[ ryouma hates how that sounds a little. people give things away all the time. it's a surprisingly bad feeling when he thinks about it because it's so much more complicated than that. ]

That ain't how it was! I dunno how it was for ya exactly, but the night I was gonna leave, Otome gave ya t' me. That was how I knew I had my brother's blessin' too. Ya must've gotten a little of 'em, 'cause ya look after me like she did.

[ ryouma remembers it all so clearly, but he supposes the crystal clear recall is another burden of being a servant. ]

Thing is, you're a damn good sword, Hizen, and I knew with the way I was goin', you'd just go t' waste stayin' with me. But Izō? It was too late for us, so I did the only thing I could; a good sword together with his skills? It jus' seemed like a perfect match. And maybe I sorta hoped if he looked at ya, he'd know he was family too...

[ by then, his voice is thin and a little shaky, but he swallows down the threat of tears and finishes saying what he has to say. it's harder than he expected, thinking about all those old feelings. thinking about his family. how long has it been since he's said their names? the matter of izō is an open wound as it is, so that's not helping. ]

'M sorry.