You requested a Safu survives AU and I did my best to deliver. Originally I wanted there to be a short reunion / meeting with Nezumi and Shion but unfortunately that did not happen. Since this is an AU I took some artistic liberties to make it a little more logical but I might have skipped some many details. Hope you can still enjoy it if only a little!
Have a good time!
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It was hard to keep her ears and eyes open. Especially the latter. But she willed herself to stay awake. Otherwise she might lose herself.
Safu squinted through the water, ignoring the burning of her eyes. The room ("No, lab", she corrected herself), she was in was way too bright. She wasn't sure if they had turned the lights off even once ever since she came here. Or rather ever since she got forcibly taken there.
Why her of all people? Hasn't she been a virtuous citizen? Hasn't she served No 6 well?
Questions over questions. Yet she could never ask them. For one, the mask which helped her breath under water prevented her from saying anything. Secondly they — the professors — didn't let her out. Thanks to the various tubes attached to her body she was able to survive without taking a single step outside her tiny aquarium. She certainly did feel like a fish though ten if not hundred times worse. At least a fish could move and in most cases hide.
All of a sudden a pair of all too familiar steps came closer to her. It gave her goosebumps every time. More often than not it meant pain for her. But precious results for them.
Willing her eyes to stay open, she regarded the person in front of her carefully. Due to the water and the awful lighting she could barely make out a human shape as usual. When she first came here the blurriness wasn't that bad. Yet while she would like to see more, she found it more important to hear. If only she could listen in on their conversations then she'd know what exactly their plan was with her.
Bzzzzt!
Strings of electricity washed over her brain like a huge wave.
Even though she had already expected it as it happened so many times it didn't make it hurt any less. But at least she didn't pass out from it anymore. She didn't even get paralysed.
However she still pretended to be knocked out because otherwise they'd give her a much higher dosage.
On the other hand, there was this voice in her head. It didn't sound human yet she slowly started to understand them.
Before it had only been bits of pieces. Now a full sentence was ringing clear as if whispered right into her ears,
"They have to be stopped."
Seems like her companion was also starting to understand her as well.
Safu tried to follow their example, "Who are you?"
It was quiet for a while. She wasn't sure if it was cause that being was thinking over her question or their responses were delayed. Like having bad connection.
"You may call me Elyurias, little Safu."
What an unusual name. Something she's never heard before not even as a word from another language.
While she was curious she refrained herself from asking more questions. Now was not the time. Plus she had a feeling she'd get a good picture of who and maybe what exactly that Elyurias is very soon.
"Alright, Elyurias."
There was no point in introducing herself when the other party already called her by her name. No matter how suspicious it was, she decided it was best to go along with it for now.
"Do you have a plan?"
"Yes," they replied much faster this time.
All of a sudden Safu saw bright images flashing before her inner eye. It took her a moment to recognise them as various screens. There was even what looked like camera footage.
At the same time, the overload of information made her head feel like it's spining and cracking at the same time.
Yet she much welcomed this pain which was arguably worse. A small price to pay for regaining her freedom.
Elyurias didn't tell her exactly what she should do. But it took Sayu only seconds to come up with the best way to use the mighty tool she was given.
First she made an alarm go off so the scientists would leave.
As soon as no one was left inside the room, she opened up the capsule and finally stepped out of it. Or rather she stumbled out of it and somehow managed to separate from the tubes. At least she didn't have to worry about getting them off anymore.
However, it took her a bit to stand up as her body was weakened from being coped up for so long. Even though her limbs were sluggish it was such a relief to not be under water anymore and be able to move freely again.
Once she had managed to get on her feet without falling she looked around the room until she found it. A set of clothes. One of the only things she could make out when she first came here was how one of the scientists secretly kept some extra clothing in her drawer. At the time she had deemed that information useless. Now it came in handy. Especially since the full body suit she was wearing was wet and uncomfortable. Plus and more importantly the lab coat would help her blend in.
After getting changed she made Elyurias take her to the heart of the lab. Thanks to a digital map and the ability to open any electric door she made it to the room in no time.
There she walked up to a glass capsule similar to but bigger than her own. What caught her eyes first were the traluscent wings which she imagined to be much prettier in flight. Next was the rest of the body which was very similar to a wasp or a bee.
She knew what or rather who it was without being needed to be told.
"We're almost there." Elyurias urged her which she was quick to oblige.
In no time did she get her prideful companion out.
Yet instead of flying to their freedom they headed to giant computer and started attacking it.
Safu was frozen at first until she ran up to her temporary ally.
"Wait!" she shouted, voice chords straining from the sudden use in so long.
"If you break it then everything will blow up!"
"So what?" they retorted in such a cold tone.
After steeling herself, Safu spoke up again in a clearer voice, "Everyone will die."
When she saw them reaching out to smash the console again, she quickly added, "That includes you and me too."
It was quiet for a moment as the two continued to stare at each other.
"You want to live." A statement, not a rhetorical question.
"Didn't you want to help me escape?" Safu asked, "To get me away from those awful people?" She wrapped her arms around herself, a weak attempt to shake off everything they did to her. Yet the memories would haunt her forever.
"There are still awful people," Elyurias pointed out, "They're everywhere."
It wasn't only the scientists. It wasn't only the government. No 6 was full of bad actors. Safu was all too aware of it.
But at the same time, she considered herself lucky to have been close to good people. Like Shion, her best friend and one-sided crush. Like Karen who was like a second mother to her. Like her grandmother who she missed dearly. Yet she was nowhere near ready to see her again, not like that.
"You're right Elyurias and I won't deny that."
Sayu took one more step closer to them to gently caress their arm.
"We've both been hurt by them. Yet instead of thinking of them I'd rather spend my time being with the people — the good people — I love."
She stroked their arm one last time before pulling away.
"So while you may only seek revenge I don't. I just want to go home. No, I'm going home."
Once again they were caught in a staring contest. Technically Safu lost for the second time. Not that it mattered.
Finally, Elyurias deflected.
"I suppose it's only fair that I give back to the human who helped me."
All of a sudden a gust of wind enveloped Safu.
"Elyurias—"
"You want to go home. So let me take you there."
Without awaiting her reply the metaphorical taxi started its engine.
The journey went as expected. Safu was beyond dizzy afterwards. She wasn't sure how it was possible that she survived that. It was a miracle that she didn't even have any injuries.
After regaining her sense of self she took notice of a sweet and a familiar scent. A moment later two strong arms were wrapping around her for a tight embrace.
Karen.
Then it finally sunk in. She was back home after what felt like a neverending nightmare.
Paper, ink, glue, and wire. Flowers and vase designed and created by me, origami wasp designed by J. Anibel Voyer and folded by me.
I recently read/watched the manga/anime No. 6. When I found out that the name “Shion” means “aster”, I couldn’t resist making some subtle references to the story in this floral arrangement.
* I would have named it “ネズミ と 紫苑” but I don’t know enough Japanese to be certain that’s a suitable title.
More pictures under the cut.
A close-up of the aster petals. These were cut from pale blue paper. I colored the edges with a sharpie marker and then doused it in rubbing alcohol to blend it out.
I did not do a great job folding this wasp. It felt like I tried a bazillion different patterns before I decided on this one, and then I tried to fold this one at least 6 times before I gave up. I had such good luck with the origami bugs for my Sherlock bugs/bat frame; trying to fold a parasitic wasp was a harsh reminder of how impossible origami can be.
Okay, there’s no larkspur in No. 6, but these added some much-needed height to the arrangement. I’m pretty stoked about how they turned out, too.
