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 Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 7:10 pm
Had she not been but a shadow, Ixy's knuckles probably would have gone white from how tightly she was clutching the scissors. Fingers wrapped around the blades, she timidly made her way through the opening, her heart thrumming in her chest. What did the goddess mean that she needed a heart? And to hand her a pair of scissors, surely she didn't mean to suggest..
The thought made her sick, but she knew better to refuse the order, especially since she still wasn't entirely clear where she was or even who she was. No, at times like this, there was nothing else she could do but go along with the whims of the goddess.
When she was immediately greeted by three doors, the girl balked, staring at each of them in turn. None of them held any indication of what exactly she would find behind each of them, but they did have small features that set them apart from one another beyond their shape: a pumpkin, a reversed spiral, and a tree. Curious, Ixy slowly made her way forward, approaching the third door...
...Whereupon she found herself freezing midstep, stiffening in fear at the sheer malevolent energy that seemed to be radiating from the door. Feeling it wash over her, she staggered backwards in fear, her head snapping to the side so that she could eye the other two. Were they all like that?
No, it didn't seem like it. The second door, although unnerving, was not nearly as overwhelming as the one marked by a tree had been. And the first? The first was the most mild of them all.
Although she was well aware that it could have been a trap of some kind, after considering her three options, she stepped forward and pushed through the pumpkin-marked door.
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Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 8:31 pm
Although she had been consumed by nervousness and fear while picking the doors, Ixy's feelings of anxiety seemed to fade away as she crossed through first door. It was unusual, but something suddenly felt...comforting, perhaps even familiar. Her tensed shoulders relaxed as images of pumpkins flickered in her mind, quiet voices--voices that she felt she should recognize--brushing against her ears.
She was vaguely aware of the door clicking shut behind her, but was more preoccupied by the sudden light. Squinting, the girl slowly made her way through as she tried to let her eyes adjust to the glow of the pumpkins, walking down the path that they had laid out until she reached the flower-covered field.
It really is beautiful here, She mused, her movements smooth and easy and not at all like her stiff movements from before. As she reached a tombstone, she crouched down, running her fingers along the name that was etched into the stone.
"Haya...te..."
Hayate...? For a moment, she felt a flit of discomfort and anxiety emerge, but it was quickly pushed back down when she heard something seemingly from the tombstone. Was that...? Straining to hear it, she lowered her head close to the stone, and then increasingly lower until she could hear it more clearly.
Just as she thought. A heartbeat, thudding steadily beneath the ground.
She didn't hesitate, completely calm as she worked the extract the heart as the goddess had requested, pushing aside the flowers and the dirt. Before long, she finally found what she was looking for, gingerly picking it up and staring at it.
Hayate...she remembered now.
Hands clasped together in front of her and eyes downcast, the three year old ghoul stood in front of the stranger silently, too shy and intimidated to say anything. When she heard her father clear his throat, she instinctively glanced up, jerking in surprise when her eyes accidentally met the stranger's.
"Why are you acting so timid?" Her mother sighed, sounding somewhat exasperated as she placed a hand on her back and gently shoved her forward, "He is your uncle. Give him a proper greeting!"
Despite the encouragement, she found that she was still unable to say anything, shaking her head in refusal as her small fingers tightly clutched the fabric of her dress. When she heard her father take a breath and open his mouth to speak, she was startled when a cheerful voice interrupted him.
"It's okay, we're all a little shy sometimes!"
She glanced up just in time to see him approach her, and the little ghoul let out a surprised squeak as she was suddenly lifted off of the ground. Wriggling weakly in protest, she grew still only when Hayate chuckled lightly.
"I'm your uncle Hayate. As I'm sure your mother and father have told you, I'm going to help them take care of you." Pausing, he shifted her weight so that he could hold her comfortably in one arm, raising his newly-freed one to reveal that he had been holding a bag that was labelled with the name of a well-known bakery. "Do you like cakes?"
