Truth & Consequences
A/N: @_# No jokes for today, just the one line: DAMN *&#@$ING HOMOPHONES.
...
And now, to our sponsors.
Disclaimer: We have no sponsors, it was all a lie. And we don't own Weiss Kreuz, either. Hell, we don't even know why're we're talking like this--- we just are! o.o
**********
Truth & Consequences
**********
It was nearly noon when Hel came to get Schoen from the bathroom and have a talk with her. The blonde---infamous for her beauty---had hidden there in an attempt to not only cleanse herself and spruce up a bit, but to mull things over and clear her mind.
And then Hel decided that they need a 'talk'.
'Well, damn,' Schoen thought. 'Couldn't she have at least waited until I was finished?' Towelling off her wet hair while walking down numerous hallways and darkened passages, only steps behind her leader, the blonde groaned loudly and rolled her eyes. Hel hadn't even given her time to dress! Whatever this was about, it had better be important---Schoen still had things to do and a certain prisoner to torment.
And now she'd have to wait on all of it.
Great...
"What's all this about, Hel?" Schoen asked, finally fed up with all of the waling. It would've been a far different story if she'd had shoes on---but walking barefoot? Down so many halls? And dripping wet to boot?
It all added up to make for a very angry blonde.
The dark-haired scientist looked at Schoen from the corner of her eye, never bothering to stop walking even once. "You'll find out soon enough," was the reply she recieved, which angered her almost as much as being interrupted.
If it was one thing Schoen was known for, it was her temper. It even surpassed her poise and her looks---yes, even before that nasty little cat had sharpened his claws on her. What was that old saying again? 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned'?
Ha. More like, 'Hell hath no fury like THIS woman scorned'.
And that Weiss member was going to feel it all, too.
"Either you tell me what this is about," the blonde-haired beauty hissed in a dangerously low, silky voice, "or we won't be talking at all. Aoi."
Hel bristled visibly at the use of her real name. For the first time, she stopped her forward momentum and turned around slowly, her icy glare cold enough to make the hairs on the back of Schoen's neck prickle. The scientist didn't usually get this riled up---something was up.
And Schoen wanted to know what it was.
"Unless you speak civilly, Karen," Hel muttered, her voice mirroring Schoen's low and silky qualities, "you will find that I, too, am capable of a temper. And don't start," she added, eyeing Schoen's narrowing eyes, "on that ridiculous notation about you already being civil. Because you weren't."
Schoen couldn't help but snap at this point. "And you were?"
"As much fun as this discussion is," the leader of team Schreient cut in bitterly, "I think it best to end it. Now." Her opinion final, Hel spun around and marched off at what seemed to be double time.
The sharp tone and decisiveness of the word struck Schoen harder than any blow could have. Still bitter, she clenched her fists and continued after her leader, though a bit slower than before, and with a definate sway.
Oh, she'd follow Hel, all right.
But she'd take her damn time doing it, too.
**********
Four hours later saw Hel alone in her office. Talking with Schoen---if one could call that heated argument 'talking'---hadn't gone as smoothly as she would've liked, and the large wet spots on the floor seemed to be proof of that fact.
Then again, she reminded herself, when did things ever go smoothly around here?
Once again, it seemed, she'd let her temper get the best of her. Hel snarled, anger once again rising inside her. Why couldn't her team go three minutes without fighting? Things hadn't been this way when Masafumi was here!
Then again, they were all alone now, so to speak. And---she knew this was true of Schoen---anger was a way of relieving the grief of his current state. And it more than accounted for the scene that had exploded in this room hours before...
**********
"What do you mean you're not going to kill him?!" an outraged blonde had shrieked indignantly. "Do you remember what he did to me?! To us?!"
"Of course I remember!" Hel had yelled back. "I was there! I'm only aying that we can't afford to kill him off, and---!"
"Of course we can afford to! That's our plan, to get rid of them, we can't just---!"
"We're not ready for that yet, don't you want to---!"
"Why don't you listen for once, AOI, and you'll know what I want---!"
