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"Testing. One. Two. Seven. ...wait."

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"Testing. One. Two. Three. That's better."

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"It's been a really long time since I've done one of these? Almost an entire year. I had decided I wasn't going to pick this crummy tape player up after I set it down the final time. But, sometimes you figure out you can't keep letting the past hold you down.

"So, here I am. Tsuzuki Mayu's redux tape player extravaganza!

"?shoot, I think I just broke this thing. ?is this thing smoking!?"

Click

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"Good morning, Mk. II. That's your temporary name. It sounds stylish, doesn't it? Like you're this secret weapon that'll transform when all the anger inside boils over the top into some gigantic mecha capable of unleashing total ann--

"Ano? I think I'll just call you Mr. Tape Player Two. It's less dangerous for everybody"

Click

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"Yesterday was an? interesting day, to be basic. I stopped at the Inn early to check for Lorelie, which is something I'm willing to make a habit out of since I'm in the area during the hours I've been finding her. Miss Clover had already left for the morning, to take a walk as I found out later, so it was as best a time as any to get out myself.

"I wound up napping there, which is okay. It's as good a spot as any to keep myself somewhere Lore can find me should she be looking for me too. I wonder if she looks for me when she's in town? I want to say yes!

"I found Miss Clover downstairs chatting with some mister I didn't catch the name of. I think he mentioned being an anthropholvlgovicst? A-Ah, yeah, I don't think I know that word!

"I remember something about disease? but I had come in so late to their conversation, it was hard to keep up. He had some business to take care of, so took his leave, and Miss Clover helped me to some early lunch before wanting to take a nap as well. I'm absolutely against leaving her side right now, so I was okay going up with her. I couldn't really nap again, though.

"It's strange how that works. I know that Director Yohko explained to me how the nanomachines work. They keep my heart from shutting down. Without them, I'd be dead right now. But they regulate nearly everything I wind up doing. My breathing, or how much energy I have for the day. They even tell me when to sleep and when to wake up.

"I'm like? an android, but without all those "parts" and "wires" they come with. Too bad I can't have a memory like an android."

Robotic Voice "Yes, Master, My data confirms you are insane.

"I would make a terrible robot.

"Miss Clover slept very close to me. She's warm, and I think a little cuddly. I like it a real lot. It might be because I really want her affection more than I do most others? even if it's not in that way. Through her touch, or the way she kisses my head, I feel like I can take on the world. There's an odd sensation that keeps me wanting more. ?I wonder if that's her gifts talking, or if it's just me. She's already told me she doesn't use her powers to influence others, so it obviously is just me wanting it. Which is a very good thing.

"When she woke up later, we got her stuff put together and headed downstairs. She's moving in with me at my apartment, if I didn't mention that prior. It's not a permanent thing, mind you. Not that I'm going to try and chase her off should she grow accustomed to living with me. But, at least for now, she feels it would make more sense to be at the apartment because the inn is far too cramped for the two of us. I happen to agree. And I want her where she's comfortable, should that be at my side in my apartment, in my complex, or not.

"We're going to find her something a little more spacious for her needs in the next couple of days. She mentioned wanting an entire floor for herself! That would amazing! And, if that works out, I might move out of the apartment I'm in now and in with her there. It'll be better than what I'm doing presently. My Shamanista counterparts are taking up an awful lot of space. Emma eats my tea packets, and started to try baking using coffee grounds. Sophia is trying to practice her magic, which Ria seems to be the test subject? how has this place not blown up yet?

"Helen is helping Melissa keep them all organized. Although, for now, they seem to be on the lookout for that slave man. It's been quiet.

"In the end, this arrangement works out for everybody. I really like how things like this come together naturally. It keeps the stress down.

"Well, I say that?but, amongst all of this good cheer that we've been having, Toby happened to show up at the Inn yesterday. He was going to help us get the rest of our stuff put together and carry things with us. He had to go upstairs to the room to collect a few extra pieces. I forget what? He was taking an awfully long time, too, so I went up there after him to see what was going on.

"Miss Clover had this dress she got from a friend of hers, and Toby was pretty interested in it. It was strange, almost. Like he was entranced by the very fact it was there. You know, like women are when they see this marvelous thing in a store window, and simply have to try on?

"So I told him to.

"The thing with Toby is? he doesn't get the usual aspects surrounding what is politically correct and what isn't. There's nothing wrong with that. It actually makes situations a lot of fun. Too fun! But he wasn't entirely for the idea at first. I mean, being a boy, why would he want to try on a promiscuous dress for a girl like me?

"A little chatter goes a long way to convince somebody like him.

"Now, there's more to this than it may sound. Yes, I wanted him to try on the dress, Mr. Tape Player Two. I really did. It's weird, I understand that too. But how often is it that you can find a guy interested in putting on a dress for a girl just because you asked him to! It's very rare. He's very rare. And I'll take advantage of finding the amusement at every single turn!!

"So, he left to put the thing on. Knowing that Miss Clover was still downstairs, I ran down to get her and told her that something odd was in her room. We went back up?

"It was clockwork. Absolute clockwork. He came out with this dress on, looking like some kind of pretty love child out of an Opera, mixed with all the unnatural obscenities a man naturally would. It was disturbing at the same time it was the most hilarious thing I had ever seen in my life.

"Unfortunately? Miss Clover didn't happen to see it the same way. She didn't crack a smile, or even? well, nothing was f-funny about it, now that I'm looking at it a whole day later.

"The way she looked, and the curt way she was telling Toby to take off the dress? I got upset. I mean, I was mad, really. It was just supposed to be funny, but nothing went that way. I felt really out of place from the whole thing. I really shouldn't have, but? it was really? kinda scary. So? I left.

"I'm not supposed to leave, I know. But Tracy's been with me like a hawk since that strange slaver thing, so I knew it'd be okay. I left through the kitchen and decided to go to that tea shop place I used to be so very fond of last year. They have pastries and it's warm. It's as good a place as any to really separate yourself from any emotions you might have going on inside of you.

"A lot of time passed before anybody ever really showed up. It was peaceful and quiet, much different than I've noticed things for a while. It was easy to reflect on things, and I found myself feeling stupid for having been mad in the first place. It didn't change the fact that I was mad. Because I still was. Not at Miss Clover, either? just the situation and how it wound up turning bad all of a sudden.

"It was my fault. I shouldn't have tried to make her laugh through something like that. But? she's different than I'm used to. It's tough to figure out all these kind of things worthy of bringing an actual smile to her face. You know? How do you make somebody laugh that has experienced a lot of things in her life, and who is more or less familiar with a person like yourself?

"Some might say? just be me. That's not it, though. I am me. Making her laugh and smile and feel good is me. Maybe I'm just not good at this whole serious thing, and I was acting out on it. Everything's been more serious recently. And I know how to be serious when it's necessary. Just?

"Miss Clover came in while I was reflecting on my mistake. Which is all it was. A mistake on my part. She expressed to me how she didn't see me as less of a friend, but was upset at the time that it happened.

"?I felt really put off. I mean, I saw her as a friend before this. I saw her as one after it. Why did she feel the need to tell me I was still her friend? It jumbled me up inside. I felt like my insides were going to grind into mush. As if she's telling me because I wasn't her friend for a brief instant, but then I was again. I don't even remember what we wound up discussing between us either. I rambled, she rambled, it really went back and forth. Nothing got accomplished.

"All I really do remember is that she said something to me that I won't easily forget. She wasn't directly mad at me for this whole thing. She wasn't mad? at me. From the second I saw her look in the room, up until right then between us bickering, I had thought the entire time she was angry at me. And she wasn't?

"It made me feel like the whole thing was really trivial. That I shouldn't have been upset to begin with, and that we were discussing it at all. I mean? I'm not the sort of person who goes out of their way to upset other people. When I first came here, it was different. I was scared to death, and saw the way everybody was. It made me feel like I had to put on a really mysterious impression to keep people from trying to do something to me.

"But it was so difficult to do? I wound up getting hurt, anyway.

"I think I keep that image today. It's more refined.

"I told her I was sorry for upsetting her. I'm still sorry now. I'll probably be sorry for the next few days. I feel like this whole thing could have been put aside if I just hugged her from the get go, or if she hugged me. I learned my lesson though, and made my one warranted mistake. It won't happen again.

"I don't like bickering, or even being upset. That goes six times for others who are upset. I dislike seeing it. I'll always dislike seeing it. I won't stand for people feeling down.

"It? came at a really bad price? my trying to be silly. Clover wound up not staying over with me last night. It really got to her, and I really think she just wanted some space. I hope she managed to get it. She doesn't deserve to feel how I made her feel last night.

"It's all right. The most important factor is that we're still friends, we're always going to stay friends, and I'll be able to help her move in the rest of her stuff later."

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"There was one other thing that went on last night. I think Toby wound up saying some pretty nasty things to Clover based on the fact that we got in a little scuffle. I had to go into the back room to find some melonpan, which they didn't have, so I didn't catch the whole conversation between Miss Clover and him.

"The only thing that I heard was that she was willing to be his friend, but that? the other half of their relationship seemed to be taking a bad turn.

"They're not bound together by anything. Nothing between them is? like a standard relationship. It's not like Evelyn and I were, nor is it like you would see a standard relationship. I guess what word I'm looking for is "exclusive". But even then, I see it as being so. Miss Clover does spend a great deal of time with him, and you might as well say that they are.

"But, with everything that's been going on, I think maybe he's a little out of place with his thoughts. He's good natured, and I know he really cares about Miss Clover. He's just not doing things in a way that's helping. He's inexperienced like I am, only I had Grandma and Wakana at every turn to enlighten me on what I needed to do against what I didn't. Toby doesn't have that? He doesn't have Grandma and Wakana. He doesn't have the experiences I learned from Shinju, and from Evelyn, to help piece together the rights from wrongs?

"He just needs a proper push, with somebody patient like Miss Clover, to get him on the right track.

"After Miss Clover left, I made him promise me? promise me that I would never, ever have to see her upset in the way I know she was based on him. Between her and I, I know I upset her. That is my guilt to deal with. I'm willing to do what I need to ensure that never happens again, and I already have. I've managed to learn my lesson. He needs to learn his, and now.

"I'm not willing to see her hurt. Ever again. I asked her to consider allowing the incidents from last night to simply be let go. Their conversation spawned from something I did. He said things based on the circumstances he wasn't familiar with. He didn't know why I left, which was because I felt really scared by Miss Clover's reaction, nor did he know why she was upset. It wasn't even with me, so he has no room to say a single thing.

"She agreed to think on it. And I have faith she'll allow me that one single favor and let yesterday go enough to not have their relationship hit the rocks. I mean, not to make it sound like she owes me any favors, but I've tried really hard for her these past few weeks. I would hope that she'll allow me that single consideration and know I'm asking out of the good will of my heart for her happiness. Because? I know she would like to be with him. And I know he would too.

"A good ending must come from this! I just wish I could have been somebody other than I am. I would do a-anything to be what she's seeking from him?"

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"Goodness, Mr. Tape Player Two. This is one large ramble, isn't it? I'm not even sure the whole thing made sense! I just opened my mouth, and this is what came out!

"I found Marjorie last night when I was looking for Lorelie. You remember her, don't you? Oh, why would you. You're brand new!! She's the one that helped me with Ria and reclaiming my body. She was apparently in town for a little while, and I asked her if she wanted to hang out with me.

"After all, I needed a friend after Miss Clover wasn't going to be with me for the night.

"She agreed to come by, and she stayed with me for the night. She's in the other room with Marco, her butler/warrior of tidiness. I should see what they're doing?

"Until next time, Tsuzuki Mayu, signing out!"

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"Nngh? my head is throbbing?

"I have no idea how I wound up at my apartment? one minute I was at some lake where Tracy said Toby and Miss Clover were? the n-next?

"I remember Tracy holding me with some real muscle? she must have done something to knock me out? She's swell like that. I don't really understand where all this training of hers came from. She told me she's something called a? Lunathling? But calling her a Lunar Rabbit is the same thing.

"Why would this place? train rabbits to be so frightening and deadly? It's scary? For that matter, why do I have one working for me?

"I guess she's distraught from what happened with Flora. All this conditioning she's gone through, I think she only understands working for somebody. And? I'm not going to turn away her assistance. Shamanista needs her just as much as the rest of these people. I'll graciously accept anybody who's strong like she is?"

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"I met up with Miss Clover and a new lady named Ailis yesterday. She kinda t-talks funny like I do. I m-mean, she doesn't stutter or a-anything. I just have a time hard understanding her. T-That's not really her fault or anything. I have a hard time understanding most people who either aren't Asian like myself, or use a variation of the language I do happen to know?

"I thought it was just English. Apparently, 'Common' is the politically correct term.

"To put it into better perspective, she reminds me of Sophia. Which isn't a bad thing either. I'll get accustomed to it. I've seen her around several times now. I'm sure I will again."

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"I wasn't expecting to see the Inn so crowded yesterday. I've been going there more than I usually do since I met Miss Clover, because I like being in her company, but it got crammed in no time. I didn't really want to stay, and I'd considered leaving. But, during that consideration, I saw some girl making a run for it out the alley door. She? I'd seen her when I was looking around quite a bit, and had heard some of her conversation. Not in that strange, creepy way people sometimes do. Just? oh, you know what I mean?

"I know, eavesdropping. It's not polite? but, a thing like knowledge is the only weapon a girl like me can wield. Knowing who people are? it's bound to work in my favor. Eventually.

"I left Miss Clover, Miss Ailis and Toby, who caught up with us, and went out after the girl. I figure, maybe she's like me? I could always use somebody who's timid like me as a friend!

"Her name is Chastity. Chat for short. And Miss Chastity is? she's an interesting person, to say the very least. I like her.

"The first thing I noticed was the bass guitar she was carrying. She was holding the case a little awkward. Like how you would see video game characters handle their weapons? Well, more like how you see fighting games characters pose. It was surreal to say the least. I hadn't ever encountered a video game girl before.

"Well? that's a little excessive of me. She's not from a game. I just can't get over that first impression. It was cool.

"Miss Chastity? I wasn't wrong in my initial thoughts about her. She's a lot like me, only? the way that we've come to be is slightly different. Slightly. A-And? the fact t-that her eyes are b-bad in t-the sense that I d-don't think she even has any? Ano? Like, for starters, she used to stutter quite a bit. Like I do? Mine's involuntary, and I really never have control over it unless I'm alone like I am now with you, Mr. Tape Player Two. She mentioned having g-gotten rid of it by? I think waking up one day and finding it absent. That's a t-talent!

"I? I originally had thought having something like that happen would be wonderful. I'm a little ashamed o-of my impediment. O-Or, sometimes of myself. But? Miss Chastity seemed to find my 'flaw' endearing. She called me? or, it? Beautiful. And said all sorts of really sweet things to me a-about h-how I looked, sounded, acted?

"It's funny, but? it changed my mind about w-wanting to ever lose some aspect of who I am. I know Toby hollers at me because I d-don't place myself on some pedestal, but I'm just me. You know? I don't need to be on a pedestal, or try to force myself up on one. Just here to b-bring a little smile to t-those I happen to know, and those I feel lucky enough to be graced by. It really puts importance o-on the people in my life? knowing the few and the wonderful.

"I kinda? don't know how I feel about being praised, anyway. ?but everybody is capable of seeing how marvelous another can be. I remember seeing Evelyn in that light, and her n-not understanding where I was coming from. When Miss Chastity was saying all of those things, I felt? really happy. I wonder if that's how everyone else feels when I tell them how I feel about them and who they are.

"A-Anyway, Miss Chastity, as I said, seems to be kind of like me. Especially in the fact that she was dead not very long ago, and somehow managed to be brought back to life. That's much like what happened with me when Ria throttled me out of my own body, effectively killing me. The only difference is? Miss Chastity was in a coffin without somebody using her body. She had to claw her w-way out of that thing? how horrid!

"She doesn't remember very much about who she used to be, only that she knows her name is Chastity. The rest? it kind of comes and goes, I think. But, basically, the woman known as Chastity is gone, and Chat is who we're left with. ?I wonder if I would have really liked the old Chastity. Is that who I was partially involved with last night? ?I really liked her. She was so friendly! And ate my gum.

"Well? t-things got a little awkward the more she discussed herself, which I was prying into unwittingly. At first, I found a connection with her. The kind where you feel like you've known somebody for a long time after only one meeting? I blame the fact that I was seeing myself in her a little bit. But? like I said, that awkwardness grew.

"Miss Chastity seems to have? something telling her what to do. Like, a larger force manipulating her will. She told me about this thing called, 'The Music', which I had thought was like one of those power metal screamer bands. You know, where they shout and all you hear is, 'Grrhthrhth!' This music is what's manipulating her, I guess. And? that's not unlike what happened to me with Flora. Only, it was her voice and resounding command over me like I was a puppet. I wonder if it's the same?

"She? started crawling over to me while talking about this music, giving me this hypnotizing stare. Her eyes appeared out of nowhere. I don't remember what she said, but I do remember the t-talk about her wanting to drink my blood, and? bite my fingers? Something to sate her thirst.

"I? like biting. When Selene had t-talked about doing it before? when she did do it, it was otherworldly.

"B-But I didn't get the impression that this was the same kind of thing. Neither did Tracy. She appeared from however she hides herself in front of me, and broke the miniature trance I had fallen into.

"I d-don't know what she was going to do, but the mentioning of her ripping out my throat w-was a little much?

"Miss Chastity, what happened to you?? I know you're capable of some kind of kindness. You were so sweet in the inn's dining area, and you were very generous outside. She told me I had picked odd company by wishing to speak with her, but? I didn't think so. I still don't. There's a gentle soul there, locked in some cage without a key to unlock it. ?I should try to help her. At least to find some kind of peace. A laugh, a smile? a friend. Sometimes, a little push towards somebody's will is enough to break from whatever grip they're held by.

"It's decided. I'll take some time later and see about finding her. We'll try this again."

Click

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"Miss Clover's came back to sleep with me tonight! I'm really glad. I missed feeling her right there with me, even if it was only for a night. It's? warm and refreshing. A part of me really hopes it doesn't vanish any time in the near future.

