[He knows the way he felt in his last memory - and he knows he wouldn't have been able to keep illness that severe from showing in his voice. At least not with Rain listening. And Lezard-san had said the disease got worse and worse, if left untreated.]
[Rain nods, slowly, looking down at his hands which are folded on his lap.]
Yes. I may have not even seen action - investigators were charged with the defense of headquarters while the squads went out in search of the enemy.
[There's a considerable pause before he continues.] ...I wish I knew whether we were successful or not. [But that's usually the way it is with memories here - recovering just enough information to have new questions to ask. It never seems to become less frustrating.]
[This feels close to normal again, sitting and talking about what they recall of their shared past as they so often do. It's almost possible to imagine that Okita didn't die... but no, of course he would have had another birth dream.
Another man, older than the vice commander... Rain wonders if it's the same one he heard. One man in his memory did sound a bit older, the one who called the vice commander Toshi. He quits staring at his hands and looks back up at Okita, nodding for him to continue.]
[Rain doesn't need it spelled out for him what sort of wounds those were - he catches on. Seppuku. And if Okita killed him, does that mean he was responsible for the circumstances leading to the man's death, or simply that he was his second? But this is a dream they're discussing now, Rain reminds himself, not a memory. It could merely be symbolic... just as being run through easily with a bamboo sword probably is.
He sits in quiet contemplation for a minute, attempting to determine whether he holds any clues that might help make sense of the dream, or whether he knows who the man might be. But the only person he's remembered who he knows to have died is his sister, and the rest of it... it doesn't ring any bells. Eventually, he shakes his head.]
I'm afraid it doesn't mean anything at all to me. [He pauses briefly.] One of the men in my memory sounded older, but as I was unable to see anything, I don't think we can determine whether or not it was the same person.
[They're on the same page there, at least. There's important work to be done back home; there are people relying on them. Rain's suddenly reminded of his memory of his sister, what she said to him when she stopped him from killing himself - Do you plan to let Hijikata-san down? ...Hijikata-san is putting his trust in you.
[This is the most certain Souji has felt since waking up - he has a purpose, at least, if not a master. But Rain was right, earlier - he has Hijikata-san, waiting for him... somewhere]
[Rain nods again, but says nothing. If there is a way to get home - and he refuses to believe that there isn't - they'll find it eventually. They have to.
A minute passes, in which he stares at the surface of the table in thought, and eventually he lets out a long exhale and slowly moves to stand. He's said what he came to say, and Okita's said his part... and Rain feels that there's an understanding between them, at least. He doesn't agree with what Okita did - they don't see eye to eye on everything, clearly - but they remain comrades.]
Just... don't do that again. [Rain's voice is soft, but steady. He's not angry at Okita anymore... but the pain of having lost him might take a bit longer to forget.]
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Date: 2011-08-11 05:17 am (UTC)From:We probably lived, then.
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Date: 2011-08-12 02:49 am (UTC)From:Yes. I may have not even seen action - investigators were charged with the defense of headquarters while the squads went out in search of the enemy.
[There's a considerable pause before he continues.] ...I wish I knew whether we were successful or not. [But that's usually the way it is with memories here - recovering just enough information to have new questions to ask. It never seems to become less frustrating.]
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Date: 2011-08-12 05:30 am (UTC)From:Me too. I hope we will, someday.
[A thoughtful pause, and then he continued]
There was a second man in my dream. Older than Hijikata-san.
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Date: 2011-08-13 02:08 am (UTC)From:Another man, older than the vice commander... Rain wonders if it's the same one he heard. One man in his memory did sound a bit older, the one who called the vice commander Toshi. He quits staring at his hands and looks back up at Okita, nodding for him to continue.]
...Please go on.
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Date: 2011-08-13 05:00 am (UTC)From:He said...that I had killed him, but it wasn't my fault. That all things came with a price, even honor.
[Souji's hands tighten slightly on his tea-cup. This is somewhat personal territory - but he can trust Rain]
He hugged me. He had a bamboo blade in his hands... it ran through as easily as steel. He said to remember him. And to be good.
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Date: 2011-08-14 04:35 am (UTC)From:He sits in quiet contemplation for a minute, attempting to determine whether he holds any clues that might help make sense of the dream, or whether he knows who the man might be. But the only person he's remembered who he knows to have died is his sister, and the rest of it... it doesn't ring any bells. Eventually, he shakes his head.]
I'm afraid it doesn't mean anything at all to me. [He pauses briefly.] One of the men in my memory sounded older, but as I was unable to see anything, I don't think we can determine whether or not it was the same person.
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Date: 2011-08-14 05:36 pm (UTC)From:He was someone... important, I think. I wish I could remember.
[He shakes himself out of that train of thought, and takes another sip of tea before looking up at Rain again, slightly more determined]
I promised Hijikata-san... that I'd return. I'm going to keep that.
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Date: 2011-08-15 03:49 am (UTC)From:Rain meets Okita's gaze levelly, and nods once.]
Yes. We both will.
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Date: 2011-08-15 07:27 am (UTC)From:We'll find a way.
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Date: 2011-08-16 02:01 am (UTC)From:A minute passes, in which he stares at the surface of the table in thought, and eventually he lets out a long exhale and slowly moves to stand. He's said what he came to say, and Okita's said his part... and Rain feels that there's an understanding between them, at least. He doesn't agree with what Okita did - they don't see eye to eye on everything, clearly - but they remain comrades.]
Just... don't do that again. [Rain's voice is soft, but steady. He's not angry at Okita anymore... but the pain of having lost him might take a bit longer to forget.]
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Date: 2011-08-16 06:48 am (UTC)From:I can't afford to. [Only one lung left, after all :|]