[ He lets Akechi chatter on, focuses on the narrowing roads. For a long while now, they've driven through nothing but nature, not a single sign of civilization present. But as they climb, signs of human life begin to spring up again: Trails dotted with hikers, small parking lots with a few cars each, little stall shops that serve as rest areas with simple homemade food, hot tea. Even a dilapidated vending machine at one; there are some bits of modern life ever present.
Maruki speaks absently as they round their final switchback; it is the last road visible on the GPS. ]
I don't think that would be so bad. So long as you were well-stocked, where else would you need to go? I imagine it's peaceful, actually. If you live here, you know how to prepare for winter and sustain yourself. I'd like an excuse to stay home with everything I need.
[ Finally, they pull into the last of those little parking lots. Maruki exhales as he turns off his car, shakes out his hands with a laugh. ]
I have to admit, that was a little nerve-wracking! It's been a while since I drove through the country.
[ Oh, Akechi can probably guess how long.
He turns to look through the rear windshield, nods to the entrance to a trail. ]
I won't back down from any challenge. You'll be the one out of breath before I am.
[But he does relish the last bit of heat from the car - straightens his gloves and gets himself ready to begin the long trek to somewhere with the slam of a door.
His phone isn't dead. It vibrates from unread messages in his pocket and-
It's ignored as he surveys the wooded area, the small lot, the snowy landscape and the-
Silence.
Absolute silence outside of the soft whispers of another group preparing for the same mountain trek they are. He doesn't hate it. Even the birds are quiet with their chattering.]
Let's begin. We don't want to be walking at night. That's when the most deaths occur.
[ Maruki snorts a quiet laugh as he locks the car up and adjusts his own gloves and scarf. ]
No one's going to die. It's a well-populated trail. [ A beat. ] Don't start telling me about tragic deaths of large groups of hikers, I don't want to hear it.
[ It's not a terribly long hike – ninety minutes or so, with the early winter snowfall light enough that it doesn't impede them. Despite Maruki's words, he'll listen to whatever fun facts Akechi wants to relay. He'll listen to the silence, too. The latter more than the former – surely it's a novel enough thing for two Tokyo urbanites for them to enjoy a mostly quiet hike up a winding path.
Near the top, though, as the ryokan begin to come into view through the snowy trees, Maruki glances over to grin at Akechi. ]
There's an onsen. Obviously. [ And by god, they've earned it after all of this. ] You said you'd never been to one, so.
[There was no time to indulge in nostalgia in the years spent living in Tokyo. Every waking moment spent working towards a goal, every rare second of peace between that filled with a need to keep his value - study more, do more, go to the Metaverse more, fight more, train more, research more, learn to be perfect, learn to be kind, pretend he gives a shit about anything.
Not once did anyone want to know Akechi Goro. Not a single time did anyone try to learn about him - only taught him how to mold himself because he's been imperfect since the moment he was born. Nothing survived those first few years - likes, dislikes, desires beyond a singular fixation to ruin a man's life. It didn't mean anything.
He missed baths, for whatever reason. Nostalgia. Memories. Knowing that the buzz of a cellphone can't follow him, heat from boiling hot water would turn his mind into blissful static.
They hit the top of the hill. Akechi's legs burning from the bitter cold more than the walk itself. A mouth that had long since stopped running after going through the plethora of stories he learned over the years -
He's reminded that Maruki Takuto has only ever listened. Never tried to mold or control him, never did anything but try to appease his erratic whims, accommodate rare likes.
Surprise flickers for a second -
A single second. Warmth in his chest trails after. He can't place where it comes from. Only knows it's something unique to Maruki's presence. He might be mad. Can't figure out why he would be and-]
I didn't realize one was so close to Tokyo. [A single drive away, hidden in the woods.] I'm impressed - you didn't pick a bad spot for our day trip. Here I thought you would drag me to some shithole town as a reminder of our time in Somnius.
[ Maruki snorts a laugh at that, reaches out besides him to whap Akechi lightly on one arm. ]
Even my nostalgia has its limits. No, thank you.
[ It's only the people he ever wants to remember, anyway. Not the place, not by far.
