damned_institute | Hallway Outside Sun Room

Cursing, Kougaiji blinked and tried to focus his gaze on Doku. "I... I don't think so," he managed weakly. "I'm gonna..." He sucked in a breath, yet again, laughing silently, madly. "We gotta haunt them if we are."

At that point it struck him that Doku had answered him with un-Doku-like voice, familiar and still not.

"Uh... Y'ar no Doku." Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

From somewhere far he could hear his own slurring voice, wondering who it was. The darkness around at least was almost comforting, wrapping around him gently.

It wasn't very clear to Kikyo how long he had been standing there in the dark with his mind in various thoughts, when all the sudden, the doors to the sun room burst open and what sounded like a few people staggered out and onto the floor of the hall.

Kikyo tilted his face toward the sound, standing where he was without otherwise moving and turning on his flashlight to the floor nearby. In the penumbra of the light, he could make out two bodies, one in particular quite familiar.

"Kougaiji...kun?" he said, his surprise evident even in his smooth calm voice.

"Y'ar no Doku?" Jack repeated back, somewhat annoyed, trying to force himself up in a sitting position, but failing. "What the hell are you talking about? I thought I took a beating, but clearly-"

Kikyo's voice echoed and Jack realized that the other man was present as well. Bloody hell, here he was, about to zonk out for god knew how long and that tea drinker was asking after them.

Actually, he was only asking after Kou, the Fable noted. This was both good and bad, as Jack was well aware that he had rubbed the man the wrong way and wasn't in his graces. However, he didn't exactly WANT to be left laying prone in the hallway.

"Ah, you're here too, pal?" He forced a smirk, trying to appear jovial, "Don't suppose you have any antiseptic with you?"

"Mmnn..." Kougaiji tried to figure out what the hell was this not-Doku speaking off when another person drifted into their little private hell of pain and confusion.

"Kikyo," he greeted, leaning his head against the wall as he peered up at his roommate with squinting eyes. It was hard not to close them all together. But that wouldn't be polite. "Not hurt, right?"

Since when had he cared of what was polite anyhow?

"I think he's trying..." he paused, blinking his eyes open again. "I think he needs some patching up. You know any healing magic?" This made perfect sense in his mind.

Ah, that distinct and annoying voice had to belong to the urban ninja. It seemed like in this vast institution, he was bumping into him more times than he cared to. Kikyo's eyebrows furrowed in slight distaste, but it wasn't visible to anybody in the dark.

Kougaiji's remark brought a bitter smile to his lips, but that too was hidden in the shadows. His hands were more experienced in bestowing pain than healing. But as he knew the arts of killing so too could he bind the wounds to hold life together.

He stepped towards them, eyes glancing coldly over the two men to examine the damage. It was quite extensive, he could see this much. He bend closer to set his cool fingers on Kougaiji's face.

"I'm afraid I have neither antiseptic nor magic," he murmured. "Where are you hurt?"

Jack had the sinking sense that Kikyo was not addressing him with the comment, so he didn't reply. As much as he would have liked to ask for help in treating his wounds, he didn't think he'd find a caregiver in Kikyo. Why did he like Kou over him, anyhow?

"That's a pity," Jack finally said, referring to the first part of the comment as opposed to the question. "I figured SOMEONE had stolen some by this point. Guess I have to keep asking around, huh?"

A pang of dizziness hit him. Yes, he was certainly feeling his wounds now. Maybe he could use his good arm and drag himself into a corner out of the way. If Kou had been anywhere near sentient, he would have entrusted him with his key and maps, but as things stood, he figured he'd have a better chance keeping them safe if he looked after them himself.

"I dunno... Somewhere in the back, I think," Kougaiji muttered, frowning for a moment then glancing over his shoulder and sighed. The blood was covering most of his back by now, happily clotting rabidly by the glimmer of demon magic still apparent in him. It'd hurt like hell to yank away the layers of cloth that had stuck to the blood. And yet it would serve as a emergency bandage until then.

"I'll be okay," he whispered to Kikyo, dizzy but not quite yet throwing in the towel. God damn, he had been beaten down before. This was nothing new. Kougaiji looked up at Kikyo, determined, somewhat fascinated by the light playing in the man's amber eyes. Like the sun, and the earth, godless. He had seen only one pair of golden eyes before.

"But he's just a human," he said softly, nodding towards the not-Doku who he thought was called John. Or something like that. "Would you treat him first?" He obviously was assuming Kikyo would help them without a doubt.

Quite honestly, it would never have occurred to Kikyo to give any assistance to anyone in this place, the least of all the urban ninja that Kougaiji had the misfortune to call friend. Why should he care what happened to anyone here? Somehow he had a feeling the boy's loyalties would be the end of him. Kougaiji was too trusting of strangers. And even now, he trusted that Kikyo would help them both, though he knew nothing of his nature.

