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This sucks.
Enjin knows it.
Unfortunately, he doesn't have any better options. He doesn't even know if he has other options to choose from. Considering his situation and what leads him into it, his hand is pretty much tied.
Metaphorically.
He's sure if he doesn't need to get medical treatment, he will be tied, rather literally, in this moment.
"No smoking," the dislike is very apparent, it shouldn't surprise him and yet, it still makes him wonder how come a whole family is born with such an uptight attitude. Enjin tempts to do exactly the opposite even more, like blowing the smoke right to where the voice comes from.
He does no such thing.
Enjin is not in a position to be cocky.
"And if I have to tell you again, I will take that blond hair and rip it all out, with my sister's blessing," Goka finishes with a death glare, but honestly Enjin is done being glared at.
Meeting Kyouka again is enough fill for a week.
If stares can kill, Enjin will absolutely be unsalvageable at this point.
"Sorry," Enjin says, doesn't even look Goka's way.
Clearly the sorry is said for the sake of politeness.
Sure, the Nijiku has saved him, but with the price of capturing Rudo in exchange for this?
One can argue that it's not worth it, and that one exact person is Enjin himself.
"If you want to have smoke coming out of the hole in your neck so bad, at least, do it somewhere else," Goka scoffs in his chair. Enjin glances in his direction, trying to see what face he makes. Of course, Goka makes his usual Goka's face, unfriendly and scary.
A little bit reminding him of Zanka, only on a more extreme scale. Enjin can see the resemblance between the siblings, despite Zanka continuously hating to be compared with his own blood relative.
The thought makes him smile.
When Kyouka and an army of her Hell Guards captures Rudo, the last thing he remembers is Too Lily and Gountess making a run for it (Enjin is glad for their last minute escape, they don't deserve to get entangled with this disaster after what had just happened), and Eishia being brought with him.
He doesn't remember much about his trip. He faintly remembers before passing out that Eishia grabbing his hand so hard, Enjin is surprised it doesn't leave a dent. Eishia is also too innocent, that she's mostly safe from the interrogation that the Hell Guards surely conducts on her.
Time passes in almost a blur and next thing he knows, Eishia is sitting next to his futon, rubbing her eyes, clearly spending the night crying.
He doesn't know what the Hell Guards do, neither does Eishia, but by some miracle, they apparently save him.
He doesn't know how much he values life, until death stares back at him (literally and figuratively, he thinks).
Thanks to Eishia who still keeps his belongings, that he can have some smoke to relieve the building stress.
Of not knowing Rudo's fate in Kyouka's hand (Kyouka won't go easy on him and Enjin is already dreading what cards she has up her sleeves).
Of not knowing the rest of his team (the last time he remembers both Riyo and Zanka are fighting their own battle. Enjin regrets it a little he's focused more on Rudo, he trusts them completely to handle their own fights.)
Of not knowing what will happen next.
Enjin takes the last drag of his cigarettes, before he pinches the flame dead.
Goka scrunches his nose in distaste.
"Man, what are you doing around here to relieve stress if you don't smoke?"
Goka literally looks down at him.
"Training."
If Enjin doesn't have bandages around his neck, he will definitely burst out laughing. Honestly, he probably will risk getting the stitch on his wound reopen by doing exactly that. Some pain is worth the risk. And right now the best he can do is wheezing.
Goka looks absolutely fumed, Enjin could have sworn the man grows another set eyebrows only to emphasize his annoyance. Enjin doesn't actually expect Goka to answer him with such an honest answer, but the fact that he does and he means it, somehow is so funny in every aspect.
"Of course, you do," Enjin sighs, even wheezing drains so much energy off of him. "You and Zanka are truly brothers."
The mention of Zanka's name gets Goka visibly flinch.
Enjin doesn't miss it.
That's not a good sign.
Goka is there with them, how come Enjin doesn't think of asking about the rest of the Team Akuta to him?
"My team—" Enjin starts, feeling inexplicably scared all of sudden. "—did you know what happened to them? Riyo? Zanka?"
Enjin can see the moment Goka tries to compose himself, making his best attempt to school his face into more neutral ground and even more intimidating. But Enjin, Goka is never as good as Kyouka at acting ruthless.
