Jan 10, 2011 09:45
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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leela,
kirk,
s.t.,
gambit,
japan,
badd,
anise,
minato,
the doctor,
ranulf,
england,
sam winchester,
indiana jones,
tk-622,
goku (dragonball),
niikura,
taura,
claire bennet,
kinomoto sakura,
peter parker,
snow,
lunge,
lana skye,
ruby,
mello,
soren,
brainiac 5,
the flash,
albedo,
stefan,
tsukasa,
watson,
peter petrelli,
mele,
tear,
damon,
two-face,
yuffie,
ritsuka,
kanda,
tomoe,
erika,
edgar,
tifa,
the scarecrow,
hijikata,
maya,
okita,
spock,
zack,
kratos,
shinji,
sechs,
carter,
jo,
senna,
asuka,
bella,
scott pilgrim,
kaito,
gumshoe,
izaya,
claire littleton,
gren,
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prussia,
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woody,
claude,
renamon,
dean winchester,
hk-47,
grell,
byrne,
guy,
kairi,
venom,
gaara,
depth charge,
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lightning,
rita,
castiel,
allelujah,
trickster,
chise,
yomi,
sylar,
sai,
sasuke,
edward cullen,
kaworu,
mccoy
Okita stuck his tongue out a little at Hijikata's refusal to play along, but he kept the name in mind. He should have known Hijikata wouldn't let him have that bit of fun. Not that he needed the man's permission, but Okita felt a little more disposed to giving him what he wanted to ensure that he stayed. He would need to find Hijikata a weapon, too. Homura's sword would do for now, but it was not a katana and the weight and balance change might be too big of a change.
Picking up his English muffin sandwich, Okita pulled out the parts of it he didn't like and started ripping off pieces to eat later. The nurses were watching like hawks today because of those other people lined up along the walls and the last thing Okita needed was for one of them to have reason to eavesdrop. Despite his casual actions, his voice dropped the cheerfulness and fell into the more comfortable tone of giving a report. "I'm sure you've noticed how different this place this from Kyoto or even Japan. It is run by a man named Martin Landel, but he has safeguards in place the likes I've never seen and as of now, we're unable to find, let alone kill him. During the day it's a hospital for the mentally ill, but at night it's a fight for survival against things that shouldn't exist - monsters, super-powered people, the other patients even sometimes when they've been brainwashed to work for the Institute. The patients tend to play nice during the day, but at night they band together with friends or with groups who hold common interest to explore the Institute, find a way out, and find a way to kill the man responsible for bringing us all here.
"There are several groups in action that regularly recruit from the patient body: Arts and Crafts, Search and Rescue, an unnamed group aimed at providing medical aid to those taken an experimented on at night, the LDGC, and my group - the History Club. They tend to share information as much as they can, but some groups keep their major finds to themselves." Including the History Club. "I can give you lists of the members for each group that I'm aware of, if you wish. Weapons are generally found around the Institute and are usually subpar compared to what we are used to - knives, staffs, household items turned into makeshift things. However, some people were able to create a few through magic and those are in circulation. We are lucky enough to have a different method we can use if necessary, but it is dangerous and can cost lives in order to obtain even one weapon that may or may not be of use."
He finished pulling the sandwich into pieces and smiled at Hijikata, pointing to his. "You should try to eat so they don't think we're suspicious, Hijikata-san. I tried to stab one of the other patients here my first day because he ended up being a former Choushuu hitokiri, now under the oath not to harm or kill another living human being. They like to watch me closely since they think I'll try it again." Picking up one of his pieces, he brought it to his mouth and asked, "Any questions?" before popping it in.
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Souji was one step ahead of him, though. His report was as thorough as Hijikata had come to expect from his captain. It was a lot to grapple with, and raised as many new questions as it answered, but he ignored those for now and concentrated on what he was being told. It seemed there were a good number of people working against their captors. That was good. It was easier to organize things if you didn't have to waste time trying to convince people to see things your way. Withholding certain information was troublesome but also to be expected--he would have done the same thing. He nodded. "I'll take those lists, if you can get them to me." That was the sort of information he could do something with.
He arched an eyebrow slightly at that account of Souji's first day, but left it at that, for now. He could always ask about it later on. Instead, he picked up some of the food on his tray, eying it skeptically before taking a bite. He promptly set it down again. "This is awful." He couldn't even tell just what it was he was eating.
He paused a moment to consider. There were questions, lots of them. But this wasn't the place for most of them. Not with so many people who could overhear, and those watchful eyes on them. Instead, he went for the most obvious one, given how comfortable Souji seemed in these strange surroundings. "How long have you been here?" It seemed ridiculous, of course, given that he'd just seen him back home, but from the sounds of it, he'd been here for some time.
