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tampered2006-07-18 11:07 pm
rikithedark.livejournal.com) wrote in tampered2006-07-18 11:07 pm
[ Log; Complete. ]
When; The night Kaen destroyed Building 7.
Rating; PG.
Characters; Ranmaru, Riki, cameo by a third party.
Summary; Ashes, ashes, we all fall down?
Log;
After having returned from Kurogane's, he'd taken Riki out as he'd said he would. The soldier had been rather preoccupied since coming here, and as the ticking came to a near halt when he came into the other dark-haired man's company, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. So much for being distracted when the city would remind them where they were.
He'd had enough from when he'd come here to spend and it wasn't as if he wasn't still earning. He knew he couldn't just idle away his time and had to make sure that he had some backing behind his words and most importantly, he'd taken up the responsibility of someone else.. or rather, more than just one person. (Even if they were fully capable of caring for themselves.) He'd been raised a guard, it was a habit that woud be hard to break.
As for Riki; the man struck him as slightly confusing but he wasn't one to judge. He was certain he probably seemed just as strange to him; and within good reason. From what he undersood, where Riki came from was more confusing than the city they were now trapped in. Slowly, but surely, he was adapting to this strange idea and he couldn't really be shocked anymore. To a certain extent.
Either way, buying the things they had to wasn't too difficult. It was strange how conveniently things were located and available, but he wasn't one to complain, and now he carried three bags in his arms as he walked on, taking a glance to the side at his partner and giving him a small smile. "Ne, Riki-san. Do you have that jewel V-san said for everyone to summon?" he shifted the bags slightly, they looked rather weighty but he was carrying them with ease. Earlier he had tried and by the magic that ran this city, had recieved whatever this trinket was that would protect them. As much as for anyone, he hoped even those that were dead would have some place to properly be. And Riki, well.. he just felt like the kind of person who needed time to sort things out from whatever time he came from. He didn't speak much of it, Ranmaru didn't press it either. It wasn't as if he had anything he wanted to proudly admit either.
Looking back above the supplies, Ranmaru paused in his walk, trying to balance what he was carrying. "I wonder what these are going to do.."
The ticking hadn't bothered Riki all too much--probably because he was new to the City and it hadn't had the time to start really grating on his nerves. But it had been starting to get pretty irritating by the time Ranmaru had come back, and from the similar look on the other man's face as soon as they were in each other's company, Riki figured that the longer he stayed, the worse it would get. That, he wasn't looking forward to--being alone had been a rare luxury the past few years of his life--but then, being around Ranmaru didn't look like it was going to be so bad. There weren't any questions from either side, and the silences were comfortable, at least.
It was strange, very strange, this new City, but Riki was rapidly getting used to it, seeing smiling faces and watching Blondies--no, he corrected himself, here, they were just blond-haired people--and mongrels--he had to stop thinking like this--walk so freely down the streets. Even back in the Slums although all the slum-dwellers had shared a kind of vengeful, angry, hopeless camaraderie, they hadn't had the air of what? society? that the people here seemed to have. Already, he'd been approached by several random, friendly people, half of them blond, most with offers of information or help, something that would never have happened in Tanagura--not without a price.
Shifting the bags he was helping to carry over to one side to turn his face to speak, Riki shook his head at Ranmaru's question, remembering the announcement he'd seen earlier that day. All of this about the city and the carousel and time and the end of the worlds was confusing enough without throwing what? Magic? into it, and although Ranmaru's trust in this V character was encouraging, he wasn't about to risk himself just yet for some cause that he didn't know everything about. Who said those gems couldn't backfire somehow? And this Kaen and Yoshito he'd heard about--if there was control here, as free as the city had looked... any kind of open rebellion he'd ever seen had been thoroughly crushed. Thoroughly, excruiciatingly crushed. There was rebellion, and then there was inviting suffering--and more to the point, there was inviting suffering when you had nothing to lose, and inviting suffering when you did...
"No," Riki said, in a tone that was friendly but indicated that questions were probably not welcome, and shrugged his lack of answers as to what the "shields" were supposed to do before changing the subject by glancing down into one of the bags he was holding. Partly for his own sake, but partly for Ranmaru's as well: he looked happier talking about other people, might as well get his mind off the gems. "What's all this for?"
He did, and that was clear in the boy's attitude. Preferring to help others as much as he could rather than worrying about himself, Ranmaru never wasted a moment in making sure others were at ease. It was strange when he thought about it; arriving here had really increased his drive to do things he normally would have avoided doing at home. He just didn't want to think about the life he'd left behind and the people he'd lost- besides, even if he did go back, there really was nothing much left for him. Having escaped the fire at Honnoji and protecting his Lord Nobunaga against Lord Mitsuhide and not knowing if he'd succeeded..
Well, those were thoughts he'd prefer not to have, either way.
At Riki's question, distracted off the subject of the gems, Ranmaru glanced up and immediately gave Riki a smile. "Oh, these?" he indicated to the bags they were holding in his arms, each filled with supplies and things that one would usually expect a small bakery to need to stock.
"I promised some people I'd make them some things. Apparently my cooking is well-liked.." he admitted sheepishly, how silly was it that a soldier such as himself was now doing menial tasks such as cooking for others? Not that he minded, it kept him occupied. "Last time I had these many ingredients and I was out within three days." he chuckled. The rest of the thngs were basic amenities and some things he wanted to enjoy, like the strange books here in his tongue.
He paused though- realising one of the bags was slipping and attempted to balance it. ".. it's almost ten.. V-san said we should focus on the gems and turning the carousel back.." just as hesaid the words, the clock in the distance began to chime and the boy blinked.
