Those that knew Shiryu knew that he was not INCLINED to either let anyone touch him nor gain his trust. One would figure that the saint was JUDGMENTAL of others & they would be RIGHT to think so. From the time he had been able to SPEAK to the way he was now, the circle that gained Shiryu’s trust was SMALL for a reason. He was not a man that was against STRETCHING FOR HIS HAND IN AIR & RISKING IT GETTING BIT but, he was not one to FORGET being bitten.
& thus leaning on the saint would seem as though Shiryu was STRETCHING out his hand again to a man that had once raised hands to him. He, like some of the other gold saints that were granted a second chance at life (why? none of them seemed to know). One would assume that the gods have given them this chance to truly FULFILL their duty to Athena & UPHOLD their oath; even those who rose hand to do away with her. But, can you CONDEMN them for doing what they were told? By following the orders of a man who was NOT HIMSELF?
Now was not the time to ponder on such things, not while his head felt as though it was going to EXPLODE. The warmth that came from Shura was a comfort. Yes, this was a man who tried to KILL him. Yes this was a man who tried to KILL Athena. Yes this was a man who cared VERY LITTLE for their lives but this was a man who KNEW NO BETTER. He knew not the error of the things he had done at that time & was following direction. The REMORSE that was apparent from the saint had been made apparent during that same fight while his last breaths were being taken. This same man gave HIS LIFE to make sure that Shiryu didn’t DIE.
TRUST & FORGIVENESS were things he did not give neither EASILY NOR WILLINGLY. He gave them to Shura without a second thought when they met up again & the elder had YET to let him down. That was the basis of his COMFORT around him, yes? Their conversations had been STIMULATING albeit sometimes MORBID. Unlike with his own fellow saints, with a saint that had characteristics that he not only possessed but admired, there was a sense of understanding—he couldn’t remember knowing anyone that UNDERSTOOD things that he felt without words.
Shiryu continued to LEAN on the other; staying close as he needed the support as he attempted to walk. There was a NOD to the question. His head might be hurting but it did not hinder his MOTOR SKILLS. Face had taken color & one would be unsure if it was because he was warm due to what had happened, embarrassment over his own misgivings or anything else. Thank heavens no one else was here to see him so PITIFULLY. & the need to APOLOGIZE one again, was there. This was NOT how he wanted to present himself to the other. Why did he CARE so much how he looked to Shura? Why was he beginning to CARE A LOT what the other thought of him?
❛ I will attempt to recover as quickly as I can; I do not want to put you out of your own living quarters. Forgive me, Shura-san. I am ASHAMED of myself & my lack of restraint. ❜
Resurrection seemed to spell trouble for Shura;
From his past experiences that is.
He’s given life yet again with no reason to it. There was no war or malevolent deity seeking out to make them apparatuses.
Shura did not expect to find himself alive and in this type of situation: one so nurturing. A nurture almost foreign to his hands that which grew accustomed to searing blood and splitting apart flesh even as hands of a child.
Perhaps this is why he was resurrected--NOT to see Shiryu be ill--to experience a sense of a different humanity he rarely experienced in his “first life”.
The man stared at Shiryu’s ebony locks in thought; the robust blade that was his hand brushing through gently without ruining a single black strand. For a moment he was hypnotized, pondering on their situation.
Unknown to himself, Shura gave Shiryu a reassuring squeeze inhaling faintly as his body relaxed and vision dazed from the merging serenity and concern. This was not like tending to Aphrodite when they were children; this spurred a different, yet familiar situation.
The need to be nurturing, gentle, the need to abandon his past mistake of a persona so blindly intent on dominating the world with Sanctuary believing an iron fist would bring about justice.
A justice that was not real.
The need to be nurturing...it was vague and almost terrified Shura. Yet he did not protest. This kind of serenity was so welcomed in this bizarre occurrence of another chance at life...
“Need I repeat myself, Shiryu-kun?” Albeit his stern demeanor, Shura’s voice dripped with a faint gentleness that came almost as a plea for Shiryu’s ease. His voice lowered to a soft whisper, not letting up on the blunt tone yet remained honeyed.
“How do we learn if we do not be reckless, hm? What is done is done; all I ask of you now is no apology but rest. That means for you to relax and not think yourself a burden.”