And then he soldiers on, that last stretch of the hike that will take them all the way to the entrance of the ryokan, frigid skin and aching muscles just begging to be practically boiled alive with a view of the mountains. ]
And it's my treat. I won't hear a word about paying. I had a little money set aside.
[ A light flurry begins to pick up; Maruki adjusts his scarf around his neck, walks a little faster in the hopes that it'll still be actively snowing by the time they settle into the onsen. There's nothing like it. ]
There are so many places as unbelievable as this closer to Tokyo than you think. If we had time, I'd take you to more. [ A beat. ] You're sure you can't spare another day?
[ One of his fatal flaws. He will always, always wish for more time. ]
[It occurs to him that he should take photos for his blog. The scenery would get views. He can edit parts of the photo to look more ethereal, remove people. It's not something he could post on a day he feigned illness, but it wouldn't hurt to keep on hand for a slow week.
Maruki walks faster as Akechi slows down. Every message, missed call and text swiped to the side. Maruki can't see it, but that visual was enough of an answer - there won't be another day. He doesn't respond to the question - only lets out an exhale as more popups appear while he tries to get the camera on.
He doesn't want to remember this either. Doesn't want the world to intrude on what might be the first and only trip as Akechi Goro.
It doesn't matter what he wants - so he takes a photo all the same. Deletes it. Another. Deletes it and-
He catches sight of Maruki's back in the lens, a tightly wound coat, a backpack, footsteps in the snow, a hat covering almost all of his hair save for a few strands that poke out. He doesn't delete that one, as he strides forward to match pace again.]
It's irresponsible of you to do that. What will I spend my money on otherwise? It sits in a bank and rots. You drove. I'll pay.
No way. If you try, I'll... I'll push you down the mountain!
[ And just to prove his point, he reaches over to shove Akechi's head sideways, laughing. ]
I'd prefer that you didn't look at this as a debt that needs to be repaid, but if you have to, just do something when we're back in Tokyo. Let me take today. Please.
[ It's important. No one has ever done something like this for Akechi Goro. If it can only happen once, then Maruki will be sure it happens as it should. Everything taken care of for him, and not by someone who wants or needs anything from him in return. Just as a gesture, a kindness.
He points up toward one of the ryokan scattered along the path. ]
That's our destination. Are you sure you can withstand the water? I hear it's the hottest in this area...
Fine. If you want to live off instant noodles so bad, far be it from me to stop you.
[It's stupid.
Absolutely ridiculous. There's no rhyme or reason to not rely on Akechi's seemingly endless coffers.
Maruki is being Maruki. Akechi doesn't fight it. Offers the most deadpan, exasperated look at the childish push. Fixes his slightly mussed up hair in the process.
'Of course I can' spoken under his breath as they approach the house - if he squints, he can see steam rising from beyond the roofs. His body isn't frozen, given the intensity of the walk, but he's ready to slide into liquid lava for the next ten hours.]
Are there indoor baths as well? I also heard they sometimes serve tea and snacks.
[He's kind of excited - it leaks into his voice, just a little.]
Though my preference is go to straight to the main attraction.
[ Oh, Maruki hears that slight twinge of excitement, alright.
It's more genuine positive anticipation than he's ever heard from Akechi– save for moments of bloodshed in the heat of a shared battle, anyway. He can't stop himself from doing a rapid double take, then looks away just as quickly, tucking his chin to hide his smile in his scarf. ]
There are. I figured we would have lunch and tea here too, once we've had our fill of the view.
[ Which is a rather large ask, as it turns out– because Christ, what a view.
With their day passes paid for and their things stowed away in the visitors' lockers, there's nothing to do but sink down into the boiling water outside. Maruki goes all the way down to his shoulders at once, a shock to the system as snow falls steadily on the dead trees and craggy mountains they overlook. His breath puffs out in front of him, mingles with the steam, and–
It's quiet.
With their bodies finally at rest and nothing to occupy their minds, it's finally the escape it was meant to be.
Maruki doesn't say a word. He'll let Akechi take in the silence for as long as he wants. ]
Not in the way normal baths are - it's polite to remain quiet in them, or keep conversations low. There's still noise. Water streaming from the faucet, overhead lights humming, voices and traffic from Tokyo's busy streets pouring in every time the door opens or a flap is pushed aside.
