#is series

Nizu & Aruto, Nizu & Jin, 700+ words

The first time after is… strange, in the fight, and after, she knows her predecessor is there. Beside her, perhaps in control, but the sense fades in the time between then and when Aruto comes into work the next morning.

It’s not a merge, and it is complicated, and Izu… does not quite know what to do with it.

Aruto asks before she can, though.

“Are you Is, or Izu?” He asks. Izu considers.

She is not… who she was before, but she knows she’s changed. Though she truly couldn’t say how.

“I feel different,” she says. “Sure that my place is by your side, and by Jin’s… helping people, like you do.”

Aruto smiles.

“Well, I guess that’s enough,” he says. “Is gave us her blessing, though. I’m glad…” he blinks. “Hey, you do seem different. I wonder…”

Aruto & Izu, 900+ words

Fuwa never did turn in resignation papers before he ran off, did he? Aruto thinks, sending another paycheck to the… he was running around helping people these days, right?

Aruto knows it’s an excuse, but footing the bill for someone who knew what they wanted is something right he can do, at least. It makes up for nothing, and he knows it’ll take time to rebuild his own and his company’s reputation, knows that beyond that there’s the simple fact that he had become the Ark to avenge Is and killed collateral (Jin, who this time had not deserved it) along the way.

But.

It’s something.

A Humagear datakey that says “error” when he tries to open it. Regrets and new promises.

A loneliness that feels unbearable and empty and utterly deserved.