purrtagonist | [Day 15, afternoon: Akechi]

[a little wary, but immediately snapping to attention]

With what?

[very purposefully not looking at him, gaze affixed on the empty chalkboard ahead]

I need an alibi for tonight.

[holy shit]

...I see.

I'm willing to help, of course, but I'd prefer to know the details of your plan.

[holy shit is right]

[there's a long pause, a moment where the tension in the air is so thick you could cut it with a knife. Akira somehow manages to keep his tone purposefully neutral, perfectly even]

. . . I don't have one. Yet.

[exhales slowly]

We can correct that. We should discuss your... options.

[haha coming to Akechi for advice on how to kill someone is a little. . .]

[nnngh. he shoves down a brief flicker of self-loathing to focus. he has a reason for this]

I already promised Erika I would-- [gestures. with his uninjured hand] -- but that was before Ichigo lost his marbles. She'll be suspicious if I don't show up.

She's... not a bad choice, provided she hasn't told anyone about her plans. Rather, even if she has, you can always claim I threw a fit and dragged you off. I doubt anyone would question that.

[look, even he has some self-awareness]

[well, at least there is that. he lets out a soft snort, then swallows thickly because something about the phrase "not a bad choice" leaves a bitter taste in his mouth]

Without Futayo around, I don't know who she would tell. But it's better to. . . assume that she would let it slip to someone, at least. She's cautious like that.

[scrubs at his forehead]

I mean, everyone knows you're still pissed off at me for the stunt Ichigo and I pulled the other night. It wouldn't be hard to say I started the night looking for her, but you caught me and dragged me off before I could find her.

Exactly. You can tell Kurosaki that you're going off to meet Furudo as promised. Have you arranged someone to distract him during that time? I could ask Saihara to do it if you like. That shouldn't muddy the narrative; I'll simply tell him I need some privacy to work things out with you.

[of course he immediately assumed they're going to lie to their boyfriends about this]

[that is because they absolutely are, so excellent, they're on the same page]

Rin's already on it. We talked about that yesterday. Rin will stay with Ichigo, and I'll tell them both I'm going to meet with Erika.

[. . .]

[another breath]

Let me. . . yell at you when someone finds her. Act like maybe if you hadn't stopped me, that if I had been able to meet with her as promised, she wouldn't have--

[ugh fuck. this feels so gross. he cuts himself off abruptly and closes his eyes, taking a moment to compose himself. it's clear he isn't. . . used to stooping to these levels]

[cutting in to finish the thought, no need to make Kurusu do it]

Of course. I'll make a good show of it.

[probably too good, but they can burn that bridge when they come to it]

I'll be on standby in my room. You should meet me to debrief when you're finished.

[thanks pal]

[a deep breath, and some of that firm conviction returns[

Right. I will.

[and finally, he shifts, pushing away from the wall to face Akechi, head tilted]

I don't have to ask if you understand how much power I'm giving you, right?

As a matter of fact, no, there is no need to ask that.

In a similar vein, I assume that even if I try to reassure you of my motivations, it won't banish whatever sliver of doubt you're feeling right now. Am I wrong?

[if we're going to address the elephant in the room, we may as well punch it directly in the face]

[honestly, the elephant probably deserved to be punched several times over long before now]

[he gives a wan smile]

I came to you for a reason, Akechi.

[and then truthfully, honesty, bluntly]

But you're right. I am a little scared.

[a statement like that shouldn't hurt his feelings! it's not like it's news. it's not like it's unwarranted. hell, the fact that Kurusu will even say it shows he has some level of trust. and hasn't he decided to stop caring so much Kurusu thinks, anyway?]

[I mean, it does, though. because of course it does]

...I don't know how to make you trust me.

[or like me]

But I don't plan on betraying you. There are a number of logical reasons why it would be a poor move on my part to do so, but perhaps it's best to skip them and simply say... I don't want to.

[of course it does. of course it does, even if that wasn't his intention. for a moment, Akira looks away, rubbing the back of his neck with his uninjured hand]

[but he glances back at Akechi after a moment, chin tilted up]

It'd be wrong to say I don't trust you at all.

[you listened, after I got hurt, even though you were pissed off]

. . . I came to you for a reason. And that's because I really do think you're the only person here who wouldn't sell me out. Who can handle. . . this.

[Ichigo and Rin? they'd try to talk him out of it, and would have moral qualms with purposefully voting for someone innocent at the trial. Will? sketchy, but no]

[the only person here he can trust with this is Akechi. afraid of doing so, or not]

[can't help but smirk a little at that, though]

That much is undeniable. Your friends are soft, Kurusu.

I'm soft.

[HA. he says that wryly]

I can't say that's the word I would use.

[though he also would never even conceive of the possibility that it could be a compliment]

[in these circumstances it totally isn't]

Oh yeah? What word would you use?

There are no other words within orders of magnitude of "stubborn."

[. . . laughs, head bowed, shoulders hunched. it's without humor, because he totally knows that's true]

Well. . .

Here I am, stubbornness giving way to something else, for once.

You make a good point. And I'm relieved, of course...

[he thought he was going to have to force you to kill him, after all]

Maybe I simply don't know how else to conceptualize you. Could it be that I'm the stubborn one?

[god, that would've been a mess]

Relieved. . . that's one of us.

[very wry]

It could be that we both are. Just a little bit.

[as long as we're being wry]

That's probably why they chose us. Anyone else would likely have talked out their differences half a year ago.

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