Day 30: Arts and Crafts Room (Third Shift)

[rectifies.livejournal.com]

[Bother away~]

It was surprising how quickly the staff had lifted the lockdown, particularly for those who had a hand in this morning's "incident". Ken was certain they were going to be stuck in their rooms until nightfall and thus, felt wary of the intercom's announcement. Partly for possible ulterior motives, partly for the fact they were treating them as children.

This whole situation was one glorified time-out, when he thought about it.

Still, there were some benefits to the matter, which the nurse was now spelling out for him. "....choice of the Sun Room, the Music Room, the Game Room, or the Arts and Crafts Room--"

"Wait." Ken stopped short in the middle of the hallway. "Excuse me, but did you say Arts and Crafts Room?"

The nurse nodded and smiled. "Would you like to go there?" she asked. "You deserve it, considering you were so good during today's ordeal."

Perfect. He was hoping for a place to finish the copy of the map he had planned to give Yukari. This "Arts and Crafts" Room should have something more eye-catching than pens. (Blue and black ink were boring selections.) With a nod of approval, Ken allowed himself to be escorted.

In five minutes, the boy managed to assemble several choice markers and four sheets of white paper, which he took to one of the round tables in the room. There, he set to work, using the map within his journal pages as a reference.

Comments

[forgot-my-life.livejournal.com]

Takaya blinked. This woman was ... upset. More so than others he'd seen. Then, what the hell did he know?

"If that's how you're gonna think, then why bother at all? Why put up with the bullshit if you don't think you're going home?" Maybe she'd given up, like he wanted to. He wouldn't let him though...

[akarusa.livejournal.com]

That got to her; she looked up, her eyes getting suspiciously bright. "We're all in this together, right?" Hokuto was smiling, but partly because that made it easier to keep up the cheerfulness... even when she didn't feel it. "I want to help, and for me, there's nothing to be afraid of."

Except taking her brother's already broken heart and smashing it into even smaller pieces. He wasn't coping with his grief at all, and no matter what happened, there was little chance that they wouldn't be saying goodbye again soon. When that happened... I'm so sorry, Subaru.

[forgot-my-life.livejournal.com]

Takaya snorted and looked down at the paper. "Fuck that. Look around. If people aren't trying to screw each other over to help themselves and their closest 'allies', they're too busy thinking of themselves to give a flying shit about anyone else."

He shook his head and something in his speech pattern changed slightly. "Wanting to help people is all well and good, but what good can you do when you're not taking care of yourself anyway? Everyone has things to be afraid of." He reached out and picked up a bit of paper, examining it.

[akarusa.livejournal.com]

"Not everyone," Hokuto said. A few moments' controlled breathing had brought her voice closer to normal. "Besides, we all share information; that's what will get us out." Weapons helped, but the riot had proven that violence alone wouldn't get them anywhere.

Her eyebrows drew together slightly at the second part. He sounded different... after a pause, she said, "I'm not reckless. I help out as much as I can, but I don't plan on getting into battles I know I can't win." She wouldn't do that again... at least, without reason. If she could hold off a monster to let someone escape, even if it meant not walking away herself...

Her hands shook for a second, and the paper she was working on ripped in a direction she hadn't wanted. Hokuto sighed, a little dramatically, and picked up another sheet to try again.

[forgot-my-life.livejournal.com]

Takaya rolled his eyes. "Whatever. You want to die because of some inflated sense of guilt I don't really give a shit. Go for it." He seemed to be back to normal now and he inwardly cursed that other part of him. None of his damn business anyway.

He started to fold the paper without paying any attention to it. "When you die here, there's no promise you're gonna stay dead anyway..."

[akarusa.livejournal.com]

"Everything's easier the second time," Hokuto murmured, not looking up this time. What was with her this morning? The riot had been a little unsettling, and they still didn't know how the combatants would be punished, but... she'd had worse. Nothing could be worse than the way her life had ended; she had nothing left to be afraid of, not for herself.

So now I'm the one who's decided I don't matter. She never thought she would take on Subaru's old role, but life was strange that way. She just wished he'd taken her old role in return.

