Chapter Two: Nighttime Monster & Next Destination
By Kurohi Tatsaki
Disclaimer: I do not own Wild Arms 3, and I haven't beaten the game yet! It's a cool game, though! (I just finished the Glimmering Emblem as of 1/5/03. School's tomorrow and most likely I'll hate the first week or so.) I wouldn't be writing a fic about it if I didn't think that! Jet's so kawaii!
"speaking", (thinking), ~(present thoughts in a flashback)~
*************************************
I don't understand. Why would Virginia accept someone such as Kurohi to the group after what happened with Janus? Hmph. Maybe she's all ready gone senile... Wait, she's too young for that. Insane would be a better word.
She seemed back to normal earlier this evening... chit-chatting with the newbie... Would you believe it? About hairstyles and clothes instead of guns! And then he turns around to talk to Gallows about the Guardians!
How weird is that? It gets weirder! Lately, he looks at me, seems to be blushing, and then looks away! I have a strange feeling about this... It's almost as if...
Nah.
I hear soft footsteps treading softly up the stairs. They are submissive and uncertain, as if they are afraid to alert the others. Since no one of the group has footfalls like that, I am guessing it is Kurohi.
Opening my eyes and looking to one side, laying on one side near the edge of my bed, dim blue eyes meet my light amethyst ones. They blink slowly and then close and water slightly as he yawns. His midriff shows as he stretches. I see more of his attire. His belt is a strange one... It's orange with black stripes with a black kind of buckle.
...It's fuzzy-looking. What kind of belt is that? I should ask sometime if I'm still interested. Then again, I have a reputation to maintain. I'm supposed to only be interested in money.
Wait a sec... I'm staring somewhere I shouldn't - a place where usual men dare not gaze. I look away but cannot help but look back at his feminine form even more... The way his slim structure flexes with hidden muscles, it seems. His abdomen seems firm, and not blubbery like others are. He has the body of a gymnast, yet it lacks some of the athletic form.
His skin is paler than mine is. It looks...
(...Stop it, Jet,) I chide to myself. (Now's not the time to think like that. You only met him, and, besides, he's a guy!)
We are sharing the same room, since we are both male. Virginia gets her own room, and Gallows and Clive are one doorway away.
With a tug or two, he yanks off his tattered vest and black shirt, exposing his bare chest to me as he regards me with a distant, pondering look. His eyes have glazed over again, not letting out any secrets. To top it off, his eyes are half-lidded with a lack of emotion and fatigue. He has a dark scar over his chest, as if he was run through with some sort of claw. It sort of looks like a mutilated star, similar to his silver hair half-starburst that sits almost like a crown on his head. It shimmers and glitters like the stars outside in the moonlight that has filtered into our room.
His eyes narrow at my gaze as he computes my stare for an unsaid question. "Oh, that? I can't remember how I got such a wound-turned-to- scar. It was too long ago."
"How long?"
"A few months... I think...?" he asked slowly. "...I cannot remember."
"Months? Hmm..."
His gaze turns almost lethal. He looks at me with almost shock, which is especially apparent in his...... light blue eyes...? I thought he had dark blue ones! Maybe it's my imagination. "...You know something...?!"
I shrug. "No."
His shoulders slump and he curses softly. His eyes dim again; he appears to be thinking about something. After a moment, he sits down on the bed nearest to mine and clasps his hands above the space between his legs. His head is bowed, and after a long while, Kurohi looks up, his face uncertain.
"If I show you something, do you promise not to scream, yell, be disgusted, or run away?" he asks slowly.
What is he getting at? Why would I have to run? I'm not afraid of him! "Yes."
"Promise?" He emphasizes the word gently. I never knew that that was possible. "This is a very delicate matter I am bearing forth to you... and I do not know why. My instincts are usually correct..."
"I promise. Now hurry up so I can sleep."
His belt suddenly unwinds itself from around his tapered waist.
...It's a tail! He's part beast!? He's a demi-human?! A demon?!
I move backward just slightly. He notices it and lays down quietly on the bed, cursing at himself. I overhear him calling himself a stupid bastard of the wasteland, or a nimrod of the ruins of memory, and other things.
I say nothing. Let him do as he pleases.
I hear soft whimpering. Has he scolded himself THAT badly?
...
Looks like tonight will give very little rest to the ones in the same room of a wimpy boy.
...
...
Some time has passed. I know not how long. The whimpering hasn't ceased; it's gotten worse. I stand up and eye the newcomer coldly. His form appears very small while he sleeps. He is curled into a fetal position, a thin stream of tears trickle down his cheeks in unsteady flows. He is mumbling something and shivering as if cold...
