Cathrat's eyes snapped open suddenly...and he found himself in mid-stretch, facing a warm and inviting morning sun. Below it, there stretched out a forest, as far as the eye could see, though there was something...not-quite-right about the trees.
His peripheral vision caught sight of a long, round, impressively thick barrel...and he followed it back to the tank it was attached to. He appeared to be standing next to a Russian model T-74 tank.
That in itself wasn't TOO suprising...but nearby the tank, a large man, dressed mostly in white, with shoulder pads that an NFL player would envy, and spiked hair that pointed straight up lay under a sleeping bag. Just beyond him, a tall, glamourous looking woman with purple hair, cut fashonably short, and dressed in regal colors attended to the remains of a fire pit. More forest surrounded them, with the same 'lush, but kind of strange' look that the first trees Carthrat had seen were carrying.
A pleasant breeze slipped through the trees, curling up his skirt...
OHSHITOHFUCKcalm,happythoughtspeacecalm...
..calm...
..calm.
Ok.
That is Junpei.
That is Airi.
That is a bigass tank.
I am wearing a skirt.
I am in a forest.
I am lying do- hang on.
I am wearing a skirt.
I am wearing a skirt.
I am wearing a skirt.
There is no Ritsuko.
I am wearing a skirt. There is Junpei. There is Airi. There is no Ritsuko. There is a tank.
There is one thing to do.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Ritsuko's scream grabbed Airi's attention, and the purple haired woman looked up sharply, and hurried over to the redheaded girl "Ritsuko-chan? What's the matter?"
Junpei stirred and sat up, blinking sleep away. "...What's going on?"
Oh shit! Get a hold of yourself, man!
Breathing hard, Ritsuko turned to Airi, eyes expanding to three times their normal size.. "Oh, it was a nightmare!" she moans. "One so horrible I can't even remember what is was about!"
Smooothhhhhhh...
Before Airi could reply to that, a strange looking little dog walked over, examining Ritsuko closely.
"Are you feeling alright, Ritsuko? There's something strange about your aura...The nightmare might have been a symptom of that..." the dog asked.
"Oh.. ah.. I'm fine, Celcia-san," replies Carthrat, thinking furiously.
Between Celcia and Airi, I'm gonna have my hands full keeping this a secret..
"Just didn't get much sleep last night, that's all."
Both Airi and Celcia gave Ritsuko skeptical looks, then glanced at each other, shrugging.
"If you're sure..." the elven woman-turned-dog replied, eyeing the girl suspiciously.
Airi smiled a little and made a slightly dismissive gesture. "Well, since you're awake, and you've woken up Junpei..." she paused to glance at the big man who was slowly waking up, "Why don't you help me with breakfast?"
"Ok!" says Ritsuko, brightly. "What are we cooking?"
Airi gave Ritsuko a tolerant look. "We're finishing the rabbits Junpei caught last night...Celcia-san found us some wild onions, too."
And here I was hoping cereal would grow on trees or something.. well, at least I can think while cooking..
Ritsuko nods. "Right," she replies. "I'll peel the onions, then.."
Airi simply raises her eyebrows and nods. "They're over by the stew pot." she told Ritsuko, gesturing. "I'll keep working with the fire..." she said, and went back to the firepit.
The little dog followed Ritsuko over to the onions...
Ritsuko starts dismantling large portions of the skin of the onion.. Am I glad I did cooking courses..
Ok. What to do, what to do..
So. Elves. I'm supposed to hunt elves, and strip them. Fun. More importantly.. Ritsuko is from Japan. Hence, by actually getting together all the spell parts and whatnot, then casting the spell.. I'll be back in Japan. Or at least Earth. Hopefully.
Right. What's on Earth?
Tokyo!
What's in Tokyo?
Only 75% of all anime ever created.
Hypothesis: Going to Tokyo will mean, in this twisted multiverse, running across characters from other animes.
