.6th Fantasy Impromptu [open]

[sakedrinking]

[Haku had gone further than she'd ever gone in the castle.

Bit by bit, in the days following her transformation and the loss of her sister and Kadar, she'd distanced herself from the rest of the castle occupants. She quietly faded herself out of the picture in hopes that no one would notice how... different she was, and thus not ask all the questions she couldn't answer.

So she kept going further. She avoided shadows, finding places to hide rather than try and fight them off, and it seemed to be working for the time being. Which was how she found herself here, in the graveyard, staring down at the darkness beyond a gravestone that had mysteriously moved.

She stood over it, her now human heart hammering nervously in her chest. Something about it just felt... wrong. Like a sick sensation crawling up her spine. A part of her wanted to go down, to see what it was that had her so afraid, but she couldn't urge her feet to move.

So she just stood there. Watching.

Waiting.

Wondering.]

Comments

[stillshinigami]

He had no idea what to do, but he'll think of something. It was all he could do. "Haku... Let's just go back. C'mon. I won't let him hurt you."

[sakedrinking]

"I-I don't-- ... wh-what if it's too dangerous... just me being there... ?" she asked uncertainly, voice tiny and afraid.

[stillshinigami]

His eyes were intense on her now. "Don't even. If you start thinking that worse things will happen. Listen, Haku. We're in this together. You, me, Quatre, Toph... We can't function if you're going to sacrifice yourself---and not even for a worthy cause! Don't waste your life because someone else says so."

[sakedrinking]

"... didn't I already, though?"

[stillshinigami]

"Dead or not. This is a second chance. Don't waste it."

[sakedrinking]

"I'm... so tired... I don't know how to be human, Duo..."

Her shoulders slumped, hands coming to rest on his chest and forehead dropping down. She hadn't slept more than a few hours at a time on any given day, and she couldn't remember the last time she actually ate. Not a few weeks in and she was already falling apart.

"How is this a second chance... ? Nothing feels right anymore..."

[stillshinigami]

..."Well...if that's the case be thankful you have good teachers." Duo said, pulling her into another hug to comfort her.

"You were tired to start with, Haku. Everyone is. Come with me. We"ll try fixin' you up." Either that ot they explore this area. Him? He was still kind of in shock regarding Toph and Harth.

[sakedrinking]

The curiosity was still there, but they could come back to it another day, right? She slumped against Duo, exhaustion finally showing through.

"Okay..."

[stillshinigami]

Duo pulled her to her feet, pulling her up and an arm around his shoulder. It was a plus that she was lighter now, easier to carry, but wonder if any of that robot strength even went away?

On the other hand, he was trying to wrap his mind around what he had to do. He couldn't just say he knew, not when that little shrimp could kill him and do whatever vampires do. He had to think of something.

[sakedrinking]

Getting picked up like that earned a bit of a surprised squeak, but she was too tired to protest or insist that she could just as easily walk herself back. Being held like that was a strange comfort, though, and soon enough she was completely relaxed against him, listening to his heart beat and being lulled by the rhythm of it.

"Duo..." she mumbled quietly, eyes half closed.

[stillshinigami]

"Yeah?" Duo asked as he held his scythe at his side and walked along beside her. It wouldn't take that long to get back, hopefully. He remembered the way.

[sakedrinking]

"I'm sorry..." was all she said, voice so quiet it was almost drowned out by their echoing footsteps.

[stillshinigami]

"Don't..." Duo said, shaking his head, walking along. He objected to apologizing, and mostly because it didn't do anyone any good. Sorry didn't fix the problem.

"We'll get through it, Haku. Work with me. Don't let that bastard win."

[sakedrinking]

"I don't want to let him win... I don't know what to do, though..." Haku admitted quietly, stumbling a little on the rougher ground. She was so tired... it was a wonder she could stand even with his support.

[stillshinigami]

"You rely on us. We'll think of something." Duo replied, supporting her alongside him. There were high stakes in this.

"Can you tell me exactly what you know? What happened? And what's this about his dream thing?"

[sakedrinking]

"When... everyone was having strange dreams... memories that other people could see, for me it was different," Haku explained, "He was in my memory. He watched it with me. We talked... he introduced himself."

[stillshinigami]

...

"Huh?" Duo asked, looking at her and stopping to lead her over to a bench. "What do you mean? Like he was inside of your dream? Talking to you?"

[sakedrinking]

Haku nodded.

"When... when I was--"

No, not normal.

"When I was still an android, I accessed memories differently. For humans it's... it's flashes, bits, incomplete... for me it was like running a movie. Except that time... the movie was different."

[stillshinigami]

"Hm." Duo leaned back on the bench, looking down. His expression more grave by the moment. Harth did something to them, pretty goddamn clear isn't it? He leaned forward, elbows on his knees and hands to his chin.

"I don't understand how he could do all these things."

[sakedrinking]

She remained leaning against him, too tired to even sit up straight.

"He's... got magic... I wouldn't have believed any of it before I came here but... all those stupid movies about vampires. It's all wrong with him. He can.. walk in sunlight just fine... turn people like me human and walk through their dreams..."

She was rambling, still forming somewhat coherent thoughts but quickly losing the ability to make sense of them in her exhaustion.

[stillshinigami]

Duo was tired as well. Just, of everything. He let he lean against him and looked up the stair well.

"Magic. Dammit." Duo chided, shaking his head with vigour. "So what's his weakness? What do we do aside from being silent for now? I can't let him do that to you..." this last bit is said bitterly.

one thought was to take her place but what difference would it make!? "If shadows weren't bad enough..." he pauses and yawns. Think it's safe to nap here?"

[sakedrinking]

"I don't know..."

It was a dual purpose answer - both to knowing what Harth's weakness was and whether or not it was safe to stay there. She was too tired to care, three steps away from falling asleep where she sat.

[stillshinigami]

Fine. He'll let her rest. Make sure nobody comes for them in the meantime. An hour at most.

"No worries. I'll keep watch. Okay?"