Best read after Chapter 13 of A Knight and his Squire, EXTEND.

AD 2204, 6/6, 6th Hierarchical City of Yabiko – NOL Branch

Bang watches as Carl goes, pride shining in his eyes and soul. Perhaps… Perhaps things will turn out right after all.

"That was… How did you do that?" Or perhaps not. Bang turns to see Amane staring at him with wonder. Those icy eyes, filled with such warmth. He's in trouble for sure.

He clears his throat and smiles awkwardly. "W-Whatever do you mean, Nishiki?"

Amane's eyes narrow, but maintain their warm curiosity. "I've never seen Carl act so sweetly. Ever. How did you get him to open up like that?"

Amane walks closer, never breaking eye contact, stopping less than a meter away from the nervous Bang, who clears his throat. "I didn't do anything. Master Carl merely sought me out for comfort, and I, as his mentor, provided it."

Amane hums, quirking a brow and the corner of his mouth. "Really? I find that hard to believe. You and Carl must be pretty close."

Bang swallows thickly, then furrows his brows with a determined smile. "O-Of course! He is my beloved second disciple, after all! The bond between master and student is as unshakable as the mountains themselves!"

Amane chuckles. "That's a bold claim. Say, how did you meet Carl anyway? I don't think you've ever told me."

Amane sits down primly into Carl's former seat. Bang falls back into his seat, a pensive frown marring his handsome face. Bang thinks over whether the story is his to tell. He wouldn't want to invade Carl's privacy… But perhaps knowing the circumstances will soften Amane's approach to his disciple.

Bang nods to himself. "Very well. It all begins in Ronin-Gai. I was doing my usual patrol, when I came across Master Carl, he was in rough shape. I took him into my home to recover, and after he woke, he surprised me."

"Oh? How's that?" Amane smiles cheekily, quirking a brow once more.

Bang laughs. "Well, it's not every day that one so young declares himself a vigilante. I decided to take him under my wing at once. As an older vigilante, it is my duty to ensure the safety of my younger counterparts."

Amane hums, smiling fondly at him. "I see. So, how did that go for you?"

Bang rubs the back of his head, cheeks heating slightly as he smiles. "W-Well, Master Carl has always been hesitant to ask for help. It took quite a bit of persuasion, in tandem with a test of our abilities, to convince him to train with me for a while."

Amane smiles wider, raising his brow further into a friendly smirk. "Oh? Sounds to me like you got a little lucky there. If Carl hadn't been so grateful, he might've just walked away. If that was the case, I'm not so sure you'd be faring any better than I have in recruiting him."

Bang hums, frowning sadly. "You… May be right. But still, I persisted, and Master Carl gave me a chance to prove my worth as a mentor. For several days we trained together until we had to set out on our own journeys through Kagutsuchi. Fate saw fit to bring us together again on the road to Ikaruga, where we deepened the bond of master and disciple. The rest is history."

Amane looks pensively at Bang. "You won him over pretty quickly. What makes your approach so different than mine? I have to say, you sound like you have a strong come-on yourself."

Bang huffs a sigh. "While it's true that I can be a bit… passionate, in my ways, I don't think I've ever resorted to bondage to 'recruit' someone."

Amane glares at him, a pouty frown on his painted lips. "Hey, hey. I already said that was just a misunderstanding between me and my boys. If you hadn't gone in all guns a blazing and just listened for a second, you'd know that we were just trying to get Carl to hear us out."

Bang meets his icy glare with a stare of amber iron. "Master Carl has always chosen his own counsel, Nishiki. You can no more make him hear you out than you can force Tao to behave formally. I find that the best approach is a suggestion."

Amane furrows his brows. "A suggestion? What do you mean, Shishigami?"

Bang shrugs. "It is just that. Merely let him know you are available to him, and he may decide to seek you out. As Master Tenjo used to say, 'There's nothing more vital to the bond you share with someone than simply being there for them.'"

Amane blinks, then hums, looking pensive. He murmurs. "Just let him know I'm available, huh…?" He redirects his eyes to Bang after a few moments, curiosity returning. "This 'Master Tenjo' of yours, they wouldn't happen to be…?"

Bang smiles sadly. "Indeed. Tenjo Amanohokosaka was indeed my mentor. Though she was only a few years older than myself, she taught Mutsuki and I nearly all we know."

Amane hums again, smiling gently. "That's impressive and generous."

Bang laughs. "Ha-Ha! Indeed, she was." His smile dips somewhat. Nostalgia and sadness fill his eyes. "She took in a commoner's child, just to show that we could all stand up for our comrades, no matter our station…" Bang loses himself in memories for a moment.

Amane looks on, looking conflicted and sympathetic. Slowly, he reaches out and tenderly squeezes Bang's larger hand with his own.

Bang blinks, snapping out of his daze, and smiles gratefully at Amane. "I'm sorry. The subject of Master Tenjo is close to my heart."

Amane smiles sympathetically. "I'm glad. Not everyone can remember their teachers. Even when they should." Amane's icy eyes hold hints of regret.

Bang squeezes the hand he's clasping, smiling at Amane warmly. "I feel like there's a story there. Would you like to share?"

Amane frowns, his eyes full of thoughts and conflict. He thinks carefully for a moment, then gently shakes his head. "Perhaps some other time."

Bang nods. "I understand. Just know that I am here, at any time you should need me."

Amane smiles at him once more, and Bang feels his heart flutter with emotion he dares not name. "Thank you, Shishigami."

