breaks_destiny | 009th Shattering * Audio

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009th Shattering * Audio

[Filtered to: Minato, Minako Arisato, Hanyuu, Ami, Hughes, Elicia, Winry, Adell, Patchouli, Bernkastel, SOS Brigade members, Shiki, Neku, Grell. || Unhackable ~~70%~~ 100%]

[Actually the Arisatos and Hanyuu are a bit of an overkill to add to that filter since they should know already but just in case...]

Just a small heads up to the lot of you, not that it has happened that I can remember but... I won't be answering to any call through the journals unless it's filtered as high as you can.

Which means that, Elicia, you tell your dad beforehand if you want to call me for something.

[A pause.]

Actually if any of you have problems with filters or something just call for Souji instead, I'll answer if it's any of you calling.

[That sounded casual enough, right? Let's hope no one goes into too much of a question mode as to why he suddenly wants to be so secretive with the journals.]

[Filtered to Ami || ~~70%~~ 100% Unhackable]

Are you free to meet up and talk? [The library would sound good but he can almost imagine Takano there looking for information so... And the medical center at the battledome is as out of the question as anything that is related to medicine.] Does the lake sound all right with you?

[Filtered to Hughes || ~~70%~~ 100% Unhackable]

Hughes-san, where could we meet to talk? Alone if possible as I told you.

[Hopefully it won't be a place where Keiichi can imagine Takano around easily. Though maybe he's just being a bit paranoid.]

[Filtered to Adell || ~~70%~~ 100% Unhackable]

Oi, Adell, I think I heard around that you knew about one of those groups, Blue Rogues, I think? Can I ask you a few questions?

[Filtered to the Malnosso || ~~70%~~ 100% Unhackable]

I... I'm not entirely sure how to do this... Can I talk with... Catherine, I think it was?

[Sincerely he has not much hope, he has been out of things for a while and who knows if that guy hasn't been changed or whatever. But he won't lose anything for trying, right?]

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[Oh, Shiki. Keiichi appreciates the thought but it really isn't that extreme... At least he doesn't think Takano would go around entering houses like that and he's sure they didn't meet or that she followed him, not that she would have reasons to do that but...]

Nah, it's not that extreme, really.

[It's funny, no matter how often he says it, he still finds it difficult to start talking.]

If you say so. [She shrugs and gestures for him to follow her to the couch and have a seat.] Neku's out picking up some stuff we needed for later tonight. I don't know if you wanted to talk to him in person or not. Can I get you anything while you're here though? [Well if it helps, Shiki's not making it any easier for him to start talking.]

[He follows her and sits on the couch, smiling a bit. Okay, so it may be difficult to get a word in but it's not something that urgent and actually the casual chatter makes it easier.]

Honestly, I don't mind if he's here or not, if he's not you can tell him later after all.

A glass of water would be good actually.

[He has been talking a lot today.]

[Once she makes sure he's comfortable on the couch, she starts to head for the kitchen for that water, but she's continuing to talk over her shoulder.]

That's usually how it works in this house anyway. I didn't think you'd mind. [And soon she returns with a pitcher of water and a glass filled as well, setting the pitcher on the table in front of them and holding the glass to him before having a seat.]

So. What's up?

Yeah, I've been around long enough to know how things work here...

[Keiichi looks around for a moment. There was a time in which four people lived here as far as he knows... Now it's just two. It's a bit depressing and it brings back memories of when he realized that his apartment had gone from having two people to just him again.

He shakes his head and focuses in the issue at hand when Shiki talks again.]

Let's see... You know about the Hinamizawa Syndrome, right? Having lived with Haruki and Rena, I suppose he at least told you that much.

[Her expression suddenly turns more serious.]

Haruki told me about it once or twice. After an...episode with Rena, he explained it as best as he could and about some of the people Rena knows from home, too. What about it?

[So she knows something, he expected that but... Maybe he should make sure she understands it?]

Well, what do you know exactly? I suppose that since I'm on it if Haruki missed something I should clear it up.

...basically, he said there's an illness that runs in her entire town, something that makes everybody paranoid and kind of twitchy, easy to snap with certain triggers. There's this god, Oyashiro-sama...and he said that this girl, Hanyuu, she's the god.

He said that a lot of people from Rena's village believe this illness is a curse from their god. Rika...she's the priestess of the shrine there, but she's more important than just that. He said that Rika's the "Queen Carrier." Without Rika around everyone from the town would snap more easily.

That's about it really. What am I missing?

[Keiichi nods, definitively more than what he told to Minato, but still good enough.]

Well, not much actually, mostly clear up some points. To keep it simple, Oyashiro-sama's curse and the illness, the Hinamizawa Syndrome, have nothing to do with each other. Rena is basically the only one who believes her illness is due Oyashiro-sama's curse. As to why... I would have to go into detail regarding Oyashiro-sama's cult actually.

