"Hey." 

"Why are you here?" Duri asked Fuyuhiko from his curled-up form on his bed, the kagune seeming to glare at him as he stood at the doorway, holding his Riolu, Akira. 

"I just wanted to talk," he said in reply. "But it's okay if you don't want to." 

"Stop. Just, stop trying, I don't- I've killed people." 

Fuyuhiko flinched hearing that. He knew the feeling, really, he did, so...

He closed his eyes, mentally encouraging himself as he gathered up the courage to say, "I... I knew before we had to recruit you." 

It had the desired effect. Duri's head shot up, and he barely dodged the kagune grabbing him, "WHAT?! THEN WHY-" 

"It was why I was hesitant at first," he admitted to the perplexed Hoenn native. "I didn't want to let someone so unstable, a wild card, into the team. Even though we needed you against Hiro, I still had my doubts." 

"... What... changed?" Duri asked him quietly, a curious tone notable in his voice. "What changed you in such a short timespan?"

"That battle," he simply said, and caramel eyes shot up to meet his olive eyes. "It reminded me of my sister before the coma. Reckless, yet always determined to do the right thing despite growing up in a yakuza clan." 

"Before... the coma?" Duri repeated. 

He closed his eyes, and then asked, "Have you heard of the Great Tragedy of Kanto?" 

"You mean the one led by Junko-san? Yeah, of course. I work with her sometimes in the team," Duri frowned. 

The Great Tragedy of Kanto was a tragedy indeed, Fuyuhiko thought. However, his story was not centered around that. Not yet, at least. 

"My... younger sister had gotten into a reckless battle before and tried to protect her Pokemon from a harsh blow, and it... it sent her into a coma. She only recently woke back up, but the pain I sustained throughout that time, I will never forget. It's what led me to work with Junko, after all."

"WHAT!?" Duri's eyes were wide, and Fuyuhiko did not blame him. Hearing that someone used to be a member of the Despair Class Junko had formed, most of all someone like him... probably shocked a lot of people. 

"Yeah, but I was saved. Sure we had to go through a lot of hardships, but we came out on top and stopped before it was too late," he looked out the window. "And then when Fic and Shirou invited us into the team, we couldn't really refuse. I... don't regret joining up with those two. Sure Shirou's crazy and Fic tends to pull disappearing acts on us but both are good leaders and they helped me set up this team to keep the peace between mythical creatures, humans and Pokemon, providing food and the such for others." 

"O-Oh..." Duri frowned. He seemed... to understand. 

"Look, your battling style... If you told a stranger you hadn't battled for 2 years, they would have given you a blank stare," Fuyuhiko admitted. "Even though you were at a disadvantage there, you tried your best and it worked, for the most part. Sure you screwed up near the end with that attack which let them get away, but other than that, I can wave it off because it was a powerful battle. One I hadn't seen in years, because my sister isn't battling anymore. One I hadn't been able to feel excited about for years! You're really something, y'know..."

"Fuyuhiko..." Duri gently placed a hand on his lap, a gentle downward twitch of his lips clear. 

"We all have history here, actually. I'm sure you know of Ajit's, Hajime's, Nagito's, and even Fic didn't have a good beginning. But we don't let it bring us down, no matter what. And you shouldn't too, Duri. Whatever it is, I'm sure we can get through it. You, me, and everyone here. So don't give up. We WILL take down Team Alpha, but we need your help to do that. So, can you please lend us your strength?" He met the other's caramel eyes boldly, pleading with him for a second chance to fix his wrongs, to make it right and take down Team Alpha... together. 

Duri stared at him, seemingly transfixed by SOMETHING (he was pretty sure he didn't have anything on him, though... was it THAT weird?), before he chuckled quietly, "A-Alright then. Y-You didn't have to get onto your knees though." 

With a start, Fuyuhiko realised the awkward position he was in, and flushed red as he shot up. What had he been doing!? 

He didn't like like Duri! He was only helping him get back onto his feet! That was what leaders did, after all! Why the heck were the 4 Pokemon giving him amused stares?! 

URGH HE SHOULD HAVE SENT HAJIME INSTEAD OF HIMSELF!