[open]

[deontology]

Who: abe no "i'm so gloomy now" sousei & all of you people
When: IC: 1/21-23 || OOC: 6/17-20ish WHENEVER
Where: Various, catch him wherever suits!
What: What do you do when your partner's gone missing? Do dumb things and check on all of his adopted children, naturally.
Rating/Warning: None!

---

a. open - around the shopping district;

[At first, he didn't really think anything was wrong. Tenka going missing was naturally concerning, but he could've been at work, or the like. But as the day drags on and he doesn't show up, Sousei actually picks up his phone to call him.

User not Registered.

That's...that's very bad. Don't mind Sousei just standing in the middle of the sidewalk staring down at the CereVice in his hand.

At least, until he snaps back into action, turns abruptly, and starts going in the other direction. Too bad he didn't look where he was going first, hopefully his abrupt stop and equally abrupt direction change didn't cause any traffic jams.

Otherwise he can be found poking his head into shops and through alleyways and possibly even opening up and peering into trash cans. What does he think he's going to find there? Who knows. He has to give it a try, though. Even if he does look ridiculous with a trash can lid held over his head.]

b. open - gym;

[And as it drifts into the next day with still no Tenka, Sousei has to admit what he very much doesn't want to--namely that Tenka's gone, and they have no idea if he'll come back or anything. The city has only just started to run properly again after that entire ghost scare; still, it's hard to really appreciate that when it's becoming starkly obvious that everything is not quite right now.

Which is why he can be found in the gym even before his shift begins, practicing. It's good to practice. It's a good way to stay fit, and sharp, which is necessary after that entire fiasco.

Of course, he may be taking this a little too far, as the time drags on into hours and his breathing comes in short, sharp pants. He should probably take a break, but it doesn't seem like it's all too likely right now.]

c. semi-open: to tenka's close cr/people he adopted/etc;

[If Tenka knew you or was trying to take care of you or wanted to help you in some way or was even just amused by you, chances are he told Sousei. And now, as it edges into the third and four and fifth day and still no sign of Tenka coming back, he has to admit that that's probably the case. It had taken Soramaru two weeks to come back, so it isn't as though there isn't hope--but even so, he can't leave this for two weeks.

So he goes to perform his Not Fun Dad duties (which, for the record, he never signed up for). So if Tenka knew your address, he'll be awkwardly knocking on your door, or if he otherwise sees you around the city, he'll be approaching.

Awkwardly.

Sorry if you've never met him before, but he has a Duty to perform, and that duty is looking out for Tenka's gigantic swarm of adoptees and making sure they're all okay after that entire ViViD and technological fiasco.]

Excuse me.

[Don't mind him. He's just a little more Awkward than Tenka--and he's a little tired, though it's hard to tell from his face.]

Comments

[deontology]

[The longer this lasts indeed, though Sousei's really not going to last as long as he would like regardless. He's built up his endurance, sure, and has worked incredibly hard to be as skilled as he is, but he's been at this too long already today.

He dodges that comeback easily enough, lashing out again, this time towards Shinpachi's elbow. At the very least, the more Shinpachi proves he can handle it, the less Sousei feels any need to hold back on that aspect of things.

(Besides, plenty of his and Tenka's spars had ended when Tenka couldn't feel his fingers anymore, and it had been one of few ways for Sousei to beat his ridiculous strength.)

...He needs to focus, and stop thinking of Tenka.]

[nostatus]

[ At this rate it's just going to be a weird sort of near-dance where he constantly tries to dodge Sousei's underhanded blows - not a fun fight by all means. Not that this fight is supposed to be fun as much as it's stress relief for Sousei, but still, a match's got to have a certain level of skill to it for it to be even vaguely enjoyable for anyone.

So Shinpachi does manage to strike back a little harder (at the price of a sharp hit against his elbow, but Shinpachi grits his teeth and swings on the best he can, he's had worse) even if it's also a little underhanded. He knows Sousei must be feeling the exhaustion, so rather than aiming at the fun, he aims at Sousei's sword, hitting it with as much of a force as he can. At least it means Sousei is going to have to work if he wants to remain a hold on the thing to begin with.

(And if he drops it - well, then he can pick it up and they can resume, Shinpachi doesn't mind getting a few bruises, and he's always told every student of his to just get up and try again after they were knocked on their ass. Even if Sousei is on an entirely different level.) ]

[deontology]

[It's a really shitty way to fight, and there's a reason Sousei doesn't typically spar this way. He's in a spar to practice, and learn about his opponent, and have a good match, but these movements are pure frustration and anger (because Sousei does indeed have a temper, even if it rarely shows itself), and Shinpachi has volunteered himself to be the unfortunate recipient.

He can take underhanded in return, and actually welcomes it; if nothing else, it gives him even more of the urge to carry on with this fight.

Of course, what he wants and what his body is capable of after hours of abuse are two separate things, but nonetheless he tries, and when Shinpachi's sword hits his own, he really does nearly lose his practice sword. He manages to clutch onto it by some miracle, but it takes him precious seconds to reaffirm his grip, which puts him back on the defensive again, even as he grits his teeth.

But at least he's focused now on the failings of his own body and endurance, and not on Tenka's disappearance.]

