averageineverything | sticksandbones IC Inbox

[ Realistically, Muichiro should know better. He knows his brother rarely means his words as harsh as they vome off, even sometimes the exact opposite. But no matter the kind of words he said, he'd never leave. Yuichiro always stood his ground stubbornly and they might stop talking... but he'd never just up and leave him. More than the words he said, it was the fact he'd turned and left that burned the most. That he kept walking away despite his shouts and pleas, despite how he pushed and scraped against the brambles holding him back.

It was only once he was well and truly alone again that he let himself slump against the twisted thorns, crying as he mourned all over again. He was hurt, and he knew between the physical wounds and the emotional ones that he didn't want to go back to the clinic and deal with a bunch of strangers. He stumbled southward. He doesn't especially want Akaza to see him like this, but in his mind the only one he could go to right now without this somehow impacting the reputation of the hashiras was Rengoku.

It feels weird entering the house like this, but Kyojuro expressed that he was welcome here. ]

Rengoku? Are you home?

[ His voice is watery, blood is visible from numerous scratches and punctures, some even smeared by his mouth since he'd pushed himself too hard in his struggle. ]

[senjuro is aware that his brother makes friends everywhere he goes, and that there are other slayers in town, regardless. likewise, he can deduce that kyojuro is the rengoku that the voice addresses, but it would be exceedingly rude of him not to respond. he turns a corner, tracking it down to let the visitor know kyojuro is out, but... oh.]

You're hurt! [and visibly upset, to boot. whether or not it's because of the scratches isn't really any of senjuro's business, but he can't just let the poor guy bleed all over the place.] My brother isn't here, but may I please be of help?

[ He's not in his Corps attire right now- a mixture of the damage and the bloodstains meant they sent them off for mending and gave him a spare set of clothes, but he does have his sword on him as a precaution. Not that it had done him any good this time around

He's not anticipating Senjuro to find him, but he regards the boy with a blink. He really is very similar looking to his brother. Something about that aches just a little. ]

Senjuro... sorry to bother you.

[ He wipes at his eyes and... tries to push down his feelings somewhat. ]

I-- that's fine. I might have pushed my injuries too hard.

[ That's obviously not why he came. The clinic was closer if that were what he wanted. His emotions are making it a little hard to maintain his breathing though. ]

I promise, you're not a bother. If you'll come this way, you can sit and I'll clean those wounds.

[he motions for muichiro to follow him to just outside the washroom, where he can access the sink and some first aid items because... he lives with kyojuro, of course there's frequent injuries.

and since the other boy knows his name just from seeing him...]

Um, you're Master Tokito, right? My brother mentioned you'd arrived... I'm sorry I didn't meet you sooner.

You don't need to call me master.

[ It's respectful and all, but Senjuro isn't in the corps. He's just another kid to Senjuro. Albeit one wielding a sword and very injured. ]

You don't need to be sorry either. I'm sure you had plenty of things you were busy with.

[ He'll follow, if a little unsteady. He's favoring one leg thanks to his situation, but at least those were spared most of the damage. He'll settle where Senjuro can have easier access to his... visible wounds. ]

I'm sorry this is the first you're seeing me.

[ He's still a little stuck in the perception he has to keep up a front like he has things together. He is very much not that right now. ]

Ah, my apologies... [this is true, but he was still raised to respect the corpsmembers and will do so until told otherwise.

after gathering some cloth and disinfectant, he kneels before muichiro and reaches to take a hold of whichever arm is to be doctored first.]

I was only going to get an early start preparing dinner, but there's still plenty of time. Please don't worry about it. Actually, if you'd like, you can stay and eat with us.

[when it comes to seeing people hurt, it doesn't matter to senjuro whether they're a civilian or a hashira -- a human being in pain is simply a human being.]

I really should have tried to find you and introduce myself... [don't play the self-blame game with a rengoku, muichiro, you will lose.]

I've known about you for a while. Your brother speaks very highly of you.

[ Regardless of his swordsmanship. And enough that he recognized the name despite his situation. ]

So don't worry about that. My given name is Muichiro. Does that make us even?

[ There's a subtle shake to his arm, but it's hard to tell if its from pain or emotions. He at least tries to smile for Senjuro though.

As far as dinner, that's a bit more complicated... ]

I'd likely have to ask the people monitoring my condition at the clinic. I've been on mostly liquids and soft food due to internal bleeding and other injuries.

[does he, now? kyojuro stop gassing senjuro up to the entire grove challenge. he's just a little guy!!!]

Th-there's nothing to get even about... I can't fathom calling you anything more casual than Mr. Tokito. [it doesn't matter if they're both just kids!

his touch is gentle but firm as he dabs the disinfectant on some of the wounds. he's no kakushi, but the training he received growing up still involved plenty of first aid, and his work is careful but thorough. there's no small amount of shock on his face, though, when he looks up following that revelation. cuts are one thing, but internal bleeding?]

How on earth did you get so torn up? Shouldn't you be at the clinic, now?