"Well, Mr. Tape Player Two, I should probably crawl back into bed with her so she doesn't wake up by herself. I know she wouldn't mind or think twice on it. It probably wouldn't matter one way or the other, but? I want to be there for her and be the first little thing she wakes up to. Like she has been for me. I want her to experience what I feel when seeing her! There's something in the idea that it makes her smile so large, I can't quite place it.

"Tsuzuki Mayu, siiiiiiiigning out!"

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"Hnnn? It's strange. How one minute everything seems to be growing in perfect harmony, the next?

"It seems like that task of having a happy family is more a dream than w-what my title represents. The Shrine Maiden of Dreams? yeah, that really hits it, guys."

"The title is in relation to your abilities in Shamanista. The control of borders, the hawkish overseeing?"

"A-Ah? there was much m-more than that, Tracy. The title represents my strengths. T-They carry a dream quality?"

"Border manipulation is much like a dream. How did that work again?"

"W-Well, I don't really remember everything c-concerning my powers as a shrine maiden in Shamanista. But, from what I can remember, border manipulation was being able to relocate in the realm in short bursts. So if s-somebody was firing at me, I c-could dodge left, and wind up appearing to the right."

"Feinting is a strong tactic during warfare, Queen."

"Mayu. Anyway? what was I talking about?"

"There was an implication of fetching cookies shaped like carrots."

"That's right? Katt.

"Tracy was able to locate her when I sent her to the church. She was baking all sorts of cookies. And we had an opportunity to talk with one another following those events a few weeks ago. I don't know that I can f-forget what happened. I d-don't even know if I c-can fully forgive? but I want to move past all of this stuff. She k-kept saying how much of a friend she wanted to be to me. And considering h-how everything else has b-been recently, I'm able to see for myself how true that is. She was always able to sit and talk with me, and work out things through discussion. Even if we weren't able to agree, you could find a middle ground that wound up defusing most situation in seconds.

"I k-know that, deep down, her focus is Toby. It'll always be Toby. Without him, she probably won't be the same kind of person, but? that's doesn't have much to do with our relationship. It shouldn't change anything. And I'm certain it won't.

"It only took a little time for us to get back into the normal swing of things. I told her all about Miss Clover, what Toby's been up to, a little about what I've been up to? I think Tracy being there was a little imposing. I know I look a little more important with a tall, scary lunar rabbit following me everywhere?"

"I'm right here, you know?"

"Almost everything is working out. With Katt's situation taken care of, I'm starting to run low on activities. Two major problems still exist. One is Earl. I'm now approaching the year marker since I last visited Yohko. I don't know if these nanomachines in my body require constant upkeep, but I haven't encountered any issues with them like the other Yohko's had. Still? I don't want to upset her. I'm just not certain if I'd be willing to leave here for a long time. To everyone here, it'd just be a day. But to myself? it could be years.

"There's no sense worrying about that right now. The jump device is ready for me to go back, but I'm not. Until I am?

"The other issue is Shamanista. It's not done. I have all these people with me who call it home. They can't exist here forever. Lady Emma fashioned devices for them to wear from my powers while I still was in my transformation. I think Tracy is the only one without the requirement. No matter how much they might say otherwise, I don't know that it'll last indefinitely. Flora? she's a menace. Overthrowing power for her own gains? the whole thing was senseless. I might not have my powers, but I'm still intent on going with them and putting a stop to this. As Queen? Geeeh? I can't be that determined."

"We are all very pleased to be with you, Mayu. No mater what you may say, you are our Queen, the Phantasmal Purifier. It is unfortunate what is happening to those back home, but we will return one day soon so you may take up the mantle."

"Yeah?"

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"I actually met Reap for real earlier yesterday. He was curious in Miss Chastity. He said he wanted to buy her. I w-wasn't aware people were for sale. But s-she did say something about 'not being free'. So maybe she's selling something about herself? Like, maybe she's got an advertisement! I remember seeing walking billboards back home. That must be what she is.

"He suggested something about her being a thousand, and I wound up agreeing blindly. I wonder if she's really selling something for a thousand? That would be quite a bit!

"I don't want Reap to take her away from me though, so I asked about sharing her with him. He was very kind in agreeing, but wanted to know what I was willing to give him were we to. I don't r-really have anything. My funds come from the Order, or my friends. So I suggested candy. I have very good candy. Warm and gooey, I said. He was interested, but? I didn't bring any with me. I'll bring it all for him next time. I wonder if he prefers sweet or tart?

"So long as it's fulfilling, I'm sure he won't mind!"

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"Toby mentioned kissing somebody recently. I can't help but get the feeling it was that girl I met last night. Arastary?"

"Astraea."

"That r-really is hard to say. I'll have to practice it before I see her again.

"She mentioned having met Toby the night prior when I told her I was searching for him. She called him? Spark. That's a very? interesting nickname.

"I didn't really get to learn anything about her. She's very beautiful, though. And friendly! So friendly, I think she was hugging strangers just to hug them.

"She left a little after I found her on the porch. I gave her my room key because she told me she was sleeping on the swing out there. That's not good! She accepted it without hesitation. I'm glad I was able to help. It's? nice to see I'm still able to do something for some people. Let's keep it up.

"I have a few things to take care of today. I'm not sure when I'll see my friends, but I hope they'll be okay. The Order has asked me to look into something a little different from cats or chimneys. And if I was going to have a problem, they'd send another Exorcist.

"I'm getting my first Seeker. They're sent to guide us on our missions. They don't carry any phenomenal power, but are pretty fast when they need to. And have contraptions to call Headquarters to provide updates. That's much better than our Antigens, which require us to tap into phone lines in order to make any outgoing calls. You'd think we could get one of those phone things the Seekers have?

"Anyway, here's to hoping I don't mess up my first mission. Tsuzuki Mayu, signing out!"

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4-07-2011

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"I haven't seen Mr. Reap in a few days. We had a discussion about me giving him my candy for Miss Chastity as payment? I wonder where he's gotten off to. I'm a little upset. I was looking forward to giving him everything I've got so we can both share her. Sharing is caring, as they say. And I was enjoying our discussion, even if I was a little frightened at first. He's a good example of why giving people a proper chance can pay off in the end!

"I hope I find him soon. Otherwise I might miss out. Tsuzuki Mayu is not one to miss out on a good time!

"It's really disappointing. I hope he's well."

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"Everyone woke up a little after I finished rambling last night. To be honest, I'm not exactly sure how long we all slept. I know we didn't hit the bed right away, but it was dark out by the time we were interested in going out into the commons and check what the crowd was like.

"I think it might have been some fifteen hours of sleep. Is that even possible? I guess it must be.

"The two of them were pretty wrapped up in each other. Not that I'm complaining in the slightest. It's really great to see two people get along so well. It's fresh from what I've been subjected to in the past few months.

"What I mean to say is? Lorelie and I were very involved and caring about each other within minutes of contact. She talked to me for hours about herself, and I about myself for a little. You would think we had known each other for five or six years prior. There was an instant bond.

"It's just? It gives me a little hope sometimes when I find myself running out. I know, me without hope? Is that possible? Not really.

"I had told them that they could get themselves put together and come out with me when they were ready. I wasn't in a rush to get them out of the door, but I had wanted to check whether Lorelie was downstairs, as well as get a bottle of water. The nanomachines do a number on how often I need to drink. They're basically requiring me to drink three times as much as I used to. I wonder if that's an aftereffect of not being examined in a year.

"I'm guessing it must be. I'm probably running out of time. And if what Yohko was saying is true, without these nanomachines properly working in my body, my heart is going to lose its power? haaa? that's an extremely scary thought?

"I'm sure I won't just fall over one morning? Maybe with all the magic that people have, there's some way to correct it? I'm not really looking to evade going back to Earl. Wakana is there. I need to and I really want to. But? I'm getting the feeling I'm going to really regret being gone. And what it winds up being years like I originally said? I could come back and be some twenty-five years old!! That would be? deranged.

"But if it's between my heart losing the stimulation of the nanomachines, and being gone for a while? I don't have a choice. My really good friends here won't know any different? I should probably just face the fact?"

Click

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"We didn't stay downstairs for very long once Astraea and Toby came out of the room. I waited for them in the hall for them to get situated. It was really busy again. It's been for so many days now! I wonder if there's some carnival in town that I'm missing out on? I probably can't ride many things. I'm too short, for one thing, but I know there are things preventing you from enjoying the really rough rides if you have conditions. Meanies, caring about the well-being of people to the point that prevent you from having fun? The nerve!

"We've all been cooped up the past couple of days. I ran the idea between Astraea and Toby about going out on the town one night to enjoy what's out there. Maybe see if she would open up a little more when there wasn't twenty other people capable of learning all about her. She was very giving to the idea. Toby, naturally, was as well. So I believe I will see about dragging us out into the world and see if anything changes!

"Although, one question that's come to my mind? how the heck did Astraea turn into a child?

"I wasn't seeing things, and Toby confirmed what I had seen. She was talking about her time running short. She has this? time piece? A pocket watch? I didn't get a very good look at it. But she kept rambling about going to be late. ?then, like Cinderella, she was tiny! It scared the living wee out of me?

"She ran out before I had any chance to ask her what was going on. Although, in the same breath, I was afraid she wasn't going to have a clue about who I was. It was like? she went back in time right before our eyes.

"?Well, Toby, as I said, confirmed that it's something she can do. Or have happen to her. But she? she'll remember who we are. Which? that's all I can hope for. If she's five, twenty, two-hundred? I don't want to be a fragment of somebody's forgotten memory. That would be the most painful thing in the world. I won't worry about it?

"We're all made up of some component. We're all different in our own ways. And she?I would want her to accept the fact that my being human isn't exactly legitimate. I mean, I was dead, forced back into my own body, and sealed through a spiritual being to affix myself to it. I'm still a youkai deep down? but? nobody has to know that.

"It doesn't bother me that she can change. It's really neat, actually. I wonder what else she can change into. A huge monster, maybe? Like from one of my shows back home? That could be rather useful? I could use another tactic to scare people out of harming me?"

Indistinct "I heard that."

"Oh, Tracy's going to pout now that I said that?" Indistinct "You know you're more than that to me!"

Indistinct "I do not. You just said so yourself."

"See? Pouting. I should probably talk to her before things get out of hand?"

Indistinct "Oi. Ria's bein' somet'in' o' 'ah pes'. Get'er 'ta s'ut 'er mouth!"

Indistinct "Shut my mouth, you stupid bitch? You're the one sounding like a damn monkey the entire time, idiot head. Now get out of my room!"

Indistinct "Yer room? Does' belong 'ta ya, big ears."

Indistinct "Big ears? That's it, you little shit."

Inaudible arguing

"I think I better go? Tsuzuki Mayu, signing o--"

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"Kyyyaaah? A crazy lot has gone these past few days? so much, I haven't even had time to keep up with everything. I've been so busy with people, it's kinda overwhelming. Don't get me wrong--I'm enjoying every passing minute with all these new faces. I'm very? pleased, to have been given this opportunity. I will make the very most of it, to have new friends and be there for them in their trying times.

"I'm not capable of much, but it has always been my hope to help!

"Of all the good news, let me start in order of events as they've taken place.

"Firstly, I've been spending a few mornings with Astraea. Toby often has some business to take care of during the day, so I kind of abuse the chance to be alone with her and learn more about who she is as a person. I've yet to hear more about Weaver, but I'm positive the incident was isolated due to some unfortunate incident. I won't let it weigh down my opinion of her. After all, if she's looking after Astraea as well, I have no reason to be upset!

"I've been curious about Toby and her these past few days. They're rarely apart, and when they are, it seems all they can do is appear like they're in some kind of dream: lost, confused? like they're alone in the world. It's so strange, but? I know that feeling very well. Or, I did, once upon a time?

"To keep the explanation short, I started to ask Astraea about her feelings for Toby. In specific, if she loved him. Now, I know how awkward that may sound, for them to possibly be in that state so soon. But, I'm of the opinion that it doesn't matter should you know somebody for twenty minutes, or twenty years. If you do, you do. , And you shouldn't hide it. If you must? at least don't hide it from yourself.

"She seems very sensitive to the idea that it's too soon to know. But? listening to her talk to me, the way she looks when mentioning his name? I have a hard time believing she isn't. And the same? I believe, goes with Toby.

"I won't push the two of them to admit to me how they feel. Naturally, the first person that should know is the one you love. I hope for them the very best. Toby, I know, deserves it. Astraea? I feel she does, also."

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"A lot of things have been taking place between Miss Chastity and myself. It all started from her trying to help me break apart this? stupid stuttering problem I have. Right now, Mk. II, you can see I don't have much of a problem. Maybe every now and then, but? once I'm in public? I don't know. Something takes over me. I feel so nervous and worried about nearly every little thing. The way people look at me, or the way they talk to me? sometimes, just having somebody near me without even knowing I'm there is enough to bring it out. It's uncontrollable.

"When I was younger, I used to be on medication to help me control my anxiety. But the doctors that were prescribing me different drugs had a problem finding one that balanced my? what do they call it? "Chemical Imbalance"? ?I don't know. I'm no doctor. Gosh, to think I actually aspired to be something like that when I was growing up? ?how scary that would be.

"She had me close my eyes. And started? to tell me all sorts of different things to say to her. She kept touching me: my cheeks, my eyes, my lips? it was all so very energizing at the same time? unnerving. I haven't often had people put their hands all over me. I wasn't sure I liked it, but, then again? it was different. And I trust Miss Chastity.

"Throughout our experience together, I was actually expecting her to kiss me. All of the characteristics were there. It was a perfect time to. And after hearing about Toby randomly kissing Astraea out of impulse, I've actually been? curious to know what that feels like. I've never had somebody kiss me like that before? It sounds? exciting.

"She asked me to tell somebody that I was imagining that I loved them. I don't? really have anybody in my head who I think about constantly that I could tell that to. Evelyn, very much so? she's the one true person that I've loved this entire time, without thinking, without feeling, but? I cannot get to Kinoh. I don't even know how. Or where it is in the universe. I wonder if a spaceship could??

"Off track. Excuse me.

"So, because I didn't really have anybody in my head, I decided to just go with Chastity. She was right there, so it helped challenge me to be frontal, right? I guess? that wasn't a very good choice.

"She got? angry with me, for some reason. She was handling me really roughly, shaking me, yelling? sorta. She wanted to know why I'd tell her that I loved her. And wanted to know that I was pretending. Which, sure? that was the point of the exercise, wasn't it?

"Then I saw her get really? really upset. Almost? bent out of shape? It was really painful to see, but moreso? hurtful to see her react to me in that kind of way. I didn't know what to make of it, and all I wanted to do was? leave.

"I was going to, but before I did, I had told her about that impulsive feeling I was after. About kissing me without me expecting it? ?I got this strange feeling that she was? really wanting something to happen between us. I don't know why I felt like that?

"But for whatever reason, it actually came out that way. She wound up kissing me after all. And not only that?

"Oh, Mk. II. There is absolutely no way I can share with you what happened between us. The only thing I can say is that she's? r-really some kind of animal. And s-she wound up biting me and drinking my blood. I had thought it would've healed right away, but it hasn't. I g-guess it's up to the nanomachines to do that. Hopefully they do before somebody realizes it.

"Everything surrounding that moment? I have no idea what's going now. Between us? or what's going on with her. She? kind of freaked out earlier tonight when somebody mentioned the name, 'Alain'. The? Music is supposedly playing some role in that? She was being really strange to Mr. Reap and some man I haven't met before. I sure hope they're okay. I will go double check on them when time permits.

"I have no idea what to do with all of this?"

Click

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"I'm heading out again. For some reason, sitting here in my apartment just isn't going to settle with me very well. I feel too uneasy to just sit around right now.

"Tsuzuki Mayu, temporarily signing out!"

Click

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"The birthday event went without a hitch. I was actually impressed to see something so flawless. Rhydin isn't known for flawless, Mk. II. Not in the slightest.

"You see, when you plan something special for a particular person that you've known most of your fantastical life, there's usually a snag. Somebody dies, somebody you used to know shows up to kill somebody that's new in your life, the birthday cake/muffin/bologna comes to life and starts to rampage against all candles and children's mouths alike? you get the picture.

"I got Toby the best gift I could think of under the circumstances. I didn't necessarily have a lot of time since the boy seems to enjoy not reminding people about his own birthday. In fact, I'm pretty sure he forgot about it all together. He wasn't expecting anything.

"I got him Astraea. In a ribbon. And just a ribbon. Nothing else. She wrapped herself up in it, and covered all the wooblies and vagooglies. I was actually a little impressed with myself. I figured seeing her in something that revealing would wind up knocking myself out. I haven't seen anybody dressed so little since Ev? erm? with that bikini she specifically got for me?

"?anyway?

"I did fall at some point when carrying a box? Kyaah, I'm not very good at keeping my balance. You wouldn't believe I used to dance ballet exclusively!

"He was very happy with his gift. I don't think I was supposed to stay there past that exact moment, considering I think they were starting to look a little hot and heavy in each other's eyes. It's a little awkward to think I'm supposed to remain close to them for very long. You said they kiss a lot, Tracy?"

"That is correct, Maiden. The day that I was requested to remain with Astraea with her permission, I had to endure several hours worth. Please don't ask me to look after her again."

"Tracy used to be a? wh-what was it? That caused you to say you're usually annoyed when seeing that kind of stuff happen?"

"?You're kidding, right?"

"A slave of some sort. Apparently, the kind that are used for gratification. Does that mean you please them through different methods of their choosing?"

"Um, yes. That would be? precise."

"So if they ask for her to give them her candy, she has to do it. Now that I think about it, that's not unlike Mr. Reap. He was all about my candy?"

"Maiden, Reap was not asking for ca?"

"Anyway, I would like to think that they deserve more alone time. If they're going to be giving each other those kind of eyes all the time. I think once or twice some p-pretty nasty stuff would have gone on if I wasn't there."

"She's not even listening now?"

"Astraea also got him a gift, only instead of it being her (which could have been really cool and strange at the same time), she got him a horse. This really giant amber and white one that kinda reminds me of his old nickname Ixora and I came up with: Stallion. I know you don't know the whole story surrounding that one, but I believe it came out the same time we were calling him? w-what was it, Ero Butter Boyo? It's been nearly a year since that joke started.

"He has an odd fascination with them. Between getting a nickname revolving around one, to his girlfriend finding one just for him? I'm left to wonder?

