Chapter 5: Tears in the Snow
Musosai enjoyed his time here in the land of snow… to a point. After a few days of wandering about the city of stone, he couldn't help but long for the surrounding nature of his home in Hingashi. He had been thinking of home more and more often as of late every time he let his mind wander. He had come to enjoy his time here in Heir's Ear, of course, and found its many different cities to be so wondrous and beautiful in their own way, but it just wasn't home to him.
This land of Ishgard was very different from the other cities. They all were different from each other, but this one more so than the others. He could almost feel the history of this land with every step he took in this city of towering grey stone.
As well as the thought of such a long war having been brought to an end with the dragons.
He had heard stories of the dragons of being ancient creatures of wisdom and power—always having been told that they bring good luck. But to learn that there had actually been a bloody war over a thousand years old?! It boggled his mind to say the least.
But the worst part was how this cold was affecting his already aged body to such a point that he was almost in a constant state of pain. He had to force himself not to look more into his potions for he only had two left. He needed to save every last drop for what he had to do next. And he was getting so close as well…?
He pleaded to the kami that they would be kind enough to grant him just a little more time. Strength for what was to come next for him.
It seemed that they were listening. For the very next morning, while he was standing outside in a place called, The Bloom, beautiful name for such a rundown part of the city, he learned of a disturbing rumor that Momozigo had recently discovered.
No sooner did he learn of the details of this tragedy did his pupil arrive out of nowhere. Either she was growing more skilled in approaching someone undetected or his skills had greatly dulled while travelling across the land. He preferred to think of it as the first.
"Ah, Claire," Musosai said warmly when he saw her appear. And my, he could almost see her aura when she strolled up to them, it was truly a marvel to see.
"Your aura does not lie—you've grown stronger still," he said, hoping he didn't sound too excited. "Since embarking upon our journey, you have made remarkable progress. Ere long you will be a fully-fledged samurai."
And ere long he would bid her to continue with her last order from master to student…?
He shoved that thought away for the moment as he pressed on, "But on to our mission. As we scoured the snow swept stones and pillars of this city for evil, Momozigo came upon a disturbing rumor."
Claire tilted her head, as silent as ever, before Momozigo spoke.
"It's just awful, Claire—a stage tragedy played out in real life. A young couple threw themselves off a cliff in the western highlands," Momozigo sniffled tearfully as the tender-hearted soul he was. "As I hear it, the two were sweethearts from lowborn families, but the girl had the ill luck of being fancied by a young nobleman. This Honfraint tried to force them apart, and he hounded them so badly that they decided to end it. Two innocent lives lost, and why? Because some lordling had to think with his member! He must be punished, I tell you!"
"Heart-rending as this rumor is, rumors are no basis for punishment," Musosai said calmly, silently reminding him that they had to at least discover his guilt before confronting him. Why they needed was more of an idea of what happened. He had a bad suspicion that there was more to this tragedy then the rumors had them believe. "We must ascertain the truth of the matter. Let us begin by making inquiries of the couple in the Bloom."
So, they descended the stairs and spilt up, asking questions of all they could find. Most of them didn't seem to be the least bit interested in him and many regarded him as coldly as the snow that crunched beneath his feet. Still, he would not be swayed in his quest for the truth as he continued questioning, and slowly a few of them offered a little information on the young couple who took their lives.
It seemed that there was some truth in the rumors, in that they were both young people who came from low-born families. The maiden, however, was of a rare beauty and that beauty was what caught the attention of a young man from a high-born family. This man, this On-a-Fond person was someone who was used to getting what he wanted, but when the maiden refused, he seemed determined to break the two lovers apart.
That did not bold well.
After about an hour of asking questions, his pupil came back to him, having had more success than he did and explained how many of the people she talked too had known the couple, and they couldn't believe that they could take their own lives. For they weren't the type to give up on life in such a way, and even if they were, why go to the trouble of leaving the city to take their own lives when there was no shortage of high places here in Ishgard?
"Hmmm, so a cloud of suspicion hangs over the suicide," Musosai said thoughtfully. "It bears further investigation. But first things first—Momozigo has vanished yet again."
He was just wondering if they should go and look for him when they heard a familiar voice crying out in panic, "W-Wait! Let's talk it over! Uwaaaaaaah! Help meeeeeeeh!"
