damned_institute | Nightshift 33: Disciplinary Therapy Corridor

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Nightshift 33: Disciplinary Therapy Corridor

[from here]

Okita had hefted his weight against the door in his desperation to get out of the room, but found that it opened much more easily than he expected. The door gave way and he stumbled into the corridor, the smell from his "therapy" following him out. His head snapped up, eyes searching wildly for anyone in the area.

But there was no one. None of the other doors were opened yet and he was alone.

If he'd had his wits about him, that would have bothered him. As it was, he was focused solely on getting out and away from the evidence of what had happened to him. The smell...it plagued him. The sludge still clung to his skin, matting his hair against his bare torso. It stung and it reeked and it...

He needed out.

Turning, he ran for the door, grabbing the handle to pull at it like a madman. The room was suffocating him. He needed out. He needed air. He needed something that didn't taste like disease and death in his mouth. Backing up, he let out an infuriated yell and kicked at the door - once, twice, three times - until the lock broke and the door swung open.

[going here]

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[From here]

Homura had made it to the door, tried to lean against it while catching his breath. But his head was in a fog, blood loss, surgery, and medication leaving him off-center to say the least. When he shifted his weight, the demi-god pressed against nothing but air, and fell hard to the floor with a surprised cry.

He didn't understand what was going on. Not any of it.

Homura had to find Rinrei. He knew that, felt the single-minded purpose so strongly that it broke through the haze. But even that desire couldn't make the hall he found himself in stop spinning, couldn't force his body upright again. He had to resign himself, needing almost all of his energy to pull himself up enough to sit against the door frame.

He could wait. He was half-god, and the gods were patient. Homura could wait until this faded, and then go search. It would be better that way. He could think clearly, not raise suspicion.

Yet the sense of urgency refused to fade.

[From here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/404455.html?view=32559847#t32559847)]

Kenren rushed through the door, his katana drawn and ready to cut down anything, man or beast, which stood in his way, even as a surge of fear ran through him, fuelling his anger. He could remember stumbling out of here himself, not knowing exactly who he was, Gojyo or Kenren, and he knew that no-one deserved to go through this!

He stopped dead just inside the door when he spotted the figure leaning against the door frame, too familiar to mistake for anyone else. "Homura!" he called out, not caring about any potential danger that might bring. He hurried forward a few steps towards the other god, lowering the katana to show that he wasn't a threat.

Junior followed behind Kenren, feeling pretty pissed about what this place had apparently done to Okita. He had looked like all the fight had been taken out of him, nothing like the happy man he'd been when the redhead first talked to him, or the fighter he'd seen that night. Watching Hijikata on the way up, he could tell that the Institute had made a really bad mistake taking both of the men; there was gonna be hell to pay.

Then Kenren called out and rushed forward. Junior shined the flashlight over to see Homura leaning against the door. "Hey, Homura!" he called out, following behind. He wasn't right up close yet, but the guy wasn't much better than Okita had been. Less covered in disgusting crap, and a bit more blood, but he still seemed exhausted and looked like he'd just been through hell.

"What...are..." The only question that came to his mind was probably the stupidest thing he could ask right now. He obviously wasn't okay, and needed some medical attention. He wasn't sure who was worse, but he didn't want MOMO to overwork herself. Instead, he looked over at Kenren. "Think we can get him to that pharmacy you mentioned?"

Voices. Homura's eyes had closed, his head just starting to dip when he heard voices coming closer. He could ignore them, just let them pass though. At least until one of them shouted his name. Did that mean there was more, then?

Homura raised his head, gazing up at these people. One looked young, unfamiliar, but he was pushed away, Homura's focus devoted to the face he could recognize. Not from personal interaction, but Kenren was a high ranking and notorious general--even if that notoriety didn't always come from military exploits. What was it that the man would want with him, with sword drawn, no less.

