Chapter 14
Frost clung to the night air, dancing with the piercing gaze of glistening shards overhead.
Stiff branches and wandering leaves rustled through the wind, a light tune fluttering through empty alleys; It shielded the travelers hidden in the night, moving sinuously through its organic cadence, an indigo cloak overhead, masking the charged expectation of nightly nomads.
Shadows cast imposing forms against the face of dimly lit streets, the form belonging to dark armored vehicles, blending with the night sounds as they whirred through the winding neighborhood quietly.
Marude Itsuki sat inside the CCG issued vehicle, anticipating a big breakthrough for the night's raid.
It seemed that Juuzou Suzuya and his wayward escapades had brought him some luck after all, the hide-out was in a place you wouldn't really expect, after all, children and families traveled to and from freely through the neighborhood and no one had ever reported any strange happenings in the area; that should have tipped him off from the beginning.
The vehicles slowed to a stop, the action heralding uniformed agents, funneling into a cohesive circle. Clothed in the shadows of the unlit grounds, Marude stood in the center of them now; it didn't matter if they were found out or not, they had the area covered on all sides; no one would escape, not today.
"Units 1 and 2 handle evacuation; Unit 3 will secure the area surrounding immediate escape routes, Unit 4 will be my aerial team, Unit 5 and 6 will infiltrate with myself." He said in hushed tones.
"You're going in too?" Investigator Fuuka inquired
For a raid of this level, with no known S ranked combatants, in a team of two or more units, only one special class would be needed.
Marude was their supervisor, he controlled the sway of battle with his orders, took a total perspective and made the difficult calls from his observation and intel.
His place was not in Units 5 and 6, infiltrating along side of him. "Marude-san, my skill alone would- He stopped, not liking how arrogant he sounded... "What I mean is, I may be from Kyoto's branch, but us country bumpkins can hold our own, so if you're worried...
"Quiet Fuuka." Marude snapped lightly, the man was too polite for his own good.
"That wild child is in there and none of you can handle him...and I mean none of you..." Marude interrupted, moving towards the entrance.
The investigator chuckled nervously, embarrassed at his moment of self importance; he should have known Marude Itsuki never broke formation unless it was necessary. "Of course."
Hushed steps ascended concrete stairs, moving as one group to the proper location.
With investigators Marude and Fuuka in the lead, the units approached a ragged door, the entrance being revealed with little more than a push. "A pick pocketing lock picker, that brat." Marude commented, amusement playing on his usually serious face.
The team fanned out into the darkened apartment, various forms of debris creating unusual sounds beneath the cautious steps. The stench startled many, issuing a series of hushed gags through the quiet. "You babies, keep moving! You can hold your breath, can't you?" Marude barked, rounding up the straggling investigators.
A whistle rung through out the apartment, causing the team to go on high alert, it was strange, investigator Fuuka thought...all the windows were sealed shut..."Marude-san." He called, moving the investigator from his examination of scattered photos. "I think the entrance is this way." They followed the whistle to a door that had been carved out nicely in the wall.
The stench of ghoul's blood nearly knocked the investigators back "Now this is something you lose your lunch for." Marude gasped, shielding his nose and mouth with his hand; he knew that the stench could only be caused by one little terror and fortunately it wasn't the ghouls.
The group descended the steep stone stair case, winding further into foul obscurity; hearts pounded heavily as it seemed the darkness wouldn't end and flashlights would be risky; The air was soon replaced with fermenting human sweat, they were burning up.
The investigators breathed a sigh of relief as a faint light soon revealed three large tunnels; Dispersing a unit in each one, the two lead investigators went with a smaller group down another.
The ringing of metal rents the air, the guttural screams of the inhuman beings following it. "Juuzou." Marude said, moving with greater speed.
A young child stared blankly before a scene that was so familiar and yet so strange to his grey eyes.
There were weapons and blood and yelling; but he wasn't the one doing it, he wasn't at the receiving end either...The man before him was...A man with snow white hair and crimson marbles for eyes...Rabbits...rabbits were like that, lab rabbits,...white and fluffy, with eyes the color of strawberries. His hands were moving quickly, he held a powerful scythe...and he was destroying them, so many of them as they charged from one side to the other.
These people, these ghouls that had hurt him...he was watching them fall one by one; but he wished it wasn't so quick, it didn't look like they were even in any pain when death caught them unaware...it was too fast, it must be slower...a slower death...more pain for them...make them feel MORE pain, he wished silently.
He looked down at his hands, they were trembling, the Rabbit man had given him a quin-something...and he hadn't really used it yet; but he wanted to...he did.
Bodies blurred passed him, crashing to the ground in a mess of limbs. This one was still breathing, he thought...this one, would die slow...
He looked towards the Rabbit man who was now the Red Rabbit man, blood dripping from his white head, and down his white shirt; the Red Rabbit didn't seem to care and pranced around like an acrobat, like a crimson butterfly, dealing death's kiss with extreme precision and unending stamina.
In the throes of shock he missed the group of ghouls that had come funneling from a depression in the ceiling above; he was supposed to be brave but he still screamed.
