[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

[closingcreditsaremine]

He's tense.

Maybe I'd better step back. I don't go very far, though. Still need to help him if he falls over. "What does that do?" I ask quietly.

[surprisingwolf]

Kaoru steps away. I want to apologize, but it's not my fault. I lean more into the wall instead. "I need a focus to be able to use my... power. Wood. So mom gave me this because it's wearable."

[closingcreditsaremine]

I nod. "I don't understand how that works, so I shall be annoying you with endless questions," I say, smiling wistfully. "When you look less likely to fall over in a stiff wind, at least. I hope that's okay."

[surprisingwolf]

"I'm only starting to understand it myself." I give her a bashful smile. "And I'm told I'll feel better. I go back to the doctor in a day or two."

Maybe if I use the wall, I can get to classes. Or maybe I'll use Mio. She's finally shown up, and is telling me with her hands that I look awful and she doesn't care what that mage said, I should be in bed.

I lean against the wall, signing greetings to her as she joins us, and tell her that I was told I was cleared.

Mio is writing a note to Kaoru-san. I can read it as she hands it over. It tells Kaoru-san I wasn't cleared.

I sag against the wall. Thank you very much, Mio.

[closingcreditsaremine]

I thank Mio, read the note, and tchh. "He really needs to be looked after properly," I say to her, shy around her still because I don't know her very well. But I think we could be allies.

I swallow. Side question before I go back to worrying about Leo-kun. "Mio? If it's not really rude of me to even ask... would it be possible for you to teach me how to sign sometime? Even just simple things?"

[surprisingwolf]

"Of course," Mio signs, and then writes. "It would be nice to talk to someone who makes sense sometimes!"

There's a pause. "It isn't his fault. I think he thought he was okay."

[closingcreditsaremine]

I laugh at that. I've been shy with them partly because they seem like such a unit, such a strong, close family. Mio, Sigma and Leo-kun. Mio and Leo-kun -- why do I still append an honorific to his name? -- seemed the easiest to talk to, but I hesitated to really try to get to know them until Gentarou approached me.

I smile at her. "Thank you. And yes, I suppose I'll forgive him for it this time," I say with mock indignation but very genuine worry.

[surprisingwolf]

I'm blushing. But some part of me is feeling better, and I wonder if it's the nexus or just having pople here for me. Mio is smiling like she's found her new best friend. I'm doomed.

"I am cleared," I mutter.

[closingcreditsaremine]

"Okay," I say placatingly. He looks really fragile, and I don't want to push too much. It's not his fault he was hurt, after all.

I need to become stronger so I can help protect him.

I bite my lip, looking at Mio. I'm not sure now if we need to call for more help -- maybe Sigma, even if he doesn't like me? -- or if we should let Leo go ahead into class. I don't want to baby him, but then again it's not babying if someone genuinely needs help.

[surprisingwolf]

"His parents want him here," Mio writes to Kaoru-san. "It's complicated. He can explain everything later. If we can get him through the day, I think he'll be better, though."

I'm suddenly glad that Sigma doesn't like Kaoru-san. I'd hate to think of what he and Mio would do if they got together and planned to matchmake me with Kaoru-san. There are advantages to being a twin.

[closingcreditsaremine]

"Understood," I say cheerfully, because at least I have something to do, now, a course of action to take, and I don't want to upset Leo-kun too much further with my worry. "Leo-kun, what class do you have first?"

[surprisingwolf]

"Maths," I say automatically. "I'm in class 2-D."

Sometimes I wish this school was a bit more normal and I could just stay in one chair for the day. But it's not. At least I'm excused from physical exercise. I'm not that well.

"Am I going to be a guest in library club, then?" I tease Mio, but out loud so Kaoru-san can hear. It's strange to have her form a trio with us instead of having Sigma here, but I'm sure he'll calm down soon.

[closingcreditsaremine]

"Okay, I can meet you afterwards?" I ask with my eyebrows raised. "I'm next door."

...he and Mio-chan are so cute together.

[surprisingwolf]

"Um. Yes." I know this is my chance to get to know Kaoru-san better. I just wish it wasn't because I got tortured. "The teachers probably know that something happened to me, too." Maybe not why I was tortured, but that I was injured in a monster attack.

Mio replies to me, smiling. "Of course you are! Ask Kaoru-san if she'd like to join us. There's so much the three of us could talk about. Does she have any interest in family records?"

I laugh as I convey Mio's words to Kaoru-san, mentally translating from the grammar of sign to regular Japanese.

Jou's aware and wants to check in with him at some point

[closingcreditsaremine]

I frown at Leo-kun's words. "I suppose so many kids have been involved in attacks. Fourze's here, and Meteor, and I've seen some other people in suits too, but is it really enough?"

I nod eagerly. "I do, but no one else in my family is. I'd love to hear about yours!"

[surprisingwolf]

"I know," I tell Kaoru-san. "I wish I knew why they liked this place so much." Okay, so it's a magical nexus, according to my parents. That doesn't make it any easier. It does explain why I'm developing magic, and Sigma probably is too. It's a reaction to our environment and the danger we're in.

Mio is smiling, and I suddenly hope that I'm not going to spend my club time listening to Mio and Kaoru-san talk about family trees.

Personally, I'd like to get to class so I can sit down. I'm tired.

[closingcreditsaremine]

"Maybe we can look up information about this site in the library?" I wonder out loud, then I grin at Mio-chan. If anyone would be able to find information, she would.

I tchh up at Leo-kun. "You don't have to be all manly, you know," I say with affectionate scorn. "If you're tired, you should go to class. I'll help you if you need it."

[surprisingwolf]

Mio nods, and I translate, even though I don't have to, because it's the first step of teaching Kaoru-san sign. "Yes."

I lean more heavily into the wall, Mio and Kaoru-san both looking at me like I was stupid. Maybe I am. Maybe I should have skipped school too. Mio is telling me that she agrees with Kaoru-san. "Leo is being silly," she tells Kaoru-san in writing.

I straighten up. If I'm going to get to class, I'm going to have to start moving. I start walking.

[closingcreditsaremine]

I make sure to start paying more attention to the actual movements between them. I need to pick this up. I know Mio-chan doesn't mind writing, or having Leo-kun translate, but it'd be nice if she didn't have to.

I nod at Mio-chan's note, wrinkle my nose at her in worried empathy, then scoot along to Leo-kun's side. I won't touch him. I'm aware of his ego, though he's better about this than most guys. Most of all I'm aware that he was tortured, and I think being touched is not something he's dealing with well, right now.

[surprisingwolf]

I'm aware of both Mio and Kaoru-san trailing me. I'm glad they're there, because I know- or at least I've figured out - that I'm not cleared medically to go back to school.

And I don't want to collapse. Part of the reason I was all too willing to go back to school was that beds give me nightmares. My mother dug out the guest futon for me so that I can sleep.

I give both of them a grateful smile. Maybe I'll get theough the day.

[closingcreditsaremine]

The new music teacher, Hibiki-sensei, floats past and says hello to all of us. I greet him back politely but keep my eyes mostly on Leo-kun.

I don't like this at *all*. He should be in bed.

Heroes, heroes everywhere...

[surprisingwolf]

Finally, we make it to my classroom without anything happening to us or anyone else. And my seat's near the front, at least. I smile at Mio and Kaoru-san. "I'll be okay," I tell them.

Hopefully I won't crash into any more walls. I don't want to spend time in the Nurse's office. I suppose I'd be all right if I don't have to lie down.