MIRAGE OF BLAZE: CHAPTER 2
Apr. 10th, 2005 07:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tammaiyaIn which Naoe makes a kind of kick arse appearance, Yuzuru is a sweetie, Saori is bossy like wo and Takaya is sulky!
ETA: And all installments will go here.
An aging doctor from the hospital had appeared and said to them:
"She seems to have finally calmed down. Thanks to the drugs, she's sleeping well. However, you-"
The doctor questions him with a frankly dubious expression on his face.
"-claimed that she was engulfed by fire, yet she has suffered no burns and her clothing is unmarked. Are you sure you weren't seeing things?"
Are you sure you weren't seeing things?
The words of yesterday's doctor ring in his ears.
Pen in hand, Takaya vaguely contemplates the black board with mathematical formulas lined up on it.
Eventually, the girl had lost consciousness and been driven to hospital by ambulance, and afterwards Yuzuru had gone home like that, practically mute.
That's why he hasn't come to school today either. Takaya rings his home, and, as Yuzuru had said he hadn't been feeling well since yesterday evening, it seems he is asleep.
That fire... hadn't Yuzuru said something about that fire?
"Are you sure you weren't seeing things?"
No, that was wrong. He'd definitely seen it, with his own eyes. That girl engulfed in purple flames.
(Even though she was engulfed in fire, she wasn't burned at all. There's no trace. It wasn't hot, either.)
How could something like that have suddenly happened...?
There was one other thing he was worried about. Yuzuru's reaction at the time. It seemed that Yuzuru had also seen the flames the girl was engulfed in. If that was so, something inexplicable had happened to his body.
Yuzuru's dream.
Purple flames. Yuzuru and that girl.
(Is there something...?)
The bell for the end of fourth period rang.
"Wait a second! I said to wait, Ougi-kun!"
When the voice calls out to him and he turns to look back at the entrance, the 17 year old female student he had waited for runs up to him from the corridor. As he'd guessed from the piercing cry, the person chasing after him is indeed Morino Saori, a girl in the same class as him.
"What was that for?"
"If you heard you should have stopped! This will only take a minute!"
"I'm not on cleaning duty today."
"Not that!"
Shaking back her glossy hair, short Saori looks up at Takaya.
"Not that. That's not it... you should behave properly!"
"What?"
Takaya narrows one eye.
"What did I do?"
"Because you're always glaring at the blackboard with a scary expression during class, Yoshikawa-sensei is getting completely freaked out! Do you have some kind of pretext?"
"... What of it?"
This girl, with her round face and her slightly childish air, was on last year's sport's festival committee with him; since then, she has proclaimed herself his friend and rushes around clinging to him. However, there is a reason she clings to Takaya. While it is strange given how inconsiderate and blunt Takaya is, he is a good friend of Yuzuru and he is Saori's intermediary for getting close to Yuzuru.
"Are you going to Narita-kun's house now?"
When it comes to Narita-kun, there is strength strangely contained within her. In short, this is because her objective is Yuzuru, who is good friends with Takaya. Her motives only appear to be mundane.
"Not going anywhere near it."
"Ne, how is Narita-kun? Is he really playing truant?"
"You..."
Saori crosses her arms over her chest and stares at Takaya.
"I know. Yesterday you skipped class to find Narita-kun."
"Ah? How do you know?"
"My mother saw you yesterday in front of the station. You were walking with Narita-kun."
"... How does your mother know who we are?"
"She met you at the sport's festival. If you meet a sweet-looking boy like Narita-kun with someone who has such an atrocious look in their eyes as you, you don't forget."
"Who’s atrocious?"
"More importantly, what's wrong with Narita-kun? Is he sick? Is something worrying him?"
"……"
He glares at Saori silently. Saori meets his eyes deliberately, staring back. Inevitably, Takaya answered.
"Today he's off sick."
"Off sick? With a cold or hay fever or something like that?"
"... I don't know, but he's at home sleeping."
"Really? Then I hope he'll be better tomorrow. Are you going to take notes for him?"
"I guess."
Takaya scowled.
"Sorry, but I'm in a hurry. If you're that worried about Yuzuru, why don't you go visit him yourself?"
"N-no! I couldn’t do something like that! Though I'd be very happy to see him!"
"Mm... yeah."
"Mm, yeah... you say. So, Ougi-kun, where are you going?"
"The hospital."
"No way, are you sick?"
"How'd you come up with that? I'm visiting someone. Someone I don't know at all, though."
"What's up with that?"
"Nothing to do with you. Later."
"Ah, wait a second!"
His arm was grabbed, and he turned around with a 'gyo!'.
"What is it! Agh!"
"I'm coming too! And since I'm coming with you on your visit..."
Saori smiled brightly.
"It would be great if we went to visit Narita-kun afterwards."
There was an oppressive sound, and the door opened quietly.
The girl is awake, sitting upright in bed.
“……”
Staring at the girl, Saori, at Takaya’s back, exclaims in a small voice.
“Eh… you’re kidding. No way. Is she your girlfriend?”
“I told you, I don’t know her.”
“Yeah, right. So who is she?”
“You’re annoying. Be quiet for a bit.”
“It seems she doesn’t remember anything.”
At the voice of the doctor from nearby, Takaya… no, Saori too, widened their eyes.
“Eh?”
The girl on top of the bed wore something like a robe the colour of water and sat there with a vacant expression.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m saying she doesn’t remember anything. Not her own name, and maybe not where she came from.”
“That is, um, called memory loss or something—“
“Perhaps you could call it that. You can give it a name if you like, but she’s in a near-comatose condition. She’ll return to consciousness shortly.”
“So—“
“If I don’t try to give her a closer examination, though, I can’t say anything. Anyway, as far as I am aware we have no idea of her identity.”
