[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.
[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.]
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[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?]
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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.]
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... 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.]
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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.]
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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.]