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damned_lounge2008-10-30 09:59 pm
not-rly-fai.livejournal.com) wrote in damned_lounge2008-10-30 09:59 pm
Entry tags:
Oktoberfest '08 Entry, Lost and Found by Mika
Title: Lost and Found
Author: Mika
Beta (if applicable): Kiarae
Word Count: 2978
Rating: PG-13-ish for violence
Character(s): Fai, Kurogane, Ururu, Shiki, Orihime, Yue, and brief mention of Subaru
Pairing(s) (if applicable): n-not really. someone gets hugged, that's about it.
Summary: Fai gets M-U.
Notes (if applicable): Ehm... I hope I did the other people's characters ok and that it's not horrendous... ^^;;; I'm not so great with other people's chara's, so... I'm sorry it's kind of centric to the one I play. Forgive me! T^T Also, spoilers if you haven't read the Acid Tokyo/Celes arc of Tsubasa.
Yuuhi already felt weak from the recent blood loss and from his lack of appetite, so it took him a while to come around after they’d administered the mild sedative. Color had started to return to his face though, as the iv in his wrist returned some of what he’d lost, slowly dripping in from the bag of blood on the iv stand not far away.
Not that it would help him escape.
His wrists and ankles were belted down to the table, effectively hindering his movement. Another one crossed his waist, and still another at his neck. Though his eyes were wide and frightened for the moment, he didn’t try to pull against the bonds, only seemed to shrink further back into the table, as though that might help somehow.
“It’s been a long while since someone wanted to see any of us,” the doctor started, once the patient had begun to come around. His back was turned and he was busy at the far counter, readying his tools. Tonight’s subject promised to be fun and messy. “Let’s see if that’s still the case by the time we’re done, mm Yuuhi?”
Even though he knew that information had been in his file, he’d torn it up, gotten rid of it, erased every trace, so how could they still know? And more importantly, why was it Yuuhi now, not Robin, not even Fai? He didn’t answer the doctor, but he didn’t struggle to escape either, once again waiting for the things around him to take action, rather than taking it himself. Was this a test? Ashura said they had to be sure he was really Robin. If he made it through this, then would he finally get to go free? Could he make it in time to save Ashura’s next victim? He had to at least try.
“It’s Robin,” he said quietly, doing what he could to sound convincing. Though he was scared, he forced a smile. “Did… did Aaron request you speak with me?”
The doctor laughed loudly at Yuuhi’s suggestion. “Aaron?” he got the last of the laughter out, though a smile was still visible at the corner of his lips. He couldn’t crush the boy’s hope, not just yet. “Yes, I did have a chat with him.”
At that, Yuuhi relaxed, though only slightly. If Ashura had suggested this, then things would be okay, wouldn’t they? He’d hurt other people, but Ashura had never tried to hurt him. And he’d seemed so genuine during their visit.
“What did he say?” Yuuhi asked, trying to get a better glimpse of the doctor. With the lights shining so brightly on him, it was difficult to see very well.
“He wants you to get better,” the doctor replied in a detached way, “personally I think he’s the one that ought to be here instead.”
What was that supposed to mean? Yuuhi wasn’t sure what to think of it, but then the doctor approached him, strange devices in hand, and his eyes immediately fixed on the gleaming bits of metal.
“At any rate, there’s a lot to be done and we’ve wasted enough time talking,” the doctor insisted. He pressed a gloved hand to Yuuhi’s forehead, brushing his bangs out of the way, then used his other hand to place the tiny clamps, used to hold the eye open. Those he placed on the right eye, forcing it open and holding it there. It took the boy a few moments to adjust, his left eye blinking while his right tried to mimic the motion, but was unable to. It was the first time since he’d woken up that he tried to pull against the straps that held him in.
“What… What are you doing?” he asked worriedly.
“Removing one of your eyes,” the doctor said with only a hint of irritation. He should be glad that it was the right and not the left one he was taking. It would only make him stronger, in the long run, though the boy probably wouldn’t appreciate it. That was the trouble with scientific genius, so few really understood enough to appreciate all his hard work. Those blue eyes of Yuuhi’s were both a blessing and a curse. The more he used his magic, the closer one brought him to death, though the other made him even more powerful.
Yuuhi was so baffled by the answer that it took a few moments for him to respond, “but why? You don’t- I- wait!”
At Yuuhi’s protests, the doctor’s smile grew and he leaned in close to whisper in the patient’s ear. “If you want me to stop, then stop me. You have the power, don’t you?”
That was enough to quiet Yuuhi’s protests. So he could stop this at any time, but that would mean using his magic. Not for anyone’s sake but his own. It was hard enough, even when he had the excuse of using it for the sake of others, but to use it for his own benefit…
The restraints went slack as he consented to the procedure.
* * * * *
“Where is that idiot?” Kurogane growled, tapping his fingers against his arm as he leaned against the wall in the girl’s block. It was bad enough that Ururu had collapsed in the hallway, now that stupid magician was missing too. He was hiding things, and Kurogane knew he’d been called away for a visitor. If he found the man hiding in his closet again, there was going to be hell to pay.
First things first though, get the kids back to their room and then he’d go tracking down the magician. Orihime was already using her magic to heal the red-head, but she was just foolish enough to push herself beyond her limits, so he watched carefully, just in case. Not that he was worried or anything. It would simply be harmful to their side to lose another healer. He gave an impatient sigh and continued waiting.
* * * * *
It was kind of disappointing that Yuuhi didn’t scream, didn’t cry, the doctor mused as he pulled the eye free of it’s last connecting nerve. There was plenty of blood, though not as much as there could have been. He’d been careful not to damage the muscles around the eye, and the nerves as little as possible.
There was still noise though, muffled screams from behind clenched teeth that didn’t quite escape his lips. It had to be painful, of course, as each nerve and muscle was cut away, as the eye was pulled from the socket and slowly went dark. Yuuhi’s hands clenched and unclenched and he was finally able to turn his head to the side, letting the blood drip to the clean, tiled floor. He was still shaking, and every now and again he’d forget to breathe, but he was alive.
“There now, that wasn’t so bad,” the doctor smiled as he dropped the eye into a small container, leaving it to float in the preservative liquid as he set it on the counter. He left the clamp in, though the socket was now empty, leaving a dark hole behind and oozed a steady pulse of blood.
There was no anger. No shouted, venomous threats or cries for revenge. There was only the quiet, ragged sounds of breathing and the occasional groan as a wave of pain passed over his patient. He didn’t bother stitching up the wound, he’d already obtained something for that, besides, there was still the second procedure. With a smile on his face he pulled up a chair, sat down just within Yuuhi’s range of vision, though he kept a good portion of that smiling face hidden in shadow.
He pulled a vial from his pocket, it was small, not even an ounce of the thick, red liquid pooled together in the bottom of it. “Do you know what this is?”
Yuuhi’s one blue eye almost rolled back in his head, but he worked to stay focused, to pass this test. It was blood, he knew the answer, but didn’t say it aloud. Instead he glanced from the tiny bottle to the man in shadows, trying not to think about his own pain.
“Its blood,” the doctor supplied, too impatient to wait for an answer. “But it’s not just any old blood, no. We received this from a pair of vampire twins. Though I guess the story would be lost on you. The point is, once I give you this, you’ll be one of them too.”
* * * * *
Still no magician. Both girls had been healed, Orihime was taking it easy in one of the chairs, and he hadn’t seen even a hint of Fai. What a pain.
“Stay here,” he ordered the girls.
“Are you going to find Fai-san?” Ururu asked quietly from her bed. She pushed herself up, though she was still unsteady, none of which escaped Kurogane’s notice.
“Just stay put,” he repeated, gruffer this time. The little girl winced, but held her ground, looking balefully up at the ninja. It was he who broke away from the staring war first, but he wasn’t about to give so easily when it came to her tagging along. The only one even close to well enough to be doing that sort of thing was-
“Then I’ll come with you Kurogane-san,” Orihime supplied, tucking Ururu back into her bed. “We’re just going to Fai-san’s room, so we’ll be right back,” she said, more to the little girl than to the impatient, grouchy man.
Just what he needed. Another hanger-on to slow him up. He opened his mouth to object when the cheeky red-head piped up. “Just let her come Kuro-pii,” she ordered, still dazed from her own injuries. She managed a little teasing smile and Kurogane could only grumble under his breath as Orihime followed him out of the room.
