20th Rose [Voice]

[deadly_garden]

[He sounds strained, and possibly a little insane?]

Scratching, clawing, digging.  Scratching, clawing, digging.  Scratching, clawing, digging.

[He's growing more frantic as she speaks, faster and louder and much more desperate.]

There's something in there, something trying to get out.  I can't let it out, can't let it out.  Has to stay inside,

Comments

[truthinfortune]

Shuichi-san...?

[deadly_garden]

[He's sounding a little more frantic now]

Was it like this for you, Shirogane-san? The clawing and skittering in your mind?

[truthinfortune]

I don't... I don't remember much from that time. Just bits and pieces. Nightmares. My Shadow had emerged and became a separate entity while I was unconscious...

[deadly_garden]

[There is a long silence, long enough to make you wonder if the audio cut out.]

...You were fortunate.

[truthinfortune]

Yes... Perhaps. But our confrontation was still painful, being forced to face that side of myself, in the flesh.

I need to know something. Are there any mirrors where you are at. Large ones? Big enough for a person to step through?

[deadly_garden]

[He grunts] I'm trying to hold it back, trying but I don't know if I can.

No, no mirrors. I have a TV in my room, however. I barely managed to make it to Kaasan's before the worst began.

[truthinfortune]

Try to hold out for as long as you can... We have to save the others first. The weaker ones.

Good. Just as long as there is something that we can use to enter your world, it will be enough.

Shit, I thought I sent this!

[deadly_garden]

[A low whine that sounds frighteningly similar to that of a wounded fox] Yes, the ones that have already become worse than I.

TV here, mirror back at the den.

[truthinfortune]

[Heh... Naoto's actually heard the shrine fox whine before...]

I think the worse ones are the stronger Shadows, the ones who tried to bury their flaws more deeply...

Right. Since Rise-chan pinpoints the person, we'll be able to find you, no matter your location.

[deadly_garden]

[Then she should find it familiar~]

Would they not be weaker, since they succumbed so quickly?

Be careful with the mirror. It's precious, so precious and important.

[truthinfortune]

I don't know... But the less you try to hide your flaws, the weaker the resultant Shadow will be. Those people are closer to accepting themselves than those with a powerful Shadow. Those are the ones that will need the most convincing...

We'll use the utmost care, I promise.

[deadly_garden]

[He groans] ...Mine will be strong then. Be careful. [muttering] Crawling, creeping, digging...

My reminder, don't be stupid, that's what it reminds me of, love that was lost and then found again, can't be a dream, please don't let it be a dream...

[truthinfortune]

I had a feeling that might be the case...

Stay strong. We'll be there as soon as we can...