[Mushverse; for Tetsuya & Jou]

[greensai]

It's such a nice day outside that I can help fussing around in the garden. It's still too early to bring anything in for dinner, but I can keep the bugs off my young vegetables and the weeds away from my herbs. Tetsuya's beating on something out back; either he's chopping wood or he's murdering something, I can't really tell beyond the swing of an ax and his occasional curses wafting from the backyard to the front. I hope he doesn't aggravate his knee again.

Once the sun starts to think about setting I head back inside, pondering what to fix for dinner as I wash the garden from my hands. There's still some chicken that I should do something with before it goes bad, but I'd like to do something with the fish Tetsuya caught this morning. Maybe I can grill up an assortment of meats and vegetables, then we can have the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

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[blackbison]

It's nice to stay active, and the weather was really spectacular today. I went fishing earlier, much to Junichi's delight. I'm not much for hunting, but fishing is just the right kind of peace I need these days.

It's coming up on sunset when I finish chopping the wood, gathering up a good armful before I head around the house to bring it in the front door. I like to have a small stack by the fireplace in case of a chill.

What I don't expect is to see someone coming up the path. The sun's setting behind whoever it is, so I can't get a good look, but it doesn't look like any of our neighbors.

"Hello?"

[yellowlion]

It's been a while.

Maybe I should've called first, but there's so much to talk about. We'll have to meet face to face at some point, and besides, I'd like to see them. I know we've grown apart, but they'll help.

Looking around, though, at how much work they've obviously put into this place, how much *love*, is making me feel a little uncomfortable in the pit of my stomach. Maybe they won't want to be disturbed.

I jam my hands in my jacket pockets as I walk up the path. Someone hails me and I stop short, turning to see... "Tetsuya!"

[greensai]

Hands free of dirt, I take my black jade ring off the chain I keep it on while gardening and slide it back on my left hand. I crack my knuckles and then move to the fridge, staring at its contents and trying to compose something to please the both of us.

Maybe I'll just ask him what he wants. We've gotten beyond the point where we need to surprise one another all the time. Honestly I don't think we could surprise each other even if we tried now.

I peak out back, but don't see him by the woodpile, so I move to through the house to the front door, poking my head outside to see if he's in the front instead.

It's a bit too bright to see with the sun where it is, but that's definitely Tetsuya's silhouette on the walk up to our door, but I don't recognize the other.

"Everything alright?" I call, already mentally adjusting my cooking plans in case I'll be making dinner for three.

[blackbison]

"Jou?" It's a rhetorical question. I'd be hard pressed not to recognize that voice. I couldn't for the live of me guess what he's doing all the way out here, and alone at that, but I set my bundle of wood down so I can approach him properly for a hug.

Junichi's hanging out the door, I pull away from Jou to turn up towards him. "It's Jou!" I turn back to Jou with a tentative grin. "Staying for dinner? Where's everyone else?"

[yellowlion]

They've barely changed. We all look older, but I'd never believe how long it's been if I didn't know.

Tetsuya catches me up in a hug and I hug him back, hard, breaking into a broad grin. I wave to Junichi too.

"I was hoping I could take up a few minutes of your time to talk. I want to catch up, too, but I'm not just here socially," I say reluctantly. I grin at the offer of dinner. "You don't need to feed me-"

I'm interrupted by my stomach.

[greensai]

"Jou?" I call down to them, surprised and more than a little delighted. Chicken and fish then, and maybe some tofu and lots of vegetables and rice, I'm not sure how Jou eats these days, but if it's anything like the old days he'll eat anything and everything.

I wonder briefly where Yuusuke and Megumi are, though the last letter we got mentioned something about a third (third) young man coming into their midst, so I assume back home with the kids.

I try not to think about the green figurine that's tucked away in my dresser drawer, the one with a little black twin besides it. No more fighting, not more wars. Please just be a social visit.

"Hurry up and come inside, you two! No sense standing around in the road."

[blackbison]

"We have time." My tentative grin gets a little tighter, erring on the side of wary. "We have plenty of time up here." I say pointedly, hoping he'll understand that we like having free time enough to have dear friends come by on social calls. Hell, we'd gladly have all three of them and all three of their kids. The stream gets good fish, and Junichi has his garden and great relationships with all of our neighbors, some of which raise chickens and other livestock.

But I have a feeling if this were a purely social visit, they would be with him. And they're not. Which isn't a great sign.

"Of course we'll feed you, we're not about to eat in front of you. You think we're heathens?" I clap him on the back, because we are friends, damn it, even if I am going to have to yell at him later.

I usher him the rest of the way up the walk, dashing over to grab up my small stack of wood again before we get inside. "How are Yuusuke and Megumi? And the kids?"

I pause at the door to lean over and catch a kiss from Junichi. I'd be a wreck without him and I know it.

