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tanadrin · 4 years

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The first part of our voyage west was to be by sea. The greater part of Altuum lies between the Windlands and Nebressa, and where the long arc of the former meets the continent, the high mountains and deep God-Forests of Dap Ngara and Dap Mbeki form a barrier that is all but impassable, except to the people of those countries, or those on whom they bestow certain favors. It is said the greatest of the God-Trees are as high as mountains, and beneath their boughs are spaces that are vast and dark, and filled with strange creatures unknown to the world at large. Otherwise, many would no doubt choose the overland route, for the route by sea is filled with danger. In the autumn, typhoons arise in the southeastern part of the sea, and rise north toward the equator; year-round there is the risk of pirates. And, of course, in the deeper parts of the ocean, sailors say there are terrible monsters that dwell under the waves and devour ships from time to time; and this is why most vessels prefer to go along the coast. But I do not consider such tales entirely reliable.

When the Sea Kuthra came to the Windlands, they founded many towns along the coast. The greatest of these, which became the entrepot for the middle part of the peninsula, was the port of Kaklune. We tarried there for four months until we found a ship traveling to Presh, whose captain seemed capable, and whose pilot knew the route well. Have you heard the tales of Ctarra, the hero of the Gelar Isles? They say there are a thousand tales of him, though I never heard above two dozen. I believe few of them, but if you had told me that the crew of this ship had once sailed under that mighty mariner, I might have believed you. They knew their craft well, and their ship, though weathered, was in fine condition.

We hoped at first for an uneventful journey. For two weeks we sailed northward along the coast, stopping briefly at Yamakul and Harone, where the crew unloaded timber from the south, and took on cloth and dyes to carry westward. The captain explained to me that the wood was good only to fill the hold for a short distance, and would be of no special value in Nebressa, where better timber is had from the Oethar hills anyway. But the cloth of the northern Windlands is of good quality, and could be traded for supplies anywhere between Harone and Presh; and sold for a handsome profit in Velannu or Nebressa. The ship seemed lighter and swifter after that (though perhaps that was simply my imagination), and the weather was fair when we departed Harone.

We went around the outer isles of the Ngaran Bay, and so caught no glimpse, even from a distance, of the God-Trees; I was certainly saddened by this. After that, we were beyond the Windlands for good. The country between the Windlands and southeastern Oethiam has little in it. To the north, on the great Conn plain, there are large towns, but the lack of good harbors on the coast and a history of vicious warfare, the captain told me, means that there are few places worth a stop, at least for the sake of commerce. For the next few weeks, she said, we should expect only to go ashore to take on water or to collect provisions. Was this not the land of the Tiger-People, in the tales of Ctarra? I asked; and the captain laughed. Yes, she said; once it was, perhaps, but they are long gone.

Alas, one danger that has not changed since those days is the risk of pirates. Our ship was fast, her crew experienced, and none of them shrank from danger; but the ruin of that region, owing to the wickedness of its princes, had made many of the people desperate, and we were but a few days past Tibray Head when we spotted pale sails behind us. At this sight, the captain fell silent and seemed to be deep in thought, but the pilot told us there was little to fear: that the pirates often watched ships from a distance, but rarely attacked unless they had very great numbers, or thought their target unusually ill-prepared. For two days, I glanced occasionally aft, and did my best to share the pilot's nonchalance. On the third, midmorning, we spotted sails ahead of us, as well, and more joined our companions to the rear. Now the pilot himself fell silent, and the crew began to work swiftly, steering us out toward the open sea where there would be more room to maneuver. There was little talk among them, and that made me really afraid.

I will pass briefly over the next part of the tale, because you know the outcome. Despite the crew's efforts, it was clear after a few hours we would soon be overtaken. The captain took us back toward the coast, hoping to lose our pursuers among the islands there; but this plan failed. The pirates grappled the ship, and there was a terrible battle. A good part of the crew was killed, and the ship was badly damaged by cannon-shot. I was wounded, but only lightly. But the pirates suffered enough that they decided in the end our cargo was not worth the price they would pay, and withdrew. In the aftermath the captain put us to work at once clearing the bodies; we needed to find safe harbor, if we could, before they returned.

That was my first experience of real violence, and though it was not my last, it remains in some ways the worst. These were not soldiers; they were but sailors, united under a common bond of friendship and many trials weathered together, and the pain of the wounds on the bodies of those who survived was not half the pain of the grief they endured at the loss of their friends.

By a stroke of great fortune, there was a small town just up the coast, nestled in a narrow inlet. The captain went ashore, and after some quick negotiations with the headman of the town, we were assured of safety so long as we remained. A small gift of cloth, spices, and southern metalwork expanded the hospitality of the inhabitants considerably. They offered aid in repairing the ship, and gave over an empty house for our use.

But our misfortunes only increased from there. In the morning, we woke to find the captain feverish and disoriented; a local fever, perhaps inflamed by grief. It was only after several days that she began to recover slowly, but by this point it was apparent that it could be many weeks before the ship was ready to sail again, and even then it would have to return to the Windlands first, to hire the additional crew necessary to make the trip to Presh. In this time, my sister and I had been in close consultation with the town's leaders, who were of the opinion that for the time being the overland route, which would at least take us as far as one of the small ports on the inland sea, was safer by far. A new king of the Conn had driven the bandits on the roads away, so while the number of pirates was greater than ever, and the season of typhoons was not far off, we could be reasonably assured of our safety, especially if we traveled in a caravan. Some of the townsfolk were going north to market soon; from there, no doubt, we should find a larger group headed west, for the people of the eastern plane often made the trip in late summer.

So we went north. It was five days' travel to the market-town--whose name, alas, I could never pronounce--and nine more days of waiting there. An ill-tempered merchant took us on reluctantly, because, he said, the gods would be sour with him if he let two such utter fools as us come to harm on the road. But he made us purchase some of his horses, and I do not think the price was very good.

And so in this way, after another three weeks of travel, we came to the country called Vadue. Now, the small states and the free cities of this region had for the most part been unremarkable to us. Despite the tales of the Windlands, none of the people here dressed in tiger-skins, or had four eyes, or had their feet on backwards; they were for the most part ordinary folk such as might have been found in the lowlands of our own country, though they ate more root vegetables, and grew more grain. But the people of Vadue are very different from all the people around them.

Vadue is located on a small plateau that rises from the surrounding lowland quite steeply on three sides; the steepest is the eastern side, which was, alas, the road we had to take. It is ringed with high, wooded hills, and the interior is a little lower; and there a swift river rises, flowing westward through a narrow gorge. Once, it must have been a very populous country. There are great ruins of stone to be found nearly on every hilltop and in every valley, but now it is much reduced. Its people live in only a handful of small cities, surrounded by terraced farms that stretch down the slopes of the hills. They shun the large inner valley, for reasons they refuse to discuss with outsiders. And in Vadue, children are kings.

So the saying goes. I did not appreciate its meaning, and thought it perhaps metaphorical, or a legend like that of the four-eyed northmen, when I first heard it. The Vadueans have a reputation for honorable hospitality, so when we came into that country we immediately sought out a village to rest in for the evening. The first one we came to was a small collection of houses, built in the middle of a larger ruin of stone, with many of the materials obviously taken from the surrounding pile. The village square appeared to be the former hall of some great palace, which was now open to the sky. We were met there by three village elders, who form the customary greeting party for travelers, and taken to a place of rest. I looked around us as we walked through the village, and noted nothing unusual about the families therein. Except the ruins, nothing worth remarking upon presented itself to me.

We ate the evening meal with our hosts about half an hour before sunset. As I spoke nothing of the language, I relied on those of the party who could interpret for us to ask questions about the country and its history. Vadue was old, they said; the ruins in which they built their houses had been built by the Vadueans themselves, long ago. In those days, they were a more numerous and wealthier people; and though their number and their fortune had declined since then, their written history was continuous since that time, and the rites of their ancestors preserved. I thought that this was a remarkable claim, as it was difficult to see how such an ingenous people as the ruin-builders could give way to such unremarkable descendants. But our translators were tired from the day's journey, so I enquired no further.

It took us two more days to reach the largest town in eastern Vadue, which is Oqelans. If the account of Vaduean history was accurate, Oquelans must have once been a very great city indeed. Overgrown streets stretched high up into the hills around it, and the broken ruins of towers crowned some of the hilltops. Now the town was confined to a valley between two hills, that at the bottom dropped into a deep ravine, through which a swift, narrow river raced. The town was at the top of the ravine, on either side; narrow stone bridges, as old as the ruins but in better condition, criss-crossed it in many places. Oqelans was accustomed to a greater number of travelers, and so their greeting-party was institutional: three delegates stand in the square, and greet travelers both in the tongue of Vadue and the tongues of the nearby lowlands.

Now, the caravan was to stay in Oqelans longer, and I was footsore and extremely glad of the opportunity for a few days' rest. My curiosity about the country had also been piqued, so instead of staying in the merchant-house, we took lodgings in a smaller guesthouse which overlooked the ravine, and which was on the main street of a quieter neighborhood. The proprietor of the guesthouse and her husband spoke the lowland tongues passingly well, and I had picked up a little of them since joining the caraven; and together with some other linguistic odds and ends we managed to converse. Yes, the husband said, it was true that the present-day Vadueans were the sons and daughters of the ancient ruin-builders. Astonish you, it may, he said; but the techniques of our ancestors are not entirely unknown to us. We could perhaps rebuild the ruins, if we wished.

I asked why they did not. Why should we? said the proprietor. We have no need of enormous cities; we are not so numerous as we once were. But they were grand in their day, I said. Yes, they were, the proprietor agreed; but cloth needs weaving and fields need sowing. This is a Vaduean expression, for the ordinary work of life which must be done by all. We spoke also of religion; the Vadueans' beliefs are not very systematic, though they are not especially superstitious. Most of their rites are concerned with paying respect to their ancestors, and honoring their dead heroes. And what, I said eventually, of your governors? Have you kings or princes here in Vadue? No, they said; there are the local assemblies, and the town elders, and the magistrates before which criminals, oathbreakers, and faithless merchants are sometimes brought. But we have no kings, and no hereditary princes. I have heard in Vadue that children are kings, I said. They laughed at this. They called over their son, a boy of about seven or eight, and asked him if he was a king. No, he replied; today I am a bear. And he went off growling in what was indeed a rather bearlike fashion.

It is not unusual when collecting stories of other lands to find that they disagree with one another, or with the world. Unless the collector is very well-traveled indeed, and can verify by personal experience each account they hear from another land, even the most careful one will occasionally find sour lies in the basket of sweet truths. Some lies are so improbably we can discard them at once, like fruit rotted all the way through, while some appear true but are false; the rot is hidden, so to speak. And the careful historian will note that there are occasionally stories which are on their face preposterous, but which turn out to be entirely accurate: a bruised skin, hiding good flesh within. And there are many such truths, for the world is wide and inevitably full of stranger things than even the wisest can imagine.

I took a walk in the city the next day; and I returned to the guesthouse before noon, and sat on the steps watching the people pass to and fro down the street. I would like to say I was an assiduous chronicler, observing the subjects of his chronicle carefully. In fact, I was merely tired, and impatient for lunch. But I noticed a curious thing, as I sat. There were not many children in Vadue. In the lowlands, I had heard an expression: the one poor in wealth may be rich in sons and daughters. At home, in the Windlands, we had a similar saying: count not the prince fortunate, nor the rich man happy, unless he have many sons. Why was Vadue, not poor in any other measure, poor in this one?

After we had eaten lunch, I asked the proprietor about this. She did not understand the question at first. I used the wrong word, and took me to be asking why few families had children. But she knew many families, they said; all had at least child. I searched for different words; why, I asked, was the quantity of children I saw in the street so low? Is it? she replied. It is, I said. The farmers just to the east have five or more children as a rule. She frowned; were they so cursed, that their children died so young? No, I said; I do not know how many of their children die. I mean, the number who live. At this, she seemed disbelieving.

The confusion between us was not slight, but after much back and forth, I gathered this: that the people of Vadue generally have between one and three children. Two is most common. Four is uncommon. Five or more is exceedingly rare. Children die more rarely in infancy, and the Vadueans attribute this to the religious rites they have around the collection of water and the quality of their medicines, of which I cannot speak directly because I had no occasion to observe them. And the Vadueans do not refrain from having more children because children are hated; they are loved no less in Vadue than elsewhere. But by special preparations, and avoiding the inseminating act when lying together, most husbands and wives prefer to limit the number of offspring. And this, I thought, perhaps explained the mystery of the great ruins. The Vadueans, I concluded, had impoverished themselves: for if they had on average only two children, or a little more, only a small amount of accident or disease, or simply failure to have children of their own, would mean that the size of each generation was a little less than the size of the former. And very gradually--perhaps so gradually they did not notice--the population of the country must have declined, until it inhabited great cities it could no longer afford to maintain. Woe to the people of Vadue! I said to myself. A sorry tale, although one with blessedly little bloodshed.

The night before we were to depart, the proprietor's grown son and daughter came to visit their parents. As was the custom, every two weeks they dined with them; and they brought their children with them. So I had occasion to observe three generations together, and what I saw caused me to question the tale as I had understood it earlier.

