synflux | ( OPEN ) MAY CATCH ALL

And a different place. I never spent a lot of time in Kyoto.

[ Would he have found Tsurumaru there, if he had...? No, their worlds are probably different, and Aki had already come face to face with the Katana fiend, so the idea of there being more sword spirits around is unlikely. It leaves a strange, hollow feeling inside his chest that he's refusing to think about: it doesn't matter what is or isn't back home. He's dead either way.

Walking alongside Tsurumaru, focusing on him, is easier.

They'll come back together, with Denji, and pay some respects. Aki might not know how much Denji is aware of the nature of who or what Tsurumaru is, but that doesn't matter, not as long as they can do this together. It makes him feel a kind of peaceful happiness that immediately replaces the awkwardness of the lost moment. The people that make him the happiest getting along... That's nice.

Happiness might not suit him, but this does.

Leaning down to look at the signs, to peer at the door, he frowns, and then turns to Tsurumaru, mock-serious. ]

Want me to blast it?

[ Flexing his metal arm.

He's joking. Probably. ]

(The truth is, unless he had the right access or connections, he'd probably never get to see the real Tsurumaru. By the time Aki would have been around, Tsurumaru had practically been retired. He rarely ever left his collection.

This place probably would have been the closest thing and beyond these doors... well, he wonders if they'll find it. It's hard to see from just the window panels alone. A large noticeboard display blocks the hallway theyd' have to turn into to get to the treasure hall proper. )

Eh?!

(He can't tell if Aki is serious or not. It sounds like he's joking... but Aki is also a straight man. He places both hands on Aki's fist, holding it in place and patting him reassuringly. Maybe he just wants to hold hands.)

Don't worry, don't worry. We can find another way.

Another way, then.

[ As if he has to put on anything in order to hold Aki's hand... And he was joking, mostly. At least 80% of it was a joke, and his fingers seek out Tsurumaru's, a little more confident now as they link together, like a proper couple.

Which they could be. He's fine not talking about it.

Turning away from the door, he looks around. ]

You know this place, don't you? So let's find a way to where you want to go.

(One of his favorite things... holding hands.)

The reception window will be easier.

(Considering it's just an open reception area and office space connected to the building proper... if they have to break a window, it would cause less damage there. It's only a short walk to the other end of the building and he drags Aki along not unlike a younger spirit would.

It's just a matter or trying to open all of the windows now, all a little rusted and brittle from age. One of the windows even already has large crack right through it. It wouldn't take much force to break it.)

We'll aim for that.

[ Aki's hand squeezes Tsurumaru's as they walk, not tugging him along but allowing them to move together, flowing and in sync. He doesn't feel the urge to fill the silence either, enjoying the chance to look around, the soft pounding of his heart, the want and desire for more - the knowledge, the aching need to learn what he can.

He doesn't know enough about Denji. He needs to fix that.

When they reach the window, he draws his hand away from Tsuru's if only so he can reach up with the metallic one and slam it through the window, to reach inside and try and lift the latches so they can get in. ]

(The glass shatters and it echos across the shrine. It's enough to make some birds roosting nearby take off suddenly but it's also enough for Aki to lift up the latch and slide the window open. They'll just have to climb up over the counter, over the broken glass to enter. Luckily, most of it is in large shards so they're easy to avoid.

Tsurumaru whistles and pats Aki on the shoulder. Teasing,)

I'll forgive you this time.

(This is, after all, his old home. Wiping at the counter with his sleeve to brush away the glass, he hops up and over. Turning back to Aki,)

Be careful.

(Of the glass, that is, and he'll wait to make sure he can get across easily. If he needs help, he'll reach over to do so... actually, even if he doesn't need help, he'll do it. He just wants to make sure.)

I will.

[ He's forgiven, so why comment on it further?

Tsurumaru hops up and over, and Aki follows, bending his taller form to slip through and settle down, ignoring the glasses as he uses his metal hand to hoist himself without too much hassle. It could be worse, he thinks, and as he moves in...

The other man reaches for him, and Aki softens around his edges, letting himself be helped before he leans in to kiss Tsurumaru's forehead. ]

Thank you.

[ A glance around, then - ]

Where now?

We can enter from the office door instead maybe.