"No...... nnn...... again...... whyyy......?" He turned to one side, and continued to mumble. "...Zzzzzz... Sisssterrr...... Sssseiishinnn... NOO...!! ...Ie'll......get you... mmmrrrr...... tkk... ssss... Mmmm...... ..WHAT?!!" He sits up abruptly, shaking badly. He doesn't see me. "I had that *dream* again... That bastard J-Janus... stupid truce..." He hugs his knees, still shivering twice as badly as before. "...I should have stopped him... my fault... Kurohi no baka."
I clear my throat softly, and he seems to take it like I'm someone else. He grabs my middle and pulls me close. His tears soak slowly through my black shirt as I gape for a moment, unable to so or say anything as he hugs my waist fiercely. He smells of cinnamon... and his own scent, soft and vibrant like rain and hail intertwined into one being. His scent is so strange... yet so alluring. I can't comprehend what I am thinking until a moment or so later. I soon stutter, trying to get him to let go with words since my body still doesn't want to obey. He looks up and finally sees me. "A-ah...? Oh..." He slowly pulls back. "G-Gomen nasai, Jet-chan... [1]"
I blinked at him. What in hell was he saying? All I understood was when he said my name, but what was this "chan" business?
"Em... I mean, I'm sorry, Jet," he explains. "I didn't mean..." He pauses, then shakes his head as if in denial. "Never mind... Just ignore me like everyone else does..." he all but weeps. "It's better than being scolded in times of weakness..." He leans into himself, hugging his knees to his pale chest. He still trembles. "...Seishin-chan..." He bows his head until it touches the tops of his knees. "I'm... so... so sorry for not protecting you... ...Forgive me... please..."
"The dead cannot hear you," I reply automatically. He looks back up and glares at me. Red mingles with his blue eyes, but once he blinks it gets even fiercer.
"You think I don't know that?!" He slouches. "I'm sorry, but I just can't face the pain... It's too much of a burden... too much... My fault..."
"And Janus?"
"He caused it!" he cries vehemently. "He finished it! He wins, I lose!" he hisses. "My sibling and parent are going to be slaughtered! I can't do anything about it because now I can't remember where I was banished from so I can return and save them! I can't even recall clearly enough if they left the place or not!!"
"Shut up! You'll wake everyone else!"
He glares at me, and a dark shadow infiltrates the moonlit room. I look out the window, and the moon still shines, but the shadow is inside the room itself! I look at Kurohi. His eyes are burning bright red.
I suddenly don't know what to do. Should I yell for the others?
******
How dare he! How dare he speak truth in such a way?! Wait...! I'm... losing... contr......
The shadow comes forth. I am suddenly fearful. What if I kill him? I certainly won't be able to live anymore... but why? I try to force it back, but strangely, nothing happens...
NOO! Spirit, don't harm him! He was only speaking truth! Truth may hurt but it is still truth! He's being honest!
'Who cares? The careless should be punished!'
If you don't care, then YOU should be punished, demon!
'Good point, but I'm the punisher!'
How about, 'shut up jackass and go back to your sleep'?
'...'
That's what I thought.
He retreated from my mind and, consequently, I slipped unconscious. When I would wake, I had yet to find out.
It sure gets crowded when another soul lives in one body.
******
He knew one thing. He had a pounding headache. He growled softly, and, trying to slide out of bed, ending up falling out on his ass. He growled again, and rose to his feet, using the bed post for support. Kurohi shook his head to clear it and snorted. (Your fault, demon... You know what you can do and you love it...)
'Yeah, you got a problem?!'
(You know I do.)
'Look, your pestering me is getting boring. I'll bet your *friends* are waiting for you.' Kurohi nodded slightly, then made his way downstairs. He heard, "Well, then let's find your memories!"
"I told you, I don't... ugh..." Jet shook his head in submission. How could he beat this nosy girl?!
"Ano... [2]"
Everyone looked up at the brown-haired youth, who was holding one temple with a few fingers.
"Sorry I'm late. I slept in..."
'Rrrrrr...!'
He clutched his temple a little tighter and blinked. Like a feline, he slunk to an empty chair and faced them.
"It seems we have figured out our next destination: The Unclean Mark."
*************************************
[1] "Gomen nasai" is Japanese for "I am very sorry" "-chan" is the suffix used in names that suggest affection from the speaker to the listener.
[2] "Ano" is Japanese for "Um" My guess is that it's slang.
