(He looks surprised! But he reaches to close his arm around Rin, patting his back,)
There, there... I'm surprised. Why are you apologizing now? Have you done something wrong? You should apologize to the one you've wronged then, Rin-kun.
In the outskirts of the old capital, there is an old shrine called Fuji no Mori. It is famous for its hydrangeas in the summer and popular with families who bring their children to be blessed. In fact, they even say it's the shrine where "Children's Day" originated in Japan.
At that shrine, there was once a sword. No one knows how it got there, even the sword itself can't remember how it arrived... but it listened to the prayers of many families. Though it couldn't do anything, it listened to every prayer and wished for every child to live happily and to grow strong...
(It's a pleasant enough story but something like this always has a catch. There's that impending "but" in the air and as he approaches it, he speaks as lightly as ever,)
Then one day, a merchant came and saw that sword. He recognized it as a treasure far greater than any others realized. He knew it was the sword of lords and generals, something old and valuable. He misled the priests, undervalued its worth, and through dishonest means, took the sword, not for himself but to sell for profit.
(...)
The spirit of that sword cried. It wasn't the first time he'd been taken but that shrine had been his home. It had been a place of peace and happy memories for him and suddenly, he was taken away. He had no idea where he would go next. He was certain he would never know peace again.
He was sold to an old family, one that he had heard of back when he belonged to the "Oda." (Like Oda Nobunaga. Yeah, that one.) Like that, he became a treasure for the "Date" family in Sendai.
(And based off of Rin's research, it should begin to make sense why he's fond of zunda. This is clearly the origin story.)
But that sword though, "Why bother getting attached? This family will only give me away like all of the others. Or worse, I'll be taken again." So that sword's spirit refused to care. He defied his nature and refused to give his spirit to them.
... But the Date were known for caring for their treasures. Even though they had fallen on hard times and been forced to sell many of their treasures to make ends meet, they cared for each treasure until the end. They looked at this new sword they'd obtained and saw how tired it was. They took him apart and gave him new fastenings. They retempered his blade and made sure he was as good as new. They looked at the bronze fixings on his sheath and were the first to notice in many years, "Ah, look! These are flowers." And they named him, "Rindou."
It was also during this time that "Rindou" met one of the Date's most precious treasures. A loyal and strong sword who loved the family dearly... a sword named "Ookurikara."
(And perhaps Rin recalls the way Tsurumaru had spoken so softly when he saw Kurikara in pieces that fateful night.)
Ookurikara is one of Rindou's most precious connections.
(He says it without hesitation. He truly loves Ookurikara with all of his heart,)
Ookurikara's love for his family inspired Rindou to do the same. For the first time in centuries, he fell in love with another family and he allowed himself to find peace. During that time, he allowed himself to feel the love and care from that family and he truly felt like a treasure until the very end...
It was short-lived but it was fulfilling. As poor as the family had become, they were respected still. When the new emperor came, this family gave to him the greatest treasure in their possession. He was given away once more... but it was with dignity and respect. Until the very end, the Date treated him well and they only gave him away when they knew he would be treated better if not the same.
Rindou left after only a few decades but that time had left a great impression on his spirit and had left him with a bond that could never be broken with them. He would always be one of their treasures, along with Ookurikara.
(And that's it, that's the story,)
You asked me for my favorite food. I confess I don't really have one... I enjoy all sweets. I can't pick a favorite among them. But zunda was a special treat in that family. When I eat it, I remember something very special and dear.
(It's more of a special memory than a special food.)
[Oh. How sad, and touching at the same time. Rin looks like he might start crying, but he sniffs and holds it in for now.]
It sounds like Rindou was loved and well cared for. No wonder he can give love so freely in return.
[Rin really, REALLY expected Tsuru to hate him. He's so glad that he's wrong.
And while he talks, he carefully pulls a sheathed Kurikara off of his shoulder. He's carried the broken sword for weeks, never drawing it once for fear of losing pieces of it, but he kept it near and dear to his heart. But now he holds it out in his hands so that Tsuru can take it.]
