damned_institute | Day 44: Sun Room, Second Shift

[from here]

He really had beat the rush. Suzaku found a chair as close to the corner and as far from the bulletin as he could, and turned it to face the wall before curling up in it. His nurse frowned at him again, but she was still being cooperative, and frankly he didn't care what she had to say in the slightest. He didn't care even if he got sedated. All he cared about was finally having a few moments to himself, to sort out what Euphie's love meant and what the hell Lelouch's problem was.

It felt like he had all the pieces of a puzzle and was just too stupid to figure out how they fit together. What Lelouch had said about Shirley at breakfast and the tone he'd taken with Euphie on the board, Lelouch asking how Suzaku was, Lelouch dying. . . "All we can do is move forward and look out for the ones we care about." Euphie struggling to get out her last words, pain overtaking Suzaku's consciousness while he fought pathetically to carry out Lelouch's order. . . The last couple days, when he'd felt like he was finally figuring this out, seemed so far away now.

There were a couple things that were certain, at least: he hated what Lelouch had done, he always would. But he -- he didn't hate Lelouch, and he hadn't for a while now, and that wasn't going to change. And he didn't have much time, because everyone but Suzaku was terrifyingly mortal. And Lelouch was an idiot, but he still wasn't sure about the how and why of that one yet.

[for the Saucinator]

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Rey shook his head. "I'm afraid I haven't met many people here."

Speaking of which, he probably should be out to make more friends, lest something like last night happen again. He'd been painfully reminded of how alone he was then, and although Rey wasn't social by nature, he had no desire to feel like that again. Like his death wouldn't mean anything, like no one would notice if he died--and, truthfully, no one would.

Returning the smile, he introduced himself. "I'm Rey Za Burrel."

"It's nice to meet you Rey-san. I'm Haku. Have you been here long?"

Haku had been worried about Artemis, considering that most of the previous night had been a blur, but the note on the board had brightened him enough that he was willing and happy to finally resume talking to new people.

"No, only for three days," he answered. And a large part of it had been spent asleep, for whatever reason. Still, it felt longer than it should have. Rey couldn't imagine spending longer than a few weeks in this place. He was getting used to its antics, somewhat, but that didn't make it much easier to deal with. Nearly getting killed didn't help any.

Which was about the length of time that Haku had been at his worst. He nodded slightly, ignoring the way the gesture tugged at the healing injuries.

"I see. Were you hurt last night?"

"Yes. Attacked by a brainwashed patient," Rey answered. He realized there was a chance he'd come across said patient eventually, to his displeasure. He didn't hold anything against him, but it wasn't as if he had experience talking to people who'd attacked him while not themselves. What was he supposed to say, if he did come across the man?

"What about you?"

"No." Haku couldn't shake his head, so he closed his eyes briefly. "I was out the night before last and was attacked by the dead."

They'd been all to happy to take a large chunk out of his leg, shoulders, neck and arm. "For all this place's faults, they saved me from bleeding to death."

Rey nodded. He'd almost forgotten about that night, given the events of the last one. Fortunately, he'd walked away with no injuries that time, but he knew that a number of people had been wounded then.

On the topic of being saved from dying, he couldn't help but think of his own situation, before arriving here, despite knowing there was no point in dwelling on what couldn't be changed now. He'd been on the brink of death himself. However, this place had rescued him, even though he would've been fine, would've been happy with dying then. Apparently, things couldn't be that easy.

"It makes one wonder about their motives," he said. "If they don't want us to die, but still place us in constant danger..."

"They've brought a number of us back from the dead as well. If it's a brainwashing technique, it could be a very effective one," he mused. "Still, there are a thousand different theories and nobody is quite sure what would be the more plausible."

Haku, looking back, was both glad and deeply hurt that his own death had been reversed. Dying for Zabuza-san had been the best thing he could have done with his life... and yet, he'd made friends here that he wouldn't have known otherwise... it was a difficult place to be in.

Although Rey listened attentively to everything Haku was saying, one part definitely stuck out.

"Back from the dead?" he repeated. It was possible he was referring to the strange deaths last night, but that didn't quite click. If that weren't the case though, then he could only be talking about one thing--but Rey refused to let himself jump to conclusions about it just yet.

Haku smiled. "Yes. Those of us that were dead before waking up here." He shifted slightly yo glance around the room.

"There are quite a few, if one believes the stories..."

At this, Rey was silent. After everything, he didn't entirely disbelieve it, but he didn't know what to think of it either.

If the dead could be brought back to life here, what did that mean for him? He'd always assumed he survived the collapse of the Messiah, but now it seemed that might not have been the case. There was the possibility that he had, in fact, been killed, a possibility that brought more relief than it should've. If he'd died, then his path there--the one he chose--would be done, once and for all. He'd have succeeded in doing that much, at least.

Finally, all he could bring himself to say, was, "... I see."

"My apologies if I've caused you any distress," Haku said softly. He knew how he felt when he woke up here, apparently alive and well. The blow had been devistating to say the least.

Knowing that he'd failed had been worse once Zabuza-san had shown up. But, here he was dwelling in the past when he should be focusing on more important things.

"It's nothing," Rey replied. After all, what he was feeling couldn't exactly be called distress. It wasn't as if he knew for sure, in any case. The only way to receive confirmation was for someone from his world who knew him to come here, but he wouldn't wish that on them.

So if in the end, he'd never know, there was no need to keep wondering, was there? Still, Rey couldn't help but hope that he was dead.

Day 44: Sun Room, Second Shift

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