[ this is difficult, since he's not sure if he wants to kara the full story, so trying to pick out what details to give out is... well. ]
The Revisionists have managed to possess a piece of armor of Masamune's. It... put into his head that he should seek more power for himself. It's a rather formidable enemy.
[ the thing is, the absolute last thing tsurumaru wants him to find out is what the other ookurikara almost did. it's the reason why he never told the truth about them being from different citadels.
but now that he knows about that truth, it'll be more difficult to keep the rest hidden, especially since they can visit each other. ]
... we weren't able to damage the armor at all. But, you know, if it has a more breakable form, then we can destroy it.
[ kara very obviously struggles to find what to say to this. obviously he cares about date masamune more than anyone, except maybe for mitsutada, as one of the swords he'd taken into battle. his dedication to his former master has never faltered; he would do just about anything for masamune, and all of the date swords know it.
of course he wants to keep masamune safe, above all else - even if this is happening in a timeline separate from his own, he still values his master's safety more than almost anything. he would sacrifice himself to that end in an instant, so it's not like he doesn't understand.
and yet... ]
...No. Our saniwa always tells us that coming home safely is the most important thing - that we have to protect each other from breaking, or the mission is a failure.
[ he looks at tsuru, crossing his arms over his chest like that might protect his heart from what he's hearing, or at least make it slow down a little.
it doesn't help. ]
We may not be from the same citadel, or have the same master anymore, but you can't break there, too. Not again.
[ it's... difficult, because tsuru made a lot of promises about surviving and seeing people again, but this is no longer really in his hands. so while he can do his best to fulfill those promises, he can't predict what someone else might do.
he can't say that he expected this response, though, especially when he knows kara was angry with him for a good chunk of their time here. if there is one thing that he regrets the most about dying so early, it's that he lost even more time to spend with this kara.
he's not his kara, but... he's still his. even if they go their separate ways. ]
I'll do my best. It really was the best course of action, considering the situation though. And it was better me than anyone else who was with us.
Don't say that like you're expendable. You'd make Lili mad if she heard you.
[ and kara... somehow it's harder to put into words, when it comes to what he feels. so it won't be a surprise that he struggles with an answer, beyond the reflexive chiding. ]
And whoever you were trying to protect...
[ kara has a feeling it was the date swords. all of them, or one, it doesn't matter. he knows how tsuru tries to take care of them, even if neither of them ever openly acknowledge it. ]
...I doubt they'll want to hear it, either.
[ and they'll try their hardest to find a way to bring him back. but even if tsurumaru does break a third time, he was never expendable. not to them. ]
[ it's some kind of cruel joke, perhaps, to hear that from kara of all people.
tsuru doesn't really regret waiting, especially if the news upset him... with everything else going on in the game, it was better that this wasn't one more thing weighing kara down.
but maybe they could have spent the short time they had together a little differently, if he had. ]
... they likely would not, no. [ ... ] It may have been a somewhat selfish move on my part.
[ ...that's as good as confirmation, and after a moment, kara sighs. ]
It went after us, didn't it. And you took whatever blow was meant for us.
[ it isn't that hard to put together, now that he's gotten this much from tsuru. it's... exactly something that kara would expect from him, even if he doesn't like it. ]
he nods his head. it's still more than he wanted to admit, but at this late stage, there really is no point in dragging it out much longer.
there's a chance they may never see each other again, and lili knows the truth because of village shenanigans, so kara might eventually learn about it from her if it becomes apparent that tsuru isn't around anymore. it's better if it comes from him directly. ]
But I know that we wouldn't leave you like that to break, unless there really was no other way. We'd find a way to fix it. So they have to find one, too.
[ tsuru is pretty sure kara loves the date enough that he'd still worked with them, even if they are from a different citadel. even with the differences, these two are proof that there are constants that don't change.
but he'll be nice and not tease him with that. ]
... right. [ ... ] If-- when things work out, I'll send a message to you as soon as I'm able that's convenient for you. So that you'll know.
