The nightmare denizens know the pain Seishu is in. They understand it, to a point, and in their own way support their guardian. The little touches to draw comfort from him have an added feeling of tenderness. Seishu appreciate the gestures, the soft subtle caring feeling so familiar and comforting despite the pain still raging through him. [i]'These are my little ones, and this is their way. They understand, and they trust me. No matter what, they know I do for them only what is best for them. They do not fear me, and my anger comforts them. My fury is something they have come to rely on, and my temper is something they are familiar with. I recall thinking that, when first trapped in the dream realm, how my anger seems unending and without purpose. I know now that it has a purpose, and while strong, it has an end. My anger then, I was unable to express it, which is why it never seemed to dissipate. . .'[/i]

The Nightmare Guardian must always be strong, and as long as he is being true to himself, he will be seen as such. Though harsh and unyielding in most matters, even his kindness is seen as a strength. Even though he covers his pain right now, even weeping openly would be seen as bravery in the eyes of his underlings. He however has never had the need to weep before his denizens, at least not often. The few times he has the denizens themselves were often breaking under their own negative emotions and took comfort and courage in the sight. Seishu's feeling, so closely matching theirs and not crushing him, would give them the strength to beat back the negative emotions.

_*_*_*_*_

Kaila leads Jentou a little ways away, off towards the woods a bit so they can have some privacy, and long the rout Seishu had been talking so that he can keep an eye on the guardian as long as possible. Even with his drive to care for his brother, Kaila never loses his drive to be there for his commander. Jentou on the other hand seems more of a blank slate than usual, his normally congenial face now free of any emotion whatsoever. Kaila gently begins cleaning him off, knowing he will need a full bath later, but for now he does the best ha can with a spare cloth. “I'm here Jentou, my brother. You are to live, as is Master Seishu's will, and I will be here with you for all times.” Wiping the tear streaks from his brother's cheeks his stomach drops as fresh ones fall, the final shock of the breaking wearing off.

Slipping forward the golden haired male wraps his arms around his brother's neck, burying his face against his collar bone and letting his feeling roll over him. A long string of apologies tumble from between trembling lips and despite the roughness of his voice Kaila hears every word. Mimicking Seishu's action Kaila still his brother's tongue with a kiss and whispers, “No my brother, do not speak. You have always had such a lovely voice, I would hate for it to be ruined now.” 

Even through his sorrow Jentou finds his rather airy smile and nods, his brother's love coming through loud and clear. As Seishu slips past, rather than recoiling as one would expect after the pain the guardian caused him, Jentou's eyes seek him out, the ripples of pain coming off of him something new. He's always felt connected to the guardian, as every denizen has, however he sees it all in a new light now that his soul has be broken open to the possibility. Kaila follows his line of sight and moments later tenses as Enasi breaks from his guard. Despite his urge to jump up and stop the guardian his brother's grip on him along with his trust in Master Seishu keeps him in place. [i]'What is he. . . .?'[/i]

_*_*_*_*_

A ripple runs through the crowd around him and his head tilts to the side as he feels the disturbance coming from behind. Feeling Enasi moving closer he stops and an instant later his counterpart has latched on to him. Several waves of different emotions cascade through him; confusion, pain, comfort, and sorrow being the main ones. It is all he can do to keep himself still, waiting to feel what it is, to hear, something, anything. . .Since crossing over Seishu sense of his other half has dampened, the negative energy about them clogging his senses a bit and he'd had a fleeting touch of amusement earlier when he recalled making fun of Enasi for not being able to sense him properly after he'd first arrived.

Now however, this dampening causes him no end of near panic. So use to knowing an understanding Enasi's feelings, being in the dark even for such a short time when he himself is feeling so strongly, it's torture. 

[b]"You'll be okay. . . I'm here for you."[/b]

Those words crack through his body like a whip and after a long moment of silence he lets out a breath he did not know he was holding. Soundlessly he turns inside Enasi's embrace and with eyes full of such a jumble of emotions that they almost sparkle he looks upon his beloved and smiles gently. Instead of saying anything he wraps his arms around the smaller male and hold him tight, burying his face in those soft scarlet locks. He stays there for several minutes, taking such comfort from just having Enasi there with him and not hating him for his nature. A soft song comes to his throat and has he begins to hum it, those around him take up to tune.

Soon the entire camp is humming along, a few crystal clear voice singing the actual lyrics. It is a song they all know, the lullaby most of them went through their childhood falling asleep to, and a song Enasi himself has professed to enjoying. The chorus of voices sing perfectly together, each note in perfect time and pitch. For a fleeting instant Seishu thinks how something like this would be impossible in the dream realm, such precision built over several lifetimes and only capable from ones with as much discipline as those who dwell in the nightmare realm. He has no doubt that the dream denizens could sing together, but something like this seems almost unique and for now, Seishu chooses to believe it so. 

Looking down at Enasi again, leaning back just enough so he can look into those multicolored eyes Seishu flicks his eyes over to indicate the camp and whispers, “So, not everything here is bad and painful. We have our own kind of beauty. . .” With that he leans in and kisses his counterpart. The kiss begins soft, but as the eyes on them seem to grow in number, and approval, Seishu can't help but draw Enasi into a heated kiss, his grip on the smaller male firm, but gentle. It isn't until he feels the need to breath that Seishu pulls back, kissing Enasi on the forehead before looking around at his underlings and waggling his eyebrows suggestively. The song fails as the ones who can see him begin laughing and pass back the word of what they'd witnessed.

Tiski giggles openly and looks over at Kaila and his brother, mimicking Seishu's motions so they know what he's just did and why everybody is laughing now. Jentou cover his mouth to avoid laughing along and Kaila rolls his eyes, his guardian's antic seemingly never ending. With Seishu and Enasi now back beside one another the team relaxes and Kaila calls Tyar over, asking the shadow to fetch some clothes for Jentou. Unlike his brother, the soft expression Jentou prefers much less Gothic garb and Tyar sets out to find something that suits him, after excusing itself with a bow to Seishu. Tiski slides forward and without any crudeness asks, “So Master Seishu, what's it like being with a dream? Get dizzy at all and fail in your duties?” He tone is only mildly teasing and she keeps her gaze on Seishu while the rest of the team present alternates between shaking their heads and grinning.