flameguard | mygod | pc catchall

[ i have an update now which is that okay yes he is partially healed and not dying anymore. now that rondo's back in his knightly clothes, iwatooshi can see the skin around his throat is cracked and blackened, and there's a weird, unearthly kind of glow that pokes out from his collar every now and then. it's fine.... it's fine....

as for the question, well. ]

... Um... we were in Hell. [ ... ] Though, it was much different than I remember...

[ just eyeing that glow with vague suspicion. ]

Hell? [ what. and what again. ] It could be that it's a different dimension... They said that's probably what happened before, or something like it. Maybe it isn't the hell you knew...?

[ hard to wrap his head around tbh. ]

[ it's fine probably. its blue!! we love blue ]

Mm... it wasn't, it... it was Karlach's. Avernus. [ so there's that... ] It's... I'm just quite glad that we've all managed to return back without aid from the Ringbearer Chosen or anything like that.

[ he's still frowning! ]

Ah. I see. [ he nods. ] I'm glad that you've all made it back safely, too. And for whatever magic allowed the swamp to handle your wounds.

Whatever you've been through, you're back now, and we can help you. [ so, after a pause, iwatooshi asks, ] How are you feeling?

[ not physically, this time. ]

[ ahh. well. okay, he's no idiot, he can pick up on what iwatooshi's asking - not so much after his physical state.

he's quiet, for a long moment. ]

... I wish that I could have done more. [ to stop mathis and ashlyn from getting hurt, especially, but that's probably not surprising. ] But... fighting against hellfiends, that is nothing that I am unused to.

I can understand that. However, no warrior can control everything on the battlefield, Rondo-dono. [ though iwatooshi is certain that he doesn't have to remind him of that. ] Knowing you, you've done everything within your power to help them anyway, haven't you? I don't doubt that you would have taken every blow for them, if you could have.

[ that's the kind of spirit that rondo has. which... isn't necessarily a good thing, iwatooshi knows, but he respects it nonetheless. ]

I know... I know.

[ when i say he tanked the fights he TANKED their fights. ] And I was able to pull Raphael's attention away for some time, but... still.

I think Miss Ashlyn had the worst time of it, truthfully. And... I was beyond impressed, at the strength of my comrades. All three of them did wonderfully.

Raphael... That was the enemy?

[ not that it matters now. this raphael is gone, they're back, they're alive. ]

And she would never admit to it. [ it saddens him, because he wants to help her so badly. ashlyn is so strong, but he wishes that she didn't have to be. ] We'll have to keep an eye on her to make sure she's alright.

Mn. He... forced her into attacking me with some kind of spell. I don't think that she'll tell anyone.

[ especially when considering the circumstances of the village themselves. he can only imagine - rondo would have been absolutely destroyed if he had been controlled into hurting someone else. he's already had to once, in his trial, and it nearly killed him. ]

Don't - don't let her know that I told you, either, Sir Iwatooshi... I know that you will be able to support her no matter what, I just... I just worry. She didn't hurt me that badly, and she snapped out of it really quickly.

[ "how did she snap out of it quickly" dont worry about it ]

Don't worry, I won't tell her. It must be difficult for her, though... she cares so much about her team.

[ a heavy sigh. she's so practical, but iwatooshi really hopes she'll open up more to someone soon enough.

luckily for rondo, iwa takes him completely at his word although i, personally, am concerned what that means. ]

Let's keep an eye on her in the coming days, alright? As long as she has someone to lean on when she needs it, I think she'll be alright. She is resilient. [ ... ] The same goes for you. If you need someone to lean on.

[ he's less worried about rondo holding everything in, but even so. ]

[ god im so deeply worried you're dead

he nods... worried, but, bolstered by iwatooshi's kindness and advice as always. he's such a strong, steady presence, someone so reliable that rondo depends on him deeply - someone to look to, in times of great darkness. he's relieved that he didn't see iwatooshi in hell, to say the very least.

the last comment gets him to smile a little, and he nods, worry soothing a little out of his brow. ] ...Thank you, sir. [ always. ] I will.

[ iwatooshi touches his shoulder, smiling warmly back at him. ]

I can only hope that you won't need it, but when you do, I'll be here for you.

[ this is a very nice moment to ruin with the other memshare you requested... hee hoo:

by the time you arrive, the fight is already underway, but it's exactly the sight you were hoping not to see: the four of your comrades facing off with imanotsurugi himself. he insists, again and again that his master yoshitsune is kind, that you don't have to fight. but your team stands fast, reminding him of your duty to protect history - something he can't accept, as he raises his blade in desperation and refuses to back down for the sake of his beloved master.

you can't watch this any longer.

"Imanotsurugi! Step away." he takes a step forward in disbelief, shocked that even you would face him. little does he know how it tears you apart inside to raise your blade to him and roar, "Move!"

"I don't want this," he whispers as he stares back at you, betrayed. all he wants is to protect his master, like he couldn't do before. witnessing yoshitsune death again would break his heart. this, you understand better than anyone here, recalling the joy on his face the last time you spoke about meeting his master, a stark contrast to the tears running down his cheeks now. "I finally got to met Yoshitsune-kou again..."

but that grief seems to give him power. he raises his blade and bats your own away, recklessly attacking all of you until you can catch him, naginata at his front while you hold him fast from behind. even as the air suddenly goes stale and makes your hair stand on end, imanotsurugi struggles, insisting that he is yoshitsune's protective sword. as the stars above disappear behind dark clouds, you shift to hold him fast in your left arm, freeing your naginata for what's to come.

"My purpose is to protect him!"

with a thunderous roar, his former master appears and imanotsurugi lets out a scream, wresting himself out of your grip. you demand that he stop, but he refuses and positions himself between the five of you and yoshitsune himself, paying no attention to how corrupted his master has become. his skin turned ashy, his eyes red - even his blade holds a dangerous power not meant for humans to hold.

"If he were to die..." imanotsurugi trails off, and tries again, clutching his knife close to his chest. "I remember his kind smile. I remember his courageous figure."

how can he not see? furious at his blindness, you yell back him, "That man isn't Yoshitsune-kou anymore!"

"No, please don't! If history were to be restored..." he begs you again to stop, becuase if anyone should understand what he wants, it's you. you know how much he loves yoshitsune, how much the man's death has haunted him. you know how vividly he remembers that kind smile, those warm hands, his touch... and his blood.

he screams again, and as he scrambles to protect his master, you call out to him, one last time. because you do understand. maybe you understand better than imanotsurugi himself.

"Imanotsurugi, it's not your fault!" he stares at you in pure shock as you step forward, naginata set aside. you don't want to fight any more than he does. "You've done nothing wrong."

because he blames himself for yoshitsune's death, doesn't he? all this time, for centuries, he's carried the guilt of his master's death on his shoulders.

"I'm not telling you to forget him," you say, the anger evaporating from your heart, "but stop blaming yourself. Remember... that the sky above us brings us a gift."

"What?"

"Many bright, twinkling stars."

using his own words, you open your arms. and finally, imanotsurugi lowers his blade to step forward and wrap his arms around you, clinging to you and sobbing. you hold him as tight as you can, as you always do.

...but it doesn't last. mikazuki shouts a warning, and you have just enough time to shove imanotsurugi aside as yoshitsune strikes. your chest lights up with pain, vision going red.

once it ends, iwatooshi just pulls back with a frown. ]

Again...?

mygod | pc catchall | iwatooshi

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