The doctor picked up a thin pink handkerchief from on top of the side table and showed it to Takaya and Saori. “Yuiko” was stitched into the corner with white embroidery thread.
“”Yuiko”?”
“Maybe that is the name of this girl, or maybe it’s completely unrelated, but either way this is all we’ve got. She didn’t have a purse or anything else. Apparently the school uniform looks like one in area, so now—“
The doctor crossed his arms and tilted his head. Takaya is glaring at the characters on the handkerchief he’d been given. Then, he speaks an enquiry.
“Yuiko… san?”
When he does-
As though reacting to his voice, the girl who had up until then been vacant opens her eyes slightly. Ah, he thought, just as she looked up quietly.
“……”
When her eyes fell on Takaya, gentle life was revived in her expression. Then.
“…You, you’re yesterday’s…”
It’s the first time she’s spoken. It seemed she had returned to consciousness. The doctor peered at her face.
“Have you recovered consciousness? How do you feel?”
“Ee… ee. I’m fine. My body is fine, but…”
The manner and expression of she who was answering, the eyes he saw, are very much those of a normal girl. Her voice trailed away, and Takaya spoke.
“You can’t remember… anything?”
“I’m sorry. But I heard that you saved me yesterday. I’m certainly—“
“You were engulfed in fire.”
Gikuri, and the girl’s face stiffens.
“You’re going on about that again…!”
“Both my friend and I saw. You suddenly burst into flames and became engulfed by fire. What are you? That purple fire, what the hell…!”
“Wait, stop!”
The girl seized her head with both hands.
“Stop. Don’t say that. I’m frightened. I, that… that scares me!”
“What do you mean by “that”! The fire? Something else…!”
“It’s not me! It’s not! It’s NOT!”
“What’s that supposed to mean! Be clearer…!”
You! the doctor exclaims, and restrains Takaya by grabbing him. The girl cowered on the bed.
“What the hell, man! Let go!”
“Don’t agitate the patient. She’s troubled even at the best of times. More than that—“
“She knows something! I have to ask! No matter what!”
“Ougi-kun!”
When he glances at her, Saori tugs on the hem of his blazer, looking up at him.
“I don’t really know what’s going on, but you’re still awful today. I feel sorry for her.”
“You feel sorry for her…!”
The jeer he had started to make stuck in his throat. The girl hunches her slender shoulders stiffly, completely terrified.
“Ougi-kun…”
“----……”
Takaya narrowly managed to get control of himself.
“Doctor…”
“?”
“About that person… please.”
“Ah? Aa.”
“Wait, Ougi-kun.”
Lowering his head slightly in apology, Takaya left the room quickly.
Don!
He hit the corridor wall as hard as he could with his fist. Takaya glares at the wall as if enduring something.
“What was that about?”
“… Maybe it wasn’t about anything.”
“It’s about something. What happened? You’re acting strange, Ougi-kun. What’s the situation?”
“……”
“What is it? Who is that person? What kind of person?”
“I don’t know. That’s what I wanted her to tell me…”
He started to say, and hunched his shoulders with a gu.
(Again… what is she?)
Something feels strange, inside his body.
Since he’d met Yuiko, a disaster that had started an alarming feeling.
“That bitch! What the hell is this!”
“Wait, Ougi-kun!”
“What! What are you going on about!”
While she wasn’t acquainted with Takaya’s history, Saori soothed his desperation.
“Calm down, Ougi-kun! Explain. Calm down and explain it to me, ne?”
“Morino…”
“If you don’t compose yourself, you won’t be able to grasp the things you usually can. So—“
Takaya stared at Saori briefly, but closed his eyes and sighed.
“… I get it.”
So please look after things.
So saying, his mother went out. She had said she was going out to the theatre with a friend.
Yuzuru is sitting in his own room, a tracksuit-clad figure with his feet thrown up on the bed. Putting down the magazine he’d been looking at, he gazed at the light shining in from the half-open blinds.
From the corridor is the sound of a turbine sharpening teeth. Yuzuru’s home is his father’s dentistry practice, and, as the only son, he is naturally considered as the successor. However, it’s the fourth day home from school, and in the thoughts of the son of the Narita Dentistry Practice, it’s not a certainty.
Right now, there is something happening above him.
Yuzuru lets out yet another sigh.
(… What on Earth is going on?)
In truth, he’d had a sleepless night since yesterday.
He’d been afraid to go to sleep. If he slept he might have that dream again, and he’d finally given up on it.
Then, that girl.
On the bed, Yuzuru hunched over, hugging his knees.
(I don’t get it at all…)
What was happening? Around him, and inside him. Everything surrounding him is being engulfed by an alarming atmosphere. That is all he knows.
What on Earth was the meaning of the battle scene in that dream? And then, the girl from yesterday.
(What kind of person… is she?)
She’s a girl he doesn’t know. However, every time he reconsiders it an odd feeling aches inside his heart. Such a painful feeling, spreading out from his chest. It’s similar to being reminded of people who were split apart a long time ago. That’s it.
(I long for her—…)
That sentiment. Why did he think that?
(I want to see you once more.)
That’s what he thinks. If he meets her, maybe he can confirm it. However, at the same time.
He definitely can’t meet her. Because of those thoughts.
(Something is wrong. This isn’t like me.)
Corpses, stretched out on the reddish-purple ground. Hands reaching out for him as if clinging, and hands…
Now it is they who he thinks his longing for. The same as that girl. They are appealing to him. Definitely, they are appealing.
<< Only you can do it. >>
We’ve been waiting for you.
(For me…?)
Yuzuru raised his face.
(No. Not me!)
With a horrible feeling, ha, Yuzuru turned his head away. He swallowed unintentionally.
Since when are there armour and helmet clad figures standing in the corner of his room!
