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This area was filled with transparent bins of various shapes and sizes, all containing different prizes. Ichiro glanced around, then picked one full of stuffed animals. "Watch this, Koshu." He put in a few coins. Inside the machine, a claw dangling from the ceiling sprung to life, jerking around a bit. Ichiro tapped on the buttons, moving the claw around gradually, then he peered around the side to check it from a different angle.
"Hah!" With a decisive movement, he brought his hand down upon the remaining button he had yet to touch. The claw paused, then moved downward, opening. The four watched as it grabbed onto a stuffed tiger. There was a collective holding of breaths while it pulled back up and moved toward the drop bin. With a soft thud, the tiger landed in the prize bin.
"Wai! You did it!" Meri cheered, throwing her arms around Ichiro's neck.
"Oh yeah, who's good," he crowed as he pulled out the tiger. "Here, present for you, Meri-chan."
She squealed. "I love it! Thank you, Icchan! I'll call her Tora-chan!" She danced around with her new friend.
Ichiro grinned. "Would you like one too, Sayuko?"
"Nah, I'm good," she replied with a wave.
Koshu felt a bit miffed. "Looks pretty easy. I'll give it a try!" Dropping in the required amount of coins, he tapped the buttons as he had seen Ichiro do. The claw went down... and came back up empty.
Ichiro chuckled. "It's not as easy as it looks. I've had years of practice. Try that dragon thing in the middle there, it'll be easier to get."
"I was aiming for that one anyway," Koshu sniffed as he tried again. The claw snagged the dragon by its hindquarters. "Ha! Gotcha!"
But as the claw raised, the dragon slipped out of the loose grip. "Waugh! You cheater! I had that one!"
"They often do that," Ichiro said comfortingly.
Three more tries failed to produce any results. "Why? Why does gravity hate me? This is torture."
"Don't worry, Koshu, we don't think you're any less of a man because you suck at grabbing the prize," Sayuko said dryly.
"If that was supposed to help my bruised ego, it didn't really work."
So NaNo is over, so what of this journal? Well, uh...the story isn't finished yet. >> So expect to see sporadic updates here. <<
(Final count--50578. Booyah!)
 Riikii · Wed Dec 01, 2004 @ 07:00am · 0 Comments |
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And then there was the matter of Tasuke. She still hadn't given him an answer. She wasn't sure what answer to give him. Leisan had warned her already about giving Harumi something else to flip out over. But Harumi hadn't been in school for a week, not since the attack last weekend. But, she didn't actually like him in that sort of way, and it would be cruel to give him the wrong idea. On the other hand, she'd hate to hurt his feelings by turning him down...
She shook her head. What did she care whether his feelings got hurt? He was just a strange Earth boy. She probably wouldn't ever see him again once this mission was over.
"Ara-san!"
She paused in her tracks, recognizing the voice instantly. The tanned boy with ragged black hair caught up to her easily. "The truth is," Tasuke started, "there's something--"
"Ma-samaaaaa!" Malanya didn't have time to respond as Aya bodily tackled her, knocking her to the ground and causing her to skid across the floor.
"--I wanted to talk to you about," Tasuke continued, unaware he was talking to empty air. Then it hit him. "Huh? Ara-san?" He looked around, finding the tall blonde pushed against the wall, Aya snuggling against her midsection. "Is this a bad time?"
"Not at all," Malanya somehow managed, trying to get air back in her lungs.
(Countdown--2k)
Riikii · Tue Nov 30, 2004 @ 07:30am · 0 Comments |
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"I really think you should try and come," Koshu said to Sayuko as they walked toward her house. "You could really use a day off. You're always like this tight little ball of stress." He made clenching motions with his hands to accent his point. "It's not a date or anything, just a good time with friends. Am I right?"
"Koshu, stop trying to make me change my mind," she replied tiredly. "It can't be done and that's final."
He walked in front of her, treading backwards as he continued to argue with her. "C'mon, this isn't good for you. You need a break before you explode or something." He reconsidered what he said. "Explode. Whoa." <i>Can Earth people do that? I hope not.</i>
She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "You're an idiot."
"Well, I try?"
She looked down at the ground, tucking her hands into her pockets. "You know," she said slowly, quietly, "you remind me a lot of him."
Koshu stopped, returning to walking beside her. "Him?" he echoed.
"My... ex-boyfriend."
Koshu's stomach clenched. <i>That Suzuki guy?</i>
She looked up at the sky. "He was a wild character, always riding around on that bike of his. Stupid like you, too."
"Thanks," Koshu said sarcastically.
