Chapter VIII: The Yang

"You'll have your questions answered and so with mine," he added while looking at him. "You have to trust me because you have to. You weren't brought here to be killed. Eclextia may have a bad reputation but we're not slaughterers, alright? You should know how disappointed Eclextia was when many of our people were terribly wounded and died during a surprise attack made by VOLTS."

Makubex knew what he was talking about. It was the time when he decided to launch a solo attack at the System where he managed to bring down many Eclextians who were on duty, guarding the System's entrance. He didn't look away so as not to appear guilty.

"We have a mission that's why we're here," continued Ikari who was now looking at the pillow beside Makubex. "Each of us has a mission. Eclextia VI's mission is to continue the long lost hierarchy of the red jagan in this city as well as the nearby powerful places like Mugen and Babylon. My mission is to protect the current Eclextia, who is my mother."

"Your mother?" asked Makubex incredulously. "How come? How is that? I mean, you don't even look like her. When I first saw you, I thought you were a relative of Mido-san. You look a lot more like him."

"We look alike since one of his ancestors was my mother's husband," answered Ikari. "You see, I'm a taboo child. That is the reason why my eyes are mismatched. I wasn't supposed to be here in the first place like what the man with the evil eye said."

"Yes, that seems to fit," said Makubex who was rubbing his aching temple. He needed to play along and give him the information he needed. He couldn't risk anything again since he wanted to see Ginji again. He wanted to live just to see him again.

"I've read in books long ago about taboo children being killed even before they are born. They are said to bring all sorts of damnation to the family and to their next generation. The most unlucky ones are those who belong to rival clans such as the Red Jagan clan and the Blue Jagan clan. The children born from the union of a blue jagan and red jagan are believed to be both a blessing and a curse. They are a blessing because, like what you said, they give their creators eternal protection from external foes but they are a curse for they do not stay loyal to their makers forever."

"You are saying that there will come a time I'll be betraying my mother?" asked Ikari. "That's absurd. You're lying."

Like his mother, he also had the ability to read minds, only less powerful because he only had his red jagan on one eye. He read Makubex' mind and he saw that he wasn't making up what he was telling him. In fact, he was so sincere he felt his trust was there and that he was being treated like a friend. This fact only confused his mind more.

"I know you can read my mind so you should know I'm telling the truth. Sooner or later you will," repeated Makubex. He looked at the table and saw a cup of tea set by Ikari. It was still intact since he didn't spill it on the floor when he tried to escape. He took it and tried to take a sip when Ikari stopped him from doing so.

"Don't," he said, taking the cup from him and pouring the contents into the old trash can.

"I'm thirsty," said Makubex. "Are you even depriving me of a decent drink?"

"I just saved you from drinking a poisoned tea," defended Ikari. He laid the cup back on the saucer where Makubex took it seconds ago.

"Oh, thanks then," said Makubex, his eyes on Ikari's hand. "Tell me, your name, when translated, means "darkness", right?"

"Yes."

"So, why are you being so kind to me?" asked the boy. "You should be evil. All villains are like that."

"Not all villains want to be villains," said Ikari with a smile. "I want you tell me everything you know in exchange for saving your life. And I want the truth." He added, while pointing at his red jagan.

This was it. He knew wasn't going to be saved for nothing. He took a deep breath and prepared himself for the worse to come.

"Alright then, fire away."

-----

"You've got a dollar?" asked Ban while emptying his wallet for their fare. He placed it back in his pocket and waited Kadsuki to hand him the addition.

"Here," said the other man. "Good thing I didn't forget to get my wallet yesterday from Jubei."

"Yeah," answered Ban who handed the taxi driver their payment. They still had to walk (or run perhaps) at least a kilometer to reach the Manor of Eclextia because the cab didn't want his car on the rough road which started on the spot where he dropped off Ban and Kadsuki.

"So," said Ban after running side by side with the Thread Master for several minutes. "Can you tell me why you didn't bother to bring your bodyguard to the Manor? I think you're better in combat when you're partner is with you, aren't you?"

Kadsuki, who was already starting to get cranky by the heat, ignored Ban's question. Instead, he answered him with another question unrelated to what Ban just asked.

"Are we there yet?" he asked tersely and softly though Ban noticed his unusual crabbiness starting to creep in. "The sun's over us already. It must be noon."

"We're almost there," Ban replied curtly. "See that big red mansion there beyond that big palm tree? That's where Eclextia lives. I think it's her family's rest house… So, why isn't Jubei with us?" He really wanted to hear the man's reason on not bringing his inseparable partner with him to battle.

"Are you that curious?" asked Kadsuki, his eyebrows slightly covered by his bangs. Ban nodded with a smile before looking back at the path they were taking. "He didn't come because he has to take care of Ginji and Kaisshin. If you remember, you entrusted their lives to him and the others. He's the only one with sufficient knowledge on medicine so he'll be the only one good enough to ensure Ginji's recovery and Kaisshin's survival while the creator of the Seed is still not with us."

He looked at Ban who was suppressing a laugh. Kadsuki saw he already had his hand over his mouth to avoid laughing at what he said. What's the matter with him? Why is he laughing? Is there something wrong with what I said? Ban glanced at his companion and he swore to himself that steam was coming from Kadsuki's ears though he has a neutral expression on his face.

"They were right all along," he replied as they were drawing closer and closer to the big mansion of Isan.

"Right?" asked Kadsuki, confused. "About what? About Isan's house being this big?"

Ban couldn't take it anymore. He was already laughing at Kadsuki who was starting to detach the bells from his hair. If Ban didn't see him starting to take his weapon, he wouldn't even stop laughing.

"No, about your being cranky under the heat," Ban replied who was just smiling. "All the time, you're being so casual and relaxed that seeing you in this state is just… just so unnatural, in fact, so unnatural that I feel---"

"---drop it," cut in Kadsuki who was now feeling more embarrassed at that moment. "We're going to have a retrieval mission here so would you please stop horsing around?"

"I'm just trying to make the atmosphere a little bit lighter," said Ban seriously. "You know, we've never had missions together before so maybe, you aren't so comfortable working with me yet."

"Thanks for your concern," said Kadsuki sarcastically. "With what you've just shown, I know what to do next time you try to pull me beside you."

"What?" asked Ban with a smirk.

"Thread you to the ground," said Kadsuki through gritted teeth.

"I don't believe you," said Ban. "You don't have the guts to do that."

"Oh yeah? Try me."

"I can't take this anymore," said Himiko who suddenly stood and got her head hit on the ceiling of the cab. She remembered she was still inside the taxi.

"What's wrong Poison Lady?" asked Akabane who was the only one awake before she started talking. "Had a nightmare?"

"I am having a nightmare," she said as she shook Shido on the front seat to wake him up. "This is the worst decision I have ever made in my entire life."

"What are you talking about?" asked a just-violently-awoken Shido. "Stop yelling, you'll wake Ginji and besides, Mugen's still far away. I also want to have some sleep."

"You can have your sleep after we get off this cab," glared Himiko. "Stop the car," she added to the driver who seems to be listening to their conversations since they hopped in.

"Where are you going, Poison Lady?" asked Akabane without looking at her. "We're not yet in Mugen."

"I know of course that Mugen is still miles away," said Himiko through gritted teeth. "Get out Dr. Jackal. You're coming with me."

Akabane went out of the car without any complain. Himiko was the only person alive who manages to order Akabane around without getting the J treatment etched on any part of her body.

"Where are you going?" asked Shido who also stepped out of the car and opened the door near Ginji.

"We're going back," said Himiko while shutting the cab's door. "Go on, Rinube's taxi is waiting behind. You can't delay them, Ginji and Kaisshin…"

"But---"

"Just go," said Himiko while walking away from the taxi and going opposite the direction the taxis were taking. Shido muttered something unsavory under his breathe before entering the taxi again to sit with Ginji.

"I was waiting for you to say that, hours ago," said Akabane while walking behind her. "What took you so long?"

"Oh, you were?" asked Himiko. "I was thinking about it the time I set my head on your shoulder, when I suddenly fell asleep. Then I had this dream about Ban that jerked me back to reality. So, I did what I was supposed to do. Good thing I overheard Ban talking about it to Kadsuki last night."

"So, are we walking from here to the Manor?" asked Akabane.

"You don't like?" asked Himiko, mockingly. "Is the heat too much for you Dr. Jackal?"

She wanted to tease the man. It was something she wasn't able to do during their previous missions together.

"It's not that I don't like to walk," said Akabane. "The weather's no problem for me but I just thought we better get there as soon as possible. They may be finished when we get there. If I'm not mistaken, they may have started the party already."

"Just kidding Dr., I also don't want to miss the fun" said Himiko with a smile. "They're not going to keep the party just for themselves."

She stuck out her thumb as an empty taxi was about to pass by. The yellow cab stopped beside the two.

"After you," said Himiko, opening the door for Akabane. The man gave her another smile and entered the cab without any further inquiries.

"So, where are you couples off to? A motel? Or perhaps a nice 5-star hotel?" asked the driver who was smoking a cigarette. He looked at the two as he said this and saw neon scalpels instantly protrude from the robed man's hands and a bottle of weird colored liquid appearing out of nowhere between the fingers of the girl. He took a big gulp and looked back at the road before them.

"Sir, do you know the Eclextia Manor near the Kanashi seashore?" asked Akabane, his scalpels at the back of the driver's chair. The driver saw the weapons and nodded curtly.

"Take us there," said Himiko, who was about to remove the cork covering of the disintegrating scent she was holding. "And no talking on the way. You know what'll happen if I hear you talking like that again."

Himiko was able to sleep peacefully on Akabane's shoulder as they rode all the way to the Eclextia Manor.

"---I don't have total control over Babylon," explained Makubex while moving his hands over his silver hair. "If you think that you'll get power through me, you're absolutely wrong."

"I am powerful already," answered Ikari. "It is not I who longs for more authority and control over Mugen and Babylon. It is my mother. She wants to continue the growth of our clan in the whole world and she's starting to do it here and in Babylon."

Makubex was taken aback by what he said. He was thinking that this boy was just like Eclextia who lusted for power and control. He was starting to have his calculations again. If he could do it correctly, he might be able to turn Ikari on their side. He still doubts himself and he could take advantage of it and at the same time make him know that he's on the wrong side. He himself said that not all villains wanted to become villains…

"That's it," muttered Ikari his eyes on Makubex. While Makubex was lost in thought, he was reading his mind and there he saw what Makubex was planning. He wanted him to go against his mother, to betray her, to become the traitor…

"I've seen through you," said Ikari, hate starting to etch on his voice. "You're not that good. I've told you I can read minds, still, you weren't careful in what you were thinking."

"No, you don't understand," defended Makubex. "I just want you to know that you're on the wrong side."

"Enough!" shouted Ikari. "This was your plan. You want me to go against her and take your side. You're taking advantage of the confusion I am having now. Too bad I saw through your plan."

Ikari jumped from the bed and landed near the door. He held his hand up, just above the level of Makubex' neck and tried to use his power to choke the boy. Makubex who was on the bed felt something like fingers wrap around his throat, trying to suffocate him.

"What a-are you doing?" asked Makubex. "Stop… I can't breathe…"

"Now you can't?" asked Ikari, mockingly. "That's what happens to people who try to manipulate me. You like it?" He tightened his grip on Makubex making the boy place his hands over something he couldn't see to loosen up whatever was choking him.

"I-I'm not tr-trying to manipulate y-you!" choked Makubex. "I-I'm just telling you t-the truth!"

"That's not the truth I'm looking for," whispered Ikari without looking at the suffering boy. "The truth you are giving me is not what I want to hear!"

"S-Stop fighting yourself," said Makubex who was starting to run out of air. "You can't fight your feelings! I… I know… and I believe that you a-are not this e-evil."

"What are you talking about?" asked Ikari with a laugh. "I'm already killing you. Isn't this evil enough?"

"Y-you're scared, aren't you?"

Ikari suddenly let go of Makubex who fell face down on the bed. He was coughing so hard that he had to clutch his stomach to avoid everything he took in the previous night from coming out. Though still managing to catch his breathe, he set his eyes on Ikari who had backed to the door. He could see he was shaking. The truth was making his knees shake.

"S-scared?" he asked. "Me? I'm scared? Of what? Myself? You're not making any ense."

"You're the one who's not making any sense, Ikari," retorted Makubex. "You keep on believing that you are meant to do terrible stuff when in the first place, you don't even want to do them. Am I not right?"

Ikari felt his heartbeat go at a faster rate. He didn't want to hear anymore what Makubex was saying. Why? It's because it was true and admitting the truth would set him against the whole System, against his own mother and he didn't want that. He put his hands over his ears as he tried to get out of the room.

"You are not evil! Don't tell me I'm wrong. I know there are times you keep on asking yourself if what you are doing is really the right thing to do. You always have second thoughts every time you go against what you think is right!" shouted Makubex across the room. "Admit it Ikari! Only when you do let in the truth, accept that you are a good person, will you achieve the stability and peacefulness you are trying to seek!"

"Shut up!" shouted Ikari back. "Stop telling me what to do!"

"You said you want to know the truth!" yelled Makubex as Ikari shut the door behind him. "AND THAT IS THE TRUTH!" That is your truth…

"Here we are," said Ban who was facing the big door of the manor. Kadsuki already had his strings out when they entertained several men of Isan who greeted them beyond the outer gate. "Should we knock?" he asked Kadsuki who just put to sleep three men who tried to stab him and Ban. Suddenly, the great door opened and they saw Isan, with Ikari, descending on the stairs before them.

