-11- Until Death
A smile still on her face, Amu casually walked towards Ikuto. She reached behind him for the locks and with her keys, she unchained him, never letting his eyes stray from hers. She hadn't felt this ecstatic for ages and the thrill within her only built up with each passing second. I've got you where I want you Ikuto, Amu thought, what are you going to do now? I can't wait to find out.
As though he was able to read Amu's mind, Ikuto also smiled and mocked, "You won't want to find out, the things I'm capable of and am going to do." He hissed into Amu's ears, "Because when you do find out, it'll be the end of you."
"Right now, you're not very convincing," Amu said confidently, but her smile faded.
"Don't let your guard down against me," Ikuto warned. He took the keys and moved passed Amu towards Kukai.
Running her fingers through her long pink hair, Amu stood watching Ikuto untie and wake Kukai, her expression becoming emotionless.
Quite a distance away, Nadeshiko held onto Yaya's arm firmly, stopping her from doing anything rash. She too eyed Ikuto with frustration.
"I don't like him," Yaya uttered, "he's too arrogant and to act so rudely before the Boss is just unforgivable."
"Bear with it Yaya," Nadeshiko whispered, "The Boss made it clear that he was a part of her plans."
"I can't see his worth to her," Yaya muttered truthfully.
Neither can I, Nadeshiko thought, if only I knew what the Boss was planning. "Oh, he's awake again," Nadeshiko noted, her attention on Kukai now, who to her still looked very drowsy and confused.
A shocked expression appeared on Kukai's face now and he was wide awake. He constantly looked from Ikuto to Amu, still unable to comprehend what he was just told.
Before Kukai could say anything, Ikuto grabbed hold of him, pulling him close. He whispered to Kukai, making sure Amu wouldn't be able to hear, "I had no choice but to form an alliance with Amu. This time, she was the one with the upper-hand."
Kukai took in a deep breath to calm himself, "she threatened you with my life didn't she?" There was silence as Ikuto didn't answer but Kukai knew, he realised. He could never forget the desperate and despair feeling he felt when he first set eyes on Amu. She's the leader of a criminal group, Kukai thought, she's dangerous. There's no way, for even Ikuto to match up to her…Is there really no other option but to play along with this alliance?
"Have you two finished catching up?" Amu questioned, tilting her head to one side as she looked at the two. "If you're done, I need to confirm the alliance."
"Confirm," Ikuto repeated, "there's no need to sign a contract over this. I swear I never go back on my words."
"You're forgetting we do things differently in the underworld," Amu clarified, "you don't mind do you?"
"Do as you please," Ikuto permitted.
"Then we'll begin the confirmation immediately," Amu said quite enthusiastically. She turned towards Nadeshiko and Yaya, "take us up."
"Yes Boss," both Nadeshiko and Yaya replied. Entering the lift, Yaya pressed a few buttons before stepping back into the room as the lift doors closed. A metal plate descended, first sealing off the tiger so that it was completely out of sight, then the room seemed to roar as a strange mechanical noise echoed.
"What's going on?" Kukai questioned as the room began to shake. From instinct, he immediately stood in front of Ikuto.
"Relax," Ikuto said, "don't do anything."
Kukai turned to look at a carefree and calm Ikuto; he could only nod in response. It was quick but Kukai could swear that he glimpsed a smile on Ikuto's face. I see, Kukai thought, taking a closer look at an unfazed Ikuto, before relaxing himself. I shouldn't be worrying about Ikuto's safety but what it is he wants to do. He's scheming something.
The walls surrounding them started to move away, now detached from the floor that slowly began to rise upwards towards the ceiling. Kukai stared as the ceiling began to open, a bright whiteness blazing their eyes and an obvious ringing in their ears of different voices – a gathered crowd. Steadily the floor carrying the five of them ascended until they were now in another room, surrounded by a rowdy looking horde on either side of them. There was roughly about 500 people, some obviously thugs but others looking more normal and presentable. A loud clicking noise sounded, the floor securely attached to the new platform in the massive room.
The surrounding crowd of 500 immediately fell silent, all kneeling down and shouted clearly, "BOSS, WELCOME BACK."
Two women carrying a chair walked onto the raised platform, where Ikuto, Kukai, Yaya, Nadeshiko and Amu now stood. They placed the chair behind Amu and returned into the crowd as soon as Amu took her seat. Nadeshiko and Yaya stood either side of their boss.
"Stand," Amu said and everyone stood back up.
