damned_institute | Day 34: Breakfast

Entry tags:

Day 34: Breakfast

[starting off in M13]

The last part of the night was little more than a blur in Homura's mind. The men had rushed in, but not joined them, instead staying off to themselves. Before any of them had a chance to react, however, a voice sounded through the air, mocking some other person Homura had never heard of, and the patients themselves.

To Homura, whoever that man was, he sounded a great deal like a god.

But before he could ask questions, the demi-god found himself no longer in the chapel, but some strange room on a bed. Is that what Kenren had meant from his earlier warning? Homura sat up, glad at least that the world didn't spin when he did so. Then the same man from before began to speak again, with a completely different tone. It was confusing to hear him talk that way, calling them patients instead of prisoners as he had before. Homura listened quietly as the announcement was made, then got out of bed.

Maybe he wouldn't have to go anywhere yet. It wasn't like Homura knew where to go anyway, and that meant he had time. If this was his room, and if he had been here as long as Kenren had said, there was a chance he could find something with answers. The Taisho had even told him that Homura had seen Rinrei. Certainly he would've written something down, made a map, something that could let him find her again! He started with the desk at the end of his bed, first finding a small stack of notebooks. Picking up the first, he flipped through, turning the pages with quickening desperation as he found each one to be blank.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Was one of those three Kenren? Homura supposed it didn't matter. Five or six, when the numbers began to get even that high, it only made the thought of what had happened even more horrible.

Edgeworth was right to say it was awkward. Homura was having a great deal of trouble reconciling who he was with who he had been, or in his own perception, who he would be. So many people had followed him, and without any of the other circumstances, that alone was nearly enough to floor the demi-god. To go from being hated to being a trusted and respected leader. How was it even possible for someone like him?

"He was trying to get me to safety. I didn't trust him when we first met...again." Kenren was the only one Homura could say he knew now, and even that was mostly by reputation. But after what he had done, Homura felt the need to defend the man, even if it was from an off-handed comment. In his own experience, such comments were rarely as light as they were made to seem.

He listened carefully to Edgeworth's instructions, and after a moment, began to write down notes for himself in the book he'd brought along. Homura couldn't trust his memory to remain, and it made sense to record what he could. That way, he'd be able to find it again if he needed to.

"It's understandable," Edgeworth said. "I didn't particularly trust people immediately after I was released from the experimental chamber, and they were trying to do the same thing - get me out of there and to safety. If I hadn't known the person in question..."

He went quiet for a moment, thinking back to that night, and letting his eyes wander across the room. For a moment he thought he saw a familiar spiky hairdo, but shrugged it off. The memory of that night was playing tricks on his eyes, nothing more.

"Let me think...oh." Edgeworth pulled his notebook from his coat pocket, flipping it open. "You're going to want maps. I have the first and second floors, and I know there are groups working on mapping the rest of the Institute."

He passed the notebook across the table. "If it's easier, I'm happy to make copies for you."

Edgeworth was about to speak again, when he was distracted by a tall man screaming from the top of one of the tables about being a robot king. "Oh. And...it's very rare, but a few of the patients here are, in fact, actually crazy. The gentleman on top of the table, for example."

"It was almost worst for it in my case. If Kenren didn't have the reputation he did, I would've fought against going with him. Gods don't usually have my best interest in mind." And he certainly wouldn't have believed so much of what the man had said. It was still hard to accept, really.

Edgeworth was kind to offer maps, but Homura shook his head, smiling lightly, more to himself than to the man across from him. "I have maps. I...the person you knew was prepared." Homura still couldn't identify himself fully with that person. "He has maps of the roof as well."

Homura's attention was equally drawn by the screaming man, and the demi-god let out an awkward laugh. "I see. I'll be sure to keep that in mind, just in case I run in to any of them."

Homura paused for a moment then, considering what he wanted to ask. "Thabk you for all you've told me already. I was wondering though. Even though we haven't met, could..." He frowned, thinking his words sounded foolish despite the circumstances. "Would you tell me what you know of him? Of who I was, I mean."

What had Homura managed to do with his life? Especially without Rinrei...if that was true.

The prosecutor nodded. "Reputation can stand for a lot here, and from my brief dealings with Kenren, I got the impression that, as a rule, he's to be trusted when he speaks." He laughed, a bit more awkwardly than he would have liked. "In the outside world, much of my work demands an understanding of when someone is being truthful. I saw no lie in what he said before, and have no reason to believe he would lie at such an important moment."

