Day 9: Deep Waters
Kazuya sat at his work desk, humming away. His emerald green eyes scanning the desk.. Overlooking the doll he was working on. He considered it his best work by far. It was lifelike, but not to an uncanny degree. It seemed perfect, but there were still a few small flaws here and there.. He’d have to fix those up before the due date.
He stood up, taking out a small journal from his pocket and flipping through it.. It was only a few fragments of the original, but it was quite enough to make sure he was completing the process..
“Dammit this was her speciality, not mine.. I made the damn things..” He grumbled as he started to pace around the room. The click of his heels making a eerie echo through the room. The windows were covered up, and it was only lit by candlelight.
He stopped, and pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. “Dammit.. This has to be perfect.. Yet I can’t..” He shook his head and flipped his hand away. He then grabbed at the key around his neck, grunting. “I’ll just have to try my best I suppose.. Just like you, never one to do things by the book..”
Kazuya went back to his workstation, and gently moved the blonde hair of the doll away from it’s face. “The Ultimate Dollmaker..” Kazuya muttered as he pulled open a drawer, and took out a few pieces of sewing supplies. Alongside a few vials of strange substances.
“Let’s see if I have earned that title..” He started about his work. First, fixing up the small imperfects he had left behind in his haste. Starting with small cuts and misshapen spots on the face. Then setting to work on fixing the larger ones. There was a tear on the side of the abdomen, which took some time sewing back together.
As he silently finished the stitching, he moved to the bottles. He picked one up, and uncorked it.. A viciously foul smell flowing from the bottle. Kazuya hurled himself back, covering his nose to keep the stench out.
Yet they continued onwards. Staying as far back as possible Kazuya dabbed a piece of cloth into the bottle, and started to gently brush it against the body of the doll. The doll’s ‘skin’ gained a soft texture.. Shining just a small bit when the light reflected against it. Kazuya was quick to recork the bottle, and place it away once he finished. Kazuya sighed as he went for the next one.. He had to be careful, his supply was running low.. He would have to wait to get more.
This bottle had a glass cork.. The elegant and clear glass vial revealed a soft crimson water inside of it. Kazuya gently opening it up, and placed a hand underneath the doll’s head. He tilted it up gently, and placed the bottle to it’s open lips. He only used a few drops, but even that was almost all of the substance.. Only a few more attempts left.
Kazuya gently sat the doll back down, and watched. Sitting back down in his seat, Kazuya watched the doll… waiting. The clock ticking by as he waited. Waiting.. As he waited his memories started to flow.. Thinking back on one night.
—---------------
Kazuya remembered vividly how they reacted when the news had arrived. The soul crushing despair he had felt. They had told him that she had been shot.. And when they tried to find her, they couldn’t find any remnants of her body. Just a pool of blood, and the tattered journal. Almost all of it’s contents were missing.
Yet a few pages remained. Kazuya was staring down at them.. They were holding notes on their research. Tears were staining the errant pages. He gasped and collapsed onto the floor. She was gone. How could she be gone? There was so much left undone.. Their project wasn’t even half finished.. They were going to bring her back! Now she’s gone.. They’re BOTH gone..
Everything he had worked towards for years was now in shambles. He couldn’t understand why the world could be so cruel. Is this what everyone wanted? To feel this soul crushing despair? To be overwhelmed by such a horrid feeling constantly?
“...no…” Kazuya muttered, shakily standing up. They looked over at their work desk.. His own notes were thrown across it. He gazed back down at the few remaining pages in his hand.. It was then he decided to make a change..
The overwhelming despair wouldn’t hurt anyone else.. He’d find a way to destroy it. Destroy despair utterly, and have only hope.. And happiness. No matter the cost.
No matter what, he would find it.
—---------------
Kazuya snapped back to the present. Surprised to have relived that memory.. Why now? His gaze fell to his pocket, and he drew out the journal.. He opened it up, staring at the pages. Not his handwriting.. They were the pages of the journal she had cherished. Only fragments and pieces of the original.. But enough.
“..We’ll be back together soon..” Kazuya sighed, and slumped in his chair. He placed the journal on the desk near the doll, and wrapped his hand around the key. A small memento.. Useless now. But it’s emotional value was still enough.
A key to an old memory.. One locked away forever.
Kazuya’s gaze turned back to the doll.. And he sat upright upon seeing one of it’s fingers twitch. He immediately stood up from his chair, and looked closely at their face..
…And the doll opened it’s lapis lazuli colored eyes.
