Chapter 03 – She's Not There

Masaru and Taro were heading out of the ruined blood stained gallery. While Kouta and the rest of the crew were frantically searching the stream, woods and surrounding countryside in the mountain valley below, they had been sent back as part of an eight-man detail to collect the video camera along with any other incriminating evidence that could point to Kouta's failure to execute Ayane.

Behind them, the others were scrubbing the gallery, removing the blood stains from the walls and floor. They had also begun the process of dismantling the ruined pieces of the huge chandelier.

All the bodies including the hideously mangled corpse of Haruka had been disposed of through a pit in the cellar.

As they travelled down the wide corridors, Masaru was talking excitedly into his radio about the progress of the search for Ayane.

"Still?! Itsuke – seriously – How can – STILL? Really – They still haven't found anything. Man – I bet Kouta's totally nutting up! Has he said anyth – uh huh – yeah – yeah… HA! I can imagine! No – no way – don't sweat it… NOT your problem. Itsuke… Itsuke – It's not your problem dude. Yeah, right! Right! Hey – you KNOW I'm right! Just do whatever you're told and stay the fuck out of his way. Right! Now listen to me – be sure to tell Kouta we got his camera and that NO ONE has seen what's on it. Yeah, no one – and it's gonna stay that way. Because – we're fixin' to destroy that fucker just like he said – to make sure all the evidence goes away. Uh huh… that's right – tell him that. Uh huh, now you're getting it – just give him GOOD news then stay outta his way! Hah – no shit!"

Masaru turned off his radio with a little click causing it to spit one last gasp of static. Then he shook his head and swore softly to himself. Taro was curious about what he had been talking to Itsuke about.

"So?"

"SO… they STILL haven't found her!"

"Holy shit – It's been THREE DAYS! I mean – COME ON – how can they not find – where the fuck could she be?!"

"Tell me about it – it's not looking good for Kouta and that's for damn sure. Itsuke just told me he's freaking out like a total little bitch!"

"I bet someone from Mika or maybe the temple found her – and just buried her somewhere. They really need to check those places again… y'know just turn 'em upside down."

Masaru's pace slowed as he pondered possible scenarios. Then he looked over at Taro and began to speculate aloud.

"What do you think? Is it possible Ayane survived a fall like that?"

Taro thought about it a moment and weighed the video camera in his hand.

"In her condition?! Look – I don't know man. I mean Haruka's team used a hell of a lot of C4 when they blew her ass off the mountain. That detonation was massive. Felt like a friggin' volcano went off. I was amazed she could even survive that."

Masaru was nodding in agreement and adjusted the pistol under his dark blue windbreaker. Then he looked over at Taro and added, "She didn't just 'survive' man, when we got down there – I thought we were just gonna be scoopin' up slop. Instead, she was blazing away with that goddamn cannon of hers. It was like a freakin' missile launcher! Damn near killed me too – if Karoshi hadn't stumbled in the way… shit. I don't even wanna THINK about it!"

Taro shook his head as he remembered the scene. They rounded a corner while he related what came next.

Yeah but Ayane was goin' on pure adrenaline… and when she inevitably collapsed, we beat the fucking shit out of her. Yeah, and took turns fucking her silly. She somehow survived that – so we decided to drag her sorry ass back to the base. That's where it got crazy."

"Oh man, we all got SO freakin' savage with her!" Masaru broke in excitedly. "I mean – it got really NASTY and everyone – even fuckin' Saburo got a good long turn with her."

"Did we ever!" agreed Taro. "We worked her over real good. Then, as if THAT wasn't enough, there was the insane friggin' beat down Kouta gave her – broke the bat on her man… He BROKE THE BAT on her! I mean, well shit – c'mon Masaru – the point is… you heard her bones break – she was pissin' and pukin' everywhere – THAT was enough to kill TEN mutha-fuckers!"

Masaru agreed.

