Day 54: Breakfast

[arc_wrench]

For once, HK was working very hard to hide a giddy facial expression as he met his nurse at the door. He'd already hidden his scalpels in his clothing. The wonderful, sharp implements of doom would be needed today. “Statement: Despite my reticence towards all processed meat and plant products, I am experiencing intolerable levels of hunger,” he

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[notachick]

Okita heard the soft crinkle of paper before he saw the notes, but both the sight and the sound felt like a death chill to him. He'd seen such things before and had already been the recipient of them more times than he ever wanted. It was, in a way, an honor that people would trust him so much, but at the same time, Okita didn't like to think that people found such safeguards necessary.

"Necessary... Yes, I suppose it might be considering...." His voice trailed off, growing colder at the thought of all those that had been lost in his tenure within the Institute. First, Kyouya, then Hijikata and Ayumu and so many more, more than he cared to recall, disappearances that still stung so much he couldn't bring himself to say the name. His unhappiness would do no one any good, however, and Okita laughed a bit as Kaito continued. "I take no offense. It's only natural."

Then, one by one, he took the notes. First, the one to be returned to Kaito should he ever forget. A message that Okita would never look at and one that he hoped he would never be required to pass along. He nodded as he took that one, slipping it into his pocket to be put back in his room later, added to the journal along with Asuka's note.

The second, he hesitated to take. It was smart. It was insurance that they would assume Kid was still somewhere within the walls, watching and sympathizing with the detectives' loss. It was the smart thing to do.

But it still left a sour taste in Okita's mouth.

His fingers closed around the second note and it, too, was hidden away within Okita's clothes. Kaito was trusting him with this information and the only thing he could do was to be worthy of that trust. "I'll do as you ask, Kaito-kun, but don't make me put these up anytime soon. I'm rather fond of you, after all."

[flashyaudacity]

The second note was selfish, Kaito knew, but he'd be better off for it in the long run if he was ever released like Yukari had been. If he was gone and Kid was here, they couldn't be the same. If he returned, with his memories gone or not, he would have a strong alibi.

Of course, he hoped it wouldn't come to that. If he got out of here, he wanted it to be because he'd escaped, not because he'd gotten brainwashed into getting 'better' again.

"Thanks," he said softly. It was depressing to think about what might happen, and a moment later he smiled brightly as his poker face slid firmly into its familiar place. "I hope you won't have to do anything with them ever, but especially not any time soon. Hattori needs a lot of looking after, you know! I can't just leave him to mope on his own."

He glanced off to the side, hoping that maybe he could spot the detective in the cafeteria, but it didn't look like he was here yet. Kaito returned his attention to Okita and bowed. "Thank you again, Okita-san," he said, straightening. "I guess I should let you get back to your breakfast."

[notachick]

He'd spent a lifetime watching people to read them, and when he heard the softness in Kaito's voice coupled with the reappearance of his bright, happy smile, Okita knew. He was more shaken than Okita had realized. Something about this place, about having a friend return with no knowledge of him, had shaken Kaito, the ever-joking thief. It was enough of a worry that he would do something like this and bring it to Okita's attention.

Maybe it was because Kaito knew that Okita would play along with the poker face as he was already doing. The smile that lit up the boy's face was mirrored on the swordsman's own, coupled with easy laughter at Heiji's expense. "You certainly have your hands full then! He's been so dreary lately. No fun at all. You boys should probably knock some sense into him."

The laughter floated away and Okita stood, bowing when Kaito did. The notes were hidden away on his person and he hoped beyond reason that they would stay that way. "Thank you, Kaito-kun, for trusting me. Now go eat. Growing boys need food. You don't want to end up like my friend, shorter than anyone here and a full adult."

[flashyaudacity]

"I'll do my best," Kaito said.

He wave Okita a brief, casual wave goodbye, and then turned, heading back towards the tray he'd abandoned previously.

[Heading over here]