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elliotthezubat · 6 years ago

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DEATH CITY DAYS CHAPTER 100!!!

WE DID IT! WE MADE IT TO TRIPLE DIGIT! *insert flailing Kermit here*

in this installment, we start the dead apple plot (finally), and shura stuff

once again, thanks to @soul-dwelling for taking part in this long ass story/series and for being super awesome

Lewin: "Not a bad group of students--really organized. Wish I was that good at that age..."

shura: i guess. so how's your living situash?

Lewin: "Messy! It's, like, as soon as I clean things up, it gets gross again and I can't find stuff."

shura: ^^;

Lewin: "You training that Pheles kid?"

shura: yeah, and i heard bon and rin visited your office again?

Lewin: "Yep, Bon visited." *smiles* "...Wait...Huh. Which one is Rin?"

shura: the one with the tail and the koma sword?

Lewin: "..." *holds up the Koma Sword*

shura: D8 WHERE DID YOU-

*THUMP THUMP THUMP*

*there's a piece of furniture bouncing in the hallway*

shura: ._. um....

Rin: *from inside the furniture* "LET ME OUT OF THIS CURSED THING!"

Lewin: "..." *hands the sword to Shura* "Huh. I forgot one thing...Whoopsie."

shura: *sweatdrop*

-elsewhere-

Kafka: .\\\\. *staring at the floor, in front of a table at a cafe, with two cups of coffee in front of him* "So..." *mutter mumble mutter*

etta: hmm~ OuO~?

Kafka: "..." *staring down* "...Those shoes look comfortable." ("...IS THAT THE BEST YOU CAN SAY?!")

etta: hmm? oh yeah! i got the mail ordered the other day ^^

Kafka: "Ah...It's a good purchase. You always have excellent fashion sense."

etta: *giggle* why thank you, franzy~ ^^

Kafka: "..." *smiles* "Have you thought of any new performances?"

-elsewhere-

Konro: "So, we're supposed to watch this thug?"

kabuki: i suppose so...

Mantis: -_-; "I liked it better when it was the two girls..."

kabuki: hmm? did you say something? ^^

Mantis: -_-# "I said 'Get me something to drink before my benefactor stops by.'"

-elsewhere-

*a bus stops, and four girls get off*

Mai: *looking around* "..."

Lina: "Okay...Let's plan.”

mio-chan: *tapping her foot*

Lina: "We are seeking the target. She'll likely go where someone her age can fit in..."

mio-chan: so we check everywhere then!

miyako: *nod*

Lina: "Hang on, Mio! We can prioritize which locations to survey first--"

Mio-chan: but what if she gets away, huh?!

Lina: "She won't, okay?!"

Miyako: O~O "L-Let's not yell, okay?"

mio-chan: *grumbles*

mai: i cant blame her for being angry, after what that bitch did to futaba...

Lina: "I know--and we will stop her. Let's consider first: at this time of day, where would a girl like her go?"

mai: hmmm...

Miyako: "...Somewhere for after school activities? Like a mall or a park?"

mai: that would be a good place to look.

mio-chan: i'll try and find the parks, maybe a cafe too.

Miyako: "O-Okay..." O~O;

-elsewhere-

Meme: "And this is one of the classrooms..."

*NOTers are milling about*

fani: i see....

Saria: *waves at Mio, Meme, and Fani* "Hello!"

mio: hey um.....sweater girl?

Saria: ^^; "I'm Saria! And you're the weapon Mio?"

mio: yeah, that's me.

Saria: "Neat! I'm a weapon, too!" *looks at Fani, smiles*

fani: !!! 7-7

Meme: "We're giving our, um, visitor a tour!" ^^;

Saria: "Neat! Where are you from?"

fani:.... elsewhere...

Saria: *nods* "My family's from Oregon..."

fani:....that's nice.

Saria: ^^; "Yeah...So, are you touring before enrolling?"

fani: e-eh?! O_O

Meme: "We're...just giving her a tour." ^^;

-elsewhere-

Rin: *shaking, with scratch and bite marks all over him* Q~Q "D-Damn that dresser..."

kyouko: *patching him up*

Rin: *sniff* "Th-Thank you...I never want to see furniture ever again." *turns his head, looks at credenza* "..." Q______Q

kyouko: *sigh*....

Rin: "H-How has your day b-been?"

kyouko: same old...did you see yukio today?

Rin: *shakes his head* "Nah, he wasn't in class. Something about 'special training.'"

kyouko: ....

Rin: "I guess he'll be starving when he gets home."

-elsewhere-

Yukio: *standing on a balcony in an abandoned building, looking out at the city*

-elsewhere-

konekomaru: *working on something*

Shima: *leans...*

-seems to be a tutorial on how to program a smartphone app-

Shima: "That's looks confusing. What's it for?"

konekomaru: i'm trying to make an app to use photo recognition to identify demons and call up their death verses and weaknesses in battle, for those who arent as good at memorization. kind of like a pokedex.

Shima: "??? Can you give it a sexy woman's voice?"

konekomaru: -_-;;;

Bon: "Leave him alone, Shima..." *coming inside from the bathroom, rubbing his face with a towel* "It could be useful..."

konekomaru: ok-.....*double take* O_o ?!?!?!

Shima: "?! Stranger!" *knocks Bon in the head with his staff*

Bon: "OW! WHAT THE FUCK?!!!"

konekomaru: b-b-b-b-bon! y-y-yo-your hair!!!

Bon: -_-# "Yeah, I cut it and dyed it back..."

konekomaru: oh jeez....you startled us.... you even shaved the mustache...

Bon: "Yes, I did."

Shima: "...Good, 'cause you looked like a dirty old man--"

-elsewhere-

Paku: "??? Izumo? What's wrong?"

izumo: w-whaddaya mean?

Paku: "Well, suddenly you stood up straight, started sweating, and you're red. Do you have a fever?"

izumo: *voice crack* im just fine! im gonna shower good night!

Paku: "...Night? Watch the doors..."

-elsewhere-

mio-chan: *muttering*

tsukuyo: oh, hello.

mio-chan: who're you?

tsukasa: would you be interested in joining the wings of magius?

mio-chan: never heard of ya.

tsukuyo: we think you'd enjoy it.

mio-chan: i think i'll pass thanks, i have business to do anyway.

tsukasa: oh?

mio-chan: know anyone by the name 'sasa yuuki'?

tsukuyo:.....we may, what of it?

mio-chan: she killed one of my teammates, and we're here to take her out.

tsukuyo:.......i see.....*looks off behind her*

mio-chan: now if you excuse me, i'll just be going-

tsukuyo: we're afraid _you_ wont be going anywhere...

mio-chan: what do you mean by that?

???: "Hello~"

mio-chan: *freezes and looks behind her, eyes wide with fright*

Demongo: *griiiiiiiiiin*

mio-chan: !!!!! *opens her mouth to scream*

*WHOOSH*

-one mio captured-

tsukasa: hmm, i suppose we'll just have to search for her friends then...

-elsewhere-

Justin: *looking at produce at a fruit stand*

komaki: *staaaaares*

miyuki: um.....why are we here? ^^;

komaki: he's the guy who was with those weird girls from yesterday.

Akira: *tapping something on her phone* "Um, why is he hanging out with girls? That seems...skeevy."

miyuki: you dont know that, maybe he could be one of _those_ kinds of guys? not that there's anything wrong with that, because there isnt...also i need new material for my fanfics-

komaki: guys! focus! he has info on why they're here, i know it!

Akira: -_-# *snaps a pic of Justin, pulls up an online search*

Justin: *looks up* *he's not wearing earbuds* "I can hear you."

komaki: OxO;;;

miyuki: EEP! >x<;;;

Akira: ._.;

Akira's phone: *DING*

Akira: *looks* "...Oh! He's a priest!"

miyuki: WE'RENOTSTALKERS!! >///<;;;

komaki: WHYAREYOUANDTHOSEGIRLSHERE?!

Justin: "...That is DWMA business."

komaki: DWMA, huh? oh yeah, i had my contracted officiated there.

Justin: ^^ "Then I'm surprised you don't get along better with Kirika. After all, you're all magical girls."

miyuki: oh, akira and i arent. ^^;;

Justin: "Oh? Sorry. I didn't mean to assume."

komaki: 7_7;

oriko: oh, there you are. ^^

Justin: *waves*

komaki:....?? (that blonde girl again.....)

oriko: ^^ hmm? oh, you're....um....

komaki: it's komaki.

oriko: right right. my name's oriko.

komaki: ?! wait, oriko? as in, oriko _mikuni_?!

Justin: "???"

Akira: "..." *taps DUN DUN DUN phone button*

oriko: i think that's right? i'm sorry, i've actually lost my memory, you see. but i've been getting better, little by little.

komaki:....is that why you're here? to remember?

oriko:....*she nods*

komaki:....i think i know where your house is...

Justin: "!!!"

oriko: really?

komaki: yeah...

oriko: oh that's wonderful!

Justin: "Which way?"

Akira: *pulling up a map on her phone*

-elsewhere-

Kanin: *waiting at the bus stop* "..."

amelia: *has a backpack* ......

Kanin: ^^ "Bringing plenty home for studying?"

amelia: mr barrett told me not to sleep in the school.

Kanin: "...Wait...You were...Oh, Amelia..."

amelia: as of right now, i'm pretty much homeless.

Kanin: "..." *shakes his head*

amelia: maybe i can sell the blanket and pillow and rent a hotel room for the night?

Kanin: "No! You can't do that! Not when...Not when..."

amelia: when i'm so young?

Kanin: "Not when...everyone deserves a home..."

{*there's a small wolf pup, shivering in bushes*}

{-footsteps-}

{Pup: *shivers, tries to hide...*}

{???:.....hm?}

{Pup: *whimpering, small stomach growl*}

{???: *reaches out hand* it's alright, i wont harm you, little one...}

{-her voice seems like that of an old woman, but she sounds friendly enough-}

{Pup: "..." *sniffs*}

{???: *smiles*}

{Pup: "..." *lick*}

{???: *soft chuckle*}

{Pup: "..." *closes its eyes, lies down...and starts turning into--*}

{???: oh my...}

{*it's a baby, maybe 2 years old*}

{???: ....*picks him up* poor dear, are you alone?}

{Baby: "...M-Mama...gone..."}

{???: hmm....come along now, let's get you back home.}

{Baby: "??? Home?"}

{???: *she smiles* i'll look after you, child.}

{Baby: "..." *holds onto her*}

Kanin: "...You have a home."

amelia:.....

Kanin: *pulls out his bus card and some dollar bills as the bus comes* "Come on. We're going home."

amelia: ?? we?

Kanin: *smiles* " 'We.'"

amelia:....*faint smile* ok....

Kanin: *smiles, leads her onto the bus*

-elsewhere-

jirou: *getting her room set up*

Jirou's Mother: "Hey, anything I'm missing for food and drinks?"

jirou: do we have popcorn?

Jirou's Mother: "Yeah--want it sweet or buttery?"

jirou: do we have movie theater popcorn?

Jirou's Mother: *nods* "On its way...How many you have visiting?"

jirou: just a few people, mostly the usual crew.

Jirou's Mother: "Mina?"

jirou: *nods and smiles*

Jirou' s mother: *smiles back* "Well, I'll get popping..."

*knock knock*

jirou: *goes to the door*

mina: we're heeeere!

momo: hello.

Kaminari: "Let's get things started!"

jirou: sweet ^^

-elsewhere-

Lina: *looking around* "..."

mai: see anything yet?

Lina: "No...Where is Mio?"

mai: ..... ????

tsukasa: good afternoon, girls. ^^

Lina: "..." *stares*

tsukuyo: so you're magical girls as well, yes?

Lina: "!!!"

tsukasa: have you heard of the wings of magius? they can grant you protection without the need of the DWMA.

mai: *aims her weapon at them* lina, i dont trust these two, they seem suspicious.

Death the Kid: Lina: *frowns, shaking her head slightly* "We have no business with you--go away."

tsukuyo: is that so?.....that's quite a shame.....maybe _this_ will convince you? *snaps fingers*

*FWOOM*

Demongo: *smiles*

mai: !!????! what the hell?!

Miyako: "M-Mio..."

mio-chan: ........*lunges at them*

Miyako: "?!!!" *blocks* "Mio, stop!"

Lina: "What did you do to our friend?!"

tsukuyo: oh, she's relatively fine. how about we offer you a deal; if you join the wings of magius, we'll release your friend back to normal.

Lina: "..." *takes her baton, shoves it at Tsukuyo*

tsukuyo: !!!

Lina: *electric blast*

tsukuyo: *screams*

tsukasa: TSUKUYO!! *playing her flute, causing music notes to manifest and attack lina*

Lina: *swings her baton, knocking as many away as she can*

tsukasa: *charges, attacking*

Lina: *blocks, taps it against Tsukasa's arm, trying to get away*

tsukasa: hn?

Lina: "Free our friend. NOW!"

tsukasa: if you want her free, then why not join the magius, as we asked of you?

Lina: "Not happening." *swings--a light shines around her, though...*

tsukasa: (her soul gem looks cloudy....and not the normal kind either.....is she perhaps....?)

-elsewhere-

kirika: .....

Komaki: "...So, what's this all to you, really?"

kirika: a way to help oriko regain her memories....

Komaki: "...That's a pretty close relationship..."

kirika: well, she's kind of my sister....*sigh* guess im gonna have to tell the story again, huh? well here goes. when i was really young, i didnt live with the best of families. my birth mother died giving birth to me, and my birth father was an abusive bastard. i was hit, yelled at, had my things destroyed again and again. i often found myself running away and hiding out in the subways. it was during one of those incidents that i met oriko. she got me some food and we kind of became friends after that. this kept up until i was about 8 or 9. my dad ended up dying in a car accident, and oriko's family took me in.

oriko:.....i think....i kind of remember that....

Komaki: "...Oh."

yuma: ....*pats kirika's shoulder*

kirika: i'm not asking for sympathy here =3= just stating the facts.

yuma: i know, but i can relate. *lifts up her bangs, revealing faded cigarette burns on her forehead* my mother used to abuse me a lot too.

Komaki: "?!!!"

yuma: when i was around 9, a kishin egg killed her and my dad, and i thought i would die too, but mr mifune saved me.

Komaki: (" 'Mifune'...")

yuma: he brought me to child services to locate my grandparents, but by then, they were too old and sickly to look after me, so mifune decided to take me in and i've been living with him ever since.

Komaki: "...Oh..."

kirika:....here it is....

-before them is an abandoned house-

oriko: .....

-meanwhile-

Lina: *swings*

tsukasa: *dodging* (it's darkening faster and faster....if she really becomes a wraith now, it'll be a problem....)

Lina: "You did this, you did this, YOU DID THIS!" *swing, swing, swing*

tsukasa: (looks like i dont have much choice..... *pulls a small orb from her pocket and smacks lina with it*

-FLASH-

Lina: *chokes on her own breath, falling back* "Wh-Wha--"

-some kind of creature has now appeared before lina-

Lina: *fearful* "Wh-Wh..."

mai: ?!?!?! what the hell is that thing?!

tsukasa: *smiles* that, is the power of doppel.

Lina: *shudders* "St-Stop this. Stop this! I didn't--"

tsukasa: oh, this isnt a bad thing. it was either this or become a wraith, miss illegal contractor~

mai: ??!!!! what?! lina is this true?!

Lina: *silent...tears falling*

tsukasa: the power of doppel allows magical girls to weaponize their 'other self', their despair, their wraith

Lina: ...I just...wanted to spare her..."

mai: ??

Lina: "My mother...I didn't want her to remember...my sister Mana's death..."

mai:.....

Lina: "So...I'm this now." *smiles sadly, shivering* "It's not my fault...I did it for Mom...For Mana..."

tsukuyo: if tsukasa didnt use that orb on you, you would have become a wraith. that's the ultimate fate of illegal contractors......but it doesnt have to be.

Lina: "...What do you want..."

tsukuyo: the wings of magius can save illegal contractors and give this power to all magical girls. so, what do you say?

Lina: "..." *shaking* "It's not up to me..." *looks at the others*

mai:.....*looks at miyako*

Miyako: "...Will you release Mio?"

tsukuyo: as per our agreement, yes.

Miyako: "...Okay."

mai:....very well then....

Lina: *nods*

tsukuyo: i see. demongo, if you would please...

Demongo: *sigh* "Very well..." *takes the skull--and crushes it in his hand*

-VREEN-

mio-chan: *UNHOLY SCREAMING*

Miyako: "!!! Mio! Mio, calm down!!"

mai: she's fine!.....i think....

mio-chan: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhh...... huh? wha? what happened? *looking around* guys?

Miyako: "..." *hugs Mio*

mio-chan: O//O; m-miyako! jeez, i just had the freakiest nightmare of a shadow monster or something...

Demongo: *waves* "Hi~"

mio-chan:.......welp, goodnight. *faints, frothing at the mouth*

tsukasa:.......she's gonna be fine.......maybe......

Miyako: *holding her* O_O;

Demongo: .w.;

Lina: *frowns*

-elsewhere-

Spirit: "Eat up!"

Asher: "..." *picks at the food*

izumi: *noms* ... ?? you ok?

Asher: "...Yeah. Sorry. It's good." *nom* *looking out the window*

izumi:....

cassidy: thank you for inviting us over.

sachiko: oh, it's no trouble. ^^

Spirit: "The more, the merrier! Need a refill?"

-elsewhere-

Justin: *watches*

kirika:......

oriko: *looking around* ...... out in the garden....my mother planted such lovely roses...and there was a kennel where father raised rescued greyhounds.....

Justin: "..."

