[Private] Collection of Nostalgia [Past]

[Garden]

Location: Past Rekenber labs
Limit: Two
Players: Tantalum/Harumi, Meitnerium/Eros

(Omg I'm sorry if this is like a choppy read or really repetitive or anything, especially near the end. I was typing this at like 4:30 in the morning because a wave of inspiration nailed me in the head. :'c And yeah that's Meit at the end and I'm gonna say this is probably like right after she gets put with the rest of the experiments and stuff. Sorry if anything is inaccurate OTL)

The main thing she felt was fear – she was scared and she wanted to go home. She wanted big brother to hold her and tell her it was okay, to keep her close in his arms and remind her that she wasn’t alone, no matter how painfully obvious it was. Her chest felt heavy, maybe because a small, tiny part of her was convinced that the scientists weren’t lying when they said she wouldn’t return to Amatsu. The knowledge she was, now, completely alone, was only making it worse.

Large eyes looked around blindly, towards any form of noise she could hear. “I want to go home,” Harumi whimpered, putting her hands into the sleeves of her kimono as a form of comfort. Small tears prickled the corners of her eyes as she shuffled her feet. At some point on her way to wherever she was – and the lack of knowing where she was did not aid in making her feel any calmer – the “Doctor” had said she would have a roommate. Straining her ears to at least hear if there was anyone else in the room, Harumi was not relieved to hear only the shuffle of feet outside and low murmuring.

“I want to go home,” she repeated to herself, perhaps with the hopes that someone would at least answer. She stumbled towards the door, hands held out in front of her. There had always been someone to guide her – this feeling of having to be independent terrified the small girl. A small sob escaped her when she found the wall. “I want big brother. I want mama and papa and little sister,” Harumi whispered, resting her forehead against the plaster. She felt along the wall, walking carefully and slowly. It took too long to find the door knob and she fumbled with it awkwardly, more so use to sliding doors. When at last it was open, Harumi almost fell out but she was quick to straighten herself up. She stood awkwardly, glancing about as if she could have seen. From what she could tell, there weren’t very many others out. The voices ranged from children to adults, which was not helping her in figuring out where she was.

Harumi walked forward in small steps, her hands again returning to the insides of her kimono. Her head darted about in each direction, milky eyes attempting to focus on any sort of familiar noise. The girl’s nose twitched in a vain attempt to pick up on anything – tea, cherry blossoms, grass, dirt, something. There was nothing and she let out a tiny whimper. It didn’t seem like it was Amatsu, something entirely off about the place. She withdrew a hand to quickly grab a piece of clothing, head turning to look at where she had reached. Before Harumi could even get out a small sound, the person slapped her hand off and scurried away, muttering under its breath. She pressed her lips together and returned her hand to her sleeve. Rude, very rude – it certainly couldn’t have been Amatsu.

She walked forward again and was caught off guard when she bumped right into something, or more so someone. Where had that come from? Before she could even consider what it had been, Harumi found herself reminded of Tokutaro. Out of fear and on reflex, maybe even a bit of instinct, she latched to the arm, grasping it tightly to her. She didn’t bother to think that it couldn’t have been big brother. The only thing she acknowledged was that it was familiar and had given her security. Harumi waited a few moments before daring to speak and upon doing so, hugged the arm tighter to her. “Where is this?” she asked softly, a heavy accent lingering on her words. She did not look up, worried that if she did, the person would be startled by the unfocused gaze in the same way her sister was. The girl didn’t want to risk that, concerned that at any moment, the false security would be taken away. It didn't matter that by that point, she had concluded that no, this wasn’t big brother, but the very allusion of him was something she wanted more than anything and she was unwilling to let go of.

[BunnyTheAssassin]

“W-woah!” The 16 year old cried out stumbling forward as something crashed into him from behind. He turned around only to have tiny arms wrap around his arm. He glanced down to see the top of a little girls head. He blinked momentarily down at the young one before breaking out into a large grin.

“Why, hello there!” His boyish voice rang loudly through the quiet halls. He put his hand on top of the girls head and knelt down in front of her to get a good look at her before answering. “You must be new here, am I right?” He questioned, moving his hand back and forth in an affectionate way on her head. “My name is Eros, and...” Eros trailed off momentarily before starting back up. “I'm still not quite sure what this place really is, but it's called Rekenber?” He said looking up in thought, putting a hand to his chin. He playfully tilted his head and scrunched his eyebrows together as if in confusion or thought. “I think...”

