守り刀.

He’s not sure if he wants to laugh or scoff, first – so the Saniwa smiles instead, finding a happy medium as the story unfolds. The street they’re on is empty, and the tantou has licence to be just as loud as he wants. It makes it easy to focus on him; it makes his words ring all the more clear.

And it’s a good thing. Because Imanotsurugi’s enthusiasm is something valuable.

‘A tree?’ he repeats, tone light from the onset. He’s not letting him get away with this. ‘And all this time, we wondered what your weakness would be…’ He trails off, gaze ducking away – there’s plenty of things to read into that, but most of it is teasing. ‘So you made a friend.’

More than that, but not really. Whoever it is that’s been playing with the sword, she has to be young. If a little girl wants to boss Imanotsurugi around, then it’s fine.

The image alone almost makes the Saniwa laugh, again, and he brings a hand to his lips.

‘Your new master.’

In any case, with how the Saniwa switches his focus, there’s no need for him to address the teasing. Having been too caught up with the new status he’d claimed, the notion that the girl was also his friend did not dawn upon him until this moment. It’s a revelation that only serves to maintain his good spirits.

   ❝Um... she wears red and her hair’s... sorta like Izumi’s. She also likes meat a lot. A whole lot!❞ There’s not much else to be said, yet Imanotsurugi racks his brain for more detail. He should know a friend more than that...

But then he stops. And he blinks. And he tilts his head to one side.

    ❝You’re still my master too,❞ Though he says this on impulse, it’s almost a bit hesitant.

“Mochi on the Moon? That game is quite easy, isn’t it? Ah! Well, let’s play then. It will be an enjoyable game for the both of us.” 

Preparing his hands for the game then, Kogitsunemaru seemed more than content with playing games with the smaller sword for awhile. If he truly had a tail it would be wagging.. But the motions in the ears atop his head said more than enough. 

  ❝O~kay!❞

This game was easy, especially with small hands. Though, precision and speed were the real determinants of victory, which meant that its complexity would rise with its pace, and since Imanotsurugi was to pound mochi first, the difficulty level was up to him. 

           His pleased expression shifted to one of blatant disappointment once they stopped at the warehouse, and it remained even once he was inside. The décor was far from tasteful, and therefore far from pleasing. There was no hiding it on his face this time, and though he didn’t want to be rude, he echoed, “This is it?”

           His hands now at his hips, he scrutinized his surroundings, taking in all the possible sparkles and pink he could before turning and addressing the other again. “It’s not very appealing. I feel like something else can be done here, but maybe it’s not my place to say… Appearance doesn’t mean it’s a bad place, after all.” Stepping forward into the room, he looked over his shoulder and smiled, immediately shrugging off his previous words. “Well, do I get anything else for visiting early?” For the most part he wasn’t serious, but he couldn’t deny that it would be nice.

And as the stranger elaborated on his displeasure, the smaller one couldn’t help but puff out his cheeks, gaze narrowing in frustration. He was beginning to learn the truth of the saying, ‘you can’t please everyone,’ and it was definitely one of the less fun lessons he’s had to learn.

But Imanotsurugi would have to try – it was part of his job – he had to make sure everyone was having the best time they possibly could! Thankfully, the other provided him with a window of opportunity to do just that. Determined to please, he scampered off to the kitchen without a word, and returned with sample of dango only moments later.

     ❝It isn’t a bad place, I promise! Try this!❞ 

But that’s not quite it. The envy’s there, but it’s also wariness, that dark feeling that claws at him whenever his swords meet someone human. Most people are not like their former masters, not like him – and so when the tantou starts in on “being chased,” the Saniwa can only assume the worst.

It’s Imanotsurugi being fine now that keeps him from worry.

‘If I said yes – what would you do?’ he says, voice sly. His next thought, though, is serious: ‘… but maybe not right now. I just found you; I don’t want you to go away again.’

And he wraps it all up with a smile, hands sliding over the sword’s shoulders before he releases him.

After all his wandering, going slow feels right – and now that Imanotsurugi is with him…

It’s a little ironic.

‘Actually, I’m wondering.’ Following this comes a gentle press to the other’s shoulderblades. It’s a motion that encourages him to move, to accompany the Saniwa as he starts walking. 

‘Someone else caught you? When did that happen?’ The way he says it makes it sound like he’s in joking disbelief, but some of it is real; anyone who manages to lay a hand on him has to be quick.

Are there really people like that, here?

Although Imanotsurugi feels a tad led on and letdown, the Saniwa’s reasoning for his rejection makes him near bashful with happiness, and is quick enough to conceal any complaints -- words in general, truthfully -- that he might have. It really is nice to know that he’s wanted around.

