Day 13: Investigation

[pandatreasure]

[Morning comes, and with it, a distinct sense of unease. The raccoons spared no feelings in their offers yesterday, and even tried to ensure a murderer could get away with it... Only if everything goes according to the raccoons' plans, though, and that hasn't really been the case so far, has it? Haven't you been doing so well these not-quite-two weeks?

In some cultures, thirteen is considered an unlucky number, you know.]

((Groups of 2-3 tops under each toplevel, please! We shouldn't need more than one person at each toplevel so please don't double up and give other people a chance to explore.

Recyclr
Shrine))

Comments

[chosemyfate]

[WELL. HE DOES know of your relationship with this person he's about to mention, so this made him hesitant when he saw the recyclr message.]

....

McGonagall and I found Dazai in the waters of the aquarium tunnel.

I'm sorry.

[suppressthedark]

[For a moment, it looks like Ichigo doesn't hear him - but then his eye goes wide, wider than it seems possible, his face contorting into a grimace of pain and disbelief.]

No...

[Akira had told him he'd suspected Dazai was up to something, but....but...Somewhere in his heart, he'd hoped - prayed - that it wouldn't happen.

Clearly, he was wrong.

He lowers his head, teeth gritted, and slams his fist against the table.]

[chosemyfate]

We don't know anything else except that we recognized the body underwater when we got closer.

[He might have flinched a bit at the slamming of that fist on the table but kept still. Especially considering the injuries...]

I'm sorry, Ichigo. I want to help you find who did this, for that reason.

[suppressthedark]

[SORRY, HE'S

not going to talk for a while, shoulders shaking as he wrestles with his emotions, trying to force his tears back. Dazai wouldn't want him to cry, would just laugh in his infuriating way and say that he didn't deserve to be cried over -

That thought is the one that gets him to gasp, tears sliding down his visible eye and a moisture spot clearly showing through the bandages on his face.

He never even got to talk to him again, to say any kind of goodbye -]

Dazai...

[chosemyfate]

[And this sight just broke his heart. And it felt a little to familiar and close to home for Corrin the past days.

He had the thought to hold off on giving a hug he had the urge to do. Because he minded those injuries on Ichigo...

Well. Ok, maybe one gentle arm around the redhead. But loose enough to pull away!

Understanding he likely won't get a response, he just offers to stay that way. ]

[suppressthedark]

[Ichigo practically leans into Corrin when he feels that arm around him, heedless of his injuries as he sobs deeply. He can't speak - There's nothing but his attempts for breath inbetween sobs as he vents his emotions over the entire situation.

It's a reverse of a similar moment, back when Niles was executed and Corrin cried on him in the greenhouse.

Eventually, his sobs die down into hiccups and reflexive gasps, and he just stays quiet.]

...How...How did he...

[How did he look? Did it look like he suffered? Did the Raccoons - the goddamn raccoons - even give him any diginity in death?

But he can't say it, the words caught in his throat.]

[chosemyfate]

[And Corrin doesn't have it in him to just lie to Ichigo about this. He shudders as he recalled the body, just gently hugging a little big tighter in hopes it helps. His hand moves to gently rub Ichigo's back.

He's recalling just how familiar these roles were about a week ago. ]

...I only say this because I won't lie to you.

From how mangled his limbs and neck looked, I am very positive someone did this to him. [As suicidal as Dazai (almost a miracle he was around this long, honestly.) was, and as much as Corrin to tick this off as a suicide like Tsumigi's... he's pretty sure Dazai wouldn't have managed this by himself. ]

[suppressthedark]

[God -

Hearing that makes him flinch, shutting his eye and gritting his teeth. The only solace he has is that the raccoons might have deformed his body like that.

He doesn't cry, but the way his hand curls into a fist - his knuckles going white - is a good indication of how he feels.]

...Thank you. For telling me.

[The words are forced out, but he is grateful - at the very least, it means he won't be tempted to go look himself.]

[purrtagonist]

[. . . and here is the one Akira was braced for]

[he isn't as outwardly upset as Ichigo, but there is a moment where he sucks in a sharp breath, his one good hand curling into a fist at his side. he shuts his eyes tightly, brows furrowed, and tries to rein in his emotions before they spill over]

. . .

Thanks, Corrin.

[and that's it. it's said quietly, dully, without much emotions. but. yeah. that's it]

[chosemyfate]

I hope you'll be able to find who did this, Akira.

[He had half a thought to reach a encouraging hand on Akira's shoulder but he decided against doing that. ]

Of all people, I'm sorry this had to happen to him. ..And that this had to happen. [Again.]

[purrtagonist]

I will.

[his voice rises a bit with that, determination seeing into his tone. but that's all he lets show]

Give people enough incentive, along with a promise that they won't get caught, and they'll show you how desperate humans can really be.

[suppressthedark]

[Hey Akira, do you mind if Ichigo just slumps forward on the table in front of them?

Because that's what he's doing, clearly trying to hide his tears as his shoulders shake with the force of his sobs.

He knew this was coming, but - he still can't stop his tears, because he still feels like he failed Dazai - his friend, his nakama - and the guilt of being someone who drove him to go out during this night and die to someone is eating away at him.]

[purrtagonist]

[the only emotion Akira lets everyone see is his flash of determination, his promise to find whomever took Dazai's life. but when Ichigo slumps over, his expression softens]

[he settles his hand onto Ichigo's shoulder, warm and comforting, and says nothing. he just wanted to make it known that he was there]

[flamingprick]

[Okay, this is the one Rin wasn't expecting, because they had just talked yesterday.]

What- are you sure it was him? He shouldn't have even been out last night, he was supposed to be back in his room!

[chosemyfate]

[He's just swimming with the fishes, Rin. It's fine. He just looks a little discolored and stiff as he does it. :'''') ]

...I wish I was able to say I might be wrong, but.

We recognized him when his body floated closer into our view and into a tunnel. You can ask McGonagall yourself, as well.

We don't know how he got in there, either, I'm afraid.

[flamingprick]

[Well shit.

Rin needs to sit down for a moment now.]

He wasn't even supposed to be there!

[piertotumlocomotor]

This place isn't fair, Okumura.

[Even if Dazai had stayed locked in his room, she's convinced the raccoons would have sabotaged stuff intentionally to get someone to die]

There's nothing to do about that now other than seek for the person who took his life.

[cluelesscavewoman]

[Nooo drinking buddy]

...That means I have to find someone else to drink with.

[The real tragedy.]

[chosemyfate]

....R-Right. I hope that sorts out for you.

[ THAT'S. one way to see it. At least he's not feeling like the messenger about to be shot with this one. ]

[cluelesscavewoman]

Judge it is okay. I only shared so he would stop trying to break the door.

[That's HER drinks.]

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

...

[how does one even get in there, though??]

[chosemyfate]

I've never seen anything like those aquariums before. So I tried to ask McGonagall if there was any way to get to the body, but it didn't look like it was possible.

[TRUST ME KAIBA HE'S AS CONFUSED AS YOU ARE. ]

To take care of the body for a few people here... was the least I wanted to do.

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

[[what happened to my icon, arg]]

...Seems like whoever was in charge of arranging the bodies wasn't interested in us getting our hands on them this time.

[piertotumlocomotor]

It's possible something about how Dazai died may have clued to the culprit -- leaving aside that our captors don't need reasons to put the bodies out of our reach.

[Guess they'll have to rely on alibis and nothing more than that]

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

Knowing the cause of death might be useful. Otherwise we're just working in hypotheticals. Anyone could say anything.