[Tenka just snorts softly. He's just as important as his little brothers? That's impossible - but maybe it's part of the fact that Tenka never quite manages to see himself clearly. Rather, his little brothers are the most important people in his world, in this world even without them - of any world. It's his job to protect them, whether it's by coming up with plans or shielding them with his own body.
He will never be as important and he never wants to be that important.
But selfish? He can take that. It's not the first time he's been called selfish. Sousei, his little brothers, even Shirasu accused him of the same thing. With that level of consensus, it has to be true.
Instead, he just shakes his head fondly as he recalls-]
Shirasu used to ask me to give him orders before. Something about how Fuuma can't live without direction and how freedom is hell - but I never agreed to it. But at the very least, he'd always listen to what I said and did what I asked from him as a friend.
[ . . . Tenka just shrugs and musters up a smile.]
I'll try that again here. After all, I did say that anyone who touches my partner is gonna get a good punch in the face from me.
[He's not going to make this request just from Sousei - Tenka's going to be selfish enough to ask Shirasu for the same thing. Because life is hard when the two people who mean so much to him are naturally at odds.]
[This is why you're selfish, Tenka. You only do what you want, and only interact in the world in the way you see it. But Sousei is used to this by now--and he's unbothered by it. He'll just keep pointing it out. His job right now is to protect all of the Kumou brothers--not just Soramaru and Chuutarou, but Tenka as well.
He scoffs faintly at that, tilting his head.]
...Don't have any of your blood shed on my behalf. [Don't corner Shirasu just to tell him not to harm Sousei--Sousei's pretty sure he can handle himself, and he's also pretty sure there are more important things Tenka should be focusing on.]
I can take care of myself.
[But even more than that, there are more important things Tenka has to focus on than whether or not Sousei's going to irritate a ninja to the point where he might try to stab him. That's just common sense, as far as Sousei can see.]
Shirasu wouldn't hurt me over something like that. [Probably. Tenka thinks about it now and well, honestly.... Tenka provoked Shirasu to the point that he legitimately had the other man pinned to the ground and he still didn't get stabbed, even when there was a kunai at his throat.
. . . we might need to work on Tenka's definition of 'cornered'.]
But jeeze, just because you can take care of yourself doesn't mean that I'm not gonna try. Partners, remember?
[We definitely need to work on Tenka's definition of cornered, and also "danger". Such as--that's a dangerous situation overall. Okay. Okay.
But honestly......... that's not even what this is about, Sousei thinks, but he'll take it. He can't deny Tenka the desire to protect him in turn, considering this entire conversation has been about the opposite. Being partners means being on even ground, right?]
...Fine. I won't go out of my way to provoke him, either. [But he also won't not if Shirasu's being suspicious and/or is in his way OH WELL.]
You're the one who requires protecting. You constantly get yourself into these situations. [back to a more lighthearted attempt aka a jab at Tenka because SERIOUSLY. How do you get yourself into these situations.]
[The kunai at his throat wasn't a surprise considering the fact that Tenka tackled him - it's the fact that it didn't go down immediately that was a surprise.
Anyway.
The implications of that are going right over Tenka's head and he's blinking.]
Well - sort of my ninja.... He likes saying he's the Kumou ninja even though he's more part of the family than anything.
[what other way could you possibly take tenka possessively claiming shirasu]
[NO NOT OKAY.... not okay at all. Fuuma ninjas have been trying to kill them all over the place, alright. This isn't what he wanted. He's still paranoid and suspicious.]
I see. [Pro...bably. The harmless version then.] Similar to Nishiki, then.
[Soramaru's Fuuma ninja. Could you guys stop collecting them.......
...wait maybe not the best comparison, they did seem awfully close--]
Maybe? She told me that Soramaru helped her but apparently didn't give her a place to stay - so he's slacking!! [Time shenanigans at work here.] Shirasu came to live with us after I found him injured in the snow and then he just took on the role of shrine keeper and also decided he was our ninja.
[And also managed to weasel his way into the hearts of their dumb family.
My little brother's living with a girl!! He already has a girl in the house - I didn't even have a girl in the house!!!
[no tenka you were married already]
Whaaaaa, Sousei, what am I gonna do?! He's already going to be so grown up without me! I'm supposed to give him advice and how to handle being in a relationship but he's already there!!
[Too bad, Tenka's already going to drop his head on the table and continue his whining.]
As soon as his big brother's gone, Soramaru just gets a girlfriend...!! That punk, what was he thinking all this time?! I should've been paying closer to attention to him!
If all she remembers is Soramaru's initial rescuing of her, then... much like with the Shinsengumi captains [some of whom should be dead] I suspect they didn't care to pull us from the same point in time.
[Because they suck.
...Shirasu clearly remembers betraying Tenka, though. When is he from?]
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He will never be as important and he never wants to be that important.
But selfish? He can take that. It's not the first time he's been called selfish. Sousei, his little brothers, even Shirasu accused him of the same thing. With that level of consensus, it has to be true.
Instead, he just shakes his head fondly as he recalls-]
Shirasu used to ask me to give him orders before. Something about how Fuuma can't live without direction and how freedom is hell - but I never agreed to it. But at the very least, he'd always listen to what I said and did what I asked from him as a friend.
