moonlitknight | IC Inbox for thefarshore

[ He sends him a text. ]

I need to speak with you.
Will you meet me by the front gate?

[ Zero looks down at the text grows silent, yet it takes him a moment to respond. ]

When?

Ten minutes.

[ There's no answer, but then he already given it before. Ten minutes later, Zero is at the front gates. ]

[ He was waiting patiently for him... since he sent the text message. He was trying to make sure his heart wasn't beating a million miles a minute. Things would be fine. He had spoken to Ichiru about this. Things... would be okay. ]

[ ...Right? ]

[ When Zero arrived, Itachi nodded his head to him. ]

...I'm glad you're on time.

[ Zero gets straight to the point. ]

Why did you want to meet out here?

[ Outside the temple, when he lived inside. It made no sense, so either there was something wrong or something he was trying to hide. Either way, he waits for a response. ]

[ Nothing to it but to do it. ]

I want to become your shinki.

[ .... ]

[ His shinki? ]

[ And then, the whole of it, finally dawns on him.

Crap. How to approach this delicately. ]

Edited 2017-09-03 04:00 (UTC)

You don't have to do that.

I'm not charging room and board here.

[ Because why else would he ask him? ]

Edited 2017-09-03 03:43 (UTC)

That's not why I'm asking.

I've wanted to be your shinki. For awhile now. But then you fell asleep, so I was unable to ask then. I planned to ask when you woke up.

...But then you forgot about me.

...I understand, that due to this you cannot understand my full intent... or all my reasoning..

[ He stood up a little straighter. ]

But this is what I want.

I want you, Zero, to become my god.

Edited 2017-09-03 03:56 (UTC)

[ He was serious.... And by the sound of it, he'd thought about it for a while. But... he doesn't understand. He's missing something. Something important. Something he should know. At least... it feels like it. ]

......

[ His god.... ]

Edited 2017-09-03 04:07 (UTC)

Why?

[ What did it matter if it was him or someone else. He didn't even know him. Whatever had passed between them before... it wasn't the same now. He'd honor any promises he'd made. He wasn't the type who could brush something like that aside, but this...? ]

Why do you want me to be your god?

[ Of course the other deserved to know. Deserved an answer, especially when he didn't remember anything. Itachi was silent for a moment as he tried to gather his thoughts. It wasn't as though he didn't know--no. He knew full and well why. But having to tell Zero his feelings... ]

[ He remembered the faces Sasuke made. The other had trouble talking about his feelings too. And then... he remembered Zero, when they were the same... when he was also a shinki. And then... what had happened to him... and he felt his feet grow cold. ]

[ There were almost too many emotions, and circumstances, and feelings... but somehow he had to put it in a way that made sense... that wasn't him just rambling on until it all fizzled out into worthless jibberish. ]

[ But there was one thing that held true-- more important than all those other things. ]

I don't want to lose you a third time.

A shinki can lose themselves on their own path. It happened to you... and I couldn't do anything to help.

And then even when you returned as a god, I lost you again.

But this time--this time I will help. This time I will be beside you... I lost you. I lost Sasuke. And I fear that if I do not tie myself to my convictions, that I will lose myself instead.

And of all of the gods that walk the Far Shore, you are the one I trust with my soul, even if you don't remember me.

[ He's not quite sure what to make of it. A third time? Is this what he meant when they first met? He shakes his head to focus on the here and now and not on speculation of the past. ]

Edited 2017-09-03 05:02 (UTC)

[ He breathes out slowly. He was confused, but there was one thing he did know for a fact. ]

Edited 2017-09-03 05:02 (UTC)

You have it wrong.

[ He looks at him. ]

It's our job to protect you, not the other way around.

It might be your job, but this is my desire. I care for you. You're not a job, like I am.

You are the person I care for the most. I am merely doing what I feel is right. What I want.

And I want to be your shinki. [ He stated it, again, because he wanted to make sure Zero remembered what this was all about. ] But in the end, it's up to you. I can't force you to do anything.

[ The words resound inside him, rooting him in place. ]

You're not a job.

[ Is that what he thought? ]

Shinki's aren't tools to me. They're people. Far better than the gods chosen to lead them.

[ And after a moment. ]

If you know what you want, then take it.

[ He extends a hand out to him, palm up. ]

[ For a moment, Itachi gazed towards Zero's hand with a vapid expression. He didn't realize his breath had hitched. This was it. Did this mean... he said 'yes'? Or rather... he could do what he wanted? ]

[ For a moment, he wondered if he was a burden to the other... but he pushed those thoughts away. No... this was a good moment. One that made him feel... ]

[ Like he had purpose again. ]

[ He could hear his heart thumping in his ears. But Itachi lifted his hand. There was hesitation at first--not because he was having second thoughts... but he just couldn't believe it was real. ]

[ If you know what you want, and Itachi's hand finally reached out. "Then take it." ]

[ He rested his hand in Zero's palm, fingers curling to lock Zero's own with his. There was a sudden stir in the air. He couldn't help but close his eyes. He knew what was going to happen, something he wished he knew himself. His past. ]

[ There was instantly a shower of blood everywhere. A traditional looking home in the midst of war. A young boy was whipping through the onslaught of people with weapons... but he was faster, stronger, even with such a small body. One by one they fell to his sword. His red eyes glowed with intensity. ]

[ This is for him. I will live on as the villain... I will be hated... but it's all for him. ]

[ And when the bodies all fell and the small complex went silent, he found him. A little boy curled up in fear and terror, sobbing--asking his older brother why he had done this. And Itachi's young vice rang out. ]

Cling to your life, little brother. Hate me... hate me, and you shall grow stronger... and we'll meet again. [ You don't understand, little brother. I'd die for you. I've killed... all for you. To protect you from this cruel world of ours. ]

[ And he fled into the night. ]

IC Inbox for thefarshore

THE MOMENT OF TRUTH

no subject

no subject

Action

Action

no subject

no subject

1/?

2/?

3/?

4/4

1/2

2/2

1/2

2/2

1/2

2/2

1/3

2/3

3/3

no subject

1/2

2/2

1/2

2/??? actually whatever just--