estoria | ( OPEN )

It's only a weakness if you let it be. [big talk for somebody who doesn't know what it did to his sword-friends] Memories are just that, it's the past, it's over.

Either way, it's pretty clear CERES isn't here to help. That's enough.

[ he looks a crestfallen when kogi closes the door... while uncle kogi surely has pure, protective intentions at heart, poor fishy is still trapped in the bathroom, behind that door? the #freefishy campaign of 2016 is very here and very alive, with tsuru at its heart. he's also left his vessel tucked safely somewhere that isn't here, so both of them aren't in any immediate danger. ]

But that just makes it even more exciting.

[ life-threatening excitement! there are some angry, slappy noises coming from the other side of the bathroom door, as if fishy is doing its very best to wriggle from the tub to the exit, and even though the lack of water weakens it, fishy is still powerful! it fights for independence! those noises are a bit worrisome, however, so tsuru gives the door another glance, then looks at kogi, a bit curiously. ]

Can it chew through the door?

[ The effort is appreciated! Kashuu could just not be doing anything, which Kousetsu wouldn't fault him for, but he's actively helping. ]

They are for everyone. Please...have as many as you like.

[The pat earns him a quick quirk of a smile, at least! Kashuu is appreciative.]

Mm, thanks. And thanks for stopping by to check on us, too.

[Even if it's a gesture of reassurance, Kashuu reads it as solidarity first and foremost, because it's not like he feels like he needs to be reassured about anything. He isn't the one who died, though he can sympathize. He isn't the one with scraps on that altar, being used for god-knows-what. He may be upset, but he's still around and conscious and alive enough to be upset and to fight back, and that's truly key.

He leans a little against Namazuo in turn, then, reaching out to rest a hand against the top of his head.]

Mm. We will.

[He doesn't know the all-important how yet, of course, but he knows they will.]

So let's work hard together, okay?

[Holed up long enough his door has become another shrine...truly the most holy of swords. (???) Smallest fox perks up though, tail waving as he speaks up.]

There's nothing silly about it! Nakigitsune often needs time alone as well - and we've never seen you hide away like this before, so it must have been a long-deserved rest.

[Is it okay to pet Mikazuki? Because he's in easy petting reach and Naki's taking advantage of that.]

[Ah...this guy's kinda cool. Defeating giant metal creatures on his own for fun! Helping people find food! Has he fought Tanuki-san, are they fighting friends, ketchup-flavored chips are weirdly delicious.]

.....Did you find any? [Food, that is.]

Sorta. The creatures down in the water were...edible enough, I guess. Once they'd been held over a fire for a bit anyway.

[he certainly won't be taking that recipe back home to Sanji.]

[ Is today Findependence Day? ]

I suppose so. Still, one cannot be too careful! I heard it left marks on Hotarumaru, when he was around. Apparently it fit in a nice tiny bowl at first, but now...

[ It's almost like Fishy can hear him talk, thumping the door affirmatively and Kogitsune winces. Even if it wants to be free, where would it go? Who would it eat in its way? And who would receive the blame? It better not be Kogi! He'll be happy to throw someone else under the bus, he likes getting an occasional headpat from other! Nothing will threaten that...!!! ]

You know, I'm not sure. I also don't want to find out. I need to get it back into its tank and back somewhere safe.

[ Safe as in 'hidden in a closet' or 'the end of a hallway'. Kogi won't let it near any of the foxes in his room! ]

Do you want to help me out, Tsuru? It might be dangerous. I don't want you to get hurt!

Hm! I see, I see... do you think if Fishy takes a nap, it'll be happier going back into the tank? Is this what the blanket is for?

[ For a second, Kogitsune stares at Koumei with some confusion before the wheels start to turn and the 'light bulb' visibly turns on. ]

Oh! Wait, should I smother it or use this to carry it? Hm. That's not a bad idea, I suppose I can try that.