The room was dead silent despite the number of people present. Two big projector monitors started to descend from the ceiling and it switched on instantly, the face of a man and woman forming upon one of the two screens.
"Welcome back Boss," both Lulu and Nikaidou said in unison on the screen as they looked at Amu.
"It's good to see your doing well," Nikaidou commented, "I was very concerned."
"Boss, why didn't you leave us a message?" Lulu asked as politely as she could, "if you were just going to find Yaya Yuiki then…"
"Enough," Amu said, staring at her two subordinates who were still in Hong Kong. She deliberately flashed a warning look at Lulu to shut her up, "There's no need for either of you to know any details. All you need to know is that I'm alive and well, isn't that right?"
"Of course," both Nikaidou and Lulu answered.
"As our Boss, it's your privilege to choose what to tell and what not, please just understand we care only for your well-being," Nikaidou said, "however, a warning next time would help prevent us from doing anything stupid when we're not in your presence."
"You say pretty things Nikaidou," Nadeshiko couldn't help but comment, "But your words are more arrogant than Lulu's aren't they?"
Nikaidou glanced at Nadeshiko, his poker face on, and keeping quiet.
"You're the arrogant one," Lulu spoke up, giving Nadeshiko a dissatisfied look.
"Getting mad because you're not the one standing here with the Boss Lulu," Nadeshiko taunted.
"Silence," Amu said as a warning.
Lulu, Nikaidou and Nadeshiko immediately fell silent, their attention back on their Boss. Yaya held in her giggle, finding it amusing that the three were in a power-struggle. It was only now that Nikaidou and Lulu had just noticed two strangers standing near Amu; two young man and they didn't look like an underling belonging to Nadeshiko or Yaya. What's more, they look quite a mess, their clothes roughed up and one even has blood-stains on his shirt.
Amu caught the curious expression on her two subordinates face as they examined Ikuto and Kukai with interest. "Nikaidou, Lulu, introduce yourself," Amu commanded, "We have two very important guests here."
"Very well," Nikaidou said with a polite smile. He looked directly at Ikuto from the screen, "my name is Yuu Nikaidou, the first division's lieutenant. A pleasure to meet you sir."
Ikuto just stared at the screen with Nikaidou's face projected on it. His attention immediately shifted towards the second screen as the blonde woman spoke.
"Lulu de Morcerf Yamamoto," Lulu introduced, "a joint lieutenant of the second division."
"I'll be the third division's lieutenant, Yaya Yuiki," Yaya followed up, "the other second division's lieutenant is currently out of commission. You won't meet them."
"Nadeshiko Fujisaki," Nadeshiko said, "the family's adviser. The rest of the people within this room are all underlings belonging to one of the divisions."
There was silence now after the brief introductions of Amu's subordinates. Kukai was slightly overwhelmed by the sheer amount of people and just couldn't bring himself to speak or move. Ikuto on the other hand was rather fascinated by these people. He took a good look at the all of them, Yaya, Lulu, Nikaidou and Nadeshiko. Within those few brief minutes, much like a computer system Ikuto had already analysed each one of them. There was a clear power-struggle going on, all trying to gain more power within the family and Amu's trust perhaps. Yaya was childish but dependable. Nikaidou was the obvious sly fox of the bunch, Lulu being the restless type and whilst Nadeshiko appeared mainly calm, she had a tendency to tease and provoke those around her for amusement. Out of the four, Ikuto thought, the two on the screen should be easier for me to manipulate, though I'll need to observe them a little more, to see if they have the guts to betray Amu…
"So who are you?" Lulu asked staring from Ikuto to Kukai, impatient to wait any longer.
"Wait," Amu said before Ikuto or Kukai can answer. "I'll do the introductions. There's something I wish to announce too."
"To gather all the division's lieutenant here, it must be important," Nikaidou commented.
Amu pointed at Kukai, "the young man over here is Kukai Souma. He's," she pointed at Ikuto now, "that man's subordinate. He isn't very important in all this, so we can forget him."
Kukai clenched a fist, somehow agitated to be treated as something unworthy of attention. He remained quiet and still though, not forgetting Ikuto's order to not do anything but go along with the situation. He was forced to step to the side as Yaya grabbed his arm and pulled him to stand next to her, which he restrained himself from resisting.
Amu stood up, casually walking towards Ikuto, "this man is a part of my important announcement. His name is Ikuto Tsukiyomi, remember it."
