Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Fiction
vr 3.00
2008-02-16
"When She Says, 'Osuwari,' Sit." by Abraxas | 2006-06-08
Chapter Six
Mr. Hojo and Noguichi walked the crowded streets of Tokyo, either unaware or unconcerned about the bystanders overhearing while they conversed with each other.
“Really, what you have to do is simple.”
“Seems more than a bit convoluted, teach.”
“I admit it’s because I am not telling you everything – yet – but it is simple.” They crossed Macarthur Avenue from the sunny to the shady corner. “Mostly, you have to watch. There’ll be interaction, too, but never never never be the one who initiates the interaction.”
The teenager knit his brow: interaction with what, he wondered.
The teacher noticing the student’s bewilderment continued: “You must adjust accordingly with what happens to you and not the other way around Even if it goes against your will you cannot resist, you must be totally submissive.”
Noguichi laughed. “You make it sound like I’m going to be raped or something.”
“Or something,” Hojo repeated under his breath and he was thankful that the momentary lapse of judgment went unheard. “The illusion that it controls what’s happening is key and cannot be disturbed.”
By the apartments of the five-hundred block, with the high school and its throngs echoing behind them, they stopped to think. Mr. Hojo produced an electronic organizer and gave it to Noguichi.
“It contains instructions that must be practiced. Instructions about movements and vocalizations. You’ll have plenty of time to study all of the details. It stirs rarely nowadays; it awakens maybe twice a week.”
The boy skimmed the titles of the files: movement and posture, grunting and the forced yet limited vocabulary.
“I know as much about ancient, Japanese customs as the next student, but I admit none of this is familiar to me. It’s like you want me to mimic an animal?”
The man was hesitant but sighed and spoke:
“What you read there are my notes – I was the first to do the job and I did it for the better part of four years. I know it appears to be overwhelming; give it time it will be second nature. Keh, after all of these years, every now and then, I catch myself moving and speaking that way.”
Noguichi sighed and smirked – and placed the instrument into his red jacket’s inner pocket.
The two snuck, momentarily, into the lobby of a building and shared a cigarette. Hojo stayed by the bulletin board and pretended to read the notices. Noguichi lingered about the mailboxes and wondered why the apartments were listed in the Romanji alphabet. Meanwhile the tenants filed past them in to and out of the building – most of the people were forgettable, ordinary citizens except for a female, male couple, they looked like twins the way their heads were closely shaved.
“The costume is crude and just for texture. It’s the postures and the words that are important. Think of it – think of it like a song and dance – like Kabuki. It’s just a role that must be played to amuse it while it languishes about this world.”
END OF CHAPTER
Submit a Reivew