Maybe. I've been goin' this whole time, y' know? Ever since back then. Me and Oryou... we never really stopped. We never really needed to. Ya know me, I'm always movin' on to the next thing, and there ain't much stoppin' ya when things like time ain't even a barrier anymore.

[ ryouma did not love that job most of the time, but he speaks of it now almost wistfully. less a longing for the work and more because he speaks of a time when oryou was there with him. it was tedious and painful work sometimes, but he could do anything with the right company. ]

I'm startin' to run outta ideas. I'm used to it bein' difficult and havin' to keep pushin' until I get somethin', but how well do ya suppose I'm gonna be able t' change his mind once it's made up? This is what I deserve anyway, isn't it? What I did back then doesn't make up for hurtin' either of ya.

[ yes, it may not have been him, personally, who gave hizen away, but he's taken that on already for a long time now. ]