together we're going to wait around to die

[yankovic]

There's something sticking out of him.

As Joseph wakes up, it finally registers. His vision blurs as he forces his eyes open. The pain is incredible. Yet the only thing his mind is even vaguely grasping is that he's holding something. Sturdy, metal, and slick with... blood, he guesses. Right. Yeah. That's probably blood.

The next thing he realizes is that he's on the ground. Grass. He thinks. As his vision clears, he can tell he's under a tree. How he realized that after he decided that something was sticking out of him probably had to do with the blood pouring down his right eye, forcing it closed. There's a head injury up there somewhere, for sure.

Gritting teeth, he forces himself up. It's hard not to half-groan, half-scream. The most he can do is lean himself against his elbows, and once he's halfway up he can see why . There's a half-rusted metal pole from the old train crash sticking out of his gut. How the hell did that happen? There was bits and pieces of train debris scattered all over, sure, but how did he land himself just right (or wrong, in this case) that he...

Land.

He remembers why he's on the ground in the first place. Oh shit.

"ICHIGO!"

It's near-impossible to get the name out of his throat. When he does, it's followed by a sputter of blood out of his mouth. Not like it wasn't already hard to breathe in here.

Dammit.

Comments

[bladeisme]

Ichigo wakes up with a start, all at once - the pain slamming into him like...

...well, a train. A train...

Shit.

Even though it's useless, his eyes snap open - and he definitely feels blood going down his face, dripping off onto the ground in rivulets. It's hard to breathe, and the feeling of broken ribs (uncomfortably familiar) pressing up against his ribs is probably the reason why. There are a million pains, and at first all he can do is groan against all the sensations.

The train. They...missed the train. They were on the motorcycle, racing by the train... He was using his fullbring powers...Then what?

...He can't remember. Not yet. But the faint memory of a scream still rings in his ears, high pitched and horrified, trailing off into the distance.

The yell jolts him out of his revierie, and he raises his head in the direction where it came from. It's close - and he knows who it belongs to.

His heart sinks. If there had been anyone that he hoped made it onto the train...

"Joseph," He rasps out, trying to drag himself over - and stops before he ever makes it, stifling a scream. One of his arms is broken - and at least one of his legs are, if not both. The hand with the broken arm... It's not moving. It just....hurts, in a way he's never felt before. And it's bleeding.

But he has to get where Joseph is. So...gritting his teeth, he fights past the pain - and slowly, agonizingly makes his way under the tree, muffling his cries of pain and trying to breathe shallowly so he didn't puncture his lungs. When he finally bumps into Joseph, he could nearly cry in relief - and stops moving, pressing his face into the ground.

He's still alive. But...Joseph would notice more about him than he could.

For starters, his Fullbring is gone. The badge snapped in half during the crash, leaving Ichigo with just his clothes - which were in tatters. There were assorted gashes - from the debris from the motorcycle and the rocks around, sometimes with little metal pieces or larger rocks poking out of the wounds - and there's blood on his head, road rash clear on his face. his legs are definitely broken, both of them bent at horrifying angles, but they're not the most horrifying injury.

His left arm is.

It's broken with bone sticking out of the skin, yes - but his hand is the real horror show here. Layers of skin have literally been stripped off of it, and it is mashed and mangled in ways a human hand was never meant to be. Some of his fingers are missing, for god's sake - and the ones that are still there look like they're hanging on by a thread.

"Joseph..." he manages after a moment, reaching out his unbroken right, the scarred limb shaking in pain and blood loss. "Are you...okay...?"

[yankovic]

It takes a while for him to realize that Ichigo heard him. Much less hear him. Much less see him. His vision finally readjusts just to see the complete mess Ichigo is in. Joseph's eyes widened. He stayed still on the grass, unmoving as his breathing quickened in complete shock.

As far as he knew, Joseph himself was impaled to a stray railing stuck out of the ground. His right leg was broken in its own unnatural shape, and his head was oozing blood from an injury he couldn't see. Ironically, his metal hand is one of the few things still intact. Ichigo, though... dammit. He was worse off in more ways than one.

Always gotta one up him in the injury department, don't you?

Too bad the air was too thin. A little Hamon would have been nice. But he couldn't breathe properly even a few hours ago.

"I-Ichigo..." He speaks a little slower this time. The rail must have been going through his stomach. No pierced lungs, but moving his torso even an inch would force him to vomit more blood.

"No."

Shit. What the hell was he even supposed to say? His voice is rough. Tired. Partly forcing himself to stay still, partly in an out of consciousness.

"Don't... move."

[bladeisme]

That...doesn't sound good. Despite being told not to move...he does, nearly biting through his own lip as he slowly, tortuously moves himself on his back, side by side with Joseph.

When he finally manages it, he nearly suffocates. Quickly (or as quickly as he could in his condition), he got on his side turned towards Joseph, taking in more air than he was before.

It's not enough. It's still not enough, and he knows that eventually he'll instinctively take a deeper breath and puncture a lung. But for now...it's the best he can do.

Of course, his injuries were bad because he'd gone farther - instead of being pinned down, he'd went tumbling at a high rate of speed. Plus, some of the motorcycle got stuck to him - which was why his hand was so bad off.

"Damn...it..." He wheezes, aware that he's sweating heavily by now. "I'm...I'm sorry. I...I lost control...and that's why we're...like this."

At least, that's what he thinks happened. It's got to be, because why else would they have ended up like this? Despite his gap in memory, he's sure he can connect the dots.

[yankovic]

God dammit. Joseph doesn't even have the energy to scold him new. His head lulls back up to the sky and the tree above them.

He can't even remember what happened anymore. Maybe it'd come to them, but it didn't feel like they had nearly that long anymore.

"I promised..." He murmured with a weak cough. Shit. "I can't..."

Nope. He can.

[bladeisme]

Sorry, Joseph - He's going to keep thinking it's his fault. But...At the same time, there's not much they can do anymore.

The earth lightly rumbles under them, and Ichigo starts to wonder how much longer they have before the gods under the ground destroy everything. Would it be fast? Or would they die before they were killed by whatever horrors lie below?

At the very least...it doesn't sound like Joseph has long. And despite his dogged will to live, Ichigo too is forcing himself to stay conscious, knowing that if he drifted off...he'd never wake again.

"...I know," he says, trying not to cough as well, ever mindful of the broken bones pressing into his lungs. "...I...promised too. Inoue..."

She'd been the one who'd screamed, at the end. Right now, she was probably crying her eyes out on the train...And everyone else would be upset that they didn't make it. Jonathan...Jotaro...Kon...

....Maybe not Bram. But those three, at the very least.

"...I hope..." he started, swallowing hard. "...I hope that they'll...be okay. Everyone...on the train car."

[yankovic]

Bro, he didn't even say anything about being your fault or not being your fault. He's not exactly in the mood to play the blame game right now. Too cliched for him anyway.

Weakly, Joseph starts trying to pull himself up. With the pole parly buried in the ground he can't exactly do anything, but using a barely-there Hermit Purple he tries to pull it out of himself. At the same time, he's hoping that pulling himself off the ground somehow is enough to force it up. It can't be that far in the dirt.

He screams out through clenched teeth as it starts to move. If Ichigo asks, he won't have the energy to explain what or why he's doing it yet. Sorry, kiddo. He's got to bite the bullet and get this done first.

Maybe he wasn't going to make it. He knew that. Even if he pulled himself up and by some miracle walk to the barrier (it's been known to happen, he's survived limb loss and a Hamon-burned leg before), and by some other miracle the barrier was down (???), he would still go out from blood loss. No Orihime around to patch it up this time.

But if he could at least move on his own, maybe he'd be okay with that.

No point in wallowing about it yet.

"Ghhh--!"

[bladeisme]

Right. Well. That's not good, especially when he can't see what you're doing, Joseph. Ichigo's head snaps up, and he tries to move - tries to at least feel what's happening - but his right is mostly trapped under his body and he can't move much more.

And...he can't yell. Yell, and his lungs are going to get pierced. dammit.

So instead, he just lies there - looking concerned and in pain, cursing his own helplessness in this situation. Just breathing as shallowly as he can, trying not to flinch with each groan and scream the other man lets off.

[yankovic]

Yeah, so. Sorry about the lack of context, Ichigo. Had he taken the time to explain it, he probably would have lost the nerve. But then, finally, the pole comes loose. It hurts like hell and he's still screaming for it (especially considering he still had to pull it through himself), but yep. He's already committed.

When the end of it finally comes out with a thump to the side, Joseph rolls away from Ichigo and vomits more blood. There's a decent size hole through him now, and it's bleeding. He pants. Hard.

Then he sets out to do what he wanted to in the firm place. Pull himself up against the tree. That hurts too, but at least he could move

"Haah--!" He groans as his head hits the back of the trunk. He can barely catch his breath now, practically hyperventilating but, hey. He did it.

"W-Well... that's done..." He huffs and glances to Ichigo. "Sorry about that. Just had to... pull something out."

[bladeisme]

The sound of someone vomiting is never pleasant - and he suddenly realizes just what Joseph did with a sick sense of dread.

