justonetruth | (no subject)

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[There are loud crashing noises coming from one of the rooms, followed by the sound of shattering glass and a few more ominous thumps. It goes silent again for a few moments, before the door is flung open and someone flies out of the room, skidding across the wooden floors of the hallway and colliding painfully with the opposite wall.

It's another Kaito, though clearly not one of the more normal ones. He's dressed in a dull green jumpsuit indicative of prison garb, and a light-gray, metal collar with a bar-code adorning the front is looped around his neck. His appearance isn't helped by the dark red blood stains that spatter his clothing and smear across his cheek. Nor does is it helped by the light trail of blood that now streaks across the floor where he slid, and the droplets that now line the wall where he landed.

He's breathing heavily as he lifts a hand to wipe his mouth, and he freezes mid-motion. His gaze darts frantically around the hallway, and despite his seemingly serious injuries, he's on his feet within seconds, taking a defensive stance and glancing frantically at his surroundings]

The hell--

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[As a Deadman, Kaito is more than aware of the symptoms of blood loss. He's more than aware that he surpassed his limits by using far too much of his blood in the previous fight.

He's also vaguely aware that this kid-- whoever he is-- bandaged up his wounds and is now trying to keep him from passing out. It's not that he isn't suspicious anymore, because he is.

He just knows he can't afford to refuse his help any longer.

Kaito lifts a hand to take hold of the oxygen mask, concentrating on evening out his breathing to a more normal pace as he does so. He shoots Conan a brief, furtive glance, and says nothing]

[The oxygen seems to help, and Conan relaxes, just a little bit. Kaito needs sugar, vitamins, and fluids, but he isn't willing to leave the older boy alone to go get food until he's sure that Kaito won't pass out. There isn't much more he can do about the wounds (they've stopped bleeding now, at the very least), so that leaves explanations for the time being.

Hopefully Kaito's coherent enough to listen to them this time.]

This place is called the Mansion. We don't know who brought us here or who made it, but time doesn't seem to pass at home while we're here; we think it's another world or a separate dimension. While we're here it gives us food and a place to sleep and anything else we need, like the bandages I got you. And when it sends us back home, we go back to the exact time and place that it brought us from.

[Kaito's still watching Conan out of the corner of his eye as he leans against the wall and breathes. He's still dizzy, still lightheaded, and he definitely needs his fair share of fluids to help replenish his blood, but a small part of him is grateful this kid hasn't left yet despite his suspicions...

He doesn't have the energy to speak, but he nods, showing he heard everything Conan said]

[Conan nods in return]

So Aoko-neechan will be right where you left her when you go back. Even if that means she's still in trouble, she won't be in any more trouble than she already was. [not exactly reassuring, but it beats the alternative. Conan certainly knows how badly he was worrying about Ran and Haibara and the others before it was explained to him] She might even be brought here, if you're lucky.

[He pauses briefly, not sure whether to explain the next bit. It's important to know, but Kaito's fighting for consciousness, and it's a lot to take in at once. He eventually decides to explain it anyway; he can always repeat it after if he has to]

One more thing: this place isn't just another world, it's a nexus. It pulls in versions of people we know from a whole bunch of other worlds where things happened differently. That's why the Kaito-niichan I know never went to prison, even though you have.

[He pauses again as he checks the gauge on the oxygen tank, wanting to ration the flow]

You'll see a lot of people here who look like people you know, including Aoko-neechan and yourself. All of us got pulled here the same way. Most of us are good, but there's a few bad versions that I'll tell you about later.

[The oxygen flow is stable, and Kaito looks like he can manage on his own for at least a few minutes -- enough for a water trip in the infirmary. Conan helps wrap the mask straps around Kaito's head so he doesn't have to hold onto the mask any more, and steps back]

I'm going to get you some water, okay? I'll be right back.

[The look he gives Conan after the long-winded explanation is clearly one of disbelief-- and briefly, Kaito wonders if this entire thing is a hallucination. Then again... it all feels real..

