The Shimabara Rebellion is a heavy mission indeed. The slaughter of 37,000 commoners, led by outrage and religious zeal into a rebellion against the shogunate in what is an otherwise peaceful era. You know of their mission: to take the place of Amakusa Shirou, the killed leader, and ensure the course of history.
To recruit thousands of people, only to lead them to slaughter.
Tsurumaru Kuninaga, a vision in white, carries his cross and flag - and leads. He follows his orders correctly, he does not falter in his steps, and he paves the way for his team to witness the slaughter of a child they had recruited to their cause.
(This is, at once, your Tsurumaru Kuninaga and not your Tsurumaru Kuninaga. Yet how easily they could be one and the same is not lost on you.)
You watch on from a distance. Matsui Gou throws his fist at Tsurumaru’s face - and you know the crane’s answer before it even leaves his mouth.
This is history.
One of your subordinates - a human that you have recruited to help the Touken Danshi upon their missions - collects the unconscious body of fallen child’s brother. You know he will be taken to safety.
It is one life, out of thousands. But it is one life, even still.
The others leave - but Tsurumaru Kuninaga shouts his dare for you into the sea.
“Help them! Save them! All these 37,000! They’re not just a number. Each one of them had their own life! They were alive! Take them with you! To the quiet sea, to Paraiso! If you can do it, go and try!”
Something in this treacherous heart of yours whispers:
‘Do you not think I would, if I could?’
You watch him stumble - caught only by the steadfast Ookurikara - and disappear back to the Citadel.
The ache in your heart does not subside even after they are gone. The blood of the fallen stain the water red. You do not let your anguish show even now.
This is your punishment, you suppose. To not be able to save them all. To never reveal the endless cracking and breaking of your heart over and over again.
For humanity. For your swords. For the world.
To follow this course of history is to always be in mourning. ]
[ he doesn't get a chance to answer, instead stopping short at the memory. the shimabara rebellion... he knows it from books, from classes, but to see the aftermath in front of him... ]
That's... [ he looks at mikazuki, eyes wide. ] That's what your missions are like?
but eventually, his face settles into a facsimile of a smile.]
... that mission in particular can be considered one of the more difficult.
But... it would be false to say that we are not often tested. Those who meet their former masters, knowing how their lives are fated to end, but not wishing to see it. Those who form attachments to humans during their time there, and know that they too will depart long before we do.
[ ...he knows smiles like those. he wears his own like a shield most of the time, with the veneer of summertime joy layered so heavy on top of it that no one ever thinks to question.
it's different than his smile, but kazunari thinks he can understand it, at least a little, so he won't press too far. ]
No kidding. [ it explains, maybe a little, why kashuu was so unwilling to talk about okita. ] ...I'm sorry - that it's like that. I hope you guys get some rest from it sometimes... especially after something like that.
[ part of him wonders if buzen is okay, too, but - he always seemed to handle things just fine, so maybe he shouldn't worry? ]
[ . . . mikazuki shakes his head - but it is almost a little fondly now.]
... your sentiment is kind, Kazunari Miyoshi. Thank you.
I will not deny that sometimes the burden is heavy - it is impossible to. [not when urashima and matsui gou sobbed on that beach, their tears intermingling with the sea salt] But... I believe, ultimately, we are happy.
Or at the very least... I will always endeavor to keep everyone safe and happy, for as long as we have.
[ it's hard for him to imagine, as someone who's never really had to worry about anything until the prism. if nothing else, the prism and the hotel has given him a new appreciation for that life, and for those who mange to protect things like it. ]
I've only met a handful of sword spirits like you, but they've all been really dedicated to the mission. So I think you'll manage just fine, even if it's hard.
buzen: i can't tell kazu anything bc he's from more modern japan what if he ends up in danger mikazuki: oh good he's from modern japan we always need more allies]
... I believe that it is always a pleasant surprise - the capabilities that humans possess.
