RP log - An + NPC's
Date: Some hours after the eventful first mission.
Rating: PG/PG-13
Summary: An tries to deal with what happened to Renji and to her.
Ohtsuka Ichiro, the middle-aged agent who had helped Renji, An and their protegée Kasuga Ibuki had one last unnoficial mission. The info was given to their bosses, Kasuga would very soon receive the protection she'd need to testify, and the Yakuza branch would be prosecuted properly. Now, the martial artist who was the team leader was hospitalized after being wounded in the mission, and the technician assisting them was right next to him...
Ohtsuka had still a last mission to fulfill, though. And as he stopped his car (not the same one they used in the mission, of course) in front of the hospital.
"Ohtsuka-san, thank you very much for giving me a ride here..."
"My pleasure, Yanagi-san," Ohtsuka said. "Remember, room 130. He's there, and so is Tachibana."
"Duly noted, and thanks again."
Ohtsuka left, and his companions sighed deeply as he turned and walked towards the hospital gates. He was a tall man with gray-black hair and deep brown eyes, who despite this last physical detal strongly resembled Renji. He suddenly stopped in his way, pulled a cellphone from his top pocket and dialed a number, briefly speaking to someon else.
"Yes, Sayoko, I'm checking on him before I go home... Yes, I'll tell Renji that Yoshimitsu will visit him in the morning and you'll come with the children in the afternoon... Don't worry, he's made of stern stuff. And yes... I understand. I'll tell her that as well. Thanks for reminding me... Good-bye."
After hanging up, Yanagi Tohru walked into the hospital and towards the receptionist's desk, as calmly as if he was coming into the analysis section of the Agency he had worked in for almost 20 years and not into the medical center where his younger son was after being shot. He asked for some information from the nurse in charge, then went towards the room where Renji was...
He quietly opened the door, and found himself in a rather dark room. Renji was lying on the bed, and next to him he could see a young woman whom he had seen only from relatively afar, but recognized immediately.
"Tachibana-san?," he called out to her in a low voice.
An had pulled up a chair next to Renji's bedside, and just sat there with him. She wasn't even sure what time it was anymore, but it didn't even occur to her to leave. There were brief moments when he seemed to stir in his sleep, brows furrowed in worry. And still An stayed by him, speaking softly, holding his hand while stroking the back of it gently with her thumb. After a while, his tension seemed to ease away, and she allowed herself a small smile.
"Please be okay, Renji..." she whispered softly to him as she brushed an errant piece of hair off his face.
At that moment, she heard someone call her name, and sat up with a start. Her eyes focused themselves on the older man at the door. One look at him told her exactly who he was. She stood up quietly and bowed low to the new visitor.
"Yanagi-san...."
She swallowed hard, wondering just what Renji's father must be thinking at this moment.
"Please..." she motioned to the chair by her partner's bedside, offering it to the elder Yanagi.
"Thank you..."
She looked worried, pale... Yanagi looked at her somewhat worriedly as he sat down on the chair. It'd be no good to have this woman, who had witnessed the whole mission and actually saved Renji's life after he was shot, collapsing as well.
He stared for several minutes at the bed where Renji was laying, soundly asleep (the fatigue? the pain? the medicines?...), and reached for a pale, cold hand. Still keeping a gentle hold on it, he turned to An and spoke in a low voice.
"... You're worried as to what I might think about you after this, Tachibana-san?"
As Yanagi-san took his seat, An's eyes drifted from the older man's face to his son's. She gave her partner a weak little smile, glad that he was at least resting, and looked comfortable enough.
The older man's questiong brought her out of her thoughts, and she turned to look at him, considering his question very carefully. She could easily distance herself from his family right at this instant by saying that what others thought of her didn't matter to her. But the truth was, his opinion did matter to her. She liked spending time with Renji's family at the dojo, and they had become important to her. And now she was genuinely worried that would change. Then again, she wasn't going to blame them if it did happen.
She didn't flinch away, but met Yanagi-san's gaze as she nodded. Her voice was quiet and slightly less sure; she wasn't sure if that was from fatigue or her worry coming through.
"...well...it was my fault after all..."
"Hm...," and the elder Yanagi's grip on his son's hand tightened a little, "I'm certain that it's not the exact moment to say this, but it must be said. All Agency field agents face possible life-threatening risks in every mission, and accept such a fact when they take it. It's not different in any case..."
