(A/N: As I'm so very close to being done posting this, I will just post the last two chapters and the epilogue. Yeah. Have fun.
Benevolent Pharoh: I'm very glad you like the story. ^_^ I try to put a lot of emtion into the story so that people can connect with the characters. I love using description - if you have a good idea of the setting, character, etc.., it's easier to imagine what's going on and how it's happening. When I'm writing (and am inspired), I generally can see exactly what is going to happen inside my head. Like a movie. x__X I dunno how "soon" this is compared to your standards...but tis failry soon considering I haven't been updating this all too fast. Do I get a muffin? *looks hopeful*
And now, on with the concluding chapters of the fic!)
Dawn of Terror
Chapter 23: Impending Doom
Eddy sighed, wiping his forearm across his face as another wave crashed up against the dock and the wind whipped the salty sea-water into his eyes. He'd been instructed...well, voted actually, to stay on the dock and guard the boat. He didn't doubt it was just a way for the platoon to get rid of him - who in their right mind would try sailing away in this weather? And wasn't this inlet supposed to privately belong to Boris?
Micheal disliked him strongly, and apparently the new General...err, what was his name again?...Kai, that was right, disliked him too. Most of the others just didn't bother with him, but the little blond wasn't so bad...Max. He'd at least been nice to him. Max didn't care what Eddy looked like, and Eddy was glad of that. He just wished that the others were a little more like Max - a little less judgemental.
But they weren't, so he kept to himself and quiet and did what they told him and there'd be no trouble. Oh sure, there was the odd remark when he screwed up, but nothing too awful. Nothing like the last place he'd been. He'd been a slave there, with a cruel master who wouldn't be pleased and left the slaves to sleep outside in the cold...
Eddy shook his head. It was best to forget the past. The misdeed could be forgiven. He often told himself that the master had been like that merely because all his family was buried and he had no friends left. He was embittered to the world and the sin could be forgiven becuase the master had felt he'd been terribly wronged. Eddy knew he would have felt the same in the master's place.
The storm continued on, the wind whipping wildly and the sea heaving and swelling. There was a noise on deck and Eddy snapped to attention. "Who goes there?" he shouted, hefting his gun.
Frankie, the purple-haired captain appeared through the curtain of rain. "Ahoy there, soldier! Quit standing out in there rain like that and come on up. I've got some hot tea in the cabin."
She smiled at him and for a moment, Eddy thought that perhaps, she didn't know he was black. Then he realized that she did and she didn't care - she saw a human being standing on the dock, catching his death cold. Eddy felt a smile creep across his features. "Thank ya kindly, Ma'am."
He scurried up the ramp, back onto the soaked deck. Frankie smiled. "Nobody's gonna steal the ship tonight, so you might as well come in and get warm."
She led him back to the cabin, where there was hot tea, just as she'd said and some warmed over biscuts. She got Eddy a spare sailor's uniform, seeing as how his other uniform was soaked through and through. Eddy smiled brightly. "I'm thinking I like this uniform better than my other one."
Frankie sighed. Eddy frowned. "What's wrong, Ma'am?"
She looked seawards. "It's nothing, really."
"They don't want you to be captain anymore, do they?"
Frankie looked startled. "H-how did you know?"
Eddy shrugged. "Just a guess, Ma'am. They don't like you anymore than they like me."
Frankie nodded. "A woman shouldn't be sailing the seas - she should be at home, raising a family."
It sounded like she recited the sentence from a book. Eddy nodded. "And a black should be breakin' his back on some white's farm. It just isn't right."
Frankie nodded again. "It isn't."
~*~*~*~*~*
Kai eyed their guides suspiciously. There was Lupinex, who had an almost wolf-like apperance, and Sagounex, who was paler than the full moon and his eyes were even brighter red than Kai's. They were both sinister in appearance and Kai suppressed a shudder at what Boris must look like.
They walked down an empty corridor, the lights glaring down at them from overhead. Their shoes clicked on the floor. The farther down that passage they went, the more Kai wanted to turn around and run for his life.
Behind them, the neko-jins walked in a huddled throng, ears plastered to their heads, fangs bared, eyes slitted nervously. The only thing that kept them from bolting was the soldiers marching in the back, holding their bayonets to their backsides.
Lupinex held up a hand suddenly, which was more like a paw, the nails like sharp talons. Kai almost shivered. The wolf-like being faced the back, earning himself a couple of hisses. "Hush now," he said in his queer voice. "We have arrived. Boris awaits your arrival."
