Chapter 20
24 Little Hours
DivineAngel
9:18 A. M
He looked up as he slowly left the room, keeping his eyes on the floor before gently wiping them again with the back of his hand. Sniffling away the rest of his tears as he looked up, shutting the door behind him
Yohji, Aya and Omi were all sitting in the waiting chairs against the walls, apparently he had seen his councilor the longest. Everyone was waiting for him. "Are you alright Hidaka?" Mr. Brine asked, standing up from where he too was sitting.
"Ah…yeah." He nodded quickly and Yohji got up and started over to him ignoring his mustered smile and slinging an arm around his shoulders.
"Good." Mr. Brine nodded, speaking softly and almost reassuringly before turning to Omi and Aya whom were looking at the man as though awaiting directions and insight for what should be done. "Come on then. I have something very important to show you. It's what you might call, a taste of the finally." Mr. Brine nodded towards the door and they left, walking through the large white halls, and rooms, and all the people working for them. Manx amongst them, saying nothing and only watching them go. Her green eyes shinning even more dangerously than before in this room of endlessly clear white.
"Thank you Ken." Yohji's whispered growing a soft affectionate smile across his lanky features, and he took note immediately because it was one they didn't see often. "I guess I was wrong." Yohji said and he laid his hand over Yohji's when the blonde looked away from him with a raspy whisper. "I am supposed to be here. I just wasn't sure before you know. I didn't know what to do I...I am supposed to be here." Yohji nodded to himself, mumbling both to him and his own subconscious. "Asuka....will have to wait for me." Yohji looked up, cracking another soft grin, but this time his green eyes were filled with tears. "I think if I were supposed to die, I would have...but...you saved me. Maybe in some way, she's....looking over me now Ken. Like....an angel?" Yohji smiled, sniffling slightly while clearing the tears from his eyes with his sleeves. Omi and Aya had both turned to them, but neither had said a thing. "I can't believe I almost made that mistake, and could have ended it sooner than I was supposed to." Yohji mumbled, and he nodded at the blonde whom was recollecting his thoughts and views. Yohji wasn't supposed to die yet, could have but didn't. He was centimeters away from having his jugulars sliced open, but he was saved. Not just by Ken, but perhaps some sort of intervention that was trying to tell him, your not supposed to die yet. "You all need me." Yohji suddenly nodded, his features firming up with sure confidence. "That's why I didn't die."
"…Because we need you?" Aya asked skeptically, as though Yohji's logic had befuddled his mind.
"That's right." Yohji said nodding again. "Tell me you don't need me Aya?" Yohji said with a smile, and Aya squint a little but said nothing.
"I need you Yohji-kun." Omi said offering Yohji a sweet reassuring smile in case he was planning on bursting into tears within the next three seconds.
"I know you do Chibi." Yohji smiled confidently. "That's why I didn't ask you." Omi's smile fell slightly, staring at Yohji like he didn't know what to say. "You all need me...so...I am invincible. Invincible Yohji Kudou." Yohji smiled at them, slouching back in his chair and sighing. "Mr. Brine!" Yohji yelled up to the front of the car and Mr. Brine glanced into the rear view mirror with a cocked eyebrow. "I am not taking my medication anymore. I don't need it." Yohji declared, smiling ahead at Mr. Brine's strong features and thoughtful eyes which imitated.
"I am glad to hear it Kudou." Mr. Brine smiled, and the smile was genuine and almost affectionate. "I am. Glad to hear it."
9:34 A.M "Alright boys now behave and keep your voices down." Mr. Brine instructed, opening the back alley door to the brick building they had parked behind.
"Why? Where are we sir?" Omi asked practically whispering while following Mr. Brine in with all of them before jumping as Mr. Brine reached to their right and flicked the lights on. Lighting up the light blue tiling and large silver walls.
"Our morgue." Mr. Brine answered.
"Morgue!?" Yohji whispered, stepping closer to all of them as he looked around.
"That's right." Mr. Brine nodded matter o'factly before starting inward. "Come along." Mr. Brine announced, his voice echoing slightly and they reluctantly followed. "This is the man whom helps us dispose of any bodies which we can't leave in sight." Mr. Brine said raising a hand to the white smocked man whom came around a corner and directly to them. "His name is Mr. Smith, and for the majority of your cases you boys will never have to worry about moving the bodies. The men you are being trained to kill are a shame to society and the human race. Their lives are so corrupt and dishonorable that no one will bat an eye when they turn up in an alley." Mr. Brine said, continuing as Mr. Smith started over to one of the cubbies in the silver wall and opened the square door. "However, some of the men we will be relocating may be rich...or powerful...politicians....well known faces. These are the bodies Mr. Smith will help with, so no one will ever come looking for you boys, but us." Mr. Brine finished nodding towards the tray Mr. Smith was pulling from the cubby.
"Sir. What do you mean by relocate?" Yohji asked frowning and Mr. Brine chuckled a half smile.
"Think about it Kudou. That's how all of your targets will be referred to. Those assigned for relocation. They're all despicable...beasts if you will." Mr. Brine said, walking up to the table and sheeted figure on it, nodding for them to follow. None of them did, they all came forward a little and then stopped some foot away. Remaining still even when Mr. Brine frowned at them. "What you will be, has not been kept from you boys. Your assassins, and not florists. You will be seeing more dead bodies in your life than maybe even Mr. Smith here. What you have to always remember, is that, these bodies deserved death."
"How can you decide who deserves death sir." Omi spoke up frowning. "It's impossible for another human to pass judgment over a human and decide they deserve death. There's just too much human error to factor in." Omi said firmly, glancing at them as though to grab their opinion but their faces were helpless. Aya was frowning, Yohji was grimacing and he looked rather confused.
