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video for always;

That party was pretty crowded.

[Like usual, Reiko is outside--the basic surroundings looks like some kind of meadow. She's looking somewhat thoughtful. The fact that there's cut on her cheek that looks like it just stopped bleeding doesn't seem to bother her at all.]

That's not what I wanted to talk about today, though. Just half an hour ago I met this strange old woman. Her eyesight was pretty bad--she must have tripped because I heard her yelling that she couldn't find her walking stick. Of course I gave it back to her.

The weirdest part was after I helped her up...she wanted my cosmetic mirror! She said it was important that she needed a mirror. Didn't say why only that it was very important. Even after I told her that there was a shop just down the road that sold mirrors.

[She pauses for a moment before shrugging.]

Obaa-san got her mirror in the end. I didn't need it anymore.

[Reiko briefly touches her injured cheek.] She really was such a strange old woman...

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Huh.

[She's not sure if she wants to know or not.]

[ He's not going to say it if she doesn't ask. ]

Do you want me to do it?

[ He really really doesn't want to end up dead or passing out just from returning one name like he used to, and since youkai who had their name taken are generally weaker without their names... he needs his back just in case that works with people too, even if he was a youkai during that virus. ]

I'll do it.

[She hasn't done it before but--she doesn't think he could return his own name. It'd be pretty hard, right?]

Just this once.

I'll come over.

[ He wants to make sure that she doesn't pass out. Reiko tends to piss off a lot more spirits than he does and if her guard is down, that could be a problem. He knows she's strong, but Takashi isn't sure that returning names as a practice would require the same amount of strength as taking them or punching a youkai in the nose-- he knows that it takes a lot more out of him to do it than anything else he's ever done. He wants to make sure she's safe if that's true. ]

It'll be easier from a shorter distance, sure.

[She doesn't know how much energy it takes to return the name--never having done it before, it would take a large amount of energy from her. That he'd be close by would be better. Not that she thinks of this. It just seems practical to her.]

[ It doesn't take him long since he isn't hesitant about asking people for one in this case.. it's important after all. When he gets over there he looks around for her. It isn't hard to find her since he's already familiar with the area, of course. ]

Reiko-san?

Takashi.

[She's not exactly running up to greet him. After last time... Well. She has the sheet of paper with his name on it, though. She stands up to acknowledge him.]

Let's get this over with, okay?

[She's not waiting for him to walk over. The sooner this is over the sooner they can pretend it never happened. Okay, so just bite the paper. Slam your hands together, so forth... and the name goes flying. Grandson has gotten his name back! The day is saved.

Reiko's knees feel weak. That took a lot out of her. She tries to keep herself standing but the endeavor is a little too late. It's not soon before she falls to her knees with an ungraceful groan. From a distance that definitely doesn't sound good.]

[ He's never been on the receiving end of this before, it's a strange experience. One of relief, light... it feels like something's come home. For a moment he just stands there until he realizes that Reiko fell down and he comes running over to her worriedly. ]

Reiko-san!

[ This is why he came over, wasn't it? TO make sure that she would be okay. The only thing...

That memory thing, he didn't know if that would actually work with her-- what memories would she see, if any? Returning all of those names.. that was probably the closest linked memory he had of this. Even if it wasn't, she would no doubt figure out quickly how he knew so much about her if she caught some of his memories.

Still, Takashi scolded himself. This wasn't the time to worry about himself. ]

The shrine up the hill's already been built right? We need to get you to a safe place until you can rest up.

[There hadn't been many memories when she gave back the name. The rock-paper-scissors match. A person she didn't recognize shoving the Book into Takashi's hands--she has to focus.

Reiko tries to stand but only manages to make it to her knees. She presses her hand to her forehead with a slight groan.]

Right...there is a shrine. [She doesn't question why he's mentioning the shrine. If any youkai saw her like this--well. It doesn't take long for her to imagine what would happen.]

I really feel like an old woman now. [It's a dry sort of joke as she tries to regain her breath.]

I nearly passed out when I did it too.

[ Or he used to anyway. Now he can do 3, 4, 5 in one go? It seems like so long since he's had to deal with anything besides getting really tired. That was usually in the middle of the night too, so a lot of times he didn't have to deal with the consequences, he was planning on going back to sleep anyway. ]

You'll be okay, I promise. You just need to rest.

[ With that, Takashi puts his arm around her to help her walk to the shrine. It might scare away some of the little ones, but Takashi can handle any other ones for her. ]

The shrine would be a good place for that...

[Normally she'd fight back at someone trying to help her but she knows that it wouldn't be a good idea. If any youkai found her like this--well. She couldn't blame them for what would happen.]

That took more out of me than I expected.

That's why I wanted to make sure I was here... you could probably do it from a distance as long as you know my name and face, but I'd rather make sure you didn't get hurt.

[ Because he cares :( <3

He's going to help her get to that shrine now though. He's not very physically strong ~~hell two little kids could take him down when he tries to lift them up~~ but he's going to try his hardest anyway. ]

Good idea. If I was alone--I don't know if I'd be able to fend off the youkai.

[She's leaning on him just a little but mostly carrying her own weight. She's slightly more fit than him. Yet... giving back the name took a lot out of her.]

The youkai are the ones who do all the work when you take their name, it takes a bit of power to return them. Sorry I didn't warn you.

I would have met you at the shrine if I had known--oh well.

I don't always think everything through. Sorry.

[There's a pause. Then Reiko laughs weakly.]

No, I should be apologizing. You inherited it from me.

I don't know, I didn't inherit everything from you.. I don't think I'm as strong.

[ Offensively anyway. It's more a matter of not knowing or studying or anything about how to do things on his own-- he asks for help a lot even though he's the one who wants to help others. ]

I get sick a lot too.

[ Though that's Reiko's fault sometimes. Returning names all the time, it's no wonder.. ]

You're just as spiritually strong as me--I can tell.

[If he returned any names, then he'd have to be.]

You also seem to get along with humans more easily.

I can't even tell the difference between humans and youkai if the look similar.

[ There's a brief pause. ] I just lie a lot more.

That can be tricky for anyone.

[This post is proof of that...]

If they want to think I'm crazy I don't see any reason to try to hide it.

I've lived with a lot of families. I didn't want any of them to worry about me or be inconvenienced.

[ Now it's.. a little different. He understands that sometimes relying on others can show that you accept their care and that you want to be with them, now. ]

It's too late for someone like to start lying.

[She didn't want those people to be inconvenienced. They...deserved better than her. Really, they did.]

I guess I never saw the point in pretending they weren't there. ['They' being youkai, of course.] Even if they weren't seen they can still influence things.

I learned a little late too but... I guess I got a lot of do-overs.

[ Natsume agrees with that, he just... he didn't know what else to do. He didn't want to be outcast. He didn't want to be alone and hated and he didn't want to inconvenience those people who were kind enough to put him up until they couldn't stand him anymore. ]

Guess we really are different, huh?

[Maybe Reiko's more stubborn than him. When she had been younger and the adults said they didn't see anything Reiko felt angry towards them. They weren't only calling her a liar but were also ignoring the things around them. Back then she couldn't describe how it made her feel. Youkai are real. There is no shame in knowing this and if everyone wants to think she's crazy then so be it.]

video for always;

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