Gimmie never gets [PRP]

[Kisuke Urahara]

[OOC: This thread takes place before the departure of Toshiro Hitsugaya, but after Sojiro Kusaka was injured by Hiyori Sarugaki.]

So this was it, what he was being forced to do. To reclaim what was rightfully his, he would have to take it by force. Vizards or not, he could not leave the Hogyoku in this boys possession. His green coat acted more as cape, the sleeves billowing out behind him as he stepped into the empty park. His one hand rested on his shoulder, as if making sure it was still functioning properly. The other drifting past the curve of his cane as if making sure it was still there. This time he was ready.

Everything seemed to calm here, a tiny breeze drifting through the night time air. Of course, he had chosen this time and place for a reason. The dark of night would hide their actions, and should push come to shove, and this became a fight the empty park would be good enough to keep the damage minimal. But as long as he had a say, this would not become a fight. Even his Benihime was to strong to be restricted to this small park. And against a foe such as Hyorinmaru, there was no way she would be held back.

Glancing around he let out a deep sigh, this would either be extremely easy, or the polar opposite. Either way he could not let the boy keep the trinket any longer. “I shouldn’t have to call you.” He rested his hand on the cane, letting the other slide from his shoulder. “Don't make this more difficult than it needs to be.” The normal heavy clatter of his sandals was being dampened by the soft earth, making it seem as if he had never even been there to start with.

Despite his palm resting firmly on the wooden shaft, he planned on seeing no blood shed this evening. He would not cut if he did not need too. And he didn’t plan on needing too. Just a simple negotiation was all this was going to be.

[Sojiro Kusaka]

Well that had certainly fucked things up. He’d damn tried to make things easier and ended up just making them altogether worse for himself, kinda sucked really. Honestly he couldn’t say he’d expected it, perhaps he really should have. All of it had come down to a mistake but a few hours ago, he’d tried to boost the intelligence of the vizard and ended up with the small she witch slashing his face. Th wound was still raw, weeping in places, but for the most part the bleeding itself had actually stopped, unlike the burning pain in it alas… No doubt this was going to considerably slow everything, he could not invade the soul society with such a blatant weakness to him, that would very simply be suicidal, as of yet this was not a point he’d reached. Both eyes closed he shifted on the branch he’d splayed himself out on. Perhaps he would one day, who knew, all he knew was that the idea repulsed him, he refused to die once more, it was not something he accepted as an acceptable path in things. After all, why would anyone choose to die? Someone who’d already experienced death in all its glory was very unlikely to be in a rush to feel such… Though it did beg the question, would anyone even notice?

Shifting slightly he muttered to himself, before snapping an eye open and frowning ever so slightly. There was someone else here? Yes… He didn’t know who, but what he did know was that it was someone hiding their spiritual pressure, as he was. Sitting himself up the branch, legs hanging down on either side he briefly scanned the area, somewhere here there was another. Looking for him? Perhaps, but why? There were few to none who knew of him, and there was only a very select group within that already small selection that would know how to hide their spiritual pressure… Logic deemed it to be only one person, someone he didn’t much want to see right now if he were honest. Ah dammit, things weren’t going his way. Right now he was in no fit state for a full blwon conflict, rather that was exactly something he’d been trying to avoid, it was part of the reason for coming here. It seemed though trouble had a charming way of finding him wherever he was though… How wonderful~

“I shouldn’t have to call you.”

The boy paused, cocking a brow… Well it was he that sought something was it not, Kusaka needed nothing from the man and thus had no need to seek him. To the boy this was a came, so far he was remaining ahead, yet currently it seemed on of the opposing pawns had found it’s way to him. A turn he’d expected. With a mild sigh he shifted on the branch, so much for taking a chance to simply think. “You expected me to trust you enough to seek you out and come to you of my own good will~?” He hollered. In truth he didn’t trust him at all, the damage he’d caused the man and the vizard likely left them on incredibly bad terms, why the hell was Kusaka going to seek out someone who sought to kill him? Only a mad man would do that, and whilst Kusaka had perhaps fallen to a crazed state of mind he was no yet willing to make foolish errors such as that. His life was the key, he would not lose it, he’d lost honor and a future, but by hell his life would not be ripped from him. “Besides, it’s not I that wants anything from you, Mr Urahara.” Once it had been.

