Kidnapped Revisited
By Mari-Chan
May, June 2003
Warnings: Au. Violence, Rape, Assault. Pairings: None that we would want. Fontina x Omi, Faceless men x Omi
Chapter 3: Down to the Wire
The flower shop had opened as usual, although with one less person working, the place seemed to be crazier than ever. The door chimed and Yohji looked up.
"Welcome to Kitten In the.. Manx, what are you doing here?"
Manx stood in the doorway dressed in jeans and a t-shirt.
"Figured you could use an extra set of hands today," she replied as she walked past Yohji and took an apron from the hook.
Yohji smiled. "Thanks."
Of course the big question of the day was "Where is Omi?" Aya had decided that telling them Omi was taking a college entrance exam was the best way to go. That way the girls would not ask to see him.
Once a lull took over the shop, Manx used the time to get an update.
"We have not heard from them yet," Aya said. "So technically we are still waiting for them to play their hand."
"I have a few favors I called in to other operatives in the underground rings, just in case someone slips up and says the wrong thing to the wrong person."
She looked to the others. "Don't worry, we will find him."
*
As usual, Omi's nap did not last very long. However, this time when he opened his eyes, he was looking up at the ceiling. It took him a moment to realize that the cross was now horizontal. 'When did this happen?' It took him another moment to notice that he was surrounded.
A voice spoke from the corner of the room, and Omi lifted his head to see who had spoken. Fontina stood off to one side looking at the four goons.
"How much time till Sanchi gets back?"
"Two, three hours. Maybe less."
She smiled a leering sneer.
"Good, that's enough time. Leave us."
The four men left the room, making wisecracks as they went. Omi picked up pieces of the conversation, but decided that he didn't want to know, although, judging by the look on her face, he feared that he was about to find out.
Fontina made sure the door was closed and locked behind her. She sauntered over to Omi and pondered him for a moment.
"So, you're what..20, 22?"
Omi looked at her. "Almost 18," he replied, noting the registration of surprise on her face.
"Oh, so young, so." she trailed off as her finger moved over his lips, "Soft."
Omi actually felt a cold chill run the length of his spine.
"I was your age once." She sighed.
'Yeah, the stone age.' Omi thought, listening to her.
"I was a good girl back then, no sex, boys, fun." As she spoke she slowly ran her hand down Omi's face, neck and onto his chest. "I never got to experience a young man."
Omi's mind was way ahead of her speech, his inner alarms going crazy. This was not good; he really was not in the mood to be someone's toy. Mentally, he attempted to shut down any sensation receptors he could.
Tina continued her soliloquy to an audience of one. She leaned back up over Omi's face and brought her lips close to his.
"I got my first kiss when I was 21," she said lowering her head down to close the gap between them. "Have you had yours yet? I can change that."
Omi clamped his lips closed as hers came down, then he turned his face away.
Her face bumped his bruised cheek, causing a flinch.
"Well," she said. "That's the way you want to play, huh?"
"I don't want to play at all," Omi said quietly.
"Too bad," she spat. "I need something to do while I am left here waiting for his royal highness to notice me."
She paused, the look in her eyes changing.
"I have given everything up for that man, and how does he repay me?" she said gruffly, as she stepped down the length of the cross, coming to stand between Omi's stretched legs. She lifted her face to meet Omi's line of sight, the look of pure evil filling her eyes.
"I'm taking what I want."
She pushed her hands under Omi's hips, deftly squeezing the flesh in her hands. Omi yelped as nails pinched through fabric.
Trying to struggle against the bonds, Omi could do nothing but scream.
"Stop it!" he yelled.
One hand removed itself and reappeared at the section that still remained intact of his waistband. The button quickly being undone and the fabric roughly pushed aside and down, exposing him.
At eighteen years of age, Omi was still not very well versed in the ways of love, but he was sure that this was not how it was supposed to be. His mind was pushed back to reality as a hand wrapped itself around hardening flesh.
She smiled up at Omi. "That's what I like about the male body. It has a mind of its own. It wants to play even when its inhabitant doesn't." She held his gaze as she slid her hand up and down.
Omi wanted to scream, but knew it would do no good. Instead, as a warm mouth enveloped him, he cleared his mind and dragged himself to a better place. She might take his body, but he would not give her the satisfaction of enjoyment.
Unnoticed, Omi slipped into unconsciousness.
*
Omi awoke once again in darkness, flat on his back, and in a lot of pain. Not really knowing what else had been done to him in the time he was unconscious, he chose to enjoy the silence for now. His stomach's groaning broke the silence and he exhaled loudly.
The door to his room opened and one of the four men walked in. Omi lifted his head, the light from the hallway causing him to squint the shape of the person into focus
"How are you feeling?" a voice asked. "Fontina worked you over pretty good."
Omi actually felt his lips pull into a faint smile. "If that's what you call rape, then yeah, I guess."
The man didn't answer, instead hitting a button on the wall in front of the cross. With a lurch, the metal cross began to rise up to a standing position. Once vertical again, Omi felt the blood run back down to his feet. He watched nervously as the man leaned down and unshackled the restraints around his legs. The man then stood up and reached for the shackles binding Omi's wrists. Soon his arms were free and he rubbed the sore joints as the man walked to the door and held it open.
"Let's go," he said.
Omi hesitated. "Where?"
"Don't you need to use the bathroom, have a drink; food maybe?"
"What?"
"Listen, kid, Sanchi came back early to find Fontina doing her thing, got totally pissed off and dragged her out of here. He won't be back for a little while. I'm the only one here, and...well, I feel bad for you, kid."
"Ah huh?" Omi said sarcastically. "So bad for me, that you're offering the use of the bathroom and some food?" He took a step forward. "Why not let me go?"
The large man shrugged. "Can't," he said. "I don't know the way out of here myself."
Omi fought the urge to laugh. Instead, he nodded and walked out of the room.
* Once refreshed, fed, and watered, Omi was led back into the room. He walked back over to the cross, prepared to be reshackled. Instead, the man who had helped him, sat down at the small table and looked over in Omi's direction.
"You can sit if you like," he said gesturing to the seat across the table.
Omi pondered his answer before speaking.
"No that's ok, I'll stand."
"Suit yourself," he said.
The two fell into silence. After about 15 minutes or so, they both heard a noise. Without a spoken word, Omi moved to the cross and allowed his captor to close the manacles around his wrists and ankles. Once again the cross was lowered back into a horizontal position. The man gave a small nod of approval before disappearing behind the door, leaving Omi in darkness once again. With the feeling of sleep washing over him, Omi fell asleep.
* Fontina paced around the living room, as the phone pressed against her ear rang. The line picked up and a female voice answered.
"Hello."
"Chloe, 'Tina."
"Girl, what's going on; you sound flustered."
"Do you think?" Fontina spoke down the phone. "I am so..mad."
The woman on the other end paused. "First calm down. What did Sanchi do now?"
Fontina stopped pacing "Here I was having a bit of fun with a new toy, and Sanchi came in. He pulled me out of the room, and threw me in the car, and drove me here. Girl, I am so mad."
Chloe huffed down the phone. "What was the toy this time?"
"Some cute little boy he kidnapped." 'Tina sat, plopping down on the sofa. "You should have seen him, Chlo, blue eyes, blond hair; had to be a virgin."
"Had to be?"
'Tina laughed and looked at her red nails, a drop of dried blood clearly visible next to her nail. "Well, I took care of that," she said smugly.
"Oh, not again. 'Tina, your insatiable," Chloe said. "I'm afraid I have to go. Don't let Sanchi get to you, 'K?"
"Yeah.," she replied. "Talk to you later."
Chloe waited until she heard the click of the phone disconnecting. Without placing the phone back down she looked over at a figure standing in the shadow of the door.
"Got it?' the person asked.
Chloe looked down at the computer screen, hit a button, and pulled a piece of paper from a printer. She took a moment to read the paper and then held it out.
"Got it."
Manx stepped out of the shadows and took the paper.
"Good work."
"Anytime, Manx," she said with a smile. "Good luck recovering Bombay."
*
Omi slept. His mind raced through pictures and events, real and made up. Dreams attacked his unconscious brain's pathways as the night moved slowly on towards morning. An image of the shop currently played through his mind's eye. A phone was ringing, he had to answer it quickly. Aya got upset if it rang for too many rings; bad customer service and all that. He picked up the phone "Kitten in the House." The line was dead. The picture faded as another makeshift movie played out its story.
*
In the hallway, the one person on guard heard a voice. He stood and moved to crack the door to the room, which held Omi. Peering his head through the door, he looked to the sleeping bound form on the horizontal cross.
Omi's head lulled to one side and he murmured in the darkness. "Kitten in the House?"
"Kitten in the House?" he whispered to himself. "What is that?"
Closing the door he went back to his seat.
A short time later, the small TV was playing a previously taped late night movie. Before the credits began rolling the screen suddenly flickered with a bright commercial advertising flower deliveries from local merchants. At the end of the spot a listing of participating shops were flashed on the screen. The last being Kitten in the House. The eyes perked up, and a hand reached out to click a pause button. A strained memory of a muttered sentence came to his mind, and he tried to remember what the young man had said.
