Day 34: Lunch

[thatdamnedninja.livejournal.com]

Yuffie bounced all the way through collecting her lunch, all the way to a good seat- one with a nice view of the whole cafeteria, which was something she'd been missing out on during the past day or so that she'd been stuck in the Institute- and hell, she even bounced into her seat.

A good mood? No, really?

Despite the occasional blip, talking to Sagara had been awesome. He was a fun guy; he wasn't a prude, didn't have a stick shoved so far up his ass it was poking out his eyeballs, and he'd actually had a conversation with her. One that hadn't revolved around doom, gloom or how much life sucked. If she could find other people like that and keep in touch with Sagara, maybe there was a little hope for this place.

After a quick gulp of pink lemonade, Yuffie settled to munching through her food and keeping an eye on the door.

[Waiting for Dean, I think? :x]

Comments

[fuyunohanabi.livejournal.com]

Honestly, Rangiku would probably have preferred a grimace to the expression that Renji was currently wearing. It seemed so wrong. "I think he put up a fight, yes." She didn't find that comforting. "We got past itm" she said a little flatly. "I overused my kidou and was helpless when we got downstairs and Gin got his back cut open on top of whatever else was troubling him yesterday." And the emotional turmoil he'd been in worried her more than anything else.

[norainu]

"That's good," Renji said. He didn't know what else to say to any of it. "I'm having a hard time imagining anything bothering Ichimaru," he commented, tone still neutral. "But it's not like I know him." They had reached an uneasy truce, but that didn't mean he felt all that comfortable about him. And it was incredibly bizarre to think about the man having any more emotion than the average snake. "At least you got past it."

[fuyunohanabi.livejournal.com]

She snorted, a faint smile touching her lips at his comment about Gin. "Things bother him," she said, giving a little shrug before her smile disappeared. "He was very agitated last night, jumpy, like he'd been hurt and didn't want me to be able to tell. I can't help but think it had something to do with one of the doctors." Because she'd seen the nurses taking him off for a 'therapy' session.

"We did manage to get something though. A shield from the Sphinx in the basement. Apparently coupled with another object from the other side of the basement, it opens a coliseum of a kind."

[norainu]

When Ran mentioned one of the doctors, Renji snapped the plastic fork in half. He raised the now headless handle of it and inspected it, as if surprised that it had broken.

What she said next took his attention, though. "Didn't know there'd be more than one of those," he said, and grinned. It felt nice to have something to be happy about. "I've got the sword that goes with it. And I know what to do with them."

[fuyunohanabi.livejournal.com]

Rangiku's eyes narrowed for a second when Renji's fork snapped in half like that. Such a suspicious action. So, something to do with the doctors then. Perhaps it was time someone paid a visit to the rooms to find some files. But her suspicious expression was gone barely a second later and she tapped her lips thoughtfully. "He was afraid of me touching him," she said, a little sadly. "I've never seen him like that before."

Renji's news was however far more pleasant. "Really? That's..." She laughed with relief for a moment. Maybe they actually had a chance to get something done!

[norainu]

Renji's shoulder twitched in the parody of a shrug when Ran mentioned Ichimaru's aversion to being touched. Renji had developed the same aversion ad had to wonder if it was for the same reason. What to do about it was a much harder question. It wasn't something he wanted to talk about, ever, and he doubted Ichimaru's would care to have his shame exposed if that was the source, any more than Renji had. Best to stay silent and watch.

On to better thoughts. "We think they're a key to open one of the doors in the basement," he said."No idea what's behind it, but it's probably important. So who are we gonna take tonight?"

[fuyunohanabi.livejournal.com]

Definitely something similar with Renji. She might just have to slip off one night to investigate the doctor's offices for any signs. Of course, she could be wrong. Maybe it was just this place getting to them all, or coincidence, but it would be worth investigating anyway.

A key? That was better than any of them had managed so far. And it was a smaller area to cover than the entire outside area of the Institute. And she didn't even question when he asked who they should take. It should be done now, as soon as possible. "From what the Sphinx said, it sounded as though this Coliseum would be something dangerous, combat oriented, which is what the shield and sword suggest anyway. I'd lean towards those who we can trust and who have the best combat skills without relying on magic. Maybe a healer as well so that none of the fighters have to waste energy."

[norainu]

Renji nodded. "So you and me, definitely. Dunno, maybe Hitsugaya-taichou? Or probably Daemon or his brother. Both of them are people that could hang just fine with the Eleventh."

[fuyunohanabi.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I wouldn't miss this," Rangiku replied with some determination. She'd spent too much time going down to the basement to not make sure that she was one of the ones going to try the door. Even if, technically, Gin had been the one to win the shield.

"Taicho might be a good choice," she mused. "And Daemon seems like a good man to have in a fight although I haven't met his brother." A smile quirked at her lips. "In this, I do think the Eleventh Division way is the right one. A shame we don't have the alcohol to drink afterwards."

[norainu]

Renji nodded. "Sounds good, then. You, me, taichou, and Daemon, or his brother. We'll keep it down to that, since we want to move fast." He grinned. "And yeah, it is a shame, but I guess we'll just have to figure out a different way to celebrate."