[ Ah, Kaz should have planned that better. He forgets most people (kids, Kaz. Kids.) don't have cars but the park was closer to his place than hers. In any case, he walks down to the park much less briskly, but fairly quickly nonetheless. He's already there by the time Yuuri runs up, so he waves at her when he spots her. ]
Hey. Sorry, I didn't think... I should have asked which park was closest to you. I can drive you home if you want, I live just down the street.
It's okay! I don't really mind! [She smiles.] After all, walking is good for you, right?
[Okay but...he's really here. That's so strange it's almost surreal. All this time she'd always imagined this happening but she'd always assumed it'd never happen.
Even though she's talked to him before, even though she'd sent him cat picture and knew his name it suddenly felt like a dream.
She blanks out for a moment and so she defaults to old habits.
[ Oh. Bowing. That. Is a thing people do in Japan. Kaz can't help it, he bows his head too. It seems right. It's strange meeting a sister you'd only heard about from bad days in court or visits to his father, but Yuuri seems like a good girl. She's his sister, but it's a thought he hadn't made real until their moment, either. ]
[ Between regaining muscles, weird memories and everything else, he hasn't had all that much time to slow down and make time for other things. Though that's hardly an excuse if you ask him. ]
But it's been good. [ He nods to himself, mostly trying to keep the subject off himself. They're here for her, after all. ]
I'm sure you have questions about our dad. I'll try to answer what I can.
[ Kaz wants to say his father is a good man, but he's had some time to think about the situation with Yuuri and his mom. So maybe "good" isn't necessarily the right word. ]
He was kind of strict when I was growing up, but he was always there for me when I needed him. He really values honor and integrity... At least, he always tried to teach me that those things are important.
[ Which is why those charges against him suck... even if Kiryu wants to believe they're wrong, the law still found him guilty. He sighs. The next words spill with a heavy heart. ]
It feels kind of weird saying all this when he didn't even tell mom about you. Maybe he was trying to teach me not to be like him.
[The fact that he never mentioned them...stung a little. But Yuuri thought...it'd make sense, right? Families were complicated enough without these kinds of things.]
I'm sure he must have had his reasons. It's not like my family told me much about you either. [It wasn't a topic anyone wanted to even touch.]
But then I guess, that memory probably wasn't of him then...
Yeah. I could try asking him, I haven't visited in a while.
[ It's awkward for both of them, and it's neither of their fault. Kiryu's older, he's supposed to be the responsible one here, but he's happy to change the subject... ]
Did you remember something, from before?
[ Kiryu is strictly in the 'past-life' team, pretty much. ]
I used to go every other month. Things have gotten busier at work and with this Retrospec stuff, though.
[ He has to wonder if his dad had even met Yuuri before... it's not exactly an easy question to ask. ]
Ah. Like the memories people start to get when they get on Retrospec. I know people have different theories about them, but they feel like memories to me. Maybe of a past life or something similar.
I know Retrospec makes it hard, but when you get the chance you should go. I'm sure he misses you.
[It's very telling that never once did Yuuri consider asking him to take her or even entertain the idea that their father might want to meet her.]
A past life? [She hasn't heard all the different theories but this one seemed as reasonable as any.] They do feel pretty real. But why are we remembering them?
[ it's good that she isn't because probably... well, who knows, but he probably wouldn't want to meet Yuuri? He's a bad guy. It'd be painful for everyone. ]
I don't know. Maybe Retrospec is helping us remember... or maybe we all forgot and their weird world-tampering is bringing all that back or something. I'm willing to believe that more than it being another me from another world.
[ He'll tell him anyway. At least about having spoken to her. Kiryu's too nice not to at least try. ]
Yeah, exactly. I get where people are coming from, thinking they're hallucinations or alternate universes. Some of the things people have remembered are pretty out there.
But if you ask me, these memories feel like they're mine. I was different back then, but I still feel like me when I think back to them.
[She has a lot of extra stuff in the gag comics. Because those are canon and that's where side characters get extra development.]
You're welcome.
[No matter who he was she couldn't imagine him being a bad person. Even if she ever found out he had been yakuza she still thinks he was probably one of the good ones.]
[ We believe in you, Yuuri! Kiryu smiles. He can't say for sure, but he is actually one of the good ones when it comes to the yakuza. He's just got his doubts, but those aren't things little sisters need to worry about.
