Nanba Prison (Nanbaka RP Group) discussion

The cell, being in block 13, is made specifically to try and keep escapees from, well, escaping. Thus, the cell is on the smaller side. It has thick, concrete walls with no windows and a concrete floor [though this may change sometimes due to the prisoner's unique ability]. The door is three inches thick and made out of stainless steel—it has a small window near the top and a food slot down at the bottom, though it is never really used as the prisoner is not aggressive. There are cameras inside of the room and outside.

The room itself consists of the essentials—a twin-mattress bed, a toilet—and then some—a small desk in the corner, a circular carpet on the floor [which has bunnies on it], and even a small bookshelf with a cute lamp on it. Besides the guards, the nurse Ila is the only other person [aside from officers] who has access to the room.

A guard led the young prisoner, 11891, or Harumu Kawa to his new home. The people handling him since he called the police himself and confessed to the murder of his mother, had been kind to him, if not a bit wary. He was only eleven years old, and he was unable to speak, so his baby-face was quickly recognized as non-threatening. The most unnerving thing about him, honestly, was the jet black cat resting on his shoulders. Other than the cat, whose name was Yoite, and the sense that Harumu had several people following him around constantly, the more seemed harmless and tame.

With a bit of hesitance, the guard opened the cell door for Harumu, letting him inside. "Change into the clothes on the bed. I'll be right back," the man warned, though he really didn't feel any need to. Again hesitating, he shut the door slowly, looked back, and then left to go and get the nurse, Ila, who was being assigned as the boy's personal caretaker. She had already been told of this, but only now was the boy being placed in a cell, so it would be her first time ever seeing him in person. The guard picked her up from the infirmary and escorted her to Harumu's cell, opening the door on an odd, if not a bit pitiful sight.


Harumu looked around the room once the door was closed, once he was sure the guard was gone. He had been fightened at the idea of a new outfit, as the pampering always came before the payment, but when he saw the dull, black and gray-striped pant and shirt combo, he relaxed a bit. Yoite jumped off of his shoulder and onto the bed, landing delicately beside the clothing. Only after she approved it with a sniff and a mewl did he pick it uo and start dressing. When the door opened again, he was trying to tie his too-large trousers into place, his top bare, revealing countless scars and bruises. In a split second, a new one appeared, along with the shadow of a headless man standing in the corner of the room.

Ila was in her office doing some paperwork updating her patient's health and incident records. She was humming when the guard entered to inform her that Harumu had arrived. She smiled, finishing up quickly, grab her mobile aid kit and got up to follow him to the boy's cell.

When reaching the cell, the guard opened and her soft, lavender gaze landed on Harumu. She nodded at the guard, thanking him for his services before she entered the room and over to Harumu. "Hello Harumu," she greeted kindly but she stayed a distance away from him since she didn't want to frighten him. She noticed the black cat, which she wanted to immediately pet upon seeing it but contained herself. She was new to the boy and she wanted him to be comfortable with her. She also noticed a shadow in the corner of the room, something that made her scared, but for the boy not herself. She would learn what the headless man meant, she was positive of that.

"My name is Ila, I'll be looking after you from today on," she introduced herself with a tender smile. "Can I help you?" she asked motioning the trousers he was having some difficulties with. She wanted to address those poor wounds on the boy, feeling her heart pang at the pain this boy must have gone through. It brought tears to her eyes but she choked it down.

Harumu's small, frail body began trembling when the woman stepped into the room and the door shut behind her. The new bruise that had appeared started bleeding and the figure in the corner became solid. It walked over to Harumu, luckily, instead of paying Ila any attention, and knelt in front of the boy. While the child kept his eyes on Ila, the figure tied his trousers into place and then helped him into his shirt after dabbing away the blood on the wound he had caused. Harumu, once the headless man had vanished with a gentle ruffle to his hair, crawled onto the bed in the far right corner of the room. His fear was easy enough to spot, especially when he hugged Yoite close to his chest and cowered on the corner of the bed, where the walls met.

He watched the stranger with guarded eyes, but he found himself often glancing at the strange box she had brought with her. What was in it, he wondered? Did she bring tools with her, specifically to hurt him? Or maybe it was a special outfit for him to wear? That thought in particular made him nuzzle his face into Yoite's shoulder. His breathing sped and he curled into as tight of a ball as he could manage. She's not Mother. She's not Mother. All those people said here would be different. All of them said it would be okay. And yet, despite the headless man's reassurance in his mind, he still flinched in fear of a beating when his stomach rumbled loudly in the quiet room.

Ila soundlessly watched, concerned when the headless figure approached the boy but relaxed when it simply helped him and tended a bit to his wound. However, it still wasn't dressed properly or bandaged which made her want to help him but recognized that she would not be accepted so easily by the boy. She didn't move until he was curled up in his corner with the cat. Only then did she move. She didn't move forward however, she simply sat down on her legs, playing her box down beside her and fixed her dress to cover her knees. She then laid her hands on her lap and looked at him. "My full name is Ila Terre Vesta," she told the boy but stopped when hearing the sound of his stomach. She thought for a moment before she stood up and walked to the door. Knocking on it softly, it opened a crack and she requested for some soup (and two spoons) to be brought. She thanked the guard and then closed the door. She then returned to her sitting position on the ground beside her medical kit. "I'm a nurse here," she continued, deciding that she'd just talk to him. "Being a nurse, I treat many of the inmates' injuries here," she told him, "my job is to make people feel better," she explained and gestured to the box she'd notice him eyeing. "This holds some of the things I need to heal people.," she told him. "It has bandages, disinfectants, needle and thread for stitches and even my mortar bowl and pestle," she said, her voice soft but picking up some excitement. "I use the mortar bowl and pestle to grind herbs," she told him, "I mix these herbs to make certain teas or medicines to help people feel better. Plants are so wonderful, they have so many properties that can help people if they know how to bring out the best of their abilities...." she drifted off otherwise she knew she would begin to ramble and was scared that she may have only frightened him more.

Harumu only held Yoite tighter as the woman moved, his grip almost strangling, though the cat didn't complain. She, like Harumu, was used to being held tightly and restrained. The boy managed to keep himself from acting on his curiosity, which urged him to try and learn more about the woman. Suddenly he flinched, releasing a harsh breath and holding a hand over his cheek. Surprisingly, Yoite did not react, which meant that it was one of his 'creatures', and it was luckily one that wasn't harmful. Surprisingly enough, the being who appeared was the headless man, who sat cross-legged in front of Ila.