Sayuko chuckled. Koshu blinked. He hadn't actually heard her laugh in any form, ever. "He was always dragging me downtown, making me have fun. When I was with him, i felt like my troubles and concerns were gone for a little while."
"Then why'd you break up with him? If you don't mind me asking, that is."
She sighed through her nose. "I guess you can't run away from your troubles forever. Plus, Tarou hated him. My brother's a really good judge of character. So I suppose it was for the best...."
Koshu looked ahead, eyes unfocused. "Yeah, you can't run away forever," he echoed in agreement.
(Countdown--5.3k
Riikii · Mon Nov 29, 2004 @ 07:29am · 0 Comments |
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It was like plugging in a computer, only his mind was the device being plugged in. Suddenly, he no longer felt like he was on a foreign planet, but back home, among the giant, willowy <i>shinkoma</i> trees. In reality, he knew this was just an illusion cast by the person on the other end whose mind he was being connected to, in order to make him feel more at home.
"This is daiuss Riko-Mimic-Oln reporting," he said quietly. Although it felt like he was speaking, he wasn't actually saying anything at all; it was just his thoughts being broadcast to the reciever. Again, an illusion. "We've now spent three weeks of Earth time on this planet. I have been trying to get a better feel for Earth people, and not just from this corner culture. What I've seen so far, frankly, confuses me. I've seen insatiable bloodlust, ruthless indifference, and deep caring all in one person, and many Earth people seem to be made up of such extreme contradictions. And I'm not sure which contradiction is the dominant one. We need more time to continue our observations before making a final analysis."
"We shall do the analyzing," the voice on the other end said curtly. "Just send us your observations. That is your job."
<i>Right... my job is to observe, nothing more,</i> he thought reluctantly as he began recalling everything that had happened in the day. His memories briefly flashed before him as they were sent to the receiving mind.
"And of your other observations?" the voice finally said, after recording Riko's transmitted memories.
Riko frowned. <i>That again?</i> "He's done nothing suspicious. It's the same as before."
"Continue your observations of him as well. You are dismissed," the voice finished.
(Countdown--6k)
Riikii · Sun Nov 28, 2004 @ 11:09am · 1 Comments |
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"To be truthful, there's another reason we called you here," Yuri said quietly. "Please, sit down, Manno-san."
"This had better be quick, I haven't the time for this," Harumi began.
"Manno, sit down and <i>shut up</i>," Tasuke snapped. His expression was cold, mixed with condescending and disgust.
Harumi blinked in shock. She sank down into a chair. "We've reviewed over what we can find out about last night, Manno-san," Yuri continued. "Based on that, we've decided to temporarily relieve you of your position as one of Fukuoka's defenders."
Harumi gaped in shock, looking as if she was ready to fall off the chair. "W-what? You can't do that! What about--"
"Harumi, you may not remember what happened last night, but my team does," Yuri said quietly. "You attacked them. You nearly killed them. Oikaya-san has lost his left eye thanks to your actions. Please try and understand."
"That's..." Harumi struggled for words. "It's the enemy! They must've--"
"Harumi, <i>we</i> were attacked by the enemy. I'll point out that except for being unable to remember it, we're perfectly fine," Yamiko said from behind Harumi.
She turned slowly. "You were in on this too, Yamiko?"
"There's only one thing I remember about last night, Harumi," Yamiko said sternly. "That was you, pointing your ring in my face. Threatening to kill me."
Harumi began to shake. "You can't do this to me. You can't do this. I need that ring. You can't take it away from me, you hear?" She suddenly lunged for Saori across the table. Tasuke and Koga grabbed an arm each as Saori backed away in fear. "Give it back! I need it! I'll kill you! I'll--"
The room was restored to a dead silence as a loud slap punctuated Harumi's screaming. She grabbed at her cheek in shock as Tasuke glared at her.
"You disgust me," he snapped. "Get yourself straightened out, Harumi. I don't want anything to do with you until you do."
She stared, wide-eyed, as he left the room. The strength left her legs as she dropped to her hands and knees, crying bitterly.
(Countdown-- 7k left)
Riikii · Sat Nov 27, 2004 @ 10:29am · 1 Comments |
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November 23 (and an explanation) |
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She could feel the vibrations through the floor as Harumi walked toward her, stopping a few feet away. Malanya's gut nagged her. Something about where she stopped, how she was dragging a foot back across the floor...
Malanya leapt up as Harumi's booted foot drove toward her face, meeting the shin with her teeth. Harumi screamed as Malanya bit down hard. Pivoting on one hip, she swung her legs forward, looping them around Harumi's. The girl fell with a solid <i>whumph</i> and Malanya gathered her own legs under her, springing and slamming into Harumi's chest with her shoulder. Pressing the girl to the ground, she snarled, wild-eyed. "Just what the hell is going on here, senpai?"
