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Post by Tamori Yoshi on Apr 15, 2018 6:25:22 GMT -5
/enter
From the gymnasium doorway, some feet a way, comes a quiet voice that echoes loudly in the nearly empty hall.
"Iweko-sama... Tsuki... my friends, both honored and dear...," Tamori Yoshi calls. "Please return when you can, because... I wish to tell everyone why I believe we should leave Goemon-no-kami to remain dreaming, and... I know at least one of you is strongly of the opposite opinion. Though the circumstances leading to our coming together have proven... unreal... what we forged together because of them still is... for now. Please... come listen and let yourselves hear what I have to say, in honor of that." With this plea made as a precursor to another, the young Dragon leaves them to their own discussion.
/exit
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Post by Iweko Yoshinobu on Apr 15, 2018 20:26:55 GMT -5
Yoshinobu's train of thought was interrupted by Yoshi's sudden appearance, waking him from his racing mind. "I will, soon Yoshi-san. As your friend, you can count on that much." It was only after he had went back inside that Yoshinobu turned back to face Tsuki, his thoughts gathered.
"Yeah, you are right Tsuki-san. I may not actually be me, but I am enough of Iweko Yoshinobu to act as he would and understand his heart." A pause. "Even if a lie is a falsehood, that doesn't mean it's intangible."
He smiled at her a little. "Even if you call me your prince, it's not just up to me to decide now. You may see me that way, but others will only act how they feel is best in spite of that. Others will seek Ikoma-sensei out, and based on the display inside it will be impossible to predict." He could hear the rabbling from just outside the gym, even still. "I'm not sure where to begin, but I suppose Ikoma-sensei is as good a start as any."
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Kakita Tsuki
Crane Clan
The delicate illusions that get us through life can stand only so much strain
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Post by Kakita Tsuki on Apr 15, 2018 21:33:15 GMT -5
"No, it's not just up to you," Tsuki said dejectedly, "But it doesn't mean your own choice doesn't carry weight. Perhaps you know this, but I would rather say it then nothing at all."
She cast a glance towards the gymnasium as the muffled voices seemed to seep their way out of the bricks themselves. "As for Ikoma-sensei, you are right, it would perhaps do us well to track him down, so that's another thing to add to the list. However, there is something else I feel we need to discuss before that."
The priestess stepped closer to Yoshinobu, breaking that often formal but friendly distance she had always given him. It was a change from her usual ways, but perhaps it also gave away just how important this was. "We need to talk about you and Kuni-san. Is this the first time she has ever done that? To fall into such a fit of hysterics?" Her eyes were purposely holding onto his, awaiting his answer.
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Post by Iweko Yoshinobu on Apr 16, 2018 7:54:01 GMT -5
Yoshinobu did not shy away or try to hold his feelings inside; in this moment, Tsuki didn't deserve the mask of a samurai or the Prince but Yoshinobu at his most honest. It was easy to see the concern for Hinata in his features.
"No, the only other time was today though. That doesn't mean it hasn't happened before. She can be strong when she is determined to, but the prospect of losing everything you have worked towards could make anyone crack. I don't fault her that... but again, I am not everyone else." The words that should surely follow need not be spoken. "I probably messed up along the way, somewhere. I wondered to myself if there was anything I could have done differently to help her. And now I have a chance to help the Empire and her as well."
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Kakita Tsuki
Crane Clan
The delicate illusions that get us through life can stand only so much strain
Posts: 791
Likes: 1
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Post by Kakita Tsuki on Apr 16, 2018 10:05:59 GMT -5
Tsuki shook her head as he poured his own personal feelings out of what could have been. "You can't blame yourself for who she is or what burdens she carries. Kuni-san has to hold them up like anyone else, she is no different from you or I. It is no heavier or lighter," She took his hands into her, clasping over them and offering a gentle squeeze. She wanted to reassure him, to help hold him up.
"But we are all facing the same prospect of loss, the same split in the road that forces us to make a choice we cannot decide upon the ultimate outcome of. Just a piece of it. I know you care for her, I can see it plain on your face. It pains me to see this, and even more to tell you what I don't think anyone wants to hear."
It was far easier to simply let things be and let them play out. That was an easy road. No one looked bad, no one caused conflict. Tsuki knew this but she also knew what that could spell out. "I don't think you should marry Kuni-san. From what I've seen and you told me, this isn't the first time she's broken into such a fit. What would happen if it continued? What would you do then? What if it afflicted your children and theirs? What if something happened to you, and the weight of the empire fell upon her, like when your mother had to assume control when your father was injured? Are those possibilities you are willing to risk?"