"Human error?" Mr. Brine asked, turning to them and cocking an eyebrow, but Omi just nodded firmly. "Do you know who this man is Tsukiyono?" Mr. Brine asked, nodding to the sheet and Omi didn't answer. They all knew Omi didn't know who the guy was, and so Mr. Brine gently folded the sheet down over the figures head. Yohji turned away and he took a quick step back. The man's skin had paled to a disgusting raw, runny egg cream, with purple lips and purple veins. The folds of his skin, saggy and distorted with shadows that shouldn't be. "This man murdered three families Tsukiyono." Mr. Brine said frowning and Omi froze slightly. "He broke into their homes while they slept, and pulled them from their beds. Tied them in their rooms. Watched their tv, ate their food, and then killed them. Stole what he want from the house and set it on fire." Omi swallowed hard, loosing some color. "To not just one family, but three. The first family was a young couple. The second was a further along, with two children. A boy whom was eight, and a daughter who was thirteen, she almost escaped. The last family, was the furthest along of the three. An older couple with five children. Three boys, and two girls. The girls were the youngest five and seven. Killed first. The two boys next, twelve and thirteen sharing a bedroom. The oldest boy is unknown, because he got away." Omi's eyes were turning to saucers as he listened to this. "He got away, but his family is dead. Tell me Tsukiyono...how do you think that boy feels? Do you think he might go to the limits to reach vengeance for his families death?" Mr. Brine asked, frowning sternly at Omi whom was just staring back with a blank expression and open mouth. Mr. Brine glanced at Aya for a moment and the red head was stiff with closed eyes but looked alright. "Or...would it have been better if one of our assassins had not killed this man Tsukiyono. After repeating the same crime within a six month period three times. I don't think he would have done it again do you boys?" Mr. Brine looked up at him and he swallowed but didn't move. "No. He probably learned his lesson. Probably repent, and changed his ways." Mr. Brine nodded sarcastically. "Or maybe he was murdered the very night he was staking out the next family. Maybe the moment we saw him sneak to the basement door, and pull the screwdriver from his pocket we took care of it." Mr. Brine nodded, walking around the figure closer to them and they all backed up, even Aya. "Was this man murdered Fujimiya?"
Aya frowned slightly, looking at the corpse and then to Mr. Brine unsure of what to say.
"Yes he was." Mr. Brine nodded, answering for Aya with a strong booming voice that almost echoed. "Was the man who killed him a murderer?"
"Yes he was!" Omi shot in suddenly, and Mr. Brine stopped his answer dead, turning directly to Omi.
"…That's right Tsukiyono." Mr. Brine agreed and Omi's face fell crashing to a -no!- Omi wanted the answer to be no. Not a murderer. "He was a murderer, he killed this man from a distance with a weapon much like yours. This man was not being hurt, or attacked in any way. It was not self defense it was murder....but...." Mr. Brine leaned down to Omi's face slowly, watching the thin boy lick his lips. "Do you know why he did it?" Omi shook his head, and Mr. Brine looked up at them causing them all to shake their heads. "He did it, because the man would have murdered an innocent family. By killing the body behind me, the assassin saved seven lives." Mr. Brine was quiet for a moment when they all looked over at the body with frowns. "A little girl of three, a little girl of five, a young boy of seven, one of nine and a teenage daughter of fourteen, a married couple for over twenty years, he an accountant, and she a school nurse. By killing this man, they're all alive and happy today. None of them are aware of how close they came to death, and that's the best way to have it. Never reveal your positions, never reveal your identities. Complete your assignments and you save lives." Mr. Brine nodded, taking a moment for a heavy sigh as he looked them over.
He knew he looked a little pale, and Yohji looked like he were wishing to god he could smoke right then. Aya was frowning away arms crossed over his chest standing close to Yohji for support and Omi was just staring at the body with an open mouth. "Tsukiyono go back outside that door and take a walk." Mr. Brine ordered pointing back to the door they had entered and Omi looked at it confused. "Go on. Don't think I haven't known you long enough to know that you need a break or else soon Your Stomach Will Be On My FLoOr!" Mr. Brine yelled, grinning as Omi slowly and silently started for the door and left. "Heaven help that child, he'll never put on weight if he throws up all his meals." Mr. Brine sighed, watching the door close before turning to them. "The rest of you come over here, and look at this body."
They all reluctantly came closer to the body, looking down at it in disgust. Mr. Brine's confident and firm expression studying them before rolling his eyes. "You can breath boys, the body does not smell because it's being cared for so to speak." They all instantly released the air from their lungs and hungrily inhaled thankful for the update. Hell, he knew he had been holding his breath for the last minute. "Have any of you see a dead body before?" Mr. Brine asked.
They all shook their heads before glancing at Yohji whom raised a single hand and Mr. Brine nodded. "How close to it were you Kudou?"
"Not so close sir." Yohji muttered, lowering his hand and averting his eyes from the body.
"Hidaka!" Mr. Brine snapped at him and he jumped. "Don't be afraid. The man is nothing more than a sleeping monster. It is your own mind which separates it as something more." Mr. Brine nodded at him sternly before gently lowing the sheet from the mans chest and stomach. "Touch this body."
"What?" He stumbled back immediately and Yohji grabbed his arm for his own support. Yohji didn't want him getting away and leaving him behind.
"I said…touch this body Hidaka." Mr. Brine repeated gently, and he swallowed hard looking at the corpses clammy pale skin with blue veins running around it. The purple hues dabbed into the creases and curves of its body. It was too disgusting for him to look at. "Hidaka." Mr. Brine repeated his name, as though to tell him he were waiting and he shook his head. "Touch it."
"No." He shook his head again and Mr. Brine glanced back at the body with a small sigh. "AH!" He yelled when Mr. Brine suddenly snatched his hand up and pressed it to the cold chest. "AHH! Oh god Sir!" He wiggled his hand, trying to yank it back but Mr. Brine was very strong.
"Hidaka relax."
"Ahh! Let me go!" He screamed, his body starting to tremble as he stared at his warm hand against the dead flesh. "Stop!" He pulled again but Mr. Brine just ran a hand to his shoulder, trying to reassure him. He couldn't stand it! Had to get away! He couldn't force the idea from his mind that the very man he had just shot would end up looking like this! Alone, and dead. Discolored and sticky. And him. Him too when he died. And Aya, Yohji, and Omi too. All of them. Disgusting. "AHhYOHJI!" He screamed at the blonde for help when he couldn't free himself and Yohji's hand ran over his instantly.
