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[b]Sagamiyama - Sakuhana Park
Night[/b][/center]

Another Hollow felled, as their most notable foe took its leave of the field- And another moment of hesitation that allowed the rest to escape. Quietly, as the strange archer left and Ouga turned that weary stare upon them all, Darius cursed himself. Hesitation after hesitation, moments of uncertainty that had cost them, all of them, dearly. The kids were young, yet untempered, but what was his excuse? After all he had seen, he should have been faster, more decisive. He might have saved the youths some hurts, if he had been. He could tell himself it had been shock, the realizations of how real it all was, the new sensations of wielding... Power, in new ways. It might even be true, yet it wouldn't lead to better results the next time, or the time beyond.

Blowing out a soft, frustrated sigh, he scrubbed a hand through his short hair, nodding a farewell as Ouga sprinted off. He, and Shouko, could find and tend to the others better than Darius could for now, and there was no sense of dread for their fates to drive him after the soul reaper. He had a feeling the kids would be fine without him for the night, even if they might have come out a bit rough for the experience. So, with soft uttered farewells, and a few parting bits of praise for their shows of strength and bravery, he took his leave as well- Trotting off into the night towards home.

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[center][b]Sagamiyama - The Stone Household[/b][/center]

It was with some small regret that Darius returned to his body, back in the comfortable confines of his home. He had still felt the ache of his injuries in his spirit form, but distantly, as if they were a memory. Now, they returned full force, and all the sharper for it. It brought a groan of discomfort from him, and he had to spend some few minutes braced against the kitchen counter to keep his knees from buckling, the soul candy tucked safely back into its container in his pocket. Let alone the fatigue of the night's activities, felt just as strongly in physical form as in spirit, as exhausting as any long ruck had ever been. Focusing on taking slow, steadying breaths, gaze far off out the window, he never heard Aiko's approach until he felt her hands sliding under his arms a warm embrace from behind. Allowing himself a soft smile, he settled a hand over hers on his chest, turning his head to look at her as she laid hers against his shoulder.

[color=0054a6]"Your stomach keeping you up?"[/color]

A slight nod, in response, and a squeeze of her hands.

[color=f26522]"My stomach. It'll heal. Sooner rather than later, I hope. I think... I think maybe I need to be stronger, again. Better. I haven't felt that way in a long time."[/color]

Her laugh, playfully scornful, was belied by the assurance and affection in the squeeze of her arms around him, before she pulled away, hands still holding his to drag him in her wake.

[color=0054a6]"You're lucky I like that you're so dramatic, [i]Aijin.[/i] Come to bed- You can get as strong as you like after you get some real sleep."[/color]

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[center][b]Sagamiyama - The Candy Shop
Mid-Morning[/b][/center]

Darius slept long, that night, and heavily- Hardly stirring when Aiko left for work, and only rising to answer the call of a rumbling stomach once the sun was already well above the horizon. He was half way through a hearty breakfast, feeling far better for the deep rest, when his phone buzzed to life in his pocket, declaring the location of this Candy Shop Ouga had summoned them all to. He decided, with a glance at the time, that it was nearby enough that he could afford to burn a little extra time before he left...

And so it was that he arrived, some half hour later on, with a large, foil covered platter in hand, the aromas of meat and egg and spicy things wafting from a few steam holes in the foil. He'd brought brunch, enough for everybody and then some in case of bottomless stomachs, just awaiting the arrival of the others to step inside and start passing the food out. After all, nothing took care of a night of jitters and uncertainty like good, heavy food.