By Kurohi Tatsaki
Disclaimer: I do not own Wild Arms 3, and I haven't beaten the game yet! It's a cool game, though! (I just finished the Glimmering Emblem as of 1/5/03. School's tomorrow and most likely I'll hate the first week or so.) I wouldn't be writing a fic about it if I didn't think that! Jet's so kawaii!
"speaking", (thinking), ~(present thoughts in a flashback)~
*************************************
I don't understand. Why would Virginia accept someone such as Kurohi to the group after what happened with Janus? Hmph. Maybe she's all ready gone senile... Wait, she's too young for that. Insane would be a better word.
She seemed back to normal earlier this evening... chit-chatting with the newbie... Would you believe it? About hairstyles and clothes instead of guns! And then he turns around to talk to Gallows about the Guardians!
How weird is that? It gets weirder! Lately, he looks at me, seems to be blushing, and then looks away! I have a strange feeling about this... It's almost as if...
Nah.
I hear soft footsteps treading softly up the stairs. They are submissive and uncertain, as if they are afraid to alert the others. Since no one of the group has footfalls like that, I am guessing it is Kurohi.
Opening my eyes and looking to one side, laying on one side near the edge of my bed, dim blue eyes meet my light amethyst ones. They blink slowly and then close and water slightly as he yawns. His midriff shows as he stretches. I see more of his attire. His belt is a strange one... It's orange with black stripes with a black kind of buckle.
...It's fuzzy-looking. What kind of belt is that? I should ask sometime if I'm still interested. Then again, I have a reputation to maintain. I'm supposed to only be interested in money.
Wait a sec... I'm staring somewhere I shouldn't - a place where usual men dare not gaze. I look away but cannot help but look back at his feminine form even more... The way his slim structure flexes with hidden muscles, it seems. His abdomen seems firm, and not blubbery like others are. He has the body of a gymnast, yet it lacks some of the athletic form.
His skin is paler than mine is. It looks...
(...Stop it, Jet,) I chide to myself. (Now's not the time to think like that. You only met him, and, besides, he's a guy!)
We are sharing the same room, since we are both male. Virginia gets her own room, and Gallows and Clive are one doorway away.
With a tug or two, he yanks off his tattered vest and black shirt, exposing his bare chest to me as he regards me with a distant, pondering look. His eyes have glazed over again, not letting out any secrets. To top it off, his eyes are half-lidded with a lack of emotion and fatigue. He has a dark scar over his chest, as if he was run through with some sort of claw. It sort of looks like a mutilated star, similar to his silver hair half-starburst that sits almost like a crown on his head. It shimmers and glitters like the stars outside in the moonlight that has filtered into our room.
His eyes narrow at my gaze as he computes my stare for an unsaid question. "Oh, that? I can't remember how I got such a wound-turned-to- scar. It was too long ago."
"How long?"
"A few months... I think...?" he asked slowly. "...I cannot remember."
"Months? Hmm..."
His gaze turns almost lethal. He looks at me with almost shock, which is especially apparent in his...... light blue eyes...? I thought he had dark blue ones! Maybe it's my imagination. "...You know something...?!"
I shrug. "No."
His shoulders slump and he curses softly. His eyes dim again; he appears to be thinking about something. After a moment, he sits down on the bed nearest to mine and clasps his hands above the space between his legs. His head is bowed, and after a long while, Kurohi looks up, his face uncertain.
"If I show you something, do you promise not to scream, yell, be disgusted, or run away?" he asks slowly.
What is he getting at? Why would I have to run? I'm not afraid of him! "Yes."
"Promise?" He emphasizes the word gently. I never knew that that was possible. "This is a very delicate matter I am bearing forth to you... and I do not know why. My instincts are usually correct..."
"I promise. Now hurry up so I can sleep."
His belt suddenly unwinds itself from around his tapered waist.
...It's a tail! He's part beast!? He's a demi-human?! A demon?!
I move backward just slightly. He notices it and lays down quietly on the bed, cursing at himself. I overhear him calling himself a stupid bastard of the wasteland, or a nimrod of the ruins of memory, and other things.
I say nothing. Let him do as he pleases.
I hear soft whimpering. Has he scolded himself THAT badly?
...
Looks like tonight will give very little rest to the ones in the same room of a wimpy boy.
...
...
Some time has passed. I know not how long. The whimpering hasn't ceased; it's gotten worse. I stand up and eye the newcomer coldly. His form appears very small while he sleeps. He is curled into a fetal position, a thin stream of tears trickle down his cheeks in unsteady flows. He is mumbling something and shivering as if cold...