Assume that everyone else is in random characters. Obviously, they're not in Airi, Junpei, or Celcia, otherwise.. well, I think I'd pick them out. Or they'd pick me out.
If most anime is set in Tokyo, they are probably in Tokyo. Conjecture: Going to Tokyo will help me find allies?
Well, it's nothing I wouldn't be doing anyway, so I can hope.
Seeing as *I'm* here, though, Chaos, if he had any brains at all (and I'm not sure he does), would probably send at least one goon here, assuming he has his own avatar warriors.
*But Order Said he works his influence through situations.*
Which means... in trying to get back to Tokyo, he might play a card.
Well. First order of business. *How many spell parts do we need?*
Ritsuko throws a glance at the little dog, making a mental checklist of the spell parts present on her body..
I hope this is still in the first series.. Cy told me that there were heaps more spell parts in the second..
Celcia blinked at Ritsuko. "Something wrong?"
Ritsuko's search revealed...A little yellow dog. With a lone spot, over it's eye.
"The onions," replies Ritsuko. "Just trying not to cry, y'know?"
Ahh shit. This may take some time..
About a hundred yards away, a pillar of light swirled into existence, Dancing colors coalesced into the form of...a short, hairy man with a pensive expression.
Ritsuko was alerted to the arrival of The Woman's servant by the fact that Celcia had lept to her feet and was staring at him in horror...
So much for wanting to keep a low profile, thinks Ritsuko, mournfully, before throwing an ambivalent glance at Remy.. Well, he might be able to tell me what the hecks gonna happen..
Remy approached Ritsuko, his gaze cautious. I must be certain to to affect the outcome of what will transpire here too badly...
He bowed, giving the dog a quick glance, then looking back at the ponytailed girl. "Ritsuko-dono, I would like to request your assistance..."
"You couldn't be more subtle, could you?" replies Ritsuko, levelling her best Flat Glare at Remy. "Well, out with it. You may as well tell everyone."
Hold your tongue, young one. Best not to let these others know exactly what, or who you are. Stay in character, for the moment. Ritsuko hears in her head.
Ritsuko bites her tounge, kind of wondering just how she's supposed to cover up the appearance of a strange man in a strange place with a strange request.
"Celcia-san, uh, I'd better go speak with him. Look, he's just standing there, waiting for me. If he tries anything, I'll scream," whispers Ritsuko to Celcia.
Airi stepped up behind Ritsuko, a frown creasing her elegant features. "What is it you want with Ritsuko?" she asked firmly, eyeing Remy. Behind her, Junpei appeared, glowering at the little man who'd appeared. Celcia simply stared, stunned at the nature of the power she could sense.
Remy simply smiled. "I'm in need of her skills for a short time. I will return her to you as quickly as possible..." he offered.
"I'll be deciding where I go," replies Ritsuko, flatly. "But yes, do tell me. In private, if need be."
That In Character enough for you, little man?
Remy simply smiled inscrutably. "If you wish. My mistress has sent me to request Lady Ritsuko's talents for a certain task. I myself am not permitted to disclose it, but we are prepared to compensate you for the time we take from your search."
It will do. I do apologize for the necessity of this, but my lady would prefer to minimize the impact of the intrusions into these worlds.
Junpei and Airi looked interested. "What are we going to be paid?" The big man asked Remy. "Money? Jewels?"
Remy nodded. "Certainly. Though we're also prepared to inform you of the location of two of the parts of the spell you're searching for."
Junpei's jaw fell open, and even Airi's eyes widened, and they both opened their mouths as though to accept, then remembered who was really pivotal to the agreement, and both looked to Ritsuko.
Celcia, meanwhile, simply shivered in fear as she watched the small man...
"Well.. if it'll help us get home, I accept," replies Ritsuko.
How ironic.
Indeed.
Airi looked slightly surprised, but nodded. "Ritsuko-chan, before you accept, we should probably get some sort of insurance...we don't know who he is...and he seems to upset Celcia-san." she observed, eyeing the little dog.
