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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You stopped them, didn't you?

[Ah, he's really like a kid, saying things like that. "Well, I wasn't caught, though!" Or something along those lines. Even he's aware that it comes off childish, but as he glances back in the direction he'd been heading, he still feels like he wants to see Yumenosaki with his own eyes.

He misses it.]

Besides that, it was Keito's strange buzzing bracelet that drew attention to me in the first place.

[ When Eichi catches up, his cheeks are pink with the exertion of running in cold weather. He isn't wheezing, exactly, but he doesn't look like he's completely free of adverse effects from the chill -- but it's fine, because when he gets there, Keito already has Eichi (and something of a crowd of onlookers). ]

Eichi-kun. [ Eichi slows as he draws closer, inhaling through his mouth to try and get his lungs to cooperate. He's fine, he'll be fine, a brisk jog in spring never hurt anyone-- much-- ]

You should count yourself lucky that Keito found you; I sent Sakuma Rei after you, at first.

[ It's a brief chastisement and also a warning of how serious it is, for Eichi to leave, if Eichi is getting Rei involved from the get go. ]

And what if I hadn't gotten here in time?

[ But then Eichi points out that Keito's earlier call is what had drawn attention to him and Keito suddenly looks (and feels) a bit conflicted about it. He knows logically that not getting called wouldn't have necessarily saved Eichi, just like he knows that if it weren't for the call he may have caught up before anything happened at all. It's not a comfortable conflict to have with himself.

Fortunately, his Eichi shows up before the conversation can get much further, leaving Keito to turn with a relieved look on his face. Everyone is here and safe, then, and even if people are staring no one would dare to try something with him around. Even so, he doesn't relish the idea of lingering. ]

Let's just go home.

Sakuma-senpai?

[He says it like he doesn't understand at first, completely oblivious to the struggle he's caused Keito while he focuses in on this. Even Eichi hurried here in this way? That makes him slow his thoughts, his frown more subtle as he considers it.

After a few moments, he sighs to himself, looking back towards where he'd been headed. Yumenosaki... Maybe another day. For now, it seems it really is better to just trust their judgement.]

I'm sorry to have caused you both trouble. I had thought you'd allow me to leave and come back had you discovered it, but it seems I created a panic, instead, didn't I? I hope you'll forgive me.

[He's still bothered, but now he's just wondering how things Really Are, eyes glancing around to some of the Elites still staring.]

I'll go back.

[ Eichi slips his hand down, reaching out and threading his fingers through the hand that mirrors his own. It's comfort for him as much as it is for the other Eichi; they're both safe, and they're intact, and two Eichi's are better than one, so they'll be fine.

The knowledge lets Eichi breathe just a little easier. ]

Sakuma-san, to me.

[ He never went to school with Rei -- Elites and Mongrels aren't allowed that by any measure unless they're kept as pets, and even then -- but he still has a degree of respect for the... man. Vampire. Manpire. ]

Keito, do you think it would be safe to keep going to the school? [ And before Keito can immediately shut that down -- ] With the three of us, it should be safe enough, and seeing it will do it much more justice than our explanations.

[ Sakuma-senpai? He's older than them, sure, but like Eichi says - he's just -san as far as the two of them are concerned. This other Yumenosaki is a weird place - though maybe not such a bad one, if Eichi-kun wants to see it so badly.

The idea of going to see the school does almost get an immediate rejection out of Keito, and even what Eichi says next doesn't do much to sooth his worries. Still, the longer he thinks about it the more it makes sense. He's not exactly thinking of it in terms of shattering Eichi-kun's hopes, but if it helps the reality of the situation sink in... ]

... Entering is too dangerous, but we can at least go look from afar.

[ There, that should be fair enough, and perfectly safe for all three of them. ]

Really? It's really fine?

[The hand in his own is certainly a comfort to them both. He squeezes it lightly, tugging it lightly towards himself in a small display of affection while his other hand reaches out to catch one of Keito's. He'll bring it towards their joined hands, if he can get away with it.]

Even Keito bent a little for this? Fufu, thank you. Thank you both from the bottom of my heart. No matter what you say it is that I'll see, until I'm able to picture it, my very own Yumenosaki Academy won't disappear from my mind.

It's been too often now that the student council president has left things in vice president Keito's hands instead, you know? He'll be drowning in paperwork and so stressed that he won't be able to think. If possible, while I'm able, I'd like to relieve him of that.

Though I know it's not possible here... Could we crush this idea completely so it doesn't plague me? That's all I want, so viewing it from afar should be just fine.

