Take Responsibility.

[wordsmithery]

The time allotted for this week's investigation passes fairly briefly, but not easily - what with the state of the body and the things that have been found, the mood is perhaps oddly sobering. Either way, eventually the elevator will be waiting for you at the exit of your floor of choice, bringing you up to the courtroom swiftly and easily. There are so few of you now. Two more portraits have joined the ranks of the dead, watching over the proceedings. Gangrel and Orihime's images watch over you with with eyes that see nothing, all colored in greyscale and set up on their places in the podium circle, black fabric draped over each setting. As always, the lectern remains empty and unaffected by what's happened here. After a while, however, once everyone has found their place in the circle, the Wordsmith can be heard addressing the group, voice audible throughout the room. "Sacrificing one to save many—that is ostensibly why Harmonious is no longer among you. Truly, that is the most pragmatic of options in a situation with no chance of victory. I may even come close to commending such a decision. But I must also wonder if the dead can be said to have been 'saved', when they have passed beyond your reach in all but mere messages. Unless you should wish to follow Harmonious and join them, hold the guilty accountable for their practicality." Eleven Apprentices remain. However many leave this place is up to you.

Comments

[tsugomori]

You assume that I would have allowed that to happen.

The Wordsmith is a fool, if he thought I would try to seriously avoid taking responsibility.

[oyashiromama]

You intended...all along.

[...She fights to keep the regret from rising up once more. Silver doesn't want to lose her. Elda doesn't want to lose her. Mikazuki himself, he said, if she had- they all--

...but one life, instead of two. She can't help but feel like none of this is fair. Nothing is fair.]

[tsugomori]

[ He laughs weakly. He feels like he should say something for a moment, but he holds himself back somehow, like he always has. ]

Yes, I did.

[feistytrader]

[...Silver's been staying mostly quiet; everyone's covering anything he could think to ask. So instead-]

You don't have to smile when you're sad, you know.

[tsugomori]

I can't help it...

[ ... ]

She told me... she told me...as she was dying...

[ His words waver as he closes his eyes. ]

[feistytrader]

...What did she say?

[tsugomori]

S-She... told me that she "forgave me"...

[ Tears start to well up in his eyes as he's talking and he's...rambling a bit. It's shameful, he knows, but he can't help it. ]

We spoke a week or so back, and she told me, that she wouldn't know what she'd do without me, you know. Isn't that a laugh? If it weren't for me, if I had... [ ... he corrects himself-- ] if I weren't here, she'd be still alive...

[feistytrader]

[...Mikazuki's an adult. He's a grown ass man, and probably doesn't need any hugs.

Silver doesn't care anymore, however, and it doesn't look like anyone else is gonna do it; he's pulling the guy into a hug. It's not that he didn't do anything wrong. No, he killed Orihime, and Silver's definitely pissed about that. Especially because it was Orihime.

But can he really fault the guy that saved Gold's soul? Can he really blame him for the reasons, when his were more out of fear than anything?]

You don't know that. And even if it's true, you can't change the past. ...If you weren't here, our dead friends would be gone for good.

[Which aren't the most comforting words to say, of course, but it's the truth.]

Orihime's a really forgiving person, so make sure you give her the big heartfelt apology she deserves.

[tsugomori]

[ Mikazuki for the first time in his life, wants to change the past. He wants to have kept Killia, Gangrel, and Orihime from dying. He was a fool, he knows this, but at the same time he believes that this was the only choice he had. Clearly it was true, that, after all... he was only good for killing...

But it wasn't all meaningless, right? If he hadn't...

He doesn't want to think, he doesn't want to feel, he doesn't deserve this hug, he doesn't deserve anything. ]

I will... I promise.

[feistytrader]

[...He pulls away from the hug and puts his hands in his pockets.]

One more thing. Thanks.

[Because, like it or not, he did save his best friend from... Being eaten out of existence or something.]

[oyashiromama]

...And she knew.

[He brought the sword. It was a Thursday night. There's no way she couldn't have. Please forgive]

[tsugomori]

It wouldn't be hard for her to have figured it out, at any rate.

[elepe]

[...]

Just what did you intend by this?

[tsugomori]

What do you mean "what did I intend by this"?

[ His eyes dart to the side. He can't look at her. ]

[elepe]

Why did you do this? You...you had a reason, something to gain. You must have.

[She wants to go over there, but--]

Mikazuki. I don't judge you for what happened, because I had the exact same worries about my own love...but you are not cold-blooded.

[tsugomori]

I did have something to gain.

[ ...he gazes at the podiums intently. ]

I sacrificed her so that the dead would escape threat of eradication, that's it.

[elepe]

[...

Lusamine's gaze falls to the ground. She's...shaking, very badly.]

...And what if this isn't satisfactory enough for him?

[tsugomori]

The Wordsmith?

[ He laughs ... out of habit, but it's not a happy one. ]

I have no doubt it was enough, he made that clear, at least. Why would he change his mind now?

[elepe]

I'm scared that he'll simply eradicate them if--

[Lusamine stops herself, cold in her tracks and keeps her gaze off of him. She doesn't trust the Wordsmith, that much is clear, but...

Her tone just dies down where it stands.]

...Forget it.

[tsugomori]

[ He'll almost laugh. ]

There's no way...

[ Mikazuki hadn't considered that, clearly enough. But he'll just hold onto hope. ]

There's no way that would happen.

[elepe]

[Lusamine finally looks up, after a moment.]

...Do you swear it, Mikazuki?

[tsugomori]

I swear it.

[elepe]

Then...I trust your word.

[It's said solemnly.]

...Keep them safe. Not just...ours, so to speak. All of them.