Dayshift 43: Waiting Room / Lobby 1 [4th Shift]
It'd been nice to talk with Subaru, if only to see that the young man was faring a little better than before. He seemed to have the worst luck and unfortunately, there wasn't always someone there to protect those that needed it the most. As he passed the Sun Room, there was still no sign of a post from Ururu either. Things didn't look promising
( Read more... )
The nurse nodded, but refused to tell her who the visitor was. "It's a secret," she said. "A very special person. Someone you'd really love to see."
This got Kagura excited. Who was this special person? Was it Gintoki? Was Gintoki finally going to realize how important she was to the team and bust her out of this place? Will he at least sneak in some Shounen Jump and tell her what's been happening in Ladies 4, like were there still four of them? Or would it be Otae? She was like an older sister to her. She would love it if Otae visited her and brought some ice cream (even if she doubted that Otae would ever share) and talk about girly things and how to beat up a man when he felt you up and get away with it.
Or maybe, and this was the most obvious bet, it was Shinpachi. Knowing Gintoki, he would be too lazy to go here himself. And knowing Shinpachi, he would visit her himself instead of having his sister do it. Typical. She didn't care much for him. But still, she knew he would try to comfort her. He wouldn't bust her out-- he was too much of a pansy otaku megane for that-- but he would talk to her as he would normally do. He would ask her how she felt and how she was eating, and it wasn't because it was his job to do so. It was because Shinpachi cared. It was his weakness, and it was why Kagura claimed to hate his guts. But in the deepest, innermost recesses of her heart-- the part that wasn't tainted by selfishness and sukonbu-- she wished that it was Shinpachi that was coming to visit her.
Or you know, the categories "special" and "someone you'd love to see" also applied to Santa Claus. Forget Shinpachi. Kagura wholeheartedly hoped that it was Santa Claus. And he better bring her meatbuns this time.
She sat down, looking for that jolly man with white hair and/or glasses who'd come to visit.
Reply
She shot him a nasty look, somewhat displeased with the veiled insult. Oh well.
He couldn't wait to see Kagura and tell her how much this place suited weaklings such as her, who had obviously been incapable of remaining level-headed enough in the face of society's social pressures. She had cracked so easily, his dear little sister. Could she even be considered a part of their family? Perhaps. Father, too, had already started to show his own deficiencies.
At least he himself still remained on the top, untouchable by anything because he simply didn't allow anything to do so.
"Why, thank you nurse. I do believe the rabid one is mine. Mind handing me over a leash just in case? I would hate to see her ruin your nice walls."
Another displeased look. My, they were really quite uptight here, weren't they?
"Well long time no see, but I hope you understand we're far too busy to visit a nobody like you."
Reply
No, not at all.
Kagura raised her hand. "Nurse! This isn't Santa Claus. This isn't even my dad dressed as Santa Claus. Or the creepy old pervert across the street dressed as Santa Claus. I don't know this person. Can I go back to my room now?"
The nurse smiled-- (Kagura hated that smile so much. Why was she always stuck with the creepy, smiley people?)-- and told her no. He was her brother. Didn't she want to see him, her only living relative? And she looked just like him, she added.
"What are you talking about? The old man's still alive somehow. And I don't look like that." She pointed at him and imitated his smile (perfectly). "I look like this!" She pointed at her own dissatisfied face.
The nurse laughed and told her that it was cute that she could imitate her brother like that. It showed that they were very close.
"It's not like that!" Kagura insisted. "It's plastic surgery! Plastic surgery! Just like in that episode of E.R.: Extraterrestrial Reform! Look, can I just go now?"
The answer was no.
"But I don't want to talk to that guy. He's a stranger. Mami told me to never talk to strangers."
The nurse said that he was her brother and while she may not like him, he did take the time to visit her. Perhaps they could settle the bad blood between them.
Kagura was not convinced. "You promised me Santa Claus. That is NOT Santa Claus."
The nurse said that she never promised anything.
"Did so!"
Did not.
"Did so!"
Did not.
"Oh look, Brad Pitt!" Kagura ran away while the nurse was momentarily distracted only to be dragged back by a pair of nurses.
"But it's not Santa Claus! I'm not talking to him unless he's Santa Claus!" And the nurses dropped her back on her seat and kept a close guard, making sure she never ran away again.
Reply
Manchu's smile didn't slip away. In fact, it intensified as he watched his sister pointlessly argue. Her time here had done little to alleviate that pleasant attitude, which was such a shame. Manchu really did miss breaking her bones on the occasion, back when she still showed potential.
But now what was she? So weak and pathetic, her ferocity dwindled by the friendships she had formed. She didn't deserve any freedom at all. He was hoping she'd learn to be a bit more aggressive while trapped here, but it was doing the opposite.
Another oh well. It was her loss.
"By the way, nurse, when is it dinner time?" Oh, that was an ugly face she made.
Reply
Might as well talk and try to drive him away.
"So, what are you doing here?" she asked, picking her nose. "Where are Gin-chan and Shinpachi?"
Reply
"Aren't you a bit old to have imaginary friends? I thought you'd stopped that when you were a child."
His hand reached out, giving her a patronizing pat on the head, and there wasn't the slightest bit of fondness or affection in his smile.
Reply
"It's okay if you don't remember Shinpachi. He's worthless anyway. But Gin-chan? White hair? Smelly old sword? Nothing?" Because if her brother said nothing, it could only mean one of two things: either he had completely forgotten about Gintoki (highly unlikely, her brother never let go of his prey that easy) or Gintoki was done fo--
Kagura refused to pursue that thought.
Reply
Such a weak-willed man.
Such an impudent insect in front of him.
How tempting it was to just squish her between his fingers as he smiled at her with closed eyes. "I'm afraid I don't recognize either of them. And here I thought they'd offer you medication for hallucinations. I should really make a suggestion to increase your dosage. Where's the suggestion box?"
Reply
It was bad enough that he was being his usual self, now he had to talk like one of the nurses. She wasn't sick. She didn't belong in a hospital. Neither did he. Weren't they Yato? The Yato don't need hospitals!
These thoughts she didn't voice out as she tried to calm her self down by clenching and unclenching her fist.
Reply
"I'm afraid you're just going to have to take a few more. Maybe instead of upping the dosage, lets consider alternative solutions."
His face turned to the nurse, maintaining his ever-present smile. "Now, let's see. Do you guys do electrical shock treatments? That might be a bit too severe for any normal little girl, but Mai is an over-achiever."
Reply
"And electric shock treatment is for sissies," she said, trying to sound brave. "You know I can do better than that."
Reply
"You don't even know your own name," he said with fake pity, shaking his head slowly before one finger lifted in the air. "Ah, but you do have a good point! A more severe treatment ought to fix this! Maybe even an organ transplant or two."
Reply
"Why did you visit here in the first place? Where are my friends?"
Reply
"I already told. You have none. No one wants to hang out with such a loser."
Reply
Leave a comment