[OPEN] When cornered...

[babel_hacker]

WHO: Atsuro and you!
WHEN: June 27th, Dark Hour
WHERE: Around the city.
SUMMARY: Atsuro lost track of time, but then…help came.
RATING: PG. PG-13 at most.
WARNINGS: None.

“The number you’re trying to call isn’t in service.” Atsuro pressed the hang up button and try another number. He had been trying to call his parents and friends for a while, only to get the same message each time.

“The number you’re trying to call isn’t in service.”

A part of him hoped his parents would receive it. They’re in Silicon Valley, all the way in California, so his phone should reach them. But instead of his mother’s voice, he heard the automatic, recorded voice. The same results came from calling his friends and even Naoya.

“The number you’re trying to call isn’t in service.”

After stopping it for now, Atsuro walked around the city to gather information. The locals didn’t seem to know very much when he questioned them. He tried to stay optimistic, but a part of him wanted to resign to this situation.

Eventually, Atsuro enrolled at the local high school in Prospero and already signed the applications for one of the local dorms. Even in another country, he has to keep up his studies if Atsuro want to do what he loves for a living, and he don’t want to disappoint his parents and teacher.

-

He lost track of time.

Which is why Atsuro is running away from the strange shadowy creatures, but they’re gaining on him slowly. While he’s fairly healthy for his age, Atsuro doesn’t exercise regularly and thus, isn’t that fast. After this experience, he would promise himself to exercise more.

I must get away! I don’t want them get near me!

Who knows what those creature will do to him? His mind brings up ideas, such as them swallowing him up into their bodies, but he quickly push the mental image aside to focus on running.

And trips.

No! I...can’t let them get near me! I have to fight them off! I… “I won’t let you get me!”

Pushing himself off the ground, he looks over at the incoming creatures when he feel a pang of pain in his head. Then, a voice speaks as his vision blurred.

”Thou art I and I am thou...”

Standing on his feet, Atsuro watch the shadows get closer to him, before shaking himself out of his daze.

“I am Amirani...
I am he who defy God to bring forth knowledge.”

A flash of light, making Atsuro shield his eyes with his arm from the brightness. There are the sounds of slashing and loud screeches, before the light fade. Lowering his arm, he stares at the hovering figure in front of him: an armoured swordsman.

Then, he is gone.

Comments

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

Tatsuma had been patrolling the streets, Powerless, but still intent on making sure this exact thing did not happen to anybody.

Which is why he began to run when he heard the sound of Atsuro's voice, sprinting around a corner to see--

A... spirit?

Standing back as the spirit attacked the Shadows before vanishing, he looked slightly puzzled. In his experience, spirits didn't usually stick around to aid people, what with having normally passed on. The only ones that stayed were those corrupted by evil. And yet... this spirit seemed benevolent.

Turning his attention back to reality, he looked towards Atsuro. "Are you okay?"

[babel_hacker]

Atsuro was feeling tired when the swordsman--Amirani--disappeared. He looked like he was about to collapse onto his knees when he heard someone's voice. Tatsuma's.

Blinking, he looked over and saw him. "Yeah...I'm okay."

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

Tatsuma offered an arm to Atsuro, noticing he looked a little wobbly on his feet.

"Do you know what that was?"

[babel_hacker]

Atsuro placed a hand on Tatsuma's arm, steadying himself.

"I don't know...it...he appears and I think he helped me."

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

Tatsuma nodded in response. And, after only a slight hesitation--

"It looked like a spirit."

[babel_hacker]

"Maybe it is..." Atsuro looked thoughtful, thinking back to it. "Its...his name is Amirani."

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

A few curious blinks. And then, simply: "Amirani?"

[babel_hacker]

"That's his name...he told me that." It felt like the swordsman spoke to him in his mind.

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

"Did it say anything else?" Tatsuma couldn't help but be curious. This spirit was so different from any of the ones he had encountered before. The fact that it had helped instead of trying to kill the two of them already set it apart from the others by quite a margin.

[babel_hacker]

"Something about 'I am thou and thou art I'." Which got Atsuro's attention. That implied he's Atsuro, somehow.

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

This time, Tatsuma remains silent. I am thou and thou art I. It almost sounded like...