I can't picture your Yumenosaki... it must be wonderful, if you want to go back so strongly. [ Eichi can't imagine. Keito was bogged down with paperwork even without being in a place like Yumenosaki... But if their Yumenosaki was a little less the way that it is, maybe it wouldn't be so bad...?

It still feels like it might always be the sort of school that would kill Eichi, but who can say. If this Eichi liked it, it must not have been so bad...?

But it's easy to head towards Yumenosaki -- it's not hard to find by any rate, and with he and Keito on either side of their newly-found Eichi, it feels much safer and much more secure. Eichi doesn't mind it. Yumenosaki isn't exactly dangerous in the same way as wandering, and especially not with Keito there, so...

They'll be fine. ]

I don't think it will take much to crush any familiarity. [ For better or for worse. ]

[ Eichi surely know by now that he can get away with nearly anything, yet even as Keito allows his hand to be dragged to the two of them (and gives them both a squeeze as well) there's an unhappy cast to his expression. For an instant he'd thought that the chance to so thoroughly discourage Eichi would be nothing but a benefit, but now he suddenly feels uncertain. If he loves his Yumenosaki so much, surely this one will just be a disappointment. ]

It's fine.

[ That's all he can say in the end as he leads the two of them back towards the train. He's quiet and thoughtful on the ride over, speaking when spoken to but otherwise not broaching any subject of his own except for when to point out that they need to change lines and finally depart.

Yumenosaki is bound to be unrecognizable to Eichi-kun. It's located in more or less the same location as the one he knows, but rather then the slightly sprawling school campus it's nothing more than a sleek steel, glass, and concrete cube. What little there is in the way of grounds doesn't feature anyone milling about or enjoying themselves. The only way in or out of the building seems to be just past the front gates, which are manned by guardsmen and closely monitored.

The one saving grace is that it can be monitored safely from afar. Keito doesn't let either Eichi get any closer to it than the rooftop seating of a cafe that sits directly across the street from it - though even then, the school is set far enough back from the road that sussing out specific details is still tricky. ]

[It's nice to get this cooperation, and on the rather quiet train ride closer, Eichi can tell that the both of them are grim about this for a reason. It's heavy, the silence, and Eichi has to keep a frown from slipping into place. It's the same as usual, his eyes separated from the constant smile on his lips.

Especially now, in this cafe. He'd tried to be patient, to stay in his seat and watch, but it's not close enough. He can't tell what this is at all...? So, he gets up only to walk to the window, abandoning his tea to stare at the strange building across the street.]

From the outside, at least, it doesn't look the same at all. Isn't this a prison...?

[Despite his smile, it's making him a little sick. The reality of being so far from his own home is heavy, isn't it? He may have Keito here, but this Keito already belongs to another Eichi. It's such a strange thing.]

It isn't dissimilar. [ Eichi looks at his own tea for a long moment, and then looks back at the other Eichi. They're both working with incomplete information, nothing but preconceived notions to crowd out everything else from their mind, make everything that much more of a struggle. It's hard for Eichi to understand, but he thinks he can get the feeling of it, if not the specifics. It isn't hard to read the atmosphere.

If he could, he would have preferred the other Eichi to never see Yumenosaki. It must be like raining on his parade. ]

The "students" there are carefully monitored and tracked, with very little freedom allowed to them. [ There are reasons that Eichi isn't there, reasons that Eichi never considered sending any of his pets there. Even someone as rule-abiding as Keito wouldn't come out the same, and all the changes that Eichi could have forseen are exactly what he doesn't want to happen. ]

This is the sort of thing that our society is built on. It might be rotten to the core, but it's still ours, until we manage to overthrow it.

[ Ah, maybe he shouldn't speak such treasonous thoughts outloud in public. ]

[ At least Keito hadn't expected Eichi to stay in his seat. That makes it a little less worrisome when he insists on venturing closer, though Keito still gets to his feet to follow after him. He's not about to be careless with his safety when they're so close by. He nods in agreement with Eichi's assessment of the situation. ]

Calling it a prison must feel accurate to those inside.

[ He hesitates for a long moment, weighing the pros and cons of saying this next part. It doesn't take long for him to decide. ]

Fushimi was sent there by Himemiya's parents before things were flipped around. If you want more details, I don't think he'd mind telling you.

[ He feels slightly bad for revealing a bit of Yuzuru's past like that, but it isn't like it's a secret among those that know him. It's rarer for the pets of wealthy families to not go. Keito is aware that he's an unusual exception. ]

Yuzuru was?

