Part 10

When she first woke up, she tasted blood in her mouth. It made her gag but something was keeping her from spitting the blood out. She tried to work the thing in her mouth out but it wouldn't move.

"Ahhh, you're awake," that cold voice from before said softly from in front of her.

Her eyes flew open to find him directly in front of her. Much too close for comfort. She tried to move away but her head hit a wall causing a wave of nausea to sweep through her. Her head was already spinning. God, what hit her?

"Don't worry, I made sure that Misaki would be able to find us," the guy was saying when he saw the pained expression on her face. "After all… I want him to be able to find what I've done to you."

She let out a muffled scream as he pulled out a throwing knife that began to glow red. Misaki had told her that he used to be part of the Red Clan, but could it be possible that he still retained his powers from then? The thought terrified her almost as much as the look in his eyes. She shrunk back as he inched closer with the glowing blade in his hand until she could go no further and it touched the skin of her face sending sharp, fresh pain through her.

Her eyes watered and she whimpered softly as she felt him slice open the flesh under the blade. The heat from it instantly cauterized the wound so no blood flowed. That was the point. Head wounds bleed a lot and the one he had inflicted on her head still hadn't stopped. There wouldn't be any fun if he cut her and she bled out on him before Misaki could see his work and watch her final moments. Speaking of fun….

Fushimi reached up and untied the gag in the girl's mouth. She let out a gasp when it was finally free and glared up at him.

"What is all of this for?" she asked unable to hide the pain in her voice.

"Why… for Misaki, of course," he replied slicing through the skin of her arm as it hung above her chained to the wall.

She gritted her teeth refusing to scream.

"Ahhh, of course… how stupid of me…," he mumbled setting aside the dagger. "Being Misaki's whore, you would be used to the heat by now, huh? Then if that's the case…." He grinned at her and pulled the saber at his side from its sheath. "Fushimi. Ready for emergency battle," he whispered to the blade.

Sparks danced along the blade and he smiled even wider as he pressed it to her side. Otome jerked against the pain and tasted blood in her mouth.

"C'mon," he whispered poking her again. "Scream for me."

And she did.

/

"Did you find anything, yet?" Misaki snapped for the umpteenth time.

"No, but we're close," Akagi promised as he typed furiously at the keyboard. "Kusanagi-san! Take the next right!"

The van swerved violently nearly throwing Misaki from his seat. Cursing under his breath, he readjusted his hat and stared at the screen showing the picture of Fushimi driving off with Otome. The longer he looked at it, the sicker he got. Both at the smile on his former friend's face and the blood covering his… covering Otome's face.

Focus on getting her away from that crazed monkey, Yata. The rest we can worry about later, he scolded himself.

'Crazed Monkey.' The memory hit Misaki painfully. The two of them breaking into an old, abandoned building. When they were still friends. Before Fushimi turned into a traitor. When they had found the thugs squatting there swapping drugs and began attacking. After the carnage was over and they had escaped into one of the other buildings in the area.

Misaki had laughed as they sat against the wall catching their breaths. His skateboard had a nasty gash on it now, but that was alright. Another memory for him to look back on. He had turned to Fushimi to show him the mark and recall how they fought.

"You really are a crazed monkey, Saru," he had laughed.

Fushimi didn't reply out loud but smiled and reached a hand into his pocket and withdrew a small handful of purple pills.

"Where the-?" Misaki began.

"Swiped them as we were running," Fushimi replied picking up a couple and popping them in his mouth.

"Are you sure you should be taking that shit?" Misaki asked.

Fushimi stared ahead with a glazed look in his eyes. "You gotta try this, Misaki." He held out his hand but Misaki didn't take one.

"I'll pass, thanks," he mumbled awkwardly. "C'mon, I gotta get home. My mom's already ready to kick me out."

"Fuck what she says," Fushimi scoffed. "You gotta stay with me."

Misaki paused for a moment but then stood and picked up his board. "Sorry, but no. I'll see you around, Saru."

In the present, Kusanagi rounded another sharp corner as Akagi shouted out directions. Twice they had to turn around and take another street, but soon enough, they found it. The car Fushimi had taken her in. without a word to the others, Misaki snatched up his board and bat and leapt from the van. He could hear the others shouting at him but their words didn't push past the rage roaring in his ears.

Hold on, Otome, he said silently. I'm coming.