sarumi | Horror Tower: Floor 2!

[Yata nods, bracing himself. The first floor wasn't bad, but this felt all too much like one of those video games that Yata loved to play, where things just got harder the higher you go. That reminded him: Didn't video games also give you things you needed to beat the levels?]

Nii-san, do you wanna open the door, or should I?

I've got it. Just be ready for anything once I open the door.

[Diarmuid gives Yata a nod and then looks back at the door, pulling it open a moment later. However, what he sees is not anything like what he expected.]

Mirrors...

[They are everywhere and covering everything. Light scatters and refracts in every direction. He's hardly stepped into the room and he can see hundreds if not thousands of copies of himself reflected on their surfaces.]

What is this?

[Yata is thrown off by the mirrors. Even the ceiling and floors were basically a giant mirror! Well. at least they didn't appear to be those fun house type mirrors. Nothing was distorted but there were tons of mirrors and some of them were in a pattern that was most unnerving.]

I don't know...but I can't say that I like it...

[Yata thinks he saw a strange reflection in the corner of the room- something that looks like maybe a camera lens, but with all the mirrors, he doesn't trust it...]

I wonder what we have to do here? I'm guessing find the door, like last floor?

Finding the door is probably what we have to do, yes. So simple sounding, but I doubt there will be anything simple about this.

[Cautiously, Diarmuid fully enters the room. He remembers far too well how a seemingly safe room had become dangerous as soon as they both had entered last time. His eyes scan the room as he waits for Yata to enter.]

Try to stay close to me. I have a feeling it is going to be far too easy to get separated in this mess of reflections. That might actually be the point...

[His voice drops off as movement in one of the mirrors catches his eye, but it is gone as soon as he tries to focus on it.]

This is far too strange for my tastes.

Hmm...

[Diarmuid does have a point. It would be all too easy to get separated on this floor, and that getting separated could have bad consequences. Luckily, Yata has a simple solution to this that will work wonderfully unless monsters attack. The redhead simply reaches out and grabs Diarmuid's hand and held on to it tightly.]

S-sorry...but it's what Saruhiko and I did back in middle school when we'd go to the crowded shopping centers to look at games or see movies! I never got lost once...

[There's a faint blush in cheeks that has more to do with admitting childish behavior and less to do with physical contact.]

[Diarmuid looks down at their hands and laughs lightly.]

It seems the most practical solution, doesn't--

[His voice cuts off as he again notices movement in a mirror similar to what he had seen before. Of course, like before as soon as he tries to focus on it, the movement is gone.

But he could swear he was seeing butterflies...]

Shall we begin moving forward? The longer we dally here, the greater the chance is something will happen.

[Yata notices Diarmuid looking intently at the mirrors. He does continue moving forward, but finally pauses a moment in front of a mirror.]

You've noticed things in the mirror, too, haven't you? I know it might be a trick or trap...but I think we should look at these mirrors closer...

[Of course, Diarmuid does have a point in that by staying, they greatly increase the risk that something (the unknown was the most frightening part of it)could happen...]

[Diarmuid pulls back on Yata's hand when the boy gets to close to a mirror for his comfort.]

I have seen things, yes, though I am not sure what. I don't know how good an idea it is to study them either for it might trigger some kind of spell or trap as you suggest. If nothing else, I would advise against getting too close to them physically. Especially since it's obvious they aren't normal mirrors. They could break at a moment's notice and the shards would be deadly.

[Yata takes Diarmuid's advice but is still dead set on investigating the mirrors, if the way he's standing there obstinately is any indication.]

You're right...I don't think getting close to glass is the best idea, either. But...we can look, right?

[And that's when Yata hears a very familiar sounding voice calling his name with a slight chuckle. At least he thinks he hears it...maybe the trick of this room was hearing things?]

To be honest, I don't know if we should even look. I--

[Diarmuid's voice cuts off as he catches a bit more than before in a mirror down the hall from where they are standing. Not only does he feel like he should know that brief flash, but it doesn't help that he swears he feels butterfly wings fluttering against his cheek for a moment, their touch like the faintest of kisses.

Kisses that feel familiar.

Of course, there is nothing there when he lifts his hand to touch his cheek even if the faint touch seems to linger.]

There is something...messing with our senses here. Not just sight...everything.

I don't like this any more than you do, Nii-san but...

[There it is again. A voice...it's calling out to him...it sounded happy, cheerful even...

Yata-chan~ Look in the mirror~ Tell your friend to do the same~

That voice...that laugh...]

Look in the mirror Nii-chan!

[As soon as he says that, he can clearly see a figure in the mirror. An attractive blonde man about Yata's age is standing in the mirror with a friendly grin. He holds a camera and waves merrily in the glass.]

Nii-san, look!

[He tugs at Diarmuid, although getting his attention is probably unnecessary.]

Edited (typos and coding will be the death of me Im sorry for all the notifs) 2013-08-09 06:18 (UTC)

[As much as he wants to ignore what the mirrors are showing in case it is a trap of some kind, Diarmuid can't ignore Yata's reaction to who he sees there. He gives the reflection a look over before looking at Yata curiously.]

I take it that is someone you know? Someone from your world?

[Diarmuid catches movement out of the corner of his eyes, but he forces himself to ignore it and the brush he feels against his cheek in favor of figuring out what Yata is seeing first.

Though...ignoring gets much harder to do when he starts smelling a very familiar smell.

He swallows, closing his eyes to try and refocus himself.]

It's a trick. It can't be who you think it is...

[And that can't be who I think it is...]

[Yata couldn't believe it, but he was looking right at it. There he was...plain as day..Mr Totsuka!]

Mr. Totsuka! Tell him you're real! Show him!

[It's obvious Yata believes in the mirrors even though logic says he probably shouldn't...

Yata-chan, this place is dangerous for you and your friend. I really am Totsuka, but you shouldn't accept everything you see so easily...

Totsuka spoke gently but firmly. It was hard not to imagine a much older sibling or parent correcting a child on an easily avoidable mistake.]

...Oh. Sorry Nii-san, I should have listened...but I think this is real...

Edited 2013-08-10 04:54 (UTC)

It can't be. It can't be!

[Diarmuid steps back jerking his hand away from Yata and almost bumping into a mirror behind him. His eyes are squeezed tightly shut and he's almost...shaking. His reaction isn't caused so much by the person Yata is seeing, but the suggestion that the person he thinks he's seeing and sensing is there.

It doesn't help when a hand breaks free of the mirror behind him and closes over his shoulder. The motion is meant to be comforting as is the voice that speaks next in musical tones. However, all either of them do is make Diarmuid freeze and the color drain from his face.]

He's right, my Little Bird. As impossible as it seems these mirrors act a portals between this place and others...

Don't call me that.... Please... Don't lie to me in that voice...

[Yata looks over at Diarmuid, obviously quite worried about his companion's reaction to what he's heard in the mirror room...]

Nii-san...I don't think this is a lie...calm down and tell me how you think this room feels...

[Yata had noticed it before. The unnerving atmosphere of the room had slowly been lifting ever sense Yata had taken Diarmuid's hand. The mirrors no longer seemed like ominous threats. The room had a peaceful air to it. Of course, it could be a lie but...

Yata-chan...I'm here to help you through this place. I can only help a little, though. I'm not as strong as King, and you know it...]

I think we have helpers, Nii-san!

[Yata's mood is uplifted quite a bit now, although he's still nervously watching Diarmuid...]

Edited 2013-08-10 20:04 (UTC)

[Diarmuid doesn't answer. He seems far too lost to his pain and denial to do so and his 'helper' realizes this, pulling himself completely free of the mirror to stand in the room with them. It seems to have taken quite a bit of effort for him to do it, but that tiredness lasts only a moment before vanishing.]

It is not his fault that he does not believe. He has been through much and by rights I should not be able to be away from the land I guard. Yet, I am...

[The man falls silent, moving to stand in front of Diarmuid and taking the Servant's head in his hands. The movement also gives Yata a clear look at him for the first time since he pulled himself fully from the mirror. If there are elves on Yata's world, many of the man's features would likely remind him of them--from the pointed ears and delicate features to the long robes he wears that obviously come from a different time. The man's hair is long and wavy, its light red-brown tone seeming to constantly shift as he moves.

The man begins to speak softly to Diarmuid, but the words will not be understandable to Yata as they are spoken in Ancient Gaelic. However, after several moments, Diarmuid will whisper one hope-filled word that is understandable.]

Father...

[Yata's spirits are lifted as Diarmuid seems to calm down. The man Yata looks at does vaguely resemble the elves he'd seen in a few video games based off popular movies he'd never had the attention span to watch. No wonder why Diarmuid was so nice if that guy was his father! In Yata's limited opinion, this guy looked like the embodiment of "good and helpful".]

See? I think they're here to help us!

[ Yata-chan, look in the mirror...

Yata turned to look in the mirror to see the blonde man with the infectious grin and camera walk behind him and place his hand. The hands felt so real, it was if he could turn around and touch him- hug him maybe? But Yata knew Totsuka to be to dead. After all, wasn't in his arms that Totsuka had died after saying he was sorry?]

What were you sorry for?

