Disclaimer - If I owned Gluhen I would decrease the damn angst by 80%. As it is, I do not and therefore cannot.
This story takes place after Gluhen ends. I have not seen the episodes, but I have read synopses. Any mistakes I trust you will be kind about.
Afterglow
By Felflowne aka Espion
Chapter 3
Murderers don't deserve the air they breathe
'This way, sir.'
Mamoru followed the warden into his office.
'We're all very proud that you chose this establishment to visit, sir.'
'Yes,' said Mamoru vaguely, then remembering himself, added, 'I've heard good things about it,' then smiled.
*
After a short meeting with all the prison staff, one came forward and told him that he had been selected to take the councillor on a tour of the facility.
Mamoru, trailed by Nagi, followed the man.
His name badge read, 'Daichi Suguri.'
'Most of the inmates in this section are due for release pretty soon,' he explained. Sullen eyes watched as the little group passed.
'And what do the inmates think of the current system?'
Suguri turned.
'Why don't you ask one, sir? Follow me.'
He trotted ahead.
*
Ken heard the footsteps approaching. He was sat at a table trying to play chess with Shuichi, who was a master and was therefore whipping him.
'God I suck,' said Ken, but he didn't seem too bothered.
'You shouldn't've taken that pawn,' said Shuichi, checkmating him.
'I thought the point was to take your stuff.'
'Only when it'll go towards a complete victory. You need to look ahead.'
'Yeah, well, I've never been much good at that,' Ken said, with a small smile.
'Hidaka?'
Ken froze. Daichi only called him that if someone important was listening. He turned.
'Jesus Christ!' exclaimed Shuichi, 'Mamoru Takatori!'
Daichi didn't look very happy.
'The councillor would like to ask you some questions about the prison, from an inmate's perspective, okay?'
Nagi looked at the man in surprise.
He talks to him like an equal… Like a friend…
Ken nodded, and went to stand up.
'You can stay sitting,' said Mamoru briskly, but Ken stood anyway and bowed politely.
'What are your views on the way the system runs at the current time?'
Ken appeared to think, when in fact his thoughts couldn't be further from the topic.
'It's pretty crowded,' he said finally, 'but I guess that isn't the council's fault.'
'Food's crap,' murmured Shuichi, too quietly to be heard.
'How long have you been here?'
'Nearly two years, sir.'
Nagi was amazed.
What're the odds…?
'Do you have any complaints about the way this prison operates?'
'I think…' said Ken slowly, 'that everyone's mood would be lifted if we could see the outside.'
Is he still the same boy I fell in love with? No, no he's changed…
Shuichi looked up and mouthed, 'You what?'
'Or maybe,' Ken said, smiling sadly, 'that's just me.'
Mamoru asked him a few more questions, which he answered automatically, and as honestly as he could. The whole time he kept his gaze lowered, looking at his shoes.
The party moved on.
'Cat got your tongue, boy?' laughed Shuichi as Ken sat back down. Ken jumped slightly.
'Cat…? Oh yeah, something like that.'
'You didn't meet his eye once.'
'He wasn't looking at me either.'
'How did you know if you weren't looking at him?'
'Just a guess. Most outsiders think they're above us, don't they?'
'That's true,' grunted Shuichi as he began to replace pieces on the chessboard, 'you want another game?'
Ken couldn't think of anything he wanted to do less. He'd just seen Mamoru! He wanted to crawl away and die. The indifference that had laced his voice stung even now.
With gargantuan effort, Ken pulled a smile back onto his face.
'You're on, but you know you'll win.'
'Of course I do, but this time, son, I'll walk you through how I do it.'
**
'Odd that, isn't it sir?'
They were back in the car.
'What?' asked Mamoru dismissively. His head was hurting, and his brain buzzed with questions he didn't want to answer.
'Seeing Siberian. I was wondering what the odds were.'
'Ha, yes.'
Nagi sighed silently and looked out of the window. The topic appeared to be closed. It was a rare feat that he ever managed to have any kind of conversation with the other man. He seemed to have cut himself off from everyone. Not that he was in any position to criticise… He was hardly Mr Talkative, but Mamoru… Well, there was detachment, and there was indifference…
**
'Hidaka! Hey!'
Ken sighed. He was now thoroughly sick of re-running his conversation with the politician, as everyone had wanted to hear about it. This time was no exception.
He told the curious person everything that had been said a few times, until he seemed satisfied and left him alone again.
*
That night, as he lay on his bed, he wondered why Fate had led him to meet Mamoru that day. He turned over.
'Bitch,' he murmured disconsolately. Then, with his brain reliving random memories no matter how often he tried to blot them out, he fell into a restless sleep.
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Nothing to say here…and if I bore you with this you won't read more! *shuts up*
