[center][youtube]RVBjDqgqQk0[/youtube]

It was strange. So very strange. [/center]

A soundless swing cut the air. The metal pipe, which had created it, collided with Hakuren's jaw. It was an unpredictable action, one which could not be avoided, and signaled the beginning of the enemy's attack. Fortunately, the item's surface was smooth, without any sharp edges, which could cut the flesh, however, the power carried in its movement broke the young man's balance upon impact. The hit was hard and cold, like a kiss from the depths of the sea. Losing his footing, a sudden misstep sent the youngster directly to the ground, where rocks both big and small awaited to give him a warm embrace. His head slammed against the boulders and he lay there, motionless, whilst unknown figures approached his comrades.

It was not black, the view in front of his eyes, yet it was hazy, as if unrealistic. There was noise coming into the ears. Something strange, quite strange indeed. A couple of spots flickered here and there, much like the city lights back in the human world. Sounds of a familiar kind rushed in. First the rain came pouring in, a wonderful orchestra of nature. It hushed and swept away reality for that short moment. Then the horns and engines of cars roared past and the third violin was played by the loud murmuring of the masses, along with the buzzing of their devices. The same noisy place, as always. And then it played, that little tune he'd heard some time ago. Or was it a long time ago? There was no way one could tell for sure. After all, time did not exist in Nowhere. Not to mention that it wasn't all that clear when the last occasion of hearing it was. 

[center][i]‘‘Left alone with no music at all,
I wonder when the teacher down the stairs will fall.
Not having a single tune in my ears to cheer,
I wonder what made my phone's life disappear.”[/i][/center]

The lad's eyes did not comprehend much of what he saw in front of himself whilst resting atop the floor of the cave, only his breathing indicating that he was alive. The hit he had taken had not been hard enough to knock him out unconscious, yet his collision with what existed below their feet was another matter. He heard his attacker's question, yet did not reply. The need to respond to the outside world had suddenly been lost. He couldn't explain why, but there was no need to, now, was there? Something was picking at his memory, something of an unknown origin, foreign, unseen. The noise in his ears was growing louder, the sound of clattering mouths in particular. Gossip. It was an enjoyable activity, as long as the topic was not you yourself. The pounding of his heart resonated within his cranium, increasing the volume even more. Beat after beat, it was unending, which was comforting, seeing as it indicated that life within the body was continuing its existence. Two eyelids slowly descended downwards. No sooner had they come to a standstill than all was engulfed by darkness. 
The unclear chitter-chatter of folk soon became faint and more of an echo than anything else, yet the song followed in the same manner it had started. There were ups and there were downs as the voice changed its pitch several times. It was a recognizable musical piece, yet its name and creator eluded the student's mind. The arrangement was splendid, providing both a playful and a spooky essence to it. Words kept piling up it continued line by line. Still, it did not feel complete, as if some of the lyrics were cut off at some point. He did not try to remember. He did not even attempt to recall who was it that gave it to him or where he had heard it. Instead, the boy simply listened for the end, the only part of the song he knew at that point.

[center][i]‘‘Even at this time, I'm sitting in my place.
Waiting patiently, teacher's late in this case.
What nobody knows is that there was a tragedy.
For the illness there, it seems there's no remedy.”[/i][/center]

Instead of the last verse came gunshots. Like the waves created by a leaf, as it touches the still waters of a lake, screams were spread. Regardless of how tearful, saddened or shocked those individuals were, they were not enough to deafen the thundering caused by the bullets. It was bizarre. There was nothing plain in sight. Only a canvas of the pure black abyss that is one's inner self. No light. No hope. Only a memory, which grew distant each and every time he blinked. But instead of feeling despair or terror, Hakuren just grinned, both outward and inward. 

[b]"What a foolish thing."[/b] he snickered.

Pushing himself upwards to a sitting position, the young man was a peculiar sight. Blood slowly dripped from his mouth and from the side of his head, its crimson colour contrasting well with the blue in both his eyes and messy hair. His gaze staring sharply at the woman before him, there was something playful in those two bright flames, as well as in the small grin he wore as an expression. Now wide awake and completely conscious, his entire being devoted itself to 'the game' once more.

[b]"Asking for information like that, it's unmannerly of a young lady. A hungry bear does not dance. How about we have a proper introduction, hmm?"[/b]
They were captives. A blind man could see that. Trapped under nets, which possessed some sort of magical ability, there was no evident escape route. This being said, it was not wise to struggle and get on their interrogator's bad side. Yet Hakuren continued as per usual. The identity of the person in front of him did not matter. She wished for information and he could grant it, at a reasonable price of course. 
[b]"My name's Hakuren Zabluda. I'm sure we can create a decent deal if we base it on informational exchange."[/b]