They started off again. They turned right and then, Lupinex opened a small wooden door on the left. Kai would have missed it altogether had it not been for Lupinex. He spoke again. "Keep your manners in tact or Master Boris may cut out your ungrateful tongue."
The threat hung heavy on the air and a few of the neko-jins whimpered in fright. Silently, Lupinex walked them into the room. They walked odnw another narrow passage way, that suddenly flared up into a huge empty room. In the midst of the vast stonework stood a middle-aged man, with chalk white skin and violet hair. He threw up his arms in greeting. "Welcome to my abbey!" he shouted and his voice echoed off the walls.
The neko-jins cowered and Kai couldn't blame them. The man's voice was ghastly. Boris walked forward, straight to Kai and shook the bluenette's hand. Kai winced. Boris's touch was like ice, freezing his blood in his veins. "General Hiwatari, I give my thanks to you and Enrique for getting the neko-jins here safely."
He looked Kai in the eye. "I trust that they are unharmed," he said, his gaze becoming dangerous.
"Three are dead on the voyage," Kai said, surprised to hear his voice so strong and unwavering, especially when his knees felt so weak.
Boris released Kai's hand. "Ah, but I suppose that was to be expected. Some are not made to endure the rigours of sea travel."
The pasty Russian turned and began to walk away. He glanced back over his shoulder. "If you will follow me..."
It was a command and Kai obeyed, stepping forward. The neko-jin crowd, prodded on by the bayonets of the soldiers, followed suit.
They walked through a door, down another narrow passage way, which was so narrow they had to walk single-file.
Kai shuddered when they walked out into another room, which was even bigger than the last. It had probably been some sort of ballroom in some long forgotten glory. But now...
It was a chamber of torture. A million deteriorating neko-jins looked up from the floor they were chained to. They looked ill-fed, ill-kmpt and their eyes shone out of their gaunt faces like beautiful gems - gold, purple, green - colours awash with a thousand days' plight and woe. Kai had to turn away from the sight of them, all their eyes, resting upon him.
They knew what he'd done. They knew he'd killed Mariah - that he'd let Li die, that he'd brought all these neko-jins here for the sake of himself. Their eyes asked him, "Why?", a question he could not answer.
Boris smiled and turned to the frightened mob of new neko-jins. "Welcome to your home."
And the grin on his face was sinister and revolting. Kai wanted to be sick. Boris glanced down at the young General, who had gotten rather pale-looking. "Does the sight of them disgust you, Hiwatari?"
Kai knew the question was meant in a different context, but he could not help but croak, "Yes."
They did disgust him - the thought of the poor creatures toiling away for days and days, without food, without sleep, without comfort.
Boris's hand was on his shoulder. "Then let us leave them, if they sicken you so."
With that, he led Kai and the soldiers away, shutting the door behind the petrified neko-jins. The door slammed shut and locked, like a death knoll.
~*~*~*~*
Rei heard every word that passed between Boris and Kai. He felt his heart break when Kai answered 'yes' to Boris's question. The door slammed shut behind them and Rei sat down on the floor, crushed and dumbfounded. Kai thought neko-jins were disgusting.
How could that be so? Rei suddenly felt very, very used. What right did Kai have to pretend he loved him? Rei clawed at a stone in the floor angrily, grinding his teeth together.
"Rei?"
The black-haired boy snapped out of his trance and glanced up at Kevin, who was peering timidly down at him. "What?"
"What do we do now?"
Rei sighed and rubbed his temples. "I don't know Kevin, I don't know."
He needed time - time to sort all this out. Suddenly, his emtions were running rampant and he couldn't control them. He tried to think clearly, but they hazed the edges of his thoguth, threw him off the train of his thought. He needed to get out of here - they all did, but how? And Kai, he was such a prick and- No, back to the plan, Rei, please try to stay on track, I know you're distracted but- How could Kai do this him? They needed to get out of here.
Kevin sat down beside him. "How are we going to get out of this mess?"
"I don't know."
~*~*~*~*
Boris sat in his office, pouring over some paper work. It was long past midnight and the abbey was dead silent. Everyone else was fast asleep in their beds...or on the floor as it were for some. The pen scratched over the paper rhythmically and then, the silence was broken by another, louder noise.
Boris blinked and glanced toward the door. "Come in," he said groggily.
