Walking to the back of the bookstore I found the man gazing along many books with ease, he didn't even look at me as I approached.
I waited for a few minutes in hopes he would finally notice me right in front of him, minutes passed by quickly but he was so absorbed in his books he never looked up.
So finally I called out to him,
"Excuse me I found a book I would love to buy if you wouldn't mind..."
The man that fell along my age looked up towards me, making eye contact.
"Is that so? You re-decided quickly."
I blinked for a few seconds then realized, remembering what the floating book said. 'No time shall pass.' It seems to be true, I could feel the coldness that once swept me before I entered the bookstore stir up again.
"It caught my interest even after opening it for a few short moments."
He looked at me and nodded,
"Some books could do that to you, most readers could instantly, by the first sentence tell if a story would be ridden with horrid nights of reading running porridge."
Running porridge? I wanted to question him for that but I thought it would be better not to ask...
He grabbed the book from my hands, just from his eyes, he eyed the entire cover of the book. 'I see its The Gate Guard' Or well that's what I believed he whispered so quietly. Opening the book and examining it, finally after that he looked back up towards me.
"Give me 400 yen and its yours for the taking."
I dug into my pocket in search of my wallet, passing my house keys then finally finding it at the very bottom. Taking it out I opened to only find 1,600 yen..
I took 400 yen out and handed it over towards him, he took it and gave the book over. He gave me a grin, then he got out of his chair, if I had to say, he seemed to be over excited about me buying a book.
He walked all the way over towards a cash register that was covered by books, unearthing it. From the dreadful pile of books, he quickly whipped it open and threw the money in, then with a slam, he closed it. Humming away a tune.
I gave him a polite bow before leaving, walking over towards the door. I opened the book again, nothing has changed after the words moved earlier, I closed it, and opened the door. Walking out onto the sidewalk, I was ready to go home back to the place I truly belong right now.
Once I made it back I took out my keys and wallet and plopped them on to the table by the door. I walked through the kitchen into the hallway, into my room. Ripping off the clothes I was wearing and hitting the bed with a bang.
I shouldn't be sleeping at all, I should be cleaning up and going to wash all these clothes that riddled my room floor. Or cleaned the ramen cups that riddled the floor, but it was already to late.
My mind drifted into a peaceful slumber as with everything that happened faded away. The following morning was not a morning but rather it was already four o'clock in the evening.
I sat there in bed looking around until I found the book in my sights, across the room on the floor. I started to remember everything that happened last night, getting pulled into a world by a book. The book could talk, I got to ride a horse for the first time in my life. I shoved a sword into...
I stopped myself from thinking, I can't believe it. I did all of that, things that sound like it would be from a book going on sale for the fifth time.
Looking back over towards the book, it finally got me out of bed. I walked across the clothing that filled my room, making my way over. Once I was in front of it I bent on down and grabbed it lifting it up and walking back towards my bed.
Sitting down, opening the book, it was still the same as before, or well it told a new story very much different than the story that was pushed into my head. Very forcefully may I say.
I didn't even get a say in it at all, but without that information there's no doubt in my mind I would be long dead. I gripped the book tighter and tighter as I read, everything that was written was from Sams perspective.
Honestly the more I read the closer I felt to him, he is definitely a brother from far away. I sat there reading it all the way to the end, but once I reached the end, it never said if he lived well or died.
It got me worried, then I flipped the page again there in writing, it said 'Thank you Yoku for helping me write again.' What the hell!?
Why is my name here!? I was so dumbfounded that my mouth dropped to the floor, quite literally. I fell off my bed and laid sideways with my face on the floor. This has to be a joke right maybe I'm seeing things..
I gripped hard on to the book, slowing opening it again and facing it to my face, nope I wasn't seeing things.....
I laid there for a good few seconds, then my distress disappeared like it was nothing, I felt nothing. No I felt strange, I got up from the floor and looked around, everything looked disgusting in my eyes.
I mean before it was okay it was just there, but I never looked at it like it was disgusting and revolting. Placing the book on to the night stand, I went to the kitchen opening a cabinet. Grabbing a trash bag, walking back to the room and picking everything on the floor and throwing it into the bag.
I wasn't myself anymore I felt taken over, before I knew it my room was cleaned. The trash bags were near the door, and with that my body felt like mine again.
Clothing was already in my hands or well the most clean clothes I have seen in my apartment in a long while. What is going on man? This is scary, have I gone insa-
Again I lost control of my own body again and it started moving on its own. I couldn't see anything for a long while but I felt my body move, my mouth moved. My eyes twitched from sensory information, but when I opened them again I was home.
In clothing I have never seen before, many clothing I have never seen before. Filled to the brim in the closet, I grabbed a phone out of my pocket. It was brand new, one of the newest brands in fact. I felt a horror wash over me.
Is my body moving on it's own? and why!? I looked at the date, oh thank the Lord... The only difference was the time, it was already seven o'clock in the evening. I wish I new what happen during those time periods of blankness.
I looked over where I put the book, now there were two. Walking over I looked at the cover of the book, there was no title for it at all.
