Chapter Text
Akyuu laid on her futon, and tried to fall asleep. Her eyes were shut, but she was wide awake. She was completely alert. If she had wanted to, she could sit right up and go about her business unimpaired.
Akyuu's head was filled with ideas for a new book. She had an entire plot worked out, some characters, and she was working through yet another scene at that very moment. It would make an excellent story, probably.
When Akyuu was lying in bed at night, she often thought of amazing stories, only to end up hating the ideas later. At the moment, she had a bigger problem. She was sitting on three different unfinished drafts.
There was a whole novel that was on its second draft, and two novellas that were half done. Normally, Akyuu would just stay up writing, but Kosuzu had insisted that Akyuu needed to sleep more normally.
“Your health is bad enough already! Stop writing things in the wee hours of the morning!” Kosuzu had said.
Akyuu rolled over. But I do so much good writing after three. She rolled back to her other side. No... She's right.
Akyuu rolled even further, until she was lying on her stomach. Maybe my previous lives would have lasted longer if I took better care of myself... No, that can't be it.
Akyuu lay still for a moment. I might be able to sleep like this.
Akyuu felt herself starting to grow drowsy. She would finally fall asleep soon.
“Akyuu... Akyuu...” someone whispered.
Akyuu dismissed the voice as a dream. She was not going to be woken back up now.
The voice was faint and ethereal. It sounded like a woman, it was vaguely familiar, but Akyuu didn't recognize it. “Akyuu... finish the book.”
Akyuu gave a weary smile. Oh, it must be my subconscious telling me to go back to my old habits!
A particularly cold draft washed over Akyuu. She shivered and pulled her blanket closer.
“Finish the book, Akyuu,” the voice repeated.
Maybe I should play a record?
Someone tapped Akyuu's shoulder. Akyuu's eyes shot open, and she sat up. The room was empty. She was alone.
“Finish... the... book...”
Akyuu blinked. She looked around, but saw no one. She couldn't even figure out what direction the voice had come from.
Well, I'm definitely not sleeping now.
Akyuu got up and headed for her writing room. She marched right up to the table where she'd left the drafts for her latest work, and got right back to writing.
“Not those, you idiot! The old one!” The voice sounded like it was coming from right behind Akyuu.
“What?” Akyuu asked.
The room was silent again.
“What old book do you mean?” Akyuu asked.
There was no response.
Akyuu stared down at the collection of paper in front of her. She had absolutely no idea what the voice had been talking about. She didn't have any unfinished work that was more than a few months old. At least, nothing she'd consider a book.
There were plenty of old drafts lying around, but who in their right mind would call them books? They weren't nearly far enough along to earn that title.
Akyuu walked over to a nearby shelf. She'd figure out whatever that mysterious voice had wanted, or she'd die trying.