estoria | ( OPEN )

That mutt does a lot of unnecessary things. [ They rarely ever see eye to eye on anything. The only thing that he really commended about him was his skills. He would give him that given he was never used. ]

Haru tries for us. He seeks us out and tends to us. He also saved my brother. Helping him in times he needs it is the least we can do. [ Although now he thinks about it and smiles her way. ]

Have I ever mentioned my brothers before?

[She blinks in surprise, because hearing Nagasone's disapproval of Mutsunokami is a whole new side she's never witnessed before. It hasn't yet occurred to her that Kondo and Sakamoto are enemies, since her grasp on Japanese history isn't that quick. But she knows of it. It's strange because if not for that, she would've thought that Nagasone and Mutsunokami would get along.] He has his heart in the right place, at least.

And oh! [So does Haru!] Your brother as well... [She shakes her head and looks more attentively.]

You have not, what are your brothers like?

[ He didn't expect Vietnam to know anything about that. Logically he should have let it go already, but sometimes it was just really hard to come to terms with him and remember the fate of is master. It was going to take a couple of miracles to get their relationship evened out.

Asking about his brothers, though, that made him smile more.]

Hachitsuka and Urashima. Urashima is a wakizashi who was also captured like me. He's a good kid though. If he took training seriously, he could be on our level. [ Nagasone sighed a little, although he really looked fond. ] He's a good kid who likes to carry around his pet turtle.

Hachitsuka... [ He was still smiling, but it took on more of a sad and guilty edge ] He's the Kotetsu owned by the Hachitsuka clan. He's very prestigious and powerful, and has the personality to match it. [ Chuckling at the end. ] Gold armor and long purple hair, he's nice to everyone but fake swords.

[It's thanks to Japanese dramas, but it isn't something Japan would've spoken to her about. She could only hope that they would get along, only because aside from that, their personalities would've been compatible. At least in her opinion.

They share the same love for family, for example.]

Y-you were once captured? [What is this! What a fearsome situation!] How did you and Urashima get out? But ah, he sounds very friendly! How endearing! [Pet turtle!!

Meanwhile, it looks like there's something deeper between Hachitsuka and Nagasone.] Proud and talented, I am assuming? [Her expression changes to confusion.] Why is he against fake swords?

[ Sometimes he wonders if they could get over the past. In the present they fought on the same side, and they should act like it, but sometimes it was just too difficult to get over the past. He'd say they were making progress, though. ]

Haru's team got us out. I don't know what would have happened to us if he didn't find us. [ He laughed it off like recalling a fond memory. Nagasone had thought it was hopeless. Even if he wanted to save his little brother, he was in the same position. They were like a godsend, but he wasn't the type of sword to express those type of feelings. ]

Very, he has skills befitting a Kotetsu. [ But he sees it's story time. ]

Nagasone Kotetsu Okisato is renown as one of the greatest smiths of all time, but he's also one who is the most counterfeited. He didn't sign a lot of his blades and there are records of him not being able to tell the difference himself. It led to a lot of people second guessing all of the Kotetsu swords.

Hachitsuka is a Kotetsu that belonged to the Hachitsuka clan. He's a decorative treasure that is never seen by the public, but that lead to them calling him "illusionary" and probably also a fake. His pride can't handle those kinds of accusations.

Knowing his big brother is a fake doesn't help matters. [ with a small shrug ]

[As someone who also had a complicated relationship with some of her own kind back in the day, she would say it's possible. It's a long process, but they are swords. They have a lot of time to figure that out. She took her time too.]

Goodness, I am relieved that he did. Especially when you say... [That he is unsure?!] A-ah. Either way, I see that he managed to rescue strong swords, those enemies who captured you and Urashima must've been formidable. [LITTLE DO YOU KNOW, VIETNAM.

She now listens to his gripping tale of Hachitsuka and his creator, a smith who Nagasone shared his name with. She's understood now that the names they bear sometimes aren't original names, but ones they inherited from their creators. Nagasone must be like that too.]

Hachitsuka did leave a hard life, having to prove himself. [Having others not believe him. Though it is not the fault of the other fake swords, they did not wish to be like that either.

Vietnam freezes though.] Are you implying that you are a fake Kotetsu?

Edited 2015-07-27 16:26 (UTC)

[ There was that slow nod to the truth. It wasn't something he hid. There was no point in something like that. He had steeled himself from caring too much about it, but even he couldn't be fully absolved of being self-conscious. ]

Kondou believed me to be authentic and named me like this. The truth is I'm not. I'm a fake made by Minamoto Kiyomaro, a smith of the time.

I'm not a Kotetsu by birth, but I make up for that in battle. [ It was a very determined musing in his voice. No one could deny his battle prowess. He trained and honed and drove himself. He was a Kotetsu as any other would be. ]

So if you ever meet him and he claims to not be related to me, he's not essentially wrong.

[This is a complication that she probably would not completely understand. She never thought that a "fake" would be able to come to life, considering what kind of fakes and forgery happen in the modern era now.]

I see, because you are not a Kotetsu, but created by another, Hachitsuka does not want to be compared to you?

[She wondered though, was being a Kotetsu, even as powerful, something he should be? Was the skill of this Minamoto Kiyomaru inferior to Nagasone Kotetsu? She can't tell, she's has no knowledge in this field.] You are the sword of a commander. I can see how the swords respect you here. [Barring Mutsunokami.]

I may not be an expert when it comes to swords, but having gotten to know you, I am sure you are splendidly made nonetheless. Fake Kotetsu or otherwise, I respect you as well, you are still a real sword and captain.

[ It was inspiring, he felt, to hear that. Being a fake isn't something he could change and wasn't something he was aiming for either. He's accepted it, but he'll also strive to be the best of them. Vietnam's acceptance of that made him feel good. ]

It's embarrassing for him to have a brother who's a fake. He's always so bitter and upset around me, but he's a great fighter with a warm personality.

Kiyomaro was a good smith with great skills. You're right, I'm not poorly made in anyway.

[ He thought for a moment, looking around as he did and then letting his eyes settle on her ]

Your siblings are the other countries, yes?

[It's not the same, but she knows how it is to play on lower grounds. You have to work harder so that they don't underestimate you! And she had always thought Nagasone great, even before this discovery. Hearing the truth only makes him more admirable.]

I suppose he just needs to understand the position of a fake too. Well, differently from being wildly accused, like what happened to him. You both have had it hard.

[She nods firmly, and there, a tiny fist pump!] To be able to smith a great sword takes a lot of skills. It is something you, or any other apparent fake who wears a human form, can be very proud of.

[Upon his question, she deflates. He did get to meet one of those siblings. The story itself is nothing to be sad about though, so she sits up again.] Yes. We are not linked together by blood. I suppose it is like your masters; to be taught by the same sword school. In my case, I was taken in by China and France, both of whom we call either big brother or Teacher, and those who were also taken in by them, we can also consider siblings. Taiwan is one, she can be considered my younger sister.

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