Deus Ex !c3J6P5ZCRk 2009/05/19 (Tue) 07:37 No. 19911 ▼ File 12427186352.jpg - (128.00KB, 600x900 , 4730a3242719b9f28b6af4e0b73f3e04.jpg)
[x]Yamame
A continuing dream. Clutching to someone’s back, you look over their shoulder, brushing their long green hair out of the way as the wind whips through it. You can se a stone crag quickly approaching, a cavern just visible at its base. As you enter the cave, the woman pats your head and says something. You can’t make out the words, but you relax your grip on her clothes. Then, people. Not like how you remembered before, unfriendly, scared, or uncaring. Acceptance. Someone pats your shoulder. You can’t make out words, but you know you can belong here… even so, why did it turn out differently? Maybe it’s fate, or just natural habit. You find yourself distancing from others, in mind and body. Even here… you look down at your hands. A shadow falls over you. A new face again? But… this one’s different. He sits down next to you.
Maybe… maybe you’ll try to know someone once more.
------------------------------------------
You wake with a start. Yuugi’s shaking you, and though she may not mean it to be as hard as it is, it’s nonetheless not too pleasant of an experience.
“Kid, the sun’ll be up soon.”
“But it’s still dark…”
“O’course it is, numbskull. It’s always dark here.” Right, the cave… memories come back. Mima’s gone, you went back to the bandits, but… Mima?
“Sunrise? Then Mima-”
“Yeah, no word at all. We’re moving out now.” Even when tired, it doesn’t take you long to fully prepare. With everyone’s horses saddled, the group sets off for town with the haste that can only come of worry. You can feel the tension in the air. Mima’s definitely been missing for far too long now. But why go back to town? What would she gain from walking alone right into the hands of those who want to see her locked up, or even dead?
As you ride, the horizon is painted orange, showing that the sun indeed is about to begin his weary trek through the sky. Against that panoramic backdrop, the sprawl of the town comes into view. It hits you that you’re certainly not going to come into town like this without any commotion. However, as the town nears, you can see that commotion’s been a bit ahead of you. A crowd of people fills the main street, but they all look inward, and only when he sound of your horses’ hooves reach them that they turn and notice your group. Many look at you specifically. A wave of muttering runs through the crowd as word of your arrival trickles across it. Yuugi and the others slide off their horses, and you follow suit. Yuugi steps up to speak.
“Yo, fellas. What’re y’all doing so early in the morning, all crowded like this?” She acts quite naturally for a wanted person, but can’t hide some of her tension. She must already suspect who’s at the center of this crowd. The townspeople looks at each other, then hesitatingly draw back, like a curtain. You can now see through to the center of the crowd where not one, but two people stand. The crowd gives them generous amounts of room on all sides, and seems to be merely looking on. They also seem to grudge your approach, but don’t make any move to stop it. Moving up to the edge of the circle, you can see the two figures quite clearly. Mima and Reimu.
“You don’t know how glad I was when I heard you escaped, Mima.”
“Yeah? Why’s that?”
“I knew I would have so much fun putting you down again.” Reimu chuckles.
“I have to say, I was eager for a rematch as well.”
“I could see. After all, you actually went and found me. I’d call it admirably brave if it wasn’t so stupid.”
“You seem quite confident in your abilities.” The two are reaching for their weapons. Not good, this could get dangerous. The crowd seems to be thinking the same, because they quickly part. Some take cover in shops, some just on the sidelines, but the road itself has now become a clear battlefield. You yourself take a place on the sides, watching intently. Reimu stops for a moment, puts her hand in her pocket and produces a copper piece.
“Fair’s fair, right?”
“Of course.” Mima immediately resumes a relaxed posture. Reimu nods, once, and tosses the coin high in the air. She too lets her arms fall to her side. The coin carves a steep arc through the air before plummeting to the ground. A hush seizes the crowd. The coin impacts the floor, and suddenly the two figures erupt into sudden movement. Six shots ring out almost as soon as the coin hit the ground. You hadn’t even seen them draw. Both figures throw themselves to the side, dodging the others’ shots. Rolling, they don’t miss a beat, running towards each other with almost inhuman speed. Reimu lashes out first, a backhand blow that Mima parries with her own arm.
The two… seem evenly matched. Completely foregoing actual guns, this has become a close-quarters battle. Both sides of the fight pull of stunts and martial techniques that look straight out of a kung-fu movie. You can see now why nobody else seems to be interfering; no matter how you look at it, the two combatants seem to be on an entirely different level. In this kind of world, skill really does make a difference. Mima and Reimu separate, each jumping back and then staring the other down. Both seem to be breathing rather hard. At least they’re human enough to tire from vigorous exercise.
Both cast a glance over at you. They speak in unison.
“Shoot her!”
[] Help Mima
[] Help Reimu
[] Write-in
