AUTHOR'S NOTE: Here is the next chapter...it borders on an M rating for subject matter and language, but nothing you wouldn't see on a cop drama or law and order. Be advised! Enjoy!
Easton eyeballed Naru slyly for a moment before speaking, almost contemplating the words the younger man had said before choosing his own, "Why Mr. Shibuya, whatever do you mean? I am not sure I am understanding the accusation."
Naru stared at him stoically, not blinking. He could feel the others eyes wide and confused, "I think you know very well what I mean, Mr. Walker. You must be exhausted," Easton eyed him cautiously at that point, side glancing the younger girls on the fence as Naru continued, "I could not understand it at first. It was Yasuhara who brought it to my attention. In your original interview you mentioned a common prostitute had been privy to the ranch's original owner. We could not find any evidence of this woman's existence in the records regarding the ranch, however, one name kept coming up over and over again. Yasuhara and my assistant Lin could not understand why the same name would continuously keep popping up over the years."
"Is that so..." Easton smirked heavily.
Yasu's voice suddenly piped up, "Yes. It did take several hours for my brain to understand. The name Kimi Higuraishi repeated over and over again. I found it odd a name would be passed throughout the years so much and then I realized the name did not stand for one woman. It was something much more devious than that," Yasu eyed Mr. Walker in a disgusted way, "Kimi Higuraishi stood as code for a group of women. Although, most of the history is either missing or not there all together, I would gander to guess, Kimi was the first of these women and the mother of the bastard heir to this ranch," Easton was looking at Yasu fully now, almost sizing him up and Yasu smirked continuing, "Of course, I have no proof, but I believe that heir to be of great importance to the problem at this ranch and..."
Easton's eery laughter cut the young man off mid-sentence, "You couldn't leave well enough alone, could you? You couldn't just exorcise the damned spirits and be on your way. They weren't kidding when they said you were a genius Mr. Shibuya," he paused and looked up at Naru, who eyed him calmly, "If you had left well enough alone and taken care of the external problems you wouldn't be as hurt as you are now."
Naru's eyes betrayed him for an instant, but that was all Easton needed to know he had struck a nerve, "The truth is, Mr. Shibuya, you don't like having the underside of the stick. You are not used to being in the dark," He paused tipping his hat back slightly, leaning against the pasture fence post, "Well, let me do a little boy a favor. You want the truth, alright, I will give you the truth. Kimi Higuraishi was a whore. I bloody whore who spread her legs for that damned Fujioka. It was after the birth of her unclean child that Fujioka realized a lucrative business was to be had here. One far more profitable then horses or cattle. It was Kimi's job to recruit young women here," Easton paused and smirked at the other men's reaction, "Well, I shouldn't have to explain their purpose, you seem to be a rather exceptionally smart group of people. The illegitimate son was hidden in the shadows, kept in the dark, but his legacy continued. It passed from unworthy whore, to unworthy whore...until there was me."
Naru sneered internally at the man's derogatory language, it made him sick, "I take it your real name is not Easton Walker then?"
Easton smirked again, "Well aren't you something Mr. Shibuya? Like a prying baby puppy," Easton smiled at Naru's ruffled feathers, "No my name is indeed Easton, but the Walker part was a side, Fujioka would be my real surname," he paused yet again and smirked, "Has a nice ring to it don't you think? It was easy. After all seduction runs in the family. Rika was such a fool...so easy to use. After she was violated it was easy to manipulate her emotions. She was the perfect puppet to bring in merchandise. Killing her ties to the states was a little more difficult, but easy enough. You see Mr. Shibuya, hypnotism can be used for much more then fun and games."
Naru glanced at the three women still standing before them. They had not moved a muscle since the conversation had started. Alice, however, there was something about Alice. There had always been something about Alice which Naru just couldn't place, something off. Suddenly realization hit Naru, "You have been manipulating their minds for months. How much longer do you think you would have before one of them were to break? Alice has been pushing for a while. A person's mind can only be controlled for so long before it breaks."
