Re: Katawa Kijo
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 6:04 pm
Writing's been a bit slow this past week, but I decided to put up chapter ten anyway. Please enjoy.
Chapter Ten – Colours of the Wind
Two hours later, Hanako has managed to copy the feat of turning her hair to white and back to normal, while Ms. Miyagi has pronounced my efforts to return her hair back to its usual black 'satisfactory'. I missed a few strands but at least I didn't cause any hair to fall out, so I guess my amphibian existence has been put off for now.
Outside, the sun is approaching the horizon, and she dismisses the class, though not without handing me two books to study until next week. Not my usual fare, but the prospect of practical application makes the thought of doing some actual studying much less fearsome than I thought it would be.
Hanako and I pack our stuff and leave the classroom together. The other classrooms are empty. There's a message on the door of our homeroom. “Gone to town with Shicchan. See you tomorrow. Love, M.”
A bit embarrassed, I take the note and put it in my bag. It's just like Misha to leave a note like that hanging in the open where anyone can read it.
I turn to Hanako. “So any plans for the afternoon?”
“I... I was going to l-look for Lilly...”
“Mind if I tag along?”
“ N-No...” Hanako shakes her head and we set out for the tea room.
***
We arrive at the tea room, and I knock on the door. “Lilly? It's us, Hanako and Hisao. Are you finished with your lesson?”
There is no answer. I open the door to find the room empty. As I step over the threshold, Takeshi's voice sounds in my head. We've gone to the garden to practice because of the nice weather. Please come and join us.
I turn to Hanako and open my mouth to speak, but apparently she has heard the voice as well. “Well, he's right. The weather is way too fine to stay inside.”
As we go to meet Lilly and Takeshi, I marvel – not for the first time – at how fast we've come to accept all the weird things happening around us...
***
Lilly and Takeshi are sitting on a blanket beneath a tree in a quiet corner at the back of the garden. The flowerbeds around them are spectacular, and for a moment I feel sad for Lilly because she is not able to see them.
As Takeshi sees us walking down the gravel path, he rises and waves. “Ah, Hisao, so you got my message?”
Well, the answer to that should be obvious, but I appreciate him asking and not simply reading my thoughts. “Yes, we both heard it. Thanks for inviting us.”
Takeshi gives me a calculating look, but doesn't comment further. “So, Lilly and I were practising sendings - talking mind to mind. She's actually gotten pretty good at it so I thought she might be ready to try to talk to someone who isn't a Diviner.” He smiles at Hanako. “How about it? Do you want to try?”
Hanako nods shyly. “Y-Yes.”
“Then please sit down on the blanket and hold Lilly's hands. It's easier that way.”
Hanako does as she is told, while Takeshi comes over to stand next to me and watches the two. Lilly's eyes are closed and Hanako looks like she is listening to a voice too faint to be audible. Then a smile spreads across her face. “Yes, Ms. Miyagi changed into a wolf and then...”
“Sorry,” Takeshi interrupts her, “please don't answer out loud. Just think your answer and let Lilly try to read it.”
The following minutes are exceedingly uneventful, as the girls 'talk' to each other. Takeshi must have noticed me getting bored because after a while he asks Hanako to trade places with me.
I sit down next to Hanako and take Lilly's hand. I don't know if it helps to strain one's ears to hear a telepathic message but I do so anyway just in case. To my surprise Lilly's voice sounds loud and clear in my head, just as if she were talking to me normally. Hello Hisao! How are you today? Apparently she's already gotten the hang of this trick after practising with Hanako.
Relieved that this is not going to be that hard, I hurry to think my answer. I'm fine, thank you. You've gotten pretty good at this, haven't you.
Somehow you are easier to understand than Hanako was. I have no idea why.
Maybe Takeshi would know?
Lilly gives a mental shrug. I have no idea how she did that. Maybe. I'll ask him later. Meanwhile she gives me a grin as feral as Ms Miyagi's wolf form. So, I heard that you found yourself a girlfriend? You and Ms. Mikado are an item now?