*
The next morning a pile of magazines lay strewn about the oversized table. At one space sat a plate with untouched food, a full glass and a head resting on a set of interlaced fingers. A large sigh was heard and then silence once again took control of the room. He picked up one of the magazines and read over the cover stories.
One headline in particular caught his attention: 'FREE INSIDE, POSTCARDS OF OUR FAVORITE PETS.'
Opening the magazine to the ripped out pages, he came across pictures of a Golden Retriever, a German Shepard pup, a gray tabby cat, and a parakeet. He unfolded the page to reveal 4 more cards. This time a tropical fish, a hamster, a lizard, and another cat. This one a beautiful black cat with piercing blue eyes. He turned the cards over to read the caption: 'The Bombay cat. The perfect family pet'
The wires touched and sparked an idea. He hastily pulled the cards out and ripped the black cat's card from the rest. Now to locate the address he had seen before. The VCR tape. He silently hoped that no one had taped over the old movie.
* Omi blinked as his eyes focused for the first time that morning, the light from the window cutting through the dank, dusty room. He was still horizontal, and still bound in the usual spread eagle position. He exhaled loudly. For once his stomach did not reply. The food from the night before seemed to be holding him over. He could hear voices from the other room. He had to remind himself that he had been captured for three days now. His clothes were feeling grubby, and he longed for a shower.
The voices began to walk away and Omi was left in silence. He heard a car door close, an engine start and the sound of tires turning on the old gravelly asphalt. Omi listened as the sounds faded and actually relaxed against the cool metal.
* It was still early in the morning when the car pulled into a space, the car door opened and one man stepped out. He walked to the drop box, noticed that he had not missed the day's mail, and placed a stack of envelopes, and cards into the wide mouth of the box. The letters falling into the basket below. As the mail settled a small card with a picture of a black cat poked out of the sea of white envelopes. The man walked back to the car, started the engine, and pulled out of the space, driving back to the road and leaving the post office behind.
* Back at the warehouse, Omi was once again vertical, once again looking into the face of Sanchi. Omi's face was flushed, new bruises forming under the remains of older ones.
"I have already told you; my father is dead. I saw him killed with my own eyes."
"No, you saw Reiji Takatori die."
"Right. That's what I'm trying to tell you. My father, Reiji, is dead."
The suited man smiled an evil grin and moved closer to Omi, his face inches away from Omi's, "What about Shuichi Takatori?"
Omi blanked for a moment. "My uncle? What does he have to do with this."
"Hah, you don't know, do you?"
"Know what?" Omi questioned.
"I'm going to give you a quick lesson in Takatori history. Your "biological father" was not the man you raised you for nine years, Reiji Takatori, but his brother, Shuichi."
Omi's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh this is rich," he sneered. "Your mother had an affair with Reiji's brother Shuichi. She became pregnant with you and tried to tell Reiji that it was his. Reiji knew it was not, but chose to..." He gestured quote marks in the air, "'protect' the family honor."
"Mamoru means 'to protect,'" Omi whispered to himself.
"You never knew why he didn't pay your ransom all those years ago, did you? Well, it was because he didn't care if you lived; you were not one of his, so he didn't give a damn."
"NO, that's not true," Omi yelled.
"Isn't it? Why do you think Shuichi stepped up and rescued you?" he asked looking into Omi's eyes.
"Why didn't he tell me?" Omi asked no one as tears fell freely. "Why?"
"Probably because Reiji killed him before he could."
Omi remembered back to the mission where they had found Persia dying in Reiji's office and how Omi had held him while he took his final breaths. He had tried to tell him something, but death had claimed him before he could get the words out. Omi deflated and slumped against the cross.
"I just love ruining someone's day," Snachi said walking away from Omi. He stopped by the men at the door. "I'm leaving."
One of the men looked to Sanchi. "What do we do with 'im?"
Sanchi stopped and looked over his shoulder at Omi and then back to his henchman. "I don't care. Screw him, kill him; do whatever. Just don't make a mess." He opened the door.
"Meet at the rendezvous point once you have disposed of the body." Sanchi stepped out and closed the door.
Omi looked over at the men who were left. His heart dropped, and he suddenly wished he had told the others that he loved them. He though about how they would react when they found his dead, cold body. Would Aya cry for him? Would Yohji and Ken remember him after a few years? His thought process stopped suddenly as a cold knife was placed next to his throat. Large blue eyes stared up into the eyes of his would be murderers. He hoped his end would be quick.
