“Why, it doesn’t make sense,” Djinn yelled as he threw another punch towards her from his guard. As always it was met with a clang against his gauntlets from her own fluid strike from her blade. Stephanie followed through with strike, quickly exchanging her left foot for her right as she moved forward, delivering yet another deceptively powerful strike that met Djinn’s gauntlets and causing him to slide across the ground on his heels. Her eyes emanated the ambient glow of her heart; of her.
“What does it matter to you, being of darkness,” she called out to him as he adjusted his stance from her previous blow.
“I am the darkness that was within him yes, but you were also a part of him. Therefore I am also the darkness within you.” The corner of Stephanie’s mouth pulled downwards as her eyes narrowed, “and besides this has nothing to do with what I asked you earlier. I was also part of his heart, part of you. Why did you choose the form you’re in now, Stephanie Kazawa?”
[Kojima’s Director’s Note]
From here with the camera slowly zooming in on Stephanie, she takes numerous slowing breaths and blinks when her eyes blink; when they open they’ll show a reflection of me with the camera still zooming in. Once my image is the full screen, camera rotates and passes through her reflection image into my world, circles behind my head then looks down to a piece of paper in which I’m drawing an eye. Enter title.
The train gently swayed up and down as it continued its destined route, shifting the rays of the morning sun around inside. Many of the morning commuters were clinging onto the few minutes of sleep they could before their day would officially begin. Some were awake, listening to music on their MP-3 players while a few quietly conversed among each other and on their phones. One looked past her reflection on the window and ignored everything I just mentioned.
Her light brown hair was short and most could claim slightly boyish in appearance. Her hair only further highlighted her school uniform, white with caramel colored sections and matching plaid skirt with the colors of autumn. Red-rimmed glasses adorned her pale colored face which off stetted her deep, dark blue eyes. She was keeping her eyes fixed on the ever growing city they were approaching. A small smile lighted her current vacant face as her eyes began to lighten up.
The train began to slow down and people immediately began to stand. A few awoke from their battle to keep sheep in their mind and stretched out. After a few minutes her car had emptied minus herself and a few others wearing her uniform. She knew them, but only their faces. Their stop was coming up next and she relaxed her body, uncrossing her legs and hunching forwards. She shot a glance to a young man in a uniform with a similar color scheme. He gave a simple nod to her as he returned his gaze out of his window. The train began to slow again and this time she stood up as well.
As she walked towards the door two very large figures caught her attention in the corner of her glasses. As the door opened she immediately stepped through, the cool morning air running through her hair and slightly chilling her pale legs. She kept an eye on the two figures and her hunch was right, they were following her like they have been for the past three separate train rides. She walked towards the escalator with pep, until a new third man stood between her and it. She turned to face them and took in quickly their appearance. They all were in their middle ages as she could guess by their thinning hair and the emergence of crow’s feet from their corners of their eyes.
“Alright, we’ll make this nice and-“ the one on the left began but was quickly cut off.
“RAAAAAAAAAPPPPPPPPPPPE!” Immediately the three began to look around and to their fears, everyone was looking at them. Motion caught one of their eyes and he turned to look behind him.
“Damn it, Izawa she’s gone,” he yelled out.
“What,” he cried out in disbelief as he ran towards the escalator. His eyes opened wide at the sight of his intended catch grinding down a set of long hand-rails, sparks erupting from the bottom of her shows.
“After her now,” The third man called out to them and they made their way down the stairs. He took a step forward, but a strong hand clasped his shoulder.
“Excuse me sir do you suffer from any age related problems,” the voice behind him asked. He turned into the face of a young man in a school uniform with a big grin on his face. It scared him more an anything.
“No I-Wha,” He cried out as the young man’s punch sent him to the floor, He didn’t get up but his groans was enough to convince him that he’d live. With a running start he jumped down the first flight of stairs, landed hands first and sprang forward feet first, passing the other two men who were still righting their way through people on the escalators. He landed on the balls of his feet and immiedtly took off after his companion who was already far off into the distance. The two men looked each other before hopping over the escalator’s side and running down the stairs until men with a different, more recognizable uniform cut them off with many onlookers pointing directly at them accusingly.
The young woman ran viciously, covering ground on par with only the fastest sprinters. Her arms pumped as her feet drove her forward like a spring. The cool breeze now aided her as it carried away excess body heat away from her. She spotted another set of rails leading down from the platform and leaped high into the air. Her feet made contact with the rail and slid down quickly. She quickly took a surfer like stance and relaxed, catching her breath as the wind blew her hair back.
