Okinata: -crying- I HATE SCHOOL, GODS DAMN IT!!!
Ren: Chill, the heck are you crying about?
Okinata: I have a load of make-up tests, and other crap like that! And I hate it! I can't even meet with Kaoru-nee-chan, 'cause I have no time for it!
Ren: -sweatdropping- Uh-huh… but you DO have time for writing some trashy stories?
Okinata: -more tears in eyes- R-ren… hidoi! HIDOI!
Ren: A….! Calm down, I didn't mean it that way, I just wanted to say, that, uh… your stories aren't as important as your grades at school, and I'm worried about you, so…e…
Okinata: Y-you really mean it?
Ren: Yes, yes, so please, stop acting like Hachi (who didn't read or watch "Nana" won't get this one)
Okinata: -sob- -nods her head-
Ren: Alrgiht then, get down to the stupid fanfiction.
Okinata: Yay!
Hachi. The meaning of a single act...
"Onii-san? Onii-san! Wake up, onii-san, please! Are you asleep?"
…
"Onii-san, what's this? Strange… why are you lying in a red water? Or maybe it's wine? But, onii-san, you don't drink wine, do you?"
…
" Onii-san! Onii-san!!!"
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
A melody. A beautiful, calming melody.
A song that makes all your hatred and anger take over you, and then go away…
A song about the darkness of a heart… no, not just one heart…
A universal truth about all of us. About the true nature of life. About emotions.
Because there is no such thing as a pure heart…
"Shitsureshimasu, but… aren't you a Priest?"
The singer. A little girl, one of many participants in the Tournament.
Yet… different. Because of her voice, of the melody she sings, of the words of her song…
"I can grant you tranquillity. Your poor heart is filled with darkness. I can get rid of it…"
A smile that does not actually fit with the face. Some weird disharmony.
"Join us… and kill the darkness of your heart."
Because there is no such thing as a pure heart.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
Banished. Humiliated. An exile.
"Is that really what you wanted to become?"
Another face, another offer… Isn't there anything beside caring for ones own business?
No… there is only business. That's all that matters. Nothing else.
"You have no where to go. Join me."
"Why should I?"
A cold laughter. "Why, you ask? Because you have not a choice."
There always is a choice.
"Your brother has been killed, the Council kicked you out. You have no place to go, no one to rely on."
There is only business.
"I'll grant you a place. I like you… "
So weird… "Why?"
"Because you Sinned. You are the Heaven's exile. And I don't like Heaven. Sinners aren't so boring."
"…"
"So now, since we settled everything… I have a mission for you. You are to persuade one person to join forces with me."
"Who?"
That cold laughter again. "Someone you hate the most. Your most disliked Sinner."
An unspoken question. An ask for continuation in stone eyes filled with desperation, cry for help, and wish for death.
"I want you to bring to me… "
There is only business.
Just to protect…
'You have Sinned'
A Sinner…
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
"Why did you do this? Why have you betrayed the Council – twice!?"
"…"
"Why did you do it?!"
Accusation.
Such wars always end in one way – with defeat of a sure triumphant. And if you were on the wrong side, you're forced to take the responsibility.
But what is a wrong side?
The side that failed to win.
Because only the victorious have right. They are right. The right is theirs.
"Why don't you speak!?"
"…"
A frustrated sigh. "Your choice. For betraying the Council twice…"
Talking.. it's all talking…but there has to be a punishment…
"… banish from the Shamanic society as a whole. You can not enter the Path Village anymore…"
Not a big pain.
"… and can not hold the Priest Spirit."
…
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
Sand.
A soft, bright sand. Stars on the midnight sky. No moon.
The waves. The wind. The air here is so cool…
A touch. Surprised look downwards, at the hand.
A scorpion.
"What are you doing here? I don't hold the right to be your master anymore."
A silent clatter, like a response…
"You don't give a shit? Well, I don't give a shit about it, either."
The sand rustles under the boots.
"Well, we've got something to do, my small friend." My only friend. "I promised it to myself. And to Him."
Back then, the scorpion seemed to smile.
I have a duty to fulfil. A promise to be kept.
That's all that matters.
Just to protect…
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
"Well, well, well, what do we have her? My favourite Sinner…"
A familiar voice. A silhouette sitting on a stone in the light of a full moon.
But it's not possible. He was dead…
"What do you know about death?"
"…you have been killed. Your brother killed you, didn't he?
A sarcastic smile. "Yes, it's true, he did."
"Is he a Sinner, then?"
"No."
"Why?"
"A Sin is born when you kill without a strong feeling of justice. When killing is not necessary."
Kill…
"This is the meaning of a single act which can be done in two different ways."
That's right… I killed…
"He didn't Sin. You did."
I sinned.
"And it wasn't just once."
I am a Sinner.
"Your hands are stained with much more than one blood. So many Sins… and there will be new ones."
"Why?"
"Because it's not easy to stop. And even more difficult is to gain forgiveness of the Heaven."
Forgiveness…
"And if there is no forgiveness, then why stop Sinning? There is no turning back. That's the meaning of a single act."
He vanishes. The echo carries his goodbye.
"You'll pay for the Sins with pain. Do not forget…"
'You are a Sinner…'
Someone else arrives. It's not surprising.
Just seconds… until came the blow.
"We warned you. You have no right to have this Spirit. Now… no one will ever have it."
They go away.
My small friend… My only friend…
My family…
Tears glitter in the moonlight.
Only one way left. Just one thing to do.
Just to protect…
If a single act really matters…
The meaning of my single act…
Okinata: -big eyes- Okay, now this one was kinda… long but short…
Ren: -even bigger eyes- Yeah… and it was… serious? –not believing-
Okinata: -slowly nods in disbelief- Uh-huh. I guess that's how it is…
Ren: Lol O.o
Okinata: (O.O)
Ren: So… if I was supposed to be the main character… then where the heck I am here?
Okinata: Duh… nowhere. I just didn't put you in this one… -scratches the back of her head with embarrassment-
Ren: E… naze?
Okinata: You know, it's not like the main character has to appear through the whole story all the time!
Ren: Yeah, but… -Hinata-like pose-
Okinata: Hooo… -narrows eyes devilishly- Don't tell me… you liked being in the spotlights, didn't you?
Ren: -blushing insanely- N-NO!
Okinata: -giggles evilly- Yeah, yeah…
Ren: Nichrome-kuuun!
Nichrome: Huh? S'up, Ren?
Okinata: -impressed- Whoa, so you're already this close? Wait until I catch up with my story, will 'ya?
Ren: Why you…!
Nichrome: Oh, so it's so visible?
Ren: NICHROME! WTF ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!
Nichrome: -surprised- Whaddya mean? About us!
Ren: -mad- I"LL KILL YOU BOTH IDIOTS!!!