*
Aya stood fixing a flower in the cold case as the open store experienced a lull. It was the third day since Omi's kidnapping and tempers where beginning to reach critical mass. Aya had to remind himself several times a day to calm down. Each time he walked by the freesia selection, his anger rose another degree.
A lifting of the mail flap in the door, caused him to return to the present. The small stack of envelopes dropped to the floor. He closed the case and walked to the door, stooping down to pick up the mail. Aya flipped through the mail as he turned from the door. Bill, bill, bill, Credit app, postcard, bill..postcard?
Aya didn't have any friends on vacation this time of year, and Mamoe was here. He looked at the picture of the cat and turned the card over to see whom it was for. His violet eyes widened as he read the card.
'I have found your lost cat. 6505 Warehouse Rd E. Be at the address at 6pm on Monday.'
Aya turned the card back over to stare at the Bombay with blue eyes. He was not sure if he should be happy at the tip or furious for the possible joke. One thing he knew for sure, if it was a joke someone was going to pay, dearly.
The door chime forced him to remove such thoughts. He looked up to welcome the customer, and found Manx standing there.
"I have information," Manx spoke softly.
Aya held the card up for her to see. "So do I."
*
Omi was in pain, a lot of pain. Pain that no one should ever feel. His skin burned, ripping the very seams of his being, as his innocence was taken away from him again and again. It hadn't been painful when she had done things. Well, he wasn't completely sure, he had lost consciousness during that time. This time the pain was too intense. He was not able to drag himself to the other place. Instead he felt every thrust, every stroke.
Omi looked to the door where his supposed sympathizer stood, head lowered through Omi's screams, torn between sympathy and loyalty.
The man looked up and locked his eyes with Omi's. The pure look of fear that radiated from the enlarged blue eyes burned into his, and he finally made the connection. The fear in the eyes, the terrified screams. The young boy he had so desperately tried to put out of his mind all those years ago. He made his decision and closed the door attempting to block the noise. Quietly he walked towards the other door he had found and let himself out.
Omi's head was back, neck extended, his eyes clenched in pain. Then it happened, a glorious release as Omi fell through the bonds of conscious thought and perception. His body gave up the fight and muscles relaxed as the teen once again slipped into an alternate reality.
His assaulters noticed this as well, and ended their current attack.
The door swung open and Sanchi, highly flustered, looked inside, gun raised. "Heads up, pervs, we've got company. I wasn't able to leave."
The other men climbed off from their various perching positions around Omi and regrouped their belongings.
*
In the darkness of the warehouses, Aya, Yohji and Ken stepped out from shadow.
"Do you think they know we're here? Yohji asked.
"Not sure," Aya replied. "This is where we were told to be."
"Now what?" Ken questioned.
"We wait."
They did not have to wait long as a figure moved between building and towards them. Aya readied his blade, and followed the movements of the person as he came closer.
The figure stopped far enough away as to not be completely seen. "Kitten in the House?"
"Maybe."
"Fourth door, left side of the building I came out of. They know you're here. I don't know if there is another way out. So far, he's alive."
"Why?" Yohji asked.
"Just because I felt I needed to," he said as he walked away. "Call it a redemption of my sins. I'm going to hell when I die anyway, maybe this way it will be quicker."
"Fair enough," Yohji said releasing the wire and watching as it wrapped around the man's neck. "I almost don't want to do this," he whispered as he pulled the wire, ending the man's life. He released the wire and looked to Aya and Ken.
"Let's go," Ken said flexing the metal knives, and setting off across the compound.
* Once inside the makeshift home, it became apparent that no one was around. The three split off in separate directions to try and locate Omi. Ken took the main hallway down to the end, while Aya checked the rooms on the left and Yohji the rooms on the right.
*
Yohji burst into the last room on his side and stopped.
There lying on the upturned cross was Omi, unconscious, bruised, battered, and exposed. He ripped open his coat and draped it over the youth, before going to work on the shackles that bound him. Yohji managed to remove the bonds and draped the boy over his shoulder and moved back into the hallway, where he was met by Aya.
"I got him," Yohji said. "Let's go."
"There's no one here," Ken yelled from down the hall, "They knew we were coming. Musta left through another door."
"Doesn't matter now," Aya replied. "We have Omi, let's go."
"Ok," Ken said catching up to them as they walked back out into the dimming daylight.
On to Chapter 4: Concern. Chapter 3 nod: 3rd party reader Chris, who rec'd a crash course in WK.
^_^ Feedback welcome at truescifigal@yahoo.com
Don't Plagiarize Don't make me go Tsukiyono on your ass.