-the rooms of the mansion are dark and covered in a layer of dust and cobwebs....one room, the sitting room, has furniture knocked over-

oriko: and this is where-.....*she starts shaking* the....the yakuza.....

kirika: *fist tightening*

Justin: *sympathetic look, focused on Oriko*

oriko: they....they killed them....and....my head......ah....*she collapses to her knees, everything flashing before her before she breaks down screaming*

kirika: *hugs her*

Justin: "!!!" *hugs her as well*

kirika: im sorry....im sorry....im sorry.....

oriko: *sobbing*

Justin: "..."

kirika: i thought you died too.....and all i did was fucking run away.... please....please forgive me....

oriko: i-it's ok...im not mad at you....

Justin: "...Let's get you a seat..."

yuma: .......

Justin: *holds her hand*

oriko: .....*sniff*

Justin: *offers a tissue*

oriko: t-thank you....

Komaki: "..." *holding her axe*

???: ......so you've come back here after all this time, huh, mikuni?

oriko: !!?? a-aki?

Justin: " 'Aki'?"

oriko: she's the daughter of the yakuza group....

kirika:....*magical girl mode and lunges at aki* you BITCH!!!

aki: !!! *blocking*

Komaki: "Hey! Cut that out!"

aki: please, let me explain-

kirika: what the hell do _you_ have to explain?! because of your actions, you ruined our lives, our family, EVERYTHING! and for what? your own selfish gain!

aki: i understand that you're angry, but i had my reasons, and i can see how you may think im selfish, it was for my family's sake.

Komaki: *grabs Kirika* "Okay. How about you let her talk first?"

kirika: after what she did?! it's because of her that oriko's parents are dead, and that she even went into that coma in the first place!!

Justin: "Kirika, please, this isn't--"

aki: ...maybe if oriko's father didnt embezzle yakuza funds, this could have been avoided.....but i suppose you're right....i only wanted to punish hisaomi mikuni for his actions.....i never thought that oriko would get hurt as well....

kirika: WHY WOULD _YOU_ CARE?!

aki: oriko is....or was....my friend, and my classmate....after she was confirmed comatose, i felt so much guilt for what happened, and i just....i could barely live with myself....

kirika: oh dont go thinking you can go acting all innocent just to get off the damn hook!!

Komaki: "Will you shut up?!"

aki: do you even know _how_ she got out of her coma?!

kirika: ??? what are you trying to say?

aki:....it's the reason i made my wish to become a puella magi. i used my wish to give her a second chance at life. she awoke, but her mind was completely wiped, she couldnt even speak.....i left her in death city to protect her from her uncle.

oriko:.....*shaking*

kirika: *trembling* shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!!! STOP TRYING TO SOUND LIKE THE HERO HERE! YOU MESSED EVERYTHING UP! I SPEND 4 YEARS ON THE STREET BECAUSE OF YOU! I SHUT OTHERS OUT IN FEAR OF LOSING PEOPLE BECAUSE OF _YOU_!!

Komaki: "..."

kirika: *brandishing claws* i'm going to fucking cut you into ribbons and make you feel every bit of pain we felt!

Komaki: *wrap her arms around Kirika*

kirika: h-HEY!! LET GO OF ME!!

*FWOOM*

kirika: HEY!!

*a bubble encases Kirika, floating up and attaching her to the ceiling*

aki:....i understand she's angry....i would be too in her position.....*hands komaki a small orb...the same kind the amanes had* give this to her later... *turns to leave*

oriko: aki, wait!

aki: .....

oriko: your actions were unfair to us....my parents are dead, i was left in a coma, and then i woke up unable to remember anything, and kirika was left alone....but despite all of that.... *tearful smile* i forgive you.

kirika: ???

aki:........i see......*flees*

Komaki: *sighs*

kirika: .......

yuma: um...miss komaki?

Komaki: "What."

yuma: i-i think you can let miss kirika go now.

Komaki: "...Oka--"

Justin: "On floor level."

Komaki: -_-# *slowly lowers her and releases the bubble*

kirika:.....i dont get it....

oriko: kirika-

kirika: how the hell can you just forgive her like that?! after everything she did?!

oriko:...i know you're angry with my decision, but i think it's better to forgive them if they cant forgive themselves.

kirika: w-what kind of logic is that?! y-you can be real frustrating, y-you know?! *sniffle* i was seriously so....i-i...i....*sniff, hic* *sobbing* YOU STUPID JERK! I-I WAS SO SCARED AND ALONE! *crying*

oriko: *hugs her* shh, it's ok...you can cry if you need to.....

Komaki: "..."

Justin: "..."

kirika: *hic* *awkward chuckle* look at us, faces all covered in tears and snot...hehe...so gross, huh?

oriko: ^^;

yuma: *offers tissues*

Justin: *small smile*

Komaki: >_>;

kirika: so...you really remember everything now?

oriko: *she nods*

Justin: *smiles, holding his hands together*

kirika: well....guess we can go home now....

oriko: *nods* we should probably get back to the hotel, it's getting late.

kirika: oh shit seriously?!

Komaki: "Gee, fun..." >_>;

kirika: you should probably run home so i dont have to use your phone to call your mom to pick you up again—

Komaki: *GLARE*

kirika:.... >->; shit.

Komaki: "Next time you act up like that, I'm knocking some sense into you..."

kirika: how old even are you?!

Komaki: "DON'T LOOK DOWN ON ME JUST BECAUSE I'M IN SCHOOL!"

kirika: you didnt answer the question.

Komaki: >_>; "...15."

kirika: that makes me 4 years your senior.

Komaki: "...Jeez, you're hardly that much more mature--"

kirika: uuugh, you sound just like my brother, he's a major hardass like you. maybe you could be friends?

oriko: ^^;

Komaki: -_-# "How many siblings do you have?"

kirika: well, from my birth family, none, from oriko's family, just oriko, and from my current family, two older brothers and a baby sister.

Komaki: "...Then you better take care of them."

kirika:...yeah...

-elsewhere-

Yukio: *takes a deep breath* "...” *staring out at the city* "..." ("...I'm scared...but not as scared as before, when...Is it true that I'm a demon, too? ...I need to know...") *stands on the edge over the banister*

-looks like a long drop down...-

Yukio: ("...Either I'll die...or it'll happen again. Either way...This ends. I must...") *takes a step forward...* *leaps to his fall*

-FWOOM-

Yukio: *looks to be unconscious*

-silence-

*flames start to go out, as Yukio lies on the cement*

Yukio: *groans...* *looks up...it's fuzzy without his glasses, which fell off and cracked*

*he sees the last of the flames*

Yukio: "!!! No!" *slams down a fist*

-his phone rings-

Yukio: "..." *answers* "Hello."

kyouko: yeah, where the heck are you?!

Yukio: "...Running an experiment at the lab."

kyouko: well, at least call us if you're going to be working late, it's just common courtesy!

Yukio: "I'm sorry!"

kyouko: *sigh* just....we worry about you...

Yukio: "...Okay. I'm leaving now."

kyouko: get home safe.

Yukio: *grabs his broken glasses* "I will. Thank you."

-elsewhere-

amelia: ....

Kanin: *opens the door, revealing a small living room with a couch and a credenza...and a blanket in the corner*

amelia: it's nice....

Kanin: ^^; "I know it's kind of small..." *hangs his keys on a hook next to the door*

*the credenza has photo frame, trophies, and framed certificates*

amelia: *examining*

*they look to be a mix of participation trophies, 1st place awards, and other prizes for spelling bees, basketball, honor roll, science fair...the photos show an older woman with Kanin as a child in both human and wolf form*

amelia:...

Kanin: "...You can take the bed. Let me just change the sheets..." *opens a closet, pulls out sheets and a blanket*

amelia: *sits on the couch with her backpack next to her*

Kanin: *making the bed, calls out from the bedroom* "Need the bathroom? There's new towels, soap, shampoo..."

amelia: where should i unpack?

Kanin: "Um...I guess the bedroom? The bottom drawer is empty."

amelia: ok then.

Kanin: "After that, I can heat up some dinner..."

amelia: ok.

Kanin: *finishes making the bed, walks to the kitchen* "Eggplant?"

amelia: ._.; eggplant?

Kanin: "Eggplant. I could grill it, serve it with some rice..."

amelia:...um.....ok?

Kanin: *smiles* "What do you like to eat?"

amelia: chicken salad.

Kanin: ^^; "I'm afraid I don't have chicken...I could make veggie-chicken salad?"

amelia:...i guess.

-elsewhere-

Walter: "...He's just been sitting there are an hour."

Tachihara: "Weird..."

higuchi: ?? what's up?

Kafka: *frozen in one spot with a dumb smile on his face*

higuchi: is....is he ok?

Gin: "He may be comatose. We should check..." *pulls out a needle weapon--*

pushkin: *sneaks up.....blows airhorn*

Walter: *covering his ears* >~<

Tachihara: "SHIT!"

Gin: "!"

higuchi: AGH!

Kafka: O_o *collapses, scurrying under the couch*

pushkin: job's done! ^^

Kafka: *under the couch* "YOU BELLIGERENT LOUD OAFISH INCOMPETENT REPROBATE--!"

Walter: "Hey, he's back to normal!" ^^

-morning-

shiemi: *humming and watering plants*

Shiemi's Mother: "All set to watch the shop?"

shiemi: *nods*

Shiemi's Mother: *looks at the books* "..."

shiemi: ?? is something up?

Shiemi's Mother: "Shiemi...You aren't really going through with this exam, are you?"

shiemi: eh?

Shiemi's Mother: "It's just...so dangerous..."

shiemi: ....

-elsewhere-

unagi: .....so, this mission....

Rin: "Just stick with me--I'm an expert at this kind of stuff!"

unagi: *nods* ok.

Rin: "Just something nice and easy to get you started...No plant monsters or something."

kawanaka: ah, so you're the support exwires, eh? nice to meet you

Rin: "..." *staaaaaaaaaaare*

kawanaka: um....c-can i help you?

Rin: *holds up a finger to say 'wait’, as he dials a number on his phone* "...Yo, Old Man? I found your clone!"

Fujimoto: *shouting into the phone* "WAIT, WHAT?!"

kawanaka: um... ._.;;;

Rin: "Yeah, some young guy, called Kawanaka--"

Fujimoto: "..." *nervous laugh* "N-No, just a new exorcist..."

kawanaka: ._.;

unagi: um.....

kawanaka: aaaanyway, there's a house infested with coal tars that needs to be cleaned out.

Rin: "??? Why would the person want to keep something that infested?"

kawanaka: fan of old houses i guess....

Rin: *looks up the street* "...Is that house leaning to the right?"

unagi: ._.;;;

kawanaka: i'd love to stay and help, but duty calls elsewhere, good luck!

Rin: "Huh?! What, they overworking you this much?!"

unagi: ....mr okumura....

Rin: "??? Yeah?"

unagi: i know im not very experienced or strong but... i'll do my best!

Rin: "..." *smiles widely* "That's the spirit!" *holds out his fist*

-elsewhere-

kirika: *yaaaawn*....*sniffs* ??!!??! *steps out of the room* O^O

oriko: *making pancakes* good morning. ^^

Justin: *waves* "Sleep well?"

kirika: tired as hell, but are those pancakes?! like, the type your mom made?!

oriko: yes. justin and i decided to look around the mansion for anything i wanted, and i found mother's old recipe book. ^^ i'll probably transfer the recipes to a new book when we get back to death city.

kirika: *nom*.... QwQ

Justin: ^^ "Good, yes?"

kirika: some of the best pancakes ever.

Justin: "Oh, good."

yuma: so i guess we're going back home today?

Justin: "As soon as we finish packing."

-elsewhere-

stocking: *knocks on shura's door* miss shura? i'm here!....

*no answer at the door*

stocking: *knocks louder* miss shura??

*still no answer*

stocking: hmm..... *dials shura's house phone*

*the phone inside is ringing*

stocking: ......

*no other sounds from inside...*

stocking: hmm.... *flies to the other side of the building, where her balcony is* *tries the door*

*it opens*

stocking: *looking around* shura?? you home? it's just me, stocking! sorry for intruding like this!

*silence*

stocking:....*looking around the rooms* hmmm.....

*looks like something on her printer*

stocking: ?? *examining it*

*it's a plane ticket reservation--destination: Aomori Airport, Japan*

stocking: .....*calling mephisto*

Mephisto: *answers* "Hello, sweetie~"

stocking: hey dad, say, did shura mention anything about going on a trip?

Mephisto: "??? No...."

-she explains what she found-

Mephisto: "Well, we can't have that--she didn't even put in for time off!"

stocking: i just hope that she's ok...

Mephisto: "Come back to the school, and let's go over the next steps..."

stocking: right, i'll be right over!

-elsewhere-

Kanin: *curled up--in wolf form--on the blanket in the living room corner*

amelia: *staring up at the bedroom ceiling*....

Kanin: *dog yawn* *smacks his lips, looks around* "..." *closes back his eyes, reverting to human form...stretches, pulls on a shirt he took off in the night*

amelia: ......*looking at the picture she put on the nightstand; of a younger amelia and a woman, presumably her mother.*

Kanin: *walks into the kitchen, takes out cereal bowls*

amelia:.....*getting changed*

Kanin: *pours some cereal and almond milk, then pours some glasses of orange juice*

amelia: good morning…

Kanin: "Morning! Sleep okay?"

amelia: it was nice.

Kanin: "That's good! I hope cereal's alright."

-elsewhere-

Chuuya: "Need any help?"

sonia: will you brush my hair, papa?

Chuuya: "Happy to!" *takes the brush* "Have a seat."

sonia: *sitting down*

Chuuya: *carefully brushes* "Excited for today?"

sonia: i guess. is anything happening?

Chuuya: "I heard Kajii mention a new experiment..."

sonia: i see.

Chuuya: "...Did you want to do something special after school?"

sonia: i dont know...

Chuuya: "We could take a walk..."

sonia:....ok.

Chuuya: *sad smile, as he continues brushing*

-elsewhere-

fani: ......

Lord Death: "So we will be dropping security on you."

fani: ..........

Lord Death: "You'll remain in the overnight room...Anything you want added? Maybe a stereo?"

fani: .......some blankets would be nice.

Lord Death: "Can do! I have some here--" *reaches into his sleeve--pulling out a pink unicorn blanket*

fani: ...............

Meme: ._.; "Um, sir? Maybe Fani also would like some activities to keep her busy?"

Lord Death: "Oh?"

fani: like what?

Meme: "Maybe...classes or clubs?"

fani: you mean...enrolling me as a student?

Meme: *nods*

fani:......

Lord Death: "Well...Give it some time! Maybe a walk around town would help."

fani:.....do you really trust me? for all _you_ know i could try and break lady liluye out.....

Lord Death: "Yep, you could!"

Meme: -_-; *behind Fani, doing a 'cut it out' gesture at her own neck*

fani: do you have proof that i wouldnt?

Lord Death: "Nope! But in times like these, I go with my gut."

fani:........

Lord Death: "So, care to see one of our many parks?"

fani: ..........

Meme: "...Fani? I trust you..."

fani:.... 7_7

Lord Death: ^w^ "Yay! Now, you go out, you two..."

fani: .......

mio: um...hi fani?

fani:....*grunt*

Meme: ^^; "It's...a start..."

-elsewhere-

Tsukiyo: *standing guard* -^- "I totally got this..."

fang-hua: .....

Mantis: -_-;;;

Tsukiyo: "..." *small giggle*

fang-hua: ... someone's coming...

Tsukiyo: "R-Really--ha ha ha!" *doubled over, laughing*

Mantis: ._.;

*a sound of a match being struck*

fang-hua: .... *protective stance*

Joker: *somehow inside Mantis's cell* *puffs*

Tsukiyo: *giggling* "He-He got around me! I'm so disapp--HA HA HA!" TwT

fang-hua: tsukiyo? tsukiyo?! are you alright?!

Joker: "Not a problem--it's just what I'm smoking. Sorry for the secondhand..."

Tsukiyo: *shaking with laughter, growing quieter as she passes out...sleep giggling*

fang-hua: !!!!! *covers her mouth and nose*

Joker: "It tends to work on only certain fire people--otherwise Mantis here would be inconsolable."

Mantis: "...I don't know what that means."

fang-hua: ....what do you want?

Joker: "Could you ask Commander Benimaru to meet with us? We'll stay here to keep an eye on your comrade."

fang-hua:.......alright....

-elsewhere-

True Cross Tech: "If Shura didn't want to be found, she didn't do a good job: her phone's GPS was still on..."

Mephisto: "Hmm..."

seiya: what do we do now?

Mephisto: "What else--track her down."

stocking: .....i volunteer.

Mephisto: *claps* "Wunderbar! My assistant will get your flight booked..."

Amaimon: *hunting-and-pecking on a computer keyboard* "...Wait, I misspelled..."

stocking: *sweatdrop*

Mephisto: "Oh, and assemble a team for backup."

stocking: right.

-elsewhere-

Rin: *looks a bit worse for wear* ^^;

madoka: sounds like you've had a rough morning! but i'm glad you're alright.

shiemi: *patching him up* ^^;

Rin: "Heh--same! OWIE!"

unagi: im sorry i wasnt much help, mr okumura...

Rin: "??? What're you talking about? If you weren't there, I'd be more injured!"

unagi: .....i could barely lift the tanks myself...and i didnt know what to do....

Rin: "...Hey. Remember when I called the old man earlier?"

unagi: ??

Rin: "That's my dad--and he got injured protecting me."

unagi: !!!!!

madoka:.... *holding rin's hand*

Rin: *small squeeze* "He's...pretty messed up now. Not as fast, not as strong...And I don't want to let other people get hurt trying to protect me." *smiles at Unagi* "So, I think, 'I got to protect others'--because I never want to do that to someone else ever again!" *smiles*

unagi: ......mr okumura?......do you think i made the right choice? becoming an exorcist?

Rin: "..." *shrug* "Beats me. But it's worth trying to see if it works for you, right?"

shiemi: ......

unagi: i guess......but i think the reason i came here was.....because i wanted to be with you and the others again. you were all...my first friends.