"Don't you call me that, Karen! I know you want revenge, but it will just have to wait a little longer, and---!"
Enough was enough.
"SHUT UP!" Schoen bellowed, slamming her fist onto the table hard enough to actually overturn it. Hel had gasped, but the blonde wasn't finished yet. With one hand tightly holding her towel in place around herself, she took one very slow, deep breath and cast her darkest glare at her team leader.
"Do not underestimate me, Hel," she seethed. "I am not a Barbie doll, and you do not have control over how and if I take my revenge."
And that's when she'd stormed out, slamming the door hard enough to knock photographs and certificates off the walls.
**********
The blonde's temper was getting the best of her again, Hel had noted. And her obsessiveness.
Schoen had never taken lightly to being subservient to anyone, least of all Hel. And why should she? She was treated as an equal by Masafumi, probably for the first time. As a model, she'd been above everyone---and then Weiss had come along.
And that brunette had ruined things.
He'd forced Schoen to realize that the world did not revolve around her. And---while Hel knew this was a painful realization, albeit a truthful one-- -she also knew that Schoen had become obsessed with proving him wrong.
But what was her basis for revenge, after all?
It had been what their argument was about, and---if Hel or Schoen didn't eventually break and make-up---it might tear the team apart---and that was a huge no-no. It was crucial to stick together in times like this.
Hel sighed, removing her glasses and tossing them onto her desk before rubbing her temples slowly. She was damn tired of this.
"If Schoen doesn't get over this," she muttered, closing her eyes, "I suppose it will be duty to close the gap."
... damn.
It was time to go 'visiting' again.
**********
Elsewhere in the mansion...
"Stupid, bratty, obnoxious, overestimated, dimwitted, shameless wench!" Schoen hissed, slamming her heels onto the stairs as she forced her way down. Each step---sorry, stomp---rang out in the darkness, accenting her words and her anger.
"How dare she tell me that... !"
She paused, somewhere in the middle of the stairs down to the dungeons where she'd beaten the defenseless Weiss kitten the night before, and took a deep breath. Just because she couldn't kill him didn't mean she couldn't have her fun with him. As long as he didn't die, right?
"Hi, Schoen!"
The blonde raised an eyebrow as Tot and Mr. Bunny came skipping up the steps, holding an empty breakfast tray and several very dirty dishes.
"Tot.. " Schoen began slowly, making sure to catch the other girl's eye. "What have you been doing down here?"
"Breakfast!" the teen replied innocently.
The blonde didn't miss a beat. "What breakfast? You ate earlier, remember?"
Tot nodded, so Schoen tried again.
"So what? Don't tell me you ate twice!"
"Nope!"
The blonde narrowed her eyes. It was bad enough getting told off by Hel, was Tot going to act evasive now? Not on Schoen's watch!
"So why do you have that tray, hmmm?" Schoen's eyes widened in realization. "Oh, no---tell me you didn't---!"
"Didn't what, Schoen?" Tot asked, blinking.
"Didn't feed him!"
"Oh, okay, I won't!"
Ignoring the horrified look on her older 'sister''s face, Tot stepped past her and continued skipping up the steps, making idle conversation with her rabbit. Schoen, however, stood frozen on the stairs.
It... didn't make sense.
They knew she hated him; no, hate wasn't strong enough. She loathed him, and they still fed him? Treating him like a wonderfully normal houseguest (minus the chains)?
And to go behind her back, and never bother telling her... ?
Hel was so dead.
But this guy was first.
"This has to be your lucky day, Weiss," Schoen called from her place on the stairs, careful not to let her voice waver at all. She could hear metal grinding, and grinned: ahh, so he was looking for her? Let him look. She wasn't about to move into his line of vision any time soon.
"In fact, I think it may have just gotten a bit luckier."
She could almost hear him struggle not to say anything snide. He knew what the cost of being rude was now, but he was definately a snippy one!
'Fighting back the urge to ask just how lucky? Fine then, I'll tell you... '
"It seems you're more important than you realize, Weiss." Again, more clinking sounds. Schoen waited for the noises to cease before continuing.
