[Kaguya Toru]

I would know him in death At the end of the world yamaguchi daichi

Toru ran calloused fingers aimlessly over the top of his desk, feeling the wood beneath with no particular thought as Daichi quickly picked out the lie amongst the two particular truths. It seemed that he had gotten the hang of it, at least for Toru it did seem that way.

"If they are alive, she must at least be three years old by now."

She was the Daimyo's child and had his mother still been around as the leader, this little girl would have been the heir to become the Daimyo in the future. But the position was forfeit as soon as they had departed. The abandonment was extra sharp and thinking about it made the well of emotion inside of Toru that he kept buried start to bubble up. The slightest heightened tinge of red to his eyes indicated that he felt strongly about this abandonment. That somewhere deep in there, the young boy that had relied on that adoption was still sorrowful and crying.

It had, after all, been difficult enough to lose his mother the first time around. To feel the warmth of family again, to have a little sibling that he could dote on. It had been taken away, prematurely.

Did he blame her? Not in entirety. He blamed the pressures of this position, and what he knew - now - had happened during his exams that had escalated the pressures.

In truth, Konoha was to pay. This was a vengeance that Toru kept close.

"I hope she is alright."

That was all he said on the topic, regarding only the little sibling in the moment to avoid dipping further into the well of emotions.

OWL

[yamaguchi daichi]

For all that Toru seemed calm and unaffected on the surface—the flare of his eyes the only indication that anything was wrong, and even that was missable if you weren’t paying attention—the sheer torrent of emotion that flooded through his chakra signature was overwhelming. Daichi’s heart grew heavy as lead, so overcome with sudden sorrow that he struggled to swallow past the lump in his throat. There was an extent to which Daichi had taken pride in being the person who was, at least from his perspective, closest to the Mizukage—he knew his tics and tells, paid close attention to the teenage boy beneath the white-patterned robes and the Kage hat. He knew that this was a difficult topic, that it had been hard for Toru to shoulder when Nanadaime disappeared. He thought he knew. Now, he realized, he hadn’t really known at all. Without thinking, Daichi reached out across the desk, taking Toru’s hand gently in his own and squeezing with the lightest of pressure. Toru’s skin was hard as diamond and just as unyielding, the sensation of touching him in any way perpetually an odd one, but Daichi persisted regardless. "I’m sorry,” he said softly, because there was nothing else to say.

Kaguya Toru -- 208

LAIKA OF THQ

[Kaguya Toru]

I would know him in death At the end of the world yamaguchi daichi

Toru was on the brink of disassociating again, staring off into the abyss as he fell into the thoughts that were invading him now. What were they doing? Were they alive? What would he do if she ever returned? Would he welcome her back with open arms or would he be upset with the very idea that she dare return after abandoning him? Would she still see him as a son or would their distance and many years apart have put a wedge betwee-

His hand was taken, he didn't really process it at first but the warmth of it spread into his palm and into his fingertips until he was forced to realize it, forced to process it. His thoughts and breath both hitched briefly, his even steady breath that never seemed to change no matter how much he was feeling or experiencing on the inside, even if it was a blistering storm.

Nobody had held his hand like this, no one he remembered. It was confusing the feeling turbulent but warm. He stared at Daichi feeling the pressure of the light squeeze. What was he supposed to do now?

Though confused he mustered up some bravery to act.

So he gently squeezed Daichi's hand in return, but didn't say a word. He didn't let go, he didn't feel like he could. It was as if their fingers were sewn together.

[end]

OWL