78 [Video] Forwarded to the dawn.

[flameandpassion]

[When she had seen the image, she had thought it wasn't real. Why would she believe it? The very nature of this event was to see people die -- it was just a hallucination. A horrific, horrid, terrible hallucination, but a hallucination all the same. Still, Rei had a feeling in the very bottom of her heart that something was not right -- so she set out to find Hitsugaya. Just to make sure he was okay.

He hadn't picked up his PCD and he obviously wasn't at Juubantai house, otherwise he would have told Hinamori that it wasn't real. So Rei set out to the wall surrounding the city, to his favorite spot to sit whenever he felt upset. No Hitsugaya. She then hopped the wall and went to the Wastelands, to his favorite sparring location -- and then to the second favorite sparring location -- and then the third, the one they frequent whenever they both needed to let off some steam. Still no Hitsugaya. She checked the clinic, the dojo, the fountain in the center of town, the surrounding tall trees, and finally, she had dropped back down on the steps of the Temple of Heaven, with her PCD in her hands, to stare blankly at the ground. It's at this moment that the feed has actually started -- just Rei, on the steps, staring at nothing.

When she speaks, it isn't clear whether or not she knows it's recording -- but her voice is so quiet, and faint, and heartbroken. There are no tears or choked sobs or any of that dramatic nonsense -- but it's obvious, in the way that Rei carries herself -- the way her shoulders slump and her cheeks pale -- that she is positively devastated.]

He's actually dead, isn't he.

[Her fingers curl around the PCD and the feed shakes, ever so slightly, with the change. Her hands are shaking. And if you look carefully, it's obvious that Rei herself is trembling. Almost every single person who has been with her for as long as Hitsugaya Toushirou has been has eventually left for some period of time, but not him. He's practically indestructible. Always the one to drag her away from doing something stupid -- and sometimes the other way around -- but Rei has never had a day pass in Adstringendum where he has not been there to tell her what to do whenever it got to be too much. And now, when it's too much -- way too much -- he isn't here. Temporary or not (oh, if it isn't temporary -- no, Rei can't even consider that as a possibility, because she may very well crack), she can't quite grasp the idea that she can't pick up her PCD and call him to tell him to come over and sit with her. Even if it's silent contemplation of how badly their lives suck. Or for him to tell her to snap out of it and stop being so depressing, because not only did this happen, but Minako -- vanished. Again. And on top of that, Hitsugaya --

She closes her eyes and -- finally, tears roll down her cheeks at the motion, but she doesn't actually cry or sob. Not quite yet. That is going to be reserved for when she's alone. No, instead, she keeps speaking, and while her voice is still quiet, and still positively heartbroken and crushed, there is a fine edge of anger to it now, and it is obvious that Hino Rei knows this is broadcasting to the entire network.]

When he comes back, he's going to tell me what happened to him, and not even God can hide you from what I'll do to you. You'll be punished, and when I find out what he lost because of you, you'll be punished again. Come forward now or hide in your hole like a coward, it doesn't matter to me, but I'll find you.

[He'd do the same for her, after all.]

Comments

[Video]

[buntails.livejournal.com]

Rei-chan...

[She might say something comforting. But she doesn't know how to comfort Rei anymore, and the person Rei turned to is gone.

She isn't sure how that feels. But after a moment, her face firms up.]

I'll be with you.

[And she's heading that way right now.]

[Offline]

[flameandpassion]

[When Usagi gets there, Rei is still on the steps, staring at nothing. She's perfectly numb -- which is an odd experience. She's never actually shut down before, in her year and a half here. When Usagi died, Rei had died along with her. She hadn't had the opportunity to shut herself off to try and preserve some semblance of sanity. But this time, she was not so lucky.]

[Offline]

[buntails.livejournal.com]

[She doesn't just mean coming right now. She'll be with Rei, whatever they end up doing about what's just happened.

Right now, with Rei, Usagi comes into view, slows down, and sits right down beside her. If she sits a bit closer than strictly necessary, like she can't quite let Rei go in any tiny way right now, maybe she can't be blamed for that.]

