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.... that's how a person can walk

[ . . . . it's a surprise lesson on the nervous system

but Tenka expects Sousei to understand.]

[He understands it...but he doesn't like it. He's left staring down at his phone for a long, long moment, trying to figure out what to say.

...]

where did you learn this

hinata-kun gave me the basics

[His little brother is really smart.]

let's go to the library later

[He wants to know.

For once, Tenka's need to know something overwhelms his laziness and general willingness to have other people just tell him.]

[so...it's definitely trustworthy, coming from hinata.

... if there's the slightest change, then they'll go for it--wasn't that what he told his squad?]

i will meet you there after work

[it's only about an hour now anyway]

i'll go ahead of you

[So that he can research as much as possible. Tenka wants answers and... wants to know if maybe, just maybe, this could be a lead for him.

It'd be nice to not have to depend on medicine given to him by others, after all.]

understood

[The response takes him a few moments to type out, but...

Well, he does know what this could mean for Tenka. And in a way, it gives Sousei hope too. Not for Tenka's apparent crippled status--it's not that it completely doesn't bother him as much as he doesn't find it that important in the grand scheme of things--but because it means Tenka is still fighting.

Still has hope.

Isn't resigned to his fate.

As soon as he is off of work, Sousei is striding towards the library quickly, pushing his way in quietly and making his way towards where the librarian directed him for books on the human body and advanced medicine. But for a moment, he doesn't say anything, instead simply approaching where Tenka is reading, quiet.]

[Tenka is reading and Tenka is quiet - two things that rarely ever happen. But he is reading intently and has been since he arrived at the library, after getting a general idea from the librarian about what he was looking for. 'Electricity in the body' was rather vague after all.

From the anatomy books he was able to narrow it down to 'the central nervous system'.

From the central nervous system, he continued his reading and managed to get a small pile of books, mostly of the introductory level but he doesn't seem to be too daunted. When he hears footsteps, he turns his head curiously before he says anything. If someone he knows recognized him and came up to him, that'd be bad-

But it's Sousei, so instead he grins and uses his foot to nudge the chair across from him, pushing it out so Sousei can sit.]

Yo. How was work?

[He takes the seat, reaching for the first book that Tenka isn't reading, scanning over the cover.

The central nervous system, huh.....

Sousei's research has been mostly on how to deal with the Orochi medicine itself, not how to deal with the problem of not having movement after. So this... is mostly all new to him.]

It was uneventful. Lately, it has been here. [weirdly....

He opens the book carefully.]

What have you learned?

[It's a reversal of their breakfast table conversations, where Sousei talks about the technology he has learned from his studies, but...it carries the same feeling.]

[ . . . . . man, that question. That question gets Tenka to pause as he puts his hand over the page he was on, thinking about what he's been studying for the past hour. He's not as good at studying as Sousei normally but when it counts to learn something, Tenka's not half-bad at remembering. He's done years of research on the Orochi, after all.

So he hums thoughtfully before meeting Sousei's eyes again and trying to explain as best as he can based off of what he read.]

Everything starts in your brain. [He points to his head.] Don't ask me how, but it generates... energy or electricity in the form of 'signals'. So sorta like how your phone gets signal, I think. You press a button and things happen.

So... for things to happen, they need to travel down this thing called the 'spinal cord' which runs down your back. It's pretty much aligned with your actual spine which I guess makes sense.

The electricity from your brain moves down your spinal cord and then goes out as far as your fingertips and toes. So... [He pauses, trying to think of an easy way to explain this.] It's like... you know how kids have dolls? It's like the kid had the brain behind it all and moved the doll. What you want the doll to do, it does.

What your brain wants your body to do, it does - through [he gestures to Sousei's book] 'the central nervous system'.

[ . . . . . ]

I think there's a non-central nervous system too though. Not sure what that's about.

[That's...a lot of information to take in. He's quiet, listening intently (wishing he could take notes, honestly, but he came straight from work and doesn't have the paper for it), and tries to take it in as best he can.

It makes sense, in an odd sort of way. The spinal cord, along Tenka's spine--then that was what was damaged in the attack, and that is where the problem is; that's why he can't move his left side. And if they know what's wrong, then...

Surely it can be fixed somehow, with this modern technology.

