The FURUBA ROUND ROBIN PROJECT 

Chapter Two: The Dungeon 

by  Rose

 Yuki watched the landslide of files plunge to their death and hit the floor with a loud ka-thunk! Papers capitalized on the downward momentum and made a mad dash for freedom. Most didn't get very far. Just far enough to congregate outside their usual jackets with no clues as to which folder they belonged in.

        The new Archived Data Processor in the so-called "dungeon" sighed. Great. Just, well, great.

        "Yooooo-hoooo!" Auntie Saori's high pitched,fingernails-on-a-chalkboard voice called out. It echoed strangely in the basement.

        Yuki looked up to the top of the stairs and swallowed. Oh,tell me she didn't see. He cringed, waiting for her to tell him to clean up the mess or that he was fired or—

        "I have to lock the door while you're in here. Just thought I'd let you know, honey – just in case. If you need out, just radio security. And like I said before, I will be back to check on you. So be busy busy busy until then. Toodle poodles!"

        The door closed, taking the specter of bright light with it. Yuki let out the breath he had been holding. She didn't see the folders—Wait a minute! LOCKED IN? His heart sped up to a gallop and all the blood drained from his head. The student council president dropped whatever it was he was holding in his hands and tore up the stairs.

        "Wait! Don't lock me in here!" He grabbed the doorknob and tried to open the door. He tugged and pulled, but the metal panel didn't move. "Come back! Why do you have to lock me in?!" He shook the doorknob and pounded on the door.

        "Let me out!"

******

        Shigure stepped into the living room just as Tohru shut the coat closet door. Her long brown hair swayed back and forth; her left arm reached for the dangling arm of her jacket. It took her a couple of tries before she succeeded in pulling it on over her work clothes.

        "You're still here."

        She whirled around. "Oh! Hi Shigure. Yeah, I'm still here. But I was just about to leave."

        "I would have thought you'd have gone by now."

        She glanced down at the ground. "No. I had planned to go with Yuki, his shift started earlier than mine, but I thought--"

        "You thought you'd go together." He smiled at the young girl.

        "Yeah." She looked up. Her brow was pinched and her eyes seemed to plead with him. "It was his first day, and I wanted to cheer him on, but…"

        "But what?"

        Her face fell. "My boss at the office said that he wouldn't pay me for the hours. Kyou forbid me to go and work for free, and I think it's the first time he and Yuki agreed on anything."

        Shigure chuckled. "They just don't want to see you being taken advantage of. That's all."

        "I know, I know." Tohru heaved a sigh. "They care about me. And that's so wonderful!" A hint of a smile played with the corner of her mouth before her head lowered and he could only see the top of her head. "But it can also be kind of lonely."

        The novelist stepped forward and patted her on the shoulder. "Ah. Well, I'm sure there will be other days when you and Yuki can walk together to work." He lowered his voice. "Assuming he lasts that long."

        He won't last an entire shift.

        "Oh!" Her head snapped up, her expression was lively once again. "But he will, he will! I know he will."

        The novelist grinned and couldn't help but laugh a little at her serious expression. "Relax, relax. I was only teasing. Of course Yuki will continue working at his new job." He blinked several times like he was trying to staunch some outpouring of emotion and then put on his 'parental' face.

        "His first job." Shigure summoned a few tears for show. "I can remember when he was just this big, and now he and Kyou are all grown up." He sniffed and wiped at his eyes.

        "Can it." Kyou's no-nonsense tone called out from the other room. "I can hear your whimpering all the way on the roof."

        Shigure continued blubbering. "And this is the thanks I get." He threw an arm up over his forehead. The cat stepped into the living room carrying a carton of milk.

        "I cook and clean and provide a roof over your heads--"

        "KNOCK IT OFF!" Kyou pointed his free hand at his cousin. "You don't cook or clean anything around here, that's why we have a house keeper! And I never asked for this roof over my head, you forced me to come stay here with you and that damn rat!"

        "He's in a mood." Shigure waved his hand in a dismissive gesture.

        Tohru tilted her head. "It looks like it's going to rain."

        "Oh. Yeah." That explains it.

        The young girl glanced over her shoulder then back at the other occupant in the living room. "Kyou, are you feeling okay? I know that…" She swallowed, and Shigure saw deep lines appear in her face.

        "I know that when it rains--"

        "Aren't you supposed to be at work or somethin'?" Kyou oh-so-subtly changed the topic of the conversation. "You and that damn Yuki are supposed to be playin' part time job--"

        "Kyou. " Shigure growled. "Enough. Tohru works hard at her job."

