sunshrouded | x IC INBOX

[He really, really wasn't expecting Tenka to be so childish--for some reason. It's entirely a Tenka move. It's everything Tenka stands for, really. Tenka would have done it to him immediately as a child.

He should have expected it (and it really, really shows how much they've closed that gap that ten years had created, because suddenly, this felt so homelike that he almost feels homesick for the family he was able to have for a brief time) but he didn't--and so when Tenka shoves his shoulder, he does lose his balance, falling backwards.

His head hits the pillow, and it wasn't as if he fell far, but for a moment, he just stares at the ceiling.

That...really just happened. And really...isn't it a little too easy to fall into this groove? He's not sure, but regardless, his response was inevitable from the moment Tenka pushed him.

He turns, kicking Tenka out of his futon.]

You are such a child!

[They both are--those children who shared a room and aspirations and nightmares and dreams, night after night.]

Guh!!

[Yeah, he's kicked out of the futon, though considering that he'd wrapped himself up in most of the blankets, that also means that he totally took them with him. Take that, Sousei. You've kicked him out of your futon, but at what cost?!

It's why he's going to sit up now in the blanket burrito that he's still clutching too himself and raising a finger to his lips as he narrows his eyes.]

Ssshhh, Sousei-kun. I know you're short-tempered but you're gonna wake up everyone else.

[A long-suffering sigh.] It's hard to be the responsible one.

[Except he doesn't even quite manage to finish that sentence before he's turning his head away and laughing to himself. Yeah, he knows that he's basically spouting out total non-truths right now but at the same time this just feels so natural that he doesn't regret it at all.]

[and there go all of his blankets, god Tenka, you're such a jerk--that, combined with his words, get the most incredulous look on Sousei's face. Even Tenka can't say that with a straight face, but Sousei will keep up that disbelieving look anyway, because

really?

Incoming pillow coming for your fool head, Tenka, since apparently he has to be quiet.

Definitely 25 going on 5.]

[The awful thing about blanket burritos is that they're not very good at moving quickly, so Tenka isn't really able to duck that pillow. So instead he's going right back down again with an anguished sounding oof!

But also not going to let go of these blankets just to spite Sousei. In fact, he turns over to crawl his way over to where the pillow landed and is now just going to.... rest his head on it.]

Good night. I hope you're more reasonable in the morning.

[Tenka????]

[Tenka???

Sousei's immediately sitting up then, moving to grab for one end of the blankets. And, hissing under his breath, as if they really are trying to not wake up the parents (when it's really the kids who don't deserve to wake up to this nonsense)--]

Give them back, Tenka.

[Tenka kind of half-expected that and that's why he's pretty much turned completely on his stomach, clutching the other end of the blanket and basically using his dumb weight to keep it down too. Then he's just huffing in response.]

I know when I'm not wanted....! Should've thought about kicking me out before you ended up cold and on an empty futon, huh?

You're not wanted.

[IT'S SAID SO FLATLY AND EASILY--and then he's tugging at his blankets and looking so unhappy about it. Why this. <>Why this.]

I need these, it is still too cold to sleep without.

If I don't have them, then I'll be too cold to sleep.

[Duh, Sousei.]

I'm not hearing a benefit for me from this, Sousei. [And then he snorts and mimicking Sousei's tone of voice:] "I'm a man that operates in terms of profits and losses." {snerk] Haha!

You have your own.

[Guys, just buy more blankets, you're not exactly hurting for money.......

But Sousei's frowning slightly at the mimicking, shaking his head shortly.]

It is true. [No it's not, Sousei, you're such a sap.] You do not need these, so I am not giving them up.

They're all the way in my room....

[He came here, he doesn't really want to leave? His own room is still cold and empty and alone and yes, he's feeling better now, but there's still a need for human contact that he won't get if he leaves Sousei alone now.

Such is the life of being Tenka's partner.]

I definitely need these. I thought we were sharing but then you kicked me out so I guess not. Fine! Throw away my charitable spirit!

[???? What is your problem, Tenka.

Sousei just frowns in response, sitting back on his heels then to inspect Tenka. He thinks he's starting to get why Tenka's not going back to his own room yet.

.. ... ...]

You did not ask. [If they could share.

Yeah, okay, now Sousei will be a stickler for manners.]

I said "Move over. I'm cold."

[Come on, Sousei, you're supposed to speak fluent Tenka. Though at least now he's finally letting go and bundling up the blankets before tossing them at Sousei's face. Then he's grabbing the pillow that he was laying on and walking back over to the futon.]