"Are you not human then?" he smiled with slight amusement. He brushed aside a red lock of hair from Kougaiji's sweaty forehead.

He turned and glanced coldly over his shoulder at the other man. Had Kikyo been feeling especially generous, he would have taken the man out of his misery and killed him right now. But at the moment, he felt nothing but indifference, and it would take more than one request from Kougaiji for him to stir a finger.

The Fable found himself seething at Kougaiji's remark of "just a human", but bit back the urge to let the other man know that he was more than any mere human, reminding himself that it would do no good to reveal his nature (though Recluse had already done a pretty good job of telling everyone, it seemed).

He also noted that Kikyo, as expected, made no move towards him. Well, fuck them both, he'd drag his ass back to his room himself if that's what it took. He said nothing to either and instead placed the palm of his hand against the wall. Right. It was just a matter of climbing to his feet long enough to make it a few hallways...

His limbs didn't want to co-operate and he realized that he wasn't going anywhere (at least, not upright). Cursing under his breath, he attempted to drag himself away- undignified, yes, but less awkward that dealing with these two. Assuming he got anywhere.

"...uh." Kikyo's question jerked Kougaiji out of his half sleep for a moment. Fuck. What had he said? He'd have to correct the mistake with something. Right now.

But he couldn't think of anything. Not with every breath bringing in a new world of pain.

Then John started to stumble, and he tried to see the man somewhere outside the spot of the flashlight. "John? How're you doin'?" Neither of them seemed too good, but obviously they'd survive.

He turned his gaze back at Kikyo, crimson eyes not quite pleading, that was still too much for his foolish pride, but searching at least. Kougaiji might have been gullible to stupid heights, occasionally blind as well, but he knew what complete lack of empathy looked like. Kikyo didn't quite have that scent about him. "Please, before he breaks himself."

Why Kougaiji had such an attachment to the other man was quite a mystery to Kikyo, who turned back to look at him calmly. A few moments passed in silence, with the only sound being the raspy breath of the wounded. Kikyo had no empathy. He was just a killer, wasn't he? And yet, something stirred in him when he peered into those searching eyes. Kougaiji was looking for something, with the expectation that it would be there.

"Shh. Be still," he murmured, his fingertips lingering on Kougaiji's face.

He set his flashlight to the floor, illuminating their part of the hall as he rose to stand. It was the urban ninja's lucky day. But maybe he would pass out on the floor before he realized it. Kikyo walked to his side and reached down to him, grabbing him by the collar and sitting him down with a tight, no nonsense grip. Kikyo might have looked slender, but he was stronger than he appeared.

Jack blinked and tried to pull back in response to the sudden move from Kikyo. What was that guy doing now? "What the hell?"

He wished dearly that his powers would decide to return from where ever they had disappeared, even if only for two minutes, just so he could heal up and not be at this man's mercy. It wasn't as if Jack hadn't suffered a fair number of beatings before; he usually managed to walk them off or play them down. And while it was no secret to anyone in Fabletown that Jack's greatest strength lay in running away, he had grown somewhat accustomed to his instant healing for the brief amount of time he had possessed it.

He also didn't trust Kikyo much.

"What exactly is it you're trying to do?" He narrowed his eyes and shot the assassin a look that dared him to try anything funny.

Kougaiji did exactly that, stayed still. He looked after Kikyo as the man moved, curiosity within the crimson of his gaze. His breathing was shallow as he tried not to move too much, the wound had probably been ripped open few more times while the freak had tossed him around, it didn't need to happen again.

"Thank you," he said silently, not sure if Kikyo or John would hear, but it seemed important to get it off his chest. His eyes were falling close, the world growing darker and darker.

Kikyo merely narrowed his eyes coolly in response to the urban ninja's protest. If the man insisted on struggling against him, it would only make it more painful for himself. His cold amber eyes assessed the damage. Someone in this place wielded a katana. He could easily recognize the aftermath from his own weapon of choice.

In stony silence, he went to work, not batting an eye at the extent of the wounds nor from the sight and smell of blood. His fingers took him by the shirt where the sword ripped through, and he tore off shreds of the cloth to tie together into a makeshift bandage. The cloth circled around, and again, pulled together cleanly and skillfully - though maybe a little tighter than necessary. He had little compassion to spare, if any.

It stung like the dickens when Kikyo bandaged his wounds- Jack couldn't say his bedside manner was anything to gloat about. Still, he was helping the Fable, so he couldn't completely blacklist him.

Then again, he was only helping him because Kou had asked him to. Damn it, he was in debt not only to Kikyo now, but the demon prince as well. He sighed and leaned back, looking at Kikyo with a somewhat defeated look. "And which of my arms did this kindness cost me?"