"YES BOSS," the entire room echoed as everyone but Kukai and Ikuto replied clearly and loudly.
"Before I announce anything I'll say only one thing," Amu paused making sure everyone was listening, "I've already made up my mind. Do not oppose my decision."
Another clear "YES BOSS," rang throughout the room.
Now standing next to Ikuto, Amu smiled, raising her left hand in the air, she took off a ring she was wearing on her fourth finger. It was an intricately designed ring that was shaped as a twin-headed flying eagle, a bloody almandine for the eye of the right eagle's head and an opaque onyx for the left. It was a mesmerising design that Ikuto had never seen before, the more you stared at it, the more one felt as though the eagle was glaring into your soul. It captured Ikuto's attention so much that he didn't realise until a few seconds later that everyone in the entire room had knelt down again. Kukai was also kneeling on the floor struggling to stand up but Yaya Yuki seemed to be holding him down. That ring is, Ikuto figured, the symbol of the Hinamori group, the identification of the Boss.
"Today, I want to make an oath with this ring before all members of my family," Amu began. She pulled the ring apart so that one became two. The twin-headed eagle was now two separate eagle rings. She turned to face Ikuto, looking straight into his eyes and gently took his left hand. "Swearing my life upon this ring, I, Amu Hinamori the 13th Boss of the Hinamori group declare that from this moment on, I am Ikuto Tsukiyomi's wife until my death."
This is, Ikuto breathed, his eyes wide from shock. It was the first time that he felt overwhelmed by something, and it wasn't this marriage pledge, it was of Amu and her seriousness, her intensity. She's for real, Ikuto thought, fuck, which part of this is fake? No, Amu is…bring it on…
Ikuto wasn't the only one shocked though. There was a clear shout from Nikaidou, "wait a minute, BOSS, what's going on?"
"That's right," Lulu joined Nikaidou, "we know nothing of this man and don't we have arrangements with the Hotori…"
"I said clearly not to oppose me," Amu warned, turning her head to glare at the two on the screen. "I am determined to become this man's wife. Nothing will stop me."
"But the arrangement with-" Nikaidou tried to continue.
"YUU NIKAIDOU," Nadeshiko shouted to prevent Nikaidou from protesting further. She stood up, "you have no right to question the Boss's decision. Know you're place. I give my full support of this marriage."
"As of me," Yaya said, standing up, pulling an annoyed Kukai up with her.
"How could you as the family's adviser approve of such a thing when you know…."
"I will also support the Boss's decision."
"Even you too Lulu," a surprised Nikaidou said looking at Lulu.
"Do you really want to oppose the boss?" Lulu questioned.
Nikaidou bit his lips to calm himself down. "I'm sorry Boss. I was just shocked but I will give you my blessings."
"A wise decision," Amu commented, "does anyone else oppose?" Amu took the silence as an agreement to her new marriage announcement. She squeezed on Ikuto's left hand, continuing what she started, not regretting her decision. "Ikuto Tsukiyomi, as your wife I will not betray you and I'll pledge my life to you, in return, you are to never die by another's hand but mine. Your answer?"
Ikuto remained quiet. He took the almandine eagle ring from Amu and grabbing her left hand, he slid it onto her fourth finger. "I accept. Become my wife Amu Hinamori," he answered clearly, a confident smile spreading across his face. "I'll also swear my life upon this ring and in front of all these witnesses. I, Ikuto Tsukiyomi, declare that from this moment on, I am Amu Hinamori's husband until my death. I will not betray you and I'll pledge my life to you, in return, you are to never desire of killing another man but me. Your answer?"
Amu smiled, holding out the ring still in her other hand, "I accept." Ikuto stretched out his fingers and she placed the onyx eagle ring on his forth finger. Entwining her fingers in Ikuto's, Amu raised their hands in the air, the two eagles glaring down upon all as a symbol and she declared, "This marriage is now official."
"Not quite," Ikuto interjected, lowering their hands. "I'm not satisfied with the way things are."
"What do you mean?" Amu questioned almost glaring at him. What he is playing at now, she wondered. "You already accepted."
Ikuto turned to look at the crowd, "I'm sure your underlings aren't very satisfied either." A cunning smile formed on Ikuto's face, "to me, pledge one more thing Amu Hinamori. Pledge that I am your equal."
There was gasps in the room now, even Nadeshiko and Yaya were staring with surprise at Ikuto's demand. Kukai on the other hand simply let out a sigh, already used to Ikuto's outrageous suggestions in dire situations, such as this.