Rin: "..." QwQ "D'aw! That's nice! ...But if that's the case, maybe think of your training as something to do to _protect_ friends?"

unagi: ....i guess so?

Rin: ^w^ "Okay, friend! I think you'll be a great exorcist!"

-elsewhere-

mai: so we're going to kamihama city?

tsukasa: that's right! we have a friend who will get you a place to stay~ ^^

tsukuyo: indeed. she got us our home and takes care of any expenses for us.

mio-chan: lucky you. =_=

Demongo: "What about sus-sus-sustenance?"

mio-chan:... Q_Q *hiding behind lina*

Lina: *her eyes look dead and unfocused* "..."

mai:....

Miyako: "...This is not what I thought..."

tsukuyo: it'll all work out for the better, in due time.

tsukasa: in due time~! ^^

???: excuse me. you're part of the 'wings of magius' right?

Lina: "..."

tsukasa: why do you ask?

girl: *stands at attention* my name is chihana masumi! my friend, hikari ayano, was murdered by an individual known as 'the ripper', i'll be glad to join your cause if you help me find them!

Miyako: "??? Um...I mean..."

tsukuyo:....very well, we'll have the magius look into it.

Lina: (" 'The Magius'?")

-elsewhere-

-a girl with silver hair stares out over the city, before silently returning to the shadows-

-elsewhere-

Justin: *carrying down luggage*

kirika: so, you came to see us off, eh?

Komaki: -_-; "More like make sure you don't make trouble on your way out..."

kirika: *glare*

Justin: ^^; "How nice!" *hands luggage to Komaki* "You can help us load the vehicle*

Komaki: *buckles under the weight* O~O

yuma: ^^;

kirika: *sneer*

Komaki: *muttering*

Erika: "Excited to go home?"

kirika: i guess. feels so surreal, these past few days...

Komaki: *groans, dropping the luggage into the van* "What, your home not exciting enough?"

kirika: its not that, we live in death-freaking-city for crying out loud.

Komaki: -_-# "Surprised you can handle it on your own..."

kirika: >XP

Komaki: "..." *snatches Kirika's phone*

kirika: HEY! D8<

Komaki: *texts something on it to her phone* "Bam. Now you got my number." *tosses the phone back to Kirika*

kirika: ....why?

Komaki: >_>; "Given how I saw you handle things, you'd probably need help from a more capable magical girl..."

kirika: why yes, because i totally need help from a jr high school student.

Komaki: "Yes. Yes, you do."

kirika: MOTHERFUCKER I LOST AN EYE TO A KISHIN BATTLE AND LIVED! D8<

oriko: oh right, you attend shirome academy, right?

Komaki: *ignoring Kirika* "Yeah, my sister starts there in the fall."

oriko: i was a student there a long time ago... *sad sigh*

kirika: ....

Komaki: "..." *nods* "It's...a good school."

Erika: *looking at Kirika* "..."

kirika: yeah, i lost an eye. the patch aint just for aesthetic...i mean, it _fits_ the aesthetic, but....you guys wanna see it?

Komaki: ._.; "WHY WOULD WE WANT--"

Erika: "I-I'm sorry--I didn't mean to stare..."

kirika: nah, it's all good. erika, im gonna warn you, its kinda freaky.

Erika: "O-Oh?"

kirika: *lifts up eyepatch, revealing the empty socket*

Erika: "...Oh..."

Komaki: "..."

kirika: it doesnt really hurt anymore. hell i hardly feel anything, but it freaks kid out a lot. kid's the name of my brother btw. but it freaks him out for way more skewered reasons.

Komaki: "What other reason would he need? It's freaky enough you're up for sharing this."

kirika: two things; one, he's a symmetry obsessed weirdo. and two, i've developed a numbness to fucked up shit like this over the years.

oriko: kirika....

Erika: "I'm so sorry."

kirika: hey, it's fine.

Komaki: >_>;;;

yuma: we should probably head back now.

kirika: right right... *hugs erika* you take care of yourself, ok?

Erika: .\\\\. "O-Okay?"

Komaki: "!!!"

kirika: and erika, you're a good person, ok? you've made mistakes, but you just got to pick yourself up and keep going. *thumbs up*

Erika: "O-Okay..." ^^

-elsewhere-

Asher: "Yo."

izumi: morning!

Asher: *sits* *looks at the front of the class* "...Why are there extra chairs down there at the podium?"

hibiki: i guess we're starting the mentorship program.

Zeke: "Sweet!"

Kanin: *walks into the classroom with Amelia*

amelia: good morning.

Duncan: "Oh, aren't you two chummy."

Kanin: "..." *sits next to Amelia*

genny: .....

Sid: *enters with other students, staff, and some non-DWMA members*

lukas: *whispers* who are those other people?

Saria: *whispers* "I don't know...I think that one's a Death Scythe...Not sure about the tall one..."

Black Star: *chatting with Soul and Kilik* "So, kids doing alright?"

Kanin: "..." *sniffs* "...!"

soul: yeah, they're doing good.

kilik: maybe one day i could bring fire and thunder over for a play date?

soul: im sure they'd like that. ^^

Black Star: "Probably better behaved than mine..."

Free: *arms folded, looking around--looking silly sitting in such a small chair*

soul: speaking of, arent those three some of yours?

naho: *in the student crowd, waving* ^^

lilac: ._.;;

Kazue: *suddenly in-between Axel and Zeke* *sign* <Hello.>

Sakuya: "..."

Black Star: ^^; *waves back*

genny: l-lots of people... ._.;;;;

Tezca: *sitting next to Free with Enrique* "So, when do we get paid for this?"

kirara: -_-;

esther: my my, quite a lot of students who signed up for this course. ^^

Patty: "Hello, fresh meat!" *waves* "Who's ready to learn about combat, mayhem, and bloodshed?!"

lukas: ._.;;;

genny: b-b-bloodshed?!

Zeke: *shiny eyes* "Those are the Thompsons, and that's Tezca Tlipoca, and that's--"

axel: ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosfhjkalfjlnjk

hibiki: *chop* boys, chill.

Zeke: XwX

Sid: "Okay, let me introduce you to your mentors..."

Tezca: *waves* "Tezca Tlipoca, Death Scythe, awesomeness."

Black Star: "I WAS SUPPOSED TO INTRODUCE MYSELF FIRST, YOU FURRY BASTARD!"

nygus: settle down you two.

Black Star: =_=#

Tezca: "You're lucky I didn't have Enrique throw something at you."

Free: *waves* "Free."

Yafeu: "IS THAT YOUR NAME, OR ARE YOU ASKING FOR SOMETHING?"

soul: nah, that's his name.

Free: *grunts*

Patty: "I'm Patty! And this is my big sis!"

liz: liz evans, pleased to meet you.

Sakuya: *looks at Kirara and Esther*

kirara: my name is Kirara Zukimura, and this is Esther Mortes.

esther: a pleasure to meet you all, dears ^^

kilik: kilik lunge, and these are thunder and fire.

fire: hel-

thunder: -lo....

Kanin: OwO;

lei-lei: AWWW HOW ADORABLE!

naho: SO CUUUUTE! >w<

Yafeu: "THEY DESERVE ALL THE PROTECTION IN THE WORLD!"

Duncan: "Tch. I'm cuter."

lei-lei: *PUNCHES DUNCAN IN THE FACE, not even looking at him*

Duncan: *down* X____X

Asher: *whispers to Izumi* "The Soul guy again..."

soul: .....*awkward wave to izumi*

izumi:... *awkward wave back*

Asher: "..."

Sid: *passes out sheets* "Here are your assigned mentors and groups..."

naho: owo oh genny! we're in a group together!

genny: yaaay. [#3 of things that give genny a heart attack; the concept of working in groups]

Black Star: *stares at his sheet* "..." *folds it up* "...CHANGE!!!"

Sid: -_-# "It's final."

Black Star: "I DON'T WANT THIS JERK SITTING THERE SILENTLY JUDGING ME!"

Kazue:

Black Star: *ANGRISH*

tsubaki: ^^;

Kanin: *looking nervous at the names on his sheet* "..."

amelia: are you alright?

Kanin: "It's...just surprising."

Free: *looking silently at his own sheet* "..."

amelia: oh, seems im with kazue.

Kazue: <Hello.>

amelia: *nods*

Zeke: *vibrating happily*

axel: OwO

hibiki: mind my partners, they're a bit excited.

kilik: i can tell. ^^;

lei-lei: hey genny! genny! im on your team too!

genny: swell. .w.;;;

Saria: OwO;;;;;; "...H-How does he function with that in his head?"

lukas: that....looks painful....

Stein: "You get used to it."

Tezca: "We begin with a group hug!" *holds out his arms--and hugs only Enrique*

genny + naho + lei-lei + kirara: *sweatdrop*

Sid: "Instead of class today and tomorrow, you'll be meeting with your mentors for lessons they've designed, then going on weekend patrol and work with them."

students: yes sir!

Kanin: "..."

Free: "..."

Kanin and Free: "..." *sniff each other's behind*

genny: D8

Kanin: "...So...Which clan are you?"

Free: "Can't remember. You?"

Kanin: "Baileyi. You...kind of smell like the Ligoni?"

genny: ._.

Free: "...Huh....Well, let's go." *picks Duncan over his shoulder*

Duncan: X____X

Kanin: -_-; "I'm so glad Duncan was unconscious for that...So embarrassing..."

-elsewhere-

Rin: *walks into Mephisto's office* "Sorry I'm late--a house fell on me."

stocking: ._.

Yukio: "Hardly an excuse, Rin."

Mephisto: "Unless you're a witch~"

Rin: -_-#

stocking: *sweatdrop*

Rin: "So, what's up?" *takes a seat*

stocking: shura's gone MIA.

Rin: "?!! The hell?! She's not in town? Maybe at a bar..."

stocking: i found this in her apartment.

Rin: *looks* "Japan? Why'd she fly out there?"

Yukio: "Likely family there."

stocking: i guess, but i didnt see any particular family photos....

Mephisto: "Curious...Well, we can't have that. She didn't fill out her timecard, so, please fly to her location and retrieve her."

stocking: hmm...

Rin: "Sweet! We get to go on a plane again!"

Yukio: "Who is on this team?"

stocking: you two.

Yukio: *looks at Rin* "...Just us?"

Rin: -_-#

???: i'll….come too

Yukio: *turns to look*

gilda: i'd like to......be of some help......

Rin: "Hey, that's great!" *nudges Yukio* "See? Useful people!"

Yukio: -_-;

stocking: wait.........YOU CAN TALK?!?!

Rin: ._.;

gilda: *nods*....i dont.....usually.....have much to say.....

Mephisto: "Still waters run deep~"

gilda: ^^

Mephisto: *holds up tickets* "I made sure to have your flights booked. It includes 1 drink ticket for those who are of age."

stocking: will we need anything at all?

Mephisto: "Summer wear, I'm sure."

Yukio: *reviewing a map of Shura's path* "Good walking shoes..."

stocking: *checking up on aomori in the google search* huh, according to news articles, there's been a mysterious blizzard in the aomori area....weird.

Rin: "At this time of year?"

Mephisto: "Oooooo...So much for the swimsuits. Best find a parka."

-elsewhere-

Hot Spring Manager: "Welcome! Checking in?"

shura: yeah. surprising weather you've got...

Manager: "Great for business, though! And our accommodations are the best you're going to find! Comfy sheets, hot springs..."

shura: sake?

Manager: *nod* "Vintage ones available, too!"

shura: thank you~ ^^

-elsewhere-

Joker: *smiles* "Hello~"

Benimaru: "..." *nods to Fang-Hua* "Open the cell."

fang-hua:.....*opening it*

Joker: "Greetings. My subordinate came here to--"

Benimaru: *charges his fist--and slams it at Joker's face*

Joker: OwO;

fang-hua: !!! *picks up tsukiyo to get her to safety*

*BOOM, CRACK, CRASH*

Tsukiyo: *hanging on in her sleep*

fang-hua: commander!!

*the wall to the jail cell is demolished--and the force of the blast knocks down 5 more walls in multiple buildings*

*the smoke clears, revealing Benimaru standing, his fist on fire...and Mantis curled up in the corner of the cell*

Mantis: Q_Q

Benimaru: "If you hurt my soldiers, I do not hesitate to kill."

*a sound of a lighter striking is behind Benimaru*

Joker: *appearing in the smoke behind Benimaru* *puts a lit cigarette into his mouth* "I knew you had some power--but I didn't expect to face it head-on. Lucky I can move fast..."

Benimaru: *turns, swings his fist again*

Joker: *dodges, doing a back-flip to land atop crates* "And I only seek the most powerful--"

Benimaru: *silent, kicking through the crates, splintering them, before he grabs Joker by the collar and flings him into another building--*

Joker: *lands on his feet against the building's wall, looks up...and sneers widely, before leaping forward to stand next to Benimaru*

Benimaru: "..."

Joker: "..." *holds his empty hands up* "Sorry. I didn't mean to cause damage."

Benimaru: "I'm the only one who caused damage here. My city, my buildings, my destruction."

Joker: "..." *looks behind him at Fang-Hua and Tsukiyo* "Is he always like this?"

fang-hua: ^-^; well....

Tsukiyo: "RIP HIS BALLS OFF, COMMANDER!"

fang-hua: *sweatdrop*

Benimaru: "All in good time."

Joker: QwQ;

Benimaru: "Why do you rely on crude hallucinogenic tricks and dodging?"

Joker: "Because...that's how a hero should behave."

Benimaru: "...You're no hero. You're that creepy old fart Kusakabe and others informed me about."

Joker: "...Wait, what? They weren't supposed to--"

Benimaru: "They told me. I know who you are. So, no surprises here. Get out." *turns around--*

Joker: O_O; "Th-That's not how this was supposed to go! Someone, convince him to talk with me!"

-ring-

Mantis: "???" *looks around* "Who went 'ring'?"

-it seems to be coming from joker's phone-

Joker: -_-; "Damn it..." *flips open his phone...It has a Fire Raider superhero charm on it* "Hello."

ivy: i found the commander's residence. i can see his wife sleeping all pretty, how sickening.

Joker: "..." *smiles* "Very good. I'll be sure to tell him."

ivy: why not put me on speaker phone~?

Benimaru: "..." *turns* "What the hell..."

Joker: *taps speaker phone*

ivy: hello mr shinmon, you have a nice house, and quite a cute wife too, kirei, her name was? and rumor has it, you're expecting! oh it wooold be a shame if something were to happen to her~, she's fast asleep, she wouldnt even see it coming~

Tsukiyo: "!!!"

fang-hua: !!!!!!

Joker: "...I know, I know. Not 'heroic.' But, when you have dickwads like Endeavor running around, 'hero' is dragged through the mud, am I right?"

Benimaru: "..."

Tsukiyo: "How dare you--"

Benimaru: "TSUKIYO, NOT NOW!"

Tsukiyo: Q_Q;

fang-hua:.....what do you want?

Joker: "First, some drink, and a chance to talk."

fang-hua: if we hear you out, will you leave kirei alone?

Joker: "If Shinmon hears me out, I'll leave Kirei alone."

fang-hua:.....and that woman on the phone?

ivy:....*rolls eyes* fine fine, i'll leave her be....for now...

Joker: ^^ "See? I'm reasonable...Now, how about that drink, ma'am?" *winks at Tsukiyo*

Tsukiyo: -~- "Gross. Old geezer."

fang-hua: *sweatdrop* (i guess even tsukiyo has standards....)

Benimaru: -_- "Get him a drink. The cheapest we have."

Joker: "Now, let's sit--" *looks at the jail cell* "...You have an actual office? This place seems run-down."

Mantis: "...Can I leave now--"

Tsukiyo: *mallet smash*

-elsewhere-

Dabi: *looking at a photo board* "...This sucks. This one doesn't even have a person in it." *taps a photo of just a pair of gloves*

himiko: hmmmm, boring, boring, boring, oh she's cute, boring, *sees a picture of mineta*... ew.

Dabi: "No argument there..." *tosses a photo of Todoroki*

banshee: *examining a picture of eijiro* .....

{???: just you wait, sis! i'll be the greatest hero yet!}

banshee:.....*bites her lip*

Dabi: "So stupid...Shigaraki freaks out over All Might, freaks out over his kid or sidekick or whatever, then--Himiko, stop kissing that photo."

himiko: OwO wut?

Spinner: *looking at Banshee* "???"

banshee:... !!! i-i'm alright.

Dabi: -_-; "Sometimes I think I'm the only normal one here..." *rips up a photo of Endeavor...keeps ripping it up even after it's in tiny bits*

banshee: .....

Dabi: "Anyway, we found what he wants at the museum--just need to know when to go for it."

twice: right!.....what did he want again now?

Dabi: -_-; "It's a painting. Behind the painting is a message. It's like a game. So play along and FOCUS."

twice: oooh, cool!

Dabi: "Step 1: distract the guards. Step 2: switch the paintings. Step 3: sneak the painting out. ...Oh, and Step 0: turn off cameras."

-elsewhere-

Friz: "--and that's why I joined!"

Inka: *snoring*

Bee: ._.;

sasori: ....i.....see....

Friz: "So I have made it my mission to help my friend with...with...Bee, why did you join?"

Bee: "Outfits."

Friz: "Outfits!"

sasori: *sweatdrop* (i guess the fruit doesnt fall far from the tree....)

-elsewhere-

*in a snowy forest, a snake slithers over the field of whiteness*

-elsewhere-

kurome: *coloring*

Kurogiri: *cleaning the bar*

kurome: *holds up her picture; it's of them, and a woman...*

Kurogiri: *smiles* "That's...very nice, dear."

kurome: ^^

Kurogiri: "Where shall we place it?"

-elsewhere-

Asher: *sitting on the bus, looking around* "...This is how you get around too, huh?"

soul: till i get an actual car, yeah.

