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Inuyasha | Rhapsody in Eight Movements
Title: Rhapsody in Eight Movements
Fandom: Inuyasha
Universe: Alternate (Modern day Japan)
Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Rating: T
Warning(s): Mentions of death, the treatment of mental illnesses
Summary: When a mysterious man washes ashore on Halloween night, it becomes a race against time to uncover his identity – and the circumstances that left him there.
Links: DW | FF.net | AO3
...and this is the chapter that precipitated my posting this story in the first place: it's the Halloween chapter, and I'm pretty proud of it, if I do say so myself!
If you've checked out this fic over on AO3, you'll notice that I've basically tagged all of the major characters from canon. One of them is our mysterious man, and the others are the people involved in uncovering his identity. So, I suppose if you like to cross possibilities off your list when you read mysteries, you can knock two of 'em off right here.
This chapter is told from a third-person omni POV. We start with Sango, the junior medical examiner on staff at the hospital, as she's toiling away on some last-minute monthly paperwork. Two paramedics come in to drop off their latest unfortunate decedent, and in the process, one of them (Miroku) starts to flirt with her, leaving his partner to do all of their actual work - you know, debagging the body, putting their paperwork in order, etc. He gets all creeped out and convinces Miroku that it's time to go, leaving Sango alone with her very tempting autopsy.
I chose these characters for these roles for a reason. What I really like about Sango in canon is that she's such a strong, technically-skilled character; she has received arguably the most professional training of any of the Inutachi (save Miroku, perhaps) and I think she'd be excellent at this sort of technical, precise work. She has little patience for paperwork - or Miroku's flirtatious advances - and really relishes being able to throw herself into her job.
And Miroku, I could totally buy as an adrenaline junkie - though he doesn't necessarily go out looking for trouble in canon, he certainly doesn't shy away from it :P I can buy him as a paramedic, because it's a skillful job but also a transient one. I think half his fun would come in *not* having a routine, LOL.
And, well, this is pretty much the perfect situation for the Miroku/Sango dynamic, given Miroku's penchant for flirtation and mischief. I'm not sure he could resist the idea of pulling a prank at Halloween, which is why Sango is so quick to accuse him of having an ulterior motive at the start, and then again when things go awry with her autopsy. Its certainly not out of the realm of possibility, I don't think, which is why I wrote it this way =)
Miroku's partner, deliberately unnamed, will show up again, as will Miroku and Sango themselves =) This is the scene that really drives the plot of the rest of the fic, as I think becomes obvious by the end.
I have to say, I really, really like the way this scene came out. It's perfectly creepy, at least for me. I'm not sure if its because I could picture this sequence of events so clearly in my head, or what - but I generally think I suck at writing twists, so maybe this was a bit of beginner's luck, LOL. IDK, it just felt so perfectly Halloween to me, that I changed a few details around so that the holiday played an important role in the setting. This will also become important as the team of characters investigates the drowning, which you'll see in the next chapter.
As for the autopsy itself - I couldn't really do much in the way of research for that; I mostly had to draw on my knowledge of live medical procedures, as well as the various police procedural which feature montages in the morgue. I really enjoy watching true-crime shows like Snapped and city confidential, which kinda give a feeling of how these things work, how important the tiniest clues can be - so I just ran with it. Any technical mistakes are my own, but it was more important to lay out the clues than to get everything ~right~, so to speak.
So what did you think? Is it perfectly creeptastic, or completely obvious from the start where I was going with this? Drop me a comment/review, let me know your speculations! :P
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If you decide to read it, I hope you enjoy it! =) Definitely one of the more experimental things I've ever tried, LOL!!
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I really did like this chapter and think you fit Sango and Miroku's characters into the setting very well. The only criticism I have (as a total MirSan shipper) is that I think Sango might have a little more of a soft spot for Miroku's flirting. Not outwardly, of course.
Other than that, the characterizations are wonderful. I liked this part of the story and was actually very surprised that the body "woke up." It was very nicely written and I really enjoyed this chapter.
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The only criticism I have (as a total MirSan shipper) is that I think Sango might have a little more of a soft spot for Miroku's flirting. Not outwardly, of course.
LOL! ;) Well, I originally crafted this story before I started writing Mir/San fic, so blame it on circumstance if you want. Plus, I kinda like their acerbic interpersonal relationship, and its something that's not often explored on its own.
actually very surprised that the body "woke up."
Yay!! Totally what I was going for, hehe. This is such a rare writing feat for me, I'm glad it worked! (Plus, on re-read, you can take that whole "he's not going to take himself out of the bag" line in a completely different way, LOL.)
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Fair enough. It's just my shipper-ness (wow, that word) that could see a whole MirSan springing out of this story, but that's not going to happen. :P :D
As I've been writing, I'm very much enjoying this story and it's uniqueness.
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Haha, I know what you mean - its really fun to read OTP fic! But alas, you're right, this won't be one. Sorry ;)
As I've been writing, I'm very much enjoying this story and it's uniqueness.
=) I'm getting such a kick out of everyone's thoughts on the fic! Truly, beyond my wildest dreams ♥ I feel like I've been welcomed home, LOL!!
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If so, I'll just comment on those from now on, for convenience's sake. ;)
As for speculations, I have a character in mind that I hope our John Doe will turn out to be... though if Miroku's colleague is who my gut feeling told me he is the moment he came up and if family relations are the same as in canon then my guesses wouldn't work. Unless there's another twist there.
Will Kagome be part of the police?
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Okay, so I caved and had a peek at the character list on AO3. With the limited cast we have there, my guesses might actually turn out to be right, despite that family complication.
Having Naraku in the story spells big trouble. Rin adds potential for a heartbreaking background. But I'm curious what role you have in mind for Mushin. Might be quite amusing. :D
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Eventually, LOL. It'll be a bit of a delay, as I have to format the postings for DW & AO3, but yes. Notes for all the chapters will surface sooner or later.
I like your speculations! =) I look forward to seeing how they change (if they change) as the story progresses along.
I'm curious what role you have in mind for Mushin. Might be quite amusing. :D
He actually pops up in the next chapter, LOL! =)
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We'll see. :D
It's kinda easy to make me doubt myself - at least as far as perceptions/speculations go. ;)
I'll just have to hope you're not TOO good with playing with my beliefs. :P
He actually pops up in the next chapter
I'm looking forward to it. ^^