Tokusatsu musebox

I hear Genta's whispered curse, of course I do, and I feel badly, but...

I drop to one knee when Tono opens his door, ducking my head before looking up at him.

"Tono, Chiaki has returned to us."

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"Chiaki-chan!?" I fumble to my feet, managing to somehow not fling Ika-chan and Shishi-kun across the room as I do.

I come up behind Takeru, resting a hand on his shoulder and looking down at Ryuunosuke, hoping he looks up so I can search his eyes. "Is she okay? Does she need anything? Food?"

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sonofshiba

My eyes half close and I exhale softly. I manage not to lean into the comfort afforded by Genta's touch, but only just.

"Excellent news," I say quietly. "What happened? What can I do for her?"

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I look past Tono to Genta and give a little nod at his question.

"She is fine, as far as I know." I clear my throat and duck my head again. "The Kuroko have taken her to her room, and I came immediately to report."

I take a deep breath, trying to put my thoughts in order. "I happened upon her purely by chance. We fought, briefly, but she was obviously struggling with her... situation. There was some kind of device on the back of her neck. I've destroyed it, and she..." Are there tears in my eyes? Possibly yes. Oh well. "She was her again."

I stand up slowly. "I would ask permission to seek Mako."

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My heart does flip flopping leaps inside my chest. And I am torn. So very torn.

I want to stay at Takeru's side.

I want to let Ryuunosuke be at Chiaki's side.

But I also want to be at my best friend's side. Now that she's free.

"Take-chan..." I grip Takeru's shoulder a bit more firmly, and kiss the corner of his mouth. I would kiss him harder, and more deeply, but I know Ryuunosuke is uncomfortable still with how close I am to his lord.

"Don't you dare leave while I'm gone." I say, quietly and firmly, to Takeru, before pulling away.

I grip at Ryuunosuke's shoulder, and then leave him with Takeru, dashing of down the hall toward Chiaki's room.

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sonofshiba

"Excellent work," I say with great relief to Ryuunosuke.

Genta... kisses me, and tells me not to leave. I nod once, briefly, and watch him with wide eyes as he runs towards Chiaki's room.

"Stand. Please," I say to Ryuunosuke. "Kotoha is searching for Mako." I will go out too, but I will wait to at least speak with Genta. "You can be spared for a few moments to visit with Chiaki, Ryuunosuke."

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I avert my eyes when Genta kisses Tono, and swallow hard when Genta commands him not to leave. I'm torn between being frustrated with Genta still being so blase as to give Tono orders, and being concerned that this order was necessary in the first place.

I meet Tono's eyes briefly, then turn my gaze back down to the ground.

"Is it safe for Kotoha to be out alone?" I hate to question him, and I hate myself even more for seeking a reason not to go, to be by Chiaki's side.

"As you say, Tono."

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sonofshiba

"Kotoha has been careful," I say quietly, trying not to show just how little I trust my own judgement at this point. "She has not gone far from here and has remained in contact."

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Kotoha is plenty strong, and I certainly trust in her abilities. I'm just so distressed over this entire situation.

If he were anyone else, I'd want to be hugging Tono. But he is Tono, after all, so I simply duck my head.

"Would you come see Chiaki with me? I'm sure she'd appreciate it."

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sonofshiba

A smile with no humour. "Ah, Ryuunosuke. You are polite as always, but no. Hearing of her health is enough. I will not impose on her."

If she asks for me, later, or comes to find me, I will most definitely see her. But as to why she would, I do not know.

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I can't help but frown at the tone in his voice, not to mention the complete lack of emotion on his face. This I was used to for a long time, but not since...

Not since Genta.

"Genta's imposing." I point out. "I'll be imposing too. You should see her. Speak with her. You have shared in something terrible and, forgive me if I'm being too bold, Tono, but I believe you could both benefit from supporting one another."

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The sound of running feet tells me who it is before the door slides open, no-one else is that unrestrained around here. Well, except for me.

"Hey Gen-chan."

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I fling the door to Chiaki's room open, ready to jump inside and pounce on her.

But I stop just inside the doorway, hovering with my hand on the frame. Chiaki looks like hell, and it hurts. It kills, actually. My chest twists up in all kinds of knots.

"Hey," my throat is all tight, my voice low. I do my best to smile for her though, because I am really happy to see her alive and mostly well.

And, most importantly, free.

I gently slide the door shut behind me, and move closer to her, kneeling down beside her bed and reaching out to pat her head very gently. "It's good to see that clarity in your eyes again."

