[From here]

Homura's steps grew progressively faster, though perhaps the demi-god himself wasn't aware of it. The trip was made in silence, Homura falling into familiar thoughts as they walked. Plans for the next day, contacts that needed to be made, goals that needed to be set. Kenshin and Kenren needed their weapons, and then they could do more significant work than gathering metal and blood, find more significant prey to satisfy the growing desire for revenge.

He wouldn't let himself think otherwise.

The distance was short, and soon Homura moved into the bathroom. He held his pillowcase in his teeth long enough to make a holder for his sword with his belt, then nodded to Kenren. "The easiest way I've found is to pull one of the pipes from under the sink, then use that to pry the others free. If we work quickly, we might have time to knock free the other fixtures as well."

The demi-god moved to one side of the room, taking hold of the first pipe to start his own work. "Himura. Be watchful for anything that might come. Kill it quickly if you are able, but do not strain yourself. We've got no way to heal serious wounds right now."

"And both of you." Homura grimmaced as he started to pull. "Be wary of the mess."

It had been a long, long time since rough static had echoed through the halls of the Institute and given way to a familiar voice. The Head Doctor hadn't kept his word of joining the patients on their trip, it seemed, perhaps because of his ego or perhaps because of time constraints. After all, it must have been difficult to think of new ways to keep people chained down, new ways to brainwash and erase memories and generally keep the population under control. He seemed to have some free time now, however, or at least he had realized that the power he wielded through the disembodied voice on the intercom was a powerful one.

"Well, well, well..." He began, and a smacking sound came over the speakers that gave the listener the image of Martin Landel licking his lips. "A day of controlled freedom and now a chance to see loved ones and have your way around sections of the Institute? I'd say you'd be spoiled to claim you have a dire need to get out of here!"

He paused, perhaps waiting for the patients to pay attention to a mainstay of Landel's that had been sorely lacking during the day and this nighttime. Once he'd taken long enough, he laughed.

"But of course, you say this isn't real freedom! Why the monsters, why the walls, you ask? Well, are you forced to leave your rooms at night? Are you forced to do anything especially unpleasant during the day?

"The answer is no, and you'd all do well to remember that, especially with the coming influx of more new patients over the coming days. Ah, yes, what familiar faces will you meet this time? Who will remember and who will have forgotten? Who, exactly, will you be glad to see just before guilt gives way over your selfish thoughts?

"The answers will reveal themselves soon, answers more tangible and definite than anything the Radio Man can give you. I took a day of absence for my own well-being, but I'll be sure to keep an even better eye on all of you than before.

"Now, if you'll excuse me..."

The intercom faded back into static, then silence.

Light touched the edges of the walls surrounding Landel's Institute, and as they did, the pleasant jingle of the intercom was there to meet them, along with the Head Doctor's cheery voice.

"Aaaah, wasn't it nice to get some fresh air yesterday? Why, yes, I'm sure all of you enjoyed your visit to our neighboring Doyleton, and I'm equally certain that we'll be able to manage similar trips every Saturday from now on!

"Of course, today is Sunday, which means our usual schedule is slightly different than usual. Patients should either be escorted to the Sun Room to relax and chat or to the upstairs Chapel for weekly meditation and religious practices--whichever they choose! After that, we will have our weekly all-you-can-eat brunch for a shift before allowing patients to do as they wish within the limits of our activity rooms.

"Oh, and, as usual, today is the day that patients can enjoy the company of loved ones! Yes, yes, today is visiting day!

"I believe that's all for now! I just may pop into the chapel to address those of the patients who choose to go up there, but I'm not quite sure if my admittedly busy schedule can allow it! Hahaha... Don't keep your hopes up, but... well, I suppose you should, shouldn't you! Yes..."

He trailed off before coughing and saying his final words:

"In any case, have a good morning, everyone!"

The intercom jingled again before clicking off.

Hiei didn't give a damn about religious services, meditation, or pretending to be social. The always sudden waking after night put him in a bad mood, this one particularly so. Even with Kurikara licking him like some perverted moron, the warmth the dragon provided was welcome in Hiei's bed, and missing when he woke, giving the surrounding air a greater sense of chill.

But the perfect thing to relieve his anger might just be making an appearance that morning, and that at least gave Hiei hope for a decent day.

Hopefully Kurikara and Kurama both would be clever enough to figure it out for themselves. Without hesitation, Hiei demanded to be led to the temple, taking a seat in one of the rear pews. Humans had a way of overdoing things, and this place wasn't really much exception to that. Granted Hiei's limited knowledge prevented him from realizing there were much more outrageous churches, but to the demon, the colored pieces of glass and polished wood seemed to be much.

It didn't matter, however. Either could be turned into weapons, perfect objects to slice into that damned head doctor's throat or bash in his skull. That was a thought worth grinning about.



[Feel free to pester. Just, uh, be aware that he's not exactly nice.]

It was with some relief that Yuuhi awoke the next morning, in his own bed, sore and tired and achy.  He would've slept more had they let him, his face down in the pillow, away from all the others and their questions and their concern.  He didn't want to see them, but he managed a little smile when the nurse came in and didn't object when she lead him out into the open hallway that had been splattered with blood, plenty of it his, just last night. 

The Chapel or the Sun Room?  He felt he had good reason not to be terribly religious and had a feeling he wouldn't be very welcome there anyway.  The Sun Room would be nice though.  It was bright and cheery and he could always doodle or write notes on the community board if he'd nothing better to do.  Besides, the nurse was kind enough to let him take a book with him.

He found a seat on one of the couches, far from the entrance and seated himself in the far corner, legs scrunched up against his chest so he only took up one of the cushions.  He opened up where he'd left off, fingers carefully turning the worn pages  of Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz.