Mar 2, 2024
friendly reminder that earthian exists and is really good even if nobody ever read it
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friendly reminder that earthian exists and is really good even if nobody ever read it
Series: Earthian III Artist: No Artist Credited Publication: Anime-V Magazine (12/1996) Source: Scanned from personal collection
forgot how much i loved these two
Reposting some older works;
dudurudududu Taki
Earthian Vol 1 Ch.5 Pt.2
Lali ho. I had fun transcribing the first chapter, I decided to do it again (ahaha my back hurts x_x). This time it’s Volume 1, Chapter 5 Part 2.Enjoy.
EARTHIAN VOL 1
Art and Story by Yun Kouga
Written and Illustrated by Yun Kouga
EARTHIAN by Yun Kouga © Yun Kouga, 2002
All Rights Reserved. Originally published in Japan by SOBISHA INC., Tokyo
English translation rights arranged with SOBISHA INC., Japan through THE SAKAI AGENCY
English Text copyright © 2005 BLU Manga
All rights reserved.
CONTENTS:
1 Earthian
2 Hong Kong Chinese 1, 2, 3 & 4
3 Christmas Summer
4 Valhalla
5 Eternal Romance 1 & 2
6 Phantom of the Opera
7 Armed Angels Attack
8 Recipe 2002
BACK COVER SUMMARY:
Angels are among us. They are scattered across the globe, living in our neighborhoods, observing humanity--the Earthian--in crisis…
Chihaya and Kagetsuya have known each other since their days at school. They are friends… and possibly more. These two angels roam the world, compiling lists of the positive and negative traits of humanity. In the process, they become involved in the lives of various humans, full of despair: An astronaut about to venture on a dangerous mission, a sorceress running from the mafia, and a mysterious artificially created human are just a few of those beings who Chihaya puts himself at risk to help, much to Kagetsuya’s dismay.
But after a meeting of angels, it is discovered that a terrible disease is plaguing a growing legion of angels. Salvation possibly lies in the fallen angel Lord Seraphim--and as Chihaya and Kagetsuya search to find him, he turns up in the most unlikely of places…
KEY:
[ ] = panel / page description and / or text
( ) = character’s inner thoughts
CH 5 - ETERNAL ROMANCE (Part 2)
[INTRO]
[Earth. The third planet from the sun. A beautiful planet of water and air, where 4.5 billion Earthian live. More than 5 billion years have passed since the group of Angels known as “Checkers” from the planet Eden, began observing them.]
[The Angels on Eden divide and check for the pluses and minuses of the Earthian’s actions from their two orbiting bases. One is Valhalla on the moon. The other is Isana on Earth.]
Michael: Once 10,000 minuses have been accounted for... we’ll have no choice but to eradicate the Earthian.
[Archangel Michael / Space Army Commander-in-Chief]
Chihaya: But, Lord Michael!
[Chihaya / Michael’s adopted son]
Michael: Now now, Chihaya. You have to understand, this isn’t our choice. The actions of the Earthian caused this result.
[The angels are divided into groups of two, with one member in each pair assigned to carry out the investigation of pluses or minuses respectively.]
Chihaya: Once I become a soldier, I would like to volunteer to be a checker for the pluses.
[Chihaya / Plus Checker]
Kagetsuya: A checker? Why would I be anything but a checker for minuses? I hate the Earthian, after all.
[Kagetsuya / Scion of the noble Sakura family / Minus Checker]
[And then...]
Chihaya: Why do you have to hate them, Kagetsuya?
Kagetsuya: What can I say? I don’t like them because I don’t like them. Besides, whoever heard of a team of a plus and a plus? And who else would be willing to partner with you anyway?
[...they go down to Earth.]
[ ETERNAL ROMANCE (Part 2) ]
[Planet Eden - Michael’s Mansion]
Michael: [pensive] So… I can’t believe Chihaya really went.
M: I never really intended for him to be a checker.
Raphael: Oh?
R: Though I do believe you were the one who told him he could choose whatever he wanted to do if he graduated at the top of his class.