"I shouldn't be worried, right? Wakana used to tell me stories about how men have these odd fetishes for animals? I never heard of it myself. Furries? I don't understand. I don't want to understand!

"We wound up staying the night at the stables that Astraea got him at since it wound up getting a little late. Toby asked if it was okay, and we were all for it. I slept with Astraea while he played with his newfound toy.

"Overall, a wonderfully peaceful birthday. That's one down!"

Click

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"I was feeling particularly gloomy in the morning when we woke from the stables. Everyone got their stuff together early, but I wanted to really just go home and get in an actual bed. My nanomachines require me to sleep at a specific time and for specific hours, but using hay and a smelly blanket isn't really something I'm suited for. I've always been rather delicate and? indoor-sy.

"Toby and her went off in their usual fashion. I haven't actually had much of a chance to simply spend some time back at the apartment alone. I don't really want to ever, and I still have six rather loud roommates to contend with, but I found that a certain amount of solitude? It really bothers me. I don't like it.

"When I was younger, like eleven or twelve, I was actually the least popular student in the Academy. In fact, I was so unpopular, I was popular for being unpopular. Understand? I didn't mind it very much back then. I could handle being alone all times of the day and night because I didn't know anything greater than that. The only person who ever gave me attention when I was younger was my brother. When I lost him?

"My parents didn't even care. They saw my little brother as some kind of prodigy. Which he was? very smart and ahead of his time. But, it caused them to view me as a mere accident. I had problems speaking, and after several different doctors couldn't diagnose my reasons for not speaking, I think it was a defining point in their disappointment in my ability to develop properly.

"It wasn't until later they discovered I have dyspraxia. By then, they didn't care. I was lost to them, and my brother obtained everything they wanted in a proper child.

"I was okay with that. My brother saw the good in me, loved me with every fiber in his body. And I looked to him as my helper, even if he was younger than myself.

"When I lost him? once my parents, as Yohko told me, sold me to the Academy, everything fell into place. And? sincerely, I was okay with that.

"It wasn't until later, when I met Wakana, that everything got situated and under better control. She taught me a lot about being with people and what it's like to have friends. She used to tease me a lot, but I found out that her teasing was influential in my growth. I don't know where I'd be without her?

"Not alive, if I had to guess? She's been extremely helpful. And I miss her dearly?

"Speaking of people I've been missing? Marjorie came to town! I wasn't expecting her until some time after summer, but she decided to drop off early because she missed me as well! I guess she had some kind of quarrel with her parents and they sent her off on another trip.

"I hope that quarrel didn't involve scissors and a de-butler'ing. That's a word.

"I say that because she seems to be missing? parts of herself. I think she's something of a cat person, as she always had pointy ears. But they weren't there? and Marco, her rather fancy butler without a mouth? He wasn't with her either. I'm a little troubled by that?

"To keep everything simple, as I don't actually know of all the details and what's going on with her, she's decided to stay in town for a little while longer this time around. I guess she's really had it up to her perky nose with the way things are being run back home. And while she's an heir to some kind of mega fortune, I guess she's still capable of rebelling to her heart's content. Good for her!

"She bought me a gift, but I don't think we ever came across it. It's supposed to be this felt little pouch with a pretty "M" written on one side. She said it was in her dress, and she asked me to f-feel h-her up? a-ah, I mean to help her look for it. She wears really extravagant clothing. Much more than I do! In fact, I think it takes more time to put the stuff on and take it off than it takes to paint a ceiling and watch it dry. So I guess things get lost in there. I don't really know how she does it. I'm really envious. There has not been a single girl I've come across with that kind of profound coordination over clothing since I've been born. Not a one.

"Which r-reminds me? The n-next time she has me help h-her take her clothes off? Get me a stop watch. I w-want to see how long it takes to undress her cute little figure. ?a-ah, for research purposes. She has at least twenty difference accessories on! It takes forever just to think about!!

"Everything fell into place when I met up with her at the Tea Shop. I had only intended to get some melonpan and be on by way, but I guess fate has it in for me. Karma's funny like that! I'm so happy to have had the opportunity to see her again. I hope she stays around a lot longer this time so we can have all the fun that we've promised one another.

"Last night, she offered to take me to the Estate she owns here. And by Estate, I mean a huuuuge mansion that's more like a small fortress. There are gates and cameras everywhere, and about a million people looking to wait on you hand and foot.

"I can't deny that I've always wondered what that kind of lifestyle is like. Marjorie made certain to let me have a small taste. I don't know that I could willingly have people work under me (she says as she makes Tracy handle all the hard things for her?)"

"You're thinking aloud again, Queen."

"Maiden/Mayu! ?I always really liked having Marjorie around with me. She's like a cute, fluffy, soft, sensual version of Wakana. She likes to cuddle and hold hands and kiss boo-boos away when I fall. Which is all the time.

"I first met her some time ago, but I'm having a hard time remembering how. I want to say that we ran into each other entirely by chance. She was staying here more-or-less on vacation, which she does more often than a retired old couple. I'm so glad I managed to meet her though. She's just as protective as some of my other friends, but knows how to make it fun at the same time. I think I explained how she helped me break out of house arrest. There was another time when we first met that I hit my head. She was able to bandage me up really well. And another time?w-well, she's a very generous giver.

"I'm a little tired, so I think I'll hold off explaining more. I brought you with me, anyway, Mk. II. I'll gladly fill you in later when we do more together. It's not like she and I are ever short on ideas to really bring out our passion for enjoyment after each other's company.

"Until later, Mk II. Tsuzuki Mayu, signing out!"

Click

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"Hello, Mk. II. You are doing well, I hope?

"I'm staying here at the Estate with Marjorie while she remains in town. I've let Tracy inform the Shamanista Crew of my whereabouts, and they were all forthcoming in sharing their understanding. I know Helen and Melissa, specifically, have a hard time allowing me to roam around like I am, but they're very trusting of my decisions. Marjorie, Tracy, and Harvy? I hope, will keep me under a closer than usual watch. There won't be any problems with them around.

"Harvy is Marjorie's new butler. She used to have Marco, this mouthless, old gentleman that was actually very nice. He was part of the team that rescued my body from Ria, which I believe I have covered in another recording.

"Marjorie hasn't shared her approval of him like she did with Marco. I wonder if that battle really hurt him more than I realized? Oh. I forgot that he was with her when she stayed over with me a few months ago. Something must have happened? I haven't wished to push her to tell me what's going on. I know what it's like to be grilled for information when you're not wishing to divulge to another your personal life.

"I can respect her privacy. I'm certain she'll tell me what's on her mind if she needs me."

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"Mr. Reap helped us with a faulty door the other day. We were going to stay at the Inn for some tea and biscuits, but Marjorie couldn't figure out how to pull the door open. I never really thought about going inside after that, but when I saw him coming up the door, I informed him quickly of our dilemma. Doors are hard. He made quick work of the thing! I guess that's all his training as a fighter in that basement arena. I wonder if? no, no. No amount of fighting will help me learn to open a door, either. In any case? Thanks, Mr. Reap!

"Marjorie mentioned that we seem to have a nice relationship. She kinda wondered at first if he was an uncle, or something along those lines. I never really thought of us having a nice relationship? I mean, we do. I guess I'm taking it for granted? He's a terrific gentleman. I have nothing but praise for Mr. Reap! I feel badly I keep forgetting to give him my candy. Maybe I can up the ante a little and dip into my paycheck and get him something. Like a plushy rabbit or something.

"?No, Tracy, I'm not going to give him you. Don't look at me in that tone of voice!"

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"I received word last night from the Chief. I haven't discussed anything concerning Lacriosa since it's irrelevant prior to being informed of all the details.

"Lacriosa is a port town somewhat close to Headquarters. Maybe a day's distance were we to travel nonstop. The original report I received is that a stray Remnants is located in the town, and is attracting some negative attention from the towns folk. What attention that is, I still don't know. But it's enough to rile some fanatics.

"I'm worried about that. How is it they know there's danger, but not what's stirring said danger. I'm? getting a bad feeling about this.

"These fanatics? That's the new part of this report. Along with the fact that the power exists inside of a young girl. Maybe eighteen years of age. According to our Seekers, the people who survey, scout, and guide us, she's not aware of this power she possesses inside of her. Which complicates matters, as it means she's not going to come along easily with my? partner and I, once we go to retrieve her. That's what the Chief insinuated.

"He told me not to put focus on that portion of the mission. Apparently, it's not going to be up to me to handle her. Sigurd is usually the experienced handler of difficult tasks such as Remnants retrieval. He's so gruff and rude? can he really negotiate with somebody and bring them back? ?nngh, probably not. He'll hit them upside the head with a large mallet and drag them back by their hair.

"Stupid cave man.

"The fanatics have dubbed this girl some kind of demon spawn. I mean, literally, they actually believe she's a demon in disguise. From what the Seekers can conclude, they're all from this town the girl lives in, and has lived in since she was born. How horrible is that? Your neighbors, your friends, your family? all secretly meeting to figure out how to handle you because you are, to them, some spawn straight out of Hell.

"If that's the case? she doesn't need people like that.

"Unfortunately, matters are only complicated the further down this rabbit hole we go?

"?stop looking at me, Tracy. I won't use an idiom surrounding rabbits again, okay?!

"?a-anyway, this girl isn't aware that the towns people are currently pushing to have her arrested and charged with? who knows what. She hasn't a clue in the world.

"Then again, the town isn't aware that we're coming to take her away before these people do something foul. Such as, kill her.

"We're going in disguise as merchants from some town across the valley. Sigurd is supposed to be some kind of sacred blacksmith, I his assistant who handles all his dirty work. I suppose we could look the part, but my hands haven't seen true labor. I lotion daily. With extra moisturizer. It doesn't take a genius to realize I'm not some assistant. Maybe I'm in training? Fresh on the job? Let's see? I can say my father is a renown blacksmith from Blacksmithville, and I'm his daught--, no wait! I'm a new adventurer who's left her home village, out to revenge my father's death by the hands of the evil Magic Emperor. Along the way, I could have met Sigurd and recruited him into my party with some kind of corny plot device. Maybe his sister was t-taken by the Emperor to be used as a songstress?

"Kyaaah?You know, that kind of thing always makes sense when playing a video game."

Click

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"The Chief has requested I return to HQ in the next couple of days. There's very little time before these fanatics, er, towns people decide to act. We currently have one Seeker mixed in the crowd, and nothing's looking promising by any means.

"I take back my previous rant about not getting a real mission. This is Tsuzuki Mayu's first mission. And it's to rescue a girl in distress! Finally? I can help somebody.

"I can't wait.

"Tsuzuki Mayu, signing out!"

Click

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"It's been some time since I've updated you, Mk. II. I apologize for that.

"Nothing's really been going on for a change. There's always a lull in worthwhile events when spring comes in full swing. Somebody once told me that it meant there was a storm brewing. I never really believed that. Last year, the lull came before Evelyn appeared. That was anything but a storm. It was a wonderful time that I cherished while I had it.

"The year prior? Well, I wasn't here the year prior. But back at Fuka, there wasn't much of a storm, either. Seventeen years old, preparing for our colleges. A small selection of students had scholarships coming in. I believe Wakana was amongst them! She was so much better at school than she let on. And I was the bookworm. How odd, right?

"It was around this time that Headmistress Kazahana was rephasing the jump channel for my protection. The original intent was to give me a secondary location outside of school to prevent any harm from coming to me, partially because of some kind of private corporation that was looking to? purchase me? She had a much fancier way of phrasing it. That, or I completely missed what she was explaining.

"By the fall, here I was! Maybe this lull is supposed to be an extremely long one and the storm comes autumn. Last autumn, after Evelyn returned to Kinoh, I had all that stuff with Ria kick into overdrive. It was chaotic. And the previous season, when I came here, I met Katt and Toby. Nothing about that time was tranquil, either.

"Strange trends? something worth keeping up with."

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"I'm looking forward to seeing Lorelie again. I've noticed that she often has time later in the month, or simply chooses then to visit me. Which is perfectly okay! Any time I can get to see her, five minutes or five years, is some of the best moments of this current year.

"I really can't wait to have her in my arms again!"

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"Katt has been helping me look for a place that's much bigger than what I've currently got going for me. I like my apartment. It's cozy, small, out of the way? it's moderate for my personal needs and an extremely modest place of residence. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for everybody else. Amongst those that I live with, a deadpan man, a woman that screams bloody murder at night when she sleeps, a dead Princess, a maid that served a line of Queens, a royal scholar, two magicians; one of which that blows stuff up all the time, and? well, Tracy, it's about time we think of upgrading. Their tastes are a little more broad. Not only that? we're entirely out of space! A small living room and a single bedroom isn't enough.

"I don't need something extravagant, but they do. I want what's best for everybody else. I only hope this new place I wind up living in comes with a map. And doesn't have a garden hedge-maze made out of roses. That would be horrible? I'd get lost and never be found?"

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"Do you know what it takes to become a model? A spokesperson for some particular cause? A mascot? Supposedly, that's what I'm getting myself into. I don't really think I understand what that means, but I get to sit with a bunch of chocolates and sweets and pretend I'm something edible for people. Like, they can eat me too? I don't think I'd taste particularly sweet like chocolate?

"I'm really excited to help Katt, though. I wonder what she'll have me do?

"When I hear model, I think of those beautifully tall women in my magazines back home. I don't think I qualify as one of those. I'm not extremely pretty like they are. A spokesperson? I think of radio commercials. One of those people who talk so fast through the crucial regulation mumbo-jumbo. A mascot? I'm not wearing a turtle uniform on a street corner, passing out flyers.

"Or maybe it'd be a pig costume? kyaaa? It's summer jobs all over again?"

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"I've not been out and about like I've normally been. I've only remotely seen Toby and Katt in the past few days. Other than that, I ran into Marjorie yesterday. I should consider trying to untie myself from my busy duties to say hello to everybody that I haven't seen in some time. Mr. Reap and Mr. Cor--I was supposed to help them get votes for this election thing that's coming up. I heard Mr. Cor passed the first set of votes. I'm very happy for him.

"I wonder what I can do to help spread the word? I did mention running around in a silly costume. Or get one of those sandwich boards with promotional pamphlets. Maybe I can get Tracy to instill fear into them were anybody considering voting for somebody besides Mr. Cor? ?that's particularly violent of me to even say outloud? Let's not do that?"

Click

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"I haven't really slept, Mk. II. I really need to. I feel kinda yucky since the nanomachines didn't kick in and force me into slumber. That worries me?

"Tsuzuki Mayu, signing out."

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"The job search may already be off. I think I found a place that's looking for a few girls to replace some that have taken off for the summer. I met briefly with the manager. She's extremely friendly and? I want to say 'crazy'.

"It's a waitressing position, which is precisely what I was looking for. The manager was pretty impressed with my experience and credentials. She told me that I was precisely the kind of person she was looking for to fill in. With that kind of compliment, how could I not accept the job position right off the bat?

"I might have jumped the gun a little bit? I was so extremely caught up in the hype of getting a job so quickly that? w-well? T-There are a f-few conditions I d-didn't really e-expect or catch onto right away?

"What kind of conditions, exactly? A-Ah? w-well? ?no. I c-can't say it out loud. Somebody might hear me. Toby's in the next room. Katt's down the hall, I believe?

"I don't know how I'd f-feel if somebody managed to actually see what it is I just got myself into? I mean, I really don't mind? It should be a lot of fun, actually. Due to the line of work, the pay is higher than you'd expect, too, which is just perfect! The manager mentioned that this specific subcategory of work requires a little extra. Judging on the kind of people I saw dining there and the exceptional effort everyone was displaying? she wasn't kidding. Still? Just? what I'm go-going to be wearing? how I'm going to be re-required to?

"N-No! Lock it up!"

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"The manager wants me to come in some time today to give her a small demonstration on what skills I possess to see where she wants me. I guess there are different areas of need based on what customers are looking for. ?Like, "Cutesy-Wutesy" type, "Comforting" type? It's embarrassing just to think about?

"I wonder what she's going to consider me for. More importantly? I really hope nobody I know frequents this caf?? I'm going to die if my first day involves serving people like Mr. Reap or something. I get the impression he'd get a r-real kick out of my work attire?

"Gyaaah? kill me now?"

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"I'm trying really hard to not spill everything. I don't even want to say the name. It's actually a pretty straightforward title. Describes precisely what you're getting. Like the owners didn't put any thought into how to make it creative! To each t-their own? they've certainly attracted the right kind of audience. When I went in, they were utterly and completely packed? the line was outside!

"The way I was watching people being greeted? could I seriously do something l-like that? I g-guess I could? I recall last year when I took Evelyn's job for a day just to see how it'd be; to give her a chance to relax. I actually turned out being able to handle the role with a familiar ease. She never did grade me on my effort? At the same time, she didn't cut me short. That must mean I did pretty well, huh?

"?yeah? maybe, just maybe, this will turn out to being one of the greatest decisions I've made in a really long time. So long as I keep it a secret and don't let people on about what I do when I'm not around, it'll be the perfect job for me!"

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"I think that'll do it for now?"

Thump

"Gya? What was that!?"

Inaudible "It's just me."

"Toby? ?sounds like he just put his head through his desk or something? e-eh, a-anyway? I'm going. I'm pretty excited to head back there and see what she's got in store for me! I know s-she wants me on the f-floor. O-Oh? g-good luck me!

"Tsuzuki Mayu, signing out!"

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"Nngh. Hurts?

"My arm? I don't think it's broken, but it feels like that time I got hit so hard with that baseball bat back at Fuka. ?that was a total accident, but it fractured my arm in two places?

"Mmgn?

"Regardless? it's? I think it's useless right now? I can barely move it, and that's before Toby helped me bandage it up in clean linens?

"I know I'm supposed to report this to Chief Conrad, but? ?he's going to be upset I tried to fight off that Reaver from hurting those people in the Market District?

"Toby and I had decided we were going to take a day and go shopping. He felt I've been working too much between my one job and trying to keep everything in the Order together. He thinks I'm overdoing it, even though this is nothing compared to the six hours of homework I'd get each night that I don't even remember any more.

"I bought a shirt and some things to decorate my dresser with, and I Think he got a few odd things of his own? We spent most of the day out there. I got him to sample a little bit of this thing called 'Key Lime Pie'. I've never heard of it before, but it was green and kinda soft even to look at.