* * * * *
After seeing firsthand what it was like to be the victim of a vampire, Yuuhi had no desire to inflict that on other people. He didn’t want to be anything like Diva. He didn’t want to hurt anyone. But would using his magic at this point be for his own benefit or for someone else?
Before he could follow that train of thought, the vial was pressed to his lips, his mouth forced open as the contents were poured down his throat. At first all he could taste was the coppery, metallic flavor of the blood, but it wasn’t long before he could feel something start to change within him, twisting and wrenching like his insides were being torn out. He pulled hard against the restraints, though his body felt like it was moving on its own, rejecting whatever strange substance had been given him. His breath came hard and fast and his heart was beating loudly in his head. Only a few shouts escaped him, only to die out seconds later.
The doctor took careful note as the seizures and painful gasps continued on for the next few minutes and the patient finally lost consciousness.
* * * * *
“Dammit!” Kurogane hissed, fist pounding against the wall. The room was empty as was the closet, and there was no sign that Fai’s dinner had even been touched. Either the idiot had wandered off on his own or…
“What should we do Kurogane-san?” Orihime fidgeted, worry evident on her soft features. She knew as well as he did what it could mean if Fai wasn’t where he ought to be.
The ninja let out an annoyed grunt which meant he wasn’t entirely sure, but he had a couple of places in mind to check. And if they didn’t hurry it up, they might be too late to be able to do anything.
“Don’t fall behind,” was the only warning he gave as he raced out the door.
They moved quickly, recklessly so, passing the hallways, air ripe with the scent of blood, and taking the stairs two at a time. Orihime struggled to keep up with the man’s brisk pace, after the healings, she was still light-headed and running so fast wasn’t helping. But just as she began to slow, he seemed to sense it, and hefted the girl up over his shoulder, continuing his sprint.
There was a banging up ahead, a flash of light and a crash as one of the doors busted inward. The white-haired guy from a couple days ago, Yue, seemed to have sensed something was wrong as well. He was followed by the boy Kurogane had run into on his first night out, Subaru, who looked a little bewildered by his companion’s behavior.
* * * * *
When Yuuhi came to, the pain was no longer there, instead just a dull hunger, one he was unfamiliar with. His one eye fluttered open, the other still pried that way by the clamps. His entire body felt tired and defeated, though at least it had begun to heal.
“I guess I should have warned you that the process can be a little painful,” the doctor smiled almost gleefully when his patient finally awoke. There was a pounding on the far door though, which was incentive to hurry the final procedure.
When the doctor pulled out the long silver needles, no thicker than sewing pins, Yuuhi’s eye was immediately drawn to it, wide open with fear. He didn’t know how much pain this man had left to inflict, but he’d no real hope of rescue. Rescue was for people who were cared about, for people who mattered. When this was over, all he could look forward to was the slow and dangerous walk back to his room.
“You’ll want to hold very still,” the doctor said calmly, pressing a palm against Yuuhi’s forehead to steady himself as well as the needle’s point of entry. Of all his patients, this one had been surprisingly well behaved. Hardly a complaint the entire procedure.
The first needle went deep, plunged directly into the open eye-socket and straight for the brain. Yuuhi’s breath sped up, but he barely moved, so wary was he of interrupting the procedure. It hurt. It hurt so badly that it was hard to stop the shaking, but somehow he managed. As the doctor pushed the needle further, it was as if he could see beyond the tiny room where he lay strapped to the table. It was somewhere cold and familiar and the closest thing to home he could imagine. But the needle twitched and he was elsewhere, further back than before, but still just as cold. Memories of a past he’d buried far too thinly were coming to surface. They were already vivid enough, but now it was as if he was living them over again. Watching his brother’s body fall from the tower, the deals he’d made through the strange portal just to save his own life.
“Save Fai,” his own voice, long ago, childishly begged. “I don’t care what happens to me, save Fai.” The view from the base of the tower was lonely and stark, but even if they couldn’t be together, he wanted to save his brother.
He wanted to save his brother.
Why hadn’t he remembered it like that before? That wasn’t how it was! Yuuhi had only wanted to escape and that’s why Fai had died. Wasn’t it?