"Ken." Yohji grunt his name turning to him so he wouldn't have to look at the body as he slowly slid his hand onto the dead flesh with an even smaller grunt and cringe.
He choked, his eyes getting wide as he watched Yohji's hand. The lighter skin color of Yohji's fingers and palm next to his trembling as it struggled to lay where it was.
"Good." Mr. Brine nodded with the movement. Slowly diminishing the pressure he was applying to his hand and smiling satisfied when he left his on the body.
Mr. Brine turned to Aya next, looking at the red head expectantly. "I don't want to touch it sir." Aya spit.
"Do it now Fujimiya. Try to understand what this is. It's no different from a living body. You should not save your concern and your fear for a man like this." Mr. Brine nodded towards the body as he took a step forward and Aya took a step back. "Fujimiya. Try to understand."
"I understand!" Aya snapped mad, taking a few more steps back and both he and Yohji kept their hands on the body. They weren't sure what they were supposed to do and were afraid if they took their hands away Mr. Brine would make them put them back. And that meant going through the -lay-your-hand-on-the-corpse- step again. "SiR!" Aya yelled slightly when Mr. Brine moved behind him and shoved the red head up to the table grabbing Aya's wrist like the man had to him. "I don't want to touch it!"
"Can you explain to me why?" Mr. Brine asked gently, but Aya said nothing.
"It's not so disgusting Aya." Yohji offered weakly, still battling the grimace in his own features, but Aya's body and expression only tightened.
"Fujimiya you all have to touch this body. I need you all over this mile stone, and I can't wait forever." Mr. Brine said calmly, forcing Aya's hand up to the tray the deceased was on and letting it rest gripping the side. Aya was silently fighting, mad he had to put up a struggle and almost embarrassed of it too. "Touch it yourself Fujimiya." Mr. Brine encouraged and he shift slightly. "Keep your hand there Hidaka!" Mr. Brine snapped and he stopped all movement instantly. How the man could always read his mind he never did understand. "Fujimiya I am counting to three." Mr. Brine stated and Aya firmed up and finally glanced at them for help.
"Come on Aya." He quickly reassured and Yohji nodded before muttering a -It's not so bad again-
"One." Aya's face tightened, and they could see the boy breathing hard as he looked down at the body.
"I don't understand why I have to touch it!" Aya suddenly snapped, trying to yank his hand from the tray and only growling when Mr. Brine held it firmly in place. "SIR!"
"Two."
"Aya." Yohji ran a hand onto the red heads above Mr. Brine's. "Come on. I'll do it with you."
"Shut up Yohji." Aya snapped. "I don't want your sympathy." Aya growled, but his hand moved forward with Yohji's tugging.
"Sure you do." Yohji only smiled gracefully, and edged Aya's quivering hand onto the cold clammy skin. Pausing once as Aya jerked trying to curl his fingers back, but Yohji's hand kept them outward. "Aya you…remember that story I told you?" Yohji smiled suddenly, looking up at Aya instead of the red heads hand. "About the…old woman, ghost and…the hooker?" Aya looked baffled this was being brought up, but his fingers were slowly edging on with Yohji talking. "It never occurred to me before this that…well if you think about how the guy was dead. And he was still going to have it with that beautiful chick. Even though she was really old, and her marvelous facade melted away." Yohji chuckled slightly, almost laughing at his realization while sliding Aya's hand onto the body. "You have to consider. That old maid was still nice enough to…give him a fuck…with him looking like this." Yohji grunt, nodding toward the body and Aya looked at it, before gasping at his hand which was lying on the corpses chest next to Yohji's and his. "Don't you think…Aya?" Yohji asked, smirking slightly. Not only with the tale, but pride he had moved Aya's hand to the corpse with the guy oblivious.
"Are you alright Fujimiya?" Mr. Brine asked and Aya gave a shaky nod, as the man walked around the tray to stand on the other side allowing them a small moment before looking down at the body and nodding slightly. "Corpses are very different from normal living humans. Can you boys tell me why?" Mr. Brine asked. "Hidaka?"
"Ahh their-their skins so disgusting sir?" He cringed, almost groaning out his sentence and Mr. Brine grunt a smile.
"Aside from their physical appearance. Who can tell me anatomically what changes within the body when it transfers from life to death."
"Your soul leaves." Yohji quickly answered and Mr. Brine sighed. Just calmly looking at them and waiting for more answers. Aya shift slightly, grimacing and he swallowed. "Can we ask Omi sir?" Yohji finally muttered and Mr. Brine groaned bringing a hand to his temples and rubbing slightly before looking over to the door.
"TSUKIYONO!" Mr. Brine yelled over and they all turned and looked as the handle moved before Omi came in. "Stop!" Omi stopped dead with Mr. Brine's bark maybe a foot from the door. "Stay where you are. I have a question for you." Mr. Brine smiled, watching Omi glanced at them and frown slightly confused. From the boys distance of fifteen or twenty feet from them, he really couldn't see what they were doing. But they could all tell with Omi's immediate shift of weight from one foot to the other he was dying with curiosity. "Can you tell me what happens anatomically within the body when it transfers from life to death Tsukiyono?" Mr. Brine repeated his question and Omi shift again. Leaning slightly to the side to try and see around them before just sighing because he couldn't make out a thing. Just them standing next to the tray reaching for something.
"Um…your blood congeals sir." Omi stated and Mr. Brine grinned an approving nod. Satisfied he was getting real factual answers and his nod told Omi he should continue and Omi did. Practically making them sick with his list of facts considering they were touching a corpse, and only stopping when Mr. Brine grinned.
Mr. Brine looked very satisfied. "Excellent Tsukiyono. You're a hundred percent right. You can leave now."
Omi frowned instantly. "Can I come over with you guys?" The boy asked, pointing to them slightly. "I want to do what your all doing too sir." Omi looked a little annoyed he was being excluded but Mr. Brine just casually shook his head and muttered a -No. That's not necessary. Wait outside Tsukiyono.- as the man moved the sheet down some.
