Dayshift 42: Bus 2

[liveforthispart]

Before anyone could come to any decisions for their next move, the room suddenly filled with a thick fog. Faster than he could realize what was happening, it had filled up the entire room and swallowed every single one of his friends. Then there was that undeniable stench of iron, blood and... he last remembered taking a step back and feeling that

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[yin_yang_fox]

Renamon woke up drained. The aftereffects of the pain medicine wore on her, and the skin on her arm seemed to pull even tighter. The smallest movement now pulled, and freezing her limbs didn't seem to work. The Digimon frowned as she went about the business of replacing the items around her room--the only good thing coming of all of this was gaining the files of her friends. If good is what you really could call it. She now had confirmation that in addition to Orihime having disappeared, Toph and Toboe had as well. Something ached inside of her.

She had enough time to slip the files into her notebook to compare later when the nurse walked in. Renamon stared at her, memories of being forced into that ridiculous outfit filtering through her mind. Her lips thinned in the distaste. The nurse, seeming not to notice, smiled brightly. This, Renamon decided, was a bad sign.

It had gotten better from last time at least, the Digimon thought sardonically, walking out to the bus. At least it wasn't a blouse this time. Silently, she allowed herself to be led to a seat. Eying the occupant, she afforded herself a double-take. Unless she was mistaken, this would be the leader of the history club. This would indeed be her luck. Last week's events notwithstanding, Renamon bowed her head politely at her seat mate.

[screwthegods]

Though Homura had expected some form of company, the woman who joined him hadn't been on his mind. Recognizing Renamon from her often-posted description on the bulletin, Homura smiled to the woman, but not in a predatory way. Whereas before Renamon had been one of the most outspoken against the clubs and what they did, as of late, she seemed to have quieted. Homura doubted it was so much a change of heart as the obvious fatigue he could catch in her expression.

This place could wear on them all just the same.

"You look tired." Homura offered the words in an almost sympathetic tone--or at least as much of one as he ever used. He was tired too, after all. "Unfortunately, these iron vehicles aren't the best for sleeping on. The tend to jostle too much."

[yin_yang_fox]

Some of the Digimon's wariness dissipated. She breathed a light laugh, then replied dryly, "I'd rather not sleep. There's far too much excitement here." The moderately quiet bus undercut her words, and she tilted her head. "You, on the other hand, seem well-rested."

It was taking her longer, lately, to slip into her business mode. With the clubs and their representatives, she needed to rely on that more than ever. When she spoke with Matsumoto and Hitsugaya, she had her slip-ups, but both experiences had turned out for the best. With this one... She had voiced her thoughts too freely and antagonizing. She knew very well the majority of the fault lied within her, and the timing in which she had stated her opinions. But things... affected more here, and the Digimon needed to gain a better harness on these human emotions.

The silence she offered left room for discussion. If brought up, she would not revoke her words, but she was open to a kind of consideration. Renamon was a changed creature from the past day and a half. There was much she had lost. And it seemed the parts she had gained simply strove to point out exactly what was lacking.

[screwthegods]

"Because I'm well-practiced at it." Never show weakness that could be preyed upon by his enemies on the battlefield, or the gods in Heaven. Something that was so basic to his survival, both then, and now. He let a brief pause pass after his words, then chuckled softly. "Of course, it probably helps that I didn't venture out last night."

Whatever she thought of him for that.

Homura wasn't one to shy away from honesty, though he decided to be a touch gentler with Renamon for the moment. She'd caused him some minor problems in terms of Okita's temper flaring, but nothing too terrible. Certainly not enough to warrant anger. "You don't seem to be as active in dismissing the Clubs on the bulletin lately. Have you had a change of heart about us, or just too many problems of your own taking up your time?"

[yin_yang_fox]

Renamon silently acknowledged the confession, not needing to respond to the comment. In truth, she should have done the same. She knew this body needed to heal, and if Yukari had found out, Renamon was sure to gain an earful of the girl's appreciations of Renamon doing the opposite of what the girl had recommended.

