Polynya

“He was a Tibetan buddhist, a direct disciple of Marpa Lotsawa, who is considered the founder of the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Milarepa used a similar technique for a spell in which he existed only on tea made from nettle leaves, which is why there are many depictions of him with a green skin tone. Alongside the tea leaves, he also subsisted on air, deep breaths to ignore the hunger pangs.”

“Air and tea, huh?”

[Accept image from Hajime?]

Ryuk selects yes and an image of a green Buddhist appears in the lower right hand corner of his vision. He’s seen similar images before, but the image has always been of a female, Tara Bosatsu, or Green Tara.

 “What’s he listening to?”

“He was an advocate for the teaching of Buddhism through song. As you know, most music, at least memorable music, plays into repetition heavily.”

“So what are you trying to say? And what was the breathing practice for?”

“A minute of breathing could hardly be considered a practice, but my reason for having you do it, and my hope that you will continue to do it for longer stints, is for you to realize the meaning of your oblique quote for today: repetition is a form of change. Can you think of any other way this could apply?”

“Leveling,” Ryuk says almost immediately. “I mean, there are variations, but leveling can be repetitive, especially if you are doing something such as casting a necromantic spell on a certain creature that gives out EXP, killing it, casting it again. I guess the quote is more about the long game, like writing a novel maybe. You just keep doing the same thing, which may bore many, but there is reward in the end and that reward is change in, um, the thing you originally started.”

“Good, go on, explore that a little more. Tell me of a time in your life not game-related that you grew through repetition.”

“Coming home from Waseda University, I always logged in right away, before doing anything else, you know, to see Tamana.” He swallows the memory down. “We did this every day for the first semester, even if we had a test the next day, even if it was just to do some bullshit in Tritania, like going fishing or going to a drama in Porthos. I liked that repetition.”

“And was it a form of change?”

“I don’t know, well, yes, sure, it was. It increased our closeness.”

“So then, do you agree with the phrase?”

Ryuk considers this for a moment. “I agree with the aftereffects of repetition, the change that comes over time. Repetition itself isn’t a form of change, it is an, um, instrument of change, but I guess referring to it as a ‘form’ works too.”

Hajime lifts an eyebrow. “Good, Ryuk! Repetition can inspire the most profound change known to man. Just think of the social changes and the repeated behaviors that led to them, and think about those oppressed people, the many that there have been, and how iniquitous repetition led them to sudden, often violent, change both to their betterment, and sometimes, their detriment. Many find repetition the epitome of boredom, but I find it fascinating.”

The humandroid smiles, completely enthralled by the subject. “But we can discuss this later. We should leave soon. We’d better not leave your mother and brother waiting.”

(0)__(0)

Ryuk can barely focus on the way to his mother’s office located in Ikebukuro, Tokyo’s famous commercial and entertainment district that has grown up around the fourth-busiest transit station in the world. Outside the sprawling entrance to the station, one can find everything from department stores to Nishi-Ikebukuro, a pleasure district well-known in Tokyo’s water trade.

But none of these things are on Ryuk’s mind as he rides in the backseat of an Uberyota aeros.

He pays little attention to the Bic Camera electronic megastore across from his mother’s building as they land, a place he frequented as a child, nor does he notice the towering height of the Sunshine 60 building, which looms over the Toshima Ward.

His thoughts circle around what his mother may say – that, and seeing his brother again.

“We have to be careful,” he whispers to Hajime.

The humandroid responds with a low grunt.

“I don’t know what Kodai is planning,” Ryuk continues, “or why mother wanted to see us both.”

“It seems that Cain and Abel have reversed roles, or are at least in the process of doing so,” Hajime muses, “although I don’t see you killing Kodai.”

“I’d never,” Ryuk says, shocked Hajime would even mention that.

Silence permeates the cabin of the Uberyota as it lowers onto a clean rooftop.

There’s an arcade to the northeast, a place he frequented as a child with the hopes of winning prizes, and later, a place he visited on occasion with Tamana. They’d play combative games – Takio: Drum Master, Dance Dance – the archaic arcade games were fun, plus they were a great way to get exercise. He recalls a particular time in which she won him an Empress Thun doll in a claw machine, which he subsequently regifted to her.

“Kodai’s already here,” Hajime says as the doors unlock.