Okay, here's the start of the second chapter! What will happen this time...? (For instance, will Shimohi Yukimura finally notice the tomato in the mirror?) ...Let's just get on with the game...
Warning!: This is based upon a game that's rated M for Blood, Drug
References, Strong Language, Suggestive (read 'Sexual') themes, and
Violence. If any of these things offend you, don't click on the link.
-Chapter 2: Part One-
-February 1865-
'After breakfast one day, I found myself on my way to the common room with a tray bearing tea.' (What kind of...) (Green tea, obviously!)
Shimohi Yukimura: "Tea's ready."
'I made my way around the room, pouring a cup of tea for each person there, making sure not to spill any. It was a routine I'd begun to feel accustomed to.'
Genzaburo Inoue: "Oh, thank you, Yukimura." I specifically heard "Yukimura-kun", but whatever...
'He gave me a warm smile as I handed him his tea.'
Genzaburo Inoue: "There is nothing quite so delicious as hot tea on a cold day."
Shimohi Yukimura: "Thank you..."
'I felt a flush of pride at his words, even though I knew quite well that serving tea was hardly anything impressive. Just the same, I felt as if I was helping out in a way, and that was a nice feeling.' Well, that's much better than being bored.
'It had been a year since I'd first come to Kyoto in search of my father.' And, so far, I had only that one lead that went nowhere...
'Living with the Shinsengumi wasn't easy, but they'd helped me look for him. Even after a year of searching, however, I hadn't found anything. Sometimes I felt like it was hopeless; like I'd never find him, and that I should just give up.' (Indeed. Settle down, find a husband, have some children...) (Of course you'd be the one to suggest that.)
'But the men of the Shinsengumi never gave up. They were always there to cheer me on, and keep me going. In a way, I suppose I'd grown to love living with them. And I'd even been able to repay them for some of their kindness, but helping treat the wounded at the Battle of Ikeda and during the Hamaguri Rebellion. Little by little, I started to feel like I was accepted; as if perhaps I was beginning to fit in.' (Are you sure that's not just Stockholm Syndrome...?)
'As strange as it might sound, I was beginning to feel as if I had found a place with the Shinsengumi. Then Hijikata spoke, and his words brought me back to the present.'
'Encyclopedia updated'
Toshizo Hijikata: "The Yagi have been good to us so far, but this place is getting crowded."
Shinpachi Nagakura: "Ture, it is getting a little small, especially with all the new guys coming in..."
Shimohi Yukimura: "You're going to be getting even more soon, right?"
'Heisuke was currently in Edo, recruiting more men for the Shinsengumi's ranks.' Aw man... (So is THAT the reason you had the Pansy and I play Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock to pick between three choices and why you said that you're NOT aiming for a harem of guys...) (Shimohi likes Heisuke...?) (That IS it...right...?!) *blush* ... (I think that counts as a "Yes.") (Figures that Shimohi would like him.)
'It was always good to have more soldiers, but they were beginning to run out of space at the compound. The rank and file soldiers were being packed into smaller and smaller rooms.'
Shinpachi Nagakura: "If we could move to a bigger place, that'd be great. The guys are starting to get a little grumpy about being packed together in those rooms every night."
'I couldn't exactly offer to share it, but I was starting to feel guilty for having a room of my own.'
Souji Okita: "Easy for us to say, but it's gonna be hard to find someone else who's willing to let us stay at their place. You have something in mind?"
'Hijikata's smile was almost predatory.' (I don't like the look of that...)
'Encyclopedia updated.'
Toshizo Hijikata: "The Nishi Hongwanji temple."
Souji Okita: "Ahahahaha! They aren't gonna like that very much! You're thinking we'll just force our way in? Guess I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Hijikata."
(Eminent Domain, Motherfuckers!)
Shimohi Yukimura: "Um..."
'I didn't leave the compound much, except to go on patrol with the men, so I still didn't know Kyoto very well, and I had no idea what sort of place this Nishi Hongwanji temple was.'
Sanosuke Harada: "It is pretty big, I'll give you that, but I really don't think the monks are going to take to a bunch of soldiers living in their temple. Still, the location's great. We'll be able to get out in the city a lot quicker than from out here in Mibu."
'Encyclopedia updated.'
'At the time, the Shinsengumi's headquarters was in the Mibu area, which was on the outskirts of Kyoto. Harada was right in that the current location made it difficult for the Shinsengumi to reach some parts of Kyoto quickly, which reduced thier effectiveness. Still...'
Shimohi Yukimura: "Will they really not want us there?"
(Remember that "Wolves of Mibu" shit...)
'Saito only shrugged.'
Hajime Saito: "The Nishi Hongwanji temple has been cooperating with the Choshu. Some of their ronin have stayed there."
(So... does this mean another raiding party!?)
Shimohi Yukimura: "Oh..."
'If they supported the Choshu, then that would make the Shinsengumi their enemy. Little wonder, then, that they would hardly welcome us with open arms.'
(That could be solved with a little raiding party... like what we did with the Ikeda Inn...)
Shimohi Yukimura: "..."
'That meant a whole other level of difficulty. Asking for a place to stay was hard enough, but asking that from an enemy...?'
(Dude, like I said, why "ask" when you can "take" ...in a...) Yes, a "raiding party". I know, I know...
'I fell silent, and Saito continued as if I'd never spoken.'
Hajime Saito: "No doubt they would be less than receptive to our overtures. On the other hand, if we should move into the Nishi Hongwanji temple, the Choshu will have one less place to hide their agents."
(*sigh* Saito has a point...) (Let me guess, you'd rather not admit that because of some ridiculus notion that, in this time period, an assassin on the Choshu side is our father...) (That's because he IS our father!) (No, Kenshin's not our father!) You keep telling yourself that...
Shimohi Yukimura: "Oh!"
'Of course! Not only was the location desirable, but taking the temple would make the enemy's movements more difficult. Whatever problems we had acquiring the temple would likely be worth it.' (Besides, I like raiding parties!) [sarcasm] Gee... We never noticed... [/sarcasm]
Keisuke Sanan: "You don't think it somewhat...uncouth to use force against men of the cloth?"
(Screw the priesthood! We do what we want!) (Of course someone like the Monster would say that...)
