[ his lips part, a protest on his tongue (he's a weapon, he'd rather protect than be protected), but they close again a moment later. he's learned already that tenka doesn't like those kinds of sentiments, and it's not souza's place to protest too strongly. he and kousetsu will simply have to protect this warm, kind little household the best way they can, even without owners and orders.

he listens intently as tenka begins, fingers curling in the half-apron he's wearing, concern and understanding flickering across his features. .. that flash in kotarou's--shirasu's?--face makes more sense, now. there'd been love there, he thinks. the kumou family had, in some way, perhaps been kotarou's family, too. but.. something had happened, he's sure, both from his conversations with kotarou and tenka's concern for souza's welfare.

he hesitates, then reaches out, long fingers curling over tenka's, squeezing his hand. ] .. He's been very kind to me. He was concerned, just like you and Sousei-san, about those who might claim and use me. [ he rubs his thumb over tenka's knuckles. ] Are you worried that he might be one of those people? [ souza doesn't think so, though. kotarou is, in a less literal sense, a weapon just like souza. a sword isn't meant to wield another sword. ]