[192 and 193] Look out below, I know there's no decision [OPEN]

[bastionpc]

Who: Everyone!
Open: Open!
When: Day 192 and 193
Where: Skyway
What: We might be nearing the end...
Format: Any
Warnings: N/A

[Another stretch of time, another period of finding nothing new. It's been left to Zayna and her father now, to complete those maps. Which they've been doing diligently, but Zayna has been wondering if they've reached the end of parts of other worlds being pulled in to the sky above their own ruined home.

That is until day 192. And just like before, there's another three each on two different days.

So they return and like before Zayna offers off the sketches of what they've found.]

Comments

[individuating]

Hikaru's heart is pounding hard - having seen the wall at about the same time as Kaoru. His footsteps falter in sync with his twin's, but he's quicker to recover.

"That's it," he agrees needlessly, staring. God, he knew it would be there, but--but seeing it now, even in the distance--

"You can't go in first." His tone isn't harsh to Seimei, but rather more matter-of-fact. His attention is still on the walls, and his hand twitches as if to reach out to touch them already.

"Even if there's something inside, that place belongs to us." He tears his eyes off the building in the distance to look to his twin. He's not wrong, right?

[individuates]

"It has to be us." Kaoru concurred, squeezing Seimei's hand again a little nervously. His decision from earlier still stood, but that didn't mean his conviction wasn't wavering slightly, now they were actually there, now that it was Real. Of course he wasn't going to make Seimei wait outside, but the first ones in, the ones to open those doors - those doors...

It was their club. It had to be them.

His free hand caught Hikaru's outstretched one, and he pressed them forward, Tama-chan streaking ahead in search of enemies.

Would he regret the decision in a few minutes? What if they did find statues?

[yinyangfox]

Seimei said nothing more on the matter, nodding once in acceptance of their terms. This was something they had to do and he understood. Much as he wanted to protect the twins from the horrors of the world, he was no better equipped to do so than anyone else. Worse, he would be devaluing them, insinuating they weren't strong enough. His intentions were good and he made the offer, but he he knew better than to press further.

Holding Kaoru's hand and walking forward, keeping pace with however fast or slow the boys chose to go, the onmyoji followed along, determined to be there for support if nothing else. He would not hold them back, but he would hold them up.

tl;dr Hikaru has feelings

[individuating]

Hikaru can't decide if he should be nervous or excited, but somehow he's got his fluttering feeling in his stomach that kind of makes him want to throw up. He grips Kaoru's hand tightly, striding forward with deliberate steps; he won't allow them to falter again. The Music Room is so close, he can almost smell the flowers and hear the chattering over his pounding heart. Until this moment, he hadn't realized just how much he genuinely missed the company of their customers - serving them tea, entertaining them with the Brotherly Love, pushing the act to its limits to see how far the girls wanted them to take it. Hikaru's tried hard to not dwell on it too much in the Bastion, but he desperately yearns to go back to that carefree life, where the most dangerous thing they encountered on any given day was Tamaki's penchant for dramatics.

The doors are upon him before he really realizes it, and he slows to a somewhat dazed halt before them.

"...We're not here because we're moved by that idiot's words. Okay, Kaoru?"

His words are barely a whisper, and he murmurs them without even really considering it. What else would he say? They're here once more, before these towering doors, not really knowing what's behind them. Hikaru knows what should be there, what he wants to be there--but the Third Music Room hasn't been good at meeting reasonable expectations since their idiot Lord claimed it.

Maybe their friends are behind these doors. Maybe when they open them, they'll see Haruhi dutifully clearing away dishes; Kyouya noting down the day's income; Hunny napping and Mori standing ever vigilant by his cousin's side. Maybe they'll see Tamaki, beaming brightly and ready to welcome them back into the fold, all smiles and laughter and pompous cheer. No more monsters, no more rebuilding, no more aimlessly wandering the Bastion day after day.

God, Hikaru wants it so desperately. There's no point in trying to suppress it now that they're here, now that the pink and gold doors are in front of them and their friends could be just a few steps away. He knows he shouldn't get his hopes up - he's been told, time and time again - but how can he not?

Sorry for the deathgrip he's got your hand in, Kaoru. Except he's totally not sorry at all, because he's sure his twin will understand.

[individuates]

At Hikaru's words, he gently squeezed Seimei's hand and let go, right hand coming across to wrap around his brother's arm and returning like a code, "Right. We're just killing time."

He had a horrible feeling that his brother was expecting to find everything as it was. Even Kaoru's hopes had raised a little; even though he had long since given up on finding home exactly as he'd left it. It was just being faced with these doors, doors they had opened countless times before. It would be so easy to let himself believe, just for a moment…

But he was still afraid of what they could find in there.

He was afraid of what their findings would do to his twin.

He released Hikaru's arm, hand reaching shakily for the handle and resting there and, before he could let himself have any opportunity to doubt what he already knew in his heart, quickly stole Hikaru's line.

"…then, shall we open them together?"

[yinyangfox]

He said nothing, did nothing. This was not his place, he understood, and when Kaoru let go, he did not feel poorly for it, nor reach out in protest. The onmyoji stood sentinel behind the boys, watching the area, keeping himself reserved for combat potential or support, should they need it. He imagined they would content themselves with one another and he would be unnecessary, which for this one time, was fine.

Shifting his weight and folding his hands into his sleeves, Seimei waited patiently, unwilling to enter the twins' domain without invitation.