Amane retracts his hand, and Bang does his best to hold off the twitch and twinge of sadness at the loss. Bang clears his throat, smile only wobbling for an instant. "W-Well, as I was saying, Master Tenjo taught me that the best approach to get someone to open up is to be gentle and patient. Don't try to force things, or they'll only close themselves off from you."

Amane hums. "Hmm… Just be gentle… I'll give it a whirl." His smile turns back into his usual friendly smirk. "Thanks again, Shishigami. Seems like you're entering something of a guru phase today."

Bang chuckles. "Me? A guru? Ah, I could only dream of such a thing. I still have much to learn." His face turns serious. "Nishiki, promise me that there won't be any more bondage involved in your pursuit of Master Carl. I cannot stand by and allow for that."

Amane huffs, frowning and tilting back his head. He looks like a scolded cat. "I already said it was just a misunderstanding." Bang's expression doesn't change. Amane pouts and crosses his arms, sinking into his seat. "Fine. 'No more force. I swear it on the name of Uzume.' There, happy?"

Amane raises a brow critically, and Bang nods, smiling once more. "Thank you, Nishiki. I understand your frustration, but Master Carl is under enough stress these days. I'm grateful that you can understand."

Amane rolls his eyes. "Duh. I've heard enough about Kokonoe to know that she's got one hell of a stick up her ass."

Bang sputters, cheeks glowing. Amane doesn't curse often, and to hear such crude words pass his pretty lips is… "A-Anyway, did you have any other questions?" Bang smiles nervously, trying to crash that particular train of thought.

Amane blinks, then smirks slyly. Bang really is too easy to read for his own good. "As a matter of fact, I'm curious. How did you meet Tenjo? You said you're a commoner?"

Bang blinks, then nods, his smile full of relief at the change in subject. "Indeed, I am. Though we Shishigamis have served in the NOL nearly since its founding, we never sought a higher status than what we had."

Amane hums, smiling brightly. "That's pretty honest of you."

Bang smiles. "Of course! A good man never seeks status, but the betterment of his comrades. When I was still a young boy, I happened upon Tenjo, who was in a fight with some other commoners. Though she could have easily dispatched them, Tenjo was never one who took joy in battle, especially against those who were weaker than herself. I managed to fend them off without her needing to intervene, and in turn, she insisted that I learn to properly defend myself. From that moment on, I was her second disciple." Bang's smile once again fills with nostalgia and a lion's pride.

Amane blinks. "Second disciple?"

Bang nods, face sobering somewhat. "Indeed. As the heir to the Imperator, Tenjo was already meant to be training Mutsuki, the heir to the Duodecim, in their unique style. My coming was… controversial, to say the least. Tenjo's mother was quite insistent that the rest of the Duodecim allow Tenjo to keep her promise, however, and I was eventually let in on their training."

Amane hums. "The Amanohokosakas sound like a very generous sort."

Bang smiles proudly once again. "Indeed! Imperator Homura inherits all their mother's wisdom and generosity. Look no further than their understanding of Master Carl's situation, for example. Now, the training was quite grueling, but Tenjo never gave up on me. Even when Mutsuki would tease me for being the older of us (though he knew damn well it was only by two weeks, the scoundrel) and knowing less than he, she was quick to come to my aid."

Amane hums, frowning. "Mutsuki bullied you?"

Bang waves his hands frantically. "N-No! It was only some boyish teasing, calling me, 'Old Man' and such. Nothing to be upset about today, I assure you."

Amane only relaxes a little, frown still in place. Bang clears his throat. "As I was saying, Tenjo was always patient with me, even when her instructors told her to leave me by the wayside. 'You see, he cannot even begin to grasp the style,' they'd say. She ignored them, always. And eventually, she molded me into the magnificent fighter you see before you." Bang lifts his chin and flexes his powerful muscles.

Amane does his best not to linger too long on the bounce of his pectorals or the fluid shifting of his abs. Best not to get distracted. "Speaking of, I'd say you learned a lot more than how to fight."

Bang blinks and then nods enthusiastically. "Of course! Master Tenjo was sure to bring me in on their other lessons, as well. I can file almost any paperwork, read any of the old texts, and even quote philosophers! And it was she who taught me my dance! It always brought a smile to her face to see me perform." Bang's face turns serious. "Nishiki… Would you be willing to… let me dance sometime?"

Amane blinks. Then he thinks for a moment. If Bang were to be on stage, perhaps Carl… Yes. Amane smiles exuberantly. He should have done this ages ago. He looks at Bang with fondness and cunning, and the bigger man shudders with emotion. "Alright, but I warn you, practice won't be easy. Sounds like I'm a bit stricter than what you're used to."

Bang smirks, eyes confidently narrowing to answer the unspoken challenge. "Oh? I suppose we shall see for ourselves. Why don't we go join your troupe and see what you're made of?" Bang rises from his seat eagerly and strides over to the door.

If Amane watches him leave a little more intently than he should, well, there aren't any witnesses, so it's fine. He too gracefully rises and strides past Bang into the hall once the door is open. "Hmph, we'll see alright, Shishigami."

That night, loud cries of effort and anguish that he's not heard in years keep Kagura awake.

The next morning, Hibiki sternly tells Amane that his troupe knew better than to park their stage so close to his rooms.

Amane merely shrugs with a knowing smile.

Bang cannot shift his sore muscles to even speak, and once he mercifully dozes off, strict commanding voices and demanding soft hands haunt his dreams.