damned_institute | Day 34: Lunch

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Day 34: Lunch

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]

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Yuuhi looked up when the girl approached and offered her a smile in return. She looked tired. Had he looked as tired as she seemed? He felt better after his short nap, but he supposed he could understand Ururu's concern, just a little, as he felt it now for Orihime. His own face was still paler than usual, though at least the dark circles around his eyes had nearly faded.

"Have a seat?" he offered, gesturing to the chair across from him. "I'm glad you're ok. Things got a little scary last night, didn't they? Hyuuu..." he breathed out a mock whistle.

Orihime sat and settled her tray in front of her, giving Fai a proper look over. He seemed tired and drained even though his smile looked mostly the same.

"For a while, but I'm glad everyone made it out." She paused, trying to pick the question that concerned her most first. Her concern was written all over her face. "What about you? How are you doing?"

Her worry made him slightly uncomfortable, it wasn't something he was accustomed to receiving. Kurogane yelled, and that was easier to deal with than other feelings. But worry and concern, that was something else entirely. Still, he kept up his smile, even if he couldn't meet her eyes.

"I'm fine," he assured her. "I was kind of tired before, but the nurses let me get some extra sleep, so I'm a lot better now. Maybe we should stick to missions that are a little easier."

She tried to make her voice a little lighter for Fai's sake. "You should eat, just to keep up your strength. We'll get really busy at night no matter what we do."

She didn't know if anything they did would be easier; maybe they could be more prepared, but unless they stayed in their rooms all night it wasn't going to be safe or quiet.

She wanted to ask how Fai was doing really beneath the smile he was wearing for her but she knew it would only make him scared or upset if she tried to pry too quickly and then offered him no answers. So she did the best she could and offered the truth. "I think...well there are all these clubs dedicated to finding a way out and building weapons and destroying this place. Do you think we could dedicate our club to searching for our friends? I don't know how everyone else will feel, but nothing else really matters to me." She smiled a little. "I would have really liked to meet Sakura-san."

Just like with Ururu, he had a hard time refusing. He wasn't really feeling that hungry, but he knew his body needed the food. "Yeah," he smiled, as if he meant to eat it all along. "Seems like, doesn't it?" Just to prove he wasn't all empty smiles, he took a few bites of his chicken.

Having jumped from club to club in his first few days alone, Yuuhi had been reluctant to try another. But Orihime's idea did sound like a good one. Even if they didn't find anyone, it would help them keep hope alive, wouldn't it? He didn't think he could just give up and believe that Sakura was gone.

"Mm. I like that idea," he nodded and honestly meant it. His smile looked a little strained when she mentioned Sakura, but he nodded to that as well. Sakura and Orihime probably would have been good friends. Maybe if their club was successful, they still could be. "I'm sure she would have liked that too."

"Come on, all of it. You don't want me to bully you anymore do you?" Orihime's smile failed entirely that time. She honestly felt bad about forcing Fai to eat, but at the same time she held on to it with all of the stubbornness she threw behind her healing. Knowing him, he wouldn't have bothered with breakfast. And that was being optimistic.

She sighed a little. She didn't realize she'd been holding her breath, hoping Fai would say yes. It had been a little lonely to hope like that. She didn't want to drag other people into searching when they didn't really want to, and most of the shinigami thought it was pointless to look anywhere in this place but she still felt like she needed to try. She was almost entirely uncertain about where the others might be, and if there was even a chance they were still on this world she had to search. They'd do the same for her.

She hadn't meant to make Fai more upset. She changed the subject a little this time. "There are people I want you to meet too. One of them can act really rough like Kurogane-san, but he's the same way on the inside too he's - honest. Himself. Like a cactus." Ichigo was harder to explain than she thought. "A really nice cactus." She added in retrospect. "Maybe you'd like him too."

"All?" he asked, surprised by the demand. But when he looked up and saw her face, the way her smile just fell away and the stubborn way she looked at him, unwilling to budge, he just couldn't upset her. Yuuhi picked up his fork with an exaggerated sigh and kept eating. "Only because you're such a scary bully," he conceded, taking another bite.

He did like it better when she talked about her own world, her own friends. It made him feel a little less lonely, though he wasn't sure if it was simply because it was a distraction from his own worries or because it felt better to know someone else felt just the same as he did. Maybe it was both. "Mm... I thought one grumpy ninja was enough, but at least yours is a nice cactus," he joked. "Maybe they can have a grouchy face contest? I wonder who would win?"

Orihime blinked, but then a real smile returned as understanding dawned. He wasn't upset then? That was another relief, and a welcome one. "Rawr." She added, just in case she wasn't being scary enough.

She actually stifled giggle imagining Kurogane and Ichigo trying to have a scary face contest. "It would be a hard call. Kurosaki-kun gets a lot of practice, and he's good at yelling too. He makes a face like -" She tried to imitate one of Ichigo's scary faces. "What about this Kurogane-san guy? I'll totally beat him without even looking!"

