Chapter Twenty Three
Saitoh felt like strangling the man. Instead he calmly put his unlit cigarette between his thin lips. It was ridicules that he couldn't just light the thing up, but even with the woman's absence he couldn't bring himself to break the house rules. Absolutely ridiculous. Now who was being a moron?
"This is unacceptable."
"I agree. You here is unacceptable." Saitoh said coldly.
The bigger man completely ignored him. If he wasn't the center of attention then it didn't matter. Confidence was one thing, but arrogance was another. This man hadn't changed in the slightest, even after all these years. Saitoh still couldn't stand him. He was even worse than Sagara.
"My girlfriend is locked God knows where, and you insist on being an unreasonable asshole." Hiko seethed. Saitoh gave him a level glare, just to push more buttons. It worked, "And then you say you have no idea where the kid is! Are you completely incompetent or just incredibly dense?"
"I do not have a vested interest in either. You should not have placed them in such a position if you felt you could not handle a risk."
That really did it. Not that Saitoh cared. As much as he liked to torment this was a waste of time. His mission was in danger. He needed to rectify that situation immediately.
"What do you know?" Hiko demanded, suddenly going from anger to arctic cold. The chill in his voice was supposed to be intimidating, but Saitoh liked it better. Maybe the idiot man would start acting like a rational adult with responsibilities. He never, however, forgot for one instant how dangerous the big man really was. "She was in your care and you failed. I want to get her back. I fail to see what is so wrong about that. If you won't grant me your aid I will go anyway. Without permission. Not that I need your permission."
Saitoh's eyes narrowed and he crushed the stick on the table in an uncharacteristic show of annoyance, "You do that."
Hiko looked over with flat eyes, "I never liked you."
Saitoh didn't feel like he had to state the fact that the feeling was mutual.
"Yet here I am, sitting in your house, trying to talk to an asshole like you about rescuing my girlfriend and daughter. Might I add that you lost them in the first place?"
"Not my concern." He chewed lightly on the tip of the stick tasting the tobacco sifting through the newly created holes in the paper. "This is going nowhere. Do what you will, just stay out of my way."
"Stay out of mine."
Sano grumbled and banged his fist against the wall. What was keeping the freak? He said meet him here at 7pm. So why was Sano now wasting away his gambling night down in some dark hole?
"Fuck." He muttered to himself. No matter how angry he tried to get it wasn't working. He was worried. It didn't take a genius to figure out that Kamatari was always on time. If Sano had just one major pet peeve about the cross dresser, that would be it. The little jerk was always on time. Usually to the minute. "Fuck fuck fuck." He added for good measure and punched the wall again.
"Kamatari cannot make it this evening I am afraid."
"Shit!" Sano yelped and whirled around. He was faced with a kid. Well, the guy looked like a kid, but Sano had learned the hard way that some kids had the ability to kick his ass. "Who are you?"
"Oh, apologies, my name is Soujirou Seta." The smiley kid said formally.
Uh huh. And that made him who again?
Well, he obviously knew that Kamatari was supposed to meet him here. He must be important then. Except he wasn't particularly important to Sano, and that was what mattered at the moment.
"Sure kid. Mind telling me why?" The young man asked cracking his knuckles nervously. There was just something so wrong with the brat. It made his skin crawl. Wait, wasn't that the kid with the Weasel? Hey, yeah, it was. "Hey, it's you."
Soujirou blinked and gave an unsure smile, "Me? Yes, I am myself. Ah, as for Kamatari, I cannot say."
"Can't or won't." Sanosuke asked with a sinking feeling. Naturally, fear only provoked one reaction from him. He was ready to let fly with his temper. His knuckled cracking was getting slightly more vicious. "I don't know what he is to you, but he's my friend. I don't claim to be bright, yet I know you're keeping something from me. Tell me. I'm asking nicely."
"Very nicely indeed. I must decline however. It is not something that is your concern." The boy's voice dropped in warning and his eyes narrowed. Sano tensed up instinctively. So much for the nice approach. And he seemed like such a nice young man too. That made the ex-street fighter snort with dry cynicism.
Sano made his muscles relax slightly, "Sure it ain't. After all, what would a stupid grunt know about friends, huh? I bet you know so much better. I bet the two of you are all buddy-buddy. Fine, have it your way. I don't care."