"It seems they won't let me finish you off just yet---so if you're not already thanking your lucky stars, you'd better start."
Smiling, and actually feeling much better, Schoen descended down the stairs further, allowing him to perhaps catch a glimpse of her skirt and heels. It wasn't enough to merely discourage him from hoping: no, she wanted to break his spirits, crush them until the only thing he could have left to hope for was death, and even that would be a long time in coming.
Mayhap there was more to this long and drawn-out thing than she'd first realized...
"Admit it, you're afraid. You still think you'll be saved, don't you? Some sort of hellish retribution against us, hmm? I've got news for you," she murmured, smile turning into a devilish sneer. "No one will come and save you. You're simply not worth the effort that would take."
So what if it was a lie. So what if Weiss would come eventually. By then, it would already be too late. Might as well make him regret ever becoming an assassin as long as he was still around, right?
"I hate you."
Schoen raised an eyebrow. So, he was finally ready to start talking back? Fine! It would give her more practice with both her temper and her whip, then.
"Good to know, Weiss!" Laughing, she descended fully down the staircase, sauntering over to his glowering form as sweetly as a model-turned-killer could.
"I'm sure that will show up on a game show someday... "
The brunette glared up at her, and Schoen smiled. Now was as good a time as ever to start prodding him for information, right? And---since starvation was obviously not in the cards---perhaps a bit of 'playing' could help?
The woman spun around, her back facing her prisoner. If he could see the anger etched in her face, she reasoned, he might be able to use it against her.
Which was a major no-no.
"I'll ask you once," she said, her voice soft but cold. "Tell me your name, age, and rank."
"What do I look like, a soldier?" he spat out, voice dripping in rage. Schoen twitched slightly, but managed to stay cool. After all, she was the one who'd planned this---and she'd be damned before she let someone else take on her role!
"Don't make me repeat myself, now answer!"
Silence.
"You're in no position to fight me on this, you know," she said airily, as though it were something anyone could say in decent conversation. "Who knows? The more you talk, the longer you'll be of use to us."
She could sense his apprehension. Truth be told, she already had a vague idea of who he really was---hey, you weren't a famous model for years without knowing a few things about people!
A very bitter silence followed, and Schoen knew that the man behind her was chewing the information as best he could. He'd have to stomach it or he'd be beaten; really, how long did he think his body could go before he snapped?
And they always snapped.
No exceptions.
**********
"I'm waiting."
Ken looked at her back, mentally screaming as many insults as he could even think of. If he didn't answer quickly, he'd get more of what he'd recieved last night, and his body was in no shape for that! He hadn't even had time to properly lick his wounds from his last encounter with this one, and here he was now, faced with the chance to triple the pain!
And her tone was another thing entirely. No emotion, save for loathing. And a certain sharpness that seemed more ominous than not.
He'd have to think quickly to escape this mess. Especially considering rthe Schreient technology! They could find out... things... which were probably best left alone.
... damn.
"Don't tell me you can't find your voice, Weiss, you're the only kitty here, so I know you've got your tongue."
Ken grimaced. Damn! How many more of those blasted cat things did she have, anyway? No matter. He'd best talk.
There was still that small sliver of chance, afterall...
Ken sighed, closing his eyes. He knew when he was defeated. He knew when it was a waste of time to fight. The tables would never turn in his favor, not with this one as his personal guard.
"Siberian," he muttered at last, the sudden sound of his voice causing the golden-haired woman to spin around again. "I'm Siberian."
She snickered---definitely not a good thing. "And I'm Masafumi's secretary. Now shut up about that damn codename of yours and try again."
So she knew. Ken paused, trying to think the pros and cons of it all.
Pros - He'd live, Weiss would find him eventually, and he could more or less escape without much more damage done to his being.
Cons - They'd know who he was, they'd be able to track him, everyone he knew could be in danger.
Then again, he didn't have that option any longer.
Ken's eyes shone in realization: he could lie. He could say he was someone different---Kase Koichiro, maybe---and they might never know.