He nodded towards Kou. "I think he's about to disappear on us. You probably wanna take care of him."

Kougaiji's temple was resting comfortably against the wall when Kikyo was ready with Jack. The redhead was murmuring something between his lips and smiling sweetly. His eyes were half closed and sleepy.

"Yeah, would like that. Try the cherries, they positive ruin me..." He laughed a bit, watching a play of fantasy build behind his closed lids, private show of personal amusement. "I'll be right there, mother, I'll just..." he trailed off softly.

"Hn." Kikyo snorted and gave the bandages one last yank for extra measure. It was not kindness that moved him, but he had a feeling the man already knew this. Nevertheless, there was a debt to be collected, which he intended to remember.

"Your arms, you may keep," he said, eyeing him in a manner that impressed upon the urban ninja that he would not soon forget this.

He rose again, wiping his fingers on a spare strip of shirt he'd ripped from John as he was bandaging him. He slipped his fingers onto Kougaiji's cheek, tilting it up to peer into his eyes. They looked cloudy and barely retained any focus.

"Yes, I'll try the cherries," he murmured, his hands already at work to dress his wounds.

Well, it was nice to have the bleeding stopped. What wasn't so nice was the atmosphere. And it wasn't as if Jack could just mosey off his own way in the state he was in. Groaning, he tried to make himself useful, lest his debt to the tea drinker sky rocket exponentially.

"Do you need any help with him, Kikyo?"

Even if he rarely addressed anyone by their actual name, it didn't mean he forgot it.

A sigh, long and silent, escaped from Kougaiji's lips. He looked up at Kikyo with sad eyes, knowing it was the end of that hallucination but still wanting to cling to it for a moment longer.

Kikyo knew what he was doing, but in these conditions that wasn't much. Kougaiji bit back a whimper, and jerked forward when his back was touched. The bandaged tied the skin together tighter, pain and dizziness increasing by the moment, and half way through the process he found his consciousness seriously fading.

"I'ma... sleep a bit..." he muttered silently before the darkness took him, head lolling against Kikyo's chest.

To John's question, Kikyo just shook his head. He was almost done in any case, agile hands wrapping the bandages tightly around the wounds and tied together firmly. Kougaiji was already unconscious by the time he was through, the weight of his head resting against Kikyo's shoulder.

Kikyo cupped the boy's face with his palm and spoke to him, though he probably could not hear him anymore.

"Sleep...I will be here with you."

He lowered himself to sit on the floor, bringing Kougaiji down with him and gently resting his head into his lap. It was strange and uncharacteristic for him, to feel protective over someone he just met. And yet, this boy reminded him of someone...a person he would have wanted to protect, had he been able.

As the hallway fell into a silence, Kikyo turned his gaze to John, watching him closely in the darkness.

"Tell me what happened." It was not a request.

Jack slumped against the wall and made himself as comfortable as he could in the hopes of maintaining what bits of consciousness he had left. Especially if Kou was going to sleep, he'd need to keep his wits about him. He didn't trust what Kikyo would do to him were he to nod off.

So instead he shrugged and answered the question. "He was stabbed."

Really, if Kikyo wanted more, he could ask nicely.

Unfortunately for John, Kikyo had already used up his 'nice' quota for the night. And if you asked him, he would say that John had no place to be less than forthcoming with him, now.

In any case, the man hand long since forfeited any rights to civility from Kikyo, even before he incurred this debt.

With an unamused tone, Kikyo spoke again. "As have you. Now why don't you tell me how it happened?"

"Was I stabbed?" The Giant killer said with a good deal of sarcasm, "It must have escaped my notice. It would explain a few things."

Looking away from Kikyo, he added, "There's a guy in there with a sword stabbing people. That's how it happened."

Yes, extreme blood loss might very well explain idiotic and dim-witted behavior, Kikyo thought to himself. That still didn't excuse the man's attitude problem, but that was beside the point.

Kikyo cradled Kougaiji's head in his lap, his fingers brushing gently through his crimson locks. The boy was stubborn, he knew this much. But why would he risk so much, with a body already so injured? He could tell from that morning that he was gravely wounded before the fresh injuries inflicted this night.

"It appears then, your clever weaponry was not so sharp as you may have wished," he said with a dark smile.

Jack tutted and held up a finger on his good arm, waving it. "That's where you're wrong. I don't have any of my things today. Those bastards abruptly changed my room and those were all in the old room. Had I had HALF of what I used to have..."

The Fable went on to make a slew of claims as to the vast skill he himself possessed and how very untrained, unimpressive, and clearly lucky Gin had been this evening. Ordinarily, he kept insisting, he would have laughed at Gin's feeble attempts to wound him, but as things were, someone had intentionally stacked the cards against him. Clearly, he was at a handicap and had been taken by surprise, and did he mention that he was unarmed?

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