recolle | (Closed) Recollections

(Closed) Recollections

WHO: Jirou and Kenta
WHERE: Their place
WHEN: 8/27; evening
WHAT: Jirou gets a memory and wants to share it with Kenta.
WARNINGS: Identity crises? Maybe? Definitely lots of alcohol.

Jirou and Kenta had been sharing everything with each other since they first met when they were children. They didn't even think about it anymore. Things happened and they just shared it with the other without hesitation. Which was why when Jirou remembered something different, he went over to sit next to Kenta, leaning against him. Save for the party they'd basically been staying home resting together which made it easy to find him.

In this case on the couch.

"Kenta, I got another one of those memory things. It didn't have you in it but I think maybe it involves you somehow." Because Jirou was convinced he and Kenta were bound to each other across universes.

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Kenta looked up from his laptop and put it down on the coffee table, looping his arm around Jirou's shoulders. The last two days has been quiet for them, thankfully. Just staying cooped up and wrapped in each other for a while. And as usual, when Jirou wanted his attention, Kenta would be giving it wholeheartedly.

"Tell me."

"Well it turns out that I'm a holy item. I'm a sword named Jiroutachi!"

He laughed a bit then flopped down to rest his head on Kenta's lap instead, looking up at him that way. "So I had a thought. Because we always want to be together and we both have gold eyes. What if you're a sword too? And we're swords together?"

Jirou wasn't even sure if that was how it worked but he wanted it to. Or for Kenta to be the man who wielded him. He had no idea if that was the case but Jirou figured they'd understand it together.

"You are... a sword."

It honestly didn't make much sense, but then nothing Retrospec-related really did.

"You need to give me more details first, Jirou. What exactly did you 'remember'? How could you remember being something non-sentient like a sword?"

That seemed to be the first step in trying to understand, if it was at all possible. The fact that Jirou somehow felt the next logical step was to wonder if his boyfriend also was one was, well... very Jirou, really, and that was what had always made him so endearing to Kenta.

So he would listen and ask questions and try to make sense of it, because if Jirou said it, then it was true.

"Jiroutachi... that really sounds like your name. And a tachi is a type of sword. A long sword. The one you got is even bigger, though. Probably an oodachi. They're not common and rather hard to use because of their weight, and yours is probably the biggest one I have ever seen or heard of."

"You know that sword I got? Apparently its name is Jiroutachi and that sword is actually me. I'm a holy oodachi named Jiroutachi."

He knew it really didn't make sense but it was what he'd remembered. Not much to be done about that honestly. Besides, he thought it was kind of interesting that he was somehow a sword. Weren't there all kinds of stories about things having personalities or souls or something?

Maybe he should look into that more. He'd studied Japanese History in college but honestly didn't remember much of it.

"What if you're an even bigger oodachi?"

"... How can you be a sword and a person at the same time, though?"

Yes, it really didn't make much sense. But if Jirou said he remembered it, as usual Kenta was not going to deny that it was the truth of it, even if he wasn't sure of how to explain it.

At that last question, though, he had to smile.

"It almost sounds like you want me to be a sword, Jirou."

"Don't you want to be a sword with me?"

He pouted up at him. Of course he wanted Kenta to be a sword. He wanted to believe that they were a pair no matter what universe it happened to be.

"I don't know how it works but it seems to. I want you to be one with me so we can keep being together in everything."

"Well, I can't say that it's something I've given much thought to, to be honest."

But of course Jirou wanted them to be together no matter what.

"I'm not sure what's in store for the future with that thing, but I guess that would actually make more sense to me than most of the other stuff has so far."

Being with Jirou was the thing that made sense. It was natural and normal.

"Can I have a look at your sword again?"

He's only handled it briefly on the day Fynn had brought Jirou back and then after that Jirou had taken it with him when he'd gone out again, and, well, Kenta, being a kendoka, knew that you didn't touch someone's weapon without permission. So he had not even touched it to move it around.

"You can touch my sword anytime you like."

He even gave him a saucy wink that said he meant more than just the blade. With a giggle, he carefully sat up so that way Kenta would have an easier time getting up to go look at his sword.

Which was him.

Apparently.

Kenta rolled his head slightly at the innuendo but smiled anyway. Once given permission he went to the bedroom to fetch the sword and bring it back to the living room

He ran his fingers over the red sheath and the leather strap looped around it.

"That's used to carry it on your back, since it's too long to carry like a normal sword."

Then he went to actually unsheathe it, revealing the blade and testing its weight. It was really long and heavy, but Jirou's new body and abilities apparently meant he could wield it, and it didn't even look that big when Kenta was holding it.

He examined the blade in the light.

"This is an old sword. It's been very well maintained, but it's not a modern replica."

"Well, it has a name and I remember an old battle. Maybe that means it's the real Jiroutachi?"

He wasn't sure what that really meant but he knew it had to mean...something? He frowned some.

