Shinra blinked at her and glanced at Benimaru as he spoke, "Wh-...fight?"
"Yeah," Atsuhi sighed, rolling her head to look into the fix matched eyes glaring at her, "don't worry. It's pretty normal."
"Go," Benimaru barked, frowning at the young soldier until he blinked and rushed off.
They watched him rush off together, standing close in the street. Then they turned at the same time, staring at each other in silence. It had been a long time now since they'd seen one another, closer to two years than one. He didn't look very different to her, he still had a strong set brow over his drooping eyes that made his annoyed expression more intense. His jaw was strong, biting down hard. His neck might have gotten thicker, more muscular since she'd last seen him. She could see the muscles of his chest and his collarbones just peaking from under his shirt. She swallowed, uncomfortable with how quickly her mind moved to admiring him.
"I can't believe you changed your name," he growled, stepping toward her.
"I didn't," she rolled her eyes, "it's the nickname my mom has always called me, I introduced myself when I first met the eighth."
"Why."
"I," she paused and sighed knowing it wouldn't help her case, "I don't know, Benimaru. Okay? But my name is the same name it has always been. I told them as much now, Shinra just made a mistake."
Like always, once Benimaru's fires were stoked it was hard to calm him, he took a deep breath, his shoulders drawing up, "Just admit for once you're ashamed of your home."
She wished she could resist, this classic pattern of their fights. How badly she wanted to come home and be greeted with a hug rather than an argument. It made her feel sick to know how her presence salted old wounds Benimaru wasn't allowing to heal. She felt the heat build in her mouth, her anger activating her ability against her wishes, when she spoke a small stream of smoke curled from her lips, "Shut up! You're such a pigheaded jerk, Benimaru! Quit putting words in my mouth when you don't know anything!" she jabbed a finger into his chest with her bandaged hand despite how it hurt. Expecting to be met with flames, with yet another fight that would fizzle out to unresolved feelings just another example of Asakusa's long-beloved might makes right.
He twitched, grabbing a hold of her wrist, "What happened?"
Atsuhi blustered, pulling her arm weakly but when he didn't let go she stopped fighting, he turned her hand over in his own, looking at the bandage, "That's why I was with the eighth. There was a...event. At the base."
His heart dropped, he pulled her hand in, "How did you get hurt?"
She was quiet for long enough he looked up at her, then she signed and pulled her hand from him gently, "It's a long story." She walked paced him, dropping to sit roughly on the steps, she patted the one beside her and he felt himself prickle, his frown deepening. She rolled her eyes, "I'll tell you but you have to come sit with me."
He sighed and walked over, flopping down beside her. She scooted, closing the distance between them. He scoffed but didn't protest, she'd always been like that. She didn't hold grudges as hotly as he did, they could argue and fight for hours but when their argument ended she would let it go where it lay. He was jealous of that, always had been. He knew his hotheaded nature caused more problems than it was worth, but it felt like it was too late now to fix that. Nothing he could do would repair the damage it had done to their relationship either.
"There were infernals," she sighed, laying her head back, "there were so many...everything we have on the base for safety failed."
"How likely is that?" He raised an eyebrow, he already knew the answer.
"Incredibly un," she sighed, "it's a long story but I pushed my hand a little past the normal fire resistance and so," she weakly wiggled her fingers.
He put his hand back around hers, holding it and looking at the bandage, "Will it be okay?"
"Captain Huang seems to think so," she shrugged, letting him hold her hand in his. "Dad's still in the hospital."
He twitched, her father was one of Asakusa's own, even if he'd left. Benimaru felt responsible for him. He felt responsible for Atsuhi too, even if he knew she would buck against that, "Is he going to be okay?"
"Time will tell, it'll be a long time before he's better. A longer time before we can go back to the base. Who knows if we'll ever find out who was responsible for the attack," she sighed, resting her head in her hand, her elbow propped on her knee. She looked tortured, he wanted to reach out and hold her, assure her it was fine and he would help her.
"I would have helped you...if I knew…" he looked down the street, trying to hide the hurt that she hadn't told him she was in danger until now. Afraid their relationship was so damaged she wouldn't even reach to him when she was in need, more afraid of her seeing that weakness on his face.
"I wanted to," she said softly, he could feel her eyes on him, "but mom told me to get the eighth and...so that all I did."
