Author's notes: This chapter contains violence.
Chapter 10
Orochi was supporting Kagura during the ride on the elevator. He had placed Kagura's arm over his shoulders and he had his hand on her waist. "Ugh...I feel so dizzy..." Kagura mumbled. "It's okay, we're almost there, you can lie down soon," Orochi said. "Thank you, Orochi..." Kagura said and rested her head on his chest.
Orochi glanced at Kagura, he had coldness in his eyes. Kagura had her eyes closed and her senses were blurry. The elevator made a sound and the doors opened. Two Kuro Orochi's members were standing by the door. Orochi walked Kagura out of the elevator and commanded his men: "Shut down the elevators." Yes, commander!" The men said and followed his orders.
Kagura regained her strength momentarily. "Oh, I feel a bit better now, I think I can walk on my own," Kagura said and smiled a bit. "Good, then follow me Kagura," Orochi said and let go of Kagura. They walked down the hall to a huge double door. Two black cloaked guards were on each side of the door. Orochi gave them a quick nod and the guards opened the doors.
Orochi gestured for Kagura to enter the suite first. Kagura smiled and went inside. "Woah! It's huge!" Kagura said. The first room was a humongous entrance hall. Floors were made of white marble and wallpapers had a baroque styled design on them. In the middle of the hall was a water fountain, it was so big that one could easily wade in the water.
Kagura was slowly walking around the hall and admired everything in it. Orochi entered after Kagura and the guards closed the doors. "Just how big is this thing?" Kagura asked. "Big enough for us," Orochi answered and walked to a small bar carriage. "Are we alone?" Kagura asked and hid her nervousness. Orochi poured himself a drink and hummed to Kagura.
"What about everyone else downstairs? My memory is a little hazy after the explosion," Kagura said. "Don't you worry about that Kagura, me and my guards are here to make sure that no-one gets through that door," Orochi said and gulped down his drink. Orochi slammed his glass on to the carriage and it made Kagura jump a bit. He seems weirder than before... Kagura thought.
Kagura felt her body go weak again. "Ah, Orochi...help me, my legs are going numb again," Kagura said in pain. Orochi walked calmly to Kagura and supported her again. Next to the bar carriage was a purple velvet couch. Orochi placed Kagura on the couch and said: "Sit down here." Kagura did as Orochi said but her body was begging for a more comfy position.
Kagura lied down and she felt like a fish on land. What the hell is wrong with me? Kagura thought and tiredly closed her eyes. "Did I say that you could lie down?" Orochi asked calmly. Kagura opened her eyes and mumbled: "Wha...?" Orochi grabbed Kagura by her dress and said coldly: "I said, sit down." He yanked Kagura into a sitting position.
Kagura felt cold sweat running down her forehead. She was confused about Orochi's harsh behavior. Speaking was difficult, but she wanted to know why Orochi was acting in a strange way. Orochi walked a bit further away from Kagura, but he was still observing her. "Uh...Orochi...huh...what is...why? Kagura managed to mumble.
"You should be having difficulties in speaking, cold sweat, headache and a powerless feeling. Am I correct?" Orochi asked. Kagura felt dizzy and fell on her side, powerless to sit up. Orochi grabbed Kagura's dress pulled her up again. "I told you to sit down!" Orochi hissed.
Kagura's breathing felt heavy and her confusion got even deeper. She mustered up all her strength to hold herself up. "I asked you a question earlier, answer it," Orochi said and began to walk back and forth in front of Kagura. What the hell is happening... Kagura thought. "Uh...maybe...yes..." Kagura said quietly.
"Marvellous, then we are right on track. Those are the symptoms of a special kind of poison. A poison strong enough to subdue a strength of a Yato. I mean you are the daughter of Umibouzu, I know you are strong as hell," Orochi explained and he seemed very pleased. "A poison...what?" Kagura asked as her headache made her vision slightly blurry.
"Don't worry, it will take few minutes for you to regain your ability think and speak properly, there are some things we need to discuss," Orochi said and sat down next to Kagura. Orochi was staring at her like a madman. I'd like to punch that face so much...but I can't even clench my fists. Kagura thought and closed her eyes.