        He saw the orange-haired boy's shoulders slump forward a bit. "I know, I know. I just… I need to--"

        Tohru took the few steps needed to bring her closer to Kyou. "You need to rest." She cradled his free hand between both of hers palms. He stared at her with wide eyes.

        She gazed back. "When the weather gets like this, you know you're not supposed to overdo it."

        His hand slid from her grasp and he sagged almost into a doubled-over position - like a marionette with loosened strings. "Yeah."

        She moved closer and picked up his left arm like she was going to put it over her shoulder. "Here, let me hel--"

        "Tohru, aren't you going to be late to work?" Shigure interrupted before she could turn Kyou into a cat.

        "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" She dropped the orange-haired boy's arm and spun around. Her eyes bugged out of her head as she quickly brought up her wrist to check the time. "You're right!" She turned back to Kyou. "But I can't just--"

        "Leave him to me." The novelist shooed the girl towards the door. "I'll make sure he gets some rest."

        Kyou lifted his head and managed a weak glare. "You. And… What. Army?"

        "Bye!" Shigure sang; he all but pushed Tohru out onto the porch. "Be safe!"

        The young girl hurried off. The novelist looked up at the gathering clouds in the sky. "I think we're in for a storm."

        He glanced back at Kyou. He seemed to have recovered some of his strength and was dragging up the stairs towards his room.

        "Get some rest, Kyou." Shigure hollered after his younger cousin. The orange-haired boy disappeared from view.

        "She may need someone to walk her home and you're useless in that condition."

        "SHUT UP!" A door slammed shut and Shigure winced. The entire ceiling shook with the vibration.

        He brought a hand up to cover his eyes. "Don't wreck my house."

******

       Yuki sat down on the top of the steps and buried his head in his hands. "This was a mistake. Why did I ever think this could possibly be a good idea?"

        Something wet touched the back of his neck and he sat up. He ran a hand through his hair, and found it was damp. Sweat trickled down the side of his cheek. "It's hot in here." His eyes glanced around the dim interior of the basement, and he finally got a good look - or as good a look as the lack of light allowed.

        Shadows filled the vast, underground space. The air lay like a wool blanket - hot and dusty - over the room. Grey, concrete steps slunk along the wall from the elevated door to the basement floor using a single iron rail on the right-hand side as a crutch.

        Bare cement fused with the bottom of the stairs, and opened into what should have been a wide open area, but was littered with office equipment, shelves, files, paper, shelves, shelves, and more shelves. A lone filing cabinet stood in the far corner of the room. The desk in the center of the workspace - Yuki couldn't even see the top for all the manila folders and papers. The mess he made earlier still formed a manila swamp with white froth at the foot of the desk.

        "What am I doing? I'm too different. I'm too weird to make it in the real world. Is that why you let me, Akito? So I would learn this lesson?" He bent forward and rested his head where his forearms lay across his knees.

        "And I realized that's why she worked so hard. She did it for me. That's why I have to finish high school. I can't give up."

        "My motto is: Never give up!" She smiled wide as she curled both hands into fists, her dark eyes dancing in the sunlight.

        The student council president stood up and descended the stairs to begin his new job.

******

        "Hi, I'm here!" Tohru announced as she entered the office building for her shift. The clouds overhead had collected into a fierce-looking storm. Lightning split the air a moment before the loud BOOM! of thunder rattled the windows on the outside door. Tohru gulped and moved towards the back room so she could clock in and get to work.

        I wonder how Yuki's doing.

        She opened her locker and placed her small duffle bag inside. Another crack of thunder sounded from outside and shook the metal door in her hand. Tohru felt tiny shivers climb up her spine. I hope Kyou is getting some rest. This weather is so hard on him.

        The young girl closed the door and spun the lock. "Well. I guess it's time to get to work!"

        An hour later...

        Tohru raced around the corner. Her left sneaker came down on the freshly-mopped section of tile and—

        "AIIIIEEEEEEE!" Her foot slipped, she sped up. For a moment, she was flying across the room! The ceiling passed in front of her eyes, and then the floor came up too quickly to greet the back of her head. Light flickered and went out.

        "Tohru, you should be more careful." Her mother picked a smaller version of Tohru off the ground and held her close. Was she six then? Maybe seven.

        "If something were to happen to you…"

        'I know, mom. I just…don't think sometimes. I knew the floor was wet. I saw you mop it.'

        "You're so precious. I love you, dear. And I'll always be watching over you."

        Her mother's image began to fade.

        'Mom! Don't go!'

        "Shhhhh. I'll always be—" Mom's voice went silent.

        "Tohhhhru, wake up! This is no time to be taking a nap."

