( closed )

[nikubaka]

Date & Time: A million years ago, sometime after the bodyswap
Location: Izumo's apartment
Characters: Kuroh (nikubaka) and Izumo (homra)
Summary: Kuroh wants some questions answered. Or maybe just one.
Warnings: Really stupid boys

Kuroh stalked for a while to make sure no one else was in the apartment. The moment he's sure that the only one inside is Kusanagi, he takes a sharp breath and knocks once, twice.

There's a stray dog at your door, Izumo. What do??

Comments

[homra]

[ Here he's thinking it's probably Totsuka or Yata, so he's in for a surprise when he opens the door. Despite this, his smile remains polite with tone indicating it was as if a visit from Kuroh were an everyday occasion. ]

Well, I can't say that I haven't been expecting you.

[ Stepping to the side, he makes a gesture for him to come inside. While it's a formality, it's also to ensure that no one would overhear their conversation. ]

Take a seat. Want me to grab you anything to eat or drink? It'll be on the house.

[ There's no point in making things unnecessarily complicated or awkward, in his mind. ]

[nikubaka]

[ He doesn't bother to be subtle as he glances about the apartment warily before entering. Friendly enemy or not, that's still what this man is until proven otherwise. ]

I'm alright. [ No point in unnecessary socializing. Heading a little further into the living room, he isn't quite comfortable enough to sit down yet. ]

I wanted to talk about your message before.

[homra]

[ Aaand shot down. Well, it's not like he'd been expecting him to take up his offer anyhow, so he's not particularly hurt. Shutting the door after him, he carefully locks the door before making his own way toward the same room.

If Totsuka happened to drop by unexpectedly during a moment like this, he's sure it'd only spell trouble. In any case, since Kuroh remains standing he'll do the same. ]

The boys haven't been giving you trouble, have they?

[nikubaka]

[ he stiffens when he hears the click of the door being locked. but when kusanagi leads into his next question, he blinks once, twice, before continuing.

hearing the king who had almost killed him described as a "boy" is a little disconcerting. ]

Not since that day, no.

[homra]

[ Holding both hands up — no harm, no harm. ]

Oh? So what brings the Black Dog here, then?

[ He has a pretty clear idea, but. Eh. ]

[nikubaka]

[ after a moment's pause, kuroh glances off to the side, looking nowhere in particular as he relays the necessary background information. ]

Ichigen-sama asked me to evaluate the next Colorless King. If Shiro murdered Tatara Totsuka, I have to kill him. [ then he turns back to kusanagi, his gaze almost chiding. ] You said not to worry about the Red King anymore. Why say that, unless you know something?

[homra]

[ So the kid had been worrying over this the entire time? Whew, it's almost impressive. . . Izumo figures it'd be best to cut to the chase as well, since circles of questioning would only serve to make the situation messier. ]

Isana Yashiro was not the murderer of Tatara Totsuka.

[ He says it almost reassuringly, as if it's the easiest thing to bring up — really, it was just the opposite. Still, his face nor tone show any indication of that. ]

I wouldn't let a guy like that roam free, either.

[ Whether by that he means murderers in general or specifically the murderer of one of his closest friend's, who knows. ]

[nikubaka]

He wasn’t... [ he lets out a breath he forgot he was holding. kuroh’s been pretty easily fooled by lies before, but he doubts kusanagi has a reason to here. it had seemed out of character for the red clan to suddenly halt all pursuit, but in such a strange situation as the one they were in, it still hadn’t been particularly reassuring.

overcome by relief, kuroh lets his stoic demeanor retreat for the moment and smiles openly. there was no question about how he had come to regard shiro as a comrade after all this time together. but the momentary high of being told he won’t have to kill his closest friend subsides when he thinks about it. because kusanagi’s answer, while welcome, was pretty bare-bones. his expression turns thoughtful--it probably appears that he’s zoned out. the truth is that he has about three different ways he can proceed from here, and he’s not sure what to do. ]

[homra]

Would you have been able to do it if I told you otherwise? You took a long time in confronting me.

[ Observing Kuroh carefully for about a fraction of a second, he considers the situation before turning back to his business; fixing himself up a drink he'd been planning on creating before the rather spontaneous visit. Tense atmospheres weren't his thing, and Kuroh was free to leave when he wanted to, really. ]

Anyway, was that all?

[ An addendum, Kuroh has all the liberties to not answer what he'd ask before; it being a simple, curious question. ]

[nikubaka]

[ izumo's voice brings him back to the here and now, and kuroh sharply looks up. really, it hadn't been that long...he's guessing totsuka didn't tell kusanagi about their run-in during the bodyswap. after that he'd resolved to wait until it had blown over.

his answer is quiet, but his voice doesn't waver. ] I would have had to. [ in theory it was that simple, but he'd often asked himself the exact same question. being able to kill anyone was something he had often doubted he could bring himself to do.

he comes so close to asking kusanagi more...hopeful determination shows on his face as he considers how to ask who did kill totsuka if it wasn't shiro, and if shiro isn't the colorless king then who is he really, because his friend can't remember anything about himself and his identity crisis is painful to witness, you see...

but at the last second, he selflessly decides not to make that decision for him. but more selfishly, he's also afraid of losing shiro as he is now. kuroh nods his head. ]

That's all, yes...thank you. I apologize for disturbing you. [ then he crosses through the kitchen once again, on his way out. ]