(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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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?
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[ 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! ]