Day 35: Bus 3

[full_score]

Claude couldn't fight the sinking feeling in his stomach when he woke up. Nightshift was over, and they hadn't even made it into the basement. Man, how tough was that? Sometimes it seemed like the night could drag on and on, and when he actually needed the extra time, it went by too fast. It didn't make any sense

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[mrmewmaker]

[for Joshua]

Now this was eerily reminiscent of the Reapers' Game, Shiki thought as she sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes. While it was still jarring to wake up somewhere other than the last place she had been, you kind of got used to it after a week.

She listened to the intercom announcement, frowning. Does this mean I have to wear these awful clothes into town and back? Ugh! What a drag. It was a relief when her nurse came in a few minutes later carrying a pair of boot-cut jeans, a brown-and-pink striped tee, a brown zip-up hoodie, and a pair of pink high-top sneakers. "Good morning, Nicole! You must be excited about the trip today. I brought something for you to wear. Go on and get changed, and I'll be waiting right outside for you."

Shiki changed quickly, and met her nurse. The pair made their way outside to the buses, and the nurse handed her her breakfast. She stepped onto the bus and found a window seat near the back.

[4lulzngiggles]

Joshua still hadn't quite experienced the same Institute as everyone else had. The nurses referred to him by name, and answered his questions just like Reapers would; indirectly, offering 'rules' and everything else to go along with it. Apparently they'd taken his cell phone, and pretended not to know who he was... which was an interesting sort of Game to play. Finding out the rules, and then how to break them, was going to be even more amusing than he'd thought

[mrmewmaker]

Shiki almost jumped out of her seat in surprise. That was the last name she had expected to hear from anyone here. It would have been one thing if she had recognized the guy who had asked, but she was certain they hadn't met before now. It still could be a case of mistaken identity, sure, but she thought she knew most of the people Eri hung out with.

It took her a minute to compose herself enough to respond to the question. "I'm sorry? I don't think we've met?"

She could panic after she heard the answer.

[4lulzngiggles]

Joshua giggled. Not that it took too tremendously much to make him do so, but that moment of panic in Shiki's eyes? Definitely deserved a creepy giggle or two to commemorate the occasion. Besides, after all the sniping of last night, it was fine just to have something like this to break up the monotony.

"Mm... no, I never forget a face. Shibuya, wasn't it? And besides, Neku told me all about you." Which was just a tiny stretch of the truth, but what Shiki didn't know wouldn't hurt her.

[mrmewmaker]

Neku? NEKU? Oh, no. Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

There went the idea of this being a case of mistaken identity. It might not be a bad thing, but she really didn't like how that laugh sounded. "I...um. Yeah, Shibuya." No sense in lying about it. Her voice was coming out a lot softer and more worried than her usual cheerful tone. "How do you know Neku?"

She had a bad feeling about this. No, scratch that. She had a terrible feeling about it. "Nothing happened to him, did it, uh...I'm sorry, what's your name?"

[4lulzngiggles]

"Mm... we worked together for a little while. You can call me Joshua- that's what everyone here seems to call me." It really was the most peculiar thing; how did all of the staff seem to know his name without him having to give it? It was a bit odd, to have details like that spread around without his knowledge. Then again, knowledge was something he was sorely lacking in this place, now wasn't it?

"Speaking of, it seems like he's left both of us in an unpleasant situation. I hope you've done well so far." Really, Shiki's reactions were quite amusing to the blond, even moreso because he finally had someone he could pull creepy information on. He'd have to go digging around for everyone else, naturally, but Eri- Shiki, rather- had been an easy one.

[mrmewmaker]

"Worked together? You mean you were partners?" The moment she said it, Shiki felt a pang of regret. It could have simply meant a class project or a summer job, and if so, that would mean a lot of explaining things away. She didn't think she was wrong, but there was still a chance

[4lulzngiggles]

"'Partners'?" Said with a measured tone and a curious expression, carefully tinged by a bit of ambivalent gazing. That was quite the loaded phrase, and even though Joshua knew exactly what Shiki was talking about, he didn't have to own up to it. Quite the contrary, he could easily just watch and see what she'd do after blurting it out. ...and it was no wonder Neku had been so determined to get Shiki back. She had a lot of faith in him, and beneath the surface seemed to be a nice enough person.

Which was what made the situation more interesting, in Joshua's inestimable opinion.

Meanwhile, she said that last part, and Joshua was interested. The two of them hadn't met before the week, and Shiki obviously hadn't spoken to Neku after the week had ended. So then, did she really have that much faith in Neku? Or was it just lip service in an attempt to make him feel better? Joshua giggled again, brushing a hand through his hair as he simply answered, "I think he would, if he had the right reasons. It's obvious that someone did, anyway."

[mrmewmaker]

Shiki couldn't help putting her hands in front of her and waving them frantically. "I, um. You know, like on a class project in school? Or, or, uh, in a school club? Yeah!" She knew she probably wasn't convincing anyone, but it was easier than trying to explain it.

She wasn't exactly sure why she was so defensive about it - she had explained the Game to a few people already! - but there was something intimidating about explaining it now. Even if it would make the rest of what she had to say a lot easier.

