tenth breath ✧ voice/written/action

[musubi]

[If you're awake in the early morning hours, you might just hear frantic panting coming from your journal. If you're lucky enough to live on the 5th floor of complex #7, this would have been preluded by a scream from down the hallway.]

Hello? Hello? ...Shit. Shit.

[And then written:]

Hello?

Comments

[Action]

[denyingreasons.livejournal.com]

[Well, if he wasn't awake before, Naoki's definitely awake now. He scrambles out of his room into the hallway, charging down to slam a fist against his door (the only warning he'll get) before letting himself in.]

Isamu!?

[Action]

[causeblocked.livejournal.com]

[There will be no response to the knock or the cry. Isamu is sitting on his bed, looking franticly at the journal in his hands.]

[Action]

[denyingreasons.livejournal.com]

[And Naoki will comb the apartment, until he stops in the door of his bedroom, staring at him--well, at least he doesn't look injured. But what was with the lack of response?]

Isamu. [Stepping inside the room.]

[Action]

[causeblocked.livejournal.com]

[It takes a bit for him to even notice the movement and look up, after which he just stares at him, wide eyed and looking to be on the verge of hyperventilating.]

[Action]

[denyingreasons.livejournal.com]

[Naoki frowns and walks closer.] ...Can't be. [After a hesitation, he points to his ear with a questioning expression.]

[Action]

[causeblocked.livejournal.com]

I can't... I can't... [The words are muttered lightly, as if he means to finish the sentence but then doesn't.

He shakes his head vehemently.]

[Action/Written]

[denyingreasons.livejournal.com]

[Naoki sits down next to him, pulling his own journal out from it's usual place in his pocket, filtering a message to him.]

I've got an idea as to why. If it's what I think it is, I know someone who can help. [It's about this time he hears Ginko's voice through Isamu's journal and nods pointedly down at it.]

[ voice + written ]

[one-green-eye.livejournal.com]

[...for as long as he sees mushi in this place, meddling is given even more free reign than it would usually have. There isn't any conversation he'll hesitate to interrupt, at the moment, and while Isamu's cry could have been caused by something else...

he speaks first.]

Oi. Isamu-san.

[then, written]

Something wrong?

[ voice + written ]

[causeblocked.livejournal.com]

[There's no response to the spoken name, and it isn't until he writes the question that's there's a sharp intake of breath followed by a written answer.]

Yes

[ written ]

[one-green-eye.livejournal.com]

Describe it to me.

[no wasting words today.]

[ written ]

[causeblocked.livejournal.com]

I can't HEAR.

[ written ]

[one-green-eye.livejournal.com]

Is the deafness in both ears?

[ written ]

[causeblocked.livejournal.com]

OBVIOUSLY.

[ written ]

[one-green-eye.livejournal.com]

[oi, oi.]

It's highly possible that this is something in my area of expertise.

But I'll need to examine you to be sure, and the place that you're living, as well.

[Voice]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

The hell is wrong with you? [Yes, that's actually concern. Too bad he can't hear it.]

[Voice]

[causeblocked.livejournal.com]

[And because he can't hear it he won't be responding. All you get is the sound of his quickened breathing and pen scratches on paper. You might hear Naoki if the timing is right.]

[Voice]

[denyingreasons.livejournal.com]

He can't hear. You'll have to write to him.

[Voice]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

Waddya mean he can't hear? What happened?

[He'd rather talk to Naoki than try to write. It'd just end badly.]

[Voice]

[denyingreasons.livejournal.com]

He woke up that way, I think--guessing by that shout I heard.

Did you hear about the mushi that showed up from Ginko-san's world? I think there's a big chance they could be the cause.

[Voice]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

Musta missed the memo.

[Voice]

[denyingreasons.livejournal.com]

They're floating around all over the place--some of 'em look kind of like bugs. Not everyone can see 'em. But anyway, Ginko-san's going to come have a look at Isamu, see if he can fix it.

[ written ]

[maybealice.livejournal.com]

Hey, you okay? Not your turn to go nuts, is it?

[ written ]

[causeblocked.livejournal.com]

Maybe it is.

[ written ]

[maybealice.livejournal.com]

What's going on?

[ written ]

[causeblocked.livejournal.com]

I can't hear anything.