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I swat at his hand reflexively, but I suppose I don't really mind. It's good to see him again without being on the opposite side.

"It's good to be back," I agree. Damn it, he looks so sad, even though he's trying not to. "Don't look at me like that, Gen-chan. Give me a day or so and I'll be fine."

Even if I have no idea what I'm supposed to do next.

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I feel like I want to both laugh and cry all at once, which results in just a watery eyed wide grin spreading over my face.

"How are you feeling?" Damn it, if Takeru won't let me fuss over him, I can at least try and fuss over Chiaki. "Are you hungry? Thirsty? Cold? Can I get you anything?"

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"Shitty," I admit. No way in hell I'm admitting to certain other people but Gen-chan's okay. "My head hurts like hell." It's probably going to be sore for a while until it heals properly, too. Not that Ryuunosuke had much choice when he pulled the implant out but the damn thing had sharp edges.

"I could do with a drink, though, if you're offering."

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I nod so rapidly I feel briefly like my head might fly right off. I reach for her hand and give it a tight (though not too tight) squeeze before leaving the room in a hurry.

I could just ask a Kuroko to fetch something, but I feel like I need to do this myself. I've been so wrapped in up worry over Takeru, I feel horrible for not putting as much time and effort into helping my best friend.

I hope she doesn't hate me.

I fix her a cup of tea, and then even go ahead and quickly whip up a small bowl of miso soup. She might need to keep her strength up, after all. My dad always made miso soup for me when I was hurt or sick, or just feeling down.

I hurry back to her room with a tray and manage not to spill anything, carefully entering her room again and moving back to her side.

"Can you sit up?" I ask gently, with a smile, not trying to wound that standoffish pride of hers.

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"Of course I can sit up," I retort, sitting up abruptly just to prove that I can. My head spins, pain flaring at the base of my skull where Ryuunosuke pulled that thing out. Okay, maybe that was a little too fast.

I rub at the back of my head gingerly, eyes flickering over the stuff on the tray. I pick up the bowl of soup and raise it in his direction. "Thanks." I'm not sick, just sore, and I really don't need to be fussed over. I won't deny that it's nice, though. "I'll be back to normal by tomorrow, don't worry."

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"Take your time." It's a statement from me, not a request. Rare for me, I'm sure, by Chiaki's reckoning. But I've being doing a lot of forceful talking with Takeru recently, not that it's been helping.

Light stinging in my eyes. I blink, and rub at them idly, looking down.

"I'm... I'm really glad you're back with us." I look back up at her, tears gone from my eyes again. An honest, if slight, smile on my face. "I really missed you."

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"I'm not sick, Gen-chan. And I've come out worse from Ayakashi fights."

I shift the bowl of soup to one hand and give him a light punch on the arm when it looks like he's going to start crying.

"Believe me, I'm glad to be back," I agree, going back to my soup. "Being brainwashed's no fun." Even if it feels like it at the time.

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"I know, I just..."

Takeru is a mess. He needs help. I can't reach him. Please don't crash like he has. Please don't be broken like he is. I can't handle my lover and dearest friend both being so lost at once.

So many things left unsaid.

"I'm sorry." I smile. "Forgive me for worrying so much."

I bite my lip, waiting for her to finish a few sips of her soup. I'm glad she seems to like it, it'll help her get her strength back.

"I'm sorry I couldn't directly help you," I bring one hand up to chew on a nail, hovering on my next planned words. "But Ryuunosuke got to you, and that's even better."

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...Oh. Of course. "Takeru, huh? I bet he hasn't been taking this well." It really shouldn't be a surprise, all things considered, that Genta's so worried. Between me and Takeru he's been through the wringer and we all know how Takeru reacts to stuff like this.

I'm about to tell him not to worry about it but then he brings up Ryuunosuke and the words die before I can get them out. "What's that supposed to mean?" I demand, really not appreciating the way my face is heating up.

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"He..." I duck my head down, practically bowing, my emotions are running so strong. "I think he wants to leave... me."

I clear my throat and try to focus on her and Ryuunosuke. Both of then are very dear to me, and I want them to be happy. Perhaps together.

"I just mean, well," I manage a smile, an almost smirk. "I just mean he cares about you. A lot."

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Well, it's not a surprise that he wants to space to...

Wait. Wait wait, back up. "Leave you?" Well damn. This is like when Kaoru showed up all over again. He wasn't exactly thinking straight then or now.

"We're teammates," I say pointedly, ignoring the things he's trying to insinuate.

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