“… Ah…”
The armoured warriors are watching Yuzuru from the corner of the room. Their armour has grown so old it looks like it’s crumbling. Towards him, they’re looking… no, they don’t have eyes. Below the helmets—
They’re skeletons with no eyeballs!
<< We have finally found you. Our lord… >>
The heavy voice jolts the room. With a boom, another soldier appears before him. Yuzuru swallows, gokuri.
These are ghosts of the dead…? Ghosts of warriors?
Yuzuru can’t move.
<< Saa, you will come with us. >>
Another voice resounds from below. The multiplying skeletal warriors slowly, seriously step up towards Yuzuru.
“… hi…”
He runs out of places to escape to as his back hits the wall. A swarm of approaching warriors. Overwhelmed, Yuzuru shakes with fear.
“…N…o…”
<< Why do you reject us? >>
“No… don’t come any closer.”
<< You called, lord. Saa, called us. >>
“You’re wrong! Don’t come near me!”
The swarm of warriors pressing in before his eyes wipe out his scream…!
<< Come with us! >>
“!”
He covers his face with his arms and cries out.
Takaya…!
Biu!
<< ! >>
Abruptly, the airspace tore, and one of the warriors was inhaled.
(… eh…?)
The swarm of warriors look around. Yuzuru too looks in the direction of the ghosts.
Standing at the opened door is a man clothed in black.
(… what…?)
It’s not a face he knows. A tall man, slender and well proportioned, wearing a black suit. When he looked at Yuzuru’s face, he gave a low sigh of relief.
“It seems I was in time.”
Unhurriedly, the skeletal warriors move. The eerie atmosphere wavered.
“!”
Sharply sensing the “mood”, Yuzuru leans forward.
I can’t go…!
Gou, and there was a sound like something shaking the earth. From beneath the feet of the warriors something like black smoke gushes out, and bursts into flames.
The warriors all face the man simultaneously with hostility.
Hostility. No, the intent to kill!
Yuzuru screamed.
“You’ll be killed!”
“Just as terrible as I’d expect.”
“? … Look out!”
With a howl, the warrior swarm attacks. Ki, the man’s gaze slashes back sharply.
“BAI!”
At that sudden shout, the warriors froze. They’ve become unable to move, as though temporarily paralysed. The man brings his hands together in front of his chest and starts chanting strange words.
“Noumakusamanda bodanan baishiramandaya sowaka.”
Yura!
From the man’s body, something like an amber-coloured heat haze began to rise up.
(No way…)
The amber-coloured heat haze flickered, surrounding the man’s body, and soon a binding seal began glowing softly near his fists. The man continued chanting low incantations. The light rapidly multiplied in brightness, and, being released at the point of plasma, it formed a perfect white sphere around his fists in an instant!
“Hail 8-Swords Bishamonten!”
The man yelled out loudly.
“Evil spirit subjugation! Give me your strength!”
The man faced the stiffening warriors and opened both hands.
“<< Exorcism >>!”
Paa!
A flash is released in every direction from his hands.
“!”
Without thinking, Yuzuru shuts his eyes. The white light rises in sound and swallows all the warriors.
Yuzuru covered his ears. The light and sound drown out the screams of the warriors, and it scales up so high it could burst eardrums.
When it had reached its zenith, the man pressed both hands together in prayer.
“—Soul purification.”
There was a sound like the flapping of birds, and a sound like the falling away of a drawn out second.
Then the light… the warriors disappeared along with a bitter scream.
“……”
With only Yuzuru and the man in black clothes left, the room returns to silence as though nothing had happened.
The black-clothed man ended the prayer pose and opened his eyes.
“… Are you okay?”
“------“
Being questioned by a calm voice and expression, Yuzuru removed his hands from his ears as though he’d been roused from his temporary paralysis.
The black-clothed man… his age is 27, 28 years old; he has sharp, wild eyes and a cool, refined expression.
“I apologise for entering without asking. However, it was a fairly dangerous situation.”
“… That’s… fine, but…”
Gradually, the feeling wore off and his voice returned to him.
“Who are you?”
“Someone who has been constantly watching over you since yesterday.”
“Eh?”
“There was an indication that a great number of warrior spirits would move like this, so when I thought by no means… It seems this was partly making light of “his” power of influence.”
“His?”
Yuzuru’s face turned pale.
“Are you saying that someone is taking possession of me recently?”
“Have you noticed anything?”
“… So I am being taken possession of by a spirit, then?”
“Yes. How did you know?”
Embarrassed, Yuzuru answers.
“Because lately, strange things have been happening, and… there’s this strange feeling, as though something… like there’s someone inside me who isn’t me.”
“……”
The man’s eyes narrowed and he put his hand to his mouth.
“Beyond that, have you been doing things like sometimes acting as though you had a split personality?
“That’s right! How did you know?”
“As I thought…”
The man sighed.
“This is a more serious infringement than I thought. The release of the aura is growing stronger than it was before. It seems the situation is progressing rapidly.”
“What does that mean? Explain so I can understand! You seem to know everything!”
“To say I know “everything” is a bit of an exaggeration, but… anyway.”
So saying, the man unfastened the cuff of his right wrist. Underneath that, he is wearing a silver bracelet.
“Would you please put out your right hand?”
When he wordlessly held out his right hand, the man pierced the index finger of that open hand, and chanted something that seemed to be an incantation. When he brings it to an end with a light-toned yell, that bracelet has been fastened around Yuzuru’s wrist in a careful manner.
“This… is something like a seal.”
The man said quietly.
“It doesn’t have the strength to say it entraps, but with it you can curb the parasitic spirit to an extent. At the least, you should be able to stop it running riot.”
“Running riot?”
“In other words, the body forgets who possessed it originally, depending on whether the spirit is too strong. Actually, the related dead who have felt an indication of him have started gathering around you.”
