The sun shines through the faded shoji and the worn tatami smells like old grass. Outside, some of the tantou laugh in the garden, and an older voice laughs after them. They shriek with delight and run farther away. Someone is cooking in the kitchen. It smells like fresh rice. The sound of soft paws walks on the patio and one of the Konnosuke mentions a squad returning soon.
Tsurumaru sits up on the floor and lets all of the sounds and scents wash over him. More than that, there's a new weight. No, it isn't new. It's an old, familiar weight and he raises a hand to his chest, feeling his heartbeat.)
...
(And then he gets up onto his feet and sets out to find Ookurikara.)
[ a gaggle of tantous running by startles ookurikara awake, earning him a disgruntled whine from the tiger cub that's made itself at home on his lap. he watches in dumbfounded silence as it makes a show of stretching its front legs before hopping off of him, flicking its tail dismissively. serves him right for interrupting their nap.
the cold, uncomfortable library he'd fallen asleep in is long gone, the shelf of fairy tales replaced by the engawa in a (usually) quiet part of the garden that he has always been fond of for reading, once the chores are done. ookurikara rises slowly, as if unconvinced that this isn't some dream, but as the scent of cooking rice wafts over on the breeze, reality hits him as hard as an enemy strike.
it isn't for his own sake that the beating of his heart picks up - while truth may be a heavy burden, it's one that he has always welcomed. no, there is someone with far more to lose from the truth than he does.
he has to find tsurumaru.
to the kitchen, then - mitsutada always seems to know where everyone is, what they're up to. if not him, maybe hasebe, or mikazuki. someone has to know. ]
(He isn't the only one searching but of course, Tsurumaru has his own way of seeking him out.
He checks the kitchen first which is where he find Mitsu and Kasen discussing the best way to plan the next few meals. They have a fresh harvest of vegetables and both have ideas on how to use the ingredients while they are at their best. It's Kasen who chases him out the kitchen when Tsuru suggests making dessert ramen and Mitsu starts to think of how to make it work.
He then runs into some of the tantou who are doing laundry duty and can't play. They struggle to fold some of the larger sheets and he happily helps and offers to carry them to one of the rooms so they can run off and play.
On his way, he passes by Mikazuki who is enjoying tea with Uguisumaru. It's the two of them who notice Tsurumaru has something on his mind when he refuses tea with them. Mikazuki only laughs and wishes for Tsurumaru to find whatever it is he's looking for and continues enjoying his tea.
Interestingly, he seems to completely avoid Hasebe and the Konnosuke. They'll surely be anxious when Ookurikara asks them where he is. And it's Uguisumaru who is probably the most helpful whenever Ookurikara eventually comes around to ask and he'll simply point in the direction Tsurumaru was last seen flying off to.
That doesn't make Tsurumaru any easier to find. The citadel is large and he can be anywhere. If they're both on the move, it's easy to miss each other.
Eventually, however, when they are in a quieter part of the citadel, someone will leap at Ookurikara from behind. Tsurumaru holds onto his shoulders firmly and gives a light push. )
Are you surprised?!
(And leaning in, he speaks more quietly into his ear,)
[ he's starting to get annoyed. it's almost like tsuru is deliberately avoiding him, and while ookurikara wouldn't put it past him to play that sort of game on literally any other day, after everything that had happened in that town, he'd have hoped for something different when they finally made it home, apparently with their memories intact.
(though he still wants to be sure it's the right memories, no more false hopes.)
just when he's on the verge of giving up and going back to his room to change out of his battle clothes... is the perfect time for a surprise attack attack. and for the first time in a long time, ookurikara actually jumps. a small victory, as kara immediately reaches for his sword, stopping just short of drawing when tsuru speaks. with a quiet growl, kara shoves tsuru's hand off his shoulder.
just one, though. the other can stay, as he turns just enough to meet tsuru's eyes. ]
...What do you remember?
[ hearing that name... feels like relief. after those strange alterations to their memories, though, kara can't take this at face value, not when one of his own memories could have given it away. tsuru could have picked it up from there, instead of remembering it all, and ookurikara doesn't dare to let himself hope.
scolding tsuru for startling him can come later. ]
(He leans in, wrapping his one arm around Ookurikara's shoulder and meets his eyes.