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The Revisionists have managed to possess a piece of armor of Masamune's. It... put into his head that he should seek more power for himself. It's a rather formidable enemy.
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[ or his armor - but that's close enough. closer than they ever should be, to ookurikara's former master. ]
How did that happen? There's an Ookurikara at your citadel, too, right? I would never have allowed that.
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The possession had already occurred before we got there. So we had to break the hold the armor had on him before anything happened.
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But... did you? You said haven't finished the mission yet, and the situation is unexpected. What does that mean?
[ though he doesn't ask outright, the question is still there: is masamune okay? ]
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[ hm... ]
If I'm honest, I'm the one who may be in a bit of trouble. But I believe the others will make sure everything goes right.
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Tsuru. What did you do?
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but now that he knows about that truth, it'll be more difficult to keep the rest hidden, especially since they can visit each other. ]
... we weren't able to damage the armor at all. But, you know, if it has a more breakable form, then we can destroy it.
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Tsuru...
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I trust that we'll complete the mission and keep Masamune safe. It's what matters.
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of course he wants to keep masamune safe, above all else - even if this is happening in a timeline separate from his own, he still values his master's safety more than almost anything. he would sacrifice himself to that end in an instant, so it's not like he doesn't understand.
and yet... ]
...No. Our saniwa always tells us that coming home safely is the most important thing - that we have to protect each other from breaking, or the mission is a failure.
[ he looks at tsuru, crossing his arms over his chest like that might protect his heart from what he's hearing, or at least make it slow down a little.
it doesn't help. ]
We may not be from the same citadel, or have the same master anymore, but you can't break there, too. Not again.
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he can't say that he expected this response, though, especially when he knows kara was angry with him for a good chunk of their time here. if there is one thing that he regrets the most about dying so early, it's that he lost even more time to spend with this kara.
he's not his kara, but... he's still his. even if they go their separate ways. ]
I'll do my best. It really was the best course of action, considering the situation though. And it was better me than anyone else who was with us.
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[ and kara... somehow it's harder to put into words, when it comes to what he feels. so it won't be a surprise that he struggles with an answer, beyond the reflexive chiding. ]
And whoever you were trying to protect...
[ kara has a feeling it was the date swords. all of them, or one, it doesn't matter. he knows how tsuru tries to take care of them, even if neither of them ever openly acknowledge it. ]
...I doubt they'll want to hear it, either.
[ and they'll try their hardest to find a way to bring him back. but even if tsurumaru does break a third time, he was never expendable. not to them. ]
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tsuru doesn't really regret waiting, especially if the news upset him... with everything else going on in the game, it was better that this wasn't one more thing weighing kara down.
but maybe they could have spent the short time they had together a little differently, if he had. ]
... they likely would not, no. [ ... ] It may have been a somewhat selfish move on my part.
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It went after us, didn't it. And you took whatever blow was meant for us.
[ it isn't that hard to put together, now that he's gotten this much from tsuru. it's... exactly something that kara would expect from him, even if he doesn't like it. ]
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he nods his head. it's still more than he wanted to admit, but at this late stage, there really is no point in dragging it out much longer.
there's a chance they may never see each other again, and lili knows the truth because of village shenanigans, so kara might eventually learn about it from her if it becomes apparent that tsuru isn't around anymore. it's better if it comes from him directly. ]
That's correct.
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[ he would never allow ookurikara to be taken like that. ]
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... mm! We have to believe in our comrades.
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[ different citadels, and all. ]
But I know that we wouldn't leave you like that to break, unless there really was no other way. We'd find a way to fix it. So they have to find one, too.
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but he'll be nice and not tease him with that. ]
... right. [ ... ] If-- when things work out, I'll send a message to you as soon as I'm able that's convenient for you. So that you'll know.
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[ he's regressed since subd lmao. ]
...I'll be waiting for it, though.
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that gives him a pause, and he'll nod. ]
I would like to spend more time together, when we're able to.
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[ sometimes you look at the world in black and white and refuse to see shades of gray because the alternative simply isn't acceptable. ]