"I like him already," Junpei muttered under his breath.
Can you reassure them somehow? Turn Celcia back into a woman or something? Give them one of the spell parts now? Give them some stupid magic gimmick that'll turn red when my life is in danger and turn black if I die?
Outwardly, Ritsuko says "Good idea, Airi-san.. what insurance can you give us?"
I think the last option would cause needless anxiety. Hmm...
Remy held up a hand, and a ball of energy glowed briefly there. Suddenly, it washed away, leaving two small stones in his hand. "This should allieviate your concern." Remy suggested. "If Lady Ritsuko will take one, and leave the other with your group, in times of need, she can summon the holder of the stone. What's more, if she focuses on one of you, the holder will see who she is attempting to call, and be able to pass the stone to that person..."
Airi looked taken aback and slightly impressed, and Junpei simply nodded. Both of them looked to Ritsuko...
Oh, clever.. I suppose this stone would work for anyone, and not just us, eh?
Ritsuko nods, reaching out to take a stone. "Uhm.. how long would they stick around for? Indefinately?"
True. But so long as they realize this, the danger is minimal.
"Unfortunately, the effects of bending the boundaries of time and space tend to be slightly elastic. After between sixty and ninety minutes has elapsed, the effect fades, and the summoned one is returned...though, with practice, and possible assitance, you can extend the time limit." Remy informed her. "Is this to your satisfaction?"
Airi took one of the stones, nodding. "It is if Ritsuko-chan is agreeable." she said finally, looking to the ponytailed schoolgirl.
So where am I going, anyway? The moon?
Ritsuko nods to Airi. "I'll be fine!"
Worse. Tokyo.
Airi nodded. "If you're sure. Though I'm uncomfortable sending you off alone..."
What's the projected increase in property insurance looking like?
Ritsuko shrugs. "But it'll save us so much time in the long run, so it's ok."
Let's just say it's not an ideal place to move, at the moment.
Junpei eyed the schoolgirl with a suspiscious look. "It's not like you to do things like this without complaining." he observed bluntly.
Can we like, go now? Make up some 'time is pressing' excuse or something?
"I thought that was your area," shoots back Ritsuko.
"Celcia, stop being so damn slow! Celcia, you're useless! Useless mutt! Yeah, that and 'There's no curry!'."
She rolls her eyes. "Don't tell *me* about complaining. Moron."
Are you in a hurry? Give your body's friend's a few moments to collect themselves...
Junpei leaned forward irritably. "Listen, little miss 'Junpei, spend the rest of your life squeezing gas fruit for my usel-'"
Airi cut Junpei off with a wave of her hand, and moved forward, taking both Ritsuko's hands in her own. "Ritsuko-chan...this could be dangerous...are you sure about this?"
Celcia seemed to snap out of her fear induced trance, and moved up beside Airi. "Ritsuko-chan...that man is...enourmously powerful." she murmured, concerned.
Ritsuko blinks. "Airi-san, I havn't been sure about anything since I got here, what with meeting you, Junpei, discovering that magic really exists... it's like a dream, almost.
Maybe it will be dangerous, but what hasn't been dangerous since we got here? I think I'm used to danger by now."
She turns to address Celcia.. "And if he's so powerful.. then it must be important, or he wouldn't come out to find me, would he? It must be something only I can do.."
Hang on, has that tank not been possessed yet?
Only just recently. Junpei's a still a little testy.
Junpei gave Ritsuko a reluctant grin as Airi and Celcia nodded reluctantly. "Give 'em hell, kid."
Ritsuko nods, grinning. Or at least trying to do a credible impression.
"I'll be back as soon as I can be!"
Airi smiled at the girl, and moved forward, kissing her forehead in a motherly gesture. "Come back to us safely."
Celcia looked slightly uncomfortable, but nodded in agreement. "Good luck..."
Ritsuko gives an approximation of a bright and cheerful nod, before calling, "Mike! Come on!"
She then turns to Remy.. "So, what now?"