Out here-
That doesn't exist and remains a reminder of how far they are from it. How close this peace is from a city lacking it.
Akechi remains quiet for an hour. Barely moves during that time. The water is the hottest he's ever been in and his heart races within 30 minutes. Sweat beading against his forehead soon after.
It's nice. He doesn't hate it. There's a bird flying overhead and reminds him of a crow. The humor would be lost on Maruki, but Akechi finds it funny all the same. An exhale turns into a quiet, winded laugh. It breaks the silence, so he decides to keep filling it.]
It's going to be difficult to not think of this place should I go to another bath in Tokyo. This really is in a league of its own.
[ It's a protracted silence that falls between them. Ten minutes, half an hour, more. At some point, Maruki stops keeping track in his head and just relaxes, draping his arms over stones at the side of the pool to rest his chin on them and stare out over the wooded mountains, mind going pleasantly blank and fuzzy.
That exhale of a laugh catches his attention, and he turns over his shoulder to watch Akechi through his fogged glasses. ]
It's unreal, isn't it?
[ One glance back at the white-dappled treetops and then he turns to face Akechi fully, relaxing back against the side of the pool and sliding down to his shoulders again. ]
In the immediate aftermath of fighting a grotesque mound of flesh disguised as human, on a ship built to sink the two of them alone. Akechi wants Shido to suffer and he does. It's drawn out - both of them on brink of collapse, but Akechi wins. Doesn't shoot, because he won and this isn't where he claims his victory.
Doesn't shoot, so he returns to the true world, in the diet building, in an office where a man's heart never changed.
Akechi shoots and blood splatters a pristine window pane. The red ocean from his cognition almost visible through the transparent stains that leak against the glass.
And it's quiet. It's quiet. It's quiet. In those final moments, it's so quiet and in those final moments, he sees his own life flash in the darkened eyes of the one who brought him into this world.
He doesn't see his mother. Doesn't think about a childhood he barely recalls. Remembers Kurusu, for the briefest second.
Thinks about how he wants bath. Thinks about the onsen. Thinks about Maruki dragging him up that mountain for the only vacation Akechi would ever experience. And it's quiet, so he lets his body drop onto a couch he's sat on more times than he can count. And it's quiet, even as fragments of bone and flesh drop with solid, loud, too loud, it's too loud plops from a corpse in an office chair.
And it's quiet.
Not even New Years.
A day away. A day after. They had plans - he can't remember what.
He thinks to text, and doesn't. Another plop. He looks to their messages -'I'm proud of you' on the screen. Plop, and he should leave. Plop, and he deletes the texts. Reformats his phone. Watches the logo circle over and over and over and-
He wants to leave. Plop and he can't leave. Plop and any elation felt is dissipating faster and faster and faster-
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Maruki speaks absently as they round their final switchback; it is the last road visible on the GPS. ]
I don't think that would be so bad. So long as you were well-stocked, where else would you need to go? I imagine it's peaceful, actually. If you live here, you know how to prepare for winter and sustain yourself. I'd like an excuse to stay home with everything I need.
[ Finally, they pull into the last of those little parking lots. Maruki exhales as he turns off his car, shakes out his hands with a laugh. ]
I have to admit, that was a little nerve-wracking! It's been a while since I drove through the country.
[ Oh, Akechi can probably guess how long.
He turns to look through the rear windshield, nods to the entrance to a trail. ]
Last chance to back out of a hike, city slicker.
no subject
[But he does relish the last bit of heat from the car - straightens his gloves and gets himself ready to begin the long trek to somewhere with the slam of a door.
His phone isn't dead. It vibrates from unread messages in his pocket and-
It's ignored as he surveys the wooded area, the small lot, the snowy landscape and the-
Silence.
Absolute silence outside of the soft whispers of another group preparing for the same mountain trek they are. He doesn't hate it. Even the birds are quiet with their chattering.]
Let's begin. We don't want to be walking at night. That's when the most deaths occur.
no subject
No one's going to die. It's a well-populated trail. [ A beat. ] Don't start telling me about tragic deaths of large groups of hikers, I don't want to hear it.
