The thin man fidgeted, it wouldn't do to pace, not in the presence of that disgusting man Shishio or his little toad Hoji. The whore wasn't present today, probably lazing in bed due to "woman pains". Also, noticeably the little boy was gone, and he had been for a long while. It made the man wonder what sort of mission Shishio had deployed him on.
"Usui, my old friend," There was nothing friendly in that cold, malicious voice. All it contained was dark malice and stark amusement. He thought that Usui was weak and not worth his time, but that opinion might change. At least for the minutes that it took the burnt man to die painfully and writhing in agony when Usui finally struck. "What have you been up to? I despise people who sneak around."
"Humph." Usui sneered he didn't have to answer the man. He wasn't here like one of Shishio's pet pit bulls. He was his own master and at the moment he had one goal: Making Shishio pay.
"No matter, I will figure it out sooner or later." The bandages man said negligently. "Hoji, have you done as I've asked?"
That was a clear dismissal, but Usui didn't want to seem like he was obeying that loathsome man's orders so he waited a few more minutes before skulking out.
Once in the dark halls of the labyrinth warehouse he snarled in frustration. It wasn't impossible to kill him, it wasn't! And Usui was going to see this through. He was confident Shishio wouldn't kill him unless he did something really stupid. The sadistic bastard enjoyed playing with him too much for that. But for Usui this wasn't play.
Tracing his closed, puckered eyelids faintly he reminded himself and strengthened his resolve. He's just waiting for the right time, and that's all. Shishio had an incredible talent to see a move only once and after that he was practically immune to it. This would have to be good. He wouldn't want to give away the game too soon.
Something short and lithe smashed into his stomach. His mind automatically registered the more menacing presence first rather than the person that ran into him.
"Welcome home Tenken." He sneered making a mocking, sketchy gesture. He could practically feel the smile radiating and it made him sick. There was something very wrong with that boy. Very wrong.
"Good day Usui." The boy replied cheerfully. Usui didn't answer, for he was studying the girl Tenken had brought with him.
Frankly, she wasn't much to brag about. His Mind's Eye could tell as much. He wondered if this was what Soujirou had been sent to collect. It seemed doubtful, but Shishio did many strange things.
"Your young friend seems frightened."
"I am not! You, you sicko-freak. I bet you're a pedophile or something like that!" The girl's voice was high with anger and he could sense the emotion spike in her body. He heard a rustle and clink of metal. "Ah, so your friend has some teeth. Advise her to beware who she bites."
"Usui, this is Misao. Misao, Usui." The Tenken continued, unruffled.
"Charmed I'm sure." Usui managed, only inserting a hint of sarcasm. This was a waste of his time and he actually had better things to do than meet little girlfriends.
"Jerk." She snapped, and Usui wished he could do the same to her neck. She was going to be a world of trouble; that much he could tell. Still, perhaps it would prove entertaining. Shishio was not nearly so indulgent. Maybe she would have her tongue cut out. That was an amusing thought, and he was only sorry that he wouldn't be the one to do it.
"Excuse us Usui, we must meet with Master Shishio." The boy said in an apologetic tone. Usui shrugged. It wouldn't do to piss off Shishio's most deadly pit bull after all. He may not be the most aggressive, but he certainly had no qualms about finishing what was started.
He didn't pay any attention when they left. His keen mind was only half focused on the problem of how to kill Shishio. It was a thought that plagued his mind in a never-ending vicious cycle. It was Hell on Earth, and completely of his own making. But it wasn't, Shishio did this to him. Shishio ruined his life and he would pay for such a grave mistake. In blood! It was preferably in the most painful, disgusting, degrading manner possible.
He was going towards his room, one filled with booby traps of course. He didn't trust any of Shishio's men, and he most certainly didn't trust Shishio himself. Unthinkable. Usui had become far more cautious, even paranoid, since he had lost his sight. Even though his other senses had sharpened that evil man had taken something irreplaceable from him and it was something he could never regain.
Just as he turned the corner, fully intending to enter his dark lair. After all, what was light to a blind man? And ease his killer migraine that always accompanied his bouts with Shishio.