Despite the mask being firmly attached to his head, he keeps his hand on top of it, turning his head away from Conan and leaning it against the wall again. His eyes slip shut as he once again concentrates on breathing, but he manages to remain conscious]

[Conan takes that as an 'okay' and hurries into the infirmary. The sinks are high (like they always are), but he methodically pulls a chair over here, walks along the counters there, and uses various other improvised methods to get what he wants where he wants it. He's certainly had to do it enough times at home -- when a good supply source is found, it's up to everyone to collect as much as they can as quickly as they can, including the kids. There's only so long that a store's windows can hold out against the weight of multiple zombies.

There's some nice, big glasses in the cupboards, and he fills two as full as he can get them with warm water, carefully making his way back down to the floor with them and then back over to Kaito. One glass goes on the floor, and the other gets held out to the older boy]

Can you drink?

[Kaito doesn't open his eyes, but he nods to indicate he heard Conan loud and clear]

[He'd almost been worried that Kaito had passed out for a minute there, but the nod reassures him, and Conan reaches up to help him remove the mask so he can drink. The younger boy watches him intently the whole time to make sure he doesn't drink too quickly; if he threw up now, it would just make things even worse]

[Kaito is certainly smart enough to drink his water slowly and carefully so he doesn't worsen his condition. It's not orange juice, but it'll help]

[Once he's sure Kaito's handling things on his own, Conan crosses the hallway to a door and pauses with his hand on the doorknob, thinking hard before opening it on a linen closet stuffed with warm sheets and blankets. He grabs the closest blanket and drags it down, pulling it over to the older boy]

Here. Though if you think you can stand up, it'd be better to get you to a bedroom.

[Wordlessly, he places his now-empty glass on the ground and pushes against the wall in an attempt to pull himself to his feet. He struggles a bit thanks to his blurring vision, but he's far too determined to let that keep him down]

[Conan's too small for Kaito to lean on, but he hovers anyway, making sure to stay out of the way so Kaito won't trip on him, while still being close enough to offer some assistance should the older boy collapse again.

He leads the way to the closest door -- the one that was just a closet, actually -- and opens it again onto a simple bedroom with a comfortable-looking double bed and a door to what looks like a bathroom.]

Careful.

[Once Kaito's sitting on the bed, Conan hurries back into the hallway for the second glass of water. He leaves it within easy reach on the bedside table, and makes another run for the oxygen, once again dragging the heavy tank across the floor]

[Predictably, Kaito stumbles a bit as he climbs to his feet and inches his way toward the room Conan indicated. Even so, it's obvious he's trying his best not to seem helpless, and using Conan to help him walk doesn't even cross his mind.

He flops down onto the bed, careful to avoid his injuries, and lifts a hand to run it through his hair, inhaling and exhaling deeply as he does so]

[A few more drags and Conan has the tank within easy reach next to the bed. He puts the mask on the table next to the water and watches Kaito solemnly for a moment, trying to determine his state]

Is it okay if I leave to get you something to eat?

[Kaito nods, finally finding the strength to speak after a long time of silence]

Yeah... 'm fine.

Okay. Use the oxygen if you feel like you're going to pass out again. I'll be right back.

[And Conan hurriedly slips out the door, noting the room number before running for the dining room]

[Kaito remains sprawled out on the bed, mask sill pressed firmly over his mouth with one hand while the other clutches tightly at his hair. He can feel the blood not only on his fingers, but clumping into his locks as well, and he closes his eyes in irritation at the sensation.

He's been hurt like this before, but he's well aware he had surpassed his limits far beyond his normal capacity. And all to save Aoko...

Aoko.

Dimensional nexus or not, it felt so... wrong to just leave Aoko in the hands of the director and his mad scientists. He doesn't want to think about what might have happened to him if he had continued fighting in his weakened condition, so he distracts himself by focusing on his next plan of action. Getting out of... wherever he is and back to Aoko is his first priority.

And like hell he's going to let an inter-dimensional nexus stop him.]

[Meanwhile, his blood is exactly what draws a new visitor -- there's a copious amount of it smeared on the wall and floor, after all, and Aoko's never been the kind of person capable of ignoring such a thing. She's also not as incautious as some of her counterparts, for that matter, and she makes sure her gun is loose in its holster with her finger on the safety as she first carefully checks the empty infirmary, and then the bedroom across the hall from it, slowly pushing the door open just enough to see inside.

