Don't own Bloody Roar...yada yada. Hi again, I'm back. Again, I can't thank my reviewers enough. The last one finally convinced me to get off my lazy butt and start writing already. So, anyway, here we go. This is for all the Mole-boy lovers like me.
Chapter Four: Between Darkness and Light
The abandoned factory stood at the edge of the docks, a huge eyesore of rusted metal and graffiti sprayed concrete walls. Its windows had been boarded up, and yellow caution tape surrounded the perimeter, warning everyone to stay the hell away. To the untrained eye, it was simply another gutted out building, waiting for the bulldozers and wrecking balls to clear it away.
Kenji's eye was far from untrained. The ninja had already counted three security cameras as he made his way up to the heavy iron doors, and he had evaded the net of tripwires spread over the front walk, just out of habit. It wasn't as if he was deliberately sneaking into the lab; he wanted Busuzima to know he was coming, but that didn't mean he couldn't keep his skills up. Let the scientist know he wasn't out of practice.
He moved quickly, afraid that if he paused to think, he would lose his nerve. A part of him still thought this was crazy, trusting Busuzima, when common sense told him to turn and run in the opposite direction. After all, this was the madman that turned him into a mindless killer in the first place. This was the twisted scientist who used him as his personal guinea pig, who tortured him routinely so that he would know what to expect if he was caught. Beatings, electric shock, and mind-altering drugs were all part of his arsenal, as well as the brainwashing that destroyed whatever feeling was left.
Stop it, Kenji told himself, as his resolve began to waver, remembering the nights he was so sore from Busuzima's "teachings" he could barely move. This isn't about you anymore. This is for Uriko. He paused at the heavy iron doors, noting the camera that whirled around to eye him dubiously. Well, Kenji. This is it. There's no turning back now.
Before he could even knock, however, the doors swung slowly open with a loud groan. Kenji took a deep breath and walked into the waiting darkness.
"Hee hee heeeeee." The amplified giggle came from all around him, though the inside of the building looked completely abandoned. The ninja slitted his eyes and dropped into a defensive crouch. "Welcome to my lab, Bakuryu. I knew you'd come eventually."
"Don't call me that," Kenji said, his voice icy. Half expecting a trap, he crept further into the warehouse, scanning the room for hidden attackers.
"Where are you, Busuzima? Why don't you show yourself, if this isn't another one of your ruses. Or are you afraid of your former guinea pig?"
"Afraid? Ha ha ha ha! Don't flatter yourself, boy. I am merely cautious. For all I know, you're planning to murder poor old Busuzima as soon as he shows his face. Once a killer, always a killer, you know."
I'm not a killer, Kenji wanted to say, but the words stuck in his throat. That was why he was here, wasn't it? He could deny it all he wanted, but the fact remained; there was a cold hearted assassin living inside his head. "I just want to get rid of Bakuryu permenantly," he confessed, dropping his arms in defeat. "That's all. You promised you could help me, Busuzima. Can you, or is this another one of your manipulations?"
"Kenji, dear boy, I'm crushed. Everything I've done was all in your best interests."
"I bet you really believe that," Kenji muttered, clenching his fists. Busuzima snickered.
"Well, we can keep sparring with each other till we're blue in the face, or we can trust each other long enough to do this." There was a mechanical whirring sound, and suddenly an elevator door opened on the far wall, the inside lit up with flourecent lights. "If you're ready, dear boy. Let's get on with it, shall we?"
Kenji hesitated a moment longer, then shrugged and walked into the elevator. He's right, he thought, leaning against the wall, folding his arms over his chest. One of us has to start trusting the other or we'll never get anywhere. I only hope I'm doing the right thing. The doors shut with a hiss, and the compartment began to move. He still couldn't believe he was doing this; only hours ago he had been with Uriko in the comfort of his home.
Uriko, he thought, feeling a sudden wave of sorrow and guilt. What are you doing now? Sorry I left you to explain things to everyone. What will you tell them when I don't come back tonight? He closed his eyes, remembering the feel of her lips on his, the scent of her hair, and swallowed the lump in his throat. I'll be with you again soon, I promise. Hopefully, when this is all over, Bakuryu will finally be gone. I won't have to worry about you or Yugo or anyone else being hurt by him, ever again.
The elevator suddenly jolted to a stop, and Kenji opened his eyes, waiting for the doors to open.
Instead, there was a hissing noise, and a funny smell wafted into the tiny room. Kenji looked up, and his eyes widened in alarm. A white mist was floating in from an air vent, rapidly filling the compartment. Kenji caught a whiff of the gas, and a wave of dizziness swept over him, making his eyes water and his throat close up. At that second, he knew his worst fears had come true.
"Busuzima!" he yelled, throwing himself at the elevator doors, which were thick and stayed tightly shut. "You bastard! I trusted you!"
"Hee hee hee. Sorry, dear boy. But I just can't let Bakuryu go. He is my greatest creation after all."
Kenji dropped to his knees, fighting to stay upright, as his vision blurred and the room began to spin. "I'll never cooperate," he panted through clenched teeth. "I'll fight you....with everything I have. You won't bring him back again...I swear...."
Busuzima said something else, something garbled and unintellegable; Kenji was too dizzy and sick to hear what. He felt his body slump to the tiles, unable to hold itself up. And, through his fuzzy, fading consciousness, he thought he heard Bakuryu's cold laughter ringing in his ears.
Uriko, was his last thought, before plunging headlong into blackness. Forgive me.
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Uriko stared out the window listlessly. The stars winked and sparkled like so many diamonds, but gave her no comfort. Not even the thought that Kenji was somewhere underneath those same stars could make her feel any better tonight.
"Its been two months," she whispered, biting her lip to keep from crying, again. "Kenji, where are you?"
Downstairs, Alice and Yugo were watching a movie. Some sort of comedy, but Yugo rarely laughed anymore. At first, Yugo was furious at her for letting Kenji go off somewhere by himself, and even more angry that she wouldn't tell him where. It had put a real wedge between him and Alice, and for awhile they even considered splitting up. Uriko was truly sorry that Yugo was suffering, and eaten up with guilt that she had been the one to nearly cause their breakup, but she had made a promise too. Yugo had finally forgiven her, but she was still too ashamed to be around him much; that and his presence constantly reminded her of Kenji.
Uriko wrenched herself away from the window and crawled under the covers of her bed. She felt so empty with him gone; there was this hollow ache inside her that would not go away, only lessening in her dreams. It was made worse by not knowing where he was, what had happened to him, when he was going to come back. If he would come back at all...
Stop it, she told herself, as tears threatened to spill once more. He's coming back. He promised he would. He WILL come back. I believe in you, Kenji.
She fell asleep, and was plagued by a nightmare so vivid she would never forget it. In her dreams, Kenji was chained to a wall, hanging limply from manacled wrists. His eyes were closed, and dark blood pumped sluggishly from numerous wounds across his chest. She gasped, wanting to run to him, but her body would not move. She could only stand there, trembling, watching the boy she loved bleed his life out onto the cold tile floor.
Kenji, she whispered in her mind, calling out to him with all her strength. Kenji, open your eyes. Please open your eyes. Don't be dead. You can't be! Please, please, open your eyes.
His eyes opened, glazed and unfocused, but he raised his head and looked at her. "Uriko?"
Uriko's heart soared, but the image was already going dark, like a television screen fading to black. I'm here! she tried to call to him. Kenji, I'm right here! I love you! Don't give up!
The dream faded, and Uriko woke up sobbing so violently Alice rushed in to calm her.
But, the next morning, Uriko did not come down for breakfast, and when Alice went up to investigate, she found a note on her sister's bed.
Dear Sis, Yugo, and everyone. Gone to look for Kenji. Sorry, but I have to find him. Love you all. Sorry again for all the trouble I've caused. Love, Riko.
