the_campus | [Event] It couldn't last forever.

[It didn't matter if he hurt. It didn't matter if he couldn't eat, or if he was tired, or if he felt too hot. The only thing that mattered was that he got the hell out of that apartment. Away from Malik. Away from the Ring.

He didn't know where he wanted to go, or even how he'd get back. He didn't know what would happen if he hurt too much to go back, or if the monster Yugi had spoke of showed up.

He didn't care.

All he wanted was to find Henry. Henry was nice. Henry was strong and kind, and made him feel less like a worthess puppet on strings. It felt like a selfish desire, but he was at the point where he just needed someone decent to hang around for a while.

So he wandered, looking for Henry and trying his best to ignore the pain that wracked his body for as long as he could.]

[Luckily for Ryou, the Dark Magician was quick to sense his presence and nudge his king towards the poor child. Light floods the hallway and the moment Henry's eyes lay on him, he's immediately over there and supporting the teen.]

Ryou! What's the matter?!

I'm sorry, Henry... I just needed to get away from the apartment for a while.

[It's a poor excuse, he knows, but he's grateful for the support and doesn't want to lose it by admitting just what's wrong. It's probably obvious from the start that he's in a bit of a bad state.]

Is it okay if I stay around and talk to you for a while?

...Yes. Of course. Let's go back to my lodgings, all right? So we can sit down and relax.

[He can immediately tell something is wrong, moving a hand up to gently press it against the boy's forehead to check his temperature again. It must be serious, to be up and about like this.]

Edited 2013-09-20 10:42 (UTC)

[He sighs in relief at that. His temperature is still high, but not as bad as it was. It seems he didn't get as much rest as he should have.]

Thank you, Henry. I'd like that.

Follow me. It's not too far.

[Henry passes his hand over his deck holder, the Dark Magician replying affirmative to the command to stay alert. He gently places a hand on Ryou's shoulder after that, leading him along to the Rose Dorm.

It's about when they reach it that he remembers the barrier, temporarily forgotten in the worry, and keeps going for a couple doors until he finds an unlocked one, gently herding Ryou inside there and locking the door behind them.

From the lack of alarm, he guesses that it's empty, and thankfully so. The candle is placed on the table in front of the couch, then Henry gently tries to steer Ryou onto the couch itself.]

Here, sit down. I can see if there's a bottle of water or something if you feel thirsty.

Edited 2013-09-20 10:47 (UTC)

Thanks... I'd appreciate it.

[He doesn't resist, sinking down onto the couch with a sigh of relief. The flickering light of the candle is enough to show how strained his expression is, and a cursory glance would be all it would take to notice the Ring isn't on his person. He won't mind if Henry checks to make sure, though.

Right now, he's tired and unhappy, and Henry's presence alone is a relief, even while he feels bad for worrying him.]

Sorry to be a bother.

[Henry disappears into the kitchen, groping a little in the darkness so he can leave the light for Ryou. He does manage to find the fridge, and a bottle -- a quick taste confirms it to be water, and he takes it back out to offer it to him.]

You're never a bother, Ryou. Are you cold?

I'm not sure... I feel a little hot, but my ability to tell has been going crazy lately.

[Burns that severe tended to ruin the nerves there, leaving him unable to tell if he was too hot or too cold in some places. He gratefully accepts the water, trying to sip at it and barely managing not to gulp.]

[Henry decides to err on the side of caution and takes the candle long enough to fetch a blanket from the bedroom, then returns and places it lightly on the armrest, just in case.

That done, the candle goes back on the table and he sits down, giving the young boy a serious look.]

Speak with me. What's wrong?

...

[Wordlessly, he leans against Henry, closing his eyes and trying to gather his thoughts.]

I think... I've just hit my limit on how much I can take right now.

[It's a quietly unhappy admittance. His hands twist together in his lap as he tries to think of a way to say it that won't sound bad.]

Last night... I had a bit of a fight with Malik. He said some things, and I just... couldn't take being around him right now.

I see.

[In response, Henry gently laces his arm around Ryou's shoulders, resting his hand in the boy's hair again and beginning to pet it softly.]

It must have been bad. I was wondering if you'd be soft and sweet to even a murderer, with how gentle a soul you are.

[The touch is soothing. Like that of a parent... It makes him feel a little nostalgic. Kind to a murderer? Heh... it's hard to tell.]

I... woke up right after they were done... doing things. And Malik kept teasing me over how I reacted. In the end, he told me... [He has to pause and reflect. The words are painful to even say.] That it didn't matter if I was bothered by it, or gave permission... because I was 'weak enough to lose control of my own body'.

It feels like a stupid thing to be the tipping point. In the end, I was so much of a doormat I couldn't even leave. The fact that I was too tired to stand up helped.

...