"Taisho." Homura could play at respect and politeness when he wanted, and right now it seemed prudent. What could he do against the Heavenly army normally, much less in this state? He bowed his head, but didn't make the struggle to stand just yet. They'd likely haul him to his feet anyway. "Is there something you need of me?"

Kenren glanced over at Junior, thinking quickly. The phramacy looked to be across the other side of the Sun Room corridors and was probably guarded decently heavily. Not a place he wanted to be taking Okita and Homura into when they'd been hurt and messed up by this place. Finally he shook his head. "No. It's too risky. I think maybe we should head to the chapel. Shouldn't be any monsters in there, and then send a couple of people out to get stuff from there."

He turned his attention back over to Homura and frowned when the other man referred to him by title. Something was very very wrong. Besides the obvious of course. He waved a hand dismissively. "Hey, I thought we'd got past the petty formalities by now, Toushin Taishi," he said with a bitter twist to his lips.

He held out his hand, offering it to him to help himself up. "C'mon. I really doubt we want to hang around here of all places," he added, looking around in disgust. "You know the monsters come out if you spend too much time in one place." He was surprised that this corridor didn't seem to be guarded at all, but he hadn't really paid enough attention last time to know if it should be.

Junior nodded. "Sounds good to me," he replied before glancing around. He wasn't sure how much help he'd be carrying their leader, but the redhead could at least keep an eye out. Right now, the coast looked fairly clear, but there was no telling how long it was going to stay like this.

He looked back when Homura spoke, and listened to Kenren's response. Well, that was weird. If they'd gotten past formalities, why would Homura go back to that now of all times? No sense worrying about it right now, though. Get him out first, then think. "I can keep the monsters distracted while you get him there," Junior offered. He could dodge pretty well thanks to his height, and if it meant getting Homura someplace they could better help him...well, why not?

Past formalities? That implied a level of intimacy that Homura knew they just didn't have. What was worse was what followed, however, the words that made Homura's eyes go wide came after. Two simple little words: Toushin Taishi.

The War Prince.

"I believe you're confusing me for someone else, Taisho." Homura didn't take the offered hand, and knew nothing of what monsters the two were speaking of. What he could recognize were the telltale signs of a trap for him, where he would be led off and likely beaten. He expected it, and knew he couldn't stop them should they try. But he needed to find Rinrei, and it was impossible enough to move as was.

"Nataku is the Toushin Taishi. And I'm not entirely sure where here is. Could you tell me? That, and how to return to the Jade Emperor's court."

Kenren was really glad that Junior was keeping an eye out on the surroundings, because Kenren was rather distracted by Homura. Not to mention confused. "Thanks," he said to Junior, nodding in appreciation. "If there's something too nasty waiting around the Sun Room, we can always turn back and go downstairs again, but I'd prefer not to take that long. I don't have any healing supplies either." Which was starting to look like an oversight right now.

He turned back to Homura, frowning in confusion and concern, a horrible suspicion beginning to form in his mind. Homura didn't recognise him. If he hadn't seen the other god for a few days, he'd have thought that he'd disappeared and been brought back like people said had happened. But this, this was something else. He seemed like almost a different person. "Homura," he said, almost gently. "Nataku hasn't been the War Prince since he stabbed himself to protect Goku and me and Tenpou fought Li Touten. You told me when we first met here that you'd become his successor."

He went to crouch down in front of him, looking him over carefully. There wasn't a huge amount of blood that he could see, no obvious signs of injury like there had been at the end of Kenren's session. It wasn't all that reassuring though. "Homura," he asked softly, "what's the last thing that you remember before waking up here?"

Junior looked back at the two for a second when Kenren asked him what the last thing he remembered was. Homura had lost his memories? Well, shit. The Institute had made a good strike, considering the demi-god had been the one giving the orders. Now what the hell were they supposed to--

No, he couldn't start thinking that just yet. Maybe he really hadn't lost his memories, and was just in a fog from whatever the hell it was they'd done to him. Either way, Junior wasn't really sure what was going on. It'd be best to let them sort this out themselves, since Kenren had some sort of history with Homura. If anything was wrong, the History club would need to get things sorted out later, during the day when it was safe. Right now, he just hoped the two hurried. No monsters yet, but who knew what was waiting for them on the way to the chapel.