"I am Keito. Haru-chan is physically incapable of speaking aloud, so I will do my best to translate. To be frank, you're scaring him. If that wasn't obvious," the figure said in a surprisingly deep voice considering the fact that he had a shadow instead of a head. The man, who went by Keito, seemed to tilt his neck, as if he were looking down, and then he gestured toward Ila's first aid kit. "He's quite a curious child. He wants to know what's in the box. I will give you a fair warning, though. I am the one who killed his mother. She cut off his tongue, or at least some of it, and his ability finally developed enough for me to kill her. I have no problem killing you as well, if I sense that you are dangerous to Haru-chan."

Harumu flinched at the reminder, touching his lips lightly. Feeling more comfortable with Keito in the room though, he gave Yoite's head a gentle pet. His body remained curled in the corner of the bed, but he seemed more relaxed now. It must have been how calm Keito seemed that helped him, but his and Yoite's presence was enough. He knew he was safe with them there, though plant-fanatic woman didn't necessarily seem dangerous. "He thinks that you don't look dangerous, but I can't be too certain," Keito bluntly stated, making Harumu flinch and then blush lightly. The man turned as if to look back at him. "I am only trying to collect information to make sure you're going to be safe with her. What's wrong with voicing your thoughts?" Without waiting for an answer from Harumu, he turned back toward Ila.

Ila was startled at first when the headless man sat in front of her but she simply looked at him. She blushed when he frankly pointed out that she scared the boy. It made her ashamed and incapable. She was an unusually insecure woman so talking about herself was hard enough but to get it pointed out by someone so bluntly was intimidating.
"Hello Keito," she mumbled, twirling a lock of her long hair around her finger, "I read the medical evaluation," she said softly, explaining that she knew Harumu couldn't talk. It did make her wonder if he knew how to write. She knew nothing about his past, she never investigated what her patients experienced. She felt that knowing would hinder their ability to feel comfortable around her. She nodded when he said she was scaring him. She knew that but she was also determined for him to warm up to her enough to be comfortable in the small room. That was her goal at the very least.

Ila had explained what was mainly in the box and was willing to show the boy but she hadn't wanted to make any more unnecessary movements to further frighten him. If she could, she would have already begun to make a salve for the wounds that kept appearing on the boy. They'd heal better.
When Keito explained that he killed the boy's mother and the horrible action she took against Harumu, Ila flinched and wiped away the tears that pooled. How could a mother do something so cruel to her son? She sniffed and looked at Keito with an urgent look. "I would never do anything to intentionally harm him! It would be like hurting my own brother," she said, hugging herself a bit. She could never harm a child, not even for the sake of saving her life. She would gladly die, something she feared.

Ila composed herself a bit, blushing and mumbling soft apologizes for being such a mess. She looked at Keito when he spoke again and smiled happily. She was glad Harumu believed she wasn't dangerous, even if it was on the surface. She couldn't ask for more at the point in time. She watched the exchange between the two and smiled. It was nice to see that the mysterious entity before her really cared about the boy. "Ask me anything you like," she said, directing it to both Harumu and Keito.
"I also have someone grabbing some soup. It should be gentle enough on the stomach but still filling," she said with a small smile. "I'm ashamed that they hadn't gotten you food yet..." she drifted off, biting her lower lip. She was a bit lost in through for a moment, wondering why they hadn't made sure he was fed after bringing him here. It was rather careless. Was something else happening in Nanba to distract them? She brushed it off but not before her distracted thoughts allowed a weed, a dandelion to be specific, to grow from her head.
She opened her mouth to ask Keito if he needed any food but stopped herself. He didn't have any way to eat food so it was unlikely he did...

Keito shook his head, releasing a tired sigh. "It's my fault, really, that they didn't give him food. He is afraid to ask for anything, due to the punishments he would receive. They fed him where he had been held before, but with people who didn't realize that he both didn't and couldn't ask for food... Well, I tried to tell them, but the moment I showed myself, they panicked. I am the true murderer here, afterall. And Yoite, the cat, cannot speak. There are several other entities that may have been able to help, but even having us out causes him pain."

Harumu shook his head furiously in response to what Keito said, sniffling and holding Yoite closer. The headless man chuckled sadly at the child's reaction, but then continued to explain to Ila. "The other beings, due to them not being out often enough, and to them being larger or more powerful, cause him worse wounds than Yoite and I do. There was no one to tell them that he was in need of food, though it was rather irritating that they didn't realize on their own." He released another sigh and made a motion through the air as if he were running a hand through invisible hair. "You did tell me that we could ask any questions, right?" His tone suddenly became dark, enough to make Harumu press himself against the wall harder.

"What exactly is your purpose, concerning Haru-chan? Have you read all of his files? Are you aware of what was done to him, of how gentle and careful you need to be with him? He is only a child and he has already been through far too much. You need to read everything you can about him, to make sure you don't accidentally scare him. Unlike Yoite, I cannot be let out all of the time, but I am his protector, and if you make a single wrong move, I will make sure you know it." He paused, his voice no longer harsh and accusing when he spoke again. "He means very much to us, and to me and Yoite especially. Read his files. Make sure you don't hurt him, or you will pay for it."

Ila looked at him and hummed, "I see," she murmured softly. That would make sense. She was rather frightened of Keito when she first saw him. However, she didn't know what he meant by punishments. It made her fearful to learn of his past, she knew it would break her. To learn there was no reason to place Harumu in prison since he wasn't the direct cause of murder, was already heartbreaking enough. She bit her lip, no wonder they wanted a nurse as a caretaker if he was often injured by his own ability. She knew what that was like.

Ila nodded, naive to the turn his tone took. "I did," she agreed and listened to his questions and demands for her to look at Harumu's files. She didn't feel comfortable in the least to do so but seeing how strict Keito was about it and the fact she didn't want to scare or hurt Harumu any further, she figured she would have to go against her normal procedure.
"I want to help him," she stated simply. That's all she ever wanted, "I am here to heal his wounds, make sure he is happy and to protect him," she said. She shook her head, "I haven't read them. Only his medical records which explained... enough," she drifted off, thinking about all that she had read. She knew that he'd suffered abuse, by his mother if Keito's words meant anything, but not just physical abuse. The reports reported sexual injuries and by looking at him, there were mental ones as well. She wasn't fazed by his tone though, she understood where he was coming from and she'd dealt with people far more aggressive in the infirmary. "I do know that," she assured him softly, "and I hope you let me know. People make mistakes but I don't plan to make any with him."

There was a knock on the door that made Ila jump, having been absorbed by the intense environment in the room. She stood up and walked over to the door, her walk was soundless and graceful; like a ballerina. The door opened and she was handed a covered bowl of soup. She thanked the guard before closing the door. She went back to her spot and looked at Keito, "can you give this to him?" she said, only after she took a sip with the second spoon she'd requested. It was to make sure it wasn't too hot.