[ Can't fathom it, huh... well, maybe that'll change if they get closer. He'll leave it for now. ]

I was doing well enough to move around a bit... I suppose I found out the hard way how this place greets people.

[ It's vague, he's a little cagey about details... but he supposes if anyone would understand this particular situation, it would be Senjuro. ]

I saw my brother. He's been dead for about three years now, but the forest wouldn't let me reach him.

[oh. understand it, he does, indeed. even though he's lucky enough to have kyojuro back in this place, senjuro still feels the pain of his loss like an open wound some days. his being here doesn't negate his death having occurred in the first place, after all.

and just by merit of knowing that loss, even for less than a year, trying to imagine three years? add to that, muichiro seems around his age, meaning he was so much younger... ah. senjuro is embarrassed to need to pause his doctoring to wipe his eyes on his sleeve. to his credit, he does his best to suck it up and get right back to work.]

I'm -- sorry. What an awful wound to dig at. That creature in the forest does that sort of thing a lot. [as muichiro has already deduced.] It showed me -- something horrible, too.

If it helps, it probably isn't real, even if it was still... upsetting.

[ He's a little worried when he first sees the tears, wondering if he might've said something wrong. ]

I bet it did... Are you okay?

[ He can only imagine the things it could have shown Senjuro, even only knowing his mother and brother had passed. It had to be hard taking care of his father by himself. ]

... but that's why I'm hurt and not at the clinic. I was a bit desperate when I saw him.

I'm fine. Puck destroyed the illusion, and my brother said his vanished, too, so... [like he said, upsetting, but ultimately not real.]

... I understand. I would forget about myself, too.

[and as he moves on to the scratches on muichiro's face:] I'm sorry, this might sting... [logically, senjuro knows any hashira has endured pain far worse than a bit of disinfectant in a wound, but he hates inflicting any amount just the same.]

It's necessary to heal it. I don't blame you.

[ That's the best he can think to say to soothe Senjuro without brushing off his feelings. He just closes his eyes and lets Senjuro work, though he shifts just a bit to hold his hair out of Senjuro's way. ]

Who is Puck?

[ He hasn't heard that name before. A new friend from here maybe? ]

[still, his movements are careful and deliberate, not lingering any longer than he needs to to get the cuts clean.]

Oh -- he's my partner. [with everything he can see clean, senjuro places the rag down and looks up to the open shoji. there's a foot-tall shadow hiding outside of it, and a head of what looks like a miniature version of rengoku hair poking just around the corner.

senjuro dabs at his cheeks to get rid of any remaining stray tears, and that makes the ragdoll creature scuttle over to his side, where it rubs against him like an affectionate cat. its human pets it like one, too.]

I guess, if you're not familiar with his kind, the simplest description would be... an animal who is your best friend and companion, as well as an ally in battle.

He's a bit shy, but... It's alright, Puck, Mr. Tokito is a friend.

[ He's a little surprised at first-- of course he is. He's never seen a little creature like that before.

He just watches it for a moment before shuffling down to its level and offering a hand, like he's introducing himself to a wary cat. ]

He's adorable.

[ He's not gonna pet it unless it seems okay with that but the look in his eyes says he really super wants to. Buudha above look at this lil thing. ]

You can fight too, huh? You're an impressive lil guy then.

[oh... a polite and considerate young man. with good taste! even though puck's eyes clearly follow from the holes poked in the cloth of his "stomach," he still presses the fake head into muichiro's hand. he's a bit of an emotional support critter, too, a true little renaissance man, if you will, so he is happy to allow pets.]

Even though I'll never be as skilled as people like you or my brother... when I work with Puck, I feel like we can at least hold our own.

[ He will give the sweetie so many pets. But he's careful not to jostle the hair too much he wouldn't want to ruin it. ]

I'm not sure why you don't think you're skilled.

[ Even if he couldn't master flame breathing, that doesn't mean all the training he's done is worthless. Senjuro likely could hold his own just fine... but if having this little guy helped his confidence, he's glad for it. ]

From what I can tell, you're better than you give yourself credit for. But I'm glad you made such a good friend.

[it's... complicated.]

Oh, it isn't that I'm badmouthing myself... I've worked hard since I could even hold a shinai, but the reality is that my talents just don't lie in martial arts. [it's just something he's come to accept about himself.

but senjuro's insecurities are hardly the most important thing, right now.]

Did you need to see my brother, or can I help you back to the clinic? [he is Worried.]

[ He thinks he understands, then. Still, he thinks that hard work is worth something, even if Senjuro doesn't. ]

Mm. I came to talk to him about what happened, but it's alright. Talking to you helped.

[ There isn't much Kyojuro could have done either. He supposes it's the childish impulse of wanting the company of someone he can have a sliver of vulnerability around. ]

Did it really? [much the same, senjuro doesn't feel he did much at all to help, but he supposes it's best to take muichiro's word for it.] If there's anything else I can do, please let me know.

sticksandbones IC Inbox

Entry trauma time!

yay trauma

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