Remy was silent as the tank and Ritsuko followed him over the next hill, and once they're out of sight of the rest of the little group, Remy waved his hand, and a trail of sparkles seem to flow from it. Ritsuko didn't notice immediately any effect, but on closer examination, the trees seem slightly arched, as though blown by an invisible wind...but unmoving...frozen in that position. the same follows for the grass and plants...in fact, one leaf near Ritsuko herself is holding in place right about waist level, tossed by the breeze...
"We need to talk." Remy frowned. "Before you get where I'll send you."
"I'll let you speak, then," replies Ritsuko. "Then we'll see what questions I have. And believe me, I have a few."
Remy nodded. "We're actually a few days before the even is set to take place." he informed Ritsuko grimly. "But...one of your team was placed in an unfortunate situation by Chaos' chosen method of insertion."
He sighed. "We need you to find and, or awaken them before one of Chaos's avatars does...and, if you prove unable to awaken them, defend them until someone who does can be found."
Carthrat nods. "So who is he? I mean, which friend? And what body did he land? And where is he? And who is everyone else?"
Remy waved a hand impatiently. "For now, focus on the issue, please?" he insisted. "The final question can wait. As for who it was...We're not sure. We're still sorting out the landing points. For that matter, until I actually got a look at you, I wasn't sure who you were." he admitted.
"As for the issue of who it is now...Well, I'm not sure if background is needed. Have you ever heard of the 'Steel Angels'?"
"Naw. Sounds like something to do with mecha," replies Carthrat, shrugging.
"In a manner of speaking." Remy replied. "I'm sending you to Tokyo, in the rough area of where the Temple that contains the Steel Angel that houses the soul of your teammate is."
"It's adjacent to the Juuban Ward, so if you get the chance, track down a girl named Minako Aino, and bring her with you."
"What, is she one of our partners?" replies Carthrat. "I'll track her down, sure.."
"Yes." Remy agreed, and raised a hand, opening it to reveal another rune made entirely of light.
The rune left his hand, floating out in front of Ritsuko, and stretching and distorting itself into a swirling vortex, suspended on nothing.
"That's a gate into the dimension where you'll find them. Be careful...if Chaos has found this out, and he sends a mystic to awaken the Steel Angel first, winning this competition will be that much harder..."
Carthrat pauses. "And, uh, am I going to able to hide that there tank easily?"
Remy grinned. "No. But I'm depositing you outside the city. Find a good place to park it, and give it instructions. You'll find that you can speak directly to, and understand it."
"That's a relief," replies Carthrat.. "Any idea who everyone else is? I'm sure there are others in Tokyo besides Ms. Aino.."
Remy nodded. "Sakura Kinomoto is around, somewhere." he offered. "And Yomiko Readman and Tsuruko Aoyama should be in your area soon."
"That's a relief," replies Carthrat, nodding. "Here's something more mundane; what about food? Sleep? Will I even have time to sleep?"
Remy smiled, a little more kindly, this time. "I suppose it depends, but yes, you should be able to, if you organize your time wisely, and manage your resources creatively. But you probably knew that."
Carthrat raises an eyebrow. "Right. Anything else you think I should know before I go through to the other side?"
Remy grinned, and eyed Ritsuko. "You mean, like...avoid wearing a skirt in combat?" he asked the ponytailed red-head wryly. "Seriously, just relax, and use common sense. Don't fight if you can avoid it safely, save your strength. But don't undercommit, either. If you have to fight, don't hold back, or you'll lose."
Carthrat chuckles. "Yeah. Simple advice so few people follow.
Well, see you around."
With that, she jumps in the tank, closes the hatch (nothing like not seeing the inevitably psychadelic colours that may assualt anyone when going through a portal) and drives through..
Remy watched the tank enter the dimensional gateway he'd created with a slight smile of satisfaction. "Perhaps this is not as an uphill battle as I'd feared." He mused, collapsing the portal after the tank disappeared.
