"I kinda missed it." A half-lie. People had started making remarks, if not wondering if the 'old man' dyed his hair to look younger. Short of tugging his pants down and showing them that no, he was your basic black, he just got tired of trying to explain things.

But he'd struck the crystal with all that he had, and the singing moved through his body as well. After the sound echoed out into the wastes and died down, Kanji had a slow tremor that worked from his ankles on up to his shoulders.

"Remind me never to do that again. Hoogh. Looks sturdy, though." But he froze.

"Whoa, whoa... you smell that? Food."