Does he really have to answer it when it's all in his eyes? The way that when he smiles, even his eyes seem bright and warm looking at him. He can hold his gaze without redirecting or looking away. There's nothing to hide, no reason to run, this is Kara-bou, the one he knows and the one he trusts so very much.)
Where should I begin?
(And he slips away, sidestepping and reaching to take both of Ookurikara's hands with his and lead him out of the way so no one else can run into them. It's hard to find an empty room in the citadel, especially with how many of them there are, but when it's still the afternoon, most are out in the fields. So he guides him towards an empty room for now, reaches to close the door behind them one hand, but seems reluctant to completely let go of him now that he has him,)
You look so serious, Kara-bou. It's just you and me.
[ he nearly draws back once their eyes meet, almost out of reflex. for months now, there's been nothing but distance between them, not only because of the damaged memories - ookurikara needed it, once he realized what was missing. more distance meant it would be more bearable.
but now, tsurumaru's guard is down, willingly, for him. for the first time in months, there is familiarity in those eyes, without a trace of trepidation.
he remembers.
it feels like there's a knot in his chest, relief and exhaustion and so many other things that ookurikara couldn't begin to put a name to, as he allows tsuru to lead him to wherever. any random, empty room is better than somewhere public, far more comfortable even if it does force them closer. there's still something holding kara back from being as open as the other, though, and he's not quite ready to address how he feels now that tsuru remembers him. so he does the usual thing, and redirects their attention, if only for a moment. ]
What about Sadayasu?
[ he isn't here, of course. but kara needs to know for sure that they're both intact, back in the condition they should be, without any more imperfections. once they know that, then they can move forward. ]
The door slides close behind them with a quiet tap against the doorframe.)
I'm happy.
(This doesn't seem to answer the question; not at first. He leads the way inside and settles down on the tatami, crossing one leg under, the knee of his other leg pulled close to his chest. He leans back on the palms of his hands in a relaxed way and continues,)
It was so long ago, not many remember the Adachi. There's no reason to remember a child who never became a lord. (Lacing his fingers together on top of his knee, he leans foreward, resting his face on top. ) I'm one of the last who remembers him.
(The only others are Higekiri and Onimaru. Higekiri doesn't dwell on the past like Tsurumaru does and Onimaru had only witnessed things from the other side. He may not be the last to remember him but he feels like he's the only one who truly cares about the memory.)
But even when I lost him... his story wasn't forgotten. Someone else remembered.
(Ookurikara had remembered. Even if he didn't know Sadayasu personally, he'd still remembered the stories. He tilts his head to look at Ookurikara now.
Old and tired eyes, a gentle warmth, a quiet love, an eternal grief. A crane can only have one love but as long as he remembers, the memory is alive. Even if the life is a long and sad one, he can live with it.)
Even if I'm lost forever, he can still live through the best stories. So, I'm happy. Thank you, Kara-bou.
(So yes, of course, he remembers everything. But Ookurikara has carried a heavy burden for him by doing this. It's time for him to take it back.)
[ all the tension drains out of him with the next exhale, kara's shoulders sagging in relief. he sinks to the floor with the next breath, one leg loosely tucked under, while the other stays propped up for him to rest his arm on. ]
I told you that I didn't want your gratitude.
[ his voice lacks the usual hard edge, that alone indication enough that kara is pleased... to a degree. with that old burden back on tsuru's shoulders now, it's hard to say that he is happy about the situation. but it means that things are as they should be, everything back to normal, and that will have to be enough.
the question is... where do they go from here? ]
No one missed us.
[ they'd all simply assumed that kara had a bone to pick with tsurumaru when he asked about the other, confused by the urgency in his tone or alarmed at the idea of tsuru getting up to his usual antics without anyone to stop him. was that town like a shared dream between the two of them? should they bothering reporting it to aruji? is the effect of losing their memories a weakness that either of them wants to admit to?
tsurumaru is himself again, the older sword that ookurikara has always been able to trust and rely on, even when he acts out. he'll follow tsuru's lead this time, like he did in shimabara. ]
(It's definitely a situation to consider. Is Tsurumaru better with or without his grief? Is he happier carrying his burdens than he was when he thought he had none? Maybe the answer doesn't really matter as long as he's simply himself.
