Before waking this morning, Kai was...

...  I...  I was...

I was dreaming I was trapped in a room made with thick walled webbing, but it wasn't particularly scary, just another nightmare like any other I suppose.

Nightmares haven't really scared me for awhile.  They just, normally drain me and remind me of my own negative feelings in some obscure way.  It was more vivid than the nightmares I was typically used to though, but really, it was actually not that bad.  Actually, it was strangely enjoyable overall.

All I started doing was pushing webbing aside, wrapping strands around each other and shaping a path through.

I took a new look at my reflection in the mirror, taking a razor from it's packaging on the sink, I shaved and brushed my teeth before I started taking off the gown for a shower.

Much like getting organised in the morning, it was kind of a relaxing dream.  Gradually I could feel myself weaving a tunnel through the webbing.  When I felt I was getting close to waking, I just sort of... Well, I went back to the middle and observed my progress.  It looked like the tunnel of a trapdoor spider or something similar.

"Ouch"

I winced the moment I saw it.  A flash of light in my vision for just a microsecond, as I recovered, I noticed purple bruising from my stomach, all the way down to my bottom right foot.  As I began to try to remember, I could feel a headache coming along and shook my head.

No, let's not go there.

I get myself into the shower as my mind continues to wander.

It's funny, but in spite of everything, I'm actually looking forward to today. I've always had to fight to smile, except when something bad happens to me.  I don't know why.  Maybe I just enjoy the attention, or maybe I'm a masochist, or maybe I just like that there's a more tangible reason for me to worry, leaving me happier than I've been in months, since, well...

No, not now.

I exit the shower, towel myself off and enter the bedroom again, searching through the front cabinet.  I even feel like I'm more in control now.  Like I was on tracks before.

I mean, now more than ever, I feel like my situation isn't under my control, but my mind?  I don't know.  I think I might just be enjoying whatever hell I just went through.  In the cabinet are business trousers, collared shirt, socks and underwear, all my size, clean, washed and pressed...

So... This is creepy, right? They've checked the size of my clothes while I was unconscious and-

"Ouch"

There it is again, that same damn headache.  Another flash of light, this time, it sticks around for a few moments and I see my name momentarily above me in my reflection along with the word 'socks' just above my hand.  Yes, I'm holding socks right now.  Way to state the obvious, stupid brain. As soon as I saw the flash it disappeared.

So, what the hell was that?

"The sedative?" I ask the socks with a shrug.  They don't reply.

Clean and dressed, I approach my bedroom doorway, I can smell freshly ground coffee and hear movement in, what's probably a kitchen?   I cautiously open the door as I call out.

"Hello?!  Is that you Mr Toki?"

"You're up earlier than expected", he calls out in response, still with his back turned.  As I swing the door open, I see him standing in a spacious open Kitchen.  The dining area and lounge room follow to the right and a rumpus area with a piano, bar and study sit on a raised platform to the left.

"Welcome to your new apartment.  We'll cover cooking your meals for the next couple of days and I'll get you disconnected from the IV. How do you like your coffee?"

"Uh, milk, no sugar", I reply, taking a seat at the breakfast bar.  Under the grill are the croissants he's toasting. “Shouldn't I have been sent to the hospital?”

He pauses a moment after he's done pouring the milk, I can just make out some of the expression on his face.  For such a big man in such a relaxing setting he looks surprisingly anxious. “Unfortunately... No.”

He turns and walks around the counter to hand me the dark elixer, before removing my cannula and getting me to apply some pressure.

"Fukami.  I want you to imagine a wall for me."

He had a dead serious, almost urgent look on his face as he worked.  Trying to assess the situation, my gut told me I should go along with him, it seemed a harmless enough request.  "A wall.  Okay..."

I assumed he had a point to make about my recent collapse and me being a part of the team, but as soon as I attempted to form a wall in my mind, the headache came rushing in and more of my vision brightened, causing me to flinch backwards on the stool, including a label above Mr. Toki's head:

Name: Mr. Norio Toki

Level:  ###d##ÿÛ#C

A variety of items around the kitchen flashed their labels at me too as I teetered on my chair.  The last item I saw was the coffee as I went tumbling to the floor:

Consumable: Coffee; espresso, milk, sugarless

Grade: Unknown

I hit the ground with a thud.

"Fukami!"

I felt the stool being extracted from my tangled legs before he helped me up.  I give a disgruntled groan in response; "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?"

"Let's sit where you won't fall again, Fukami, so I can explain, but I have to do it fast, take your coffee and maybe move to the lounge over there"

He hurries back to the oven, taking out the croissants from under the grill.  As he does so, I sigh, pausing in front of the coffee before moving to the lounge.  I absentmindedly take a sip.

It's delicious.

The headache hits me again and the label for the coffee appears once more;

Consumable: Coffee; espresso, milk, sugarless

Grade: Unknown

The word 'Unknown' blinks and flashes and is replaced in another flash;

Consumable: Coffee; espresso, milk, sugarless

Grade: B-

A B minus?  Yeah... That feels about right.  Still, seems kind of judgy... But what the hell is this- It was gone again as soon as it appeared...

Mr Toki hurries around, placing a tray on the dining table.

"It happened to you again just now Fukami, didn't it?"

I place down the coffee and stare at him seriously in response.  "What exactly do you want me to say? I can't even remember what happened yesterday."

This time, I ignore the ache in my head that comes in response.  "Tell me Mr Toki.  What the hell is going on?"

He opens his mouth, clearly with a speech prepared, he takes a deep breath.  "As you know, we have hired you to Teach-"

He grunts a moment.  Blood begins running from one of his nostrils.  "Damn it, I guess she can still...”

His hands shaking, he reaches into his right pocket and pulls out some folded paper.  The shaking becomes more violent still as he thrusts the paper at me.  I grab the paper and a box of tissues at the dining table and bring it to him.  "You... Should" His eyes start going bloodshot as he struggles.... "Read that."

He took the tissues I offer him, while I was standing there bewildered.

"Ok... Mr Toki?"

That nosebleed didn't look like a coincidence. My stomach sinks and I feel sick.

After a few moments, his shudders release.

"Just... Toki is fine.  That... Unpleasantness aside, know that basically, you start your job the day after tomorrow.  The bookshelves over there, that's your study.  You have a computer tied up with our intranet and can request any information through our security desk, but keep it to within your duties as a teacher.  No correspondence can go out.  We monitor everything"

My heart sank further at this; “What the hell have I gotten myself into? What the hell is this place Toki?”

He looks as if he's struggling to concentrate and pushes forward with his explanation.

"All your student files and lesson plans for at least the next two weeks are there.  You'll need to brief yourself before Monday.  Miss Takahashi would have informed you she'll be seeing you then.  Don't be surprised if it's before this though. You... Can... Never tell.”

He struggles once more before standing.

“A wall, Fukami... The note. I have to go.  When I return, don't expect more than general instruction about your duties.  I tried to tell you, but it's apparent that... Only... The paper."

Blood flows from his nostrils as he leans forward, grimacing before he forces himself to straighten up, marching out of the room and leaving me confused and alone...