I already gave you a special treat, but maybe some good news will help make the treats sweeter, yeah?
(Ah he didn't expect that at all and he can only laugh in response,)
He was.
(Very loved. It was the most love he'd received in a very, very long time. Even after he left and joined the imperial collection, it was the Date who cared for him personally instead of leaving their experts and officials. For a moment, he was a family sword again and not just a collector's item.
He looks at Rin's sword. He can't help but recall the last time he held it and when he reaches for it, there's great care. It's a serious moment and he whispers,)
[Kurikara comes out of the scabbard, refined and whole once more. There are signs of the trauma this sword experienced- slight scorching on the hilt, a minuscule weight difference from the slivers of metal that were never recovered, a slight difference in color in the metal compared to before. But the sword is solid, sharp, and ready to serve as a blade in battle once more.]
Baraqiel- er, Hua Cheng- he helped me fix it. We used the forge in that one town, and my flames to help get the fires hot enough for a good repair.
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timeasmymeasure
Week 7, pre-End Game!!
Date: 2021-11-20 09:07 am (UTC)Three guesses.
(A familiar game for Rin.)
no subject
Date: 2021-11-20 02:56 pm (UTC)There's a moment of quiet as Rin processes just what's going on. He can't even tell if he's going to laugh or cry, he wants to do both at once.]
A friend-turned-enemy who's come to cut me down?
[It's not a real suggestion, but a prelude to something more meaningful.]
no subject
Date: 2021-11-21 04:18 am (UTC)Try again.
no subject
Date: 2021-11-21 04:22 am (UTC)An angry ghost come to lecture me?
no subject
Date: 2021-11-21 04:25 am (UTC)Guess again.
no subject
Date: 2021-11-21 04:28 am (UTC)A friend, moved to tears by a gift of zunda mochi, come to say hello?
[He sounds hopeful that this is the right answer.]
no subject
Date: 2021-11-21 04:31 am (UTC)I knew you would get it.
(The zunda or his guesses this time?)
no subject
Date: 2021-11-21 04:42 am (UTC)Rin will turn to give Tsuru a big hug btw.]
I'm sorry. I'm so sorry-
[He apologized for this before why is he doing it again?]
no subject
Date: 2021-11-21 04:51 am (UTC)(He looks surprised! But he reaches to close his arm around Rin, patting his back,)
There, there... I'm surprised. Why are you apologizing now? Have you done something wrong? You should apologize to the one you've wronged then, Rin-kun.
(There's nothing to apologize for here.)
no subject
Date: 2021-11-21 04:59 am (UTC)I had to go to a library and read for hours to figure out you liked zunda mochi! How did I miss that one?!
no subject
Date: 2021-11-21 05:03 am (UTC)(He laughs, still just patting Rin on the back. Brushing his hair with his fingers. He's cold to touch but Rin doesn't seem to mind so...?)
I would have told you more if I had more time. I knew you would figure it out with a little bit of help.
no subject
Date: 2021-11-21 05:11 am (UTC)[But he got there! Eventually. And yes, he doesn't mind the cold touch.]
If only we had more time. That seems to be a common problem here.
no subject
Date: 2021-11-21 05:21 am (UTC)Shall I tell you a story?
no subject
Date: 2021-11-21 05:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-11-21 05:42 am (UTC)At that shrine, there was once a sword. No one knows how it got there, even the sword itself can't remember how it arrived... but it listened to the prayers of many families. Though it couldn't do anything, it listened to every prayer and wished for every child to live happily and to grow strong...
(It's a pleasant enough story but something like this always has a catch. There's that impending "but" in the air and as he approaches it, he speaks as lightly as ever,)
Then one day, a merchant came and saw that sword. He recognized it as a treasure far greater than any others realized. He knew it was the sword of lords and generals, something old and valuable. He misled the priests, undervalued its worth, and through dishonest means, took the sword, not for himself but to sell for profit.
(...)
