Heaven's BBS ☆ Audio

[minogame]

Posted: September 3
From: Urashima Kotetsu

— — — — —

Do you think swords are boring? Someone told me that. I don't think its true. ( He sounds a little annoyed too but not too much. It's more like a kid whining than anything else. ) You know, there are a lot of different kinds of swords and that's really interesting!

For example, I use a wakizashi. It's short so it can't reach very far but that means I can move a lot easier in small places. I have to work harder to get close to my opponent but if I can do it and their weapon is too big, they won't be able to hit me very well. I think it's fun to see how close I can get.

I've also seen a sword that was a thousand years old! I think it was magic too but I don't know. Isn't that cool? There are a lot of different types of swords and even more styles so it's fun to learn about them.

( There's a bit of silence. He's thinking about what he just said. It's really cool, right? And not boring at all? )

Hey! Does anyone want to practice with me? It'll be fun. I'm pretty sharp, heh heh heh~

( And quietly, at the very end, there's a mutter, )

It'll be more fun than practicing math... ... Aaaah! I didn't mean to say that...!

Comments

from: Obi

[yasei]

I'll practice with you!

But swords are not boring at all. Knives are easier to hide than swords are, though, and it's easier to carry more of them. A thousand year old sword is so old, it must be really well crafted to not break after that much time.

[ Now, please sate his curiosity. ]

How short is a wakizashi? What do those look like?

[clothes_make_the_man]

Even so, I'm sure all the practice won't be wasted. I don't know exactly how it is for shinki, but if you strengthen your body, perhaps your blade will be stronger and sharper in your weapon form as well.

[minogame]

Yeah?!

( EXCITING!!! It's always good to have more practice partners especially when he's on a quest to find people who won't send him flying into the air across the room... Or with some other worst than average injury. Seriously, why can't anyone here chill? )

Mmm, that's right. Wakizashi were really good for indoor fights because they're smaller but they're too big too hide so they're maybe not as good at hiding as knives... It's, hmm...

( He's trying to think. )

They can be between 30 and 60 centimeters, maybe? ( He's about right. ) Some of them are closer to katana size and those are called ō-wakizashi. The smaller ones are called kō-wakizashi-- that's what I am.

( "Am" not "have." )

[yasei]

Yeah!

[ Obi is a normal human (with some serious ninja skills) so he won't have any super strength to send him flying with at least. Just really good human strength. ]

"Were?" That does sound pretty good though, like useful weapons that can put good competition with normal length swords. I don't know those other terms either, the katana and other wakizashi ones.

What do you mean with that's what you are? [ Like "I am one with the blade" version extreme? ]

[trapperkeeper]

Seriously?



....... Why?

[minogame]

( Good human strength is acceptable. )

No one really uses swords anymore, at least, not on the Near Shore. It's a lot more peaceful than it was in the past.

Hm? It's what I was and what I am. ( This feels vaguely like a riddle but he'll explain, ) Are you familiar with tsukumogami?

Video

[koukai_kirai]

Slacking off with your other studies?

[Hijikata's on the veranda of his dojo; it looks like he's having a smoke break from his own training.]

I usually use a longer sword if I'm fighting in the open, but it's worth knowing how to make the best of a wakizashi's strengths in closer quarters. A swordsman who isn't adaptable is going to run into trouble sooner or later.

[replicatedform]

Hopefully, she will. I mean, wouldn't it be strange for a god to clean their own temple?

[... You know, Sakura probably would do that, based on what he sees of her so far.]

[yasei]

They don’t? What about other weapons?

[ Obi thinks over the question, but comes up with nothing. ]

Nope, never heard of it.

[minogame]

It could help some day!

( He says it confidently! )

... At least, that's what they said.

[minogame]

Maybe Nari knows more about cats.
There are a lot here at the temple
but I've never taken care of any cats before until now.

[minogame]

I know that. I'll be okay!
And I'll show you what I'm made of too!

[minogame]

Nari does. I think he likes being busy.

But I live here too so I want to help where I can. Especially since he does a lot, you know?

[minogame]

Just a little.

( All of them, actually. )

Some of them are really serious and it hurts practicing with them...

[minogame]

I think that's right. He treats me really well so I want to do the best for him... So even if I'm just a sword and not a boy, it's still me so I'll protect him the same!

[minogame]

( He's quiet for a moment, thinking about that. )

... It wouldn't be very fun.

( He isn't sure if it would be boring. He's never fought against a spear user before but he already knows their differences in length would make it difficult for him to fight. If everyone was using spears against him, he'd never stand a chance. )

Mm. I understand now.

[minogame]

I don't think many people have weapons anymore.

( He can't help but sigh a bit. It's nice! A world that doesn't need weapons sounds like a good one to him. )

Mm! A tsukumogami is a spirit. It starts off as a thing-- a doll or a music box, even a pair of sandals! After 100 birthdays, it gains a soul. The spirit born from the thing is a manifestation of the care it was given... or the care it never received. That was me before I came here. I was a special sword.

[minogame]

No!

( he sounds really defensive. But he's nodding along, agreeing completely with Hijikata. )

You're a samurai, right? ( The dojo, being Hachiman, the sword... It's easy to guess. ) So you must have a wakizashi too.

[koukai_kirai]

[Smooth, Urashima. Definitely in no way suspect.]

[At least he can still put two and two together, even if he's being a lazy little shit about math.]

That's right. What about it?

[minogame]

( Let him be the 500 year old child he is... )

I was just wondering. Everyone uses swords bigger than me. ( A beat, ) Do you use it often?

[koukai_kirai]

[Bigger than "me." That's a little bit more identification with one's weapon form than even the older shinki tend to show, isn't it? Urashima Kotetsu. And he's met Horikawa and Izuminokami before...]

[Something might have just clicked for Hijikata, give him a second to process it. He shakes off the momentary surprise quickly enough, taking a new drag on his cigarette.]

Mostly fight ayakashi these days, so not lately. Souji's weapon form is a bit longer.

[minogame]

( What's up, Hijikata? He's only the little brother of your commander's sword. )

Oh. ( He deflates as soon as Hijikata explains. It looks like he's stuck fighting against guys bigger than him for a little while longer. That's fine! But it sure would be fun to practice against someone like him. ) I guess that makes sense...

( "I guess." )

I remember him mentioning that. It makes sense since he's so good at the sword.

[koukai_kirai]

[Ugh, what's with that sad face? It rubs Hijikata the wrong way! Maybe he's just been worn down by years of Souji and Tetsunosuke's pouting... (and if he's honest, Kondou's and half the captains', too.)]

I got a lot of good use out of my wakizashi when I was human, though. Carried it with me until the end of the road.

[Maybe that will cheer him up a bit to hear, since he seems oddly sensitive about this subject?]

[minogame]

( Urashima perks up a bit, curious. It sounds nice that he was able to use it as much as he could but until the end of the road? His mind immediately jumps to a certain conclusion and that doesn't make him particularly happy so he shakes his head, shaking off the thought, )

Everyone here is bigger than me. ( It's half of an observation and half a complaint, ) So I have to practice really hard against them.

It's fun but I get really tired, you know?

[trapperkeeper]

Help with what?

[So skeptical over here.]