Before I could look away the book started to wiggle and move, jolting with each movement I watched in horror of it. It flew onto my bed opening and moving, pages flew by quickly, stopping on a single page with the writing on it saying 'Hello.' I backed away in terror, my hands where trembling in fear.
Then a thought surface into my brain, but it wasn't my own.
'Hello again Yoku.'
My mind wanted my body to fall in horror, but my body begged to differ.
'I am the floating book that helped you rewrite 'The Gate Guard' do you not remember already?'
These thoughts came to my brain in an instant, I've gone insane, right!?
I stood there looking at the book for a moment,
"Can you just talk like before?"
The book stayed silent and never answered, great silent treatment, how nice of you... Hey at least answer my one of my questions.
Why the hell did my body move like that?
'You have merged with Phalton the knight, your body is just experiencing after affects from that time, that's all.'
So should I guess the original Phalton is a clean freak or something? He cleaned my entire apartment and bought new clothing without my permission.
'Do not worry they will go away with time, let's say, give it five years.'
Five years!? I can't allow him spending money like this! I'll get kicked out for not paying the rent!
It gave me silent treatment again, then shutting it's own self. I wanted to rip every single page out of the book in that moment. I picked it up, about to throw it then I thought about the damage cost on the apartment.
I immediately put it back down, my wallet can not handle any more big spending..
Looking around my overly cleaned room, then at the alarm clock, I sighed. I've had enough excitement for today, so I got ready for bed. Taking off clothes, showering, brushing my teeth. Then hitting the bed.
Right when I did though, my back was in pain, I forgot to move the book off the bed earlier. I picked it up and threw it on the floor, I then slipped away into the dream scrape for the night.
Waking up at six o'clock in the morning, I wrestled my way out of bed, falling to the floor. Finally waving my arm onto the nightstand slamming my hand around to find the blasting alarm clock. Bang! I knocked it off the the table with more force than usually, onto the floor.
It stopped blasting after hitting the floor, grabbing it I put it back onto the table and got up to walk over towards the door. On my way though I tripped over the book that laid in the floor, knocking it open.
"Good Morning Yoku!"
It yelled out when it opened, making me jump like a cat away, who would have thought a book would wake me more up than a blasting alarm clock...
I ruffled my hair, bending down and picking the book up,
"Good Morning.."
"Just like you suggested I have change the way I contact you. With this I hope we can continue rewriting books together!"
I looked at it with a dumb founded look,
"Whoa there buddy I haven't even said I would do that again."
I took the book with me to the bathroom,
"What do you mean? You have already agreed."
Grabbing my tooth brush,
"What the hell are you talking about?"
I started brushing my teeth but unfortunately for me.. In just a minute an entire book of writing shot out from the book. Hitting me and throwing me to the wall.
"Terrible sorry Yoku!"
I got up holding myself up with the wall, arching over in pain. I looked up to cuss the book out but in my face letters in golden ink glowed.
'Once you've completed your first rewrite it has now become your duty, to continue forward, into the future, to your untimely Demise.'
Are you serious? Further on it read,
'Those that die in there first rewritten will not die but the contract will be broken, throwing them back into there world and forgetting everything that happen.'
Are you really serious!? I didn't have to do all of that at all!? I could be getting ready right now without a book blasting away papers at me!?
With that it disappeared all the papers,
"So Yoku le-"
"You're a scammer! You hear me a scammer in broad daylight!"
I pointed my finger towards the book,
"If you only actually told me what was happening, I wouldn't have to deal with you right now!"
I felt awful, I felt cheated, I looked at the book for awhile and it didn't do anything. I stood there and thought, if I knew this when I was there, would that mean I would have never got to know them.
I would have never gotten to meet any of them, Tuner or Sam, I would still be doing my life. Going to work then going home and doing nothing to clean.
I looked up towards the book, it was still there,
"Look I didn't mean to say that, I think it's cool, I got to meet interesting people. Do things I would never be able to do, but I have work to do."
I grabbed my brush that flung with me when I got it with those papers, putting it back into the cup it was originally in. Fixing my bed hair, walking out of the bathroom, the book slowly followed from behind.
Going back into my room, I looked through my closet, grabbing some clothing to put on. My body froze again putting them back, I couldn't move again, my body grabbed other clothing and put them on. I guess Phalton didn't like the style...
Out of the room I went to the kitchen, making myself something to eat, again my body was taken over and made a meal for me. Once I came into control again the food was made, plated, I sighed and ate the food.
Walking over towards the door many shoes where there, I picked up a par of shoes expecting my body to go under control again. It didn't, it seems I chose correctly this time.
Grabbing the phone, wallet, and my keys that sat right next to the door, putting all but my keys into my pocket. I looked over towards the book that slowly followed me from the bathroom to the hallway, to the kitchen, now the door.
"Yoku do you want to rewrite books with me?"
I thought for a few seconds, something like this, I'll never have a chance at it again. If I don't take it I'll be working all day living like how I was for the rest of my life, right?
I grabbed the book and shoved it into my coat,
"Of course buddy."
Opening my door back into the world I know is my home.