bloodmatch | (no subject)

[It's late at night, and the others have gone to sleep, but Kyouya and Mayu are still awake. Mayu because she offered to keep watch, and Kyouya because with Mayu keeping watch, it seems that someone has to keep watch against Mayu.

Of course, he's mostly keeping to himself. There's nothing to read or write, the way he would ordinarily occupy himself, but that doesn't mean he wants to talk all night.]

[It's probably a good thing that someone is keeping watch on her, because she hasn't exactly been stable since downing the ochimizu thirteen hours before. What she's gained in added mobility with her healed leg, she's definitely lost in regards to her senses.

Still, at least she isn't so far gone that she's turning on her allies. Instead, she's looking to Kyouya curiously as he sits there in silence.]

You look like you're deep in thought... [So of course she's going to interrupt him. Of course.] Is something on your mind?

Hm?

[Well, yes. It's in his nature to get lost in thought, imagining possibilities, making plans. Beyond the typical plotting background noise, more immediate concerns about their situation.]

Nothing in particular. I'm thinking about our plans for the morning, I suppose.

...ah. We can't come back to this place for awhile...

[24 hours from when that voice had rung out over the islands. Mayu isn't sure how she feels about that. Theoretically, if they wait until it's late enough, they can come back (not that she'll still be around to do that), but seeing as some of them have early bedtimes...]

You and Suoh-san will stick together, won't you?

Yes, that's right. To the extent we're able to.

[Though what it means to her, he doesn't know.]

We'll find other means of shelter.

...make sure both of you come back alive.

[She looks off to the side rather than at him.]

I have to ask you to do that, because I'm not sure Suoh-san can.

[That annoys him. For one thing, why does she care. He can't parse how she means it, but he chooses to read it as insincere, and he chooses to be angry she would bother saying it at all.

For another, he already knows this is on his shoulders. But it isn't any of her business, and he doesn't want to hear about their chances. He doesn't want to hear anyone underestimating Tamaki, either, even if she's not wrong exactly.

But his irrational anger at such a harmless sentiment will do him no good. He keeps his feelings under wraps, with only a hint of coolness in his voice.]

Believe me. I have no intentions of failing on that front.

Good.

[It's not that she thinks of them as friends, exactly. But Mayu doesn't like seeing people go places without her, and she doesn't like to think about waiting and waiting for someone to return only for them to never come back.

The two of them have been something of a constant, though. Even with all the people who have died, even with the changes her own body is going through, and even with the way their environment seems to be out to get them with each passing day, this is two nights now where they've said "We'll meet you here" and kept their word. She doesn't know them well, but she likes that they haven't gone somewhere far away and left her all alone.]

Is that a promise..? [Before he can even answer, though - ] You'd better keep it.

[This is not how normal people have a conversation, Mayu.]

[No, really, what is this. Is she actually being serious right now?

He should be pleased about it, really. This is an arrangement of convenience, one that will keep him and Tamaki alive for as long as it takes for Jack and Mayu to no longer have need of them. If they actually, in some way, care about their well being...it won't be enough to carry them all the way, but it's good.

On the other hand, Kyouya truly can't stand the presumption of acting as though you know him when you don't. Back home, he can tolerate that sort of feigned connection, and even finds it convenient, even if he despises the classmates who do it. But here, making him promise her he'll survive, he'll keep Tamaki alive? As though he's doing either of those things for her? Obnoxious.

She seems to be unraveling, in a way. It's, for now, only an observation, and he doesn't know what else to make of it.]

I hope you and Jack are being equally cautious. We would hate to see anything become of either of you.

We're doing what we have to to go home.

[Caution has no part in it. If they sit around waiting, maybe they'll survive a little longer, but then the audience will get bored and they'll run out of time, and none of them will go home. If there was some way Mayu could ensure that everyone else would explode but her, she would do it and would wait it out, but there's not.

She draws her knees up to her chest and wraps her arms around her legs.]

...I can't die here. Jack can't die here. I have to go back to Mio and he... he said he would help me make that happen. We're going back...

