Don't talk about me like I'm some precious treasure for your amusement. [ he hisses, practically bristling with anger, but all of that comes to a halt when hijibot offers that proposal, as he thinks. in hindsight, death is probably more convenient, because life leads to death, but death leads to nothing, like a security blanket.

but making that decision on his own would be selfish — and with hijikata, he can't afford to be selfish. if he ever dies with hijikata, it's not going to be here, and it's not going to be today. although, tsurumaru snaps back from his deliberation a moment too late, and the blow ends up mostly connecting, effortlessly slicing through white fabric and grazing more of his upper arm than he'd expected.

it hurts — in a stinging way that's almost enough for him to let go, and he gasps; but in a last-ditch effort, he grips the handle of the sword with everything he has, trying to push back hijikata's blade with his own, the shrill sound of metal grating together filing the air. still, tsurumaru's hold isn't firm, and if hijibot pushes against his blade just a little more, the sword will certainly go clattering out of tsurumaru's hands with ease.

but, until then. ] I wouldn't mind dying with him — but humans all have a strong will to live.

Therefore, for his sake, I won't take you up on that.