"True that. When we left the room with Kouta – she was barely hangin' on. I don't know how she slid outta those chains. But when she did – that psycho bitch somehow managed to fuckin' kill Haruka and his whole team… I mean – in WHAT universe does that make any sense!?"

Nodding in agreement Taro had nothing to add. It didn't make any sense.

They walked along in silence only the clumping of their boots echoing in the marble and stone hallways marked their passing, as they headed to the main hall. In an attempt to be optimistic, Taro tried to find an upside.

"Still – I'm sure they'll find her down there dead somewhere. Most likely, it was just animals – wild pigs – or something drug her off. Hell, she's probably in pieces by now… But they'll find her – that weird, purple hair would be pretty hard to miss."

A few more steps and Taro began to worry.

"I mean – they've gotta find her – right??"

"I'll tell you this much Taro, I am SO glad I'm not Kouta – he's gotta explain this shit to Kasumi! Her standing orders were always to just kill Ayane fast – and not fuck around… That is if we were ever insanely lucky enough to catch her in the first place."

Masaru, shook his head and laughed nervously then continued.

"Then the impossible happens and we actually DID catch her! But instead of just blowing her brains out – Kouta decides to have a big friggin party with her! Shit man, if Kasumi only knew about all the sick perverted crap Kouta had us do to her and THEN the whole stupid art thing – instead of just killing her fast like she wanted…"

Taro broke in finishing his sentence – "Yeah man, she'd fucking flip out! I've seen her get mad once – it didn't end well."

Then he thought for a moment before adding – "Not that I'm complaining – raping Ayane's brains out was incredible! Man – whatta bod! Really too bad we had to wreck it!"

"Hah! Wow – you said it Taro – making her our little bitch was a dream come true. I NEVER thought we'd take her down like that – fuckin' experience of a lifetime man!"

Then lowering his voice, Masaru pulled out a lock of purple hair. It shimmered as it caught the lights above.

Hey – check this out – right after I blew my load down her throat, before Riku could catch me, I even cut off a chunk of that purple hair of hers – I think it's gonna be lucky…"

"B-But Kouta said no knives until after his art thing."

"Ha! That's what you get for listening to Kouta!"

"DAMN – I should have thought of that!"

They walked on, becoming quiet. The faint clop, clop, clop of their boots along the hall was all that could be heard. The silence seemed to grow around them like a living thing punctuated only by their footsteps. It became thick and heavy, then, Taro finally said what they were both thinking.

"How the FUCK did she kill everyone in that room dude!? Did you see how hacked up all of Haruka's guys were? I mean – they were goddamn Yakuza man!"

There was a brief silence… then he added… "She was chained Masaru! Chained and nearly dead! She was puking freaking blood all over the fuckin' place."

Then looking at the camera he was holding, he turned conspiratorially to his partner.

"It all has to be here on the damn camera – this thing recorded everything! I don't think we should destroy it, I think we ought to play it back and find out what really went down."

Nodding his assent, Masaru answered emphatically.

"Yeah – fuck Kouta – we'll do it! But I'll tell you one thing for sure – Ayane's the freakin' David Copperfield of ass kicking is what she is."

"WAS, you mean." Taro corrected. "She's gotta be dead man. No way she survived that drop. Even if she did – she's not gonna be in any shape to fight. Huh… man, if it was up to me – the second the drugs wore off, I'd have just shoved my fucking knife right through her damn eye. THEN I'd finish up by slicing off her cute little – huh?"

As they entered the main hall, the clicking of their boots suddenly stopped and they stood in stunned silence. Ahead of them was an incredible sight. About fifty feet away in the center of the hall was Kokoro. She was standing alone like a vision the fur lined hood on her yellow canvas jacket was back to reveal her long black hair and bright wide hazel eyes staring straight at them. Not afraid, just curious, she was walking towards Masaru and Taro with an unhurried cat like stride.

"What th' hell is this shit?" Masaru said stepping forward.

He pointed to his knife and said ominously, "You behave and play nice… and… well, I won't have to kill you – now come over here, sweet thing, and tell me who you are."