Keito tensed at the knock on the door, but Harumu had a far worse reaction. The poor child flinched hard and then leapt off the bed, scrambling over behind the headless man, hugging him from behind. Keito sighed once more, moved into a kneeling position and then turned to properly hug the shaking boy. "It's alright, Haru-chan, I won't let him come in the room," he told Harumu calmly, stroking his hair in hopes of calming him. Yoite was usually far better at comforting him, but Keito's gentleness seemed to do the trick for now. Keito reached for the bowl of soup but then paused, sitting down how he had before and carefully guiding Harumu to sit in his lap. "You can give it to him."

Harumu was ready to move back to the bed by the time Ila held out the bowl of soup, but then Keito was making him sit in his lap, no longer shielding him from the woman. Despite how clear it was that it meant Keito was alright with him and Ila interacting, he froze in terror. He shook his head furiously, tears welling up in his wide, silver eyes. Almost desperate, he began fighting against Keito's hold, until the man pointed out something to hopefully distract him. "L-look, Haru-chan. In her hair, do you see it? There's a flower!"

Surprisingly, being the curious child he amazingly still was, Harumu paused to look at the flower once it was pointed out. He was not naive enough to crawl over to Ila in hopes of touching it, but staring at it luckily calmed him. "Here. Eat," Keito ordered gently, opening the bowl of soup and then handing the boy a spoon. Harumu struggled a bit with the utensil, but once he got the hang of it, he placed the bowl in his lap—where Keito held it in place—and started eating, still gazing in wonder at the flower sprouting from Ila's hair.

Ila took note of Harumu's reaction, biting her lower lip. She felt so guilty for having them scare Harumu -not on purpose of course- but she had a feeling that having the guard knock instead of just coming in was the best way to have gotten the food.

Ila was unsure, especially with the poor boy's reaction to being so close to her. She wasn't offended by his terror, it just broke her to see him so distraught. It made her want to hug the boy but refrained, knowing it would only make things worse. She didn't move her hands which still held the bowl out, waiting patiently to see what would happen. When Keito pointed out the flower, Ila blushed in realization, bit embarrassed that had happened. She was glad that it seemed to calm the boy and was sad that a dandelion was what calmed him. She would definitely show him some beautiful flowers later. She didn't want to divert the attention away from him eating.

Ila silently watched the boy, and lowered her arms when the bowl was placed into Harumu's lap. She placed her hands back in her lap but decided to have a different flower grow beside the weed. It was like watching a fast forward version of a plant grow, all the steps just in the span of a minute. A larger flower grew but not by much. It was a nice, yellow tulip. It was the first flower she'd ever grown on herself as a child. Her father always bought her mother yellow tulips and displayed them on the dinner table.
Ila didn't speak, not wanting to scare the child any further. She wouldn't risk it, not until he at least finished eating.

Harumu found that he had a hard time swallowing each spoonful of soup, to the point that he needed Keito to wipe his mouth every so often. "Slowly, slowly," the man guided after wiping his face off again. Harumu nodded, taking each bite slower, but still staring at the flower in-between the dips of his spoon into the bowl. Upon seeing another flower sprout from Ila's hair, he gasped, excitedly patting Keito's arm. "Fff, ffff!" His attempt at speaking both made Keito laugh and made his shoulders sag sadly. Harumu giggled when the flower bloomed, and then put another spoonful of soup in his mouth.

"You must stop eating when you feel too full, Haru-chan, alright?" Keito instructed kindly, again receiving a distracted nod. "Ila, thank you for getting him something to eat. She's very kind, isn't she, Haru-chan?" The boy paused just as he lowered his spoon into the bowl, his gaze no longer on the flower. Does kind mean that she wants me to do something for her after...? he thought, slowly removing his hand from the spoon handle. "N-no, Haru-chan. People can be kind without wanting something in return..." Seeing that it had no effect on Harumu made Keito resort to his blunt nature.

"Ila is not your mother, Harumu." He ignored the boy's flinch and continued. "Your mother is dead, Harumu. I killed her. You saw me kill her. You know very well that she is dead. She will not come back to hurt you anymore, Harumu. Ila is not your mother, nor are all women or men the same as those that harmed you." Now Harumu was shaking, his eyes wide on the floor. Yoite released a feline growl from the bed, hopping down and making her way over. "Ila is being kind to you, and you should be grateful, but that doesn't mean that you need to give her something in return, Harumu." Next is an outfit. Next is a pat on the head. Next is a hug. And after that it's— "No, Harumu. That's not going to happen. I told you that I would protect you. I have, I am. I won't let her do anything bad to you, Harumu!"

Yoite hissed and scratched Keito's arm. In a split second, the man was gone. Harumu hit the ground and a bit of the soup splashed onto his leg, but other than that and the poor child's shaking, he was alright. Yoite nudged his arm softly with her head, making him yelp and flinch hard, looking down at her with wide eyes. She meowed gently, purring as she nudged his arm again. It took the boy a moment to realize what had just happened and that he was still sitting in front of Ila. Only now, there was no one to protect him. His gaze shot to the woman, and then he leaped to his feet, backing away shakily.

Ila giggled softly at his excitement over the tulip, it made her so very happy to see such a reaction. Plants brought happiness, that's what she believed, even for a moment it could bring a broken boy some excitement. However, it dwindled too fast. It spiraled downhill before she could even stop to breathe. She could do nothing but watch and stay as still as possible. Not action she could make would help him right now. She was the cause of his fear so any effort to comfort him will only do the opposite. She knew this. but it destroyed her that she couldn't do anything.
Ila jerked in surprise when Keito suddenly vanished, holding her breath for a moment only to gasp when the soup went onto his leg. She wanted to go to him, to clean up the mess and get him something clean, maybe offer an opportunity to go shower. She could do nothing though, nothing but watch as he got away from her as fast as he could.

Ila didn't move from her seated position, not until he was a distance away. Her gaze didn't meet his, her's was on the leg that got splashed with soup. Biting her lip, she finally moved adjusting her sitting position to grab the hem of her gown and proceeded to rip it. She tore a strip from her nice dress and paused. She glanced at him for a moment, watching him carefully for his reaction. After a moment she moved just a bit forward so that she could use her gown to clean up the soup mess on the floor. She didn't want to risk standing up to ask for cleaning supplies from the guard, this was the better option. She drew back to open her box, pulling out a small bag to tuck the dirtied cloth in. All the while she had begun to softly hum. It was a random tune but it was soft and relaxing. She then reached up to break off the two flowers on her head, tensing for a moment from the pain but once she had them in her hands, she tore off another strip of her gown and tied it around the flowers in a neat bow.
Ila then looked at Harumu, looked away and stood up to gently put them on his bed before she backed away and picked up her closed box as well as the bowl and spoon. "I'm going to get you a clean pair of pants," she told him with a soft smile. "Do you want any more soup?" she asked, hoping for a nod or a shake of his head but she doubted she'd receive either.

