Chapter Text
He watched the blacksmith, Horikawa Kunihiro, carefully hold him—his true form—in his hands. He's sitting directly in front of him, despite that this form was invisible to the human eye. From how he's held, how carefully Horikawa Kunihiro feel his weight and the careful, appreciative gaze he can see, this human was definitely someone who can appreciate a treasured sword like himself.
Normally, he would enjoy the attention. Of course he's a masterpiece, one made by Chougi himself!
... If only the circumstances were something easier to understand. Why in the world would Nagao Akinaga, his master and current owner, want a replica of himself? Wouldn't just owning him be enough?
Yamanbagiri Chougi gave Horikawa Kunihiro a prideful stare, as if challenging him.
"You think you can copy a beautiful masterpiece like myself? I want to see you try."
Obviously, Horikawa Kunihiro didn't respond. For he cannot hear him, but the smith did eventually lower the sword—him—down after he's done examining him. And turned around to walk towards the forge.
The sounds of steel being hammered, the strong heat from the flames, cause a wave of nostalgia to wash over his soul. Even if he's placed at a safe distance, the nostalgia made him, almost, relaxed and tempted to sleep. However, he still keep watch over Horikawa Kunihiro. He was... almost mesmerised, actually.
Yamanbagiri never really got a chance to watch a smith at work.
Horikawa Kunihiro actually did it.
Yamanbagiri could only stare as Akinaga showed his praise and gratitude towards the smith. His eyes were on the sword—the duplicate—next to him. Both of them, the original and the duplicate, were laid next to each other for Akinaga to see the comparison.
The duplicate's spirit haven't awaken yet, it's still young and inexperienced. It's making him curious and, maybe, just a tiny bit, anxious to know what he would look like. If their swords look the same, that means this... Yamanbagiri Kunihiro would look like him as a spirit?
This duplicate who carry his name, his appearance as a sword...
"What a beautiful sword, Horikawa Kunihiro."
His head snap towards Akinaga, when he heard him say that line. Beautiful. Yes, Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, despite looking like himself, was beautiful. A beautifully and expertly made sword, who resembled him. Looks exactly like him.
"If he's beautiful, that's because I'm beautiful." He spoke up. But obviously, like always, the humans didn't hear him.
"You have my name, but you're not me."
From that point, Yamanbagiri found himself being displayed alongside the duplicate in the castle. Every time he looked at the sword next to him, he kept being struck by how beautiful the sword was. As much as he didn't want to admit it, Horikawa Kunihiro was a skilled smith. That human managed to perfectly replicate his form and pattern. The steel was of high quality and well handled. If the replica was ever used on a target, its sharpness would be undeniable.
Of course, because Yamanbagiri Chougi was a masterpiece of a sword. It's only natural for his duplicate to be a masterpiece as well.
He's facing the duplicate, crossing his arms and hiding his hands underneath his yukata's sleeves. The duplicate's spirit was still young, he imagined he need more exposure, experience and time to grow.
Well, it's not like there's any mountain witch nearby to slay. But even if there was one... there's an odd feeling in him about the idea of his duplicate slaying a mountain witch.
"But I won't allow you to sully my name. Be proud and don't make me look bad, duplicate."
He received no answer, but he knew the duplicate can hear his words.