“Don't make this more difficult than it needs to be.”

Scanning the area he leaned back on the trunk, a puffing sigh coming from him as he looked up briefly. Harder than it needed to be… If it got to that point one of them was liable to be killed, and frankly with his vision as impaired as it was it was liable to be he. What a pity. Had he perhaps bothered to give it more medical attention it would have been fine (or perhaps not as it had only been inflicted hours ago), as it was he’d refused to bandage it as that would have simply cut of the vision on that side entirely, rather he’d left the more open, dealing with it as best he could. It would scar worse, but between that and giving himself such a large vulnerability he knew his choice immediately. Trust in anything was obviously not something he had. “As you did when I took it?” There was a faintly mocking pout to his tone. “Now that doesn’t exactly seem fair, does it~?” He couldn’t say he much cared, he’d taken it and that had been all that had mattered to him, he’d also done as needed, thus had no further use for it. Still though he played his games, if only to give himself some amusement in things. At the end of the day he was just a pain in the ass teenager, all be it to a rather twisted level.

[Kisuke Urahara]

‘You expected me to trust you enough to seek you out and come to you of my own good will~?’

He remained silent. Of course he didn’t, as much as it would have been preferred. This boy, he had created so many problems, and yet he still wasn’t the largest problem. But either way, he was a hindrance to both sides. That much was good.

‘Besides, it’s not I that wants anything from you, Mr Urahara.’

His normally casual gaze held a new rock hard determination. Stone grey eyes narrowed and fixed on the boy. “Perhaps you should rethink that.” If anything right now, this boy needed Kisuke to remain calm. Should even one strand of his wit snap, well it was safe to say the boy would have to worry about more than just his face.

‘As you did when I took it?’

Exhaling slightly he kept his temper in check. “It never belonged to you.” He blinked slowly, keeping his attention focused, and his mind solidly in one place.

‘Now that doesn’t exactly seem fair, does it~?’

“If life was fair, this issue would never have been dug up.” The hogyoku was not made for ‘fairness’. In fact it’s very purpose defied the word fair, break the boundaries between soul reapers and hollows. Was that fair? When he had been banished for trying to save his friends, was that fair? And on top of that, he was a merchant. Constantly pulling strings to get the cash flowing. Even so, things didn’t always go his way. But he never thought of it as fair, or unfair. What happened, happened, and that was that.

“As much fun as this is, I don't have time for games.” His arm moved like liquid as he pulled the blade out of the cane. It wasn’t even in shikai, and yet the addition of the blade alone was a frightening boost to their previous fight. And judging by the fearsome scar over his face, he had had an unpleasant run in with an old friend of his. He pointed the tip at the boy. “As I said, do not make this harder than it has to be.”

But with that, he did not attack, in fact he lowered the blade to his side. For most it might have meant weakness, but to consider Kisuke weak was a foolish mistake, for him it meant, he would not attack. And to even assume he was unprepared, was putting yourself into a nice hole. And it would only get deeper from there. But he had more faith in the boy than that. He may have been bold, but he didn’t seem stupid. And Hyorinmaru alone made him a notable threat.

“I will let you live, and continue with what ever you are doing, in exchange for the Hogyoku.” His voice was calm, his tone even, and his visage blank. “How’s that for fair?”

[Sojiro Kusaka]

“Perhaps you should rethink that.”

