4th Course - Salt [Video]

[starofpleiades]

[In the late evening, the video suddenly turns on as there's a loud thump and a splatter, like something wet just hit the ground next to the vine. At the first, the picture is dark and its hard to make out the shape there. A trembling silhouette, hunched over as it rises unsteadily off the ground - the form seems small and thin, but draped in lengthy darkness - hair? - but also the limbs seems somehow... too long. Claws?

What little light there is reflects off the eyes of the cats coming to greet the new arrival, but as they draw closer, they hiss and their hair stands on end before they turn and run. The figure in the dark collapses back onto the ground again, curling up, shrinking in on itself.

For a moment, all is still. Then there's a soft, muffled noise as that huddled figure trembles. Sobbing. The vine finally sheds some light on the situation, illuminating the curled, dripping wet form of Kazumi, curled up in a glen on the grassy floor, clutching herself and sobbing quietly. It's a few moments before she opens her eyes, looking around, noticing the vine for the first time. She looks helpless, lost, but her first question isn't "Where am I?"]

Who am I? What am I?

Comments

[starofpleiades]

I... Satomi... everyone... [She breaks off into more sobbing, unable to hold it back as she remembers. They... everyone had... and she'd...]

[golden_gaytime]

[ She leaps forward toward the mirror, hands on its sides to hold it steady. ] Kazumi-chan, please! Don't cry! Tell me, where are you right now?

[starofpleiades]

I, I don't know... [She sobs and tries to look around, but in the evening darkness and with tears in her eyes, she really has no idea] I, I think towards the center...

[Gradually, memories of the Garden are starting to come back... it'd only been a few hours, really, but this dream-like place seems so far off, especially with everything that had happened in just those few hours]

[golden_gaytime]

Where we first wake up? [ That would make sense, if people who re-appeared followed the same rules. ] Please, just stay there. I'll come to you! [ And with towels. ]

[starofpleiades]

I, yeah, I think so... [Looking around, it does seem kind of familiar... it feels like so long ago though, and in a dream]

[golden_gaytime]

[ Mugi stops herself before she dismisses the mirror, looking very uncertain. ] ...actually, I'm afraid I'll get lost again. It happened yesterday. There is something... odd going on in the gardens. [ But. Kazumi needs her! So she sounds and looks quite conflicted. ]

[starofpleiades]

You're not... coming? [Kazumi's voice sounds suddenly afraid. She... she doesn't want to be alone right now. She feels too alone.]

[golden_gaytime]

No, I will! I... I have an idea! [ Mugi nods resolutely and cuts off the mirror at that point. All she needs is a tote bag and to find a nearby tree, and she'll be able to leave herself breadcrumbs to get back to the apartment where she's been staying with and taking care of Akira lately.

And by "breadcrumbs" she means "leaving a trail of sugar skulls every few meters". It's going to take her a bit to get there, but she'll be heard soon enough. ]

[starofpleiades]

[In the meantime, Kazumi has curled up, arms around her knees clutched close as she shivers in the cool evening air, her soaked clothes not doing her any favors]

[golden_gaytime]

[ Oh no. Why is she wet? Did it rain and Mugi didn't notice?

Whatever the reason, the blond girl kneels down next to her friend soon enough. ] Kazumi-chan?

[starofpleiades]

M... Mugicha~!

[Crying, Kazumi flings herself at the other girl, clinging tightly as she sobs her eyes out on her]

[golden_gaytime]

[ She is surprised by the move, but embraces her friend all the same. ] I'm here, Kazumi-chan. It'll be okay. [ Whatever was wrong, that is; they'd get through it! ]

[starofpleiades]

I... everyone... [she breaks off into sobs, clinging tightly to the other girl as she cries, too lost to know what to say]

[golden_gaytime]

[ And Mugi will stay with her until she calms down, uttering the occasional "take it slow" or "I'm here, don't worry" to try and reassure her. ]

[starofpleiades]

[After a little bit, she stops crying so much, sniffling a bit as she tries to find the words]

I... I don't know what to do anymore... I don't know who I am anymore... it was all...

[golden_gaytime]

What do you mean? I know who you are — you're Kazumi-chan! My friend! [ Oh if only it was that simple, but really, little else truly mattered to Mugi. ]

[starofpleiades]

Mm... please still be my friend, Mugicha! I just... if I lost you and Akira too, I... I don't know what I'd do anymore...

[golden_gaytime]

Of course I am! And Akira-kun is, too! She was worried the whole time you were gone. [ Worried sick and/or drunk. ] We should get you back home, otherwise you're going to get sick, out here like this. You can have a warm bath, and I'll make you tea, and then you'll be right as rain! [ Hopefully? ]

[starofpleiades]

Mm... I'm sorry... for worrying you two.

[She nods slightly. She doesn't know about right as rain but... right now, she'd like those things. To distract her.]

[golden_gaytime]

[ She shakes her head insistently. ] It isn't your fault! You had no control over leaving like that.

[ Smiling a little, she takes Kazumi's hands and moves to rise. ] Akira-kun doesn't blame you either. I know that. [ She sounds rather confident of it. ] As weird as it might be to say it... I'm glad that you're back.

[starofpleiades]

Mm... I'm... glad I'm back too.

[She weakly rises to her feet, preparing to follow]

[golden_gaytime]

[ Mugi's smile grows a bit. She nods and gestures toward the trail of candy skulls. ] I had to grab what was available, but this should lead us back to the apartment without any problems!

[starofpleiades]

Mm, okay... [Clinging to one of Mugi's arms, she follows along quietly, the initial panic starting to give way to shock and daze]

[golden_gaytime]

[ At this rate, anything is an improvement over what happened earlier. She takes her time, being mindful of their path, so she can lead Kazumi to the apartment complex without getting lost for what felt like the dozenth time. It's part of the reason she hasn't left Akira alone for too long. ]

[starofpleiades]

[The familiar sight of the apartment resonates with Kazumi a bit, and her pace quickens. Something, anything familiar that hasn't been taken away from her yet is desperately wanted...]