#᛭ — [RELATION] beloved do not let me fall where you can't reach [IZANA & KAKUCHO]

[deathfavor]

@kyukicho said: [ OBSERVE ] - Izana kakucho

soft action prompts [ OBSERVE ] sender purposefully runs out into the rain without an umbrella to enjoy the storm while receiver watches.

  Few things can get past Izana’s gaze, especially when he has an uncanny ability to accurately read people’s next moves. He’s plenty aware of the fact that Kakucho is staring at the rain with a longing that almost makes him feel jealous. Which is ridiculous considering it’s just rain and nothing to compete against. What about it is appealing? Izana can’t fathom it. Rain is just manifested misery. 

  “ Kakucho? What are you- Kakucho!” 

  Even if Izana had predicted the following act, he still gawks when Kakucho races out into the heart of the rain to enjoy the storm. Izana himself remains safely tucked under the shelter of the covered walkway wondering if Kakucho's finally gone mad. Kakucho seems to be enjoying it though. Izana watches the smile that blossoms on his face and the raindrops that cling to skin and fabric. He can't fathom why someone would enjoy it so much and yet he is a witness to the fact that someone does.

For him, it's only ever brought pain to mask his tears. It tastes of pain and loneliness, of anger and sorrow raining from the sky above. Any time he's been out in the rain has always been at his worst. When he was ripped open and bleeding before Shinichiro when the ugly truth was shoved into his hands, when he'd dragged his broken body back to the orphanage before juvie. He stays away from the rain like those drops will unleash fresh sorrow onto him.

At least Kakucho is having fun.

Izana has no intention of joining his servant, but he does stand still to wait for him and bear witness to a moment of care free joy. Kakucho deserves to have that. To have joy offered so gently in a way that Izana never quite knows how to express and has to hope Kakucho understands. If he can at least watch such carefree joy, then he will gladly stand here five minutes, thiry minutes, an hour, all for Kakucho's delight.

[deathfavor]

@kyukicho said:  Not just a scratch, reverse. KakuIza

send ' not just a scratch ' for your muse to catch my muse patching a wound in secret

" Hey Kakucho. Why did you hide those from me? "

Izana stands in the doorway of the bathroom, his arms folded across his chest as he stares at the mess. It's impossible to tell how long he might have been standing there, simply observing. It could have been a few minutes, it could have been mere seconds. He could be the silent observer when he chose to be.

Wisteria eyes fall to survey the injuries, his jaw clenching subtly. It would take a more than a keen eye to notice the gesture ; only those who knew him well had any hope of even perceiving the small detail and change in his otherwise impassive expression. So this is where Kakucho had disappeared to. As if a king wouldn't notice when something was amiss with his servants, much less the most loyal of them.

" Sit down. " He points at the closed toilet, finally pushing off of the doorframe and walking into the bathroom to fetch the usual medical supplies. It only made sense that he had them on hand considering the amount of fighting that happened. They might be HARD to hit, but anyone could be injured. ( Admittedly, it was most often Shion. Shion had a strong offensive skill but his defense was pathetic. They'd all had some wounds here and there though over time. ) He holds out a hand, curling his fingers in a give me motion towards the bandaging Kakucho had in his hand.

It's only once it's given that he speaks again. " I'll patch you up. Now tell me why you didn't say anything. "

[deathfavor]

@kyukicho said: "don't do this. it's not good for you." Izana from Kakucho

when it gets hard sentence starters

" Are you giving orders now? "

Izana scowls as yanks his arm from Kakucho's gentle grip and ignores how the drink in hand shakes precariously, a few drops hitting his skin. Deep down, he knows Kakucho is right. It's not good for him and Kakucho's seen the worst of it. He's been there the nights that Izana has spent curled up in the bathroom or sweating and shaking against the wall. He's always there offering water and a soothing pat and supporting him. Never accusing, never cruel, always gentle and caring.

Guilt crawls up his throat and feels like a noose around his neck even as the angry words still ring on his tongue. Kakucho's so good even when Izana wants to drink everything away, or chase self-destructive paths to escape his own head and the demons that lurk. He's so good and Izana's so fucked up and he doesn't know how to stop the venom or anger when it shows up. He can be cruel easier than he can be kind. It's never stopped Kakucho, Kakucho always looks so adoring. It doesn't stop the fear that hangs over him; fear that Kakucho will abandon him and he'll be left in that wretched loneliness again. He can't bear that, he won't survive that.

