Ack! Sorry for the wait! Fourth chapter here we come! It's a long one…..really long one….sorry! There was a lot that needed to be written and by now you know how I tend to go on, I think… But this was also hard to write, being as this story is my first ever SxJ. But I think I did alright…I don't know. I'm actually worried about what it will be like…(takes a deep breath). Oh well, here it goes! WOW! I got so many reviews after the third chapter updated. Thank you all so much! I love you guys lots!
Let me respond:
Sapphire Crescent (in response to your second chapter review): YAY! You came back, and with a long review, too! Thank you so much for keeping with my story, I so love hearing your thoughts. You make it sound like you really, thoroughly read my chapters and offer advice and comments on aspects I thought were missed by most readers. Thanks! Now, about what you said: For some reason, the second chapter was easier to write so maybe that's why you thought it was better. Oh well, I appreciate the compliment! Kaiba is one of the coolest characters to do in first person POV. I am obsessed with writing like that, (this is the second story I've written from his POV). Oddly enough, I seem to really get into his character when writing. It's weird, but it comes out like straight from his mouth. Yes, his thoughts are complex but I have to make the reader familiar with them so nothing seems too sudden or out of the blue, you know? It's almost like an explanation of his actions. But, yeah, he thinks like a real person. OMG! I think you are the only one who caught on to the uniform-separate from his other clothes. You are not off in the slightest, that's it exactly! (claps for you) Good job! School provides regularity for Seto, yes. And, like you said, thank the gods for it! Don't feel bad…if I were a hired assassin, I would probably accidentally shoot or stab myself or something. I'm a klutz as well, you see…(sighs)…but I do have a fascination with swords you may have noticed…Yes, Kaiba can't remain cool forever. I'm trying to make him a professional killer, but also human, so yeah. I think I would loose my mind entirely if I had killed the relative of my teacher. GAAH! I can't even think about it…(and yet Seto got over it fairly quickly, considering the circumstances). Yugi will not be mentioned in this story as much as Joey, (sorry if that was obvious), but I did put the part with them in Chapter 2 to make a little foreshadow of what they are like. It was funny? Cool. And Joey is a star in this chapter, so your virtuous patience paid off! Yay! You really liked that chapter? Oh, thank you! I love hearing that, thank you so much! And don't worry about how it took you a long time to review, it happens. I'll just look forward to hearing from you longer, but I don't mind! YAY, I'm on your favorites, (and it was kind of creepy how you said "I can always find you", but I'm still grateful, lol!)!
(in response to your review of my third chapter): I so so so loved your review of the third chapter, (yay! Someone read and thought about it!)! Yes, that chapter kind of set the whole story in motion. I thought it was cool too…lol. Kaiba has a bike. It suites him, I don't know why he doesn't have one in the show or the manga…it's an injustice, I tell you! Kaiba has no regard for the law, unfortunately….T.T But then again neither would I if I was an assassin for hire…oh well. Obesity is a sort of like the trademark for an evil dude. I don't know why, it's really funny, actually. Maybe it implies money and wealth because they can eat whenever they want to and don't have to worry about being active because they have servants and stuff…I don't know. D.B., when I wrote her, was supposed to be like the enigmatic essence to the mafia. She's a woman, (unusual, as you mentioned), and she is an assassin. I didn't really give much information on her, the reader is supposed to be left with their own imagination about who she really is. But I like hating them, they boss around Seto, (pouts)! Oh, yes, Mafia! Smoke and smoke your lungs out! HAHAHA! You'll die! HAHAHA! And…ok, I'll relax. Just don't like them, that's all…Kaiba's emotions are probably the most difficult thing to write about him, don't you find? In the show and manga he has, like, mood-swings and can be unpredictable, so he's difficult. But I enjoy it. I did well? YAY! Thanks. No, Kaiba isn't a cold-blooded killer. At first, I toyed with the idea of making him one, but decided not to because that would have been a tad too far. I mean, he's going insane enough as it is with his work and life and expectations to fulfill! I couldn't handle it either…yeah, Poor Mokuba. Maybe he's getting used to his brother's behavior. Eh, probably not. Your thoughts on killing…so true. Kaiba does have it hard…but now he does have Joey, whom he did risk his life for and feel attracted to at the same time. Hence the title of this chapter. Poor Seto…Your review was so so so wonderful, still love ya and I thank you again. I enjoy your long reviews, really. (gasps) You're computer is being taken away! HOW WILL YOU LIVE? I wouldn't live if I didn't have my computer…whoa…scary. Don't worry about reviewing and reading. Whenever you get the chance, kk? I'll miss you, though, (grrr to the librarians!)! Until next we speak! (hopefully sooner than expected)
Flame Swordswoman: I can't believe it, but you were my first reviewer for the third chapter! AGAIN! I know now that you will be the first to lay eyes on my new chapters. Thank god you're such a good reviewer! (gasps) You liked the chapter that much? Omg…thank you so much…I don't know if I deserve all those compliments! (hugs) Seto's POV is still the best, I remain with my opinion. And Joey is officially a main character now. Seto broke his wrist, yeah, damn. Nice landing, Seto! I thought it was funny, too though…(does that make me weird?) Seto has a real dilemma now about hiding Joey…hmm…it gets interesting. I update usually in week periods if I like the story, sometimes months if I don't. But I've been writing almost nonstop with this story so I'm updating faster than usual. Here you go! Fourth Chapter, and is the length the way you wanted it? Thank you so much for reviewing and I look forward to reading your thoughts next, First Reviewer!
eclipse-moon: You like it? I'll write more! Thank you! And Seto and Joey goodness is one of the best things in this world. Please continue reading and reviewing!
Xaio-Darkcloud: Well, now that I'm on your Author Alert List, I'm sure you will read this chapter! I hope you like it! No, Seto wouldn't kill Joey…I wouldn't have a story, lol! But I'm glad everything worked out too. Lol! Don't be nervous, I'm not one for heartbreak stories, (or writing them, anyway). Thank you for reviewing! And here you go with the fourth chapter! Please read!
TinyClownBean1: YAY! You reviewed my new story! Thanks! You don't like assassins? Not even Seto as one? Aww… But, seriously, I'm glad you decided to read this anyway because now I have a good author to give me advice! Thank you so much for your compliments, too! Love ya lots, and please continue to read! (P.S.: when are you going to update "Precious Times"? I miss it so much.)
ttSerenity: Thank you for reading, (and liking)! (gasps) You think this is one of the best SxJ fics you've ever read? Omg! I…I…thank you! (hugs) This is my first one, and I thought it wasn't all that great, but you liked it that much…(cries). Oh thank you so much! Such a wonderful compliment. Please keep reading and reviewing, loved to hear from you.