"You're from Japan. Where do they keep old swords that have names?"

"It could be the real thing. Or a replica made a long time ago. That used to be a thing, making replicas of famous swords."

Kenta sheathed the blade again and then put it down on the coffee table before sitting next to Jirou again.

"Well, it depends on the swords, really. The most famous ones are national treasures and part of the Imperial Collection. They're kept in safe places and some of them are displayed in museums. The rarer or more precious ones are only exhibited a few times a year, if that.

"Some of them are still private properties of the families they belong to. They might organize some public viewings or give access to researchers, but usually those are not readily accessible. And you also have collectors, I guess.

"And then you have the ones that were dedicate to temples, either as offerings or as stand-ins for deities. Usually they're displayed on altars and people come and pray or give offerings. It's not as common as museum display or private ownership, but there are a few of those around."

He nodded at the first part. That made sense really. Precious things being kept in the Imperial Collection. However, the part about them being dedicated to temples was more surprising. They were even given offerings while they were on display?

Japan was a fascinating place. He actually felt like he should have paid more attention to Japanese History classes when he was in college...

"So I would have been kept in one of those places?"

Most people probably would have freaked out over finding out they were a sword but Jirou was fine accepting it.

"Well, since you remember offerings... and sake is a rather common and appreciated offering for the gods. Some of them at least."

He thought for a moment, then cocked his head to the side

"I guess some families could have their own hereditary altars, but given the size of that thing, I am more inclined to think it was in a rather big sanctuary."

Kenta did know more about swords than most people normally did, thanks to his interest in kendo, but he hadn't thought about all those things for a while.

"Oodachis are rather uncommon nowadays. They sort of fell out of favor at the beginning of the Tokugawa shogunate. They're hard to wield, they're heavy, they're unpractical for close combat... it would take a skilled warrior, and one with a lot of endurance, to be able to use one of these effectively. They're also really hard to make, because the size makes it hard for the whole steel to be heated or to cool down at the same time.

"I can't really remember, but I don't think there are that many of them left, because a lot of blades were repurposed into shorter tachi or uchigatana, precisely because of the quality of their steel."

He opened his mouth to say something but he gave a pause as he remembered something. Right there in front of Kenta. Jirou let the memory play out before looking up at him.

"The Atsuta Shrine. That's where I was kept after I was done being used."

He was sure of that.

"... Did you just remember that?"

It sounded like it, and the name itself was familiar to Kenta, although for different reasons.

"This is one of the biggest shrines in the countries. They are the hosting place of Kusanagi no Tsurugi, a sword that is said to be imbued with the Goddess Amaterasu's spirit. They have a lot of sacred blades there, though, not just this one and they don't show Kusanagi anymore because it's too susceptible to be stolen."

So it would make sense if Jiroutachi was indeed a sacred sword that he would remember being there.

"It is?"

He looked over at the sword. Kenta had just touched it but Jirou hadn't felt anything. Apparently Yams was feeling things when someone touched the sword that he got. This was all so weird.

But so cool?

It was complicated.

"So I was kept at one of the biggest shrines... I really must be holy like I remembered."

"That would make sense."

It was complicated, true, and not all of it actually made sense unless you accepted the basic premise that Jirou was also a sword named Jiroutachi who was kept in a shrine and given sake offerings, but...

But Kenta was all ready to take Jirou's word for it.

"I visited that place a few time as a child. I do remember seeing blades there on altars, but I don't think I remember any of their names."

"That's okay."

He gave another pause then beamed at his boyfriend.

"Sooooooooo....do you think you could be? A sword too?"

Kenta had to smile at that.

"You really want me to be, huh?"

Well, if that was what Jirou wanted... Kenta might try and find a way to make it happen. Somehow.

"If I am, then I hope I was with you then as well."

Jirou's hands went up in the air as he gave a cry that said how pleased he was with Kenta wanting to be a sword with him. Just what he wanted!

"Yaaaay! Now we'll be swords together always!"

Kenta put his arm around Jirou's waist to bring him closer. Anything that made Jirou happy was a good thing. And as usual, he knew what would make him even happier.

"It's about time for dinner. More sake?"

"Always!"

As if he'd ever turn down more sake. At any time. "Oh! Have you tried the peach or sake ones I have? Those are really tasty!"

"I haven't yet, but that sounds really good. Where did you get them?"

Kenta liked his sake straight, but he also like some flavored ones or even some sparkly ones.

"A friend gave them to me! Fynn actually. Ever since I saved him he's been making sure I get yummy treats like that."

Apparently Fynn couldn't be bought but he sure was extremely loyal to Jirou.

Fynn probably would have been surprised to see Kenta smile at that, but Kenta had been truthful about the fact that he didn't have a personal problem with Fynn. He was actually pretty impressed that the man would send Jirou such extravagant gifts that obviously made Jirou happy.

"Let's try those."

"They're delicious. I hope he keeps sending me more sake."

