az: Since episode 39 just made me want to type this out aloud. As well as episode 40.

Conflicting Thoughts: Part 1

Written by Izzu alias honou-no-izumi

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Something was wrong. He could sense it. Tono was acting strangely. He had sensed it the other day during the fight at the island but after that, he had tried not to think about it as he turned his attention towards Chiaki and Genta. Apparently, Akumaro had done the same thing to them as he did with the island people. Both of them had been poking at each other about it. Certainly as an elder, he should be there as mediator for them—considering the number of fights he had with the two in the past, he could try to help them out.

But later on the way home, he noticed it again. It was not like the usual atmosphere they always had when they were together, as in recently. More towards the time when the four of them had initially came to the mansion to begin their duties as Shinkengers. Even then, the atmosphere was also different, but it was certainly similar. The feeling, that is. Mako had been acting strangely as well. Did something happen between the two of them; when the five of them had separated earlier to investigate the island? Tono was injured too...

He had left the thought alone for the night, hoping that it had only been his imagination. Then again, this morning, what happened during the practice with Chiaki; it seemed that the troubling thing that was bothering Takeru was not just a simple thing for him to remain troubled about it. It bothered him. If he had not stopped him that time, Tono would have had hurt Chiaki really badly. Perhaps that was why he was standing here right now, in front of his lord's room... to try to get the answer to this particular issue.

"Tono—"

There it was again, the tension in the air. So... it was not his imagination after all. Takeru tensed up as he looked up towards Ryunosuke.

Ryunosuke bit his lips, even if there were no words exchanged between them; he could already tell that there was something that had troubled the young lord's head. To think that his lord would not even confide to him on what had been bothering him, it hurt him inside. Compared to the many injuries and cuts he had endured in the past, this hurt him even worse.

But then, when he had kept to himself about his own worries about Shintaro, Tono... as well as the others; must have felt the same as well. That thought came up in Ryunosuke's mind as he stopped himself. Could something have been bothering his young lord right now that he did not want to tell anyone about it? If it were so, would it be right of him to press his young lord about it? Perhaps not...

Ryunosuke sighed to himself as he turned to leave.

"Ah... Ryunosuke!" Takeru gave a cry before reaching out to grab Ryunosuke's arm. Ryunosuke stopped moving as Takeru pulled back his hand hesitantly.

"Is there... something you wanted to talk to me?" Takeru asked cautiously as Ryunosuke did not respond.

Ryunosuke sighed, as the air between them grew tense. He turned around to face him as Takeru tensed. Ryunosuke smiled weakly as he noticed the reaction.

"How's your injuries?" he asked as Takeru appeared relieved. Takeru shrugged.

"It's... fine. The injuries were not too deep... I can still manage it. It's already healing..."

Ryunosuke nodded his head.

"Mako told me that you've confronted Fuwa Juzo again the other day."

Takeru tensed again as he said the name before averting his eyes from him.

"Yeah," Was the short answer.

Ryunosuke nodded again, not pressing about the issue even more. He had heard some bits about what happened from Mako but even she was reluctant to talk about it in detail. Something definitely had happened between them back at the island.

But would Takeru-tono tell him what was bothering him right now to make him seemed so distant? Ryunosuke thought not.

"I see..."

Ryunosuke sighed.

They were both quiet again before Ryunosuke cleared his throat. Even if he kept this agonizing thought to himself, it would still bug him later. Better to just let it out.

"Tono, is something bothering you?"

A slight alarm lighted up on his face before Takeru averted his eyes again from Ryunosuke's stare. Ryunosuke walked closer as he placed his hand on Takeru's shoulder.

"Is it something that you don't feel comfortable to talk about... even to me?"

Takeru gave him a brief glance before looking away again. His expressions were unreadable but that alone was enough an answer for him.

"Very well, if that's what you want. But Tono... regardless of anything that might happen in the future, I will always support you. You do know that... don't you?"

Takeru nodded as Ryunosuke lifted his hand. Though, instead of stepping back, he held Takeru's injured hand gently.

"Still..."

Ryunosuke gave a gentle squeeze on the injured hand but paid mind not to squeeze it too hard. Takeru felt his heart being squeezed instead of his hand.

"Takeru-kun... even if you could not talk about your worries with me, at least talk to Hikoma-san. Don't keep it to yourself. Even if you have to cling and depend on others, it doesn't make you a weak person. Remember that."

Ryunosuke hung his head low before releasing Takeru's hand to leave the room. But he had not moved an inch as Takeru did not let his hand go.

"...sorry."

Ryunosuke bit his lips as he tried to keep it still, blinking his eyes while trying not to let a tear fall. He willed himself to act as cheerfully as he could before turning back towards Takeru.

"I would not forgive myself either should anything happen to you, Tono. So don't push yourself too hard. Sendai-sama would not want you to do that either. Get a good rest, eh? Take care."

Ryunosuke pried his hand off Takeru's grip as he left the room. Back at the room, Takeru continued staring towards the empty space where Ryunosuke had been standing at just earlier.

"I'm sorry... Ryunosuke." he said softly before he made a move to find Jii.