Disclaimer: I don't own MTNN
Notes: Neuro's POV. Sorry for the wait. The long wait. I've been uber busy, and honestly not in a writing mood. Hopefully you enjoy the chapter. Notes to reviewers at end.
The room was quiet and dark, perfect silence turned to humming within the closed walls.
If I focused hard enough I could make out the sounds of neighbors talking in their houses and cars I didn't recognize driving on the main road some distance away. But I preferred my solitude, dulling my own hearing so I could hear nothing beyond the humming of silence.
Yako had told me not to follow her.
She had been quite clear that she needed something she elusively called 'girl time' and wouldn't be back till morning.
The sun had already set, and if I was human I would be blinded by the darkness.
But I wasn't, and the room glared obviously empty.
Except for me.
I considered bothering Yako anyway, but reminded myself I had truly meant it when I told her I would let her have this 'girl time'. I wouldn't go back on my words.
I breathed in deeply to release a sigh, pausing with the bitter and sharp air still half way in my lungs. One difference about oxygen and miasma: oxygen carried scents much better.
It was barely noticeable, and the room still hummed in perfect silence. But I knew a fox when I smelled one.
"Have you come to pay me a visit fox? I doubt you imagine Yako is here."
The silence was shattered by a small rustling noise, and the fox slid out from under the bed, the paper door disappearing behind her.
"You're quite sharp aren't you parrot?"
"Did you expect to enter the room unnoticed?"
"I suppose not. If I was human I'd think it was odd that you're sitting in the dark by yourself."
"If you were human you wouldn't enter the room under the bed."
The fox smiled at this. "Fair enough. Missing your trial mate?"
"You didn't come here to chat, and smelling the faint scent of Yako on you, you just came from seeing her. No doubt you were part of this 'girl talk'."
"I was. They were talking about you ya know. Aren't you curious?"
"You're stalling again. What exactly did you come here for?"
The fox bared a fang, out of annoyance not anger.
"You won't take the bait even a little bit? I'm here alleviating your boredom for you."
"Who said I was bored?"
"Oh please. No mystery for you to solve and no Yako to converse with? I'm shocked your brain has died from malnutrition yet."
"Fine, so I'm a bit bored. But that is no reason for me to indulge you."
With a tsk the fox jumped to the ceiling to face the same direction I was.
"Fine. I require your assistance. With a puzzle no less, so no doubt that will be enough to peek your interest."
"Wasn't it you who said you don't get anything for free?"
"Isn't a puzzle enough of a payment?"
"I had to die last time I had to pay you, I think you should work a little harder paying me."
"I see. What if I told you I knew the location of Masa Kin?"
The world sharpened at her words, and my eyes followed suit.
"And I'm supposed to believe you?"
"Believe me or not, help me out and I'll tell you where he is-or at least where he wass as of two days ago. Surely someone of your status could find him easily enough with such information?"
I considered. It was unlikely the fox would lie to me.
"Surely you'll tell us this information anyway?"
"But only after three more days have passed-enough time for the trail to grow cold, don't you think?"
I growled.
"You need my help that badly then?"
"Yes."
The fox spoke seriously and honestly.
I just hoped the puzzle was worth it.
"And what may you need help with?"
"If you want to know you'll have to bear with a little story first."
"A story?"
"Yep. And it goes something like this:
Once upon a time in a land full of war, there were two particular groups who greatly hated one another.
The first group was very powerful, but few in number. And the land they thought was so beautiful was poisonous to them. But nonetheless, they fought to have a place to melt away in the poison just to be able to spend time in the beauty of the land.
The second group was very weak, but very numerous, adding to their numbers with far more ease than the first group, and filling this beautiful land with shear numbers. This land was perfect for them, and slowly they learned how to use the best of what little strengths they had in the beautiful land.
The second group feared the first for their power, and the first group despised the second for their weakness and the ease in which they lived in that beautiful land. So a war started, and much blood was shed.
The second group was far weaker than the first, but they had the home ground and eventually overwhelmed the first group with their numbers and ingenuity. So the first group bitterly returned to their barren land, only sneaking visits to the beautiful land under the cover of night.