In few minutes, just as Orochi said, Kagura felt her mind clear up. "Are you ready now?" Orochi asked calmly. "Wha...What the hell Orochi? Why are you being so rough? And what pois-" Kagura's flood of questions was cut short by Orochi's quick slap on her cheek. "A simple yes would have sufficed," Orochi said in an agitated voice. Kagura recovered from the impact and went silent from pure shock.
"Now, you'll listen to me and answer all of my questions. Do you understand?" Orochi said and stood up from the couch. Kagura nodded and Orochi walked a bit further away from her. Ok, so he is a crazy person, I just have to wait for my powers to return...then I'll kick his ass all the way to the outer space. Kagura thought.
"Exactly four hours ago, you received a drink in a glass with a word queen painted on it, and you drank it, correct?" Orochi inquired. "Yes," Kagura answered. "It was the moment I had you poisoned. It takes four hours for the poison to take effect and it lasts about six hours or less," Orochi explained. "But why?" Kagura asked.
"You are not allowed to ask any questions, so shut up," Orochi said bluntly and walked closer to Kagura to intimidate her. "No, you can't order me around! Oroch-" Kagura's words were again stopped by Orochi's quick slap. It was a bit harder this time. Kagura didn't say anything else and just stared at Orochi.
"Then, I had my men plant a remote-controlled bomb inside the venue prior to our engagement party. In exactly four hours after your poisoning, I had the bomb explode. This bomb wasn't supposed to kill anyone, just to distract the hounds I hired." This bomb...? Is there other another bomb somewhere? Kagura thought as she felt anger tingle her fingertips.
"And now, I have you here, and all the others are occupied downstairs, looking for the enemy that doesn't exist, quite brilliant don't you think?" Orochi said with a smug voice. Kagura was looking at him seriously, she wasn't going to show him any fear. Orochi leaned closer to Kagura's face. "I asked you another question," Orochi hissed. "Sure, very brilliant," Kagura answered neutrally.
Orochi chuckled victoriously and said: "Even your bodyguard was dumb enough to stay downstairs, he was very easy to manipulate." Go to hell bastard... Kagura thought and breathed heavily. Orochi decided that he needed another drink. As he was pouring a drink for himself, Kagura felt her strength getting even thinner. Her hands couldn't hold her up anymore so she fell down on the couch. Orochi saw Kagura laying down again and huffed. He finished his drink and stomped over to Kagura.
"Hmm, you seem to want to lie down so much, why don't you do just that," Orochi said to a sweating Kagura. He grabbed Kagura by her dress and slammed her on to the hard marble floor. "Lie down where you belong, conniving little bitch!" Orochi roared. Kagura was laying on her back grunting in pain. "Why are you doing this?" She yelled.
At the exact same moment, Sougo had reached the floor 32. His legs were burning and his lungs felt like they couldn't take in enough oxygen. "I can't stop, I have to...huh...I have to save her," Sougo puffed to himself. Exhaustion made him stop for a few seconds. Stupid staircase...stupid gravity...dammit... Sougo thought as he forced his legs to move again.
Orochi approached Kagura with determined steps. He kneeled next to her and reached for something in his pocket. "Do you recognize this, Kagura?" Orochi asked and showed Kagura her missing hair ornament. "Yes, it's mine," Kagura said after examining it for a second. "Hmph...I found it from Okita Sougo's room...under his dresser...what do you have to say to that?" Orochi asked firmly.
Shit... Kagura thought as she was looking into Orochi's flaming eyes. "Yes, I went to see him last night, b-but it's not what you think, we didn't-" Kagura tried to explain. "Stop lying to me!" Orochi yelled. Kagura's eyes were wide from fear. Before Kagura had the change to say anything else Orochi ripped the hooks on her dress. "Prove your words, remove all that make-up from your neck," Orochi ordered and handed her a piece of cloth from his pocket.