He reaches over and pats her head softly. Yuuri's such a sweet girl. He really lucked out in the sibling department. ]
Was there anything else you wanted to know? I feel like I should walk you home. It's kind of late...
no subject
Hey. Sorry, I didn't think... I should have asked which park was closest to you. I can drive you home if you want, I live just down the street.
no subject
[Okay but...he's really here. That's so strange it's almost surreal. All this time she'd always imagined this happening but she'd always assumed it'd never happen.
Even though she's talked to him before, even though she'd sent him cat picture and knew his name it suddenly felt like a dream.
She blanks out for a moment and so she defaults to old habits.
She bows.]
It's nice to meet you.
no subject
Same here. Sorry it took so long.
no subject
no subject
[ Between regaining muscles, weird memories and everything else, he hasn't had all that much time to slow down and make time for other things. Though that's hardly an excuse if you ask him. ]
But it's been good. [ He nods to himself, mostly trying to keep the subject off himself. They're here for her, after all. ]
I'm sure you have questions about our dad. I'll try to answer what I can.
no subject
She isn't even sure where to start though...she didn't have enough time to prepare for this...]
What's he like?
no subject
He was kind of strict when I was growing up, but he was always there for me when I needed him. He really values honor and integrity... At least, he always tried to teach me that those things are important.
[ Which is why those charges against him suck... even if Kiryu wants to believe they're wrong, the law still found him guilty. He sighs. The next words spill with a heavy heart. ]
It feels kind of weird saying all this when he didn't even tell mom about you. Maybe he was trying to teach me not to be like him.
no subject
[The fact that he never mentioned them...stung a little. But Yuuri thought...it'd make sense, right? Families were complicated enough without these kinds of things.]
I'm sure he must have had his reasons. It's not like my family told me much about you either. [It wasn't a topic anyone wanted to even touch.]
But then I guess, that memory probably wasn't of him then...
no subject
[ It's awkward for both of them, and it's neither of their fault. Kiryu's older, he's supposed to be the responsible one here, but he's happy to change the subject... ]
Did you remember something, from before?
[ Kiryu is strictly in the 'past-life' team, pretty much. ]
no subject
I remember someone patting me on the head...but I'm sure it wasn't mother. I thought maybe it was something about father I had forgotten.
[She tilts her head a little.]
What do you mean, by "from before"?
no subject
[ He has to wonder if his dad had even met Yuuri before... it's not exactly an easy question to ask. ]
Ah. Like the memories people start to get when they get on Retrospec. I know people have different theories about them, but they feel like memories to me. Maybe of a past life or something similar.
no subject
[It's very telling that never once did Yuuri consider asking him to take her or even entertain the idea that their father might want to meet her.]
A past life? [She hasn't heard all the different theories but this one seemed as reasonable as any.] They do feel pretty real. But why are we remembering them?
no subject
[ it's good that she isn't because probably... well, who knows, but he probably wouldn't want to meet Yuuri? He's a bad guy. It'd be painful for everyone. ]
I don't know. Maybe Retrospec is helping us remember... or maybe we all forgot and their weird world-tampering is bringing all that back or something. I'm willing to believe that more than it being another me from another world.
no subject
Another her from another world? That sounds like science fiction.]
...there being another world seems a bit hard to believe. Then again, I guess all of this is kind of unbelievable.
no subject
Yeah, exactly. I get where people are coming from, thinking they're hallucinations or alternate universes. Some of the things people have remembered are pretty out there.
But if you ask me, these memories feel like they're mine. I was different back then, but I still feel like me when I think back to them.
no subject
[Also you're her brother so she's more inclined to believe you on this.]
no subject
[ Well, when your series is over 10 years old, there's a lot of ground to cover. ]
I just know that the me in my memories had have to have been me. It's not like watching a movie or anything, they feel like things I forgot.
no subject
I'm sure whoever you were must have also been a good person.
{This is her opinion after knowing you for...basically very little time. But it's a sister's intuition!]
no subject
Thanks, Yuuri.
[ He smiles, soft and honest. He already knows he's a yakuza... but that doesn't mean he's a bad person, maybe? ]
I hope so, too.
no subject
You're welcome.
[No matter who he was she couldn't imagine him being a bad person. Even if she ever found out he had been yakuza she still thinks he was probably one of the good ones.]
no subject
He reaches over and pats her head softly. Yuuri's such a sweet girl. He really lucked out in the sibling department. ]
Was there anything else you wanted to know? I feel like I should walk you home. It's kind of late...