[Video - daydreams virus.]

[unknownrival]

[A scene that would not be out of place in Issei's temple normally. With a small smile, Issei pours tea for another man, lean and stern-looking even when there was nothing to be particularly stern with. He sits down across from him after being thanked and sips his own tea before speaking.]

You know... I always did want to introduce you to my friends. A number have come and gone over the years, so I can't reflect too much on them... ah, but considering the subject, I suppose that doesn't matter as much. Still, I don't want to get too caught up in missing everyone.

You would have liked Kasumi-nee best, I think. She came to stay with us for a time, and is as dear to me as a sister as you are as a brother. She's kind, and gentle, and I don't think that you could have found any fault with her. Perhaps even you two would have considered each other siblings by extension.

And besides her... Retasu, too. She's younger than me, still a student, but you would have been a good teacher for her. Perhaps, with the encouragement of someone like you who can always be believed, we could have helped her more. I'll do my best on my own. For that matter, I would have liked Karen to be in my class, even if we had to compete for the position of student council president. The school could only benefit.

Kaitou Kid, I imagine, you wouldn't have gotten along with well at all. Considering your history, I wonder...

I had my reasons for all of it. You should know that. [He seems completely calm, without any of the anger that might be assumed to come from someone with such harsh features.]

I do. And you should know that his reasons are as good as yours were, and his actions better. Well, maybe it's that I love him that would have driven you to dislike. [Issei chuckles quietly.] You are an elder brother after all. Hakuba would have been more on your good side, intelligent, composed, not drawn too much to rule-breaking. The less said about you and Tyki, I think, the better. And William, no, would I have mentioned Mag to you first?

I could really go on for days about all the people I, at some point or another, wanted you to meet. But in the end, that isn't what I want the most. I wouldn't care who you come to meet or what you think of them if I could have you alive again.

Comments

[voice]

[killerbaseball.livejournal.com]

[... There's someone going on today, but he's still not very sure what, so it may be best to tread carefully.]

Mr... Ryudo?

[voice]

[stripping.livejournal.com]

[He sounds tired and plainly sad.] This didn't actually happen. I was only imagining it.

[voice]

[killerbaseball.livejournal.com]

I see.

Dwelling in the past will do you no good.

[voice]

[stripping.livejournal.com]

I don't, usually. The virus caught me on a bad day.

[makewayforroze.livejournal.com]

[Watching that is heartbreaking, even if she didn't know who the other man was.]

I'm sorry.

[stripping.livejournal.com]

I think it's all right.

[makewayforroze.livejournal.com]

Who is he?

[stripping.livejournal.com]

My adoptive brother, Kuzuki Souichirou.

[sotobas-lot.livejournal.com]

A bittersweet virus this time, is it?

[stripping.livejournal.com]

It depends what you're thinking about, I suppose.

[sotobas-lot.livejournal.com]

It wasn't just some delusion, then. This was something you were thinking about? That helps define this virus a little.

[stripping.livejournal.com]

It was a daydream. Not exactly a fantasy, but something I was picturing in my mind with a conscious will.

[material_guy]

Hey, hey, what would yer big brother there or whatever think of me?

[video]

[100thbrokendish.livejournal.com]

Issei-san...?

[all text replies]

[stripping.livejournal.com]

It was just something I was thinking of, not something that happened.

and text

[100thbrokendish.livejournal.com]

[stripping.livejournal.com]

Right. I don't have the ability to speak directly to the dead.

[video]

[togotosleep.livejournal.com]

Someone special?

[video]

[stripping.livejournal.com]

My brother.

[video]

[togotosleep.livejournal.com]

[a sort of shy smile] I see! You must miss him a great deal.

[video]

[stripping.livejournal.com]

I like to think that we were close. We probably weren't as much as I would like to think, but at least I know that.

[morethanseeing.livejournal.com]

...are you alright, Issei?

[stripping.livejournal.com]

Fine. I only miss my brother.

[morethanseeing.livejournal.com]

I don't think anyone would blame you for that.

I'm sorry for your loss.

[stripping.livejournal.com]

It's all right. It was three years ago, so the wound has healed a little.