Or maybe they would.
Did he really want to risk his life on that lie?
The woman sighed loudly, ripping his attentiion away from his train of thought. She'd crossed her arms over her chest---a place Ken knew he should stop looking at, and soon---and was now drumming her fingers along her arm. Definately not the posture of a patient girl.
"I told you once," she muttered, eyes lowering to glare down at him as if he were some sort of insect that she'd eventually trod on. "I'll not ask again. So either you tell me---" she pulled her arms free and held them up, revealing her whip "---or you will pay for your insubordination."
Well!
Wasn't that the best deal he'd been made all day?
"Fine!" Ken grunted, looking away from her. It was painful enough to have to admit defeat, but he didn't really have to look it in the face, did he? And be reminded of what he was losing? "You win. I'll tell you my name."
She smiled, a sadistic grin that quite suited her, in Ken's not-so humble opinion. He knew she was waiting. Closing his eyes and keeping his head turned away from her, he muttered out; "Ken. Hidaka Ken."
"What was that? I couldn't hear you. Speak up, muttering isn't very polite, you know!"
Ken forced himself to keep his insults to himself and clenched his eyes even tighter. "Hidaka Ken," he growled again, and the woman sighed.
"Is that as loud as you can get? Tsk, tsk, what nasty manners you've got. Perhaps a dose of pain can fix that... ?"
She pulled her arm back, whip at the ready. It made a crackling noise as she whizzed it past his ear. Whether she'd meant to miss or not, the point made was very clear.
"MY NAME IS KEN!!" the man roared, eyes flashing with malice as he spun to face her, and the woman laughed.
"So... you're Ken then, hmm?" He nodded, never once letting her have the satisfaction of hearing him speak again. He'd already lost his identity--- what next?
Ken already knew the answer to that question, of course.
His life.
**********
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A/N: ^^;; No beating---sorry! But there will be blood in the next chapter. I hope... o_O And a bad Mattel joke or two. And the possibility of the formation of the plot! *shock horror gasp*
Ain't I fun? XD
---Gangsta Videl
A/N: @_# No jokes for today, just the one line: DAMN *&#@$ING HOMOPHONES.
...
And now, to our sponsors.
Disclaimer: We have no sponsors, it was all a lie. And we don't own Weiss Kreuz, either. Hell, we don't even know why're we're talking like this--- we just are! o.o
**********
Truth & Consequences
**********
It was nearly noon when Hel came to get Schoen from the bathroom and have a talk with her. The blonde---infamous for her beauty---had hidden there in an attempt to not only cleanse herself and spruce up a bit, but to mull things over and clear her mind.
And then Hel decided that they need a 'talk'.
'Well, damn,' Schoen thought. 'Couldn't she have at least waited until I was finished?' Towelling off her wet hair while walking down numerous hallways and darkened passages, only steps behind her leader, the blonde groaned loudly and rolled her eyes. Hel hadn't even given her time to dress! Whatever this was about, it had better be important---Schoen still had things to do and a certain prisoner to torment.
And now she'd have to wait on all of it.
Great...
"What's all this about, Hel?" Schoen asked, finally fed up with all of the waling. It would've been a far different story if she'd had shoes on---but walking barefoot? Down so many halls? And dripping wet to boot?
It all added up to make for a very angry blonde.
The dark-haired scientist looked at Schoen from the corner of her eye, never bothering to stop walking even once. "You'll find out soon enough," was the reply she recieved, which angered her almost as much as being interrupted.
If it was one thing Schoen was known for, it was her temper. It even surpassed her poise and her looks---yes, even before that nasty little cat had sharpened his claws on her. What was that old saying again? 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned'?
Ha. More like, 'Hell hath no fury like THIS woman scorned'.
And that Weiss member was going to feel it all, too.
"Either you tell me what this is about," the blonde-haired beauty hissed in a dangerously low, silky voice, "or we won't be talking at all. Aoi."
Hel bristled visibly at the use of her real name. For the first time, she stopped her forward momentum and turned around slowly, her icy glare cold enough to make the hairs on the back of Schoen's neck prickle. The scientist didn't usually get this riled up---something was up.
