Day 32: Lunch

[damnrudecock]

Sanosuke hadn't quite been ready to part ways from Kenshin, but his nurse was insistent, and she was offering food. That second thing was what really got Sano off the couch and headed to the cafeteria. And at the very least, the thing about Okita had been settled, which meant the fighter could focus on his meal

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[opposingheaven]

"Well, you know. I'm a social butterfly and all. Can't tie me down to just one person," Kenren replied with a smirk. It wasn't the strict truth under normal circumstances. But these weren't really normal circumstances. "I need to be entertained." Last night had definitely counted as entertainment.

He snorted at Homura's comment and nodded his agreement. "Yeah, I know you are but you still let him do that to you. Anyone'd think you didn't know better." This coming from someone who had done plenty of things when he'd known better. That was half the fun sometimes. Defying what he knew was the sensible thing to do. Being sensible was overrated anyway in his opinion.

His expression tightened with the news about Goku though, lips drawing into a thin pained line. Damn it. "I kinda thought that might be the case," he admitted reluctantly after a moment. "I haven't seen him in days. But it sucks to have it confirmed." Huh, some good he'd been at protecting the kid. How badly had he broken his promises to Goku? It was like they were talking everything from him and offering him it all again with the other hand.

[screwthegods]

Homura laughed lightly, leaning back in his chair. "I think I can name one person who might not be so happy with the sentiment, Kenren Taisho." Still, Homura could understand the need for amusement. It was why he acted the way he did, from the time he was in Heaven until this very moment. So many people didn't like him for it, but that was their concern. Homura was used to being hated.

"This wasn't entirely Sanzo, though I will admit, I did drop my guard during the day." A mistake the demi-god wouldn't make again, certainly. "Okita got mad at me, and slapped me shortly after. It seems I'm charming a great number of people lately." Between both of them, and Adelheid, Homura had his share of frustrations.

Certainly it did little for Kenren's mood to hear the truth about Goku, but it had to be said. What the god would do in reply was his own call, but Homura knew he would need Kenren's strength in the long run. "We might still save him. If he was somehow manipulated like the visitors, we could find a way."

Of course, there was that other possibility, the one that always lingered for any of them. But if Goku had died instead of vanished, Sanzo would have known. And though Homura didn't have any illusions about being the monk's confidant, he also doubted the monk could keep something like that a secret.

[opposingheaven]

The thought of that one person hurt, especially after the visitor that he'd received, but he still grinned and nodded in agreement. "Yeah well, he's a special case," Kenren replied with an odd smile. Tenpou was always a special case. "Maybe I wouldn't need so much entertainment if he were here." Tenpou had a way of making everything entertaining after all.

So, Okita had been on the other end of some of those bruises. It made sense. Okita seemed like someone who could be vicious when he was mad. "I guess you're going to be more wary at breakfast from now on," he said with a smirk. "Might be attacks with waffles netx time."

Part of him knew that he shouldn't really be trusting Homura on this one. There was more to this place than that and Tenpou would probably have kicked his ass in the most terrifying way possible (probably with tea and biscuits involved). But he wasn't here and Kenren was really starting to hate being messed with like this. "That's assuming he was. People are known to just disappear too," Kenren pointed out half heartedly.

[screwthegods]

A special case. Homura could understand that, and felt the same way about his own person. Rinrei, whose level no one could obtain in his heart. "Well said, my friend."

Waffles or worse; Homura had seen what Okita could do with a pen, and had felt it. Perhaps Sanzo was lucky that the swordsman had shown restraint at breakfast. Or it was Okita who was the fortunate one, as Homura would hardly have been pleased if the man came to too great an injury for unworthy reasons. "Yes, I have kept it in mind. It was a good reminder that we can't ever be too careful."

There was doubt in Kenren's voice, a caution Homura could appreciate. Too much hope could lead to unbearable disappointment in the end, and a person, a prisoner had to be careful to temper that hope with reality. At the same time, hope and purpose were the air and blood of any prisoner, and without either, that person was doomed to a slow death made of torture beyond imagination.

