[ there's a careful nod. she considers the knife, thinking about resuming as normal, ignoring the little hitch in their "dance" just now... but she looks back to him. ]
[ ah. iwatooshi's eyes drop and he wonders, for a moment, if he should press, or if it's disrespectful. it is a sensitive subject, likely as much for kate as himself. ]
The side effects of being summoned here are... inconvenient, at best. They are meant to distract us, but I find myself struggling to ignore it as I'd like.
[ a deep breath, and he turns back to face her, expression more serious than usual, even a little pained. ]
I am Iwatooshi. I am the naginata that, with Musashibou Benkei, won against nine-hundred and ninety-nine swords. [ ... ] That is how the legends, and my memories, tell the story of my former master. But I encountered my master on a mission recently, only to find that he was not wielding me. I do not exist in the true line of history at all. It is... something I always felt, like I didn't quite belong, but I never understood it until then.
[ but enough about him. ]
Have you always known, Kate-dono? Or did you once believe you were real, as well?
It is alright. I have my memories, so I will hold onto them as tightly as I can until the day I am no longer needed.
[ as for kate... it sounds similar, then, doesn't it? to believe in what you are, only for it to fall apart. ]
A shadow. That is what you said before, wasn't it? [ iwatooshi kneels, so they can be on the same level. ] But you don't have to be human to have emotions like one. How do you feel?
[ he meets her at eye level, but she lowers her gaze. ]
I can hide my face and pretend to be human, but that only lasts for so long. I can wear a fancy dress and pretend to be a shadow noble, but it's only a matter of time before I'll be exposed.
I... don't know what it really means to be myself. Without pretending to be something. And I don't know if I'll ever have a place I can truly belong to.
[ he won't try to force her to look at him, just patiently waits and listens. ]
If I could give you one, I would. You deserve nothing less. [ genuinely. iwatooshi understands wanting somewhere to belong, feeling outcast, in his way. ] I am sorry that you've been feeling this way. It sounds difficult... but I've learned that the heart often is.
Do you... want to know who you are without pretending? [ better to ask than assume. he's done too much of that, lately. ] We can try to find her, while we're here, if you do. I like you very much as you are, but I think I would like the real you even more.
Then try it you will. This village may be strange, but there is a lot for us all to learn here, from it and from each other. We'll have to take advantage of what we can.
[ a soft smile. ]
I look forward to meeting the real you, whoever it is you decide to be.
What about you, though? Are you happy with those memories, even if they may be false? Could you not... create your own history, starting with the present?
My memories may not be part of history, but they are real to me. I will hold onto them until my master no longer needs me and we disappear from this world.
...But I do want to make the most of the time that I have, yes. Every moment is precious.
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Did something distract you, just then...?
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The side effects of being summoned here are... inconvenient, at best. They are meant to distract us, but I find myself struggling to ignore it as I'd like.
[ a deep breath, and he turns back to face her, expression more serious than usual, even a little pained. ]
Kate-dono. What does "false" mean to you?
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[ well. smoke starts to rise from her head. ]
... It could mean a few things...
Does it worry you?
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It does. But - I would like to hear your thoughts about it, whether it worries you, too, or not.
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If it may alleviate that worry, then... I suppose I can tell you.
... For the past few months, I've been living as Kate Shadows. A noble of the Shadows family.
But the truth is... there is no such person.
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Then we have something in common. I'd hoped to be wrong.
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no subject
I am Iwatooshi. I am the naginata that, with Musashibou Benkei, won against nine-hundred and ninety-nine swords. [ ... ] That is how the legends, and my memories, tell the story of my former master. But I encountered my master on a mission recently, only to find that he was not wielding me. I do not exist in the true line of history at all. It is... something I always felt, like I didn't quite belong, but I never understood it until then.
[ but enough about him. ]
Have you always known, Kate-dono? Or did you once believe you were real, as well?
no subject
I...
[ what did she know, and what does she believe now? that smoke seems to thicken. ]
...... I thought I was human. But now I'm... what you see now.
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It is alright. I have my memories, so I will hold onto them as tightly as I can until the day I am no longer needed.
[ as for kate... it sounds similar, then, doesn't it? to believe in what you are, only for it to fall apart. ]
A shadow. That is what you said before, wasn't it? [ iwatooshi kneels, so they can be on the same level. ] But you don't have to be human to have emotions like one. How do you feel?
no subject
I can hide my face and pretend to be human, but that only lasts for so long. I can wear a fancy dress and pretend to be a shadow noble, but it's only a matter of time before I'll be exposed.
I... don't know what it really means to be myself. Without pretending to be something. And I don't know if I'll ever have a place I can truly belong to.
no subject
If I could give you one, I would. You deserve nothing less. [ genuinely. iwatooshi understands wanting somewhere to belong, feeling outcast, in his way. ] I am sorry that you've been feeling this way. It sounds difficult... but I've learned that the heart often is.
Do you... want to know who you are without pretending? [ better to ask than assume. he's done too much of that, lately. ] We can try to find her, while we're here, if you do. I like you very much as you are, but I think I would like the real you even more.
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she nods. ]
... Yes. For once, I have more freedom than I've ever had before, so... I want to try being me. Or at least... find out who I really want to be.
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[ a soft smile. ]
I look forward to meeting the real you, whoever it is you decide to be.
no subject
What about you, though? Are you happy with those memories, even if they may be false? Could you not... create your own history, starting with the present?
no subject
My memories may not be part of history, but they are real to me. I will hold onto them until my master no longer needs me and we disappear from this world.
...But I do want to make the most of the time that I have, yes. Every moment is precious.