synflux | ( OPEN ) MAY CATCH ALL

(He can't help but laugh. Yes, he can see the state of the shrine but--)

It would look better if there was a festival. It might even come to life.

(Right now, it feels so still. Like a grave, he thinks, and he leads the way across a red bridge and a creek.)

Dream about that shit after we've taken out the kaiju.

[There's no way they have the resources to set something like that up right now. Tsurumaru, always ready to throwdown some kind of party or festive gathering. No wonder this guy was a ceremonial sword...

Bakugo walks cross the bridge rather than jump it, pausing at the apex to look down in the water. His reflection, the sky, a tranquil moment in this weird life they're living.

Dream about it after, huh...]

That's a long time to go without dreaming.

(Up ahead, there's a small shrine but Tsurumaru stops to look back at Bakugo.)

... And a longer time to go without celebrating.

(Continuing on, he'll wait for Bakugo to catch up with him. )

Well, here we are.

Then we'll have to murder them all faster. [If that will indeed take care of the kaiju problem. Bakugo stops when the other man does, eyes narrowing on the shrine just past him in annoyance. Seriously? Couldn't just keep walking?]

Talk and walk at the same time, dammit! [You don't have to be dramatic to say something like that! He rests his hands on his hips while looking up at the shrine. Definitely a lot smaller, but... kind of fitting in its ancient appearance.]

So this was your out of the way bedroom.

No, I was usually at the main shrine!

(It's the furthest shrine on the ground and to be honest, he'd never really been this far. So why bring them all the way out here in the first place?)

But if I wanted to hide something where others wouldn't find it... this would be the place.

(Some where more out of the way, a little more unassuming. But before he does anything else, he'll step to the shrine and clap his hands, bow, and hold his hands together in prayer.)

Then why'd you bring us here?!

[Bakugo gestures to the shrine in front of them with an exasperated expression. They could've gone straight to the source, unless Tsurumaru has some idea of being secretly spirited away to this off-beat shrine for some kind of hidden compartment. It'd better be something like that...

At least the sword has an acceptable answer, even if Bakugo growls about it. He waits for Tsurumaru to have his moment of respect, standing with his hands on his hips for a little bit. Never really one for traditional ceremonies and stuff, Bakugo isn't superstitious or spiritual, but he'll still ring the temple bell and put wishes on the tree at New Years.]

Does this place have some kind of underground entrance?

(He isn't going to answer, at least, not right away. He's going to focus on his prayer and when he's finished he bows once more before speaking to Bakugo again,)

Because I wanted to come see it, of course. (And he reaches out, placing his hand on the closed doors of the shrine,) Isn't it natural to say hello to your old friends when you revisit your old home?

(It's the same as going back to your hometown and catching up with your old high school friends as far as he's concerned.)

And this isn't that sort of shrine. (There's no underground entrance.) It's too boring for that.

[Of course he's not. Bakugo asked in half rhetorical frustration anyway! Interrupting his prayer to drag an answer out of him is a level of rudeness the blonde won't levy at Tsurumaru. Mostly because he thinks it's sincere and not some cheeky attempt to avoid answering the question...]

Tch. [Bakugo wanted to go to Tsurumaru's resting place, but turns out this was just a temporary one. The odds of the sword still being in such a distant shrine are vanishing fast. They weren't very good odds in the first place. Tiny odds.]

You have any here? [Boots grit against old gravel, cushioned by the grass and moss growing within it as he scopes out the shrine with a circling view. Bakugo knocks the back of his knuckles against one corner, testing the sturdiness of the wood after all this time. Could there be other swords in here?]

You can't sense other pieces, right? [That'd be too stupidly useful to not have been mentioned earlier.]

...

(Without opening the shrine, he shakes his head,)

It's the wrong thing.

(He can sense something within but it's the wrong metal. He could explain this to Bakugo but its such a curious ability of his, he wonders if it's really worth bringing up.)

Only regular offerings.

(Opening his eyes,)

We'll have to bring back something new next time... There are six shrines on the grounds. The last five are together.

(It's back to the main shrine...)

It's harder to tell what's inside those.

[Bakugo believes him without needing to check. Even if Tsurumaru annoys the shit out of him, his power and abilities haven't been lies. What of them he knows. Truth be told, the guy would be interested in the explanation, since he's a closeted nerd who won't admit he really likes learning about other people's powers.

The ones that aren't lame at least... He gets to decide on lame though. Brat.]

Che! All the way out here for nothing. [Disappointed, he at least peeks through the doors to scan around, but backs off and leaves it along.] Six shrines? Are they each for different things?

[Why head back to the main shrine if there are five other places to search?]

It was a good walk.

(And as far as he's concerned, that's much more than nothing. He learned a lot for himself, too.)

Mhm. Each for a different kami. We'll pass half of them on our way back to the main shrine.

(Because there are two on either side of the main one they would have seen when they first arrived. Sure, they're smaller, but they're worth checking out.)

You were dragging through bushes! [Bakugo could've blasted his way out here and checked it over in a minute rather than have Tsurumaru take his time. Ugh... But he can't deny the guy had a reason for paying respects and checking the shrine in person. If it really was a part of his "home" while being here.]

