SHIBUSEN SIDE

[soul_mods]

Characters: OPEN, Shibusen side
Location: Shibusen underground barracks
Rating: R
Time: September 1-15, 2019
Description: Both sides have exchanged news about their respective blast from the past. What does everyone think about it?

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[OPEN - Sept 5th - Hallways]

[rabukidastrophe]

It always took a bit to adjust to Shibusen after a ride. The bright desert suddenly became dim corridors; he'd tripped over uneven ground more than a few times that way. But it was cool in here, and the closest thing to 'home' that Kida had, so it was nice to be back from the delivery. The helmet hanging from the bat sticking out of his backpack swayed gently as he walked gamely down the dim 'hallways' of Shibusen, keeping an eye out for friends.

He supposed he should go see the returning kids, too. If Winry was really back, Ed would be thrilled. That guy had never given up on her, and Kida was glad to see that sort of shamelessly enduring hope had finally paid off. It was bizarre to think that people who had gone missing ten years ago were suddenly here, not having aged a day. The classic time warm scenario. He'd stopped thinking about those since BREW had given up the ghost. But Shibusen... no, this entire dimension. It never ran out of weird and amazing stuff like that. Ten years in, he was really pretty desensitized to it. Kids from ten years in the past just arrived? Oh, you don't say! No biggie~

Ah, right, if Winry-chan was back, maybe Puroi could finally get some decent automail maintenance. It probably should have been replaced years ago. Once the kids had time to settle in he'd make sure to bring it up.

[anonforgives]

Mikado and Anri had been waiting for Kida and Celty to return - no doubt the buzz from the young disappeared returnees had brought them here with plenty of letters. The list of those who had come and gone or disappeared was so long, and they from so long ago - from when Mikado had barely been in Shibusen at all - that it might have thrown even Mikado's memory for a loop. But Edward's loyalty had kept Winry's memory strong, so he didn't have to dig in his brain very long at all to remember their identities. He hoped the shock wasn't too great to handle for them - if only there were better news. It was a wry sentiment.

More importantly for now, Masaomi was safe and home again. He and Anri had headed out right away in hopes of catching him early.

"Here's hoping he's not missing anything," Mikado grumbled to Anri, though the sentiment was light... if only because he was already fairly certain he wasn't, in fact, missing anything.

[parasaika]

Anri had been a little lost in her own thoughts. The drone of "Saika" was barely a whisper to her at the moment, drowned out with idle wondering about the surprising new arrivals-returns, more accurately. Maybe they would even be able to visit . . . Edward and Shizuo must have seen them by now.

She blinked, glancing up at Mikado tensing uneasily for a moment. ". . . Maybe he didn't stop for any fights this time," she finally said. It was possible given the news that was traveling about now. There were a lot of reasons to pass information quickly now.

[rabukidastrophe]

Kida wasn't used to rumor proceeding his returns enough that Anri and Mikado would have a heads up on his arrival, so he wasn't looking for them as he walked, instead just heading in that direction; with few exceptions, their place was virtually always his first stop.

But he isn't so lost in thoughts that he doesn't see them approaching, familiar, dim shapes in the tunnels. Kida grins and bounces onto the balls of his feet with a wave in their direction before jogging to meet up with them.

"You guys are on top of things. Everyone's already talking, huh?"

[anonforgives]

Once he saw Kida coming, a broad smile immediately spread on Mikado's face and he couldn't help but speed up to meet him too.

"It's only the talk of the town," he said, his voice warm. "Welcome home, Masaomi."

[parasaika]

Anri brightened as well, cheering considerably as she hurried along with Mikado.

"We missed you. Did you make your trip safely?"

[rabukidastrophe]

Kida grinned and lifted his arms, falling easily between them with one arm around each.

"It-!"

Barely pausing, he leaned to the side to kiss Anri soundly on the cheek.

"Was-!"

And then repeated the gesture with Mikado.

"A quick one. This was top priority." Kida gestured with the arm hanging off of Anri's shoulders. "So we didn't stop for anything. Easy."

[anonforgives]

Mikado smiled, no qualms with leaning close to him; he'd been looking forward to this, always did. Masaomi had always been taller, but at least they all fit together well because of it. He hooked his closer arm around Kida's back in a half-hug.

"I swear you two are getting faster and faster," he said.

[parasaika]

Anri'd grown used to this over the years. Rather than blushing up a storm and turning away shyly, she simply smiled (and, admittedly, reddened lightly) and leaned into Kida a little.

"Will you be able to stay long this time?"

[rabukidastrophe]

"Weapons get better with use, after all."

In truth, there weren't a lot of places where Kida could really take Celty up to her full speed. Even he wasn't sure how fast they could go. But it had been years since he'd seen a kishin egg or witch that could keep up with them.

"And I don't know. With them returning there'll probably be a lot of deliveries. And Winry-chan will probably want to go see CWC sometime too, right?" Kida makes a uncertain gesture. "Things'll probably get busy. But I'll accept Anri-chan's unconditional love both here and far away."

[anonforgives]

"Don't let flattery work over a disappointing answer," Mikado quipped.

"Though in truth we're going to get busy too. Busier," he corrected, sighing. He didn't have any new marks to show since the last time they parted, but that didn't mean he and Anri hadn't been working themselves to exhaustion. "We'll have to make it count."

[parasaika]

She sighed a little. It really was disappointing to hear, but it made sense. Of course there'd be more work keeping him away in light of news like this.

"Eh-y-yes!" she added, tuning into what Mikado was saying a little late. "And maybe . . . If Winry-san wants to visit CWC, we could go as well. They may need more protection while she's there, and we could be near Masaomi for longer . . ."

[rabukidastrophe]

Kida grinned wryly, and moves his hands up to both of their heads as they walked. He knew what it was like to miss friends, but it still never failed to surprise him how much they put into staying by his side.

"You can both go to CWC whenever you want. Who would ever turn you down?"

[anonforgives]

Mikado tilted into the touch a bit. "That may be a good idea... if you're going to be moving back and forth, then we can be available here again soon."

[parasaika]

Anri ducked her head a little at the touch; some shy habits were hard to break, even after all this time. "Right . . . Things will be alright without us here for a little while."

[OPEN - Sept 5th - Hallways]

[candleinastorm]

Kazu was in a notably better mood then he normally was whenever he first re-entered Shibusen after a stint above ground. Running into Naruto had cheered him up and helped take his mind off the frustration of functionally losing his A-T, but more than that, the excitement around Shibusen was getting to him, despite himself.

Kazu was of a mind with Kida, though he didn't know it: the time traveling didn't impress him much. From what he'd heard, it wasn't like the kids brought some super amazing weapon from the past that was going to miraculously win the war, either, so when people stopped him in the hall to tell him excitedly what had happened, he mostly shrugged it off. Still, it was something new, and he half-hoped in the back of his mind that maybe the kids were part of some crazy scheme that would end the war.

Kazu, lost in his thoughts, didn’t notice Kida until he was only a few yards from catching up to him. He put a little more speed into his walk, calling a cheerful “Yo, Kida,” to get his attention.