Disclaimer: Yu Yu Hakusho and all the subjects connected to it are properties of Yoshihiro Togashi and all the companies whose names I forgot and probably never knew anyway.
AN: Gomen for the delay. Here's more, minna, though not much…
Identity
Chapter 5
"That was the day," said Keiko suddenly.
"You remember?" asked Shizuru in surprise.
"Yes, somehow I do." Keiko strained her mind, remembering. "It's a misplaced memory I have. I remember I visited you one day after being dismissed early from school. On the way up, I met a group of men. Then, when I saw you, you were upset. But you weren't crying. The next day I visited you again and at four in the afternoon you were still in bed. Your eyes were all red and puffy as if you've been crying all night. I don't understand why I have a memory of you like that and I can't place it anywhere. There's another where you are also crying but this was in a room full of people and you were drinking booze."
"That last one. I think that was in Yusuke's wake," said Kuwabara thoughtfully. "I hardly remember it because I was kinda upset that time, too. So was Keiko."
"But… I don't remember any of that." Keiko shook her head. "I still find it hard to believe."
"You couldn't have been crying over Yusuke the other time," Botan said to Atsuko. "He was in Makai at that time."
"Actually, I was," Atsuko said. "But not because of him alone."
"It was because of that old friend…" said Yukina.
"An old friend, yes. But not that one. This story I haven't told you yet."
"Let's just hear this last one, please?" said Keiko. "Then we can stop for the night."
"Okay," gave in Atsuko. "I'll tell you about my other meeting."
~~~~
A spectrum of colors scintillated on the smooth expanse of glossy black. Bouncing on polished surface, the lights dissipated into the semi-darkness, into the chaos of shifting bodies and the shadows of the motionless inanimate objects. Some shafts strayed to the sparkling crystal, thus also projecting the array of colors on the clarity of the wine glass, as well as the sharp blood-red color of her drink. She, Atsuko, had actually ordered a cocktail drink.
Hell. She couldn't afford to keep doing so. The same price paid for one glass could be paid to down a few bottles of good old beer. It was simply not cost-effective.
Atsuko lazily focused her gaze on the young girl onstage as she took a dainty sip from her drink. She wrinkled her nose and directed a glare at the performer's direction, as her voice soared a few notes off-key. For the heck of it, she also directed one to the glass she was clutching, and gulped down the contents in one swig.
Al Mintaka was here. He has returned after such a long time. But what use was the girdle without the sting of pearls to hold? That string had snapped a long time ago, spilling the organic gems, allowing them to scatter into the abyss of empty space. The Belt of Orion, that great hunter in the sky, was then unclasped and released, the girdle with all its contents. The Belt of the Hunter disbanded a long time ago.
Taka is dead. Atsuko's mind bleakly declared. You know that as well as I do!
Yes. Alnilam died a long time ago. How can he not know that? Sure, he was away the time it happened but there was no way the news didn't reach him. Besides, did he actually think Taka had simply severed his ties with his best friends and continued living an obscure existence? Her parents didn't disown her for that long because they didn't persist to hide anyway. They accepted her when she came back even though she, their sole daughter, eloped with a self-proclaimed juvenile delinquent and local troublemaker. Taka was not a coward. He wouldn't have died if he was. He wouldn't…
That baka!
"Takaneshi no baka," she muttered aloud. Bleary eyes turned down to the cavernous mouth of the rummer: empty. Not a drop left. "Hey!" Her voice was nearly drowned by the din of the living night. "Barty, another one of this. I like it. Give me some more!"
"Atsky-chan," remarked one of her friends. "I didn't know you order ladies' drinks. I thought you prefer the hard stuff."
"Che. I could be as high classy as any of those clowns!" Atsuko boasted with a laugh. The others giggled along then resumed their talk of street gossips and the latest buzz in showbiz. At least they left her to herself, by herself, with her thoughts.
Do you know, Taka? she thought. I think I'm almost as stupid as you. I still miss your insanity. I really still do. That's why I still drink like a goddammned sailor.
