A/N: For all the Testarossa gooners out there. Bordeaux might not have any lust for her anymore, but that doesn't mean Testarossa herself has no feelings for Bordeaux.
Just putting it out there :)
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Details at the bottom.
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Shizue was still laughing when she spoke again, one hand pressed lightly against her chest as she tried and failed to calm herself.
"Now I'm sure of it," she said. "There's no way I could be mistaken."
Bordeaux glanced at her sideways. "Sure of what?"
She met his gaze, her smile softer now, more certain. "Bordeaux-san. You're Japanese, aren't you?"
Jinny blinked. "Japanese? What's that supposed to be?"
Before Shizue could answer, Bordeaux tilted his head slightly, a smug curve tugging at his lips.
"Wakarimasen," he said casually. "Dō omoimasu ka?"
Shizue smiled wider. "I thought so."
She studied him for a moment, then asked, "But Bordeaux-san… how did you come into this world? And how did you turn into a demon?"
Jinny raised both hands. "Wait, wait, wait. We're completely lost now."
Jenny nodded rapidly beside her. "Yes. Extremely lost."
Shizue glanced back at them. "Well… Bordeaux-san isn't exactly from this world."
Jenny frowned. "So he's an otherworldly? But then how, he's a Primordial, isn't he?"
"That's what I'm trying to understand too," Shizue said slowly. "But I'm sure of it. Bordeaux-san is from Japan. The same country I'm from. Just… from another world."
The room fell quiet.
Three pairs of eyes settled on Bordeaux, each filled with a different kind of confusion.
He chuckled. "That's a long story. I'll tell it another day."
Shizue didn't back down. "Then just a little. Can you tell me about the Japan you came from?" She hesitated, then added, "Were you from the same generation as me?"
Bordeaux leaned back slightly, considering. "That's not an easy question either."
"In what way?" Shizue asked.
"Well," he said, tapping a finger lightly against his chin, "I've been reincarnated about three times now."
The words landed heavily.
Shizue stared at him. "Three times…? Is that even possible?"
"It happened to me," Bordeaux replied. "So I'd say yes."
She shook her head slowly. "That's hard to believe. Just how strong must your soul be…"
Bordeaux smiled again, clearly pleased. "Pretty strong. Not to brag, of course."
Jenny narrowed her eyes. "The look on your face says otherwise."
Jinny nodded firmly. "You're definitely bragging, Bordeaux-sama."
"I would never," he replied, completely unapologetic.
Shizue took a breath, steadying herself. "Then… can you tell me about the second world you were born into?"
Bordeaux paused. "That one?" He thought for a moment. "It was during the Heian era."
Shizue froze. "That long ago?"
Jenny tilted her head. "Is that really that long?"
"The Heian era was about eight hundred years ago," Shizue said.
Jenny's eyes widened. "Then Bordeaux-san is at least eight hundred years old!"
"I don't think math works like that," Bordeaux said dryly.
Shizue's expression shifted. "Wait. If you lived during the Heian era… does that mean you experienced the Genpei War?"
Bordeaux stiffened.
"You know about the Genpei War?" he asked.
"Of course," Shizue replied. "I grew up in a war-torn world too. We learned about it and about how it shaped Japan."
Bordeaux stood abruptly, the chair scraping softly against the floor. He stepped closer, agitation clear in his movements.
"Then you know how it ended," he said. "You know who won."
Shizue hesitated, caught off guard by the intensity in his eyes. "…Yes. It's recorded in history."
Bordeaux grabbed her shoulders.
"Who won?" he demanded. "Did the Minamoto win?"
"Yes," Shizue said firmly. "The Minamoto won."
Bordeaux slumped back into his seat as if all the tension had drained out of him at once. "I see… that's good."
Jinny tilted her head. "So… do we celebrate or something?"
"It is a good thing," Bordeaux replied.
Shizue frowned slightly. "Wait, Bordeaux-san. If that's the case… didn't you witness the war yourself? How did you not know how it ended?"
He glanced away. "I died pretty early on. Never got to see how it played out."
"…Died early on?" Shizue repeated.
Realization hit her all at once.
She stood abruptly. "Bordeaux-san, please tell me. What was your name?" Her voice tightened. "Your Japanese name."
"My name?" Bordeaux blinked, then shrugged as if it were obvious. "Haru. Haru of the Minamoto."
Shizue froze.
Her breath caught, eyes widening as if struck by divine revelation. In a low, almost trembling voice, she said, "Haru… your name is Haru."
Bordeaux frowned. "Yeah? Is something wrong with it?"
"Haru-san…" Shizue whispered. "Are you that Haru? The one who made a last stand against one thousand Taira soldiers?"
Silence fell.
"The legendary warrior," she continued, voice filled with awe, "praised as a hero among the Minamoto."
Bordeaux's eyes widened. "Oh, yeah. I did fight about a thousand people during my last moments as Haru." He paused. "But wait. How do you even know about that?"
Shizue lowered her head slightly, reverence clear in her posture. "Haru-san… you're my hero. My mother used to tell me stories about your brilliance, your talent in swordsmanship and how you sacrificed your life so your platoon could escape." She looked up at him, eyes shining. "To think I'd meet you here of all places… it's truly an honor."
Bordeaux recoiled. "Okay, first of all, stop that. That tone is weird. Don't talk to me like that."
He squinted at her. "Second… is your mother immortal? How does she know about things from almost a thousand years ago?"
Shizue laughed. "Of course she isn't. Like I said. The Genpei War is recorded in history and taught in school. And the story of Haru of the Minamoto is an important part of the curriculum."
Bordeaux stared at her. "…Wait. Seriously? People learn about me in school?"
"Yes," Shizue replied without hesitation.
Jinny leaned forward, eyes sparkling. "So Bordeaux-sama is basically a legend in your world?"
"Tell me Shizue, who were the major contributors to the Minamoto victor?" Bordeaux asked.
"Well," Shizue said, "many people played key roles in that victory. If you want, I can tell you who and what they did."
Bordeaux raised an eyebrow. "You actually memorized all that?"
"Of course," she said simply. "For example, the most important figure in the Minamoto's victory was Minamoto no Yoritomo."
Bordeaux stiffened.
"…Uncle Yoritomo?" he said. "Him!?"
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