"Ouch," said Raidou blandly. "I think I just walked into a bear trap." He got the full force of a blue-diamond glare so strong it almost sizzled his eyebrows, and put up his hands. "An angry bear trap. Settle down, little boss, I'm not here to make fun."

He had been here to get rid of some of his own tension, but that plan was falling rapidly by the wayside. If taijutsu was Tsume's problem--well, he could probably think of something helpful. And if not, at least he could watch her fall over until he forgot about stress-racked teenagers and their ability to strangle heartstrings.

Besides, it was good to see her out of the hospital, even if she looked set to throw herself back in. At least the bandage around her head was smaller than it had been.

He twitched his shoulders in a shrug. "Want a living target to practice on?"