[For Gaims, but especially seeking Takatora(s) and Micchi(s)]

[warintheextreme]

[otherwise known as: I'm in ur tower, creepin' on ur baby brother]

I'm not saying I had even a pinkie finger in organizing the field trip that brings this high school class to the Tower for a tour. I'm definitely not saying that I had any idea that the class in question also happened to contain Takatora's little brother, his pride and joy, the one he's got a picture of on his desk (and not even his parents have that distinction)...

And also, notably and somehow completely outside of Takatora's notice, one of my favorite little test subjects.

I slink towards him, hanging back and looking utterly bored by the proceedings. I'm not surprised- he's a Kureshima. He could come here any time he wants to, he just, presumably, chooses not to. Probably because he spends all of his free time with that Team Gaim.

"Kureshima Mitsuzane-kun?"

Comments

[ryuugen]

He knows.

...I think he knows.

About me.

It's not like I've kept my involvement hidden. Except from nii-san, but nii-san's very easy to hide things from.

"Team Gaim," I say, watching his face, brazening it out. "Have you heard of it?"

[warintheextreme]

There it is- a spark deep in his eyes when he meets my gaze. He even stands up a little straighter, I wonder if he even realizes..? But either way, he's rumbled the game I'm playing, and yet is still smart enough not to push his luck if he might be wrong. Very clever.

This could turn out to be very interesting indeed.

"No." I say blithely, spreading both hands with a little shrug. "Your Team Gaim, they use my Drivers, huh? To fight the Inves, is that it? On their own? Sounds dangerous."

[ryuugen]

I can't quite get a handle on him. I know he's got knowledge, about me, about nii-san, but I'm not sure what. And I'm not sure what he wants.

That's what it all comes down to. What he wants.

A casual grin. "Yes, it does, doesn't it? But I suppose if someone takes a risk willingly and gets hurt, it's okay if it's their decision. Nii-san says things like that sometimes."

[warintheextreme]

I smirk a bit at that one, inclining my head. "That he does. He can be a bit of a risk taker, your brother. Still, I'm surprised he would say such things to you, of all people."

[ryuugen]

Why is he so blase about other people using his work? A Sengoku Driver is a big deal. It's not like he invented a new kind of spoon.

I crouch for a moment to peer at what looks like a kumquat Lockseed, still conscientiously keeping my hands away, then I stand again. "Ah, he wants me to be his right hand man, so he tells me quite a few things."

Not everything. Definitely not everything.

We're both still dancing around it, but really, what will it hurt me if Ryouma-san knows I know? He wouldn't've brought me here, wouldn't be trying to get me to give up information, if he really was just a drone scientist working for nii-san. He wants something from me. Or wants to tell me something. I don't know what, though.

So.

Idly, "He never told me that you'd given him a Driver."

[warintheextreme]

"Is that so?"

That could be guessed at by anyone willing to look at the way Takatora speaks of his brother, but I have my suspicion that it's less about inheritance and power and more about the much more simple concept of keeping Mitsuzane within arm's reach.

He shows interest in one of the odder Seeds, and then looks up at me again.

Oh, so he does know about his brother's indiscretions. But how much?

"Well, to say that I gave him anything is something of a vast overstatement of my importance. I'm no project manager, after all, I simply design and build the technology. You would be more accurate to say that I was told to give him one." I tilt my head a little more to one side. "The first one, in fact."

[ryuugen]

He reacts to that. But only a little. It's hard to tell if I'm intriguing him or making him think about how he could use me. Or both.

I swallow, because it's still hard and strange to have someone else essentially acknowledge that nii-san tried to kill Kouta-san. And seriously hurt all those other people.

(Blood on my hands.)

"Oh, I see," and it's not too hard to feign polite enthusiasm here. I am enthused. I want to know more.

I need to know more.

"Was that a long time ago?"

[idfk making shit up as I go~]

[warintheextreme]

There's something wrong, perhaps I've gone too far with this game? He seems more nervous, suddenly, though he's hiding it remarkably well.

"Not so very long ago, no. Less than a year. The Driver was original designed as a defensive measure for a major project. You should be proud of him, I think, heading a project this large at his age."

[yayyyy]

[ryuugen]

His eyes sharpen. My posture straightens. I'm fine. I'm the humble dutiful second son of the Kureshima family.

My eyebrows lift, and I nod slowly. "I see. Nii-san's always worked very hard, that's very good of him. Does he have to defend himself often?"

[warintheextreme]

While it's of course no surprise that Takatora didn't tell him about the Driver, it was also obvious that Mitsuzane knew before I told him. He's a good actor, but he's not that good.

The question is, how did he find out?

"Well, you understand, it started out as a defensive measure. But I have to admit your brother has taken to using it offensively at times as well." I pause, as if considering. "Though it is proving to be a difficult project. Perhaps offensive measures are precisely the answer, right?"

[ryuugen]

I nod easily, with a small grin. I know Yggdrasill's principles. Well, some, at least.

"Sometimes, certainly. It's easier to take out a potential threat before it can actually threaten you."

[warintheextreme]

I chuckle at that, shaking my head and rolling my eyes towards the ceiling, spreading my hands and shrugging- the picture of helplessness. "Spoken like a true Kureshima."

I narrow my eyes at him slightly. "Mitsuzane-kun, if you don't mind me asking... You said your brother never told you about his Driver... And yet you knew about it."

[ryuugen]

An insult, from some people.

I just smile. Happy little brother. Dutiful little brother. Obedient little --

Oh. Oh, no.

"I do, yes," I say softly. "I saw the suit. And I saw him with the Driver. It wasn't too hard to work out."

