*Sixth Firefly* : *Video*

[child_kanji]

[The video comes on to Zashiki sitting in a plain Asian-style room, in a patterned yukata. It's not very obvious where she's located, but wherever it is, it's really quiet and peaceful. Alra-chan's voice is coming from behind the D-Comm.]

I-is it on... ?

It's on. Are you sure you want to do this, Zashiki?

I'm sure...

Alright...

U-uhm... I don't know... if anyone actually remembers me. I was-- ... when people were getting their souls taken... that was me...

[she bows her head, hiding her eyes with her bangs]

I'm sorry... I'm so sorry for everything I did... I know I was under Akumaro's control, but... I-I don't... I don't want to use that as an excuse. The truth is, I willingly told him about my power. If I had never done that, he wouldn't have exploited it... and no one would have gotten hurt because of me...

I scared my friends... Watanuki-kun... Doumeki-kun... they were all worried about me. Nadeko-chan even tried to save me, b-but...

[she stops long enough to rub at her eyes with the back of her hand, but she still doesn't look up. Her shoulders are shaking noticeably.]

I'm glad everyone is okay... Watanuki-kun helped get everyone's souls back to them. Ame-chan took me away after it was all over, that's why I haven't... said anything until now.

She wasn't okay. I still don't think she is, but she keeps trying to tell me different.

I-I'm better now, Alra-chan... I don't think it's right for me to keep quiet this long. Not after what I did.

And you're still not convinced that none of this was your fault?

[Zashi looks up, teary eyed and clearly upset by this comment]

I shouldn't have told anyone about that power! It's dangerous, and I never ever want to use it again! I-- !

[she stops suddenly, starting to cough harshly.]

Zashiki...

[Alra-chan sighs, and with a mutter of 'I think we're done now...' turns the comm off]

Comments

[shinken-blue.livejournal.com]

You are an innocent. Akumaro enjoys the pain and tears of the innocent. He enjoys toying with people and their emotions. He also enjoys using people and others of his kind as his own personal puppets.

He knows what he does and he enjoys it. He would since he's been alive for over 200 years.

He's a manipulator. He takes control of those who are unsuspecting and/or are innocent.

Don't think you are anything but an innocent. You are a victim of crimes that he has committed. You didn't know.

[child-kanji.livejournal.com]

...

Look at how sick he's made you! Months later and you're so weak you can barely walk!

[Zashi doesn't answer, she just keeps her head down, a few tears falling from her eyes]

We've been up here for months hoping it would help her recover from what he did to her. Of course she's an innocent, she's a child spirit! And that bastard nearly killed her with what he did!

Alra-chan...

[shinken-blue.livejournal.com]

And he will pay for what he did to her. My friends and I will make sure that Akumaro pays for what he did. He will pay for the pain he caused... For the tears he caused to be spilled.

[child-kanji.livejournal.com]

Isn't he already gone... ? I thought Ame's partner kinda... made him explode or something.

[shinken-blue.livejournal.com]

He may not really be gone... After all, he is a manipulator. He can make anyone think what he wants them to think.

[child-kanji.livejournal.com]

So after all that crap that we went through we might still have to worry about him?!

[shinken-blue.livejournal.com]

Hai...

[child-kanji.livejournal.com]

That son of a bitch! I'll kill him myself this time!

A-Alra-chan! Please calm dow--!

[Zashi tries to grab her raging, flailing partner, but it only forces her in to another painful coughing fit.]

[shinken-blue.livejournal.com]

Oh no... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to cause you such pain. If there is anything I can do to help... Gomen nasai, hontou ni gomen nasai!

[child-kanji.livejournal.com]

I-i-it's okay... [cough] p-please don't worry about me...