damned_institute | Dayshift 42: Morning

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Dayshift 42: Morning - Magus Park

Senna stepped off the bus to wind blowing through the clothes she was given. A sad face at one of the nurses allowed her a long red scarf as well, and once she had draped it around her neck and let it hang down her back, she had trotted off.

The park she had saw last time seemed a good place to be on the look-out for the chicks from last night. It was close to the buses, and a big enough place that if they remembered that they had a race date, it would suit its purpose. The girl ran to a place in the middle of the field and waited there, shifting her weight from side to side. After a while, this wasn't enough, and Senna traded back and forth between jogging in place and acrobatics--the easy flips and cartwheels keeping her warm.

Her mind had changed in the night before. She had gotten a taste of what leadership entailed, and she wasn't sure she had rose to the occasion or not. She knew she had tried her best, and had been willing to give as much as she had, but it hadn't been enough. She knew this. Hokuto, at least, had gotten hurt, and in the end, they still hadn't explored more than the schoolhouse. They really needed a different approach with that place.

She went back and forth internally, body going through the motions and reflexes of her movements.

[for... Falis, Hokuto, Meche, and Soma?--and down to here]

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Before he left the bus the nurses handed him a pair of black gloves and a white jacket on top of his panda sweater thing. His own nurse seemed to be growing fond of him and she pulled his hood up over his head before he left. He didn't mind; it was getting pretty cold anyway.

There were a few people he wanted to see in particular today, and one place he really wanted to visit: the park. Unfortunately, the latter was the only thing he knew how to find since most of his friends could be dispersed throughout the city. Homura, at least, might be similarly interested in the largest green space in town so Nataku headed there as soon as he'd gotten off the bus.

There were people in the park already, but not very many, and mostly nurses and orderlies. Nataku ignored them, searching for familiar faces while he wondered the paths. He felt like running, or climbing trees, or wondering off the path to explore until he couldn't see eyes on him anymore. Before he could decide on that course of action, he spotted Homura further along the path. Nataku jogged up to him.

"Hey, Homura."

The sound of quickening footsteps behind him was more than enough warning of someone's approach, and Homura had just begun to wonder who had found him first when a familiar voice answered the question. Looking over at Nataku as the younger war prince caught up to him, Homura smiled first at seeing the boy, then again as he realized what he was wearing.

"That's a cute outfit, Nataku. The nurses must be fond of you."

Thankful that the women hadn't decided to inflict that particular measure of wrath on him, Homura continued his walk. Nataku might have preferred something with a quicker pace, but Homura was content with the one he'd already set. "How did the healing go last night? And what did you think of Hanatarou? I'm hoping to convince him to work with us a bit more often, since it seems his power is being misused in Arts and Crafts."

Nataku almost groaned. He was beginning to understand why Ritsuka loathed the bunny ears on his own sweater. "I'll let them know you like it. Maybe next time we can match."

Nataku would have preferred to stray off the path at least now that he'd found Homura, but he fell into step with the elder war prince and made no complaints except to glance at the trees as they passed by. "I think it went pretty well. Kenren's burns are all gone and I'm ok. I like Hanatarou. He's a little shy and skittish at first, but he gets over it. He's pretty determined too; he pushed himself too hard when he was healing us and passed out so long mushrooms grew on his face."

Nataku smiled briefly, but it was a distracted sort of expression, his fingers wrapped lightly around the arm that Hanatarou had healed. When he looked up at Homura he was dead serious. "But the way he acts I wouldn't be surprised if he was being mistreated. What is the Arts and Crafts club doing?"

Homura laughed softly, and shook his head when Nataku made his generous offer. "That's quite all right. I've been fortunate so far as to not end up with anything too mortifying on these trips. Besides..." Homura reached behind Nataku, pulling up the hood that had fallen back when the boy caught up to him. "Of the two of us, you pull off 'adorable' far better than I ever could."

The report was a welcome one, as overall it seemed the encounter had been successful. More importantly, at least one (and likely two) whose opinions Homura valued expressed fondness for the healer. Perhaps he wasn't as straightforward as Homura was used to, but all things considered, it wasn't surprising.

Neither was the fact that mushrooms had somehow sprouted on his face. Knowing Nataku's reputation, Homura could guess at the source.

"I'm sure he'll be more careful about that in the future. At least when he's around you." But the simple enjoyment seemed to be short-lived as Nataku asked about the Arts and Crafts leadership. Homura knew better than most that Nataku wouldn't take well to a talent being misused, simply due to his own past. "They've had a great deal of hardship, including the loss of most of their leadership. That's put significant strain on those who remain. Additionally, that group is led by the gods of a different world. I've been told all of them can heal, so it may simply be a case of taking their power for granted."

Truthfully, it was hard not to grow angry at the thought of it. How typical was it that those in control disregarded the abilities of those below them, and beyond that, the desires of those individuals? That was why Homura was careful to give the choice to all that followed him--if they wished to pursue their own purposes in conflict with his own, they were free to leave. Despite how Homura may have wanted them to stay.

"Adorable?" Nataku echoed, because what he was feeling seriously bordered on mortified. He was glad the hood was a little too big on him. Maybe it would hide how red his face was. He didn't even know how to respond to that. Maybe he didn't think the sweater was a big deal, but apparently everyone was going to be pulling up his hood now because it was adorable.

Nataku folded his arms across his chest. "He'd better be. He really thought we'd just leave him alone in the dark after that." As if they could. Whoever he'd been waiting for had never even bothered to show up.

He hadn't really been paying attention to the other clubs on the bulletin. He'd read over their information briefly so he knew which ones existed and who ran them, but he had never gotten too deeply involved in politics. That made sense, he supposed, if all the remaining ones were inexperienced and overtaxed. Arts and Crafts was one of the big ones. So maybe it wasn't deliberate, but something about the way Hantarou acted still bothered him. Was that really the only reason for it? He shook his head. "It's still careless of them. I'll talk to Hanatarou more. If nothing else, I still want to be friends with him."

He reached for Homura's hand, content to walk in silence for a few moments.

"About the other night... I slept through yesterday so I didn't get to come and see you."

Homura didn't have to see Nataku's face to guess at just what shade it was turning, and he laughed again at Nataku's echo. He'd never been one to pass up an opportunity for teasing, and the demi-god wouldn't begin with this opportunity. "Absolutely. Surely that doesn't bother you? There are worse things to be than an adorable boy prince. Perhaps if you ask, they can find a tail for you to wear as well."

Though Homura did decide to not mention that Nataku's indignation over Hanatarou was almost as cute, in its own way. So he and Kenren had brought the healer along? Likely for the best, especially if it had been nearing the end of night. "You don't know what sort of experiences he's had, my friend. It might be something more typically done in his world."

He wasn't shocked to hear about Nataku's desires, or his continued disapproval of the actions of the other club. "I agree, it is careless. No matter what their reasons, the results border no the inexcusable. As for being his friend, he might like that. Perhaps he can even learn from your example, and grow a bit more confident. Just try not to take him along on too many pranks, hmm? There are some habits he might not need to learn."

Homura paused for a moment when Nataku took his hand, not having expected the gesture, even if he'd known the topic that followed was inevitable. Still, he smiled gently to the boy, giving the hand in his a gentle squeeze as he held on to it.

"Not many did. I kept to myself after the second shift." After his talk with Okita. He'd have to find Hijikata at some point, to further discuss the matter concerning Takasugi. But those thoughts were quickly pushed aside; Nataku had dealt with enough political matters in the Heavens. What was Homura's burden as the group's leader didn't need to fall onto the shoulders of the members. "Don't ever let them take you without a fight, Nataku. You don't need to experience the agony of fighting for anything besides your own will ever again."

"I'm not getting a tail!" Which translated to something along the lines of 'I'll have my revenge.' or 'I hope I'm not getting a tail.' or 'Kenren had better not hear about this.' It was up for interpretation really, but the amount of blood rushing to Nataku's face by this point just couldn't be healthy. What if Kenren showed up too? He'd never hear the end of it. Ritsuka, I take back everything I said about it just being a silly sweater. It's a torture device in disguise. "Old men are so weird."