A woman of the first group, a fox, was especially fond of the beautiful land, and visited as often as she could. In her visits she came across a young and poor farmer, who was often laughed at for his gullible demeanor. The fox also laughed, finding him easy to trick and easy to fool. But his kindness soon won her heart, and in a moment of passion, she revealed her true form to the man.
The farmer didn't run as she had expected, nor did he looked afraid or even surprised. He merely stated the fox was much to beautiful to be of this world, and so it made perfect sense to him. The fox was enchanted by his words, and in her love and with what little she could do while only visiting in the night, she made the farmer powerful and rich indeed.
The fox eventually came to be with child, much to her shock and delight, and she informed the farmer-who was just as pleased as she was. The fox hastened to inform her family of the soon to be new addition. The family praised the young fox, whom they had worried was interested in no man, but upon hearing who the father was, their praise turned to disgust.
The young fox was beaten and bruised, and it was all she could do to keep the child inside of her safe. She ran to the farmer who was horrified at her injuries, and vowed to keep her safe from those who wished her harm. And so the farmer created a puzzle-a maze unlike any other-with the young fox at the center, and only them two knowing the way out. "I will bring you food and water, you merely need to have a safe child birth, and then we can travel as far away from here as we can."
The farmer kept his promise, visiting his beloved once a week with meat and water to keep her well, though all the while he seemed sicker and sicker. And no matter what she would ask him he merely told her to keep safe and healthy-for the baby if not for herself.
The child was borne a day before the farmers weekly visit, and the young fox hugged her child with tears. "My dearest child, it is a great miracle that I could bear such a child for the man I love!" And the fox ran, carrying the child with her through the maze and out. As soon as the outside air hit her and the child, the smell of blood filled their noses.
A familiar smelling blood.
The farmer sat at the maze entrance, a sword through his heart, and surrounded by those from the nearby village. As the fox walked into the light, a cry rose from the crowd: "The siren who seduced and used this man has appeared! Slay her!"
The young fox's heart broke in that instant, as well as her mind, and the arrows shot by the villagers had barely left the bow before the young fox's claws had ripped them to shreds, her child all but forgotten at the entrance of the maze.
With rage and fury the fox burned the dead until not even their ashes were left. With eyes full of water and fire she ran to her beloved's side, an ounce of life still in him. "I swear to you my love, I will punish every creature that denied our love, and destroy everything in this world before following you through deaths door."
The farmer held his last breath, and looked deeply at his beloved, whom in her madness was no more. And he looked at the child at the entrance of the maze, just borne and soaking in the world around her. The world her mother had just vowed to destroy. The child which would be destroyed as well. And with his last breath still held, and his last ounce of life, the farmer stood and pushed his beloved back into the maze, twisting and turning the paths to an impossible route, sealing and betraying the one he loved most in the world to stop her from carrying out her plan.
And the child watched with wide eyes as her father fell dead to the ground."
The room fell silent as the fox finished her story, and I blinked away the blood soaked scene that was still burned into my eyes. Foxes are well known for their story telling, their easy way of twisting words sucking you into their tale. One of the reasons most killed foxes before they were able to open their mouths.
"And the puzzle you want me to solve?"
The fox smiled.
"The maze obviously."
Note2: Back story. O.O Hope you liked it.
Encuentrame: Lol, I thought it'd be a cute plot bunny, though I don't really know if I'm going to make anything of it. Kanae would flip out if she knew that. O.O Now you're going to be able to see a bit of Kira and Neuro bonding. I love writing their conversations. Their both very witty and smart, and both hold no bars in talking to one another. Truly refreshing to write. Hope you enjoyed this chapter as well! Thank you for reading and reviewing!
Honeybeemelissa: O.O READ THE MANGA! Lol. It'll make much more sense to you then. I'm so glad you're enjoying the story! Sorry I went awol a bit...I hope you enjoyed this chapter too, and hope you enjoy the chapters to come! You have a very interesting art style. . Very cool and very unique. I loved the flame too. Cool use of shadows.
One of my fav scenes visually is in chapter 3 of "Balance" where Neuro is in front of the burning cars. Of course, I don't want you to feel you have to draw something, or have to draw that particular scene, just a suggestion. (^_^) I know creative flows don't always allow you to chose where to go. I'm extremely flattered by the offer though, and thank you very much for it. (^_^) Thank you too for reading and reviewing.