"It's a little strange how he wouldn't ever listen to others when telling him to try something, or to put shoes on. ?clothes, at some intervals. But, I ask him to and he's? he's not even thinking about it. Or finding time to fight it. I wonder why that is? I must be scary? That's awful?

"We were wrapping up our night when I saw a new trinket store across the street from where we were walking. It has little glass puppies and frogs and all that. I've always really liked little glassware like that, so I wanted to see if I could find something. For myself, and for Toby, since he was the one that came up with the good idea to go out.

"It's been a while since I've wandered the streets with somebody, shopping and see all there is. Not since Evelyn, and we would do that almost daily. Hourly. ?It was nice to do something that I used to really enjoy.

"When I got inside, there was this terrible, huge shaking feeling. Like the world was being split in half. A section of the roof came down over us. This one man hit me so hard, I thought my brain was flying out of my ear. He? had shoved me out of the way in order to keep me from being crushed?

"I hurried over to check on him, but? he'd? he'd died from the impact. The beam that came down? ?he didn't have a chance, it was so fast?

"There were a few? other people that were injured, but I was able to help them push some of the rubble out of the way to get them out. That was when?

"?this horrifying sound came from outside. It was like a hiss? the ground was still quaking with what I thought were aftershocks.

"It wasn't, though. I saw out the door that Toby was standing there, and this skeleton, what the Order calls a 'Reaver', was trying to gore him. I'd never felt so strange in all my life. I felt scared, but? it was like? an angry scared. The kind where people are shaking uncontrollably, can't think straight, see straight? their feelings are all over the place?

"My Remnants? something I've been told I cannot use, the thing I've tried to pull out of me countless times, like back when that strange creature was going after Toby and Fiora? it? it came out all on its own.

"I didn't have any time. I felt like everything was moving so fast, but I didn't have any time? I hooked myself to it and zipped out after the two. I hit the thing so hard, it flew like a bowling ball down an alley.

"?It didn't seem to make much of a difference, though. It got up after I thought I'd crushed it, and came back after us. After me, specifically.

"Reavers? they're the creation of something that is against the usage of our Remnants. They're born from forgotten memories. When somebody dies unexpectedly, and nobody remembers who they are, or what they were in life, that's when they're created? or something along those lines?

"Remnants is a divine tool. It fights back against Reavers. It can free the shackled soul that's plighted with sorrow? m-most of the time, anyway.

"I ca-can't do that, though. I can't? do much of anything, it seems?

"It cradled me in a grip so tight for a skeleton, I thought I was going to lose my head. It had these blades all over the place, stabbed me in the neck, and for a split second, I saw my life flash before my eyes. Fuka, Wakana, those back at Earl?

"My parents? Takuya?

"That's how my arm wound up being like it is now. I don't know if my Remnants, which is stored in my right arm, reacted to the Reaver, or if it started to spiral out of control, but it began to drown my arm in its power. The Reavers can't handle it? it freaked out and threw me aside.

"Then it started to ramble about something concerning a Viscount, and left?

"Afterwards, when the power returned to the core inside of me, all that was left was this charcoal black limb? I know the Order can do something, but like I said? they've forbidden me from using the Remnants until Zenny can help me control its power.

"Without being more synchronized with its existence, there's terrible risks involved with using it. At first, I thought maybe that was why it wouldn't come when I called on it. That's only? part of the problem? The other half, I don't actually know. A while back when I first met Sigurd, he had expressed some minor doubts about my ability to not 'over do' the natural limits a Exorcist possesses. For now, I can only imagine he means that I'll overextend and hurt myself somehow. ?That does sounds like me, thinking about it?

"Now? with my arm like it is, I might already have lost the ability to be of any use at all?

"I don't know what I'll do if all this work the past year to become something capable of helping others is stripped from me?"

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"?I'm going to have to figure out how to handle my other job with a busted up arm. I know Collette's going to want to know what happened. I think she'll try to have me take off, but it's not in my nature to stop working because of a little injury like this?

"?I'll think of something.

"Toby's stated he's willing to stay with me and help me with my daily needs until we can do something about my arm. As kind an offer as it is, I think I'll take up Tracy's offer to do the same. She's a girl, herself? well, a Lunar Rabbit female, really? but I'm much more comfortable with her help.

"I'm content to hear this, Queen. It's troublesome to believe you would allow that strange boy to assist you in any fashion."

"?T-Troublesome?"

"The way he follows after you sometimes. The way he looks at you. The way -- no, nevermind. Allow me to simply state that I feel he is a troublesome burden and is not in the best interests that you yourself are after."

"W-Well, of course, Tracy. He's a boy. I've said from the beginning, boys are repulsive. I've already dealt with them. H-He's? no different."

"Then we are in complete agreement. It would be an honor to continue to work alongside you, whatever it may be you may ask of me."

"It'll stay that way. You have been a considerable help to me over these past few months. I'm? not really sure what I would do without you, my friend."

"?Thank you, Mayu. I will continue to remain by your side. As your guardian, equally as your friend."

"I would like that? do y-you think? you could help me with a shower? This bandage is going to give me a really terrible time."

"Without question."

"Mmn? t-thank you.

"For now, Mk. II., we are off. Enjoy yourself, and have a wonderful day. Tsuzuki Mayu, signing out!"

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"I've never really thought boys could be so extremely stupid until tonight!

"I got to the Inn pretty early for a change and without my usual escort, which was a nice change. Raelyn came in around the same time I did, so we caught up for a little bit.

"I met another gentleman, named Daniel. Jones! He was hanging around the cooler, which is my routine first stop when I come by. Since he was back there, I asked him to get me a bottle of water. I thought it was going to be a repeat of the brownie incident back at Teas. Which, in short, involved me getting hit with a brownie so hard, I was knocked unconscious. It may sound a little exaggerated?

"It's not.

"If I recall correctly, it was Toby, Katt and I. We were enjoying an evening at the shop and he just threw something at me. A brownie, to be precise. It hit me so hard, I fell unconscious for a few hours!

"So naturally, I flinched. I was expecting a repeat and grow another lump on my scalp. But not from Mr. Daniel. JONES! He did some weird thing with his hand, and it stopped in the middle of the air, saving me! It was really weird... I don't think I've seen people throw bottles of water around and then stop them out of nowhere. I'm not sure what to make of that...

"At first, I thought maybe his power meant I could drink this water and float around myself. Raelyn didn't think so, and she was right. When I tried dropping the bottle to see what it'd do (after drinking so much my stomach felt full), it just made a giant mess. It was terrible. He left after it was all said and done with Katt, so I never truly got my answer if he could make me a magical water bottle.

"It was here, or so, my shadow appeared. ...and when things got bad.

"Raelyn got into a conversation with Toby and I about why he's my slave. First off, why isn't he my slave? He does stuff for me, works with me when I have something I need doing, and generally is trying to jump at something to do for me well before I even know I want it, myself. I mean, he's basically offering himself up for the role. I might as well oblige!

"Anyway, Raelyn started to ask him questions. Like if he'd give me a foot massage if I wanted it. And he said he would. What better chance to test that theory out than through a good example? I gave him my foot to see what he'd do. I never actually expected anything out of it.

"He pulled off my sock, ran his hand across the top and scooped up the heel underneath. ...and suddenly, I felt like I was on fire. There was this intense wave of pressure that I can still feel right this second, and I... I don't know. I made this sound, this... erotic, strange sound... something I didn't even know I had in me, and I did it loud. ...twice.

"I felt my body well up with all kinds of stress. I was tingly then went numb, and lost feeling in the most of my leg. I felt shivery, and...

"...he managed to activate one of my weaknesses...

"I'm not really ashamed to admit I have them... I know where most of t-them are... Wakana helped me learn all about them and what the importance of them are. We didn't really find anything interesting with my feet, but I've... k-kinda always liked them.

"I guess s-since nobody really touches me, I get all kinds of strange new things with myself...

"I felt hot and sticky... I had to go. I went outside, forgot my shoe, and tried to catch my breath (which I didn't). He followed me because I lost my shoe. And good thing for that, because it gave me to perfect chance to hit him with it after he tried to keep it away.

"I ran off so fast, I'm pretty sure Fuka would love to have me back on their track team now!

"...still... boys are extremely stupid...

"Did I tell you that he walked in on me while I was taking a bath the other day? No? ...just wait. It's one insane event. Who walks in on a naked girl in a bath and not realize she's in it?! STUPID BOY!"

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August 7th
2:30 AM

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?Did you know that Toby can sew? I didn?t. I wasn?t aware he had the skill at all. I guess I shouldn?t be all that surprised because he can already cook and has this strange want to clean anything that?s even remotely dirty.

?I tore my skirt today somehow and I was going to throw it out, much like everything else when it gets ruined, and he offered to fix it for me right away. It only took a few seconds, and you can?t even tell something happened to it. Not unless you look where you s-shouldn?t in the first place!

?I?m constantly surprised by him.

?He caught up with me right away when I left the Inn and he offered to walk me back to my apartment. I guess I don?t really h-have a problem with that. It?s dark out and there?s all kinds of weird, strange people around these days. I?ve never liked the dark, so even one person can make the difference. Normally, it?s just Tracy and I, but s-she?s fond of the darkness and do-doesn?t understand why I?m so scared of it. So she stays invisible the e-entire time.

?With him, there?s always a chance everything will wind up a complete mess. He?s always saying and doing weird things, making people think things just with the way he looks at others, and can be really frustrating. But, at the same time? I don?t really feel all that scared like I used to when I?m around him. I don?t know if it?s because he?s always shown a willingness to be there, or because he?s so certain he can help me if something goes wrong?

?When we were in Shamanista together, he proved to me he wasn?t just somebody that was out to make a name for himself and try to be a hero. He listened to everybody and actually got along with everybody, as well. I was pleasantly surprised.

?He?s changed? an awful lot since when I first met him. I don?t know what?s caused that, but I?m grateful for it. If it?s the world, the fact that Alice broke him free from his Gangster lifestyle, or what.

?I?m sure people like Rae-chan would say it?s because of me. I wonder if that?s true. I?ve always managed to talk to him and get him to do things nobody else ever could? even stupid things. I m-mean, who else agrees to get in a dress just because I say he has a girlish face and would look pretty? I?m fairly sure nobody else could do that.

??and now that I think about it, I wonder if that?s a good or bad thing.?

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?About the sewing, I gave him a box of stuff I was going to throw out. It was a bunch of really messed up clothing. Loose buttons, or little tears in the collars. One dress has a line of lace that?s wrinkled. It?s just j-junk. I c-can?t wear these things if they?re messed up. But if he?s got the talent to sew, I figure he might be able to do something to fix it! He was very agreeable. It was almost his whole idea.

?I just told him that I was fine with whatever he thought he could save. If not, maybe he can rip the stuff up and use it for scrap. People who sew like having fabric on hand, don?t they?

?I? still can?t believe him. He?s like, a magician. Only without all the flash and top hat that rabbits come out of. ?nnn, I know, Tracy. I said I wouldn?t mention things like that again?

?Mm?

?I don?t know why I feel funny about that. It?s not a weird feeling in the bad sense. It?s a good thing I feel. Like, a happy feeling. I m-mean, all this d-does is tell me I c-can have h-him help me do more things! S-Since he already cooks for me, because I can?t, and fixes my torn clothing, again, because I can?t, I?ll have to see what else h-he can do.

?Maybe he has enough on h-his plate, though. He delivers for the church, handles all my affairs as my personal agent, negotiates deals when I don?t want Tracy to punch somebody or use her eyes, follows me to the caf? and keeps it from getting out that I?m a maid, tries on clothing like he?s a doll, is my dog and slave when I need something more personal taken care of, on top of cooking and now sewing for me, and sometimes winds up protecting me before Tracy?s rules can even be enforced.

?That?s beneath the fact that he?s? like?

??ew. It?s like he?s my girlfriend-slash-wife. Why would I immediately think that!??

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?Alice and I are going to spend an hour together tomorrow. I asked her if she?d like to go out to the shore and find a reasonably priced beach house to rent for a weekend. She?s practically a millionaire b-because of the hit on T-Toby from Lisa, and has o-offered to help pay for t-the vacation. I?m very glad for that. She?s been a considerable f-friend since she?s come back from isolation. I only hope that she?ll be able to stay around a little longer this time before her job takes her away. I know that?s wishful thinking?

?Alice?s job has her going all over the place. And it?s extremely dangerous. The only thing I really know about is that she?s tied to something she calls ?The Bureau?, which I guess is an agency run by some kind of underground government. She mentioned that she?s never actually spoken to the person in charge. They simply refer to him as, ?Shadowy Green Eyes?. Nobody has actual names to keep everything from getting? really personal, I think.

?Which leaves me wondering? is her name really Alice? Or is it just an alias, like how some people call me the Maiden back in Shamanista?

?Even if it?s not, I met her as Alice. I know her as Alice. Alice is the name of my friend and sometimes partner in the fight for good. I don?t care if it?s real or not. What I care about is her.

?Toby and Her, I guess, have gotten along better since the earlier fights, too. At least she doesn?t shoot him out of thin air now. She just waves her gun around in his face a lot and threats to. That is a major improvement! I am so happy for them!?

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?Melissa approached me earlier this evening and suggested I pull everybody together for a team meeting. As Queen of Shamanista, it is my sworn duty to do so on a regular basis, especially concerning things regarding back home. E-Even if? that doesn?t really f-fit the kind of person I am. ?I?m not a leader, not naturally or by force. T-They only understand Shamanista?s regulations, though. T-That means? I have to. Even if I?m not the right person for it? I?ll do it.

?For them.

?Up until now, nobody has spoken their concerns about returning home. The bracelets that Lady Emma made for everybody has protected them from this realm?s existence, so there is no immediate danger to their persons. But perhaps it?s time we think about returning to do something about Flora?s reign. Melissa suggested we see everybody?s views. Unless we do so, there?s a whole realm where people are suffering.

??I? don?t want that. I can?t let them suffer. Flora?s a very bad person, and there?s no doubt that she?s using the realm?s youkai population to do things they shouldn?t be forced to.

?I?m scared. I?m scared of what may happen. That we?ll return to help them and fail, or that people may get hurt, or killed, on account of us not acting fast enough when it counts. That I?ll?n-no. I can?t have these kind of negative thoughts. The youkai back home will continue to suffer unless we do something. No m-matter what? I won?t back down. Even if it means? losing my life in order to save them??

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?Until next time, Mk. II. Tsuzuki Mayu, signing out!?

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August 27th
9:42 PM

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?Hello, Mk. II! I actually kept my word, to a degree, and came back to you in less than a week! If you were real, I know you?d be very proud of me and give me a giant kiss!

??a-ah, I?m kind of glad you?re not, though. It would be very weird to be kissed by you?

?Heh? eheh?

?A-Ah! Anyway! There has been some interesting news and I hope I can share it with you.?

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?I should probably start with saying that I had a problem the other night with my nanomachines. If you?re unfamiliar with them, they're used in order to keep my body up to speed. My heart's? w-well, it's kind of broken. Not in that silly romantic sense. For real! Professor Yohko told me that it was damaged from repeatedly going from Japan to RhyDin. I guess there was something wrong with the mechanical device? or constant jumping had some kind of unknown side effect. Technically, I should be dead? then a-again, I already am. I?m still classified as a youkai and this body is just? something that I used to own. I guess there?s not much worry about, huh? I hope m-my body can handle itself f-for now.

?The Crew is still n-not very sure what?ll happen to me if this body were to die with m-me inside it. They think I might disappear like a normal dead p-person would. Even if I don?t, there?s too much risk involved.

?For now, that means staying alive! You?ll help protect me, won?t you, Mk. II?

?A-Anyway! The problem with my nanomachines has to do with them shutting down. They regulate a lot of my daily life and need time to recharge. When they do that, my body shuts down. I guess y-you could say it?s like a computer in that sense. It goes into sleepy time every night at four in the morning. I can?t really sleep before then, and I?m forced awake again at eight. Originally, it was really hard adjusting to four hours of rest. Now, it?s not so bad. I c-can do everything I need to, have a lot of time to see people and spend time with them, and I get extra hours of work at the Order.

?I?ll tell you what happened with that later?

?The last time I spoke with you, I decided I was going to begin Operation Pawn in King. I should tell you right now that it wound up being an amazing success! I did all the right things and I think Toby and Miss Kingsley are on the way to being the best new couple of this year!

?They were already at the Inn and were really enjoying themselves. Miss Kingsley and I continued our earlier discussion about what one another liked. She prefers autumn like I do, and really wants to take a horse out in the wilderness during a pretty fall day (which I really recommended Toby do for her. Heheh, score one for the shrine maiden!). She likes horses, which I kind of picked up because she was really into watching Comet the day Toby brought him out. She also told me she likes wind chimes, hummingbirds, a kind of flower called a helleborine, and the colors blue and green. She never specified when her birthday is, but it?s coming up. Which meeeeans I?m guessing September. That would make her a? Virgo? It?s possible she?s a Libra. I?ll assume Virgo since it?s a bigger chance.

?I told you she got me a whole basket of melonpan, didn?t I? I really do owe her a gift. I think I?ll mix her favorite things together. I know where I can find some special wind chimes. That?ll be the building block to my love for Miss Kingsley!

?A-Ah? I mean? plutonic love for Miss Kingsley. Panasonic??

?Platonic.?

?Platonic! Thank you, Tracy.

?One thing I discovered is that Toby used to really like hugs. He still does, but it?s kind of mellowed out. I find that? really funny, actually. He?s never really shown me any signs of being interested in hugs. He?s usually scowling or looking like a mean piece of work. And the most he does is pat me on the head like I?m a stray puppy. I don?t mind it. Hugs are the last thing I?d think he?d be wanting. From me, or from anybody else.

?Miss Kingsley? w-well, at one point she climbed up on a stool and held her arms out for him. I guess she either really wanted a hug from him, or wanted to s-see if he?d go through with hugging her?? Maybe she thinks the same thing I do and doesn?t really see him as being the hugging type.

?Surprisingly? he hugged her back. I?d like to say I played a role in that!

?I thought he was going to just kind of laugh and give her a little pat on the head in the process of doing this simple little arm curling? twist? thing. It turned out to being? a hug. The kind of thing you give a person when you haven?t seen them in two years. The kind where you?re held tight, staring in one another?s eyes, and the world just comes to this really abrupt halt.

