[ The snap of fury that crosses Akechi's expression the moment they lock eyes is familiar – from this reality, from their own.
It isn't accompanied by licks of blue flame, though. Maruki tenses, hands in the pockets of his coat curling into fists. He can feel his own pulse in his palms, hear it in his ears.
He said he wouldn't apologize for wanting Akechi back, and he won't.
They've both left now. They've both seen what their futures hold.
The next time they leave, it will be together. One would not be able to do it without the other. Akechi has to be here, whether he likes it or not. ]
I told you. I'll take responsibility for it.
[ If that means a bullet lodged between his eyes, so be it. Azathoth is quiet at the back of his skull. He's ready to take whatever is doled out to him; it'll be the very least of what he deserves.
He looks Akechi over slowly, carefully. It's funny, really. Even though Maruki's known the true Akechi Goro since shortly after his arrival–
What he sees now is still different. The set of his shoulders, the narrowing of dim eyes. The way he holds himself, a weight wrenched off his shoulders by a force Maruki had nothing to do with.
In death, there is freedom. Akechi's never been free before.
Maruki will need to learn him all over again. He can only hope he'll be afforded the opportunity to do so. ]
[ Eden, a disgusting perfect world, Maruki at the helm behind a woman's image. An idol ruined him. Power ruined him. He turned out to be exactly the man Akechi expected.
I'll take responsbility for it - as if that changes anything. Akechi doesn't want it. Didn't want it. Didn't spend those final seconds in perpetual darkness awaiting his decision, his choice, his few seconds of control manifest into a moment that culminated a short, vile life. He was dead.
And now he's here, with someone who would take responsbility. Who thinks he can take responsbility. As if he's the one tying and looping string around every appendage, even his own.
What a joke. Akechi bites the inside of his cheek, his tongue. ]
I did. Every disgusting choice you made - I saw it.
[ The rise and fall of Maruki Takuto in a way Akechi had never thought he would witness.
In hindsight-
It's satisfying. He can see the tired lines under Maruki's eyes for what they are. He paid for it all. Lost it all. Lost everyone.
Or so Akechi hopes. He wasn't able to see the aftermath.
He stays in his corner of this hideous shrine - tense, angry, but-
Not attacking. Akira is here. He promised, and it's a part of their deal. Even this one would understand he had to let Akechi Goro die and-
He will abide by those rules made in another world until it's proven otherwise and -
He's strong. He's powerful. He's still Maruki Takuto, full of divine power. He's useful. Still useful. He can be useful. Akechi will use him. ]
I'll be blunt. Whether you feel guilty or have second thoughts, I don't give a shit about any of it. You made your choice, as I made mine.
[ Anything less would be unacceptable. Akechi couldn't stand to look at him if he regretted any part of what he did. He acted, he conquered, he fell. Akechi lived, conquered and perished in the soul of someone he hated most. ]
[ It isn't regret, not really. Maruki feels a tremendous amount of guilt, and perhaps he always will, no matter how far he manages to walk on his changed heart's new path–
But he doesn't regret it. His dream, his promise to Rumi, his desire to help– he could never regret that.
This is just one more way in which he must atone. To regret would be to turn away from his own pain and the pain he caused others, and he can't do that. Not now, not ever again.
A deep, steady breath. His hands relax in his pockets, shoulders dropping down from where they'd tensed up around his ears. ]
Whatever it takes to return home, for good this time.
[ In truth, he'll do everything in his power to not see this reality torn apart at the seams when they leave–
But that's neither here nor there. ]
Akechi...
[ It catches in his throat. An apology Akechi doesn't want to hear. He doesn't give a shit about Maruki's remorse, he just said it himself.
He swallows it back. Approaches it sideways instead. ]
You didn't remember anything while you were there either, did you?
[ It's an ear piercing that starts to hum over static and the few pieces of Maruki's voice that work through -
Rage. Anger. He wants to slaughter him on the steps of a divine, holy place and-
Maruki is here, fulfilling a promise, waiting at the steps of a shrine in another world. Akechi knows no matter what happens he will arrive there on New Years day - alone. Maybe he'll remember why. Maybe he won't. He'll be alone in a place where a promise was made under every false pretense imaginable.
But he came now, despite the danger. He'll come later, despite-
It can't be grief. They don't have that relationship. Even when Maruki rubbed his back, chest, hair smoothed and body soothed at all ages-
No, it's not grief, because Akechi would not grieve him. He's worse than anyone. He's scum. He won't be upset, but he'll show up.
He'll show up. He shows up.
And the audacity of a man who-
Akechi realizes, now, never truly explained what happened. He acted on his urges. Power, ego - there were so many reasons.
Somehow, a loss of memory was the last explanation for it. Akechi isn't sure why he held that level of faith in him and-
He can't speak. He didn't remember either and maybe that's why his fingers dig so deep into his palms that he's sure he can feel blood through his gloves.
It's blinding. His eyes burn. He can't bring himself to blink. ]
If you must know, I didn't.
[ There's no reason to lie. Maruki wasn't important enough to recall. He hopes that stings too.
It stings. It stings. His eyes sting and burn and- ]
It looks like we were both fools, but I suppose it's hardly relevant now. Our outcomes are clear. Our path is obvious.
