[Completed] Shizune, Megumi - A Pleasant Dawn

[roseblooms.livejournal.com]

When; Earlier in the morning
Rating; G
Characters; Shizune [medic_assistant], Megumi [pinkenglishrose]
Summary; Shizune and Megumi have a small breakfast and reflect on whether being in the city is so bad after all..
Log;

Shizune did a last check over Jan before Megumi arrived with that breakfast she'd spoken of. Her stomach rumbled. Breakfast did sound good. The vampire was healing, and he wouldn't scar terribly, but it worried Shizune that he hadn't revived yet. Wasn't this city supposed to perpetually revive the dead who... died again? Shaking her head... no, that was a bad idea. The dull ache in the back of her head reminded her of the hangover she'd been suppressing with medications. No head shaking.

After Shizune had told her where she would be, Megumi had set the breakfast she could in a covered tray and grabbed a flask for the tea, heading up to where her other medic companion had told her where she would be. It was a fine morning so far, despite how early it was, but having been used to long hours hardly made her tired. She made her way up, balancing the things, and finally, once she had gotten there and looked at the familiar sight of Shizune, she smiled lightly.

"There you are." she greeted. Under the cover of the tray, she'd made a proper English breakfast (she often made them for Zappa) so for Shizune, it'd be no different. She walked over, setting down the things on a ledge and the flask as well, glancing at the other vampire as she set the cups down. "How's he doing?" she asked, pouring her tea first.

"Ah, thank you so much." Shizune smiled at the sight of the tea that was definitely not alcoholic in any way shape or form. At the question, she looked over to the sleeping... or dead, rather... vampire.

"He's doing alright. I stabilized him early yesterday when Uriel brought him to me, and everything should be functioning. But it's not." She didn't shake her head in confusion. "I heard this City was supposed to revive the dead, but this one doesn't seem to be doing that, and I don't know why."

She paused, glancing up as she walked over to bring Shizune her tea, then turned to set the tray before her, it was a breakfast tray, so it had lifts under it to make it rise above the ground. "So I have heard too. But.. Don't worry. If he's a vampire, then it means his body is recovering. They're dead creatures, so their recovery will vary from humans." she explained, with a half-smile. Her eyes went over the other's form, walking over to his body and kneeling beside it, first checking his vital signs through his wrists and throat.

"He needs an intake of blood, but he might have had that already. I'll just speed up the process for him." she added, taking his hand in his and looking up at Shizune. "You just have to be careful about when he wakes. Some vampires can be violent."

"I've heard." Shizune said, coming over to kneel across from Megumi, next to Jan. The vampire looked almost peaceful. Almost. "In my world, we don't have anything like what this City has. Vampires? Demons? Angels?" She shrugged. "It was so shocking, but now it's becoming such a regular thing. When I first saw Uriel I thought I'd faint." She let a small laugh escape her. "As for protecting myself, well, I'm a ninja by trade, so I should be alright."

She smiled, focusing a slight burst of energy that shone like a white light at the tips of her fingers and began to spread through the vampire's vein. She never broke her concentration, making sure what she was summoning was the correct amount of healing energy needed. Since she worked with elements, plus her power was what some would equal to 'holy' energy despite her lineage, she had to take care she wouldn't harm him unintentionally. So far so good, she supposed.

"Lord Uriel.. back when I was in school, I was made to learn about angels. Religion and all.." she chuckled, spreading her fingers to the vampire's arm, then moving her hand to his forehead, letting the light white glow spread there. It would help quicken his body's response time to healing and numb him until he could wake up, preferably without harming anyone. "So it's not so surprising. We had vampires around too. Mostly demonic, but they existed. Humans feared them a lot." she looked down at Jan and smiled, the light fading."That should do it.."

"Thanks for the assistance. I sort of... winged the whole thing. I've never operated on a vampire before." Shizune smiled. "Closing his wounds was easy, I do that all the time, but the rest, I was in the dark." She sat back on her heels, her nose detecting something in that breakfast tray that smelled alarmingly good. Different, to her palate, accustomed to a bowl of rice for breakfast, but good.

"Heh, you have to be around different creatures to know how they work.. and vampires.. aren't too different from humans. It's.. just a bit confusing." she shook her head, smiling and looking up. "As a witch, I've been exposed to them." she then grinned, motioning to the breakfast tray. "We'll let him rest now. He'll come around in his own time." standing, she smoothed down her skirt and walked over to pour herself some tea as well.

"Eat up, Shizune. I wasn't sure what you'd like, but it's eggs and sausages, with some delicious french mini-croissants. Oh, and toast and marmalade-- no good breakfast should be without it!" she told her chirpily.

"Ah~" Shizune breathed in the scent of the warm breakfast. She took a sip of the tea offered and a small smile broke out on her lips. Such a good tasting blend. She took in the sight of the foods, all of which looked unfamiliar, but she was willing to try most anything. She paused, staring at each food and wondering if there was some sort of order to this, should the eggs be eaten before the sausage? Should things be mixed?

