Black Shooter
Spectral Waltz
Scatterbrained Writer
- Location
- Walking the Endless Corridors
A/N: And here... We... Go.
[X] Look into the TV section.
"I thought you didn't want anything to do with this."
You didn't confront Yomi on why she crossed a TV off the list, but the subject comes up anyways once she realizes where you're looking. You really want to agree with her honestly, it's unnecessary since you only ever occasionally watched TV back home, and the stand can always be used as an end-table or something. All this supernatural business is just a reminder of one of the scariest and saddest parts of your life.
"…stop lying."
Yet that stupid little crossed-out note has been needling at your mind ever since you laid eyes on it…
"If it's real, then… I want- I need to know what's going on so I can stay safe."
You definitely don't want to end up as another victim, if you died then Yomi would be sad, and it would probably hurt a lot… Stabbing and tearing and the screaming- you shake that memory of a dream away and Yomi twitches slightly in your peripheral vision, picking up on your silent distress.
"I'm serious Mato I only put that down because I saw the empty stand. You don't have to put yourself through this."
"I'm…" You swallow, "I'm serious too, if this is… If it's related, then there's something more going on, and I should- I can't just let you do everything."
Yomi's been the one going through all the articles and news stories about the murders for you thus far after all. You've been avoiding them, partially afraid of seeing the victim's face and recognizing it, partially just afraid in general, scared of something that you can't put a name to despite your best efforts.
"That you don't want to put a name to."
You gather your confidence and nod to Yomi.
"I want to look."
Her face is doubtful but after a moment she returns the nod and follows by your side as you make your way in.
The place is chaotic, banks of screens silently flashing in different images. Different models showing different scenes and stories. Here a nature documentary or some sort, there an idol concert, over there the morning news. It's overwhelming enough that for the first couple minutes you find yourself in a daze, staring more at the pictures in motion than the price tags below them, though you manage to register a few numbers somewhere in there along the way. Most of these are far more expensive than you can afford, sleek modern flatscreens boasting about new technologies and high definitions alongside 'all the latest features' along the edges of their displays. However, there are a few older models that look like they might be at least somewhat affordable, tucked all together near the back where they won't get in the way, and as you make your way towards them, you spot an oddity amidst the constant barrage of colours and scenes.
A screen tuned to a dead channel, nothing but static on display.
It's a massive thing, bigger than you can imagine ever needing and with a price tag to match. Not something you could ever really hope to afford, especially not right now, but something about it bothers you.
"Yu over here stuck his hand through his TV at home."
That's right… Hanamura said something like that didn't he, and then he showed them…
"both of us were doubting Narukami until he stuck his hand through the big screen in Junes."
You reach out to brush the display, the sense of coolness on your fingertips accompanied by pins and needles of static cling. Yomi gives a strangled gasp.
"Mato! Your hand!"
"Uh?" The area of the screen around your fingers is glowing and your fingers aren't touching the screen at all. They're dipping into it, passing through the glass as though it isn't even there.
"Oh no you don't!"
The instinct to pull back, that cautious response to the dangerous unknown barely even has time to register in your brain before something grabs the tip of your finger and you're yanked off balance, falling towards the TV, your hand, almost your whole arm plunging into the screen.
Then a gloved hand wraps around your unseen wrist to pull and you don't even have a chance to scream before the static fills your world-
-------
Your name is Yomi Takanashi, and you are in pain.
Mato's foot caught you in the chest as you tried to grab her, breaking your grip and sending you sprawling as she dove through the TV. No, as something on the other side pulled her in.
Your phone buzzes as you try to get back to your feet. Your breath coming in wheezes as panic starts to set in, making it all the harder to recover from the blow. Some part of you wonders if this is what she felt like back then. If this sick fear and horror you feel was reflected in Mato when you vanished.
When you were taken.
You press your hand to the TV screen and touch the glass, feeling only the cool surface and static tingle of contact.
"I'm sorry, Yomi… I don't like this… ButMato needs a talk."
No… No no no! You push harder, your phone buzzes again and you ignore it. You swear you can see a flicker of white around your palm, distorting the snow that fills the display. A tingle that is more than mere static, and yet the physical holds firm, and your hand remains stubbornly before you as you feel prickling at the corners of your eyes, tears of frustration and despair welling up. No! You can't take my- You can't take Mato away!
The pressure wavers, just for a moment.
[ ] [Yomi] Force your way through.
[ ] [Yomi] Find Narukami, get help.
[ ] [Yomi] Answer the phone.
-------
You hit the ground, breath leaving your lungs with a whoosh, leaving you gasping as you try to roll and stand. Your own face looks down at you, expression impassive, her left eye gently smoldering as you slowly rise, feeling a now-familiar itch in your own eye to mirror that flame.
"Why-"
She kicks you.