?I felt a little out of place when it was going on. It lasted for a while. I think I could have left and nobody would have realized at first. That?s a really good start: it means Operation Pawn in King turned out to be a really bigger success than I could have ever anticipated, just as I said. I w-wonder if I could make some extra money playing match maker?? I have a high success rate! I still need to get my shrine built here, so I could use the earned money as donations?

?A-Ah, anyway? After they broke their hug, she offered me one. She looked like she wasn?t sure if she should be doing that, like I was going to give her this really pointy, demony, fangy, sneery, growly look. I w-wouldn?t ever do that and I?m only the happiest person in the world to be considered a hugging friend! I jumped at the chance. I was worried a little at first that we?d get all deadlocked and stare at one another for a while, like she and Toby had. What if she hugs like that!? When we were hugging, I told her that she shouldn?t mind me. The way she and Toby staring made me think that something really big would have happened if I wasn?t there.

?S-She told me that she?d always mind me, no matter what. T-That was a really special thing to me. Nobody?s said that to me. Like I was suddenly her family. Like? her sister.

?I?ve never really had any true family outside of my brother. W-When I lost him, it?s always been a little quiet in that space of my life. My parents only cared about him and was even willing to sell me off to some academy to get a little money to take a tour around the globe after he was gone. They n-never really cared what happened to me. I was the faulty child that killed their future, in their eyes?

?Takuya, you?re still watching me, aren?t you? Even if I?m in this strange place? You?re looking after me?

??I like to think so. I know you helped me find the people in Shamanista. You didn?t let me die back in that warehouse when Tylor was holding Toby. You gave me a family in them.

?I owe this family so very much. I?ll need to go back to Shamanista very soon and repay them for everything they?ve done. They cannot stay here forever. This is not their home. ?neither can I.

?I have a world to look after. Since the Ruler?s death, they only have me. I know Flora is there making a terrible mess out of everything and using the population. ?I need to be there for all of them, not just my family here.

??maybe it?s time I see that part through. See to it, or die trying.?

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?I was going to explain what happened with my nanomachines?

?When four o?clock came around, I was only slightly prepared for it. It was maybe ten minutes to four when I realized what time it was. My apartment is at least a twenty minute walk from the inn, so I didn?t have much choice. I didn?t want to be out on the roads alone when I passed out. If somebody saw it happening, Tracy would have a lot to explain. And if she didn?t explain it, there?s even bigger risks with her attacking people to keep me protected.

?I really don?t want to subject people to her?

?Plus, I was having a lot of fun being around Miss Kingsley and Toby. Miss Kingsley makes everything so much fun. It?s like the world is a little brighter just having her to sit and talk with. She really is like a sister of mine. I wonder how she'd take to hearing that from me? It?s something we?ll find out soon enough!

?A-Anyway, when four hit, I don?t know what happened. Everything went dark. It?s like being under hypnosis. You snap, I?m out!

?I woke up later in my bed at the apartment. Tracy was out in the living room playing a hand of cards with Melissa, who she called over to do a quick check-up on me. Melissa said there was nothing wrong, and scolded me because I took a risk being out late.

?I really like Melissa. She?s like mom. Only not so scary and with pretty blonde hair. And demon puppets she controls when you don?t listen? yeah, I should start doing that.

?After Melissa left, I took a shower. I didn?t realize until I got in that I had several bruises on my arm. I guess from when I fell over. I was on a stool, so the fall was pretty high up. A few feet? Maybe that?s why Melissa mentioned I was taking a risk. Cracking my head open isn?t a good way to ensure I stay alive for them, is it?

?I got changed, and I mentioned to Tracy that I wanted to go find Toby and Miss Kingsley so I could tell them that everything was all right. She said, because she brought me back, Toby and Miss Kingsley knew that I was taken care of.

?I went anyway.

?I stopped at the inn and wasn?t sure I?d see them at that hour. It was pretty early. Four, maybe five in the afternoon? Far too early from when I normally catch up with them.

?Toby was inside, though. I guess I came just in time.

?Only? time wasn?t really being good to me tonight.

?I was really worried that he?d be upset with me for not telling them that I needed to get back. He?s never really liked when I?ve fallen over in plain sight. There have been times when I didn?t even make it from brushing my teeth to my bed before passing out. He?s had to carry during those times? poor guy.

?He wasn?t really upset at me for that, though. I guess it?s happened enough that it doesn?t really frighten him any more. He said that it scared Miss Kingsley, though. I felt really bad about that. She needs to learn more about me so we don?t have any other incidents like that?

?He also mentioned that Miss Kingsley was a little freaked out when Tracy came out to collect me and take me home. There was some staring involved? I guess Kingsley was spooked. Reasonably so. Rabbits do not tend to appear out of thin air back home. Tracy wound up locking eyes with her and? a lot of bad ensued. Toby wouldn?t tell me what happened to her, exactly, and Tracy never speaks about those kinds of things. She rarely even explains what she sees when she does it to me. When he brought it up, Tracy decided to defend her point.

?He asked something about making her control it and not use it on people. From everything I?ve seen, she doesn?t even have control over it.

?Tracy admitted she isn?t able to control her eyes. If she looks at somebody, and they happens to look back, it just starts. She said that she?s not the one willing to stop doing what she?s doing because I?ve never told her to. ?and that made me feel really weird. I don?t want her to do that to people! Not to people I care about the most in my life. B-But? I can?t tell her not to. I can?t control her actions in that way. I can recommend things to her; tell her to try and be a normal pe-? r-rabbit, but? ordering her? Demanding she quit? It makes me feel like? ?

?It d-didn?t really matter, in the end. When Toby told me that Miss Kingsley wouldn?t be back for a little, I thought she wound up in the hospital because of Tracy?s actions. I ordered her to quit looking at people like that. It just? it scared me to think Miss Kingsley was put in a bad place because of something I was too scared to do. I have to get over those fears? Wh-Which reminds me? Hey, Tracy? C-Can you stop looking at the people I care about instead of everybody all together??

?A list of names would suffice. I can cease with them specifically.?

?Y-Yeah. I m-mean, I don?t really w-want anybody hurt because of your power, b-but? I need you to be able to use it in self-defense. It might b-be better than you p-punching people t-through walls like you did Toby. F-For now, can you stop doing it to Lorelie, Kingsley, Toby, Alice, Rae-chan, Mr. Saint, Miss Fiora, her guy, A, everybody at the caf? and the Order, including the church? it pr-probably wouldn?t be a good idea to do that to people I work with and for? and? that should be enough for now. I c-can tell you more names when I feel like I can trust them.?

?I will see to it that it does not happen.?

?Please do. I know your intentions are good and you're only looking out for me. We can do that without putting everybody in a comatose st-state, though??

?Understood, Queen.?

?Mayu! ?all right, then. With that taken care of, I had another situation come up this evening. One that really startled me.

?While I was on the porch talking about everything that happened with Miss Kingsley, a person came up on the porch and looked straight at Toby and I. At first, I thought maybe I was seeing things. Tracy was around, and it?s not really unheard of to see hallucinations. The person went indoors, and, curious me, I started peering through one window to try and get a better look.

?It was? Miss Chastity. You r-remember her, don?t you? She and I were in a relationship for a small period of time before things got? w-well, things got really wacky between us. She was losing herself to ?The Music?, and it got to the point where I couldn?t be with her any more. There was a strange fight that took place. She punched me over and over?

?W-Well, she said she had come to the Inn for me. To see me? To talk to me? I d-don?t exactly know. She told me she loves me. I? d-didn?t exactly answer her in the same format. It?s true, I love her. I cannot stop loving a person. The only time I can is if I never truly loved them in the first place. In her case, I know I felt strongly.

?She told me that it seemed like yesterday since we were together and everything was going on. If I understand w-what she means, it?s only been a day to her while it?s been over four months for the rest of us. I was joined by Toby, Mr. Saint, and Rae-chan, who were willing to back me up if things got a little awkward.

?Everybody but Toby told me they support my decision to look over the past and see toward the future. If all you d-do is focus on before, h-how can you hope to move on? Grandma always said that. I let it guide me during our talk.

??This is all very much like Selene. I was willing to look past what she was doing to people in order to show her that she would have a friend. I thought, if she had a friend, it would awaken her to something other than the pain she was causing.

?In the e-end, I had to dismiss that. If she d-didn?t stop what she was doing and I continued to let her be around us, my friends could have been killed. And, Evelyn might have?

?No? T-Things are different today. I know who Miss Chastity is, but I also know who this? Music winds up creating. I care for Miss Chastity and it?s wonderful to see her still with us today in some capacity. My concern is: Is she here on her own, or is the Music willing her here for another purpose? As much as it pains me to keep my guard up when I see her, I do not have any other option.

?I hope, Miss Chastity, you?ll forgive me if I wind up not being the person I was before, looking past everything and trying ever so hard to make you whole? I want to help you, but I?m afraid I might not ever be strong enough to free you from the torment that?s taken your soul. People support my decision? if that means they?re willing to remain at my side while you cause them pain, I won?t have any other choice?

?The person I am today won?t be able to allow pain upon others. The friends I have today have been the greatest since I began my journey here. They do not deserve ache??

Click

Click

?I met a young boy last night. Well, I sort of met him. He was sitting in the rafters. He was causing me a few problems. At first, I believe he tossed a spider at me. Normally, spiders do not scare me at all. They?re simple things with legs. I do not like them in my face, however. They?re scary when they do that! All, ?Herro, I have come to give your face a greeting with my beady eyes while hanging from my butt!? ?eeeghck.

?Rae-chan wouldn?t handle it (I think she ran faster and further than I did), but Mr. Saint was quick to get rid of it for us. Rae-chan turned into a little fairy and flew up there to scold him, which I fully approved of. Boys teasing girls is very, very mean! The boy slipped on the plank and nearly fell, hanging from it like some kind of expert gymnast. I asked Rae to help but she wound up losing her balance, too. I don?t really k-know what happened from there? s-something went on with me and I wound up being relocated all of a sudden.

?I?ll have to go back tomorrow and see if I can find them. I hope there aren?t any weird stains on the floor. I don?t think I?ll have fun showing up if there are??

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?For now, I believe this will have to do, Mk. II. I?ve spoken with you a lot again, today, and you?ve learned a lot of new info! This is fun! I might wind up keeping you, after all, and using you to continue to explain all the different things going on with me. I don?t usually get a chance to talk to people (I?m very shy, you know), and this helps me ?vent?, in a sense. Not in that angry, steam being puffed out from the ears kind of way. Just? talk. I like to confide.

?Until next time, Mk. II. Tsuzuki Mayu, signing out!?

Click

September 2nd
8:26 AM

Click

"G-Good morning, Mk. II?

"I f-feel really? amazing at the same time I feel r-really sore? I'm sorry if I don't wind up having very much to say?

"A-Agh? g-god. I d-don't think sore is the word that I'm looking for. Tight, maybe? Stiff? I f-feel like every muscle in my body is trying to tear itself apart. I also f-feel like I used to back when I was fifteen years old, pitching for the softball team and preparing my eighth straight hour of ballet.

"I have one person to thank for that. S-Somebody who? really makes me think of myself.

"Her name is Martyr. Her real name is Ausha, b-but? I think that's supposed to be a secret, special name of hers. I didn't really press the issue. I asked if I could keep the name Martyr for her, and she recommended it.

"?a-ah, I'm jumping ahead of myself here??

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?I actually came to the inn to meet up with Toby. I wanted to update him on sis?s situation. He left early from the drink shop because he had to start deliveries, or something like that, so he never actually found out that she was going to really stay the night with me.

?He and I? got a little personal with things. The? only thing I really remember about the conversation was that he and Kingsley? kissed.

?I guess they kissed more than once, too. Or that is the impression I got. He seemed to? really like it. And I don?t really know how I feel about that. I mean, all this time I?ve known him, he?s never really been bouncing around between people. None of us have. We meet people every now and again, but it?s just so rare.

?I must not be used to it yet. The whole goal of this recent Operation is to put the two of them in a place where they can really like one another. S-So? maybe being surprised by it all is silly. I never really expected to get these kind of results.

?Maybe I should start a business and try to make a little money from this. Open a new chain that?s like an information broker, and instead, call it ?A Romancing Broker?. You give me two people, and I do something crazy like lock them in a car or weld them to a bathtub until they grow feelings for one another!

?Back home, we have dating sites that do this kind of stuff. ?maybe not the tub welding th--. Ac-Actually, I probably shouldn?t say that. Even though I have no idea what I?m saying? It?s gotta exist.

?So? Toby and Kingsley are making a considerable amount of progress. I?m happy for them. I hope I can do more to ensure they get closer and become a real couple. Toby deserves a nice girl in his life. I give him a lot of flak about things, but? he really does deserve that. Kingsley deserves all sorts of good things. I can?t imagine anything ever going bad for her. And if something does, god help the person that?s the cause. I won?t stand for that!?

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?While we were talking, a girl came stumbling out of the inn. I thought maybe she was just one of the drunks at first, but she fell on her hands and knees. Drunks barely have the understanding that they?re falling, let alone do something like that. When I looked to see who it was, Toby revealed to me a name of somebody that would wind up making me go through one of the most interesting nights in my entire life, easily in competition with the first time I came to RhyDin:

?Martyr.

?Martyr is? an interesting girl. I?ve seen her several times in the past, and the various things that wind up happening to her. She?s capable of attracting it, and that is just another reason why I sit here feeling like we?re one in the same.

?Through talking to her for just an hour, I learned that she has the ability to heal most any person from any injury. She?s like a healer, but to the extreme max. Does that mean she can resurrect people? I have trouble doubting that right now. After everything that she did for me this morning, I really do doubt it?

?She explained further about certain types of ?people? interested in her blood because it can allow them to regenerate really fast. ?which is just another ability of hers. You can?t seem to hurt her. She gets injured and whatever wound she has just? pop! Gone.

?So far, it seems she uses this power of her only to help people in need. Which means? she?s a good person. She casts aside all kinds of feelings she might have about danger and does what she needs to.

?I feel strange about her already? Not a bad strange! ?I don?t know what it is.

?I took her aside and asked her in a whisper what her blood could do for somebody like me. I?m just in a h-human body. Can I benefit from her blood like others?

?Supposedly, I can.

?I told her I would like to test it out some time. As an experiment. If she was willing, of course. She looked so scared when I told her. She was worried that something was really wrong with me. I didn?t? I didn?t really know what to tell her at the time. Toby was still there and he doesn?t know about my heart issue. I nodded, and left it at that. I knew I?d have a chance to open up about it later.

?If Martyr could heal my heart and get rid of the danger of me dying from a little blood loss, t-that would? probably be the greatest thing in the world. I wouldn?t be restricted by anything. I?d actually have a choice in how I could help people, again!

?While Toby was there and we all talked, I just stayed by her. I was intrigued by her. There?s something about her that just? makes me want to be near her. To look after her, protect her, and make her? do that thing she does where she?s smiling and blushing?

?Kyaaah? I don?t even want to say that to you, Mk. II! My face hurts when I do!

?Toby took off for the evening and left Martyr and I alone on the porch. She wanted to know what was wrong with me in better detail, so? I took her hand and put it up against my chest. I wanted her to feel for herself what was wrong with me. My heart has not beat normally since I arrived here two years ago. I explained it all to her. What was wrong with it, what would happen to me if something were to injure me badly enough that the nanomachines needed to take care of something else?

?None of it?s good, Mk. II. Not even in a pretend sense.

?She? She was almost pleading in offering herself to me. She wanted to do something for me well before I was truly ready to do it myself.

?I couldn?t let go of her hand once I had it. It must have been three hours of nothing but conversation and handholding. I couldn?t release her. I was scared. What if she tried to help me and I wound up doing something severe to her instead? What if she did it and I wound up dying from it?

?I?ve died once before. I?m? not as afraid of it as some people are. I know, dying this time, likely means I disappear all together. It?s because I?m bound to Shamanista?s realm and my special circumstance prevents me from returning there in death. I?d just take it as meaning it?s my time.

?What really worried me is dying all because Martyr wanted to help. W-What would she do? How would she take it? Could she live with herself? ?all b-because of me, I c-could really destroy somebody else?s life.

?It was a lot of pressure to take up Martyr?s offer. I couldn?t refuse it, though, could I? It?s the first time I ever opened up about w-what?s wrong with me. I needed time to think? to get myself in the right mood.

?I also wanted a chance to spend some time with her. Alone. Away from people and things. I wanted to talk to her, get to know and understand her. It was already really late so I knew nothing was open. That didn?t stop me from leading her from the inn and to the market district. I?ve always taken people to the fountain when I?m wanting to get away. I swear, it?s the center of the city as a whole. Like? the eye of the storm, in a sense.

?I did finally let go of her hand eventually. I?m not sure what possessed me to do that. Everything is a really hazy blur around this point?

?I remember sitting down on the fountain and inviting her to join me. I was so concerned about her powers and how they work that I started asking her a bunch of really personal questions. How long she?s used them, if there were side effects, if things happen to her when she has them active? All kinds of things. I already knew, in order for me to take on her regenerative ability, I was going to need her blood. ?It m-might sound crazy, but it wouldn?t be the f-first time I?ve taken any from another.

?Even t-though Ria was the one in my body, I st-still feel as though it was myself. I can sense what my body went through when she was eating people? It?s not like I?ve acquired the taste or a-anything! I d-don?t think. ?just?

?My questions were just means of stalling the inevitable. I knew I wanted to give her a chance to do something for me, just like I would if she needed my abilities.

?From everything she?s told me, her healing ability is fairly flawless. She mentioned something about taking on the wounds of another, b-but it doesn?t apply when drinking from her. If I was g-going to do it, it required that side. I r-refused to give her whatever is wrong with my heart.

?She told me that nothing would happen to her. She continued to tell me that over and over again. And each time she said it, I felt better and better, like somebody was giving me the best massage. On top of it, s-she told me that? if s-something were to happen to me, even though we?d just met, that it would be worse than any injury she could have while trying to heal me.

?It? I realized what she was trying to say to me. I?ve been saying the very same thing over and over to all kinds of different people. Most don?t get it, or don?t understand what it means to be helpful to another.