They were coming, they were coming for him, to punish him, to make him feel bad, to make him do bad things; he was scared, he was scared...the moments of relishing in the pain of his enemies vanished at the hands grabbing at his fragile limbs, he felt the blows and yelled; he didn't want to die, but he couldn't fight anymore, he was too tired...
He wanted to go home...forget killing, forget slowly dying, he wanted to live!
"Usagi!"
The rank 3 investigator heard a strangled call; he usually blocked out most voices when he was 'playing' since they distracted him, but this voice was interesting to his ears, he forgot why. Bringing his consciousness to the surface he turned his attention from the bloodied corpse to the horde of ghouls toppling a small form and beating it senseless.
Awareness flooded the crimson gaze "Hey...hey thats mine." He murmured, swaying a bit from his killing stupor. "I said..." He warned "That's mine..."
The ghouls continued to ignore him, attempting to bind the child and bring him to 'papa' for 'divine judgement'; the kid was very strong, most likely due to adrenaline and years of 'scrapping' both humans and ghouls.
"I SAID THAT'S MINE!"
The lithe form torpedoed with quinke in hand, through the band of smothering ghouls, scattering their bodies and severing limbs. The boy rose after his binds were cut, severely bruised but largely unharmed. Suzuya inspected closely, causing a jump from the little companion. "How come you're not hurt?" Suzuya asked, intrigued as to how someone so small could have withstood and held off the horde of ghouls and not seriously been injured.
"I...don't know...but papa...had doctors do something...to make me stronger." Came the hoarse response.
About to probe further, the investigator stopped when he caught a familiar scent "Too much cologne..." The investigator mouthed "...and shoe polish..." His hand rose in a bright wave at the forms approaching him in alarm "Juuzou!" Marude Itsuki exclaimed, suddenly stopping at the silent blood bath surrounding him.
Suzuya smiled, he had killed a lot...maybe he would be praised, he did just do the job of two to three units.
"You killed possible leads! Informants! Now how am I supposed to find out what happened!?" Marude barked, ignoring the squelch of blood beneath his feet and the blood painting the boy's body.
The investigator shrunk at the tone, pouting, this is not what he wanted to hear. "You're ungrateful, Marude chan!" He barked "Be thankful for what God gave you!"
He had heard someone say that once, actually twice, it seemed to make certain individuals complacent, thoughtful and quiet, maybe it would work on this man too.
Fuuka and the team gaped at the additional statement "S-S-Suzuya..."The voice trailed off in disbelief. Marude walked up to the man and placed a hand on his forehead "We've lost him!" He screeched, before knocking the young man hard across the head with his knuckle "Ow!" Suzuya grabbed at his head.
"Don't bring God up in this god forsaken place, you fool! What do you know about it?!" Marude hissed
Suzuya pouted; guess it didn't work "It was supposed to make you quiet."
"Ha!" Marude snorted, pushing past him "I'll be quiet when I'm dead and in the ground."
"Hmm..."
"Don't think too much about it, now lets go!" Marude snapped, moving further down the hall. "We need to capture some alive and clean this place out; we also have to find the entrance, if its here."
"Sorry!" Suzuya chirped, a strange new companion next to him. "Who is-?"
"We're gonna kill papa now!" The white blonde cheered, nodding in agreement to the listless form beside him.
"Papa...you mean the ring leader?!" Marude exclaimed, quickly trailing after them "Don't kill him! We need him alive! After him! Go! Go! GO!"
The team turned with haste, following after the capricious investigator, running in high speed with a young boy in ratty clothing.
A lavish chamber stood out in the dreary underground with golden walls.
Polished marble floors, a glistening chandelier and a ruby red throne stood out in stark relief. The lead ghoul known as 'Papa' lie his grotesque form on the grand seat, bulbous fat hanging over the sides from his gut. A silk garment hung over the exposed flesh, acting as the only clothing. Liquid danced inside a crystal glass as swollen jeweled fingers stirred the cup. Standing on either side of him were two young men, his top scrappers and body guards.
Tall ornate doors burst open with the screams of ghouls; A snow haired man and a grey eyed boy walk casually inside. "Are you papa?" Suzuya asked, eyes also roving around the greatly contrasting room. "It would be good if you knew mama too."
The ghoul, caught off guard, gaped; if he had been smarter, he would have sensed the threat immediately and ordered his scrappers to kill...but as it was, it was the first time anyone had burst through his doors like that and he wondered more about who he was rather than his intentions; with such strength at his disposal, he could surely expand his territory and financial support...He would have the man captured, but first, he needed to catch him off guard; conversation always did that to people. "Who are you?"
"Me? Doesn't matter, does it? This guy has something to say before you die." Suzuya returned, stepping out of the way to reveal his young companion.
The ghoul narrowed his kakugan, inhaling; he knew that dejected look, the hollow stare, the trembling limbs; it was one of his 'children' but this one was strong; he remembered, out of the 20 children he subjected to a man named Dr. Kanou and his experiments, this child had been the only one to survive; he had put a lot of money into making full proof human scrappers, ones that could handle his games and eventually personal ministrations without kicking the bucket.
"Ah...My 'Little Fist', did you bring me this good man to add to our family?" He said sweetly, but the child knew better, the sweeter he spoke, the eviler his actions would be.
His hands shook, he was scared, if he had had any liquids in his body, he'd surely leak them all out onto the marbled space, in fact, part of him would like to do that, to defile the ghoul's place the way he defiled his life. He looked to his side at the investigator who seemed pretty intrigued by the large ghoul. Suzuya caught the subtle glance and nodded; he had learned that that made others feel calm, whenever he did that to Shinohara-san before a battle, the man stood taller, more confident.
He was right; the boy's back became straighter and he looked squarely at the giant. "I...I HATE YOU!" The screech bounced off of the walls and echoed, never losing the ferocity or the pain they conveyed; the ghoul's eyebrows twitched in response.
"What a naughty boy you're being Little Fist, come now..."
Silence graced the air for several moments, a tight and taut thread holding the weight of anger and impatience. "Is that all?" Suzuya asked, looking towards the boy, He shook his head...there was one thing he wanted to add; but he was fighting himself over whether to say it; it was more like he wanted to get the ghoul where it really hurt, but he also felt silly, what if papa just laughed at him? Still, his anger overpowered any doubts and he clenched his fists once more, squeezing for just a drop of courage.
"YOU STINK!"
Suzuya cheered "He does! Like spoiled broccoli and dead bodies! Gross!" Laughter funneled out of the white blonde until he was doubled over on the marbled floors. The large ghoul gaped, staring blankly at the two below him.
Egged on by his savior's support he took a few steps forward "And...YOU'RE FAT! LIKE A PIG!"
Suzuya gaped before bursting into another fit "He's like a pig that walks! like a pig that stands up! AHA!" The investigator rolled on the floor, tears glistening in his eyes.
"KILL THEM! KIIILLLL THEMMM BOOOOTTTH!"
The loud roar signaled the movement of the two scrappers, who charged the boy and Suzuya in high speed. The investigator easily dodged the two weapons trying to lay into him, cutting the blades to pieces with his quinke, the child clutched under one arm.
Powerful limbs collided with the weak scrappers and they flew to other sides of the walls, yelling in response to unnatural breaks. The investigator spun his scythe with a flourish, leaping towards the ghoul that now lay wide open, flesh exposed.
The large ghoul suddenly rose, thick legs from his rinkaku lifting his weight from the throne and carrying him towards the exit quickly. Suzuya stopped as side splitting laughter took hold of his body. "Octopus, its an octopus! a stinking octo-pig!" He exclaimed, willing his limbs to move against the torrent of emotion.
The investigator closed the gap in mere seconds, taking to the air with his scythe brandished overhead. "Say bye bye to papa." The investigator cooed...
"Bye bye...papa."
When Marude arrived in the throne room, he hung his head low in defeat. "I told you not to kill him!" He exclaimed, clearly disheveled from other battles.
Suzuya regarded him lightly, picking off the large rings from the dead ghoul's hands.
"Don't loot him!" Investigator Fuuka chided
Suzuya snorted "Its my catch, my kill, my stuff."
Fuuka shook his head
"Whose the brat? And why wasn't he with the other ones we found?" Marude asked, now inspecting the grey eyes and pale skin.
Suzuya looked down at the boy and put a hand around his shoulder, leaning down. "This, is my new partner."
As the phase of the raid termed 'Extract and Analyze' began, CCG agents littering the grounds, carrying away the few remaining criminals, taking samples for forensics, etc. Marude and his company headed for the surface, the smell of decay was making him nauseous. A sliver of pale moon shined triumphantly over the scene, the crisp night air a much needed reprieve from the noxious heat below.
A blanket found its way over the young boy's shoulders and a hot cup of coffee; he hated the stuff, but it released the stinging of his limbs. He watched as the investigators talked about various things, milking the white blonde for any information he recalled during his killing spree. When a compilation of detailed notes had been written, the investigator rose, stretching leisurely, throwing off his stained coat and shirt in place of a clean one issued by another agent.
Dousing his head with bottles of water, the crimson dye leaked from the silk strands to reveal the snow white shimmering under moonlight; he was beautiful, the boy thought, cheeks slightly flushing when his thought was followed by a look in his direction; could he read minds?
The investigator turned his sights towards his new fighting companion, extending a slender hand in partnership "You're coming to my house." Looking at Marude Itsuki as he went over paperwork "He's coming to my house."
Grey eyes watched the hand harmlessly extended and reached out cautiously; he wanted to trust this person, this powerful being that had destroyed his enemies and who seemed to understand him; and who was kind of funny.
"Itsuki-chan will fill out the paper work."
"I'll what?" Marude Itsuki barked, pulled from his intense focus on the raid's aftermath.
"Bye!"
Marude watched the two fade from sight, taking to the buildings like trained acrobats, using them for leverage, putting distance between themselves and the commotion.
Cheeks flushed red as he threw his clipboard to the ground in frustration. "Juuuzzzou!"