And in some cases, cage squishes donkey.

[shiromadoushi]

WHO: Bakura, Toph, Kolira and Iron Fist
WHERE: Somewhere in the city where shit's going down.
WHEN: Early Wednesday morning.
SUMMARY: Bakura and Toph are doing rounds when it starts becoming clear that Bakura is in no shape to be out and about in this sort of chaos.
FORMAT: Paragraph to start, whatever after.



Bakura had a near death grip on his dice as he and Toph walked through the wreckage of one of Joker's many explosions, looking for survivors.

It was fine. He could do this. He was fine. It was all...

He froze, mid step when a light, alto voice gave a soft, but demented giggle from behind him. "Found you...."

He turned, breath catching in his throat as his eyes widened. No.. it-- it couldn't...

The woman had the sickening grin of the Joker virus, a bloodied knife in her hand, splattered with a red that stained her dress that was a familiar--

No. No it couldn't be...

He shook his head, trying to clear it, fingers tightening even more around his dice.

Pale hair half hidden in a scarf that was half wrapped around her head to keep out the cold that looked--

No! It wasn't-- it wasn't--

I found you, my Ryou---

He stood, frozen utterly in place as the woman lurched forward, knife raised as she laughed again.

Comments

[deadelfwalking.livejournal.com]

Koltira moved the group along until the children's base came into view. "Nearly there," he said. "Be alert."

[tinybutdeadly]

"Can't see anything around us, at least. Should be good."

The house had remained unscathed so far. Hopefully it would stay that way, if they were lucky.

[shiromadoushi]

Bakura did his best not to fidget as they approached. It was hard to be alert when anything could come out of nowhere... Maybe going back to Hell Towers would have been best, after all, the building had good security, even when Hiruma wasn't there and they were on the 10th floor...

But he didn't want to make trouble...

So he kept his eyes low, watching the ground as he fidgeted with his dice.

[deadelfwalking.livejournal.com]

"If you have something to say," Koltira said, "You ought to say it."

[tinybutdeadly]

She tilted her head at Koltira's statement, but didn't respond, as it was a question of sorts for Bakura.

The house was fortified enough. She could put up the walls again if need be, but there hadn't been much trouble in their neighborhood as of yet.

[shiromadoushi]

"Eh?" Bakura blinked at the comment before giving an embarrassed laugh. "Aah, I'm fine, really, I was just thinking, really!"

He fidgeted with his dice more. Really. He was fine. Just an hour nap, then he'd be back out again, helping...

[deadelfwalking.livejournal.com]

"Thinking what?" Koltira said. They were almost to the base's front door.

[tinybutdeadly]

She'd just started up the steps when something at the edge of her awareness pinged. A group of crazies, fantastic.

"Heads up, we've got company. Want I should do the walls, or should we fight them off?"

[shiromadoushi]

Bakura's grip on his dice tightened again. "I have MP left, I can purify... just keep them from getting close." He looked around, trying to spot the group.

[deadelfwalking.livejournal.com]

"I don't think that's wise, Bakura," Koltira said. "Our aim was to get you to safety. Toph, get him inside and let me handle them."

[tinybutdeadly]

"All right. Be careful, would you?"

She tugged open the door and pulled Bakura inside.

[shiromadoushi]

"But I still cast!" Bakura protested, tense against Toph's pull. Toph, however was stronger than he was and already had the advantage of momentum. "I can be safe back here, let me help!"

[deadelfwalking.livejournal.com]

Koltira let go of Bakura's wrist for the sole purpose of pushing him back against Toph. He then turned, took the runeblade off of his back, and went to deal with the encroaching maniacs.

[tinybutdeadly]

Confident that Koltira could take care of the problem, she really did drag him right indoors. And then shut the door. Ayup.

[shiromadoushi]

Bakura gave a small startled exclamation, stumbling back. "H--hey!" he protested as he was dragged. "Toph, wait, I can still---"

He tensed slightly as the door shut before looking down, obviously unhappy about the whole thing.

[tinybutdeadly]

"You're spending the night here, and that's that. Let's go find something to eat."

To the kitchen! She knew he wasn't happy, but it wasn't like she could see his expression or anything.

[shiromadoushi]

"I only need an hour to rest, I'll be fine after that!" Bakura protested. "And I don't want to impose...."

[tinybutdeadly]

She let go of his arm and turned to face him, tilting her head up. Even after all this time, he didn't feel welcome in the base? That hurt, actually.

"Bakura, if you were imposing, I wouldn't have made you come with me."

[shiromadoushi]

Bakura was quiet a long, uncomfortable moment. "I don't want you guys to get Ported out too..." he half mumbled.

[tinybutdeadly]

"I can't say I'm not going anywhere, but I don't plan to go anywhere at least. And nothing we do can really affect the 'porter."

Her hands went to her hips in frustration.

[shiromadoushi]

Again, a uncomfortable quiet. "I wonder if I made it made... that it took everyone away... or I--" His hands tensed slightly, his left twitching. "Sorry, I should-- I should go rest," he said softly, suddenly seeming far more exhausted that he had a moment ago.

[tinybutdeadly]

"You didn't make it mad, Bakura. I-yeah. Go rest. That's a good idea. You sure you're not hungry though?"

To tell the truth, she was pretty tired too.

[shiromadoushi]

"I don't think I could eat right now," Bakura admitted with a sigh.

"Ne, Toph...." he said after another long pause. "That woman..."