[yellowlion]

Junichi is welcoming as always, and I cringe a little because I don't want to wipe those smiles off their faces, I don't want to upset them, I don't want to disturb what they've built for themselves here.

Tetsuya tells me pointedly, subtext so strong that it's basically text, that he's delighted to see me but not so much if it's business. I head up the walk with him, sighing, half wishing I'd told Yuusuke and Megumi so I'd have company. But no, I charged off by myself so as not to worry anyone.

Idiot.

"Thank you. Both. Really," I say, smiling as they kiss. "Family's fine, generally. We've picked up another kid, and he's great."

I sigh. "But I'm here with a warning, as you've guessed."

[greensai]

I give Tetsuya's hand a little grip at the kiss, offering him a private smile before I turn my focus back to our old friend and guest. I greet him with a hug, probably not as bone crushing as Tetsuya's, but I do still work out. It's good to keep in shape, even if there aren't wars needing to be fought.

I hold up a finger when Jou mentions business, almost going so far as to press it to his lips to shut him up, but not quite. "After dinner. Until then we're just old friends catching up."

God knows Tetsuya's always a lot calmer with a full stomach and his cheeks pink from a healthy amount of my fresh plum wine.

[blackbison]

"Another kid?" I settle at the table after finding a chair of Jou and pushing it to the table. "So they out number you at long last?" I watch Junichi head back into the kitchen, and am not at all surprised when he comes back with wine. So he's as nervous about this as I am.

"Sit down." I urge Jou. "We'll eat. Then we'll talk about serious stuff."

It can't be another war. It just can't be.

[yellowlion]

Junichi hugs me too, and I hug him back enthusiastically. "Okay, okay, fine," I say, raising my hands in surrender. I want to get it over with, but it's up to them.

I nod at Tetsuya. "His name's Gai. I don't quite know how to explain how he came to us, but he's a good kid, and I'm glad he did." I hastily pull out my phone and show them a group photo. There are so many of us it's hard to fit everyone into a single photo, these days.

I slide into the seat next to Tetsuya, and manage a smile. "Understood. Your house is great, by the way."

[greensai]

I keep an ear on Jou and Tetsuya's conversation as I retreat back into the kitchen to put dinner together. Nothing takes long too cook, and soon I'm ushering out plates of vegetables and meats and rice, sauces, noodles, tofu, any seasoning anyone could want. Basically half the kitchen.

It's been a while since we entertained anyone we've shared so much with. Sure, we have the neighbors over on occasion, but that's usually just went someone's dropping off eggs or milk in exchange for what I grow in my garden.

Once the table is filled I sit, gesturing for the pair of them to dig in. "Eat, please. Before things get cold. And let me see that picture of the family, Jou."

[blackbison]

I scoot away from the table a bit when Junichi starts bringing food out. He's such a wizard in the kitchen. I'd probably be dead a few times over already if it weren't for him.

I take Jou's phone and pass it over to him when he finally joins us at the table. I'm ready to eat, but I also want to keep the conversation as light as possible during dinner. Jou seems anxious, which isn't a good sign.

"That's good," I say about his new son. Four sons. I can't even imagine. "Megumi doesn't want a girl yet?" She must have spent long enough around the four of us jerks, she must be starved for female interaction.

"Amazing, as usual." I add to Junichi as an aside, and it's true, his food is always amazing. Fresh and well seasoned and everything anyone could ever want.

[yellowlion]

My eyes bug out when Junichi starts delivering food to the table. "Wow. This looks wonderful, thanks so much."

I'm used to excellent food at home, of course, but Junichi's made some different choices with the way he uses seasonings, the way he puts food together, and it's equally excellent.

I grin at Junichi when he looks at the photo, and also at Tetsuya. "We've spoken about it. I'd like to, but we're getting seriously outnumbered and I think Yuusuke'd smack me if I asked him to build yet another bathroom."

[greensai]

I smile at the picture of Jou's family, at the four young men they've welcomed into their home. They all look very different, but happy in their own ways, and I let out a small sigh.

Not that I want children anymore. I've more than come to terms with the fact that Tetsuya doesn't want any, it was rough for a while, one of the things we used to fight about. But we're both happy with what he have now.

My gaze lingers on Megumi and Yuusuke, on the way they've changed since we last saw them. The Legends War wasn't that long ago, but then again we weren't exactly doing a lot of socializing while fighting Zangyack.

"You have a lovely family, Jou." I smile at him as I hand his phone back, digging into my own plate of food. I give him a pointed look after. "You need to remember to visit once in a while, we have plenty of room here for all of you, and I sure it would do your boys good to visit the country."

[blackbison]

"Sounds like Yuusuke." I comment. I'm amazed he even relented to apparently building another bathroom in the first place. But then, they're obviously deliriously happy being parents, even if four teenagers seems like a little much, even for three capable parents.

