hatesthefood | open action

Current Mood: dirty

Entry tags:

open action

The Koneko wasn't open for business, per se, but the door was unlocked and open in case anyone needed anything. If anyone looked hard enough, they'd see a trail of dirt and tiiiny puddles leady back to the back room, and through a door in said room. Through the door was the Koneko's greenhouse, and working on a tray of seedlings was one Ken Hidaka, humming softly as he gently brushed soil from the roots of a seedling he was busy replanting.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I don't doubt it. I never did."

He leaned his head forward a little to let his chin rest against the top of her head, taking silent comfort in the contact as just as much as he was trying to give it. No one but Mamoru was allowed this close to him since his death. He was still too skittish and would be until they knew more about who had killed him.

Little left to say. Umi simply contented herself with hugging Ken in silence. It was all she could do for the time being, this little support. But it wouldn't stay like that for long. She didn't voice this (she probably wouldn't tell anyone save for Mamoru, or Fuu, if the girl asked), but there was the strongest determination to both fix this wrong done to her friend and make sure nothing so horrible ever happened again building inside her. Umi knew she'd find a way to help, no matter what. She'd fought bigger things before. She wouldn't let The City win. Ken's life wouldn't be a trophy for it to claim. She wouldn't let it.

...But she wouldn't rush into it, for one. She'd learned from that past mistake. She had Fuu, Hikaru and the others to think about. And even if she couldn't give Ken her life -- as it didn't belong to her alone -- she knew there would be something she could sacrifice, if she could, for things to be fine again.

"We'll get things done." She whispered, and closed her eyes to steady herself entirely.

"When the time is right."

He squeezed her one more time before he let her go and stepped back a little, tucking his hands into his pockets once again.

"... I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I... guess I was scared to. I kept finding ways to back out of it."

Umi shook her head, a pale smile on her lips, sad despite she looked whole once more. A person had to know her extremely well to tell she had this burning desire to stab something through choking her within. It was something new to her, to keep her feelings inside. But right now it felt necessary.

"You didn't tell me because you knew how I'd react. And... you didn't want to put me through it." Her smile wavered a bit, her expression showing her frustration with herself. "Because you know me. I'm sorry. It doesn't help at all, does it?" She chuckled bleakly. "How I tend to react to things..."

"... I didn't want you to worry. Mamoru's been doing enough of that for everyone. He's been... amazing. And pushy."

The smile was gone from his face now, but there was no bitterness to take its place. For the time being, Ken was almost content to be as he was. Death wasn't ideal, no, but he had good friends and people he called family nearby. For him, that was enough to make him happy.

"Mamoru looks like he can do a mean pushy." Umi, in contrast, was smiling again. Yeah, she could imagine how Mamoru must have gone out of his way to find whoever did this, and to support Ken through that, which was more than she had been able to do for him. She felt like she owed her friend a lot, again.

"So all this paperwork he's been doing... And this rush to catch the murderer..." It was because of that. She didn't need to finish the question. Guilt for not knowing weighted heavily inside her, despite the strong resolution to get herself together and help.

"... he hasn't been sleeping much, no. He's been working too hard lately, all for me. Well, for all the victims, but he had a different reason to catch them in the end."

Guilt wouldn't do any good now, for any of them. In Ken's mind, he'd been take because somehow, in some way, he hadn't been good enough to keep himself safe.

"A different reason...? Other than making whoever did this to you pay?" Saying that... it kindled a strong desire to have the responsible party in front of her right that moment. If she did... Umi could almost feel the air around her grow cold, and steadied herself before it went further.

Irrational anger wasn't going to help her case or Ken's. Even if it was tempting to let it give her relief. She'd heard Ken before. The one who'd done this might not have even been responsible of his own acts.

Whoever, it was still impossible to keep the anger out of her voice as she asked. "Protecting the whole City from this freak, you mean?"

"Mostly for me, I think, but he's still got the safety of the City at heart."

Ken was more than sensitive to the cold now and he felt as if the temperature dropped a good five degrees then. Without pause, he reached to touch Umi's shoulder, squeezing it gently.

"The suspect we took in wasn't in his right mind. He said he found the... bodies and ate them. We were already dead, so he says. Right now, there's no evidence otherwise."

The nausea threatened to return to haunt her at hearing that. It took a great effort to overcome it. Focusing on the reassuring touch of Ken's hand on her shoulder helped Umi realize she might have well been too obvious in her little slip. What would Clef say...

She bit her lip and willed herself steady. This had happened once before, when Hikaru had left. It wouldn't happen again.

"That's what he says. Does anyone believe that?? Someone needs to keep an eye on that freak..."

"We are, and no, not too many believed him. We still couldn't hold him with no evidence, though."

Sighing, he slid his hand down her arm, pulling her along as he made his way out of the greenhouse.

"... come on. Let's grab a snack or something. My treat."

Umi nodded silently, letting Ken steer her out of the place without much of a complaint. Listless as she seemed, her mind and anger were seething inside her, lively, alert. That was reassuring to know, the surveillance. Not that she didn't plan to keep a good eye on that creeper HERSELF. After what had happened there was no denying she'd been too leisurely in watching out for those she loved. It wouldn't happen again. Not if she could help it.

But it was a good idea to keep this quiet. Going by Ken's reaction he'd only worry if she let him perceive how hellbent on this she was.

So he wanted to grab a meal...? That meant... All that time he hadn't been eating....

She bit her lip harder. "So you're okay with food now. I should've known..."

Ken glanced around for a moment, his wariness showing at being around people he didn't know. They still hadn't figured everything out, so the killers could still be anyone as far as he knew. His hands back in his pockets, he shrugged a little.

"... still not great with it, but I know I have to eat."

"You don't need it anymore." Just like Mister Lockon. Just like Aya had been...

Umi had never learned the extents of the City Dead condition all too well ---truth be told, it still disturbed her a little, and that wasn't about to change after what had happened to one of her best friends. But now she was trying to get a grip, the Water Knight could at least feel grateful for the chance to still have Ken around... despite the fact he was no longer alive.

She followed him on short yet determined steps. "But it's still something you can learn to enjoy again, right?"

The brunette sighed and glanced away. He really hadn't had a desire to eat since he came back to himself, and honestly, he'd been eating what he did mostly to humor Mamoru, but every time he forced himself to eat, his stomach was uneasy at best.

"... I dunno. There's something... weird about it. I get all stressed when I try to eat."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

open action

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject