wingedtiger | OPEN RP POST

[It sounds familiar.

Masamune remembers a discussion in which Yukimura confessed to having nightmares not unlike that. Not of the water, but of the lives he's failed to protect. The lives he's taken. It's so easy to picture because it mirrors so many of his own.

He remembers a sea of blood and corpses and the husk of a tiger stranded among them.

He closes his eye and leans his forehead against the back of Yukimura's head. This may be better suited to a priest or the Oracle, but it's just the two of them here.

Just Masamune, Yukimura, and the cold uncaring sea.]

...Now, sink. I won't let you drown.

Eh-?!

[ Sink? Is he serious?

...But then, maybe he needs to face the nightmares as much as he needs to face the water.

Masamune is here. Right here, so close. He won't let go.

He won't let him drown.

Keeping his eyes closed, Yukimura -- sinks. ]

...The light reflected on the water... is disappearing.

[ Deeper. ]

The ocean grows blacker.

[ Go deeper. ]

The writhing mass grows closer.

[ Hands outstretched, clawing for him. ]

It's...

[ Heavy. Constricting. Claustrophobic. The voices buzz like mosquitoes. ]

In the darkness, there are... The mass is...

[ The hollow eyes of bloated corpses stare at him unblinkingly as they beckon him.

That's right, go deeper, and deeper still. ]

Closing in...

[ They're close. Closer. Almost there. It's too dark to see. It's too cold to move.

Closer, and closer, and closer.

The pressure in his chest in unbearable.

Like water-filled lungs.

His anxiety spikes, comes to a head, and he gasps. ]

I can't breathe--!

[Maybe Masamune's mental image can't fully capture the horror in Yukimura's mind. But he can hear the terror creeping into his voice and feel his sides moving with rapid, shallow breaths.

He holds tighter.]

Yes you can! Don't you dare run away now, Sanada Yukimura! That thing'll never stop hunting you down.

[ He can't take a deep breath no matter how hard he tries, and that only intensifies the feeling that he's drowning.

But Masamune is still here. ]

I won't -- run. I'm not... running.

[ He clutches his chest, feeling for his heartbeat to prove he's not dying. He keeps his eyes shut.

He has to go into it.

Into the writhing mass. Into its clutches.

It's made of-- ]

Bodies. Uncountable bodies.

[ Rotting and decayed but aware.

All eyes on him.

Even if they're only sockets. ]

All around me. Suspended... in the deep.

[ On all sides. Staring, smiling, glaring. Reaching.

Further than a human arm should be able to reach.

Reaching for his throat, can you breathe, Sanada Yukimura? Because -- ]

...They can't...

[ It's not going to make sense to Masamune, but simply keeping himself together is his first priority. ]

What do I...

[ What do you do?

Just come closer. We'll wrap our arms around you and we won't let go.

Sanada Yukimura, how long can you hold your breath? ]

I don't...

[ Know? We know. The answer is -- ]

Not forever. I know. I'm sorry...

[ If you're really sorry, then you'll-- ]

Drown. I won't. I won't drown.

[ Yukimura clutches his head. ]

I will not!

[ The buzzing voices are so very loud. ]

[What are you hearing?

Above the steadily rolling waves, the only voice Masamune hears is Yukimura's, and he can only guess what kind of nightmare he's being made to face.

But that's all it is. A nightmare.

Regrettable things from the past.

In reality, in the present, Masamune pulls Yukimura closer and wraps his arms around him. His knee bumps Yukimura's leg from behind to see if he can't edge him closer to the water.]

Good, Yukimura. Now... let it take you. This darkness is a part of you, so face it.

[His lays a palm over Yukimura's chest.]

Even when the eyes of your heart can't see, I'm right here.

[ This darkness is a part of you, so face it.

Masamune is right.

He's absolutely right.

It's not the voices of the dead and damned he's hearing.

It's his own voice.

There are no ghosts here. There never were.

Even when he still dreamed of water, those whispers and curses were all him.

He was only drowning because he'd tied an anchor to his own leg.

He doesn't need to exorcise these demons. He needs to make his peace with them.

Masamune is right here, he reminds himself. And at Masamune's nudge, he takes a step forward, closer to the water's edge.

In his mind, he lets himself sink.

This ocean has no bottom. It's darkness all the way down. He can't see the bodies, but he can feel them. They're clustered around him, holding on tight. ]

...I'm sorry.

[ You're sorry. You're so sorry. When are you going to stop being sorry? Don't you know where "sorry" is getting you?

Nowhere.

Nowhere.

Just the deepness. Just the darkness. Do you think we want to hear "sorry"?

Do you think they want to hear sorry? Isn't everyone who died tired of "sorry" by now?

Shouldn't I keep moving forward so I don't have to keep apologizing?

Isn't that what Masamune has done?

I don't need forgiveness or sympathy.

I just have to stop drowning myself. ]

I... have to stop letting myself drown.

[ Because. ]

Because I won't change. And... I will pull down others with me. Those who rely on me. I'm still... breathing. I can still swim.

[ Masamune is here.

It's just him and Masamune here. ]

That's right.

[The Tiger is said to rule the land and the winds that billow over it, while the Dragon rules the skies and sea. It brings the storms and rain and floods that wash away and cleanse the land to make way for regrowth.

Masamune remembers a Tiger among a sea of corpses, and the Phoenix that burst forth from within.

He presses forward until he feels the cold washing over the tops of his sandaled feet, but he doesn't flinch away. The heat he seeks is just within reach, and his heartbeat drums excitedly through his chest.]

Show me how that burning soul shines, Sanada Yukimura! Light up!

