video

[zeppomarxdespot]

[ The screen wobbles a bit, as whoever is holding the fansuwoth takes a moment to center the image. Across the room is Xander, very pale and with eyes downcast, holding up a sign. Hand-lettered in a shaky script by somebody clearly unaccustomed to using a brush, it says simply:MADAM SATO AND

Comments

[video]

[punk_emperor]

[At first Kanji doesn't make the connections. He's about to ask what happened and then he recognizes the name and looks betrayed.]

What the hell?! It was you?

Re: [video]

[zeppomarxdespot]

[ Xander almost doesn't call Kanji back. Okay, they weren't really friends, but... but he kinda thought they were headed that way.

Of all people, he thought Kanji would understand. ]

hey

[punk_emperor]

[He might have, if Hakkai had just been some nameless, faceless bogeyman instead of a close friend of one of his closest friends. He looks hurt, confused, disappointed.]

Why would you...? You seemed like a real cool guy.

[zeppomarxdespot]

[ Ouch, man. That actually hurt. ]

hes a demon

bad guy

very dangerous

[punk_emperor]

[Kanji hesitates a while, because while demons can be real monsters, this one was Kurama's friend, and Kurama... Kurama is one of the best people he knows, even with the bad past. Kurama wouldn't befriend someone who's a real monster like the killer, would he?]

Got told about the demon part. You sure he's bad and dangerous?

[zeppomarxdespot]

[ He nods, very seriously. Yeah, he's 110% sure.

Two fingers together, cross his heart and then raised - do they have Boy Scouts in Japan? ]

[punk_emperor]

[Xander just gets a confused look at the gesture, but Kanji is still very troubled.]

I... Just. I dunno. If this Hakkai guy was doin' bad things you shoulda turned him in. Heads of house a freakin' punishment happy; he woulda got punished for whatever he did.

[He mumbles the next, not meaning for Xander to hear.] ...Kurama-san wouldn't be friends with a real bad person would he?

[zeppomarxdespot]

[ Kurama? Kurama? Xander taps excitedly on the display window to get Kanji's attention. Hey! Kurama?! ]

kurama dangers killer too

ask him

[punk_emperor]

[Is it right to tell Xander? He wants Xander to understand.]

I felt, I saw the real him when we touched. He's...he's not evil or bad.

[Just so scared and lonely and guilty] He accepts me, all of me, for me. Without his help I don't think I woulda gotten through--

[zeppomarxdespot]

[ ...Isn't that always the way? Good people seeing good in monsters that isn't actually there. Xander knows from experience that nothing he says will change Kanji's mind - he'll just have to see Kurama and Hakkai's demon sides for himself.

Hopefully he'll live through it. ]

im sorry

he will turn on you in the end

they always do

[punk_emperor]

I... I dunno about this Hakkai guy--maybe he is really bad and is just foolin' Kurama-- but... Kurama isn't evil just 'cause he's different. He's just different, like the shrine fox back home or Teddie. I wouldn't judge Teddie 'cause he's a shadow, even if the rest of 'em are...they're not even really bad, they just don't know any better. Sure they woulda killed us, but they were hurting and lashing out, like I used to do all the time. Pickin' fights with gangs and stuff, and yelling and screamin' at people. Always assuming the worst and actin' all tough because it hurt and I was afraid of people rejectin' me.

I'm not gonna judge people just 'cause they're different, without really knowing them. I know how that feels, to be judged like that. And it hurts like hell. My friends... they're the first friends I've ever really had, 'cause I've always been so different. They're... really precious. Having friends, made me able to be me. You wouldn't 've liked the me before at all, and maybe if you find out about all of me you'll still end up

[zeppomarxdespot]

[ Nice speech. Doesn't change anything, but then again, speeches rarely do. ]

they arent people

be careful

[ And with an apologetic shrug, he turns off the fansu.

[punk_emperor]

[He wants to argue, but Xander just killed someone. ...the shadows always came back, always. And yeah they almost did kill a person but--

He prepares a message--snapping, angry, and full of good arguments (in his opinion, anyway).

And then just turns his off without sending it. He'll talk to Kurama again. And track down this Hakkai guy and talk to him. Then he'll see who's right and who's wrong. He just has to track down the truth first. Dammit, if only senpai was here--]