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Pulling his mind away from his scrutiny of the supposed soldiers, Okita nodded his head. "I'll have them to you by lunch." It would take some time to find his notes and compare them to the lists of current patients, especially since they seemed to be appearing and disappearing so quickly lately. He made a quick mental note to begin working on that in the next shift and then turned his attention back to Hijikata.
And just in time to see the man try the Western food and find it horrid. Okita couldn't help but laugh a little, covering his mouth with the back of his hand. It had been such a long time since he'd seen Hijikata that he'd almost, almost forgotten how terribly honest the man could be. "Maybe you'd prefer it with something pickled on the side?"
His laughter turned a little lighter and he kept picking at his food. Having been here so long, he was growing used to it and was able to eat more than when he first arrived. The amount of bread, grease, meats, and other such things was still enough to make his head spin, but it was... Well, it wasn't growing on him, but he really had no other choice. And the food provided a nice distraction while he tried to think of a way to make his answer to Hijikata's question a little less disturbing. His commander was taking things in extremely well so far, enough to make Okita waver between wondering if Hijikata thought he was really crazy and feeling honored that he put that much trust in his captain. It took some time, but Okita counted back on the days and finally arrived at his answer. "One month. Quite...a lot has happened in that time."
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"I'd prefer something remotely edible," he replied, shoving the tray away from him. He didn't care if he'd be hungry later, he was not going to eat any more of whatever that was on his plate, observers be-damned. If they wanted him to eat, they could serve him something actually palatable.
That answer took his attention away from the food. It explained a few things, but made him wonder about others. A month was plenty of time to gather the sort of information Souji obviously had, enough time to become somewhat comfortable in such strange surroundings, but it didn't explain the fact that Souji had most certainly been in Kyoto with him all this time. And now that he was looking--really looking--at his captain, there were subtle differences. He looked healthier, and there was a faint scar he didn't remember on the younger man's cheek. "It looks like you've made good use of the time," he replied, trying to keep the response neutral when what he really wanted to ask was 'what is the last thing you remember from home?' Had they been kidnapped together? Had he somehow been unconscious for an entire month? It didn't seem very likely, but he could hardly think of another explanation for the discrepancy. He held back a sigh. It was far too early to be processing such bizarre scenarios.
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As Hijikata shoved the tray away, Okita held back his laughter. Honest as always and just as stubborn as Okita had been in his first few days here, Hijikata was doing what was natural and refusing to eat the gross food here. In reality, Okita wished he could do the same, but maintaining health and energy was important for him now. The past few days had shown him that much what with the fever, the coughing, and that....other thing. Picking up another piece of bread, he said smiled and let the conversation drop. Hijikata's mind was clearly elsewhere as soon as Okita had mentioned the length of his stay and as nice as it would be to distract his leader with food talk, that wasn't what the man needed right now.
"The way they take people is strange. The last thing I remember is Gion after the Ikedaya, but the Choushu says he knows the end of the war and is from far after it. Other people here are from even further in the future or further in the past. I've seen people come through here that aren't even from any country recognizable in the world, let alone from Japan. It's--" He could get no further because suddenly a tray bounced off the table nearby, breaking his focus off the man across from him. A fight? No, not exactly. Food was starting to fly through the air, people were shouting and... Okita sighed. Attacking the nurses and orderlies. Great. Okita remembered the last time there had been a riot and he wasn't about to get sedated and stuck in his room for the rest of the day. He had to give it to them, though. This certainly was far more amusing than the other fight.
Bringing the ballpoint pen back out, Okita palmed it and started to get out of his chair. Did he try to get Hijikata out of here before a fight broke out in earnest? Or did he wait for his commander to give the order? Regardless, he had to warn him of the needles. "Watch out for the staff if they reach into their pockets. They have something they can force upon you that will really ruin your day."
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Which meant he'd just ignore the fact that the whole thing was utterly ridiculous for the moment, and concentrate on the part that mattered. Gion. The Ikedaya. If that was true, Souji remembered significantly less than he should have, even if he'd somehow been in this place a month already. It meant his last memories were of victory for the Shinsengumi. It meant he thought Sannan was still alive, and knew nothing at all about that thorn in his side, Itou. Well, it could stay that way. There was no need to burden him with the things he himself knew. If he asked--
The sudden racket was almost welcome, even as he reached instinctively for the sword that wasn't there and cursed under his breath at the absence. He scanned the chaos quickly, keeping Souji in his peripheral vision so he could move if the captain did. "I have no desire to get near any of them," he replied, scowling at the ridiculous attempt at a riot that was quickly unfolding in the room. Anyone with a brain in their skulls could see this wasn't going to end well. It was too chaotic and poorly organized. As a distraction, it might serve well enough, but he couldn't spot anything in the midst of the fight that looked the least bit organized. "What do these idiots think they're doing?"