Harumu watched the woman with wide eyes, back as far as he could from her. The sound of her dress ripping made him shudder and slap his hands over his ears, the noise far too similar to that his clothes made when those men ripped them. Watching her mop up the mess the sound had made on the floor only made it worse. He wanted to tell her that he was sorry, that he would clean her dress, or find a way to put it back together, but all he managed to do was cry softly and hug himself. Luckily, her setting the flowers on his bed confused him enough to calm him. But...they grew on her... What...? Why would she want me to have them? His eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and he sniffled softly when he returned his gaze to the woman. Swallowing dryly, he gave her a hesitant nod, still watching Ila cautiously, but now allowing her to see just how confused and curious her actions made him.

(Only post her just getting back, 'cause wyat she'll see is gonna be suuuper cute!)

Ila smiled, containing her silly urge to jump up and down when he nodded. "Then I'll be back with more," she told him sweetly before she headed to the door, knocked softly and exited the room. When the door closed behind her, she noticed the guard's looking at her strangely and realized that her gown was still torn. She didn't mind using it, she made her own clothes most of the time anyway. But it made her a little embarrassed. She nodded to him before she dashed off to toss the bag away, find some pants that she'd sew to it would fit a bit better and finally some soup.
Entering the cafeteria. many of her patients greeted her. She smiled, waving and couldn't help but laugh a little since some of them called her out as 'mum'. They had such unique personalities, the prisoners detained in this prison. She got some more soup, thanking the chef kindly before she returned to Harumu's room. This all took some time, she even quickly folded up the hem of her dress to hide the tears after adjusting the pants. She now had her med kit, pants and the soup in a large bag she carried. She nodded at the guard who stood posted at the door and then gently knocked on the door before entering the cell.

The moment he was sure Ila was gone, Harumu looked over at the flowers she had left on the bed. Stepping out of the dirty pants carefully—luckily the huge shirt covered him—he walked over to the bed and crawled onto it. He picked the flowers up gently and then turned around so he could sit with his legs hanging off the bed. For a while he sat there, swinging his legs back and forth as he ran his fingers lightly over the flower petals. They're so pretty... He giggled softly, then holding them out for Yoite to smell. After sniffing at them delicately, she climbed up onto his shoulder. Another cute laugh left him when her whiskers tickled at his neck. She continued to do so, meowing softly in recognition of his enjoyment. He was just calming down when the door was opened. He blushed lightly and put the flowers down harshly, as if that would keep her from thinking that he had been interested in them. Nudging Yoite off of his shoulder, he slowly lowered himself to the floor, folding the pants he had discarded. He hung his head and watched Ila carefully out of the corner of his eye, his shoulders raised defensively as if he expected her to get angry with him for not taking care of the pants when he had removed them.

((He is the cutest cuteness arghghguewbija ihwfia!!! ))

Ila entered to see him putting down the flowers rather roughly and blushing. She should have brought a vase for them but she'd forgotten. She would be sure to bring a plant one of these times. Ila closed the door behind her and quietly watched him for a moment while he picked up and folded the pants.
"I brought some pants," she said, placing her bag down and sat down on her knees. She pulled out the closed bowl of soup, placing it on the ground so that she could pull out the pants. She then held it out towards him with a tender smile, "I fixed them so they should fit better. Could I have the other ones? I'll need to wash them," she said, hoping he would take them. Little steps, she would be patient. He deserved that from someone. "Once you get changed I have some more soup and the chef gave us some crackers as well," she said with a smile. She chose to 'ignore' the fact he seemed to be fascinated with the flowers. He seemed to want to hide that fact and she was willing to do that for now.

(If Lottie were to meet him, she would probably accidentally end up scaring him lolol! But she'd blame it on Em)

Harumu held one of his sleeve-covered hands over his mouth, watching the woman carefully and holding the pants he had just folded with his free hand. He stepped toward her slowly, but once he was a few feet away, he stopped and knelt on the floor. Instead of allowing her to come to him, he simply tossed the pants a bit closer to her, and then backed away slightly. Now sitting on his legs, he held the hem of his shirt tightly with both of his small hands, trying not to stare at the bowl of soup long enough for her to notice. A meow to his left, where the bed and Yoite were, made him glance away from Ila, but the cat's gentle smile seemed to be a reassurance.

Harumu swallowed dryly, glanced at the bowl, at the pants, and then at Ila. He stood up and inched closer to her, despite how badly he trembled. She couldn't be dangerous, right? She wasn't going to hurt him, right? She said she treated wounds, not created them. Biting on his first finger gently, he finally mustered up the courage to stop about two feet from her and hold out his free hand for the new pants. Once he was given them, Harumu quickly backed away, but even him going up to her was big. He tried to make it not seem like a big deal as he put on the pants, but he did look a bit proud of himself.

((xD probably. Of course. All he'd have to do is see Dureau. >~<))

Ila didn't move, much like how she acted with the injured animals she found. She just waited for him to make the first moves, she was running by his rules in this room. She stayed on her knees, not minding the slight pain it caused for them to press into the floor. She often would be gardening like this so she was used to it. When he only tossed the pants to her, she shifted her grasp on the clean ones to free her right hand. Once freed, she picked them up and placed the on her lap and calmly waited to see his next move. If he didn't approach to take the pants, then she'd just toss them forward like he'd done for her.

However, Ila was pleasantly surprised when he began to slowly approach. She kept sitting, refusing to move an inch as she waited to see if he'd take them. When he came so close and silently asked for them she gave it to him with a smile. As he moved away, she moved down to sit on her legs, "thank you," she said before she picked the dirty pants up to tuck into her bag, shifting around the med box so it was above the pants just in case she needed it. She turned back to him to see if he'd put on his pants. "Are they okay?" she asked, wondering if they were too loose or too tight, "I can make adjustments," she said. She was so happy he did that and felt a little proud. It reminded her of the first time her brother got a perfect on his test.

Ila then debated whether she should just move the bowl closer to him or try again to have him take it from her. She didn't want to push him so she simply moved the soup bowl away from her and closer to him. She then realized she hadn't put the spoon with it and dug around in her bag to find the spoon and held it out for him, "sorry, I almost forgot this," she apologized, a light blush on her cheek.

(Seriously though lolol! Once Haru gets comfortable around Ila, she should introduce him to Rene <3)

Harumu's eyes widened a bit when he pulled up the pants and found that they fit his small waist perfectly, his jaw dropping in awe. He looked over at Ila excitedly, only to remember that he just met the woman, that she was a possible threat, and that no matter how gentle she looked outwardly, she could still hurt him. Thus, his excitement died down and he blushed lightly in shame, simply nodding to her. He moved to sit down again when she slid the bowl over. Willing to drink it, he reached toward the soup eagerly, only to flinch back as she held out the spoon. If he were to grab it, there would be less space between her hand and his than there had been with the pants. Trapped in place by indecision and fear, he simply reached for the bowl and took a small sip, lowering it when he struggled to swallow, and then doing it all over again.