'There was no hiding his distaste for the idea.' (I can see why he wouldn't like that idea... But, then again they're not Christians, so why bother?) ... (And you said "I" was a jerk. At least I don't pick favorites.)
'Hijikata's voice was level, but firm as steel.'
Toshizo Hijikata: "The Choshu have used the temple to hide their men, and they couldn't have done that without the help of the monks."
Keisuke Sanan: "I agree that the Choshu must be dealt with, but this seems..."
'His voice trailed off. Although he was still clearly upset, there was little more he could say or do.'
Isami Kondou: "I agree with Toshi, but I have to concede that Sanan has a point."
'He nodded solemnly, apparently deep in thought.'
???: "Impressive as always, Chief Kondou. Only a man with a truly open mind can be so considerate of both his enemies and his allies."
(And who's this dou...) Mysterious unknown dude? (Hey! I was going for a Homestuck reference!)
Isami Kondou: "Oh? Well, it's very kind of you to say so, but I fear my behavior is simply imprudent, not open-minded."
'He blushed and coughed in an attempt at nonchalance as Hijikata and Okita scowled in silence at the exchange.'
'Encyclopedia updated.'
And here comes that depressing music again...
'The man who had just spoke was Kashitaro Itou, the new deputy commander. He had joined the Shinsengumi only recently. Kondou had left Heisuke in Edo and returned early with Itou and some of his men who had come to join the Shinsengumi.'
'Encyclopedia updated.'
'He was reputedly a master of the Hokushen Itto sword style, and ran a school of his own. When Itou was introduced to the captains, none of them seemed particularly pleased with his addition to their ranks. No sooner had Itou and Kondou left the room than they began to talk amongst themselves.'
Hajime Saito: "I've heard Itou is an imperial nationalist. Why would someone such as him join the Shinsengumi?"
Sanosuke Harada: "He's like the Choshu, then? Huh. You really think someone like that can get along with us?"
'Hijikata grunted and pursed his lips for a moment.'
'Encyclopedia updated.'
Toshizo Hijikata: "Kondou's a national loyalist. They might not agree on the shogun and the emperor, but they're both nationalists, through and through."
'They might disagree about who should run the country, but neither of them wanted a foreign nation exerting its control over their country.'
'Encyclopedia updated.'
Toshizo Hijikata: "Besides, Kondou's a loyalist without a doubt, but he has a few imperialist tendencies of his own."
'Perhaps the different factions weren't quite so staunchly divided as they might appear. Would Kondou and the Shinsengumi work for a future where the shogunate controlled the country, but the emperor was still treated with respect? That seemed like a solution that could make everyone happy. If that was the case...then Kondou's version of a national loyalism was a wonderful thing.'
Shinpachi Nagakura: "I figure the only one of us who'd be very happy about Itou showing up would be Sanan, right?"
Sanosuke Harada: "True, they do both pratice Itto, right?"
Shinpachi Nagakura: "He knows Itou too, doesn't he? And Sanan is a bit of a loyalist..."
'I wouldn't have guessed and Sanan and Itou had so much in common. His expression didn't suggest that he was particularly happy, though.'
Keisuke Sanan: "Yes, I have met Itou. He is well-educated, and a skilled orator. With such a gifted deputy commander, I suppose that the Shinsengumi has little need for a colonel."
'...' (Wow... that sounds... sad.) (Akurei, having compassion for someone besides Shimohi? Now I've seen everything...)
'Sanans's words hung in the air, heavy and awkward. I didn't understand the ranks of the Shinsengumi, but as far as I could tell, a deputy commander outranked a colonel.'
Keisuke Sanan: "With Itou here, there is very little left for me to do."
'I hadn't even thought of it that way... Sanan felt that Itou was a threat to his own position. An awkward silence fell across the room.'
Souji Okita: "So? I don't like him."
'Okita was the first to speak.'
Sanosuke Harada: "Yeah, I know what you mean. There's something about he way he looks at you..."
Shinpachi Nagakura: "Exactly! I donno how to put it...like he's sort of...uppity, you know? Like he's looking down on you or something..."
Yeah...
'There was a good deal of nodding and agreeing among the three of them for a few moments while I sat and thought. Truth be told, I didn't feel particularly comfortable around Deputy Commander Itou either. It wasn't that he was a bad person, per se, only that he was... How to say it... Offputting?' (Oh, great, is Itou reminding you of that one asshole again...)
'Itou's thin smile had spread across his face when Sanan voiced his objection to Hijikata's plan, and now he turned and spoke.' And...it's suddenly back to the up-beat music again...
Kashitaro Itou: "You always think of all the possibilities, Sanan. I'm impressed, but I fear you may be over-thinking this. It could be a problem, yes, but..."
(Well, this blog is also home to the sub-series "Overthinking Things"...) (Shimohi's already posting something about a crazy theory and Doctor Who.)
'His tone was deferential, but it didn't quite match his words.'
Kashitaro Itou: "...Don't you think a slightly greater problem would be that your left arm is utterly useless?"
'Whatever warmth had remained in the room as abruptly gone.'
Kahitaro Itou: "Of course, you needn't be useless, even if you can no longer serve as a soldier. I'm sure that your wit and foresight will continue to be a great asset to the Shinsengumi and myself."
'It was as if Itou had taken a knife and driven it straight into Sanan's heart. I saw his shoulders sag, almost as he had been punched in the stomach, and all around the room, jaws were set and knuckles turned white.'
Toshizo Hijikata: "Perhaps I didn't hear you right, Itou."
'Hijikata's voice was cold and sharp, like the sound of a blade sliding across a whetstone.' Something tells me his next words are going to be cutting sharp...
Toshizo Hijikata: "Sanan's smart, like you said. but more than that, he's a swordsman of the Shinsengumi. He is not useless, and he is not replaceable!"
'Hijikata's last words erupted from his mouth in a snarl, and there was no mistaking their meaning.'
Keisuke Sanan: "But my arm is..."
'He couldn't even seem to bring himself to finish. No matter how much they might need a swordsman of his skill, Sanan could no longer wield a blade. They both knew his arm would never heal, and Hijikata's desperate defense of his friend had likely only made Sanan feel worse.'
Kashitaro Itou: "Oh dear. That was terribly rude of me. Truly, there could be no better news than hearing that your arm has healed."
