Episode VII
Losing Faith
By: Becka Cantrell
Episode 7: Remembrance
Mirai: *makes a fire in the clearing and sits in front of it deep in thought*
Shawken: Hey Mirai, is there somewhere that we can bathe?
Mirai: *looks at him and stands* If you want to clean up, follow me.
*the group follows her into the forest as she leads them to a lake*
Mirai: You can bathe here. *starts back to her fire*
Kass: *looks at the boys* Um, I’m not bathing with you two.
Ryo: *rolls his eyes* No duh. We’ll guard while you bathe. *sits down against a tree and Shawken follows his lead*
Kass: *goes to take her bath*
Mirai: *sits in front of the fire* Tenahai is talking with Yura… Yura is in control of guarding a weapon… but I can’t remember what weapon. I do remember that it was evil. Like, it could possess anyone who touched it, angel, demon, or human. Hm, they might be suspecting a fallen angel as the opposing force. But I don’t know of any fallen angel that has tried to fight against Heaven…
Kass: *comes back to camp* How do you bathe in that nasty lake water? *shivers in disgust*
Mirai: *looks at her and smirks* We haven’t found any hot springs so you’ll just have to deal. Besides, you survived didn’t you?
Kass: Barely. *sits down by the fire to get warm* So, do you think I’ll be able to heal people faster?
Mirai: *looks at her* Yes. Healers have the ability to heal quickly and the ability to heal more than one person. It’s a tedious process to learn but we have time.
Kass: *looks at her* How do you know all this?
Mirai: *looks at the fire* When you go to Heaven, the Council can see what your techniques are, how you can help the forces of good. I had great potential but of course I’m half demon… so they only taught me the basic fighting skills. But Tenahai knows dark magic and healing magic, and I watched her during training.
Kass: So, the fighting skills that you used on the wolf were basic?
Mirai: *smirks* No. Just cause the Council didn’t teach me how to fight properly doesn’t mean my close friends didn’t teach me. They like to bend the rules, more than the Council would like, but because my friends are so loyal the Council allowed it.
Kass: Wow, it sounds… beautiful…
Mirai: *looks at her* o.O? Beautiful?
Kass: Yes. *she yawns, lays down, and is asleep instantly*
Shawken: *comes to the fire and stretches when he sits down* So, if Kass hadn’t been able to heal me… would you have?
Mirai: *looks at him and shakes her head* No, that’s why I kept stepping away from you.
Shawken: Oh, the whole humans smelling different thing.
Mirai: *nods* When I smell blood, if it’s human, then my demon half wants out really bad. Human blood to a demon is like candy to a toddler.
Shawken: Man that IS serious. *yawns and lays on his back* Well I’m gonna sleep. Night!
Mirai: *watches Kass and Shawken sleep* Hey Shawken.
Shawken: Hm?
Mirai: …Where’s Ryo?
Shawken: We got out of the lake at the same time so he should be back soon.
Mirai: *nods and looks back at the fire* Just cause he should doesn’t mean he will… *gets up and walks toward the lake* …I smell him, but I don’t see him. *looks at the lake* …Ah *a tiny black figure is in the middle of the lake* …Yo! Ryo! *gets no response* …RYO! *still no response* …Don’t make me come out there! ><’ *still gets no response and she sighs* If he’s toying with me I’ll kill him. *she puts her arms to her sides and closes her eyes as she focuses her energy. She starts to float off the ground a little and she opens her eyes. She floats forward over the lake* Ry- *she looks at the figure and it’s floating debris* Ugh… *looks past the debris and sees little bubbles coming to the surface* …No way. *she stops floating slowly and settles in the water. She stays over the surface and looks around. Something grabs her leg and pulls her under* O_O
Ryo: *his hand slides down her leg and he closes his eyes*
Mirai: O_O Oh shit he’s drowning! *she grabs his hand but he’s stuck on something* What the hell?! *she looks past him and sees a muddy piece of debris that glistens every now and again. She pulls on the debris and the debris comes loose as well as Ryo who floats to the surface*
Ryo: *coughs as he surfaces*
Mirai: *surfaces with the debris in her hand* What the hell are you doing out here?! If I hadn’t come to look for you, you could have died!
Ryo: *looks at her* You came didn’t you? …*looks away*
Mirai: *looks at him* What happened?
Ryo: Nothing. *swims back to the shore and sighs heavily* Great. Now my clothes are soaked.
Mirai: *follows him and sets the pieces of debris on the ground*
Ryo: *takes off his shirt and wrings it out*
Mirai: *looks at the debris*
Ryo: *looks at her and puts his shirt on a branch* Why did you bring that back here?
Mirai: I don’t know… I didn’t feel like putting it down… *looks at him and back to the debris*
Ryo: Hmm. You’re gonna catch cold.