They have learned this much about the body--surely they can fix the body as well.]

I see. At the moment, that is unimportant. [focus, tenka...] Then your spinal cord was damaged. If there is a way to fix that damage, you should retain your movement.

Is that correct?

[Fix the damage, or... replace it somehow. Those are their options, right?]

[ . . . . well. Tenka seems hesitant to agree even as he looks at the reading he's done. It's an hour's worth of research and sure it's modern and new but... he hasn't gotten to anything about a damaged spinal cord yet. It's directly attached to his brain, could technology do that?

If you damage the spinal cord further, it could kill him.

He needs to take a second to breathe in. Is that worth it?]

.... If there's a safe way to fix it.

[He musters up a smile - a tinge fearful, but at least not sad.]

Yeah. I think so. Maybe.

[That actually causes Sousei to pause from his perusal of the books to full-on look at Tenka, expression unreadable.

Because he's thinking about how Tenka has caved too easily to unethical things. He didn't have a choice, then, of course. But the fact that he thinks it needs to be said here and now, at this table...?

Honestly. He's fond, and sad, and exasperated all at once.]

If there is not a way to do so safely and painless, we will find another option.

[Honestly, Tenka. But for now...]

This is a start, not a finish.

[Tenka just sighs idly then, even as he looks back down at his book, though it's not clear if he's really trying to read again just yet. He shrugs, as if the gesture will actually calm his nerves and make him feel more nonchalant.]

It's a lead, if nothing else. It's more than what I had.

[Orochi medicine could save him but not heal him. Even when he had a certain dosage to keep his life, he wasn't able to move. The medicine he has now is what lets him keep walking and keep his strength and not be a burden.

He doesn't want to lose that.

If the future has a way to make amends, then it's a start. Though at that point he has to clarify:]

I don't think you can do it painlessly.

The central nervous system goes both ways. So if you feel.... [He reaches over and slaps his hand over Sousei's-] That!

It's because your hand sends a signal back up to your brain like "oh shit, I've been touched by the almighty Kumou Tenka himself!"

.... you need to cut into someone to get to their spinal cord anyway. [ . . . . and that's when he gets a thoughtful look.] I was mostly face down on the table.

I'm not really sure what was done to me.

[Sousei is quiet again, listening, and... well, it's hard to listen to, admittedly. It's hard to hear Tenka talk about something that pained him that much, so nonchalantly. His eyes narrow, both at the slap of Tenka's hand, and at his words, and he repeats himself--]

Painlessly.

This cannot be the only medical advancement of this place. [There must be anesthesia, better than what they had back home. There must be ways to make sure Tenka isn't conscious for it, without smacking him over the head.

There must be something.]

I am not satisfied with settling for a subpar option. [Not when it comes to Tenka's health and well-being. He wants to solve this too. But not if it means Tenka will have even more nightmares in the future.]

Even their medicine has side-effects. I'll take what I can get.

[Nonchalantly.

.... though he should probably also mention then that-]

But I think... the spinal cord manages all movement. So I...

[He hesitates, because it's not like him to be negative. But when it comes to serious things, he really is just thorough.]

... How do you repair something that's been cut? Do you just put it back together? I don't know how my medicine does it but it does -- so I don't think the spinal cord is self-healing. It doesn't... grow back.

[And that stresses him out a bit.]

If you go in to fix it, what are the chances that you'll just mess it up more?

[Not moving at all - not being able to touch the people close to him - he can't stand the thought.]

[Yes, that's...something he was concerned about as well. He hasn't done much reading or research, and he only knows what Tenka has said, but... but Tenka made it rather clear that this is a very important thing. Connected to the brain...and the thing that controls all of their movement.

It didn't fix itself--it couldn't.

And Sousei can't lie when he thinks that's a possibility, even with as little he knows.]

I believe that is a possibility. We should seek the advice of someone who has more expertise than either of us. [They can't make these choices without an informed opinion. That's just how it is.

They have to find someone who knows, and Sousei knows it's not going to be Hinata.]

Then we will know for certain the full range of possibilities. If it is too risky...

We will find another lead.

[No matter how hopeless it seems...they'll find something.]

[ . . . . . . Yeah.

He agrees with all of that except-]

I hate doctors.