'Itou's smile fooled no one, and Sanan feel silent.'
Toshizo Hijikata: "...Goddamnit."
'He only muttered it under his breath, but I was close enough to hear. Too late, Hijikata had realized his mistake.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "..."
'This was the first time I'd seen Hijikata so worked up. He might have been harsh, but he almost always projected an air of control. Perhaps Sanan's injury worried him enough to allow the mask to slip.'
Isami Kondou: "Ah...um...Itou."
'Kondou was clearly choosing his words carefully, in a very nearly desperate attemp to change the subject.'
Isami Kondou: "If...if you would care to, perhaps you might come and have a look at our training regimen?"
'Itou's eyes narrowed, and his mouth curled in a small smile.'
Kashitaro Itou: "My...how thoughtful of you. Yes, of course, I would love to have a look! Ah, the training room! Air heavy with the sweat of men straining to better themselves... Truly a delight!"
Isami Kondou: "The sweat of men...? Yes, I suppose you do have a point. The raining room has grown rather musty..."
'...Itou could be a very peculiar person... The two men left the room, chatting together as if nothing was wrong, and all eyes turned toward Sanan.'
Shinpachi Nagakura: "Sanan... Don't listen to that asshole, okay?"
(Yeah, I can see why he'd remind you of the asshole who called you a "retard" and refuses to actually apologise for it...)
Keisuke Sanan: "..."
Shimohi Yukimura: "Um..."
'Sanan said nothing. He stood up silently and left the room.'
Sanosuke Harada: "Man, I feel bad for him... Even the men are avoiding him these days."
Shimohi Yukimura: "What?!"
'It was the first I'd heard of such a thing, but then again, I didn't normally see anyone but the captains.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "I had no idea..."
Shinpachi Nagakura: "Well, he's kinda been a jerk lately. I imagine that's why."
'It wasn't hard for my to see why they would feel that way... Sanan had gotten even worse in the last several weeks.'
Sanosuke Harada: "He wasn't always like that, you know. Back in the day, he was always acting like he was looking out for everybody."
Shinpachi Nagakura: "Yeah. He was real nice, at least on the surface. Nothing left of that now..."
'...' (Now, are you going to hang out with Sanan to share the pain?) (Well, misery loves company...)
Shimohi Yukimura: "Do you really mean that...?"
'The way they spoke, it sounded as if any kindness Sanan had shown was always a facade.'
Souji Okita: "What the hell does Kondou see in that Itou guy?"
*hands Akurei a note* (Huh...? Oh, right, stuff that doesn't involve this storyline... "Indeed, the rest of the Nerdish Underground is having the wool pulled over their eyes by that asshole." ...)
'Okita and Hijikata had largely ignored Nagakura and Harada, but their faces were dark and stormy. It wasn't difficult to guess why.'
Toshizo Hijikata: "How the hell would I know? Probably just pulled the wool over Kondou's eyes with some well-spoken bullshit."
Exactly!
Souji Okita: "Then why don't you go get rid of him, Hijikata? Tell him the Shinsengumi doesn't need him."
'...Hijikata let out a frustrated sigh, and pinched the bridge of his nose.'
Toshizo Hijikata: "Now way Kondou'll go for that. He adores Itou. Besides, whe he joined he brought a bunch of men with him. You think they won't make a stink if we kick him out?"
Indeed... it feels like all my friends are turning against me to support a couple of jerks instead... "I'm as lonely as I've ever been..." ([sarcasm] Oh, great... [/sarcasm] is this going to result in another break down...?)
'Hijikata was right. He didn't like it any more than Okita did, but they were in a tight spot.'
Souji Okita: "Well damn! Aren't you supposed to be the Demon? The commander from Hell? You're supposed to make the impossible happen!"
Toshizo Hijikata: "Fine Souji, how about we make you the commander. Then you can kick Itou and his guys out, right?"
Souji Okita: "Ha! Hell no! That's way too much trouble."
'He gave a grin as he laughed, but when he finished, he sighed and his face fell.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "..."
'It looked like everyone was unhappy with Itou, but none of them knew quite what to do about him.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "Do you dislike Itou too, Saito?"
'I'd noticed earlier that he'd kept quiet while the others commiserated, and I wa curious what he thought. He looked at me for a moment, then spoke.'
Hajime Saito: "As an organization grows, it will expand to include people who have differing ideas and points of view."
'Then...was he supporting Itou's appointment to Deputy Commander? I was about to ask when he continued speaking.'
Hajime Saito: "However, if one attempts to force this sort of diversity, then the organization will begin to rot from within."
Shimohi Yukimura: "..."
'His words hung in the air, a dark omen for the future of the Shinsengumi. It was considerate of Itou to join, but his presence seemed to be a recipe for dissension, if not outright disaster.' Later...
'The setting sun glowed through the windows with a warm, rich red, and we decided to move outside, in the hope that it might raise our spirits...'
Shimohi Yukimura: "...It's cold..."
'Despite the sun, it seemed that spring was still far away.'
What month is this? *looks up* February? Yeah... it's not anywhere near spring yet...
Shimohi Yukimura: "..."
'I wasn't too fond of Itou, but it was Sanan and his condition that truly worried me.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "I really wish his arm would just heal..."
(There is a way but... Then he'd no longer be human any more...)
'That arm, or perhaps more accurately the lack of it, has been the source of his change in personality.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "Still..."
'As nice as it would be for Sanan's arm to simply start working again, that seemed like the stuff of a child's fable, not real life. That was when I remembered...'
Souji Okita: "If push comes to shove, he'll have to take it. I don't think Sanan's just going to give up."
(Take...what?) (The..."Strange Youth Water"...) (I still don't understand.) (The stuff that turns Humans into Rakshasa!)
Shinpachi Nagakura: "Don't jinx him, Souji. It's gonna look bad if officers start joining the Corps."
(...) (Oh yeah, you're human, of course you don't understand...)
'The Shinsengumi had some sort of...something. I didn't know what it did, exactly, or even what sort of thing it was, but from the way they all talked about it, there was some manner of very unpleasant side effects.' (Meh, so what if some humans die, your kind just multiply like rabbits.)
Shimohi Yukimura: "No, wait, I do remember something..."
'Yes... From what I heard, it seemed that is has the capacity to heal wounds, and had something to do with the "Corps."'