Eventually, he himself vanished, and the frozen world's time resumed, the grassy plain now empty...
***
Ritsuko's tank re-emerged...in a forest.
While there were a number of surface similarities to the forest she'd just departed, the most marked difference was the familiarity of the trees and surroundings...it was instinctively 'home' to her...
Ritsuko gets out, and looks around.
"Well.. I'm back on Earth. That's a plus," she says to herself. "Now.. to work out where I am."
Grabbing a pair of binoculars she finds amongst the stuff on the tank, she decides to try climbing a tree and getting a birds-eye view of her surroundings..
Ritsuko's climb is somewhat awkward, due to restrictive clothing, and embarrassing in other parts, but she finally ascends high enough to be able to see that she's parked on the outskirts of a city.
There are ruralish houses nearby, but the closest one is a fair distance away...and she esitimates that it would take her a few hours on foot to reach the city itself.
Ritsuko looks to see if there's a way to get the tank reasonably close to the city without driving along main roads or other places where people are going to see her.
Nearby, a heavily traveled trail leads to a campground, barely three kilometers from the city. The campground is mostly empty, though, and looks somewhat ramshackle. With some difficulty, Ritsuko could get the tank there unseen...
"As good a plan as any," murmurs Ritsuko, carefully climbing down the tree and beginning the task of getting from A to B Without Being Seen.
As she returned to ground level, the tank rolled up, patiently waiting for it's mistress...
Ritsuko makes to sit in the tank turret, seeing as she dosn't really need to drive it personally. "Let's go, uh, that way," she indicates with pointed finger, directing the tank along the trail she spotted earlier.
The tank meeps happily, and does as instructed, rumbling down the path. However, since the tank is exceptionally large, and not particularly careful, it randomly knocks down trees and crashes into brush at the edge of the path.
Ritsuko winces, and tries to instruct the tank not to break *quite* so much foliage, as to not leave an easy-to-follow trail behind them. If it's a *difficult* trail, it's all good.
<Foliage?> Ritsuko suddenly hears in her head. <What that?>
"The bushes? Grass? Trees? Flowers?" replies Ritsuko, feeling a little stupid talking to a tank. "Look, just try and keep to the gravel track, right?"
<Too big!> The tank complained back. <Not room!>
"Well, keep it to a minimum, then," replies Ritsuko. "Fuck. I'm in a strange world in a strange body doing strange things talking to a strange tank. Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck."
Ritsuko continues to keep up a litany of self-pity combined with gratuitous swearing as the tank rumbles on..
<Fuck?> The tank sounded plaintive and frustrated. <What is fuck?> is asked as it rumbled along. Finally, the abandoned campsite came into view...
"Fuck is one of two things. Either it is when the cannon of a man is inserted into the exhaust pipe of a woman and thrust repeatedly, or it is an all-purpose adjective, noun, verb, and adverb," replies Ritsuko, jumping off the tank and checking over the abandoned camp site to see if she can tell if there have been any recent visitors. After all, it wouldn't do to have some holidaying family show up and wonder why a few tonnes of metal death is parked in their sleeping area..
The metal covering on the fire pit is rusted and worn, and there are no signs of recent habitation of the area. In fact, plants are beginning to encroach on the cleared away space...
The tank sounds puzzled by Ritsuko's declaration. <Why?>
"Don't rightly know," replies Carthrat. "Think about it! And while you're thinking, come and park yourself over here," he/she continues, indicating a spot to one side of the area (preferably under some shade).
Mike frowned. <Not get it!> the possessed tank complained, obediently parking in the indicated spot, covered by trees. <Mistress tells?>
A quick rumbling of metal treads later, and the mighty tank was obscured from view from above.
"I'll tell you when I get back," says Carthrat, quickly rummaging around the vehicle for some kind of obscuring coat or jacket so she can walk into Tokyo with a gun and not get arrested.
Ritsuko doesn't find anything resmbling a coat, but there are two traveling cloaks settled within the tank.