Oh, and why would he do that~? With a snort he gave a mild laugh, shortly after pouncing down from the tree, landing gently. For once he'd already forsaken his gigai, not due to any anticipation for a fight, rather the exact opposite. A human could now not see him, and no soul reaper could sense him, he was dead to the world... And what a pun that was~ Stalking forward a ways he stopped, a mild sneer on his face. “I don't see why I would,” he trilled out all to happily. Despite the still fresh gash he really did seem as happy as can be... But that was a gift someone like he had long since mastered. When you learned to detach from your emotions you could simply do it within any given situation, it didn't at all matter what was causing the emotions, but the ability to reject them was there. Under it all... What did he feel... Fear most likely. He'd screwed around with this man enough to think he was out for his head, and why would he not believe that after all, that was the way of the world. The world was cruel and bitter, as were all within it, none were good, this man included.

“If life was fair, this issue would never have been dug up.”

With a sharp laugh he simply shook his head. “If life we was fair we'd have never met and all would be swell~” If it had been fair he'd have never been cast out as he had been, if it was fair he'd have a home, if it was fair... If it was fair he'd be something more than this thing they'd made him. With a curling smile he folded his arms, tapping a finger on his upper arm as he did. “If life was fair there'd never be sadness, yet sadness is fostered in all, we all have pain... It's only fair that we share it, is it not~?” Life was a bitch, full stop, no questions. It screwed you over so painfully hard. His words though didn't mean what they may have been taken to mean, he wasn't at all actually referring to the fact he was lashing out and hurting others so that they would feel the same hurt as he had. In truth he was merely referring to the same point as Urahara, he was agreeing in his own bitter way, nothing more, and nothing less. Life was not at all fair... It was just a pity that the unfairness he'd suffered had been so utterly unbearable for him.

“As much fun as this is, I don't have time for games. As I said, do not make this harder than it has to be.”

In truth perhaps nor did he, anyway though, peeving others had become a near hobby for the violet eyed youth. “But I thought you loved games,” he teased before rubbing his forehead slightly. Whatever anyone thought about him he was still a soul reaper, though he believed himself to have died once he was still more than able to do so, and so he felt pain. Anyone who could expect him to be fine and dandy after a blow to the head like that was a freaking moron who perhaps needed to review how people bloody well worked. While still functioning perfectly well he hurt, his face was burning and his head was kicking up a right old headache, agh, if only he'd damn well had a bit longer at the academy... If he had then no doubt he'd have covered healing kido, but nooo, being such a vile dog it was to much for them to even grant him that, damn bastards... He really did loath them with everything he was for what they'd done to him, he'd not wanted this pathetic excuse for a life, but hey, he had it and it was his... May as well make the most of it whilst he was still able to~

“I will let you live, and continue with what ever you are doing, in exchange for the Hogyoku. How’s that for fair?”

Physically recoiling he stepped back, shocked that someone was reasoning rather than attacking outright. He was used to violence, that's what his presence usually incurred, especially from those he'd hurt... How badly had he hurt this man? Probably fairly badly... And yet... He was making a deal? Throwing up a sneer he snickered slightly. “And what's to stop you attacking me once I hand it over, hmm?” He was interested of course, being as how he'd been willing to just hand it over an offer like that was damn good... However he was about as suspicious as it came, he did not trust, say for one person, and right now they were not coming into the equation. With a puffing sigh he reached behind him, pulling out the very thing that was demanded from him. “The way I see it... You've got no reason to keep your word.” Pulling it forward again, putting it in clear sight, he simple rolled it between his fingers idly, treating it like nothing more than a child's toy. “You stand there so boldly, don't you know what I could do to you~?” He wouldn't. Toshiro had been the only one he'd had any desire to hollowfy... And that had left such a bitter feeling to him... No, it was a game, one to get a reaction, one to judge all honesty on.... That and he just felt like it~

[Kisuke Urahara]

'I don't see why I would,'

He kept a calm gaze, watching the boy. He seemed to be enjoying himself, but he knew better than to judge people based on appearances. His almost blank grey eyes tracing his movments, studying instead his motion rather than emotions.

'If life we was fair we'd have never met and all would be swell~'

This boy really was toying with him, whether he knew it or not. The words tugging at old tender memories. Like hungry dogs they tried to bite back, wanting to break free of their holds, and ravage his emotions once more.