[He has his personal doctor and that's it. But his personal doctor doesn't have answers to this - essentially no one does except for those in the far future who would know about all these treatments.

Tenka doesn't exactly feel like laying out all his secrets and insecurities out to a stranger - or worse, someone who actually is native to Cerealia.]

[Yeah... yeah he knows you do. And it's not even because you're a big baby, so he can't even get too upset over it. He does huff, faintly, but in response all he says is--]

I will find someone, and I will find out.

[Obviously without revealing any of Tenka's secrets, even if he has to craft some sort of story.

He's good at that anyway by now.]

[ . . . . Tenka's brows knit together at that. It's familiar. Last time he did research like this with someone to assist him was when Shirasu was helping him find a way to separate the Orochi from its vessel. When Tenka was unsure about something, Shirasu would speak just as firmly with his assistance - making Tenka take it whether he wanted it or not.

It's been a while since he thought Sousei and Shirasu were the same.

He shakes his head faintly, admitting:]

You shouldn't have to.

[It's not an outright 'No, don't do it' or 'you don't have to'. But Sousei shouldn't be burdened with Tenka's problems - but Tenka knows at least part of that is what it means to be partners.

... It doesn't mean he likes it though.

It doesn't mean he doesn't feel like there's more that he could personally be doing, like getting over his bias against doctors, despite what they've done to him.]

It is not a matter of "should" or "shouldn't".

[Sousei just lifts his gaze, steady and calm, and meets Tenka's eyes. He's oblivious to his thoughts, and probably for the better, but what Sousei knows for certain is that it doesn't matter if it's something he shouldn't have to do. He doesn't know if it is or isn't.

It is simply something that he has to do.

That's easy. There's no need to complicate it.]

I will take this on.

[The burden, if he wants to look at it that way. Sousei doesn't. He sees it as a lead, a hope, and he'll take on whatever challenges stand in the way of discovering the truth of the matter.]

[ . . . . . Tenka pauses at that, even as he meets Sousei's eyes evenly. Sousei's always been the calm one between the two of them - up until Tenka does something ridiculous to get him all riled up too.

But this is different. Sousei is consistent and steady even when Tenka finds himself feeling unsure, wondering if there's more that he can personally do to help the situation. Yet Sousei doesn't seem to have any interest in Tenka having to change or be better than he is.

So he smiles softly even as he shuts his eyes and shakes his head.]

Way to just brush aside my opinion, Sousei-kun....

[Except the same nonchalance is what's letting Tenka leave this part in Sousei's hands.

So it's hard to say that he minds.]

[Did he do that...? Maybe a little, Sousei can acknowledge that. But he simply tilts his head slightly, and offers--]

You were focusing on the wrong things.

[He doesn't care if it increases his own burdens or more on his shoulders. He's always been willing to do that.

He just wants to find a solution. Veracity is the law of the Yamainu, he told Tenka once, but also--]

So long as there is a hope, no matter how slim, we will pursue it, until we have successfully found a solution.

[But also, holding onto hope even when there doesn't seem to be much. That's...also a law of the Yamainu.]

[He snorts softly and quickly comments:]

You've changed.

[He's said that a lot.

But he's not displeased by it in the slightest. Tenka's always been the type to cling onto any last piece of happiness and idealism that he could - it's why he tried to pursue this in the first place. Maybe the future could solve the things that his past could not mend. Yet every time he's reminded that Sousei has taken on his own approach, a bit more sensible than Tenka's own, but they're still heading toward the same conclusion-

He nods.]

You don't need to tell me that. Seriously, who do you think you're talking to?

[There will be a happy ending to this. Even if Tenka can't walk or they can't find a way to restore his mobility, that's fine. He is prepared for anything as long as he can still live alongside his brothers and Sousei and the rest of their family.]

[He's changed...? He supposes he has. He wonders, even now, if Tenka realizes the part he played in that change, or if he thinks that it just happened.

Sousei has always been beyond stable.

But Tenka has always shaken his entire world and beliefs, time after time after time. The least he can do now is embrace the person he has become now and do his best. He...has hope, so much hope, and he won't let it go.]

I am talking to the most irritating crab-headed person I have ever met. The person who believes going through extra pain would ever be an acceptable solution.

[Stupid. He's so fond.]

I am talking to my partner.

[Obviously.]

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