The two of them didn't need any other reason to wait as they ran down the stairs and back into the Bloom. But after searching about, they couldn't find a trace of their friend… at least until Musosai spotted something glinting on the ground, amidst the snow and broken wood. He bent down to pick it up and found it to be a bright button that he recognized at once.
"What is it?" Claire asked when she stepped up behind him, hardly making a sound.
"This button is from Momozigo's garment, but he is nowhere to be seen," Musosai said as he stood up and showed it to her. "This bolds ill."
He felt fear in the pit of his stomach, and wondered just what was happening here. They had no idea who was behind this, or why they would kidnap their friend. At least until…?
"Th-That lettle fella—was he your friend?" asked a nervous voice. They both looked up to see a man, looking tired and worn that seemed to be farily common in this part of the city—yet there was also a great unease in his face.
"He was askin' me 'bout the suicides when some men bundled him up an' carried him off. I hope he'll be alright…" he told them, leaving just as quickly as he had come, as if afraid that he would be taken next if he stayed for too long.
It seemed that their fears that these suicides weren't as they first thought. Someone was trying to stop Momozigo from asking questions. There was now only one thing that they could do.
"It seems plain there are those who take unkindly to our investigation," Musosai said seriously as he turned back to Claire, who had worry etched on her face. "The time for caution is past. Let us confront this On-a-Fond himself. He was recently sighted near the Fast Fiddle, on the level above."
She agreed, easily able to guide him through the city and up to where the greater nobility lived—so very different from how it all looked in the Bloom. It seemed that no matter where one went in the world, there was always going to be gaps between the rich and the poor.
Claire asked him if the man they were looking for had a name of one of the four High Houses, which he knew precious little of. But since they never heard a surname for him, then it may prove difficult to find him.
However, they got lucky when they were passing a couple grand manors, where Claire was just wondering if they should stop in and see if the people who lived here could help them, for she had spent a great deal of time here herself at one point. Yet, before they could make a decision, he spotted a young man, looking half-hysterical, and standing up at the very edge of a platform that overlooked the entire city.
"Wait!" he called to the young man, rushing forward as Claire ran behind him. They both stopped at the foot of the platform that the man stood on when he hollered back at them, "Go away! Let me die in peace."
Claire looked like she was ready to jump up there and grab him before he did such a thing, but Musosai held his hand out to her to stop her.
He then turned back to the man and spoke up, "If you wish to throw your life away, we will not stop you. But first, answer me something and clear your conscience. Our companion was seized by unknown men while investigating the recent suicides, and it seems there is more to the incident than rumors would have us believe. Tell us, what truly happened?"
He did not know how, but somehow, he just knew that this was the same man that they had been searching for. This On-a-Fond character. He could not see how it could be anyone else. And when he mentioned the suicides, the man gave pause and began to tremble uncontrollably.
"I-I tried to break them apart, that much is true," the young man confessed mournfully. "But they didn't kill themselves. I brought her to the manor late one night, and she… she learned things she wasn't supposed to know. Learned how my father was dealing illicitly in Furite. I implored Father to overlook it—tired to convince him that she wouldn't talk—but he refused to listen. He ordered them taken to the western highlands and they were… they were…" he broke down as he sobbed, "Oh, gods, I loved her! I truly did!"
So that was what happened. It seemed that this man was innocent… at least, a part of it. His father was the one who had their lives stolen, not for their love, but for his own selfishness in keeping his dark trades a secret.
"We thank you for your honesty, and shall bother you no more," Musosai told him honestly. "But know this: you are still young. You have all the time in the world. To begin anew, to make amends. Unlike this tired old man."
He knew that Claire was looking at him right now, but he didn't dare bring himself to look back. He meant what he said. This man was still young and had the rest of his life ahead of him. While nothing could ever bring back the two who were lost, taking his own life now before even trying to make amends was not the way to go.
He, himself, learned that long ago.
He turned back to Claire and ordered, "We haven't a moment to waste. To Slack-Eye on Bridge, Claire!"
"Yes," Claire agreed. "I know the way."
"My dear, is there truly nothing you cannot do?" he asked as they quickly made their way back through the city, reaching the Bloom and then heading off to the west. Claire told him that the only way that they could get to the bridge was to take one of those horse-birds and fly to a settlement. Once there, they would be able to walk the rest of the way through snow and monster-infested wasteland. Truly, these northern lands were something to be feared. No wonder the people here were so strong-willed… they have to be to live here.