Soujirou looked confused then hurt at the accusations. Maybe learning mind games was useful. Nah, there was nothing like a good old fashion beat-down. It wasn't Sano's fault if everyone else was too frail and wussy to take the hits.
"Just tell him that I'll be around then. Since I seem to mean so little."
"That is not correct."
It was spoken so softly that Sano almost didn't hear it. He paused and half turned in inquiry. What did the kid mean by that?
"Shit, either I'm going deaf or you're near-mute. Teenagers aren't supposed to be so damn polite." Sano snapped irritably. This was a waste of time. It was just a huge fucking waste of his time. "Listen, I have my paycheck to lose, so make this quick, okay?"
"You mean a great deal." Soujirou clarified haltingly, never losing that damnable smile. "To him I mean."
"Sure I do. A boy-toy, I understand. Is that it?" Sano snarled, really starting to raise his hackles. That was none of the kid's damn business. And hell if that bastard Saitoh didn't always tell him to use his brain and put away his emotions. Too bad that didn't work. They could call him a dog all they wanted, but Sanosuke Sagara couldn't change his base loyal nature for all the money, fame, or sex in the world. And he wouldn't want to. "Well I ain't his bitch-boy, no matter what is said. And no one sure as fuck has the guts to even say it to my face. You going to be the first?"
The smaller boy raised his hands in a peace offering and took a slight step back, "I did not mean it to sound that way."
"What did you mean it as, cuz that's how it sounded to me." Sano said. He was really getting pissed now. He made a lunge for the smaller boy and was unpleasantly surprised when his intended bear hug only hit thin air. A grunt tore from his body as he was smacked from behind about his mid-back.
Shoving himself off the wall he whirled. At least with the wall at his back he'd only have three sides to protect. Shit, the kid was fast though. Sano hadn't even felt him move. He hadn't even known until he was hit. That was the sort of shit he wasn't cut out the fight! Too bad it wouldn't stop him. If pummeling some roadrunner brat was what it would take to get his answers then so be it.
"He is standing before Shishio for his crimes." Soujirou commented from a safe distance to Sano's left. "I was sent to retrieve you."
"Good fucking luck with that buddy." Sano spat feeling where he'd been hit. There was a way to win. There had to be. His endurance and strength had to be good for something. It would be such a waste. All he had to do was think this over. Quickly. Okay, shit, really quickly.
"You cannot win."
"The hell I can't. You think I'm going to fall to my knees and make you drag my ass in? Only after you knock me out."
"Ah, I see why Kamatari likes you. You have a fighting spirit. However, unfortunately, I was instructed to make haste, and to win by unfair means."
"What that—."
"Perhaps you should be more careful what you drink."
That stupid little shit. Sano wasn't going to kill him. Slowly and painfully. First he was going to beat the kid's face bloody. Then maybe he'd stop that It smile. What the fuck was he? A clown. He was almost like a fucking character from a Stephen King novel. Shit, almost? He was a character from a Stephen King book. Or rather the movies. The books were too long. Demented little beast.
Anyway, once he shook off the weights on his limbs he was going to take off the smile first. Then he was going to start breaking digits. Thumbs first and pinkies last. The promise of pain made him smile.
"You look comfortable. I trust the sedatives are working properly. It was difficult to gauge the dosage. Your weight is rather light, but your endurance and stamina make up for it."
"Not… down… yet…"
"No, but I have ten minutes until I am expected back. With you. So please hurry up."
"Fuck… you…" Sano growled trying to shove himself up. Sitting helpless made him want to die. Literally. It was the worst feeling he could have ever imagined. It was a feeling he wasn't going to tolerate any longer than he absolutely had to. "When I get up…"
"That may be hours from now." Soujirou put in with a cheerful smile. "Everything should be resolved by then."
"You mean…" Sano tried to spit it out but his lids were slipping and his tongue felt swollen. He wasn't going to lose. He was too God damn stubborn to lose like this. To some shitty drug. "You're sick. Using…"
Soujirou's eyes hardened and Sano felt a tinge of satisfaction. Let the brat rot in his anger. It just showed he was human like the rest of them. No high and mighty shit with those repressed emotions and all.
"He betrayed us."
"So you'll betray him." Sano managed with a half-assed smirk. Paralysis had pinned his limbs and held him captive. "Pathetic."
"He made his choice." Soujirou suddenly said coldly. "And you must come with me now."