* * * * *
When he came to his senses, it felt like a long time had passed. The doctor was gone and there was a patch where his eye used to be. The restraints had been undone and the door was unlocked, but as far as he could tell, there was no one there. He heard pounding footsteps, raised voices that surrounded him, though he couldn’t quite make out the words.
Shaky fingers clung to the first person he could reach and held tightly, seeking for comfort. There were so many emotions flooding through him that there was no way to contain them all. He’d lost an eye, become a monster, but now he knew, at least he knew that his brother didn’t blame him. Even if it was only one person, even if they weren’t here any longer, it didn’t matter. He hadn’t betrayed that one person and that was enough.
For the first time since he could remember, since he was only a small child, he began to cry.
Not that it would help him escape.
His wrists and ankles were belted down to the table, effectively hindering his movement. Another one crossed his waist, and still another at his neck. Though his eyes were wide and frightened for the moment, he didn’t try to pull against the bonds, only seemed to shrink further back into the table, as though that might help somehow.
“It’s been a long while since someone wanted to see any of us,” the doctor started, once the patient had begun to come around. His back was turned and he was busy at the far counter, readying his tools. Tonight’s subject promised to be fun and messy. “Let’s see if that’s still the case by the time we’re done, mm Yuuhi?”
Even though he knew that information had been in his file, he’d torn it up, gotten rid of it, erased every trace, so how could they still know? And more importantly, why was it Yuuhi now, not Robin, not even Fai? He didn’t answer the doctor, but he didn’t struggle to escape either, once again waiting for the things around him to take action, rather than taking it himself. Was this a test? Ashura said they had to be sure he was really Robin. If he made it through this, then would he finally get to go free? Could he make it in time to save Ashura’s next victim? He had to at least try.
“It’s Robin,” he said quietly, doing what he could to sound convincing. Though he was scared, he forced a smile. “Did… did Aaron request you speak with me?”
The doctor laughed loudly at Yuuhi’s suggestion. “Aaron?” he got the last of the laughter out, though a smile was still visible at the corner of his lips. He couldn’t crush the boy’s hope, not just yet. “Yes, I did have a chat with him.”
At that, Yuuhi relaxed, though only slightly. If Ashura had suggested this, then things would be okay, wouldn’t they? He’d hurt other people, but Ashura had never tried to hurt him. And he’d seemed so genuine during their visit.
“What did he say?” Yuuhi asked, trying to get a better glimpse of the doctor. With the lights shining so brightly on him, it was difficult to see very well.
“He wants you to get better,” the doctor replied in a detached way, “personally I think he’s the one that ought to be here instead.”
What was that supposed to mean? Yuuhi wasn’t sure what to think of it, but then the doctor approached him, strange devices in hand, and his eyes immediately fixed on the gleaming bits of metal.
“At any rate, there’s a lot to be done and we’ve wasted enough time talking,” the doctor insisted. He pressed a gloved hand to Yuuhi’s forehead, brushing his bangs out of the way, then used his other hand to place the tiny clamps, used to hold the eye open. Those he placed on the right eye, forcing it open and holding it there. It took the boy a few moments to adjust, his left eye blinking while his right tried to mimic the motion, but was unable to. It was the first time since he’d woken up that he tried to pull against the straps that held him in.
“What… What are you doing?” he asked worriedly.
“Removing one of your eyes,” the doctor said with only a hint of irritation. He should be glad that it was the right and not the left one he was taking. It would only make him stronger, in the long run, though the boy probably wouldn’t appreciate it. That was the trouble with scientific genius, so few really understood enough to appreciate all his hard work. Those blue eyes of Yuuhi’s were both a blessing and a curse. The more he used his magic, the closer one brought him to death, though the other made him even more powerful.
Yuuhi was so baffled by the answer that it took a few moments for him to respond, “but why? You don’t- I- wait!”
At Yuuhi’s protests, the doctor’s smile grew and he leaned in close to whisper in the patient’s ear. “If you want me to stop, then stop me. You have the power, don’t you?”
That was enough to quiet Yuuhi’s protests. So he could stop this at any time, but that would mean using his magic. Not for anyone’s sake but his own. It was hard enough, even when he had the excuse of using it for the sake of others, but to use it for his own benefit…
The restraints went slack as he consented to the procedure.
