Day 69: Male Showers

[envy_the_sinners]

Scar wasn't fond of being forced to shower with everyone else. Bathing had been a rare luxury during his recent time in Lior, (Had it really only been just over a week ago?) so he was thankful at least for the chance to wash. Just as long as he could spend the whole time facing the wall.

He washed himself quickly and quietly, taking no time to savor the warm water and steam that made him drowsy.

[To here]

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[seekingmystrength]

Why was Fai stuck on that? It wasn't as though they hadn't been to worlds where they weren't able to wash frequently. Where Kurogane was from, he would only wash whenever he felt he needed to or when the Princess ordered it - the latter reason had likely been just to annoy him as well.

He snorted, choosing not to answer, and instead wiped the water from his face back through his hair so he could see what he was doing. The soap stung against his left hand as he rubbed the bar between his palms. "Damn..." he hissed, but put up with the pain since trying to wash with only one hand would have been an even bigger pain.

[behind_my_smile]

Fai looked over at the hiss, forgetting himself for a moment as worry flickered across his face once more. "Does it still hurt?" Fai couldn't smell any blood so he didn't figure there was any open wounds but the smell of soap and the interference from the water could be making that difficult.

"I could wash you if you can't~" Fai was only mildly teasing in order to cover up that concern as the one eye looked at that hand.

[seekingmystrength]

The continuing questions caused Kurogane to realize that this was the first Fai had seen of his arm since the rash had started, meaning that neither this version nor the other had seen the rash over that time. Kurogane had been too much in the habit of keeping his arm covered even before getting sick, using his cloak at nights so he wouldn't have to be reminded of what was done to him. The only change now was this this Fai hadn't seen his replacement arm at all until this point, leaving him with no knowledge of how it should have looked.

"It's better than it was," he muttered, "And I don't need help."

[behind_my_smile]

Fai nodded and pulled his eye away from it. He held up his hands and cupped the water as it showered down in front of him. "When I left..you had just gained a metal arm from the Piffle world." Fai had paid the price to get it. He knew he wouldn't die by giving up his magic, but it was still a high price. It meant all he had was the vampire blood to keep him alive. His whole life really did depend on the ninja from that point on.

"I hadn't really gotten used to seeing that yet." Because soon after they had traveled on..and he had ended up here. Even though it had only been a couple days it felt like much longer.

[seekingmystrength]

"You already told me," he reminded.

Though this was the first time he was hearing about the timing. So this had only just happened in Fai's time, him losing his arm. Kurogane hadn't asked for those kinds of details when the magician had explained. Those things hadn't happened to him yet, and possibly wouldn't since some version of them had already gone on here. He wasn't sure, and asking wasn't likely to change anything either.

How he'd been able to get a new arm from Piffle, of all places, had been bothering him, and the fact that he'd lost an arm in some way. He knew the circumstances here, but not what they had been in the Celes country Fai had spoken of. If the reasons had been too similar...

"This isn't metal, so it's not the same," he said, wanting to keep the comparisons to a minimum. He was already aggravated enough how similar the things were that had gone on between their times in different worlds, and keeping his and Fai's circumstances silent meant they didn't have to feel anymore helpless about their lives than the place already made them feel. "I'm not used to it either."

[behind_my_smile]

There was so much more to the story about the arm, but Fai was cautious about how much he should reveal. If he told this Kurogane of the events, would it change anything of their future? Fai doubted it..but it wasn't something he could be completely certain of.

"It's not the same..neither are the circumstances. But it is a bit ironic isn't it? As if this place is able to read your future.." The mismatched eyes were unusual though. Unless that was something even Fai hadn't experienced yet. It was still strange to be from Kurogane's future. But he felt this Kurogane should know why the arm was so important and why it bothered him.

"You gave it up..your arm. You gave it up to save me. We were on my world and I was prepared to be destroyed along with it, but you wouldn't allow it. You cut it off and left it behind along with your sword."

[seekingmystrength]

Ironic was not the word Kurogane would have used, and whatever he did want to say in regards to what Fai knew, he wasn't about to do so in she showers. There was a reason he'd kept his words short in the room, wanting to get finished and out before something came up as it was sure to. By the time Fai had started speaking about what he'd done, Kurogane was already reaching to turn of the water.

More questions had arisen now, as had a sting of shame that the ninja couldn't ignore with his left arm so visible. With the stream ended, Kurogane turned to leave. "I'll be in the Sun Room," was all he said in parting.

If the magician wanted to talk, then Fai could come and find him.

[retreating]

[behind_my_smile]

Fai watched the ninja retreat, surprise etched on his face for a moment. It was like he was running..that was Fai's trick. Fai tilted his head up and let the water wash over his face, debating on his choices. Kurogane had told him where he was going..which meant he could follow if he wanted to. Reaching out he turned off the water but he just paused there for a moment as he considered retreating somewhere else. But he felt he had started something and to just leave the ninja to dwell on those words was probably not wise.

Finally turning away, Fai went to dry off and get dressed.

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