#scarbladed

❝ oho !! are you new to chaldea ?? ❞

the other posed as no familiarity to musashi, nor sparking any sense of remembrance she held. her memory was flawless, so it had only affirmed the dual-wielders assumption that he was possibly a newer addition to the already large number of servants that dwelled amongst one another. saber was a pleasant woman, introducing herself with warm and heartfelt intent.

    “You’re curious about Reshiram?” Lelouch lowers his coffee back to the table, a finger smudging away a ring of water. Then it raises to his lips, pushing at them thoughtfully. “Hm.”

    He’s conflicted. On one hand, who is he to deny Kenshin the information he seeks--and wouldn’t it be fascinating if they ended up on alternate sides, with Lelouch positing as the Hero of Ideals, and Kenshin championing the Truth? Of course, this may just be wishful thinking. Lelouch has yet to discover the Dark Stone; has heard rumors of it traveling between Team Plasma’s hands and their king.

     Lips part slightly, mild surprise writing itself on his face as he glances, watches the other sit and pat the spot next to him. His brow furrows just a bit, gaze shifting from red hair to tea and back up again. It’s... a kind gesture. A gesture that Suzaku doesn’t quite know how to register. Perhaps kindness is still so foreign to him. Something that he feels he doesn’t quite deserve.

     And he debates it.

     ( Should I? But why? What’s the point in this? Why is this being extended to me, there’s so many others out there and yet— )

     Back and forth, back and forth, until finally he shifts and he steps close. Knees bend and Suzaku’s sitting, not too close but close enough, with his hands on his thighs, clenched in fists and gaze fixed at his knees. And he shifts his position, drawing his legs up to let his fingers clutch at his knees, gaze still staying fixed on his legs for a moment as he continues his inner turmoil.

     But it’s not bad.

     It’s calming, in a way. It’s weird. It shouldn’t be him– his gaze lifts and chances a glance, catches the gentleness of the man’s face. And it makes his stomach knot up, shoulders tensing and gaze dropping once more.

     ( Is this really okay? To have this gentleness and kindness extended towards me? Is it okay to accept it? To relish in it? I’m not worthy of it– please, don’t be kind to me. )

     “... Thank you,” Suzaku finally speaks, mumbling quietly under his breath.  He shrinks a little, curls in on himself for a moment before lifting his head and letting his gaze look to the man once again. And there’s the vague ghost of a smile, despite the sadness in his eyes, as he leans back into his knees and grips harder, “... This kind of reminds me of when I was younger.”

     ( Before I— that incident happened... before everything happened. When it was all okay. )

She often hated her conscience - now being one of those times; leading a lost child while remaining just out of sight, staying just far enough ahead so that they couldn’t lay eyes on her, moving just slowly enough so they wouldn’t loose her in the bushes and trees.

Once the village came into view she finally hid herself away, feeling the nauseating sensation that always accompanied her body destabilizing, sliding seamlessly into the earth as the child stumbled out of the bushes, calling for her to wait, that they wanted to go home...before realizing they were there.

The family soon appeared, after hearing their cries, running and gathering up the child who spoke rapidly about a stranger who silently lead the way back as they were carried into the settlement; she refused to emerge from the hard packed earth again until she was absolutely certain that the villagers had turned in for the night.

She took precautions of course, sticking the deepest shadows of the trees as she slowly reformed on the forests edge, feeling a strange mixture of longing, envy and anxiety as she gazed at the hamlet; it took concerted effort this time to walk back into the woods, and away from the human community.

She didn’t belong there - she never would again and her presence would only attract more danger...

            He could count a thousand stars in the sky and it wouldn’t be enough. He should have gone home. He should have bought some sake and drank in the middle of his quiet, empty house on the other side of town. But it wasn’t really home, not the way the dojo had become. He would never tell them that much, but he was sure they knew it all the same. Sanosuke vaguely recalled telling Kaoru goodbye and goodnight, sometime after dinner. Kenshin had cooked; the only reason their meal was even palatable. He wasn’t sure how Kenshin could eat her food so calmly, but he supposed that’s why they’d end up a nice couple.

           Which they would. Eventually. At some point. He wasn’t as dense as most believed him to be. He just didn’t care. If only that apathy could extend to the rest of his meandering thoughts, it’d be great. It didn’t. Which was why he was sat at the edge of the deck, staring at the innumerable stars. He wasn’t sure how long it’d been since everything went silent. Couldn’t remember saying goodnight to Kenshin, much less whether he’d spoken to the other at all. 

          Where was his mind at?

          Sanosuke shook himself physically. Just needed to sleep. That’s all. Stop thinking about... things and people that no longer mattered. That couldn’t matter. He shoved his hands into his pockets, about to set out--finally--when he caught red in his periphery. He turned, slouching lazily as if trying to pull off that nonchalance so easily found in day time. It felt...odd, too tense on his frame. On the edge of one of those cloying bad moods that made him itch for a fight. 

        ❛  why wouldn’t I be comfortable in your true form?  ❜ oh, hush. she waves a dismissive hand at him at his chastising over her clothes. she finds it amusing as much as she finds it endearing. she steps aside to let him light their fire, picking up her sword to keep it away from the impact. 

       ❛  it’s not that cold -- but the sun is setting soon.  ❜ she won’t say no to warming up a bit, at least. Kaoru drags a blanket to set beside it, spreading it enough for two people. she taps the seat beside her, looking up at the dragon almost expectantly.