4th Wall: [Action for Azalea Town]

[shallbeavenged]

[Ai is on the outskirts of town and she seems happy. Or at least, her version of happy. ]

Ren, her Absol is sitting next to her bag as she stands off to the side, trying out her now suddenly working powers.]

[Illusions of people walk around her then vanish. Fire appears in the air and then vanishes, and she sends a blast of dark energy into the sky. Watching it fly up.]

Why can't I get home then Ren?

[The Absol doesn't reply, as he doesn't know either. Ai continues to make dark energy appear in her hands, tossing it back and forth as she thinks.]

Comments

[strike_you_out]

[Shounen Bat has never been in this part of Mayfield before. In fact, he's starting to believe this isn't Mayfield at all. He isn't particularly worried, just confused as he wanders the new terrain, teleporting here and there in search of anything or anyone he might recognize.

It isn't long before he spots the flames and familiar dark blasts leaping into the sky. Slugger materializes from thin air not far from where she stands and finds exactly whom he expects to see. It's a relief to have found her even if he doesn't know where either of them are right now.]

Ai!

[shallbeavenged]

[Ai turns quickly, energy vanishing as she realizes someone is calling her name. The Absol nearby keeps an eye on him, as Ai just looks confused and startled.]

Who are you? How do you know me?

[strike_you_out]

[His shadowy expression slowly phases through a series of emotions from an excited grin to a look of confused shock then finally a sorrowful frown. She doesn't remember him anymore and it hurts in a way he hasn't experienced before. His whole body seems to droop as if from an invisible weight and he pulls his cap even lower over his eyes.

It takes him a moment to respond but when he does, he appears collected if not somewhat numb.]

I knew you from- [Mayfield. Could he even tell her about the place she hated so much?] ...somewhere else.

My name is Shounen Bat. And you are Jigoku Shoujo.

[shallbeavenged]

[She watches him, not really sure what he means. However the Japanese is at least familiar.]

Yes, I am.

[Trying to think this over because he knew her apparently? But she tends to keep tabs on the other legends in Japan and this was a new name.]

I've never heard of you. Where do you know me from and why don't I remember you then?

[strike_you_out]

[Slugger doesn't know how to answer to the second part of the question and shrugs accordingly.]

It was a bad place, worse than hell. But we were friends there.

[His attention wanders to the surrounding scenery, glancing once at the creature watching him.]

Where am I?

[shallbeavenged]

Nowhere is worse then hell.

[And friends? She didn't have friends.]

They say it's called Johto. Apparently it's not on earth and it won't let us leave. Normally it makes you human too. But it seems ...broken today.

[She lights a small flame in her palm and looks at it for a moment before closing her hand and looking over at the boy. Studying him closely.]

I heard people talking about arriving at different times then people they know. Maybe I meet you in the future.

But how do I know you're telling the truth about being my friend?

[Yup, this is Ai. The idea that he could be from her future is plausible. That it's a place that's as bad as hell is also plausible. The idea that she has a friend, less plausible.]

[strike_you_out]

[And again he shrugs. There is no possible way to prove anything and the more knowledge he demonstrates of her, the more paranoid she will become, he fears. All he can do is keep being her friend even if she doesn't remember him and at the very least, tell her what he is.]

In my world it's my job to free the ones who are trapped, the ones who can no longer face reality. I find them and end their suffering. [Slugger raises his bat and gives it a one-handed swing to emphasize exactly what he means, then rests it on his shoulder.]

I was a monster. [But now, he isn't sure what he is anymore.]

[shallbeavenged]

[That's probably a good idea, as Ai tends to be a bit paranoid. She listens to him talk though.]

What are you now?

[Sorry Slugger. Sill more questions. However she hasn't accused you of anything so ...there's that!]

[strike_you_out]

[His head slants ponderously in a moment of thoughtful silence.]


I don't know. I'm just... me. [It's vague but it's the best answer he can give right now. He stands watching her, almost perfectly still.]

Do you like it here?

[shallbeavenged]

[After a moment she nods. The confusion is familiar and she makes an offer she's made many times before to other spirits in Japan.]

Would you like to join me?

[As for that last question...]

Perhaps, it is a strange place. I've only been here a month or so. I don't understand it.

[hell_wheel]

[One of the illusions doesn't vanish.

In fact, it's quite a familiar face. He stands near a tree looking up at the new sky and out at the strange town. A fedora shading his eyes.]

[shallbeavenged]

[.....]

Wanyūdō!

[She didn't expect to see him.]

[hell_wheel]

[He didn't expect to end up here.

Tipping his hat to her and offering a smile.]

Don't think this too forward to say, but you pick some strange places to visit.

[shallbeavenged]

I'm not sure how I got here.

[hell_wheel]

Is that so?

What is this place like?

[shallbeavenged]

It's strange.

You have animals fight each other and you can win badges for it. There's not much else to do.