One moment she's meters away, the next her face is inches from yours before she twists, her leg slamming into your stomach with brutal force. Your feet leave the ground, and it's all you can do to curl inwards before you hit the ground and very nearly bounce before rolling to a stop, face down on the damp grass.
"To showme ." Is the only answer you get as you try to pull yourself to your feet again. Trying to raise your fists as cold fear drips down your spine.
"Show you what?!" You can't keep a little bit of panic from your tone.
"No. To showme ." She blurs into motion again and you dive forwards, ducking under the blow only to catch a kick to your back that sends your attempt at a tumble into a rough sprawl. "Get up."
You pull yourself back to your feet. Staying down… You can't help but feel that this thing would surely kill you if you stayed down. You gasp for breath, trying to gather yourself even a little bit, eyes darting around. This is the city in your dreams, the place that is like Inaba, with the mountains to one side, the ocean to the other, and a massive palace rising between them.
There's something in your hand…
"I don't… What do you want?!"
"To fight." Your reflection's approach is slower this time, just enough that you can see her rushing you. That you can read the straight punch she's aiming at your breast.
It's still incredibly fast, and it's all you can do to try to dodge, not wanting to test your strength against hers. The blow catches you on the shoulder, spinning you around with its force before you manage to stumble away, creating distance as you try to catch your breath again, feeling the pain in your stomach becoming a raw ache. You look around again, and this time you see, familiar and unfamiliar, black horns twining above dark-brown hair, eyes that glow a poisonous green set in a face you know from both dreams and nightmares.
This is not Yomi Takanashi, your mind understands that. Not wearing such a crazy dress, not hefting such a massive scythe as though it were little more than a toy. Not with two attendant skulls hovering by her shoulders. Not even when she looks at you with a mixture of amusement and regret.
She is holding out one hand, clawed fingers splayed flat against a rectangle of pale white light.
"Stop lying to yourself." The other you steps into your vision, blocking your line of sight. You glare at her, even knowing that girl isn't Yomi the image of her getting between you like that makes your hackles rise. You glare at her as your left eye aches and for just a moment you think you catch a hint of a smile on that pale face.
There is a card in your hand. "You are sundered… Craving strength, yet holding it at arms length."
Time seems to slow. Your other self is moving, coming on the attack again, but your focus is centered on your palm, where a pale blue image flickers before you, wavering as though it might fade at any moment. A little circle at the top of the card contains the letters 'XX' while beneath it a stylized depiction of roiling waves and jagged peaks… Only the waves are at the top and the mountains at the bottom… And beneath them all a figure with a horn strains against the weight of earth and sea.
"…if you have need of it, I will lend you what power I may."
[ ] [Mato] Break the card, call for aid.
[ ] [Mato] Fight alone.
[X] Look into the TV section.
"I thought you didn't want anything to do with this."
You didn't confront Yomi on why she crossed a TV off the list, but the subject comes up anyways once she realizes where you're looking. You really want to agree with her honestly, it's unnecessary since you only ever occasionally watched TV back home, and the stand can always be used as an end-table or something. All this supernatural business is just a reminder of one of the scariest and saddest parts of your life.
"…stop lying."
Yet that stupid little crossed-out note has been needling at your mind ever since you laid eyes on it…
"If it's real, then… I want- I need to know what's going on so I can stay safe."
You definitely don't want to end up as another victim, if you died then Yomi would be sad, and it would probably hurt a lot… Stabbing and tearing and the screaming- you shake that memory of a dream away and Yomi twitches slightly in your peripheral vision, picking up on your silent distress.
"I'm serious Mato I only put that down because I saw the empty stand. You don't have to put yourself through this."
"I'm…" You swallow, "I'm serious too, if this is… If it's related, then there's something more going on, and I should- I can't just let you do everything."
Yomi's been the one going through all the articles and news stories about the murders for you thus far after all. You've been avoiding them, partially afraid of seeing the victim's face and recognizing it, partially just afraid in general, scared of something that you can't put a name to despite your best efforts.
"That you don't want to put a name to."
You gather your confidence and nod to Yomi.
"I want to look."
Her face is doubtful but after a moment she returns the nod and follows by your side as you make your way in.
The place is chaotic, banks of screens silently flashing in different images. Different models showing different scenes and stories. Here a nature documentary or some sort, there an idol concert, over there the morning news. It's overwhelming enough that for the first couple minutes you find yourself in a daze, staring more at the pictures in motion than the price tags below them, though you manage to register a few numbers somewhere in there along the way. Most of these are far more expensive than you can afford, sleek modern flatscreens boasting about new technologies and high definitions alongside 'all the latest features' along the edges of their displays. However, there are a few older models that look like they might be at least somewhat affordable, tucked all together near the back where they won't get in the way, and as you make your way towards them, you spot an oddity amidst the constant barrage of colours and scenes.
A screen tuned to a dead channel, nothing but static on display.