Why worry about those things when there are other things to worry about right now, though? He listens to Ookurikara and nods briefly in acknowledgment. Yes, he'd also noticed how no one seemed to notice they were missing.)
I want to be surprised but...
(Outside, the tantou are still laughing far away. Water runs in the garden. Everything feels the same as it was before and it's like nothing had happened from the moment they disappeared to the moment they arrived.)
We move through time differently. Decades in one time can seem like a few weeks here. We spent months in a dark world in just a few moments. It's for the better.
(He wouldn't want anyone to worry. Imagine the panic and confusion the citadel would find itself in if they were privy to everything they'd experienced.
Should they report this? Tsurumaru is perhaps the worst person to leave in charge of this because while he considers their options and their possible plans moving forward, he seems to deflect,)
[ whether he agrees whole-heartedly, that's another matter. the biggest concern is that it could happen again, and that other swords may not be so lucky to return undamaged, like they did. maybe it's something the sage should be aware of, just in case, but - ookurikara will let it lie. at least for now. he isn't particularly in the mood to sound the alarms so soon after they'd managed to get home, either; it might be nice to take it easy for a bit, after months away that felt much longer than they should have.
the question makes him shift uncomfortably, eyes turning away. how does he feel...?
relieved, mostly, that they made it back with memories intact. confused, that it happened so suddenly and without explanation. melancholy, perhaps, that their respective burdens are back on their shoulders. content, to have the tsurumaru he knows best before him. there's more still beyond it all, that he doesn't even attempt to dwell on.
articulating it all still feels beyond him, so instead he gives a simple answer, as he always does. ]
I remember. That's enough, isn't it?
[ must they dig into it? why try to put these feelings into words? what purpose does it serve either of them? ]
(Perhaps. There's much to think about and even Tsuru will have to take time to really process and think. Their experience had been different from their mission. Parts of their histories-- of their souls-- had been tampered with. Surely, their master should know, right? But what would he even do? They didn't even notice they were gone and the time they were gone had passed as mere moments here.
And doesn't this citadel have enough to worry about with their mission these days? Why add more stress with something that may not be helped...
The only sign that gives away how seriously he's considering things is the small ghost of a frown on his face, the way he seems to look away to the side and contemplate his own thoughts for a moment... and then turns his attention back to something he can take care of: To Ookurikara.)
Mitsu-bou will be pleased.
(And without saying, it's also a relief for Kara to have his proper history back. He wonders, though, what else there was to remember and his eyes linger on the other for just a moment longer before moving on,)
Is it enough? You must have felt it, too. When you recalled everything, something changed. (Raising a hand to his chest, right over his heart, he continues,) We may be as we're supposed to be, but we still had to change to become it.
[ says ookurikara, as if he won't cave the second mitsutada asks what's wrong. and of course he'll know. they read each other far too well for something like this to slip under the radar. what he'd forgotten will come out sooner or later. ]
...Even if it is, what are we supposed to do about it? [ talk? perish the thought. kara shakes his head. ] It is what it is - just another thing that makes us who we are. What good is it to dwell on exactly what's changed and what hasn't?
[ maybe later, after they've had some time and distance from those experiences, it'll be easier to deal with. ]
(He's so quick to shoot back that Tsuru can't help but laugh,)
No, he doesn't need to know. (He can agree to that.) No one needs to.
Yet.
(Eventually, these things are always discovered, aren't they? But if he has to think about how to proceed from here, he thinks that, if only for a little while, it's best for this to be between the two of them. He's quiet for just a moment, letting the weight of everything settle once more,)
I'll speak to aruji.
(For both of them so Kara can rest. When the time is right. When he knows how to say it. He gives Kara a small smile, wondering if this will be enough to give him some peace of mind.)
But first...
(He holds out a hand, palm up to Kara. Take his hand, Kara.)
[ his sense of duty won't allow him not to acknowledge that. but maybe tsuru's right. maybe a little time won't hurt. of course, he's deeply tempted to volunteer to help with the report, too, but frankly? tsurumaru is better with words than kara, even when he's messing around. this way is easier for them both, so he'll nod.
...and then squint suspiciously. what is this? ]
Why?