"May I make a copy of that roof map?", Edgeworth asked. "I have the first and second floors, as I'd mentioned, but I don't have that one."

The last question took him by surprise, and he thought carefully before answering. "I only had business with you as the History Club's leader, but you made a strong impression on me. I was impressed with your determination and drive, and your organizational skills, as well as your ability to plan and see an operation through."

Edgeworth took another sip of his juice, then added, "But I think I'm most impressed by your willingness to take a chance on me. I'm not a trained fighter by any means - my skills are decidedly more intellectual. There aren't many people in your position who would do that, I don't think."

Homura nodded slightly, casting a glance at the elder god. It certainly seemed to be the case, even if the things that Kenren had said were extraordinary to Homura as he now was. "He seems like a good person. That is something of a rarity in our kind." Rinrei, and now Kenren. So few gods who actually seemed to care beyond the colors of his eyes.

When Edgeworth asked about the map, Homura nodded. There was no reason to refuse him, after all. "Of course. I don't have it with me, but I can probably get it at some point today. I saw people putting up papers on a panel in the other room. Would that be a good place to put it?"

Homura appreciated the care Edgeworth took in answering. He knew it had seemingly come off as random, but it was vital for Homura to know who he would become, specially if what Kenren had said about Rinrei was true. The thought of losing her, having lost her was the hardest for him to accept. But had he at least become a man that she would have been proud of? Even with the bloodied hands of the Toushin Taishi.

Edgeworth's answer was reassuring. Of course he couldn't speak to the logic of his future and former self, but it did make sense to him. "You seem like a person worth taking a chance on. At least to me." Rinrei had taken a chance on him, and they were--had been so happy because of it. Maybe he had remembered that throughout his life.

Then Kenren came into the room, and Homura watched as he sat down. Since he didn't seem to be talking to anyone right away, Homura took his notebook and stood, giving Edgeworth an apologetic look. "If you'll excuse me, I need to give something to Kenren. I'll be back shortly, I think."

[To here]

Edited 2008-08-01 01:30 (UTC)

And then she was awake, just like that. She remained in her bed a few moments more, arms wrapped loosely around her knees, her gaze unfocused. It was strange. She didn't know if she wanted to cry. She didn't know if she didn't want to cry. She wanted to be her usual cheerful self like Matsumoto said she should, but she felt so..lost.

But why? Her friends got hurt all the time, but she'd gotten better at dealing with it and doing something productive. Even with her limited power, she could still help them. That look on Keman's face had been proof enough. So she wasn't strong enough to protect them? That wasn't new. She'd never been a fighter. She tried not to be a burden like she had been last night. But that wasn't entirely it.

Lost. She was lost because, somehow, she'd expected her friends to come through and find them when things got their worst. Just like always. Maybe Fai wasn't the only one who thought they'd find something on the rooftop after all. She had more friends now, but she missed her...family, she supposed. It felt right to call them that.

The nurse came and Orihime put on a smile. The woman was someone she hadn't met; nice and patient and willing to have a short meaningless conversation that made her feel a little more ready to face the day.

The cafeteria was mostly full by the time she had collected her breakfast and she supposed the rest of the team would be busy already so she tried the most convenient table. There was only one person there. "Um, excuse me? Do you mind if I sit here?"

Edgeworth nodded at Homura, saying, "I understand - take all the time you need." He then turned to the young lady that approached and smiled. "I don't mind at all. Someone else is also here, but I have the feeling that they won't mind, either."

He gave her a quick lookover - something in the girl's eyes reminded him of Maya Fey, despite the sadness that was clearly there. "I'm sorry, I should introduce myself. Miles Edgeworth."

The prosecutor thought for a moment - it might seem odd, but something definitely reminded him of Maya. Maybe she was a relative?

"And I do hope I'm not being rude by asking, but there's something about you that reminds me of a young lady I knew back home. Are you by any chance related to the Fey family of Kurain Village?"

[skipping with permission]

Orihime smiled at him sat. Edgeworth seemed nice and it put her at ease. Despite feeling not so great in the morning, she was already starting to cheer up a little bit more genuinely. There wasn't anything she could do right now, so she would try her best to be happy and helpful for the others. She gave him a small bow in her seat. "Oh, I'm Inoue Orihime. It's nice to meet you...Edgeworth-san?"

She thought she had the order right. Most of the people she'd met so far were Japanese or they only had one name to remember so she just had to hope she wasn't wrong.

