Days Without Sun

Mission

Within the play room, Misaki was in a state of anguish. He was denied any further knowledge of the events taking place outside, as the rotating feed had moved on and not returned to either Korovin or Usagi.

Misaki fought to hold back the wails that tore from his throat but he couldn't seem to make himself stop. He was so terrified for Usagi-san, knowing all too well the pain Korovin would unleash on his lover.

Please, please stop. I need to think.

Finally, with a choked sob, Misaki managed to quiet himself. He laid back on the lumpy mattress. Blood dripped down his arm where he'd caught the I.V. against the restraining cuff earlier.

Misaki lifted his head, craning his neck as his tear-blurred gaze sought the computer screen again. His eyes followed the camera's rotation desperate for information. Every pause seemed to last for hours.

He growled in frustration and kicked out at the laptop, despite the jarring pain this caused his cast leg. He listened with a sense of satisfaction as it fell off the bed clattered to the floor.

I hope it's broken.

Misaki felt his cheeks grow hot at this childish thought.

Stupid, how could you ever think that you could help Usagi-san?

He cast his eyes down in shame, only to see the computer unbroken, winking back up at him. Misaki felt his humiliation increase.

I'm so worthless; I can't even do that right.

Then his eyes caught the flickering screen. The heat that had previously filled him evaporated and a chill shook his entire frame: Usagi-san and Korovin had met. They were standing in a wide section of hallway, a junction for several corridors.

As his frantic eyes searched the screen, Misaki saw Jadir lying in a crumpled heap off to the side. He felt his breath catch in his battered throat as the camera feed shifted. Fortunately, it was another digital sentry at the same site.

Misaki wondered how long he had before all the feeds from this area were rotated through and this window was lost to him. Anxiously, he studied the screen while he could, looking for anything that would give him further insight into what was happening.

He could see clearly from the distance between the two men and their rigid postures that Usagi-san and Korovin were currently in some sort of standoff.

The metal cuffs overhead rattled as Misaki pulled against them trying to raise himself up to see the screen more clearly. He could feel his weakened limbs tremble from the strain.

He drew a deep breath. His fear for Usagi-san threatened to overwhelm him once more. Though he knew it was terrible for him to not have more faith in Usagi-san, Misaki didn't believe for one instant the gentle, reclusive author he loved would be any match for his captor. Not after he'd experienced what Korovin was capable of.

Misaki blinked through his tears, fighting to keep his eyes open, not wanting his blurring vision to obscure a moment of seeing his beloved Rabbit.

He came all this way for me. Usagi-san didn't forget me.

Misaki felt new tears well at this thought.

I can't let Korovin win.

I have to do something... Anything... Usagi came for me... After all these months of praying and wishing and hoping so desperately?

Will I dishonor Usagi-san's effort by just lying here and waiting for Korovin to return after he's killed him? Or done worse?

Misaki shook his head slowly in response to his internal voice.