[Now is probably a good time to loosen his grip.]

[ Light up the pitch-black darkness.

Burn the guilt and regrets to ash.

And rise up anew. ]

Burn...

[ Yukimura opens his eyes. ]

BURN, MY SOUL!!

[ His body blazes, spirals of fire whirling around him.

He shines, bright like the sun, and for a moment it's too bright to see.

There is the sound of massive wings beating.

When the light dies down, it is still just them, with ash and embers beneath their feet. ]

[It's too bright to see, too hot to touch, and Masamune watches unblinking and unmoving. His eye gleams bright even when there's no firelight left to reflect. Plumes of thick steam curl around him like clouds, like a soft ethereal mane, like the coiling body of a serpent.

It's just the two of them here, but this time it was only Yukimura who brought them here. It was a trail he needed to blaze for himself, but not one he needed to walk alone.

Masamune's chest feels light, inflated with the utmost pride and love.]

How cool... That's the rival I know and love. What do you see, Sanada Yukimura?!

The ocean, stretched out before me! It is a vivid blue... just as you are.

[ Bright and beautiful to behold.

The water rushes over his feet, and it is no longer too cold. ]

It is vast. I do not know how far it stretches, or how deep it goes... But I... am not afraid to swim.

[ He doesn't know if he'll like it just yet -- some things take time -- but the fear and unease from before is gone. Burnt away. ]

[He rubs Yukimura's back firmly, beaming with delight.

And then

he charges forward, bulldozing him in deeper.]

YEAAAAHAH!

[ That feels so good on his back!

He should have expected it was leading up to something. ]

GWAAAAHGH-!

[ With a great splash, Yukimura is thrust into the sea. ]

[ He pops back up and shakes out his hair, spitting water and looking very much like a cat that's been plonked in the bath.

And that is the extent of how troubled he seems. ]

Masamuneeeeee...!! To attack from the rear when I am unsuspecting..!!

[ He springs from the water -- a more tiger-like maneuver -- to drag Masamune into the sea with him. ]

Edited 2021-01-03 02:35 (UTC)

[He hardly has the time to laugh at Yukimura or insist that he's helping, honest, before he is tackled down by one very wet tiger.

Forget that crack in the other thread about not minding is Yukimura decided to jump him-- he totally minds, and he sputters and desperately tries to push Yukimura away.]

Shit! That's cold! You...!

[Forget all that before about Dragons ruling the seas, while we're at it. There is nothing powerful or graceful about Masamune loudly blowing water from his lips or the way his drenched hair and clothing are plastered to his skin. (He can make that a good look in the rain, but not the ocean!)]

Edited 2021-01-03 02:55 (UTC)

[ Yukimura beams in triumph. ]

You truly did not anticipate my counterattack?! Then you have only yourself to blame!

[ It's a rare sight to see the magnificent One-Eyed Dragon so out of sorts, and Yukimura is relishing it. ]

Please. You turned on your ally!

[Ingrate! Masamune reaches into the murky depths to retrieve a handful of slimy kelp to launch at Yukimura.]

Hmmph. At least you're enjoying yourself.

[...It's nice to see.]

[ The kelp hits him in the face. It's very gross.

He laughs anyway, peeling off the kelp and tossing it back into the sea.

Laughs, and then... marvels at how he is here in the water and it's fine. ]

Ah... so I am.

[ He dives back underwater and resurfaces moments later, that marveling look still glittering in his eyes. ]

Masamune, I remember now! In truth... I used to love to swim!

[Sanada Yukimura is positively radiant.

The sunlight dappling across the rippling water around him, the sparkling droplets running down his face and hair, and that smile...

The warmth filling Masamune's chest drives away the chill upon his skin and without even realizing it, his expression matches Yukimura's joy and wonder. This is his fervent dream, the feeling he's been chasing all along: proof that he can light up the dark, even with just a spark.

He's so captivated that he forgets to tread water until a cresting wave smacks him right in the face. He gags on salt and backs up to where his feet can stay firmly on the bottom.]

Ugh...! That makes one of us. But don't let me stop you.

[It's not that Masamune can't swim. It's so much worse than that.

He just can't do it well.]

[ This is not the most graceful he's ever seen Masamune. It is kind of funny, but more than that, it's disappointing that Masamune won't be joining him! ]

A love for swimming can yet be discovered within your heart, Masamune!!

[ Can you resist this face, Masamune? Can anyone? ]

[He just hums noncommittally and stays right where he is.

He'd sooner drown than look uncool in front of Yukimura. THIS IS HIS DARKNESS.]

Could it be... I am a better swimmer than you are? You do not wish to be shown up by me?

[ Yukimura is a blockhead, but he knows Masamune's weakness is pride! ]

I know how to avoid drowning. That works just fine for me.

[MAYBE HE SHOULD DROWN YUKIMURA INSTEAD.]

[ It's a little risky to goad Masamune like this, but what is Yukimura if not a risk-taker?

SO GO AHEAD AND TRY DROWNING HIM, MASAMUNE!! ]

Do you not wish to become better? To attempt to surpass me?

Ha! You can't seriously think I'm that petty that I need to beat you in this, too.

[...Right??

Because he is. And secretly, he's really more offended that Yukimura thought he could be goaded into it that easily.

Even if he can feel that heat rising inside him.

Even if he never could resist Yukimura.

Even if Kojuro isn't here to stop him from making an ass of himself.]

Edited 2021-01-05 03:34 (UTC)

Of course I do!!

[ Oh. Uh. That came out very wrong. ]

Er, that is to say -- I know how hot the fire of competition burns in your chest!!

[ Smooth save, Mister Tact. ]

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