* * * * *
“Where is that idiot?” Kurogane growled, tapping his fingers against his arm as he leaned against the wall in the girl’s block. It was bad enough that Ururu had collapsed in the hallway, now that stupid magician was missing too. He was hiding things, and Kurogane knew he’d been called away for a visitor. If he found the man hiding in his closet again, there was going to be hell to pay.
First things first though, get the kids back to their room and then he’d go tracking down the magician. Orihime was already using her magic to heal the red-head, but she was just foolish enough to push herself beyond her limits, so he watched carefully, just in case. Not that he was worried or anything. It would simply be harmful to their side to lose another healer. He gave an impatient sigh and continued waiting.
* * * * *
It was kind of disappointing that Yuuhi didn’t scream, didn’t cry, the doctor mused as he pulled the eye free of it’s last connecting nerve. There was plenty of blood, though not as much as there could have been. He’d been careful not to damage the muscles around the eye, and the nerves as little as possible.
There was still noise though, muffled screams from behind clenched teeth that didn’t quite escape his lips. It had to be painful, of course, as each nerve and muscle was cut away, as the eye was pulled from the socket and slowly went dark. Yuuhi’s hands clenched and unclenched and he was finally able to turn his head to the side, letting the blood drip to the clean, tiled floor. He was still shaking, and every now and again he’d forget to breathe, but he was alive.
“There now, that wasn’t so bad,” the doctor smiled as he dropped the eye into a small container, leaving it to float in the preservative liquid as he set it on the counter. He left the clamp in, though the socket was now empty, leaving a dark hole behind and oozed a steady pulse of blood.
There was no anger. No shouted, venomous threats or cries for revenge. There was only the quiet, ragged sounds of breathing and the occasional groan as a wave of pain passed over his patient. He didn’t bother stitching up the wound, he’d already obtained something for that, besides, there was still the second procedure. With a smile on his face he pulled up a chair, sat down just within Yuuhi’s range of vision, though he kept a good portion of that smiling face hidden in shadow.
He pulled a vial from his pocket, it was small, not even an ounce of the thick, red liquid pooled together in the bottom of it. “Do you know what this is?”
Yuuhi’s one blue eye almost rolled back in his head, but he worked to stay focused, to pass this test. It was blood, he knew the answer, but didn’t say it aloud. Instead he glanced from the tiny bottle to the man in shadows, trying not to think about his own pain.
“Its blood,” the doctor supplied, too impatient to wait for an answer. “But it’s not just any old blood, no. We received this from a pair of vampire twins. Though I guess the story would be lost on you. The point is, once I give you this, you’ll be one of them too.”
* * * * *
Still no magician. Both girls had been healed, Orihime was taking it easy in one of the chairs, and he hadn’t seen even a hint of Fai. What a pain.
“Stay here,” he ordered the girls.
“Are you going to find Fai-san?” Ururu asked quietly from her bed. She pushed herself up, though she was still unsteady, none of which escaped Kurogane’s notice.
“Just stay put,” he repeated, gruffer this time. The little girl winced, but held her ground, looking balefully up at the ninja. It was he who broke away from the staring war first, but he wasn’t about to give so easily when it came to her tagging along. The only one even close to well enough to be doing that sort of thing was-
“Then I’ll come with you Kurogane-san,” Orihime supplied, tucking Ururu back into her bed. “We’re just going to Fai-san’s room, so we’ll be right back,” she said, more to the little girl than to the impatient, grouchy man.
Just what he needed. Another hanger-on to slow him up. He opened his mouth to object when the cheeky red-head piped up. “Just let her come Kuro-pii,” she ordered, still dazed from her own injuries. She managed a little teasing smile and Kurogane could only grumble under his breath as Orihime followed him out of the room.
* * * * *
After seeing firsthand what it was like to be the victim of a vampire, Yuuhi had no desire to inflict that on other people. He didn’t want to be anything like Diva. He didn’t want to hurt anyone. But would using his magic at this point be for his own benefit or for someone else?
Before he could follow that train of thought, the vial was pressed to his lips, his mouth forced open as the contents were poured down his throat. At first all he could taste was the coppery, metallic flavor of the blood, but it wasn’t long before he could feel something start to change within him, twisting and wrenching like his insides were being torn out. He pulled hard against the restraints, though his body felt like it was moving on its own, rejecting whatever strange substance had been given him. His breath came hard and fast and his heart was beating loudly in his head. Only a few shouts escaped him, only to die out seconds later.