“It is rather a nice day isn’t it Stephanie,” a familiar voice called out to her. Looking over across from her. Looking over across from her was her companion who slid with her in tandem, standing straight with his hands in his pockets.
“It is a bit cold yeah, why what’s up Kyoji?” He looked over at her in response to her question. Taking a few moments she started to rub her head nervously. “Oh right that, um-“
“Come on don’t play me for a fool, you know damn well what you did.” Stephanie lowered her body until her bottom was only inches above the rail, her arms dangling lazily between her legs as they continued their decent.
“Three old Japanese guys cornered a school girl, I did only what an honest girl should do,” she replied as she closed her eyes and smiled at him. Kyoji promptly buried his forehead into his palm.
“Hey how many more rails do you think you can take, your tacks are probably going to run out soon,” he asked lazily still in disbelief of his companion.
“Might as well break for it now then, head’s up Kyoji,” she yelled and with a mighty leap sprang into the air. She spread her arms and legs wide as the momentum sent her into a shallow parabolic path. Kyoji’s eyes opened wide for a sec and then gave her another face palm. He followed suit and the two landed feet first, rolled forward and sprang forward.
“By the way, what’s the score Stephanie,” he called out to her as they both ran as fast as they could.
“I’m ahead by two Kyoji and remember what happens when I get plus three on you.” The thought was enough for Kyoji to sprint faster. The people around them turned into a blur the mixed in like a painter taking random colors on his brush and randomly placing strokes on an existing painting. They dodged left and right, jumping over tables in single strides careful not to touch anyone or anything in their wake. She was easily gaining ground on him as always, even before-
“Hey, they’re not supposed to know yet, damn it!”
Erm, my apologies but she you better pay atten- I was starting to say before Kyoji stumbled over a trash can. He followed though the motion into a quick roll, springing forward once more and pushed it as hard as he could to catch up to her.
Stephanie continued her all out sprint, her eyes scanning left and right behind her glasses for obstacles. She could see her objective as the side walk began slope downwards softly at first before it began to steepen. The building was massive with numerous floors all connected to a central point easily five stories taller than the rest of her school.
“Remember what the deal is,” she heard with the tall tale Doppler Effect in effect, causing her head to swivel to her right.
“How the hell,” She thought out as Kyoji soared past her, following the no steeps hill in a shallow parabolic flight path. She could have sworn he was flying. “That’s cheating,” she yelled out as she increased her rate of speed, her legs shaking from the violent impacts they were being subjected to. The sound of rushing air caught her ears and she took one last look at Kyoji ahead of her before she jumped high into the air. Reaching quickly to oversized slippers attached to her pack, she threw them on over her shoes and finished her slow flip, bracing for impact.
CLANG! The metal bottoms of her slippers connected with the pedestrian rail and promptly she began to glide across it as sparks erupted from her slippers.
“It’s a good thing these damn thing wok after all,” she thought to herself as she gained ground on the still airborne Kyoji. She traced his path, passing him as he finally landed, waving with one hand as she took the lead and quickly gained immediate ground on him.
“Damn that girl,” Kyoji muttered as he slowed his pace until he came to a light jog. He maintained this speed until he reached the gates of the school yard, already preparing for his dreadful punishment to losing.
“Honey can you come here for a second, I need help with our little terrorist.” I stood up from my desk, looking at the manga panels and running the segments through my mind. I took once last glance at Kyoji’s face before walking into the kitchen.
“Poor guy, I promise I’ll go easy on you.”
“Well I’m glad you two can make, late as you are,” the stern stone-faced man sneered as Stephanie and Kyoji made it through the door.
“But we’re not even-“Stephanie started only to be cut off by the bell. She looked around quickly, finding her back up had already taken cover behind his seat. “Kyoji…” she managed to whisper before getting cut off again.
“Make it your seat Ms. Kazawa or I’ll double your detention. With a sigh Stephanie clasped her hands behind her head as she marched to her desk and promptly took her seat. She set her small satchel style bag to her left on the floor and promptly pulled out her note book. Hey eyes followed her Sensei’s every move until he turned his back. Like the Nazi Blitzkrieg her fist suddenly sent the nerves of Kyoji’s arm into a state of painful panic.
“OW-“Kyoji quickly gasped, stifling any other potential out bursts from his mouth. He glanced at her as he held his arm that pulsed in pain in sync with his heartbeat. Stephanie was focused intently on the lesson taking place, causing him to sigh. “Alright, next time I promise I got your back, Danni.” Stephanie grinned; he could see this from the corner of his eye as he looked down and began to scribble notes into his note book, his left arm still ringing.
