[Mushball Universe, Dark!Shinkengers plot]

[interpolate]

After my up-close-and-personal encounter with Messiah's lieutenant, I found myself waking up in a world of pain, back at base, and sure of exactly one thing: I have to save him.

I let Takosawa mother-hen at me for three days, which is three whole days more than I want to put up with that kind of behavior, and is about six months less than Takosawa bargained for. It'll be a while before the octopus in question forgives me for undermining his authority by going directly to the commander and requesting to be placed back on active duty as soon as possible, which, considering there's only four of us equipped to do this job, is basically guaranteed as soon as I'm capable of standing.

Of course, I'm still not combat ready, what with this limp, and the semi-frequent headaches, and the still healing bruises. But I'm well enough to return to deep cover at the High School, which is precisely what I want anyway.

Comments

[red_pleather]

I've been notified that Etienne's coming back to school today. I was ordered back here once we were sure he wasn't dead. I fought, but had to go eventually.

I stand by the entrance. Then pace. Then stand again. Then keep pacing. He can't be ready. He can't be.

I can't let him get hurt again.

[interpolate]

I think I'm doing pretty well to make it to school at all. I'm not sure how I'm going to survive the entire day with this limp, but at least I haven't been struck with a headache, yet.

I was told the official story is that I was in a traffic accident. I suppose that does a reasonable job of explaining the injuries I've sustained.

I know it's wrong to hope that Takeru will show up again today, maybe with his team. But I do anyway. I have to save him.

Hiromu is at the main entrance to the school when I arrive, and I imagine he's been waiting for me, so I turn my steps to meet him half way. "Salut, Hiromu."

[red_pleather]

I can't help but smile when I see him, but it's tinged with worry. Can't let the other students see just how much worry. I grip his shoulder lightly. "Etienne. How are you?"

[interpolate]

I lean into his grip slightly, it lets me take my weight off my bad leg for however short a time.

"Very well, thank you." It's not even a lie. I'm feeling pretty well, all things considered. "And... and you?"

[red_pleather]

"Better than you," I answer with a rueful smile. He looks better than the last time I saw him, but still not *well*. "I'm sticking close by you, by the way."

[interpolate]

"You sound like Takosawa," I mutter softly, glancing around to judge the probability of our conversation being overheard. "I'm fine."

I can pretend. To prove it, I take a step away from him, and manage not to limp. "What, are you going to crash all my classes?"

[red_pleather]

"Sometimes Takosawa's right," I grin at him, forcing some of the worry down. He was *so* hurt.

My face falls. "Okay, so maybe I could've thought that through better."

[surprisingwolf]

I got the okay to go back to school. I don't want to be here, not with the chance that that man might be around any corner. I twist the bracelet that my mother gave me, to "focus my magic if I got attacked again". I'm still shaky, and I know that it shows.

All I want is for my life to go back to normal. The doctors say it'll be a while, if ever, that I will go back to what I was before some maniac decided to try to force my powers out by causing me pain.

I bump absentmindedly into someone from school and absentmindedly apologise.

[interpolate]

I'm distracted myself, staring around, half hoping Takeru will show up, and half berating myself, knowing how wrong, stupid, and dangerous that is.

Which is why I don't notice another student until we literally bump into one another, which would be no big deal on any normal day, but today it throws off my precarious balance, twists my wounded leg too far, and drops me straight to the floor.

"Ah! Excusez-moi!" It takes a moment not to immediately heft myself to my feet using my cables. Talk about outing myself. I'd probably call down all kinds of wrath if I did that. My cables are not entirely unlike Takeru's cables, and I know it.

Instead I still, slightly dazed on the floor, willing myself to get up by more conventional means.

[surprisingwolf]

He's addessing me in French. A foreign exchange student? Here?

I probably shouldn't be so surprised.

"Let me help you up," I tell him, hoping he understands Japanese, and reaching a hand out to him. I know I'm shaky, but it's better than nothing.

[interpolate]

You'd think after thirteen years I'd stop thinking (and exclaiming) in French, but that is apparently not the case.

"Thank you," I return, accepting his hand and rising shakily to my feet. I don't recognize him, but then, it's a big school. "I'm very sorry." I elaborate, in case he doesn't know a single letter of French. Some don't.

[surprisingwolf]

"It was my fault." I twist my bracelet absently for a moment, aware that it's jade green and chunky, then stuff it under my sleeve. "I didn't notice where I was going."

I study him. His wounds are visible, unlike mine, and I have to wonder what happened.