Kagura knew she was done for. He's going to see all the marks...shit. Kagura thought. Orochi watched closely as Kagura wiped her exposed neck. When she was done and Orochi saw the amount of red marks on her neck, he went berserk. "I knew it!" Orochi yelled and smashed his fist next to Kagura's face. Kagura squeaked and looked at the hard marble floor cracking from the vigor of his punch.
Orochi turned to stare at Kagura. "And you even tried to lie about this...you have now lied to me and betrayed me. You'll pay for this Kagura," Orochi growled and got up from the floor. Kagura managed to push herself up to a sitting position. "I'm sorry," She said. Kagura understood that she had cheated on Orochi with Sougo, no matter how good it had felt. It still didn't make it ok for him to throw her around the floor.
Orochi kneeled back to Kagura's level. "I don't care about your pointless apologies, so save your breath," Orochi hissed. Kagura didn't know what to say or to do next. Then Orochi took a deep breath and said calmly: "We'll have to get going now, there's a spaceship waiting on the roof." Kagura's jaw dropped. "You aren't dumping me?" She asked.
Orochi chuckled ominously and said: "Oh, no. Of course not. You are going to be my wife and you will bear my children." Kagura tilted her head and looked even more confused. "Hmm, you must be wondering about your punishment. It's quite simple if you think about it. When we board the ship I'm going to blow up this hotel," Orochi said with a dreadful smile. No...so there is another bomb. Kagura thought.
"All your friends and family are going to die because of your little mistake," Orochi said neutrally. Kagura felt anger pulsating through her veins, she wanted to beat him up so badly. Orochi laughed for a second and then he leaned to whisper into Kagura's ear: "...and your precious Okita Sougo will blow up into million little pieces with the rest of them." Kagura's eyes went from angry to furious. Not on my watch bastard! Kagura thought as she felt her powers returning.
Kagura bit Orochi's ear as hards as she could. She was biting like an alligator and Orochi was grunting and trying to push her away. Kagura saw her opportunity to escape. She released Orochi's ear and rolled on her back. Then Kagura kicked Orochi's stomach with both of her legs and he went flying. Kagura jumped up from the floor. "How you like me now asshole?" Kagura gloated and stuck out her tongue.
Kagura ran towards the door but quickly felt the poison's effect taking over again. Dammit, I used too much energy too quickly... Kagura thought as she fell down face first. Orochi was laughing on the floor. "You are definitely going to be the most difficult of my wives," he stated. "Huh? Wives?" Kagura huffed.
Orochi got up still laughing. "Oh, did you think that I, the GREAT OROCHI would waste my life with only one woman. You are so naive," Orochi said. Kagura was speechless. Papi, what have you gotten me into? She thought. "You know Kagura, I'm so glad that I don't have to act as some pathetic sweet man for you. It was so exhausting to charm you..." Orochi said with a wide smile.
Orochi stomped towards Kagura and yelled: "Heh, enough talking! Like I told you earlier, I'm going to show you what it means to be my wife and to betray me!" Orochi kicked Kagura on her side and she slammed against a wall. Kagura grunted and coughed a bit of blood. "That wasn't quite enough," Orochi grinned and walked to Kagura.
Kagura rolled on her stomach and tried to get up. Orochi planted his foot on her back to stop her attempts. "Piece of shit," Kagura grunted. "Oh, such a beautiful woman, but such a foul mouth. We have to work on that," Orochi said and he lowered himself closer to Kagura. He grabbed Kagura's braid and stroked it gently. "Maybe you'll behave better if I discipline you more," Orochi said.
Orochi yanked Kagura's braid to punish her, but to his surprise, Kagura's black hair came off completely. Her long vermillion hair appeared under the black hair. Orochi was speechless for a second as he was processing this unexpected twist. Kagura held her breath and waited for his reaction. "So...Kagura...you really don't take me seriously," Orochi stated neutrally.
Orochi lifted himself up and took his foot off Kagura. Then he grabbed Kagura's hair and yanked her up from the floor. Kagura didn't let out a sound and swallowed the pain. Orochi turned Kagura to face him and said: "Now listen to me, you disrespectful little bitch."
