#mrmirrors

D: "Tell me, do you intend to live in my bedroom and never come out?" Danzo was leaning in the doorway, peering at the man sprawled over his bed almost thoughtfully.

K: Kagami rolled his eyes, back turned to the door so the other man couldn't really see his reaction. He debated not saying anything at all, to let it pass. Danzo will go away soon enough, leave him alone. But it was hard biting back a retort when he was feeling out of sorts, when a good part of his anger was directed at the other man-- for keeping him here. For keeping him alive. "Will you shut up and leave me alone if it wasn't your bedroom?" 

D: "No." He stepped in, closing the door behind him before flicking the lock. "I don't see why you had the impression I would."

K: Kagami's brows furrowed at the sound of the lock setting in place. It only meant one thing: Danzo wasn't going to leave him alone anytime soon. "What do you want?" It was grit out, and his nails dug into the pillow he was clutching. 

D: "I'm tired of this." He moved over, sitting on the edge of the bed and staring intently at the back of his head. "Of you preferring to be dead than here and useful."

K: Kagami inched away from the other man, taking the pillow with him. "Well, boo-hoo. I'm not 'here' nor useful either, so I guess I am better off dead. Thanks for the confirmation." 

D: Danzo narrowed his eyes, then leaned over and caught his shoulder, flipping the other man onto his back. "You're here, you're useful, and you don't get to decide otherwise Kagami. I did not save you for unselfish reasons, of this I am aware, but this is not acceptable."

K: It pissed him off to be manhandled like that. Pissed him off enough that he grabbed Danzo's wrist and fought to get him off. Perhaps he didn't need as much force to shove the other man's hand away from him, but Kagami felt he was making a point by choosing to go overkill. "Tell me how I am useful. I can't do a damn thing around the house or outside without fucking up. Every fucking moment I'm awake I'm made aware that I'm just a mockery of myself. And you-- my 'savior'. You should have just pulled the trigger on me when you had your information if you knew what I'd become when you brought me here." Kagami forced himself to sit up, propped against his elbows, the expression on his face bordering on crazy. "Or do you get a kick out of keeping me here feeling all obligated to thank you for it, savior~? " Lips cracked into an ugly grin at that...

D: "I know you're not where you need to be." He tensed some, expression brilliantly hiding the pain of having his body abused in that manner. "I know that you will get there and you'll actually be someone again as soon as you let yourself." He leaned in, ignoring the too tight grip on his wrist. "You're my partner and that's not changing just because you feel resentful that you don't get to do what you want anymore."

K: He found himself laughing at the term-- a term he was once grateful for, one he used to cherished. A long time ago. "Partner." He let go of Danzo's wrist, sitting up properly, still laughing that bitter, detached laugh. "I'm not resentful because I don't get to do what I want. I can't even do it if I'm allowed to. I can't. And being partners has nothing to do with that. Besides, you never told me what I'm useful for. So do us both a favor; stop lying to me and let me be. You'll have one less burden to worry about and the world will be better off without me. Pretty sure someone else would kill to take my place." He scooted away almost an entire foot across on the bed and flopped back down in it, back turned to Danzo while he stared blankly out the window. 

D: He made a noise that was suspiciously like a growl, moving over and catching Kagami's shoulder to push him onto his back, staring sideways into his face, eyes narrowed and furious. "No. Your use is a private matter to me and I see no reason to share it with you. A burden is something someone doesn't want Kagami, and I've more than had opportunity to deal with that if I saw it as such."

K: "You can't tell me how I'm useful? That's bullshit." Kagami met the other's gaze, his glare more passive than anything. It was pretty clear that he had long since given up. "That's just a nice way of letting me know you can't think of anything to say right now."

D: "More that I don't think you can handle hearing it. I care about you Kagami, that's use enough until you decide you're willing for more."

K: Kagami reached up to try and push Danzo's hand away again, grinding teeth in his jaw as he did so. "What makes you so damned sure I'm willing to wait?" Anger flared up-- anger at... everything. But mostly the fact that here was someone who was trying to make him hope for something, and not letting him know what. He didn't stop himself from punching Danzo in the arm...

D: "And if I were to tell you I kept you more out of a desire to have you here than out of a need to use your abilities, useful as they are, what then mm? More violence?"

K: "Have me here as what?!" He lashed out again, furious. He wasn't sharp enough at the moment to catch onto the riddles. "Another one of your experiments? I'm a little too old for your brainwashing, don't you think?" 

D: He deflected his wrist and grabbed it, shoving it down into the covers before leaning down and kissing him, hard and harsh more than anything else. He had no weight on anything but that wrist though, angry that the man was acting as though his mind had leaked out his ear.

K: The act took him by surprise. He had prepared himelf for a physical fight, but never had he anticipated that. That... had been something they used to do, a long time ago in the past. And not because it meant anything, he was sure, It was just because it had been convenient at the time. Neither one had spoken of it back then, petended it didn't change anything-- and perhaps it didn't. And Kagami was well aware that sometimes, he might just have been a little bit of an open book about how he'd felt on the topic. To think that Danzo was going to use that to make him stay? It vilified him, and after recovering from the initial shock, Kagami bit down on the other's lips. Hard. About the same time he brought his knee up to try and kick Danzo in the stomach. 

D: His position made getting kicked in the torso difficult, and he pulled back, a rough laugh escaping him as he released his wrist. "I told you you were not ready."

K: His free hand curled into a fist and made to come right at Danzo's jaw, with every intention of making brutal contact. "Fuck you!" 

D: He twisted away, shifting and twisting to drop sideways across him in hopes of winding him. "The point was that you weren't interested wasn't it Kagami?"

K: He was reacting against any form of contact as it were, the only acceptable means being anything combative. Somehow, it disgusted him. To think that his own feelings were being used against him-- that was low. And now-- now he couldn't believe a word he was saying. "Interested in what?! You want me to fucking be interested now when you just told me you're going to stoop that low just to make me stay?!" He kicked to try and get the other man off of him. "GET OFF ME!" If winding him up was Danzo's goal, then he was pretty successful. 

D: Danzo moved, getting off it him since the goal hadn't been anything sexual with that maneuver, merely retaliation for the man's attempt to punch him. "No. You're the one that presumed you were ready to hear it. I was right to keep it to myself."

K: "You're the one pulling that out since you already know how I've felt for god knows how long!" Kagami scrambled out of the bed, livid. But-- perhaps more hurt than angry altogether. That was supposed to have been his secret... 

D: "Have I? You do recall that of the two of us, you are the one who had a wife and child."

K: Kagami flashed the other man an angry glare, halfway through stumbling back on one of the chairs he had pulled up earlier in an attempt to read. "Don't feign ignorance, Danzo." Hadn't it been obvious?! Crashing into the wall, Kagami slid down to the floor, knees bent.

D: "Feign ignorance? When have I ever given you sign that such a thing is even remotely within my character? You wanted to play once, true, and we played. There were no declarations from you, and given the sort of man you are, if they were there to be declared, then you would have, mm?"

K: ...And now he was balming him for not coming forth with his feelings earlier? Kagami could only stare. He'd waited so long to even consider getting married-- he hadn't even been interested to begin with. Didn't even think it was possible but went along with the first women he'd hit it off with, and she seemed really nice -- she was, even today -- and they'd had a son which completed matters, but... But-- "Just. Get out." It was weakly uttered, and Kagami rested his forehead against his knee. "Why the fuck did you decide you had to wait for me?"

D: He gave him a humorless smile and ... didn't leave, instead approaching and staring him down. "When was it, exactly, that you got the impression that I did such things lightly?"

K: Kagami felt the man approach, and looked up to meet his eye. "Look. Don't fucking blame it on me when you didn't show any interest in anything besides getting the job done, okay? I might have been the team's profiler, but that doesn't give you a special pass."

D: "Kagami, I expected nothing of you, because you had aspirations. They're now gone." He waved a hand. "Your family is being watched over."

K.: "...I had aspirations. You didn't, oh selfless one?" Mocking. So very mocking, and awfully bitter. "Yeah they're being watched over. By someone who thinks they know what's best for them. Not me, of course. Because I wouldn't know better." 

D: "I keep an eye on them so that the other Uchiha don't get ideas about taking them out Kagami, would you rather I rescind that protection then?"

K: He went quiet for a moment at that, holding back the urge to kick and fight. "I'm out of bed. What else do you want?" 

D: "I want you to actually try Kagami. To stop giving up or assuming you know best about everything."

K: "You're the one assuming to know everything about everything. You're also pissing me off!" 

D: "Yes I know." He didn't sound like he a surprised about telling him so. "It's better than the alternative."

K: "Then just-- get out of my face!!" Did Danzo want him to fight him? 

D: "No. I refuse. That has benefited me in no way."

K: That was it. That was the last straw, and Kagami had given him all the warnings and all the signs that he didn't want the man to bother him, so Danzo got what was coming for him. Kagami sprang up to his feet and went straight for the man's neck, throwing himself at him in an attempt to tackle him to the floor or bed with his weight. But Kagami had lost a considerable amount of weight since Pakistan, and it was a struggle...

D: Danzo did stumble, enough so that Kagami did knock him over, but Danzo trained often, and taught others how to fight. Thus he was by no means out of shape, and wrestled Kagami to the bedding under him, which was pretty much exactly what the other man had not wanted. "No."

K: "SHUT UP!!" One hand on Danzo's throat, Kagami brought the other to cover his mouth, struggling to try and get on top of him. 

D: That was a terrible place to let him at and he brought his hand to Kagami's wrist, aiming to rip the hand from his neck even as he bit at him with another growl of negation.

K: Kagami twisted his hand in the other's grip, shifting his weight to try and elbow him instead. It wasn't working, though. All these days of refusing to eat and refusing to do anything was probably catching up to him, and he was feeling it. That served to make him all the more angry. "WHAT DO YOU WANT?! WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME! YOU GOT ME OUT OF BED, WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT FROM ME?! JUST LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE!" Kagami ended p coughing at the end of that outburst, throat dry.

D: He used the coughing fit to wrestle him down, pinning his hands to the bed as he straddled his torso, careful to keep him from being able to kick him off. "Better, Kagami?"

K: No. No, he was nowhere near better. Instead of words this time, Kagami chose to yell. Just yell. Yell out his frustration at the other man while he continued to try and hit him, get him off him. He ended up thrashing under him, not caring if his throat was going to bleed from the strain and how dry it was.

D: He just pinned him, holding still and waiting him out as he kept him down. Clearly Kagami needed the venting.

K: It took him a while to calm down. Moments turned into minutes, and despite the coughing, Kagami kept at it. The yells turned into strings of curses. Words he'd never thought would ever leave his lips. Words he didn't even know he knew, or knew existed. And then those words turned on himself. mixed in with involuntary sobs he could not contain. He was past the point of making any sense of what he was saying and who he was saying it to.

D: He waited until he wasn't fighting anymore and shifted his weight off him, dragging him into his lap and wrapping his arms in a way where if he started fighting again he wouldn't be able to hurt him.

K: He did struggle, still too stubborn to take the help. But eventually, he gave up, tired too soon. He ended up clutching the back of the other man's shirt, still feeling useless and telling him so as he broke down into his chest-- Kagami wasn't going to even dare look at the man. Kagami didn't cry. And this was beyond embarrassing. Trying to keep it as quiet as possible was a pain in the ass, too-- because it was hard to do at the moment. 

D: He finally moved a hand, tangling it in Kagami's hair to keep him where he was, and remained silent, patient.

K: Eventually, Kagami would come to grips with himself, sniffling out the last sobs till he went quiet again. "Make me useful then, before I lose my mind." It was mumbled into Danzo's shirt, croaked out almost.

D: "Are you going to let me?" He kneaded the back of his neck, pressing his cheek against his temple. "Or am I still beneath your notice?"

K.: "You ask too many questions." Honestly, at this point, Kagami didn't care. He didn't believe that anything Danzo could do would bring him out of this, but he figured that, if something changed, then perhaps he'd quit giving up. If nothing came out of it, then nothing would change. Nothing would be lost. 

D: "I suppose I do." It was lowly said, and he pressed a kiss to his temple before leaning back slightly, looking into his face with a frown. 

K: Kagami wasn't looking at him, but felt eyes on him nevertheless. Enough to make him look away, unable to face the man, aware that the fact that this wasn't giving him anything to hope for was written all over his face. He couldn't let Danzo see that...

D: He narrowed his eyes, then reached and turned his face back to him with a firm hold. "No. Hiding from me hasn't helped this."

K: Kagami frowned back at him. "What more do you want? I'm not saying no, am I?" It was more of a 'I don't believe this is going to change anything' than anything else. 

D: "I want many things Kagami." He scoffed softly and twisted his fingers in his hair. "Do you have any intent of giving me any but the most shallow of them?"

K: "I don't know. You have yet to prove me wrong about being of any use to anyone in this world anymore." 

D: "You won't help with the kids, has that changed?"

K: "Huh?" Since when did he ever agree to anything the other man was doing with the kids? Perhaps Sai and Shin were the exceptions-- Kagami spent a lot of time with those two than was necessary. But... For Danzo to mention that at a time like this-- Kagami frowned, looking away. Was this a threat? "Do what you want with them; nothing I ever did mattered anyway." 

D: "No Kagami, that wasn't the question I asked you. I asked you if you still refuse to help with them."

K: "Help with them for what? To turn them into soldiers? Like hell I'll help with that. I'll help them get out if I can." 

D: "You still don't know what I do. You don't know why they're here, why they do what they do for me."

K: "I know enough. You've never had children to really know." Maybe he was trying to rub it in, playing with fire. That felt good for the moment, too...

D: "You mean to say that because I've never gotten a woman pregnant that I can't possibly understand my people, is that it?"

K: "No. You couldn't possibly care like a parent would. They'll always be dispensable. WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU ASKING ME ALL THIS?! You're going to have them killed in the end anyway! Or like me. They'll go down like me. You wouldn't even have to kill them. They'll be sick of it, they'll do it themselves." 

D: His eyes widened just a touch and in a rare display of temper, he reared back enough to punch him. His lips were pressed together as he braced for retaliation even while he started to talk. "I see why you waste yourself if you're that blind." It was a low, cold statement.

K: That hurt, but he was laughing at the end of it, almost too happy to having being struck. Some part of him was telling him that that was the right thing to be doing, the right reaction, what he deserved. Kagami wasn't complaining. He was laughing. Bitterly. He tasted blood. Felt it trickle down his nose before it crept past his lips. "So why the fuck do you still care? Hm?" 

D: "Because you're mine now, and I protect what comes under my care, even from its own rot."

K: Kagami reached up to wip his bloody nose, glancing down once at his fingers. "And if I don't? What then?"

D: "Don't see or don't care Kagami." His tone was still unyielding, though there was no threat of further violence.

K: "Care." He shrugged. "See. What's the difference."

D: "One is being blind, one is dismissing what you see."

K: Kagami wasn't expecting an actual answer. It earned a laugh from him when he was given one. "I told you, I don't know anymore. Stop it. Stop trying to make sense out of nothing. Just let me be. I'll find someplace else to be if you don't want me on your bed."

D: "No. I told you. You're mine now Kagami, I gave you my name, didn't I?" He stared at him intently before bringing his hand up to push him back from himself. "Sooner or later, you might decide to actually learn what I do with these children, and why."

K: Kagami fell back with no complaints, letting the other man do whatever, as long as he left him alone afterwards. "I knew that agreeing to have your name at the end of mine would come back to bite me in the ass. And about the kids-- you are determined to show me, and make me agree to things regardless of what I feel, so why do I even have to bother? And as for making use of me-- fine. You know what? Go ahead. We'll see if that changes anything."

D: "You've interacted with Sai, you saw his state, correct?" His tone was steady, and he leaned over him. "He's the youngest, but most of the others have a story not unlike that. Abusive parents and guardians, children being stifled or crushed by those around them. Orphans no one wants, these are my people. Why is that? Why would I care about those Kagami?"

K.: "I dunno. You were from a broken home? You figured you'd help kids by taking them in and giving them some kind of purpose, feel important, give them a family? Not unlike the street gangs, don't you think?"

D: "Actually, yes." He didn't clarify what the yes was applying to. "I get them the education that takes them into the fields they're best with, and when I believe they're ready, they can circle out to the spy network if that's their interest."

K: "You wanna know what I really see?" He'd given up laughing to just smiling. 

D: "Probably not. Tell me."

K: "I don't see a real family. I see-- I just see an imitation of it. I see little ones like Sai wanting you to love them but you seriously. Don't. Know. How. And you don't know how disappointing that is. You don't know how much of a let down it is. But you're right-- You're the 'savior' so they'll follow you because they're grateful, but-- But it's so lacking. They're so wanting. They're wanting it hurts to watch." Which was why he spoiled them when he could, and resented whatever rules were up for the older children. "You're not their father and it's such a ... gaping hole." 

D: "Then be their father." It was a blunt statement. "Give them what you think is missing. If they let you."

K: Kagami hadn't been expecting that reaction. "...What?" He propped himself up on his elbows, blinking away the shock for a moment before considering this a last ditch attempt to try and make him stay. His expression turned sour at the possibility, and he fell back into the sheets. Wordlessly, he rolled over, facing away and settling on his side so he didn't have to deal with looking at the man anymore. Kagami didn't think he could do it. If he couldn't be a father to his own son, then... 

D: "No." He moved his hand, leaning over him and staring down into his eyes. "I always assumed that if you got involved your softer nature would get the better of you with the young ones. I can't do that, and I couldn't afford to bring in any of the people I know who could."

K: He could. If he wanted to. If he put his mind to it and didn't push the children away. If he came out of the room more often... "I could, but..." His lips trembled, and he blinked hard to keep the tears at bay. "Shisui..." It wouldn't be fair.

D: "Shisui isn't alone. If he's ever in trouble he'll have people to support him. Don't you want those people to know how?"

K: "What? These people? I don't want him near anyone to do with you or me. I don't want him to find out." But that was besides the point. "But how can I when I know I should be with him?!" 

D: "You've met very few of my people." His tone was low, sharp. "Do not judge those you have not met." He stilled, taking in a careful breath before calming himself. "They won't bring attention to themselves, nor danger."

K: "No, you misunderstand. He's a smart kid. I know he is. I don't want him to figure out I've been alive." He turned away again, reaching out for a pillow and pulling it close so he could bury his face in it. 

D: "He won't." He watched him shaking his head slightly. "Because you won't see him."

K: That was enough to spark another bout of unmanly sobbing, which he tried to drown out by placing the pillow over his head. "Just go..." came the muffled voice from behind it. "Just go away and kick me out or something if all you want to do is remind me of everything I've lost."

D: "No. I'm trying to give you something new. I'll keep offering until you take it."

K: He was quiet behind the pillow, having gotten lost in thought about Shisui and Shizuka and everything and everyone he'd left behind. Memories of troubled places flashed through him, of Pakistan and Afghanistan and the people he'd killed. There was blood on his hands he couldn't wash off, and he didn't think he could ever begin to trust anyone ever again. He was trained to be a soldier, trained to shed every emotion and carry out his duty. But he was human first, and somewhere int he cracks of that training, his humanness had seeped through and reminded him of the monster he'd become. And when he'd come out, he's come out crippled, mentally, unable to function on a normal level. Unable to accept that things were over. Unable to find any purpose in his existence. He felt like a broken weapon. 

And with this realization came the silence. Blank, numbness crept over him, and he wasn't sure if he was alive or dead. The frustration of having so many things he wanted to attach him to, but being unable to-- it drove him crazy. Like he was denied existence. Denied, therefore he must cease to exist. Kagami went silent, eyes open and staring blankly at nothing, not even batting his eyelids. 

Broken vessel. That's what he was... 

D: He pulled the pillow away from his face, then leaned down to murmur in Kagami's ear, low and soft. "Kagami, your humanity is what makes you so valuable to me."

K: Words... Words seemed to merely drift in whatever was left of his consciousness. They made no sense to him, whispers dying almost as soon as they reached him. Words couldn't reach him now, not when he'd blocked himself from receiving them. 

D: When nothing happened, he let out a soft sigh and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

K: Which... perhaps did something. Kagami reached up to touch Danzo's hair, hand resting there, though he was still silent. Perhaps he blinked once. 

D: "Ah." It was a murmur, understanding as he turned his head and pressed a kiss to his lips instead.

K: At least he didn't try to bite Danzo's mouth off this time. There wasn't any protest, just-- a giving in. He was done fighting. He knew he was done when his mind blacked out like that. When it went into that place that was ever so hard to come out of. Maybe. Just maybe he'd give this a try, he thought. Humor the other man. Try and figure out if those words meant even half what was said. Not that he took Danzo to be the lying type, but it had been a long time since he'd put his trust in anyone. 

D: Danzo noticed, and while the touch didn't gentle, he did move his hand to cup his face, lingering over the kiss, drawing it out.

K: Danzo would have been better off kissing a life sized doll than trying to get a reaction out of Kagami. However, in time, Kagami figured it was more than rude to just... lie there. So he kissed back. Hesitant. Not at all like he would have done a few years ago. 

D: Danzo was also being... far more patient than he would have been when they were younger, staying firm and careful in the kiss, letting Kagami take his time in responding to him.

K: Kagami stopped thinking. He forced his thoughts to not interrupt this time. Hadn't he wanted this? Even on his wedding day, he'd been thinking. He'd taken forever to say 'I do', and on the wedding night, he had excused himself to take a stroll. He was lucky to have had a patient wife, someone who trusted him regardless of what he might have been feeling at the time. He'dgrown closer to her only after finding out she was pregnant. These were things only Kagami knew, things he couldn't share with anyone else. One, because he didn't want to hurt her. Two, because he'd never thought Danzo to have returned those feelings. It angered him for a bit, but in the end, he only had himself to blame. He blamed himself for getting married to the one but not being able to let go of the other.

Memories flooded him again, and he went further back to when they'd done this a long, long time ago. He'd found that he'd never, ever been able to get that feeling back. It had always been lacking with her, and with everyone else that came after him. Still hung up on the first, he supposed, but now--

Kagami's fingers curled in the other's hair, gripping tight as the hesitant kisses turned into something else. Something like desperate grasping at a memory long gone but not forgotten. The worst part was that it was all coming back and he couldn't let go, mind and body of conflicting opinions. 

D: His breath sucked in at the change, a groan coming from him as he felt a rush of heat sweep through him at the change. It was good, sharp and intense, and essentially exactly what he'd come to expect from kissing Kagami. It drew heat out of him, and he suspected the same of the other man, which meant he shifted over him, settled over him instead of crouching as he deepened the kiss differently, more aggressive than patient. It had been, after all, a long time since he'd been tempted to kiss anyone.

K: Kagami had been trying so hard. He'd been trying so hard to shut down and give up, feeling nothing for so long and this? Suddenly, grudgingly, Kagami felt alive. His bloody nose meant breathing through it was rather difficult, so he ended up gasping for breath in the middle of their kisses, noisy in between...

D: Danzo of course gave him air. he didn't want to suffocate the man, but it was good, that reaction was good and he finally pulled off the kiss entirely kissing over his cheek to his jaw, letting Kagami try to catch his breath and on high alert.

K: He was catching his breath, and halfway into it, yanked the other man's hair. Painfully. "You bastard, you broke my nose." 

D: "You deserved it." It was a to the point statement as he lifted his head finally to look him in the face.

K: Still panting, Kagami stared at Danzo for a moment before laughing. It wasn't the bitter, cruel laugh anymore. This time it was genuine, and he loosened the grip in the other man's hair, fingers stroking. "Shut up and kiss me." 

D: He huffed, but complied, kissing him and deepening it immediately, sucking at his lower lip with a groan. K: Kagami remembered to suck in a deep breath before their lips met, the breath leaving him almost immediately, regardless. It felt exactly as it had done years ago, and it almost brought him to his knees, figuratively speaking. It made him dizzy, and impatient, and heat rushed to places that probably hadn't seen use in a few years. Kagami arched up into his partner, making that fact known. 

D: Danzo groaned back, shifting to grind down into him, letting him know he was starting to feel a reaction too even as he pulled off the kiss. "I should fix the nose first, mmm?"

K: "Ah fuck, that's going to hurt." But, yes, if Kagami wanted to breathe. Except he'd probably have congealed blood in there he'd have to excavate first. Kagami was panting, a little more interested in arching his hips up into the other man than fixing his nose. Impatient as he was, his hands flew down to between them to try and get his pants undone. He was still in pajama pants, so it really didn't take much to undo them... 