He looked at the young woman, his gaze slightly softer. "Don't blame yourself, Tachibana-san."
An considered his words, letting their meaning sink in before she looked down at the ground. What he said was true; even she had been briefed on it before the mission.
"...but somehow this feels different...I made a rash decision...and that choice cost him, not me..."
She could feel a knot forming in her throat as she tried to verbalize the tremendous guilt the was feeling. But she willed herself not to cry. She promised herself that she wouldn't do that here in the hospital, and certainly not in front of his father.
"I can say lots of things about this. But they'd possibly come as rather empty to you, or even heartless coming from me, the father of Yanagi Renji," Yanagi continued, calmly as always, not letting go of Renji's hand. "Still... It could've costed anyone. If not Renji, if could've been Ohtsuka-san, or you, or Kasuga-san the secretary. And also, my son possibly wouldn't have been willing to leave your side, even if you told him. As someone raised in martial arts and the leader of your team, he wouldn't have had it in any other way."
He smiled a little as he added another phrase. "And you saved Renji's life by coming back for him. None of us can thank you enough, Tachibana-san."
An gave the older man a weak smile. It was true; there were so many 'what if's that would be impossible to answer. She should probably be grateful that things didn't turn out worse than they did. Though the thought was a little comforting, An realized it would take some time for her to adjust to that concept. Things would get better, but considering it was her first mission, she would have to get over the initial shock.
"Please don't thank me, Yanagi-san." She was a little embarassed at being addressed with such respect from Renji's father. "You said yourself that he and I are both agents...I didn't do anything that he wouldn't have done for me, or any other agent." She diverted her gaze to her partner, lying on the hospital bed. "He saved me, and Kasuga-san...I owe him my life..."
Without thinking, she reached out and gently brushed the back of Renji's free hand, a small gesture to try and convey her gratitude to him.
"It doesn't matter whether others woul'dve done the same as you, Tachibana-san...," was the slow, tranquil reply coming from the senior analyst. "What counts is that you were there for Renji and Kasuga-san in their moment of need. And I'm not the only one who thinks so... Sayo, Yoshimitsu, and the children think the same. They told me to relay that message to you... In a sense, the mutual debts have been already paid."
An wasn't sure why, but hearing from Renji's father that the rest of the family didn't feel she was to blame eased a lot of the tension that she felt in her shoulders. A small wave of relief washed over her as she bowed to Yanagi-san.
"...thank you so much...for your kind words..." An's voice was soft, and filled with more emotion than she probably wanted to reveal. Rising from the bow, she looked at Renji one more time before smiling a little to Yanagi-san.
"Please allow me to take my leave...I'm sure you would like some time alone with your son..."
"As you wish... you look tired. Please take care of yourself, Tachibana-san. I'd like to see you healthy in the Agency building tomorrow," he said, nodding quietly before he turned towards Renji, staring at his son's face. It looked like he was in peace, his breath slow and his face pale but calm... Yanagi hoped that he'd stay that way until he left.
Almost at the same time, the door opened just a little bit, and a young woman with a child-like face and long hair stepped in quietly. "Oh..."
"I will...and thank you again..." An was just about to reach for the door when it opened to reveal a familiar face.
"Oh! Kasuga-san!" An collected herself quickly and put a small smile on her face, professionalism taking over. "Please allow me to introduce you to field agent Yanagi's father. Yanagi-san, this is Kasuga-san" The young secretary looked well enough, though still a little shaken from her experience as a hostage.
"Nice to meet you..."
Kasuga shyly bowed at Yanagi's father, who bowed as well and smiled reassuringly. She walked towards Renji and stared at him sadly before taking her purse and pulling a small good-luck charm, which she slipped in his half-open hand. Then, sighing, she turned towards An.
"Looks like I shall wait a little, Tachibana-san... Let's go outside for some seconds and leave them alone?"
Nodding to Kasuga, An waited for the other young woman before exiting the room.
"It was very nice of you to come, Kasuga-san." An cleared her throat a little bit before continuing. "I'm very sorry that you were put in such a dangerous position..." After all, it was one thing for an agent to put themselves on the line, but another completely for an innocent bystander to be caught in the crossfire. All these things that An didn't even consider when she made that choice to go back.
