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[Tenka winces faintly at that, even as he doesn't really move. His grip on Sousei looses as he calms down, though he doesn't pull away. Rather, he just slumps and puts more of his weight on Sousei than anything. Nothing will really beat the tiredness that he feels in this moment, between all the unbearably emotional decisions that he's had to make today and how he still has no idea where he completely stands with Shirasu.]

.... sorry. [He can only imagine Sousei's anger, not even tempered by the reluctant affection that Tenka still feels for Shirasu.] For what it's worth, I might've broken his jaw.

[Or at the very least, it was definitely already bruising pretty badly by the time Tenka left him.

But even as he keeps his head on Sousei's shoulder and sighs, Tenka just mumbles.]

Just... don't get hurt, whatever you decide to do.

[Shirasu deserves whatever's coming to him - Tenka knows that. Especially in the eyes of the Yamainu Captain, probably. But Tenka trusts Sousei not to fatally injure Shirasu - he just wouldn't accept it if Sousei got hurt in return.]

[Honestly... now Tenka thinks he'll accept leeway on promises? Now, after everything they've been through and how hard it has been for them to come together again and now that they're finally understanding each other again? Sousei knows Tenka knows him better than that. Sousei doesn't accept compromises when he can successfully manage the original conditions. He knows this is just Tenka trying to fix things, but...]

I've already told you what I've decided to do.

[Namely...keeping his promise. Alternatively known as: collectively doing nothing unless Shirasu really, really provokes him into it. Honestly.

(It is kind of satisfying to know that Tenka broke his jaw, though...)]

And I've already told you that I will not be injured. [He's totally still invincible, calm down, partner.]

[Tenka's constantly trying to fix his own mistakes and he can't deny that ultimately asking Sousei to let their parents' murderer walk around with consequence would typically fall within the general realm of things considered a 'mistake'.

But honestly, that invincible attitude is kind of annoying. Annoying enough that Tenka scoffs - which is quickly followed by a yawn, because he's tired - and honestly.]

Yeah, yeah, act all high and mighty when you were gasping like a fish ten minutes ago. Whatever you say, Sousei-kun.

[are you kidding him right now

Sousei scowls at that, properly shoving Tenka off of him now.]

Shut up!

[Mistake or not, it is what it is, but seriously man, that was a bombshell you dropped on him earlier.]

[Rude as hell!

But that's Tenka getting shoved off and flopping on the floor. Except he's still about five years old so he's just going to kick at Sousei in return and hissing-]

You're gonna wake the kids....!

[are you two okay]

[They're never okay.

Primly, Sousei turns away from Tenka and picks up his tea which has...thoroughly gone cold.

Shhh.]

It's your fault.

[still ducking responsibility even 10+ years later, ah yes.]

[no it's not his fault

you know what is his fault?

the fact that he's reaching over now to lift the bottom of sousei's tea cup higher to get it to spill on him

he'll accept that as his fault]

[...aslkndlkanslda??????

????????

oh my god Tenka are you for real. The tea is thankfully lukewarm at best, but then his nightclothes are dripping wet... good thing he thought to tie his hair back before, honestly.

He manages to right the cup before too much spills, but he's still wet, and he immediately aims a punch at Tenka's head.

MORON.]

[In all honesty he was laughing so hard that he didn't even notice and that punch is hitting him at full force.

But aside from the initial 'ow!' and Tenka's return to the floor he's still just.... laughing. And he's laughing so hard that he's really not making any noise (which is probably a slight conscious effort on his part because it is late and who's the one gasping for air now, Tenka?

he's clutching his stomach in laughter anyway and having a laugh as if he wasn't openly crying for the first time in years just minutes ago

he has a feeling they'll be okay]

[They will definitely be okay--whether it's the partner understanding they share, or just that he's having the same thoughts, as Sousei watches Tenka gasp for air on the floor, he knows that that's the case as well.

Slowly, he lets out a breath that he'd had in him for who knows how long, all of the tension draining away in his shoulders as he does. There are still a lot of issues to be resolved, but...

They'll be okay. He moves to stand.]

I'm going to get cleaned up and go to bed. [mess-maker.]

[Tenka settles in his laughter then, amused and still grinning at Sousei as he moves to get up.]

It's okay, Sousei. I won't tell anyone that you don't know how to breathe or drink sometimes.

[but as he gets up, he chooses not to move from the table for a time, even as a calm smile curls itself on his lips. He'll probably go to bed eventually.]

[He's picking up the cups of tea (Tenka's as well, it's cold now, if he wants more he can make more) and carries them towards the kitchen, though as he passes Tenka by on the floor, he nudges him with his foot.

Jerk.]

Stop being ridiculous. How old are you?

[you act like you did when they were both 8.]

Younger than you, as always. How old are you now? 90-something?

[but he doesn't move even when nudged with Sousei's foot. instead he fixes his gaze on the ceiling and sends the insults right back Sousei's way.

This is easy. His partnership with Sousei has always been this level of easy once they stopped being upset with each other.

Why can't everything be this easy?]

[And Sousei pauses in that bickering to clean up the mess and put the cups away. It gives him a moment in the kitchen to breathe, hands planted on the (rather foreign) countertop. He takes a slow breath, staring down at the cups in the sink. The kitchen is one of those places they've left as it is. They didnt change things, complex as things can be.

It sure pushes the impact further, how strange this entire situation is. It was and still is a lot of information to take in but... After a long moment and another deep breath, he starts to move again, picking up and cleaning the cups, putting them away neatly and tidily. At least the chores are brainless enough to allow him to settle again.

Another deep breath, and then he returns to the living room, looking at the sprawled form of his partner. He wants to ask if Tenka is alright too but... In a way the mood is too somber from the both of them.]

[Without the bickering, Tenka is left with his thoughts and the sounds of Sousei in the kitchen. In his mind, he does a mental checklist of all the people he holds dear in this world. Sousei's in the kitchen. Soramaru and Nishiki are asleep in their own rooms. Kagemitsu has his own place with Gerokichi. The multitude of teenagers and children that Tenka's picked up and the Shinsengumi are in their own homes, presumably.

... Shirasu's out there somewhere and he's probably just as lost as Tenka feels. Tenka honestly wishes that he didn't care.

When Sousei returns to the living room and looks at him, Tenka just raises a brow in response.

He doesn't feel like crying anymore and it feels less like he's suffocating. He thinks that those are improvements.]

[And in response, Sousei crosses his arms. Well. Tenka doesn't look as terrible as he did. That has to count for something. And he himself, even if he still feels a little adrift, he's not as badly off as he was before. It's a tolerable ache, instead of feeling like he can't breathe.

And then after that moment's inspection, he shakes his head once, one eyebrow arched. Honestly, Tenka. And then he moves towards his room to clean himself up, like he had said he would.

Goodnight Tenka.]

[That much manages to get Tenka to snort softly, amused. In truth... he doesn't know what else to say. The rest of his conversation with Shirasu had been more of Tenka's attempts to get to know the man. He has a feeling that Sousei would appreciate being spared more of that.

So instead he sighs and relaxes against the tatami mat, still looking up at the ceiling.]

Night, partner.

[Then a little bit more softly, he adds-]

... Thanks.

[For being around, for being his partner, for cleaning up - who knows.]

Edited 2015-01-13 01:19 (UTC)

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