Now come on, sharing is caring. First rule of being a Kumou!

That is not a request. [HE'S STANDING FIRM, OKAY--

But regardless, he shifts to settle himself back on his futon, after properly laying out the blankets.

This is still really really gay.]

Your family name does not have its own rules. [Not like that, anyway....... aside from being nice to everyone and being badass, what is there even.]

Sure we do.

Sharing is caring is number one, don't forget to feed Gerokichi is number two, and if you make a mess in the kitchen, don't tell Soramaru is number three.

[Tenka's not really going to care much for making requests still though, crawling underneath the blanket now and laughing.]

Brush up on the rulebook, Sousei, you have a lot to catch up on.

[The gay continues.]

[...Wow.

Sousei just stares up at the ceiling at that, ruminating over those rules.

And--]

What does Soramaru do if you make a mess in the kitchen?

[He's already pulling up the blankets over his mouth then, eyes narrowing at the ceiling.]

Remember that time I spilled something on Kiiko's favorite obi?

[It takes a lot of self-control for Sousei to not wince.]

...Yes.

[...and thoughtfully--]

I understand why that is a rule.

[Tenka just nods firmly at that.]

Those are our top three rules. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be able to catch up on all the rest eventually.

[...psh.]

You are the last person I would expect to add additional rules to your lifestyle.

[That much manages to get Tenka to raise a brow.

Admittedly a lot of his rules are strictly jokes for the sake of conversation, though they definitely do have merit. But at the same time....]

Well, remember how we were as kids?

Chuutarou and Soramaru are already better than that but a household without any rules is just asking for trouble.

[Tenka has rules about his booze fund. There are rules about Chuutarou doing dangerous things by himself. There are other rules about whether or not Tenka's brothers get to tag along with him when he's about to apprehend dangerous criminals.]

I am the rule, technically.

[... ... ...]

Braggart.

[That's all he has to say to that. Because honestly? Tenka has done a good job of raising his brothers. It isn't easy to raise children, and he was all alone in that, until Shirasu entered the picture.

But he raised them with a lot of love and care.

That is why they are the good children they are.]

...Soramaru and Chuutarou have been raised well.

I know I'm awesome, you'll admit it eventually.

[It's sort of his automatic response-

Except he pauses at Sousei's next comment. Were Soramaru and Chuutarou raised well? Tenka stares up at the ceiling in thought, because god, he'd like to think so. He'd like to think that he did his job as an older brother well and passed down all the love that he received from Mom and Dad and given it all straight to his brothers. They're the only blood family that he has and he'll protect them with absolutely everything he has in his being.

But were they raised well? Tenka just laughs at that, thinking of how the villagers would often tell him how warm it is in the shrine, even despite the loss of their parents.]

They made it easy on me. They were already great from the start - I'm just happy they were born as my brothers.

[His brothers are his everything. They're the origin of his strength and the reason why he smiles every single day. Even if Tenka was the eldest brother, nothing made him grow up faster than his brothers. They raised him well too.]

[... no, he really won't. Probably. If he does, make sure he's not dying okay.

But regardless, Sousei's not surprised by that answer. Tenka does always swing right back to humble about the things that really matter.

That's how he knows that this is one of those things that really matters, as if he needed any further clues. Instead, he just nods simply, accepting that response.]

Of course they were, and are. [They have good genes--of course any offspring of Tenka's parents, and his foster parents, would be amazing.

They were amazing people, after all.]

I would not have expected any other outcome.

[It just makes Tenka chuckle faintly.

No other outcome, huh? It's almost ironic, considering the fact that there were plenty of other outcomes when you leave a 6 year old and an infant to be raised by a teenager.]

Yeah. The villagers of Otsu wouldn't have let it be any other way, to be honest. [Which is followed up by a fond enough sigh. They'd gone to see the virtual Otsu, which was fun in and of itself, but nothing really beats the people who are actually back home.]

Chuutarou's still growing though... I gotta make sure he didn't do too much of it without me.

[...Raised by the villagers... it seems about right. Honestly, Sousei is glad that Tenka had that, at least. He and Kiiko had the older members of the Yamainu to pick up where Taiko had left off, but...honestly, they were already mostly grown.

Tenka, too, grew up too fast.

Maybe that's just...how it was supposed to be.

In response, Sousei just gives an affirming noise, because obviously you shouldn't, Tenka, don't be stupid.]

...He is too much like you. I will have to ask Sasaki to spend more time with him when we return.

[To make sure he doesn't turn out too much like Tenka--that's too much Tenka for the world to handle.]

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