Why were people so obsessed with his memory today? Homura's jaw tightened, the demi-god no more about to tell the truth about his whereabouts to a Taisho-ranked solider than he had been to that woman. "I was in the courtyard of the palace, alone. Something must have happened, however. I don't have any idea how I got here, but some woman was treating a head injury I had gotten." He paused for a moment, however, the events that had followed making him doubt the truth of that. But would it be wise to tell Kenren that? He seemed honestly concerned, even if nothing else he was saying was correct. Then again, the god was known for his love of sake. "Then she began to cut into my forehead."

Everything Kenren had said made Homura doubt he'd be able to give him the answers he needed about Rinrei, and the smaller one remained silent throughout. Slowly, Homura shook his head, making the room spin, but certain of the truth even through the dizziness. "We've never spoken before, and I'm certainly not the Toushin Taishi. What's you're saying, sir...that's never happened."

Kenren's expression hardened when Homura mentioned some woman cutting into his forehead. Yeah, that sounded like the kind of fucked up shit that they'd do on these nights. What the hell had they done to him that would make him not remember anyone? Although it was probably easier than making someone remember things that hadn't happened yet he supposed. He sighed softly, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Homura, we aren't in the heavens anymore," he began, trying to think how best to convince him.

He frowned, reached out to grasp Homura's chin and tilt his head up, forcing the other god to look at him properly, scars and red eye and all. "This place takes people from their own worlds and messes with them. The doctors here, they took you tonight to do some kind of experiment and I think it must have taken away your memories. A lot of memories. They did the same to me, but gave me these instead," he said, running a finger across the scars. "Along with memories from a future incarnation. I know you despise the heavens and the gods but I am not your enemy and right now, I need you to trust me so that we can get to a safer place before something big and nasty tries to eat all of us."

Junior frowned slightly at Homura's words, and hoped to hell that Kenren could explain the situation to him. Maybe some of it would jog his memory, if the doctors hadn't removed it entirely, but hopefully it would also convince Homura to come with them. At least for now.

"None of us were your enemies," Junior spoke up after glancing down both sides of the hall again. "You led a group of us here, and we all worked together to try and get back out to where we belonged." He tried to give Homura a reassuring smile, but he wasn't sure how well that was turning out. "So c'mon, let's try and get away from here so we can take care of your wounds and maybe explain things better in safety. We're not just gonna let you get eaten out here."

Not in the Heavens? Homura was nearly convinced that Kenren had somehow managed to drink himself to delusion when the elder god gripped his chin. Homura didn’t try to turn away from the grasp, though his scowl made it clear he was none to pleased by the hold. His annoyance was slow to come, however, dulled by the drugs, and quickly lost as he was forced to meet Kenren’s gaze.

Homura hadn’t noticed until then. Kenren’s eyes were different colors. Neither were gold such as his own, but the difference was hardly a normal occurrence among the gods regardless. And since it would have sparked even greater rumor about the often ill-liked general, Homura doubted the more vocal of their kind would leave the detail out. Did that mean there was truth to what they were saying? The younger one seemed to agree with Kenren, which meant they had either been drinking together, or that somehow, Homura had forgotten more than he could comprehend at the moment. The Toushin Taishi—was it even possible?

“I can’t walk very well.” A dangerous thing to admit, yet what choice did he have at this point? Obviously they weren’t going to leave him alone, and even if their words were lies, there was a chance he could find out something about Rinrei if he went with them. And it would give Homura time to think of a way to ask without implicating the truth of his affair with the woman. Regardless of how much he had forgotten, that one thing needed to be answered most of all. “I think the woman treated my injury—she gave me something for the pain at least. Before…” Homura reached up, touching the chakra in his forehead, still unable to understand just what she had done. “You’ll explain things when we come to some place safe, right?”

