[ absolutely?? people are so fragile and their lives can be extinguished, just like that, even though they make all these grandiose claims about living forever, as if living forever is good and desirable. take it from a thousand year old spirit, it's not desirable at all.

but he listens carefully, more amused by hijikata's words than anything else, as if he has free reign over where he dies and how he dies, because life is full of surprises! you never know what exciting trials of death await you everyday... but needless to say, he's impressed by how noble all of that was. ]

That's very samurai-like, you know. If you could try your hardest to stay alive, I think I'd appreciate it.

[ hijikata gets an approving smile!! and this really proud look, because hearing such simple, honest things like that reminds him of his own people. but then, a thought occurs to him, and he suddenly lets go of hijikata's hand, brushing his arm away. ]

Ah, Kashuu told me something before — that you do this sort of thing a lot, with women.

[ he knows, hijikata... there's a pause, before he continues on in a colder tone that says this isn't very fine at all. ]

If that's still the case, then that's fine. I'm not going to stop you. [ if he wants to thoroughly enjoy the pleasure district everyday, then tsurumaru isn't going to stop him... he'll take ume and leave and never speak to him again, but that shouldn't make too much of a difference, right!! ]

But, again — if that's still the case, then do tell me. Because, I really don't have any spare time to waste on humans who think of me as nothing but a pretty treasure.