Yuki's Diary
Nino warily eyed the book as though it were a monster that had crawled out from under his bed. The book, thrown across the floor in his panic, lay innocently on its spine and was opened at a random page. On the cracked parchment, glyphs glimmered red and danced across the pages, forming themselves into indecipherable words and sentences, only to split up into individual glyphs and return into its crazed dance once more. Nino's original plan of keeping his sanity in check, by dealing with this mystery one step at a time, had been rudely kicked aside by this dusty, ancient tome which seemed to mock him with its cryptic, animated symbols.
Nino suppressed the urge to run screaming, or cry while bashing his head on the wall, as he anxiously paced the room, circling the small area where the book lay. He knew fairly well that he should pick up the book, but he was having second thoughts, as he equated the acceptance of its presence with a complete descent into lunacy. Every memory, from his first encounter with Yuki and her strange little shop, up to the small exchange with Jun a few hours earlier, came rushing back to his consciousness like a tidal wave which left him scared and utterly frustrated at his inability to solve the puzzle. Deciding to be brave, Nino dove headfirst into this perceived craziness as he tentatively approached the book and carefully picked it up as though it were a wild animal that would claw his eyes out at any second. With cold, clammy hands and trembling fingers, he temporarily halted the chaotic dance of the symbols as he closed the book shut.
"One step at a time, Nino. One step at a time... even if its baby steps..." he told himself, as he laid the leather bound book on his bed, and released the breath he didn't know he'd been holding all this time. It was going to be a long night, and as much as he wanted to mull things over or sleep on it, circumstances were forcing him to confront his problems now.
"I think I'll brew myself some tea first..." Nino thought as he stood up and headed to the kitchen, half hoping that the book would somehow disappear upon his return. Once in the kitchen, Nino took determined steps to diffuse his anxiety by focusing on the task at hand. Breathing deeply, Nino reached for the kettle, filled it up with water and heated it over the stove. He then got a large mug, a teaspoon, and a small saucer which he laid out on his small table and finally reached for the jar of tea leaves in his cupboard. As he waited for the water to boil, he sat down on the kitchen stool and propped his elbows upon the small table. Massaging his temples, Nino quickly ran through the night's events before the discovery of the book which had been mysteriously placed in his bag...
Yuki sent me for groceries because Sho was going to arrive, then I helped Pierre out with the dolls, and somehow, had gotten carried away with Ohno (although I don't know why I seem to have a soft spot for... well, he's not a doll, according to Jun...) Sho arrived; the dolls, (or whatever they are,) were all talking at the same time, and Sho looked like he could hear them too. Then, Yuki and Sho went on a bathroom break; I told the dolls to keep quiet for Sho's sake... Yuki took an abnormally long time for someone who was just powdering her nose ...Then dinner ended and Sho promised to come back after three days, Yuki retired to bed early and Jun said that they weren't dolls; Ohno made me go home; I made them watch cartoons; Pierre called me a cab and I unpacked my things and the stupid book... Yuki. Maybe Yuki placed the book in my bag...
Nino was slowly forming conclusions in his mind as he struggled to fit the pieces of the puzzle together. Meanwhile, his thoughts were interrupted by the shrill whistling of the kettle, telling him that the water had already come to a boil. Removing the kettle from the stove, Nino waited a few minutes for the water to cool down until the temperature was warm enough to steep the tea in, but not so hot that it would cook the leaves. Nino scooped two teaspoons of the leaves into his mug and poured the warm water over the leaves, waiting for 20 seconds before pouring out the water and then refilling his cup. With the tea prepared, Nino went for a short trip into his bedroom to retrieve a pencil and a notepad, and remembering the crepes, brought them into the kitchen as well. He noted, rather disappointedly, that the book was still there lying undisturbed on his bed. In between sips and forkfuls of pastry, Nino jotted down random details which he considered significant, and little by little, he was beginning to see the outline of a bigger picture which left him with more questions to ask, and more blank spaces to fill.