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Okita had been in a riot that had been rather well done and even that had ended poorly. This, however, was just going to end in someone going to solitary and a lot of people getting sedated.
Another tray came whizzing by Okita's head and the swordsman leaned away from it, letting it clang onto the floor. "Perhaps it'd be best if we left the area? It really isn't this--" He sidestepped to avoid someone's half-eaten sandwich. "--strange all the time, Hijikata-san. You just pick the best times to show up."
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But he couldn't really do anything about it. Not here, where it was obvious the staff was retaliating with force. It made sense, on their end. There were more kidnap-ees than staff, despite the power imbalance, and if they didn't deal with it quickly it would continue to escalate. Why the idiots who'd started this mess couldn't see that this was bound to backfire, Hijikatata couldn't see. Perhaps they just didn't care. There were plenty of people who just didn't give a damn about anyone but themselves.
"I think that's a good idea." He really had no desire to be pelted with whatever people chose to fling in their direction, especially when they couldn't react without attracting undesirable attention to themselves. He looked around, trying to decide on the best path of escape. "Aren't I lucky?" Really. This was shaping up to be the worst morning he'd had in a very, very long time.
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A plastic fork went flying and Okita laughed to himself again. "Very lucky," he agreed and then motioned to Hijikata as he headed toward the cafeteria wall, weaving through the crowd of patients and nurses and gun-toting guards. Since he wasn't trying to join the attack, the staff seemed more than willing to allow him to pass, pushing by him as they ran into the fray.
Okita was more than happy to be ignored for once, and he began to notice others doing the same as him. Getting out of the cafeteria and away from the fight seemed to be a priority for quite a few people. Some were heading the opposite direction, but the objective was the same: leave the area. He could see some people running for the courtyard and others were going in the same direction as he was trying to lead Hijikata. The captain didn't bother to look behind him. He knew Hijikata was with him. He could sense the man's presence nearby and he trusted and knew Hijikata would follow him here where Okita knew the layout of the area better.
Soon enough the swordsman ducked past the last of the nurses and padded out into the freedom of the Sun Room. He took a few steps in before he stopped to look back at the chaos, picking a piece of scrambled egg out of his hair. He hadn't gotten away completely clean, but he was in considerably better shape than those still in the cafeteria. Once Hijikata joined him, Okita smiled up at him and said, "Well! Wasn't that exciting?"
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He followed as the younger man started to lead him away from the chaos. He was keeping one eye on the riot in the center of the room, watching to see how the ones who were ostensibly in charge were acting. Those who were apparently part of the regular staff seemed irritated, at best, although they apparently had some means of subduing the troublemakers. Probably the thing Souji had warned him about. The ones in black seemed in distinctly less good humor about the whole thing, and he had to wonder just how it would take before things got very out of hand. All in all, he was glad they were leaving.
While he doubted they were making their way completely unobserved, it seemed they simply weren't very important at the moment, and no one tried to get in their way as Souji led him out of the room and into another. They weren't alone, though, and the way they were being watched seemed to indicated that should they try to go much further, they'd be met with resistance. He ignored that for the moment in favor of shaking bits of breakfast off of his clothing. "Very," he replied dryly, and made an instinctual grab for his pipe, which obviously wasn't there. He scowled and dropped his hand to his side. "They're obviously not kidnapping people for their tactical planning abilities." The whole thing looked to be a mess, from an organizational standpoint.
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"I would say most of the people here are either former or current fighters, soldiers, or leaders of something. Even those who are not have some sort of ability to fight, or have experience in the support fields like medicine and espionage. Several here have 'powers' unlike anything we've seen before. One girl here is a ninja with considerable acrobatic skill. There were once people here who could create weapons with their bare hands in the blink of an eye. And...a man I once knew was a demi-god and could control fire." It was still strange to think of Homura as being gone. Especially now that Hijikata was back and there would be no division of Okita's loyalty. He considered briefly telling Hijikata about the demi-god, his former leader and the man who'd kept him from falling apart every time Hijikata left, but he decided against it. It was information that Hijikata didn't need in order to function here. No one left in these walls knew of his and Homura's somewhat strained relationship and it was best that no one ever did. "It's a strange place, but I can see why Martin Landel picked this group to be here. There are, of course, those who slip through the cracks and seem to have nothing to offer, but they are few and far between."