Shimohi Yukimura: "...And it's also something I'm not supposed to know about."
'If they learned how much I'd picked up, or what I'd put together on my own, I had no doubt that I would be in serious trouble. It was possible that they would even kill me.' (Well, they did threaten to do that at the start of the game. So, yeah...)
'Still... If I could figure any of it out, perhaps I could do something to help.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "I am the daughter of a well-educated doctor, after all!"
'I liked to think that I had a little more knowledge of medicine than the average person. The question remained, then what should I do?'
-Investigate-
-Return to my room.-
Well, in this case, Akurei knows my motto with these kinds of things. ("Save before doing anything potentialy stupid.") (But as for your actual choice... oh, right...) (Exactly!)
'Night had almost fallen, so I decided to investigate.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "Now, where should I start..."
'My room was in the Yagi house, which was where the captains lived. It had taken me a while, but I'd finally manged to figure how to navigate the building. Still, there were plenty of rooms that I didn't go near, such as Hijikata's.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "There's the Maekawa house, too."
'On the other side of the grounds was the Maekawa house, which was where the soldiers stayed, generally several to a room. I rearely went there, so it was largely unknown to me.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "Hm..."
'If I was going to start looking around...'
Shimohi Yukimura: "I should go to the Maekawa house, or the places in the Yagi house that I haven't been to before."
-Investigate the Yagi house.-
-Investigate the Maekawa house.-
(Yeah... I know why you're doing this...)
'It was nighttime at the Yagi house, and completely silent. I felt a little guilty for sneaking around, so I tip-toed down the halls as quietly as possible.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "Huh?"
'Had my ears been playing tricks on me, or had someone just walked into the common room?'
Shimohi Yukimura: "..."
(That doesn't sound good...) (What? Shimohi's silence?) (No, that "someone" that walked into the common room.)
'I would be in trouble if someone saw me, so I did my best to blend into the shadows and hide. After a few moments of heart-pounding seclusion, my curiosity got the best of me. I departed my hiding place, and crept toward the common room. Inside was Sanan.' (Hey! You found the dude. Mission accomplished!)
Shimohi Yukimura: "..."
'Something felt...wrong. I was at a loss. Should I speak to him, or...? Before I could make up my mind, he turned--' (Hit the deck!) (What?)
Keisuke Sanan: "I never thought that it would be you who would catch me. How unexpected."
Shimohi Yukimura: "Huh...?"
'I had no idea what he meant, but his expression caught me off guard.' (Why are you acting like he's going to pounce at any moment?) (Heh-heh-heh...) (Okay, Monster, you're scaring me...) ... (And apparently Shimohi as well...)
'He had a peaceful smile; something I hadn't seen on his face for...I didn't know how long. It was a bit too peaceful, as if all his worries has suddenly left him.' (I'm thinking "reverse nirvana".)
Shimohi Yukimura: "S-Sanan...?"
'The moonlight glinted momentarily off of something in his hand.'
Keisuke Sanan: "You're wondering what this is, I imagine?"
'He held it up as he spoke. It was a tiny glass bottle, filled with a crimson liquid that looked to me like poison.' (Ah, and so the "strange youth water" has finally appeared...) (What?) (Don't tell me you've forgotten me mentioning it before. *facepalm*)
Keisuke Sanan: "This is a secret treatment developed by your father, Kodo, under orders from the shogunate."
Shimohi Yukimura: "What?"
'The shogunate ordered my father to do something?' Maybe this is why my father left for Kyoto in the first place...?
Keisuke Sanan: "They say it first appeared in the west. The contents of this tiny vial can utterly transform a person."
(...Into a Rakshasa...) (Why do you keep referring to "Rakshasa" all the time!?) (Hush! I think Sanan himself might explain that for me soon...)
Shimohi Yukimura: "What do you mean by...utterly transform?"
Keisuke Sanan: "To put it simply, it makes them stronger, and heightens their recuperative abilities."
Shimohi Yukimura: "..."
(Well, as I recall, a "healing factor" is a trait of Rakshasa...but more so for demons of this universe.) (Demons!? You mean there's more like you!?) (What did you think those three dudes at the Hamaguri Rebellion were?!)
'If that was true, then...' (And it is...sort of...)
Keisuke Sanan: "There is, however, a rather serious flaw."
'His smile twisted only a little.'
Keisuke Sanan: "It was...I suppose you could say it was too strong. I worked as advertised, but drove those who benefited from it mad."
(Like those three guys who killed those ronin then tried to kill us.)
Keisuke Sanan: "You've seen the results yourself, haven't you?"
(...and they thought about killing you to prevent that unfortunate detail from leaking to the general population.)
Shimohi Yukimura: "Ah!"
'Of course... I'd seen the result of that madness the night I first met the Shinsengumi.' (Exactly!) (So, that wasn't just you spouting nonsense for laughs...?!)
Keisuke Sanan: "Yes, I see that you understand."
'His eyes thinned, and he seemed almost pleased.'
Keisuke Sanan: "They were no longer capable of what one might call rational thought, and were little more than bloodthirsty monsters."
(Just like...wait for it...Rakshasa...)
Shimohi Yukimura: "How horrible..."
(Indeed, if they are "bloodthirsty monsters" as Mr. Sanan described.)
'What had happened to the soldiers I'd seen was terrible, but what pressed most heavily on my mind was a single question: Even if it were on orders from the shogun, why had my father been involved in such an awful thing?' (To try to make a "super serum" of course! But instead, they ended up with the psycho serum instead.)
'I struggled to process it, but Sanan only kept talking.'
Keisuke Sanan: "If they lose control whenever they see blood, then they're hardly much use in battle, are they? No matter how powerful or unkillable they may be." (And yet Saito managed to kill those three Rakshasa just fine.)
Keisuke Sanan: "Kodo conducted experiments on the Corps during the development of his treatment."
Shimohi Yukimura: "No--!"
'My father? Conducting experiments--on human beings!--that made men go mad at the sight of blood?!' (I highly doubt that was the intended result, but that was the result none-the-less...)
'I didn't want to believe it. I couldn't believe it! I tried to speak, but my chest had grown so tight I could scarcely breathe. Sanan either didn't notice or didn't care.'