That night, after a fruitless search, Yugo and Alice held each other in the lonely solitude of the living room. Now, both of them had lost a younger sibling. Now, the silence of their homes was especially cold, without the quiet presence of a young man, or the cheerful chatter of his girlfriend. For the two guardians left behind, life was suddenly very empty and bleak.
"They'll be all right," Yugo whispered finally, hating the tremor in his voice. "Those two are like the opposite ends of a magnet; they'll find each other eventually."
Alice only nodded into his chest. Yugo sighed, hoping Uriko's spunk and sheer determination would succeed in finding the boy she loved so much. For both their sakes. Kenji was his family, but he couldn't deny the bond his brother shared with Alice Nonomura's kooky little sister. One wouldn't have expected it in a million years; that two people as different as night and day--one dark and introspective, one bright and more outgoing than a Golden Retriever--could find something so special. Yet, somehow, they both fit each other perfectly.
Uriko had saved Kenji once before; Yugo prayed she would be able to do it again.
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Kenji coughed, spat blood, and opened his eyes.
Busuzima stood before him, grinning in that maniacal way of his, some kind of sharp instrament in his hand. A knife or razor of some sort, designed to hurt him and make him bleed. He'd been doing a lot of that lately. Looking down, Kenji saw his blood spattered over the floor and drying in large welts over his skin. He felt weak and dizzy, and it seemed he was losing his mind, too. He was almost positive Uriko had been here, just a few moments ago. He thought he had heard her voice, calling to him, telling him not to give up....
"How are you feeling today, Kenji dear?" Busuzima's voice was high and mocking. At least he wasn't calling him Bakuryu anymore. He wondered why that was. The mad scientist hadn't even tried to brainwash him in all the days he had been imprisoned. Mostly, he was kept so drugged and weak, he didn't know what Busuzima was doing to his body, but he still retained all his memories. Yugo, home, Alice, NGO, school, Uriko....mostly Uriko. He clung to these memories like a lifeline, desperately afraid that he would start to forget them, but so far, he was still the same person that had walked so stupidly into Busuzima's trap that night.
"What do you want this time, you bastard?" he rasped, determined not to show weakness to Busuzima if he could help it. The scientist giggled and did a ridiculous little dance in front of him, before slamming a fist into his stomach. "Don't be rude," he admonished, wagging a finger in his face. Kenji coughed and gasped, sagging against his chains, as Busuzima stood back and grinned at him.
"Congratulate me," the scientist announced, striking a pose, looking like he was about to accept the nobel prize. Kenji simply stared at him, thinking Busuzima had only gotten more crazy as time went on. At his continued silence, Busuzima clucked his tongue at him and shook his head.
"Hmph, I would've thought you'd be pleased, Kenji my boy. All that blood and hair and flesh I took from you has finally paid off. You didn't think I was slicing you to pieces for no reason, did you?"
"Yeah, that was my impression," Kenji managed. Busuzima was beginning to scare him. He had something up his sleeve, and he didn't like it. "I thought that just came with the mad scientist territory. Though you aren't as creative as you used to be."
"Well, that just shows how wrong you were," Busuzima sniffed, tapping him on the nose. "But, it doesnt' matter. After today, we won't need you anymore." He regarded him cooly, with a glint in his eyes that Kenji didn't like at all. "Remember when I said I could free you from Bakuryu? I wasn't lying, Kenji dear."
Kenji's heart did a weird little flip, and he looked up, trying to focus through the weakness and pain. "What....what are you talking about?"
Busuzima looked positively smug. "Kenji Ohgami," he said grandly, and Kenji felt a chill run up his back, "I'd like you to meet an old friend of mine. Or, have you two already met?" He motioned someone forward, and out of the shadows stepped a very familiar figure, grinning demonically as he came into the light. Kenji froze, as his world collapsed around him.
"Hello Kenji," Bakuryu purred. "How are things on this side of the mirror?"