Eros returned back to the grin he held on his face moments before, and stared at her right in the eyes. Grabbing onto one of the hands that held his arm, he asked, “And what is your name, princess?” He held her hand in front of his face, as if getting ready to kiss the delicately small hand(compared to his at least), waiting for an answer.

[Garden]

The voice was most certainly not her older brother’s, Harumi realized when he chirped out a greeting. It was lighter and more high pitched in comparison to Tokutaro’s. She didn’t hide the disappointment she felt and slowly let go of the boy’s arm, glancing down at her feet. “Yes,” Harumi replied hesitantly, eyes shutting as he ruffled her hair. She made no attempt to bat his hand away, too disheartened to do so. It wouldn’t have mattered anyway; her hair was, regardless of what she or anyone else attempted, always acting on its own will.

“Ehhhros,” Harumi repeated, pressing her lips together. What an unusual name. Clearly not from Amatsu. The next statement confirmed her earlier beliefs – it most certainly wasn’t Amatsu. “Reeehkeenberrr,” she mumbled, testing it out. It was going to be a word she avoided saying. “Thank you, Mister Eros,” Harumi stated, offering a weak smile. She could put a name to where she was, but that didn’t help the location. She shifted awkwardly, looking back down again.

The girl flinched as her hand was grabbed, giving a small jerk to it before relaxing. He didn’t mean any harm; he was probably just as confused as she was, and it didn’t feel as though he was going to hurt her. The only reason she knew her hand was so close to his face was the way his breath felt on it. Her fingers twitched and she glanced at him, unaware that he had moments before been staring straight at her. “Harumi,” she replied, hesitantly again. The girl raised her free hand to touch the side of his face and pulled the other away to rest on the opposite cheek. “May I?” Harumi asked softly, head tilting to the side.

[BunnyTheAssassin]

Eros wasn't dumb enough not to see the disappointment and sadness that came over her face, and reflected in her milky eyes. He knew that look all too well from being in Rekenber for over a year now, almost two; it was only a matter of time before this little girl would completely loose her self and her humanity to the doings of this horrible place. The thought of this made his face falter for a moment, but he picked it right back up as she began to speak.

The boy noticed her accent, but could exactly tell what kind of accent it was. He has heard this sort of accent and many others before, but couldn't pin point where it originated from. Eros shrugged mentally, finding it of no importance right now in this situation. He'll just figure this out later.

“Harumi?” Eros said softly, feeling her hand twitch in his, “What a pretty name.” He dipped his head down and brushed his lips lightly on top of her small hand before she took it away. Eros looked back up when he felt her hand touch his face lightly, and took the other hand he had held captive moments before to his opposite cheek. He blinked a couple times, clearly confused with her motives. Eros paused for a moment before hesitantly replying, “You may...?”

Surely this girl didn't have any hidden motives. Right?

[Garden]

Harumi tensed when his lips brushed over her hand, breath hitching in her throat. She almost pulled her hand away but the only sign of discomfort was a twitch of her fingers. Most of the time the action wouldn’t have bothered her, but knowing that that man also did such a thing made her wary. Had it not been for trusting him, the girl wouldn't have been here. She said nothing about the kiss, offering a weak smile to try and hide anything that gave her own worry away. Surely the boy wouldn't be like Mister Nils. He was, after all, in the same position she was in. "Thank you," she said, giving a brief bow.

At his approval, she brushed her thumbs over his cheeks, taking her time to take his features in. He didn’t seem very old, she mused, feeling along the edges of his mouth and then across his nose. “How old are you, Mister Eros?” Harumi asked quietly, running her fingers over his eyes and then along his brow. Her hands moved down towards his shoulders, sliding along until reaching his arms. If she guessed, it would have been that he was fifteen or maybe sixteen. The girl touched his face again and leaned in, giving a quick kiss to the tip of his nose. “Thank you.”

Harumi let one arm fall back to her side, folding it over slightly. The other she let rest on his shoulder, loosely. “Will you be my friend here?” It was a hesitant question. She didn’t know anything about him, and even though he certainly wasn’t her brother, the boy gave her a feeling of comfort. “Or just for a bit, at least?”