"... is it time already..?" he asked in a softer voice, turning his head to the direction of the chimes-- confusion lining his brow. They could see the carousel from here, but.. was it just him, or was it beginning to pick up in speed?
Cooking with fresh ingredients--and even as just a hobby or as favors to others Riki looked down at the things in the bags he was carrying with renewed interest, wondering where all of the food would go. He'd been amazed at the sheer amount of it and assumed that Ranmaru was merely shopping for his friends as the favor--or shopping for an entire floor--but just three days of making other people snacks (or what sounded like that from Ranmaru's tone, anyway)? Actual cooking. Another entirely foreign concept to wrap his mind around...
Where did you learn to cook? What kinds of things can you make? Who are you making all these things for? But Riki didn't ask, just taking Ranmaru's words as fact, and looking up instead as they headed into the central area where the carousel stood--or spun, rather, at what seemed like a crazy speed--then froze, food forgotten and sliding out of his hands onto the floor as all the explosive noise that he'd assumed was just part of the city's atmosphere solidified into one scene of fiery, destructive chaos before him.
This is what you want, right? Had he just heard somebody yell that, or--why were things explod--was that somebody standing on the carousel--!?
"Get down!" Without bothering to think, Riki grabbed at Ranmaru's arm and threw himself sideways and away from the nearest street vendor's cart, covering his eyes with one hand as it exploded behind them in a flash of brilliant fire. Oddly enough, even with his heart immediately racing in his chest and everything burning around him, the City made at least a little more sense to Riki: if this was because of the rebellion, it had come with consequences, just as he'd feared it might.
But that wasn't the important part. He'd gotten used to this, police raids on black market trades and sometimes even Bison itself and indiscriminate destruction of the slums all around--the important part wasn't to stop them or to fight back or to even find out why the hell they were there but to get the hell away as fast and as far as you could. "Where?" He yelled toward Ranmaru, fighting to be heard over the sudden torrent of noise as the people around them began to panic and run. "Where the hell do we go?" There had to be some kind of designated safe place somewhere, right? They wouldn't just be running around blind in the dark...?
He wasn't expecting the chaos to ensue at the magnitude that it did. Before he had time to think, Ranmaru found the bags he was holding slipping out of his hold and onto the ground and himself being pulled along against his companion, eyes wide in shock. He too, had seen the madness explode before him but what he did see seemed almost surreal and fightening. Almost like some sort of curse was occuring and there was no counter to think of.
At the bright flash that came, Ranmaru threw his elbow before his eyes, shielding himself from what was to come, his heartbeat racing wildly. Never in his entire life, since the destruction of Mino castle, had he seen anything of this grand scale and whatever was happening, it certainly wasn't normal and that was an understatement. He gasped, lowering his arm in surprise, just when Riki yelled his question. At first, Ranmaru didn't hear him, but then, realization came into his eyes. If they didn't get away from here, they would certainly be at risk of death and while he knew he was more under any sort of risk for being alive, he didn't want that for Riki--someone who had died already. So, as quickly as he could, he got to his feet, tugging Riki this time and his eyes determined.
"This way!" he exclaimed, though he didn't know where to go, but he was already racing ahead in the direction of the buildings. Get him to safety, don't let him get hurt-- were the only things running through his mind. He was strong enough to use a musou channel and run at the speed of wind with Riki and have him safe, but they had to know where to go first and--
He froze, realising the earth below them beginning to rumble. Eyes narrowing in confusion as the entire ground seemed to shake, Ranmaru's head shot up to look at Riki in slight panic before looking ahead and the warning screams of people streaming out of the building before them.
"It's Building 7!!!" he heard someone behind them, and sure enough, sparks and exposions began to fall all around, the building beginning to tremble and suddenly found himself losing balance as a horde of people came racing forward, shoving him against the ground and causing him to nearly be trampled over. He winced, trying to get back to his feet, but the ground was still shaking, people going crazy and-- --
"Holy Bishamonten--!" Ranmaru realised they were standing in the very circumference of the building and he turned to Riki in panic. "Run, Riki-san, or you'll be crushed!!!"
Feeling himself dragged up and along by the arm, Riki stumbled to his feet, starting to run before he'd even properly stood up, ducking the panicking crowd's flailing arms and trying to keep up with Ranmaru. For someone that looked so--he really didn't have any other word for it--Pet-like as he did, the guy was surprisingly fast. Then again, they were bred to be physically fit...
But right, Riki thought, looking up as they ran and noting that they were heading for the buildings--that was probably a good idea. Maybe they had basements or something, places where they could hide from the explosions--it seemed like only the relatively small things had caught on fire for now. Maybe whoever was causing all this couldn't destroy an entire tower--
It's Building 7!
"What--" Riki spun as he felt Ranmaru's grip tear off of his arm, then looked around, shoving his way through the masses of people, as he lost him and the panic of the crowd caught and gripped at him too. A flurry of faces and clothing and hair and people and--where the hell had Ranmaru gon--there! On the ground, several dozen feet away, beyond a stampeding mass of people--and Ranmaru was shouting something at him, staring beyond him at... what?
-san... you'll be crushed!
And suddenly realizing that the crowd was gone, all headed in the opposite direction--and hearing several deafening explosions somewhere far up behind him, Riki straightened, eyes wide, before slowly turning around. The building was falling, burning, crumbling, exactly as if someone had set explosives within it to bring it down, and he was going to be--just like--just like last time, when--! Mentally stormed on all sides by memory, his current fear, the rush of confusion he'd been holding back--Riki froze in place, expression going blank, staring up at the collapsing building.
...did he really have no other Gods but Jupiter to pray to?
The speech, the events of the day hadn't been missed. On the contrary, they had only added to his interest that had been quite ignited after the initial apathy he had on arriving here. When he had realised that this was no longer Tanagura, or Amoi for that matter, he couldn't help but feel that dormant curiosity that slept within him stir. He hadn't, of course, gone and summoned any of the gems- the fact that he had seen enough people n these networks summon them and use them was proof enough that such magics had existed, but on a whole- he had no part in this, or so he believed. It turned out that whatever this V person had done played a huge role in their being alive and being in this city of all places.
And then there was Riki..
He knew that he still had a beating heart when it had stopped on discovering his pet on this Network. Riki, of all people, had to end up here.. and he had fervently looked through his writing, glad for one that educating him had paid off somehow.. how was he, where had he been, did he need anything.. he had suspected even before the tracer had been fixed, but to know he was here in confirmation..
Of course, what he had written suggested some things he may or may not have liked had he felt anything below his perpetual feelings.
Riki was alive and happy and being helped by the inhabitants of this city.
Riki missed his Pairing Partner Guy.
Riki had, even in his private thoughts, made no mention of him.
This could have been heartbreaking and at the same time, very encouraging. He could leave Riki to wander free, but he'd still have the ring (why he had it, though, was a mystery..) and he never would be. And the fact that he had the ring was sign enough that whatever miracle had restored his legs to him had done the same for Riki's completion.
He'd watched he events at the carousel with a calm eye, watched as the devil appeared to tear the ground asunder-- but his gaze had broken when the tracer had jumped to life. When his own heartbeat had picked up, and when he'd realised something fatalistic--
Riki was standing under the falling debris, about to be crushed..
Before anything could register for him, Iason had moved. Memories came lashing back at him, with each falling rock that hit the ground, an explosion took place in the back of his mind, the walls of Dana Bahn coming down around them, Riki's legs failing under him, his pride keeping him from supporting himself..
Ranmaru looked up just in time, once he'd gotten to his feet-- and his eyes widened in surprise. From amidst the falling rubble and destruction, a figure came-- it was almost like something he would read about in a legend, something surreal as the spirits that rose from the battlegrounds he had seen. He watched as the figure grabbed onto Riki's frozen form, practically carrying him out of harm's way-- and if he didn't know any better, he would have thought they were flying. Ranmaru's heartbeat picked up in worry, his legs beginning to move along with the stampeding people that were coming down in a panic, and knowing that it would be against his honor to leave Riki behind, he waved to the figure. "This way!!"
He didn't have enough time to look back, but what he did glimpse as the form came towards them, Riki being pulled along like a doll -- Ranmaru could have sworn the person was some sort of demon or god from the skies. Whoever it was was definitely taller than both Riki and himself combined and moved so swiftly that it was impossible to catch him had Ranmaru's eyes not been trained to catch that speed. He raced on ahead as the building came down around them-- then--
-- the explosion--
He found himself falling forward, covering his head with both arms to brace himself from impact. The explosion was defeaning, followed by the terrifying sound of the building falling, prctically screaming as it collapsed and dust and stone rose all around the, blinding their senses for those horrible moments of many moments. At the very least, they were out of danger's way...
Though as the dust and smoke settled and people around them fell to protect themselves, he managed to glance up in worry-- Riki-san was--
-- that stranger's protecting him..!?
It was a surprising sight and Ranmaru stared in shock as he saw the body of the other person hunched over Riki, keeping him pinned down, as if trying to protect him from the very dust itself-- before slowly rising up and taking a step back into the thick, acrid smoke that was now accumulating around them. He squinted, trying to make out the face, but before he could call anything out, the person vanished. Choking on his own breath, Ranmaru covered his mouth, shakilly getting to his feet and racing across to fall next to Riki's side.
"Riki-san!!! RIKI-SAN!!"
"I'm... fine..."
The words were out of his mouth before he could think, automatically waving off help as he always did out of sheer habit, even as Riki's mind reeled and kept rewind-fastforwarding the last forty-five seconds of what probably shouldn't have been his life. Seemingly completely unaware of Ranmaru's presence, he stared down at the ground beneath his hands with wide, blind eyes. What the hell had just happened? He'd been staring up at the collapsing building--just like Dana Bahn--and then someone had--who? What? How?
What he remembered was this: explosion, low and booming and blossoming in slow motion in his head. His heart, pounding in his ears with eternities between each beat. Flashes of Dana Bahn, of Guy, of Iason, memories of walls crumbling around them. Then, a collision. Another body, bigger than this, sweeping him up and away as easily as he might carry a doll. Being pulled away from the vision of his own fiery death, feeling the burning air rushing past his skin, past and past and then hitting them both with the force of a truck, rolling them over the ground, and then--dark--and smoke--and debris--and--nothing.
Who--who could possibl--?
Ias--!?
With a sharp inhalation, Riki snapped back to his senses, shaking his head and picking himself up off the ground. It couldn't be... no. Of course that would be his first thought, considering how similar it had been to the last time. There was of course the size and strength factor, but with all these people from other worlds in the City, he couldn't be sure of that either. And as far as Riki knew, he wasn't in the City--if he was, then he'd have contacted him somehow, right? Besides, how much of a coincidence...? It didn't--it didn't have to be.
But--how the hell was he supposed to take it if it was? How the hell was he supposed to feel indebted toward him again? Or maybe a better, but more hopeless question: hell, how could he not?
It didn't have to be him...
Not realizing how tightly his teeth were set until he had to force them apart, Riki turned toward Ranmaru, raising a hand to cover half his face as he glanced at him sideways. "I'm fine," he repeated firmly for the other's sake, closing his eyes briefly and exhaling quietly in the now almost silent aftermath air. But when he spoke again, it was with a tentative, tense tone in his voice, something completely not suited to the questions he was asking--or even bearing the shock or exhilaration that the fact that he was alive seemed like it should carry.
"That... person," who I owe my life to, went unsaid. "Did you see who...?"
Ranmaru's breath caught in his throat when Riki moved, relief in his silver eyes when he saw that the other was mostly unharmed. He didn't know what had been more shocking, the fact that the buildings had fallen or the fact that Riki had been rescued seemingly by some miracle. Had that man not been there, Ranmaru was certain the falling debris would have gotten him-- and he would have been too far away to have protected him.
Yet why the person would rescue him and then leave.. it was a mystery.
As the people around them bean to move, some heading over to inspect the damage, Ranmaru took in Riki's appearance, his reactions. He surely was deep in thought, as if there was something about what had just occured that had triggered something else. Something that he probably didn't want to remember, from the way the other spoke to the tense way that he responded. He glance to a side to see where the man had disappeared, as the dust began to settle, then an apologetic look came into his eyes as he shook his head.
"I don't know who he was.. I've never seen him before, Riki-san." he bit his lower lip, looking up at Riki with concern now as he looked him over, trying to see if he was injured. Then he added, considering his words may have seemed useless, ".. He didn't.. appear to be human. In fact everything about him seemed to be like some sort of deity.." he paused, then moved a hand to Riki's arm.
"Are you alright? You froze up there.." he let his words trail off, just in case the topic was uncomfortable. "You're not injured anywhere..?"
Some sort of deity?
Riki's eyes widened at the words before he forced himself to relax, lowering his head. Some sort of deity--that was exactly the way that the hushed whispers of the mongrels in the slums had spoken of Blondies. Beautiful, superhuman, godlike creations of Jupiter, stronger, faster, and smarter than any of the natural-born humans could ever hope to be. Stronger, faster, smarter, better. Without question. Ranmaru didn't, couldn't understand--no need to worry him further by showing how tense he really was. Still--
Still, with everything that had happened already and everything that he didn't want to remember, even Ranmaru's concerned eyes looking him over felt distinctly uncomfortable.
"I said I'm fine." Riki brushed Ranmaru's hand off his arm, careful to keep any anger out of his voice but unable to stop the words from sounding cold, coming through half-locked teeth. It was either this or explaining... and last time he'd tried, all it had done was cause more problems. Half to show that his words were true and half to just turn himself the hell away so he wouldn't have to watch himself being watched any more, he got to his feet, taking a moment to steady himself before taking a deep breath and looking out over the chaos in silence, eyes wandering over the entirely demolished building, now just a ruin beneath all the smoke.
Was that how it had looked on the outside, when he'd died...?
But right, Riki thought as he blinked and realized that a several minutes had gone by, he couldn't just end the conversation like that, not in the uncomfortable silence he'd caused, not when Ranmaru clearly had just been worried for him. But where to take it from here? I'm-sorry was just begging for questions...
Hell. Even if it had been Iason, there was nothing he could do about it now. No point in thinking about it. That lay in the future. He'd deal with it, somehow, when the future got here.
"Hey," Riki started, expression softening as he turned to Ranmaru and knelt, speaking quietly and calmly. "Look, I'm fine. And whoever it was--we can find him later." He threw a glance at the crowd surrounding the ruins, rising to his feet as his voice became serious again. "Right now, we should get out of here before something else explodes. And--" A sudden thought, as he finally pushed the worries about Iason out of his head. "Check on your other friends--"
Ranmaru's concerned expression didn't waver, however, there was a hint of sorrow when Riki pushed him away. He had foreseen he may do that, but it troubled him that he couldn't console his companion.. not that he expected to have him miraculously feel better, but even so. He'd been staying with him and had always seemed to pick up on some sort of forlorn feeling from the other man that just made him deeply think on just what might Riki have gone through in his lifetime.
That again, was driven away by a wave of worry as he thought things over. Riki's reactions were certainly being triggered by something else, though why he was reacting so strongly to being rescued that way was beyond him. After all, had Ranmaru been close enough, he may have just done the same thing for him.
He wasn't ever going to make the same mistake he made with Mitsuhide's life with anyone else if he had any say in it.
The thought of his former Lord would have brought him into a quiet sort of solemness had Riki not chosen to speak right then. Thankful that the other had chosen to speak to him, he blinked as the other turned.. then flushed lightly. It was rather like a once-in-a-blue moon thing for that moment, seeing how tense Riki had been prior to this and was now just as calm, conversational either. He listened to him, watching the expression in the dark-haired man's face and feeling himself settle into a sense of calm as well. Everything was alright, he was safe and the only damage that may have been done would probably have been worse had that man not shown up.
Taking a glance towards the gathering crowd and not seeing anyone prominent, he turned back to Riki and gave him a firm nod. "Yes, let us leave. And.. I'll keep a look out. Surely if that person saved you, he has to be living here and on this network, right? Maybe he'll show up!" he added hopefully, a twinkle in his eye. "And then you can thank him!"
Smiling then, Ranmaru turned and headed toward the carousel in the distance, waiting for Riki to follow and noticing that their bags seemed to be more or less in tact. People had headed the other way mostly while escaping the building, so he was surprised at seeing his things alright. His smile grew and he beamed at Riki as he looked over his shoulder.
"Bet I can carry more than you!"
It was a gentle tease, nothing more, but it was to keep their minds off what had just occured. Taking it easy was just one of their options when so much had happened. One thing at a time..
And so, once they'd gathered their things, he gave his companion a look and nod. If it troubled him so much, then there was no way he was going to deny Riki the answer he sought. He'd look for who the person was later. But for now..
"Let's go home."
Who knew what the City would throw at them next.
Rating; PG.
Characters; Ranmaru, Riki, cameo by a third party.
Summary; Ashes, ashes, we all fall down?
Log;
After having returned from Kurogane's, he'd taken Riki out as he'd said he would. The soldier had been rather preoccupied since coming here, and as the ticking came to a near halt when he came into the other dark-haired man's company, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. So much for being distracted when the city would remind them where they were.
He'd had enough from when he'd come here to spend and it wasn't as if he wasn't still earning. He knew he couldn't just idle away his time and had to make sure that he had some backing behind his words and most importantly, he'd taken up the responsibility of someone else.. or rather, more than just one person. (Even if they were fully capable of caring for themselves.) He'd been raised a guard, it was a habit that woud be hard to break.
As for Riki; the man struck him as slightly confusing but he wasn't one to judge. He was certain he probably seemed just as strange to him; and within good reason. From what he undersood, where Riki came from was more confusing than the city they were now trapped in. Slowly, but surely, he was adapting to this strange idea and he couldn't really be shocked anymore. To a certain extent.
Either way, buying the things they had to wasn't too difficult. It was strange how conveniently things were located and available, but he wasn't one to complain, and now he carried three bags in his arms as he walked on, taking a glance to the side at his partner and giving him a small smile. "Ne, Riki-san. Do you have that jewel V-san said for everyone to summon?" he shifted the bags slightly, they looked rather weighty but he was carrying them with ease. Earlier he had tried and by the magic that ran this city, had recieved whatever this trinket was that would protect them. As much as for anyone, he hoped even those that were dead would have some place to properly be. And Riki, well.. he just felt like the kind of person who needed time to sort things out from whatever time he came from. He didn't speak much of it, Ranmaru didn't press it either. It wasn't as if he had anything he wanted to proudly admit either.
Looking back above the supplies, Ranmaru paused in his walk, trying to balance what he was carrying. "I wonder what these are going to do.."
The ticking hadn't bothered Riki all too much--probably because he was new to the City and it hadn't had the time to start really grating on his nerves. But it had been starting to get pretty irritating by the time Ranmaru had come back, and from the similar look on the other man's face as soon as they were in each other's company, Riki figured that the longer he stayed, the worse it would get. That, he wasn't looking forward to--being alone had been a rare luxury the past few years of his life--but then, being around Ranmaru didn't look like it was going to be so bad. There weren't any questions from either side, and the silences were comfortable, at least.
It was strange, very strange, this new City, but Riki was rapidly getting used to it, seeing smiling faces and watching Blondies--no, he corrected himself, here, they were just blond-haired people--and mongrels--he had to stop thinking like this--walk so freely down the streets. Even back in the Slums although all the slum-dwellers had shared a kind of vengeful, angry, hopeless camaraderie, they hadn't had the air of what? society? that the people here seemed to have. Already, he'd been approached by several random, friendly people, half of them blond, most with offers of information or help, something that would never have happened in Tanagura--not without a price.
Shifting the bags he was helping to carry over to one side to turn his face to speak, Riki shook his head at Ranmaru's question, remembering the announcement he'd seen earlier that day. All of this about the city and the carousel and time and the end of the worlds was confusing enough without throwing what? Magic? into it, and although Ranmaru's trust in this V character was encouraging, he wasn't about to risk himself just yet for some cause that he didn't know everything about. Who said those gems couldn't backfire somehow? And this Kaen and Yoshito he'd heard about--if there was control here, as free as the city had looked... any kind of open rebellion he'd ever seen had been thoroughly crushed. Thoroughly, excruiciatingly crushed. There was rebellion, and then there was inviting suffering--and more to the point, there was inviting suffering when you had nothing to lose, and inviting suffering when you did...
"No," Riki said, in a tone that was friendly but indicated that questions were probably not welcome, and shrugged his lack of answers as to what the "shields" were supposed to do before changing the subject by glancing down into one of the bags he was holding. Partly for his own sake, but partly for Ranmaru's as well: he looked happier talking about other people, might as well get his mind off the gems. "What's all this for?"
He did, and that was clear in the boy's attitude. Preferring to help others as much as he could rather than worrying about himself, Ranmaru never wasted a moment in making sure others were at ease. It was strange when he thought about it; arriving here had really increased his drive to do things he normally would have avoided doing at home. He just didn't want to think about the life he'd left behind and the people he'd lost- besides, even if he did go back, there really was nothing much left for him. Having escaped the fire at Honnoji and protecting his Lord Nobunaga against Lord Mitsuhide and not knowing if he'd succeeded..
Well, those were thoughts he'd prefer not to have, either way.
At Riki's question, distracted off the subject of the gems, Ranmaru glanced up and immediately gave Riki a smile. "Oh, these?" he indicated to the bags they were holding in his arms, each filled with supplies and things that one would usually expect a small bakery to need to stock.
"I promised some people I'd make them some things. Apparently my cooking is well-liked.." he admitted sheepishly, how silly was it that a soldier such as himself was now doing menial tasks such as cooking for others? Not that he minded, it kept him occupied. "Last time I had these many ingredients and I was out within three days." he chuckled. The rest of the thngs were basic amenities and some things he wanted to enjoy, like the strange books here in his tongue.
He paused though- realising one of the bags was slipping and attempted to balance it. ".. it's almost ten.. V-san said we should focus on the gems and turning the carousel back.." just as hesaid the words, the clock in the distance began to chime and the boy blinked.
"... is it time already..?" he asked in a softer voice, turning his head to the direction of the chimes-- confusion lining his brow. They could see the carousel from here, but.. was it just him, or was it beginning to pick up in speed?
Cooking with fresh ingredients--and even as just a hobby or as favors to others Riki looked down at the things in the bags he was carrying with renewed interest, wondering where all of the food would go. He'd been amazed at the sheer amount of it and assumed that Ranmaru was merely shopping for his friends as the favor--or shopping for an entire floor--but just three days of making other people snacks (or what sounded like that from Ranmaru's tone, anyway)? Actual cooking. Another entirely foreign concept to wrap his mind around...
Where did you learn to cook? What kinds of things can you make? Who are you making all these things for? But Riki didn't ask, just taking Ranmaru's words as fact, and looking up instead as they headed into the central area where the carousel stood--or spun, rather, at what seemed like a crazy speed--then froze, food forgotten and sliding out of his hands onto the floor as all the explosive noise that he'd assumed was just part of the city's atmosphere solidified into one scene of fiery, destructive chaos before him.
This is what you want, right? Had he just heard somebody yell that, or--why were things explod--was that somebody standing on the carousel--!?
"Get down!" Without bothering to think, Riki grabbed at Ranmaru's arm and threw himself sideways and away from the nearest street vendor's cart, covering his eyes with one hand as it exploded behind them in a flash of brilliant fire. Oddly enough, even with his heart immediately racing in his chest and everything burning around him, the City made at least a little more sense to Riki: if this was because of the rebellion, it had come with consequences, just as he'd feared it might.
But that wasn't the important part. He'd gotten used to this, police raids on black market trades and sometimes even Bison itself and indiscriminate destruction of the slums all around--the important part wasn't to stop them or to fight back or to even find out why the hell they were there but to get the hell away as fast and as far as you could. "Where?" He yelled toward Ranmaru, fighting to be heard over the sudden torrent of noise as the people around them began to panic and run. "Where the hell do we go?" There had to be some kind of designated safe place somewhere, right? They wouldn't just be running around blind in the dark...?
He wasn't expecting the chaos to ensue at the magnitude that it did. Before he had time to think, Ranmaru found the bags he was holding slipping out of his hold and onto the ground and himself being pulled along against his companion, eyes wide in shock. He too, had seen the madness explode before him but what he did see seemed almost surreal and fightening. Almost like some sort of curse was occuring and there was no counter to think of.
At the bright flash that came, Ranmaru threw his elbow before his eyes, shielding himself from what was to come, his heartbeat racing wildly. Never in his entire life, since the destruction of Mino castle, had he seen anything of this grand scale and whatever was happening, it certainly wasn't normal and that was an understatement. He gasped, lowering his arm in surprise, just when Riki yelled his question. At first, Ranmaru didn't hear him, but then, realization came into his eyes. If they didn't get away from here, they would certainly be at risk of death and while he knew he was more under any sort of risk for being alive, he didn't want that for Riki--someone who had died already. So, as quickly as he could, he got to his feet, tugging Riki this time and his eyes determined.
"This way!" he exclaimed, though he didn't know where to go, but he was already racing ahead in the direction of the buildings. Get him to safety, don't let him get hurt-- were the only things running through his mind. He was strong enough to use a musou channel and run at the speed of wind with Riki and have him safe, but they had to know where to go first and--
He froze, realising the earth below them beginning to rumble. Eyes narrowing in confusion as the entire ground seemed to shake, Ranmaru's head shot up to look at Riki in slight panic before looking ahead and the warning screams of people streaming out of the building before them.
"It's Building 7!!!" he heard someone behind them, and sure enough, sparks and exposions began to fall all around, the building beginning to tremble and suddenly found himself losing balance as a horde of people came racing forward, shoving him against the ground and causing him to nearly be trampled over. He winced, trying to get back to his feet, but the ground was still shaking, people going crazy and-- --
"Holy Bishamonten--!" Ranmaru realised they were standing in the very circumference of the building and he turned to Riki in panic. "Run, Riki-san, or you'll be crushed!!!"
Feeling himself dragged up and along by the arm, Riki stumbled to his feet, starting to run before he'd even properly stood up, ducking the panicking crowd's flailing arms and trying to keep up with Ranmaru. For someone that looked so--he really didn't have any other word for it--Pet-like as he did, the guy was surprisingly fast. Then again, they were bred to be physically fit...
But right, Riki thought, looking up as they ran and noting that they were heading for the buildings--that was probably a good idea. Maybe they had basements or something, places where they could hide from the explosions--it seemed like only the relatively small things had caught on fire for now. Maybe whoever was causing all this couldn't destroy an entire tower--
It's Building 7!
"What--" Riki spun as he felt Ranmaru's grip tear off of his arm, then looked around, shoving his way through the masses of people, as he lost him and the panic of the crowd caught and gripped at him too. A flurry of faces and clothing and hair and people and--where the hell had Ranmaru gon--there! On the ground, several dozen feet away, beyond a stampeding mass of people--and Ranmaru was shouting something at him, staring beyond him at... what?
-san... you'll be crushed!
And suddenly realizing that the crowd was gone, all headed in the opposite direction--and hearing several deafening explosions somewhere far up behind him, Riki straightened, eyes wide, before slowly turning around. The building was falling, burning, crumbling, exactly as if someone had set explosives within it to bring it down, and he was going to be--just like--just like last time, when--! Mentally stormed on all sides by memory, his current fear, the rush of confusion he'd been holding back--Riki froze in place, expression going blank, staring up at the collapsing building.
...did he really have no other Gods but Jupiter to pray to?
