Animals love Yukiiiiii
Rousseau and Michael = dogs
Sakanaka = owner of Rousseau
Higuchi = owner of Michael
Shamisen = Kyon's cat
Nagato looked at the plastic bag in Koizumi's hands, which bore the infamous supermarket logo, before shifting her gaze to the cardboard box in my hand.
"Meow~"
Shamisen purred as he began scratching the walls of the cardboard box with his claws, as if trying to say 'hi' to Nagato.
Haruhi gazed strangely at the box in my hands.
"To think that you'd require a cat to cure a disease, what a strange sickness indeed. Are you sure this'll work, Yuki? Can we trust that book?"
From the way things seemed, exorcising Rousseau may be a better word to substitute for 'cure'. But of course, I couldn't say that to Haruhi. For once I appreciated Nagato's silence.
Without uttering a word, Nagato nodded her head lightly, as she stretched her hand towards me. That's too bad, Nagato. Even if you offer me your hand, there's nothing I can give you. Even my hands are full carrying this Shamisen in this lousy box.
"Cat."
Nagato said in an emotionless monotone.
"Lend him to me."
After entering the train, I placed the cardboard box on Nagato's lap, thus freeing my hands of their burden. Maybe it's because we're in the train, but Nagato sat eerily still without saying anything at all, as if she were trying to tell me something. Shamisen too quieted down, as he laid down still in his box.
------
Rousseau was still as unhealthy as he was yesterday, as he lay still on the sofa, not moving at all. Even though his eyes were open, he seemed to be spacing out, as if staring straight into something no one else could see. The same went for Michael.
I think it's about time we began. I looked at Nagato and Koizumi.
The three of us had decided yesterday that we would leave Nagato in charge. I would serve as her assistant, while Koizumi was to prepare all the needed equipment. Even though I have no idea where he got it, I was relieved that I could rely on him at times like this, because I had no idea where we were supposed to get a silicon container from.
The first thing I did was draw the curtains shut, blocking all forms of sunlight from entering the room. I then proceeded to turn off the lights, so that in the end the room was almost pitch dark. I retrieved a big, thick candle from Koizumi's plastic bag, before placing it on a big altar. I lit the candle, then lit some joss sticks, also placing them on the altar. As I did so, the living room was filled with all sorts of weird smoke and aromas. After that, I gave Nagato a signal.
Nagato took Shamisen from the box, and cradled him in her arms. Truth to be told, Shamisen detested being carried this way, and he would normally scratch and claw his way out of it. However, seeing him remain totally still and silent made me realize that even he couldn't hope to stand against the prowess of the alien Nagato.
"Excuse me... Is it alright if you place that dog beside Rousseau?"
I asked to the young, tastefully dressed Higuchi-san who, upon seeing us set up everything as if it were a ritual, had begun eyeing us suspiciously. But in the end, she followed what I said, and soon there were two lifeless dogs lying on the sofa, looking as if their spirits had been extracted out of their bodies forcefully.
Carrying Shamisen in her arms, Nagato headed towards the sofa, before kneeling down.
Seeing that all preparations were now complete, I pressed the 'Play' button on an electronic tape recorder. Pretty soon, a piece of weird, eerie music filled the air. To tell you the truth, I was beginning to wonder if we had gone too far; but as Koizumi said, if we're going to do something, we might as well go all the way.
In the midst of flickering candlelight, mysterious aromas and weird music, Nagato began her strange ritual.
"........."
Even in this dark room, Nagato still appeared as pale and emotionless as ever. She slowly placed her left hand on Rousseau's head and stroked it a few times, then put her right hand on Shamisen's forehead. Even though he was in a totally unfamiliar room with two dogs, Shamisen still lay down quietly without making a sound.
Nagato even placed Shamisen before Rousseau's nose, until both their nose tips touched. Very slowly, Rousseau's black, beady eyes began to move, as Shamisen's wide opened eyes began to slowly close. As if trying to transfer something from Rousseau into Shamisen, Nagato frequently stroked their heads alternatively with her hands. The same thing was happening to Michael, as Nagato's lips moved silently, as if she was chanting something. We couldn't hear what was she chanting, but it did make me wonder if she did this on purpose. I think the only ones to realize this were Koizumi and I.
Finally, Nagato pressed Shamisen's forehead firmly upon both dog's nostrils, before standing up, and, without uttering a word, placed Shamisen back in his original cardboard box. She then picked up the box, returned it to me, and finally said:
"It's over."
----
Having served their purpose, the candles and joss sticks were carelessly thrown back into the plastic bag. I had initially thought of taking Shamisen out from his cardboard box, but decided against it after considering the fact that he might leave a few claw marks on Sakanaka-san's expensive furniture. He had begun meowing madly ever since he left Nagato's arms, and was frantically scratching at the walls of the box. If he were to scratch any of Sakanaka-san's furniture, I don't think I'd be let off the hook with just a few stern warnings. Having this in mind, I ignored him, hoping that he would eventually go back to sleep.
