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Post by Shinwa on Jul 21, 2017 15:03:44 GMT 10
Shinwa's posture is sober and thoughtful and he looks down at the ground ahead of them. He clearly is seriously considering M'thack-kir's question, weighing the costs, before he answers. M'thack-kir is asking for a very difficult thing.
"I know this is sacred. I am privileged to come here and I value this trust. I swear I will try to never tell. But if it is absolutely necessary, if I have no choice, I will. I am sorry."
It is not what M'thack-kir would want to hear. It would be easy to say the comforting words of a casual promise never to tell and to leave it at that. But Shinwa has never made a promise he would not keep...or die trying. He will not do it now, even if it damages the friendship between them.
Obviously, he can think of a circumstance where he would be compelled or find necessary to tell.
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Post by M'thack-kir on Jul 21, 2017 15:17:15 GMT 10
"The wind has common paths, but sometimes can be coerced to howl elsewhere."
Kiru sighs.
"M'thack-kir knows Shinwa well. Has to, or both Shinwa and M'thack-kir would have died many times over."
He looks directly at the ronin as he continues. "The bond has been a burden on Shinwa. Kiru understands that. It was never meant to be a gift for humans, nor has it been for centuries...The time for the ritual approaches soon."
He might be brave for a Nezumi, but Kiru is in a unique, scary position that no other has ever found himself in. "...What does Shinwa wish?"
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Post by Shinwa on Jul 22, 2017 1:49:54 GMT 10
Shinwa strolls slowly forward, thumbs hooked into his obi. He still is looking at the ground in front of them, though he stops when M'thack-kir does.
"Of my recent burdens, M'thack-kir-san, this bond has been the least heavy. It is confusing for a human, it's true. Very, sometimes. I can see some of us taking ruthless advantage of your trust, and I hope you do not feel I have. I am grateful for it, though, and learned many things I would never have otherwise. Maybe even some the answers I have been seeking."
He removes one thumb from his obi and spreads his hand flat to brush the tops of the tall grass with his palm as he walks.
"But times are changing. We met an Oracle today. I was going to act in your name...to ask where Bright Happiness Day was. That would have been safe. That would have brought your story to the best ending. But the others had gone so far astray with their questions, I had to lead them back. I lost the question. I am caught in this now, even if I am not supposed to be. My feet are started on this path, and I cannot stop until I've played the role out. But, as much as I've learned about name from you, I still do not understand what that might mean. I am concerned that if I have to pay the cost, you will end up having to pay too. Tomorrow is so close..."
His words are almost incoherent, but he does not sound incoherent or rambling at all. To him he is making perfect sense. It may be the longest set of words M'thack-kir has ever heard from Shinwa about his mysterious duty. Yomi and the celebrations of the evening must have gotten to him at least in part. Either that, or he is more tired and confused after the whirlwind of a day than he has been in a very long time.
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Post by M'thack-kir on Jul 22, 2017 8:03:34 GMT 10
"...there was an Oracle on the planet?"
His voice is but a whisper, and his inflection is perfectly Rokugani, moreso than ever before...almost as if a native speaker were so shocked and preoccupied that they had forgotten to include accent that would give the false impression of not being a master of the language.
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Post by Shinwa on Jul 22, 2017 8:23:06 GMT 10
Shinwa stops walking and closes his eyes. "Two," he says flatly. "Light and Dark, though the Dark is bound."
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Post by M'thack-kir on Jul 22, 2017 8:26:03 GMT 10
"I could still get an answer..."
Kiru's whole body flickers for an instant, then he shakes his head to clear it.
"Kiru hopes to fulfil life mission, but life not over yet. Still time-time."
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Post by Shinwa on Jul 22, 2017 10:35:03 GMT 10
Shinwa opens his eyes and gives a single nod. He has stopped walking though, and stands silently in the long grass, eyes fixed on some point where the flat plain meets the shifting sky.
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Post by M'thack-kir on Jul 22, 2017 10:50:01 GMT 10
"Does Shinwa want to reaffirm the bond? Or not? Kiru cannot discern."
He tries looking up at the same point Shinwa is, but it's harder here than on the mortal plane of existence.
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Post by Shinwa on Jul 22, 2017 13:28:53 GMT 10
Fair enough.
"How long until it is time?"
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Post by M'thack-kir on Jul 22, 2017 16:47:38 GMT 10
"Hard to guess. Nezumi have bad attention to detail for dates. Will definitely know when the bond ends, but it should be two weeks from now. Give or take several days."
He looks down at his feet.
"Kiru cannot wait until then to learn that Kiru must find another Namemate. If Shinwa does not wish to restore the bond, Shinwa needs to inform Kiru one day from now."
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Post by Shinwa on Jul 23, 2017 3:52:19 GMT 10
Shinwa's left fist clenches, but he doesn't show much more expression on his face. There is not much left he can say.
"Then I say yes. If this is your will. I hope you do not regret the choice so far. I do not."
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Post by M'thack-kir on Jul 23, 2017 8:23:25 GMT 10
"Nezumi do not understand regret, really. The Nothing does not touch us."
Kiru smiles at Shinwa, with teeth, eyes, and what is close to what a Rokugani would consider a soul.
"M'thack-kir and Shinwa will Share Name until Shinwa decides otherwise. M'thack-kir cannot cancel a bond already in effect. Only substitute someone else, if Shinwa changes Shinwa's mind. We are entering more danger now than we have before. Kiru is not certain, but one of us dying will not necessarily slay the other. It is just very, very likely."
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Post by Shinwa on Jul 23, 2017 8:39:43 GMT 10
"That is my fear," Shinwa says simply. "I do not want to drag you to Jigoku with me because of this. That is all."
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Post by M'thack-kir on Jul 23, 2017 11:32:06 GMT 10
"Nezumi aren't welcome in Jigoku. Either remembered here, or forgotten. No other paths for us."
He doesn't seem sad about not being able to go to the realm of hell.
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Post by Shinwa on Jul 23, 2017 14:20:48 GMT 10
Shinwa gives a small, wan smile. "That is probably how it is for the rest of us too. We are either in the story, or not. At least until we wake up. And then? Who knows. But we can't stay sleeping forever. Eventually you forget you are asleep."
He shakes his head. "I should not stay. I promised Itsuki-san I would watch the bridge. I wish I could let you visit longer with your kin, but I promised and did not mean to slip. There is no one else right now. It has been a tough day. I am sorry."
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