Day 26: Cafeteria, Lunch

[right-handed.livejournal.com]

Scar felt cold and sick, though more the latter than the former. As he rose from his bed, he didn't quite know which way was up, and the artificial light coming from overhead seemed as hot and as blinding as the Ishbal sun.

His head hurt, but that was nothing new. After all, the last thing he remembered from the night before was fighting a homunculus off of Lust and then having a conversation about events best left forgotten. The man hadn't been his brother. He just hadn't. And if what Lust had said they'd done to her was true...

Scar stood with shakiness that he wanted to attribute more to a bizarrely weakened physical state than a mental one. Had he been knocked out by some kind of lurking monster before the morning had come? He felt as if he had been out for days, being a veteran of such circumstances, though as he took the practiced role of being an obedient follower behind the nurse and orderlies that came for him, it didn't seem as if much had changed.

This place was probably just playing tricks on him again, and he was tired of being the man left out of the loop. He grabbed some food he didn't really care for and sat down, not seeing anyone he knew already seated. On one hand, he wished he had someone to talk to, and on the other, it scared him that he was no longer used to being alone.

He dug his fork into his food and tried to block out any related thought.

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[budgetordie.livejournal.com]

So the button labeled Kyoto was big, red, shiny, and had a neon arrow pointing to it.

That still didn't mean Hisoka had to actually push it.

With a sigh, Tatsumi closed his eyes. "I have no intention of hiding my own part in it, if I agree." Which the secretary technically hadn't yet. There was so much to consider when it came down to it...including the promise he had made to Tsuzuki the day before.

There's no way the man wouldn't see his part in this as breaking his promise. But Hisoka was right in that in the end, it could to the least harm to Tsuzuki.

Tatsumi pushed up his glasses, and with a nod, at last gave his consent. "I will trust you not to get hurt, Kurosaki-kun. Realize that the consequences will be severe if you come back harmed." Even if the secretary did participate, Hisoka wouldn't get off without punishment should his plan somehow fail.

"Kurikara strikes at the distraction, and I am to hold him down." Now that he had agreed, Tatsumi was all the more determined to make sure things went correctly.

[somber-secret.livejournal.com]

Hisoka was almost tempted to let out a deep sigh of relief. One of the largest obstacles had been passed now that Tatsumi had agreed, but the boy had to remind himself that it wasn't over just yet and he couldn't relax until it was.

"I understand, Tatsumi-san," Hisoka replied with a small nod. He was going to have to suffer these consequences anyway, he really doubted he'd come out of the meeting with Muraki unscathed. Tatsumi didn't need to know that just yet though, Hisoka didn't need him changing his mind at the last minute. "You may want to explain to Tsuzuki what's going on after I leave, Byakko won't be happy about it."

[hotlittledragon.livejournal.com]

Kurikara knew nothing of what had happened in Kyoto. Whenever they talked about it, a sort of electric charge passed between the shinigami and even he was starting to wonder why it was so important. He shifted his attention between Hisoka and Tatsumi as they discussed, and all the while he felt a sense of the inevitable about whatever Hisoka was getting himself into. He wasn't so unused to situations where no one would win.

Tatsumi finally agreed, and Hisoka brought their meeting to a close. Kurikara closed his eyes. "Byakko's first concern should be his master's safety so he'll understand." When he opened his eyes again, he met Hisoka's. "Leave a message on the bulletin when you get out. No excuses."

A smirk flickered across his lips almost too quickly to see, and he let himself off the table and into the crowded cafeteria without a backwards glance.

[You can watch his ass while it swings this way (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/177215.html?thread=11849023#t11849023).]

[budgetordie.livejournal.com]

Tatsumi gave Kurikara only a glance as the dragon left, his gaze otherwise remaining intently focused on Hisoka. The secretary couldn't shake the feeling that there was something he wasn't being told, and most likely wouldn't be, no matter how my might try to pry.

With a sigh, Tatsumi nodded slightly. "I'll be sure to talk to him." He'd planned on it even before the suggestion. It'd only be more cruel to do this without any sort of explanation afterwards, and Tatsumi was still borderline when it came to his own acceptance.

"How did you efforts go last night?" A subject change would be good, should Hisoka not be leaving as well. Tatsumi's own answer to the question might be obvious, given the generous amount of bandages on the visible parts of his body.

[somber-secret.livejournal.com]

Hisoka had to admit, he was taken back somewhat by Kurikara's demand request. He could understand out the outcome of this plan would affect him, but why was he bothering about afterwards? It had nothing to do with him, unless he was just planning to laugh his ass off.

Hisoka shook his head as Kurikara left, turning his attention back to Tatsumi.

"It didn't. Tsuzuki was late and Byakko didn't show." He would have demanded an explanation for it, but Hisoka decided that what they were going to do to Tsuzuki was bad enough. "I see you at least got somewhere?"

[budgetordie.livejournal.com]

Tatsumi wasn't entirely surprised to hear Byakko hadn't arrived--after all, he had learned that at breakfast. Still, he had held out hope that Tsuzuki and Hisoka would have been able to accomplish something. Though, when he thought about it, Tatsumi supposed he should have known better.

"That sounds fairly typical." The secretary sighed softly. "I believe Byakko-sama was detained helping others. I met a young woman at breakfast who told me as much."

He grinned slightly at the notion that his group had managed any better. They had gotten somewhere, if into the grip of a ghost counted for anything. "Only to this very room. Last night, in the sun room, there was a spirit with a very dangerous touch. Both Rangiku-san and myself ended up with cuts all over our bodies." Tatsumi paused for a moment, moving a hand to touch the bridge of his glasses. "If you encounter any such spirits, Kurosaki-kun, I'd advise you to avoid physical contact. Simply try to run from them if you can."

[somber-secret.livejournal.com]

Well, it figured. Hisoka only hoped he got more done tonight than he did last bight. He would be alone despite what he told, or implied, Tsuzuki, so the delays should have been few if he wasn't so out of it.

"Yes, it is," Hisoka sighed in return. What he would give to kick Tsuzuki's ass into working shape. Then again, he'd probably have a heartattack at the efficiency. "Thank you for letting me know."

A dark look flickered over Hisoka's face at the mentioning of the Sun Room. Why was there always something in there at night? All the other rooms with monsters never remained the same, so what was so different about that room? "What did this spirit look like?"

[budgetordie.livejournal.com]

Tatsumi considered it for a moment, then shook his head slightly. "Unfortunately, I didn't get a good look at her. She did appear Japanese, and was wearing a white kimono if I remember correctly." Tatsumi paused, then added quietly. "She kept demanding we return something to her, but of course I have no idea what."