The Unlikely Butterflies (Nozomi/Azami Wild Card Awakening)

Torn from the nothingness of her sleep by a sudden golden flash, Azami's eyes would open to the sea of swirling cosmos that now engulfed her. She was descending aimlessly -- the glimmering stars above her fading from her sight as she fell deeper and deeper through eternity. Where was it that the girl was going? How far would she sink within the ocean of glistening stars? It seemed that it was neverending. She fell, and she fell, and she fell, and she fell. Time seemed immeasurable in this strange chasm of space which she passed through. However, she had a hunch that it would end eventually. Though she knew not how much time had passed during the fall or how far the expanse before her extended, there was one universal truth within life -- that all things would end in the course of time.


When the descent ended, Azami awoke to an unfamiliar room of white. Though under normal circumstances this would prove to be a shocking experience she felt... oddly tranquil. It was almost as though she had never been taken from her dreamless slumber in the first place. What was this strange room? And more importantly, why was she here?

It didn't seem that was she alone. Strange, unintelligible voices seemed to be debating over something, although where specifically these voices were coming from proved to be an enigma to the befuddled girl. More importantly, however, a boy sat in the chair positioned away from hers. From the looks of it he was human -- or at least he was good at posing as one anyway. However, that was all she could decipher about him from a mere gaze alone. Perhaps he too was here of an accord other than his own? Though this prompted her mind to raise many questions and it, in its endless curiosity, hungered for the taste of answers, it was pointless to ponder over such things for the moment. She could only hope that this stranger would prove to be of some use to her.

Azami, looking directly at him, placed a single index finger on her lip -- a silent way of telling him to stay quiet for the moment. Judging from the voices all around them, there had to be something or someone within this room and alerting them didn't seem to be within her best interest... at least not until she had gotten a grasp on her surroundings. Not only that, but she felt as though another presence was within the room -- although that was most likely some paranoia on her part.

She would attempt to stand up from the chair she sat in, yet it proved to be of no avail. She could act and think freely, but it seemed as though her legs were entirely unresponsive to her will. No matter how much she tried, they refused to budge an inch and forced her to remain within the seat. It seemed that escaping, if such a prospect was even possible, wouldn't be so simple of a task. It was in this endeavor, however, that her peering eyes would notice the memories laid out in front of her.

Was this what she had been brought here for: some kind of sick joke contrived to make her squirm? Did her captor(s) bring her here to this strange realm simply to taunt her about the days she could no longer have?

She was quick to avert her gaze from the drawing pads assorted in front of her. The girl had no interest in tormenting herself over that which couldn't be changed. Instead, she would turn her attention back to the room and boy around her as she further analyzed her surroundings. Though she would ultimately find nothing new within the white room, it would keep her mind preoccupied for the moment. That was good enough for her.

AND SO

Nozomi fell through stars almost. Things were going real crazy as hell around him at this moment. Not really getting what the hell was going on as he felt himself surging through the image. Unable to really comprehend what was going on. However,

Nozomi Kichida would wake the fuck up.He was suddenly sitting in a chair in a strange room. What the hell was going on now?Was something strange about to happen again/Jesus christ. This doesn't exactly look so good. When he'd notice a girl was sitting in the chair near him as well. However upon waking and attempting to get up. Nozomi noticed he actually couldn't. As much as he'd love to yell and shout right now. It would  be nonsensical too. Surveying the room things looked rather...Clear.It seemed however the girl in front of him would signal to be quiet. He would nod in some form of agreement. Because hey. It didn't hurt to comply right?She seemed to be in a similar position to him right now.

As Nozomi would hear something rather strange...A voice familiar to him arguing with someone else. What did this mean however?The Kichida could only lie back and watch practically.

The two chose not to talk, and their surroundings didn't seem to change much. However, the more they kept silent, the more that Nozomi himself could feel the strange third party from before get stronger. To the point where they could faintly see a strange golden arm appear from his peripherals, to reach for his face. But before that could happen, the hand suddenly stopped, as one of the two presences from before began to feel stronger as well. The conversation stopped, and a strange voice that sounded both male and female resonated among the room.



The voice chuckled as though it was not bothered at all by this sudden intrusion. In fact, they were thrilled to find something new in the new cycle. The presence began to converge behind Azami, as a person walked from behind the chair, revealing themselves to be the splitting image of Azami herself, only her already red eyes were now a burning crimson, and she had a strange new demeanor, holding a hand to her hip and giving a cocky smirk.

"Hmph. So you wish to invade on our private affairs? By all means, show us what you hope to accomplish! Of course, what you plan to add by showing up here is futile. You seem to be quite strong, but pale in comparison to my power." The hand seemed to still in movement. Whatever the third party was doing, they were still. They appeared to be analyzing the situation, while the man and woman were for the most part ignored, however as the female? spoke, strange distortions were appearing around the room. The two could see glimpses of various areas over the walls, appearing and vanishing; one of them even appearing to be an image of their island home.

Azami's analysis had ended almost as quickly as it began; ceasing immediately upon her eyes catching sight of the strange, golden arm. At first she was puzzled at the sight of this... entity. She stared at it with a dumbfounded look on her face. That confusion, however, was quickly replaced by a surge of shock and panic. Her mouth opened to shout out a warning to the man, but before she could the golden arm would jolt to a stop. The indecipherable voices around them faded out and, with their sudden disappearance, a new one would emerge alone.



Azami knew not who or what it was, nor did she possess the knowledge as to where it had come from. The being had walked out from behind the chair, but surely it couldn't have been standing there the entire time? Even if she had somehow missed it when looking around the room, the man who sat across from her would have seen it there... wouldn't he? Then again, perhaps he had seen it and was simply withholding that knowledge from her. What motive could he have for such a thing though? After all, the one who copied her appearance had revealed itself seemingly without hesitance. If it was so willing to expose itself, what would be the point in him keeping its presence there hidden?

The sudden stream of new information brought no answers to her. All it yielded in the end was even more questions to add to the many that already plagued her. With so many flooding her mind at once, it was impossible to ignore them any longer.

As far as Azami was aware, her copy seemed to be addressing the golden hand. A confident grin laid upon its stolen face as it boasted of its power and the futility of meddling in its "private affairs." Meanwhile, the room that enclosed the four began to change rapidly. The once plain white walls were filled up by varying images that appeared all around them for a split second only to fade away in an instant the next. Many of these places displayed were unfamiliar to the girl, but for a moment she recognized one -- her home: San Malarus.

Her brain desperately scrambled to try to piece together what was going on. It seemed almost supernatural and for a moment she felt assured that it was. It was in Azami's endeavor to make sense of the mess she had found herself caught in, however, that she recalled falling to sleep beforehand... Yes. That explained it. This couldn't be real. It simply couldn't. It was all a dream: her mind playing tricks on her! How hadn't she realized it sooner?

"It's all a dream... It has to be," she would mutter to herself reassuringly. And with a nervous laugh filled with doubt at the words she repeated to herself, she'd fretfully watch the events around her unfold.

And so alot of bizarre shit was going down right now. What with the strange voice and sudden appearences of images all over the room. It didn't help there was that weird ass golden hand that Nozomi couldn't really comprehend right now. In fact. The Kichida would Opt to speak now, as it would not hurt them right.Fuck this. Listen Chick I dont know you but clearly theres some strange shit going on right now. And maybe they want us to talk I dont know. Not like it'd hurt.Despite the fact that they agreed to be silent. He was pretty sure at this point they should say something. Not like the situation would really change if they did not right?

And so. It was at that moment. Nozomi would survey everything going on around him yes. It seemed the situation was clearly supernatural of some sort. They hadn't been kidnapped or anything atleast....By Normal people.



Nozomi said practically baffled on what was going on around him right now. Despite the fact that the Kichida decided to speak up. He didn't have anything to say beyond the words. As Nozomi ever would so eloquently put. Almost as if they were rehearsed.


Nozomi was experienced with the supernatural to some extent and wasn't really freaking out. Ok maybe he was,but still. Now just to see what would go down.

Panic had overtaken the boy sitting across from her. He decided to speak and, as the hand grasped his face, cried out desperately for some answer as to what was happening. Alas, none was received. Instead he was... ripped away. The woman watched helplessly in horror as seemingly her only ally in this unfamiliar situation was snatched away bit by bit until nothing remained. Whatever that being was, it had taken both him and the other side of the room with it. And there was nothing that Azami could do to stop it.

Where was the boy now? Was he even still alive after that or had he...? As curious as she was, perhaps it was preferable that those mysteries be left unsolved. While humans in general had a tendency to overestimate the gravity of an issue, they were just as likely to not realize how grave it truly was.

