A lesson in linguistics.
And here's to my Shinsuke: I love you. I hate you. I miss you. I'll never, ever trust you again.
Aside of that, enjoy this attempt at somehow sensible angst.
A kid.
The word was easy to say. A breath in, closing your throat around an exhale and then tapping the tip of your tongue against front gums.
It takes less than a second to say it, even though the voice forming words is a lazy drawl, but it holds a lot of meaning, doesn't it?
It means the same as a child. Kind. Leanbh. Dítě. Bebé. Bǎobèi.
It means you might be smart, but your opinions won't be taken into account.
It means you might be influential and successful, but you still don't understand anything, do you, not according to them, at least.
It means you might be an adult by age (just barely), but still people will hush their voices, even though you are educated where it matters.
It means you spend most of the time pissed off and that means people are in constant danger of loosing their limbs, or their lives.
It means you are wary of agreeing to your adult guardian's - or so they say - suggestion, even though, yes, staying with the Kiheitai will be a good way to strengthen their bond to your Harusame. It will also be a good learning experience - or so they say - for you.
In your mind the only pro is the number of new opponents and the possibility of encountering a worthy enemy. Kiheitai no Shinsuke has that admirable ability of making people try to kill him and you would offer half of your food if you could stay close and kill them all, tear their limbs, drink their blood.
The cons are many, but your uncle is cashing in a favour and you know you owe it for pushing Yoshiwara at him, even though you pretend he had no choice to refuse.
You also remember Shinsuke's slip when you were done fighting the last time and it makes you so eager to prove that you are a grown-up that you keep sulking the whole way there and over lunch, that is tasty by human standards, but is still an annoying play of 'too inexperienced to decide things for himself'.
You hate the self-assured smirk on Shinsuke's face and there is no fuck in hell you will ever agree to being an observer on his ship, you will earlier make him eat nails and punch a hole into the wooden construction that will be your home.
You know you might do that, anyway, when you get annoyed, or by accident, and you know they both know it, too.
It seems that the deal is one-sided at best, probably your presence is being compensated with a lot of money and supplies that you know your Harusame owns, but the Kiheitai lacks.
It doesn't raise your mood and you don't even steal Abuto's food like you normally would, but he doesn't press it, is probably happy to be rid of you.
Bwhe. Just trying something, don't mind me.
Not even a story, just a way to calm my mind.
Meh.
Nevermind.