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?

[shinypaws.livejournal.com]

Young one? Are you well?

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

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

[seventhcoil.livejournal.com]

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

Haraken?

[lamb_of_gold]

[He sits nearby] What's the matter?

[mercwamouth]

Don't worry about it.

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

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

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

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

[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...

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

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

[lamb_of_gold]

Was she someone dear to you?

[mercwamouth]

Now give us a smile.

[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.

[seventhcoil.livejournal.com]

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

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

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

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

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

[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.]

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

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

The adults are all panicking. Everyone's missing.

[lamb_of_gold]

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

[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.

[mercwamouth]

No you're not.

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

[He shrugs and looks away.]

[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.

[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.]

[shinypaws.livejournal.com]

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

Another what, may I ask?

[lamb_of_gold]

Would it help to speak of it?

[mercwamouth]

What's your name again, kid?

[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]

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

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

Harakawa Ken'ichi.

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

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

[coiledheart.livejournal.com]

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

[mercwamouth]

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

Ken, no one likes a crybaby.

[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.

[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.

[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!

[shinypaws.livejournal.com]

And you believe this map will give you answers?