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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 9:25 am
"You can't be serious!" Hitsu exclaimed, standing firm where she had been. "I'm not leaving without Mitsu!" She stated, folding her arms over her chest and glaring at the both of them as though daring them to tell her otherwise.
Yuki was the first to oblige, "Yes, you are." Knowing well enough that she wouldn't listen, Yuki stepped up to her and moved to pick her up. That attempt quickly backfired, as not only did trying to lift her cause intense pain to his stomach, her flailing didn't make it any easier. He barely got one of her feet off the ground before he'd quickly released her, groaning with one hand over his stomach. He scowled, and quietly walked away from her and to Neko. "She won't leave on her own." He said, hoping that Neko would catch onto the unspoken suggestion.
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 5:12 pm
Neko had hoped Yuki would be successful in hauling Hitsu up so they could get out of here but when his wound proved to make that impossible Yuki had turned to him. What did Yuki think he could do that he hadn’t already done? He seemed to be overlooking the huge gash running down his front that still was in the process of healing. There was no doubt in his mind that if he tried to pick up Hitsu and she struggled it would split his wound wide open again.
“Hitsu, please don’t fight us on this. There is too much to risk going back. And I’m not so sure Mitsu is the most trustworthy of people to keep around.” He didn’t elaborate for the time being. He knew that Hitsu wouldn’t like what she heard about her friend.
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 8:25 pm
Taking Neko's hint, Yuki gathered that carrying her out wasn't going to happen. "He's telling the truth, she betrayed us. Stabbed us in the back." Yuki gestured to his stomach, and toward Neko. "She was responsible for this, when she led us right back into a trap." The siblings glared at each other a moment, and Yuki advanced on her again and made to grab her by the arm. "Let's go. Now."
"No! It can't be true!" Hitsu moved her arm out of reach, if only for a moment, before Yuki took hold of her firmly. "She had to have a reason!"
"I don't care! We're leaving now!" He demanded, and growled when she twisted herself out of his grasp. When he spoke again, his tone was forcibly calm and quiet. "Fine, stay here if you want to." He turned and walked past Neko and out into the snow without a moment's pause. He knew she wouldn't stay there by herself, she'd have no choice but to follow them when they didn't stop.
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 8:38 pm
Watching Yuki leave it took a minute for Neko to realize what he was doing. He was using his sister’s fear against her. “I know you don’t want to believe it, Hitsu, but its true.” He didn’t turn to face her as he spoke. “Mitsu betrayed us for one reason or another, she can’t be trusted. And…I don’t want to risk loosing either of you again.” Glancing back at Hitsu Neko gave her a short apologetic look before he too stepped outside into the snow leaving her to stand in the tunnel alone.
Following behind Yuki he gave a glance back at the tunnel entrance for a short moment hoping to see Hitsu following behind him. He felt bad, but he wanted them to get out of this place as soon as possible. “I feel bad for her…” Neko stated but he didn’t elaborate on who he was talking about though he was sure his statement implied Mitsu.
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 8:47 pm
"You can't leave!" She shouted, frowning as her brother simply ignored her and did just that. She watched him, and then Neko as he spoke. She didn't say a word in response, but looked frightened as he turned and followed Yuki. Were they serious? They were actually going to leave her here? She didn't know what Mitsu had done, but for all of the time they had spent with her she also didn't understand why they wouldn't want to help her. Hitsu felt as though she wanted to cry, and her expression suggested it.
"Yeah, I know." Yuki replied, and his statements thereafter suggested he didn't catch who Neko was referring to. "But this is the only way we're going to get her to leave... Or else I'll just be standing there yelling at her and making myself feel like even more of a jackass." He wanted to glance back, but knew he shouldn't. Yuki knew well enough that she'd run to catch up once she got nervous enough, and then he'd stop to wait for her. Until then, he had to stand firm on his decision. He glanced toward Neko as he walked, "Stop looking at her, it'll just make it worse."