The grandchildren were doted upon by all, even their parents. And like many families, they told me, they lived together in a common house with other parents of young children; together they shared the labor of raising them. And that labor was considerable indeed. For though they were only of modest means, these children were educated in letters and sums, and apparently also in the history and poetry of the country; and in song and had even scraps of astronomy and knew a few words of foreign tongues, though they had never left Oqelans. And this was not considered an unusual thing. So I enquired further after the practices of childrearing in Vadue; and they said that every child, even those of the meanest peasant, was afforded some kind of education. And they explained the methods of education in that country, which were gentle and patient; and when I asked how children were punished when they disobeyed, I was astonished to find they were never punished at all.

I asked again, with different words, thinking I had misunderstood; but my interlocutors were stern and clear. No child in Vadue was ever hit or whipped. Even the stupidest, meanest, most recalcitrant child could expect to be met with patience in tutors, parents, and strangers alike. Even to raise one's voice to a child was considered a failure, worthy of a small amount of disapproval from one's neighbors. Disobedient children were simply re-instructed in the behavior they ought to show. And if a child did poorly at their lessons, it was the tutor that was considered to have erred!

I was so surprised at this, that I was asked about my own childhood, and I found myself reflecting on things I had not concerned myself with for many years. I thought on how my parents, whom I loved, and even now consider kind and wise, had beaten us when we misbehaved. I thought on learning my letters in the rectory school, and the blows of the switch on the wrists or ankles intended to sharpen my attention when I made a mistake. I thought of the children in the village I saw, who worked alongside their parents, whose labors were as great, given their capacities, as those of the grown men and women around them. My hosts were greatly saddened by these accounts, though I consider my childhood and that of my friends to have been happy. And then I understood what it was meant, when travelers said of Vadue, that in that place children are kings. If you are accustomed to raising children with the stick as well as with love, this seems like a land where parents cringe and simper before their children, where the righteous order is inverted.

For you see, Vadue is a land I believe to be unusually peaceful. Its mountainous character shields it from invasion; and it has little in the way of wealth that cannot be got more easily from surrounding countries. For all that, it is relatively prosperous: after all, it need produce little, to feed a population that does not grow. And because of their peace, and because of their prosperity, the Vadueans have little need for, and a great loathing of, violence and killing. They whip no slanderers, and brand no thieves, just as they slap no children, nor condemn even the most unrepentant murderer to die. And because of the care and labor undertaken on their behalf, and the sanctity of their person, travelers who have seen only this most obvious feature of their country--the few children, who run free, and have an education that would befit a noble in any other land--the only state which most visitors can name, which approaches that of a Vaduean child, is the state of royalty. And this I at last understand is what the sages mean when they say we shall all be kings in Paradise: not that we shall command and have license to be capricious, but that we shall be free from the caprice and cruelty of others.

I believe that once, Vadue was not like this. That long ago, the people that lived in that country were like their neighbors. By some stroke of fortune, their civilization rose to a very great height, and they were prosperous for a long time; and for love of their children, as all parents have, they doted on them more and more; and consequently, they had fewer, so they could give more to the children that they did have. The offices of state withered away, and they abolished them. That which they prized changed. They prized the family more, and the day-to-day life more; and they spent less time consumed in the fear of vengeful gods, or with carrying out the policies of the tyrants they no longer had. And without need of an ever-growing population to sustain, and without fear of an invasion that might destroy their customs and habits, they permitted the monuments and towers of their ancestors to gently decay. For these were ultimately in the service of vanity: vain princes and vain legacies, vain glories that flattered the nation, but fed not a single starving soul, nor sheltered a single head from the rain.

So they no longer build great monuments. They have their arts and their sciences, but these are pursued either for the joy in themselves, or for the joy they bring one another, rather than to serve as instruments of greater powers. When they have surpluses, some of it is stored, and some distributed according to need, and some sold; and the exact manner of division and distribution differs from town to town, depending on custom and circumstance. So though they have their poor citizens (and their rich), they have no beggars, and no one ever starves. And though they inflict no punishments on the bodies of their criminals (and they assured me that they have criminals, and laws, and courts, like any other country), you may still travel the length and breadth of the land without a bandit slitting your throat for the clothes on your back. For, they believe, it is only when you treat a man as a beast that he becomes one. That bloodshed cannot answer bloodshed, if it is one's aim to forestall it further. They raise their children in the manner that they do, for their most ancient priests long ago said that authority cannot teach alone, and pain is the least useful lesson of all, but patience is the road to wisdom, and love its crown. Despite their laxness, their country is peaceful and their children well-behaved. I cannot say how all these marvels are accomplished, for we did not remain in Vadue long, but nothing I saw in my time there gives me any reason to doubt them.

From beyond its borders, Vadue looks like a poor nation dwelling in its own corpse. But this is perhaps true only if you think that a nation is it princes, that its greatness and its wealth is measured only by the greatness and the wealth of its mightiest inhabitants, rather than its lowliest. If you are of the opposite opinion, Vadue is something of a rarity in this world: a truly happy place.

But of all my tales, I have found, this is the one most widely disbelieved. Yet I have seen it; though I would perhaps doubt it otherwise. In Vadue, children--and men, and women, the lowliest and the highest alike--are kings.

–Tâw Ras, yab Arah; Journals of the Long Pilgrimage, 2663 oE.

#final e's are always pronounced in my conlangs #'harone' and 'vadue' would both be spelled the same in IPA #in case you were wondering #too lazy to search and replace an acute e atm #tanadrin's fiction