Kasuga nodded. "I see... I don't think I can really speak about it, but still, I couldn't... couldn't let the chance to see you pass. You two saved me, after all..."
She noticed that An was still wearing the short jacket she put on her. "Please keep the jacket. I don't think I'd be able to wear it again ever."
An nodded and thanked the young woman. She could understand not wanting to keep things associated with that traumatic event. After a moment, Yanagi-san stepped out and smiled to Kasuga-san, inviting her to come in if she wished. An gave the secretary a smile, indicating that she would stay outside.
"Take care, Kasuga-san..."
Kasuga was somewhat shaken at this rate, but held herself back and shook her head, declining the invitation. "I'm sorry I can't stay... I might make things worse... Please take care of yourselves, Yanagi-san, Tachibana-san, and good bye..."
She dried away two or three tears before slipping another good-luck charm in An's hand. She then bowed at them and turned, walking towards a policeman who had been standing not too far from them, withouit turning back.
Bowing in return, An held the charm tightly in her hand. "Goodbye, Kasuga-san." An watched the policeman escort the young woman away, and sighed. For her, and her family, life would never be the same.
She looked at Yanagi-san. "I should probably head home soon...would you like me to bring you anything before I go? Tea perhaps?"
"I don't think I need anything else...," the older man said. "Besides, I have to visit my daughter and speak with her about this, then go back home. If Renji is staying here, then he'll need to sleep properly, and I doubt he'll get the rest he needs if we stay around."
He nodded at An. "Remember to get a good rest too, Tachibana-san. And dont' forget that if you don't get used to things like this, or at least accept the possibilities of this happening, you won't be able to support anyone in missions... That's the way the life of field agents is."
Without expecting any reples, he smiled and bowed at An, then slowly walked away.
An nodded, before bowing in return.
"Take care Yanagi-san. And thanks."
Collecting her things, An walked slowly out of the hospital, and down the busy city streets toward her apartment. It was quite a long walk, but she didn't mind; it would give her time to get her head together.
Renji's father was right, and she knew it. But right now, it all felt a little too raw. It might take a little time, but An wasn't going to give up. She would find her place in Agencey field work. Resolved to her course, she stood up a little straighter. Tachibana's never ran away.
Rating: PG/PG-13
Summary: An tries to deal with what happened to Renji and to her.
Ohtsuka Ichiro, the middle-aged agent who had helped Renji, An and their protegée Kasuga Ibuki had one last unnoficial mission. The info was given to their bosses, Kasuga would very soon receive the protection she'd need to testify, and the Yakuza branch would be prosecuted properly. Now, the martial artist who was the team leader was hospitalized after being wounded in the mission, and the technician assisting them was right next to him...
Ohtsuka had still a last mission to fulfill, though. And as he stopped his car (not the same one they used in the mission, of course) in front of the hospital.
"Ohtsuka-san, thank you very much for giving me a ride here..."
"My pleasure, Yanagi-san," Ohtsuka said. "Remember, room 130. He's there, and so is Tachibana."
"Duly noted, and thanks again."
Ohtsuka left, and his companions sighed deeply as he turned and walked towards the hospital gates. He was a tall man with gray-black hair and deep brown eyes, who despite this last physical detal strongly resembled Renji. He suddenly stopped in his way, pulled a cellphone from his top pocket and dialed a number, briefly speaking to someon else.
"Yes, Sayoko, I'm checking on him before I go home... Yes, I'll tell Renji that Yoshimitsu will visit him in the morning and you'll come with the children in the afternoon... Don't worry, he's made of stern stuff. And yes... I understand. I'll tell her that as well. Thanks for reminding me... Good-bye."
After hanging up, Yanagi Tohru walked into the hospital and towards the receptionist's desk, as calmly as if he was coming into the analysis section of the Agency he had worked in for almost 20 years and not into the medical center where his younger son was after being shot. He asked for some information from the nurse in charge, then went towards the room where Renji was...
He quietly opened the door, and found himself in a rather dark room. Renji was lying on the bed, and next to him he could see a young woman whom he had seen only from relatively afar, but recognized immediately.
"Tachibana-san?," he called out to her in a low voice.