May, June 2003
Warnings: Au. Violence, Rape, Assault. Pairings: None that we would want. Fontina x Omi, Faceless men x Omi
Chapter 3: Down to the Wire
The flower shop had opened as usual, although with one less person working, the place seemed to be crazier than ever. The door chimed and Yohji looked up.
"Welcome to Kitten In the.. Manx, what are you doing here?"
Manx stood in the doorway dressed in jeans and a t-shirt.
"Figured you could use an extra set of hands today," she replied as she walked past Yohji and took an apron from the hook.
Yohji smiled. "Thanks."
Of course the big question of the day was "Where is Omi?" Aya had decided that telling them Omi was taking a college entrance exam was the best way to go. That way the girls would not ask to see him.
Once a lull took over the shop, Manx used the time to get an update.
"We have not heard from them yet," Aya said. "So technically we are still waiting for them to play their hand."
"I have a few favors I called in to other operatives in the underground rings, just in case someone slips up and says the wrong thing to the wrong person."
She looked to the others. "Don't worry, we will find him."
*
As usual, Omi's nap did not last very long. However, this time when he opened his eyes, he was looking up at the ceiling. It took him a moment to realize that the cross was now horizontal. 'When did this happen?' It took him another moment to notice that he was surrounded.
A voice spoke from the corner of the room, and Omi lifted his head to see who had spoken. Fontina stood off to one side looking at the four goons.
"How much time till Sanchi gets back?"
"Two, three hours. Maybe less."
She smiled a leering sneer.
"Good, that's enough time. Leave us."
The four men left the room, making wisecracks as they went. Omi picked up pieces of the conversation, but decided that he didn't want to know, although, judging by the look on her face, he feared that he was about to find out.
Fontina made sure the door was closed and locked behind her. She sauntered over to Omi and pondered him for a moment.
"So, you're what..20, 22?"
Omi looked at her. "Almost 18," he replied, noting the registration of surprise on her face.
"Oh, so young, so." she trailed off as her finger moved over his lips, "Soft."
Omi actually felt a cold chill run the length of his spine.
"I was your age once." She sighed.
'Yeah, the stone age.' Omi thought, listening to her.
"I was a good girl back then, no sex, boys, fun." As she spoke she slowly ran her hand down Omi's face, neck and onto his chest. "I never got to experience a young man."
Omi's mind was way ahead of her speech, his inner alarms going crazy. This was not good; he really was not in the mood to be someone's toy. Mentally, he attempted to shut down any sensation receptors he could.
Tina continued her soliloquy to an audience of one. She leaned back up over Omi's face and brought her lips close to his.
"I got my first kiss when I was 21," she said lowering her head down to close the gap between them. "Have you had yours yet? I can change that."
Omi clamped his lips closed as hers came down, then he turned his face away.
Her face bumped his bruised cheek, causing a flinch.
"Well," she said. "That's the way you want to play, huh?"
"I don't want to play at all," Omi said quietly.
"Too bad," she spat. "I need something to do while I am left here waiting for his royal highness to notice me."
She paused, the look in her eyes changing.
"I have given everything up for that man, and how does he repay me?" she said gruffly, as she stepped down the length of the cross, coming to stand between Omi's stretched legs. She lifted her face to meet Omi's line of sight, the look of pure evil filling her eyes.
"I'm taking what I want."
She pushed her hands under Omi's hips, deftly squeezing the flesh in her hands. Omi yelped as nails pinched through fabric.
Trying to struggle against the bonds, Omi could do nothing but scream.
"Stop it!" he yelled.
One hand removed itself and reappeared at the section that still remained intact of his waistband. The button quickly being undone and the fabric roughly pushed aside and down, exposing him.
At eighteen years of age, Omi was still not very well versed in the ways of love, but he was sure that this was not how it was supposed to be. His mind was pushed back to reality as a hand wrapped itself around hardening flesh.
She smiled up at Omi. "That's what I like about the male body. It has a mind of its own. It wants to play even when its inhabitant doesn't." She held his gaze as she slid her hand up and down.
Omi wanted to scream, but knew it would do no good. Instead, as a warm mouth enveloped him, he cleared his mind and dragged himself to a better place. She might take his body, but he would not give her the satisfaction of enjoyment.
Unnoticed, Omi slipped into unconsciousness.
*
Omi awoke once again in darkness, flat on his back, and in a lot of pain. Not really knowing what else had been done to him in the time he was unconscious, he chose to enjoy the silence for now. His stomach's groaning broke the silence and he exhaled loudly.