R: He’s made his decision.
[Raphael / Michael’s Aide]
Michael: He even skipped some levels. I really didn’t think he’d manage to be first. And to imagine that Kagetsuya came in second.
Raphael: It wasn’t Kagetsuya’s fault. Chihaya has plenty of potential.
R: And it is quite strange how much Chihaya cares for Earth.
Michael: That’s what I can’t figure out!
M: It’s clearly no “dream planet.” It’s certainly not what Chihaya thinks it is.
Raphael: Yes, that’s true. There’s not that much difference between Eden and Earth. There are both good and bad people living there. Chihaya’s ideals… His ideals are far too beautiful. Like an illusion.
Michael: [biting his fingernail in an agitated manner] That’s what I can’t stand most.
Raphael: That child will be betrayed… hurt… and brought to tears.
Michael: Who knows? Perhaps his time on Earth will be enough to change him.
Raphael: [serving Michael tea] That may be true. However, Lord Michael… I believe that a child like Chihaya may have the power to destroy the illusion.
Michael: Raphael…
Raphael: Besides… he isn’t going alone.
[Scenic shot of a cityscape, with traffic far below]
[Chihaya: Dear Archangel Michael… it’s Chihaya! How is everyone doing?I am currently on my first trip down to Earth as a checker. Earth has turned out to be exactly how I’d studied it in school.]
Kagetsuya: [helping Chihaya to move items around a room] If you’re going to be in my group, you better do your work efficiently and honestly! Remember, anything you do, I take responsibility for too.
K: (Hey, move it over there!)
Chihaya: O-okay.
[Chihaya: My partner is Kagetsuya.]
Kagetsuya: And if there’s anything you don’t like eating, tell me now. I won’t stand for picky eaters. But I understand that everyone has something that they don’t like to eat, so it’s okay.
[Chihaya: Right now, we are in the city called Tokyo in Japan.]
Kagetsuya: [proudly] I happen to like cooking. I’m pretty good at it, too.
[Chihaya: As soon as we’re done putting everything in order we’re heading off to California in the U.S.A.]
Chihaya: Okay!
[Who knows… just how his beloved planet Earth will change him?]
[Elsewhere.]
[Sirens blaring, an overhead shot of a facility, with people running around looking frantic about something]
Guard: We have an escapee who must be captured!
G: The escapee is Professor Ashiya’s Product Number 01!
G: Taki!
G: We must not permit him to get away!
G: It’s Taki!!
Professor Ashiya: I see. So Taki’s escaped?
PA: How on Earth could this have happened? Could this mean he’s developed his own consciousness? And he was only supposed to be my toy.
Researcher: He’s with Number 02, Takano! They’re breaking down gate after gate! At this rate, they’ll reach the outside!
R: We don’t have much time, Professor! What do we do?
Professor Ashiya: It will be a problem if they get out. I’ll go.
PA: What is their current position?
Researcher: Gate 2.
R: They’re not far from Gate 0. What are your orders?
Professor Ashiya: [smugly] Hmm. Bravo.
Researcher: Professor Ashiya! How can you be so calm!
Professor Ashiya: There’s nothing to worry about. So, how many has he killed so far?
Researcher: Huh?
Professor Ashiya: I’m asking how many people he’s killed.
Researcher: N-no human casualties yet, sir… but it’s probably only a matter of time. But as for the cyber-noids, he’s already destroyed more than forty…
Professor Ashiya: That means his Pavlov system is still working. Forget the cyber-noids and use the security guards! Number 01 and 02 have been programmed NOT to lay a hand on humans.
PA: There’s nothing to worry about. You might get a bit bruised up, but nothing close to death. You should be able to surround them easily. I’m on my way out now.
PA: Taki and Takano wouldn’t dare harm a hair on my head. After all, I’m Professor Ashiya, the father of the biohumanoids.
[Blood spatters against a wall. Close up of it dripping down someone’s arm]
Takano: Taki! Are you alright?!
Taki: Takano!
