NOCTURNE

Chapter XIV (14): The Phantasmic Mansion

"It seems that our plan is working. Akira rescued Yukina and the two are now forming a bond."

"Yes, Inyu. It's a shame those workers of ours had to die so easily. They deserved it, nonetheless for their weakness. Now… Akira has fallen into our trap and seems to be feeling concern for another. That will be his downfall! I will make sure that he will beg for mercy when I come after his new 'friend' of his."

"Of course, Keiji, but…"

"What is it?"

"Well, I hope I'm not sounding too concerned myself, but why don't we find another method of torture to him? Let him have her for a much longer time and then we strike when they've finally gotten into a relationship."

"I see… It does indeed make sense, for he probably doesn't feel too much for that woman, but I guess we can wait."

"How will we make them cross paths again? Yukina will never see Akira again at this rate…"

"I have a plan. It will deal with her unstable father…"


As Akira is getting ready to set sail, he feels a wave of depression sweep over him, making him very sad inside. He keeps it all to himself, though, and doesn't shed a tear. Akira has never cried, not for anyone, not for anything. Akira peers over at Dark, who is curling up on the deck and soaking in the sun's warm rays. Akira then unties the knot to release the Mini-Tuatha from one of the port's poles and they're off again. Akira feels very depressed now, and pulls out the note that he found on Yukina's dresser. He examines it closely, looking at the words that are neatly written in cursive. Akira pulls himself out of his depression and crumples the paper back in his pocket, trying not to think too much about her… Now feeling lost, Akira decides that a good nap might do the trick. As Akira lies on one of the long bedlike boards on the deck, he gazes up at the sky lazily, still thinking about the kind woman he left behind with that awful, uncontrollable man. Akira slowly closes his sleepy eyes and falls into a deep sleep, not realizing that the feelings that he has now are going to impact his life greatly in just a few short moments…
Akira begins to open his eyes. It is very dark right now. 'Night?' Akira says to himself in his head. 'But… it was early morning when I left the port…'

As Akira sits up and stretches, he realizes that he is no longer in his boat. Rather, he is on a soft feathery bed in a large, gray-blue room. Akira's senses wake up immediately and Akira feels very alert, looking around the room that he had mysteriously appeared in. Akira gets off the bed and continues examining the rather large room. There is a bookcase with no books, a small dresser next to the bed (which is next to a window as well), and a small compartment with nothing in it. The desk also has a small wooden chair made of unusual wood. The walls feel as smooth as marble but is harder than anything Akira has ever felt. It isn't wood, it isn't marble, not even concrete or metal.

"Where the hell am I?"

As Akira steps out of his room, he smells a familiar smell in the hallway. The smell begins to move closer and closer, coming from behind him. Akira looks back quickly and comes face-to-face with a strange man.

"Hey there! You're the new guy, eh?"

"New guy? What are you talking about?"

"Bah, so I guess you don't know. No surprise, most guys end up this way. Damn you, it seems like I'm no longer the only guy here! Hahaha!"

"Mmmkay…"

"The name is Kunio Kusayama. I prefer Kusayama, though."

Kusayama thrusts his hand towards Akira. Kusayama is wearing a large brown business suit that is wrinkled rather badly. He also wears a long red tie, tucked in his suit. Under his suit is a white, buttoned shirt, which is stained around the middle with small gray spots. He also wears large black leather shoes that look quite beaten up and haven't been polished in ages. Kusayama has dark blue-black hair (the dark blue stands out in the light, while the black stands out in the dark) that is smeared with hair gel, making it look rather messy. The man is about the same height as Akira and looks quite strong, especially his facial features. He'd be a real challenge for any normal person to go against this strange man. Kusayama also smells of alcohol and cologne, reminding Akira of Yukina's father, except not as old. Akira grasps Kusayama's hand and shakes it.

"And what might your name be, new guy?"

"My name… My name is Akira. Akira Tanaka."

"Akira, huh? Well, that's a damn good name."

"Thanks."

The two men release hands.

"Oy, Akira, let's be pals and help each other out, a'ight?"

"Okay… Sure."

"Why don't you come to my room later on tonight? I'm gonna be having a small party to celebrate our new friendship."

Akira gives Kusayama a weird look, but Kusayama doesn't seem to notice as he smiles brightly.

"My room is up here on the second floor. It is the last room on the first corridor facing the east."

Before Akira can respond, Kusayama is gone in a flash to prepare for later on tonight.

"What a strange-ass guy…"

Akira grimaces at the smell that Kusayama left behind. Before Akira continues his examination of this strange place, he remembers Dark and goes back in his room. Dark is sleeping under the bed, one of his favorite spots to sleep. Akira then leaves his room and notices that he is the first door on a long corridor. There are several other doors down the hall, but Akira decides not to go in them. Akira notices at his left a staircase leading downstairs.

