Day 28; Bus 3
There was, Naomi decided, some sort of cosmic irony in all of this. Not that she was trapped in a deranged and possibly other-worldly asylum with a man she'd idolized for years and a boy who was being investigated for - among other things - the murder of her fiance. No, at this point, those were perfectly normal occurrences. Rather it was the
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"Listen," he said finally, in a way that adequately portrayed his deeply rooted frustration. "This isn't a male bonding experience. You don't know me, and I don't know you, so I'm not going to ask after personal details, and you're not either. I just want to know if our experiences have any similarities for knowledge's sake, you understand?"
He had to hold back the urge to snap - too much hand-holding was one thing, but on the other end of the spectrum, there were the people who dug their heels in when asked to cooperate to some small extent. They had to act like it was their god given right to withhold information as though it would benefit anyone. And right now, Aidou just wanted to put an end to that witch, and put an end to her effects on him.
"Why don't you just nod your head for everything I get right: the area of the body she touches is marked with a tattoo of snakes and holly, it is physically painful, and appears only at night. There are also remnants of her own memories - sadness, anger, etc. Also an aggravation in one's own personal experiences. How am I doing so far?"
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Obnoxiously accurate, Allen wanted to reply. "Yes," came as calmly as he could manage in its place.
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Oh, Aidou knew that look. But the fact that he was receiving it right at that moment... why, it was almost enough to really let the 'obnoxious brat' out of the bag. The fact of the matter was, Aidou was better, and he'd been trying not to lose his temper. Weren't annoyingly happy kids like this supposed to channel their inner philanthropists and empathize with someone who was probably still under the effects of a phantom's despicable touch? Apparently not.
Aidou definitely wasn't excusing Allen for anything if that was the case. Resistant little troll.
Don't look at me like that. I hate people like you.
"Then one final thing. Is it still in effect?" 'It' was a broad term, but he expected the kid to understand nonetheless.
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He crossed his arms, partly from the cold chill that just thinking of that woman gave him, and partly to show his defiance, "that's none of your business."
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"Do you always act like this, or is it only when someone asks you a reasonable question?" There, he pulled out of his relaxed slouch and straightened over Allen's seated figure. It was never a good idea to be so incautious around a stranger like that, especially with those wounds and Aidou in the superior position to attack. If he had been aiming for violence, things could've ended badly for the kid. At least guys like Sasuke knew that.
"It is my business, because if I hadn't made myself perfectly clear by now, I'll say it again: the same thing happened to me. So when I ask after information that could potentially aid in ending the effects and prevent it from happening again, perhaps you should use a little forethought and be a little more compliant. Otherwise, I'd hope you realize you're only impeding any progress made against that woman, or any other creature." Aidou resisted, with a lot of effort, to reach over and massage his shoulder, tainted with Reika's tattoo.
"But if you think the reasons behind your defensive behaviour take more precedence than any of my reasons, then so be it. Don't tell me anything. I'll do it all myself."
Like always. Stupid kid.
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"Listen you little nit!" Allen replied in a hiss. "Perhaps if you had more manners than a common mongrel, people might be more inclined to answer you! Simply because we shared the same experience, that does not mean you have the right to demand answers of me!" He'd taken about all he could of this other boy. "Yes? No? Maybe I don't even know alright? Maybe I don't even want to think about it because it was horrid!" Though he was starting to think that the ghost woman had every reason for grabbing this other one. If he'd been as obnoxious to her as he was being now, he'd have given her every right to do it.
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"Youth does not excuse you," Aidou hissed back, deeper than Allen, and more fierce. Older than his age, colder than ice, and more disgusted then he'd been in a long while. "Who do you think you are that you may withhold such information? Yes, it was horrid, and so what? You're only of many who has experienced the same thing - what gives you the right to put your emotions first and wallow like a pig in self-deprecation under these circumstances!? Your pain is not important. Your misery is not important. What is important is accepting the fact that you are only one person. Don't you dare think you are above the situation, don't you dare think you have the right to mock me, and don't you dare think you get to decide who is worthy of your attention."
How dare a child be so wrapped up in his own grief and think it was okay to remain like that? It wasn't! It just wasn't! Aidou tried, he tried to move past it every single time the tattoo throbbed, but here was this arrogant piece of filth who put his delicate little feelings on a pedestal.
If there was one thing he could critique about Kaname-sama, it was that. And Aidou despised seeing it reflected here. He could feel his heart pounding furiously.
When he finally released Allen, he didn't push. He just stepped back. Disgusting. Totally disgusting. "I'll do it myself," he repeated. "I would never accept help from such a coward."
