revengeisalie | 二十九

They're really riled up this time, aren't they?

Uh, yes?

You seem to be speaking from experience.

I've gotten dragged here a few times before on days like this. It's always a pain.

Ah, so... it just happens for a day?

Yep. We'll be gone by tomorrow night if I remember right from the last time.

So it's like a curse day. Simply one I haven't seen before.

In that case, hello!

That's what they call them here?

Hello! What's your name?

Yes. Why, is there something similar where you're from?

I'm Asano Rin, and you?

A few places I've gotten dragged to, yeah. They called them different things everywhere.

Galen. Nice to meet you, Rin.

Several... other places like this?

Nice to meet you.

Cities that trap everyone with no excape that have weird stuff happen every few days? Yeah, I've seen quite a few of them.

I hate that it's through something like this, though.

And I thought there was only this one!

Thanks. I appreciate the sentiment.

I wish this was the only one. How long've you been here, anyway?

Three and a half months.

...Good luck.

Thanks a lot.

A question. Have you ever met another "you"?

Hey, if i could help, I would, but it looks like I'm stuck until this place sends me back.

...Nope, can't say I have. Why, have you?

And no one here has ever come to a better conclusion than that. So, sorry, but I can't help you either.

There's someone who claims to have my name here.

It's how it always works. Man, what a drag.

...Weird. The time continuum shouldn't work like that.

Always? Without fail?

It's more than weird, it's nigh impossible, but... well, if there's an uncounted amount of different worlds... even several worlds like this one...

From experience, yeah.

...I'd always thought about alternate universes, but I didn't think they'd actually exist. I learn something new every time I get stuck here.

I haven't. This is all new to me.

Has it helped you?

If it happens enough, you get used to it. But I hope it doesn't have to happen for you.

Not in the least.

Thanks. And... I hope you can go home, too.

Thanks. I'm sure everyone here'll find their ways home safely.

I hope so dearly.

This almost as chaotic as a protest.

They didn't seem to be particularly in protesting mood, though.

Hence the mention of "almost as chaotic," and not "as chaotic."

There is an impostor bearing your face in the City.

... what?

She came to speak to me.

Seriously? Okay, I've got to take a look at that.

Just make sure you are not run over in the stampede.

That goes without saying.

You would have enough sense to run out into it.

Says the man who is hunted by the bakufu.

I have yet to be caught, and it will never happen.

They almost got you, back in Kaga.

Almost.

So it's far from impossible.

Almost does not make it necessarily possible. They can strive all they wish. They may destroy the weaker part of the Itto-ryu, but they will not reach me and its core.

Nobody's infallible, you know.

I know.

However, you must achieve what you need to achieve, despite this weight of mortality. That is the measure of weakness and strength.

... hmmm.

Does that satisfy your need to mark me as mortal?

Edited 2009-04-01 09:21 (UTC)

You are mortal. You and I both know it.

Yes.

But that will not stop me. Nor, I think, would it stop you.

Of course not.

Good.

Why hello there. 8D

Hello!

... "8D"? What's that?

It's me smiling like a dork! 8D

You're cute, you know? :3

T-thanks?

I really admire all the things that you've been doing and how you're growing up. Keep up the good work, and I'll be cheering you on! \o/

That's flattering, but... how do you know?

I just dooooo~.

... I'm not going to get a clearer answer than that, am I?

Nope. 8D

By the way, how's Hisachan treating you in the City? Is he being mean? :|

A hint?

"Hisachan"? ... wait, you don't mean... you can't mean...

Why on Earth would you call him that?!

No hints!

And I call him that because he's cute in his emotionally-constipated way! XD

So is he being bad to you? :|

What, he... he is not cute. He's a murderer!

Not worse than at other times, at least.

He's twisted and cruel, yeah, but he's mostly just a product of his past. Except he's really ambitious. |D

Still, you know he's learning. Even if he's being REALLY SLOW about it.

What do I know of his past? I just know that he's... ambitious isn't even the word.

Learning what, huh?

Learning how to deal with life? Yeah. All that. XD ~~And maybe someday, he'll learn how to say sorry, the git.~~

Maybe you'll know about his past sometime soon? Or you could just ask him. XD

He seems pretty good at that, or if he isn't, he's making a good show of it.

Like I want to know.

You might be surprised, on both accounts!

Yeah, right.

Of course!

Besides, you're getting to be comrades, aren't you? :D

What? No!

~~Yeah, they'd never admit it . . .~~

Oh, my mistake~!

Damn straight, your mistake.

\o/

~~Someday, you will see the wonder of HISARIN! 8D~~

What's that supposed to mean, again?

~~IT'S THE EVIL ICON~~

Me raising my hands up!

Okay.

:o

You're making too many strange signs.

Oh, sorry! ^^;;

Never mind.

Y'know if you said you had a twin I'd be a lot nicer.

... what...

...

Shira.

I have no twin.

Sounds like ya missed me.

Miss you? ... no. No, never.

Yer gettin' kinda ballsy, must be cause you got Manji around.

... you... stay away from him!

Why.

You know why.

I got a bad memory, tell me again.

I'm not going to humor you.

I see you've been moving along well since my sudden departure.

Ciel! How nice to see you!

I have, thank you. And you?

Well, I can't say I'm quite pleased to have returned. ~~In fact, why am I here again?!~~

I thought so. But who knows, maybe it'll only last as long as this strange curse does?

I can't say I'm familiar with this curse, but there does appear to be an unusual influx of people at once.

Yes, it's strange. If it is a curse day, but... it seems to be.

Very well. Then I only need to tolerate this for 24 hours. By the way... have you seen Sebastian ?

Ah... not recently? He released me after you were gone.

I see. Then he must still be in London.

Maybe - last I heard of him, he was being... attacked. But he said he could handle it.

Attacked ? By who ?

I'm not sure, actually. I think it was a certain Grell Sutcliff.

~~I should have-~~ He's not still around, too, is he?

Yes.

Well, let's hope Sebastian finished the job this time, then.

"Finished the job"?

Taking out the trash. It does help the decor.

I have a feeling there's another meaning to that.

We're just excited. ♥

About what? It can't be the City that's exciting you.

No! Well... yeah, kind of. The carousel's pretty nifty.

Mostly it's meeting all of you.

If by "nifty", you mean "creepy".

... I kind of got that. But why?

No, I meant nifty.

Do you really want to know?

Well, to each their own...

Yes! I can use every information I get.

Don't be mad? Please?

Okay. You might not believe me--and don't let this get around because I'm pretty sure it would freak people out--but a lot of people here are in books and comics and shows and stuff in our world. It's really exciting to meet someone you've read about in person, y'know?

I'll try.

What? Seriously? That's certainly a new one!

Thank you.

Mm hm. I don't expect you to believe me, since it's pretty far-out, but it's something to think about!

Well, honestly, the City's taught be that nothing's really impossible, so I say I believe you, even if part of me doesn't.

Rational skepticism is completely okay.

...How do you feel about hugs?

... uh.

Depends on who's giving them, I guess. I like hugging people I like, but I'm not big on it or anything.

Oh... okay. Never mind!

... okay.

... I see that your yojimbo is now here.

You...

...

Yes.

Mm.

... are you not happy, Rin?

How can I be happy, in this place?

But, uhm. Why are you asking?

When presented with so few options, you... make with what you have.

... out of curiousity, nothing more.

I guess so. I also guess it's not all bad.

Really? No secret mission for Anotsu Kagehisa?

... none. I am on my own, now.

Oh.

I can't rightfully say I'm sorry.

Mm...

... have your sword skills improved?

A little. Why?

... a friendly spar, then.

Huh?

Friendly.

You once came between me and Manji, if you remember.

Because you were about to kill him.

True.

... so do I have to be serious for you to take me seriously, then?

That's not I meant.

It's just... we haven't talked a lot, so I guess that's why your request was a little strange to me.

I see. Forgive me, then.

... it has been a while, hasn't it?

Pretty much.

What's the last thing you remember?

I remember being hurt... by a very strange opponent that spouts flame and commands the earth.

But... yes, I thought that, and this place was a dream...

What?

... wait, so you've been here before?

Yes, of course.

... don't you remember? You were here before me...

Oh.

No, I don't remember anything from that time. Sorry, I guess.

I see...

When was the last time you saw me, then?

In Suwa, at the lake.

... I have never been to Lake Suwa yet. Before I arrived in this City long ago, Anotsu had just left me in Shirakawa...

... oh.

Oh.

Sorry. Or something.

Hm?

Because I said something that's in your future?

... of course, not like I said much.

... I see.

Then when I return, I now know where to go.

... thank you.

Uh, you're welcome?

This would be a curse~

At least that is cleared up.

Hello.

Mhmm!

Hi, how's it going?

[various...sounds...as she's trying to figure out what this thing she's holding is, exactly]

[oh. hey. familiar voice!]

...Rin?

... Dōa?

Dōa?! Where are you?

[STATIC ETC; she's trying to tear the device apart to get a look inside, this thing is NOT right.

and probably all your fault, Rin. somehow.

stops the abuse when getting a reply, though]

Huh?! Dunno! Where's you?!

Not where you are, at least.

The box you have lets us speak over a distance.

Now, where are you so I can go there?

Open place. Weird houses. Water. You know where that is?

[speaks closer to the device] Rin. What's going on?

The fountain? Got it.

Wait, I'll be right there! Just a few minutes.