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elliotthezubat · 7 years

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DEATH CITY DAYS CHAPTER 50

when one book closes, another one opens

-BOOOOM- atsushi: ACK! O-O;;; -atsushi makes a run for the elevator- Akutagawa: "Be gone. I am not here for dessert yet." *tries to throw Fitzgerald aside* "I want the main course!" atsushi: *SCREAMS and jumps into the elevator, struggling to close the button* come on come on come on. Fitzgerald: "I will not let two mangy orphaned children impede my plans--" atsushi: SCREW YOU AND YOUR FACE! Akutagawa: "...Orphaned..." *smirks--as he slices the floor beneath Fitzgerald* Fitzgerald: "?!" Akutagawa: "Now you're screwed." *leaps over the falling Fitzgerald, landing in front of the elevator* atsushi: *gulps as the elevator door closes* hhhhheeeeeyyyy akutagawa..... *casually turns off the terminal* we'll have to keep this away from that jerk. Akutagawa: "...You child..." atsushi: pardon? owo; Akutagawa: "You orphan...abandoned by all...so you play hero...so that you hope someone will respect you...let you live...maybe love you." atsushi: ....listen, i know we arent on A-plus terms, but if we're gonna get out of this, we're gonna have to work together and stop fitzgerald. is that cool with you? Akutagawa: "...Like anyone would acknowledge your right to live...Like I ever would..." *sharpens his blades--and stabs them through Atsushi's shoulders, pinning him to the wall* "Fight! Make your death mean something! Make my hunt mean something!" atsushi: im doing what i can dammit! at least im not killing people to make them fear me! im not some crazed lunatic who kills people to flaunt my strength! that would be you. and thats kinda being a huge jerk. Akutagawa: *digs the blades in deeper as he marches up to Atsushi* "I want to be acknowledged! I never got that! No one acknowledged me! Not Dazai! And not you!" atsushi: well i'm acknowledging you're a huge asslord right now! Akutagawa: *puts his hand at the side of Atsushi's head, grabbing a hold of his hair and tugging* "That's not how I want you to acknowledge me! atsushi: what the hell do you want from me?! -ding- -the elevator door opens- Akutagawa: "!!!" atsushi: .....uhhhh...we can explain? owo; AKUTAGAWAPUNCHHIMPLEASE! Fitzgerald: "Hello, Old Sport..." Akutagawa: "..." *stares at Atsushi* "...Now I know..." atsushi: OwO;;; game over man! i turned the terminal off! and if you come any closer. im going to swallow it! Fitzgerald: "I bet you did." Akutagawa: "I know...how to get you...to acknowledge me..." *turns towards Fitzgerald* Fitzgerald: "???" *SLASH* Fitzgerald: *dodges, backing up* Akutagawa: *pursues* Fitzgerald: *dodges* "You can't defeat my enhanced body--" Akutagawa: *slash slash* "Rich boy...If I defeat you, he'll have to acknowledge me..." atsushi: ...... please....i think...dazai acknowledged you long ago. *tiger mode and charges* Akutagawa: "OUT OF MY WAY!" atsushi: IM TRYING TO HELP YOU OUT HERE! Akutagawa: "No! If you help me, then I'm worthless!" atsushi: as if! you're way more experienced! phrasing! Akutagawa: "My experience is so I can get closer to you...in Dazai's eye! PHRASING!" Fitzgerald: "..." *smirks* "My, my. You two _are_ similar..." atsushi: WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW AND YOU ARE BEING FUCKING RUDE! Akutagawa: "INDEED!" *pulls back his fist* "GO AWAY!" Fitzgerald: "?!" -POW- atsushi: see? now that wasnt too difficult, was it? Akutagawa: "...No. It was not." atsushi: so can we- .......oh COME ON! HE'S GOING SUPER SAIYAN?! Akutagawa: "...I do not know what that means." -one epic battle later- -elevator ding- atsushi: oh now what?!...oh. rain:.........*walking over* Fitzgerald: X___X "...Zelda...I'm sorry..." Death the Kid: Akutagawa: "Rain? I instructed you to--" LK: rain: i'll be fine....i'll.....handle this....*gives him a letter* please....after all this...take this to mr nakahara and higuchi. atsushi: ??? Akutagawa: "We don't have time for love letters. We have to stop this whale from falling--" rain: *grabs fitzgerald*....my name is......*jumps off* atsushi: !!!!!!! Akutagawa: "?!" rain: *tearfuly smiles and closes her eyes*.....mito kosaka. cat: *evil grin* oh you idiot. -as she falls, her body begins to contort, but she and fitzgerald vanish into the clouds below- Fitzgerald: "?!!!" Akutagawa: "...What...Why did she...?" rain: (thinking: im sorry.....i wasnt able to keep my promise.....all i can do now...is dream of a future that will never happen) -in her last concious moments, images flash in her mind...an embrace....a dance...a proposal...a wedding...a new child....a happy family....- thank you....chuuya...higuchi. for keeping me going...as long as i did. atsushi:...what...what just.... Akutagawa: "..." *tenses* atsushi:...at least...we stopped the terminal.....right? Akutagawa: "...She is dead, isn't she?" atsushi:....i dont....i dont know...... Akutagawa: "...She was a joke anyway." *still tense* atsushi: *SLAP* SHE JUST JUMPED OFF A PLANE WITH THAT JERK AND YOU JUST INSULT HER?! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?! Akutagawa: "..." *tense, but he's crying* "Because I don't understand why she did it? Why? Explain it to me. Why would someone do anything, when they have been beaten, abused, embarrassed, are just a joke to everyone...Why would they try to save anyone in this world?" atsushi: ........(thinking: so...she was like me....) -something happened to the terminal....a mouse head has appeared on the screen.....counting down by and hour- atsushi: ?!?! Akutagawa: "She wasn't...supposed to be involved. No one wanted her here. But she insisted. And I just wanted her to shut up..." Akutagawa: *notices as well* "...What the hell?" atsushi: oh fuck! oh fucking fuck! i cant stop it! Akutagawa: "...Then what do we do?" atsushi: *running to the main bridge of the ship* Akutagawa: "Wait!" *runs after him* -in the bridge- atsushi: come on. come oooonnnn.... Akutagawa: *typing* "Nothing. This computer will not respond." Melville: "We were hacked...We can't stop it." atsushi: no no no no- ???: "I have a way." atsushi: ?!?! kyouka?! is that you?! Kyoka: "Yes. Hello." atsushi: WHERE ARE YOU?! Kyoka: "An airplane." atsushi: like with people on it? whats your plan? Kyoka: "It is a Guild airplane prison, run by remote control. I am seizing the controls. You will not stop Moby Dick's descent--but you can force it to crash sooner, before it reaches the city, missing it completely." atsushi: that's genius! Melville: "Time to get parachutes..." Akutagawa: "So should that girl." atsushi: crash the plane and jump off, ok? Kyoka: "...I will not jump off." atsushi: .....?! Kyoka: "I should be punished. And besides, I am shackled, and there is nothing here to remove them from my legs." atsushi: !!! t-then use demon snow to cut the shackles then! Kyoka: "Forget me. My life has never had light. But, I can make a choice: sacrifice. myself, for everyone else...Atsushi. I know I could have passed the admission, to join the Detective Agency." atsushi: *tearing up* kyouka... Melville: "It's coming right for us! We leave, now!" atsushi: KYOUKA WAIT! Akutagawa: "...I can't have you die here..." *grabs Atsushi* Kyoka: "...Goodbye." *presses a button* -as they escape...- -BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM- atsushi:.....ah.....*screams* -the remains of the moby dick crash into a large lake- Akutagawa: *coughing* atsushi: *crying* dammit! Akutagawa: "...Fool. She did it out of hope for living in this world's light. She would not have had to lose her life so senselessly, if she had just..." atsushi: why you- Akutagawa: "Is that 'love,' Atsushi?" atsushi: HOW THE HELL CAN YOU ASK A THING LIKE THAT NOW?! Akutagawa: "...Because maybe that's--" Dazai: "That's enough, Atsushi." atsushi: dazai? Dazai: "Kyoka saved this city, demonstrating the honor and virtue of any member of the Detective Agency. She fulfilled her wish." atsushi: *crying* that wont change that she died! kyouka....that other girl.....did they have to die?! Dazai: "..." *rests a hand on his shoulder* "These are their lives. They chose. They had agency--to determine what they wanted to do. Maybe the girl...Rain...had a valid reason, like Kyoka has." atsushi:....mito kosaka.....she said...her name was mito kosaka... Dazai: "...Kosaka? That..." *shakes his head* "...If only she was with the Detective Agency, we could have saved her." atsushi: ....... Dazai: "...We never told you what the boss could do, did we? I mean, aside from playing with cats--" *SMACK* Akutagawa: D: atsushi: ?? mr director? Fukuzawa: *nods* " 'All Are Created Equal.'" atsushi: ??? *looks at dazai* Dazai: "To grant someone with the ability to control their own ability." *points at Atsushi's arms* atsushi: ?? so then... -something comes out from the water- atsushi: ??......!!!!!!!!!! ???: *cough, cough* atsushi: KYOUKA!!! *runs and hugs her* YOU'RE ALIVE!! Kyoka: "..." *cries, starts laughing as she hugs him* Akutagawa: "..." .\\\\. Akutagawa: *gets on his hands and knees* Akutagawa: "Dazai! Nothing is in our way! I will prove my power to you--" Dazai: "...You're at your limit. You even fought off the Guild leader." Dazai: *pat pat* "You've grown strong." Akutagawa: *looks up, shocked...then...* *collapses* atsushi:...he's ok....i think. -elsewhere- lovecraft: *emerges*.....what'd i miss? -elsewhere- twain: well, that stinks. with fitzgerald gone, the whole guild's going to shit. Steinbeck: "Life isn't over, though. Just have to figure out what we do next." twain: not only that, but lucy's went and gone AWOL and poe's just vanished. we'll, time for me to continue my success diary! haha! louisa: i'll search for lord francis..i know he's still alive... twain: and i take it you're going home to see your family? Steinbeck: "...Not yet. Not until this war ends." twain: i dunno, war looks kiiiinda over to me. Steinbeck: "If we don't fight..." *lets go of his crutch, wrapping vines along his foot* "...this war will make Fitzgerald's empire collapse on itself." twain: i thought you hated him? Steinbeck: "I do. Those who manipulate others with money are awful. But this is the price I pay, for relying on wealth to save my family." *puts on his hat* twain: that's pretty big of you. so while you take over the guild, i'll take toshiko out on a date~! Steinbeck: "LIKE HELL! She'll love the head of the Guild more than some underling!" twain: as in a farm boy? as if! i sure as hell know how to show her a good time! lovecraft: too noisy. cant deal. going to bed. *jumps into the water* louisa:....*sweatdrop* Steinbeck: *stares at Lovecraft for a few moments--then turns back at Twain* "There's plenty the farmlife teaches you to please a woman!" twain: really hoping that isnt relevant! -at the agency, a party is held to congratulate kyouka- Ranpo: "More snacks!" Kunikida: *tapping on his tablet* "Too expensive...We didn't budget for this..." atsushi:...um...naomi? miss kirako? kirako: hmm? what is it? Naomi: "???" atsushi:....*gets down on hands and knees, bowing* IM SO SORRY! I HURT YOU WHILE BEING CONTROLLED BY Q AND I DIDNT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION HOW DANGEROUS MY ABILITY CAN BE! PLEASE FORGIVE ME! kirako:...oh that! oh its fine. atsushi: really? kirako: *HUG* i couldnt stay mad at you! atsushi:.....(thinking: soft and warm.....) =///= (thinking: i could...get used to this...) Naomi: "Agency people have seen worse. It's not worth holding a grudge just because you strangled me and tried to kill me." *smiles* Tanizaki: "...He did what to you?" atsushi: OwO;;;;;; naomi why? -creeeeak- yosano: hmm? hey ranpo, your friend is here. Poe: "...Ranpo? I have...the new manuscript..." Ranpo: "Hey, it's you!" *picks him up and drops him into a chair* "Here, I'll be right back! Someone will get you a drink." secretary: would you like anything, sir? Poe: "Um...I would like *mutter mutter*" secretary:....sir? Poe: "...I need nothing." *fetal position* Ranpo: *talking with others* secretary: ok then... Kyoka: *nom nom nom* -at the mafia executive's office- kouyou: *sipping wine* this is quite nice. a shame miss rain called in sick today. Mori: "I agree--the work is piling up. I'll have to punish her severely for this one." Chuuya: *silent, as he holds the wine bottle to Kouyou* kouyou: *smiles* and akutagawa? Mori: "Has anyone called him? I mean, with Rain not here to do so--" -a mafioso runs in- Mori: "?! We are having a private reception--" mafioso: WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!...s-some thing showed up! mafioso 2: a demon! Chuuya: "?!" kouyou:....chuuya, would you mind investigating? Chuuya: "...Save me a glass of wine, at least." *holds his hat and follows to the outside* -in a warehouse, a large cat like entity is tearing the place apart- cat: *SHRIEKS* Chuuya: "!!! For crying out loud...Yo! Kitty!" cat: ?!....*it hesitates, almost sad* *SHRIEKS and charges* Chuuya: *holds up a hand* cat: *it seems to be crying* Chuuya: "?! ...Gravity..." *punches lightly along the cat's snout, causing it to slow and start to rise towards the ceiling* cat: ??!! Chuuya: "Stay..." *smirks* "I know they say herding cats is impossible...but a beast as powerful as you would be quite an asset..." cat:.....p l e a s e......i... w a n t......t o d i e.... -its voice is distorted....but somehow familiar...- Chuuya: "...What?" higuchi: ?! Chuuya: "..." *lowers the beast to his eye level...holds out a hand to its face* cat:....*tries to speak again, tears falling* Chuuya: "...Why are you in pain..." *releases gravity* cat: *it whimpers....then screams* Chuuya: "?!!!" *tries to block* -shink- cat:......*collapses* Chuuya: "?! What the hell?!" Akutagawa: "..." *retracts* "Done." -the beast fades...........leaving rain's bloodied and lifeless form behind- higuchi:......