Yata: Saruhiko! Bastard! Where the hell are you, Saruhiko?! Saruhiko!
[ He remembers racing through an underground tunnel system, dodging bullets and explosions - were those grenade launchers?? - while enemies wearing helmets lit with green lights fired on him and attacked, yelling for his death. His skateboard shifts like an extension of himself beneath him, easily dodging fire and debris. And all the while, his gaze searches the tunnels he passes, frantic urgency pushing him on with a recklessness that has his heartbeat pounding in his ears despite the angry words he shouts into the air. Listens for a response. Hears only the yells and curses of the soldiers he outpaces and not the voice he wants to hear. ]
Yata: Damn you! Trying to look good all by yourself! If you die without telling me anything, I'll never forgive you!
[ Up ahead, the tunnel ends, an abrupt dead end, but he knows he's going in the right direction, so he puts on a burst of speed and launches himself at it, board first, fire flaming up around him to take the impact before he does. The wall cracks and crumbles and then melts away from the fiery force of it and he crashes into the chamber beyond.
There, dust and smoke kicked up from fighting, a smaller figure with a glowing green glaive, slashing at... Saruhiko. He found him, just in time to see him go flying, colliding with the wall behind him that it left a fracture in the concrete, dust and pebbles raining down around him. The kid goes in for the killing strike, but Yata puts on a burst of speed because he hasn't come this far and risked so much to let this kid end it like this. Not when he finally understands.
He makes it just in time, his metal stave deflecting the glaive's downward stroke and knocking the kid back, giving him enough time to take a defensive stance in front of Saru, who's fallen to his knees, blood pooling under him... from where? He doesn't have time to look, his attention focused wholly on the smirking kid who'd managed to take down Saru. ]
Sukuna: Oh, are you switching players? Fine with me!
[ The kid taunts and goes to attack again, but Yata has other plans in mind. His own returning blow is easily dodged, but that had been his purpose because when the kid moves out of the way, his stave slams into the concrete where he'd been standing, sending up another cloud of dirt and smoke. In the momentary distraction, he spins, slinging Saru over his shoulders before kicking off with his board, speeding back the way he'd come. Behind him, he can hear the kid yelling about not letting them get away, but flares spark behind his wheels and he puts on a greater burst of speed to outpace him.
He's not here to fight. He's here to get Saru out of this mess alive. ]
Yata: Saruhiko! You still alive?! Oi! Monkey!
Saru: [ So quietly he almost misses it, ] You're late... And you call yourself the Clan's lead attacker? What a joke...
[ He'd be pissed - he is pissed - but it's far outweighed by the surge of relief he feels when Saru speaks. And if Saru is feeling well enough to mock him, maybe he's not almost dead after all. ]
Yata: Shut up! Why didn't you tell me?
Saru: You know I can't talk about top secret missions, stupid. Couldn't you guess?
Yata:Hah? How was I supposed to guess just from that?! You've always been like this. Yeah, I'm stupid! That's why unless you tell me, I won't get it!
Saru: Would you have understood even if I told you?
Yata: Then say it in a way I understand! Keep saying it until I do understand! If you didn't tell me anything and you died... I would've thought you were a traitor forever!
Saru: .... I am a traitor.
[ Hearing those words now just make him more pissed, because he knows better now. He understands, in a way he hasn't since the day Saru left, Munakata's words sticking with him even now. He understands, and he should have all along, if he hadn't been blinded by his own anger and sense of betrayal. ]
Yata: No, you're not! You risked your life to go this far for the Blue King. Just as I would for Mikoto-san and Anna. That means to you, the Blue King was your King all along. [ He can feel Saru shift in surprise against his back, but he just stares ahead, pushing as fast as he can. He understands, Saru, even if he was too stupid to see it until now. ] Saruhiko Fushimi of SCEPTER 4, is a stand-up guy in my book.
[ Whatever Saru might have said in response to that is interrupted, because the floor suddenly explodes beneath them, taking him by surprise and knocking him back. He loses his grip on Saru as he goes flying and he can hear the kid's laughter as he hops up through the hole in the floor. Damn, he'd caught up!
The kid wastes no time in attacking and with Saru still badly injured, Yata launches himself forward in defense, blocking and countering the flurry of dangerous blows with clenched teeth and determination. ]
Sukuna: Saruhiko's in critical condition and your health bar is starting to turn yellow. What'll you do?
Yata: Hey! Don't you have any friends to go play games with?
[ This kid is really starting to annoy him. He can hear a groan from behind him - Saru. At least the unexpected attack and fall hadn't worsened his injuries enough that he was out completely? ]
Sukuna: I've always played solo. It's a hundred times better than having to deal with weak players who slow me down. I'm strong enough on my own anyway. The only one who's fun to play with is Nagare. That's why anyone who gets in Nagare's way... will be crushed!
[ He comes in for another round of attacks, dodging all the fire Yata throws at him before launching himself into the air. Damn, he's fast, and Yata's just a hint too slow to get his defenses back in place. Watching the green glow of the kid's glaive descend, he curses, freezing for a moment, knowing he doesn't have enough time to react, to block. ]
Saru: Misaki!
[ A dagger goes flying past his ear, aiming for the kid. While it doesn't land its mark, it forces Sukuna back, interrupts the downward slash and saves Yata from a deadly blow. He 's quick to recover, dropping into a defensive crouch, his pole aimed at the kid as he takes his measure with a scowl. ]
Yata: So JUNGLE was your refuge, eh? You remind me of how we used to be. Even so, it;s time for you to go home, kid.
Sukuna: You're so full of it! I'm still stronger than the two of you put together!
Yata: Guess again!
[ The kid goes in for another attack, confident and cocky, and this time, the butt of Yata's pole catches him in the midsection, lifting him high in the air. There's a whistle and a glint of silver as another of Saru's daggers go flying past, and this time this one finds its mark, embedding in the kid's shoulder, flinging him backward with a pained cry as he lands heavily. ]
Yata: It's like old times, fighting side by side with you. [ He calls it over his shoulder to Saru with a smirk. ]
Saru: [ He pushes himself, unsteadily and painfully, to his feet. ] It's not the same... as back then.
Yata: Yeah, it's not the same. [ But for the first time, he sounds like he doesn't mind the change, and all traces of bitterness and anger are gone as he slaps his metal pole against his palm and advances on the kid. ] Misaki Yata, Red Clansman, and.... [ He waits for a long telling moment before glancing over with an impatient look. ] Eh? Say it!
Saru: [ Saru looks very put-upon as he pushes his glasses back into place, and when he chimes in, it's with the most bored-sounding tone he can muster. But he still says it, all the same. ] Saruhiko Fushimi, Blue Clansman...
Both: ... will take you on!
Sukuna: [ The kid launches himself to his feet again, looking angry now. ] Think you has-beens are so cool?!
[ Yata attacks him and he deflects, his glaive spinning to match each swing and strike of Yata's weapon. Behind him, Saru spins into motion, knives dropping from within his sleeves to fling with deadly precision to find their targets. ]
Saru: I'm on a job here. And I can't waste time playing games with a kid!
[ Sukuna dodges all of it before leaping out of range of Saru's daggers, although Yata gets in a lucky strike on him when he lands, pressing their advantage. He's distracted by the clink of metal on concrete behind him as Saru stumbles, fumbles one of his throws, dropping the knife at his feet instead, staggering to remain upright. Yata's eyes widen in alarm, distracted as he turns to see Saru sink to one knee. ]
Yata: Saruhiko!
[ Now it is Sukuna's advantage, and he's quick to move on the momentary distraction, whirling his glaive over his head, ready to attack when their strength and energy is waning. ]
Sukuna: Get lost, you old bastards!
[ ....Which is of course right when Yata wakes up. ]
Memory Regain
Date: 2017-07-30 09:56 pm (UTC)[ He remembers racing through an underground tunnel system, dodging bullets and explosions - were those grenade launchers?? - while enemies wearing helmets lit with green lights fired on him and attacked, yelling for his death. His skateboard shifts like an extension of himself beneath him, easily dodging fire and debris. And all the while, his gaze searches the tunnels he passes, frantic urgency pushing him on with a recklessness that has his heartbeat pounding in his ears despite the angry words he shouts into the air. Listens for a response. Hears only the yells and curses of the soldiers he outpaces and not the voice he wants to hear. ]
Yata: Damn you! Trying to look good all by yourself! If you die without telling me anything, I'll never forgive you!
[ Up ahead, the tunnel ends, an abrupt dead end, but he knows he's going in the right direction, so he puts on a burst of speed and launches himself at it, board first, fire flaming up around him to take the impact before he does. The wall cracks and crumbles and then melts away from the fiery force of it and he crashes into the chamber beyond.
There, dust and smoke kicked up from fighting, a smaller figure with a glowing green glaive, slashing at... Saruhiko. He found him, just in time to see him go flying, colliding with the wall behind him that it left a fracture in the concrete, dust and pebbles raining down around him. The kid goes in for the killing strike, but Yata puts on a burst of speed because he hasn't come this far and risked so much to let this kid end it like this. Not when he finally understands.
He makes it just in time, his metal stave deflecting the glaive's downward stroke and knocking the kid back, giving him enough time to take a defensive stance in front of Saru, who's fallen to his knees, blood pooling under him... from where? He doesn't have time to look, his attention focused wholly on the smirking kid who'd managed to take down Saru. ]
Sukuna: Oh, are you switching players? Fine with me!
[ The kid taunts and goes to attack again, but Yata has other plans in mind. His own returning blow is easily dodged, but that had been his purpose because when the kid moves out of the way, his stave slams into the concrete where he'd been standing, sending up another cloud of dirt and smoke. In the momentary distraction, he spins, slinging Saru over his shoulders before kicking off with his board, speeding back the way he'd come. Behind him, he can hear the kid yelling about not letting them get away, but flares spark behind his wheels and he puts on a greater burst of speed to outpace him.
He's not here to fight. He's here to get Saru out of this mess alive. ]
Yata: Saruhiko! You still alive?! Oi! Monkey!
Saru: [ So quietly he almost misses it, ] You're late... And you call yourself the Clan's lead attacker? What a joke...
[ He'd be pissed - he is pissed - but it's far outweighed by the surge of relief he feels when Saru speaks. And if Saru is feeling well enough to mock him, maybe he's not almost dead after all. ]
Yata: Shut up! Why didn't you tell me?
Saru: You know I can't talk about top secret missions, stupid. Couldn't you guess?
Yata: Hah? How was I supposed to guess just from that?! You've always been like this. Yeah, I'm stupid! That's why unless you tell me, I won't get it!
Saru: Would you have understood even if I told you?
Yata: Then say it in a way I understand! Keep saying it until I do understand! If you didn't tell me anything and you died... I would've thought you were a traitor forever!
Saru: .... I am a traitor.
[ Hearing those words now just make him more pissed, because he knows better now. He understands, in a way he hasn't since the day Saru left, Munakata's words sticking with him even now. He understands, and he should have all along, if he hadn't been blinded by his own anger and sense of betrayal. ]
Yata: No, you're not! You risked your life to go this far for the Blue King. Just as I would for Mikoto-san and Anna. That means to you, the Blue King was your King all along. [ He can feel Saru shift in surprise against his back, but he just stares ahead, pushing as fast as he can. He understands, Saru, even if he was too stupid to see it until now. ] Saruhiko Fushimi of SCEPTER 4, is a stand-up guy in my book.