After a moment of silence, he received a nod in reply, and he smiled as he bent down to gently set her back onto the ground. "I'm glad. Come on then," He laughed, offering his hand to her, "I'll make some tea and you can pick out your favourite one from the box."
The small ghoul hesitated for a moment, but then she relaxed, lips pulling up into a small smile as she slipped her hand into his and followed him into the kitchen.
"..."
Silently, Ixy slid the heart into the prepared bag, taking care to be as gentle as possible.
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Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 9:08 pm
Ixy was uncertain now, barely even there as she lost herself to her thoughts. That memory just now, had it been...? She held the heart bag in cupped hands, almost cradling it as she pushed herself to her feet and continued onwards, moving past the field.
That man, Hayate, that little girl, and her parents...
What was it about them that bothered her so?
She didn't even realize that the floor was changing until she slipped, stumbling backwards and barely managing to catch herself at the very last second. Feeling her heart stuttering rapidly at the close call, she sighed in relief, only to feel the hairs on the back of her neck stand up as she caught the sound of something approaching behind her. Footsteps?
A quick glance determined that there was nothing there, but she couldn't shake the paranoia that had suddenly settled over her. Picking up her speed, she grimaced as she tried to push through the water as quickly as she could, the sense of alarm at the forefront of her mind now. Come on, come on--
Someone just said something. As much as she wanted to deny it, she had heard it clearly, a voice asking for her to give "it" back. Could it be "it" was...?
She looked down at the heart in her hands, a chill running up her spine as she tried to push herself to go even faster, clutching the bag to her chest as she found herself being submerged in water up to her neck. No, no no no--there was no way she could go forward from here! But when she went ba--
--too late. Ixy barely had the time to process what was happening when she felt a set of hands shoving her down into the water. Her lungs burned as she tried to hold her breath, kicking and shoving and desperately trying to somehow break free.
It was no use. She felt herself growing weak, her flailing slowing and then stopping altogether. Just as she thought she was going to pass out, the face of her attacker appeared in front of her, eyes baring into hers as it demanded its heart back.
Its heart...
"Your last year of Amity already...you're growing up so fast that I think I could cry."
The ghoul, now in her late teens, laughed at her uncle's words, giving him a light shove before kneeling down across from him at the table. "Why would you cry? I'm the one who is graduating, not you!"
Grinning at her, the man shrugged, taking a sip of his tea before answering. "You've just...grown up so much over these past few months. I still remember when we first met. You were a tiny little thing, and so, so timid. I even remember when you--"
"Uncle." She interrupted him in embarrassment, her face going pink as she puffed her cheeks out pouted at him.
He couldn't help but laugh at the expression, and after a few moments, the ghoul found it infectious enough to join in. She had found that he could always make her smile, and after practically growing up with him around, she had come to see him as more of a big brother than an uncle. In addition to a close family member, he was also a cherished friend.
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Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 9:20 pm
There was nothing that she could do. Either she let herself be drowned here, or she fought back.
But it's uncle Hayate, A part of her whispered, small and fearful, You can't just...
But what other choice did she have? Was she just expected to obediently stand here and let him kill her? The hand that clutched the scissors twitched, and in that moment, she made her decision, steeling herself as she used what strength she had left to drive the blades right into the figure's abdomen.
Sorry. I'm sorry. So, so, sorry..
She squeezed her eyes shut at the shriek, and just as she thought she was going to explode from lack of oxygen, she suddenly found herself on dry ground. Keeling over, she began to retch, chest heaving as she coughed up the foreign substance.
Forcing herself up her feet, she turned to squint at the light from the door, staring at it for a moment before staggering forward. She had the heart, as requested, and now it was time to leave.
Just before she made it through, she paused and turned to glance back, noting that there was a figure staring at her in the distance. Gaze flickering between its face and the scissors clutched in its hand, she swallowed and turned back to leave without another word.
