:: Program: Page II ::
--"This is the very ecstasy of love,
Whose violent property fordoes itself
And leads the will to desperate undertakings
As oft as any passion under heaven
That does afflict our natures."--
William Shakespeare; "Hamlet: Prince of Denmark"
--Important-- I have to get a lot of disclaimer things out of the way in this thing, so don't feel obligated to read it all. It's important that you read the "Timeline of Movement Two" and, if you've forgotten what happened in the First Movement (which is understandable), then you're welcome to read the "Summary of Events." After that, please feel free to move on to the actual story – these are mostly just "nothing notes" that need to be written.
Disclaimer: All the lovely creations of Watase-san's belong to Watase-san, and not to this poor author. The Weaver isn't mine, either, though I don't suppose he really belongs to anyone in particular. Everything else – including the storyline! – is mine and all mine.
Rating: A somewhat shaky PG-13, particularly in later chapters.
Timeline of Movement Two: The Second Movement of "Rhapsody" takes place entirely in the real world – so sorry, no Chichiri for a while – but it doesn't start exactly where the First Movement ends – rather, it goes back in time a little bit, to chronicle the happenings on Mount Reikaku from the end of Verse Eleven (when the bandits last made their appearance) and on. There's also an Interlude in the middle that goes quite far back in the RFS timeline, but that'll be noted when I get to it.
Tasuki/Genrou – a seishi bandit; leader of Mount Reikaku
Mitsuragi Koji – a bandit; co-leader of Mount Reikaku
Asatenshi Hikaru – a beautiful young woman from a distant country; works in a shrine to the Mother
Asatenshi Shuu – Hikaru's somewhat difficult and often secretive sister; works in Konan at a Suzaku Shrine
Kuragata Genji – a young, perky bandit who has managed to fall in love with Koji
Ken – one of Reikaku's newest members
Ryo – Ken's comrade; also a new member of the Reikaku bandits
Akutsuki bandits – a rival mountain gang that's recently begun attacking Reikaku
--A Summary of the First Movement—
(I did my best to make it brief, I swear!)
The Set-Up: In the Spiritual Realm, the Weaver of Fates is planning for his world to progress forward to an age of technology and out of the age of magic, and for this to happen, the seishi – the last bearers of the world's magic - must be destroyed. He is met by an Angel of Genbu known only as Asatenshi, who says that, although the gods have not agreed to his plan, Genbu does see the necessity and has sent her to help. The Weaver sends her to earth to help him discreetly move his pieces into place. She warns that her sister – a Chosen of the Mother - may try to stop him; he says they will deal with that as it comes.
In Verse One, Chichiri is heading to Mount Reikaku for a New Year's Party when he crosses paths with Asatenshi Hikaru, a young woman from a distant country. She too is heading in the direction of Reikaku to meet her younger sister; the two agree to travel together. They become fast friends. They arrive on Reikaku in Verse Two, where they are greeted by an irritated Tasuki and a love struck Koji. Since Hikaru's sister is nowhere in sight, Koji invites her to stay on Reikaku, and even asks her to stay through New Year's. After some persuasion, Tasuki agrees. While eating dinner later that evening an angry young woman bursts her way through a closet – where Tasuki had been keeping her as "prisoner" – and, to the others' surprise, is greeted by Hikaru as "sister." She is Asatenshi Shuu, the temperamental younger sibling to Asatenshi Hikaru. Verse Three chronicles both Koji's first real talk with Shuu – where she vehemently tells him to "stay away from she and her sister" – and Chichiri's feelings of unrest. Chichiri reveals his past to Hikaru, and the two become closer friends. It also seems that Hikaru has a crush on Tasuki… New Year's eve takes place in Verse Four, where the festivities are ruined when Chichiri collapses into a coma. Verse Five picks up directly where Four left off, with Hikaru explaining that the monk has been Trapped in a universe of his own creation and can only escape of his own will. Tasuki is suspicious of both Asatenshi women but Hikaru's actions and Koji's words eventually convince him that they're harmless. The monk, meanwhile, comes into contact with a mysterious "voice" who forces him to confront some of his selfish desires. His memories are then erased, and he awakens in his dream world – he is eighteen again, and living at home with his family. Verse Six introduces "Houjun's" childhood home and friends. His happiness is interrupted, however, by a violent headache and flashes of memories he can't remember possessing. Kouran and Hikou worry for him – and worry for the fragile world they helped create. Verse Seven tells of three separate, sleepless nights. The first is Houjun, who, after having another splitting headache at dinner, finally goes to bed with Hikou nearby, keeping watch. His dreams are filled with unknown memories, particularly one of he and Hikou fighting in the OVAs. He awakens, terrified; Hikou tries to comfort him. Tasuki, meanwhile, tries to push back his own worried thoughts and get some sleep, but eventually gives up and tries talking to the comatose monk, in hopes that it might help bring him back. Finally, Koji is thinking too much about Hikaru to sleep, and decides to take a walk around Reikaku. He comes across Shuu; the two have another, somewhat tense discussion about Hikaru – and how she only likes leaders. Their talk leaves Koji with the first flickers of jealousy, and perhaps rebellion.
