I don't know if you would have. [Now that Higekiri is mostly himself, Junpei doesn't seem to mind being a little more open and somewhat blase about his responses.] You're...the kind of person who will do whatever the mission asks, and when you feel like you've exhausted your usefulness, you won't really help yourself.
Nikkari still had to do a task to fix himself, but that situation's a little different than this. [...] Sometimes you need a group of people to help you kick your own ass and get back to the way things were. That's kind of the whole point of working together.
Mm...I heard something similar from Tamamo the other day. Being around humans was almost enough to change her mind on some things. It's scary how people can have some power over each other isn't it?
But I guess the question is if you feel better or worse about it.
Good, good. She told me she'd apologize, so I hope that you did as well.
[he doesn't even know what started the fight]
Anyway, I intend to bend as many possibilities as I can to make sure that she lives. I want to find her again, in the past, and see what I can do for her...
But I think I would like to live alongside this current version of her as well - as long as she desires to be with me.
[he somehow manages to be both very casual, and very sincere about it]
Of course I did. [Like.] Tamamo's one of the few people I'll apologize to if I do something wrong.
[But there's a slow nod as he follows along.] You and me both. She gave me her bell so I can resummon her, but...I'd like to see how to anchor her to stay. [Then again, he's tilting his head slightly.] You think she wouldn't want to?
[He has some minor suspicions, but sometimes you just ask leading questions and see where it gets you.]
I told her I'd ask my master... My spirit is attached to my sword, after all. If you have something that makes it possible to anchor her spirit, then it shouldn't be entirely impossible.
[and if it's even 1% not impossible then higekiri is gonna search for it?]
But oh... I don't know. The world is vast and history and the future are both variable. Spirits are just as likely to change their minds as humans, and I will not stop her from finding whatever she desires to make herself happy.
As long as she is alive, and has the chance to acquire what she wants, then I cannot ask for anything more.
[he's a very straightforward sword, and not in the habit of claiming others in most cases]
[...he glances at his watch. That's a really fucked up thing to anchor her to, but it's a thought nevertheless.] I can find something important of mine. I don't know how spirit-bindings work or anything but not trying isn't an option anymore.
The difference between normal spirits and spirits like you guy is that you've spent a long enough time with humanity now to at least be aware of the fact that some things won't change, y'know? That includes certain wants and wishes.
[Like wanting Tamamo alive.] ...she's pretty fond of you. I don't think she'd be very happy without you in the end.
You'd have more luck letting it be something close to her, I think.... Well, maybe. I don't really know, haha, but I can ask my master. If nothing else, we can likely steal from her own era to attach her spirit to.
[grand theft spacetime continuum
anyway higekiri will just.... shrug....] It's not that simple, or reliable to hold onto things like that... History is both more flexible and more stubborn than most people are led to believe, I think.
But... well, I'm fond of her as well. [that's said with a soft smile] I swore that I would find her no matter what, in every single life.
I already have her bell. Can a summoning tool be used as an anchor? That's just another question I have.
[But he's shrugging because he doesn't exactly agree with that given...everything.] Experience has taught me that even with how many different histories there are, there are still some consistencies that exist in the face of the impossible. But finding them isn't always so easy, I'll give you that.
Haha, maybe? It's worth trying, at the very least. Then she might be able to carry it herself, rather than relying on you to see to its safety.
[he,,, is putting a hand on his sword at that - sort of to demonstrate what he means. hige hasn't let anyone else on the ship so much as hold it, after all]
What did she say...
[he tilts his head, trying to recall]
Oh... I don't remember exactly anymore... but I think she must've been very happy, so I've decided to remember it.
[whatever makes tamamo happy is important enough for hige to commit what he's supposed to do to memory]
We'll see. There's still time to find options and that's what I plan to do. But she entrusted me with the bell itself.
[...that makes some sense, he thinks. Even if you don't remember the exact words, the sentiment is there.] As long as you commit that to memory then I think it's okay not to remember the finer details. Even being thought of and remembered will be enough.
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Nikkari still had to do a task to fix himself, but that situation's a little different than this. [...] Sometimes you need a group of people to help you kick your own ass and get back to the way things were. That's kind of the whole point of working together.
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[for actually the chunk of the week after hiza died, and for the initial bit after hige was bitten, that was definitely his thought process. but...]
... I think... I came to a different conclusion, however. It felt like a very human one.
[ . . . ]
You're all very dangerous to be around.
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Oh yeah? What makes you say that? [Definitely a human conclusion, if his expression is anything to go by. Humans are scary and also kind of stupid.]
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[he's speaking for most swords in this case, at least]
Your actions are able to move the hearts of even those of us are are hundreds of years old.
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But I guess the question is if you feel better or worse about it.
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I'm not entirely sure.
[he'll at least be honest about that]
After all, I won't be around humans much again, once this is all over - unless I seek you all out.
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[like
realtalk about that]
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You made a promise to her then? [He's curious.]
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You're over your fight, aren't you?
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[he doesn't even know what started the fight]
Anyway, I intend to bend as many possibilities as I can to make sure that she lives. I want to find her again, in the past, and see what I can do for her...
But I think I would like to live alongside this current version of her as well - as long as she desires to be with me.
[he somehow manages to be both very casual, and very sincere about it]
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[But there's a slow nod as he follows along.] You and me both. She gave me her bell so I can resummon her, but...I'd like to see how to anchor her to stay. [Then again, he's tilting his head slightly.] You think she wouldn't want to?
[He has some minor suspicions, but sometimes you just ask leading questions and see where it gets you.]
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[and if it's even 1% not impossible then higekiri is gonna search for it?]
But oh... I don't know. The world is vast and history and the future are both variable. Spirits are just as likely to change their minds as humans, and I will not stop her from finding whatever she desires to make herself happy.
As long as she is alive, and has the chance to acquire what she wants, then I cannot ask for anything more.
[he's a very straightforward sword, and not in the habit of claiming others in most cases]
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The difference between normal spirits and spirits like you guy is that you've spent a long enough time with humanity now to at least be aware of the fact that some things won't change, y'know? That includes certain wants and wishes.
[Like wanting Tamamo alive.] ...she's pretty fond of you. I don't think she'd be very happy without you in the end.
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[grand theft spacetime continuum
anyway higekiri will just.... shrug....] It's not that simple, or reliable to hold onto things like that... History is both more flexible and more stubborn than most people are led to believe, I think.
But... well, I'm fond of her as well. [that's said with a soft smile] I swore that I would find her no matter what, in every single life.
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[But he's shrugging because he doesn't exactly agree with that given...everything.] Experience has taught me that even with how many different histories there are, there are still some consistencies that exist in the face of the impossible. But finding them isn't always so easy, I'll give you that.
...what did she say when you told her that?
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[he,,, is putting a hand on his sword at that - sort of to demonstrate what he means. hige hasn't let anyone else on the ship so much as hold it, after all]
What did she say...
[he tilts his head, trying to recall]
Oh... I don't remember exactly anymore... but I think she must've been very happy, so I've decided to remember it.
[whatever makes tamamo happy is important enough for hige to commit what he's supposed to do to memory]
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[...that makes some sense, he thinks. Even if you don't remember the exact words, the sentiment is there.] As long as you commit that to memory then I think it's okay not to remember the finer details. Even being thought of and remembered will be enough.
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So I do not intend to forget her, regardless of what happens.
[and as long as he doesn't forget her, then he'll go to find her again and again]
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Gonna go find the others and ask them what you've asked me?