Not far away, there was the sound of metal banging onto the ground. A trash can lid, or something similar. At any rate, it was enough to make Tatsuma snap his attention towards the source, his eyebrows furrowing as he reflexively took up a fighting stance. With one arm outstretched, index and middle fingers intertwined, he waited for the creature to reveal itself.

[babel_hacker]

That sound caught Atsuro's attention as well, his head snapped towards where it's coming from. He unconsciously shifted into a cautious stance, ready to run at a moment's notice.

"...You heard that?"

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

Tatsuma nodded, his gaze unwavering. Even if he couldn't yet see them, he knew their approximate location.

It didn't take long for the Shadows to come into view. Their masks were the most visible portion, with their 'bodies' blending in with the dark. Just counting the masks alone, there were only three or so; unfortunately, with no knowledge of how to fight them, the number managed to maintain a certain level of intimidation.

To make matters worse, Tatsuma began acting strangely as they neared. Though they had yet to attack, he broke the stance to put a hand to his head, wincing as a sharp pain lanced through his mind.

[totally_blue]

Kaito was on his way back to the hotel. He's been outside for too long, encountered something unexpected. He held a crowbar, and possibly he will change for a better weapon later. Kaito is obviously good at hiding. So he didn't care what kind of hiding spot, even trash bin, he hoped those shadows didn't notice him.

Until Kaito made it to a junction, he heard a sharp scream. He would ignore it due to how weak he was, but the voice was too familiar for him. It's recently heard in his phone, and his mind clicked.

"That voice... It's from Atsuro-san!"

Kaito didn't hesitate to run as he checked every corner of the the road. He's sure the voice wasn't too far from where he was. He made through the alleyway, meeting another road, and that's where he witnessed a dim light disappeared before a young man with beanie swayed and was about to fell.

"Atsuro-san!" Kaito approached him whether he was alright.

[babel_hacker]

When the swordsman--Amirani--disappeared, Atsuro suddenly feel tired and fell down to his knees. Hearing someone's voice, he blinked and looked up to see Kaito approaching.

"Hey, Kaito..."

[totally_blue]

Kaito tossed the crowbar aside and knelt next to the smaller one. The boy seemed fine but somehow he lost his energy. Maybe there's something to do with the dim light just now?

"Are you alright? What happened?"

[babel_hacker]

"I'm alright, just...a little tired."

It was more than a 'little', but Atsuro feel comforted by Kaito's concern.

"I was chased by those shadow things..." The experience was still fresh in his mind, as he recall the moment. "Then...I think someone came to help?"

[totally_blue]

"Someone came to help?" Kaito glanced around him but he saw no one. It's just an empty street except them both.

"Maybe that person's already gone. I only saw a dim light before I got here." He turned back to Atsuro.

[babel_hacker]

"Seem so...that someone came and the next thing I know, those shadow things are gone." Did that person really left? Atsuro wanted to ask some questions.

[totally_blue]

Kaito turned around again, he felt uneasy somehow, until he took a closer look on the path where he just came. A creepy hand suddenly crawled out, revealing the Shadow itself. Damn, it traced him really that far?

"Atsuro-san, we have to go. We got company."

He took the crowbar before he reached Atsuro's arm to support him. If this creature gets too close, he had no choice but to fight it with his might. He feared if it summoned the others here, they'll be in trouble.

[babel_hacker]

Atsuro stood up, using Kaito's arm as support. He looked over and saw the Shadow as well.

"Yeah, we should."

Hopefully, they can outrun it.

[totally_blue]

Although they're trying to escape, the Shadow wasn't alone. Once its comrade falls, the others will appear. Before they knew it, two more Shadows blocked their way from the front, making Kaito cursed himself.

"Darn it, we're trapped."

Kaito took his defense position, standing in front of Atsuro to make sure he's unharmed. He didn't have combat skills, but at least he got a crowbar to shove them away.

[babel_hacker]

Atsuro appreciated Kaito covering for him, even if he feel a bit bad for it. He looked at the Shadows in front of them.

And just know.

"Kaito...I think I can bring Amirani back."

[totally_blue]

Kaito backed a bit as he glanced at Atsuro with a confuse look.

"Amirani who?"

[babel_hacker]

"That guy who helped me earlier..."

The Shadows was slowly approaching.