He was not overly-thrilled at the thought of riding those horse-birds though. The smell off them, alone, was enough to make him feel faint. Still, Momozigo's life was hanging in the balance and so he had to face up to it. He let Claire talk to the porter, taking out one of the horse-birds, who was as black as ink.
She brought it over to him, but when he asked about her, she already told him how she already owned one… one who was given to her by a dear friend. He saw her eyes sadden at those words, and chose not to press the matter. Nervously, he swung himself up onto its back, and he was surprised by how strong the beast was, for it barely noticed him there.
Claire had blown a loud, shrill whistle, which seemed to summon her own black horse-bird seemingly out of nowhere. She swung herself up onto its back, who happily cooed at his owner, and she gripped the reins tightly as she pulled the bird around to face him.
"You have ridden horses, yes?" she asked him calmly.
"Yes," he answered and she nodded approvingly.
"Then this is the same as that," she told him, "Just make sure to hang on tightly when he starts flying.
Musosai looked down at the small wings on either side of his bird and felt a pang of doubt run through him. How could such tiny wings possibly cause his bird to fly with him on its back?
As if guessing what he was thinking, Claire merely smiled as she led him through the gate and to a platform before shaking her bird's reins. It took off running, and to Musosai's shock and amazement, when it jumped off the platform it began to fly.
Truly, without any outside aid it was easily able to support itself upon the wind with a rider on its back. Claire turned around in midair, hovering there as she waited for him to join her. Taking in a deep breath, Musosai shook his own horse-bird's reins and it went running off to the edge. Still, he closed his eyes tightly when they went over.
It happened so quickly that it took him a moment to gather his wits. He felt a bitterly cold wind run through him as they fell, but almost immediately he realized that the wind wasn't from them falling… it was from rising up!
He opened his eyes in shock and saw that they were truly flying! He was in the air, and the wonderful creature he was riding was flapping his wings furiously to keep them going.
He had to suppress the urge to cry out in joy at this unexpected pleasure, for there was still much for them to do. He remembered what Claire said about how this was similar to riding a regular horse, so he squeezed the horse-bird's sides and turned the reins until the bird did what he was told. Soon, he was able to follow after Claire, who turned her own horse-bird around with ease and guided him over the windswept mountains and chasms.
The only thing that he didn't like was this awful wind! Oh, how it blew through him like razor-sharp knives! The further that they flew, the more the wonders of flight seemed to be less thrilling to him than the idea of having a hot cup of tea underneath near a warm hearth.
Still, he was grateful when he spotted the outline of the settlement in the distance and knew that they were near the wilderness here. Claire had told him that apart from one small camp farther to the northwest of here, this was to be the only settlement in this entire region. So the people who took Momozigo had to have flown here first before carrying him off to the bridge.
The perfect place to end the life of another and never have anyone know about it.
They must hurry!
The bird, however, couldn't go any further than this, having been trained to go to certain places on its own and not stopping until it got there. It was made clear to him quickly enough that this bird wasn't going to move unless it was to go back to the city.
He left the horse-bird in the care of another porter, promising that he would be back for it.
It seemed that he and Claire were to head on the rest of the way on foot.
They walked quickly through the snow, sticking to a winding road that seemed to be encased in ice. Claire explained that this land was once covered in green fields and trees, at least until the Calamity, years before, having somehow changed the weather here. No one knows for sure how it did it, yet now this land was forever in a never-ending winter.
He couldn't help but feel a surge of pity for the people who called this land home… for never to see the beauty of green spring? Never to be able to walk outside without fear of frostbite? Truly a horrible thought!
So what they were walking on now was just a river, frozen to such a hardened ice that it would never flow again. They were able to avoid most of the strange creatures who roamed the land, and those who few whom they got to close, would let his pupil strike down those who did try to attack them.
Soon enough, he was able to make out the form of a large, black gate that seemed to be made entirely of iron. Slack-Eye on Bridge. What a strange name that it had…
"Claire," he huffed. "You go on ahead. You can run much faster than this old man. Hurry forward and save Momozigo. I shall catch up when I can."
Claire nodded before she went off, running so lightly that she hardly left signs of footprints in the snow. Truly a strange wonder this young, lady was.
