FANFIC: 11 Reasons We Were Reborn - 4
Aug. 28th, 2007 05:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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11_reasons community.
"Why we were reborn and able to meet in this way is truly a great mystery.” –Daisuke
Eleven Reasons We Were Reborn
a Please Save My Earth fanfic set by Jennifer Wand
IV. For a Cynic Who Believes and a Believer Who's Cynical
“It's a sad thing, to be a scientist. All you want to do is deny Sarjalim, but the more you try and make inquiries to protect your pride, the more you find you're unable to deny Sarjalim's existence. At the most critical time, and in this one place, that all the astronomical probabilities should coincide and we should all be born! With a coincidence as complex and extraordinary as this, denying Sarjalim's existence would be much less scientific than the alternative!” --Rin
“I am SO glad I am not an American,” said Daisuke abruptly.
Haruhiko and Rin looked over at the giant floating page of the Yomiuri newspaper that was currently obscuring their view. “What’s that, ‘Ragi?” Rin said.
“They’re actually throwing evolution out of science classes,” Daisuke fumed.
“Ahh.” Rin went back to sipping his coffee. It would have to be something technical and boring like that to catch Daisuke’s attention.
“Why would they want to do that?” Haruhiko, who had some interest in biology (or, at least, Shuukaidou did), found the topic slightly more interesting.
“It’s the religious crazies,” Daisuke grumbled reluctantly, as though just giving the idea voice would lend it credibility. “They want to teach that God created the universe in seven days and call it science.”
“What? Give me that.” Haruhiko grabbed the newspaper from Daisuke and pulled it across the table, very nearly upsetting his own water glass in the process. “How can they call that science?”
“They’ve come up with this pseudo-theory called Intelligent Design,” replied Daisuke.
“It goes something like this - Life is so complex that it can’t possibly have evolved. The odds are against it. Therefore God must exist.”
Haruhiko scanned the pages briefly and shook his head. “That’s not even close to science,” he lamented. “They can’t actually teach that!”
“Why not?” asked Rin nonchalantly. “It’s true.”
In response to the two suddenly turned heads and incredulous glares, Rin shrugged. “What?” he said. “It is. How else do you explain all of us?”
Daisuke blinked. Haruhiko offered, “All of who?”
With a rattle, Daisuke’s fork shivered and then rose a few inches into the air. Rin pointed to it as Haruhiko looked around nervously to see if anyone had noticed. “That. Explain that to me, if that’s not Sarjalim.”
“Rin-kun, YOU’RE doing that!” Haruhiko stage-whispered.
“But I shouldn’t be able to.” Rin let the utensil drop, but he now had a wicked smile on his face. “Can you explain to me scientifically how I’m able to negate the law of gravity? Or how you’re able to save ten thousand yen by jumping between here and Kyoto when the rest of us have to take a bullet train?”
“Um, I’m the only one here who has to take the train,” Daisuke observed wryly.
Rin was unfazed. “Or how Alice’s greenhouse is constantly overrun by blooms, even in the winter? Or, for that matter, how any of us here were able to awaken in the first place?”
“Look, just because YOU can’t explain something scientifically doesn’t mean it can’t be explained!” Daisuke would be ignored no longer. “We just don’t understand how it’s done yet.”
“’Ragi!” Rin’s eyes and mouth went round in faux disbelief. “You of all people can’t be an atheist!”
Daisuke sputtered. “I’m not! It’s just that—“
“What, you don’t believe in science, then?” Rin grinned that sideways grin that meant he was enjoying causing chaos. Haruhiko was well aware of that grin and sighed heavily, his head dropping onto his palms.
Daisuke’s face was turning interesting colors. “Of course I do! That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you!”
“Then you think all those things have an explanation out there? You think that Sarchess powers shouldn’t be named after Sarjalim? Perhaps you’ll figure it out someday and they can call it the Dobashi effect.” Rin threw back his head and laughed as though it were the most brilliant coinage in the world.
“M-maybe they will!” Daisuke blustered.
“Great!” Rin retorted. “Then you can prove that there is no God?”
“Of course I can’t prove that! Nobody can! It’s just that you can’t prove God does exist, either!”
“I thought you just said you can explain anything with science!” Daisuke was silent. Rin drove in for the kill. “Which is it, ‘Ragi? Are you a scientist or a believer? You can’t be both. Either everything has an explanation or it doesn’t.”
