Confession ~Juuzou x Reader AU~

Chapter 8: Ally of an Ally

Mrs. Warner comes with me back to Rui's room.

Relief washes over her face when she sees Rui sitting in her bed. In turn, Rui's face lights up when she sees Mrs. Warner. She smiles and reaches for Mrs. Warner, who goes over to her.

I smile as I watch the way Rui hugs the elderly woman. Mrs. Warner cradles her, kissing the top of her head. Much like me, Mrs. Warner has been worried about Rui. I know she has. We all have. And Rui...she's been a shell of herself, even with me around, so it's nice to see a tint of excitement meet her eyes.

"Mrs. Warner!" Rui smiles. "You're here?"

"I am," Mrs. Warner nods. "I came to visit you. How are you doing, sweet pea?"

Rui shifts. "I'm okay. I like the toys here. Do you want to see them?"

Mrs. Warner looks at me. We exchange glances. Rui still hasn't opened up about what happened while the ghouls had her. None of the kids have. All of them are too traumatized, though those other kids seem warier. At least Rui is accepting of help if I'm around. She might still put up a fuss, but she still takes it. Those other kids? I hear them scream. I hear the bloodcurdling wails. They aren't as consolable.

"Sure," Mrs. Warner says, looking at Rui.

Rui goes on to show Mrs. Warner a few of her favorite toys. Some are gifts that I got her from the gift shop. Just little stuffed animals and dolls. Nothing much, but at least they're distractions. Things to pull her back to her life. Things to ground her. Things to remind her she's not there anymore. She's here and she's safe.

Eventually, Rui drifts back to sleep. We both watch her, Mrs. Warner and I. Her eyelids twitch. Mrs. Warner places a stuffed lion in her arms. Rui cuddles it.

"I should probably get going," she says, looking at me. "I'm sure you have a lot to digest."

I do. There is a lot that has been unloaded on me. Clay. Mrs. Warner. All the victims. It's a lot. And yet, as I watch the woman gather her belongings, I'm not ready to see her go.

"Wait," I say. She looks at me. Words. I need to use words. "How about you stay a bit longer? I...don't do the best sitting with my thoughts. Not these days, anyway." Not a lie.

She stands, observing me, then smiles. "Alright. Let me grab some tea real quick."

***

The hospital's tea doesn't taste quite like Mrs. Warner's, but it was all she could find. I sit, sipping on it as Rui lays in her bed, sleeping. Mrs. Warner sits next to me. It is her who speaks first in a hushed whisper.

"You have questions. I can tell."

I take another sip. "I do."

"Do you want to ask them?"

"Yes."

"Go ahead."

I shift and take another sip. I swallow. "I still can't wrap my mind around it. I mean, part of it is sinking in. You being a...g-h-o-u-l, that is. But...your acquaintance..."

She nods and takes a drink of her tea – I assume it's tea. "Yes. I mentioned before that there are those of us who just want to live peacefully among...you. But even those of us who wish for that may have not so peaceful pasts." Another gulp. "I was once a young woman, you know. I hurt people and did things. All in the name of survival, of course, but things I'm not proud of. And I know people who did the same...and some who did worse."

I nod, but not because I understand. I mean, I do, but I don't. I get that she's a ghoul. As a ghoul, she had to kill and eat people to survive. But I don't understand there could be some that did worse. Well, unless she means others that are like the ghouls who work for Key. Hunting women down. Stealing children.