He sighed, ran his hand over his face, and turned back to her, "What happens now then?"
"Well...I'm on land for a while," she shrugged, "I'm looking for a place." She raised her eyebrows at him proudly.
His heart was racing, she'd been gone for so long, "I'm sure the old bat would be thrilled to have you home."
She laughed, humming gently, "Probably. But when mom and dad are out of the hospital I think they're going to stay there. I'm not super interested in sleeping between my parents and my grandparents."
He shifted, suddenly uncomfortable and unsure in a way that only she could make him, he didn't meet her eye, "Well...we have extra rooms here."
"Oh yeah?" she teased, "thanks for the offer…" she was quiet for a moment, he glanced at her from the corner of his eye, she was watching some company men who'd spotted her eagerly whispering about her presence. She sighed, "for now my stuff is with the eight...Not! To stay there just...for a bit. While I figure it out. Lieutenant Hinawa? Fantastic cook."
He frowned, standing up and walking from the steps, his hands pushing into his sleeves, "That so." He shouldn't be surprised, she never stayed for long anymore, of course, she'd want a place in the Empire.
He was pouting again, sore that even without the base she wasn't going to stay in Asakusa. Not that she'd said that but, that's what he decided he'd heard. She pushed herself up from the steps, pushing her foot against the back of his knee, making his leg bend out from under him. He grumbled and turned to look at her.
"But I can't mooch off them forever, can I? And you're right once Obaba knows I'm on dry land for a while she won't have me staying far away," she grinned, looking up at him from the corner of her eye. He looked down from his, not turning to face her and clearly trying to hide his relief.
He rolled his eyes away, "That old bat is persuasive."
"And!" she grinned wider, "it would be nice to see Konro, Hinata, Hikage, Shinbeita, my high school friends, the owner of the corner shop, oh…" she paused, waiting until he sighed and looked at her, "and you."
He scoffed, rolling his eyes away, his mouth very nearly pulling into a smile, "I'm sure they'd be happy to see you too."
It made her smile, a big silly grin that felt too embarrassing for him to see so she turned, looking up the street as she tried to get a hold of herself, "I'm not seeing anyone else though so, I guess, even though you're pretty far down the list, you could have first dibs if you want," she turned back managing to keep a somewhat straight face, "If you don't have to make your rounds, that is. Oh, great destroyer of Asakusa."
He groaned loudly, frowning at her, "Not you too."
"Oh come on," she smiled, pinched his cheek which he begrudgingly allowed, "everyone likes you so much. A god among soldiers."
That was the last straw, he withdrew a hand from his sleeves and pushed her hand away with the back of his arm, "Stop that."
Her hand returned immediately, resting on the side of his face making his eyes focus down on her, "You should be proud of being strong like you were when we were kids. You've got to do a lot of good without having to be any less of an asshole," suddenly she felt like her hand had rested on his cheek for too long. His eyes were boring into her own his breath had changed ever so slightly. So she patted his cheek quickly with enough force that it was just shy of slapping him, making his eye twitch shut. Then she drew her hands away and found something to focus on up the street.
Benimaru was rubbing his cheek when she looked at him again, "You haven't changed much either."
"Should I've?" she laughed, then she had an idea. Surely he had sake in the guardhouse, and she hadn't been home since she could drink. They'd have a toast. Maybe with a little liquid courage being around him wouldn't be so painfully awkward.
He turned, watching her hop up the guardhouse steps and disappear into the building but she ignored whatever he called after her.
He was happy she felt so at home there. He had thought in her time away she wouldn't feel like she had free-range of the guardhouse, like it was disallowed for her to enter since she quit the hikeshi. Clearly, that didn't bother her and now he was a little worried about what she was planning on doing.
He didn't have to worry long before she came back out, lofting a bottle of sake and two glasses. He raised an eyebrow, wandering over to sit on the porch and she plopped down beside him, "I just knew you'd have some," she chimed, breaking the seal on the bottle, "I've been able to drink for two years and we've never toasted together so I figured, why not."
He swallowed, "Sure. Why not," the sun was still pretty high, it wasn't even close to dinner time. But at least if they were drinking they'd have something to do.
She grinned, pouring into the glass in front of him, then setting the bottle down and waiting for him to pour hers, "I'm not shocked, by the way, that you're a dry sake person but it wouldn't kill you to keep some sweet sake around."
