text; un: tengennohana

[ryototsukai]

i'm already 1m yen in debt?!

i just started in debt to Tenko-hime?!

i mean i did spend a ton of money on food and drinks and lovely women and cute boys and stuff but

somehow i thought it would all work out?

how am i supposed to handle this?!?!

Comments

[lonelinessloop]

You're very kind.

It's easy to get discouraged or feel overwhelmed when everything is new. But I'm sure you'll do great too, Musashi-chan!

[ryototsukai]

true, but this isn't really a first time thing for me, either.

the "another world" part not the "being neck deep in debt" part.

[lonelinessloop]

This isn't my first time in a city like this. But its both of our first times in *this* city.

[ryototsukai]

this isn't your first time in hell?!

[ Should she really be surprised, even if that wasn't a weird conclusion to jump to? Considering all the places Musashi had been to... ]

[lonelinessloop]

Oh no! That wasn't what I meant.

The city just reminds me of another place I've been a few times.

[ryototsukai]

whew! that makes way more sense than a girl like you winding up in hell, i guess.

but i'm guessing you mean modern red light districts or something?

[lonelinessloop]

Yes, that's what I meant.

So far, the 'hell' part doesn't seem that bad.

[ryototsukai]

that's true. this doesn't really mach the version of "hell" i was told about as a kid. no counting of your sins, no tongue pulling; to be honest it mostly seems like the Enma is concerned with just keeping the place running smoothly.

[lonelinessloop]

I hope it doesn't turn out to be like that!

I'll admit: we didn't really talk about hell much when I was growing up.

[ryototsukai]

pretty much the only thing that stuck with me from my father were a) sword lessons and b) Buddhist lecturing.

of course i also went on that whole "eightfold path" thing that a lot of wandering swordsman did, so there's that, too!

[ Not that her attempts to be more Buddha-like seemed very... noticeable, given she's already in debt from indulging too much. ]

[lonelinessloop]

[ She... doesn't want to talk about her father. It's a bit of a sore spot right at the moment. He's why she's here, after all. ]

I had no idea that had anything to do with swordsmanship. It sounds interesting, though.

Did you finish?

[ryototsukai]

my journey?

nope!

to be honest, i'm not really sure what the end goal is supposed to look like. i've seen my sword reach emptiness...

... i guess all that's left is to see what's beyond the void.

[ Talk like that... this might be the real deal Musashi. ]

[lonelinessloop]

[ Maybe! Or a really dedicated swordfighter. Or a total weirdo. She is not ruling out any of these possibilities. ]

I guess. What does that look like? Or feel like?

I've never held a sword. I don't know much about it.

[ryototsukai]

well, it's hard to describe, especially for someone who'd unfamiliar with the way of the blade.

which is funny since that Other Me wrote a whole book about this, but i can barely find the words for it, right?

[ "Other Me"? ]

but i guess the easiest way to put it is like... everything turns off. there's nothing else but you, the sword, and the cut. you're disconnected completely from the world, from the very root of all things.

[lonelinessloop]

[ There's a lot in there to unpack. She takes a moment before she answers. ]

That sounds a little like how it is when I'm dancing, especially if there's an audience.

Who's the 'Other You' if it's okay for me to ask?

[ryototsukai]

well

the other Musashi. from proper human history. the one most people probably know, at least. the one that's a guy.

[lonelinessloop]

Oh. So you're... him? But not?

[ryototsukai]

that's about the sum of it. i'm "another" Musashi. not the "proper" one, either, but part of a branch of possibility that withered off the great tree of existence.

or. something like that, anyways. in all honesty, it barely makes sense, but just know that you're not crazy if the Musashi you've read about in history books is a guy. that's what Musashi is supposed to be.

but even if that's true, i am Miyamoto Musashi.

[lonelinessloop]

I don't think either of us are crazy. And I don't think there's any 'supposed to' that matters. Or 'proper'.

If you're Miyamoto Musashi, then that's who you are and that's what's important.

[ryototsukai]

[ ... ]

i guess it's still nice to hear that, even from a relative stranger.

[lonelinessloop]

I bet I'll feel the same way once I get to know you.

[ryototsukai]

here's hoping, because you've just made a friend!

[lonelinessloop]

Oh! Well, so have you!

You're my first friend here, actually!

[ryototsukai]

first of many, i'll bet!

[ She couldn't be more more certain. ]

[lonelinessloop]

I hope so. Everything's easier with friends. And there's so many interesting people here.