He hadn't realized he'd been falling asleep. The door creaked open, allowing the lights to creep into the room and then, Brian stepped into the office, shutting the door behind him. He looked sullen, as always.
They stared at each other for a moment, before Boris sat back in his chair and said, "Well. What have you got to report?"
"Tala's dead."
Brian remained stoic as ever. Boris blinked in shock. "Dead? Are you sure?"
"I saw it with my own eyes. Enrique shot him."
Boris stodd up, anger blazing in his eyes. "Enrique?!"
Brian nodded and leaned against the door, closing his eyes. "According to Enrique, Tala killed Johnny and Oliver."
Boris gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. "That back-stabbing bastard! Enrique knew it was part of the plan!"
He slammed his fist down on the desk. The papers fluttered up and scattered across the room. Boris sat down. "Damn. Tala was the best we had..."
Brian opened his eyes. A slight smirk crossed his features. "Do you want me to teach Enrique a lesson, Sir?"
Boris looked up at him, then slowly started to smile. "Yes...Yes, Brian, that is a wonderful idea. Teach Enrique some gratitude for those who give him a helping hand."
Still smirking, Brian uncoiled himself from the wall. "Very well, Sir."
He left the room, leaving Boris still smirking. "Emperor Enrique will meet his end."
~*~*~*~*
There was a knock on the door. Kai raised an eyebrow, then opened the door. The Chief was standing there, with all his headset and radio transmission equipment. "Message for General Hiwatari from the Emeperor," the small brunette said, tearing off the headset and handing it to Kai. The bluenette placed it on his head.
There was static, and then, he could make out someone's voice. "Hiwatari, are you there?"
It was Enrique, though the voice was barely recognizable. "Hai, Enrique."
"Listen up. Tala shot Oliver and Johnny -"
"Yes, Sir-"
"Shut up and just listen to me!"
Kai gritted his teeth and bit back a smart retort. "Tala shot Johnny and Oliver. I shot Tala. Tala was working for Boris. He was, in fact Boris's best agent. I'm almost sure Brian...you know Brian, right?"
"Hai."
"Good. I think Brian is working for Boris too. He's probably reported to Boris now. Boris likely wants me dead because I killed Tala."
"Sir?"
"I want you to kill Boris, Hiwatari. Brian can't recieve orders if the leader's dead, right?"
"Hai-"
"Good. Now get to it."
And there was static again. Kai handed the headset back to the Chief, who scurried off, as if afraid. Kai closed the door and slumped down on the bed. Something didn't quite add up here...Enrique's voice had held a note of urgency and Kai guessed that this whole mess ran deeper than Enrique was saying.
With a sigh, the blunette rolled over and curled up to try and get some sleep.
~*~*~*~*
The barracks were loud, the soldiers nattering amongst themselves. Micheal was growing increasingly annoyed, with paper airplanes and crumpled notes flying back and forth in front of his vision. Max, Tyson and the Chief were having a lively game of poker, each attempting to cheat and getting caught, which resulted in a loud yelling match. Steve and Carlos were having a fight, punching and hitting each other. Pedro was cheering Carlos on.
Micheal glanced around the room, then gritted his teeth and attempted to go back to his magazine. A paper ball hit him on the nose. He glared up at the room. "Who threw that?!"
The soldiers stopped and looked at him. Micheal ground his teeth. "I said, who threw that?!"
Again, nobody answered him. Micheal growled. "Tell me who threw it or you can all do sixty push-ups!"
Everyone in the room, with the exception of Tyson, Chief and himself, pointed at Max. Micheal glared at the blond. "Drop and give me twenty," he growled.
Max looked bewildered. "Me, Sir?" he asked, blinking his wide blue eyes.
"Yes, you! Now do it!"
The rest of the room resumed activity. Muttering to himself, Max started to carry out his punishement.
~*~*~*~*
Boris stalked through the rows of sleeping neko-jins, taking count of them. "Two-hundred sixty-four, two-hundred sixty-five-"
And then he paused, looking down at the new bunch, who were all huddled together. He smirked. They always did that, as if it were comforting to smell the fear eminating from everyone else. Boris blinked, his eyes settling on two neko-jins, sleeping very closely together. The older one had its arm across the smaller's back, as if trying to protect him from the world. Boris wondered. Was this a mother and her child? He peered closer. No, they were two boys and the older one was too young to be a father.