Once he was sure that she was far enough away that she wouldn't see him, he doubled over in terrible pain. This venture, was far more painful than he ever expected it to be.
He coughed so hard that he almost ended up falling to his knees, struggling so hard for air that he was frightened that he had stopped breathing. But when it finally passed, he was able to continue onwards towards the bridge… spitting out the mouthful of blood that he had coughed up.
When he finally arrived at the bridge he saw, to his greatest of relief, that Claire had already dealt with the problem. Momozigo was hiding behind her, looking shaken up, but otherwise well, while a host of men lay dead at her feet. There was only one man left standing, and one whom looked a great deal like the young man they left back at the city… one whom he wondered if he would continue on with living or had given in to his despair?
"Gods, that was close… I thought I was a dead Lalafell…" Momozigo sighed in relief as he thanked Claire for saving her.
They all looked up at him when they heard him approach.
"Forgive me my delay," Musosai apologized, before being forced to lie again, "The deep snow makes you work for every step."
Instead, he turned his attention to the man, who was glaring furiously at them all as he asked, "So you are the heartless cur who stole two innocent young lives. It is over. Surrender yourself."
He was giving this man one chance to admit to his sins and to turn himself into the authorities. He need not die this day if he truly showed remorse. Yet this man let out a wild laugh at his offer.
"Like hells it's over!" he shouted as he reached for a strange contraption that he wore at his side. He had seen it's like—similar to some of the weapons that the Imperials used. A… pistol? He believed it to be called that anyway.
In any case, the man was making his position very clear as he barked, "Mistake me not for one of those unless mercenaries."
Musosai shook his head piteously. Even after all this, he showed no regret for what he had done. There was nothing else for it.
"Not a shred of remorse, lowlier than a mindless beast… such evil cannot be suffered," Musosai warned.
The man didn't even have time to raise the weapon to defend himself… he was cut down where he stood, not realizing what hit him as he fell backwards. He landed hard on the cold iron, though he could no longer feel it. Ironic… that he would be cut down here in the same way that he had cost other lives. But at least they never need fear him taking the life of another innocent person.
Yet, the effort that it took for him to draw his sword, was almost too much for him. He was huffing and puffing worse than ever as he turned back to Claire and Momozigo.
"Our work here is… is…" he gasped but didn't have a chance to finish as he collapsed, his strength leaving him once more.
"M-Musosai!" Momozigo cried out in shock at this.
Musosai bit his lower lip hard, feeling a surge of fury at himself for being so weak. He had not wanted his young companions to see this… to worry about him. No, not now… not when he was so close…?
"Ugh… I've not come this far… to fall here…" he hissed before rallying to his feet with a great deal of effort. He ignored his own pain as the other two gazed up at him with concern. Putting on a forced smile, he reassured them, "Worry not, my friends. 'Twas but a dizzy spell."
He knew that they did not believe him for a moment, he could see it in their eyes.
Instead he merely told them, "Now then, I believe we've visited all the major cities of Heir's Ear. Momozigo, you have been a fine guide and companion both. I am grateful for your help." Momozigo was taken aback by his words as he looked skywards, his head turned in the direction of the west as he mumbled to himself, "All that remains is to find Kogarashi and deliver unto him his reckoning…"
He looked back down at them as Claire was observing him through suspicious eyes.
"Claire, in the course of righting wrongs across the land, you have become a great samurai," he told her honestly. "One who's skills rival even that of Kogarashi. There is little and less left for me to teach you. I thank the kami for blessing me with such a fine pupil."
Truly, he could not hope to have found a finer one. One with so much pure, natural talent, and a gentle heart. He could not thank the kami enough for seeing him so close to his dearest wish. The time was almost here.
"Come, my friends, let us return to the city and find a place to warm ourselves," he said. The three of them left together, though little was said between them this time as they made their way back to the settlement. Claire said that she would stay long enough to explain matters to the guards here on what happened at the bridge, but bid the two of them return to the city and warm themselves up.
He was more than grateful for that… for he wasn't sure how much more of this miserable cold he could stand at the moment. He and Momozigo took a pair of the horse-birds back to the city… but just when he was beginning to think that he would be able to walk through the city back on his own…?
He felt his strength leaving him just as they reached the gate. The last thing that he remembered was hearing Momozigo's cry of worry as darkness covered his eyes.