Kokoro walked right up to Masaru with no hesitation at all and stopped. Only a couple of feet separated them. Standing there, Masaru turned to Taro and smiled.

"Okay Taro, watch and learn…"

He grabbed her roughly by the jacket collar to pull her towards him – but fast as a cat snatching up a little mouse, Kokoro's arm flashed up as she gripped the small finger of the offending hand and twisted it back sharply, making a harsh snapping sound, followed by a strident wail of pain from Masaru!

"AAAAHHH FUCK – she broke my fucking fin – GUUHHHHHH!"

His pain was increased further as Kokoro followed her initial move with a swift, short snap kick to the groin. As he doubled over, she grabbed him firmly by his hair and drove his head down into her knee as it flew up with hammer force, crushing his nose flat across his face. Masaru's brain registered the pain of an exploding neutron star as he sank into an unconscious heap on the floor.

Kokoro looked at the large bloody spot on her desert camo fatigues… She started to move to brush it off, but changed her mind pulling her hand back in disgust.

"Ick!"

Taro pulled his knife and hissed. "You just made a big mistake!"

Kokoro readied herself to counter the deadly blow as his hand whipped up to deliver a savage strike when suddenly they were both interrupted by a huge, apocalyptic roar, that split heaven and earth. It blasted out from behind a shadowed doorway at the far end of the hall. It was an all-consuming, soul-destroying, gut shattering sound of all the harmonious things in the universe exploding at once.

Bayman had pulled the trigger on "Babushka" causing Masaru's head to disappear in a sudden puff of red mist.

The headless body sank straight down in a loose heap, blood belching from the stump of his neck.

The incredible noise, and sudden violent explosion of her opponent's head, caused Kokoro to drop down in a crouch, like a little ball, with her arms wrapped around her head.

As a martial artist, she was a gifted combatant rivaled by few. But when it came to killing – that was another thing entirely. For Bayman it was second nature, but for Kokoro – it was not – and she was momentarily paralyzed. From her crouch she peeped up above her arms and called out her thanks.

"B-Bayman h-he was about to… b-but y-you killed him. It was s-so …loud..!"

Crouching next to Bayman, Eliot had to agree as he stared down range at Kokoro and the two downed gangsters.

"Loud indeed. Kokoro is quite, uh… right. Bayman, I think that may have… you know, just possibly, attracted a tiny bit of attention…"

"Good." Snarled Bayman, "I need targets." Then grinning savagely, he sighted back in on the hall calling out to Kokoro.

"Kookoo – get OUT of 'kill zone.'"

Kokoro didn't need to be told twice. She rose to her feet and took a deep breath. Then with matchless grace, she twirled out of Babushka's scope, and melted into the shadows and waited.

They didn't have to wait long.

The sound of echoing voices and multiple boots tramping in the hall grew louder and louder. Turning the final corner the remaining six of the cleanup crew came barreling down the corridor.

Once again, the atmosphere in the hall was ripped apart as a huge, earth shaking CRACKABOOM rang out and a cathedral sized .50BMG round ripped through the air at 2,799 feet per second punching through three of the onrushing thugs. Daylight was visible through the gaping wounds in their torsos as they dropped directly to the ground.

The remaining three skittered to a frantic stop – another sky rending thunderbolt sounded – and a surprised face exploded into a million crimson beads.

Turning to run back down the hall, the remaining two, covered in the gore of their comrades, were in a mindless panic, as Hades dark realm yawned open to claim more souls and a volcanic blast heralding the annihilation of all hope in the world, rang out through the cosmos. The truck-sized missile slammed into and through the back of one of the fleeing men, exploding his heart like a chum filled water balloon. The thug spun like a top, spraying blood and pieces of lung and heart, across the walls, ceiling and floor of the corridor before flopping into and sliding down the wall.

The final henchman made it to the end of the hall and desperately turned the corner, out of sight.