[ Taking the comforter, Kogi looks prepared to do battle with Fishy. <>It's go time. And he goes, with purpose and intent on his face! He's going to do it, he's going to get this job done so no one loses a limb (or a blade, which is obviously way worse)!

Loud noises, crashes, frustrated screams, and growls follow before moments later, Kogi bursts back through the door and back into the hallway, no fish or tank in arms. ]

... do you have another one of those things on hand, Koumei? Fishy ate it...

[ And he gives that head a gentle pat, down to his shoulders where he gives Mikazuki a squeeze. Kogitsune hasn't heard his Jijii be so serious in tone and demeanor before, even if his little headbutt makes him smile a little further. Even in the face of glitching, in dangerous forests and mountains, and shopping... this is different. ]

An interesting question! I always figured Inari would take me somewhere, once everything was settled. But in case that didn't happen... I suppose I had no plan. Better to think of the present than the future, right? [ He idly scratches his chin, closing his eyes in thought. ] I'm not like many of us, you know. It was fortunate that our master found me when he did, else I could have been lost to time.

~~[ alternatively he steals Mikazuki away and they get married in the fox realm okay ]~~

[ WTF DON'T DEFLECT BLAME ONTO SOMEONE WHO ISN'T HERE ANYMORE! WHAT ]

Do you have something else in mind, Kashuu? [ Kogi's a little irritated he couldn't go full gangbusters on the fish, but then again it's Kashuu who stopped him! The fox has 100% trust in him! All of the faith! Yeah!

Oh, random thought time. ]

Think Fishy could make good sushi...?

[ Mmm, tasty death. ]

Mm. Perhaps after I'm done making sure the room is perfect? We could go together, perhaps stop by the udon shop and get some aburaage?

[ But first, he stands up to carefully nudge one final pillow into place... done! ]

Would you mind testing out the pile? For quality assurance, of course.

Yes. [ Kogitsune is getting a little fidgety. It's hard for him to bring up a sensitive topic like this! He's not even sure if it's his right to do so, but... ]

I couldn't help but think of you regarding one of the things we found. That is, if you didn't already have something like it.

[ He scratches his own hairears. ]

I believe Ishikirimaru has already purified the items. They should be near the shrine in the living room. Let me straighten these things out, and I'll join you in a moment.

[ A few scraps of a light blue Shinsengumi outfit, a long red ribbon, and of course--- an eyepatch, in relatively good condition sit on the shrine. ]

[...

What?

Koumei isn't certain that he wants to know exactly what went down in that bathroom, but he knew that it couldn't be normal.]

Eeehh? ...That can't be healthy for Fishy!

[Because, clearly, that was the most important thing that had happened here.]

Wait a moment, [he spoke up, suddenly.] Aren't you worried about him suffocating? Fish are supposed to live in the water. How is he still conscious?

[YEAH ZORO GOSH.] It is true, as depressing as it is. If anything, the past is meant to teach us for the present.

I am thankful that normally, CERES would leave us alone. It's like...a test.

[NO ONE NEEDS TO KNOW. Hotarumaru carried the secret to the great void beyond that swords apparently go to here...]

What?! How did you go from "cleaning its tank" to "eating it for dinner" in like, one second!

[KOGI?! That's knocked the idea he had clean out of his head, honestly. What's he even supposed to say to that... Maybe he should be glad he didn't let small fox go full gangbusters?!]

Besides, it's probably poisonous!

[He's taking little baby steps!! But his expression does light up a little in response to that offer, because he's an excitable kid at heart.]

—I'll just try one.

[But he'll restrain himself in case the sadder swords need more comfort food.]