Very far and very few. Okita was fortunate enough not to work with any of them, but he did feel terrible for him in an abstract way. They were left here to struggle to survive night after night while the stronger ones went off to do what was necessary. It was always those who were least visible, least useful who disappeared without anyone to mourn them, too. Okita wondered how many had left already without a single person to notice. "I'll introduce you later to the History Club. We are a smaller group, but everyone is battle ready." He paused for a moment and then laughed some to himself. "Or at least battle eager."
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He listened to Souji's explanation, looking a little skeptical. Glancing from his captain back to the chaos that was still going on in the next room, he found most of it hard to believe. "If that's the case, they have poor impulse control." Then again, so did some of the men back home, so perhaps it wasn't quite so hard to believe. It seemed odd to gather so many trained individuals in one place if you were looking to contain them. It also seemed odd that if nearly everyone had the sort of capabilities Souji said they did, they were all still here. Was the lack of teamwork so great that they'd never been able to put together a focused assault? Or were the odds that stacked against them? I supposed only time would tell.
Hijikata nodded. "I'd like to know who I'm going to be working with." Because it went without saying that if Souji was working with them, he would too. What he wasn't looking forward to was the number of toes he might end up stepping on in the process. Tact and diplomacy had never been his strong suits. Well, he'd leave it to Souji to smooth that out. He was good at it, and presumably knew these people well enough to anticipate any issues that might arise.
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More, importantly, it seemed like the staff was starting to leave the room and Okita stepped away from the doors, leaving room for Hijikata to do the same. "Oh, yes, they're terrible about that. You should have seen the last riot. Now that was chaotic," he said with a laugh that belied his careful observation of the staff. It wasn't just the nurses that were abandoning their posts, the new guards were doing the same. They were leaving and quickly for some reason or another. Those that were out of the cafeteria first seemed to be shooing the patients in the sun room further from the doors, too.
"There are two factions, unfortunately - those under my command and those who follow Himura Kenshin's way of thinking. He refuses to kill despite being a former hitokiri." But introductions could be done later. Okita took another step away from the door and trailed off in his explanation. Something was definitely happening and Okita didn't know what it was. He thought he heard a sound coming from the walls, but he couldn't see anything and it was distant; somewhere in the room they'd so recently vacated. Just what was the Institute doing?
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"A hitokiri who doesn't want to kill." He snorted a little derisively at the thought, but made a mental note to speak with this Himura at some point. He hadn't forgotten Souji's earlier remarks about the man who'd seen the end of their dispute with the Choshuu rebels, and he wanted a chance to question him. "Well, we'll deal with that if it becomes an issue." If the thought made him scowl, it was only because he was remembering the things he'd already done in the name of keeping group solidarity. He didn't particularly want to deal with a similar situation here, but he'd learned that history had a nasty way of repeating itself when you least desired it.
And then, it seemed, a commotion of a different sort broke out in the room the staff and soldiers had vacated. It wasn't a riot anymore, just a room full of panic. What on earth were they doing in there?
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"I'll brief you on the situation later," Okita replied, suddenly realizing the difficulties Homura had experienced whenever Okita had tried to kill Kenshin. It was so easy to want to kill the man, too. It was too easy to revert back to the person he'd been, ignoring the person Kenshin was now.
And suddenly people in the cafeteria started choking, crying, scrambling for exits like packs of wild beasts gone mad. They were being affected by something unseen, something that caused the eyes to run, the body to spasm and... Okita didn't really know. He had no idea what was going on. He'd never seen anything like this, but suddenly he was very, very glad he and Hijikata had decided to leave. Being stuck in that mess would have gone very badly for him since even the healthy patients were coughing and struggling for breath.
The captain backed away further from the door, frowning. So the Institute could do these sorts of things, too, could they? "...It seems I still lack knowledge of all of the enemy's weaponry."
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Whatever was transpiring in the room they had vacated, it was violent and chaotic. The people left in the room were clearly in a great deal of pain. He'd never seen a reaction quite like that before, and he'd seen a great deal of things both in his role as a samurai and his past, peddling medicine. Whatever it was was wreaking havoc on those who'd remained even after the staff had cleared out, and he was very, very grateful they'd had the sense to leave. He was healthy enough to withstand such a thing, but for all he liked to feign ignorance, he knew full well that Souji was not. "Someone else might know," he replied, watching with a sort of macabre fascination. "We'll find out how they did this." Because if they knew, he could plan for it, in case such a thing became a routine means of control.
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