The doctor took careful note as the seizures and painful gasps continued on for the next few minutes and the patient finally lost consciousness.
* * * * *
“Dammit!” Kurogane hissed, fist pounding against the wall. The room was empty as was the closet, and there was no sign that Fai’s dinner had even been touched. Either the idiot had wandered off on his own or…
“What should we do Kurogane-san?” Orihime fidgeted, worry evident on her soft features. She knew as well as he did what it could mean if Fai wasn’t where he ought to be.
The ninja let out an annoyed grunt which meant he wasn’t entirely sure, but he had a couple of places in mind to check. And if they didn’t hurry it up, they might be too late to be able to do anything.
“Don’t fall behind,” was the only warning he gave as he raced out the door.
They moved quickly, recklessly so, passing the hallways, air ripe with the scent of blood, and taking the stairs two at a time. Orihime struggled to keep up with the man’s brisk pace, after the healings, she was still light-headed and running so fast wasn’t helping. But just as she began to slow, he seemed to sense it, and hefted the girl up over his shoulder, continuing his sprint.
There was a banging up ahead, a flash of light and a crash as one of the doors busted inward. The white-haired guy from a couple days ago, Yue, seemed to have sensed something was wrong as well. He was followed by the boy Kurogane had run into on his first night out, Subaru, who looked a little bewildered by his companion’s behavior.
* * * * *
When Yuuhi came to, the pain was no longer there, instead just a dull hunger, one he was unfamiliar with. His one eye fluttered open, the other still pried that way by the clamps. His entire body felt tired and defeated, though at least it had begun to heal.
“I guess I should have warned you that the process can be a little painful,” the doctor smiled almost gleefully when his patient finally awoke. There was a pounding on the far door though, which was incentive to hurry the final procedure.
When the doctor pulled out the long silver needles, no thicker than sewing pins, Yuuhi’s eye was immediately drawn to it, wide open with fear. He didn’t know how much pain this man had left to inflict, but he’d no real hope of rescue. Rescue was for people who were cared about, for people who mattered. When this was over, all he could look forward to was the slow and dangerous walk back to his room.
“You’ll want to hold very still,” the doctor said calmly, pressing a palm against Yuuhi’s forehead to steady himself as well as the needle’s point of entry. Of all his patients, this one had been surprisingly well behaved. Hardly a complaint the entire procedure.
The first needle went deep, plunged directly into the open eye-socket and straight for the brain. Yuuhi’s breath sped up, but he barely moved, so wary was he of interrupting the procedure. It hurt. It hurt so badly that it was hard to stop the shaking, but somehow he managed. As the doctor pushed the needle further, it was as if he could see beyond the tiny room where he lay strapped to the table. It was somewhere cold and familiar and the closest thing to home he could imagine. But the needle twitched and he was elsewhere, further back than before, but still just as cold. Memories of a past he’d buried far too thinly were coming to surface. They were already vivid enough, but now it was as if he was living them over again. Watching his brother’s body fall from the tower, the deals he’d made through the strange portal just to save his own life.
“Save Fai,” his own voice, long ago, childishly begged. “I don’t care what happens to me, save Fai.” The view from the base of the tower was lonely and stark, but even if they couldn’t be together, he wanted to save his brother.
He wanted to save his brother.
Why hadn’t he remembered it like that before? That wasn’t how it was! Yuuhi had only wanted to escape and that’s why Fai had died. Wasn’t it?
* * * * *
When he came to his senses, it felt like a long time had passed. The doctor was gone and there was a patch where his eye used to be. The restraints had been undone and the door was unlocked, but as far as he could tell, there was no one there. He heard pounding footsteps, raised voices that surrounded him, though he couldn’t quite make out the words.
Shaky fingers clung to the first person he could reach and held tightly, seeking for comfort. There were so many emotions flooding through him that there was no way to contain them all. He’d lost an eye, become a monster, but now he knew, at least he knew that his brother didn’t blame him. Even if it was only one person, even if they weren’t here any longer, it didn’t matter. He hadn’t betrayed that one person and that was enough.
For the first time since he could remember, since he was only a small child, he began to cry.