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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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[prehensible]

[ he's quiet for several moments, temple dipping down to rest against tenka's shoulder, eyes sliding shut. he knows he shouldn't worry. tenka's a very capable adult. and clearly he's accustomed to dealing with people who want to hurt him. it's just.. ]

.. I know that you're right. I just-- when I'm damaged, I can so easily be reforged. And if I'm broken, so be it. A better and stronger blade can be forged to replace me. But.. [ he swallows hard, flattening his hands against the tops of his thighs to keep them from clenching. ] It's different with humans. You have one life, and it's so frail and so precious. I'm over six-hundred years old, Tenka-san. [ it's exhausting, losing the people he loves over and over again. because despite what some of his owners had done to him, he'd still loved them.

he takes a careful, steadying breath, forcing himself to relax again and releasing it slowly. ]

Ah, don't listen to me. --Just promise you'll be careful, please, and keep in mind that there are many people here that care very much for you.

[sunshrouded]

[It hurts.

Tenka hardly knows Souza and yet his heart aches listening to him speak - to say that he's so utterly expendable. The other man was often so full of gentle smiles and fleeting touches, soft admonishments and passing teasing. He shouldn't have to be struggling for calm, trying to carefully hold himself together.

So Tenka turns to wrap both arms around Souza entirely, pulling him into a close hug as if he's trying to be the one to keep him together.]

Hey. I'll promise if you promise something.

[An exchange - not an order.]

I need you to promise that you'll try, just try to open your heart to the idea that you're more than a blade, Souza-kun. I don't want you to have to go through being reforged or think that you can be replaced--

Because you're wrong. No one can replace you - not to me. Your life is just as precious, whether you've seen six years or six-hundred.

[prehensible]

[ he startles a little as he's tugged into tenka's arms, but goes with it without protest, his own arms sliding up over the human's shoulders to return it. fingers winding loosely in the messy ponytail, he finds himself smiling faintly as the other man speaks up.

.. ah. this strange, wonderful, infuriating man.

he leans in, brushing a kiss over tenka's brow, then dropping a swift second one on the end of his nose. ]

We'll both try, then, hm? [ no matter how strange and terrifying and unnatural it seems for someone to think of him in such a way, as if his existence is precious not because of what he can do, what he represents, but simply because he's alive. ] .. Though I really think you're a bit ridiculous to think of me in those kinds of terms. And I'm very serious about you being careful! No lip service. No one wants to see me angry.

[sunshrouded]

[Don't mind Tenka is his nose wrinkles a bit after the kiss, brow furrowing in confusion. ???? He knows about physical affection but that was still surprising!! Hrrrmmmm.

Either way, his expression smooths out as Souza speaks and he actually snorts rather ungracefully at the end bit-]

Imagining you angry is scary. But I promise, I promise. Sousei made me make the same promise a while ago.... I'll do what I can to take care of myself.

[But he just grins easily.]

And take care of you too! Because you're my friend and my family, not because you're a revered sword.

[prehensible]

[ you'd better believe souza is scary when he's angry. though most of the fight's gone out of him since his youth, so it takes a lot to upset him to that point now.

as it is, the promise--and the reassurance that sousei is also looking out for this ridiculous man--settles him again, though not for long with a sentiment like that. he's never quite certain what to do with tenka saying things like that. but he made his own promise, even if he's not certain how to go about considering himself human.

colouring faintly, he shakes his head, moving to pick up his own cup and take a sip. it's lukewarm by now, but that's his own fault. ]

.. You just focus on yourself for now, Tenka-san. I'm not the one apparently on uncomfortable terms with the Fuuma clan.

[sunshrouded]

[Tenka just shrugs faintly at that, even as he reaches for his own tea and sips it without concern for how lukewarm it's gotten. After all, he has a bit of a tendency to have these serious conversations over tea so he's gotten used to it growing cold by the time the talking is done.

Still, he just smiles faintly, relaxed.]

Uncomfortable but not awful. Shirasu's still my friend and he cares a lot about his brother.... I can relate. [Then he looks over to Souza and grins, teasing.] Try not to worry over me too much, Souza-kun! You can't love me so quickly, you know.