Guard: The doc was right! They won’t even touch us!
G: Call the cyber-noids back and bring in human reinforcements to surround them!
[More sirens start blaring, a large spotlight shines on the two of them as Taki looks on with a face heavily streaked with blood]
Professor Ashiya: What is the meaning of this little escapade, Taki? You don’t like it here at the house?
Taki: Please let us go, professor.
Professor Ashiya: I must admit, you impress me, Taki. You’ve utterly destroyed 52 cyber-noids, and injured eight researchers and 14 security guards.
PA: [unsheathing a large hunting knife] I wouldn’t have expected any less from my ultimate creation.
Taki: Please let us go free, professor.
Professor Ashiya: [brandishing the knife threateningly in front of Taki’s startled face] Sorry, but I can’t do that. I have absolutely no intention of letting you two go.
Taki: No, professor, don’t!
T: TAKANO!
[Taki throws himself in front of Takano, who screams as she watches the knife plunge into his stomach deeply]
Takano: NOOOOOOO!!!
Guard: Professor! What are you doing! Are you trying to destroy him?
Professor Ashiya: Fools! Don’t be ridiculous. You think this little wound would be enough to finish him off?
PA: You simpletons may not know this, but these biohumanoids are quite sturdily built. They were created using artificial protein and hybrid DNA. The cells in his veins are extra fortified.
PA: [yanking Taki up by his hair] In short, he was made with the exact same elements as a regular human. Blood, bones, muscle. But all far stronger than the norm. My precious… doll.
Takano: [crying] Professor! Stop! Please stop!
[The guards look on in horror as Professor Ashiya proceeds to slit Taki’s throat with the knife]
Takano: TAKI!!
T: NO!!!
T: [clutching Taki to her desperately] Stop it professor! Don’t forget that we can still feel physical pain!
Professor Ashiya: Yes, just like a human.
PA: Pass me the shotgun.
Takano: …No… Wh-what are you doing?!
Professor Ashiya: I hypothesize even one hundred shots with this won’t be enough to stop Taki. But he’s immobilized, we can take him back home.
PA: Now be a good girl and step aside.
[Takano stands up]
Taki: Takano…
Takano: [angrily] No! You’ll kill him!
T: Taki! Run for it!
T: Get out of here, Taki!
Professor Ashiya: Stop this at once, Takano!
[Taki: But… I don’t think… I can move anymore.]
Takano: GO!!
[Slamming the knife into the wall, Taki uses it to vault himself over it]
Professor Ashiya: DAMMIT!
[Professor Ashiya whirls around and slaps Takano]
Professor Ashiya: Bring her back to the lab!
PA: Too bad for you that only Taki got away.
Takano: I was planning for only Taki to escape from the start!
T: Because I knew that it wasn’t possible for both of us to escape from you.
Professor Ashiya: Oh, I don’t think he’s out of the woods just yet, my dear. My little toy still has the city to contend with.
[Elsewhere.]
[Another shot of the city, at night. A sign reads: JR Subway Seibu Line]
Chihaya: Huh…? Where am I now? Where was that New York Hotel located again?
C: I know I have to leave by the west exit.
C: If I’m late again, Kagetsuya will have my head! It’s hard enough trying to memorize the train lines around here!
C: (I should have taken the bus!)
[Chihaya turns around at the sound of a voice nearby]
Subway Worker: Hey, Mister! Wake up! This is the last stop! We’re in Shinjuku!
SW: [muttering] Goddamn drunks! Always causing trouble!
[Chihaya sees a person sitting huddled on the ground, and stops to take a closer look at him]
Chihaya: (Drunk…? No! This is… the smell of blood!)
C: (But whose blood? Is it human? His own? Or someone else’s?)
C: Uh, excuse me…?
C: (Did he hurt someone?)
C: Are you okay? Do you need to be taken to the hospital?
C: (Or… did someone else… hurt him?)
[Taki glances up and sees Chihaya standing there. Tears run down his face]
Taki: Oh…
Chihaya: (Oh my god!)