[ Whatever Saru might have said in response to that is interrupted, because the floor suddenly explodes beneath them, taking him by surprise and knocking him back. He loses his grip on Saru as he goes flying and he can hear the kid's laughter as he hops up through the hole in the floor. Damn, he'd caught up!
The kid wastes no time in attacking and with Saru still badly injured, Yata launches himself forward in defense, blocking and countering the flurry of dangerous blows with clenched teeth and determination. ]
Sukuna: Saruhiko's in critical condition and your health bar is starting to turn yellow. What'll you do?
Yata: Hey! Don't you have any friends to go play games with?
[ This kid is really starting to annoy him. He can hear a groan from behind him - Saru. At least the unexpected attack and fall hadn't worsened his injuries enough that he was out completely? ]
Sukuna: I've always played solo. It's a hundred times better than having to deal with weak players who slow me down. I'm strong enough on my own anyway. The only one who's fun to play with is Nagare. That's why anyone who gets in Nagare's way... will be crushed!
[ He comes in for another round of attacks, dodging all the fire Yata throws at him before launching himself into the air. Damn, he's fast, and Yata's just a hint too slow to get his defenses back in place. Watching the green glow of the kid's glaive descend, he curses, freezing for a moment, knowing he doesn't have enough time to react, to block. ]
Saru: Misaki!
[ A dagger goes flying past his ear, aiming for the kid. While it doesn't land its mark, it forces Sukuna back, interrupts the downward slash and saves Yata from a deadly blow. He 's quick to recover, dropping into a defensive crouch, his pole aimed at the kid as he takes his measure with a scowl. ]
Yata: So JUNGLE was your refuge, eh? You remind me of how we used to be. Even so, it;s time for you to go home, kid.
Sukuna: You're so full of it! I'm still stronger than the two of you put together!
Yata: Guess again!
[ The kid goes in for another attack, confident and cocky, and this time, the butt of Yata's pole catches him in the midsection, lifting him high in the air. There's a whistle and a glint of silver as another of Saru's daggers go flying past, and this time this one finds its mark, embedding in the kid's shoulder, flinging him backward with a pained cry as he lands heavily. ]
Yata: It's like old times, fighting side by side with you. [ He calls it over his shoulder to Saru with a smirk. ]
Saru: [ He pushes himself, unsteadily and painfully, to his feet. ] It's not the same... as back then.
Yata: Yeah, it's not the same. [ But for the first time, he sounds like he doesn't mind the change, and all traces of bitterness and anger are gone as he slaps his metal pole against his palm and advances on the kid. ] Misaki Yata, Red Clansman, and.... [ He waits for a long telling moment before glancing over with an impatient look. ] Eh? Say it!
Saru: [ Saru looks very put-upon as he pushes his glasses back into place, and when he chimes in, it's with the most bored-sounding tone he can muster. But he still says it, all the same. ] Saruhiko Fushimi, Blue Clansman...
Both: ... will take you on!
Sukuna: [ The kid launches himself to his feet again, looking angry now. ] Think you has-beens are so cool?!
[ Yata attacks him and he deflects, his glaive spinning to match each swing and strike of Yata's weapon. Behind him, Saru spins into motion, knives dropping from within his sleeves to fling with deadly precision to find their targets. ]
Saru: I'm on a job here. And I can't waste time playing games with a kid!
[ Sukuna dodges all of it before leaping out of range of Saru's daggers, although Yata gets in a lucky strike on him when he lands, pressing their advantage. He's distracted by the clink of metal on concrete behind him as Saru stumbles, fumbles one of his throws, dropping the knife at his feet instead, staggering to remain upright. Yata's eyes widen in alarm, distracted as he turns to see Saru sink to one knee. ]
Yata: Saruhiko!
[ Now it is Sukuna's advantage, and he's quick to move on the momentary distraction, whirling his glaive over his head, ready to attack when their strength and energy is waning. ]
Sukuna: Get lost, you old bastards!
[ ....Which is of course right when Yata wakes up. ]