[NIGHTSHIFT 35] M31-M40 HALLWAY

[cnflctofintrst.livejournal.com]

[from here]

Still no one.  Although he could hear muffled voices through a few doors, the corridors were so black that if it hadn't been for his flashlight, he wouldn't have been able to see where the walls met the floor.  The circle of yellow light bobbed with his footsteps, periodically swinging towards the walls.  He'd been caught off guard before, and he wouldn't let it happen again.

He counted the room numbers:  M34.  Easier than last night, that much was certain, but the design of the institute still infuriated him.  Landel had gone to great lengths to make their stay difficult, with the monsters and sedative-armed nurses.  Something like bad architecture just seemed petty.  He gave the door a solid knock then leaned against the wall beside it, the beam of his light still darting around the shadowy space.

Comments

Re: Outside M35

[forgot-it-all.livejournal.com]

Ritsuka wished he didn't have to hurt people's feelings in order to be independent. Soubi was always asking him to let him in and Ritsuka never did. He couldn't, really, because anyone who came too close could eventually hurt him. It was the same with Sheena. She was so eager to help that Ritsuka knew he'd regret it if he learned to lean on her for support. One day, she'd be gone and he'd be at a loss for what to do. Sort of like how he was now that Soubi was still AWOL.

"I already said it's fine, so don't worry about it." Now he just felt awkward. Staring down at his feet, Ritsuka shuffled his toe against the ground and hooked his fingers around the straps of the backpack. "...I don't like being hugged. It's not your fault."

Re: Outside M35

[mizuhomaiden.livejournal.com]

"Oh... okay," Sheena replied, ruffling the messy tail her hair was pulled back into. "You just... looked like you needed one."

Now she felt stupid and it was all awkward and...

"Where were you going to go?"

Re: Outside M35

[forgot-it-all.livejournal.com]

Where was he going? When he ran away all the times before, he had just headed blindly out into the Institute. Back home, he'd always zeroed in on the park. Here, he realized, he lacked such a safe haven and now he really didn't know where he had been heading.

"...I guess Soubi's room," Ritsuka said, still toeing the ground. "If that moron hasn't come to get me already, I should probably go see what's keeping him."

Re: Outside M35

[mizuhomaiden.livejournal.com]

"Mind if I come along?" Sheena smiled and tilted her head with the question. She didn't want Ritsuka wandering around on his own because of the monsters and she wanted to see Soubi.

She had to give the Fighter a stern talking to now that she knew his Sacrifice.

Re: Outside M35

[forgot-it-all.livejournal.com]

Ritsuka eyed Sheena warily for a moment. Did she think he was going to get lost or eaten in the time it took him to go one hall up and over? With his track record, he wouldn't be surprised, but still! He was old enough to take care of himself! Sort of. He was almost thirteen at any rate. The cold weather outside and the approaching winter told Ritsuka that in a month he'd be having a birthday. December 21st and he'd be a teenager. ...what a disturbing thought.

Another thought hit him and he realized that had to be the real reason - Sheena wanted to see Soubi. That made sense and the boy relaxed, nodding. "I don't mind. It's not far away anyway."

Clicking on his flashlight, Ritsuka waited for Sheena to get ready and then he started off down the hall.

Re: Outside M35

[mizuhomaiden.livejournal.com]

Not knowing where Soubi's room was, Sheena let Ritsuka take the lead. She pulled her cards out just in case they ran into any monsters along the way. It never occurred to her to tell Raine she was leaving...

Re: Outside M35

[forgot-it-all.livejournal.com]

[to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/454044.html?thread=37475740#t37475740)]