Listen closely and you should be able to hear

[Voice]

"Oni yori haruka ni tsuyoi"...

"Stronger than any demon."

[BZZZZAP!] ...again? Isn't it enough that I'm thinking out loud so that others can hear me like this?

[He takes a deep breath, and then slowly lets it out in a sigh.] Fine. I don't normally ask questions like this, but I'll try it this time. As long as it will appease your little spies, or this stupid machine.

[Text]

I have been thinking about names, and how the nations here have human names. It was something that the one called China told me about some time ago.

Why must humans name everything? Nothing is real to you until you've named it, given it limits.

Why does something need to be named, and what does the name you've been given mean to you?

... -you want to die? Because if you continue doing whatever you want like this, then your death will only come faster here.

You've become a threat. It would just be easier to hunt you down and have you for dinner.

[While the communicator is shuffled around by the fabric lining Haruka's jacket pocket as he shifts position, the sound of fluttering wings can be heard nearby. Along with the occasional soft cooing of mourning doves.]

Calm down. I'm not interested in doing that, so don't worry.

...If you were brought here the same way as everyone else, then I can understand. You're probably not very happy to be stuck here.

Just-... [BZZZZAP!] AUGH! Shit! [The mourning doves take off in a flurry of panicked movements and wings, startled by Haruka's sudden shout.] Ah-

[...] Hm.

[Click.]

[Voice]

One... two... three...

There are thirty of them altogether, including this one.

[The telltale clinking sound of a glass marble rattling around in a now-empty bottle of Ramune is picked up over the receiver, as Haruka tilts the bottle from side to side.]

...

[Clink, clink.]

Why would they give this to me? ...Ah- [A random thought slips in.] ... Subconscious thinking?

[After a long pause, Haruka scratches his head with a free hand, sighing.] How stupid.

... Oi.

[Video]

[The video recorder is switched on, with Haruka putting the bottle of Ramune down harshly upon the table. The camera can focus on that for awhile.] Tell me how I can get the marble out of this thing.

[BZZZZAP!] -tei!

[The communicator fumbles out of the pocket of Haruka's trousers and onto the floor with a clatter.] Che. Again?

Again! [There is a thud, like a fist hitting a table.]

[...] What?

We'll continue until I win. Now, pick a card.

( Click here for more! [Not an IC cut] )

[There's an audible twitch.] You little--... You did that on purpose, didn't you? [The next card is picked with much reluctance.] ...what the hell? This is the joker!

MWAHAHAHA! You got the Old Maid! Ahahaha!

That's because you made me pick it, you cheating asshole!

You won all the other games! I was tired of losing!

[[ooc On one cold winter day, a man and a tengu decide to play some children's card games. Special thanks to Kantarou's mun for the cooperative post. ♥]]

[The video function turns on, tilted at an angle and pointed out toward the city horizon.

This was no accident. He just wanted to avoid the shock this time, and maybe even show everyone a pleasant view of the two moons. Whatever the excuse... Haruka didn't seem to want to be seen, as he was clearly out of view.
But a soft sipping noise could be heard a short distance away, picked up by the receiver.

Kantarou, he helped himself in small part to one of your newly acquired sake bottles.]

Ah.

[A bit of light faintly highlights the bottom of the horizon, coming up slowly.]

And so comes the dawn...

[Click. The video feed is bumped on haphazardly, as if something fell on top of it and was quickly picked itself back up. ...or maybe it hopped?

There is a soft jingle, and the camera pans up to what looks like Haruka trying to sleep in a chair near one of the hospital beds while the acid rain can be heard falling outside. His eyes are closed, head resting against his hand with one of the arms propped up, and his jacket has been slung over the back of the chair.

Unknowingly, a fairly good-sized gathering of scales have made their way over to the sleeping tengu. Hopping, tipped toward him and spinning around without him being all the wiser. They are lined up the floor, the bed and the chair... whereever there is room for them.

They carry on, until his brow furrows and he lets out a grumble as a few start to ascend his arm. Then his eyes sudden snap open, and he violently shakes them off.]

AAAGH! Will you just get out of here already! Go bother someone else!

.....

Wait. This feeling...

[...]

Oh, what the hell is this. ...Get out of the damn classroom already! I hate crowds.

[The transmission starts with a soft clunk. The sound of the communicator falling over, amidst the sound of rustling leaves. Strange... there doesn't seem to be that strong a breeze in the city proper.

Something can be heard starting to crack, like pressure increasing against a glass window. Bit by bit... until finally-]

Ugh... [A soft thump as someone can be heard falling to the ground. Haruka...?]

Don't touch me. [He says, his voice muffled by the communicator's distance.]

Kuu-...! I said don't touch me, dammit! [He shouts, amidst the sound of a pair of large wings flapping together. Something can be heard humming, crackling like electricity.]

Hurry... [It starts to become louder.] What is holding you back?! [Finally, he lets out a loud shout. In a desperate move, the sound of the rings on a shakujou can be heard jingling.

Within seconds, a powerful lightening strike can be seen guided to a different part of the forest. An audible breath of relief is picked up, before another loud thump can be heard along with the brush of grass, and the clang of the staff falling.]

...

"Haruka.... Don't worry, I'll take care of you." [Kantarou's voice pipes in. He proceeds to chant until the transmission times out.]

[[ooc Late at night, a lightening strike should be seen hitting a part of the eastern forest, seemingly at random. No major damage was caused, other than the possibility of one unlucky tree getting split in half.]]

[The communicator falls onto the street below with a clatter, the video feed fuzzy with static before revealing a rear view of Haruka standing in front of a Trance Rhino, poised and ready to attack with a sturdy mop in his hands. But where is his partner...?

The Noise charges at him, and blocks the impact of its horn with the handle of the mop. He gets pushed back, the soles of his shoes scraping against the ground. With a shout, he reaches one of his hands up and then brings it sharply down near the Rhino's face like a tiger attacking its prey. It falls back, and that's when the tengu rushes in with a relentless assault. Clawing and smacking at it with the mop.

The Noise doesn't go down easily, as its attempts at running Haruka through with its massive horn clearly show, but he ultimately becomes the victor as it finally fades into a wisp of formless... noise. He collapses to one knee, catching his breath.]

Haruka!

[Kantarou can be heard, running up to him where the camera can't catch it. There is quiet, until the sound of a fierce smack can be heard as Haruka hits his partner's hand away.]

Don't touch me!

[[ooc Comment log post for Kantarou! Also, Haruka has gone sort of aggro from the sudden death of Sakon.]]

[A thump can be heard as Haruka gives the TV a light smack.] It's still broken. I told you that it would be pointless.

...and would you stay away from me?!

[Text]

Shinjiro, stay down. I never knew many people who believed that getting knocked out was the best and only way for someone to get any rest until I met you. Sorata and I will be able to help manage the bar while you're recovering.

...It seems that I avoided enough of the disasters this time. It won't make me feel that my luck in this world is about to change, however. Maybe.

Kantarou, we still need to find a day to go fishing before something else decides to happen.

[[ooc Haruka is yelling at Watari, who may or may not be trying to attack him with some measuring tape. (I hope that's okay, mun.)]]