Day 36: Waiting Room/Lobby 2

[notachick.livejournal.com]

Okita hadn't been expecting it when his nurse suddenly appeared in the Game Room. He'd expected to be left alone like last week, but instead she gently took him by the arm and told him he needed to say goodbye to Kaden for now. Okita assumed it was time for his visitor and waved goodbye to him, only to be led off himself. The swordsman had followed obediently into the Sun Room, but when he tried to go off to another room, she stopped him. "Not today, Julian."

Not today? Something about his nurse's demeanor seemed off, almost as if she were worried about something. It wasn't until she led him out of the Sun Room that he understood what was going on. He had a visitor. There were only so many people that would come to visit him in a place like this. His sisters, Tetsu, Kondou or... Okita didn't want to think about the last option.

Taking a step into the waiting room, he stopped at the door and turned to look at his nurse. "Are you sure you're not mistaken?" he asked, feeling actual fear for the first time in a long while. If this wasn't some strange punishment/joke for behaving poorly in the chapel, he didn't know what to do. Badou's graffiti was still on his hand and he quickly slipped that hand into his pocket. He could feel the pen there, clipped to the inside of his waistband. The nurse shook her head and moved to the side of the room, keeping a close watch on him as he stayed by the door, trying to hide his anxiety by feigning interest in the strange magazines on a table nearby.

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[winged_moon]

Yukito glanced up toward Sakura and managed to smile in response to her words, though he inwardly wondered what she thought her name was. And who she was. And for that matter, who she thought he was.

Clearly their relationships were similar, but - who was Alex? He didn't dare ask, not and see a look on her face like when he'd called her by what he thought was her name. Yukito reached out and ruffled her hair a little, doing his best for her sake not to look as confused and worried as he felt, then turned a slightly wider smile toward Touya. "I'll do my best, I promise."

What exactly he was promising, though, he didn't quite know. Would it be so easy to just give in and allow himself to be "Alex," just so he wouldn't have to watch them leave? Or did he keep believing that those he remembered were just as real and he'd somehow find a way back home to be with them?

I am real, Yue insisted, with just a hint of desperation, his presence becoming strong enough that Yukito closed his eyes for a moment in disorientation. My life is real. I was created for a purpose that cannot be denied.

[damned-visitors.livejournal.com]

A real smiled formed on Lily's face when Alex mussed her hair and promised he'd do his best. It gave her hope that they'd be able to share times like this again outside of the institution. She would miss him, but Tommy said this place would make him better and that would be the best of all.

Thomas wasn't one for huge displays of affection, not like Lily at least. He just smiled back as his little sister hugged Alex around the waist. He gave Alex's shoulder a firm, but comforting squeeze before he took his sister by the hand.

"I'll bring treats again next time!" Lily promised, while Thomas was pulled along toward the door. He gave a faint smile and a wave before they turned to go.

[winged_moon]

The smiles, the affectionate gestures - they were like sunlight to Yukito, warm and welcome and easing some of the pain in his heart. Sakura and Touya (or whatever their names were here) did still love him, and he wanted nothing more than to stay like this forever; it hardly mattered to him any longer whether it was here or where he remembered his home being, for home was with those he loved, was it not?

But then they were turning away, leaving again. Could it really be over so soon? Yukito took an involuntary step forward as words choked in his throat; he didn't want to let them out of his sight. He wanted to follow, to beg that he be allowed to go home with them. Even as he started to move, though, he abruptly froze in place, finding their body no longer his to command.

And then it was Yue who watched the pair leave, back stiff and expression set with stubborn pride. There had been no acknowledgement from the one who was undoubtedly his Mistress, no indication that she wanted him any more than Clow did. But no matter what else, he was still Yue, the Judge, Guardian of the Clow, and he did not beg.