[ It's not a terribly long hike – ninety minutes or so, with the early winter snowfall light enough that it doesn't impede them. Despite Maruki's words, he'll listen to whatever fun facts Akechi wants to relay. He'll listen to the silence, too. The latter more than the former – surely it's a novel enough thing for two Tokyo urbanites for them to enjoy a mostly quiet hike up a winding path.
Near the top, though, as the ryokan begin to come into view through the snowy trees, Maruki glances over to grin at Akechi. ]
There's an onsen. Obviously. [ And by god, they've earned it after all of this. ] You said you'd never been to one, so.
no subject
Not once did anyone want to know Akechi Goro. Not a single time did anyone try to learn about him - only taught him how to mold himself because he's been imperfect since the moment he was born. Nothing survived those first few years - likes, dislikes, desires beyond a singular fixation to ruin a man's life. It didn't mean anything.
He missed baths, for whatever reason. Nostalgia. Memories. Knowing that the buzz of a cellphone can't follow him, heat from boiling hot water would turn his mind into blissful static.
They hit the top of the hill. Akechi's legs burning from the bitter cold more than the walk itself. A mouth that had long since stopped running after going through the plethora of stories he learned over the years -
He's reminded that Maruki Takuto has only ever listened. Never tried to mold or control him, never did anything but try to appease his erratic whims, accommodate rare likes.
Surprise flickers for a second -
A single second. Warmth in his chest trails after. He can't place where it comes from. Only knows it's something unique to Maruki's presence. He might be mad. Can't figure out why he would be and-]
I didn't realize one was so close to Tokyo. [A single drive away, hidden in the woods.] I'm impressed - you didn't pick a bad spot for our day trip. Here I thought you would drag me to some shithole town as a reminder of our time in Somnius.
no subject
Even my nostalgia has its limits. No, thank you.
[ It's only the people he ever wants to remember, anyway. Not the place, not by far.
And then he soldiers on, that last stretch of the hike that will take them all the way to the entrance of the ryokan, frigid skin and aching muscles just begging to be practically boiled alive with a view of the mountains. ]
And it's my treat. I won't hear a word about paying. I had a little money set aside.
[ A light flurry begins to pick up; Maruki adjusts his scarf around his neck, walks a little faster in the hopes that it'll still be actively snowing by the time they settle into the onsen. There's nothing like it. ]
There are so many places as unbelievable as this closer to Tokyo than you think. If we had time, I'd take you to more. [ A beat. ] You're sure you can't spare another day?
[ One of his fatal flaws. He will always, always wish for more time. ]
no subject
Maruki walks faster as Akechi slows down. Every message, missed call and text swiped to the side. Maruki can't see it, but that visual was enough of an answer - there won't be another day. He doesn't respond to the question - only lets out an exhale as more popups appear while he tries to get the camera on.
He doesn't want to remember this either. Doesn't want the world to intrude on what might be the first and only trip as Akechi Goro.
It doesn't matter what he wants - so he takes a photo all the same. Deletes it. Another. Deletes it and-
He catches sight of Maruki's back in the lens, a tightly wound coat, a backpack, footsteps in the snow, a hat covering almost all of his hair save for a few strands that poke out. He doesn't delete that one, as he strides forward to match pace again.]
It's irresponsible of you to do that. What will I spend my money on otherwise? It sits in a bank and rots. You drove. I'll pay.
no subject
[ And just to prove his point, he reaches over to shove Akechi's head sideways, laughing. ]
I'd prefer that you didn't look at this as a debt that needs to be repaid, but if you have to, just do something when we're back in Tokyo. Let me take today. Please.
[ It's important. No one has ever done something like this for Akechi Goro. If it can only happen once, then Maruki will be sure it happens as it should. Everything taken care of for him, and not by someone who wants or needs anything from him in return. Just as a gesture, a kindness.
He points up toward one of the ryokan scattered along the path. ]
That's our destination. Are you sure you can withstand the water? I hear it's the hottest in this area...
no subject
[It's stupid.
