//We lean into Eiji's hold on our shoulders. We can use all the support and grounding we can get, right now.//
"Shotarou..."//
//I squeeze Philip's hand tightly, then let go, crossing my hand further past the meridian of our body. Philip inhales hard, choking back a sound that might have been a whine of emotion wrung too tight.
//My hand comes to rest on the hilt of the Xtreme driver. I swallow hard. Eighty percent, I tell myself. Eighty percent of a man's job is being decisive.
//"You come find me, Philip," I tell him. "I don't care what it takes. No excuses. You-- you come find me."
Within, I wrap myself around Shotarou, pressing as close as I can manage. The fray of data around my edges is picking up speed. All this emotion, and the delay of time since the end of the battle - I wouldn't have long anyway.//
"Do you have the courage...to wait for this devil?" I ask him.//
1/2
"Shotarou..."//
//I squeeze Philip's hand tightly, then let go, crossing my hand further past the meridian of our body. Philip inhales hard, choking back a sound that might have been a whine of emotion wrung too tight.
//My hand comes to rest on the hilt of the Xtreme driver. I swallow hard. Eighty percent, I tell myself. Eighty percent of a man's job is being decisive.
//"You come find me, Philip," I tell him. "I don't care what it takes. No excuses. You-- you come find me."
Within, I wrap myself around Shotarou, pressing as close as I can manage. The fray of data around my edges is picking up speed. All this emotion, and the delay of time since the end of the battle - I wouldn't have long anyway.//
"Do you have the courage...to wait for this devil?" I ask him.//
//"Always."
//I close the driver.