“… Around me…?”
A chill runs up his spine. So those warriors from before are searching for “him”…
“Who is “he”? Someone who knows of me?”
“------“
After pausing for a bit, the man says,
“Do you know anything about the destruction of the spiritual grave?”
“? What?”
“… No, it’s probably better if you don’t know.”
“Hey, tell me! Who is “he”!”
“If you know that, he’s such a terrible person it would scare you. Because that bracelet acts an amulet too, those warrior ghosts won’t be able to approach you for a while either. During that time, we’ll deal with the parasitic spirit one way or another. Therefore, until then, make absolutely sure not to take it off.”
“------“
“However, you seem to possess a considerable << strength >> too. I don’t know how yet, but is that person near someone like you?”
“?”
He still doesn’t understand.
“Of course, that’s not to say that it would be that person’s fault that “he” set eyes on you, but.”
As though muttering to himself, the man started to leave in the direction of the door.
“Ah, wait a second…!”
“?”
“Who on Earth are you?”
“------“
The man narrows his eyes, and then he begins to show a smiling face.
“My name is Naoe Nobutsuna. You’ll see me again soon.”
Over the peaks of the northern Alps, the sunset spreads out.
The residential area overlooked the darkening town of Matsumoto. Getting off at the bus stop, Takaya and Saori started the long walk to Yuzuru’s house.
“I really can’t believe it.”
“What.”
“There’s no way something like that’s possible. Something like suddenly bursting into flames. No! Way!”
“You’re a super realist, huh. It’s not that inexplicable.”
“Be, because I’m an O type!”
“Is your blood type a problem?”
“There’s generally no reason for fire to flare from nothing.”
“But I saw it with my own eyes. I don't take things back and say something like yeah, that's right, just because I'm told it's impossible.”
“You were seeing things. You should change your contacts!”
“My own bare eyes.”
“Anyway, it’s not possible! If it’s not, it’s not!”
“Uu~~~…”
Takaya groaned.
The sunset dyes the scenery of the line of houses as though they are enveloped in a bloody filter. Somewhere the clear-toned cicadas are chirping, slightly early for the season.
Takaya and Saori have arrived at the front of Yuzuru’s house--- the Narita Dentistry practice. Nervously, Saori says,
“Ne. Wait. I don’t look funny, do I? Is my ribbon straight? Is my hair okay?”
“Mm.”
“Ara?”
His eyes rested on a man walking from the direction of the house. A black suit and black necktie; he thinks the man is in mourning or something. He looks over the bridge of his nose with a sharp glint in his eyes.
“You’ve got no fashion sense!”
Next to the shouting Saori, Takaya is observing the man with a dubious expression. Takaya doesn’t think he seems like a patient of the dentist. He gets a strange feeling. Malaise, you might say. What is it, this feeling? That man gives him a hot feeling… hot?
It appears that he has become aware of Takaya, too.
Their eyes met.
(------!……)
Assaulted by an odd sensation, Takaya stopped still. A sensation like there are shivers coming from the bottom of his body.
(… What…)
Takaya goes rigid.
The man passes by.
A moment.
Something passed through him.
He turns around. Behind him, the black clothed man moved to get into a parked car.
“Hey, you- wait!”
Having been called out to, Naoe stopped moving. Without turning around completely, his gaze flicked down slightly, to the feet of the person who the voice calling out belonged to…
The setting sun reflects off the glass windows of the houses.
The cicadas stop chirping.
Silently, Naoe got into the car. When he started up the engine, it spat out exhaust fumes. The car drove off.
“What’s wrong, Ougi-kun? Let’s go.”
“… Aa.”
With that half-hearted reply, Takaya started walking again. As the car left, he watched it go over his shoulder.
In Daira, Matsumoto, the day is coming to an end.
ETA: And all installments will go here.
Chapter 2: Alarm Bells
An aging doctor from the hospital had appeared and said to them:
"She seems to have finally calmed down. Thanks to the drugs, she's sleeping well. However, you-"
The doctor questions him with a frankly dubious expression on his face.
"-claimed that she was engulfed by fire, yet she has suffered no burns and her clothing is unmarked. Are you sure you weren't seeing things?"
Are you sure you weren't seeing things?
The words of yesterday's doctor ring in his ears.
Pen in hand, Takaya vaguely contemplates the black board with mathematical formulas lined up on it.
Eventually, the girl had lost consciousness and been driven to hospital by ambulance, and afterwards Yuzuru had gone home like that, practically mute.
That's why he hasn't come to school today either. Takaya rings his home, and, as Yuzuru had said he hadn't been feeling well since yesterday evening, it seems he is asleep.
That fire... hadn't Yuzuru said something about that fire?
"Are you sure you weren't seeing things?"
No, that was wrong. He'd definitely seen it, with his own eyes. That girl engulfed in purple flames.
(Even though she was engulfed in fire, she wasn't burned at all. There's no trace. It wasn't hot, either.)
How could something like that have suddenly happened...?
There was one other thing he was worried about. Yuzuru's reaction at the time. It seemed that Yuzuru had also seen the flames the girl was engulfed in. If that was so, something inexplicable had happened to his body.
Yuzuru's dream.
Purple flames. Yuzuru and that girl.
(Is there something...?)
The bell for the end of fourth period rang.
*
"Wait a second! I said to wait, Ougi-kun!"
When the voice calls out to him and he turns to look back at the entrance, the 17 year old female student he had waited for runs up to him from the corridor. As he'd guessed from the piercing cry, the person chasing after him is indeed Morino Saori, a girl in the same class as him.
"What was that for?"
"If you heard you should have stopped! This will only take a minute!"
"I'm not on cleaning duty today."
"Not that!"