He rolled his eyes, pouring hers, "Why would I do that?"
"Options for your guests," she grinned picking up her glass and holding it to him, "I'm guests."
"Yeah, I figured that out," he rolled his eyes, tapping his glass to hers. He knew full well he was going to be grabbing a bottle of sweet sake the next time he was at the store.
"Kanpai," she grinned.
"Kanpai."
She took a little sip, watching people walk by on the street. He hadn't liked her haircut when she'd first done it. He missed the long swish of her ponytail, the way she'd run it through her hands as she pulled her hair back before they sparred. Looking at her now he thought the hair that just brushed over her shoulders made her look like the smart woman she'd become. It brushed around her neck, drawing his eye to the gentle dips of the collar bones. He drank his whole glass in one shot. A wide smile breaking out on his face almost immediately.
She blinked at him, filling his glass again, "I'll admit I don't drink sake a ton but aren't you supposed to enjoy it, and...what's happening to your face?"
"I don't know what you mean," he said, his smile never breaking.
She laughed a small little giggle, the breathy girlish way she used to laugh when he'd mumble things to her under his breath as Hibachi lectured them.
He shot back his second cup, and decided he should say it, "It's nice to have you home."
She was mid-sip when he said it, and she seemed to choke a little on her sake, coughing as it irritated her throat. She swallowed hard to keep from spitting it out and then her throat rasped from discomfort. It was already a little hard to focus on her but he thought she might be blushing, just slightly. She stayed quiet for a while then she poured him another glass and spoke, "Yeah for now. Until I annoy you again," and before he could respond she sighed, touching her face, "phew already flushed from one class of sake."
It was a lie, obviously, but not one that it would be worthwhile to point out. Still, he didn't want her dismissing his confession, "No. It's always nice to have you home."
She pulled her legs up, wrapping her arms around them against her chest, twisting slightly to fill his glass once more. She stared at him, her narrow green eyes far more focused than he felt he could make his own now. Her already lopsided mouth drew down a little, regretful looking, then she turned, "So! How are the girls? Paragons of politeness that I remember?"
"They're absolute demons. They're doing great."
She sipped her drink thoughtfully, still, on her first one, he realized, "We...weren't that bad. Right? Like I know we got into trouble all the time but not like them."
He sipped his, trying to slow down, given the world was already a little spinny, "Absolutely not."
She laughed and then a passing guardsman noticed her, "Atsuhi?! Well if it isn't the dragon of Asakusa! Boys!" he turned, calling out to others nearby who came over smiling as they realized, "Look who's back."
Atsuhi sighed, dropping back on her elbows on the porch but keeping her head forward looking at them, "Hey, guys."
The first guardsman, Ichiro, smiled, looking at the sake, "You and Waka been drinking long Atsuhi? Looks like he has!"
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing, Waka!"
"Nah," she sat forward, putting an arm over Benimaru's shoulders, "Beni's just trying to get me drunk so I have to stay in Asakusa tonight."
"I am no-"
"You should stay! We could have a feast! Welcome you back!"
Others began to support the idea, throwing out suggestions for what they could slap together. Benimaru looked at Atsuhi from the corner of his eye. She looked uncomfortable, unready to face the home she'd been away from in such a big way, "Eh forget it, boys. Another time. There's a festival coming up anyway."
"Ah...well...that is true," Ichiro sighed, holding his chin, "and I'd hate to...uh...interrupt you two."
"Well," a younger guardsman spoke, leaning around Ichiro slightly, "Glad you're back Atsuhi, and I like your hair. Looks really good on you!"
Ichiro elbowed him quickly, knocking the wind out of him, "Well we'll leave you to it!" he chimed and dragged the young guardsman off still in earshot even though he whispered, "what are you doing trying to flirt with Waka's girl!"
Atsuhi shot back the rest of her drink, setting the cup down harshly. There it was. Waka's girl. The way everyone seemed to think of her in Asakusa. A town so focused on Benimaru that people close to him were defined by that relationship. Moreover, it wasn't true. Maybe it had been when they were young. Before she'd ruined everything. She wasn't his girl anymore, and she'd done a lot on her own. As Atsuhi. As her own person.
Benimaru refilled her drink without looking at her.
"That's…" she admitted suddenly, "That's what bothers me. You know? That's all I am here. That's how I'm seen in Asakusa."
He seemed to grit his teeth, finishing his drink again, "And that's so bad?"
She sighed, rubbing her temple, "No. It's just...that's not all I am. Or...all I was. I mean. I never was your girl, we never…it's just..."
He turned his head from her, his face hidden by his black hair. Maybe he had loved her the way she'd love him. She wished she'd just asked him then, or he'd bothered to actually say how he felt but for whatever reason, he hadn't and she'd always been too scared.
"Just what," his voice was sharp like he was cornered and fighting back.
"I just…" she thought about telling him the truth. That it hurt not knowing where they stood with each other. That she thought about him all the time. How she wished she'd been more honest when she left. How he shouldn't have pulled back from kissing her all those years ago. But those were painful old wounds for her, and they probably were for him too so instead she spoke her other truth, "I just don't like that that's what I am here. If I have to be something in Asakusa I'd rather be the dragon."
"Then stay here and make them change their minds," he said, turning to stare at her.
When Atsuhi had said they were going to fight Shinra though she meant fists and fire and houses crashing down around them. That's how it had felt when they'd first faced off. Now as he wandered back they were sitting on the porch drinking, Captain Shinmon already grinning in that wide unsettling way he did.
"Hey...are you?" he could feel himself, smiling tense and uncomfortable, "Uh...is everything okay? I've gotta head back to the eighth now so I just wanted to ask...if you wanted to come back?"
"Why are you smiling like that, Shinra?" the Captain asked, rocking slightly where he sat.
"It's...uh it's a nervous tick...sir. Why are...you smiling like that?"
"I'm not smiling," he said, his grin growing wider.
"Respectfully, sir-"
Atsuhi stumbled up quickly, hopping down the steps, she pushed her hand sloppily over his mouth, clearly also not sober though maybe not as bad off as the Captain, "Shhhh he doesn't know."
"O-...oh," He sighed, pulling her hand from her mouth and supporting her weight as she leaned on him.
"When...did you two get so close," he rocked, his smile wide but his eyes squinting. Shinra wasn't sure what he meant and it made him blush nervously, his smile shaking.
Atsuhi grinned, pulling at the corner of his mouth, "Oh Shinra was a big hero. He saved me and my mom, now we're going to be great friends."
It made him smile a little, even if her drunken clinging took a little sincerity out of the moment, "R-Really?"
"Yeah!" she smiled, turning to watch Benimaru approach them, his eyes hidden completely by his hair.
Had he'd not learned the breath of life from the Captian himself he would have run the approach was so unsettling, but when he turned his face back up his smile was wide and his eyes finally opened enough for Shinra to see a surprisingly soft expression, he clapped him on the shoulder hard, "Thank you then, Shinra. I appreciate that."
Atsuhi grinned, and moved in swiftly, her body managing to make it under the Captain's just as he pitched forward. Though he was far bulkier and a good bit taller than her she didn't seem to struggle under his weight, his arms looping around her in a loose hug, head rocking against her shoulder, "Why don't…" she breathed forcing the poor Captain up so she could get a better grip, "you go ahead. I've gotta get this mess settled and public drunkenness isn't as accepted outside of Asakusa."
Shinra nodded, "Are you sure I could?"
The Captain turned his head to look at him, waving a hand, "Shoo."
Atsuhi snorted softly, "Yeah, it's okay. I'll come back later but please...be my favorite and save me a plate of the Lieutenant cooks."
"What if Iris and Maki cook?" Shinra teased.
Atsuhi's expression deadpanned, "Tell them I picked something up and text me so I...you know. Can pick something up. I'll even get you something for being my spy."
"Sweet," he grinned, "Okay then...I'll see you back there!"
He waved, watching her try to guide the Captain's dead weight back to the guardhouse, the drunken smiles on their faces seeming a little more genuine than before.
She'd managed to get him into the guardhouse but he was fading fast, falling asleep against her making her tip over and struggle to keep him upright.
"You weight two million pounds, just so you know," she pouted, trying to get his feet flat on the floor again.
"Now you know how it felt to give you all those piggyback rides," he mumbled, his face leaning on her shoulder his sake-laden breath brushing heavily against her ear.