[Offline]

[flameandpassion]

[She's silent, for a long moment, perfectly still. She doesn't know what to say or where to even begin to describe what's wrong. -- but finally, she does speak, in a numbed quiet tone.]

He's never not been here before.

[Voice - Private]

[dark-thespian.livejournal.com]

Rei. [There's a pause and he adds very quietly.] Lucifer is in Nick.

Where are you?

[Voice - Private]

[flameandpassion]

[She doesn't say anything, but instead sends coordinates.]

[x,y]

[She is home.]

[Offline]

[dark-thespian.livejournal.com]

[Lucifer is no longer inside Allen. He couldn't even begin to realize how many places that meant he could go now. Until now.

He steps quietly into the temple and looks around for Rei. His cursed eye flares into activation and he steps quietly forward, following the trail where ever it leads.]

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

Nice words, but if something can kill a captain, what do you think you can do?

[flameandpassion]

[Her eyes are still fixated on nothing, and her voice slips into something cold, and detached. Being numb is much easier than dealing with it.]

Whoever humiliated him like this will suffer for it.

[It isn't a question of how or why. They just will.]

[law-of-reason.livejournal.com]

It's just death, not humiliation.

Not that there's much you can do about either, regardless.

[Offline]

[wingsandwill.livejournal.com]

[He can guess who she's speaking of after seeing the post by Hinamori. It wouldn't have been difficult to guess without it, even.

He doesn't know what to do; he's not good at this. But she's always helped him when he's lost someone, and he should return the favor; it isn't even that he logically knows he should, but that he feels he should. So he goes to find her on the steps, sitting down next to her and not speaking.]

[Offline]

[flameandpassion]

[She's silent. Five minutes. Ten minutes. Perfectly numb -- until she starts thinking. Which is always a dangerous thing to do when you're trying not to hyperventilate and cry and panic -- because as her thoughts stray, they inevitably stray to the image she saw over the network, and her stomach lurches --

Finally, she speaks, her voice low and soft, and numb. As if she's realized something, but her heart hasn't quite caught up to it.]

If he doesn't wake up, or come back, or remember who I am, I'm going to lose it.

[Offline]

[wingsandwill.livejournal.com]

[He's quiet next to her, waiting; his patience is short at times, infinite at others, and this is one of the latter. He's silent for a short time, even after she does speak, before responding quietly.]

There is no reason to believe he won't. Worry about it should it occur, not before.

[It's delivered in his usual tactless way, but he means it encouragingly. He doesn't want Rei to destroy herself stressing about something that might not happen.]

[saucey]

You don't be the only one they'll deal with.

[It's. an eerie sort of calm in his voice. Misplaced. Like he's literally about to lose his hold on something he's desperately clinging to, but at the same time isn't willing to hold on any longer.

He's Madara's nephew for a damn good reason.]

[flameandpassion]

No. I won't.

[Rei would normally condone his involvement. Or explain that violence is not the answer. But this is so beyond the spectrum of pacifistic dealings that Rei can't find the strength to care.]

[saucey]

They'll pay dearly.

[hyuugahime]

H-Hino-san, what happened to Hitsugaya-san?

[flameandpassion]

Someone killed him.

[hyuugahime]

H-How? How did it happen?

Offline

[painhumbles.livejournal.com]

[Oh look, someone finally crawled out of the graveyard, even if he looks freaked beyond all reason.]

Someone had crappy timing.

Offline

[flameandpassion]

[She's quiet, for a moment, before she looks up at him.]

Perfect timing. I didn't think he was dead.

[She's quiet for a moment before she stares at her hands.]

Are you okay?

Offline

[painhumbles.livejournal.com]

Peachy keen. [Said in the same tone as one would say FUCK NO, but like he's talking.] You invade my space when I'm gloomy- no sense in not returning the favor.

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[feel-nevermore.livejournal.com]

Whoever did that to Hitsugaya is a threat to all of us.

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[flameandpassion]

When we find out who did this, they're mine.

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[feel-nevermore.livejournal.com]

Of course. But you do value teamwork as much as I do, right?