There was time for introspection and to face one's inner darkness in a mirror. Certainly a self-proclaimed demon could understand such necessity. In moderation such meditations were healthy. Yet a portion of the TARDIS passengers had desperately sought something to occupy them to avoid the all too easy trap of staring too long. This ship's belly was heavily pregnant with sorrow and stagnant energy. Souji, coming from the background he did, also understood how precious a support system was in the boiling sea of human experience. He refused to allow Dan to sink beneath the waves--- he would dive until his lungs ached and hold the other man's head above water. Until such a time came as he was no longer within reach.
"I always enjoy myself with you." Souji replied with a lilt of surprise that suggested he couldn't imagine the alternative. Then, realizing how ungracious his tone sounded, he laughed bashfully and flapped a hand before his face as if to shoo the previous statement away. "Ah, I mean to say you make things enjoyable! Thank you!" Another embarrassed giggle escaped as he resisted the urge to bow. It was true. Souji was not accustomed to being in a position to make so many of his own decisions. Too often he forgot that he possessed greater autonomy here and could thus go where he wished, with whom he wished, whenever he desired to do so. In future he should make more of an effort to entertain others. It was not easy for him to ask for things--- even something the giver was happy to provide.
Sipping of tea claimed a few moments of silence. As he drank the delicate samurai allowed himself to notice details of their surrounds. Warm light from the lanterns overhead was caught in the fine threads of Dan's fair hair and polished surfaces of the dishes. Phantom air currents reproduced by some secret science delicately stirred leaves with long sighs of contentment. Beautiful, transient reality. A gentle contemplation eased the curls and dips of the younger man's smile away. "I come from a place where warriors like myself face the possibility of death every day." There was no trace of apprehension or regret underlying such heavy truths. Only fact long embraced. "My own belief is that no one is guaranteed to live long so we should eat sweets between meals, love openly, and laugh whenever we can." After setting his cup down Souji leant over and boldly dipped one finger into the creamy frosting of the cake. He sucked the delicious confection from his skin with smiling eyes.