[ just because they have their memories back doesn't mean he can trust tsuru not to play some weird prank on him just to try to "help" him lighten up or something!! ]
[ it is a little surprising, receiving such a greeting. even so... it's a far better greeting than what he's received from tsurumaru in the past. so he nods and replies, ]
Welcome home, Tsurumaru.
[ and then he's being pulled along, and for once he follows without any resistance at all, perhaps one of the biggest tells of exactly how relieved he is to be home.
I'll remember that the next time we have tea together.
(The next time Tsuru decides to calm down and just enjoy the moment with a nice cuppa... he'll remember this!!! He'll make sure the next tea is plum kelp tea!!!!!)
(A nice little surprise will definitely appease him... but it's not in Tsuru's nature to forgive and forget. He's petty.
There's a brief second where he softens. It's good to hear that Kara remembers Mitsu again. Even before, when he'd forgotten his memories of the Date, he'd remembered enough to know how unnatural it was for Kara to forget his partner.)
...
(If everything is the same, the heart will die a slow death. Surprises are essential in life. But there are times when it's best for things to stay as they are. There are times when things being as they should be is most comforting.)
W'oh!
(Without warning, his hand shoots out in front of him as if swatting something away. A bug, perhaps?
And then he reaches for Kara's hand quickly, placing something in it and closing his hand around it before he runs off ahead. If Kara looks, he'll find a single cherry blossom petal, more white than pink.
Turning back, still skipping towards the kitchen,)
Then I'll be sure no one suspects anything~
(Which means racing to the kitchen to be a menace before Kara can stop him. Maybe he can sneak a taste of whatever Mitsu is cooking... or add his own little touch to something or request something wild--)
[ he pauses, distracted by tsuru's sudden movement. there's a moment of blank surprise as he glances down at the flower petal in his hand, clearly confused at why tsurumaru would get so excited about something like that, but then -
that is definitely a threat. oh, no. ]
- Oi! What are you planning?!
[ of course kara has to chase after him now!! this is so stupid but someone has to make sure tsuru doesn't ruin the food!! flower petal in hand, he follows quickly - don't think he won't scruff tsuru if he catches up! ]
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no subject
The sun shines through the faded shoji and the worn tatami smells like old grass. Outside, some of the tantou laugh in the garden, and an older voice laughs after them. They shriek with delight and run farther away. Someone is cooking in the kitchen. It smells like fresh rice. The sound of soft paws walks on the patio and one of the Konnosuke mentions a squad returning soon.
Tsurumaru sits up on the floor and lets all of the sounds and scents wash over him. More than that, there's a new weight. No, it isn't new. It's an old, familiar weight and he raises a hand to his chest, feeling his heartbeat.)
...
(And then he gets up onto his feet and sets out to find Ookurikara.)
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the cold, uncomfortable library he'd fallen asleep in is long gone, the shelf of fairy tales replaced by the engawa in a (usually) quiet part of the garden that he has always been fond of for reading, once the chores are done. ookurikara rises slowly, as if unconvinced that this isn't some dream, but as the scent of cooking rice wafts over on the breeze, reality hits him as hard as an enemy strike.
it isn't for his own sake that the beating of his heart picks up - while truth may be a heavy burden, it's one that he has always welcomed. no, there is someone with far more to lose from the truth than he does.
he has to find tsurumaru.
to the kitchen, then - mitsutada always seems to know where everyone is, what they're up to. if not him, maybe hasebe, or mikazuki. someone has to know. ]
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He checks the kitchen first which is where he find Mitsu and Kasen discussing the best way to plan the next few meals. They have a fresh harvest of vegetables and both have ideas on how to use the ingredients while they are at their best. It's Kasen who chases him out the kitchen when Tsuru suggests making dessert ramen and Mitsu starts to think of how to make it work.
He then runs into some of the tantou who are doing laundry duty and can't play. They struggle to fold some of the larger sheets and he happily helps and offers to carry them to one of the rooms so they can run off and play.
On his way, he passes by Mikazuki who is enjoying tea with Uguisumaru. It's the two of them who notice Tsurumaru has something on his mind when he refuses tea with them. Mikazuki only laughs and wishes for Tsurumaru to find whatever it is he's looking for and continues enjoying his tea.
Interestingly, he seems to completely avoid Hasebe and the Konnosuke. They'll surely be anxious when Ookurikara asks them where he is. And it's Uguisumaru who is probably the most helpful whenever Ookurikara eventually comes around to ask and he'll simply point in the direction Tsurumaru was last seen flying off to.
