♟ [video/voice] ♟

[vermicompost]

[The video feed comes on first, for an instant showing Kariya's gaunt, haggard face. The left half of it is badly scarred, wasted away, the muscles slack, his left eye dull and pale. He blinks, then frowns at the screen, and the video cuts off as he switches to voice. He didn't mean to show himself.]

Hello. My name is Kariya Matou.

I know so many of you have been suffering, and I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything that's been done to you. If there's anything I can do to help, I'll try to do it. Even if you just want someone to talk to. I don't think we should be alone here.

[He pauses to catch his breath, a little winded. He's not really sure how to broach his next subject, but he forges ahead.]

There's a question I want to ask, too. If someone could help me-- I have a condition, and I was wondering... If any of you know anything about magical healing, can you contact me? Thank you.

Comments

[forfeiture]

...

Not only kind, but you're a strong man as well. [ To think he can remain optimistic at that idea.. well, she's very much the same. Dealing with hardships but just keeping on trying and just staying positive.. it's something she knows everything about. Maybe that's why his particular case makes her feel so sorry for him. ]

But even so, I'll try to find a way to contact them for you. They say prevention is better than cure.

[vermicompost]

I don't know about that. I want to do what's best, that's all.

[It can be very hard to stay positive, especially in his condition, when his fate is all but decided, but he does what he can.]

If there's anything that could help, I'd try it. I'd appreciate anything you could do. And if there's anything you need from me, you only have to ask.

[forfeiture]

I'll try my best. I can't do anything about it personally, but perhaps I can find someone who can.. [ helping it natural to her, really, but at the last part she can't help but shake her head with a tiny smile. ]

But I couldn't possibly ask something from you. You probably already have enough people to help after broadcasting this.

[vermicompost]

Thank you. You're very kind. I hope you're able to find someone. There might not be anyone who can do anything. My condition isn't exactly normal, but I thought it couldn't hurt to ask.

I don't know... Sometimes people are unwilling to accept help from someone they don't know. I'll see. And I'd never hesitate to help someone else, especially a friend.

[forfeiture]

.. If it's okay for me to ask.. what kind of condition is it exactly? It will help me in thinking of who I should ask about it.

[vermicompost]

Yes, you can ask. It's all right.

I have--you'd call them parasites, but they're not ordinary parasites. They're magical. They live inside me. They're my family's familiars.

[forfeiture]

Familiars..? [ well, she has demons in her worlds, so it's not that weird-- she's more just curious, it's not like she knows much beyond some demon business from her own world. ]

But why are they your familiars if they are causing your own potential death?

[vermicompost]

Yes, they--they help me perform magic. They make me stronger that way, even though they make me weaker physically.

They're not mine. They're my family's. My uncle's responsible for them. I didn't really want them, but I didn't have much choice.

[forfeiture]

So they were forced upon you.. [ it honestly just sounds like he's had a really, really tough time.. ] .. I'm sorry, Kariya. But I'll try my best to help you any way I can, I'll promise you that much.

[vermicompost]

I chose to take them on, but it was for someone else's sake. There was no other way to help her.

You don't have to be sorry for me. It's hard, but this was my choice.

And thank you. That means so much. You're a kind person, Eva.

[forfeiture]

.. No, you should be saying that about yourself. If you truly took all of that on just for someone else's sake, even though it might even kill you.. that takes more bravery than anything else. [ even though she's practically done the same back home right before she arrived here. ]

[vermicompost]

I was only doing what I had to do. I--I made some mistakes. I had to make up for them. I want to do what's right.

That's why I have to get home as soon as I can. I'm supposed to help Sakura, and I can't do that here.

[forfeiture]

Let's take things one by one. First we have to find someone who can help you. [ or else he might never get a chance to return home in general, no matter whether their worlds really are destroyed or not. ] That's the most 'right' thing to do right now.

[vermicompost]

It's hard not to think of other things, but I'll try.

I don't know if a regular doctor could help. Since the worms are magical, it should be best to use magic on them, but I'm not sure.

[forfeiture]

In a place like this that might not be much of a problem though. As far as I've seen, it seems that there are quite some people capable of using magic of some sort here.

[vermicompost]

You're right. I can't give up hope yet. Maybe there's someone who'll know what to do. If you find anyone, let me know. If not, I'm used to it. Please don't worry about me.

But I wonder, would it be all right to ask you another favor?

[forfeiture]

Another favor..? Of course. [ It's not like she minds doing things for other people, after all - especially not people she likes.

(And she's totally still going to worry about him, okay.) ]

What is it?

[vermicompost]

I found out that one of my nieces, Rin, is here in the tower. If you see her, could you look out for her? She probably doesn't need much help, since she's very strong, but I think she could use people to care about her.

I worry about her.

[forfeiture]

Rin was the girl with the dark hair, right? [ She's trying to remember the photo he showed her.. ]

I'll try to help her if I see her around then. [ she can't help but have her lips tug up a little, the next part is sort of a joke.. ] My son doesn't like it much when I go around by myself, so I'll have to see if I ever have a moment to spot her.

[vermicompost]

Yes, she was, but she looks different. She changed. She's older now. Her hair was dark, but it's now it's white, like mine. She wears it in ponytails, with ribbons. She has red eyes.

Thank you. I'd appreciate anything you can do for her. Tell her you're a friend of mine.

[He smiles back.] If you do have a minute.

[forfeiture]

I'll try my best then. [ That description sounds good enough - there's probably not too many people like that here, combined with how she vaguely knows what the girl looks like from the photo.. ]

[vermicompost]

I think you'll recognize her, if you see her. She stands out. She thinks she doesn't need anyone's help, so I don't know how she'll react, but please don't hold it against her, if she's impolite. She's been through a great deal.

[forfeiture]

.. It's okay. It's understandable, considering the circumstances. [ She knows what it's like to just deal with a lot of things, even if it didn't change her as much.. but she can understand it might do more to children when they have to go through it. (Case in point: her own kids, even if she doesn't realise the full extend of it.) ]

Besides, isn't that just how children are at that age..?