And Schoen wanted to know what it was.
"Unless you speak civilly, Karen," Hel muttered, her voice mirroring Schoen's low and silky qualities, "you will find that I, too, am capable of a temper. And don't start," she added, eyeing Schoen's narrowing eyes, "on that ridiculous notation about you already being civil. Because you weren't."
Schoen couldn't help but snap at this point. "And you were?"
"As much fun as this discussion is," the leader of team Schreient cut in bitterly, "I think it best to end it. Now." Her opinion final, Hel spun around and marched off at what seemed to be double time.
The sharp tone and decisiveness of the word struck Schoen harder than any blow could have. Still bitter, she clenched her fists and continued after her leader, though a bit slower than before, and with a definate sway.
Oh, she'd follow Hel, all right.
But she'd take her damn time doing it, too.
**********
Four hours later saw Hel alone in her office. Talking with Schoen---if one could call that heated argument 'talking'---hadn't gone as smoothly as she would've liked, and the large wet spots on the floor seemed to be proof of that fact.
Then again, she reminded herself, when did things ever go smoothly around here?
Once again, it seemed, she'd let her temper get the best of her. Hel snarled, anger once again rising inside her. Why couldn't her team go three minutes without fighting? Things hadn't been this way when Masafumi was here!
Then again, they were all alone now, so to speak. And---she knew this was true of Schoen---anger was a way of relieving the grief of his current state. And it more than accounted for the scene that had exploded in this room hours before...
**********
"What do you mean you're not going to kill him?!" an outraged blonde had shrieked indignantly. "Do you remember what he did to me?! To us?!"
"Of course I remember!" Hel had yelled back. "I was there! I'm only aying that we can't afford to kill him off, and---!"
"Of course we can afford to! That's our plan, to get rid of them, we can't just---!"
"We're not ready for that yet, don't you want to---!"
"Why don't you listen for once, AOI, and you'll know what I want---!"
"Don't you call me that, Karen! I know you want revenge, but it will just have to wait a little longer, and---!"
Enough was enough.
"SHUT UP!" Schoen bellowed, slamming her fist onto the table hard enough to actually overturn it. Hel had gasped, but the blonde wasn't finished yet. With one hand tightly holding her towel in place around herself, she took one very slow, deep breath and cast her darkest glare at her team leader.
"Do not underestimate me, Hel," she seethed. "I am not a Barbie doll, and you do not have control over how and if I take my revenge."
And that's when she'd stormed out, slamming the door hard enough to knock photographs and certificates off the walls.
**********
The blonde's temper was getting the best of her again, Hel had noted. And her obsessiveness.
Schoen had never taken lightly to being subservient to anyone, least of all Hel. And why should she? She was treated as an equal by Masafumi, probably for the first time. As a model, she'd been above everyone---and then Weiss had come along.
And that brunette had ruined things.
He'd forced Schoen to realize that the world did not revolve around her. And---while Hel knew this was a painful realization, albeit a truthful one-- -she also knew that Schoen had become obsessed with proving him wrong.
But what was her basis for revenge, after all?
It had been what their argument was about, and---if Hel or Schoen didn't eventually break and make-up---it might tear the team apart---and that was a huge no-no. It was crucial to stick together in times like this.
Hel sighed, removing her glasses and tossing them onto her desk before rubbing her temples slowly. She was damn tired of this.
"If Schoen doesn't get over this," she muttered, closing her eyes, "I suppose it will be duty to close the gap."
... damn.
It was time to go 'visiting' again.
**********
Elsewhere in the mansion...
"Stupid, bratty, obnoxious, overestimated, dimwitted, shameless wench!" Schoen hissed, slamming her heels onto the stairs as she forced her way down. Each step---sorry, stomp---rang out in the darkness, accenting her words and her anger.
"How dare she tell me that... !"
She paused, somewhere in the middle of the stairs down to the dungeons where she'd beaten the defenseless Weiss kitten the night before, and took a deep breath. Just because she couldn't kill him didn't mean she couldn't have her fun with him. As long as he didn't die, right?
