bravenewworld | Double Log; I will wait

Well, a lot happened, and, ah...

[He looks away, tugging at the knot of his tie, then breathes out.]

It's not a big deal.

[Swallowing, he lifts his head, and his eye is still bandaged, he didn't have time to do anything fancier for it. The shame of it all sticks hard in his throat, but refusing to face it is worse.]

Oh Savior--

[Maya covers her mouth when she blurts-- then makes a series of hesitant motions; takes half a step, opens her mouth to speak, moves her hands.

But nothing seems to be the right thing to say, and she's stuck between fear and anger and concern.

The action that wins out is her striding right over to him, taking his face in her hands, and asking--]

What did you do?!

Mm--Maya...!

[He ducks into his shoulders a little, tail tucked low, and looks, of all things, embarrassed. It fades for a moment into grief--because he knows exactly what he's lost, here--but then he closes his eye and covers one of her hands with his, moves it a couple inches away.]

It wasn't me. Like I'd be stupid enough to do something like this to myself. But the woman we found, she couldn't really control herself, so. You know, shit happens.

[He shrugs stiffly.]

It wasn't any more dangerous than anything I normally do. And it's just one. That's not that bad.

Just one?!

[Maya surprises herself in the way she raises her voice, but she can't stop herself.]

One out of two! That's a whole half! You coulda--

[She stops mid-sentence.

Breathes, closes her eyes.

Why is she so frustrated by this? It wasn't his fault, and not the woman's fault either, and everything is fine now---

But it's frightening. It's frightening, and she can tell Fuyuhiko is bothered as well, so why is she so frustrated?]

...Sorry.

[Fuyuhiko watches her close her eyes and feels helplessly stupid. He feels her apology like a twist in the gut, and he looks down at the pattern of her hakama instead of her eyes.]

Look, I know. I know I could've.

[After a second, he puts her hand back where it was against his jaw and holds it there gently. His palm is warm, despite the weather. He studies her face again, his own expression solemn and set.]

Mayoi, it's fine.

[He breathes out.]

It's not like I'm gonna do that shit ever again.

[The sound of her name-- the one she was born with, the one from before her mother left Kurain-- stills the impulsive response that floods to her mouth. She breathes in, swallows, and rubs her thumb against his cheek.

She stares right into those blue eyes for a moment, breathing slowly, before she wraps her arms around his neck.]

You're an idiot.

[Maya has no heart to feel racing, but the rhythm of her core slows just slightly as she concentrates on his warmth.

He's an idiot, but he's alive. Everything is okay.]

You better not.

[Hugging a Ghost-type is kind of weird at the best of times. Hugging period does not come naturally to someone like Fuyuhiko. But gathering Maya in a little, making a circle around her with his arms that no one else can cross--that's okay. He can do that.

Seeing Maya, doing this, it brings home the fact that everything that happened was real. He tilts his head a little, aware of the scent of Maya's hair, the fall of it over his arms.]

I gotta go back home for a while. To sort things out. [He sighs silently.] The old man's gonna bust a lung when he sees this. Savior's sweet ass help me.

[The fall of Maya's shoulders as she accepts that news and lets out a sigh is followed by a small shake from laughing.]

Yeah, he might actually kill you.

[Resting her cheek against his shoulder, Maya loosens her grip just a bit.]

I guess... that makes sense, though. You were only gonna stay to watch Yomiel and Oba-san, right?

[What ever happened to that? That problem had been long since solved.]

[Oh, yeah. Shit, he'd forgotten all about that, but fuck him if he's going to say that. Why hasn't he left? He looks up, thinking, but doesn't let her go just yet.]

At first, yeah. But one thing led to another, and--right, I'm letting Hajime and the little Enoshima girl stay at my usual place.

[Fuyuhiko, Junko is still taller than you.]

Guess that makes sense. Since the Savior's day, right?

{She doesn't pull far from him either, though she moves her head away just enough to look to the side and ponder.]

It's... just been a long time.

