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[Fiandra]

Oh snap, the suspense. So many questions. I'm looking forward for the next chapter

[BlackWaltzTheThird]

she's alrady walking away

Caught that for you.

I hastily fold the envelope back up and stumble away from the table. Len Mao leans back in his chair; I catch a glimpse of him checking his watch yet again as I disappear back up the stairs. A man has come into the lobby wearing formal blue to contrast with Len Mao's garish suit. They both look particularly pleased to see each other.

With the next line being Hanako suddenly on her floor again, I feel like this is a bit disjointed. Perhaps the earlier disappearance up the stairs should be a movement towards them, and then add a bit at the end there saying something to the effect of "but as I begin ascending the stairs my view of them becomes blocked. I dare not linger out of fear of seeming like I'm eavesdropping".

check the shower for the brush, and I comply

Dropped a full stop there, mate.

I bring a hand to my forehead, shaking it gently, before I realize it's spotty and wet. I take one look at the redness covering my fingertips and gasp in fright, scrambling to my feet. The mirror is cracked; there's a little pool of slowly drying blood dripping down the side of the sink. It seems I slipped in the puddle and fell right over.

After the fall, I thought the blood was Hanako's, and that she'd split her head open or something. Perhaps it would be advisable to make it more clear that that is not the case.

Other than those, I have no complaints. The dodgy rationalisation of Hanako not leaving of her own volition actually sounds pretty logical, as ironic as that sounds. Not to imply that Hanako is such, but people with certain afflictions often have an astounding ability to contruct reasons for not changing their situation. Consider hoarders or drug addicts; "I can stop whenever I want to" etc. I can easily see someone with an incredible fear of taking charge of their own life coming up with silly rationalisations like Hanako's to get out of facing that fear. Also, Takai's "rescue" isn't going to go to plan, I can feel it. It wouldn't be worth writing if it was a simple as "and then he saved her and everything was happy the end". I predict some major drama in the next chapter or two (depending on how much content you cover with them). In any case, I'm looking forward to it.

[nemz]

She's been paid in advance for her client services... Mao isn't going to wait long before 'requesting' that service is rendered.

Also the fact that she accepted the cash is going to make it much harder to convince others she wasn't just another working girl.

[Doomish]

Caught that for you.

At least one every chapter, I swear. I don't think I'll ever have a chapter of any story where I get everything right. Alas.

With the next line being Hanako suddenly on her floor again, I feel like this is a bit disjointed. Perhaps the earlier disappearance up the stairs should be a movement towards them, and then add a bit at the end there saying something to the effect of "but as I begin ascending the stairs my view of them becomes blocked. I dare not linger out of fear of seeming like I'm eavesdropping".

Yeah, I get what you mean. I'll do a little rephrasing.

Dropped a full stop there, mate.

I'm not sure I understand. The sentence continues after that! :V

[BlackWaltzTheThird]

I'm not sure I understand. The sentence continues after that! :V

Um. I don't know. I could have sworn there was a line break there before or something. But there's nothing now. Perhaps my mind is playing tricks on me.

[Mirage_GSM]

Takai is coming to get me tonight. Even if I do leave, I'm still stuck in Sendai. This is THEIR city. I've never been here before in my life. I don't know the streets, I don't know the territory. I'd have no idea where to go.

I've never been to Sendai either, but even with only my rudimentary Japanese skills to rely on, I'd trust myself to find the nearest subway station and read the map well enough to get back to whatever town Yamaku is located in.
Besides that guy does own one brothel and a maid cafe not the whole of Sendai.

If it weren't for Takai, I'd have no way to get back to my hometown.

It's called a subway. They do have those in Japan, you know. They even have Taxis.

[Doomish]

Sucks that Hanako doesn't plan on leaving then, doesn't it!

[LegyPlegy]

....
This fanfiction is horribly well written, disturbingly dark, and the fact that the worst parts of it are from my imagination (and my precious hanako.. :C) make me sick...


but that won't stop me from reading it c:

[Oddball]

Sucks that Hanako doesn't plan on leaving then, doesn't it!

I thought she did plan on leaving, you know, with that guy who she doesn't know that kidnapped her and sold her. You know, the person she trusts.

Granted, that's not as bad as her getting a pep talk about how this place is so great and she'll be accepted and not judged, right after the bit about even the mold having mold and the other girl calls her a whore.

The "logic" in this story just never quite gels.

[Doomish]

The logic you're seeing in the story is as human as I can make it. Hanako's rationalization for waiting for Takai is flimsy, yes, but it's because she honestly believes she'd be safer with him than on her own. The reason she trusts him is because now she knows his ulterior motive for selling her, and she's so obsessed with going home- despite the reasoning for not just leaving by herself -that she's willing to take a free ride out from anyone. Takai has already demonstrated that Hanako can trust him by coming back when he said he would, but then that escape didn't pan out because Len Mao returned.

Len Mao says it's a great place and she'll be accepted because he owns the place. That's just what he honestly thinks about it, he says so himself. What, you think he's going to shit talk his own establishment? Hanako even says herself that she doesn't buy into it after the conversation is over because, as you noted, the mold has mold and people aren't afraid to call each other what they are.

[Dream]

Hmm, the story seems to have a very interesting and unexpected direction in the last chapter. As always, it's keeping me on the edge on my seat and eagerly looking forward for me. This is quite a tale indeed, likely among the best fanfictions i've ever read, both of KS and in general.

[Doomish]

Forget it.

[nemz]

Hmm... I don't trust Lilly in this just on general principle as much as her acting oddly, but it still feels like a major stretch to say she's involved in more than a tertiary way. Badmouthing Hisao after the argument enough to motivate Hanako to run off to a bar, for instance, though If she actually suggested that trip she'd probably have gone along.

My other suspicion is that Miyo is a former 'associate' of Mao's and Takai bought her freedom by trading Hanako for her.

[AverageRob]

This is getting heated, Hisao going detective mode.
Your story and all, I'm sure you have plans.
Wouldn't they have maybe contacted Akira, especially since Hisao could very easily die from angering someone that decides his chest is a good area to place their fist.

[Hacksorus]

Wouldn't they have maybe contacted Akira, especially since Hisao could very easily die from angering someone that decides his chest is a good area to place their fist.

Agreed.
I don't know why he wanted Lilly to come into this so badly, I wouldn't be in any hurry to bring along a blind girl into the house of who is quite likely a kidnapper. I would sooner bring Kenji than go alone, he would be easy to convince. Although, that WOULD be rather anticlimactic.