As time went by, the sun began to focus it beams directly through the windows, blinding and heating the inhabitants of the school building quite severely. After only a couple of minutes, Kyoji lifted his arm still ringing in pain.
“What is it Mr. Kyoji,” their sensei asked as his eye brow twitched slightly.
“Is it alright with we open a window? It is getting really hot and-“
“Go open it yourself; I have five minutes left you could have waited.” Taking his cue Kyoji quickly stood up and walked briskly to the windows and after unlatching the old fashioned latch, lifted it up high. He looked over at Stephanie and seized an opportunity he hoped for. As he sat down, he grabbed his bag and quietly slid it across the floor, making sure that be brushed his hand against hers to get her attention.
“What is it Kyoji,” she whispered as she took his cue and swapped her bag with his.
“A peace offering” He replied as he sat back up right and eyed the clock. Stephanie took a quick peek inside the bag. Inside was a rather large coil of nylon rope with a strange looking hook. “Quick release hook, see you at work. He stood up, slinging he bag over his shoulder and walked towards the door.
“And where do you think you-“ sensei started to say but was cut off by the simultaneous bell and Kyoji opening the door to the point he just watched. Seeing her chance, Stephanie quickly pulled the rope out of the bag and tied the hook to a large pipe against the wall and sat back down in her seat. She knew she could have left just then, but Kyoji’s sudden act of chivalry kept the smirk alive on her face. She waited until everyone left the room.
“Now Miss Kazawa do you know why you’re still here?” Her Sensei kept his eyes focused on her, his frustration apparent.
“Because I’m a Juvenile delinquent with no aspirations for the future who’s frequently late because unlike most kids my age I have a job to make enough money just to come here every day.” Her smirk deepened as she lowered her head a bit and focuses on him intently. His eyebrow twitched again, the corners of his mouth fumbling as he failed to get the right words out. He turned his back, and that’s all she needed. She grabbed the large coil of rope and with only two powerful strides, dove through the window head first.
She continued down the rope head first, wrapping her legs around it and using the soles of her shoes to slow her descent. She clenched the rope with one hand and the end with a special plastic device in the other. Just before she reached the ground she extended her arms slightly and unwrapped her legs. She let her arms take the initial impact and quickly sprang herself forward into a front flip, pressing the button on the ropes and just like a charm the hook detached and flew out the window she just came through, five stories up.
As she jogged across the school grounds she reached inside her shirt and pulled out her slim pink iPod and promptly placed her headphones into her ears. The familiar intro drum rhythm helped her relax as she ran along.
[Danni California]
Stephanie began to run up the hill from her race in the morning at a much slower but steady pace, still making much more ground and time than most could or would be willing to do so.
[What in the world does your company take me for?}
As she cleared the top of the hill she took a mighty leap upwards, landing on a guard rail with her metal slippers on and began sliding downwards.
[Black Bandana, Sweet Louisiana…]
She relaxes on her grin to her signature squatting relaxed pose as she kept her eyes on her target.
[She’s a Runner, Rebel and a stunner, On her merry way saying baby what’cha gonna?]
Stephanie leaps off and makes her way to a closing elevator.
[Just another way to survive…]
The elevator goes up, cam perspective slightly behind her as she’s looking up. After it passes a floor it becomes an all glass and open view of the city at sun set. Credits start to appear
[California rest in peace…]
The cam switches to in front of her, lit up by the glow of the setting sun. and grins
[California show your teeth…]
Elevator opens and starts running, does a back flip onto another rail and slides backwards…
[She’s a lover, baby and a fighter]
And does another back flip and free falls for a moment before catching onto a empty sign pole and swings around it once and leaps onto a roof top and takes off running.
[With a name like Danni California]
She hops over a few air conditioning ducts and vaulting over a few other ones as she ran along before taking a leap from one building (slow motion) and lands, tumbles and gets up and runs again
[I love my Baby to death~]
She repeats this one multiple different buildings until she comes to one with a ladder and jumps onto it and slides all the way down.
[California…]
She takes off into her signature fast sprint, dodging people left and right
[Who knew the other side of you]
She runs into a shopping center and runs down the moving rail of an escalator and performs a series of sprints, dodging and leaps over and around people.
[Push the Fador, gifted Animator]
After running through the main area of the shopping center (mall) she bursts through the last store and out the door.
[California]
After running across the street and through a series of alleys she comes to the back of a building with Kyoji sitting on stairs leading to a door and he tosses her a bottle of water.
She gives him a softer sucker punch on the opposite arm and they walk inside, with a banner above the door reading “Urban Air Blitz Delivery”
Ends first episode
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yukiharakojima's journal