Had there...Had there been something through him? That thud...had sounded heavy. And if there had been something through him...

That...That synched it. If there was any hope in his mind that Joseph could possibly save himself somehow...then it was now dashed.

The voice lets him know that Joseph's moved - to somewhere a little farther. With slow, jerky movements, he pushes himself up on his right arm and begins to drag himself closer. He could stay put - god, he could do that and spare himself the pain - but even if it's a space of less than two feet, he just wants to be by someone as he waits for either death or the end of the world.

Thankfully, it's not that far - and unlike Joseph, he doesn't prop himself up on the tree trunk. He can't, not with only one arm and broken ribs. Instead, he stays on his side on the ground, looking up in his vague way towards Joseph.

And then...despite everything, he gives a weak, wobbly smile.

"Heh...you make it sound...like it was a splinter or something...old man."

[yankovic]

If Joseph wanted to protest at Ichigo moving it didn't really mattered, because he blacked out just long enough the realized that Ichigo next to him.

Which, despite himself, he smiles back for. He knows Ichigo can't see it, but maybe he could at least hear it. He slips an arm around the boy, at least as much as he can.

"Who says it wasn't?" He half-laughs, half coughs. Oh, good. He doesn't immediately want to retch blood after that. Guess that's alright. "Not bad for an old man, either."

He exhales slowly and leans his head up towards the sky. Then the tracks. The same thoughts run through his mind as Ichigo's did earlier. He thought back to his family.

"... Mmh. Wherever we go next, Jotaro would follow just to yell at me. Grandpa might come too."

[bladeisme]

The arm is comforting, despite everything. Enough so that he pushes himself up one last time in order to drag himself a little closer, shoulder slumped on the tree so Joseph can slip his arm around a little easier. It has the added effect of relieving some of the pressure on his lungs, even if the air's as thin as ever.

"Wish I could've seen it," He says, still smiling faintly. "...On second thought....maybe not."

After all, that sounded like it hurt - and Joseph vomited afterwards. Definitely not something he'd want to see.

Eyes flicking over to the older man as he mentions his family, Ichigo chances a small, quiet chuckle. "...They would, wouldn't they? I can imagine...are you sure he'd yell and...not punch, though?"

Jotaro, he means. It's difficult to talk when you're trying to keep yourself from taking in too deep a breath.

The earth rumbles a bit harder under them, and Ichigo shuts his eyes.

"...Don't think we'll...have to wait too much longer...either way."

[yankovic]

There would have been no point in protesting it. It didn't matter anymore. Joseph lets Ichigo move and settled into one last sigh as he properly settled his arm around the younger's shoulder.

"Punch. Probably. This would definitely warrant a punch." He doesn't react to the rumble much beyond a grunt. "We helped get nearly everyone out of here... that's what matters."

Which reminds him. He fishes his cell phone out of his back pocket.

"We should say goodbye if we still can."

[bladeisme]

"Yeah. Maybe even one of those...'ora-ora' punches he does, huh?"

Quiet jokes as they both faced the end. It's somehow...appropriate, even though they're both about to either die or have body and soul torn asunder by the beings below.

"Goodbye? You mean..." He pauses, both for breath and to think it over. "...You think it's still working, after all that?"

Not that he didn't want to say goodbye - the look on his face said that yes, he definitely did. But...he's worried, because sometimes those phones could be fragile as hell.

[yankovic]

"It's worth a shot. We've got nothing else to lose," Joseph said slowly, his one open eye focused on flipping his phone open and setting up a broadcast.

Audio for now. Nobody on that train had to deal with what they both looked like right now.

"We owe... we owe them that much."

[bladeisme]

"...yeah."


All things considered, the broadcast they made was...draining, for lack of a better word. Ichigo, more quiet than he normally would be, said goodbye to everyone who would listen. He apologized to Kon, asking him to look out for Orihime. He didn't have much to say to Jotaro beyond telling him to do his best to keep the rest of their strange family together, as an apology seemed...wrong in this context. To Jonathan, he asked forgiveness for being a lot of trouble, but thanked him for his friendship and wished him luck. To Bram, he begrudgingly asked to watch Orihime, and even admitted that in a strange way, they were family.

And Orihime...

He'd talked to her, trying to calm her down, asking her to forgive that he couldn't get on the train in time, saying that even though it was hard, he knew she could keep on going. He spoke of her kindness and cheerfulness and how it had often kept him going with a tender gentleness that was nearly heartrending - and while he knew he didn't have the time to say everything he wanted, he left some things out. There were feelings that he wasn't going to burden her with before he left for what was presumably forever, despite the ache in his own chest that wasn't related to his broken ribs.