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 9:03 pm
Neko saw Hitsu’s expression though just barely. He hated to see her cry, he hated to see any girl cry, it was a weakness he had yet to overcome. Having come to a halt Neko did just the opposite of what Yuki had suggested and kept his eyes locked on Hitsu’s face. He could tell his decision to leave was starting to waver, he wanted to do what Hitsu asked, he wanted to see her happy. Most of all he wanted to be sure that she didn’t cry.
“How long do you think Mitsu was in this place before she escaped the first time?” It was a casual question. He was sure that Yuki really didn’t care but at the same time Hitsu had him thinking. What had it been like for her here? He couldn’t imagine living out a life like he had just experience for a day let alone for weeks, months, maybe even years. “Can you imagine living in this place for more than a day?”
((And thus Neko's resolve crumbles when he sees a sad pretty face XD ))
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 9:25 pm
Well, Neko had stopped, so Yuki had to stop as well. "How am I supposed to know?" He tried to aim his gaze only toward Neko, but he wouldn't be able to deny feeling the same. Why else would he avoid looking back at her? As Neko continued, Yuki began to shake his head. "No. If you're doing what I think you're doing... No. We just got out of there, I'm not going back in." It certainly sounded like his friend was having second thoughts. "If she cared for us, she wouldn't have done that to us."
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 9:38 pm
“She’s just a stupid kid, I admit.” Neko said finally taking his eyes off Hitsu. “But if Hitsu had done the same, to avoid being tortured, would you really have blamed her?” He didn’t know if that was really the case, but he was certain Mitsu was being threatened. Suto didn’t seem like the kind of person that would treat anyone with a delicate touch.
Neko hesitated for only a moment before he doubled back and ducked down to look at Hitsu through the hole of an entrance. He tried to smile before his face turned to a more serious expression. “Where did you see her last?” He wouldn’t take either of them with him, he wouldn’t risk it, but he needed to know where he was headed. Better to not risk more than one person being killed over a stupid mutt.
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 10:03 pm
The thought of Hitsu being tortured frightened Yuki, and his protest against going back for Mitsu quickly wavered. If it had been Hitsu, he would have done anything to keep her from being hurt. Even if it meant following along with a lie. He still wished Mitsu would have told them, warned them, so that they could have prepared to fight back. However, he knew nothing of the real circumstances of why Mitsu had turned on them as she did.
Yuki sighed, and reached into one of his pockets. He produced the spare keycard, and offered it to Neko. "I don't know where they'd taken her, but I checked almost all of the rooms in the main hall, and I didn't see her." He shook his head gently, "I'm sorry, but I'm not going to leave my sister alone out here again."
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 10:10 pm
Neko stood and looked at Yuki taking the keycard from him. “I hadn’t intended for you to come.” He looked back at Hitsu as he stepped back through the entrance and motioned for her to go on through. “I’ll go and look for her but I won’t promise anything.” Leaning down he looked at Yuki through the entrance. “I wouldn’t wait up for me. Keep heading back the way we came and get the hell out of here. If I find her I’ll meet you back at the mountain pass village. If I’m not there within a day….go home without me.” He had paused. He wasn’t sure how this was going to turn out but he hoped he would at least make it out. Though it was risky going back by himself.
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Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:57 pm
Yuki gave only a nod, and followed Neko back to Hitsu. A small smirk played on his lips, "You win, are you happy?"
"Not yet." Hitsu said, rubbing at her eyes as she smiled faintly. "Not until all of us are free again."
"He's going to do his best, Hitsu." Yuki reassured, though he looked increasingly worried the longer he thought about sending Neko back in alone.
She looked from one to the other, and once Neko had finished his instructions she shook her head. "We're not going home without you, we can't go back without you. Don't talk like that."
"We'll wait for you there." Yuki confirmed, holding a hand out to him. Probably not one of the best times to offer a handshake, in risk of gesturing that he might have actually thought this could be their last interaction. "Be careful, man."
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Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 8:08 pm
Taking Yuki’s hand Neko gave it a firm shake holding it there for a moment hesitant to let go. “Careful..right. I’ll keep that in mind.” Releasing Yuki’s hand Neko gave Hitsu one last look before he smiled. “I expect a kiss again when I get back.” Finally turning away Neko made his way down the tunnel again, every step felt like he was taking a closer step to death.
Stepping over the bodies to descend the stairs, Neko was having second thoughts as to whether this was a good idea or not. But he had already made a promise to Hitsu so he would at least try his best. Once at the bottom of the stairs Neko opened the door and peeked through. He could hear footsteps now, apparently some of the techs were out for one reason or another. Stepping in quickly, Neko shut the door behind himself softly.
Making his way down the hall he kept a sharp eye out for anything that might alert him to approaching techs. About to turn a corner Neko quickly pulled back having seen lab techs standing not too far off. Holding his breath he waited a few moments but he didn’t hear any approaching footsteps. Relaxing he exhaled in his relief and edged a little closer to the corner to listen.
“I haven’t heard a word from Suto in hours, you?” One tech asked.
“No, I haven’t heard a thing. You would think he would be running about like a maniac like he usually does when new experiments arrive. It’s generally none stop.”
“Maybe he’s taking his time with the new girl? The brown haired beauty?”
“Could be. It really sucks that he gets both this new girl and Mitsu to himself. What I wouldn’t do for just a little time alone with either of them.”
“I know what you mean,” The other tech let out a snort before he chuckled to himself.
Suppressing a growl, Neko peeked around the corner just in time to see one of the techs retreating into a room leaving the remaining tech alone. For a few minutes he seemed to just be standing in place before he started to move in Neko’s direction. Patiently Neko waited for the tech to be right beside him before he reached out and took hold of the tech by the throat preventing him from making even the smallest of noises. Eyes wide Suto’s lap dog was barely able to begin struggling before Neko crushed his windpipe and let him drop to the floor.
“Filthy vermin,” Neko hissed.
Kneeling down Neko relieved the tech of his white lab coat and put it on himself. It wasn’t exactly the best of fits, a little small but it would do. It would at least allow Neko to move a little more freely through the halls without worry of being stopped. Dragging the tech out of sight Neko went about following his path down the hall again trying to look as casual as possible.
His search continued for a good thirty minutes and he still saw nothing. There were so many rooms in this place he was beginning to think he might not be able to find his way back out. Getting ready to turn down another hallway Neko frozen on the spot as an alarm sounded. Red lights that lined the hallway were blinking and a high pitched siren screeched in his ear. Techs began to pour out of their offices leaving Neko to stand rigid in place. There were so many of them, what could he do by himself?
Watching them all come running toward him, Neko braced himself to be tackled but it never came. Having shut his eyes he opened them again to see techs running past him one by one as if he wasn’t even there.
“Hey!” Neko turned toward the voice facing a rather distraught looking tech. “Did you hear? Is it true?”
“Is what true?”
“Suto! Is Suto really dead?” The tech looked panicked which Neko found odd. He would think these people would be relieved to hear that he was dead.
“I dunno,” Neko lied. “I’ve been making rounds and haven’t heard anything. What happened?”
“I’m not sure,” The tech went on, apparently excepting Neko’s lie. “I heard something about stabbing and his experiments are gone.”
“The new experiments?” Neko tried to sound surprised.
“Yes, yes! They are running around here somewhere. What if they are seeking revenge on all of us? Oh what to do, what to do.” The tech began to pace as he spoke to Neko.
Grasping at the small glimmer of opportunity, Neko hoped his plan would work. “They might try to release Mitsu and take her with them. I should probably check, where was he keeping her?”
The tech had paused as he thought, apparently he wasn’t sure. “I…think he sent her to solitary. But I’m not completely sure. It’s at the other end of the building.” The tech pointed out a direction.
“I’ll go check, maybe I can cut them off if they’re there.” Neko started to head off.
“G…good idea,” The tech squeaked looking around as if trying to determine where to hide.
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Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 8:51 pm
Now that he had a direction Neko made his way to the other end of the building. It was a long walk and he noticed it was becoming progressively colder the further he went. Finally he stood outside a door that was labeled ‘Solitary’ and concluded he was in the right spot. Taking the keycard that Yuki had given him he swiped it to unlock the door and entered. Making sure it was closed behind him he made his way down another much shorter hallway. There really wasn’t anyone here, most of the rooms were empty. Just when Neko was about to give up on the fact that Mitsu was here he saw her out of the corner of his eye. If he hadn’t taken a second look he would have never seen her small form huddled in the corner out of sight.
“Mitsu?” He walked up to the tinted glass and tapped on it but got no response. Looking to either side Neko saw a door beside Mitsu’s room, it must be the way in. Swiping the card again Neko let himself in. He made a short walk down a narrow hallway before he stood outside the door to Mitsu’s room. Unlocking it he opened it slowly, easing in so as not to spook her. “Mitsu?” She didn’t move, but now that he was closer he could see the damage that had been dealt. Mitsu’s back still bore the results of her lashings and though they were healing it still looked as if she had gone through a meat grinder.
“Mitsu?” He stepped toward her reaching out a hand to touch her shoulder. At his touch he finally got a reaction, though it wasn’t what he expected. She stood to her feet without saying a word and headed to the door without even casting him a glance. Waiting there it appeared as if she was expecting to be taken to the lab. “Mitsu!” This time Neko’s voice was a little more firm and it finally got her attention.
Her deadpan eyes turned toward him and settled on his face. Dried tear trails lined her cheeks and her eyes were still puffy and red. She tilted her head curiously as she looked at him, her mind unable to place where she had seen his face before.
Seeing her confusion, Neko tried to offer help. “Mitsu, its me. Neko.”
“Neko?” She said his name with a sense of unfamiliarity and it made Neko wonder what had happened to her to make her forget so quickly. He knew she had memory problems, but nothing like this.
“Come on,” Neko shuffled her toward the door. “You’re lucky Hitsu likes you so much.”
“Hitsu?” Mitsu didn’t seem to recognize that name either as she was forced through the door and lead out of solitary. She walked calmly down the hall, keeping up with Neko’s quick pace as he rushed back to the exit. When he turned to go back to the tunnel, however, Mitsu started to head in the direction of the lab.
“No no no! This way,” Neko took hold of her arm pulling her out of sight of a few lab techs heading their way.
Confused, Mitsu stared in the direction of the lab. It was unusual, she always went that direction. Why was today different? Did Suto have something else in mind for her now? Turning back to Neko, Mitsu allowed him to lead her, unsure where they were going.
At this point, Neko didn’t know what to think. It was like Mitsu’s mind had been wiped clean of anything involving him, Hitsu or any of the others. Taking her hand he led her down the hall to the door that would lead them to their freedom. Seeing no one in their way Neko let out a relieved sigh as he opened the door and started his way up the stairs. This had been easier than he thought it would be and it had only taken him a little under an hour to find her. So hopefully he wouldn’t be too far behind Yuki and Hitsu.
Aiming to take his first step into the tunnel and over the bodies that lined it he paid them little mind but they caught Mitsu’s full attention. She froze on the spot tugging against Neko’s hand. Wanting to go no further she edged back down the stairs. Why was this place familiar? Why was there this aching feeling in her heart? Staring in horror at the blood and the bodies Mitsu looked like she was on the verge of tears again.
“No, no Mitsu! Come on!” Neko backtracked and took a firm hold of her arm. She was really trying his patience at this point. “Close your eyes and pretend you’re somewhere else.”
Unable to take her eyes off the scene Mitsu shook her head trying to continue down the stairs. Not allowing her to go Neko pulled her forward holding her tightly against him. “Its okay. Just think of something else. I’m going to get you out of here.” He tried too keep his voice soothing but he could feel her shaking in his grasp.
Held tightly in place Mitsu stopped her struggling but couldn’t help but shake out of fear. She couldn’t figure out why this place was so familiar to her and why when she looked at this tech that her head began to hurt and a sickening sense of guilt plagued her mind. Taking a moment to try and think back Mitsu was caught off guard as Neko scooped her up into his arms and made his way through the tunnel. He allowed her no time to look back before he ducked down and stepped outside into the cold winter air. It was snowing, cold, and windy, and Neko was so happy to be facing it again. Placing Mitsu on her feet he took hold of her hand again. “Let’s go.”
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