<Going where?> the tank inquired.
"The city over there," replies Ritsuko, grabbing one of the cloaks and putting it on (hood off). Now, given her orange hair, maybe people would think she's a wannabe goth or something.. a really bad one, but still.
Oh. Wait. It's animeland. Nobody cares, right?
"Right?"
Oh, wait, shouldn't mix up thoughts with speech.
Grabbing one of the backpacks as well, Ritsuko Packs For her Journey:
1 p228, 3 spare clips
1 TMP, 2 spare clips (kept in the backpack, unloaded, so it dosn't magically go off by itself- Carthrat is paranoid)
1 Binoculars
1 Compass
1 Pen
1 Notebook
1 K-Bar Knife
1 Water Canteen
1 Hand Flashlight
1 Multi-Spec Goggles
1 Hygiene Kit
1 Medical Kit
"Well, I'll be back tomorrow at the latest," states Ritsuko. "If I don't come back within, oh, three days, well, uh.. I don't know, come looking for me."
<Can come now! Not want to be alone!> The tank protested, shaking it's turret vigourously.
Ritsuko sighs. "Remember when you inhabited toys? Jumped around in them? Heck, I don't remember.. just remember how it was before you were in the tank? What did people think of you then?"
<Mike will stay here.> The tank replied deadpan, without missing a beat, then hesitated slightly. <Mistress will come back soon?>
"I'll come back as soon as I can," promises Ritsuko. "Don't worry. I'll be fine!
Though she wasn't sure about the tank.. well, no time to worry!
Carthrat starts walking off to the city, not entirely sure of what she was going to do once she got there, but sure that she'd work out *something*.
It was a nice day for a hike, but the rain clouds on the horizon promised that it wouldn't remain this way for long. Ritsuko had the option of marching straight, or attempting to find a road into the city.
Ritsuko decided to find a road, because then she might be able to hitchike, as well as be assured of not getting lost.
Though getting hit by a car would be an ironic way to die when she could've driven a tank into the city.
After twenty minutes of kicking through the underbrush, and tearing her skirt once, Ritsuko finally came to a clean, wide road. In the distance, the Tokyo skyline speared into the sky...
Ritsuko starts trudging towards Tokyo, occasionally glancing over her shoulder. Whenever she sees or hears her car, she jerks her thumb out in the standard hitchhikers plea for help..
After a half hour of trudging down the road, and one car passing her, Ritsuko suddenly hears the sound of a slowing car, and a red sedan pulls up beside her. A young woman, roughly in her mid twenties leans out, light brown hair just beyond shoulder length held back by a pale yellow hairband, but letting her bangs tumble down into her eyes, and pale green eyes hidden behind a pair of large square glasses, giving her a slightly severe air.
Almost in complete contrast, the woman's manner of speech was relaxed and blunt, bordering on rude. "Where you want to go, chibiko?"
"Juuban, please," replies Ritsuko, gratefully. "My idiot brother drove off without me from a camping trip, and I'm stuck walking home."
The woman raised an eyebrow. "That's clear across the city." she informed Ritsuko drily. "I'm going to Jinbou-chou. after that, you're on your own. Take it or leave it."
"I'll take it," replies Ritsuko.
Huh. She's whatserface from the ROD TV series, that thing I watched one ep of at the anime club.. hum.. Yomiko Readman is from ROD, isn't she? Something else I never watched, but did see many pictures of.. I wonder..
The woman opens a the door for Ritsuko, and beckons her to get into the car.
"You know, you could have been waiting a long time...not many Japanese drivers know what you were doing."
Ritsuko shrugs, climbing into the car. "Suppose I was lucky you came by."
"Probably. What were you really doing way out here?" Ritsuko's benefactress asked as the red-headed teen closed the door, and pressed down on the throttle as she spoke, sending the car slowly back up to a highway speed.
"Looking for friends," replies Ritsuko, sighing.