If anything, Enjin'd like to think, that he's closer to Zanka in character, rather than their sister.
"That redhead is fine, she's probably looking all over the place for the rest of her teammates." Goka says, leaning back to his chair.
Riyo is fine.
Knowing her, Enjin can already guess that the girl is halfway sweeping the whole Doll Festival Area trying to find them. Enjin knows, they're at one of the Hell Guards headquarters, he just isn't sure where.
"And Zan—"
"Do not speak of his name," Goka cuts him off with a sharp tone.
Enjin's mouth clamps shut.
Goka doesn't seem like the type to be overprotective of Zanka; he probably used to, but considering that Goka immediately joins Kyouka's side to ban their youngest sibling from Nijiku's household—Enjin finds it hard to believe.
"I will speak of his name, as someone who truly cares about him," Enjin doesn't deter.
"You've sent an inexperienced soldier to the battlefield and you expect him to succeed. Is that how you spell, incompetence, there at the Cleaner's nest?"
Enjin is already itchy to take another smoke.
"Zanka is very capable of handling his own fight and as his Leader I can attest to that. You should stop discrediting your brother, just because he takes a different road from you, Goka."
Goka rises from his chair. Enjin forgets that this man is almost as tall as him, and with Enjin lying on the futon on the floor, he almost looks gigantic.
"My brother is on the brink of death, because of you!"
Everything drains off of Enjin; every emotion, every reaction—except one.
Absolute fear.
Pure horror.
"What do you mean?"
He doesn't even realize he sits up so quickly, his head spinning.
"Where's Zanka?"
For the first time, since he arrives here, Enjin experiences actual trouble breathing. His throat tightens itself, both the air and the words seemingly get stuck by the presence of uneasiness and the growing anxiety.
"Goka—" Enjin isn't above to plead. Not when it's for Zanka's sake.
Goka barks a humorless laugh. "I've told you numerous times to not smoke and yet, you still do. I guess some people are so wrapped around themselves to not care about other people's whereabouts."
Just a slight, but impossible to miss. Goka's eyes dart to the shoji door on their left. Enjin doesn't think, he scrambles off his feet to slide it open.
There, in the dark of the room, he can see Zanka lying on the same futon as his. He's glad that the room is mostly quiet that he can hear the steady breathing.
The fear drains off of him so fast, replaced by a wave of relief, it almost makes him liquid.
Zanka has been next to him all along.
It makes sense to put Goka in the room, where he can access both Enjin and Zanka simultaneously.
"Is he... okay?" Enjin almost considers to ignore Goka and just gets to the youngest Nijiku as close as possible, but he has a feeling that Goka won't appreciate that.
"He won't be if it's not for that girl," Goka begrudgingly admits.
Enjin doesn't know where Eishia is now, but when he sees her again, he swears to himself, he will pull her into the longest, full-of-gratitude hug.
Enjin lets out a breath he doesn't realize he's been holding.
By some miracle, everyone in his team is alive. Even if they are in various conditions and situations, at least they are all alive.
That's one thing to be thankful for.
Enjin slides the shoji door shut again, quieter this time, as if any loud noise might disturb the rhythm of Zanka's breathing. Zanka is so close, Enjin will have plenty of time catching up with him.
Right now, Zanka needs the rest more.
"Eishia, huh?"
He doesn't turn back to Goka right away, eyes still fixed on the wooden frame like it holds all the answers he doesn't have. He can hear Goka dropping back into his chair with a heavy thud, the wood creaking under his weight.
"Of course, it's Eishia," a smile tugs at Enjin's mouth despite everything.
Of course, it's Eishia.
The best Healer they have ever had, a very valuable member of Team Akuta despite her being a non-confrontational type.
He still remembers the way her grip had anchored him when everything went dark, like she could will him back from the edge just by refusing to let go.
The way she kept trying and didn't even stop even if she knew it was a futile attempt.
Of course, it's Eishia. She would do the same for Zanka.
Enjin owes her more than a hug. Even twice his life is never enough to pay her back.
He eases himself back down onto his futon, slow and careful, because moving too fast makes the world tilt and the wound at his neck screams.
And with the absence of fear of losing Zanka, the numbness fades and the pain returns again.
Reminding him that they're far from being okay.
Reminding him that being alive is the minimum bar.
"Aren't you glad, Zanka is with the Cleaner?" Enjin sighs. "Nobody can heal such terrible injuries like Eishia. Of course, I'm an exception because mine is a unique case."
Goka grunts, arms crossed tight over his chest. The man looks like he's constantly chewing on something bitter, Enjin half-suspects Goka eating his cigarette to keep him out from smoking.
"She's not a Cleaner," Goka scoffs. "She's a Healer."
Enjin shrugs. "Tomato-Potato or whatever that saying is. She's still part of my team and she's a goddamn talented Giver."
He steals a glance in Goka's direction. "Even so, Eishia actually has saved your brother. I think you can learn to be civil for once, Goka."
Goka doesn't reply right away. He just stares at the far wall like it personally offended him, jaw clenching still.
The silence stretches long enough that Enjin starts wondering if the man is calculating how much trouble he'd get in for knocking a bedridden patient unconscious.
"She's still one of you," Goka finally mutters. "Doesn't matter how many times she patches up my idiot brother."
Enjin lets out a low, tired chuckle that immediately makes his neck throb. "You're really committed to this whole 'us versus them' thing, huh? Even when 'them' just basically saves your brother's life?"
Goka's eyes snap back to him. For a second Enjin thinks the man might actually lunge.
Instead, he exhales through his nose like a bull and leans forward, elbows on his knees.
"You're also the one bringing him into this, knowing well he's not ready—"
Enjin feels the words punch right at him, but he doesn't flinch. He's used to them. He's heard variations of this before, usually from Zanka himself on his worst nights.
"He was ready," Enjin corrects himself immediately. "He's always been ready. You people just never gave him the chance to prove it without belittling him for having a different pace of progress."
Something flashes across Goka's face—gone too fast before Enjin can pin it down.
Guilt?
Regret?
Whatever it is, it's buried under that permanent scowl again.
Before either of them can continue, the shoji door on the opposite side slides open.
Eishia steps in carrying a tray with what looks like fresh bandages and a bowl of something that smells herbal and bitter. Her eyes are still puffy, but her movements are steady.
She pauses when she sees Enjin, then glances at the closed door hiding Zanka.
"Oh, Enjin, you're awake," Eishia sighs in relief. "This is good. The medicines work better when the body isn't fighting unconsciousness."
She kneels, setting the tray down between them.
Goka stands abruptly, the chair scraping loud against the floor.
"My brother is resting, I appreciate it if you can take care of him, only when he's awake on his own."
He doesn't look at either of them as he heads for the door.
The shoji door shuts behind him with more force than necessary.
Eishia lets out a shaky breath once they're alone. "He's not as scary as Kyouka. But he's still terrifying."
Enjin reaches out, ignoring the protest in his neck, and ruffles her hair fondly. It's endearing how she immediately turns red at the little action.
"He's a Nijiku, Eishia. Comes with the blood, I fear," Enjin pulls back, even simple action can easily tire him out.
He will never be tired of giving Eishia reassurance, though.
"But you saved Zanka," he glances at the closed shoji, as if he wants to get Zanka's approval before he says, "That earns you more than a little respect, even from him."
"I was so scared, Enjin. When my power doesn't work on you, like I've done Zanka—" She gulps down. "I won't let anyone die. Not if I can help it."
Enjin closes his eyes as she starts working, taking care of his wounds.
This sucks.
Enjin knows it.
Unfortunately, he doesn't have any better options. He doesn't even know if he has other options to choose from. Considering his situation and what leads him into it, his hand is pretty much tied.
This is not the best outcome of everything that has ever happened, but certainly, it's not the worst.
Enjin will take it over any other option that may involve dying.
"And then, Rudo—" Eishia starts, hesitancy hangs on every syllable, before she stops herself.
Enjin inhales deeply. "We'll get him back, Eishia, even if it's the last thing I can do."
It's not just a reassurance, it's a promise.
And Enjin always keeps his promise.