[The petting stops for a moment, because Henry has to repress the wave of utter rage at that statement. Malik... how dare you. After the trouble you cause, already, you do more?

Tch...

He pulls away from Ryou, cupping the boy's face in both his hands and turning his head up so their eyes meet. Henry's own crimson is firm and strong, but also soft and gentle; a mimic for his voice.]

Malik is a fool in many ways. A child who, I think, has never been properly brought in line. You are not weak, Ryou. I told you this when we spoke before, and I will say it again.

You. Are. Not. Weak.

Losing control of your body does not make you weak. In fact, your control is lost to a spirit, a devil in an object. Many men and women... [Henry hesitates, closing his eyes, then opening them again.] ...we lose control of our bodies -- our very minds -- to no one but ourselves. I lost control of myself to my emotions and I had nearly killed someone because of it.

Losing control is not a sign of weakness. The burden you bear could never be taken on by one who's weak.

[The words and the intent behind them flood him with relief. Some of the tension simply leaves, just like that, as he stares back into those eyes. His own warm brown eyes are tired, but most of the obvious distress in them just seems to melt away right then and there. It's what he needed to hear.

He can't talk about this with anyone else, after all. Most of the people here, he doesn't know well enough. Yugi's got problems of his own... Kaiba has no time for weakness. Malik is Malik... The other him would never even listen if he did speak, and that would be ridiculous to even try. Even at home... he'd never have spoken of it. He'd just kept bearing it all over and over for such a long time, that even this little admittance of unhappiness - and the comforting return - brings some peace to him.

Henry's admission makes him feel a little guilty though, and he lifts his hand to grasp Henry's shoulder.]

I... don't think you're bad for losing control like that. You're a very strong person... and I'm glad you didn't kill them. You don't deserve that weight on your shoulders, along with the rest.

[He takes a deep breath.]

I don't think he's really bad, either. I made him angry... I don't know how. I guess he really did feel like he didn't need permission. People always say cutting things when they're angry. I know that... but I still got so angry at him that I wanted to hit him.

Truthfully... it was like he was speaking my own fears back at me. So I got angrier than I'd ever been, because I was scared that it was true.

[His voice softens a little.]

I'll try not to let those fears grow any more.

[Henry releases Ryou's head, smiling a little at the comfort, and gently brushes some of his hair out of his eyes.]

Regardless of what he feels, regardless of whether he is bad or not, he is a foolish child. It's your own body, even if taken from you, and to think he didn't need permission just shows more of what a child he is. Hopefully, some day, someone can help him hammer himself out into something more... but until then, a foolish child is what he is.

[A smile quirks at the edge of the king's mouth, and he playfully taps Ryou on the nose.]

I'll hold you to that. Because if you say that I'm not bad for that... then you can't very well say you're weak for doing the same.

[He sits back down properly, glancing over.]

...But you know... strength is a funny thing. The strength of one person is so very limited... yet bring even two together, and it becomes something far more than the sum of the individual strength they possessed.

[He reaches over, gently placing a hand back on Ryou's shoulder and shifting his arm out of the way, in case he wants to snuggle up again.]

Father, mother, brother, sister, even a friend... one's strength alone will never be enough, but the strength of those who have another to rely on... well, it becomes enough to do miracles.

[He wrinkles his nose slightly in surprise, not unlike a rabbit, at that tap. Once Henry has sat back down, he gratefully leans against him again, relieved by the comfort.]

Yeah... It's true. I always feel stronger when everyone's together. With Father and Mother and Amane gone, I hated being alone so much... Until I met Yugi-kun and the others, I thought it was all that was ever going to exist for me. Just endless quiet.

Once I did... It was like something had revitalized me. Even though I was scared, at that time, I was able to help them fight off the other me. Ever since then, he usually makes sure that I sleep whenever he's in control. I think... he's a little afraid that I'll regain that strength and stop him.

For a long time I was scared that he wouldn't let me wake up at all. It felt like I'd lost track of days, weeks... Before I came here, I woke up in the middle of a duel, bleeding from a stab wound to the arm, and facing down a giant dragon. I can't be sure, but I think we weren't even on the ground any more. I didn't even know what country I was in. I just remember the shock on Yugi's face. It was like he was suddenly very afraid.

[Why is he saying all of this? It's like it's all coming out suddenly. His voice is almost lazy.]

I kept hearing Jounouchi-kun yelling at someone to stop the duel, but I couldn't think straight enough to make sense of anything. Even now, nobody will tell me why I was even there. Malik-kun and Kaiba-kun were both there, but they just dismiss it if I ask them.

It's a little frustrating. I want to help everyone. I want everyone to smile and play games together and have fun. Until that time... I wonder if there's even anything I can do?

[Henry laces his arm back around Ryou when he comes over, gently petting his hair again as he listens. He says nothing, just letting it all spill out. When he's finished, Henry looks down at him again.]