Izana swallows painfully, and ignores the tears that threaten to rise to his eyes. He's not sure if they're out of anger or out of guilt or sadness. Maybe all three. Maybe none of them. Izana throws aside the shot glass and watches it shatter and liquid go everywhere. It doesn't matter. Everyone else is so fucked up on alcohol and god knows what else that barely anyone even notices, especially over the music that's blasting and the flashing lights that make everything disoriented. He's had enough because even those strobe lights make him feel sick. It's probably best that he be cut off now but no one cares about should here. Except Kakucho. Izana shoves his way through the sweaty, rowdy crowd and pounding music and outside into the cold air.

( Yet despite the display of anger, it's worth noting that Izana hasn't grabbed another drink. He's listened to Kakucho even if he isn't entirely aware of it. )

He leans back against the wall, shivering under the sharp contrast between the club and two a.m. air as he sinks down. His hands find their way to his hair, curling into snow locks as he hides his face. " My head hurts. " He croaks, because he can hear footsteps approaching where he's sunk down. against the sidewalk and wall. It's probably poor, sweet Kakucho who will look worried - " I don't want to think right now. " Izana mumbles. And if it's a stranger? He doubts they'd care.

[deathfavor]

@kyukicho said: "You keep can’t doing this yourself, let me intervene I’m sure we can resolve this." -KakuIza

confrontation starters

Maybe he shouldn't have revealed to Kakucho that he was still alive yet. Maybe it should have waited until the moment Izana slaughtered South and took back what was already rightfully HIS. He once would have done exactly that; before Tenjiku's fall, before the king was believed to be dead to all, even himself. But that incident had changed Izana. Maybe not much, but a little. He's already made Kakucho wait two years, and in this violent life, there was no guarantee he would be able to tell or show Kakucho these things.

Izana isn't terribly surprised that Kakucho would find him again of his own accord. He crouches over some unconscious fool's body and wipes his bloodied hands off on their shirt with a disdainful glare at the body. It'd been a long time since he'd had to do grunt work like this, and even then, it had been by CHOICE. He'd made his authority and power known in juvie and emerged with a group already formed. This was a bit new. Bit boring, really. But it was better - let the dogs maul each other and he'd swoop down with razor sharp talons and flaming wings to burn all the gangs to ashes.

" You're not questioning my abilities, are you, Kakucho? " Izana asks as he stands up, calmly glancing over his shoulder before he properly turns to face his servant. " No intervening. " He strides closer until he's only a couple feet from Kakucho, and finally exhales with a ghost of a smile and a hint of warmth in his eyes. " You really are as reckless as ever. " They probably could brunt force it now to resolves this all, especially with the other members of Tenjiku. But... " There's a plan in place. One where you won't be caught in the crossfire. Patience is important though. "

Still... He tilts his head back, staring up at the cloudy sky with a faint frown. " It is rather exhausting though. I'm tired. " He admits quietly. At least that had been his last move planned for the day, more territory snapped up by his gang. The colder weather too had added to it ; for a bit had been warming up but now it had cooled again and his scars today felt stiff.

[deathfavor]

@kyukicho said: “Talk to me. That’s all I want. Just talk to me, please!” - KakuIza any timeline

confrontational starters

Izana knows Kakucho's coming even before Kakucho makes his way to his side. His dearest servant is unyielding in that; he faithfully follows Izana no matter where the king treds. His eyes squeeze shut as he tips his head back and swallows down the last of his colorful drink and sets the empty glass back onto the bar. It's just in time too as Kakucho arrives by where he's seated.

" Kakucho - " Izana starts and stops in a split second as he hears Kakucho's words. That's all I want. Please!

Izana looks to the side, watching drunk people stumble over themselves in a sea of music and moving bodies. Izana's only had one drink so far, and nothing strong enough to make him feel anything other than a tad bit relaxed. Kakucho's words make something vile raise in his throat. Kakucho. Far too sweet Kakucho, who'd followed his King's orders without hesitation. He wants to reject Kakucho's request because it doesn't feel like anything good can come from this.

" Fine. " He hears his own voice fill the air over the music and he tosses a bill that's too much for the drink he just consumed. It doesn't matter ; Tenjiku's drawn in plenty of money as they've overtaken the underworld. Izana grabs his jacket and heads out into the night with Kakucho by his side. He doesn't say anything for the first few minutes, just stares ahead while they walk with no destination in mind.