Asher: "...Same...in, like, 50 years."

izumi: ^^;

Asher: "How old are they?"

soul: one's 10, the other's 8. they lost their parents in a kishin attack, and i took them in...

Asher: " 'Kishin'?"

izumi:....

soul: yeah, one of the things you'll be fighting someday.

Asher: "..." *slight shiver*

izumi: *pats their shoulder*

Asher: "...Thanks." *weak small smile*

soul: here's our stop.

Asher: *stands and follows Soul*

izumi: (a school?)

becky: *waiting outside with damon*

soul: hey kiddos.

Damon: "Hi, Dad!"

soul: ^^ *picks him up*

izumi: um.....hello.

becky: ?? dad? who's that?

soul: oh, this is izumi and asher, the two students im mentoring, remember?

becky: ooooh.

Damon: *hides behind Soul*

Asher: "..." *wave*

izumi: it's ok, we wony hurt you, promise. ^^

Damon: "...Hello." >_>

-elsewhere-

Saria: ^^; "It's all kind of intimidating..."

Stein: *checking a specimen in a jar*

lukas: Q_Q;;;;;

Saria: "...So, Professor, you were a student here like us, right? What was it like?"

Stein: "A lot of fighting. Tried to vivisect my weapon partner." *looks at Lukas* "...You like vivisection?"

lukas: *shaking* Q______Q;;;;;;

Saria: "N-no, sir--we don't do that kind of thing. We just want to learn how to improve our meister-weapon relationship--"

Stein: "Aside from looking directly into the heart of your partner--"

Saria: .\\\\\.

Stein: "...I mean, the physical heart. Aside from that, meditation helps."

lukas: *gulp*

Saria: "We've done that. In class. With the candles already--although, that was for soul perception, not-"

Stein: -_-; "Fine. I'll wield you."

Saria: ._. "...No offense, sir, but you creep me right the H out."

lukas: (scarydoctorsscarydoctorsscarysoctors)

Stein: "...Well, could you categorize my screws, bolts, and wrenches?"

-elsewhere-

Black Star: "So...Amelia? Meister or weapon?"

amelia:...meister. i suppose.

Black Star: "Great! Now we'll make you a powerful meister by following my strict regiment--400 PUSHUPS!"

Kazue: <That'll kill most people.>

amelia: i shall do my best.

Black Star: "THAT IS THE SPIRIT!!!!!"

Kazue: <...>

Black Star: "And you too, Harpo!"

Kazue: -_-; *begins*

-elsewhere-

Patty: "HELL YEAH!"

Yafeu: "HELL YEAH!"

liz: ^^; they're getting along well.

preston: indeed they ahr.

Patty: "Now, let's talk target practice." *hands Yafeu and Preston straws and rolled bits of paper* "Aim for the target, and blow that paper spitball!"

Kid: *tied to a wall, blindfolded* "I WILL KILL YOU FOR THIS!"

-elsewhere-

Free: "Hello, kiddo!"

milia: papa! *HUG*

Free: *picks her up*

Kanin: "..." ("A witch?")

milia: *giggles*

eruka: ^^

Duncan: "What a weird outfit."

eruka: wow rude. =3=

Kanin: "He's...like that."

Duncan: "What are you, some magical girl?"

eruka: i'm a witch, thank you very much.

Duncan: "!!! They let you live here, not kill you?"

eruka: well, there's a long story to that, but yeah, there are a few witches who live here.

Duncan: "After the awful things witches have done, like that Medusa Gorgon, I'm surprised."

Free: >_>;

eruka:.....*NERVOUS LAUGHTER*

Kanin: ^^; "Miss Milia, how's school?"

milia: ??

Free: "Well...We're, um, working on that?"

Kanin: "???"

-elsewhere-

Joker: *sips sake* "...Hm. Not bad..."

Benimaru: "..."

kabuki: ._.;

Joker: "Now, onto business: I sent my man here because I heard the Church of the Holy Sun was giving you lot trouble."

Benimaru: "Hmph. Nothing we cannot handle."

Joker: "You think they'll stop at just sending some meddlesome priests to knock over noodle bowls? I know how they operate--and it's only going to get worse for you."

kabuki: worse how?

Joker: "Have you considered the logical conclusion? A religion, that sees itself as the one true religion...What do you think they _do_ when they have enough power to make sure other religions--smaller religions--are quashed?"

kabuki: .......

Benimaru: "There's not one religion in this city--you're just trying to scare us into helping you."

Joker: "Fundamentalists are nothing to sneeze at--I would know. Especially when they have Lord Death's ear. And they are operating a black ops mission to destroy your shrine."

kabuki: !!!

Benimaru: "You lie."

Joker: *looks* "Have I given you any reason to think I am tricking you? After all, I _was_ Holy Sun black ops."

kabuki: ?!?!

fang-hua: ?!?

Benimaru: "...I need proof."

Joker: *smiles* "Follow me to see it."

fang-hua: ....commander-

Benimaru: "When?"

-elsewhere-

Chuuya: "..."

sonia: *looking around*

Chuuya: "Not too hot out."

sonia: *nods*

Chuuya: "...Ever see rainbows when water pours out?"

sonia: ...sometimes.

Chuuya: "We could try it when watering the garden..."

sonia: ok. uncle kajii said it was something to do with how light reflects off the water...

Chuuya: "Yes--the water acts like a prism..."

sonia: ah...

Chuuya: "Like when the light comes through the window in different colors--and Mito pats at it on the carpet."

sonia: *small giggle*

Chuuya: *smiles* "Maybe we could make a light prism for the window..."

sonia: that would be nice.

Chuuya: "I'll add it to the shopping list."

-elsewhere-

Fujimoto: "...So, she finally ran off, huh?"

kyouko: what do you mean?

Fujimoto: *sigh* "I was hoping she would wise up--she was always so stubborn...When she was young, Shura was put into my care for training. But she had a death wish."

kyouko: ??

{A young priest is walking through a mountainous village, bundled up}

{Fujimoto: *shivers, bundled up* "How do you all deal with this cold?"}

{priest: <mr fujimoto, thank you for coming here on such short notice>}

{Fujimoto: *pulls out a cigarette* <Explain this to me again--you think it's a Baba Yaga?>}

{priest: *nods* <it's highly likely, but the villagers are too afraid to investigate further...>}

{Fujimoto: }

{-a figure suddenly appears, cackling-}

{Fujimoto: *from his backpack, pulls out a bazooka, aims--*}

{???: OxO}

{*BOOM* *SPLASH*}

{*it was a holy water cannonball*}

{-KO-}

{Fujimoto: "...Nuts." }

{-...-}

{Fujimoto: "..." *picks up the child he hit with the water cannon with her own scabbard...she's soaking wet*}

{girl: *shivering* <OI OI! LET GO-A-ME!> >3<# }

{Fujimoto: "???" <Japanese? So, not a Baba Yaga...Ugly enough to be Asura--just not sure which Asura, there's like five of them...>}

{girl: <PUTMEDOWNPUTMEDOWNPUTMEDOWN!!>}

{Fujimoto: <Not until you return what you stole, brat. I don't-- ...> *looks down* "...Why does my shadow have _four_ heads?"}

{girl: !!!!}

{*SLITHER, STRIKE, LUNGE*}

{Fujimoto: *carries the child away* "Damn! What the hell is that thing?"}

{???: <the girl is OURS!>}

{Fujimoto: <Really, now...> *tosses the child away* <Go fetch!>}

{girl: AIIIIEE!!!!}

{Fujimoto: <Sword won't work...Gotta do this low-key...> *aims the bazooka--fires*}

{girl: !!!!!}

{Fujimoto: *fast recitation* <God Ninoyaginayawo, I ask of thee, exorcise, purify--QUEEL THE GOD OF MISFORTUNE!>}

{*BOOM* *SPLURT*}

{girl: .....}

{Fujimoto: <...> *rubs his shoulder* "Ow..." *glances* <...The hell you looking at, Asura?>}

{girl:....<TEACH ME HOW TO DO THAT! THAT WAS SO COOL! IT WAS LIKE BOOM BOOM BREEEEEN! PLEASE TEACH ME HOW TO DO THAT! TAKE ME WITH YOU IF YOU HAVE TO!}

{Fujimoto: -_-; }

{girl: <hachirou, can he teach me how to do that thing?! pleeeeeeeeeeease?!>}

{???: <that weapon....what was that?>}

{Fujimoto: "...'Bazūka.'"}

{???: <strange....it's the first i have heard of this....>}

{Fujimoto: *aims*}

{???: .....<child, it seems this human has knowledge beyond ours. learn from him, then come back once you've gathered as much knowledge as you can.>}

{girl: <YAAAAAAAAAAAAY!>}

{Fujimoto: "?!!! Wait! I didn't agree to this!"}

kyouko: so you kind of adopted her?

Fujimoto: "Yep...So, was raising Rin and Yukio as babies while dealing with a 9- or 10-year-old who was great at the sword but raised like a neanderthal."

kyouko: that sure had to be fun. ^^;

Fujimoto: *nods* "She had little impulse control. Always had seconds, always had snacks and desserts, over-partied, over-drank...over-studied."

kyouko: ....

Fujimoto: "...I'm scared whether she's burning herself out to die young...or whether she's coming back this time."

kyouko: hmm.....

???: "So, that's how it is."

kyouko: !!!

stocking: sorry for the intrusion.

Rin: -_-; "Why don't _I_ remember Shura hanging around here?"

Yukio: "You were little when she moved to the True Cross dorms--and you weren't studying with her."

Fujimoto: "...Well, now you know."

stocking: so, this demon....

Fujimoto: "A hydra named Hachiro, found around the Aomori Prefecture, near Lake Lowada."

stocking: i see. do you think it could have something to do with the weird blizzard?

Fujimoto: *shakes his head* "Hydras like Hachiro regenerate--that's most of their power. He just stands out because he also can generate swords from his body. But weather manipulation? Not his forte."

stocking: hmm, then maybe it's something else? like a yuki onna?

Yukio: "Possibly...I don't know why one would collaborate with a hydra, though."

kyouko: then again, they could be separate incidents altogether.

Rin: ._. "...'Yukio Na'?"

Yukio: *Yuki-Chop with a fieldbook* "Read."

Rin: -3-#

stocking: let's see. 'yuki onna', also known as 'snow lady', are a type of youkai native to japan, but have been spotted in other regions such as canada, the artic, and russia. they typically inhabit cold, frigid areas and are highly active during the winter, but hibernate during the summer.

Rin: "Well, that's helpful for my exams--but what is she, an insomniac?"

kyouko: your guess is as good as mine.

Yukio: "Let's stock up on items we'll need for these classes of demon."

stocking: right.

-elsewhere-

Justin: *driving*

yuma: *asleep*

Justin: *light smile, looking at the road signs* "Just a little further..."

oriko: *nods*

Justin: "...Is there anywhere we should stop first? I know it's late..."

oriko: maybe some dinner might be nice.

Justin: "Plenty of options...Fast food or something healthier?"

oriko: i think there was a family restaurant on the way back.

Justin: "You got it." *smiles*

oriko:...*slightly resting on his shoulder*

Justin: .\\\\. "..." *slight nod*

-elsewhere-

Kid: -~-

stocking: im back- ....

Kid: Q_Q "...Hello."

stocking: oh my. ^^; need help, hun?

Kid: *nod nod* "I-I blame target practice..."

stocking: ^^ *helping him out*

Kid: "Th-Thank you...How was your day?"

stocking: well, i got a mission to aomori.

Kid: "??? Oh? When do you leave?"

stocking: first thing tomorrow morning.

Kid: "So soon...Do you need help?"

stocking: a little bit to get the supplies i'll need.... *hug*

Kid: =\\\\= *hug* "Be safe."

-elsewhere-

Saria: *walking home from Patchwork* Q_Q "...I am traumatized for life..."

lukas: scary doctors.....scary....

Saria: "A-At least we survived it...R-Right?" *holds his hands*

lukas: y-y-yeah.... .///.;;;

Saria: "... ... ..." O\\\\O; "D-Dr Stein sa-said that s-s-s-sometimes meisters and weapons resonate better b-by phy-physical contact...Like handholding?"

lukas: i guess.... .///////.;;;

Saria: "...Is this weird? It's weird. It's weird, isn't it? I'm sorry--I-I just wanted to, and Dr. Stein said, and your hands are soft--"

lukas: ITS FINE HOW ARE YOU TODAY!

Saria: "I'M GREAT, THANK YOU!"

lukas:.... .////////.

Saria: .\\\\. "...I have to go east to get home..."

lukas: good luck!

Saria: "You too good night--" *walks fast--still holding his hand*

lukas:... ./////.;;;

-elsewhere-

Kanin: *sets down chicken salad*

amelia: thank you for the food. *nom*

Kanin: *smiles* "Anything we should add to your room?" *nom on eggplant*

amelia: i dont really require much.

Kanin: "You sure? Bathroom, food, anything to charge your phone?"

amelia: ....i thought you meant in terms of decor.

Kanin: "Well, that too. Is there anything missing for your stay?"

amelia:....*shrug*

Kanin: ^^; "Any music you like?"

-elsewhere-

Sakuya: "How'd your mentee experience go today?"

naho: pretty interesting i guess.

Sakuya: *nods* "Esther and Kirara had a lot to say about missions...What about you, Lilac?"

lilac: i-it was.....ok....miss esther's kind of.....s-scary....

Sakuya: "??? Really? How so?"

lilac: ... Q__Q;;;;; scary...scary.....*shaking*

naho: do you want your blanket, lila?

lilac: *NODS*

Sakuya: "...Sorry." *hands Lilac the blanket*

lilac *breathing a bit more easily*

-elsewhere-

fani:....lady liluye? are you there?

Liluye: "Fani? Fani, is that you?"

fani: it's me...

Liluye: "Oh, thank goodness...Did you escape?"

fani:...

-she explains everything-

fani:....im scared, lady liluye....

Liluye: "Be not afraid...This is not the end of us."

fani: .....these humans....they're trying to get me to trust them, especially that meme girl....i feel....conflicted....

Liluye: "This is how they deceive. You know what they are capable of--and what they can do, especially their weapons."

fani:....r-right.....

Liluye: "Just wait. I'll let you know when I'm ready...Until then, please, survive."

fani:.....

Liluye: "..." *reaches her hand out through the barred window*

*footsteps are heard*

fani: !!! *squirrel mode and flees*

Liluye: *hand held out...slow brings it back, closes her fist*

Guard: *shines a flashlight* "..."

-elsewhere-

Benimaru: "..."

Joker: "..." *presses a hand down on the bed* "Not very comfortable. You let all your prisoners sleep in such shabby conditions?"

Benimaru: "We don't usually take prisoners--we execute them."

fang-hua: ._.

ivy: .x.

Tsukiyo: "SQUASH HIM LIKE A BUG!"

Mantis: .~.;;;

Benimaru: "Kabuki, Tsukiyo, stand guard." *exits*

fang-hua: sir, wait up!

Benimaru: *still walking*

fang-hua: *jogging up to him* sir!!

Benimaru: *turns...he looks furious*

fang-hua: !!!

Benimaru: "This cannot stand."

fang-hua: i understand that you're upset, sir.

Benimaru: "You're damn right I'm upset--the Sun Church can't control its priests, some lunatic threatens my family and my home--and where the hell are the other brigades to manage this mess and keep it out of my home?"

fang-hua: .....

Benimaru: "..." *points at the prison* "What kind of person comes here, trying to blackmail me for help? What is their goal?"

fang-hua: ....im not sure, sir....

Benimaru: "..." *sighs* "Neither do I...If we tell the Eighth, then they'll tell the First..."

fang-hua:....then i suppose we'll have to handle this ourselves...

Benimaru: "..." *nods* "Just...keep this between us only."

fang-hua: you have my word, sir.

-elsewhere-

zhanna: *sitting in the chair in her hotel room* ahhh.... <nice and comfy...> ...... <better review my notes for tomorrow...> *examining files* hmm...... *levitating the newspaper over to her*

*headlines: "Fitzgerald donates $2 million to rebuilding efforts; rumors continue about organized crime connections" " 'Maze of Kirby' on display at Death City Museum"*

zhanna: hmm.

*headline: "Ability user suicides in double digits; newest case in Houston*

zhanna:..... *sigh* (aleksey, please be ok wherever you are...)

-elsewhere-

pushkin: you sure about this tachi?

Tachihara: "Sure I'm sure! Just hold that giant rubberband!"

Walter: *recording on phone* "Do it for history!"

Motojiro: "Do it for science!"

Q: try not to get killed~ ^^

pushkin: um....i may be having second thoughts-

Tachihara: "RELEASE!" *slams an axe through the rubberband holding the office chair back*

pushkin: *SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-*

-CRASH-

pushkin: oooow, my pancreas... TT~TT

Tachihara: @~@

Walter: "...Wait, I didn't hit record..."

-elsewhere-

Yumi: *standing outside* "..."

-a car is pulling up now-

Gopher: OwO

kirika: im home.

Gopher: "Yes, you are!" >w<

Yumi: "How are you? How did it go?"

kirika: it went well...

Yumi: "..." *hug*

kirika:....*sniff*

Yumi: *strokes her back*

Gopher: *hug*

kirika:....im gonna go to bed now....

Yumi: "Okay..."

Gopher: "..."

-elsewhere-

banshee: *walking*

Guard: *looking at security cameras*

banshee: *walks to front guard* um, excuse me, can you give me directions to this park? *points to a map*

Guard: "???" *looks at the map* "Yeah, you're going the wrong way...You want to head back, then make a right--"

banshee: i see, sorry, im new in town. ^^;

Guard: "Happens to the best of us." *smiles*

banshee: say, do you have any places you'd recommend i'd visit?

