Komui was concentrating hard in one of the laboratories, working on one of his famous concoctions. He wasn't sure yet how this particular potion would work out, but chances were it would turn out to be something he hadn't intended. Nevertheless, he started pouring one vial into another, heating up various beakers. When everything was just right, or so he thought, he began to combine the different liquids into on large, glass container. As each different liquid was added, the potion started to bubble, but he wasn't concerned.
Just as he finished pouring in the last one, the concoction started to steam rapidly, the color of the liquid contorting between different shades of purple. Before he could even react, the large glass container exploded, shards of glass scattering across the lab table, the liquid splashing across all of his research papers and books. He jumped back and didn't try to save his papers, but immediately reached for one book in particular that he had borrowed from the Common Room. He had been doing some research for an unusual case that might be caused by Innocence, and held the old and now soaked copy of Grimms' Fairy Tales in his hands.
Immediately, he carried the book to the sink and grabbed towels to soak up the liquid. However, upon a second inspection, the book appeared to be completely dry. His eyebrows furrowed, because he was certain the book had been covered in the liquid just a moment before. Thinking that the old, porous paper had soaked it up, he cracked the spine and opened the cover of the book to flip through the pages; Every page was clean, where he expected to see purple potion. Still frowning, he closed the book again and stared at it, glancing back at the lab table that was still covered in a large puddle of liquid, some of which was now dripping off the edges of the marble tabletop.
Thinking he had gone crazy, he opened the book to flip through it again. Suddenly, the pages started turning rapidly on their own, and before he could drop the book in his surprise, his whole body lurched forward and twisted around. Pulled by an invisible force, he felt no pain, but his body started to flatten and fade as he was sucked into the book against his will. As he spiraled into the pages, his eyesight faded to black and he lost consciousness, completely unaware of what happened.
* * *
Many hours had passed since Komui entered the lab, and Reever was beginning to wonder what had happened to him. He assumed, as anyone would, that Komui had fallen asleep in the middle of his work. It was with a puffed out chest and tight jaw that he prepared to tell Komui off as he kicked open the double-doors of the labortatory.
"SUPERVISOR!" Reever yelled sternly, glancing around the room with furrowed brows.
His tough expression didn't last long, because one sweep of the room told him Komui wasn't there. His shoulders fell and he scratched the back of his head. He was sure Komui hadn't left the lab, but that man was always sneaking about to get out of his duties; If Komui had slipped past him, it would be no surprise for him. His hand fell back to his side when he spotted the mess on the lab table, purple liquid still dripping in places, the shards of glass embedded in some of the papers that were now lavender-colored. With a little groan and a curse under his breath, he moved towards to mess.
"Damn you, Komui! I have to clean up your mess again!" The vein near his temple twitched a little with his irritation, and he briefly thought he should be the Branch Chief, with how often he had to take care of things around Headquarters.
He lifted some of the damp papers and sighed a little, deciding to leave the mess for later. He wanted to find the Supervisor first, and headed back towards the door. Scanning the room one more time, something he had missed at first caught in the corner of his eye. Moving to the sink, he noticed the thick volume of Grimms' sitting next to it. Without a second thought, he picked up the book and felt the rough, old cover in his hands. Turning it over, he noticed a marking on the back that told him the book actually belonged in the Common Room. He didn't really wonder what Komui had been doing with the book, because he found nothing ever surprised him anymore when it came to the Supervisor. Tucking the heavy book under his arm, he headed from the Science Division and through the halls to return the book to its rightful place.
Entering the deserted Common Room, he walked over to the coffee table and reached to set the book down. Before his fingers could leave the cover, he felt a small, almost unnoticeable vibration travel underneath his fingertips. Looking at the book, he noticed a slight, golden sheen to it that he hadn't seen before, something only visible at certain angles. He thought it strange for a book that was bound in a simple black cover, and he lifted it up again in both hands. With a marked hesitation, he caught the edge of the cover and started to lift it.
"Reever!" Johnny burst into the room, looking rather flustered, "One of the cleaning bots found Komui's mess in the lab, and now it's gone haywire!"
Reever stooped and looked up as Johnny yelled his name. Without another thought on the book, he put it on the coffee table and ran from the room with the other scientist.
* * *
"Lenaleee....," Komui breathed softly in his sleep.
A large draft horse the color of honey and creme with dappled haunches, dropped its head and sniffed the sleeping form of the Supervisor. Inhaling Komui's hair, the horse decided it must be edible and began to nibble the dark strands, snorting gently with its attempt. It didn't take long for Komui to realize something was drastically amiss, and after slowly opening his eyes he flew back from the horse, only to whack into large oak tree.
"Aaagggh!" he held his head and quickly stood up, spinning around.
Completely disoriented, he hadn't the faintest idea what happened to him. Komui didn't even notice the clothing he was wearing right away, something that resembled medieval peasant garb. The large horse that had awoken him watched him with interest still, and followed him around in circles.
"Horses..woods..LENALEEEEEEEEE!" he shrieked and flailed his arms.
After a few more minutes of pointless hyperventilation, Komui finally calmed himself enough to notice a large archway nearby, that he had been sleeping just outside of. His eyes traveled up the rustic wood of the archway, and to a large sign that was draped in long, coiled strands of ivy.
Komui's jaw immediately dropped at the sight of the sign. Finally coming to the realization about what had happened to him, he started to laugh a little breathlessly. Once again, his potion had created something he never intended, and once again, he was to suffer for his dire mistake. He looked up to the sky, wondering if he could see out of the book and into the real world, but the blue sea above him looked as real as it should have. Looking behind him, he though maybe of he moved back he would reach the edge and fall out; That way too was pointless, as there was a large wall all around. The only way out it seemed, was forward.
Taking a few tentative steps, he finally passed underneath the archway; Nothing changed, though he hadn't really expected it to. With a little sigh, he continued on down a narrow trail that wound its way through the woods. With a growling stomach, he hoped that he'd soon come across some kind of town or village. The horse still followed, and it didn't take long for Komui to decide that it must belong to him in this story. He wasn't entirely sure what to do with it, but as long as it seemed content just to follow him around, he wouldn't worry any more about it.
Before Komui could come along a village, the trail he had been following disappeared, leaving him stranded in the middle of the woods. Beginning to have a mild panic attack again, he started to think he was going to die in the book, doomed to a life of wandering until he starved. He knew he was being dramatic, but as he was alone aside from his trusty steed, he was really at a completely loss. Couldn't one of the exorcists come along soon? At least if he was stuck with one of them, they'd have some good survival skills. Komui had only ever worked in an office or lab, and though he could get by with gadgets and potions, he had neither of those at his disposal here. He continued to wander for what felt like hours, maybe even half of the day.
The forest gradually darkened as trees got thicker, and he was losing all hope. He looked ahead of him as he walked, feet crunching on leaves and undergrowth, and finally after another minute, it seemed the trees were starting to thin. Alas! Maybe he was coming to a village, or perhaps he had found another trail at the very least. As the trees continued to thin, the sun came through more and more. When he finally got to the treeline, his eyes widened in surprise. In front of him in the middle of a large, grassy clearing, was a tower. Komui had read the story, but he could hardly believe his luck at stumbling upon the tower so soon. With a skip of his heartbeat, he grinned and ran towards it, hollering at the top of his lungs.
"RAAAPUUNZZEEEELLLL!" he bellowed, flailing his arms.
When he reached the bottom of the tower, he hugged himself against the cold cobblestones it was made of, looking up at the single arched window and waiting for a response...
