A white space, that’s all which Kanashi saw before him, a vast void, a place he’d been before, a place in which he’d been haunted by an entity of seemingly evil composition. A being with no name yet referred to itself as the [Author].

  Being transported back to this location his memories of the previous assaulted his mind at once, like squeezed into a needle and then forced into his head he felt a jolt as he remembered everything.

  “But that thing isn't here…” He muttered looking around, rather strangely compared to last time Kanashi had a corporal body. He could look down at himself, jump, run in a circle and even squat down low. While this was most assuredly the place in which he’d met the [Author] it was not present.

  Maybe because I’m inside of Akatoras, [Jikai] Inner world? But would that mean everyone has their own [Author] living inside of them? That only raises more questions… With a sigh Kanashi put his hands on his hips and looked around once more.

  He’d been warned about Akatoras memories possibly making him lose his sense of self, having it overwritten by Akatoras memories and leaving Kanashi as nothing more than a vegetable lost in the memories of Akatora. Was that what was going on here? If so it seemed incredibly unfair.

  I haven’t even seen Akatoras memories yet so unless I got fried just by entering his memories? No, I refused to believe I went out so lame.

  Putting his hands to his side Kanashi walked forward and through the void some, he could feel and manipulate his aura so he knew he wasn’t sealed in any sort of way. As such he tried to use [Observation] but to no avail. Scratching the nape of his neck he continued to look around until he came to a realization.

  “Wait! Maybe I need to force myself into his memories? Like this is just the [Core] the soul of Akatora and I have to find his memories inside of it?” Kanashi questioned aloud. With that theory in place he rubbed his face and shook his head side to side. His long light brown hair waving about.

  Putting his hands before him and striking a pose as if he was trying to force open an invisible door he called out into the void his desire.

  “Show me Akators memories!”

  [][][][][][]

  There was a strange noise and another flash of light.

  “AIIIIIIIIE!”

  Suddenly feeling as though he was pushed through the door of a plane mid air Kanashi let out a scream as his stomach dropped, the sensation of falling filling his nerves until he forced himself to open his eyes.

  “?”

  Upon doing so the sensation disappeared and he saw before him a rustic looking room, one which looked like a kids bedroom, a simple room with a few posters on the wall of old movies, a mass of trinkets and a baseball on a small statue which resembled a glove.

  “...”

  Looking around further Kanashi saw no signs of life, walking over to the window he peered out of it and saw a sprawling field of plains, endless as far as the horizon stretched.

  “This must be a [memory] but a memory of what exactly?” Kanashi wondered, crossing his arms.

  Then the smell hit him, that of something burning, like a campfire had been lit right under his nose.

  Spitting around he saw a plume of smoke coming from the hands of a young boy. One who looked like Beniise yet a decade behind in age.

  “Beniise?” Kanashi asked aloud, the boy seeming to give no notion to him. “No, this is from Akatoras [Memories] so this must be him when he was little. This must be more important to him then right? Maybe the first time he used magic? But to do it at this age, when he’s still in the single digits?”

  Akatora, fascinated by the sudden flame which came from his hand let out a laugh and threw it in the air before catching it like one would a baseball. The flames curled into a perfect sphere in his hands.

  “That’s kinda dangerous but he seems to have enough talent to manipulate it like that huh?” Kanashi watched as Akatora continued to play with the ball of fire for minutes on end. The young boy let giggles escape his thin lips as he was amazed by his own creation.

  “Hiyah!”

  Then out of either pure innocence or pure stupidity he threw the ball of fire far harder than before and far faster than before. The ball smashed into the roof with a crackle quickly splattering into a blanket of fresh flames, turning the wooden ceiling black as it began to burn.

  “Oh no…” Kanashi muttered, a sick sensation filling his stomach.

  Akatora quickly flew into a panic, trying to jump up and grab the flame or slap it; he only fanned the fire which grew in size until the entire room was engulfed, everything melting into ashes as the boy whimpered trying to calm the flames to no avail.

