doublecrows | [Week 5, Friday: Eichi]

[Eichi had said this morning that he wanted to be brave, so he helped with the investigation this time. One body was missing, and the two that were found (though thankfully not found by him) were Jae-Ha and Sousei. He's upset.

He's terribly upset.

But he can't cry, not even when he receives a letter that he's still holding in his own hand as he steps into the room again. He blinks, quietly moving over to sit beside Akechi on the bed.]

Are you alright?

[at first, Akechi tilts the letter away from Eichi, so he can't see the contents. but after a moment. . .]

[. . .]

[he holds it out, wrinkled as it is now, to show him this]

[fuck u Jae-Ha!1]

[...As if in exchange, before Eichi even reads the letter, he offers his own to Akechi, then glances back down at this.

Jae-Ha... how many people did he write to like this? He was prepared to die? He knew he was going to die? There's something familiar about that that has Eichi clutching the paper tighter, but he holds back his tears, even as his eyes try to threaten them.]

...He's right, after all.

[. . . . .]

[I don't know where he got the idea that I'm not proud of my choices,I have always protected mine and my own, and will continue to do so, he thinks. but in the end, he says none of that aloud]

[he can't say that he liked Jae-Ha. Jae-Ha was obnoxious and nosy and constantly teased him]

[but he can admit he's a bit disappointed. that this letter, a letter that peels back his layers to expose something so incredibly raw, makes something insode of him curl in fury and a desire for revenge against whomever killed him]

About you?

[about Akechi]

About everything.

[He reaches over, folding their letters together and then setting them aside so he can close his hands over Akechi's, instead.]

I care about you very much. Hmm, what was it that I said? That's right... It was "I love you," wasn't it?

[He's being cute because he likes to be, but also because he thinks it will lighten things up.]

I'll miss him very much. He was someone who told me that I should be myself... and I never knew that such a thing was an option before this place.

[his gaze snaps up when Eichi's fingers envelope his own, brows raising]

[but then his expression settles, something akin to annoyance flickering on his features. but it's mild, and halfhearted]

It seemed as though Jae-Ha-san believed himself to be a wise dispenser of advice.

[aha. . . he says that almost wryly, but how many times had Jae-Ha said something that hit a little too close to home? it was gross. Akechi hated it]

I'm sorry his death brings you pain.

[rrrreally bad at sympathy: goro akechi. but he's trying]

...Him and Sousei-kun. They were both very kind to me.

[He has to pull his hands back, but just to grab at his left arm with a slight wince. Strange!]

Jae-Ha-san believed in you, as well, Goro. And I believe, no matter your annoyance, that you treasured him in some way, as well.

[. . . Akechi's gaze is drawn towards that movement almost immediately, but. for now? he doesn't comment on it]

I don't understand. I never asked for him to believe in me.

[his reply is curt and almost sharp]

I won't say I treasured him, either. [Jae-Ha was a punk!1] . . . but I suppose I'm a bit-- disappointed, he's dead.

["disappointed"]

Fufu... Disappointed, is it?

[He can't help the chuckle, more endeared than he should be. He leaves his hand on that arm, so he can't cover his laugh like he normally does.]

You're surprisingly cute, Goro. Saying things like that with such open honesty... it makes me want to kiss you.

[He's blunt in his own ways]

[. . . Akechi can be pretty bold and possessive, but for some reason, lighthearted moments like this bring a heavy flush to his cheeks]

[he huffs, and reaches out to snag Eichi's hand. the one that is resting on his own arm]

It isn't as though you have to hold yourself back anymore.

[his gaze flickers down]

Is something wrong with your arm?

[He's still chuckling at that first comment when Akechi snatches his hand away. Ah, he's so cute... maybe he will kiss him! Or, he wanted to, before that question was asked.]

Oh, that's right. When I first woke up, I had thought it was that I slept funny, so I didn't mention it... but after investigating the kitchen with Sanji, I discovered he had the same problem. Our arms are hurting.

For me, at least, it hurts quite a bit sometimes... There's not an injury in sight, however.

[um]

[frowns!! deeply!!]

It isn't a curse from the well, is it?

[That, surprisingly, gets Eichi to pause.]

It shouldn't be. Just on Monday, I...

[Actually, hold on.] Goro, do you still have the coin you gained for the well?

Hm?

[he seems a bit surprised at the sudden non-sequitur]

Yes, I do. [since they wound up not needing it to save Eichi's life] For what reason?

I was wondering... Something came up, so would you mind if I used it?

[. . . ?]

[truthfully, Akechi had been hanging onto that coin, waiting to use it to give himself another advantage in this war game. but if Eichi needs it. . .]

Of course.

[then he has no qualms in handing it over]

What are you going to wish for?

[he may not get an answer, and that'll be okay, for now. but he has to ask]

That's a secret. ♪

[He winks, and he hopes his cute charm will get him out of this one.]

I'd like to run and use it quickly, so I'll be right back. Once I am, you'll help keep me warm from heading outside, won't you?

[. . . HUFFS]

If I feel like it, perhaps.

I'm going to wish that Goro feels incredibly affectionate now.

[He laughs as he slips out the door, just leaving him with that!! Don't worry, he's only gone for as long as it takes his tired, weak ass self to get to the well, wish, and come back, with his multiple oxygen breaks along the way.

Then he's slipping back inside and peeking to look for him.]

[AKECHI IS. . . rolled over onto his side, back facing the door]

[he doesn't move to greet Eichi when he returns]

Goroooo~...

