rosydisposition

[Kurama looks up from where he's made himself at home among the pews, setting down the picture in his hand and smiling, one mixed with relief and concern.]

Majima.

[He peers curiously at the bad in his hands, but first...]

I'm... surviving. And you? You look like you could use a good rest.

I think we all could.

[ He sat down on a separate pew, wincing a little as he did so. It was an uncharacteristic gesture from a man used to leaning on a natural reservoir of endurance. Apparently, Deerington was testing that reservoir -- but he did summon up a small smile at the picture. ]

What's that? Lookin' at photos?

Yes. I found them in a couple of my potted plants. It was a bit strange but very nice to find.

[He offers one, taking a good look at the other man.]

If you need healing, or something to ease your pain, I can help.

[He can't do much else.]

[ He looked at the photo, letting out a short breath of air. ]

Man, that takes me back. I used to hang out with a bunch of delinquents in high school. What're their names?

[ At the offer of help, he looked a little unsure, though. ]

I dunno, last time someone tried to heal somethin' around me, I ended up cut open. Usually I just wait till it fixes itself.

[ SELF CARE? SOUNDS FAKE ]

I see. If you'd rather not, I do understand. Should you change your mind, I have some medicine here that I've made in case anyone needed it.

[Nothing's happened so far, but with this nightmare, anything is possible and he didn't anticipate it being a problem.

His attention shifts to the photo, then, smile faint, but very fond.]

I just met most of them about six months ago and yet, we'd all die for each other. It's quite odd.

[Demons have allies, not friends. At least, that's what he'd spent so much of his life following.]

The one on the left, looking as if he'd rather be anywhere but there, is Hiei. I met him about six years ago, when he tried to kill me. He's stuck close to me ever since. Before you ask, no, he isn't sorry.

[He just knows better.]

The one in the red jacket is Yusuke. We met about a year ago. He's the self-proclaimed number one delinquent of his school. I think the two of you would make fast friends.

You make medicine? Then do ya mind if I borrow some? Seems like everyone's a little worse for the wear lately.

[ And most of them didn't have the constitution Majima did. He, too, would like to be able to do something to help them.

He cocked his head at the photo, snorting briefly at the crack about Hiei. ]

What about the girls? Lemme guess, one of them's a childhood friend. Or a little sister.

[ He didn't know one from the other, but wasn't that the way things always went? Kids growing up together, getting all awkward in high school? ]

Of course. All I ask for in return is seeds, should you find any. My supplies are running low. I have some to spare here.

[He moves to a bag to search through his supplies.]

The one beside Yusuke is his childhood friend. Her name is Keiko, very intelligent, but also quite stubborn. She's willing to risk everything for that boy.

Beside her is Botan. A bubbly personality that helps keep us going. She doesn't think very much, but she's an integral part of our group.

[He pulls out a small jar of a thick, golden substance and dark green leaves in a pouch.]

The one in the back is Kuwabara. The other number one delinquent of their school. There's a lot of heart in him and he's stronger than he realizes. Sharp, when he puts his mind to it. One might call him the glue that holds our band of misfits together.

[He offers what he has to Majima.]

But here. Marigolds would be especially useful, should you find any.

Thanks. I'll keep an eye out. What makes marigolds so special, though? Got anythin' to do with the petals all over the place?

[ He tucked the jar carefully away -- no doubt someone would get this spread on them right soon.

It was... kind of nice, actually, listening to someone talk about people they cared about. It almost made up for being menaced by rivers of blood.

Almost. ]

Sounds like ya got a pretty solid bunch of friends. Ya miss them?

Marigolds are the base to the medicine I just gave you. They're the easiest to find and are very good at stopping the bleeding and improving healing time. I just increase their potency.

[He can only do so much with what lies around here and he doesn't know if it's really safe to use.

Kurama debates on his answer for a moment.]

A bit, but it's best if they aren't here. They all can take care of themselves, but this nightmare is not something anyone should endure, least of all them.

What of you? Do you have anyone you miss?

Most of the people back home, I won't be seein' them for a while, anyway.

[ Which wasn't precisely an answer, but these conversations were difficult sometimes. To say the least. ]

...yeah. I moved to a new city a couple years back. Hated it. But now that I'm here, I keep thinkin' of one face or another. I don't have any photos, though.

[ He took a stray marigold petal in his hand, spun it slowly about on its axis. ]

Guess I'm a little worried about everyone at Sunshine -- especially Yuki-chan. But they're better off than any of us here, right? Least they ain't have unscrupulous monopolies comin' after 'em any more.

[He can't resist the smile. Yes, Majima and Yusuke and likely Kuwabara would make fast friends. Maybe even some begrudging respect from Hiei. They're all things he expects to hear from the two younger men.]

Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Even if the place isn't great, it's the people that make it worth living. It's understandable you'd think about them when they're no longer there.

[Missing those one has a connection to is a very normal thing, he can't blame him. They all have people like that, he's sure of it.]

Just a little? [There's a teasing lilt to his tone.] Your lives have been rough, that much I can tell. Hopefully they're in good standing, ready to welcome you from your long nap.

[There's something mischievous in his smile though.]

So, about this Yuki-chan...

[ Majima held up a hand. ]

Okay, I think I see where this's going, so lemme stop ya right there. Yuki-chan's like a daughter to me.

[ A... 21-year-old daughter. To a 24-year-old. Shh, it's fine. ]

Can't tell ya how worried I was when she started talkin' about meeting up with a strange guy and giving him her savings.

[ Perhaps even a month earlier, this might have tripped him up, but: ]

...Besides, I'm seein' someone. How 'bout you, Kurama-han? Got anyone special?

[The red-head quirks a brow. He doesn't know anything about Yuki-chan, though, and for that matter, he doesn't know that much about Majima, either.