"No...... nnn...... again...... whyyy......?" He turned to one side, and continued to mumble. "...Zzzzzz... Sisssterrr...... Sssseiishinnn... NOO...!! ...Ie'll......get you... mmmrrrr...... tkk... ssss... Mmmm...... ..WHAT?!!" He sits up abruptly, shaking badly. He doesn't see me. "I had that *dream* again... That bastard J-Janus... stupid truce..." He hugs his knees, still shivering twice as badly as before. "...I should have stopped him... my fault... Kurohi no baka."
I clear my throat softly, and he seems to take it like I'm someone else. He grabs my middle and pulls me close. His tears soak slowly through my black shirt as I gape for a moment, unable to so or say anything as he hugs my waist fiercely. He smells of cinnamon... and his own scent, soft and vibrant like rain and hail intertwined into one being. His scent is so strange... yet so alluring. I can't comprehend what I am thinking until a moment or so later. I soon stutter, trying to get him to let go with words since my body still doesn't want to obey. He looks up and finally sees me. "A-ah...? Oh..." He slowly pulls back. "G-Gomen nasai, Jet-chan... [1]"
I blinked at him. What in hell was he saying? All I understood was when he said my name, but what was this "chan" business?
"Em... I mean, I'm sorry, Jet," he explains. "I didn't mean..." He pauses, then shakes his head as if in denial. "Never mind... Just ignore me like everyone else does..." he all but weeps. "It's better than being scolded in times of weakness..." He leans into himself, hugging his knees to his pale chest. He still trembles. "...Seishin-chan..." He bows his head until it touches the tops of his knees. "I'm... so... so sorry for not protecting you... ...Forgive me... please..."
"The dead cannot hear you," I reply automatically. He looks back up and glares at me. Red mingles with his blue eyes, but once he blinks it gets even fiercer.
"You think I don't know that?!" He slouches. "I'm sorry, but I just can't face the pain... It's too much of a burden... too much... My fault..."
"And Janus?"
"He caused it!" he cries vehemently. "He finished it! He wins, I lose!" he hisses. "My sibling and parent are going to be slaughtered! I can't do anything about it because now I can't remember where I was banished from so I can return and save them! I can't even recall clearly enough if they left the place or not!!"
"Shut up! You'll wake everyone else!"
He glares at me, and a dark shadow infiltrates the moonlit room. I look out the window, and the moon still shines, but the shadow is inside the room itself! I look at Kurohi. His eyes are burning bright red.
I suddenly don't know what to do. Should I yell for the others?
******
How dare he! How dare he speak truth in such a way?! Wait...! I'm... losing... contr......
The shadow comes forth. I am suddenly fearful. What if I kill him? I certainly won't be able to live anymore... but why? I try to force it back, but strangely, nothing happens...
NOO! Spirit, don't harm him! He was only speaking truth! Truth may hurt but it is still truth! He's being honest!
'Who cares? The careless should be punished!'
If you don't care, then YOU should be punished, demon!
'Good point, but I'm the punisher!'
How about, 'shut up jackass and go back to your sleep'?
'...'
That's what I thought.
He retreated from my mind and, consequently, I slipped unconscious. When I would wake, I had yet to find out.
It sure gets crowded when another soul lives in one body.
******
He knew one thing. He had a pounding headache. He growled softly, and, trying to slide out of bed, ending up falling out on his ass. He growled again, and rose to his feet, using the bed post for support. Kurohi shook his head to clear it and snorted. (Your fault, demon... You know what you can do and you love it...)
'Yeah, you got a problem?!'
(You know I do.)
'Look, your pestering me is getting boring. I'll bet your *friends* are waiting for you.' Kurohi nodded slightly, then made his way downstairs. He heard, "Well, then let's find your memories!"
"I told you, I don't... ugh..." Jet shook his head in submission. How could he beat this nosy girl?!
"Ano... [2]"
Everyone looked up at the brown-haired youth, who was holding one temple with a few fingers.
"Sorry I'm late. I slept in..."
'Rrrrrr...!'
He clutched his temple a little tighter and blinked. Like a feline, he slunk to an empty chair and faced them.
"It seems we have figured out our next destination: The Unclean Mark."
*************************************
[1] "Gomen nasai" is Japanese for "I am very sorry" "-chan" is the suffix used in names that suggest affection from the speaker to the listener.
[2] "Ano" is Japanese for "Um" My guess is that it's slang.