The elder neko-jin had his eyes open. He glanced at Boris, then pulled his gaze away quickly. Boris was enchanted by the golden gaze. Of course, gold was a common color for neko-jins' eyes, but this boy's eyes were...deeper, somehow. He looked as though he'd known great joy and great pain and sadness. He looked as if he knew all there was to know.
Boris grabbed the boy's wrist roughly and hauled him up. The neko-jin didn't make a sound and didn't look up from the floor. Boris pulled him away from the sleeping circle. Still, the neko-jin looked at the ground. Boris cupped the boy's cheek and made him look up.
The neko-jin was delicious. His eyes were like a golden lake - the waters looked so inviting and calm, but you couldn't tell how deep they went. They were set in a near perfect face framed by ebony silk. "What's your name?"
"Rei."
The voice was shy and quiet, like the summer breeze. "Who named you that?"
Rei didn't answer, but instead, glanced at the ground. "Hiwatari Kai named me that."
Boris didn't say anything. He looked at the neko-jin again, then decided that of course the General wouldn't have settled for a lesser creature to call his pet. Rei looked at him again, this time imploringly.
"Don't hurt him."
The neko-jin gestured to his sleeping companion. The statement was more of a plea than a command. Boris felt a smile soar across his face. "Then just do exactly as I say."
Rei looked unsure for a moment, then solid resolve flared up in his eyes. He nodded.
Boris smiled and led the neko-jin away, leaving Kevin sleeping on the ground, unknowing to the events.
~*~*~*~*
Kai stirred as early morning light filtered into the room. He sat up, rubbing slee from his eyes. He was amazed he'd slept at all, but his dreams had been polluted by dreams of Rei, of Mariah and of all the other neko-jins. He felt unrested.
Slowly, he crawled from the bed, putting his feet on the floor, creeping across it. He slunk over to the chair that had his luggage on it. He dug around in the single bag, then pulled his revolver from it. He loaded the gun, then dressed himself. Once he was dressed, he hid the gun on his person. He glanced out the window, then noticed it was a balcony.
He walked out onto the balcony, feeling the soft morning breeze brush by. The sun was rising over the calm waters of the sea, turning them golden-pink to match the sky. Kai took a deep breath, steadying himself. Today, Boris would meet his end.
Outside, everything was calm, while inside the abbey, a war was being fought.
~*~*~*~*~*
Benevolent Pharoh: I'm very glad you like the story. ^_^ I try to put a lot of emtion into the story so that people can connect with the characters. I love using description - if you have a good idea of the setting, character, etc.., it's easier to imagine what's going on and how it's happening. When I'm writing (and am inspired), I generally can see exactly what is going to happen inside my head. Like a movie. x__X I dunno how "soon" this is compared to your standards...but tis failry soon considering I haven't been updating this all too fast. Do I get a muffin? *looks hopeful*
And now, on with the concluding chapters of the fic!)
Dawn of Terror
Chapter 23: Impending Doom
Eddy sighed, wiping his forearm across his face as another wave crashed up against the dock and the wind whipped the salty sea-water into his eyes. He'd been instructed...well, voted actually, to stay on the dock and guard the boat. He didn't doubt it was just a way for the platoon to get rid of him - who in their right mind would try sailing away in this weather? And wasn't this inlet supposed to privately belong to Boris?
Micheal disliked him strongly, and apparently the new General...err, what was his name again?...Kai, that was right, disliked him too. Most of the others just didn't bother with him, but the little blond wasn't so bad...Max. He'd at least been nice to him. Max didn't care what Eddy looked like, and Eddy was glad of that. He just wished that the others were a little more like Max - a little less judgemental.
But they weren't, so he kept to himself and quiet and did what they told him and there'd be no trouble. Oh sure, there was the odd remark when he screwed up, but nothing too awful. Nothing like the last place he'd been. He'd been a slave there, with a cruel master who wouldn't be pleased and left the slaves to sleep outside in the cold...
Eddy shook his head. It was best to forget the past. The misdeed could be forgiven. He often told himself that the master had been like that merely because all his family was buried and he had no friends left. He was embittered to the world and the sin could be forgiven becuase the master had felt he'd been terribly wronged. Eddy knew he would have felt the same in the master's place.
The storm continued on, the wind whipping wildly and the sea heaving and swelling. There was a noise on deck and Eddy snapped to attention. "Who goes there?" he shouted, hefting his gun.
Frankie, the purple-haired captain appeared through the curtain of rain. "Ahoy there, soldier! Quit standing out in there rain like that and come on up. I've got some hot tea in the cabin."
