Authoress here.
SO it seems that I have to write a chapter where Yusuke is feeling the nasty heat of these technologically sound demons, ne? The only thing I have to say is, PLEASE don't hurt me, Katty!
Yujo Chronicles: The Final Chapter
Chapter Eleven: The Torture of Yusuke
KaibaCorp
Emiko and Katsu exchanged mystified glances as they and Kiamo followed Seto into the bowels of KaibaCorp. They passed many odd rooms, all filled to bursting with electronic devices and people in lab coats, performing tests or making changes.
Down a flight of steps, take a left at the next corridor, another left, then a right down another staircase. Katsu glanced nervously at the "Top Secret" and "Authorized Personnel Only" signs that started lining the walls as they continued their descent. Seto and Kiamo seemed unperturbed at her uncomfort. Emiko paced after their host with a frown etched on her face.
"Um…where are we going?" Katsu finally voiced her question. Seto barely paused in his step to answer her.
"Obviously, a businessman has to include items in the fine print in order to be successful." Seto intoned. "And what was in the contract for the people you mentioned earlier was an agreement to let me monitor the nanites for a said period of time. That period of time is over, now, but I still have my people keeping tabs on the nanites. These particular devices can create very substantial alternate realities, and in order for me to stay up with competition, I have some safeguards, such as my monitoring system, to ensure my business' success."
"Oh." Katsu managed out. "And what do you mean by a monitoring system?"
Seto sighed, and his tone of voice suggested he was speaking to a subintelligent being. Katsu bristled a little, but wisely held her tongue.
"Nanites are so small; one hundred grouped together appear as only the size of a head of a pin. But, it's easy to install copious amounts of information on one. I have every fifth nanite equipped with a transmitter. So I can see exactly what images, or alternate reality, the nanites are creating, no matter what the range is."
Katsu nodded, although Seto couldn't see her behind him. She silently mulled over this new information, picking it apart as best she could. From what Botan had told them, the demons auctioning Kurama, Yusuke and Kuwabara off said that the three were to be in perfect physical condition, but they would be mind-crushed, or something to that effect. And if these demons had purchased nanites from Seto, machines with the ability to create near-perfect virtual realities, then-
"Kurama, Yusuke, and Kuwabara must be the recipients of this virtual reality," Emiko said suddenly. "The demons must be using some sort of hypnosis, if they intend of shredding our boys' minds."
Katsu nodded. "I just came to that conclusion. Maybe the hypnosis will keep their Spirit Powers subdued as well."
Emiko awarded her friend with a tight, strained smile. "Did I ever tell you you'd make one hell of a demoness?"
Katsu grinned back. "Yes. And often."
"Good." Emiko sighed. "I mean it." They both fell silent.
"Here." Seto turned a final corner, and stopped in front of a door. Placing his hand almost carelessly on an electronic pad by the side of the door lintel, he spoke into a small microphone. "Seto Kaiba."
A cool female voice responded. "Identified. Please state password."
Seto hesitated, and glanced over at Kiamo, who shrugged and gave him a look that clearly stated "Well? What are you waiting for?"
"….Kiamo," Seto muttered. Katsu, Emiko and Kiamo all exchanged surprised looks as the door slid back, and the cool female voice chirped: "Correct password. Welcome, Seto Kaiba."
"My name is your password?" Kiamo cooed, a happy grin on her face. "Seto, you're the best!"
Seto, who was busily bustling into the room, didn't respond. Kiamo and Katsu exchanged grins, seeing the tips of Seto's ears had gone a flaming red.
Emiko studied the new room they had entered. It was obviously meant for Seto's use alone, one comfortable swivel chair affixed in the center of the room, surrounded on three sides by keyboards and control panels. Three huge screens took up most of the vaulted walls, and one soft-colored light illuminated the room. Seto, still red from Kiamo's discovery of his password, sat down quickly in the chair and typed in several different passwords, each different and starred out from the girls' view. Each was verified aloud by the cool female voice, and new screens kept popping up on all of the screens.
"Computer, access file 0025653." Seto commanded.
The screen went dark briefly, the insignia of the embellished KC rotating in the center of all three screens while the computer located the file requested. Seconds later, the screen went bright as thousands of pieces of data went streaming across the main screen. Seto typed another command, and a file folder icon appeared. A few clicks later, a small image popped up in the center of the main screen.
"Computer, enlarge." Seto stated.
The image stretched to take up most of the monitor. It was fuzzy, and multicolored blobs floated around aimlessly.
"Computer, refine the image."
Like a camera taking focus, the image zoomed in, then out. Emiko, Katsu, and Kiamo squinted at the now focused image. Still, only randomly floating colors graced the screen.
"I don't get it." Katsu said blankly.
"Maybe they're not under hypnosis yet?" Emiko suggested, the tone of her voice sounding doubtful.
"I don't think so," Seto confirmed their fears. His azure eyes scanned the data still streaming off to one side. "It tells me that there are four sections, independently operating from its fellows. This is only the first image."
His hands skated over the keys, and the screen went dark a second time, KC rotating in the center. The data finished downloading, and the monitor appeared again. Only this time, the enlarged image looked like a movie playing, and Katsu stifled a gasp as the image registered.
Inside Yusuke's hypnosis
Yusuke was lying, curled up in a little ball, inside of a dingy cell. Filthy straw covered the floor, and the remnants of rat corpses told of Yusuke's diet.
