Day 40: Sun Room [Fourth Shift]

[clockmongler]

Well, that was... special. No wonder he was losing respect for this place--the fearful Martin Landel was coming undone, most probably with boredom. So scary. Even Nursey seemed a little exasperated, though that most likely had more to do with X's constant insistence to stay in the Sun Room rather than go inside the Greenhouse

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[tostepforward]

While admittedly Ayumu would have liked the chance to go out onto the field and get some exercise, it probably wasn't the best idea for maintaining her current persona. It had already slipped enough already, and for "Sen" to be suddenly athletic, well.

Claiming that she was too tired and wanted to get some rest, she managed to break away from her nurse after some sympathetic tut-tutting, and paused at the bulletin board. There were too many people around for her to post very much, but she took note of Okita's latest haiku with some interest. If this was to work she'd need to be certain Robin had been sufficiently reassured about her, so left a note for him before moving away.

Fortunately the room was empty enough thus far that there were plenty of seats to choose from, so she picked a couch that gave her a good view of the bulletin board and the goings-on there. With a somewhat dramatic yawn Ayumu curled up against the cushions and pretended to doze off.

[Kenshin~]

[tostepforward]

Of all the people who had to come and sit by her, it just had to be Himura, didn't it? He likely had a reason for it, too, though whether it was because he was still suspicious of her or because he merely wanted to make certain "Sen" was all right after the night previous, she wasn't certain. And since she didn't know, that made it more difficult to decide whether or not she should pretend to wake from her supposed nap

[tostepforward]

"I seem to have a new friend here. He was rather insistent about meeting me, too." Ayumu chuckled softly and settled the kitten into her lap once she was sitting up again, looking amused. She was rather grateful to it, too, for giving her a reason to pay attention - she wouldn't like the idea of pretending to nap with an enemy present.

At the question she glanced down at her arm as though mildly embarrassed, then shook her head a little. "Oh, it's not that bad, really. We were attacked right before the night ended, and...well, I was back in my room again before much happened."

[tostepforward]

The strange contrast between night and day was odd and puzzling, but Ayumu had to wonder if Himura was trying to imply something by the comment. Or perhaps she was just reading too much into it? She smiled down at the kitten, who was purring as loud as it could as she stroked its fur. "I suppose so. Though I'm not going to complain - it's nice to be safe for at least the daylight hours." At least the kitten didn't want anything from her or question her motives for treating it nicely, unlike a certain bespectacled young man who was also in the room.

"You don't need to apologize, Himura-han," she replied, giving him a surprised look. "You were going somewhere and I interrupted. I shouldn't have been out in the hallways by myself to begin with, after I'd been warned, so...I consider it a lesson learned. It's really not bad at all."

[tostepforward]

[fffft like school is important no worries, I'm good with that ^^ - p.s. sorry for multipost stupid typos]

Ayumu nodded once, returning his uncertain look with a bright smile of her own. "Of course I am. I do appreciate your concern, Himura-han - it's nice to have friends to look out for me. But you can't protect everyone."

It was rather clear that there was something else bothering him about the night before, and as he continued to speak, Ayumu became only more wary. So she had pushed her luck a little too far, or just too many times; she'd clearly need to be even more careful around the man, especially considering that she had to keep the truce with him intact.

She only blinked at him, however, apparently surprised by his statement. "You're suspicious...of me?" she echoed, lifting a hand to motion toward herself and causing the kitten in her lap to protest the lack of petting. "I'm...well, Himura-han, I have to admit that I...I felt much the same about you, as well

[tostepforward]

"It is." Or was, perhaps, considering where or when Ayumu apparently now found herself. She still was determined that she'd return, though, so immediately dismissed that thought. That was where she belonged, and she had too much to accomplish there to dismiss it as past.

Though she knew what side the man had been on in the conflict, she had to wonder just how he'd been involved, especially since she'd never heard his name before coming here. And yet he'd admitted he was involved, and at the same time she was. Perhaps Okita knew, if she had a chance to speak to him in more than just cryptic words on the bulletin board

[tostepforward]

So it seemed that his confession that he had been suspicious of her hadn't come about because the condition had changed. It was hardly a surprise, but if so, then why was he warning her of the fact? Was it possible that he really and honestly did feel bad for his distrust? That would be...strange