Detached from the world, always.

A cursed fate I've subjected myself to, because of what I believe in.

Another victory.

The battlefield was filled with vanishing corpses. The corrupted swords went out in such a way, leaving behind dark smoke that only lasted for a few seconds.

Such things can't leave the world in a human way after all.

Mutsunokami observed them closely, as if he was in a trance. Being a family heirloom, he'd never been this close to a battlefield before – and the battlefield he'd imagined was nothing like this. Fighting in his own form, not in the hand of a human, was not something he ever expected.

What kind of thoughts do they leave in this world, he wondered.

"Alright, good job!"

He looked up from the vanishing skeleton. An annoyed Ookurikara was struggling to escape, not letting himself be included in the group hug. Wrapped by Shokudaikiri Mitsutada's other arm was Tsurumaru Kuninaga, who only laughed in amusement.

"It's no surprise, Kuri-chan is so cold!"

"Leave me alone. And don't call me 'Kuri-chan'."

Mitsutada's arm had a lot more force, being a tachi. So after a little while of struggling, Ookurikara gave in. Still, he looked away with clear distaste in his face, as if saying he didn't want to be a part of Mitsutada's bubbly mood nevertheless.

"Come on, it's been a while since we fought together like this. It feels great, doesn't it?"

Mitsutada smiled widely, tightening his embrace.

"I'm not interested."

Despite Ookurikara's denial (as usual), the other two laughed and they swung in place.

They'd been comrades in the past, after all. The claws of the great One-eyed Dragon. It must've been nice to be under that kind of person together.

"…So loud."

A dirty, tattered white cloak swept by. Mutsunokami looked up at Yamanbagiri, who was brushing pieces of bones off his shoulder. His cloak was even dirtier today, and was filled with cuts and blotches of blood, like the rest of his clothes and his body.

"…Doesn't it hurt?"

It was a question of concern, but Yamanbagiri shot a cold gaze at him in response.

"Don't waste time worrying about a duplicate like me."

That makes no sense, though, thought Mutsunokami, but he didn't dare say that out loud. Of course, Yamanbagiri was not that much of a violent person, but his glare hurt more than his blade. Instead, he stood up and wrapped one arm around the other's shoulders, like what Mitsutada did.

"…What do you think you're doing?"

As expected, he was irritated.

"Tryin' to tell ya' that ya' did a good job today. Hehe."

Wiping under his nose with his other hand, Mutsunokami offered a friendly grin. But his comrade only moved away from his arm coldly.

"Don't learn strange habits from Mitsutada."

From a distance, Mitsutada who overheard this was also a little hurt.

"…We finished with the last location, so we should go back now."

The tachi let the other two go and declared, trying to keep a cool look as the captain. The sun was setting, so everyone cleaned up and went back to the citadel.

"Hey, ya' hungry? Maybe we could—"

But Yamanbagiri only ignored him and went on ahead. He really didn't know how to be friendly.

He'd been staring at the ceiling for at least half an hour.

Wouldn't you fall asleep faster in cold weather? How absurd, he thought, as he gave up and sat up. The thick blanket slid off him. It was warm and comfortable, but he still couldn't sleep for some reason.

"…Maybe if I had someone to sleep with."

Mutsunokami mumbled to himself, suddenly feeling a bit sad. Other swords shared rooms with their siblings, or at least those whom they knew from the past. Naturally, he had no one like that. The only people he could say he knew was the Shinsengumi guys. And they were out of the question.

After a few minutes of staring blankly at the darkness, he stood up and opened the sliding door.

There was no one in the main room. The tables they usually lined up for meals and meetings had been put away, leaving an unusually large space. It made him feel even more lonesome.

"…Just what nonsense am I thinkin' about…"

Mutsunokami sighed and slapped both of his cheeks lightly. He was going to watch the garden at night until he was tired enough to sleep. Shaking his head to chase away unnecessary thoughts, he sat down on the engawa.

