Function \\ Three

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

[Haraken's sitting behind the movie theater, tucked next to an empty dumpster on a chair that looks like it got tossed out of the theater's lounge for having one tear too many. There's a holographic diary suspended in the air over his lap. He's shoved his glasses up onto his forehead and now has his wrist pressed against his eyes, his shoulders jerking every once in a while. A few tears fall through the image and onto his lap, making the diary's pages glitch momentarily.]

I'm sorry... I am...

Comments

[lamb_of_gold]

Haraken?

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

[He scrubs at his eyes and exits the projection--the diary vanishes, but his focus stays on his lap.]

[lamb_of_gold]

[He sits nearby] What's the matter?

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

Kanna... [He's going to start crying again. Instead he bites his lip, looking more like a wrung-out old man than a gradeschooler.] Her diary...

[lamb_of_gold]

Was she someone dear to you?

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

[A nod. His shoulders hunch defensively as the tears start again.]

[lamb_of_gold]

[Aw fuck. Have an awkward arm around your shoulder]

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

[Waugh, strange adult that he doesn't really know. He doesn't... pull AWAY, exactly, he just doesn't open up to the contact at all.]

[lamb_of_gold]

Would it help to speak of it?

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

[He shrugs, slowly.] I've talked about it before. Dad sent me to talk to counselors, after.

[shinypaws.livejournal.com]

Young one? Are you well?

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

[His shoulders give a little involuntary jerk as he nods, still half-covering his face.]

[shinypaws.livejournal.com]

[She so doesn't believe you Haraken, so she approaches, slowly.]

It is alright to be sad. Sadness puts happiness into perspective for us and renders a greater importance to life overall. It proves also that we care.

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

[He rubs at his eyes.] It's my fault. Kanna... She went to the crossing alone. She--

[More tears. The image glitches again.]

[shinypaws.livejournal.com]

My dear, I have found that quite often humans blame themselves for tragedies large and small, and more often than not they are not truly the ones to blame. Most things are the result of many small choices, decisions and circumstances that lead to a particular outcome. It is important to understand that before one ascribes blame.

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

[He shakes his head and doesn't say anything, instead tapping the pages of the journal to turn them.]

[He pauses at a page that looks like it has a map drawn on it.]

...ah..? Another one.

[shinypaws.livejournal.com]

[She has never before been so thoroughly ignored. She tilts her head.]

Another what, may I ask?

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

Map... It's like a key. You follow it and it unlocks a hidden file in the space.

[shinypaws.livejournal.com]

Like a treasure map of sorts, then? What does it mean?

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

I don't know... I have to find out what it corresponds with first, I guess.

[shinypaws.livejournal.com]

And you believe this map will give you answers?

[seventhcoil.livejournal.com]

[Fumie, like a ninja, suddenly appears from the top of the dumpster.]

Haraken?

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

[Haraken looks up at her and leans away in surprise. Yeah, it's sort of obvious that he's upset.] ...Fumie...

[seventhcoil.livejournal.com]

[She frowns and just leans closer.] Ne, Haraken? What happened? You look funny.

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

[He closes the diary projection and shakes his head.] Just tired.

The adults are all panicking. Everyone's missing.

[seventhcoil.livejournal.com]

[She's pretty sure she recognized that and hops down next to him.]

Ne, how do you think it's been for me? You all went missing! And I've been on my own here for a while until recently. Ah, except for Daichi but he doesn't count.

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

Sorry... [He scratches the back of his neck.] They think the stalker kidnapped everyone.

[seventhcoil.livejournal.com]

[She sighs and just sits beside him.]

Maa, for once I'm out of ideas. I want to try one of those merges but I can't force them. I've tried, really!

[mercwamouth]

Don't worry about it.

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

[Haraken looks up at him, either not getting it or not caring to.]

[mercwamouth]

Now give us a smile.

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

[...very strange person. This place has a lot of cosplayers.] I'm fine.

[mercwamouth]

No you're not.

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

[He shrugs and looks away.]

[mercwamouth]

What's your name again, kid?

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

Harakawa Ken'ichi.

[mercwamouth]

...I'm just gonna call you Ken.

Ken, no one likes a crybaby.

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

[He shrugs, still not looking Deadpool in the face. He's used to being disliked. :| Or at least not actively liked.]

[mercwamouth]

Seriously. You're killing the mood here. Cheer the hell up.