" Sometimes I just want to escape from everything. Even though I'll regret it when the drinks and everything else has worn off. Or during it. " Kakucho's been present for both. " It helps for a little bit. " But the downfall always inevitably comes, one way or another, sooner or later. When Izana is at his ugliest sometimes, like a live grenade, but also the most truthful, less steel and ice. " I know you don't enjoy those parties Tenjiku has, or back with Black Dragon. " He knows, and despite his fall, he'd always been careful to make sure Kakucho didn't drink something he shouldn't or swat away bad temptations offered to his servant. " Yeah, that's what I was planning on tonight. " He says before Kakucho can ask, and his head turns a fraction more away, to help conceal in the shadows.

Kings weren't supposed to admit that. That they wanted to escape sometimes, that he wasn't as untouchable and godlike as he presented himself to the world and everyone in it. He doesn't think he meant to share that, but somehow it slipped past him. Maybe he did have something stronger than he thought.

[deathfavor]

serious starter call - @kyukicho | Izana & Kakucho | 3 of ??

" Mm. The police are being meddlesome again. We'll have to move the trade route for the next week or two. I'll pull some strings and get one of those local nobodies to take the fall for the chaos from earlier this week. " Izana sighs as he falls back against couch, snow lily lashes resting against his cheeks for a moment. Like this, he held a delicate elegance to him that gave no indication of the monstrous power he held. " Kakucho, who was that group the other day with the stupid blue strike on their coat? We'll use them. They're annoying and weak. "

He quiets down for a moment, so still one might almost miss his slow breathing. But this his eyelashes part and he turns his gaze towards Kakucho. Yet he doesn't immediately say anything — his eyes flicking over his servant as if he was searching for something. It wouldn't be surprising if that was exactly what Izana was doing.

" Kakucho. " He beckons him closer as he sits upright on the couch. He's quiet, hands that are capable of extreme violence tracing Kakucho's scar with tender gentleness. " You'll follow me wherever, right? " He murmurs, then sighs as his hand falls into his lap. " I don't know why sometimes. " His lips form a thin smile, turning his head away to stare out the window. " One day this kingdom will encompass everything here. " He murmurs, gaze distant.

[deathfavor]

@kyukicho said: ❛ let’s just stay in and watch the snow. ❜ -KakuIza

winter themed starters

" Huh? "

Izana halts as he feels Kakucho's hand grasp his before he can grab his coat from where it hangs by the front door. It feels rare that Kakucho speaks of his own plans without prompting these days and thus captures his attention. Then again, they've been busy for ages. Tenjiku has swallowed up group after group in the underworld, and its left many nights being busy with smoothing out details and rules and new trade routes. Mikey is nothing but a puppet head, it is Izana's power and ruthlessness that holds everyone in line and he oversees everything with king's authority. It's felt like a while since he's rested or done nothing at all for an evening.

Watch the snow? When was the last time Izana had really stopped to watch the snow? He almost couldn't recall. It had been a long time since he'd last gazed at snowy skies with hope or giggled when a snowflake danced and fell to rest on his nose or melted against the warmth of his cheeks. Wisteria eyes stare at Kakucho and then shift to look past his shoulder and gaze out the window of the penthouse where snow drifts down. Logically Izana had known it was snowing - it was why he had prepared to grab his hooded coat. But he really hadn't thought about it consciously. He hadn't reflected on it. He hadn't in years. He hadn't thought about it since they were little at the orphanage, giggling and sharing plans in a snow fort. Something about the way Kakucho speaks now makes Izana reflect on it for the first time since.

" Kakucho... " Izana's voice trails off for a moment and his eyes shift away from the snow back towards Kakucho's face. Why? Why now? Izana ponders over the question, weighing if he wants to ask it or not. His eyes drop down to their hands, where Kakucho's larger hand surrounds his. ( He is lucky he holds the king's affection to allow such an act to go without consequences or reprecussions. )

He lingers silently for a few more excruciating seconds. " Okay. " Izana drops his free hand from where it had been reaching for his coat. " Okay. I suppose we can stay in. " He agrees, turning his body more towards Kakucho and the warm lighting of the room. " I guess it's been a while since we've been in....or watched the snow. "

[deathfavor]

@kyukicho said: Misty, yet light and airy. Armed with an umbrella, Izana would like this weather, Kakucho mused to himself. Pleased he had brought the extra large one that he would gladly share, if not wholly give up to his king. One he hadn't seen in what seemed like forever.

Practically bouncing on the balls of his feet, Kakucho waited as those being released filed out of the gate. "Izana?" He cried with a hint of curiosity as he spotted the shaved stark white hair. His beautiful hair... at least it would grow back. "They let me come pick you up!"

Other boys greet the day of their release with tears of relief when family welcome them back, or at least excited laughter to be free. But there is no lurch of joy in his stomach, no excited ramblings or final farewells. There is relief though. Izana watches people still flinch away and cower back from his gaze as he's led out of his cell and towards the front. ( The rest of the vicious generation will be released soon too, Izana just happens to be first to emerge. The King that strides forward and others who will fall in line. )

For a moment, Izana stands at the gates with a slow exhale in the air that feels perfect. It isn't too heavy or hot, the first day in a while. He stares ahead, numb. No one will be here for him. Definitely not the way he watches some of the other boys rush into waiting arms and warm words. Once bright, cheerful eyes had gone flat, childish delight extinguished. His expression is shuttered and composed as he walks forward. It doesn't matter. He has no intention of living life the way most of these boys do anyways. Izana turns his gaze away while the ugly resentment writhes in his chest and-

A shout. Izana's eyes suddenly widen, shock striking him to the core when he turns to see Kakucho waiting with an umbrella. Even he can't quite hide the look of surprise, lashes parted and purple eyes blown wide in surprise. Kakucho. Kakucho had come? Warmth spreads through his chest even when he wipes the surprise from his face and trots over to join the other boy.

" They let you come, huh? " Izana tilts his head, stepping under the umbrella. If it had been anyone else, that would be surprising. But Kakucho and him have already spent years at the orphanage - the likelihood of either of them being chosen was ever decreasing. ( It didn't matter. They had each other. ) Still, there's a giddiness in his chest. Kakucho was still here. It was selfish, but Izana was glad for that. Kakucho was here and hadn't left him alone.

Izana squints at Kakucho for a moment. " You've gotten taller. " He lifts a hand then, and finally a subtly mischievous gleam comes back to flat eyes as he playfully pinches Kakucho's cheek. " Such a good servant. Don't get any silly ideas just because you're getting tall, okay? Otherwise I'll have to kick your ass. " They might be chilling words to anyone else, but there's a quiet fondness in his voice as he looks at Kakucho.His hand soothes over his cheek, reassurance that Kakucho really is here before his hand falls back to his side. His smile has changed, it's small and barely a curve of his lips now, but it's there all the same when he looks a Kakucho, " Let's get out of here. I've been here long enough. "

[deathfavor]

@kyukicho said: 💢KakuIza Any verse!

tension rp starters 💢 : your muse picks mine up & carries them over their shoulder .

To say the king had been snared unaware would be an understatement. Izana is someone people more often recoil from, or watch to see their touch is welcomed. People do not just pick Izana up and throw him over their shoulder like a sack of potatoes. He doesn't care how gently Kakucho does it, the fact is that he's being carried over Kakucho's shoulder like a misbehaving or problematic child. He should punish such insubordination...but Kakucho's always been able to get away with things that others aren't.

" This is quite bold of you, Kakucho. " Izana remarks after the shock wears off, his hands splayed against Kakucho's back and voice strained ( though if it is from gravity or his own doing is hard to tell ). " So what the hell are you up to? "

Clearly Kakucho wanted him removed from the situation ( which Izana wasn't going to willingly do ) but to think Kakucho would pull such a daring stunt...Fine. He was admittedly impressed despite his shock. Not many people could catch Izana offguard with his skill in reading other people's movements.

His earrings clatter as he tries to lift his head - he could escape but he'd rather not mess up Kakucho's face to do so. Which leaves him half-hanging as he's carried, white strands of hair falling in his face. " Where are you taking me? " He interrogates instead, purple eyes squinting over his shoulder at his apparently rebellious servant. ( His anger, however, was absent - curiosity still reigned supreme in his mind. After all, his loyal servant didn't typically act in such ways. Curiosity was only natural. Was it planned? Was it spontaneous? For once, he wasn't sure. )

[deathfavor]

@kyukicho said: ‘ i’m not anything. ’ Kakuiza

the road starters

" Don't you ever say that again. "

Izana's previously calm demeanor immediately shifts to something more severe as his eyes widen and he stares at Kakucho. A hand lifts, grabbing the front of his shirt and forcing him to bend down to be eye level with him. It's rare that Kakucho becomes a target of such an intense stare or scolding - rare, but not impossible. If any moment calls for it, that moment is now.

