★ 01 | audio

[darkimitation]

[The moment the post begins, there's a tired sounding boy on the other end. He's making this audio only because he doesn't want anyone to see him right now. He's not only really worn out, but he's a complete mess physically at least and to some extent emotionally as well. Nevertheless, he only feels it's the right thing to do and let people know what's going on.]

So um hi... I don't know how many of you know me, but I'm Riku's little brother Kagami. [He then lets out a small sigh before continuing.] I'm pretty much posting here to let people know that my brother isn't here anymore. He's gone home. I've been searching all afternoon since I got home from school, but he's nowhere to be found. I've tried contacting him over his phone too and got no response back. So in light of Riku going home, I've decided to continue running his delivery service on the side as much as possible and well, if anyone he knows needs a hand or help, I'm offering that too. It feels like the right thing to do in both regards and what I feel Riku would have wanted. So yeah, that's really all I needed to say.

[And he cuts off the connection.]

Comments

audio;

[rassera]

[He doesn't want to believe that. He'd only JUST sat down with Riku and promised each other another year in this place. Riku's been there since he arrived...he can't.

No, he WON'T believe that.]

He'll be back. ...He better be.

audio;

[darkimitation]

[Kagami doesn't know who this is, but he decides to answer regardless.]

I'm guessing you're one of Riku's friends? I don't think we've met, but I'd like to hope the same even if I've made these decisions in this post. I'm only doing what I think my brother would think is best for everyone.

text

[bloodcravings]

[He doesn't really care that Riku's gone home. Mika doesn't care about anyone but Yuu. But Yuu was friends with Riku.]

Is your home a good place?

text

[darkimitation]

[Another person he doesn't know, but he answers anyway.]

That depends on how you define good.

voice;

[23wishes]

[There's a lot of emotions that Aerith needs to process here. There's no denying it's true; she could have felt Riku's presence if he really was still here and just, say, hiding. Or if Kagami had killed him again. Even then, she would have sensed his soul. imPorts don't really die for good. But there's just... an absence. It's true. Riku's gone home. And there's just one thing Aerith can think.

What an asshole.]

[She answers by voice instead of video so she only sounds choked up, and there's no actual visible proof of her actually crying over this.]

Um. [A very long pause.] Can you make those portals too?

voice;

[darkimitation]

[He's been kind of avoiding Aerith for awhile all things considered, but he needs to talk to her now more than ever.]

... I can. [He's also silent for a good minute.] I used them to try and search all over for Riku. Why do you ask?

audio;

[historiology]

Riku is -- are you sure? I can help look for him....

[Or has Kagami really been already looking everywhere and probably doesn't need the help? Either way Sorey still wants to offer, after everything Riku's done for him.]

audio;

[darkimitation]

I've been searching since I got home this afternoon and most of the night. So while I appreciate it, I've... done all I can.

[Portals through all of the cities and running around like crazy will make someone feel like that. Kagami's just really tired at this point, but he knows he has to put on a strong face for everyone.]

audio;

[dejerate]

Riku went back home, huh? [Yuu may not have known him as well as some others. But even so. He seemed like....a staple? He'd been here for so long. So for Riku to suddenly be gone seems almost strange regardless of how friendly they were.]

If there's anything I can do to help out.

[He and Kagami may fight. But that doesn't mean Yuu has no sympathy for losing a friend from home, even someone that was like family. He knows that loss all too well and painfully.]

audio;

[darkimitation]

[He takes a bit to reply to Yuichiro, since he and the other aren't exactly on good terms to a degree. However, he does appreciate what Yuichiro is doing right now. He's too mentally and physically tired to fight or quarrel.]

He did and... thanks. I don't know what you can do right now, but I'll let you know.

( audio )

[drizzle]

[When she saw Kagami had posted a message over the network, it was natural for Nike in wanting to hear it. She was curious to know the reason behind his first post. Like the topic of conversation or even the motivation for it. It was a good thing she decided to hear it during one of her breaks or else she would have dropped whatever it is she was currently holding.

Riku was gone? All she could think to herself was: gone where? Where could he have gone? She knew it couldn't have been back home, right? No matter how much it seemed like it, he couldn't have just left without saying anything. The thought made her feel cold as she was very close to tears, but had to remind herself to calm down. It wasn't the time to panic when Kagami and Namine were most likely hurting more.

