Kou has no patience for Maruki's little charade- this act of his. He tightens the grip on his sword as he watches the two interact growling.
"Then come out and face me. And I said, give me the tape. I'm done with your bullshit." He goes to take a step forward- even if this is just a cognitive projection, harming it should have some effect on the real Maruki- he's intent on forcing the issue, but-
He wavers when Maruki grabs the gun- Goro gun. It feels like yet another punch to the gut, his mouth dry- is Maruki going to shoot him with such a familiar weapon? What irony- how fucking hilarious. Kou really does hate this man, the way he shoves himself into other people's- into his thoughts, using them against him, and having the gall to act like he's the one above it all.
Then Maruki shoots the bloody old man, and the entire place screeches, loud enough that Kou's forced to cover his ears, feeling the vibrations echo through him like knives. It's dizzying, his ears ringing, not helped by his already exhausted state. Maruki's muttering and mumbling as Kou tries to regain his composure, the entire place slowly shifting, and Maruki slams through a wall- shit, he's so fucking out of practice. Palnatoke urges him on as he shakes his head. He can't lose Maruki here- not until he has his tape.
"Get back here!" he shouts, running after the cognitive Maruki, snarling. The walls tremble and change just like before- a Shujin where the walls scream, then a hospital where ichor paints the entire ward- doubtlessly trying to shatter Kou's already emotionally fragile state. Maruki keeps bursting through walls, and Kou follows on sheer willpower alone. Mementos, Shido's office, complete with a sneering, furious Shido, images of themselves simply taking the abuse. Something terrible crops up in Kou's throat, something that makes him feel so horrifically small- but he ignores it, forcing himself onwards-
The walls become metallic, and Kou's breath catches.
Here once again, huh. He's not even surprised at this point, but that doesn't make it any less shocking, any less impactful. Tears prick at his eyes, and he forces them closed- but Goro's begging echoes in his ears, and he grits his teeth.
How much longer does he have to do this?
He opens his eyes just in time to watch Maruki disappear, muttering something or the other about Ren- or Akire- shit-, it doesn't matter-!
Face to face with him is another illusion of Goro.
1/2
"Then come out and face me. And I said, give me the tape. I'm done with your bullshit." He goes to take a step forward- even if this is just a cognitive projection, harming it should have some effect on the real Maruki- he's intent on forcing the issue, but-
He wavers when Maruki grabs the gun- Goro gun. It feels like yet another punch to the gut, his mouth dry- is Maruki going to shoot him with such a familiar weapon? What irony- how fucking hilarious. Kou really does hate this man, the way he shoves himself into other people's- into his thoughts, using them against him, and having the gall to act like he's the one above it all.
Then Maruki shoots the bloody old man, and the entire place screeches, loud enough that Kou's forced to cover his ears, feeling the vibrations echo through him like knives. It's dizzying, his ears ringing, not helped by his already exhausted state. Maruki's muttering and mumbling as Kou tries to regain his composure, the entire place slowly shifting, and Maruki slams through a wall- shit, he's so fucking out of practice. Palnatoke urges him on as he shakes his head. He can't lose Maruki here- not until he has his tape.
"Get back here!" he shouts, running after the cognitive Maruki, snarling. The walls tremble and change just like before- a Shujin where the walls scream, then a hospital where ichor paints the entire ward- doubtlessly trying to shatter Kou's already emotionally fragile state. Maruki keeps bursting through walls, and Kou follows on sheer willpower alone. Mementos, Shido's office, complete with a sneering, furious Shido, images of themselves simply taking the abuse. Something terrible crops up in Kou's throat, something that makes him feel so horrifically small- but he ignores it, forcing himself onwards-
The walls become metallic, and Kou's breath catches.
Here once again, huh. He's not even surprised at this point, but that doesn't make it any less shocking, any less impactful. Tears prick at his eyes, and he forces them closed- but Goro's begging echoes in his ears, and he grits his teeth.
How much longer does he have to do this?
He opens his eyes just in time to watch Maruki disappear, muttering something or the other about Ren- or Akire- shit-, it doesn't matter-!
Face to face with him is another illusion of Goro.
And he's holding Kou's tape.