"Shit!" Eliot hissed starting to rise–

"I-I'll get him!" shouted Kokoro forcing herself to get up, in spite of the horrors that were unfolding right before her eyes.

"Nyet ni nada!" Bayman barked stopping her in her tracks. He flipped a switch on his rifle's scope and he whispered… "Okay, little Babushka…"

Tracking his quarry's heat signature through the walls, he fired and the full metal jacket bullet ripped like a hell hound, chasing its hapless quarry. It cut through walls, desks, ripped through rooms, exploded a wardrobe, punched through a second interior wall to finally slam with bone-shattering force into the side of the mindlessly scrambling thug. The tremendous impact blasted him through a plate-glass window and sent him to a mangled death at the rocky base of the fortress several stories below.

"Bingo."

Bayman muttered to himself, as the shell casing clattered to the ground.

After gathering his spent cartridges, he stood and crossed over to Masaru who had been slowly coming around. He was still in the entranceway to the hall where Kokoro had dropped him only a few moments ago. Masaru had seen everything and the terror of the thunderous spectacle eclipsed even the pain of his throbbing, bloody face. Suddenly he was hauled straight up in the air, off his feet and shoved to the wall by the collar of his jacket. The petrified gangster was only inches away from Bayman's face.

Glaring straight into the bloodshot eyes of his prey, Bayman shoved his huge gun towards Kokoro.

"Koko – you take!"

Kokoro stepped up and took the massive gun from his hand with wide eyes. "Ooh."

Then with his other hand he gripped Masaru's face firmly and said menacingly.

"No more Mr. nice guy… You tell where Ayane is. Tell now or DIE."

"I don't know – I swear to god I don't. I really, really – Agh!"

Eliot and Kokoro gasped in horror, when with a quick twist, Bayman snapped the thug's neck like a stick. The last of the cleanup crew had been eliminated and they were now alone in the building. Eliot broke the silence.

"Bayman! Why didn't you - I mean, we didn't question him hardly enough. Now we'll never kn –"

"He was telling truth." Bayman interrupted. "Is no use to us. We should check video camera."

Pulling out an end table they set the camera on it and gathered around the small view screen to watch the playback. The monitor blinked to life revealing the large circle drive in front of the very fortress they were in… then the camera panned around to the long approach leading up to it. There were several vehicles in the distance kicking up a cloud of dust as they barreled down the gravel trail. As they got closer there was something strapped to the hood of the lead truck. Kokoro was the first to notice.

"Oh no, no… oh – Eliot – Ayane – is it..?"

The truck was leading a group of cars and they were coming fast as the cloud of dust grew. The camera focused on the truck as it ground to a stop. There in full view was the unmistakable image of Ayane strapped to the hood - like a trophy. She was bound as if she were some exotic game animal killed on safari.

She had been stripped and all that remained was a tattered, blood stained button down shirt. Out of the windows of the trailing vehicles, they could see people hanging out yelling and waving pieces of Ayane's equipment, clothing and undergarments in triumph.

As the camera jostled in closer to her, the shaky images revealed that Ayane was still alive and though she was conscious, they could see she was visibly disoriented.

Multiple people began to jump up on the hood of the truck shoving and struggling to get up next to her. The drunken rabble forcefully groped Ayane and made crude obscene gestures as they posed for pictures with her.

She was pulled roughly by the hair and twisted so that her head continually faced the camera. Others posed by sitting on her back and brutally pulling her under the chin or by the hair, arching her back to display her for the cameras.

Everyone took a turn as they pretended to have just killed her and struck comical, heroic postures. They pushed and shoved each other in an effort to get their boots on Ayane's back, neck, head and face as they posed for pictures.

Bayman noticed her purple hair was matted with patches of dried blood and her legs, arms and torso had multiple burns and scrapes.