In regards to the other matter, Renamon looked at Homura for a moment, then closed her eyes. The Digimon, as well, had no reason to hide anything like the events lately. These were not things that needed to be protected as deeply as other things. When her eyes opened her expression was calm. "A dismissal was not precisely was I was aiming for. They provide a focal point to the masses that need a stable ground beneath them." To which Renamon was becoming. No, that was untrue. She would still persevere. However, the past days had not been kind.

"Truthfully, I was not around as of late. I lost a day's worth of time." And then much more. But she wouldn't digress. "It was somewhat disconcerting." This, she noted, seemed to be the latest in a line of severe understatements. Perhaps it said something. She couldn't claim to know.

[screwthegods]

"Then what were you aiming for, exactly?" Renamon's comment almost made it seemed like she recognized the importance of the groups. Was it merely their apparent methodology that she disagreed with, then? Though Homura didn't know what Renamon intended to do now that she'd been returned to the active population, it was important that he find out. The woman had been outspoken before, and it made an impression. While Homura wasn't one to mind a dissenting opinion, he'd much prefer it to have a basis other than what someone had gleamed from the surface without bothering to dig within.

Yet even as he thought over such concerns, Homura couldn't help but notice that Renamon appeared broken. Much more so than someone who had simply been removed for a day from the rest of the patient body. Homura knew well which part of the routine last night's torture fell into, and briefly wondered if she'd been the subject of an experiment. He wouldn't ask, however, recalling quite well his own state after his experience in those rooms.

"You should be careful." Homura looked out the window for a moment, silently considering what he knew about when people were removed for a time, and when they were removed forever. "They could be planning something for you. Even preparing their attempt to make you vanish from this place completely."

[yin_yang_fox]

Aiming... In truth, the Digimon hadn't had an 'aim' in mind when this began. The first post concerning these effects was simply made as a commentary after some sad affairs. She didn't agree with organized groups, personally, but like she had stated--they did serve a point for the masses. And the days that this all was going all there was some dissent, and uprising of groups that were suspicious. Like she had stated elsewhere; if they truly wanted to destroy this place and escape, the groups would pool their resources and information, instead of holding on tightly to what they had. But she held this for a moment, quietly regarding the moving scenery past Homura.

"I had no motivation," she finally said, carefully. "I spoke my own opinions, then watched the reactions. Every word and action is a tell to someone." She shifted her gaze to Homura, then after a moment inclined her head. "I apologize if I offended overtly." This was truth.

Renamon watched him again as he looked out the window now, unable to look away at this point. Another had seen that pattern. She shouldn't be surprised. Homura had been here far longer than she, and yet.... Again, here was an instance of unshared information that the population might do better knowing. Human tact wasn't necessary to curb her words--she was too caught in the truth of his. "I know this. I found that pattern out... those who lose time have a higher risk of disappearing... the day before. One of my associates theorizes that those that do either come too close to a truth, or have served their purpose." And she? Even finding out the solid facts recently that she had come to with the help of Badou, Renamon wasn't sure which she fell under.

[screwthegods]

Homura's grin widened a fraction, the demi-god finding it hard to believe that Renamon lacked purpose for her thinly veiled insults and commentary. Of course, his own experiences had left him rather jaded towards the idea in general; no creature acted without reason, and those who claimed otherwise were most often the ones hiding their true purpose. No, Homura firmly believed that Renamon did indeed have 'motivation' for her efforts. She just wasn't saying what.

"You didn't necessarily offend me. I found your attempts amusing, considering that they were baseless." Okita, on the other hand, had been angered more than once by the woman. Perhaps Renamon only had their situation and Homura's patience to thank for being spared from Okita's temper more often. The swordsman, like so many, simply had other things to deal with, so that Renamon was a low priority. "And those who I'd rather have with me aren't the kind who are going to shy away because of mere words."

That was the benefit to calling out to the people he did, and putting up with their stubbornness.

Homura listened to the idea Renamon proposed, considering both the suggestion itself, and the manner in which it was spoken. Had she lost someone, or perhaps several someones, in order to notice this pattern? "And just what good does it do to theorize? Your associate--are they still present? If they are, you realize that means, according to the very idea they've proposed, that the suggestion isn't a dangerous enough truth to warrant their capture. Perhaps it's even one that the Institute wants spread." To discourage those with weaker wills from finding answers, to plant seeds of doubt in the minds of the patients. To add to the agony of the patient body. What good would it do to tell everyone that the closer they got to finding any truth, the more danger they were in? Those who didn't care were already aware of this, and those who would would only become greater hindrances.

"I don't really care why they were taken." Tenpou, Hijikata...Rinrei. The reasoning was incidental at best. "I'm only interested in getting them back."

[yin_yang_fox]

Baseless or amusing, her words were merely words until her actions changed that. And as it was, injured and reorientating, the Digimon wouldn't be taking any drastic measures for awhile. Let them play their information games. She would study the scenery while she considered the details. Or perhaps she would just give in, and attempt the change the status quo from one of the insides. As humorous as that was....

"They wouldn't be very loyal if they did," she responded evenly. "And no, actually. They're not here anymore. They vanished the night after." She blinked, her expression neutral. "That doesn't necessarily mean anything. Even in patterns, there are no absolutes."

Everything Homura said, Renamon understood and had already considered. From the first day, the Digimon understood that almost all, if not everything, was controlled by their captor, and little they did would be in their own control. This was a truth, quickly accepted, and slowly weighing her down. She carefully folded her arms over her chest. "In results, theorizing does little to nothing. But it has possibility. From working with the information known, and learning more, as well as sharing ideas and understandings with others, there's a possibility of coming to some conclusions."

She shrugged lightly. "Most of the conclusions, while helpful, haven't been that much in truth. I don't expect them to be. But the possibility exists. Finding information--attempting to sort through the planted information and the actual facts--would do more good than the fruitless repeated attempts at destruction and escape." Renamon inclined her head. "I believe, at least."

Getting them back? As much as she had come to rely on Orihime's presence, would she want the girl here again? Truly, they didn't know where the ones that vanished turned out, but.... And Rika had been here. 'Visiting' for a day. Hadn't Renamon vowed on that day, to undo the damage done? That was nearly a week ago, and was she any further? She was silent for a moment. "...I agree," she replied. She would rather have them near to her than somewhere she couldn't see.

[screwthegods]

The lack of emotion when Renamon mentioned the vanishing of an associate stood out; Homura couldn't think of many who could talk about those people without faltering in some manner, and it raised questions about the woman's personality. Suspecting that in the future he'd end up with Renamon against his methods or his goals, Homura knew how important it was to understand her character.

"And ideas with little or no foundation only add to what needs to be sorted through." He made no comment as to her jab at his own efforts. Homura considered them far from fruitless, but he'd also taken measures to ensure that the results would stay secret. He wouldn't undo that simply to win an argument. There was far too much at stake to make careless errors in the name of petty bickering.

Renamon's hesitation before she agreed with Homura's goal, however, could have been a signal for opportunity. Just what had she been thinking? Given what he knew about the visitors, where they had come from, the demi-god ventured a guess.

"Simply because they believe the illusion doesn't mean they are safe." The common ground might make Renamon less active against his causes, and Homura would take advantage of the possibility. "Those that have been taken are still prisoners. They're used against the ones they care for, to hurt the people they love. I can't think of a single one who wouldn't rather be fighting at the sides of those people instead."

Homura paused then, opening his bag to inspect the contents. "I don't wish to make an enemy of you. Whether or not you agree with my methods doesn't matter to me. But I'd ask that you use more consideration when you decide to state your opinions again."