[forgot-my-life.livejournal.com]

Takaya blinked and would have said nothing to that statement, but laughter that wasn't his bubbled up and he couldn't keep himself from bending over and laughing aloud. Damn him.

"Easier? Fuck that," he managed between breaths. "It never get's any easier." He was trying to get the laughing under control and managed to work his way down to the occasional chuckle. His eyes were watering. She probably thought he was crazy now.

[akarusa.livejournal.com]

Hokuto sat up more, a little startled and definitely confused. It kept her from bursting into tears, at least.

After a moment, she asked softly, "Having to leave all you've known, or having to start over?"

[forgot-my-life.livejournal.com]

Takaya rubbed at his eyes and wiped the smile off of his face. It wasn't his to begin with.

"Nothing get's easier," he said. "It's all fucked up, each and every time you die. You leave a life you liked, and get one you don't. It blows, but you just suck it up and deal or deny." Gold eyes narrowed.

"Whining because of it won't change shit and wanting to 'make-up' doesn't fucking help either. You live, you die, you do it all again."

He glared down at the paper in his hands. A complicated flower. With a snarl he threw it away from him.

[akarusa.livejournal.com]

"But you learn to like the new one, after a while." Hokuto knew she would, and that it would mean at least putting her sorrows aside. But it also meant forgetting all she'd been, and she wasn't leaving Subaru behind for anything.

"I hope I'm not whining," she added, giving at least the hint of a smile. "It's just hard sometimes." She never forgot entirely--she couldn't imagine that happening even if she did move on--but some times were better than others.

She was dealing with all this as well as she could. One day at a time.

[forgot-my-life.livejournal.com]

Liking his current life was the whole reason 'Takaya' exisited. He scowled again down at his hands and snorted. "Whatever."

He turned his glare back to her. "What's your name?"

[akarusa.livejournal.com]

Her smile turned a little more genuine; he wouldn't ask if he disliked her. "Sumeragi Hokuto. And you are?"

He'd been right about everyone being on edge; because of that, she knew better than to take anything personally. He was harsh, but he wasn't a jerk.

And if he reminded her of Subaru, he probably needed a friend.

[forgot-my-life.livejournal.com]

Didn't sound like another Kanshosha's name...

"Ougi Takaya." He considered her for another moment.

"How many times have you done this?" He didn't personally know how many times Kagetora had died, and he didn't really want to, but this might give him an idea of age.

[akarusa.livejournal.com]

Hokuto just blinked a few times, looking down at the collage she was working on for a moment before she realized what he probably meant. "Died--? I only remember one. My grandmother said once that I'm an older soul than I might seem," she offered. "She's an onmyouji, the 12th head of our family, so she wasn't just guessing."

Well, this was interesting!

[forgot-my-life.livejournal.com]

Onmyo..... Oh. That explained a lot.

"Then you know alot about crap like 'spirits' and stuff, right?" He wondered if she knew anything about Possessers...

He shrugged. "Someome told me that almost everyone goes through lots of live. You only remember one though. I don't know if it's true or not."

[akarusa.livejournal.com]

"I trained to become one myself," Hokuto nodded. "I wasn't powerful enough, but my brother is. And I know everything he does, I just can't do the techniques."

She thought for a second... more about what color the next row should be than the question Takaya had asked. "Only one life at a time, usually," she said. "Between lives you remember it all, but most of us don't consciously remember previous lives while we're living a new one." Unconsciously, at least a little more stayed, but that was another matter.

[forgot-my-life.livejournal.com]

"Only if you're lucky," Takaya mumbled, glaring once more at the colored paper as though it were the source of all evil that had ever befallen him.

Stupid wars, stupid place, stupid glue and stupid, fucking Naoe. His glare sharpened again and he fought the urge to lash out.

[akarusa.livejournal.com]

Eventually, she was sure, a fresh start would be nice. But until then, no matter how much it hurt, she was staying tied to this life as long as Subaru did.

As for Sei-chan... she didn't know. But she'd placed her trust in him before, and she wasn't about to give it up now.

Hokuto glanced up at Takaya, a little suddenly. He was even more tense then he'd been--like a coil ready to spring. Something in his eyes gave her the impression she might want to give him some space...