The door to his room opened and one of the four men walked in. Omi lifted his head, the light from the hallway causing him to squint the shape of the person into focus
"How are you feeling?" a voice asked. "Fontina worked you over pretty good."
Omi actually felt his lips pull into a faint smile. "If that's what you call rape, then yeah, I guess."
The man didn't answer, instead hitting a button on the wall in front of the cross. With a lurch, the metal cross began to rise up to a standing position. Once vertical again, Omi felt the blood run back down to his feet. He watched nervously as the man leaned down and unshackled the restraints around his legs. The man then stood up and reached for the shackles binding Omi's wrists. Soon his arms were free and he rubbed the sore joints as the man walked to the door and held it open.
"Let's go," he said.
Omi hesitated. "Where?"
"Don't you need to use the bathroom, have a drink; food maybe?"
"What?"
"Listen, kid, Sanchi came back early to find Fontina doing her thing, got totally pissed off and dragged her out of here. He won't be back for a little while. I'm the only one here, and...well, I feel bad for you, kid."
"Ah huh?" Omi said sarcastically. "So bad for me, that you're offering the use of the bathroom and some food?" He took a step forward. "Why not let me go?"
The large man shrugged. "Can't," he said. "I don't know the way out of here myself."
Omi fought the urge to laugh. Instead, he nodded and walked out of the room.
* Once refreshed, fed, and watered, Omi was led back into the room. He walked back over to the cross, prepared to be reshackled. Instead, the man who had helped him, sat down at the small table and looked over in Omi's direction.
"You can sit if you like," he said gesturing to the seat across the table.
Omi pondered his answer before speaking.
"No that's ok, I'll stand."
"Suit yourself," he said.
The two fell into silence. After about 15 minutes or so, they both heard a noise. Without a spoken word, Omi moved to the cross and allowed his captor to close the manacles around his wrists and ankles. Once again the cross was lowered back into a horizontal position. The man gave a small nod of approval before disappearing behind the door, leaving Omi in darkness once again. With the feeling of sleep washing over him, Omi fell asleep.
* Fontina paced around the living room, as the phone pressed against her ear rang. The line picked up and a female voice answered.
"Hello."
"Chloe, 'Tina."
"Girl, what's going on; you sound flustered."
"Do you think?" Fontina spoke down the phone. "I am so..mad."
The woman on the other end paused. "First calm down. What did Sanchi do now?"
Fontina stopped pacing "Here I was having a bit of fun with a new toy, and Sanchi came in. He pulled me out of the room, and threw me in the car, and drove me here. Girl, I am so mad."
Chloe huffed down the phone. "What was the toy this time?"
"Some cute little boy he kidnapped." 'Tina sat, plopping down on the sofa. "You should have seen him, Chlo, blue eyes, blond hair; had to be a virgin."
"Had to be?"
'Tina laughed and looked at her red nails, a drop of dried blood clearly visible next to her nail. "Well, I took care of that," she said smugly.
"Oh, not again. 'Tina, your insatiable," Chloe said. "I'm afraid I have to go. Don't let Sanchi get to you, 'K?"
"Yeah.," she replied. "Talk to you later."
Chloe waited until she heard the click of the phone disconnecting. Without placing the phone back down she looked over at a figure standing in the shadow of the door.
"Got it?' the person asked.
Chloe looked down at the computer screen, hit a button, and pulled a piece of paper from a printer. She took a moment to read the paper and then held it out.
"Got it."
Manx stepped out of the shadows and took the paper.
"Good work."
"Anytime, Manx," she said with a smile. "Good luck recovering Bombay."
*
Omi slept. His mind raced through pictures and events, real and made up. Dreams attacked his unconscious brain's pathways as the night moved slowly on towards morning. An image of the shop currently played through his mind's eye. A phone was ringing, he had to answer it quickly. Aya got upset if it rang for too many rings; bad customer service and all that. He picked up the phone "Kitten in the House." The line was dead. The picture faded as another makeshift movie played out its story.
*
In the hallway, the one person on guard heard a voice. He stood and moved to crack the door to the room, which held Omi. Peering his head through the door, he looked to the sleeping bound form on the horizontal cross.
Omi's head lulled to one side and he murmured in the darkness. "Kitten in the House?"
"Kitten in the House?" he whispered to himself. "What is that?"
Closing the door he went back to his seat.
A short time later, the small TV was playing a previously taped late night movie. Before the credits began rolling the screen suddenly flickered with a bright commercial advertising flower deliveries from local merchants. At the end of the spot a listing of participating shops were flashed on the screen. The last being Kitten in the House. The eyes perked up, and a hand reached out to click a pause button. A strained memory of a muttered sentence came to his mind, and he tried to remember what the young man had said.