That doesn't make Tsurumaru any easier to find. The citadel is large and he can be anywhere. If they're both on the move, it's easy to miss each other.
Eventually, however, when they are in a quieter part of the citadel, someone will leap at Ookurikara from behind. Tsurumaru holds onto his shoulders firmly and gives a light push. )
Are you surprised?!
(And leaning in, he speaks more quietly into his ear,)
Kara-bou?
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(though he still wants to be sure it's the right memories, no more false hopes.)
just when he's on the verge of giving up and going back to his room to change out of his battle clothes... is the perfect time for a surprise attack attack. and for the first time in a long time, ookurikara actually jumps. a small victory, as kara immediately reaches for his sword, stopping just short of drawing when tsuru speaks. with a quiet growl, kara shoves tsuru's hand off his shoulder.
just one, though. the other can stay, as he turns just enough to meet tsuru's eyes. ]
...What do you remember?
[ hearing that name... feels like relief. after those strange alterations to their memories, though, kara can't take this at face value, not when one of his own memories could have given it away. tsuru could have picked it up from there, instead of remembering it all, and ookurikara doesn't dare to let himself hope.
scolding tsuru for startling him can come later. ]
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Does he really have to answer it when it's all in his eyes? The way that when he smiles, even his eyes seem bright and warm looking at him. He can hold his gaze without redirecting or looking away. There's nothing to hide, no reason to run, this is Kara-bou, the one he knows and the one he trusts so very much.)
Where should I begin?
(And he slips away, sidestepping and reaching to take both of Ookurikara's hands with his and lead him out of the way so no one else can run into them. It's hard to find an empty room in the citadel, especially with how many of them there are, but when it's still the afternoon, most are out in the fields. So he guides him towards an empty room for now, reaches to close the door behind them one hand, but seems reluctant to completely let go of him now that he has him,)
You look so serious, Kara-bou. It's just you and me.
no subject
but now, tsurumaru's guard is down, willingly, for him. for the first time in months, there is familiarity in those eyes, without a trace of trepidation.
he remembers.
it feels like there's a knot in his chest, relief and exhaustion and so many other things that ookurikara couldn't begin to put a name to, as he allows tsuru to lead him to wherever. any random, empty room is better than somewhere public, far more comfortable even if it does force them closer. there's still something holding kara back from being as open as the other, though, and he's not quite ready to address how he feels now that tsuru remembers him. so he does the usual thing, and redirects their attention, if only for a moment. ]
What about Sadayasu?
[ he isn't here, of course. but kara needs to know for sure that they're both intact, back in the condition they should be, without any more imperfections. once they know that, then they can move forward. ]
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The door slides close behind them with a quiet tap against the doorframe.)
I'm happy.
(This doesn't seem to answer the question; not at first. He leads the way inside and settles down on the tatami, crossing one leg under, the knee of his other leg pulled close to his chest. He leans back on the palms of his hands in a relaxed way and continues,)
It was so long ago, not many remember the Adachi. There's no reason to remember a child who never became a lord. (Lacing his fingers together on top of his knee, he leans foreward, resting his face on top. ) I'm one of the last who remembers him.
(The only others are Higekiri and Onimaru. Higekiri doesn't dwell on the past like Tsurumaru does and Onimaru had only witnessed things from the other side. He may not be the last to remember him but he feels like he's the only one who truly cares about the memory.)
But even when I lost him... his story wasn't forgotten. Someone else remembered.
(Ookurikara had remembered. Even if he didn't know Sadayasu personally, he'd still remembered the stories. He tilts his head to look at Ookurikara now.
Old and tired eyes, a gentle warmth, a quiet love, an eternal grief. A crane can only have one love but as long as he remembers, the memory is alive. Even if the life is a long and sad one, he can live with it.)
Even if I'm lost forever, he can still live through the best stories. So, I'm happy. Thank you, Kara-bou.
(So yes, of course, he remembers everything. But Ookurikara has carried a heavy burden for him by doing this. It's time for him to take it back.)
I can remember for now.
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I told you that I didn't want your gratitude.
