The realization wasn't an obvious one; it wasn't something that someone could just point out, namely for the reason that none knew of its occurrence: it had happened since Karurosu was stranded on the frozen islands of Kirigakure, where he was inches away from meeting death and accepting her embrace. Spectres, spirits of the dead, grotesque subhuman things which roamed aimlessly without any kind of reason nor purpose, yet seemed to all be aware that he was aware of them.
When could he no longer see them?
Without any kind of immediate notice at their lacking appearance, only the vague time period of "around the time Karurosu had left Kirigakure" seemed accurate. There, where each poor soul who had died at the hand of whatever cruel deity amused themselves with such freak accidents seemed to linger on: was it that as he had approached a similar fate, it allowed for one to see the spiritual realm?
Perhaps.
There were so many who had died then, and far too many more that he wasn't sure of. Since he was forced to leave for Kumogakure, he hadn't time to assist with getting people out of there: it happened too suddenly. It was Hoshikata's fault. He was that monstrous figure who brought the tropical isles into its deep freeze. It was Hoshikata's fault. He was the one who prevented Karurosu from at least trying to save the uncountable others who weren't able to escape. It was Hoshikata's fault.
And just like the rest of them, I died.
Maruishi was proving itself a creature of habit: day in and day out, for weeks now, the people, the businesses, everything went through the same monotonous daily cycle. It had been some time that she worked with Kazuhiko in regaining something of a life: her motions were less mechanic and, with that, she was able to travel faster and farther than anticipated; though not for lengthy times -- the longest yet, being around half an hour -- she could keep to the pace of the crowded Maruishian streets in the day.
Like they usually did, several kids played along the market street that Kari found herself on. They ran and tagged each other, grabbed things, laughed and talked. They lived their lives. There was another, some girl who seemed close to their age sitting across from Kari, on the other side of the road. For some reason, she neglected to join her peers, and the peers neglected to even invite her. It was as though she wasn't there. For whatever reason, she hadn't any interest in them and them her. She failed to even give any a glance to acknowledge them. Likewise with any others who passed by. None noticed her, nor her them. Not once was her attention focused on but one thing: Kari.
It was something she quickly noticed. The girl didn't move in the slightest from where she was, likewise, Kari stayed and watched the street without stop until the sun had finally set; the girl was still there, she didn't move. She didn't leave. Although watching Kari the entire time, she didn't once work up any kind of nerve to speak to the adopted Akiyama. Not that it seemed that she desired to: her demeanor the entire time was so stoic. It was as though she expected something out of Kari and was begrudgingly waiting for the request to be completed, or something.
The girl remained at the surface of her thoughts the entire night. Why was she there? Why did she just watch Kari the entire time? It wasn't as though she was doing anything interesting, and even then, she had been doing the same thing everyday for a bit over two weeks now. Whatever surprise there initially was that there was some girl sitting upon a wall all day ended a while ago. If she wanted to say something, why didn't she? Was she too shy? Though, her face gave no indication of anything.
Sleep overcame curious wonder, eventually, and the questions faded away.
Morning came. Kazuhiko had left for the hospital. Kari took the opportunity to leave the house completely empty, choosing to go back to her resting place on the wall. It was early; elderly and the few people who actually enjoyed mornings were the few who roamed the streets. The short distance to the road she had grown so accustomed to in the two short weeks was empty still, all save for a single person. Her apathetic glare met Kari's as soon as she made it onto the road. Why was she still here?
The streets weren't crowded; she could still approach her. Kari did. The girl sat exactly where she had the day prior. She stared at Kari with that same stoic expression. She didn't react in the slightest to anything, not even Kari as she approached her.
"Why are you here?" Kari asked, once at an adequate distance to discuss with her. The girl stared at Kari, not in the slightest moving. No answer was given. Kari waited a few moments, until it seemed obvious she wasn't going to answer. "Well?"
It was answered with more silence.
Then it hit her. It was like recalling a memory, though this was one that she knew she didn't know. It was her, the girl before Kari, with and two others. She could feel some affinity towards the two: they trusted each other, they were partners. A team? Where ever they were, it was hazy; details seemed to be lacking on scenery, not that it mattered. Whatever this recollection was, it seemed to be about the other two: they were a team, the three. What did that have to do with anything, though?
Answering the thought, the memory shifted: the girl was leaning over the two. They were...they were dead. The girl was crying, trying to heal them. She couldn't. She was powerless to help them; familiar fates happened far too often with Karurosu as well.