Grinning slightly, noting the other's confusion, Megumi set her cup down and walked over so that she was in front of Shizune. Then, she picked out the knife and fork, cutting some of the toast, then following it up with the egg white, and holding it out to her mouth with a pleasant smile. She kept forgetting people weren't from the same background at her, and hey, what was the harm in doing this for a friend?

"Say ahh~"

Shizune opened her mouth obligingly, chewing the food thoughtfully. The egg was good, nice and fluffy, and the toast contrasted with a nice crunch. A very good combination! "This is... really good!" Shizune praised, clapping her hands lightly together with a smile. She really was easy to please. Taking the fork and knife, she proceeded to mimic Megumi's movement with the utensils.

Laughing slightly, Megumi spread her skirts beneath her and knelt down, glancing to the cityscape beyond as she did while Shizune ate, looking thoughtful for a bit. "When the sun rises, everyone will be going through some form of guilt or sadness. That feeds the city deeply.." she murmured thoughtfully. ".. I wish there was a way to know what was going to happen, so we could prepare for it." turning back, she looked at Shizune calmly. "I spoke to the deity Kaen, earlier. He seemed vehement against telling me anything."

"You spoke to a deity of this mad place?" Shizune leaned forward intently, one had politely over her mouth, as she was in the process of chewing some toast. But she had to speak regardless.

She nodded. "He said we were like ants in a box and soon we would no longer exist, once the ticking stopped. It would all end. There would be nothing. I wonder.." she tilted her head to a side, then shook it slightly, watching Shizune. "I wonder if that's so bad..."

Shizune made sure to swallow before answering. "I don't think it would be too bad at all if only this world ceased to exist. It serves no purpose, I think, besides driving us all mad." She took a sip of the herbal tea. "But the whole universe... all the worlds we come from... that shouldn't happen..."

"Perhaps. But I suppose, in a way, it's doing what the normal world does anyway, ne?" she shrugged lightly with a smile, watching the other friend eat. Then, she shook her head and looked back at the city. "Maybe it's a good thing in a way. We're all marching towards the end.. perhaps this city could be a blessing in disguise, despite the evil."

"I certainly think the curses are only accelerating the natural movement of things." Another sip of tea. "It seems no matter which way you look at it things progress for the worst most of the time. I mean, who here comes from a utopia, hmm?" She looked over the landscape. "I need them to tell me which direction that's in."

"Apart from the angels?" she grinned slightly, picking up her own tea and sipping it. "I doubt anyone is. I watch these people, and some wish to find their solace in this city. It's.. strange, in a way, but who are we to decide what's right and wrong for the inhabitants..?" she laughed suddenly. "What a grim subject we speak of! How's the breakfast, Shizune?" she quickly asked, not wanting to go into a sad mood because of it.

"Ah, very good!" Shizune snapped back to pleasant conversation. "Actually, extremely good. Especially compared to my cooking." She laughed a bit. "To tell the truth, my roommate even cooks better, and he's male. How embarrassing." She chewed on some sausage thoughtfully, savoring the flavor, much different from her usual. "Where'd you learn to cook?"

She paused in surprise, her cheeks coloring slightly as she glanced away,moving an arm over a raised knee under her skirt as she part knelt and smiled sheepishly. "A lot of luck." she admitted with a silly grin. Moving a hand behind her head, she continued, "I was raised in a very good household, so I never knew how to, until.." she pause, realising she was turning even more crimson now at the memory. How embarrassing would it be to admit that she only learned how to cook because her boyfriend had been a ravenous eater?

"Until?" Shizune prompted her, smiling. She took another bite of the toast, a slight crunch as she did so.

She found herself breaking into embarrassed laughter, shaking her head. "Oh, it's nothing big-- I don't even know why I'm dragging it out." tilting her head to a side, she grinned playfully at the other. "Until I got a boyfriend." her eyes sparkled with mischief and she chuckled, looking away again, though her smile seemed to become more solemn.

"I wonder where he is, now.."

"I've heard some of the same from some of the kunoichi in Konoha." Shizune smiled and nodded slowly. "They seem to think I can cook, so they always ask me for advice, it seems. Which is just strange. I always end up referring them to someone else." She noticed the slight change in the other woman's smile. "You miss him?"

She grinned. "Well, you do look like someone they can count on. I think they expect it of us healers." she gave the other a playful wink, before returning to the other subject, thinking for a bit, and looking down. "Yes, I do. But I'm not foolish enough to think he has any reason to miss me. And, oh-- I don't say that in pity of any sort. It.. it just is." she smiled and shook her head. ".. I just want to know if he's safe. And if he.. perhaps.. forgives me." she chuckled then. "Ah, I'm a dreamer, really. Don't mind me."

"Dreamers are the ones who do great things." Shizune said softly, steady. "We all used to be them, but most of us lose it along the way..." She smiled wanly. "It's good to dream. I'm sure it would not be selfish or looking for pity to hope that he misses you as well." She left the forgiveness alone for the time being. She figured if the other woman wanted to speak about it, she would elaborate.