  “!”

  Just then a scream of panic, likely from a woman came from outside the door, one which Akatora jumped at screaming out “Mom!?” As he ran towards the door.

  Filled with horror Kanashi stood still in the inferno which had spread around him in a perfect circle yet not approaching his person, Akatora slammed the door shut behind perhaps hoping for the flames to not spread but they’d already seemingly escaped based on the panic screams which continued to come from who must have been Akatoras aforementioned mother.

  This was most definitely a memory, a [core memory] one which Akatora likely held close to his heart for better or worse. And that unknown fear of what this memory entailed made Kanashi freeze in place. If he followed Akatora maybe he would see something horrific, something he didn’t want to see. Something which may make him lose his sense of self.

  Swallowing down that thought he shook his head and turned around, a door appeared behind him, a wooden door of no particular interest. The kind you’d find anywhere in the world, a standard boring door.

  Deciding to not let himself bear witness to this [memory] Kanashi grabbed the door handle which was cold to the touch despite the inferno surrounding them. Twisting his hand he opened the door and walked through it.

  # # #

  Once again subjected to that horrific feeling of falling through an endless voice kanashi quickly opened his eyes and was met with what appeared to be a fine diner, the kind which you’d take someone on a fancy date to.

  “...”

  Looking around the restaurant he scanned through the hordes of people which sat at their tables, finely dressed in extravagantly tailored clothes. Sleek black and blue suits with cream undershirts and red or yellow ties. Long dresses made of soft velvet and silks dyed with expensive dyes and hand cramping labor. Kimonos which flowed and folded in on themselves with intricate designs, the Obi holding it in place seemingly colored to contrast the rest of the guard, such an outfit surely costing as much as a month's rent in a nice penthouse apartment.

  Looking for Akatora was like looking for a needle in a haystack since all the men were dressed generally the same and all had short spiky black hair.

  “Hmmm.” With a hum, Kanashi began to walk through the restaurant. When he thought he was about to bump into someone they’d simply phase through him as if he didn’t exist physically. “Makes sense…” He muttered. But this probably isn’t the [memory] I’m looking for. I’m guessing that these are the [memories] which Akatora holds the closest to his [Soul]. Maybe I have to hop through them until I get to his more recent memories?

  Deciding to continue his journey through memories to test that theory he turned around ready to walk through the conjured door. Though instead what he saw directly behind him was a new sight. Something which had not been there just moments before as he surely wouldn't have missed it.

  Looking much more like Beniise was a young Akatora, probably in his late teens and early twenties his face was painted with light wrinkles and his body had filled out much more, while not quite the hulk he was now he’d certainly been lifting some weights.

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  Across from Akatora was a finely dressed yet modest in appearance woman, her face sweet and soft with long wavy purple hair reaching down to her mid back. Upon closer inspection however Kanashi noticed that the woman's eyes were slightly more slanted then Akatoras with the end of her eyes tilted upwards ever so slightly. Much more like Beniises own eyes. Once recognizing that feature Kanashi only began to notice the others, how Beniise might have had the size and figure of his father; he was most certainly the twin of this woman. Their faces are almost exactly the same.

  “...”

  Watching the scene unfold Kanashi saw as the two talked. Laughing back and forwarth with one another and every so often letting out an awkward blush. Though he couldn’t hear a word for what they said, as if their speech was being forced through a series of bubbling water the sight alone both tickled Kanashis heart and made him nervous as he’d never heard Akatora speak of this woman. The bad feeling of a tragic backstory coming to mind.

  After a few more seconds of watching the display Kanashi turned away and walked through the door which had appeared, once again feeling that same falling sensation.

  # # #

  Blood, blood everywhere, the rancid smell made Kanashi gag despite only being an observer of the [memory]. Standing in the center of the carnage composed of bloody gore and corpses was a man with flesh burned by flames, his body huge and rippling with muscle and a tattoo of a Dragon battling a Tiger in stunning detail carved into his back. Sticking out from his right shoulder blade and left side were two Katana and a gunshot wound was placed dead center on his mid back.