"Like… choice…"
"No, you have no choice in the matter. I was going to be polite and careful, however, you have severely vexed me. You may wake with some bruises."
"Nothin' new." Sano slurred seeing only the inside of his eyelids. Damn that stuff worked fast.
He wasn't sure how long he was out. When he came to, he found that his eyes were still sealed shut. That was okay. The heaviness all over his body made fighting it just too difficult. That didn't affect his hearing however.
The first thing that greeted his newly conscious mind was Kamatari's squeal of outrage, "What's he doing here?" Nice to know he was still alive and so happy to see Sano. Or Sano's body anyway. Sano wasn't sure where all the rest of him was. Maybe in a happy haze of blissful ignorance. The one that went with the pleasant buzz that was clouding his thoughts.
"Worried about your toy?" That voice was slick and oily. Easy to place. It was that bastard Usui.
"He has nothing to do with this! Release him."
"Is our darling homo going soft? If he's just a toy then I don't see why you'd have a problem. Get a new one. If you survive."
"If you did then maybe I have a chance. And if he's just a toy then there's no reason to waste this effort on him."
Hurt registered through the haze. He was an expendable toy? A waste of effort? Well fuck that then. Why'd he ever bother to worry in the first place? When Kamatari didn't show up he should have just gone out like he had planned. Maybe he'd be all liquored up and passed out in some bar instead of drugged and ready to be a sacrifice to the secrecy of this lovely little cult.
"Sou, darling, did he have any clue what you were talking about when you retrieved him?" Kamatari asked calmly.
"No Kamatari, he did not."
"See? I don't mix my business and pleasure." Kamatari pointed out and Sano would have hit him if he could. Bastard. Traitorous bastard. He deserved to burn in Hell.
"So you're insistently protecting your little whore?"
Whore!
Kamatari's voice went from reasonable to dangerous, "You are hardly one to talk. You sold your soul, not your body, and that is far worse."
"We should wait for Shishio to return." Soujirou said suddenly, "He will be most displeased if we act without permission."
Kamatari gave a low laugh, "Sou's got a good point. Wouldn't want to step on some toes, now would we?"
Usui snarled back, "Don't think your beloved Shishio will be any more forgiving."
"I'm counting on his ruthlessness." Kamatari replied. "In the meantime I promise not to run away. I'd like to feel my hands again. I didn't know handcuffs hurt so much."
Sano suddenly felt himself being hefted like a sack of lumpy potatoes. It wasn't a feeling he had experienced since he was a little kid before he ran away from home. As if he wasn't already pissed and hurting and humiliated enough already.
The muscle underneath him grunted and tossed his body down. Sano instinctively tried to curl inward, but his body only made a few jerky movements.
"You may have overdosed him." A deep voice remarked carelessly. That would be Anji. That must have been the muscle that carried him. Well, fucking thank you very much for the gentle landing. Like a fucking dream. All clouds and fluffy bunnies.
"Not intentionally." Soujirou protested and Sano could mentally picture that It smile still plastered on his face. "Be good Kamatari."
"No worries here." Kamatari chirped back. "I'm not going anywhere like this. Besides, where would I run?"
"True enough."
A door slammed and there was silence.
"Oh Sano, I'm so sorry. I messed up big time I guess." Kamatari confessed and Sano assumed he had no idea that he had an audience.
Suddenly there were hands on his body. Sano wanted to scream not to touch him, but his throat was coated with cotton and his lungs were only taking in shallow breaths.
The hands moved along his body slowly, gently. They pushed and pulled at limbs, straightening them.
"Shh, you're okay. For a little while you're okay." Kamatari crooned. He paused and sighed, "Who am I kidding? We're both dead where we sit."
"You call me a toy." Sano accused trying to gain purchase enough to sit up. He slipped and smashed his head with a curse. When Kamatari tried to help Sano slapped his hand away viciously, "Don't touch me. I don't need your help."
"Can I say I'm sorry?"
"Sure, you just did, didn't you?"
"Okay, I'm sorry you're sitting here waiting to die. I'm sorry I had to play along with Usui in the hopes that you would be freed. I'm sorry that I failed. Just like I failed at everything else. Failed at this mission, failed at being a respectable human being, failed at being a good son, failed at everything I ever tried at."
"So—you didn't mean it?" Sano said rolling on his back with a grunt. Damn, when you could still feel that much pain through a drug-induced haze you knew you're screwed.
Kamatari was silent and Sano craned his head so he could see his partner's face. He was faintly surprised to see tears.
"Of course not! I would never ever say anything like that to anyone. Don't you think I've been at the butt-end of trash talk for most of my adult life? What kind of person would I be if I just turned around and did that same thing? Not the kind of person I would respect. I would hate myself." Kamatari spat and tried to run his fingers through his hair. The metal clanked with the effort and crimson smeared around his lower arms. "Not that I'm loving myself a whole lot right now."
Sano didn't know what to say. Sure, he was still pissed to hell. Pissed at pretty much anything and everything to be exact. Still, he should say something. Too bad he sucked at feel-good, mushy stuff.
"Pick yourself off the ground. We ain't dead yet, right? You can have plenty of time for self-loathing as a fucked up ghost."
"Comforting." Kamatari remarked wryly and shut his eyes, leaning back against the wall with his hands in front of him. "Whom shall I haunt? Shinomori does have a delicious ass."
"Better. And don't haunt that bastard. He doesn't deserve it." Sano nodded and wished he hadn't. This was worse than a hangover.
"So, how are we getting out of here lover?" Kamatari teased pulling his knees up to his chest with a thoughtful look.
"Christ, do you have to do things like that?"
"Like what?" Innocence didn't work too well when the man had a smirk hidden underneath.
Sano gave a heaving sigh. Why'd he want the old Kamatari back again?
"Like calling me 'lover.' It's just wrong."
"Okay sweetie."
"Not that either!"
"Baby? Doll? Sugar? Honey?"
"No!"
There was a slightly, sly pause, "Rooster?"
"Absol-fucking-lutely no way."
"Okay lover. So what's the plan?"
"Fuck if I know."
A/N: And wasn't that just so much fun to write? Only a few more chapters left until the climax and then it's downhill. Funness. Then I can work on the sequel to Drifter and all the other million things. Keep in mind I wrote this at 1:30 am. It's even a bit longer than usual next morning OMG swoons 9 whole hours of sleep! I haven't had 9 hours of sleep in forever!
eriesalia: I tend to blend humor into things and digs are just too much fun! It think with Misao and Sano I'm just giving them what they deserve. Most people downplay them into stupidity. Aoshi won't die... I don't think, but I've always wanted to play him as a "bad guy."
MissBehavin: I killed Susumu (fyyrrose named him). Then I went to work and asked Stacy what I did wrong. Nothing. He just died. LOL. Now I have Tari (still; he likes to mess with the other three), Chuu, Touya, and Jinn. Thank you for the suggestions! Mwahaha. I don't think fyyrrose will allow me to name my fish after Kikyo or Tomoe tho. Thank you! Most people don't get male pride. snickers Yes, ninja turtle Usui. I think his headband would be black. He could be the evil turtle! Aoshi, I don't like him for other reasons. Aoshi is trying to be logical (for all the good it does him), and he understands that Soujirou really could keep her safe. He's being a bigger person (riiiiiiiight). Did you have any doubt that Usui was a sociopath? As for the rest of that... I have no idea.
Wistful-Eyes: No touchy on the Aoshi -- I have no control over the mind and we wouldn't want any fatal injuries to my reviewers, okay. Hehe, Kenshin's not confusing, he just plays by his own rules (which defy everything that he is and what society believes him to be). Dead fish LMAO. Eck, I don't care for Faye either, but naming a fish Ed might not work (although why not since I named a fish Bob Fishkabob). Hmm, but Subaru, Aishi, and Suzuka are good. And yup, it's Chihiro. All I remember about her was she screamed "HAKU" and I wondered if the poor boy was going to have hearing problems later in life
Fyyrrose: Ha, what rules? I e-mail for my one-shots Which is why I have someone who really wants me to end Cuffs! I'm about to give her the green to write the ending herself. LMAO. I don't think that's what she wants though. Look! Another almost-virgin chapter. starts laughing I actually don't think of Aoshi as gay (in general), only my brother does! So I guess he's the second. Kind of like another "ninja" huh? Pictures. Two words: blackmail pictures. Misao is based slightly on Alex. What does that tell you? You guys get it, Misao is totally clueless.
I never cared for Usui, but I'd actually like to meet Hoji. It's sad that I can read/watch the nastiest things happen to humans and go to sleep, but when it's being done to animals I get queasy. I will name the severum Integra, provided she doesn't try to eat the guys. If she does she goes back to work.