"Um. I'm Fudou Leo." Introducing myself is the right thing to do, I think.

[interpolate]

"Nor did I." I point out with a little smile. And it's true, I think we're equally at fault. Equally distracted. I wonder what has him looking so haunted. I want so badly to protect this school, and all of its students.

I bow once I'm standing again, then offer him my hand properly. "Kurosawa Etienne. A pleasure to meet you."

[surprisingwolf]

Mixed French-Japanese. That explains things. I give him a tenative smile back and look at the hand for a moment before I remember that I'm supposed to shake it. I grip his hand weakly, because I feel so shaky.

"A pleasure to meet you too. I'd ask if you were new, but I wouldn't have noticed anyway."

At least he isn't turning into that man.

[red_pleather]

Oh, whoops. "My fault," I say hastily, then I get a second look at the boy.

I think I last saw him on a table with Gentarou fighting in front of him.

[surprisingwolf]

"No, my fault." I give him an abashed smile.

This whole thing is making me preoccupied. How am I going to spot the man if I don't pay attention to where I'm going? Mio promised to meet me at school. I think she's a bit worried.

[red_pleather]

"Are you a friend of Gentarou's?" I ask cautiously, because if it was him, I need to keep an eye on him, offer what help I can. But I realise too late how stupid a question that is.

*cracks up laughing*

[surprisingwolf]

"Is there someone here that isn't?" I answer, one corner of my mouth quirking up a little. But I owe a debt to Gentarou and to Kaoru-san for getting me to the hospital after I was tortured.

"But yes, Gentaro is a friend of mine," I tell him.

:PPP

[red_pleather]

"Stupid question," I say wryly. He has a nice grin. Lightens his face.

I know I'm blunt, but you don't find things out if you don't ask. I attempt to put some actual sympathy on my face, because I do genuinely feel it, it's just hard to remember to *show* these things sometimes. "What happened to you?"

[sushisamurai]

I keep my cart setup outside the Amanogawa High School. It seems to be the center point of all the darkness that's plaguing the area right now, so that's where I'm going to stay until Ryuunosuke tells me where we're needed.

I can't help it if I'm a little more subdued with my customers. You can't blame me, a piece of my soul is missing.

I glance up from where I'd idly chatting with Ebi-kun just in time to spot Etienne shuffling away from the school. He seems about as unenergetic as I am, and that makes me curious.

"Oi, Etienne!" I wave to the boy, hoping he hears me and comes over.

[interpolate]

It was a really, almost insufferably long day. My limp isn't getting any better, I'm getting tired of regaling anyone who asks (teachers mostly, but the occasional student I became friendly with) with a purely fabricated tale of my own clumsiness and stupidity. Not to mention Hiromu's worry and misplaced guilt hitting me at random times throughout the day.

Takosawa isn't here to pick me up yet, there's a surprise. However, Genta's little sushi cart is still there, where it was when we met. There's a hasty patch job on one of the panels, I wonder what caused that little accident.

I muscle up a smile (not too hard, I've already learned that Genta brings out the best in everyone) and limp up to the cart.

"Salut, Genta."

[sushisamurai]

"Salut," I tilt my head at him, concern furrowing my brow. "You're limping. Come here, have a seat, rest your leg. I'll make you anything you like."

My hand has mostly healed from my little outburst against my cart. My knuckles are stilled bruised though, and my movements with that hand are slowed because of it. Luckily it's not my dominant hand.

[interpolate]

Well, it's not like he wasn't going to notice. I have a feeling he expects me not to notice the healing scrape and bruise across his knuckles, though.

"Are you alright?" I ask softly, reaching across his little counter to touch the wrist of his wounded hand. "What happened?"

My eyes are drawn to his tank. Takosawa still hasn't told me what he discussed with the little robotic squid. I think he's keeping something important from me.

[sushisamurai]

He touches my wrist and I hesitate, not sure of what I can tell him. Technically speaking, I'm not sworn to secrecy the same way the other Samurai families are.

"Someone I love is in a lot of trouble." I let out a slow sigh, glancing at Etienne. "And I guess I was just feeling pretty helpless."

I nod toward the hastily repaired panel of my cart.

[interpolate]

"I'm sorry to hear that." I say softly, glancing at the panel I'd noticed earlier and nodding. "I've felt that way sometimes."

I sit back on my stool again, extending my sore leg carefully. "I must admit, I'm not terribly hungry. But if you had some tea or something, I'd gladly accept that."