It seemed even colder outside. There was barely any light, too. The water of the pond only reflected a few stars. It was not the season for clear skies and fireflies yet. And flowers only looked brilliant under the sunlight, he thought.

"…Ah."

So there wasn't no one in the main room, after all. Yamanbagiri looked back at him, hesitant. It seemed they were equally surprised by each other's presence.

"So you couldn't sleep, too."

Mutsunokami opened his eyes wide. Somehow, he was expecting something more… harsh of a reaction. Though it was dark, Yamanbagiri seemed to notice this, as he turned away and pouted.

"Is your impression of me really that rude of a person?"

"Uh… No. But I was expectin' ya' to be more… cold…?"

Mutsunokami scratched his head. Maybe he was catching the guy in his bad mood all this while. Every single time they met. For a month.

But this is a great chance to get along, he thought. Mutsunokami made up his mind and tried to strike a conversation.

"Ya' can't sleep, Kunihiro? Somethin' on y'ar mind?"

"...It's not something worth talking about."

Yamanbagiri only stared at the darkness, as if he was looking for something there.

"If ya' lose sleep over it, I wouldn't call it nothin', yanno."

Mutsunokami turned his eyes to the darkness too.

"Then let me rephrase it. It's not something worth talking to someone else about."

"Ya' sayin' that because y'ar a duplicate again?"

"...Maybe."

"That won't do, yanno."

A hand placed itself on Yamanbagiri's shoulder, making him turn around and look at the other.

"We're all here to fight a war under the same master. It's not like the old times. We live together, whether we want it or not. So if ya' have a problem, ya' shouldn't hide it from everyone. It's not good to let worries grow…"

The turquoise, gem-like eyes blinked. The two of them had never been this close before. Mutsunokami suddenly felt flustered for some reason, and his voice trailed off.

"...But if ya' don't wanna talk about it, I shouldn't force ya'..."

His hand left Yamanbagiri's shoulders and his eyes returned to the darkness. And his ears felt a bit warmer, but why?

"...You sound just like him."

Yamanbagiri muttered absent-mindedly. Mutsunokami could feel his gaze, and it was strangely warmer than usual, with a hint of curiosity. Good thing they were changing the subject; his red cheeks were becoming more and more visible in this darkness.

"Who?"

"My brother. Yamabushi, you know? You're a lot like him."

"Am I? He's a great guy. Hehe."

Mutsunokami wiped under his nose and forced a grin to hide how increasingly flustered he was getting. Get it together, he scolded himself.

"He is. I'm glad we could meet again at a time like this… Even though we're different, he treats me so kindly. Horikawa, too. Even if we're fighting a war, I've become used to being spoiled…"

Yamanbagiri smiled to himself faintly. He seemed to cheer up at just the mention of his brothers. Now this is a side that he didn't show often.

He's even prettier when he smiles. Mutsunokami didn't dare to voice that comment out loud.

"Must be nice to have brothers, ain't it? Right, ya' can talk to 'em about y'ar problems!"

The smile faded.

"...I don't want to bother them."

"Eh? But y'ar brothers…"

"They've already troubled themselves enough with my injuries. I'm already being treated like a child… It wouldn't be fair to them if I troubled them with my emotional problems as well."

Only silence followed.

Deep inside, Mutsunokami knew that the other was wrong. But on the other hand, who was he to tell him that? So he kept quiet.

Their conversation cut short, the two of them only watched the darkness soundlessly. Still, it felt like some unknown words were left hanging in the air…

"Brother? So you're out here."

Someone's drowsy voice came from the darkness, making both of them jump. Looking at the source of the voice, they found Horikawa Kunihiro, yawning in his bedtime attire.

"What are you doing? It's late, you need to get some rest. You were assigned for front line duties first thing in the morning, you know."

Though possessing a juvenile figure and voice of a wakizashi, Horikawa was strict. Though he was only half awake, he pulled his older brother up forcefully by the arm, not allowing any attempt of protest. Yamanbagiri didn't seem like he would show any of the such anyway; he obediently stood up and, after a slight nod to say goodbye to his night-viewing companion, headed back to where he and his brothers sleep.

"You too, Yoshiyuki-san. Just because you have nothing to do tomorrow morning, doesn't mean you can wander around at this ungodly hour."

Horikawa said after a yawn and followed after his brother.

Left alone again, Mutsunokami gave himself half of a smile as he stared at the darkness. Being treated like a child, huh?

But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't imagine how it'd be to have brothers.

He sat up. Someone was there.

The room still felt devoid of warmth, even though this man was sitting right next to his futon. He could only see the man's back, but the familiarity was too great.

"...Ryouma…?"

He called out. The man remained still.

Sakamoto Ryouma. The name had a different meaning to him than to everyone else. For he was Ryouma's sword, and Ryouma was his owner, from beginning to end. Being a tsukumogami, he would always recall those days fondly. When he watched Ryouma grow up, cheering him on as he headed towards new ideals, even when he abandoned his name and family to pursue his goals, even when he opposed those who held power over his life… Even when he carried pistols, Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki was always his sword.

Always, until the night when his sword failed to protect him.

Being a non-human, living with humans, is accepting how fleeting human life is. No matter how much memory, how much impact they left in the world, they would all perish one day, without fail. No matter how great of a figure they were, there is no exception. Like a sakura flower, blooming brilliantly, only to fall and scatter after a moment.

He'd long since accepted that. So why, now…

"Are you well, Mutsunokami?"

The faded voice echoed in the darkness, as if it was coming from afar.

"Ryouma? Why… Could it be that ya'..."

"I've passed away, Mutsunokami. You couldn't have forgotten?"

The figure swayed. The man looked like a shadow.

"...Of course not. I'm not a human, I don't forget things that easily."

The tsukumogami forced a laugh.

"This room is a cold one, isn't it."

Mutsunokami sat on his futon and gazed at the man's back longingly. He could no longer see his face, he realized. Those days are long gone. There are things that can never come back.

"...I'm alone, Ryouma. Why, even though I'm livin', fightin' alongside more people than ever, I'm still…"

He had never had a chance to talk to the man like this. And when it did happen, it could only be with a fragment of memory, gleaming momentarily.

"Even though you were the one looking after me, you've taken after me well, Mutsunokami."

"...Ryouma? Why did…"

"I'm here because, like you said, you were alone."

The tsukumogami didn't answer. I see, he told himself bitterly. Resorting to an imaginary figure to console himself, like a little human child.

"People are different from one another. Sometimes, they are unified in that difference. But sometimes, they are isolated because of it. Because of what you believe in, you could end up alone. No matter how many people you're surrounded by, you would always feel alone."

He looked at the palm of his hand. He never expected this hand to hold anything.

"You aren't human, but you've taken after a human. Maybe that's why this room is so cold, Mutsunokami. You've paid for what you believe in. Your loneliness is the price for your resolve."

Mutsunokami snickered, realizing just a small drop of bitterness in him. That's right, he wasn't human, so he wouldn't have any belief. But he believed in Ryouma. He believed in the man's ways, even when they brought him to his grave. And as his sword, he's still paying for that resolve, the resolve which he gladly shared.

So there was nothing to do but to accept sleeping in such a cold room, was there.

"...But, you know, Mutsunokami, you are living in the future I worked so hard to realize. The times have changed. So maybe it's time for you to believe in something new."

The first ray of light rose from across the horizon. Mutsunokami looked at his master, surprised, wondering if this was truly just something his mind fabricated. Words slipped out without him knowing.

"Something new to believe in?"

For the first time, Ryouma turned around. Blinded by the new daylight, Mutsunokami could barely see his smile.

"A new change. For yourself."