“Which is why we keep searching,” Haruhiko said softly.
The two of them turned to him in surprise.
Haruhiko had a soft smile on his face. “What would life have to offer us if everything were explained?” he said. “Of course we try to understand it all. But we’ll never get there, you know. Still—isn’t that why we keep trying? Because we just don’t know?”
Daisuke’s nearly purple face paled a few shades, and Rin’s aggressive angle as he leaned over the table softened a degree. They both stared at Haruhiko silently.
“When you think about it,” Haruhiko said, stirring his tea gingerly, “why did Sarjalim decide to reincarnate seven scientists, of all people? She could have sent seven Lians to Earth instead to preach her gospel. If Sarjalim really is God, she could have done that, you know.
“But instead, she sent seven scientists. Seven skeptics.
“Why do you think she did that? So we’d be curious enough to find each other? So we’d know enough to bring the wisdom of our civilization—“ at this Haruhiko laughed bitterly “—to this planet? Or maybe it was just to show us that we should always keep searching. Because that’s what makes us human. That’s what makes us alive.”
Daisuke’s expression was still blank, but Rin had leaned back and was smiling approvingly, his eyes lowered. Haruhiko surveyed him and shrugged. “At least, that’s what I think. And I’m no scientist.”
“I think that’s what is making ‘Ragi so frustrated,” Rin mumbled.
“Rin-kun!” Haruhiko said reproachfully.
“Sorry, couldn’t help myself.” Rin raised his gaze to smile winningly at Haruhiko.
Daisuke suddenly realized he’d been frozen in action. “Wait a minute!” he said.
“Don’t worry, ‘Ragi.” Rin mocked a soothing tone. “I won’t tell anyone you were beaten by a guy who writes children’s books.”
For the first time, it was Daisuke’s turn to smirk. “So were you.”
Rin’s coffee cup clattered to the saucer, spilling brown liquid around its base. Haruhiko laughed merrily as a red-faced Rin mopped it up with a paper napkin. And Sarjalim—if she exists—surely enjoyed the scene.
- End Chapter 4 -
Author’s note: Manga continuity; all quotes are my original translations from the Japanese.
11_reasons community."Why we were reborn and able to meet in this way is truly a great mystery.” –Daisuke
Eleven Reasons We Were Reborn
a Please Save My Earth fanfic set by Jennifer Wand
IV. For a Cynic Who Believes and a Believer Who's Cynical
“It's a sad thing, to be a scientist. All you want to do is deny Sarjalim, but the more you try and make inquiries to protect your pride, the more you find you're unable to deny Sarjalim's existence. At the most critical time, and in this one place, that all the astronomical probabilities should coincide and we should all be born! With a coincidence as complex and extraordinary as this, denying Sarjalim's existence would be much less scientific than the alternative!” --Rin
“I am SO glad I am not an American,” said Daisuke abruptly.
Haruhiko and Rin looked over at the giant floating page of the Yomiuri newspaper that was currently obscuring their view. “What’s that, ‘Ragi?” Rin said.
“They’re actually throwing evolution out of science classes,” Daisuke fumed.
“Ahh.” Rin went back to sipping his coffee. It would have to be something technical and boring like that to catch Daisuke’s attention.
“Why would they want to do that?” Haruhiko, who had some interest in biology (or, at least, Shuukaidou did), found the topic slightly more interesting.
“It’s the religious crazies,” Daisuke grumbled reluctantly, as though just giving the idea voice would lend it credibility. “They want to teach that God created the universe in seven days and call it science.”
“What? Give me that.” Haruhiko grabbed the newspaper from Daisuke and pulled it across the table, very nearly upsetting his own water glass in the process. “How can they call that science?”
“They’ve come up with this pseudo-theory called Intelligent Design,” replied Daisuke.
“It goes something like this - Life is so complex that it can’t possibly have evolved. The odds are against it. Therefore God must exist.”
Haruhiko scanned the pages briefly and shook his head. “That’s not even close to science,” he lamented. “They can’t actually teach that!”
“Why not?” asked Rin nonchalantly. “It’s true.”
In response to the two suddenly turned heads and incredulous glares, Rin shrugged. “What?” he said. “It is. How else do you explain all of us?”
Daisuke blinked. Haruhiko offered, “All of who?”
With a rattle, Daisuke’s fork shivered and then rose a few inches into the air. Rin pointed to it as Haruhiko looked around nervously to see if anyone had noticed. “That. Explain that to me, if that’s not Sarjalim.”
