[ 41 - Mist broadcast; video ]

[heartbetween]

[It's not clear exactly how the Forge turned on, but the video feed crackles to life. The feed shows a landscape (if it can rightly be called that) swirling with mist, nearly impossible to make out much else but it, a few broken stones, and...the form of a very familiar man

Comments

[Reaction] 1/2

[reflectedstasis]

[When the Forge crackles to life in his pocket and a vaguely familiar voice reaches him - the words too muffled to understand clearly, at first, Fai pauses in his wandering to watch the rest of the video.

And frowns.

Because the man looks more than a little worse for the wear, but he doesn't look dead yet, which means his words really make no sense what-so-ever. Although, if the things he's heard about that Mist are really true, then his assessment will be true enough if left there.

And the fact that going to help the man meant delaying his having to go home to face a certain ninja, or the fact that he probably wasn't that far since the Mist was so thick around him now that he himself could barely see...]

[Video] 2/2

[reflectedstasis]

[So after he lets out a soft sigh, Fai casts a glance around, his single eye flashing gold as he stretches out his senses as far as the Mist will allow him, tries to ignore the way his own magic feels so very muted for the effort - like trying to swim through thick waters - and brings the feed up to send a video]

Mister Kaien? I don't know who your friend Taichou is, but I think I'm nearby. Can you tell me where you're at so I can come get you?

[Video]

[heartbetween]

[There's no immediate response--now that Kaien has noticed the beginning of the Blood Awakening, he wastes no time in turning back. He hears Fai, though, and blinks once, twice. Looks around while still moving for someone nearby (the mist interferes with his reiatsu sensing, this far out). Takes about five more steps before he realizes it came from his Forge.

It takes more restraint than he would have thought not just throw the damn thing and smash it to pieces for broadcasting something like this.]

Not quite sure. [His voice is a little rough, hollow. So unusual for him.]

Guess I'll see when the mist gets thinner. But if you come this far, you'll start bleeding too.

[Video]

[reflectedstasis]

Ah...that would not be ideal.

[That would, in fact, be very bad considering he was already weak from not feeding for several weeks. Even so, he glances around again and sighs, doesn't even notice when his eye flashes golden in the effort to see further into the Mist - right before he catches a flash of movement to his right...]

Kamui?

[A shake of the head before he starts moving once again. No one was there, not yet.]

I know I'm somewhere in the Ruins. I'm just not quite sure where anymore, but if you get close enough, I'll hear you. I'll just be careful not to go that far in, I think.

[ Video ]

[swordofthenorth]

My, that is a lot of blood.

[ Video ]

[heartbetween]

[His tone isn't soft or friendly like it usually is when he responds. Instead, it's dull, and muted, and interspersed with the sound of footsteps as Kaien makes his way back through the mist.]

Read once that it was called the Blood Awakening. First time I've been far enough to experience it.

[ Video ]

[swordofthenorth]

[ Well, yes. I'm aware of what it is. ]

It looks... [ --delicious-- ] ...uncomfortable.

[ Staaaring. ]

[ A heavy sigh. ]

You've someone coming to help, I suppose?

[ Video ]

[heartbetween]

[He doesn't have tasty human blood, sorry Isley.]

I guess. [He didn't really notice or care. It's nothing compared to what drove him that far in the ruins in the first place. The only reason he's going back right now is because he knows he'll die if he ignores it.]

Think someone's coming. Probably I'll meet up with them eventually. Hopefully before they get far enough to bleed too.

[Hi, someone is not his usual effervescent self right now. :D?]

VIDEO.

[raketen]

[ That's a familiar voice, isn't it -- and more disturbingly, a familiar sight. ]

Hey -- sir! Is someone coming for you? You can't be on your own like that! Can you hear me?

VIDEO.

[heartbetween]

[Oh, he remembers you, sort of. Kaien's not quite thinking straight so he can't place the familiarity right away. But the warmth in his tone from the other day is missing. He just sounds empty.]

I think someone's coming. Doesn't matter, really. Can't wait around for them to find me.

VIDEO.

[raketen]

Don't say that -- of course it matters! You have to get out of there, either way!

[Voice]

[break_onthru]

[BREAK IS WELL-VERSED WITH THE SOUND OF BLOODY COUGHING. Unfortunately he doesn't feel so well himself.]

Kaien-san?

...

I hate to be the one to break this to you, but it's rare that anything is fair.

[Voice]

[heartbetween]

[It's the first voice among those that have responded that he knows well, and Xerxes' words don't even register as much as the fact that it's a friend he can talk to. He doesn't even think before he bursts out with]

...Miyako. Sh-she's gone. [He's started crying again, tears intermingling with still-flowing blood.]

[Voice]

[break_onthru]

I know. I'm sorry.