[And it had been nice. Before that, the manor had been pretty empty, even with her pokémon around-- but she can't say that. He's got business, just like she does.

It doesn't stop her little wisps from dimming slightly.]

Aah. It has, hasn't it.

[His hands tighten, but only on each other. The truth he's been dodging since the mountain rests on the tip of his tongue:

His family won't need him, like this.

He opens his mouth to start to say it.

And then closes it.]

It shouldn't take too long to get everything in order. Savior knows I couldn't stand staying there longer than I have to, anyway.

[He finally moves one arm away to play with a loose strand of her hair.]

So...since I won't be able to go back to my place afterward until Hajime gets his shit together...can I leave most of my crap here? [His gaze drops, then returns again.] For when I come back.

[Maya looks at him again, brows raised slightly, wisps flickering-- and it's an almost hopeful look.

"When I come back."

Maya's fond of that prospect.

Saying so directly would be too easy, of course, so she rolls her eyes and puts on a front.]

Well, it would be mean to refuse a favor for a blind man, I guess. I suppose Shiyon won't mind making sure it doesn't get dusty.

As long as you don't take forever to come back around.

[If there's anyone who can appreciate Maya's fronts, though, it's this guy. Fuyuhiko huffs and sweeps her hair more flippantly back from her shoulder.]

Che. If it takes longer than a couple weeks, try to channel me. I'll probably've died of fucking exposure to those asswipes. I got a sensitive nose, you know, and they all reek of their own bullshit.

[She isn't expecting that at all, and sudden laughter bubbles out of her, starting as a surprised snort and ending in a short cacophony of ghastly giggles.]

Got it. And then what, am I supposed to start a grand journey to avenge you?

What, you're gonna make a grand journey out of walking the ten minutes across town to my parents' place? Well, don't let my restless ghost or whatever the hell stop you.

Hey, wow, ten minutes is a lifetime for some, you know. And I am delicate.

[S N O R T. He finally releases her to cross his arms, looking to high heaven for the grace to accept this, his lot in life.]

Yeah, you're made of glass and could feel a berry under your mattress. Guess I can't entrust my fuckin' death vengeance to such a frail maiden, better see what Kazuichi'll be doing next week.

[Continuing her giggles, she reaches over to pat his shoulder.]

Something tells me you're not much better off with the mechanic.

But don't worry! If you die, you can either beg your bear, or just let me pull off the prank of the century.

As satisfying as it'd be to let Banchou go to work on the place, I gotta know: The hell kind of prank you think's gonna be good enough to assuage my godsforsaken poltergeist?

Well, I have a few I've been planning for a while, but I mean, it's probably be best if we convince them your rage filled ghost was haunting the place and mocking their every move, don't you think?

And it'd be fine, since you'd be a short ghost.

I'm taller than you.

[Significantly taller! WHOLE INCHES TALLER.]

[SNRK.]

Yeah. Guess I don't have to worry about you, after all.

[She crosses her arms, smiling cryptically.]

You're feeling well enough to get testy about it.

[Wow, Maya, really? Really. He huffs.]

Che. Of course I am.

[He'd actually have to be dead before he wouldn't react to a dig about his height. And even then, it's not a sure thing.

He bumps her arm gently with his elbow. Maybe by accident.]

I told you, I'm fine. It'd take more than this to take me down.

Yeah, yeah, I hear ya.

[Completely not by accident, she nudges his arm a bit longer, more deliberately.]

So, then, are you sticking around for a bit? Or do you have to run off?

[She doesn't look up at him until after she's asked.]

[He hesitates for a moment, because technically, yeah, he has to run off. Family obligations. Maya has always understood that.

He glances at O-Ren. The Crobat doesn't say anything, but she's tired and on edge and so are the rest of them, and there's nowhere they've ever known any peace but here.

Fuyuhiko shrugs.]

It's not like I got anyone waiting on me back there. [He nudges her again, on purpose this time, and his huge, glossy tail waves once.] Catch me up, yeah?

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