The other girls were in shock by Malanya's lightning strike. "Barbarian! Ingorant, tasteless brute!" Harumi spat, trying to get out from under the taller girl.
Malanya dug her elbow into Harumi's stomach. "Not really the answer I wanted."
"Tell me how you did it!" Harumi screeched back. "How did you bewitch my Tasuke? No stupid, ugly foreigner could ever so much as get his attention otherwise!" She was cut off by her own scream as Malanya dug a bare heel into her thigh.
"You know, you are not in a real good position to be insulting me, b***h," Malanya growled impatiently. "I'm getting real tired of this party, real fast. Now get this stupid cord off me before I show you how many ways I can hurt you without using my hands."
"Why you--" Harumi started, but a quick clip to the chin thanks to Malanya's elbow had her untying the ropes.
Okay, so I haven't been posting for a few days. Truth is, I had a couple of different word count goals to do over the weekend. >>; In short, I had two ten-page research papers due the same day. crying But now they're all done and gone. The only thing I have left now is four finals in december. >>;;;;
(Goal: 2k?--Failed >>;;;; [Current count: 38k])
Riikii · Wed Nov 24, 2004 @ 10:48am · 2 Comments |
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Malanya thought fast. The balcony was too cramped, and their numbers were against her. On the other hand, if she moved inside, her sword would be useless in enclosed quarters. Even as she considered her options, she bit her thumb, drawing blood. With the bloodied digit, she drew a line starting at the base of her palm straight up along the middle finger. Just in time, as the center figure fired some kind of energy blast at her. The inscription burned into her left hand activated, deflecting the blast, but the force of it knocked her backwards through the open doors into the room.
<i>Craz, does she have an energy gun in that jewelry of hers or something? And since when do these Earth guys have energy guns anyway?</i> she grumbled to herself as she skidded across the carpet, catching herself with one hand and bracing herself against the wall with the other. If only she could reach her inscription brush and ink...Blood was meant to be an emergency means of inscription. Against five at once, it was going to be a real short battle. She wasn't liking her odds. <i>Taiji!</i>
<i>Taiji!</i> Malanya's mental call shot through her head like a bolt, and she sat upright in bed. She leapt from bed, darts in hand. The center figure, the one that had fired earlier, turned toward her. <i>Be careful, Taiji! Those are highly concentrated energy bursts!</i> Malanya warned.
Taiji leapt as the first blast came at her, leaving a scorch mark in the floor. She leapt again, bouncing around the room like a hyper flea, slowly getting closer. <i>Guys! We have big trouble, now!</i> she called out to the other three sleeping minds.
Malanya darted for the nightstand. It didn't have her brush, but it had some kind of ink pen and paper, and that would have to do. She fished around frantically in the drawer.
A hand caught her arm, twisting it behind her, and she cursed for having let her guard down. "Sorry, but it's best if you come along quietly for now," a voice said in her ear.
She whirled, ignoring the pain it caused in her arm. "Like hell--"
Malanya was cut off as Yamiko pressed a cloth against her face. Thinking it a blinding tactic, Malanya let out a low growl, grabbing the girl's arm with a vicelike grip that threatened to snap her wrist. For a moment, anyway. Then Malanya's knees suddenly grew shaky as her head felt light. <i>Craz... some kinda... chemical... What a bunch of stupid mistakes.</i> she cursed before tumbling forward, into Yamiko's waiting arms.
Taiji paused as she felt Malanya slip into unconsciousness. "Malanya!" Harumi whirled on her, firing a blast. Taiji screamed as she took it in full force, slamming against the wall and dropping limply to the carpeted floor.
A responding bang sounded on the wall. "Goddamn you kids! Quit your ******** banging around and go to bed like normal people!"
(Goal: Catchup--Met, 2k--Failed [1400]
Riikii · Fri Nov 19, 2004 @ 09:17am · 2 Comments |
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"Miss Malanya, we really shouldn't be here...."
Taiji, then nine years old, cautioned the blonde tomboy of equivalent age as the dusty child peered around Malanya's father's office before turning back to the secret passage both of them had used to enter the room. "Aw, who cares," Malanya snorted. "He cares more about these dusty old papers than he does me."
"Yes, but...."