[ his voice lacks the usual hard edge, that alone indication enough that kara is pleased... to a degree. with that old burden back on tsuru's shoulders now, it's hard to say that he is happy about the situation. but it means that things are as they should be, everything back to normal, and that will have to be enough.
the question is... where do they go from here? ]
No one missed us.
[ they'd all simply assumed that kara had a bone to pick with tsurumaru when he asked about the other, confused by the urgency in his tone or alarmed at the idea of tsuru getting up to his usual antics without anyone to stop him. was that town like a shared dream between the two of them? should they bothering reporting it to aruji? is the effect of losing their memories a weakness that either of them wants to admit to?
tsurumaru is himself again, the older sword that ookurikara has always been able to trust and rely on, even when he acts out. he'll follow tsuru's lead this time, like he did in shimabara. ]
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Why worry about those things when there are other things to worry about right now, though? He listens to Ookurikara and nods briefly in acknowledgment. Yes, he'd also noticed how no one seemed to notice they were missing.)
I want to be surprised but...
(Outside, the tantou are still laughing far away. Water runs in the garden. Everything feels the same as it was before and it's like nothing had happened from the moment they disappeared to the moment they arrived.)
We move through time differently. Decades in one time can seem like a few weeks here. We spent months in a dark world in just a few moments. It's for the better.
(He wouldn't want anyone to worry. Imagine the panic and confusion the citadel would find itself in if they were privy to everything they'd experienced.
Should they report this? Tsurumaru is perhaps the worst person to leave in charge of this because while he considers their options and their possible plans moving forward, he seems to deflect,)
How are you feeling, Kara-bou?
no subject
[ whether he agrees whole-heartedly, that's another matter. the biggest concern is that it could happen again, and that other swords may not be so lucky to return undamaged, like they did. maybe it's something the sage should be aware of, just in case, but - ookurikara will let it lie. at least for now. he isn't particularly in the mood to sound the alarms so soon after they'd managed to get home, either; it might be nice to take it easy for a bit, after months away that felt much longer than they should have.
the question makes him shift uncomfortably, eyes turning away. how does he feel...?
relieved, mostly, that they made it back with memories intact. confused, that it happened so suddenly and without explanation. melancholy, perhaps, that their respective burdens are back on their shoulders. content, to have the tsurumaru he knows best before him. there's more still beyond it all, that he doesn't even attempt to dwell on.
articulating it all still feels beyond him, so instead he gives a simple answer, as he always does. ]
I remember. That's enough, isn't it?
[ must they dig into it? why try to put these feelings into words? what purpose does it serve either of them? ]
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(Perhaps. There's much to think about and even Tsuru will have to take time to really process and think. Their experience had been different from their mission. Parts of their histories-- of their souls-- had been tampered with. Surely, their master should know, right? But what would he even do? They didn't even notice they were gone and the time they were gone had passed as mere moments here.
And doesn't this citadel have enough to worry about with their mission these days? Why add more stress with something that may not be helped...
The only sign that gives away how seriously he's considering things is the small ghost of a frown on his face, the way he seems to look away to the side and contemplate his own thoughts for a moment... and then turns his attention back to something he can take care of: To Ookurikara.)
Mitsu-bou will be pleased.
(And without saying, it's also a relief for Kara to have his proper history back. He wonders, though, what else there was to remember and his eyes linger on the other for just a moment longer before moving on,)
Is it enough? You must have felt it, too. When you recalled everything, something changed. (Raising a hand to his chest, right over his heart, he continues,) We may be as we're supposed to be, but we still had to change to become it.
A surprise like that can be quite heavy.
(It's a trauma, to be honest.)
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Mitsutada doesn't need to know.
[ says ookurikara, as if he won't cave the second mitsutada asks what's wrong. and of course he'll know. they read each other far too well for something like this to slip under the radar. what he'd forgotten will come out sooner or later. ]
...Even if it is, what are we supposed to do about it? [ talk? perish the thought. kara shakes his head. ] It is what it is - just another thing that makes us who we are. What good is it to dwell on exactly what's changed and what hasn't?
[ maybe later, after they've had some time and distance from those experiences, it'll be easier to deal with. ]
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No, he doesn't need to know. (He can agree to that.) No one needs to.
Yet.