He halted and assessed the man standing before him. The man didn't flinch or gaze away. Usui couldn't feel colors, what he missed most of all, but he could feel the man's cold, impassionate gaze locked on him.
"You must be Shinomori." Usui said when it became apparent that the other man wasn't inclined to speak up. A heavy silence lay between them. "I don't know what he promised you, but I wouldn't suggest holding him to his word if it fails to pan out."
"I am aware of that." The voice rung colder than a winter's chill down the enclosed hallway and Usui smiled making his facial hair curl upwards. Shishio sure did pick them, or did they pick him? Either way this was a real killer. He seemed a man of his word, honor, and reputation. Excellent.
A/N: For anyone who cares I got a 86% on my psychology exam! That's a very high B. Oh, and I got a B on my English paper too. Oh, and after psychology class today I decided that Battousai in TDTI was not really an alter ego, he's Kenshin's id (pleasure principle-person's inner desires, wishes, wants). I want what I want and I want it NOW. It's the opposite of your "superego" aka concience.
reviewer:
Fyyrrose: Why do you have to outdo everyone? No, I'm kidding. And you better not, not that you know it all, but what you do know... *hands over the 20*. You hate everyone, that's nothing new. Besides, you never liked Kenshin. The only reason you liked him in TDTI was because of B. As for Kaoru, I'm still not going to kill her. I decided that I didn't want Sou that badly. Lazy me. She lives another day! Hiko, no compassion. Oh wait, I'm writing this ^^ Oh yes, the man is digging his own grave bit-by-bit. I love that game. You shut up, she'll figure some of it out I bet. Well, in both BSR and here. It's not quite so obvious in BSR. He would whip Sou seven ways to Sunday then decapitate him. He would have if Okita hadn't butted in (I'm sure Misao loves him for that -___-' crazy bi-atch). Okay, as for favorite characters... I have no loyalty. You know that. I turn around and say sure. Sissy would probably love that, but he has other problems to deal with. Give her to Hoji >:) I hate being on hold too. Death to country music! You are my co-conspiritor. TDTI wouldn't have gotten anywhere without you. Only you would dare to do a bitch fight with me! ^_________^ SL would have a heart attack! Oh, and I found a good way to shut her up. Put Kenshin (or Kaoru) with someone else. She didn't talk to me for half a day after I mentioned Ken/Meg. Oh, another thing is to bother her constantly when she's trying to write. I was giving her stupid bumper stickers. So how was it that I was giving her a 1/3 of them, reading all of them, and still averaging two pages to her one? *grins* I love multi-tasking.
MissBehavin: Lucky, oh yes, that's the word for it >:) Kenshin, get his act together? Never! Hiko is a brat and childish to boot. Tokio has taste, yet is blinding with misplaced affection? Anyway, lol. Should I help you like Hiko? Oh, you'll love what I have in store for him in both this fic and BSR. The poor, poor man. At least he has his ego to comfort him.
Trupana : This kind of just jumps in where the other one left off ^__^ I have a bit to set up, but not really because you guys know all the pairings and relationships already. Meg's a typical 6-yr-old with some serious intelligence. Meg as a teenager is fun to think about (not for Tokio; she's thinking nightmare). But yes, the boys. As for more so than the adults... she's not jaded yet ^__^ As we get older we tend to ignore things that bother us. As for the triangle... maybe ^^;; That's a bit translucent huh? Hiko is Hiko. To him that's not in the gutter. He thinks therefore speaks. No filter. Sano's 19, so 13 (more towards 12 actually) years. Aoshi's 25 I guess. *twitch* Kenshin got some good things in drifter. It's only fair he pays for it. No, but I want to. Saitoh gone good *twitches again* But he is "good"... sort of... misunderstood? *gives up* Okay, so he's not going to win any awards.*drools* No, see with chocolate it opens (to shovel it in and/or bite whoever tries to take some ;) ). Secrets *grins*
Wistful-Eyes: There is no such thing as too much chocolate. And when Shishio bit Kenshin I was sitting there howling with laughter. My sister thought I had cracked. She didn't realize Sissy had bitten Kenny. The whole bit at the end was funny too! The umbrella attacks were fun >:). *drops to a whisper* can you keep a secret? *grins widely* I've started the sequel and the main character is Sano ^.~