chapter one: avatar

he was running.

didn't know why or from what.

simply that he was running.

running through streets.

running past buildings.

but from what?.

but why for?.

eventually there was nowhere left to run.

he was cornered by it.

a living shadow in the shape of a man.

closer.

closer.

closer.

closer.

it was right in front of him.

until.

finally.

it was him.

and he was it.

/1/

Kieran awoke from his strange dream.

an by all accounts average looking person who normally wouldn't be in Japan.

though you can't be picky when it comes to education.

so he moved from Scotland to Japan, all for a digital media course. having too much free time eventually led to his hobby of fanfiction, though most were left half finished or to eventually be written.

as he got ready he opened the app on his smartphone opening the document 'Nanomania' which still was on the first chapter and still unfinished.

he hoped that he might suddenly be hit with inspiration for his passion project.

alas he again was not.

sighing, he continued his routine of checking his other apps and eating breakfast.

he switched his phone of and locked his apartment behind him as he left.

walking through the crowded Streets was common and after the first week or two of being there he got used to it.

continuing to the station, and boarded a train.

the ride was uneventful as usual, but looking out of the window.

he saw her.

he couldn't help but feel like she was looking back.

silver hair, a outfit that could be the cross between a military uniform and a dress.

she was like some military princess.

but.

just as quickly as he saw her.

she was gone.

/1/

he lost track of time.

or time lost track of him.

it was the afternoon and was getting close to nightfall as he was making his way back.

the streets were oddly empty.

and there she was.

now that she was closer, he saw that the military princess wore gauntlets though he was unsure if they were armoured or just looked armoured.

he stepped back, it was natural for him to be wary of her.

blades littered the streets, the two danced.

but, looking at her sparked something.

the princess battled the living shadow.

he just noticed his hand typing away on his phone. a new story.

no matter the damage or number of blades, the shadow continued on.

the passion of a writer, the spark of inspiration.

it lashed out striking her.

"what are you doing"

her voice caught him of guard, it was like a serene river that could swiftly change to a raging one at a moment's notice.

it uses this chance to escape.

"i...i...think I'm writing"

it found its origin, and left something that should not be.

both were still watching.

until his hand stopped.

now he needed to think.

how was he going to escape this.

though he put his phone away first, a pointless action but it was something.

suddenly it was hard to stay standing.

strangely there was pain.

ah.

he had been impaled with a sword.

he should be dead.

but wasn't.

another impales him.

and another.

he lifted his arm, which seperated and unfolded into a cannon.

it was all shocking, but that would be saved for later.

it fires.

the crimson lance flies forth at her.

it was expected that she would avoid it.

his other arm extends out to grab her.

she dances through the air, dodging it. it swims through like a predator after prey, swords are shot and hit but fail to stop or slow it down.

another shot ready.

it grabs her throat, trying to crush it.

the crimson wave rushes at her.

she cuts the arm from the rest of itself with a sword.

the shot misses.

but the hand still strangles her.

she rips it off and crushes it, throwing it aside.

she looks at him with a smirk before vanishing.

all he could manage was a single step before falling