high_seas | All fun and games

[Natsuno nods in agreement and places his hand in Riku's. A bath really did sound like a great idea. Where he'd been kept had been filthy.]

I...I know they did. I was really hungry and mad and just, yeah, I'm pretty sure I wasn't all that aware. I think I lost control, Riku.

[Helps pull him out of the chair, then sort of hovers for a second, uncertain if Natsuno will need a shoulder to lean on again or if he can make it to the bathroom.]

It doesn't matter. [Speaks firmly.] You snapped out of quickly enough. All I had to do was get your attention.

[He's unsteady for a moment as his balance is shifted from sitting to standing. Right, he's supposed to be going to have a bath now. He pushes his hair out of his eyes.]

Yeah, you grabbed me.

[Natsuno nods at him, giving him a grateful look.]

Sorry, I didn't sleep last couple of days.

[Nods.]

Yep. So if it happens again, I'll just grab you again.

[Gives him a quick look-over, then turns away to lead the way out of the galley, rubbing the back of his neck as he goes.]

...Me neither. You had it worse, though. Obviously.

Thanks.

[Natsuno blinks a bit as he follows him a little helplessly. He's stopped shaking at last and he's feeling a lot better now that he's out of there.]

You didn't sleep?

[Natsuno sighs a bit.]

It's not that they were doing things at night, it's just that I was really worried. Anxiety I guess. I'm not sure what would have happened if they hung me and I didn't die. That'd be...hard to play off.

Of course I didn't sleep. I couldn't.

[He's scowling, and it comes through in the tone of his voice.]

They had Kairi. Selphie. You. Sleep was the last thing on my mind.

[He glances back at Natsuno.]

...They probably would've freaked out. It would've been amusing. [Pauses.] Not...the you being hanged part. Them not knowing what the hell was going on.

[Natsuno nods a little bit.]

You guys saved us though. I thought you would come.

[That hope, that had been enough. Even though it would be hard to kill him, they probably could have figured it out.]

That's true. Would have been unexpected.

[He steps forward to meet his stride instead of following him.]

If my friends are in trouble, I'm always going to come.

[Simple as that.

They make their way down to the bathroom and Riku pushes inside. ...Except then he realizes that at this point he's probably not needed anymore, and wonders if he should leave.]

Uh. I guess you know how to work a bathtub...

[Natsuno feels a bit of warmth at the words, because he believes Riku and it's nice to have some semblance of back up.

He does know how to work a bathtub of course, but he isn't sure he wants to be alone. He wonders if he should say something but exhales. No, he's not a child.]

Yeah.

[Natsuno takes off his coat. His shirt, which isn't done up very well is filthy, torn in a few places and when he turns to set his coat aside, is soaked in blood all along the back. That blood was his. His shirt was clinging to him in odd ways because of it, and clearly his uniform has seen better days.]

[Grimaces a bit at all that blood, which quickly turns into a full-blown frown. Seeing it just makes him angry, and he has to take a deep breath and look away.]

Okay, then I'll just...

[He trails off, taking a step back and preparing to edge his way out of the bathroom to give Natsuno some privacy.]

[Despite his earlier thoughts, his hand shoots out against his will and his fingers curl into Riku's shirt.]

I...Could you just...

[He steps a little closer to Riku. He seems to have difficulty with what he wants to say. It's a really weird request after all, but after being in that dingy cell he'd rather have some sort of civilized conversation.]

[Immediately pauses, giving Natsuno a searching look. Then he nods.]

Yeah, of course.

[He reaches for Natsuno's hand, the one curled around his shirt, and disentangles his fingers from the material before giving his wrist a brief, gentle squeeze. He shoots Natsuno a quick smile to go with the gesture, and then steps past him to start running the water.]

You'll probably want to rinse off first. ...And we're going to have to get you new clothes.

Thanks. Yeah, I'll need something else.

[Natsuno gives him a weak smile back and when he changes his attention to the bath, he works on getting his shirt off. He blushes a little, embarrassed mostly for his own behaviour.]

You don't have to like, watch or anything, I just...don't go, okay?

[In a crouching position as he tests the water and tries to get it to a good temperature, but he throws Natsuno a look over his shoulder and gives him a kind of leering grin.]

Well damn, that takes all the fun out of it.

[He makes an attempt to waggle his eyebrows, but instead just kind of loses it and snorts out a laugh instead, burying his face against his arm for a second. Then he twists around and plops down on the ground, leaning back against the tub and closing his eyes.]

Don't worry, man. I'm not going anywhere....and I promise I won't stare.

[Natsuno gives him an amused headshake.]

I don't mind really. I've been to public baths before. We have them in Japan. It's not something you go to often, but sometimes. And hot springs.

[As he babbles a bit, he strips properly. He glances over himself, apart from being dirty, he's not actually as grimy as he thought. The blood on his back is mostly gone, thanks to his healing abilities, the rest is minimal in comparison. Deciding he doesn't need to rinse off, he steps over and climbs into the tub, settling in. The water is perfect and just what he needs, frankly. His hand lazily drapes over the side, fingertips touching Riku's shoulder.]

This place is really different from Japan.

[Opens his eyes again now that Natsuno's safely behind him. He cranes his head back a bit, though, in an attempt to at least meet Natsuno's eyes, and his hair brushes against the other boy's arm.]

Public baths, seriously? That seems...awkward.

[Natsuno shakes his head a little, he meets Riku's eyes though without too much of a problem. He might look a little embarrassed.]

Not terribly. I haven't been in awhile, but usually you wear a small towel around your waist until you get in the tub. Everyone usually showers before getting in the bath.

[But today, he can't be bothered.]

Huh. So basically a giant jacuzzi, except everyone is naked.

[...Still seems a little awkward to him, but whatever.]

Have you ever been skinny dipping before?

[He smiles a little bit and shakes his head.]

No. My life really isn't-wasn't that exciting. Mostly I studied. That's about it.

[Natsuno leans forward and settles his chin on the arm draped over the tub.]

Doesn't sound interesting, does it? But if I was going to get into Todai, it was a necessary evil.

Nothing wrong with being a good student. It's interesting in it's own way.

[Idly examines one of the cuts on his arm from where a bullet grazed him. He's honestly forgotten to look himself over, but he figures if there were any deep gashes anywhere he'd have noticed the blood loss by now. :|]

I suppose. Certainly not as exciting as traveling and going on adventures.

[Natsuno sinks into the water and grabs the soap to get any residual dirt or blood out of his hair in particular. The water was easing any stiffness in his muscles, which admittedly, were much worse before he was biting people.]

I was going to start my final school year in the spring. Tohru-chan teased me a lot about all the studying.

Yeah, well.

[He grunts, pushing himself to his feet and going over to sink to clean up the rest of his scrapes and gashes.]

I'm not sure you get paid to be a Keyblade Master. At least you'd be able to get a job?

[...Riku's not sure how much of a reassurance that is. Honestly, the adventuring was better than school any day.]

That was the idea, at least. To be able to get a good job, so I didn't have to live the strange life my parents did. God they're weird.

[Natsuno cleans himself up thoroughly, getting all the dirt off of him and hopefully out of his hair. The water isn't very clean when he's finished, but it's better the water than him.]

[Chuckles a bit as he starts looking around the bathroom shelves for medical gauze or something similar.]

They were just unique, that's all. I never wanted to live my parents' lives, either.

Unique is definitely a word for it.

[He pauses and turns back to Riku.]

I don't have another shirt. I can't wear that one again, I don't think.

All fun and games

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