Chasing Ghosts[Kenichi, Natsumi]

"Well, that just hurts..."

Kenichi pouted softly as his hands were tapped away. He didn't initially get why she was upset... until he thought about in his head for a second. She was upset with him vanishing, but could it be more than that? He wasn't so vain to assume it, but maybe she had a crush on him? Being around so many women in his own house growing up, he could only assume so much based on that knowledge. Right now, though, he wouldn't dare voice that thought. Nope. Instead, he decided to answer her question, disappointed with his new nickname.

"I came out here to go camping and unwind. I've been traveling the world ever since I left Brazil. I've been going on a world tour tournament around the globe. I was hoping to meet up with you again. I mean that. I know you're upset, but I've always cared about you, Natsumi... and I still do now."

"I know the feeling." Natsumi said unconsciously. He had clearly hurt her first, so he would have to deal with the annoyance and sass from Natsumi. Jerk.

As he talked, Natsumi laid back in the dirt, putting her hands behind her head. Part of her wanted to go to sleep, but Mama said no! Gotta wait a couple of hours. So, she laid there and listened to Jerk. Natsumi's eyebrows both raised at him.

"Ain't carin' enough to stick 'round though, huh?" Natsumi said, puffing out her cheeks in a pout and then sticking her tongue out at him. She sat back up, hugging her knees to her chest. "Y'er s'posed to be my best friend, yet y'er always gone."

"H-hey! I didn't mean to hurt you, Natsumi..."

He responded with a genuine regret apparent in his tone. He meant that from the bottom of his heart, after all. Exploring his inner thoughts a little further, he wondered if everyone else had been hurt by his absence, worried as to whether or not he would even come back. When it truly dawned on him about the impact of such an absence, his gaze grew even more regretful. All that inaction with nothing to show for except those he hurt from isolating himself away from the world. What an awful feeling. Exhaling softly, he opened his arms to offer her a hug, despite her harsh words.

"Look, as far as I'm concerned, I am still your best friend. That never changed, and it never will, Natsu. I know I messed up. I was terrible at communicating my feelings in a time of need and I... ended up isolating myself away from a lot of people. I know that doesn't make up for it, but I can promise this much - I don't plan on leaving any of you behind again, especially you."

"Ya, y’er my best frien’ but am I y’ers?” Natsumi raised an eyebrow and rolled over to face away from Kenichi. She laid her head on her arm to relax, the other draped over her waist. After listening to everything Kenichi had to say, Natsumi groaned and rolled right back over to face him again. “Kenny, I ain’t actually that mad. I also don’ understand what you went through with all this bein’ married and not being married and drinkin’ an’ all that isolation stuff… I just missed, ya, kay?”

"Of course, you're my best friend! I feel bad that I've made you doubt that with my actions, but it's true. I care about you a lot. Like this much."

Kenichi would widen his arms for emphasis, flashing a grin as he did so. His words were genuine, and so too was his expression. As expected, she couldn't quite follow anything he explained, and he didn't exactly think he was capable of elaborating on it in a way she could digest, so he simply shifted from the subject altogether. He was simply happy to hear she missed him. Without hesitation, he swept into hug her as he nodded his head.

"I missed you too, Natsu."

Natsumi rolled back over to face him, seeing how much he spread his arms. Seeing that his arms super spread out, Natsumi smirked like a mischievous little gremlin. It seemed they had the same idea, because Natsumi suddenly darted forward to give him a hug too, but they practically tackled each other. “OOPH!” Natsumi groaned, the pain in her body returning at that sudden impact. “That hurt…” Natsumi giggled and then held out her arms to hug Kenichi. It was up to him to move on his own.

"Oof! Hahaha... oops. Looks like we both had the same intention there. Let's try that again..."

Kenichi couldn't contain himself at their little mishap. He had wanted to seize the window of opportunity and hug her first, only to be caught off guard by her soaring in, too. It was clear to him that her body still ached, so he gave her a moment, claiming the offered hug as he held her warmly. It felt nice to see a familiar face again, even more so that she wasn't upset with him and simply missed having him around.

"There we go."

Natsumi held on pretty firmly and didn’t let go. Unknown to Kenichi in the moment, Natsumi was relaxing and falling asleep rather quickly. She blinked a few times, trying to stay awake, but soon laid her head on his shoulder and went limp in his arms. With her breathing light and eyes closed, it was clear that Natsumi had fallen asleep. A combination of exhaustion, pain, and feeling safe, maybe?