That respect for an opponent was difficult for Tsuchi. He would rather deny somebody was strong than see somebody he respected as weak. He would rather die than admit it, even. He even realised that he could control people a lot like that too. But that didn't alter the fact that others could see that in him too.

"But everybody's got secrets, don't you think?" he said, and catching the same sound he rolled his head onto the side and listened for more.

"What was that?"