Everchanging

A Future Without You

!!TW!! Minor panic attacks, bullying, minor flashbacks, vomit

Senjuro huffed, asleep as he clung to Genya's side. Both boys had commandeered Sanemi's bed the second they had made it to the apartment, much too tired and worn thin to do anything else. As much as the adults had tried, there was no way the kids could choke down a slice of pizza after everything. Their stomachs were rolling with adrenaline that had yet to fully leave.

Sanemi gave one last glance at the two sleeping children before he joined his friends in the living room. Tengen hadn't left Kyojuro's side, holding the man's hand in silent comfort. Hinatsuru had stayed back at Sanemi's apartment when they got the call, getting things ready just in case. She had also hid in the bathroom when the group came back just so Genya didn't have to worry about meeting her just yet.

As much as Hinasturu wanted to meet the child, it wouldn't be wise after the panic that was Shinjuro's guest appearance. But now, she fiddled in the kitchen to prepare tea for the other silent adults. With a heavy sigh, Sanemi plopped into one of the open seats and rested his pounding head in his trembling hands.

"He said he loved me." Kyojuro's voice was harsh and shaky from crying, his face tired. "After all this time, he finally told me he loved me."

"Kyo-"

"Why now? Why, after all this time, does he finally decide to get his shit together? How is that fair? He gets to be forgiven while me and Senjuro have to live the rest of our lives knowing what he did." A tear dropped from his clenched jaw but he had moved on from being sad, now he was just angry.

"You don't have to forgive him, not if you don't want to." Tengen patted the man's hand, pulling it closer to him. "It was shitty, popping up like that after everything he did. He had to have known that neither you nor Sen would have reacted well to him just showing up at your house."

"I'm glad Genya was there, though." Kyojuro huffed a meager chuckle, eyes looking over at Sanemi. "He was so protective of Senjuro. He stood between dad and Sen, yelling the entire time. I almost didn't recognize him, it was so out of character."

"Genya's always been protective of people close to him." Sanemi couldn't help but think of the other's, of Genya shielding Teiko and the others away from Kyogo. "He said that protecting Senjuro from Shinjuro reminded him a lot of home."

"I could imagine. Sorry, he had to go through that." Kyojuro ran a hand down his pale face, his entire body seeming heavy. "It must've freaked him out a ton. He looked seconds away from a panic attack."

"He was, but I'm just glad everyone's okay."

Hinatsuru returned to the room, setting cups down in front of her friends before taking a seat herself. No one reached for the drinks, much too nauseous after the day to stomach anything. Sanemi glanced at the muted TV, nothing catching his attention as he tried to process the day.

"Before shit went down, how were things going?" Tengen grinned, sitting a little straighter as he attempted to bring up the mood. It worked by the sound of Kyojuro huffing fondly.

"It went well. Senjuro was like a little puppy, following Genya around the entire day. He would even sit on the other side of the hall and wait for Genya to be done with the bathroom." Kyojuro smiled as he recalled the day, his heart becoming light as he thought of the two boys. "Then, while I was tending to the garden, Sen and Genya played video games and Genya crushed the competition."

"Well of course Genya crushed the competition, he is my brother after all." Sanemi huffed, brightening up as his friends finally started to goof off. It didn't last long though, the sound of a muted cry and a thump bringing the adults' attention to the hall. Sanemi stood along with Hinatsuru, the woman walking out from behind the table.