Homura should know. He had experienced it for so long in his life.

"It could be. I don't think Sanzo can hear his voice, but this place isn't to be underestimated." Whatever doubts Kenren might have about the demi-god, however, were in this one case unjustified. Homura had a unique connection with Goku. Perhaps he hadn't been there at the end, but there was a certain understanding on heretical beings could have of Heaven. And despite the fact that Son Goku did not remember, he and Homura both shared that title, and the golden eyes that marked their breed. "But I am not so ready to give up hope when it comes to that. There must be a way to undo what has been done, and save them."

To save her, this time. And if saving the others meant that he could bring Rinrei back, restore the life that was taken so early from her, then so be it. Homura would do that and much more for the woman he loved.

[opposingheaven]

Heh. It hadn't exactly been poetry or Kenren's eloquence at its best when he really needed to schmooze someone, but it said what he meant and got him understood. He thought that it covered everything anyway and that was the important thing. There was always someone who was an exception, who just stood out for one reason or another.

"During the day has to be a better time to drop your guard though," Kenren said thoughtfully. "At least nothing really serious can happen with these delightful ladies watching us like hawks." If you were going to be unprepared at any time, then the daylight hours were the best bet. It was the only time it was worth the risk.

He leaned back in his seat, running a hand through his hair as he thought over the whole damn twisted situation. "Oh, I'm not about to give up," Kenren replied after a moment. "I don't give up on things. It's never been my nature to do so." He smirked lazily. If there was any way of getting Tenpou back, he'd probably take it. Same with Goku. But at the same time, they had to consider that Goku just wasn't there in that world anymore. In which case it was foolish to start talking about bringing him back.

[screwthegods]

"Better, in some respects." Homura knew Kenren was right about nothing serious happening, but there were other considerations. "However, I am trying to encourage others to join our little group. A display like that, however amusing, might make some of the wiser ones question our stability."

And as well they should, or so it seemed sometimes. Between the puppies and Adel, Homura had enough attitude. But there were solutions to every problem. They just had to be found.

"Good. Because there are more possibilities than simply vanishing." Homura wondered how much Kenren had networked just then, though the word likely wouldn't fit. The Taisho had never been one for political games, a fact well-known in Heaven. Skipping meetings for sake was probably the least of things he was charged with. "Abarai Renji of Arts and Crafts had a visitor that day as well, a former patient who had vanished, and was brainwashed. And one of our own, Hijikata, disappeared shortly before Hakkai and Kyouya. He has returned, though with no memory of his previous stay."

And then there were Hakkai and Kyouya, and now Goku. All vanished, with no sign of where they'd gone, no following return. Of course they had to consider the possibility that they were lost, but. Homura wasn't so easy to give up on things either.

And until he saw something final as a grave, he wouldn't accept that unwanted possibility as truth.

[opposingheaven]

Wait, they had stability? That was news to him. The people he'd met were nice and interesting and all, but none of them, himself included, seemed to fall on the stable side of the spectrum. "Do you really want stable people? I mean, this objective doesn't really lend itself to stable people." It was half joke but as for the other half... eh, Homura could take that as he wanted.

He raised an eyebrow at the mention of someone definitely getting an ex-patient as a visitor. The others had been claimed to be former patients, but no-one remembered them being there. "Damn. I guess there's truth to the rumours that the visitors really were patients, but it's odd that some of them come back, like whatever happens to them doesn't take or somethin'. And we can assume it isn't anything to do with the experiments even because too many of us who've been through that are still here. Makes me wonder why they bother if they can brainwash people to such an extent as to attack their friends though."

[screwthegods]

"Our stability as a group, Kenren Taisho." Homura interlocked his fingers, placing his elbows on the table so he could rest his chin on his hands. He leaned forward in the casual pose, meeting Kenren's gaze, a faint smirk on his lips. "While the people within are more much interesting and useful than mindless followers, it does no good to try and accomplish our objective with all the parts fighting against each other. And that is the difficulty of trying to keep our group together as a group. Finding roles that suit everyone, satisfy everyone, and all the while accomplish a common objective."

But that had been the problem from the very start. Of the three members that came up with their name, one wanted to kill one, one refused to kill, and the last had found a way that so far, made it all work.

"Admittedly, it was easier when I could simply offer to turn anyone into a god. But I prefer it this way." Yes, so much to the ones that gave up their will, and for what? Divinity? Immortality? Neither were worth losing freedom for. Homura could speak to that himself, having had to fought so hard for his freedom.

And it was that same experience that let Homura theorize on the purpose of their prison, and the nature of those that ran it. "It wouldn't be as fun to simply brainwash all of us. Their goal is torture, not mere capture. Each night and day we endure horrors of both mind and body." The demi-god paused then, however, considering his own words. "Or perhaps their method of control isn't perfect. Will can be a powerful thing; it could be a test to see how long it takes to break our resolve."

But there was no way to confirm either theory, at least at present. Any who had come back didn't remember. Any who had visited didn't remember. They would simply have to wait and see what they could discover.

[opposingheaven]

Yeah yeah, he knew that. Really! What, he couldn't inject a little humour into the situation? People worked better together when they trusted each other and when there weren't risks that a supposed ally was going to try to kill you. His subordinates had all been pretty awesome and happy to join him in a drink and to not try to kill each other. "Mmmmm," he made a noise of agreement, thinking over the problem. "For roles, I think if you rotate what people do then they shouldn't have any arguments about anyone getting better jobs. As long as no-one actually dies I think you'll at least be getting interes from people who aren't happy with the other 'clubs'." And there'd always be arguments. It happened. Maybe he was just too casual?

He snorted in amusement at Homura's prior method of coercion. "I guess you didn't tell them about the huge downsides then?" he asked with some amusement. Why anyone would willingly choose to become a god was kind of beyond him. Unless they liked bureaucracy.

Well, that sounded a little overly dramatic. He hadn't really found the place horrifying except for that one night. "That's always the trouble with sadists. They have to gloat first instead of being practical." He frowned as he thought of something, back when Hakkai had turned against them. It wasn't exactly the same but it was a start. "I faced Hakkai when he got turned against the other patients. A couple of that other guys memories made him falter for a few moments. I'm not saying it's the same for the ones who disappear, but it does suggest their control isn't perfect. And if they're wanting to break resolve they've picked a lot of really stubborn people to try it on. Make most of 'em want to hold out out of sheer bloody-mindedness."

[screwthegods]

"That is easier, and what I intend to do with the lesser jobs." Gathering supplies, mostly, or files of the group's members. Simple tasks with less risk, and less need of proper weapons. "The problems are that we only have so many people with swords, and so many people suited and willing to do other jobs. Himura, for example, has decided that even the night doesn't change that the nurses are human. And I am sure you remember how that played into his actions a few nights ago on the bus." Oh, how it had indeed. An alternate personality, one who reeked of bloodlust, killing intentions. Homura hadn't forgotten, but at the same time, he couldn't take advantage of that personality. It went against Kenshin's choice, his will. Of course, that didn't mean that Homura couldn't with his own actions. "Which is why I'd prefer he not find out that we're hunting nurses at night." Tonight, even.

The demi-god's expression grew serious, however, at Kenren's next words. Perhaps he had just meant it as a casual remark, but the accusation stung. "You're wrong. I told every single one of them exactly what the choice entailed. That they would become gods, and loose their freedom in exchange." And every single one of them had chosen to become a god, that pious position they all dreamed of. Perhaps that was why he visited Sanzo and his friends so many times. Simply to hear the man say 'no' over and over.

Just like the monk still did.