He shot a grateful look over at Junior for his contribution. That kind of summed up the situation pretty well without being long-winded about it. They didn't have time for that despite Kenren wishing that he could just explain the whole story and situation right here and now for Homura. Damn it, it was painful to see him like this.

Kenren nodded, a faint grin returning to his lips. "No worries. I could barely stagger after what they did to me. I can support you." He could try to carry Homura, but he didn'd think that the other god would appreciate it. He shook his head derisively when Homura mentioned the woman. "Yeah, she treated it so you wouldn't bleed out after what she did to fuck with your head. Don't ever trust any of the people working for this place, 'specially not doctors. And yeah, you have my word we'll explain everything when we get somewhere safe. If night ends suddenly, you'll wake up in bed and then I'll come find you tomorrow to explain instead."

Junior gave Kenren a smile and then turned back to Homura. "Yeah, one way or another you'll get an explanation. We'll make sure of it," he added to what Kenren said, nodding. Hopefully before a bunch of the other members started coming up to him and talking about things Homura might not understand. It was bound to be confusing enough. Maybe if MOMO was still feeling up to it, then she'd be able to do a better job of helping his head than the doctor had done.

It would be a start, at least.

He glanced down the hall again, then held out a hand to Homura. "Still looks like the coast is clear, but we need to get going. I'll try to support you as best I can, too."

Homura wasn't too apt to trust the word of a god in general, but both Kenren and Junior seemed sincere. And regardless, sitting there was doing him nothing. It would be better to move forward, especially now that there were two hands held out, two men offering to support him. Either way, this could lead him to answers, something the demi-god was desperate for.

Homura took the offered hands, but even then had to strain to get himself to his feet again. What parts of the room had previously settled so easily became upset again, and the demi-god stumbled forward a step or two as he closed his eyes.

The medicine, the injury; Homura was seriously starting to believe above all else that he shouldn't trust the doctors at all. The pain was still far off and dull, but there was no telling how long that would hold true.

Still, he got his balance as best he could, holding the pair with a tighter grip than he intended. "Whenever you both are ready." Homura spoke softly, glancing between the two. Now was the time to see how honest they had been.

Kenren gripped Homura's hand tightly, helping the other god to pull himself to his feet. It was pianful to watch hih having such trouble when he'd been so powerful before, but he was sure that that would come back with a little time. It was the memory loss which was most worrying about this whole situation.

Once Homura was on his feet, Kenren moved to slip an arm beneath his and around his back, letting Homura rest the majority of his weight on Kenren's shoulders and leaving his sword arm free. It wasn't ideal, but it would give him a little bit more time if they were attacked. "Right. Let's go. Once we're out of here, then we're turning left and onto the Sun Room corridor."

With that, he set off walking.

[To here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/404455.html?view=32723687#t32723687)]

(From here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/404455.html?view=32784615#t32784615))

"We're nearly there," Valyn said, his grip tightening on his knife. A quick spell and the blade was engulfed in flame, to prepare.

He knew there was usually something here, something large and dangerous. He didn't care. He'd take it on with his bare hands if he had to.

Ancestors above and demons below help anything that got between him and Shadow.

Shana stepped into the corridor behind Valyn, her expression determined and her staff held at the ready. "Check those doors over there," she called, starting on the doors on her right. The first two were locked, but the third opened easily beneath her hand.

She flashed the light from her torch-stick into the room and spotted a figure seated quietly within.

"Shadow!" she called out, both to the halfblood within the room and as an alert to Keman and Valyn, even as she dashed inside.

[Going here. (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/397718.html?thread=32786582#t32786582)]

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Nightshift 33: Disciplinary Therapy Corridor

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