As the night wore on, Nino's list grew. By the time Nino had finished his second mug of tea, the notepad already had three pages full of scribbled questions, random names, underlined words, and erasures. It was already four in the morning and the three hours that Nino spent scribbling inside his small kitchen had not gotten him quite far. His notes told him the few things he already knew: The dolls... aren't dolls; He and Sho were connected to Aiba, Jun, Yuki, and Ohno; He's supposed to make the dolls move, or at least he and Sho were; Yuki could not hear the dolls; He probably wasn't delirious with fever when he saw the door and the big house on the other side. And Ohno... what was it about Ohno? Nino released a long drawn sigh as he steeled himself to try and decode the book which lay waiting in his room. After washing his mug, Nino went to his room and opened the small lamp next to his bed. Sitting cross legged on his bed's lumpy mattress, Nino held the black book tightly in his hands, pausing for a few deep breaths as he mentally prepared himself to see the frenzied movements of the glyphs before opening it.
"One, two, and three... here we go..."
Nino lifted the cover and turned to the first page. The moving glyphs still scared and fascinated him, but to his relief, it didn’t do anything more than harmlessly dance on the pages. A few minutes passed until Nino was calm enough to look at the glyphs and try to make out what they meant; he spent a few more minutes staring at the book as though he were expecting it to give him some answers. Until it became apparent that merely clearing his mind would not do the trick, Nino looked through his list to see if it would give him some answers. On the first page, Nino had scribbled the word "door" in his scrawly penmanship, and next to it were the words" Yuki," "chanting," "key," and "staff." Nino finally thought he was getting somewhere, as his earlier fear was slowly being replaced by his gamer's instincts to strategize and solve puzzles. Nino wasn't sure if he needed a staff, but he was fairly certain he didn't need a key because the book could be closed or opened freely.
the chanting, however...
Nino tried his best to remember the words that Yuki whispered into the door on that dark and fateful night, and though his mind had been niggling at it for quite some time, he was unable to find the words that might unlock the spell and still the moving glyphs. The book needed a command, a password if you will, in order for it to be read; although he was uncertain if knowing the words to unlock the book's contents would magically make him able to read the symbols. Nino only vaguely remembered that the words were whispered in a foreign tongue which eerily seemed familiar, but frustratingly out of his reach.
Yuki... now I'm sure that Yuki put this here. Come to think of it, who is Yuki, exactly? The staff is something I might not need because it's not with me... Or did she choose not to put it there so I'd come back to ask it from her?
The grayish twilight of the dawn had already turned into the bright yellow of the morning sun while Nino further pondered his relationship with Yuki and the dolls. The green numbers of his digital alarm clock told him that it was already 6 in the morning and his body told him that he should be getting some sleep. Satisfied with what little he knew (for now,) Nino decided to give in to sleep and have a quick nap before going back to the shop to ask for answers. Turning the small lamp off, and dropping his things to the floor, Nino stretched his limbs and bonelessly plopped down on his bed, not bothering to brush his teeth or change his clothes, as he closed his eyes and his exhausted body caught up on some much needed rest.
As he slept, Nino entered a strange, but very vivid dream of Yuki holding a fashion show. Jun sashayed down the catwalk wearing a frilly dress shirt and glittery barrettes, glaring fiercely at the audience, as he turned and stomped all the way back to the stage. Aiba came in next, dressed in green leggings as some grown up version of Peter Pan, complete with a pointy hat, but instead of Tinkerbelle, a small squirrel sat on his shoulder nibbling a walnut. Sho followed wearing a smart, grey Armani suit and polished shoes, although strangely, he was wearing a worn out, brown caftan over his suit and had a stethoscope draped around his neck. Ohno was the last to walk out, looking like a swami with his white robes and a powder blue turban bunched up comically around his head, he even carried a crystal ball to complete his costume. Ohno, however, instead of going back behind the stage like the others did, plopped down on his lap, threw the crystal ball aside and started making out with him. Yuki, dressed in silvery, white robes stalked over to where they were and hit Nino on the head with her staff. Yuki was indignant and angry as she reprimanded them for ruining her fashion show. Although Yuki spoke in a strange language, Nino perfectly understood what she meant and even managed a retort in the same tongue...
Nino woke up with the words "idiot little brother" ringing in his ears. He was convinced that this was the language that had eluded him for so long and he was growing more and more frustrated as the fragments of his strange dream were being quickly drowned out by his conscious mind. The clock read 10 AM. It was a warm and sunny Saturday morning and he was only able to manage four hours of sleep. Nino grumpily crawled out of bed, thinking that he probably won't be able to get more sleep even if he tried, and went on to straighten out his messy room. After taking a shower, he cooked himself a small breakfast and had a mug of strong coffee before brushing his teeth and heading out to the boutique. The "dolls" were in their usual perch, staring blankly ahead at the growing crowd that wandered the streets on a Saturday morning. Thankfully, none of the dolls were wearing the weird clothes in his dream. Pierre would do no such thing even if it were Halloween, and he was quite sure that Jun would do more than just throw a hissy fit had he been able to move.
Nino let himself inside and was warmly greeted by Pierre and Marguerite who were surprised that he had come in for work on a weekend after doing some overtime the night before. Nino explained that he was here to see Yuki and was only going to return something that belonged to her. Pierre then went up to call Yuki while Nino sat on the sofa as he waited impatiently. Yuki arrived, dressed casually, in a pair of bootleg jeans, a pink shirt, and a pair of sneakers with her hair pulled back in a pony. As she approached Nino, a knowing and expectant smile was drawn across her face...
"Hey, Nino. You wanted to see me?"
"Um, well, I..." Nino didn't quite know where to begin.
"Yes?" Yuki tilted her head, her expression somewhat confused.
"I think this is yours..." Nino said as he retrieved the book from his bag
"I see. It is mine. Were you able to read it?" Yuki asked, an inquiring look on her face
Nino, with an eyebrow raised, paused before answering "... you wanted me to read it..." then, “No, I'm afraid I wasn't able to. Kept me up all night though"
"I see..."
Nino was sleep deprived and very frustrated, and Yuki was choosing now, of all times, to be cryptic which annoyed him even more.
"Look, I don't know what this is all about!" Nino exploded, raising his voice "At first I thought I was crazy because I kept hearing voices in my head, and then I realize that the mannequins on display aren't dolls, and they can talk, and then I---"
"They can talk?? I don't hear them. Why can you?"
"What??!!"
"I could not hear them, but you could." Yuki patiently explained to a hysterical Nino "Look," Yuki said, "I know that you're tired and that you want answers and you don't remember even half of the things you should..."
"Like what? Remember what?"
"Come with me, my idiot little brother, the lobby isn't a place for things like these..."
"Idiot little brother..."
"Yes," Yuki smiled warmly, taking Nino by the hand as she led him, once more, to the heavy wooden door.
"I believe that you know what comes next..." Yuki said looking at Nino, as the dancing red glyphs appeared on the door...
Previous: Beginnings: Premonitions Next: The Other Side
Nino suppressed the urge to run screaming, or cry while bashing his head on the wall, as he anxiously paced the room, circling the small area where the book lay. He knew fairly well that he should pick up the book, but he was having second thoughts, as he equated the acceptance of its presence with a complete descent into lunacy. Every memory, from his first encounter with Yuki and her strange little shop, up to the small exchange with Jun a few hours earlier, came rushing back to his consciousness like a tidal wave which left him scared and utterly frustrated at his inability to solve the puzzle. Deciding to be brave, Nino dove headfirst into this perceived craziness as he tentatively approached the book and carefully picked it up as though it were a wild animal that would claw his eyes out at any second. With cold, clammy hands and trembling fingers, he temporarily halted the chaotic dance of the symbols as he closed the book shut.
"One step at a time, Nino. One step at a time... even if its baby steps..." he told himself, as he laid the leather bound book on his bed, and released the breath he didn't know he'd been holding all this time. It was going to be a long night, and as much as he wanted to mull things over or sleep on it, circumstances were forcing him to confront his problems now.
"I think I'll brew myself some tea first..." Nino thought as he stood up and headed to the kitchen, half hoping that the book would somehow disappear upon his return. Once in the kitchen, Nino took determined steps to diffuse his anxiety by focusing on the task at hand. Breathing deeply, Nino reached for the kettle, filled it up with water and heated it over the stove. He then got a large mug, a teaspoon, and a small saucer which he laid out on his small table and finally reached for the jar of tea leaves in his cupboard. As he waited for the water to boil, he sat down on the kitchen stool and propped his elbows upon the small table. Massaging his temples, Nino quickly ran through the night's events before the discovery of the book which had been mysteriously placed in his bag...
Yuki sent me for groceries because Sho was going to arrive, then I helped Pierre out with the dolls, and somehow, had gotten carried away with Ohno (although I don't know why I seem to have a soft spot for... well, he's not a doll, according to Jun...) Sho arrived; the dolls, (or whatever they are,) were all talking at the same time, and Sho looked like he could hear them too. Then, Yuki and Sho went on a bathroom break; I told the dolls to keep quiet for Sho's sake... Yuki took an abnormally long time for someone who was just powdering her nose ...Then dinner ended and Sho promised to come back after three days, Yuki retired to bed early and Jun said that they weren't dolls; Ohno made me go home; I made them watch cartoons; Pierre called me a cab and I unpacked my things and the stupid book... Yuki. Maybe Yuki placed the book in my bag...
Nino was slowly forming conclusions in his mind as he struggled to fit the pieces of the puzzle together. Meanwhile, his thoughts were interrupted by the shrill whistling of the kettle, telling him that the water had already come to a boil. Removing the kettle from the stove, Nino waited a few minutes for the water to cool down until the temperature was warm enough to steep the tea in, but not so hot that it would cook the leaves. Nino scooped two teaspoons of the leaves into his mug and poured the warm water over the leaves, waiting for 20 seconds before pouring out the water and then refilling his cup. With the tea prepared, Nino went for a short trip into his bedroom to retrieve a pencil and a notepad, and remembering the crepes, brought them into the kitchen as well. He noted, rather disappointedly, that the book was still there lying undisturbed on his bed. In between sips and forkfuls of pastry, Nino jotted down random details which he considered significant, and little by little, he was beginning to see the outline of a bigger picture which left him with more questions to ask, and more blank spaces to fill.
As the night wore on, Nino's list grew. By the time Nino had finished his second mug of tea, the notepad already had three pages full of scribbled questions, random names, underlined words, and erasures. It was already four in the morning and the three hours that Nino spent scribbling inside his small kitchen had not gotten him quite far. His notes told him the few things he already knew: The dolls... aren't dolls; He and Sho were connected to Aiba, Jun, Yuki, and Ohno; He's supposed to make the dolls move, or at least he and Sho were; Yuki could not hear the dolls; He probably wasn't delirious with fever when he saw the door and the big house on the other side. And Ohno... what was it about Ohno? Nino released a long drawn sigh as he steeled himself to try and decode the book which lay waiting in his room. After washing his mug, Nino went to his room and opened the small lamp next to his bed. Sitting cross legged on his bed's lumpy mattress, Nino held the black book tightly in his hands, pausing for a few deep breaths as he mentally prepared himself to see the frenzied movements of the glyphs before opening it.
"One, two, and three... here we go..."
Nino lifted the cover and turned to the first page. The moving glyphs still scared and fascinated him, but to his relief, it didn’t do anything more than harmlessly dance on the pages. A few minutes passed until Nino was calm enough to look at the glyphs and try to make out what they meant; he spent a few more minutes staring at the book as though he were expecting it to give him some answers. Until it became apparent that merely clearing his mind would not do the trick, Nino looked through his list to see if it would give him some answers. On the first page, Nino had scribbled the word "door" in his scrawly penmanship, and next to it were the words" Yuki," "chanting," "key," and "staff." Nino finally thought he was getting somewhere, as his earlier fear was slowly being replaced by his gamer's instincts to strategize and solve puzzles. Nino wasn't sure if he needed a staff, but he was fairly certain he didn't need a key because the book could be closed or opened freely.
the chanting, however...
Nino tried his best to remember the words that Yuki whispered into the door on that dark and fateful night, and though his mind had been niggling at it for quite some time, he was unable to find the words that might unlock the spell and still the moving glyphs. The book needed a command, a password if you will, in order for it to be read; although he was uncertain if knowing the words to unlock the book's contents would magically make him able to read the symbols. Nino only vaguely remembered that the words were whispered in a foreign tongue which eerily seemed familiar, but frustratingly out of his reach.
Yuki... now I'm sure that Yuki put this here. Come to think of it, who is Yuki, exactly? The staff is something I might not need because it's not with me... Or did she choose not to put it there so I'd come back to ask it from her?
The grayish twilight of the dawn had already turned into the bright yellow of the morning sun while Nino further pondered his relationship with Yuki and the dolls. The green numbers of his digital alarm clock told him that it was already 6 in the morning and his body told him that he should be getting some sleep. Satisfied with what little he knew (for now,) Nino decided to give in to sleep and have a quick nap before going back to the shop to ask for answers. Turning the small lamp off, and dropping his things to the floor, Nino stretched his limbs and bonelessly plopped down on his bed, not bothering to brush his teeth or change his clothes, as he closed his eyes and his exhausted body caught up on some much needed rest.
