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[sunshrouded]

Is this how it works? Ha! Got it!

Hey, this is the equivalent of getting in touch with the mighty Kumou Tenka - yours truly - if I'm otherwise busy. Tell me what you need and I'll get back to you as soon as possible! Talk to you soon.

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[sunshrouded]

It's fine....

[That much is forgiven. Tenka doesn't blame Shirasu - it's what they did for years. Anything that was too sad, Tenka was willing to brush under the rug. Even here, he only allows himself moments of weakness with Sousei and otherwise tries to maintain a strong facade. It just so happens that losing Kagemitsu was far too soon for him--

And more importantly, he can't help his concern.]

Who's out to hurt you here, Shirasu?

[Because he's concerned. He cares, even when he knows that he might be better off not letting his feelings get the better of him - he still doesn't want to lose Shirasu.

He's tired of losing people and letting them get hurt.]

[allfortheclan]

[ And there's the protectiveness and interest in others' well being that is so typical of Tenka. Something that, given how things are, Shirasu doesn't really know what to do with. ]

I'm not aware of anyone. [ Though he still needs to smooth things over with the pair of Shinsengumi captains he had been sent after yesterday. Hopefully, neither is the revenge-at-all-costs type.

But that's just at the moment.

[sunshrouded]

Then why are you so worried about showing your feelings if you don't have any enemies?

[Tenka doesn't get it.

The only emotion he hides is sadness and that's to spare others from feeling the brunt of his own burden - but if Shirasu's worried about others manipulating him and yet he has no enemies here.... what's the issue?]

[allfortheclan]

[ Well, there is the part where he ritualistically killed most of them off before he was ten...

But this is why Tenka is attractive and also exasperating. His openness and willingness to trust was a blessing when Shirasu had needed to exploit it. But those same qualities also frustrate him because they leave Tenka vulnerable to people like him. Yet he'd never call Tenka weak for constantly exposing himself to the possibility of being hurt. Really, he'd much rather protect him from it. He'd told Botan the truth, way back when. ]

Because of the two people I've ever trusted, one of them is dead. [ In as much as he trusts anyone. In the end, he had hidden things from his brother, as well. ]

A Fuuma ninja's nature is to see enemies everywhere.

[sunshrouded]

[ . . . . . Tenka frowns at that, shaking his head faintly.] So it's a Fuuma's nature to lie to himself?

You're making enemies out of people who are as good as Chuutarou or Soramaru, Shirasu.... [Tenka can't help but smile a bit as he talks about his brothers - even in this context. But it's true, there hasn't been anyone in Cerealia that even raises any red flags for him yet. They're all as pure-hearted and earnest as his brothers in some cases and the idea that Shirasu would be wary even around them...

Isn't that just sad?]

I think you could stand to try to make a friend or two, you know.

[allfortheclan]

[ Shirasu's expression turns rueful, and he shakes his head. He'd had friends once upon a time, before his predecessor had killed them for stepping out of line. Then the clan had overtaken the need to replace them. He'd had a sort of family in the Kumou, but the clan had come before them as well. ]

Thank you, but I have my brother. [ The mask sitting on the table, the weight in his heart.

At one time, maybe, he would have added "and you", but the truth is far too complicated to say such a thing now. ]

[sunshrouded]

And me.

[Tenka adds it for him.

It's with remarkable firmness that the words leave his mouth, but he doesn't hesitate at all. Their relationship is complicated and Shirasu just aided in killing off Tenka's ancestor, but that was the fault of this place in the end. Shirasu's own betrayal still weighs heavily in Tenka's heart, marking the loss of his best friend and confidant. So there are things that he's genuinely wary to trust Shirasu with now--

But if Shirasu ever needed him, he would come running.

Shirasu will always have Tenka.

Whether either of them like it or not.]

[allfortheclan]

[ The assertion is humbling and still somewhat bewildering. Shirasu is still unsure whether that is best for either of them, but once Tenka makes up his mind... ]

Thank you, Tenka.

[ For what it's worth, the reverse is true, though he wouldn't fault Tenka for taking that with a grain of salt. ]

I shouldn't keep you. You said you had others to tend to.