Forty Ninth: Another Year

[miss_enma_ai]

[Phone]

Has anyone been here longer then two years?

[Ai  can be found in a few places today.

A. On her front steps, she's reading a  book she got back. If you can read Japanese you might be able to see the words 'Hell Girl' in the title.

B. In the park. Oh hey it's a little girl and some other people- ..and now it's just a little girl. /Ai is bored

Comments

B

[strike_you_out]

[A boy has appeared who is decidedly not one of Ai's illusions. Curious, Slugger looks up at the other "people", unaware yet that they aren't actually there.]

[miss_enma_ai]

[It's hard to tell. At least the people might look familiar though. Older man, woman in kimono and young man with only one eye visible. The young man smirks as Slugger looks at them. The other two just seem amused.]

[strike_you_out]

[After looking from one face to another, Slugger's gaze lands on Ai.]

Your friends?

[miss_enma_ai]

[She nods.]

My assistants and companions.

[strike_you_out]

[So these are the companions she spoke of before. Slugger turns toward them again and bows his head in greeting; they belong to Ai and therefore deserve a little respect.]

[miss_enma_ai]

[The young man grins at that, and offers a slight bow back. The woman and older man just nod.

And then they're gone. Leaving, Ai alone with Slugger.]

[strike_you_out]

[Mildly startled at their sudden disappearance, Slugger blinks at the place where they stood before turning back to Ai.]

Illusions?

[miss_enma_ai]

[She nods. And then closes her eyes and suddenly the scenery seems to shift and it looks like they're standing on a busy street in a random Japanese city. People walking by on cell phones and cars driving by.

The Japanese is messed with here and there by whatever translates the people in Mayfield. But it's there. Ai opens her eyes and looks at it. It's incredibly realistic. But she's good at that after all.]

It's just an illusion.

[strike_you_out]

[It's been a long time since Slugger has seen a contemporary setting. With the combination of his newly regained clothing, there is a strong sense of properly "fitting in" with the world presented to him. Slugger looks around at his surroundings with awe, clearly impressed with the details. Of course, he's well aware that Ai is a master of illusions so it doesn't come as a huge surprise.]

It looks like home.

[Save for one small, pink and floppy-eared detail. Even the exhaust fumes from the cars smells real.]

Do you do this a lot?

[miss_enma_ai]

[She nods at the home part and then pauses.]

...sometimes.

[She's a bit quiet. ...she used to use a similar trick like this when she first became the Hell Girl. Only that had gotten her in a bit of trouble.]

[strike_you_out]

To remind you what it was like on the outside?

[Raising his arm, he takes a step closer to where the cars are sliding past and extends his bat into their path.]

[miss_enma_ai]

Yes. To remember what it looks like.

[And it goes through the bat, and the world fades and turns back into the park again.]

[strike_you_out]

[Slugger lowers his bat as the scenery reverts back to its former state.]

What other places do you remember?

[miss_enma_ai]

Many.

[And the park is suddenly shrouded in twilight. There is a small house off to the distance, and a cherry tree in the background.]

This is my home.

[strike_you_out]

[He looks around and up at the orange-red sky above.]

This is inside Hell?

[miss_enma_ai]

[She shakes her head.]

No. It is simply where I reside.

I am not allowed in Hell. I merely ferry people there.