009

[contract_star]

[Hei appears on the Plane and promptly collapses, flopping onto his back and breathing hard. He looks exhausted, but he's also grinning. After a moment, he catches his breath.]

I did it. It finally worked.

Luxaky...and that other guy, if either of you are around. The experiment was a success.

Comments

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

Affect our own realities...?

[Jumps immediately to the obvious, seizing on the possibility with a surge of energy.] Do you think I could draw out the killer that way?

[contract_star]

[Stares at her a moment, surprised at the change.] It's possible, but I'm not sure. It takes a lot of effort. But at the very least, if you knew where the killer was, you could create a "barrier" around him, like I did with Ms. Sonozaki's shrine. [Looks away, frowning a little.] I'm not sure yet the extent to which we can affect our realities.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Deep in thought.] Do you think I could use a "barrier" of some kind on the schools, or parks?

[contract_star]

No harm in trying it. But like I said, it takes a lot of time and concentration. A lot of it involves sitting around and meditating.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

You had to do it while in your world, I'm assuming. You can't do it here?

[contract_star]

[Blinks.] I...didn't try that, actually. That'd be interesting to find out. I figured it would help if I was close to Ms. Sonozaki's shrine--give myself something real to focus on.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Nods.] It would make things more difficult. Maybe build a model of the city to help focus... I should try it. Seal off Manchester from Tokyo, at the very least.

[contract_star]

A model might help. But it's a meditative process; it takes a long time to get the hang of it. The trick is that...it's sort of like stepping on and off the Plane. You can't really think about it--it has to be unconscious. It's complicated, but I could help you.

[Meets her eyes.] That would be a good idea.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[She gives him a sad, tired look.] I should have listened to you sooner.

[contract_star]

It's alright. What's done is done. The best we can do now is try to fix it.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[She hugs herself.] It's not, though. That little girl...

[contract_star]

[Pulls himself up to a sitting position.]

You can't blame yourself for that, Misaki. I didn't know what a reality merger would mean until well after it had already happened. It's dumb luck that no one in Ms. Sonozaki's world was hurt before I managed to separate our realities. But it could have happened, just as easily as it could have happened with you and Manchester.

I told you before, you're not responsible for the killer's actions.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[She shakes her head.] You don't understand. I am. This is my case, my city, my kids. I'm responsible for what happens to them--I fail, they die.

You at least understood that.

[contract_star]

[Doesn't know what to say to that, so he says nothing.]

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Tiny smile.] Sorry. I don't mean to be depressing.

[contract_star]

[Returns the smile.] It's alright. That you're upset at all proves that you're human.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[She leans back, looking up at the stars.] I don't know about that. People--Contractors included--show they care in very different ways.

[contract_star]

[Following her gaze.] Maybe. But humans at least have the ability to care.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Quietly,] Stop it. I've said it before, and I'll say it as many times as you make me--you're different, not inhuman. November cared about his team. July cared, called them his friends.

And you care, you do, or why would you have bothered trying to figure out a barrier?

[contract_star]

[Sorry, Misaki, gonna take more than that to convince him. But he smiles, only a little bitterly, and says nothing.]

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[She puts her hand on his, not trying to flirt or anything, just demanding attention.]

Look at me. Look me in the face. If you don't care at all, then kill me.

[contract_star]

[Does so, though he's taken aback by the suddenness, and the statement.]

[Automatically,] I have no reason to.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Looks down at his hand, gives it a little squeeze.] And if you had a reason?

[contract_star]

[Looks down at their hands as well.]

I don't think I'd...["...be able to." It would be like admitting to weakness, vulnerability, and he kind of hates himself for even thinking it.]

I don't think I would.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Is also looking at their hands. Quietly,] Why?