damned_institute | Night 44: M41-M50 Hallway

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Night 44: M41-M50 Hallway

"Stop calling me Greg, it's weird!" Raz protested, but predictably his words were ignored, and the nurse left with his roommate without a sound. The door closed shut, and he was alone once again.

The events that occurred this dinner shift played through his mind over and over again, though he very much didn't want them to. It was bad enough that he got trapped here in the first place, but couldn't he have at least got a friendlier roommate? Really? Was that so much to ask for?

As he contemplated how to deal with this problem, it seemed that all he did was blink, and then the room was dark. The lock unclicked, and Raz knew what that meant.

"Time to get to work," he said to himself, as he grabbed his flashlight and headed out the door.

[to here]

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Artemis chuckled a little. "Well, you know how I feel about 'controlling' people. And there's the question of mind over matter," he said, sitting down on the bed. "If Hanatarou's ability is useful and finely tuned now, think of what it would be like if he didn't doubt himself--if he didn't hold back while thinking he was going to fail. I think he would increase his ability threefold."

He frowned a little at the ceiling. "It's the 'good person' part I worry about, though. He's involved in a tug-of-war right now between Hitsugaya the Second and Homura. No doubt they both make him nervous, and I'm afraid that his decision won't be his own when he makes it."

"Good people are usually being manipulated by someone. It's how things work." Haku smiled and then turned most of his attention to his injuries,flexing his shoulders carefully and moving his leg.

"Still, he is good. If he's this skilled here, in his world he must be quite impressive."

"Who knows, really. Hitsugaya told me he was skilled, but Hitsugaya never was one to do anything but understate what was worthy, and overstate the severity of situations."

Artemis fell silent for a moment, folding his hands in his lap and looking at them.

"Is it terrible that I miss him, even though he's returned?" he asked.

Haku thought about that, then shook his head. "No," he said, shaking his head. "You miss the young man that you met and grew to know. While this returned man shares the face and the past of the old, he lacks the experiences that created the man you knew and respected."

Artemis nodded. "You're right. And I know you're right but it's still... strange to feel as though someone you're seeing right before you is still dead. Even if he seemed a bit jumpy around you."

It was strange. Artemis had never encountered the death of someone close to him until Renji and Hitsugaya. Even when his father was declared dead, he refused to believe it. Perhaps that was supposed to be a stage of grief, but Artemis had never shed a tear for the death of his father--because he'd known Artemis Senior had been alive. There was no other option.

"It's been over a week. I shouldn't still be feeling this way. I only knew them for two weeks..."

Death..." Haku paused, having to think carefully over his words. This was a volatile subject for them both.

"Death isn't something that can just be 'gotten over'. It's very hard to move on. Even though you're looking at Hitsugaya-san here, the young man that you knew is gone. He's quite dead." Sighing, the ninja shook his head slightly.

"A situation such as this forges far stronger bonds than if you were to meet someone outside of it. Knowing someone for two weeks in a calm and relaxed setting means that perhaps you are better than acquaintances, but less that good friends. Here, you're at war and allies are found and clung to far more rapidly. Does that make sense?"

Artemis looked up at Haku from being fixated on his hands and his renewed grief. Silently, he moved next to Haku on the bed. He'd read articles about people forming close relationships with people in similar, dire situations. And these relationships tended to be deeper and more emotional than other relationships formed in the same amount of time but in better, more normal circumstances. It didn't take psychological journals and articles for Haku to know this. It must have been some sort of universal truth--which made him feel a little better about suddenly attaching himself to so many people when he'd never done that before.

"Yes, it makes perfect sense," Artemis said, holding Haku's hand again. "I hope you don't think that... just because we've only known each other for about three weeks, that I'm somehow questioning the depth of our relationship."

Haku squeezed Artemis' hand and shook his head. "No, I wasn't." He smiled. "The attachments we make here are no less valid than the ones we make in less strenuous situations."

Shifting slightly, he moved to lean against his friend. "Besides, for me this is the longest time I've spent with someone that wasn't Z-Zabuza-san." He was proud of himself for that. Only the slightest hitch in his breathing saying that name.

[Sorry for the wait!]

Artemis put a hand on Haku's head, gently stroking his hair in a soothing manner. It had only been a few days since Zabuza had been released, but Artemis supposed that for Haku, it seemed like an eternity. All Artemis could do was be as supportive as possible, and hold Haku up when necessary.

"And you're doing brilliantly," Artemis said, turning and kissing the top of Haku's head softly. "You're very strong on your own, Haku, I hope you're learning that as this ordeal wears on."

"And you're being sappy," Haku teased lightly, leaning against Artemis. He didn't want to think about it, since thinking about it made him want to cry or stab things... neither of which would be appropriate considering the situation.

"You're probably right," Artemis said with a soft chuckle. He wrapped an arm around Haku's shoulders, nonetheless. Even if Haku was brushing off what Artemis was saying, he knew that Haku wasn't as solid as he seemed to be when he was teasing him.

"At least you can rest assured that those moments are few and far between?"

Haku wasn't brushing off what Artemis had to say. He was very grateful, though he wasn't sure how to show it. "I suppose," he said, leaning against his friend. "Though it is entertaining watching you from time to time."

He was still hurting, and he didn't think he'd ever stop hurting, but at least he had his friend still, right?

Artemis laughed a little, holding Haku to him gently. "I'm not certain if I should be flattered or irritated that you take pleasure in my overly-sappy comments that I so painstakingly cobble together just for you. Though I suppose its enough to know that I at least entertain you."

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Night 44: M41-M50 Hallway

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