I feel my face flushing and quickly turn my head away, Hanako and Takeshi won't see. I guess not even Lilly can resist the opportunity for some juicy gossip. Must be a woman thing... While I ponder what to answer, I let my gaze wander across the flowerbeds. I wonder if she will be mad at me for going out with Misha. The two of them don't get along very well, do they? At least I don't think she'll be jealous...
A gasp from Lilly takes me back to the present. I let go of her hand and turn back to her. Her eyes are wide open and her face has gone almost completely white. Did she accidentally hear one of my thoughts just now?
Takeshi is already kneeling besides her, gently shaking her shoulders. “Lilly! Are you okay? What's wrong?”
Hanako is also there gripping her hand tightly.
A few moments later Lilly starts to recover. “What was that?”
We stare at her uncomprehendingly. Takeshi has a strange look in his eye. “What was what?”
Lilly shakes her head. “I don't know. There was... Something... I don't know how to describe it.”
Takeshi's gaze wanders between Lilly and myself as he ponders something. Then he seems to come to a decision. “Okay, let's try something. Hisao, close your eyes!” I wonder what he's got in mind but I do as he says. “Good, now take Lilly's hand again.” I feel his hands gently turning my head to the left. “And now open your eyes again, slowly!”
When I open my eyes I find myself looking at the flowerbeds again. As I feel Lilly gripping my hands more tightly, I finally understand what must have happened.
“Now, Hisao, please describe to Lilly what you are seeing.”
I take a deep breath, then I start talking. “I see a field of grass. A gravel path leads back to the main building. Along the path there are several flowerbeds. The one on the right holds yellow and red chrysantemums, the one on the left...” I almost falter as I recognize the flowers. “Those are Lillys.” I turn back to look her in the eyes. “And this is you, Lilly.”
Tears are running down her cheeks as she struggles to handle all the unfamiliar sensations. Hanako is holding out a handkerchief to her, and she is tentatively reaching out for it, beaming when she manages to take hold of it on the first try.
By now there is a lump in my throat as well. I am unable to get any more words out, and I wouldn't know what to say, even if I could.
The sound of Takeshi clearing his throat ends this magical moment. “I'm sorry to interrupt, but this is enough for today.” When Lilly hesitates to let go of my hand he continues. “Soon you will be able to do this without physical contact and for longer periods of time, but please don't overexert yourself for now.”
Reluctantly, Lilly lets go of my hand. Her expression turns sad, as she is once again returned to not seeing anything. “You have made great progress. I didn't expect you to be able to do that for at least two more weeks.” He winks at the three of us. “I guess I'll have to teach you about colours earlier than I intended to.”
He reaches for Lilly's hand and helps her stand up. “For now, please get some rest. We'll bring you to your room, and try again tomorrow, okay?”
While Takeshi gathers up the blanket, Lilly takes Hanako's arm and together we walk towards the dorms. As we reach the courtyard, I remember about the things Ms. Miyagi said earlier.
“I'm sorry, Lilly, I just remembered I have something to do in the nurse's office.” I nod a quick good-bye to Hanako and Takeshi as I jog over to the auxiliary building. “We'll see each other tomorrow.” For the first time, that line doesn't sound wrong in my ears.
***
Much later that evening I finally return to my dorm. The nurse was surprised at first, but he thought it was a good idea and helped me search for all the stuff I needed.
Now I'm standing in the corridor, carrying two large books and three folders worth of copies and internet printouts – blown up to twice their normal size - and try to knock on the door without scattering them all over the corridor. In the end I place the papers on the floor first.
After the knock it takes a few seconds before I hear the expected sound of half a dozen locks and bolts being undone. Then the door is opened just enough for Kenji to slip out, and he closes it behind him so fast that I have no chance of catching a glimpse of his room.
