soul_campaign | 05 ✪ backdated to April 4th ✪ video

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05 ✪ backdated to April 4th ✪ video

[For anyone that happens to know Kotetsu, you might be a little surprised at the serious, almost stern features on his face. He almost looks as if he has something dire and important to say, and in fact, he does. He opens his mouth-- and then closes it, his eyes going wide slightly, and he stares down at his feet as if trying to recall what he was going to say.

Damn it, public speaking wasn't ever his strong point, but Barnaby had taken care of the first message relating to this subject so it was only fair that he'd handle it this time around. Finally, with an assured nod, he lifts his head up.]

Okay, I'd like to have everyone's attention please! I know a lot of people probably know more than enough about those killings going around, and if you haven't, get outta that rock and read yourself a newspaper. It's good for you. I'm not sure how many of you remember the message someone named Barnaby gave about this "serial killer" in the area, but it's related to that.

[Kotetsu takes a deep breath and removes his hat, his expression going serious again.]

They're calling the guy that everyone is looking for "The Crim Cutter". But that's not his name. His name is Lunatic. He's from my world, and from the looks of it, he's now in Death City. Back home, he was famous for going after criminals and giving them his own brand of justice, and that was by killing them. No one knows what he really looks like because he wears a mask and an outfit, and no one knows how to catch him. Not yet at least. He's never gone after regular, innocent people though, so there isn't too much to worry about. Still, he's dangerous, and he shouldn't be here. We can't let him stay loose for long.

...some people might think that he's not that bad of a problem because he goes after criminals, people who you think deserves this sort of thing, but that's not true. It's a lie. No matter who he goes after and why, he's killing people, and no matter what, that sort of thing can't be forgiven. You don't get any kind of justice with murder. It's not right!

[He doesn't realize the tightened hold he has on his mirror or the raised tone in his voice until he hears it slightly echo in the room he's in, and Kotetsu jolts slightly, surprised at his own outburst. Calming down, he rubs at the back of his neck and continues.]

Ah, so, if anyone has any questions, don't hesitate to ask me or my partner. --oh, my name's Kotetsu. My partner's Barnaby. We've dealt with this guy a lot longer than Death City has now so hopefully, we can help out in catching Lunatic and getting this all to stop as soon as possible, because trust me, he's not gonna stop for anything.

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So the guy calls himself brainfried and shoots people with a crossbow while wearing a fancy costume.

Your world sure sounds interesting if you can't deal with that.

The reason I can't "deal with that" is because he's taking the law into his own hands and killing people for his own selfish reasons. You can't just decide that someone's better off dead and then actually kill them, as if you're doing the whole world some damn favor. He thinks he's bringing justice when all he is is a murderer.

Which differentiates him from the 'forces of good' by exactly the point of one of them sitting on a throne and the other not.

I never said anything about thrones! That might be how things might work in some other place or a thousand years back but that's not how things are for me or this city. That doesn't even make a difference to me anyway! I don't care who it is or how they explain it, whether you're some lord of a country or a police officer or just a regular person, I don't think that's the right way to treat people, no matter what they've done.

Do you? Well, I used to think the same things once.

And? What made you change your mind about it?

The fact that justice doesn't matters as long as you are the one who has the power. 'Power' lets you do with the people you don't like whatever you wish to without being prosecuted for it.

If that's justice then I don't need that.

You've got your definitions all mixed up, and whoever made you think that thing about power is just as scattered as what you're trying to get at.

Power is like a fuel. It gets things going. The more of it that you have then the more you can accomplish, but some people think that the more power you have, the more you're capable of doing, and then somehow that makes you think you can do whatever you want. Steal, boss people around, take their belongings, punish them for something as simple as not looking at you the right way. Power isn't an excuse. When that happens, you're abusing it, and you've gotta stop.

Justice is the exact same way. Just because you've got a reason and the fuel to do something doesn't mean you should go and do it, and it doesn't make you right in doing so either. You're just lying to yourself and other people by telling them, "I decided this, I'm doing this for a good reason, so you'd better listen or pay the consequences."

That's why I am only pursuing my own 'justice'. I don't care what others think of it and I expect no sympathy. The things I do, I do them because there is a good reason for me.

