"I already told you I'm okay..." Henry tried to argue.

"And I already told YOU that you should be resting!" Kurai shook her head in disapproval over Henry pretending to be alright. Both darkspawn and sorceress were inside the ruined castle that was Kurai's dark barrier in the same room Kurai had taken Henry so he could recover from his injuries. The former forced the latter to lay in bed so they could recover fully after Yoshino had left. "It has only been a few days since you came back with an arm and leg missing while looking like you were about to keel over!"

Kurai sighed. "Honestly... What were you thinking, suddenly showing up in the kitchen today as if nothing bad had happened to you? I could have easily excused your absence to Yoshino by just saying that you would eat later or already ate. She didn't have the time to worry about it if she wanted to arrive at school on time. But NOOO~, a certain someone, who I cannot stress enough SHOULD be resting, thought they knew better and made their presence known, risking making their niece worried!"

Henry raised both hands to try to calm Kurai down. "Okay, okay, I get it. I'll rest, I'll rest..."

"Good, now that we've got THAT out of the way..." Kurai hugged Henry. "Thank God you're alive... I... Just... Please, don't scare me like that again... Okay?" She whispered in Henry's ear as she wrapped her arms around him. She had patiently waited until Henry had recovered enough to do so.

Henry's eyes grew wide for a moment before they relaxed and he soon reciprocated the hug. "Heh, okay, I'll... Try not to overdo it..." Henry pushed out with a wry smile.

"...Idiot." Kurai tightened her hug with Henry as if she were afraid he would vanish the instant she let go of the outlaw. And in a way, she was right, as he almost did. After a full minute of silence, Kurai finally let go of Henry before getting up. "I'll... Be outside practicing my magic, maybe watch a movie to relax..." Kurai bit her lip as she considered asking Henry to give his report on what had happened for him to have lost two limbs. She pushed those thoughts away, with the argument that she could always ask him later after Henry had made a full recovery. "If you need anything, use [Skeleton Crew] to call me without getting out of bed. Did I make myself clear?" Kurai's expression turned stern as she asked Henry.

After Henry nodded, Kurai's expression relaxed a bit before she turned her back to Henry and left the room.

As Kurai turned a corner in one of the hallways of her castle, she spotted Konchu-shonen. He stood relaxing his back against a wall, minding his own business since Kurai hadn't given him any orders. Kurai's mind had been too occupied with Henry's condition up until now to remember Konchu.

Kurai remembered she never thanked him for rescuing Henry. She figured it was the least she could do. "Hey, Konchu."

Konchu turned his attention away from the ground to Kurai. "Yes?" He asked in a neutral tone.

After a moment of considering her words, Kurai settled on something basic, but also not bothersome, knowing Konchu wasn't much of a talker. "I would like to thank you for bringing Henry to me and for your good work. That was all."

Konchu slowly nodded. "I see... Understood."

And that was that, as Kurai soon went to the garden to train and continue her spell search. Admittedly, Kurai wished Konchu were more talkative with her, but she wouldn't force Judai if he felt more comfortable like this.

----------------------------------------

Outside, Henry observed through his crew's perspective, using the mental link from [Skeleton Crew]. He saw Kurai being greeted by Tom and Charlie, who tipped their hats in unison. Both outlaws were stationed as guards by the door.

Henry couldn't help but sigh tiredly when Kurai had turned a corner and finally left Tom and Charlie's field of vision. Henry hated lying to Kurai's face like that, but he knew it was necessary. The risk of the grand master finding out about the plan or even becoming aware that they were scheming against him if Henry were to tell Kurai the truth was too high. That's not even touching how it would put Kurai, Tsuyoi, and Yoshino more at risk than they already were.

Hey, idiot. Tom's mental voice brought Henry back to reality.

After a few seconds of silence, Henry rolled his eyes and sighed. 'Yes?'

I might be thinking out of my ass here, but have you thought of stopping lamenting about useless things that you have no control over and instead focusing on what you DO have control over? Even though the mental link between the two made Tom's tone sound neutral. Henry could still, somehow, feel the condescension from him.

Henry's expression grew into a frown shared by Charlie who, from Tom's perspective that Henry now shared, had turned and was staring daggers at Tom. They are not useless. Henry countered.

Even though Henry couldn't see Tom, he felt Tom's realization at how his words may have come off before slowly nodding his head. This was something Henry could tell by how he felt Tom's vision move up and down. I suppose... But that doesn't change the fact you have no control over them, does it?

As much as it frustrated him, Henry couldn't bring himself to disagree. No, I suppose not... Although chatting with his crew could sometimes be... an experience for Henry, it did help fight any potential loneliness he would feel that led him to remember...

Henry shook his head as he followed Tom's advice by pushing those thoughts away before he went to check on Rudabaugh, the sixth member of his crew Henry had purposely left at their descendant's house. This was the place he passed by before Henry and Judai had started the search for good. Besides getting the necessary precautions in case the magical girl he encountered wasn't as amicable as Nozomi, the reason for going there was to accomplish the plan's next step... And because Rudabaugh did miss his family.

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As he changed perspectives from Tom to Rudabaugh, Henry's vision was welcomed by the sight of the three-year-old he had seen yesterday hiding behind Hahaoya, Rudabaugh's descendant and mother of the child Henry was seeing. What was the child's name again... Henry pondered for a few seconds before snapping his fingers in realization. Kodomo, right, it was Kodomo.

As Henry took in the environment, he realized that both Kodomo and Rudabaugh sat down on the living room's carpet playing with toy cars. Both made 'Vrum' noises.

Henry would be lying if the sight of it didn't tempt him to go down memory lane to years ago when Kurai asked him to take care of Yoshino while she went to buy groceries. Both darkspawn and child played cowboys by using Nerf guns. The latter was cutely dressed in the closest thing to what a child from Henry's time would wear that would still be on sale in modern times. But Henry remained focused. He could always get lost in nostalgia later when the time wasn't of the essence.

Hey, you there? Henry mentally called Rudabaugh. Normally, switching perspectives between his crew would be enough to call their attention. But there were instances where his crew would be so immersed in some task that Henry would need to snap them out of it with more direct means.

Rudabaugh's eyes widened in surprise for half a second before relaxing and returning to play with the toy car as if nothing had happened. Oh, yeah, what's up?

Just checking out of boredom really, since, y'know, I'm not allowed to leave bed for the moment... Are you guys alone? Henry asked as he noticed the lack of anyone besides Rudabaugh and the infant and the lack of any sound besides the two.

Yeah, Hahaoya went to buy groceries alongside Chichioya and asked me to watch this little bundle of energy over here. Rudabaugh casually answered as he made a 'Vrum' noise with his mouth while moving his toy car alongside Kodomo's. He was careful enough to move his car just enough that it looked like he was trying to surpass Kodomo's, but never actually taking the lead.

I see... By the way, are you free this afternoon? Henry asked before the sight forced him to go down memory lane and made him forget his main reason for contacting Rudabaugh in the first place.

Henry felt Rudabaugh's nodding. I guess I will not be busy... Why?

I'm thinking of starting Yoshino and Nozomi's training today, but y'know, I can't go myself with Kurai keeping watch. So yeah, can you go there for me? And before you ask, no, you won't need to be the one to train them. You will only need to pass to them whatever I say. As much as Henry could trust Rudabaugh to care for children, both men knew that the latter wouldn't be the best when training one to be stronger.

I guess that could work, but... Rudabaugh trailed off.

But...? Henry raised an eyebrow.

What will you exactly train them in? I mean, sure, I suppose we haven't seen how capable Nozomi is yet, so for all we know she could be as proficient as you-know-who. Henry didn't need to ask who he was referring to. Even after all these years, it was still a subject he would rather not talk about if he could help it. But what about Yoshino? Can we really teach her anything substantial?

Henry sighed, as much as what Rudabaugh was saying struck true, Henry still wanted to give his all to help his niece improve in whatever way he could, weak potential or not. I'll... figure something out. She's a smart girl. I can see her figuring out a way to at least surpass some of her limitations. Not to mention, we still haven't seen what her unique magic is, so we can at least work on that today.

Rudabaugh slowly nodded before asking the one question he didn't want to think about right now. What if she somehow ends up falling short in our training?

Henry immediately answered without hesitation. She won't, but in the VERY unlikely event she does... She still has a magical girl by her side, not entirely ideal, but still functional.

I suppose. And what about Judai? Rudabaugh asked, his tone growing noticeably more serious.

What about him? Henry replied, already knowing this would probably lead to some questions he would rather not address.

You've seen how distressed Yoshino was when we last met her. What are the chances Judai may be responsible for at least some of it? Also, let's not forget that there's a chance Judai probably lied when he reported about his first encounter with Nozomi, with the lack of any mention of Yoshino or even that there was a second person present. For all we know, Judai might not have even been ambushed by Nozomi. Rudabaugh explained his point.

Henry raised a hand to rub his forehead. I'll give you that about him being responsible. It isn't as low as I would like, unfortunately... But I won't judge him for it if that's what you're asking. He had no choice but to follow Kurai's orders and doesn't seem like the type to take pleasure in harming others. Although, I suppose he doesn't seem to take pleasure in anything. And the less we talk about the fact I would be a HUGE hypocrite if I judged him for doing questionable things without hesitation due to following orders, the better...

If Rudabaugh had noticed how Henry had purposely avoided mentioning how upset Judai's actions against Yoshino made him feel, even though, by all means, Judai didn't have a choice, he couldn't tell. Rudabaugh soon asked his next question. And his report. Are we going to ignore how he just conveniently didn't mention anything about Yoshino? Or even that a second individual was involved?

Henry sighed. Again, I would be a huge hypocrite if I judged him for twisting the truth in reports, and I mean, I can't exactly blame him. Magical girl present or not, I'd argue that I probably would do the same if I were forced to retreat from someone who hadn't awakened to their potential yet.

What about the plan? Do you think Judai will be in the way? Rudabaugh asked what Henry would consider the billion-dollar question.

Henry frowned. Hmm... We will have to see. It's still too early to tell, but hopefully, he won't force me to choose. Anything else?

No, I think this is everything for now. Rudabaugh said before focusing back on playing with the child in front of him.

Good, then could you turn on the TV for me to watch? Henry asked before adding. I'm not feeling particularly picky about what you put on. As long as I have something to watch, it's fine.

Rudabaugh nodded before he got up and turned on the TV. After he settled on a channel, Rudabaugh proceeded to position himself on the carpet where he sat in such a way that both the child and TV were in his field of vision.

[BREAKING NEWS: VIGILANTE ACTIVITY SPOTTED BY MULTIPLE EYEWITNESSES! NECESSARY JUSTICE OR DELUSIONAL MENACE?]

Henry knew these peaceful moments wouldn't last for long. This made him appreciate the peaceful view he had all the more but not before pulling out his phone to send Yoshino a message asking her if they could start training today.

Henry snapped his fingers as he remembered something after sending the message to Yoshino. Oh yeah, before I forget, you need to buy supplies for training, so it's probably a good idea if you leave the house when you can so we can prepare.

Rudabaugh hummed in agreement as he continued to play with Kodomo.