Day & Night

The Hard Questions

Kyojuro's POV

I pulled up to her house smiling. Everything went over so well last night, and she was happy. Tengen wouldn't stop texting me all night saying that he lost 3,000 yen to Mitsuri and that I was a wimp for not kissing Tsukie, but it just didn't feel right. I mean, it did, but my nerves got the best of me. Knocking on the door, her father answered, this time smiling at me.

"So, no kiss?" He asked, and I knew my father had called him. Those two gossiped worse than our own mothers.

"Papa, I'm going to start to tell Kyo to text me when he gets here so that he doesn't have to deal with you or mama. At least Keiji doesn't embarrass me," she said, smiling ducking under her father's arm to get by.

"That's because you do it so well on your own, sis," looking up, her brother was leaning out an open window.

Tsukie raised her middle finger at her brother, and they both laughed. But, once getting into the car, her mood changed.

"Everything alright?" I asked, looking over to her, concerned, wondering if I had done something wrong. She told me her feelings, and I nodded my head along, understanding her concerns.

"Sadly, we would have to go on a mission together to know if we can work alongside each other or not, but I don't think there is going to be an issue. I've worried about you before on missions, including the ones for your family, but I know that you'll always be ok. You're skilled, strong, and have a better handle on weapons than I do. I understand your concerns, and they are valid, but a trial by fire is what we are going to have to do to see if things have changed," I said, and her mood was lifted just like that.

"Thank you," she whispered, smiling.

I reached over and held her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. Looking over I saw her holding in a giggle and knew damn well what was going through her mind.

"Oh, please don't," I said cringing, but holding in a laugh myself at her stupid puns about our breathing techniques.

"Sorry," she managed to get out before calming down. Then, making light conversation to the hospital, we were greeted by Shinobu and a few of her nurses.

"Oh my, what a pleasant surprise seeing the two of you together. But, Tsukie, is your shoulder hurting so bad that you couldn't drive?" She asked, and I looked, overseeing a blush growing on her chest.

"My shoulder is fine, slight pain when I put all my weight on it, but nothing bad. Kyojuro was kind to offer me rides to and from so that he can help in the recovery," she said, smiling back.

"Just no slapping or fighting, please, follow me." We followed her to the Physical Therapy room which she escorted Tsukie to an examination table.

"Let's see how you've healed; you haven't taken these off, have you?" Shinobu asked, taking Tsukie's jacket off.

"No, mom," Tsukie said, creating a laugh between them.

"Rengoku, could you please turn or go to her back? I need Tsukie to be bare-chested, so I can take the bandages off properly," Shinobu said, and I went behind Tsukie's back, blushing but looking down.

How was I supposed to know she was going to do that? Looking at the floor, I could hear the small grunts as the tape was peeled off. It took everything for me not to look up just to catch a glimpse of her. I mean, it's not like I haven't seen her in a bikini, but things were different.

"What is that?" Tsukie said, causing me to look up.

She was holding her chest with her left arm looking at her right side at what looked like a tattoo. It looked like a crescent moon with a flame attached to the curve of it.