ahappylie | 058 [voice]

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058 [voice]

[Souji is at home and it's too quiet. He ends up talking to Saizou, his pig, for company a lot lately and this time, Saizou steps on the journal as he's talking, picking up bits and pieces of their one-sided conversation.]

--nder...why...--that some ......--ile others go, Saizou?

[The pig grunts and Souji laughs softly, sounding tired and worn.]

Mm...yes, I suppose we'll never know.....--haps....world returns.....--work still left to complete; and leaves ...... --no longer necessary.

[He's quiet for a moment and then lets out a heavy sigh, dismissing his own thoughts.]

No, that's silly. ....--ing me the jour--....

[The microphone picks up the muffled bumps and thumps as Saizou bites the journal and brings it over for Souji. He presses the on button again, unaware that it was already recording. When he addresses everyone, he's much chipper like he always, no trace of his earlier stress.]

I learned a new game so I have a question for everyone~

Would you rather eat nothing but your favorite food forever or never eat your favorite food again?

Also, it has been quite awhile, but anyone who knew my other self, Hijikata-san or Chizuru-chan; they've all returned to their homes.

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[Souji switches back to voice and starts wandering about the kitchen, making things.]

Once the spring comes, it will be much nicer and easier to get out there.

[According to history, he dies after a black cat visits him for a few days straight. He's read about that and is rather wary of cats now.]

What's the road like going out that way?

[Because this is Derek. What's a little seasonal inconvenience once he decides he can make it, still on crutches or not?

...The cat thing makes sense, then. Derek would probably wonder out loud if maybe it hadn't been a friend of his trying to lead him 'home', though, if Souji told him about it.]

[Souji looks at the video images that Derek is showing and blinks.]

It isn't bad, but it might be wiser to wait until it is less packed with snow considering the conditions.

[aka Derek's condition]

Yeah, I'd probably wait until it's at least dry.

[Actually, that's probably all he'll wait for. Now that he has semi-blessing to get up and move around...

Well, it's Derek. And he wants to be moving around.]

Anyone live out that way? Wouldn't want to freak them out if I go wandering across their field when they aren't expecting anyone.

Yes, it would be terrible to see you fall into a mud pit. I don't think even a hunter as skilled as yourself could make that look dignified.

[He laughs.]

I know someone owns the stables, but I'm not sure about the farmlands. A friend of mine, Nami-san, she owns the mikan orchard, but otherwise the farmlands are rather open.

Okay, I'll keep that in mind.

And no, landing in mud isn't dignified for anyone. Which is probably why a lot of kids like playing in it.

[Annnd, a sudden stray thought hits him. Well, maybe not so sudden considering the conversation so far.]

When does Spring usually come in around here?

[He laughs] Yes, I suppose that is why kids enjoy playing in mud. That and the fun of being scolded later.

Spring usually comes after the plums have bloomed and left. I believe they say it is in the Western month of April...?

...Sounds about right. Pretty used to living in a desert, so seasons are kinda unique for me. At least when they're up close and personal. So there's still a little bit of a ways to go, then.

Yes, just a bit longer. It will be nice to see the spring again... Will this be Derek-san's first remembered spring out of the desert?

In a few decades, anyway, yeah. Been to places that had it, just usually not during spring.

I would think if you could go somewhere, you would want to travel during the spring. It has the best weather, doesn't it?

It does, but then, I travel for my job, not to go on vacation, so I don't get much of a choice of where or when.

...Derek-san sounds like he could use a vacation then. It's no fun to travel for work. You don't get to enjoy anything at all.

I guess it depends on whether or not you take the time. Met plenty of people on the way.

[Translation: Would be nice, but his lifestyle really doesn't allow for it.]

I take it you weren't able to take the time?

[He thinks for a moment.]

It must be hard to vacation when you're hunting vampires. They don't really rest, do they?

Sort of. They sleep during the day, so there's time. Not a lot, but you can get a break in as long as they don't know you're there yet. Once they know, though, yeah, no time.

Do they often know you are coming for them?

Not if I'm careful and my luck doesn't go to hell. But yeah, sometimes they know someone's coming for them, at any rate. Usually if I can't get them all on the same twenty four hour shift. Then it's hide and seek until the sun comes up again.

Does it happen often? The deadly version of hide and seek?

If it did, I wouldn't be here. That's a waiting game that will eventually go wrong for the hunter, no matter how good he is.

I tend to get sent on hunts that only involve a couple of vampires at a time. If there's more than a couple, then I'll spend a lot of time observing first. Finding their hunting spots, their nest. And I'll wait and make sure that they're all in there when I go after them, if I can, and keep my head down and out of sight until then. If I can get one on it's own and be reasonably sure the others won't notice, I will. Otherwise...I wait.

[Like a den of thieves, or one full of rebel samurai. He understands that well and remembers doing much of the same. Day by day they watched the country samurai roll in and begin to gather at their various hideouts. They watched and waited for the big fish to swim upstream.

And then they went in and slaughtered them all.

Souji pauses as he remembers that summer four years ago. How long ago it seems.]

You have a boss who tells you where to go? I once thought Derek-san was more of the self-employed type.

I have a boss; he's the one that gets the calls, and I go where he tells me they are. Once I'm there, I'm on my own though unless I needs supplies or more information.

...And it doesn't exclude me from going after vampires I find on my own. We just don't get paid for those.

[How strange...to be paid to do such an odd job. Souji thinks for a moment.]

Is it a good job? I assume it must be for you to do it so long.

It's a good way to drive yourself crazy if you don't take any breaks in between hunts.

I don't do it for the money. It's necessary though for supplies.

Well, that is true of any job, don't you think?

[Although probably truer for Derek's work than the Everyday Sam's job.]

I never did hear why you started in such a dangerous business. But that's likely not a story for first time re-meetings, yes?

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