Ishawari set the small, finger-sized blade aside, content with the reflection staring back at him from the bath water's surface. His long beard was groomed to a much shorter length, and he gave one last run through with his hands to feel that everything felt even and right. Then, he melted away with the coolness of the world, slowly collapsing backward in search of relaxation. The bath water's icy frills traveled throughout his skin, jolting nerves, but the calm breaths of battle meditation placed  him in undisturbed stillness. The bath felt more like a pond, then a lake, until the feelings of complete nothingness made it feel as though he were wading out in the open sea. [i]The sea... ah, yes... the sea... [/i]He took one slow, deep breath, then fully submerged. 

Thoughts came and went, but when focused upon the imagery of a vast ocean, a memory lingered. He opened his eyes, saw the sun touched clouds dance through his hazy, underwater lens. He reached his hand out, breaking the surface tension of the bath to feel the wind brush against his fingers. A hand grabbed his from the memory, and he took it, bringing himself back upright to hear: 

[i]“Takumi, it’s getting late. Come on and eat!”
[/i]

[center]***[/center] 

Ishawari dried off and changed into a long red yukata robe before joining everyone in the living space. His hair was pulled into a slicked back comb, its long ends tied into a bun hung between his shoulder blades.

"Oh, Takumi! You're not so...hairy!" Hotaru said, an observation not meant to be taken as an insult. 

Ishawari grinned anyways, patting the boy's bald head which began to show a thin patch of raven black stubble. He sat down beside the boy at the table and watched as Hotaru finished his bowl of miso soup, wondering if that was his first or second. 

"Thank you, Akemi. It smells delicious." He said, staring at her carefully. "Were you able to get some sleep?"