Duel 002: Peaceful Days! The Fluffiest Training Montage Commences

[fluffydeathdealer]

[It's a bit of a pain, being in a school with no teachers.

Ryou Bakura isn't the type of kid who really likes being too active; he's about on the level of most ordinary teenagers. But after being laid up for so long with the burns to his arms and leg, not only is he extremely restless, but he's sure even his metabolism won't hold up much longer, with the amount he eats. That's why, after checking to see that Henry isn't home to take him up on that training offer, he's decided to try treating this like school and taking an hour or so to do his very own gym class, all by himself. It'd be easier with teachers, but... he doesn't have a choice right now.

Most kids probably would just take the break and be lazy, but right now, Ryou's working hard. Apart from the occasional break, he can be found pretty easily in the east wing, dressed in gym clothes and doing everything from running laps on the track field to climbing ropes.

...though that last one is more like 'falling off ropes'. Stupid mats... they don't cushion that fall at all. Hopefully nobody's dumb enough to stand below him.]

Ow...

[Time for a banana and some water, he thinks.]

Ah, I'm so tired...

Comments

[fluffydeathdealer]

Un! They're secured pretty well. Kind of surprising, considering the ceiling's all glass...

But I appreciate it. I've forgotten how to do it.

[soldier_from_surface]

[Quote nods, then hops up... surprisingly high, grabbing onto the rope tightly.]

Your hands should be like this, with your legs in a position similar to this. Try it.

[He climbs up easily, peering down to watch.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

...wow... You're pretty good.

[Getting up, he grasps the ropes almost nervously, trying to replicate Quote's positioning before pulling himself up, wrapping his legs around the ropes.]

[soldier_from_surface]

Shift your hands a bit further apart, and hold on a little tighter. If you slip, your hands will burn, so you don't want to.

[He climbs up a bit higher, seemingly holding on with absolute ease.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[The mention of burning makes him wince and immediately obey. Further apart... right. It's easier to pull himself up like this... that's good. Though he's still finding it difficult.]

Ah, I'm Ryou. What's your name, mister?

[soldier_from_surface]

[Well, of course. This isn't meant to be easy; it's training, after all! But he can at least do it without falling on his ass.]

Quote. And you are... Ryou, the host of Bakura.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Eh? He's going by that?

...Bakura's actually my surname. 'Ryou Bakura', see?

[What sort of a name is that?!]

'Ku...wo...to...'

[soldier_from_surface]

That is what he said, yes. He was under attack and injured when I found him, so I attempted to take him somewhere safe. That you're training is a good sign; your wounds are healing, then?

[He doesn't correct the name -- if that's what Ryou wants to use, that's fine.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

[Under attack...? He keeps missing out on so much even now. Though if the other him was getting attacked, that's better than him, he guesses.]

Un. The wounds on my hands are pretty much gone, though still a little sensitive. My leg too. It's the injuries to my back and sides that're being persistant.

[And his arms, but they're at least showing some signs of healing properly. Thanks to not being stomped on.]

[soldier_from_surface]

That's good. I was afraid that infection or something worse would set in, even with the medical supplies available. I didn't want to see you sick, or worse.

[fluffydeathdealer]

You're kind... Helping him - and me - out like that. But even if he's probably been reckless, most of the wounds have been taken care of pretty well.

...though for some reason, one of them got torn open again recently.

[soldier_from_surface]

He needed help. I provided it. That's all there was to it.

[Yes, Ryou, he's shrugging off kindness as if it's something mundane that everyone should do and know. What do you think about that?

There's the faintest look of a frown on that otherwise deadpan face, though.]

Was it treated well, at the least?

[fluffydeathdealer]

[He's pleased... everyone should be like that. It'd make the world brighter. But seeing that look of concern, he nods slowly.]

I think so... nobody ever told me why, but it got treated the same as the rest.

[soldier_from_surface]

Hm. Then in the end, that is what matters.

...Ryou?

[fluffydeathdealer]

...hm? What it is, Kuwoto-kun?

[soldier_from_surface]

[He reaches down, taking one of Ryou's arms, and pulling it up gently... to touch the roof.]

You made it.

[fluffydeathdealer]

...ah!

[He stares up in surprise. That glass roof... He's really touching it. He really is!]

Incredible! You're a really good teacher!

[soldier_from_surface]

I was just ensuring you were focused on something else rather than your own doubts.

Backwards, now. Slower and down. It's a bit more difficult, but you can do it.

[Despite the flat, monotone voice, it really feels genuine.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

That really helped! Thank you.

[He nods firmly. Going down is harder than climbing up... way harder. He has to fight not to look down.]

Uwah... I'm so high...

[soldier_from_surface]

It's not very difficult at all. Just imagine everything you did before in reverse. You're not high; you're getting higher as you go down.

[fluffydeathdealer]

Getting higher... It's a weird thought. Going down to go up...

[soldier_from_surface]

Backwards, but thinking about it that way, it's the same as before, isn't it?

[fluffydeathdealer]

Yeah. It's a little less difficult when you think of it like that.

[soldier_from_surface]

Mmm. Especially since you're already there.

[Quote lets go and drops straight down... the whole half a foot or so to the floor.]

[fluffydeathdealer]

Eh-?!

[He pokes the floor gingerly with his shoe before letting go too.]

Thank you, Kuwoto-kun! I couldn't think of how scared I was at all!