[ Maruki will ensure this world's destruction as penance. Akechi will get his revenge for once, once, for once in his life he will get his revenge against an unjust world and- ]
But in saying that, I'm not unconvinced there isn't a way to keep these memories. It's not a priority though. The goal is end this madness. That's all.
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no subject
It isn't accompanied by licks of blue flame, though. Maruki tenses, hands in the pockets of his coat curling into fists. He can feel his own pulse in his palms, hear it in his ears.
He said he wouldn't apologize for wanting Akechi back, and he won't.
They've both left now. They've both seen what their futures hold.
The next time they leave, it will be together. One would not be able to do it without the other. Akechi has to be here, whether he likes it or not. ]
I told you. I'll take responsibility for it.
[ If that means a bullet lodged between his eyes, so be it. Azathoth is quiet at the back of his skull. He's ready to take whatever is doled out to him; it'll be the very least of what he deserves.
He looks Akechi over slowly, carefully. It's funny, really. Even though Maruki's known the true Akechi Goro since shortly after his arrival–
What he sees now is still different. The set of his shoulders, the narrowing of dim eyes. The way he holds himself, a weight wrenched off his shoulders by a force Maruki had nothing to do with.
In death, there is freedom. Akechi's never been free before.
Maruki will need to learn him all over again. He can only hope he'll be afforded the opportunity to do so. ]
You saw it all, then?
no subject
I'll take responsbility for it - as if that changes anything. Akechi doesn't want it. Didn't want it. Didn't spend those final seconds in perpetual darkness awaiting his decision, his choice, his few seconds of control manifest into a moment that culminated a short, vile life. He was dead.
And now he's here, with someone who would take responsbility. Who thinks he can take responsbility. As if he's the one tying and looping string around every appendage, even his own.
What a joke. Akechi bites the inside of his cheek, his tongue. ]
I did. Every disgusting choice you made - I saw it.
[ The rise and fall of Maruki Takuto in a way Akechi had never thought he would witness.
In hindsight-
It's satisfying. He can see the tired lines under Maruki's eyes for what they are. He paid for it all. Lost it all. Lost everyone.
Or so Akechi hopes. He wasn't able to see the aftermath.
He stays in his corner of this hideous shrine - tense, angry, but-
Not attacking. Akira is here. He promised, and it's a part of their deal. Even this one would understand he had to let Akechi Goro die and-
He will abide by those rules made in another world until it's proven otherwise and -
He's strong. He's powerful. He's still Maruki Takuto, full of divine power. He's useful. Still useful. He can be useful. Akechi will use him. ]
I'll be blunt. Whether you feel guilty or have second thoughts, I don't give a shit about any of it. You made your choice, as I made mine.
[ Anything less would be unacceptable. Akechi couldn't stand to look at him if he regretted any part of what he did. He acted, he conquered, he fell. Akechi lived, conquered and perished in the soul of someone he hated most. ]
We're destroying this world. Do you understand?
no subject
But he doesn't regret it. His dream, his promise to Rumi, his desire to help– he could never regret that.
This is just one more way in which he must atone. To regret would be to turn away from his own pain and the pain he caused others, and he can't do that. Not now, not ever again.
A deep, steady breath. His hands relax in his pockets, shoulders dropping down from where they'd tensed up around his ears. ]
Whatever it takes to return home, for good this time.
[ In truth, he'll do everything in his power to not see this reality torn apart at the seams when they leave–
But that's neither here nor there. ]
Akechi...
[ It catches in his throat. An apology Akechi doesn't want to hear. He doesn't give a shit about Maruki's remorse, he just said it himself.
He swallows it back. Approaches it sideways instead. ]
You didn't remember anything while you were there either, did you?
no subject
Rage. Anger. He wants to slaughter him on the steps of a divine, holy place and-
Maruki is here, fulfilling a promise, waiting at the steps of a shrine in another world. Akechi knows no matter what happens he will arrive there on New Years day - alone. Maybe he'll remember why. Maybe he won't. He'll be alone in a place where a promise was made under every false pretense imaginable.
But he came now, despite the danger. He'll come later, despite-
It can't be grief. They don't have that relationship. Even when Maruki rubbed his back, chest, hair smoothed and body soothed at all ages-
No, it's not grief, because Akechi would not grieve him. He's worse than anyone. He's scum. He won't be upset, but he'll show up.
He'll show up. He shows up.
And the audacity of a man who-
Akechi realizes, now, never truly explained what happened. He acted on his urges. Power, ego - there were so many reasons.
Somehow, a loss of memory was the last explanation for it. Akechi isn't sure why he held that level of faith in him and-
He can't speak. He didn't remember either and maybe that's why his fingers dig so deep into his palms that he's sure he can feel blood through his gloves.
It's blinding. His eyes burn. He can't bring himself to blink. ]
If you must know, I didn't.
[ There's no reason to lie. Maruki wasn't important enough to recall. He hopes that stings too.
It stings. It stings. His eyes sting and burn and- ]
It looks like we were both fools, but I suppose it's hardly relevant now. Our outcomes are clear. Our path is obvious.
[ Maruki will ensure this world's destruction as penance. Akechi will get his revenge for once, once, for once in his life he will get his revenge against an unjust world and- ]
But in saying that, I'm not unconvinced there isn't a way to keep these memories. It's not a priority though. The goal is end this madness. That's all.