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[coughcoughshank.livejournal.com]

[From the looks of it, Souji has just finished some practice - the bokuto are put away neatly, but he hasn't bothered getting changed yet. He's sitting out on the porch, still wearing his hakama and gi, hair tied up off his neck. He fans himself with one hand - it's a bit hot today for training, but he didn't want to waste a string of good days just because the weather was uncooperative.

Come bother him?]

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[coughcoughshank.livejournal.com]

[He glances up at the sky, ostensibly contemplating the clouds - he doesn't want to meet Susumu's eyes.]

Hijikata-san means well.

[He's dodging the accusation, and he damn well knows it.]

[notpissedoff]

[And Susumu knows it, too. He exhales in a way that's something of a cross between a 'hmph' and a sigh, and turns more fully toward his companion, arms still folded. You're getting a Look now, Souji. Not a full-on glare, though... not yet.]

Well-meaning comrades should not be disregarded so lightly, Okita-san.

[He's only half referring to the Vice Commander, of course. Still, he hasn't allowed his voice to take on an accusatory tone; simply stating a fact in the same way one might comment on the weather.]

[coughcoughshank.livejournal.com]

[Souji is silent for a moment - thinking of an honest answer rather than a flippant one. Susumu is one of the few people, strangely, he feels he can be honest with. He doesn't sugarcoat his opinions, or fuss unnecessarily. Unlike certain Vice Commanders.]

I know - but if I'm stuck inside doing nothing all the time, I'm not really living any more.

[notpissedoff]

[Susumu's eyes widen a fraction before he glances down at his feet, the Look having completely fallen away at Souji's response. He'd been expecting a flippant remark, perhaps a jab about his failure to practice what he preached; he had been prepared for that. He hadn't been prepared for blunt honesty, and he has no comeback for it.]

[Souji's right, after all. It's no way to live, especially not for a warrior, and Susumu knows that if their roles were ever reversed, he'd feel and do exactly the same. He is quiet, staring thoughtfully at the ground for long enough that it seems as though he won't say anything further. Finally though, he speaks.]

...I won't tell him.

[coughcoughshank.livejournal.com]

[Souji hides a snicker behind his hand at that - it's rare that he manages to wipe the serious look off of Susumu's face so completely, and he loves it every time he does.

When he smiles at the ninja, though, the expression is genuine.]

Thanks.

[notpissedoff]

[Although Souji hides it, Susumu has a feeling he's being laughed at behind that hand, and he glances back at the other with a frown. It's bad enough he was caught off guard - he doesn't need it to be a source of amusement.]

[But then Souji thanks him, and Susumu just closes his eyes and sighs. There's no point in acting offended when he really isn't (at least not much). One corner of his mouth turns up slightly then, in the barest hint of a smirk.]

...Unless he asks me directly, in which case I will not lie to him.

[coughcoughshank.livejournal.com]

[Trust a ninja to play dirty. Susumu gets the full-on puppy dog eyes pout.]

Yamazaki-kuuuuun~

[notpissedoff]

[Ninjas are immune to puppy dog eyes, of course. Mostly. Souji just gets a slightly-raised eyebrow in return.]

You'd rather I lie to my master?

[...Okay, that was probably a dumb question, and Susumu realizes it as soon as the words are out of his mouth. He suspects that Souji would prefer for him to lie, at least sometimes. But that won't be happening - Susumu's loyalty lies with Hijikata-san first and foremost.]

[That doesn't mean he always needs to tell the man the whole truth, of course...]

[coughcoughshank.livejournal.com]

[The pout is still there. /Someone/ is acting like a bratty twelve-year-old again.]

Mou...you don't have to lie to him. Just...don't tell him everything.

[And beneath the bratty kid voice, there is the genuine desire to keep Toushizou from worrying over him, when he can't do anything about Souji's illness.]

[notpissedoff]

[Susumu firmly resists the urge to roll his eyes. Despite appearances, Souji is the superior officer here, after all. Instead, he reiterates what he just said.]

Unless he asks me directly.

[Yes, he's stubborn enough to keep this up all day. Of course, he'd rather not have to... so Souji's getting just a hint of a Look again. Susumu knows that he doesn't want anyone fussing over him, and can appreciate that. Still, it's the Vice Commander they're talking about. It's a large part of Susumu's job to tell him things.]

That's the most I can offer, Okita-san.

[coughcoughshank.livejournal.com]

[The pout stays a little longer before he finally gives it up with a small shrug of his shoulders.]

Ah, I guess that's good enough~

[notpissedoff]

[...And count on Souji to go from pouting to seemingly content with no in-between. Susumu just sighs. He's sure he'll never figure this man out.]

...Good.