Shaking back her glossy hair, short Saori looks up at Takaya.
"Not that. That's not it... you should behave properly!"
"What?"
Takaya narrows one eye.
"What did I do?"
"Because you're always glaring at the blackboard with a scary expression during class, Yoshikawa-sensei is getting completely freaked out! Do you have some kind of pretext?"
"... What of it?"
This girl, with her round face and her slightly childish air, was on last year's sport's festival committee with him; since then, she has proclaimed herself his friend and rushes around clinging to him. However, there is a reason she clings to Takaya. While it is strange given how inconsiderate and blunt Takaya is, he is a good friend of Yuzuru and he is Saori's intermediary for getting close to Yuzuru.
"Are you going to Narita-kun's house now?"
When it comes to Narita-kun, there is strength strangely contained within her. In short, this is because her objective is Yuzuru, who is good friends with Takaya. Her motives only appear to be mundane.
"Not going anywhere near it."
"Ne, how is Narita-kun? Is he really playing truant?"
"You..."
Saori crosses her arms over her chest and stares at Takaya.
"I know. Yesterday you skipped class to find Narita-kun."
"Ah? How do you know?"
"My mother saw you yesterday in front of the station. You were walking with Narita-kun."
"... How does your mother know who we are?"
"She met you at the sport's festival. If you meet a sweet-looking boy like Narita-kun with someone who has such an atrocious look in their eyes as you, you don't forget."
"Who’s atrocious?"
"More importantly, what's wrong with Narita-kun? Is he sick? Is something worrying him?"
"……"
He glares at Saori silently. Saori meets his eyes deliberately, staring back. Inevitably, Takaya answered.
"Today he's off sick."
"Off sick? With a cold or hay fever or something like that?"
"... I don't know, but he's at home sleeping."
"Really? Then I hope he'll be better tomorrow. Are you going to take notes for him?"
"I guess."
Takaya scowled.
"Sorry, but I'm in a hurry. If you're that worried about Yuzuru, why don't you go visit him yourself?"
"N-no! I couldn’t do something like that! Though I'd be very happy to see him!"
"Mm... yeah."
"Mm, yeah... you say. So, Ougi-kun, where are you going?"
"The hospital."
"No way, are you sick?"
"How'd you come up with that? I'm visiting someone. Someone I don't know at all, though."
"What's up with that?"
"Nothing to do with you. Later."
"Ah, wait a second!"
His arm was grabbed, and he turned around with a 'gyo!'.
"What is it! Agh!"
"I'm coming too! And since I'm coming with you on your visit..."
Saori smiled brightly.
"It would be great if we went to visit Narita-kun afterwards."
*
There was an oppressive sound, and the door opened quietly.
The girl is awake, sitting upright in bed.
“……”
Staring at the girl, Saori, at Takaya’s back, exclaims in a small voice.
“Eh… you’re kidding. No way. Is she your girlfriend?”
“I told you, I don’t know her.”
“Yeah, right. So who is she?”
“You’re annoying. Be quiet for a bit.”
“It seems she doesn’t remember anything.”
At the voice of the doctor from nearby, Takaya… no, Saori too, widened their eyes.
“Eh?”
The girl on top of the bed wore something like a robe the colour of water and sat there with a vacant expression.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m saying she doesn’t remember anything. Not her own name, and maybe not where she came from.”
“That is, um, called memory loss or something—“
“Perhaps you could call it that. You can give it a name if you like, but she’s in a near-comatose condition. She’ll return to consciousness shortly.”
“So—“
“If I don’t try to give her a closer examination, though, I can’t say anything. Anyway, as far as I am aware we have no idea of her identity.”
The doctor picked up a thin pink handkerchief from on top of the side table and showed it to Takaya and Saori. “Yuiko” was stitched into the corner with white embroidery thread.
“”Yuiko”?”
“Maybe that is the name of this girl, or maybe it’s completely unrelated, but either way this is all we’ve got. She didn’t have a purse or anything else. Apparently the school uniform looks like one in area, so now—“
The doctor crossed his arms and tilted his head. Takaya is glaring at the characters on the handkerchief he’d been given. Then, he speaks an enquiry.
“Yuiko… san?”
When he does-
As though reacting to his voice, the girl who had up until then been vacant opens her eyes slightly. Ah, he thought, just as she looked up quietly.
“……”
When her eyes fell on Takaya, gentle life was revived in her expression. Then.
“…You, you’re yesterday’s…”
It’s the first time she’s spoken. It seemed she had returned to consciousness. The doctor peered at her face.
“Have you recovered consciousness? How do you feel?”
“Ee… ee. I’m fine. My body is fine, but…”
The manner and expression of she who was answering, the eyes he saw, are very much those of a normal girl. Her voice trailed away, and Takaya spoke.
“You can’t remember… anything?”
“I’m sorry. But I heard that you saved me yesterday. I’m certainly—“
“You were engulfed in fire.”
Gikuri, and the girl’s face stiffens.
“You’re going on about that again…!”
“Both my friend and I saw. You suddenly burst into flames and became engulfed by fire. What are you? That purple fire, what the hell…!”
“Wait, stop!”
The girl seized her head with both hands.
“Stop. Don’t say that. I’m frightened. I, that… that scares me!”
“What do you mean by “that”! The fire? Something else…!”
“It’s not me! It’s not! It’s NOT!”
“What’s that supposed to mean! Be clearer…!”
You! the doctor exclaims, and restrains Takaya by grabbing him. The girl cowered on the bed.
“What the hell, man! Let go!”
“Don’t agitate the patient. She’s troubled even at the best of times. More than that—“
“She knows something! I have to ask! No matter what!”
“Ougi-kun!”
When he glances at her, Saori tugs on the hem of his blazer, looking up at him.