"Hi, Schoen!"
The blonde raised an eyebrow as Tot and Mr. Bunny came skipping up the steps, holding an empty breakfast tray and several very dirty dishes.
"Tot.. " Schoen began slowly, making sure to catch the other girl's eye. "What have you been doing down here?"
"Breakfast!" the teen replied innocently.
The blonde didn't miss a beat. "What breakfast? You ate earlier, remember?"
Tot nodded, so Schoen tried again.
"So what? Don't tell me you ate twice!"
"Nope!"
The blonde narrowed her eyes. It was bad enough getting told off by Hel, was Tot going to act evasive now? Not on Schoen's watch!
"So why do you have that tray, hmmm?" Schoen's eyes widened in realization. "Oh, no---tell me you didn't---!"
"Didn't what, Schoen?" Tot asked, blinking.
"Didn't feed him!"
"Oh, okay, I won't!"
Ignoring the horrified look on her older 'sister''s face, Tot stepped past her and continued skipping up the steps, making idle conversation with her rabbit. Schoen, however, stood frozen on the stairs.
It... didn't make sense.
They knew she hated him; no, hate wasn't strong enough. She loathed him, and they still fed him? Treating him like a wonderfully normal houseguest (minus the chains)?
And to go behind her back, and never bother telling her... ?
Hel was so dead.
But this guy was first.
"This has to be your lucky day, Weiss," Schoen called from her place on the stairs, careful not to let her voice waver at all. She could hear metal grinding, and grinned: ahh, so he was looking for her? Let him look. She wasn't about to move into his line of vision any time soon.
"In fact, I think it may have just gotten a bit luckier."
She could almost hear him struggle not to say anything snide. He knew what the cost of being rude was now, but he was definately a snippy one!
'Fighting back the urge to ask just how lucky? Fine then, I'll tell you... '
"It seems you're more important than you realize, Weiss." Again, more clinking sounds. Schoen waited for the noises to cease before continuing.
"It seems they won't let me finish you off just yet---so if you're not already thanking your lucky stars, you'd better start."
Smiling, and actually feeling much better, Schoen descended down the stairs further, allowing him to perhaps catch a glimpse of her skirt and heels. It wasn't enough to merely discourage him from hoping: no, she wanted to break his spirits, crush them until the only thing he could have left to hope for was death, and even that would be a long time in coming.
Mayhap there was more to this long and drawn-out thing than she'd first realized...
"Admit it, you're afraid. You still think you'll be saved, don't you? Some sort of hellish retribution against us, hmm? I've got news for you," she murmured, smile turning into a devilish sneer. "No one will come and save you. You're simply not worth the effort that would take."
So what if it was a lie. So what if Weiss would come eventually. By then, it would already be too late. Might as well make him regret ever becoming an assassin as long as he was still around, right?
"I hate you."
Schoen raised an eyebrow. So, he was finally ready to start talking back? Fine! It would give her more practice with both her temper and her whip, then.
"Good to know, Weiss!" Laughing, she descended fully down the staircase, sauntering over to his glowering form as sweetly as a model-turned-killer could.
"I'm sure that will show up on a game show someday... "
The brunette glared up at her, and Schoen smiled. Now was as good a time as ever to start prodding him for information, right? And---since starvation was obviously not in the cards---perhaps a bit of 'playing' could help?
The woman spun around, her back facing her prisoner. If he could see the anger etched in her face, she reasoned, he might be able to use it against her.
Which was a major no-no.
"I'll ask you once," she said, her voice soft but cold. "Tell me your name, age, and rank."
"What do I look like, a soldier?" he spat out, voice dripping in rage. Schoen twitched slightly, but managed to stay cool. After all, she was the one who'd planned this---and she'd be damned before she let someone else take on her role!
"Don't make me repeat myself, now answer!"
Silence.
"You're in no position to fight me on this, you know," she said airily, as though it were something anyone could say in decent conversation. "Who knows? The more you talk, the longer you'll be of use to us."