Saitoh felt like strangling the man. Instead he calmly put his unlit cigarette between his thin lips. It was ridicules that he couldn't just light the thing up, but even with the woman's absence he couldn't bring himself to break the house rules. Absolutely ridiculous. Now who was being a moron?
"This is unacceptable."
"I agree. You here is unacceptable." Saitoh said coldly.
The bigger man completely ignored him. If he wasn't the center of attention then it didn't matter. Confidence was one thing, but arrogance was another. This man hadn't changed in the slightest, even after all these years. Saitoh still couldn't stand him. He was even worse than Sagara.
"My girlfriend is locked God knows where, and you insist on being an unreasonable asshole." Hiko seethed. Saitoh gave him a level glare, just to push more buttons. It worked, "And then you say you have no idea where the kid is! Are you completely incompetent or just incredibly dense?"
"I do not have a vested interest in either. You should not have placed them in such a position if you felt you could not handle a risk."
That really did it. Not that Saitoh cared. As much as he liked to torment this was a waste of time. His mission was in danger. He needed to rectify that situation immediately.
"What do you know?" Hiko demanded, suddenly going from anger to arctic cold. The chill in his voice was supposed to be intimidating, but Saitoh liked it better. Maybe the idiot man would start acting like a rational adult with responsibilities. He never, however, forgot for one instant how dangerous the big man really was. "She was in your care and you failed. I want to get her back. I fail to see what is so wrong about that. If you won't grant me your aid I will go anyway. Without permission. Not that I need your permission."
Saitoh's eyes narrowed and he crushed the stick on the table in an uncharacteristic show of annoyance, "You do that."
Hiko looked over with flat eyes, "I never liked you."
Saitoh didn't feel like he had to state the fact that the feeling was mutual.
"Yet here I am, sitting in your house, trying to talk to an asshole like you about rescuing my girlfriend and daughter. Might I add that you lost them in the first place?"
"Not my concern." He chewed lightly on the tip of the stick tasting the tobacco sifting through the newly created holes in the paper. "This is going nowhere. Do what you will, just stay out of my way."
"Stay out of mine."
Sano grumbled and banged his fist against the wall. What was keeping the freak? He said meet him here at 7pm. So why was Sano now wasting away his gambling night down in some dark hole?
"Fuck." He muttered to himself. No matter how angry he tried to get it wasn't working. He was worried. It didn't take a genius to figure out that Kamatari was always on time. If Sano had just one major pet peeve about the cross dresser, that would be it. The little jerk was always on time. Usually to the minute. "Fuck fuck fuck." He added for good measure and punched the wall again.
"Kamatari cannot make it this evening I am afraid."
"Shit!" Sano yelped and whirled around. He was faced with a kid. Well, the guy looked like a kid, but Sano had learned the hard way that some kids had the ability to kick his ass. "Who are you?"
"Oh, apologies, my name is Soujirou Seta." The smiley kid said formally.
Uh huh. And that made him who again?
Well, he obviously knew that Kamatari was supposed to meet him here. He must be important then. Except he wasn't particularly important to Sano, and that was what mattered at the moment.
"Sure kid. Mind telling me why?" The young man asked cracking his knuckles nervously. There was just something so wrong with the brat. It made his skin crawl. Wait, wasn't that the kid with the Weasel? Hey, yeah, it was. "Hey, it's you."
Soujirou blinked and gave an unsure smile, "Me? Yes, I am myself. Ah, as for Kamatari, I cannot say."
"Can't or won't." Sanosuke asked with a sinking feeling. Naturally, fear only provoked one reaction from him. He was ready to let fly with his temper. His knuckled cracking was getting slightly more vicious. "I don't know what he is to you, but he's my friend. I don't claim to be bright, yet I know you're keeping something from me. Tell me. I'm asking nicely."
"Very nicely indeed. I must decline however. It is not something that is your concern." The boy's voice dropped in warning and his eyes narrowed. Sano tensed up instinctively. So much for the nice approach. And he seemed like such a nice young man too. That made the ex-street fighter snort with dry cynicism.
Sano made his muscles relax slightly, "Sure it ain't. After all, what would a stupid grunt know about friends, huh? I bet you know so much better. I bet the two of you are all buddy-buddy. Fine, have it your way. I don't care."
Soujirou looked confused then hurt at the accusations. Maybe learning mind games was useful. Nah, there was nothing like a good old fashion beat-down. It wasn't Sano's fault if everyone else was too frail and wussy to take the hits.
"Just tell him that I'll be around then. Since I seem to mean so little."
"That is not correct."
It was spoken so softly that Sano almost didn't hear it. He paused and half turned in inquiry. What did the kid mean by that?
"Shit, either I'm going deaf or you're near-mute. Teenagers aren't supposed to be so damn polite." Sano snapped irritably. This was a waste of time. It was just a huge fucking waste of his time. "Listen, I have my paycheck to lose, so make this quick, okay?"
"You mean a great deal." Soujirou clarified haltingly, never losing that damnable smile. "To him I mean."
"Sure I do. A boy-toy, I understand. Is that it?" Sano snarled, really starting to raise his hackles. That was none of the kid's damn business. And hell if that bastard Saitoh didn't always tell him to use his brain and put away his emotions. Too bad that didn't work. They could call him a dog all they wanted, but Sanosuke Sagara couldn't change his base loyal nature for all the money, fame, or sex in the world. And he wouldn't want to. "Well I ain't his bitch-boy, no matter what is said. And no one sure as fuck has the guts to even say it to my face. You going to be the first?"
The smaller boy raised his hands in a peace offering and took a slight step back, "I did not mean it to sound that way."
"What did you mean it as, cuz that's how it sounded to me." Sano said. He was really getting pissed now. He made a lunge for the smaller boy and was unpleasantly surprised when his intended bear hug only hit thin air. A grunt tore from his body as he was smacked from behind about his mid-back.
Shoving himself off the wall he whirled. At least with the wall at his back he'd only have three sides to protect. Shit, the kid was fast though. Sano hadn't even felt him move. He hadn't even known until he was hit. That was the sort of shit he wasn't cut out the fight! Too bad it wouldn't stop him. If pummeling some roadrunner brat was what it would take to get his answers then so be it.
"He is standing before Shishio for his crimes." Soujirou commented from a safe distance to Sano's left. "I was sent to retrieve you."
"Good fucking luck with that buddy." Sano spat feeling where he'd been hit. There was a way to win. There had to be. His endurance and strength had to be good for something. It would be such a waste. All he had to do was think this over. Quickly. Okay, shit, really quickly.
"You cannot win."
"The hell I can't. You think I'm going to fall to my knees and make you drag my ass in? Only after you knock me out."
"Ah, I see why Kamatari likes you. You have a fighting spirit. However, unfortunately, I was instructed to make haste, and to win by unfair means."
"What that—."
"Perhaps you should be more careful what you drink."
That stupid little shit. Sano wasn't going to kill him. Slowly and painfully. First he was going to beat the kid's face bloody. Then maybe he'd stop that It smile. What the fuck was he? A clown. He was almost like a fucking character from a Stephen King novel. Shit, almost? He was a character from a Stephen King book. Or rather the movies. The books were too long. Demented little beast.
Anyway, once he shook off the weights on his limbs he was going to take off the smile first. Then he was going to start breaking digits. Thumbs first and pinkies last. The promise of pain made him smile.
"You look comfortable. I trust the sedatives are working properly. It was difficult to gauge the dosage. Your weight is rather light, but your endurance and stamina make up for it."
"Not… down… yet…"
"No, but I have ten minutes until I am expected back. With you. So please hurry up."
"Fuck… you…" Sano growled trying to shove himself up. Sitting helpless made him want to die. Literally. It was the worst feeling he could have ever imagined. It was a feeling he wasn't going to tolerate any longer than he absolutely had to. "When I get up…"
"That may be hours from now." Soujirou put in with a cheerful smile. "Everything should be resolved by then."
"You mean…" Sano tried to spit it out but his lids were slipping and his tongue felt swollen. He wasn't going to lose. He was too God damn stubborn to lose like this. To some shitty drug. "You're sick. Using…"
Soujirou's eyes hardened and Sano felt a tinge of satisfaction. Let the brat rot in his anger. It just showed he was human like the rest of them. No high and mighty shit with those repressed emotions and all.
"He betrayed us."
"So you'll betray him." Sano managed with a half-assed smirk. Paralysis had pinned his limbs and held him captive. "Pathetic."
"He made his choice." Soujirou suddenly said coldly. "And you must come with me now."
"Like… choice…"
"No, you have no choice in the matter. I was going to be polite and careful, however, you have severely vexed me. You may wake with some bruises."