((Definitely. Once he's comfortable with her she'll probably try getting him out of his room, visiting places (even her office with the bunnies) and then even the library which they'll run into Rene and boom!))

Ila noticed how glee had filled his usually fearful or blank expression and she felt so happy that she'd done something for him. Unfortunately, that moment was short lived but Ila kept that expression tucked away in her heart. He was so precious, she wanted him to look like that all the time. She would do it.
Ila bit her lip seeing him eat this way. She couldn't slide the spoon over, it would get dirty and she didn't want him to use it after it hit the dirty floor. He looked like he was struggling so much. She adjusted the way she was holding the spoon so she held it at the very end of the handle. "Please take it, Harumu," she urged, nearly begging him to take it.

(MY HEART NEEDS THEM TO BE TOGETHER ALREADY!!!)

Harumu froze when he saw her reach out, causing him to slowly lower the bowl back onto the floor. People other than Keito calling him by his true name was a thing he still had to get used to, so when she spoke to him, she instantly had his attention. His mother called him Oroka, which meant 'stupid', whenever she didn't call him a 'little shit', and the men who did just awful things to him only ever called him Haku, or white, thanks to his mother not giving them his real name. The boy had honestly thought, for the first five years of his life, that Oroka was his name, until she got very mad at him for accidentally breaking a plate and called him by his full name. Haku on the other hand was the name his nightmares called him. It was a name, even when it was used to address someone else, that gave him panic attacks. Only Keito ever used his real name, and oftentimes called him 'Haru-chan'. But now Ila was using his full name...

Harumu snapped out of his thoughts, which left him staring at the spoon, and shook his head to clear them. He glanced from the spoon to Ila's eyes repeatedly until he finally gazed solely at the utensil. With a shaking hand, he moved onto his knees and then reached out toward the woman. Once he was close enough, he swiped the spoon, despite feeling bad for being rude and harsh with her. He held the utensil close to his chest the moment he had it in his grasp, panting for a second. Swallowing dryly and then gently scratching his cheek, he brought the soup bowl closer to him and took a sip using the spoon.

((Slow and steady wins the race, my friend))

Ila watched him carefully, the plea obvious in her soft lavender gaze but she only bit her lip. Staying as still as possible, something that she had been doing quite often in his presence. She felt like sobbing in happiness when he reached out to grab the spoon and was only glad when he managed to take it from her, no matter how quick he'd done it. She could only bring her arm back to create the distance he'd need to feel more at ease. She smiled at him, a big kind smile that had her eyes closed as well. "Thank you, Harumu," she said, her voice laced with happiness. She did wish she had brought something to work on so she could just be in the room so he'd get used to her presence. He has difficulty in accepting things from her so she wouldn't be able to treat any of his wounds any time soon. It made her very sad but she will be able to do it, she knew she will. "Do you want the crackers?" she asked him, remembering the crackers that were also somewhere in her bag. She wasn't big on organization when it came to bags or drawers.

(SLOW AND STEADY PRESSES MAH PATIENCE!!! except when I'm procrastinating)

Harumu continued to take sips of the soup, the air around him practically sparkling due to his content, despite the fact that he wasn't even smiling. He looked up a few times as he sipped, but once she asked about the crackers, he seemed more relaxed. Tilting his head to think, he shook his head, making an exaggerated chewing motion and then shaking his head again. This was as if to say that he would have a hard time eating the crackers. It was understandable, considering his mother had cut off a good portion of his tongue.

Harumu took a few more sips with the spoon and then frowned, looking up at Ila with an adorable, sad expression. Trying to explain why he stopped, he glanced between her and the bowl and shook his head, one hand placed on his stomach. It was difficult to communicate, especially when it had only been a year without his tongue, and his reading and writing skills were mediocre. But it was obvious he was trying his very best to get his messages across, not to mention he looked absolutely precious while doing it.

((xD Patience is supposedly a virtue xD))

Ila glanced at him a few times to make sure he was eating and he wasn't having too much trouble with it. She noticed the aura that seemed to glow around him and she had to cover her mouth to stifle a giggle. He was just too cute. It felt amazing to be privileged enough to see this sort of sight.

Ila smiled when he responded without too much hesitation and nodded, "I see, I'll make sure to get soft foods for you," she said, making the mental note. Too bad they hadn't been able to salvage the tongue, she may have been able to reattach it. No matter, she knew he may miss out on some foods but everything the chefs' made were delicious. She stopped trying to search for the crackers and shifted it so her med box was back on top when Harumu caught her attention once again.

He looked adorable, an expression she hadn't seen from him before and one that didn't bring tears to her eyes. She followed his motions and smiled, "are you too full?" she asked. She hoped she'd be able to get him to learn some more reading and writing skills. She could maybe even teach herself sign language and then teach it to him. Though, not many in the prison would know it... but it would be something she'll eventually ask him. "That's fine, just pass the bowl back to me. I'll finish it off. It's not good to waste food," she said and chuckled, "that's what I've always been told, anyway."

Harumu nodded in response to her question, but he looked troubled and shook his head when she mentioned finishing it herself. With one hand curled over his mouth, he looked back down at the bowl of soup between his knees. Then he got an idea, his face scrunching in determination. He looked over at Yoite and called her over nonverbally, holding his hand out. She took her sweet time getting to him, but did not bother waiting for him to instruct her. With a sniff, she began lapping at the soup. Harumu giggled and smiled, petting the small feline gently. He was glad that she got to eat, though he didn't know exactly where food went. In his mind, she was still a figure of his imagination, but what he didn't realize was that she was very real. His ability made whatever he brought to life, real. If he dreampt up a dragon, persay, and used his ability on it, then it would come to life, but he would also have to pay a large price for something so powerful.

Ila smiled, "okay," she said and noticed that he instead gave it to his cat. Of course! How could she be so daft? She still has some left over cat food when she nursed a little kitten to health a few weeks ago. The food should still be good. She'll bring it over tomorrow.
Ila said contently watch him bond with his friend, seeing him giggle and laugh made her day. "I'll bring some cat food tomorrow and some dishes for the food and water," she said. It was a shame she couldn't ask him for the feline's name. She'll just have to wait until Keito reappeared or Harumu to write it out.

"Do you need anything else?" Ila asked him, "some water?" she suggested. She wanted to know now since she didn't think she had much more time left to stay with him. It was probably around the evening by this time and she'd have to go back to her office to finish up some paperwork, make sure any patients that came in were tended to and then head home for bed. She'd be back here in the morning though to bring him breakfast.