“Rin-kun, YOU’RE doing that!” Haruhiko stage-whispered.
“But I shouldn’t be able to.” Rin let the utensil drop, but he now had a wicked smile on his face. “Can you explain to me scientifically how I’m able to negate the law of gravity? Or how you’re able to save ten thousand yen by jumping between here and Kyoto when the rest of us have to take a bullet train?”
“Um, I’m the only one here who has to take the train,” Daisuke observed wryly.
Rin was unfazed. “Or how Alice’s greenhouse is constantly overrun by blooms, even in the winter? Or, for that matter, how any of us here were able to awaken in the first place?”
“Look, just because YOU can’t explain something scientifically doesn’t mean it can’t be explained!” Daisuke would be ignored no longer. “We just don’t understand how it’s done yet.”
“’Ragi!” Rin’s eyes and mouth went round in faux disbelief. “You of all people can’t be an atheist!”
Daisuke sputtered. “I’m not! It’s just that—“
“What, you don’t believe in science, then?” Rin grinned that sideways grin that meant he was enjoying causing chaos. Haruhiko was well aware of that grin and sighed heavily, his head dropping onto his palms.
Daisuke’s face was turning interesting colors. “Of course I do! That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you!”
“Then you think all those things have an explanation out there? You think that Sarchess powers shouldn’t be named after Sarjalim? Perhaps you’ll figure it out someday and they can call it the Dobashi effect.” Rin threw back his head and laughed as though it were the most brilliant coinage in the world.
“M-maybe they will!” Daisuke blustered.
“Great!” Rin retorted. “Then you can prove that there is no God?”
“Of course I can’t prove that! Nobody can! It’s just that you can’t prove God does exist, either!”
“I thought you just said you can explain anything with science!” Daisuke was silent. Rin drove in for the kill. “Which is it, ‘Ragi? Are you a scientist or a believer? You can’t be both. Either everything has an explanation or it doesn’t.”
“Which is why we keep searching,” Haruhiko said softly.
The two of them turned to him in surprise.
Haruhiko had a soft smile on his face. “What would life have to offer us if everything were explained?” he said. “Of course we try to understand it all. But we’ll never get there, you know. Still—isn’t that why we keep trying? Because we just don’t know?”
Daisuke’s nearly purple face paled a few shades, and Rin’s aggressive angle as he leaned over the table softened a degree. They both stared at Haruhiko silently.
“When you think about it,” Haruhiko said, stirring his tea gingerly, “why did Sarjalim decide to reincarnate seven scientists, of all people? She could have sent seven Lians to Earth instead to preach her gospel. If Sarjalim really is God, she could have done that, you know.
“But instead, she sent seven scientists. Seven skeptics.
“Why do you think she did that? So we’d be curious enough to find each other? So we’d know enough to bring the wisdom of our civilization—“ at this Haruhiko laughed bitterly “—to this planet? Or maybe it was just to show us that we should always keep searching. Because that’s what makes us human. That’s what makes us alive.”
Daisuke’s expression was still blank, but Rin had leaned back and was smiling approvingly, his eyes lowered. Haruhiko surveyed him and shrugged. “At least, that’s what I think. And I’m no scientist.”
“I think that’s what is making ‘Ragi so frustrated,” Rin mumbled.
“Rin-kun!” Haruhiko said reproachfully.
“Sorry, couldn’t help myself.” Rin raised his gaze to smile winningly at Haruhiko.
Daisuke suddenly realized he’d been frozen in action. “Wait a minute!” he said.
“Don’t worry, ‘Ragi.” Rin mocked a soothing tone. “I won’t tell anyone you were beaten by a guy who writes children’s books.”
For the first time, it was Daisuke’s turn to smirk. “So were you.”
Rin’s coffee cup clattered to the saucer, spilling brown liquid around its base. Haruhiko laughed merrily as a red-faced Rin mopped it up with a paper napkin. And Sarjalim—if she exists—surely enjoyed the scene.
- End Chapter 4 -
Author’s note: Manga continuity; all quotes are my original translations from the Japanese.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2007-08-29 06:26 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-10-11 12:35 pm (UTC)You've hit the nail on he head as far as characterizations are concerned. These would be their potions if the discussion came up. And it's nice to see Haruhiko being the peacemaker. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2008-10-11 01:52 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-10-11 01:58 pm (UTC)