Whispers in the Dark, Part 1 A Side Story by MokonaChiirushia and Hokuto Kuzuki *The time is five months before the first episode of "Open Circle;" the place is the Chinese restaurant. It's morning, and Tetsuya is just leaving in order to meet with a business associate to discuss a shipment.* Sailor Bob: *Stumbles out of a nearby alley where he collapsed the night before. Leans against the wall of the restaurant, then slides down the wall until he's sitting next to the steps. Collapses onto them.* Sailor Bob: *is rather beaten up, with dried blood showing in several places, and his hair's a mess* Tetsuya: *stepping out of the restaurant, almost onto Sailor Bob; stops just in time* Na-? Sailor Bob: *unconscious, moans* Tetsuya: *sighs* Perhaps I should start letting the guards keep this area clean of this sort of thing... Tetsuya: *steps around Sailor Bob, intending to leave him there until he can make time to have someone clear him out* Sailor Bob: No... Get away... Get away from me...! Tetsuya: *intrigued, stops for a moment to listen* Sailor Bob: Please... I didn't... Get away from me...! Tetsuya: *very intrigued now; leans down and tries to shake Sailor Bob awake* Excuse me. Sailor Bob: *is too far gone to wake up now* Please...! No...! Tetsuya: *hating to do this to someone who's obviously already been beaten up severely, but too intrigued not to, slaps Sailor Bob* Wake up! Sailor Bob: *is jerked awake by the slap, opens his eye* Wha... Tetsuya: I apologize, but you are on the front step of my restaurant and blocking the way. *of course, says nothing about the sleep-talking* Sailor Bob: *only hears restaurant* Food? *hasn't eaten for days* Tetsuya: Are you hungry? Sailor Bob: *tries to nod, but his head hurts too much* Tetsuya: I suppose there might be some extra food in the kitchen, if you don't mind rice... *is NOT doing this out of the goodness of his heart* Sailor Bob: *tries to shake his head, as in, “I don’t mind,” but once again it hurts too much* Tetsuya: *sighs* Come with me, then. Do you need help? Sailor Bob: *tries to stand up, collapses again* Tetsuya: I will take that as a yes. *takes Sailor Bob's arm and helps him stand up* Sailor Bob: *is trying his best not to collapse again* Tetsuya: *assists Sailor Bob to the kitchen, rigidly ignoring his henchpeople's stares* Sailor Bob: *is assisted, trying not to look like he's being dragged, which he practically is* Joker: *is standing around in the kitchen, mooching food and flirting with a busboy* Joker: *looks up and sees Tetsuya with Sailor Bob* 0.0!!!!!!! Sailor Bob: e.# Tetsuya: -.- *expression is just DARING someone - anyone - to say a wrong word* Joker: *noticing expression, is very careful in word choice* So, boss, who's the - uh - the new arrival? Tetsuya: *also choosing his words rather carefully* This person was on the front steps. He requires food and medical care. Joker: *looks at both Tetsuya and Sailor Bob, but no danger sense prickles; relaxes slightly* Sailor Bob: *is nearly unconscious on his feet, can't be that much of a danger* Joker: Well, then... *turns around to the kitchen staff* Hey, what's the matter? You guys deaf? Let's have some food here! Kitchen Staff Members: *giving everyone funny looks, but procure a plate of rice and some fish for Sailor Bob* Tetsuya: *as the only person with even a vague clue as to what's going on, is by default the person who gets Sailor Bob a seat and puts the food in front of him* Joker: *keeps a watchful eye out as always* Sailor Bob: *the food is gone as soon as the plate touches the table* Joker: *jaw drops* Tetsuya: *eyes widen slightly* Would you care for anything else? Sailor Bob: *looks only sleepy now* e.# Yes, please... Tetsuya: *makes a quick hand motion to a member of the kitchen staff, who promptly disappears and reappears with another plate* Douzo. Sailor Bob: *the food disappears again, but not quite as quickly* Joker: *still slack-jawed* Tetsuya: More? Sailor Bob: e.