Completed [Traveler's Row] Soul of a Doll part 2 (Klaus)

[Fubuki Kouri]

How dare he ask me such questions... I thought Sir Klaus is a good man, I thought he cared for me... but no, he's just a liar, a fraud, a snake... he showered me with affections just because he wanted to hurt me in the end... Kouri made up a number of absurd reasons to justify her growing hatred and rage for the animator mage in front of her. The corner of her lips started to twitch and curled upwards, forming a grin and revealing her teeth. What to do~ what to do? Oh of course... I'll kill him... hehehe.. there's no one here... no body will know... Her hair ribbons magically disappeared as she stared murderously to the kneeling and weeping man in front of her. The very long strands of her ethereal white hair spread out by itself, mimicking a body-size white cobra hood. She opened her mouth and hissed like an ethereal dhani. Why are you crying? Why are you apologizing? Are you afraid of me? Are you going to plead for your life now? Kouri berated him with questions inside her mind, but she kept silent on the outside. The coward in front of her was now reduced to tears, just like a prey pleading for its life. She then materialized herself with the intent to poke his eyes with her fingers, but then... "Di- HI?!" She felt warmth, the warmth she always craved. "Grrrrrr!! Let me go! Let me go!" She struggled against him, she could blink away, but part of her mind wanted this more, she wanted his comforting body warmth. It slowly, but surely, calmed her down. "............" She stared at Klaus' azure eyes as he step back. Now close, Kouri could see that he was not afraid, he was not crying out of fear, but out of pity and compassion for her. "......." Her spread out hair started to calm itself down and her pupils slowly returning to normal. Craving for more warmth, Kouri raised both of her hands, cupped his cheeks, then leaned in close to kiss him. It... feels so good... She contacted her cold dead lips with his living warm ones, not letting go. For compensation of hurting her, she demanded warmth... lots of it. "Uuuun~" Her hands then traveled from cupping his cheeks to circling and hugging his neck tight. She ended the kiss and leaned in closer, placing her chin on his shoulder and tilted her head to touch his right head side with her own. "...." She closed her eyes and just stayed like that. "Okay..." She let out a very low whisper, showing that she had returned to the gentle girl she was. "Let's continue..." She still wanted to see a living doll, she was here for that exact reason after all.

[Klaus]

Klaus's tear filled eyes flashed wide in an instant as the girl leaned in and kissed him. It was strange, cold. Nothing like the ones his mother gave him as a child on the head. And furthermore...she was a child! Klaus didn't kiss her back. Primarily because of that fact. This was just a little girl. And he, a full grown man. But he was so much shock that none of this registered in his mind at the moment. It was only later that he realized how odd and awkward that was.

"Let's continue..."

Thats what she said... Klaus was deep in thought as well as shock at what transpired in the last few moments. That was...awfull. It's no wonder she was unable to move on. Klaus shuddered and examined the circle. The chalk was smeared where he had moved in to hug her. He was glad he ended the session when he did, or the rest of the animation may never have worked.

Again, as he repaired the circle, he thought again. With each new line, a different thought came to him. What was that?! Her eyes...were so terrifying! But yet...I get the feeling that she is just lonely...And here I am, depressed by my lack of friends. This girl had everything taken from her. Viciously. Violently. Who am I to complain! Suddenly, Klaus was filled with conviction. He glanced down at the girl, so quiet now. A fire burning behind the ocean of his eyes.

Quickly, he dropped to the floor at the center of the line and drew a second line outward. Then, around himself, he drew a third circle, identical to the one in which Fubuki hovered. Without a word, he stood, squeezed a new drop of blood, and activated the circles once again.

"Fubuki Kouri," he began, his voice solemn and steady. "Forgive me. I have seen things that were not mine to see. I know now your past. I have seen, and felt your own pain. And if you would allow me, I want to help you." he swallowed dryly. "I want to help you, so you never have to feel that pain again. I know I haven't known you long, Fubuki. But you have given me a purpose. I want to be there for you. I can do whatever you need me to do. I can be your friend. Your councelor.Whatever you need. I can give it to you. And I would treat you as if you were my own daughter.

With this, he stared intently into her eyes. For the first time in a long time, Klaus felt as if he had a purpose. A reason for being there. And everything he said came directly from his soul.

"You and I, Fubuki, he began again, "We are the same. While you had your life taken from you, I have yet to recieve one. We can help each other. And I will never turn my back on you."

During his speach, he set the first Objective for the doll. This time, he did something he had never done before. He used himself as the example of 'Loyalty'. How he felt at that moment, he would do anything to ensure that Fubuki were happy. And he would never betray her. And with the final words of his speach, the Objective of Loyalty was done.

The Doll

Virtually lifeless, it sat on the hardwood floor, bombarded with information. A mix of emotions and memories crammed into its wooden frame. Though it would be a while before the thing truly undstood, it saw them. A man, his hair dark as Akajias realm, and eyes the color of Lavikus depths. And a girl, whos hair was graced with Leths beauty and eyes blessed with Ivaks power. It saw them in it's mind, and It knew. And in its mind the words rang through.

I have seen, and felt your own pain. And if you would allow me, I want to help you. I know I haven't known you long. But you have given me a purpose. I can do whatever you need me to do. I can be your friend. Your councelor.Whatever you need. I can give it to you. And I will never turn my back on you.

And the doll knew. The man with the black hair, and the girl with the silver, are never to be ignored. Are never to be betrayed. Are never to be forgotten.

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri When Klaus pulled away from her and started to repair the circle she was hovering on. Kouri knew that Klaus also wanted to see this ritual through the end. Kouri decided not to disturb him anymore and clasped her hands in a praying position. Queen Morwen... I wonder if you see me now... what would you think? Am I still your daughter? She felt unworthy of being a Vantha anymore in her current state, she even lost the Vantha's trademark trait, vibrant hued eyes that changed with her mood. Her eye color was now locked into a crimson red as if her irises were made of blood. She could hear Klaus speaking to him, Kouri opened her crimson eyes and gazed at him. He told her that he was sorry for witnessing her memories without her permission. He also told her that he wanted to help her, he wanted to be her counselor, teacher, and... father figure. Kouri slowly smiled at him and she whispered in her haunting soft voice... "Papa..." When he said that they could help each other and he would never turn his back on her, Kouri nodded and spoke with her still solemn expression. "That's a promise..." She smiled, she truly meant it. Due to her state, she kept promises very very seriously and would expect others to do the same to her. Breaking a promise with her would meant that one must deal with a very angry roaring phantom that would follow. When Klaus continued the ritual, Kouri felt like she a bit afraid and anxious, what would this doll become? Would the doll have the same insane side as her? She didn't know. To hide her anxiety, Kouri curled up into a ball, still floating in the air. Then her long hair lost its ribbons to spread out and slowly wrapped around her body, covering her curled up body from head to toe. Now one could see a floating ethereal ball of white hair in the room. She would wait until Klaus had finished the ritual before coming out of her 'shell'.

[Klaus]

"That is a promise..." he said back. In his mind, he began the part of Animation that he hated the most. The Killphrase. For him, his animations were like children. He couldn't stand the thought of killing them. But should something go wrong, it was necessary. The Killphrase that would trigger total shutdown of the golem was the word 'Roza'. In the Ancient tongue, it meant death, termination, end. Very fitting for a Killphrase.

After that was set, he continued to make two other killphrases. These would not trigger total shutdown, but they would cause the golem to do nothing. He would react to nothing. As if it were asleep. The other, would 'wake it up'. But before he could do that, he needed one very important piece of information. For this, he turned to Fubuki. In a quiet voice, he spoke.

"What should we name it? It could be a boy or a girl."

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri The floating ball of ethereal white hair slowly opened up, revealing the curled up Kouri with her eyes closed. Then she shifted into a standing position and slowly opened her eyes. She stared at Klaus with half-open eyes. "Hmmm? Eh... it's na- ku?!" Kouri eyes suddenly opened wide, as wide as it could and her mouth hung open, she felt headache washed over her. Something... someone was speaking to her. She sounded exactly like herself. What are you doing? He was trying to hurt you... just kill him already... after you get your doll... yo-... no, we should kill him... I am you after all... Kouri suddenly grabbed her head because of the voice inside her head. She let out some terrified whimpers, it grew stronger with each passing day. The other presence that always gave her malicous advice and solutions, the presence that took over her during real combats, the presence that gave the hostile look to Klaus earlier. The presence that had... reptilian pupils and spread out hair. Come on! Don't stand there like an idiot! Answer his question! Hehehehe~ I know it should be a... "Girl..." Kouri made a half-empty look to Klaus, speaking as if someone commanded her to. Good... and her name should be... "Shinku... Shinku should be her name..." Kouri continued speaking in her slurred tone. Good... once that doll started moving... grab that eating knife and... kill him, take the doll for your own... what's the use for sharing anywa- "SHUT UP! NOOOO! SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UUUUUUUUUPPPPP!!!" Kouri suddenly screamed, dropped to the ground, and rolled on it. She wanted the voice to go away, please go away!