*falls to her knees*...no.... Chuuya: "..." *holding his hand over his mouth...then vomits on the floor* Akutagawa: "..." *shakes* mafioso: holy shit! isnt that the errand girl?! mafioso 2: holy fuck! Chuuya: *on his knees in front of Rain* "...No..." *picking her up* rain:......*no reply* Chuuya: "..." *sobbing, hugging her* "No..." higuchi: she...she didnt....did she? Akutagawa: "..." *puts out a hand to try to hold onto something--and stumbles down, seizing his chest* higuchi: !!! ryunosuke! gin: ryu! *goes over to him* Chuuya: *looking around* "Someone! Help!" Akutagawa: "Wh-What the...Why...What...N-Not...N-Not..." gin: *giving him a paper bag* breathe ryu, breathe! Akutagawa: *pushes Gin away* "Get off of me!" gin: !!! Chuuya: *wailing* "Save her! G-Get the doctor! Someone!" hirotsu:...i dont...think there's anything we can do. Chuuya: *glares--as his gravity-powers surround Hirotsu* hirotsu: ??!! Chuuya: "...Save her...or..." *Hirotsu feels his body being pulled* -SLAP- higuchi:......GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF!! Chuuya: *stunned--his powers dissolving* -rain: please....dont scare me like that anymore....- Chuuya: "...I didn't...want to..." higuchi: ....... Akutagawa: "...L-Let--" higuchi: ?? *notices the letter* -if you’re reading this now, then I guess it means im not here anymore. Im sorry it had to be this way, I never wanted to hurt you. Higuchi, I want you to clear my apartment out for me, and make sure you take the trash out. Chuuya, im sorry if I hurt you. I guess im just a lowly coward who doesn’t deserve your time. If things had been different, I would have told you I love you a long time ago. Thank you both for being in my life. ~mito ‘rain’ kosaka- Chuuya: "...'Mito'...?" higuchi:...so that was her real name....huh? Chuuya: "..." *his face is breaking, as he buries himself in her neck, sobbing* higuchi: *biting her lip* Akutagawa: "..." *crawling to a corner...* gin:......ryu.... Akutagawa: "..." (" 'Love'...") *scratching at his hand...* -a few days later- Chuuya: "..." hirotsu: .......oh. i didnt think _you_ would be here. almost everyone has gone home now... Chuuya: "...Power..." Dazai: "...I should be." hirotsu: .....i feel somehow responsible. i did leak the infiltration plan to miss higuchi... and once akutagawa caught wind of it....and ra-....miss kosaka....why she chose to go with him is beyond my understanding. Chuuya: "..." Dazai: "Some people are full of surprises. Maybe...she didn't want to see people hurt." hirotsu:...why is it you brought akutagawa to meet the weretiger? Dazai: "...Have one student meet another? I think they'd be able to teach each other a bit." hirotsu: oh? Dazai: "They aren't that different. Both lost out early on: no stability at home. No parents. No food. No love...One came out of it wanting to help people. Another came out of it with tenacity." hirotsu: i see... *takes a long drag on his cigarette* like yin and yang. but knowing you, you have some ulterior motives... Dazai: *sad smile* "I wouldn't be me if I didn't." hirotsu: care to shed a little light on it? perhaps, you're attempting to create a new 'double black'? Dazai: *smirk* hirotsu: ....but why? *raising an eyebrow* Dazai: "I'm not getting any younger to start raising the younger generation." hirotsu: please spare us the thought of you procreating. Dazai: "I'm not bad at it." hirotsu: are you only here to gloat about your sex life? or is there a point to this conversation? Dazai: "...Chuuya's going to need you. He's going to need friends." hirotsu: ....*he nods* it's good to see you still care for him, even after all these years. Dazai: "I abandoned the Mafia. But when a friend needs help..." hirotsu: .....why is it you left? Dazai: "...If you're going to kill me, I want you to face me when I'm at my best. If you're going to lie to me, you better make it believable." (thinking: not to mention, that ‘demon’ has already begun making his move…) -underground- FD: *tap tap tap* "Well, the Fall of Moby Dick failed...Still, the Guild is damaged. We have affected resources in Death City. We located a new ability user." *turns at his computer, smiles* "It's good, right?" Hawthorne: "...I am here only--" FD: "To save Mitchell. Yeah. I know." zoey: ......*blankly stares at hawthorne* FD: "But to make this world better...we'll have to spill a lot of blood...even if that means making this world red." *smiles at Hawthorne...and Zoey* Hawthorne: "..." ("What is with this child?") "Ma'am?" zoey: of course, fyodor. *smiles, but her eyes are dull and lifeless* Hawthorne: "...Ma'am? I wanted to know whether I could make you some tea." zoey:.....i have..no need...at the moment.... FD: *nods* Hawthorne: "...Okay. I will make some, then..." *looks wearily as he walks to kitchen* zoey: .... *nuzzles her head against FD's leg* master...<3 Hawthorne: "!!!" o____o ("Lord, give me strength...and brain bleach.") FD: *tickles lightly under her chin* zoey: ahhh~ Hawthorne: ("Maybe I can pierce my eardrums...") FD: "I still have work, kitten...How about you sit in my lap." -elsewhere- Mori: "...Damn." kouyou: truly unfortunate....(thinking: chuuya....) -at rain's apartment- higuchi:....*cleaing things up....she notices something in the trash* ??....... *her heart drops to the pit of her stomach* no.... -laying in the trash was a positive pregnancy test- Chuuya: "Y-You find the rest of her...books?" *he doesn't see the trash* higuchi:......yeah. Chuuya: "...Okay. I'll be in the car." *takes the last box* higuchi: ......mori....*grips fist* Chuuya: *lifeless eyes, as he holds onto the box...looks at the books in it...sees some small papers* *Looks at some doodles* Chuuya: *small laugh* *A photo...* -a photo of rain, higuchi, and chuuya enjoying a drink- Chuuya: "..." *lips quivers* -elsewhere- liz: good news, wes' old house has a new tenant living there. Patty: "Sweet! I thought that interview process would take awhile. You meet them?" liz: yeah, quiet, kinda lanky looking. and he had a pet raccoon? Patty: owo "I WANT TO MEET THE RACCOON!" -elsewhere- atsushi: school? Kunikida: "School." kirako: sounds exciting, doesnt it? Kyoka: "...I do not need school. I had all training I needed: assassination, infiltration, flirtation, seduction--" kirako: do you know how to write? Kyoka: "..." *takes a piece of paper, scribbles something...holds it up to Kirako* *it's foul...but has awful penmanship* kirako:.....*sweatdrop* Kunikida: "You will go to school, you will learn proper behavior, and you will learn that is _not_ how you spell..._that_ word!" atsushi: ^^; yosano: plus, it wouldnt hurt to make a few friends outside the agency, either. Kyoka: *lifts her head up--frowning, but shiny eyes* " 'Friends'?" yosano: there's lots of people at school. ^^ Kyoka: "...When would we start?" yosano: you start this september, so you got a whole month of summer vacation left. Kyoka: *grabs Atsushi by the collar* "We are making the most of this summer--starting with school supply sales." atsushi: ^^; -elsewhere- Kid: *hug* stocking: mmm~<3 =w= Kid: "...I needed a hug." stocking: *rubs his shoulders* i love you, kid. Kid: "I love you, too..." *puts a hand over hers* "...It...makes things better." stocking: *nuzzles* Kid: =w= *turns his head, kisses her* stocking: mmmm~<3 ^w^ Kid: *holds her* "Angel..." stocking: hehe~ Kid: *cuddles, sighs* "You glorious woman..." -elsewhere- Higan: "..." *curled up under sheet* lavender: zzzzz.... Higan: "..." *holds onto her* lavender: mmmn... zzzzz Higan: *light kiss on her forehead, eyes wide open* lavender: zzzzzz.... Higan: "..." ("She gets the rest she deserves...") *nuzzles* -elsewhere- Jacqueline: *puts a blanket over Kim* kim: zzzzz Jacqueline: "..." *steps towards the door, opening it carefully* kim: *snoring* Jacqueline: "???" ("Forgot how loud she snored...") -elsewhere- Yohei: *holding Toru* "It's okay...Daddy's here..." toru: *crying* chie: here you go. *gives him his bottle* Yohei: "Thanks, babe." *holds the bottle to Toru* "Here you go..." -elsewhere- Tsukiyo: "...A whale. Fell out. From the sky." fang-hua: ..... reimi: cool. Tsukiyo: "Why is no one freaking out about that? Like, do people harpoon sky whales now?" reimi: we've seen weirder things happen in this city. Tsukiyo: "...Well, yeah. But that's a whole new kind of weird. And if that stuff happens...why can't other stuff?" -elsewhere- Vulcan: "That scuba suit you used better have been worth the effort, you little shit." yu: *hands him the bag, shivering* Vulcan: *opens it* "..." *nods* "Good. I can retrofit these, including for whale prosthetics." *thumbs* "I fixed the water heater. Get a bath--you look awful." -elsewhere- mana:....*PUNCHES ASHI AND ZUNO INTO THE WALL* resent and remember. Zuno: *smashed into the wall* "I DON'T REMEMBER!" Assi: "I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR MONO, NOT YOU!" mana:...what? mono: what? O-O Zuno: "...I don't remember what I just said!" *jumps out the window* Assi: o\\\\\o "..." *runs away--into the door* chie:....*sweatdrop* -elsewhere- Sakuya: *staring out at the dark night* naho: sakkun? Sakuya: "...What?" naho:.....*hugs* i love you, ok? Sakuya: "..." *tears start falling, but his face stays hard* naho: ....i bought some glow sticks in nyarajuku today. *hands him a green one* Sakuya: *holding a green one--still hard face, still crying...it looks almost comical* naho: *hugs his arm* i know....those memories hurt...and you're going to be ok. Sakuya: "H-How...?" naho: call it intuition....hey sakkun....*puts two pocky sticks in her mouth* im a pocky walrus! Sakuya: "..." *snort laugh, snot coming out of his nose, still crying* naho: *giggles and kisses him near the eyelid, giving him a tissue* Sakuya: *sniffs, blushing...he holds onto her* -elsewhere- Mr. Tsubaki: *staring up at the stars* "..." -morning- FD: "Wake up. It's time that you get ready for work." -elsewhere- Dazai: -_____- "I'm exhausted." atsushi: yeah. it's been a hectic week. clerk: the new employee should be here soon. Tanizaki: "??? New employee?" atsushi: ??.... !!!! ah! the red haired girl! Montgomery: -_-; "I have a name, Tiger." atsushi: which i dont think you ever told me. Montgomery: "...Lucy." atsushi: *smiles* nice to meet you, lucy. ^^ Kyoka: "...Atsushi? Who is this girl?" atsushi: um, well. its a long story- Kyoka: "We have time. Bar wench, bring food and drinks." Montgomery: ಠ_ಠ atsushi: *sweating* Dazai: *smiles* "Today got more interesting." Montgomery: *holding notepad, waiting to take orders* atsushi: *SWEATS HARDER* -elsewhere- Poe: "...This place has ghosts, dusty corners, poor lighting..." *wide smile* "I LOVE IT!" -elsewhere- Relan: *poke poke* shinra: hmm oh, hey rel. *smiles* Relan: "Hi. Feeling okay?" shinra: doing great. Relan: *smiles, hugs him* "I'm glad." -elsewhere- Kepuri: *standing in the center of the room...covered in butterflies* mono: raising them? i remember doing those pop up tents with the butterflies too. Kepuri: "...I didn't intend to. I just stepped outside and...they followed me inside." mono: ah. Kepuri: "I'll to put in more flowers and--" *looks for the bed* "...Oh no...He was taking a nap." akaderu: ......this is fine. Kepuri: "Oh, sweetie!" *big smile* akaderu:... 7//////7 -elsewhere- Lawless: *holding the fridge over his head* "Who took the last slice of pizza?!" romina: well, sorry for having a big appetite. Lawless: "Retribution will be made! I want what was mine! I called dibs on the last slice!" -elsewhere- Kyoka: "Hmm. So, I have you to thank for getting Atsushi out of the whale." atsushi: more or less, yeah. and sorry that i didnt get you out of there sooner....y-you arent still mad, are you? Montgomery: "That depends on whether you give a generous tip. _Because I serve your food now._ atsushi: *gulp* OuO;;;;; Kyoka: "You also owe me more food, Atsushi." *sits closer to him* atsushi: *sweating intensifies* Montgomery: *glances back and forth between them* -///- yosano: he's sweating so much there's puddles under him. Dazai: "I hope that's sweat..." yosano: those guild guys should be leaving today...hey kenji? Kenji: *mouth full of noodles* "Huh?" yosano: why dont we crush some men under our heel today, 'toshiko'~? Kenji: "...Can I still get some free meals out of them?" yosano: sure. Kenji: "Let's do it!" atsushi: *sweatdrop* Kenji: "I'll put on my best dress!" atsushi: *looks at lucy* long story -elsewhere- Takehisa: *shivers* maki: i got you chicken noodle~! Takehisa: *sniff* "Th-Thanks..." *small sneeze* "Just..." maki: we're only human. we all get sick every now and then. Takehisa: "...That 'curse' covered in the news must have gotten to me." maki: i guess so... Takehisa: *sniff, blows on the spoonful of soup...sips...