Kagura was a fearless Yato and no-one was going to speak to her like that, so she spat on his face. Orochi's ego was hurt once again and he was enraged. "You don't seem to understand the situation you're in," Orochi hissed and kneed Kagura on to her stomach. Then he forcefully threw her across the room. "This is only the beginning of the rest of your miserable life!" Orochi roared.
Sougo kicked in the door leading to the top floor. He was huffing and puffing like crazy. Two of Orochi's guards spotted Sougo and they were about to report it to others. Sougo made a lightning-fast attack and both guards were down. He was now in total killing mode. Sougo fought off every single guard on the hall (six in total) on his way to the suite door.
Sougo heard Kagura's painful scream. "KAGURAA!" Sougo yelled and charged at the double doors. Orochi was choking Kagura up against a wall with one hand. Kagura was trying to wiggle out with all her might which wasn't much at the moment. Sougo pushed the doors open and entered into the suite. As he saw a roughed up Kagura, his rage grew uncontrollable. "LET GO OF HER!" Sougo howled to Orochi.
Orochi turned to look at Sougo and laughed. "As you wish boy," Orochi said and let go of Kagura. She thudded on the hard floor and gasped for air. Sougo gritted his teeth and pointed his bloody katana to Orochi. "Boy, you are smarter than I thought...but worry not, I always have a backup plan," Orochi said. Kagura was looking beaten up and she coughed blood again.
Orochi walked away from Kagura and went to sit on the velvet couch that was on the other side of the room. Sougo moved towards Kagura, but he kept his focus on Orochi. He was just sitting casually on the couch, staring at Sougo. Kagura's blurred vision started to clear up. She saw a familiar and comforting uniform approaching her.
Kagura was sitting on the floor and leaning against a wall. Sougo kneeled to check up on Kagura's condition. He cupped her cheek with one hand and stroked her slightly. "Kagura, I'm sorry I left you with him, but I'm here now," Sougo whispered softly. Kagura's vision came back and she saw Sougo. He came for me... Kagura thought and smiled.Orochi was observing the situation silently from afar. He cracked his knuckles and grinned like a crazy person.
"Sougo...he knows...he knows about us," Kagura whispered. Sougo saw her exposed neck and vermillion hair. "Yeah, I figured that much," He said and withdrew his hand. "Stay put, I have some killing to do, I'll be quick," Sougo said and was about to get up.
Kagura grasped Sougo's jacket to halt him. Sougo glanced at Kagura. "Wait...Sougo listen to me, you have to get out of here. Orochi is going to blow up this building and kill everyone in it. If you leave now, you can save everyone. Just leave me behind, I'll be fine," Kagura said without hesitation. Sougo had a shocked look on his face.
"Don't look so shocked, I'm sure you can get everyone out in time. Just go," Kagura said. Sougo kneeled again and looked Kagura straight into her eyes. His eyes were fierce and determined. "Do you really think, that I would leave you behind?" Sougo asked. Kagura felt her eyes getting wet.
"I'm serious, you have to go befo-," Kagura's words were stopped by Sougo's finger on her lips. "I'm not leaving without you, so just accept that Kagura," Sougo said firmly. Kagura felt his words hit her soul and core. "That's quite enough!" Orochi said loudly. Sougo sprang up and turned on his feet quickly. Orochi got up from the couch.
Sougo was about to inform Hijikata about Orochi's plan, but he noticed his radiophone was missing. Dammit, I must have dropped it on my way here...I just have to finish him off quickly. Heh, it will be my pleasure, Sougo thought and readied his katana. Orochi walked a few steps closer to Sougo and yielded his umbrella. Sougo took few steps too and the tension in the room kept growing. Kagura's heart was beating faster as she was looking at the inevitable clash of two bloodthirsty hunters.
Orochi laughed and began to shoot at Sougo. As a rival of Kagura, Sougo was no stranger to dodging and deflecting bullets. After one round of bullets, Orochi laughed again. Sougo was about to launch his attack but he was caught off by Orochi's loud whistle. After a few seconds the room was filling with Kuro Orochi members. They were hiding inside the suite all along, waiting for their commander's sign.