[Klaus]

Klaus could hear her. The thoughts that flitted into Fubukis mind. The other 'her' that whispered horrible thoughts to her. He heard it all. The orders to kill him. To take the doll. All of it.

"Fight her, Fubuki," he said, his gaze never leaving the doll. "She's wrong. That's not you. You're the girl that wants to play and live. You're the girl that loves the warmth of a hug and to have a living doll. That's not you and you know it!"

Shinku... even as he spoke his words of encouragement, he set the next objectives. Partial Shutdown Killphrase. 'Good night Shinku'. When spoken, cease all function. Stay aware of surroundings. Restart Phrase. 'Wake up Shinku.' Resume all function. All the while, the dark words in Fubukis mind washed over him.

"She's a bully, Fubuki. You're nothing like her!"

Klaus thought. And he thought. The objectives were over and the next part would determine what the Golem...what Shinku would do. But still, Klaus' mind was busy. What can I do?! We made a promise....We made a promise....

His eyes shifted to the ghost.

"We made a promise Fubuki! To help each other! Well you need my help now and I need yours! To make this doll live!" And then, he began to hum. He was unsure at first, for he had only heard the song once before. But she needed to hear it. He had to hum it right. And so he did. He hummed the song she sang in the woods. The one her mother used to sing to her. And he prayed it would help calm her.

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri "Ehehehehe... ahahahaha! F-fight? Fight how? Hahaha... hehehe..." Kouri stopped rolling, lied face down on the ground, materialized herself, then banged her head repeatedly to the ground. "Fight... how, sh-she's me... it's myself talking to me..." She grabbed her head with both of her hands and shook it rapidly. "N-no... please..." Oi, Sir Klaus... ehehehe, seemed like you could hear me, don't cha? Oooops~ Then you know that I wished to butcher you sooooo bad~♥, even your mother wouldn't be able to recognize what would be left of your bloody corpse... just like I did.. From his sentence, she found out that Klaus could read her mind. She didn't know how, but she didn't care anyway. Hahahahahaha! Oh... that song, hehehe... that's good... hehe, you like that song too? I thought only my Mama, Papa, and I know about it... oh, you heard me singing it in the woods, right? Nice... I think I like you so... I won't try to kill you anymore... Kouri heard Klaus' singing and it seemed to be calming her and the voice done. Hehehehe... since you found me out... I promise I'll go away then~ With that 'promise'. The voice vanished as if she was suddenly leaving Kouri's mind. Only a gullible fool would trust anything that voice said. "S-she's gone now... w-was she talking to you, Sir Klaus? D-don't worry, s-she promised to go away..." And currently, Kouri's terrified mind made her a gullible fool. "A-and... hehehe, that song is beautiful, right? I like it very much..." She slowly stood up and back to hovering above the circle. "Is it done yet, Sir?"

[Klaus]

OOCSorry it took so long to post, I've been working on my Gnosis request story Also, I think we may have gotten a little too distracted by the voice in your head lol

Klaus knew that 'she' would be back sometime. The only problem was, finding out what to do when she did come back. His life was in danger all the while of being around this girl. But he made a promise and he intends on keeping it. Still, he was relieved that she was gone for the moment.

He turned to Fubuki. "No, I'm afraid there is still a long way to go. We still have to teach the doll what do actually do."

Hmm..what to do, what to do. Klaus thought hard, trying to distract himself from the other side of Fubuki. What would a little girl like to do with her doll? She would want to introduce her to others. He turned back to the doll. When the words 'Hello Shinku' are spoken in succession, wave your arm. Again, the instructions were sent across the line and to the doll. Klaus thought again, picturing Fubuki in his mind. The image sent to the doll with the command, 'Go to Fubuki'. This means walk to her. Whoever you have been told to 'go to', you will follow them. To follow someone, walk beside them and go wherever they go. He then sent the same command with an image of himself and the words 'Go to Klaus'.