* "Hmm...This is really good." maki: thanks. we used one of the cans, but karin added a few spices to it. Takehisa: "Hmm. It has a little kick to it." *weak smile* -elsewhere- Hibana: *pushing the swing* "Want to go higher?" hanako: up! up! gabriella: *has the camera out* Hibana: *pushes a bit more* "Here you go!" -elsewhere- Bellhop: "Lana, you got a call. It's your dad." lana: ah! *picks the phone up* hey dad. feeling any better? Touma: "Much." lana: *her heart drops* !!! Touma: "Remember that errand I gave you about the Grim Reaper's son and his now-wife. You failed." lana: i never throught- *looks* i didnt know you intended to _kill_ them! Touma: " 'Kill' is such a nasty word. I simply seek out samples for my ongoing research. And you never asked what I was going to do..." lana:...what is it you want? Touma: "Oh, nothing at the moment. I'll call you back when I'm ready." lana: ....... Touma: "Until then, keep everything tidy." -elsewhere- Aizawa: *nom nom* -elsewhere- Benimaru: *fanning himself* kirei: the shrine is holding a ghost story telling event later tonight. Benimaru: "Oh. That could be entertaining. Would you like to go?" -elsewhere- Triple A: "Hello, Marie." marie: oh, arthur, good to see you again. christa: TnT Triple A: *smiles* "Likewise. You're looking well." *looks at Christa* "And so do you, Miss Christa..." christa: goaway! Triple A: .w.; "...What?" christa: Xp Triple A: "Um...So, you're out on errands, Marie?" *looking wearily at Christa* -elsewhere- Spirit: "Want to pick up lunch at the commissary?" lord death: well, i dont have anything else planned today. Spirit: "Great!" *opens the door out of the Death Room* "How're you holding up?" lord death: everything's been well. *smiles* so, i hear miss izumi is starting classes at the DWMA this fall. Spirit: *nods* "...It's kind of scary." lord death: that's understandable. but i have faith in her, as i do all the students. Spirit: "...Do you say that as the headmaster, or as a parent?" lord death: *thumbs up* yes. Spirit: "...As a parent, I'm scared." lord death: *listening* Spirit: "Izumi is not a weapon. Meister training and other training is exhaustive...and people get hurt." lord death: *nods* Spirit: "How do I keep her safe?" -elsewhere- Amaimon: *stuck in hamster form* "..." maid: i take it you learned your lesson now? Amaimon: "I just did what brother asked. And he said he would give me a gift..." maid: well, he gave you a nice hamster cage, didnt he? Amaimon: "..." *runs on hamster wheel--which lights up* .w. -elsewhere- Ponera: *small gasp* grimoire: ?? Ponera: "I forgot to get back a spell book I lent to Shaula." shaula: oh, i needed it to be a foot for the broken table. Ponera: -_-;;; "It has important items in it...and you waste it like that?" -elsewhere- Patty: "Zzz..." liz: *putting a blanket over her* *smiles* night, sis. Patty: =w= *bundles herself* liz:...*smiles* Wes: *pats Liz's shoulder* liz: ^^ Wes: *carefully closes Patty's door* "You're a great sister..." liz: i've had practice for years so... Wes: "..." *nods* "Yes." liz: hey wes? you ever think about us...i dunno...having a baby? Wes: .\\\. "...Yes. I have." -elsewhere- Mori: "...I have to find a new assistant." higuchi: *glares* Mori: "Who here wants to make the phone call?" Chuuya: *seated lifeless in his chair* kouyou: ......shall i? Mori: "Sure. Just make sure she's good." -elsewhere- Patient: "Nurse! I've been calling for assistance for 20 minutes!" veronica: ah! coming! ... (thinking: zoey's been sick for days now... im starting to get worried...) *Ring ring* nurse: *picks up* hello? ???: "Hello? I would like to speak with Zoey." nurse: oh, she isnt in today. i heard she called sick. ???: "...Could you tell her to call when she gets in? nurse: alright then. and who is this? ???: "Her parent." nurse: ah. i see. ???: "..." *sniff* "Thank you...Goodbye." nurse: .... *Phone hangs up* -elsewhere- Melville: *on a bench* ango: mr melville, i presume? Melville: "Call me Herman." ango: *nods* of course, herman. if you dont so mind answeing a few questions, we could refrain from arresting guild members who were not involved in the incident. Melville: "...Okay. But will you allow an old man to at least stare out at the water while we talk?" ango: of course. according to official reports, you were once head of the guild once upon a time ago, correct? Melville: "...I don't want to hear about ancient history, from a child." ango:....do you _want_ to be arrested? Melville: "...Is there somewhere you intend to take me?" -elsewhere- Mephisto: *holding the fake Impure Eye--and squishing it* *squeak squeak squeak* maid: sir, please stop that. my ears are beginning to bleed. felisia:...(thinking: so cute im gonna die) Mephisto: *pouts* "But it's so squeak-able!" *bounces it against the wall* maid: *eye'd* ack! Mephisto: .w.; "...Sorry. How about you take the day off?" -elsewhere- Giriko: *finishes shaving* "There! How does Daddy look clean-shaven?" anna:..... Q~Q *crying* arachne: aww, anna. Giriko: .____. "I knew I shouldn't have shaved...H-Hang on! I could just glue the hair back on--" -elsewhere- Shotaro: "Hey, Mana!" mana: hey. Shotaro: *he's holding a shovel covered in dirt* "Emine said you needed a mud bath, so I dug one in the backyard!" -morning- atsushi: so the crime scene isnt far now, right, tanizaki? Tanizaki: "No...But why are you here? It was supposed to be Ranpo." atsushi: he said he had an appointment today. he didnt specify. he also mentioned for me to go to a flower shop? Tanizaki: "...'Kay. Guess it can't be helped." *points* "There's the crime scene. And the body." atsushi: so what all happened? Tanizaki: : *reviews notes* "Male, about 40 years old." *points at corpse with covering over it* "4 AM. Hit by truck, dead on the spot. Face damaged, so identity unknown." atsushi: have they checked his pockets? Tanizaki: *nods* "Privately-made gun, no serial number. Popular with Mafia members about 20 years ago." atsushi: so a mafia member, perhaps? Tanizaki: "Who knows? Could've been an accident or an assassination--" *spots something* "Atsushi! In the deceased's hand!" atsushi: ?? *looks* Tanizaki: "This newspaper clipping is damaged...Where is the missing piece?" medic: we've confirmed an identity from the blood test. atsushi: ??........*staggers.....then vomits, screaming* Tanizaki: "?! Atsushi! Calm down! What is it?" atsushi: no no no no no no....why him? why is he of all people here?! *hyperventilating* Tanizaki: "??? You know him?" officer: so the victim was the head of an orphanage outside the city, eh? what do you think is gonna happen to the place? officer 2: i dunno. -elsewhere- kouyou:......*knocks on the door* chuuya? *The door seems to be pressed hard against the edges, as if wind is pushing it* kouyou: ......i just want to speak with you, if not as an executive, at least as a mother... *The door is expanding...expanding...* kouyou: *backs way to the side* hmm... here seems about good. *BOOM* kouyou: ....are you done? *The door is splintered. Empty cartons of wine are everywhere--cheap, supermarket wine* Chuuya: *slurring* "Geddout..." kouyou: chuuya...*hug* its alright now... Chuuya: *weakly pushing off* "Let go...I haven't showered. I vomited in the vase...* kouyou: do you need mama to help you? Chuuya: "N-No! Don't call yourself that--it's creepy...I want...I want..." kouyou: *head pats* just let it out... Chuuya: *lips quivers, then he collapses, crying* kouyou: *rubs his back and hums, a familiar lullaby she would hum when he was younger* Chuuya: *can't speak, just holding onto her...and then...* "R-Rain..." kouyou: .....(thinking: that poor girl...) Chuuya: "I didn't...Then he...He..." kouyou: ....... Chuuya: "He killed her..." kouyou: ?? Chuuya: "Akutagawa..." kouyou: ..... -elsewhere- atsushi: ......... Tanizaki: "..." *holds out a cup of coffee* atsushi:....thanks.... Tanizaki: "So...He was looking for you, huh?" atsushi: i dont know.....and now he's gone....*shaking* Tanizaki: "Look, if you feel sad, then rest first." atsushi: sad?! me?! are you kidding?! this is the greatest day of my whole life! that tyrant is dead and gone! im writing this down in my personal calendar so i remember it forever! *laugh-crying* Tanizaki: o_o "...Don't you want to know why he was looking for you?" atsushi: he was...probably here to kill me...but jokes on him! Tanizaki: "...You think he deserved to die?" atsushi: of course he did! after all he put me and the other children through?! i hope he's burning in hell as we speak! Tanizaki: "...We're supposed to be solving this murder." atsushi:......right.. -a while later, atsushi goes to meet up with an informant- ???: "You came." atsushi: *turns*.... O_O; Akutagawa: *tosses envelope at Atsushi's feet* "Tell them it was an accident..." *his eyes look red, his face gaunt, his clothes a mess* atsushi: *picks it up* h-hey....you ok? you look.....off. Akutagawa: "I-I'm fine...Take this information. Enjoy it. He is dead now." atsushi: o...ok...? *examines the notes* .....?? he was planning to _sell_ the gun? .....then what was he going to use the money fo-...huh? *Akutagawa has disappeared around the corner...* Akutagawa: *...but he's actually just collapsed around the corner* atsushi:.....*calling out* thank you! *exits* Akutagawa: *shaking, trying to hold onto himself* *images of Rain's face and Atsushi and Dazai are flooding his brain* *whispering* "St-Stop..." -later on, after atsushi read through the info, he is now on a park bench, looking around with a sullen look on his face- toru: hehe! Yohei: "Enjoying yourself, huh, kiddo?" toru: ^w^ atsushi: ....... Yohei: *picks him up out of the stroller* *points up at the tree* "Look at how big the branches are! And they just started as a teeny tiny little seed..." *holds up his fingers to show the size of a seed* atsushi:.....*looking down at the ground* ???: "There you are! I found something..." atsushi: is it the file tanizaki gave you?......yeah....i skimmed through it... Dazai: "He found something else...The article he read was about you, fighting the Guild. He probably came to compliment you for--" atsushi: i dont....i dont believe it...after all he did?! -he sighs- remember when we first met? looking for that tiger? Dazai: "...You mean, when we were looking for you?" atsushi:...yeah....why did he hide that fact from everyone? that i was....y-you know.... Dazai: "Who knows...Imagine what that feels like, to keep that a secret from someone for so long." atsushi: .......i've been trying to wrap my head around it...but it keeps hurting my brain....can we....go to the flower shop? Dazai: "...Okay." -and so- atsushi: *shows the clerk the photo* this man...did he order anything from this shop? Clerk: "...Oh, yes! Let me pull it up...It was for one bouquet--" atsushi: any occasion mentioned? Clerk: "No. I think he wanted to meet someone." atsushi: did he mention who? Clerk: "Someone who used to be at his...what was it. A school? Dorm? No, wait...Orphanage?" atsushi:....i see....thanks...*exits*............... Dazai: "...???" atsushi: i think...i understand now..... he was selling the gun to buy those flowers....but died on the way......i know, he lost people close to him, but i wont ever forgive all the hell he put me through! Dazai: "...No one says you have to." atsushi:...how am i....supposed to feel about this then? *smiling a false smile, but teary eyed* Dazai: "You get to make whatever expression you want. But, if I could offer some advice...when someone's father passes away, they cry." *turns* atsushi:......*tears falling*.....*tightly hugs dazai from behind and cries* Dazai: o\\\\o "...Um..." *pat pat* atsushi: *hic* *gross sobbing* Dazai: "..." -3- ("Kunikida better pay to get this snot cleaned off...") *hug* -elsewhere- Mori: "And that is the plan." kouyou: *nods* Chuuya: "..." Akutagawa: *collapsed on the floor* elise: *poking akutagawa with a stick* Mori: "...Um...So, you are to infiltrate and monitor...and...Could someone pick up Akutagawa and make Chuuya smile already?" kouyou: i feel a mission would help you both back on your feet. Chuuya: "..." Akutagawa: "I don't want to be on my feet." Mori: "Well, too bad: I need you all on this mission, and if you can't do it, I can think of other work..." *opens a hole in the floor, where fire escapes upward* -elsewhere- Wes: *opens a door* "Where does this room lead--" liz: ta-dah~ *in lingere* Wes: o\\\\\\o *nosebleed* "Hot damn..." liz: ^w^ Wes: *still staring at her, as he shuts the door and locks* "You look amazing..." -elsewhere- Jacqueline: *sets dinner down at the table* -elsewhere- shiemi: *getting her bed ready* *Knock knock* shiemi: who is it? ???: "It's Yukio." shiemi: y-yu-yuki?! i thought you were still in death city looking for that eye?? Rin: "Ha! Just fooling! It's me!" shiemi: oh.... Rin: "...Yeah...Um...I locked myself out of my room?" shura: jeez. *uses the key card* there ya go, happy now? Rin: "Awesome! Thanks." shura: so how's japan for ya so far? Rin: "...Kinda smaller than I thought it'd be?" shura: *peeks into his room* seems you got quite a number of souvenirs already... Rin: .\\\\. "Not that many...But I do need to buy more luggage." *holds up a kitten plushie* "Will Madoka like this? The eyes seem kind of dead and lifeless..." Plushie: ◕ ‿‿ ◕ shura:......maybe? (thinking: creepy) Rin: "..." *puts a towel over the Plushie* "...Well, when we heading to the next hotel?" shura: about a few days, give or take. damn scheduling errors. Rin: "..." *looks to the left* -in another room- Bon: *reading at desk* konekomaru: it's kind of nice to be back home...almost home, anyway. Bon: "...Yeah. It'll be good to--" *spots Shima* Shima: Q~Q konekomaru: shima?! whats wrong?! Shima: "M-Maybe we don't have to go back? Maybe I should just stay here--you know, hold down the fort here as a back-up post? Ha ha ha..." konekomaru: ?? Bon: "Is this about your fam--" Shima: *covering his ears* "LA LA LA LA! CAN'T HEAR YOU!" *walks into closet* konekomaru:....*sweatdrop* Bon: "Come out of the closet already!" konekomaru: um...phasing? Bon: ಠ_ಠ -elsewhere- izumo: ..... *ring tone on Izumo's phone* izumo: *checks phone* Paku: [text: how's japan?] izumo: *smiles* [it's been well. it's nice to be back home. U?] Paku: [classes are okay. u should've seen what homeroom teacher did] *pic of the teacher, not noticing chalkboard message that, when her head blocks it, spells out something naughty] izumo: [omg X'D] Paku: [lol. pick me up something fun in japan! i got a long list...] izumo: [k] Paku: [miss u] -elsewhere- Patty: *sitting upside down on couch* -3- kirika: trying to get the blood to flow to your brain? Patty: "Just bored..." *crosses her arms* "What're you up to?" kirika: *shrugs and makes 'i dunno' sound* Patty: "...Mario Kart?" kirika: eh sure. Patty: *flips down from couch--and keeps flipping until she reaches the controllers by the TV* -elsewhere- Benimaru: "...That's hardly scary." fang-hua: *sweatdrop* Tsukiyo: "Oh, you think you got a scarier story?" Benimaru: *stare, his face getting gaunt and creepy* fang-hua: *sweatdrop* Tsukiyo: Q~Q Benimaru: "There is a shortcut through a cornfield..." kirei: *listening* Benimaru: "The corn grows tall and thick. The path you chose is muddy. The corn grows in rows without scope or end. In the dark, you hurry..." hinata: O-O Benimaru: "You don't see the standing forms--you pass them on your way. They stand still amongst the swaying corn, which hides their pallor...and decay." hikage: *shivering* Benimaru: "Hundreds gather in this field tonight, although you see none at all yet. Still, you look around in fright. The corn grows too thick, too tall. You tell yourself, 'It's merely the rustling of the leaves.' But they see you, and they hear you. And they might not let you leave..." kabuki:.... *Lightning strike* hinata + hikage: EEP! *A figure is seen in the shadows, its appearance tall and something growing out of it* reimi: O-O Tsukiyo: "EEEEEK!" *clutches Kabuki* kabuki: ah- kirei:....