[IC] [Old Radio/Waiting in Earth Crossover]

[futureforbirds]

**After the library of doom made Kaito cough his lungs out, our Kaito Team has decided to go back to the city behind the wall. Kaito's illness has gotten much worse due to his weakened immune system and sleeping outside all the time. But now, here they are. He finds himself staring up at the wall with mixed emotions of relief and dread. How in the hell are they going to sneak in?**

Comments

[emptyseat]

[She was more than a little confused and it showed.]

Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?

Wait, what about you? Where have you been? The whole town was on the lookout for you. What happened?

[deteriorated]

The whole town?

[He didn't understand what she was talking about. Why would the town look for him if they didn't even know who he was?

And then it hit him like a ton of bricks.]

O-oh. [She thought he was that Kaito. The one that actually belonged here. Without his signature coat and scarf, he probably didn't seem too much different from the human. He'd gone and done a stupid thing without thinking, and now he was risking his master's life.]

I was... around. [Act like Kaito, he kept thinking. Act like a human. What Would Kaito Do?] The area. Around the area.

[emptyseat]

That's a poor answer. [She frowned and looked away.]

Don't tell me you're hiding things, too...

[deteriorated]

[He was either going to get his master in trouble or he was going to ruin his master's relationships. Was he supposed to pick the lesser of two evils?]

I-I'm not! I just -- [think think think] -- d-don't know what to say.

[emptyseat]

Say the truth, [she said firmly.] I'm tired of hearing lies. Just tell me the truth.

[She took his hands and held them.] We're friends. Please trust me -- I was worried.

[deteriorated]

[alkasaslfkj whatkindoffriendswerethey]

I was-- I was out. Outside.

[He took a deep 'breath' to steady himself. May he be uninstalled if this was the wrong choice.]

I was outside the walls. We were, I mean. Me and... Kaito.

[emptyseat]

Outside? You went over the walls? How?

And what do you mean, you and "Kaito"? [She squeezed his hands in a demanding way.] What are you talking about?

[deteriorated]

[The way she was demanding answers made him panic. What if he guessed wrong and they weren't as good friends as he thought?]

Please, please don't tell anyone! [He squeezed back in desperation.] I shouldn't even be saying all this -- I'm not the right person.

[emptyseat]

"Not the right person"? Kaito, what's going on?

[balloonstring]

**He and Naomi had been together earlier, but split up momentarily so she could do a quick errand. It seemed to be taking a while though, so Ryou thought he'd go see if he could help. Their romantic relationship may have been on the rocks, but she was still his friend and he could do at least that much.

Turning the street he'd seen her go down, he now saw her squeezing hands with another man. Shock. Who was that? But taking a closer look, the answer was the most unexpected of all.**

.... Kaito?

[balloonstring]

**but after standing and staring like an idiot for a couple of seconds**

H-hey!

**...he snapped out of it and approached, speaking in a low and quiet voice. He didn't want to cause a scene, but it got under his skin seeing this. Did she forgive him so easily for leaving his friends behind?**

You were a missing person, Kaito. Do you have any idea how worried Naomi was? What were you... what were you thinking?

[deteriorated]

[When it rains, it pours. KAITO wasn't so sure about this new guy, either; he seemed a little different from the girl -- named Naomi, apparently. He glanced at her nervously before answering the man.]

I- I didn't mean to make anyone worry. [That sounded good, right?] I didn't know.

[emptyseat]

[Naomi looked over at Ryou. She was grateful that he was defending her, but he was coming on a little strong.

Still. All those things Kaito said to her earlier... what did he mean? She looked back at him.]

He's right, we were worried.

[balloonstring]

Why didn't you tell us?

Did something bad happen?

[deteriorated]

Um. [What was he going to say?] Kind of.

[He was in big trouble.]

[emptyseat]

[Naomi decided to cut in.]

He told me it had to do with his father's death. [She relaxed their hands, only lightly holding them as she said to Kaito:]

It's okay if it's too personal to talk about.

[balloonstring]

.... Really?

**it didn't add up. Kaito's father died when they were little kids. Why would that change anything NOW?

Still, if it was true, he'd be a giant douche for pressing further, especially when Naomi had just said what she did....**

[deteriorated]

[He nodded. Best to just go along with this. What did he know about Kaito's father...?]

I had to take care of something that had to do with my father. [He meant Mekaito, really, but they didn't need to know that.] It's kind of... private.

I'm sorry. I really didn't mean to worry either of you.

1/2

[balloonstring]

Well, all right...

2/2

[balloonstring]

But if you're showing your face in public again, that means you're done, right? So Naomi and I won't have to worry any more.

[emptyseat]

[She looked up at Kaito as well. Even if she didn't have the full story yet, that was a legitimate question to ask, wasn't it? He could at least answer that.]

[deteriorated]

[...he felt like he was being pressured. He smiled awkwardly.]

Hopefully. If nothing else comes up, I mean.

[balloonstring]

Well, all right.

Take it easy though. Your face is a little offcolor, and it's probably from stress.

[deteriorated]

Really? [He (finally) pulls his hands away and uses one to rub his face.]

I guess I can go relax a little. [He can't believe the guy noticed.] Thanks.

[balloonstring]

**He noticed because he's SUSPICIOUS.**

Good.

**.... it just got awkward.**