He wasn't thinking it, but deep down in the back of his mind he wondered if this was going to become an addiction. He'd found one thing to cling to... 

D: He sucked in a shaky breath and groaned lowly, grinding back down against him before shifting up to a knee, staring at him intently. "Nose Kagami."

K: "Then fix it." Kagami smirked. "Your property. You break it, you fix it." And in the mean time, he worked on getting Danzo out of his pants. He might have stolen a curious grope, though...

D: Danzo shifted in his hold, but didn't stay still, carefully balancing as he ignored what Kagami was doing to reach up to adjust his nose. It would hurt, but it needed done. K: Kagami winced, then hissed, muttering a string of curses under his breath until moments after his nose was back in place. But he was able to breathe easier afterwords, and the sound of Danzo's zipper coming undone seemed louder in the room than anything else in that moment--- 

D: He slid his hand over his chest, the other running along his cheek as he smirked. "Didn't kill your interest I see."

K: "Don't flatter yourself, it's just a broken nose. I've had worse." He figured Danzo would know how much worse, too. "There's no guarantee, you know that." That this will last. That this will be anything more than something they did today. Perhaps this will last a mere ten minutes or however long this was going to last, and he'd return to what he was before. Unresponsive. Just a shell of a man. A broken vessel. 

D: "We'll see." Then he leaned in to kiss him again, getting his hand under the shirt on him, kneading his palm up his belly as he swiped his tongue over his lower lip.

K.: "Awfully confident aren't ya?" But he leaned up to the kiss, lips parting. Everything was going well until whatever he felt down there in Danzo's pants made him freeze up. Or was it the smell? What did it smell like... Like pain? Humiliation. Rage... Kagami's breath caught, memory and reality blurred, and instead of his friend's familiar face, he saw dark eyes mocking him through the opening in the ski mask. But he didn't yell, or protest. Military training told you to lay low and take it wihtout fighting back in order to increase your chances of survival. And Kagami knew what else they'd wanted him to do. Without a moment's pause, he began to pray. 

"Father, I abandon myself into your hands; do with me what you will. Whatever You may do, I thank You, I am ready for all, I accept all. Let only Your will be done in me And in all Your creatures-- I wish no more than this, O Lord--" 

D: Danzo stilled at the change. Well, that would put a definite wrench in things, and he pressed his lips together as he realized that if he wanted anything he had to wait. Damn it. Shifting a little and then just laying on top of him, he slid his hands down Kagami's wrists and snagged them, pressing them softly into the covers and resting his chin on the other man's sternum. No need to risk a deviated mindset taking his halt as an attack. Rough, violent even, he could do, but he did want Kagami to know who he was looking at. "You lost the moment Kagami, that's not a turn on at all."

K: Kagami didn't believe in any higher power. He knew then, and he knew now that there was no God. There was no one to come save the damned, the one with their hands steeped in their own blood, where it never came off. But he'd give them what they wanted to hear, because an atheist wasn't as good as a Christian man. Kagami waited for the jeers, waited for the words of hypocrites claiming Allah was the only savior, for the grins behind masks of cowards who dared not show their faces, as if Allah would recognize them for their deeds. There is no God, he told himself. But jsut in case, he would pray for them. He would pray for them because they were going to drown in own blood sooner than they can say Allahu Akbar. He'd make sure of it, when he got out. 

Day 89. He'd lasted this long, what's another day in comparison? There was no God. If there was anyone to deliver retribution, then it was him. They had what was coming to them. 

Patience... 

Smile and bear it, let your heart turn shades of black darker than the deepest of Hells, make your task easier, Michael the archangel.

"Into your hands I commend my soul, I offer it to You with all the love of my heart, for I love You Lord And so need to give myself--"

But something was wrong. Nothing happened. Kagami could feel them lie on him, their bodies still warm-- and that sickened him. But-- Were they dead? Had he done this? No, still warm. Or could it be that he was finally dead? There could be no other explanation as to why the world stopped, why the pain stopped, why he didn't bleed any more. Why nothing happened. 

Staring up at the ceiling in his positon, Kagami blinked. His breathing picked up, chest heaving in shallow gasps as the ceiling began to dot itself in places; little translucate grey dots that danced from one end to the other. This-- he was not used to this. This was not how it was supposed to end. fingers clenched in his wrists as he began to struggle, breathing too fast and too shallow. D: His words were low and soft, even. He didn't move, holding him in place and nothing else. "Kagami. My Kagami who is not there but here in another place, with me. I am not that impatient that I ignore you, and I will wait for you to see me. It's Danzo and you're Kagami, and I'm waiting for you to notice that I'm me and not them." He wasn't trying to convince him, not expecting to be heard honestly, but he simply spoke, seeing if his voice might settle him at all.

K: For someone who'd been so ready to give up only moments ago, this was not the reaction one would expect from entertaining the possibility of actually dying. It was losing in battle with the enemy, not with oneself. It was losing control. Amidst the choked out gasps and lightheadedness, bordering on tipping the scales and plunging straight into the abyss, Kagami let out a strangled sound. His eyes were wide as if widening them any further would let him see past the darkening spots that merged to form faces that mocked him, toothless grins and empty sockets staring back at him. "My name--" he whispered, almost afraid to hear it, afraid to find out who it was that was calling him. "Who's calling--" 

D: Danzo tilted his head, staring back at him, tone low and steady. "It's Danzo Kagami. It's Danzo calling you. You're Kagami, remember? My Kagami."

K: "Danzo..." He let the word roll over his tongue. It was familiar, and somehow, seemed to make little sense over time. "Danzo Shimura, registration number 000272, United States Marine Corps, Da--" His breathing slowed down. "I know that name..."

D: "Yes, yes you do Kagami." He leaned down, pressing their cheeks together. "I am Danzo, you are Kagami."

K: Kagami went silent, thoughts churning in his head, head spinning. "I'm not a fucking child." He knew who he was. He knew he was Kagami. He'd never let himself forget that. But-- it was good to know Danzo was here. Somewhere, vaguely, in a memory long past, a memory that flashed back weakly amidst the throng of other memories he'd much rather forget, he remembered him. Clearly. 

With the man's cheek pressed against his, Kagami could smell him better. His hair smelled distinctly different from the sweaty, matted, hair that smelled of grease and henna. There were vague hints of gunpowder he could pick up, but Danzo didn't reek of it. The only blood he smelled was what was in his nose; no other stench alerted him to any danger. But what-- what had, in the first place? Kagami closed his eyes, frowning, trying to pick it out. And when the light musk reached him, he shuddered. 

His pants were already halfway down his ass, and Kagami was rock hard under Danzo not necessarily as a result of arousal, but out of fear. It was twice the shame in realizing what it was now-- shameful for the misunderstanding, and shameful for misleading the other man. 

D "No, you're not." It was a murmur, and he slowly shifted back, not quite getting off him, but moving enough to look him in the eye, staying close even as he lifted off him. "Are you with me here?"

K: Kagami nodded, vaguely, breath still coming off in pants. "I-- I think so."

D: He pulled back further and reached down to tug Kagami's clothes back into place on him. "Good."

K: He reached up, clutching at Danzo's shirt before he thought of pulling away completely. "I'm sorry..." 

D: He paused, smoothing down the material with a hushing noise. "Hardly the reaction I was hoping for, I admit."

K: "Sorry," he murmured again, still holding onto the other man's shirt, twisting the material in his grasp as he struggled with his thoughts. He didn't want him to leave just yet, but didn't know how to say it.

D: Danzo shifted and pulled his own clothes back into order before sinking back down on top of him, his hand moving to stroke over his hair. "Shhh."

K:  "Kashmir, July 20th to October 16th, four years before the Kargil War." Categorization. Date, location, duration. "About 76 insurgents, three on rotation. There were four of us." Danzo probably already knew, but Kagami let him know. It was the only way he could shelve it away. "What date is it today...?" For once, he wasn't staring blankly at the other man. He was looking up at him expectantly, gratitude mixed in with his current expression. 

D: He moved his hand to cup his cheek, running his thumb along the skin under his eye. "That was over a year ago Kagami." He shook his head slowly. "It's March fourth."

K.: "Mm..." He sucked in a deep breath, then let it out slowly. "I'm sorry.." Again. "I wanted it too, but--"

D: "But you can't." It was a murmur, and he brushed a kiss over his cheek. "There's no hurry."

K: Which is when he grew silent again, reeling back into his thoughts. Coming out of them, Kagami was angry. "Easy for you to say." It was grit out, and Kagami let go of the other man's shirt to shove him away. "I don't want to not be able to." He made to sit up, angry with himself for his inability to function like a normal person.

D: Danzo rolled onto his back, staring over at him. "Then go ahead Kagami." It was a murmur, and he lifted his eyebrows. "Show me instead."

K: He moved over to the edge of the bed, feet coming to touch the floor. His erection was dying down, thankfully, or he would have hurt himself for it if it had refused to do so. The challenge pissed him off, though. Here he was, struggling to come to terms with being completely off the normalcy chart, and Danzo was challenging him? "Where's your patience, horndog?" He glanced over his shoulder at the other man. 

D: "It doesn't have to be now." He didn't bother to move, studying his back. "I simply must make you aware that you have no need to wait for me."

K: It was thin. Nothing remarkable to look at. He'd refused food for a few days, hell bent on shutting down for good. Kagami looked away, thinking. "Maybe I can do it, but not all the way. You know what I mean." Perhaps they could make out now and then. Do things with their clothes on. Do things without penetration, maybe. He reached up to peel off congealed blood from his nose. 

D: "I'm not committed to being either on top or the penetrator." He stretched, a slow arch. "Or mobile if it comes to that as any sort of... comfort."

K: Kagami shook his head. He couldn't see him doing it the other way round, though maybe in time, he might try at least being on top. "Mobile?" He turned to glance at him again. Didn't think Danzo was the sort of guy to even consider something like that.

D: "Mmm. Unless that would be the opposite of helpful."

K: "I'd want to do that," he murmured quietly. "But me, not you, being the one immobile. In time. That-- could be the final test or something, y'know?" And suddenly, Kagami was setting goals for himself. Only an hour earlier he'd been thinking of taking his life...

D: He rolled onto his side, then reached out and ran his fingers down his spine. "Tell me as we go then Kagami, and maybe it won't turn into another fistfight mm?"

K: His back straightened with the movement of the other's fingers down it. "I can't help it, you're annoying."

D: "You're not exactly without your faults Kagami." He smirked at his back.

K: Kagami smirked right back at him, then moved to bring his legs up and scoot over closer to Danzo. "So... Kazuki Shimura. What exactly was going through your head as you thought about all of that. You know, making me change my name to yours and stuff."

D: "Going through my head? Just that it felt... appropriate." Danzo didn't move, resting his hand on his leg instead.

K: "Appropriate. Ah." Kagami brought his hand to rest on the other's under the guise of inspecting the man's knuckles. "It's a pretty name, though. Why couldn't it have been Takeshi or Katashi or Katsurou or Ken or something?" 

D: "Because they're not you." He flashed a little smirk. "Take it as a compliment."

K: And he pinched the back of Danzo's hand for it. "Bastard." But he rolled over, flopping right beside Danzo. "Radiant harmony. Bullshit. All I do is bring discord to this little thing you have going on." Kagami thought about the significance of the name, knowing full well that Danzo wouldn't really toss that out on a whim. When he spoke again, his tone was low, serious. "Were you upset when you heard I got married?" He hadn't told anyone, just slipped it in as a surprise on one of the New Year cards.

D: He was quiet for a long moment, his gaze on the hand over his. "Let's just say I stopped putting my head up in public channels at that point."

K: No more pretending to inspect those knuckles, Kagami rested his hand fully on Danzo's, fingers curling into the spaces between the other's. He said nothing. It was pointless to say sorry now. "I didn't think you meant anything serious by it," he admitted, referring to what they had when they were on the Forces. "I mean. I hoped you did, but..." His lips pursed into a thin line. 

D: "You liked to act as though it were temporary and it would have been inappropriate to argue that without any sort of proof. And then you got married and I turned my attention to other things."

K: "You--" He sucked in that chain of otherwise hurtful words. "You kept giving off vibes that you didn't want anything to do with us and I just..." Kagami sighed. "Assumed." Well, therein lay the fault. "Guess we both ought to have spoken out sooner. But there was don't ask, don't tell, and it literally didn't involve any asking in the end." 

D: "I'm not the sort of man who... attaches. It was a situation where it was entirely in your hands, especially when I was younger." He glanced toward the bedroom door, then back to him. "Such considerations are not quite the same now."

K: Kagami noted the glance, and wondered why Danzo's attention went to the door. Was someone behind it, or was he wanting to leave? "That's quite the responsibility to shove on the other guy." 

D: He looked back to his face. "Yes, but then, you were the one who was good at that, if you recall."

K: "So this is entirely my fault then?" He stared at him. 

D: "No. I was a coward."

K: "No. No, no no no. You weren't a coward, okay? That's not cowardice. That's just a result of misunderstanding the cues we were giving each other because we were overthinking things."

D: "No Kagami, it was cowardice. I could have stated blatantly that I didn't view it as a temporary arrangement."

K: He squeezed the other's hand in his, as if willing him to shut up with the cowardice speech. "Well guess what, we know now. And I'm almost married to you, so there's a huge improvement." Kagami glanced down at Danzo with a sly smirk at that. 

D: "Almost? Interesting declaration. What is the almost to it?" He arched his eyebrows back.

K: "Aha. So I was right. I am married to you." Not legally, because that wasn't even in the law yet. But theoretically, that was the reason behind giving Kagami Danzo's last name. He was grinning. 

D: "I believe your sentiment was 'almost' Kagami." He rolled back onto his back with a smirk.

K: "And you confirmed it wasn't an almost." Kagami grabbed him before he could go too far, not sure if Danzo was just going to roll onto his back or roll right off the bed. Leaning in to lie across on top of Danzo, Kagami brought a finger up to trace the scar on the other man's chin. "It's technically 'almost' because it's not legal."

D: "I deal very little in legalities so I think that's just fine for me."

K: Kagami ended up laughing. Burying his face in the other man's chest and laughing. "Did you just. Skip the proposal and decide it was fine that way?" Still laughing, Kagami ended up shaking his head because he just couldn't believe this man and the things he did. "It's been a year. We missed an anniversary." 

D: "Kagami, if you wish to be technical we also missed the wedding."

K: "...And the honeymoon. I kind of always wanted to go to Tahiti." 

D: "Honeymoon? No no clearly we just didn't have one of those."

K: "We're not in Tahiti." He pouted, for a moment, before his expression fell.

"Hey." Kagami swallowed. "I'm sorry. You'll... You'll help me out, right?" There couldn't be a honeymoon without the sex and he clearly wasn't in the right frame ofmind to be able to tackle that right now. 

D: He was quiet for a moment, and turned his hand to lace his fingers with Kagami's. "I'm in no hurry."

K: Kagami nodded, giving Danzo's hand a squeeze as if reinforcing the knowlege that he was right there with him. "Got someplace to go?" Shifting, he made to settle down next to Danzo, head on the pillows instead of lying down in every other position around the bed.

D: "I have a bit of time before I'm needed anywhere."

K: "How much is a bit and how long will you be gone?"

D: "Today, I should be gone in the morning for over a week."

K: He nodded, just a little disappointed at Danzo having to go places all the time. It got boring staying inside all the time. Not only was it boring, but he also felt trapped. "And the kids? They'll stay here?" He meant Sai and Shin. Kagami was in no way excited to see Kabuto or Orochimaru. Kabuto most likely might need to check upon him for medical reasons, given how Kagami had refused to eat in a few days, and measly in the days prior. Orochimaru-- Kagami felt like doing damage to that one. 

D: "No, I need Orochimaru for this." He gave a bit of a sigh. "He's the best with the sort that I'm going to pick up while getting my information." He shook his head, then gave Kagami a wry look. "I'm aware you don't like the boy, but he's brilliant with untrusting children."

K: "I don't care what he's good at. He keeps trying to push moves on me and if he weren't one of your guys, I'd blow his brains out." He wasn't joking when he made that statement. "Sai and Shin I can handle. Kabuto-- I'd rather avoid, too." 

D: "Kabuto is in love with knowing things. He's a good boy, but he gets bored easily. Orochimaru... he has been with me the longest. I strongly suspect he's doing that to try to chase you off."

K: "Well, do something about that kid." He meant Orochimaru. 

D: "He only gets sexual when he's trying to make people uncomfortable. He stops if he realizes it's not working." He looked over at Kagami, humming lowly. "It's a defensive thing, probably because of what he was doing before I found him. Telling him to stop would be.... pointless. He'll respect you more when you stop hiding in here though."

K: "He needs to stop or one of us is going to end up dead." Kagami let go of Danzo's hand, fluffing his pillow so he could turn around and go back to sleep, already tired out. He wasn't nearly as strong as he used to be, and he'd brought that on himself. 

D: "He's stronger than he looks, and he's not here near as much as it probably seems to you." It was a simple point, and he shook his head. "Don't sleep before you drink something Kagami."

K: "Hence why I said one of us." He sighed into the pillow. "Was I going to drink something?" 

D: "No, which is why I told you to do so." It was said softly, and he nudged him between the shoulders.

K: "...That requires leg work." He wasn't in the mood for leg work, Danzo. Or rather, all that almost-fighting had drained the energy out of him to allow him to walk more than a few steps without pausing against a wall.

D: "Stay then, I'll get you something. You have to drink it all."

K: Kagami huffed, hugging the pillow to himself. Since when had Danzo been so willing to go get him anything at all? "Can't promise that," he mumbled, stubborn. "But I'll drink some." If it was going to be one of those awful protein and veggie shakes, Kagami was going to throw up all over the bed. He'd made up his mind to.

D: "Try anyway." He narrowed his eyes at him, then got up and headed to the door. "You're too easily tired.”

K: He groaned. "I said I will!" Lifting his head from his pillow, Kagami glanced over at Danzo, scowling. He made a face, then flopped back down on the pillow. "Just go already. It's awkward when you act concerned." It really was--

D: "Then stop needing it." He slipped out, returning after a little while with broth to come over to him.

K: "I don't need it." Grumbled. He was so sour, and had been ever since he'd returned to America. It had gotten worse over time. He might have started to connect with the little ones, but was unpredictable, moods taking over whenever he was reminded of Shisui. Guilt stopped him from interacting at all sometimes. And sometimes he would call Sai by Shisui's name. When the boy didn't answer, Kagami would crumble. 

When Danzo returned, however, Kagami debated pretending to sleep over getting up. He chose the latter, thankfully, and sat up, still scowling as he sniffed at whatever the other man had brought him. "Why couldn't it have been Coke?" Danzo did say drink. This was-- not the drink he'd envisioned. Not that he expected Coke either...

D: He shoved the mug at him. "Because you probably can't handle it until your stomach is better."

K: He said nothing to that, reluctantly taking the mug and sipping on the liquid inside it, making faces each time he did. He could only get through three quarters, though, before he shoved it back at Danzo. "Enough." 

D: He took it, giving him a hard stare. "You couldn't manage a soda. Sleep."

K: "Would've still been worth it," cam the mumbled response, though Kagami was smirking through it. He did sleep though, for a good four hours before he decided to venture out of the room. That would have been the first time he'd set foot outside the room in days. He was trying to avoid everyone else, especially Orochimaru if he was around. Kabuto was going to note his pallor, and Kagami feared an exam based on that. The little ones-- he wasn't sure they would be thrilled to see him come out of hibernation, and he really didn't want to upset them right now. Not when he'd just awoken. 

And so, padding softly, he crept towards the kitchen, wondering if Danzo was still around. He was pretty sure Danzo said he'd be leaving in the morning, so...

D: None of the older ones were in evidence, actually, and the only ones home seemed to be Danzo, who was cooking, and Sai, who had a crayon in hand as he colored on a paper, secured in his highchair seat.

K: Kagami nearly slipped out of sight when he saw the two of them in the kitchen, pausing just beside the doorframe on the other side before sucking in a deep breath and casually walking in. He didn't say anything, quietly walking up to the fridge instead to see what they had that he could nibble on.

D: Sai jerked to attention, looking over at the man with his dark solemn eyes, pausing in his coloring to watch him move around. Danzo, however, didn't even glance. "Top shelf has snacks and some drinks if you can handle them."

K: Kagami sighed, closing the door quietly. "What're you making?" He could feel the child's stare, however, and Kagami put on his best smile and sent the boy a little wave before moving closer to Danzo and attempting to hide himself behind him.

D: Danzo gave him a level stare at the sudden proximity. "Dinner, it's not complicated." 

K: "...I know it's dinner. But what?" Kagami tried so hard to scowl, but it came out as a lopsided smile. "Can I help?"

D: "You can do the hamburgers." He pointed over at the counter.

K: Kagami turned to look in the direction Danzo was pointing to. Haburgers. Okay, a man's job. This was as close as you'd get to grilling meat outside. There were no complaints from Kagami, and he set about doing what he was asked. Being 'useful'. But once the hamburgers went on the grill, he didn't have much to do while it cooked, so he indirectly approached Sai and watched as he scribbled. "Wow, that looks cool. What's that?" He pointed to something the child had drawn; something that vaguely resembled a bug. It could be the sun, or a flower, or a person's head-- 

D: Sai stared up at him in solemn silence for a long long moment, holding entirely still, then pointed at the salt shakers.

K: Kagami refrained from getting any closer to the boy, doing his best to not crumble in front of him for that reaction. "Oooh, salt shakers~ Very good~" He smiled at the child, and stood there quietly, watching him. 

D: Sai looked a bit... unsure at the reaction that Kagami gave him, his brow furrowing a touch as he looked back to his paper.

K: He watched him just that much longer before giving up and moving to tend to the meat. 

D: Danzo glanced over, then hummed lowly. "You didn't pat him on the head Kagami."

K: "He looked like he'll cry if I touched him." But he swayed over to stand beside Sai again, after turning the meat over, nodding and complimenting him on his work again, but with the added hair ruffle and head pat this time. 

D: Sai peered up at him, but seemed to relax. Clearly the child was more comfortable with physical cues.

"If you refrain from touching him he tends to think you're not being honest I've found."

K: "Ah." Well, in that case-- Kagami leaned in and pressed a little kiss to the top of the child's head. "Hey, do you think you could draw me sometime?" Kagami's tone was considerably softer, and he seemed to be smiling a lot more.

Genuinely smiling. He missed Shisui, sure. But-- he was going to have to make do without his own son. There was a little birthday present and letter he'd gotten for Shisui's birthday, but had never been able to send it for obvious reasons. 

D: Sai just gave the man a solemn stare, head cocked as he considered him. He didn't seem uncertain anymore though. Instead, he offered him the crayon.

Danzo just turned back to the fries he'd been making and finally turned off that burner.

K: "Oh?" Kagami stared at the offered crayon, then made a 'for me?' gesture before thanking the child and taking it anyway. "Okay, let's see if I can draw you. I'm not very good at drawing. Not like you are." Flashing Sai a smile, Kagami attempted to draw a simple portrait of the boy. "....And that's your nooooose-- Show me your nose? Where's your nose?" Waiting till Sai pointed to the nose on his little face... 

D: He pursed his lips, giving him a hard stare like he was trying to trick him and pointed at Kagami's face.

K: Kagami laughed. "Ah yes, that's my nose. Where's Sai's nose?" He gently poked his little nose with the back of the crayon. Very, very gently. It was merely a tap. "Is this it?"

D: The movement made the child twitch, eyes widening as he stared at him, his hand touching his own nose after a moment, hesitant.

K: "Good job~" Kagami grinned, finishing Sai's nose on his drawing. Then he proceeded to draw ears. "Aaaaand where's Sai's ears?"

D: The boy stared at him, then touched his cheeks. 

K: "Oops." Kagami reached up and very gently poked those cheeks for him. "Those are your cheeks. Chee-eeks." He paused to enunciate. "Can you say cheeeeeks?" 

D: Sai merely stared at him, touching Kagami's fingers instead in a patting motion.

Danzo looked over his shoulder. "He doesn't speak Kagami."

K: Kagami ignored the other man for the moment, playing with Sai's fingers instead. He showed him what ears were, and then they went on to lips and tongue, with Kagami poking his tongue out and wiggling the tip of it to prove a point. But by the time he was done with the 'portrait', he moved over to ruffle the kid's hair again before returning the crayon. 

When Kagami moved back to check on the hamburgers, he sent Danzo a look. It meant 'we need to talk'. But later. Not in front of Sai. 

D: Danzo made a little plate of the fries and went over to the child, setting it down in front of the boy, which got a tiny smile before the child went back to his solemnity. Danzo just moved the drawings and set the plate down before watching Kagami cook.

K: He was done soon, and once the patties were on a plate, looked around for the rest of the items. "Are we making our own burgers or do you want me to prepare them a certain way?" Usually, he wouldn't have asked. Back home, his wife would have let him make hers as well, but he wasn't exactly the man of the family in this situation... He hate to have to redo things.

D: He waved to the plate cupboard. "Feel free. I like my vegetation."

K: "Is it just the three of us? Where's Shin?" Kagami pulled out two plates, then went about making the burgers the way he knew how to. He remembered to add plenty of veggies for Danzo, too. "Here you go~" When he returned to make his own, Kagami glanced over his shoulder at the two of them. "What about Sai? Sai, do you want a hamburger too~?" 

D: He added the fries he'd made to his own plate and started on those. "I gave him fries, he likes them." He nodded to the baby. "He looks interested though." He moved over and sat down at the table, noting the boy giving Kagami an intent stare as he sucked on a fRy. "But yes, just us. Shin is visiting with one of the girls at the moment, he had a growth spurt and needed new clothes."

K: "I see. And why don't we ask Sai, hm? Sai? Hamburger? Yeees~?" Kagami waited for an answer from the child, a nod or a little hum. Anything. "Fries aren't all that healthy to be eating by themselves."

D: Well, the boy wasn't looking away from Kagami at all, expectant even. Danzo hid his smile behind his burger.

K: "Yes?" Kagami nodded. "Or no?" He shook his head. "I wouldn't know until you told me~ So what'll it be-- yes?" Again, nodding. "Or no?" Shook his head again. "It's yummy~~"

D: Sai... responded by sitting straighter in his chair and not grabbing another fry. Which made Danzo laugh, just a little.

K: Kagami was literally dancing around with that burger, trying to get him to at least gesture for 'yes'. "Yummy yummy in my tummy~ Sai~ Sai? Do you want it?" 

D: "Chin for yes Sai." Danzo's amusement bled into his tone, and he took another bite out of his burger. The boy promptly nodded though: though, even if it was more of a head bob.

K: "Good! Seee, that wasn't so hard~ Alriiight, hamburger for Sai, coming up~ Do I give him just the meat or some cheese with it, too?" 

D: "Cut it into smaller pieces, only half of one. He's more dexterous than a lot of children in his age group but I wouldn't want to risk him choking if he likes it too much." He took another bite.

K: "Gotcha." Kagami diced the meat up and arranged it in a smiley face on the plate before handing it over to the boy. "Bon apetit~" Grinning, Kagami moved over to get his food from the counter and join the rest at the table. "How is it?" 

D: "You cooked it well." Danzo was still clearly amused, and the boy immediately picked up a bit of the burger, examining it before moving to eat it too.

K: Kagami took a rather big bite out of his own, then made a face at Danzo, still chewing on his mouthful. "What's so funny?" 

D: "Just you and he attempting to communicate." Danzo was smiling though, keeping an eye on the baby as he worked on his own food.

K: "Well... You need to give him a chance without assuming he won't use words. If he gets accustomed to thinking it's normal to depend on the people closest to him to figure him out, he isn't going to function too well when he's on his own. So..." He picked up a fry, taking a tiny bite out of it. "Next time, don't say he doesn't speak in front of him. Let's not give him that option. Regardless of trauma." He sent the other man a glance, then looked over at the baby for amoment before going back to his food. 

D: "He will when he's ready. I'm amused you insisted on a more obvious answer than the one he was giving you." Danzo finished off the burger then, still comfortably amused, though he leaned over and kept the baby from double handing food at once. "One thing at a time Sai."

K: "Yes. But all children need a bit of pushing. I know with Shisui I did...." That made him lose his appetite, though, and Kagami quietly put the remaining half of his fry back down on his plate. "And, like I said... He's three. There are some things where, when you let it go, they miss crucial developmental stages and are stunted for life."

D: "He also had severe damage to his throat that set him back." It was a murmur, and he picked his fries. "He'll learn though, he's a smart child."

K: "...That's no excuse, Danzo. He needs to try." It was gently said, and Kagami pushed his plate away, leaning his cheek against his palm. "I know he's a smart kid. Is his throat all better now to try?"

D: "Just over two months ago now." He continued to pick through his plate, finishing off everything on it in item order.

K: Shisui smiled at Sai at that news, watching him eat. "Mm. Guess we can start now, then. I promise I won't go overboard." So perhaps Kagami was finding a few other things to be useful about...

D: "I'm certain once he starts speaking he'll do fine." He got up to put his plate away.

K: "I'll take that." He got up as well, reaching out to ask for Danzo's plate, his own almost untouched save for the one bite into his burger, and the only fry that was half eaten.

D: "You'll eat later I trust?" It was a soft murmur, but he relinquished his plate to him.

K: "Uhm..." He glanced at his plate, then shrugged. "Maybe? I'll cover it. Just in case." He took Danzo's plate anyway, and along with his, walked around the table to the sink. His half eaten dinner got covered with cling wrap and shoved in the fridge while the plates got washed and dried. "How's Sai doing?"

D: He looked over at the baby at that. "He's slowing down."

K: He looked over at Sai as well, and smiled to himself. "He's cute." Just like that. There were other things to wash, though. Items that didn't necessarily ft in the dishwasher. "Are you going straight to bed after this?" 

D: "No, Sai needs to be bedded down first since Shin is away for the night." He moved back over to the boy, halting beside him and watching him thoughtfully. The boy ignored him with practiced ease until he was finished, then lifted his arms expectantly.

K: "You mean put to bed..." Bedded down. What, like a horse? He chuckled quietly to himself, then moved to take Sai's plates away. "Is it going to be just me and the little guy the rest of the week, then?" 

D: "For a few days. Tia should bring Shin back. You haven't met her, she's a sixteen year old blond girl with green eyes. Don't try to touch her in any way or she'll try to attack you though." He picked up the child, easily holding him to his chest. "Bath Sai."

K: "...Wow, why would you think I'd touch a teenaged girl?" Offended. Clearly offended. 

D: Danzo paused an turned to look at him, honestly surprised. "I mean in any way. Even taking Sai from her if she's holding him will set her off. The only ones who can get that close to her are under the age of puberty or Orochimaru."

K: "Well, say so. You made it sound like I was a pervert." Loading the dishwasher didn't take too much time. "May I borrow some paper and a pen?" 

D: "I wouldn't think you interested in anyone Kagami, but the warning was warranted. I wouldn't want either of you injured." He headed for the door with the child. "And of course you can. It's in the livingroom cabinet."

K: "Mm." That wasn't entirely true, but after earlier today, he figured Danzo might assume so. Saying nothing to that statement, he hastily cleared up after them in the kitchen and prepared to seek out paper and pen. Kagami already had a shoebox full of letters he'd written home that he'd never sent. Today he was going to add to the pile. "Thank you." He disappeared off into the living room, then stole away to the bedroom to write. More like the closet, really, because he was hunched over the sheets of paper, wiping his face and the paper, trying not to blur and blot his words from the tears as he wrote to Shisui. Every letter to date was one of apology. 

D: Danzo went to get Sai into his bath, where there was.... splashing, a lot of splashing, then he went to get the child settled into bed, humming tunelessly to the boy as he waited to see if he went to sleep. Not the most speedy of processes. 

K: The first letter, having reached four pages already, was set aside when Kagami heard the splashing come to an end. He slipped out of the closet, and out of the room, padding over softly to Sai's room. Kagami peered in, watching in silence. "Hey..." he whispered, then sniffled.

D: Danzo made sure the blanket was tucked over the child before moving over to the door, looking at him carefully.

K: "Is he asleep? Or does he need someone to sing to him?" Yes, Kagami was offering. 

D: "I hummed him down, but he's probably not asleep yet." He shifted so Kagami could go into the room if he wanted.

K: "Ah? Didn't know you hummed tunes~" He sent Danzo a flirty little smile and a wink before stepping into the room and approaching the bed. Kagami peered at the little head poking out of the blankets to see if the child was asleep.

D: Sai had opened his eyes to see what the talking about, but was obviously sleepy.

K: "Hello~" It was murmured, and Kagami settled to kneel beside the bed, leaning over just a little, smiling softly. "I heard someone was taking a little too long to fall asleep?" Reaching over gently, he ran his fingers through silky black hair, humming a tune, softly at first. Having made sure the boy wasn't weirded out or terrified of him sitting next to him and randomly petting his head, Kagami fell into song. He sang about friends parting ways, the one leaving Japan promising to return to the Sakura tree where they last stood together. There wasn't a word of English in the song, and he carried on in Japanese without an accent. Somehow, it was one of those songs his mother had sung to him a long time ago-- in an effort to keep their Japanese heritage alive in the family. And Kagami could sing. If there was one thing in the world he could not screw up, it was his singing.

D: Sai was obviously trying not to fall asleep, curiosity in his expression, but it didn't last, with his eyes finally fluttering shut in proper sleep.

K: Towards the end of the song, Kagami was smiling, gently stroking the boy's hair. He ended on a whisper, then stood up. A hand pressed gently to Sai's cheek before Kagami moved away from he bed. It had been a while since he'd sung, and it... felt quite good. And it felt weird at the same time, to be thinking this way towards the end of the day he'd thought for sure would be his last. Kagami moved over to the door.

D: Danzo had slid around the doorframe, but he was still there, looking at him sideways as he emerged. "Asleep?"

K: Kagami had not been expecting him there at all-- He'd expected him to have gone straight to bed. There was a bit of surprise then when he shuffled back at the other's presence. Recovering quickly, however, Kagami nodded. "Very." He sent him a smile. 

D: "He likes to listen to people before he sleeps." He padded to head to the bedroom. He still needed to change after all.

K: "I guess...." He stole a glance back at the door to Sai's room. "I don't mind doing it everyday." It was added quietly, and Kagami followed Danzo to the bedroom. He was still in his pajamas, and didn't really require any changing.

D: "I'm glad to hear it. He's usually restless when I leave on trips."

K: "Mm." Without further ado, Kagami found himself back in bed. "Guess that makes two of us then." 

D: He slipped off to shuck off his wet things, pulling on dry pajama pants. "He's not a complicated boy at least, never fussy."

K: "Mm." Kagami watched him from the bed. "Oi, aren't you gonna shower?" 

D: "Did you just see how soaked my clothes were? I'm not going to bother before morning."

K: "I did. That just means you got all the gross stuff stuck to you now." He was laughing, rolling onto the middle of the bed and denying Danzo any space by sprawling diagonally across it, spread eagled.

D: Danzo clearly had no issue here and climbed over onto him to sprawl. "Do let me sleep."

K: Kagami squeaked under him. "Aphhthh-- So heavy," he complained. "Hmmmmm but I'm not sleepy." Kagami tried pushing Danzo off. Clearly, he needed to eat more.

D: He rolled to his side. "Going to get out of the way then?"

K: "No~ Not really." He rolled over to his side of the bed, letting Danzo sleep. Or rather, waiting till the man got to his side of the bed so he could roll over and tuck himself into him, being a pain in the ass. 

D: He huffed, but just pulled the blanket over them anyway. "Then what do you intend?"

K: "...I don't really know, I'm not really sleepy. But I shouldn't keep you up, either." He turned to face him. "I'll keep trying, when you're gone." Not giving up, he meant. Not doing what he'd been trying to do these past few weeks. 

D: He ran his fingers over his arm. "I believe you."

K: Kagami smiled up at him, the simple touch meaning volumes to him. Reveling in it, he was silent for a few moments, thinking. And eventually, Kagami rolled over onto his tummy, leaning in to kiss him. 

D: Danzo let out a soft breath, then leaned up to kiss back, deepening it just a touch as he stayed relaxed where he was settled.

K: Kagami was fine with kisses. He would have liked more, but understood that he'd have to wait and sort things out with himself before that happened. There was a certain sense of gratitude in that kiss, and also a promise to stop trying to end things. Pulling back from the kiss, he stared down at Danzo, thinking. "Do you think you could get me some help? If you know someone...?" Because he couldn't look up people in the yellow pages and call them up and introduce himself-- He was supposed to be dead. 

D: He was quiet for a moment. "Yes, I know someone. I'll get her in contact with you. She's one of my people."

K: He nodded, quietly falling back into his pillow, though he still had his eyes trained on the other man. "How safe is it to tell her everything? She isn't military, is she?" Because he was done keeping secrets about what happened. He had no intention to spill all the details, but these weren't the things you told someone outside the military.

D: "No, she actually went full tilt into psychiatric studies after I got her. She wanted to be able to help others get better who weren't in as good of shape as she was. You can trust her, she won't tell anyone anything, not even me."

K: "Okay." He sucked in a deep breath, then quietly let it out. "Okay. I'll take your word for it." He paused again, thinking, staring up at the ceiling. "How much of-- I mean. Would it be weird if I mentioned us...?" Because that was someone he wanted to work on, too. But Danzo had found said girl and there probably was a different kind of relationship between them. Kagami wondered if this would be giving out too much detail into Danzo's personal life by proxy.

D: "No. She's one of my older finds. I had little to do with her development."

K: "Okay." He nodded, going quiet again. "You're sure you're okay with that, right? I mean-- I won't name names but I'm pretty sure she'd figure out I was talking about you. And... I really want to work things out, so leaving it out isn't an option." He glanced up at him, grinning. "I really badly wanna go to Tahiti, see?" 

D: "You can speak with her freely. I've spoken with the girl myself in the past, when she was learning."

K: "Mm. Alright. So... whenever you can get a hold of her. Let me know?" Kagami turned to his side, arm slipping around Danzo's waist as he drew himself just a tad closer. "Uhm. This isn't awkward, is it?"

D: "It's fine Kagami." The murmur was soft and he rested his hand over the other man's. "I'll let you know."

K: "...You know I wouldn't have married her if her father hadn't threatened to kick her out..." And that was from out of the blue--

D: He turned his head, looking at him thoughtfully. "Was that the only option for that situation?"

K: Kagami kept his gaze trained on the opposite wall. He huffed a sigh. "I didn't want to. You know, it was one of those things that happened. I hadn't meant for it to get serious at all, and we certainly hadn't reached that level of commitment, you know? On the emotional side of things, at least. I know she didn't force me into it or anything and wa swilling to move out and try and find something on her own, but her father wouldn't let it go. I guess he was one of those old fashioned guys who believed you gotta marry the man you slept with or it'd be breaking some honor code or something. He was ready to disown her if we didn't get married, so I figured she didn't have to suffer for my sake, and... that's how it happened. There wasn't really any turning back after she got pregnant, and so I-- figured I'd straighten myself out and try and be a good husband and a father." He sent Danzo a fleeting glance at that, then looked back at the wall. "I didn't want to tell you..." That he'd gotten married. 

D: "I knew. When you got married I found out within the day." He patted his hand, closing his eyes and apparently no more tensed than he'd been before. Like that wouldn't be jarring.

K: "I'm sorry..." He pulled himself closer to the other man, getting comfortable against him. "I felt like I was doing the right thing at the time, helping Shizuka out and all, but I figured I was marrying her for all the wrong reasons. Didn't want to tell any one of you because I didn't want to hear it over again that I was making a mistake or anything. And..." Kagami ended up grinding his teeth in his jaw, angry with himself. "I was dicking around while I was thinking about-- I mean. I should have told you earlier." About how he'd felt, that is. 

D: "I wouldn't have stopped you if I'd known beforehand, it was your choice to make." He squeezed his hand. "There is nothing to apologize for."

K: "Well, I wouldn't have gone and married Shizuka if I'd come talked to you. Or even just dropped a hint." He ground his teeth again, a habit he desperately needed to stop. "I'll be apologizing to Shisui all his life. Had I known earlier, I could have prevented him from being fatherless."

D: "Shisui lives at all because of the choices you made. He's a protected child, because he's yours." His tone was soft, steady. "Maybe you should stop apologizing and start writing him worthwhile things for the day he might get the letters. After all, I have a lawyer that can pass on letters for his birthdays that we can set up as though you wrote them before your 'death.'"

K: He was quiet then, considering how things would have gone badly had he decided to 'talk'. He would have had to bury his son before his time. But the silence became heavier when he realized that Danzo most probably might have read his letters. "You read my letters?" 

D: "No. But if you're doing nothing but apologizing, you're not looking forward, are you?"

K: Kagami observed the other carefully before deciding he was telling the truth about not sneaking into his letters. "I guess not..." But he considered the idea of sending things for Shisui's birthday. He'd already made him something for his sixth, too. "I wouldn't send him the letters I've written unless I wanted him to be depressed the rest of his life. I guess-- I could write him something positive. And I already made him something. For his sixth birthday." Which he missed. Again. "But I think-- He wouldn't remember me so much as it is. I've been away for so long. Maybe... when he's older. Eighteen or twenty. How about eighteen? If I wrote him one now, could you let your lawyer know to deliver it to him on his eighteenth birthday?" As far as thinking ahead went, Kagami was already thinking about twenty steps ahead, the letter already writing itself in his head. 

D: "I could, yes." He stroked his wrist. "I'm going to sleep now Kagami."

K: "Ah." He paused, smiling. Perhaps this conversation would happen another day. "Forgot you had to leave early tomorrow." He was used to being the big spoon in cuddly situations, but this would be awkward, he thought. "Night." So he settled for falling asleep as is, mostly staring at nothing and then at Danzo for hours before he could actually finally fall asleep. 

D: He didn't mind that though it seemed, and it wasn't long at all before he dozed off. After all, much as Kagami might want to poke at the topic, Danzo was perfectly content at the moment.

K: Kagami prowled the house at night, raiding the fridge once to finish up his hamburger (and feeling proud of himself for eating without throwing up). But he felt proud for less than an hour before having to relieve himself in the bathroom. That required some hasty cleaning, and, empty again, Kagami raided the fridge for something smaller to eat and some juice. Come three in the morning, he had stolen away to the library to read for an hour or so before returning to bed, taking up the position of big spoon as he slid into bed beside Danzo, arm tightening around the other man as he finally fell asleep for good. It was a good thing he seemed to be able to wake up at any given time, else he'd be fast asleep during the rest of the day and Sai wouldn't reallY have anyone looking out for him. D: Danzo kissed Kagami's hair and jostled him awake when he got up, heading off to check on Sai. Then it was straight to the shower so he could dress and get his bag together to go.

K: "Hnnnnnn." It was a whine. Why did time fly by so fast when you were just getting some sleep? "Leaving already?" He was up, though, heading over to the kitchen to get some coffee ready. He was sat at the table waiting for the coffee machine to spit out coffee as fast as it could possibly do so.

D: Danzo collected the bag he was taking, then detoured to pick up Sai, who was awake and standing after his last check. That was normal though and he brought the child with him to the kitchen, dropping off his bag by the door.

K: He'd just poured them both mugs of coffee when Danzo came into the kitchen. "Coffee?" Kagami sent Sai a smile. "Good morning, little guy." 

D: "Yes thank you." Danzo inclined his head, then moved over to set the boy in his chair as the boy looked intently at Kagami, interested in the going ons. Though, Danzo's attempt to put him down was met with intense resistance. The child knew that the bags meant and had stepped up to a grip as tight as his little hands could manage.

K: "Aw." He handed the mug of coffee over to Danzo, and smiled at Sai trying to cling to him. "Won't hurt to hold him till you really have to leave. What'll he have?"

D: "Milk and a hard boiled egg seems to be his favorite things in the morning." He stopped trying to put the boy down when he realized he could let go and the boy wouldn't budge. Thus, sighing, he sipped his coffee.

K: "Milk-- warm or cold?" Shisui drank his ice cold. He wasn't sure about other children. As for the egg-- he rummaged about the fridge some to pick one out, then had it set in a pot of water soon afterwards.

D: "Cold, he has some cups in the top large drawer."

K: "Mm." One order of cold milk coming up. Kagami handed the cup of milk to the boy, smiling -- just a little sleepily. "Milk?" He almost said 'miyuk'. Baby talk-- he shouldn't start with the baby talk. 

D: Sai looked torn, looking at the milk, then eying Danzo and looking back again.

K: Kagami couldn't hold in the chuckles at that. "You could hold your cup in one hand, and crumple Danzo's shirt with the other, it's okay." Gingerly, he began demonstrating how to hold the sippy cup in one hand. 

D: Sai chewed on his lip, then sighed, holding out one hand finally.

K: Kagami helped him hold the cup, then patted the boy's back gently. "There we go. Good job~" He eyed Danzo, smiling. "So how bad is it if we accidentally get paint on the carpet? I was thinking we could do some finger painting. Get our hands dirty. But it's sort of too cold to go outside, and the kitchen table isn't the most comfortable when you're strapped down to a chair while trying to bring out artistic expression, yknow..." 

D: "It's fine, the carpet is a dark color for a reason."

K: Kagami wiggled his eyebrows at Sai, grinning. "Ooooh hear that~? We have permission to make a mess!" Chuckling, he reached out to stroke the boy's hair, then moved to pick up his mug of coffee. "How long do you have? Think I could cling on to you a bit, too?" Kagami's eyes seemed to be smiling over the rim of the mug when he stared at the other man, sipping on his coffee. 

D: Danzo huffed and shifted on his feet. "I should leave in about a half hour."

K: "Mm, plenty of time~ I do hope you aren't rushing off to a meeting of sorts, because your shirt is going to end up badly crumpled by the time Sai and I are done with you~" 

D: "No, just a flight window, nothing more."

K: "Aha~ So that's permission to make a mess of your shirt." He'd poured himself a mug, but only managed todrink half, casually tossing the rest of his coffee down the sink and quickly rinsing it off. But he did mean what he said about ruining Danzo's shirt, because Kagami slinked up behind him, put his arms around the man, and hugged tight. "Hm. You smell good." Obviously, because he'd showered. "Much better than you did last night." Er--

D: Danzo huffed a breath, looking at the boy who was watching them in fascination as he sucked on his cup. "Yes, well, I have bathed.

K: "Aye. You should do that more often." Kagami, being taller than the other man by an inch or two, was in just the right position to rest his cheek on the other's shoulder without any effort. He sent Sai a little grin, then turned his attention to Danzo. "Are you... going to be getting involved in unpredictable things or--?"

D: "I see no reason I should end up in dire straights unless the person I'm retrieving is... violent."

K: "Pretty sure it isn't something you can't handle. But, in any case, be careful, yeah?" So this was Kagami's way of letting the other person know he was actually pretty concerned-- even if he didn't exactly know what Danzo was going out to do.

D: "I'll be alright Kagami, but thank you."

K: "Mm." He stood there for a moment, unmoving, till something demanded his attention. "Who do I consult about the kids if something goes wrong? Do you have a list of numbers or something?" He did remember that Shin would be arriving later that day.

D: "Kabuto is going to be around. Tell him and he'll handle it if it's medical, or if you need me just call me, I'll answer if I can."

K: "Alright. I meant-- well, you know. Not medical emergencies. Particular quirks that I might be boggled about." Reaching around and over to Sai, Kagami grinned as he gently poked the child's cheek. "How's that milk going? Almost done?" By now he was just leaning against Danzo's shoulder, not necessarily embracing him. 

D: Sai offered him the cup immediately. "Shin has gotten rather protective of Sai, but other than that, you can call me if those sorts of things crop up too."

K: "Oooh, done already? Good job~!" He took the cup from Sai,and moved away from the two of them towards the sink to rinse it out before it began to smell. Baby spit and milk was always a bad combination. "Mm, hopefully I manage to get along with Shin. I don't suppose he'd be too thrilled to find out I'm mostly the only adult around." Kagami had a lot of work to do... 

D: "Shin is a diplomatic boy for his age. Just keep an eye on him, he has a lung condition, though it's fairly minor currently."

K: "Sure. So-- no strenuous exercise, then?"

D: "If he starts to have trouble breathing make him sit, otherwise it's fine."

K.: "Okay." Having placed the sippy cup uside down to dry, Kagami turned to lean against the sink. "I'll keep an eye out."