*Claire*
He was hiding something.
That much was clear to her.
She had always thought him to be a kind, elderly man with a strong sense of justice. Nothing that she had seen so far had done anything to counter that. So why did she feel that he was still hiding something from her? From the moment that they met, she felt as though he was hiding some kind of secret and she didn't like it at all.
She explained to the knights at Falcon's Nest what transpired at the gate, and already an investigation was being called in to examine what was going on, and the nobleman's shady dealings.
She took her time returning to the city, choosing to have some time to herself to think, though she wasn't sure what it was that she should be wondering about if truth be told. A part of her wanted to go wandering off into the wilds at this point, to continue her training… but she felt that she should make sure that the others made it back in one piece.
However, when she returned to the Forgotten Knight, instead of Musosai ready to tell her what they should do next on their journey, she found Momozigo looking deeply upset.
"Claire, thank the gods you're here!" he cried as soon as he saw her approach him.
"What is it?" she asked, concerned by his state of worry.
"It's Musosai!" he gasped quickly, "He collapsed again as soon as we entered the gates! He's resting at the inn right now, but the chirurgeon… He said that the old man is ill—gravely ill. He… he hasn't long left."
Claire's eyes widen in shock at that.
So that was what he was hiding? How could she not have noticed this before? She had seen the signs the whole time, didn't she?
But… none of this made any sense! If he was dying the whole time, why would he venture halfway around the world and across a foreign land on a journey to seek out justice? Surely, he would have wanted to spend whatever time he had left in his homeland with his friends and loved ones instead of risking dying here?
Or did he believe that he would have returned by now? Was she taking too long to master the art of the samurai? Was this partly her fault for not seeing it until now?
"It's a wonder he could even draw his katana," Momozigo went on mournfully. "All this time, he's been pushing on by sheer force of will, punishing evildoers across the land, even saving my hide… What is it that drives him on? Why does he go to such lengths to find this Kogarashi character?"
He looked up at her wonderingly, as if he hoped that she would have an answer for him, but she merely shook her head helplessly at him.
"I honestly don't know anymore about this than you do," Claire confessed. "He only briefly mentioned him to me. He said that Kogarashi was the 'face of true evil'. But more than that, I know not."
He sighed, not sounding surprised though as he informed her, "The old man won't breathe a word on the matter, but there must be some reason. If only we knew, we could finish his duty in his steed… for now, there's naught to do but keep watch over him."
Claire felt worry inside her when he then added, "I'll see to that, so you needn't worry. If there's a change, you'll be the very first to know."
She made to argue, but then she wondered more on the thought on how she should return to her training. Musosai seemed more focused on ensuring that she fully master her new skills and aid him in fighting this Kogarashi character. There was nothing else for it. She would return when she felt that she was ready.
She nodded and told him softly, "Please pass on my best wishes for him to recover. I shall return as soon as I can."
Momozigo nodded in agreement, promising that he would look after Musosai for them. So she left… though not without a great sense of unease inside her.
*Musosai*
Blood… that was all that he could see around him. Musosai was running through the streets of Kugane, blood splattered the ground and buildings every few feet and the bodies of countless innocent people laid strewn around him.
No… this couldn't be happening!
But as he ran up the steps once more, he spotted it… the figure standing there, blood soaking his clothes, and dripping from his blade.
"You…" he gasped, his eyes wide and body shaking in terror as his katana dropping from his hands.
The familiar figure turned to him and held the blade up high and brought it down at him…
Musosai woke with a start, gasping for air and staring around with fear before realizing that he was in his inn room, safe and sound. He let out a sigh of relief before he felt a stabbing pain rush through his entire body and he could not suppress the cry of pain this time.
"Musosai!" gasped a voice next to him and he turned his head a little to see Momozigo standing there, apparently having kept watch over him as he slept.
"M-Momozigo?" Musosai croaked out, trying to remember what happened. "What… what happened?"
"We're in the inn," Momozigo explained. "They had given you a room where you can rest. The tavern owner was even kind enough to call in a chirurgeon for us to have a look at you. Here, they left some medicine for you to take."
He then reached for the bedside table where a large bottle was standing and poured it into a small glass for him.
"No, thank you, Momozigo," Musosai said, and with a great effort, he forced himself to sit up. "I'm fine. 'Twas nothing but a slight dizzy spell, like I said, and I…?"
