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[ . . . and Tenka just sighs, shaking his head.

If he agrees to this, he feels vaguely like he's failing his partner - but he also has a feeling it'd be impossible to get Sousei to stay here while he goes out....]

Let's just try not to go into really crowded streets, alright? For the sake of your pride.

[Yeah, that's familiar. So familiar that it makes Tenka laugh even as he holds his cup for Shirasu to refill it.]

'course I'm alright! I'm always alright!!

[Ah, he never changes.]

[Not very impressive?! Tenka just blinking now as he's moving to make tea - he's admittedly not as good as Shirasu, but he's not incompetent! So it'll probably be pretty decent tea, at least.]

So you really make all your meals and some of ours too, Kaoru-chan....? That's really generous of you!

[and he sounds properly awed at this. wow, what an angel!!]

How do you find time for it all....?

[It's really hard to say if Sousei is even listening, honestly....... regardless, he'll agree to that easily (and probably whatever, now that he gets to come along), and it's just a positive that they won't be running into too many people.

They could all be people who would take Tenka away, or at least steal away his attention.

He doesn't want that.

So it doesn't really get much of a response, but Sousei is right there ready to leave alongside Tenka.

What a weird, weird day this is.]

[It's eight in the morning and Tenka picks up on the second ring.

Perhaps that's a fair enough indicator of how poorly he had been sleeping - there had been far too much going in the past 3 days that made it hard on him. So he picks up early, even though his voice is groggy and he's clearly still tired. Tired but aware and that's enough for him to know that Shirasu calling him is a pretty important sign.]

Shirasu?

[He yawns and rubs at his eye, a fair enough pause.]

You're not going to call me 'master' again, are you?

[At least he can accomplish that... GOOD WORK TENKA. Kaoru will be appreciative of the pretty decent tea.

But, continuing to watch Tenka as he goes about his kitchen adventure.]

Ah, you give me far too much credit. My own meals are very easy to prepare, since I prefer simple dishes. [ie Kaoru doesn't give a shit about what to eat and ends up living off of reheated rice and pickles for like weeks at a time WHAT A CHAMP.]

It leaves me plenty of spare time, and I like being able to use some of it to cook different things for you. It makes me happy knowing I can bring someone else something that they enjoy.

No. The two on my left are my nephews, and the one on the right is my son.

[ Yes. THAT son. ]

There were no cameras in my time, so I had someone render it for me.

[ The question makes him wince. Even when he was declaring himself the Kumou family's ninja, he'd never called Tenka such a thing. ]

Tenka... [ Shirasu's voice is hoarse, as though he hasn't slept in days. ]

If I told you where I live, would you come here?

ooooohhh!! i get it.

Looks like a nice family!

[ . . . . and even before Tenka says anything, there's the sound of ruffling sheets. Yeah, he's already getting out of bed. That should be answer enough and yet he continues speaking.]

Yeah.

[That's a given. Of course he would go if Shirasu wanted him to.]

[Simple... dishes.... Kaoru cooks simple dishes for herself and then gives all the variety of things to Tenka and his family?! It's enough to get him to stall in his tea preparation as he's... kind of in disbelief. Yeah, it's normal for Tenka to give people the shirt literally off his own back but he's not used to such kind gestures in return.]

Kaoru-chan... You really don't need to do that....

[It's too nice. It's really absurdly nice and it makes his heart hurt a little bit.]

[IF ONLY KAORU KNEW, it would be cause for vague satisfaction... Who knew that being kind could hurt people, too?? Wow, this is incredible.

But Kaoru just raises a hand in a placating sort of gesture, smile becoming a little more reserved.]

If it isn't troublesome for you, then I would like to continue. This is the most that I can do with the skills that I have...

Thank you.

[ He tells Tenka how to get to his apartment, then makes a pot of tea to kill a few minutes, and then settles down to wait for him. ]

[It doesn't take long for Tenka to get there. He probably left a note of some sort for Sousei - under the impression that Sousei wasn't crazy anymore - and then he's knocking on Shirasu's door.

And then immediately trying to open it.

....... what do you mean he doesn't own the place.....]

[ If he did own the place, it'd be a lot more decorated than it is now, that's for sure.

Shirasu lets him into the apartment, and he's not wearing his Fuuma garb, just a simple, white, button down shirt and black pants. The apartment is sparse, though there's a low table like they had back in Japan, topped with the tea set Tenka knows by now, and Shirasu's brother's broken mask. Otherwise, there's nothing. ]

I'm afraid there's only one key.

You should make another one for me.

[The suggestion is one that flows off the tongue way too comfortably - he's still used to getting his way.

But even as he walks in, hands in the pockets of his jacket (and Tenka's come to really enjoy pockets), he notices how bare everything is. Then he takes a seat at the low table and taps on the top of it, encouraging Shirasu to hurry up.]

Come on, come on. I haven't had my tea this morning.

If I could, I would.

[ His reply comes too easy, as well. There's a chance they won't have anything to do with each other after this morning, and Shirasu buries a grimace in serving the tea. ]

Sorry to get you up so early.

You'd probably be able to find a way.

[Because yeah Tenka always gets his way but.... well, Shirasu has a habit of managing it a fair amount of the time too. Regardless he just raises a brow at the grimace but doesn't comment for now.]

Ah... it's fine. Couldn't sleep much....

[That much he'll be forthcoming with. The past few days were rough.]

[ With this level of technology, that might not be possible. Still, depending on how this goes, he might look into it. ]

Neither could I. [ Looks down at the teacup, his heart beginning to beat much more quickly. He's not accustomed to truly apologizing for anything, and part of him thoroughly enjoyed the past few days. No thought, no independent will whatsoever. Only what he'd been instructed to do. ]

Something happened, last night... I wanted you to hear it from me.

[ A nice family, huh... if only that was true. ]

I suppose you now know how they looked like. [ Since they'd be dead by Tenka's time. ]

They were all good children at heart. Their only folly was allowing their emotions to cloud their judgment.

[ Sekigahara, etc, etc. ]

[ . . . . . that sounds ominous. Tenka pauses for a moment, unsure how to respond. Does he really want to hear it? A lot of insane things happened but... if Shirasu's offering information for once, he supposes he'll take it.

Though it does also remind him of something else that he found concerning.]

... Can I ask you something too? Or is this one or the other?

[ Shirasu glances up, wondering what else Tenka might want to know. And he's not ungrateful for a reason to stall just a little bit longer.

Really, his anxiety is ridiculous. His brother would be appalled. ]

You can ask, if you like. [ As usual, he can't promise he'll answer. Though he doesn't have much reason not to give Tenka whatever information he wants. ]

Did you end up telling Kobayakawa Takakage-san anything about home?

[If Shirasu's willing to stall on whatever his ominous news is for just a bit longer, this is admittedly something that Tenka still doesn't have the answers to. Kobayakawa is curious indeed and Shirasu was easily manipulated during the event. There's no telling what kind of information was probably exchanged.

It'd also be a good estimate for how hard Kobayakawa should be punched in the face for taking advantage of Shirasu.]

[ ... Shirasu makes a quiet, frustrated noise, and rubs at his face. That particular encounter had slipped from the forefront of his attention, but here's another problem to deal with. ]

I told him about the Orochi... and what I did to your family. [ Of course, bringing that up makes giving the news about Kagemitsu even more difficult. The only thing that keeps him from seriously considering killing Kobayakawa is that the man hadn't gone further. No clan secrets had been divulged, and... he did make the decision to turn him over to Tenka rather than use him the way others had. ]

[ . . . . . . . and Tenka shakes his head.

That's privileged information. So privileged that in the years since it's happened, Tenka's only told one other person willingly and that's the man in front of him - who knew the whole time anyway. It's digging into his past and even though Shirasu was the one who told him, he knows the other man would've otherwise taken the secret to his grave.

So Tenka doesn't talk badly about other people but the occasional off-hand comic is about as bad as it gets, though it's enough to denote his irritation.]

What a slippery guy....

[Getting information from Shirasu when Tenka didn't tell him for a reason. How annoying.]

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