[ Tatara's eyes soften when he hears it back, and his eyes slowly drift back to Khun. When their colors meet, his own eyes soften, but give way to the quiet turbulence underneath. His heart hurts in ways he didn't think was possible—for his present with Khun, for his past with Mikoto, for the unknowable future.

He doesn't know how long he holds Khun's gaze, but he's drawn out of it when Mikoto gives a low huff of an amused snort. "I see."

He leans forward, bringing his cigarette to his lips again.

"Totsuka."

Tatara turns to look at him, and his shoulders rise with his breath.

"When are you coming back?"

The question catches him by surprise, and he seems to freeze in place. He stares at his king, expression blank and unreadable. Thoughts roll through his mind, of the path he's walked these past few months, of the memories and rituals he keeps to his chest, of the people he's met and the things he's done and how his colors have changed and still change.

He gives a small, sad smile. ]

I don't think I am. [ He says this, out loud. It feels different to declaring acceptance for his death, but it does feel like a small part of him is moving on.

This might be a dream, maybe he's talking to himself, ultimately, but he speaks what's on his mind, just in the small, small chance that Mikoto Suoh is actually listening to him. ]

That's why I just wanted to drop by, and check in on you. I'm glad to see you're all okay. [ His gaze sweeps over the bar, from Mikoto to Anna to Kusanagi to the guys playing on the other side of the room. His eyes rest eventually on Khun. ] I wanted to show Khun where I came from, so he knows where to go.

[ "I see," says Mikoto, again, who stares long and hard at Khun. It's hard to tell what he's thinking, his expression almost as blank as Anna's. But when he breathes out his smoke, he says to Khun:

"Take care of him. I just hope he's not too much of a pain in the ass." ]