Absolutely ridiculous. There's no rhyme or reason to not rely on Akechi's seemingly endless coffers.
Maruki is being Maruki. Akechi doesn't fight it. Offers the most deadpan, exasperated look at the childish push. Fixes his slightly mussed up hair in the process.
'Of course I can' spoken under his breath as they approach the house - if he squints, he can see steam rising from beyond the roofs. His body isn't frozen, given the intensity of the walk, but he's ready to slide into liquid lava for the next ten hours.]
Are there indoor baths as well? I also heard they sometimes serve tea and snacks.
[He's kind of excited - it leaks into his voice, just a little.]
Though my preference is go to straight to the main attraction.
no subject
It's more genuine positive anticipation than he's ever heard from Akechi– save for moments of bloodshed in the heat of a shared battle, anyway. He can't stop himself from doing a rapid double take, then looks away just as quickly, tucking his chin to hide his smile in his scarf. ]
There are. I figured we would have lunch and tea here too, once we've had our fill of the view.
[ Which is a rather large ask, as it turns out– because Christ, what a view.
With their day passes paid for and their things stowed away in the visitors' lockers, there's nothing to do but sink down into the boiling water outside. Maruki goes all the way down to his shoulders at once, a shock to the system as snow falls steadily on the dead trees and craggy mountains they overlook. His breath puffs out in front of him, mingles with the steam, and–
It's quiet.
With their bodies finally at rest and nothing to occupy their minds, it's finally the escape it was meant to be.
Maruki doesn't say a word. He'll let Akechi take in the silence for as long as he wants. ]
no subject
It's silent.
Not in the way normal baths are - it's polite to remain quiet in them, or keep conversations low. There's still noise. Water streaming from the faucet, overhead lights humming, voices and traffic from Tokyo's busy streets pouring in every time the door opens or a flap is pushed aside.
Out here-
That doesn't exist and remains a reminder of how far they are from it. How close this peace is from a city lacking it.
Akechi remains quiet for an hour. Barely moves during that time. The water is the hottest he's ever been in and his heart races within 30 minutes. Sweat beading against his forehead soon after.
It's nice. He doesn't hate it. There's a bird flying overhead and reminds him of a crow. The humor would be lost on Maruki, but Akechi finds it funny all the same. An exhale turns into a quiet, winded laugh. It breaks the silence, so he decides to keep filling it.]
It's going to be difficult to not think of this place should I go to another bath in Tokyo. This really is in a league of its own.
no subject
That exhale of a laugh catches his attention, and he turns over his shoulder to watch Akechi through his fogged glasses. ]
It's unreal, isn't it?
[ One glance back at the white-dappled treetops and then he turns to face Akechi fully, relaxing back against the side of the pool and sliding down to his shoulders again. ]
I hope you remember it for a long time.
[ However long that ends up being. ]
no subject
And he does.
Doesn't shoot, so he returns to the true world, in the diet building, in an office where a man's heart never changed.
Akechi shoots and blood splatters a pristine window pane. The red ocean from his cognition almost visible through the transparent stains that leak against the glass.
And it's quiet. It's quiet. It's quiet. In those final moments, it's so quiet and in those final moments, he sees his own life flash in the darkened eyes of the one who brought him into this world.
He doesn't see his mother. Doesn't think about a childhood he barely recalls. Remembers Kurusu, for the briefest second.
Thinks about how he wants bath. Thinks about the onsen. Thinks about Maruki dragging him up that mountain for the only vacation Akechi would ever experience. And it's quiet, so he lets his body drop onto a couch he's sat on more times than he can count. And it's quiet, even as fragments of bone and flesh drop with solid, loud, too loud, it's too loud plops from a corpse in an office chair.
And it's quiet.
Not even New Years.
A day away. A day after. They had plans - he can't remember what.He thinks to text, and doesn't. Another plop. He looks to their messages -'I'm proud of you' on the screen. Plop, and he should leave. Plop, and he deletes the texts. Reformats his phone. Watches the logo circle over and over and over and-
He wants to leave. Plop and he can't leave. Plop and any elation felt is dissipating faster and faster and faster-
Plop, and he hears
someone
Pop and-]