"Hardly!" she groaned, finally pulling him up so he was standing more or less, "I was a delicate lovely young girl, you're just a giant lump of muscles you're refusing to use."
His head rolled on her shoulder, mouth so close to her cheek she could practically feel his lips. If he noticed he didn't react but it made her stomach drop and her knee-jerk response was to let him go dropping him to the floor.
He fell like a pile of wet clothes, then rolled to his back gracelessly and squinted up at her hand reaching for hers, "Come here."
"This is a hallway, and also no," She sighed, pulling her hand back from his own. He pushed himself up, hand still reaching for hers so she stepped back, "Beni." He seemed to pout, the first time he'd stopped smiling in hours it felt like, and struggled to his feet still holding a hand out to her, "this is starting to feel like a zombie movie what are you-"
"Hand," he demanded, fingers grabbing at hers.
She blinked, then let out a long breath, "Fine, but don't pull me to the floor."
He smiled, wrapping her hand in his own, burning with warmth like aways maybe warmer now since he was absolutely trashed. He stumbled badly but tried to walk to his room, rocking against the wall and sighing there seemingly exhausted from the effort. He rolled his head against the wall to look back at her, "Normally...I just sleep on the porch."
"I think that's called passing out, Beni," She smiled slightly, pulling his arm back over her shoulders and yanking him along.
He groaned but let her, his boots sliding heavily over the old wooden floors. She was relieved when they finally got to the sliding door of his bedroom and she pulled it open. It looked just like she remembered it. More like a hotel room than the quarters of someone who'd lived there for over ten years now it had so few things in it. The scant decorations were almost all traditional things, chatters from the Hikeshi's formation, awards, and lists of previous Captains. Old art painted by long-dead Asakusa citizens honoring the Hikeshi's valiant efforts. She pulled him along to his bed, a mat in the middle of the floor, "You should brush your teeth."
"What is Konro paying you?" he grumbled.
"Well that makes it sound like you don't brush your teeth often," she teased, shoving him down onto his bed.
He caught ahold of her arm and tugged lightly, "Atsuhi."
Her heart raced, she knew he wasn't trying to seduce her, he was far too bitter and far too straightforward to sneak around like that, but the implication still brought the thought to her mind in a way that was hard to ignore, "Stay here with me."
"What?" she laughed, "No, I've gotta go back to my stuff at the eighth."
"You used to," he frowned, his hand gripping her arm tighter, "you'd sneak in and sleep by me."
She flushed, it was surprising that he was talking about it. That it had mattered to him then. It was especially surprising he wanted it now, even if he was drunk.
"That was like...four years ago at least," she sighed, trying lamely to tug her arm free.
He stopped pulling at her but his grip tightened slightly, his eyes suddenly seeming forlorn. He leaned forward slightly, "It feels longer…"
She tilted her head at him, confused.
"When you're gone it feels longer."
For a moment everything was still and silent, the only movement in the room was Benimaru's thumb absentmindedly rubbing her forearm, a surprisingly gentle caress probably brought on by his drinking.
"Well…" she sighed, "I'm back for a bit. Aren't I," she peeled his hand off gently and kneeled. Taking his boots off of him and setting them aside, "I'm not getting you up to brush your teeth, am I?"
He shook his head, calm and decisive. His smile replaced by a very sleepy look, "Could you stay...until I fall asleep?"
"Yeah, I can spare two minutes."
He huffed and rolled his eyes, fighting his way into his covers. He rolled onto his back and looked at her. Waiting but she wasn't sure for what.
"Goodnight, Beni," she whispered.
"Night...Atsuhi," he mumbled, trying hard to look at her even though his eyes were lidding heavily. As he dozed off she scooted closer, looking into his already handsome face made more so by suddenly looking peaceful.
He seemed to feel her presence because he scooted himself closer, leaning his head against her knee. She looked at him for a moment, reached out, and brushed his bangs away from his face. She thought about offering her lap for him to rest his head in, another thing he'd favored when they were younger, a sort of intimacy she didn't think twice of back then. But she knew she was going to leave again and if he slept in her lap he'd be unhappy when she woke him up to move, so instead, she sat by him until his breathing became deep and even, and then she stepped out onto the porch of the early Asakusa night flooded with memories of a life she'd thought she'd left behind.