[BunnyTheAssassin]

It was odd. He's never had a little girl feel his face and shoulders like this before. Though, it did remind him of one incident from a year before. His eyes softened as his lips pulled up into a soft smile. She wasn't like the other girls in this horrible place. She was small, innocent, scared and obviously confused. But she had another trait that set her out from all the rest; and that was her blindness.

Eros blinked at the small girl and smiled widely. “I'm 16!” He chirped happily, trying to get the younger one to loosen up a bit. His eyes grew wide with bewilderment when she leaned up to kiss his nose, saying her thanks soon after. Eros grew over the initial shock and his smile soon found its way back into his features.

“Hm?” The sixteen year old questioned momentarily. “Oh, of course! I'd love to be your friend!” Eros replied excitedly. Hearing the last part of what she said, his smile grew more. “I'll be your friend forever, OK?” He put a reassuring hand on the crown of her head, messing her hair up lightly as he laughed.

[Garden]

She had been right. He wasn't too much older than her, although he was younger than her brother. There really were no similarities between them, Harumi mused to herself. Maybe that was good. She wouldn't miss her nii-kun too much if she didn't have to think of him all the time. It still left a sick feeling in her stomach.

The saddened look on Harumi's face disappeared as he agreed to be her friend. For a few seconds she looked at him, surprised, and then smiled happily, eyes almost sparkling with joy. The smile grew wider as he said forever. That sounded so nice. "Okay!" she chirped, clasping her small hands over his own. "I'll be your friend forever, too! Forever and ever, even after we get to leave this place!" It was a naive hope, but her excitement and joy over having found someone made her fears smaller and the unhappy thoughts drift away. Forever - how nice that would be!

Without thinking, she moved her hands and let her arms wrap around his neck. Harumi pressed her face against the side of his head, eyes closing. "Promise, Eros?" she asked, though her voice was softer than it had been. She didn't pull away to try and look at him, instead hugging him tighter. "I promise if you promise, Eros-nii."

[BunnyTheAssassin]

Eros chuckled through his wide grin, holding her small hands in his own bigger ones. “Right, right!” He agreed with her, laughing even more. The girl was cute, he had to admit. He hoped that the powers of this horrible organization won't take an effect on her any time soon. The ex-pirate felt that the little girl doesn't deserve any of the things that they will conduct on her on her stay here.

The teen felt the younger girl latch her arms around his neck and press her cheek against the side of his face. He felt his face fall void of any previous emotions at the question. Promise... It's one thing he can't guarantee. He can't promise 'forever'. Not even a couple seconds later, his face pulled its self back together in a wide grin as he hugged the girl back, burring his face into her shoulder.

“I promise, Harumi.”

It was all a lie.

[Garden]

It had been a few months after they met, and in that time, Harumi had become near inseparable from Eros, following after him like a puppy until he told her not to. She was eager to be by his side, finding his company to be the only positive thing about the horrible place. His presence made her feel secure and without him, she was uneasy and unwilling to stray far from her bed. In the place, he had become more or less her new family as Harumi had grudgingly accepted that she would probably never see her own again. There was no reason to hold onto a hope that in the end would make her even more homesick. So long as she had Eros, she didn’t have to feel lonely or frightened.

Today was an exception to not leaving her room, obvious by how she felt along the walls to his room. The way there had become almost second nature, regardless of her own blindness. She walked quietly but quickly, hands almost gliding along the stone. In her head, Harumi continued to repeat to herself It’s Eros niikun’s birthday. It’s Eros niikun’s birthday. He had told her when it was, and like a child waiting for Christmas, she counted down the days. Upon waking up, the very first thing she had thought was It’s Eros niikun’s birthday and just like that she had set on her way to his room.

Upon entering, she could hear the rustle of a few other children. Her head turned each direction until her eyes seemingly fell upon the older boy, situated on his bed. She didn’t need to see where he was, the location of his own bed had become second nature as well. Harumi raced towards him, stumbling here and there until finally she gave a loud thud upon hitting the bed. She stumbled back, but was quick to catch herself, and with considerably more tact, climbed onto the mattress and planted herself on his lap. Her hands felt along his face, one of her own ways of saying hello, before she pressed a kiss to the tip of his nose. “Happy birthday, Eros niikun!” the girl cried, a large smile spreading across her own face. She dropped her hands to rest on his own, small fingers intertwining. “I’m sorry I don’t have a present for you… can I give you a hug instead?”