Fourth and Asuta tread down the corridor, both not sure what awaits them now. All that is on their minds is that they're both finally free from Hoseki.
Asuta: "Hey Fourth?"
Fourth: "Yeah, what's up?"
Asuta: "Thank you."
Fourth: "For what?"
Asuta: "Just everything, that's all."
Fourth: "Well, don't thank me completely. We're not out of the clear yet. Don't overlook Tako. You said we need to get past him, too. And from what I got so far, he seems just as powerful as Hoseki."
Asuta: "One could say such a thing. He is part of the Kinjori."
Fourth: "Come again?"
Asuta: "Kinjori."
Fourth: "Yeah, I got that the first time. I'm asking who or what that is."
Asuta: "It's a clan of specialized fighters from Inumi."
Fourth: "What makes them specialized?"
Asuta: "No one actually knows."
Fourth: "Well, that's promising."
Both Asuta and Fourth walk in silence next to each other. The path they took to get here appears much slower, like time's moving at a tenth of a second. Fifteen minutes have passed since either of them spoke.
Asuta: "You got any ideas on how you plan on defeating Tako?"
Fourth: "Not in the slightest but..." Fourth cocks his head to the side and gives Asuta a mischievous smile. "I'll figure it out."
Asuta: "Are you listening to any word I've said in the past few hours and recently?"
Fourth puts his hands in his pockets and begins walking in front of Asuta. "A lot has happened in those few hours. I chose to only remember the important parts."
Asuta has this dumbfounded look on her face, confused by what Fourth could possibly mean. "Don't you think it was all important?"
Fourth: "No, not all of it."
Asuta: "Well then, enlighten me. Which of them was important to you?"
Fourth, leisurely walks, he motions his head, turning it halfway around. He again cocks his head and grins at Asuta.
Asuta: "What's with him right now?" She mumbles to herself.
Fourth: "You."
Asutas' puzzled expression on her face from earlier. Remained.
Asuta: "Me?"
Fourth: "Yes, you."
Asuta: "Stop joking around, this is serious."
Fourth walks nearer to Asuta, with his hands shoved all the way into his pockets and his head tilted downward, looking at his dirty shoes. I really should get around to washing these. Fourth finally reaches Asuta. He then takes his eyes off his dirty shoes, looks at Asuta; his demeanor changes the moment he locks eyes with Asuta. His expression is now a solemn stare. "I'm not joking."
Asuta: " This sensation...I'm feeling, what is this?" As the thoughts begin rapidly racing. Moments before Fourth had reached Asuta, she couldn't stop imagining him outside of this situation. Outside of all the trouble that Hoseki has caused her and Fourth. "I want to travel with Fourth. I want to walk hand in hand with him, as equals. " All of these thoughts and scenarios sent chills down Asuta's back.
Fourth, still looking directly down at Asuta, with that serious look upon his face, and Astua not making eye contact with him. He then steps back and continues walking in the original direction.
Asuta: "Hey, wait a second! What was that all about?"
Fourth: "What was that all about?"
Asuta: "Fourth, come on now. You know."
Fourth: "Do I know?"
Fourth lightly tilts his head to one side, giving Asuta this perplexed look. Asutas's face begins to turn red from frustration.
Fourth: "Hmm, she appears to be annoyed right now. Maybe I should continue this, I was gonna let it go. But... her cheeks are getting so flushed right now. I kinda find it cute." Fourth, trying not to smile, starts to say something to Asuta, but before he could speak, she interrupts him.
Asuta: "Don't play dumb with me. You know."
Asuta suddenly stops walking. Maybe if I act coarse, he'll get closer to me again. I want that feeling back. Yet Fourth doesn't walk towards her. Instead, he begins moving forward and motions his hand as though he's dismissing her intent for him to get closer to her.
Fourth: "You. That is all you need to know."