(Eventually, these things are always discovered, aren't they? But if he has to think about how to proceed from here, he thinks that, if only for a little while, it's best for this to be between the two of them. He's quiet for just a moment, letting the weight of everything settle once more,)
I'll speak to aruji.
(For both of them so Kara can rest. When the time is right. When he knows how to say it. He gives Kara a small smile, wondering if this will be enough to give him some peace of mind.)
But first...
(He holds out a hand, palm up to Kara. Take his hand, Kara.)
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[ his sense of duty won't allow him not to acknowledge that. but maybe tsuru's right. maybe a little time won't hurt. of course, he's deeply tempted to volunteer to help with the report, too, but frankly? tsurumaru is better with words than kara, even when he's messing around. this way is easier for them both, so he'll nod.
...and then squint suspiciously. what is this? ]
Why?
[ just because they have their memories back doesn't mean he can trust tsuru not to play some weird prank on him just to try to "help" him lighten up or something!! ]
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He keeps his hand out and smiles,)
It's not like you to be afraid, Kara-bou.
(He knows it isn't fear but still!!!)
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[ raising his voice because he is Offended,
still hesitant, though. after a moment, he heaves a sigh, looks away, and gives tsuru his hand, but he's not happy about it :/ ]
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(And clasping his other hand over it so he can hold both Kara's in both of his,)
Welcome home, Kara-bou.
(After everything, they are both home now. Safe and well.)
We have a lot of catching up to do. (And then he's up on his feet, ready to drag Kara up with him,) But I saw Mitsu-bou in the kitchen!
(It's almost time to eat, too.)
Let's see if he needs any help~
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Welcome home, Tsurumaru.
[ and then he's being pulled along, and for once he follows without any resistance at all, perhaps one of the biggest tells of exactly how relieved he is to be home.
that said, ]
You've never been any help in the kitchen.
[ verbal resistance is another thing entirely. ]
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(It's Kara's fault. Not his.)
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(How is he going to get better if he isn't allowed Kara!!!!!!!)
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[ kasen might be there too but kara will ignore him lmao ]
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(Kara let him help.)
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That doesn't make it okay to waste food. If you just want something eat, you can wait for us to finish.
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(From boredom.)
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[ he's not denying it either, though??? ]
You'll be fine.
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But giving Kara's hand a small squeeze as he leads him to the kitchen,)
No, I'm serious, I'll certainly die.
(Even if he knows he'll be fine. Because Kara is here.)
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Make some tea, then.
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[ gotta keep tsuru humble ]
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I'll remember that the next time we have tea together.
(The next time Tsuru decides to calm down and just enjoy the moment with a nice cuppa... he'll remember this!!! He'll make sure the next tea is plum kelp tea!!!!!)
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that's fine. he'll add a nice surprise to the meal to hopefully satisfy tsuru for the time being. it won't work but it's worth a try anyway. ]
Mitsutada will worry if you keep being so dramatic.
[ probably not because they're used to this, but still, calm down maybe. ]
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He's petty.There's a brief second where he softens. It's good to hear that Kara remembers Mitsu again. Even before, when he'd forgotten his memories of the Date, he'd remembered enough to know how unnatural it was for Kara to forget his partner.)
...
(If everything is the same, the heart will die a slow death. Surprises are essential in life. But there are times when it's best for things to stay as they are. There are times when things being as they should be is most comforting.)
W'oh!
(Without warning, his hand shoots out in front of him as if swatting something away. A bug, perhaps?
And then he reaches for Kara's hand quickly, placing something in it and closing his hand around it before he runs off ahead. If Kara looks, he'll find a single cherry blossom petal, more white than pink.
Turning back, still skipping towards the kitchen,)
Then I'll be sure no one suspects anything~
(Which means racing to the kitchen to be a menace before Kara can stop him. Maybe he can sneak a taste of whatever Mitsu is cooking... or add his own little touch to something or request something wild--)
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[ he pauses, distracted by tsuru's sudden movement. there's a moment of blank surprise as he glances down at the flower petal in his hand, clearly confused at why tsurumaru would get so excited about something like that, but then -
that is definitely a threat. oh, no. ]
- Oi! What are you planning?!
[ of course kara has to chase after him now!! this is so stupid but someone has to make sure tsuru doesn't ruin the food!! flower petal in hand, he follows quickly - don't think he won't scruff tsuru if he catches up! ]