[There's no easy way to say it, but she can't not tell Lucy about the invasion of her memories, however accidental or unasked for. Neither could she exactly tip-toe around the fact that the sword ties them together...because they already are tied together. Musashi knows it and she knows Lucy knows it, but she's been so afraid of trying to take another step. She'd pushed too hard at the bath house and Lucy had run. Musashi had been afraid she'd ruined it, without meaning. They'd pretended afterwards it hadn't happened, an unspoken agreement to leave it there, and yet it was still hanging over them, even now. There was no getting around it. And now she's said it and it's out there and Lucy is...silent.]

Lucy, look I—

[Her aXess explodes in a cacophony of flashing lights and sound. Her words on the screen glitch and writhe through the screen's rapid blinking. Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit. And then the words appear.]

Lucy! Lucy, listen to me. Listen. Just listen. Okay? I'm sorry, I really didn't want to do it like this. I wanted us to be face to face, I wanted to show you the sword, I wanted to explain what it could let us do, what I wouldn't do unless you wanted me to...I wish I'd gotten it sooner. I wish Phantom Cipher hadn't found Smasher. I wish...I wish I'd been braver with you. About who I wanted to be for you. I know he's hurt you, and you're afraid that he's going to take more from you than he already has.

But I am Shinmen Musashi-no-Kami Fujiwara-no-Harunobu, the Flower at the Apex of Heaven. He will not kill me.

That is the oath I swear to you now. And I will keep it.