*faint smile* ^^; Benimaru: "..." *summons a flame--and tosses it at the figure* Figure: "?!!! AHH! I'm on fire!" *runs away, trying to roll around in the dirt outside* Tsukiyo: Q~Q "...What monsters goes 'Ah, I'm on fire'?" kirei: ah! *goes to investigate* oh goodness. ^^;; Mr. Tsubaki: Q~Q *his clothes are scorched, and the tip of his fox ears and tail are still on fire* "...What the hell?!" Benimaru: "Whoops. My bad." -elsewhere- Sakuya: "..." *sets down his book* lilac: zzzz Sakuya: "..." *picks up Lilac* lilac: zzzzz Sakuya: *opens door to Lilac's room...* lilac: zzzzz..... Sakuya: *sets Lilac in bed, pulls up the sheets* lilac: ......*faint smile* Sakuya: *passes hair off his forehead...small forehead kiss* naho: *smiles* Sakuya: *turns around* "???" ^\\\^ naho: ^^ *give lilac a small kiss on the forehead as well* lilac: *clutching pillow* Sakuya: *pats her back* naho: ^^ Sakuya: *holds her hand* -elsewhere- Gopher: *holding tissue to his nose* "My poor nose." eibon: D8> Gopher: "I shouldn't have stood behind that door." ^^; "Sorry." -elsewhere- Takehisa: *sniff* "I should repair the Matchbox...I can...I..." *collapses on the floor* maki: !!! takehisa! karin: !! easy there! *helping him up* Takehisa: *swinging a wrench back and forth* "I can repair...Just let me at it, Coach! I'm ready to play..." -w- *he's delirious* iris: *making a phone call* tamaki: woah, easy there! shinra: *confiscating the wrench* Takehisa: *slurred speech* "The Edmund Fitzgerald will sail again!" maki: come on, time for you to get some sleep. nozomi: commander, will he be ok? Akitaru: "Takehisa has had worse. He just needs to sleep it off. But until then, we still need repairs on the Matchbox--" Victor: "I'LL DO IT!" shinra: how about dr itou handles it? karin: *cracks knuckles* challenge accepted! Victor: D: "...Okay." *mopes away* nozomi: do you want me to help you? karin: ... Victor: TT_TT nozomi: *pats his back* Victor: *sniff* "Th-Thank you." nozomi: ^///^ -elsewhere- Hibana: *putting in night-light* "Bright enough?" hanako: *nod* -elsewhere- madoka: *setting up vid chat* hey rin. ^^ Rin: "C-Can you see me? I don't see you. Did I forgot to turn something on?" madoka: um... oh! *presses something* how about now? Rin: "Ah! Now I see you!" *he shows up in a I Heart Tokyo shirt* *does a very fast wave at her with his dorky smile* madoka: ^^ how's the trip so far? Rin: "I got souvenirs!!!" madoka: i can tell. *she smiles* Rin: "Yeah, I've had a great time going to Shinjuku...by myself. And have ramen...by myself. And buy pocky...by myself." QWQ madoka: aww. i wish i could be there with you. ....i really wish i could be there hugging you. Rin: *nod nod* "Me too..." *holds up a body pillow with a Digimon on it* "I get no huggies tonight." QWQ madoka: maybe a good night kiss through the screen? Rin: *nod nod* *leans up to the screen, giggles nervously* -smooch- madoka: ^///^ Rin: *smooch* "Love ya..." madoka: i love you too. good night. Rin: " 'Night!" -morning- Wes: *yawn* liz: zzzzzz Wes: *smiles, as he kisses her shoulder* liz: =w= Wes: "Morning..." liz: morning~ Wes: *hugs* "Sleep well, babe?" liz: sure did, honey. Wes: "Same...and I can think of a few reasons why~" -elsewhere- Bon: *yawn, opens an eye, and--* "...Why is Shima in my bed?" Shima: *fetal position, sucking his thumb* konekomaru: ^^; Bon: *kick* Shima: "Ouch!" konekomaru: morning. Shima: "Some morning...What's the agenda today?" -elsewhere- atsushi: *out of the shower* ah....hmm? *notices hair in the trash....kyouka's hair* ?? kyouka? Kyoka: "What?" atsushi: ....nothing....looks nice. ^^; Kyoka: "...Okay." *sits down* "Where's breakfast?" atsushi: ah! right! *goes to make some* Kyoka: "...You still look sad." atsushi: i just....had a rough day yesterday....hope you dont mind omurice again... Kyoka: "...That is acceptable." *sits to eat* -elsewhere- Anya: *asleep in bed* tsugumi: zzzzz... ao:.....*walks in....holding a knife* Meme: *sleep-talking* "Pythagorean theorem...forgetting a step...What is the equation...?" mio: zzzzz.....nyeh?.... O_o ao: *standing over anya* ....... Anya: *blinks her eyes* "Huh?" ao: good morning, miss anya~ -shiiiing- Anya: o____O *kicks up* ao: i was wondering....would you like some butter on your toast? Anya: "WHAT IS IT WITH YOU AND KNIVES?!" tsugumi: *yaaaawn* -elsewhere- Spirit: "Hmm...Which other books will you need for class...?" -elsewhere- mafia secretary: and here are your fake student IDs. [Ryuzaki Araragi] [Chuuya Ozaki] Akutagawa: "I don't want to do this." Chuuya: "..." mafia secretary: well too bad, buster browns, we already got the paperwork filed and the uniforms picked out. Akutagawa and Chuuya: "...'Uniforms'?" mafia secretary: school uniforms, obviously! Chuuya: "...I hate the pants." Akutagawa: "This looks uncomfortable." -elsewhere- Hyde: *fixing up his hair in the mirror* -elsewhere- "Toshiko": ("Hmm...I think I got all the food...Oh! I forgot donuts.") yosano: *reading a medical magazine* "Toshiko": "Doctor, could you help me with the groceries?" yosano: alright. "Toshiko": "That's everything, right? I mean, aside from donuts." yosano: seems so. *nods* Steinbeck: .w. "Toshiko!" "Toshiko": ._.; twain: hey sweet stuff! yosano: ..... o u o "Toshiko": "...So. You're both here. Yay." Steinbeck: *glares at Twain* "Toshiko...I have a proposal to make to you..." twain: you available this weekend~? “Toshiko”: "Well, I--" Steinbeck: "Hey! I still have a proposal to make!" *takes Toshiko's arm* yosano: *whispers* do you want to tell them or should i? “Toshiko”: "...How about you tell them?" yosano: oh gentleman~ want to know something interesting~? *whispers into their ears* toshiko's actually kenji in a dress. twain:....................................*shrug* eh, wouldnt have been the first time. Steinbeck: "...Really?" *looks at Toshiko* "...Huh." Kenji: .\\\\. "Um..." yosano: ....not the shocked reaction i was hoping. but oh well. Steinbeck: "...So, you still up for my proposal?" Kenji: *cursing inside* random guild member: *drags them away* please excuse them. -_-; Kenji: "...What was that even...?" yosano: learn not to question it. ???: ....... *walking away* Kenji: "...Do I still get to wear the dress?" yosano: hey, its your life. if you want to, go nuts. *shrug* -elsewhere- Arthur: "Maybe I can get some medicine for Takehisa." shinra: sounds like a good idea. Arthur: "Good." *pulls out a dusty map* "The Elixir of Antigone is only a fortnight away. If we leave now, we can avoid the Griffin of Turmoil." shinra:.....(thinking: is that a map from dungeons and dragons?...) Arthur: "Don your best armor, squire--we're off!" shinra: -_-; Akitaru: "Pick up some coffee while you boys are out." shinra: ok! Arthur: "I will milk the Dragon of Juan Valdez for your dairy creamer--" Akitaru: -________- shinra: we'll get to it! tamaki: i'll go with them and make sure they dont get lost. Arthur: *shiny eyes* "With you as my compass--" -bonk- tamaki: *drags them off* lets just go. -_-; Arthur: x___x -elsewhere- Jacqueline: "Finished pre-semester tutorial on library work." kim: awesome. Jacqueline: "Zoo work going okay?" kim: yeah. it's been enjoyable. -elsewhere- Kyoka: *stomach growl* -elsewhere- higuchi: *at the bar* i'll have two glasses of scotch please. Bartender: *hands them* "There you go." higuchi: *nods and puts one to the side*......*staring at the empty seat* ...............*sips* Bartender: "..." *sighs, returns to work* higuchi:...*notices someone come in* Chuuya: "..." *dragging his feet to the bar* higuchi: ......scotch? Chuuya: "..." *silently takes it* higuchi:.....did you....*ahem*....want to talk about it? Chuuya: "...I screwed up." higuchi: *listening* Chuuya: "...I could have saved her." higuchi: ....yeah, we could have... Chuuya: *shakes his head* "No...This is my fault. I-I didn't even recognize her..." higuchi:...you couldnt have known that she-....*shakes head* Chuuya: "What kind of a man am I...that I didn't see it? After all the pain she went through...I-I didn't help her...I would've killed her without knowing..." higuchi:....i thought....i heard her say something, back then... Chuuya: "??? Say what?" higuchi: it sounded like... 'please, let me die'. Chuuya: *his heart sinks...he collapses onto the bar* "No..." higuchi: i think....she wanted her misery to end. Chuuya: "..." *sniff* "I-I could have..." higuchi:....*pats his back* Chuuya: "I could've done something to make her happy..." higuchi:.......... you've really taken a liking to her...why is that? Chuuya: "...I wanted her to feel loved." higuchi:...*nods* Chuuya: "...She was kind. She was funny. She...was beautiful." higuchi: *smiles* hardworking too. Chuuya: *nods* "She always knew what we needed...I remember, when I was sick, she brought in chicken soup." higuchi: *listening* Chuuya: "It was so tasty..." *small laugh* "She had spilled a little bit of it on her coat when she brought it into work." higuchi: i saw that....she always did have terrible luck. Chuuya: "...It wasn't helped by people going out of their way to give her bad luck..." higuchi:....(thinking: mori....) Chuuya: "...I loved her." higuchi:...she loved you too. a lot. Chuuya: "..." *whimpers* higuchi: .....*pats his back* she wanted to tell you, but.....she didnt think she had a chance with you. Chuuya: "...Why didn't we..." higuchi: ?? Chuuya: "Why didn't we just say it to each other?" higuchi: ...... Chuuya: "I could've...We could've left..." higuchi:.....would you really have done that for one person? Chuuya: "...If I known this would've happened...Yes." higuchi:.....where would you have gone, then? Chuuya: "...I don't know. Somewhere away from the Mafia. Away from anyone who could follow us." higuchi:.....what are you going to do now? Chuuya: "...Didn't you hear? I have to go to school now." higuchi: yeah. ryunosuke, too... Chuuya: "..." *the glass on the bar starts to rise a bit* higuchi:...*faint smile* to be fair, you could pass as a high school student. Chuuya: "?! I AM NOT THAT SHORT!" higuchi: *chuckles* Chuuya: *glares, downs his scotch* -elsewhere- Aizawa: "...Who did this?" *flowers in his hair* -silence- Aizawa: "Okay. I will punish every student in this class until someone confesses--" kouji: *raises hand meekly* Aizawa: "...Well, that takes the fun out of punishing multiple students. Okay. Everyone but Kouji has to run five laps--because Kouji was the only one to make my hair look lovely." Bakugo: *glares at Kouji* kouji: q_q Izuku: *pat pat on Kouji's back* -elsewhere- Rin: QWQ ("I'm lost...") ???: <excuse me sir, do you need help?> Rin: "Um..." *points on his map to a building* ???: <want me to take you there?> Rin: "..." Rin: "Y-Yes?" *nods* ???: <ok. by the way, what's your name?> Rin: "Rin." ???: <ah, nice too meet you.> -elsewhere- Patty: *stares at Liz* liz: ya? Patty: *leans closer, staring at Liz's stomach* liz:...what? Patty: *poke* liz: ? Patty: "...Okay! Just checking!" -elsewhere- Victor: *holding drops over a beaker* "Almost..." -in takehisa's room- ???:....ke....hi....sa.... Takehisa: "N-No..." -a burnt corpse crawls onto the bed- toudou: take...hi...sa.... Takehisa: "St-Stay back!" *waving his arm around him, trying to find his gun* maki: takehisa? Takehisa: *picks up the lamp and throws it* maki: O-O *dodge* -morning- atsushi: so where are we doing? Kunikida: "We are investing an information broker." atsushi: for what exactly? Kunikida: "We're looking into this." *holds up his tablet, showing a symbol* atsushi:...ah! that's the logo from the terminal!...now that i look at it, it looks like a demented micky mouse....or deadmau5. Kunikida: "This microchip on the back allows long-distance interference--which is how the Moby-Dick was seized." atsushi: freaky...so this hacker....they'll be able to help us? Kunikida: "We'll see. We have known them for 10 years. In fact, they used to be with the Agency." atsushi: oh. -they arrive at an almost deralict house- atsushi:....*gulp* Kunikida: "..." *kicks down the door* atsushi: are we....allowed to do that? o-o;;; Kunikida: "KATAI! I'M COMING IN! Would it kill you to clean up this place?!" atsushi: (thinking: katai?) *There is a blanket...something wiggles underneath it* atsushi: *YELPS!* ???: "I'm gonna die here..." atsushi:...dazaaaaai? *The man pops up, looking at his laptop* Katai: "I'm just gonna die here in his futon..." atsushi: um....hello? sir? Katai: "!!! INTRUDER!" *tosses an empty can of Surge* atsushi: ACK! *nice catch* kunikida? a lil help! Kunikida: *already wearing a mask and gloves, washing the dishes in his sink* "Katai, we need your electronic-control powers. So wrap up that futon and--" Katai: "I can't..." Kunikida: "...What?" atsushi: um....why not? o.o; Katai: "...Love sickness." atsushi: oh? that's all? *is romantically dense* Kunikida: "..." *facepalm* Katai: "Three days ago, I went to the silk shop to have my futon repaired. On the way home...I saw her...Yamato Nadeshiko." atsushi: yamatona deshiko? Katai: "Ethereal grace, like a lily along the pond. Seeing her poise even yards away, I was smitten immediately." atsushi: i...see....