(Untitled)

[remem_b_er]

Last time it was a voice from the water, this time it's more personal. B nibbles on Yoite's ear, late one afternoon. Miharu is out.

It's been nearly months since they convinced him to accept the cure. B hasn't remembered to come back since. But now, here he is. And here's his tongue.

Comments

[erasing]

Yoite's been sleeping less. It's lowering down to a normal amount, even. Soon after he had been cured, he learned that the day is actually very long when it's not being eaten up by sleep and sickness and killing and being killed. Twenty-four hours stretches on forever, but it's a pleasant sort of feeling. To fill the time, he's been reading and studying. Learning kanji, visiting the library, figuring out a little bit of English - and all of the books, too, overflowing with words he hasn't read and lessons he hasn't learned.

This afternoon, he's on the balcony in a rocking chair, reading Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World. The book is paperback; it's flimsy in his stronger hands. It's slipping from his fingers, though, as his mind wanders and he stares out towards the sunset. It comes as even more of a surprise - shock? but maybe not strong enough for that - when he feels (and he does feel) B at his ear. He turns, but was he really expecting someone to be there?

"It's Beyond?"

[remem_b_er]

"I missed you."

He settles at Yoite's feet and leans against his knees, with a cheshire-cat smile and a slow corkscrew into visibility. When he's there and solid again, he closes his eyes.

"Yoite."

[erasing]

"I've been here."

Yoite leans forward; Beyond's transformations never fail to have him marveling.

[remem_b_er]

"I've been everywhere."

He rests his chin on Yoite's knee, and smiles.

"Tell me about being here."