Title: Gambit

Author: Serpent at Sunset

Pairing: Yamori x OC x Tsukiyama

Rating: T

Fandom: Tokyo Ghoul

Genre: Angst/Romance

Word Count: 2,370

Summary: Some gardens bloom only at night in deep darkness, and someone has finally noticed Natsuki's bud... Yamori x OC x Tsukiyama

Disclaimer: I do not own Tokyo Ghoul.


Of course, Naki didn't want to leave right away. It was just her luck. It seemed that "all that dancing" had given him an appetite.

Though, Natsuki shouldn't care. All prospects of having a decent night had vanished along with the masked man. It was all her fault. She had failed Yamori's test. Now, she would be judged.

Presently, she had to suffer at a clear circular glass table and watch Naki eat. In all truth, she wanted to turn into a pane of glass herself.

Yamori was at her ear in minutes. "Get something. This is a party. Are you on a diet?"

Natsuki could see her reflection in the table below her. She refused to look at him.

Yamori eyed her. "Now."

Natsuki dragged herself to her feet.

"Big bro is taking care of you!" Naki reported brightly. "I guess you're becoming a part of our family."

It was a good thing that she was walking away from him, or she might have laughed in his face.

With Yamori still staring at her from the table, she selected a few finger foods-literally-and was going for a tiny cup of espresso, but instead selected a full glass of blood wine. She would most likely need it at some point tonight.

She immediately began to gobbled down the food upon sitting. Yamori was still staring at her, and he didn't miss a moment even when she swallowed.

Of course, after they rested a bit, Naki wanted to dance again. Natsuki had to surrender to his request. Then, it was time to leave. Yamori's orders. Maybe he was tired, or maybe he couldn't wait to deal with her.

As soon as she slid into the backseat, she just began to laugh. And laugh. It was the first peal of insanity. It had been percolating, but now it was gushing out. She wondered if she was becoming as insane as him. She also wondered if she could stop.

Then again, her life was in sliding into the abyss, and she couldn't stop that.

It was all a game, wasn't it? A game that she was playing with herself. A game that she would lose.

She was still smirking when he entered the limousine. Natsuki had to hold it together, or else risk the accusation of mocking him.

"Are you ready?" Yamori asked suddenly. He was looking out the tinted window.

His words confused her. "Ready for what?"

He snapped his head towards her. "For your punishment."

Whatever awaited her, it certainly wouldn't be funny. She could feel the effects of the wine begin to ebb away like an ocean wave. She clenched her hand into a fist when the car stopped. She was ready. She was prepared. For anything.

Or, so she lied to herself.

The limousine began to move.

Nico was waiting for them at home. He held a mixed drink in his hand.

"Hi, all. Did you have fun? Meet anyone interesting?"

Natsuki had, but she had the feeling her admission wouldn't be welcome.

Natsuki felt a firm pressure around her bicep.

"I need to speak to the woman."

Yamori didn't even look back when he literally ran off with her. Through the living room, down two corridors, and down a flight of steps. The basement. Of course. Her life was going down after all.

They stopped in front of a secure door.

"You might be...shocked." he warned her.

"I'm sure I will be," Natsuki murmured.

Natsuki had no idea of he heard her or not, but she knew that he could hear her heavy breaths. Yamori was frightening her to death. What the hell could be hiding behind this door?

He unlocked the door with the keypad. 1-2-8-3-1-5. What the numbers stood for, she didn't know.

As soon as it opened, he shoved her through roughly, and she ended up on the ground. Psychopath. She groaned before she got up and dusted her dress off. Natsuki wondered if she should bother. He might just knock her down again.

The first thing that registered was a chair that stood out like a solitary island. Heavy chair chains dangled from it. Below her feet, the floor was a sea of black and white squares. It succinctly reminded her of Yamori's checkered psyche. The white was dangerous fire and maybe black was safe, or was the black his darkness and white was whatever goodness remained inside him? Natsuki wasn't sure. She was a dancer, not a psychiatrist.

Natsuki stood frozen in place as it slowly dawned on her was this place was. This place was...wrong. The air echoed around her. It was too heavy. She heard Yamori's foot steps clicking as he moved slowly towards her.

"Are you afraid?" he asked her almost gently.

Natsuki didn't let her guard down. He was going to try something.

"Should I be?" she retorted.

Before she even realized it, he had pressed her against the wall before slamming his fist against it. Boom. Natsuki swore that the foundation of the house shook. She was surprised that he hadn't punched a hole in it. If she wasn't careful, the next thing struck would be her face.

"Yes!" he raged.

Shit.

He was on the verge. The verge of mindless destruction.

"Then I am," she replied almost automatically.

She had always been prepared to fight him. Natsuki had even been contemplating it back in the sewer before everything had went wrong, but she could see right now how that fight would have ended up: thrown to the ground and most likely cannibalized. She could already feel that he was stronger than her. Natsuki couldn't loosen his grip on her.

"Good," he replied with approval. "Do you like it? It's not like the ballroom, but I created this place myself."

"And...w-w-what is this place?" She was literally fighting for breath. He was practically looming over her.

His smile was slow and wicked. "Welcome to my hobby room. It's not done. I'm still...decorating."

The term "torture chamber" was more accurate. The smell of antiseptic lingered in her nostrils. This place must have been cleaned often. It was obviously moderately or heavily used.

"I have a bigger room elsewhere, but this is what I must use here."

"Torture is entertainment?" she retorted. "A hobby?"

Yamori threw back his head and just laughed. She wondered if he was even listening to her as she remained pinned against the wall like a red and black butterfly.

"I thought that you would like it. Seems that I was wrong. I keep getting the feeling that you're the type of girl someone has to impress. Guess you need a fancy asshole. Like at that damned party."

Well, Yamori had the "asshole" part right. Still, Natsuki was aware that this conversation was going into dangerous territory.

Natsuki looked down. "There was someone that I was interested in."

A lifetime ago.

"Too bad for him." Yamori was bemused. "I knew that you had a shining prince somewhere. Probably want him to save you right now. Tell me, who is he? I might know him."

She shook her head. Yamori wasn't worthy of that information.

"You know that i can make you tell me anything," Yamori snarled. "You can believe me on that point. Shall I demonstrate? I bet you'd last only twenty minutes."

It was almost like pillow talk. In Yamori's case, pain was probably equivalent to sex. His eyes burned red. The ghoul inside him was rising.

Natsuki closed her eyes. "Tsukiyama Shuu."

And so the secret was out. To someone like Yamori. Her heart moaned in betrayal. Natsuki only felt the deepest shame for herself. But, it was the truth, and that was all Yamori wanted to hear.

Not missing a beat, he sidled up behind her shoulder. All Natsuki could hear was the echo of the her own breathing.

"Who's that asshole?" he snarled. "Oh, right, I think I know. That gourmand. Do you think he's out there looking for you? Huh? Huh?"

He was starting to get aggressive. She wanted to reply, but she knew that her voice would fail her. Yet, she had to respond. She swallowed hard.

"No," she managed.

Now, Natsuki could finally saw the truth like the moon before it was hidden behind a cloud. After a minute or two, one had to doubt if it was even there at all. Had Tsukiyama ever returned her interest?

No, she decided at last. Even if she had decided too late.

"He doesn't even know that I'm alive," she confessed in a whisper.

"And, you're here alone now," Yamori informed her. "Lover boy isn't here, is he?"

Yamori was just...overwhelming. She turned her gaze away. She wondered if Tsukiyama could even take on Yamori. He probably could. He was far more spry on his feet and more delicate. Yamori would trip over his own feet just trying to throw a swing at him.

Out of curiosity, she dared to cast a glace at a dark table nearby sticking out from the shadows, and could feel her blood start to curdle the dark table. The surface was covered with implements designed to cut, pierce, and stab. The pliers in particular gleamed. Natsuki was sure that the big ghoul polished them himself until they shone. He noticed where she was looking.