# May I have some tea? Tetsuya: Certainly. *gestures for tea* Joker: *gets the tea himself, making sure to bring a cup for Tetsuya, and pours for both of them* Sailor Bob: *sips the tea very slowly* Tetsuya: *sips also* Tetsuya: How did you come here? Sailor Bob: *thinks for a minute, then blinks* I... I don't know... Joker: ?.? Tetsuya: Really. Do you know what happened to you? Sailor Bob: *shudders* Not very much... Tetsuya: *sighs* I see... Tetsuya: I suppose you wouldn't have a place to stay, either... Sailor Bob: *shakes head, looks very innocent* Tetsuya: Very well, then. *turns to look at Joker* Joker: Nuh-uh. My boyfriend's staying over tonight, and I don't have enough room for some other person. Sailor Bob: *looks dejected, but very quietly* Tetsuya: *nods head slightly* I understand. *turns to Sailor Bob* You will have to stay with me, then. Joker: 0.0!!!!!!!!!!! Kitchen Staff Members: 0.0!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *were listening in* Sailor Bob: Okay. *is just happy that they're being kind to him* Tetsuya: You may stay in the restaurant during the day. I will be out most of the time, but if you need anything, Joker will take care of it. Sailor Bob: Okay. Joker: *completely shell-shocked, since NOBODY in the organization has even the vaguest idea of what the boss does during what little time he isn't working* Uh... yeah... Tetsuya: I will pick you up when I am done. Acceptable? Sailor Bob: *nods* Yes, thank you. Tetsuya: *stands up and bows slightly* Then I will see you later. Tetsuya: *disappears on his "business"* Sailor Bob: *Is left alone, decides a nap would be a good idea. Puts his head down on the table and sleeps.* Joker: @.@ Joker: Man, why am *I* stuck with the baby-sitting detail? What the HELL is going on? Sailor Bob: *Occasionally says something in his sleep, usually along the lines of "No, don't" or "please". But he says this all very quietly, as if he knows he's a guest and should try not to disturb anyone.* Joker: *sitting next to him, talking out loud to himself and only vaguely hearing Sailor Bob's words* Christ, NOBODY knows what the boss does or where he goes when he's not working... Joker: Shit, Christian Jesus doesn't know, even. So why the hell would he take this beat-up little brat anywhere? Joker: *looks at Sailor Bob, noticing how pretty he is even under the grime, blood and bruises; shakes his head* Nah. No way. The boss doesn't do that kind of thing... Sailor Bob: *stops murmuring things for a short time* Joker: *leans back in the chair, looking oddly wistful for a moment* I would have known if that was how the boss felt... Joker: *sits up again* There's just more going on here than he's telling, that's all. Tight-mouthed bastard. *says this last in a rather admiring tone of voice* Sailor Bob: Kaasan... Joker: *perks up slightly at hearing this; is getting intrigued about the whole thing as well* Sailor Bob: *glomps onto Joker, halfway chibi* Kaasan... Joker: *goes halfway chibi* GEEP! I'm not your friggin' mommy! Joker: *does not un-glomp Sailor Bob* Sailor Bob: *snuggles Joker* Joker: *sighs* Just don't push it, okay, pal? Or my boyfriend really will kill me. Joker: Jealous type, this one is... Sailor Bob: *continues snuggling, occasionally saying "Kaasan"* Joker: 9.9 *continues not un-glomping him* *Fade to the end of the day, around ten p.m. or so. Joker and Sailor Bob are still glomped; Joker is taking a quick nap himself, head resting on top of Sailor Bob's.* Tetsuya: *walks into the restaurant quietly and with little fuss, as usual* Tetsuya: *sees the two of them, feels something deep within his heart twinge a little - perhaps it's an "awwwww," or jealousy, or simple loneliness* Joker: *waking up* e.e Boss, it's... Joker: Geep! Boss! Joker: *snuggles* Kaasan... Tetsuya: *raises one eyebrow at them* Joker: *points finger accusingly at Sailor Bob* He started it! He was sleeping, and then he just - just grabbed me! Sailor Bob: *wakes up just a teeny bit* e.#? Tetsuya: I understand. *voice slightly colder than usual, and with perhaps a touch of sarcasm* Joker: *blushes furiously for no reason* Sailor Bob: *wakes up all the way* !.# *jumps away from Joker, blushing furiously* !?.#! Tetsuya: *still in the somewhat colder voice* Has anything been - dissatisfactory? Sailor Bob: *has no clue what's been going on* ?.