[Fourze/Pagebreak/Etc Mushball Universe, specifically tagging Kazari and Etienne, but open to all]

[sushisamurai]

It's good to be back in Japan. France was nice, but there's something about being home that just feels right.

I fall back into my sushi peddling ways with ease, putting my old cart to good use as I walk the city in search of customers. Daigoyou and my origamis are wonderful company, but I do miss being one of Take-chan's samurai.

Just a bit.

I set my cart in a nicely populated area, there's a school that's just getting out nearby, and lots of people milling about. I rest my hands on my hips and nod with determination.

"Gold Sushi, open for business!"

Comments

[kabukisamurai]

I almost refuse Genta's offer of an ice pack: this injury is for me to bear and should well serve as a reminder never to be so carelessly trusting again.

But it does hurt, and he's so distressed, so subdued that I take it and hold it against my arm with a sigh.

Oh, no. "Kotoha." I moan softly, hanging my head and considering beating it against his cart for good measure. "I hope that is not the case, but it is possible. They are... they are not at all themselves, but they are capable of... pretending to be, I suppose."

[sushisamurai]

I turn away from Ryuunosuke for a moment, trying to keep myself composed, keep myself as optimistic as always. As the others have come to expect me to be.

Things are different now. A lot has changed.

Quite suddenly I find that I've put my fist through one of the panels of my cart, just narrowly missing putting my hand through the glass of Ika and Ebi's tank instead.

[kabukisamurai]

I startle when Genta promptly destroys a part of his cart. I've never seen him quite so angry, even the first time we had Tono taken from us, used against us.

I take two long strides to his side and grip his arm, carefully drawing his hand out and checking for cuts or abrasions. "Save it." I tell him tersely. Even if it were just Tono, and we had the rest of us at hand to help retrieve him, I would still be in charge. "Save it for the demon that took him from us."

[sushisamurai]

My knuckles are bleeding, quite freely, but I can't really feel it. My chest hurts too much for that.

I give Ryuunosuke a sharp nod, not embarrassed about my outburst of rage. If anything it served the purpose of rallying Ryuunosuke, shaking him out of his guilt and giving him a good swift kick into his role as Take-chan's second.

"What should we do?"

[kabukisamurai]

I stare at Genta for a moment, then wonder if maybe he did that on purpose. I can't worry about my own guilt right now. I still have one member of the team to protect, to defend, to stand beside. I owe him more than my own wallowing.

I cast around for a moment, then let his makeshift ice pack fall open, scattering the ice and reaching for his hand, wrapping the cold damp cloth around his bleeding hand.

"For now, we'll return to the mansion."