Easton, smirked again and stood fully walking over to the young man in front of him, "I am quite aware of the repercussions Mr. Shibuya," he reached out roughly and suddenly a hand on the back of Naru swollen and damaged neck. The younger man faltered for a moment before glaring up at the older man, "However, Mr. Shibuya, all do respect I would worry a little less about the women if I were you."
It took Naru a moment to understand what Easton meant before he felt the older man's hand retreat from his neck and he felt a swift blow to his stomach. It had come out of nowhere and the pain was nothing compared to the sudden lack of air he felt. Naru fell to his knees instantly and looked up to see Monk staring blankly in his direction. Naru willed himself to steel as the other men in the group began to move toward him and he silently prayed for a miracle.
oooooooooooooooooooooooo
Mai shot up suddenly from her restless sleep on the living room sofa. Ayako was at her side in an instant and laid a calming head to her head, "Mai, you are alright. I am here."
Mai turned her eyes toward Ayako with an unknown horror in them, "Ayako, I...I was suddenly...I was suddenly so scared," Mai paused bringing a shaking hand to her sweat soaked forehead, "Something is wrong...something is very, very wrong. Naru...I think...Naru is..."
Mai was cut off by movement and a soft sigh to her right. Ayako stood cautiously as both women realized Masako was coming to. The young medium blinked several times before clearly opening her eyes and sitting up.
"Are you really Masako, or still some crazed psychopath?" Ayako eyed her suspiciously for a moment.
"Excuse me...but I believe the only crazed person on the team is Mai!" Masako voice was laced with frustration and resentment.
"Yep..." Mai sighed a little momentarily forgetting the terror she held when she had woken up, "...it is the good old Masako."
Masako smirked in Mai's direction for a moment then looked at the Priestess for answers. Ayako obliged, "You nearly killed Naru and Mai with an axe while you were possessed."
Masako raised a hand to her mouth in bitter realization, "What will he think of me?" Mai rolled her eyes in silent thought of her own reactions to the overly dramatic medium.
"Enough," Mai changed the subject abruptly, "Something is wrong. I can sense that something is really wrong. I think Naru is in trouble."
"What kind of trouble?"
"I don't know Ayako...okay?" Mai brought her sore legs up to her chest, "I don't understand anything happening here! It is all too random and mixed up and crazy...but I do know my instincts and my instincts never lie! We need to find the guys...I think they are all in danger!"
Ayako looked at her for another moment, "Alright...I trust you. Lets get you dressed in something a little more appropriate," Ayako turned to look Masako up and down, "Both of you."
oooooooooooooooooooooooo
Naru felt like he had been hit by a flat of bricks and he shifted uncomfortably begging his eyes to open. However, as soon as his eyes blinked he was met with a swift backhand to his right cheek. The amount of force behind it forced his head to the side and he could feel blood fly from the side of his injured mouth. He let his head rest for a few moments at the battered position and wincing hard he looked up. It took him a few moments to realize he had no idea where he was and he was in no position to find out. His arms were attached to a section of rope and precariously hanging above his head, he guessed from either a wooden beam or a hook.
Turning his head uncomfortably he looked at the owner of the offending hand. Lin was standing straight as a statue looking at him with blank eyes. He was within arms reach, but obviously Naru realized it would be impossible to reach him in his current situation. However, he wanted to reach out and either strangle or hug the man.
Naru could feel blood seeping down his face from somewhere near his right temple and now from the right side of his mouth. He would be lying to say he was not uncomfortable. He could tell, however, all of his injuries were only skin deep. He would be bruised, lacerated and sore, but he would ultimately be fine. He did not understand what he had done lately to receive so many injuries, however. It seemed every case lately had ended with him getting hurt and he was starting to become weary of it. His eyes were suddenly alert when he heard an approaching chuckle.
"Where have you brought me?" Naru eyed Easton angrily.
