Nagisa
The tree's roots close in on me. I knew I was dead meat for sure. I should have known it. Curiosity kills the cat. Now, I also dragged Ushio to her grave.
I closed my eyes and braced myself for the impact.
Ushio
"Nagisa!"
She had fallen down and the tree was going to suck her life dry. I couldn't bear this. How could I lose again?
This is now or never!
I draw out my saw and charged toward the tree.
I stood between Nagisa and the flying limbs of the tree.
Everything turned slow-mo.
It is do or die.
It is kill or be killed
It is win or lose.
And this time, I'm not losing it!
Slash! Slash! Slash!
The roots were detached from their hideous monster. They all fell to the ground. Defenceless. Wiggling. Then, they disappeared into nothingness. No blood. No slime. No digestive juices. Nothing left.
More were send on their way. I braced myself for this uphill battle.
Nagisa
I opened my eyes just a wee bit...
Ushio?!
I was stun. There, she was, giving her all, fighting hard. Yet, I was here, giving up. I whipped off a tear that was blurring my vision and stood up. Suddenly, I saw a root heading towards Ushio's blind spot. Without thinking,I grabbed a penknife from my haversack and stabbed the root, hard. I watched it fell to the ground, wiggled helplessly and then disappeared into thin air. I was shock, but I have no time to dwindle about it. More was coming its' way.
Ushio
More kept coming its' way. I swung my saw continuously. The strong acidic digestive juices was dissolving my saw into nothing. I hate to say it, but we have to retreat while the going is clear. I swing my saw at another root, it did not slash it clean Instead, it stop half-way through. The disgusting green juices have digested the saw's sharp, pointed blades.
"Run, Nagisa!"
Nagisa
I sank the the partially-dissolved penknife into the nearest root. Quickly, I turned around and sprint away from the deadly grip of the horrible monster.
Ushio
We ran like our lives depend on - cause they really do. We kept running and running. Our legs scream at us to stop. Our sides hurt. Our heart threatened to stop beating.
We were slowing down, but with the roots hot on our heels, we ran faster.
Finally, we were out in the open spring-grass. Out of the bare ground. Out of the octopus's territory. No longer reachable by the monster, we came to a halt. I sat on the cold rock, shifting aside to make room for Nagisa.
Nagisa
Panting hard. My head felt dizzy. I felt so lightweight. Guess I did not run that much before.
Tomoya. I made a speedy recovery and stood up, ready to go.
Ushio
Seeing she was getting was weak from all the running, I decided to stop her.
"Nagisa, do you know, that this rock, that we were sitting, have the ability to make anyone sitting on it remember their memories?"
Nagisa
No wonder! No wonder I was reminded of Tomoya. I whipped off the tears that was threatening to overflow. Nagisa, you promised! Once again, the guilt that I thought was over me came back. I tried to whip off the continuous flow of salty tears.
"What's the matter?"
"Nothing.*sniff* Just got some...sand in my eyes."
"Oh..."
Ushio
Meanwhile, I was remembering something else too... The reasons I was here... My name...
All the memories that I lost while being here, soaked my mind. Tears came pouring down my face. I turned away from Nagisa, not wanting her to see me crying. Nagisa... Nagisa? Isn't she my -?
"Ushio, are you crying?" A concern Nagisa asked.
"Nope, I'm...just sweating through my eyes."
"Um... Oh."
Dango dango dango dango dango daikazoku
dango dango dango dango dango daikazoku
yancha na yaki dango yasashii as dango
sukoshi yumemigachi na tsukimi dango
osumashi goma dango yotsugo kushi dango
minna minna awasete hyaku nin kazoku
That sweet voice. That familiar voice. That song. Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?