The Burden of Helplessness...

[tiger_ken]

[1]

[Ever since Ken got back to base after Sol Saviour's first combination, all anyone might have seen of him in the time since is, well...]

WUOOOOOOOH!

[Him taking his training regimen to new, absurd levels. He didn't go anywhere without weights the lengths of his forelimbs. Several push ups, pull ups, sit ups, and whatever else he could think of were made before and after he entered every room. And that little gym he made for himself in the 'fake' city which covers the entrance of the base? Yeah, that's getting some real usage as he punches pretty much everything he can. Interrupt...?]

[2]

[Or do you want to try approaching him when he's in his room instead? Removing the weights as he readies for bed, Ken cringes several times over as he moves his hands over bruises, before returning to a default, sullen mood.]



...Who's there?

Comments

[tiger_ken]

So the answer is 'no', then?

[Ken crosses his arms, proceeding to lean on a wall. ...Regretting it briefly when his shoulder tells him that was a bad idea, but he works through it.]

Because that's what I tend to get whenever I bother to train. They'll point out however they like how my way of doing things is so absurd, outdated, dangerous, or whatever, but they never actually give an alternative. Real useful, isn't it?! Don't like your answer, so how about nothing at all?! That'll solve everything, won't it?!

[Well, Ken's letting it out at least...]

Leos got a load of the same crap till someone thought, 'Oh, how about a counsellor'? Because if someone has a problem, you help them. You solve the problem.

And my problem? The world itself is under attack, and people's lives are at risk. My solution? I get stronger. Why is that wrong? Its what my parents did, and it sure as hell worked for them!

[ugyuuya]

We really are like the two sides of the same coin aren't we. If this is what Yui saw then maybe her reaction makes more sense.

[Yuuya pulls away from his own little reverie to re-address Ken.]

People point out dangerous things people do because they're worried about them. Not everyone will have an answer but they'd help to find one if you asked. Raquel, Tarisa, Mizuki, Stella, Willis, Kagura, and myself all have helped others over time and would do the same for you if you asked.

Leos was given help right away because he had shut down pretty much completely. You're starting to drift that way now and look, people come to help, just like we've been doing and just like we're going to have to continue doing because before this is over one or more of us just might not make it back alive.

Now for your problem and being stronger, how can that help if you're fighting elsewhere like if we had New York and Kyoto under attack at the same time. You need to realize your limits, act to expand them with a reasonable course of action and then know your team members well enough to convey what needs conveyed for them to pick up what you can't.

Now you may call this "preaching" but it's something I thought you knew but your behavior now seems to indicate you didn't. Just think about how Mizuki or Serah would feel if they saw you now.

[tiger_ken]

I have a pretty good idea on both, and in any case, it doesn't change my point!

[Ken moves to grab the desk, and start dragging it towards the door. Even injured, he's got surprising upper body strength.]

They way I am now, isn't good enough. Even if being stronger wouldn't have necessarily changed anything about Sara's situation, it would still mean I'm better prepared for tomorrow, especially since we've got another invasion on our hands. So that I would be working with in New York or Kyoto would know that I'm someone who can support them! So they don't have to use suicide songs, or civilians with unknown powers!

[And soon enough, the chair is at the door.]

So unless you have anything else to tell your wayward sheep oh Father Yuuya, I think we're done.

[ugyuuya]

[Yuuya stares at Ken and takes a moment to visibly breathe and calm down before speaking.]

I told you about my mistake because it's a good illustration between something that is your fault that you should feel guilty for and something that is sad and should be learned from but is not worth tearing yourself apart over.

I don't know why things keep getting like this between us when we try to talk or I try to do something to apologize. The fist fight, the mess with the poker game and now this. The first one was my fault but the second and third seem to be where I'm trying to apologize,offer some advice, or help you and we wind up getting involved in something like this.

You've already proven that with whatever tricks and gifts you've been given you can beat me like I was standing still in a fist fight, your unit is tougher and more adaptable then mine is so you're better able to cover down for others even if I have the skill edge for now, and you can combine with your other team members into something pulled out of one of those old cartoons kids watch on Saturday mornings to even BETTER protect others.

If that's how things currently stand then what does that make me if you're not good enough Ken? Are you really so arrogant that you want to coddle those who are fighting with you? That we're something fragile and you're the only one who can protect us?

[Yuuya's voice goes dead cold before continuing instead of his usual belligerent rants.]

Well get that screwed up idea out of your head before it kills you, or worse, someone else. Kanadae CHOSE to sing that song because other attacks were ineffective, Kaname has a gift and you've already done more for her than anyone else in the UG besides maybe Sousuke.

If you keep pulling this shit you're going to hurt yourself or worse and there are enough things out there trying to kill us that you don't need to help them. Now you're going to take a break tomorrow and I'm going to talk with Raquel and Tarisa for some better guidance on what you need to be doing for improving your basic conditioning since you're pretty much beyond me in that regard. If I catch you pulling this crazy shit and tearing yourself apart without a good reason, and "I have to be stronger to protect everyone" is not a good reason to do this to yourself outside of battle, then I'm going to march in with the full pilot suit with exoskeleton to correct your flawed reasoning.

[tiger_ken]

[...Ken had phased most of what was said out of his mind, because one thing in particular had brought him serious pause...

Considering all that he had... and how he thought that still wasn't enough... what was he saying of the rest of Unity Group?]

...I...

[He blankly stares, before his eyes flit about. Other points, he might contest, or perhaps argue that it shouldn't have been, or note that it had been part of his very point...

But he just came back to that same thing, over and over.

What was he saying of everyone else, that he was the one, and the one alone, who had to get stronger? And in a fashion like this?]

...If you're going to get anyone... probably Raquel. Just... saying.

[And its all he really can say.]

[ugyuuya]

[Yuuya relaxes as Ken concedes the point in asking for help with his advancement.]

I'll do my best to get her to cooperate but I don't imagine it will be all that difficult to do so.

[Yuuya stands and pulls a tube from his jacket pocket to throw to Ken.]

Well I'm going to let you rest now but if I were you I'd use that on some of my nastier cuts, wouldn't want anything getting infected would we?

Also thanks for listening in the end, I'm sorry if I came on a bit strong there but it was frustrating to watch you do that to yourself.