[Not that he has that many details himself but...]

Anyway besides that it's mostly pretty accurate. It seems the disease is caused by a parasite that only lives in Hinamizawa's area, so anyone living there gets infected. It's not contagious because leaving the village won't spread it but the infection happens pretty quickly, I wasn't in Hinamizawa for that long before I got it actually. Rika's the only one who isn't really affected by the syndrome, and her presence makes it harder to happen but... Well, Rika was in Luceti and Rena still snapped as you know so it certainly doesn't stop it.

Now... How to explain the rest...

[Scratching his head a bit. Well, so far he has been using the syndrome as the basis to explain the rest... After all everything seems easier that way.]

Well, regarding why Rena would believe the syndrome is a curse and not an illness it's easy to explain if we take into account that the syndrome itself is actually... Not public knowledge. Very few people know of its existence and even less know it to be real. So even if Rena fell sick and any doctor could tell that she was, indeed, ill, they weren't able to see what illness it was. That coupled with the hallucinations and the cult of Oyashiro-sama, caused Rena to believe it to be part of the punishment from the god, for having broken its rules. Which basically can be simplified in that no one can ever leave Hinamizawa and no outsiders are allowed in Hinamizawa. Rena's family moved due work and things... Didn't go well for them, her parents divorced and she become so stressful that the syndrome evolved in her, bringing forth hallucinations and all.

It's kind of understandable that she would believe it all to be a punishment for leaving Hinamizawa. Regarding what the rest of the village believed to be Oyashiro-sama's curse is a different matter.

...! I thought he was just making that up about the parasite! [What do you know. Haruki wasn't that crazy after all.] I remember that.

It almost sounds like something out of a bad movie. Not being able to leave, everything becoming worse, the existence of a cult? Are you kidding me? [But she stops though to think of this, listening and absorbing what Keiichi's actually saying and nodding. It all adds up well enough.]

So...why are you running this by me, Keiichi?

Because you were Rena's friend, and I consider you a friend myself. And honestly I think I should have told you long before, if not the whole story at least part of it.

Anyway, right now, just the other day... A woman from my world came, she's the reason why I want to fly under the radar as much as possible for a while. And why I'm running all this by you.

This woman, Miyo Takano, she's a nurse that works at Hinamizawa's clinic, she's quite friendly and nice, if only a bit too interested in the dark story of Oyashiro-sama's cult and all. That was what we all believed at least... Until Rika came to us to tell us the truth. Actually, that woman was the head of a research group that was studying the syndrome and used the clinic as a cover up to be able to study the residents without problems. Not a bad thing, even if the residents knew nothing, knowing how the syndrome works it was probably the best idea. The problem came when she became infected with the syndrome herself. I honestly don't know when it happened, but I know that she's infected by now, and probably has no idea of it herself.

[A sigh.]

At any rate, when Rika came to us to tell us about all of this... Takano was out to kill Rika, apparently wanting to eliminate the Queen Carrier and see the effect it would cause in the village to suddenly lose the figure that supposedly kept us all sane. Basically, she was a woman ready to kill a little girl just for the sake of her research. That's not all, thought, apparently she was involved in some of the events of what the village had come to know as Oyashiro-sama's curse. I doubt she had a role in all of them directly and honestly it would sound more as she just taking advantage of the tragic events that happened but... We were also told that she was planning to use the myth of the curse to cover her steps and kill Rika. Not only Rika but she also planned to kill her own boyfriend... And anyone that stood in her way actually.

Miyo Takano...[Memorizing this name right now just to be sure. Shiki, surprisingly, is rather quiet as she listens to Keiichi elaborate further, the only real sign of thought being her facial expressions of confusion to shock to just plain irritated because what is this killing just for benefit thing.]

And you're telling me she's here? Where would I find her? Does she know that you guys are here and everything already? What are we going to do if she tries to pull the same kind of tricks?

[Keiichi can't help to show Shiki a small bitter smile.]

Now you understand why I asked to not say my name in the open through the journals and to use Souji if needed?

[He sighs.]

I'm pretty sure she knows Hanyuu is here. She knows I'm here but she got me through the journals without me stating my name so I feigned to be another person who just happens to look like Keiichi Maebara. There's a girl around here that looks a lot like Rika so it's believable and at worst we can always say that I had been kidnapped and had my mind messed up with.

I'm not sure where she is living but, she's a nurse so I'm confident that sooner or later she'll be settling place in the clinic or the battle dome's medical area. She's not a bad nurse and technically she has no reasons to do anything to people not from Hinamizawa, but I wouldn't blame you if you decide to avoid getting treated by her.

It's hard to know if she will pull the same kind of tricks at all. She... She's not from the same time as I am, I'm pretty sure that this her hasn't done anything serious yet regarding Rika at least. And there's really no reason for her to keep studying the syndrome or anything even if she knew I'm here. Without Rika and with only one subject it doesn't seem she'll get very far whatever she tries. But who knows if she won't move to study other things while she's here or something. It's also hard to know what in her actions comes from her own mind and what comes from the syndrome, but I won't say that she's entirely innocent.

