averageineverything | sticksandbones IC Inbox

[senjuro tends to stay out of any business between kyojuro and akaza, although hearing raised voices does have him on edge. his book is set aside as he strains to listen, then tries to stop because it feels like eavesdropping.

it's impossible to ignore the footsteps leading up to his door, though, especially since he recognizes kyojuro's gait. and he knocks, so senjuro quickly gets up to greet him. the door slides open, he looks up and -- freezes for a moment. kyojuro is... older, and in tact. there's a confused crack in senjuro's voice when he finally speaks.]

Ani-ue?

[It turns out, Kyojuro was indeed not ready for this. Seeing Senjuro as he is — young and alive, but also so full of doubt and hesitation — cracks at him in a way he could not have prepared for. He cannot even force himself to be angry. Even if the father he knew would never sink so low, Kyojuro knew how deep the man's love ran. After all, he can still recall the way the man nearly crumbled when having to ready a blade against his son.

But that didn't excuse what was done to Senjuro.

Such thoughts, though, are pushed from Kyojuro's mind as he offers a wobbling smile to Senjuro. It takes everything in his power to not reach out, to pull the young lad to him and never let go.]

It is good to see you, dear brother. [His voice is hushed, weighed down by every emotion running through his head. He cannot help himself as he leans down, but does not dare reach out.] Smart as you are, I am sure you have noticed that I look a little different. There are strange things happening in this place yet again, but you are not in danger. No one is.

[between his appearance and his choice of words, kyojuro feels almost alien to senjuro. something isn't quite right, but... still, he believes his brother when he says it isn't exactly wrong.

even if kyojuro hesitates to touch him, senjuro has grown bold enough to at least reach out and take one of his hands in both of his. in fact, he may stare at his own hands around kyojuro's for just a moment too long, as if waiting to watch himself age rapidly.]

What's happened? You're healed...

[As those two hands wrap around his own, Kyojuro feels the tension in his shoulders release. Knowing his younger brother as he did, he doubted there would be an outright rejection. What he didn't know was how terribly fear might hold him back.

Well, no complaints here.]

I suppose it may look like that. It is a bit more complicated, though. [Since he has both permission and a free hand, Kyojuro lays a hand atop Senjuro's head.] I do not know how familiar you are with what all has happened in this place, but you and I both existed here once before, in another life. I am sure you have seen as much with the portrait in the sitting room.

[A little ruffle of that hair.]

I look unharmed because I never was!

[even though his own big brother is back, at least in this world, senjuro could still never get enough hair ruffles. even with all the confusion, he can't hold back the broad smile it coaxes out of him.]

Ah... yes, I've seen it. [he pauses, ears growing hot as he debates how honest he wants to be.] I -- haven't really looked closely at anyone but -- our mother...

[it seems he can't really keep secrets from kyojuro, regardless of which one it is. senjuro looks up at him with newfound awe.]

You're really from the past...?

[The way Kyojuro's heart melts at the sight. Oh, how he's missed when they both lived peacefully in this place, and the smiles came so easily.]

It must be nice to see her, even as she is. I am sorry she could not be here this evening.

[Even he barely understands whatever magic has allowed them to step foot into this realm. And really, it's better if he doesn't question it. He's not the brains of the operation.]

But yes, I am. It was a past where you grew into a fine medic, and were always at my side to patch up my wounds.

[sweet, noble kyojuro is not the brains of any operation, lbr --

can he see the sparkle in senjuro's big wet bug eyes? he doesn't dwell on their mother, because that will just make them both sad, and... if there's even a chance they only have an evening, senjuro doesn't want to waste it on crying over spilled milk.]

Wh -- really? Did I travel with you?

You did!

[Kyojuro's voice is warm with the memories. Even if there were rough times faced out on the road, they all came through. Much of that was thanks to the efforts of their mother and, as they grew older, Senjuro's own work, too.]

While father and I honed our skills in combat, you worked with mother to learn all she had to teach when it came to patching the two of us up. The four of us were an excellent team. You even taught H- [His brows draw together. Even if that name was proper in this case, it felt like a closely kept secret between his younger counterpart and Akaza.] The man who would become Akaza a few things.

Perhaps the Grove would not have come the home and haven that it did if not for you!

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