# !.# *alternates between those two faces* Joker: *still blushing* No problems, Boss. It's all been fine. Tetsuya: I'm sure. *to Sailor Bob* Are you ready to go? Sailor Bob: *figures it's not going to be explained to him, nods* Tetsuya: Come with me, then. Joker, since you seem well-rested, you will be in charge for the rest of the night. *there is definitely a cutting edge to his voice now* Sailor Bob: *looks between them, wonders what's going on, decides it's all over his head and just follows Tetsuya* Joker: *goes to hang out in the kitchen, mooch food, and brood* Tetsuya: *leads Sailor Bob on a long walk through some twisty, rather disreputable alleys, the kinds of places that don't get mentioned on maps* Sailor Bob: *is led* @.# Tetsuya: *makes sure that Sailor Bob is thoroughly lost* Sailor Bob: *is completely and thoroughly lost* Tetsuya: *after being sure, walks into a true rat trap of an apartment building* Tetsuya: *takes Sailor Bob up a long flight of dirty stairs to the fourth floor, which pretty much looks like a crackhouse and has the obligatory scurrying things in the shadows* Sailor Bob: *tries not to get scurried on* Tetsuya: *Unlocks and opens the door to one of the apartments, which is relatively neat but clearly un-lived in; it's a bit dusty, and there are absolutely no personal effects of any sort visible. There is only one room plus a tiny bathroom, and only one small bed.* Sailor Bob: *Spots the bed, wonders who's going to sleep in it. Is hoping beyond hope that it's either him OR Tetsuya.* Tetsuya: Please, come in. *looks slightly embarrassed* I know it is isn't much, but I rarely stay here. Tetsuya: I do try to keep it clean. Sailor Bob: *goes in, is rather impressed with the quality of the place, compared to what he's become accustomed to* Tetsuya: *looks around in the teeny closet* I believe there are some clean clothes in here somewhere - yours are rather bloody. Sailor Bob: *looks embarrassed himself* Tetsuya: *finally pulls out an old but clean suit of his* This should fit... Sailor Bob: Thank you. Sailor Bob: *is feeling rather awkward* Tetsuya: *hands him the suit, then exits the apartment and closes the door behind him, ostentatiously not locking it* Sailor Bob: *blinks* ?.# Sailor Bob: *shrugs and peeks into the bathroom* Bathroom: *Other than the standard fittings, contains only a toothbrush, cup, and tube of toothpaste, all brand new, and a small note saying, "These are for your use. I have others with me."* Sailor Bob: *puts the suit down and turns the shower on* Tetsuya: *resolutely stays outside the apartment, glaring at the occasional crackwhores who venture near in hope of money, though by this time most of them know better* Tetsuya: *keeps patiently waiting outside while Sailor Bob showers* Sailor Bob: *forgets about everything else and enjoys the first real shower he's had in a very, very long time* Tetsuya: *when he's sure Sailor Bob is DEFINITELY in the middle of the shower, sneaks in and takes the old bloody clothes away, disposing of them on another floor in the building where they'll attract no attention* Tetsuya: *then takes up his post in front of the door again* Sailor Bob: *falls asleep in the shower* Tetsuya: *starts worrying vaguely when it gets to be half an hour; is well aware that the hot water in the building rarely lasts more than fifteen minutes on a GOOD day* Tetsuya: *knocks on the door* Excuse me? Sailor Bob: *is asleep, leaning his head against the wall and somehow managing to stay upright while sleeping* Tetsuya: *opens the door and goes in, knocking on the door to the bathroom* Excuse me? Sailor Bob: *is still sleeping* Tetsuya: *opens the door, speaking quite loudly now* Excuse me! Tetsuya: Are you all right? Sailor Bob: *wakes up* e.#? Tetsuya: *turns eyes firmly towards the ceiling* Tetsuya: Are you all right? Sailor Bob: e.# Yes... Tetsuya: J- just checking. *backs out of the bathroom and the apartment* Tetsuya: *leans against the outside of the apartment door and breathes a quick sigh of relief* Sailor Bob: e.# *Gets out of shower and puts suit on, finds it too big. Looks very cute in over-sized clothes.