Musa's House

[scarplo]

Scarplo walked from Musa's room, an odd spring to his step, before those eyes turned green. His features turned from pleasent to concerned, his step shifting from light to heavy.

Elsewhere, Sca tittered to herself and returned to rebuilding, while Scarplo delt with his decision.

That was a mistake tended to be the consistant persepective. He doesn't know what's happening to me. He needs things I can't provide. I shouldn't lead him on.

The vagabond made his way to Musashi's study, resting against a chair before examining the next divergence. The bandages around his hands came off easily, revealing old, worn, scarred skin. His frown pierced the wrappings. No pain, no new scarring, no damage. No signs of healing... but the ninja wouldn't wrap me like this for no reason...

He wrapped his hands quickly, mulling over the newest puzzle.

[Musashi]

So the ninjakitty slept. He slept peacefully for a while, but gradually began to squirm around, and he clutched his pillow tightly. He looked upset, but didn't wake up just yet.

[scarplo]

The day passed quickly. Scarplo, absorbed in his dillemas, and Musashi blanketed in sleep, did remarkably little for a very long time.

Which this narrator is exceptionally glad for, given their recent escapades. But all good things must come to an end, and in this case, it came with the vagabond sitting on the bed, shaking the ninja's shoulder.

[Musashi]

Musa mewed sadly in his sleep, and squirmled around. Then at the shoulder-shaking, he woke up suddenly and sat up with a squeak. The ninja blinked a few times, looked at Scarp, and then flung himself onto the vagabond and hugged him.

"I dreamt you left again!" He gave Scarp a kiss on the cheek. "I'm glad you're still here."

[scarplo]

Sca stayed within, and Scarplo's response was much slower. He didn't return the kiss, although he embraced Musashi. "Feeling better?"

A faint sizzle and the smell of eggs cooking wafted in the silence.

[Musashi]

"Yeah. I don't feel as sick. Heh, I didn't sleep much when you were gone..." The kitty nuuuuzzled and purrrrrrred against Scarp's face. He licked the vagabond's cheek like a kitteh-cat and giggled.

"You're cute, Scarpy~" Nuzzlenuzzle. "...Did you make food?"

[scarplo]

Scarplo smiled, a bit slow and a bit soft. "Yeah. I found some eggs and bolonga. Are you hungry?"

[Musashi]

Musa hopped up out of bed. "Yes~! I am! Let's go, yes?" He grabbed the vagabond's arm and pullllllled. "And maybe later.. maybe we can go on a picnic~ Maybe? And do lots of fun things together! If you're feeling well enough?"

[scarplo]

Scarp chuckled. "Maybe. But you know I have work I have to take care of."

He picked at his food for a moment, then looked up. "Something took over my body earlier, right?"

[Musashi]

Musa plopped into a chair next to Scarp and nibbled at his own food. "Yeah, some demon-thing... it tried to pretend to be you. Then it hurt me, so it definitely wasn't you. And like.. there was also this mean Scarpy that showed up in my dreams and wanted a body, which was tried, but didn't work very well. Oh, lots of weird things happened while you were away..."

The kitty put his fork down and laid his head on Scarp's shoulder. "Where were you?"

[scarplo]

Scarplo was silent for a time, his eyes distant. Then came a sharp crack, and he stared at the broken shards of a plate in his hand. "I... nowhere."

[Musashi]

"Mew!" The kittyninja jumped at the plate-cracking, and started taking the shards from Scarp, putting them aside. Then he held Scarplo's hand, and examined it, and petpetpetted it. "Are you okay? What's wrong? What happened?"

[scarplo]

Scarplo sighed. "Bad memories."

He pulled his hand away from Musashi, unwrapped it, and showed the ninja what he'd found earlier. Old, scarred skin. Not burned in the least, nor showing the new pink of fire washed flesh. "I'm fine, Musah. Physically, anyway."

[Musashi]

Musa pawed at the unwrapped hand. "Well, at least I won't need to call a healer... but how did you get better so fast?"

The kitty nuzzled the hand again, and then snuggled up against Scarplo. "And I don't suppose you'll tell me about those memories, huh? Mu, you never tell me anything..."

[scarplo]

The vagabond closed his eyes and drew a deep breath. "I can't remember most of it, Musashi. Its... a gabled swirl of ash, crackling voices, and shadows. It's like trying to hold water."

Scarp gathered the shards up, and started to rise before thinking better. "Where's your trash?"