They all snapped their hands back and stumbled away instantly and Aya choked a small "Ugh." which echoed. Mr. Brine just calmly looked up at them before slowly removing the rest of the sheet and motioning for them all to come back.
"Are you crazy!" Aya snapped backing up and Yohji grabbed the red heads arm the same way he had his. "Let me go! Yohji you idiot." Aya snarled jerking his arm slightly but Yohji just continued staring at the corpse before reaching over and snatching his arm even though he hadn't move.
"Everyone just stay next to me." Yohji gently mumbled and Aya growled pulling at his arm again.
"YOhji! I said let me go!" Aya yanked away, backing a good seven feet up from the tray and Yohji frowned.
"AYA! What kind of friend are yoU! I was asking for support you bastard! Now get back here and give it to me!" Yohji yelled turning to the red head while gripping his arm. Aya just shook his head, trying to steady his own fast breathing.
"I don't feel good." He mumbled and Mr. Brine just remained silent watching Yohji glare at Aya whom ran a hand to his face and just stood where he was. Him silent and grimacing at the naked corpse before glancing at Omi who was still inside.
"Fujimiya." Mr. Brine turned back to Aya. "I want you to calm down. Walk back to this table. And relax, before I have to move you back to it myself. Kudou, relax as well. Hidaka….focus up towards the face please." He looked away from the dead man's unmentionables as soon as Mr. Brine told him too. He didn't mean to stare, but it was just so sickening, it was the most discolored and disgusting part and Mr. Brine could tell it was the cause of his sudden great loss of color. "Tsukiyono come and rejoin your team." Mr. Brine spoke, slowly unlocking the cabinet behind him. There seemed to be about a foot of space between each corpse cubby, or so he could call them.
"I-I can wait outside." Omi quickly muttered, stepping back and grabbing the doorknob. The boy wasn't so sure he wanted to do what they were doing anymore.
Mr. Brine looked up and shook his head firmly. "No. Come over here and stand with your team Tsukiyono." Mr. Brine said sighing his own personal scolding for excluding Tsukiyono from his team and Omi hesitantly started over. Slowing dramatically as the scene on the table and all of them started to clarify as distance disappeared. "Come on." Mr. Brine coaxed watching Omi slowly creep himself up to them, remaining as far from the table as he could while hovering behind him and Yohji slightly. "Boys this is what a dead man looks like. Have you ever seen a corpse before Tsukiyono?" Mr. Brine asked and Omi quickly shook no with wide eyes that stared at the body like the rest of them. "Well….now you have." Mr. Brine nodded before walking to the end of the table by the corpse's head. "Tsukiyono and Fujimiya move to the other side." Mr. Brine ordered and Aya quickly started to the other side of the tray with Omi. Now him and Yohji were on one side, and Aya and Omi were on the other with Mr. Brine at head. In a sick way, it was much of the same way they were positioned at the table for dinner. "Put your hands back on the body boys."
"WHAT!?" Omi cried, startled with the request but he quickly slid his hand on so he could just get it over with. "Ahh Ken-kun." Omi grimaced, gasping with disbelief when he actually complied without complaint.
"Do you want me to help you Omi?" Yohji offered, slowly running his hand back on as well, and only Aya's was still caught in a firm tremble as he slowly started edging his fingers on while looking away.
"Sir. Your directions can't be serious?" Omi shot " How can this be considered respecting our dead?" Omi asked cringing at Aya whom finally got his hand onto the body with a heavy sigh.
"Do not be afraid Tsukiyono." Mr. Brine reassured, ignoring Omi's snapped -I am not afraid- "Place your hand on the body and try to realize this body hardly disserves our respect. You are not hurting it Tsukiyono. Rest assured the man will not mind." Mr. Brine stated and Omi looked flabbergasted with Mr. Brines words, before quickly pushing in front of Aya to get away from Mr. Brine whom started for him.
"SIR!" Omi cried out when he was jerked back up to the table and Mr. Brine took his hands in his own and raised them over the body. "Stop SIR! This can't be right!" Omi squirmed instantly, but Mr. Brine was incredibly strong in comparison. "HOw come this man Isn't buried SiR! I don't think we should be TOuchING IT! I Don't WANT TO!" Omi cried as Mr. Brine gently brought both his hands down to the man's stomach. "AhMMM!" Omi whined through his throat, jaw locked as he pulled at his hands. They could hear Omi's sneakers squeaking into the shiny floor as the boy kicked a few times, pressing back into Mr. Brine so the man might have to back up and move his hands but….Mr. Brine was too strong for Omi to shove.
"Omi." Yohji called, and Omi looked up at the blonde in distress. "Relax. We're all touching it too. Nothings wrong."
"They're going to burry him when we're done." He quickly reassured and Omi looked a little less distressed with that news. Even though he was lying, he had no idea what the guy was doing there and hadn't even though about burial or respecting the dead until Omi brought it up. "As-as soon as we're done Ok?"
"After we're done doing what Ken-kun! What are we doing!?" Omi shot, testing to see if his hands could be pulled back again but Mr. Brine didn't budge.
"Well…as soon as we're done….touching it." He fumbled and both Aya and Yohji sent him slow -Idiot.- frowns. "Or…studying it." He tried to correct himself as Mr. Brine left both Omi's hands on the mans stomach with a strong threat Omi would be sorry if his hands moved.
"I am trying to get your feet we boys." Mr. Brine declared back at the head. "Do you feel comfortable yet? Because I am willing to take this all very slow." They all frowned at the question. "I suppose I can not expect you to understand." Mr. Brine sighed, this was obviously one of those times Mr. Brine was doing something they all found absurd because he said it would aid them in the future. So far, all of those absurd things really had aided them in the future but…it never made them any less confusing. "Hidaka. Find the liver for me."
"Oh god." He groaned, closing his eyes for a moment. "Please don't make me sir." He grimaced but Mr. Brine said nothing, so he slowly moved his hand to where the liver would be and pressed.
"Harder Hidaka. Tell me what you observe." Mr. Brine reassured and he grimaced, closing his eyes as he pressed his fingers into the corpses liver.