She'll make a note to leave Riku a message later. Just to make sure. But whatever the case, Kagami was her main concern, so after she was done mentally preparing herself, she'll say the following in a soft voice:]

G-Good job. In getting the word out while...helping everyone out all at once. He'll...I'm sure he'll be happy to hear this.

[Yes, she did just irresponsibly say that without thinking. There will be a mental kick at that, but she hasn't lost all hope that he was gone for good. This could easily be another Mikleo and Sorey disappearance, right?]

...have you and everyone else had any dinner yet? [Can you tell she has no idea what to say?]

( audio )

[darkimitation]

[As he answers Nike, she'll notice right away he's worn out and tired in his voice. He's been searching for hours and hours, going to every place he can think of where Riku would go. He's more or less overexerted himself.]

I... brought home food for everyone. So don't worry about it, but... thanks Nike. I'm sure you're right.

[Video]

[renamaer]

[Her initial thought is worry for Kagami - even if she'd never quite understood the exact nature of their relationship, and had never actually met Riku at all, she could tell Riku was an important person to him, at least.]

I hope you take care of yourself as well, Kagami. [For someone that he identified as his brother...] I...know we never met, but I'm sure Riku would want to make sure you were doing well, even without him here.

[Video]

[darkimitation]

[Kagami didn't want to turn on the camera, but he just answers Estelle and she'll see how worn out he looks. As if he's been pushing himself to his limits.]

... I'll try and you're right. Thanks for worrying about me too, but I'm also sorry I'm doing that to you.

action

[redigere]

[It had only been a few weeks ago that Riku told her that he missed home, but that he was fine here. Now he's gone, and Naminé, standing outside his bedroom door, completely understands what he meant. How he felt. Going to other places, meeting and befriending other people...even if he had a home to return to, he'd already left traces of his heart here.

Now he's gone, and Naminé is at a loss every time she sees those traces of him. She sees it in his pets, how Shiro and Atoli are lingering here with her, whining as they look for him. She sees it in the people, his friends, answering Kagami's network post, in disbelief that he's gone.

She sees it in Kagami, how Riku's concern for him has changed him.

Naminé doesn't understand this world, doesn't presume to know why she or anyone else was brought here. But she knows that, now that Riku is gone, there's a little less light brightening up the world. She will try to be happy, because that's what he would've wanted for her. Right now, though, she can't help herself from searching for all the softly lit places he left behind, looking for the small reminders of his quiet strength and compassion.

Trying to draw strength from them, so she can grow into the person he always thought she was.

She stands and stares at the doorknob for a long time before she turns away from his room.]

action

[darkimitation]

[Whenever Naminé finds herself in the kitchen area of the house, she'll see Kagami sitting at the table zoning out. He looks half dead and exhausted, but he keeps trying to eat the food he brought home even if he's hardly touched it. Right now he's elsewhere with his mind trying to face the reality that for months he thought he was mentally prepared for. Everyone is sad Riku's gone, he's not surprised. Yet even then, he had to put on his strong face for Sora and Naminé. It's just in this moment, he's showing signs of weakness that even he really doesn't know he's doing because of his mind being off somewhere else.]

voice.

[glowsferatu]

[ Kanaya runs a quick inventory, but she doesn't see Riku's thread in any of the Porter cities, or any signs of it in other directions. Okay, so he's gone. Kagami sounds a bit like he's catastrophising, a little bit of sense could be needed here. ]

How long has he been gone?

voice.

[darkimitation]

[It's more he's worn himself down to the point of near exhaustion trying to find Riku for everyone's sake. Kagami knows it's the least he can do.]

Since this afternoon I think. I texted him around lunch saying I was bringing home food for all of us and he said okay. Then that was the last time I heard from him.

text

[dualismum]

[ things Sasaki is horrible at dealing with: loss. But he is far more controlled than he used to be and he has lost so many by now, that he feels like he has to be a bigger man about this. ]

I'm sorry.
Do you need anything, Kagami?

text

[darkimitation]

[He's a bit surprised Sasaki is contacting him, yet he appreciates it. However, he's going to act like the strong guy he is.]

... Thanks and I'll be fine. I need to keep being strong for not just for everyone and his friends, but my brother too. If he comes back, then he does. If he doesn't, then so be it.

text; ID reads 'Sumeragi'

[resoundingpledge]

[ That . . . sure is the person who's responsible for the last time Riku went missing. That had been days . . . the porter took people for days, sometimes. Sometimes it gave them back again.

