Event Post

[voicesofspirits]

*"Maybe it was all a dream? Maybe I'll wake up and everything will be normal again."

Ruka's eyes slowly flickered open to be greeted by unfamiliar surroundings. She slowly sat up and looked around the room she was in. Where was she? Who brought her here? All she knew was that being there meant that no matter how much she wished, everything that has happened recently, had really happened.

She slowly got up from the bed, steadying herself from a short dizzy spell before moving towards the door. She listened by it for any noises, then slowly opened it.

The hallway it brought her into she did recognize. This was Juudai and Asuka's apartment. So Juudai must of brought her here? Quietly she walked down the hallway until she got to a slightly open door on her left. Looking through the small gap, she could see Juudai sat in the living room, working on his laptop. Ruka didn't want to disturb him. After all, she's probably caused him enough trouble already.

Slowly and quietly, Ruka opened the front door and snuck out of it. When outside, she was about to run across the courtyard to her apartment when a thought hit her. Did she really belong there anymore? Is that even her home now? She really wasn't sure... and holding herself up in it again wouldn't be a good idea anyway.

Ruka leaned against the wall beside the entrance to Juudai's apartment and slid down until she was sitting. Pulling her legs to her chest, she buried her face in them.

She had honestly never felt so lost and so ashamed of herself as she did at this moment.

Looks like she could use someone to talk to!.*

Comments

[remarkablerain]

*o-oh hey Ruka's awake now.

She carefully walks over, and sits next to Ruka*

... Hey.

[voicesofspirits]

*Ruka looks up at Suguru and promptly attempts to wipe away the tears that had formed in her eyes.*

Suguru-san...

*Ruka then falls quiet and looks away. She has no idea what to say.*

[remarkablerain]

... Did you just wake up?

*doesn't point out the tears-- have to at least keep it. comfortable. if she was crying she wouldn't wanna let people know, either.*

[voicesofspirits]

*Ruka continues to keep her eyes averted from Suguru as she slowly nods in response to her question.*

[remarkablerain]

*... acts a bit relieved instead, at least, though a bit sad*

It's good. That you woke up, you know. I was getting worried since there hadn't been much change.

[voicesofspirits]

I'm sorry for making you worry and for causing trouble for you, Juudai and everyone here.

*Ruka is still not looking at Suguru. It's easy to see that the girl is feeling very guilty and ashamed for what happened.*

[remarkablerain]

*... she shakes her head a bit*

I don't think you can really blame yourself for what happened. Of what I heard, that Numbers card really had a grip on you. *she rubs her head*

I think anyone who knows you would just be happy you're not being controlled anymore.

[naturalcure]

[Isabel enters the courtyard from another part of the property, rubbing a towel over her face. When she pulls it away, she has a sour expression on her face. It looks like she's definitely been exerting herself somehow.

She stops when she sees Ruka outside Juudai's apartment.]

...Ruka?

[voicesofspirits]

*Ruka looks up when she hears Isabel's voice and quickly tries to wipe away the tears from her eyes, though it's obvious that she's been crying a little anyway.*

[naturalcure]

"....Ruka..."

[Isabel doesn't waste any time approaching her, but when she does, she doesn't say anything immediately.]

"I heard what happened from Juudai..." [She pauses.] "How are you doing right now?"

[voicesofspirits]

*Ruka looks away from her and stares at the ground.*

...terrible.
I don't know what to do... I feel so lost and confused. Like my world's collapsed in on itself and I have nowhere to go.

I'm sorry if I was a burden to anyone... I'm sorry I was weak.

*You can tell she's fighting back tears as she's saying this.*

[naturalcure]

"..."

[Isabel sits down next to Ruka, pulling her knees up close and wrapping her arms around them.]

"You don't have anything to apologize for, you know." [She looks down at Ruka.] "If anything, I should be apologizing to you. My stupid mark was..." [She glares at the mark of the Tail on her arm.] "It was going off when I talked to you - I should've recognized something was wrong, but I didn't."

[Her arm drops down to her side and she just glares at the ground instead.] "I really hate this stupid Signer bullshit sometimes, I gotta be honest with you."

[voicesofspirits]

*Ruka looks up at her, looking a bit puzzled.*

You do...?

[i_like_red]

*Juudai was still busy working on his laptop when Ruka enters the living room after coming back in from outside. She doesn't go much further than the doorway, but it doesn't take Juudai long to notice her there.

Looking up at her, he greets her with a smile, putting down his laptop on the table in front of him.*

Ruka! You're awake! I'm so glad!
How are you feeling?

[voicesofspirits]

...not that great.

*Ruka's eyes seem to wander away from Juudai and awkwardly look at the floor.*

Thank you for letting me stay here while I was resting. I'm sorry for what happened and if I caused you any bother at all...

[i_like_red]

*Juudai shakes his head slowly at Ruka's last statement and motions for her to come over and join him.*

I think we need to have a bit of a chat about some things.

[voicesofspirits]

*Ruka nods and slowly walks over to sit by him on the sofa.*

[i_like_red]

First of all, you haven't been a burden to anyone. I know it's hard, but you shouldn't feel guilty for what happened. You were in a weakened emotional state and something chose that time to take advantage of it. You'll find that... a few of us here at Sakana have been through something similar at some point. Myself included.

[voicesofspirits]

I guess it was just how easily she was able to convince me of things and manipulate my thoughts.
But... I think maybe... it was because she felt like a mother at the time.

*Ruka gazes at the floor awkwardly as her arms fold into a half self hug*

[seaandsky]

*Shinji's come to see Juudai!

But to his surprise, he sees that Ruka is outside now-- guess that means she woke up, at least... He goes over to her, quiet for a moment while he thinks of what to say*

Ah... Hello.

[voicesofspirits]

*Ruka looks up, insistently wiping tears from her eyes as she does. She seems to stare at Shinji for a moment, before recognizing him.*

You're... You're the boy who helped me...

[seaandsky]

*he straightens up a bit so he doesn't seem as awkward, though he does note she seems to have been crying*

Er. Yes. Samasu, Shinji, to properly introduce myself. It's... Nice to see that you're awake, now. I'd heard you had gotten a bit of a fever-- is that better now?

[voicesofspirits]

*Ruka seems a little confused. She feels her forehead for a bit before replying.*

I think it is. I didn't even know I had one. I've only just woken up.

[seaandsky]

... I guess that isn't surprising. I picked the right day to come by, at least.

*she'd been asleep for quite a while though... He can't imagine how that will feel when it catches up to her, though maybe it already has?*

... Of course, I guess the question now is, "how do you feel"?

[voicesofspirits]

...terrible.

*Ruka looks away from Shinji, looking at the ground.*

I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble.