[He flinches reflexively at the touch of alcohol on raw skin, even though injury is an old friend by now -- it's more the situation than the actual sensation throwing him off. Sometimes Kariya feels like he's hallucinating the whole thing, this Matou household without Zouken in it. He abandoned it wholesale without looking back, but...
(He'd never thought of the Matou as family, had he? He doesn't remember. He doesn't know what this is.)
Blood might actually be a stranger thing than family -- it's the magic in his blood that dragged him back into this life, and all the extra blood spilled that ended in him and Byakuya playing at being actual brothers. He doesn't know whose blood is needed to move forward. Maybe one day he'll spill enough of Kirei's.]
... Thanks. I'm not sure what I'd do without you.
[It just kind of slips out -- he's still sleepy, exhausted, and his thoughts are running in strange directions.]
no subject
(He'd never thought of the Matou as family, had he? He doesn't remember. He doesn't know what this is.)
Blood might actually be a stranger thing than family -- it's the magic in his blood that dragged him back into this life, and all the extra blood spilled that ended in him and Byakuya playing at being actual brothers. He doesn't know whose blood is needed to move forward. Maybe one day he'll spill enough of Kirei's.]
... Thanks. I'm not sure what I'd do without you.
[It just kind of slips out -- he's still sleepy, exhausted, and his thoughts are running in strange directions.]