Keisuke Sanan: "Unfortunately, when he disappeared, his research was put on hold. ...This vial here represents the fruits of my own personal research, based on what he left behind."
'He gave me a small smile and shook the bottle gently. The liquid inside sloshed from side to side, almost lazily.' (Hey now...!) ("No Loafing!") (...for that, I'm going to have to hurt you...)
Keisuke Sanan: "I've diluted it as much as possible."
'I had so many questions to ask him, but I didn't even know where I might start, so I simply spoke the first that came to mind.' ("How many licks to the center of a Tootsie Pop?") (Really!?) (Of course not, it was just a joke.)
Shimohi Yukimura: "If you drink that...will you be okay? It won't...make you go crazy?"
(Well...I've heard that just after getting braces on your teeth, it can hurt to eat for a while...)
'His brows knit for a moment.'
Keisuke Sanan: "To be quite honest, I'm not entirely sure. I've never tested it on anyone."
(And...Sanan here's going to go for a "Professor Guinea Pig" test.)
'Although human testing was hardly something I would have condoned, it was clear that he had very little idea what the concoction might actually do to him. His smile faded.'
Keisuke Sanan: "If I take this, my arm will heal. This is, of course, assuming I've mixed it correctly."
Shimohi Yukimura: "Y-You mean you're actually considering taking it?!"
'He had no guarantee that it wouldn't simply kill him outright, and even if he did survive, it might well drive him insane.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "You don't need to do that!"
'A substance that could turn one into a bloodthirsty monster was dangerous enough, but a new version of that substance, still unfinished--!' (Well, at least he knows the risks right from the start.)
Keisuke Sanan: "I have no choice! This is the only way to heal this damned arm!"
'Sanan exploded, and I felt myself instinctively recoil from him.'
Keisuke Sanan: "I'm already useless here. Even the men have begun to speak ill of me behind my back." Didn't you hear Nagakura-san!? "Don't listen to that asshole, okay?"
Shimohi Yukimura: "That isn't true! You're a kind man, Sanan! Everyone loves you!"
(You wish...but you know the nature of humankind...)
'Even though he'd been depressed, none of the captains had avoided Sanan, or tried to exclude him. They were his friends, and they were just waiting for him to get back on his feet.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "How could you ever thing that you're useless to them?! You should never think that!"
Keisuke Sanan: "There is no life for me as a swordsman. You would ask me to continue in some sort of undeath..."
(And this guy is kind of reminding me of Bran Stark.)
'His smile was cold, and perhaps a little sad.'
Keisuke Sanan: "Let me die as a person as well."
(Well, if he wants to die that badly...) (NO! You should never do that! Suicide is a sin!)
Shimohi Yukimura: "No--!"
'Strained with emotion, my voice broke as I cried out. Sanan looked at me and sighed.'
Keisuke Sanan: "What special concern is it of yours? Leave me be."
'Still, I felt his tone soften despite his words, and he gave me a smile that could have been plucked from the days before his wound, when I'd first met him.'
Keisuke Sanan: "If I succeed, then my arm will be repaired. The odds against success aren't as terrible as you think."
'He was doing his best to tell me not to worry, but... If he had made a mistake mixing the compounds, or his research was flawed somehow... There was no way to know what might happen to him.' (Well, this stuff needs to be tested somehow...)
'I couldn't sit by and allow him to do this.'
-Persuade him.-
-Scream.-
I highly doubt the later will be of any actual help. So... (After saving of course...)
Shimohi Yukimura: "Leave you be?! You know I can't do that! And I'm not the only one! If anyone else was here, I'm sure they'd say the same thing!"
'Kondou, Hijikata...all of them! If Sanan died, it would be a sad day for every man in the Shinsengumi. Even Itou, despite what he'd said. He'd been rude, certainly, but he had never once made light of Sanan's skill or dedication.'
Keisuke Sanan: "I beg to differ. ...Although I suppose Toudou might be rather displeased with me for taking it."
'His smile was somehow distant, as if it were for Heisuke himself, far away in Edo.'
Keisuke Sanan: "Well then. If I should die, please give my regards to Toudou."
Shimohi Yukimura: "Wh-What?! What do you mean, your regards?! That's only going to upset him more!"
'He was asking me to convey his last words! I didn't want to do that...I couldn't do that! Sanan only gave another crooked smile.'
Keisuke Sanan: "Ha. That I should be pitied by one such as you... And here I thought to call myself a colonel of the Shinsengumi. I suppose I've put you through a great deal."
'And that was the end of the converstation.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "Ah!"
'With a single movement, he threw back his head and drank the strange red liquid all at once. A single drop escaped to trickle from the corner of his mouth.' (And here it comes...) (What?) (The "Fury", so to speak.)
'I thought I heard the sound of a single, deep heartbeat, and then the bottle fell from Sanan's hands to shatter on the floor.' ([sarcasm] Great... Now somebody has to clean up after that... [/sarcasm])
'As it fell, so did he, collapsing into a heap just as the bottle exploded into pieces.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "Sanan?!"
'Why? Why had he done it?' (You know why... and suddenly the music sounds more like the type playing for approaching danger...)
'Why had he taken a path that could easily end in death, or worse, madness?!' (Madness?! THIS! IS! SPARTA!)
'I started toward him, but he flung out his hand to stop me. I paused, uncertain. He groaned in agony and pulled his hand back to grip his chest, over his heart.'
Keisuke Sanan: "Hn...ghh..."
(Help! This man's having a heart attack!)
'How could I just stand there?!' (How else? In shock, of course.)
'I took another step forward--'
Shimohi Yukimura: "Aaaah!"
'His right arm whipped out, almost too fast to see, and threw me across the room. I slammed into the wall and slid to the floor, stunned. I could barely breathe.' I haven't felt something like this since my Aunt's dog knocked me over and the sudden stop at the end of the fall knocked the wind out of me...
Shimohi Yukimura: "*Gasp*"
'My vision went blurry for a moment, but I had been lucky: My sword had taken the brunt of the impact. If it hadn't, I could have been seriously hurt. I coughed once and looked up--' Something tells me this is going to be scary...
'...Just in time to seen Sanan land on top of me, his hands already reaching for my throat.' (This is bad...this is very bad...)
Keisuke Sanan: "Eh he...he he he he..."
(Why, oh why couldn't you have just stayed in your room tonight!?)