Ayane's large, amber eyes were wide as she looked around in a daze, trying to focus. But this was being made impossible by a man who was currently sitting on her chest posing for his picture. They watched transfixed as the thug, kept slapping her hard across the face as he cursed at and spit on her. Then he tore her shirt collar back and bit her on the shoulder, drawing blood. Ayane's eyes closed against the pain until she was brought back around with another harsh slap.

Bayman frowned and pointed to the sadistic thug mauling her on the screen, then directed Eliot and Hotaruko's attention to Masaru who lay dead on the floor with an expression of horror frozen on his face.

"Look – that is same scumbag we just kill."

The cheering, shouting and whooping from the crowd of drunken thugs was increasing and their actions became gradually more violent. Kokoro could see that Ayane also seemed drugged and pointed this out to Bayman as the jubilant mob roughly ripped open her shirt.

"Ayane… she – she's not all there. Bayman, I think she's been drugged…"

"Da – she does not look right."

Bayman grimaced but kept studying the faces of her abusers as the attack escalated into rape. They watched as the gangsters dragged her into the back of the old truck and repeatedly forced themselves on her.

"I can't watch this." Eliot said in a dead voice and turned his head into Kokoro's shoulder as tears began to silently rise up.

Kokoro held Eliot as he sobbed soundlessly in her arms and gently, lovingly patted his shoulder. Looking over his head, she shared a glance with Bayman. Her gaze was ablaze with volcanic intensity and fierce conviction as she mouthed almost silently –

"We shall avenge this outrage... in blood."

Bayman's eyes narrowed as he nodded to Kokoro. He was impressed by her strength in the face of this terrible unfolding tragedy.

She is warrior, this Kokoro…

They turned back to the one sided struggle and watched as the drunken gang took turns tormenting and humiliating their friend.

Finally, the crowd parted as Kouta approached. He swaggered over to Ayane and as his men held her firmly in place, he took his turn with her, heaving and shoving his grotesque bulk against his helpless captive.

Bayman and Kokoro could only watch as Kouta strangled and slapped Ayane while he viciously raped her. He was making sure to draw it out… and gloated in his triumph.

The obese and horribly scarred leader bellowed and laughed in exaltation as he choked and punched Ayane. Several times during the horrific ordeal he would just flash a gold-toothed smile and wave at the camera giving a big, thumbs up.

At one point Kouta saw Ayane slipping into unconsciousness, and bellowed for a beer that he immediately dumped on her face and head causing her to splutter back to groggy consciousness. Then, once he knew she was aware, he ripped into her again for yet another round of ugly, sadistic abuse.

Bayman turned to Kokoro –

"That one with the scars and gold teeth – he is leader. We do that one slow…"

Not taking her eyes from the screen where Kouta was now gripping Ayane by the ears and repeatedly slamming her head up and down against the floor of the truck bed, Kokoro nodded her assent and quietly mouthed the words…

"He dies slow."

Finally, the ordeal drew to a close as Kouta's violent thrusts suddenly stopped. He shuddered, twitched then screamed in twisted ecstasy, and collapsed in a sweaty, heap across Ayane's bruised and ravaged body.

Ayane strove to lift her head up, confused eyes trying to look at her attacker, but Kouta just put his huge, hairy hand in her face and mercilessly slammed her head back down on the floor of the truck.

Then, after laughing and groping her crudely, he backed away, letting his men drag her by the ankles out of the back of the truck to sprawl on the gravel drive.

Stunned and traumatized, Ayane rolled slowly and painfully onto her stomach. Trembling and in shock, she called on all her strength to half crawl, half drag herself across the stony ground in a dazed attempt to escape her brutal tormentors. But at every faltering turn, she was ruthlessly kicked and goaded into the center of a hostile jeering circle that now formed around her.

Bayman noticed something…

"Look – see? You are right. Needle hanging in arm… There! It just fell out – right there – see?"

Kokoro continued to console Eliot, and nodded. She stared holes through the monitor as she answered.

"That explains why she's not able to defend herself…"

"Right." Said Bayman, "Under normal circumstance, she kill of them all… Now all we can do is watch… find out what happen."