"Ahh." He groaned. "Ahh….it's…feels smaller and shrunken almost…sir."
"Good." Mr. Brine nodded. "Fujimiya tell me what you can find out about the kidneys."
Aya tightened instantly. "I need a break sir."
"Tell me what you can find out about the kidneys." Mr. Brine repeated nodding at Aya and forcing him to find the kidneys. It was either that or ask for a break again, in which case if Aya asked Mr. Brine would allow one but…Aya was far to stubborn to stoop to asking a second time. "Tsukiyono examine the diaphragm and Kudou…" Mr. Brine paused, watching the blonde look up and wait for directions. Kudou seemed to be handling this the easiest as long as his team was present. Fujimiya the worse, and Hidaka and Tsukiyono were almost a nice medium. "Just stand there Kudou." Mr. Brine finally ordered. He was well aware when he gave the boy nothing to do, Kudou never shut up, and reassurance was what his team needed the most now.
"K sir. I got you." Yohji smiled slightly, already talking. Turning back to watch Omi's shaky fingers attempt to examine the lower rib cage without looking at the body. "Aya what are you doing lets go." Yohji grinned at the wire-hard red head. "Did you know when I was younger I always assumed kidney beans would look like real kidneys." Yohji chuckled, sensing the stress and easing it in his own way. He grunt with the comment, Yohji would think something like that. "I never liked them, my mother would always be so angry when I didn't eat them. She's say, they're good for you, just like that. Snap at me like that." Yohji continued and Omi stopped pressing the diaphragm and left his hand weak and limp on the man's chest. "When my teacher first showed me a diagram of a kidney in health. I scoffed. I thought, I know just what they look like...Like those small nasty beans."
"The diaphragms collapsed." Omi suddenly shot in, pulling his hand back quickly. He just couldn't take having to wait to be asked and having to leave his hand there any longer.
"That's fine Tsukiyono." Mr. Brine reassured, and Omi sighed knowing he could keep his hands from the body. "Good work. Fujimiya?"
"The kidney's feel fine." Aya answered, but he didn't dare move his hands in fear he'd be asked to replace them.
"Alright Fujimiya you can move your hands." Mr. Brine sighed, and Aya ripped his hands back with disgust for the corpse. "Hidaka what can you tell me about this man and how he might have died."
"Ah...a didn't you say he as killed with a weapon much like Omi's?" He asked confused.
"I lied. I wanted Tsukiyono to relate to the story. What can you tell me?" Mr. Brine stated before smiling as though pleased with his little deceit.
"Some type of respiratory problem sir. If the diaphragm has collapsed, there is most likely a serious problems with the patients-corpses lungs. It's possible one of them are collapsed as well." He answered and Mr. Brine nodded very satisfied. He could tell just from the soft lines around the mans eyes, it was a look he couldn't explain, but recognized.
"You can all take your hand away as well Hidaka." He did instantly. "Both of you come around to Tsukiyono and Fujimiya." Mr. Brine said nodding at him and Yohji as he recovered the body with it's sheet gently and left it. Walking back towards the cabinet he had unlocked and slowly pulling out the tray inside.
"Geez." Aya breathed, backing into him and Yohji slightly before shoving between them and standing.
"Alright relax all of you." Mr. Brine ordered firmly, looking up with a squint as they all stood next to the tray and white sheeted figure. "What can you tell me here." Mr. Brine asked gently folding the sheet from the figures face enough for them to all register the difference.
"It's a girl." Omi spoke up, before quickly shutting up embarrassed he just blurt his thoughts out.
"That's right." Mr. Brine assured amused. "Which, or am I right to assume all of you have been exposed to some pornography?" Mr. Brine asked, but they said nothing. Admit to it? Yeah right. "Boys." Mr. Brine sighed slightly. "Have you all seen at least some? Fujimiya? Tsukiyono?" Aya frowned slightly, as though insulted he would be asked before nodding and Omi just gapped a little. Sprouting a slow blush as he glanced at them before muttering -A little- "Kudou and Hidaka do I even need to ask?"
"Nope." Yohji grinned. "We've seen the real deal sir." Yohji chuckled elbowing him as he sprout a wide grin.
"Well how wonderful for you." Mr. Brine stated monotone before pulling the rest of the sheet from the woman's body.
They all shot back and slammed into the tray with the sheeted man behind them. "Sir!" Omi yelled as though in shock Mr. Brine had so quickly exposed the girl. They were sandwiched between both trays! Caught! Mr. Brine turned to them with a grin then, and that's when they new. He had Planned It That way!
"Boys I expect you to all approach your lessens from a medical perspective and nothing else." Mr. Brine ordered but they all remained standing with their backs against the first tray to stay away from the girl. He had to admit it was weird. Even Yohji had looked away with him and Omi, but Aya was alright.
"Sir. Put something on her." Yohji suddenly frowned, taking a step towards Mr. Brine and extending his hand for the sheet. "Sir." Yohji demanded when the sheet wasn't offered.
"You didn't have a problem a second ago Kudou." Mr. Brine stated cocking an eyebrow.
"That was different." Yohji snapped. "You never uncover a woman unless she says ok. Since I can't ask, I can't look. Now cover her." Yohji demanded, pointing towards the body with only his hand and not his eyes. "Two very different things. They are two very different things us and them." Yohji explained, meaning them and girls. "You say man you think rock, you say woman you think water. We are not even on the same scale of grace as they are. The eyes that look upon a woman who has not yet uttered consent are shameful eyes." Yohji growled and Mr. Brine looked almost concerned with the speech. He quickly handed over the sheet and watched as Yohji gently place it over the girl, and smoothed down the corners before taking a step back with a sigh. He was still as he watched Yohji along with everyone before gently reaching out and touching Yohji's shoulder. Yohji froze with the contact and just stood still and silent with his eyes locked on the young girls face.
"..Are you alright Kudou?" Mr. Brine suddenly asked, staring at the blond with the rest of them. Yohji didn't respond to the question at all, instead his face just grew a bit sadder. "Kudou?"
"I think I might just…." Yohji trailed to nothing staring down at the girl, but they all knew he was thinking about Asuka.
"Yohji-kun." Omi pushed him slightly to reach to Yohji. Gently grasping the guys wrist. "Don't you think that…Her souls in heaven right Yohji-kun?" Omi asked, a tone that left him feeling as though this were a conversation he had missed.
Yohji on the other hand, turned to Omi instantly. Smiling at the patient expression before raising his wrist so his hand found the smaller one. "Right you are Omi. It isn't ever crowded up in heaven is it."
"No never." Omi answered, breathing out a slighter version of the strong affectionate smile on Yohji's lips before the blonde turned to him.
"She died quietly." Yohji suddenly stated. "A silent weapon. Her features hold no distress you see." Yohji said gently motioning to the girls almost sleeping face. Had it not been discolored and clammy like the mans she may have passed for a sleeping beauty. "Possibly. Gas. Poison. Maybe even a more severe…drowning or suffocation but…substantially better than…other things. Much better than bullets. Being shot." Yohji explained beginning to stiffen so he grabbed him gently. Pushing him aside so he was closer to the body and raising the sheet a tad so he could slip his hand in and find the liver. He already knew Mr. Brine would ask them to repeat their investigation and compare.
"Can I switch body parts with you Aya-kun?" Omi asked, as he moved over to the sheet and Aya nodded.
"No." Mr. Brine snapped. "Tsukiyono is the only one whom can examine the diaphragm in order to compare correctly, Fujimiya stick with the kidneys." Mr. Brine ordered and Omi almost looked scared with the directions. Reluctantly sliding the sheet down some of the girls chest before Aya helped and slid it off one of the parts that sent a raving blush to Omi's face. The boys thin hand hesitantly inching onto the girls skin, while looking to the side to ignore the anatomy difference.
"The kidneys feel swollen, almost misshapen sir." Aya reported confused.
"Same with the liver. For a sec I thought I was feeling the wrong thing." He muttered a short grin as Omi pulled his hand back and muttered a -Diaphragms fine- as he continued looking to the side.
"How did she die?" Mr. Brine asked.
"Poison is most likely." Aya stated and he nodded, all of them turning to Yohji who had guessed correctly.
"She died peacefully with it." The blonde stated, nodding slightly before sighing heavily as Mr. Brine started sheeting the girl over again and left her like the man as he beckoned from them to leave the trap between the trays.
"Alright boys come on. I have one more thing for you here. A dissection."
"Oh great." He muttered rolling his eyes. What would it be this time. They had started small. A couple frogs, then a lizard, a beaver, rabbit, mouse, rat, artificial dog and cat. All the dissections were disgusting, he personally didn't like doing them. "Do we have to? I hate doing them." He complained but Mr. Brine ignored him and that mean a definite -Yes- because the man wouldn't even argue.
"In here." Mr. Brine instructed opening a door to a small tiled room with a large sink counter and a few lockers. All a white color obviously. "Open up one of those lockers and take out the scrubs boys. Put them on and wash up your hands and arms. Take off anything loose I want you to be able to move well. Hidaka, Tsukiyono, Fujimiya loose your shirts….Kudou." Mr. Brine trailed with Yohji's all much tighter clothing. "Your fine." The man sighed, rubbing his temples again.
He ripped his shirt off and tossed it into the locker like Omi and Aya while pulling out the white scrub shirt and loose pants. Hopping into the pants and shrugging on the shirt he slipped the scrub covers over his sneakers and tying the cap over his hair before starting to the sink. There all of them scrubbed, and he meant scrubbed their arms and hands and fingers with tons of soap over the large sink in relative silence. Keeping their wet clean hands away from everything before drying with the sterol towels and encasing their cleanest skin in rubber gloves. One by one turning back to Mr. Brine with a -Ok. What now.- drained expression which was just slightly nervous with the distasteful morgue setting.
"I want you all to take a deep breath now." Mr. Brine nodded at them as the man walked over to the door. "And relax. Think clearly for me." Mr. Brine said, opening the door for them and watching them one by one walk in, before one by one stopping dead. Staring at the autopsy room, and sheeted figure laying on the tray for them.
"No." Omi gasped.
"You can't be serious sir!" He spun around instantly, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't keep the fear from his face. Fear this was real, and Mr. Brine was going to make him do this. Dissect a PerSON!
"Take another deep breath Hidaka." Mr. Brine reassured. "Because I am 100 percent serious."
"Sir." Aya stepped back towards the door but Mr. Brine blocked the way.
"I'll be watching from the window over there boys." Mr. Brine said pointing across the room to the large observation window. "Relax all of you." Mr. Brine spoke as he saw them all silently start building to their breaking points. Even he could feel a knot in his stomach winding up and pulling tighter. His knees felt watery and shaky and Omi was trembling slightly next to Aya whom was drastically pale. "Fujimiya remove the kidneys, Hidaka remove the liver, Tsukiyono remove the diaphragm and Kudou remove the spleen." Mr. Brine directed and Yohji stiffened with the order. Obviously preying he would just be directed to -Stand there- again. "Alright."
"Sir." He choked slightly, taking a tiny step closer to Mr. Brine. He couldn't take this. NO WAY. Couldn't dissect a body. NO WAY! He was getting ready to beg. This was it, he couldn't take this. He couldn't look at the sheeted form, never mind cut it! Cut it and remove things from inside! NO way! He was going to have to beg. Beg and grovel, for the first time. "Sir I-"
"-Sir! Please don't make us do this!" Omi suddenly shot, whining at Mr. Brine and pushing him aside slightly as the boy started shaking no. "I don't want to cut people sir! I'll dissect something else! Tons of other things! But SIR! I don't waaaant to do this! Don't make us doooo this!" Omi pleaded, cringing at Mr. Brine while shoving him and tugging at Yohij's shirt to make them both wake up and back him up.
"Yeah sir." Yohji shot, but they could all tell from the blondes tone he was highly stressed.
"Sir this is insane. We're not doctors! We've never preformed and autopsy before!" He shot getting a little panicked.
