musubi | first breath ✧ action

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luceti

first breath ✧ action

[There's a pale, shirtless figure walking through the woods just outside town. His footsteps are silent, and the book he holds in one hand remains unopened. The only article of clothing he found at the scene when he awoke was his hat, which he's returned to its rightful place on his head. He'd be normal looking if not for the face-like growths covering the upper portion of his body.

Despite his attempts to go unnoticed, Isamu's presence is announced by the occasional bit of wildlife fleeing from his presence.

At one point he stops and glances around apprehensively.] ...Naoki?

[If you're not Naoki Kashima, he will have very little interest in you. Feel free to attempt conversation anyway, however.]

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[Making his way towards the trees, Naoki stares moodily down at his hand. In said hand is some jewelery, tangled around his fingers.

He sighs and tightens his grip on it, moving as though to toss it but eventually just tucking it into his pocket. He pauses abruptly, glancing down as a squirrel darts past, cocking an eyebrow up apprehensively. Then he cocks his head to the side, seeming like he's listening intently.]

Hm? Did I just hear my name...?

[That familiar presence is around here somewhere. Isamu is feeling disconnected enough at the moment that the source of Magatsuhi is like a lure. He doesn't quicken his pace any, but there might have been a little more emotion in his voice when he asks for the demi-fiend again.]

Naoki...?

[That was definitely it--his name, but no, it ca...can't be. Naoki picks up his pace, heading towards the source, lifting a hand up and shoving a bunch of branches violently with a cracking noise to one side as he plows towards his direction.]

Who's--

[...it is.]

I--

...Isamu?

[Isamu is immediately more at ease.] There you are. [Because his presence was expected, obviously.]

...What is all this? Did you do it?

[Naoki, however, is not. He’s stock still, his expression one of disbelief because, while it’s definitely Isamu, that skin is—]

Did I… [And, realisation.] No, no, this wasn’t me. This is an entirely different place—world—Luceti.

[Frowning now. That isn't what he wants to hear.] What are you saying?

[Dammit this is hard to deal with so suddenly. Naoki’s hand in his pocket clenches, the jewellery clinking.]

I…was brought here myself four months ago, right after beating Kagutsuchi. This isn’t the Vortex World, or even Earth. We’re stuck here.

Edited 2010-04-04 19:40 (UTC)

[Isamu's expression is very 'Dammit, Naoki, why do you fail me?' right now. The frown remains as he looks around again. That would at least explain why this didn't seem like the world he'd envisioned.]

How did that happen? Was that thing just lying to us?

[Naoki lifts a hand to the back of his neck, rubbing under the horn.]

I don’t think they’re related. Us being brought here is totally beyond its control, I think—same for all the other people stuck here. Listen…c’mon. There’s a lot to explain about here, and might as well do it somewhere comfortable.

[While his first inclination is to go off and search for answers on his own, the sudden switch is still somewhat disorienting. Naoki has helped him, or at least attempted to help him, so far. If he's his only lead for the moment he might as well not waste time.

After a thoughtful pause, Isamu nods.] ...All right.

[Naoki shifts his weight after a moment, turning with a tilt of his head and a small flutter of his wings.]

Village is this way. There’s somewhere between three and four hundred people who’re stuck here.

[Three and four hundred...? Isamu starts to follow, stops, scowls, then finds himself following again anyway. He doesn't want to be among that many people. Wasn't that the whole point of his reason?

...Didn't Naoki agree with him?] And you're just living among them? I didn't think four months would have changed you so much.

[He's also glancing over his shoulder at his own wings now - at least what he can see of them. They give a twitch and he makes another face. What was the point of those?]

[Naoki looks over his shoulder, seeming a bit puzzled by the words. In fact, Isamu’s whole demeanour unnerved him at this point—and not the growths on his skin. After everything, wouldn’t Isamu have been angry…?]

Changed…? I don’t think I have, really. [His eyes drift over, spotting his glances.] They hurting or anything? I know mine did when I first got here. Don’t know why we get them, but we’ve got to be really careful with them anyway.

They're ridiculous. [He reaches back and runs his fingers along one of the end feathers.] But they're fine, otherwise. They don't hurt.

[He tilts his head.] You have changed, though. Or it seems that way. Unless you were just lying all those times you claimed to support me.

[And Naoki comes to an abrupt, sudden halt as they reach the edge of the woods. He wheels around almost violently to face him, his eyes wide. No way—he didn’t—]

…Support you? I—with your Reason?

[Don't look so shocked. It's putting Isamu on edge too.]

...Yeah. With my Reason. What, you don't remember?

[It’s hard not to be shocked when you’ve just been told you supported a Reason that you never did.]

…No, I don’t.

[Isamu glowers now, and attempts to walk past him.] Of course you don't.

[Naoki shifts suddenly, right into his path.]

I don’t. Tell me what I did, what I said. Please.

[Stopping again. Isamu isn't sure what to think. This is all just such a sudden hitch in, well, everything.]

I don't want to rehash all the details. [Nevermind that Naoki had agreed to help him out.] ...You were always apologizing, checking in on me. You said you agreed with the way I wanted the world to be and you did everything I told you to.

[He tries to move past again.] I never should have entrusted my Reason to you. [Not that he'd had much choice.]

[Naoki shifts again into his path. Though some of what he says sounds familiar, Naoki can’t remember agreeing. He didn’t agree with any of them.]

I really don’t remember it, Isamu. I’m not lying. [He pauses briefly.] But listen, I’m going to help you here. So don’t go running off on your own, alright?

Don't tell me what to do. [Isamu snaps. Then he takes a deep breath, meant to cam himself down, but the air seems thinner here for some reason.]

Whatever. You said you were taking me somewhere, so take me somewhere.

[Naoki looks at him closely for a few moments, before nodding.] Okay, then. [He leads the way into the village, heading towards one of the tall community buildings.]

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