* Tetsuya: *deciding arbitrarily that it's safe, comes back in* Better? Sailor Bob: *still kind of sleepy* e.# Hai... Tetsuya: Good. Since you're so tired, why don't you go ahead and take the bed. Sailor Bob: Okay... *Goes over to bed, falls on it and is asleep. Forgot to put his hair back in a ponytail after the shower, so his hair falls over his face in an extremely cute way.* Tetsuya: *sits on the floor next to the wall facing the door, leaning against it with his knees drawn up to his chest* Sailor Bob: *starts talking in his sleep* Tetsuya: *listens carefully* Sailor Bob: Kaasan... No... Tetsuya: *takes mental notes* Sailor Bob: Kaasan... Sailor Bob: Doushite... Kaasan... Sailor Bob: *curls into a little ball* Doushite... Doushite... Tetsuya: *unconsciously tenses a little, putting his arms around his knees* Sailor Bob: No... Please... Leave me be...! Sailor Bob: *curls up even more* Please... Let me...! Tetsuya: *stands up abruptly* Tetsuya: *walks out the door and closes it behind him, sitting down with his back against it; only then realizes that his hands are shaking slightly* Sailor Bob: Kaasan... Tetsuya: *thanks to the cheap thin walls of the place, can still hear Sailor Bob fairly well* Sailor Bob: No... Let me go...! Tetsuya: *puts his hands over his ears, hating it but unable to stop himself* Sailor Bob: *sniffles, his voice breaking slightly* Kaasan... Tetsuya: *even with his hands over his ears, can still hear* "Your frickin’ mother’s dead and IT'S YOUR FAULT!" Tetsuya: *finally gets up and goes back in; though unaware of it, he is fingering the rosary* Sailor Bob: No... Kaasan...! Tetsuya: *stands by the bed with the rosary in his hands, the beads slipping back and forth so that sometimes the thread is hidden and sometimes revealed* Sailor Bob: No... Please... Kaasan... Tetsuya: *suddenly looks down and realizes what he's doing; throws the rosary into the corner with revulsion* Sailor Bob: H- Hontou... Kaasan... daisuki da... Tetsuya: *takes a deep breath, and puts one hand carefully on Sailor Bob's cheek* Sssh. It's all right. Sailor Bob: *quiets, then says, almost whispering* Daisuki... *stops talking* Tetsuya: *swallows, then sits back down against the wall where he can keep an eye on the door* Time: *skips ahead to the next day* Tetsuya: *got about an hour of non-fun, unrestive sleep, but doesn't look like it* Sailor Bob: *had nightmares all night, but most of them were vague and just generally terrifying* Tetsuya: *gives Sailor Bob a quick look-over* I don't think you'll need to go to the hospital, but one of my doctors should look at you. Sailor Bob: e.# Okay. Tetsuya: *looking perfectly normal and not at all sleepy, leads Sailor Bob out of the building and through the alley maze to the back door of a respectable-looking doctor's office* Tetsuya: *knocks twice, not loudly but clearly* Sailor Bob: *is led* @.# Doctor: *opens the door* Yes? Tetsuya: Someone for you to see. *pushes Sailor Bob forward* Sailor Bob: *is pushed* @.# Doctor: *peers at Sailor Bob* My, you're a mess. Well, come on in... I assume this is standard procedure, sir? Tetsuya: Yes. Sailor Bob: ?.# Tetsuya: It means that your privacy will be protected. No one else will ever know you were here. *feeling unusually talkative* Doctor: Exactly. Sailor Bob: e.# Okay... Doctor: *takes Sailor Bob into a small private office, inspects him thoroughly and patches him up where necessary* Sailor Bob: *is patched up* Doctor: Well, then - if you'll just wait a few minutes while I look at another patient, I'll give you a final check and then you're free to go. Okay? Sailor Bob: Okay. Doctor: *leaves, but not for another patient - to talk with Tetsuya* Sailor Bob: *is left* e.# Tetsuya: *looks up as doctor enters the room where he's waiting* Well? Doctor: He had a lot of minor cuts and scratches, but I think they were self-inflicted. Doctor: There were several scratch marks on his neck, especially. Tetsuya: His neck? Doctor: Yes. It also looks like someone took a knife to his abdomen at one point. Tetsuya: Very interesting. Was there anything else? Doctor: There are some scars on his left arm that look like he tried to slit his wrist. Doctor: But that's it. Tetsuya: I see. Thank you. Doctor: It's not a problem. After all, I owe you my practice, No Hands. Sailor Bob: *still just sitting there* e.