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Post by Iweko Yoshinobu on Apr 16, 2018 10:26:37 GMT -5
"No one would let me risk them if they knew - it would be the end of the Iweko dynasty, maybe civil war would break out if the worst came to pass." He paused for a moment, to gather his thoughts again. "I know as much the truth of what you just said, and they are opportunities I can't risk. It's why I'm not so sure that she really got rid of him, though Hinata believes it. It's why this is so hard, and why I want to give her an opportunity to at least be happy as well if it means bringing balance to the universe too. In Ningen-do, for all we know she is still with Kogeki-san, or maybe someone else. Where she isn't so pressured by dreams of marrying the future Emperor, and all her thoughts revolve around getting a monster out of her head."
Yoshinobu laughed a little, looking away. "After all, if she ends up there with someone less notable than me she won't have that burden. She can just be a mostly normal girl, with a chance to be happy, without my breaking her heart." He frowned at Tsuki a little, his expression knowing.
"I'm rather good at upsetting the people I care about, and who care about me, aren't I Tsuki-san?"
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Kakita Tsuki
Crane Clan
The delicate illusions that get us through life can stand only so much strain
Posts: 791
Likes: 1
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Post by Kakita Tsuki on Apr 16, 2018 12:05:25 GMT -5
"A little, yes," She answered gently.
Tsuki let out an amused breath at his sentiment. She began to lean forward as if to rest her forehead upon his chest, to share in his words, but stopped and caught herself. The woman smiled sadly and shook her head as their gazes reconnected. "I care about you, Yoshinobu, more than I have any right doing so when your heart is invested else where. I don't know if I can ever be upset with you, nor do I find joy in saying things that might do the same to you. I don't want to be the one to always be that burdening reminder."
Her words settled a bit but she had no finished. "But I earnestly believe that if you care, truly do care about someone, especially if you love them, you will do what's best for them. I won't tell you how to act on this, but please, do what is best. Do what I believe, even if but a reflection of him, the Yoshinobu who I cherish would do."
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Post by Iweko Yoshinobu on Apr 17, 2018 6:55:56 GMT -5
"I apologize if my ignorance of your feelings caused you any pain. Were we in this same spot a year or two earlier things may have played out differently." Well, in the waking world that is. Yoshinobu spared her his own childhood feelings, but knowing her she probably knew he had a crush on her then. She was always more mature than her age let on.
"I won't let you down, whatever happens. Yoshinobu was born a Prince, and I was born from him. I'll live up to the both of you."
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Kakita Tsuki
Crane Clan
The delicate illusions that get us through life can stand only so much strain
Posts: 791
Likes: 1
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Post by Kakita Tsuki on Apr 17, 2018 13:06:53 GMT -5
"Your ignorance of of my feelings is my own doing, and that pain is my burden." Tsuki looked away for a moment, but when she glanced back there was a sense of resolve within her eyes.
"I had never acted in the past even though I knew. Above me hung the betrothal to which I knew existed, and I took the burden as one to not foster upon my siblings. How hypocritical would it look for me to act as duty expects, except when it's something I want? Even then, I wanted to become something stronger and better, able to stand tall and resolute before I dare reveal such feelings. Now things have changed but it tastes like bitter chocolate." She said with a melancholic smile.
Yet even in the gloomy truth she stood straighter, not one to bend so easily. That was not her way nor her families. She stared at Yoshinobu and pressed on in her words. "Even so, I don't want to believe that waking Goemon will erase it all. So I won't, right or wrong. If we are to lose what we have gained then I will cling to these thoughts strongly so that I might even retain a semblance of them. In that world I will pursue what I should have from the start."
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Post by Iweko Yoshinobu on Apr 18, 2018 6:58:07 GMT -5
"Looking as convicted as you do now, I'd never tell you not to," the Prince replied, smiling a little. If nothing else, he always admired how confident Tsuki was. It would serve her well in the future, for whatever fate had in store for her. "Who knows what is happening in Ningen-do. I think it is better that we don't, lest it test anyone away from the true path."
"Even so," he added, "thank you for being honest with me Tsuki-san. And for being such a good friend for as long as you have been." Another pause. "So, what do you think about what Yoshi said. He wants Goemon to remain asleep. I could understand why."
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