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[ Soul is worn out. He's still sick and he's more than a little bummed, but he's trying to look cheerful for the network. His smile is tired when he appears but he still manages it somehow.

So, I shoulda announced this before, but I was kinda busy. [ More like coughing his lungs out, but okay. ] I've been organizing a party for Halloween, a masquerade to be exact. I could use some help with setup - anyone able to help me out? It's gonna be in the gym starting at early evening and go until we're all partied out.

[ He actually gives a real grin this time, however momentary it is. ] It'll be great.

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[Soul is sounding like Atsuya now. He doesn't need anyone. He's perfect as is. But they aren't the same - Atsuya's seen enough of Soul to know what names like Maka and Black*Star mean. When they resonated, he felt a spark of something he'd forgotten, and it scared him as much as it intrigued him.]

You're being dumb. Go rest.

[He doesn't want Soul sick or hurt, that much he's decided.]

Dumb? I don't have time to be sick.

[ It's a feeling of guilt that's driving him right now, among the other things. He feels like he could be doing more about so much. If he stops and rests, who knows what could slip away? ]

It'll go away by itself eventually.

It'll go away faster if you rest.

[How many times had Shirou said that to Atsuya? ...Which end of that was he on, again...?]

And what happens to everything else if I rest...?

Then you go all-out once you're better.

[How much 'everything else' is there? Fubuki doesn't care. Doing stuff halfway is no good. All or nothing. Perfection or nothing.]

Unless it's all gone to hell while I'm not looking.

It's just planning a party.

[Not even as important as a soccer game, even a practice game. But ah, there's one thing that's the same, isn't there? If there's one thing his time with Raimon taught him, it's if the first way doesn't work, try a second. If that doesn't work, try a third. He'll get back at Desarm...]

Unless you can't handle that much going wrong.

You think that's all that's going on?

[ Soul sounds very tired now, even more tired than before. Emotionally tired. ]

I wish.

You're the one not saying anything.

[How's Atsuya supposed to know if more is going on when Soul is avoiding him? All he knows if Soul's been trying to organize a party because he just said that.

Fubuki doesn't even know what happened at the start of the month. It would be hard not to know something happened, but...]

....I guess I haven't said much of anything to you, huh?

[ Soul's kind of mad at himself for that, all of a sudden. No matter the reason, good or bad, he's been pushing away a friend that knows him deeper than most people. That's kind of shitty and he's an ass for doing it. But then, he's an ass for most things, isn't he? ]

Sorry.

[He hasn't seen Soul aside from fleetingly all month. He doesn't really get why this is happening - Shirou's better at figuring other people out. Doesn't matter. Atsuya doesn't need anyone. Least of all Shirou.]

So either tell me now or go to bed.

[Or play soccer with him. Soccer is always a valid response to everything.]

Tell you what? Why I'm mad at myself? That one's easy, people try to die and I can't do anything about it. Tell you why I'm sick? That one's easy too, I can't sleep because when I do, I think about the people I'm failing.

[ Soul pauses for another cough. ]

Tell you why I avoided you? Can't do that one. It's embarrassing.

[ His face is a little red from more than fever and he glances away from the phone. ]

[Everything Someoka had said at first was about Gouenji, and how he was supposed to be there fighting with them. And then Someoka couldn't fight anymore. Left. Just like Soul has been trying to leave.

He doesn't get it. Not really... There are a lot of things Atsuya doesn't have a reference for. The most confusing part is the last. He's not sure what to do with that. Why would it be embarrassing?]

You're failing because you're going at half power. You can't do anything if you make yourself worse, I said that already.

...tell you what. Manage to track down where I am, and I'll concede to go sleep.

[So it's a game now, huh? Alright. Challenge accepted. Atsuya won't lose. At least this means Soul's not running away from him anymore.]

Fine, I'm coming. [His eyes flash just a little brighter gold as he shuts off the feed. He'll start with the gym, since he mentioned it in his broadcast.]

[ That's where Soul was but he tries to flee it in good time, because he figures Atsuya will check there first. He heads for the library, because most people wouldn't check for him there. ]

[Soul escapes in time, and Atsuya's not the type to ask around. He's going to do this himself.

After the gym he tries the mess hall and kitchen. The garden. The Pokemon Daycare. The bathrooms. The altar room. The music room. At this point he's starting to get very frustrated. Not enough to rely on other people, but enough to be tempted to get his Pokemon searching separately.

No. This is his hunt. He's not giving in until he's searched every room - and he almost has to. The Library is the last place he goes before he starts opening bedroom doors. It takes him a while.]

[ At that point, Soul's let his guard down. He's sitting at one of the tables, reading an interesting book about autumn myths. Or at least trying - he has to quit for awhile, every few pages, because of his headache. He's not trying to hide at all.

When he spots Atsuya, though, he ducks down under the table. It seems like a good idea in his fever addled mind. ]

[Soul is underestimating Fubuki's speed. That's okay. Most people do.

Like the wind, he's across from Soul, and ducks down under the table to grin at him, eyes glowing yellow in the shadows.]

Too slow. Found you.

[ Soul swears in a way Maka would hit him with multiple books for. ]

Shoulda known you would.

[You be glad he isn't Gouenji or he'd probably send you flying with a soccer ball right about now.]

You picked such a boring place. I forgot we had one of these.

I picked it because you'd go somewhere that had to do with sports first.

[ Soul grins despite himself. He likes Fubuki's predictability. ]

[He growls. He doesn't like being called out on that - that's clearly a weakness, and he has to be perfect.]

I found you, now go to bed! [He punctuates this with a light shove.]

[ Soul gives him a Look for the shove, but doesn't shove back. He's not capable of it right now. ]

I'll go to the infirmary, but want to come with me?

[ Soul's not excited about the idea of being alone. ]

Fine. I guess I'll stick around.

[He wasn't doing anything anyway. And being alone sucks, especially while sick. ...And he kinda missed Soul while he was avoiding him.]

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