[Let's put them over at the classrooms because that seems great.]
It's a school! A pretty big one too, with all these buildings. It just stinks that we got stuck in a classroom building, I bet there's a gym or something around here.
[And then he gets hit with starglitter and boom memory time.]
You don't look up to the demon sitting nearby. Mephisto...Samael...whoever he is, you thought his offer of letting you see the past would give you answers. You thought it would help you find a way to save your twin brother. But seeing it all, it just makes your body feel heavy.
That demon is talking so calmly, but his words cut deep into your soul. You've always disliked parts of yourself- your temper, your lack of learning skills, the way you struggle to make friends- but your self-loathing has never been as strong as it is right now. So many people died, all because of you. Just because you exist. Just because you were born.
It's heavy. Too heavy.
"What do you want," you ask weakly, "Are you trying to make me a vessel for Satan or a weapon to fight him?!"
The demon hums thoughtfully before responding. "Strictly speaking, neither."
You're shocked to hear that, but the demon continues unprompted. "Even I, the king of time, cannot see the future beyond this point. Whatever I may want from you, it's impossible for me to fully control you. As I said before..."
A glint of gold catches your eye. You take that key in your hand, and you really look at it again. You've been using it for ages now, making your way through the past. But it can do more than show you tragedy, can't it?
The future is up to you, is it? Well, your heart wants to see only one person right now, so the choice is obvious. Even someone who's been trying to be strong all this time wants to see their dad when they're struggling.
You step into a familiar kitchen, surrounded by familiar sounds and smells. Someone's cooking something, but that's wrong isn't it? You're the cook, you make most of the meals, who would be cooking without you?
"You're finally back, huh? Where've you guys been loafing around?"
You can't even answer him at first, because you're shocked to see him there. Even though you know you wanted to see him, you still find yourself tripping over your words when your father faces you. "Who're you?"
You panic and reach for the hood of your coat. That should've made you invisible, but you forgot to put it on before coming through the door. "Um, uh-"
"Oh well." Your father- Shiro Fujimoto- seems to recognize your discomfort and just goes with it. He's always been good at reading people like that. "Have a seat and try one of these."
You recognize the food. It's something your father always made for you as a kid. You take a bite, and the taste instantly brings you back to your childhood days. "It tastes good, but maybe a little bland."
Your stomach growls, and Shiro laughs. "I made plenty, so eat up! You don't look well, are you getting enough to eat? It's a shame they use you young guys in the special corps."
It startles you for a moment, but you quickly remember that Shiro is an exorcist too. Of course he would recognize the uniform you're borrowing. You wisely keep quiet while Shiro talks about work stuff though, not wanting to blow your cover. So far it seems like he hasn't recognized you, and you really want to keep it that way. You don't even want to think about how your presence in the past could mess up the future.
"My hands are full being a dad," Shiro says, finishing up what he had been saying, "so would you inform the Vatican for me?"
You speak before you can even stop yourself. "Is it hard, being a dad?"
Shiro scratches at his chin as he considers that. "Yeah, I guess. But I don't really know what a Dad is."
He turns his head to look over to a nearby couch, and you do as well. It's you and Yukio, maybe six or seven years old, fast asleep.
"Look at those brothers over there. The one with glasses is Yukio. He's generous, kind, and a hard worker. Physically he's weak and doesn't eat much. And he can see demons, so he's jittery. I'm worried because he lacks confidence. I want to help him, so I asked if he wanted to toughen up and be an exorcist with me. He said he wanted to become strong enough to protect his brother."
Your heart aches as you hear those words. Even from this young Yukio has been looking out for you.
"I'm taking a teaching position at the exorcist cram school," Shiro continues, "There are things I want to teach him, and above all, I want to teach him."
Then Shiro pauses for a moment before speaking again. "The one with his butt hanging out is Rin. He cares about his family and isn't a bad kid, but he gets violent when he's angry and can't control his strength. So he makes a lot of enemies. Should I teach him how to fight as an exorcist alongside Yukio? I wondered about that for a long time, but I gave up on it."
This isn't a story you've heard before. You never even knew of the world of demons until last April. "Huh?"
"Because cooking is mental and physical. He needs to learn how to control his strength and to think about who he's doing things for. After all, he wants Yukio to eat his cooking. It means everything that Yukio isn't afraid of Rin."
You feel your heart starting to ache again. He was always looking out for you, wasn't he? Everything he did, it was to help you become a better person.
"Maybe it's wrong for me to be a teacher and a dad in the kitchen, but I don't know what's right anyway. I'm busy, and I guess it's hard, but..."
Shiro's face visibly softens as he looks at the young Rin and Yukio on the couch. "When I look at them, I feel it's more than worth it."
"Yeah...I can see that." You really can, and that's what makes it so hard to stay composed. "Well, I should be going."
"Oh, sorry for talking your head off. Just be sure to relay my message to the Vatican!"
"Right...well, goodbye."
"Bye."
You get up and walk to the door. As you grab the handle though, you stop.