It was a relief to be able to joke around in such a lighthearted way, especially after the day's seriousness. It helped his appetite as well, not being quite so tightly strung. Besides, Orihime's growl was about as scary as the princess', but he still feigned fright when he heard it. "Kyaa~," he teased, finishing off his last piece of chicken, "what'll I do?"

Seeing her impression of Ichigo even provoked some laughter, though his ribs and chest still hurt to do much more than that. For only a moment, there was something real about his smile. Yuuhi clapped at her performance, "Amazing! He'll be a really hard one to beat!" He gave a few tries at trying to get Kurogane's scowl down just right, but gave up shortly after. Pity Mokona wasn't here. The little white ball of fluff was perfect at intimidating voices. "Ah, I can't do it!"

"You can have half of mine too, then I'll eat you when you're stuffed. I'll make kitty soup." Orihime replied, putting on her best evil voice while she shoved her tray closer to Fai. She could eat three times this easily, so it hardly seemed fair that just one plate should count as a meal.

She frowned at him, but it was an Orihime-frown edged with humor. "Of course you can't if you just give up. Say 'GRR' and look really angry. I'll help." She leaned across the table on her elbows and tried to help pull the corners of Fai's mouth down with one hand. "Grrr. You're Kuro-bear."

"So that's what it's about," he smirked. "Sorry, I just don't think I can fit anymore!" Yuuhi insisted, holding up both hands and shaking his head. Kurogane had done the same thing at breakfast, why was everyone trying to give him more food? He'd already eaten most of the things on his own plate, but he couldn't have hers too!

"Grrrrr," he made another attempt at a decent Kuro impression. With Orihime's help, the result was more comical and less than intimidating, but it was still fun. "Rawr, how dare you insult the great Kuro-papa! I'm the bestest ninja in the whole world, so you better run while you can!"

"Well..." Orihime thought this over, fighting to retain her frown. "Only if you promise to eat as much every meal." There was still the same stubbornness behind her words, but it was lighthearted and friendly.

At Fai's Kurogane impression, Orihime tried to pull her Ichigo impression again but failed and gave into peels of laughter. "So -- So scary!" She finally caught her breath, almost glowing with laughter. "See, I knew you could do it."

"Ooookay," he replied in a sing-song tone. It wasn't like she was asking the world of him. Just to eat his meals and he was pretty sure he could handle a promise like that.

Yuuhi's features broke from the frown into a smile instantly and he joined in her laughter for a few moments. "I don't know how either of them can keep it up! Looking so growly like that all the time, I'd get a terrible headache!"

"Thank you." Orihime smiled, genuinely grateful. Maybe it wasn't a big change but it was nice to know Fai wouldn't be starving himself, and it was nicer to hear him laugh. She didn't remember if she'd ever heard it.

She finally managed a proper solemn face, and nodded sagely. "That's because they're experts. It's a secret craft, like being a ninja.

"Hey -" Orihime paused mid-thought, frowning when she realized she'd never used Fai's name before. "You never told me what you want to be called. Was it Fai-san or..Robin-san? Or kitty-san?"

Yuuhi had been ready to give his own comment on the secret technique of the scary face that had no doubt been passed down for generations, but he held off when Orihime paused and decided to change topics.

"Fai is ok," he said after some hesitation. Besides, Kurogane would probably do more than punch him if he thought Yuuhi was going by something else. Even Fai was a lie, but at least it was a familiar one. He still smiled, but some of the warmth had gone from it. "Sorry for the confusion," he added a short laugh. "I was a little confused myself."

"Ok. Fai-san," Orihime repeated, trying it. She sensed something had changed about Fai's good humor, but she wasn't really sure. She hadn't meant to upset him again. She hesitated a moment, then continued with what she'd started saying earlier. "Since you made me a promise I wanted to make one for you too. Here. Do this."

She settled back into her seat and rested her elbow on the table, offering Fai her pinky finger.

Yuuhi gave her a puzzled look, but slowly mimicked her pose, setting his elbow on the table and raising his pinky. He wasn't sure what to make of it, but he really didn't need her to make him any promises. She'd done enough for him already. He was the one who still owed her!

"What is it?" he asked, though he tried to mask his suspicion.

"I know how hard it is to lose someone here." She said softly, not quite meeting his eyes, but she was smiling gently when she looked up again. She wrapped her pinky around his.

"But I promise I won't give up. We'll find Sakura-san again no matter what." She wasn't being patronizing; she believed it with everything in her. "And if you ever get lost, I'll come find you too. So remember you're not alone, ok?"

"Yeah," he replied with a smile, though inwardly he was doing his best to maintain some emotional distance. Orihime was so like his own princess, kind, and honestly caring, but special in her own ways too. He couldn't let himself get too attached, not after all he'd put her through already.

"I..." he hesitated again, but forced himself to say the words, even if he was almost sure he couldn't keep them. "I won't give up either, I'll make sure we do find her," he paused, "and... I'll remember."

Orihime kept smiling despite Fai's uncertainty. "Don't worry, I'll help keep you strong. Whenever you need me."

The announcement came on signaling the end of lunch. She gave Fai's finger a little squeeze before she released it. Maybe in time he'd come to realize that she needed him too.

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Day 34: Lunch

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