T: [covering his face] Er… N-no. I’m fine.
Chihaya: Uh… Wh-what’s the matter?
C: (Oh no… Oh no, oh no! I just talked to an Earthian!)
C: (I talked to a regular person!)
C: [blushing] (He sure is pretty.)
C: Wh-why are you… crying?
Taki: A-ah… Never mind… it’s nothing.
Chihaya: B-but…
Chihaya: ………….
Taki: …Can I… ask you a question?
T: There’s nothing abnormal about me, right? I look… completely normal, don’t I?
[Chihaya just stares at him]
Chihaya: (Uh, well, you’re covered in blood and your clothes are a mess. I can’t exactly say you look normal, but… I know that’s not really what you mean.)
Taki: I’m no different from you, right?
Chihaya: (Well, you might be a little different from me, but…)
C: [smiling] Right.
[Taki stares back at Chihaya, then ducks his head again]
Taki: This had to be… the worst night of my life. I hurt the people around me for my own sake. And left behind a friend to save myself.
T: Tonight… I was nothing but a coward.
[T: But, professor… I’m not just your doll.]
[Flashback.]
Professor Ashiya: Ah, my precious Taki. You’re such a good boy. You’re the best of all the biohumanoids I’ve created thus far. I even developed a new type of blood just for you. I call it type D blood. It’s actually quite similar to type O at first glance, but…
PA: I created you, Taki. My memories are recorded within your DNA. The Pavlov system. In a sense, I am your God. You can’t betray me.
Taki: (Professor…)
Professor Ashiya: And you are merely an imitation of life. An artificial being created by the hands of man.
Taki: (But professor…)
Professor Ashiya: There is no way you can defy humans.
PA: I’ll add new input in time. After all, you were created for military purposes.
Taki: (Professor, I’m not planning on disobeying anyone.)
Professor Ashiya: My precious Taki… My one and only… doll.
Taki: (But I’m not planning on killing anyone either.)
T: (I don’t mind doing as I’m told. I even love the professor.)
T: (But… am I really just a fake? Does that mean I’m already dead? Then why is my heart still beating? What does it mean to be an imitation of life? Professor, am I really just a simulacrum… a forgery?)
[End flashback.]
Taki: [buries his face in his hands] That’s all… I wanted to know.
[T: Then… what is real? Who is real? Am I… Am I really only a fake?]
[The hotel.]
Kagetsuya: [clearly agitated] He’s late!!
K: What the hell could he be up to?! Probably got careless and--
K: He’s hopeless…
K: (But maybe I’m getting too worked up over this. I should just leave it be. But I can’t help it. Especially after I was asked to look after him!)
[Flashback.]
Michael: Kagetsuya. Chihaya’s just that kind of person so… I hope I can trust you to take good care of him.
Kagetsuya: Yes, sir.
Michael: And I’m not just asking you as a friend.
M: Black hair and black eyes. He’s the only one of his kind on Eden.
Kagetsuya: ……….
Michael: (Chihaya, the mutation.)
M: (Since the time when he graduated from school at the top of his class and began his military duties… he has been blessed with a certain few allies and supporters.)
M: Personally, it’s not so much the plus and minus business that has me worried. It’s whether or not it’s having a positive influence on him.
Kagetsuya: Do you think he’ll be all right on Earth?
Michael: [sipping tea] Well, you two have been together since military school, so I think it’s a good pairing.
Kagetsuya: B-but I can’t do that! He’s the one who made valedictorian!
Michael: I’m surprised, Kagetsuya. I didn’t think you’d be concerned about that.
Kagetsuya: [embarrassed] What do you mean by that? Lord Michael?!
Michael: Don’t worry about it. I came in third.
Kagetsuya: Third?! You mean there were two other students above you?!
Michael: Yes. That’s why I’m telling you not to worry.
Raphael: That would be me.
Kagetsuya: !
Raphael: I made valedictorian over Michael.
Kagetsuya: But then… who came in second?
Raphael: Lady Lucifel.
