1.68: Reunited Duo

*Retirement Home building; Legon City*

...

Gale and Chiampa sat at the top of a building, gazing at the sunset.

"…and that is why I have this new body now." He said.

Chiampa had difficulty making eye contact with him before tears ran down his face. "Two weeks…"

"...?"

"YOU LEFT ME WITH THOSE MORONS FOR TWO F*CKIN' WEEKS! THE NUMBER OF TIMES I REASSURED THEM THAT YOU WERE OKAY! You died…and I couldn't do anything…"

Gale had a neutral expression. "Chiampa…it was only two weeks…"

"I was surrounded by morons for TWO WEEKS! WHEN YOU'RE THERE, THEY'RE ALL OBEDIENT AND QUIET…but they asked the question this whole time as if I even got a clue!"

As much as he tried to hide it, he smiled back at Chiampa. "Thank you."

"Huh?" 

"I've known you for twenty-five years, and much has aspired before us. But you still remembered our code."

"Our…code?" Chiampa wiped the tears off and looked lost.

"Yeah. I blinked twice to tell you that it was me; that was the reason you figured out right-"

"BWAHAHAHA!! OF COURSE NOT! That could've been anyone to do that."

Gale was disappointed. "HUH? Then how did you find out?"

Chiampa stopped laughing. "Come on, Motoroshi, it's your eye color. I didn't see it at the start, but only a fool would not recognize that those are the eyes of a Fushigiri. Unless you tell me that teenage moron on I-Tube was one all along…AHAHAHAHA!!"

Gale sighed and finally stood up. "How is she doing?"

Chiampa looked back at the sunset. "As good as you'd expect. She is eternally grateful that you spared her and her child."

He smiled and was glad she was alright.

"But why?"

"Why what?" Motoroshi questioned.

"Motoroshi. The greatest prodigy of Hajiman, the sole leader of our unit, and a man who spared zero ronins in the past apprehensions. Yet this year, he spared a woman and her child. Why?"

Gale put his hands in his pocket and stared at Chiampa.

"It's because of you."

Chiampa looked at him. "What?"

"(*Exhale) Chiampa. Do you remember the first day we met?"

"That was a LONG time ago…but yes?"

"When you guys took me into your house. I saw the picture frame on the wall."

"…it was…a picture frame of my family…" Chiampa looked away. "Wait…don't tell me…"

"I spared her…because she reminded me of the women on the frame. Every single apprehension we went for, you always saved the mothers and children. Back then, I thought that was a sign of weakness, but that was how you paid tribute to your wife and son."

Chiampa began gritting his teeth.

"After every apprehension, you excused yourself to go to their graves and tell them everything about the mission. I also stood by the walls laughing when you spoke your heart out. But…I know you missed them."

"Motoroshi…do you like this woman?"

"That is not why I sparred with her. I sparred her for you to have a physical person to talk to. You're a great man, and this was just a way for me to tell you that…I appreciate you."

Chiampa stood up and began to scratch his head. "You know Roshi…I am thankful for your choice. But that is not how moving on goes…I MEAN, COME ON! Haven't you felt love before?!"

Gale blinked twice, and Chiampa exhaled. "Never mind that. But she likes you because you are good-looking. Why would she fall for an abomination like me…?"

Chiampa was down, and it gave Gale an idea. "No, I have a solution to that."

Chiampa was confused. "And what's that? You're going to threaten her to fall for me?"

"Does everything I have in mind seem violent to you?!"

Gale opened the roof door, and Gale's cameraman lay there.

"W-What the hell? Is that Ogata Sanetomo?!"

"For a villain… you've watched much of this Gale Wind."

"I-I DON'T… THAT'S A LIE, MAYBE YOU DO!!"

Gale picked him up and dropped him in front of Chiampa. "What are you planning on doing?"

"You will use Verbis Diablo."

"WHAT? But…that leaves multiple outcomes. I might lose my memory, age or d-age, or even-"

"Chiampa," He held his hand to him. "Do you trust me?"

With a lot running through his head and stunned fear, he agreed and decided to proceed.

RING! RING!

Gale's phone began to ring. "Dammit, I'll have to go…"

He ran to the edge of the building and looked at Chiampa. "When you're done, meet me back at the house, you hear me…Ogata?"

Chiampa wiped the tears and gave him a thumbs up.

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