The regret in Haruichi's voice when he offered his judgment was telling. A huge relief for Genma, who felt the tension in his neck ease at last. "Raidou's burns were bad, but I don't think he's in as rough shape as me, actually," Genma said, meeting Haruichi's gaze. "And really, I'm a lot better already and so is he. We went for a walk yesterday. Well, sort of a walk; he walked, I rode. I could have walked, though," he added with a touch of bravado.

The machine wiped the bravery off his face before it had time to settle into a defiant grin, smearing it instead into a grimace.

"We walked out to the balcony, and sat out there and talked. It was nice, seeing some fresh air." And that kiss. That kiss had been more than nice. Not that he could tell Haruichi about that. Or would. Not when he wasn't even sure what he and Raidou were telling themselves about it, yet.

"I walked this morning, too. They made me ride for this, because--" Another tight grimace, and a sick feeling in his stomach that came from low-frequency chakra waves resonating through the rawly reconstructed coils threading around pieced-back-together bone. "Because of this. Because this fucking hurts." His words trailed off into a hiss.

The machine moved on to something less excruciating, and Genma started breathing again.

"If you tell me I just have to suck it up and be a man about it, Haruichi, I will get right out of this wheelchair and kick your ass. Even if you are already beat up. What the hell happened to your eye anyway?"