[Yata hadn't meant to blurt out such a question when their time was likely limited and there were more important issues at hand, but he couldn't help it...]

Edited 2013-08-11 12:29 (UTC)

[Diarmuid hardly hears Yata's words. He is too busy trying to calm and focus himself. He wants to hold onto the insistence that this can't be real, but everything is screaming at him that he's wrong even the deepest and most well hidden parts of himself...

...the parts that had silently cried for his father as he'd faded after being betrayed yet again by one who he had sacrificed everything for.

A half-choked back sob slips from his mouth as he finally gives into belief and buries his head against his father's shoulder. His father responds by putting his arms around his son and speaking more in a soft, comforting tone. Only once Diarmuid really calms and starts to pull himself together, does his Father speak in words that Yata can understand again, though, he seems to be talking more to his son than anyone else.]

You did not know it my little bird, but you were allowed a wish before this started. You made the right wish. Now I am here to aid you through this...nightmare. The one who rules this place is strong, but even he must follow the laws that dictate how this game is played.

[Yata may appear to be a thug hopelessly devoted to his thug leader, but he has a soft heart. He really wants to run to Diarmuid and give him a hug, but something tells him it's best to let the Servant be dealt with by his father. He does hear something about a wish, though, before he's distracted by his own helper.

I apologized for dying on you, King, Kusanagi, Anna...all of you were precious to me. Of course I was sorry for dying...]

Nii-san, I think we're gonna be alright...

Things are better, but they are far from all right, young one.

[The answer comes not from Diarmuid, but from his father. Diarmuid is obviously much calmer now, but he's not ready to talk quite yet. Instead, his head remains against his father's shoulder, eyes closed. His father threads a hand into Diarmuid's hair before he turns to address Yata directly.]

My little bird's wish brought me to him. However, your wish was for something else. As a result, your friend is not...the same as I am. Please, focus on him now. Don't worry about us.

[Yata nods at Diarmuid's father and focuses on the mirror before him. He can see Totsuka clearly; even feel the blonde's fingers on his shoulder.]

It's really me, Yata-chan! I hope King and the rest of you didn't do anything stupid to avenge my death. [He chuckes softly here.] Knowing all of you, you probably did.

[Yata hangs his head here. Of course they did. Wasn't Mikoto-san himself just about die for his sake?]

...You didn't deserve to die!

Edited 2013-08-14 05:36 (UTC)

[Yata's exclamation catches Diarmuid's attention and he opens his eyes, watching the boy as he talks to his friend. After a moment, he rolls his eyes toward his father, worry filling them. His father shakes his head, though, trying to seem reassuring.]

It's all right. Let them work thought this. There is no danger upon this floor. Only the danger is brought by the limitations upon what we can and cannot do. Where we can and cannot go.

[Diarmuid nods, finally stepping away from his father.]

I'm sorry, father. That was--

[His father reaches out and places a finger against Diarmuid's mouth, silencing him.]

I know the trial you just experienced. Your reaction is understandable. To all except you perhaps. You always expect too much of yourself. You are human as any other, my little bird. Will you never accept that?

[Yata's trying to keep up with Dairmuid simply out of respect, but Totsuka's grabbing ahold of his attention.]

Yata-chan, don't turn around whatever you do, but listen to me...

[Although he hadn't thought about it before, the urge to turn around and hug the man was overwhelming.]

You know I'm not very strong, like you and King. But in this place I can help you a little.

[And this is about the time Yata reaches behind him and places his hand on Totsuka's face in an affectionate gesture as he held back tears. Huh? Why was it wet?]

He is correct, my little bird. Whilst we have not been giving all the details, it seems all who are brought here are given one they know as a sort of familiar. This familiar is allowed to aid them at times. I am slightly different...stronger because your wish has allowed me to come more fully to this place as I mentioned before.

[Diarmuid's father reaches out to cup his son's face in his hand.]

We will have time to talk of what has happened to you. It is a sad tale I truly do not wish to know more about, but must hear from your lips all the same.

[Diarmuid nods, closing his eyes for a moment and drawing comfort from the familiar touch.]

I understand, Father.

[Yata's trying to keep up with Diarmuid and his father partially out of respect and interest, and partially out of not wanting to miss anything potentially important. But the face that Yata was touching was wet and sticky, even though Totsuka's image in the mirror looked normal.]

Yata-chan...just listen...don't look or feel just listen. We'll get you two out of here, I promise.

[Despite Totsuka's warning, Yata does pull his hand away to find it covered in a thick, red liquid that was unmistakably blood. The teen sharply turns to look behind him, only to find the young blonde man covered in blood with a gaping bullet wound in his chest. He smiled softly before speaking again.]

Don't sweat it. It'll all work out.

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