" Are you saying my taste is in nothing? That I just let nothings and nobodies kiss me? Hold me? Touch me? " Izana's approach is a far cry from the soft, delicate reassurances that others would give their loved one - yet the heart of the message is clear. Kakucho is not nothing, because if Kakuchu was nothing then he wouldn't be standing here. Izana wouldn't have entertained him then and he certainly wouldn't now. The setup of the remark sounds self-oriented, but it's merely the best way Izana knows how to convey himself and what he wishes to say without blatant admissions that would leave him vulnerable to flies and others. It's fine; Kakucho should understand it better than anyone.

If Izana did not care, he would do nothing at all. A king does not waste his time in such a way.

His hand loosens its iron grip on Kakucho's shirt so that he can raise both hands to cup Kakucho's face. " You're my faithful servant. Nothing of mine is nothing or not anything. " Izana frowns, studying his face before he leans forward to press a featherlight kiss to Kakucho's lips, so soft it was like the beat of a butterfly's wing's. Then he leans back but keeps his hold firm.

" Do you understand, Kakucho? " You're important to him, the king's first choice.

[deathfavor]

@kyukicho said: i'll take care of everything. Kakucho for Izana

concern for others sentence starters

   Izana loathes being sick. He hates the way his head becomes foggy and he’s less certain of what he has done versus his future plans to do something. It makes everything more difficult, especially when he doesn’t want to let anyone know that he’s feeling less than his usual self. A king does not intentionally reveal his weaknesses for people to know. They do everything to conceal such facts from as many people as possible. He succeeded the first day.

   But by the next morning, he was in worse shape. It was cold in the apartment but it felt like he was burning and Kakucho's worried face refused to be ignored even with Izana's attempt to brush it aside. He's less confident in what happened after that other than he'd evidently ended up back in bed and Kakucho was trying to appease him to stop him from attempting to get out of bed.

" You'll take care of everything? " Izana parrots the words back, brows furrowed in response. One could interpret that however they wanted - the reality was that Izana wasn't quite sure what everything was entailing. Purple eyes stare intently at Kakucho for a moment, and he reluctantly sinks back into the pillows of his bed with a petulant sigh.

Would Kakucho be able to handle it? Kakucho was capable, and everyone knew that if Izana was around, Kakucho likely wasn't far with only rare exceptions. But he wasn't in any shape to be handling important matters today. " Fine. " Izana wouldn't be surprised if Kakucho was relieved when Izana relents and abandons his efforts of trying to force himself to get up. " It's in your hands then Kakucho. "

Izana sulks as he sinks under a sheet that had taken quite some insistence for Izana to even accept. " I hate being sick. " It's a rare glimmer to broken shards of youth - he never had responded well whenever he was sick.

[deathfavor]

@kyukicho said: ❛   good morning .  Izana from Kakucho

loud & deafening silence   ❛   good morning .   kiss  my  muse  the  morning  after .

  A noise of complaint drags from somewhere between his chest and throat as Izana feels the bed shift with Kakucho’s weight moving. But it isn’t that which bothers him. It’s the sudden warmth that separates itself from his back that leaves his skin breaking out in goosebumps for a moment even though it wasn’t that cold. 

  Izana forces his eyes open to look over his shoulder towards Kakucho. God they were up all night and he was still getting up to work out? It was too damn early. He watches through tired eyes, making no attempt at acting as if he were going to get up from where he was curled up in the sheets. He wonders how long it will till Kakucho notices the amethyst peering through snowy lashes, watching how he moves. 

   The answer is not long. Izana lifts his chin slightly to accept the kiss from Kakucho. It’s gentler than the usual ones, softened by drowsiness as he sinks into the kiss and savors the fuzzy glow to it. But that doesn’t mean it’ll spare a tired tease. 