As the topic of conversation turned more serious, Nataku bit the inside of his lip to keep from protesting immediately. Look at the things that are typically done in our world, he thought. Homura wasn't arguing against him though, and he knew he was being quick to judge people he'd never met... something that was dangerous in its own right. It just wasn't something he could help. He nodded at Homura, in regards to helping Hanatarou grow a little more confident and looked up to flash him a brief grin that spoke volumes of mischief. "I won't get him into trouble."

He was surprised that not many people had come to check on Homura after that night, but not entirely so. He held Homura's hand tightly in both of his, frowning silently. He stopped walking when Homura spoke again. "Neither do you. I've never really fought for myself before coming here, but you've been doing it for a long time. You died for it." Some distant part of him acknowledged that he was furious. "You shouldn't have been dragged into it again."

Such an insistent refusal: it would almost be worth it to leave Nataku long enough just to see if the nurses did have a tail, preferably a large one that was soft to the touch. Or if nothing else, to find Kenren so he could share in this bit of fun. However, the demi-god had little desire to break away from Nataku for those women, and his fellow taishi's luck couldn't run in his favor; they were, after all, heretical beings, and thus sources of misfortune according to legend.

"I'm not even six-hundred years old, you know." In terms of immortals, anything less than a millennium was still considered young. "If any of us is an old man, it's Kenren. If the rumors are right, he was seducing the wives of superior officers before I was born."

Homura could tell that Nataku wanted to say something when he remarked about Hanatarou's experience, and the demi-god almost wished he had, just due to his preference when it came to people speaking their minds. Still, all the trouble Homura had heard Nataku could cause suddenly seemed possible when the boy smiled that way, and he couldn't help but pity Hanatarou for a moment. "If only because you intend to keep from getting caught?"

The sympathy Nataku gave him was appreciated, but Homura shook his head when the boy said he should have been spared. "I wasn't taken. This can't be made known to anyone besides ourselves, Kenren, and Okita. But you deserve to know the truth. The nurses turn into creatures at night, and if they are killed, they can be raided for items. One of these was a vial of black liquid. I injected myself with it that night, to discover the effects." Homura's jaw tightened, as did his grip, though he was unaware of either. "It was a foolish mistake, and I apologize to you for it. The other items we've found haven't had such detrimental costs, and I was hoping there'd be a benefit gained from this one as well."

He wouldn't put it past Kenren to do something like that. Nataku waved it off. "That's ok, you're both old guys to me."

It was true in a sense. In the eyes of immortals he was barely an infant. He wasn't certain of the years, but he knew only a little over a decade had passed since his birth. Even Goku was much older than him, though they acted younger - so vibrant and lively and warm, Nataku thought, when he remembered their long days together. Like unfettered sunshine. Why had Goku ever needed his own sun? If there was one reason he wanted to leave here, it would be to fulfil his promise to that boy.

He dismissed those memories for now, returning to the present. That comment earned Homura another grin that said more than words ever could. He didn't mind being caught eventually, but he'd keep Hanatarou out of that part as best he could.

Homura's next words caught him completely off guard. Nataku just stared for a moment while the words sank in. He'd chosen to inject that vial. He'd chosen to take a huge risk that could have killed him or someone he cared about by stripping him of his will. He felt Homura's grip tighten on his hand but he had no intention of holding back.

"You're right, that was a really stupid thing to do." Nataku agreed. "But sometimes there's no helping it. Doing stupid things. You couldn't really give it to someone else without testing it, and there's no point to having it if you never use it." That was what Nataku thought anyway. He wouldn't have forgiven Homura for handing an untested vial to someone else, but he doubted he'd ever have to worry about that.

"The important thing is you're taking responsibility for the people you injured. And you know not to do something like that by yourself next time."

"I'm not certain Kenren will appreciate that sentiment." Though his years certainly hadn't done any harm to his vigor, a fact which Homura elected to keep quiet about. Nataku was still a child, and though there had again been rumors that persisted about his father, particularly after the most famous rebellions the Heavens had ever known, they were rumors that Homura could hope held no truth. While he was fairly open about sex with adults, Homura had little desire to become the educator of the boy beside him. Or to make him curious enough to go to Kenren.

He could see neither of those things ending well.

Another grin, and his sense of pity for Hanatarou instantly renewed itself. The poor healer had no idea what was in store for him. But then again, neither did Nataku's potential victims, a group which Homura himself could belong to without knowing it. He'd likely earned himself a spot with the comments about Nataku's sweater, at the very least. But taking another look at the boy in it, he decided that it was worth it.