"Well NOW YOU WILL!" Mr. Brine yelled. "Assassins Don't WHINE! Now get in there!" Or Do I Have to GIVE you a Fresh TANNING TO REMIND YOU HOW TO SUCK IT UP!" Mr. Brine suddenly yelled, shoving them all further into the room before firmly grasping the doorknob. "All those organs better be out in Half AN HOUR! And it better BE CLEAN! PERFECT JOBS! With the Kind of SKiLL Assassins Would REmOVE ORGANS WITH! NOW GO!" Mr. Brine yelled, getting firmer to retaliate against their perturbed expressions. Mr. Brine then slammed the door loudly and disappeared after a soft nod that let them know the man was disappointed in them. Still, Mr. Brine left only their blank panicked faces and the still corpse behind them. Their eyes all a little wide, teeth grit as they turned around and gawked at the body they were supposed to examine.
"Is Mr. Brine joking you guys?" Omi whimpered suddenly, staring at the sheeted figure before glancing at all of them.
"If he's not back in this room in a minute Chibi he sure as hell isn't." Yohji breathed, bringing a wrist up to his face and gently touching his forehead. It was a signal Yohji and him had learned on the street, and it let him know the blonde was all of three seconds from puking.
"You feel like throwing up Omi?" He turned to Omi instantly, because if Yohji was this close Omi should have been spent already.
"No. You?" Omi shook no and turned to him concerned instead, but he was ok. He gave Omi a reassuring expression as he gently rubbed Yohji's shoulder to calm the blonde down. "Are we-are we going to have to-to examine this body then?" Omi asked cringing slightly and he nodded. "It's a b-boy r-right guys?" Omi looked horrified with the idea the body might be a woman again.
"Oh no." Yohji shook his head instantly. "Mr. Brine! Mr. BRINE!" Yohji yelled over towards the tinted observation window. They could only assume the man was inside it from where they were. "If that's a lady Mr. BRINE! I am…no…I can't I…" Yohji trailed, shaking his head and he laid a hand on his shoulder without really touching his sterile glove to anything.
"It's ok. It's not. It's a guy. It's a guy." He reassured before frowning because that wasn't really that reassuring. "It's a Guy?" He reassured again with more of a question tone as he turned to Aya and Omi, and Aya nodded slightly.
"No breasts." Aya stated pointing towards the table and they all turned and look at the flat sheet hanging over the chest area.
"Well what if she's just…" Omi trailed unsure.
"What if she just what Omi?" Aya frowned turning to the boy whom shrugged. "What if she had them amputated?" Aya swat Omi in the back of the head. "Pay attention."
"What have I said about hitting me Aya-kun!" Omi snapped moving from the red head while frowning at him. Aya just ignored the comment and pulled a few facial scrub masks from the box on the wall and handed them out.
"Can you guys do this?" Aya asked turning to them, but his own voice was shaking. They all nodded. "Good than…lets…get going then."
They all stood still, nodding with Aya's words before the red head took the first step. Slowly they all moved to the table and looked down at the sheeted figure before at the tray of scalpels and other tools laid out for them.
He reached out with a shaky hand and pulled a few shiny metal medical bins over for their organs to be laid in. The very thought of thee entire ordeal was making him sick.
"Guys lets just get this over with right away. Fast. I don't want to think about it anymore." He choked out shaking his head. "The more I premeditate this, the sicker I am feeling." He spit, tying the mask onto his face so now all they could see was his eyes.
"Ken's (gag) Ken's right." Yohji choked backing him up and tying up his mask. Aya and Omi imitated before Aya took hold of the sheet.
"Nice and fast. We work efficiently. We've all practiced doing this before, now is no different." Aya nodded before ripping the sheet down. They all stiffened, gasping a little air at the figure below them. It had a cotton white blanked folded on its body from its collar bone up covering its face, and its hip bones down. Covering the deceased version of their unmentionables he hoped to never see again in his life.
"Wow." Yohji choked slightly, and the green eyes smiled over their mask. "That was nice of them wasn't it?" The blonde nodded and he smiled a little too. The chest of the figure had been washed down and was already prepared for them. Like this it wasn't so bad because it looked like practice again. Good thing too. He didn't think he was going to be able to do it, if the persons face and head were visible.
"Ok." Aya said, slowly picking up a scalpel and they all grabbed one as well. "I suggest we begin." They all shuffled, landing on either side of the examining table, with their scalpels placed according to their organs. All waiting to begin together, because that would be the easiest way to do it. No watching any one start first. "Ok count of three than?" Aya asked.
"No." Yohji quickly spit, pulling his scalpel back from where he had his arm near Aya. "I can't start like this. I need more room to work."
"What Yohji?" He frowned at the blonde, but Yohji simply shook his head.
"It's ok Yohji-kun. Do you want us to help you do something?" Omi asked confused. They were all confused. Yohji never needed lots of room to work unless he was working with a lady. Then he insisted on it. Other than that, the blonde could practically sit on them and not be bothered.
"I am just feeling cramped!" Yohji snapped backing up a step.
"Alright." Aya soothed, trying to get Yohji to relax with his voice. Aya too had sensed Yohji was taking this part hard. "We'll work like this." Aya sighed, taking command and beginning new directions. "I'll start first, Omi next because we're further apart. I'll remove one kidney and then Yohji you can begin and then Ken from my side. Then when which ever of you is done, I'll pick up your spot and remove the other." They all nodded and Aya was quiet for a moment, waiting for any last minute objections before moving his scalpel to the cold pasty skin and gently slicing in. The sudden cut squirt blood up at the red head and Omi whom was standing next to him.
"Ah." Aya dropped the scalpel instantly.
"AHHH!" Omi screamed, ducking from the table because he was squirt in the face. "AHOH! It'S AHH!" Omi cried smearing the blood down his face mask with his fingers as he frantically tried to get it off.
"OMI!" Yohji shot around the table and grabbed Omi one second before the boy ripped his bloody face mask off with shaky hands and bent over throwing up.
"It's ok Aya!" He made a move to touch Aya and the red head almost attacked him. Jumping out of his skin before relaxing and letting him help, to get the blood off the bottom of his face mask and neck. "Shh it's ok, its just like…a bit of water. It's ok." He grimaced, trying not to choke or puke. That DEAD Body just SQUIRT BLOOD AT THEM!
"ahh! AHH(GAG) Ahha(choke cough) Yooohji-KUUN!" Omi cried, still bending towards the floor dry heaving between his words. "DID You SEE (gagging) Ahhaabloood oooonn meeee." Omi cried grimacing as Yohji wiped at the blood squirted around his eyes and forehead.
"It's fine Omi!" Yohji yelled. "The bloods hardly on you! It's hardly visible!" Yohji lied weakly. Omi's entire forehead was the disgusting color of smeared blood along with the entire bit of skin around his right eye. Just now he was getting the last bit off Aya's neck as the red head finally started to calm down. His breathing almost normal again as Yohji backed Omi up against the wall and simply had him look up so the boy would relax while he worked.
Within the next seven minutes they were all back at the table looking down at the corpse and small cut like the thing was likely to come alive and attack them. With in the next ten minutes they had all had a chance to shakily make their own first cuts. Each one, now that Aya was finished, contained jammed eyes, and much ducking. They were all paranoid they would be squirt at.
He grimaced as he pulled his scalpel down the dead skin slicing a long red line that pooled blood up onto the dead body as he did it. His other hand logged into the corpse and easing his fingers closer towards the liver. Occasionally grunting Yohji's name when he became to tense and the blonde only muttered small -It's alright's- and -this isn't so bad's- which sounded about ready to throw up as Yohji pushed his hand into the gory skin to find the spleen. Their corpse had turned into a Operation board game. Now containing lines like they had drawn on themselves with sharpie markers and projected images which become flesh and blood incisions that bled! The chest cavity was opening up for Omi who was struggling to get the diaphragm out completely. The boy was dead silent and hardly responded when they talked to him. It were as though he had shut down into Zombie work mode and only grimaced like he would puke, or sniffled like he would cry. Aya, Yohji, and him were working to completely destroy the abdomen. With all the fishing for the kidney's, his liver, and Yohji's spleen the body was turning into a lake of blood, and a raw fleshy smell he couldn't describe. Their gauze and bandages were around the wounds, soaking up the red, but that didn't stop it from smearing onto the front of their scrubs. They all looked like those doctors inside horror movies with long rubber gloves and light green shirts streaked with the corpses ink.
"I…I…" Yohji started muttering as he wiggled his fingers around part of the liver.
"You ok?" He asked without looking up.
"I…I.."
"You going to puke again?"
"I…I…I got it." Yohji suddenly choked, pulling his hand from the soup of blood, flesh and unrecognizable fragments they were accidentally adding. Gently cleaning the small spleen before laying it in the metal tray. "I…" Yohji trailed staring at the thing.
"Good job Yohji." Aya stated, but the blonde didn't move. Yohji just stared down at his little organ before diving at the side sink and throwing up…again. "That's the third time and he's still puking stuff up." Aya said frowning slightly. His eyes closing to send more sensory perception to his fingers as he worked on gently removing the kidneys to Yohji's hurling.
Aya's first kidney was out next, then Omi's diaphragm. Upon it's removal Omi hastily threw up on the floor again before backing up and away from them as he watched. He was done next and then Aya's second Kidney and they both threw up as well. He knew it sounded ridiculous, but the feelings were intense. A complete sense of stomach knotting awe that failed to capture the fleshy smell, or afterlife abomination in words. By the time they were done, they were all furthest from the body, their organs, standing still with the blood on their bodies, the tremble in their limbs, and sprung tears in their eyes.
"Boys." Mr. Brine walked in slowly, anything sudden or loud would have probably made them all piss their pants. "Boys I am proud. You did an excellent job with your organ removal. The criminals you will stop will be people like this. Shames to society and your heroism, though unrecognized will unquestionably better and save lives. Inside these people are no different from you. This exercised has opened your minds to corpses. Let you see them, feel them, and forced you to stay near and even examine them. Your experiences here will have an effect on you in battle…I guarantee it. Your all better prepared to face the villains that plague our world. These villains are the very men you have to stop, and now you must learn to stop them. Mr. Brine nodded, glancing at the clock. It was 11:48. "Go get cleaned up boys." The man gave them all strong reassuring expressions as they slowly hobbled from the room to wash.
Mr. Brines strong set face, and kind but firm expression strolling to the table when he was sure they were gone and looking down at the corpse. Smiling slightly as the man shook his head before lifting one of the white cotton blankets they had never touched. Mr. Brine pulled the foam head from it's fake prosthetic body and put it away in the cabinet before flicking the red switch on the wall. Within a moment the connecting door to thee room opened and the thin, lanky boy with spiky blank hair and dragon tattoo on his shoulder came strolling in.
The boy stopped on sight of him with an exaggerated "Heeey siiir. Playing with the old prosthetic I see." Randall grinned. "So. How's this one. You like? I made it myself just for your team." Randall bragged wiggling his eyebrows.
He sighed slightly, as Randall strolled over and frowned at the shreds of supposed-corpse. "One suggestion Randall." He sighed watching the boy whistle before the -Woowee look at all the mess here.- "Next time put a little less blood inside please." He said.
"Oh heeeey Mr. Brriiine man. It's got to like…squirt out. That's the fun part." Randall grinned ignoring his groan and shake of his head as he left. Leaving Randall's happy singing to the fake blooded, fake corpse and all the cleaning that pertained. Never mind Tsukiyono's vomit on the floor.
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Wooo a little hands on for the boys…n e way, gotta really cool scene coming up next chapter!
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Whines this stories has consumed so much free time!!! So much time alone in front of the monitor typing!! sniffles can't you all at least leave a review to pity me!! I need sympathy!! And some Chocolate would be nice!! I don't think I am asking for too much here as an author. Just a small second of your time to review, and a couple cookies---please?
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Press the button points to button with wide innocent smile and persuading chibi eyes You know you want to. This is chapter 20 of 24.