  “This must be an important memory too. Most likely something to do with the Toumeikan?” Kanashi asked aloud.

  Upon saying that aloud it seemed as if Akatora had heard his statement ans he spun around cast forwarth a blast of fire which shot straight for Kanashi who let out a scream as he tried to cast a [Shield] to defend himself.

  However once more the fire phased through the shield and Kanashi, instead attacking the man who had appeared behind Kanashi. A heavily scarred middle aged man with a missing eye who wore a long mustache which curved around his jawline fusing into his sideburns. The man upon being struck was scorched, horribly. Compared to what Kanashi had seen Akatora do before where he instantly reduced someone to ash, no pain or time to process the sensations this was much more slow and cruel.

  Though it was doubtful that this was on purpose. No, it was most likely that this younger Akatora simply didn’t have the abilities of current self. His skill and power, that of a [Hachibuto] not yet present within him. As such his flames were weaker and required more time to burn what they touched.

  “...”

  Seeing as the memory held no importance to him, Kanashi turned away and walked out the conjured door.

  # # #

  It was a beautiful wedding, one held inside a massive temple. It was clear that Akatora and his wife had spent no small fortune to rent it for the ceremony.

  The pair posed for a picture, both wearing the traditional edoland wedding garbs. Sitting down on a wooden chair with a fluffy white cushion was the woman Akatora had been flirting with at that restaurant before. Noticeably a few years older her still younger features were replaced with a more refined and mature look.

  Dressed up in a fancy and long white Kimono with red accents she lovingly held the hand of Akatora, who was dressed in a large red Kimono with white accents.

  “...”

  Silently Kanashi turned around and opened the conjured door.

  # # #

  The cry pierced Kanashis ears, the blood making him feel queasy. Yet seemingly not caring Akatora with a wide smile clutched the small child in his arms, his wife letting out a sigh of relief as she watched Akatora and the newborn Bennise interact.

  “So he started out that small too huh…” Kanashi muttered. Not wanting to interrupt the scene, Kanashi turned around and walked through the wooden door.

  # # #

  Rain, it was raining, the smell of mud pungent and the muffled sobs of the crowd made Kanashi feel sick. Standing across from him looking down into the coffin-shaped hole in the ground was Akatora, his face one which Kanashi refused to describe, only knowing that it was of Pure Despair.

  In Akatoras arms was a small Bennise, maybe around two years or so old, his face just like his mothers already but the girth of his father already present in his thick little arms and legs.

  Looking towards the front of the large hole Kanashi saw a newly erected grave stone. One which read “Taishi Hyouka.”

  “...” Balling his hand into a fist tightly, Kanashi bit his lips at the tragic scene which he’d trespassed onto. Turning around, Kanashi walked through the wooden door which appeared before him.

  # # #

  Kanashi walked through the wood door which appeared behind him.

  # # #

  Kanashi walked through the wood door which appeared behind him.

  # # #

  Kanashi walked through the wood door which appeared behind him.

  # # #

  Kanashi walked through the wood door which appeared behind him.

  # # #

  How many [memories] had Kanashi bore witness to? How many [memories] did he trample across? How many times had he watched Akatora fall into despair, commit heinous crimes and then rise up only to do the same again, in an endless cycle like the spinning of a wheel such [memories] repeated over and over again.

  All of Akatoras dirty secrets, his savoured moments and shameful actions. He bore witness to all of them unable to escape. Perhaps this is what it meant to lose your sense of self. To fall into the pit of memories and watch them for an eternity, relieving the life of those who’s [Memories] you were tramping across, trespassing into. Kanashi surely felt himself losing it, his mind slipping. The barrier which held him and Akatora separate quickly collapsing. He’d lived longer in Akatoras memories than he had lived in his own life. A bizarre feeling which only made him wonder if he was more [Taishi Akatora] then [Kanashi Sarumalder] at this point.