"Nothin' new." Sano slurred seeing only the inside of his eyelids. Damn that stuff worked fast.
He wasn't sure how long he was out. When he came to, he found that his eyes were still sealed shut. That was okay. The heaviness all over his body made fighting it just too difficult. That didn't affect his hearing however.
The first thing that greeted his newly conscious mind was Kamatari's squeal of outrage, "What's he doing here?" Nice to know he was still alive and so happy to see Sano. Or Sano's body anyway. Sano wasn't sure where all the rest of him was. Maybe in a happy haze of blissful ignorance. The one that went with the pleasant buzz that was clouding his thoughts.
"Worried about your toy?" That voice was slick and oily. Easy to place. It was that bastard Usui.
"He has nothing to do with this! Release him."
"Is our darling homo going soft? If he's just a toy then I don't see why you'd have a problem. Get a new one. If you survive."
"If you did then maybe I have a chance. And if he's just a toy then there's no reason to waste this effort on him."
Hurt registered through the haze. He was an expendable toy? A waste of effort? Well fuck that then. Why'd he ever bother to worry in the first place? When Kamatari didn't show up he should have just gone out like he had planned. Maybe he'd be all liquored up and passed out in some bar instead of drugged and ready to be a sacrifice to the secrecy of this lovely little cult.
"Sou, darling, did he have any clue what you were talking about when you retrieved him?" Kamatari asked calmly.
"No Kamatari, he did not."
"See? I don't mix my business and pleasure." Kamatari pointed out and Sano would have hit him if he could. Bastard. Traitorous bastard. He deserved to burn in Hell.
"So you're insistently protecting your little whore?"
Whore!
Kamatari's voice went from reasonable to dangerous, "You are hardly one to talk. You sold your soul, not your body, and that is far worse."
"We should wait for Shishio to return." Soujirou said suddenly, "He will be most displeased if we act without permission."
Kamatari gave a low laugh, "Sou's got a good point. Wouldn't want to step on some toes, now would we?"
Usui snarled back, "Don't think your beloved Shishio will be any more forgiving."
"I'm counting on his ruthlessness." Kamatari replied. "In the meantime I promise not to run away. I'd like to feel my hands again. I didn't know handcuffs hurt so much."
Sano suddenly felt himself being hefted like a sack of lumpy potatoes. It wasn't a feeling he had experienced since he was a little kid before he ran away from home. As if he wasn't already pissed and hurting and humiliated enough already.
The muscle underneath him grunted and tossed his body down. Sano instinctively tried to curl inward, but his body only made a few jerky movements.
"You may have overdosed him." A deep voice remarked carelessly. That would be Anji. That must have been the muscle that carried him. Well, fucking thank you very much for the gentle landing. Like a fucking dream. All clouds and fluffy bunnies.
"Not intentionally." Soujirou protested and Sano could mentally picture that It smile still plastered on his face. "Be good Kamatari."
"No worries here." Kamatari chirped back. "I'm not going anywhere like this. Besides, where would I run?"
"True enough."
A door slammed and there was silence.
"Oh Sano, I'm so sorry. I messed up big time I guess." Kamatari confessed and Sano assumed he had no idea that he had an audience.
Suddenly there were hands on his body. Sano wanted to scream not to touch him, but his throat was coated with cotton and his lungs were only taking in shallow breaths.
The hands moved along his body slowly, gently. They pushed and pulled at limbs, straightening them.
"Shh, you're okay. For a little while you're okay." Kamatari crooned. He paused and sighed, "Who am I kidding? We're both dead where we sit."
"You call me a toy." Sano accused trying to gain purchase enough to sit up. He slipped and smashed his head with a curse. When Kamatari tried to help Sano slapped his hand away viciously, "Don't touch me. I don't need your help."
"Can I say I'm sorry?"
"Sure, you just did, didn't you?"
"Okay, I'm sorry you're sitting here waiting to die. I'm sorry I had to play along with Usui in the hopes that you would be freed. I'm sorry that I failed. Just like I failed at everything else. Failed at this mission, failed at being a respectable human being, failed at being a good son, failed at everything I ever tried at."
"So—you didn't mean it?" Sano said rolling on his back with a grunt. Damn, when you could still feel that much pain through a drug-induced haze you knew you're screwed.
