[He echoes the words softly. He doesn't follow Kashuu as he pulls away a bit, he's used to loving those who sometimes need to withdraw to deal with their emotions, and he's more than happy to give him that space. He knows now, after all, that Kashuu will come back again, that if he backs off it's not to shut Souji out.
He is about to argue that it's just as selfish as it's kind. You could call it learning to defend those you love, or you could call it learning to kill so that you'll be loved and accepted. The latter doesn't sound so pretty. But he doesn't want to try to twist Kashuu's words around in a way of condemning himself, not really. So he doesn't.]
I tried to find other ways of being loved, being useful. I tried to take care of people, to make us all into something like a family. But that never changed that we are all kept together by the fact that we are Shinsengumi. [And he doesn't have the sort of mind that can figure out that while this is true, his value outside of just wielding a sword has grown into something that makes him irreplaceable, no matter how sick and weak he grows. Or why his mindset tortures the one he wants to help so badly.]
... What about you, though? [The thought suddenly strikes him, and he feels like he has to know.] You were forged long before I was even born, after all. And... well, from what I understand it, not in a very nice place. [Which was no doubt a reason why he ended up with Souji, a talented but not exactly wealthy samurai.] There's more to you than just having been my blade, right?
fix both these losers BRING OUT THE DUCT TAPE
[He echoes the words softly. He doesn't follow Kashuu as he pulls away a bit, he's used to loving those who sometimes need to withdraw to deal with their emotions, and he's more than happy to give him that space. He knows now, after all, that Kashuu will come back again, that if he backs off it's not to shut Souji out.
He is about to argue that it's just as selfish as it's kind. You could call it learning to defend those you love, or you could call it learning to kill so that you'll be loved and accepted. The latter doesn't sound so pretty. But he doesn't want to try to twist Kashuu's words around in a way of condemning himself, not really. So he doesn't.]
I tried to find other ways of being loved, being useful. I tried to take care of people, to make us all into something like a family. But that never changed that we are all kept together by the fact that we are Shinsengumi. [And he doesn't have the sort of mind that can figure out that while this is true, his value outside of just wielding a sword has grown into something that makes him irreplaceable, no matter how sick and weak he grows. Or why his mindset tortures the one he wants to help so badly.]
... What about you, though? [The thought suddenly strikes him, and he feels like he has to know.] You were forged long before I was even born, after all. And... well, from what I understand it, not in a very nice place. [Which was no doubt a reason why he ended up with Souji, a talented but not exactly wealthy samurai.] There's more to you than just having been my blade, right?