"What is that man thinking?" Lulu hissed.
Nikaidou remained quiet and observed Ikuto carefully.
"No other person in this world will be your equal but me," Ikuto said loudly and clearly, "until death, I am you're most trusted ally but at the same time, I am also you're biggest enemy. What do you say Amu Hinamori?"
"I knew there was no way you would allow me to pull all the strings," Amu began, considering Ikuto's words carefully. "I admit we're very similar but right now, you're not equal to me. Earn the right to be." Amu said seriously now, "I promise you I won't allow anyone else to take that position. You are the only one to be my ally and enemy."
Satisfied with Amu's response, Ikuto bit his lips so that it bled before pulling an unexpected Amu in towards him. With one hand on her waist and the other holding her head, Ikuto kissed Amu with his bloody lips. At first Amu was a little taken back by Ikuto's sudden action but the taste of his blood in her mouth excited her. Wanting to taste more, she began to lick the red liquid directly from his wound, not noticing fast enough that Ikuto had his teeth on her lower lip. Amu held in a scream from the pain of being bitten by Ikuto – now it was his turn to taste her blood. After he was content, Ikuto pulled away from Amu, a smug smile on his face, "Amu Hinamori, remember the taste of the man that you want to kill and never forget it until your death." He licked his lips stained with both their blood as though to mock her, "This is an unbreakable blood contract between us." His smile got bigger now as he leaned in and said, "It's me who's got you this time." Taking Amu's hand, he raised it in the air, the two rings seemed to shine as he announced, "Our marriage is now complete and official."
"Ikuto Tsukiyomi, you…" Amu began but her voice was drowned out by the sudden applause and cheering from the crowd that filled up the entire room.
In unison, all of Amu's underlings shouted, "CONGRATULATIONS BOSS, NEW MASTER."
This guy, Amu recollected, noting the change of attitude in her minions towards Ikuto. He kissed me on purpose, showing his daring and confident nature, he easily earned everyone's respect…Ikuto, you really are not simple….
"We'll be in your care new master," Yaya, Nadeshiko, Lulu and Nikaidou all said.
Standing next to Yaya, Kukai watched silently. This is no marriage, he thought to himself. He stared at the scene before him, with Ikuto and Amu standing next to each other. He let out a small gasp, a strange image suddenly conjured up in his mind. He quickly shook his head and dismissed it. That image is just amiss. His gaze returned to Amu and Ikuto, today, I've just witnessed a declaration of war between two cunning devils.
Amu gripped hardly onto Ikuto's hand, slightly agitated that Ikuto got the last word. She was beginning to doubt that she ever had the upper-hand over him. Amu let their hands down, and gave a clear command to dismiss everyone in the room. All of her, now partly Ikuto's subordinates too, left the room.
"Have a good night Boss, new Master," both Lulu and Nikaidou said, the screens turning a solid black as it switched off.
"Shall we get going," Amu said, pulling Ikuto out the room. Kukai followed behind them.
Once Nadeshiko was sure Amu was a good distance away, she whispered to Yaya, "There was a rat mixed in with your underlings. Catch it." Nadeshiko then followed Amu out the room.
Yaya stretched her arms before dashing out the room in the opposite direction to Amu and the others. I know there was a rat, Yaya thought, easily running through her still dispersing underlings. She took a short cut and waited in the seldom used corridor, already knowing the rat would show up there. When I catch you, you'll be sorry. Don't think I'm nice enough to allow trespassers. Yaya waited and her heart began to race with excitement as she heard footsteps walking towards her. She peered out of the corner and saw a cloaked person. Found you, Yaya thought, reaching in her pocket for her hand-gun. She stopped though as the cloaked person began to shake and loosing balance, he or she slowly crouched down onto the floor, their hand leaning on the wall for support. Even from a distance, Yaya could hear that person's heavy panting and clear sobs. They're crying, Yaya wondered, observing quietly.
The cloak slid off, revealing long blonde hair and a frail looking body that belonged to a pretty young girl.
"That's," Yaya gasped, recognising the person before her. "Why is she here?"
Wiping her tears, the young girl banged her fists on the floor and cursed, "Why, why, why… that marriage won't be recognised. It will never be approved." She clutched at her chest and took in deep breaths, "that man…Ikuto Tsukiyomi, you'll pay for seducing my brother's fiancée. I'll kill you."
"Su Hotori," Yaya muttered in surprise, "why is a Hotori here?"