(But first... there are so many musty and dusy boxes in this little kiosk. He wants to rummage through them.)

Look!

(And he holds up some tablets for writing wishes on.)

We could leave one behind later.

Hm?

[ Aki turns, leaning over to take one of the tablets into his hand, turning it one way or the other before he tilts his head. ]

Do you have something to wish for?

[ Aki knows what his would be.

Denji's happiness. ]

I wanna write something.

(That's all he has to say. He isn't sure what he'd wish for just yet but--)

This will be my first wish here.

(All of those years listening to prayers, watching people come and go, and for the first time... he'll get to experience it, too.)

We should make it a good one, then.

[ A first wish… How old is Tsurumaru really? He’s never asked… It doesn’t really matter either.

Nodding, he takes one for himself. ]

Now, or later?

Later. I want to think of a good one.

(And maybe walking around will inspire him. He can't let his first wish go to waste. So he'll tuck it away for now for safe keeping.)

Let's go to the office. If it opens, we can probably explore the rest.

(There's just a plain wooden door, not meant to be left out to the elements. It's practically rotting on its hinges and when he goes to turn the handle... something pops. A screw falls loose and then another and another... the old lock shattering almost instantly and the door simply pushes open, )

Ah, sorry, sorry... (Is he really apologizing to the door?) Let's be careful going in...

(Who knows what else might be rotting and breaking apart inside.)

[ What counts as a 'good wish', Aki wonders? He had given up on wishing a long time ago.

Following after Tsurumaru, he can feel his lips curl into a fond smile as the door falls apart, and then he's slipping in behind him, almost protective as he looks around the room. Nothing important to see right now, it doesn't seem like, but he's also not completely sure what he ought to be looking for.

Reaching out, he takes Tsurumaru's hand again. ]

Watch where you step. Don't stand on a nail.

(As cute as ever, he thinks, and he slips his hand into Aki's naturally. He gives it a gentle squeeze and continues forward. Their footsteps creak on the wood, some planks sound more ominous than others but the flooring stands. The inside of the office is crowded with even more boxes, all filled with papers--

Calendars with dates circled on them, forms with applications for wedding and birthday celebrations. There are some robes that would have been worn by the head priest hanging over a chair. Faded and yellowed photos of past festivals, former workers, and so on line the walls and the tops of shelves and desks. It's clear the shrine had once been quite popular and loved.

Tugging Aki along, he goes over to look at the pictures,)

Look at this. (He points to a picture of the main shrine. The wood is stained a dark brown color, the brass and gold fixtures shine brightly, and though it looks old and worn, it's in good condition.) This is what it used to look like.

(Not as worn. Not as faded.)

It looks older than I remember...

(When he was last year, photographs weren't a thing yet.)

[ Aki does, at least, have the benefit of the Future: it's not a perfect skill, but it might mean he is able to dance around and dodge when it comes to falling through the floor or stepping on something that could cause pain - a handful of seconds. It'll be enough, won't it?

Aki lets himself be tugged here and there, moving with ease, curious and interested as he lets his gaze flick over what could be considered 'artefacts' now, a life long abandoned by the masses. It's familiar enough to shrines and buildings he's been to in the past that he's not too distracted, at least, and his gaze keeps getting dragged back to Tsurumaru.

He wants to kiss him, but not here. That feels odd.

Looking up at the picture, he tilts his head. He can imagine it, handsome and put together, and Aki can imagine Tsurumaru in there too, in a way. He fits, like he belongs in the image in his mind, and he nods. ]

Do you want to take some photographs here? We can print them off somewhere.

Can we?!

(The offer makes him light up, eyes bright and smile wide. The thought hadn't even crossed his mind and he looks excited and already... he thinks about how he'd want to line his room at the base with them. Just like the memories here are displayed on walls, he'd like to do the same.

But when he looks around this cluttered office,)

This isn't a good place.

(They should find somewhere bigger. A better place and he's quick to drag Aki to another door at the side which opens easily. It's unlocked and swings open into the treasure hall proper... it's dark, dusty, smells like mold, and it's eerily quiet but he doesn't seem to mind.

Ironically... he leads Aki to a room with a faded "no photographs sign" in front of it. Above the doorway, the words "TREASURE HALL" are carved into a wooden sign.)