This man, Shiro Fujimoto, he's dead in your time. He's dead and gone, and this is the last time you're ever going to see him. Once you go through this door, you will be back in a present where he doesn't exist anymore. You can't leave it like this, not after you left so much unsaid when he died. So you turn back and look at him. "Father..."
For a moment, something flashes in his eyes. Is it recognition? Shiro is a smart man, you wouldn't be surprised if this was enough for him to figure out. But instead he just lifts a hand in a wave and says, "Aw...it's was nothin'!"
[ well there's a lot to say about all of that, truly. there is a lot of trauma involved, for one, and also maybe timetravel? he is not entirely sure he got that part.
but there's one thing that does stick out to cloud unfortunately ]
Yeah, they're my classmates. Shima's got pink hair and is kinda lazy, and Izumo's got long black hair and is really standoffish when you first meet her.
They...really didn't say anything about me? Not even once?
[Rin sounds kind of hurt now. Shima and Izumo he could excuse with 'murdergames suck', but his own dad...damn.]
Shima and Izumo weren't on my team, so we didn't talk enough for that. [ he shakes his head ] And I told you, your dad talked about you. Both of you. I can't remember if he used your names or not, but it's not like I had a written description.
[ a beat ]
And you didn't exactly name him in conversation, either.
... Shima got caught, doing a murder. He was tasked with it by his leader. [ is explaining it better. ] Your dad...
[ he sighs. ]
Someone messed with his mind that week. He was convinced he had to kill to make sure no one else had to. I tried to convince him otherwise, but... He went after someone else. Got killed in self-defense. Even had a letter confessing in his pocket, like an idiot.
[ that last part was unnecessary but cloud is still >:( about that ]
You know, think our argument for why he shouldn't do it sounded a little like that. [ it didn't entirely but it was still a thing also i have realized i did not give you a memory yet do you want a game one or a canon one ]
[Yessss give me a memory, something from redacted is fine.]
Dad's a huge idiot who always wants to take on all the hard work so nobody else has to do it. It'd be just like him, to try to kill someone to keep others from having to do it.
...he's a really great dad though, even if he's an idiot.
[ you know what, because i think it's funny. i considered giving you your own threads back but instead rin gets a meeting of cloaked idiots in a white room, at a long white table.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
week 3, monday
This doesn't look like anywhere I've been to.
[ there are probably schools in ff7 but cloud has definitely never been to a real big one so ]
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It's a school! A pretty big one too, with all these buildings. It just stinks that we got stuck in a classroom building, I bet there's a gym or something around here.
[And then he gets hit with starglitter and boom memory time.]
---
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but there's one thing that does stick out to cloud unfortunately ]
Your dad's been Shiro this whole time?
[ WHAT THE FUCK ]
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Er, uh, yeah? But why, er-
[He's stumbling over his words because 1: memshare can be jarring, and 2: why does Cloud sound like he knows Rin's dad?]
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[ oh, this is so weird ]
Back in the Realm, he was on my team. I knew he had twins, but I don't think... he ever actually named the two of you.
[ and honestly if he did cloud's memory is swiss cheese he cannot be blamed for forgetting ]
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[Wait, what?]
He went through one of these games too?
[WHAT?]
But- why didn't anyone say anything? We've been here like a month already!
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[ he pauses to think. actually. ]
So... That means you know Shima and Izumo too, right?
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They...really didn't say anything about me? Not even once?
[Rin sounds kind of hurt now. Shima and Izumo he could excuse with 'murdergames suck', but his own dad...damn.]
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[ a beat ]
And you didn't exactly name him in conversation, either.
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[Even if it makes sense why nobody mentioned his name, he's still a bit bummed by it.]
Did they all at least come out of it okay?
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... Yeah. Eventually. [ he grimaces a little ] Everyone came back at the end, so.
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[Still focusing on the worst part here, even if they did come back.]
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[ does that help. ]
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[ he sighs. ]
Someone messed with his mind that week. He was convinced he had to kill to make sure no one else had to. I tried to convince him otherwise, but... He went after someone else. Got killed in self-defense. Even had a letter confessing in his pocket, like an idiot.
[ that last part was unnecessary but cloud is still >:( about that ]
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[He's suddenly exhausted.]
Shitty old man, dying again like that! He shouldn't be wasting a second chance at life.
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You know, think our argument for why he shouldn't do it sounded a little like that. [ it didn't entirely but it was still a thing also i have realized i did not give you a memory yet do you want a game one or a canon one ]
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Dad's a huge idiot who always wants to take on all the hard work so nobody else has to do it. It'd be just like him, to try to kill someone to keep others from having to do it.
...he's a really great dad though, even if he's an idiot.
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[ you know what, because i think it's funny. i considered giving you your own threads back but instead rin gets a meeting of cloaked idiots in a white room, at a long white table.
embarrassing ]
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Actually-]
Wow, they're a bunch of dorks. That's everyone you were working with?
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[ he looks a little embarrassed. god they were all so stupid. ]
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It looks like you all got along though.
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[ they spent all that one discussion arguing and with tiger trying to make thing terrible ]
'Cause I wouldn't say all.
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[Nobody was physically fighting, he means. That's his bar for 'getting along'.]
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I think your bar for getting along is too low.