wingedtiger | OPEN RP POST

[ ...Sure explains why Yukimura's in such an awful state.

What is wrong with Matsunaga? What compels a person to act out such selfish cruelty?

He can't understand, and he doesn't think he wants to.

Yukimura's response comes slowly as fights the fog in the head. ]

...If even you were tricked, it is only because that villain is so skilled in deceit. It does not reflect poorly upon you, Sasuke. This is not your fault. And he cannot get away with the same deception again.

[ The tiger cub's fire or the tiger cub's shadow. ]

Furthermore... he lost. We are both alive.

[ Sasuke doesn't think he could try to understand Matsunaga either, and perhaps that's why he was deceived. He couldn't think in the same way as that man. He can't be as selfish or as cruel as him.

Yukimura's right. They're alive, so Matsunaga lost... didn't he? Why then does Sasuke feel doubt sinking its claws into his... heart? ]

... What if... he didn't need to kill someone to take something of his?

[ Yukimura frowns. ]

...I... don't understand. What, besides our lives, could he have meant to take...?

Edited 2020-01-19 08:17 (UTC)

[ And Sasuke can see that frown because he's no longer bowing his head to the floor. Instead, he brings his arms around himself. ]

It's something he said to me as I disappeared into the darkness with you. It would've...

[ Sasuke swallows. The words are heavy on his tongue. ]

It's sounds so random unless you know what it might refer to. I don't... I don't know how he could possibly... He said the shadows can't hide the little monkey from the springtime clouds forever.

Edited (Posted too soon) 2020-01-19 08:30 (UTC)

[ Yukimura repeats the phrase a few times in his mind. It must refer to Sasuke... and it's something no one else should know.

There's a lot of things Sasuke keeps secret, but he'll venture a guess. ]

...Is this... Does he mean your... past?

He... he must have. Anything else... Just doesn't... It doesn't... He can't... but...

[ His voice trembles. Sasuke's breathing grows shallower and unsteady. ]

... The springtime clouds... It-It can only refer to... to... Y-Yoshiharu Mikumo...

[ How long has it been since he heard that name in the waking world? Much less said it? ]

[ "The shadows can't hide Sasuke from Yoshiharu Mikumo forever".

Everyone Sasuke knew died. That's what he said, right?

Only one person from that village remained, and he's right here in this room.

Yukimura is quiet for a long moment. ]

Was that... your name?

[ The silence goes on for so long after Yukimura's question that it almost seems like Yukimura won't receive an answer. But he does get one, quiet and fearful. ]

... Yes.

[ He wasn't always a ninja. He had been human once... like he's human again now. ]

"Sasuke" was the name my mother called me when we were alone, but I... I was Yoshiharu Mikumo, son of Katamochi Mikumo who served the Rokkaku Clan.

[ Yukimura's heart clenches. It's both strange and heartbreaking to think about how Sasuke had a whole life before the Takeda -- an identity, a family, a clan -- and it was all stolen from him.

Everything eradicated.

And yet, Matsunaga knows.

Yukimura wasn't cold before, but that makes a chill run through him. Matsunaga speaks as though he understands everything, and what's terrifying is that he actually seems to. ]

...But... I don't understand. What does any of this mean?

[ It was a life that lasted for only a few years. Sasuke's memories of that time are so faint, and he struggled to keep within his grasp, safe but unknown to anyone. Or so he thought. ]

I don't know... there shouldn't be anyone alive that...

[ No one alive from Sasuke's side of things, but what of the people who attacked the Mikumo and the Rokkaku? ]

Maybe Mother... didn't kill all the men chasing us to Togakushi Village....

[ He trails off. As a child, he took some small, dark comfort in the idea that his mother killed the bad men before dying herself. It hardly matters now, but it had been something that tiny, traumatized boy clung to. ]

No. No. You're right. It doesn't have to mean anything. I just have to get my act back together and forget everything and return to just being your shadow. Yoshiharu is dead. There's nothing of him left. He was just a stupid, weak, human boy who couldn't save the people he loved. The last bits of him burned up when all the Togakushi ninja did.

[ Matsunaga's inside Sasuke's head, making him relive the past and fear its repeat for a third time. And he messed up so badly and nearly got Yukimura killed... ]

I-I'm sorry. I can do something this time, Master. I won't let it happen again.

[ Yukimura forces himself to sit up, just so that he can look Sasuke in the eye.

He can't see well, and the pain's enough to make him sick. Getting the words out is a struggle.

But he perseveres. ]

Sasuke -- stop. Stop talking like that.

[ Despite being on the cusp of an emotional break, he moves to support Yukimura's attempt to sit up with an arm across his back. ]

... Master?

[ He returns Yukimura's gaze, but he looks lost, scared. ]

Stop putting yourself down. Your past self! Your current self!

[ Yukimura's words come in between ragged breaths. ]

Don't say that... that you will just be a shadow again...!

[ Sasuke moves so that Yukimura can lean against him to ease the strain on his body. The pain must be horrible... ]

... Are you okay with... losing your shadow to him...?

[ With a hand scorched by Matsunaga's flame, Yukimura reaches out and grabs Sasuke's shoulder.

His grip lacks strength, and the contact shoots fire through his palm even with the bandages, but he doesn't let go. ]

To whom? Yoshiharu Mikumo? He is you! And thus, he is my friend and partner!!

[ Wordlessly, Sasuke entwines his burn scarred fingers with Yukimura's bandaged ones.

He had meant Matsunaga, but Yukimura's interpretation shakes something loose within him. Sasuke and Yoshiharu are the same person, and Yukimura sees him no differently. So what if the Tiger Cub's shadow disappears? The disappearance is because the Tiger Cub wants the shadow to be something more, a friend and partner, not because the shadow is being taken away. Sasuke has been thinking about this all wrong. Why couldn't he see it earlier?

It's because he finally was forced to stop hiding in front of someone he loves.... His darkest secret is before him in the light.

Sasuke doesn't realize the tears spilling from his eyes as he rests his head against Yukimura's. It's been so long since he heard that name spoken in a voice other than his own. And to have it said by Yukimura means more to Sasuke than he ever could have guessed. ]

I, this Yoshiharu, will try to be the best friend and partner I can be then. Though I... am not sure how.

[ He won't tell Sasuke not to cry. It's fine to cry at a time like this. Tears have a healing power. ]

You... we will find out in time. Together.

[ ...And having said that, Yukimura groans and thunks back onto his makeshift pillow. If he was running on fumes before, then by now even the fumes have been exhausted.

This isn't the best condition for providing emotional support... ]

[ Sasuke is overdue for one long, ugly crying session over his life, but that will not happen here or now. Yukimura needs his help. Even if he needs to not ignore his feelings, Sasuke must focus on Yukimura until he's healed. ]

... Thank you.

[ He could have easily given another apology, but Sasuke thinks this is what actually needs to be said and what Yukimura needs to hear. ]

I'm going to check your bandages, okay?

[ That effort of his could have broken open some of his wounds, and it'll do Yukimura no good to be soaked through with blood. ]

[ That 'thank you' is indeed what Yukimura needs to hear. It's reassurance that Sasuke won't change his mind and retreat back into his own darkness. ]

Mmmngh... all right.

[ Something probably got reopened. He was fine with risking that if it meant Sasuke would listen to him, but it's not recommended patient behavior. ]

[ It's not recommended emotional support behavior either, but now they both can resume more beneficial behaviors.

Sasuke pulls back the blanket and tries not the grimace at the red seeping through the bandages. Is this from some of the smaller wounds, or did some of the stitching of the larger wounds come undone? Regardless of which it is, Yukimura will hear the tearing of fabric as Sasuke makes some new cloth bandages. He'll have to wash and hang to dry the ones he removes. He's running out of clothing to sacrifice. ]

Just relax, Master. I'll take care of this.

[ His fingers gently prod around the edges of the bandages as he begins to unwrap the bloodied ones to assess the damage. ]

... If you want, you can ask me whatever you want, and I'll try to answer.

[ Maybe it'll provide Yukimura some distraction from the pain and redoing the stitching should Sasuke need to do that. ]

[ There's a pang of guilt in his chest when he hears the tearing of fabric. When this is all over, he's going to get Sasuke some new clothes. It's the least he can do.

Relax, huh... He can certainly try.

...What would he want to ask Sasuke? He must mean that questions about his past are on the table, but Yukimura's not sure he wants to go prodding at old wounds even with permission. Hasn't all this been hard enough on Sasuke?

Maybe Yukimura will change his mind, but for now, he searches for a nice, safe topic. ]

...Do you have any idea who that Tenko Mask character was?

[ It's a clumsy attempt for distraction, and it's a clumsy attempt to open himself up to Yukimura. Sasuke's lived most of his life in secret, and now that he wants to reveal himself to someone, he has no idea how to do it. Does he just start listing his favorite foods? Does he start telling him of his mother's graceful dancing or beautiful singing? Does he admit that most of the time his raises goes towards spoiling the very tiger cub he bugs about them?

However, later Sasuke can clarify that the offer continues even after this. Just like how he still owes Yukimura a night with him dressed in a kimono. (He makes a mental note to find a way for it to happen sooner than later after all this.)

The question he does receive isn't one he expected. Sasuke can't help it. He laughs softly. How can someone figure out he is Yoshiharu while not realizing he is also Tenko Kamen? ]

I do. Maybe I don't know him nearly as well as I thought I did, but... well, do you want me to tell you his identity? Or do you want to find out on your own?

Mmmmm...

[ The mysterious (and oddly familiar) Tenko Kamen... He would like to find out on his own, but he has no way of knowing when they'll next cross paths. What if they never meet again? That man is so elusive... ]

This time... I must yield to my burning curiosity. What is that man's true name?

[ Yes, the Tenko Kamen with the forest camouflage, large shuriken, and familiar mouth and chin... he's so mysterious, someone Yukimura has never met before. Sasuke is trying so hard not to laugh too loudly, but he really can't help it. His master is so naive. It's... cute. ~~Oh gods, Sasuke is so moronsexual.~~ ]

Do you remember how the final masked man was actually Lord Shingen? Or how Tengu Kamen was the Dragon's Right-Eye?

[ Oh wait. Yukimura thought that had been someone who looked exactly like Kojuro... Did he ever realize the truth? Sasuke pauses to concentrate on patching a wound before continuing. ]

Tenko Kamen, unmasked, is Sasuke Sarutobi or Yoshiharu Mikumo. At this point... I guess you can take your pick on which to use whenever we're alone.

[ ...Tengu Kamen was Lord Katakura?!

..............SASUKE IS TENKO KAMEN?!

Yukimura is now officially too concussed for this. He stares vacantly at the ceiling. ]

Sasuke... you do not have any more names, do you? I... do not think I can remember any more... My mind is pushed to its limit...

[ No, Yukimura, that's the head injury making things complicated.

He probably wouldn't have this reaction normally.

Probably. ]

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