damned_institute | Day 25: Sun Room (Fourth Shift)

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Day 25: Sun Room (Fourth Shift)

The concept of gardening in the greenhouse was not one that Hitsugaya was particularly fond of. It was likely exceptionally warm inside, whereas the young captain had a preference for cold climates. He also needed to make himself available for anyone who happened to want to speak with him. The sun room overall seemed the best choice.

As a warm and cheerful nurse led him into the sunroom, he glanced around. At the moment he was the first one there, which was good, as it meant he could keep an eye out for one of the many individuals who had expressed curiosity about the 'arts and crafts' division. It also meant he could watch out for Omi or this Hellsing woman. He excused himself from the nurse and proceeded to a seat that gave him a good view of the entrance. If not for the fact that he was being held here against his will, he might have felt happy. Real rice. He hadn't had time to eat as much as he had hoped, what with his meeting with Mustang, but he still ate a lot more than he'd had the opportunity previously. Even Momo seemed to be acting more like normal.

As unpleasant as the day had begun, it was turning out to be a good day.

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When given the option of the Sun Room or the Greenhouse, Tamaki chose the Sun Room. It wasn't that he didn't like gardens - he liked them very much - but they made him think of his mother. And he didn't want to start missing her right now. He was subdued enough as it was.

So he went to the Sun Room, and his eyes immediately fell on Adel. Who he hadn't spoken to since... well, since that day in the shower. He'd been avoiding the other boy. But he had felt it was best, to give them both time before they talked again.

And maybe it was best they talked now, when Tamaki was calm and subdued and less likely to grow emotional. Or overly emotional, at least. Taking a deep breath, and pushing away the conversation with Ed, he walked over cautiously, biting at his lower lip, limping on his wounded leg and his wounded arm hanging uselessly at his side.

He didn't want to interrupt, but if Adel wanted him to go away, he'd make it clear.

Kenshin's warrior's instincts had told him that Adel was approaching before the boy spoke, but he didn't give any indication of this. It was only after Adel finished asking his question that the rurouni sat up and smiled brightly at the young man.

"Of course," he said pleasantly. "What can this one do for you?"

Before Adel could answer, another boy wandered over to where he was sitting. This one he recognized: Suou Tamaki, the boy that Light had pointed out to him over breakfast. The poor boy's injuries looked even worse close up. Kenshin's heart went out to him. Tamaki was little more than a child and obviously unsuited for battle, and yet he was trapped in such a horrible place.

"Suou Tamaki-dono, right?" Kenshin asked gently. "Good afternoon. This one learned a little about what happened last night from Yagami Light. How are you feeling?"

"Tamaki!" Adelheid looked absolutely horrified. He had taken terrible wounds, and his torso and leg was still bandaged, but that was nothing compared to what Suou had gone through. Not because the wounds were particularly severe, but because it was Tamaki. And even if he was... that way... that still didn't mean that Adelheid didn't have a heart for his former friend.

His question was forgotten for a moment, as Tamaki's condition rather took a bit more priority than anything else. Adelheid strode up to the other teenager, glancing at his arm in an attempt to gauge the damage. "What happened? And how bad is it? And please sit down, if it's all right with Mr. Himura." He didn't think it'd be a problem, but his crimson eyes glanced to Kenshin, his expression clearly hoping that it would be all right.

Tamaki just blinked a bit, unable to think of something to say. He'd expected a glare or a stern word or something, not concern. Not Adel acting as they used to, worried and upset over him.

"I'm fine," he finally said, shaking his head. "It's really not that bad, I'm alright!" But sitting down did sound nice. And he sank slowly into a chair, trying not to wince as he did so.

"It was cats," he explained, gesturing to the bandages. "They're very fast." Much faster than him. "Ah, Light! Yes, that was who we met last night. Really, I am fine. I've already been fussed over, quite a bit."

Kenshin nodded his assent as soon as Adel's eyes met his. Of course he wouldn't mind if an injured boy took up the rest of the space on the couch! "Please," he said, moving to leave even more space on the couch. "Sit. You too, Adel-dono."

He said nothing else. If the two boys wanted to talk, he wouldn't interfere.

Cats... that made sense. Adelheid had only seen them in passing, but if their claws were anything like what he'd met on other creatures, then it was a good thing that Tamaki was even still alive. Upon hearing that Tamaki had already been fussed over, though, Adel decided not to worry too much more about it.

Instead he quietly murmured, "At least you're all right. Edward and I also had to help a group of people who'd been attacked... I begin to wonder if there are enough fighters to go around. Especially with Ed and I winding up drained more than we should be." A quiet sigh at that; he wanted to protect all of those people who couldn't, but there just plain wasn't enough Adelheid to go around. Especially with his and Ed's need to fill those alchemy requirements.

...speaking of... he didn't sit down, but instead Adelheid shifted his gaze to Kenshin. At least Adelheid was used to get a stream of information from various sources at once? "As for you, Mr. Himura... I was wondering if it would be all right to ask you a few questions about your past? You don't have to answer if you don't wish to, of course."

"I had a sword," Tamaki explained. "It was enough to kill the creature that attacked me. But I do need to learn how to use it properly." He sighed some. Well he knew there were plenty of people who could teach him.

"And Renji-san is organizing hand-to-hand lessons," he went on. "So at least if we don't know how to fight now, we will. Ah, I'm sorry, I didn't meant to interupt..." He went on. he really hadn't wanted to, and it sounded like this was something of an Important Conversation.