        The girl opened her eyes. A blond blur peered down at her. Someone had her hand and was patting it gently. She was vaguely aware of a softness underneath her head.

        "Tohru! We were so worried."

        Light hurt…Her eyelids slid shut.

        "Come on, open your eyes, Tohru!" It was a young voice. One she recognized. But the boy she knew was shouting. Her brow twitched; her head was throbbing. Light stung when she tried to crack open her eyelids again and fried segments of her brain.

        "Tohruuuu!"

        Her eyes flew open. "Mom-Momiji?"

        The younger Sohma grabbed her shoulders. "Tohru! Are you hurt? Can you move?"

        "Momiji." She blinked rapidly. "Wh-why, what are you doing here?" Someone was playing the drums on her skull, and she wished they would stop.

        "I came to visit Papa. I saw you slip and tried to catch you, but…" He glanced away. "I'm sorry, Tohru. I let you fall and get hurt."

        "Uhhh…. Momiji." She placed a hand on his arm. "It's okay. I'm a tough girl, and besides, it really was my own fault."

        Momiji shook his head.

        "I was the one who mopped the floor, and you know…" Tohru forced herself to chuckle. "…dummy me…"

        Two older ladies, her coworkers, peered down at her. Momiji extended a hand and helped Tohru to a sitting position.

        "Are you all right?" The brown-haired lady, Ginny, asked. "What on earth were you running for?"

        Tohru blinked. "Wh-why was I running?" She tried to think back. Pain jabbed needles into the back of her head. And her memory… it was like sifting through several layers of cotton fuzzing over her brain.

        "I…I don't know."

******

The basement wasn't a dungeon, it was a sauna. Sweat formed beads on Yuki's forehead and began to form entire rivers down the side of his face. He pulled the trigger on the scanner and it flashed the number up on the laptop screen.

        "Searching…" It sang a tin-sounding note every time it located the section where the file belonged. He had already arranged the manila wilderness and made piles based on which area the folder needed to go to.

        A lone, slim jacket sat in the "IN" box, waiting to go to the shredding section.

        I'm not going there alone.

        A drop landed on the top file in the stack that was the "to-be-sorted" stack. Yuki rolled his eyes and checked his watch.

        It's only been an hour.

        He dropped the scanner on the table and slumped over the desk. "This heat is unbearable." He wiped the sweat off his forehead, and ended up partially slicking back his hair. The president of the student council groaned.

        "Enough is enough."

        He picked up the radio and pressed the TALK button. "Hello?" Static hissed as he released the button. Yuki waited a few seconds. He talked into it again.

        "Hello?"

        The radio crackled; a deep male voice answered. "Security."

        Oh thank God. He let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding. "The basement is uncomfortably warm. Would it be possible to turn on the air conditioning?"

        He waited for a response.

        The radio remained silent. Yuki stared at it, knowing any second, it would speak to him. Were they mad at his request? They needed to come down here and try to get work done in this stifling,stagnant atmosphere. He was just about to hit the button and talk again, when a sound began just over the top of his head.

        It was a low, grating rumble that grew louder and louder-like a dragon unfurling its wings; metal scales scraped against each other, shrieking through what had to be ducts in the building's ventilation system. Yuki threw the radio down on the desk to cover his ears.

        A burst of hot air came down directly on his head; plumes of smoke entered the room with it. The high-pitched whine turned over into the deep chugging of a locomotive engine before cool air finally began to pour into the room.

        Yuki let down his hands from over his ears and sagged back onto the metal stool stationed behind his desk. "Good grief. How old is their air conditioning unit?" He leaned over the table,resting his elbows on its surface. "No wonder they didn't want to turn it on."

        With the air in the room already at a more reasonable temperature, he reached again for the scanner, then stopped. His mouth twisted. Yuki picked up the radio again.

        "Thank you very much." He spoke into the unit. The president of the student council paused for a moment.

        But there was no reply. He sighed, grabbed the bar code scanner and went back to logging files and making piles. Once he had been through and located which files went where, he was going to tackle shelving them section by section.

        It seemed like the most logical thing to do.

40 Minutes Later…

        Logic was a bastard stepchild that needed to be beaten and turned out. Its cousin, common sense was the only reasonable faculty to rely on. Logic was what got him into this mess. Logic said that having a job meant something. That normal people have and go to jobs every day. That if he wanted to have a normal life, he should be able to work a normal job.

        Logic also said that locking the door wasn't so bad - if Auntie Saori said it was necessary, it must be. And logic also believed that if Auntie Saori said she was coming back, she would. Why would she lie? He couldn't stay there for the rest of his life - locked in the basement. And no normal, logical person would even attempt to lock him away. Logically, Yuki would have people who would come looking for him. Logically, someone would have to feed him…

        Common sense, however, had a different story. Common sense said that normal people don't have jobs where guys died in a basement referred to as a dungeon. Common sense was also skeptical of the need to lock the door, and his supervisor's intent to return.