Eh-? ...Hey! Rin!

[skjdfh grumbles. what kind of answer is that? Rin better hurry; Doa's getting antsy]

Dōa!

[you got that right; she's very close to drawing her sword, hand gripping the handle while giving everyone around her the evil eye

immediately turns towards the sound of Rin's voice when she hears it. being much smaller, it's easier for her to make her way through]

[only nods in reply, gripping her sleeve and holding on hard] Isaku. Where's he? With you?

... he's not here.

[her face falls for a moment, her expression of absolute helplessness, before her eyes narrow and she gives Rin's sleeve a tug] Then where?

[they had just found him again, and now he's already... she snaps, shaking Rin's arm, yelling] You know, Rin! You know!

...

...You gotta-

Wait, wait! First tell me, what do you remember last?

You know. You were there!

No - thing is, maybe I wasn't.

This place draws people in from different times. That means I could know more than you do - or you could know more than I do.

Rin...

Did you hit your head?

No!

I did not! I'm saying the truth! Even if it sounds unbelievable, that's how it is.

So tell me what happened last at home?

[IS SUSPICIOUS but...]

Me and Isaku saved you. After I got him back to life. Then there was a flood in the dungeon... I got swept away. Couldn't help more. But you got out, anyway. On your own. [a pause and a frowny pout] And then we got here, and you got crazy, talking nonsense-stuff.

... we made it.

Uh-huh... [looks at her very carefully] You really don't? You don't know?

No... no, I didn't.

The last thing I knew was... leaving you behind, after we found Isaku.

[gives her a genuine smile] Don't worry. Everyone's alive. [pats her on the arm and adds boisteriously:] I fixed it.

Really?

That's really great. Really, really great.

Mm. [yeeeaahhhh B) Doa is great, alright]

[but this isn't the time for back-patting. back to business, now. Isaku and Manji must be here, too, somewhere]

We got them out once, we can do it again. Say where you think they'd be. [grips the sword again] Don't matter who's guarding, I can take'em.

Calm down for a minute!

Manji's living with me, but I haven't seen Isaku yet.

... but your Tōshu - he's here.

Edited 2009-04-01 18:40 (UTC)

[none of this is making any sense at all]

Why's-! [she was about to get angry, but.. Rin seems calm. and even though she doesn't always show it well, Doa trusts and respect her. there's no immediate danger. she lets go of the sword, albeit reluctantly] ...Why's not Isaku here? Where'd he go?

[as for the Toshu... she's not too sure how she feels about that. normally, she would be ecstatic, but a lot has happened this past month]

It may be that he's never arrived here.

This isn't Japan - it's not even our world. And don't ask me how exactly this works, because I don't know either.

[ksjdh UGH she decides to turn the sadness into anger, it's more productive. at least she knows Isaku is still alive. somewhere] Yeah, yeah. Real typical! You act all smart and everything, but you know nothing.

[huffs, and walks a few steps back and forth] Gotta be ways out. Gotta be. Have you looked?! [slows down a bit, losing her momentum] ...Rin, what're we gonna do?

I can't help it if this place is so confusing!

Of course I've looked. No success so far.

A few people are going to try and find out or, well, do something at least. I've joined them for now.

...Few people. [frowns. other people are dumb. she never understood Rin's need to... socialise]

[sits down on the edge to the fountain and looks at her intently] How's... the Toshu?

Yes. We're going to... investigate things.

He's okay, I guess. We don't keep too close contact.

[nods, thinking]

Rin... [a long pause while she studdies her sword, running a nail along the edge] I think we're gonna leave Itto-ryuu. Me and Isaku.

... what?

[furrows her brows]

Yeah. I think we're gonna.

But why?

I've not left yet! Sheesh!

[the decision has only just started forming, she's still debating it; even though she knows deep down there's only way to go from here. she has Isaku to think of, too. suddenly finding herself here comlicates things, however]

I'm still Itto-ryuu. Here, he's still my leader. For now.

Okay, I get it!

But you're thinking about it.

Uh-huh. [sternly] He's still the greatest man I know. Leaving don't mean I don't respect him, you get that, right?

Yeah, I get it.

[pause]

...Why don't you? What've you got against him?

That's an old story.

Already know that. [eyeroll]

Dōa...

Has your Tōshu ever told you about his past?

I'm afraid this particular curse always tends to be a bit... hectic.

Oh, Riou-san!

You've got experience with this?

This is the fifth time I've gone through this strange people flood the city curse. Uh, first time from this end, however.

Whoa, the fifth?

So... it also brings back people who've been here.

Apparently this is a very popular curse? It comes around two to three times a year. Actually I think this might be the most frequent curse that reoccurs for whatever reason.

That's part of it. And people who are going to be arriving for real soon. And dopplegangers of people already here. And people we know from back home. And just really weird people who act like they know entirely too much.