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 8:38 pm
The Goddess had said that she would be facing her fears, so just what kind of fears would these be? With no memory of who she was, Ixyguin wasn't entirely sure of what kind of things she should expect from this. What was it that scared her? Surely a lot of things did, but asking her to try and think them up without any sort of hint or prompt was a little difficult.
Whatever the case, after taking the offered dagger, the girl turned and faced the opening. Gaze flickering towards the Goddess, she gave a wary, polite bow of her head before moving forward toward the opening, walking through and finding herself at--
--...?
She could feel the goosebumps on her arms raise as the cold metal pressed against her skin, eyes narrowing into slits as she tried to adjust to the blinding lights. Where was she? Why was she lying down? Lifting a hand to shield her eyes, she used her other hand to prop herself up into a sitting position.
As she slid off the table, she let her gaze scan the room quickly, taking in its barren floors and walls, a feeling of unease settling in the pit of her stomach. This place looked so...sterile, like a hospital or something. Cringing, she took a few, shambling steps forward, trying to regain the feeling in her legs as she reached out and pushed open the door to the hallway.
Geez, it's so bright out here too. I can hardly see a--!
Ixy cut herself off with a sharp gasp at the sound of something slamming shut. Whirling around, she stared wide-eyed at the door she had just exited from, taking slow, creeping steps back to check on it. However, nothing seemed particularly amiss. Forcing herself to take a deep breathe--perhaps she had just...imagined the noise (though she knew, in reality, that she had not)--she began to move down the hallway with slow, careful steps. She could see the door--the exit, and her ticket out of here--just down the hall.
And then came that thud again. Feeling her heart skip a beat, she shot a quick look over her shoulder, but...nothing. She let her gaze linger for a few seconds before finally looking forward again.
Nothing is there. You noticed it, didn't you? There aren't many obstacles here. There would be nowhere for something to hide without you spotting it. Just stay ca-- --there it was again.
Ixy half-expected to see nothing when she shot another glance over her shoulder, and so when her eyes fell on the dark silhouette standing there, watching her, she felt her heart stop. Her feet were froze in place as the figure began to move towards her, one deliberate step at a time. Who--w-what--...!?
The sound of scraping blades caught her attention, and she dropped her wide-eyed gaze to the object in the figure's hands. Scissors.
That was all that it took to send the girl sprinting down the hall as fast as she could.
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Kaiyumi rolled 1 4-sided dice:
3
Total: 3 (1-4)
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 8:39 pm
When she reached the doors, the girl practically threw her whole weight into it, shaking the lever violently as she tried to force it open. Why wouldn't it...?!
Then she saw it: the number pad, which she had missed in her fit of desperation and panic. Shoot, shoot shoot shoot! What was the code!? How was she supposed to figure it out?
She threw a glance back over her shoulder, realizing with horror that the figure continued to descend upon her, one slow step at a time. With each second that she struggled with this damned this, the distance between her and the shadow was shrinking, bit by bit.
Hands shaking violently, she turned back and stared at the keypad. Okay, think. Think. There had to be a clue around here somewhere, right?
Meanwhile, the shadow continued to stagger towards her. Forty feet...thirty five...
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Kaiyumi rolled 1 4-sided dice:
3
Total: 3 (1-4)
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 8:45 pm
Always so helpless.
Ixy's hand froze on the door handle, her eyes wide as stared ahead blankly, stunned. It...it could talk? And that voice...she couldn't say that she could recognize it per se, but it sounded familiar somehow. It was a male voice, though it was cold, scraping against her ears...
Time after time, you find yourself in trouble...and time after time, someone else has to come and save you.
She stood there silently for a good second or two before snapping out of her stupor, giving the number pad another desperate look over. Right. Right, she couldn't let herself get distracted--not by that thing. She had to focus on finding a way out. Relax! Come on, there has to be something around here somewhere!