[ everyday is findependence day! every day, fishy fights for freedom.

given that fishy barely seems to be fitting in the tub, imagining it fitting in a nice tiny bowl is... difficult. however, this is also the first time that tsurumaru has actually seen and encountered fishy, so the mention of fishy fitting in some kind of 'tank' has him a bit confused. ]

What kind of tank... [ would fit a fish like that? he doesn't dwell on it for too long, though — they have a fishy to tank! tank is also a verb now, apparently, ~~and not like the mmos~~. there's a bright, eager nod, as he looks towards kogi expectantly. ]

I do! It'll be okay, I'll be okay, and we'll be okay! We're tough swords.

[ but tsuru isn't an expert strategist... so he patiently waits for kogi to come up with a plan. ]

[She looks at him curiously, hearing his explanation. It did make sense, since she was similar to them. An entirely different kind of spirit, but they understand each other and their situations.]

Alright, I will go see...

[And she heads off just before Kogitsunemaru as encouraged, waiting for him in the living room. But that also means she has some time to look at the items that Ishikirimaru has purified. It saddens her, seeing her friends' items right here like this, knowing where they came from. Especially when she sees Mitsutada's eyepatch.]

I don't know about that. We're still trapped in this place, like animals in a zoo. I don't think that's any better than being jerked around in the long run, but.

[shrugs. The more they talk about it, the more it goes around in circles with no solutions]

Someone will figure something out. I just wanna be there when they do. I'm no thinker, I'm better at cutting down the things that the thinkers are too weak to handle.

To be honest, Fishy seems to eat most things and not be affected. It must be due its unusual origins! Though, its original owner has disappeared.

[ And before Koumei can even think about the most heinous of possibilities: ]

No. It did not eat him. He disappeared, taken by the network.

[ Kogi shrugs, tilting his head and looking up at the ceiling before looking at the ground. ] I do not know. But it is interesting how it can survive without needing water... perhaps it has been lying to us this entire time? Can a fish lie, Koumei?

[ Who even has these answers? Either way, Fishy doesn't like being ignored again and shows its displeasure by slamming the door and causing it to shake. ]

[ Nervously, he presses his fingertips against each other before looking at Kashuu with a half-smile. ]

Well, I'm hungry. I know we don't have to eat, but being in a routine and enjoying different flavors is a nice luxury to have! Maybe alien fish taste good. Neither of us should know, right?

[ UNLESS KASHUU HAS BEEN SNEAKING ALIEN FOOD AND NOT SHARING WITH GRANDPAS, the betrayal is possibly real...! ]

Poisonous to who? Us? I'm sure a little poison wouldn't be a problem. Either way, unless you have another idea, I'm gonna barge in there after I countdown again.

[ He holds his hand up. All five fingers, ready to go. ]

[ Fishy fights to eat all of the tsukumogami and company! It fights to be free to go back to its home and tell its friends about all of the dumb swords and their friends!

It probably also fights so it can eat the world. ]

Good. I can't think of better backup than you, Tsurumaru. [ For a second, he smiles warmly and hums in thought as he devises an expert, foolproof plan. When the lightbulb turns on, his hairears perk up and he nods confidently. ]

Here is what we'll do. First, we must intimidate Fishy. We must go in and make loud noises until it acquiesces to our wishes. Once it has become docile, we can pick it up and place it back into its clean and full tank. Finally, we put the tank somewhere safe where no one can be injured, but we can go visit Fishy at anytime we want.

[ Tsuru is now part of Team Fishy! ]

Sound good?

[ Quietly making his way back into the main living area, he leans against the wall and sighs. As fortunate as they were to find the remnants of their comrades, it only added more questions and couldn't diminish the worries of the spirits. Wherever they are, it couldn't possibly be as safe as their temporary homes. Those thoughts weighed heavily on Kogitsune, who only felt some relief at knowing he could offer Vietnam something to her. ]

... if you'd like, you can have it. You're family, you know? I doubt anyone would mind if you wanted a keepsake of sorts. And if he comes home, you can give it to him. It would make him happy, right?

[ Hope. ]

( OPEN )

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soon the apartment building will be one hive of tofu

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