[That's even more worrying. The Yuzuru of this place— is he alright, then? Is everyone alright? He really wonders what would have happened if he made it all this way alone, in a city like this. Or if he would have even made it at all.

His heart feels heavy, and for once it's not his health weighing down on him. He may seek out Yuzuru to ask him about this, but right now, he's not sure he can take it. He stays at the window for another quiet minute before he returns to his seat, wrapping both hands around his tea like it's his only comfort.

Despite that, he puts on a small smile.]

Thank you, for allowing me to come here to see. I only wish that I could share my own Yumenosaki Academy, as well.

I hope that we'll be able to see it one day. [ Eichi slides his chair closer to Eichi-kun, easy and as comforting as he can manage. Physical contact isn't much, but it's certainly something that Eichi longed for back in the long nights he'd spend in the hospital -- at least until he had Keito there to stay with him. ]

Yuzuru-kun has adapted remarkably to the change. Touri cried for weeks, of course. [ Eichi says it lightly, like he himself wasn't rendered immobile and depressed at the change in his status -- but whatever, it's details, he's fine now, right? Right. ]

This sort of place must seem uniminaginably terrible, if your world was so full of lighthearted happiness, but I assure you that for those of us who were raised here, it's simply... the way things are.

[ And then, a little more brightly: ] I intend to change it, of course.

[ THINGS YOU SHOULDN'T DISCUSS IN PUBLIC: TREASON, but it's fine. ]

[ Keito lingers at the window half a moment longer before turning back, briefly distracted by thinking Eichi didn't have any room to comment on Touri's poor reaction to the change.

Then Eichi makes that comment and Keito nearly trips trying to sit down. ]

Eichi.

[ It's unlikely that anyone heard, but still. The principle of the matter is that talking about it in public at all is terrible idea. Keito settles himself into his chair with a disgruntled expression. ]

In any case... places like Yumenosaki are the reason it's dangerous to be out alone. Some people have taken the switch as an opportunity to show more kindness than was shown to them. Others see it as a chance to pay back wrongs twice over.

[Physical contact does help a little bit. The attempts at comforting him, at helping him, and he'd run off on his own so carelessly. What a fool. He was still hoping somewhere that it was all some misunderstanding, or joke, or prank. But it's been too long for that. His grip on his teacup tightens a little to hide his trembling.]

The world I come from is a beautiful place... but it isn't all lighthearted happiness. There's corruption, darkness, horrible things hidden in plain view, treated as normal and light when they're far from it. Yumenosaki felt like a light in that darkness, though. One that I wished to help shine brighter, since it hadn't always been that way.

[He blinks at his tea, then to Keito, and finally to Eichi, a small performer's smile still in place.]

But I understand what you're saying now. If Eichi-kun is me, then there must be many wrongs that could potentially be paid back. Knowing that... I wonder if it might be less troublesome for the both of you to cast me out into the streets to bear the brunt of it myself.

Instead, you came after me. I'm in your debt, still. And at this point, I don't have any power or ability to return it. Ah, how troubling...

Well... in terms of sheer, ruthless practicality -- [ which Eichi is good at, even if he's phrasing it like a thing he would never do ] -- it would be disadvantageous for me to have you as an unknown variable. Powerless on the streets means you could fall into the hands of someone who could use the fact that you're identical to me to their gain.

[ Underworld activities can be as high-brow as advanced DNA cloning and as low brow as cutting off someone's fingers to make fingerprint molds, honestly. ]

It wouldn't be the strangest thing the Tenshouins have ever done, to have secretly had two sons all along...

[ And then, Eichi considers: ] Ah. We'll have to call you something in public. [ A beat, and then: ] Kei...chi.

[ no ]

No.

[ Keito's going to shut that down before they touch on any other subject, thanks. ]

We'll just call one of you 'Tenshi' in public.

[ It sounds romantic, but in truth it's just easy and convenient. 'Tenshi' is already (almost) there in his name, and he's pretty sure he's heard Leo call him that before. ]

And it's not a matter of practicality. You would have died if I turned you away. That's all.

[ And he absolutely would have guilt tripped himself into the grave if that happened. ]

...I never once doubted that Keito was doing this out of kindness.

[He feels cold, though, looking back at Eichi. But for as much as he wants to be irritated by that casual statement, he knows he was thinking the same. If he was in that position...

He would have done and thought the same, if not worse.]

