Author's Note: Annnd another one so fast?! Wow...I'm on a roll. Thanks for the motivation my friends!
Footsteps echoed across the polished marble floor as Bekko lead the two zombies towards the staircase. He pulled open the door and motioned for them to go ahead of him before closing it and turning the heavy lock on the inside. He turned and followed the dark-haired teens up the cement stairs. Each step echoing louder than the last. He himself had grown worried for Chika's sake. Normally the loud and obnoxious teenager would have burst into his office, demanding why they hadn't been told all the information on another zombie they'd had to track down. Or just yelling back at each response Shito would give him. Bekko had become more used to those exchanges than he'd realized until both had disappeared. He had always thought of each zombie he gave a "loan of life" to, was like a child he had to parent. But over the last few years the current group had become more than that to him. He never admitted it out loud but they were his family. Those kids worked so hard for everything they wanted. Especially Chika. Always looking for more jobs. Always taking the higher risk for the higher reward all to get his life back. Bekko in some ways envied him. Doing what he wanted because he wanted to. No parameters or guidelines. He just...did. He didn't care what the consequences were, he just did what had to be done.
Bekko let out a sigh as he continued up the stairs. So why was he hesitating to do what needed to be done here? All he had to do was touch his Ferryman abilities and they would be at the door. He could have been there and out before Shito even realized he'd left. So why was he hesitating so much?
'Because they might stop you.' A voice in the back of his head responded. 'And if they stop you, nothing can be done for those boys.' Bekko sighed again. That was his reason. If he tried now, the others may stop him from interfering. And if that happened, he wouldn't be able to help them at all. As he thought about the possibilities another fact entered his mind. Shito couldn't fight. Not without his gun, not without the hand Chika had. He grunted as he turned around what seemed like the hundredth stair landing and up the next flight of stairs. Things were going to get complicated. Shito couldn't die, but he could certainly feel pain. Bekko took a slight bit of relief in that fact but his mind reminded him quickly that both Sotetsu and Chika could very well die in this altercation. He shook his head trying to clear the very real possibility from his mind. If he let himself get distracted by that thought he wouldn't be able to fully function either.
"Oi, Bekko." Sotetsu called from the top. "It doesn't go up any further." He gestured to the last door. "Shito-kun here says there is at least one more level."
Bekko didn't respond until he reached the final landing. "It seems we have to trust him." Bekko offered a reassuring smile. "He does know the most about this place, after all."
Sotetsu smiled and tapped Shito's shoulder. "Course." He smiled then turned again to try the door. He felt the handle give in his strength and he pushed it open. "Hallway seems clear." He stepped out and Shito gripped his arm.
"Wait, please." He said and stepped out in front of him. "Like you both said...I know this place best. Chika is on the special floor. Although the room number he gave was 762, we've far passed the seventh floor. Dynasty is the secret floor. How he found that out...I'm not sure. But it doesn't matter." Shito lead them down the hallway, carefully listening for any sound of more guards moving about. He knew they'd have to use the elevator to get to the final floor but they didn't have a key card to access it. Shito stopped at the elevator doors and examined them for a long time, his shoulders tensed. "We need a card for this." He said after deciding there wasn't an easy way around it.
Sotetsu smirked and pulled the plastic card from his pants pocket. "You mean this thing?" He waved it back and forth in front of his own face. "I swiped it off that last guy. Figured since he had Chika boy's clothing, we might need it."
Shito's eyes darkened a little at the mention of Chika's torn and bloodied clothing. Though only minute traces of blood were present, it was enough to anger him. The raven-haired boy held out his hand for the card then took it quickly. He flipped it over in his hand and pushed it into the small slot next to the doors. After a few seconds the light clicked to green and the doors slid open. A soft chime signaled the elevator was ready as the three hurried inside.
"Why didn't we just take the elevator in the first place?" Sotetsu asked leaning against the far wall. Shito shook his head in slight annoyance as he fiddled with the keypad for the special floor.
"We didn't want to arouse suspicion that someone was accessing this floor out of schedule. The Touhou is a very precise man." Bekko responded pulling his hair back into it's low pony tail at the base of his neck. He sighed softly and swayed a little feeling the elevator start it's decent. He watched Shito pace back and forth anxiously in the small space. It was apparent how much Shito blamed himself for what had happened, but the boy wouldn't really listen to any kind of reason at this moment.
"Oi, come on Shito. It'll be alright." Sotetsu tried to calm the other zombie. "Chika's a strong kid I'm sure-"
"Don't." Shito responded. He looked up at Sotetsu, his red eyes cloaked in anger and fear. "Please...I know the kind of person Touhou is. He was behind this...I can't- I don't want to think about what has happened." He then returned to pacing back and forth, his hands gripped in tight fists at his sides.
Sotetsu sighed and scratched the back of his head. He hadn't really thought about it like that. But he let it go. Shito was more than worried and he understood why. Bekko watched the numbers going up on the elevator screen until they stopped but the elevator kept going. "Here it is." He said moving towards the door.
Shito's entire body tensed again. He seemed to only now realize that he had nothing to fight with. No hand-to-hand skill, no weapon. Even if he did, he wasn't sure it would work against someone like Shiba. An illegal Shinigami of sorts. He swallowed and pushed those thoughts away shaking his head back and forth. He stood directly in front of the two sliver doors waiting for them to open. He heard the 'ding' and felt the elevator shift once more before the doors slid open. Shito stepped out into the hall and breathed a sigh of relief finding it empty. He turned around and faced the elevator once again. "I believe it's down this way and around the corner...I hope it's right." He sounded a little uncertain, causing Bekko to feel concerned.
"Shito-kun, are you sure?" He asked. "We can't afford to run into others right now."
Shito stood there a moment then nodded his head. "Yes. This is the right floor. We just have to find 762." He then turned and walked down the hallway he had previously indicated. There shouldn't be very many rooms on this floor and the numbering didn't make much sense at all. Shito never really understood it, even on those rare occasions he made it to this particular floor. And at the moment, he didn't really care either. He continued on another few paces then paused, turning slowly to face a door in the center of the hallway. He bit his lip and read the number next to the door. '762'.
Sotetsu put a hand on his shoulder and tightened his grip a moment before releasing. "Just remember, no matter what you see in there...keep fighting." He said in a quiet, serious tone. All joking was off, Sotetsu knew that at this moment, he had to focus hard. He'd never fought a Shinigami before and he knew he would be strong.
Bekko then stepped to the other side and folded one arm over his chest, the other supporting his chin. "Sotetsu, these locks...can you break them?" He asked quietly looking at the taller man.
Sotetsu grinned and nodded, letting his long-handled axe appear in his hands. "Don't need to if I break the hinges instead."
From inside, Shito could hear muffled voices carrying through the thick door. His brows furrowed, fists turning white at his sides. He put one hand on the door as one of the voices got louder. "Akatsuki..." he breathed then shoved himself back. "Sotetsu."
"Got it." Sotetsu hauled his axe back and swung down hard, breaking clean through the door hinges. He kicked the door with his heavy motorcycle boot and it gave way, bending the locks as it leaned into the room.
"Shiba! Stop!" Chika's voice rang out clear as the door was forced open. It sounded harsh, worn out, raspy with over-use.
Sotetsu growled stepping through the damaged door and hauled up his axe ready to strike at Shiba but stopped mid-swing. Shiba smirked directly at him, his hips pressed tightly against Chika's rear. Chika's face was pressed to the bed, his arms out in front of him, tethered to the end of the bed frame. It didn't take much guessing to figure out what Shiba was doing to him at this exact moment. Sotetsu growled again, his hands tightening around the long handle he held in his grasp.
"Well, well...looks like we have visitors." Shiba said darkly and pulled harshly from Chika's entrance and let the pale, fragile body fall to the bed. He zipped up his pants and licked his fingers clean smirking the whole while. Chika cried out at the rough pull out and lay panting on the bed, his body cold and shaking with a sheen of sweat covering his skin. His hair stuck to his forehead in clumps. Bruises and small cuts littered his naked body, some obviously newer than others. "Look my little Chika." He grinned jerking up the boy's head so he could see.
Sotetsu stood in shock. He hadn't expected to see something quite like this. His eyes met Chika's dull, gold ones and his expression turned into a deep glare, he raised the axe again, although he was across the room.
"Sotetsu?" Chika rasped then his eyes widened. "Sotetsu!" He nearly screamed and jerked violently in an attempt to free himself.
At the sound of Chika's voice, both Shito and Bekko entered the room, having had to push the door open further since Sotetsu had blocked their entrance. What they both saw made them freeze. Shito felt a rush of nausea rush over him, then horror and pure anger and rage. Chika's eyes widened again at the two. He was filled with a mixture of emotions. Relief, confusion, pain, hurt, fear, anger, frustration. It all taxed him to the edge where tears fell down his face in tracks previously made. His eyes locked on the raven-haired zombie who stood paralyzed near the door.
Shiba laughed behind him, jerking on his head once more then shoved him down into the bed again. "You all seem surprised!" He gestured at the lot and flicked his blade, slicing the length of rope between Chika's wrists and the frame. He pulled the boy up by the arm and held him to his chest. "Chika's all mine, don't you know? You didn't need to break in just to see that." He grinned darkly, holding Chika between him and the others as a sort of human shield. He knew that so long as Chika was between them, none would strike towards him for fear of harming their friend. His eyes narrowed into glaring slits at each of them. It seemed that Touhou's 'fortress' wasn't quite as secure as he had thought.
Chika's body had flushed, tinging his skin just slightly. He grimaced and closed his legs, curling a little, trying to hide himself from everyone in the room. He couldn't move his arms although he tried. His breathing, which was already harsh, became erratic as he desperately tried to free himself from Shiba's strong grasp. His eyes searched the room until he found Shito's face again. He choked on his breath as he met his eyes again. He was there. Shito was there. He'd come to help him. A light of hope sparked in Chika's eyes.
"Shiba Reichirou." Shito spoke after nearly a minute. "Please release Akatsuki." He struggled to remain in control of himself. Seeing Chika in such a state was wrong in every way. He wasn't...Chika. He was someone else. He wasn't the strong, obnoxious, greedy zombie Shito had met. He was a shell of a beaten and broken doll. But he saw the spark in Chika's eyes and swallowed hard, striving to keep his resolve. He knew Chika was depending on him. He was his partner after all. It was his job to save him, even if Chika didn't know the real reason behind it. Shito didn't care at the moment. His heart had been torn in two at the sight and he wanted desperately to save Chika, get him away from this crazed, obsessed man who had dared call himself Chika's friend.
Bekko stood silently behind the two zombies, observing the entire situation. A fight in a room like this could turn disastrous very quickly. Chika himself appeared to be in no state to fight, let alone even have the energy to summon his weapon and wield it. Though the problem with somehow switching the two hands persisted. His own anger flared at the sight, though he was much better at controlling it in his expression. His heart raced in anger and disgusted pain. His attention drawn to Shiba as the arrogant shinigami spoke again.
"Now Shito-kun, why would I do that? Can't you see how happy we are together?" Shiba grinned.
Chika started to protest but was quickly cut off by Shiba's harsh lips against his. His eyes widened then slammed shut as he jerked his head from side to side. Shito's expression hardened and he stepped closer to the bed the two were perched on.
"Hush, Chika. It's alright." Shiba said stroking the white-haired boy's face with his hand, holding him tightly with the other. He then looked to Shito and shook his head. "Don't come any closer." He held out his hand and a large, curved and ragged scythe appeared. The blade swung and nearly dug itself into Shito's chest. Bekko's speed was faster, pulling the boy out of reach just in time. Shiba's laughter filled the room as he grinned in delight. Both Shito and Chika stared at the scythe. They'd never seen anything like it before. It seemed mangled, like it was ripped from the ground with much force and protest.
"W-what..." Chika's voice quivered. No wonder Shiba was so much stronger than he used to be. But it just didn't make sense to him. How did Shiba get a scythe? How was he even alive? Was he really a shinigami? His eyes widened with realization as past memories flooded him. The Shinigami Zarame had lost his core. It was stolen from him. Could that possibly be what happened with Shiba? Did he somehow find a way to steal the Shinigami's core and merge it with his own body? Another realization struck him that sent violent shivers throughout his body. If Shiba was a shinigami...was there a way to stop him?
Shito held out his hand defensively but remained out of reach of the scythe. Sotetsu stood next to him, his axe held across his body like a shield, should Shiba decide to swing again. "Bekko, what do we do?" He asked, not taking his eyes off of Shiba. He waited, muscles tense for the next sign of a strike.
Bekko shook his head and closed his eyes, his own hands turning into fists. The situation had accelerated farther than the two zombies had anticipated and Bekko knew that they didn't stand a chance without his assistance. "Be careful not to get too close to me." He said as a rush of wind filled the room. All except Shiba stared in surprise as Bekko seemed to change instantly from Z-Loan director to Ferryman, an oar held firmly in his hand. His hair fell loosely down his back, his glasses gone completely. His clothes were exchanged for a long white coat, with blue accenting it. A crescent moon hung over his chest and a hood down his back.
"Return the boy, illegal shinigami, Shiba Reichirou." He said in an entirely different tone. He was angry and he didn't hide it any longer. He stepped forward with lightning speed and was at Shiba's side in an instant. He swung his oar towards the Shinigami who disappeared instantaneously, taking Chika along with him.
Shiba's voice rang out as he reappeared across the room holding a shaking Chika against him still. "Whoa, careful there, Bekko. You'll erase Chika here." He bit Chika's ear and grinned maliciously at the Ferryman.
"You coward." Shito scoffed, turning the moment Shiba had reappeared. "Hiding behind Akatsuki when you claim to care for him. You make me sick. You are nothing but trash. Nothing but-" Shito's eyes widened as Shiba appeared directly in-front of him. He stumbled backwards in surprise, realizing he had no way of fighting him.
"Is that so, Shito-kun?" Shiba asked, venom lacing his voice. Shito felt a sharp pain in his shoulder as Shiba's scythe materialzed in his hand, embedding the end into his body. Shiba smirked then disappeared again, Chika held like a rag doll in his free arm. "What are you going to do about it? You can't fight. You're weak and pathetic." Shiba scoffed. He licked slowly up Chika's throat and breathed into his ear. "Watch as I destroy them all just for you." He then threw Chika back to the bed and attacked Shito head on.
Chika shuddered then gasped in surprise; the force of the shove throwing him completely off balance. He landed halfway on the bed, his hand caught beneath him. A fire rushed through his chest, burning his wounds. He cried out as he fell to the floor unable to see anyone, only hear them. He grimaced at the pain that wracked his body and he breathed in a large gulp of air which resulted in a coughing fit. His chest heaved and he felt something pull as warmth dripped down his chest once more. He felt a sharp pain and looked to see a silver flash just above him. Shiba's levitating knife dripped with crimson. Chika's eyes widened as he realized what had just happened. He'd been cut and the knife seemed to be coming for a second shot. He could hear Shiba's voice.
"You never should have come." Shiba laughed as he launched at Shito again. Each attack being blocked by either Sotetsu or Bekko. "You've only made things harder. You're hurting Chika, don't you know that?" He laughed as he attacked again. Shito had been backed against the wall, unable to defend himself. Shiba jumped back and flicked his wrist. A cry of pain followed shortly after.
Shito's eyes widened recognizing the gesture. "What are you doing to him?!" He yelled. He tried to fight passed Bekko but was held back and Sotetsu lunged forward, swinging his axe, only to clang against the gnarled shinigami scythe. Shiba laughed again and the floating knife appeared above his shoulder. It's sharp blade stained red.
"I'm not doing anything. You are." He grinned devilishly. "Each attack drives my knife. See this blood? It's your fault. All three of you. Each time I have to flick my wrist to defend myself, this blade hits it's target. I wonder what kind of damage has been done by now? Hmm?" He looked directly into Shito's eyes.
Shito clenched his fists and looked at him, not blinking. "Stop it! Just leave him alone!" He yelled. His behavior seemed to surprise even Shiba a little. "Why are you doing this?!"
Shiba tilted his head and sighed. "You're boring me with your stupid questions." He flicked his wrist and the blade flew forward, cutting Shito's cheek before returning. Shito turned his head at the sharp pain and his hand flew to his face, pulling back to see blood.
'Shit.' He swore to himself. He was no match for Shiba, especially without his weapon.
"Oi, pick on someone your own size." Sotetsu grinned at the cliche phrase and moved in front of Shito, blocking him from Shiba's next strike. He swung his axe upwards and lunged forward again, forcing Shiba back. The two scuffled about the room. Sotetsu knocked into the table and chairs trying to get around Shiba to the opposite side of the bed. But each time he thought he had an opening, Shiba was right there to stop him. If that scythe hadn't belonged to a shinigami, Sotetsu would sacrifice a hit to get around him. But at this rate, if that scythe hit him in the right spot he'd die like he should have years ago. He couldn't let that happen. Not because he didn't want to die. But because he couldn't. Not right now. He had a friend to save.
Author's Note: Finally! It's happening! But what's this another cliff-hanger?! NOOO! Be patient my dears. It's not over yet. ^^