D: Danzo nodded, finishing his coffee and moving over to set it in the sink.

K: Still standing by the sink, he held his hand out for the empty mug. "So I can call you?" He was smirking. 

D: "Of course, unless you've lost the capability."

K: He sent him a flat stare for that. "I meant. It's not going to get you killed is it--" Jerk. 

D: "If I answer, then no, it won't. Otherwise I won't answer." He smirked.

K: Kagami huffed, then grabbed the empty mug out of Danzo's hands to set it under running water. There was no telling whether Danzo was going to randomly ignore him after that remark. "I won't stop calling then. So I know you'll be dead instead of just ignoring me." Ah--

D: "Actually, if I'm unable to answer my phone will likely be off until I can."

K.: "Okay good. If you don't pick up, then I know you're ignoring me." He let Danzo's mug out to dry. "Aren't you going to eat anything?" He peered around the other man at the stove, making sure the egg was boiling.

D: "I had no intention of doing so, why?"

K.: "No intention of eating or no intention of ignoring me?" 

D: "Eating. I'll ignore you if doing otherwise is unwise."

K: "Why not? I don't remember you getting motion sickness..." 

D: "Because I'm not hungry." He blinked at him.

K: "Soo... You don't normally have breakfast?" He blinked right back. When did this happen? 

D: "Not when I'm traveling, no."

K: "I see." Keeping that in mind for future reference (not that Kagami was going to be traveling anywhere anytime soon) he turned to unload the dishwasher, pants falling about an inch lower when he bent over. "Tch." He pulled them up. He'd already sewn the sides of the waist on those pants a few inches to keep them from falling and they were doing it regardless. "Could you maybe get me some pants with a drawstring in front if you have time?" Everything he had kept sliding lower, and he really didn't want people getting an eyeful of his happy trail.

D: "You can get some out of my drawer." He finally set about the process of prying off the highly reluctant to let go child in his grip.

K: "Yours are still way bigger." He'd used to be the bigger one. "And can you check on the egg? I think it's boiled enough already."

D: "Kind of busy Kagami." He moved over to switch the burner though, stepping back to restart the detaching process.

K: "I didn't mean get me pants right now..." But he had to laugh at Sai being a barnacle and refusing to remove himself from the great big rock. "Hey hey, who's being a limpet today, ey? Come on, Sai-- Danzo's gotta go to work." A little white lie but then again-- this counted as work, right?

He walked over to try and help in the detaching process...

D: Sai redoubled his grip with a shake of his head, wibbling at Kagami, sensing the weak point of this situation.

K: "Awwww baby, he'll be back in no time. Hey, you'll be back right, Danzo?" Those wibbles were getting to him, and Kagami almost released the little fingers he had managed to pry off of Danzo's shirt. He only had one hand in his custody, though. It was up to Danzo to free himself from the rest. "He's got the pouty face down pat. I already feel horrible for your sake." 

D: Danzo was not looking at the boy's face and finally pried the other hand loose. "He's very convincing with his body language, it can only benefit him in his future."

K: Kagami took the boy into his arms, holding him tight so he wouldn't fall right off in the event he decided to jump out of his arms or something. "Babies are all pretty convincing when they wibble. You didn't tell him you'd be back." 

D: Danzo tilted his head and looked into Sai's face. "I come back every time, this time will be no different." He put his hand on the boy's head, then stepped back. "I will see you both then."

K: "Mm." The look Kagami sent him was the same he'd given him when he'd had to run off from point A to point B while in the line of fire. It was a solemn nod that spoke volumes, despite the fact that he really needn't be worrying so much now. This wasn't a war zone. But still-- "See ya. Have a safe flight and stuff." 

D: "Of course." With that, he picked up his bag and set out without another word. Sai promptly wibbled more, staring up at Kagami in hopes he could fix it. Prepare for crying toddler.

K: Kagami was the baby whisperer-- or so he believed he was. He had yet to test if that title still held true with this one. "Bye..." He stood by the door, Sai in his arms, watching as Danzo left. "Shh shh, he'll be back, don't you worry." 

D: Sai gave him a wide eyed woeful face and leaaaaned like he was attempting escape.

K: "Woah!" Kagami caught him just in time, tucking him close to his chest and moving back from the door as fast as possible, kicking it shut after him. "Uh-uh. Why'd you go do that for?" He took Sai inside, expecting a full-on tantrum...

D: It didn't happen, well, not exactly. Instead of screaming or flailing the baby just slumped and started making little snuffling noises against his shirt. 

K: "Ohhh boy." That made it all the more heartbreaking. Kagami carried the baby over to the living room, seating himself in the armchair, Sai still tucked to his chest. "Hey..." He spoke softly, combing his fingers through silky black hair. "I miss him too." Kagami pressed a kiss to the top of the baby's head. "But he'll be back. He never breaks his promises."

D: The child didn't calm down immediately, though he did quiet after a little while, looking up at him with a wet face on a last snuffle, a huge frown evident.

K: He was trying to soothe the little one with gentle back-rubs, but the frown made him almost laugh. "Oh my goodness." Bringing the hand that was rubbing Sai's back up to his hair, Kagami combed his fingers through it. "That's the grumpiest of faces I've ever seen." But he smiled at him, softly, sympathetic. "You have a boiled egg you need to be eating. Wanna help me shell it?"

D: He wibbled a little, but it wasn't as effective as he clearly had cried himself out and was trying to maintain the frown at the same time. And huffed. 

K: "Uh oh~" But he hugged him close to himself anyway, and carried him off in the direction of the kitchen. "Danzo would want you to eat, yknow, so why don't we get the egg out of the pan and get on that? Oh and-- Shin's coming home today." Kagami grinned at the baby. It was a good thing the older boy would be getting here, or he suspected Sai would be pretty upset the whole day. It gave him something to look forward to, he hoped. 

Kagami brought the whole pot with the egg in it to the sink to flood it with cold water. 

D: Sai lost his frown in short order, perking up with interest and looking at the pan, then back to Kagami again before looking all around and back once more, expectant.

K: Kagami chuckled at that reaction. "Uh-huh. But first. Breakfast, yes?" He carried him off to the high chair, then attempted to make him sit in it. 

D: The baby resisted... but was hungry and finally let go, frowning really big again.

K: "Weeeeell if you don't have breakfast then I might have to call Shin and tell him to come later--" But, thankfully, Sai relented. Kagami buckled him in, then went about shelling the egg for him. He wasn't sure if Sai wanted it cut in half with salt sprinkled on the open face, or just whole, so he presented the whole egg in a little bowl to him. 

D: Sai peered at the egg, then up at Kagami with a put upon face before heaving a big sigh.

K: Kagami sighed as well, then picked up the bowl with the egg in it, walking towards the telephone. He dialled one of the numbers on the emergency list, one that would reach Danzo. 

D: Danzo answered in short order, and his tone was dry. "I only left fifteen minutes ago Kagami."

K: "I know, I know. I'm sorry. But he won't eat his egg. Should I cut it in half and sprinkle salt on it or what?"

D: "Give it eyes." Danzo nodded to the person as he headed up into his plane seat.

K: "Eye- what the hell? With what, though? What do I stick in for eyes?"

D: "Just poke through to the yolk inside, he'll eat it after that."

K: "...Okay." Kagami eyed the boy, then turned back to the receiver. "Safe journey." 

D: "I will. Just remember that he likes his food cute and you'll be fine."

K: "...You mean creepy. Okay." Pause. "Bye..." He wasn't going to be the first person to hang up, obviously. 

D: "...I find it cute." Then he hung up, leaving the man on that note with a frowning toddler.

K: "Not even a goodbye. Jerk." That was mumbled under his breath, but Kagami put on his happy face to go poke eyes in the egg. "Eeeeyyy, there's Mr. Egg. He's so happy you're gonna eat him~ Yayy~" Not spoken all too enthusiastically, but he made the egg as 'cute' as he possibly could before serving it to the boy.*

D: Sai looked at the egg, then gave Kagami a long stare before picking it up... and biting the end with eyes off.

K: Good god, this kid had an awfully creepy side to him. Kagami watched in silence, then pulled up a chair to sit at the table, an eye on Sai. But he sat down no more than thirty sconds before he was up and about trying to figure out what to make for lunch today. He had no idea when Shin would arrive either. 

D: Sai cheerfully enough ate through the rest of the egg, then leaned forward, watching Kagami pace around with interest.

K: Kagami was mentally putting together a meal, then running through the list of ingredients required, opening cupboards and drawers to make sure he had everything. Then he tried timing thngs in his head, and finally settled on beginning to prepare lunch by around eleven that morning. Only then did he notice Sai, and Kagami's expression broke into a smile. "All done?" He walked over to the high chair to unbuckle Sai out of it. "Think you'd like to do some finger painting now?" 

D: The child stared at him, then lifted his arms demandingly, waiting with a degree of impatience to go do just that. 

K: "Ohohooo~ Was that a big yes? Mm~?" Kagami picked him up, kissed his little nose (something he used to always do with Shisui) and carried Sai off to find the paints and paper and, yes, plenty of newspaper, too. At one point, when his hand was too full, Kagami looked to Sai. "Think you could help me carry these?" 

D: Sai stared up at him, so very wide eyed because why he kissing thing, but just cocked his head to the side at the question.

K: Get used to it, kiddo. Kagami didn't really wait for a nod to give him the tub of paint to hold. "Please? I can't carry it all, see?" And sure enough, after picking up everything else, he didn't have any room or spare limbs to use to carry the tub of paint he'd shoved at Sai. 

D: The child stared at the tub, then promptly set about trying to open it.

K: Thankfully, it was child proof, and a tad difficult for little hands to get into. But, taking the opportunity, Kagami hurried downstairs. He put Sai down, then went about settling newspaper all over the carpet before placing drawing paper and paint on it. "Here, let me help you with that." Kagami was already sittng in the middle of things, and he held his hand out for the tub of paint Sai was holding. 

D: Sai huffed, then braced his little feet on it as he worked to pry it open.

K: "Nope? No help required? Well okay then. Hm-- Here, maybe I can do... this--" He lifted a little flap that made it much easier to open the tub, but kept quiet about it, ready to congratulate the boy on his effort if he got it open...

D: Sai gave a mammoth twist of his body, huffing as he pried at the lid with diligent determination until it opened... though with how he was gripping it it was more like it tried to implode.

K: "Oh wow look at that! You got it open! Good job~!" Kagami rescued it before it decided to implode or explode or do a combination of both. He went about opening the other tubs of paint as well. "Ready~?"

D: Sai looked at his empty hands, then huffed again before just scooting closer to reach for the paint.

K: Kagami was already dipping a finger in some blue paint. "Hmm. Let's see now. What am I gonna paint..." Bringing finger to paper, he began to sketch some scene from a beach.

D: Sai stuck his whole hand in the paint and scooted over to poke at Kagami's paper.

K: "Oi oi, but you have your own pa... per.." He sighed. There was paint all over his picture already. At least drops of paint that shouldn't have been there. But he ended up chuckling and bringing Sai closer to the paper, then bringing all tubs of paint within easy reach. "Alright Michealangelo, let's see what you got." Again with the kissing thing-- he kissed the top of Sai's head. Because the boy was just being adorable and he figure adorableness ought to be rewarded or something. Go figure. 

D: Sai craned his head to give him that look he had earlier, huffed, then started to carefully put spots all over the paper, and draw all sorts of things! To his little mind it looked like flowers and trees. To Kagami it probably looked like he'd tried to duplicate a fire with lamps.

K: Kagami only complimented him on his artwork, then moved to draw something else on a different sheet of paper. He was drawing Shisui, and himself, and finally added Shizuka to the picture as well. Kagami wasn't so much of an artist, but he did the best he could. And then he started doodling cartoon characters all over the rest of the paper. Taz the Tasmanian Devil was one of them. He had a thing for the Looney Tunes.

D: Sai, at some point, wiggled over so he was tucked under his arm, watching his hands.

K: Now, if there was one thing Kagami was good at, it was mimicking voices from TV shows. So when he found the toddler right beside him, attention rapt in what he was doing, Kagami took the opportunity to reach for a new sheet of paper and tell a story. It involved Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, Wiley Coyote and Roadrunner. He did all the voices. Right down to the Meep Meep! 

D: Sai didn't look up, just settling against him in a lean, curious and quiet... and eventually dozing off.

K: That... somehow ended in him feeling a mix of happy and upset. Was he that boring? But with Sai having dozed off and all that paint all over the two of them, Kagami decided he'd put the little one's clothes to wash later. First, he needed to clean those hands. So he picked the child up again, washed his hand first, then placed a sleepy Sai on the counter while he held him in a sitting positon. It took a bit of careful maneuvering to locate and then wet a washcloth without doing too much moving around. He brought it to Sai's hand, carefully cleaning paint off the boy's fingers. 

D: Sai woke immediately when he was moved, jerking to attention and looking around with wide eyes that were just a little panicked before he settled down, peering up at Kagami's face as he had thoroughly woken himself.

K: "Hey..." Kagami looked down at the boy, concerned. "Everything's alright. You fell asleep. Would you like to go take a nap?" He was still washing those paint-stained fingers, though. "Just getting all the paint off your fingers. We don't wanna paint the furniture on accident now, do we?" And at the back of his mind, Kagami wondered what kind of awful home this poor cild ought to have been raised in to not... laugh or smile. 

D: He chewed at his lower lip, then took in a deep breath before puffing out his cheeks and leaning his face on Kagami's shirt.

K: "Was that a yes or a no? You gotta give me the chin thing if it's a yes, Sai. That's how I know you mean yes, okay?" But he hugged him close anyway, cleaning those fingers completely free of paint before leaving the washcloth in the sink.

D: He didn't though, instead squirming closer.

K: Kagami looked down at him, and smiled to himself. "I guess that means cuddles?" He wasn't showing it, but memories of Shisui kept bothering him again. But then again, Danzo's words kept poking at him, reminding him to look forward. Shisui wouldn't want his father to be stuck in the past. He was already a very thoughtful, compassionate child that he wouldn't have minded his father cuddling every child in the world if it made them feel better. Shisui was with Shizuka, and Shizuka loved her son more than anything in the world; Kagami had no doubt in his mind about that, and therefore had no reason to be miserable. And he knew that she'd always tell his son how his father really was. It would be insulting to live any less than how his reputation described him. So he picked Sai up, holding him close, and started up towards the bedrooms. He was humming at first, and eventually broke into song. It was usual for him to sing. Singing was a sign that everything was okay. Or, if not everything was okay, it was a sign that everything will be okay. Shizuka used to complain about him being the lark in the house at the most unopportune moments. And Kagami used to sing while on the night-watch, when all everyone could ever think about was whether they were ever going to make it to their loved ones, if they were going to make it through the night. 

D: The singing, of course, led to the boy peeking up at him, curious and bewildered, but more than willing to continue getting the cuddles.

K: And he had plenty of cuddles to give. Somehow, he found that this was... helping. Helping him, that is. Not that singing 'Brothers in Arms' was the best song to pick, but ah well. When Sai looked up at him, Kagami caught his eye, smiling through the words as though he were singing to him. When he reached Sai's room, however, he wondered if putting the boy down in bed would be a problem because-- that would mean the cuddles would have to end. Hm.

D: Sai gave a tiny smile back, but when he saw where Kagami too him it was back to the big frown.

K: That tiny smile was... precious. Kagami smiled right back, smiled bigger, and it went without saying that he understood Sai didn't want to be set down in his bed, which made him turn around and head over to Danzo's bedroom instead. It was much bigger and, he figured, Danzo wouldn't know~ The song changed to something a little more cheerful. He ended up singing a random Christmas song, somewhat dancing a little with Sai, holding his little hand and twirling a bit as well. 

D: Sai looked around, then curious eyes looked back to Kagami as he plainly tried to figure out what was up here.

K: Oh, nothing much, Sai. Just a big ol' bedroom with a huge ass bed. Plenty of space for cuddling-- though Kagami doubted a lot of cuddling ever went on here at all. He'd have to fix that. "Nap time?" Kagami sat on the bed, stopping his dancing. 

D: Sai immediately frowned, feeling tricked.

K: Whoops. And here Kagami thought the little one wanted to nap. He chuckled, standing up once more. "Alrighty, no nap." He set Sai down, though, crouching to his level soon afterwards before he addressed him. "How about we clean up, then?"

D: Sai peered up at him, then patted him with an open hand before making for the door at top speed.

K: Kagami followed him to the door immediately, hovering close just to make sure the child didn't fall down a flight of stairs. Danzo would have words if that happened. Well, it depended on whether Sai was attemtping to run downstairs to the basement or not, but even if it was just the hallway, Kagami followed close behind. 

D: Sai ignored him, beelining back to the paint and grabbing one of the open containers. He eyed Kagami for a long moment... then bolted back down the hall with it.

K: "Heyeyeyeyeyeyyyy! That can is open!" Kagami ran after him, trying not to bump into Sai for fear of spilling everything everywhere. 

D: Sai looked back, then tore his way aroud a corner. He hadn't spilled any on the floor yet, but it was definitely getting all over him.

K: Kagami changed tactics and ran round the opposite direction with every intention of meeting Sai round the other corner. If that kid spilt paint on the carpet-- Kagami was done for.

D: Sai stumbled to a halt when Kagami popped up in front of him, more than a little surprised. Probably not the best move to get him to not spill.

K: Shoot. Well, at least it wasn't the whole bucket of paint splashing on the floor. The little drops? Those he could take care of. This was washable kid's paint, but even so, a huge mess would be problematic. "Thank you~" Kagami proceeded to pry the tub of paint away from Sai... 

D: Sai clearly didn't agree, clinging with determined little hands and overall making it difficult to not make the mess bigger.

K: "Hey hey no, Sai. No." His voice was firm, low, and yet not threatening. He made sure he was at eye level with the boy, too. "That's bad. Look, you're getting paint all over you. You promised to clean up, not make a bigger mess. If you want to paint, you can paint on paper. Otherwise we're going to have to pack it all up and call it a day."

D: If anything Sai looked more indignant because he knew that the man was trying to say he did something he didn't do, even if he didn't know what that...was exactly. He did let go of the container all at once though.

K: Excuse you, Sai, you were making a mess okay? And Kagami managed to catch the tub of paint before it spilled over completely. "Thank you." And Kagami ran back to the scene of the crime to hastily close the other tubs of paint as well. Just in case. 

D: Sai put his hands on himself, then pulled them away and peered at the paint before looking down the direction the man had gone. He then stepped forward and started to draw flowers on the wall.

K: Kagami had no idea Sai had a mean streak to him that he didn't suspect a thing. He'd honestly finished cleaning the mess in the living room and had just thrown away the newspaper and stuck Sai's painting on the fridge when he realized things were too quiet. That's when he went to check up of him, and, to his utter dismay, found himself internally screaming at what the child was doing. "Sai! No!" Grabbing some paper towels on the way, Kagami marched right up to the toddler, knelt down, and took those little hands in his, turning him away from the wall. "Sai, that's naughty. We don't draw on walls." As he spoke, tone low, firm, and sounding utterly disappointed, Kagami cleaned Sai's hands with the paper towel. He didn't really wait to allow the child to get those hands messy again before he was working on taking off that paint-splattered shirt. "You're going to have to take a time out and sit in the naughty corner if you do it again." Making eye contact. "Do you understand?" 

D: Considering that the man hadn't let go of him before he started talking, be could probably tell the exact second that Sai flinched, giving him a somewhat panicked wide eyed look as he tugged at his little hands. Sorry Kagami, you'll have to work out how to get him to answer once you better explain yourself.

K: Kagami's brows dipped. The reaction didn't go unnoticed, and it worried him. He did know a bit about his past from what Danzo had told him, but he wondered if-- Something he'd said had triggered the reaction. "Sai?" At the tugging, he didn't let go. Instead, he pulled him to him in a protective embrace."Sai? I'm not going to hurt you. I won't ever hurt you, okay? I meant you get to sit in the naughty corner if you painted on the walls again, that's all. Hey..." He tried maintaining eye contact. "I'm not going to hurt you. I promise." It hurt to even think about what the boy might have been through-- And this was coming from a soldier who'd seen the worst of the worst. 

D: He looked away, to the side and down, then straight up before looking back at him, tense. He did stop trying to escape though, even if he was somewhat wary.

K: Kagami smiled down at him, softly. Nothing about him suggested that he was about to harm the child in any way. Instead, he sat with him on the floor, reassuring him that he would never hurt him. Looking at the flowers on the wall, he sighed. "I supposed we can keep those, y'know? They kinda look pretty." He flashed him a little smile at that. "But you gotta promise me you won't draw on the walls again, okay?" He sealed it with a kiss to the boy's temple. 

D: Sai seemed to calm finally, though he was still looking at him solemnly for a long long moment even then before carefully bobbing his head.

K: "Good boy." He didn't exactly release him from the embrace so much as shift just enough to be able to take the shirt off without getting paint on his face. 

D: He leaned on Kagami, then heaved a realy BIG sigh.

K: Kagami picked him up, shirt hanging off his pinky finger. "Let's go wash up a bit and put something on. Can't be walking around in our jammies all day long, y'know?" He headed off to the bathroom, determined to get all the paint off of Sai's skin and then get him into something suitable for the day. 

D: Sai was really quiet, presence-wise, the whole time, like he was worried about making him mad again.

K: Kagami didn't harbor any ill-feelings in the least. Instead, he began to sing, which was a sign that things were a-okay. He was singing something about rubber duckies while washing Sai's fingers clean, and then filled up the sink to help him wash his face. If anything, Kagami's demeanor spoke nothing short of completely relaxed and easy. 

D: Sai settled more, tension leaving him after a little while, though he was still solemn. At least he didn't seem worried anymore, and splashed at the water a little.

K: There were quack-quack's and peep-peep's and lots of raspberries in the process. Kagami did get Sai all clean, though. "Aaaalriiight~ All clean. Squeaky clean~ So shiny~!" Cheek kisses? Yes. Yes, get used to it, Sai. "Do you want to pick your outfit today?" 

D: Sai blinked at him, visibly bewildered by the question.

K: "What're you looking at me all surprised for, you cutie." Silly babbles, don't mind him. But, alas. He supposed the bewildered look was warranted given how little variety there was in Sai's wardrobe. "Wow. What is this, the military?"

D: Sai blinked up at him with his big dark eyes, then at his closet... and shrugged. Lots of dark blue in there, and black, and a little white, but mostly the two dark colors.

K: Danzo had horrible taste, Kagami concluded. Where were the bright baby colors?! "Man. Okay, how about this one?" He picked blue, then gently set Sai on the bed. "Mm, let's get out of your jammies, huh?" Working on taking off Sai's pants. "Heeeeey, did you go pee-pee this morning? You didn't, didja?"

D: Sai gave him a look that could only be called woe at the question, then looked toward the door hopefully.

K: "Ohhh boy, let's go do that first." Be right back transporting a naked toddler from room to bathroom. 

D: Sai did his business, more than relieved to be allowed to go finally and then he was ready for clothes. Yep. Clothes now.

K: Clothes went on right away, as soon as they got back to the bedroom. He even spent a few seconds combing Sai's hair with his fingers, though Sai probably really didn't need to take a comb to his hair-- it was so silky and fell in place without having to do anything to it. "Shall we~? Let's go make something yummy for Shin and Tia when they get back." He held his hands out for Sai to take if he wanted to, just a little gesture that assured assistance if it was required to get down from the bed.

D: Sai blinked, then took his hands, swinging them a little before sliding off the bed.

K: Kagami grinned, then let his little hands go after he slid off the bed. After a quick ruffle to Sai's head, Kagami took long strides in the direction of the kitchen.

D: The child pouted at that, but immediately set off after the man, keeping up to him.

K: Kagami was planning on making pie for dessert. Or for the evening, or whenever. Lunch could be started on later. But for now, it was going to be blueberry pie. Out came the flour and pans. Glancing over his shoulder at the little one, he grinned. "Wanna help?" 

D: Sai had apparently decided to be underfoot no matter what and tilted his head curiously.

K.: "Up here?" He patted the counter top where everything was. 

D: Sai straightened and lifted his arms expectantly.

K: Kagami swept him up almost immediately and set him on the counter.

Everything he needed was within easy reach-- at least he was organized enough, and careful not to have to want to leave a child sitting so high up unattended in the moments he'd otherwise be turning his back to get something. He started on making the pastry first, pronouncing and enunciating the names of each ingredient and container before putting them to use. Once the mixture was crumbly enough and the dough made eventually, he pulled off a piece and popped it in his mouth. "Mm~ Want some?" Kagami held out a tiny piece of dough... 

D: Sai was being particularly well behaved, reaching out to poke things without trying to grab them... and opened his mouth with the question.

K: Kagami plopped the bit of dough in his mouth, then grined. "How is it?" An eye trained on Sai, Kagami proceeded to quickly wrap the dough in plastic wrap and set it in the fridge. Out came the blueberries, and he began to carefully de-stem them. 

D: Sai chewed it up, swallowed... then opened his mouth and leaned toward him hopefully.

K: Kagami ended up laughing. "You like dough too, huh?" But instead of dough this time, he popped him a blueberry. "How about a blueberry?" He tried one himself. They were... amazing.

D: Sai looked first indignant, then confused, mouthing at the berry a bit before chewing on it. After a long beat of motionlessness... the mouth was opened again. 

K: Kagami was having way too much fun to be denying Sai any more berries, and he placed another cleaned one into the boy's mouth. "Wow look at you~" And he popped one in his mouth as well.

D: Sai was far more enthusiastic this time, and had apparently made a run to see how many he could get by doing that.

K: "Wooooah, not so fast there, buddy. We're gonna need some for the pie, see?" But he popped another in that little mouth of Sai's anyway. He was getting him to eat blueberries-- that was a good thing. At least Sai wasn't asking him to poke eyes in them...

D: Sai gave the pile a stare, then looked up at him questioningly.

K.: "We're going to put it in the dough when it comes out in about an hour, then cover it up, and stick it in the oven for another hour. And theeeen~ We'll have it with ice cream. It'll be amazing, I promise. Mm, this one's nice and big. Want a blueberry?"

D: Sai looked like he was going to pout toward the end there, but opened his mouth quick enough instead.

K: In went the blueberry, and Kagami went back to de-stemming the rest. "Gotta say 'please' if you want another, baby." Ahaha, was he going to talk?

D: Sai did not. Instead, Sai pouted. A lot.

K: "It's not hard. Pl-eeeease. You can say it. I bet you have a lovely voice, too. And maybe we can sing Sakura together one day. So come one. Please? I'll give you two if you say it~" Bribery. All the bribery. 

D: The pout turned into a wibble instead.

K: "Sweetheart, crying isn't going to get you anywhere. Does Danzo cry? Does Orochimaru and Kabuto cry? Does Shin cry? No, they're all big boys and they ask for what they want. Now, I promise you I'll give you a blueberry if you just try to say please. Pleeease?" 

D: Nope sorry, now the wibble was turning into tears, and he sniffled instead.

K: Kagami sighed, then moved to rest his elbows on the counter on either side of Sai and lean in, looking up into his little face. "Sai... I know you can, Sai." He leaned up to kiss his little nose. "This is the last blueberry, okay? I said I'd give you two, but you didn't say please, so you get only one now, okay? Here..." He held his hand out, revealing a big, juicy berry. It was bigger than the rest.

D: He looked at it, then wibbled more before opening his mouth in an almost questioning manner like he expected to be told no.

K: Kagami smiled at him. He wasn't mad at the boy. Perhaps a little disappointed that he didn't want to try, but he wasn't going to hold a grudge against a three year old. Instead, he carefully popped the blueberry in Sai's mouth and pressed a kiss to his cheek. Kagami used to kiss Shisui a lot. A whole lot. So he didn't think this was awkward.

D: Sai chewed the berry more slowly on another sniffle and gave him a wobbly attempt at a smile.

K: Oh boy. Sai sure knew how to tug on Kagami's heartstrings. He made a pouty face at Sai, then hugged him close. "Oh alright, you can have more berries. But after I'm done de-stemming them, okay?" In the mean time, he pull up some flour and water and left over butter, mixed it together in a little bowl, and let Sai play with it. "You can make your own little pie, too?"

D: He peered at the bowl in puzzlement, then poked it with one finger, clearly not sure what to do with it. Eat it?

K: Kagami helped him with that, rolling part of the dough and pinching it to make it have cat ears. He then poked two smiley eyes with his pinky finger and turned it around so Sai could see. "Lookie here. It's a kitty cat. Kitty cat kitty cat where've you been~? I've been up to London to look at the Queen. Kitty cat kitty cat what did you there? I frightened a little mouse under her chair~ Meeowwww~ Meow meow meow meowww~" 

D: By the time he was done talking, Kagami was getting a rather strong look of concern because Sai did not understand what just happened to him.

K: He was being a cat, Sai. Kitty cat, kitty cat~ Kagami began to laugh at Sai's reaction. "You can make things out of it, see?" He wasn't encouraging him to eat it because he knew that too much dough could make him sick.

D: Sai looked at the dough, then pointed at it with one hand, pointing at Kagami with the other and shaking his head.

K: "No? Okay, don't make kitty cats then. You can make other things with it?"

D: He huffed and poked his face.

K: Kagami pouted. Hard. Mimicking Sai.

D: He patted his cheek soothingly.

K: And he leaned in to kiss his little cheek. "Well, what did you wanna do with it? I'm going to leave kitty here, and go back to getting the stems out of these berries, okay?" Which he did, though still keeping an eye on Sai. 

D: Sai poked at the 'kitty' a bit, then finally gave it rather lopsided whiskers.

K: "Ah, I forgot the whiskers. Do you like cats, baby?" Why was he addressing Sai by the same terms he used on Shisui? Kagami had no idea. 

D: Sai blinked and gave him a thoughtful solemn stare.

K: Kagami didn't really know what to make of that stare, but smiled regardless, extending another berry with one hand whilehe reached for a new one with the other.

D: Sai promptly opened his mouth expectantly, clearly getting into the idea of being fed things.

K: Kagami was spoiling him, wasn't he? He wasn't sure how Danzo would take that. But he fed the boy the berry anyway, then went back to cleaning the rest, hoping that Sai might stick his hands in the dough and use it like modelling clay. 

D: Sai, apparently, was more interested in poking the kitty even further into a kitty shape.

D: "About making sure nothing happens to your family." It was a murmur, and he started up the car finally, pulling away onto the roadway. "I believe that it might be best once you're rested I get you new clothes as well, I have little that would fit you on hand."

K: "Mm.." He drifted off into silence then, looking out the window and at the place he called home. It wasn't his hometown, but it was the country he had once pledged to die fighting for. Actually, nothing much has changed, though his outlook on things may have taken a more realistic side, patriotism not clouding his judgment. "I'll beef up if you feed me well enough," he said, laughing. "So, what's Kazuki's story?" ...Because Kagami was dead. The thought still felt surreal.

D: "A car accident and a closed coffin when the body is returned to the states." He shook his head, sighing softly. "It's going to be... unfortunate."

K: "Yeah." He fiddled with his lower lip, nibbling on a scab he found there. "I left my dogtags around the other guy's neck." A pause. "Shizuka should have it."

Distracted again, Kagami watched the passing scenery outside. "Do you think Shisui will even remember me?"

D: "If nothing else I believe your wife will talk about you to him as he grows." He took them away from the city, off into a somewhat classier, but low key area.

K: "...Maybe," he said at last, still thinking. "Do you know the story behind Shisui?" A quiet laugh ensued. It was short, masking that hint of sadness.

Kagami leaned his elbow against the window sill, nibbling on his pinky finger as he watched them leave the city. "I didn't want kids, you know? Not right away. But Shizuka was furious that I wouldn't stay, even after I had retired, so--" He chewed off a bit of skin around his nail. "I couldn't leave her that year, so I stayed. And when he came along, he was smiling, Danzo. Smiling. We were afraid something was wrong when he didn't cry, but apparently he was just fine, and smiling." A smile broke out on Kagami's face at the memory and he glanced at Danzo, pressing back against hte seat. "I almost took that as a sign that I should stay but... But I knew I was in this too deep already. And instead of being incentive to keep be there, it pushed me away from them..." His tone changed then, and Kagami went back to looking out the window. "I hope she isn't too angry with me when he asks her, eventually." 

Kagami shook the thoughts out of his head though, choosing not to dwell on them lest they should bring him down. "About how long till we get there?"

D: "Another few minutes, not long. We took a route that is mostly devoid of other traffic given where we started." He had nothing to say about Kagami's child... but he could help in some way, he was sure, so he would.

K: "Shame. I was planning on falling asleep here. You did well for yourself, man." Those seats were extremely comfortable, so much so that Kagami kept adjusting his position in it and every single position resulted in a fight with himself to keep his eyes open. 

D: Then you can sleep in my bed Kagami, it won't be that long. I'll drive you around town and you can car nap another day." His tone had just a hint of wryness to it. "Fair enough?"

K:  Wait a minute. Hold on. What was that again? "Yours?" 

D: "Mmhmm. Until we can get one for you. Unless, of course, you want to be stuck on the child single in the other room or the couch. They're the only other options."

K: Kagami went quiet for a long moment there, doubting himself. The child single wasn't going to work, though. And the couch-- perhaps he could reserve that for days when he felt like watching late night television or he'd had a falling out with Danzo. "...Okay." He stole a sideways glance at his friend, not really sure what he was expecting to see. When were they getting to their destination, though-- Kagami was just a little impatient now. What with all the fancy cars, he'd have expected lots of spare rooms, all furnished by now. 

D: All the fancy cars? Ha! The one Danzo had got him in the other country had been a favor, not his. They were in his only car now, and the house he pulled up to was... a home. Obviously with, at most, five bedrooms inside, and he parked them in the carport before turning to hit the button so that the gate would slide shut at the edge of the property. "As I said, it's temporary until we can get you your own."

K: Well. For a second there Kagami imagined his friend being some filthy rich dude with a whole car park full of cars, and honestly? He imagined a mansion.

The look on his face conveyed all the disappointment just as they pulled up. "Do you have your own swimming pool?" Kagami was already getting out of the car soon after they'd stopped. 

D: Danzo got out of the car as well, going around to unlock the door so he could go inside. "I do. I also have an underground shooting area that's well soundproofed, a training room, and a fully stocked armory. Downstairs, of course."

K: Kagami mouthed a silent 'Woaaaah' at that, grinning as he did. He followed Danzo inside, taking in everything as he did so. "So, do I get to work? If not, I bet I could just stay here and not get bored."

D: "You do... I can use someone above the young twenties to help deal with things." He shook his head on a scoff, though his tone turned a bit amused as he slipped inside. Everything was decorated simply, but with good materials, sturdy and nice to look at. "It doesn't matter how long you've had someone working with you if they start before they can even actually help with anything." 

K: Kagami paused at that. "I... don't know how much help I'll be in that." In other words, he was refusing. "I meant regular work." 

D: "More than I think you're aware of." He wasn't accepting an uninformed refusal. "And going out to get a job outside my contact influence would be risky."

K: "Then I won't work. I'll do the household chores and whatever but I'm done doing other things." 

D: Danzo looked at him for a long moment, something knowing in his eyes. "I'm sure you'll tell me when you change your mind."

K: "I don't want to get involved in your child soldier business," he spat, stomping off ahead of Danzo, aimlessly wandering into the rest of the house before seating himself on a couch. 

D: "So judgemental." He shook his head slightly, coming to a halt beside the couch, watching him. "You do realize you'll meet them. You've already seem at least six of them."

K: "I know." He looked up at Danzo from his spot on the couch. "That doesn't mean I'm going to work with them." Danzo could try, but Kagami wasn't going to budge on this decision.

D: "If you insist. There are things I have no doubt you would have loved to teach... or at the very least assist with but you have your... convictions."

K: "If I end up teaching them, then they won't be working for you." He'd end up fathering them, and most definitely steering them away from the underground world... 

D: "You have no idea about what I do Kagami, and you don't want to it seems. Don't make assumptions about things you refuse to understand."

K: If what he'd witnessed was just the tip of the iceberg, then he wasn't sure if he was ready to even find out what the rest was all about. Instead of making any relevant remarks, he sighed, then stood up, already unbuttoning his shirt. 

“Where's the shower?" Eager to make an exit, apparently. 

D: Danzo just gave him a long stare, then turned to head toward the room in question. "This way."

K: Kagami couldn't meet that stare, focusing instead on the buttons on his shirt. By the time he got to the bathroom, his shirt was already completely undone. "Thanks." 

Thanks indeed. Kagami's eyes widened the moment he saw the jets on that thing, and suddenly, it seemed like his pants wouldn't come off any faster. He was so excited about the whole thing that he left the door slightly ajar when he hopped in. Half an hour later, Kagami was still in, somewhat falling asleep in the tub.... 

D: Danzo pushed the door open, having taken off his shoes and jacket, sleeves rolled up, and his lips quirked when he noticed that Kagami was dozing. He padded into the room without any hesitation. "Kagami."

K: Years in the Forces meant he slept like a dog-- half awake and still alert. So when Danzo called out his name, Kagami shot up. "What! What??" Then realized he was in his birthday suit. "Er--" His hand went to cover his manly bits, one leg somewhat crossing over the other to complete the job. 

Kagami cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, who's Kagami?" Or was he going by Kagami at home and Kazuki outside, or--

D: His lips twitched up. "Ah." He inclined his head. "Very good, but not needed in my house unless you want it to be."

K: "I don't know, I thought it'd be funny to hear you call me that. But okay." He moved into a position where he could leave one hand on him and let the bubbles from the jets distort the rest. "So... Did you need to use the bathroom?" Kagami was under the impression that he'd only been in there about 10 minutes. How time flies when you were enjoying something~

D: Danzo's lips twitched up and he leaned over Kagami, entirely ignoring the other man's words as he turned off the jets. "No. But you were sleeping."

K: "He-- Hey." No, don't turn off the jets! His face fell at that. "What? Nah. I wasn't sleeping. I heard you, didn't I? Proof I wasn't." There were no bubbles this time...

D: "Two hours. It's time to get out." He flashed him a little smirk and straightened. "Come on then."

K: "Two--" No, that can't be right. This time he lifted both hands - yes, both - to check how wrinkly they were. They were rather wrinkly, but... "Two hours?! You're just messing with me, right?" He did sit up anyway, and was about to stand when he realized he was missing a towel. Kagami cleared his throat again. "You er-- you don't happen to have a towel lying around somewhere, do you?"

D: He took a step back and opened a bit of a cupboard just to his left, pulling a towel and giving it a shake to unfurl it so he could hold it open for him. Just in case the long soak in the heat messed with his balance.

K: It did. He almost slipped in the tub before standing up completely straight, not really covering anything as he waved it all off as if losing balance was something he'd planned on happening. He did step out, though, cautiously so he wouldn't slip on something again. "Thanks." Kagami took the towel, grateful for it, and wiped his face. "I uhm. I'm sorry about the bill that's going to rack up for you. I had no idea..." No idea he was gone two hours, that is.

D: "It's fine." He grabbed another towel and reached to flip it over the other man's hair, shaking his head. "I have a corn powered electric system."

K: "Oh?" Kagami beamed. "So baths that are longer than 10 minutes on average are permissible in that case?" He was in the process of wiping his neck and shoulders when he sent Danzo a smirk. "...Aren't you gonna dry my hair for me~?" That right then was a simper.

D: Danzo narrowed his eyes a little.... then reached back up to start doing just that for him. You did ask Kagami. "They are, The water heater is very nice."

K: ....He never really expected you to follow, through, Danzo."I'll bet..." It was a distracted comment. Was he seriously drying his hair for him?! Kagami wrapped his towel around his waist, then watched the other man as he dried his hair for him. 

He literally did watch him, taking in the other's features and trying to spot all the minute differences. Eight years was a long time. 

D: He was more weathered, with the start of definition at the edges of his eyes, but it had just eased him away from a youthful edge, sharpened the masculinity in his face. His hands, however, were gentle as he fussed at his hair, finally dropping the towel over his shoulders. "There you are."

K: His hair was much longer than it used to be. Kagami could actually tie it up in a ponytail if he wanted to. Occasionally he would cut it when he had a good pair of scissors on hand, but otherwise, it had grown into a rather unruly mane. He smiled when Danzo was finished, reaching up and doing something rather uncharacteristic-- He hugged him. It was a rough, brotherly hug, mostly out of gratitude, partly because it was just good to see him again, and the other part... He wasn't going to discuss that any time soon. 

Kagami pulled away about twenty seconds later, still smiling as he turned away and bent to pick up the clothes he'd left lying on the floor. "Think I should grow my hair out or cut it short?" 

D: Do forgive him Kagami, he was sort of just staring at this point. It took a few moments before he could even try to gather his composure from the hug, not having really expected it, but he studied him critically. "I believe that shorter suits you better."

K: "Yeah?" He scratched at the very visible stubble on his chin. "Might have to borrow your scissors and a razor then." He hadn't shaved in a while, and there was evidence of a beard and mustache making themselves known. A single gunshot wound that had healed itself over sat right in the middle of his chest, just below where his sternum would have begun. Scars left over from surgery stood out rather prominently close to his left set of ribs. The shrapnel wounds that dotted his torso, on the front and back-- they weren't new to Danzo. He'd got them when he was serving. 

Stepping out of the bathroom, Kagami eyed the bed. "So, which side is yours?" It would be rude to claim a side on somebody else's bed, ahem |:

D: "I've never had to think about it before." His tone colored with a hint of dry amusement then. "I haven't shared it with anyone."

K: "So it doesn't matter if I pick the best side?" He looked over his shoulder smirking. By best side, Kagami meant I'm going to sleep like a starfish smack in the middle of this thing. He unfloded the shirt he had worn earlier, shaking it a few times before sliding an arm in a sleeve. He didn't want to ask for anything else...

D: Kagami was getting a frown over the clothes, and Danzo moved forward to take it from his fingers before he had a chance to get it on. "You just took a bath. I'll give you something that will do until we can get you more clothes."

K: "Hey." He pouted, letting the other man snatch the clothes away. "It wasn't like you were offering." He went over to sit on the edge of the bed, bouncing a little while in place because it had been ages since he'd sat on a good mattress--

D: "I was thinking." He waved it off, moving to dump the clothes in the hamper and fished out shorts and a T-shirt that were both worn, and looked too big for Danzo. "Here."

K: "Well what was I supposed to do? Magically divine your intentions?" Kagami grinned, then held up the clothes, an eyebrow arched. "Either you forgot your size when you went shopping, or you had some big guy over." Kagami sure was grinning. "So. Who's the boyfriend?" 

D: He blinked, then scoffed softly. "I don't have a boyfriend. Nor have I, I've been far too busy." He shook his head as he waved it off. The boy had been, as a teen, taller than him after all, and it would do well enough. "Those belonged to Orochimaru. He left them last time he visited. That happens to be the only set of masculine attire I think I've seen him wear in over seven years." 

K: "Really~" He got into the t-shirt anyway. Not that he was going to believe Danzo's story without solid evidence to disprove his suspicions. The tshirt hung loose on Kagami, mostly because he had lost considerable weight. He had no doubt that food from home would put him back in shape, but it was rather disheartening to see how thin he'd become. The shorts went on next. "Here's hoping I don't have to run around too much or these are coming off..." Kagami pulled them up again by the waistband. 

D: "Until the clothes I have for you are washed, and then we can go get you proper attire."

K: "I'm coming with, or are we shopping online?" Just in case Danzo got him something silly. Not that Danzo would, but he'd received many a gag gift in the past to be wary of other people picking out his clothes for him. And, with that, Kagami stood, took a moment to spread his arms wide, then fall back onto the bed with a flop. Starfishing, don't mind him~ 

D: "You'll be coming with me. I don't do online shopping for personal attire. It's asking for problems."

K: "Oh good. Let me know when." Just-- not right now. There was a bed, and he hadn't been in a bed in years, save for about three days when he stayed at some shady motel. Kagami turned ot his right, cuddled a pillow, then turned left and buried his face in the other. Eventually, he settled for the right side of the bed, and reached down to pull his shorts up again. 

He went quiet for a moment, almost falling asleep right away, but remembered something: "What are the house rules about dinner?" ...And eating together, that is. 

D: "Cook enough for everyone in the house if you cook, and if you use all of something up, put it on the list. Leftovers are free game unless placed on the bottom shelf."

K: Okay. "What if I don't eat when everyone's eating and there aren't any leftovers but everyone just ate and they're not hungry and I wanted to cook?" Ah--

D: "Then there will clearly be leftovers if it's not one of the teenagers."

K: "And if I don't like the leftovers?"

D: "Then put them where everyone else are welcome to eat them." He rolled his shoulders in a shrug. "I assure you. this house is busy enough they won't go bad."

K: "Yeah but can I just cook for myself then? If everyone else has eaten and stuff..." 

D: He huffed a soft laugh. "In the unlikely event that there are those besides myself in the house and they decline food, that's fine."

K: "And I need to be there whenever someone's making dinner, is that okay?" Just because after that last attempt on his life, he didn't trust food made by other people |:

D: "Do as you like, I have no issue with it. Some of them desperately need kitchen guidance anyway."

K: Ooookay-- "Or maybe I'll just take over as cook after the jetlag wears off..." Yeah that sounded like a better idea. To him, at least. "Oh and-- hey."

D: "Yes?" He came over to stand beside the bed since Kagami seemed intent on talking.

K: Kagami yawned, then smiled sleepily. "G'night." He might have even waved vaguely then. "And razor, tomorrow? If you can. I'll get my own things when we go shopping."

D: He just huffed a breath and flipped the covers over him. "Goodnight."

K: Kagami might have chuckled just then, but sank into a well-deserved sleep immediately after. It would take him only four hours to work up a nightmare, though. Faces in the windows, voices swimming around him, strangers looking at him the wrong way. And then there was that distinctive unmistakeable crack that ripped through the air. Ripped right through till everything went cold. And black. Steadily receding. Fading into the inevitable...

Kagami yelled, pulling the covers and his pillow with him as he crashed onto the floor and attempted to crawl for cover. Frantically, he began searching for his Glock17, and upon not finding it on his person, panicked. The old wound still hurt, more so now than before. He'd forgotten where he was... That didn't help, obviously, because he was trying to crawl his way out--

D: Danzo jerked to alertness, having been dozing sitting on the opposite edge of the bed, and immediately crawled across it to look over the edge. "Kagami. Awake?"

K: Danzo's voice only made him run faster, this time actually getting to his feet and making it to the door. Tripping over the blankets wasn't accounted for, though, so that stopped him. And woke him up enough to realize he'd been dreaming. "Glock-- Where's my Glock?!" He looked at the hand that was clutching his chest-- no blood. 

D: "Kagami." He hadn't moved off the bed, low on it and watching him, patient. "You didn't have it with you."

K: "What do you mean I didn't have it with me-- I always have it with m--" Or maybe not. Not when he remembered where he put it. "It was in the car." Realization. Kagami grit his teeth. "It was in the car, I left it in the car..." He brought both hands to his face then, trying to physically erase the memory and the sensations that still came with it. He sat there awhile, on the floor, gathering his thoughts, though he was still shaken. The bags under his eyes were testimony to how well he'd slept while in Pakistan. 

Eventually, he stood up, pulling the blankets and pillow with him to the bed before sitting down in it, back facing his friend. "Do you have something strong?" 

D: "Liquor or weaponry?"

K: "It depends. Would you rather me die slowly or immediately?"

D: "Neither, so we'll simply have to work out an alternative."

K: "Just give me something to drink, unless you've got a plan to knock me unconscious so I could sleep."

D: "Nothing that your nerves would presently allow, unfortunately."

K: "Just give me a fucking drink or I'll walk up to your armory and put myself to sleep." He was raising his voice again, almost sneering as he spoke.

D: "Are you quite done Kagami?" He didn't seem phased, instead sliding off the bed and padding across the room to open a cabinet by the closet.

K: "I was done. A long time ago. But you didn't kill me when you had the chance." He was up again, striding off towards the door. Maybe he could try and find one himself...

D: "Where are you going?" It was idly stated, just a bit amused. "I don't keep the liquor out there, I'm not an idiot."

K: "To this armory of yours." He looked beyond annoyed.

D: "So you don't want the scotch then?" There was a clink of something glass being set down.

K: Okay. That made him stop. "I didn't know you were offering." Again. Danzo. Tch. 

D: "You requested a drink, didn't you?"

K: "You refused either, so what was I to think?"

D: "You asked about a plan to knock you unconscious Kagami, I never denied either of the other requests."

