You keep typing, but all I can read is “I should stop threatening the kid with telekinesis who’s ready and waiting to throw me into the void.”
I’ve heard you have friends there.
Maybe it’s time for a visit.
*Face goes dark* What have I ever done to you?
It wasn’t me. All I could do was watch.
You wouldn’t remember.
I wouldn’t remember…?
I wouldn’t remember?!
What the HELL wouldn’t I remember?! I’ve only known you for a few years! And I remember everything that happened for those few years! So what the Hell are you TALKING about, Sniper?!
Hagiri laughed quietly to himself, his head bowed until he could compose himself. The gunman faced the reaper again, winking quickly, and correcting her, “You’re proving my point already.” He took a step closer, “Thirteen years, five months, two days, and about 20 hours.” Eyes up and irises left, squinting a bit as he recalled the exact time. Things can’t only be forgotten. They can only be ignored.
He laughed again, louder, with a touch more of malicious intent than he’d had in mind, realizing the best part. The big joke. The absurdity of life’s mysterious workings he’d read about so much. “If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have joined the seven.” Hagiri didn’t sound angry. It was more a dawning of knowledge. Something he hadn’t realized until now, something like going to get something from the fridge and wondering what happened to the terrorists in Back to the Future.
At least, that’s the example he would use. Just a lightbulb switched on. The way events triggered and memories unraveled. Everything lined right up. Botan just happened to be the first domino. Unfortunate.