Mustard: *pops up at the guard station, out of view of the guard...plugs a USB into the monitor, causing the monitors to blink before they start looping the same past 45 minutes of footage...*

Guard: "Well, the museum is closed, but there is a theater nearby--think they got some classy Shakespeare or something."

-inside-

Dabi: "Careful--don't drop it."

himiko: i knoooow.

Twice: "Never fear, for I am always careful. OH NO, IT'S SLIPPING!"

himiko: OxO;;

Dabi: *leading the way, not even looking back at this trainwreck* "It's that one, on the wall."

*the painting shows a maze-like structure, with an odd mess of dots along its background*

himiko: ooooooooh.

Twice: " 'Maze of Kirby'--what a piece of crap. THE INFLUENCE OF POLACK IS OBVIOUS, LEAVING ONE TO FIND A MANIFOLD SET OF AESTHETIC INTERPRETATIONS--PURE, RAW MAGNESTISM!"

Dabi: *glances the sides of the glass frame around the painting* "Hmm...Need something to loosen the sides--"

himiko: it looks like pacman! *holds up a screwdriver*

Dabi: "Hang on..." *attaches a device to the wall--which blinks, as infared lights around the glass frame turn off* "Okay, so ahead."

himiko: *prying the sides*

Twice: *holding the painting* "Right, I know what to do! WHY ARE WE HERE?"

Dabi: "Slide the fake through on the right while I pull the original out through the left..."

Twice: "Right! LEFT?"

Dabi: *death glare*

himiko: *thumbs up*

Twice: ._.; *follows instructions*

Dabi: *slides the painting out* "We're done..."

himiko: pshh, that was easy!

*FWOOM*

Dabi: *looks back as a warp gate appears*

himiko: yay! ^^

Twice: "Onward!" *takes the original painting, moonwalking backwards into the gate*

Dabi: "Himiko, go through--I'm covering..."

himiko: *skips on through*

Dabi: *looks behind* "..." *into an earpiece* "Mission accomplished. Depart." *goes through the gate*

-outside-

Mustard: *behind the guard, still out of view, gives the signal*

banshee: well, i should be going now, ta-tah~

Guard: "Okay--enjoy your visit to Death City!" *waves*

banshee: ^^ *walking away*

Mustard: *pulls the device before leaving*

Guard: *turns back to the monitors, just missing view of Mustard*

-elsewhere-

Saria: *hugging a pillow* =_=;

saria's dad: feeling alright, bugbear?

Saria: "Hmm...I had a weird day at school, Dad..."

saria's dad: how so?

Saria: "Well, Lukas and I were assigned to a teacher for a mentor program...He's a little strange."

saria's dad: *listening as he makes some hot cocoa*

Saria: "He seems...kind of crazy? I know that's mean to say..."

saria's dad: who did you get?

Saria: "Dr. Franken Stein..."

saria's dad: oh him. i've heard about him on the news. i hear he's quite brilliant, if a tad eccentric.

Saria: " 'Eccentric' is a screw in the head?"

-elsewhere-

Mori: "Zzz..." *small whine*

{elise: ......}

{Mori: "...Elise? It's you..." *wiping his eyes*}

{elise:.......come find me.}

{Mori: " 'Find me'? How can I..."}

{elise: come find me, rintarou. i'm in the city.}

{Mori: "City? Death City? I'm already here!"}

{elise: no....im in the city itself}

Mori: *his eyes break open* "..." *he tosses the sheets away* "..." *he looks at the sheets, the door, the chair--* "..."

-elsewhere-

kirika: *whine*

Yumi: "Are you okay?" *rests a hand on her forehead*

kirika: im sick as shit, how do you think i am? =~= my head's on fireeee......

Yumi: "...Lie down and rest. I'm getting you medicine, a cold cloth, and water--then I'm calling a doctor."

kirika: *grunts and shuffles under the blanket*

-elsewhere-

Kid: "Stay bundled up--and be well armed: hydras are manipulative but respond well to swords."

stocking: we will. *smooch*

Kid: =\\\\= "Please be safe..."

stocking: always am.

Yukio: "..." *grabs his bag*

Rin: ^^; "Should be fun, though--get to travel!"

gilda: ^^

Fujimoto: "Please...bring Shura back."

Mephisto: "Yes, indeed--she needs to fill out her time card."

stocking: =_= have you no concern for her wellbeing?

Mephisto: "I am concerned--if she's dead, I'm out another teacher."

kyouko: if you guys get hurt, im coming over there and kicking your asses, ya hear?!

Rin: "I'd like to see that..." *fist bumps Kyouko*

kyouko: you're on.

felisia: ^^; anyway, i made scarves for you all that should protect you from the cold. ^^

Rin: "Thank you, ma'am!"

stocking: sweet! thanks mom!

gilda:....t-thanks...

Yukio: "...Thank you."

-elsewhere-

atsushi: *walking around town* ok, that should be everything now-

*ROAR*

atsushi: FBJ<SSKHBGKJSLFKVHSOJL><N?!?!?

*it's a text alert on his phone*

atsushi: ._.; (WHEN DID I GET THAT RINGTONE?!) *opens it*

Lucy: [u needed a better ringtone so you actually HEAR IT FOR ONCE]

atsushi: ^^; [thanks lucy] (i think. ^^; )

Lucy: [you're very welcome <3 ]

*ROAR ROAR ROAR*

atsushi: [no prob, brb kunikida texting] *checks*

Kunikida: [HE'S GONE. BRING HIM TO THE MEETING. NOW.]

atsushi: *sigh* oh boy. -_-;

-and so-

Dazai: *sitting atop a tombstone* "..."

{odasaku: listen. You once said that “If you immerse yourself in a world of violence and blood, perhaps you would be able to find a reason to live on.” …}

{Dazai: “…Yes. But that sort of thing now–”}

{odasaku: you wont find it. You should know this yourself. No matter whether you’re on the side of killing people or saving people, there will never be anything that can surpass your mind. There is no place in this world that can fill your loneliness. You will linger in the darkness forever.}

{Dazai: “…” *holds Odasaku’s hand* “…What should I do?”}

{odasaku: …be on the side that saves people. if both are the same, then be a good person. save those who are weak, protect those who are orphaned. good and evil have no real meaning to you, but doing that would be better. }

{Dazai: “H-How can you know this?”}

{odasaku: I know better than anyone else….*smiles* because i’m your friend, osamu.}

atsushi:.....

Dazai: "..." *smiles broadly, waves* "Hello~"

atsushi: i figured i'd find you here...so, who's buried here? someone you loved perhaps?

Dazai: "...Let’s say, if it was an attractive lady, I would have committed to a double suicide with her."

atsushi: *sweatdrop* of course you would. -_-;

Dazai: *taps the tombstone* "This is the grave of Odasaku. Thanks to him, I quit the Mafia. If not for him, I would still be killing people for them. Instead, now I'm with the Agency--and, let me guess, Kunikida sent you to find me."

atsushi: yeah, he said there's an important meeting-

Dazai: "PASS."

atsushi: EH?! b-but daza-

Dazai: "I recently discovered a brand new method of suicide--and I'm excited to see where it takes me!"

atsushi: *siiigh* (odasaku, do you think you can possess me and convince him?)

odasaku: sorry, but that's not on my job description.

atsushi: -_-; (some guardian spirit _you_ are.)

odasaku: *shrug*

-elsewhere-

Ivan: *pushing a breakfast cart through the hall* ^w^

elizaveta: *peeeeek*

Ivan: "Hello~ Care for a muffin?"

elizaveta: *nods* ^^

Ivan: "One chocolate chip muffin!" *sets it on a plate*

elizaveta: *nom* yum! ^^

Ivan: *knocks on Yana's door* <Young Master, yummy breakfast!>

-silence-

Ivan: ^w^; <Young Master?> *knocks again*

-no reply-

Ivan: "Yana?" *tries the doorknob--*

-locked-

Ivan: "..."

elizaveta: maybe she's sick?

Ivan: "Perhaps..." *shakes the knob*

-no response-

Ivan: *looking worried* "...With Master out...it's up to me!"

-elsewhere-

Kunikida: -_-# "...You have to be kidding me..."

atsushi: yeah. *sigh*

Kunikida: "A man expecting a child, with his priorities so out of order, has no business calling himself a man..."

atsushi: *sweatdrop*

yosano: dont we have a meeting to discuss?

Kunikida: "Yes, yes--follow me into the conference room..."

Kyoka: *waves to Sylvia*

sylvia: *following*

-inside-

Kunikida: "If you have followed the news, you know that there are reports of the sudden deaths of ability users..."

ranpo: *putting his snacks into a safe*

Tanizaki: "..."

naomi: *HUGS* bro dont you dare kill yourself and leave me all alone! >3<

Tanizaki: ^^; "Thank you...I appreciate hearing that..."

Kyoka: *glances at Sylvia*

sylvia: .~.;;;;

atsushi: surely there's got to be some kind of connection, right?

kenji: yeah, there's a fog, right? nankichii mentioned it in the reports that salamander got.

Kunikida: "Correct. Now we need to determine the person connected to that fog and these deaths..." *he advances a slide to the name 'Tatsuhiko Shibusawa' and their photograph*

atsushi: ?! *remembering the strange person on the train before seeing a vision of a large door*

Kyoka: "Atsushi...?"

atsushi: hmm?

Kyoka: "What's wrong?"

atsushi: n-nothing, just...thinking is all. ^^; ... (that weird person from the train....i feel like i've seen them before. but from where?)

Fukuzawa: "If this person is related to these deaths, then we will investigate."

atsushi: *nods*

Kunikida: "Yes, sir."

Tanizaki: "..."

Kyoka: "..."

-elsewhere-

pushkin: anything good on tv?

*looks to be some morning talk show*

TV Host: "Welcome back to 'Death City Insider'! The paranormal. Bigfoot. Loch Ness. Eldritch creatures. What fascinates us about such urban legends and strange phenomena? Our next guest may have answers. She is the author of this book--"

katya: huh....wait a second....WAIT A FUCKING SECOND!!

pushkin: *spots it* *SPITTAKE*

Tachihara: >~< "WHAT THE HELL?!"

Host: "Zhanna Pushkin!"

Tachihara: *picking Pushkin's masticated oatmeal off his face*

pushkin: ^^;

zhanna: thank you very much for having me today. *smiles*

Host: "What is it about the unknown that interests you so much?"

zhanna: well for me, i suppose it was always the stories my uncle vasily told me and my siblings. they were always so fascinating that i decided to study them myself.

Host: "That fascination has taken you all over the world. How does Death City stack up compared to other cities when it comes to the paranormal?"

Tachihara: "...Why does she look familiar?"

zhanna: to be honest, this is the first time i've been to death city itself.

pushkin: HEY LEV! LEV! MY OLDER SISTER ZHANNA'S ON TV!!

Tachihara: "...Wait, your last name is 'Pushkin'? I thought it was 'Pull-kin.'"

pushkin:....*snickering*

katya: good one.

Host: "We've had our share of odd occurrences: ice pillars, infernals, ability users, witches. Where's your next project taking you?"

zhanna: well, right now, i've been researching the white eyed witch.

Host: "Oh? What's her story?”

zhanna: the white eyed witch is said to be a young woman with white eyes with the ability to draw things and give them life.

Host: "Must be handy at an art show. Where is she usually found?"

zhanna: it's believed that she travels in a teleporting castle, however, due to a recent discovery that we made in st petersburg, there may be more to the case than meets the eye. *holding up a notebook with a strange symbol on it* from what we learned in this notebook, it seems the witch has ties with the order of dragonia, AKA, the shibusawa clan.

Host: " 'Shibusawa Clan'?"

-elsewhere-

-in a white colored bedroom, a young girl is drawing-

miyuri: *drawing and humming to herself*

-her drawings include an elephant, a dog, a cat, and a rabbit...the art is squiggly and two-dimensional, it doesn't have much detail, but the outlines are obvious what the animals are-

miyuri: ^^ hehe ^^

-on the page...the elephant's trunk starts to wiggle...-

miyuri: *smiles* today's gonna be the big day! hehe! im so excited!

Elephant: *small trumpet sound*

miyuri: *giggles* *looks at the bunny* you have a big job today lil friend!

Rabbit: *twitches its nose--before leaping off the page*

-elsewhere-

Doctor: ^w^ "Greetings! Are you..." *checks paper* "'Riki'?"

kirika: kirika. whats it to you? you the scrub mom sent?

Doctor: "Ha ha ha! 'Scrub mom'--good one! No, silly--I'm your doctor! Name's Robin."

kirika: joooy.

Doctor: "So, your mom told me you have a temperature?" *removes thermometer* "You're in school? How is it? Say 'ah'!"

kirika: =_= (fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu-)

Doctor: "You're about my kid's age--she glowers, too, just like that--only she has--"

kirika: *GLARE*

Dr. Robin: "...I was going to say 'braces.' Hates them so much. I get that--can't have gummies or cold food. Sucks, right?"

kirika:....*grunt*

Dr. Robin: "Hmm...Yep, that's a temperature. Been traveling?"

kirika:......yeah....

Dr. Robin: "Really? Where to?! A summer trip?!"

kirika: none of your business *hides under blanket*

Dr. Robin: "...Oh, dear..." *reaches into her bag* "I'll need to pull out my secret weapon..."

kirika: *groooooan*

???: *mechanical voice* "HEELLLo kiddO! I--" *sounds really robotic, like it's falling apart* "--wanna beeeeeee your fri--"

kirika: *peeeeek* O_____________o

*Dr. Robin holds up a cuddly puppy talking plush...that has seen better days*

Plush: "--eeeeeeeeeeend..."

kirika:....um, yeah, from what level of hell was that retrieved?

Dr. Robin: "Yard sale! You like him? I've used him since med school. His name is Patches!"

Patches: .__________.

-elsewhere-

izumi: so.....where to first?

Soul: "We had a report about a pick-pocket. We're checking the basketball court..."

izumi: ok.

Asher: *looks* "...Lot of graffiti..."

Soul: "It's been like this since I first came here--" *passes a wall with a giant star on it* -_-;

izumi: isnt this one of mr black*star's?

Soul: "Yeeeeeeeep...He used to put these there after any b-ball game..."

izumi:....that's nice i guess......

Soul: "...Yeah. It was."

izumi:.......

Asher: "..." *spots something in the bushes* "Hold up..." *reaches in*

izumi: ??

Asher: *pulls out a basketball* "..." *tosses it to Izumi* "Catch."

izumi: wah!

Soul: "???"

Asher: "Now pass it!"

izumi: ok. *toss*

-elsewhere-

Black Star: "Okay, Amelia, try picking them up."

amelia: ok. *grabs hold of the weapon*

Kazue: *in wakizashi form* -_-

Black Star: "There--was it that hard for you just to say you're a weapon?"

*a ribbon with a message falls from the wakizashi's handle: <Yes>*

amelia: .....what do i do now?

Black Star: -_-### "Amelia, bend at the knees a bit and hold the sword like a bat..."

amelia: um.....ok....*doing so*

Black Star: "Now, slowly bring the sword down so the tip of the wakizashi just taps the floor--*

Ribbon: <Not too fast--don't break me.>

amelia: like this?

Black Star: "Right, like that! Now, lift your right arm, rotate your right wrist, so the blade is away from you..."

Ribbon: <Huh--he doesn't completely suck at this...>

amelia: *doing so*

tsubaki: she's pretty good at following instructions...

Black Star: *nods* "Helps when the student cooperates--glad we didn't get some stubborn loudmouth."

amelia: .....*sweatdrop*

-elsewhere-

Sakuya: "So, I got to know--what's up with that guy in the bear mask who hangs out with you?"

kirara: he's a coworker.

esther: are you sure that's all~?

kirara: esther, dont encourage any weird thoughts! -_-

Sakuya: *hands up* "Hey, no judging...Were you also students here?" *opens a yearbook at the library*

kirara: .....later in the year, yes.

esther: we hit it off right away. ^^

Sakuya: *nods* "I started late in the year...Where are you from?"

kirara: a small village from japan.

esther: hmmmm.....i dont really remember~ ^^

Sakuya: "??? What kind of missions did you have? Like how did you learn to use Miss Esther's weapon form?"

kirara: it's....a long story.

-elsewhere-

oriko: *helping with making lunch*

Justin: "How's the new recipe?"

oriko: it's coming along well.

Justin: "Indeed..." *sniffs* "The thyme was a good choice."

oriko: ^^

Justin: *looks at her* "You are an amazing cook."

oriko: thank you. ^^

Justin: *pours some water, sets the table* "...So...after this trip..."

oriko: it's....a lot to take in...

Justin: *nods* "If you ever want to talk about it..."

oriko:...r-right....

Justin: "...I'm sorry. I know it's not the time."

oriko: i-it's alright. *small smile*

Justin: *smiles back, as he takes the gratin to be served* "Let's eat."

-elsewhere-

Tezca: "So why did you scamps join Dub-Wuma?"

lei-lei: well, i am a weapon, so i thought it would be fun ^^

genny:....my parents said i needed to make more friends.

naho: it's a secret~ ^w^

Tezca: "I hear those same answers all the time--and they're the same I had when I joined! ... Wait, do the meisters and weapons here have partners?"

lei-lei: not yet!

genny:..n-nope.

naho: i'm neither!

Tezca: "Well, I can train you--" *points at Naho* "--but Enrique and I need a meister-weapon pair, so, you two are now partnering."

genny: EH?!

lei-lei: YAY!! ^w^ *hugs genny*

Tezca: ^w^ "And with that, we begin your practice--" *summons a mirror on his arm* "I'm going to fire lasers at you."

genny: Q-Q;;;;

-elsewhere-

Saria: *with a butterfly net* "Bug hunting?"

lukas: i guess so...

Stein: "We will find specimens to observe their behavior. Death City has rare species, given our different climate as well as Lord Death's interest in preserving some species..." *hands each of them a pamphlet* "Document what we find."

lukas: um.... ._.; erm...

Saria: *looks* "Oh, wow! And some of these are cared for at the zoo?"

Stein: *nods* "We have a graduate who works there..." *pushes bushes aside into the forest*

lukas: *peek*

*looks like cicadas are already out*

lukas: *WHAP* >~<;;;

Stein: "Oh, large one...Put it in the cage."

Saria: *holds out the cage* "That's one on the list...What's a 'gorilla beetle'?"

lukas: Q_Q;;;;; (scary creepy crawlies, scary doctor, scary....)

Stein: "Our next target..."

*STOMP*

Stein: "..." *looks over his shoulder* "Oh, look..."

lukas: OxO;;;

Saria: O____O;

Gorilla Beetle: *BIG BEETLE, STARING AT THEM* "..."

Stein: "...Well, have fun." *leans back against a tree*

lukas: *SCREAMS AND RUNS....falling down a hill* WAAAAAH!!!

Saria: D: "Lukas!" *runs after him*

Gorilla Beetle: "Kuu?" O_O;

lukas: n-no! s-stay back!

*The Gorilla Beetle is not moving*

Gorilla Beetle: O_O;; "Kuu kuu?"

Saria: "I-I think it's...not charging at us?"

lukas: i didnt mean that! please j-just dont look at me!

Saria: "...O-O-Oh?!"

-lukas is tied up in vines-

lukas: TT///TT;;

Stein: *walks down* "..." *covers Saria's eyes*

Saria: "H-Hey!"

Stein: "I'll let you down..." *tosses a scalpel*

lukas: TT~TT i wasnt made for the outdoors...

Stein: "Few are...Saria, keep your eyes closed..."

Saria: "I-I-I am!" >\\\\<

Stein: *cuts Lukas down* "So, why even come here if you can't handle it?"

Saria: "!!!!"

lukas: ....it's better than being with my parents...

Saria: "..." *turned around, but listening*

Stein: "...Not too different from a lot of us...So, you're running away...But what are you running towards?"

lukas:............may i please go back inside now?

Stein: "...We're not done with this discussion. Grab your items and go back in." *whistles at Gorilla Beetle* "Follow me, beastie..."

Gorilla Beetle: "Kuu..." *follows like a puppy*

-elsewhere-

Kanin: "How long have you been in Death City?"

eruka: a few years, give or take.

Kanin: *nods* "Your soul has a lot of magic around it."

eruka: ^^

Duncan: "Surprised some weapon hasn't claimed you."

eruka: ._.

Free: *slaps Duncan across the room*

Duncan: X_X

-elsewhere-

stocking: here we are.

Rin: "Wee! Now to find the cab to--" *falls asleep*

stocking: ._.;

gilda: ^-^;

Yukio: "Maybe get some rest first..."

stocking: sounds like a good plan.

-evening-

tanizaki: *slight shudder*

Kunikida: "Easy..."

tanizaki:......our informant should be here soon, right?

Kunikida: *checks his watch* "They are late..."

tanizaki:......*looks inside one of the warehouses* ....!!!!!!!!

Kunikida: "???" *takes his gun, approaches carefully...* "...Oh no..."

tanizaki: *checks the man's pulse*.....

Kunikida: "Is he...?"

tanizaki:....he's dead.

Kunikida: "...Damn it!"

tanizaki:....?? kunikida? *points to something; an apple?*

Kunikida: "What the hell? A knife in it..."

tanizaki: i have a bad feeling about this.....

-elsewhere-

sonia: ......

*she has a copy of 'Alice in Wonderland'*

sonia: *reading the part with the white rabbit's first appearance*

*rustle*

sonia: ?? *glances*

*it's a white rabbit*

Rabbit: *nose wiggle*

sonia: *blinks* *looks around*

Rabbit: "..." *hops away but still visible*

sonia:.....*she finds herself following the rabbit* (what...what am i doing?)

Rabbit: *continues hopping...*

sonia h-hey! wait up!

Rabbit: *continues...until reaching--*

sonia !!!!

*it's a door in the middle of the woods*

sonia: (it's just like in the dream....)......*pinches herself* ow!......(it's not a dream this time....)

Rabbit: "..." *bounces to the door*

sonia:......*gulps and reaches out for the handle....*

*it opens easily*

sonia: *going inside* huh?

*inside is a hall, like a cathedral*

Rabbit: *hops down the hall*

sonia: where....is this place?...ah! *runs after the rabbit, her footsteps echoing*

*the rabbit continues hopping to a door...nuzzles against it*

sonia:.....*opens the door*

miyuri: ?? *turns* ah! you're here!

Rabbit: ^w^

Sonia: "?! Who are you?"

miyuri: *GLOMP* hiiiii! i'm miyuri! whats your name? OwO

Sonia: .\\\.; "...Sonia?"

miyuri: nice to meet you, sana! ^w^ miyuri was looking forward to this for such a long time!! hehe!

Sonia: " 'Looking forward'..." *looks around* "Where are we?"

miyuri: *getting a picture of a sheep out* mommy told me in a dream that you'll help me find the nice person in the outside world!

Sonia: ("A sheep...") "Oh? Your mother speaks to you in dreams? ...I..."

miyuri: you'll help miyuri look for the nice person, right? tacchan says im not supposed to leave this room, but miyuri really really reeeeally wants to thank the nice person! >3<

Sonia: " 'Tacchan'? 'Nice person'? I...I'm really confused. How can I help?"

miyuri: mommy said that you would help me look around in the outside world!

Sonia: "...Okay. I will help."

miyuri: yaaaaay! thanks sana! i can tell we're gonna be best friends! *opens the window*

Sonia: "Um, what are you--"

miyuri: it's the way out, sana! ^^ *offers hand*

Sonia: "...What about Papa?"

miyuri: can we meet your papa outside? OwO

Sonia: "I would imagine?"

miyuri: YAY! today's gonna be the fun-est day EVER! *jumps out with sonia* WEEEEEEEE!!

Sonia: "EEEEEEEK!"

miyuri: *connects one last line on the sheep, summoning it off the paper. it's quite big, and the girls land on it's back safely*

Sonia: "..." *pats the sheep's back* "..." *sits up* "What is this power?"

miyuri: oh! miyuri almost forgot! mommy says i have a title! she said it was 'white eyed witch'. i guess its cause she and miyuri both have white eyes, see? ^^

Sonia: "Oh." *looks around her*

miyuri: *looks out at the city* woooooooah!

Sonia: "...I haven't seen the city like this."

-elsewhere-

Dazai: *sits alone at Bar Lupin...except for the glass next to him* "So, what shall we toast to today, Odasaku?"

{odasaku: anything on your mind?}

{Dazai: "...Suicide apples."}

{odasaku: hm?}

{Dazai: "Like in fairy tales. A beautiful maiden eats an apple, falls to sleep, is near death..."}

{odasaku: ah, sleeping beauty, right?}

{Dazai: *chuckles* "No, I mean 'Snow White.' Remember? The witch presents her the poisoned apple?"}

{odasaku: oh right. the witch was the queen in disguise, wasnt she?}

{Dazai: "Yes, Snow White's stepmother. Imagine what that apple may represent. Perhaps Snow White actually was trying to kill herself, out of despair that her own mother wanted to poison her."}

{odasaku: hmm....}

{Dazai: "But beyond the symbolism of it, I did hear that there was an ability user who kills with 'apple suicide.'" *smiles* "Wouldn't that be something that should be popular in Death City?"}

{odasaku: you sure have a interesting way of thinking.}

{Dazai: "Not as interesting as you."}

{odasaku: ....ango's late again...}

Dazai: "He's not coming."

*the melting ice in the glass next to him clinks*

Dazai: "You're right, Odasaku. It's wonderful to save people…that is, if I'm even alive to do it...." *opens his hand, revealing between his fingers is a pill, which he places in his mouth* "..." *stands, leaving behind two untouched drinks...and an apple with a knife in it*

??? dazai.

Dazai: "You're late."

ango: ...

Dazai: "Care for a drink?"

ango: sadly im on business right now. according to reports, shibusawa has you listed as a person of interest.

Dazai: "..." *looks behind him* "Evidently..."

-a fog begins to form-

ango: ?!?!

Dazai: "So, you’ve finally decided to show yourself...Very well. I surrender."

shibusawa: *smirks*

ango: dont let them get away!

-elsewhere-

Chuuya: "Sonia?" *opens the door*

-no one's inside-

Chuuya: "Sonia? Sonia?!" *exits, walking through the hall*

-no sign of her-

Chuuya: "Sonia!" *checking the living room* "Have you seen her?!"

naoya: i thought she was outside?

Chuuya: "I did--she's not there! Where is she?!"

naoya: im sure she's not far!

higuchi: hirotsu! w-we have a situation!

Hirotsu: "What's wrong?"

higuchi: mori's gone!

Hirotsu: "!!!"

Chuuya: "..." *the ground is shaking*

higuchi: c-chuuya?

Chuuya: "He took her!"

higuchi: *her stomach drops*

Akutagawa: *walks in* "I heard yelling and the ground shook. What happened?"

higuchi: ....mori might have kidnapped sonia

Akutagawa: "...Who let him out? How could he escape--"

Chuuya: "Grab others! We're going to find out..."

pushkin: h-huh?!

higuchi: chuuya?

Chuuya: "We need to find Sonia!"

higuchi: i know, but the warrents-

Chuuya: "Fuck the warrants! Sonia needs me! And if I find Mori with her--I'LL KILL HIM!"

higuchi: ...

Akutagawa: "...I had still promised not to kill--"

Chuuya: "THEN GRAB SOMEONE WHO WILL!"

katya:....*grins*

Akutagawa: "...Very well. Come along..." *grabs Pushkin by the parka...grinning maliciously*

pushkin: OwO;

-elsewhere-

atsushi: grk-

{Orphanage Headmaster: "What are you doing?!"}

{atsushi: shut up, you're not in my head, so shut up!}

{Orphange Headmaster: "Is that all you can say? Where are you going? What was the point for me to save your life?!"}

{atsushi: .......... ??}

{*behind Atsushi appears a door*}

atsushi: WAH!

sylvia: *opens the closet door* m-mr atsushi-

atsushi: *SHRIEEEEK* *PUNCH*

sylvia: OW!

atsushi: *affected by sylvia's ability* OW! >~<;;

Kyoka: "Atsushi. Sylvia. Outside."

atsushi: ._. im so sorry, i didnt mean it syl, you startled me!

sylvia: im sorry Q_Q;;

Kyoka: "OUT. SIDE."

atsushi: ._.;;; *looks out* ?!?!?!

*a fog is outside, covering the entire street*

Kyoka: "Mapping shows it has spread everywhere in the city..." *pats Sylvia's face with a tissue*

atsushi: no way...

Kyoka: "Given these conditions and the report we saw, we need to meet with others at the office."

atsushi: right. can you call them-

Kyoka: *checks her phone* "...No bars."

atsushi: darn.

sylvia: i-i-i'll stay here....its too scary for me outside.

Kyoka: "...Will you promise to be safe?"

sylvia: i-i'll do my best!

-and so-

atsushi: .....sure is quiet out....

Kyoka: "Even with this fog, you would think someone is out. Stay on your toes...And if it gets rough--" *holds up her taser*

atsushi: right......

Kyoka: "...Wait...Something's wrong..."

atsushi: yeah. not a single person....

Kyoka: "No...Something dangerous."

atsushi:....

*GROWL*

Kyoka: "...Your phone has service again?"

atsushi: um....that wasnt me....

Kyoka: "...It wasn't my stomach..."

*both look behind them*

atsushi: ?!?!

Kyoka: "!!! Hope this work..." *flips open her phone and--* "...What?!"

*it's a tiger...a white tiger!*

atsushi: *battle stance....nothing happens* ?!?! what the heck?!

Tiger: *ROARS, LEAPS--*

Kyoka: "Move!" *grabs Atsushi's hand, pulling him away*

atsushi: ah- *running with her* what the heck? i couldnt transform...

Kyoka: "And I cannot summon Demon Snow, even though the lack of reception shouldn't have affected her, I don't think..."

atsushi: so then that must mean- WOAH! ow!

Kyoka: "What did you trip ove-- ..."

atsushi: !!! kunikida!

*Kunikida is lying on the street, bleeding from his side*

atsushi: kunikida, are you alright?! well, duh you're bleeding but, can you move?

Kunikida: "Stop yakking...Get me out of here--I know the source of the suicides..."

atsushi: !!! you do? *helping him up*

Kunikida: "They aren't suicides...People's abilities are attacking their possessors..."

atsushi: what?!

Kunikida: "Lone Poet...Shot me..."

atsushi: ...come on, we better get somewhere safe....over there!

Kunikida: "Ah!"

atsushi: *bandaging kunikida with a first aid kit* alright, we need to get to the agency office...but we'll need a way to get there safely.

Kyoka: "On it." *pulls out a screwdriver, opening a panel under the wheel*

Kunikida: "Gah...Th-That's illegal..."

atsushi: i think we have bigger things to worry about right now.

Kunikida: *grumbles* "This fog...These 'suicides'...Abilities disembodied...This madness, it has to be--"

*SLASH* *CRASH*

atsushi: ._____. LIKE THAT.

*Demon Snow has broken through*

Demon Snow: *stares at Atsushi and Kunikida*

atsushi: um...kyouka?

*VROOM*

atsushi: *grabs kunikida and runs into the car*

Demon Snow: *lifts her sword to bring down onto the car--*

atsushi: FLOOR IT!!!

Kyoka: *slams her foot on the pedal, the car managing to avoid the slice of the sword--but the wind knocking into them as they drive out the entrance*

atsushi: *SCREEEEECH*

-elsewhere-

miyuri: *looking around* woooow! so cool! so cool! its not as scary this time!

Sonia: "??? When were you here last?"

miyuri: it was a while back, it was a lot scarier then because miyuri never left the castle before. but then- *GASP* oooooh! *presses her face to the window of a bakery*

Sonia: "..." *looks at the door* ("It's listed as 'open,' so why is it empty inside?")

miyuri: *goes inside and begins eating a rollcake* mmm...MMMMM YUM! >w<

Sonia: "Miyuri. You can't eat something you didn't buy."

miyuri: *looks at her*....bai?

Sonia: "With money..." *opens a coin purse* "Papa gave me some for emergencies." *holds up a five-dollar Death Buck bill with Lord Death's face on it* "It's currency traded for items for purchase, and the currency represents buying power backed by the authority of the Treasury of Death City--"

miyuri: munny? what is that? hehe, you know a lot of funny words, sana ^w^

Sonia: "...I'm going to put this paper here, as is custom when going out and taking food that they offer you." *sets the bill on the counter*

miyuri: oooooooooh.

Sonia: "...Is it tasty?"

miyuri: it's super yummy! ^w^ miyuri never had this before! what is it? it smells yummy, and it tastes really sweet!

Sonia: "You've never had cake?"

miyuri: THIS IS CAKE?! miyuri thought cakes were round and had sticks in them like in the picture book!

Sonia: "Like a birthday cake?"

miyuri: birf-day?

Sonia: "The day when you are born."

miyuri: ooooh. cool!

Sonia: "...You haven't had a birthday either?"

miyuri: miyuri doesnt remember, but tacchan says that im 11 and that i was born on march 3rd. miyuri's not sure what march means.

Sonia: "Do you ever look at a calendar?" *takes a piece of the roll cake*

miyuri: what's a ca-lan-dar?

Sonia: "I...don't know how to explain? Maybe I should explain it another way...'March 3' is a day. It's yours. It's when you are celebrated for being alive."

miyuri: wooow, you're so smart, sana! ....oh right! that nice person!

Sonia: "Who?"

miyuri: the nice lady that helped me the first time i was outside!

-elsewhere-

Kyoka: *opens the ADA office door*

Kunikida: *gasping* "Atsushi, Fukuzawa's office..."

atsushi: (empty...) *opens the door to fukuzawa's office*

Kunikida: "Under the desk..."

atsushi: *looks*

*there's a communicator*

Kunikida: "Turn it on..."

atsushi: um ok.

???:....-s thi-....-ng on?

Kunikida: *grumbles* "Kunikida, reporting. Over."

-the signal stableizes-

ango: yes, good to see you, Armed detective agency. as you can see here, shibusawa has arrived in death city.

Kunikida: "Yes--and coincidentally our abilities attacked us."

ango: so it's started already. good news, we've tracked shibusawa's base to the outskirts of death city. *showing the coordinates* the bad news, dazai's been kidnapped.

atsushi: what?!

Kunikida: "?! The hell do you mean kidnapped?"

ango: .... we tried to secure him, but....

{ango: dont let them get away!}

{-grunts try to approach shibusawa, but are attacked with lightening-}

{ango: what?!}

{???: "My, my, my..."}

{shibusawa: why thank you lux. *putting a cloth over dazai's mouth*}

{Dazai: "URK!"}

{nox: shall i provide the exit?}

{shibusawa: yes nox, please do be so kind.}

{Lux: *charges lightning*}

{nox: understood. *opening a portal*}

{ango: !!! DAZAI!}

{Dazai: "...Od-Oda..."}

ango:.....i could have reached for him...but i failed to save him....but now's not the time for regrets. you must capture shibusawa at all costs.

Kunikida: "Understood...We'll bring in all we can find--AH!" *clutches his side*

Kyoka: "Where _are_ the others?"

-meanwhile-

kenji: woah!

*a muscular man tosses a car at Kenji...he has...a cow's head?!*

kenji: well this sure is a pickle!

-...-

???: fufufu~

Tanizaki: "St-Stay back! I don't know what the hell is going on! I don't know why you took Naomi's face--but stay back!"

-something grabs his neck-

light snow: *a female figure resembling a yuki onna* fufufufufu~<3

Tanizaki: "GRK!" *swinging his arms* "Let go!"