He has done away with the curtain in favour of a tall staff made of cardboard – probably filched from the art-club's supplies - and I have no idea whether or not he is wearing his magical hat, but I decide not to comment, because that way lies insanity.
Kenji squints at me, trying to ascertain my identity, then he relaxes. “Hey, it's you bro. What gives?”
I hedge a bit, trying to not let my anxiety show. “Oh, nothing much. I just wanted to ask how your studies with Mr. Kanzaki are going. Made any progress yet?”
Kenji brightens as the topic is breached. “Of course I did! You think I'd just sit around idly when an opportunity like this opens up? I'm going to give it my all and use it to start turning the tide on the Feminist Incursion!”
“This afternoon I showed Mr. Kanzaki all the information I've gathered so far, the diagrams, the statistics and my conclusions from them. He was clearly shocked. Said this was worse than he had expected. I'm sure he will join our cause once he has had time to look through all the data.”
“That's great, Kenji, but I was talking about your magic training. How's that coming along?”
He sobers up a bit. “I guess, it's going okay... In a way...”
That doesn't sound good. “What do you mean by 'in a way'?”
“Well... I can see that magic glow in his little cubes. Better than the cubes themselves in fact.”
“But you didn't do any actual magic? You know... By yourself?”
He avoids my gaze and stares at his feet. “Not yet, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time, until... Hey, what is all that stuff on the floor?”
I remember the reason why I came here in the first place, but in my heart I fear this might be pointless after all. If Kenji cannot do anything at all, how can I expect him to...
It's futile to follow these thoughts any further. I went to the trouble of gathering all this stuff and even if it doesn't help, it can't do any harm either. I decide to go with the story I thought of earlier. “Well, I did some intel-gathering myself, and I wanted to keep you up to date.”
Kenji grabs the topmost folder and squints at the gigantic writing. “That's great, bro, I knew I could rely on you.” He frowns. “'Sarcoma'? What's that? The name of our enemy?”
“Yes, Kenji, that's the most dangerous enemy of them all.”
*********************
Please look forward to chapter Eleven:
God Help the Outcasts
Chapter Ten – Colours of the Wind
Two hours later, Hanako has managed to copy the feat of turning her hair to white and back to normal, while Ms. Miyagi has pronounced my efforts to return her hair back to its usual black 'satisfactory'. I missed a few strands but at least I didn't cause any hair to fall out, so I guess my amphibian existence has been put off for now.
Outside, the sun is approaching the horizon, and she dismisses the class, though not without handing me two books to study until next week. Not my usual fare, but the prospect of practical application makes the thought of doing some actual studying much less fearsome than I thought it would be.
Hanako and I pack our stuff and leave the classroom together. The other classrooms are empty. There's a message on the door of our homeroom. “Gone to town with Shicchan. See you tomorrow. Love, M.”
A bit embarrassed, I take the note and put it in my bag. It's just like Misha to leave a note like that hanging in the open where anyone can read it.
I turn to Hanako. “So any plans for the afternoon?”
“I... I was going to l-look for Lilly...”
“Mind if I tag along?”
“ N-No...” Hanako shakes her head and we set out for the tea room.
***
We arrive at the tea room, and I knock on the door. “Lilly? It's us, Hanako and Hisao. Are you finished with your lesson?”
There is no answer. I open the door to find the room empty. As I step over the threshold, Takeshi's voice sounds in my head. We've gone to the garden to practice because of the nice weather. Please come and join us.
I turn to Hanako and open my mouth to speak, but apparently she has heard the voice as well. “Well, he's right. The weather is way too fine to stay inside.”
As we go to meet Lilly and Takeshi, I marvel – not for the first time – at how fast we've come to accept all the weird things happening around us...
***
Lilly and Takeshi are sitting on a blanket beneath a tree in a quiet corner at the back of the garden. The flowerbeds around them are spectacular, and for a moment I feel sad for Lilly because she is not able to see them.