"Somewhere safe," Easton reached out with agility Naru wasn't expecting and grasped his chin in an iron grip. If Naru had not just been hit, he wouldn't have flinched as much, but he honestly couldn't help it. He attempted to pull his eyes away from the man he now felt sickened by, but Easton roughly forced him to look directly at him, "Now Mr. Shibuya...you and I need to have an understanding. I..." Easton paused as Naru once again attempted to look away, sighing he swiftly landed a blow to Naru gut and immediately the younger man stilled, gasping suddenly and coughing up air and saliva, "...I want those women you have brought here. My customers would simply ravish over them. Especially the youngest. She seems to have a spark in her."
Naru breathed heavily attempting to regain his composure and his breath, "Not interested..."
Easton let go of the young man and once again laughed in a sadistic way. Naru sighed heavily. He could not fathom how wrong the situation had turned out. He was not expecting Easton to be capable of such sophisticated hypnotism. In fact, he was not sure he had even heard of hypnotism capable of controlling so many people for such long periods of time. Naru, himself, new enough of the art to plant ideas or actions into people's minds, but they were harmless at best. Nothing which would cause prolonged brain activity. Whatever Easton was playing with was as volatile as fire and it made Naru sick to his stomach to think about it. Naru was honestly very worried about the current scenario. He was literally alone in his knowledge of the case. Lin, John, Monk and Yasuhara were all currently under the sick twisted cowboy's control and the girls were precariously oblivious.
"You see," Easton lifted the younger man's chin gently and looked him directly in the eyes again, daring Naru to look away again. Naru decided against it, he was worried another blow to the stomach might make him hurl, "I run a business here. A business which relies on a certain product to be readily available."
"You're sick!" Naru sneered at Easton.
"No. It is simply business..."
Naru cut him off, "Human lives are not a business."
Easton let go of the younger man's chin and Naru body slumped forward unconsciously. Naru winced as the ropes around his wrists dug fire into his skin. Naru was by no means a portly person, but he wished he weighed about a hundred pounds less. His weight put an extremely large amount of pressure on his wrists and his feet were less then an inch away from the floor. What he would give to be able to reach the floor. It was like water sitting in front of a thirsty man but just out of his reach. Every fiber of his body hurt and he was exhausted.
Naru shook his head roughly, "No...don't fall into the exhaustion. This is all a trick, he is trying to overpower you," Naru intensely attempted to remind himself of his situation. He shifted uncomfortably trying to find a less painful position, but it was in vain. Moving only hurt more and he was sick and tired of being in pain.
"You look frustrated Mr. Shibuya," Naru sent him an angered glance and Easton laughed lightly as he watched Naru's vain attempt to gain more comfort, "The only comfort you will find is by giving in," Easton walked up to him, his face dangerously close to the young scientists, "Otherwise I can promise prolonged discomfort on your behalf."
Naru had had enough, suddenly and without warning he spit a mixture of blood and saliva right in Easton's face. He was livid, he was through with this man. His mind was racing with panic for Mai and his companions if he should fall prey to Easton's spell and he hoped his outburst would cause Easton to let his companions beat him into unconsciousness again. At least in his unconsciousness he could not hurt them...hurt Mai.
Easton recoiled, immediately wiping the sticky mixture from his face, "Well then Mr. Shibuya, I suppose we will have to do this the hard way," he backed up and with a wave of his hand Naru felt the first blow of many hit his tired body.
Author's Note: Well there you have it! The next action packed chapter! So for anyone who is still confused Easton Walker is really Easton Fujioka and he is in the business of human trafficking. Rika, Alice and Sephora have been hypnotized from the beginning as well as the other workers on the ranch. He currently has all of Naru's male companions under his control. If you have more questions I would be happy to answer them! ^_^ Thanks for reading and reviewing! I will have another chapter up tonight!
Will Naru escape? Will Mai and the other girls be safe? Will they uncover the ghostly mystery of the ranch? Will Gene make another appearance? Tune in for the next chapter to find out!
Read and Review!
The Crazy Cheezer