His hold on Nataku's hand loosened once the words were out, though it was tempting to renew it as he waited in silence. He would give Nataku as much time as he wished to consider this revelation, and he would also respect whatever the boy chose to do. This held true for Kenren and Okita as well, of course, but it was even more important to give Nataku the freedom. The younger taishi already knew the pain of not being able to decide for himself, and Homura wouldn't subject him to that again, no matter what his own desires were.

Thankfully, Nataku seemed to understand his reasoning perfectly. Perhaps it was because of the position they had both filled. Regardless of the reason, Homura was glad to hear what Nataku said, even if he did laugh a bit when it was done.

"You're right. Though it's hard to break the habit of fighting alone, isn't it?" Once again Homura grinned down at Nataku, just before pulling his hood further down over his face, now speaking in jest. "Although, don't you think you're a bit too young and too cute to be giving an old man like me a lecture?"

"Maybe not yet." Nataku replied cheerfully. It was better for Homura if he just assumed nobody was safe. He might put up a decent fight before Nataku got to him... But of course, everyone had to sleep sometime.

He couldn't help but think, from that grin, that Homura was pitying his fellow conspirators. He needn't have worried. Nataku planned to make sure they had a lot of fun, even if it was at the expense of a few of his favourite adults and each other. He didn't mean any harm by it anyway. No more than Homura did when he teased him about his sweater.

Even when Homura's grip slackened, he didn't let go. It was important for Homura to know he didn't plan to leave his side. Even if they came to disagree in the end or follow separate paths his fellow taishi wouldn't truly be alone. He had made his choice the moment he decided he was going to join the History Club. He grimaced slightly and nodded at the comment about fighting alone. He'd very nearly killed Kenren the night they all fought together, so it wasn't as if he was an expert in any sense. Still, he was perhaps more forgiving and understanding of Homura than he should be, but he didn't think to deeply about that. Many of the other club members wouldn't be so pleased. And besides, he liked Homura.

...Usually.

"Old men are notorious for their lack of sense. I think it has something to do with their brains rotting." He lifted the corner of his hood to glare at Homura... and so that he wouldn't walk into a tree or something. If it wasn't blocking his peripheral vision he might be able to dodge now and again. Or better yet... Nataku felt a slow grin spreading and started to loosen his grip on Homura's hand. "I heard they're slow and infirm too. Isn't that true, Homura?"

With the heavier topic dropped, it took little effort to fall into a lighter mood. Nataku's cheerfulness was contagious in that way, and seeing the boy smile despite everything he'd been put through both by the gods and in the Institute, Homura couldn't help but reflect it. Even if he had a sense of foreboding concerning just what drawings might end up on his own face, should he drop his guard.

Nataku's glare was met with a confident grin, the demi-god unfazed by the notion that his mind might have been falling apart with age. "And young boys haven't developed enough brain to even match the sense old men do have." Then Nataku suddenly began to let go of Homura's hand, an impish look crossing his face that reminded Homura of a certain other playful sort. The impression wasn't far from the mark, and Homura laughed when he recognized the bait that was being put out before him.

"You might want to be careful. It's not wise to believe everything you hear." Coming to a stop, Homura crossed his arms over his chest, smirking down at the boy who wanted a bit more fun than just a walk. "We are generous though. So I'll give you a head start. You're going to need it against me."

Though truthfully, it was a bluff. Homura remained well aware of the fact that Nataku might just have been stronger than even him. But there wasn't any point in not being confident, now was there?

Nataku snorted in obvious disbelief. "Maybe we're just smarter because we use what we've got."

Of course, he couldn't say it was entirely a joke. Certain old men were exactly like that; senile, stupid and arrogant to a fault. It was just that Homura and Kenren weren't even remotely close to that particular group. He'd left them behind in the heavens. He might never have to go back. He might never have to kill for them again.

He could play right out in the open with his friends.

He moved backwards a few steps, grinning widely at Homura. It wasn't as if his pride would let him move much further than just out of arms' reach, but he would bolt the moment Homura started moving. "Are you sure you don't want to grab a walking stick?"

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Dayshift 42: Morning - Magus Park

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