Edited 2009-04-01 20:42 (UTC)

... ah, so I'm not the only one who encountered a doppelganger.

No, while I wouldn't say it's usual, it's not exactly unusual either. I always wanted to meet the other me, so of course none ever showed up.

Maybe you'll be able to meet him during one of these days, yet.

Yeah... maybe I'll stand a better chance from other on this side of things.

So... how are things there?

I think 'pretty good, if confusing' sums it up pretty well. At the least I'm not getting much attention today. How are things over in the City?

That doesn't sound too bad!

Things here are as always. Curses, criminals, everyday life, and more curses.

It's good practice, if nothing else.

That does sound about usual. I'll hope that the first two (and last) improve a bit, given time.

Practice? What for?

Doesn't seem too likely, but hey, you never know.

Worldhopping. I'd like to see everyone's homeworld sometime, if possible.

No, you never know... anything is possible here, even that.

That's quite the ambition!

I guess that's true, especially...

[private]

Especially since we're still trying to change something.

I've met quite a few worldhoppers in my stay here, which is what gave me the idea. We do have that type of magic back home, but... I never really paid all that much attention to it before.

[Private]

Yes, I've heard a bit about some type of rebellion against the deities? And a protest that happened yesterday.

It does sound like an interesting way of life. I wish you luck.

[private]

Exactly! Though we maybe shouldn't discuss the details on the network.

Thank you! I suppose I've got a bit of wanderlust to work through before I settle down.

[Private]

Yes, we've seen how filters only work so well. If it's still open, my old apartment here was warded very well.

Then travelling is what you ought to do.

[private]

I guess we'll have to see about that.

Mmm... hopefully I'll get the chance. I'll suppose we'll see.

[Private]

Something to keep in mind if the need should ever arise. The most warded place in all of the city is probably the prison headquarters, but access to that is a bit trickier.

Well, you did say your world has the means to do it, right?

[private]

Yeah. That's probably deity-work, right?

Yes, although it's a bit unusual. We tend to bring others to our world instead of going to theirs.

Private

Actually, no, to my knowledge all the warding on the prison was done by various previous Wardens and other residents.

Why is that?

[private]

Sounds like they put some effort into it.

I... don't know exactly. It's just always been taught that way. I suppose I've got a lot of questions to ask once I make it back home.

[Private]

Yeah, quite a bit of effort over time. They used to say that forming a police force here was impossible too.

Looks like it!

[private]

Did they, now? Well, with too much of a "that's impossible" attitude, we're never going to get anywhere.

Some things in my world could probably use a good questioning.

[Private]

No, you never know until you try. And sometimes it takes many of those, even at that. So... I suppose I should wish you good luck with trying to make the 'impossible' true.

And not only in yours.

Thanks.

Ah... no definitely not at that.

Until next time, Rin.

Until next time, and good luck.

What the hell do you see in Manji, anyway?

HAH?

Seriously. I mean, I love the guy, don't get me wrong, but he's a total douche. And probably has a ton of diseases from all the whores he sleeps around with. They may not be able to kill him, but they could sure as hell hurt you.

WHAT? ... oh God, stop talking.

I just call 'em like I see 'em.

What do you know, anyways?

Pretty much everything. I'm Manji's puppetmaster. :3

Now you're making things up.

Whatever helps you sleep at night, babe.

...

... how would it work?

How would what work?

You being his... puppetmaster.

I tell him what to think, what to do, what to type. You could say I'm the voice in his head.

...

... no way. You're saying... he isn't in control of himself.

I refuse to believe that. The City can do a lot of things, but... not this, right?

Right?

You've got a puppetmaster of your own. Don't stress about it. You're still you, whether or not you have "control."

BUT --

Believe me or not, it's still true.

... you know what, I'm not going to.

What does a stranger know?

More than you want me to.

Also, learn how to put on a condom. Manji's going to fight you on that. Don't let him win.

A what?

Ask the Network.

Oh. So you're going to tell me to use something, but you're not going to tell me what that something actually is?

It'll be awhile before you have to use it, anyway. Neither of you are ready.

The matter can't be all that important if you refuse to explain.

Suit yourself.

Fiiine.

They are crazy, Rin.

Some of them, yes.

There's a lot of the people of my world, uhh, of the 12 Kingdoms around.

And how is it, talking to them?

There are two people from my world, too. ... three, if you count the supposed other me.

The Ever-King has always been a great guy, the other two, uhh, it's complicated.

Other you? Your evil twin or clone?

Oh. Hm. Yes, I know about complicated.

Someone who had my name and... seemed to know Anotsu Kagehisa. At least she replied to his entry, mouthing off to him.

Ok... That DOES sound like you. Weird.

Ahahahah. It does, eh?

二十九

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