As Takeshi sees us walking down the gravel path, he rises and waves. “Ah, Hisao, so you got my message?”
Well, the answer to that should be obvious, but I appreciate him asking and not simply reading my thoughts. “Yes, we both heard it. Thanks for inviting us.”
Takeshi gives me a calculating look, but doesn't comment further. “So, Lilly and I were practising sendings - talking mind to mind. She's actually gotten pretty good at it so I thought she might be ready to try to talk to someone who isn't a Diviner.” He smiles at Hanako. “How about it? Do you want to try?”
Hanako nods shyly. “Y-Yes.”
“Then please sit down on the blanket and hold Lilly's hands. It's easier that way.”
Hanako does as she is told, while Takeshi comes over to stand next to me and watches the two. Lilly's eyes are closed and Hanako looks like she is listening to a voice too faint to be audible. Then a smile spreads across her face. “Yes, Ms. Miyagi changed into a wolf and then...”
“Sorry,” Takeshi interrupts her, “please don't answer out loud. Just think your answer and let Lilly try to read it.”
The following minutes are exceedingly uneventful, as the girls 'talk' to each other. Takeshi must have noticed me getting bored because after a while he asks Hanako to trade places with me.
I sit down next to Hanako and take Lilly's hand. I don't know if it helps to strain one's ears to hear a telepathic message but I do so anyway just in case. To my surprise Lilly's voice sounds loud and clear in my head, just as if she were talking to me normally. Hello Hisao! How are you today? Apparently she's already gotten the hang of this trick after practising with Hanako.
Relieved that this is not going to be that hard, I hurry to think my answer. I'm fine, thank you. You've gotten pretty good at this, haven't you.
Somehow you are easier to understand than Hanako was. I have no idea why.
Maybe Takeshi would know?
Lilly gives a mental shrug. I have no idea how she did that. Maybe. I'll ask him later. Meanwhile she gives me a grin as feral as Ms Miyagi's wolf form. So, I heard that you found yourself a girlfriend? You and Ms. Mikado are an item now?
I feel my face flushing and quickly turn my head away, Hanako and Takeshi won't see. I guess not even Lilly can resist the opportunity for some juicy gossip. Must be a woman thing... While I ponder what to answer, I let my gaze wander across the flowerbeds. I wonder if she will be mad at me for going out with Misha. The two of them don't get along very well, do they? At least I don't think she'll be jealous...
A gasp from Lilly takes me back to the present. I let go of her hand and turn back to her. Her eyes are wide open and her face has gone almost completely white. Did she accidentally hear one of my thoughts just now?
Takeshi is already kneeling besides her, gently shaking her shoulders. “Lilly! Are you okay? What's wrong?”
Hanako is also there gripping her hand tightly.
A few moments later Lilly starts to recover. “What was that?”
We stare at her uncomprehendingly. Takeshi has a strange look in his eye. “What was what?”
Lilly shakes her head. “I don't know. There was... Something... I don't know how to describe it.”
Takeshi's gaze wanders between Lilly and myself as he ponders something. Then he seems to come to a decision. “Okay, let's try something. Hisao, close your eyes!” I wonder what he's got in mind but I do as he says. “Good, now take Lilly's hand again.” I feel his hands gently turning my head to the left. “And now open your eyes again, slowly!”
When I open my eyes I find myself looking at the flowerbeds again. As I feel Lilly gripping my hands more tightly, I finally understand what must have happened.
“Now, Hisao, please describe to Lilly what you are seeing.”
I take a deep breath, then I start talking. “I see a field of grass. A gravel path leads back to the main building. Along the path there are several flowerbeds. The one on the right holds yellow and red chrysantemums, the one on the left...” I almost falter as I recognize the flowers. “Those are Lillys.” I turn back to look her in the eyes. “And this is you, Lilly.”
Tears are running down her cheeks as she struggles to handle all the unfamiliar sensations. Hanako is holding out a handkerchief to her, and she is tentatively reaching out for it, beaming when she manages to take hold of it on the first try.
