008 // Video | up in the end is where we'll meet

[obfuscate]

[It was a usual Monday morning. Or at least, that was what Minami expected when she went to wake up her brother nice and early. However, when she found the door oddly unlocked after her futile attempts at knocking...

Empty. The room was devoid of any person, save for the stunned redhead. Maybe he went out without her knowing? It happened sometimes... She tried her best to keep positive, even though she felt like something was wrong with this situation. Hastily, almost desperately, she rummaged through her pockets for her Dreamberry. Contact list... Contact list...

....

Gone. His name, which had always been right under hers on the list, was gone. Soon, the emptiness of the room migrated to her very heart as the realization began to sink in.

Trying her best to keep her hands from shaking, she made a video call. Her expression is unreadable, which could alert most that what she was going say was not her usual silliness:]

For those of you who know Minato Arisato, he's... gone.

[Saying those words made her gut wrench. To her, it was almost as if he died a third time. Despite that, she forces a smile, though her voice becomes shakier the more she spoke.]

Ahaha... I guess this means I have no one to keep me in check, huh? Leaving a few things behind too... That's just asking for me to loot it all... How silly of hi... hi...

[Her quivering smile finally broke as she couldn't hold back anymore. Minami sank to the floor on her knees, dropping the Dreamberry as she cried uncontrollably.]

Comments

[redcladidealist]

M-Minami? Are you- [No, don't ask if she's all right. That's a pretty stupid question to ask someone who's crying like that. He never got her last name, so he can't piece the connection together, but it's also pretty obvious that she's crying because this Minato is gone.]

[...his mind's blanking on what else to say. He can't just say nothing, though. Stupid question it is.] Are you all right?

[letalis-anima.livejournal.com]

[Oh, so she left it on... Minami picked up the Dreamberry, trying to choke back her tears as she forces a smile. Though that was futile effort.]

I-I'll be fine, Lloyd... I... It's not the first time I lost my brother...

[Though reminding herself of the first time she did just made her cry more. Even if she claimed otherwise to the people who knew Minato, she hadn't quite gotten over his death back in her world.]

[redcladidealist]

Oh. [No wonder she was crying. Her brother...] I'm sorry. I didn't realize that was your brother.

[letalis-anima.livejournal.com]

[She shakes her head, finally managing to calm down a bit. Crying won't bring him back. She learned that a long, long time ago.]

Don't apologize... It's not your fault. It just hits a little harder because I haven't seen him in ten years, you know...?

[redcladidealist]

Yeah. [He hasn't seen his own dad for fourteen years. He tries to imagine what it would be like to find him, only to lose him again. Even the thought hurts a little.] I think I can imagine how that would feel.

Is there anything I can do?

[letalis-anima.livejournal.com]

[Wow, Lloyd seemed to always be willing to help, no matter if there was anything he could do. It reminded Minami of herself a little. She smiles genuinely this time, though it weak, letting out a small chuckle.]

Haha... Well, do you think there's anything you can do?

[redcladidealist]

We could do something fun. Or I could get you ice cream. Ice cream makes me feel good.

[Never mind that it's still technically winter. Ice cream is never out of season for Lloyd.]

[popstar]

[It doesn't matter how many times Rise has to deal with it, losing someone will always hurt. She may have grown used to relationships being so fragile in the dream world but she cannot even begin to fathom how bad it must feel to lose a sibling, especially considering how close Minami and Minato had always seemed.]

Oh gosh, Minami-chan... I'm so sorry.

[letalis-anima.livejournal.com]

[Minami made a startled noise as she realized she left the Dreamberry on. Though she didn't make an effort to pick it up from the floor, she looked down at the screen, trying desperately to wipe away her tears.]

No, you shouldn't apologize, Rise... I'm... such an idiot for believing that I'd never lose him again... I'm such an idiot for crying like this too... I... I...!

[Whatever she was about to say crumbled into more tears. All the things she's been through and all the feelings that she tried so hard to hide to keep her brother from worrying... Nothing could keep her emotions in check anymore. Some leader she was...]

[popstar]

Again?

[Rise didn't know the situation between Minami and Minato but she was sure that Minato hadn't left during her stay in Somarium thus far. But there was no doubt in her mind that losing someone a second time would be heart wrenching.]

It's not stupid that you're crying for him. Don't even think that.

[letalis-anima.livejournal.com]

[Minami sniffles.]

Thanks, Rise...

[She pauses, before she asks:]

Um... I don't know any other people I could talk to about this, and I don't want to bother Sanada-senpai, so... Is it all right if we could talk in person?

[popstar]

[She shakes her head. Of course it was all right with her to talk about something like this.]

Sure, I don't mind. Just give me a minute and I'll be right down, okay?

[letalis-anima.livejournal.com]

[At hearing the agreement, Minami couldn't help but smile. Though it was weak, it was genuine.]

Thank you so much... That really means a lot to me. I'll be waiting.

[popstar]

[Rise smiles back before ending the feed. She dresses out of her sleepwear and into something much more decent. It takes a while for her to get the dogs not to follow her down but when she finally does, she makes her way down the stairs and into Minato's room. She enters, immediately taking a seat beside Minami.]

Hey... [Her voice is quiet but she is able to place a sincere smile on her face as she looks to her friend.]

[combiplay.livejournal.com]

Ah... hey. Are you all right?

[No one likes to see a girl cry, after all. There's concern in his voice, even if he doesn't know this person.

It's too bad to lose a friend and it's tough to miss them, no matter who it is, right.]

I'm sorry about your friend... but I'm sure he didn't mean to leave you on your own.

[letalis-anima.livejournal.com]

He... He wasn't just a friend...

[Minami managed to say in between strained sobs.]

He was... my twin brother... I hadn't seen him for ten years... I guess it just hits a little harder than the other people I've lost...

[Sniffle. She tries to force a smile.]

Th-Thanks, though... Even though I'm a total stranger, you went out of your way to see if I was all right.

[combiplay.livejournal.com]

Your-- twin? Woah! I'm really sorry to hear that, then. That's rough.

But hey, ah... I'm sure you'll see him again, right! Haha, since you guys have that kinna bond together.

[He offers a reassuring smile, in return.]

[letalis-anima.livejournal.com]

[He's kind of dead in her world and her soul is denied from the afterlife because it's an eternal door decoration. :( Still, she appreciates the encouragement, so she nods.]

Yeah... I guess we'll eventually meet again, though I don't know when that'll be. Thanks, um...

[Who are you again?]

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

[... So Minato's gone.

In some ways, he was expecting this, really. Almost all of his other friends have disappeared, so it's... just a sort of countdown, even if this one hurts more than the others. He's gotten far too used to this.

Still, he can remember how he felt when Anemone first left.]

I know it won't bring him back, but... I'm sorry.

[letalis-anima.livejournal.com]

[She shook her head, still sobbing, though with less intensity as before.]

No, Dominic... You shouldn't apologize. I'm... really stupid for crying over something I knew could happen at any time... I... I shouldn't have just assumed that...

[... since they were both dead and had no where else to go, they wouldn't disappear from this world. That was naive of her. Still, she had mustered enough self-control to not finish that sentence.

Minami sniffled, rubbing the tears away from her eyes with her sleeve.]

Hey... Where are you right now?

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

[He blinks, surprised at the question.]

In the city, but I'm heading back to Dusk. Why?

[letalis-anima.livejournal.com]

[Finally calming down a bit, she glances towards something off-screen, a weak smile on her face.]

Could you meet me at Minato's room when you get back? He left a few things behind, and I think it's best if you hold onto one of them.

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

I... all right? I'll be right there, then.

[He's not sure why he should hold onto any of Minato's things, but...]

[letalis-anima.livejournal.com]

[BECAUSE YOU NEED A LIFE LESSON MORE THAN SHE DOES, BOI. :|]

Thanks... I'll be waiting.

[action?]

[unfearful.livejournal.com]

[... HE'S LEARNED PLENTY OF LIFE LESSONS WITHOUT MINATO'S HELP, THANKS. :|

And, as promised, he comes back as soon as he can and heads to Minato's room. Knocking on the door, even if it's open. idk.]

Minami...?