Harumu smiled up at the woman and nodded when she mentioned cat food, and while it was a first, the smile was moreso on Yoite's behalf than his own. But the way she asked if he needed anything else made him pause and frown. The way she said it made it sound as if she had to leave. He found it hard to be around her simply because she was another human being, but the last thing he wanted was to be alone. Wrapping his arms around himself, he thought deeply about something he could do or say that would make her stay with him longer. First he nodded to the question of water, and then he did something he deemed crazy—he stuck his hand in what was left of the soup, making Yoite groan. He quickly showed Ila, his brows furrowed and lips set in a determined pout. Unfortunately, he quickly noticed that there had not been enogh soup in the bowl, and thus his sleeve was not wet. He shook off his hand and then looked around desperately for something else to break or mess up, something to keep her, someone, here longer. The boy eventually found nothing, and tears started welling up in his eyes, the more panicked he became.

((I am here freaking out about how cute he is xD He's so precious!!!))

Her heart took a blow when he smiled at her. This boy was making it so easy to fall in love with him. Though, it is Ila. She fell in love with everyone she took under her care.
However, at his frown, Ila became cautious, unsure what had caused his mood to dampen and didn't want him to feel so down just before she had to leave. Learning that he wanted water she nodded, wondering if she should get it herself or ask the guard to get it. She didn't get time to decide when he suddenly stuck his hand in the bowl, making her gasp in surprise. She looked around for a cloth or something to wipe his hand when she noticed him pouting. He did it on purpose but for what reason? Did he try to dirty his shirt? She paused, realizing something very important.

Ila pulled out the pants that already had soup on it and held it out for Harumu, "wipe your hand on this," she said softly with a smile. "I'm going to ask the guard to get you a bottle of water," she added and then paused. She contemplated for a moment. She needed to leave, she couldn't stay even if she wanted to but she didn't want to leave him alone. "Is it okay if I stay until you fall asleep?" she asked him. She could read him a story or sing him a lullaby to lull him to sleep.

Harumu sniffled, glancing between her eyes and the dirty pants for a good minute before nodding and reaching for them. He was still cautious in her presence, but there was no doubting that his tears were because he didn't want her to leave, no matter what reasons there were as to why he didn't want her to. After taking the pants and wiping off his hand, he thought of holding the pants, and thus Ila, hostage only for her to offer an alternative. He blushed lightly, a bit embarrassed that he had been so easily found out. Glancing down at Yoite first and hesitating a bit despite himself, he finally gave in with a little nod. Before he knew it, he had stepped a bit closer to Ila and had a handful of her dress's skirt in his hand, though he still kept himself at a full arm's length away.


(Oh, thank you! He is really easy to write for the most part lolol! I just think... Hmmm... How would a moe shota react? And then I post.)

((Perfection xD I am making the stupidest sounds right now.))

Ila smiled he nodded, "wonderful," she said and stood up to ask the guard to bring them a bottle of water and turned around to ask Harumu if he didn't mind being read a book when she found the little boy grasping her dress and stood as far as his arm would allow him.
She smiled at the boy and clasped her hands behind her back. She'd make sure to return the dirty pants to her bag before she left but her main focus now was Harumu. "Would you like me to read you a book?" she asked, nodding towards the bookshelf. She didn't want to cause a distance between the two but she wanted to say he could go and pick whichever one he wanted her to read.

Harumu didn't respond, only tightening his small fist around the skirt fabric he was grasping. He was still blushing brightly, but at this point he was feeling too shy to really answer her. After a while of simply standing there, he released the woman and then walked over to the bookshelf. Surprisingly, the one he picked was no picture book—though he struggled with the weight of it, the book he grabbed was none other than Harry Potter. To be quite honest, he only chose it because he liked the picture of the boy on the front, and he thought it was odd that he was riding a broom. With intense eyes and a determined pout, he walked over to Ila and held out the book. His arms instantly trembled under the weight, but she luckily took it before he could accidentally drop it.

(Get ready for adorableness!!! He's a bookworm, though he has yet to discover that. He'll get really into it, really quickly.)

Ila patiently waited for his reaction to her offer, unsure how he'll react. She didn't know how he felt about books after all. His blush was also too apparent on his pale face, it was adorable and nice to see that she wasn't the shy one. She watched as he walked over to the bookshelf and grabbed one she recognized. She wasn't a big reader, she'd rather work with her hands and garden but she enjoyed it occasionally. It was one of the series she has enjoyed though. When he came over with the book, she immediately took it from the boy before he could drop it and smiled. "Brilliant choice," she praised. "Want to hop up onto the bed?" she asked, nodding towards it. She wouldn't move to grab a chair to sit down until he was comfortably in bed with his cat.
When he finally had, she picked up the chair and placed it near the end of his bed, to allow some distance but close enough. She sat down, adjusting her dress and then looked at him. "Ready?" she asked and then began to read. As she read, she gave many of the characters different voices so they wouldn't all sound the same but she hoped that nothing in the book would trigger some sort of bad memory. He looked so eager to have this read to him after all.

((I am ready. Give it to me! xD))

Harumu crawled onto his bed eagerly, pulling the covers over his lap but not daring to lie down, as he didn't want to fall asleep and miss anything. Yoite curled up in his lap, but he surprisingly didn't pay her any attention once Ila started reading. He frowned, listening to how Harry's aunt and uncle treated him, not registering that it was abusive, as he had had such a different experience with his own life. Surprisingly, he was instantly engrossed in the story, his eyes seeming to sparkle as he listened to Ila, amazed at how many voices she could create. Then suddenly letters were flying through the mail slot, and Harumu's jaw dropped, his eyes wide with amazement, as if the very same thing was happening in his cell. Just then, the guard who had been asked to bring the boy a glass of water opened the door. Harumu flinched hard, cowering a bit when the man moved over to Ila and handed her the cup. Luckily, right after he shut the door, Harumu waved his hand at Ila eagerly, wordlessly begging her to continue.

Ila kept an eye on him, glancing at him from time to time as she read. She wanted to make sure she noticed if he was having a hard time with what was happening. She was happy to find that he seemed completely engrossed in the story. He was right there with her, eagerly seeing a world full of wonder and magic. His enthusiasm increased her own as she read to the point she was lost in the story right along with him. She should have been a bit concerned about the fact his ability may manifest and cause him injury.
Ila yelped, startled when the door opened and looked behind her and over at the guard. She blushed in embarrassment from being so startled, forgetting where she was and that she'd asked for the water. She thanked the guard, taking the cup quickly and waited till he left to see if Harumu was okay. Fortunately, he was and urging her to continue. She knew she really shouldn't if this kept up, he would never fall asleep and she'd be here until very late. However, she couldn't help but put the cup on the bedside table for him if he needed it and sat back down to continue right where they left off.