Our implants can take them, and then we'll find a place to print them.

[ Maybe he ought to get Tsurumaru some kind of real camera, if he likes taking photographs this much. Aki's still adjusting to the modern technology here, but he can make a camera work, how hard could it be? Easy. Definitely easy.

He agrees, though; this isn't the most photograpbale, scenic place. ]

Treasure hall... Do you think we'll find something here?

[ Aki has been looking for Tsurumaru's sword, so... The possibilities... ]

I'd be surprised.

(If they could find anything in here. He doesn't really expect it but it's best to start from square one. Sliding the door open, inside... there is a large room with glass cases. At the center, there's a glass case with a diorama of the shrine's grounds. There are replicas of regalia like bells and fans and robes-- things that were easy to replace or just not valuable enough to take. Along the walls, more glass cases show faded painted screens that were too big to take and there are shelves with old dolls and charms.

But as a swordsman, Aki might notice a sword stand in one of the cases. Actually, there are a few... but no swords.

Tsurumaru also notices which is probably why he gravitates towards a case that actually has something in it,)

Eeeh, this place is so much lonelier than I remember.

[ Aki does note the lack of swords.

His own - the Curse Sword - is being held in Hammerspace for him, the glove on his hand making it a little less likely that he'll be pushed to the point of wanting to use it. He's not sure how his lifespan is going to work here and, frankly, he's been a little too afraid to approach medical staff about it, or draw the blade and attempt to speak to the Devil.

Ignorance is bliss, isn't it? But he's still counting the days. Just in case.

No swords, except the one at his side, tugging him here and there, with Aki going perfectly willingly. ]

Either bandits or LILITH took advantage of the chaos. There must have been dozens of treasures here.

Enough to fill an entire hall.

(And once, he'd been here, too.)

I can't stand people who steal from shrines.

(It's surprisingly cold, direct and sharp for someone like Tsurumaru who usually speaks so lightly or cryptically. It's like an involuntary, automatic response too, the way it just comes out and he turns his attention back to the case, looking at the dolls and charms. His hand squeezes Aki's. There's tension there.

If the treasures here are gone, he wonders what else may be missing.)

What a shame.

They're sacred places. It takes someone bold, or stupid.

[ Or both.

Aki watches Tsurumaru for a moment, and he wonders, absently. He had tried to find the sword before, in the Imperial Palace, but he hadn't found anything at all, and the idea of someone stealing this man, even in his other form... It makes him angry.

Just angry enough.

Carefully, his hand squeezes back, with careful tenderness. ]

Do you want to keep moving? We don't have to stay in here.

Someone greedy.

(Not just selfish. It's natural to be selfish, he's learned. What happened to him was an act of greed.

He looks down at their hands for just a moment... and he nods. There's no need to linger on dark thoughts. There's no need to go to such a dark place. Yes, he'd like to keep going. It's a small hall, there isn't much to really see when it's so empty inside. There's only one other room and that's the entrance hall.

Still, as they walk, back towards the entrance, he chatters,)

I used to stay here. Not here, exactly. But here.

(Not in this treasure hall. Outside.)

Mm.

[ Aki walks with him, content to be lead, to move together, to simply take in the pleasure of the shrine and the beauty of it all. It's nice to be able to just spend some time together, and he feels a little bit of warmth spread through him at the simplicity of it.

The silence is broken by Tsurumaru's words, and he tilts his head, listening.

Prepared to hear it. To take it in. To learn. ]

Did you like it here?

I was completely and totally bored here!

(Despite what he says, there's a warmth to his tone. It's like a family member calling another silly or foolish with affection or a partner complaining about an only slightly annoying quirk that they still find endearing. His time at this shrine was boring... but he seems to be fond.

It's easier leaving the treasure hall than it is to enter it. They just have to unlock the main doors from the inside and head outside.)

But new people came all of the time. I saw a lot of cute kids. And there were some fun festivals, too.

... Bored.

[ Why does Aki think that's some kind of positive? He doesn't get it, but... A boring life wouldn't be too bad a thing. Chores, cooking, taking care of the home, the people around him that he loves... He could've enjoyed that sort of thing, if he had really been able to justify retirement.

Looking around the shrine, drinking it in... Aki can imagine being happy here too. ]

What kind of festival do you like best?

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