Chapter 4 – The Hand that feeds

I met someone else yesterday. Relena Darlian. She is delusional. Hey, if I was in here, I'd pretend to be somewhere else too! Wait… I am in here. Damn. Can I be a princess too?
Apparently not, Princess Relena informed me. You have to be born one, and my non royal parents simply don't qualify. Plus, this is her territory. She did however, offer me some hot chocolate.

Since I met (and had 'tea') with Relena, I have noticed a few more people. There's Noin, who is a rape victim turned murderess who got off with a plea of insanity. She's not insane, but really, can you blame her?

Hilde is paranoid. Marik steers clear of her, he doesn't like touching her, and he's jumpy for hours after, if he does. And the rest of the people know, is three more guys. Duo Maxwell, a nymphomaniac. No seriously, he feels vulnerable if he doesn't have sex, the longer he goes without, the more messed up he gets. He's got purple, no amethyst, eyes just like Yugi Motou, and a long braid of chocolate hair.

Trowa someone or another… has a weird hairstyle, not that I can talk, having hung around with Yugi and Atemu for however long I've known both. All of his hair hands over one of his eyes, it's kind of creepy. But his eyes themselves… emerald. Like mine. The parallels are a little disturbing now I think about it.

He's in here for rape too, like Noin. Clinically antisocial, with chronic agoraphobia and a fear of crowds. Messed up. The last is Wufei Chang, some Chinese dude. Sleek black hair, black eyes, vendetta against women not to mention obsessive-compulsive. Princess Relena hauled him into her 'court' and held a trial against him with Noin and Hilde holding him down (Noin's got some rage issues).

Bakura even gave evidence against him. Chang swore revenge on him then went to wash his hands 21 times.

I'd say this place is like a madhouse, but then again, it IS a madhouse. Funny that.

Counselling again today. Private this time, with someone called Dr Sally. She strikes me as a nice person.

"So Ryuji, what do you want to talk about?" she smiles, and there's no malice in it.
"I get to choose?" I must admit, I'm surprised. She smiles again, nodding.
I think for a minute.

"I don't like Eyebrows." I mutter.
"You… don't like eyebrows?" She looks confused.
"Dr. C. I call her 'eyebrows' sometimes." I inform her. For a split second, she can't conceal her amusement, then it's all professional again.
"Why don't you like Dr. Catalonia?" she questions, intrigued.
"She's not like you. If she spots a weakness, she will attack, not coax." I explain, before I can stop myself.
Dr. S looks thoughtful, but doesn't deny my accusation in any way.

"Do you tell her what I tell you?" I ask, wanting very much to know the answer. For some reason, against all odds, I trust Sally. Dumb, butI do.
"We share notes, does that bother you?" she asked.
"If I told you something in confidence, told you I did not want her to know, would you tell her? Please be honest." I said earnestly. She paused, letting the implications sink in.
"If I thought it wouldn't harm you or anyone else, I could keep silence." She agreed.
The rest of the session went well, with no mention of white, companies, or anything beyond the mundane, and childhood. That I could handle.

Another session with Dr. S. She asked me about tea with 'princess' Relena. I speak honestly. It's weird in here, but you get the feeling of a blanket of safety.
"It's like being a child again." I muse, and I see her eyes light with interest.
"Why do you say that?" she asks, pen at the ready, almost quivering.
"Well if you understand the reason you're here, it's easy to see the parallels. Having said that, it's also easy to lose yourself in the illusion. When ever something on television is scary, you will turn off the television for us, like a parent. Our in-patients play various games, normally children's games with a sophisticated twist." I explain, my mind wandering curiously along it's lengths.

"So in here… in here is safe for you?" Dr. S asks curiously.
"In your office yes. While the illusion is maintained outside, yes. When I can be a boy in Princess Relena's kingdom, yes. When I am Ryuji Otogi in Dr. C's sessions, no." I say, after a little thought.
Dr. S. nods.
"What do you think of the others?" she asks with a hidden grin.
"I thought- Dua?" I pause for confirmation at that point.
"Duo." Dr. S. smiles.
"I thought Duo was a girl at first, with the braid. I was a little taken aback to find out he was a Nympho, honestly. But Bakura and Marik like him. I think Seto does too, although like Chang, says he finds him annoying." I recall with a smile. Seto's a big cuddly bear, deep down. Not.

"And Bakura, Marik and Seto's opinions matter to you?" Dr. S. catches on quickly. If I'm honest with myself…
"Yes. I knew them once when we were saving the world from the Great Leviathan. If you don't know about that, I'm really gonna sound like a crack pot now." I finish, a little disturbed at that prospect.
"If you are referring to the escaped Duel Monsters incidents, then yes I believe you. I myself was held up by a rampage of a dragonish looking thing. I don't know what it is, I've never been a Duel Monsters person, myself." Dr. S. smiles again, and I can just feel the relief melting.
"Wow, Am I lucky!" I grin… then the grin slides of my face.

"…or really, really unlucky." I finish, sombrely
"Do you want to talk about it?" Dr. S asks, and for someone I met only recently, I feel I can trust her completely.

-FLASH-

"Look Otogi, look at your secretary. She hasn't done anything wrong. She wishes she'd never even heard of you, let alone worked for you. She wishes she hadn't come in today."
"… please… I'll give you anything you want… don't hurt anyone else… all my money-"
"You think money is enough now? It's too late. They're dead. They're all DEAD!"
BANG
"AHHHHHH! Oh god it HURTS! AHHHHHHHHHH…."
-FLASH-

"I don't think I can yet. But I will." I say, and walk back into the hallway, focus firmly on the floor pattern. "There are no white walls" has become a mantra of sorts for me lately. Great.

Author's Note:

There you go... hope you like the G people. It will still be centered around Seto, Bakura, Otogi and Marik however... You know the drill, any ideas... review!
It's my birthday... review as a present... nowI feel guilty for guilt tripping you guys.
xoxo