The speech, the events of the day hadn't been missed. On the contrary, they had only added to his interest that had been quite ignited after the initial apathy he had on arriving here. When he had realised that this was no longer Tanagura, or Amoi for that matter, he couldn't help but feel that dormant curiosity that slept within him stir. He hadn't, of course, gone and summoned any of the gems- the fact that he had seen enough people n these networks summon them and use them was proof enough that such magics had existed, but on a whole- he had no part in this, or so he believed. It turned out that whatever this V person had done played a huge role in their being alive and being in this city of all places.
And then there was Riki..
He knew that he still had a beating heart when it had stopped on discovering his pet on this Network. Riki, of all people, had to end up here.. and he had fervently looked through his writing, glad for one that educating him had paid off somehow.. how was he, where had he been, did he need anything.. he had suspected even before the tracer had been fixed, but to know he was here in confirmation..
Of course, what he had written suggested some things he may or may not have liked had he felt anything below his perpetual feelings.
Riki was alive and happy and being helped by the inhabitants of this city.
Riki missed his Pairing Partner Guy.
Riki had, even in his private thoughts, made no mention of him.
This could have been heartbreaking and at the same time, very encouraging. He could leave Riki to wander free, but he'd still have the ring (why he had it, though, was a mystery..) and he never would be. And the fact that he had the ring was sign enough that whatever miracle had restored his legs to him had done the same for Riki's completion.
He'd watched he events at the carousel with a calm eye, watched as the devil appeared to tear the ground asunder-- but his gaze had broken when the tracer had jumped to life. When his own heartbeat had picked up, and when he'd realised something fatalistic--
Riki was standing under the falling debris, about to be crushed..
Before anything could register for him, Iason had moved. Memories came lashing back at him, with each falling rock that hit the ground, an explosion took place in the back of his mind, the walls of Dana Bahn coming down around them, Riki's legs failing under him, his pride keeping him from supporting himself..
Ranmaru looked up just in time, once he'd gotten to his feet-- and his eyes widened in surprise. From amidst the falling rubble and destruction, a figure came-- it was almost like something he would read about in a legend, something surreal as the spirits that rose from the battlegrounds he had seen. He watched as the figure grabbed onto Riki's frozen form, practically carrying him out of harm's way-- and if he didn't know any better, he would have thought they were flying. Ranmaru's heartbeat picked up in worry, his legs beginning to move along with the stampeding people that were coming down in a panic, and knowing that it would be against his honor to leave Riki behind, he waved to the figure. "This way!!"
He didn't have enough time to look back, but what he did glimpse as the form came towards them, Riki being pulled along like a doll -- Ranmaru could have sworn the person was some sort of demon or god from the skies. Whoever it was was definitely taller than both Riki and himself combined and moved so swiftly that it was impossible to catch him had Ranmaru's eyes not been trained to catch that speed. He raced on ahead as the building came down around them-- then--
-- the explosion--
He found himself falling forward, covering his head with both arms to brace himself from impact. The explosion was defeaning, followed by the terrifying sound of the building falling, prctically screaming as it collapsed and dust and stone rose all around the, blinding their senses for those horrible moments of many moments. At the very least, they were out of danger's way...
Though as the dust and smoke settled and people around them fell to protect themselves, he managed to glance up in worry-- Riki-san was--
-- that stranger's protecting him..!?
It was a surprising sight and Ranmaru stared in shock as he saw the body of the other person hunched over Riki, keeping him pinned down, as if trying to protect him from the very dust itself-- before slowly rising up and taking a step back into the thick, acrid smoke that was now accumulating around them. He squinted, trying to make out the face, but before he could call anything out, the person vanished. Choking on his own breath, Ranmaru covered his mouth, shakilly getting to his feet and racing across to fall next to Riki's side.
"Riki-san!!! RIKI-SAN!!"
"I'm... fine..."
The words were out of his mouth before he could think, automatically waving off help as he always did out of sheer habit, even as Riki's mind reeled and kept rewind-fastforwarding the last forty-five seconds of what probably shouldn't have been his life. Seemingly completely unaware of Ranmaru's presence, he stared down at the ground beneath his hands with wide, blind eyes. What the hell had just happened? He'd been staring up at the collapsing building--just like Dana Bahn--and then someone had--who? What? How?
What he remembered was this: explosion, low and booming and blossoming in slow motion in his head. His heart, pounding in his ears with eternities between each beat. Flashes of Dana Bahn, of Guy, of Iason, memories of walls crumbling around them. Then, a collision. Another body, bigger than this, sweeping him up and away as easily as he might carry a doll. Being pulled away from the vision of his own fiery death, feeling the burning air rushing past his skin, past and past and then hitting them both with the force of a truck, rolling them over the ground, and then--dark--and smoke--and debris--and--nothing.
Who--who could possibl--?
Ias--!?
With a sharp inhalation, Riki snapped back to his senses, shaking his head and picking himself up off the ground. It couldn't be... no. Of course that would be his first thought, considering how similar it had been to the last time. There was of course the size and strength factor, but with all these people from other worlds in the City, he couldn't be sure of that either. And as far as Riki knew, he wasn't in the City--if he was, then he'd have contacted him somehow, right? Besides, how much of a coincidence...? It didn't--it didn't have to be.
But--how the hell was he supposed to take it if it was? How the hell was he supposed to feel indebted toward him again? Or maybe a better, but more hopeless question: hell, how could he not?
It didn't have to be him...
Not realizing how tightly his teeth were set until he had to force them apart, Riki turned toward Ranmaru, raising a hand to cover half his face as he glanced at him sideways. "I'm fine," he repeated firmly for the other's sake, closing his eyes briefly and exhaling quietly in the now almost silent aftermath air. But when he spoke again, it was with a tentative, tense tone in his voice, something completely not suited to the questions he was asking--or even bearing the shock or exhilaration that the fact that he was alive seemed like it should carry.