Shimohi Yukimura: "Hurk..."
'I couldn't breathe! The hands around my throat were Sanan's, but the man behind them was someone else. His hair began to slowly turn a brilliant white, the color creeping down each strand until his face, twisted with madness, was framed by the color of fresh snow. His eyes... They were the eyes of a predator, not a human. I had seen eyes just like them the night I'd first come to Kyoto.' (Wow... that's...) (Don't tell me you think how Sanan looks now is hot.) (Then I won't.)
'Those creatures in the alley, wearing blue drenched in blood... Monsters.' (Which is exactly what you are.) (Flattery will get you nowhere...)
'I bit my lip. No, this wasn't a monster. This was Sanan. He was still the man I knew!'
Shimohi Yukimura: "Sa...nan...!"
I know you're in there somewhere!
'Suddenly the figures around my neck loosened.'
Keisuke Sanan: "Gah!"
'Had he...just let me go? I fell forward, gasping for air. My throat felt raw and stiff, and I could feel the warm lines on my neck where bruises from his fingers were already beginning to form.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "*Pant* *Pant*"
'He screamed--a raw, animal cry--and clapped a grasping hand to his face. But between his fingers I saw an eye, and in it, a flash of reason behind the madness. The Sanan I knew was still there.' I knew it!
Keisuke Sanan: "Well...I see I've failed then... Perhaps I'm not as lucky as I thought..."
Gods... that white hair does look hot... (Not you too!)
'That self-deprecating humor! There could be no doubt that Sanan was still there!' Well, I engage in that sort of humor myself as well...
'My body was weak, and I wanted nothing so much as to simply lie down and sleep, but I struggled across the room to him.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "S-Sanan! Are yo okay?!"
'Even as I said it I knew it was a foolish question. His breath was coming in gasps, but he managed a derisive snort.'
Keisuke Sanan: "You don't have time to...worry about me. Kill me...now. While you...can..."
'...What? Kill him?' (You know, a mercy kill! You did do that while playing Shin Megami Tensei IV after all.)
Keisuke Sanan: "I've failed. I can already feel my...mind starting to go. At...at this rate, I'll... I will kill you..."
'Since the day I'd met the Shinsengumi, I'd seen warriors kill one another many times. I'd seen plenty of killing whether I wanted to or not. But never, not once, had I considered that I might kill someone. And now Sanan was asking me to kill, and to kill someone I knew! Someone I cared for!'
Shimohi Yukimura: "No...I can't. I couldn't do that!"
Not when you can still be saved!
Keisuke Sanan: "You have to!"
'I felt his fingers wrap around my throat again. We were so close that I could feel his hair brush against my face. His eyes bored into mine, and I could see reason begin to fade from them. If I didn't kill him, he would kill me, they said.'
Keisuke Sanan: "I know you are only here by chance, and I feel... I am sorry that I must ask you to do this. I am so, so sorry..."
'His right and slid off my throat, and I felt it land on the hilt of my sword. Fingers wrapped themselves around the handle and began to pull. ...Oh no. No!' (What is it with you and getting bad endings!?) I don't think I'm going to die just yet!
'Too late, I realized what he meant to do, and I felt ice creep up my spine.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "Sanan, please! You can't!"
Keisuke Sanan: "It's made the task much harder, but... A blade through my heart will kill me as dead as any other man."
Shimohi Yukimura: "..."
'I didn't--couldn't--respond. All of my effort was dedicated to fighting the grip Sanan had taken on my hand and sword, which was now naked between us.' (What!?) (That just means the sword has been drawn. For Satan's sake, get your mind out of the gutter... I'm surprised I'm saying that to the Pansy.)
Keisuke Sanan: "Kill...me..."
'He spoke in starts and stops now, as tendrils of madness began to pull him under.'
Keisuke Sanan: "P-Please... Let me...die..."
'Was that pitiful voice still Sanan? Was his last, miserable hope only for death? I felt tears spring unbidden to my eyes, and my chest tighten with the promise of wracking sobs. With what little strength I had left I struggled to stop him, but even at my best I would have had no chance. His fingers were like steel around my hand, and I watched helpless as my sword prepared to plunge into his heart.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "Stop, Sa--!"
Keisuke Sanan: "Gyaaaaaah!"
Shimohi Yukimura: "Aaah!"
'Without warning, he scrambled away from me, screaming in agony.'
Keisuke Sanan: "Haaaaa... Gyaaaaaaaah--!"
'One last scream seemed to almost lift him from the floor. Then suddenly he collapsed, as if he were a marionette whose strings had been cut.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "S-Sanan...?"
'I shuffled across the floor as quickly as I could, and threw myself onto his crumpled frame.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "Sanan! SANAN!'
'What had happened?! I was shaking him, trying to get him to do something, anything, when I heard the door slide open.'
Souji Okita: "Shimohi. Sanan..."
What I heard was just "Sanan-san..."
'His voice was the brilliant ray of hope that I so desperately needed, and I spun to face him.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "Okita! I-It's Sanan! H-He's--!"
Souji Okita: "Let me get a look at him."
'His eyes narrowed, and I saw them flick around the room; from Sanan's limp body to myself to the shattered vial. Okita's mouth tightened, and he bent down to lift Sanan off the floor.'
Souji Okita: "They say that when you drink that stuff, at first your body just can't handle it. It hurts like hell, and you start to lose it. He probably couldn't take it, and just passed out."
Shimohi Yukimura: "Oh..."
Souji Okita: "Well, the real painful part comes later."
'With a quiet grunt, he picked up his unconscious friend and carried him through the door and away. No sooner were they gone then the last of my strength left me, and I slumped to the floor.' (Once again, that would be the adrenaline. Once the danger had passed, you ran out of the proverbial gas.)
Shimohi Yukimura: "..."
'What would happen now? I felt like I should get up; go see where Okita had taken Sanan, or at least do something... But fear, uncertainty, and overwhelming exhaustion kept me where I was. Sanan fainted. Woken by my voice, several of the captains burst into the room. They all began to talk at once, but I didn't hear them. I was so tired, and so much had happened. If I could just lay down...' (Well, at least you're still alive, thank God...)
'When I woke, I found myself back in my room, with Okita sitting across from me.'
Souji Okita: "You can really be a pain, you know that?"
