[ still in the stupor of sudden freedom from the desperation he'd been feeling, nikkari blinks dully for a second before snapping back to alertness. he politely extricates himself from ishikirimaru's side, leaving one hand on the ootachi's back both as a comforting gesture and a stabiliser for himself. the contact somehow felt right as well, in a strange way, but nikkari wasn't willing to pay that mind. like the thirst, there was something off about that sensation. ]

Sorry. It was a surprise, to suddenly feel... [ hm. he pauses, a flicker frown of consideration crossing his face. ] Fulfilled.

[ he's about to ask about his comrade's condition as well, but ishikirimaru's question startles him. blinking owlishly behind his hair, nikkari mutters an 'let me just-' and carefully lowers the collar of ishikirimaru's robes, smile turning to a grimace as he matches the symbol he finds there to the one on his own hand. ]

It appears we've been afflicted with the same effect. Haha, the shock made us let our guards down, I suppose?

[ backing up, nikkari leans back on his hands in the purple grit and he sighs up at the unfamiliar sky. ]