Night 49: Room of Earth

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[From here]

"...What?"

The door slammed shut behind them and locked with a rather distinctive click. The Doctor glanced back at the door-which was very different on this side than it had been on that side-but it wasn't the slam or the door that ended up grabbing the Doctor's attention. There was a loud rumbling that did not, he was quite

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A trick that might just kill them if Okita didn't set aside his distaste for the rurouni and what he'd just done in order to work together. He could potentially leave the man to die, but there was a higher risk that whatever lay beyond the door was far worse and would require even more teamwork. There was, however, one thing he could not stand and when Kenshin almost ordered him around. The swordsman couldn't help but give Himura a glance that said 'Strike one' and then took a step back, listening to the boulders crashing down and rolling through the room.

A moment later, he sensed something approaching and darted to the side, watching as another came through where they'd just been.

There didn't seem to be a pattern, but there were certainly warnings. This would require speed and working together to call out when one heard a boulder coming. Speed being the key. Okita quickly tied his sleeves back with the white string looped around his chest and cleared his throat. "Move when the sound comes, just try not to get crushed. Sound like a plan?"

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"Sounds like a plan."

A rumbling came from overhead and Okita dashed forward, feeling the wind from the boulder brush his hair as it went on past. He hesitated only for a moment, watching from the corner of his eye as it continued on its way up the other side of the round tunnel and then turned his attention back to following and keeping pace with Himura. The things were smashing in from all sides, coming at them at all angles and the only indication they had was a rumbling noise that sounded a bit louder than the rest of the cacophony. It took time and several near misses as they ran across the room, but eventually - carefully - they reached the midway point.

And that was when things started getting tricky. From here they had to beware of things coming at them from all over and there was no chance to rest or even call out when Okita heard something coming. The rate was too fast and it took all his concentration just to dodge and move forward rather than back. Bit by bit the two of them threaded through the rolling boulders with Okita thinking this entire setup was absolutely impossible the entire time. It wasn't until they were three-fourths of the way through and he felt a boulder clip his katana, sending the hilt hard into his gut that he realized it was entirely possible they really could die here.

Putting one hand on the hilt of his sword to keep it closer to his body, Okita kept moving, envying Kenshin's speed for once. He seemed to be having an easier time at this. Seemed, at least. Dodging to the side, Okita grunted slightly when another rock brushed his shoulder. They were close though. So close. Taking one step back, the swordsman launched forward again and starting weaving through what seemed like the last leg of the journey. "Whoever reaches the door first, just open it and go!"

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Okita was almost disappointed when Kenshin's move didn't work. It was a conflict though - whether he wanted the rock to kill the bothersome rurouni or whether he was upset that the move didn't take the man any closer to the door and survival. This was why he didn't like working with Kenshin very much. It put his conscience in conflict. On one hand, he wanted his partner to survive. On the other, he had a kneejerk reaction to want to kill him. As it was, Kenshin's new hakama were only ripped as he sped off toward the door.

Unlike Kenshin who had almost unbelievable speed and agility on his side to help him with such moves, Okita had to take it a little more cautiously. His lungs were already burning at having run this far without stopping and he could feel his body rebelling against the effort. He was sweating, his breath was short and shallow, and he could feel it creeping up on him.

But like hell if he was going to start coughing in front of Kenshin again.

Somersaulting out of the path of another boulder as it rolled right over where he'd just been, Okita popped up and glanced to the side to confirm where Himura was. Just a few paces ahead of him and in position to get the door first if nothing got in his way. However, with the way the boulders were going, who knew would happen in those last few feet? Dodging to the side, Okita let his hand hit the floor, pushing off as he launched himself full tilt at the door. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see another boulder coming leaving not but a hair's width between it and the door itself. Not good. Not good at all.

Jumping ahead of the other samurai, Okita kicked the door open and held a hand out for Kenshin. "Come on!"