Day 29: Sun Room

[not-rly-fai.livejournal.com]

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. 

Comments

[reunion.livejournal.com]

Kadaj looked away when his brother mentioned catching him, but after avoiding his gaze for a few seconds, he was back to glaring at him. Why did he have to bring that up? "You're still responsible for my death. You had to have known that killing him would kill me, too. Don't try to deny it. Who told you that rule, anyway? And how do you know they weren't lying?"

A genuine pout made its way onto his face when it seemed like his accusations about cheating were contested, and he floundered for a moment before saying, "That's not why it's cheating! I could counter it if I wanted to. In fact, I will! Don't you dare ask the nurse what my room number is!" There had to be some way to counter it, right? Maybe if he said that Cloud was some kind of stalker...

"I'm not telling you my room number. Why do you want to know so badly, anyway? It doesn't concern you." He sounded sulky now, even to his own ears. Damn it, he should have tried something else. Stupid traitor.

[1mperturbable.livejournal.com]

Cloud raised an eyebrow at Kadaj, thinking that the remnant was just grasping for straws on how to push him away. Did Kadaj not know that he had to defeat Sephiroth? If he had not defeated Sephiroth, Kadaj would have probably never been released or ended up here. "Would you have existed inside of him if I had failed to defeat him?" He frowned at the thought before shrugging a little more helplessly. "When I was in boot camp, a lot of my classmates had siblings who would visit. They told me such things, and I had no method of comparison. You have brothers, so is that true or not?"

He was silently amused by Kadaj's little show. It seemed that he was deflating the remnant's argument now, which was making a humorous show of pouting and scrambling. "Alright, I will not dare. I will simply inquire, stating that I have lost track of the sibling who I have pledged to protect and make sure he is well."

He did not pout, but he managed to look at least a little put out that Kadaj was still refusing. "I want to know because I want to know," he said simply. "It does concern me if we are brothers in any capacity, especially if you regard me as such."

[reunion.livejournal.com]

What kind of question was that? Would he have existed...? Kadaj opened his mouth to reply, but soon after that, he closed it. Would he? "... I don't know," he answered at length. "You'd have to ask him that. And you... well, the rules are different when it comes to me and my brothers. You're different. Do you really think you can apply normal rules to us?" This was beginning to sound a bit too much like their earlier argument about Mother, but since it about her, he had no real problem with it.

He did have a problem with his brother's insistence at learning his room number, though, and after glaring at him for a moment longer, he asked, "How do you know that will work? We don't really look alike, do we? I can still counter it."

His expression turned thoughtful then, as if Cloud's stubbornness was finally paying off and getting the message through to him. "If I tell you, will you promise not to tell anyone else?" he asked, giving him an appraising look. He blinked, then quickly added, "Not that I'm saying I will or anything, but if I do, I don't want you using the information against me. I still don't trust you, Big Brother. I'd be a fool to."

[1mperturbable.livejournal.com]

Cloud was not about to think about whether or not the remnants would or would not exist if absorbed again. He found it easier to think of the three remnants as individuals rather than fragments of Sephiroth's soul. He shrugged at the accusation that he was different; he knew that better than they did. "Well, as I said before, I have never had siblings before, so I do not know. You are the expert, since you have two brothers."

He looked to the nurse then back at Kadaj. "They have heard you call me 'big brother'. Our resemblence is probably not very consequencial with you referring to me as a sibling." He nodded his chin towards the nurse. "Do you think she will buy your counter after she has already given me your room number?"

He was pleased when it seemed that his stubbornness was finally winning out. He did not let the pleased state appear on his features, and he considered the question. "I promise that I will tell no one, even if questioned," he murmured before adding, "unless you gave me your expressed permission."

Folding his hands behind his head again, he said, "I do my best not to use information against people. It does not build trust well." If he could get the room number, it proved to him that it was possible to get Kadaj's trust as well.

[reunion.livejournal.com]

"Four, technically," Kadaj corrected, smirking faintly. "Two of you don't count for this 'rule,' but Yazoo and Loz..." He trailed off and shook his head. "We looked after each other, but that's not the same as you having this 'authority' over me like you claim you do. They understood that I don't need protecting. You're just an aberration, as usual. Why should I let you get away with it?"

He was at a loss when it came to the next part of Cloud's argument, though, and after glancing quickly between his brother and the nurse, he hissed, "But if you do that you know I'll never, ever trust you, right? Not after you did something so underhanded."

Even with that said, he was running out of reasons to avoid giving away his room number. What else was there? Ah... "What if someone follows you? I don't want that to happen, either. No one's really threatened me lately, but that might change in the future." He actually doubted that would happen, but Cloud didn't need to know that.

[1mperturbable.livejournal.com]

Cloud frowned a little, not sure how he fit into the 'brotherly' count at all. He was not about to argue the point though, since Kadaj knew better when it came to siblings then he ever could. He felt as if he were sort of fumbling about hoping to at least aim in the right direction. He thought he was doing a fine job so far. "Because it must feel nice to have attention in such a way? To know that someone is looking out for you and wanting to extend the wing of protection?"

He shrugged a helplessly, wondering how long this would take. He seemed to be widdling Kadaj down bit-by-bit. "Then please do not force me to use any underhanded tactics. I simply wish to know your room number." What he did with it afterwards was still up for debate.

Considering that scenario, it seemed easy to push down that little event should it ever arise. "If someone were following me with the intent to harm or threaten you, I would make certain they realized the error of their ways before ever reaching your room. They would not follow for long before I would disable their ability." He had a baseball bat, and he knew kneecaps were very vulnerable to attack.

[OOC: Gawd! Sorry Lina for the late reply! The power supply in my computer blew and I needed to get a replacement. D:]

[reunion.livejournal.com]

... He had a point there, but Kadaj had a good reason to ignore it-- at least in his mind. "That may be true, but what makes you think I want something like that from you? You may be stronger than me and you may be behaving perfectly nicely now, but I still don't like you. Don't trust you either, so I don't see why I should let you."

He heaved an exasperated-sounding sigh. This was taking forever, wasn't it? "The only thing that would 'force' you to resort to underhanded tactics would be your own bullheadedness, dear brother. Don't try to foist the blame on me when you only have yourself to blame. That's so irresponsible, and while it's also very you, I'd prefer not to have to deal with it."

The intercom unfortunately cut off Kadaj's immediate response to Cloud's answer to his hypothetical question, but after it had fallen silent, he was free to speak again. Oh goody. "That's all very well and good, Big Brother, but words are only words in the end and you've proven nothing. If you're so determined, though..." He glanced towards the nurses, who were already moving to gather up the patients and herd them off to brunch. If he didn't tell his brother soon, then... "Shall we put it to the test? You can find me in M5-- and really, don't tell anyone. Life is difficult enough here without any of that."

He gave Cloud one last long look as if to impress this order upon him before finally allowing himself to be led off. He hoped his wishes would be respected, but then again, it was the traitor. Respecting people's wishes had never really been his strong point, had it?