And so, the tantou is quite compliant. Without missing a beat, he trails after his superior while expanding on his story.     ❝She was fun!! She played with me, and then made me a manservant!!❞

It’s a title he still doesn’t quite understand, but a title it is nonetheless, so he’s quite proud about it. See, he doesn’t know any other manservants, let alone ones that are swords as well. He’s unique!

   ❝Aha! I’ve got it!!❞

   Wasting almost no time, she chomped down on the stick, pulling what was left of the meat straight off it. Her cheeks puffed out with a beam of happiness as she chewed, nearly forgetting the boy was still there. After swallowing, she acknowledged his presence once again. Whipping out a finger to point at him, foot stomping on the ground to accent her confidence, she came up with a plan on the spot.

   ❝You, brat!❞ She called out, ❝I’ve decided to make you my new manservant.❞

What a shock! But there was another feeling that shrouded his amazement: disappointment. For the shortening of their game to be the result of a tree in the way? And just when he was about to really start playing?  The tantou couldn’t help but sulk, and gave a well-deserved look of scorn to the culpable trunk, placing his hands on his hips.

It didn’t take long for his gaze to move towards the being from which he heard gleeful chewing. And when the contagiousness of the girl’s mood worked its magic on him, any bitterness in his expression was quick to dissipate into a more inquisitive look, as he took interest in the happiness she exuded.

In fact, Imanotsurugi had been about to make a comment about how much she must like meat, but her sudden movements were quick to startle him, though momentarily. Her words, however, left more of a lasting impression. Manservant? He had heard of both ‘man’, and ‘servant’, but never put together. Arms limp at his sides, he could do little else but give the girl a blank stare.

–「♚」“Man, I was so cute when I was a kid! Kesese..” Gilbert chuckled to himself. Almost as if on cue, he saw a kid running by, which made Gil’s smile a little bit wider. But surprisingly, instead of himself, all he was reminded of was his little brother when he was younger. He let out a contented sigh as he saw the little rascal happily playing about. Although, after staring for a while, he figured he’d turn back and go think somewhere else- The child’s parents wouldn’t be so happy about seeing a grown man staring at their kid from a distance.

–「♚」After stealing one more glance, he was about to go on his merry way, but was interrupted when he saw the kid fall flat on the ground. His instincts urged him to run and go help the kid up. “Hey, are you alright?! Ya’ aren’t hurt are you?” Donning a worried expression on his face, he knelt beside the child, and held his hand out.

Somehow in the midst of his ‘research’, the tantou had managed to fumble over a rock which he’d completely failed to notice. Generally, he was fairly good at navigating in his geta, but in this event, their design had been his downfall... literally.

The voice that called out for him was needlessly concerned, but even so, Imanotsurugi happily took the hand presented in conjunction, eager to interact. As he stood up, multiple scrapes made themselves evident, with even a gash on one of his legs from a twig. And though a thin stream of blood started to trickle down, it was nothing! At least, not when compared to the scars he’d received in battle countless times.

The palms of his hands, slightly roughed up, stung as he dusted them off on his pants, but grimace he wouldn’t. Instead, Imanotsurugi gave the stranger a winning smile,

    ❝I hurt a little, but I can handle it!❞

Gunha grinned widely, he had managed to summon forth Imanotsurugi’s true guts! And in return, it fired up Gunha as well! 

“ This it! The climactic final! “ 

Believing in his dual spoon style. The soup like remains of the ice cream was shoveled down with such gusto he could feel his throat freezing into an ice block as he put his all into it. 

Finishing his bowl, he felt superior, invincible, the strongest there ever was! Slamming both his clenched hands into the table and looked victoriously at his opponent.

But, even so, he’d really wanted to win! So at first Imanotsurugi was really disappointed, and his messy lips were about to pout. Then, there was a rather loud {BUUUUURP}, and from the depths of his own stomach, no less! It was so abrupt that it completely changed his mood, and elicited little giggles from him. There was no apology, however. What were manners anyway?

Laughter fading, he acknowledged his defeat, ❝That was really fun! You’re real good at eating ice cream. Congrats!!❞ In the end, he was glad that they’d competed at all, so he wouldn’t be a sore loser. And though he’d thought the other played dirty, holding grudges involved work which Imanotsurugi was unqualified for.

Now, winners of a competition generally received some sort of reward for their achievement. Having just arrived, the sword had nothing to offer, except maybe... 