*
The next morning a pile of magazines lay strewn about the oversized table. At one space sat a plate with untouched food, a full glass and a head resting on a set of interlaced fingers. A large sigh was heard and then silence once again took control of the room. He picked up one of the magazines and read over the cover stories.
One headline in particular caught his attention: 'FREE INSIDE, POSTCARDS OF OUR FAVORITE PETS.'
Opening the magazine to the ripped out pages, he came across pictures of a Golden Retriever, a German Shepard pup, a gray tabby cat, and a parakeet. He unfolded the page to reveal 4 more cards. This time a tropical fish, a hamster, a lizard, and another cat. This one a beautiful black cat with piercing blue eyes. He turned the cards over to read the caption: 'The Bombay cat. The perfect family pet'
The wires touched and sparked an idea. He hastily pulled the cards out and ripped the black cat's card from the rest. Now to locate the address he had seen before. The VCR tape. He silently hoped that no one had taped over the old movie.
* Omi blinked as his eyes focused for the first time that morning, the light from the window cutting through the dank, dusty room. He was still horizontal, and still bound in the usual spread eagle position. He exhaled loudly. For once his stomach did not reply. The food from the night before seemed to be holding him over. He could hear voices from the other room. He had to remind himself that he had been captured for three days now. His clothes were feeling grubby, and he longed for a shower.
The voices began to walk away and Omi was left in silence. He heard a car door close, an engine start and the sound of tires turning on the old gravelly asphalt. Omi listened as the sounds faded and actually relaxed against the cool metal.
* It was still early in the morning when the car pulled into a space, the car door opened and one man stepped out. He walked to the drop box, noticed that he had not missed the day's mail, and placed a stack of envelopes, and cards into the wide mouth of the box. The letters falling into the basket below. As the mail settled a small card with a picture of a black cat poked out of the sea of white envelopes. The man walked back to the car, started the engine, and pulled out of the space, driving back to the road and leaving the post office behind.
* Back at the warehouse, Omi was once again vertical, once again looking into the face of Sanchi. Omi's face was flushed, new bruises forming under the remains of older ones.
"I have already told you; my father is dead. I saw him killed with my own eyes."
"No, you saw Reiji Takatori die."
"Right. That's what I'm trying to tell you. My father, Reiji, is dead."
The suited man smiled an evil grin and moved closer to Omi, his face inches away from Omi's, "What about Shuichi Takatori?"
Omi blanked for a moment. "My uncle? What does he have to do with this."
"Hah, you don't know, do you?"
"Know what?" Omi questioned.
"I'm going to give you a quick lesson in Takatori history. Your "biological father" was not the man you raised you for nine years, Reiji Takatori, but his brother, Shuichi."
Omi's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh this is rich," he sneered. "Your mother had an affair with Reiji's brother Shuichi. She became pregnant with you and tried to tell Reiji that it was his. Reiji knew it was not, but chose to..." He gestured quote marks in the air, "'protect' the family honor."
"Mamoru means 'to protect,'" Omi whispered to himself.
"You never knew why he didn't pay your ransom all those years ago, did you? Well, it was because he didn't care if you lived; you were not one of his, so he didn't give a damn."
"NO, that's not true," Omi yelled.
"Isn't it? Why do you think Shuichi stepped up and rescued you?" he asked looking into Omi's eyes.
"Why didn't he tell me?" Omi asked no one as tears fell freely. "Why?"
"Probably because Reiji killed him before he could."
Omi remembered back to the mission where they had found Persia dying in Reiji's office and how Omi had held him while he took his final breaths. He had tried to tell him something, but death had claimed him before he could get the words out. Omi deflated and slumped against the cross.
"I just love ruining someone's day," Snachi said walking away from Omi. He stopped by the men at the door. "I'm leaving."
One of the men looked to Sanchi. "What do we do with 'im?"
Sanchi stopped and looked over his shoulder at Omi and then back to his henchman. "I don't care. Screw him, kill him; do whatever. Just don't make a mess." He opened the door.
"Meet at the rendezvous point once you have disposed of the body." Sanchi stepped out and closed the door.
Omi looked over at the men who were left. His heart dropped, and he suddenly wished he had told the others that he loved them. He though about how they would react when they found his dead, cold body. Would Aya cry for him? Would Yohji and Ken remember him after a few years? His thought process stopped suddenly as a cold knife was placed next to his throat. Large blue eyes stared up into the eyes of his would be murderers. He hoped his end would be quick.