?She?s? a lot like me. A ton like me.

?I agreed to let her try. I was ready to give myself to her. If it meant dying, so long as she had her chance, that was okay with me.

?The only problem that I really had left concerning it all was? how was I going to actually bite her and give in to drinking from her like some kind animal?

?She told me that so long as it bleeds, any place on her body will suffice. That meant anywhere.

?I?m not a violent person. I can?t walk up to him and bite them hard enough to draw blood. Heck, w-when a moth gets in my face, I don?t have the courage to swipe it around to get it away. ?I c-can?t do that kind of thing.

?I know what would do it without thinking?

?T-That?s when everything really goes black. I? remember pleading with her not to be scared. I? must have decided to use what?s inside me in order in order to get her blood in my system. ?normally, my mind goes into this haze any time I get really angry, or when? when I sta-start to f-feel? a-ah? w-well, when I feel funny on t-the inside a-about a person. Not love, e-exactly. Desire? It?s w-when I feel that kind of thing for another.

?I already felt f-funny around Martyr. A g-good kind of funny, like? tingly. So I probably used that in order to? develop.

?The next thing I knew, she was hanging over me and saying my name and telling me it was all right. I? I saw where she had blood on her neck but I didn?t see if I actually did something to her. If I did, it?d already healed.

?She took my hand and shoved it against my chest to show me what happened. It was beating. Strong. No palpitations. Did she? feel my heart to check if it was all right? She knew?

?I remember asking her why she?d let m-me do all of this to her. I k-know she can h-heal through it all and that she? kind of lives to make other people?s lives easier. ?even I don?t do that k-kind of thing right out the gate. I?ve climbed on a roof to save somebody?s cat and fell in a pool of water. I?ve stood up to people that were putting others in danger. I?ve even offered to help people who were mortally wounded and have done evil things.

?B-But I? ma-maybe it?s the same thing. ?maybe we?re even more alike than I?m aware.

?She told me it?s because she cared about me. She?d do? anything in order to keep me safe.

??I didn?t know what to say. What do you say when somebody not only does something that very likely saved your life, and admits to caring about you? I remember pledging myself to her. To do anything I could for her. If she needs it, just ask for it.

?I mean that, too. I? I have no problem doing that for somebody who went through such an event on my behalf.

?She looked absolutely horrible, though. Not in an ugly way, but like? she?d just emptied everything inside of her. I d-decided to t-take her back home with me and keep her at my side. I w-want to be by her at all times. Keep her from anything dangerous that might be out there. From everything dangerous that might be out there.

?I?ll stick to it, too. So long as she?ll have me at her side.?

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?I? h-haven?t been to sleep yet. I don?t feel very tired and I?m thinking it?s because the nanomachines have already begun to adapt to my body since they do not need to focus on my heart.

?Professor Yohko mentioned they can peak human strength and regulate some other functions, like controlled breathing and longer periods of time without needing to eat. They can perform antibiotic duties to stop disease or toxins? I? c-can?t really remember if that?s all true, or if the ones she injected in me are even the same kind. I?ll have to test that out.

?I?m going to go check on Martyr and, if nothing else, pull up a chair near her and stay there for now. I?ll? I?ll check in with you later, Mk. II.

?Tsuzuki Mayu, signing out!?

Click

September 7th
9:01 AM

Click

?Hi there, Mk. II. Did you enjoy your song?

?I just happened to hear it and thought it would fit perfectly for Martyr and I. It doesn?t fully qualify for the two of us b-because I?m well aware of my feelings for her and we?ve already expressed them to one another. Plentifully. Still, it makes me think of her.

?I s-should start by saying that I haven?t been saying much to you these past few days because of e-everything that?s going on. I hope I can recapture the past few nights? worth of events so you can be made aware of where we?re standing right now.

?Let?s go back to a few nights ago after I drank her blood and let her heal my heart for the first time. That is where we left off.

?T-The biggest thing that happened since then was our f-first? k-k-kiss. Since I met her, I found myself attracted to her in a way that I couldn?t exactly explain to myself. I would watch her for really long periods of time; the way she moved about and teased me with even simple gestures. Enough to make my heart feel like it was coming out of my chest and fly away.

?It?s not t-the first time I?ve experienced the feeling, so I was able to a-actually associate it with a reason. I was feeling strongly for her: out of this world crazy for her. Today, it?s more like a nuclear explosion, my love an intense, earth shattering bomb.

?When I was alone with her at the inn, we were sitting together and I was back to holding her hand and being close to her as much as humanly possible. Since our exchange at the fountain, I found myself touching her more and more. It was less about doing it for the sake of being near her and more because not touching her s-started to really make me crazy. I felt out of place not having her in my hands or in my arms. I needed it. Empty without those cool hands in my own.

?I d-don?t really remember a lot of what we said to one another. I know I told her that she?s very important to me as a person. A-And it?s been true since I met her. I c-can?t explain why I felt that way. It g-goes back to what I originally said, though: I felt, from the moment I met her, a willingness to stand beside her as the strongest rock she?d ever have in her life. I would go anywhere and do anything for her and all she had to do was give me a look--never needing to ask.

?Since I felt that way, everything else came naturally, including her importance and significance in my life. I was living and breathing for this girl well before I knew that my heart belonged to her.

?I re-remember how it happened, now? gosh, it makes my face burn just thinking back on it now?

?We were sitting on the couch, and I remember that I kept looking at her mouth. I mean, staring at it for really long periods of time. Casually, when she wasn?t paying attention to me, or for a second when she was shifting and getting situated. I kept wondering to myself, ?Just how does a kiss from her taste?? I was thinking she had the sweetest flavor. The most sugary candy with a perfect core that melts on the tip of your tongue.

?Or a cupcake. Aggh? s-she?s my cupcake with heart-shaped sprinkles from Heaven? ?now I?m hungry?

?I told myself I needed to find this out.

?What I mean is? I knew I wanted to experience a kiss with her. I wanted to know if it would make me feel? alive when our mouths met.

?It? made me feel more than j-just alive. I have to say that n-now!

?I tried more than once to kiss her. At first, I leaned into her and got really close to the point that I could feel her breath on me. I stared at her, watched her, and waited to see if I could find an opening. I? I ch-chickened out. I f-felt really s-silly about that, too. I knew what I wanted. I g-guess even when I want something, I can?t always go through with it.

?I think at one point she might have t-tried, too? heh, we w-wound up apologizing to each other for a while. I think we both wanted it and were very sorry we couldn?t actually find the strength to go through with it.

?I felt so funny. In the best of ways. My heart was fluttering around, my head was so light I thought I was going to pass out, and my fingers were so numb, t-they?re still lacking feeling to this day.

?I wanted to tell her that I had these really strong feelings for her and that I needed her. No matter what I did, though, it didn?t seem right. It was never the right time to open my mouth. Words weren?t what would give me the courage.

?I c-could feel myself slipping the deeper I got to staring into her eyes. They mesmerize me, tell me what to do, sometimes? I leaned forward and pressed my lips to hers in my second attempt. It was all so sudden. Our heads were at a perfect angle, and when they met, we snapped together like? w-well, the button on a pair of jeans!

?It was? the m-most exhilarating thing I?d ever experienced. I?ve been caught in gunfights, lived out part of my existence in a spiritual planes, jumped through several realms and traveled briefly through time. I?ve fallen in love once or twice before, and even been electrocuted when tearing apart plastic shielding and trying to t-take a battery out of a disposable camera so I could power my music player. ?y-yeah, don?t ask about that one?

?T-This? T-This kiss that we shared was like all of that combined. The rush, the freedom, the pride and the happiness of all those experiences put down into one simple contact between our lips.

?A-And you know w-what, Mk. II? She? k-kissed back.

?She kissed me back!!

?I didn?t know what to do from there! It w-was... all such a rush. It happened so fast! I know we held the kiss for so long, I completely lost track of time once it broke. ?she completed me in that moment. It?s been over a year since I?ve felt this way?

?I?m? I?m so glad for it, Mk. II.?

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?T-The next thing that I knew, we w-were together. Not t-together like sitting around with one another, but together. A couple. Were a full-fledged couple now! We?re spending time together like you wouldn?t imagine, and I?m on the best h-high I?ve ever been on. M-My first high!

?We were in the Market and M-Martyr and I f-found a little jewelry store as we were strolling. I s-showed her what my f-favorite kind of stone is, a garnet, and also showed off this cute necklace that I thought would make a neat gift. ?s-she wound up getting it for me when I wasn?t looking. I?m w-wearing it right now! I-It?s the most adorable t-thing. I don?t n-normally like necklaces b-but I?m always wearing one or t-two that have been gifted.

?In this c-case, I have f-four on ri-right now. On-One?s my healing vial in c-case I need to re-recover, s-so I guess it?s really three. T-That one d-doesn?t count.

?If I ever g-get thrown in the w-water again, I?m n-not going to be able to even get saved. All this stuff is g-going to weigh me down!

?W-We went on and c-came across this s-strange little girl with a box. I-Inside was? a k-kitten. The girl said that her mom was making her get rid of a bunch of them. M-Maybe a litter that n-needed a home? There w-was only one left and Martyr was a-absolutely going crazy over th-this little guy.

?I o-offered we g-get it. It was a free adoption so lo-long as the people doing so were part of a loving family. M-Martyr and I? I l-like to think we?re al-already a loving family and willing to do w-whatever we need for not only one another, but any of our crazy love children we spawn!

?T-The girl said the kitten?s name is Ash, and we kept that.

?Now, in addition to l-learning about my d-dark s-secret, my weakness, my feelings for her, sharing our first kiss and her feelings for me in return? w-we also have a baby! C-Can you say wild?

?W-Wild?

?T-That wasn?t everything, either?

?Once we we-were at the inn, Martyr and I sat and talked for a little while about on another. Martyr only had a room at the inn, which made me a little uneasy. My protectiveness over her came flying into play and I instantly offered her my room here at the apartment. She was a little skeptical at first, I think, but she?d already been here once. I g-got the impression she really liked it.

?F-For now, this is where I?m hoping sh-she?ll stay. Here with me at my a-apartment. If she d-doesn?t like it after s-some time, I w-won?t hold it against her. I j-just hope? s-she?ll stay by my side. I already f-feel like s-she?s way too good for me, but I?m trying my best! I won?t let her down!

?Before Martyr left for work, she asked if I was willing to go somewhere with her during the evening hours. I didn?t really understand what she meant, but I agreed. Even in the first few hours of meeting my crazy girl, I knew I could trust her. B-Before she left, she gave me this sensitive look; one you really only see when a person may believe it?s the last thing they?ll ever say to you. And during that look, she told me the three most powerful words that I, still, get hard chills over: ?I love you?.

??I love you?!

?KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! Can you believe it!? I d-didn?t even prepare for that and s-she just came out and told me!

?I told her I love her too? I love her so much, my body feels like it's on fire every second I think of her, or am in her presence. I'm so crazy in love with her?

"Before I knew it, Martyr was heading out. Kyah? Put a bullet in m-me, I?m done. ?w-wait, don?t do that. ?t-that means you, too, Tracy. I?m allowed to gush here.

?It was one of the first times I had to spend an excess period of time away from her. I thought I was going to get sick the second I saw her walk out the door. I d-don?t know if I?m built to be apart from her for very long. I t-think that?s something I have to a-adapt to.

?I m-mean, I have to try to adapt to. If not, I may just fall over. H-How would that e-even look on a tombstone?? ?Here lies Mayu: Fell over and busted her head because she?s stupid? ?j-jeez, what a mean grave man??

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?I was outdoors most of the evening while Martyr was gone. It?s been getting a lot cooler this past week and I?ve been enjoying it as much as possible. Even though Fall is around the corner, that doesn?t stop the ninety-degree weather from showing up anyway.

?Martyr?s such a cute bundle of energy nearly all the time. She hurried into the inn while I was on the porch swing, missing me by just a little. I followed after her and we g-got all reacquainted with one another.

?When I said that I felt sick when I saw her leave? It? It wasn?t just some strange thing that came over me. I wasn?t making it up. I felt dreadful the entire time we were apart. I couldn?t breathe right and my stomach kept turning over itself, like I needed to throw up constantly. B-But the moment I even thought I saw her on the street, that feeling was gone. Instantly.

?Once I managed to actually be in her hold and get the opportunity to feel our b-b-bodies meet? Not only did I feel better, I felt like the most amazing, luckiest person on the planet! I? I d-don?t even know how to say that better? It doesn?t do my good feelings any bit of justice.

?W-What Martyr mentioned she wanted to do earlier w-was take me out somewhere special, s-so we q-quickly left the inn and got on our way. She w-wanted me to c-close my eyes as w-we got closer to the de-destination. ?t-that?s always a danger with me. I c-can barely walk with my eyes open. I?ve fallen and nearly broken my face more times than I can count just getting out of bed and going to the bathroom, or when going down stairs, or walking across flat, smooth surfaces? ngh, I s-shouldn?t have said that. I?m going to edit that part out. ?w-where?s the edit button on this thing??

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?I went on a date!

?Martyr had me cover my eyes as she took me. S-She had a candle lit dinner p-prepared in a dim setting, a fully cooker dinner and set table? t-the whole thing was set up like a perfect romantic evening that you normally only see on television. I was totally at a loss of words. N-Not a single person has done anything like that for me be-before?

?N-Nobody?s really given me much of anything, honestly. Most of the time, I get a pat on the h-head, or a simple present that?s supposed to tell me how a person feels. A-And as much as I appreciate dust sweepers or a cheesy card that tells me how roses and violets are different colors and monkey?s poo in shoes, it?s just not the same thing.

?M-Martyr? r-really went the full mile for me here. A mile I c-couldn?t even begin to consider how to repay.

?This g-girl is so out of t-this world, I c-can?t even explain it. I?m a-addicted to her. I n-need more of her even when we?re spending every w-waking minute together.

?What started as a quiet, relaxing, romantic dinner quickly grew into one of the most intimate experiences of my life.

?We di-discussed a little bit about Ausha, the person that is inside of her? Is? t-the voice inside of her?? I s-seem to have this habit of meeting people who have one of those. A-Anyway, Martyr wanted to ensure I understand that Ausha tends to be a little rude a-and? I g-guess come out when things are dangerous. If something threatens Martyr? m-maybe others that Martyr or Ausha feel particularly protective of??? she gets scary.

?I?m not sure if Martyr just wanted to ensure I not g-get scared and run away if she starts talking differently or a-acting funny, or if she wanted to more formally introduce me to Ausha. Regardless, Martyr said Ausha is very fond of me. M-Maybe not like Martyr is, but enough so that she helped my beautiful flower put everything together.

?T-They?re both fantastic. And I love e-everything there is to know about her.

?My anata, my everything.

?We c-concluded the d-date with a tickle fight. I was over on her lap after we finished eating, which she wound up cooking a Western dinner. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and corn? S-She was afraid I wouldn?t like her c-cooking but she?s actually pretty good if I do say so myself! I know, I?m the girlfriend, I?m supposed to say that. B-But I?m not! I loved it! Just as much as I love her.

?She won the tickle fight, by the way. ?l-let?s just say all she really did is win the battle, not the war. I wont that b-because of the l-little dance I c-came up with. Who knew that?d work so well!?

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?F-For now, I think I will conclude the first part of this log. T-There is still much to tell you that has gone on between us, but I am exhausted. B-Because of her blood, my h-heart do-doesn?t require the nanomachine?s schedule, which means I?m able to fall asleep just about whenever I want to.

?I-It?s really en-enjoyable to watch the sun rise with somebody you love right there with you. I? I might take Martyr to the roof in the next couple of days and share a truly intimate moment with her in each other?s arms.

?Until next time, Mk. II. Tsuzuki Mayu, signing out!?

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September 28th
9:09 AM

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?Hello, Mk. II. Pleasant morning to you, I hope.

?I do not feel like talking very much, but because I have not spoken to you in a while, it is important I try to do at least a little update to keep you informed.

?I injured myself not too long ago trying to restore sis?s vision. I can tell you that it is not caused by an injury, so I am unable to restore it. I do not know what is wrong. I will tell you more the second I am able to learn what is going on.

?My spiritual essence, I believe, tried to escape through my body when invoking too much of its energies in my healing attempt. This murky white thing snapped out of my arms. When I felt it, I knew right then that my spirit was trying to escape this body.

?I do not know what could happen should it actually escape. I do not remember much when I was the Shrine Maiden of Shamanista; only what Tracy was willing to bring to light from my spiritual memories.

?I might? I might break if I leave this body. If I do, will I? disappear? What would Martyr do if I? disappeared?

?The important factor right now, and the thing that is making it hard to breathe at the moment is Martyr. She?s taken a leave of absence to return to her village. I feel? hollow on the inside while she?s back taking care of what she has to. I believe she?s attempting to learn more about her abilities, or learning more about her past? she?s trying to become better to protect me better, I think. And I appreciate all her hard work, j-just?

?I feel so drained. Like there was a torch in my body while she was here, and while she?s gone, that torch is dim and threatening to go out if I even consider breathing the wrong way.

?Do you think it?s related to that thing where I can always feel her around me? Do you think? her being away from me is capable of actually hurting me? I don?t mean in the regards of missing her so strongly that I?m sad, or something. This is? deeper than that.

?Like, she?s a fuel that powers me now. ?I started feeling like this when I was drinking her blood. When I was? consuming her like that. The closer we got to each other, the more powerful I felt. Now I?

??I think I might break??

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?She said she?d only be gone for a little while. This won?t be like Evelyn. Martyr won?t leave me. And anybody that thinks otherwise is just silly. We?ve already have a wonderful chat concerning what she?s doing. She promised she?ll be back to be by my side. Until then? I?m supposed to keep myself hidden and not let anybody find me.

?I don?t think that means my friends and family, but? I don?t feel right going outside. Until Martyr can be by my side, I think it?s safer just to remain tucked away.

?If something were to happen to me while Martyr was gone? she wouldn?t forgive herself. She?d hurt herself trying to hurt the people who hurt me.

?Even if she can?t be hurt, she?ll be hurting herself because I?ll be hurting that she?s hurting others for hurting me?

??ow. Now my brain is hurting for saying ?hurting? too much. ?g-gyah! Stop!