Thirty four...thirty...
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Kaiyumi rolled 1 4-sided dice:
4
Total: 4 (1-4)
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 8:51 pm
There were no other clues on the door--a quick look and a quick brush with the palms of her hand determined that. There weren't any objects down this hallway either, not any boxes, or tables, or anything else. Therefore, if anyone had thought to leave a hint here, then...
The walls or floors?
She quickly glanced to the left, but noted that the walls were a completely barren, stark white. However, when she looked down, she realized that something was a little odd. Although the floor was white, there was a part of it that stood out, as if--
--a piece of white paper! Crouching down, she hastily snatched it up and flipped it over, scanning it's contents. It was clearly a sheet telling her the method needed to decode something--likely the password--but there was just one problem.
Where was the password that she needed to decode?
Twenty-nine...twenty five...
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Kaiyumi rolled 1 4-sided dice:
2
Total: 2 (1-4)
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 8:51 pm
She saw it then, a splotch of red that stood out strongly against the white of the paper and the ground. Lunging for it, she flipped it open and held it alongside her other sheet with shaking hands.
A C E G. Was that the combo? Then going by the decoding sheet she had gotten, the code would be...would be...
It was so hard to think when she could hear the footsteps grow closer and closer with each passing second. The fact that her hands were quivering so violently that it was hard to see the two sheets of paper properly contributed to the fact that she was having such a hard time figuring the answer out. Frustrated, she slammed them onto the ground and leaned over them, her gaze flickering from one hint to the other.
A...0. C would be 2...which would make E a 4, and finally...
She didn't even bother picking them back up as she shoved herself back onto her feet, taking shallow, panicked breathes as she punched in the code. Shaking, she immediately grabbed hold of the door handle, pushed down, and...
...Yes! Ixy didn't even think about it before bursting out of the confines of the hall into the outdoors.
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Kaiyumi rolled 1 4-sided dice:
4
Total: 4 (1-4)
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 9:05 pm
Even though she had made it outside, it was obvious that the figure was still following her. She could hear the sound of his scissors snipping away, and the sound of his voice carried to her. He was laughing at her, his voice bitter as he spoke.
You took my heart, He hissed, each word punctuated by the sound of the scissor blades sliding against each other, I think I should take yours in exchange. A trade, if you will--fair's fair.
Ixyguin didn't bother looking back, nor did she bother answering, focusing on what was ahead of her as she weaved through the trees. She was grateful for their presence and their protection, though she knew that they could do little more than buy her some time as she tried to get away.
She came to a halt when she arrived at the bridge, her stomach immediately sinking. There was no way that she could cross this thing--not without falling! The bridge creaked and it swayed back and forth, blown by a passing breeze. The rope seemed worn in some parts, and the planks--some of which looked old and rotting--were spaced rather far apart. If she were to take this path, the chance of her either falling to her death seemed very likely.
However, when she heard the figure closing the distance behind her, and upon noticing that there was no other way to go, she decided that she had to take the chance. Taking a deep breath, she took a slow, quivering step onto the bridge, reminding herself not to look down as she tentatively put half of her weight onto the plank and then her whole weight.
It held.
Taking this as a good sign, she grasped onto the ropes and used them to guide herself along, moving across the bridge as quickly as she dared to. Before long, she mercifully managed to make it to safety, and it took all of her effort not to collapse on the ground in relief right then and there.
After all, it wasn't necessarily over yet, was it? When she heard a crack behind her, she turned in time to see the boards from the bridge snap, falling into the darkness below.
It bought her some much needed time, and she wasn't going to waste it.
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Kaiyumi rolled 1 6-sided dice:
2
Total: 2 (1-6)
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 9:14 pm
A dead end. Her heart fell, arms dropping to her sides before she suddenly balled her hands up into fists. No, she had come this far--there was no way she would give up now! There must be another way out, or a different path to take, or...or something! Or maybe she could get through this haunted house, and--
--there was the crack of a twig behind her, and without even turning around, she knew that the figure had caught up.
No. No no no, this can't be it. I can't die here--I won't! But what could she do?
It was then that she noticed something glowing from the corner of her eye. Turning her head to the side, Ixy lifted her hand and stared at the dagger that she had been carrying this whole time, the bright glow casting a red haze over her hand. Why was it...? Was it telling her to use it to defend herself? Perhaps that was why the Goddess had given it to her.
More twigs cracked behind her, indicating that they were standing only a few paces away from her. With a deep breath, she turned to face the shadow, clutching the dagger tightly in both hands.
"You're leaving?"
Xiu stared wide-eyed at her uncle, the fork she had been washing slipping out of her grasp and back into the soapy water. Wiping her hands off on a dish towel, she hopped off the stool and turned to face him. "W...when? Why? Where are you going?"
The male baku laughed softly, holding his hands up to indicate that she should calm down and let him speak. "I just...well, you know. There's no reason for me to bum around here any longer, right? You're all grown up now--you don't need me taking care of you." When Xiu opened her mouth to speak, he held up a hand again to stop her. "And besides, you're living in the dorms now, and I doubt that your graduation plans involve moving back in here."
He was right, of course. Shutting her mouth, Xiu pressed her lips into a thin line as she considered his words, shifting uncomfortably as she clutched her hands in front of herself. "But...where will you go?"
Hayate shrugged. "I'll find a place. And hey," He pushed himself up to his feet and approached her, tucking a hand beneath her chin, "Don't look so sad. We can write, can't we? After all, that's what we already do now."
"But when I wanted to see you in person, all I had to do was jump onto the nearest train," Xiu replied softly, "What will I do if I want to talk to you or see you, and you're too far for me to visit?"
The man chuckled at this, pressing his lips to her forehead in a brotherly kiss. "Then I'll come visit you, Xiu. Anytime--you can count on it."
Ixyguin faltered, one of her hands releasing the dagger to fly up and clutch at her head. What had that been just now? A memory of a girl and her favourite uncle. She mouthed the names: Xiu. Hayate. Did they ring a bell?
She wasn't given any time to dwell on this when the figure finally reached her in her stupor. There wasn't any time to think--as the shadow raising the scissors over its head, Ixy wrapped her fingers around her dagger, throwing her whole weight into the attack as she plunged the blade into her pursuer's chest.
She managed to pull the dagger free as the figure stumbled back, crumpling onto the ground before fading away. Breathing heavily, she stared at the place where it had once stood before turning her attention to the weapon in her hands, noting with some confusion that it now seemed to be brighter, more vibrant. Why was that?
There would be time to dwell on such things later. Hearing a creak from behind her, Ixy turned to see the door of the Haunted House swing open. Without looking back, she dashed up the stairs and through the doors.
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Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 8:57 pm
This Goddess seemed...cheerful, to put it lightly. It was a big change from what she was used to, and Ixy couldn't help but be the slightest bit wary as she reached out and took one of the offered cookies, just to be polite. She just hoped that she wouldn't be expected to eat it.
Fortunately, the Goddess did not prompt her to do so, simply carrying on with her happy--and somewhat unnerving--chatter. At the mention of a tea party, however, Ixy found herself inexplicably perking up in interest.
When the gate opened up, the girl hesitated for a moment before taking a deep breath, offering the figure a weak, polite smile before moving past her and into...
...Where, exactly? Looking puzzled, she held her hands out, palms up as the cool, white flakes dotted her skin (or what would have been considered her skin, she supposed). And the music--where was that coming from? A curious glance around determined that there were no sound systems that could have been producing such an unusual melody. Then there was this substance that was coating the ground, which almost looked like the stuff that was falling from the sky...
While Ixy could have stood there staring for a long time, she shook herself out of it and began to move forward, finding herself a little amused by the crunch that was produced each time she stepped down onto the white blanket.
Arriving at the table, she eyed the jars curiously, gaze sliding from one to the other as she held her hand out towards them, hovering but not touching. How odd...they gave off different feelings, didn't they? The girl let her hand over above one and the other, lips twisting in a frown as she glanced between the two indecisively. Finally, after a good minute of shifting back and forth, she picked up the pink jar and eyed its tag.
...Is this really safe to drink? She couldn't help but frown, concern flickering over her face. Regardless, albeit warily, Ixy lifted it to her lips and drank down all the contents in one go.
...Oh, this is... She thought, her mind suddenly going light as a warmth filled her from the inside out, I suddenly feel so... She set the empty jar back down, lifting her free hand to her head. All the worries that had been plaguing her suddenly lifted away, replaced instead by a sense of happiness. The smile on her face never faded, even as a variety of baked goods appeared on the table. She was far too distracted to question the improbability of it all.
Deciding that those snacks looked pretty good, she grabbed one of the cookies, feeling a little of the haze in her mind clear up as she did so. Hmm, well now. It'd be a little dry eating this cookie alone, so perhaps a little bit of tea would be nice? She considered her options--again, without questioning where these tea cups even came from in the first place--before selecting the flower-printed pink cup and taking a sip. At once, she felt something settle over her, her mind surging with a sudden memory...
Xiu had always been a shy child, and that hadn't changed even up until the day she had to leave for her first year at Amity. Thus, it was no surprise that both she and her uncle--Hayate--had been rather anxious about her impending new school life. Would she settle in okay? Would she make friends? Was it too soon for her to go off and live in a dorm by herself?
After two years, it was obvious that all of these fears had been unfounded. She was a third year now, and the Halloween Festival was well on its way. It was loud--really loud--but that was only to be expected since so many people had come out to celebrate. The sea of people rose and fell as they shifted around her, strings of pumpkin lanterns casting their flickering light over all the cheerful faces.
Hayate had come to join in the festivities, and Xiu had taken this as the perfect chance to do some very belated introductions. It was with great pride that she led her uncle over to her friend Shun, who had adopted (or initially had forced upon him) the title of her "big brother" when she was just a first year. She stood aside as she watched the two introduce themselves, her heart warming at the scene of two of her most cherished people finally getting to meet.
...Albeit a little awkwardly, she had to admit, since they had caught Shun just as he was flipping the bird at someone in the distance.
After that introduction was over and done with, the baku immediately grabbed hold of her uncle's sleeve and tugged at it like she was a four year old again. "There's someone else I want you to meet too!" Xiu chirped, her pink eyes wide in excitement, "She's great. Her name is Levi--I wrote to you about her, my big sister, remember?--and she..."
The girl's voice grew softer and softer before fading away altogether, the memory disappearing with it.
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Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 9:21 pm
Ixy stared blankly at the teapot as the memory faded away, and it took her a good few seconds before she shook herself out of her stupor. At once, the girl frowned, lifting a hand to settle her fingers on her temple. Something about that scene...had seemed familia--...?
The thought drifted away as she spotted the booklet that was attached to the teapot, an addition that she had not noticed previously. Plucking it free, she hummed thoughtfully as she scanned the cover. A tea diary, huh...?
She leafed through the pages, reading the instructions intently--and pausing briefly only to glance behind her to reveal that yes, there were indeed other teapots now--before flipping to the third page. Okay, she could do this, no problem!
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Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 9:26 pm
Tea Guest Log Colour of Tea Tasted: Seafoam Description: Happiness and pride, with a helping of success in life. Your commentary on its flavour: This memory was so sweet and happy that he couldn’t help but smile. The success in this memory was so very different from his own and it was certainly something he could admire. So much joy, and so much attachment to these figures seen, if not, mentioned. Whoever this individual was, he was glad to have had a taste of this delightful memory.
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