LOG: Kayura and Tseng
It was cool and crisp but not frigid, so Tseng forwent the scarf and left his coat half-buttoned as he walked briskly between the buildings, following the paths that wound through the campus grounds, streetlights casting a warm glow to guide him towards the science buildings. Even away from his computer, he was still focused on the current 'mission'. Yazoo. Kadaj. Hojo. The chips.
His breath clouding around his face, he walked at an even pace, almost half lost in thought. 75% failure with surgical removal with 15% chance of damage with survivors viral treatments did not have any effect steroids created embolism and haematoma in the brain further results on electric charges showed no effect and caused muscle damage paralyzing 90% of patients current numbers show…
The trip back from Europe had been a long and quiet one for Kayura, her face half hidden beneath the scarf she had wrapped around her neck. Occasionally the short winter breezes would cause stray strands of blue violet to whip across her face. Head bent and eyes focused upon the ground she walked upon, she seemed to be lost in her own little world that winter's evening.
It was more a standard sense to note another's presence than any active choice on his own part, but Tseng recognized when another approached, train of thought disrupted, and looked at the dark form for a moment before he recognized the woman who drew near. "Good evening Kayura" he greeted sedately. "Its good to see you are back. Your trip was uneventful I hope?"
"Oh, Tseng!" Lifting her head to meet his gaze, a small smile was offered to the man as she nodded her head. "The trip, it went well. Save for a mishap or two, everything had been wonderful." She was twenty years old now too. With her hands resting in her pockets, she come to stop by now.
"I'm glad to hear it." He nodded. "I trust you are well yourself? What of Brenner? Have your plans for the wedding become any more solidified?" He examined her in the low light, but she seemed well enough. Tired, but easily attributed to jet lag, and perhaps somewhat more mellow, but that could be easily assumed to be the time of night and the undoubtedly long day.
"I'm doing all right, just a bit tired, that's all. A long flight can do that to you." Indeed her smile was a tired one. "Brenner....he's doing fine, for the most part." Unsure if she had the right to explain what exactly had happened, she remained silent on the matter for the moment.
Tseng nodded, seeing no reason to pry. A quick glance at his watch and already he felt the press of time upon him. He nodded, still smiling faintly. "I'm heading to the science buildings" he explained. "Though I would enjoy speaking with you, I should not leave Yazoo on his own for too long. I'm afraid I should continue on." He nodded to the path. "You're welcome to walk with me, if you wish." An opportunity for them both to speak.
"Yazoo-san....how is he?" She had not spoken to the man since the Halloween party, which had been months ago. Falling into step with Tseng as the walk continued, she peered up at him, waiting for the answer.
Tseng considered, letting the silence fall between them as Kayura matched his step. "He's unwell" he finally stated, choosing his words. "He's suffering a severe form of memory loss. It makes things difficult for him, as he is forgetting events and occurrences and people. I am currently researching methods to stop or possibly reverse this, at the moment, but at current have had little success." He sighed into the night air. "Physically, he is fine."
This was certainly something she never would have expected to hear. Her steps faltering for a moment, she stared at the taller man. "How...how did this happened? Was he in some sort of accident?" It was obvious she was worried, which was like her: even if she had meet someone for a short period of time, still she would develop a sort of attachment to them, big or small as it may be.
Tseng shook his head. The chips -Shinra's implants - had caused this. Not that it was something he was willing to say to Kayura. "I can't say directly, but no, it was not an accident. Think of it as a genetic defect, if you need to fit a reason to it." He ran a hand though his hair, loose, for the moment, and windblown. "No matter the cause, there doesn't seem to be a way to stop it."
"I....I'm sorry to hear...." Gaze turning back down to the ground, she fell silent again. It seemed that, to her, everything felt like was going downhill. "I know...I know this rather foolish to ask, but...is there anything I could do help? Anything at all?"
Tseng smiled. It was such a simple gesture, but he had learned how much the offer meant to those who could give it. "At the moment, I'm afraid there's little any of us can do" Tseng admitted. "But I'm trying to keep Yazoo grounded. Having another person to speak with may help him, though I warn you he may not recall who you are in the least. And knowing I may call on you should I need to leave him in someone's care for an hour, if necessary, is helpful." He sighed and tried to smile again "Do not stress yourself. For all that I wish this were not happening, he is not suffering from it. It's a small blessing, but one I will take."