"That... person," who I owe my life to, went unsaid. "Did you see who...?"
Ranmaru's breath caught in his throat when Riki moved, relief in his silver eyes when he saw that the other was mostly unharmed. He didn't know what had been more shocking, the fact that the buildings had fallen or the fact that Riki had been rescued seemingly by some miracle. Had that man not been there, Ranmaru was certain the falling debris would have gotten him-- and he would have been too far away to have protected him.
Yet why the person would rescue him and then leave.. it was a mystery.
As the people around them bean to move, some heading over to inspect the damage, Ranmaru took in Riki's appearance, his reactions. He surely was deep in thought, as if there was something about what had just occured that had triggered something else. Something that he probably didn't want to remember, from the way the other spoke to the tense way that he responded. He glance to a side to see where the man had disappeared, as the dust began to settle, then an apologetic look came into his eyes as he shook his head.
"I don't know who he was.. I've never seen him before, Riki-san." he bit his lower lip, looking up at Riki with concern now as he looked him over, trying to see if he was injured. Then he added, considering his words may have seemed useless, ".. He didn't.. appear to be human. In fact everything about him seemed to be like some sort of deity.." he paused, then moved a hand to Riki's arm.
"Are you alright? You froze up there.." he let his words trail off, just in case the topic was uncomfortable. "You're not injured anywhere..?"
Some sort of deity?
Riki's eyes widened at the words before he forced himself to relax, lowering his head. Some sort of deity--that was exactly the way that the hushed whispers of the mongrels in the slums had spoken of Blondies. Beautiful, superhuman, godlike creations of Jupiter, stronger, faster, and smarter than any of the natural-born humans could ever hope to be. Stronger, faster, smarter, better. Without question. Ranmaru didn't, couldn't understand--no need to worry him further by showing how tense he really was. Still--
Still, with everything that had happened already and everything that he didn't want to remember, even Ranmaru's concerned eyes looking him over felt distinctly uncomfortable.
"I said I'm fine." Riki brushed Ranmaru's hand off his arm, careful to keep any anger out of his voice but unable to stop the words from sounding cold, coming through half-locked teeth. It was either this or explaining... and last time he'd tried, all it had done was cause more problems. Half to show that his words were true and half to just turn himself the hell away so he wouldn't have to watch himself being watched any more, he got to his feet, taking a moment to steady himself before taking a deep breath and looking out over the chaos in silence, eyes wandering over the entirely demolished building, now just a ruin beneath all the smoke.
Was that how it had looked on the outside, when he'd died...?
But right, Riki thought as he blinked and realized that a several minutes had gone by, he couldn't just end the conversation like that, not in the uncomfortable silence he'd caused, not when Ranmaru clearly had just been worried for him. But where to take it from here? I'm-sorry was just begging for questions...
Hell. Even if it had been Iason, there was nothing he could do about it now. No point in thinking about it. That lay in the future. He'd deal with it, somehow, when the future got here.
"Hey," Riki started, expression softening as he turned to Ranmaru and knelt, speaking quietly and calmly. "Look, I'm fine. And whoever it was--we can find him later." He threw a glance at the crowd surrounding the ruins, rising to his feet as his voice became serious again. "Right now, we should get out of here before something else explodes. And--" A sudden thought, as he finally pushed the worries about Iason out of his head. "Check on your other friends--"
Ranmaru's concerned expression didn't waver, however, there was a hint of sorrow when Riki pushed him away. He had foreseen he may do that, but it troubled him that he couldn't console his companion.. not that he expected to have him miraculously feel better, but even so. He'd been staying with him and had always seemed to pick up on some sort of forlorn feeling from the other man that just made him deeply think on just what might Riki have gone through in his lifetime.
That again, was driven away by a wave of worry as he thought things over. Riki's reactions were certainly being triggered by something else, though why he was reacting so strongly to being rescued that way was beyond him. After all, had Ranmaru been close enough, he may have just done the same thing for him.
He wasn't ever going to make the same mistake he made with Mitsuhide's life with anyone else if he had any say in it.
The thought of his former Lord would have brought him into a quiet sort of solemness had Riki not chosen to speak right then. Thankful that the other had chosen to speak to him, he blinked as the other turned.. then flushed lightly. It was rather like a once-in-a-blue moon thing for that moment, seeing how tense Riki had been prior to this and was now just as calm, conversational either. He listened to him, watching the expression in the dark-haired man's face and feeling himself settle into a sense of calm as well. Everything was alright, he was safe and the only damage that may have been done would probably have been worse had that man not shown up.
Taking a glance towards the gathering crowd and not seeing anyone prominent, he turned back to Riki and gave him a firm nod. "Yes, let us leave. And.. I'll keep a look out. Surely if that person saved you, he has to be living here and on this network, right? Maybe he'll show up!" he added hopefully, a twinkle in his eye. "And then you can thank him!"
Smiling then, Ranmaru turned and headed toward the carousel in the distance, waiting for Riki to follow and noticing that their bags seemed to be more or less in tact. People had headed the other way mostly while escaping the building, so he was surprised at seeing his things alright. His smile grew and he beamed at Riki as he looked over his shoulder.
"Bet I can carry more than you!"
It was a gentle tease, nothing more, but it was to keep their minds off what had just occured. Taking it easy was just one of their options when so much had happened. One thing at a time..
And so, once they'd gathered their things, he gave his companion a look and nod. If it troubled him so much, then there was no way he was going to deny Riki the answer he sought. He'd look for who the person was later. But for now..
"Let's go home."
Who knew what the City would throw at them next.