*sweatdrop* Katai: "So intoxicated by her beauty, I used my remaining strength to photograph her." atsushi: isnt that considered stalking?! im pretty sure that's illegal! (thinking: who even does that?!) Kunikida: "Atsushi, how many sugars?" *holds up a cup of tea* atsushi: one please. *looking at the picture* she kind of looks like a model. Katai: "Oh! It is hopeless! How can I speak to a woman?! Communicating with moles would be easier! *cowers under his futon* "I will be alone forever with just Yoshiko..." atsushi: yoshiko? Kunikida: "The name of his futon..." atsushi: hmm.....*lightbulb* how about we find this girl and set the two of you up? Katai: D: Kunikida: "What?! Are you trying to kill him?!!" atsushi: from what you said, he cant use his ability if he's like this, then it's our best option! Katai: "...FIND MY YAMATO NADESHIKO, DETECTIVE AGENCY!" atsushi: you can count on us! -meanwhile, at the agency, dazai and another individual are investigating a missing person's case- yosano: so then your daughter... Zoey's Parent: "Sh-She hasn't been at the hospital in weeks..." yosano: mr lewis, please remain calm. we'll find her one way or another. Mr. Lewis: "..." *puts his head in his hands* naomi: jeez...it sucks that ranpo caught a cold now of all times... kirako: kyouka, do you think you can handle this? kyouka:....*thumbs up* -at the hospital- veronica: may i help- oh, its you again. -_-; let me guess yet another suicide attempt? Dazai: "...Not unless I could convince you to join me~" veronica: -_-# you realize i am married, right? kyouka:...*gives dazai a look* T_T *chop* get to business, fool. Dazai: "...Just because I spot the ring doesn't mean I won't try. But in any case, we're here to investigate a missing person case." veronica: you mean zoey? yeah, im beginning to worry about her... Dazai: "When did you last see her?" veronica: the day after the mass hysteria incident. some foreign guy came in to visit two of the patients. they've gone missing as well. Dazai: "Their names?" veronica: mr hawthorne and miss mitchell. *checking the computer* huh...that's weird... kyouka: ?? veronica: the names arent coming up on the database...they arent in the computer recycling bin either... Dazai: *takes his notepad* "Start with Hawthorne. What was his height?" veronica: fairly tall, glasses. blueish hair? could have been hair dye? Dazai: *nods* "About six feet or taller?" veronica: i think? as for miss mitchell, she was comatose and in critical condition. kyouka:....when you say 'foreign guy'...what kind? veronica: hmmm. i want to say russian? he sure sounded it. Dazai: "He have a name?" veronica: i didnt catch it. but i know he had dark hair and was kinda scrawny. i remember zoey asking him on a date, but i think that was only because she was getting close to 'that age' and hasnt found a boyfriend... Dazai: "...Tell me a bit about Zoey. Do you know where her apartment is?" veronica: actually yes. *writing down the address* her roommate is probably still in. -on a road- higuchi: *driving home, with a sleeping chuuya in the back seat* (thinking: jeez...) *stops at the red light and notices someone*..?? !!! ryunosuke?! Akutagawa: *collapsed on a bench* higuchi: (thinking: oh my gosh, those glasses look so good on him! ok ichiyo, calm down.) -a young woman with long hair comes up to him- woman: there you are, ryu. come on, lets get home. Akutagawa: *grunts* "...Okay." *tries to stand--stumbles a bit* -she helps him up and walks with him....in a way that looks like she's hugging him- higuchi:......*a small explosion off her head* Chuuya: *turns over* "Higuchi, turn down the heat in the car..." -at an apartment building- kyouka: this is the place... Dazai: "Hmm...Guess nurses don't make much..." kyouka: *knocks on the door* Dazai: "..." ???: *female voice* <please wait a moment~> *a young woman comes out, dressed in seifuku, hair in pigtails and a cat ear headband* may i help you, nya? Dazai: .w. "Would you like a suici--" kyouka: *CHOP* -inside the room- girl: oh, so you're looking for zoey-chan? Dazai: *holding ice to his head* "Yeah. She call, email, or text you?" girl: not recently, nya. the last i saw zoey-chan is when she was going out on her date with her new senpai. i think they were going to that fancy place. *holds up a brochure for a restaurant* Dazai: *looking over the brochure* "Indeed fancy...You see what the guy looked like?" girl: zoey-chan said she would meet him there. but that was days ago now, nya. Dazai: "Hmmm...Has Zoey had many dates?" girl: im not sure. *winks, sticks tongue out and bumps fist against her head very cutely* Dazai: .\\\\. "*ahem* Um...Well, if you hear from Zoey, call us..." *hands business card* -morning, at the higuchi family apartment- Chuuya: *passed out on couch* higuchi: *laying on the floor* TT_____TT higuchi's sister: big sis! get a hold of yourself! -elsewhere- atsushi: she was spotted around...here? Kunikida: "I think so. I wonder what changed his mind about tracking down this woman..." -on a roof- higuchi: *in despair* that woman....with ryunosuke...... !!! (thinking: this has to be a conspiracy! perhaps an assassin from an enemy of the mafia? or perhaps a government agent? i have to stop her before ryunosuke gets hurt!) are you with me, chuuya?! Chuuya: "Zzz..." higuchi: *peeek* O-O *ducks* the agency? here? dammit. *peeeeks with her binoculars* !!! (thinking: that woman in the photo! its the same woman!) Chuuya: *curled up* "R-Rain..." higuchi:....*sighs and peaks over.....kunikida and atsushi are gone*....where- ???: "Do you have business with us?" higuchi: O-O;;;; ACK! Kunikida: "A spy should pay attention to their surroundings when contending with the Man-Tiger's eyes." atsushi: hello. *small wave* higuchi: *shivering* that woman...in the photo.....*gets on her hands and knees, bowing* PLEASE TELL ME EVERYTHING YOU KNOW ABOUT HER!! Chuuya: *sits up, screaming--lifting up some rocks on the rooftop as well* "RAIN! WHERE ARE YOU?!" atsushi: OHHOLYSWEETFUCK!! higuchi: *CHOP* CHUUYA STOP SCREAMING AND PAY ATTENTION! Chuuya: "..." *falls forward, vomiting* atsushi: O_O is...is he.... *shakes head* we dont know about that lady....we were actually in the middle of finding her ourselves. we were going to give her this letter. *its a love letter* higuchi:......*JAWDROP*........... *lightbulb* LET'S COLLABORATE ON THIS MISSION THEN! atsushi: um....*sweatdrop* kunikida, mind tending to the sick guy? Kunikida: "...Fine. Keep an eye on this woman. She seems dangerous." Chuuya: *vomiting, sobbing* -and so, after chuuya had calmed down a bit- higuchi: i must say, weretiger. it's bold of you to confess such feelings for an older woman. but i wish you the best of luck! atsushi:....huh? ???: *pant pant pant* higuchi: ??? atsushi: mr katai? Katai: "I...am here...to confess to my beloved!" higuchi:...um....what? atsushi: he's the guy who wrote the love letter. Katai: "Yes, I am...!!! And you are with the Mafia!" higuchi: *notices he's pointing away* um...we're right here. atsushi: are you that bad at talking to girls? like seriously? even im not that awkward. Katai: "!!! My love! There she stands!" woman:.... higuchi: !!! oh i am coming for you you bITCH! woman:... O_O; *RUNS* higuchi: GET BACK HERE YOU FUCKING COWARD! Katai: "..." *glares--and takes off running* atsushi: shouldnt we...do something? o-o; woman: O-O;;; *running, hopping a fence* Katai: *turns off traffic signals to block the intersection from Higuchi* -the wacky chase scene continues into a warehouse- higuchi: heh, end of the line. you are mine- Katai: "My love! I will save--" gin: *hair up, putting on mask........still in the woman's outfit*......................shit. higuchi:.................................g...gi.....GIN!?!?!?! gin: yes higuchi, its me....oh hey chuuya. i didnt know you were here too. Chuuya: "...Oh, hey, Gin..." *covers his mouth* "Oh, curse my hangover and gravity powers..." @~@ -and so- Katai: *clutching his letter* o~o higuchi: you're his little sister?! gin: yes. several people know this. Chuuya: *nod nod* *sipping ginger ale* higuchi:....*tearing up and begins laughing...very awkwardly* Kunikida: "...I think she's broken." higuchi: ahahaha...haaaa *faints* gin:....*sweatdrop* *glances at katai* and you...what's your deal? Katai: "..." *gets down on one knee, presenting the letter* "Even if you are a member of the Mafia, my feelings have not changed. It was only after I first saw you that I truly understood what beauty is." gin:.....*blinks* Katai: .w.; gin:....*smiles* i'll put this as politely as possible......hell fucking no. Katai: D: Chuuya: "..." *snort* atsushi: ouch. -and so- Katai: *loud wailing and gross sobbing* atsushi: *sitting in the corner....awkwardly* Kunikida: "...Now that this love letter nonsense is behind us--" Katai: "I-I will get to work...Just let me mourn first." atsushi: r-right... *exits* -outside- atsushi: will he really be ok? Kunikida: "Time heals all wounds. Even a broken heart. Besides, he was just infatuated with her image, not the real person." atsushi: i guess that make sense. Kunikida: *nods* "Then when Katai has recovered, he will find our target...and who knows? Maybe this will convince him to return to the Agency..." -at the restaurant- employee: our CCT camera footage? Dazai: "If you please. It is quite important." employee: do you have permission? Dazai: *holds up Kyoka* "Could you say no to this face?" kyouka: -^- *unamused* employee:.....you need a per- Dazai: "Person? Pear?" guard: oh you're from the agency? come this way. Dazai: *smirks at the employee* guard: what footage are you looking for? kyouka: *gives them the date* guard: ah, here you go. Dazai: *takes it* "Where may we watch?" -and so, while reviewing the footage- Dazai: "...She had on a cute dress." kyouka: *rolls eyes* Dazai: "...Where is he...?" -in the footage, someone appears and zoey seems happy to see him- (zoey: ah! you're here!) Dazai: "Come on...turn around, buddy..." (???: "I am. It's wonderful to see you again.") kyouka: i saw him on the entrance camera. Dazai: *pulls it up* "Okay...So, that's the guy?" kyouka: *she nods* Dazai: *freezes the clip, pulls the image* "Let's get a few of these images, then we can make a composite sketch of the target..." kyouka: *nods* Dazai: "Hmmm..." *zooms in on the image* "Tall guy. Okay dresser. Expensive restaurant...Who is this guy?" kyouka: .... guard: maybe digitally enhance it? Dazai: "...Um...Which button does that?" ^^; guard: should be this one. Dazai: "Oh, great!" *taps the button* "...A little better?" -the face reveals....FD- Dazai: "!!!" *falls back out of his chair* kyouka: ?? mr dazai? Dazai: "Shit shit shit shit--" kyouka: ?! guard: h-hey, you ok?! Dazai: *pulls out phone, starts making calls...* kyouka: ??? Dazai: "Yo. You still owe me one. And you should know that he's back...No, not him. No, he's dead! No. No. Yes--him! Right?! I know, right?!!" kyouka: .....*looks back at the screen* -elsewhere- boy: is it really this one? Man: "Yep. The monster." boy: *gulps* Man: "Careful...or he'll pull your mind out." boy: oh, right, the reward. Man: "Hmph. Even getting double isn't worth it..." boy: *taking the bag off the prisoner's head* ?? Prisoner FD: "..." -the next morning- Kid: ๏w๏ kirika: is he done yet? liz: nnnope. Kid: "Hee hee hee...Perfect..." stocking: *smooch* ^^ Kid: *hug* -meanwhile, in the mafia's exec room- kouyou: Dostoyevsky? Mori: "Leader of those thieves, the Rats in the house of the dead. The one who downed the Moby Dick, yes?" ace: indeed. but in my custody, he shall be nothing more than a common rodent. Chuuya: "..." Mori: "Describe this man. What is he like?" ace:... a soulless, vampire like man. Mori: "Then he will learn the severity of the Mafia's retribution, firsthand." ace: please sir, allow me. -elsewhere- -a young woman with dark hair enters a building- woman: ..........casino floor, please... Elevator operator: *presses a button* -as the door closes- woman:....i wonder....a man...by the name....Dostoyevsky....has he....been here? Operator: "Not a common name. I think I'd recognize it if he'd been through here." woman: *showing him a photo* this man......is he...here? in this....building? Operator: "..." Operator: "..." *holds out an open palm, indicating a 'put some money in here' motion* woman:...*places 40 dollars* is he...being held here? Operator: "..." *presses buttons in a pattern--causing the elevator to arrive at a secret floor* woman:...thank you.... *hugs him from behind, taking a scalpel, turning him around....and slitting his throat* Operator: X_____X *slides back* woman:...hehe..... Operator: *blood pooling* zoey:.......*spots someone*....ahh...master fyodor~ FD: *waves* "Yo. Get here alright?" zoey: of course.....i followed your instructions....as ordered....did you....get the files? FD: "Yes. The list of Mafia members' abilities, including their biggest secret..." zoey: oh? FD: " 'The Salvation of Death'..." -elsewhere- Akutagawa: "..." gin: ryu? feeling better yet? Akutagawa: "...Some of the edge has worn away...Thank you. How are you?" gin:....i had a weird guy confess love to me. Akutagawa: "...Do I need to kill him?" gin: i turned him down. im not sure what he'll do with himself. but thats none of my business. Akutagawa: "..." *nod* "Run into anyone else?" gin:...... the were tiger and the glasses man from the agency. Akutagawa: "!!!" *steps back* "O-Oh?" gin: apparently they were helping this man to confess. also higuchi thought i was your lover, and chuuya was there... he seems to be doing somewhat better now. Akutagawa: "..." *sits* "This is a lot to process. Why would Higuchi think you were my lover?" gin: apparently she saw me with you the other day when i brought you home. then again, i wasnt in my usual clothes so...i guess she didnt recognize me...