In spite of the drugs coursing through her system, Ayane fought valiantly to lift herself from the stony ground. With a surge of pure will, she was able to push up, to a near sitting position. She had almost succeeded in righting herself, when Kouta entered the circle waving his hands and exhorted more drunken cheering from his men.

He watched and laughed with the others for a short time as Ayane squinted against the sun trying to look up at her antagonists. Her expression was one of awe and wonder. Every now and then, Ayane's eyes would flash with apprehension and she would suddenly turn her head to look at empty space and duck, causing the men in the circle to burst out laughing.

It became clear to Bayman that she was hallucinating.

"Ayane sees things not there. They have inject of her with psychotropic drug…"

The muscles in Ayane's back and shoulders were shivering as she struggled to hold her drugged body up. As Kouta sauntered over to her, she tried to look up at him. Ayane lifted an arm to shield her eyes from the sunlight, but nearly fell face first into the gravel, catching herself just in time, on shaking arms. Kouta jumped back in mock fright as all the men in the circle hooted and laughed. Ayane was at the limits of her strength and it was all she could do to hold herself steady.

Grinning, Kouta drained the beer he was drinking. Then shouting and getting everyone's attention he moved in very close to Ayane. She was watching him curiously, as if he was some kind of strange, interesting creature.

When He was inside of three feet from her, he carefully aimed and gauged the distance to the point of actually touching the bottle to the tip of her nose. This caused Ayane to cross her eyes as she looked at it with a surprised and quizzical expression. The men in the circle burst out with uproarious laughter as Ayane – lost in a drugged haze – began to smile innocently, looking up at Kouta.

There was hope in her eyes as she carefully reached her wavering hand out to him for help as if he had come to save her.

Kouta only smiled, his gold teeth glinting, as he wound up for the throw. Then, with a bellow of rage, he threw the bottle with all the force he could muster, directly at her face. His men roared their approval as it hit Ayane right between the eyes, just above the brow line. It bounced sharply off of her head causing a gash over her right eye.

Ayane shook her head and looked up in shock. She put her hand to her eye, which caused her to fall forward on her elbows. She held it there for a moment, looking puzzled and bewildered. Then, pulling her hand away, she regarded her bloody fingers turning them slowly in front of her wide unbelieving eyes.

The blood trickled down the side of her head to soak her torn shirt collar. Unable to make sense of what was happening, she just leaned there supporting herself on her hands. The laughter and mockery continued as she swayed back and forth, watching the blood drip down and soak into the ground between her hands. Uncomprehending and distracted by the pain and the noise, she had the puzzled, sad expression of a child whose feelings had been deeply hurt.

Emboldened by the cheering mob, Kouta approached again. Ayane was blinking to clear her vision as the stinging blood ran into her eye, trying to bring him into focus. It was as if she was putting two and two together and had slowly begun to realize he was a danger to her. But before she could attempt a feeble defensive strike, Kouta stepped on her right hand with his huge boot, pinning it against the sharp gravel.

Ayane stared at his boot on her hand with an expression of amazement, when he repeated the process for the other hand, pinning both to the ground under his immense weight. She looked at the second boot stunned – as if it had appeared there by magic. The laughter and jeering all around her was sapping her will and Ayane could only strain weakly and watch as Kouta held up his hands to silence the men getting their full attention. Then, he slowly unzipped his pants and urinated all over her bowed head and back, soaking her whole body while his men erupted cheering, laughing and jeering wildly.

"Real slow…" Kokoro quietly said.

They watched as they bound Ayane's hands behind her and roughly jerked her up onto her wobbly legs. Someone jabbed a needle into her neck and injected her with something that made Ayane's whole body go rigid then start to convulse wildly. She struggled to free her hands and remain standing and began to wobble as the inebriated, cheering mob closed in around her.

They began pushing her roughly, back and forth across the ever-closing circle, punching and kicking at her whenever she came within their reach. Finally, Ayane's knees buckled and she collapsed to the ground writhing in anguish as the mob closed in on her again.