Mirai: *ignores him, picks up the debris and takes it toward the shore*
Ryo: *watches her* What is it?
Mirai: *washes off the mud and stops when she can see that it’s a metal sign with a number on it* I don’t kn-… *she stops and drops the sign like it’s a disease. She stumbles back and scoots away from it*
Ryo: *bends down and stops her* Mirai, what is it?
Mirai: *doesn’t hear him as she stares at the sign wide eyed* “Someday, you will be revealed to the world. But you’re not ready yet, you’re too unstable.”
Ryo: *looks at the sign. The number is 174* Mirai, what does it mean? *he looks back at her but she’s lost in a memory*
Mirai: *her eyes roll back in her head and she’s out*
Mirai: *opens her eyes and she’s floating in the tank* …How many days have I been here? How did I get here? Who are these men? *one of the men comes into few. The man is wearing a white lab coat and black pants. He has facial hair and glasses*
“Hello 174. How are you feeling? It’s been a rough process, but I think we’ve perfected it this time. Are you ready to be out of the tank?”
*blinks as she listens to him and slowly nods*
“Good.”
*the man gives a terrifying grin and calls for an assistant to come help him open the tank*
“You have to be gentle with her when she’s out. The transfer must be harmless.”
*the assistant pushes a series of buttons on the tank and the tank slowly drains. She slowly rests on the bottom of the tank as the water is drained completely and the tank opens in front of her. She slowly starts to pull her head up to look at the man with the glasses but she’s very weak. He takes the breathing apparatus off her face and the assistant wraps her in some sort of cloth and transfers her to another tank that is taller than the last one and in the shape of a square but has no water*
“Perfect, now leave us.”
*the assistant leaves after locking the tank*
“Now, 174, how are you feeling? Can you look at me?”
Why would I want to look at you? *she slowly looks up at him*
“Good. Now we won’t know what you’re feeling if you don’t tell us. You can talk to me, I am Irving, or the other man dressed like me, Richard. We’ll watch over you.” *he presses a button on the tank and leaves*
…Well at least I know who they are. But how did I get here? What did he mean “perfected this time”? Does that mean there are others here? *she slowly looks around the room to see other empty tanks like the one she was in earlier. There is a lot of electrical equipment, an operating table, and several doors* Where the hell am I?! *she looks down and notices that she’s wearing some sort of black sports bra and a bottom to match* …This is too weird. *she slowly starts to stretch out her legs and move her arms* Why do I feel so weak? *looks back to her old tank and sees a sign that says 174* *wakes up*
Ryo: Mirai…?
Mirai: *Ryo slowly comes into focus as she looks up at him and it’s still night* Wh-at happened? *realizes that he’s holding her to his chest and she gets out of his arms and slowly stands* =o.o=
Ryo: You tell me…
Mirai: *looks at the sign and sighs* I was remembering. *she points to the sign* That… was me.
Ryo: *looks at it and then her* I don’t follow you.
Mirai: That number was me. I was known by that number. *she tells him about the last two memories that came to her*
Ryo: What the hell… Who in the hell… *he looks at her and looks at the sign. He clenches his fist, looks down and back to her* …Mirai…
Mirai: *looks at him* You don’t have to stay… You can always go back.
Ryo: *looks at her* What? Why would I leave you? *moves a strand of hair from her face*
Mirai: *looks at him and stands* Come on… you need to sit by the fire so that your clothes dry.
Ryo: *grabs her arm* Mirai… *he stands and looks at her*
Mirai: *looks at him* Wh-what? *she tries to pull away*
Ryo: *grabs her shoulders and looks into her eyes with a serious expression* Mirai listen to me! …I promise you, that I will protect you.
Mirai: o_o *she looks down as he embraces her*
Ryo: *holds her to his chest* Now… you better get out of your clothes.
Mirai: *slaps him into a tree* >_<’’’’’
Ryo: x_X GAH! I DIDN’T MEAN IT LIKE THAT!!! >_<
Mirai: *turns from him and walks back to camp* Shut up! That sleazy son of a bitch!
Ryo: *grabs his shirt and follows her*
Mirai: *sits next to the fire*
Ryo: I can’t believe she hit me! After I told her I’d protect her, she hits me! See if I help her now!
Shawken: *sits up* Oh would you shut up Ryo! I can’t sleep with all that racket!
Ryo: *glares at him*
Mirai: *looks at Ryo*
Ryo: *looks at Mirai*
Mirai: >_< *growls*
Ryo: o.o’’’ *looks back at the fire*
Kass: *wakes up and looks at them* Is it morning already? *yawns and leans on Mirai*
Mirai: *looks at her and pushes her to Shawken* Go to sleep, everyone.
Ryo: *lays down and looks at the stars* Wow… the stars were never this bright at home. *sighs* Now where is our journey headed?