...and that's also why I hate everybody who claims to fight for justice or the well-being of 'everyone'. Because they don't.

Then what exactly are they doing? Are they doing it to make themselves look good? An ego boost? You think it makes 'em feel less like shit every morning because they managed to do something worthwhile with their life for once? It's just an excuse, huh? It's a front, it's a public image thing, nothing but lies.

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm doing this because I want to, because I decided it, because it makes me happy. Helping others is what I've always wanted to do and I wouldn't have things any other way. You think whatever you want about what I choose to fight for and why, and I'll keep helping people, not for your reasons but mine. Because those are the only ones I need.

Now, if you've got a problem with that, then all I can tell you is to just deal with it.

[For a moment he is tempted to ask how that sort of reasoning isn't exactly Kotetsu doing what he wants to do. How it's not him working for his own goals, how its not spurred by a selfish desire, even if it means that he will offer anything to help out others.

But he doesn't do it.

Instead, after a notable moment of silence, the connection gets suddenly switched to video and private. The face that belongs to his cold and cutting voice doesn't fit it. Instead it is gentle, framed by soft-looking white hair and with long lashes that empathize blue-violet eyes in a way that would make girls jealous. The person who is Bakura and yet isn't gazes at him with an unreadable look as his left hand rests on his chest, as if he had absentmindedly touched the place where the scars from the Ring lie earlier and has simply forgotten about it still being there. There is a big puncture scar visible on the outer palm of the hand.]

Would you kill for it? Would you force others to suffer to set the world in the ways you want it to run and then claim that it was something that 'had to be done'?

[Kotetsu would spend endless days denying that his need to help others and that his ideals of justice weren't based off of selfish desires, and even if there was chance of debating them, he'd ignore them to the bitter end. He was a selfless person through and through, enough that he'd place himself in danger simply to pull one individual out of harm's way. He'd even just about offered his life for someone's safety.

When the image on the screen suddenly showed up, Kotetsu hadn't been sure of what it meant until a face looked right back at him, and for a brief second, surprise spread over his own face, because the person on the other end was amazingly familiar. He'd spoken to the other Bakura before, but he never seemed to have the ferocity of sorts to his words as this one apparently did. Were they the same? He had no idea, but that didn't matter as the scar caught his eyes, and then the next question was delivered.

Kotetsu blinked, unsure of how to answer, but after a moment he knew what he was meant to say, and he shook his head.]

No... no, I don't think I could. [An image of a body draped by a white sheet flashed before his eyes, and he glanced away quickly, unnerved and unsure, but there was still that striking confidence in his voice.] I know I can probably only say that because I've never been put in a spot like that, but I just... I wouldn't wanna do it. I can't. Whether I could make that big of a change or not, if it was about getting rid of a thousand people or just one, it wouldn't be worth it to me.

I've got no right to think that people mean so little that killing them is a solution to anything.

[He gives him a long, lingering look and then drops his hand, apparently having lost his interest in their little argument.]

Then that 'justice' of yours is of no concern to this grudge. I have no problem with those who live and die for that what they chose for themselves. Though...

[He trails off and his face twists into a knowing, sadistic little smirk.]

..It'll be interesting to see who dies first: you or that innocence of yours.

[Kotetsu's dealt with enough situations like this that he doesn't find the sudden shift in his attitude particularly surprising, not like how it had popped up without warning, but as it seems to just turn into something else... Kotetsu's eyes narrow slightly, and whereas the words would probably send chills down someone's spine, Kotetsu just stands there and watches warily, his voice dully sarcastic.]

Oh, that so? Sorry to disappoint, but I'm not planning on either one happening anytime soon.

Neither have I until it happened. [He laughs sarcastically under his breath.]

Much luck with your hunt, hero. Hold your eyes tightly shut when the abyss looks back at you and make sure that you always have a friend who won't mind slaying a monster that he once knew.

[There's a harsh, displeased 'tsk', and Kotetsu doesn't even bother with another response before he turns the communicator off. To hell with this, he won't be annoyingly toyed around with for someone's amusement. He knows who he can trust and he knows he'll be just fine, unlike this weirdo... whoever they even were.]

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05 ✪ backdated to April 4th ✪ video

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