If he's so intent on putting you to sleep, it must be that he's afraid of you. You don't shackle the meek pup; you shackle the rebellious bitch. If he's going to that much trouble, you must be bothersome for him somehow.

[He shifts his hand down, doing a check for the Ring. Nada. Good.]

And that's partly why I bargained for your time -- and especially why I bargained for no Ring. I want to help you with that. Because of my position, I was given training to shield my mind against various attacks or digs within in, just in case an enemy's monster tried to use me against my own kingdom. I want to pass that onto you, to give you that strength back.

You may feel that there's nothing you can do... but you're here, aren't you? As long as you make even one person smile when they see you... as long as even one person is willing to listen or comes to you to be listened to... you're doing something.

A single pebble, even the smallest of them, will start the ripples all the way through the river. All it needs is the force to be thrown in.

[Training to shield his mind? He sits up straight, staring at Henry with surprised eyes. The idea of it is definitely pleasing. If he can strengthen his mind... if he can gain even enough strength to resist, that'll be something.]

I... would like to learn! I don't mind if it's hard. I don't want anyone else to be hurt if I can do anything to stop it.

[His voice is determined, even as he sinks back down to nestle against Henry's side. His body doesn't feel too strong right now, despite the urgency of his words. His shoulders shake a little bit with laughter.]

About the Ring... I don't know what you said to 'him', but this is probably the first time he refused to let me wear it. It's the opposite of usual. I don't know if you've seen what it does if you try to remove it.

And you will. But you have to recover first. When you do... then we'll start. You have my word. For now, the only thing I could see about teaching you would be a way to hide a specific memory among the rest. Hopefully in a way that would keep the Spirit from finding what I just told you, but I don't know if he'd be that methodical to comb through all we speak of.

Of course, if so, burying it in conversations like this must be helpful.

[He shifts to let Ryou get a bit more comfortable, resuming his gentle petting.]

All I told him was that, for the dagger I had for trade, you were not to wear the Ring for those hours in the day. I'm pleased to hear he took it that far as to repel you from it; it means that he's holding up his end, and it gives me hope for further deals that can shift the power back some more, or can grant us some insight into what he wants or what he can be persuaded to do.

I have not seen what it does if it's removed unwillingly, however. Should I ask?

[He sees... that's good. If he can hide his thoughts, too... and if the other him can be bargained with, then there might be a chance.

...it's inappropriate, but he wants to show. It's the only way to demonstrate how bad it is.]

Please, excuse me a moment. This may seem a little inappropriate.

[Sitting back, he tugs his jumper off, lifting his hands to unfasten the shirt beneath. His fingers are a little awkward, and he's moving slowly and hesitantly, but he manages to open it enough to reveal the five scarred puncture wounds on his chest. The wounds were clearly deep before they healed, and worse, had been torn open repeatedly. They're angled carefully, so that the source of the wounds would avoid the heart, but still be difficult to remove without causing risk to it. It's like something had driven claws into his chest, trying to grab onto it.]

The Ring's prongs... If you try to remove it... it'll drive those right into the body, so you can't take it off.

[A wave of rage washes through Henry again, and he shakes his head a little while examining the scars. The poor child...]

This burden is so much heavier than it seemed...

[Henry's hand goes to his side and lingers there. His own scars can't even compare, and he won't try.]

I intend to keep my other promise to you, Ryou. I will find a way to get rid of it. Somehow.

[Fastening his shirt up again, he folds the jumper neatly and primly on his lap as he sits back down, setting it aside. It's an almost fastidious gesture, like that of a knight preparing for the next day. He stays quiet until he's done, mulling over his thoughts.]

I'm grateful. I'd do a lot of things to get rid of it... but I'm afraid it won't do any good unless it can be stopped from doing the same thing to someone else. It'd just be a delaying tactic, otherwise.

I know. And it would be an insult to you and everything you've done to simply drop it off to someone else. I don't know how long it will take, or if I even can accomplish it... but I will never stop trying while we're here.

[He reaches over, gently brushing some of Ryou's hair aside again.]

And as long as we're here, I'll be here for you. Anything I can do... please, come tell me.

[He smiles a little.]

Mental training, sword fighting, even just endurance to make your body more resistant... if there's something I can offer, I gladly will.

Edited 2013-09-20 12:37 (UTC)

...eh? You can really teach me all that? But, won't that be troublesome?

[He leans into the touch with a gentle smile, looking curiously surprised. He'd never really considered any of those things... although he'd not be adverse to at least learning to develop his endurance. This body is really prone to getting injured, it sees.]

I can wait as long as it takes. I promise! Until the very last minute, I'll keep trusting in that.

ON THE SECOND DAY OF BLACKNESS, YOUR NOT-SON CAME TO THEE

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