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[It's easier to grasp if he just considers it Shirasu breaking a promise to Tenka, honestly.The thought of Tenka being overprotective in return is just....somehow a little hard to grasp. It feels just a little bit...strange.

Regardless, of course, Shirasu breaking a promise is a problem. It means he definitely can't be trusted.

And as for Tenka's decision regarding the kids...it's not like Sousei's going to undermine that in any way. Besides, he agrees.]

No harm will come to them. [Even if Shirasu tries, honestly. They've got Sousei and Tenka both protecting them. That much he can be confident in.]

But I see. Very well then. [Tenka's choices regarding Shirasu are...pretty well-understood now.] It doesn't seem as though he means you harm either, but continue to be careful.

[Or. You know. Start being careful, if you haven't been.]

Ah well, he knocked me around a little to be honest. [But he's clearly uninjured, so it just warrants a shrug from him and he admits with only a little bit of hesitation:] But... it was just like the old days.

[When they were friends and could joke around and Tenka could attack Shirasu playfully and get a good fight in return.

Obviously no harm will come to Tenka's brothers, he's not worried about that. Not when he's still not entirely trusting of Shirasu when it comes to them and Sousei's also on his guard. That's nothing that Tenka will worry too much about.

But there's another thing that's been weighing on his mind more than that - that's made this entire thing far too difficult for him. Tentatively, he offers the slightest peek inside his emotional state.]

It's like... he's two different people in one body. I just can't tell which one is real.

[He's quiet at that, considering, before he sets down his cup quietly, trying to think of what to say and how much of it to say. He's an outsider here. He wasn't there for those ten years, and this relationship that clearly pains Tenka so much. But at the same time, he's an outsider, and he can see quite clearly what they're missing for being too close to the problem.

It's obvious that Shirasu is of two minds about the whole thing.

But ultimately...Sousei decides to not hold anything back, as always. It never helped anyone to hide things, right?]

Both are real. [He frowns slightly despite himself.] If it was all fake, you would know.

[He thinks Shirasu does still care--that's why Sousei can get under his skin so easily, that's why he won't harm Tenka. But--]

He is uncertain himself, and is not happy about that fact. That makes him even more dangerous. [That's what got under his skin the first time, when Sousei was talking to him.

...And he picks up his tea again.]

...Those are my impressions.

Your impressions, huh....

[ . . . . it's enough to get Tenka to sigh, running a hand through his own hair as he ponders that over a bit longer still.

To a degree, it almost doesn't feel real. How can he be talking about Shirasu like this? How can someone who he trusted and relied on for ten years already be so willing to discard him? How can he be sitting here at a table drinking tea that wasn't made by Shirasu because Shirasu specifically doesn't want to see him again?

A slow breath.]

I just don't want trusting him to mean putting my brothers in danger.

[If it was Tenka's own well-being, that's not an issue. That's never been an issue. But right now, being lenient on Shirasu means putting everyone attached to him in danger. Sousei, Nishiki, and most importantly, Soramaru all over again.

His brother went through so much. Tenka's not about to sign him up for a repeat.]

[He's really not surprised that this is the turn the conversation took, either. Tenka's brothers have always been his most important people. And Shirasu put them into danger solely by ignoring the danger they were in (and in Soramaru's case, actively).

But still, all Sousei can do is answer honestly.]

It may put them into danger again.

[It's impossible to say it won't, when there is precedence otherwise, and when this place likes to use false promises like "i'll send you home if you murder each other".]

But I will also be keeping a careful eye on them. [Soramaru, here and at home. Chuutarou, at home as well. Tenka trusting Shirasu may be unwise, but he's going to do it anyway, that much they've established.

All Sousei can do now is try to reassure Tenka that at least he won't be alone in protecting them.]

[In truth, that should be enough. If both Sousei and Tenka are determined to keep an eye on the younger Kumous, then there's no way for them to possibly be in danger. "If it's us, we can do it," something in the back of Tenka's mind echoes. He could do a lot of things as long as he has Sousei's support.

So why can't he just cut off ties with Shirasu? It'd be easier and he knows that, he really does. Yet... he frowns vaguely in response, his mind a jumbled mess.

He nods.]

I'm just getting tired of my choices being a hardship on other people.

[Taking the medicine to save his life but having to leave the Yamainu because of it. Agreeing to further experiments but having to leave his brothers behind as they watched him die.

Now trusting Shirasu and putting everyone close to him in danger if he lets his guard down again.

Yet he can't bring himself to make any other decision - because Shirasu is even more lost than the rest of them, having the freedom he never wanted. Tenka just can't ignore it.]

Your choices will cause hardship for others no matter what they are.

[Sorry, Tenka. That's just how it is. You make decisions, and they affect the people around you. In this case....the decision may well have far-reaching consequences. They have no idea. Sousei accepted that when he accepted Tenka's decision.]

We will deal with what comes, and that will be enough.

[It's the best vote of confidence he can offer. He trusts Tenka to make the right choices (or at least, the choices he thinks are right...) and from there, he'll support him and deal with the consequences. He's too much of a realist to say anything else, but...it's still quite a bit coming from him.]

You're relentless as ever, Sousei.

[And Tenka's not really afraid to call him out on it. His partner has never been very good with words of platitude or even of reassurance at times but... well, he knows that the fact that it's even being extend that it's 'we' and not just Tenka.... it's definitely important.

He's still not quite used to this feeling of not being the only one who has to bear the burden of his decisions. And while it's still annoying to him that Sousei has to take on more weight as well... he also acknowledges it as something that partners just do.

If it's Sousei, then it'll be alright.]

I just can't help but think that if I just let him go.... [which would be easier on them all, possibly even including Shirasu and Tenka knows it] I'll regret it.

[He appreciates that Tenka seems to want to explain his decision, though it also isn't entirely necessary. Sousei agreed to abide by his decisions here, even without knowing why he's making them.

Though he does have a pretty good idea.

Regardless, Sousei just tilts his head at that, nodding simply. The last thing Tenka needs is more regrets at this point--even if this may not be the wisest decision, Sousei's still confident enough that they can handle whatever may come of it.]

I see. Then I will wait and see what comes of it.

[And watch the kiddos. And try to hope Tenka doesn't get his fool self killed.]

[Relentless as ever but also as patient as ever, it seems - ignoring the fact that Tenka has a habit of bringing out Sousei's shortest fuse all the time.

But for something like this... he's patient and understanding and Tenka just tilts his head faintly at it. It still kills him a bit on the inside, thinking that the same words could've come out of Shirasu's mouth back home. In truth, there are a lot of similarities between the two of them in how they deal with Tenka... but they're also vastly different people aside from that. It just makes him smile a bit, rueful as it is.

It's strange, he thinks. He's gotten lucky twice with the people that he's chosen as his confidants - it just so happened that with one of them, he also got unlucky at the same time.]

Sorry to put more weight on your shoulders, partner.

[Sousei just snorts vaguely at that, a soft noise, unimpressed by the apology. Honestly?]

That has always been what I am here for.

[Even if it's more than strictly a duty at this point (and honestly always has been), he was not appointed as Tenka's right hand man to let Tenka take on all of the burdens.

He's here to help shoulder them. He took a ten year break, but--

But he's still here.]

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