[OPEN LOG] Halloween

[xpuri_mod]

Halloween night sees the Academy grounds lit up with lights from hundreds of flickering jack-o-lanterns as they illuminate the paths through the gardens and maze. Inside the school, the largest (above ground) sports hall and games room have been decorated still further with streamers and multicoloured lights. In the latter location, a band stand

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[desu_desu_dan]

Dan stopped at a choice in the maze. He'd heard it was supposed to be spooky in there during the party but so far, no spooky ghosts had popped out. Grinning a little, he couldn't help but wonder if it was because they saw himself as a fellow spirit. He looked left then right before picking the left hand path.

[applestocacti]

It was a ghost that wasn't one of his.

Fuji couldn't help but smile as he saw the small first year student make his way towards the intersection. Despite his white wrap, Fuji knew it was Dan; Tooyama would never be able to walk so quietly and Echizen... Fuji knew where Echizen was.

Hidden in the shadows, Fuji concentrated on Dan. A small, dark haired boy, insubstantial in the eerie light, appeared by one of the exits. He looked at Dan for a moment and then glided away.

[desu_desu_dan]

Dan paused when the boy appeared out of nowhere. Thinking it was another student, the first year called out to it. "Hey, wait up! We can go together." Because it was more fun to wander around in groups and there was something about that boy that looked a little familiar though Dan couldn't place where. Running to catch up to the boy, Dan paid no mind to where he was going.

[applestocacti]

Walking quietly and keeping to the maze edge, Fuji followed Dan. They trotted down one pathway and up a next, Fuji's illusion moving with an unnaturally smooth pace.

As the other boy neared his creation, Fuji had the illusion turn. It looked at Dan out of white semi-transparent eyes. "Do you see me....?" it mouthed, his voice no more than a breeze through the bushes.

[desu_desu_dan]

The boy always seemed to stay just far enough ahead that Dan wasn't able to catch up. It was almost like the boy was leading him somewhere though Dan didn't have a clue where. He'd only been in the maze a few times. Enough to have a general layout in his head but not enough to have uncovered its secrets.

When it turned and spoke, Dan's eyes went wide. "Y-yes," he said, realizing this wasn't a student after all.

[applestocacti]

The ghost moved fast enough to put several feet between its wavering form and Dan. Fuji followed the pair. In truth, they were not going far, just round enough corners to make it seem a distance. Finally they reached the dead end where Fuji had placed Ryoma's limp figure.

The ghost stopped and waited for Dan. "Avenge meeeeee." He flew at the boy, disappearing in a disembodied pool of mist out of which the form of a deathly still boy was dimly outlined.

Was it just good luck that their cupcakes left a red stain around the mouth?

[desu_desu_dan]

Dan froze at the sight of his roommate before rushing over. "Ryoma-kun, wake up," he ordered, softly shaking the other first year. Dan was seriously hoping his roommate wasn't dead but then again, it seemed like his ghost was wandering around the maze and there was that blood stain around Ryoma's mouth.

"I'll try and get some help," he told the corpse. Dan turned and ran, hoping he could find someone who might be able to heal Ryoma. That, or possibly someone with the power to reanimate the dead.

[applestocacti]

It was possible that many people had said that Fuji's sadistic tendencies would one day backfire on him.

'Possible' because no one would ever suggest that to Fuji's face.

That was a pity since --if they had-- Fuji might have restrained himself from stepping out of his hiding niche to take a good look at Dan's reaction to Fuji's unwilling prop for the night. And if he hadn't stepped out, Dan wouldn't have knocked into him in his hurry to flee.

None of this Fuji thought about. In fact, after he caught his breath, there was only one single thought on Fuji's mind:

"I shouldn't have youtube'd that Dr Who clip of weeping angels."

[desu_desu_dan]

Too focused on finding someone who could help Ryoma, Dan didn't notice the Grim Reaper until it was too late and he'd bumped into the person. At first, Dan didn't think anything of it. He was a tad clumsy and tended to bump into people far too often anyway so he just gave a quick "sorry" as he went to look for someone to help Ryoma.

Realizing that maybe the person could help, Dan backtracked and grabbed the person's arm. "My friend needs help," he explained. "I think he might be d-" Dan paled as he realized just who he was talking to "-ead...."

[applestocacti]

The grim reaper didn't move.

As Dan continued to tug on the dark beings sleeve, one arm rose to point. But it wasn't pointing at the fallen boy. It was pointing at the army of weeping angels that stood frozen around the intersection, as far as the eye could see.

[desu_desu_dan]

Dan was a little afraid to turn around. He was fairly certain Ryoma's ghost was going to be standing there. Normal ghosts were freaky enough but the ghost of a friend? That was beyond freaky. Still holding on to the grim reaper's arm, Dan turned to look at where it was pointing.

Just a small army of statues that hadn't been there before. Not getting the reference, Dan just shrugged them off and wondered where they'd come from. They were creepy but then again, he was in the middle of a haunted maze with the grim reaper and a dead friend so really, in comparison, the statues weren't the worst in this situation.

[applestocacti]

Dan obviously didn't see the problem. Fuji's hand found his shoulder, gripping rather tighter than he would normally.

"You don't understand," he said, eyes still fixed ahead. "I'm not controlling them."

It wasn't true that he hadn't created them; he could feel the tug on his energy as the illusions appeared. But Fuji had not intended to dream up a field full of weeping angels. Illusions ONLY appeared when Fuji wanted them too.

And there was more.

From other parts of the grounds came the sound of screams. Fuji didn't have to see the scenes to know they saw what he did; more angels. Yet, it was impossible. His power REQUIRED eye contact. How was it that other people in other places were seeing these illusions? Illusions that he never meant to create.

And if he didn't mean to create them.... what would they do?

[desu_desu_dan]

Dan jumped when the grim reaper spoke. Logically, he knew it was probably just a student in a costume but the middle of a creepy hedge maze with a dead friend nearby had this tendency to throw logic out the window.

Looking at the statues again, which only got creepier the longer he did so, it all clicked in Dan's head. "You're a student here, aren't you?" He asked, wincing a little at the grip on his shoulder. "If so, you might want to let go...it's only making it worse." Though with the way his power had been working lately, the damage was probably already done.

He kept his eyes on a few the statues before glancing nervously at the grim reaper. "You...you don't make things come to life, do you?" Because a maze full of those things moving around sounded like the worst thing that could have happened. And Dan was still supposed to go find help for Ryoma just in case his roommate was still alive.

[applestocacti]

"No...." Fuji said with forced calm. "I create illusions. Intentional, small illusions in the mind of a person I can see. However currently..." He turned to look to the left. Three of the weeping angels that had been out of his sight had moved closer, their hands raised in grotesque postures. "I seem to be making an illusion that I didn't mean to create and what half the maze can see."

He removed his arm from Dan's shoulder, reminded now of the affect the young boy had produced on Niou. "You have become strong, Dan-kun. I am not sure I was the best person to discover that with."

[desu_desu_dan]

Dan glanced over and jumped. Those things had moved. A few of them had gotten closer and honestly, they looked lifelike. Well, as alive as a statue could be. The grim reaper said he made illusions but those...were they really illusions? He wasn't so sure.

"I don't think there's a good person to discover anything with," Dan said with a soft sigh. His power seemed to be more trouble causing than anything good. He looked over at the statues. They seemed to be getting closer. He took a step back, keeping his eyes on a few of them. "You...can you get them to go away?"

[applestocacti]

"No, which is odd, isn't it?" Fuji said conversationally. He took a step back and felt the hedge brush his back. "Can you?"