Shimohi Yukimura: "Oh..."
'With my body and mind rested, I began to recall more of what had happened the night before. After I'd passed out, Okita had carried me back to my room...'
Souji Okita: "How about you explain what was going on last night. Why were you in there with Sanan?"
Well, what with the things Itou said to Sanan, I was worried he might do something drastic...
'Okita had never been particularly pleasant to me, but his tone was even harsher than I'd grown accustomed to.' (I thought you'd be used to a voice like that, what with the Monsters' near constant snarky tone of voice.)
Shimohi Yukimura: "I felt like there was someone in the common roon."
'For a moment, I contemplated trying to lie to him, but dismissed that almost immediately. He would see right through me.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "I was curious, so I had a look. I found Sanan in there."
Well, it was that too, but I was seriously worried about him...
'Okita narrowed his eyes but said nothing.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "Um..."
'Although my mind had cleared somewhat, it was still difficult to keep my thoughts organized. One, however, rose quickly to the surface.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "Is it true that my father had something to do with that...that stuff that Sanan drank?"
Souji Okita: "Did Sanan tell you that?"
'His voice was even colder. I nodded. What point was there to lying now.' ([sarcasm] I don't know, maybe there's a chance he won't... Oh say...KILL YOU! [/sarcasm])
Shimohi Yukimura: "He said it...makes you stronger, but it drives you mad."
(That's pretty much the definition of Psycho Serum.)
'Okita looked at me for a while longer, his eyes searching me for...something. At last he sighed, and I saw his shoulders relax.'
Souji Okita: "You are the daughter of the man who made that stuff, and you've seen what happens to the men who go crazy... I suppose you do have a right to know. It'd be easier to just kill you, but...ah well."
'His tone was light, but it was no idle threat. I had no illusions about his capacity--both physical and emotinal--to end my life if he saw fit to do so.'
Souji Okita: "...So, you got any questions? I suppose I can answer one."
Shimohi Yukimura: "Um..."
'I hadn't expected such a rapid about-face, and I struggled for a moment to put my words together.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "...Why did the Shinsengumi get involved in something like this?"
'It seemed like a foolishly simple question, but Okita didn't bother to mock me for it.'
Souji Okita: "Well, you know that our job isn't as simple as rounding up ronin and bringing them back to the authorities, right?"
Shimohi Yukimura: "Yeah."
'I'd been with them on patrol, and I'd seen firsthand the hardships the Shinsengumi faced. Most ronin were desperate, and being faced with arrest made them even more so. Often an arrest turned into an all-out fight.'
Souji Okita: "When we started out, we were really short on men."
'He added "Not anymore" with a laugh. After Ikeda, the Shinsengumi's recruitment rates had shot up.'
Souji Okita: "Anyway, we didn't have many people asking to join, and those that did were pretty disappointing. That was when some guy from the shogunate showed p and offered to make us part of this experiment."
'They could hardly have said no to the shogun, even if they'd wanted to. Still, such an arrangement would have seemed beneficial to both parties: the shogunate got their treatment, and the Shinsengumi had a solution to the low number and quality of their troops.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "Then...you knew what the side effects were, and you still make them take it?"
'He smiled.'
Souji Okita: "We didn't...make them take it. It was their choice. Usually, if yo break our rules, we make you cut yourself open. But for these guys--"
Shimohi Yukimura: "Wait, what?"
(No, seriously, that's a fact. The whole, "Commit suicide if you break the rules" deal that is.)
'I heard that the Shinsengumi took their code very seriously, but this...' (...is serious fucking business!)
'Ritual suicide seemed a little...extreme.'
Souji Okita: "...For these guys, we gave them a choice: kill yourself, or drink the shogun's concoction."
'He laughed, as if something about that was funny.'
Souji Okita: "You get it? Don't you feel bad for them?"
(As in, "They were not brave enough to choose death over being a test subject.")
'I couldn't think of anything to say. What sort of a choice was that? A certain death by your own hand or madness and death by someone else's? The men that I'd encountered that winter night... Had their last thoughts as men been hopes that they might survive the madness? It sounded horrible...'
Souji Okita: "Something that make you strong and hard to kill should be really great, right? Sure, so long as you don't mind the side effects."
'The smile never left his face, but I could see a spark of anger in his eyes. Although he'd never say as much, he was worried for Sanan.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "..."
'I was worried too... Was Sanan okay? Would he...change? My stomach was twisting itself into knots.' (So... Again, why are you calling the guys who chose to be a test subject and survived "Rakshasa"? Sanan didn't really explain it.) (And I don't feel like explaining it either.) Then again, I'm not sure if he CAN explain it anymore...
'At long last morning came. One by one, the captains returned to the common room, tired and bleary-eyed from their long night. It was Inoue's entrance that broke the silence.'
Genzaburo Inoue: "He seems to have made it through the hardest part."
'The room breathed a silent sigh of relief.'
Genzaburo Inoue: "He's still asleep. Looks pretty peaceful..."
Shinpachi Nagakura: "So has Sanan gone crazy?"
'Inoue simply shook his head.'
Genzaburo Inoue: "We don't know for sure until he wakes up, but he looks just like he always has."
'That was when the door slid open.'
Kashitaro Itou: "Good morning everyone."
(And...it's the douchebag again...)
'The tension that had relaxed at Inoue's entrance pulled tight as a drum. At least, I thought, they don't do this when I just walk into a room. Then I realized I was comparing myself to Itou, and wondered why on Earth I would do something like that.' I mean, that's an insult to myself! As odd as that sounds...
Kashitaro Itou: "My my... You all look rather glum. Something to do with last night's excitement, I presume?"
'His position wasn't the result of politics, then. There would be no simply ignoring the incident, it appeared.'
Isami Kondou: "Uh... No, um..."
'Desperately, Kondou's eyes flew around the room, looking for someone who might give him a story.' Quick, someone, think of something!
Shinpachi Nagakura: "Sano! Make something up!"
Sanosuke Harada: "What?! Me?! Uh, well...you see, yesterday--"
Souji Okita: "You're a miserable actor. Stay out of this."
'Okita's smile was bitter and thin. They sat back down.'
Souji Okita: "How about you leave the explanation to someone who can string two words together, hm?"
'He looked at Saito expectantly, and the other man nodded once.'