Harumu absentmindedly took the cup once it was placed down, but he only managed to take a sip here and there, as he was too invested in the story, too distracted by it. After about half an hour had passed, the boy began to show sighs of tiredness. He yawned a few times, began taking more sips of water, and his eyes even began drooping at one point. When he finished off the water, he set the cup down on the bedside table, but he refused to lie down. He wanted to hear more, to learn more about the wizarding world. It still confused him how a boy's life could he documented through his point of view, but he didn't question it, not with how tired he was starting to become. Once they hit the hour mark, he had his head drooping every so often, as if he were beginning to fall asleep sitting up. And about five minutes later, he did just that. His eyes shut, his breathing softened, becoming deeper and slower. He was surprisingly, already deeply asleep.

Ila continued to read, knowing that she couldn't last too long. Her voice was getting sore a half an hour later but she noticed that he was getting tired. Smiling a bit, she toned down her enthusiasm so Harumu wouldn't be disturbed if he did fall asleep. She noted which page it was when he really started to get out of it but continued to read until she was sure he was fast asleep. She stopped reading, getting up to find a bookmark and placed the book down on the bedside table. She then went over to the bed and gently picked the cat up. She whispered an apology to it but pulled the covers up to cover Harumu, tucking him gently in before lightly placing Yoite back down onto the bed. Ila refrained from kissing the boy's head, a habit from when she had read to Tommy when he was younger. She then took the empty cup and collected the dirty pants, placing both in her bag. She picked it up, headed for the door and exited. She would have said a soft goodnight but she didn't want to risk Harumu waking up.

She immediately headed off to her office to quickly finish the paperwork she'd left, did some laundry, ate and finally went to bed.

The next morning, Ila woke up early to eat and head off to her office. This time she packed the med kit, the cat food, and dishes, even a vase. She made sure her bunnies were fed and had water, petting them a bit before she left to go to the cafeteria to get some porridge and juice as well as a bottle of water- make that two. She thanked the chef before she darted off to Harumu's cell. She hesitated outside for a moment, he could still be sleeping or using the toilet. After a few moment's hesitation, she knocked on the door to give a fair warning before she opened it and peeked in. "Harumu?"

Unfortunately, even with wizards flying around in his brain, there was never a peaceful night for Harumu. In the middle of the night, he woke up screaming, loud enough for a guard to run in and try and comfort him. Keito's appearance and reassurance was luckily enough to make the guard leave before he could touch Harumu, but Keito was unable to calm the poor boy down much more than getting him to stop screaming. Thus, when Ila knocked on the door and opened it in the morning, Harumu was curled into a tight ball in the corner, on his bed, hiding under his blanket but the shadows under his eyes still visible. Keito was still around when she walked in, but he was sitting on the floor with his back against the bed, and by the pace of his breathing, it was easy to guess that he was somehow sleeping. Yoite on the other hand meowed cheerfully when Ila opened the door and even sat on the edge of the bed, looking a bit hopeful for a petting.

Ila grew concerned seeing Harumu in such a state, figuring he must have had a nightmare last night. She knew there was no way she could have known and gotten here but it didn't make the guilt lessen. The main indicator of Harumu's distress was the presence of Keito who looked to be sleeping. She couldn't fabricate any logical explanation for the existence of Keito but she was glad that he was there to help Harumu. She closed the door behind her and went over to the nightstand, keeping an eye on the boy as she placed the bowl of porridge and juice down. "I have some food," she said softly and moved back, being careful of Keito and stopped to give Yoite an affectionate stroke, or a few.
She didn't know where to go from there, she just hoped Harumu would eat and she'd take it from there. She then recalled the cat food and dishes she'd brought. "I brought over some things for your feline friend," she said, putting her bag down to pull out the bowls, the food and one of the bottles of water. Ila glanced around to figure out where best to set it up and decided against the wall at the end of his bed. He could move if he wanted it somewhere else. For now, she poured some food into one bowl and some water into the other. Once finished she tucked the water bottle back into her bag and the food underneath the bed.

Harumu practically ignored the woman's presence, staring blankly at the mattress under his feet and only offering her a few glances. After seeing Yoite lean into Ila's touch and meow for more though, he reached out from under the blanket and grapped his arms around the feline, hugging her to his chest tightly. He rubbed the scratch on his cheek, which had appeared along with Keito, wincing at the sting. After about ten minutes of sitting in sad, awkward silence, Harumu finally acknowledged Ila's presence. He walked over to the bookshelf, grabbed Harry Potter, and then slowly made his way over to the woman, handing her the book with far less enthusiasm than he had the night before. The boy was exhausted, and that much showed on his face, but sleeping meant facing far too many demons than he was capable of handling. He held Yoite tighter against his chest and returned to his bed, sitting once again in his little corner.

Ila stood back up and glanced over at him. She'd see if some herbal tea would calm his mind enough for him to get some sleep. She wasn't too sure but it was worth a try. Children needed sleep and it made her worry that he wasn't getting enough. She then noticed that he was rubbing his scratch and opened her mouth to warn him against that but stopped herself. Ila sat down on the chair, her hands in her lap and she silently waited.
Ila looked up when he approached with the book, carefully taking it from him. "You'll feel a little better if you eat," she told him softly but once he was tucked in his little corner of the bed, she opened up the book, backtracked to a few pages and began. Despite his lack of enthusiasm, Ila still read as she had last night. Giving the characters their unique voices and gave the atmosphere during Harry's interactions with trolls, Fluffy, and carrying Hagrid's dragon through the school.

Harumu reached toward the glass of orange juice Ila had set on the bedside table. He took a small sip, flinched at the sting to his tongue, but then relaxed at the tang. Somehow he found it calming, but he still remained unresponsive to the story. Until the troll moment, that is, where he leaned forward a bit, looking worried for the characters. He quickly calmed when he learned that they were alright, taking another sip of the orange juice. Despite looking exhausted and not really reacting to the story, it seemed that his mind had calmed down, at least for a little while.

About forty minutes passed of Ila reading and Harumu hardly responding. He had zoned out some time around learning about Hagrid's dragon, but once Ila began talking about the forbidden forest, he froze. Eyes wide, he stared blankly at the floor, picturing the forest in his mind. Suddenly he cried out in pain and blood began staining his shirt, though he hit the small spot with his hand when he doubled over. Two creepy pine trees appeared in a different corner of the room, Keito vanished. Harumu coughed softly, leaning forward and supporting himself with one hand. Mist slowly crept from between the trees, which cast pitch-black shadow in the corner, blocking out the wall and making it seem as if it continued past the darkness. Yoite hissed at the trees, but then she, too, vanished.