'If life was fair there'd never be sadness, yet sadness is fostered in all, we all have pain... It's only fair that we share it, is it not~?'

"Some things are best not shared." There was no emotion left in his voice, not sorrow nor joy. Just the blank truth, a faint sigh though did express the dark sorrow seated in his chest. So annoying, one boy could do so much damage to him.

'But I thought you loved games,'

He blinked and watched him. "There is a time and place for everything. This is neither the time, nor the place for foolery." But his lips twitched slightly, curling into a grin a bit. "But should you open the invitation I have the grandest of games for you." He didn't want to make the boy suffer, but if he had to, he would cut him down and leave him there.

'And what's to stop you attacking me once I hand it over, hmm?'

What kind of question was that? He frowned slightly, balling his left hand into a fist and placing it over his chest. "My word as a former captain of the twelvth division." Sure that likely meant little, but Kisuke took his job seriously, and this was no different. While his heart throbbed at the rank being torn away, he would never accept the rank was truely gone from his life.

'The way I see it... You've got no reason to keep your word.'

He watched the small cube like device being treated like a trinket, holding back a snarl. "And I have no gain from ending your life." This boy was really getting under his skin, pulling all right right nerves.

'You stand there so boldly, don't you know what I could do to you~?'

He raised a brow slightly, the boy spoke as if he was sure of himself, but Kisuke learnt, the louder you bark, the weaker your words became. But what came next, was a pure game of chance. Taking the dice and swapping them in hopes he wouldn't notice. "How do you know I haven't already?" The former captain had after all spent much of his time with the Vizards, training them and their vicious hollows. It would make sense logically for him to have meddled with himself in order to assist them. But this boy had no way of knowing. For one, had he done anything, he would never have told the Vizards. Two, his strength was quite litterally always lowered now, one could never truely tell if he was faking it or not. "Do you really want to tempt fate?"

His shoes clacked again as he came closer, hand stretching out again. "One last time boy, hand it over, or we will see what I'm holding back." That wasn't entirely a bluff, now it seemed Kisuke rarely fought at full potential. And in this matter, he would get the Hogyoku back at any price.

[Sojiro Kusaka]

"There is a time and place for everything. This is neither the time, nor the place for foolery. But should you open the invitation I have the grandest of games for you."

Oh, and didn't that sound truly wonderful? Tsk, like hell. "Ah, but I've played that game before~" And lost. He'd lost everything then, everything he wanted and could have been, life, honor, home, everything. He would not lose again, not to this man. If he hadn't been pushed into a game he did not understand, and did not want to be involved in then he would not have been here now, it was all so simple. The Soul Society had caused their own downfall in their arrogance, he would put an end to all that they were and all that they stood for, he'd not fail, not again. "If you wish to play it then so be it, but I can think of many more games that are far more... Interesting~" That wasn't the entirety of the point. Whilst yes there were others he simply did not wish to fall again into that one, he hated it, he hated everything about it so utterly that he'd avoid it at all cost. Yet was it not important as to what was under the hate? Yes, if you looked hard enough and knew better then there was something more, something different. Yet who could see what was hidden behind iron walls? None~

"My word as a former captain of the twelvth division."

Of all the reasons not to trust someone that was pretty well way up the list, very probably topping it to this boy. “Why the hell would I trust a soul reaper? Ex one or not.” He didn't, he couldn't, not after everything they'd done to him. Indeed the only one he would trust was the only one he held any regard for at all, which was perhaps the strangest thing of all. He claimed to care for only himself, and claimed to loath all soul reapers without exception, yet to a degree this was one of the biggest lies of all. That was him though, everything about him was a lie, his life, his personality, his history, even his very existence. He was the greatest lie of all, and nothing was going to change that for anything. “I'd have to be damn well mad to do that.” He didn't trust him, he could never, doing so would leave him far to open to having the knife embedded deep into his back and heart twisted in the most agonizing way imaginable. He refused to do that to himself, the iron wall surrounding his trust and compassion seemed like a much better option in his mind.