She certainly isn't expecting the sight that meets her eyes. She's seen Kaito injured before, but never... never like this. Never missing as much blood as she's seen in the hallway. It makes her skin pale and her stomach clench, and she steps in the room without even thinking about what she's doing, her voice high and uncharacteristically scared]

K-Kaito?!

[He doesn't hear her enter, far too focused on dispelling the dizziness that clouds his mind, so her high-pitched voice make him literally jump form the bed, scrambling into a sitting position as the oxygen mask drops from his face.

He blinks at the woman in front of him, eyes wide as he takes her in. Familiar... yet not. Older, dressed differently, and is that a weapon at her waist...? The kid had explained thoroughly how this mansion worked, so chances were... she wasn't his Aoko. Not the one he was trying to rescue, anyway.

Even so, the familiarity of her face is enough to send a wave of relief coursing through him.]

A-aoko--

[He can only stammer her name before another wave of dizziness overtakes him, and he grabs his head with a groan and doubles over into his lap. He will have to make sure he never uses up this much blood ever again]

[She's at his side in an instant, helping him lie down again and fumbling for the mask to put it back in place. An oxygen mask, and water, and he's dressed in hardly anything but bandages -- someone's been taking care of him, then, someone who knows what they're doing. It takes the edge off her fear, but isn't nearly enough to dispel it entirely]

You idiot, just what did you think you were doing?!

[Not that she really expects a response, and her worried eyes are fixed on his face and the ill expression there. Water on the table... fluids are good for blood loss, but it's easy to throw up if you've lost too much; she remembers that much from her first-aid lessons with Chikage-san. So her fingers find his jaw, gently turning his head to one side so that he won't choke if what he drank comes up again. She feels sick herself, and those selfsame fingers are shaking slightly against his skin]

How long have you been like this? Do you feel sick? Cold?

[she pauses between questions to give him a chance to answer with gestures or nods]

[Her fingers on his cheek take him by surprise, but he willingly moves his head in the direction she indicates as the wave of nausea passes without incident. He's grateful that she replaced his oxygen mask too, though he lifts a hand to press it more firmly against his mouth once she does so. His eyes slip shut, and he evens his breathing]

... 'm fine. [he pauses to take a deep breath] I've been worse. Jus' anemic, that's all...

[She places her own hand on the mask so that he doesn't have to hold it, pulling the straps into place]

You aren't fine, baka. This isn't anemia, it's shock.

[Her voice keeps trying to shake, but she makes an effort to control it, her hands slipping down to take his once the mask is secure. His skin is cool to the touch, and her next order of business is attempting to get the blankets out from under him and put them over him instead. And it would help to elevate his feet too, wouldn't it? To make the blood stay closer to his heart. She grabs the spare pillow to help with that]

Is anything broken?

'S not shock. [his words are muffled by the mask, a sharp irritated edge that is usually only reserved for arguments with Aoko lacing them as he speaks, and dimly he recognizes that... it very well could be shock. He's dizzy and lightheaded and though he hasn't passed out yet, he feels like he could any second now. He's not cold, but he is nauseous and he recognizes that he needs to rest]

Some kid... went to go get food. [and orange juice. something with vitamin C in it to replenish his blood supply. If he could lay back and rest, then surely his body would be able to produce plenty of blood for him to recover... he hoped.

He moves when Aoko prompts him too, allowing her to do whatever she feels is necessary to help him]

[Her only response to that tone is an irritated huff, and she quickly props his feet up and gets the blankets tucked around him, careful of his injuries the whole time. Once that's finished, she sits down on the bed next to him. Her face is drawn and anxious, but there's a determination in the set of her spine that implies that she's willing to sit here until he fully recovers, no matter how many days that might take]

What kid? Edogawa-kun?

[he leans back, tugging onto the blankets tightly and wrapping them around him as his eyes slip shut yet again. He's aware of her taking a seat next to him, and he opens one eye to watch her as he takes a few breaths and prepares himself to answer her question]

Y-yeah. [a pause] ... met him?