So there were more people here besides the boys he already knew about that didn't know how to fight. Kenshin sighed, frowning. It was a discouraging prospect. If Suou Tamaki had a katana, it was better than nothing, but it was troubling that he didn't know how to use it. That would have have to be rectified as soon as the boy was healed enough to hold it properly.

And then came the inevitable questions about his past. Battousai wasn't a subject that Kenshin was keen on discussing, but he wouldn't withhold information when asked. That would just be childish.

He nodded. "Whatever you wish to ask will be answered. And," he turned to Tamaki, "it's good that lessons are being offered. You should wait until you're more healed before you begin them, though. It wouldn't do you any good to make your injuries worse."

"You aren't really interrupting," Adelheid assured the other teenager, "and... I'm glad that you have a reliable source to teach you. Moreso than myself, at any rate. And Mr. Himura's right; you might want to hold off until you are healed before trying to start a training regimen. In your condition, I doubt you could learn as much as otherwise."

Adelheid did, after all, still remember how he and Renji had beaten the ever-living daylights out of each other; if the man could teach that to Tamaki, then it would be the best for all concerned. Besides... Adelheid wouldn't know how to teach someone else. He always learned simply by watching; trying to help someone else would probably be beyond his limits.

And speaking of Mr. Himura... Adelheid turned to the other man, a rather more serious expression on his face. This was something rather important, if impromptu, and he wanted to confirm before it was time for the dinner shift. "You mentioned earlier what sort of life you had led, and that you had turned from that life. After that time has passed, and with the effort you've put into it... could you say that you truly have broken away from your past?"

This was a very serious matter to Adelheid, and his crimson eyes were intense as he asked that question. If it was possible for a 'Man-killer' like Kenshin, then perhaps it would be possible for Adelheid as well.

"Oh, I know." Tamaki waved that away, as well "I can't even hold my sword, let alone use it right now. Though Renji-san has something planned for me tonight...."

What, he didn't quite know. He supposed he'd find out.

When Adel addressed the other man - Hiruma - Tamaki fell quiet. He knew about Adel, and how Adel felt. And what he'd done. He could only assume that had something to do with the question he was asking now.

It was a difficult question to answer. Kenshin knew what Adel wanted to hear: that someone could make a clean break with his past and completely atone for his sins. As he had learned himself, it wasn't that simple.

The rurouni considered lying. He could tell the boys that he had made a clean break with his past, and had completely started afresh. He ruled out that option as soon as it came to him.

"To be perfectly honest, no," he started quietly. "The past is never something that can be undone. The deeds that this one has done can never be erased. However, if the rest of his life can be lived in such a way that helps, in its small way, to atone for the great evils committed by the Hitokiri Battousai, then all isn't lost. There is hope. Living life one day at a time, bringing life instead of taking it away...that is the reason why hitokiri became rurouni."

If anything, Adelheid was glad that Kenshin hadn't lied. He wasn't sure if he could have caught it or not- normally his ability to judge character was sharp, but not so much here- but the sincere expression on Kenshin's face won Adelheid over. Besides, it synced with what Rukia and Renji had both told him.

But that gladness was still muted. Unconsciously, Adelheid glanced down at his hands, knowing what Kenshin said was true. The past couldn't be undone. The mistakes would last forever. The blood could never really be cleansed, nor could the evil in his own veins be removed. But at the same time, Kenshin still offered hope. Slim, faint, just a glimmer at the far end of the darkness... but still there. Something to work towards. Except for one tiny detail.

Adelheid was a little glad that Tamaki hadn't said anything; he knew that the other boy was fully aware of the situation, or at least as much as Tamaki needed to be. So him not blurting out everything was... really, quite a good thing. "In all of this time... you haven't broken your vow, Mr. Himura? That alone is the deciding factor?"

If so, then that light of hope would fade entirely once more. Such a path... was not one Adelheid could follow. No matter how much he would wish to.

Tamaki remained quiet. He knew he didn't have a place to speak here, but....

He watched this other person very carefully, listening very carefully to what he was saying, an unreadable look on his face. His mind was somewhat numbed, but he wasn't completely inable to comprehend new information.

Even when it was coming in small bits and peices.

Kenshin smiled fondly at the two boys. He knew that what he had said hadn't been exactly what they had wanted to hear, but he liked to think that he'd given hope to them nonetheless. Plus, he was just as glad as Adel that he hadn't lied. He was a terrible lier (as Kaoru-dono was fond of reminding him). His face showed everything, which was why Sano always had to sneak him out of the house if he wanted to go drinking or gambling. Kenshin couldn't be trusted to keep their destination a secret.

"No, this one has not killed for over ten years. The vow remains unbroken."

Not killing for over ten years... that was almost unbelievable. So long without killing, to hold to a vow for that long, without a single exception. Adelheid felt jealous, especially since, well, he was almost certain he couldn't hold to that vow. Not considering his own life. Still, all he could do would be to fight for that kind of life, if that was his only choice for the future.

"With the weapon you asked for, it is possible, I suppose... but have you had many occasions where you might have to break that vow?" If Kenshin hadn't needed to break his vow, if his life had been easy enough where the vow hadn't been put to the test, then there'd be even less of a reason to believe that Adelheid himself had a chance. Still... if there was even the slightest hope...

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Day 25: Sun Room (Fourth Shift)

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