“I don’t really know what’s going on, but you’re still awful today. I feel sorry for her.”
“You feel sorry for her…!”
The jeer he had started to make stuck in his throat. The girl hunches her slender shoulders stiffly, completely terrified.
“Ougi-kun…”
“----……”
Takaya narrowly managed to get control of himself.
“Doctor…”
“?”
“About that person… please.”
“Ah? Aa.”
“Wait, Ougi-kun.”
Lowering his head slightly in apology, Takaya left the room quickly.
Don!
He hit the corridor wall as hard as he could with his fist. Takaya glares at the wall as if enduring something.
“What was that about?”
“… Maybe it wasn’t about anything.”
“It’s about something. What happened? You’re acting strange, Ougi-kun. What’s the situation?”
“……”
“What is it? Who is that person? What kind of person?”
“I don’t know. That’s what I wanted her to tell me…”
He started to say, and hunched his shoulders with a gu.
(Again… what is she?)
Something feels strange, inside his body.
Since he’d met Yuiko, a disaster that had started an alarming feeling.
“That bitch! What the hell is this!”
“Wait, Ougi-kun!”
“What! What are you going on about!”
While she wasn’t acquainted with Takaya’s history, Saori soothed his desperation.
“Calm down, Ougi-kun! Explain. Calm down and explain it to me, ne?”
“Morino…”
“If you don’t compose yourself, you won’t be able to grasp the things you usually can. So—“
Takaya stared at Saori briefly, but closed his eyes and sighed.
“… I get it.”
*
So please look after things.
So saying, his mother went out. She had said she was going out to the theatre with a friend.
Yuzuru is sitting in his own room, a tracksuit-clad figure with his feet thrown up on the bed. Putting down the magazine he’d been looking at, he gazed at the light shining in from the half-open blinds.
From the corridor is the sound of a turbine sharpening teeth. Yuzuru’s home is his father’s dentistry practice, and, as the only son, he is naturally considered as the successor. However, it’s the fourth day home from school, and in the thoughts of the son of the Narita Dentistry Practice, it’s not a certainty.
Right now, there is something happening above him.
Yuzuru lets out yet another sigh.
(… What on Earth is going on?)
In truth, he’d had a sleepless night since yesterday.
He’d been afraid to go to sleep. If he slept he might have that dream again, and he’d finally given up on it.
Then, that girl.
On the bed, Yuzuru hunched over, hugging his knees.
(I don’t get it at all…)
What was happening? Around him, and inside him. Everything surrounding him is being engulfed by an alarming atmosphere. That is all he knows.
What on Earth was the meaning of the battle scene in that dream? And then, the girl from yesterday.
(What kind of person… is she?)
She’s a girl he doesn’t know. However, every time he reconsiders it an odd feeling aches inside his heart. Such a painful feeling, spreading out from his chest. It’s similar to being reminded of people who were split apart a long time ago. That’s it.
(I long for her—…)
That sentiment. Why did he think that?
(I want to see you once more.)
That’s what he thinks. If he meets her, maybe he can confirm it. However, at the same time.
He definitely can’t meet her. Because of those thoughts.
(Something is wrong. This isn’t like me.)
Corpses, stretched out on the reddish-purple ground. Hands reaching out for him as if clinging, and hands…
Now it is they who he thinks his longing for. The same as that girl. They are appealing to him. Definitely, they are appealing.
<< Only you can do it. >>
We’ve been waiting for you.
(For me…?)
Yuzuru raised his face.
(No. Not me!)
With a horrible feeling, ha, Yuzuru turned his head away. He swallowed unintentionally.
Since when are there armour and helmet clad figures standing in the corner of his room!
“… Ah…”
The armoured warriors are watching Yuzuru from the corner of the room. Their armour has grown so old it looks like it’s crumbling. Towards him, they’re looking… no, they don’t have eyes. Below the helmets—
They’re skeletons with no eyeballs!
<< We have finally found you. Our lord… >>
The heavy voice jolts the room. With a boom, another soldier appears before him. Yuzuru swallows, gokuri.
These are ghosts of the dead…? Ghosts of warriors?
Yuzuru can’t move.
<< Saa, you will come with us. >>
Another voice resounds from below. The multiplying skeletal warriors slowly, seriously step up towards Yuzuru.
“… hi…”
He runs out of places to escape to as his back hits the wall. A swarm of approaching warriors. Overwhelmed, Yuzuru shakes with fear.
“…N…o…”
<< Why do you reject us? >>
“No… don’t come any closer.”
<< You called, lord. Saa, called us. >>
“You’re wrong! Don’t come near me!”
The swarm of warriors pressing in before his eyes wipe out his scream…!
<< Come with us! >>
“!”
He covers his face with his arms and cries out.
Takaya…!
Biu!
<< ! >>
Abruptly, the airspace tore, and one of the warriors was inhaled.
(… eh…?)
The swarm of warriors look around. Yuzuru too looks in the direction of the ghosts.
Standing at the opened door is a man clothed in black.
(… what…?)
It’s not a face he knows. A tall man, slender and well proportioned, wearing a black suit. When he looked at Yuzuru’s face, he gave a low sigh of relief.
“It seems I was in time.”
Unhurriedly, the skeletal warriors move. The eerie atmosphere wavered.
“!”
Sharply sensing the “mood”, Yuzuru leans forward.
I can’t go…!
Gou, and there was a sound like something shaking the earth. From beneath the feet of the warriors something like black smoke gushes out, and bursts into flames.
The warriors all face the man simultaneously with hostility.
Hostility. No, the intent to kill!
Yuzuru screamed.
“You’ll be killed!”
“Just as terrible as I’d expect.”
“? … Look out!”
With a howl, the warrior swarm attacks. Ki, the man’s gaze slashes back sharply.
