THE MADHOUSE By Kondoru

Standard Disclaimers

Thanks to Ben for Betaing.

Part Three; Atori

Asuka was in the kitchen, trying to fathom the mess Haruka had made in her efforts to get the last meal. Someone stepped though the door. It was Atori. He was bearing a tray of dirty cups.

"Thank you, Atori." Asuka said, though in what context was not clear.

"Do you want me to help you?" Atori knew he had to try to help people now. That way they would like him.

"Yes, we will get the washing up done." Asuka suggested.

Atori wasn't sure what to say to that. Or do, for that matter. (In Lacryma things got licked clean.) Seeing her guest's confusion Asuka said. "I'll wash and you dry." She handed Atori a reasonably clean tea towel.

Atori could not see why the dinner things needed drying, as they would dry naturally if left out in the air. But he dared not argue.

Asuka made a bit of small talk while they worked, ending with. "What do you remember before?"

Atori frowned. "I don't know what you mean." He said plaintively.

"I mean before you came here."

Atori stroked his quiff thoughtfully. "I don't remember much," he whimpered, "I don't want to remember!"

"I won't ask any further" Asuka felt guilty. Tobi had told her that not only was Atoris mind somewhat problematic, that both of them came from bad backgrounds. A lot of towels seemed to need washing of late. Asuka knew Atori had incontinence issues. Haruka had made a joke. `Atoris an Intercontinental, -he's wet the bed all over the world. ` (What she did not know was that the Dragon Knights sat on towels when in the bath, to prevent their umbilicals from damaging the enamel...Nor was she aware of just how large the Dragon Knight population in her house was getting...)

Atori looked at his host. "I was in a dark place. No windows. I couldn't go out." Atori looked at his feet. "People hurt me."

This seemed to tally with Tobis account. "I'm so sorry, but you are all right here, aren't you?"

Atori smiled, it was as if the sun came up. "Yes! Its great here, I have people to play with, and I can go for walks in the woods and by the sea. I like the sea." He looked out the window. "No one hurts me here."

"That's good that things are so much better here." Asuka agreed. "And you have your friend Tobi."

"Tobi is nice." Atori said with emphasis. "He was with me in the dark place. He didn't hurt me. So one day I said Tobi, we must escape, leave this screwed up place. "Atori sniffed disdainfully. "But Tobi was afraid, he said we mustn't." Atori shrugged, "so I told him that he was clever enough to escape, and if he needed strength, then I was there for him."

"Ah."

"So then Tobi felt braver; he unlocked all the gates, Now we are here." Atori paused; "I'm not quite sure how we got here. Tobi has important work to do. I help him."

"You do a very good job;" she patted Atori on the shoulder "the kids are so pleased to have you to play with."

"I like having someone to play with. Tobi is always mucking round with his computer." It was plain that Atori did not regard computers very highly. "Haruka and her friends take me for walks."

Asuka smiled. It didn't take much to keep Atori happy.

But then, it was evident that he had had little chance in life for walks in the sun.

"It's a very nice town, there's also the woods on the mountain to explore, and lots of seaside." He paused; "there wasn't a sea where I came from."

"You can stay here as long as you wish. It's a big house for just Haruka and me." Asuka offered.

"That's very kind of you," Atori said after a bit of thought. "It's up to Tobi to decide."

"And Tobi always wants best for you. He told me that."

Atori was silent for a minute; he had known his comrade to care for him "Tobis very kind to me. Even when I'm mad he's kind."

"That's very good. Mad people often lose their friends. For Tobi to stick with you like that." Asuka said "He must be a true friend. Why do you have bird names?" She added as an afterthought.

Atori shook his head. "I don't know. It's what people call me. I may have had a different name in the past but I don't know it now. "

"And why is Tobi named for a bird too?"

"You'll have to ask him." Atori added.