Week 2, Post-Trial: Ichigo

[withsadness]

[Mary watches Ichigo storm off after the meeting, looking back and forth from between where he went and between where the others are still talking. In the end, she chases after him, not wanting to lose sight of him if he gets too far away. He was so mad! All that bloodthirsty excitement seems to have completely vanished as she tries to catch up.]

Wait! Ichigoooo!

Comments

[withsadness]

I remember!

[It makes the beginnings of a smile reappear on Mary's cheeks, and she nods her head.]

You won't take it back no matter what then, will you?

[Another pause.]

And you won't tell anybody?

[bladeisme]

I promise I won't take it back - and I won't tell anyone.

[There's not even a single moment of hesitation as he holds out his hand, pinky extended - a gesture she should recognize.]

You can make me swallow a thousand needles if I lie, alright?

[He knows she'll probably take that literally, but...He won't betray her trust in him, especially about something like his.

He knows what it's like to be different, and to try to hide what you are.]

[withsadness]

Okay!

[Mary giggles like it's a joke. Maybe not a promising reaction but at least it makes her smile widen as she takes her finger and wraps it around Ichigo's.]

My friends mean more to me than anything, you know. All I want is for us to all be able to play together.

[It's just, sometimes, that playing involves murder. Sometimes you have to kill your friends so you can keep making more, forever.]

That's the real reason I decided not to go back home. It's so, so lonely.

[bladeisme]

[And thus, the sacred pinky promise is complete. Ichigo nods, patting the top of her head again.]

That's alright. It's a good reason to not go back, anyway.

[He gives a sad smile, his eyes reflecting a deep, unhealed pain.]

I didn't go back because all of my friends were already dead...and that I'd had to do something that might get undone if I returned to life.

[Or worse...he'd be alive but trapped, limbless, in the crystal.]