*
Aya stood fixing a flower in the cold case as the open store experienced a lull. It was the third day since Omi's kidnapping and tempers where beginning to reach critical mass. Aya had to remind himself several times a day to calm down. Each time he walked by the freesia selection, his anger rose another degree.
A lifting of the mail flap in the door, caused him to return to the present. The small stack of envelopes dropped to the floor. He closed the case and walked to the door, stooping down to pick up the mail. Aya flipped through the mail as he turned from the door. Bill, bill, bill, Credit app, postcard, bill..postcard?
Aya didn't have any friends on vacation this time of year, and Mamoe was here. He looked at the picture of the cat and turned the card over to see whom it was for. His violet eyes widened as he read the card.
'I have found your lost cat. 6505 Warehouse Rd E. Be at the address at 6pm on Monday.'
Aya turned the card back over to stare at the Bombay with blue eyes. He was not sure if he should be happy at the tip or furious for the possible joke. One thing he knew for sure, if it was a joke someone was going to pay, dearly.
The door chime forced him to remove such thoughts. He looked up to welcome the customer, and found Manx standing there.
"I have information," Manx spoke softly.
Aya held the card up for her to see. "So do I."
*
Omi was in pain, a lot of pain. Pain that no one should ever feel. His skin burned, ripping the very seams of his being, as his innocence was taken away from him again and again. It hadn't been painful when she had done things. Well, he wasn't completely sure, he had lost consciousness during that time. This time the pain was too intense. He was not able to drag himself to the other place. Instead he felt every thrust, every stroke.
Omi looked to the door where his supposed sympathizer stood, head lowered through Omi's screams, torn between sympathy and loyalty.
The man looked up and locked his eyes with Omi's. The pure look of fear that radiated from the enlarged blue eyes burned into his, and he finally made the connection. The fear in the eyes, the terrified screams. The young boy he had so desperately tried to put out of his mind all those years ago. He made his decision and closed the door attempting to block the noise. Quietly he walked towards the other door he had found and let himself out.
Omi's head was back, neck extended, his eyes clenched in pain. Then it happened, a glorious release as Omi fell through the bonds of conscious thought and perception. His body gave up the fight and muscles relaxed as the teen once again slipped into an alternate reality.
His assaulters noticed this as well, and ended their current attack.
The door swung open and Sanchi, highly flustered, looked inside, gun raised. "Heads up, pervs, we've got company. I wasn't able to leave."
The other men climbed off from their various perching positions around Omi and regrouped their belongings.
*
In the darkness of the warehouses, Aya, Yohji and Ken stepped out from shadow.
"Do you think they know we're here? Yohji asked.
"Not sure," Aya replied. "This is where we were told to be."
"Now what?" Ken questioned.
"We wait."
They did not have to wait long as a figure moved between building and towards them. Aya readied his blade, and followed the movements of the person as he came closer.
The figure stopped far enough away as to not be completely seen. "Kitten in the House?"
"Maybe."
"Fourth door, left side of the building I came out of. They know you're here. I don't know if there is another way out. So far, he's alive."
"Why?" Yohji asked.
"Just because I felt I needed to," he said as he walked away. "Call it a redemption of my sins. I'm going to hell when I die anyway, maybe this way it will be quicker."
"Fair enough," Yohji said releasing the wire and watching as it wrapped around the man's neck. "I almost don't want to do this," he whispered as he pulled the wire, ending the man's life. He released the wire and looked to Aya and Ken.
"Let's go," Ken said flexing the metal knives, and setting off across the compound.
* Once inside the makeshift home, it became apparent that no one was around. The three split off in separate directions to try and locate Omi. Ken took the main hallway down to the end, while Aya checked the rooms on the left and Yohji the rooms on the right.
*
Yohji burst into the last room on his side and stopped.
There lying on the upturned cross was Omi, unconscious, bruised, battered, and exposed. He ripped open his coat and draped it over the youth, before going to work on the shackles that bound him. Yohji managed to remove the bonds and draped the boy over his shoulder and moved back into the hallway, where he was met by Aya.
"I got him," Yohji said. "Let's go."
"There's no one here," Ken yelled from down the hall, "They knew we were coming. Musta left through another door."
"Doesn't matter now," Aya replied. "We have Omi, let's go."
"Ok," Ken said catching up to them as they walked back out into the dimming daylight.
On to Chapter 4: Concern. Chapter 3 nod: 3rd party reader Chris, who rec'd a crash course in WK.
^_^ Feedback welcome at truescifigal@yahoo.com
Don't Plagiarize Don't make me go Tsukiyono on your ass.