Hajime Saito: "As you suspect, Deputy Commander Itou, there was an incident yesterday here at our headquarters."
'Furthermore, he continued, the situation was grim. Saito then proceeded to outline as much of the truth as he could, his eyes never wavering from Itou's face.'
Hajime Saito: "We did not wish to trouble you with such matters just yet, Deputy Commander."
'By way of apology, he made a short bow.'
Hajime Saito: "If you wish, I would be happy to provide you with a more detailed report this afternoon."
Kashitaro Itou: "Oh my..."
'Itou's eyes narrowed and he looked slowly around the hall, a mischievous smile playing about his lips.'
Kashitaro Itou: "Very well. I comprehend your situation. I shall look forward to receiving the details this evening."
'With another strange smile, Itou stood, nodded slightly, and left the room.'
Souji Okita: "Feel likes he let it slide this time... Maybe he just liked how Saito handled it."
Shimohi Yukimura: "What...?"
'Yes, Saito had been respectful and--at least on the surface--forthcoming, both of which had likely pleased Itou, but...' (Why can't Shimohi be that considerate, diplomatic, and submissive in meatspace!? Honestly, she's way too much...) (...like Avatar Korra?)
'What had he meant about letting it "slide"?'
Toshizo Hijikata: "We shouldn't have let him see all of us together."
'I look at him, confused.'
Toshizo Hijikata: "The only man missing was Sanan. It won't take Itou long to realize something's happened to him."
Shimohi Yukimura: "Oh..."
'Then Itou had likely guessed at what had taken place, but decided not to press the issue. I was beginning to see what Kondou saw in him... There was certainly no doubt that he was clever and observant.'
Shimohi Yukimura: "Ah!"
'I had looke up just in time to see Sanan shuffle through the door. His face was pale, but apart from that he looked much like he always had.' Aw man, the white hair is gone...
Genzaburo Inoue: "Sanan! ...Are you sure you should be up and about?"
'Sanan's only response was a small, sad smile.'
Keisuke Sanan: "I'm only a little tired. A side effect of my new...condition, I suppose. Those who've taken the draught often find that working during the daylight hours is especially taxing."
'In other words, it was working. Sanan was already transformed.'
Keisuke Sanan: "I am no longer a human being."
(Congragulations, Sanan!) (No! That's absolutely horrible!) ... (Well, what's your opinion on it!?) ...Meh.
'He smiled.'
Isami Kondou: "Who cares what you are--you're alive! That's good enough for me!"
What Kondou said.
'I could see the beginnings of tears well up in Kondou's eyes, but the rest of the men were more reserved.' (I know... I'm just... So proud of Sanan...) (*2X Facepalm Combo*)
'They were happy to see their friend alive, but what had his resurrection cost him?''
Souji Okita: "So...your arm's better, I'm guessing?"
Keisuke Sanan: "I haven't fully recovered yet, so I would withhold any final judgement, but..."
'He lifted his left arm, the arm that the day before had hung limp at his side, and flexed his hand.'
Keisuke Sanan: "It seems to have been healed. At the very least, it is no longer a hindrance."
'Thank goodness. If he had gone though all of that, just to find his arm still lame and useless...'
Sanosuke Harada: "You can't go out in the sun though, right? Will you still be able to fight with us?"
'If daylight drained one's energy, then living a normal life would be difficult enough, nevermind fighting alongside the Shinsengumi.' (Isn't that the reason why the Rakshasa should operate at night?)
Keisuke Sanan: "Best you simply say I died."
'His voice was calm, almost careless.'
Keisuke Sanan: "From now on, I will serve in the Corps, to remind them, and us, that success is possible."
Shinpachi Nagakura: "What? Have you lost your mind?! Do you know what you're saying?!"
Keisuke Sanan: "Of course I do. Do you, Nagakura? The shogun had ordered us to keep this thing a secret."
'Nagakura fell silent.'
Keisuke Sanan: "If I, ah, die, the shogun's secret remains so."
'Leaving no room for argument, he continued.'
Keisuke Sanan: "Besides, if the side effects can be managed, or even removed, then what reason do we have not to use it?"
'To a man, they were against his idea, though none of them said anything. Who would want to consign a friend to a life of secrecy, lived in the shadows?' (...like a ninja!)
Isami Kondou: "We were given this task by the shogun himself..."
'Sanan's suggestion might not have been pleasant, but it was logical. The drug was dangerous, yes, but if it could be refined; the side effects removed... It would be a powerful tool. A powerful weapon.'
Isami Kondou: "...I suppose this is our only choice."
'And with his word, it was decided.'
Souji Okita: "Well, this is what you asked for, Sanan. Make sure you don't screw it up."
'It wasn't exactly a vote of confidence, but Sanan simply responded with a smile.'
Toshizo Hijikata: "This means moving to a new location isn't something we can put off any longer. If we're going to hide Sanan from Itou and his men, then we need more space. This place won't cut it."
'Saito nodded.'
Hajime Saito: "If we intended to begin research again, then a move is even more urgent."
'Sanan's fate decided, they turned to a discussion of where they might make their new headquarters. ...Whatever my status was, it did not extend to being included in that discussion. Living with the Shinsengumi for the past year had been quite an experience. Lately, I'd felt that perhaps it wasn't so bad, and my life had become almost...fun.' (Oh no...) (Actually, in games, being in harms way is what Shimohi likes the most.)
'But the truth I couldn't escape was that I was only valuable to them because of my connection to my father; a truth they had made painfully clear to me. These men had lived with one another for years. My own time with them amounted to little more than a drop in the bucket. They had no reason to treat me as anything more than a casual prisoner, or at best a serving girl.' (And that's bad...) Yes, yes it is...
'I'd reminded myself of that countless times, but it only served to deepen my sense of loneliness.'
------------------
Well, let's see exactly what effects Sanan's joining of the Corps has on the overall plot next time. (I'm not sure you're doing all that well in the romance department...) What? (Yeah, the only three you've racked up any love points with are Saito, Heisuke, and Sanosuke. Even then, all of them are in the low end of the scale...) (Even so, it looks like both Heisuke and Sanosuke are 'slightly' higher ranked, points wise. In that case why the heaven is Saito pictured on the save file!?) I have absolutely no idea...
No comments:
Post a Comment