   It hadn’t occurred to her just yet to take a more stealthy approach to their chase (their game). She huffed in annoyance as her hair and red coat fanned out behind her. The overwhelming scent of the meat had her stomach growling incessantly and she swelled. It only fueled her fury at being denied what she wanted. Nothing and no one had ever dared to get in the way of her and her beloved meat…not until now.

   A flash of silver and she had found him again. She wasted no time in reaching wildly, going for the stick of meat like a magnet, presence announced with a frustrated laugh.

See, Imanotsurugi made his mistake when turning his head back, overeager to praise his chaser, for he was quite pleased that his playmate could keep up with him! No thought of the dangers which could arise while looking anywhere but ahead had flickered across his mind.

   ❝Woah! You’re not so bad!!❞

tenguken

Nightfall had come almost too quickly that evening, sneaking up on Hotarumaru as he was now prancing down the streets with nimble speed. It was no longer safe to idle here any longer. As the final shrouds of light were swallowed by the swimming shadows, that’s when the monsters came out to dine. Whether or not they were human or animal, well… a meal was a meal, wasn’t it? But Hotarumaru refused to be their victim.

Under the Moon, however, Imanotsurugi was not alone. The owl may hoot, the cricket may chirp, the lone wolf may cry, and the Hotarumaru may ‘Toh!’ ... Wait, what? One of those things was not like the others.

And there he saw it -- the shortest oodachi fending for himself in the distance, and soon to be in close proximity with how Imanotsurugi ran to his side, clutching the hilt of his wooden replica as the monster was about to pounce upon the other. But the monster never got a chance; right in the nick of time, Imanotsurugi had jumped and--

    ❝Caught it!❞

--with all his strength, had managed to pierce the inhuman flesh, sending its owner off to search for food elsewhere rather than deal with any further like treatment without its fellow specimen.

‘Of course you can,’ he agrees, but it’s belied by something else – the distant words he says next, frowning. ‘But we’re not here because I chose to be.’

It’s not by his will that they’ve been dropped into an unknown era, scattered forces across a land of electricity… but that’s a topic for another day. He doesn’t let the worry gnaw away at him, instead loosening his hold on the tiny blade.

‘You’ve been playing with the others?’ He smiles down at him, only wishing he could grin so brightly as Imanotsurugi does. ‘Or am I the first one to catch you?’

The Saniwa raises his head, briefly, to look all around them again. He’s definitely right; this place is big, and it feels against the odds that he managed to find the other at all. 

There’s so many people here.

And…

‘– don’t tell me,’ he says, voice more surprised than accusatory.

Thankfully, the Saniwa seems to know exactly what to say in order to veer his mind from the topic. Maybe it’s because he’s so predictable, but Imanotsurugi is caught again, having definitely played a fair amount upon arriving. Still, only positive feelings can be associated with his favourite pastime, so the questions revive his initial cheer, and eyes twinkle with the evocation of such fond memories.

   He laughs, ❝Only sooome of them. But I was the one being chased last time, so you know! I got caught too... I was really surprised!❞

But a question of his own springs up -- why ask something so obvious? Of course he’d play given the chance! Anyone who knew him was well acquainted with that fact, so there was no reason to ask unless...

Imanotsurugi’s petite hands hike up to cover his mouth in accompaniment with a gasp.

The swords he’s found here, they all seem to be faring well – as they should be. They’re strong and they’re resolute, and even when he worries about them, he doesn’t, really. So it’s not the uchigatana or the tachi that linger on his mind; it’s… it’s a lot of things, but of everything he thinks on, his mind keeps coming back to one thing: the tantou.

It’s a bit like a game of hide-and-seek, trying to hear the swords’ voices in the city. Every whispered word and quiet hum is fleeting, and for all he searches, he comes up with nothing. It’s by pure accident that the Saniwa ends up finding him at all: it’s right in the middle of the street, the sky overcast, a field of green to the east. Seeing Imanotsurugi like this, it’s… it’s a lot of things.

But as he creeps up behind the small tantou, hands coming to rest on his shoulders, there’s a thought. Maybe he doesn’t have to worry about them, either.

He leans down and murmurs his greeting, voice a playful tease.

‘I caught you.’

Almost anxiously, he turns to see who his mysterious playmate is, and when his eyes trail upwards to meet their face, he forgets how to speak, barely managing to breathe out his next word.

    ❝Master..?❞

That’s right -- they are playing hide and seek, aren’t they? Iwatooshi led him to that conclusion not long ago, and Iwatooshi was never wrong about these things! His heart fills with such pure elation that it begins to swell. And the sword can’t help but throw himself at the Saniwa, fling his arms around his waist, and squeeze him as tightly has he can.