"So… This is the second floor then? I guess that guy was right…"

As Akira walks down the stairs, he gazes at the large lobby he is about to enter. A large chandelier hands down from the ceiling, matching the large lobby perfectly. There is a man-sized suit of armor standing close to a pair of double doors, which must be the entrance to this place. On the floor there is a large oval carpet with many strange markings in many different colors. As Akira looks around this large lobby, he hears the sound of footsteps approaching him from the stairs. Akira looks back up the stairs and sees a mysterious woman gazing back at him.

"Who… is that?"

As the woman begins to come closer, the smell of a pleasant scent fills Akira's scenes, making him feel giddy and very good at the same time. He feels like he is in a different world as the woman walks closer and closer down from the stairs, looking at Akira with a mysterious look.

The woman finally makes it down from the stairs and continues to advance towards Akira, still looking at him with a soft smile on her face. Akira tries to keep himself cool as she approaches. She seems to be in a dark part of the room and Akira cannot see her very well. 'What's wrong with me? How come I can't see straight?' Akira snaps himself from this strange daze and begins to see clearly. The woman has long black hair and wears a very peculiar dress that seems to be from a different time of many ages ago. 'What time period is SHE in?' Akira says to himself. Her dress looks like one of the old English dresses, worn by the upper-class of that day. The woman has smooth, spotless skin and bright red lustrous lips. This is a beauty Akira has never seen in his life. This strange woman stops about a meter from Akira, looking at him eye-to-eye. She has amazingly beautiful black eyes, which are watery and look very sad.

"Who are you?"

The woman answers softly.

"I… am the mistress of this mansion."

"Mansion?"

"Yes."

"Wait a second… Wasn't I just sailing out at sea? I could've sworn I was..."

"Indeed, you were, Mr. Tanaka, but it seems you had a misfortune while you were out there."

"How do you know my name?"

"I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with our other male guest."

"And what is this misfortune you speak of?"

"While out at sea… Did you feel lost?"

"Of course I did! I never know where I'm off to when I'm out on the open seas."

"No, Mr. Tanaka. I mean have you been feeling lost on the inside, like you don't know what to do or where to go?"

"Well… Now that you mention it… Yeah, I was…"

"You were called, Mr. Tanaka. That feeling that you had, the feeling of longing and loneliness, threw you badly off track from your original trail of life, making you feel alone and depressed."

"…Yes… Yes I did… I really did feel that way..."

"You felt compassion for another human being, something that you've always regretted all your life."

"Hold on a sec, 'mistress'. How do you know THAT information? You aren't working with anyone, are you?"

"No, Mr. Tanaka, I am not. I know much about you, more than you can possibly imagine."

"Really?"

"Yes…"

"Alright, let me get this off my chest: Where am I exactly?"

"You are in a mansion, known to a special few as the phantasmic mansion."

"Phantasmic mansion? You mean like an illusionary mansion?"

"That is correct, Mr. Tanaka. This place… is for people who need time to reflect on their lives. You were feeling lost, and you want to be found. Here, you have the chance to find yourself and go back on your original road of life."

"I don't understand… Why do you speak in these strange riddles?"

"Trust in yourself, Mr. Tanaka, trust in yourself. Don't lose your road, or you will lose all you've loved and all you are looking for. Your search is just beginning to find what you lost, and then you will have to choose. Choose your path wisely. No matter which path you take, one of them will impact you so much that it will drive you on the verge of insanity... and it will unleash the demon within. Take care that your demon does not come out, Mr. Tanaka, for if it does and it is not used for good, Planet Imaj will be in ruins and the universe will then be under your command... but for an evil purpose. If you somehow, just SOMEHOW find away to maintain your power and keep it under your control, then you may just be the savior that this doomed planet is looking for..."

As Akira contemplates what she just said, the mistress disappears quickly.

"What a freaky place this is. And what a strange woman! Are all the people here going to be this strange? Sheesh. I've gotta get outta here… But where is the exit at?"

As Akira thinks to himself, he feels a sudden burst of energy coming from another hall.

"What the hell was that?"

The energy seems to flow throughout the large mansion. It eats at Akira and seems to tear at his insides.

"What tremendous power! I've never felt anything like it!"

The power dies down slowly, disappearing as if it never happened.

"Where'd that come from? I must find out…"

Akira rushes through the mansion, making his way to a pair of small double doors. He opens them and he is now in what seems to be the dining room. Not caring about the dining room and dashing to the other end of it, he goes through an open door and finds himself in a dark hallway with three rooms. At the far right is the source of the strange power. The door containing the power has a light on that leaks from underneath the door. Akira cautiously approaches the door, making sure he isn't heard, when he begins to hear a voice calling his name from inside the room multiple times. It sounds like a sweet melody and pulls him closer and closer, as if he was in a trance. He finds himself turning the knob and opening the door, revealing himself to the person inside!

NOCTURNE

"A little learning is a dangerous thing." –Alexander Pope