graveyard.

[foxhounds]

You remember dying. In fact, you remember the exact feeling and fear of how you died, and yet in the next moment, you're suddenly standing in a cold room. You're not sure how you got here at all, but it's as if you were suddenly put here the moment after you died. As you look around, the first thing you'll notice is that you're standing in front of an open casket. And you're inside. The corpse inside the casket is definitely you, and it's also definitely dead, which certainly makes this confusing. Luckily, here's someone here to explain. When you wake up, there's footsteps walking closer, and then a familiar face appears. Iván is here, or someone that looks very much like her is. All she starts off with is two simple words— "You're dead." Which would seem obvious, but she explains that you have been before you ever arrived to the island. The shipwreck and the island are't real, after all. This is purgatory, and the Hunt is a way to judge the souls of the living. People show their true nature when they're put in a stressful situation, so it was deemed that this was the way that these judgements would be passed. She explains that you'll know your fate when the game ends, but if you really can't wait that long, you could always ask, but hope isn't lost. After all, the "killers" are on your side. If they can win the game, then everyone can come back to life. They know this, and it's why they're fighting so hard to win. It's a shame that the odds don't seem to be in their favor, but that's also part of the Hunt. — Exploring your new surroundings, you'll realize that you're likely at the bottom of that giant sinkhole, at least if that light far above you is any indication. You no longer feel the need to eat or sleep anymore (technically, you never did, but the habits of being alive are hard to break), so it's a good thing there's enough to do while the game continues. You can watch the proceedings of the Hunt in one room where there's plenty of comfortable couches to sit in and lounge, as well as a fully stocked bar, if you feel like indulging. Another room offers a game room with cards, billiards, and any other games you'd like to play in a group. If you ask your host nicely, she might provide more, but for now, there's not much to do other than to watch and wait for the Hunt to end.

Comments

[yasusada]

[ He wonders if that's fair, for Horikawa to cry too — he shouldn't have to because he shouldn't be in any pain. Sadly, he was in more pain that Yamato could ever realize, pain that he couldn't understand to fathom. For him, his own had been being left behind by the two closest in his life but for Horikawa — Yamato is speechless, the hics are what he tries to hold back as he listens to this tale spoken to him. One that doesn't fit in one of those morbid stories that the uchigatana likes to read because this isn't something amusing to him. He's baffled, shocked by what's being said to him and the tears that fall down his face hardly want to stop. A hand is raised albeit shaky, he pressed it against the cheek of the male before him. Thumb wiping at the tears that fall and noting the warm of Horikawa's cheeks that at this moment, these tears and even him are real.

That his story is honest and his heart drops to the bottom of his stomach. ]

Wh.. What..

[ No! It wasn't too long before where Hijikata and Gi-Ne were all around Horikawa's body, Hijikata had mourned and even afterwards — Yamato had gotten down on his knees for him. It hadn't been long since both him and Tsurumaru — with each and every sword agreed to watch over each other because they all wanted to make it back to the Citadel. ]

What are you saying? Wh—

[ He thinks back a minute, Shijima had said the same thing before he came here — as much as he wanted to think that "Oh, that can't be true." It's actually the truth. There's a pause as he tries to take in this information, his eyes falling back down to the ground and he sizes up the other and his appearance. They did that to him? The body now is perfect, no scars and nothing to show pain but when they were "alive" — they hurt him? They hurt him?

They hurt him.
They hurt him.

Even his master? Had hurt him. ]

I.. [ He doesn't know what to say, being part of the Shinsengumi — this isn't something he'd expect from a person who is considered the Vice Commander. As much as Okita Souji had cared for his own blades, going as far as to fix Kashuu .. instead for Horikawa, Hijikata joined with Tsurumaru and killed him? ] No, no.. they can't do that because you aren't worthless.. they aren't allowed to do something like that not too long ago we were all together.. not to long ago did Hij.. Not too long was he at your body and felt sadness for what happened to you. .. As much as you've done for each and every one of us .. they did that? They can't do that, there's no way they could do that because it's them.. they're our comrades and..

[ His hands that are hidden inside of his sleeps do grab onto Horikawa's hands, holding onto them as he's trying to keep him close. ]

And if they aren't I'd still protect you from them .. I.. They did that to you.. they sent you here and you had so much going for you.. is this how they repay you for everything you did for them, for everyone else.. [ for me? ]

No. No. Don't say that! Why wasn't I there why was I an idiot and not there why couldn't I see that the people that I thought was close to us were liars. Why didn't I know that in the end as comrades as close as the Shinsengumi.. that the promises we made to each other meant nothing. If someone like Hijikata Toshizou would do something like that and break one of it's many codes. One of them are engaging in private fights and I didn't know and I let them hurt you and Hijikat.. He knew better, why did he hurt you.. you aren't useless you been by his side until death and even now .. and...

I didn't protect you at all, I wasn't capable of doin— [ His words begin to break and his tears never stop but.. ] Of doing just that.. I should have been there.. I.. I should have known.. I.. Is that why they were listed on that sheet.. if I had chose one of them.. could I have saved you from that fate.. I.. Horikawa I.. I'm so so sorry.. I..

Why wasn't I there, I should have been there!

[ Taking his sleeves back from out the other's grasp, he slowly wraps his arms around Horikawa's neck. A hand then positions to the middle of his back, nails digging into his shirt and holding him rather closer than before. Chin resting against his shoulder and the muffled cries are probably louder than they were before considering how close Yamato is now to his ear. With a sniffle and his other hand raising to grip at some of his black locks of hair, he holds what's important to him. ]