignoring that time he bought Ritsu. ]

[ 'Attacked' is one way of putting it, and then Eichi clarifies further and Keito nods along with him. ]

Eichi's family was powerful before everything was switched around. There are plenty of people who'd attack you for those reasons alone, and as far as pets go blonds are only less sought after than people with white and silver hair.

[ So yeah, assassination, kidnapping, and resale pretty much covers it. As for the process, Keito nods again. ]

I won't assign you any 'duties', or ask you to do anything you don't want. It's purely for your safety.

[It is comfortable sitting next to himself, somehow. He never pictured himself with siblings, but this is deeper. A way to understand himself like never before, if he's looking at it in detail, and even without that— it just feels right. It's as if they could take each of Keito's arms and work together to drive him crazy without even planning it.

He reaches to touch the bracelet curiously, a simple tap of his fingertip against it, and then glances at his own wrists.]

I see... and on top of that, being "Eichi Tenshouin" will always hold meaning. [They're So Important.] So then, with a bracelet like that, am I able to take a look around this city?

[ The bracelet is plain and nondescript, overall; it isn't very imposing or the sort of thing that would stand out in any world that isn't this one. It has all sorts of fascinating additions to the circuitry inside, though. ]

It's still dangerous, but it's considerably safer if you belong to someone. Keito isn't a very fearsome personality, but he has friends in high enough places.

[ And then, a little self-deprecatingly: ]

I haven't left the house very much since the castes changed. A fallen emperor without any of his castle defenses is a terrible life to lead, you know?

There's no end to the kind of trouble you can experience just by stepping outside...!

[ He is absolutely certain his other self is going to get into trouble. ]

[ ... Well. Drums his fingers. ]

You can leave if I'm with you, but it's not safe to let either of you roam around on your own.

[ Thus why he'd reacted so poorly to seeing Eichi on the streets earlier. Thank god he's woken up on his own and wandered near the tea shop before someone else found him. Eichi's stubborn refusal to stay put for any period of time worked out for once. ]

Eichi is right, though. A few of his assets were transferred to me, but not nearly enough to guarantee your safety if I'm not there.

[ He doesn’t like that, but he’s still pretending to be fine. Part of him wants to say he has a strong will that made his weak body survive even a jump between universes, but the other part is causing his cheeks to puff a little more in his pauses, a clear pouting with his thoughts. ]

What a scary place~. [ Those words alone scream he wants to prove it wrong, that he wants to win. It’s a desire already. ] But with both Keito and Eichi-kun, it’s as though I have double the support. You, too, are supported double now, Eichi-kun. Though it can’t replace money, it is something.

[ Hmm. ] That being said... Keito, could you please make me one of those pieces and claim me as a pet? I’ll rely on Eichi-kun to tell me how to do this properly.

I'm certain that two Eichi will be better than one. ♪ [ Really, the worst that could happen is potential jealousy and loneliness issues, which are to some degree unavoidable, but at the same time, Eichi doesn't think they'll be as much of an issue as they might be if they were actually twins instead of doubles. The differences between the two of them aren't readily apparent, but they aren't invisible, either; Eichi feels a bit like it's a particularly challenging he's been tasked with solving, and he intends to do so, in as much as he can "solve" the case of his double. ]

As it happens, I think the best way to search for a way to return to you to "your" Yumenosaki would be to find a way to return my power -- even if it's in Keito's hands.

[ Keito simply doesn't have near the power that Eichi did when the Tenshouin properties were unified. Eichi can handle being demoted to a "mongrel" if he can truly have everything he did before.

He just wants to be rich again, please understand. ]

[ Even just from Eichi-kun's flippant commentary Keito can tell that life is about to get much, much more unusual and 'interesting' for him. Normally he'd have no end of complaints about this situation, but all he can think right now is that it's a relief that his Eichi is suddenly acting more like himself again after months of not.

He'll leave the two of them to scheme and shoot down the most ridiculous of their ideas later - that's how it usually works out when he's trying to rein Eichi in. For now, he reaches into his coat pocket and withdraws a small box, not dissimilar to to a jewelry box. He opens it up and withdraws a bracelet from inside, identical to the one Eichi holds now. ]

This is on of Eichi's spares. We'll get you your own later, but for now hold out your wrist. [ He pauses. ] Your left wrist.

[ No need to make the two of them even more identical.

Once Eichi complies, Keito reaches out to secure the bracelet around his wrist. Normally there's a process to make everything official, but he (correctly) suspects that the two of them being identical means that the bracelet will simply accept him as Eichi without any further fussing. ]

[Hmmm. He holds out his left wrist as instructed, watching as he secures it.]

Fufu, it's almost like an engagement, isn't it, Keito? [Stop him... It's how he copes. He's still watching, only pulling his hand back once it's in place, so he can admire it.] Now you have a right hand Eichi and a left hand Eichi, too. ♪

[He looks over to Eichi, smiling.] I wouldn't mind helping with your goal, Eichi-kun. Of course, we're similar in that way, and in the end, it's my goal, too. [To go home...]

[ Eichi places his wrist next to the other Eichi's, admiring the way they match each other. He understands why Keito insists on having them on opposite wrists, but it's hardly going to save him. Especially if Eichi is back on his A-Game, there isn't a force in the world that could stop him from bullying Keito nonstop. ]

I'd say it isn't legal to marry two people, but we don't really count as two people, do we? [ Cross-caste marriage isn't legal either, of course, but Eichi doesn't care in the slightest about that. Eichi was just going to marry Wataru, but then the castes switched, so that isn't practical anymore, but all the same. ]

I'm certain we'll be able to return my assets and you to your home if we're all working on it.

[ There's a casual confidence there that has been missing for several weeks. ]

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