K: "The plan to die slowly? You refused. What was I supposed to think?!" Even so, Kagami strode over to where the bottle was and made a grab for it--

D: He instead pushed the glass he'd poured, apparently far too quietly, into his hand. "Not really related Kagami."

K: "Shut the hell up." The contents were gone almost immediately, and he was reaching for the bottle again. Most of that went to his head, no surprise, but Kagami clearly needed more to knock himself out. 

D: "You keep saying things like that as though they're going to phase me." He tisked, shaking his head and reaching to pluck the glass from his fingers. "You haven't eaten, I'm not going to let you have the bottle."

K: "Danzo!" Kagami glared at the man, now even more furious that he was reaching for his glass. "I'm not one of your kids, so stop treating me like one and give me the rest of that. I'll drink when I want to. Besides, I'm not hungry." He was just-- stubborn and frustrated at the same time. Oh boy >.>

D: "Kagami, look at yourself." He let him take the glass, after refilling it, but still refused him the bottle, eyes narrowed. "I didn't save you just to watch you die."

K: "It's just one bottle," he muttered, downing the rest of that glass as fast as he possibly could, wincing when it went to his head. "I'm already dead so what should it matter anyway." Damn it, just hand him the bottle. His hand was on one half of it. Tug-o-war time. 

D: The words made his eyes narrow and he stepped into the pull, getting into his space as his lips flattened into a line. "Legally dead isn't the same as being dead so don't you pull that on me."

K: "Look at me, damnit." His fingers slipped off the edge of the glass, and he fumbled for a better grip, but deflecting focus and taking it out on the man himself. Kagami grabbed the front of Danzo's shirt, twisting before yanking him to him. He looked like he had a lot more to say, but didn't, face scrunching into a scowl that may well have been just there to stop him from breaking down. "What good am I alive to anyone?!" It really did look like he had a lot more to say once again, but empty words fell out of those lips. One more yank to the other man's shirt ensued, enough to just let Kagami lean over and shove his forehead in his shoulder. He twisted and clenched that fabric with every thought that crossed his mind, every memory, every failed attempt at doing something right, every dream turned into a nightmare. "I can't sleep..." he finally rasped out. 

D: He didn't fight the actions, instead taking the glass and sticking it on the dresser so it wouldn't get dumped everywhere, the bottle following a beat later before he brought his arms around Kagami to hold him to him, wordless for a moment. When he spoke though, it was soft, a bit unlike the him Kagami would know, but not so much for the frightened children he tended to find. It was in no way condescending, simply... not harsh or loud. "I have looked at you. I see someone who has a way to go to return to his former glory, but it's in no way unreachable. As for sleep... I can only do what you allow me to Kagami."

K: "There is no glory, Danzo. Not in the work we do." He'd never expected it, never would have asked for it-- but those arms around him seemed just the thing he needed at the moment. They were comforting, oddly enough. He hadn't been held in years. By Shizuka, yes; but most times she would get into talking about how he ought to retire for the sake of his family and he would pull away from her.

But this was... This was-- He let go of Danzo's shirt, sliding his arms to the other's back, gripping his shirt there instead. "I wish I knew... I wish I knew what you could do. I wish I knew what you could do to take me to another place where I could just forget and start over..." 

D: "You can start over here." He hugged him tighter. "You're not an Uchiha anymore, remember? You're a Shimura now. We'll just work out the details as we go."

K: He went quiet, considering the other's words, only to chuckle amidst the pain he was feeling, both imaginary and real. "No. No, I'm not Uchiha." Kagami smirked into Danzo's shoulder. "I'm your-- man-wife." ...Guess who was back to normal?

D: "Am I? Is that what you decided on then?" It was a murmur, and he bumped his nose against his temple.

K: Kagami broke into a smile; one that he still hid in the other man's shoulder. "Not you, I am. Isn't that what you decided?" Radiant harmony? Shimura? Really now~? 

D: "I gave no definition... but I would accept it as such a thing of course."

K: Now that made him freeze up. The words echoed in his head a few times before it finally sort of sank in as a fact. Danzo had really said that. He wasn't making things up. Kagami looked up then, face to face with the other man. "What?" 

D: "All I said was that the matter was in your hands Kagami." He gave him a flat look. "There is no reason to be shocked."

K: He was shocked. There was no helping it. All these years thinking that maybe those nights they blurred the lines and stepped over the comrades zone meant something a little more-- Kagami stopped himself. This wasn't about feelings, he reassured himself. Danzo didn't have time for that. There was to reason to regret now. No reason to regret giving up. This was just a favor between old friends, nothing more, he told himself. Just one guy helping the other out. This was no time to let things get to one's head. "...Right--" Kagami pulled away. "What do you think will be showing on T.V this time of night?" 

D: "If you're not going back to sleep, then we're going to feed you." He also might... have no idea as he never spent time on television really.

K: "Fine. Can we watch a movie while we're at it? All I've ever seen is Bollywood movies." That's okay Danzo. Kagami had no idea either. They could discover late night television together.

D: "...If you insist, then I suppose it can be done..."

K: He headed off in the direction of the living room where he'd spotted a TV when he'd sat on the couch earlier. "Hey... Are the kids in bed?" That was whispered. Just out of habit because they were going to end up watching television at a very low volume. 

D: "None are here tonight, I was contacted earlier and all those who came back were waylaid by Kabuto. The boy is determined to watch them overnight with a medical check. You have until tomorrow afternoon until he decides to try that on you, by the way."

K: "....Why? I don't have AIDS or syphillis. Just lost some weight and probably needing more vitamins, but otherwise I'm in good shape. Fully healed after surgery, too." Kagami flicked on the television and cranked up the volume just a little. They were showing Elf. "Oh. This movie! Hey. Wanna watch?"

D: He sighed and settled beside him. "Because he takes being a physician very seriously and springs on every opportinuty to do so."

K: "He needs to set up his own clinic so the people come pouring in at will, not pounce on unwilling victims." Kagami put a hand behind them on the couch, leaning in just a bit closer to the other man, grinning as he did. "So-- what've you guys got to eat tonight?" 

D: "He would, but he's fifteen, no one takes him seriously." He shook his head with a soft scoff, and his lips quirked. "There are plenty of things to assemble, but there wasn't anything left of whatever was eaten before we returned."

K: "Tough luck. I'm not sitting for him either way." He paused, watching the advertisements that popped up during the break. "I know you trust him, but right now, I can't trust anybody, okay?" Besides you. He didn't say it, but it was understood. "Maybe that'll change in the future, but he's going to have to wait." Just putting that out there. "And alright, what've you got that we can make? Bacon? Do you have bacon--?"

D: "Yes, I have bacon, and it's fine, the boy does have restraint, notice his not being here presently."

K: "Good god, bacon!" He's glad Kabuto isn't there, he really is, but bacon. "You know how pork isn't a thing in Pakistan because of the Muslims?" Yeah. He missed it so much. 

D: "Yes, and it's a staple of the American diet. Go on, there's slab in there."

K: He was already in the kitchen, but then there was a whine. "Aww man, it's frozen stiff. It'll take forever to thaw out." He let it stand in a bowl of warm water and sighed, returning to join Danzo on the couch. 

Two minutes later-- "I-- I can taste it. Do you think it's thawed yet?"

D: "I have a microwave. You can do a few quick bursts and peel off layers to cook."

K: Be right back running to get that done. And when it's done and the rashers are frying and minutes later, he was tasting sweet succulent bacon in his mouth-- He plopped back onto the couch with a plate full of bacon and pressed an oily kiss on Danzo's cheek. "Thanks, man. I'll never forget this." 

...Of all things |8

D: Danzo stared at him for a long moment for that.... then laughed softly. "Of course Kagami."

K: Kagami smiled, like a boy with his favorite toy train. "Want some?" He held a piece of bacon up for Danzo, not really intent on sharing without a challenge but~ The offer was there.

D: He reached up to snag the piece from his fingers. "Just a bit."

K: --And he popped it in his mouth halfway before he could reach. "I'm sorry, what was that~?"

D: He made a little amused noise. "Do you not want me to have it?"

K: "Gotta earn it," he signed, grinning with half a piece of bacon in his mouth still.

D: He narrowed his eyes, then shifted and leaned in, apparently willing to take the challenge.

K: Kagami grinned wider, and slipped a bit of that bacon further into his mouth. He might have been just a little distracted at how serious Danzo looked right now, and all for a piece of bacon. ...Totally worth it, in his opinion.

D: Danzo stared at him intently as he leaned in, then made a grab for it. Well, more a bite for it but...

K: ...And Kagami was too distracted grinning at how serious Danzo was to be able to dodge that, such that when Danzo actually did 'grab' it, Kagami tried pulling it back, and only ended up pressing his lips against the other man's. The color rose in his cheeks immediately. Oops. This is Kagami trying his darndest to nibble off his share of that bacon, because awkward situation or not, he was not leaving without the bacon. 

D: Danzo bit down, leaning back to try to take it with him. He was going to get his prize.

K: Alright. If that's how you wanted to play it, Danzo. Unfortunately, that was a rather chewy bit they were both fighting for, so it wasn't getting bitten off so easily. Kagami followed the other man, leaning into him to try and pull back his bacon, not a care in the world that they were practically kissing on the couch.

................Perhaps it was a good thing the kids weren't in tonight. Their first impressions of Kagami would have been... questionable. 

D: Danzo moved his hands to Kagami's shoulders and leaned back more insistently, resisting the urge to smirk at how ridiculous they were being.

K: Ridiculous? They hadn't even properly started. Not yet. Not until Kagami reached up and tried flicking Danzo's ear. Distractions. He needed a distraction so he could get his bacon back.

D: He made a noise of negation for that, reaching up to snag his wrist with his free hand as he squirmed, working to get a knee up between them.

K: Kagami tried again, flopping down on Danzo, dead weight bearing down on the other man-- only there was a knee in between. No matter. Kagami shoved his hand up under that trouser leg |: 

D: He made a slightly surprised noise, then tightened his fingers on his wrist, squirming. Kagami was bigger, but currently didn't have the mass to back it up at the moment, and he used the hand at his shoulder to try to shove him off.

K: He tried twisting his wrist in the other man's grip, to no avail. And by now that bit of bacon had been bitten off-- but Kagami wasn't finishing this off so soon. Not before he pulled on some of Danzo's leg hair |8< Take that. So much for putting your leg in between. And just you wait till Kagami beefs up again-- 

D: Danzo was quick to chew and swallow the bit of meat so that he wouldn't choke on it so that he could focus on the wrestling. And jerking his leg away from the yanking. And growled a little.

K: Apparently Kagami had a similar idea in mind. The bacon was gone, but the wrestling was still on. Why were they doing it? No idea. At thirty-three you'd think you'd act a lot less like fourteen... Kagami smirked in response to the growl and pinched the other man's leg before having to let go.

D: He scowled, half off the couch and his back sideways against the back of the couch. He needed to squirm into a good position to kick him off if he was going to keep doing it. Right, hands, pushing, annnd no leverage. This? This was about two seconds from getting serious and aggressive.

K: Would it help any if Kagami snickered during those two seconds? And lean into the side where his shoulder was being pushed on, shrug, and twist enough to pull a move they used in combat so he was sitting in Danzo's lap, wrist still in the other's custody. He was using all his body weight too.

D: Yes it made a difference because he didn't actually want to hurt the man, and he scowled up at him. "Kagami."

K: "So it's a draw then?" He leaned back against the couch, still sitting on Danzo's lap, wrist still in the other man's grip. Not mentioning the somewhat-kiss at all, nope.

D: "Acceptable." He shifted a little, frowning up at him. When that didn't immediately feel sufficient, he wiggled around until he was flat.

K: Kagami smiled, a smile that literally read 'you still look cute when you're angry'. Only this time he wasn't saying it aloud. He shifted as well, till he slid behind Danzo's legs and propped them across his lap. The smile faded, and he idly fiddled with the other man's trouser legs. "I'm tired..." In both senses of the word. 

D: He dropped his head back on the cushion, letting out a soft sigh as he stared at the ceiling. "I know Kagami. Just finish eating, and we'll try to sort out a way to help you sleep."

K: "I'm not really hungry. Gotten so used to not really eating, I got no space left for more. Not today at least. You can have the rest." His hand slid down the other's leg to his ankle, idly rubbing little circles into it. "How's Torifu. You heard from him recently?" 

D: "He's got a desk rank now." It was a murmur, and he shifted a bit, settling more comfortably into the couch. "He's a contact for me."

K: Kagami's fingers stopped moving on the other man's ankles, changing course and idly rubbing them instead, stopping just an inch or two above them. He sighed, then closed his eyes, tipping his head back and wincing as if he was getting a headache. "Of course." It was spoken dryly. It took him about half a minute before turning his head to look at Danzo. "I want to know, but I'm afraid to ask..." 

D: "His rank or something else?" The tone was just a bit dry, and he didn't bother looking at him himself.

K: "What you really do." He looked away again, eyes closed, probably on the verge of falling asleep once more. 

D: "I collect orphans Kagami. I found the first one, Orochimaru, shortly after coming back to America after my retirement went through."

K: "Not now, Danzo." He didn't want to hear it, Not yet, because he knew he wasn't ready. He was still fresh from whatever he'd seen and lived through, still too fresh that he didn't have to listen to half a word before he jumped to conclusions. 

Kagami stood up hen, pushing Danzo's feet off his lap in the process. "And don't say 'collect'," he added on his way back to the room. "They're not chess pieces." 

D: "How cold Kagami, I didn't mean it that way in the least." He sighed, then pushed to his feet to start picking up Kagami's mess.

K: "It's why I said, not now," he called, just as he somewhat disappeared into the room. He did discard the clothes, though. And hid them under the bed. He didn't want to sleep in one of Danzo's orphan kid's clothes and wake up feeling guilty thanks to some messed up dream about him and child soldiers and then have it all confirmed (or not really) just by looking at his clothes. 

So there he was, butt naked under the blankets. You couldn't tell from first glance, though, because he had them up to his shoulders, covering every bit of him besides his head. Surprise surprise when you do look, Danzo~

D: "You'll understand sooner or later." He finally returned to bed, having cleaned up the mess and sliding under the covers... and pausing.

K: "Stop repeating what I said and go to sleep." It was mumbled. And it was a bit chilly without clothes on, and the fact that he'd lost a bit of weight meant he'd lost some of his natural fat reserves. All plausible explanations for Kagami sliding a bit towards Danzo's side. That, and, the bed dipped when the other man sat in it, so blame gravity for him sliding over >_>

D: "Kagami... are you naked?"

K: "....Aren't we all? Under our clothes?" 

D: "Kagami, you appear to have lost the clothes."

K: "Well spotted, Captain Obvious. Now get in bed before I drag you off to watch Desperate Housewives."

D: "I'm in the bed." He squirmed over, then finally laid down, pulling the covers up.

K: And Kagami settled in comfortably, smiling to himself rather mischievously. "Does it bother you? Danzo." 

D: "Bother... is perhaps not the correct word Kagami." He closed his eyes, apparently satisfied with lying on his back.

K: "Hm?" Hello, have an arm warmer. "Then what is~?" 

D: "I believe it's not the time to get into that. Good night Kagami." he settled deeper into the bed, going silent.

K: "Get into what." Not even a question. Look, now he can't sleep not knowing. 

D: "Go to sleep Kagami." He rolled over so his back was to him.

K: Kagami huffed, then turned his back onto the other man as well, stealing as much blanket as possible in the process. He did sleep then, though his sleep might have been rather troubled at first. Come morning and the blankets had been kicked down to just above his waist, strategically covering any manly bits. He seemed-- well rested. At peace, even. He wasn't frowning, wasn't grinding his teeth. And his hair was a mess against the pillow.

D: Danzo hadn't stayed in place, at some point having rolled to face Kagami, though when he stirred, this fact left him a bit chagrined. At least his bedmate hadn't woken, and he made to slide out of the bed.

K: When Danzo stirred, Kagami stirred as well, stretching a bit in his sleep. The blanket slid down just an itty bitty bit. Still safe, though! And he rolled over to Danzo's side, an arm flopping on the other man's waist...

D: He stilled, a sleepy frown touching his lips as a hand moved to rest on hsi arm.

K: Kagami clutched the man's shirt. "Don't..." It was mumbled, speech slurred and groggy. "...leave me..." Whether that was meant for Danzo or if it was something he'd dreamed up-- there was no telling~

D: He stilled... then a moment later moved his other hand to curl his arm around Kagami.

K: He had no idea what was really going on, only that whatever it was felt comforting. Whatever that arm was doing-- it wasn't hurting him. It was pressing the barrel of a gun to the back of his head, it wasn't trying to hang him up from his wrists till his shoulders dislocated, and it sure wasn't punching or slicing him through. Even if only semi-conscious, he moved into the gesture, blissfully unaware of his state of undress or who he was cuddling up against. 

D: He let out a little puff of air against his hair, then settled against him. Of course this would be what would settle Kagami. 

K: Get out, what was that supposed to mean?! But no, don't really go anywhere. It would be a few minutes before Kagami spoke again, though: "Remember the first time we used those rubbers Captain gave us?" 

...........If that was a memory you wanted to forget, Danzo, he is so-- not sorry. And oh look, Kagami was smiling. Softly. Eyes still closed, mostly asleep, but totally in the present as well. 

D: Danzo tightened his arm slightly instead, willing to be cuddled, and it was good to have the man back in his life, if not in the best circumstances.

K: Kagami let go of Danzo's shirt, moving his arm till his hand was rest on Danzo's elbow. he stilled for a moment, thinking, hesitating, wondering if the next move was going to make or break everything. 

But eventually he opened his eyes, taking in everything, and followed the course of his hand up the other man's arm and to his shoulder, then round back up behind his neck and in his hair. He was looking right at him. "I take it you do remember, then?" He wasn't usually this chatty in the mornings, just-- after eight years, apparently he had a lot to say.

D: He had his eyes open, and watched the entire thing, but he didn't try to look away, or pretend he was sleeping. None of that. Instead he just let Kagami do as he wanted to feel comforted. "I do."

K: "Haven't tried to .... you know..." He had no idea he was twirling Danzo's hair around his finger. "Block it out or something?" That last bit was uttered rather fast. 

D: Danzo noticed, it would have been impossible not to, and he tilted his head slightly toward it. "Is there a reason I would have?"

K: Kagami stuttered. Recovering quickly, however, he replied with: "No. No... Just--" Sorry, that wasn't even a proper reply. 

D: "That surprises you I see." It was a murmur, his light brown eyes sharpening in focus, though his body stayed relaxed.

K: "No I--" Their eyes met for an instant before Kagami found himself tearing his gaze away and turning away completely, eventually sitting up, pulling the blanket up to make himself decent. His back was turned to Danzo, hunched over just a little as he sat there thinking, hesitating again. "I thought that's what you wanted..." That last bit was very hushed.

D: He watched him for a long moment, then sat up himself, reaching to rest his palm on his back, studying his posture. "I'm not what one would think of as a loving man Kagami."

K: "No, I know..." That was his problem. He knew. He knew, and yet-- "It was wrong of me to expect otherwise." It was something of a confession, but he knew it wasn't going to change anything. "It's fine. I'm not asking you to change."

D: He ran his fingers up his spine with a soft huff. "Then what do you believe that means?"

K: His back straightened slowly at the touch, shoulders pushing back. It sent shivers coursing through him, ticklish as he was. "It just... we're just friends, and nothing's going to change." But then he added: "Who might have been a little more than that about once in two... three months. Sometimes one in two weeks..." Ah--

D: He watched him, then shifted a little, lifting his other hand to run up to his hair, brushing up the nape of his neck. "I see."

K: "I mean-- that was a long time ago..." Kagami stilled again, then brought his head down so more of his neck was exposed. "Would that have made us friends with benefits--?" Ahem. 

D: He paused a beat, noticing the reaction, and shifted on the bed, so he was shy of leaning into him. "Perhaps. We didn't have long to get to know one another beyond certain points."

K: And Kagami was obviously that friend who read too much into things. It wasn't a surprise, really. "Well..." His voice was tiny by now, barely audible. "Now we do?" He bit his lip immediately after those words left his mouth. "Sorry. Forget I said anything."

D: He held still for a moment, then turned, putting a knee on either side of Kagami as the hand on his back slid to his side, and he leaned against his back. "What are you looking for?"

K: He held his breath when the bed shifted behind him, then let it go slowly when he felt the other man lean up against him. "I don't know... I mean, should I be looking for something? What if it's not supposed to be there and I just keep looking because I want it to be there?"

D: "I get the sense you've discounted an important factor Kagami." He leaned in, tone a murmur as he slid his hands so his arms were around him. "Did I ever strike you as easily swayed into these things?"

K: His hands came almost close enough to rest on top of Danzo's, but he restrained himself. "I no-- Swayed into what? What do you mean?"

D: "If I had considered the matter casual sex, it wouldn't have happened more than once Kagami. I know better." He tightened his arms a moment, then made to pull back.

K: Except Kagami held his arms there, keeping Danzo where he was. Not so fast~ Somehow, when he'd thought that nothing was going to make any difference, that right there made all the difference. There weren't words to put together the swirl of muddled up emotions that swam inside him just then, and he knew better than to try and make any sense out of it right away. It took him a few minutes of just holding on to the other man before he could actually speak, laughing this time as he turned his head to look at Danzo. "There was nothing casual about it, I always had trouble walking the next day."

D: "With how short a time we knew each other then, it makes sense you didn't know." He didn't try to fight loose, instead resting against his back, looking at his face when he turned.

K: "We haven't really made up for lost time, either." Just gone their separate ways, but somehow trusted each other enough with their lives. It all got complicated when feelings factored into the equation. But it shouldn't be much of a blur anymore, he figured... "So why did you give me your last name?"

D: "I wanted to." If Kagami thought it was getting a better, or clearer, answer than that then he was sorely mistaken.

K: "....You know that answer doesn't help, right?" Nevertheless, he bumped the tip of his nose against Danzo's, smiling. And he may have brushed lips against the side of the other man's mouth as well. "So, how about that razor?" If there was one thing Kagami hated, it was he hedgehog feel on his face thanks to all that stubble.

D: He huffed a breath, then made to retreat again. "There isn't one in the bed.” K: Kagami's first instinct was to try and hold the other man back, a million other questions on the very tip of his tongue now. But he recollected himself, and nodded vaguely, letting his grip around Danzo's wrists loosen considerably so that the other could pull away. In time, he will ask. For now, there was no need to complicate matters any further. That, and he really needed to shave. "I wouldn't be surprised if you slept with one among the arsenal of other things~" Kagami laughed, pushing the blanket away to stand up and stretch, pointedly keeping away from the window, and not a care in the world about his state of undress. It wasn't like Danzo was a stranger to that anyway.

...Only, he may have forgotten that other people might have popped into the house around that time of day when he opened the room door, rubbing the sleep out of his eye.

D: The reception was immediate, and from a gold eyed young twenty-something with pale skin, black hair, and a sweeping outfit that most would definitely call a pretty dress style of kimono. And.... there was definitely interested staring.

Danzo blinked, then shook his head and cleared his throat. "I have an in suite, remember?"

K: "Nah I was just going to get some water." --In response to Danzo. Kagami stared right back at the person on the other side of the door, not really making any move to cover himself up. "I take it you're Orochimaru, then." Somehow, he was able to put two and two together from Danzo's description of the guy the previous night. 

...He was just curious as to why he was standing right in front of Danzo's door. The look in his eyes probably demanded an answer to that, too.

D: Orochimaru tilted his head and rather blatantly roamed his eyes from head to toe.... and to be fair, he was fairly girly looking without even trying... and with the apparent makeup... "So Danzo's been talking about me~?"

Danzo sighed and got off the bed, moving to the closet. "If you lick him I'll be very displeased with you Orochimaru. Not. For. You."

K: Truth be told, it took everything in him to resist hiding behind the door when he felt eyes on him. Not that he had Orochimaru to blame; Kagami figured the other man was doing it on purpose since Kagami had been rather rude to step outside with barely a thread on his person. "Not really." Don't get your hopes up, dude, because technically he only mentioned the guy after Kagami had asked about the clothes. 

That part about licking, however-- "Wait what--?! If you lick me, I'll rip out your tongue." That was a threat he was willing to follow through, by the way. He might have closed the door just enough so that most of him was covered behind it now, just a little confused about what Danzo meant by not for you-- Hrm. 

