AN: same as all authors' notes before

AN: same as all authors' notes before. :D

Chapter 7: Shock Value

I have been here for two days now and things were going well. Toru was only allowed here for 3 hours a day, and he usually didn't stay that long, confident now that I won't tell or make a run for it. Idiot. For my plan to work I was going to have to make a pretend escape, but that will come later, first I had more pressing issues.

One of which was the soldier lying two beds away, watching sappy soap operas on tv. Of course it's the only thing to watch but I had my suspicions he actually enjoyed them. I had been keeping an eye on things and I was right, he was cheating on all 3 women, each not knowing about the other, he somehow managed to get their visiting times different, so they never met each other. This guy was a pro, if I wasn't planning on blackmailing him then I might've asked for some tips.

I had been biding my time, waiting until I could move with relatively no pain. I was pretty good now, the morphine actually contained most of it and I could get up and walk around relatively unhindered. Me and Mr Blake had managed to not talk to each other this whole time. I think he thought I was intimidated by him. I would laugh but the morphine can't control all the pain. I had seen way worse then Mr Army man, in fact I see him every day for at least an hour. An hour a day of solid but quietly said threats (inwardly sighs dramatically) it was an amusing hour to say the least, each time Toru got even more creative and ever more absurd.

Pushing myself off the bed I winced slightly, but that was the extent of my pain, finally my thoroughly thought out plan was beginning. Just had to get it kicked off and then this show would be on the road. Walking confidently down the aisle Blake's gaze swung from the tv and to me, he was well trained, I hadn't made a sound yet he still knew I was coming.

'Watcha want kid?' He asked, his voice still gruff, but I could now hear the underlying sound, what his voice would be like if it wasn't damaged by all the shouting, probably. Grinning at him I watched his eyes widen at his first glimpse of my fangs. Ahh, the wonders of shock value, already his mental guard was dropped, I let the grin widen before saying confidently:

'Your gun.' His gaze snapped from my mouth to my eyes, his expression incredulous until finally his eyes crinkled at the side with blatant amusement.

'You want my gun? You gotta be kiddin' me kid, there aint no fuckin' way I would jus hand it over. Them things'r dang'rous.' He smiled, trying to tell me he understood my joke. Yeah. Right.

'It's either give me your gun or I'll tell my friend, Ms Blake, that your are cheating on her with two wonderful women, both of which were wonderful enough to give me their names and addresses.' His eyes widened before they narrowed dangerously, or what would be dangerously if I didn't know he didn't have the guts to actually harm me. I smiled at him like one friend to another, which just seemed to infuriate him further.

'Oh yeah. Wat'r you gonna do with it kid? Threaten someone? I can't give it over, it'll get me in trouble with the high'r ups.' I shook my head.

'I'm not going to threaten someone.' I looked him in the eyes so he could see the truth, his eyes had the deep look again as he read me, or what I allowed him to read anyway.

'Wat'r you gonna do with it, then?' I looked him in the eyes and responded calmly,

'Shoot someone.' He started laughing, I understood the reaction, but seeing my serious expression his turned sober.

'So who'r you gonna shoot, an' why?' I walked around the bed and stood just out of reach, like I said, most of the time I'm not stupid.

'Someone I know,' I shrugged my shoulders, 'and because he has raped me continuously for the past week or two.' His eyes widened and he looked me over taking in my broken but healing body.

'He do tha to you?' He indicated with a nod of his head, glancing down I noticed the healing bruises visible on my arms and legs, I didn't even want to know what damage was on my face. I just looked him in the eyes and nodded.

'Ya shoul' go to the police. They handle thi stuff pretty well.' I shook my head and glanced to the door, making sure no-one was going to walk in on us. I hadn't expected him to not react to the blackmail, he was too righteous, he would probably let me call up his wife and tell her, and still not hand over the gun. I, unfortunately, had to appeal to his better nature, which was the only reason I was currently telling him of my situation.

'He would be let out in a couple of years, and then he would come after me. I don't plan on letting that happen. The worst that'll happen to me is going to Juvie Detention centre for a few years.' He seemed to be regarding me, actually taking me seriously.

'An' if I don' give you it back he'll take you back? He'll keep usin' you? You can't run?' I nodded my head each time, best let him come to his own conclusions, too much information could sway him from my goal. His head cocked to the side and I glanced to the door, worried someone might walk in. 'How do I kno' you ain' just fuckin with me? I wouldn' be sprised if you was just wantin' a gun.' I sighed exasperated when suddenly I heard familiar footsteps coming down the hall.

For a second my mind spun back to when I waited in the hallway for him to come, knowing that he was going to beat me, and the other times I sat with him knowing that soon he would attack, wanting to use me. The fear that rushed through me must have showed on my face before I could hide it because Blake's eyes scrutinised me before regarding Toru who stood framed in the doorway.

'What're you doing son?' He asked, walking towards me and Blake, I quickly caught Blake's angry gaze and with a small shake of the head I told him not to do anything. Then rounding on my 'father' I plastered the most loving expression I could onto my face, as if I was acting for Blake,

'I was just talking to the nice man. He's in the army, and I wondered if he broke his leg at war. Isn't it cool, to fight for your country?' Turning my loving gaze into an awed expression I looked back at Blake, his eyebrow was slightly raised as if asking me how long I had been in acting. His expression shifted slightly to a amused one, as if enjoying the adoration of a little kid,

'Sorry mis'er, he jus want'd to know that.' Looking at me he shook his head, as if embarrassed, 'Naw, kid, I broke my leg in trainin', my own comrade tied my rope bad, it came undone halfway down th' course.'

Poor guy, I fought not to grin, that would really suck. Note to self, do not trust anyone, they will always fuck up. Toru looked between us, I cocked my head, as if confused at his hesitancy to believe us, then regarded Blake, pretending to wonder what Toru found so suspicious about him. Toru believed our little act, bending he kissed my forehead as I resisted the urge to pull back, or kick him in the groin, whichever came first.

'Sorry, my little elf, I have to be somewhere. If you need me you know my number.' Leaning forward he whispered into my ear 'Remember, tell anyone and I will hurt you more.' Letting a little fear leak into my expression he noted it and with a satisfied air walked away.

I glared after him, muttering angrily at his back,

'What did I tell you about calling me that? Even if I don't get the gun I will kill you, somehow.' I didn't think it was loud enough for Blake to hear but when I turned around he was watching me, his expression cold. Motioning to the table at his bedside I raised a quizzical eyebrow.

'The guns in there, scratch off the serial num'er with a knife or som'thin'. Kid, don' screw up.' Smiling at him gratefully I opened the drawer and saw a pistol inside, ironically placed right next to the bible supplied next to all hospital beds. Taking it out of the holster my eyebrows raised at how light it was, turning it over in my hands a large hand suddenly took it out of mine. My eyes snapped to Blake's but he merely motioned me forward, and when I was next to him he started showing me how to use it, especially the safety. Taking a coin from his pocket he quickly scratched off the serial number and finally handed it to me.

'Thanks.' He merely nodded, before finishing off with a sentence.

'You won' need more bulle's. If you can' kill em with the 9 in there then you're as good as gone. So count, and don' waste any.' I nodded and then walked back to my bed and calmly placed the gun under my pillow. Finally everything was starting to fall into place. As I once said before, no one messes with Hiruma Yoichi and gets away with it.