# Tetsuya: *stands and bows slightly* Again, thank you. If you would bring him here, please? Doctor: Certainly. *goes back, does a quick final check of Sailor Bob and then takes him to Tetsuya* Sailor Bob: *is taken* Doctor: There you go. Remember, I'm always open if you need it. Tetsuya: I remember everything. *bows slightly again, then leaves for the restaurant with Sailor Bob in tow* Sailor Bob: *is towed* Tetsuya: *is quiet, thinking about what use Sailor Bob could be; then realizes that he doesn't even know the guy's name* Tetsuya: I beg your pardon - I seem to have forgotten to ask you what your name is... Sailor Bob: I don't have one... Tetsuya: You - have no name? Sailor Bob: Well, it's more like I don't remember it. Tetsuya: That must be rather awkward. Sailor Bob: Well, I haven't needed it for a while... Tetsuya: Why not? Sailor Bob: No one... has bothered to ask my name... for a long time. Sailor Bob: Maybe that's why I... forgot it... *is obviously not happy* Tetsuya: I understand. *the tone of his voice clearly indicates that he does* Sailor Bob: *becomes silent* Tetsuya: Still - you cannot just be called "hey, you." It's undignified. Is there a name you like that I could use? *doesn't even notice that he said "I" instead of "we" as in the organization* Sailor Bob: Hmm... *out of the blue* How about Sailor Bob? Tetsuya: ~.- Really? Sailor Bob: *shrugs cheerfully* Why not? Tetsuya: *thinks that's about as dignified as "hey, you," but doesn't protest* It will do. Sailor Bob: ^__# Tetsuya: *goes back to silence, trying to think of things for Sailor Bob to do that wouldn't make him too much a part of the organization* Sailor Bob: *is happy with his new name* Joker: *meets them at the front door of the restaurant, looking grumpy and frazzled and generally the same way that Tetsuya ought to look after not sleeping* Joker: e.e 'Morning, boss. Tetsuya: Good morning. Sailor Bob: ^__# Good morning! Joker: -.- *HATES morning people* Sailor Bob: *is also very tired, doesn't get much sleep when he dreams and talks* Tetsuya: Did everything go smoothly? Joker: All except for the "boyfriend showing up and yelling he never wants to see me again at the top of his lungs in the middle of the dining room" part. Tetsuya: Ah. Joker: I swear, there's no other effing job on earth that's as hard on the love life as THIS one. Tetsuya: Go rest, Joker. I apologize. Joker: e_e 'S okay. He was a bitch anyway. *disappears to get sleep* Sailor Bob: *looks at Tetsuya, realizes he has no idea who he is* Tetsuya: *takes Sailor Bob into the restaurant and sits down with him at a table, having come up with a couple of ideas for jobs; ignores Sailor Bob's look* Sailor Bob: *is ignored* ;.; Tetsuya: *ignores the mock-tears, too; is trying to come up with a good way to offer Sailor Bob an errand-boy job* Tetsuya: *gets them both tea, sips at his* Sailor Bob: *sips his, too* Tetsuya: *decides on the direct approach* Since you have no place to go, would you care to take a job here at the restaurant? Sailor Bob: Sure! Tetsuya: *raises an eyebrow* That was quick. Sailor Bob: But you're right. Sailor Bob: I don't have anywhere to go. Sailor Bob: And if you're kind enough to offer me a job, I'd have to be stupid to turn it down. Tetsuya: Very well, then. You can help clear and set the tables, wash dishes, and you may have to run errands from time to time. Nothing major, just carrying messages or a package. Acceptable? Sailor Bob: Yup! Tetsuya: You may begin whenever you are ready. Sailor Bob: *stands up and bows* Thank you! Tetsuya: *does the same* You're welcome. Sailor Bob: *goes into the kitchen to report for duty* Tetsuya: *sits down and finishes his tea* Tea: *is finished* *End Part 1.* Credits: Tetsuya: Hokuto Kuzuki Sailor Bob: MokonaChiirushia Joker: Hokuto Kuzuki Doctor: MokonaChiirushia/Hokuto Kuzuki Kitchen Staff Members: Hokuto Kuzuki Time: MokonaChiirushia