damned_institute | Day 26; Doctor's Office 3; Dr. Muraki

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Day 26; Doctor's Office 3; Dr. Muraki

There was a rose on his desk. A large flower the colour of fresh blood, so fragrant and soft it seemed to mask the usual cigarette smoke and sterile impersonality of the room. Where it had come from, the doctor would not say. A gift, maybe. A smile and shrug.

But on to more pressing matters. He had one patient file and two patients, which certainly didn't bring him anything but mild annoyance. He was the sort of man who prided himself on being a few steps ahead of all his patients, to choose the perfect poison, to catch them when they fell down into hell.

This one was of particular annoyance because Muraki quite enjoyed the boy and his roommate and their little bargain. This would make things dangerous and interesting, wouldn't it? The good doctor leaned back in his chair.

Come.

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Hisoka didn't let himself feel relieved even after he had left the cafeteria. Although he was sure Kurikara and Tatsumi would hold up their end of the bargain, he was still in deep trouble, whether it be because he was walking down death row or because the boy knew Tsuzuki wouldn't take the news of their plans well still remained to be seen.

If anything was for certain though, they reached Muraki's office far too quickly for Hisoka's liking. With a knock, Hisoka's nurse opened the door and ushered the boy inside, prattling endlessly about how "good" this would be fore him and otherwise utter bullshit. To all appearances, Hisoka didn't really care, his face expressionless and his eyes cold as he entered the room.

In reality, he was tempted to scream. He was going to be alone with Muraki, dammit.

"Hello, Doctor! This is Alex Grey!"

Muraki smiled. "Good afternoon, Alex."

He nodded at the nurse, and she let herself out, shutting the door firmly behind her. His smile had turned pleased and vicious even before they heard the click. Here he was again, face to face with the boy from the church. "Please, sit down. We have a lot to discuss."

It was a wonder how he managed to maintain his indifferent facade as the nurse finally left, it was all Hisoka could do not to narrow his eyes. Sit, right.

In hell.

"I prefer to stand." That way he'd be ready should Muraki try anything, which he would.

And so it began. Muraki didn't move from his chair, not yet. He kept his eyes level with Alex's, his expression calm. The boy was halfway across the room, but his voice was low and clear. "Oh, but I insist.

I can get you something if you're feeling tense. I understand this is your first time as well."

This time Hisoka's eyes did narrow, if only slightly, his expression otherwise unchanging. He was sure the doctor meant well, but he would have rather been showering ~~or stabbing himself repeatedly with a hot iron~~ than to sit only a few feet away from a murdering bastard.

"I'm fine." He didn't move away from the door.

Muraki chuckled. "You're as stubborn as your roommate. Really, what do you think I'll do to you?"

Now that would only be giving him ideas and getting screwed over by his own suggestion was the last thing Hisoka needed right about now. He still didn't move from his spot, the curse marks burning a warning into his skin as to what would happen if he did.

"Hurt your hand, doctor?" Hisoka replied icily, intentionally changing the subject. Muraki's hand wasn't entirely in plain sight, but Hisoka could see the brace and that alone sent vicious satisfaction through the boy.

Muraki raised his hand, bringing it into plan sight and tugged his sleeve down a little to show the brace. He looked at it with a pleasured disinterest, obviously seeing something more satisfying beyond. "Your concern is touching, but I will recover quickly." He soothed, almost sarcastic.

Then he smiled again and met Hisoka's eyes. "If you must know, it was well worth the effort."

Just like that, Hisoka could easily envision killing him. If he was strong enough a simple twist of the neck would do the job, but the question was did Hisoka want it to be that simple? He could remember Renji, a gruff asshole at best, reduced to having to watch others out of paranoia. And Tsuzuki. Always returning a bit more broken than before.

No, Muraki didn't deserve to die peacefully. Not in the least. Hisoka was careful to keep his expression the same despite the rage that grasped tightly at his chest.

"I'm sure, breaking your wrist while masturbating must be the highlight of your life."

He wondered if Alex would ever know how close to the truth he'd just gotten. His meaning was different of course; Muraki had gained only cruel satisfaction and the wrist had been broken before anything interesting happened, but the act was spot on.

Such a perceptive boy.

"No, that would be the time I've spent with you." The sarcasm was gone, and it was hard to tell just which way Muraki meant this. He brushed some hair away from his eyes. "Are you jealous?"

Hisoka didn't care how Muraki had meant it, all he really knew was how it sounded and he didn't like it. Not in the least. The boy's shoulders tensed as he fought not to lunge at the arrogant bastard seated across the room.

But oh how he wanted to.

"I can't really say I've ever been jealous of a decrepit old man before, so no." He wouldn't have envied Muraki even if he was the king of the world.

"I'm not talking about myself." Muraki's vanity seemed to be untouched by Alex's insults. In fact, he seemed to be quite content letting the boy cling to safe ground.

"There's no need to be so defensive. If you would like, I can administer the same treatment as your roommate. I'm sure you would benefit from each other's experience."

If there was ever a time Hisoka was grateful for his father's teachings it was now. If it had been any other way, Muraki's comment would have made a visible impact with the boy rather than just a subtle twitching of fingers. He wanted to strangle the doctor ~~which title the man didn't deserve~~

"I'm sure any treatment of yours is not even worth a second glance."

"You would enjoy it." Muraki replied. "He did."

He shifted to rest his arm on the desk, and in that same calm, clear, quiet tone he made sure Alex knew everything that happened that afternoon.

It was confirmed, Muraki didn't deserve a peaceful death at all. Throughout Muraki's explanation Hisoka didn't move an inch nor did he even react and, in the boy's mind, this was worse than throwing a fit. This meant that Muraki's "treatment" was taken to heart and not ignored instead.

Even if that was what Hisoka wanted to do more than anything else.

"You act as if I should care," Hisoka replied icily, visions of killing Muraki stronger than ever.

"Of course not. It was only a suggestion." Muraki finally stood, letting his fingers trail across the desk as he moved around it and toward the boy by the door. "You still look so tense, Alexander. Maybe..."

He stopped less than a handwidth away from the boy, and let his gaze trail slowly from head to toe; the cold, appraising eyes of a hunter. "...You should lie down." He tilted his head back, just slightly, exposing his neck, taunting. "Of course, if you would prefer to stay I would be glad to entertain you."

What will it be, little rabbit? Fight or flight?

Lee, to say the least, was interested to see how this doctor's appointment was going to be. He was wary at the moment, remembering the reaction that Relena had after her visit. And now, he would have to face whatever this doctor threw at him.

In a way, he was a bit excited to visit this 'doctor' to see what was going to happen. Perhaps he would learn something today.

The nurse informed him that he would be working with Dr. Muraki. Therefore, after he had stepped into the office, he bowed to the man and said, "Good day to you, Dr. Muraki! I do hope that your day is going well!"

Well, this was a change from the usual fair of beautiful hate-filled boys. Muraki raised his eyebrows about a millimetre at the boy's downright cheerful greeting.

"Very well, thank you Brian." He replied honestly. He gestured at the chair in front of his desk, his smile polite and utterly impossible to read. "I hope you're looking forward to your therapy this shift. Things will go much more smoothly if we can work together."

Interesting, Lee thought to himself. He could tell that this session was going to be very odd. He just wasn't sure how odd.

Lee sat down and nodded his head. "I am indeed looking forward to this most enlightening visit with you, Doctor. I am curious to know what it is that you wish to talk to me about."

So polite, too. It was a shame that Muraki could be so vain about his dolls. He surveyed Brian with polite, attentive interest and inclined his head when appropriate.

"That depends on where your interests lie. Do you have any questions for me before we begin?"

"Yes, please. I am fully ready to begin this enlightening session upon our path to better knowledge!"

Lee wondered how Muraki would take that outburst of youthful vigor.

Most of his patients wanted to know about their past or their 'alleged' illness. Brian was...enthusiastic. Either his questions had been answered or he simply didn't want to know. And he was hoping that this boy wouldn't be dull.

"That depends on the kind of knowledge you're looking for. Since you have no questions for me, I will ask you something. What do you hope to gain from therapy, Brian?"

Lee smiled at the doctor. What an interesting game this was going to be. Ah, the wonderful play between a cat and a mouse...but who was the mouse, Lee wondered. He did not want to think about that quite yet.

"Ah, there is so much that I wish to know, doctor, that I do not know where to even begin. I wish to know what can be done to make my vigor even greater! To become the best that I can be."

Lee hoped that he had made that vague enough. What he wished to know was the truth of Landels, but he had a feeling that he would not be told that by merely asking. After all, had the people here not given him a different name, a completely different identity? Not just that, but they were hurting his friends, and that he would not take lightly. Would he be able to get the truth by being nice? The doctor appeared nice...for now. Later, though...

"But surely there is more that you wish to know, doctor? I am sure my wish to be stronger in mind and body has not gone unnoticed here! The nurses were probably a bit worried that I would pull my stitches." He laughed loudly at this. "Landels is quite an interesting institution," he continued, thinking to himself how they could do without the monsters and sadistic Head Doctor. "I am highly curious how it came to be. It always fascinates me how doctors have the power to heal...and to cause pain."

...Or maybe he judged too quickly.

"I'm afraid I haven't been here long enough to learn about the institutes's origins." Muraki smiled, every bit the respectable physician. "You give doctors too much credit. As I've found in my years of practice... That's hardly a power exclusive to us. Human beings are fragile creatures. It's - " foolish " - an enviable endeavour, to become stronger."

Lee's smile grew. If he had not experienced the horrors of Landels, he might have actually liked the doctor's responses. However, he trusted him as much as he trusted Orochimaru...as in, he didn't.

"Your wording is fascinating, doctor! You speak as if you are not human."

Muraki chuckled. "What would I be, then? I've seen plenty of humanity, both others and my own."

His eyes were half-lidded and calm with reflection. It was an odd little game, but he would only tip his hand, never revel it entirely. And now it was time to call a bluff. "I'm sure you didn't come here to play word games. I would like to hear what you remember of your life, if you will tell me."

"Ah, I am just being silly, Doctor!"

Lee laughed, but he wondered exactly how to continue this dance. But for now, he would tell the doctor part of the truth and see what happened from there.

"Well, doctor, I am not sure exactly what you want me to say about my life. I have always been a bit behind from others in my class, until Guy-sensei took me under his wing. Most of my life is filled with the desire to become stronger in order to protect those I love, and to be the best ninja I can be."

What would the doctor say now? It was clear that this was going to take an interesting turn...

This would be his second ninja. How cute. Muraki chuckled, apparently as good-natured about their little game as Brian himself. "Children are always so optimistic, even in the face of the inevitable.

Have you found the secret to protecting them from death as well, Brian? That would be a formidable technique."

"Nobody can stop death, Doctor. Yet if I could protect those I love even a day from death, I would do so. I cannot say that I would succeed, but that would not stop me from an attempt or two."

Lee tilted his head to the side. He was somewhat curious why of all names, Brian had been chosen for him. It seemed so odd, and yet the nurses had been pretty adamant on calling him that. Now he saw no purpose to attempt to change their minds.

"What of you, Doctor? Have you found the way to protect people from death?"

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Day 26; Doctor's Office 3; Dr. Muraki

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