Listen closely and you should be able to hear

[BZZZZAP!] Tch. It still--...

What?!

[The sound of water sloshing around like large ocean waves is picked up over the receiver, with Haruka struggling to fight against the tide; or the water barrier, as the case may be.

The communicator falls to the floor with a clatter, and apart from a loud muffled cry of frustration... a heavy silence fills the air.]

WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!

[Well, at least for a little while.]

[[As part of Sunao's chip event, Haruka will be trapped inside of the water barrier for 7 hours. It is currently located near Rooms 103-105 in Mariner High School.]]

[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. ♥]]

[BZZZZAP!] Urgh... Damn!

[He grunts, reeling an arm back as he's tempted to throw his communicator up against the closest wall.] ... Hmph. [But that's not going to happen. At least not today.]

[Text]

Forget it. I have a question.

Since when have people started freezing in place with no memory of it?

Just what the hell is going on?

[[ooc Haruka saw what you did there, Rolo.]]

[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!

It's been happening a lot lately. People being returned to this city from their original worlds. Sometimes with the memories they had before, and some without.

Even I'm not counted out of that number. I can remember where I've been.

But what I want to know is the reason why; not that I expect an answer. Not from the people who would actually have it. ...Why the indecisiveness? Isn't one time good enough for you, Scientists?
Hell. I can't tell if this is something you do out of convenience, or if all you are doing is laughing at all of us.

[...]

What about you, Hunter? This must be convenient for you. You don't have to look far to find your prey anymore. ...Che.

[The frequency is promptly switched off.]

The messages in the high school... they've disappeared. No one tried to scrub them away, because there are no markings left behind.

[...]

The revivals... they're chosen. With the ghosts that were wandering through the city, how many of you noticed it?

There had to be a time when death stopped for us. Because they weren't so lucky. It's no wonder that they were acting so restless.

( Private to Shinjiro; Hackable )

( Private to the city doctors; Hackable )

( Private to Kantarou; Unhackable )

[BBBZZAP! Haruka lets out a angry growl, tossing the communicator to one side. It clatters noisily onto the floor.]

Dammit, it wasn't supposed to-- [Stomping around] Aaah! I hate how messed-up this place is! I can remember pouring that tea with enough leaves in it to give it taste, but it ended up just hot water that day when I could finally go back to work!

[Muttering, he goes to pick his communicator back up. The audio mode is switched off with an audible click.]

I'm fine. I just thought that would have more time. Geh. Usually that sensation isn't so unpleasant.

Of course as soon as I am free to go out, another murder makes the city unsafe to travel alone in. If I had them back, I wouldn't give a damn.

[[ooc Aack! I didn't realize that so much time had passed! orz]]

[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.)]]

[A heavy metal door creaks open, and Haruka can be heard shambling out.]

Ah... It hurts...

[He takes a step backwards, bumping hard into a wall and the communicator falls onto the ground with a clatter. The camera is switched on in an upview by accident. He can be seen standing up uneasily and pressing a hand against his skull, as if in pain.]

No... Stop...

Don't!!

[He falls to his knees, panting and his eyes open wide in shock. He is sweating badly, and breathing heavily.] Ah... Ah... .....!!

[Suddenly, he turns his head slowly to the side, before his eyes widen. Once again, he holds his head with his hands, as if trying to shut something out.] Ugh...

Shut up!!

[He yells outs, holding onto his head while his eyes gain a crazed and desperate look.]

SHUT UP!! Just shut the fuck up!!

[Huff] That's right... Just keep quiet... I...

[He quickly stands up, moving out of view. There is silence, but the video of the communicator experiences more visual static than before, even if it's just a view of the sky.]

What's wrong?

It was you... It was you who taught me this... Fuji...

[[ooc Haruka just experienced a flash of his memories in the form of the ghostly vision of Fuji, his previous master who had sealed him away. He is unharmed, but very traumatized. Feel free to talk to tag him, but he probably will be reluctant to answer and won't be coming back to the high school or the Northern Lights anytime soon.]]

These plants... Why are they growing in such strange places anyway?

If they are able to shock and burn anyone who won't follow this idiotic tradition, then they're far from normal.

In any case, I don't care who was put up to this. If I have to take damage for not following up on something like this, then so be it. I'm not that afraid of getting shocked anyway.

...

Hm. Oi. Which one of you is called Fai?

( Private to Testament; Hackable )

( Private to Seishirou; Hackable )

[Switches over to voice mode. The following is spoken in Japanese.]

The scientists have ways of taking people away just as easily as they are brought here...

Kantarou, it seems that you are the only one between us who is able to see youkai now. Watanuki Kimihiro has disappeared from this world as well.