The spirit of that sword cried. It wasn't the first time he'd been taken but that shrine had been his home. It had been a place of peace and happy memories for him and suddenly, he was taken away. He had no idea where he would go next. He was certain he would never know peace again.
no subject
Date: 2021-11-21 05:50 am (UTC)Then...what happened to the sword? Did he find peace?
no subject
Date: 2021-11-21 06:10 am (UTC)He was sold to an old family, one that he had heard of back when he belonged to the "Oda." (Like Oda Nobunaga. Yeah, that one.) Like that, he became a treasure for the "Date" family in Sendai.
(And based off of Rin's research, it should begin to make sense why he's fond of zunda. This is clearly the origin story.)
But that sword though, "Why bother getting attached? This family will only give me away like all of the others. Or worse, I'll be taken again." So that sword's spirit refused to care. He defied his nature and refused to give his spirit to them.
... But the Date were known for caring for their treasures. Even though they had fallen on hard times and been forced to sell many of their treasures to make ends meet, they cared for each treasure until the end. They looked at this new sword they'd obtained and saw how tired it was. They took him apart and gave him new fastenings. They retempered his blade and made sure he was as good as new. They looked at the bronze fixings on his sheath and were the first to notice in many years, "Ah, look! These are flowers." And they named him, "Rindou."
It was also during this time that "Rindou" met one of the Date's most precious treasures. A loyal and strong sword who loved the family dearly... a sword named "Ookurikara."
(And perhaps Rin recalls the way Tsurumaru had spoken so softly when he saw Kurikara in pieces that fateful night.)
no subject
Date: 2021-11-21 06:14 am (UTC)But then the story continues, and he hears the name 'Ookurikara', and Rin's heart sinks.]
Did Rindou and Ookurikara become friends?
[He thinks he knows the answer already, there's no forgetting Tsuru's gentle touch on that one horrible night. But he has to know. He has to ask.]
no subject
Date: 2021-11-21 06:24 am (UTC)(He says it without hesitation. He truly loves Ookurikara with all of his heart,)
Ookurikara's love for his family inspired Rindou to do the same. For the first time in centuries, he fell in love with another family and he allowed himself to find peace. During that time, he allowed himself to feel the love and care from that family and he truly felt like a treasure until the very end...
It was short-lived but it was fulfilling. As poor as the family had become, they were respected still. When the new emperor came, this family gave to him the greatest treasure in their possession. He was given away once more... but it was with dignity and respect. Until the very end, the Date treated him well and they only gave him away when they knew he would be treated better if not the same.
Rindou left after only a few decades but that time had left a great impression on his spirit and had left him with a bond that could never be broken with them. He would always be one of their treasures, along with Ookurikara.
(And that's it, that's the story,)
You asked me for my favorite food. I confess I don't really have one... I enjoy all sweets. I can't pick a favorite among them. But zunda was a special treat in that family. When I eat it, I remember something very special and dear.
(It's more of a special memory than a special food.)
no subject
Date: 2021-11-21 05:16 pm (UTC)It sounds like Rindou was loved and well cared for. No wonder he can give love so freely in return.
[Rin really, REALLY expected Tsuru to hate him. He's so glad that he's wrong.
And while he talks, he carefully pulls a sheathed Kurikara off of his shoulder. He's carried the broken sword for weeks, never drawing it once for fear of losing pieces of it, but he kept it near and dear to his heart. But now he holds it out in his hands so that Tsuru can take it.]
I already gave you a special treat, but maybe some good news will help make the treats sweeter, yeah?
[Take it and look, Tsuru.]
no subject
Date: 2021-11-22 12:43 am (UTC)He was.
(Very loved. It was the most love he'd received in a very, very long time. Even after he left and joined the imperial collection, it was the Date who cared for him personally instead of leaving their experts and officials. For a moment, he was a family sword again and not just a collector's item.
He looks at Rin's sword. He can't help but recall the last time he held it and when he reaches for it, there's great care. It's a serious moment and he whispers,)
Hello, Kurikara.
(And carefully, he begins to draw the sword.)
no subject
Date: 2021-11-22 01:59 am (UTC)Baraqiel- er, Hua Cheng- he helped me fix it. We used the forge in that one town, and my flames to help get the fires hot enough for a good repair.