By now there is a lump in my throat as well. I am unable to get any more words out, and I wouldn't know what to say, even if I could.
The sound of Takeshi clearing his throat ends this magical moment. “I'm sorry to interrupt, but this is enough for today.” When Lilly hesitates to let go of my hand he continues. “Soon you will be able to do this without physical contact and for longer periods of time, but please don't overexert yourself for now.”
Reluctantly, Lilly lets go of my hand. Her expression turns sad, as she is once again returned to not seeing anything. “You have made great progress. I didn't expect you to be able to do that for at least two more weeks.” He winks at the three of us. “I guess I'll have to teach you about colours earlier than I intended to.”
He reaches for Lilly's hand and helps her stand up. “For now, please get some rest. We'll bring you to your room, and try again tomorrow, okay?”
While Takeshi gathers up the blanket, Lilly takes Hanako's arm and together we walk towards the dorms. As we reach the courtyard, I remember about the things Ms. Miyagi said earlier.
“I'm sorry, Lilly, I just remembered I have something to do in the nurse's office.” I nod a quick good-bye to Hanako and Takeshi as I jog over to the auxiliary building. “We'll see each other tomorrow.” For the first time, that line doesn't sound wrong in my ears.
***
Much later that evening I finally return to my dorm. The nurse was surprised at first, but he thought it was a good idea and helped me search for all the stuff I needed.
Now I'm standing in the corridor, carrying two large books and three folders worth of copies and internet printouts – blown up to twice their normal size - and try to knock on the door without scattering them all over the corridor. In the end I place the papers on the floor first.
After the knock it takes a few seconds before I hear the expected sound of half a dozen locks and bolts being undone. Then the door is opened just enough for Kenji to slip out, and he closes it behind him so fast that I have no chance of catching a glimpse of his room.
He has done away with the curtain in favour of a tall staff made of cardboard – probably filched from the art-club's supplies - and I have no idea whether or not he is wearing his magical hat, but I decide not to comment, because that way lies insanity.
Kenji squints at me, trying to ascertain my identity, then he relaxes. “Hey, it's you bro. What gives?”
I hedge a bit, trying to not let my anxiety show. “Oh, nothing much. I just wanted to ask how your studies with Mr. Kanzaki are going. Made any progress yet?”
Kenji brightens as the topic is breached. “Of course I did! You think I'd just sit around idly when an opportunity like this opens up? I'm going to give it my all and use it to start turning the tide on the Feminist Incursion!”
“This afternoon I showed Mr. Kanzaki all the information I've gathered so far, the diagrams, the statistics and my conclusions from them. He was clearly shocked. Said this was worse than he had expected. I'm sure he will join our cause once he has had time to look through all the data.”
“That's great, Kenji, but I was talking about your magic training. How's that coming along?”
He sobers up a bit. “I guess, it's going okay... In a way...”
That doesn't sound good. “What do you mean by 'in a way'?”
“Well... I can see that magic glow in his little cubes. Better than the cubes themselves in fact.”
“But you didn't do any actual magic? You know... By yourself?”
He avoids my gaze and stares at his feet. “Not yet, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time, until... Hey, what is all that stuff on the floor?”
I remember the reason why I came here in the first place, but in my heart I fear this might be pointless after all. If Kenji cannot do anything at all, how can I expect him to...
It's futile to follow these thoughts any further. I went to the trouble of gathering all this stuff and even if it doesn't help, it can't do any harm either. I decide to go with the story I thought of earlier. “Well, I did some intel-gathering myself, and I wanted to keep you up to date.”
Kenji grabs the topmost folder and squints at the gigantic writing. “That's great, bro, I knew I could rely on you.” He frowns. “'Sarcoma'? What's that? The name of our enemy?”
“Yes, Kenji, that's the most dangerous enemy of them all.”
*********************
Please look forward to chapter Eleven:
God Help the Outcasts