"Someone did, yes. But I really don't think Neku would have anything to do with putting anyone in a place like this. I didn't know him all that long before I was here, but I know Neku's a good person. He wouldn't put a friend in a bad spot."

[4lulzngiggles]

"Mm... no, it wasn't anything like that. Especially since Neku and I don't go to the same school." As a point of fact, Joshua didn't go to any school that normal Japanese people could go to, but that was another little tidbit of information that didn't have to be shared. Unlike Shiki with her frantic arm-waving, Joshua seemed completely in control of himself, and even a bit amused at the entire proceedings.

As for what Neku would or wouldn't do? Joshua was pretty sure that he knew better than Shiki did, and yet it didn't seem like this would be a situation that he would create. It was possible, but somehow just a little bit unlikely. Especially considering that gaudy intercom system. "I'm just not so certain. From what I saw of him, he could be convinced to take some pretty extreme actions. Besides, he might not have had a choice in the matter."

[mrmewmaker]

"That means you know him from somewhere else. And I think I know where." Shiki folded her arms across her chest, frowning. "But why didn't you just come out and say it?" It really would have made things a whole lot easier, and she wouldn't have run the risk of poking one of Joshua's eyes out while flailing her arms.

The idea that Neku would have anything to do with this was really bothering her. What was with that insistence that he would have? But then again, there had been that one moment on the second day. Admittedly, that had been that pink-haired Reaper's doing, but...

She put one hand up to her neck. "I think the only way he would have done anything like this is if he really had no other choice. And even then, I don't think he would have done it without putting up a fight."

[4lulzngiggles]

"Oh, I have my reasons," Joshua idly answered, that smile on his face to contrast with Shiki's frown. Really, it had been amusing beyond words to see her flail, and she really was quite an expressive sort of individual. No wonder Neku had been coaxed out of his shell by her; even the surliest sort had to respond to Shiki's enthusiasm, whether for good or ill.

That, and she really did have a lot of faith in Neku. More than Joshua did, which was rather sad when he thought about it. Ah well; the jury was still out on whether Neku was the one responsible for this or not, though Joshua was still certain that Neku had a hand in sending him to this place- whether via Game or a far more direct route. After all, Neku had never actually liked Joshua, not as he'd liked Shiki.

It was high time for a subject change, wasn't it? "Speaking of putting up a fight, how have the nights been for you? Especially since I doubt that your psyche works here, doesn't it?"

[mrmewmaker]

What was with that smile? It was beginning - no, not beginning, it was creeping her out. "Reasons?" There was no stopping the question, even if she didn't think she would get a straight answer. "What might those be, if you don't mind my asking? There's no sense in hiding anything."

And then, the question hit. No, it didn't work; she didn't even have Mr. Mew. She planned on rectifying that situation as soon as she figured out how to do it. She'd answer the second question once she had an answer to her own.

"Last night was my first night here. It was fine. I made some friends, and we went out together. What about you?"

[4lulzngiggles]

"I do mind, though. Neku's history with me wasn't quite as pleasant as it was with you." It ended extraordinarily well, yes, but it hadn't been pleasant for Neku at all. ...it hadn't been that great for Joshua either, but he was never going to admit that. Not considering what had happened. Ah well, it wasn't like there was anything that could be done about it.

"Last night was my first as well. I found a partner and followed him around for a little while... found some first-aid kits. Really, it's nothing at all like using a pin to heal wounds. Oh, and we had to get around someone with razor-sharp claws, but apparently that's normal around here." It was, as usual for Joshua, an interesting mix of the truth and a bit of misdirection, but Joshua didn't mind that. Shiki seemed like the sort of person who could puzzle through it; he wanted to see just how well she did. After all, she was Neku's partner.

[mrmewmaker]

She knew she wasn't likely to get a straight answer, but Shiki hadn't expected to be rebuffed so thoroughly. She decided not to push that question any further, at least not right now. It could wait. That didn't stop her from wishing she had a Player Pin. Scanning very likely wouldn't work, but she still wanted to try.

"I - well, it's good not to be running around alone at night. But what do you mean, you and your partner had to get around someone with claws? I've heard from a few people that there are - well, not Noise, but monsters in the halls at night, but they didn't mention anything about other people attacking! Are you okay?"

It didn't matter that she didn't entirely trust Joshua; Shiki didn't have it in her to wish him harm.

[4lulzngiggles]

Wouldn't that have been ironic? The one person in the Game which a Player Pin might have worked on... and there was none to be found. Joshua still found himself expecting to see one on Shiki somewhere; the fact that no one had anything like that was another hint that this wasn't a Game as he was used to them. Ah well; it was another bit of information to think about, and Shiki's dropping of the subject was further noted.

"He was a rather short person in yellow spandex." Which was a horrible fashion decision, as far as Joshua was concerned, but who asked him about such important details? "And he had claws coming out from between his fingers. Several people seemed to be intent on fighting him, though I doubt they fared too well."

In his opinion, if someone fought a killer death machine without the power to match it, they deserved exactly what they got. Though one last thing made Joshua tilt his head. "The monsters aren't Noise?"