?As Martyr?s Little Warrior, it is important I keep myself fit, trained, and ready to go the second she returns. We will be a spotlight the second she?s here, like we?ve been.

?Look forward to us being together and chatting with you, Mk. II. The first thing I intend to do is show her you and ask her to talk to you like I have been. She can hear what I?ve said about her? and then I can keep something of hers when she has to go like this.

??I miss her voice, Mk. II. I miss smelling her, feeling her, kissing her? I?m so crazy about her.

?Nyaaa? I love you, Martyr Tsuzuki. With everything I am.?

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?Maybe I?ll take her to some kind of fancy hotel once she?s here. I have heard of a few. There?s one in a city not too far away from here. With a neat little bar in the lobby. There?s all kinds of cool little clubs there, too, I remember. I think one was called ?Afterlife?, and it has this amazing park! I don?t like w-water, but? I know it has a big lake, too.

?Maybe she?d like to take a little time away, just us? ?oh, who am I kidding, we?re always alone together. We only show our faces every now and again just to get ourselves moving. Otherwise, we?re liable to stay in my apartment soooo much.

?We?re just c-cute like that??

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?I?m off, Mk. II. There?s plenty of things I have to get ready for. Like? not going out! I?ll be in bed with a new light novel.

?You keep yourself safe until my next update. Thank you!

?Tsuzuki Mayu, siiiigning out!?

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November 19th
4:34 AM

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?Nm, it?s pretty late, Mk. II. I?m not used to talking to you at this hour like I once was.

?I promised to keep up with you like I always do, and yet here I am, once again telling you how I didn?t do that when it?s very obvious. Things have been extremely? busy. And? different.

?It?s been so long now, I don?t even know where to begin to tell you what?s been going on. That?s like asking me to recite what happened throughout some movie, only to discover that a monkey broke into the film room and peed on all the machinery. ?stupid monkeys?

?Nn? I don?t know what I?m thinking, right now. I feel messed up and? and I don?t know??

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?I met a nice person a few nights ago. She?s one of Toby?s acquaintances. Her name is Minoko, but I like to call her Princess Minoko because her name reminds me of a character from a show back home. Her name is Princess Venus. Real alias: Minako Aino. Minoko is from Earth, just like me, only around some 700 years ago. She lived during the time the Mongols attempted to invade Japan and were repelled by what we call kamikaze, or, ?Divine Wind?. A typhoon stopped the assault and pretty much ended the whole invasion right then and there. I don?t know if all 140,000 something crazies were actually killed, but?

?Anyway, Minoko is a really wonderful person. I?ve been spending an awful lot of time with her these past few nights, just trying to learn what I can about her. She?s insanely pretty, for starters. To the point that I have to wonder how she?s not constantly surrounded by a bunch of guys out to try and date her. ?not that I?m really interested in seeing that, now. Tough cookies for them. I?m going to date her myself!

?She knows a lot about modern day Japan. Maybe modern day Earth? She knows about video games, sort of, like Tetris. Which? she calls Teetris. It was really adorable to hear it the first time. She likes all kinds of pink things? the kimono I?ve always seen her in is this pretty pink color with sakura petals. And? Hello Kitty. She?s crazy about Hello Kitty. Pink Hello Kitty. I don?t know that Kitty White would like to be pink, though! Earlier today, after we went to lunch (when I punched her in the face? don?t ask!), she wanted to go shop for Hello Kitty gear. I got her this really large Hello Kitty head and? and? w-what I think is a neck massager. It looks like a really large, ornate pen with Kitty White?s head on the top. It vibrates r-really fast and? has a few different settings. I thought it was a hand massager, at first, but I?ve concluded that it must be for the neck. That, or it?s an odd pen with a vibrating setting. I don?t see how you write with it? I?m going to give it to her tomorrow, or in the next few days when I see her.

?She owns an inn, or works at one with some family? and when I took her home the other night, she showed it to me briefly. She mentioned it being pretty busy during the evenings, but I think I showed up when it all quiet. It?s beautiful! I?m always so envious to see how far people come with their lives. The way they can just rise up and run a business of some sort? I can barely get out of bed and do general things with myself some of the time. I feel so? small. At least, in comparison to somebody like Princess Minoko.

?I learned that she?s really just a standard human. She doesn?t own any special powers, which is also how I wound up punching her in the face by mistake? Okay, so it was more like a brushing of knuckles, and I ended up holding her face more than I did anything else. ?warm? e-eh?! I m-mean! Sh-She wasn?t hurt or anything! I banged my knee up r-really bad afterwards, w-which was worse than what I?d done to her! It was? was? ngh?

?It was embarrassing?

?I?m a little curious about her in all kinds of different ways, now. She?s very? she?s very tender and warmhearted, thinking of others at nearly every turn. She was upset to see that I?ve been hurt off and on during my time here. She said she?d be willing to step in and stop whatever might be happening to me. I? I think I got too excited when she said that. I didn?t want to show it, but? y-yeah? She also asked me about Toby and why he seems so down recently. It was? random, actually, but? nice to see that she was quick to notice something was wrong with somebody and wanted to know what was going on so they might be able to help in some way.

?I got the impression that she might? like him. I don?t know if that?s really true, or not. I hope not. I?d want her to like m-- ?a-ah? I mean?

??kuso? wh-where?s the delete button on this stupid thing??

Snap. Snap. Pop.

?I don?t think it has one? a-ah! A-Anyway! I? I w-was thinking of asking her if she wanted to come by the church later on. I believe she?s got? a d-decent amount of training as a warrior, which leads me to being curious as to what she?s capable of. At the church, I c-could potentially get a glance at her abilities without hurting myself in the process. I?m not a strong sparring partner, but I c-can probably put up a s-somewhat d-decent fight, don?t you think? One way to find out!

?I still have to practice training and conditioning, anyway?

?A-Ah, anyway. So, that?s Princess Minoko for you. We?ve become fairly close friends in the short amount of time. She?s expressed how she?s been enjoying Toby and my company. And, I have to say, I?ve been enjoying hers, as well. I?ve already blabbed a ton to Toby about her, and have been looking for all kinds of ways to hang out with her more. We?ve both a somewhat busy schedule, what with all those documents that Aneira dropped from on the Congregation and Minoko?s inn. ?I think that?s what she does, anyway? I didn?t really get a chance to ask her, yet! I have to come up with a list!

?Hee?!?

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?I?m not sure what I?m doing with my day. Maybe I?ll head out. B-But first, I so need to lie down. After my day with Princess Minoko, I need to stretch out?

?A-And, you know? I?ve always wanted to be a Sailor. They had a hard life, but they were always fighting evil by moonlight and winning love by daylight. I think I could do that, if only I?d stop running from all the real fights. ?that, and I don?t think I could call myself Sailor Moon.

??or, could I??

?Tsuzuki Mayu, siiiiigning out!?

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February 14th
9:14 AM

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?Hm? looks like the batteries are still good?

?Oh, you?re already on! Hello, Mk. II.

?There?s been an awful lot that?s happened since I last spoke to you. No, I didn?t do anything drastic. ?really!

?I was captured for a little while? Um. It?s kind of a long story?

?You know a-about what happened with Martyr, right? How I had to? well, eat her soul? To save her? There?s been? a lot of complications with that recently. By a lot, I mean? ah? well, more than I even am aware of. I thought with the change in my eyes, that would be it. It? seems to have gone a lot deeper than that?

?For a little while, after I? ah? did that to her soul, I was really feeling upset. Too upset. And I kept telling myself, ?It?s okay to be upset. Just don?t show it to other people. Nobody needs to see you upset. Nobody needs to know anything?. Because, around here, what is your business isn?t really your business. I g-guess it?s the same as back home? something happens, people talk. People talk without knowing any of the facts, and? things just get mixed up. Nobody actually takes the time to talk to you about it, or learn about things themselves. In a sense, it?s natural, I guess. I just? I don?t want people to get the wrong idea, or think things they shouldn?t. I can?t help it, really? but the less people have to make assumptions off of, the better, right?

?But? maybe it?s better that I say things. Tell somebody how I?ve been feeling about all of this? Other than you. Don?t get me wrong. I really like talking to you, Mk. II. You always listen, and always remember what I say. You don?t judge. ?but, you?re a machine. You can?t. It?s kind of silly, huh? That?s all I am, I guess.

?Silly.

?I can?t deny that what happened was horrible. It?s been months, and I?m still feeling horrible about it all. I know her heart is beating in my chest the same my own is. I know my thoughts are sometimes not my own. And I know that I have impulses that aren?t natural. Things that aren?t just me. I feel like I?m always pulled two different directions, and to have two kinds of feelings about everything. If somebody asks if I want fries with that, I want to say no. Then I?m like, ?Oh sh--- FRIES!~? ?what the heck is that?

?We both know what it is. It?s? It?s Martyr. It?s? all her.

?I told Toby the other night that? I?m scared about this whole thing. Because it?s been getting worse. Much worse?

?After I ate her soul, I? I found myself wanting to do it again. Do it to others. I wanted to eat them. Wanted them inside of me. I don?t know if I just wanted to taste it again, or if I wanted to eat something else in order to drown out what I had done? whatever it was, I couldn?t shake it. I needed more. And so? I tried to kill Toby and Minoko. I tried to rip their souls from their bodies and do the very same thing I never wanted to do in the very first place.

?Thankfully, something stopped that from happening and they only got mixed up in each other?s bodies. If Tracy and Emma didn?t wind up finding me when they did, I don?t know what would have happened with everybody? But? as a result, I wound up getting myself in trouble. A guy from the Congregation--somebody who works in the Soul Weapon Handler Institute--was sent out to investigate the incident shortly after it happened. He, along with Sigurd, a stupid butthead mean-face that I was briefly partnered up with when I first joined the Exorcists, found out that I was the culprit in the? disturbance of Soul Force? Or something? a-anyway, they were ordered to bring me in once I was coherent enough to actually speak.

??Tracy managed to fend them off for the time being. But. What am I supposed to do? I know I should probably go in with them and atone for my crimes. ?if I do, though? I know they?ll just experiment on me like they did when they forced my Remnants into my body? I mean, because of what I did, my eyes have changed colors. They?ll find that out just with a glance. Then, they?ll start to poke around and realize my body?s? m-m? kind of metal-ly?

?The kind of metal that Martyr?s had when she?

??when she was becoming my weapon?

?I haven?t really seen anything happen, yet. I haven?t transformed into some kind of sword, or something. Martyr c-couldn?t, either, though? It just happened at random, and I was learning how to become her Handler and? handle it. Together, we were able to begin understanding how to get her to transform back and forth.

?If I somehow became a sword? wh-what would? how would that work? What would happen to me? Could I even get back? I don?t have a Handler?

?Maybe that?s why Evan and Sigurd were intent on bringing me in. I know they?ll want to question me and they?ll probably cast some kind of judgment on me? I mean, from everything I learned when I was beginning my training, you do not eat the souls of other people. For any reason. I broke that rule? I? did it without thinking. I g-guess that?s how a lot of crimes happen, though, huh??

?Crimes? ?does that mean I?m? I?m a criminal?

?I don?t know what I?m supposed to do, Mk. II. I don?t know what to do with any of this.

?On top of my eyes changing and my body feeling more metallic, I seem to have taken up the ability to just? heal. If I hurt myself somehow, I?m healing before I realize it. It?s not like I stub my toe and don?t feel it. I have to bleed. But if I do? ?it?s just like her. Everything?s just like her. Do you think I?m becoming her? Taking on everything? What if I start taking on her memories? If I take on her appearance!? ?I was going to look at myself in the mirror, but Toby hurried out my apartment with the one I had in the bathroom. He said that there was some kind of crack in it, and I had to wait until I could get it back.

?Maybe he just wanted to go repair it. I guess that?s? sweet of him.

??oh, that?s silly. How could I just become her? These changes? they?re just temporary. A shift because I took somebody?s soul. Who?s ever become somebody else entirely just because of that??

?? ? I wish she?d talk to me. Tell me that everything will be okay. That everything will work out and to just have faith in the two of us. It was something she was extremely good at. It was the first major thing that made me fall for her like I did.

?And, for that reason alone, is why I?ll never truly be with another ever again. I know I was blabbing a lot about Princess Minoko. But, you know?? After that soul thing happened, I was doing a lot of weird stuff. I was craving souls, wanting to taste blood on my tongue, and? I really had a drive to rip people apart from the inside out. Heck, I almost did.

??she?s nice and all. And if she suddenly changed her preferences, I?m sure I?d be flattered. But?

?I don?t want anybody. Martyr was it for me. She was everything I had and everything I needed. With her inside of me like she is? I never need another ever again. My heart is? quite literally fused with the one for me. My original statement to Mr. Tape Player was that I wasn?t looking for love, and I never wanted it. I broke that statement because of my inability to steel myself. It wasn?t an expectation because nobody?s really wanted me for any reason or another. Not growing up. Not today. But now?

?Now I have what many can?t ever find. And it?ll always be right here with me. Even if I can?t hear her. Or feel her. Or know what she?s thinking? I?ll know that she?s here. With me. And together, we can do anything!

??once I get over freaking out about turning into some kind of weapon that I won?t be able to transform back from.

?The worst that?s happened up until now has been my arms looking like two flag poles. They shine like polished railings, and they?re so hard, I?ve been able to hit things without feeling it. I went out the other day and ran into a fence without even realizing it. I just suddenly stopped moving. My arm was caught in the wood and I had to pull really hard to get it out. ?don?t ask.

?But, s-seriously? I didn?t feel it. Thankfully, the metal hasn?t been going anywhere else. And, from what I could see in the past, Martyr only had her arms start transforming on her like this. That was all that happened before she became a sword for me to wield. I guess? if I?m not careful or attentive to these changes, it could happen?

??nmh? t-this is why I sometimes wonder what she?d tell me. Would she tell me how to fix it? How to deal with it? No. She wouldn?t do anything like that. She would have embraced me, soothed me, and constantly tell me how everything will be just fine.

??yeah. Everything will be fine. That?s it?

?The only thing I have to worry about, then, is? Sigurd and Evan. I haven?t heard from Tracy since Toby and Minoko broke me out from where they were keeping me. If that?s the case, she must have the situation under control. For how long, though, I? ?that?s the scary part about all this. I just don?t know what?s going on. Why I?m still feeling like I need to eat a vast amount of human souls, what?s going on with me and Martyr becoming a combination of ourselves, what?s going on with the people hunting me down intent on arresting me and bringing me in for experimentation and isolation, with my friends and how they feel about me trying to kill them?

??with anything?

?And it?s scaring me to death??

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March 19th
8:17 AM

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?Mk. II

?You know, I?ve realized something about people. Myself included.

?They really can surprise you. For the better, for the worse. The point is, they can surprise you, and I?m very grateful for the chances I?m allowed, at times. I know nobody ever has to offer them, or turn back the hands of time and say something different than what they originally did. But, when they do? When they actually take the time out to get to know somebody other than what they?ve heard or what they?ve just thought without doing any research? It makes me? appreciate them. Like they?re something that?s more than just a friend, even if they?ve not quite reached that benchmark.

?It?s hard to describe. I just know that? people can be surprising, and when they surprise you, you take notice very easily. I guess I have Jinx to thank for that one.?

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?I met a serpent the other night. I know it?s not the alligator that I originally spoke of to Mr. Tape Player, and I?m still on that search, but he is very courteous all the very same. His name is Ss? s? sl? sl? Well, I t-told him I didn?t quite have the ability to say it then, either. It starts with an S, and has all the usual consonants I can?t really sling together like a conversational wizard. ?God, Sensei would be very displeased to know I haven?t progressed very much in my English. I guess it?s good she cannot see or hear me use it today.

?I actually ran into him, if you can believe it, because I saw him speaking with Leoni. The same woman that was very intent on eating my wife? Who?s, you know, inside me right now? I?m thankful she doesn?t know that part, seeing how she really wanted Martyr?s powers. However, my work is anywhere but done, seeing how I feel a certain indebtedness to others when it comes to how the woman likes to? chow down?? I overheard some business about her looking for a husband, and poor Ssss? a-ah? poor S got targeted at some point.

?Once she departed, and the rest of his company was absent, I made certain to let him know about a vague amount of our history together. By definition, my history with her seems to be how much of her history with others go. I felt much better informing him of what I understood about her, which he seemed very grateful to hear. Something about how well it speaks for my character to caution a complete stranger? I? know those words mean well, but I don?t want any compliments like that. I just don?t want to see somebody injured when I could have done something to stop it. Even if I?m? not some flawless saint, I know I can help people. I always want to help others.

?I did decide to return to the inn after a few nights to check in and see how things had been progressing. I?m a little fuzzy on the details, but they were still talking to one another, which is something I found highly amusing. If Leoni is any bit serious about chasing S down for, you know, what she generally seeks to find, I can only imagine it ending in horror. It?s probably not any surprise that S wound up taking a really large bite out of her after some time. I think there was something wrong with the drink she prepared him?

?Since he seemed to have everything well under control, and I really have no sympathy when it comes to somebody who was intent on trying to murder my wife, I let him have her. Not because I?m eagerly looking for her own blood to be spilt, but because? part of me thinks she deserves to be abused. Just a little bit. The other half of it is? S, actually. There?s something about him, something he said that makes me feel? secure in the fact that he wouldn?t actually tear her open unless it?s entirely in self-defense.

?It?s not so much his appearance that makes me think that. In fact, if I had to judge him by appearance, I?m pretty certain I?d think him no different than that pet cobra Wakana?s friend had. The one that got loose and ate half a desk? Only, in S?s case, I think he?d be able to eat half the inn. The building, I mean.

?No. It?s what he said that makes me feel like he?s? not quite the monster that you would want to assume he is. To be fair, had I assumed him anything of the sort, I probably wouldn?t have approached him in the first place. But? ?Monster?? I don?t even know if that?s the right thing to say. I mean, he?s not a lamia. If I understand my monster lore, lamia are always female. But?

??Monster? insinuates he?s just this? evil thing that slithers out of the dark in your dreams and eats you. I don?t r-really know what?s the best thing to call him. I don?t mean it in a bad or disgusting way. And, for all I know, calling him a ?person? could be very insulting. Like I don?t see him for what he is and just want to make him out like he?s one of us.