"What of you..?" she decided to switch subjects quickly, it wouldn't do well to linger on her own thoughts. That, and she didn't want to miss Axl any more than necessary. ".. I have my little dream, but Shizune ought to have something she's looking for too, right?" she grinned somewhat, watching her companion with a warm look in her eyes. "It seems everyone in this city has a strange story or two to tell!"

Shizune smiled a little, nursing the cup of tea much as she'd nursed her alcohol the night before. "Ah, dreams. I used to have a lot of dreams." She sipped her tea. "Dreams of becoming a great kunoichi, a great healer. When I apprenticed to Tsunade-sama I was 12." She smiled. "Full of dreams. But after a while, I faced reality." She shrugged, "I chase after Tsunade-sama, I try to protect her, even though I know she's more powerful than me. She;s like... almost a mother to me, I suppose, maybe more like an aunt..." She laughed a bit. "Don't tell her I said that though."

She sighed. "But in the end, I suppose all my grander dreams have been laid to rest. You know, the whole 'find a good man, settle down eventually, have a family maybe someday', those ones. Now all I have are the little dreams. Help people. Heal people."

She listened to Shizune with complete interest, never missing a single word she said and smiled. She could relate to her, without a doubt. Keeping the name in mind, she let Shizune's words die out, before quietly reaching out to touch her face with a gentle movement, as if quietly saying she understood and accepted it all. It wasn't as if such things weren't to be expected. Giving her a nod, Megumi smiled warmly.

"And to have that little dream will eventually make us stronger of having the bigger dreams again. Even if we are going towards the end, we'll go down with accomplishment. Ne?" she smiled brightly, moving her hand down and smiling somewhat shyly now. "I have part of my dream. Let's see how the tale continues." she paused, then. "Is it.. possible to ever be forgiven for something you -wanted-..?" she asked suddenly, looking somewhat solemn all of a sudden.

Shizune smiled, glad for the reassuring touch. It was... hopeful, almost, and made her want to believe whatever the other woman said. "Accomplishment." She murmured, smiling. She settled comfortably, listening to Megumi. Her answer was quick. "Of course." She said, in all seriousness. "What we want, well, there's sometimes no control over it. It's what we want, we can't change it. And no one can blame anyone for wanting something."

Shizune's answer was more reassuring than the other would realise it. Giving her a light nod, she moved her hand back and settled it against her skirt, thinking for a while. Yes, perhaps.. perhaps it was a desire she had, a desire in which was her own retribution and perhaps, she would be alright once she had it. Somehow. So she may have harbored the feelings she had, she wasn't at all worried for a moment they would come back and take over her sense of thought now. She knew what was right and wrong now.

"Thank you, Shizune." her first response came as more relief than anything, and she smiled at her warmly. "I'm glad I have you to talk to. You're a very kind person." she told her earnestly, and then she grinned. "Who knows, we may find some part of your big dream soon." she winked. "Lots of gorgeous men here, you know."

Shizune accidentally snorted mid-drink of tea at Megumi's last comment. She refused to let herself think of the night before, but her mind refused to listen to her demands. A slight blush of embarrassment tinged her cheeks, although she didn't know whether it was justified. She had woke up with most of her clothes on, yes, but... she had this feeling...

Blinking, Megumi quickly picked up a napkin and held it out to Shizune, though she didn't look worried. Rather, she looked somewhat amused and smiled wryly at her. "... What's the matter, Shizune?" she asked her inquisitively, her eyes twinkling with a silent sort of mirth. "Did I say something suggestive?"

Shizune took the napkin, wiping her mouth to cover her awkwardness. "Ahem, ah, no..." She took a moment to recover, but it ended up being too long of a moment. "I just... well, you know how yesterday was. I was holding out from drinking before my roommate brought alcohol to the apartment and stuff proceeded as you would imagine. I worry I might have done something... improper with said male roommate."

"Not a surprise, if you were drunk." she told her kindly, hoping that the other wouldn't need to suffer anymore discomfort through her words and gave her an assuring pat on the shoulder. "We have urges, what's wrong in wishing to satisfy them when we can?" she wasn't really like that, her heart and body belonged to one person alone, and she wasn't going to let that break, ever. With a grin, she stood and settled her skirts as the sun began to rise and stretched.

"If you're worried, I can give you some morning after herbs, just so you don't go through any unnecessary.. ah.. bodily changes?" she suggested, rather businesslike. "Just to be on the safe side." she added.

"Ah, thanks, but I've already attended to that." She gulped. "Just in case." She didn't think anything had happened, but she didn't remember much. She could have showered, cleansed, what have you. She didn't know, and that scared her a bit. She stood as well. "But thank you, for this wonderful breakfast."

Smiling, Megumi bent to retrieve the tray and flask and cups, organizing them and nodding to Shizune. "You're welcome. Let me know if you need anything else, alright?" the sky was growing brighter and she grinned. "Time to go check on my brother and everyone else. This was fun, I'll see you again!" he moved a hand to give her a pat on the shoulder. "And don't worry about anything. I'll be around to help. Just look after yourself!" with that, she gave the lady a short, polite bow and with a frindly wave, went back down the way she came.

What a pleasant morning to start with.