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(As if prompted, he begins to read, his voice calm and quiet so as to not disturb the peace in the gallery,)

Tsurumaru Kuninaga. Forged by Gojo Kuninaga in the first year of Tengi.

(Tengi 1: In the Heian Era, approximately 1053 CE. Raidou can catch the rest of the placard easily enough.)

Inscription: 国永 (Kuninaga)
Designated Imperial Property

Are you surprised, Raidou-kun?

(Not everyone at LILITH knows. Heck, most people don't. He hasn't really gone out of his way to share it.)

[He both is and isn't. If it were anyone else besides Raidou, maybe, it could be seen as a coincidence. But Raidou is sensitive to things most aren't, magnetite in his world, magic or whatever elsewhere. His constant proximity to demons in his life meant that someone like Tsurumaru felt similar, but not the same. It's the case for many Outsiders, though, and he can't make heads or tails of all the other supernatural forces out in the universe yet.]

I... am not sure of what to make of it.

[This is within his purview, but still outside it.]

Can I ask how this is... related? [He's not even sure how to ask this without being too prying.]

When a "thing" reaches its 100th birthday, it becomes alive and a soul is born.

(Tsukumogami. It's a simple enough concept but he wonders how much he really has to explain to Raidou.)

I was here before.

(This was his "home.")

[He doesn't need to explain further. Honestly, this explains everything. It's not something he ever would have guessed, assuming from his own past experiences that Tsurumaru was definitely a demon of some kind, just something from outside his world.

It's a strange thing for him to voice, though, so he opts for:]

...Oh.

[Nailed it.]

I see. Is that why you're here today? To, ah, pay a visit?

I wanted to see where I was these days.

(And he hums, going quiet for a moment. He moves his hand over the panel, scrolling through the text slowly. There's a short blurb about how the sword is considered a masterpiece of its time and is one of the best preserved blades in the country. While it doesn't list any names, it says the blade was owned by "many influential figures" and had "served many purposes." At the very end, it says the sword is owned by the imperial collection.

It's at the very end that he lingers for a moment and closes his eyes,)

...

(After a moment and he opens his eyes,)

Not here.

[Over 1200 years old... That's very impressive. However, that sounds like bad news.]

It's-- You're not? You can tell? They do list it here...

The only one here is me.

(He's quite confident of this. There isn't even a lingering feeling or the slightest draw towards any direction in these halls. As large as this place is, it isn't so large that he could lose himself in it.)

Ah, but it's possible... I could be somewhere else all safe and sound!

(Another collection. Who knows. But knowing his history and his luck, he doesn't get his hopes up. He'd rather be surprised.)

In storage, maybe? They seem to not display a lot of the more rare items.

[He thinks about this for a moment.]

Perhaps we can come up with a reason to ask an employee to see if we can see... you. [It sounds a little weird, sorry.] Do we know if any Outsiders work here?

Hmm...

(He hums.)

It can't be helped! (It's said so plainly like it's the most obvious thing in the world. Whatever the result, he's resigned to it. There's no point in asking.) I'd like to keep my mood.

[...Oh.]

A-Are you sure? It probably wouldn't be difficult to check...

[Raidou certainly doesn't want to pry, but Tsuru has seemed to given up so easily.]

Why ruin the surprise?

(By now, it should be well known that Tsurumaru Kuninaga loves surprises but what if there was more to it than just that?)

There's nothing here. I could be anywhere so why try to see if anywhere is "no where" or "some where?"

(Why se if it's lost or in the right place?)

The important thing is I'm here.

(He's the version of Tsurumaru that is more valuable to LILITH than the one that isn't here.)

[He's quiet for a moment, thinking this over. You sure are a puzzle, Tsuru, but knowing that he's not human now really clarifies things for Raidou. You can't expect a spirit to think like a human. It's the very basics of his clan's teachings.]

... Is it a surprise if you already know it's somewhere? Even if it isn't here. I suppose in the end you're just as happy either way?

...

("I suppose in the end you're just as happy either way?"

He smiles but there's... a delay, as if he has to really consider it,)

That's right. Either way, I'm the same.

(And as usual, before anyone can linger on his answers and reactions, he waves a hand in the air, beckoning for Raidou to come over and see as he switches the hologram sword to another,)

Let me introduce you, Raidou-kun.

If you're sure, then. [Raidou catches that answer as a little evasive, but he's not one to pry.