As he slept, Nino entered a strange, but very vivid dream of Yuki holding a fashion show. Jun sashayed down the catwalk wearing a frilly dress shirt and glittery barrettes, glaring fiercely at the audience, as he turned and stomped all the way back to the stage. Aiba came in next, dressed in green leggings as some grown up version of Peter Pan, complete with a pointy hat, but instead of Tinkerbelle, a small squirrel sat on his shoulder nibbling a walnut. Sho followed wearing a smart, grey Armani suit and polished shoes, although strangely, he was wearing a worn out, brown caftan over his suit and had a stethoscope draped around his neck. Ohno was the last to walk out, looking like a swami with his white robes and a powder blue turban bunched up comically around his head, he even carried a crystal ball to complete his costume. Ohno, however, instead of going back behind the stage like the others did, plopped down on his lap, threw the crystal ball aside and started making out with him. Yuki, dressed in silvery, white robes stalked over to where they were and hit Nino on the head with her staff. Yuki was indignant and angry as she reprimanded them for ruining her fashion show. Although Yuki spoke in a strange language, Nino perfectly understood what she meant and even managed a retort in the same tongue...
Nino woke up with the words "idiot little brother" ringing in his ears. He was convinced that this was the language that had eluded him for so long and he was growing more and more frustrated as the fragments of his strange dream were being quickly drowned out by his conscious mind. The clock read 10 AM. It was a warm and sunny Saturday morning and he was only able to manage four hours of sleep. Nino grumpily crawled out of bed, thinking that he probably won't be able to get more sleep even if he tried, and went on to straighten out his messy room. After taking a shower, he cooked himself a small breakfast and had a mug of strong coffee before brushing his teeth and heading out to the boutique. The "dolls" were in their usual perch, staring blankly ahead at the growing crowd that wandered the streets on a Saturday morning. Thankfully, none of the dolls were wearing the weird clothes in his dream. Pierre would do no such thing even if it were Halloween, and he was quite sure that Jun would do more than just throw a hissy fit had he been able to move.
Nino let himself inside and was warmly greeted by Pierre and Marguerite who were surprised that he had come in for work on a weekend after doing some overtime the night before. Nino explained that he was here to see Yuki and was only going to return something that belonged to her. Pierre then went up to call Yuki while Nino sat on the sofa as he waited impatiently. Yuki arrived, dressed casually, in a pair of bootleg jeans, a pink shirt, and a pair of sneakers with her hair pulled back in a pony. As she approached Nino, a knowing and expectant smile was drawn across her face...
"Hey, Nino. You wanted to see me?"
"Um, well, I..." Nino didn't quite know where to begin.
"Yes?" Yuki tilted her head, her expression somewhat confused.
"I think this is yours..." Nino said as he retrieved the book from his bag
"I see. It is mine. Were you able to read it?" Yuki asked, an inquiring look on her face
Nino, with an eyebrow raised, paused before answering "... you wanted me to read it..." then, “No, I'm afraid I wasn't able to. Kept me up all night though"
"I see..."
Nino was sleep deprived and very frustrated, and Yuki was choosing now, of all times, to be cryptic which annoyed him even more.
"Look, I don't know what this is all about!" Nino exploded, raising his voice "At first I thought I was crazy because I kept hearing voices in my head, and then I realize that the mannequins on display aren't dolls, and they can talk, and then I---"
"They can talk?? I don't hear them. Why can you?"
"What??!!"
"I could not hear them, but you could." Yuki patiently explained to a hysterical Nino "Look," Yuki said, "I know that you're tired and that you want answers and you don't remember even half of the things you should..."
"Like what? Remember what?"
"Come with me, my idiot little brother, the lobby isn't a place for things like these..."
"Idiot little brother..."
"Yes," Yuki smiled warmly, taking Nino by the hand as she led him, once more, to the heavy wooden door.
"I believe that you know what comes next..." Yuki said looking at Nino, as the dancing red glyphs appeared on the door...
Previous: Beginnings: Premonitions Next: The Other Side