My eyes turn towards Junichi and his little wistful voice. I'm pretty sure we've both come to terms with our lives the way they are, but sometimes late at night when he's sleeping peacefully, clinging to my arm, and I'm trying not to wake him so he doesn't worry, sometimes I wonder if he doesn't still want a child.

"You really should bring them out sometime." I agree softly, my thumb rubbing at the inside of my green jade ring.

I clear my throat and glance at Junichi again. "But I have a feeling we're probably going to see them in the city first. What's happened?"

[yellowlion]

A few years ago I probably would've heedlessly asked them if they were going to have kids, ever. Junichi was so happy about Vega Baby.

But I'm a little older, and a tiny bit wiser now. Though Yuusuke'd probably dispute the latter.

"They're great," I say. I kiss the tip of a forefinger and press it to the photo, instantly smudging the screen, but that doesn't matter.

...and there goes my appetite.

You'd think I would've thought through how to do this. "Um. There's been some trouble," I say, wincing. "The school the kids are at is kind of an epicentre. More trouble than just the standard crap with keeping Katsumi away from any interested authorities."

[greensai]

I give Tetsuya a look across the table, almost dropping my chopsticks in frustration. I said this should wait until after dinner, not during.

I set my bowl of rice down and reach for my glass of wine, figuring I'll need the warmth of alcohol to keep the chill out of my bones. It's not like I didn't know this was coming. I've known since our ranger keys returned to us that we'd probably be called to fight again. I just... well, I'd hoped that the younger generation could handle things without us.

"Is it Zangyack again?" I'd heard about the death of the Emperor and his generals, who didn't? But sometimes killing the head isn't enough to drain the life from the body.

[blackbison]

I shrug at Junichi's look. It's not like I haven't gotten it from him before. "Thought it'd put Jou at ease to just spit it out already." I explain. It's definitely put me more at ease, in a way. Kept me from wondering, anyway. I'd rather know for sure than guess and second guess.

"You're saying your kids are in trouble?" That's a tough one. A part of me wants to point out that we have nothing to do with that, with their city, with the school. But part of me feels obligated to help my friends and their family.

"We'd have heard about that if it were, wouldn't we?" We didn't escape fighting in the Legend War, so if there's bound to be another one, we're bound to get sucked in somehow.

[yellowlion]

I shake my head, wishing they weren't cranky with each other, but I don't think it's anything big.

"Not Zangyack, no, and yeah, they are. Apparently I met Joe when he was GokaiBlue, to give him the Liveman grand power, but neither of us remember. But it's not just the kids." I swallow. "There are all sorts of forces gathering. Entities being brought back from death."

I exhale in a big puff of air, blowing up the front of my hair. "Kemp, for example."

[greensai]

I choke on a sip of wine, sputtering for a bit and reaching for a napkin to cover my mouth with.

I take a few slow breaths, and another sip of wine, then stare at Jou. I half hope he's joking, though if he is it's the cruelest kind.

"Kemp!?"

[blackbison]

If there was one thing Jou could say that would be sure that I had to go down and help, it's that Kemp is somehow back from the dead.

My hand finds Junichi's of its own volition as I stare at Jou, half hoping that he'd misspoken. But that wasn't really like him, not anymore. He said what he meant.

We keep a small shrine, to my brother and Junichi's sister, out in the garden. Because of Kemp.

Now Jou has sons of his own.

"That's quite the problem."

[yellowlion]

I nod, hating the looks on their faces. I've blundered in here, messing up the peace and contentment they've found for themselves.

"I don't know why or how. He got hold of Katsumi, tossed me in a river, postured at Yuusuke." I swallow. I want them around more to help, sure, but also because I love them dearly and I don't want *them* targeted either. "You guys are at risk. What kind of security do you have here?"

[greensai]

"Don't be an idiot," I snap lightly at Jou, my hand gripping Tetsuya's tightly. "We may not be scientists but we're not simple. We're quite well protected here, and we have our Liveman powers again since the Gokaigers returned them."

I don't want to fight. I never wanted to fight in the first place. I was young and stupid when I first went into battle. I should have died for that idiocy.

Revenge is a horrible thing. I can't just sit up here safe while children - our friends' children - are at such a risk. I can't let what happened to us, my sister, and Tetsuya's brother, happen to their kids.

I look at Tetsuya, hoping he can read what I'm thinking and feeling.

[blackbison]

I bring my other hand around to pat Junichi's where he's gripping me. He's right, of course, but I think the shock of the thing has him acting a bit more snappish than usual.

I meet his eyes briefly, and I always could sort of tell what he was thinking. We thought the same way when first we met, and it's only gotten worse in the years since. Of course I know what he's thinking, what he's feeling, because I'm feeling and thinking the same. And they could not be more at odds.

"Is Katsumi alright?" I ask quietly after a moment. Surely Jou would be much more sober if anything... truly terrible had happened to his son. His oldest son, I can't help but think, like Takuji. With a house full of younger brothers, like me and Takeshi.

Damn it.