Despite her pity for the man the fortune that befell him brought some form of comfort to her, albeit in a sick sort of way. Though he was gone, the hand too had left with him. Plus, she no longer felt bound to the chair that she had been confined to. A surge of relief, cruel as it may have been for Azami to embrace it so willingly, would wash over her and drown away the worries that had so suddenly emerged. Standing up from her seat, she would look around the darkened room before setting her sight on the one who wore her face.

"Hm....well then. Our friend has decided to leave us Azami Aihara. This means I shall be speaking to you on my old 'friend's' behalf. You come from the islands do you not? I am quite impressed someone like you found their way here; able to resist this world. Tell me, are you aware that something will occur to your island home soon?"

What? How'd it know her name? More importantly, what was it talking about?

"It will not be long before a calamity befalls your islands and there will be nothing you can do to prevent it. What would you do in the face of it? Will you cower and wait for the inevitable end I wonder."

Calamity? Inevitable end? At this point, Azami was getting irritated and it was starting to show. In such a short span of time so many questions had been raised. Nevertheless, if the doppelganger spoke the truth then perhaps she should be concerned. But what made this thing who hid itself behind her own guise worthy of her trust? And even if she could trust it, how was she supposed to respond to this? It was all just so... confusing. A swirl of emotions and feelings stirred inside her, yet the one thing that remained throughout it all was a constant sense of bewilderment.

"Why should I believe a word you're saying? I don't even know if any of this real, much less the specifics as to what's going on here, and yet you expect me to blindly put my faith in you? Who even are you? What even are you?" Following this line of questioning, Azami would simply let out a dejected sigh. "Even if what you say is the truth, what exactly am I supposed to do about it? Being at the mercy of whatever's coming for the islands certainly doesn't sound too appealing, but if some unstoppable cataclysm is going to wipe Azores off the map then it doesn't seem like I have much of a choice in the matter."

Man this was only getting more and more bizarre. As a sudden flash of golden appeared and Nozomi was whisked away from the chick. There appeared to be some form of relevance right now. To all of this as he was whisked away by the light and the hand. Hearing the strange voice that overtook him and told him he was "broken". He would regain the ability to open his eyes and feel odd on the inside. In a familiar setting that was..."Different" for some reason however.It was at that moment Nozomi would Recognize Igor. The man who he met during his initial adventures in azores within the Velvet room. His nose forever remained a mystery to him however.

Then came...That odd butterfly that flew directly into him and made him feel different. It seemed Igor was going to directly assist him this time around. What on earth was going on now...?I fully accept responsibility for the actions I commit as Nozomi Kichida.
He'd say almost automatically. Well. It wasn't like this could hurt right? As he would then sign the contract directly after a little thinking on it all.
So it seems I'm back in this funky room.Huh. What's going on and why am I back here again? He didn't hesitate to inquire as to what made him really "appear" here. Nozomi didn't have much of a problem really trusting Igor at the moment. From the looks of it things in azores were probably going to get strange again now...

As the being extended its hand to Azami, she would find herself hesitant to take it for a brief moment. Once again the answers she received only had led to more questions and, on top of that, the promises made by this supposed other her seemed too good to be true. There had to be some sort of catch to it -- some genie's twist to these wishes waiting to be granted. However, it didn't seem like this sort of opportunity would arise again anytime soon. If there was even the slimmest chance of these words being true, it was worth it. Her reluctance would seemingly vanish in an instant as she accepted the hand offered to her.


Power, importance, purpose... Though such offers were too good to be true, they were also too good to pass up.

And so. Nozomi suddenly felt all of his previous power fade from him. As if all of it was breaking down. Perhaps this was goodbye to his personas in a physical sense,but it wouldn't be goodbye permanently. As his persona rakshasa seemed to appear,before transforming into a new persona. One that....Fit the legends of San Malarus nearly. It was as if the words would almost escape his lips as the new name would usher it's way into his mind. as his persona was no longer the Rakshasa he initially knew,but now It was.....

The San Malarus Shredder. Huh. That was a name that could stick with Nozomi pretty well. Guess it's a hell of a fresh start right?

So your telling me. I'm gonna get to use MULTIPLE personas? So I draw more from my friends in a different way huh?He thought about it deeply. Everyone he knew about at that moment. It seemed as if they were going to play a greater impact in Nozomi's life than they had in the past. A great calamity,man,when will I ever catch a break. What's this....."Threat" exactly. Is it anything like the previous one?What the hell happened to me as well?What was that white room?What do I do from here?