An alcoholic consumption that huge was indeed unsavory and inappropriate for one such as her. Years ago, when a young girl first came to taste ale, she was the spectacle of the rabble. But nobody ever took advantage of her drunkenness. She was strong enough to survive the tragedy of her young life; she was definitely strong enough to tackle the elements of the night.
Whoever said she was dependent on alcohol? Well, she wasn't that pathetic. She drank by choice not compulsion, because she needed to preserve the memory of Taka. It was all for Taka. Not to forget him but to remember him. Remember him forever…
It's stupid how some track her every move, her lifestyle. How dare they ask her to go to therapy! Why should she pay a fortune to forget, to fool herself into believing self-feeding lies, to strengthen the walls of her illusory castle? Who ever said she wished to forget? She desired no such thing. She would not forget Taka. Not Taka. Not ever…
Atsuko deftly splayed her fingers on the fine rim of the glass. Shifting pressure from one finger to another slowly, she tilted her glass dangerously halfway, never letting it fall but rolling the bottom by its edge. She stared as the liquid inside flowed, creeping on the transparent side.
"You know, ladies," she suddenly spoke, referring to no one in particular. "That thing they say about booze is so not true."
"Really, Atsky-chan?" said the one whose neck was entwined with a fluorescent green boa. "What about booze?"
"When I was much younger, I thought it was true. See, that's why I'm so good at it."
"Oh yeah," exclaimed another one. "I'm so jealous of your drinking prowess. Ohohohoho!"
"They say booze can take your pain away." Atsuko gave a hollow laugh. "But that's the stupidest thing on this friggin' planet!"
"Hear! Hear!" said a drunk redhead. "To hell with headaches and hangovers! It almost takes the fun out of night happenings. But it's worth it right? It's worth it!"
"Oh, it's not so bad, Atsky-chan," said the boa girl, er… guy. "But you drink soooo heavily. Oh, but you're still sooo cool, gal! You don't let it cramp your style." He pouted. "I'm jealous of you, too, dah-ling."
"I heard you should drink fruit juices the morning after," suggested a green-haired woman.
"Tea might be good. What do you think?"
"But coffee can make you barf!"
"Ahh, none of those will work," said the red head. "Why not party all day, all night? No hangovers will stop ye."
"Oh honey, I can't afford that!"
"Yes," agreed a pink-faces, pink-haired person. "My sweet sugar cane-y popsy is sooo demanding nowadays."
The rest of the discourse of sugardaddies and financial matters died away as they approached Atsuko's ears. A steady sort of droning, almost incorporeal, for there was no apparent source, came to engulf her. Drowning in the quasi-silence, she sank into the sea of her own thoughts.
It's so fun. It's so happy here. I don't have to crumple in one corner and cry. I don't have to wear that abominable mask I have come to abhor. I don't have to smile that half-smile, that forced smile of reassurance. I don't have to strain my jaws locked in that frozen position. I don't…
People came there to forget. For some, to forget and numb the pain. For others, to forget everything. But no. You cannot easily forget. The source would always remain, even if you ignore it, unless something was done about it. As for the pain, the same thing goes. It can be dammed up for a few hours, a few stolen moments of oblivion and ecstasy. But the time will come when you have to awake and when you do, the pain would come crashing down again. It would hurt worse than ever at that sudden onslaught. The intensity would be overwhelming; the pressure built up behind that dam has collected great energy to unleash horrendous pain. But at least…
Nobody'd care here. They can forget. They forget about their problems. They won't ask yours. But me, I don't forget. The pain of course, goes for a while. Thinking hurts. And remembering… That's why I do it here. Because I can't afford to dwell on you all day. There's Yusuke. You do know you've left a son, don't you?
She has been a current of this bar for eighteen years, Yes, she went here first to forget like the rest. Then later, to remember. Only here could she reminisce without danger of breaking down. Only here can she think of him and laugh at the same time.
You left me… Remember that day? You promised. And I gave up so much… And then they took you away, too. That wasn't fair ne? Then mamma and papa were gone too. And I was alone. I only had Yusuke. I love him very much. Did you know that? Do you believe me? Ha-ha! It doesn't show much, does it? Do you know that they almost took him away from me? But my son came back. You… Dammit, Taka. Am I just addicted to you? I can't bear to forget you but I can't cry forever. That's why I drink. I drink like hell that my own son doesn't even know me.
It was different tonight. Atsuko was black with resentment she had not felt in years, riddled with guilt that had not attacked so hard since that time long ago. Why now?
What the hell is wrong, Taka? Why have you returned to inflict pain on me? It never hurts when I drink. That's why I do! That's why I started it at fourteen. Hell, I was a widowed mother at an age where most people's worries circulated around school stuff and peer. I think, I'm exempted from that minor age rule shit. And don't even think that it's unfair, baka, that I never let you then and you'll never be able to ever. I'll drink all the sake you ever wanted to drink.
Truly, the pain had subsided years ago. Time healed more effectively than any amount of alcohol. The sharp overwhelming pain was now no more than a dull ache. True. All that happened left rocks in her heart, but the waves of time were constant in their rhythmic beating. The sands of life's beaches eventually scoured away the jagged edges into a smooth continuous surface…
Then why now? Why now of all nights?
Because of Al Mintaka.
Al Mintaka has returned. What will happen now?
Taka, help me. How can I make him understand what happened all those years ago? Do I have to delve into that chaos again? I can't… I can't!
But you don't know what happened all those years ago, what exactly happened, a different fragment of her mind said in the guise of that voice, that quiet thoughtful voice: Al Mintaka's. That's why you must find out. He wants to find out. Don't you?
But I've stopped long ago. I've let go of that pain. I cannot take up that yoke again!
And abandon Alnilam?
Abandon? I have never abandoned Taka. Never!
But you refuse to find him justice. Al Mintaka is still relentless. He will not stop-
"ATSKY-CHAN!"
Atsuko was nowhere near upset at being interrupted from her reflection.
"Yeah?" she asked coolly, with no sign of the disturbance that plagued her inner self.
"This guy here wants to challenge you," replied a sallow-faced coolie.
"Really?" Atsuko practically danced her way to the challenger's table. "On what? Beer? Gin? Whiskey? Sake?"
"Tequila," said the pocked-face man, sniffing at her disdainfully. "I heard you have quite a reputation here."
"Ha!" Atsuko gave him a once-over. "This is the person who thinks he can match me? We'll see. Let's get it on!"
Before long, the drinking contest was underway. The two competitors downed shot by shot of tequila until there was a neat pyramid of overturned glasses at each side. It was a lengthy duel and the crowd of spectators increased at each glass added to each stack.
After a while, the effects of the strong drinks began to tell on both contestants. Everybody held their breath as each person speculated on who will fall first. Both had drunk a little too much now, as can be seen from their clumsy movement and their unfocused eyes. Yes. The determining shot would come anytime soon.
"Whoa!" went the crowd as another couple of glasses slammed on the table empty.
Blog!
And another one…
Such unfairness, Al Mintaka… Why again?
The crowd went wild, seeing none of the contestants fell.
It was Taka's death wish. Revenge will not bring him back. You are alone, Al Mintaka.
The images of her surroundings swam before her eyes. The different faces, excited and flushed, merged together into one continuous wall around her. Then there was just she and the glass. She will prevail.
My will stand. I can take you on. I can take on this. She grasped the glass on her fist. I will prevail.
She raised the small glass to her mouth. But it was the feel of flesh that came to her lips instead of the cold smoothness of glass.
What?
Brown eyes flickered briefly up the looming figure. Light hair, blue eyes, snow white skin so starkly white in that darkened corner--- everything coalesced into nothingness. Then, from some unknown corner of her world, as if from a distant dream, she heard the sharp tinkling of little bells.
Alnitak…
And she disappeared into that oblivion.
~~~~~
The dull yellow rushed beneath him, as it had done for hours. Had it just been hours? Or perhaps, more. He had lost sense of time some time ago - only this remained, this continuous running. Even a good look around would do no good. It will all be the same: the broad nothingness stretched to the horizon, the glare of the sun reflecting from everything, from the bald pates shinning with sweat. So he didn't.
He was attuned to nothing, and nothing strayed his thoughts. The monotony suited him fine, for there was really no point in breaking it. He required strength, strength more useful if preserved for use elsewhere. He barely noticed his rough breathing, the steady whoosh in his ear as his lungs worked for air. Yes… he felt separate from himself. He could he see his chest heave in front of him but could not feel that distinct tightening that told of effort. He could see his feet, mere blurs in their drive for movement, but he could not feel them push against the ground for the corresponding push he'd receive to propel himself forward, could not feel that momentary sinking of each appendage on that fluid matrix of fragmented limestone.
"How much longer are you planning to make me run?" he suddenly said, breaking his the silence.
"The journey to your father's kingdom would take five days, replied the man in the lead.
"Five?"
"Yes, we can run that far without rest but if you're tired, we can stop."
Five days? That's insane. Stop, of course.
"Are you kidding?" he heard himself say. "I can run that far if you can."
What?! That's impossible! I can't-
"All right then," the man said.
But you have run that far. You succeeded, remember?
"Oi, Urameshi-san."
Nonsense. That's physically impossible. I'd die…
"Yusuke."
But you are dead, right?
"Yusuke?"
What?
"Hey, you're drifting off."
Yusuke suddenly came back to himself. He could again feel himself, but felt different from how he expected to feel, judging from what he saw earlier. He now felt his exhaustion; his breath sounded scraggly and labored. The sun's glare, too, had dwindled down to a soft pinkish orange, as well, the color spilt through out his surroundings, through out the rocky earth hard on his feet, instead of the shifting sands of his earlier vision.
"Bald men," he muttered.
"Eh?" said Koenma, anxiously feeling his scalp. "What bald men? I am not balding yet."
What bald men? There were no such men. There were only them- people he didn't even know five days ago, people who insisted on truths that fiercely clashed with those his memory claimed.
"Never mind," Yusuke answered, trudging along the uneven ground.
He looked about him. That enigmatic man Hiei was a few meters up front, perched on a rock. The lanky prince Koenma lagged a few paces behind them. Minamino Shuichi was beside him, looking at him in concern. Yusuke shook his head to the dismiss the other's unspoken inquiries but avoided those emerald eyes. Instead, his climbed one of the sheer rock walls rising from both of his sides.
"This gorge was once a fjord," stated the scientist turned businessman. "And before that, probably a mountain."
"Millions of years ago," added Yusuke.
"Yes. Or more." Kurama frowned at the traces of sunlight sipping through that seemingly mere crack on the bedrock they were in. "I think we should stop here. We can find better shelter here than out there."
"I disagree," muttered Koenma. "I'd rather get out of here as soon as possible. I hate the closure."
"You're claustrophobic, Koenma-san?" Yusuke asked, surprised for no apparent reason. "There's nothing wrong or anything. I just don't remember you being… I mean, I didn't think-"
"No, I'm not. But think about it. There can be any number of man-eating youkai lurking in this darkness."
Yusuke stopped in his tracks. "Man eating?"
"Nice going," called out Hiei behind him. "Now you're scaring the Ningen shitless."
"What kind of a joke is that?" retorted Koenma. "I should be more afraid of him."
"Don't worry, Koenma-san," Yusuke found himself lamely saying. "I don't eat humans, if I haven't mentioned it before."
"That's not funny!" snapped Koenma. "You did scare the hell out of me, too, at that time."
The other two suddenly burst out laughing. The prince glared at all of them in chagrin. Yusuke, with his forehead creased, just scratched his chin in puzzlement.
"Suddenly, I feel as if the joke's on me," he said.
Koenma ignored his uneasy statement. "So you did tell them that cute little story and the pathetic acting," he accused instead. "And that cutesy line, too, 'I'm going to eat you. Roar!' Che. Very amusing."
"He didn't seem so pathetic, judging from your and the elite force's reactions," said Kurama. Then he turned to the now totally bewildered man. "Yusuke-san, ignore us. Excuse us, please. Just some jokes for old times sake."
"I resent that," said Koenma. "I got into big trouble back then."
"So?" said Hiei.
The prince scowled. "Just FYI."
"Anyway," said Kurama. "Let's set up camp here."
He lead the way to a small crevice on the canyon wall. They piled into the darkness and slumped against the walls of the small cave. It was more like a fissure on the titanic mass of rock, small enough to be cozy but comfy. Still, Yusuke found the tiny space uncomfortable; the thought of tons of hard earth crushing him from above served as a hindrance to much needed rest.
Koenma voiced his very thoughts.
"Can't we stay outside?" he said.
"It's safer in here," replied Kurama. "We've been walking so long and we need a place to rest."
"I'll be the watch then," volunteered Yusuke. "We can stay outside. I'll guard the camp."
"That's defeats the purpose of the stop," muttered Hiei.
Yusuke frowned. "Which is what, exactly?"
"We don't get easily tired like you, Ningen."
The smaller man said this as-a-matter-of-factly, without the contempt he usually displayed. Still, Yusuke found the simple comment irksome.
"All right, that's it," he said. "First of all, I am not yet tired."
"Yes you are."
Yusuke flinched at that. "No, I'm- Just… Please don't interrupt me when I'm speaking. Anyway, would you all mind!? I am not as weak as you're all imagining me to be."
"We know that," said Kurama, placating.
"Well, then stop. Stop going out of your way to make things easier for me. Stop treating me so- so- special! Dammit. I feel like an infant."
"We all have our limits," said Koenma. "Do you deny it?"
"No, I don't," replied Yusuke. "Fine, I am tired while you guys doesn't seem to be. I'm a middle age guy with a flabby tummy that'll turn into a pot belly any time. And yes, I'm ashamed of that!" He beat Hiei before the latter could make a comment. "Still, if I just let my limits be, stopping when I meet them, then I'll never transcend those limits."
"Good, Yusuke, good," approved Kurama. "But listen to me. Your body, as well as your powers, had atrophied through lack of use. You can't be forced to suddenly use the same energy you used to employ. We have to coax your spiritual power slowly so as to not overwhelm you."
"Okay." Yusuke sighed. "What does that got to do with the watch rounds? How come I don't have a shift?"
"Hn," said Hiei. "Ahou."
"Hey! Are you mocking me?! You think I can't handle the responsibility?"
"Same reason, Yusuke," said Koenma.
"I should be angry. In fact, I am. Mad enough to knock you all down."
"I doubt it," stated Hiei.
Yusuke ignored him. "Look. It's my kids we're rescuing. It's my problem. I should be doing something. It's not fair."
"Fairness is not the object here," said Kurama. "We're acting such that more advantageous options are open to us latter."
"Right," added Koenma. "We can't have you injured by something as simple as muscle strain or a sprain, and definitely not dead, consumed by your own strength."
"Sure. Whatever," replied Yusuke. "Koenma-san you know how it felt when Hiei-san deprived you of your responsibility as a watcher. And since, you seem to be in-charge, please make me share the rounds."
"What? What did you say?" The prince's eyes were round as saucers in disbelief.
"I said, tell them I have a shift as look out, too. And as a man with honor, I'd like to fulfill even that miniscule a role."
"No, before that."
Yusuke frowned in bemusement. "I said you seem to be in-charge-"
"Yes! Yes, I am." Koenma nodded vigorously, starry-eyed. "I command that he have his turn as watcher!"
"Hn," said Hiei.
"Shut up! It's a pride thing. Right, Yusuke?"
"Right," Yusuke agreed uncertainly. "So are we going now?"
"No," replied Kurama. "Beyond this canyon is a desert. It's too hot to travel there even at this time. We'll wait for it to cool down."
"…"
"What?" asked Hiei sarcastically. "Did you think for once we're stopping for you? Quit feeling so important, Ningen."
"Grrrar! I've had it with you!"
~~~~~~
Toyotomi Atsuko.
She was still beautiful despite all those years. He had almost forgotten so.
A gnarled hand reached out to stroke the aged photograph. For a while, blue-green eyes remained fixated on the woman, barely discernable through the tiny crack. Finally, he sighed and closed the drawer. It was pointless to ogle at an inanimate thing, pointless since there was actually a way to see the real thing anyway. Still, he had lots of things to do, had lots of other concerns more pressing than this. He was emperor of Makai. He reigned and ruled, unlike the government he had just disposed off, a puppet government of mockery.
He wanted this, had been wanting this for so long. He had even before he abandoned the weasel--like existence of stealth, secrecy and betrayal, before his stint as a "star", before the time he understood his real power and strength. All three of them wanted that. Only he succeeded.
Yomi? Yomi was a joke. Yomi was Fate's joke on him, a darned funny joke he can now laugh about. His so-called leadership over Makai lacked strength, did not inspire fear and awe necessary for a state's cohesiveness.
Kurama was an even weaker joke, so pathetic he could just cry…
He sighed again and stared about in the gloom of his office. Perhaps, it wasn't such a good time to work on papers and documents, so-called necessary evils included in his functions. He rose from his seat to go instead and inspect the going-ons around the fortress. The unearthly landscape of Makai met him from the open window nearby. He gave it a brief glance, a smile lingering on his lips.
Urameshi Yusuke was already somewhere out there. He could not feel him of course but he was certain nonetheless that Yusuke was there. That was how the Reikai worked, upholding foremost Ningenkai's security. He knew their methods well; after all, a spy can spy within as well as without, which was why Reikai still held poisonous hostility against him. The only reason Enma Daiou did not have Yusuke eliminated was that he wanted him exterminated first.
Perhaps with some concentration he would be able to detect the others. But who Urameshi possibly be with? Kurama the kitsune and Jaganashi Hiei. They may be a little hard to track but with silence and concen-
BANG!
So much for silence. He couldn't do it here. It was too noisy, too crowded. There were too much thoughts on the way, too much spiritual energy from various sources. Too many distractions.
"Heikai!" yelled a voice from outside, followed by frantic knocking.
Lakashka, without turning around, called out, "Enter."
"My lord, I have had it with those brats! They have ruined yet another experiment in the Priority Labs. The Priority Labs sir! Why can't they stay in the dungeons with that berserker-child or whatever?"
"Krishnal," answered Lakashka. "They are mere children. There is no need for such extreme methods. Don't tell me a seasoned warrior like you is to be bested by two Ningen striplings." He turned his piercing gaze towards the agitated man.
Krishnal started. "The boy. The so-called ruler's son should be placed in the torture chambers, too. You are too lax, my lord."
"Lax?" Lakashka chuckled. "You of all people should know the truth. Yes, I am lax, am I?" Thoughtfully, he scratched the cleft of his chin and started walking. "Perhaps, my stay in the human world has weakened me as well." He brushed past the subordinate.
"Sire?"
"Guests aren't placed on torture chambers or prisons, Krishnal. In fact, Shura-kun wouldn't be there at all if he wasn't such a hot-blood. For his own good. You know I can never resist a good fight. Young as he is, he'll prove to be a worthy fighter."
"Well, sir. Those kids are a hundred times worse!"
"I see. Leave them to me."
~~~~~
"You just had to press the botton."
"I did not press it!"
"Oh yes, you did! You were whining, 'Oh, it's so pretty!'. Your girly stuff got us into trouble again."
"Fine," conceded Khryseis. "So maybe I did cross the rope thing on the way to look at the fish but at least I wasn't stupid enough to mess with those experiments."
"That other fish looked like he wanted to chomp off your nose!"
"Did not. And that wasn't a fish. That was a baby whale. Whales are mammals."
"Didn't look like a whale to me."
"Do you know what a whale is?" she challenged.
"Duh. Like, yeah. We saw one at the ocean park last year. I even stroked the killer whale's tongue. And that was a killer whale! This one's too mean to be a whale."
"Well, you're yucky face probably annoyed it."
"Or maybe it was your yucky face!"
"Shut up, Yutarou!"
"Shut up, neechan," mimicked the other.
"Will you stop that!"
"Will you stop that!"
"It's your fault we're back in here."
"Hey, you pressed the button!"
"I did not. I went to look at the chemistry gizmos and when I turned back the water's all murky."
"Baka! The fish was dead. It was some blender thing and it tore the fish to pieces."
"Gross! It wasn't a blender, idiot. It was some sort of equipment. And I didn't push the button."
"Oh yeah? You pushed me and I accidentally hit it!"
"So you did push the button!"
"So what? Nothing happened until that whale thing began acting weird, bumping the glass and thrashing wildly. You should have seen those teeth! It wasn't a whale."
"What made the alarm go off?"
"Dunno. The fish? You dropped that glass thing and spilled the chemicals all over the place."
"You startled me!"
"Yeah." Yutaro snorted. "It all goes back to your silly girliness."
"Argh!! Will you stop it about that girly stuff and all that? Fine. It was both our fault. Drop the topic already."
"Okay, okay. Will you just scoot over?"
"Scoot over? Don't you start that again."
"Well, I'll fall off if you fall off."
"Duh. I don't think they tossed us on a table this time. Can't you feel the rock, stupe?" She began groping about in the darkness.
"Hey, where are you going?" Yutaro's voice rose in slight panic as he ceased contact with his sister. "Hey, don't leave me here!"
"It's not as if I have any other choice." Khryseis bumped something soft. "Get out of the way, Yutaro!"
"I'm not in your way. I didn't even move. What if this is a stone table and I fall off?"
"Ugh." She recoiled from the unseen thing momentarily. "What the heck is this then?"
"Dunno. Arm rest? Head rest?"
Taking courage, Khryseis began to nudge the object.
"Buncha clothes? Pillows?"
"No." Receiving no response from the mystery object, Khryseis spread her palm and felt the area. "It's whole. And big. Kinda curved."
"An animal?"
"Hey!" She snatched her arm away suddenly. "Very funny."
"It's possible, dummy."
"No, it isn't"
"Is it warm?"
"What?!"
"Is it alive?"
"It isn't," she snapped.
Still, she edged away from the figure, feeling her way back to where she thought her brother was. Underneath her fingers, she could feel the smooth nooks and cracks on the cold surface of the floor. It was definitely stone.
"Ughhhh…"
Irritated, Khryseis glared at her brother (where ever her brother was). "Not funny, Yutaro," she growled.
"What's your problem?" demanded her brother, equally annoyed. "I didn't do anything."
"Quit that moaning thing! I won't fall for it."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever."
Silence. And another moan was suddenly deafening despite it's low volume.
"Oneechan!" said Yutaro.
"Yutaro, stop it!" Khryseis said at the same time.
"It wasn't me!"
"Well, it certainly wasn't me either!"
The ominous sound couldn't be considered a moan anymore. It was now akin to a sound of an animal, a rabidly furious animal.
Clank! Chink! Chink!
Chains.
"Yutaro…"
"Oneechan, we really are in jail this time."
Khryseis suddenly gasped. "Yutaro, come here!" she ordered. "Come here right now!"
"Where's here?!"
"I don't know! Just get away from there!"
"Oneechan!!"
041602 - 16:40 To be continued…