A/N: Wow… If I had gotten this chapter out I little earlier I may have impressed myself. But I didn't, so I didn't. Anyway, I hope you enjoy reading the new chapter of Keeping Your Character. It's a very fun story to write, so I'm hoping for inspiration as much as you guys are.
Disclaimer: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn.
Edited: 8/17/2012
Keeping Your Character - Chapter Four
Time flies when you're having fun - or so the saying goes. Conversely, time digs its heels in like a stubborn donkey (it'd be hooves then) when you're experiencing something unpleasant. (So basically, my theory is that Time, instead of an old man that one would call the honorary title of 'Father', is a winged donkey. Like a Pegasus, only its uglier cousin. With Chronokinesis.)
During my unfortunately extended stay with the Estraneo Family scientists, I'd have to say that the metaphorical Time Donkey had its little back hooves dug in so deeply that they were melted down to nubs because of close proximity with the Earth's core.
Of course, my perception of time was like this only when I wasn't drugged up to the gills and/or unconscious for their little surgical procedures. The rest of the time however, was spent either in my little Dying Will nullification cell, strapped to an electric chair - to see how much electricity I could actually have channeled through my body without negative effects, or in a specially made gladiator-pit-thingy that I was regularly dropped into to see how my combat skills were progressing and how any offensive additions they had added to my biological makeup were working.
Sometimes though, they didn't even bother with drugging me up - either out of extreme sadism, or perhaps it would interfere with their newest operation. It could be either with these people. Either way, it is definitely not nice to feel scalpels slicing through your own skin and bones - it's downright painful and creepy as heck.
Other times, a scientist with a syringe would come into my cell, inject said syringes contents, my vision would go black, and I would wake up an indeterminable amount of time later back inside my cell with some new stitches. I don't think I'd be able to tell you whether I enjoyed not being aware of the procedures or not. I can tell you this: Ignorance is not bliss, it is anxiety - if you're smart, that is.
The electric chair wasn't as bad. The steel of the chair was cold until it heated up - and then it left burns, and the electric current was still horribly excruciating, but with each progressive zap treatment, the pain receded a bit more. And besides the fact that the pain was a bit more bearable, it also worked toward making me strong - albeit in a highly unconventional and inadvisable way - I was well on my way to being completely immune to any sort of pain at all that came with electricity. With the surgeries, on the other hand, I wasn't sure if they were doing something to make their weapon 'Subject L' (my new moniker during my stay with the charming Estraneo Family) stronger, or if they were just cutting me open to see how I worked.
It was the same with their little fight arena. Though I was almost always hauled back to my white little cell with new bruises and cuts after the combat simulations - sometimes even a broken bone or two - I was also gaining fighting experience with each drone I destroyed, or each fellow experiment that I defeated (I tried not to think of what they did with the 'obsolete' experiments after collecting their broken bodies from the arena floor). In addition to that, it was probably the only time I was actually able to move around freely and of my own volition (if you call having to wear a remote controlled choke collar that would be activated if I made a step in the wrong direction 'freely')
Plus, 'adversity is the mother of invention', right? At least, I think that's the saying. I think I learned to produce and manipulate my Lightning Flames far more efficiently than if I had progressed in skill only due to my self-training regime. I also became extremely proficient in a few different weapons of my own choice - one of the only things I was allowed to decide for myself. Of course, I would rather have not had to go through the numerous times strapped to a gurney, but whaddaya gonna do?
Inside my Dying Will Suppression Cell, I thankfully wasn't put into any pain - especially considering most of my time (or the time I could perceive at least) was spent inside the white little room. I was even given pain relievers upon being delivered to the cell, so any injuries that I had before hand were dulled to a quiet throbbing instead of screeching agony.
It was however, utterly boring. Just not a bad as pain. I think I'm actually developing an allergy to pain. Then again, any symptoms I assume could be an allergic reaction could just be from one of their experiments.
I of course, having spent my first life in the age of America where citizens endeavored to be in a state of constant entertainment, found ways to kick that despicable Time Donkey into gear.
One of my little hobbies was having trilingual conversations with I and Myself. I - a very self-centered person - using English, Myself - formal and stuffy - using Japanese, and Me - being, well, me - using Italian. It helped me to keep my language skills sharp, and had the added charm that acting like a lunatic always does. I hope I'm not going to turn into a schizophrenic - but then, the wisdom of Douglas Adams comes shining through: "There is no point in driving yourself mad trying to stop yourself going mad. You might just as well give in and save your sanity for later." It's a pretty good motto for the experiment subject of a Mafia Family of mad scientists.
When I was injured enough to bleed, I decided to make the most of it. Note to all you readers: Red ink is only pretty up to the point that it starts drying into a nasty brownish color; also, writing out crazy ramblings have the same charm of the lunacy involved with talking to yourself. I figured it also added to the work of whoever passes as a janitor here, because the walls were always squeaky (I checked the sound quality) when I was once again shoved away into my cell.
Another of my tricks to spur on the Time Donkey was tapping out extremely vulgar and derogatory messages about the scientists, their mothers and any animals they may have been in contact with in Morse Code. It was fun while it lasted, but it also resulted in me being restrained even more than just being locked in a cell.
Then again, said extra restraints might've been the result of my convoluted escape attempts. Meh.
Anyway, after a few of said attempts to break myself out of the Estraneo Family's 'care', I was not only locked inside my little white room, I was also suspended in the middle of the room by chains and bound in a straightjacket cocoon. It kind of limited my loony writing on the walls and the Morse Code insults. It also rendered me unable to scratch my nose, or any other part of my body for that matter, which irked me very, very much.
Of course, then I just started talking to Myself and I even more. Katekyo Hitman Reborn Character songs may have also weaseled their way into my repertoire. I could actually manipulate my new vocal chords rather well considering the voice I have is the same as Lambo's in the actual series. That is to say, even though I kind of sounded like a prepubescent boy, I had an acceptable singing voice. Nothing special, but enough to carry out a song in tune - which is more than some people can say. But then, I'm sure most people who sing despite being horrible at staying on key are deluding themselves and wouldn't even realize their inability to say that they could carry a tune.
I did manage to refrain from singing 'Gyouza Gyuudon', thankfully. It wouldn't have been the same without an I-pin anyway.
I actually think that anime characters are unable to get sore throats unless it's a gag for the story, because I was able to sing through like five hundred renditions of 'Kufufu no Fu' before I stopped. Even then, it was only because an irate scientist came in to stuff a gag in my mouth.
I don't think I would have lasted as long without a large collection of annoyingly catchy songs to sing.. Thankfully, I could actually remember all the lyrics - the memories of my past life had a strange clarity to them - and best of all, I now actually understand Japanese, so I can actually understand what I'm saying and it's not just a bunch incomprehensible gibberish interspersed with a few words I'd learned from repeated anime exposure.
I'm not sure if it's the experimentations or the peppy Japanese character songs that are having a greater toll on my dwindling reserves of sanity. But then, I must remember.. "There is no point in driving yourself mad trying to stop yourself going mad. You might just as well give in and save your sanity for later."
When will my 'later' be, I wonder?
The only thing I know for sure is that I will get out of here.
'Later' came a little later than I would have hoped. I think. The Time Donkey is as vague as ever when it comes to the actual passage of time.
It started with an alarm of some sorts going off. It echoed through the sparse hallways, and was only slightly muffled be my cell's door. A vague thought bubble floated to the top of my mind: What was the alarm for?
I was understandably curious - or at least as curious as my current state of mind allowed for - because never had something happened within the Estraneo laboratories' walls that warranted an extremely loud and screechy alarm, completely with glowing red lights that flashed in time.
Me, Myself, I and even the Time Donkey waited with our breaths in our throats.
A few minutes later (which could have actually been seconds thanks to the Time Donkey's input) our bated breaths were awards with a complete blackout - the normal white lights sputtered out, the red alarm lights sputtered out and the alarm itself sputtered out. It left only a complete atmosphere of darkness and silence (I'm sure there was some danger and disease somewhere…) that would have been creepy if I hadn't spent an inordinate amount of time being experimented on by crazy mafia scientists. Well, and if I hadn't had the whole 'Cleanser: Vacuum-of-Doom-Thingy' experience.
It was kind of disappointing that my bated breath only resulted in a lack of things that had already been, instead of something new coming into existence, so my only reaction was to blink dumbly for a few seconds.
That was, of course, only until I realized that whatever was powering the lights and alarm was also was made my cell Dying Will Flame-proof. And it had just sputtered out.
Maybe my bated breath is worth something after all. Or was it the Time Donkey's?
Either way, I had just gotten an easy ticket out of here.
With great aplomb (I think so at least, and since I was the only person there, it's only my opinion that matters) green electricity spurted from my straight-jacketed arms, Solidifying into tiny, jagged blades that easily tore through the chains and cloth restricting my body.
I stretched luxuriously, working over every muscle that was stiff from being restrained for so long. Not only did it feel extremely nice - I still felt like going to a masseuse after I escaped, though - but it would help loosen me up if I encountered a battle-situation. After a moment or two, I decided it was enough stretching, and time for blowing something else up.
With the first grin to cross my face in what seemed like ages, a ball of Lightning Flames formed between my outstretched palms. Once the power level was high enough, a bolt of electricity blasted forward, streaking toward the door. It exploded with a highly satisfactory banging noise.
For a second I stared at the empty space where the solid, steel door had been. It seemed almost too good to be true that it was this easy to get out of the cell that I had been languishing in for what felt like years. Plus, I was now thinking it might not have been such a hot idea to make such a loud noise when I was trying to escape. It might have been better to be a bit more discrete… but then again, I wouldn't have been able to blow up that darn door, so I didn't really care.
Shaking off my thoughts, I promptly dashed from my cell before any Estraneo people decided to come check up on 'Subject L'. Hopefully, I was leaving that little white room behind forever.
My first course of action, besides blowing my way out of my cell, was to pick up my weapons from the arena area. I wouldn't want to leave them behind, and they would help in fighting off anyone who would attempt to recapture me.
As quickly as I could without sacrificing stealth, I made my way toward where my mental map positioned the arena, feeling along the wall in the total darkness. I managed to get down several halls without any obstacles, but as I glanced around a new corner, my eyes - thankfully adjusted to the dark now - caught a person in a white lab coat speed-walking through the hallway, shining a small flashlight in front of his feet. I scooted closer to the wall, hiding myself deeper into the shadows, watching, waiting.
The second he got close enough, I leapt at him, my small hands closing around his throat and jerking it to the side. There was a snapping noise that was a little too loud for my comfort, but I had done worse earlier with the cell door. As the man slumped to the floor, I dragged him out of the main walkway trying to make his corpse as invisible as possible.
After a moments thought, I decided against stealing his lab coat. While it might make the other Estraneo personnel enough for me to get the drop on them, I wasn't sure if there were any more escaped and vengeful prisoners wandering the hallways, just looking for a white-coat to slaughter. Instead, I snatched up the fallen flashlight, clicked it off and stored it in my pocket (why did the experiments' scrubs have pockets?), allowing my eyes to adjust to complete darkness once again. This way, no one would see me coming - unless they had super vision or something, and I wouldn't put it past the Estraneo to try and do something like that.
Finally making it to the little weapons arsenal, I quickly located the locker labeled 'Subject L'. It was of course, locked, but that was no problem for me when I had access to my Dying Will Flames. It was a simple matter of generating some Lightning Flames around my hand and Solidifying them to the point that they would cut through the metal of the locker. I squinted slightly as the green electricity glowed from my hand, before slicing the door off its hinges.
I caught the door of the locker before it could clang to the floor and gently set it against the wall, before turning eagerly to my weapons.
First and foremost was my absolute favorite - a customized Meteor Hammer. For you folk uneducated in Asian weaponry, a Meteor Hammer is basically two weights connected by a rope or chain. It is known for its speed, accuracy, flexibility and unpredictability. It also had the advantage of being easily concealable. My Meteor Hammer, on the other hand, has a few different sets of interchangeable weights, and they are connected by a pliable cable. When combined with my Lightning Flames, the cable can also be Solidified into rigidity, making it into a double-headed staff.
I quickly attached a bladed weight to each end of the cable before wrapping it efficiently around my arm, here a quickly jerk of said limb would rapidly deploy a blade into my target. The rest of the weights were attached to a belt for portability, and I quickly slung it around my waist before turning my attention toward my secondary weapon.
While it was not as fun to use as my Meteor Hammer, I was just as proficient with my M4 Carbine. The funny thing is, is that if I were still in my old universe, the carbine would be infinitely more useful. Seeing that I am, however, in an anime, that means that melee combat is much more common because it is more popular with the fans. Anyway, the carbine is great for longer ranged attacks - up to about six hundred meters. Plus, it has a bunch of accessories I can attach if need be: a scope, a night vision device, a laser pointer, a grenade launcher, a bayonet, etc. Of course, I am proficient in the use of other types of guns, but the M4 is my favorite.
The M4 was packed away in its case, along with all of said attachments. Since the Estraneo laboratories were so enclosed, I'd probably be using my Meteor Hammer instead.
My eyes darted around my surroundings one last time before I quietly slunk back into the hallways, moving onto my second objective: find where they are keeping the files on the experiments done to 'Subject L'.