Title: The Line between Reality and Fiction
Author: Phoenix
Betas: Shadow, Tohluse
Chapter: A New World
Rating: T
Warnings: swearing, violence
Disclaimer: Kino no Tabi belongs to Keiichi Sigsawa. CROSS, Shiro, and Ryuu belong to Shadow and Phoenix
-&--?--&-
The line between fiction and reality…
Is there any truth to
fiction?
-&--?--&-
The soft light of a motorcycle headlamp cut through the mist covering the road. Sitting atop the motorcycle was a slim rider with a girlish figure. She was wearing a green jacket over a white shirt, and long brown pants. Over the jacket the rider wore a gun belt holding two guns. One, clipped on in the back, was a semiautomatic handgun. The second, being worn on the left side, was a revolver. A brown coat was tucked into the baggage on the motorcycle's carrier.
"Kino, what are you thinking?" A slightly metallic voice rose over the gentle rumble of the motorcycle's engine.
"I'm thinking about the next country Hermes. It's called the Missing Continent." She said calmly, only raising her voice a little to be heard over the engine.
"I hate mist." The metallic voice complained. It was the motorcycle, Hermes, who was talking to the rider
"Sorry Hermes, it shouldn't be far now."
"Oh joy."
They had been driving for about ten minutes and had just crested a hill when the mist began to thin. Cresting a second, smaller hill Kino and Hermes emerged from the mist to find a circular city that gleamed white in the early afternoon light. A black tower emblazoned with a crimson double cross rose from the center and into the sky indefinitely.
Ten minutes later Kino and Hermes were walking along the main street, Kino carrying a traveler's guidebook. The first stop for the pair was a modestly priced restaurant for lunch, and as the local history museum was not far from their intended hotel, Kino chose to make a quick visit before evening.
Together Kino and Hermes headed towards the museum, which was located in the tower in the center of the city. Unnoticed by either, several men watched the pair from a shadowy alley. Hermes shivered slightly, it could have been because they stepped out of the sun, but that didn't seem to be the reason.
"Kino, there's an unpleasant chill in the air. I feel something like bad is about to happen." The motorad said as Kino wheeled him closer to the black tower.
"Relax Hermes; you're only cold because we stepped out of the sun." Kino said dismissively, calmly observing her surroundings.
In the alley the men were speaking quietly
"So...that's the girl." A short, balding man said rather pointlessly. They had been trailing her since she had entered the city.
"Yeah, she's our main target." A tall, thin, weasel-faced man replied, glancing at Kino around an over-flowing garbage can.
"Why can't we capture her now?" The short, balding man asked.
"Too many people about, we would get caught. We'll do it this evening," said the man who stood in the shadows, slowly and sinisterly stroking the butt of the gun that he wore at his hip.
The man motioned for the men to move out. Making sure they couldn't be seen, they quietly followed Kino and Hermes towards the museum.
-&--?--&-
The black tower was almost circular with intricate, labyrinth-like floor plans, a beautifully detailed lobby and a polite sign requesting that visitors wishing to access the upper floors obtain a visitor's pass at the main desk. The main floor of the museum was split into two sections; an outer ring that ran the perimeter of the tower that housed various historical dioramas and the central area that housed a rather extensive and beautiful library with an enchanted stained glass skylight. Making a decision Kino and Hermes started towards the first of the dioramas.
In the library section a young woman, appearing to be just out of her teens, was perusing the shelves. Her short brown hair framed dark eyes and she wore jeans and a blouse with an Asian flair.
"Kino, the models are well made but confusing," Hermes commented after they had finished. "Do you understand them?"
"It confuses me a little bit too Hermes, but it appears that this is a place where the worlds of fiction and reality cross. I guess that we took a different turn that we meant to." Kino answered, studying a diorama of three disk shaped worlds, connected by a black spire through the center of each.
"Ehh?" Hermes said, still fairly confused. Kino sighed, turning Hermes to look at the diorama.
"Apparently two different worlds coexist here. A world created out of stories," Kino pointed to the bottom world in the diorama. "And a world inhabited by those who come up with the stories." Kino pointed to the top world. "That world is inhabited by 'authors'"
"I'm still confused." Hermes said.
"The books may help, they tend to be more informative," said Kino, pushing Hermes towards the nearest door to the library. Parking Hermes near a small table with a reading lamp and a chair, Kino proceeded to search through the history section.
Locating another sizable tome that seemed suitable, the young woman turned. As she did her foot accidentally caught Hermes's back tire and both toppled over with a crash. The books scattered on the ground and the young woman rubbed her bruised elbow.
"Kino! Pick me up; my paint is going to scratch." Hermes whined from his prone position.
"Sorry Hermes." Kino said, grasping his handlebars and picking him up.
As Kino straightened Hermes and set his kickstand, she noticed the other girl.
"Are you all right?" Kino asked politely, leaning over Hermes to get a proper look at her.
"Yeah, I'm fine," the young woman said as she got to her feet and dusted herself off. "I'm Ryuu, by the way."
As their eyes met Kino noticed that Ryuu's short brown hair was very much like her own, and they both shared the trait of brown eyes, though Kino's were a slightly darker shade.
"I'm Kino, and this is my partner Hermes. We're travelers."
"Honored to meet you." Ryuu responded bowing slightly. Straightening up Ryuu noticed the time on a grandfather clock by the door to the main lobby.
"Holy crap I'm late," squeaked Ryuu grabbing a bag that had been hanging over a chair and dashing for the door.
For a moment Kino blinked dazedly. She was brought out of her languid state by Hermes's softly metallic voice.
"She was strange."
"Hermes." Kino admonished.
-&--?--&-
It was approaching dusk when Kino and Hermes left the museum to head back to their hotel. Kino was tired, so she took a quieter route back. She was also walking because she "didn't want to drive in the dark."
The group of men that had been watching the pair since that morning emerged from the alley and quietly followed.
Partially because of the noise Hermes was making and partially because she was tired, Kino didn't notice the danger until it was too late. As she paused for a moment's rest, the sinister, gun-toting man darted out of the shadows and pressed a damp cloth over her nose and mouth.
Kino, struggled for a moment, but the sickly sweet smell of chloroform rendered her unconscious in a matter of seconds.
"Well done Ayame-sama." The weasel-faced man said as Ayame dragged Kino's limp form further into the shadows. Hermes remained motionless and silent, fearing for Kino's safety.
"I would have expected a stronger will to fight, from one as talented as this, but that matters little now. I can have my fun with her later. Now we must hurry before some other unfortunate wanders this way."
"What about the motorcycle?" Asked the short, balding man, gesturing at the parked vehicle. Ayame paused, weighing the possibilities in his head.
"Bring it along, Virgil, but be quiet about it."
Ayame slung Kino over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and disappear into the shadows of the alley in which they had been hiding. Virgil retrieved Hermes from where he had fallen and Shiro and the weasel-faced man into the gathering gloom.
-&--?--&-
Et voila! A story.
Review, pretty please and I'll post the next chapter more quickly. I am asking for one review, one!
Stats (not that anyone cares):
Word Count: 1336
Pages: 4