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"If anyone seems to think themselves high and mighty, it's you, not me," Allen said, his voice a little less sharp, a bit more cowed. "I've already passed on that information to others who will use it properly. Dare... dare... as long as I take the consequences for my actions, I can do whatever I dare. And... and if that makes me a coward, then so be it. Rather that than whatever self-important piece of trash you think you are."
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He smothered a yawn as he moved into the third bus, having to duck a bit to fit his lanky frame in the slightly cramped environment. When he caught sight of Hanabusa, he hid a wince. It was too early (too late?) to deal with an ill tempered cousin. But apparently he was going to have to step in before the nurse's did.
"You can't judge what someone's like so quickly," he said as he stood behind Aidou, looking down at Allen with a mild expression. There was a warning in his eyes though, a message to not prod past patience already stretched thin.
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"Allen Walker, you are more than a coward. You are ignorant and shameful, and above all, you are dishonorable. I'm afraid I prefer my integrity to your debased ethics. But do enjoy your childish logic while it lasts."
Tilting his head, never once looking back at his cousin, Aidou signaled their exit. His eyes were dancing with dark, caustic reproach, trained on Allen's face as they were.
"Let's go, Akatsuki. There's no time to waste on his kind."
And wasn't that the truth. Utterly disgraceful.
[moving here]
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He could only watch with a cold anger as the boy walked away with his friend. He was too affected by his own rage to notice the other boy's apologetic look, offered no doubt, as some kind of consolation for his friend's terrible manners. Allen sat after a moment, his fist sinking deeply into the seat in front of him as he struck it. There was a considerable dent, but Allen had a hard time making himself care.
As if that wasn't enough, the icing on the cake was watching Rinali walk past him without so much as acknowledging his presence. That hurt more than anything the other boy could have said. His head sank down and he leaned forward, resting it on the seat in front of him. Maybe he really was as pathetic as that boy had said. Maybe...
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The nurse let go of her hand once they were to the front and directed Rhode to sit quickly so she wouldn't be hurt in case there was an accident. She nodded happily, then looked up at the white hair of what was most definitely her Allen. He seemed... detached? She cocked her head at how he had his own leaning forward into the seat. So cute, something must have happened the last Night that made him like this.
Maybe he'd gotten touched by the ghost woman again! If he had...
Then he was so vulnerable right now.
She quickly slid up into the seat and latched onto his arm before he knew she was there. Her head bent down to his ear, and she quietly whispered, "Hello, Allen Walker~" as slowly and quietly as she possibly could. The delight in her tone was unmistakable.
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Just as he let out a sigh, he felt something take hold of his arm and a familiar voice whispering in his ear. He jerked away immediately, edging as far from her as he could without physically jumping out the bus window. "Rh-rhode! Just leave me alone, can't you?" Apparently Ravi and Kanda had either had no luck with her, or had abandoned the assignment completely. He was supposed to talk to Renji and Rukia about her... today? He wasn't sure... he didn't really care to think much about last night.
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That's right. Allen hadn't showed last night!
"Why didn't you come last night, Allen?" she pouted. Her words were playful, but there was actually just a bit of sadness in her tone right alongside the playing. Had he really intended to stand her up like that? To leave her all alone like she didn't even exist? She wouldn't be happy if she heard that he had been with his friends over her.
Allen Walker wasn't supposed to leave her alone like that.
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"What... are you talking about?" Allen's face looked puzzled at the young girl. Did she know that Ravi and Kanda were supposed to have tailed her? Had something happened to them? Worry crossed his face for a moment, though he tried to dismiss it.
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Half of that was a lie. She'd waited half of the night for him, then spent the rest dancing in the bloody showers and bathroom, and she had enjoyed every minute of that later half. Still, the fact that Allen hadn't shown up when she had been there irked her. He may very well have gotten there after she had left in search of the blood scent, but that was no excuse! Not in her mind.
When he sat back down, she grabbed and held to his arm again. He was supposed to be hers and no one else's whenever she wanted. When she waited for him - when she had the patience to do that instead of go look for him herself - he was supposed to come! That's how it worked. This time Rhode hadn't taken any hostages or forced him into the Ark for her games though. She couldn't understand that missing things like hostages or time limits meant that Allen wouldn't go looking for her. Wasn't he trained by now? Perhaps not. He would have to be trained again to understand what it meant to be one of her toys. Once she got out of here, she would make sure that he was broken.
For now, she could guilt trip him like no tomorrow. He had stood her up, and that just wouldn't do! A pout returned at his slightly worried expression. Had Allen really intended to just leave her alone? But he was supposed to be kind even to his enemies. That wasn't the Allen she knew and adored. Not at all! It scared her to think that something here might have changed the kind exorcist she knew into another run-of-the-mill exorcist lacking in kindness.
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