[ initially shylock had expected him to react like a cat who was unexpected touched in the stomach -- you know, with retaliation. but he's relieved that hizen didn't react badly, and so he comes closer until he's right behind hizen, palm still resting on top of hizen's beating heart.

is it going fast? maybe steady as ever. the intensity doesn't matter right now, so long as it continues beating. ]

Does Mr. Norimune not know about all this? [ is... shylock the first one to know...? ] If so, you were carrying this weight on your heart the entire time.

Swords aren't meant to carry that much weight, It should be the other way around, where they are carried by their masters themselves. And yet they'd both let go of you for presumably more personal reasons. [ a pause, as he continues on with closed eyes and a soothing voice. ] It doesn't mean that they don't love you, Hizen. In fact, I'm sure they love you with all they have. But sometimes it's not enough.

Sometimes... it's okay to be angry. Everyone deserves to be loved, after all. Even if you don't think you do.