Couple members entered from the suite's front doors. Kagura was watching in horror as the number of enemies was getting overwhelming. Sougo's face didn't waver, he was only watching that no-one was getting too close to Kagura. "Lock the doors!" Orochi ordered. Last members to enter the room bared the door with an iron pole. Sougo was standing in front of Kagura and they were surrounded by Kuro Orochi's finest men.
"I want to kill him, subdue him for me, now!" Orochi commanded. Few men charged at Sougo immediately, all were armed with umbrellas. This wasn't the first time Sougo was outnumbered. Few dodged swings and quick slashes, his opponents were down. Sougo was unharmed and ready for more. Orochi chuckled a bit and ordered another attack.
After each wave Sougo survived, Orochi sent more men at the same time. Sougo began to take hits. He didn't let out a sound if he was hurt, but Kagura didn't miss a single hit. This is really bad and I can't do anything to help. He can't go on like that forever. Kagura thought and kept watching Sougo's back.
Orochi was growing impatient with the persistent devil called Okita Sougo. "Enough!" Orochi yelled. His men stopped their attacks and waited for another command. "Heh, finished already? I was just getting started," Sougo chuckled and licked blood from his katana with a sadistic glow in his eyes. Orochi laughed and shook his head. "No boy, I'm just a busy man," he said.
Orochi pointed his umbrella at Sougo and commanded: "On my count, shoot him!" Every member pointed their umbrella at Sougo and they were ready to fire. Orochi grinned arrogantly. "No stop! Orochi! You have me, let him go!" Kagura screamed. "No, I'm not going anywhere!" Sougo grunted to Kagura. "Oh, how sweet, you two really care for each other. This is just perfect. Kagura, I hope that you'll remember this for the rest of your life!" Orochi laughed.
"On the count of three," Orochi ordered. "1!" Everyone loaded their weapons and aimed at Sougo's head. "2!" Sougo gripped tightly on his katana. Kagura covered her eyes with her hands. "Kagura! Look at him as he dies," Orochi commanded. So she did, Kagura looked at Sougo with a heavy heart and she felt hot tears running down her cheeks. Sougo glanced at Kagura and mouthed: "Don't cry." Orochi laughed manically.
Orochi opened his mouth ready to utter the number three and shoot. Before he could do that the suite door exploded. After the smoke screen cleared out, few familiar faces entered the suite. "Gin-chan! Shinpachi!" Kagura yelled. Gintoki, Shinpachi, Hijikata, Katsura, Elizabeth, Tsukuyo, Sarutobi, and Otae made their entrance into the battle. Kagura sighed in relief. Everything's going to be alright now. She thought.
"What the hell is this?" Orochi roared. "We smelled something fishy and we came to take out the trash!" Gintoki announced with a smirk. As Gintoki saw a beaten up Kagura he entered in beast mode and pointed his blade at Orochi. "Kill all of them!" Orochi commanded. So Kuro Orochi and Kagura's rescue team clashed. Hijikata made his way to Sougo and they fought covering each other's backs.
"How did you know to come here Hijibaka-san?" Sougo asked in the middle of the battle. "Well, I saw you running downstairs and you dropped your radiophone, I got worried and suspicious. The Yorozuya had their doubts about Orochi, so we restarted the elevators and came up here," Hijikata explained.
"Great, the elevator would have been nice... Umm, Hijikata-san, why do you have terrorists with you?" Sougo inquired and cut down an enemy. "They insisted that they wanted to help save the Yorozuya girl. Katsura used his explosives to break through the suite doors. After this rescue mission I'm obviously going to arrest them," Hijikata said. Sougo laughed and said: "Heh, no you won't. I'm going to arrest them and take all the glory. Finally, the vice commander's position will be mine!"
"You damned brat!" Hijikata hissed at a grinning Sougo. "Anyway, do me a favor and command an evacuation, that asshole has another bomb," Sougo said. "Copy that," Hijikata said and ordered everyone through his radiophone. Orochi was looking at his men falling down everywhere. He was getting angrier by the second.