        But common sense's biggest issue right now was with the fact that the room's temperature had dropped by what had to be thirty degrees - without any indication that the air conditioning unit was close to being finished with its job.

        That and the fact that after his one call to get the A/C turned on, security had stopped responding when he tried to radio in.

        Yuki rubbed his hands together and blew warm air against them. His fingers were red and raw; they ached and weren't nearly as agile as when there was actually blood in them.

        "It's s-s-summer, and I'm f-f-freezing." He crossed his arms, tucking his hands under his shoulders and hunched over the table. His entire body shuddered.

        Yuki lay his head down on the desk. "S-s-she's right. Th-this is the w-w-worst job…"

******

        Tohru tried to stand up; pain shot through the back of her head and lodged behind her eye. "Owwwww. My head."

        "You need to stay put, dear," Linda said.

        "But I…I'm all right. I need to finish--" She raised up to her knees and made another effort to get up. The world tilted beneath her and she knelt back down.

        "Tohru, I'll finish your work for you. Please, just rest for a bit. And when we're done, I'll walk you home, ok, Tohru?" Momiji smiled, but shadows still hung across his eyes.

        "She can rest in the breakroom until you finish up," Ginny said.

        Linda nodded and grabbed the mop that was resting against the wall. "Take it easy, dear. We can handle it without you. Your friend was a great help last time." She moved down the hall towards the restrooms.

        Ginny smiled. "You take care, now." She walked off in the other direction.

        Tohru looked up at Momiji. He took her hand again, and helped her to her feet. "I'm sorry," he said in a quiet voice.

        Her knees felt wobbly and her head throbbed. She tried to blink back tears wobbling in her eyes. He was so concerned. "Don't worry, Momiji. I'll be fine. Really. Thank you so much for doing my work for me and letting me rest."

        She took a step and the tricky floor pulled the rug out from under her feet. Momiji grabbed her arm and held her upright. "Let me help you, Tohru."

******

        It had been two hours and thirty-seven minutes. And Auntie Saori had yet to return. Yuki placed the scanner down on the tabletop and watched his breath leave his body in visible puffs. He wasn't one hundred percent positive, but he was pretty sure this violated labor laws somewhere.

        He tried the radio again. "Hello? I'm locked in. It's f-freezing in here." The president of the student council shivered and banged the device down on the desk. "Why did I ever think I could do something normal for once?"

        Yuki stood up and walked over to the stairs. "I am not going to freeze to death down here." He started up the steps. The exercise, though short, got his blood moving again, and he didn't feel quite so sluggish. He tried the doorknob again. It was still locked. He rattled it and tried to wrench it free. Yuki stepped back and delivered a well-placed kick at the hinges.

        It didn't budge. He pounded and pushed and kicked and jerked; but the door remained still and silent.

        He sunk down with his back against it. His breath coming in gasps. "At least I'm not cold anymore." His hands ached all the way to their bones.

        "Akito and that stupid cat would laugh at me. Here, like this."

        He tried to slow his breathing down from its rapid pace. Yuki brought both legs up against his chest and hugged his knees.

        "Is this what happens when I try to do something normal?" He choked, but refused to acknowledge the swirl of emotions that threatened to overtake him - the feeling of wanting to turn on the light or hide in the closet. The desire to curl up in a ball and cry - like he did when he was young. And Akito…

        No. He was not that person. He was not afraid. He would not let this place undo him. He was stronger than this. He wouldn't give up.

        "I'm not giving up!" He rose to his feet.

        "I am NOT giving up!"

        The overhead lights flickered and went out. Yuki caught his breath; anger coursed through his body with every beat of his heart.

        At first, the sound coming from the computer downstairs… He thought it was shutting off with the loss of power. It clicked and whirred.

        "Great. Just great." He felt his way to the iron rail, and leaned on it while he tried to find each step with his foot. The president of the student council made it two stair steps and stopped.

        Tappity tap tap tappity.

        It sounds like…

        Tap tap click click tappity click.

        Someone typing…

        Tappity tap click tap tap tappity. Whirrrrr. Beeeeeeeeeeeeeep!

        Yuki stumbled back and fell to the ground with a thump. There was no mistaking that beep.

        The computer was on, and someone or some thing--?

        Tap tap tappity click tappity tap tap click tappity click tap tap tap tappity click tappity…

End of Chapter 2
Return to Chapter 1  
Continued on Chapter 3