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week 3, monday
[a greeting - but yea it's stardust time. bye!
Your beloved comrades are falling apart.
The Shimabara Rebellion is a heavy mission indeed. The slaughter of 37,000 commoners, led by outrage and religious zeal into a rebellion against the shogunate in what is an otherwise peaceful era. You know of their mission: to take the place of Amakusa Shirou, the killed leader, and ensure the course of history.
To recruit thousands of people, only to lead them to slaughter.
Tsurumaru Kuninaga, a vision in white, carries his cross and flag - and leads. He follows his orders correctly, he does not falter in his steps, and he paves the way for his team to witness the slaughter of a child they had recruited to their cause.
(This is, at once, your Tsurumaru Kuninaga and not your Tsurumaru Kuninaga. Yet how easily they could be one and the same is not lost on you.)
You watch on from a distance. Matsui Gou throws his fist at Tsurumaru’s face - and you know the crane’s answer before it even leaves his mouth.
This is history.
One of your subordinates - a human that you have recruited to help the Touken Danshi upon their missions - collects the unconscious body of fallen child’s brother. You know he will be taken to safety.
It is one life, out of thousands. But it is one life, even still.
The others leave - but Tsurumaru Kuninaga shouts his dare for you into the sea.
“Help them! Save them! All these 37,000! They’re not just a number. Each one of them had their own life! They were alive! Take them with you! To the quiet sea, to Paraiso! If you can do it, go and try!”
Something in this treacherous heart of yours whispers:
‘Do you not think I would, if I could?’
You watch him stumble - caught only by the steadfast Ookurikara - and disappear back to the Citadel.
The ache in your heart does not subside even after they are gone. The blood of the fallen stain the water red. You do not let your anguish show even now.
This is your punishment, you suppose. To not be able to save them all. To never reveal the endless cracking and breaking of your heart over and over again.
For humanity. For your swords. For the world.
To follow this course of history is to always be in mourning. ]
no subject
That's... [ he looks at mikazuki, eyes wide. ] That's what your missions are like?
no subject
but eventually, his face settles into a facsimile of a smile.]
... that mission in particular can be considered one of the more difficult.
But... it would be false to say that we are not often tested. Those who meet their former masters, knowing how their lives are fated to end, but not wishing to see it. Those who form attachments to humans during their time there, and know that they too will depart long before we do.
It is... arduous, at times.
no subject
it's different than his smile, but kazunari thinks he can understand it, at least a little, so he won't press too far. ]
No kidding. [ it explains, maybe a little, why kashuu was so unwilling to talk about okita. ] ...I'm sorry - that it's like that. I hope you guys get some rest from it sometimes... especially after something like that.
[ part of him wonders if buzen is okay, too, but - he always seemed to handle things just fine, so maybe he shouldn't worry? ]
no subject
... your sentiment is kind, Kazunari Miyoshi. Thank you.
I will not deny that sometimes the burden is heavy - it is impossible to. [not when urashima and matsui gou sobbed on that beach, their tears intermingling with the sea salt] But... I believe, ultimately, we are happy.
Or at the very least... I will always endeavor to keep everyone safe and happy, for as long as we have.
no subject
[ it's hard for him to imagine, as someone who's never really had to worry about anything until the prism. if nothing else, the prism and the hotel has given him a new appreciation for that life, and for those who mange to protect things like it. ]
I've only met a handful of sword spirits like you, but they've all been really dedicated to the mission. So I think you'll manage just fine, even if it's hard.
no subject
For there are moments when their missions grow especially difficult... and they might not have all the pieces on their own to solve it.
no subject
...I don't know how much help I'd be, but if there is anything I can do, then I'd be glad to lend a hand.
no subject
buzen: i can't tell kazu anything bc he's from more modern japan what if he ends up in danger
mikazuki: oh good he's from modern japan we always need more allies]
... I believe that it is always a pleasant surprise - the capabilities that humans possess.
no subject
What kinds of things would you even need help with?