Sougo fought his way towards Orochi and he saw Gintoki aiming for the same thing. As they both were facing Orochi, Sougo stated with a determined voice: "He's mine, Danna." Gintoki glanced at Sougo and recognized his look. There was nothing that could change his mind about this. "I see, this time I allow it Sugar-kun," Gintoki said confidently. Oh for fucks sakes Danna... Sougo thought and shook his head.
Gintoki moved to fight elsewhere. Sougo and Orochi were staring at each other and no-one else was going to meddle this fight. Sougo smirked and attacked. His strikes were fast, sharp, and strong. He wasn't going to let Orochi make any attacks, he could only block. Orochi felt like he was getting overpowered by a mere human.
Kagura was looking at the fierce fighting happening all around her. She saw Otae, Tsukuyo, and Sarutobi running towards her. "Kagura-chan! Are you okay?" Otae yelled. Sarutobi and Tsukuyo were covering Otae as she checked on Kagura. "I've been better," Kagura answered and felt really happy to see all her loved ones there, fighting for her. As Kagura got up with Otae she saw Orochi and Sougo clashing. Beat him up really good, sadist. She thought.
Orochi couldn't get a single opening to attack, but then he saw a foolproof opportunity, the only thing that could distract Sougo. Orochi pointed his umbrella at Kagura who was watching his and Sougo's fight. No, he's going to shoot Kagura. Sougo thought and prepared to cover her. Orochi shot once and Sougo easily deflected the bullet. As Sougo was protecting Kagura he left his sides open. Orochi saw that his plan worked and he made his move.
Orochi launched a kick to Sougo's left side. It made him fly into the water fountain. "No!" Kagura screamed and tried to move her and Otae towards Sougo. "Kagura-chan, we have to get you out of here," Otae said firmly and pulled Kagura towards the door. Sougo grunted and got up from the shallow water. Orochi stomped closer to Sougo as he got out of the water fountain. Sougo was soaking wet and he tasted blood in his mouth. Dammit, he used Kagura as a diversion. Sougo thought.
*bang* 1st shot
Orochi shot Sougo on his right arm. Sougo dropped his katana and lost his right arm's mobility temporarily. "Dammit..." Sougo hissed. Orochi grinned with pleasure. Sougo lifted his katana with his left arm and prepared his battle stance. I can manage with my left arm. Sougo thought. Kagura was looking at Sougo and felt so useless. I have to help him somehow. She thought and gritted her teeth.
*bang* 2nd shot
Orochi shot Sougo on his left leg. Orochi was a skillful shooter, he knew where to shoot to make a lot of damage. Sougo dropped his katana from pure pain and he grumbled down on his knees. Orochi laughed like a lunatic. Sougo felt blood gushing out of both wounds. He squeezed his arm's wound and tried to suppress the bleeding. This isn't going so well, Sougo though.
Orochi grabbed Sougo's hair and lifted his head upwards. Sougo's eyes were getting a bit hazy from all the pain and blood loss. Orochi pressed his umbrella's gun on to Sougo's forehead. "This is the end, boy," Orochi stated coldly. Hijikata and Gintoki both saw the dire situation and fought their ways towards Orochi. "No! Sougo! NO!" Kagura screamed.
Kagura fought herself off from Otae's tight hold and forced herself to move towards Sougo. Kagura wanted to run, but she couldn't so she fell down on the floor again. Now she was crawling towards Sougo with tears flooding endlessly. Orochi took a quick glance at Kagura and he felt so satisfied. Sougo's breathing was uneven. Is this really it..? Sougo thought.
Everything felt like it was on slow motion. If this really was his last moment, Sougo wanted his last vision to be Kagura. He saw her desperately crawling and screaming his name. There she is...I really screwed this up...I'm sorry. Sougo thought. He closed his eyes and thought about her radiant smile. I love you Kagura.
*bang* 3rd shot
Blood spattered all over the water fountain, turning it's water crimson red. Sougo's body collapsed on the floor and Kagura's soul-shattering scream filled the entire room.