[Michael turns and looks at him, initially very shocked, but now very guarded and upset]
Michael: Raphael!
Kagetsuya: Lady Lucifel…?
Raphael: Yes. Lord Michael’s younger sister.
Michael: She died, though. Long before either of you were born.
Kagetsuya: I-I’m sorry…
Michael: [unnerving smile] It’s quite all right. After all, Raphael’s the one who brought it up.
Chihaya: Lord Michael?
C: Look at these roses! Even the late one’s are budding now!
C: Would you please look after them while I’m away?
Michael: [smiling gently] Of course. Just be sure to come by and visit during the holidays.
[A woman appears, holding a bouquet of flowers.]
Gabriel: Look what Chihaya gave me!
Raphael: Ah, Gabriel.
Kagetsuya: (Lady Gabriel…)
Raphael: Well, I suppose it’s time we took our leave now, Kagetsuya.
Kagetsuya: Yes, of course.
Raphael: And, Kagetsuya, do be sure to look after Chihaya. You are his elder, you know.
Gabriel: Good luck, Kagetsuya!
Kagetsuya: Yes… I’ll do my best.
K: (Hearing those words from Lady Gabriel was almost enough… but it was also a relief to know that Lord Michael didn’t make valedictorian in his day. Though it didn’t help any to know that Raphael did. Hmph.)
[End flashback.]
Chihaya: Kagetsuya, I’m home!
Kagetsuya: You have any idea what time it is?!
K: Just what the heck have you been up to? You could have at least called--
K: [stops short]
K: And who is this?
Chihaya: N-now please don’t be angry, but…
Taki: Good evening.
[Taki sits quietly while Kagetsuya berates Chihaya.]
Kagetsuya: Just what were you thinking bringing home some stranger?!
Chihaya: I couldn’t helpt it!
C: I couldn’t just leave him there!
Kagetsuya: Yes you could have! And I can tell there’s something up with him!
K: His clothes are tattered and blood stained! Those’re obviously knife slashes.
K: Not to mention he’s covered all over with scratches and scrapes.
K: Something’s odd about him. Can’t you sense it?
K: A regular human would be in an uproar!
K: [sigh] I don’t know… there’s something different about him.
Chihaya: Yeah, I’m not too sure either, but… I think he’s a good guy.
Kagetsuya: Idiot!
Chihaya: Kagetsuya?!
Kagetsuya: [grabbing a first aid kit] You don’t just go around bringing random men into your hotel room!
Taki: I’m sorry for the trouble.
Kagetsuya: …………
K: (He’s surprisingly friendly.)
K: You’re injured. Show me the wounds.
Taki: Huh? Oh, th-there’s no need to--
Kagetsuya: No buts! This is no time to act timid!
K: Come on then! Hurry it up!
[Taki sighs]
Kagetsuya: Take off your shirt.
[Taki reluctantly does so]
Kagetsuya: (There’re wounds on his neck. There’s something wrong here. It was almost like… his neck was cut open. His chest too. Looks pretty deep.)
K: Now I won’t butt in asking what happened, but…
Chihaya: Your wounds. Good thing they weren’t too deep.
Kagetsuya: Right. They aren’t very serious at all.
Taki: (I am running on fortified cells. I have an extra amount of blood and healing abilities.)
T: [smiling] I’m so glad. Thank you very much!
Kagetsuya: I’ll go and heat up something for you to eat.
Chihaya: And I’ll go and find you a change of clothes.
[They exit the room]
Kagetsuya: Hey… do you suppose his carotid artery was cut?
Chihaya: (If so, he should be dead!)
C: No… it couldn’t be.
Kagetsuya: Right. That’s impossible.
K: (Unless he was never alive to begin with.)
K: (But… he still smells like an Earthian.)
[The three of them sit down for dinner]
Chihaya: So, what’s your name?
Taki: [smiling] It’s Taki.
Chihaya: Ooh! That’s a cute name! I’m Chihaya! And this is Kagetsuya!
C: How old are you?
Taki: Two years old!
