059: Let Them All Walk Away

[contract_star]

[Hei is at his hut again. He's sitting on the bottom step, leaning tiredly against the railing. By now it's clear that he's been growing his hair out, as it's now down to his chin.]

[There's a single, half-empty bowl of ramen with him as well as a tumblerful of something alcoholic. A basic, composition notebook is open on his lap and he's idly writing something on one of the pages--though you might notice that "Ryotarou" is written in Sharpie on the front. There's also a pair of black and electric-blue Air Trecks propped next to him on the step.]

[Hei yawns and taps his pen against the paper, frowning a little.]

Comments

[lamb_of_gold]

[Well Mu isn't exactly a friggen ninja.]

Hello, Hei.

[contract_star]

[Lawl.]

How have you been?

[lamb_of_gold]

[His tone isn't quite on the money, here.]

I'm alright. You?

[contract_star]

[Faint smirk.] About as alright as you, I suppose.

[lamb_of_gold]

[:/]

What did you bring?

[contract_star]

What do you mean?

[lamb_of_gold]

[Gestures to the book at ATs}

[contract_star]

Oh...they're called Air Trecks.

[lamb_of_gold]

What's it all for? [Maybe peering into the book]

[contract_star]

[It's on the last page, where Hei has been putting together a list of names. It's a relatively short list--Wolfwood, Milo, Mion, Minato, Ikki, Angela, Firo, Ryotarou.]

Nothing, really. I was just thinking about things.

[lamb_of_gold]

Like?

[contract_star]

Like...people. People who I met here.

[lamb_of_gold]

[Blinks at the list]

...I know a Milo.

[contract_star]

I know you do.

[lamb_of_gold]

...The other me?

[contract_star]

Yes.

[lamb_of_gold]

...Do you miss him?

[contract_star]

The older you or Milo?

[lamb_of_gold]

...Me....or him....both.

[contract_star]

I miss the older you, certainly, but I know that he'll be back soon enough.

Milo...I'll likely never see Milo again. And even if I did, he wouldn't remember me.

[lamb_of_gold]

Would you miss me?


Oh.

[contract_star]

[...That's a complicated question.]

I think so. Yes, I think I would.

[lamb_of_gold]

[Something about the boy seems to soften]

I'd miss you too.

[contract_star]

[Just smiles.]