Kari shook the memory away. "You couldn't save them...why show me?" Again, no vocal answer. No implanted memory this time, either. She moved for the first time; she pointed towards two distance structures. The Sisters far off on the other side of the city: the access point for Maruishi. What was there? Glancing back to where she was frightened Kari. The girl wasn't there. She had vanished completely.
When could he no longer see them?
Without any kind of immediate notice at their lacking appearance, only the vague time period of "around the time Karurosu had left Kirigakure" seemed accurate. There, where each poor soul who had died at the hand of whatever cruel deity amused themselves with such freak accidents seemed to linger on: was it that as he had approached a similar fate, it allowed for one to see the spiritual realm?
Perhaps.
There were so many who had died then, and far too many more that he wasn't sure of. Since he was forced to leave for Kumogakure, he hadn't time to assist with getting people out of there: it happened too suddenly. It was Hoshikata's fault. He was that monstrous figure who brought the tropical isles into its deep freeze. It was Hoshikata's fault. He was the one who prevented Karurosu from at least trying to save the uncountable others who weren't able to escape. It was Hoshikata's fault.
And just like the rest of them, I died.
Maruishi was proving itself a creature of habit: day in and day out, for weeks now, the people, the businesses, everything went through the same monotonous daily cycle. It had been some time that she worked with Kazuhiko in regaining something of a life: her motions were less mechanic and, with that, she was able to travel faster and farther than anticipated; though not for lengthy times -- the longest yet, being around half an hour -- she could keep to the pace of the crowded Maruishian streets in the day.
Like they usually did, several kids played along the market street that Kari found herself on. They ran and tagged each other, grabbed things, laughed and talked. They lived their lives. There was another, some girl who seemed close to their age sitting across from Kari, on the other side of the road. For some reason, she neglected to join her peers, and the peers neglected to even invite her. It was as though she wasn't there. For whatever reason, she hadn't any interest in them and them her. She failed to even give any a glance to acknowledge them. Likewise with any others who passed by. None noticed her, nor her them. Not once was her attention focused on but one thing: Kari.
It was something she quickly noticed. The girl didn't move in the slightest from where she was, likewise, Kari stayed and watched the street without stop until the sun had finally set; the girl was still there, she didn't move. She didn't leave. Although watching Kari the entire time, she didn't once work up any kind of nerve to speak to the adopted Akiyama. Not that it seemed that she desired to: her demeanor the entire time was so stoic. It was as though she expected something out of Kari and was begrudgingly waiting for the request to be completed, or something.
The girl remained at the surface of her thoughts the entire night. Why was she there? Why did she just watch Kari the entire time? It wasn't as though she was doing anything interesting, and even then, she had been doing the same thing everyday for a bit over two weeks now. Whatever surprise there initially was that there was some girl sitting upon a wall all day ended a while ago. If she wanted to say something, why didn't she? Was she too shy? Though, her face gave no indication of anything.
Sleep overcame curious wonder, eventually, and the questions faded away.
Morning came. Kazuhiko had left for the hospital. Kari took the opportunity to leave the house completely empty, choosing to go back to her resting place on the wall. It was early; elderly and the few people who actually enjoyed mornings were the few who roamed the streets. The short distance to the road she had grown so accustomed to in the two short weeks was empty still, all save for a single person. Her apathetic glare met Kari's as soon as she made it onto the road. Why was she still here?
The streets weren't crowded; she could still approach her. Kari did. The girl sat exactly where she had the day prior. She stared at Kari with that same stoic expression. She didn't react in the slightest to anything, not even Kari as she approached her.
"Why are you here?" Kari asked, once at an adequate distance to discuss with her. The girl stared at Kari, not in the slightest moving. No answer was given. Kari waited a few moments, until it seemed obvious she wasn't going to answer. "Well?"
It was answered with more silence.
Then it hit her. It was like recalling a memory, though this was one that she knew she didn't know. It was her, the girl before Kari, with and two others. She could feel some affinity towards the two: they trusted each other, they were partners. A team? Where ever they were, it was hazy; details seemed to be lacking on scenery, not that it mattered. Whatever this recollection was, it seemed to be about the other two: they were a team, the three. What did that have to do with anything, though?
Answering the thought, the memory shifted: the girl was leaning over the two. They were...they were dead. The girl was crying, trying to heal them. She couldn't. She was powerless to help them; familiar fates happened far too often with Karurosu as well.
Kari shook the memory away. "You couldn't save them...why show me?" Again, no vocal answer. No implanted memory this time, either. She moved for the first time; she pointed towards two distance structures. The Sisters far off on the other side of the city: the access point for Maruishi. What was there? Glancing back to where she was frightened Kari. The girl wasn't there. She had vanished completely.
Part 1: Fin.
WC: 1082
WC: 1082