week 3, post-trial - Sanji

[okitactless]

[SO THIS SURE IS A DUNGEON THAT YASU IS CHILLING IN...

Is it dark? Is it cold? Is it weirdly damp? IS IT ALL OF THE ABOVE we may never know but here he is anyway, curled up against the wall with his hands tucked into his haori sleeves. He doesn't look any worse for wear, just a little tired, especially with his hair out of its usual tie.

He isn't so exhausted that he ignores the sound of footsteps, though, lifting his head and glancing over curiously.]

Sanji-kun?

Comments

[okitactless]

Thank you, Sanji-kun.

[There are no tears in his eyes when he looks at Sanji, and though there's sorrow on his face, his gratitude is clear and genuine.]

...he's one of the best swordsmen in Japan. [Sanji probably doesn't care about this, but with Hijikata gone, and Okita unlikely to tell anyone... he wants at least one other person to understand where his devotion comes from. His letters, while enthusiastic, had been intentionally vague.] Even in the future, where I'm from, people remember how incredible he was. He took such good care of me and my partner, when we belonged to him. And even though I had to watch him die... even though he's already very sick here... he's still so strong.

[concasse]

[Sanji listens -- it feels like the only power he holds in this place, to carry the will of the dead. He nods at the end of the short tale. Maybe he can't understand completely, but there's a swordsman on his crew almost painfully dedicated to the wellbeing of his swords.]

... Do you prefer it this way?

[A surprisingly personal question]

Leaving this world before he does this time?

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[It takes a minute for the words to sink in, and when they do, Yasusada finds himself blinking at Sanji in surprise. Even here, it's not something he'd truly considered--he'd assumed that, were he to die, it would be protecting Okita, but he'd been picturing some intense battle that wouldn't leave him with any time to contemplate his own death. Having the time to ponder this situation isn't something he'd anticipated.

Were he alone, it's not something he'd like, either. But if it's Sanji asking...]

...It's an honor to give my life for Okita-kun. [When he answers, it's slow and careful, as he tries to pick out the right words to explain himself.] ...but I don't like that he'll have to endure this loneliness. Being left behind by everyone... it's not a feeling I ever wanted him to know.

[He hadn't expected Hijikata to die before them, either. He'd been the last to go back home.]

And I don't like that it means Rapunzel-kun is in danger. [That one comes as an afterthought, but with less hesitation.] I promised to keep her safe, but now she could die because of me.

[concasse]

[The mention of Rapunzel in particular has Sanji glancing elsewhere but Yasusada -- that's a wound that will take a while to heal (and then longer still, once Sunday comes around and everyone is forced to watch her fate).

But he gets it. If Sanji had a choice... well, it's a pirate's nature to want to go down in a blaze of glory, if you gotta go at all. It's not so much he wants to die, but...

Well, in any case.]

Whatever happens to Rapunzel-chan isn't your fault. It'd be on our hands.

[The group knew the risks. That no one thought to consider Rapunzel's fate is... telling.

But he's not here to get angry. Sanji shakes his head, unclouding his thoughts.]

I understand, though. Living's the harder job when you're left behind. [...] But if he's as strong as you say, he'll weather through this somehow.

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I told her I'd protect her, though. My partner would never forgive me if he knew I'd let this happen.

[Truthfully, that's neither here nor there, but. Yasusada's perceptions differ from reality in many situations.

Still, when it comes to Okita--]

He definitely is. [But...] ...He might try not to, though. [It isn't so much that Okita is actively suicidal, but Yasusada knows his master well. He can get... reckless, especially if he's panicked or feeling helpless in some way.]

[concasse]

[Sanij can't exactly scold Yasusada's perceptions when Sanji would be blaming the shit outta himself if their positions were reversed. He'll close his eyes and let that slide.]

... So Souji is of those types, is he?

[no elaboration needed. He understands]

So he needs food and something to keep him busy. [What a troublesome guy]

-- Do me a favor, would you? Wherever you end up, don't settle for death. If there's a way to get everyone back, I wanna see it through... you guys don't deserve this.

[okitactless]

[Despite himself, Yasusada smiles. Somehow, even though they aren't exactly the closest of friends, he'd known Sanji would understand. Perhaps it's something about his aura, or maybe just his willingness to indulge in the wide-eyed curiosity of tactless spirit, but he trusts Sanji to take care of this, as best he can. To take care of Okita.

(To everyone who's come to visit him, it's the only thing he's really asked for.)

The request, though, that catches him off-guard, and he blinks, visibly surprised. "Don't settle for death" is not really a common sentiment amongst his people, after all. But it isn't as thought he disagrees--and even if he did, he'd be hard-pressed to deny Sanji anything after he'd gone out of his way for all this.

So after a moment, he nods, expression shifting into something determined.]

I'm not sure how helpful I'll be able to be over there, but I'll do what I can.