As for Kurain village, she thought it over for a moment then shook her head at Edgeworth. She couldn't recall off the top of her head if she'd ever seen it marked in geography lessons. "I don't mind at all, but I'm from Karakura Town...it's in Western Tokyo, if that helps. I don't think I've ever been to Kurain Village, I'm sorry."

[Back from here]

Homura hadn't taken too much time with Kenren, but still felt better for going. Though the fear remained unspoken, Homura had worried they would refuse him. He wasn't the Toushin Taishi, and he wasn't this person who so far seemed nothing short of impressive. It was hard to marry himself with the image he was receiving of who he had become, somehow. But Kenren's word, as Edgeworth had suggest, was now enough for the demi-god to accept, and he was smiling faintly when he returned to the other.

Or rather, others. They had been joined by a young lady, and Homura bowed his head to her as he reclaimed his seat.

They were talking about places, and for that, Homura stayed silent. He doubted either of them had been to Heaven, and it wasn't a place he was entirely fond of. There were some sweet memories, certainly, but even those were tainted with the thought that something had happened to change them. Somehow the gods had found out about Rinrei and Homura, and they'd punished her for it. It wasn't a pleasant truth to mull over, so for now, Homura tried to focus on what the others were saying without interrupting.

"Ah, I see. I'm afraid I'm not familiar with your hometown, though I have been to Japan before. You just reminded me of a young lady I know who is from Kurain, and it sparked my curiosity." Edgeworth smiled, the smile as much one of relief as it was a friendly gesture. After the incident with the false little girl the other night...I'm relieved that there isn't actually a member of the Fey family here.

He turned and nodded to Homura. "I take it you got everything taken care of, Homura-san?" The prosecutor wasn't going to inquire about the conversation. What happened after an M-U trial was between a person and their allies, and he respected that fact.

"I'm sorry, I'm being rude. I haven't made introductions. Orihime-san, this is Homura-san, and Homura, this is Orihime."

Edited 2008-08-02 01:14 (UTC)

Orihime wondered who she could possibly remind Edgeworth of, but she decided not to pry too much since they'd just met and it seemed a little rude. She smiled at the new man and lowered her head a little place of a bow.

"Edgeworth-san said you wouldn't mind me sitting here, but I can leave if you want to speak privately. I don't mind."

She'd only just met these people, and though neither of them seemed to mind so far she didn't want to impose.

"It is nice to meet you as well." Homura smiled gently to Orihime, who reminded him a bit of Rinrei in how she spoke. Of course this girl was much younger, but it didn't take much to tell that she was polite, and had a good spirit. "And you aren't intruding at all. Edgeworth was telling me about this place when I had to make an errand. I didn't want to interrupt your conversation. Please, stay. And thank you, Edgeworth, for making introductions."

It would be nice to have that kind of person around, if only for a short while. Homura found it comforting in a bittersweet sense, but one he certainly wouldn't reject.

"No, you weren't intruding, Orihime-san," Edgeworth added. "And you're quite welcome."

He took a bite of his food, and then said, "Now, where was I? I had covered the...creatures that appear at night, how the staff is not to be trusted, maps - which you're welcome to copy if you need, Orihime - and...I think that's where I'd left off."

Edgeworth paused to think. "Next, I think I should probably cover the various organizations? Please, stop me if I've covered things you both know. There's the History Club, the Arts and Crafts Club, the Cooking Club, and the informal clinic."

"Is there anything I've missed?"

Orihime felt her face flush a bit with pleasure. It was easy to bury her worries for a while when she was around people she liked, and even though Homura and Edgeworth were new to her she already liked them quite a bit.

She kept forgetting to make a copy of the map for herself, so she nodded when Edgeworth offered. "Oh, please. That would be really helpful." She listened to him talk about the institute. Most of it she knew already but she didn't mind listening to it again since she wanted to tuck into breakfast while he was at it. She rolled some scrambled eggs and syrup into a pancake, making it a weird kind of burrito to chomp on. She finished it easily in three bites.

She tried to think of anything helpful to add and glanced at Homura. "You probably already know the other things. Powers don't work like they should. People come from everywhere and all kinds of different times...and sometimes they disappear too." She turned back to Edgeworth, unwilling to dwell on the last point. "I can't really think of anything else."

Homura listened carefully to everything the two said, because while he may have known everything before, Homura felt like he knew nothing now. Both of the place and the people within; in a strange way it was nice to meet someone he hadn't previously, just for the relief of not having to explain himself yet again.

He did, however, chuckle as when he spied her inhaling her food. It was cute, in a weird way, for the girl to have her cheeks puffed out like that.

But then the topic turned to something more serious. People disappearing. Homura could only think of one person then, the one who he himself claimed to have seen before, but not since. "About that." Orihime's discomfort was obvious, and Homura gave her a look of sympathy. But this was too important to simply pass by. "What happens to the ones that disappear? Kenren-san said that I had seen someone before. A woman named Rinrei. But she's not here now."

Homura did his best to keep his voice even, but there was no helping the concern that went with the question. He had to know that she was all right somehow, despite what the gods had done to her, and this prison.

Edgeworth took his notebook out, opened it to the maps, and passed it across the table to Orihime. He noted that he had been quite right about the mild reminder of Maya Fey, who he could easily picture eating the same way, and he smiled as he did so.

That smile faded quickly as topic turned to a more serious one now; that of people disappearing. Edgeworth finished the last of his juice, but that didn't stop his mouth from going dry again as he began to speak.

"I'm afraid that no one really knows what happens to those who have disappeared from this place. Some people have theorized that they've managed to escape, but..."

The prosecutor couldn't keep the quaver out of his voice now. "The other possibility is that they've fallen victim to this place. They haven't died, but they have been convinced of the false identities handed to them, and then released. They would be out in the world now, living the false lives they were told about here."

He murmured under his breath, "I think death would be preferable."

Orihime swallowed a few more bites of food knowing that most of her energy during lunch would be directed towards getting Fai to eat and feel a bit better. Her friends had much the same reaction to her eating habits, so she hung on to the pleasantly bitter-sweet feeling it gave her. She made sure to wipe her hands thoroughly before pulling Edgeworth's journal over so she could copy the maps into her own.

She felt bad for Homura. She knew what it was like to lose people here. If last night hadn't been in vain, how many people would be happy to see their loved ones? She touched his shoulder tentatively, trying to be comforting without really invading his personal space.

However, her protest to Edgeworth's last sentence was almost immediate. She was surprised at how strong her own conviction was. "No it wouldn't. Not ever."

Homura seemed surprised by Orihime's gesture of comfort, but not off-put by it. He smiled gently to the girl, and after a moment of his own hesitation, put his hand over hers in silent thanks. Again he thought it odd that anyone would do even that much for him, but it seemed that here he was not so much a heresy as he was another prisoner.

Edgeworth's words were revealing, and almost as quickly as Orihime responded, so did Homura. "You're wrong." His tone was firm, no doubt in his voice. "Even if they have been taken, if they're alive, then they can be saved." Somehow, though Homura had no means of knowing the way. But if Rinrei was here and alive, there had to be some way to reach her.

A possibility that wouldn't exist at all if she were dead.

"Please forgive my hastiness and cynicism," Edgeworth replied, bowing his head in apology. "I've just been searching for someone who disappeared from this place for a very long time. Before he disappeared, he met someone else from our world, a visitor. I knew the woman that visited him; when my...friend came back from that visitor's room, he was shaken to his core."

He closed his eyes, breathing deeply. "He said she was just a shell of her follow self, almost if her..." He paused, looking for the right word.

"...her spark, or her soul, had been taken from her, and he couldn't see a way to reach her. I'm worried that the same thing happened to him. Do you truly believe someone can be reached when they're that far removed from themselves?"

Homura's gentle acceptance wasn't nearly as unexpected as hearing someone else's voice supporting her. Orihime's hand tightened on his shirt sleeve when she'd meant to pull it away.

"No, don't be sorry. It can't be easy going through something like that." Orihime gave him a soft smile. She'd never seen another prisoner the way Edgeworth was describing. She couldn't imagine them - Ichigo, Yoruichi or Urahara - without that vital spark of fire and life that made them so strong. They wouldn't want to live like that. But to let them die like that? She couldn't think of a worse betrayal.

"Homura-san is right. We owe it to them to keep trying as long as there's a chance. They're our friends. If they're not strong enough to fight this, we fight it for them. If they have no hope, we become their hope. And if they're lost...then we find them. Wherever they are. It's not going to be fast or easy like death, but that's why it's important." She looked down at her hand on the table, seeing something else entirely. "We have to keep going as long as it takes. If not us, who else is going to help them? What else is worth fighting for if we have to give up on this?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Day 34: Breakfast

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject