[And unless Itsuki protests, he'll move over and sling one of Itsuki's arms over his shoulders, supporting him as they walk. Much like Kashuu, pompom is stronger than he looks.]
[pompom is so strong.... Itsuki will not protest, he's grateful for the help honestly,]
Thanks, Yasu-kun. [tugs on his ponytail a little,] Hm. There's a lot to say... We were in a place called Inazuma. I was a kitsune, and I was asked to help cleanse a Sakura tree, so that we could save the land.
The first time went okay, the second time... a little better. But the third time... I messed up. I turned into a monster and tried to kill Nogiku-san and Te-kun, and then I disappeared.
[childe like 'itsuki u slut i should have been there instead'
he nods...]
I kind of realized what I was doing and stopped fighting, so that made me vanish. I came back and met a lady who told us to give a sword to Steel-san, and that's how we all came back.
Not yet. We were planning on handing it to them after we all used the medbay. [...] Do you think Steel-san will remember who they are after they get it back?
Well, it isn't as though he doesn't know a single sword who suffers from this kind of thing, but--that's different, isn't it? It's different from a situation like this.]
...What about the others? Did they forget people too?
He is, of course, thankful that no such thing had happened to him or to Kashuu--but his heart aches for Itsuki nonetheless. The others are likely struggling as well, but Percy, Riff, Vin... they're all still alive, still present amongst the rest. They can make new memories together. But Itsuki's lost all he had of Buzen, with no remedy.
He shakes his head slightly, resuming their slow walk.]
You don't need to apologize to me. [If anything, he feels like he should be apologizing to Itsuki, even though he didn't do anything.] Buzen would understand that it's not your fault.
[It's a funny thing with these memories -- Itsuki feels sorry for Buzen, of course -- but it's an abstract kind of emotion. Something that tugs at him and hurts, but something he can't identify.
it still hurts though, he has a feeling that it should hurt even worse... there's something about forgetting that feels more... that it should mean more to him,]
...But it'd still hurt him, right?
[there's an almost desperate look in his eyes. buzen's come up in so many conversations already, but everyone... they had comforted Itsuki, told him that his memories would come back sooner or later, and hadn't pursued the subject further.
maybe that's because Itsuki had been in shock for some of them, but still. he doesn't want his feeling spared, he thinks. he just wants to -- remember]
[To his credit, Yasusada looks like he's giving the question serious thought. He doesn't particularly want to hurt Itsuki, but he isn't much one for softening truths, either.
But for all that the sword bond transcends time, Yasusada has still only known Buzen for a few weeks. All he can do is offer his best guess.]
I'm not sure. I think... even if it did, I don't think he'd say it. He'd say, "That's because we Gous are like ghosts!", and laugh.
[it might be a guess, but Itsuki appreciates it. He likes that Yasusada is talking about Buzen, without thinking that it might fracture Itsuki further.
It gives him a reason to think about Buzen, without feeling guilt.]
...So he's that type of guy, huh? Someone who likes taking care of others?
[If there's anything Yasusada's good at, it's talking about the people he cares about--especially those who've already gone. If this is what Itsuki needs, then he doesn't mind providing.]
Yeah. Kotegiri Gou--I knew him, at the citadel. He calls Buzen "leader".
Buzen? [He tilts his head slightly, considering.] I think so. I talk to Kiyomitsu the most, of course, but Buzen was really reliable. Being around him felt like... no matter what you needed, if you told him about it, he'd try to find a way to do it for you.
[what a warm person, itsuki thinks. though he's met a few people who sound like buzen before,]
...I can see why he's so reliable. [maybe that should have been past tense, still] But it was the same for him, right? He relied on you guys just as much?
I don't know... I'm not sure if he really needed it that much. But the three of us spent a lot of time together, so I think he knew he could, if he had to.
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Can I ask what happened?
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he nods though,]
Sure. Wanna walk me back to the apartments while we talk?
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[And unless Itsuki protests, he'll move over and sling one of Itsuki's arms over his shoulders, supporting him as they walk. Much like Kashuu, pompom is stronger than he looks.]
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Thanks, Yasu-kun. [tugs on his ponytail a little,] Hm. There's a lot to say... We were in a place called Inazuma. I was a kitsune, and I was asked to help cleanse a Sakura tree, so that we could save the land.
The first time went okay, the second time... a little better. But the third time... I messed up. I turned into a monster and tried to kill Nogiku-san and Te-kun, and then I disappeared.
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Yasusada just hums thoughtfully, though, taking all of this in.]
You... disappeared?
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he nods...]
I kind of realized what I was doing and stopped fighting, so that made me vanish. I came back and met a lady who told us to give a sword to Steel-san, and that's how we all came back.
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Right, they use them... eh, did someone give it to Steel-san already?
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Not yet. We were planning on handing it to them after we all used the medbay. [...] Do you think Steel-san will remember who they are after they get it back?
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[So it seems likely that they'll remember something, though he doesn't know how much.]
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When I went on that trip with the others... we ended up forgetting a person we cared about during one of the ceremonies.
...Sorry, Yasu-kun. [his voice sounds heavy] That place -- I think it took my memories of Buzen.
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Eh? You don't remember him at all?
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He shakes his head]
I know that someone was there. I know that I grieved for them. But the spot where I should see them... it's empty.
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Well, it isn't as though he doesn't know a single sword who suffers from this kind of thing, but--that's different, isn't it? It's different from a situation like this.]
...What about the others? Did they forget people too?
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[all of them, kdram amnesiacs...]
I still remember those people, so the memory loss must be specific to each of us.
[...]
Sorry, Yasu-kun.
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He is, of course, thankful that no such thing had happened to him or to Kashuu--but his heart aches for Itsuki nonetheless. The others are likely struggling as well, but Percy, Riff, Vin... they're all still alive, still present amongst the rest. They can make new memories together. But Itsuki's lost all he had of Buzen, with no remedy.
He shakes his head slightly, resuming their slow walk.]
You don't need to apologize to me. [If anything, he feels like he should be apologizing to Itsuki, even though he didn't do anything.] Buzen would understand that it's not your fault.
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it still hurts though, he has a feeling that it should hurt even worse... there's something about forgetting that feels more... that it should mean more to him,]
...But it'd still hurt him, right?
[there's an almost desperate look in his eyes. buzen's come up in so many conversations already, but everyone... they had comforted Itsuki, told him that his memories would come back sooner or later, and hadn't pursued the subject further.
maybe that's because Itsuki had been in shock for some of them, but still. he doesn't want his feeling spared, he thinks. he just wants to -- remember]
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But for all that the sword bond transcends time, Yasusada has still only known Buzen for a few weeks. All he can do is offer his best guess.]
I'm not sure. I think... even if it did, I don't think he'd say it. He'd say, "That's because we Gous are like ghosts!", and laugh.
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It gives him a reason to think about Buzen, without feeling guilt.]
...So he's that type of guy, huh? Someone who likes taking care of others?
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Yeah. Kotegiri Gou--I knew him, at the citadel. He calls Buzen "leader".
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[it's a little strange to hear about someone you remember you should miss, without also feeling the pain that comes with missing them.
still, he appreciates having an opportunity now to hear about the man he apparently loves,]
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...I can see why he's so reliable. [maybe that should have been past tense, still] But it was the same for him, right? He relied on you guys just as much?
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I don't know... I'm not sure if he really needed it that much. But the three of us spent a lot of time together, so I think he knew he could, if he had to.