He walks over to the screen, earnestly interested in seeing the display of swords. Tsurumaru can be sure that if there's any one person among the Outsiders who would, it's Raidou.]

Are the others mentioned like your, ah, colleagues? [Do they have spirits too? Are they friends? Rivals?]

(He nods,)

We were together for a long time.

(They're collection friends.)

This is Ichi. ("Ichigo Hitofuri.") He's very responsible and caring. But you don't want to make him angry. (He laughs and there's something... almost guilty in it? He's recalling something.) He's even scarier than an oni when he's mad.

(And he moves to the next sword in the collection,)

And this is his brother, Hirano-kun.

(Hirano Toushirou and Raidou may notice the little caption card says they were both made by the same sword smith school. But while he talks and introduces each one.... Tsurumaru sounds fond.)

[He recognizes that fondness, and smiles himself. He can't help but think about what his sword might be like as a person. ]

If the swords are located somewhere in the collection... Is there a chance they're here somewhere, too?

[Could they be living elsewhere in Neo Tokyo, or would they have to be brought here like Tsurumaru was, from a different time? It left a lot of questions in Raidou's mind.]

...

(He has to really think about this. He'd never expected to be in a situation like this before so now he has to consider how things work.)

I would be surprised to see them walking around like me.

(He won't rule it out.)

But where ever they are... I pray they're safe.

(As long as they're safe, that's all that matters.)

I hope so too. Many Outsiders have their friends and colleagues from home here with them - so there's always a chance.

[Raidou still isn't sure if that's a good thing or bad thing - having friends and loved ones here in this situation felt like it would be stressful to him. But at the same time, they would be those just as capable as the other Outsiders. Maybe the company would be nice.]

(But even if they aren't here, there's no reason to worry. They're still back home in a way, right? The only ones who will miss anyone are the ones in this city away from home. )

Why worry about chances when there are things that are certain?

(He waves his hand over the screen, turning it off. What remains is the last viewed sword on display to fill the room lest this be a room of empty boxes.)

Surely, you've made many friends here by now.

Fair. [Raidou didn't even know how much control LILITH had on who they could bring here anyway, so it was better not to think about it.]

... I have, yes. But most people seem set on going home, for obvious reasons.

[Most. And family and friends here would be waiting at home as well, maybe. Hopefully.

Raidou looks around the room, a quiet sigh escaping him.]

I think I preferred museums that had things in them.

It was better to be outside than away.

(Honestly, he spent most of his time kept away. He isn't a treasure that got a lot of time in the public eye.)

But being able to move freely is the best.

(Being a "thing" that can't move or act on its own or be listened to... well, he hadn't minded it at the time. He didn't care when he didn't know anything else. Now that he's able to walk about and serve himself, the idea of sitting in a box bores him to tears.)

Well, shall we check out the shop, Raidou-kun? (The souvenir shop.) I've always wanted to see it.

I'd rather those things that can move freely be able to do so on their own.

[He smiles saying that, though. Even if their base form is here, the spirits should have their freedom. It's their right, so long as they're not hurting anyone. He feels the same about all demons and spirits, but unfortunately they didn't have the same free will as people for many reasons.

He nods, having a feeling that Tsuru is going to be the type of person to walk out of here with a dozen pointless and fun tchotchkes.]

Sounds good to me.

(The museum is quiet. There aren't many people here save a few visitors here and there along with staff and it just feels empty. The souvenir shop seems much more lively, though. It's small and customers linger in front of tables selling physical and digital books of things on display. There are little keychains and replicas of things on display.

Tsurumaru zooms over and immediately starts to check out a replica of a tea cup that had been on display somewhere. There are little coasters with ceramic designs of paintings that had been on the walls. )

Finally, something real.

[Physical books! Don't mind as Raidou heads straight to that display. Though he's definitely interested in what Tsurumaru's found. It'd be nice to have a good tea set... maybe once he starts working full time, he can come back here and get one.

For now: books. He walks over holding a couple, both on history events that have happened in the time between his own and now. things more in-depth than the school would get into in his short time there.]

Those are nice. Are you going to get them?

(He's thinking about it... but without saying anything, he moves to another part of the small shop. He's looking at all of his options. What he settles on is something much plainer: a set of papers with different kimono designs. The paper is perfectly square and clearly meant for origami. )

This will do.

(He knows exactly what he'll do with them.)

What about you, Raidou-kun? Is there something you want?

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