“BAI!”
At that sudden shout, the warriors froze. They’ve become unable to move, as though temporarily paralysed. The man brings his hands together in front of his chest and starts chanting strange words.
“Noumakusamanda bodanan baishiramandaya sowaka.”
Yura!
From the man’s body, something like an amber-coloured heat haze began to rise up.
(No way…)
The amber-coloured heat haze flickered, surrounding the man’s body, and soon a binding seal began glowing softly near his fists. The man continued chanting low incantations. The light rapidly multiplied in brightness, and, being released at the point of plasma, it formed a perfect white sphere around his fists in an instant!
“Hail 8-Swords Bishamonten!”
The man yelled out loudly.
“Evil spirit subjugation! Give me your strength!”
The man faced the stiffening warriors and opened both hands.
“<< Exorcism >>!”
Paa!
A flash is released in every direction from his hands.
“!”
Without thinking, Yuzuru shuts his eyes. The white light rises in sound and swallows all the warriors.
Yuzuru covered his ears. The light and sound drown out the screams of the warriors, and it scales up so high it could burst eardrums.
When it had reached its zenith, the man pressed both hands together in prayer.
“—Soul purification.”
There was a sound like the flapping of birds, and a sound like the falling away of a drawn out second.
Then the light… the warriors disappeared along with a bitter scream.
“……”
With only Yuzuru and the man in black clothes left, the room returns to silence as though nothing had happened.
The black-clothed man ended the prayer pose and opened his eyes.
“… Are you okay?”
“------“
Being questioned by a calm voice and expression, Yuzuru removed his hands from his ears as though he’d been roused from his temporary paralysis.
The black-clothed man… his age is 27, 28 years old; he has sharp, wild eyes and a cool, refined expression.
“I apologise for entering without asking. However, it was a fairly dangerous situation.”
“… That’s… fine, but…”
Gradually, the feeling wore off and his voice returned to him.
“Who are you?”
“Someone who has been constantly watching over you since yesterday.”
“Eh?”
“There was an indication that a great number of warrior spirits would move like this, so when I thought by no means… It seems this was partly making light of “his” power of influence.”
“His?”
Yuzuru’s face turned pale.
“Are you saying that someone is taking possession of me recently?”
“Have you noticed anything?”
“… So I am being taken possession of by a spirit, then?”
“Yes. How did you know?”
Embarrassed, Yuzuru answers.
“Because lately, strange things have been happening, and… there’s this strange feeling, as though something… like there’s someone inside me who isn’t me.”
“……”
The man’s eyes narrowed and he put his hand to his mouth.
“Beyond that, have you been doing things like sometimes acting as though you had a split personality?
“That’s right! How did you know?”
“As I thought…”
The man sighed.
“This is a more serious infringement than I thought. The release of the aura is growing stronger than it was before. It seems the situation is progressing rapidly.”
“What does that mean? Explain so I can understand! You seem to know everything!”
“To say I know “everything” is a bit of an exaggeration, but… anyway.”
So saying, the man unfastened the cuff of his right wrist. Underneath that, he is wearing a silver bracelet.
“Would you please put out your right hand?”
When he wordlessly held out his right hand, the man pierced the index finger of that open hand, and chanted something that seemed to be an incantation. When he brings it to an end with a light-toned yell, that bracelet has been fastened around Yuzuru’s wrist in a careful manner.
“This… is something like a seal.”
The man said quietly.
“It doesn’t have the strength to say it entraps, but with it you can curb the parasitic spirit to an extent. At the least, you should be able to stop it running riot.”
“Running riot?”
“In other words, the body forgets who possessed it originally, depending on whether the spirit is too strong. Actually, the related dead who have felt an indication of him have started gathering around you.”
“… Around me…?”
A chill runs up his spine. So those warriors from before are searching for “him”…
“Who is “he”? Someone who knows of me?”
“------“
After pausing for a bit, the man says,
“Do you know anything about the destruction of the spiritual grave?”
“? What?”
“… No, it’s probably better if you don’t know.”
“Hey, tell me! Who is “he”!”
“If you know that, he’s such a terrible person it would scare you. Because that bracelet acts an amulet too, those warrior ghosts won’t be able to approach you for a while either. During that time, we’ll deal with the parasitic spirit one way or another. Therefore, until then, make absolutely sure not to take it off.”
“------“
“However, you seem to possess a considerable << strength >> too. I don’t know how yet, but is that person near someone like you?”
“?”
He still doesn’t understand.
“Of course, that’s not to say that it would be that person’s fault that “he” set eyes on you, but.”
As though muttering to himself, the man started to leave in the direction of the door.
“Ah, wait a second…!”
“?”
“Who on Earth are you?”
“------“
The man narrows his eyes, and then he begins to show a smiling face.
“My name is Naoe Nobutsuna. You’ll see me again soon.”
*
Over the peaks of the northern Alps, the sunset spreads out.
The residential area overlooked the darkening town of Matsumoto. Getting off at the bus stop, Takaya and Saori started the long walk to Yuzuru’s house.
“I really can’t believe it.”
“What.”
“There’s no way something like that’s possible. Something like suddenly bursting into flames. No! Way!”
“You’re a super realist, huh. It’s not that inexplicable.”
“Be, because I’m an O type!”
“Is your blood type a problem?”
“There’s generally no reason for fire to flare from nothing.”
“But I saw it with my own eyes. I don't take things back and say something like yeah, that's right, just because I'm told it's impossible.”
“You were seeing things. You should change your contacts!”
“My own bare eyes.”
“Anyway, it’s not possible! If it’s not, it’s not!”
“Uu~~~…”
Takaya groaned.
The sunset dyes the scenery of the line of houses as though they are enveloped in a bloody filter. Somewhere the clear-toned cicadas are chirping, slightly early for the season.