She could sense his apprehension. Truth be told, she already had a vague idea of who he really was---hey, you weren't a famous model for years without knowing a few things about people!
A very bitter silence followed, and Schoen knew that the man behind her was chewing the information as best he could. He'd have to stomach it or he'd be beaten; really, how long did he think his body could go before he snapped?
And they always snapped.
No exceptions.
**********
"I'm waiting."
Ken looked at her back, mentally screaming as many insults as he could even think of. If he didn't answer quickly, he'd get more of what he'd recieved last night, and his body was in no shape for that! He hadn't even had time to properly lick his wounds from his last encounter with this one, and here he was now, faced with the chance to triple the pain!
And her tone was another thing entirely. No emotion, save for loathing. And a certain sharpness that seemed more ominous than not.
He'd have to think quickly to escape this mess. Especially considering rthe Schreient technology! They could find out... things... which were probably best left alone.
... damn.
"Don't tell me you can't find your voice, Weiss, you're the only kitty here, so I know you've got your tongue."
Ken grimaced. Damn! How many more of those blasted cat things did she have, anyway? No matter. He'd best talk.
There was still that small sliver of chance, afterall...
Ken sighed, closing his eyes. He knew when he was defeated. He knew when it was a waste of time to fight. The tables would never turn in his favor, not with this one as his personal guard.
"Siberian," he muttered at last, the sudden sound of his voice causing the golden-haired woman to spin around again. "I'm Siberian."
She snickered---definitely not a good thing. "And I'm Masafumi's secretary. Now shut up about that damn codename of yours and try again."
So she knew. Ken paused, trying to think the pros and cons of it all.
Pros - He'd live, Weiss would find him eventually, and he could more or less escape without much more damage done to his being.
Cons - They'd know who he was, they'd be able to track him, everyone he knew could be in danger.
Then again, he didn't have that option any longer.
Ken's eyes shone in realization: he could lie. He could say he was someone different---Kase Koichiro, maybe---and they might never know.
Or maybe they would.
Did he really want to risk his life on that lie?
The woman sighed loudly, ripping his attentiion away from his train of thought. She'd crossed her arms over her chest---a place Ken knew he should stop looking at, and soon---and was now drumming her fingers along her arm. Definately not the posture of a patient girl.
"I told you once," she muttered, eyes lowering to glare down at him as if he were some sort of insect that she'd eventually trod on. "I'll not ask again. So either you tell me---" she pulled her arms free and held them up, revealing her whip "---or you will pay for your insubordination."
Well!
Wasn't that the best deal he'd been made all day?
"Fine!" Ken grunted, looking away from her. It was painful enough to have to admit defeat, but he didn't really have to look it in the face, did he? And be reminded of what he was losing? "You win. I'll tell you my name."
She smiled, a sadistic grin that quite suited her, in Ken's not-so humble opinion. He knew she was waiting. Closing his eyes and keeping his head turned away from her, he muttered out; "Ken. Hidaka Ken."
"What was that? I couldn't hear you. Speak up, muttering isn't very polite, you know!"
Ken forced himself to keep his insults to himself and clenched his eyes even tighter. "Hidaka Ken," he growled again, and the woman sighed.
"Is that as loud as you can get? Tsk, tsk, what nasty manners you've got. Perhaps a dose of pain can fix that... ?"
She pulled her arm back, whip at the ready. It made a crackling noise as she whizzed it past his ear. Whether she'd meant to miss or not, the point made was very clear.
"MY NAME IS KEN!!" the man roared, eyes flashing with malice as he spun to face her, and the woman laughed.
"So... you're Ken then, hmm?" He nodded, never once letting her have the satisfaction of hearing him speak again. He'd already lost his identity--- what next?
Ken already knew the answer to that question, of course.
His life.
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A/N: ^^;; No beating---sorry! But there will be blood in the next chapter. I hope... o_O And a bad Mattel joke or two. And the possibility of the formation of the plot! *shock horror gasp*
Ain't I fun? XD
---Gangsta Videl