She smiled at him and for a moment, Eddy thought that perhaps, she didn't know he was black. Then he realized that she did and she didn't care - she saw a human being standing on the dock, catching his death cold. Eddy felt a smile creep across his features. "Thank ya kindly, Ma'am."
He scurried up the ramp, back onto the soaked deck. Frankie smiled. "Nobody's gonna steal the ship tonight, so you might as well come in and get warm."
She led him back to the cabin, where there was hot tea, just as she'd said and some warmed over biscuts. She got Eddy a spare sailor's uniform, seeing as how his other uniform was soaked through and through. Eddy smiled brightly. "I'm thinking I like this uniform better than my other one."
Frankie sighed. Eddy frowned. "What's wrong, Ma'am?"
She looked seawards. "It's nothing, really."
"They don't want you to be captain anymore, do they?"
Frankie looked startled. "H-how did you know?"
Eddy shrugged. "Just a guess, Ma'am. They don't like you anymore than they like me."
Frankie nodded. "A woman shouldn't be sailing the seas - she should be at home, raising a family."
It sounded like she recited the sentence from a book. Eddy nodded. "And a black should be breakin' his back on some white's farm. It just isn't right."
Frankie nodded again. "It isn't."
~*~*~*~*~*
Kai eyed their guides suspiciously. There was Lupinex, who had an almost wolf-like apperance, and Sagounex, who was paler than the full moon and his eyes were even brighter red than Kai's. They were both sinister in appearance and Kai suppressed a shudder at what Boris must look like.
They walked down an empty corridor, the lights glaring down at them from overhead. Their shoes clicked on the floor. The farther down that passage they went, the more Kai wanted to turn around and run for his life.
Behind them, the neko-jins walked in a huddled throng, ears plastered to their heads, fangs bared, eyes slitted nervously. The only thing that kept them from bolting was the soldiers marching in the back, holding their bayonets to their backsides.
Lupinex held up a hand suddenly, which was more like a paw, the nails like sharp talons. Kai almost shivered. The wolf-like being faced the back, earning himself a couple of hisses. "Hush now," he said in his queer voice. "We have arrived. Boris awaits your arrival."
They started off again. They turned right and then, Lupinex opened a small wooden door on the left. Kai would have missed it altogether had it not been for Lupinex. He spoke again. "Keep your manners in tact or Master Boris may cut out your ungrateful tongue."
The threat hung heavy on the air and a few of the neko-jins whimpered in fright. Silently, Lupinex walked them into the room. They walked odnw another narrow passage way, that suddenly flared up into a huge empty room. In the midst of the vast stonework stood a middle-aged man, with chalk white skin and violet hair. He threw up his arms in greeting. "Welcome to my abbey!" he shouted and his voice echoed off the walls.
The neko-jins cowered and Kai couldn't blame them. The man's voice was ghastly. Boris walked forward, straight to Kai and shook the bluenette's hand. Kai winced. Boris's touch was like ice, freezing his blood in his veins. "General Hiwatari, I give my thanks to you and Enrique for getting the neko-jins here safely."
He looked Kai in the eye. "I trust that they are unharmed," he said, his gaze becoming dangerous.
"Three are dead on the voyage," Kai said, surprised to hear his voice so strong and unwavering, especially when his knees felt so weak.
Boris released Kai's hand. "Ah, but I suppose that was to be expected. Some are not made to endure the rigours of sea travel."
The pasty Russian turned and began to walk away. He glanced back over his shoulder. "If you will follow me..."
It was a command and Kai obeyed, stepping forward. The neko-jin crowd, prodded on by the bayonets of the soldiers, followed suit.
They walked through a door, down another narrow passage way, which was so narrow they had to walk single-file.
Kai shuddered when they walked out into another room, which was even bigger than the last. It had probably been some sort of ballroom in some long forgotten glory. But now...
It was a chamber of torture. A million deteriorating neko-jins looked up from the floor they were chained to. They looked ill-fed, ill-kmpt and their eyes shone out of their gaunt faces like beautiful gems - gold, purple, green - colours awash with a thousand days' plight and woe. Kai had to turn away from the sight of them, all their eyes, resting upon him.
They knew what he'd done. They knew he'd killed Mariah - that he'd let Li die, that he'd brought all these neko-jins here for the sake of himself. Their eyes asked him, "Why?", a question he could not answer.
Boris smiled and turned to the frightened mob of new neko-jins. "Welcome to your home."
And the grin on his face was sinister and revolting. Kai wanted to be sick. Boris glanced down at the young General, who had gotten rather pale-looking. "Does the sight of them disgust you, Hiwatari?"
Kai knew the question was meant in a different context, but he could not help but croak, "Yes."
They did disgust him - the thought of the poor creatures toiling away for days and days, without food, without sleep, without comfort.
Boris's hand was on his shoulder. "Then let us leave them, if they sicken you so."
With that, he led Kai and the soldiers away, shutting the door behind the petrified neko-jins. The door slammed shut and locked, like a death knoll.
~*~*~*~*
Rei heard every word that passed between Boris and Kai. He felt his heart break when Kai answered 'yes' to Boris's question. The door slammed shut behind them and Rei sat down on the floor, crushed and dumbfounded. Kai thought neko-jins were disgusting.
How could that be so? Rei suddenly felt very, very used. What right did Kai have to pretend he loved him? Rei clawed at a stone in the floor angrily, grinding his teeth together.
"Rei?"
The black-haired boy snapped out of his trance and glanced up at Kevin, who was peering timidly down at him. "What?"
"What do we do now?"
Rei sighed and rubbed his temples. "I don't know Kevin, I don't know."
He needed time - time to sort all this out. Suddenly, his emtions were running rampant and he couldn't control them. He tried to think clearly, but they hazed the edges of his thoguth, threw him off the train of his thought. He needed to get out of here - they all did, but how? And Kai, he was such a prick and- No, back to the plan, Rei, please try to stay on track, I know you're distracted but- How could Kai do this him? They needed to get out of here.
Kevin sat down beside him. "How are we going to get out of this mess?"
"I don't know."
~*~*~*~*
Boris sat in his office, pouring over some paper work. It was long past midnight and the abbey was dead silent. Everyone else was fast asleep in their beds...or on the floor as it were for some. The pen scratched over the paper rhythmically and then, the silence was broken by another, louder noise.
Boris blinked and glanced toward the door. "Come in," he said groggily.
He hadn't realized he'd been falling asleep. The door creaked open, allowing the lights to creep into the room and then, Brian stepped into the office, shutting the door behind him. He looked sullen, as always.
They stared at each other for a moment, before Boris sat back in his chair and said, "Well. What have you got to report?"
"Tala's dead."
Brian remained stoic as ever. Boris blinked in shock. "Dead? Are you sure?"
"I saw it with my own eyes. Enrique shot him."
Boris stodd up, anger blazing in his eyes. "Enrique?!"
Brian nodded and leaned against the door, closing his eyes. "According to Enrique, Tala killed Johnny and Oliver."
Boris gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. "That back-stabbing bastard! Enrique knew it was part of the plan!"
He slammed his fist down on the desk. The papers fluttered up and scattered across the room. Boris sat down. "Damn. Tala was the best we had..."
Brian opened his eyes. A slight smirk crossed his features. "Do you want me to teach Enrique a lesson, Sir?"
Boris looked up at him, then slowly started to smile. "Yes...Yes, Brian, that is a wonderful idea. Teach Enrique some gratitude for those who give him a helping hand."
Still smirking, Brian uncoiled himself from the wall. "Very well, Sir."
He left the room, leaving Boris still smirking. "Emperor Enrique will meet his end."
~*~*~*~*
There was a knock on the door. Kai raised an eyebrow, then opened the door. The Chief was standing there, with all his headset and radio transmission equipment. "Message for General Hiwatari from the Emeperor," the small brunette said, tearing off the headset and handing it to Kai. The bluenette placed it on his head.
There was static, and then, he could make out someone's voice. "Hiwatari, are you there?"
It was Enrique, though the voice was barely recognizable. "Hai, Enrique."
"Listen up. Tala shot Oliver and Johnny -"
"Yes, Sir-"
"Shut up and just listen to me!"
Kai gritted his teeth and bit back a smart retort. "Tala shot Johnny and Oliver. I shot Tala. Tala was working for Boris. He was, in fact Boris's best agent. I'm almost sure Brian...you know Brian, right?"
"Hai."
"Good. I think Brian is working for Boris too. He's probably reported to Boris now. Boris likely wants me dead because I killed Tala."
"Sir?"
"I want you to kill Boris, Hiwatari. Brian can't recieve orders if the leader's dead, right?"