But it's interesting, learning these tidbits.]

That's natural, though. I'd be just as concerned if someone I cared about said the same thing. Why her savings?

[Last time, Hino was trying to turn the conversation around, deflect from herself. This time, he can't say it's the same. So he's thoughtful about his response.]

No. The life I lead is much too dangerous for such a thing. That picture I showed you? It was after a tournament in which we were forced to fight, to the death, or they would kill our loved ones.

[Because things like love and trust are beyond him. He's too old to worry about special someones now. He has a million excuses, honestly, but that one is pretty accurate.]

Seeing, though. Present tense. Is it someone here, in Deerington, or just optimism?

Aww, turned out she was just payin' back her old man for lending her some moving money when she came out to Sōtenbori. She's got the weirdest way of phrasin' things sometimes.

[ Like who referred to their dad as a 'someone special'? Who?! ...Granted, he probably should have minded his own business about it, but still.

He listened to Kurama's reply, frowning slightly as he did so. ]

...that's pretty understandable. Sometimes the best way to help someone is to stay away from 'em.

[ And he ought to know. Choices had consequences, and pursuing the lifestyle he had meant that some things he wanted were simply never to be. ]

She's right here in Deerington. I figure we both knew what we were gettin' into, and we're all in danger out here.

[ There was a faint smile on Majima's face as he spoke, but then he lifted the bag in his off-hand. ]

But before we get totally off track here, I was gonna ask: ya like tofu?

Ah, I see. Just a misunderstanding. She sounds like a good person.

[Well. Kurama would in regards to his mom, but he's really weird anyway.]

Yes. Though, I've never had an inclination, either, so I suppose that helps.

[Kurama has learned, just by watching the Sleepers, that they all can relate in some way. It's good, at least, that they have these chances they might not necessarily take. Young love...

'She' interests him, but bright green eyes widen. He's grateful for the human shell, because his ears and tail would give him away in a second.]

Tofu...? You managed to find some?

She is. So's everyone else. I'll tell ya more about them sometime, maybe.

[ Though of course he wouldn't want to bore Kurama or anything.

And ears or no, well. He could tell, at least, that Kurama was interested -- the Americans always seemed to look at him like they were questioning his sanity when he mentioned missing tofu. He had no idea why. ]

Sure did. I figured maybe we could try and hook up some equipment at one of the closed restaurants, even break out a backup generator if we had to.

Feel like a field trip?

I'd be happy to hear more about them. [Especially as it sounds like Majima probably has a good number of stories to share, some of them amusing, it seems.

But the melancholy Kurama's been feeling since the incident with Logan seems to fade away, and the smile he directs at Majima is pleased.]

And you came to me?

[It's not that he minds, not at all! He's just... surprised.]

I'll be happy to join you. Just let me get a censer ready. Though, are you sure you want to share it with me, of all people?

[ Majima raised his eyebrows slightly at this as he waited. ]

Sure, why not? Ya seem like you'd like it. Besides, it's nice to do this kinda thing once in a while.

Went out with Yuri to look for chestnuts the other day -- they were pretty good.

[Kurama thinks to argue, but decides against it. Majima reminds him of Yusuke, who'd tell him to stop being an idiot and just an enjoy it. That he thinks too much and if he doesn't shut up and eat it, it'll go down his throat.

The fox chuckles to himself, making sure his things are away and the bamboo carrier for the thurible is firmly attached to his shoulder.]

Thank you, Majima. [It's genuine, heartfelt, though he'll deny it. It's not the tofu, but the gesture that means something to him.] So, chestnuts? That sounds like fun. Did you find a lot?

Yeah, we got a pretty decent haul.

[ Majima made his way to the front door, waiting until Kurama was ready before he stepped outside. ]

'course, the squirrels got some of them. But none of the Americans were out looking, so the field was wide open. Tasted pretty great roasted, too.

[Kurama follows quickly behind.]

Such a wasted chance. It might have been a fun competition. Roasted chestnuts... You certainly know how to make one hungry, Majima-san.

[Though the air beyond the church is nauseating, he is, at the very least, not driven by it to lash out and it can't diminish his desire for some freshly made tofu.]

Winter really is coming, hm. You wouldn't happen to know how bad the winters in America are, would you?

In Maine? It's one of the most northern parts of the States; heard it gets pretty damn cold.

[ Which was actually... a bit of a concern, if they had to ride it out with all the businesses closed like they were. ]

Not a fan of cold weather?

[ He headed down towards central Deerington, with its collection of stores and restaurants. Maybe the diner? ]

[Well, that settles it, Kurama's making a den underground.]

Not particularly.

[He follows, keeping his eyes ahead, distracting himself with the conversation. Deerington is still a nightmare he wants to forget exists.]

I was hoping for tropical paradise.

[But no. Really, the cold sucks.]

So, what is our plan of action and how much trouble will it cause?

Trouble? C'mon, Kurama-han, nothin' like that -- we'll just borrow someone's kitchen equipment, and after that, we'll put it right back like it was.

Hardly any trouble at all.

[ Maybe it wasn't the best idea to pose this question to someone for whom slipping into abandoned urban buildings and salvaging their stuff had been a way of life for a time. ]

All these storefronts're closed, anyway. Not like we'd be interferin' with paying customers. How 'bout we swing by the diner?

Of course.

[Kurama does appreciate a healthy amount of trouble. Borrowing things is certainly not against his principles. The diner probably has things they can use to make a perfect meal.

If only foxes purred.]

I think that's a fine idea. [As long as they can get in and he's sure, between them, there should be no problems.] Let's hurry. I don't want to attract unnecessary attention.

[Incense works much better inside walls.]

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