A spot of sunlight was burning his nose. He turned away from that spot, groaning and rubbing his nose.

Looking out of the window, he realized that the sun had risen long before he did. Unexpectedly, the sky wasn't so grey this morning.

Mutsunokami sat up slowly. Despite his heavy eyelids and groggy mind, he felt obliged to wake up. Breakfast must be over by now, he thought, yawning. He had nothing in particular to do this morning, but lazing around in bed until late noon would earn him a good scolding from several people.

There was faint commotion outside as he struggled to stand up. Right, a team was assigned on front line duties today. It must be them returning. He let out a long yawn, opening the sliding door.

Just how many coincidences can two people run into in the span of only six hours? He wasn't awake enough to ponder over such a question. But standing before him was, again, Yamanbagiri Kunihiro. This time around, the blond uchigatana was covered in bloodied cuts, even more than the last time they were in battle together. The sight woke Mutsunokami up immediately.

"...Good morning. Did you just wake up? It's late."

What an oddly polite tone. This was clearly an attempt to distract. Yamanbagiri looked like he was just passing by, and ready to run away at any second. How unfortunate for him that the person in this room was asleep until the exact moment he arrived.

"Oi, ya' just came back from battle, didn'tcha? This ain't the way to the repair room."

Yamanbagiri's face crumbled in pain as Mutsunokami grabbed his arm to stop him from running away, his blood sticking to the other's palm.

"I just thought… This is nothing worth worrying over-"

But Mutsunokami didn't let him finish. Wordlessly, just like Horikawa, he dragged the wounded sword to the repair room, in the opposite direction.

Other people in the citadel watched curiously as Mutsunokami, wearing only a loose hakama, dragged Yamanbagiri by the arm in the direction of the repair room, ignoring the other's weak yelps of protest. He paid them no mind, though it probably wasn't the case for his prisoner, who kept pulling his hood down.

"L-Let me go! I'm alright! I'll just go to the repair room later, I had some, um, more important business to…"

"Yeah, right, like anyone's gonna buy that."

"Just what do you think you're doing, let go of my arm!"

"Sorry~ No can do. I'm doin' ya' a favor, yanno. Wouldja rather faint of blood loss a lil' while later and get carried to the repair room anyway?"

Yamanbagiri only made a weak groan of frustration in response. Truly, he'd much prefer any method that would gain less attention to himself. Mutsunokami knew this, but was enjoying it in a way. So he only ignored the other until they reached their destination.

Just as he thought, Yamanbagiri's teammates for this morning were looking for him around the repair room. They were relieved and bowed to Mutsunokami as thanks when the two passed by.

"There~ we go!"

The stubborn Yamanbagiri was flung into the room. He immediately turned back angrily, but Mutsunokami was already blocking the way out with both arms, grinning.

"What did you do that for?"

"Like I said, I was doin' ya' a favor."

He shrugged, intentionally setting the other off even more. Ya' deserve this for tryin' to run, he seemed to say.

"I'll get you back for this."

This only made him laugh. He knew too well that Yamanbagiri, while as cold as he was, wasn't the kind of person to execute petty paybacks. He didn't know how to.

"Make sure to be properly repaired for that, okay!"

And with that teasing remark, he closed the sliding door.

A/N: I procastinated a lot on writing this chapter. Hello again.

For some reason, the second chapter ended up being nearly three times as long as the first. I always considered the first one to be a 'prologue' of some sort, so it was okay at first, but then this one reached the 10th Doc page, and I freaked out a little. I thought about cutting some parts into another chapter, but no matter how I tried to, it wouldn't do. So here it is, almost 3000 words...

I think this was written a little differently than the first chapter? Wasn't it? I'm new to writing, so the way I write could be inconsistent. I apologize if it gets too much! On another note, since this is a rare pairing, I was surprised to know someone other than my friend found this fic. Thank you for reading and leaving a kind review, it really means a lot to me! The next chapter won't be as long. I'll do my best.