FirerieGurl: Thanks, and Joey and Seto are officially set to get together in T-minus one chapter…just kidding! I don't know when they'll decide to actually get together, but they will. Thank you for reading and I hope you continue to review! It was so nice to hear to hear from you!
Fire Kitten: YAY! You reviewed again! And you liked it, too. Your review was so wonderful! (laughs) You can be frantic, I don't mind! Joey was hot? Hmm…I think Seto would agree with you…lol! I tried to make him the way he would be, not weak not stupid enough to be clueless as to who his would-be-killer was. You know? Yeah. Like I said before, he's really hard to depict, but I'm studying him, like you recommended I do, (watching the episodes and such). Seto will be studying him, too, don't worry…lol! He wasn't hurt too bad…Seto tried to fix him… Seto is supposed to be a little, teeny bit evil, but still human. But the last scene was cute, wasn't it? It was fun to write! I thought you had guessed it. Smart Girl, (claps)! Ok, I won't worry about Yugi, (I actually forgot about him in the last chapter sort of. Oh. Well.). I liked the line, too. I forget where I heard it…but it was so appropriate for the story, so I had to use it. Thanks again for reviewing and as you already know I love your reviews…Here's the fourth chapter! (I wonder who gave you that sword…)
Kuro Enkou Nero: Thanks for reviewing! I rock? Thank you! (Don't know if I deserve that, but thanks anyway!) Yeah, the plot was a little unusual, but I'm so happy that you liked it! Sexy? Indeed! (lol!) I mean, what other word describes Seto in general? Well, alright I can think of a few, but none that good, (just kidding)! This is on your Favorites? WOW! Thank you for that and all your compliments, (hugs), and I have alas updated! One more thing: (claps for puppyshipping).
Fanficlunatic234: Thanks for reading! I love you, too! Don't cry…(ok you can if you want, lol!). You like Seto? YAY! I try to, like, get into his character when I write, makes for a more realistic POV, don't you think? You think this is…amazing? OMG! Thank you so so so so so much! Thanks, again! Oh and thanks! Please read and tell me what you think!
Hazel-Beka: You like? Yay! Kaiba is an assassin, yes, and I think it is cool as well. Let me tell you how I came up with it, (since you're the only one who asked): The word "samurai" and then the word "assassin" go together in my mind, (weird? Oh yes!). I know they are two different things, but they weren't always, (it depends on the type of samurai and the era, although I don't pretend to be an expert in the slightest). Thinking of this, now, I couldn't help but picture Seto, as sexy as he is, holding a katana. It's just like he goes with the image I have, you know, (being Japanese and pissed off)? Mostly the movies I watch helped me come up with the assassin part. That was the only easy thing to do. Of course the hardest part was making it believable. As for that, what do you think? Did I make it believable, or am I insane and should just go hide in the corner for a while and think about it? Anyway, please read this chapter and I would love to hear from you again, (you were my twentieth reviewer!).
Ambivalence: YAY! OMG! You reviewed my story! Thank you so much! I always hope for one of my readers-by-request to actually review and read…and you did! THANK YOU! Oh, thanks so much. You didn't think it was bad? Good. That makes me happy…(and yes one of the best parts is the sexiness of Seto, lol). First two were meant to be a sort of introduction, mainly to Seto but also about his life, so yeah, you got it, and thanks. Seto is sometimes difficult to write in first person, but he is definitely the best, (literally THE BEST!). I just love writing like this, (favorite), you should try it sometime, (I know you'd be good at it…). Although, it is very important to leave Seto In Character, at least for me. You guessed right, they do want him to kill Joey, (mean people…). The anticipation was real? Wow! I didn't think it was that good, but you seemed to like it, Thank You! Explain? Joey actually let someone explain? Maybe…maybe…doubtful….but, maybe…mostly freaking out, I can tell you. Lol. No criticism? YAY! That means a lot to me…(and I follow people's advice in the reviews, I usually don't have Beta reader, but sometimes I do. I'll look into it.). GAAH! Spelling and grammar! LOATHE ENTIRELY! But I do try. I guess I should eddittt more carefully. Oops, look at that word…oh well, (yawns). Lol! Just Kidding! You like my writing style? Cool! Thanks. As for me, I love love love love love love love love long reviews, (did I already tell you that….O) I tried my very hardest to update quickly, and I will continue to try, I promise. Every time I get a new reviewer, (especially a long one, like you), I feel more motivated to write! Oh yes, more SetoxJoey…please and thank you! Lol! Oh and it was no problem reviewing your story…I should be thanking you for writing such a good one! Do update! Thank you! Thanks again! Oh, wait, one more thing: THANKS!
Marz: Thank you for reviewing! So nice to hear from you, thank you so much! Kaiba will explain…but it won't be easy for him…aww, that makes me sad. Anyway, yeah, I liked that part, too! Wow, you're hooked on one of my stories…wow! That's the first time anyone ever said that, thanks! So cool, ok, this is my update…please tell me what you think!
"Steph": YAY! Another reviewer! Thanks for reading! Yes, Kaiba is an assassin and it is interesting, I think. Like the emotion? Thanks! That's probably the most difficult part, making everything seem realistic, (but…it's ok, right?). That damn mafia! Always messing everything up for poor SetoT.T. Anyway, thanks for reading and reviewing! Please tell me what you think about this chapter!
"Green Eggs and Ham": Ok, cool name…original…thanks for your review! To answer your question. In the manga, Kaiba made not just one but many deals with the mafia, but it just left the reader to assume that he paid them off with money. I took it a little further and had him be an assassin…but as for the actual why, let me ask you: How easy do you think it is to start a company? Yeah, I don't know either, (lol). But I imagine it would be hard enough that one of the best ways to get by is to know the right people and make the right deals. Seto knew this. For the sake of his company, he did make a deal with the mafia that cost him freedom, but he still does have that company. Furthermore, I kind of left it so that it seems like they have a hand in the investments of Kaiba Corp. that would lead to devastation of the business if it were withdrawn, (or they could just leak the truth to the press and make him unpopular and junk). So if at any times it seems like Seto wouldn't really go through all this length, just think of what he has to loose! I should thank you, you gave me such a good idea for the story when you asked that question. Thanks! (you'll find out what I mean when you read the chapter) Anyway, thanks for liking and of course reading, and I do promise that Seto will not kill Joey, or at least I think….Seto, what are you dong with that katana?
Warning: YAOI, people! This means slash, shounen-ai, male on male, homosexuality, you understand? Don't like, disagree, whatever your problem is, I beg you not read! Also, this chapter contains explicit scenes of violence and gore. So, the squeamish should not read! Turn away now!
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh.
Chapter 4: Problems
Scars. The darkness of the past is portrayed in them. I know; I have thousands. It's amazing, almost, to see the ugly, long, jagged, milk-white blemishes run up and down your skin and picture in your mind what happened to you when you first received them as brand new cuts. I received the majority of my scars from my stepfather, but some of them from hits gone bad, and some from battles I wager with my enemies. Believe it or not, there are others ways to fight someone than in a card game. Brutal ways no one even thinks of sometimes. I have them all in my head. And on my body.
I find it ironic that a person can have so many secrets written on their skin. My arms, torso, neck and back are like a road map of the pain I experienced through various stages of my life. I've managed to let no one know of these blemishes at all, it's easy enough to wear turtlenecks and long sleeves every day even in the summer, but I feel burdened at times with them. Not even Mokuba knows the ugliness I tote around with me behind the face I'm told is attractive, (even though if people looked hard enough they would find the tiniest hints of the scars on there as well, but no one's ever gotten that close to me without my permission). I wonder if I am actually attractive or if people are just attracted to who I am as a billionaire, not what I am.
I guess I'll never know.
I put my shirt back on. There was no time for such nonsensical thoughts as I was thinking at the moment. I had to work on figuring out what to do with Wheeler.
I stepped out of the bathroom, newly dressed in my black button-down turtleneck and black pants. At the moment I didn't care what I looked like. I just needed to think. Think…
My room had remained the way it was before my shower. Dark, large, foreboding, and complete with a sleeping dog sprawled on my bed. Just looking at the yellow-golden hair that shone in the dark like some unwanted light made me tired. I didn't want to have to face this huge, gruesome problem that was the mutt. It wasn't my fault to begin with, but now I had to take responsibility for not killing him. Responsibility, you see, that was all mine. No one to blame but myself.
I took a deep breath. This was something I could surely solve. I was, after all, the genius of Kaiba Corporations. I could certainly handle a fifteen-year-old boy. Of course.
I picked up the chair that had fallen over and moved it across the room. Way in the corner, safely away from Wheeler where I could think.
My body sunk into the hard wood seat. I really was getting tired. I mean, I hadn't slept really, (not counting the time earlier when I fell asleep in my first period class), in three days. Or was it four…? Well, it was four counting that moment, sure…oh who cared? I'd gone longer without sleep. Once I went a whole week, (but that had been when Gozaburo was still alive).
Mokuba. Sometimes I considered him at the oddest times. Like now. What would I tell him when he found out I was harboring one of my greatest enemies? Obviously he would want to know, "But why, Seto?" and what would I tell him? "Oh yes, well, you see Mokuba…I have been assassin ever since I first started to run Kaiba Corp. There was this weird assignment last night and well…" Yeah, right. The truth was no good. "Aliens dropped him in last night Mokuba. I couldn't help it." No, he would ask too many questions. Besides, I already told him that aliens weren't real and he wouldn't believe me if I contradicted myself.
Oh what was I saying? This was ridiculous. The only thing I could tell Mokuba was that Wheeler would be staying with us for a while, (and exactly how long would that be? Forever seemed most right…but he couldn't…no way), and there were no "buts" about it. Mokuba would be upset, oh yes, but that was the only way without lying flat out which would end up a horror with Wheeler there all the time.
And what of Wheeler? My eyes moved to where he lay on the bed. Still sleeping...for how long, I wondered? How hard had I hit him? Not hard, but enough to have him knocked out for the rest of the night, at least. I hoped.
But eventually he would wake up, and he would want answers. How much could I tell him? What lies would he actually believe? He had seen me try to kill him; he knew I had it in me. That wasn't the kind of thing people let by easily. Could I let him know I was an assassin? Had he already figured that out? Probably not. No, he had thought I was there to kill him out of my own free will. How stupid…I smirked at the time. Why would I want to kill such a lazy, good-for-nothing puppy? I mean, I knew like hell that I had only spared him because…wait, why had I? I thought. There was a reason…I knew it.
I searched the back of my mind for the thought that had come to me when I hit Wheeler on the head with the hilt of my katana. Well, there had been a few: Do it or not? Why had I chosen "not"? I just couldn't remember…maybe I really did need sleep.
The sun was rising. What the hell time was it? My watch said 6:30 in the a.m. That couldn't be…the last time I'd checked it was only 3:00…why was that happening to me lately? I just totally lost track of my whole sense of time. Three and a half hours I had sat there thinking, and what had come of it? Nothing! Except of course I knew Mokuba couldn't know the reason why I kept Wheeler in the house. But other than that…
The phone rang.
I nearly jumped on the ceiling. No way, this was not happening…they were calling me. They were pissed.
The phone kept sending its rrrrrrrrrring rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring message out to the whole house. Wheeler did not stir. Thank whatever gods there were.
Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring rrrrrrrrrrrring. They could have at least called my cell...
Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring. RRRRRRRRRRRRING The noise seemed to get louder, but maybe my hearing just got more sensitive.
Enough of this! I ran over to my night table where the phone sat. Rrrrring. Rrrrr— I picked up the phone.
"Yes?"
"Hello, Seto Kaiba. I'm calling from the agency of Union Workers, my name is Sheryl Tycks. Can I have a minute of your time to talk about the dental plans you offer to your employees?"
I said nothing. I think I had had a heart attack, really. My heart just wouldn't stop beating, I felt the blood pound in my face. Sheryl Tycks. Never heard of her before. I sent up a prayer to the same gods that kept Wheeler asleep when the phone rang. Maybe after this I would become I fully practiced member of the Shinto religion instead of my usual atheism…
"Mr. Kaiba?" Oh, she was still there.
"No, wrong number." I hung up. Burn in hell, Sheryl Tycks.
I let out a long, long sigh. This was too hard. I had to relax. Just calm down. Of course that would be very hard to do without any sleep and a mutt lying on my bed, but still. I ran a hand through my hair and tried to tell myself that they wouldn't call. No, they had better things to do. Better than tracking down the person who had disobeyed them? Maybe not.
Standing there, the sun came up directly behind me, pouring light into the dark room. My body was silhouetted in darkness, but I saw Wheeler perfectly.
The sun did interesting things to his hair, the most prominent part of his body. It sparkled to show many different colors, not just yellow, but some reddish browns, too, hidden in some strands. The weird orangey glow of the sunlight made his pale skin, (and it had been pale, come to think of it), look gold. It was weird, but somehow…well, he looked almost like…I knew it was silly but, he was so innocent looking that he was just like…
"Angel," my mind told me. I said the word out loud. It felt weird coming from my lips, I never really said it that often. But it did describe how Wheeler looked at the time, sleeping without notice of the danger that built itself around him. If only he weren't so stupid, so annoyingly moronic, maybe he would be bearable.
What the hell was I thinking! I came out of my sudden day dream about how Wheeler looked "angelic" for God's sake and mentally slapped myself. I could be such a fool sometimes. This was crazy, why was I acting like this? I wouldn't acknowledge the fact that I also felt a little…well, I just wouldn't acknowledge that part at all. Wouldn't even say it. Then it might not be real. Might not…
I turned away from Wheeler and paced around my room for a second. Really, I disliked pacing, but saw no other alternative other than stare at Wheeler or go outside of my room.
