Armor of Memories
Armored Yachiyo: Step up, Taro! You and me are about to go round and round!
Taro: Wait! You want to DUEL with me?! But I have no idea what I'm doing!
Greenhorn Samurai Taro
Taro: Er, that is to say, as I am still in training, I would be little match for you in a true contest of steel, Yachiyo.
Armored Yachiyo: Well then, what if we don't use the ol' pokers? How's that strike you?
Taro: So you want to duel...without swords? What kind of duel is that?
Armored Yachiyo: A duel of ARMOR POLISHING!
Taro: Okay, now I'm very confused.
Armored Yachiyo: We both polish fast as the dickens, and the one who hits a mirror shine first walks off with the brass ring! Seems fairer than me putting the hurt on you, eh, pal?
Taro: Well, I certainly stand a better chance, but I've already finished taking care of my armor for the day.
Armored Yachiyo: Thought that might be the case, which is why I borrowed THIS set of ragamuffin armor from ol' Malka!
Taro: You whaaat?!
Armored Yachiyo: No reason to turn me down now, chum! So whaddya say? A duel to the dazzle? A battle of brushes? A clean sweep?
Taro: Um...sure, I guess?
Armored Yachiyo: Cat's pajamas! Now then, on your mark! Get set!
Saiga: What's going on here?
Armored Yachiyo: No time to bump gums, baby! We're in the middle of a duel to see who can get their armor polished up lickety-split.
Saiga: An...armor-polishing duel?
Yachiyo & Taro: *scrub* *scrub* *scrub* *scrub* *scrub*
Yachiyo & Taro: DONE!
Armored Yachiyo: Well, I'll be a copper's bunions! We finished at the same time.
Taro: Oh, wow. Looks like it's a draw.
Saiga: No. Taro is the winner.
Armored Yachiyo: BUSHWA, SAYS ME!
Saiga: If you look closely at your visor, Yachiyo, you will find a few unpolished edges.
Armored Yachiyo: Well, toss me from the tracks! It's true!
Taro: Um, but it's still pretty much all shiny, so I'm okay calling it a draw.
Armored Yachiyo: Nope! You gave me the bum's rush fair and square. Can't have a duel without a winner and a loser, after all.
Saiga: Yachiyo speaks the truth. Bear this victory with pride, Taro.
Saiga: Your daily diligence in armor polishing is clearly starting to pay off.
Taro: Well, my father gave it to me and all, so taking care of it just feels right.
Saiga: And why, exactly, did you challenge him to this particular contest, Yachiyo?
Armored Yachiyo: Ain't it obvious? So I could get even stronger than I am now!
Armored Yachiyo: It's like my dear ol' grandpappy said: You ain't the strongest until you best a thousand opponents in a thousand duels.
Saiga: Yes, I remember him saying that, but I fail to see how it relates to armor polishing.
Armored Yachiyo: 'Cause I felt like polishing my armor, see?
Armored Yachiyo: So I figured making a duel outta it was just more efficient-like.
Saiga: Efficient how?
Taro: Yeah, I don't understand it either—but I DO understand wanting to polish armor.
Taro: Whenever I'm lost or worried, polishing my armor makes this curious calm come over me, almost like I'm polishing my heart.
Saiga: I see.
Taro: Incidentally, you've got a really nice suit of armor there, Yachiyo.
Taro: You normally dress in the bare minimum of necessary equipment, so I figured you preferred mobility over defense.
Armored Yachiyo: My grandpappy gave me this here armor as a gift.
Armored Yachiyo: I got no fear of the grave, which means I try to strike palookas fast and hard.
Armored Yachiyo: But now that I know the Mukuroshu are behind Grandpappy's death, I thought I'd put this here armor on and have me a little vengeance hootenanny.
Saiga: A way of thinking very like you.
Saiga: But based on the way you are speaking, it sounds to me like you do not know who originally gave this armor to you.
Armored Yachiyo: Hold it, bub! Are you saying this fine suit here DIDN'T come from Grandpappy?
Saiga: No. Originally, that armor was a gift from your sister, Momoyo.
Momoyo: Honest, Saiga, I'm a little worried about Yachiyo walking the path of the sword.
Momoyo: She has real talent, but that only makes the chances of her being injured rise.
Saiga: Have you told her this?
Momoyo: Such worries would do little more than encumber her on the path.
Saiga: There is no sin in hoping for Yachiyo's safety; do not devalue your love for her.
Momoyo: Thank you, Saiga. In that case, I'm going to give her an unequaled piece of armor that will hopefully keep her safe.
Momoyo: Doing so will help to alleviate my worries while also not causing her any grief.
Taro: Your armor is imbued with your sister's love, Yachiyo. That's great!
Saiga: Alas, she departed this world before she was able to give it to you.
Saiga: I suspect your grandfather did not inform you of its actual origin in order to spare you any further pain or sadness.
Armored Yachiyo: *sniff* I love 'em both to bits...
Saiga: Why do you aim to grow stronger, Yachiyo?
Armored Yachiyo: 'Cause it was Grandpappy's greatest wish.
Saiga: And once you have defeated a thousand souls in duels? What will you do then?
Armored Yachiyo: Well, I'm gonna...er...
Saiga: Momoyo did not carry a weapon as you and I do, but she was strong nonetheless.
Saiga: She never wore her anxiety or fear openly. She was ever courageous. Stout of heart.
Saiga: She only sought the strength to watch over us for our sakes.
Armored Yachiyo: The strength to watch over us, eh?
Saiga: You chose the strength of the sword, but for what purpose do you seek it?
Saiga: Once you come to understand that, you will be able to grow stronger without charging headlong from one duel to the next. You will be given the gift of time.
Taro: Oh, that is SO cool! I'm gonna keep trying to get stronger too, so let's make sure we both do the best we can together!
Armored Yachiyo: Yeah, let's do that...
Armored Yachiyo: (You realized I've been as worried as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rockers lately, didn't you, Saiga?)
Armored Yachiyo: (But why do I wanna get stronger...?)
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