Day 49: Late Afternoon - Crossroader's Bar and Casino

[unheroed]

From what Harvey could tell, he'd gotten through that little encounter with Lana without raising any suspicions. Or if he'd caused her to raise a mental eyebrow, it probably hadn't been in any serious way. She truthfully wasn't so bad to spend time with, but the fact that she was a female attorney who knew her way around and didn't scare easy meant

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[notachick]

Homura had him to the point where his arms hurt, fingers digging into his skin and bruising if not cutting into the skin with the force that Okita threw into his every movement in an attempt to get away. Although he heard Homura and Heiji talking, their words hardly registered. If Sai hadn't done it, he would be fighting back to protect himself. His lack of motion and defense spoke of guilt and a desire to repent for his actions through his own death. Heiji screamed that Sai wasn't to blame, but he had admitted it himself and nothing would stop Okita save for the fact that no matter how hard he tried to break away, Homura wasn't letting him go.

"You killed her! He killed her!" The accusations shot out of his mouth before he could think of it, both at Sai for having taken his only family here and at Heiji and Homura for stopping his hand. Okita strained against Homura's stronger grip as he was pulled toward the door, his eyes focused singularly on Sai as he was moved against his will. "I won't let you get away with this!" But why wasn't he fighting back? Why hadn't the ninja fought back? And why would Heiji of all people defend him?

Still struggling, Okita was pulled out the front doors and onto the main street into the rain.

[And back out to here]

[tsunagari]

The reprimand from Homura left Sai staring after him. It also served to clear his mind a little. The man sounded like someone he'd heard before, but he couldn't place it at the moment. He'd saved his life for now, and for that he'd get himself into gear. The ninja began pushing himself upright, using the wall behind him.

"I'm sorry." He apologized to Heiji again, still holding a hand to the back of his head. "I... didn't know she was familiar with Okita-san. That makes it worse." No blood, but there might be a slight lump soon. Hopefully he wouldn't end up with a concussion, though that was an odd thing to think when he'd been about ready to give his life up minutes before. "We were on good terms with each other."

His eyes strayed toward the door, and he ignored the stares from other customers, glad that none had bothered to offer assistance. When he was certain that no one would be coming back in, he leaned against the wall tiredly. "Now... what else did you want to know?"

[osakapwnzu]

Heiji stayed on the floor until Okita and Homura had left, both struck by Okita's furious words, and hoping to protect Sai if Okita broke free and attacked Sai again. Once he was sure that Okita wasn't coming through the door with another pen, Heiji got to his feet unsteadily.

"It would make it worse if it w's somethin' you'd done voluntarily," Heiji said, wincing at a bruise he'd not doubt have on his back in the morning. He offered a hand to Sai.

"Let's get you up, b'fore a nurse comes in 'n thinks we started it."

[tsunagari]

Sai was already half-way standing, but he accepted the offer of help anyway. The hit to the head hadn't been as bad as he'd thought, and it was doubtful he'd suffer anything like a concussion from it. There'd just be some lingering pain for a while. "Thank you."

His question had gone ignored, despite the fact that Heiji had been about to ask more just before Okita had snapped on them. Perhaps the situation was such that going straight back into that conversation would be awkward, in which case the ninja was willing to wait. The information might be difficult for him to give, anyway.

It looked like the other man had gotten Okita to stay away from them for the time being, though he hoped he hadn't hurt him further. The last thing Sai wanted was to put him through further pain. He was at a complete loss, and it remained such a strange, empty feeling.

[osakapwnzu]

Heiji nodded at Sai's thanks and righted Sai's chair before returning to his own and righting it as well. His shoulders slumped slightly--the detective looked tired though, instead of wilting under all of the sour looks the two of them were getting now. If they hadn't looked too thrilled to see the patients before, now... well, Heiji was surprised they hadn't been thrown out.

He sat down heavily, wishing he could have a drink now. He really felt like he could use one, after that adrenaline spike and crash.

"Okay... what w's I sayin'...?" Heiji muttered to himself as he waited for Sai to sit down.

[tsunagari]

"I think you were about to ask more regarding the experience I went through last night." Sai's response was rather calm, given what had just happened. He sat across from the other teen, clasping his hands together on the table and looking as if he hadn't just been attacked by a crazed member of the Shinsengumi and was fully prepared to have a serious, perhaps even friendly, conversation. "Would you still like to continue?"

Stares from anyone else in the room went ignored. They'd be left alone soon enough if all they planned on doing was sitting here and talking. The townspeople didn't seem all that interested in interacting with them any more than was necessary. If they hadn't been asked to leave yet then they were probably fine.