"I think we don't need to anymore," said Kadsuki without letting his guard down. The two entered the house and stopped only at least three meters from the foot of the red-carpeted stairs. He noticed the boy was wearing something like a necklace with a shining bloody red pendant displaying the emblem of the extinct red jagan on his chest. To his surprise, the boy was smiling. The boy's smile was like his own smile. The only difference was everyone felt great whenever he smiled unlike this boy who made him feel his blood chill and the hairs on his neck stand. Then he remembered something he shouldn't have. Akabane was the only person, besides this boy, who gave him goose bumps whenever he came too close or he was being smiled at like that. Ban felt big drops of sweat fall from his spiky hair.

"You ok, Ban?" asked Kadsuki softly without removing his eyes from Isan and her son who were now near the bottom of the stairs. "You seem to be sweating heavily."

"The heat you know," Ban reasoned out, taking his handkerchief from his pocket and wiping the sweat from his temples. "Don't you realize how hot it is in this place? Ginji would've turned into a puddle of goo if he were here right now."

"I think you're right," said Kadsuki but almost taking it back because the moment Ikari stood on the floor where they stood, everything turned into ice, including the walls and the big chandelier above them. "Well, I guess you're wrong," he added. "It's starting to get cold."

"It's starting to freeze, Thread Spool," said Ban who was having a hard time adjusting to the sudden change of temperature. "Good for you you're born in the winter. You're body's adjusted to this kind of temperature."

Kadsuki smiled but he pocketed it the moment Isan started to talk to her uninvited guests.

"Well well well," she said while putting her hands together. Unlike during her fight with Ginji where she wore a black robe to conceal her identity, this time, she wore a blood red silk robe which matched her red eyes. Her figure framed on the big and wide staircase was giving a very majestic and eerie glow. Ban felt he was meeting with the Queen of England, only he didn't treat her like majesty.

"It seems we have uninvited guests," she said while walking towards Ban. She saw behind him the unconscious bodies of her men. "I see you didn't treat well those who were supposed to serve you during your stay here."

"You should change your men Isan," said Ban flexing his hands. "They don't serve well. Your guests would surely get bored."

"Mido Ban," said Isan while removing the hood covering her head. She looked at Ban who looked away. "Why can you not meet my eyes? Are you shy?"

"Shy? I'm not stupid Eclextia," said Ban while fixing his glasses. "I don't want you reading my mind thanks. Only one person is allowed to access my mind."

"Is that so? I don't care who then," she said as she circled Ban, then stopping only behind Kadsuki. "I see you brought someone with you. Who is she? Is she your girlfriend? Or maybe she's your personal bodyguard." There was a tone of ridicule in her voice.

"I'm a man," said Kadsuki, automatically, before Ban could answer her. He turned to his right to face Isan who just walked beside him. "Clearly, I know you saw me fight your men last night so I believe you should be familiar with my identity."

"Of course I know you're a man," she said, her eyes sizing him which irritated Kadsuki. "I just wanted to know what your reaction would be, Ito no Kazuki. Really, I just proved that VOLTS Kings do have long patience."

"Where's Makubex?" asked Ban, his anger starting to reek out with all the delay. "Give him back to us Eclextia."

"It's obvious you're not one of the Kings, Mido," said Isan, nastily. "You surely need more patience to be one of them."

"I don't give a damn with what you're saying woman," he said angrily. "Give us Makubex and we might spare your life."

Kadsuki was starting to get nervous on Ban's attitude. He glanced at him and whispered something for him only to hear. "Will you calm down? We won't get anywhere with that attitude of yours."

"You want me to calm down?" whispered Ban in return, his eyes on Isan who was talking to Ikari. He noticed the boy disappear in a blue flame after she talked to him. "She's going to play with us. She's playing with us!"

"I know but you can't force her. She might harm Makubex," Kadsuki said as his eyes traveled around them. He saw men clad in black robes appear in every corner of the manor. There were fifty… hundred… more than a hundred… "We'll have to play along."

"Let's see if you can handle everyone, Mido," said Isan while backing to the stairs. "I can't fight you since you're not Raitei. I hope you understand. By the way, they will provide you your appetizer. Main course will come later." With that, she and Ikari went to the room where Makubex was, to prepare him for his role.

Kadsuki and Ban had their back on one another, looking at the men who had gathered to form a large circle around them. Though calm and thinking, they both knew they won't be able to get off one hundred men at the same time. They needed help, but they just don't know how to get them and where to get them.

To be continued…