-End
By: Becka Cantrell
Episode 7: Remembrance
Mirai: *makes a fire in the clearing and sits in front of it deep in thought*
Shawken: Hey Mirai, is there somewhere that we can bathe?
Mirai: *looks at him and stands* If you want to clean up, follow me.
*the group follows her into the forest as she leads them to a lake*
Mirai: You can bathe here. *starts back to her fire*
Kass: *looks at the boys* Um, I’m not bathing with you two.
Ryo: *rolls his eyes* No duh. We’ll guard while you bathe. *sits down against a tree and Shawken follows his lead*
Kass: *goes to take her bath*
Mirai: *sits in front of the fire* Tenahai is talking with Yura… Yura is in control of guarding a weapon… but I can’t remember what weapon. I do remember that it was evil. Like, it could possess anyone who touched it, angel, demon, or human. Hm, they might be suspecting a fallen angel as the opposing force. But I don’t know of any fallen angel that has tried to fight against Heaven…
Kass: *comes back to camp* How do you bathe in that nasty lake water? *shivers in disgust*
Mirai: *looks at her and smirks* We haven’t found any hot springs so you’ll just have to deal. Besides, you survived didn’t you?
Kass: Barely. *sits down by the fire to get warm* So, do you think I’ll be able to heal people faster?
Mirai: *looks at her* Yes. Healers have the ability to heal quickly and the ability to heal more than one person. It’s a tedious process to learn but we have time.
Kass: *looks at her* How do you know all this?
Mirai: *looks at the fire* When you go to Heaven, the Council can see what your techniques are, how you can help the forces of good. I had great potential but of course I’m half demon… so they only taught me the basic fighting skills. But Tenahai knows dark magic and healing magic, and I watched her during training.
Kass: So, the fighting skills that you used on the wolf were basic?
Mirai: *smirks* No. Just cause the Council didn’t teach me how to fight properly doesn’t mean my close friends didn’t teach me. They like to bend the rules, more than the Council would like, but because my friends are so loyal the Council allowed it.
Kass: Wow, it sounds… beautiful…
Mirai: *looks at her* o.O? Beautiful?
Kass: Yes. *she yawns, lays down, and is asleep instantly*
Shawken: *comes to the fire and stretches when he sits down* So, if Kass hadn’t been able to heal me… would you have?
Mirai: *looks at him and shakes her head* No, that’s why I kept stepping away from you.
Shawken: Oh, the whole humans smelling different thing.
Mirai: *nods* When I smell blood, if it’s human, then my demon half wants out really bad. Human blood to a demon is like candy to a toddler.
Shawken: Man that IS serious. *yawns and lays on his back* Well I’m gonna sleep. Night!
Mirai: *watches Kass and Shawken sleep* Hey Shawken.
Shawken: Hm?
Mirai: …Where’s Ryo?
Shawken: We got out of the lake at the same time so he should be back soon.
Mirai: *nods and looks back at the fire* Just cause he should doesn’t mean he will… *gets up and walks toward the lake* …I smell him, but I don’t see him. *looks at the lake* …Ah *a tiny black figure is in the middle of the lake* …Yo! Ryo! *gets no response* …RYO! *still no response* …Don’t make me come out there! ><’ *still gets no response and she sighs* If he’s toying with me I’ll kill him. *she puts her arms to her sides and closes her eyes as she focuses her energy. She starts to float off the ground a little and she opens her eyes. She floats forward over the lake* Ry- *she looks at the figure and it’s floating debris* Ugh… *looks past the debris and sees little bubbles coming to the surface* …No way. *she stops floating slowly and settles in the water. She stays over the surface and looks around. Something grabs her leg and pulls her under* O_O
Ryo: *his hand slides down her leg and he closes his eyes*
Mirai: O_O Oh shit he’s drowning! *she grabs his hand but he’s stuck on something* What the hell?! *she looks past him and sees a muddy piece of debris that glistens every now and again. She pulls on the debris and the debris comes loose as well as Ryo who floats to the surface*
Ryo: *coughs as he surfaces*
Mirai: *surfaces with the debris in her hand* What the hell are you doing out here?! If I hadn’t come to look for you, you could have died!
Ryo: *looks at her* You came didn’t you? …*looks away*
Mirai: *looks at him* What happened?
Ryo: Nothing. *swims back to the shore and sighs heavily* Great. Now my clothes are soaked.
Mirai: *follows him and sets the pieces of debris on the ground*
Ryo: *takes off his shirt and wrings it out*
Mirai: *looks at the debris*
Ryo: *looks at her and puts his shirt on a branch* Why did you bring that back here?
Mirai: I don’t know… I didn’t feel like putting it down… *looks at him and back to the debris*
Ryo: Hmm. You’re gonna catch cold.