"Now, I could just stash you there and make you ruminate over a few things...

All she could do was pray that he would change his mind. If he didn't, her blood would be staining his immaculate tools.

"...but Naki would wonder what happened to you." He suddenly grabbed her cheek and inspected her.

Sh caught his gaze and almost trembled. No, she couldn't fall apart now. She had to be like steel. However, with enough force, even steel could break.

Twisted. Yamori was twisted. But, then, he might would consider that a compliment.

"See...Naki's taken a liking to you."

Natsuki was all too aware that she was trapped between his powerful arms. Trapped against the wall, she followed him with her eyes and watched as he licked his lips. As she watched, he dropped himself to her height. He really was as big as a mountain.

"He likes the idea of having a 'mother', and I don't like denying my boy what he likes or wants."

Yamori lingered on that word, and Natsuki watched the thoughts lurking behind his eyes. She couldn't discern them.

Well, she would take the challenge. Natsuki wasn't going anywhere. She would make herself cozy here like a cat in a patch of sunlight.

There was no room hoping and wishing and praying for rescue. No one could guess where she was let alone Tsukiyama. This was where she lived now. Unless Yamori changed his mind.

"Come on. It's time to go to bed."

She wondered if he was going to carry here there himself, but thankfully, he didn't. Not that she could have stopped him if he would have chosen to.

As usual, Naki was full of questions when they returned.

"Where were you? Is mom all right?"

"Natsuki isn't your-" Yamori started.

Naki stared.

Yamori sighed. "She's fine. We just needed to talk, my boy."

So, Yamori didn't want to deflate his hopes in any way. To survive, she could always play up to Naki. After all, who could blame her?

Finally, Yamori left her in peace in her room. The door had even been left open. It was a mental game. Trying to escape would be cowardice. If he let her succeed that is...

Though sheer force of will, she remained in bed with her breath ruffling the sheets.

There was no better option, or so she told herself. She would never walk Tokyo again safely with the promise of Yamori around every corner if he pursued her.

Was it truly better to leave her old life behind? And if she did, could she ever return to it?

Natsuki turned over in bed to stare at the wall.


That went well in Yamori's opinion.

Those wide doe eyes were probably all an act, but what mattered is that he had her where she wanted him. Sometimes, you didn't need physical bonds to mentally trap someone.

If he was still unhappy, she would be in his chair right this moment. Well, that opportunity would always exist in the future.

He had let her go almost as an act of mercy. She had better not disappoint him. Even he had no idea how this would develop. That's what excited him the most. So far, she was doing well. Natsuki knew better than to test him. She was a woman that knew her place. He wondered who had raised her so well. Perhaps herself.

As much as he had wanted her out crying out from the ministrations of his tools, he could stand waiting. She could prove her loyalty, and he could see with his own eyes if she was even worth being a subordinate. It might be nice having a secretary.

He already knew that he would be all she would be thinking about tonight. How the mind of the prey worked was an infinite fascination for the predator...

Yes, this would be a a lesson in control. After all, he was testing her. He wondered if she would pick up on that, or if she already had.

Amongst his thoughts, he listened to the silence. It haunted him Yamori liked to hear voices. Quiet made him feel...abandoned. Some classical music or even just a few screams worked just as well. He had always had a desire for...appreciation. It had started with his mother, but now he demanded it from everyone that crossed his path. Whether they wanted to give it or not.

He bent his fingers until he head the knuckle crack. The sound echoed off the walls. There. Better.

He couldn't help but wonder if she would ever ask why he was the way he was. How he would love to entertain her. Could he expect sympathy? If she wanted to try to figure him out, she would have to bring it to the surface at her own peril.

Soon, he would know if she desired the chase as much as he did...


A/N: I meant to have this out sooner. :/ Well, it's all out in the open now. Yes, the keypad password is Naki's and Yamori's birthdays. Yamori's and Natsuki's interactions will begin to change, and this fic could raise in rating to an M. Thanks to everyone who followed, favorited, and reviewed!