"C'mon, lighten up, Taiji," Malanya scolded as she crawled into her father's chair, eyeing the aforementioned 'dusty old papers' strewn on the desk. "I'm gonna teach him a lesson. Besides, he'll never know it was me." She searched the desk, and came up with a bottle of ink. She gleefully dumped it on the desk, spreading around the ink with her hands. "We'll be in and out and...."
Taiji abruptly backed into the chair Malanya was standing in with a whimper. Malanya swayed as the chair rocked, getting handprints all over the desk as she steadied herself. "Hey, be careful, will ya, Taij', I almost...." She trailed off as a large shadow fell over the both of them. Malanya's eyes widened as she looked up into the face of her father, the Heir of Saeculara. His face was red with anger as he shoved Malanya and the chair aside, reaching inside his desk for a wooden switch. Malanya grabbed Taiji's hand as he bore down on the both of them, terrified. Her father had never laid a hand on her, but now it seemed like he was ready to start.
"Come here," he commanded in a cold tone, grabbing Taiji by the upper arm and yanking her away. Malanya stared in numb surprise as her father brought the lash down on Taiji, and then again and again. "Be quiet, girl!" he snapped as Taiji began crying from the pain.
Somehow, she couldn't look away. A terrible guilt gripped her, coupled with a sense of extreme unfairness. She felt like puking on the floor, and only fear of her father getting even more upset kept her from doing it.
Finally, he seemed to tire of beating Taiji, and flung her at Malanya. "Get out," he snarled as he began trying to clean off his desk.
(Goal: 2k--Failed [1100])
Riikii · Thu Nov 18, 2004 @ 08:07am · 3 Comments |
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"How dare she! HOW DARE SHE?!"
Tomoe cringed as Harumi screamed in frustration, banging her fist down on the table. "That tramp, that stupid, ugly, <i>foreigner</i>! How DARE she try and take my Taa-sama! And for him to do that to me!"
"Harumi-san, I don't think that's...." Tomoe began.
"Be quiet, Tomoe! What do you know? You weren't even there!" Harumi snapped.
"That's not entirely fair, Harumi," another girl spoke up. She was Yamiko Asakura, a thin, almost frail-looking girl with a no-nonsense attitude. "There's no reason for you to take out your frustration on Tomoe-chan."
Tomoe sniffled and clung to Yamiko, afraid of being yelled at again. "Shut up, Yamiko. I didn't see YOU there either."
"I would think you would be able to handle a stupid foreigner by yourself," Yamiko said, narrowing her eyes. "Look, snapping at each other isn't going to help anything." <i>Neither will pointing out that Tasuke has never so much as looked at her with interest,</i> she added silently, knowing from previous experience it was useless.
"It's all that girl's fault," Harumi ranted.
"Harumi, take a chill pill. You're going to ruin your complexion," one of the other girls said.
"She's right," said the last girl of the group. "Calm down, it's not like he's married to her or anything."
Apparently that was the wrong thing to say. Harumi screamed, pounding the table again til her hand was bloody. "It's not possible! He's mine! Mine, I say! He can't possibly see anything in her when she has me!"
"Harumi, shut up, sit down, and CALM DOWN. God. Weren't you wanting to find out more about our mystery invaders, anyway?" Yamiko snapped.
Harumi was bent over the table, still with her fists on top of it. "H-Harumi-san, are you okay?" Tomoe asked timidly.
She began to laugh. "You're absolutely right, Yamiko. Why didn't I see it before?"
"See what?" Yamiko asked, not liking where this was going.
"That b***h, that foreigner. She's one of the invaders."
The other girls stared. "Harumi, you're losing it. She's just a stupid foreigner."
"Exactly!" Harumi cried with glee. "Don't you see? It all fits. She shows up not too long after Jim's team is attacked. She's a foreigner with brutish strength. She must know who Taa-sama is and is trying to hypnotize him so she can control him!"
"Harumi, that's--"
"Perfect, I know." Harumi tapped her fingers together, then snatched for her transformation ring. "It's so easy. We can capture her and then use her to lure them all out. And then we root them out. Problem solved. We can go back to saving kittens."
"Harumi, stop--"
In a flash, the girl was in her superpowered alter ego, pointing the ring at Yamiko's face. "Either you're with me or you're against me. Which is it, Yamiko-<i>chan</i>?"
The girl's eyes narrowed. Harumi was clearly out of her mind. But in her powered-up state, her attacks could kill a mortal person and Yamiko certainly didn't have time to power up herself. She had to go along...for now. "I'm with you."
"Then let's go," Harumi laughed. "We have lots to do."
(Goal: 2k--Failed [700] Damned roommate.)
Riikii · Wed Nov 17, 2004 @ 09:06am · 0 Comments |
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