Harumu's eyes remained wide, his expression pained and pale, his forehead beaded with sweat. A word, a name, whispered through the mist. "Hakuuuuu~" He clamped his hands hard over his ears, coughing harshly, blood now running down his chin. "Let's have some fun, Hakuuuu~" Tears welled up in the boy's eyes, and while it was accompanied by terror, it was also joined by anger. That is, until he felt a single, clawed finger run up his spine. He screamed, running over to Ila and climbing into her lap, sobbing fearfully into her chest. And then, all at once, everything vanished. Light returned to the room, Yoite reappeared, but Harumu continued to scream out terrified sobs into Ila's chest.

Despite the fact, Harumu wasn't as interested in the book as he was last night. Ila did what she could do, which was read to him. She continued to tell the story of Harry Potter and his friends, keeping an eye on Harumu constantly. She was glad to see him drinking the juice but as more time passed, she knew the porridge would be unsuitable to eat and she'd have to get him something else to eat instead. Maybe something soft but filling like yogurt?

However, when she began to tell what occurred in the forbidden forest, she immediately noticed the change in the boy and stopped reading. She closed the book, placing it on the bed. She noticed the blood, Keito and even Yoite vanishing and the sudden appearance of the pine trees. She didn't understand their meaning but all she knew that whatever was going on in his mind, was harming him. "Harumu?" she asked, afraid to make it worse by touching him. But she wanted to comfort the boy, to bring him back to the present and check that wound. She was terrified that it was bad, considering it had soaked through his shirt. She was thinking of the worse, something she didn't do often.

Before she could call out to him again, Harumu was in her lap, clinging and crying into her. She wrapped her arms tightly around the boy, holding as tightly as she could without hurting him while gently rocked him. It took everything in her to stop her body from growing a cocoon made of bark to protect him.
She was blind to the changes that happened in the room after he clambered onto her lap. Ila stroked the boy's hair softly as she rocked him, her heart aching at every scream and sob she heard. She began to do the only thing she could think of to calm him, she began to sing. She had a soft but beautiful voice, calming as she sang him a soft lullaby.

Harumu slowly began to calm down, thanks to the sound of her voice, but despite the fact that he had stopped sobbing, his tears continued to flow down his cheeks. After a little while, he sniffled softly and then nuzzled his face against her, turning his head toward the left so he could see Yoite on the bed. Ila's heart thumped calmly under his ear, and soon that was enough to help him doze off. It was surprising that he continued to cling to the woman while he slept, but it was good to know that he now felt safer than not in her arms. His sleep was light, but with Ila's heartbeat soothing him, there were no monsters to get him in his sleep. Her soft voice kept him peaceful and kept his mother's voice from slipping through that peace. For the first time that he could remember, Harumu, however lightly and shortly, slept soundly.

((I want to cry! My precious baby boy!))

Ila only relaxed a bit when his sobs and screams died down. She could still feel his tears soaking her dress so she continued to gently rock him in her lap, singing to him softly while her fingers gently brushed through his hair. She was so thankful she was able to calm him down. To see him in such a state was devasting.
When she noticed he had fallen asleep, she smiled and her song drifted to a stop. She didn't move him, not wanting to wake him up when he needed sleep so much. She did call for the guard, as quietly as she could to ask if he could take the bowl away and if they could get some yogurt. He left and Ila looked back at Harumu. She needed to check the wound the trees from earlier created but it meant that she may wake him up. She was truly conflicted in that moment but she decided to shift him a bit in her grasp so that she was able to gently pull up his shirt to examine the wound. She couldn't properly treat it but she plucked a leaf she grew in her hair to gently place it on the wound to soak up the blood. She put his shirt back down and returned her arm around him.
It wasn't long before she was dozing a bit, holding the child with her head resting lightly on his head.

Harumu luckily did not wake to her movements, though he did wince a bit when Ila pressed a leaf to his wound. Luckily, he nuzzled into her quietly and then proceeded to fall into a deeper sleep. About an hour and a half passed before Harumu's eyes again opened. He was amazed that his sleep wasn't plagued with nightmares and looked around to find what had helped him, only to realize that he was still in Ila's lap, her arms wrapped around him protectively. For a moment, he couldn't believe that this woman was the charm that kept his nightmares away, but then he thought that there was no way she wasn't. With a smile and a light blush, he nuzzled against her again, playing gently with the sleeve of her dress. He had finally found someone warm, someone who could help him, and he was determined to cling to her and never let her go.

Ila stirred a few moments after he'd awoken, lifting an arm to rub her eyes before she blinked and looked down at Harumu. She smiled seeing that he was awake but she didn't say anything immediately. She wanted to ask if he was okay but she didn't want to bring back any bad memories by asking. So she didn't really want to do that. She glanced around for a moment and noticed the yogurt she'd asked for sitting on the nightstand.
She smiled and looked at Harumu, "are you hungry?" she asked softly, "we have some yogurt," she said, pointing to it. "Then after, do you think I can tend to your wound?" she asked him softly. She was really concerned about it. She knew the plant leaf she used would have assisted in clotting but she didn't know how bad it was and she was nervous about infection.

Harumu glanced at the yogurt when Ila mentioned it, but then nuzzled against the woman again, swinging his legs a bit as they were on either side of her. It was odd to say, but he wasn't too hungry. Despite the fact that he likely should have tried begging for food by now, he had learned to ignore his desire for food, due to the fact that it was never given to him. Nighttime meant that he could steal food—he never ate during the day, as he didn't want to get caught. The reminder of a wound make him feel along his side, the leaf making him look down frantically. His brows furrowed in confusion and he moved to peel the leaf off.

Ila understood that meant he wasn't hungry at this point in time. She'd try to get him to have at least a mouthful later. It would take time but he'd eventually have to eat at the regularly scheduled eating times so he'd need to adjust to that timetable.
Ila smiled when the nuzzled into her, glad that he was comfortable with her enough to do that. She hadn't expected to be able to touch him like this yet, it made her equally happy as well as cautious. She didn't want to do anything that may trigger his PTSD.

Ila gasped and gently laid a hand over his to stop him. "You shouldn't do that," she told him softly, "it's help stop the bleeding but if you take it off now it'll take off some of the platelets," she murmured. She wrapped her arms around his waist and stood up from the chair, shifting him to rest on her hip. She then went over to her back, crouching down carefully and freed a hand to grab her med kit and pulled it out. She then moved back over to the bed, placing him gently down on the edge and crouched down in front of him. Flicking unlock the clamps of the med kit she placed down; she opened the box and made sure everything she may need was prepared. She, fortunately, had salve already made in a small container so she didn't need to do that. She then looked up at Harumu with a gentle smile, "can I help you?" she asked, "it may string a bit," she warned, wanting him well aware of that. Sometimes to heal properly, you'll feel some pain before hand.