Night 50: M51-M60 Hallway
[M60]Honey's words from that afternoon still bothered Sai as he sat on the edge of his bed when the doors opened. Unlike the previous night, he'd changed back into his black ninja attire now, that damned kunai held loosely in one hand. He had a job to do, and though there was the danger of Okita attacking them again tonight, he couldn't just
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When Honey joined in, Natalia recognized that he and Mori spoke the same language, and it did sound similar to Amaterasu's. Even noting that much made her head ache. The sounds, syllables and inflections and tones, nothing at all like words, made absolutely no sense to her. She pressed her hand to her forehead, and in doing so, remembered the weight of the radio.
That sound that man had played; before it, she had understood everything. Natalia remembered, connecting ends with a speed not entirely like her, that she had wondered at her ability to read books that were apparently from the planet Earth, that she could speak to patients from different worlds. On Auldrant, though everyone spoke and wrote with the fonic alphabet, it had not always been so, and even then, certain regions had local languages and dialects. It made no sense that those from different worlds would have no communication barriers (never mind that they looked the same, as science fiction of the extraterrestrial kind didn't properly exist on Auldrant).
Opening her mouth to share her forming theory, Natalia realized that as she had understood nothing of what Honey just said, he wouldn't understand her, either. Pursing her lips, Natalia struggled to reign in her frustration. How clever of Dr. Landel, and how obnoxious as well.
She gestured to the radio, then to her ears, cringing a little as if to say, that sound!, and finally, motioned to her mouth. Allowing that man to make this his victory was not an acceptable option, Natalia would simply communicate however she could.
Even if she couldn't read the recipe, she could at least watch! If pointed out which measuring utensils to use and what material to add, she surely could take part. Curious as to whether or not she would be able to read the recipe, she tried to motion to the card without pointing (as pointing, of course, was rude).
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Even stranger was Natalia. The girl had fallen silent, struggling to comprehend what they had said to her. But as her eyes flickered towards the box she held, her expression was filled with a realization unknown to the goddess.
Ammy blinked, watching as the blonde gestured from the box to her ears, then to her mouth. Had that loud sound damaged her hearing? No, no, that wasn't it. Perhaps Natalia was speaking in some sort of code? No . . .
Or maybe she was referring to the voice from a few moments ago? Things hadn't changed until after that man had spoken. Was it possible that he had changed the way people spoke? Absurd! Even the Gods themselves couldn't control their human children in such a way!
Amaterasu was suddenly concerned for the blonde girl. She reached out and grabbed for her hand, then turned to look at the boys.
"Can't . . . understand?"
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Then she did a curious thing. She began motioning to the radio, to her ears, and-- Ah, this was something he knew well. Nonverbal communication was something he used often and as he watched Natalia mime out her theory, he found himself agreeing with her. The sound had to be the source of it. The ache was mostly gone by now, but he'd been able to understand everyone until the screech happened. He watched carefully, then looked to the others. Amaterasu seemed very concerned and took Natalia's hand, looking at him and Mitsukuni as if pleading with them to help Natalia somehow.
Mori had no idea how, but now he knew - he couldn't leave them. Not like this. Closing his eyes for a moment, Mori nodded then looked over to Natalia, nodding slightly. He pointed to the nearby intercom and the radio, made a gesture with his hands to indicate the volume of the noise they all heard, then crossed his arms and finally pointed at his ears, tilting his head to side like he did earlier when asking her a question. Whatever that sound was, it had eliminated their ability to talk with each other. He took out the paper he had in his pocket and drew a picture of a cake and another of a strawberry, then showed it to her to let her know what they'd be making tonight.
Even without words, communication was entirely possible after all. Smiling at Natalia reassuringly, he turned then to Mitsukuni and slipped the paper into his pocket. He was certain Mitsukuni would understand that they'd be relying a lot more heavily on Mori's usual way of speaking and he hoped things would be okay. Then he pointed down the hall and inclined his head to inquire whether or not they all wanted to start toward the kitchens.
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Amaterasu had the right idea though. It wouldn't be fair to make her feel so left out! Honey watched as Takashi drew up a picture of a cake and strawberry and Honey was sure to nod at the image, reaching up to offer his hand to Natalia as well. Even if they couldn't talk, it was okay. They'd still get through this! Especially with Takashi, the master of talking without speaking. He and Honey had communicated without words lots and lots before and Honey never had trouble understanding. So this time it was his cousin's expertise they'd be deferring to.
He offered an encouraging smile to both of the girls and gave Natalia's hand a light squeeze and a tug, as if to ask if she was ready to follow.
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Mori and Honey too left her impressed. With his quick understanding (she responded to his nod with one of her own), and subsequent drawing (cake, she deduced, as that was the club's name, and that fruit must be a strawberry) and smile, Natalia felt immensely grateful for Mori. Her smile could hardly have been wider -- then Honey, too, offered his hand. It was difficult to manage with her radio, so first with a questioning look (May I?), Natalia bent to lay down the fonmachine just inside Honey's room. That settled, her fingers closed around the boy's.
Though they were barely more than strangers, though these were not the friends with whom she had traveled oceans and all the land, to the center of the planet and back, though they no longer spoke the same language, though they stood in the dark halls of a dangerous prison, Natalia felt warm, safe, and completely at ease. They didn't know she was a princess--and even if they had, she wasn't their princess, yet such kindness.
"Thank you, all of you." Giving each hand a squeeze of her own, Natalia bowed, to Honey, to Mori, and to Amaterasu, hoping the gesture would lend meaning to her words. Straightening, she looked brightly ahead, and nodded. Let them bake cake!
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The goddess's troubles were put to ease in an instant and she nodded enthusiastically to Honey's words.
Her feelings now differed greatly to the ones she had felt earlier in the day. She did not feel scared or hesitant. There was no more worry or hopelessness. Instead, she was filled with encouragement, confidence and affection for these people she barely knew.
Nippon was far away, no doubt. Yet, no matter how far she was from her home, Amaterasu was still the Sun Goddess and it was her celestial duty to take care of the earth's children and fill them with happiness. Until she could find a way to get home, she would do all she could to protect her new companions and all the other strangers in the institute.
But it wouldn't hurt to have a big bite of cake first.
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With Natalia guarded on both sides by Mitsukuni and Amaterasu, Mori knew it would be safe to lead the way. They'd make it tonight and even if he'd have to prostrate himself later for missing his meeting with his unknown teacher, this took precedence right now. Nodding to the other three, Mori turned and started down the hall.
[going here]
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