   “  Did I not wear you out enough last night? “ Izana murmurs against his lips, and then his lips quirk up into a smile. Poor Kakucho will probably scramble for an answer even this early. But Izana feels a bit merciful.  “  I’m kidding. “ He adds shortly after, pressing his lips back against Kakucho’s in another kiss meant to reassure. 

   “ Have fun training. “  Izana sinks himself back into the warmth of the blankets, pulled tighter now that Kakucho had moved. “ I’ll see you in a couple hours. “ When Izana decided to actually get out of bed. 

[deathfavor]

@kyukicho said: you look so much happier here. - KakuIza

such a fun age starters

   Peace is found in the darkness, with only the blue glow of the water casting rippling light beams over the area. Most of the public has already left the aquarium at this late hour, the few stragglers remaining in the giftshop cooing over exorbitantly priced knickknacks and plushies. Izana stands in the heart of the aquarium, eyes fixated on the sharks that swim in front of the glass wall, the giant turtles that meander through the water. He spotted the eels too, eyes bright with delight at the elusive creature. He’s taken plenty of pictures before – it does not stop Izana from taking one more. He adored his own fish tank, but there was nothing quite like the experience of an aquarium. Especially in the big room for the sharks or the darker tunnels where jellyfish and the likes remained.  

   “  Mm?  “  Kakucho’s voice pulls Izana back from the moment to turn towards his loyal servant entering the room.  “ I like it here. It’s calming. “ No one will dare to try to approach Izana to mention leaving either.  

   It’s one of the few times and places where Izana looks relaxed, where shattered remnants of childish delight come back to life in his eyes. It doesn’t matter how many times he’s visited – it always pulls a lighter spark to his eyes, a more lively energy. He beckons Kakucho closer, closer, fingers reaching out to grasp the lapels of Kakucho’s coat and pull him closer till his own back rests against the cool glass and he can tilt his head up to press a slow kiss to his loyal servant’s lips. 

   “ I thought you were going to be occupied for longer tonight. ” He murmurs when he pulls back enough to speak. He hadn’t thought much of it earlier when Kakucho had texted him asking where he was. “ Then again, Koko is good with these business transactions. “ Izana muses – it likely helped Izana also was one to watch money rather than have it thrown frivolously everywhere.  

   Business is forgotten though when something catches his eye and he turns his head with a gasp like he's remembered something that slipped his mind. “ Oh, Kakucho! They added a new fish. Look, look!” His expression brightens as he points towards the bright red fish that swims by. It’s not a big deal and it’s not important in the grand scheme of things, but clearly it’s delighted Izana. He watches it for a moment before he turns his head back towards Kakucho. 

   “ Maybe we should go on vacation. “ He tosses the idea out to Kakucho. They could definitely afford it with the money they brought in. “ Go visit a reef? Explore somewhere else? ” Izana contemplates, turning his full attention back to him, arms sliding up Kakucho’s chest to wrap around his neck. “ What do you think? We could invite the S-62, have it be like old times. But have an extra few days just us. “ He fingers play with the end of Kakucho’s hair, keeping Kakucho close to him. “ What do you think? And not any of that whatever you want, what you actually think. “

[deathfavor]

@kyukicho​​ said: It's been some few hours. Having time to leave the party and come back home. Kakucho is still at a loss. Not sure how to make his mistake up to his king. Watching him retire onto the couch he pauses. Trying to come up with the words to say. 

"Izana..." He murmurs, coming over to face him. Crumpling onto the floor on his knees and resting his head in the man's lap. "I'm sorry, please forgive me for earlier. I shouldn't have let that person make those advances towards me."

   I’m sorry. Izana hadn’t understood it at the time, when Kakucho had whispered those words against his lips. He’d been sated that the other reaffirmed that he was Izana’s. Yet it had nagged at his brain for a bit after despite that. He didn’t understand why Kakucho had said it, he didn’t know what to do about it. But he’d decided to let it be as the hours had slid passed. Now Izana was sitting on the couch as silence filled the home, taking a sip of cold water before setting it aside. 

   “  Kakucho.  “  Izana answers, turning his head when he hears his name called by the other. His body was relaxed, but it instantly goes rigid and stiff when he sees how Kakucho essentially collapses in front of him.  “  Kakucho?  “  Despite himself, his voice lifts at the end to a higher note of concern as something suddenly tightens and twists in his chest. Is something wrong? Did something happen he didn’t know about? Did he need to kill someone? He would. He’d kill them if-

   Oh.

