Ritsu takes one step back, then trips into a second, sneaker scuffing. At any other time he’d be livid at how very clearly he was RATTLED by the other’s presence, but he can only remember the very real thought that he could’ve died by this man’s hands. 

Shimazaki ( the name hits him with startling clarity ) had been one of few that had never gotten tracked down to his knowledge. One of the most dangerous; but he didn’t need anyone to tell him that.

     ❝ What ━ what are you doing here ? ❞ He hates the way his words trip over each other, but he stands firm or maybe he’s frozen. ❝ Why have you returned? Didn’t my nii-san scare you off ? ❞ 

    the man’s power--  or was it instead his   SPEED?   like the elusive flash of fireflies as they blinked their lights,  he flickers in & out of sight while scarcely leaving a trace.  the ninja finds his curiosity piqued.  a presence that evaporated even with his expertise in mind was surely in sonic’s best interests to research.  there was no greater precaution than learning how something could be used:  be it for him   OR   against him.

【 ⊳ 碇 】；

HE DOESN’T KNOW what he’s getting in the way of in the first place. He barely understands the power that’s awakened in him, let alone any of the others attuned to it. He just knows what others have told him since Misato took him in, but he doesn’t get any of it. So why —

The stellar energy around him, so very not under his control, pewters out once he’s on the ground, though not without particles of light firing outward in random directions. Shinji feels his hair matted with dirt and sweat, tastes blood, and sees a face that’s far too calm for the circumstances. He’s slipping...at least it’ll be over in a moment...

           “Please don’t push yourself...”   She wasn’t exactly sure if he was trying to show off or was genuinely being a nice guy. Both seemed unlikely. Maybe being a decent human being was truly difficult for the scum of the city. And the acts of others, no matter how minimal, seems almost divine. Being hassled by some middle aged delinquents rather loudly, boasting of money and fun times together. It was all very unfortunate. However Anri soon found herself saved inexplicably by another man with slicked back hair and sleazy smile. The others had ran while a few seemed to have been relatively easily beaten to a pulp. Solemn eyes followed the blood trails and misplaced teeth before looking back up at the stranger. She radiated something utterly demonic didn’t she? As he radiated something powerful causing that force within her to writhe with joy and anticipation. slash love love slash love slash love love love love

  “Really?” He smiles, tapping his chin with one finger. “Some…thing like you is a religious type? That’s very interesting.”

       Shimazaki can’t help the little laugh he lets out as he steps forward. With his hand returning back into the pocket of his pants, he rolls his shoulders, cants his head, and then says, “Oh, there is something I’d give up for Lent if I celebrated.”

       “But as you can see, they’re already gone! Hahaha!”

     “Oh, God forbid I’d be the religious type,” he says back. “It’s a little too late for that!”

     Well, he’s not exaggerating. Being dead definitely limits your options on what deity to believe in—he can’t say he ever believed in anything at all, if he’s being honest. He’s not here to talk about what becomes of someone after they’ve died, so he instead observes the other’s eye sockets. They’re interesting and all, but...

that gif of the guy doing the peace sign and disappearing except it’s shimazaki

     ❝ — That was mine. ❞

It leaves Ritsu in a huff, hands twitching in front of him as energy raced up his arms from the aborted move. There’s pain from all the excess build up, but the hurt can only mean good things. If he wasn’t getting better, nothing would’ve changed. The logic was flawless.

Interruptions in his training however, would not help the situation. Worst yet, he wasn’t even sure if the rouge spirit had been exorcised intentionally or if it had all but given up an accepted its fate in the face of someone far stronger; a passerby. He’d been whittling it down for a long while now, and, and — it just wasn’t fair. 

He’d been so close. The irony of Shimazaki being the one to ruin it wasn’t lost on him.

     ❝ Don’t you have somewhere to be ? ❞ He sounds exasperated already. A job, responsibilities, anything? ❝ Wouldn’t it make sense to move out of the city you’re most known in ? It’d greatly decrease the chances of us meeting. Are you doing this on purpose ? ❞