-...-

yosano: *swinging her cleaver*

???: "Really?" *it's a woman in an old-fashion nurse's outside, with a butterfly head, dodging* "How uncouth. Still, a butcher is a butcher..." *a butterfly lands on her knuckles* "Broken psyche, dear?"

yosano: *SLASH*

*Butterfly Nurse's arm is sliced off*

Thou Shalt Not Die: *antenna twitches...before the arm breaks apart into multiple butterflies--aiming for Yosano*

yosano: !!!!

-…-

-SLASH SLASH-

all are created equal: *taking the form of a younger fukuzawa* tch- is that the best you've got in you, old man?

Fukuzawa: "..." *smiles* "Hardly. For what I lack in speed and strength at my old age, I have gained much you haven't yet..."

-elsewhere-

Kunikida: "Let's move...We find our colleagues, find this Shibusawa, then--"

*BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM*

atsushi: ?!?!?

lone poet: *taking the form of a child kunikida* hehehe *takes a page that says 'hand grenade' and throws the grenade at the building*

Kunikida: "Son of a..."

Kyoka: "...Retreat. We can't stop him with that many pages..."

atsushi: crud crud crud what do we do??!!

Kunikida: "Here." *shoves something at Atsushi*

atsushi: um.... .___. is this a g-g-gun?!

Kunikida: "What does it look like?! AAH!" *clutches his side* "Get out! Find Shibusawa. Stop them."

Kyoka: "..." *spots a sword on Fukuzawa's wall* "..." *takes it*

atsushi: ._. but what about you-

katya: *kicking a stone across the street* .....where the fuck is everyone?!

Chuuya: *calling out* "SONIA!"

pushkin: *shivering* chilly.

katya: oi, akutagawa, how's shit on your end?

Chuuya: "Then just move faster."

-static-

pushkin: listen, i know you're freaked out, i mean, i would be too if it were one of my siblings-

???: ....A5158, do you read me?

katya: (the fuck?)

Chuuya: "..." *snatches the walkie talkie* "The hell you calling for?"

ango: it's time to repay your debt to professor spectacles.

katya: ????

pushkin: ??????

Chuuya: "...Now...of all times..."

pushkin: um, chuu—

Chuuya: "Where are you?"

ango: the underground base.

Chuuya: "...I'm in the middle of something--"

ango: it can wait, right now, death city is in danger-

Chuuya: "NOT AS DANGEROUS AS I WILL BE!"

pushkin: oXo;;;

ango: what could be so important to you right now?

pushkin: we're trying to find his daughter!

Chuuya: *punches Pushkin's head*

katya: YOU WANT TO FUCKING DIE, SHITHEAD?!

Chuuya: "YOU HELPING ME FIND SONIA OR NOT?! NO? THEN I'LL KILL YOU!" *slams his foot down*

ango: we can help you find sonia, that is if you arent too busy with infighting.

Chuuya: "...And as usual, you want payment..."

ango: yes.

Chuuya: "...I'm on my way."

pushkin: we'll keep looking for sonia.

katya: *grumbling*

Chuuya: "Find her."

pushkin: we will!

-elsewhere-

futon: fufufu~

-cables are attacking at katai-

Katai: "Yoshiko, stop!" *armed with a spatula*

yoshiko: i wouldnt be holding metal if i were you~

Katai: "Huh?"

-exposed cords try to grab the spatula to shock him-

Katai: "EEEK!" *trying to swing away from the cords*

-BRZRT-

Katai: "AAAAAH!" *lets go*

-meanwhile-

Poe: *throwing book after book* "Back, you foul creature!"

black cat: *HISSSS*

Poe: "Begone! Lana!" *running away*

-meanwhile-

Fitzgerald: *sips his drink*

TGF: *KICKS AT HIS HEAD*

Fitzgerald: *knocked down* "Ah! Blast it...You made me spill!"

TGF: *fighting stance and grins*

Fitzgerald: "..." *tosses the glass behind himself, letting it shatter* "When I find that insane upstart, I'm going to wring him dry." *old-boxer pose* "Bring it, Old Sport."

-meanwhile-

Dumas: "Would you two SNAP OUT OF IT!"

marquis: zzzzz

cervantes: ONWARDS, TO PARADISE! NYOHOHO!

Dumas: "There is no paradise, you goofball! You're suffering from your own hallucinations--"

windmill monster: *ROOOOAR*

Dumas: "See?! It's just your imagination--"

-the windmill then opens its mouth, pulling them in-

Dumas: "...Oh, son of a--" *trying to claw through the air as they're pulled in*

-meanwhile-

Walter: "Spooky...It's like Scooby Doo, and I have my mom's van, so all we need is a team pet, like a dog, or a cat, or a cockroa--"

Kafka: *GLARE*

Walter: OwO;

leroux: Q.Q;;;;

etta: ^^;

george: *sweatdrop*

Kafka: "We're here to find Sonia, so let's get on with this. George, can't you warp her here and we be done with this?"

george: it doesnt work like that, i dont think. im still getting used to it, and even then, she'd have to be near water.

Kafka: *grumbles* "Perfect..."

Walter: "I could make some duplicates to help find her faster!" *closes his eyes...grunts...clenches...* "..." *opens one eye* "...Where are Walts 1, 2, and 5?"

-something hits the side of the van-

etta: EEK!

george: what the heck?!

Kafka: "Can't you drive properly?!"

Walter: "WE'RE PARKED!"

Kafka: "Bother..." *looks in the rearview mirror--*

-THUD-

Kafka: "...What the hell?!"

leroux: what's going on?!

etta: *being pulled up to the ceiling* AH!

Walter: "Etta!" *reaches up--*

*the door flies off the hinges, as hands drag Walter away*

Walter: "EEEK!"

Kafka: "Walter--!"

leroux: !!!!

george: *runs out to follow them*

???: "Hello, Gaston~"

Kafka: "George! Get back here! We don't--" *follows--then is knocked down by something big and foul*

leroux: *his stomach drops* n-no...

*The ability of Leroux looks like Christine*

"Christine": "Never fear, my love...I won't let you go~"

???: "And neither will I, child..." *tightens the puppet strings around Etta's limbs*

etta: grk- RORO, RUN FOR IT!

leroux: *frozen on the spot in shock*

"Christine": *takes his arms* "Shall we dance?" *spins him out of the van*

leroux: AH! *skids slightly along the road* o-ow...

"Christine": *dances towards him* "Oh, we will have such fun now."

-elsewhere-

Mori: "..."

???: rintarou....

Mori: "?!" *spins around*

-a female looking figure with long blond hair, covered eyes, and exaggerated feminine features staggers toward him, flashing a grin full of teeth-

Mori: "!!! What-what?!"

-the figure lunges at him, claws out-

Mori: "You-You're not Elise!" *pulls a scalpel out of his sleeve--stabbing*

figure: *SCREEEEEEE*

Mori: "What the hell are you?!"

figure: vita....sexualis....*hissing*

Mori: "...Like hell you are. What have you done with Elise?!"

-it's head twists, now displaying elise' face-

elise?: RiNtArOu~

Mori: *stops himself, frozen* "..."

-meanwhile-

katya: .....?! *pulls out her pistol* pushkin, you armed?

Pushkin: "Always!" *shows*

-something is thrown at them-

katya: *dodges and shoots at the assailant*

Pushkin: <The hell was that?!>

-a figure is shuffles towards them, it looks emaciated save for a bloated stomach. it seems to have a plague doctor's mask on-

katya: <the fuck?>

-another figure looks to be in a military uniform-

Pushkin: <...Kati? That one...it's ticking?>

katya: nyeh? ......?!?! oi... can you use your ability right now?

Pushkin: "..." *grabs her arm* "...You infected?"

katya: <dont think so, but i cant use my ability for some reason!>

Pushkin: <So that means...>

Soldier: *TICK TICK* *pulls back their gas mask...revealing--*

10 seconds: *their face is clockwork*

katya: well <shit>

Pushkin: >_<# <YOUR MASK LOOKS STUPID, YOU BLOATED JERK!> *picks up Katya, runs*

-elsewhere-

Dazai: "Hmm..." *groans* *opens his eyes*

-it appears he is in a room, and now wearing a white suit, with his regular clothes folded on the chair next to his bed-

Dazai: “...” *shifts in the clothes* “Comfortable enough. The socks are a little tight, though.”

nox:...this way, please.

Dazai: "..." *smiles* "Well, hello~ I have you to thank for this trip?"

nox: -_- master shibusawa is expecting you.

Dazai: "Lead the way to 'master'..." *follows*

-in a dining room of sorts, shibusawa smiles-

shibusawa: i hope the accommodations are to your liking, mr dazai.

Dazai: "...The socks are tight. Why the new attire?" *sits*

shibusawa: aesthetic, for the most part.

Dazai: "I prefer comfort to aesthetic..." *looks at the symbol on the wall* "And you prefer giant symbols to clarity."

shibusawa: oh this? it's the odal rune. it translates to 'heritage'.

Dazai: "I see...Showboating your family's status?"

shibusawa: perhaps. my father was always quite dramatic. but let's skip the history lesson for now, you want to know what it is i want, yes?

Dazai: "I'm nothing if not eternally curious. So, what is it?"

shibusawa: i would simply like to add the abilities of death city to my collection. i was told by a mutual acquaintance that the ability i've been searching for resides in this city. a city of second chances, a city where anything is possible.

Dazai: "Not sure that answers all of my question: why do you seek abilities?"

shibusawa: quite simply, i'm rather bored. there is hardly anything that surpasses my expectations. and i believe this particular ability will do so.

Dazai: "Hmm...Familiar. Still, sounds quite dull."

shibusawa: indeed.

Dazai: "Perhaps your expectations are not realistic."

shibusawa: you're quite foolish if you think you can read me so easily, mr dazai. it's also foolish to assume that i cant read you.

Dazai: "And we're back to expectations: as expected, you require salvation. The question is, who is here to save you: an angel, or a devil?"

shibusawa: speaking of 'devils'...

Dazai: "...Typical."

Fyodor: "Greetings." *sits* "Let's cut to the chase: I already know your intentions." *looks at Shibusawa*

shibusawa: is that any way to go treating your benefactor, mr dostoyevsky?

Dazai: "Well, out of the three of us, he’s the most likely to turn traitor..."

Fyodor: "Exactly."

shibusawa: *light chuckle* as i said, there is nothing that surpasses my expectations, so i look forwards to working with you both~ ^^

nox: master shibusawa!!

shibusawa: hm?

nox: the girl, s-she's nowhere to be found!

shibusawa:....you and lux go retrieve her then. it will be too dangerous for a child her age to be wandering around unattended.

Dazai: "..."

shibusawa: hmm? is there something you'd like to say, mr dazai?

Dazai: *smiles* "Parenting is challenging, is it not? Not everyone loses a child."

shibusawa: .....that's quite the interesting subject to bring up here of all places.

Dazai: "Did I? I suppose it's on my mind."

shibusawa: oh?

Fyodor: "Because he got some woman pregnant."

shibusawa: is that so?

Dazai: *smiles* "Any different than the woman _you_ impregnated, Dostoyevsky?"

Fyodor: *smiles back* "A coincidence."

Dazai: "Hmm...At least the mother of my child is in her right frame of mind. Not broken by you."

shibusawa: ....

Fyodor: "I suppose you're the paragon of parenting? Do you even have parents?"

Dazai: "I doubt either of us is the authority. Perhaps a third party?"

shibusawa: you're both clearly doomed to fail as parents, so you'll get no sympathy nor advice from me.

Fyodor: "..."

Dazai: "Fair."

-elsewhere-

katya: i think we lost them for now...

Pushkin: *nods* "Right...Just one thing..." <WHAT THE EVER-LOVING CRAP WAS THAT?!>

katya: <hell if i know!> *grumble* <i'm seriously gonna need a cig after this shit.>

???: aleksey?!

katya: hnn? .__.

Pushkin: O_____O;;;;

zhanna: *HUGS* you're ok! i'ts been too long!

katya: ._______. (t-tall.....)

Pushkin: ^^; "You're looking well. What're you doing here?"

zhanna: well, i was on a TV interview this morning, but now, i dont know where i am, but i was being attacked by a strange being. even odder, im not able to use my ability.

Pushkin: "Hey, same here!"

zhanna: hmm....in any case, it's dangerous to stay out here.

Pushkin: "R-Right...Let's find somewhere. You got wheels?"

zhanna: *she nods*

katya: ._.

Pushkin: "Great! Let's roll! ...Oh, and this is Katya!" ^w^

katya:...nice to...meet you...ma'am.....

zhanna: ?? is she alright?

Pushkin: "My friend is fine--she just noticed we have tall genes!"

katya: im not jealous.....totally not....*shaking* =A=

zhanna: *sweatdrop*

-elsewhere-

atsushi: ......

Kyoka: *leading him* "This way--no one is here."

atsushi:....*shaking a bit*

Kyoka: "...You have to stay calm. What's wrong?"

atsushi: just feel uneasy......this shibusawa....i feel like i've seen them before, and not just on the train either, no, i think it was before even that, but i dont know where i met them....

Kyoka: "Then perhaps your knowledge about them could help us locate--"

*SLASH*

atsushi: !!!!

Demon Snow: *slashes at them, Kyoka just managing to shove Atsushi out of the path*

Kyoka: "!"

Demon Snow: *faces Atsushi*

atsushi: !!!!

Demon Snow: *rushes*

atsushi: *aims the gun*

Demon Snow: *approaching*

atsushi: *tries to shoot* !! oh no, the safety's still on!

Kyoka: "Atsushi!"

Demon Snow: *raises sword--*

*KICK*

atsushi: ??!

Demon Snow: *just stunned--as someone lands in front of Atsushi*

atsushi:..... .___________________. *INTERNAL SCREAMING*

Akutagawa: "...Weretiger. Kyoka."

Kyoka: *nods* "Hello. There's a warrant out for you."

Akutagawa: "I am aware. I also see that your ability is not under control."

atsushi: *SWEATS*

Kyoka: "If you haven't noticed, abilities are attacking others."

Akutagawa: "I know." *thumbs behind him...where Rashomon is rushing at him*

rashomon: *LUNGES*

atsushi: O_O;;;;

Akutagawa: *sighs--grabs Atsushi, leaping away*

Kyoka: *follows, as Demon Snow slices at her*

atsushi: *INTERNALLY SCREAMING*

rashomon: *following suit*

Akutagawa: "Where is your ability, Weretiger? And what are you seeking to risk your lives like this?"

atsushi: its a bit complicated to explain right now!

Akutagawa: "Hmm...I'm seeking Sonia, Chuuya's child. Have you seen her? Also, I still have not killed--"

Kyoka: *slicing at Demon Snow*

atsushi: sorry, i havent, also thanks for the update. -_-;

-tiger growls-

atsushi: OxO

Akutagawa: "..." *small smile* "Well, this is interesting..."

atsushi: *turns and looks* OxO;;;;

rashomon: *attacking the tiger*

Kyoka: "...Universal constant: you two are always at each other's throats."

atsushi: maybe we should run now?

Kyoka: "Agreed."

Akutagawa: "This way..."

atsushi: *following*

Akutagawa: "The Port Mafia maintains bases throughout the city. This way..."

-elsewhere-

"Christine": "Hee hee..." *swings Leroux around, dancing...twisting his arms*

leroux: *yelps*

"Christine": *dips him* "You're still the handsome man I remember...But...Why didn't you come back for me~?"

leroux: ...

"Christine": "Did you...want me to die?"

leroux: of course i never wanted for that! y-you arent really christine, are you? you're just....wearing her face...

"Christine": "Oh~? That's not all I'm wearing..." *her hand slides down his abs...*

leroux: .////.;

Christine: "Fufufu~ All fired up? How appropriate. How adorable...My doll..."

leroux: ?! *looking down*

*they're...pillowy?*

leroux: ??

*his hands are...pillowy*

Christine: "My possession..." *holds him, as his body turns into a doll...*

leroux: !!! *jumps back* NO!

*he reverts*

Christine: "You _dare_ scorn _me_?!" *the side of her face is chipping away* "After you let me die?!"

leroux: *panting, shaking* no... you're not her, though i must say, that is quite a dirty trick, phantom.

Christine: "..." *wicked smile* "It took you long enough...Master..." *the facade falls away...*

leroux: ....

Phantom: "What would you have left without me? Without your memories...Without that ability you had gifted to you, what are you worth, anyway?"

leroux: *looks around*

*there's an antique shop...with a sword on display...but it's late and the door is locked...but there is the display window...*

leroux: allow me to show you. *takes a rock and smashes the window, taking the sword* allow me to challenge you to a duel.

leroux: at least, i can give her the peace she deserves.

-meanwhile-

Kafka: *running as fast as he can, clutching his arm, dislocated from his shoulder* "Goddamn it..."

roach: *following after him, screeching*

Kafka: ("Think--think! Okay--I always have problems in tight spaces...") *ducks into an alley*

roach: *HISSSSS*

Kafka: ("Damn it! Still following!") *studies his surroundings--then spots a back door in an office building* ("Yes! And the entrance is narrow enough to slow it down...") "Right this way, you ugly bastard!"

-meanwhile-

etta: *running as fast as she can go*

Nutcracker: "Return to me, dearie..." *launches strings...out of its mouth*

etta: LEAVE ME ALONE!

Nutcracker: "Etta, dearest lady...You can do still more for me..." *strings latch onto her wrists, as well as around her waist*

etta: *screams*

Nutcracker: "After all, you are my instrument. What would you be without me? A subpar dancer, a flighty little girl who flirts and cajoles to get what she doesn't deserve...A murder, who killed her own father."

etta: *struggling to pull away*

Nutcracker: "Stubborn...I'll have to discipline you yet again...Why can't you just do as you are told?"

etta: *making her way to the elevator* because im not just a doll to be played around with! im...not...property!

Nutcracker: "?!! Stop that! You'll slice your limbs off!"

etta: *reaching for the elevator button*

*ding* *the doors open*

etta: yes!