"Have you considered that those here are the stubborn ones because we are harder to break?" Homura was quick to change to other the topic when it came up, prefering the different sort of talk at this point. "Some simply cannot hold out in these kinds of conditions. You and I are both seasoned, experienced warriors. But consider someone less so, someone who had never seen a battlefield, much less one of this nature." Homura could name many, those he had met before and after his arrival here. "It stands to reason that they would break sooner, even imperfectly. Of course, not all fall into this category." Tenpou Gensui certainly didn't, for one. "But we don't know how long they were here, or what exactly was done to them. So it is hard to say, in the end."

[opposingheaven]

"Yeah, I remember what happened," Kenren agreed with a slight grimace. Man, that hadn't been good to see. He wasn't certain how anyone could object so strenuously to defending themselves against creatures that were attacking them, or even taking action against monstrous creatures created by the Institute. It had to be themselves first, otherwise they wouldn't survive. Even if he wasn't going to go out of his way to kill, he still wasn't going to sit back and not work against the Institute. "He won't hear anything from me though. No sense alienating him or pushing him to interfere." It was Kenshin's choice after all. Kenren could appreciate being allowed to choose whether to fight or not.

He raised an eyebrow at the sudden chill in Homura's tone when he spoke. It had been a joke. If he'd wanted to insult someone, he'd have done a damn sight better at it than that. "Relax," he said softly. "It's not an accusation or anything. Just a joke. You put such high stock on free will, I figured you'd have given them all the facts and let them choose, I just find it amusing that they'd still choose to become a god even with all the information." He wasn't trying to slight Homura. Geesh, was everyone uptight today?

"Mmmm, perhaps. I geuss it depends what their objective is. Perhaps they really do just like taking those who are strongest and testing us to destruction. Wouldn't surprise me. It just seems a stupidly complex way of doing things if their goal is anything more practical." Weaker people could become good soldiers and would be more malleable after all. He frowned at the implication though. He couldn't imagine Tenpou ever breaking. He had a temper and all, but he was smart enough to play whatever game he chose and it was damn near impossible to think he would succumb to this place's lies.

[screwthegods]

Kenren's word was good enough for Homura, the demi-god knowing well that the Taisho wasn't one to go about things in an underhanded way. Besides, it would benefit neither of them to reveal that particular goal to Kenshin, at least not until Homura could make sure of certain things. The problem was that at the time, he wasn't entirely able to go about it. Saturday, however, would be a different story, particularly if the same events happened as the week before.

Until then, Homura would have to be patient, and careful.

When Kenren made clear that he was just joking, Homura relaxed the muscles he hadn't even realized he'd tightened. "It was more of a disappointment to me, every time they said yes." The easy way to achieve a dream, but at what cost? The ability to choose, freedom of will was everything to Homura. He couldn't understand why anyone would knowingly give it up, even for something as supposedly grand as immortality. "I misunderstood your intent, but given my life, I'm sure you can imagine how the issue would be a sensitive one for me. I have no desire to be like the gods I despise in the Heavens." And if he ever did, Homura doubted he could live with himself.

"Perhaps so. I could be wrong, of course. I have little doubt that we'll find the motivation in the future." How far away that day was could be a depressing though, but Homura could be patient. So long as he was relatively sure Rinrei was safe, he could take his time here to accomplish what he needed to.

[opposingheaven]

Ah, that was better. Kenren leaned back in his chair when he saw Homura relax, glad to have averted that little argument. At least he knew that it was a touchy subject now. He could avoid any more missteps like that. "I'm not surprised it was a disappointment." Why would you knowingly put immortality and utter boredom over being able to actually live? It sounded so ridiculous to him. He smiled at the other god and shrugged dismissively. "I don't need to play court games here. If I'm going to insult someone, I'll just do it. But I can understand you not liking the implication." There was no point getting irritated at being misunderstood. Maybe he had been playing Court games for too long.

He sighed and nodded his agreement. "Probably. Landel seems like he enjoys gloating and dropping hints so I'm sure he can't keep quiet about what he really wants forever," he said with a touch of wry amusement. It was a little irritating to be held prisoner by someone like that who had left so many gaps that they should have been able to exploit. Although the thought of such a man managing to break Tenpou was hard to swallow and made him really want to break something.