D: "Awww, but he's such a nice one too... fine." He huffed a breath, then turned to head down the hall. "At least Kabuto appreciates me." 

Danzo, having taken the time to dress, was amused. "Don't mind him any Kagami."

K: "Su--" Suck. "Nevermind." What?! He shut the door the moment the man left, though, thirst set aside for later. He was staring at Danzo, still leaning against the door. "You said you didn't have time for boyfriends." 

What else had that guy been licking, good god. Here's demanding an explanation, Danzo. 

D: "I don't have a boyfriend." His tone was so very dry. "That's one of my foundlings. The first one, in fact."

K: "Yeah? What's he talking about licking and sucking then?" So very uneasy in this house now...

D: "Because you're undressed and he likes to oggle men." He shook his head slightly. "He's been doing that since he got over his shyness. The boy is absolutely brilliant. A scientist."

K: Kagami pursed his lips together and went  o grab the clothes he'd tossed under the bed the night before, frowning a little harder when he realized those were Orochimaru's he was going to be wearing. "I don't doubt he is. And he isn't really a kid if he's just about ten years younger than us." You're making them look older, Danzo. 

Kagami was dressed in no time after that, and ended up walking around the bed putting it in order. The sheets were ironed out with his hand and boxed in at the corners, pillows fluffed, and the blankets set the same way they had been before they'd gone to bed the previous night. Having done all of that, Kagami headed downstairs to get something to drink like he'd said he would, weary of Orochimaru's presence because the guy was going to notice he was wearing his old clothes...

D: "He's twenty-two, and I found him when he was twelve, it's hard to not see him as a boy." It was a comment that chased Kagami out the door.

It wasn't Orochimaru who was there though, instead being a young teenager with white hair and brown eyes, who looked up, then straightened when he got a good look at the man. "You're the new one then?"

K: "Actually, I think it's pretty hard to see him as a boy at all!" came the retort as Kagami headed downstairs. He paused at the kitchen when he was met with yet another person in the house, then resisted rolling his eyes as he walked over to grab a glass to get some water in. "Why, good morning to you, too." 

D: Kabuto didn't even try to resist the urge to inspect, drifting closer and looking the man over with a frown. "Yes, of course. Good morning. forgive my manners."

K: He was only wearing those shorts, and when he felt eyes on him-- again-- Kagami consciously pulled his pants up just a little, just in case. He was busy drinking his fifth glass of water when he finally looked over his shoulder at the boy. "Am I in your way?" Did you need the sink? Why else would you be staring D:<

D: "Do you have a plan for getting back up to a healthy body mass?"

K: Kagami sighed audibly, filling his glass up again. Apparently he was very thirsty. "This is pretty damn healthy by Pakistan's standards." This person must be Kabuto, that physician guy Danzo was talking about. As for a plan to getting back up to speed with his weight and things, he did have plans, but he wasn't in the mood to share. Instead, Kagami moved towards the fridge to try and figure out if they had eggs. 

D: He hummed, then slipped away out of the room without another word. Not a moment later Kagami was joined by the last members of the entourage, the pair of children from the plane. Danzo followed these two in shortly. "It seems the reprieve is at an end."

K: He only looked up when Danzo spoke. "Reprieve?" And-- oh. He spotted the little ones, eyes falling straight on to the littlest. Kagami's lips pressed into a thin line and he stared hard at the boy for a good long moment before slamming the fridge door shut, eggs forgotten. It hurt to even look at the child. "Mind if I made breakfast?"

D: "Feel free." Danzo paused, exasperation coming to his face when the youngest of the lot moved right to him and wrapped around his leg. "Yes, it seems that Kabuto and Orochimaru were only here to drop these two off while they attended to a few things."

K: "That's good news and bad news. So we're babysitting?" He opened up the fridge again and squat down to inspect the contents thoroughly. "So, what do you guys feel like having today?" The question was addressed to the little guys, of course, but Danzo could pitch in his suggestions too, of course.

Kagami glanced at the other man when the littlest one wrapped around his leg. He tried ignoring it, and tried ignoring Danzo's reaction-- but in the end, blurted out with: "Well aren't you going to pick him up?" Whoops. 

D: Danzo blinked at Kagami at hat declaration, even as Shin went over to poke about the fridge too. "...Why would I pick him up? He's fine where he is."

K: Kagami picked up some sausage and grabbed the box of eggs. "Do you like bacon or sausage? And potatoes, do like potatoes?" The questions were addressed to Shin, and Kagami mentioned freshly squeezed orange juice, too. 

Danzo's response, however, made him sigh and stand up. He turned to place everything on the counter, and gratefully accepted whatever Shin brought to him to cook for them. He was in the process of picking out eggs from the box when he spoke. "Really? And that's why he's clinging to you? Where did you say you picked him up from?" 

D: Shin pointed out the things he liked, being a quiet child, but clearly willing to help.

Danzo leaned down and touched Sai's hair, but made no move to pick up the child. "I didn't say. I only said I hadn't had him long."

K: Kagami had a smile for Shin when the boy tried helping. He gave him little tasks like peeling the skin off the onions-- though he did warn him about eyes watering. "You did say something about the kid being beaten up pretty bad." Or had his ears deceived him on the flight? 

D: "Yes, a couple broken bones, severe scrapes, bruising. He healed rather quickly. I'm sure they left him for dead." He finally did lean down to pick the boy up, sighing as the child had been clinging more tightly, meaning the topic disturbed him. "I fished him out of a dumpster."

K: "And you think he's fine where he is?" Kagami eyed them, glad that Danzo finally picked the boy up at all. "Sure he's healing up fast on the outside, but it's going to take time to heal on the inside. And somebody's got to help that along--" he sent Danzo a look. "--especially if they picked him up. That's called responsibility." For the first time since he'd seen the child, Kagami sent him a smile. He hadn't meant for it to come out like the smiles he'd send Shisui, but-- there was no mistaking the fact that Sai reminded him so much of his own little boy. It wasn't that they looked alike; any toddler Shisui's age would have elicited a similar response. And it did things to his heart to know that someone so tiny and helpless would be left for dead. Why did they live among monsters...? (12:56:18 AM) Pineapple: time to heal on the inside*

D: "I was hardly kicking him away Kagami." He gave the man an agitated look, though that was cut short as the toddler poked at his ear, drawing a stern gaze. There was a beat of eye contact before the boy hid his face in his shoulder, which caused a sigh as he looked back to Kagami. "Sai is the youngest I've found."

K: "Well-- Well don't glare at him, then!" Kagami chuckled at the interaction, then bent to help Shin with getting the vegetables ready for breakfast. "Look, he just needs a lot of cuddles and plenty more smiles." Good luck getting Danzo to smile, he thought to himself, quickly moving to the sink again to wash the fresh produce and then returning to dice things up. 

D: "That was not a glare Kagami." He moved over, leaning on the counter and shifting the child in his hold when Shin leaned up to look at the boy. "And he gets cuddled often, Shin is a very affectionate child."

K: "Looked like one to me~" Kagami grinned, then looked down at Shin, smiling. "I wouldn't doubt it. But it wouldn't hurt if you cuddled him too, sometimes. I don't think it's easy for a kid like that to approach an adult like he just did, so... You know..." What he wouldn't give to cuddle that child like his own. But Kagami erased the thought from his head as quickly as it had come, going back to prepping for their meal. 

D: "He's never hesitated to approach me. He's not shy." He shook his head, shifting his hold so he had a hand free to add something to the pile of things to be cooked.

K: Kagami sighed, loud, perhaps a little louder because Danzo just added another thing to be cooked. But he'd cook it anyway! "You won't stop until I drop everything and admit you're right, hm?" Well, that wasn't happening. Not anytime soon. And Kagami moved over to do some actual cooking now. The potatoes were going to take a bit to boil, though. Good thing they were tiny potatoes. Kagami knew that they were probably never going to agree on the topic of how best to manage little children, but he knew that they would always have different points of view regarding the matter. One was a father, the other wasn't. He knew he didn't have any right to expect the same of Danzo. "How many eggs?"

D: "I merely know this child better, nothing more. If you want shy, I can direct you to one of those easily enough, and this happens to not be."

K: "And I'm just saying that children that age need that kind of thing from an adult in their life. He's not--" Shisui. Yeah no, concentrating on getting breakfast made. "You didn't say how many eggs."

D: "I'm attempting to redirect his attention so I'm not the one he's so tightly fixated on." He let out a sigh. "Three."

K: "Who else does he have then?" Not Orochimaru, he hoped. "Three? And these guys?"

D: "Sai can have one, Shin two. Don't expect Sai to eat much, he still hasn't gotten much of an appetite."

K: "Anything they don't like? Pepper? And where's your beater, I'm making crepes." If he was going to live here and keep house, he was probably going to end up printing out all the new recipes he wanted to try and-- yeah. 

D: "Ah... drawer near the sink? No, I didn't see anything get taken out these two won't eat."

K: "Good! Because I intend on trying out all these recipes and they'll be my official taste testers." He smiled at Shin, and stole a glance at Sai at that. "And I learned a lot in Pakistan, so get ready for some subcontinental and mediterranean dishes. That reminds me--" He walked over to the drawer near the sink in search of said beater. "When are we going shopping?"

D: Danzo noticed the glance, and gave Kagami a thoughtful look. though he noticed Shin nibbling on some of the pieces. "There is no set day."

K: "Ah ah-- not till I've finished cooking, yeah?" He gently pushed the rest of the food out of reach of Shin while he went about getting a bowl and ingredients ready for the crepes. It took a lot of asking and a lot of searching to find what he wanted. "How about tomorrow?" Not only was he going to write a list of groceries, but he also had a few other things in mind. "Hey Shin, do you like football?" 

D: Shin squinted at the man, obviously confused by the question. "Football?" It was the first thing he'd actually said.

Danzo made a small noise of amusement even as he inclined his head, turning his attention tot he toddler he was holding, who he suspected of being asleep.

K: "Yeah, football. Have you never heard of it before?" Kagami shot Danzo a look of concern then, but quickly focused on the boy once more. "It's a lot of fun. I could teach you if you want? Do you have a football lying around somewhere, Danzo?"

D: Shin made a confused face. "Okay?"

 Danzo blinked, then hummed softly. "Television isn't a big thing."

K: "Great! Let's start tomorrow then, shall we? I'll go get us a ball first. So, what do you like doing, Shin?" Kagami cocked an eyebrow at Danzo's answer. "Yeah? Well at least get the kids out and play? It's good for them, get their muscles developing and stamina up and keep their hearts in good shape." That was all mumbled. 

Eventually, Kagami got around to poking the potatoes to check if they were boiled through, and when he'd gotten through peeling them when they were finally done, he set about rolling up crepes, stuffing them with all the things. 

D: "Sword practice!" Shin perked up as he said this, because he really wasn't into the sciency things like the two he lived with and was always excited for the sword practice.

"In moderation, it's fine. Don't get him overexcited about too much physical activity."

K: Kagami perked up at the mention of 'sword practice' too. "Really? What kind of sword?" Suddenly, Kagami's head was swimming with stories from ancient Japan and China and India and Europe. Stories he'd been storing up to tell. Perhaps they could re-enact some of them, he thought. Talk strategy and roleplay. It would be tons of fun. ...And it would be a good way to keep him occupied and keep his thoughts far away from the morbid. 

"Well obviously, I wasn't saying you ought to train them at the Olympics level." But Kagami was already grinning so wide about the prospect of sword fighting that he handed the first crepe to Shin. 

The house was going to be turned upside down pretty soon, he had a feeling. Fair warning, Danzo D:

D: "One that's small enough. Da won't give me a bigger one until I'm bigger." The boy huffed softly.

Danzo looked disgruntled. "Shin, name. And I didn't mean it that way, Shin has a medical condition that's accelerated by physical strain. It's minor, but will move quickly when he gets older."

K: "Hey hey, don't be so upset. You can do a lot more than you think with a short sword than a huge one. Dad's probably right about that." Hah! Dad. Kagami was trying his darndest not to smirk. "And well, if it's going to hurt you, then we probably should be careful, yeah?" He'd talk about medical conditions later, he supposed. Not in front of the child. Nevertheless, Kagami reached down and ruffled the boy's hair, gently patting his cheek before he let go and eventually went to set the table. There was orange juice sitting in a pitcher as well.

D: "He wasn't calling me dad. He was just shortening my name." Again. He was going to blame Orochimaru for that, he's the one that liked to share that joke with the younger or newer ones. 

Shin nodded at once, clearly happy enough with that answer.

K: "That's German for Dad. Same difference~" Just as long as the kids didn't end up calling him Ma. Here's hoping the older ones weren't that cruel. 

....Kagami didn't trust them, though---

D: "He's not a German speaker. None of those are in the country right now." He huffed the words and shifted Sai carefully to his other arm.

K: "Shut up and eat, Danzo," Kagami said, laughing as he pushed a chair out for his friend. "Do you want me to take him so you can eat or--?" Was he planning on waking Sai up, too?

D: He frowned at the boy, then sighed. "Better you not take him. He'll bite you if he wakes up in your arms." He instead jostled the child, seeing if he was sleeping light enough for that to wake him.

K: Kagami's face fell at that, but he quickly looked away to cover the shadow that passed over his face at the time. Meanwhile, he helped Shin reach for the juice before he sat down at the table himself. There weren't any formalities before breakfast, though, and Kagami dug right in without further ado. "I'm making Punjabi food tomorrow, we gotta go shopping for some lamb." 

D: "I know a place that sells it." Once Sai stirred, Danzo leaned over to dump the half awake, and now very confused, child on him. "Here."

K: Kagami was in the middle of a mouthful when Sai was dumped on him. Literally dumped, oi. But he caught the little guy and smiled at him. "Hello." He had to fight the urge to pull the child any closer to him and nuzzle his hair. Jeez, this wasn't Shisui, he had no right-- "Hungry~?" 

D: Sai blinked up at him with big, bewildered black eyes, then leaned up a little to poke at Kagami's face. 

"He hasn't spoken since I got him." He leaned over to pull a plate in to eat, not lingering.

K: Kagami chuckled at the poke, then reached up to gently poke Sai's nose. "Is that a yes~?" 

Kagami sighed sadly at what Danzo had to say. "He'll start eventually. We'll make sure of it." He held up a spoonful of crepe and filling, just big enough for a little mouth to take in. "Ah?"

D: Danzo nodded, and Sai looked at the spoon with solemn intensity for a moment before opening his mouth obediently, big black eyes staring up at the man, curious about him now that he'd been 'introduced'.

K: Kagami smiled warmly at the child, happy that he was responding at all, and gently brought the spoon to the boy's mouth, helping a bit with tipping the contents in his mouth. "Good job~" Kagami grinned, and carved out a larger spoonful of food for himself. "Look at Shin, being a good boy and eating all his breakfast. How about you? Have another bite?" Yup, holding up another spoonful after Sai was done munching over the first. Kagami went quiet for a moment, though, just a little lost as he smiled absentmindedly. "Does Shizuka know...?" He asked at last. He wondered when the 'funeral' was to be...

D: Sai, aware of the way his main person was watching them, reached up and patted the new man's face again.

K: Kagami smiled, just a little sad at so many things at once, then turned his head and pressed a gentle little kiss to Sai's palm. "Ah?" Another bite? 

K: Blending in at Kabul hadn't been a problem till the day he took a bullet to his chest and literally dropped half dead and steadily dying amidst a throng of civilians. He knew then what it felt like to drown-- to drown in your own blood, feel the pressure in your lungs and taste the copper in your throat. Had it not been for Amir and Sayed, Kagami would have been nothing but a mound of dirt somewhere in the desert. Unmarked graves; the Muslims never really left any headstone. 

That was three months ago, and he'd only moved to Kashmir. 

They never found the sniper.

The streets of Kashmir were always burning. Dawn always rolled in like the thunder. By day the markets will open and the air would be filled with the voices of vendors and children playing cricket and the wails of the ambulance and the volleys of gunshots. It smelled of ripe mangos and frankincense and wazwan and blood and burning bodies. It wasn't ideal, but life went on.

Life went on, even for Kagami; even as his heart raced every time he saw a glint in a window or a shadow on the rooftops. Hypervigilance didn't stop him from looking for answer. It had been ten years, and finally. Finally. He was close. He was this close to finding out the truth of what had happened during Desert Fox, this close to finding out why the seventeen they'd killed had never been accounted for... Why they were erased from history. Like they never really existed...

But close was as far as Kagami was going to get, because he knew he was caught. He was a hunted animal being driven to a corner. It would only be a matter of time--

The note began with Sarah & Javier, followed by a random story with randomly capitalized words. Amir had taken it to America, and the contents safely delivered to that box. 

Sarah and Javier. Send Help. 

It was a good thing they had both memorized every single line in the military handbook, because Kagami had sent his friend detailed coordinates of his exact location within a ten meter radius. It would take two days for the information to reach America; he could wait. If they found him before his 48 hours were up, though.... Oh well. 

D: Unlike Kagami, Danzo's years hadn't been spent putting together a family while he worked. He'd been tracking the underground organizations, of course, had found out so much more about the Uchiha than he'd wanted. Just as he'd discovered the existence of the Akatsuki, and a branch of the mafia, which had been his in when he'd been first making his way into that world. It had been intense, time-consuming, and he'd more or less fallen off the grid entirely in the process.

Being in the limelight wouldn't have been safe, so he'd taken care not to be, to build his people up one person at a time, the oldest ones barely a decade younger than him, with the youngest being a three-year-old he mostly took care of personally after he'd found the child bruised up and left for dead in an alley the month before. Most of his people were foundlings like that, carefully groomed over the last decade, starting at everything from toddlers to teens so long as they needed someone to give them a place to go and a purpose. 

He'd disentangled from the mafia position he'd had about four years into building his own up, and he didn't regret it a bit. The message was told to him as soon as it arrived, which was good, because Kagami hadn't actually spoken to him since they'd come home that last time, giving a salutation to one another and a promise that they could be there for each other. 

Thus, when Danzo arrived it was in a black coat, slacks, and a dress shirt, looking as though he'd done well for himself, and like he knew his way around more than well enough. He was alone, and he waited for Kagami to come to him, picking a spot that wasn't in plain view to do so.

K: Shisui hadn't been planned. At least, Kagami hadn't done the planning. Shizuka had wanted him to stay, and had tried to give him incentive-- but the more Kagami dug, the more he unraveled that would put not only himself, but his family in danger as well. So, in the end, she'd lost. Though you couldn't say anyone won. He loved Shisui, but Shisui was the reason he stayed away. That tore him up inside, but he was grateful not to be a soldier without purpose. Scratch that. Ex-soldier. 

Kagami spotted Danzo immediately, but took a while to get close to the man. He wore a dirty shawl that draped over the top of his head and across the lower half of his face. His pheran wasn't unlike those worn by the general public-- faded, beige. 

Close enough now to speak and not be heard, Kagami tugged the shawl to below his chin. He was gaunt, skin weather-beaten and brown, lips chapped and congealed blood peering out through crevices in his lower lip. 

"How's Charlie and Micheal?" 

Continue Mission? 

Way to greet an old friend, but... There was no way out unless he 'died'.

D: "They're doing just fine. They're eager for you to come visit." The reply was soft, and he didn't turn his head as he said it. Someone didn't send a bid for help out like that unless they were desperate, and he had no intention of leaving this man behind when they'd had such a time of it. A decade didn't change a promise, and he knew that Kagami wasn't the kind of man to let go of things.

After a moment, he pushed away from the wall, turning to slip past him in the direction Kagami had come from, stride confident. "We have to work out the travel plans, right?"

Discussing it in the open like this wasn't safe, after all, and the longer they lingered the more likely that something would get out and let people know he was involved. The Uchiha didn't know about him, never had, in fact, and he wanted to keep it that way now that he was more aware of them. He wouldn't put his people at risk if he could avoid it, after all, and marking him as a person of interest would be very bad.

K: Charlie and Micheal. Continue Mission. Eager to come and visit? Kagami's brows dipped just a little, confused. He'd wanted the man to finish him off here. All he had to do was give him what information he had before he took a bullet to his head. 

He was still frowning when Danzo walked past him. Not only did his presence confuse him, it dug up old memories that he still hadn't resolved, things he hadn't put to rest. "Why did you come?" Travel plans. What the hell was he talking about. 

Kagami grit his teeth, then turned to face the other's back. "You weren't supposed to come." Because you're never going to pull the trigger on me. "I can't leave. Unless I've been nailed shut in a coffin, you know I can't leave."

D: "Then we'll nail you and shut you in a coffin Kagami. I'm sure your family will be quite distraught." The tone was idle, as though it wasn't any big concern at all, and he looked over his shoulder. "Come, I know a place where we can discuss."

K: "At least they won't be dead," came the scathing response to that. If Kagami died, then his family would be left alone. That had been the plan, and somehow Danzo was talking of something else. 

Ninety six hours of mentally preparing for his own death-- Kagami had to pause a moment to tell himself that he was still alive. Whether it mattered now or not, he didn't know. He was as good as dead with what he knew anyway. 

He was resigned to the idea that Danzo was going to change all his plans anyway, and that nothing was going to sway him. Not when Kagami was his own man and Danzo probably had a few others in on this. He wasn't sure, but he knew that his own resources had dried out. It was now or never. So he followed his old friend, keeping a safe distance, face mostly covered once more.

D: Danzo finally slipped into a place, and one of his boys, a twelve-year-old, hurried over to him, looking quite the native save his blue eyes. There was a flick of fingers, an inclination of his head, and the child slipped past Kagami out the door once the man was inside, closing it and planting himself outside to keep anyone from venturing in. "Now, we can talk. Jin will keep anyone from entering and he would have informed me if the area wasn't clear."

Danzo then padded over and settled himself in a chair, gesturing for Kagami to do the same. "If you would."

K: Kagami's eyes were troubled the moment he saw the child, and he tucked that scarf 'neath his chin again. "He's a kid." Stating the obvious, but the insinuation was there. What are you doing with a child? Don't you know better than to get children mixed up in this mess? "You flew out here with a kid?" 

And as for chairs.... It had been ages since he had sat in one. So when he sat in the chair offered to him this time, Kagami had to spend a second or two staring at it. He finally settled in, though, arms crossed in front of his chest, waiting for the other man to begin. 

D: "Of course not, he was already out here with two others. They were due for being rotated back to America in the next few weeks but this will move up the timetable to switch them out with someone else so that all gathered information can be sorted." He shook his head, dismissing it. "You'll understand better once you return to the states with me. However, first you have information for me, and we have to discuss how to accomplish your death, correct?"

K: Kagami didn't know which was more appalling-- the fact that Danzo was having kids do soldiers' work smack in the middle of a war zone, or the fact that he was being so cool about stating it. "No," he snapped. "No, I don't want to understand. What the hell are you doing bringing children into this?! Who the hell-- Don't you remember what it feels like living in this hell hole?! How can you put a child through that, Danzo!" 

Perhaps it was the days of preparing for death that drove him to near madness, though he'd done a good job of keeping his cool. This news, however, managed to trigger an unexplained anxiety, a lack of control. It brought the weight of the world on him once more, and he felt it crushing, closing in fast on all four sides. It found him drowning again, drowning in his own blood and tasting pungent copper--

His mind was reeling, lost in itself now. Kagami's hands shook despite his attempts to clutch the flimsy cotton on the sleeve of the pheran. Eyes stared blankly at Danzo, right through him, unfocused. 

But he had to let him know what he knew and yet-- he had to stop in order to begin. 

He needed air. D: Danzo growled, then leaned over, knowing he might be provoking an attack by doing so, and jabbed at Kagami's arm, tensed to defend himself if the man's reflexes kicked in. "You have no idea what I've been doing for the last decade Kagami. None. My people may be young, but I make them do nothing they're not willing to."

K: It did. Despite uncontrollably shaky fingers, his arm shot forward, fingers poised to jab right through Danzo's throat, spear past his trachea and rip through his carotid. It was a move they'd learned in the Marine Corps years ago when they used to be them. And it was a move that was designed to kill. Kagami had no idea that he was doing it, consciousness having slipped away for a moment then, cloudy instead with a whirl of thoughts and emotions that had been eating at him for years, and now they were driving him crazy.

