Twelve Lies I Told Shingen Takeda

Chapter 44 - Shingen's POV - Missing Person

Kyoto, present day...

"Much better, Mr. Takeda. Your FVC and FEV readings are in the normal range for your age and build." Endo Minori, the respiratory therapist Shingen had been working with for the past few months, examined the spirometer. "I wish all my clients were as faithful with their exercises as you."

Though Shingen nodded in response – why go to therapy if you weren't going to do everything in your power to ensure its success – he also acknowledged that restlessness had driven him to it. Learning about the modern world through books and film had been his main activities in the early weeks of his recovery, however as soon as he was feeling more energetic, he'd needed exercise. With Minori's permission and guidance, he'd added to the assigned rehab activities by taking walks around the city and swimming laps in the University's pool.

Still, there was only so much he could find to do with his time, especially after Sasuke stopped him from dissecting the furniture and appliances. Shingen had thought that was rather harsh, given that not only had he repaired a too-short leg on the coffee table, but he'd gotten the toilet to work better (once he finally managed to put it back together). It wasn't as if Sasuke wasn't used to a lack of running water, given that he'd lived in Kasugayama for four years.

Of course, as soon as Sasuke had left on a trip back to the Sengoku era, Shingen had disassembled and reassembled the toaster, the electric tea kettle, and the shower without any problem. Any leftover hardware... probably was unnecessary. Everything still worked. What Sasuke didn't know, wouldn't harm him.

"Mr. Takeda...?" Minori cleared his throat to catch his attention. "I've uploaded the next series of exercises to the therapy app – but to be honest, they're mostly for maintenance at this point."

"Which means?" His phone chimed, alerting him to the successful upload.

"Your follow-up is complete. Continue these exercises daily... but I see no need for additional outpatient visits. The pulmonologist will want to review your chart, but I expect he'll concur with my assessment. There's still some scarring left from the surgery, but no reason to expect you won't have a long and happy life." He bowed to Shingen. "Er, at least as long as you look both ways before you cross the street."

Later, after stopping at the Nishiki Market to pick up dinner, and indeed, looking both ways before he crossed the street, Shingen let himself into Sasuke's high rise apartment. Three months ago, Sasuke had returned to the Sengoku era via the Togakushi wormhole as planned, intending to meet up with Katsuko and Yukimura. At that time, Shingen had only been out of the hospital a few weeks – he'd been told that in order to recover completely, he would need several months of therapy in the Kyoto rehabilitation clinic.

He toed off his boots, then opened the shoe cupboard and – Sasuke's shoes were in there. He was back. Shingen stared into the cupboard, looking for - and not finding -shoes that would belong to Katsuko. Shingen had hoped that Sasuke would have found a way to bring her back with him, especially since Sasuke's route had been through Togakushi.

Maybe... she didn't want to come?

"Sasuke?" Shingen saw the younger man's shadow behind the frosted glass bedroom door.

Sasuke slid the door open and peered out. He wore one of those absorbent yukatas and was towel drying his hair. "Lord Shingen. You're looking... I'm pleased that you're looking well."

Though he knew he ought to say welcome home or ask how the treks through the wormhole had gone, Shingen went straight to the one question on his mind. "How's Katsuko?"