Kouta stood by directing the camera and egging the gangsters on as they mercilessly raped and beat her again. Eventually, the mob pulled back and dragged her to her feet by a rope secured around her neck. They continued to shove, kick and pummel a stumbling and dazed Ayane, up the steps and disappeared through the front entranceway to the fortress.

The camera went blank for a moment then blinked back on. Bayman leaned forward gripped the table so hard the boards creaked. Eliot looked up and turned his attention back to the screen as he held Kokoro close.

The date stamp on the video had advanced forward a couple of days and the scene now showed Ayane chained in what looked like a large marble gallery. Kouta and Haruka's crews were once again mocking her. They saw Haruka smack Ayane across the face, and witnessed how she tried to strike him back but was stopped by the chains that held her prisoner. Watching this, Bayman could tell something was different this time.

"Look - her eyes become clear… no more drug. They are very careless..."

Then Bayman became quiet as Kouta entered the scene again with a bat. He was saying something that was hard to make out – then suddenly – he exploded into Ayane raining blow after savage blow with the terrible bat. As the spectacle continued to unfold, it became progressively more difficult to watch. Finally, almost mercifully, they saw Ayane break as Kouta shattered the bat across her midsection with a final frenzied blast. They watched in horror as Ayane merely twitched in agony dangling from the chains. Kouta danced exhaustedly and repeatedly struck her hard in the back of her bowed head to the cheers of his men, as blood streamed from Ayane's nose and mouth.

Eliot had seen enough.

"Stop – Bayman, please – stop the camera."

Bayman hit pause freezing the image just as Ayane was being struck across the face. The blood jetting towards the canvas was frozen in front of her.

"I – I am sorry but – I can't bear to watch this anymore… I have no desire to see a beautiful, gifted human being torn to pieces by these - these sick, twisted pigs. I don't want to remember – Ayane – this way. Not this way. It's too much, I don't – I do NOT… too much, it's just…w"

Bayman's gaze softened as he watched Eliot grapple with his emotions. He realized that it just wasn't in his nature to confront this kind of brutality. Eliot wasn't a killer and Bayman understood. He patted Eliot on the shoulder and spoke with compassion to his young friend.

"Is okay Eliot – is no shame in not wanting to see…"

Eliot walked over to the far wall – putting his back against it, he slid down to the floor. Then pulling his knees up to his chest and resting his chin on them, he just stared numbly into space.

Kokoro walked to the window next to him, tears streaming down her face, and looked out at the sky. Then turning to Eliot and kneeling beside him, she quietly put her face against his chest. He glanced down briefly, kissing the top of her head and put his arms around her, stroking her hair. As he did, he resumed staring dry eyed into space, there were no more tears left to cry as he tried to forget what he had just seen unfolding in the monitor.

Bayman stared at the frozen screen in front of him. He had seen the horrors of war first hand. He knew all about the sadistic glee some men took in dealing out cruelty. He didn't want to witness Ayane's destruction. He knew it would be bad – the worst kind of bad. But knowing that there may be a clue to finding out more about the ring leader Kouta, he had to go through with it. What were his plans? What did he do with her body? He had to go on.

This Kouta. Thought Bayman. I would very much like to meet this individual… This rapist fucking bastard who likes torturing of and hurting girls…

Then he took a deep breath and hitting the play button, he began to watch the rest of the video.

Kokoro and Eliot studied Bayman's face from where they sat along the wall. His grim countenance was illuminated by the flickering blue light of the monitor in front of him. They were trying to read in his reactions, figure out what he might be seeing on that awful screen.

He didn't show much emotion at first… only his quickened, shallow breathing was hinting at the rage surging just under the surface.

Time passed and his hand began slowly, unconsciously, sliding up his chest to his knife handle. His eyes were widening, and one was beginning to twitch. Kokoro noticed a large vein had begun throbbing in his right temple.

"Eliot do you see – ?" Kokoro whispered.