And as much as I would like to still be "Eichi"... I know nothing about this place. I'm nothing but a foreigner, a double out of place, a stranger who doesn't belong. That's what I've learned, by seeing this "Yumenosaki" from across the street, isn't it?

[He's smiling but he's not smiling, ya feel]

Though... It's surprising to hear such a cute nickname coming from Keito.

Edited 2019-02-25 04:31 (UTC)

You'll still be "Eichi", to us. [ Eichi says it carefully, without even the common -kun attachment; his name is important to him, after all, when he was rendered without much else but his name, so he can only imagine it has similar sentimentality to his alternate. ]

Are you out of place? [ Eichi offers it gently, casually, like it's a completely normal question; like the other Eichi didn't show up in an alternate reality with none of the knowledge that would help him in a situation like this. ]

We don't know why you're here, of course, but it could just as easily be that you're here for a reason -- such as helping us... [ Eichi doesn't actually say "overthrow the regime", because he doesn't want to get in too much trouble, but, well. ] ...which means that you're not someone who doesn't belong, you're a capable asset in your own right.

[ A pause, and then: ] Arguably, having a fresh mind to come at the problems we face might be exactly what we need!

[ Eichi peptalks 101: when in doubt, talk about how you can team up to destroy your enemies. ]

It's not cute.

[ He's not cute! He's manly and tired, okay? And speaking of tired, that's the sort of look he gives 'his' Eichi when he skirts too close to bringing up their loose 'plans' once again. ]

Whatever the 'reason' for him being here, we should wait until we're home before we discuss anything else.

[ It's not exactly calculated, but including 'Tenshi' in 'we' while discussing their home is entirely deliberate. More pointedly, he adds: ]

You may have had lunch, but I didn't make it with an outing in mind.

[ He expects one or both of them to collapse without warning. ]

[Eichi looks... surprised, at both of those gentle answers. The different approaches are expected, but they're still so touching in their own ways, and he's smiling a little more genuinely because of it.

He'll have to ask Eichi what he was hinting at in specifics later.

But for right now, Keito is right. Eichi feels horrible. He'd come from another universe, which was already rough on his body. Medication and assistance had helped a little, but then he'd taken that sudden and small increase in energy and used it to... come all the way out here, only to be disappointed and troubled. His chest hurts. His legs hurt. Breathing feels like he's got something tight around his neck trying to stop him from it. And he feels a little faint, a little shaky.

If he had tried to continue forward on his own, he most certainly would have collapsed, right in front of that horrible Yumenosaki. It would have been a 'bad end' for sure.

But here, at least he was able to sit and recover some stamina. They certainly should head back... but at least he thinks he can probably walk on his own, for it.]

Thank you... both of you. I'm in your care.

[His fingers find Eichi's hand rather easily, squeezing it in a hold, and then he holds his other hand out across the table for Keito, smiling a little brighter, since he's more excited about Keito's tsun reaction than anything else.]

You're saying that you don't want us to stay and have another cup of tea here, is that it? [He laughs, lightly.] I've seen what I was curious about, and I wouldn't want to cause any additional trouble for either of you. So, I'm not against heading home.

[Home... He's not sure he's ever had a home to begin with (though the school sometimes felt like it), let alone one here, in this place where he clearly doesn't belong. But they're both so sweet.]

Whatever I can help with, by the way, I'd be glad to. ♪ [Even he can't wait until they're home to express his encouragement of plotting, after all...]

[ Is it weird to hold the hand of your clone and reassure him that things will be (relatively) okay? Hmm, probably, but on the grand scale of things, Eichi thinks it might be one of the less weird parts of this entire story. At any rate, he holds onto his other self's hand with an ease that seems natural.

A part of Eichi worries that if this Eichi has breezed into their lives so unexpectedly and so easily, they'll have to eventually deal with the fact that he will leave -- he has a home to go to, far different than this one, and surely he'll miss it, surely that should be their end. Ah, it might be the way of things, but Eichi already thinks he's going to miss him.

If nothing else, he's grateful to this Eichi; almost indebted, given that he's left the house more now than he had since the castes switched. ]

We have better tea at home, of course. It's one of the indulgences that Keito would never think of denying me. [ Even if Keito might question exactly why Eichi wants to spend several thousand dollars on exclusive tea... ]

I enjoyed being out, but I confess that I am more prone to enjoying the privacy of home. [ Also, man, Eichi really is not back to 100% health and he can tell that the other Eichi isn't doing a whole lot better. ]

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