               Pocketing his hands, Ren forced a smile. “I don’t think you meant to, but you taught me a great lesson today, sir. Thank you.”

   ❝It was nothing!❞  Imanotsurugi smiled back at the other. And after another block or so, the pair came across a rather unobtrusive warehouse building. It was ironic, considering how much of a contrast the innards of the building held to its exterior. Using both hands, Imanotsurugi slid the door open and ran inside the monstrously pink and sparkly atmosphere, twirling around with his arms in the air.

The very notion of their days within the city being without conduct was something Iwatooshi had yet to contemplate. Surely nothing but the likes of a greater power could even begin the summoning ritual with which to bring him into this form of human flesh, to be able to contain all his ability at once. It was nigh unthinkable for the old weapon that anything but the best could’ve even attempted at a chance at wielding him. The impression of his original Master on him was just far too strong for him to expect anything less.

Then, according to his very well-pieced together logic, there was no next to no reason for his long-time friend and companion Imanotsurugi to even suspect that they had no Master here. For surely he was needed in the same way by someone – seen as a valuable asset to whatever Still, there was one single thing that bothered him since he had arrived that resonated with Imanotsurugi’s tone instead of his words…

Where was this Master of theirs, then? Why had they not shown themselves and greeted their weapons with eager arms?

But he cast any semblance of worry out of his voice and made an attempt to reach around and flip the small sword into his lap. To anyone walking past, the two would have looked at a glance similar to a fierce mother bear and her gentle cub in the way he was latched around the smaller sword protectively, glimpsing up once more at the giant tree serving as their pink shade and their solace. 

Imanotsurugi’s very fear of abandonment was what ensnared his voice when questioning the very existence of a Master, and prior played his basis for doing the same with the other’s time at this city. It wasn’t that he lacked trust in Iwatooshi’s loyalty -- no, that was incontestable -- it was the staggering intensity of this fear which loomed over all else, even the well of faith he had in their bond. This fear, however, was subconscious, and thus easily eclipsed by the surprise of being thrown.

Ungracefully splayed across Iwatooshi’s lap, the tantou blinked up once, then twice, taking in the sudden new perspective his position brought. By sight, his eyes met hope within blooming skies, and by sound, the words spoken to him were of such heartening timbre; it was all very reassuring and surely brought back his initial smile, but the most contributory of all was the implication that came with being cradled by whom he’d been clinging to moments before; that he, too, was cherished.

    ❝Hnn... so it’s like playing hide and seek!❞ Imanotsurugi concluded matter-of-factly. In all truth, he didn’t quite know what Iwatooshi meant, but if they were summoned to serve, to forge a path to that would set a master as their end-goal. Whether they were to find their master or if their master was to find them, they’d discover along the way.

“ What’da matter, Imano-kun? Losing guts are ya? “ 

Granted, Gunha traded in precision for speed, his mouth and chin was covered in the green goo was he grabbed a spoon from the table next to them, spinning it between his fingers before taking on a firm grasp. 

“ Lemme show ya what one can achieve when they posses a great amount of Guts! “ 

Imanotsurugi’s eyes flared an angry crimson as his lips pressed together in disapproval, energy within him building up the longer he went without saying a thing. When he couldn’t take it anymore, he let the other know just what he thought of his tactic with his fists all balled up.

   ❝Heeeey! That’s not fair!!❞ the boy shouted, too worked up to realize that he was losing precious eating time by doing so. Whether he did have guts or not, this was an issue Imanotsurugi would have to tackle. Abruptly did he place his hands, firm, on the table as he leaned forward from his chair.

    ❝If-- if you’re going to cheat... then I will too!!❞ 

  She darted towards the trees where he disappeared, looking for a flash of his clothes, something. She could smell the delicious meat he grasped, and very quickly made her way towards where it was the strongest, weaving in and out between the trees. With the intensity in her concentration, it wasn’t too long before she spotted him again.

  Alice’s violet eyes zoned in on the skewer clutched in the kid’s hands immediately. A manic grin spread across her lips, eyes taking an evil glint to them.

  ❝Ohoho!❞

  ❝There you are!❞

Of course, when the meat fanatic aimed for her reward, it was once again put out of her reach. The whole act was much too easy with her incessantly loud stomps heard long before her words let him know of her presence. His own strides, while light, were also made distinct with the clink of his golden anklets. Though, the tantou’s running to this point had just been a test of the other’s capabilities-- mere child’s play-- which in no way broke a sweat.

He was just getting started, after all.

    ❝You’ll have to be faster than that!❞ he laughed.