"Don't lie to us again!" Momozigo snapped suddenly, taking him by surprise. Momozigo was looking at him with red eyes, looking deeply upset as he cried out, "We know, you know? The chirurgeon who came in the treat you said so himself. He said that you were ill… and you knew that didn't you? You… you don't have much time left! He said that it was a miracle that you were able to even stand!"
Musosai closed his eyes as he leaned back against the blankets with a grim sigh. He knew that this was going to happen, that they would figure it out sooner or later. But it was painful nonetheless.
"I'm sorry," was all he could say to his young companion. "I am sorry for deceiving you so, Momozigo. You and Claire. I didn't wish to. But I had my reasons."
"Why?" Momozigo demanded, "What is so important that you would push yourself so? You could have just been killing yourself even faster?!"
"I am well aware of that," Musosai said slowly. "But I had no choice. You see, I came here to Heir's Ear for two reasons. The first was to find a pupil to pour all of my knowledge into. And the kami blessed me with a wonderful pupil. Her training is nearly complete and soon she will no longer need me to guide her along the path of the samurai."
"And the other reason?" Momozigo pressed him as Musosai closed his eyes when the Lalafell added, "To find this Kogarashi person, right? Well, what did he do that was so terrible? Claire said that you called him the 'face of true evil' or something like that, right? And why do you have to be the one to find and punish him?"
"Make no mistake my friend," Musosai sighed, "That Kogarashi is the face of true evil. I cannot die yet… not until I see to it that he is punished for what he did. Countless times I have tried to take his life, but I always faltered in the end."
"But what did he do?" Momozigo asked in bafflement. "And how can he be so strong that even you never been able to finish him off?"
But Musosai could not bring him to answer, he couldn't even look him in the eye as he laid there, shame filling his entire being at how weak he was.
"Alright, you don't want to tell me, but why? Why? Why didn't you tell us how sick you were?" Momozigo demanded, "Did you know you were you sick before you even came to Eorzea?"
There was a long moment of silence.
"Yes," he sighed as Musosai finally looked up at him.
"I had to come here," he confessed honestly. "When I first learned that I was struck with an incurable illness, I knew what I had to do. I only have a short time left and if I don't finish it all now, I never will. Claire has come so far… there's only one last technique left for me to teach her. And I believe that I know where Kogarashi will be when the time is right. This… this will be her final test. And I am so close, Momozigo… I must live just a little bit longer."
"But if you couldn't beat him, do you think that she will be able to?" Momozigo asked. "Ok, so she's strong, but do you think that she's strong enough to do this?"
"She is the only one who can," Musosai replied firmly, "I no longer have the strength to deliver Kogarashi his punishment. But she is strong… as strong as he is… I know that she has what it takes. I imagine that she has left to continue her training?" He paused here and smiled when he saw Momozigo nod.
"Good," he said firmly. "That is good. And knowing her as well as I think I do, she will return to us soon enough. I promise that you will understand everything when the time is right. But for now, please… just… just trust me."
Momozigo frowned, looking upset again, but he nodded as he jumped down from his seat next to the bed.
"I'll be back to check in on you later," he said. "I'll be asking around the city if they know anything about this 'Kogarashi' person. But I don't have much to go on. In the meantime, please make sure to take your medicine. It will help."
Musosai agreed, but only because he knew that it would put his companion's at ease. Momozigo then went to the door but before he did, Musosai gave him one last request.
"Momozigo?" he called. When Momozigo looked back, Musosai smiled warmly as he asked, "I know you will not like hearing this. But… when I depart from this world… I wish that you would bury me at a spot where I would be able to watch the western seas. Not in this cold climate though… perhaps… back in the desert? Where my final journey began?"
"Don't say such things…?" Momozigo began but Musosai merely smiled.
"Promise me," he said gently. "To bury me at a spot where I will be able to watch the western seas."
Momozigo paused there, tears filling up in his eyes. He didn't say anything as he sniffled… and nodded.
(Hello there. sorry for taking so long for this chapter. But, I accidently deleted the chapter and I just hadn't had the heart to sit down and work on it again. I'm glad that I was able to get it done though. And soon, we will be reaching the final step to Musosai's journey, and learn just who this enemy is that he is so determined to hunt down.)