PC: Iwatooshi

[sootprints]

Comments

[naginota]

[ kate is so cute i love her. iwa's also got his normal clothes, and a naginata in hand. he's being very careful to navigate indoors with it. ]

Is it not what you were expecting?

[sootprints]

It's suspicious. There's food prepared for us, but no sign of who is making it or how.

Have you tried eating it, by any chance?

[naginota]

Interesting, isn't it? It must be a type of magic, right?

[ shakes his head! ]

Not yet, but we will need to take care of ourselves sooner or later. If there is another food source here, I haven't found it yet.

[sootprints]

The only animals I've seen are rats, which... no.

Maybe there are birds or fish...

[naginota]

There is a swamp and a stream in this village. Fish shouldn't be hard to find. Do you know how to catch them, Kate-dono?

[sootprints]

I've attempted fishing before, but I'm not very good at it...

What about you?

[naginota]

Ah. Imanotsurugi gets restless too easily, so we don't fish often. But I know how to do it. All it takes is a bit of patience.

[sootprints]

Imano... tsurugi?

[ repeating it slowly. ?? ]

[naginota]

Imanotsurugi. [ he nods. ] He is my precious friend, the protective sword of my former master's master.

...Oh, that reminds me. I said I would show you a naginata if I could get mine back? [ iwatooshi shifts to hold his naginata before him, careful not to knock anything over or hit the walls or kate herself. ] Here it is - myself.

[sootprints]

Yourself?

[naginota]

I told you before that I am a touken danshi. This naginata is my true form, and how I served my former master.

[sootprints]

... I see. So that's what it means to be a spirit.

I'm glad you were not separated from your weapon for long, then. It must have been difficult.

[naginota]

Hahaha! There are all sorts of spirits in the world, in many different shapes and sizes. I am just one.

[ bows his head in gratitude. ]

It was worrisome, but it's fine now that I have it back! It is comforting to have it by my side again.

[sootprints]

I'm a little envious. I don't have anything to use for self-defense here.

[naginota]

If a battle breaks out, I will protect you.

[ he says that so fast and so confidently. ]

But if you want something... [ he looks at kate, appraising. ] At your size, a smaller weapon would be best. A knife - perhaps from the refectory? If not that, a window has already been broken. The shards are sharp enough to be useful, but you'd need to be more careful about how you use it.

[sootprints]

True... I suppose that would be better than nothing.

... Thank you.

[ for saying he would protect her. ]

[naginota]

Do you know how to use any weapons? Imanotsurugi is a small knife, so I could teach you how he fights, if you think it would help you.

[ ...oh, soft. he offers her a smile. ]

There's no need to thank me. Protecting others is what this body is good for.

[sootprints]

No... The few times I've faced an enemy, I had to rely on my allies and other resources. I've never fought anyone head-on.

I'd be happy to learn. I think it would be useful.

[naginota]

There are many styles of fighting, and no one style is better than another. If avoiding the front lines suits you best, then you don't have to push yourself too hard to force something else to work.

[ still! he nods. ]

But we can practice together. You'll have to be patient with me, as a teacher. Imanotsurugi's fighting style is much different than mine, but I'll do my best to help you learn.

But first! We'll need get you armed, won't we?