[nostatus]

[ When you're a warrior, there's always something to be hard on yourself over, isn't there. But at least his own body is something Sousei can actually do something with, while he can only mull over the absence of Tenka - so it's at least a little bit more productive. A little less full of despair.

Even if it is taking a lot of concentration and effort out of Shinpachi to keep up with Sousei - especially since it's not just about the spar, it's also about observing, about trying to see what the other is thinking of.

That's what is important here, after all.

Not letting the other rest for a moment, he's already back on the offense, although hitting a little less hard this time - but he's quick to pull back and strike again after his sword hits Sousei's own. It doesn't come with the usual barter - not today. The only thing breaking the silence is the sound of wood striking wood. ]

[deontology]

[For now, it's enough.

Sousei can feel the drag on his muscles and limbs from how he already had overdone it before, but that doesn't mean he's about to give in; rather, he gives it everything he has even now, moving neatly with Shinpachi in their spar.

But it's a foregone conclusion and he knows it as well. He's able to get a few good strikes in, though Shinpachi manages to block them.

But it's as their swords meet again with one more strong strike that Sousei's drops from nerveless fingers; his arms are simply trembling too hard for him to continue to even have feeling in his fingers, much less continue to hold his practice sword.

Sousei can't even really say he's surprised. He frowns vaguely, flexing his fingers, but he otherwise doesn't move or so say a word. He's got enough to think about, it would seem--but he knows he's done.]

[nostatus]

[ Shinpachi doesn't consider it a real victory, if not just since it wasn't what this match was about. It wasn't a fair fight, considering Sousei was already so exhausted - and from them sparring before he knows they're on an even level where sometimes he kicks Sousei's ass and sometimes Sousei kicks his own. It's just how it works.

So that doesn't matter. The fact that Sousei's sword is on the floor and that he's flexing his fingers doesn't matter. What matter is that he at least got to let something of it all out, even if Shinpachi knows it's not enough - it's just not that easy. ]

Don't be so hard on yourself. Or on Tenka.

[ He grabs the other practice sword off the floor before putting them away with the others along with his own while he speaks. ]

I know it's shitty, but.. you know he'll be back. That guy has the will of at least four bulls. [ Or more like the energy of that... But even if he won't come back and fate just sucks-- ] So come hang out with Sano and me sometime soon, 'kay? We'll have drinks-- my treat!

[ Shinpachi, you're broke.

Don't promise that when you're just going to cry to Sano asking him to pay... ]

[deontology]

[It may not be enough, but... it is something, and it's more than Sousei's had before. He's tired of people asking him if he's okay (he's not, but he'll always say he is), and tired of people trying to help him in various, overt ways. He's tired, too, of taking care of other people in ways that he was never meant for. That was always Tenka's job.

But they're here now, and Shinpachi isn't making him do any of those things. He's just there, and present, and reminding Sousei that no matter what, he's still not alone, and slowly, Sousei sighs, even as he flexes his fingers one las time and arches an eyebrow at Shinpachi.

And there's a bit more life in his tone when he speaks.]

Are you certain you have the money to treat me? I thought you never did.

[There must be a reason Shinpachi's always asking for free drinks, right?

(This is easier. Sousei wonders when it got easy, and then realizes it doesn't matter--he trusts Shinpachi.)]

[nostatus]

[ He's not certain at all.

But Shinpachi is the king of bullshitting in these sort of scenarios, and right now he's just thinking that eh, whatever, he'll find a way - which is the worst thing and he'll probably curse his past self later for it, but whatever. This is about Sousei right now. ]

Hah, you don't believe me? [ He moves his hand to pound with it on his chest. ] This Nagakura Shinpachi-sama over here will take good care of you! Don't even worry about it!

[ He's so lame..... sorry, Sousei, this is what you have to put up with. ]

[deontology]

[He's incredibly lame....and Sousei snorts softly in response to that, under his breath, and he's tart when he responds to that with the inevitable:]

I don't need taking care of. [Ah yes, fiercely independent swordnerds...... Even so, he continues a moment later:] But if you wish to buy me a drink, I won't stop you.

[Or tattle on your husband......the brosquare needs to flipflop sometimes, it's okay. And there's life in his tone now, even if it's tart, which is really what matters; it's not the same dullness from before.

He'll at least leave the dojo behind for now, and that's improvement.]

[nostatus]

[ There we go. It might not be a whole lot of progress, but honestly, Shinpachi wasn't expecting anything big anyway. Not when the loss of someone so important would hurt a lot. Just Sousei giving in to something simple, just the two of them drinking together.. that's already fine. It's a small step towards getting things a little more like normal again. ]

Same thing. [ Yeah, you're totally not escaping the being taken care of thing here.. but then again, that's pretty much what's happening here. It's the reason Shinpachi is even talking about buying him drinks to begin with. ]

But.. c'mon then, let's not waste our time standing around here then! The booze is calling our names, can't you hear it?

[deontology]

[He doesn't want to be taken care of!!! ...Though he's also a bit resigned to it. Yeah, he knows Shinpachi is going to take care of him whether he wants him to or not, so he may as well cave somewhat gracefully while he's not making it obvious that's what he's doing.

So he simply arches an eyebrow, but he also nods. Okay, okay, he's coming.]

No, I can't. If you can hear it, I'm concerned for your mental state.

[Is he joking... (probably)... but it's so hard to tell.

At least he's following Shinpachi out of the dojo now. Progress....]