[Mushverse, for the Shinkengers] Well, time for Plan B

[kogarashinomai]

I don't know how the others did it but they got to Takeru, for which I'll need to pay them a visit. Messiah's pissed and shrieking about traitors and revenge but if it thinks I'm going against Takeru it can think again. There are other ways to get the job done that don't involve him; they'll just be a little more complicated, that's all.

I wish I knew I'd be able to count on Nee-san but she's not really herself anymore, she might follow an order to take Takeru down and that's really not part of the plan at all, not that I have much of a plan right now. Still, if Takeru's with the other three then getting him back gives me an in with them and that would work better. There's no-one that can stop us when we're all together.

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[sushisamurai]

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."

[kogarashinomai]

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.

[sushisamurai]

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?"

[kogarashinomai]

"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."

[sushisamurai]

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.

[kogarashinomai]

"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."

[sushisamurai]

"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."

[kogarashinomai]

"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.

[sushisamurai]

"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."

[kogarashinomai]

...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.

[sushisamurai]

"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."

[kogarashinomai]

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.

[sushisamurai]

"Yes." I nod, and bow my head, and maybe choke a little. It hurts, admitting to this... this fear that runs so deeply into my heart.

"But we'll work through it." I assure her, smiling as best I can. I do believe I can reach him. I just need time.

"Yes, you are teammates." I nod. Then chew my lips, then one of my thumbnails. "Not anything more?"

[kogarashinomai]

"Okay, good." He looks so down, damn. It's not right, seeing him so lost. "And hey, if you need anyone to trip him and shove him in a room so you can hash it out, you know where I am."

I shift awkwardly at that, then frown in annoyance at my reaction. "It's Ryuunosuke," I point out. With all his dramatics and pissiness and when did those things start to sound... not as bad as they used to?

[sushisamurai]

I somehow manage a small laugh. I know she would too, she would totally use force to lock us up together, just to make sure things ended up okay.

I kind of love her a whole lot.

"Yes, we've established that it is Ryuunosuke we're talking about." I nod mock solemnly. "The man that pulled you back from Messiah, as I did Take-chan."

[kogarashinomai]

Really, I think pointing out that it's Ryuunosuke should explain everything but he's deliberately playing dumb. And then he comes out with that.

"That's not the same thing."

Maybe I should lock him and Takeru in a room together, it would give him something to do other than try to play matchmaker. And me something to do besides think about how having Ryuunosuke hugging me didn't actually feel all that bad.

[sushisamurai]

I sigh, and move closer to her, I actually even circle her bed, crawling up to perch beside her, though keeping the modesty of me kneeling on top of the blankets, and her lying beneath them.

I reach out to tangle my fingers lightly in her hair, making sure to be gentle, I don't yet know what sort of damage the Messiah chip did to her.

"It might be," I finally supply. I chew my lip, then look down. "I know what I saw in Ryuunosuke's face today, when he came to Takeru's room. I think Ryuunosuke might feel more for you than he lets on."

[kogarashinomai]

"Since when has Ryuunosuke ever been subtle?" I protest. "There's no way he could keep something like that a secret."

Then I think back to earlier, letting myself really think about the way he was holding me like he was never going to let go, about how scared he seemed and... okay, yeah, maybe not subtle. Maybe I'm just as much of an idiot as he is. I lean into Genta's hand briefly, soaking up the comfort of my best friend's presence.

"He's so aggravating."

It's not really a protest.

[sushisamurai]

"He might not realize what he feels is what he feels yet. Sure, he's not subtle... pretty much ever. But sometimes he's really... I don't want to say dumb because he's really smart, but sometimes he's all... confused. About things."

I realize I am rambling somewhat, sort of sorting my thoughts out aloud rather than in my head where they belong.

I snort at her assessment of him, giving her hair a very gentle ruffle. "He is that, isn't he?"

I sigh, long and exaggerated. "Still, he's loyal. Respectful. He'd die for any one of us. And he's always wanted you to succeed. I noticed that much even just when we were still fighting the Gedoushu. He always tried to push you to better yourself. Which I know can be really annoying, but he's always had the best intentions."

[kogarashinomai]

"Well, you know what they say about good intentions."

But ugh, damn it, he has a point. Why does this have to be so confusing?

[sushisamurai]

I sigh, long and slow, and settle in next to her more comfortably, more companionably.

"Anyway, just something to think about. In the future. Not something for you to worry your wounded head about right now." I nod.

[kogarashinomai]

He's got a point. I've got enough to deal with right now as it is; I can deal with Ryuuosuke later, when my head doesn't feel like it's going to fall off any time soon.