A week passes, and Verse Eight begins, this time with Koji practicing his dagger techniques. Hikaru and Genji – a young, hero-worshipping bandit – watch the display; Genji runs off to make breakfast, and Koji and Hikaru have a talk. Ken – a new bandit – interrupts them, saying that something's wrong with Genji. The three rush to the kitchens to find the youth in pain; it seems someone's poisoned their food supplies, though Genji only had a taste so he's all right. Koji knows it's the Akutsuki gang – a rival gang that's been giving them trouble recently. Meanwhile, Houjun goes a week without any "memory flashes" and thinks it's finally gone. He arrives at school to find that a new, temporary teacher has arrived from out of town – and even though he doesn't know her, he somehow puts the name "Asatenshi" to her. In Verse Nine, after yet another alien memory, Houjun confronts "Tenshuru Asashi," the new teacher, thinking she might have answers to his sudden headaches. She seems to be pushing him towards discovering the truth, but Kouran interrupts them and Houjun leaves with her. Kouran asks Houjun not to get involved with the young teacher; he somewhat grudgingly complies. The two are about to kiss, when suddenly Houjun has a "memory flash" of the kiss between Kouran and Hikou. Verses Ten and Eleven chronicle Houjun's worsening mental stability and frequent memories, as well as Kouran and Hikou's shaky relationship and their agreement to "save" Houjun from his original world. Koji falls deeper in love with Hikaru, Tasuki finds that he's becoming attached to the young woman as well, and Genji privately admits his love for Koji. In Verse Twelve, Kouran and Hikou take Houjun to "Paradaisu no Toride," a secret cave where they used to play as children. Houjun finally tells them about the memories and his worries; they promise to never leave him. Houjun, in turn, promises himself that he'll find the answer to all this, so he won't cause them any more pain. He confronts his fears in Verse Thirteen; he goes to the nearby Shouryuu River in a storm, hoping to trigger a full memory of "that night." He gets his wish, and in the process his left eye is split open from eyebrow to nose. He nearly falls into the river, but Hikou saves him. Hikou takes his friend home; Kouran and her father, Doctor Suzunami, arrive soon after. Houjun awakens to the realization that "he killed Hikou," and breaks completely down. Another week passes, and with his family and friends growing more and more worried about him they finally decide to send him to the capital in Verse Fourteen, hoping that the atmosphere will break him from his shell. Kouran and his father go with him. Houjun and Kouran are left alone at the inn, and in the midst of a passion-filled moment in the hot springs Kouran sees her beloved's scar and winces – and Houjun sees the look. The moment is ruined, and the two retreat to their rooms, hating themselves for their weaknesses. In the last and final verse of the First Movement, Verse Fifteen, Houjun dreams once again, but this time Tasuki's voice penetrates through from the real world. Houjun fights through his subconscious towards the bandit's calls, and nearly breaks through, but is called back by Kouran's pleas. Houjun asks her to stay with him – he can't take this alone anymore – and she promises to never leave his side. And so, The First Movement: Angels ends.
--First Movement Titles—
As I stated in the first Program, the chapter titles of this li'l epic are all real Japanese (usually anime-related) songs. Though I never really claimed "ownership" of them, I still feel like I should recognize the voice talents behind the titles, as well as the anime – or CD – they came from. Like I said before, you don't need to read this: it's basically for my own peace of mind.
Verse One: "Meguri Aeta Koto" - Sung by Tomokazu Seki and Yuuki Hiro, from "Weiss Kreuz [White Cross]"
Verse Two: "Hajimari wo Korakara" - Sung by Hayashibara Megumi, from "Love Hina"
Verse Three: "Mask" - Sung by Okui Masami, from "Bakuretsu [Sorceror] Hunters"
Verse Four: "Saigo no Bansan" - Sung by Weiss (1), from "Weiss Kreuz"
Verse Five: "Kokoro yo Genshi ni Modore" - Sung by Takahashi Youko, from "Evangelion"
Verse Six: "Living in the Pleasure World" - Sung by Tomokazu Seki, from "Weiss Kreuz"
Verse Seven: "Nemurenai Yoru wa" - Sung by Okui Masami & Hayashibara Megumi, from "Slayers"
Verse Eight: "Another Day" - Sung by Miyamura Youko, from "Outlaw Star"
Verse Nine: "Angel Blue" - Sung by Tomizawa Michie,from "Those Who Hunt Elves"
Verse Ten: "Enrai" - Sung by Kawai Yuuko,from "Saber Marionette J"
Verse Eleven: "Yuudachi" - Sung by Suga Shikao, from "Boogiepop Phantom"
Verse Twelve: "SANKYUTARI" - Sung by Sakamoto Maaya, from "Chikyuu Shoujo [Earth Maiden] Arjuna"
Verse Thirteen: "Crimson Scar" - Sung by Takehito Koyasu, unknown source
Verse Fourteen: "Reflection" - Sung by Hayashibara Megumi, from "Slayers"
Verse Fifteen: "Tooi Yoake" - Sung by Takehito Koyasu, from "Gundam Wing"
(1) Weiss is a seiyuu group that consists of Tomokazu Seki, Takehito Koyasu, Yuuki Hiro, and Shinichirou Miki