Mirai: *ignores him, picks up the debris and takes it toward the shore*
Ryo: *watches her* What is it?
Mirai: *washes off the mud and stops when she can see that it’s a metal sign with a number on it* I don’t kn-… *she stops and drops the sign like it’s a disease. She stumbles back and scoots away from it*
Ryo: *bends down and stops her* Mirai, what is it?
Mirai: *doesn’t hear him as she stares at the sign wide eyed* “Someday, you will be revealed to the world. But you’re not ready yet, you’re too unstable.”
Ryo: *looks at the sign. The number is 174* Mirai, what does it mean? *he looks back at her but she’s lost in a memory*
Mirai: *her eyes roll back in her head and she’s out*
Mirai: *opens her eyes and she’s floating in the tank* …How many days have I been here? How did I get here? Who are these men? *one of the men comes into few. The man is wearing a white lab coat and black pants. He has facial hair and glasses*
“Hello 174. How are you feeling? It’s been a rough process, but I think we’ve perfected it this time. Are you ready to be out of the tank?”
*blinks as she listens to him and slowly nods*
“Good.”
*the man gives a terrifying grin and calls for an assistant to come help him open the tank*
“You have to be gentle with her when she’s out. The transfer must be harmless.”
*the assistant pushes a series of buttons on the tank and the tank slowly drains. She slowly rests on the bottom of the tank as the water is drained completely and the tank opens in front of her. She slowly starts to pull her head up to look at the man with the glasses but she’s very weak. He takes the breathing apparatus off her face and the assistant wraps her in some sort of cloth and transfers her to another tank that is taller than the last one and in the shape of a square but has no water*
“Perfect, now leave us.”
*the assistant leaves after locking the tank*
“Now, 174, how are you feeling? Can you look at me?”
Why would I want to look at you? *she slowly looks up at him*
“Good. Now we won’t know what you’re feeling if you don’t tell us. You can talk to me, I am Irving, or the other man dressed like me, Richard. We’ll watch over you.” *he presses a button on the tank and leaves*
…Well at least I know who they are. But how did I get here? What did he mean “perfected this time”? Does that mean there are others here? *she slowly looks around the room to see other empty tanks like the one she was in earlier. There is a lot of electrical equipment, an operating table, and several doors* Where the hell am I?! *she looks down and notices that she’s wearing some sort of black sports bra and a bottom to match* …This is too weird. *she slowly starts to stretch out her legs and move her arms* Why do I feel so weak? *looks back to her old tank and sees a sign that says 174* *wakes up*
Ryo: Mirai…?
Mirai: *Ryo slowly comes into focus as she looks up at him and it’s still night* Wh-at happened? *realizes that he’s holding her to his chest and she gets out of his arms and slowly stands* =o.o=
Ryo: You tell me…
Mirai: *looks at the sign and sighs* I was remembering. *she points to the sign* That… was me.
Ryo: *looks at it and then her* I don’t follow you.
Mirai: That number was me. I was known by that number. *she tells him about the last two memories that came to her*
Ryo: What the hell… Who in the hell… *he looks at her and looks at the sign. He clenches his fist, looks down and back to her* …Mirai…
Mirai: *looks at him* You don’t have to stay… You can always go back.
Ryo: *looks at her* What? Why would I leave you? *moves a strand of hair from her face*
Mirai: *looks at him and stands* Come on… you need to sit by the fire so that your clothes dry.
Ryo: *grabs her arm* Mirai… *he stands and looks at her*
Mirai: *looks at him* Wh-what? *she tries to pull away*
Ryo: *grabs her shoulders and looks into her eyes with a serious expression* Mirai listen to me! …I promise you, that I will protect you.
Mirai: o_o *she looks down as he embraces her*
Ryo: *holds her to his chest* Now… you better get out of your clothes.
Mirai: *slaps him into a tree* >_<’’’’’
Ryo: x_X GAH! I DIDN’T MEAN IT LIKE THAT!!! >_<
Mirai: *turns from him and walks back to camp* Shut up! That sleazy son of a bitch!
Ryo: *grabs his shirt and follows her*
Mirai: *sits next to the fire*
Ryo: I can’t believe she hit me! After I told her I’d protect her, she hits me! See if I help her now!
Shawken: *sits up* Oh would you shut up Ryo! I can’t sleep with all that racket!
Ryo: *glares at him*
Mirai: *looks at Ryo*
Ryo: *looks at Mirai*
Mirai: >_< *growls*
Ryo: o.o’’’ *looks back at the fire*
Kass: *wakes up and looks at them* Is it morning already? *yawns and leans on Mirai*
Mirai: *looks at her and pushes her to Shawken* Go to sleep, everyone.
Ryo: *lays down and looks at the stars* Wow… the stars were never this bright at home. *sighs* Now where is our journey headed?
-End