For now, I would say to just be careful around her... I want to find a way to keep an eye on her and most of her actions, both in case she tries something and both for her own sake. If all the bad things she has done and such come from the syndrome... I can't really point a finger at her and call her evil. And anyway, to go into the high levels of the syndrome and dying by tearing out your own throat... It's not a nice way to die, not that there is a good way to die but...

You don't think she's going to figure out who you really are, do you? And Hanyuu...is she going to be okay?

Haruki kind of drove it into my head that the clinic's horrible, so I haven't been over there in forever. I'll keep an eye out for her though, just in case, because I think you're right and she won't have any interest in us since we're not from Hinamizawa but just in case.

What else do you think she'd want to study though? There isn't much like the syndrome around here.

...wait what about tearing out your own throat?! Are you kidding!?

Lies aren't bond to last long, she will eventually figure it out. Or I'll tell her directly, I'm honestly not entirely comfortable lying like that and it's troublesome. I just mostly want the time it can buy me until it explodes.

Hanyuu should be all right. Takano... I don't think she can do much to her and Hanyuu is the only resident of Hinamizawa not infected.

[Because she's Oyashiro-sama.]

I honestly don't know, maybe she really just is interested in the syndrome. But... I don't know, the wings, for example, or maybe there are other worlds with similar illnesses or something.

[A pause.]

No... I'm not kidding. At the highest level of the syndrome, people usually end scratching their own throat so much that... They just tear it out.

[And he remembers... A dark night, the phone booth... Ooishi's voice at the other end of the phone as he coughed and... Scratched. It itched so much. So much. The warm feeling of his own blood over his fingers and he kept scratching. And the feeling of someone behind him. The feeling of her behind him, looking at him as he teared out his throat.

Keiichi closes his eyes with strength and opens them again. His hand is back at his neck, but it's not scratching, instead it's placed firmly against the skin, protecting it from everything else. A reflexive movement that he brings to an end by lowering his hand again.]

It's... All sorts of painful and horrible.

Just be careful when you do tell the truth, okay? Promise me that. As for Hanyuu...I don't think she can do much to her either. [Shiki's aware who Hanyuu is. Thanks Haruki.]

[And really, she's not sure what to say, merely watching the boy as he goes through what seems like a pretty painful memory. She sighs quietly as she ponders the possibilities of what Takano can do with everything that's happening in Luceti, and she shakes her head.]

I bet. ...you know if you have to, you guys can stay with us. [Even though the house might be abandoned soon, she's offering. Just to throw it out there.] For hiding purposes or anything, whatever. I don't know, I just want to help.

I plan to be, yes. [~~Pity the experiment's shenanigans are going to ruin it so much.~~]

[Keiichi smiles at her at the offer, such a good friend, he's glad to know that Rena has been in such good hands for so long. It all helps to remind him that Haruki may be gone but they have just lost one ally, not all of their friends, should they decide to trust in them properly.]

Thank you, Shiki. I don't think we will need it, but I appreciate the gesture. Also... I hope that if something happens to me, like getting kidnapped or... Something worse, you will keep an eye on Hanyuu while I'm gone. Takano may not do anything to her but she's not the only danger in the village after all, is she?

[Quite unfortunate. If their worst problem was a psycho nurse things probably would seem laughable.]

Of course, if you or Neku ever need a place to crash, we can always make room at the place we will be staying, house 22 to be precise. There's actually plenty of space so it wouldn't be a problem.

Good. That's all I ask. [~~I'd be disappointed otherwise, really.~~]

[Shiki's just very concerned, here, that's all :<]

I don't think you will, but throwing that out there. ...but we can definitely keep an eye on Hanyuu too, no doubt. It's a priority. That's...definitely an understatement. There's trouble everywhere here.

Hey, thanks a lot. I think we'll be okay, but I'll keep it in mind and run it by him if we ever need to.

And when in life are there no troubles?

[He sounds half-amused and half-tired at that thought.]

My own experience says that even when there don't seem to be any troubles around that only means that they're underneath the surface, and are far worse than the ones can can be seen plainly. The fact that close to half of the village comes from worlds in which something is going on or has been going on doesn't help either.

[If Hinamizawa had been really what it seemed, just a peaceful small village, full of superstitions but with a big and great heart... Takano wouldn't have been something close to an enemy for them and her arrival wouldn't have mattered to any.]

You both have more experience here than me, so I'm pretty sure you will be. Still, I won't back off the offer. I'm the kind of guy who likes to worry about his friends even when there's no need to.

[Because those times in which he didn't only brought forth tragedies.]

Edited 2010-11-25 11:03 (UTC)

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009th Shattering * Audio

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