Unsurprisingly, his laugh draws a mixed response - worry and frustration and relief all mingle and Mariko ends up stifling a single huff of laughter while shooting Togusa a sour look. The condemnation of his Other comes and Mariko can’t quite stop the roll of her eyes. Either the pain or the drugs are getting to him, with the way he doubles up that Baka. “You have that in common,” she grumbles clear enough for him to hear and has the nerve to look faintly fond.

Whatever just transpired is as close to a miracle as it gets and it’s difficult to know what to do with it. Death has always one step away, closer to her than even some family. But Togusa is here and alive. He blinks and squints and she finds herself counting 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9 as he tries to explain.

“Are they like Isamu?”