"And I have no gain from ending your life."

Neither had they back then... Not really... How did the form his soul took ever justify killing him like that? No, people did not need to gain anything from taking a life to actually do it, they simply did it because they could and wanted to. “And?” He questioned bluntly, obviously not agreeing with the point at all. “People don't all need a reason to kill, they just do it.” It was the cold hard truth as it indeed was and should have been, nothing more. “Your words mean nothing, Shopkeeper~” He didn't trust him, and nor would he ever. Words would never go towards calming his paranoia, instead they would be taken as a triviality and nothing more, to him they held no importance, they meant nothing and were indeed nothing in the long run. Words were so fickle, a person of honor could insist they would follow their word, and then yet for some reason or another they betrayed them. People always betrayed. “Besides nor has anyone ever~” And yet they still did, they damn well did it anyway. Bastards, he'd rip them down where they stood. They'd suffer and burn in hell for what they'd done.

"How do you know I haven't already?"

Ohhh, what a fool for asking that~ Giving perhaps the first genuine laugh of the night he sighed and rubbed the back of his head. “You've seen people you cared for hollowfied, you'd never in your life do it to yourself, it would just be insulting what they once were~” True enough, and this itself was one of the reasons he'd refrained from doing so to himself. With who he was the hollow was liable to be far easier to control, however the thought repulsed him, before it all perhaps he would have, but not after. “Besiiiides, I don't think you'd really be stupid enough to come to someone like me if you truly did posses a hollow within yourself, you know I'd only use it to control you~” If he'd found a way to null the control then he would not be here, and thus Kusaka was utterly confident that there was no hollow in his soul, and that this was all a bluff. “Very nice try though, I must commend you for effort~” There should have perhaps been a shadow of a doubt, yet there was not, his over confidence could blind him, cause him to act in incredibly foolish manners, yet sometimes it was this which let him see past lies. The man was no hollow, they both knew it.

"Do you really want to tempt fate?"

Oh, wasn't he just full of laughs? Really. Snorting a he shrugged simply. “Fate has no place for me, if I die it was simply because I was to weak to survive... And that I am not~” He'd spent fifty years in hell, hell to the greatest degree, no one like this man before him would ever be enough to end him. He was going to make people stop and see, to do this he needed to live, and so he would, nothing would steal this one last thing from him again. The first time he had not been prepared, he'd been weak in keeping his heart open to people around him freely. He'd never do such again, trusting others was not something the boy had any intention of doing, in a world so cold why would he? All he'd been shown now for so long was contempt, that was life's true face, and so he now moved to that beat. It was a precarious position, one that could very soon push him into oblivion once more, yet he walked it for the fact he had naught else. To try the other path... It would only lead to his death once more. Toshiro had said he could have found another way, he was wrong. He'd tried, so hard he hard, but short of getting butchered there had been no other way, and yet Hitsugaya in all his arrogance did not see that.

"One last time boy, hand it over, or we will see what I'm holding back."

It was all a game, and whilst he had the key piece he was in control. If the man attacked it would lead quickly to his own failure, Kusaka was in no fit state to deal with him head on, doing that was foolish beyond belief... Unless he wanted to die or something like that, which frankly he didn't.. Through all the lies and deceit though he had no need for the sphere. Face tugging into a deep frown he bounced it on his palm, was it worth the effort to weave yet another web that would pull tight to strangle him in the shattering embrace of all the world's hate? For something he didn't need perhaps it was not so much. True it could be used against him he supposed however he doubted that very much, and even if it was he would survive, that was the one thing he was still able to do stunningly well. Through everything he was resilient and hardy, he clung on when others would never be able to, he had power, alas not strength. “And you I, dear captain,” he hissed out, curling his hand around the thing. With a grumble however he didn't keep it, though seemingly overly happy to do so he did not want to fight, not right now. “Whatever,” he grunted before casting his hand out and tossing it at him. “Yah better damn well keep your word,” he growled sharply. He didn't think he would, but whatever... With his hand on blade the best he could do was be ready.

