Third update already. Things start speeding up right about... now, I guess.
Characters: Suigetsu, and the rest of team Hebi/Taka/Hawk/Snake.
Notes: I just randomly started writing this one, and Suigetsu seemed just the type to do this, actually, so I wrote it. Oh, and it's from Sasuke's point of view. Enjoy!
February 17, 2009
burnish
verb, noun:
1. to make shiny by polishing
noun:
1. a polish or shine
He never cared much for his sword, or so it seemed, at least, that was what Sasuke thought until he caught Suigetsu one time with a bottle of soap and some tissues, to wipe his sword – Zabuza's sword, he would often remind himself. "What are you doing?" he'd asked, in disbelief that one of teammates even did something as silly as polishing his sword. They had better things to do than that. Sure, he could wipe the blood off, especially if it caking on would prevent the weapon from slashing right through a victim, something he heard Suigetsu often brag about, though he'd never seen him do it.
Still, a grown man polishing his sword as if it was his biggest prize? Sasuke could get it if Suigetsu had won it in an epic battle, but he'd just stolen it from a dead man's grave, and not particularly gracefully either. Though the dead man probably didn't mind, Sasuke mused, as long as the sword was used well and often.
Now that he'd caught the other, he would find him on more than a few occasions just polishing up his sword without saying a single word. Though, if Karin would've found him, they most certainly would've clashed. Strangely enough, Sasuke found himself staring at his own sword for short periods of time, until he caught himself doing it and quickly sheathed it away. He couldn't be bothered to polish his own sword, he used it way too much and it would be a hassle to clean every day. He only did once a week, though he usually cleaned off the blood after a long fight, if the time-frame allowed it. Despite all this, Suigetsu still seemed to find the time do polish his own sword more than once a week, sometimes he would find him every day like that, as if it was his job.
Sasuke slowly started to understand why, though, but Suigetsu never told him in words. He polished the sword so he could be the rightful master, while honoring the previous one at the same time. From what Sasuke could remember, Zabuza had always looked proud at his sword, with the way he carried it around and used it to, basically, flaunt it to everyone who could see. Suigetsu never did that. He just gently took care of it, like a child, and used it vigorously in battle, battles that were usually won because of the way he used his sword as an extension of himself. Sasuke supposed that extension not only went for battle, but for everyday life as well. As time passed, the sword seemed to become a part of Suigetsu, a part that would be missed if it would ever disappear, just as much as a friend or a family member would be missed. Though he supposed the other man had always been a weird one, regarding everything and everyone.
Karin ended up being the one speaking to him about it. "Why do you keep doing that?" she finally asked, sounding exasperated. "It's just a sword, not even Sasuke-kun does it."
Suigetsu shrugged. "I'd suspect as much from you," was his only reply, and the glare she gave him greatly amused the white-haired ninja.