?I guess I?m over thinking this. Again. S is a very cool monster, and I hope I have the chance to talk to him some more. I think my most recent craze is wanting to meet monsters. You know, slime girls, harpies, even a lamia. I?ve never really had the opportunity to get involved with a monster before, and I think it could be a very rewarding experience. For both of us!?

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?I mentioned Jinx earlier. When I came in to speak with S just yesterday, he came over to apologize about the whole debacle that happened a while back between us. It was the last time Katt and I even spoke to one another. I never really felt anything awful about Jinx. As far as I?m aware, he was just protecting one of his friends. I mean, we all do that, right? But? he said he was starting to become a horrible little pixie, or something, and that he doesn?t want to be like that. I told him not to worry about it, and we got to talking for a while. He?s very pleasant company, and I?ll always look forward to seeing him around. I?m glad we managed to get something patched up. I didn?t really say it at the time, but it?d been eating at me for a few weeks after the whole incident happened. This is a burden off my shoulders, for certain. I?m glad it worked out like it did!

?While I was speaking with him, I also met a little? creature by the name of Fae. She?s also very pleasant company, even if I didn?t get a chance to directly interact with her, just us. She seems to like hair as much as I do, and we saw this guy, Ortnim? Who was wearing a silk sheet for clothing?

??um. R-Right, Ortnim has a lot of hair?

??yeah. So! I think we?re both feeling a little sheepish about our own hair when comparing it to his. Crazy, crazy long, pure white, like snow, and? it?s just? it?s just perfect.

?I?d use it as a blanket if I had to.

??nnn? why would I even say something like that???

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?I also met a woman named Thorn. She?s apparently a really good cook. I?ll have to remember to ask her what kind of foods she knows how to make, and if she?s familiar with any traditional Japanese dishes. Not just sushi, of course. That?s kind of simple, in the scheme of things.

?Maybe she?ll be able to arrange something with me, if she can. Having traditional meals outside of going to Ichiraku?s all the time would be wonderful. I haven?t had a really good home meal like I did back at Fuka in? ages.

?There was? let?s see? Vera and Kai, who I didn?t get to speak to at all, but it was pleasant to know their names and put a face with them, since I?ve seen them around off and on for quite a while. And? there were a few other people, but I never actually got to know any of their names.

?I had a really good day yesterday, which I am very thankful for. I hope I may have more today, and in the near future.

?Until then, Mk. II, I should be off. I have to finish preparing for my mission. Conrad didn?t specify a time, but I think he?d prefer it if I left the city as soon as I can to prevent being seen or caught. With my being seen in the inn as often as I have been, it?s probably a risk.

?A worthy risk, but a risk?

?Tsuzuki Mayu, signing out!?

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March 27th
1:41 PM

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?Hellllllllo, Mk. II?

?Oh, it?s been a wonderful few days so far. Everything?s been? much different than I anticipated. And I really owe it all to Saffron.

?Since we got together the other day, we haven?t really spent any time apart. We?re always? well? we?re always doing something. She really is terrific. Very attentive and affectionate. And? and? very special.

?The way she lights up when we?re doing something, the way she?s like fire when we?re touching, the cute little barks an? yelps?

?I told myself I wouldn?t get involved with anything or anybody. I was done with? that whole thing. I told several people, too. I?m just? I?m just not cut out to be somebody?s. I always manage to mess something up, or they always have to go away. I get so invested and interested to the point that, the moment something happens, it hurts beyond belief. But, if I really do commit to something like that, could I ever really just be happy?

?Happy like Saffron?s making me now?

?I don?t think I could. I?m not that self-sufficient. And, besides? it only has to happen once. Find that person who?ll always be there with you? That makes you know each waking day isn?t going to be a terrible wreck because, no matter what, they?re in your life at the end of it.

?All I really know right now is that I found somebody that?s making me happier than I?ve been for? a long while. I can be myself with her. I don?t have to hide anything, I don?t have to feel ashamed of myself. I don?t have to hate myself, or feel like I?m something I?m not. I can just? hold her, be held, kiss her, be kissed, and smile like I?ve never smiled before. Genuinely. The last time I did that was? almost two years ago.

?Do you know what it feels like to smile because you want to and not because you think it?s the right thing to do? Do you know what it feels like to laugh because somebody makes you feel good about yourself, and not because you?re afraid you?ll hurt someone?s feelings by not? What it means to let yourself go, and just? live?

?I? never really did. I?m always worried that if I don?t do something the way other people want, I?ll hurt them. I don?t want to upset anyone, ever? but, then, I never have a chance to do something for myself.

?Sometimes, that hurts even more.

?I want to be with her. I want what bond we?ve developed to be expanded, and always have her to come back to, should we ever need to be separated for one reason or another.

?I? don?t know that I can have it any other way, now. Not after I?ve held her, and felt her lips on mine. Not after I?ve been looked at in a way that makes me feel like I could break into a thousand pieces and giggle uncontrollably. Not after?

??everything.

?I? she told me she was glad to find me. I told her I was glad to find her. I also told her that I didn?t want to not find her again. It?s? a start. A wonderful start that makes my heart beat super hard in my chest. I think it wants to hop out and latch onto Saffron's and never let go.

?I don?t know, Mk. II. I? I can be confident because of her. Everything we?ve shared together up until now proves that. Just looking at her, I know how she feels about me. The moments where we?re just staring in each other?s eyes? everything?s so clear to me.

?And, in those moments, I feel myself wanting to say all kinds of things to her. Things? I only know to say when I can?t exactly express what I want to?

??I really like her, Mk. II?

??Eee! Ihavetogonowdon?tsayanythingbeforeIdookay?Okaybye! ?

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April 11th
5:21 AM

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"I? I don?t even know.

?This whole? striving to protect people from other?s and themselves? I don?t really think I?m cut out for that, anymore.

?I have the ability, but? people have to want to be helped, right? And they always want to go to other people for help, not you.

?I could have easily been the one to oversee some kind of training. I have spiritual understanding, after all. But that didn?t seem important or anything? Not only that, it quickly cut off the opportunity for me to see what?s going on with my own eyes.

?Then when I talked about it with someone, I realized other things that could be at fault. I worried about those factors, realized the greater potential threat? but, again, that didn?t exactly seem important.

?I mean, if it did, people would have progressed conversation instead of just shrugged it off.

?I remember when I first came to this city. I was quiet, nobody really bothered me with anything. I could just live a life and? you know, everyone went their separate ways. That was settling, in a sense.

?I?m pretty sure? I?m just going to go back down that road. I can talk with Safsune whenever I need to. She?ll listen to me. But, everyone else? It?s not like they?re chasing me down and asking for me, anyway. What difference could it make?

?At least nobody will be frustrated anymore. Not others, definitely not me. ?win/win?

?Yeah. That doesn?t sound too bad??

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April 15th
3:16 AM

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"Hello, Mk. II!

"Last night was Toby's birthday. Because I couldn't see him early in the day, I asked him at the church the other night if he would like to meet up with me at a new place we've been spending lots of time at called, 'Tea House Shanghai'. It's a cafe in a little remote part of the city. Very nice place, even if one of the waitresses is a little weird. Her name is Yuuko, and from what I can tell, she's also a librarian. She really likes history. ...but, yeah.

"I ordered a parfait for him, which was better than the cake I was thinking of getting. They didn't have a big one for him and only ordered by the slice. It cost more to get two than just the parfait, so I thought it would be all right. He didn't seem to mind it, even though he just stirred it around for the most part.

"At first, we talked about birthdays in general. I didn't think he would want something fancy, but every other birthday of his in the past, it's been really extravagant. You know, lots of people, cake... a party, of some kind. This was the first year that he didn't have anything special like that and I felt a little bad. I think it was my responsibility to get it all together and I just... didn't.

"He didn't want it, though. He said he was all right with it being just the two of us. I... guess that's something. I don't always feel right when he says that he's happy when it's just us, but he does smile a lot and seems to joke around a lot more than I'm used to. He's a little different when it's he and I alone somewhere. To the point that I think he's a completely different person. Not in a bad way. Just... different.

"He asked me about my birthday and if I was ready to do something special for it this year. He already knows that I don't... I don't really like celebrating my birthday. In fact... ... no. It's just... I still can't talk about birthday stuff. It's just easier to say that I would prefer if it went by just about as silently as possible. A person or two special to me, sure, I can like that. Katt and Toby and I used to do that.

"I would get dressed up and go somewhere small to just hang out. It was... really nice, to be honest. Even if things got wonky, it was... nice.

"From the way things were in the past, I think Toby believes that my birthday has a stigma tied to it. I don't think we've had a nice one since I've come here. It always has something really depressing happen during the event.

"Today, I... sort of wish it was like before. Back when I first met them. It was a lot of fun when it was just the three of us doing something really quaint. It wasn't over the top, nobody really knew what was going on.

"It's pretty silly to go and start thinking about that now. There's really nothing that can be done about it. Everyone's made their peace with all of that. I have, too."

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"We got started on a subject that I was a little... unprepared for. I didn't exactly know what to say, and right now, I don't even know if I want to repeat any of it. It wasn't bad, per se, but I didn't know what to make of it all. After we discussed the simplicity of his birthday, he asked me if I thought he needed fancy or interesting things. He's always happy when everything is simple, so I always try to think of things that are, you know, simple.

"But I told him that, so long as he's happy, that's what matters. I used to get him old hoodies for his birthday. There's nothing fancy about that!! What's really silly about it? They used to be my sweaters. Stuff he couldn't even wear. I did it as a joke, but after the first two years, I realize that he... kind of likes getting them. For some reason. He still has them somewhere, and I think they're still in the same boxes, too.

"He came back and told me that he could always ask for something. ...which, I guess he could. I mean, everybody can ask for anything, right? It's just a matter on if you'll get somebody willing to give you what you're asking for.

"So, naturally, I told him that if he wanted something special, I'd have to charge him!

"...he seemed all right by that.

"He said, whatever it he might be asking of me, it was something I've already given him. Which... thinking about it, I've given him a lot of stuff. I gave him that dinky knife a while back. My hoodies, a blanket, a bunch of bracelets, I think I might've given him a stuffed animal, scarves, and... well, there's been a lot of stuff.

"I kept asked him what it was he wanted, and he... well, he didn't tell me. He just said that it was stupid and not to worry about it. He always tells me that when he realizes he's saying something he'd prefer to back out of. Like, maybe I was reacting a specific way that told him not to go through with it. I adopted that method of communication! It's not hard to see...

"Now all I can do is sit here and wonder what it is he wanted. Maybe I'll ask him again when I see him. If there are a bunch of people around, I'll just pull him to the side or something. I keep sitting here thinking that, if this was me wanting something special, he would probably do what he could to make it happen. Like, if I wanted a new pair of shoes, or those really cool socks with the toes, or a walrus that can fly.

"He'd do it.

"I don't really know why he would, but... he's always reminding me about those kind of things. Good on him. I guess?"

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"I met up with Saffron after Toby's birthday thing, and I wanted to talk to her more about our future. We've been together for three weeks now, and it's reaching to point where we should see where our relationship is going!

"I actually talked with her about it a little while ago. Maybe a week or so ago? But, when I talk to her then, it was more along the lines of just ensuring that we were in a relationship. That we were together, exclusive, just us, all of that!

"Now... it's being serious about us. Figure out just how serious I'm supposed to be. Especially because, and you know this Mk. II, I wasn't really expecting to get myself involved with anybody else. Not for a very long time, if ever... I'm happy I am. Very happy. I'm just scared that I'm doing things I shouldn't, or...

"When I first met Martyr and got to be with her every night, it was something I hadn't really done in two years. I could come around late in the day, see her, and just sit around on the couch and talk to her. We were pretty inseparable. There was the occasion that she had to go work for the Clinic, or pick up a bunch of papers for Audrey, which... thinking on it now, am I supposed to be doing that...? I mean, I know Martyr did it around the clock, and now we're one person...kuso...

"A-Ah... anyway! Just... after the stuff with Martyr, I doubted myself. Could I keep somebody close to my heart protected? Could I ensure everything would be okay? I... know I'm more protective of Saffron because of what happened with Martyr.

"I've reached that point where, if our relationship is just a... physical thing... I'd like to know. I didn't want to get the wrong impression, hurt myself, her, or both of us. However, if we're giving it our all, I want to know we are so I can be invested and not feel like I'm overstepping my boundaries. I love her, after all. Very much.

"Saffron's... very serious about this relationship. I mean, serious!! Looking at the future, smiling at the idea that we'll be here with each other when we're creepy old and... creepy...

"I know. You can't predict the future and what may happen. But, at the same time, if you try hard enough... it's possible, I think. Right? Especially if you have a plan to do something like that!

"I'm naive to think that, huh? I hear somebody in my head telling me that right now. And I think Saffron said something to that extent, too. That we can't really tell what's going to happen in the future. But, if we take it a day at a time, and work toward what we want, it should be okay. It'll be more than okay.

"We don't... always talk a whole lot. Most of our time spent together is staring into each other's eyes, kissing, hugging, cuddling... stuff...

"And, while I'm okay with that, I guess it's because we haven't sat and talked a lot about some of this stuff that I... feel uncertain every now and again. But I know she's had a hard time with relationships in the past. Not much different from myself, when you get down to it.

"I think, then, that's a good sign. She knows what it feels like to have people get up and leave. Or have people... just... not be with you anymore. She knows the pain when you put your whole life into something and watch it slip between your fingers.

"Most importantly, though? She knows what it's like to look toward the future with another; no worries about the other person looking down on you or just laughing at you for feeling the way you do.

"We've spent a lot of time together. Not twenty four hours a day, but almost. She's been insistent that I move in with her. Insistent to the point that I couldn't contain my excitement at how certain she was of that.

"...and now, we're committed to something more than just serious. ...I... love her so much. I'm happy I was able to meet her when I did, and that... I think she was intent on meeting me at the same time. It felt right when we first talked. When we cuddled on the couch that night. ...I... could cry, actually. Happy tears! Super happy tears! The kind that doesn't make you want to vomi--!!! Uugh...

"...I th-think I'm too excited. ...I feel like I'm going to throw up. ...or poop my stomach out. ...uuuuu...

"O-Okay... I th-think I sh-should go... u-um...

"...yaaaay...!"

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May 1st
4:22 AM

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?♪♫ Happy Birthday to me? Happy Birthday to me? ♫♪

?Another year goes by, and? I guess I?m finally 20 years old?

?It?s a little weird to think about. Like I?ve suddenly entered some amazing new phase in my life? But?

?This is the day where Katt and Toby and I would be going somewhere just for us. This time? I don?t even think I?m going to hint at anything, suggest something, or even remind anybody. The only person that?s around to any extent that might even remember is Toby, and I haven?t told anybody recently what my birthday even is. It?s never really been a fabulous event in my life, even when I was younger.

?The only time I remember I was actually taken out was when I turned six years old. I don?t remember everything, but, we had gone to some playground thing. With the tubes and the slides and the colorful balls? My parents just? dropped me off there. Looking on it today, I think they just threw me off somewhere so they didn?t have to bother doing something for my birthday. Even now, I don?t think I would even think twice about it if it wasn?t for the small cupcake I was given while some lady sang me ?Happy Birthday?.

?At Fuka Academy, I only celebrated it quietly in my room. Wakana would come by every year and she and I would sit with my tea set. It? was a rather somber time. She always wanted to be out with the boys, and I always wanted her to come sit in my room with me. After the first year we became friends, she always made it a habit to come be there, even if I could see she didn?t want to. It was nice of her to do, but I never got over that feeling that I was just? burdening her.

?When I first started coming to RhyDin, it? didn?t really change. My first year involved Toby and Katt, and with their relationship the way it was, I? I?m pretty sure I was just in the way. It felt that way every year we did something, even if people were trying their best to keep the mood light and happy. I appreciate it, but it never? it never cleared the air. Like there was this big, fat elephant in the room with us.

?The year I met Evelyn, it was okay. We had that little gathering, and? things weren?t so bad? By then, though, I was already hoping birthdays weren?t something that needed to be celebrated. Last year, this year?

?I think it?ll be quiet. I?m hopeful.?

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?I found Toby earlier, and although I didn?t want to talk to him still, he introduced me to a blonde girl. Her name is Eri, and I guess he and she have been spending a little time together because she?s new in town. They met because she wanted him to go shopping for her since she doesn?t know where any places are, and he seemed to agree. Since she offered to pay him, I guess that was part of the influencing factor.

?She?s? nice. I mean, she?s very polite, she?s very charming, and friendly without question, but I? I think it?s the way she presents herself. If I had to guess, it?s because of her status. She?s a girl born into an extremely rich family. They? They always are a little different, like they don?t really communicate on a comfortable level.

?Her family? I didn?t really figure that part out. But she comes with a butler!

?She kind of reminds me of Marjorie, who is also from an extremely wealthy family. Marjorie kind of? partially? rejects her status, though. She?s not the black sheep, but I think if she had a choice, she would be.

?Eri definitely doesn?t reject any part of herself. Despite that, she? she?s very accommodating and doesn?t put emphasis on who she is or the differences between she and Toby and I, who? well, we?re not exactly from an endowed background.

?The people that I?ve had to serve at Royal Tea, who are all wealthy customers, they?re snobbish, they?re rude, they treat you like you?re less than a person, and don?t care if anything they say or do hurts you to any degree. They?re merciless!

?Eri breaks from that kind of stereotype. She doesn?t want to put anything in your face. She just? I can tell she?s surrounded by people of her kind all the time. The way she acts? you can see she does it because she has to. Like it?s some social thing.

?With a little time, I?m almost certain she will grow more comfortable around us! Maybe I can get her a little gift to show her that I think she?s very kind? It could help break the ice a little more than it already has.

?Her butler?s name is Mortimer, and she?s always being chauffeured in some four door car. I haven?t seen many cars around these parts, so that was actually a big surprise! Before she left, she offered to take me out tomorrow if I needed something, just so I could ride. I told her I?d go!

?I?m a little excited. I hope not being in a car for so long doesn?t make me sick? I get motion sickness so easily, already?

??a-ah, anyway, I should go. If I go out tomorrow, it may just be with Eri. We already exchanged numbers because she has a phone that works here! Finally, my cell phone has a buddy! I will call her at some point and see if she has anything she?s interested in looking for. Since Toby seemed a little off about showing her around town, maybe it?ll be easier if I do?

??silly boy.?

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