[Kisuke Urahara]

'Ah, but I've played that game before~ If you wish to play it then so be it, but I can think of many more games that are far more... Interesting~'

What was with this boy? Every moment his emotions shifted, even if it was slightly, it was almost painful to read them. He just wanted this to be over with.

'Why the hell would I trust a soul reaper? Ex one or not.'

Seems his theory was right after all, the soul society had torn him down due to his blade.

'I'd have to be damn well mad to do that.'

Wasn't he already? This was getting him nowhere and fast.

'And? People don't all need a reason to kill, they just do it. Your words mean nothing, Shopkeeper~'

"But any one with a head on their shoulders, will find one before doing anything." This boy, something about him was just so irritating, he acted like he knew how everything worked, and that he had suffered the most out of any one. He had only felt one side of their wrath, for had he felt the other, he would not be standing before Kisuke a full soul reaper, he would be nothing more than a wandering soul with naught but a name.

'Besides nor has anyone ever~'

It seemed that the majority of what he said, was linking to himself, indirectly, if intentional at all. It was getting so repetitive. It was becoming quite the bother now.

'You've seen people you cared for hollowfied, you'd never in your life do it to yourself, it would just be insulting what they once were~'

With that his knuckles bleached as the skin was pulled tight. Nails digging into his palms. This was truly annoying, the boy was standing there, as if he knew exactly how he felt. Maybe he did. Maybe he didn't, but the simply cocky manner he spoke was enough to nip at his emotions.

'Besiiiides, I don't think you'd really be stupid enough to come to someone like me if you truly did posses a hollow within yourself, you know I'd only use it to control you~'

He hadn't thought of that, but either way, this was getting just annoying. He released his fingers, blood returning to his knuckles.

'Very nice try though, I must commend you for effort~'

He had nothing to say to that, he had little he wanted to say to this boy, only what he had too. Even that list was short.

'Fate has no place for me, if I die it was simply because I was to weak to survive... And that I am not~'

"You would die because you had no one to catch you when you fall." He knew this would likely prick something, as he had gone almost straight to Toshiro after stealing the hogyoku.

'And you I, dear captain,'

And in that brief moment, he had to suppress a grin. This boy was so confident in his abilities, the opposite of his younger years. He had never really tried to be good, heck he spent all of his free time goofing off or tinkering in his room. And he didn't like claiming to be good, but truth be told, he honestly doubted that this boy could hold his own in a proper fight. But then again, to underestimate would be ones downfall.

'Whatever, Yah better damn well keep your word,'

Snatching it out of the air he frowned at the careless manner the boy treated the delicate device. "I said I would not kill you, and I will not. But know this boy, while I spare you now, do you honestly think that the Soul Society will spare you now? I will not defend you then." Chances were they wouldn't even suspect this boy though, that troubled him greatly.

Oh well, he would take what was coming to him.

[Sojiro Kusaka]

"But any one with a head on their shoulders, will find one before doing anything."

Damn this man was irritating, he just didn't know when to damn well drop it, did he? “In an ideal world they would, but alas these are far from it~” Neither here nor there. Both worlds were far from ideal, and how he loathed them. Honestly though this one, the world of the living, was the one he'd come to hate the most. To he it was nothing more than a prison. “Living in perfection comes to nothing, the true beauty of the world is that there is none.” Not to him. Once he'd had a lust for life, he'd adored it, he'd wanted to much to protect it, it and everyone in it. He'd strove to become stronger so that he could protect, so that he could compete with his friend, and then it's true beauty had been revealed to him. The world was a truly ugly place, it deserved no protection, simply ignorance. It was no longer his concern, he was no soul reaper, just some stray dog that stalked the streets at night, ripping apart the careless young children that would stray his path. And yet like any dog who had once been tame the ideal of biting the hand that had once fed, it stung. It was a cruel world, more so when even revenge had a bitter taste to it.