But none of them were used to house other swords? [Assuming, given what Tsurumaru said about this one.]

I used to stay at the main one.

(............ The very first big shrine they all walked past. The one that is so big, they can already see it on their way back now.)

Then why the hell are we checking the other five?

[They should be investigating the larger one if there's a chance Tsusumaru's sword is still here.]

...

(He slows his walk down to a stop and looks over at Bakugo,)

Are you always in a rush, Bakkun?

[Bakugo meets his gaze with a serious expression.]

We're on a mission, Jiji. This isn't some vacation field trip.

[Granted that begs the question why Bakugo would come all the way out here to the shrine to look for the sword. But therein lies the answer. He did take time out of the mission to come out here and look. He just can't spend all the time.

Additionally, as much as he'd like to find Tsurumaru's sword, or any actually, they don't know how long the portal will stay open. This is a test run. And he'd be pissed if he had to explain to Aki why he let Tsurumaru get left behind here.]

When that portal shuts, we don't know when they're going to open it again. So if you have a good idea of where your sword might be, prioritize that.

(He meets his look, pale gold eyes bright and as light as ever...)

We may not come back.

(That, he can agree on,)

Which is why I want to enjoy my time. (And he'll continue back to the main grounds,) Imagine if we came here only searching for one thing and found nothing... it would be a waste!

This way, I can say I still had fun.

We've already found a shit load of things back at the base!

[DON'T TAKE HIS LOGIC AND USE IT FOR YOUR OWN, DAMMIT!!

Granted all those things were for LILITH and not for the Outsiders who wanted to explore Kyoto. Bakugo growls at Tsurumaru, but stalks after him, seemingly swayed for the time being. Despite it, there is still a time limit.]

How many other swords did you know?

(REVERSE UNO, BAKUGO.)

I've known plenty!

(Holding his head up high,)

I've been passed around many times so I've been able to meet plenty of famous swords. I've totally lost count by now.

(Hundreds, though.)

Were any others stored here? [It'd be like Tsurumaru finding friends, he guesses. Though considering the state of this place, is it possible some of the swords survived rather than getting stolen after all these years? Weapons were weapons after all. The shrine doesn't look like it's been trampled or attacked, just overgrown...] The kaiju left this place alone.

Just me!

(Only he. The only sword at the shrine.)

Mhm. Whether the old gods are still here or not... it's like a miracle.

(Anyway, here they are now, back on the main grounds, in front of the main shrine they saw when they first arrived. They really did just go around in a circle to come back to where they started.)

Let's pay our respects first.

(Again. Though, this is a different shrine so it would, in turn, be for a different god so it makes sense.)

I'M GONNA KILL YOU!!

[Stop leading him on like there might be more swords here! What the hell are they looking for here if Tsurumaru's blade is probably gone and no one else is here?! FUCK!! Not even gonna touch that comment about the old gods.

At least they're back at the main shrine and Bakugo stomps off to stat looking through the nearest building. Tsurumaru can do his respects. Though to the blonde's credit, he handles the building respectfully. No attempts to break anything or be rough with the items. He's careful when he picks something up, then replaces it where he found it with equal care.]

Did anything other than swords get spirits?

(He's just going to ignore Bakugo while he knocks out another round of prayers. It feels a little more drawn out than the previous shrine but considering this is the main one, maybe he feels the need to be especially respectful.

While Bakugo searches, he'll be able to open the first entrance of the shrine if he wants to. Inside, he'll find altars with offering tables, old sake bottles, dusty and rusted instruments, streamers, and more.

After he's finished his prayer, he'll come over to help properly,)

Anything can have a spirit if you consider it enough. For example... have you ever had a tool last an especially long time because you cared for it? Or maybe a toy from your childhood that made you feel especially safe despite it being an ordinary thing?

[Bakugo's never had the time or patience for prayers. He thinks that kind of thing is more rooted in tradition than anything belief-based. New Years, yeah. His parents dragged him to that enough times as a kid, he accepted it and still goes to the shrine for a prayer and occasional bell ring. But beyond that? Not really. (The only other times are funerals and he'd rather not think about that right now.)

He goes into the entrance of the shrine, testing the door first to make sure it won't fall off. Altars, tables, bottles, a bunch of things that either weren't significant enough to take or simply missed the time frame of evacuation. It's kind of sad, knowing such a place has been abandoned for so long. A quiet testament to what this world's been through.]

Don't be ridiculous. That kind of thing doesn't exist in my world. [Tools, not really, but he does have toys and collector items, all All Might, from his childhood that he stores and takes care of well. But safe? They don't make him feel safe. He has his Quirk for that.] Tsukumogami have to last over 100 years or something to gain a spirit.

[Such is the legend at least.]

Doesn't exist or can't be seen?

(He muses,)

It's the same in spirit. Whether there's a spirit there or not, if you take care of your things, they'll take care of you in turn.

(He'll follow Bakugo over to check out the shrine. It's dusty and things are a little knocked over in places so he'll start to upright some things.)

You don't need a hundred years to return the favor.

( OPEN ) MAY CATCH ALL

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