Teru Kisuke: I might. Or maybe just make reference to it or something. Not sure if I'm going to take it anywhere though. I just thought it would be funny. (^_^)
Lol. I'm glad Godai has mutual feelings. Imagine if he didn't. O_O Now that would be scary.
I'm glad you enjoyed it! Really? Cool. (^_^) I would love to read them! Though don't feel as if you have to share them of course. And I understand that, lol. I always have random ideas floating in and out of my mind, and they all want to be stories. xP
Sorry, but I'm far too insecure to share them. I feel ok writing this fan fic since the characters are already established, but sharing my own are kinda scary, since they are are a part of me. ...if that makes sense. I thank you for your compliment though. (^_^)
Lol.
I'm glad the suggestions were helpful. (^_^) And Agatha is one of the best mystery writers of all time-in my perspective any way, though I think I mentioned they may be hard to understand since some are in old English. I like both of those books. O.O But I never played the game. I have seen them though. Maybe I'll borrow them from the library and try them out. (^_^)
[Trying to to have spoilers] Did you watch all the way to the end? For the story will be rather easy to progress, and I guessed the ending too. The last five seconds are crucial. (^_-) THank you so much for reading and reviewing!
mouse: Don't worry about it. (^_^) Thank you for reviewing at all. Lol, apparently he's never needed one. Well, he thinks he hasn't anyway. You know Kanae-any way she can, lol. Congratz! I hope it's still going well for you! And that reeks. (-_-) I hope they're doing better now. Thank you for reading and reviewing!
Tookany: Hope you enjoyed this chapter too. And I try to tie everything together. (^_^) Thank you so much for reading and reviewing!
kurono-aijin: Ahahahaha! At least he's honest! (^_^) Thank you for reading and reviewing.
Neru-kun: Sorry my dedication fell through...well, to be honest, I'd rather come out with chapters I feel are acceptable rather than fast ones. Hope that's ok. (^_^) And I hope your story is going well. (^_^) Sorry, no YxN, but you'll get to see some of Kira's backstory and some of Neuro's genius. And maybe I can work in Kira teasing Neuro about Yako too. (^_^) Thank you so much for reading and reviewing.
honeyvonbunny: Why thank you. (^_^) It's one of the smartest TV shows I've seen in a while, and one of the best written ones too.
Uwah! I'm so embarrassed. (#^_^#) Thank you! For the time you took to comment and make and account! THank you very much! I try my best to stay IC, and I'm glad you think I'm doing that. (^_^)
Thank you, and once I finish this story I'm definitely going to miss all of you! But I'm planning at the end to have a question and answer chapter (which I'll let readers and reviewers ask questions to the characters about whatever) and an epilogue so people don't wonder what happened. So if you have any questions I'll have an A/N asking if anyone does and leave it for a week or so for everyone to get a chance to ask. I hope that will provide some closure to my readers at least. And thank you so much for even bothering to read my scribbling. I'm always amazed that someone likes the crap I come out with. (^_^) Thank you so very much for reading and for reviewing.
MilissaRukia: Ahahahaha. Kanae definitely has a warped view all right. I really thought Yako needed someone smart and not afraid on her side, which is one of the main reasons I made her. I'm glad you think she's served her purpose. (^_^)
And you may be surprised at how Neuro feels about Kira. Yes, the 'fox' annoys the crap out of him, but he definitely respects her in a way. You'll be able to get a better idea of their relationship in the chapters to come. (^_^)
I"m glad you enjoyed it! And I absolutely love my readers and reviewers! I'm always shocked people read my stories, and even more shocked they'd bother enough to review-and even draw for them! I'm almost beside myself with happiness when I see a review is added or even when my story page views go up! I also get enjoyment out of learning more about the characters the more I write. I hope you have as much fun writing as I do. (^_^) Thank you so much for reading and reviewing!
Namei: I'm so glad it seems natural! And that you're enjoying it! I also hope the characters are growing well. (^_^) Sorry you had to wait so long for the next chapter, and I'm glad Kira doesn't annoy you too! Thank you so much for reading and reviewing!