An had pulled up a chair next to Renji's bedside, and just sat there with him. She wasn't even sure what time it was anymore, but it didn't even occur to her to leave. There were brief moments when he seemed to stir in his sleep, brows furrowed in worry. And still An stayed by him, speaking softly, holding his hand while stroking the back of it gently with her thumb. After a while, his tension seemed to ease away, and she allowed herself a small smile.
"Please be okay, Renji..." she whispered softly to him as she brushed an errant piece of hair off his face.
At that moment, she heard someone call her name, and sat up with a start. Her eyes focused themselves on the older man at the door. One look at him told her exactly who he was. She stood up quietly and bowed low to the new visitor.
"Yanagi-san...."
She swallowed hard, wondering just what Renji's father must be thinking at this moment.
"Please..." she motioned to the chair by her partner's bedside, offering it to the elder Yanagi.
"Thank you..."
She looked worried, pale... Yanagi looked at her somewhat worriedly as he sat down on the chair. It'd be no good to have this woman, who had witnessed the whole mission and actually saved Renji's life after he was shot, collapsing as well.
He stared for several minutes at the bed where Renji was laying, soundly asleep (the fatigue? the pain? the medicines?...), and reached for a pale, cold hand. Still keeping a gentle hold on it, he turned to An and spoke in a low voice.
"... You're worried as to what I might think about you after this, Tachibana-san?"
As Yanagi-san took his seat, An's eyes drifted from the older man's face to his son's. She gave her partner a weak little smile, glad that he was at least resting, and looked comfortable enough.
The older man's questiong brought her out of her thoughts, and she turned to look at him, considering his question very carefully. She could easily distance herself from his family right at this instant by saying that what others thought of her didn't matter to her. But the truth was, his opinion did matter to her. She liked spending time with Renji's family at the dojo, and they had become important to her. And now she was genuinely worried that would change. Then again, she wasn't going to blame them if it did happen.
She didn't flinch away, but met Yanagi-san's gaze as she nodded. Her voice was quiet and slightly less sure; she wasn't sure if that was from fatigue or her worry coming through.
"...well...it was my fault after all..."
"Hm...," and the elder Yanagi's grip on his son's hand tightened a little, "I'm certain that it's not the exact moment to say this, but it must be said. All Agency field agents face possible life-threatening risks in every mission, and accept such a fact when they take it. It's not different in any case..."
He looked at the young woman, his gaze slightly softer. "Don't blame yourself, Tachibana-san."
An considered his words, letting their meaning sink in before she looked down at the ground. What he said was true; even she had been briefed on it before the mission.
"...but somehow this feels different...I made a rash decision...and that choice cost him, not me..."
She could feel a knot forming in her throat as she tried to verbalize the tremendous guilt the was feeling. But she willed herself not to cry. She promised herself that she wouldn't do that here in the hospital, and certainly not in front of his father.
"I can say lots of things about this. But they'd possibly come as rather empty to you, or even heartless coming from me, the father of Yanagi Renji," Yanagi continued, calmly as always, not letting go of Renji's hand. "Still... It could've costed anyone. If not Renji, if could've been Ohtsuka-san, or you, or Kasuga-san the secretary. And also, my son possibly wouldn't have been willing to leave your side, even if you told him. As someone raised in martial arts and the leader of your team, he wouldn't have had it in any other way."
He smiled a little as he added another phrase. "And you saved Renji's life by coming back for him. None of us can thank you enough, Tachibana-san."
An gave the older man a weak smile. It was true; there were so many 'what if's that would be impossible to answer. She should probably be grateful that things didn't turn out worse than they did. Though the thought was a little comforting, An realized it would take some time for her to adjust to that concept. Things would get better, but considering it was her first mission, she would have to get over the initial shock.
"Please don't thank me, Yanagi-san." She was a little embarassed at being addressed with such respect from Renji's father. "You said yourself that he and I are both agents...I didn't do anything that he wouldn't have done for me, or any other agent." She diverted her gaze to her partner, lying on the hospital bed. "He saved me, and Kasuga-san...I owe him my life..."
Without thinking, she reached out and gently brushed the back of Renji's free hand, a small gesture to try and convey her gratitude to him.
"It doesn't matter whether others woul'dve done the same as you, Tachibana-san...," was the slow, tranquil reply coming from the senior analyst. "What counts is that you were there for Renji and Kasuga-san in their moment of need. And I'm not the only one who thinks so... Sayo, Yoshimitsu, and the children think the same. They told me to relay that message to you... In a sense, the mutual debts have been already paid."