-meanwhile-

-SLASH SLASH CLANG-

Phantom: "Isn't this far more preferable? At least this way, you're not alone, love~"

-SLASH-

Phantom: "!!!"

leroux: HAH!

*the slash knocks the Phantom into the elevator cables*

Phantom: "!!! Gaston! M-My love...Please! Don't--"

leroux: *STAB*

Phantom: "GRRRK! ...Ga-Gaston..."

-the sword pierces the red gem on the phantom's mask-

*The Phantom starts shaking--as the ability leaks out of her to Leroux...Her convulsions electrify the elevator cables--until they sever...*

-meanwhile-

Kafka: *leading the roach through the building's halls* ("Just this way...Come on--COME ON! I can't die like this! I...I still have too much to do, like--")

-like what?-

Kafka: "..." ("...Like tell Etta I love her...and fix my mess of a life...")

-meanwhile-

*the elevator is in front of Etta*

etta: yes!

*SCREECH* *CRUNCH* *the entire elevator car, cut from its cables, drops like a rock*

etta: ..... <son of a BITCH!>

*something is crackling down in the elevator shaft...it's a fire!*

etta: !!!!!!!!

Nutcracker: *wraps strings around her neck* "Let's finish this...once and for all, child!"

etta: no....

Nutcracker: *chokes her*

etta: grk-

*Etta can see someone coming around the corner, running at her*

etta: f-fran-

Kafka: "ETTA! DUCK!"

etta: *gets down*

Nutcracker: "?!" *turns* "What the devil are you?"

roach: *charges* SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

Kafka: *growls* "Just a lowly bug..." *collapses--as his space on the floor lets the roach trip over him*

roach: O-o *slams into the nutcracker, sending them both down the shaft*

Nutcracker: "NOOOOOOOoooo..."

*the sound of something like wood splintering and crackling in the fire is heard, along with the horrifying shriek of a dying insect...*

-when they land, the red gems shatter, allowing the two abilities to return to their owners-

etta: *coughing* f-franz!

Kafka: *clutching his side, where the roach triped over him* "Gah..." *looks down at the bruise...it's healing* *looks up* "Etta..." *crawls to her...* "...Your wrists..." *takes her hands, where there are cuts along them*

etta: *winces* o-ow....

Kafka: "I-I'm so sorry..."

etta: i...it was so scary...i...i....uuuu....*she sobs*

Kafka: *holds her, crying as well* "It's okay...Y-You're safe...Thank God."

etta: *hic* *shaking*

Kafka: *holds her close, stroking her head*

etta: *sniff*

-the walkie talkies crackle-

leroux: is everyone alright?

Kafka: "..." *calls in* "We're alive. We have retrieved our abilities. Leroux?"

leroux: oh thank goodness. did you destroy the red crystal then?

etta: red crystal?

Kafka: "...Whatever it was, it likely burned in the fire."

leroux: yes, that's the thing controlling the abilities.

Kafka: "...Then any other ability users who don't know this...Have you been able to contact anyone else? Walter? George? The others?"

leroux: i just contacted them, but walter said he was in the middle of something...

-meanwhile-

Walter Prime: *staring down Walters 1, 2, and 5* "So...it's come down to this..."

walter 5: indeed.

walter 1: lets do this.

Walter 2: "Right..."

*All four Walters reach into their back pockets, removing...Nintendo 3Ds*

Walters: "LET'S SETTLE THIS--IN SMASH!"

walter 5: i call dibs on meta knight!

Walter 2: "D'aw! Fine! Falco!"

Walter Prime: "What?! How cliche can you get?!"

walter 1: no way. all fox. final destination. no items.

Walter Prime: -_-; "What did I just say about 'cliche'?" *picks Jigglypuff*

-elsewhere-

atsushi: .......*ahem*....so.....akutagawa....how's it going?

Akutagawa: "Sturm und Drang treats us well. We have locked up Mori for our own protection. I have not killed Pushkin."

Kyoka: =_=

atsushi: i....see......so....been a crazy 6 months, huh?....*SWEATING*

Akutagawa: "Yes. It has. ... ... ..."

atsushi:......*gulps*

Kyoka: "...If I remember the floor layout, our floor is just 8 more below--"

Akutagawa: "When do we go out?"

atsushi: *COUGH COUGH*

Kyoka: "I just said--8 more floors."

Akutagawa: "Right. Thank you."

atsushi: *FORCED LAUGHTER*

Akutagawa: "I have communicators for you. Rashom-- ..." *reaches into his coat to remove them himself* "Here."

atsushi: oh, um... thank you. ......

Akutagawa: "..." *nods* "You're welcome." *faces forward* "Underground, the fog won't reach us. But to reclaim our abilities, we have to defeat them."

atsushi: oh?

Akutagawa: "Yes." *taps an earpiece* "I overheard members of Sturm und Drang say so. There is a red crystal on each ability that must be shattered or otherwise destroyed."

atsushi: i see. thanks for the info then.

Akutagawa: "For now, we are allies, only because we have the same goal: to stop Shibusawa."

atsushi: did you get in contact with mr sakaguchi too or...?

Akutagawa: "Chuuya did."

atsushi: ah...did he mention anything about dazai? we heard he was kidnapped...

Akutagawa: "You fool."

atsushi: eh? o.o

Akutagawa: "Dazai _let_ himself be kidnapped, willingly."

atsushi: ....well, m-maybe he has a plan. his plans have worked before in the past, like with cannibalism, and the incident with the guild.

Akutagawa: "You have such faith in him?"

atsushi: i guess so, yeah. I know, he's done some really bad things, but i think he is putting effort into being a better person...

Akutagawa: "...Hmph."

*elevator ding*

Kyoka: *leads them out...*

atsushi:....*following*

-elsewhere-

Dumas: O___o "...This is why I don't smoke that shit anymore..."

-two hands cover his eyes-

???: guess who, alex. ^^

Dumas: "..." *shakes* "M-Mer?"

mercedes: ^^ hehe

Dumas: *surprised laugh* "Hi! H-How did you..."

mercedes: covering your eyes isnt exactly rocket science, you goof. ^^

Dumas: "N-No...How are you _here_?"

mercedes: ?? why wouldnt i be? we live here, remember?

Dumas: "...Cadaqués..."

mercedes: it's beautiful, isnt it? *she smiles and rubs her stomach*

Dumas: "..." *smiles, rests a hand over hers* "Yes...Think there's enough room for the little one?"

mercedes: i think so.

Dumas: "..." *hugs her* "Oh, thank God."

mercedes: !!....*hugs him.....as a shadowy arm emerges behind dumas*

Dumas: "Wh-What's wrong?"

mercedes: just relax....we can stay like this....forever...~

Dumas: "Y-Yes...And we can find a name..." *rests a hand on her stomach...* "Maybe...Miguel? Marcus? ...Wait..."

-the shadow prepares to strike-

Dumas: "...N-No...Where are they? Where--ARG!"

-SLAP SLAP SLAP-

cervantes: dumaaaaaas! you there buddy?

Dumas: (ಠ_ಠ) "...ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!"

cervantes: you're alive! thank goodness!

Dumas: *clutches Cervantes by the neck* "YOU SON OF A BITCH!"

cervantes: OwO;;

marquis: *cuddling dumas' side* =///w///=

Dumas: "..." *lets go of Cervantes, buries his face in his hands, small whimper*

cervantes: ...*pap pap*

Dumas: "Wh-What even happened?"

cervantes: long story short, our abilities went coco loco.

Dumas: "...Was that all? So, why aren't they 'loco' now?"

cervantes: *shrug* for now, lets get somewhere safe before they attack us again.

Dumas: -_-# "Where's 'somewhere'? What even caused it?" *looks around*

-elsewhere-

shibusawa: *leading fyodor and dazai into a room*

-the room they enter is a large, circular room with what seems to be an ornate golden well in the center, and the wall containing several hundreds of red crystals-

shibusawa: welcome to the room of draconia.

Dazai: "Shiny." *looks around* "Impressive collection."

shibusawa: it wouldnt be nearly as impressive without mr dostoyevsky's information. speaking of, how _do_ you get your intel?

Fyodor: *smiles* "Rats tend to be everywhere."

Dazai: 3: *deadpan* "Meow."

-vriin-

shibusawa: and it seems another one has been added to my collection.

Dazai: "So, one wants to acquire abilities...and one wants to kill ability users..."

Fyodor: *smirks*

shibusawa: still, they have no value if i cant find that specific ability.

Dazai: "...Oh, I see. You're lonely and want a friend."

shibusawa: please, to me, human beings are nothing more than walking bags of flesh. their daily actions are always so predictable and simple to understand, but there is one person i dont understand; myself.

Dazai: "Monologuing--always a helpful method for self-understanding. So, is that it? You bring in these abilities to learn more about yourself?"

shibusawa: if i can find that specific ability, then my search will be complete. tell me, *head tilts back to look at him* do you think there is someone who exists that can defeat their own ability?

Dazai: "...I see. When the Ability kills its user, you get that Ability in that crystal...and Fyodor eliminates another 'sinner.'"

shibusawa: precisely. although i wouldnt put it so biblically. i simply wish to see the light beyond the void.

Dazai: " 'Light'? 'Void'? Hmm...Speaking of, where do you think your assistants are?"

-elsewhere-

miyuri: *skipping along and humming* ^^

Sonia: "What is that song?"

miyuri: something mama used to sing to me. she had a nice singing voice...

Sonia: "..." ("...Had...") *looks around* "It's still empty here..."

miyuri: hmmmm....hmmmmmmm.

???: there you are, lady miyuri!

Sonia: "!!!"

miyuri: oh hi lux! hi nox!

Sonia: "!!!"

miyuri: oh hi lux! hi nox!

nox: lady miyuri, we're here to return you to your room. it's dangerous out here.

miyuri: but i havent thanked the nice person yeeeeet. >3<

Sonia: "Um..."

Lux: "Just come along, my lady..."

nox: ?!?! who-

miyuri: nope! sana and i are gonna look for the nice person first, then miyuri will go home.

Sonia: "..." *inches behind Miyuri* "Who are they?"

miyuri: owo oh, this is lux and nox, they work for tacchan!

Sonia: " 'Tacchan'..."

Lux: "You are coming with us, now!"

miyuri: nuuuuuuuuu! >n<

Lux: "Nox, ready?"

nox: you leave us no choice. *opens a portal*

Sonia: "?!"

nox: *reaches for miyuri*

Sonia: "..." *picks up a rock--and throws it at Nox*

nox: GRK-

Lux: "Nox!" *glares at Sonia* "You little shit!"

Sonia: "...Maybe this was a bad plan--"

Lux: *releases lightning*

miyuri: *grabs sonia's hand and runs*

Sonia: *follows, as Lux aims--* "Damn! I can't risk hitting the young lady..."

nox: urg...*touching their forehead, which is now bleeding* damn, that brat throws surprisingly hard...

Sonia: "What are their abilities?"

miyuri: well, lux can use lightening, and nox can use portals! it was one of nox's portals that miyuri fell into the last time by accident! and _that's_ how miyuri got outside the first time!

Sonia: " 'First time'? Th-This is too much--they're going to kill me at this rate..."

miyuri: QAQ NOOOO! LUX! DONT HURT SANA! YOU'RE BEING MEEEEEAN! >3<

Lux: "Lady Miyuri, this is for your own good..." *aims*

Sonia: ("Think...Lightning rod...Usually made from aluminum--so...") *spots a can* "..." *kicks the can--into Lux's forehead*

Lux: "GAH!" >~<#

miyuri: *runs with sonia*

Sonia: ("Papa...Mr. Kajii...I hope I did the right thing...") "Miyuri, duck into here!"

miyuri: ok!

-elsewhere-

Akutagawa: "Stop this immediately." *dodges*

rashomon: *GROWLS*

Akutagawa: "I said stop!" *punches*

Weretiger: *ROARS*

atsushi: *shooting*

demon snow: *SLASH SLASH*

Kyoka: *blocking with her blade* ("I need an opening...I need something...")

-SLASH-

Kyoka: "?!" *the cord tying the phone to her neck is sliced, causing the phone to fall to the floor*

demon snow: *SWINGS*

Kyoka: *eyes widen* "..."

-riiing...riiiing....riiiing...-

{man: "Where's Kyoka?"}

{woman: she should be playing outside.}

{Kyoka: *a small child, bouncing a ball outside a traditional Japanese-style house*}

{Mr. Izumi: *smiles* "It was worth coming home early..."}

{???: *a figure rushes in with a knife in hand*}

{-shrk-}

{???: *collapses with a knife in their throat*}

{Mr. Izumi: "It's best to keep work and home life separate." *had tossed the knife*}

{mrs izumi: fufufu, indeed. ^^}

{Mr. Izumi: *removes the gun from the assassin--and shots into the ceiling*}

{???: *falls down dead*}

{???: ....}

{demon snow: *slashes the grunt behind mrs izumi*}

{Mr. Izumi: *looks around* "..."}

{-drip-}

{Mr. Izumi: "???" *taps his cheek*}

{mrs izumi: ?? is everything alright, dear?}

{Mr. Izumi: "...I've been cut..."}

{mrs izumi: oh dear-}

{*FOOM*}

{demon snow: *blade block*}

{mrs izumi: !!!!!!}

{Mr. Izumi: "?! It-It's not me! My body is moving on its own..."}

{-the door opens-}

{mrs izumi: !!!!!!!!!!!! k-kyou-}

{Kyoka: "Papa?"}

{Mr. Izumi: "..." *his body rushes at Kyoka* "STRIKE ME DOWN--NOW!"}

{-SLASH-}

{Mr. Izumi: *collapses...he's not moving*}

{Kyouka: *stunned*}

{mrs izumi:....*feeling the blood on her cheek slide into her ear* ?!?!? *involuntarily picks up a knife* demon snow....please....}

{Kyoka: *stares*}

{mrs izumi:....protect kyouka...}

{-SLASH-}

-…-

Kyoka: "..."

{-in a green field...-}

{Kyoka: "..." *looks around*}

{-nothing but clear skies and fields for miles...-}

{Kyoka: "Demon Snow...It is the embodiment of slaughter...Even so..."}

{mrs izumi: even so....you want to use this ability to help people....right, kyouka? *she smiles*}

-SHRK-

atsushi: *holding a block which he used to block demon snow's blade* KYOUKA!

Kyoka: "..." *determined look* "I'm sorry." *readies her blade* "Let's finish her."

demon snow: *slashing*

-the red gem on her forehead shines a bit-

Kyoka: "There!"

Weretiger: *ROARS, leaps at Atsushi*

atsushi: GAH!

-he drops the gun-

Kyoka: *slashes at Demon Snow--*

demon snow: *blocking*

Kyoka: *presses further* "You...are mine!"

demon snow: ~i belong to no one!~

Weretiger: *lifts its clawed paw to bring down onto Atsushi--*

atsushi: *shoves the block into it's mouth*

Kyoka: "Do you forget?! What you promised?!"

Weretiger: OxO "ROAR?!"

demon snow: !!!! *stunned*

atsushi: *jumps onto the tiger's back, yanking the crystal off and throwing it to the ground, shattering it*

Kyoka: "What did my mother ask of you?! Will you refuse?"

Weretiger: *ROARS...before collapsing*

demon snow:....

Kyoka: "..." *suddenly has the gun Atsushi dropped, aims--*

-BANG! SHATTER-

Kyoka: "...Return."

demon snow: *reappears* ~...kyouka....please....forgive my behavior...~

Kyoka: "..." *small chop on the head* "Don't let it happen again."

atsushi: *collapses, panting* holy....freaking....dingus....*sigh*

*PURR*

atsushi: *looks up*

rashomon: *blink*

atsushi: *bolts upright* FHIHKJSKJKJFSKUHJBVFLDKSHBV!!!

Akutagawa: *petting Rashomon* *stares at Atsushi*

atsushi: um....hi. again.... ._.;;;;

Akutagawa: "...Well? Are you bringing the tiger forth again or not?"

atsushi: g-give me a sec ok.....*inhales* tiger-formation!..........................go tiger go!............heeeenSHIN!

Kyoka: "..."

Akutagawa: "...You can't summon it, can you?"

atsushi: i said give me a sec, jeez!.... HRNNNNG.....phweh.....*panting* GRAAAH WHY! ISNT! IT! WORKING?!

Akutagawa: "This is ridiculous--it's not working because you're not honest with yourself."

atsushi: what do you mean by that?

Akutagawa: "What are you?"

atsushi: ??

Akutagawa: "An ability user. A tiger. A beast. Until you accept what you are, you cannot utilize your gifts..."

atsushi: ..........i guess im not worth killing then, huh?

Akutagawa: "You insult me?"

atsushi: i-i didnt mean it like that- i mean.....it _has_ been six months since our agreement.......

Akutagawa: "...So, you haven't forgotten."

atsushi: *shakes head*

Akutagawa: "...I lost my home. My base. But you know what I didn't lose?"

atsushi: ??

*Rashomon leaps forward, flicking Atsushi hard on his forehead*

atsushi: >x<

Akutagawa: "An understanding of what I am. Reminders of what I have done, can do, and will do...If you won't stop Shibusawa, I will." *turns* "...And that's 'stop.' Not 'kill.'"

atsushi: .....

Akutagawa: "Have you forgotten what you have done?"

atsushi: i-

Kyoka: "Atsushi is more powerful than you realize. You're one to talk about forgetting the past."

atsushi: .......

Kyoka: "He's stopped you enough times--because he never gives up."

Akutagawa: "...Then why is he still standing there?"

atsushi: ........

Kyoka: "...Atsushi..."

Akutagawa: "Take the step forward or don't. But I will press on."

atsushi:.....*shaking*

Kyoka: "...Rest for a bit."

atsushi:....*sitting down, closing his eyes*

-elsewhere-

#death city days

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