"Hai-"
"Good. Now get to it."
And there was static again. Kai handed the headset back to the Chief, who scurried off, as if afraid. Kai closed the door and slumped down on the bed. Something didn't quite add up here...Enrique's voice had held a note of urgency and Kai guessed that this whole mess ran deeper than Enrique was saying.
With a sigh, the blunette rolled over and curled up to try and get some sleep.
~*~*~*~*
The barracks were loud, the soldiers nattering amongst themselves. Micheal was growing increasingly annoyed, with paper airplanes and crumpled notes flying back and forth in front of his vision. Max, Tyson and the Chief were having a lively game of poker, each attempting to cheat and getting caught, which resulted in a loud yelling match. Steve and Carlos were having a fight, punching and hitting each other. Pedro was cheering Carlos on.
Micheal glanced around the room, then gritted his teeth and attempted to go back to his magazine. A paper ball hit him on the nose. He glared up at the room. "Who threw that?!"
The soldiers stopped and looked at him. Micheal ground his teeth. "I said, who threw that?!"
Again, nobody answered him. Micheal growled. "Tell me who threw it or you can all do sixty push-ups!"
Everyone in the room, with the exception of Tyson, Chief and himself, pointed at Max. Micheal glared at the blond. "Drop and give me twenty," he growled.
Max looked bewildered. "Me, Sir?" he asked, blinking his wide blue eyes.
"Yes, you! Now do it!"
The rest of the room resumed activity. Muttering to himself, Max started to carry out his punishement.
~*~*~*~*
Boris stalked through the rows of sleeping neko-jins, taking count of them. "Two-hundred sixty-four, two-hundred sixty-five-"
And then he paused, looking down at the new bunch, who were all huddled together. He smirked. They always did that, as if it were comforting to smell the fear eminating from everyone else. Boris blinked, his eyes settling on two neko-jins, sleeping very closely together. The older one had its arm across the smaller's back, as if trying to protect him from the world. Boris wondered. Was this a mother and her child? He peered closer. No, they were two boys and the older one was too young to be a father.
The elder neko-jin had his eyes open. He glanced at Boris, then pulled his gaze away quickly. Boris was enchanted by the golden gaze. Of course, gold was a common color for neko-jins' eyes, but this boy's eyes were...deeper, somehow. He looked as though he'd known great joy and great pain and sadness. He looked as if he knew all there was to know.
Boris grabbed the boy's wrist roughly and hauled him up. The neko-jin didn't make a sound and didn't look up from the floor. Boris pulled him away from the sleeping circle. Still, the neko-jin looked at the ground. Boris cupped the boy's cheek and made him look up.
The neko-jin was delicious. His eyes were like a golden lake - the waters looked so inviting and calm, but you couldn't tell how deep they went. They were set in a near perfect face framed by ebony silk. "What's your name?"
"Rei."
The voice was shy and quiet, like the summer breeze. "Who named you that?"
Rei didn't answer, but instead, glanced at the ground. "Hiwatari Kai named me that."
Boris didn't say anything. He looked at the neko-jin again, then decided that of course the General wouldn't have settled for a lesser creature to call his pet. Rei looked at him again, this time imploringly.
"Don't hurt him."
The neko-jin gestured to his sleeping companion. The statement was more of a plea than a command. Boris felt a smile soar across his face. "Then just do exactly as I say."
Rei looked unsure for a moment, then solid resolve flared up in his eyes. He nodded.
Boris smiled and led the neko-jin away, leaving Kevin sleeping on the ground, unknowing to the events.
~*~*~*~*
Kai stirred as early morning light filtered into the room. He sat up, rubbing slee from his eyes. He was amazed he'd slept at all, but his dreams had been polluted by dreams of Rei, of Mariah and of all the other neko-jins. He felt unrested.
Slowly, he crawled from the bed, putting his feet on the floor, creeping across it. He slunk over to the chair that had his luggage on it. He dug around in the single bag, then pulled his revolver from it. He loaded the gun, then dressed himself. Once he was dressed, he hid the gun on his person. He glanced out the window, then noticed it was a balcony.
He walked out onto the balcony, feeling the soft morning breeze brush by. The sun was rising over the calm waters of the sea, turning them golden-pink to match the sky. Kai took a deep breath, steadying himself. Today, Boris would meet his end.
Outside, everything was calm, while inside the abbey, a war was being fought.
~*~*~*~*~*