Should Fubuki, the image of Fubuki went again, Or Klaus, also with a picture of Klaus, say 'Come Shinku', then it is an order to 'Go to Fubuki' or to 'Go to Klaus'. If Fubuki says 'Come Shinku', 'Go to Fubuki'. If Klaus says 'Come Shinku', 'Go to Klaus'.

"Miss Kouri," he began to say, "Could you do me a favor? Could you sing that song again, please?" Should she sing the song, Klaus would send the information of it to the doll. That way the doll would recognize not only the song, but Fubuki singing the song. When the song ends, Klaus would instruct the doll to...Clap. Clap at the end. After all. She did say she was a singer. A singer should be given praise at the end of a song.

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri OOCI hope you get the gnosis without any problems! Yeah, bad bad voice! "Uh hum... It's okay..." Kouri nodded when Klaus said they still got a long way before the doll is finished. "....." She kept silent when Klaus said they need to teach the doll for it to function. Just like a puppy... Klaus seemed to be deep in concentration, Kouri decided not to disturb him; perhaps the 'teaching' process was not exactly like she had in mind. She pulled a ribbon out of her hair and played with it to pass the time. The ribbon... was not really a ribbon. Everything that could be seen from Kouri including her clothes and hair accessories were her own 'body', her Soulmist. So in truth, she was playing with her body parts and it explained how her hair seemed to move independently, like extra limbs. "Yes?" Her eyes perked up from her ribbon to Klaus as she heard her name being called. She let go of the ribbon and it promptly disappeared, a new one magically spawned near her hair. The ribbon then proceeded to tie her hair on its own. "Oh! Hehe~ Of course!" Kouri cleared her troath, inhaled, and... " proceeded to sing her song... the song her mother sang to her to sleep. The only memento left she had of her parents, other than her headband... "The mouth of the Just shall meditate wisdom... And his tongue shall declare judgment..."

[Klaus]

Klaus loved it. Listening to the song, that is. He loved the haunting tone the girls voice gave it. He loved the way the melody just flowed together. He was honestly a bit sad when it ended. But, that was the nature of most things.

Klaus continued to 'teach' the doll more things. He decided it would be nice to teach to the doll how to 'learn'. To be able to eventually recognize new people, other than just him and Fubuki. For that, he sent to the doll the memory of when he and Fubuki first met, earlier that day. He sent the image of him, looking at her face. Memorizing it. And putting a name to it. Klaus showed Shinku how to look people in the eyes. To see their face. Whoever Shinku is looking at, should she hear "Shinku, this is ____," the last word is the name that goes with that face. Subconsciously, Klaus decided this doll would make a good messenger for him, and Fubuki should she need one.

After he was sure that the doll would be able to learn people and their names, moved on to emotions. Simple, crude, and basic emotions only. Just to give the doll a bit more of a personality.

"I'm sorry this is taking so long, Fubuki. There is a lot taht goes into this. So far, I have taught the doll some actions, as well as how to learn. There are still some things I want it...her, to know though. Right now, I'm trying to teach her emotions. But it's tough." Klaus realized that he had been quiet for some time, and Fubuki seemed to be getting bored. He felt like he had begun to ignore her somewhat, and he wanted to make up for that.

Across the line, he sent some imaginary examples of happiness. What it felt like, as well as how to recognize it in others. The smile. The laughter. The slight twinkle in the eye. It took a couple of memories of his as examples, but Klaus eventually got it down. When he did, he moved on to the next, most basic emotion. Fear.

Coming up with memories of 'fear' was both easy, as well as recent. But he decided using his most recent memories of Fubuki was not the best idea. It may give the doll the impression that she should fear her. Instead, he used other memories. Memories of times best forgotten, in a city far away. When someone yells, you should be scared. When you feel fear, hide behind a leg. My leg. Fubukis leg. Or the leg of someone you know. All the while, he sent mental images of these events taking place, that way, Shinku would know what to look for.

Sadness. The last emotion. Klaus did not want Shinku to feel sad. But he did want her to know what it is. He showed Shinku images of people crying. Lots of crying. And he gave her the instructions to hug anyone he knew that was crying. It was simple, but Klaus felt it was something important for the doll to know.

After that was over, Klaus looked back at Fubuki.

"Now, the boring part is over. This is where the fun really begins Fubuki. We get to teach her how to move!"

Step three, complete. Commence step four. The Astral Body.