[warintheextreme]

His smile alone has so many layers. In just this short amount of time I've been talking to him, I've seen at least four different smiles, some of them nearly genuine, and at least one of them- this one- overwhelmingly plastered on, forced, completely failing to reach his eyes.

"Well, now, that is odd." I look up, meet his eyes, and laugh a little.

"Ahh, Mitsuzane-kun. I think maybe we should start being honest with each other. Would you forgive me, if I admitted to having stretched the truth?"

[ryuugen]

...I wish I knew him better. He's making all sorts of little tells, but I can't even work out if they're on purpose to mislead me. I can't read nii-san all the time, not on every level, and he's VERY good. This Ryouma-san is also very good. Most people are a lot easier to read...

I manage a more honest smile, and a statement that's both quite true and intended to be misleading. "I think if we were entirely honest, we'd have to kill each other."

[warintheextreme]

I laugh again, this one is no more or less genuine, but the tone is certainly different. More like honestly amused. "Don't say things like that Mitsuzane-kun. If you believe nothing else that I have told you or do tell you, believe this: the last thing I want is for anyone to be hurt."

I move closer to him again, crossing my arms over my chest and standing over him. Making him look up to meet my eyes.

"May I see your Driver, Mitsuzane-kun? Or rather, Ryuugen?"

[ryuugen]

He keeps saying that. Maybe he really does believe it.

I'm doing my best to ignore the tiny surge of hope deep inside me that says that maybe he can be trusted, a little, and says maybe not just as a business partner, and also says, maybe as someone who cares a little.

He steps closer. I look up, eyes bigger than I'd like them to be. I don't need to play the innocent schoolboy just now. Not entirely, at least. But he's so *close*...

I inhale, but manage to mostly keep my expression still. No point in denying it. "Why, Ryouma-san?"

[warintheextreme]

I'm glad we've so rapidly moved past the point of playing games. He has so much potential, in so many ways.

Like I said, my favorite little test subject, even if I do question Cid's decision to give him a Driver in the first place.

"I swear to return it." I inform him nonchalantly. It's true- what would I do with it?

"I would just like to see it. I designed it, built them all from scratch, but I have only ever handled one that has been Initialized."

[ryuugen]

I don't move my eyes off his, but I take in what I remember, what I can feel, of the space around me. It's a fairly big place. Probably has all kinds of security built in.

If I transformed, I could probably deal with it. Or most of it. And get away, one way or another.

...or I could get killed.

Maybe I'll just see where he's going with this. "All right," I say softly, producing it. I hold it out to him.

[warintheextreme]

I wonder what he's thinking. There's something sparking back there in the depths of his eyes- a form of defiance. Could he really be considering transforming right here?

"Mitsuzane-kun." I say softly. "I'm no threat to you. I'm just a scientist. An intellectual."

I grin, a proper grin, when he pulls the Driver out, and offers it to me. I take it carefully in both hands, and move directly past him to sit down at one of my desks, flipping on a lamp and bringing it around to get a better look. "You carry it with you everywhere, then? Even here, even to school- where I imagine your extracurricular activities with the Beat Riders is not common knowledge?"

I run my fingers over the Initialized face plate.

"What do you think of it, Mitsuzane-kun? The transformation?"

[ryuugen]

He's very definite about this business about not being a threat. About not wanting anyone hurt.

I'm not making any decisions about him just yet, long term, but for now? Well, we'll see.

He takes my Driver, and I clasp my hands behind my back once more so I won't be tempted to reach for it. I follow him, though.

"I do. I'm not about to leave it lying around where someone else could find it." I frown, just a little. "How do you mean, Ryouma-san? The physical effects of it?"

[warintheextreme]

"By someone else, I assume you mean your brother." I say softly, reflexively checking the smooth action of the pivoting part of the cutting blade, and the connections in the drive bay.

I glance over my shoulder, catching his frown before he can wipe it from his face. "The physical effects? Yes, I suppose that is one aspect. But what about the innate power?"

Finding it all in working order, I stand again, turning to hand it back to him. "Forgive me for saying, but I can't imagine Cid chose to give this to you entirely out of the goodness of his heart." I hold it out, and wait for him to take it. "Would you put it on for me?"

[ryuugen]

The way he handles it is really interesting. Not like someone who's used one, but he's so very familiar with it.

Of course he is - he designed it - but it's just interesting.

"Nii-san or anyone else," I say cautiously. I can't imagine trusting this to the 'safety' of my room, or my schoolbag, or anything like that. What does he know about the relationship between me and nii-san anyway?

"Ah, the innate power," I nod. "It's good. Took me a little while to get used to it. Makes me feel more able."

I can't see a reason not to put it on. He hasn't asked a question about Cid so I'm not answering it just yet.

[warintheextreme]

"Anyone else." I hum at that. "I suppose you have a point, though you must know by now that it won't work for anyone but you, now. Though if you consider the other users your enemies, I suppose you wouldn't want to leave it somewhere for them to find and perhaps break it? For that I should thank you- I don't really have time to make another."

He activates the Driver and I smile, crouching briefly to get a better look, then standing up again.

"I imagine you appreciate something like that, at your age."

I lean back against my desk again. "You can take it off if you like, I'm not about to ask you to transform for me."

I meet his eyes for a moment. "You know, I imagine, that you brother has no idea of your involvement in this."

[ryuugen]

He doesn't have time to make another, but he hasn't been monitoring what's been happening with these?

...though I suppose part of that was a lie. He knew about me, after all.

I nod. "I don't want it broken. It's been too useful."

I remove it, and let it go back to where it was. "I don't think he does, no." Artlessly, "Are you going to tell him?"