IC Contact | The Box

[keepsthefire]

"Yo. Okumura here. Missed your call, so leave a message or whatever..."

Comments

March 13 | Audio

[braveboy]

[ Come on man, pick up, he's a little worried here since you didn't return to work when you said you would ... ]

[keepsthefire]

[Yeaaah about that...

Rin, unfortunately, doesn't pick up. His voice mail message gets it instead.]

[braveboy]

[ Yeah, he's ... really worried. ]

Hey, uh ... Rin, whenever you get this message, please give me a call back? We're a bit worried over here. Hope everything's okay.

[ click. that does nothing to ease his worries, nope. ]

[keepsthefire]

[Of course not.

But luckily, it's less than an hour later when Rin finally does call back.

And he sounds terrible.]

... can... can you run the place until close... ? I'm okay, I'm not hurt I just--

[He stops short, voice cracking.]

Kohaku died. I-I found her on the way home...

[braveboy]

Oh ... [ He could understand, definitely. Death was hard to begin with, even in this place, and he knew he'd be a pretty big mess himself if Mary died. ]

Yeah, don't worry about us. We can hold down the fort here. Just take care of yourself, okay?

[keepsthefire]

[And in this place that's a very real possibility.

Rin sniffles quietly on the other end, a humorless laugh escaping.]

Easier said than done... Ichigo died yesterday. He... threw himself off a fuckin' roof--...

What the hell is goin' on... ? None of this makes any damn sense, even for this place! Kohaku had a fuckin' heart attack!

[He goes quiet again after that outburst, adding in a mutter after:]

You guys better stay alive...

[braveboy]

I wish I could make some promises on staying alive, but ... I don't think anyone can promise that in this place.

I can promise I'll do whatever I can to, though.

[ One death was hard enough, but two? And so close together? Ugh ... He really felt bad for him. ]

[keepsthefire]

[He's just sitting in the clinic right now because the idea of going home without Yukio at his side is just too much to handle.]

Guess that's better'n nothin'...

Just... just be careful, okay? Especially goin' home.

[braveboy]

We will. I'll let everyone know we're on our own for the rest of the day and pass on the message to be careful.

Hang in there, Rin.

[keepsthefire]

'kay. Thanks. A... and thanks for checkin' on me. Sorry I didn't call...

[braveboy]

It's understandable, given the situation. Take all the time you need, all right? Seeing as we've got the menu planned out for the week, it shouldn't be an issue if you need to take more than tonight.

[keepsthefire]

I--...

[It was tempting. He knows he won't be completely okay come tomorrow. Or... any day without Kohaku around.

But at the same time that means being at the house.

Alone.]

I'll be there tomorrow. Not goin' to work ain't gonna get her back any faster.

[braveboy]

[ ... well, okay, he kind of understands that. ]

Okay. Don't push yourself too hard, though.

[keepsthefire]

Che... don't worry so much 'bout me. I'll be fine.

[Noooo he won't.]

[braveboy]

[ Noooo you won't. He deals with people like you, man. People who push themselves for the sake of pretending they're fine when they're not. Hell, he even does that himself at times. He laughs a little, though. ]

Hey, it's what I do.

I should probably get back to work now, so just take care of yourself tonight and we'll see you tomorrow.

[ He almost wants to remind him that she'll be back, but he knew damn well that hearing that would probably do nothing at all to help how he feels. ]

[keepsthefire]

[It probably wouldn't do anything, no, but at least Seto cares enough to think of it.]

Yeah. Call if you need anythin'.

[braveboy]

Will do.

[ And having said all he can say at the moment, he ends the call right there. ]

March 13 (later in the evening)

[braveboy]

Hey, sorry to bug you again ...

I just wanted to let you know that I'm not sure if I'll be at work tomorrow. Mary-chan got stung by some bees and now she's not able to move very well.

[keepsthefire]

Oh, shit. That's not good. Is she gonna be okay? I can call my d-- [shit he almost said "dad".] b... brother. I can call my brother if she needs some one to look at her.

[braveboy]

[ His voice is shaking, and he's so out of it that he doesn't even catch the almost slip-up. ]

I don't know, I'm actually freaking out about as much as she is ... I'd really appreciate it if your brother could come over and take a look at her.

Just tell him to beware of bees? The ones that chased us had some pretty nasty thoughts, and there's no doubt that they'll chase anyone who even so much as passes by them.

[keepsthefire]

[Oh no poor Seto. D: ]

Okay, yeah. Just... keep calm, okay? The calmer you are the better it is for Mary, alright?

Lemmie see if... I think there's a way to do a three way call on this...--

[Oops. He disconnected. But he's back in a second.]

Sorry! Sorry. Hang on.

[Okay, Yukio. Ring ring.]

[doctor_dragoon]

[Yukio answers on the second ring, sounding just a little concerned.]

Niisan, is something wrong?

[Because something is always wrong.]

[keepsthefire]

[Something is always wrong, but this time it's not for him.]

Uh, yeah but it's not me.

[click, bringing Seto over in to the call]

Go ahead, Seto.

[braveboy]

Hello?

[ This three-way thing is not something he does often. Uhh ... okay. He takes a breath to try and calm himself down a bit. ]

So, uh ... hi, Rin's brother. [ HE'S NEVER MET YOU BEFORE, SORRY YUKIO. ]

My girlfriend got stung by a bee, and I was lucky to find her before any more of them could sting her. She's alive, and she's able to talk, but she's not able to move at all. I really have no idea what to do. I'm freaking out, and she's understandably freaking out pretty bad over the whole thing herself.

[doctor_dragoon]

[Oh, dear. Welp, time to slip into his most professional of tones. After all, a calm doctor makes for calm patients.]

You did well in getting her out of harm's way. Can you tell me where she was stung and where you are?