Outside…school! Yes, I needed to go to school and clear my head. I could lock Wheeler in here and tell Mokuba to go to a friend's house for the day, he wouldn't mind taking off from his own school day.
School. Wonderful school. That's where I would go. Maybe Yugi wouldn't even be there with Wheeler turning up missing from the night before. The thought was pure joy.
I headed for my closet and the uniform, that ugly uniform, to go on out. But I never quite made it all the way there.
From behind me there came a small groan. I closed my eyes. Wheeler was waking. Perfect. Fucking perfect.
I turned around slowly from where I stood. Facing him, I saw the mop of hair move. He shifted his legs slightly and reached behind him for something. It was not there, whatever it was, because his hand met only air where he reached. He let out a confused groan and patted the bed without moving.
Intrigued I watched further, tilting my head, misunderstanding what he wanted. Wheeler turned his head more towards me. He peeked one of his eyes open, only a slit, and looked at where his hand was groping the bed.
Suddenly both eyes shot open and he sat straight up.
"Hey!" He yelled. His accent washed over my ears. "Where am I!" He turned his head around frantically.
Silly puppy, I thought. "Relax, mutt," I said, crossing my arms and trying to look collected and not like I had just been thinking of fleeing my own house and throwing my phone against the wall to avoid any contact from my employers.
Wheeler turned immediately to where I stood. His chestnut eyes shone with confusion at first, and then, hate. Anger, even. Oh how I enjoyed making him angry, but this time was different. I had no control over how Wheeler would feel now.
"Kaiba!" He shouted. "What's goin' on? Where am I? What are you doin' here? Why aren't I at home? What did you do?"
"I said, calm down, mutt." More force in the voice, but Wheeler didn't seem to care. "You're at the Kaiba mansion. My home. I brought you here…do you remember what happened last night?"
"Last night?" Wheeler looked away from me and the confused look came back on his face. "I don't…"
How could he not remember? It was kind of important.
His good hand traveled up his hair and felt around his head. He touched the spot where I had hit him. "Ow!"
Oops. I had hit him too hard…maybe he didn't remember. Thank the gods who had been giving me luck so far today. Now I could lie however I wanted.
"I don't remember…" He looked at his hand for a sign of blood from the sore spot, but found none, (thankfully). "But I have a hell of a bump on the back of my head…Kaiba, what the hell's goin' on?"
Lie? Yes, it seemed like a good idea.
"You're going to be staying here for a while, pup."
The confused, hurt look on Wheeler's face turned to that of anger again. He stood up, (on the million-dollar bed, still in his sneakers). "What are you talkin' about? Jus' give me a straight answer fa' once, will ya?" His face was amazingly expressive. He showed all signs of whatever he felt at all times. The expression "Eyes are the window to the soul" had more meaning when applied to Wheeler, I decided.
Lie? Of course, I decided that already…then why was it so hard to do? The thought of Wheeler being lied to made me angry. Why? Good question. Why?
I didn't need this at all. Maybe he could be made to remember so I wouldn't have to…maybe not. Regardless, I knew one thing: I had a water bed.
Smirking and setting out with a kick of practiced skill, I made contact with the mattress and watched as Wheeler fell backwards onto the floor with a loud yelp. I walked to where he lay and held him on the floor with the same foot I used to kick the bed. He struggled, not in a dignified way, (but I was holding him down by the neck).
"What…the…fuck…are…ya'…doin'?" He managed to strangle some words out of his mouth. I hated the contortions of his formerly angelic face, but this seemed like the right thing to do.
I pressed harder with my foot, (barely trying, for Wheeler was not really fighting back). "You've insulted the wrong people, now you must die." Oh how I loathed those words…the hate was undefined almost because my body knew that this was not the appropriate time for them. But my mind had outsmarted my body, as it always did. My emotions were painful, but my mind was in the exact right place.
A look of sudden recognition passed through Wheeler's face. "Remember now?" I asked, leaning dangerously close, but not enough to touch.
My knee gave out due to a sudden kick delivered directly to my shin. A hard kick, harder than I had received from most enemies. I guess his memory had returned to him.
"You bastard!" The blonde rebel yelled. He was up and I was on the floor now. This was quite amusing, this little battle we were having. Oddly, such things gave me pleasure, especially when I was with Wheeler. "You were gonna kill me!"
He aimed to kick me while I was down, but I got up before he had a chance. "It's not as simple Wheeler."
"I believe that like I believe ya' have a heart, Kaiba!" He set out for a punch. I caught his fist and swung him around a little, just to keep him off balance. This was fun but it wasn't a real battle like I knew them to be.
"You don't understand." I had decided to just out and tell him. He would find out eventually anyway. And what better way to admit to my greatest secret than while we fought each other? That was one of the best types of intimacy I had known throughout my life. Fighting.
"Why don't you explain to me Kaiba?" He attempted a right hook, as his left was caught in my own clenching fist.
I dodged. "Sure. But first you need to calm down a little." I grabbed his shoulder and pulled him near to me. We were almost on top of each other.
The satisfaction I received from this as almost disturbing. In fact, it was disturbing. Very. There I was, practically hugging the same person I had been trying to block not a moment before and I was enjoying it so much I didn't want to carry out the second part of my move that would involve Wheeler once again sprawled across the bed like when we had started.
And yet I couldn't help but notice how Wheeler's forehead glistened with sweat from recent activity. The way his eyes resonated with pure revulsion and fury. His hair, previously disarray, was now hopelessly matted and out of place. Better that way…
All too strange. This just couldn't be real, no, I needed to…something.
But Wheeler had noticed my hesitation and acted. His leg came up trying to kick again. I had to break the awkward moment and snatch his ankle as it aimed for me. I spun him around and dropped him back on the bed, (with a force that sent the water in it splashing around, almost depositing the pup on the floor once again, and making him grab at the sheets. Totally ruin the perfection of my bed, why not?).
"Are we calm now?" I asked, smoothing out my clothes with put on disgust. Really I was trying to dust off the feelings I had just been having.
Without waiting for an answer, I continued. Well, out with it already and stop wasting time. "I'm not just a CEO of an obscenely rich company."
"Ya' mean ya' good fa' other things besides sitting at a desk and barking people around all day? Wow, never knew ya' had it in ya', Kaiba." Sarcasm. But he was still struggling from the vibrations of the water bed so he didn't have complete control over the conversation yet.
"Believe it or not, pup. Anyway, this is serious. So for once in your miserable life just listen and don't say anything that will embarrass you." I took a deep breath, retrieved my chair from the corner, and braced myself for the fall of what seemed like a lifetime's worth of secrecy.
"I am an assassin." Wheeler just stared at me. His eyes were round, and even though he was lying on his stomach, he still looked me in the face. They didn't show any real understanding for what I had just said, but I knew there had to be some. I went on.
"I am an assassin," I repeated. "And you just happened to be on the list for last night, alright? So that's why I wanted to kill you." I had managed to put a look of indignation on my face and crossed my arms and legs after finishing.
Turning away from him, I tried to absorb some of the shock of what had just occurred. Someone else knew…a soul knew…there was someone else that knew perfectly well…he knew…it wasn't a secret anymore.
Why did everything have to happen so fast? I could have surely stopped this had I been thinking clearly—had I had time to think. Not even ten minutes had passed since I had been contemplating what to do with a sleeping Wheeler. What had I done?
In my peripheral vision I saw that Wheeler sat up, slowly this time. He looked at me. Really looked at me, not just the usual way of loathing he had, either. It was like he wanted to see through my body to the depths of my soul with squinted eyes. Did he think I was untruthful? Tch. I only wished I was lying.
It seemed three eternities passed before Wheeler responded. "Wait…you're kidding, right?"
What the hell did he think this was? A joke for fucking sake? I tightened my mouth and faced him again. The inquisitive look on his face remained, but he also looked a little guarded. Cautious. He didn't believe me. Or was afraid to. "I don't kid, Wheeler. This is not a prank, mutt."
"Then you're really an assassin. For real?" He squinted his eyes more. If he only knew how much that distorted his face…he looked incompetent like that.
I nodded slightly "For real."
The magic words. He reverted his face back to normalcy and leaned back on his hands. A long exhale then a whistle. "I gotta admit, I wasn't expectin' that."
I blinked and realized I hadn't breathed in a while. Why was breathing getting so hard to do these days?
"I mean," Wheeler continued, sitting straight and waving around his hands to make a point. "I did think that ya' were jus' a little weird, but I never thought…I mean I did think that ya' not normal. Shit, I mean you're the president of a friggin' company, of course ya' not gonna be normal, but seriously…" It was like he talked more to himself than me.
He had not been looking at me, instead trying to concentrate on a pattern in the bed sheets. Just after he said those few perplexed words, he did chance a glance at me. I got a full intake of his expression. Anger and hate had disappeared. Fear. Nothing else could describe the look. It was so misplaced on his face…
Quickly he looked away. Great, so now he was afraid of me. Why hadn't I even considered this outcome before? I was stupid to tell him of all people, he was so young and so innocent, (and annoying). Damn. Now I was stuck. Double damn.
I didn't think I would ever talk again, but sure enough Wheeler had to open his mouth and ask the most dreaded question of the entire awkward conversation.
"Why?"
"Why?" I repeated. "It's not easy, Wheeler, to run a company. You need to know the right people…do things that aren't so nice all the time. Sometimes that means giving up your freedom. I did. I may not work for the nicest of people and my job may not be the easiest…and I may hate it so totally I wish that…" I stopped. It was already too far. He couldn't know everything. "Well, it doesn't matter what I wish sometimes but at least I have a company. And a life. And a support for my little brother."
Wheeler had been glancing around nervously. That ended when I said this. He looked straight at me with anger and jumped to his feet.
"Ya' mean ta' tell me that ya' sunk so low as to actually kill people jus' so ya' can have a big fancy company?"
"That's not—.." I started. He had it all wrong.
"No, it is! Jesus Christ, Kaiba! I thought you were respectable, at least! Now I think that you're just a crazy little kid who can't even keep control over his own company so he has to go and kill someone to make things right! Well, listen, Kaiba, I dunno what madja wanna kill me, bu' I ain' gonna die until I'm damn good and ready to, ya' hear? So if ya' wanna fight me, here I am! But I'm gonna take ya' down, jus' so ya' know!" He was shouting so much. It was so loud…and his accent was so thick I thought he would choke on his own words.
But I wasn't offended. Really, for Wheeler to be mad at me was better than him being afraid of me. At least anger was a normal emotion for him.
"Are you through?" I asked, standing up and thus forcing him to take a step back. Without waiting for an answer, I said, "Because I've had just about enough of your voice for today, mutt. If no one ever told you, the sound of it is really quite irritating. Besides, yapping little puppies must be taught silence at a young age. It's not right to have them bark at their masters." (I added the dog analogy almost without thought at this point. It was just the way of the world ever since I had first beaten him at that silly game we played. It always got to Wheeler. Even now.)
"Kaiba, fa' the last time, I am NOT a puppy!"
I had fixed a smug look on my face, (just the one that I knew he hated the most). "Could have fooled me. Anyway, I must tell you more of the situation before you decide if you want to kill me or not." I paused. "Actually, no. I'll tell you before you decide if you want to try and kill me or not. That's more accurate."
He growled. Really, he could have been conceived as a dog if he only had a tail.
"You're not safe anymore, Wheeler. I kept you alive last night on the count of two things—.."
He interrupted again. "Why were you there in the first place, Kaiba?" He pointed a finger at me.
"Because you were nosing around where you shouldn't have been."
"What are you talking about?" The finger dropped and a look of pure confusion entered his face.
"Forgetful, are we? Well, let me remind you: You saw my employers in a meeting…you came back to get another look. You were photographed, by the way, that's how they found you. It's dangerous to watch the mafia carry out a meeting, Wheeler. They saw fit to end your life rather than let you live, so—.."
"This is all news to me." He looked absolutely bewildered. "I never saw nobody havin' a meetin'…I don' think ya' know what you're talkin' about, Kaiba. I never did any of that!"
So they really had gotten the wrong guy. I couldn't say that I hadn't suspected this. In fact, I think that's what I initially thought when I first saw the picture. That boy couldn't have been Wheeler. The hair wasn't the only clue.
It was almost comical, though. The mafia—the cruelest people known around—had made a mistake and unleashed their wrath on the wrong person. How ironic. I thought of them sitting in their high risen chairs smoking cigarettes and thinking everything was under their control as they pleased. And they were 100 wrong, the fools. Never trust online photo scanning. It just doesn't work out.
The people who had ruined my life for so long were finally lavished in imperfection. It was so sweet for me…and this seemed to solve all my problems. Yes, Wheeler was innocent, and he could be let go and this whole mess would be over. I would get some sleep and go back to school ready for the next assignment to be a normal one, (after this, I was actually not even thinking about how I didn't want to kill, I just wanted things to be normal again. No Wheeler.)…
What was I thinking? Suddenly it hit me that this only made things worse. Wheeler couldn't be free. The one good thing the mafia was good for was tracking. They would find him. No reason could be talked into them; they were like one single gigantic stubborn mind that heeded no one. Of course Wheeler would still have to die in their mind, (singular). Because I had "failed", another assassin would be hired, (maybe even D.B.), and he would surely not stand a chance. He would die, and for no reason because he was innocent.
Every single thing from here on out was my fault. It would have to be because Wheeler had done nothing.
"It's as I suspected," I told him. Turning my back, (there was no reason to fear him, he was probably too stunned to do anything anyway), I moved across the bedroom into my closet, (the one in which I kept my black clothes for assignments). "You did nothing. I knew it." My voice became muffled slightly because I had thrust my head into the close space of my closet. Wheeler was probably staring at my back totally confused, but he would realize soon enough.
I was searching in my closet for the suitcase. It was made of black leather, not the same as the one in which I kept my duel monsters cards. In it was a record of all the hits I had ever done starting from the day I killed my stepfather until now. You see, once a hit was finished I still had the report given to me by my employers. The logical thing to do, I guess, was to burn them all and forget they ever happened. But for the entire time I had been doing this that seemed like an impossible choice. Sometimes the people I killed had just been in the wrong place at the wrong time and ended up entangled in a Mafia-ridden web of disaster which concluded their lives, (often some of them were no older than I). It seemed like I would be doing them an injustice having burned the very thing responsible for the procedure of their death—the reports. I know that doesn't make any sense. I know I'm a hypocrite because I'm the only thing that killed them, not the stupid reports. Yet, deep down, part of me wants to remember them. To remind me of the sins I committed if I ever forgot or felt good about myself for a second. Iie, it had been so long since I felt like a human. Always the hits were in my mind…never to be totally absent of my thinking.
After all, the only thing I had to do was look in the suitcase and see the faces of people dead because of me. Twenty-four in all, not including Wheeler, whose report had been placed in there the day before when I was tired of looking at it.
"What are ya' lookin' for, Kaiba?"
"Your death wish." I said, rummaging through the endless hangers of black cotton that nested in my closet. I hated going in here when I didn't have to. But then I really needed Wheeler to see his report, to know just how much they knew about him and just how bad they wanted him to die.
"Wha'?" He said, not hearing.
My hand hit smooth leather. I had found it. Pulling it out of the dark space, I responded, "I said, I'm looking for your death wish."
Wheeler, seeing the suitcase, said, "They wanna kill me over a briefcase?" Scrambling over to me from across the other side of the bed, (he succeeded in totally ruining my bedspread at this point), he snatched it away from me. "Wha's in here?" he asked, pulling it close to his face and inspecting it.
Baka-sama. "Idiot. It's in the suitcase. Now give me that." I pulled it back away from his face. How simply moronic could one be, could he be?
The lock was bound with a punch pad and after I put in the right code, (4514, which could spell "dead" if each letter is translated into a number starting from one), it simply opened itself, revealing the immaculately white papers that held my secrets.
Why was I showing Wheeler? I shouldn't, God knew. So I simply moved the suitcase away from him when I saw an inquiring hand reach toward the contents with an interested, "Eh?".
"What, no touchin' allowed?" he asked when I possessively removed it from his vicinity.
I lifted the same paper I had looked at for so many hours not a day before. Wheeler's report hadn't a mark on it, I made sure of that. "You may touch this Wheeler if you promise not to chew on it."
Eyes increasing in size, he took the paper. "They thought this was me?" He looked at the picture of his "supposed" self turning away and said, "Damn. How ugly did they think I was?"
I couldn't help but notice the mutt's change in features while he scanned the report. His eyes weren't looking at me, of course, but his profile wasn't uninteresting. The edges of his eyes crinkled a little in concentration and the corner of his mouth twitched from time to time. The ends of his hair were uneven, (scrappy), and often fell into his face, a problem dealt with by tucking the unruly strands behind his ear. I couldn't help but notice the slenderness of that hand, even if the skin looked tainted with dirt under the nails and tiny cuts on his knuckles.
I had a sudden impulse to touch that hand. How rough was that weathered skin? Why were there cuts on it? Fist fights. With who? I wondered if Wheeler was in a gang of his own. Probably. I also knew that he could be a trouble-maker in school. I saw him always starting or taking part in fights in the hallways at school. He could deal punches but also take them. Although, as a fighter myself but of a different nature, I caught the obvious fact that his technique, though sharp, was sloppy and scattered. He collided with his enemies in fights, but he could do so much more damage if he could only focus his anger and think. Anger was one of the most powerful emotions. It is a killing device of its own when used properly. That is what makes a warrior, (among other things of course). Maybe Wheeler was a warrior of his own…with delectable hands…
Without warning Wheeler threw the papers on the floor and punched the mattress. Explosive warrior. Not a good trait. Shame.
"I can't believe this! How can they know so much about me? Not even my friends know that much!" Wheeler was standing up and shouting at the wall. Mental, as well?
"Stalkers." I answered him simply, inspecting the dirt on the bedspread with extreme disgust.
"No shit! Dammit!" He punched the wall. "This is crazy!"
I sighed. Standing up as well, I told the angered boy, in a short tone, "Listen. I know it's unfortunate that this happened, but you must understand that you can't leave this house until something is solved."
"And how is it gonna be solved?" He looked back at me, ferocity in his eyes.
That one got me. I didn't...know how it would be solved, but it would be. It had to be; Wheeler couldn't live here forever.
Everything depended on when the mafia felt the debt had been repaid. Only then would Wheeler live.
Tell him that? Fuck no. "Wheeler, some things solve themselves," I replied simply and walked away from him. This was half of the truth, I guess.
"Hey, I'm not done!" he shouted after me. "Where are ya' goin'?" I noticed that he added this question a little quieter than before.
But I was already out the door. Done talking. I didn't want anymore Wheeler for today. Yet, as I stepped into the wide corridor that linked all the bedrooms in the mansion, I left my own bedroom door open for Wheeler to follow me. Why? I should have locked him up in there after I knocked him out. But then…
"Kaiba?" Though my back was turned to him, I could hear him peering out from the bedroom. "Kaiba? Where are ya' goin'?"
I was going to Mokuba's room. I had given up on all dreams of a school day, and that meant the only thing in the world that could calm me down was Mokuba.
But I had other reasons to go to my brother's room, as well. Wheeler had to realize something.
Right…left…right…left…I reminded myself how to walk, stepping silently but not noiselessly, on legs made of gelatin. Why were my legs so unstable? I was nervous. Me. No, no…I didn't get nervous. This was all some kind of…trick? Who was the trickster?
"Let me ask ya' somethin', Kaiba. Do you think—.."
"You may not, Wheeler." The many rooms on this floor were practically flying by. I realized I was jogging, no walking anymore. Wheeler flailed around behind me, trying to keep up.
Finally, I reached Mokuba's room and stopped. The door was closed, as I suggested to Mokuba he should always do, (the power of suggestion is always so strong when held above Mokuba for some reason), but I didn't even have to look in to know that he was asleep.
I stared at the door for a moment and then felt Wheeler's panting presence beside me. "Kaiba, what is wrong wit' you?"
Slowly, I turned my head to look at him. A lot was wrong with me. But he must not know that. A voice inside told me not to show him how crazy I was. He already knew my secret, but he didn't have to know that I truly am insane as well. "Let me explain further, Wheeler, if you misunderstood before."
I opened the door, (no it was not locked). The smell of the room washed over me. Everything in my house was connected to a certain smell…Mokuba, his room, my room, my office, my dojo, everything. Breathing it in as if it was some kind of air-freshener, I walked in and stared at my pint-sized brother curled up on his bed.
Wheeler looked nervous. His body was tense and his eyes darted around the room in frightened-mouse sort of way. "No such thing as privacy, I guess…" he said. The width of his body seemed small compared to width of the door frame. I never noticed before how skinny he was…
What the hell? That was totally irrelevant to the current situation. Who cared if Wheeler might have been a little underweight? I was, and so? Jesus.
"Relax, mutt. He's asleep. He won't know." I moved closer to Mokuba's queen-sized bed. He always complained that his bed was too big…lonely was the word he had used. I had ignored him. I never knew how to give him what he wanted…I always just overlooked it. I was a horrible person. As if being a killer wasn't bad enough I had to be the worst big brother in the world.
Pushing the depressing thoughts from my mind, I stared at the mess of black that was Mokuba's hair. It completely covered him as he breathed out the slightest sounds of sleep, as he lay in the shaped of a crescent. He was cute. Sometimes being near him calmed me down, as was the case this time. I had no idea why, it just did.
I moved a strand of his hair to see the side of his face pressed against the pillow. "You think I'm selfish, don't you, pup?" I knew he did so I didn't wait to hear him answer. "Maybe I am. But I do not kill for myself. You understand that, at least, right?"
Wheeler looked ready to scream at me again. But he restrained himself. A new emotion passed his eyes, fleetingly. I didn't catch it. It didn't matter though because what he said next caught firmly in my mind.
"I gotcha there, Kaiba. But that don't change at all how I feel." I looked at me with pure anger. "Ya' understand that, at least, right?"
Briefly, I considered what would happen if I pursued this argument. Wheeler was stubborn, but I was more stubborn. I could argue my point to the death if I had to. But…I just didn't want to. Wheeler would know my whole self if I told him about Mokuba and my night job. That was even worse than him misunderstanding. I decided to drop the point.
"The only thing I can be sure of Wheeler is that you're in more danger than you can comprehend."
"You keep sayin' that and then not explainin'! What the hell am I supposed to think?"
Noise. Sudden, sharp. I jerked my head, forgetting instantly everything I had been saying.
Wheeler looked like he hadn't heard it. Fine. I moved away from Mokuba. We needed to leave now. Right now. I pushed Wheeler out of the way and closed the door behind me.
"What the hell? Kaiba, WHAT?" I was dragging him down the corridor and he was fighting me. "Goddammit, what's the matter?"
Something was horribly wrong…oh god.
Back to my room. I threw Wheeler in. "Stay here," I commanded the still-arguing pup. I slammed the door in his face and locked it, (I kept the key-chain that held all the keys to every door in the house with me at all times and had it with my as soon as I got out of the shower).
He pounded on the door, demanding freedom and spitting swears and insults out at me. But I had already reached another level of thinking. My kill-plane. The noise hadn't been imagined.
Shit. My katana was still in my bedroom. I couldn't open the door and get it now. I would have to use something else.
Not a problem…
I flew down to the kitchen, the smell of it touched my nose, but was not absorbed into it. I heard the noise again. My senses sharpened even more
I rummaged through one of the drawers, blind to every other object than the one I wanted. The shining silver of the blade glistened and I snatched my utility knife, the feeling that I might have to kill sinking into me. I didn't care at this moment.
Putting on wings once more I went down to the front door, the origin of the noise not far away now. I could hear them, (one person actually), walking up my driveway. They had been let in—no, I hadn't let them in at all. They had broken in.
I clenched the utility knife harder in my hand and held it in the offensive positioning, (straight out in front of my body), ready to strike.
The phone rang. I jerked towards the offending machine, turning away from the door.
Rrrrrrring…rrrrrring…rrrriing…I knew who it was. I didn't even need my answering machine.
Rrrrrriing…rrrring…rrring…rrring…DING-DONG. The doorbell rang in the middle of the phone's own blaring, (which is what it seemed like to my highly sensitive ears).
"What?" I barked, seeing the dark shape outlined against the wood door, (I had no window on my front door but I could see the dark shape in my mind), feeling the presence of danger.
"Hello, Mr. Kaiba, I'm Sheryl Tycks from the Union agency. Can you open up and tell me about the dental plans you offer to your employees?" But the voice was a man's, not a woman from before…
Wait. The voice. How could I have been so stupid? The woman, Miss Tycks, on the phone must have worked for them, (it was not D.B., though). Maybe she was one of their whores.
They had called me already, and now they were here, but had sent another assassin to fight me, who introduced himself as the woman from the phone to let me understand their moves…I couldn't believe I had let this happen.
I didn't move, thinking about the depths of their strategy. They called so they would know where I was, home and alive. Now they wanted to kill me.
But without warning, the door suddenly exploded with bullets shooting themselves at me. I dodged, springing to the ceiling, my haven while the shotgun emptied itself of its rounds.
Time slowed…in my eyes.
The assassin kicked the demolished door in. He was dressed in a suit and was not covered at all like I had to be when I went out. Black shiny hair, slicked back and impeccable, white silk shirt under the black suit. The only thing out of place, in fact, was the black, arm-length shotgun he toted under his left arm. It still smoked. I smelled it, too.
He looked around, but not up, where I was stuck in between two pliers of wood in the ceiling, waiting for him to come directly under me. The utility knife was pressed against my chest.
"Mr. Kaiba?" The man called. His voice was young-sounding. I wished I could see his face. "Have you died like an obedient little problem?" The boots he wore creaked on the shell ridden, smoking carpet. He swerved and looked behind a couch, moving farther from my range. I needed to wait still as he kicked apart my home.
"All problems die, Mr. Kaiba. Did you know that?" He reloaded his shotgun. I caught a slight crack in his voice. Excitement. What was this, his first time doing a hit? "Big ones, small ones, all problems do end eventually. All it takes is an M-16 and even the biggest problems are reduced to dust."
He had kicked over both my couches that sat innocently in the room and was heading back to my range. I moved the utility knife ever so slightly, not feeling the sweat and pain that was coming from my muscles.
"Come on now, Mr. Kaiba. Hiding is not very becoming of the richest man in the world, now, is it?"
Just a little more…move a little more, damn you.
He stepped once more. Directly under me.
I let the utility knife drop sharply into his left shoulder blade. He cried out in pain and surprise. I dropped myself down and easily snatched the shotgun out of the now wounded and staggering man.
I grabbed his hair, (which was not plastered down, just a little sticky), as he was about to fell down in utter pain, and forced his face to look at mine. Large black eyes stared up at me in pain and anger. Small lips. Perfect skin. Face as young as his voice.
"Found you," I said as if it were indeed a game of hide seek.
The knife was still stuck in his shoulder and blood poured from it profusely, staining his perfect silky suit. His right hand tried to stop the bleeding, but could not as I was holding him in such a painful position. I pushed him against the wall by his hair and was partially strangling him with the length of his gun.
"Who sent you?" I asked, rather needlessly in fact. I knew.
He choked out something. "I'm sorry?" I asked, loosening my hold the slightest bit on the shotgun.
He smirked a little, face red from lack of proper circulation down to the neck, "You act like you don't know."
I kicked him in the stomach, angered that he should be so smug after all. He cried out again. "Why?" I asked.
"The problem…" He said, smugness gone from the last kick. "Joseph Wheeler…you didn't do your job last night, you know that…"
"So they sent you to kill me?" Just to make sure I was right in my thinking. They were tricky; they could have been devising anything.
"That was the idea…" He choked a little more. "But, I think they underestimated you."
Now that I didn't believe. No. They assumed that I would kill this man, that's why they sent him, to test my will. Or was it? Maybe I was supposed to let him go free and he was supposed to report to them on what I was doing. Or maybe they really had underestimated me? No…
The assassin knew something. I had to probe him. "You know I'm going to kill you, right?" I asked.
That didn't seem to have much effect on him. "I don't believe you…" he replied.
"Have you heard of me? I once killed a horde of people like you. People stronger than you. What makes you think I won't be able to kill you?" Everything in those sentences was true.
He smirked again and said, "Do you know who I am? Gutsov's son. If you killed me, there would be an all out war between you and him. Would that be smart at all, now?"
Yes, I had sensed a small resemblance to Gustov in this man. He was really a boy, come to think of it. Maybe even my age. Gustov's son? Hmm…maybe that wasn't right, however. Gustov didn't seem capable of having children. But then again, neither had Gozaburo…Oh well, who cared? He might have been lying.
I said, "Your daddy sent you to kill me. As far as I'm concerned, there is no way to avoid war now."
He smirked again. "Just tell me why you didn't kill Wheeler and everything could be avoided."
Wheeler. I thought randomly of this spoiled brat touching Wheeler. Killing him. Hurting him. I lost my resolve of patience and got angry. "Listen. Tell me what Daddy's planning and I'll let you go free. If not…" I ripped the knife out of his shoulder. He screamed. The silver of the blade was painted with the dark red liquid seeping from his shoulder. I took the edge of it and ran it slowly down his cheek, staining it with blood.
"I will cut something off," I told him. I moved to his ear and pressed ever so slightly downward with the edge.
He yelled loudly. "Fuck, alright! Alright! I'll talk to you, Jesus Christ! You're a fucking psycho!" His resolve was lost as well.
"What is your father planning?" I didn't move the knife.
"He sent me here because he wanted to test you. He didn't think you'd kill me…he just wanted to test you."
"Then why send his own son?"
He smirked. Nervously, almost. "Who better? He wanted to test your determination on killing for this Joseph Wheeler."
It hit me. If I killed this man, I would be killing for Wheeler's sake. That…was not how it was supposed to be. No. This man had to live.
"You are certain of this, naturally…" I asked, pressing down harder on his ear.
"Yes! Yes I am! I swear it! I am! I am!" He squirmed slightly under the gun's length. I realized suddenly that this was probably true because he hadn't even fought me. Not once. Yes, he had shot through my door, but my employers knew that that alone wouldn't kill me. They knew that I would survive and then I would be interrogated by Gustov's son. No one was supposed to die. Either that, or this man was weak and didn't know how to defend himself.
I believe this is what they called having an "indirect" meeting with a client, (in this case me). Interesting.
"Fine, then." I removed the knife and he visibly relaxed some. Like I was done with him, or something.
I slashed him across the left side of his face. Vertically, through one eye. He screamed ear-splittingly loud.
Sure I didn't have to kill him. But wounding him as a warning to his father wouldn't harm anyone, (except him of course).
I let go off him entirely and watched as he clasped his face in agony, blood seeping through his fingers.
"Go home to Daddy. Tell him if he wants to talk he should come visit me himself and not send his pathetic offspring from hell. Get out of my house."
He was doubled over, but he recognized when he was being spared. Sure enough, he crawled away from me and slunk out of the bullet ridden door, still crying in pain.
How perfect an exit for such a boy, don't you think?
My eyes ran over the mess he left in his wake. Shells from the shotgun were scattered all over the floor and blood stained the wall and my hands. I still held the shotgun. Oh how I hated guns. And now it had my bloody fingerprints on it. I sighed, coming back into myself a little, returning form the higher plane of killing I went in whenever I thought I had to kill. I hated doing this…but yet, I had to survive in this game. I never lost. I just couldn't.
"Was all that fa' me?"
I whipped around. Wheeler stood there, in the room next to this one, looking shocked. His hair spun in all directions.
"Yeah. It was." I didn't feel like yelling at him. And of course I was stupid to think he would have been bound long in that room. He knew how to break locks, I was sure.
"That's really fucked up, ya' know."
I nodded. "Now do you see? You're going to die if you don't protect yourself."
He looked at me and his eyes darted quickly to the shotgun. I understood. Throwing it down on the floor, I held up my hands in a gesture of surrender.
The blonde nodded and ran a hand through his mat of hair. "Yeah, I think I see. But I really didn't do much of the protecting…"
I looked at the shell-ridden floor. Damn. He was right. Shit. I had saved the mutt once again. Why couldn't I just let go of this fight? Why did I care about him?
Had I always felt this way about the mutt? I must have…it was too sudden to just be a thing out of the blue, but…just what "way" did I feel, exactly? I had no clue. I told myself there was no way, that I was exaggerating something. Making something out of nothing.
I hated myself suddenly. I hated my life.
Life, was it? I swore this life was killing me.
A/N: Ok, I'm sorry if this chapter was long and dragged out until the end…and I'm sorry it was really violent there at the end…but Seto is an assassin, after all. One thing, though! I really want to say that I'm sorry if the attraction of Seto to Joey is a little sudden, but think about this: Seto hasn't slept in four days, he spent nearly twenty-four hours in the last chapter thinking about Joey and why he should live or die, he saved his life, and Seto has enough stress in his life with the constant threat of the mafia hanging over him to make anyone feel a little crazy. Plus, I take it that Seto has been attracted to Joey for a long time, so, that's why it is a tad sudden. Once again, my most sincere apologies! Please forgive the bad writer…she has little talent but does what she can!
Please review and tell me how I did! Thank you! Love you all!