And after that, he just...gently pressed his face into Joseph's side as the older man finished his goodbyes, shaking slightly as he tried not to cry. There was the ribs, yes - but more than anything else, he didn't want them to hear him crying over the crackly, fading reception.

There was so much more that he wanted to say. So much more that he wanted to do with all of them, even in the hell they'd gathered together in. He wanted to make sure that they would be safe, that they would keep living and breathing and smiling whenever they could.

But he couldn't. Not anymore.

And that hurt the most.

[yankovic]

Joseph's own last words were something more muted. He knew what his family would say. Both would be chiding him, but upset in their own ways. Jotaro especially. Christ. He told Jotaro he would be there. He promised.

And now he can't.

Lying here, so exhausted now that he can't even move, he knows there's nothing to be done. So he gives them the biggest smile he can and tells them to live. For them, for him, for going home. They'd figure it out. He knew his grandson and had gotten to know his grandfather over these last six months. They would.

As Ichigo presses close to them, Joseph pulls him closer and strokes his thumb gently over the boy's arm. It reminds him of how he'd comfort Holly. Holly... he wouldn't get to see her again either. He closes his eyes. Dammit.

As the train gets too far, he sets the phone down.

"I remember when I died the first time around. I thought this place was some bastardized afterlife. I'd bet money the next place we'll go will be better."

[bladeisme]

It's comforting - despite everything, this is comforting. There's one silver lining to this, even if it's one he chides himself for being thankful over.

He doesn't have to die alone. And neither does Joseph. Come what may - even if there was something after all of this - they'd be together.

Another small, mirthless chuckle comes out of him as he lifts his head, eyes wet with unshed tears. "Yeah," he says hoarsely, a smile across his face. "...Anything's better than here...right?"

The ground rumbles much more ominously, and he swears he can hear cracks begin to form in the earth a little bit away. Soon, their little area will most likely be swallowed up - but he's so cold and tired, and the pull of sleep is getting harder and harder to ignore. And it doesn't sound too bad - falling asleep before the gods can pull them underground, unconscious to everything that happens afterwards.

He knows it wouldn't actually be sleep. But...it does sound much more appealing than staying awake through what comes next.

"Joseph," he says after a moment, unseeing eyes somehow focusing on the older man for just a moment. "...I...never had a grandfather. Neither...my mom or dad had a living one. And, I...after all this time...you've kind of become one to me. ...The grandfather I...never had."

Also kind of a father, but he leaves that out. He still loved his own father (I'm sorry I won't be coming back), but...Joseph was pretty good at it, too.

"That's...all I wanted to say. ...Thank you."

[yankovic]

Though he regrets not being on that train, Joseph slowly accepts their fate. He seemed more tired than anything else. Just. Tired, yeah. Like he was going to go to bed soon. Something like that.

He brings his hand up to Ichigo's head and pulls him to his shoulder. After a long exhale, he flashes a smile.

"Heh." He sets his chin on the younger's head. "Then I'm glad I could be. You were a pretty good grandson yourself."

And he meant that.

As the ground quakes more violently than ever, the old man closes his eyes. Sleep is coming to him too in its own strange way. He wasn't losing nearly as much blood as Ichigo but it wouldn't matter much soon.

"It'll be over soon. Just close your eyes and relax as much as you can."

[bladeisme]

You were a pretty good grandson yourself.

Despite the cold feeling in his body, those words set a warmth inside of him. Smiling, Ichigo half-closes his eyes, giving out a long breath in return.

This was it. The two of them were done - and their family were on a train, safe for now. Everything is cold, but it's a comfortable coldness, like an air conditioner on a hot day. And next to Joseph, with everything said and emotions expressed, he's ready to let go. Finally, finally ready to fully let go, for the first time.

Maybe it'd all been leading up to this, where Ichigo Kurosaki could finally totally relax for a short moment before he died.

"...See you...when we wake up, old man."

With that last murmur, Ichigo shut his eyes fully - and it wasn't long before his already shallow breathing began to lessen, his body going slack before his breath completely stilled.

And yet, even now...there was still a faint, peaceful smile on his face.

[yankovic]

And there it was. Even though closed eyes Joseph knew Ichigo was gone. It was a strange, bittersweet feeling. He shed no tears. He knew it wouldn't be long until he joined him. Even if the blood loss didn't kill him (it wouldn't), he would be there as the earth swallowed them up and their world ended.

This time around, he really was dying. Or maybe he'd wake up somewhere else. Maybe the Techs were lying and he'd go home after all. Who knew now? Jotaro told him he was supposed to live a lot longer than this. That much he did regret.

But despite everything, he was at peace.