Takaya and Saori have arrived at the front of Yuzuru’s house--- the Narita Dentistry practice. Nervously, Saori says,
“Ne. Wait. I don’t look funny, do I? Is my ribbon straight? Is my hair okay?”
“Mm.”
“Ara?”
His eyes rested on a man walking from the direction of the house. A black suit and black necktie; he thinks the man is in mourning or something. He looks over the bridge of his nose with a sharp glint in his eyes.
“You’ve got no fashion sense!”
Next to the shouting Saori, Takaya is observing the man with a dubious expression. Takaya doesn’t think he seems like a patient of the dentist. He gets a strange feeling. Malaise, you might say. What is it, this feeling? That man gives him a hot feeling… hot?
It appears that he has become aware of Takaya, too.
Their eyes met.
(------!……)
Assaulted by an odd sensation, Takaya stopped still. A sensation like there are shivers coming from the bottom of his body.
(… What…)
Takaya goes rigid.
The man passes by.
A moment.
Something passed through him.
He turns around. Behind him, the black clothed man moved to get into a parked car.
“Hey, you- wait!”
Having been called out to, Naoe stopped moving. Without turning around completely, his gaze flicked down slightly, to the feet of the person who the voice calling out belonged to…
The setting sun reflects off the glass windows of the houses.
The cicadas stop chirping.
Silently, Naoe got into the car. When he started up the engine, it spat out exhaust fumes. The car drove off.
“What’s wrong, Ougi-kun? Let’s go.”
“… Aa.”
With that half-hearted reply, Takaya started walking again. As the car left, he watched it go over his shoulder.
In Daira, Matsumoto, the day is coming to an end.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-04-10 09:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-10 10:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-10 10:31 am (UTC)And here!
no subject
Date: 2005-04-10 10:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-10 10:09 am (UTC)Hmm, Naoe does get a good introduction, and all the characters seem nice so far.
no subject
Date: 2005-04-10 10:23 am (UTC)The whole hailing Bishamonten thing was so cool. <3
no subject
Date: 2005-04-10 10:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-10 10:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-10 11:15 am (UTC)::hugs::
no subject
Date: 2005-04-10 11:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-10 03:36 pm (UTC)Sarah ^^
no subject
Date: 2005-04-10 03:50 pm (UTC)Why stop now??I enjoyed yoru scanlation more then
Date: 2005-04-11 01:51 am (UTC)The mangas' are only out to Vol 5,right??/
I Sooo WISH that somebody woudl GIVE US AMERICAN readers the chance to READ the parts in Vol 20 or Vol 24 or Vol 12, whhen Naoe dies and i just would love to see how Kagetora/Takaya's reaction, EMOTIONALLY!!!
Re: Why stop now??I enjoyed yoru scanlation more then
Date: 2005-04-11 05:16 pm (UTC)The re-issued versions of the manga I bought only cover the first book (or the first 3 episodes of the anime), with the third manga split in two parts (one is a Takaya/Yuzuru backstory, and one is a side-story involving a boxer). It's too bad they didn't continue the manga, because the artwork is really quite nice.
Sarah ^^
no subject
Date: 2005-04-10 04:34 pm (UTC)Wehen will you upload the next chaper? can´t wait to read moooore!!!!!!
no subject
Date: 2005-04-10 04:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-10 11:04 pm (UTC)“Yes. How did you know?”
Embarrassed, Yuzuru answers.
“Because lately, strange things have been happening, and… there’s this strange feeling, as though something… like there’s someone inside me who isn’t me.”
“……”
I'd like to second Naoe's reaction. XD;
That said, I still love you for this. I know you know that, but I adore you for going to the trouble. And, Morino. XD; I totally forgot about her. The shovel -- the shovel.
Okay, I'm done. Though, I noticed you left out something... certianly you meant to write:
Their eyes met.
(------!……)
Assaulted by an odd sensation, Takaya stopped still. A sensation like there are shivers coming from the bottom of his body.
(… What…)
Takaya goes rigid.
The man passes by.
A moment.
A mysterious force bashed their heads together now to save us pain later.
no subject
Date: 2005-04-11 12:03 am (UTC)It would certainly save us an AWFUL lot of pain later, yes.
no subject
Date: 2005-04-11 02:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-12 11:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-12 03:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-12 04:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-13 03:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-13 03:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-13 04:28 am (UTC)Seriously, though, I wonder if they don't have learning disabilities.
no subject
Date: 2005-04-13 04:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-13 04:58 am (UTC)On the other hand, I've never thrown something at MoB or thrown MoB at something. I've certainly been more annoyed before and refused to stick with something, so the author is indeed brilliant, in that respect.
no subject
Date: 2005-04-13 05:20 am (UTC)To Tammaiya!!!!
Date: 2005-04-11 01:56 am (UTC)And this oen is for you...Thanks for the translation and i do enjoy reading it but it seems somewhat short..Is your translation meant to be more of a 'SUMARIZATION' then an actual translation???????
But, overall, i do appreciate it and hope to read more..
Re: To Tammaiya!!!!
Date: 2005-04-12 11:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-11 07:05 am (UTC)That man gives him a hot feeling… hot?
I choose to willfully misinterpret this line every time. XD
You rock like a rocking thing, for the record.
no subject
Date: 2005-04-12 11:34 am (UTC)Thank you! When I was translating it, that was my reaction too- "Uh, Takaya... WTF YOU." Then again with Kuwabara-san it COULD be meant that way. You just never know. XD
no subject
Date: 2005-04-12 12:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-12 11:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-04-19 09:59 am (UTC)It must be a lot of work, but I hope you'll continue translating these. ^^
no subject
Date: 2005-04-21 09:02 am (UTC)Thank you, and I hopefully will. ^^