Chihaya: T-two?
[Kagetsuya stares at Taki suspiciously]
Taki: Oops! I- I meant twenty!
Chihaya: Twenty, huh?
Taki: (Technically, I was built two years ago.)
Kagetsuya: …What are you?
Taki: Thank you for going through all the trouble of helping me. But I’m just Taki. Isn’t that enough?
T: That’s all I know.
Kagetsuya: Well, I suppose you have your reasons for being secretive, just as we do.
Chihaya: Kagetsuya?
Kagetsuya: Three guys with mysterious secrets? It’s natural. I suggest we agree not to ask each other anything.
[Taki: Just what did he mean by “what are you?” That’s what… I want to know most.]
[Ashiya’s Lab.]
Guard: (on the phone) I’m sorry, sir, but we’ve lost track of Taki!
Professor Ashiya: LOST HIM?!
Guard: Y-yes sir! I would have thought we had enough people, but… he managed to shake us off.
Professor Ashiya: I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. You are dealing with Taki. There’s no way that even a group like yours could catch him easily.
Guard: We got as far as Shinjuku before losing sight of him. Who knows where he could be by now.
Professor Ashiya: You’re carrying the counter with you, correct? It will react to the nuclear material in Taki’s “heart” mechanism. It should be able to search him out with a radius of 50 kilometers.
PA: Capture him and bring him back here at any costs! I don’t care if he loses an arm and a leg in the process! Taki will survive no matter what you do to him.
[Takano silently listens to his ravings in the background]
PA: Bring him back to me! I’m not done playing with him!
PA: Understood? If he’s in hiding, then smoke him out of the building if you have to!
PA: Bury him in flames! That’ll be the only way you will be able to bring him back.
Takano: Taki…
Professor Ashiya: Don’t worry, Takano. If anything happens, I can always whip up a new batch of artificial skin and recover him.
PA: Of course, it may sting a bit, what with the lack of anaesthesia. But it won’t kill him.
PA: And I’ll be sure to give him just as pretty a face as before! Just like you.
PA: [caressing Takano’s face] I’ve always been fond of beautiful things.
[The hotel.]
Chihaya: [gazing at Taki admiringly] It really is pretty!
Taki: Huh? What is?
Chihaya: Your face!
Taki: R-really? I didn’t think it was anything special.
Chihaya: No way! You look like you could be a model!
Taki: [surprised] Y-you really think so?
Chihaya: Yup, your personality shows through it.
Taki: [thoughtful] Personality? I didn’t think my face showed it. I didn’t even think I had a personality.
Chihaya: What are you talking about? Everybody has a personality.
Taki: [flustered] I mean, I… I don’t care how ugly I am.
T: I just thought… how nice it’d be if I had a face that was mine. Not fashioned from someone else’s mold.
Chihaya: Huh? But that is your face, Taki. And I really think your true character shines through.
C: That’s what Lord Michael always told me. He told me that my character was clear enough so I should stop being so timid!
C: Oh! Lord Michael’s my adoptive father, by the way.
Taki: …I see.
Kagetsuya: [smacks Chihaya in the back of his head] I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t bore our guest with stupid stories.
Chihaya: Hey! That hurt!
Kagetsuya: Enough foolishness! Get to bed already!
Chihaya: But we only have two beds! What’ll we do?
Kagetsuya: Looks like we have no choice but to sleep toget--
Taki: Uh, excuse me, but…
T: …I wouldn’t mind sleeping with Chihaya.
Kagetsuya & Chihaya: (o_o , O_O)
Chihaya: (smiles) Fine by me!
Kagetsuya: >_>;;
Chihaya: That settles it! I’m spending the night here with Taki!
Kagetsuya: Good night then.
K: (“Homosexuality is a crime.”)
K: (It’s been said so often that it’s become somewhat ridiculous. I won’t bother anymore. What I’m really worried about… is Taki. He’s like a wounded beast.
K: (Better to just leave it alone. …Right. It’s none of my business.)