[ . . . Tenka just shrugs and musters up a smile.]
I'll try that again here. After all, I did say that anyone who touches my partner is gonna get a good punch in the face from me.
[He's not going to make this request just from Sousei - Tenka's going to be selfish enough to ask Shirasu for the same thing. Because life is hard when the two people who mean so much to him are naturally at odds.]
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He scoffs faintly at that, tilting his head.]
...Don't have any of your blood shed on my behalf. [Don't corner Shirasu just to tell him not to harm Sousei--Sousei's pretty sure he can handle himself, and he's also pretty sure there are more important things Tenka should be focusing on.]
I can take care of myself.
[But even more than that, there are more important things Tenka has to focus on than whether or not Sousei's going to irritate a ninja to the point where he might try to stab him. That's just common sense, as far as Sousei can see.]
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Shirasu wouldn't hurt me over something like that. [Probably. Tenka thinks about it now and well, honestly.... Tenka provoked Shirasu to the point that he legitimately had the other man pinned to the ground and he still didn't get stabbed, even when there was a kunai at his throat.
. . . we might need to work on Tenka's definition of 'cornered'.]
But jeeze, just because you can take care of yourself doesn't mean that I'm not gonna try. Partners, remember?
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But honestly......... that's not even what this is about, Sousei thinks, but he'll take it. He can't deny Tenka the desire to protect him in turn, considering this entire conversation has been about the opposite. Being partners means being on even ground, right?]
...Fine. I won't go out of my way to provoke him, either. [But he also won't not if Shirasu's being suspicious and/or is in his way OH WELL.]
You're the one who requires protecting. You constantly get yourself into these situations. [back to a more lighthearted attempt aka a jab at Tenka because SERIOUSLY. How do you get yourself into these situations.]
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I don't need protecting from my own ninja!
[Probably! Basically every time Tenka says something about Shirasu, it's a good idea to add a 'probably' to it.]
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Events would suggest otherwise.
[He's not even going to both sugarcoating that one DID YOU FORGET THE KUNAI AT YOUR THROAT.
....... wait.]
"Your" ninja... [Do you mean that in the "Kumou family ninja" way or the "oh yeah i kissed this ninja" way.]
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[The kunai at his throat wasn't a surprise considering the fact that Tenka tackled him - it's the fact that it didn't go down immediately that was a surprise.
Anyway.
The implications of that are going right over Tenka's head and he's blinking.]
Well - sort of my ninja.... He likes saying he's the Kumou ninja even though he's more part of the family than anything.
[what other way could you possibly take tenka possessively claiming shirasu]
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I see. [Pro...bably. The harmless version then.] Similar to Nishiki, then.
[Soramaru's Fuuma ninja. Could you guys stop collecting them.......
...wait maybe not the best comparison, they did seem awfully close--]
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Maybe? She told me that Soramaru helped her but apparently didn't give her a place to stay - so he's slacking!! [Time shenanigans at work here.] Shirasu came to live with us after I found him injured in the snow and then he just took on the role of shrine keeper and also decided he was our ninja.
[And also managed to weasel his way into the hearts of their dumb family.
Dammit Shirasu.]
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...She has been living at the shrine ever since he rescued her. [???] She is very defensive of him as well.
[.... Sousei just has this effect on Kumou ninja apparently.]
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That's not what she told me....
But good! Someone's gotta watch out for my cute little brothers.
[ . . . wait.
Wait.
Wait.]
Soramaru's living with a girl?!
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...Yes. [Calm down. He frowns slightly.] I have been visiting often enough that it would not be a problem regardless, but... [he's not a chaperone.]
Does she not recall?
[timelines shenanigans are more important than your sudden big brother instincts, Tenka]
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[no tenka you were married already]
Whaaaaa, Sousei, what am I gonna do?! He's already going to be so grown up without me! I'm supposed to give him advice and how to handle being in a relationship but he's already there!!
[what was that]
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And yeah he's ignoring Tenka now like.
He doesn't even care, Tenka.]
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As soon as his big brother's gone, Soramaru just gets a girlfriend...!! That punk, what was he thinking all this time?! I should've been paying closer to attention to him!
Don't grow up so fast, Soramaruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.
[there might be actual tears on the table now]
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Sousei's just making a face, faint as it is, at the table.]
...Tenka, calm down. They are not in a romantic relationship.
Soramaru knows better than to take advantage of a patient. [Did you miss the part where he SAVED HER....]
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They're not?
[and he's looking up at Sousei with these sad eyes and it's probably really gross but are they really not
don't play with his feelings here, sousei]
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No. They're not.
[good lord.]
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Tenka straightens then, waving a hand and laughing.]
Bahahaha! I knew it!! No way can Soramaru have a girlfriend already - he can't be so much cooler than his big brother! Buahahaha!!
[idiot]
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Here's your partner, Tenka.
Watching you flatly.
Fingers tapping on the table irritably and impatiently. Really.]
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So what were we talking about?
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Never mind that. I've figured it out for myself.
[Time shenanigans again...]
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[TO BE HONEST. Anyway-]
What'd you piece together?
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[Because they suck.
...Shirasu clearly remembers betraying Tenka, though. When is he from?]
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[That was already annoying enough... but now Tenka just sighs.]
It's too confusing. I already had too much to think about without this!
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