Kamatari was silent and Sano craned his head so he could see his partner's face. He was faintly surprised to see tears.
"Of course not! I would never ever say anything like that to anyone. Don't you think I've been at the butt-end of trash talk for most of my adult life? What kind of person would I be if I just turned around and did that same thing? Not the kind of person I would respect. I would hate myself." Kamatari spat and tried to run his fingers through his hair. The metal clanked with the effort and crimson smeared around his lower arms. "Not that I'm loving myself a whole lot right now."
Sano didn't know what to say. Sure, he was still pissed to hell. Pissed at pretty much anything and everything to be exact. Still, he should say something. Too bad he sucked at feel-good, mushy stuff.
"Pick yourself off the ground. We ain't dead yet, right? You can have plenty of time for self-loathing as a fucked up ghost."
"Comforting." Kamatari remarked wryly and shut his eyes, leaning back against the wall with his hands in front of him. "Whom shall I haunt? Shinomori does have a delicious ass."
"Better. And don't haunt that bastard. He doesn't deserve it." Sano nodded and wished he hadn't. This was worse than a hangover.
"So, how are we getting out of here lover?" Kamatari teased pulling his knees up to his chest with a thoughtful look.
"Christ, do you have to do things like that?"
"Like what?" Innocence didn't work too well when the man had a smirk hidden underneath.
Sano gave a heaving sigh. Why'd he want the old Kamatari back again?
"Like calling me 'lover.' It's just wrong."
"Okay sweetie."
"Not that either!"
"Baby? Doll? Sugar? Honey?"
"No!"
There was a slightly, sly pause, "Rooster?"
"Absol-fucking-lutely no way."
"Okay lover. So what's the plan?"
"Fuck if I know."
A/N: And wasn't that just so much fun to write? Only a few more chapters left until the climax and then it's downhill. Funness. Then I can work on the sequel to Drifter and all the other million things. Keep in mind I wrote this at 1:30 am. It's even a bit longer than usual next morning OMG swoons 9 whole hours of sleep! I haven't had 9 hours of sleep in forever!
eriesalia: I tend to blend humor into things and digs are just too much fun! It think with Misao and Sano I'm just giving them what they deserve. Most people downplay them into stupidity. Aoshi won't die... I don't think, but I've always wanted to play him as a "bad guy."
MissBehavin: I killed Susumu (fyyrrose named him). Then I went to work and asked Stacy what I did wrong. Nothing. He just died. LOL. Now I have Tari (still; he likes to mess with the other three), Chuu, Touya, and Jinn. Thank you for the suggestions! Mwahaha. I don't think fyyrrose will allow me to name my fish after Kikyo or Tomoe tho. Thank you! Most people don't get male pride. snickers Yes, ninja turtle Usui. I think his headband would be black. He could be the evil turtle! Aoshi, I don't like him for other reasons. Aoshi is trying to be logical (for all the good it does him), and he understands that Soujirou really could keep her safe. He's being a bigger person (riiiiiiiight). Did you have any doubt that Usui was a sociopath? As for the rest of that... I have no idea.
Wistful-Eyes: No touchy on the Aoshi -- I have no control over the mind and we wouldn't want any fatal injuries to my reviewers, okay. Hehe, Kenshin's not confusing, he just plays by his own rules (which defy everything that he is and what society believes him to be). Dead fish LMAO. Eck, I don't care for Faye either, but naming a fish Ed might not work (although why not since I named a fish Bob Fishkabob). Hmm, but Subaru, Aishi, and Suzuka are good. And yup, it's Chihiro. All I remember about her was she screamed "HAKU" and I wondered if the poor boy was going to have hearing problems later in life
Fyyrrose: Ha, what rules? I e-mail for my one-shots Which is why I have someone who really wants me to end Cuffs! I'm about to give her the green to write the ending herself. LMAO. I don't think that's what she wants though. Look! Another almost-virgin chapter. starts laughing I actually don't think of Aoshi as gay (in general), only my brother does! So I guess he's the second. Kind of like another "ninja" huh? Pictures. Two words: blackmail pictures. Misao is based slightly on Alex. What does that tell you? You guys get it, Misao is totally clueless.
I never cared for Usui, but I'd actually like to meet Hoji. It's sad that I can read/watch the nastiest things happen to humans and go to sleep, but when it's being done to animals I get queasy. I will name the severum Integra, provided she doesn't try to eat the guys. If she does she goes back to work.