Adventure Twisted Side Story - CRAZZZZY RAT AND HIS CAST OF

[Carthrat]

"Azzuroan, yes. Here, I have a couple books."

Carthrat produces the earlier two books, and hands them over to Diane.

"I.. was stupid. I'd had the worst possible week I could ever have, at least, well, before I got 'touched', and ended up slitting my wrists. Next thing I know, I'm still alive and lying in a pool of my own blood.

Since then, it's all been fucked up. I was in Japan only a few days ago... you don't wanna know what I did there. Hell, I'm not sure I want to. Some other mage kidnapped me before I knew what I was.. said I was a 'dimensional key'.

She had me trapped and everything, and then- well, I escaped, and fled here."

Carthrat snorts.

"Now that I'm here, I've got no clue what to do."

[Anastasia]

Diane briefly looks over the books as you talk, her other hand idly running over Rachel's hair.

"Hmm...Could you start at the beginning and be through, Mr. Tanewaki? I would like to know exactly what lead to this and what has sprung from it." she says.

[Carthrat]

"The beginning? As far as I know, that was eight years ago when.. my wife got shot through the lung."

Carthrat unintentionally grasps the amulet around his neck. "She didn't have a chance, really. I always thought it was my fault.. blamed myself.. spent the next year just wallowing around, doing this and that. Mercenary work.

Then I met this other girl, Shizue Kinomata. I'm sure you've heard of her, she seems to know just about everyone. Had her hand in just about everything. Out to conquer the world, y'know?

I started taking on jobs for her. Initially, it was a side thing, I guess.

It grew, you know? She actually made me feel like I was building something. Even if, technically, it wasn't mine, I felt like.. you know, like I was making someone happy.

I was wrong. Y'know, the grass is always greener on the other side and that. That could be her motto, really. I just kept working for her.. killing for her.. destroying for her.. for seven fucking years.

Then, I'm at home, right. And this.. this.. *Tarrasque*, for crying out loud, starts stomping in the streets outside. You've heard of the Sailor Senshi, right? Some kind of.. hell, parody of them.

I've been to Jusenkyo, y'see. Changed into a girl when hit by water. At least, I used to be. Dosn't seem to work anymore.

Anyway, this Tarrasque knocked down my house and then dragged me to her homeworld, Falx. Apparently I was supposed to be some 'avatar of cute'.. yeah right. Had to heal 'cute' Tarrasques cursed by some virus.

I don't really know anymore. I jumped out the universe as soon as I could, which was probably the worst mistake I've ever made. Doubtless you've seen those two monsters roaming around Sapporo? They're *looking* for me, but I can't help them, 'cos I can't change into a girl, and if I can't do that, I can't save their world like I should've done in the first place. God only knows what it's like now.

Anyway, that's another matter. After busting out of Falx, I went to see Shizue to check if she had any work for me.

But it all hit me, y'know? Not to go into details, but.. I was thinking of Yuki.. of everyone I'd killed, and I'm not proud, not at all, and it absolutely shit me to see her practically- well, revelling in it! I'm the one who made all the sacrifices for her, and she's the one profiting, and I'm reduced to.. this!

So.. I slit my wrists. Was going to go to hell. Probably deserved it.

Then I came back, and I was.. like this.

Went beserk in Tokyo. Killed some people. Don't want to know what I did.

Ended up trapped in some mages prison.. but whaddya know, the Tarrasque appears from nowhere and breaks all the spells! In return, I was incredibly kind and slaughtered her.

By all rights, I should've died right then. All I remember is this huge, bleeding body, and running away as fast as I can.

Then I ended up here..."

[Anastasia]

As you go on, Diane's slowly seems to be overwhelmed with the vast amount of information you gave out.

After a minute to digest the end of it, she replies.

"This Shizue Kinomoto, could you go into some more detail about her and what you did for her?" she asks.

[Carthrat]

"Anything and everything. She kep trying to marry me, you know?

See, I'm a physicist and a chemist. And a damned good one, if I do say so myself. I make weapons of all kinds, and whats more, I can use them effectively.

Shizue had me on just about every conceivable job. Open warfare, guard duty, smuggling, pilot, search 'n destroy... all to further her ambition.

Basically, I killed people for her.

As for what *she* did? She owns Kinomoto Inc., a large business out to dominate the world. Unfortunately, they ran into economic trouble some time ago, and are currently trying to find the funds to pay her private army.

She knows.. well, everyone, it seemed. She has mages, clerics, martial aritsts, 'modern' mercenaries like myself, nuclear missiles.. just about everything she needs on hand. Don't know why she took such an intrest in me, but she did.

I honestly don't know all that much about her, really. All I know is that just about everything I did for her involved killing people."

Killing. It always came back to the killing.

[Anastasia]

"Hmm. Mercenary, are you? Nevermind, it's not important. So you acted as a hitman for this woman?"

[Carthrat]

"Pretty much."

THAT was harder to say than it should've been..

[Anastasia]

Diane nods slowly, idly stroking Rachel's hair.

"It's painful for you," she says it in a way that is not a question but a statement. "Would you ever go back to her in the same role?"

[Carthrat]

"I couldn't go back to anyone in that role, let alone her," replies Carthrat numbly, his mind vaugely recalling each and every incident he'd ever been caught up in.

A long sigh escapes his lips.

[Anastasia]

She is silent after that, studying you instead of speaking. Finally, aftet what seems to be too long in her gaze...

"So you regret your actions. But, do you want to repent and change yourself? You have a terrible burden, and even if you explunge Azzuroan's touch...

You are still likely bound to a less than pleasant final call."

[Carthrat]

"Where there's a will, there's a way," replies Carthrat.

[Anastasia]

A smile spreads over both Diane and the quiet Rachel's faces.

"You want to change, I think. Good," she says. "But moving on for now, who put the energy absorbtion and repression enchantments on you?"

[Carthrat]

"There are enchantments on me?" replies Carthrat, with some surprise.

[Anastasia]

She nods. "Yes.  You said you had a Jusenkyo curse, correct?"

[Carthrat]

"Well, I still do. I'm just guessing it's a side effect of what Azzuroan did to me."

He gestures to the books.

"They said that eventually, my form will change. Perhaps this gradual change is repressing the curse."