"No, I wasn't!" Togusa will admit. His arms flop up in the air in a shrug before they drop down to his sides. "Okay? But I don't want to be responsible for Mariko going on a rampage because I dropped."

Togusa is still bristling, but his hands go to his hips and he stares at the creature for longer. Even being here in its presence, with that many eyes watching him, it's as if it is chipping away at his paranoia, his need to prove himself, and he can feel it.

"This thing wants me to throw myself on the damn sword, because it knows it won't work."