K: [getting into bed] (But one things for sure. What happens here is out of my hands. I just know when to be careful.)
K: (…Right… not my business in the least.)
K: (Hmph. Let the wounded lick each others’ wounds!)
[The emergency fire sprinklers activate suddenly]
Kagetsuya: What the--?!
K: Fire!
K: Chihaya! Taki! It’s a fire!
Chihaya: Kagetsuya!
C: The building’s on fire!
[Shot of the building from the outside, enfulfed in flames]
Kagetsuya: No good! The elevators out of service! And the stairs are blocked!
K: We have no choice. We’ll have to head for the roof.
Chihaya: B-but the roof?
Kagetsuya: Help might arrive while we still have enough oxygen in our face masks.
[The sounds of a young child crying nearby]
Taki: What’s the matter, sweetie?
Little Girl: I can’t find my mommy!
Taki: You’ll be okay. Come with me.
T: [placing an oxygen mask on her] Here. Put this on.
Chihaya: Taki! Over this way! We can still use the emergency stairs!
[Overhead view of the stairs, surrounded by flames]
Chihaya: Kagetsuya…?
Kagetsuya: We need to hurry! These stairs will collapse any minute!
Chihaya: [communicating with Kagetsuya telepathically] ((This is an emergency! Why don’t we just instantaneously transport ourselves out of here?))
Kagetsuya: ((No! The only place we can go from here is space! An Earthian would never survive the trip!))
Taki: I’m sorry. But I’m going to let the girl go down first.
Chihaya: Right!
Kagetsuya: (We can get out safely anytime, but… what about Taki?)
Taki: You can make it down by yourself, right?
T: I want you to run down as fast as you can until you get to the bottom, okay? And don’t stop on your way down.
Little Girl: Mkay!
Taki: (I hope it holds her.)
[The stairs creak and groan as the child makes her way down them]
Chihaya: Will she be alright? She’s halfway down so far.
C: Please… let it hold her weight!
[An ominous KA-KLANG noise as the stairs start to give way under the childs’ feet]
Little Girl: Yeek!
[Taki swiftly grabs a hold of the railing with one hand]
Taki: You’ll be okay! Just keep going!
Chihaya: TAKI!
Kagetsuya: Idiot! Let go of the railing! You can’t hold it!
[The little girl continues running down the rapidly deteriorating stairway]
Taki: But if I let go… the stairs will fall..
Chihaya: (He’s not…)
C: (He’s not human!!)
C: (A human arm could never hold up seven flights of emergency stairs!)
C: Taki!
C: Please! Let go of it, Taki! KAGETSUYA!
C: Help him, Kagetsuya!
Kagetsuya: Calm down, Chihaya. Taki… what…
Taki: I’m sorry, I…
[Taki grunts in pain, and blood starts dripping down the arm holding the railing]
Chihaya: Oh no! Your arm! Your arms going to get torn off!
C: Let go now, Taki!
Taki: No! The stairs--
Chihaya: It’s all right! She made it to the bottom!
[As Chihaya and Kagetsuya watch, Taki’s face contorts in pain, and there’s a sudden ripping sound as his right arm is wrenched off his body. He sits back, clutching the limb in his other hand and staring at the spot where it used to be attached, where wires are clearly visible now. There’s blood everywhere.]
Taki: I guess there’s no use trying to hide it now.
T: It’s true… I’m not human…
[Next to Kagetsuya, Chihaya’s short hair lengthens as he looks on.]
Taki: Oh god, it hurt. But I just wanted to know one thing.
Chihaya: [crying silently] Taki…
Taki: I wanted to know… if I broke, would I die? Would I get to sleep… where everyone else sleeps when they’ve died?
[Chihaya cradles Taki gently in his lap and holds him. His black wings stretch outward to the sky.]
Chihaya: Yes, you’ll get to sleep there too. I’m sure of it.
Chihaya: …Because you’re an Earthian.
[End Ch. 5 part 2]
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Earthian - Volume 1
Earthian - Kouga Yun
Echeveria elegans Kagetuya