Danzo's words echoed vaguely in the back of his mind, and Kagami stared at him blankly, his fingers heading towards the other's throat at lightning speed.

D: And Danzo was ready for it, twisting back and tipping his chair back to roll out of it and back to his feet, having place a foot to do just that before even considering touching the man who he'd worked so closely with. He'd never fallen out of practice himself, had gotten into things that meant he couldn't afford to, but that didn't mean that he was willing to stay in range of Kagami in the meantime. 

"Focus Kagami."

K: It took him a few seconds, but eventually, Kagami blinked. 

The first thing he did was to look at his hands, make sure there was no blood on them. Only then could he look Danzo in the eye. And yet, even this eye contact lasted for all of a second before he brought both hands up to his face to cover it, elbows pressing into knees as he leaned forward in his seat. He could have been crying, but there were no tears.

I make them do nothing they're noth willing to do. Where had heard that before? Wasn't that the euphemism for brainwashing? Years and years of grooming, of feeding people a purpose, of thinking for them...? 

He sighed, hands moving away from his face and bringing the shawl away from around his head in the process. His hair was the same as it always had been-- only longer. "Fine. I'll tell you what I know." He spoke at last, weaving his fingers together as he stared at the floor. "How much do you know about my family?"

He meant the Uchiha, not his wife and son. And yet his mind wandered over to them. All he had of them was a creased photograph of the three of them with an infant Shisui. It had been three years since he'd last snuck a visit to them.

D: "A great deal. They're a rather strong presence in the East with regards to underground matters." Studying him cautiously for a long moment, he finally returned to his seat, expression neutral but watchful. Unlike the other man, while he'd changed it was all small details, purely age, time. The scar he'd gotten before meeting Kagami was still there, and he was no less fit than he'd once been. 

In all, Kagami seemed far more affected by the passage of time. "You found out something specific?"

K: Kagami spent the majority of his time in places that weren't very hospitable. Back in the Marines, they were trained to get things done within six to eight months. Nothing took this long. 

He shook his head. It didn't mean no, but rather: what a mess. "Uchiha Madara," he mumbled. "I came too close." Saying which, he shot wary glances on either side before reaching for his dogtags, still hanging around his neck. Only this time there was another piece of metal addition hanging from around the chain.

Kagami pulled it off, then handed it to Danzo. "Everything you need to know is in there. It's encrypted, obviously, but nothing you couldn't figure out." Kagami hadn't had time to figure things out. Not all of it, at least. D: He accepted the item and whistled softly, and a girl in her late teens practically appeared from behind him, which Danzo held the metal to so she could take it. There was a moment of pause, a noise of confirmation, then the girl vanished back in the direction she'd come from. "She'll start on that as soon as we're in transit, it's her specialty. Now we have to figure out about you. What methods have they been using to try to kill you?"

K: He cocked an eyebrow, tensing immediately when someone else came into the room. He really didn't want that falling into the wrong hands! But he held his tongue anyway, eyeing the girl till she was completely out of sight, only then focusing on Danzo. There was a dry laugh in response to the question, though.

"Ask me what they haven't been using." He shrugged. "The usual." Planted bombs, attempted kidnapping, poison, women (though he didn't get why they kept sending women at him when he really didn't give a rat's ass). "The sniper missed, I was surprised." Kagami swallowed. That wasn't entirely true; the sniper didn't entirely miss. Not by a long shot. 

D: "Missed killing you, obviously... You don't have an untreated wound that we'll have to factor into this do you?" He leaned forward, studying him carefully from head to toe, watchful and picking out every bit of tension, awareness, pain lines, anything that seemed out of place from his memories.

K: "Yeah." Yeah... He would have died had he been on his own, though. "I've been looked after and treated just fine, thank you." He owed it to Sayed. Dr. Sayed, more precisely. The late Dr. Sayed. It was his fault the man was dead.

Danzo's gaze unsettled him. He knew he'd come undone right before him but he really-- didn't want that to happen right now. So he looked away, averting his gaze to the room they were in, idly studying it. "So what are you going to do with me?"

D: "Kill you, then take you back to America and give you a new life, obviously." He tilted his head. "You'll be coming back on the same flight with me and mine, since the replacements are already on their way and will be in place in short order. They left right after I did."

K: Laughter followed those words. Quiet, mocking, disbelieving laughter. "What? I'm going to pull a ninja Jesus?" He'd changed. Over the years, he had changed. A lot. The rot was mostly on the inside. "Alright. How are you going to do that? C4? Bus bomb? Close range?" He smirked. "Got me a fancy vest?" A bulletproof one, that is. "We gonna leave proof?" Did he need to leave behind an arm or a leg...?

D: "Car 'accident' is the simplest course. We'll throw in a body, I'll fuss the records and we'll be on our way. Do try not to actually die in the process, hmm Kagami?" He was colder. He'd never been the warmer person, but there was definitely more of an arctic chill to his gaze when eh said that, a vicious patience. Even under his half smile. "We'll deal with that tonight, make a go like you're heading for the airport to get out of the country."

K: Kagami grinned. "Seventeeth time's the charm?" He'd been targeted sixteen times before that. Running away and doing what he could to evade detection had almost become second nature to him. But he was being serious now. "Right. Make up a story for me to have access to a car then. I don't own one here."

There were other things he wanted to say instead. Things like It's been so long, how have you been-- Then again he didn't want to hear about the children. It made him uneasy, a little too much of a bitter pill to be swallowing at the moment. 

D: Danzo nodded and got to his feet, hesitating for a moment before reaching over and touching his shoulder. "I'll get everything ready and send Jin for you once I have it in place. Better sooner than later hmm? Before they actually succeed. Lory will be handling the extraction, redhead, early twenties, very Irish looking. Don't fight him, he's the third person on my team here."

K: Kagami nodded vaguely. 'They' were only going to succeed if he let them, he knew. The hand on his shoulder didn't bother him this time, though. Instead, it was a little reassuring than anything. "Irish kid, don't mess with him. Got it." No asking about tossing leprachauns either, Kagami surmised, even if Danzo hadn't said anything about the guy being Irish at all. "Where did you want me to stay till then?" 

D: "Stay here. Jin and Doren will take care of you, though if you see Doren again before the flight consider yourself lucky. She's not exactly fond of men she doesn't know." K: "O...kay?" Now why would Danzo say that? "She isn't some fourteen-year-old or something, is she?" Because that would just be weird, even if Danzo hadn't meant it in that way. 

Kagami reached up to put his dogtags back in, fingers curling around them and stilling for a moment as he thought about how they were going to have to send them home to Shizuka and Shisui. Shizuka probably wouldn't forgive him. He only hoped Shisui would, when the boy grew older. For a moment, a shadow passed over the man's face as he thought about his son. He hadn't seen him in years, only spoken to him twice since coming here the last time. And ow he was never going to see him again. Never going to take him to baseball games or help him with his homework, build treehouses or go camping, read bedtime stories or even attend his high school graduation. 

Kagami's mouth twitched, curving downwards even as he fought against the urge to start feeling sorry for himself and for his little boy. But he steeled himself, finally pushing those dogtags inside and secured the shawl around his neck. "Alright." He looked up at Danzo. "Whenever you're ready."

D: "Fifteen, actually, but there's a reason she's the tech expert on the team." Danzo waved it off, then headed for the door. "Just be aware she's still here even if you don't see her, so you're not startled. She's stealthy and I don't want your reflexes working to a detriment." He paused and looked back. "We'll resolve this soon Kagami." And then he slipped out, leaving the man alone in the room.

K: "Fifteen. But when you put it like that, Danzo--" Kagami stopped, laughing instead. He nodded, taking into account everything the man said before standing to pace the room. He was going to need some time to himself again, just to prepare. Just to let things sink in so that he wouldn't back out at the last moment and ruin things for all of them, then end up actually dead. 

When they found him again, he would be on his knees, waiting, as calm as one could get. Eerily so. ...Like a man resigned to the fact that he was going to meet his maker. 

D: It was a mess, with Jin throwing himself into the room, clapping his hands out of easy attack range and alone. It had been hours, and the boy had gone from beggar attire to upscale merchant kid between then and now. He had no local accent at all when he spoke, and his voice was very soft. "Lory got a vehicle for you and left it for you if you'll come with me?"

K: Kagami never spoke, only got to his feet before following the boy. Natural instincts were to look out for the kid as well, but he suspected that Jin was probably trained enough to not really need his help. They were running this, Kagami was only following through. 

When he got to the waiting vehicle and sat inside, the first thing Kagami did was set his mirrors straight like any other driver would have done. He wasn't informed of any modifications done to the car, so he supposed that it was either going to be some sort of chase, or an explosion in the parking lot. He turned the key in the ignition. "You better not get anyone else killed in this or it's all on me," he mumbled, putting the car into gear and hitting the gas, kicking up a huge cloud of dust behind him as he drove off, as instructed, in the direction of the airport.

D: Such things often had a level of unpredictability... and this time it was a bullet through the windshield and another that took out one of the wheels to send him spinning wildly off the road. Suffice to say that the resulting chaos involved a small explosion, a lot of fire, and chaos as the redheaded boy appeared and dragged him away from it, someone else left in his place as the vehicle really went up. 

In all, it was clear that there had been more than one set of hands involved and it had gotten Kagami closer to death than had been strictly intended.

K: It probably got him closer to death mostly because he literally froze after that first bullet. It wasn't like him to freeze up and not put his reflexes into action, but the brush with death three months ago at the hands of that sniper-- 

By the time the explosion had kicked in and Lory had whisked him away,

Kagami had regained his senses, regained conscious thought, enough to remember to walk back into the inferno and place his chain and dogtags around the dead man's neck. By the time the Kashmiri army division had been alerted to the explosion, he was wading in the murky waters of the Jhelum, walking cautiously under the bridge before finally being smuggled out into the jet that would get him home to the United States. 

Somehow he fit into the clothes waiting for him. And it covered up any hint of bandages he might have received for the minor burns. Wow, how long has it been since he was in regular pants??? D: Once they were on the plane, Danzo reappeared, settling next to him comfortably as they started their flight back to more civilized areas, and from there it would be a hop to overseas transport, as well as a plane change. There was almost no one on the aircraft beyond Danzo's group. The trick had been getting Kagami onto the plane without drawing pursuit. "And now, we go to America."

K: Had Danzo said that aloud, Kagami would have slugged him for it. Every bit of human inhabited earth was civilized enough to be just as corrupt. Only America was more clean and classy at it. 

Kagami eyed the man sat next to him, then turned to look outside the window. "Home sweet home," he muttered, mockingly. Whatever he'd found about the Uchiha and their role in pretty much everything, he'd been disgusted with himself, with the country he'd pledged to serve. He couldn't even pass it off as collateral damage or something necessary to keep the peace. All those years of drilling into your head that you were going to live and fight and die for the country you loved, for freedom-- A soldier needed a purpose to fight. A soldier needed a purpose to live. Anyone could guess what happened when it all came crumbling down. 

"So. Has much changed since we last saw each other?" He'd been to America a total of five times since, and only for periods of 3-4 months at a time.

D: As he didn't have to worry about being overheard... "I happen to have a crime syndicate now, technically."

K: A crime syndicate. Kagami burst out with a chuckle. "So what are you, Ulltraman or Johnny Quick?" But his demeanor changed to something more serious almost immediately after. "Kids, huh? Since when?" 

D: "About two years after we left the Marines. It was a... decision made in the moment, and I have no regrets because of it." He paused, tilting his head as he heard a commotion in the back, then rubbed his face with one hand. 

“Unfortunately it comes with irritatingly persistent responsibility with the younger ones. One moment." He pushed out of his chair, heading in the direction where the unmistakable sound of a young child gearing up to scream was coming closer to where they were. "I couldn't leave him in America, unfortunately, he's still... delicate."

K: "Why kids--" He turned his attention to the commotion as well, only to set his mouth in a grimace when he saw the child. Kagami turned away, looking out the window instead. He said nothing, only blocked out the child's presence. The kid couldn't have been a few months younger than Shisui. 

It was going to be a long flight back to America. 

D: "Because they're the ones people don't want Kagami." He knelt and quieted the child with a stern look, letting the boy snuffle into his shoulder for a moment before handing him to the ten-year-old that trailed after the still rather bruised up toddler. At least he was on the tail end of his healing, if the grip was any indication. "Keep a better eye on him, he's going to be yours to take care of as soon as he stops needing constant attention, you know that." He kept his voice low, and when the other boy dipped his head in understanding, Danzo finally disengaged the child and handed him to the boy. Immediately, the pair ducked back the direction they'd come from. 

Looking highly annoyed by the whole thing, he brushed at his shoulder and returned to his seat, looking over at Kagami. "You know I abhor waste."

K: "Right. Waste." It was grit out. Kagami was still looking out the window, watching them pass over the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. "Doesn't mean it makes it any better to train them for things like this." Flying over the desert that would be Pashtun tribal land, Kagami's thoughts went back to the son he was leaving behind. Where was he going to stay now, he wanted to ask, but was too preoccupied with other things to bring the question up. 

D: "And you would rather I do what? Stick them in an orphanage where they'll get shuffled around foster care and possibly end up right back where they started? Not everyone is combat oriented, not everyone is in the field. I just make sure they know how to care for themselves, whatever else comes of it depends on how they grow."

K: "Well, fine. Take them in. Take them in but let them make their own damn choices without you feeding 'purpose' to them. See where that got us." This time he did look at Danzo, eyes burning with a different kind of resentment. "You can be their goddamned savior but you have no right to get them mixed up in things like this. No child deserves that." That's right, not even Shisui. Except it was inevitable that he would be, in the end... 

D: "You think I've been doing extensive conditioning." There was a tinge of humor in his tone. "I am one man Kagami. My organization is not as small as you seem to believe it is."

K: "You think one man can't do enough?" He could point out to so many examples in history, but chose not to at the moment. He tried reasoning with himself, forcing himself to remain calm and not let the little things bother him. But it was hard. Living like a rat running from a snake for three years, he was tired, wary... and tired of being wary. 

D: "No, I think I can do a great deal... but I cannot build a system that will simply break Kagami, that would be beyond pointless."

K: Kagami looked away again, a hand held up dismissively. He didn't want to broach the topic of conversation anymore. Perhaps they'd taken very divergent paths since the last time they met, he thought. And who was he to judge? He only wanted his family safe, and Danzo had given him what he'd wanted. Perhaps he ought to stop being so unsatisfied with the results. 

"Where am I staying when we get there?" 

D: He studied him for a long moment... then sighed. "With me. hardly ideal, but it's the safest place for you."

K: A decade ago, that would have been the right answer to everything. That would have been the answer he'd been looking for, as far-fetched as it may have sounded at the time. But they hadn't talked about it, and Kagami had decided to humor his parents and settle down. It had been a loveless marriage at first, but over the years they had gotten closer. Close enough to have dreamt of raising a family together, even if Shisui hadn't been Kagami's idea at the time. It was funny how one could consider one's wife as a 'friend', but one's children? They became your world. 

"Hn. Do they live with you?" He meant the children. For some reason, he couldn't get the image of Faggin and the orphans from Oliver Twist out of his mind. D: "No. The only two who even spend time in my home are Shin and Sai, the pair that I was speaking to, and usually they live with one of the young women I know and my medical prodigy. He's been taking care to get Sai recovered from his injuries. I doubt he would have healed even half so quickly if not for that."

K: That somehow brought a whole new set of problems for Kagami. Ones that he knew he would overcome with time, but... Two little children under the same roof? "Right. Well. Wake me up when we get there." 

Saying which, Kagami turned away from the other man, staring out the window for a good few seconds before finally closing his eyes. He planned on sleeping all the way to America, fuel stops included. He had no recollection of when he'd last caught some proper sleep. "And don't let that kid near me," he added before he finally drifted off. 

D: Danzo shook his head and sighed. "I promise that that will be nothing you have to worry about." He didn't try to wake him though, instead attending to things and checking on the progress with the information.

K: Kagami grunted in response, thoughts circling around why he felt this way at all. Why all the resentment, he thought, as he drifted off to sleep. Was it because he didn't think it was fair for him to be ripped off his family when Danzo literally had his own, or was it because he had hoped things would go back to the way they used to be, without any children or attention grabbing mini-humans in the picture. Especially that tiny one. 

He hated himself for thinking this way.

Fuel stops and plane changes later, Kagami finally properly awoke just in time to watch them fly over American soil. He hadn't eaten a thing, and woke up parched and looking for water.

D: "Cup holder under your left side." He didn't even look over, having heard the man, and he was currently flipping through a stack of papers, a scowl etched onto his face.

K: He barely mumbled a thanks before reaching for it and chugging down its contents. Kagami tried speaking, but had to clear his throat first. Wow, had it really been that long since he'd actually slept? "What's wrong?" Just a casual question, though there was no telling if something was actually wrong or if Danzo was just being Danzo--

D: "Just sorting out your legal paperwork and fighting off a headache about a mess one of the boys caused while I was out of the country." He waved it off. "He got himself recognized and now I have to work through that mess of legalities as well."

K: "Ah. Something any good father would do, I bet." Obvious sarcasm, but there was a tinge of humor as well. "So. Do I get a cool name?" He leaned over to try and see what the other man was doing. 

D: He huffed a soft amused breath at the words. Still... he was looking at him sideways and sank down in his seat, just a little. "I was giving that final considerations...”

K: "Hey. You don't get to pick my name." And yet-- "So, what did you come up with? Something easy to yell out when the occasion calls for it?" Like when Danzo got mad and Kagami's name had enough vowels to belt out with all the fury contained in one voice. It was the same reason you didn’t pick a name ending with a hard letter for your pet in the event you wanted to yell out for it...

D: Danzo looked.... flustered. Though his tone was perfectly level when he spoke, and he righted himself in his chair, he still managed to pull off an intense sense of being flustered. He had resumed writing by the time he spoke again. "Kazuki Shimura."

K: Had Kagami still been drinking that water, he'd have been choking. But all he could do right now was unintentionally crumple the plastic cup. Despite Kagami's newly acquired tan, he was turning pink, and watching Danzo didn't help either, because he did notice how flustered the man was. "Sh-Shimura?" Just asking.

He needed to make sure. Shimura. Really? "But that's... your name..." Again, Captain Obvious states the obvious but the question held a different kind of weight to it. A different kind of uncertainty. "Am I to pretend that I am your brother or--" People already would have known Danzo's background to know that he didn't have a Kazuki Shimura listed as a brother. Which begged the question.... 

Cousins, perhaps? 

D: "Of course not." He didn't look up, instead flipping a page and continuing to carefully work.

K: "Cousin?" He was going to press the subject. "Grown up teenaged son? With a little make-up I could pass for one." Just not saying the other word. "What State?" Was it one of the states that had legalized or recognized gay partnerships. 

....What would Shisui think if he found out?! 

D: "No, and no. I haven't decided, given the options available." He shifted, leaning closer to the desk, seeming calmer as the questioning went on.

K: Kagami went quiet for a while, throwing out the occasional 'fourth cousin twice removed' and 'brother from another mother' suggestions. It took him a whle, but he finally got to it. "Partner?" He watched the man write, first focusing on the pen, and then at the other's profile. 

D: That finally made him pause, pen lifting from the paper. "Do you find the name objectionable?"

K: "No, no. I was just wondering why you picked your last name for mine. That would suggest I'd have to play out some kind of relationship if anyone asked, so... Just preparing myself." It wasn't objectionable. He was only curious as to why Danzo would choose to give him his name... 

D: "You aren't required to do so Kagami." He was quiet a moment, then frowned at the paper intently for a moment. "Did you have another suggestion then?"

K: "No..." A pause. "No, I'm good." Kazuki. He repeated the name a few times in his head. "What does it mean?" And yes, he might have been testing his theory out in a roundabout way. Kagami did know his Japanese despite being an American citizen.

D: There was a beat of pause, then he pulled a paper, a blank one, to him, and scribbled out the kanji, flipping the paper so he could see the full name together. It read, as a full name, as 'radiant harmony with intent for the village.' He didn't doubt Kagami could read it, and he didn't say anything. He was, after all, still himself, and no matter what became of his government, he still had his loyalties, and knew he wasn't the only one.

K: Intent for the village wasn't what made Kagami smirk. It was the radiant harmony bit that did. "Radiant harmony?" He glanced at the other man over the piece of paper. "Gay." Have a grin. The other translation was 'one hope', and neither one was less hilarious given the situation. 

It was also perhaps the first time that Kagami had actually smiled since his three years away from home... And it showed. Despite the ordeals written on his face and in his eyes, it showed. This smile was different. 

D: He looked up at him then, looking at his face... and a touch of a smile reached his too. "Perhaps I felt that appropriate."

K: Kagami laughed. And again, that was the same laugh he'd had years ago, not tainted or jaded in any way. A playful punch to Danzo's shoulder ensued. "You felt it was appropriate because you thought it sounded pretty pansy? What's that tell me about your opinion of me, huh?" He was joking, of course, and, still laughing, settled back in his seat. He was smiling to himself when the laughter faded. "No, I like it. It doesn't do me justice, though, so that does raise some questions~" He sent the other man a wink. Kagami might have been barely thirty-five, but he had already acquired a few crows' feet...

D: "Perhaps that's the case. Or perhaps I happen to have a rather... interesting impression of you, mm?" He looked back down to the papers, carefully starting to fill in the name spots. "Though it might have changed over the years."

K: If anything, Kagami didn't like what Danzo said last. It bothered him. He shifted in his seat. "Changed?" How...? He didn't even know what kind of opnion the man had had of him in the past. At least, there was no concrete one.

Especially with the unexplainable 'inappropriate' behavior they had indulged in from time to time.

Thinking about that, however, made the color rise to his cheeks again.

D: "I don't know." It was a murmur and he looked at him again. "I haven't had time to see how, or if, that might be the case."

K: For a moment, their eyes met, and Kagami didn't really know what to say. He was caught off guard just then, and had to look away, back at the ground they were circling. "Nothing's changed," he said at last, idly fingering the crumpled plastic cup that was in his hand. Nothing had changed. About anything. That much he was certain of.

D: He smiled, just a little, and then collected the papers to put in the case tucked beside the table for landing. "...Then the name was appropriate."

K: He said nothing in response, choosing to ponder instead. He might have smiled, too. Getting used to going by Shimura was going to take some getting used to, obviously, but nothing he couldn't manage, he figured. 

When they finally landed, Shisui was the first to take off his seatbelt, immediately stretching his legs while the plane was still moving to a stop on the runway. "Tell me you have hot water and a king sized bed I can roll around in." He had plans to sleep diagonally and spread-eagled on any bed that he was allowed to sleep in. It had been a while.

D: "A bathtub with jets and a Queen." It was an amused statement, and he got up, gathering everything together and setting it to the side.

K: "Hnnnn~?" It was that little noise Kagami made when he was smirking and cocking an eyebrow and making a big deal of something that was going on. "A bathtub with jets?" Suddenly, he couldn't wait to get to their destination. He stood as well. "Wow. I know we get a pension, but not that much of a pension.

Still. No king-sized bed, huh?" Perhaps he was a little disappointed.

And, he was surprised what a few hours of sleep had done to his mood---

D: "Do you really think that's my entire income?" He shook his head, then headed for the stairs being pulled down, case in hand. "But... Unlike you, I found a Queen perfectly comfortable."

K: "Well, no. But you wouldn't use that money to build your house-- or did you?"

He whistled, following Danzo to the aircraft's exit. "And a queen's fine. Hell, even a blanket's fine. I'm not complaining." Kagami looked around him, wondering if one of Danzo's 'people' were going to give him instructions before they got off the plane...

D: It didn't happen though, instead Danzo headed down to a sleek black sports car looking over his shoulder at him. "I did have my house built."

K: Which he took as his cue to follow. Kagami still was wary, ducking into the car as soon as he possibly could just to avoid being out in the open where he'd be a sitting duck. "So did I. Well, not really. We renovated an old one. It's pretty nice, though. You should come see it onc--" He paused mid-sentence, remembering that he couldn't really go back. "Nevermind." 

D: "...We'll sort out what to do about that, don't worry." It was a murmur, and he reached over once he was in the driver's seat to pull the buckle across, amused that Kagami had gotten distracted from it.

K: "Do about what...?" What was left to do about his house anyway? It was already built and inhabited, just that he wasn't going to be able to see it in-- well, forever. Or was Danzo taling about something else? Kagami sure was distracted.