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Okay, I promise!

[Though she asked Vincent and Oz too...no guarantee on what Vincent might answer with...]

You swear?

[She sniffles a little bit over the phone.]

Good!

[When he hears her little sniffle, his heart just about breaks and he hums in response.]

Yeah, I swear. I promise too, that everything will be okay, Lily-chan. And a big brother never breaks a promise to his family.

[She doesn't want Mary hurt!]

Mn, I believe you. Make sure she doesn't get hurt!

[Calming herself down, she knows he will protect Mary.]

Ten-nii, I wanna play another game soon too.

I'd never let Mary-chan get hurt! Don't worry about it - I'll take care of everything.

[With that, he nods firmly. He's certain of it. Whoever sent this spam is going to have their ass kicked--

But oh right, Lily's still talking to him so he settles himself down and chuckles faintly.]

We can play another game, Lily-chan. You can always come visit me if you get lonely.

I trust you will.

[Tenka seems dependable from what she learned from being around him.

When he chuckles her voice gets a little more excited.]

I can? Okay! I want you to meet Bandersnatch sometime too!

Bandersnatch... Ah, is that your monster friend that doesn't like staying out when you're not in the virtual game?

[It looked like a monster alright, he's calling it like he sees it.]

He's a chain, not a monster. He's really strong.

[She sounds really proud of him still.]

A... chain? But he doesn't look like... you know, what a normal chain looks like.

[Terminology gap- but then he's just laughing a bit.]

What?! Even stronger than your Ten-nii?!

He's a creature from the abyss, they're called chains!

[Lily firmly nods, sorry she knows Bandersnatch is though, she hasn't seen Tenka fight yet.]

Since I made a contract with him I know he's really strong!

[ Shirasu watches carefully as Tenka moves -- noting the scratches and cuts and dismissing them. If it had been anyone else, he might have felt played for a fool, lured into a meeting. But it's difficult to fail to forgive Tenka anything he does.

And Tenka looks to be exactly where he belongs, sitting in the sun. Shirasu, himself, hangs back in the shade of a tree. When Tenka opens the bundle, he will only find a single teacup along with the still warm pot. ]

You look well. [ Which is all he wished to confirm. ]

[A single teacup!!

Well.... despite Shirasu's words, Tenka doesn't really seem to respond to them. He did get impaled on a broken rack the night before, but he's already healed, so that's nothing that Shirasu needs to be concerned with, right? So as he tends to do, he skips right over it and in an appearance of being completely distracted-]

Shirasu....

[He frowns and completely seriously, he speaks again.]

I don't want to share a cup with you.

[Why did you only pack one?]

[ . . . . huh. Well, he can't help but raise a brow at all that because-]

Wow, slow down for a second!

I think I'm missing a couple answers here, Lily-chan. What's... the abyss? And you made a contract with him?

I'm not having any. [ It's all yours, Tenka. Go nuts. ]

Were you haunted by a ghost?

[ The Yamainu captain hadn't said either way, though seeing how many people had been affected makes him certain Tenka probably was. ]

[Lily stops and looks really confused.]

Huh?

Oh...It's this really beautiful place that the Baskervilles protect. It was pretty but then it fell into darkness...I could see the golden lights that lead me to my family.

Yeah! You have to make contracts with chains to use their powers.

Yes, you are. [And even though he's sighing, Tenka's pouring the tea and extending the cup for Shirasu to take.] Remember to bring two cups next time.

[Because there will be a next time and Tenka doesn't take no for an answer? But at the question of the being haunted by a ghost.... Tenka offers a grin and a tilt of his head.]

I'll make you a deal. I don't want to answer any question that you won't answer yourself.

[After all, Shirasu's been keeping things from him lately.]

[ . . . . none of this makes any sense whatsoever. It fell into the darkness? She saw golden lights?]

How did it fall, Lily-chan?

What... powers does Bandersnatch have?

I suppose I can manage that.

[ So stubborn.

Shirasu steps out into the sunlight and sits seiza across from Tenka. He takes the cup and lets it warm his hands for a moment before drinking from it. ]

Checking for poison? [ Hands the cup back. Sadly, he doubts it. The Yamainu captain would have, but Shirasu doubts that influence has rubbed off. ]

[And as if he reads Shirasu's mind-]

Who do I look like? Sousei?

