❀ Kotetsu T. Kaburagi

[cranelike]

specifically uses my tiger icon

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[cranelike]

It's my purpose.

(Not his "job" but his purpose.)

Humans can't stay in the past for long. It's too dangerous for their bodies.

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[ Blinks. Wait. ]

...Are you not human?

[cranelike]

A human my age would be dust, don't you think?

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[ A little sheepish. He might have missed that a little. But also... ]

I guess I didn't really think about it when I saw those profiles.

[cranelike]

(That gets a laugh out of Tsurumaru. He's amused,)

There are all sorts of people here. Anything could be possible.

(A 1000 year old human could be a thing. It probably is a thing. It is a thing.)

But no, I'm not human. I am kamil more or less a spirit.

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Huh.

[ But he nods. There are a lot of things around here that he hadn't run into, so. ]

So, you're going back to try to protect the past... from what? Other spirits?

[cranelike]

Those with regrets who wish to change the past.

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[ He rubs his chin a bit at that. ]

Must be some really strong regrets to go that far.

[cranelike]

Have you ever wished to go back in the past and do something differently?

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[ He pauses to think about that, then slowly shakes his head. ]

For better or worse, I'm here where I am because of the past. Even if I have regrets and guilt.

[cranelike]

(...)

You're a stronger spirit than most.

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I've done a lot of stupid things, but I have to accept that. What if I changed something and lost something else?

[cranelike]

Then after changing something once, you would change it again.

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And it keeps going. Doesn't like anyone would be satisfied with that.

[cranelike]

Eventually, it wears at your soul and becomes too much to bear.

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Then I'm lucky I don't have regrets like those.

[cranelike]

(...)

How like a tiger.

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[ He tilts his head and gives a curious expression to that.

Finley perks up. Like me??? ]

Oh yeah?

[cranelike]

In old beliefs, the tiger lives on earth and the dragon lives in heaven.

Living on earth, the tiger is material and grounded. In other beliefs, it is steady, confident, and honest.

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[ Maybe he would know some of that because of his name literally having "Ko" for tiger, but. Waves hand. ]

My mother named me well, then.

[cranelike]

Names are important, Kotetsu. It is, after all, how you're known.

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I know.

[ He glances at Finley. Tiger bond! ]

Which is why it's a part of everything I do.

[cranelike]

Then I'm certain you will be someone others can rely on, Kotetsu.

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I hope so...

[ Finley, apparently, things it's appropriate to to nudge a shard in response to the conversation. ]

[cranelike]

(It's a curious memory. Overall, there are things that he can follow. Kotetsu has lost his daughter on a stormy day. Though he has never had a family, he has spent enough time with humans and others to understand the anxiety that he is feeling.

There are other things that he cannot fully grasp though. The incredible speed and strength, for example. It's more than what a regular human should be capable of, even under the type of distress that usually makes the impossible possible.

As the memory fades, Tsurumaru's first concern is not the curious powers or Kotetsu but rather--)

How was she?

(He's more worried about his daughter.)