Day 15

[suppressthedark]

[After they've gotten to somewhere private, so the motive rule isn't broken -]

How much do you know about Rin, Shuichi?

[He's going somewhere with this, trust him.]

Comments

[truthstranger]

...Very little. I've only spoken to him briefly. Why...?

[suppressthedark]

Okay. I need you to not tell anyone this, but -

[here we go-]

Rin talked to me when the sticks were given out, and he told me his motive. He's a half-demon - the reason his profile states he doesn't like Satan is because Satan both killed his adoptive father...and is his biological one.

And him being a demon is part of his motive.

[truthstranger]

That seems... hard to believe, but alright. What is the motive, exactly?

[suppressthedark]

[Shuichi my dude have you looked at Rin's tail or the fact that he has literal fangs and pointed ears]

...His motive is to lose control of his demon side and cause a rampage here.

[Ichigo looks like he believes every word of this, his eye narrowed and serious.]

He told me he was learning to control it before he came here - but it wasn't entirely under his control. And even if they don't give him back his powers, I've sparred with him before - he's incredibly strong. Strong enough to kill someone with his bare hands, if he was out of his mind and running on instinct.

And apparently, he's lost control before back home - which is why he was so terrified of it happening here.

[truthstranger]

[ Look, a lot of things can be achieved with costumes and special effects. ]

And so you're worried if no one kills someone willingly, they'll somehow unleash his demon side?

[suppressthedark]

[Even a tail that wags around and moves exactly like an actual tail would???]

Exactly. Even if you don't believe the whole demon thing - [Because he knows a skeptic when he hears one, Shuichi] - is it really so weird to think they could make someone go into a berserker rage?

[truthstranger]

[ you don't know my life ]

...No, I absolutely believe that's possible. I'm not sure I'm any more worried about it than a lot of other things that could happen, though.

[suppressthedark]

That's fair, but there's something else you should know, too.

[And time to talk about his promise.]

...I made a promise to Rin. If he ever lost control of himself, then I promised to take care of him.

[And from the way his expression turns incredibly steely, it should be obvious what he means.]

Or at the very least, be the only victim if I can't stop him.

[He didn't exactly tell Rin THAT part, though.]

[truthstranger]

...I see. I hope it doesn't come to that, but...

[ But he thinks he understands why he's telling him. ]

[suppressthedark]

[Ichigo would never want someone innocent to be executed for something he did, after all, so he nods.]

Yeah, me either. But I thought you should know - and it's possible Rin's not the only person who's been threatened with that, though I haven't heard anything else like Rin's.

[truthstranger]

...Thank you. I'm sure the raccoons came up with a lot of compelling threats. I would hope there aren't many like that, though... I think it's more interesting for them if we kill willingly.

[suppressthedark]

Probably, yeah. But they did seem pretty frustrated when no one else showed up dead the day after Akira and me tried to break into that room.

[Which, you know. Wasn't fun.]

I just don't think they're going to let us have another peaceful night, no matter what they have to do to get their entertainment.

[And that's said as witheringly as possible.]

[truthstranger]

Yes, that's true. I just... doubt it will take a berserker rage for them to get it.

[ ... ]

Sorry, that's too cynical.

[suppressthedark]

No - it's fine. We're down six people in just a few days, so...

[he looks down, hands clenching into fists before unclenching.]

...You're not wrong in assuming that. Not at all.

[truthstranger]

Mm. Let's keep looking for a way to end the whole thing.

[suppressthedark]

Of course. We're going to make those raccoons regret they even started this damn game.