[But he accepts the cup back and sips it, humming in appreciation. Yeah, definitely different from the tea that either he or Sousei can manage to make. Something about this tastes a lot more like.... well, home.] Nah, I just figured you probably didn't have any before you gave it to me.

[Meanwhile Tenka would totally sneak sips before he delivers tea.... Though now he considers the previous question and nods.]

I was invisible and couldn't touch anyone, but apparently some people could hear me. [ . . . . and he pauses for a moment before adding-] You couldn't, though.

[He tried.]

[Guess who found something neat at the supermarket IT'S THIS NERD...

Kaoru's decided to eschew calling first, because even if it's more polite in the modern day, it still seems superfluous to someone who hasn't even used phones for 21 years of his 21 years and some-odd months of life. SO! Tenka will be hearing a knock at his apartment door at some time in the late afternoon. DOST THE BRAVE SOLDIER ANSWER??]

[THE BRAVE SOLDIER DOES ANSWER because no one has warned him yet that Kaoru is actually a conniving little shit. oh well.

Either way, he's opening the door now and... honestly brightening up rather obviously at the sight of Kaoru. Then he's already stepping aside so that there's space to enter even as he offers a greeting.]

Kaoru-chan!! Come in, come in. What brings you here?

[Sometimes these things just happen... sometimes shitheads continue to be shitheads in secret for a long, long time!!

But Kaoru will make an attempt at returning said brightness, smiling and shifting so the paper bag tucked into one arm is more obvious.]

Good afternoon. [A brief nod, and Kaoru will take the invitation, stepping inside.] I hope that I'm not bothering you. I just found something at the store that I thought you might like, so I wanted to make it for you. Is that all right?

[wow what a great not-quite-neighbor... so friendly.....]

[is there a bomb in that paper bag, is this going to be the end of tenka's days ~~again~~

but.... wow that's really super sweet!! the surprise is clear on Tenka's face before it's quickly followed by an expression of fondness. wow look at this little shit totally worming his way into Tenka's heart]

More than alright, Kaoru-chan! That's great, even....!

[and well he can't help but tease a bit, now that he's seen Kaoru enough to feel more comfortable]

Thought of me at the supermarket? That's touching!

[how many end of days can one man have.....

But that expression is a MISSION SUCCESS for Kaorude, who is totally keeping a mental tally of these sorts of things. It's important. It's like, for science or something?!

At the gentle teasing, Kaoru covers a soft laugh with one sleeved hand, shifting the bag to balance it better.]

When I saw this, I did. It just reminded me so much of Tenka-san that I couldn't help myself. [what an ominous statement... But Kaoru will lean a little toward the kitchen after that, not quite walking off just yet since no direct permission has been given.] Do you enjoy Western sweets? If you do, this shouldn't take long at all.

[yeah no that sounds ominous. what kind of food could possibly remind Kaoru so much of Tenka? is it beans? beans are gassy and so is Tenka so there's that

Still though, he's catching on to the leaning and already walking over, inclining his head for her to come along with him.]

Oh... yeah, sure! I've had a couple when I'm called to Kyoto and their food's pretty good. [and he's going to be a pig and seat himself on one of the counters in the kitchen because he's careless] But c'mon, Kaoru-chan, don't be shy. Make yourself at home!

[yes kaoru overturns the back and a thousand beans pour out

FOLLOWING ALONG after Tenka the leader duck as he makes his way to the kitchen and then sits on the counter like he was raised in a barn. It's a good thing Kaoru doesn't feel close enough to scold him about manners...]

Thank you for letting me use your kitchen. [Down the bag goes onto the counter, and out Kaoru pulls... a pineapple. TRULY, THE RESEMBLANCE IS UNCANNY. There's a look of gentle amusement on Kaoru's face, but no actual comment is made as the bag continues to be unloaded. By the looks of things, it seems to be ingredients for some type of fruit teacake, though it's pretty heavily modified to suit a Japanese palate.]

A friend of mine taught me this recipe. When I saw some of the ingredients in the store I thought to myself, "ah, this is surely something that Tenka-san would enjoy". Though it might be better suited for the summer, on second thought...

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sometime after the event, ACTION

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