[Eichi steps on in. Come on, don't play the "not in the mood, I'm sleepy" card, that's so boring! How about a smooch? Some smooch??

Well, anyway, Eichi is absolutely trying to be all cute as he steps closer and reaches over him, covering his eyes with his hands. Even if they might have been closed.]

It's me. ♪ [That's not how this game works... but he tried.]

[swats at Eichi's hand!! he's being difficult on purpose, spiteful that Eichi wouldn't tell him about the wish]

Please, I'm napping.

Like an old man?

[Hmm!! He has a feeling that's what it is, but he won't back down from that, not now. Instead, he pulls his hand back at the swat and pokes at his cheek, instead. Eichi's leaned over him in such a way that his own body weight is on Akechi's side, slightly.

He's being an annoyance. On purpose.]

That's quite boring, isn't it? I'm cold from stepping outside, so if you don't turn my way and give me attention, then I'll have to steal it from you.

[asjpfoiaj SWATS AGAIN!! and lifts his elbow to nudge Eichi (gently) in the ribs]

I'm a detective. I don't approve of thieves.

[At this point, Eichi doesn't even need smooches. He needs a glance, attention, reactions that are more than this. Look at him!! Look at him!!

He's a child, sometimes.

The elbow is enough to get him to slide off slightly, but he uses that as an excuse to grab onto his arm, face pressing into the back of his shoulder.]

You're so mean~. It could be an exciting novel, you know? A detective and a thief, going back and forth, displaying their power, waiting on each one-up to see who the true victor is. And in the midst of that, romance blossoms... ♪

Fufu, I could become a novelist like this, couldn't I? I wonder if I could even write manga? Perhaps I'll run Keito out of his hobby.

[. . . . . . . . . damn it, he's kind of into that. can't even deny it. fuck you, Kurusu]

That's a rather similar relationship to the one I had with Joker, incidentally.

[HE SAYS, SUPER CASUALLY, LIKE IT AIN'T A BIG DEAL? and like his obsession with Joker wasn't completely one-sided (it totally was)]

[trying to make Eichi jealous? totally trying to make Eichi jealous]

Really? Hmm.

[It works, he's jealous, but that also means his mind is working to fight against that.]

I'd like to say I had a similar thing with the last member of the Five Oddballs, the group I rose up to gods before sending them to their knees... But Wataru wasn't a detective or a thief at all. He played the role of a "villain" so well, and I was an angel, there to smite him... I had my idol crawling on his knees pathetically.

But just as I destroyed him entirely, you killed that Joker fellow, didn't you?

[SO... HE CAN'T BE JEALOUS OVER THE DEAD RIGHT]

[. . . VALID POINT. Akechi frowns, suddenly disgruntled. but hey, he made Eichi a little jealous, so. plan sort of worked?]

Yes. I did. Our fated rivalry ended in my victory, with my own justice prevailing over his.

You saw the fruits of that labor.

[Hmm, you know who else goes on about fated rivals all the time? Wataru. It's a curious thing, and Eichi understands it well. He moves, now, climbing into bed properly, beside Akechi, glancing to him.]

Indeed. Could it be that you miss him, Goro? Making a face like that... it makes me a little jealous, you know?

[Is it better if he outright says it]

[yes and no!! especially when paired on Eichi asking if he misses Joker, of all people]

[the answer is yes, in a weird and undefined way. . . not that he ever liked Kurusu, not that he ever held any sort of affection for him. but sometimes, it does feel like he shot a piece of himself. a piece of his destiny]

Oh? Are you, now? My, you seem to get jealous easily.

[he's pleased with this!!]

But I don't miss him at all. We could have been great, he and I. But this is how things were always supposed to end.

I do not.

[Defensive, huffy, but it's a lie, of course. He really does get jealous easily. Akechi could simply speak to someone more than once and Eichi will wonder why he wasn't involved, or told about it. He can't help it. With this weak body of his, it makes sense that he'd be left behind, so he worries about it constantly.

Especially when he's sure that it can't be true Akechi doesn't miss Joker, if he's bringing him up like this, in this way. Still, he tries to point his stare somewhere else so it can't be read.]

Well, if you're so certain of it, that's good, I suppose. I'd hate for it to bother you.

It doesn't.

[it does]

[he won't speak those feelings aloud]

Come closer. There's no reason for there to be so much distance between us.

[ Hmmm!!

Well, he can’t refuse that, though, and scoots closer until there’s no space left between them at all. ]

I’d appreciate if you didn’t toy with me. My heart is fragile, you know? [ literally hahaha ]

[draws his arms around Eighi tightly, hugging him around the waist]

I'm aware. But do you really think I'd go so far as to break it, instead of just toying with it a little bit?

[Hmmm...!! Eichi used to call every student at Yumenosaki one of his toys, his belongings, so honestly? Attractive. Horrible.]

I suppose you wouldn't, after how much you've done to save me. This game of cat and mouse... it's quite fun. We change roles back and forth and it never gets boring, does it? Not even when I'm so thoroughly caught.

[. . . a low chuckle, and he curls his gloved fingers into Eichi's hair]

I told you before. I quite enjoy giving chase.

[Smiling at that, he closes a little more distance to steal a cute, chaste kiss.]

I'm quite lucky for that.

[well, this is okay. he's going to return that kiss!! just as light!! just as chaste]

You truly are. [uh] Who knows where we'd be had I decided not to go after you?

[like]

[Akechi wasn't the difficult one to win over, right at the very beginning]

[Week 5, Friday: Eichi]

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