"Anything, Tseng, anything I could possibly do I will offer." Returning the smile, she hugged her coat closer as they continued walking. For a moment, her eyes shifted upwards to peer up at the evening sky, a sense of peace washing over her. "Never hesitate to ask; I'd be more than happy to help."
They drew up before the darkened science building and Tseng removed a ring of keys from his pocket. "Of course Kayura. I hope you know the same stands true for yourself as well. Please, don't hesitate should you ever need anything I can provide."
Nodding at this, she looked at the science building in curious wonder. "I do know and...I appreciate it. Really I do." Having never been inside the building, she couldn't help but wonder what it was like inside.
Tseng opened the side door, stepping inside and disabling the alarm quickly. He'd appropriated a key his first week at Cross, and the code had been on his desk before he'd even started. Now he nodded to Kayura. "Feel free to come inside" he motioned. "It will be warmer, for one."
"Thank you." A hand closed around the two flaps just under her scarf, she held her coat closed there as she stepped inside of the building. True to his word, it was indeed warmer inside here.
"Of course" He replied, nodding as he started down the empty, half-darkened hallway of the vacated building. Only the emergency lights were on, tinting everything orange and casting funny, elongated shadows down the halls. He made his way directly towards the biology and health sciences labs.
Following the man, she remained close since she had no idea where she was going. With her hands tucked into her pockets again, she looked around the hall as they walked.
Tseng looked to the young woman as they approached the lab, another key used to open this door and the pair of them stepping inside. "I am afraid I have not been kept fully up to date on the occurrences of your trip overseas. Did anything of specific note happen? I believe it was your birthday, was it not? I should congratulate you."
Smiling at this, she thanked him as she continued to follow. "I am twenty now, though I don't feel any different." Joking around of course, she smiled a bit. "The trip was lovely, save for a skirmish here and there." Like the random man who groped her. Not something she had enjoyed.
"Birthdates are strange things" Tseng agreed. "I suppose I understand the concept of celebrating them, but changes occur every day within oneself, not simply at the culmination of a year." He stepped into the room and headed for a set of cupboards, removing a small apparatus in which test tubes hung. "I hope no one of importance was hurt during those 'skirmishes' you mention."
Again she needs to remind herself that jokes like this go right over this man's head. Hovering a few feet from the door, she watched him work, curious still. "Oh, no one of importance...just some random stranger who felt the urge to...cope a feel."
Tseng straightened, brows raised, apparatus tucked under one arm. "I see." He deadpanned. "One would assume he is recovering in a hospital somewhere - or should I suggest a morgue?"
"Hospital," she replied, shrugging her shoulders. "At least he won't be violating any other women again for sometime."
Tseng returned to her side. "One would hope, after a demonstration such as that, that he will never feel the urge to do so again. I am glad you had the opportunity to show him the error of his ways, however."
Grinning at his words, she nodded again. It had definitely been amusing, to say the least.~
"And you are none the worse for wear" Tseng noted, returning the smile with one of his own, relaxing slowly in her company. A glance at the wall- the time was far past what he would wish- he sighed. "I should return. If Yazoo awakes and I am not nearby it may be an issue."
"I understand." Already moving for the door, she waited for him there. "It may be pointless, but do send my regards to Yazoo-san. Perhaps I could visit him sometime soon."
"I will do so" he promised. "And you are always welcome in my home, Kayura. Please feel free to drop by when you can. It may well help Yazoo. In the least, it can not hurt."
"All right, I'll be sure to!" And as they were walking, cue her humming softly.~
As they made their way down the hall, Tseng noted the familiar strain of music as Kayura hummed. He blinked, and raised an eyebrow in askance. "That song. Is popular, it seems. Elena was humming it yesterday, I believe. What is it?"
"Just something I had heard on the radio earlier today...I'm afraid I forgot who had sung it, but the title of is 'My Dream'." A peaceful song, one that she enjoyed greatly.
He nodded, accepting the information - he'd never found much use for radio nor time for music. Holding the door to the outside world open for Kayura, he waited for her to pass before setting the alarm and locks to latch once the door shut behind them. "Have a good evening, Kayura" he stated warmly. "It's good to have you back."
"You as well, Tseng." And with one short bow of her head and a smile that was warm and gentle, she turned and walked off. It was time to go pick up her cats anyway.