Week 4, Friday: Reaper Detectives -1

[withsadness]

[So, here they are at Worth Every Penne. It's only the right thing to do after today's discovery. Mary isn't in a very talkative mood and she doubts the rest of them are, especially Alex or Izaya...but they need to. Because they have a job. She stares down at her plate with her hands twisting up a napkin, hair covering her face. She speaks, but it's almost to herself.]

I didn't think it would take this long, but because it did...I thought we'd all make it.

Comments

[bladeisme]

...Two of us.

[Ichigo pipes up, quietly.]

If we decide to work with them, in order to get to the 8th week...two of us would have to make the switch. That's the bare minimum.

[withsadness]

[She doesn't want to hear this. She can't. It's basically the same as being abandoned.

At least, that's how she feels right now, with Jacopo gone and her rationality in question. Mary isn't sure if she wants to cry or scream, so she pushes away from the table and stands.]

I don't want anyone to go.

[bladeisme]

Mary -

[He stands up himself, reaching out for her.]

There's - the other option. That we all switch sides at the same time. After all...

There's nothing in the ending conditions about our team being wiped out.

[withsadness]

[Mary pauses and then takes his hand in both of hers, staring down at it.]

I don't care where we are as long as we get to be together as long as we can. It's not like we're hunting anyone anymore. It's not like that's our purpose.

[bladeisme]

...I know.

[His voice is soft, and he kneels down to be eye level with her, just like he always does.]

Even if we had to separate, we'd still be together. We're not pitted against each other - we have a goal now, right? Both sides of us. So in that way...it would be less like we're parting, and more like...we're gaining two more people to be together with.

[He gently taps his chest for a moment.]

And even now...you, me, Alex, Izaya....we've made a bond with Jacopo - a heart - that stays no matter what, even if he's gone. Because he left that bond - that heart - with us. With you.

So...you're not alone, Mary. You'll never be alone, I promise. Because our hearts are always with you, no matter what.

[withsadness]

One big heart?

[She wonders if she, a creature without a heart, can really stake a claim in something like that.]

I know you'd never break a promise on purpose, Ichigo.

[bladeisme]

Yeah. One big heart.

[If she told him, he'd say yes - he's been friends with hollows, after all. Just because she's something that wasn't human to begin doesn't mean she can't form bonds with people.]

So...We're not abandoning you. We can't, you know? Because we're all with you, in you and your memories of us.