"Yes, shhh…don't point." Eliot responded, hugging her closer.

Bayman was nearly livid as he tried to suppress a complex mixture of rage, frustration and deep sadness as he watched Ayane's torture unfold on the screen. Kokoro noticed he was beginning to shake slightly, eyes, staring daggers through the screen.

Bayman's thoughts flicked along quickly as he watched Kouta pummel and gloat while he relentlessly strove to break Ayane's spirit.

Such joy in causing pain. Delight in cruelty. Absolute lack of honor – how can they cheer for this God Damned coward FUCK?!

He continued watching the horrific events unfold. Then unbidden, a single word escaped him.

"S-Stop..."

He wasn't even aware he had said it. There was a tremor in his tone and it almost sounded plaintive. But still he forced himself to view the sickening spectacle.

After a few more moments Eliot and Kokoro looked up in surprise as Bayman gasped sharply and bent in closer. "Incredible – she got hand out of… but, oh… no – they come for kill now. Please make quick – ! GOD! Holy shit! WOW - amaze! DAMN – NO, he stabbed – Oh Ayane you tried… you tri- WHOA! GOD What a punch! AHH! Now you have knife USE! SHIT! CUT HEAD OFF! Killed that other fuck with - Oh my god that bastard is - NO! Yes! Holy GOD Yes! How can she possibly stand i-! No – Oh no… you have to stop him – YES - WOW! What a throw! Dropped that god damn rat-fuck! Oh shit – it's... oh shit, it's over He's going for door now – NO! Huh? He locked he's coming back… he he's going to throw. CHICKEN SHIT – NO – God Damn it! She's come too far DAMN IT DAMN IT TO FUCK-HELL… She's, she's…SHE CAUGHT IT! She caught the FUCKNG knife! Kill him kill that FUCKER! NO! GODDAMMIT - She missed – oh no…Wait – OH WOW! OH WOW! Мой Мелкий бес!"

Bayman continued to watch gripping both sides of the table glaring into the blue light of the monitor.

"Come on, come on, come on – you can do it! Yes! Come onnnnnnn…Hurry – hurry! Don't stop! Keep going yes… yes…"

He was surging forward and leaning backward and moving from side to side. Eliot and Kokoro looked at each other with wide eyes and then back at Bayman as they wondered what he was seeing unfold on the screen.

Finally, looking up over the camera's monitor at Eliot and Kokoro, Bayman's tear stained face was beaming. They could feel the joy and pride radiating off him. He slapped the table making the camera bounce and rattle as he said quietly with an awed expression.

"There is no finer warrior."

Eliot and Kokoro sprung to their feet – "Good Lord – Bayman – what are you saying? Did she actually get away?!" Eliot blurted out.

"Yes." Answered Bayman. "She was in big mess though – really bad. She dragged herself off camera. We need to go there – start tracking. We find her before that bastard Kouta!"

Eliot and Kokoro joined him at the table. Kokoro handed Bayman his gun. Bayman smiled at her and patted her cheek. "Thank you Kokoro." Her eyes widened…

Then turning to them both, Bayman said, "One more thing, and I promise this to you – that fucker Kouta – is walking god damn corpse. We kill of him to death." Eliot and Kokoro were nodding their enthusiastic assent, when suddenly a strange voice behind Bayman spoke, gripping their souls and riveting their attention with its icy talons.

"NOBODY touches Kouta…"

They whirled around to find the source of the voice. There was nothing… Then one of the shadows slowly separated itself from the others. It strode powerfully, silently circling the room. Like a huge black lion. It crackled with menace – the air felt intense, heavy. The stone walls of the hall seemed to actually flex…outward. Long rays from the waning light came through the window to reveal a little more detail: intricately worked armor, black as a moonless night, terrifying, smoldering eyes that flashed with the promise of sudden death. The fearsome creature regarded them evenly then finished its sentence.

"…but ME."

It was Ryu. He had seen everything. He was furious.