People who died took days to come back, too, if it's bad enough. If they're in a place they can come back from. And the ocean is so big . . . ]

Thank you for letting us know.

People disappear for short times, sometimes, too.
Until it's been a week, it's hard to tell.
If everything is being looked after in the meantime, though
that's good.

text;

[darkimitation]

[He's just going remain being strong as he responds to her.]

You're welcome. I felt it was the right thing to do, since I know he'd do the same for me. I've also tried finding his darkness everywhere in this place, but I haven't felt it at all. I know that sounds weird, it's just he and I are... close. I'll try to be hopeful though.

Audio

[virusbusting]

I don't know you or your brother...I don't think...but I'm sorry he's gone and I hope he comes back.

[Losing family sucks. He's not sure what he would do if his brother left.]

Audio

[darkimitation]

I'm surprised, Riku seems to know almost everyone in this city. But uh, thanks. The way I feel is if he does, then he does. If he doesn't, then that's just how it is.

[Really he's acting more mature than he usually is.]

[audio]

[iamtetsuo]

You're full of shit.

[And someone's full of denial.]

[audio]

[darkimitation]

Yup, sure I am. I'm totally lying too and haven't been searching almost all night for Riku. So yeah, I'm totally full of it.

[Someone is being utterly sarcastic and slightly pissed off right now.]

audio;

[alcheregis]

[ It takes a moment for Haen to speak after the line connects, and her voice is soft when she does. ]

Thank you, Kagami, for letting us know.

Are you doing all right, dear?

audio;

[darkimitation]

[He's quiet for a few minutes before finding a good way to respond to Haen.]

You're welcome, it's the least I can do. And... I'm fine, you don't need to worry about me.

Voice

[dun_moch]

So he has been taken from you. What a terrible development, Kagami- you have my condolences.

It's good of you to continue his affairs in his absence. I agree that it is most likely what he would have wanted.

Voice

[darkimitation]

Thank you, sir. I don't know if the Porter will bring him back or not, but I'd rather not get my hopes up. I'm glad you also agree with me, I do appreciate that.

audio

[monster_san]

Ah... I'm sorry to hear that, Kagami-san. [if Kuu was here and then sent back...] That's very responsible of you, though. I'm sure your brother would appreciate it.

audio

[darkimitation]

Thanks Fuu. I'm only doing what's right for not just myself, but for everyone and my brother too.

audio;

[circulets]

[ There's a lengthy pause on Mikleo's end, taking in those words little by little. Riku's... gone? After what happened with him and Sorey - the two leaving and then coming back, he's not so sure if he believes that he's completely gone. ]

... Are you certain that he won't come back?

audio;

[darkimitation]

[He knows about Mikleo and Sorey leaving, even he left at one point. He shouldn't believe that Riku's gone, yet that part of him which thinks the Porter brings people back on a fluke is still there.]

I've looked everywhere and I'm pretty sure the Porter is the one who decides whether or not he comes back. Though from what I've seen, most of the time, it seems to keep people at home than not.

Audio

[heartisabattleground]

[ Sora is...confused when he hears this. Riku was gone? But, this boy sounded a lot like Riku, but apparently he was Riku's little brother? What's going on? Was this Ansem all over again? But, Riku was too strong for that now.

Riku didn't have a brother. Sora would've known if they did. So have a very confused, disney Messiah answering, Kagami: ]

What-what are you talking about? Riku was just here! And why do you sound like him!?

Audio

[darkimitation]

[Oh great. It's Sora. The one he was avoiding this entire time. He knew eventually the other would find his way to him, so he decides to do the responsible thing instead of running away.]

... Sora, are you out right now? If you are, I need you to come home and meet me in the living room. I'll explain everything.

voice;

[valuemeal]

[ .. so this is Riku's supposed.. clone. Twin. Replica? Whatever name people attach to it, Hyunsoo only has the general idea. But he's not even focusing on that as much (or he'd be a lot more wary, considering how Riku said the other caused trouble) as much as he's paying attention to the message itself. ]

He's gone? [ Not like they were close, they only talked a little, but.. ] That must suck. A lot of people that know him seemed to turn up lately.

voice;

[darkimitation]

[Kagami doesn't have a clue who Hyunsoo is, but from the way he's talking, he's guessing he knows Riku.]

I'm guessing you knew him too?