So, Image for the story, just a Frame of the anime, hopefully free of copywrite, but I doubt any issues will crop up.
So, The story is all done actually, I finished the ending of chapter 1 Saturday, so now I'll be posting chapters Thrice a week, Sunday, Wednesday and Friday, since once a week was a stop gap measure for my work ethic. I'm currently working on OVA's, Essentially short stories about how other characters view the events that unfolded... Haru's is already done, and it's the second longest chapter. I'll be working on Louis's and then Juno's, and perhaps a small one for Jack, then I'll be working on Chapter 2. Releases will go back to normal when we start Chapter 2.
This chapter was originally called "To Stage a Real Fight." but… as I wrote this, in conjunction with watching the anime portion that pertained to it… more character development happened than I planned. This chapter... was a turning point for the new Legosi. And probably might be the most confusing, I tried to keep the POV switching gentle, but it's supposed to be jarring.
It was the day of the play. It was rumored it was going to be packed tonight. it's been a few days since he woke up, and nobody seems to have suspected that he's been replaced. It's gotten him thinking. Louis… the star of the show… the rumored next Beastar. He… could probably fix this society. If he wasn't driven into the darkness, he could save Haru?! Right? He… he could. He will.
Just need to make sure Louis doesn't follow that dark path again. Haru is Louis's right? it's only because he goes to Haru's after Louis slept with her… so he'll stay away from her. After the flower incident, yeah… he'll stay away from Haru after she learns his name.
"Louis's makeup is almost done, hows the lighting?" came through his earpiece, with his response slightly delayed. "Uhh… spotlight 1, ready."
The play that day… The first part that is, showcased the star of the show, and knowing that Louis had a broken leg, while doing all of it, only made the admiration of the Cervidae stronger. He pumped himself up, while making it look like he was cheering for everyone else. The long strides across the stage, the mock fighting that made the show. The lines that he threw out with purpose…
It made him regret, the mask Louis wears… was it any different than his own? He didn't have an answer, even as the curtains closed, and Louis no doubt collapsed behind them. The crowd's applause was deafening, Louis's stubborn energy, it was infectious… dangerously so.
It wasn't until later that Louis woke up, all of the members were gathered around his bed. He held a hand to his head.
"Wait.. I remember! What about, the audience?!" Louis's voice was worried, like the 18 year old he actually was, instead of his normal attitude.
"Don't worry, you collapsed after the curtain was shut, they saw nothing." the… pelican? He supposed they were a pelican, spoke. Before Bill, the Male tiger, a bit taller than himself spoke up.
"The doctor said you broke your left leg… You're not going to be in any shape to finish the play."
It was… surprising, to see Louis step down, and put Bill in his role. Despite knowing it was going to happen. Later.. he was assigned as a mook. Two lines, Just like the manga. Could his mask stay..? if he put another on? He didn't get a choice, they gave him a practice stick, and shoved him on stage for practice.
Bill took the first swings before I was ready… the instincts that came with my new body reacted, as I barely moved my head to the side, preventing my right eye from being poked out, before blocking a side swipe… I… I don't like this feeling… pretending I'm something I'm not. Before I knew it… I was striking back, our breathing synchronized, including our exhalations of stubborn rage. This strength, these instincts, we were both carnivores… are we..?
A bit before the next act the next day… It hit me as I smelled it. The mask I wear, needed to be donned once more, for Bill would be doping, with rabbit blood. Louis… wouldn't be satisfied with the play, if it went without a hitch, the reviews would be awful. He got up, his nose sniffing the air, and then Bill.
"Ohhh… I've gotta hit the bathroom real quick." the Tiger made his excuse, and he followed. The bathroom was dark in the night.
"Tell me… what do you have?" his lines were perfect, just like he knew them.
"Should have known a wolf like you would have been able to sniff it out. Do you want a taste?" Bill said, as the Tiger took out a vial of red liquid. My body reacted before I knew it, I was grappling him. I… I wasn't supposed to do this, but… it revolted me! The smell of the blood revolted me! My body heated up, it was burning! I was shoved against the window, my limbs suddenly powerless as I thought, did I take my mask too far..?
My costume was ready. I imagined my eyes looked scary, as I began walking, filled with my internal struggle… I thought I got past this day one… this dissociative identity… I am… Legosi… but… did I ever think what it meant, to be someone else? It was… exhausting. I'm tired… I just…
"Every force imaginable is trying to kill you, for that is what it means, to defy your fate!" Louis the Addler's words resounded in me. I suppose, I'm just going against the grain? This life, with so many shackles, it would be nice, to just let go…
Haru… Your image suddenly came to mind, and my fate… Suddenly didn't seem too bad. I want… to talk to you again, to ask you, what you think… of this World...
Bill started talking as I walked from stage right, I wasn't listening, I wanted to fight, to rage against this cage of flesh. To rage against this cage… of my own making! The feeling of the Addler mask as I punched it off hurt, but the feeling of flesh from my second one relieved that pain, both in my heart, and my fist. I kept pounding, my prop sword forgotten off to the back of the stage as my last punch was caught, his strength powerful as he gripped me in a bear hug. The words he was saying barely registering, before the pain in my back suddenly blossomed, I'm amazed I didn't howl out, I took it. My mask wouldn't fall, even to my rage or pain!
He stood on my beaten body, his prop sword raised high, like the champion of some cage fight. The cold wood painful against my bleeding wounds. Before the sound of clashing metal sang out, and Bill's sword was sent flying. Louis… was standing high, the Addler mask on his head.
"Let me show you, Impostor. Who the real Grim Reaper is!" He stood tall, as they circled around me, Louis telling me to keep my back from the audience.
"Back down if you're not prepared! The many sins you've committed… I know them all. Why don't you drink my blood too? That's how you become, a true Grim Reaper..! Now leave! I have no time for impostors!" His back… was tall in the spotlight… And I didn't know what Bill was thinking as he ran out stage left.
"Now, you'll disappear along with the morning dew, along with the withering me..." He took his sword to the other hand, and reached his delicate own out to me… Beckoning me to take it. Ordering me to stand tall.
"It's okay, you're alright now..." We stood there, as the audience cheered… My only thought was…
how long… can I keep this up..?