  The more recent the memory the more plentiful and vivid they were. One could easily become obsessed with them, binging the [memories] like one would their favourite tv show. But Kanashi managed to keep pushing.

  Until finally he had come upon the memory in question, the whole point of his trip into Akatoras mind and [Memories].

  He watched as Akatora let out a cry of anger, smashing the cigar box which he treasured so dearly and burnt his office to ashes. Though Kanashi couldn’t feel the heat from the flames he still felt himself sweating at the imagery of it.

  Once Akatora collapsed to the floor, his office reduced to ash and scars from flame, Kanshi turned around and walked through the wooden door which appeared behind him.

  # # #

  Letting out a gasp as if he’d been pulled from the water after drowning, Kanashi coughed harshly, nothing seemed to expel from his throat yet he continued to choke, clawing at his esophagus until he regained his sense of self.

  “I am [Kanashi Sarumalder]...” He said aloud, as if trying to remind himself of a finicky fact which one would often forget.

  “Kanashi?” Beniise asked. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah… I think so.. Benisu~.” Kanashi muttered rubbing his now naked head, the helmet having been deconjured.

  “H-how do you know about that?” Akatora asked, his throat dry as he looked at Kanashi.

  “N-no you’re right that’s his nickname... The one Hyouka gave him.”

  “!”

  At the mention of his deceased wife's name Akatoras vision turned white as he grabbed Kanashi by the collar slamming him to the ground.

  “How much did you see!?”

  He asked with a shout, his eyes bloodshot.

  “S- so much. I-I’m lost. I feel like I know you better than I do myself.” Kanashi muttered his head feeling as though it was full of fog and miasma, he tried to look at Akatora but it was like he was looking into a mirror, his neck unable to support his head it fell limp and pressed against his shoulder.

  “Y-you little rat! How dare you trample on my [Memories] , how dare you trespass on them!” Blinded by anger Akatora raised his arm, his fist balled up into a hammer and biceps the size of a barrel he tried to resist the urge to bash into Kanashi who laid on the ground before him. His eyes darted around unsure of what anything was.

  The one to restrain Akatora was his son, Beniise who grabbed his father by the arms and pulled him away. Though not stronger than his father he managed to pin him in such a way that Akatora could not easily escape his son's grasp.

  “Dad calm down! He didn’t want to see your memories, it's just the way the spell must work!” Cried Beniise.

  “I can’t calm down! He saw them! He saw those memories which not even you have! My wife, your mother whose face you can’t even recall! He saw them when you haven't! He knows more about your mother than you do!” With a strained voice Akatora tried to break free of his son's grip. Continuing to do so for minutes on end until he fell limp, exhausted.

  “Are you calm now?” Bennise asked, still holding his father in place.

  “Yeah…” Akatora muttered, his eyes downcast in shame at his outburst.

  Kanashi who was still sprawled out on the floor muttered to himself, his speech becoming more akin to his own inflection and his ability to move his body slowly returning until he sat up and looked at both Akatora and Beniise. “What happened?” He asked. “Why are you two wrestling?”

  At this question Beniise released his fathers arms and Akatora straightened himself out, standing up and dusting his clothes. “We were bored waiting for you to figure yourself out.” Akatora muttered.

  “Oh, sorry about that then.” Kanashi said looking to his own hands which he slowly opened and closed watching them move about. “I kept trying to find the memory of Kobe, but it was like a maze. Or a long line of ads which you had to watch the first ten seconds of before skipping to the next. It was like I saw hundreds of those… I’m sorry I saw so much. I didn’t mean-”

  “It’s fine, if you couldn’t help it you couldn’t help it. The most important part is that you found and heard what Kobe said, right?” Akatora asked, clearing his throat.

  “Yeah, I heard it all and… I can tell everyone.”

  “Then I’ll call them here so you can.”

  And with that, Once everyone of note had gathered in Akatoras office Kanashi explained to them all what he’d heard from Kobe.

  [豹白] Hyouka - White panther