Sakanaka = owner of Rousseau
Higuchi = owner of Michael
Shamisen = Kyon's cat
Nagato looked at the plastic bag in Koizumi's hands, which bore the infamous supermarket logo, before shifting her gaze to the cardboard box in my hand.
"Meow~"
Shamisen purred as he began scratching the walls of the cardboard box with his claws, as if trying to say 'hi' to Nagato.
Haruhi gazed strangely at the box in my hands.
"To think that you'd require a cat to cure a disease, what a strange sickness indeed. Are you sure this'll work, Yuki? Can we trust that book?"
From the way things seemed, exorcising Rousseau may be a better word to substitute for 'cure'. But of course, I couldn't say that to Haruhi. For once I appreciated Nagato's silence.
Without uttering a word, Nagato nodded her head lightly, as she stretched her hand towards me. That's too bad, Nagato. Even if you offer me your hand, there's nothing I can give you. Even my hands are full carrying this Shamisen in this lousy box.
"Cat."
Nagato said in an emotionless monotone.
"Lend him to me."
After entering the train, I placed the cardboard box on Nagato's lap, thus freeing my hands of their burden. Maybe it's because we're in the train, but Nagato sat eerily still without saying anything at all, as if she were trying to tell me something. Shamisen too quieted down, as he laid down still in his box.
------
Rousseau was still as unhealthy as he was yesterday, as he lay still on the sofa, not moving at all. Even though his eyes were open, he seemed to be spacing out, as if staring straight into something no one else could see. The same went for Michael.
I think it's about time we began. I looked at Nagato and Koizumi.
The three of us had decided yesterday that we would leave Nagato in charge. I would serve as her assistant, while Koizumi was to prepare all the needed equipment. Even though I have no idea where he got it, I was relieved that I could rely on him at times like this, because I had no idea where we were supposed to get a silicon container from.
The first thing I did was draw the curtains shut, blocking all forms of sunlight from entering the room. I then proceeded to turn off the lights, so that in the end the room was almost pitch dark. I retrieved a big, thick candle from Koizumi's plastic bag, before placing it on a big altar. I lit the candle, then lit some joss sticks, also placing them on the altar. As I did so, the living room was filled with all sorts of weird smoke and aromas. After that, I gave Nagato a signal.
Nagato took Shamisen from the box, and cradled him in her arms. Truth to be told, Shamisen detested being carried this way, and he would normally scratch and claw his way out of it. However, seeing him remain totally still and silent made me realize that even he couldn't hope to stand against the prowess of the alien Nagato.
"Excuse me... Is it alright if you place that dog beside Rousseau?"
I asked to the young, tastefully dressed Higuchi-san who, upon seeing us set up everything as if it were a ritual, had begun eyeing us suspiciously. But in the end, she followed what I said, and soon there were two lifeless dogs lying on the sofa, looking as if their spirits had been extracted out of their bodies forcefully.
Carrying Shamisen in her arms, Nagato headed towards the sofa, before kneeling down.
Seeing that all preparations were now complete, I pressed the 'Play' button on an electronic tape recorder. Pretty soon, a piece of weird, eerie music filled the air. To tell you the truth, I was beginning to wonder if we had gone too far; but as Koizumi said, if we're going to do something, we might as well go all the way.
In the midst of flickering candlelight, mysterious aromas and weird music, Nagato began her strange ritual.
"........."
Even in this dark room, Nagato still appeared as pale and emotionless as ever. She slowly placed her left hand on Rousseau's head and stroked it a few times, then put her right hand on Shamisen's forehead. Even though he was in a totally unfamiliar room with two dogs, Shamisen still lay down quietly without making a sound.
Nagato even placed Shamisen before Rousseau's nose, until both their nose tips touched. Very slowly, Rousseau's black, beady eyes began to move, as Shamisen's wide opened eyes began to slowly close. As if trying to transfer something from Rousseau into Shamisen, Nagato frequently stroked their heads alternatively with her hands. The same thing was happening to Michael, as Nagato's lips moved silently, as if she was chanting something. We couldn't hear what was she chanting, but it did make me wonder if she did this on purpose. I think the only ones to realize this were Koizumi and I.
Finally, Nagato pressed Shamisen's forehead firmly upon both dog's nostrils, before standing up, and, without uttering a word, placed Shamisen back in his original cardboard box. She then picked up the box, returned it to me, and finally said:
"It's over."
----
Having served their purpose, the candles and joss sticks were carelessly thrown back into the plastic bag. I had initially thought of taking Shamisen out from his cardboard box, but decided against it after considering the fact that he might leave a few claw marks on Sakanaka-san's expensive furniture. He had begun meowing madly ever since he left Nagato's arms, and was frantically scratching at the walls of the box. If he were to scratch any of Sakanaka-san's furniture, I don't think I'd be let off the hook with just a few stern warnings. Having this in mind, I ignored him, hoping that he would eventually go back to sleep.