Dammit! It's not holiday season.. or maybe I'm just easy to read.
Yeah-fucking-right. It's not holiday season. Dammit,dammit,dammit, I'm so *stupid*.
The woman nodded, apparently satisfied with that. "I take it you aren't a raving psycho, planning to kill me with the gun you have on you?" she asked, eyeing Ritsuko as though trying to determine just where she was packign the weapon.
"If I was, wouldn't I have done it by now?" replies Ritsuko, flatly. "I somehow doubt I'd find a more out-of-the-way place than the side of the freeway to commit a murder."
The woman gave Ritsuko a bland look. "Don't know a lot about murder, I take it?" she asked, turning back to the road. "What're you doing with a gun, anyhow?"
"I'm not exactly sure," replies Ritsuko. "Wanna hear a crazy story?"
"Well, it's usually me that's telling them." She responded. "Alright, shoot."
"You write books, right?" says Carthrat. "Imagine if those books, somewhere far, far away, came true.
Well, actually, it's something like that, except totally different. I'm sure you know all about manga and the like. Yeah, imagine if they were all true. Better yet, imagine if they were not only true, but all mixed up in one giant melting pot.
Well, that's what's happening here. I'd tell you your life is a fake, but that would be a lie, because you're right here living it, aren't you?
Anyway, I dunno if this world was here first or the manga was, but the point is, on *my* world- I'm an extraplanar being, get used to it- there's a bunch of stuff like that, converted into anime and whatnot, presumably like it is here, I really have no idea.
I'm here unwillingly, of course; technically, this isn't really my body, I've been forced to borrow it from it's previous owner in order to fight some duel or something. But the same thing happened to a bunch of us- that is, there's like 10 or something of us mixed up in this and we all know each other- and they're scattered around the world, all having taken possession of somebody elses bodies in some crazy contest of divine will.
It dosn't make much sense to me, either.
Anyway, I think we're supposed to find out where we all are, then work out exactly what it is we're supposed to do to win this contest, then go the fuck home.
Got that? Anyway, after I've said all that, I have absolutely no way to back it up, except that I know you're some author (but you're famous, aren't you?) and that one of the people I'm looking for is Yomiko Readman, and I know you know who she is. I think.
I can also tell you that I'm not out to kill her, and if you really want, you can take my gun off me. Heck, you can stripsearch me and impound my belongings if you want, but it's vitally important that I find her.
Crazy enough for you? I'm sure you've done better."
"Better, yes." She responded. "Crazier...probably not. The Paper girl...how's she mixed up in this? Wait, first off, gimme a name, chibikko."
"Ritsuko. Uh, Tanewaki Ritsuko," blurts out Carthrat. "She's mixed up in this through no fault of hers, though. Heck, she's not even Yomiko Readman anymore, technically. She's whoever it was who is borrowing her body- and her abilities- for the time being.
And my name ain't really Ritsuko, either, if you hadn't guessed, but I'm using it for the time being."
She frowned. "Alright, I'm going to see her anyway. Stick with me, and we'll talk to her, and see if she backs up this story."
"I'm Sumiregawa Nenene, by the way. Any cracks about my name and you'll be walking again."
"Hah. My real name is 'Carthrat'. I won't laugh if you don't," replies Carthrat.
"Fair enough." Nenene told Ritsuko with a slight smile, then fell silent, concentrating on the drive...
Ritsuko also falls silent, looking outside the window as the car drives along.
Hmm.. I'm almost tempted to go home.. heh. Wonder if my house is even there in this world?
With less than an hour of driving, and well into the city by now, Nenene steered the car into a long street, which, upon close examination, turned out to be bookstores, almost as far as the eye could see.
"We're here." She announced, taking off her glasses and slipping them into her pocket. "C'mon Ritsuko. Let's go see how crazy we are."
Ritsuko runs a hand through her hair. "Indeed," she replies, exiting the vehicle..
...To be continued in: Yomiko Ra-chan: Aka 'The Paper'!