*chuckles* Akutagawa: "..." *small laugh* "The Agency did not give you trouble, did they?" gin: it was surprisingly tame. perhaps, in some other world, you and the were tiger could be friends....nevermind, just rambling. Akutagawa: .\\\\. {atsushi:....*smiles and chuckles*} Akutagawa: *closes his eyes* -\\\\- gin:...*ahem* i'll just... be on my way then. *exits* Akutagawa: *sits back* "..." -elsewhere- Chuuya: *holding ice compress to his head* "...You sure you're okay?" higuchi: im fine. tired, but fine...how did the meeting go? Chuuya: "...Problems." higuchi:...care to elaborate or nah? Chuuya: "...Escaped prisoner." higuchi: who? Chuuya: "The leader of the Rats in the house of the dead..." higuchi:....huh? Chuuya: "Dostoevsky? Guy with the stupid hat?" higuchi: ?? Chuuya: "..." *sigh* "Just know he is bad news and stay away." higuchi: noted. Chuuya: "...Are you going to go after him?" -elsewhere- Hawthorne: "..." margaret:..................*no response* Hawthorne: "..." *pats her hand* -in another room, some unnamed taxidermist is working hard on their current project- FD: "How goes it?" taxidermist: just about ready. this isnt my first human taxidermy. FD: "But will it suit my needs?" taxidermist: you want something to sway that one executive into helping us, correct? FD: *nod nod* taxidermist: *grins* then i believe this one......is as right as rain. -rain's naked corpse lays on a table, in process of being taxidermized- FD: "Hmm...Let me know how it goes. I want it ready in time." -elsewhere- Dazai: "..." atsushi: are you sure you're ok? Dazai: "I will be, when we find him..." atsushi: ??? Dazai: *hands him the photo* "Watch out for this man. If you see him, we need him in custody." atsushi: ?? (thinking: creepy) Dazai: "...Be careful." -elsewhere- Rin: "???" shura: ...what? it is my birthday today. Rin: " 'Kay...I knew that. That's why I was hunting around town for a gift." -elsewhere- Mori: "..." kouyou: this is bad....if he was able to convince ace to-.... Mori: "It is likely he did." kouyou: not to mention how several staff leading down to that place had been slaughtered, including the elevator operator... Mori: "...Security footage?" mafioso: right away sir Mori: "...With that information in his possession..." kouyou: this could mean trouble... Mori: "...We're going to have to use the Agency to our advantage, minimize the damage." -elsewhere- atsushi: good news. our school uniforms came in today! Kyoka: "...Yay." atsushi:....so how was your first official mission? Kyoka: "It was fine. I feel sorry for this woman." atsushi: i could imagine... -later, when shopping for school supplies- Kyoka: *holding a pencil kit* "...Cute." atsushi: *smiles and reaches for a notebook, but his hand touches another* oh! so sorry-.... O-O; Montgomery: *glare* -\\\\- "You touch me again, and you're pulling back a stump." Kyoka: *stare* atsushi: so sorry ma'am! ....wait, are you starting school this year too? Montgomery: "Yes. What of it? Are you going to school?" Kyoka: *notices she's not being noticed* "..." atsushi: actually yes. kyouka and i are starting in september. is it the... *looks at notes* DWMA? i heard they started accepting gifteds into the school now. Montgomery: "Which is why I hope to have additional training on my abilities." *spots Kyoka* "Oh. Didn't see you there." Kyoka: >____< -elsewhere, in a parking garage- bubble gum: oi. ango, 'nother all nighter? ango: im afraid so. bubble gum: perhaps you enjoy doing this work~? ango: please dont patronize me. so what's the report? Officer: "A report on the girl, sir." -elsewhere- atsushi:....kyouka?....are you sure you'll be ok? do you need some time to think? Kyoka: "...I want to know." atsushi: ?? Kyoka: "...I want to know more about my ability." atsushi:...*nods* -elsewhere- kouyou: i have good news, chuuya. Chuuya: "...I doubt that." kouyou: you're uniforms are in~! Chuuya: *annoyed grunt* -elsewhere- louisa: *wandering around the town* homeless dude: HEY LADY WANNA BUY A WATCH?! louisa: EEP! *runs and crashes into someone* oh dear me, im so sorry! ???: "...Change..." louisa: ??....that voice....lord francis?! Fitzgerald: "Fifty...cents..." -and so- louisa:...everyone believed...that you had perished. but i still knew you were alive...you just...had to be... Fitzgerald: "Give up." louisa: ?? *noticing a scar on his shoulder* Fitzgerald: "...What?" louisa: that scar... Fitzgerald: "..." *pulls up his ripped shirt* "Ignore it." louisa: please, come back with us. the guild needs you, i- Fitzgerald: "What you see before you is not a leader. What you see is a corpse, composed just of memories." louisa: ......you've only lost your money, that's all isnt it? but that isnt what your value is. it's your strength, your leadership! when you give me an order, i can become a me that i dont hate! Fitzgerald: "Stop." louisa: .... at least...take this....*gives him 20 dollars* i was going to buy lunch with it, but im sure it'll be fine... Fitzgerald: "..." *takes it* "...My wife saved me." louisa: .....*begins to walk away* Fitzgerald: "One more thing...Don't compare me to the miserable." louisa:....*bumps into someone* oh goodness, im sorry! ???: "...Well, well...Look who we have here..." louisa: eep! thug: so this is that strategist i heard was wandering around here. she's cuter than i expected~ ???: "The one who abandoned us...Grab her!" louisa: !!! *starts running* no! *Someone grabs her* louisa: !!! ???: *takes a pair of pliers* thug: so, i hear this one is still fresh....*smirks* just how i like 'em~. louisa: !!! Boss: "Tell us where the Guild leader is. Or say goodbye to your pinky." louisa: !!!! Boss: "Or maybe I put a bullet through your--" *$20 PUNCH* Boss: *knocked down* louisa: !! lord francis! Fitzgerald: "...That punch used up all the money..." *smirks* "What a disappointing subordinate you are." Boss: "Get him!" -after that fiasco- Fitzgerald: *sits, pants* louisa: um...t-thank you for saving me! Fitzgerald: "I didn't do much--not with the small sum you gave me." louisa:...*small smile* Naturally. Because from the start…What I gave you was free of charge Fitzgerald: "...Well, then, strategist, what's next?" louisa: getting you some fresh clothes....and also a bath. Fitzgerald: "...Quite. Lead the way." -elsewhere- Montgomery: *brewing tea* -elsewhere- Takehisa: "Zzz..." shinra: we're back! Arthur: "We have coffee..." *he looks dishelved* Akitaru: "??? Oh, okay. Everything go okay for you three?" tamaki:.......*goes right to her room* Arthur: >\\\\< Akitaru: "??? O...kay?" -elsewhere- Kid: *hugging the calendar* -elsewhere- Bon: *looking through luggage* konekomaru: looking for something? Bon: "One of the books I was reviewing, trying to anticipate more about this eye." konekomaru: ah. Shima: *ear to the wall* -that evening, at a fancy party- Party attendee: *sips champagne* kouyou: enjoying yourself, chuuya? Chuuya: *holding glass of wine* "..." *sips* "...No." kouyou: .....are you just going to sit here and sulk all night? Chuuya: "No. I also have to use the restroom." -elsewhere in the party- Mori: *looking around* higuchi:.... elise: did you finally score yourself a date, rintarou? Mori: *smiles* "Why would I need a date when I am chaperoning you, Elise?" higuchi:.... *disgusted glare and walks away* Mori: "???" *looks around, staring at certain people...* "Mmm..." -on the balcony- Akutagawa: "..." higuchi:...enjoying the party, ryunosuke? Akutagawa: "Oh. Hello, Higuchi. I am...unsure." higuchi: ah. -elsewhere at the party- Chuuya: "..." rain?: are you enjoying yourself, mr nakahara? Chuuya: "!!!" *turns around* -there is no one there- Chuuya: "..." *stares down at his drink* rain?: *her reflection smiles at him from the glass* Chuuya: "Ah!" *drops his glass* mafioso: mr nakahara? what happened? *has gun out* Chuuya: "N-Nothing! Leave me alone!" *runs* mafioso: ah-..... -a ways down the hall- ???: who are you running from? Chuuya: "N-No...It can't be." *putting his hands over his ears* rain?: i miss you, you know..... -something can be felt hugging him- Chuuya: Q~Q "...This isn't right...This isn't right...Y-You...Rain?" rain?: chuu.....ya...*something looks at him....rain's rotting corpse* Chuuya: *screams* -from the cameras, someone watches- FD: *smiles* zoey: ah...i wonder....what will happen now.... FD: "He'll crack. Want to bet on how long it'll take him?" -elsewhere- Hyde: Q~Q licht: well thats what happens when you chug a whole thing of slushie. Hyde: "My brain cells won't move..." -elsewhere- Chuuya: *in bed, wrapped in blanket* -knocking- kouyou: chuuya? are you alright? Chuuya: "...N-No..." kouyou:...do you need anything? Chuuya: "..." *hug* kouyou:....*humming* Chuuya: *sniffles, cries* kouyou: .....*rubs his back* Chuuya: *rests against her, dozing off...* -a few days later- Kyoka: "...This uniform is stupid." kirako: i think it looks adorable. Kyoka: "You would." *picks up books* atsushi: so this is basically a class orientation today, right? Kunikida: *nods* "So don't embarrass us." atsushi: noted. ._.; -in one of the school offices- teacher: we're so glad you chose our school to attend, mr araragi. Mori: *pats Araragi's shoulder* "And he's happy to be here! Right, son?" Akutagawa: "..." teacher: well, we're glad to have you. i'm sure you'll make lots of new friends here. Chuuya: "..." *whimper* teacher 2: mrs ozaki? is he alright? kouyou: oh he's fine. also it's ms. teacher 2: ah. Chuuya: "...J-Just take me to my classroom..." Akutagawa: *shiver* teacher: r-right.....right this way. Chuuya: *walks...as a pencil lifts up and follows him* Akutagawa: *black eyes* -in one of the class rooms, several students are gathered.- Chuuya: "..." *looks around* "Is this...homeroom?" teacher: just a student gathering. go on ahead and mingle for a bit. Chuuya: "..." Mori: *pushes Akutagawa forward* Akutagawa: *stumbles inside* ???: hey, i think those are some of the new students! Chuuya: "!!!" *looks around* Akutagawa: *turns, faces the wall* ochako: nice to meet you! i'm ochako uraraka. im from a grade above you guys. so i guess that makes me your senior! Chuuya: "...Hi. I'm Chuuya. The guy facing the wall is Aku--Um, Ryuzaki." ochako: ah. well, if you have any questions, feel free to ask ^^ Akutagawa: "How do we get out of class?" ochako: well, classes themselves dont start until september. right now we're just helping the new students find their way around the school. Akutagawa: "Where is the fastest escape route out of the school, then?" Chuuya: "..." *facepalm* -on the steps- atsushi: so many....im gonna die.... *his bag slips* OH NO CRAP! -a girl with twin tails grabs the bag and tosses it back up to him- tsugumi: *smiles* just a little further now! *heads up* atsushi: um....thank you! Kyoka: "..." *nods* "Thank you, small student." -inside- atsushi: woah. it's a pretty big building... Kyoka: "...This school is too large and crowded." atsushi: just make sure to stay by me, ok? Kyoka: "..." *takes his hand* -in one of the halls- Akutagawa: "..." *bangs on side of locker* teachers: -s well as the DWMA, there are also doors leading to other significant schools in the main triad such as the true cross academy and the UA. Chuuya: *opens a door* -this leads to a battle demonstration- Chuuya: "...Block on your right!" itsuka: HYAH! *chops a wood block in half* thanks! Chuuya: *nods* -other sites include the lunchroom, the track field, the library, etc- Akutagawa: "...I could hide in these piles of books." atsushi: *examining plaque* 'maka albarn memorial library'....huh. Kyoka: "...Wonder who she was..." Akutagawa: *hears voice--and spots--* .\\\\. atsushi: someone important i guess. Akutagawa: *inches closer to where Atsushi stands* Kyoka: "Maybe they have a photograph of this 'Maka'..." atsushi: we could ask the librarian. *walking to the desk* Akutagawa: *sneak sneak sneak* Kyoka: "...Someone is following you." atsushi: ??? *turns* Akutagawa: ´･ω･` atsushi:....well, i dont see anyone there... Akutagawa: "MAN-TIGER!" Kyoka: "!" atsushi: nYEEEE!! *almost jumps out of his skin and runs* Kyoka: *tries to hold onto Atsushi* "Calm down..." Akutagawa: oωo atsushi: sorry, i panicked there....i-is he following us? Kyoka: *her hair is blown back by how quickly he ran* "...I can't tell." -nope- Kyoka: "...Coast is clear. Congratulations on running through the halls without getting in trouble, troublemaker." atsushi: *phew* Anya: "...Why are you two hiding like this?" atsushi: YEEP! oh sorry! a-....oh hey, thanks for helping me with my bag earlier. tsugumi: oh, it's no problem. Meme: "First day going alright for you two?" mio: *playing on her handheld* atsushi: it's been somewhat eventful-...*noticing mio* um....excuse me? ma'am? mio:...ya? Kyoka: *staring at her handheld* atsushi: this sounds weird but, do you know this person? *holds a picture up* mio:....no. Kyoka: "...You sure?" mio: *examines it* yeah, im sure. she does kinda look like me though, but no, i dun know her. Kyoka: "If you discover she is a distant relative of yours, tell us immediately." *serious stare* mio: *sweatdrop*....*goes back to playing her game* -in one of the classrooms- Chuuya: *sits in chair* teacher: i see, very good. next up, mr Chuuya Ozaki? Chuuya: "..." *stands* "Hey." teacher: care to demonstrate your ability on the training dummies? -several mannequins are set up- Chuuya: "..." *taps one dummy, causing it to float* teacher: ah, manipulation of gravity. nice. *writing it down* there's actually another student who can manipulate gravity in the UA courses. maybe you've met her already? Chuuya: "I don't know." teacher: *shrugs* up next, mr Ryuzaki Araragi? Akutagawa: *looking blankly into space, still in chair* teacher: mr araragi? Akutagawa: "???" *looking around* Chuuya: *growls whispers* "That's you, stupid." Akutagawa: "..." *stands* teacher: *observing*

#death city days

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