An wasn't sure why, but hearing from Renji's father that the rest of the family didn't feel she was to blame eased a lot of the tension that she felt in her shoulders. A small wave of relief washed over her as she bowed to Yanagi-san.
"...thank you so much...for your kind words..." An's voice was soft, and filled with more emotion than she probably wanted to reveal. Rising from the bow, she looked at Renji one more time before smiling a little to Yanagi-san.
"Please allow me to take my leave...I'm sure you would like some time alone with your son..."
"As you wish... you look tired. Please take care of yourself, Tachibana-san. I'd like to see you healthy in the Agency building tomorrow," he said, nodding quietly before he turned towards Renji, staring at his son's face. It looked like he was in peace, his breath slow and his face pale but calm... Yanagi hoped that he'd stay that way until he left.
Almost at the same time, the door opened just a little bit, and a young woman with a child-like face and long hair stepped in quietly. "Oh..."
"I will...and thank you again..." An was just about to reach for the door when it opened to reveal a familiar face.
"Oh! Kasuga-san!" An collected herself quickly and put a small smile on her face, professionalism taking over. "Please allow me to introduce you to field agent Yanagi's father. Yanagi-san, this is Kasuga-san" The young secretary looked well enough, though still a little shaken from her experience as a hostage.
"Nice to meet you..."
Kasuga shyly bowed at Yanagi's father, who bowed as well and smiled reassuringly. She walked towards Renji and stared at him sadly before taking her purse and pulling a small good-luck charm, which she slipped in his half-open hand. Then, sighing, she turned towards An.
"Looks like I shall wait a little, Tachibana-san... Let's go outside for some seconds and leave them alone?"
Nodding to Kasuga, An waited for the other young woman before exiting the room.
"It was very nice of you to come, Kasuga-san." An cleared her throat a little bit before continuing. "I'm very sorry that you were put in such a dangerous position..." After all, it was one thing for an agent to put themselves on the line, but another completely for an innocent bystander to be caught in the crossfire. All these things that An didn't even consider when she made that choice to go back.
Kasuga nodded. "I see... I don't think I can really speak about it, but still, I couldn't... couldn't let the chance to see you pass. You two saved me, after all..."
She noticed that An was still wearing the short jacket she put on her. "Please keep the jacket. I don't think I'd be able to wear it again ever."
An nodded and thanked the young woman. She could understand not wanting to keep things associated with that traumatic event. After a moment, Yanagi-san stepped out and smiled to Kasuga-san, inviting her to come in if she wished. An gave the secretary a smile, indicating that she would stay outside.
"Take care, Kasuga-san..."
Kasuga was somewhat shaken at this rate, but held herself back and shook her head, declining the invitation. "I'm sorry I can't stay... I might make things worse... Please take care of yourselves, Yanagi-san, Tachibana-san, and good bye..."
She dried away two or three tears before slipping another good-luck charm in An's hand. She then bowed at them and turned, walking towards a policeman who had been standing not too far from them, withouit turning back.
Bowing in return, An held the charm tightly in her hand. "Goodbye, Kasuga-san." An watched the policeman escort the young woman away, and sighed. For her, and her family, life would never be the same.
She looked at Yanagi-san. "I should probably head home soon...would you like me to bring you anything before I go? Tea perhaps?"
"I don't think I need anything else...," the older man said. "Besides, I have to visit my daughter and speak with her about this, then go back home. If Renji is staying here, then he'll need to sleep properly, and I doubt he'll get the rest he needs if we stay around."
He nodded at An. "Remember to get a good rest too, Tachibana-san. And dont' forget that if you don't get used to things like this, or at least accept the possibilities of this happening, you won't be able to support anyone in missions... That's the way the life of field agents is."
Without expecting any reples, he smiled and bowed at An, then slowly walked away.
An nodded, before bowing in return.
"Take care Yanagi-san. And thanks."
Collecting her things, An walked slowly out of the hospital, and down the busy city streets toward her apartment. It was quite a long walk, but she didn't mind; it would give her time to get her head together.
Renji's father was right, and she knew it. But right now, it all felt a little too raw. It might take a little time, but An wasn't going to give up. She would find her place in Agencey field work. Resolved to her course, she stood up a little straighter. Tachibana's never ran away.