[ The heat is ensnaring, violent, but Aki doesn't seem to be particularly bothered by it.

He's dressed in a full black suit, his hair up in its usual topknot, and he has an unfamiliar sword strapped to his back. It's clear that, no matter what, he isn't here to mess around; even in previous kaiju missions he hasn't been quite this serious about things. This time, it's incredibly personal.

He has to save Tsurumaru.

Throughout the setup for the mission, Aki can be found wandering around, checking his sword, adjusting the attachments on his arm (notably, a chainsaw, a sword and a rocket launcher) or helping with food.

Later in the evening, a message comes through on the network: ]

@ TOPKNOT:

They're here. Messaging them is back.

[ His ring is still painfully quiet, however, and after the message is sent, Aki stands aside, looking gaunt and tired. ]

[ This is the gate where Aki spends most of his time.

Throughout the hours that he presses through the gate, various images appear before him, intense and unyielding. His parents, begging for him to come back and care for his brother. Himeno, asking him to step away, to smoke with her again. Even other members of Public Safety, asking him to put down his blade and come away, to leave the mission be and rest.

To stop.

To finally stop.

Throughout it all, Aki is set, stoic, intensely so. He walks through his ghosts as if they're not there, unblinking, even as his eyes shimmer with unshed tears. It's only his need to get to Tsurumaru that keeps him moving, and his hands shake with each and every single step that he takes.

It's facing the spirits that Aki begins to work, his metal arm baring its chainsaw attachment as he barells through them. It's still awkward to use his arm as a blade, but it's probably interesting to note that he doesn't use the sword strapped to his back - he fights without it, using his attachments instead... Minus the rocket launcher.

If anyone appears to be struggling or in need, he's quick to come to their side, fierce and determined. ]

Get up. We need to keep moving.

[ Aki spends a long time lingering outside of the fighting before he makes his way to survival to face Godzilla.

He seems to abandon the mission partway through, making it to the Gravekeeper and stopping, fighting his way back out with something cradled in his arms. He doesn't stop for anyone or anything, no one calling his name, nothing - there is nothing that could stop him now, because it feels as if his heart is beating for the first time ever.

Later in the day, preparing for the kaiju fight, Aki is sat... Alone? In a corner. His previous sword is resting to one side, practically abandoned, and another blade rests tenderly in his lap, his fingers brushing over it with gentle, loving concern, his hair out of the topknot and hanging around his face.

Some people might recognise the sword as one Tsurumaru Kuninaga, and Aki is painfully protective.

Hearing someone approach, he draws the blade closer to himself, head tilted. ]

What?