"You would die because you had no one to catch you when you fall."

He was acting like he knew everything, and whilst Sojiro knew very well the man before him could have worked some of it out, he did not by any means know all of it. He did not example know what it was like to have literally everything taken, to be left with nothing at all but a name that everyone had forgotten anyway. He did not know what it was like to have hollows tail you, trying to consume you who could not stop them, yet watching as they found others first and shredded them in the one thing that lingered for you, your name. Above all he did not know what it was to feel the shear agony of having your own best friend kill you, to feel the pain of being so alone, the pain that would never leave because no one cared enough to be there for you. He did not know, and so those words hurt, they hurt because Kusaka did know, he'd felt all of that and more, he'd long since developed the skill to push the negativity of those emotions away... But they were being rubbed in his face, and so he recoiled, stepping back, body tensing as fists clenched. He knew he was alone, and that was the root of all his pain. “Shut up!” He barked, furious and utterly terrified all at once. He hated having no one, what right did he have to rub his face in it?!

"I said I would not kill you, and I will not. But know this boy, while I spare you now, do you honestly think that the Soul Society will spare you now? I will not defend you then."

He snorted, they hadn't before. “They wouldn't anyway.” He stated flatly, as if it were the so very obvious thing. To him it really was. “I could have done nothing but take what was mine already and they'd have slit my throat~” He just wanted the right to live, he had nothing, no one, he just wanted life. To take that they had to die, revenge was one reason he sought their deaths, and yet he also sought freedom. Shifting slightly though he grumbled, this man's words were getting to him, brushing at all the wrong emotions that should not have been toyed with. This topic was not appreciated, even less so was the final comment. Whether it had been intended or not there were yet further lies and deceit in those simple words. It was possibly his own misfortune that his mind pushed into things that were not there, he saw meanings that were never intended. Of course sometimes they were, and in those times the situations usually ended up very badly. He never had a way of been certain on the meaning though, once it wouldn't have bothered him, but his cautious paranoia left him unable to take things as anything but malicious.

"What, and you would have before?" With a snorting noise he shook his head. He was but a simple imbalance to be exterminated, his life and very existence was a total violation, according to many he had no right at all to even be alive. "Ugh," he snorted out, rubbing at his head. "Really now, you're a man of science, yes? Balance is the key to what you do, the right amounts and right components. Correct?" Narrowing his eyes slightly hands dropped to his side. "What would you do with an imbalance? If quantities became wrong, say you doubled something you wanted only one of. What would you do with the spare piece?" Exactly as they had done. "Discard it, destroying it as you do to the degree it becomes worthless." They'd thrown him for dead and he'd paid for it, he was sick of having to pay that price, everyday it was there in his face, pulling him down, keeping his twisted mind so very dark. This was all the root though, he spoke and held himself with utter confidence, he acted like the best of all. Yet they'd destroyed his honor, the core of him, how could he ever recover from such a thing? He couldn't, he was a broken soul surrounded by a bravado of angered arrogance. "And now answer this, why would anyone seek anything to do with something that cannot be salvaged?"

People gave so many promises in their lives, yet the worst.... The very worst was the promise to be there when you were not. He'd bent and snapped. This man put out words that unintentionally offered what had been craved for so badly before. He'd needed protection, he'd gotten the pain of being hunted, he'd needed someone there, he'd suffered loneliness to the greatest extent. His words, he was fifty years to late, and it really was a cruel turn for him to even utter them. Like the other cared. It was such a plausible idea in Sojiro's mind that the merchant was doing it for his own grim amusement, bastard. There was really little wonder the youth was left so defensive, even those that id knot know him sought to rip and pull at the final fragments of the heart he'd managed to salvage and nurse silently. He needed this slivers, more than anything, he'd been someone driven by heart so long ago. It truly was hard to totally change your ways, through time it could be managed, for him more was needed before he could relinquish such.