It's a massive thing, bigger than you can imagine ever needing and with a price tag to match. Not something you could ever really hope to afford, especially not right now, but something about it bothers you.
"Yu over here stuck his hand through his TV at home."
That's right… Hanamura said something like that didn't he, and then he showed them…
"both of us were doubting Narukami until he stuck his hand through the big screen in Junes."
You reach out to brush the display, the sense of coolness on your fingertips accompanied by pins and needles of static cling. Yomi gives a strangled gasp.
"Mato! Your hand!"
"Uh?" The area of the screen around your fingers is glowing and your fingers aren't touching the screen at all. They're dipping into it, passing through the glass as though it isn't even there.
"Oh no you don't!"
The instinct to pull back, that cautious response to the dangerous unknown barely even has time to register in your brain before something grabs the tip of your finger and you're yanked off balance, falling towards the TV, your hand, almost your whole arm plunging into the screen.
Then a gloved hand wraps around your unseen wrist to pull and you don't even have a chance to scream before the static fills your world-
-------
Your name is Yomi Takanashi, and you are in pain.
Mato's foot caught you in the chest as you tried to grab her, breaking your grip and sending you sprawling as she dove through the TV. No, as something on the other side pulled her in.
Your phone buzzes as you try to get back to your feet. Your breath coming in wheezes as panic starts to set in, making it all the harder to recover from the blow. Some part of you wonders if this is what she felt like back then. If this sick fear and horror you feel was reflected in Mato when you vanished.
When you were taken.
You press your hand to the TV screen and touch the glass, feeling only the cool surface and static tingle of contact.
"I'm sorry, Yomi… I don't like this… But
No… No no no! You push harder, your phone buzzes again and you ignore it. You swear you can see a flicker of white around your palm, distorting the snow that fills the display. A tingle that is more than mere static, and yet the physical holds firm, and your hand remains stubbornly before you as you feel prickling at the corners of your eyes, tears of frustration and despair welling up. No! You can't take my- You can't take Mato away!
The pressure wavers, just for a moment.
[ ] [Yomi] Force your way through.
[ ] [Yomi] Find Narukami, get help.
[ ] [Yomi] Answer the phone.
-------
You hit the ground, breath leaving your lungs with a whoosh, leaving you gasping as you try to roll and stand. Your own face looks down at you, expression impassive, her left eye gently smoldering as you slowly rise, feeling a now-familiar itch in your own eye to mirror that flame.
"Why-"
She kicks you.
One moment she's meters away, the next her face is inches from yours before she twists, her leg slamming into your stomach with brutal force. Your feet leave the ground, and it's all you can do to curl inwards before you hit the ground and very nearly bounce before rolling to a stop, face down on the damp grass.
"To show
"Show you what?!" You can't keep a little bit of panic from your tone.
"No. To show
You pull yourself back to your feet. Staying down… You can't help but feel that this thing would surely kill you if you stayed down. You gasp for breath, trying to gather yourself even a little bit, eyes darting around. This is the city in your dreams, the place that is like Inaba, with the mountains to one side, the ocean to the other, and a massive palace rising between them.
There's something in your hand…
"I don't… What do you want?!"
"To fight." Your reflection's approach is slower this time, just enough that you can see her rushing you. That you can read the straight punch she's aiming at your breast.
It's still incredibly fast, and it's all you can do to try to dodge, not wanting to test your strength against hers. The blow catches you on the shoulder, spinning you around with its force before you manage to stumble away, creating distance as you try to catch your breath again, feeling the pain in your stomach becoming a raw ache. You look around again, and this time you see, familiar and unfamiliar, black horns twining above dark-brown hair, eyes that glow a poisonous green set in a face you know from both dreams and nightmares.
This is not Yomi Takanashi, your mind understands that. Not wearing such a crazy dress, not hefting such a massive scythe as though it were little more than a toy. Not with two attendant skulls hovering by her shoulders. Not even when she looks at you with a mixture of amusement and regret.
She is holding out one hand, clawed fingers splayed flat against a rectangle of pale white light.
"Stop lying to yourself." The other you steps into your vision, blocking your line of sight. You glare at her, even knowing that girl isn't Yomi the image of her getting between you like that makes your hackles rise. You glare at her as your left eye aches and for just a moment you think you catch a hint of a smile on that pale face.
There is a card in your hand. "You are sundered… Craving strength, yet holding it at arms length."
Time seems to slow. Your other self is moving, coming on the attack again, but your focus is centered on your palm, where a pale blue image flickers before you, wavering as though it might fade at any moment. A little circle at the top of the card contains the letters 'XX' while beneath it a stylized depiction of roiling waves and jagged peaks… Only the waves are at the top and the mountains at the bottom… And beneath them all a figure with a horn strains against the weight of earth and sea.
"…if you have need of it, I will lend you what power I may."
[ ] [Mato] Break the card, call for aid.
[ ] [Mato] Fight alone.
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