   All at once the overwhelming violence in his veins dissipates into nothingness again. He lifts a hand to gently rest it atop Kakucho’s head. Is that what the sorry had been about? Is that why Kakucho had seemed so on edge the last few hours? Kakucho was blaming himself? Stupid. Stupid, but sweet. He’s quiet a moment, trying to let his touch soothe his fallen servant in some way.

   “  Kakucho, look at me.  “  Izana commands, a hand sliding down to Kakucho’s chin to ensure that he looks at him.  “  I wasn’t angry at you earlier.  “  This seems like it would be enough to Izana. But Kakucho has always been nicer, better. What does he need?  I’m sorry I don’t know how to care in a gentler way.  “  I was angry at them. Not you. “ He hopes that the words are as reassuring as he intends for them to be. But he’s not certain when his earlier actions had evidently been misunderstood.  “  No need to beg for forgiveness, there is nothing needing forgiving. Come here. Sit up here with me.  “

[deathfavor]

@kyukicho said: i have so much faith in you - kakucho for izana

prompts for deep conversation

Izana knows as much. Kakucho has followed him since the day they've met. Even his time in jail hadn't shaken Kakucho's loyalty and faith in him. He'd been there the moment he was out and rarely left his side as a whole. So of course Izana knew what Kakucho was saying to him now.

But that doesn't mean it's pointless. Even if Izana himself didn't understand the fact that Kakucho's reminder serves as a way to stop Izana's mind from rewriting the narrative of the world in his eyes. It was a tactic Izana unconsciously often used to distance himself from pain or sorrow, to keep himself from being hurt like he had years ago when his truth was shattered.

( How cruel it was for Shinichiro to give him a false happiness. How sick he still wanted that. )

In some ways, many in fact, Kakucho understood Izana better than Izana understood himself. So even if Izana didn't know he needed to hear those words, they certainly helped.

Izana leans forward to catch Kakucho's face in his hands, a relaxed smile on his face. " Don't ever forget it, okay? " Izana murmurs quietly, his thumbs gently brushing along Kakucho's cheeks in one of the few genuinely gentle gestures he does know and mean. " I know you do. You're always going to be my loyal servant, right? " He murmurs quietly.

[deathfavor]

@kyukicho​ said: It's been an incredibly long day. Stressful to say the least as Kakucho has been hyper vigilant in keeping an eye out on Izana. That's why once they're in the safety of his home, Kakucho finds the nearest soft spot on the couch and immediately passes out. Please don't get upset.

   Izana watches as Kakucho makes a beeline for the closest comfortable space once they’re both safely inside and the door is locked behind them. ( It is something Izana has always done - locked by default much like the man himself. ) He doesn’t mind it of course. But he does mean to tell his servant that the bed is free and open rather than making do with the couch. Such is his intention when he strolls over after setting his coat aside and the keys and phone. He knows Kakucho has had a time. Kakucho always burns up more of his energy the days when Izana meets with other gangs who intend to submit to their growing empire, or the Yakuzha who one must always be wary of. Izana has yet to lose a single drop of blood to any of them, but he can tell how much Kakucho is at the ready.

   “ Kaku-  “  Izana starts, but falls quiet when he sees that his servant is already fast asleep. Impressive considering it hasn’t even been five minutes yet.

   The King lingers for a moment, taking the time to simply enjoy seeing Kakucho’s relaxed breathing. He should do something. His head turns to glance around the apartment before he disappears back into the bedroom and grabs one of the warm blankets. If Kakucho had asked while awake, Izana probably would have given a comment on how he should have done that first. But for now only Izana is awake and his actions are only known to him. ( Despite the fact it will be obvious when Kakucho awakes. ) He returns to Kakucho’s side and gently drapes it over his sleeping figure and then steps back to reassess the scene. It looks better. Kakucho looks more comfortable like this.  Sleep well.

   He doesn’t say anything but allows a tiny smile to himself, the tension in his shoulders dissipating a small amount at just observing him. This is a peace that he doesn’t find anywhere else. A type Izana can only find in the private moments shared with Kakucho away from the world and gangs. It reminds him of when they were younger, when they were eighteen, when they were seven, memories and memories that he kept carefully tucked under the bones of his ribcage.

   He turns and begins to feed the fish in his fish tank.