[That's all right, Mayu. He doesn't really care. He just thought he'd return the expression of concern rather than having to actually voice such an annoying promise.

Promising it to himself is enough. He and Tamaki will be the ones leaving, and all of Jack and Mayu's plans to the contrary are irrelevant.]

Yes, I understand. The two of you have to play to your strengths. I'm sure he's kept you safe thus far.

He.. has.

[And that's strange to her, too. That he hasn't just abandoned her. Maybe now he won't because she drank that concoction and she's stronger, but on the first day the paranoia and fear she had played up to draw in Holden and Beat hadn't all been an act. She really did think he would leave her.

...she still can't really understand why he hadn't. Even Mio had tried to leave. Even Mio...]

Now I can keep him safe too, though. Him, and you, and Suoh-san.

We're relying on you.

[Though he doesn't know what she means, exactly. Or why she cares, but he's not protesting that point anymore.]

Did something happen today? You seem... [How to put it.] especially determined.

[Did something happen... that's a loaded question if she's ever heard one. Lots of things have happened, and she's not sure how much of it is safe to say even to her allies, but - ]

The gift that Jack and I received from the sponsors... it proved to be much more useful than I thought it would.

[She giggles, and it's a somewhat unpleasant sound. But Mayu seems content enough.]

I won't lag behind anymore. No one will ever leave me behind again...

[What the hell. He's glad he stayed awake, and is gradually realizing he won't be going to sleep any time soon.

How to find out exactly what it was...]

A useful gift? Our own team was graced with a very practical flower bouquet. [It was actually rather insipid, but he isn't going to insult the sponsors.] I'm glad you've been favored as well.

[He can sleep tomorrow, when she's dead.]

I'm grateful to the sponsors. This way, I'm not... [She hesitates, but then after a moment, she smiles.] ...I know I was only here to start with because of Jack, but I can be of use to you now, too.

You've already been of use. Jack is quite something, but your bravery hasn't gone unnoticed. You've kept all of our spirits up, all this time...

[It's a good thing Kyouya has no shame, and he can therefore say things like this with a straight face.]

It seems the sponsors recognized that, too.

...you really think that?

[He's shameless and he's convincing, or maybe Mayu is just desperate to believe she isn't useless.]

Mio was always better at that sort of thing than me. But I've thought, lately, that I have to start acting a little more like her. Strong and brave, so she'll always be with me in spirit.

I know I haven't met her, but if she's like you describe, I'm sure she'd be proud of you.

[God. Some people would feel guilty about this, but he doesn't feel a shred of it.]

You do seem more confident today. It suits you well. I suppose the gift helped with that.

I hope that she is...

[She looks down at her hands and smiles. Mio, proud of her. If that's the case it would be a dream come true.]

That gift... I think that it did. [She reaches over and pats her formerly-injured leg.] Thanks to it, the bandages here are just for show now. I never thought it would happen.

[He's finally getting somewhere.]

Your leg...they healed your injury?

Yes!

[She's a little excitable in regards to this. It's been a long time - too long - since she's had full use of her leg. To demonstrate it, she leaps to her feet in one quick, nimble motion, and doesn't falter even when both her feet hit the ground. Her giggle is delighted and her smile is ecstatic.]

It doesn't hurt anymore. I can walk and run just as well as anyone else now.

That must be a relief. But truly, that's all it took to make you feel useful? I think that's a pity, it was never so noticeable.

Maybe not to you...

[Some of the excitement drains out of her; her shoulders slump and she looks down. It's a very quick but very thorough change of demeanor.]

He had to carry me around. It must have been a burden... when we had to split up the first time, so that we could take care of the first two people, I thought he was going to leave me alone for real. Everyone leaves me. Everyone. [Both her hands clench into fists.] Even Mio tried to leave me... more than once. But she can't leave me anymore. Once I go home, we'll be together forever.

[Her statement is met with a mild raise of his eyebrows and not much else in the way of reaction, though internally of course he's marveling at how completely unhinged she is.

Mostly, though, he doesn't care about this. He just wants to know if there was more to the gift than the leg.]

I don't think Jack thought of you as a burden. He speaks very highly of you [Lies, he has never asked Jack his thoughts on Mayu.] But I can tell you've become a lot stronger now, haven't you.

[Unhinged is putting it mildly. Kyouya's thoughts are more polite than they could be.]

Really? [She perks up at that, yet another quick and thorough change of demeanor. She isn't particularly attached to Jack just because he's Jack, but she likes to be thought highly of, and she doesn't want anyone to leave her. If he thinks well of her, he won't leave. Right?] I'm glad...

[Her expression is still soft as she looks out at their surroundings.]

A lot of things have changed, Ootori-san. Not just my leg. [She's not going to get into the bloodlust thing, but - ] How far out can you see? How much detail can you see? I can see almost everything right now... it's like the moon is the sun.

Good vision isn't one of my strong suits. [In a joking tone he doesn't really mean.] Maybe the sponsors could help me as well?

To be honest, I don't think I could bring myself to use something like that. As a student of medicine, it fascinates me so much more to think of studying it. The ability to do so much good for someone...

I wanted to save it, but I had to use it.

[Getting ambushed will do that to a person.]

But if they had enough to give it here, they probably have more. Maybe if you kill as many people as Jack and I did, they'll give you some, too.

Maybe so.

Is it out of line to ask you to tell me more about it? You'd be doing me a favor. But please tell me if this is too personal and I'm out of line.

We're working together, so... it's okay.

[If she knew using these newfound powers came at the cost of her own lifespan, she probably wouldn't be so quick to indulge Kyouya's curiosity. But she doesn't know, so a moment later, she's running.

It's almost too quick to track just by watching. A moment later, she jumps and lands on the roof of the beach cabin, where she finally comes to a stop.]

Pretty... impressive, huh? [She hasn't realized it yet, but tapping into the strength and speed necessary to make the jump has turned her eyes red and her hair white, which is probably a little freaky to see this time of night. The first stirrings of bloodlust manifest themselves in aches and pains that she does her best to ignore, sans clenching her hands into tight fists. She can't attack Kyouya. He's her ally, and she made a promise.]

[That's disturbing. Mayu becoming even more of a threat isn't something he planned for. His usefulness to Jack and Mayu has, if anything, decreased. Right now, though, the only advantage he may have is whatever misguided loyalty Mayu seems to feel, so he watched politely.]

Incredibly impressive. You're truly something, Mayu. I knew I had made a good choice putting my faith in you.

[Mayu peers down at him from the roof of the cabin with a small smile. Her fingernails dig into the palms of her hands.]

I'm doing my best to deserve that faith.

[Which is why she's staying right where she is, at least until the craving for blood passes.]

[He can't tell what she's doing, but he can tell she's struggling with something. He no longer believes she's insincere, though that only increases his distaste. Needy, desperate for validation, a liability but one that could have a use.

He pushes it just a little further.]

I know. To be honest, I don't know if I can keep Tamaki and I safe on my own. We're relying on you for our lives now...we need you.

...you need me...?

[It's a wonderful thing, to be needed. Mayu looks so happy that she might cry - no, she is crying. She brings up a hand to wipe tears from her eyes.]

Then I'll do my best. I'll definitely protect you, I promise!

[He mostly feels pride, a sense of superiority. It feels good to indulge in the sensation of controlling someone; he's vaguely curious how much more he could manage. Could he turn her against Jack?

Probably not, Tamaki will interfere before it goes that far. Oh well. This isn't a game or an arena to test his abilities, anyway. Mayu is still a risk, but he'll let this lie for now.]

Thank you. I'll do my best for you, too.

[Rude, Kyouya. But it's not like Mayu hasn't been trying (and failing) to manipulate people this entire time, so... you reap what you sow, basically.]

I'm so glad to hear that...

[And she is. She's really, truly happy - and it's written all over her face.]

(no subject)

Zone 2 | 1:00 AM | Beach Cabins

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