They might not ever be his favorites like the ones Kenta spoiled him with were but that wasn't the point. Fynn had found a favorite and was providing. That put him in a very favorable light.

And with that, Jirou went to flit away to go pour some of both for them.

There is a long line of people before the altar. He doesn't really pay attention to them. They come every day and put offerings and pray to him, asking him to relay their prayers. But he feels far removed from this earthly contingencies.

He doesn't really remember how long he's been there. Just that when he arrived he was immediately placed there, on the altar, reverently. He's heard the talks, that he must belong to the gods, that no other than them could possibly make use of him...

Since then, he has barely paid attention to the daily comings and goings. People come and pray, and give offerings. Then they grow older, and they dies, and they children come instead but he doesn't change...

Kenta's eyes snapped open and he suddenly sat up in the bed, his breath a little short.

He was sure what this dream was. It seemed completely out of the blue. And it didn't really seem that scary. Not scary at all, even, so there was no need for his heart to be hammering in his chest like that.

Jirou blinked when Kenta sat up so suddenly. Sleepily. He wasn't awake himself. Sitting up slowly, he yawned and plopped his head on Kenta's shoulder. Tired though he was he still wanted to make sure his boyfriend was okay.

"What's wrong? Bad dream?"

"I... no... I don't... think so?"

Truth be told, he didn't really know. Was it a bad dream? At least Jirou's warm body draped over his own was helping him with calming down.

"Just... weird."

He wrapped his arms around his boyfriend and actually moved himself onto his lap. If he was going to be woken up to take care of him then he was going to let himself be held. Because obviously that would help Kenta feel better.

"Weird? What was it?"

Holding Jirou always made everything better. Kenta closed his arms around him and buried his face in the crook of Jirou's neck.

" You remember that shrine you told me about this afternoon? Atsuta Jinja?"

He couldn't say for sure that this was what he had seen but...

"There were people in a shrine bringing offerings. Praying. Many people over many years.... I don't know how many... and I was sitting o the altar receiving their prayers and offerings."

"So you're holy too. We have lots of similarities. I like that."

He hummed softly and started to lightly pet Kenta's hair. Even if he was sleepy and not awake yet he could still just help him feel better.

"Were you a sword?"

Kenta shook his head.

"No... I don't know. I didn't see. And I don't know where that was either."

The pets and the humming were both helping him to relax.

"I was watching them... for years. Centuries even. They would grow old before my eyes, and die, and then their children would come and do the same... And I just couldn't keep listening all the time. It was all so ... mundane and common place and I kept wondering why they were asking me, because I couldn't help them..."

"That sounds like you." Even if it was sword Kenta or whatever holy Kenta. Just so above it that he was just a little out of touch. The whole why of things could get lost on his boyfriends even without Retrospec. Jirou found that endearing, of course.

"Mmmm...I bet you'd be so beautiful on display. Even as a sword."

"Does it?"

Kenta supposed he was sometimes too distracted to pay attention to the more mundanes matter of life. Not out of bad will, but mostly because he'd never had to pay attention to those things before.

"What if I'm not a sword? There are many objects you can put on an altar."

"But you're so biiiiiiig. You have to be a sword."

Like how he had a giant oodachi. Kenta had to be something like that. Honestly it made the most sense to Jirou and was more than just what he eagerly wanted in this case.

Kenta let out a snort of laughter and his hold on Jirou tightened. Jirou really wanted him to be a sword, and he had to admit he was sort of swept way by that conviction.

As long as they could be together, he wanted it. Very much so. If they had to be weird beings with strange memories, they might as well be those together too.

"I won't care what we are or where we come from as long as we're it together." He smiled gently and pressed a kiss to Kenta's hair. In moments like this it was more clear that Jirou was the older one of the pair.

"They can take anything from me but you."

Because of his size and his reserved nature, a lot of people tended to think Kenta was the oldest of the two of them. But the truth was Jirou had always been his guide and rock and in a moment like this, he very much needed it.

"I don't ever want to generated from you."

"I won't let you be."

This time, he turned so he could straddle him arms around his head to hold him close to his heart. Let Kenta hear how it beat only for him no matter what world they might or might not be from.

"Kenta is my precious treasure."

Kenta closed his eyes, listening to that heartbeat for a moment. Then, he looked up and kissed Jirou's cheek, and then his lips, softly.

"Let's go back to sleep for now. I'm sorry I woke you up."

He gave a yawn and nodded.

"I like sleep. I like you more but I like sleep."

That was his sleepy way of saying he didn't mind being woken up as long as it was for Kenta. Still, he slipped off his lap and went to curl up, opening the blanket so Kenta could snuggle up to him.

Immediately Kenta snuggled closer. Even if he was bigger, he easily folded himself so he could touch as much of Jirou as he could as he closed his eyes again.

Hopefully, there would be no more weird dreams.

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(Closed) Recollections

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'generated'? wtf aurocorrect?

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