The door to the cell creaked open, and Yusuke cried out in a strangled voice as a booted foot kicked his side.
"Kur-Kurama," the Detective croaked out. "Hiei! Kuwa-Kuwabara!"
A rough voice spoke from above him, malice laced into the cruel words. "'E still cries out for 'em, even after four years!" The voice sounded disgusted. A spitting noise was heard, and spittle slapped onto Yusuke's cheek. "'E still won't accept the fact that those three were the ones 'oo betrayed 'im to us!"
Koenma's voice rang out, strangely triumphant in the darkness. "We knew he was weak. He may never accept it. But I doubt he'll hold up much longer."
"Shall I increase his…treatments?"
"Yes." Koenma's voice was curt. "Let whoever wants to cause him harm do so. I don't care. This scum needs to die and the sooner the better."
"Yes, Highness." The voice was cruel sounding, and another kick found home in Yusuke's gut. As the Detective cried out, the scene slowly faded into blackness. Within moments, another scene came into focus.
The dark-haired Spirit Detective was walking purposefully down an ornately decorated hallway. The strains of a string orchestra floated through an opened doorway slightly ahead of the teen, as did the chatter and laughter of many people. Yusuke was clad in a dark tuxedo, although it appeared to be a very poorly kept one. The cuffs were fraying, and the fabric seemed shabby. The white shirt beneath the dark overcoat was yellowed, and ancient looking. Instead of dress shoes on his feet, old, battered tennis shoes completed his outfit.
The Detective turned the corner into the opened doors, and into a huge ballroom. Finery dripped from every chandelier, from the vaulted ceiling to the marbled floor. A string quartet played soft, sweet music in one corner, and couples danced across the floor in harmony. The women were clad in yards upon yards of beautiful fabric, all keeping to the same color tone of pale grey, shimmering silver. Each wore a simple beaded mask over their eyes and noses, but their beauty was still obvious.
The men, however, were an awe-inspiring sight. Each was handsome, chiseled examples of fine manhood, holding their partners with utter grace and care. Dressed in expensive and exquisite tuxedos, they floated over the marbled floors, putting every wonder of the world to shame.
Yusuke saw this, and indeed, he was extremely out of place. In comparison, he was too young, too shabby, to rough-cut. He looked uncomfortable, but still ploughed through the crowd of dancing people, looking for something.
"Oh, look," a cultured voice sneered from a small group of people standing off to one side of the dance floor. "The garbage collector must have dropped some ancient old outfit in front of Mr. Urameshi's hovel. How enchanting those….tennis shoes...look with that relic he has on."
"How dare he come, in such a fashion?" A feminine voice agreed.
"My lords and ladies, that scum could be dressed in proper finery and still amount to nothing." Another male voice declared. "He is unfit to be my coachman, let alone walk among us."
"I hear he wishes to garner the affections of Her Grace, Milady Majoh."
Laughter accompanied this remark, and dream-Yusuke stiffened at the mention of the name. Swallowing hard, he walked up to the group of people.
"S'cuse me." He cut it. "D'you know where Katty is?"
The group of refined people looked at him in utter distaste. A lady who was standing next to him actually moved over, brushing off her shoulder. Yusuke glared at her.
"Oh, get over yourself." He snarled at her. "I didn't even touch ya."
"Listen, and listen well, filth." A man spoke up. He, like the rest of he men in the ballroom, was a perfectly shaped male, with exquisite features and stunning silver-gray eyes. "If you ever so much look at another woman beyond your caliber, I shall personally make you regret your trash-eating bimbo of a mother ever forgetting her birth-control pills."
Yusuke's eyes flared angrily at this comment, and he opened his mouth to retort. But, the man held up a hand, cutting him off. "Do not speak back to your betters, dog. You are well advised to leave now, before disgracing yourself further. Out of all of the ladies in this hall, Milady Katsuko is the furthest from your reach."
"Shut up, bastard." Yusuke snarled. "If I wanna talk to Katty, I'll talk to her! She owes me at least one simple conversation."
"Milady Katsuko owes you nothing!" Another man flared up hotly. "You're not even worthy to speak her name!"
"Peace, my lords." A familiar voice sounded, and the lords and ladies standing by Yusuke turned, bowing.
There was Katsu, standing serenely, bathed in a beautiful light. Her exquisite features outshone the sun, and made every other woman in the hall look ugly and common. Her long frame was accented by the slinky silvery dress she wore. It was low cut, the swell of her chest amplified by the gentle change from pale skin to shimmering fabric. The dress clung to her, noting all of her sensuous curves. A slit ran up to her midthigh, and strap heels graced her feet.
Yusuke saw all of this within one single glance, but took longer to memorize the lines of her face. Her pale eyes were lined with soft winter-toned makeup. A frosty blue shadowed her lids, and behind the long, dark lashes was a penciled-on accent to her light irises. Her eyebrows were shaped beautifully, highlighted by a shimmering powder that didn't subtract from her natural beauty. Her lips looked full and pouty, painted with a light pink gloss that caught and held Yusuke's attention.
Her hair was swept up into a pile of loose curls, which hung down around her face with a soft brilliance. Every gesture, every move she made, made him shiver with a revered adoration plain to the onlooker.
"Yusuke Urameshi." Her tone was slightly condescending, something that visibly shook the Detective. "I'm simply delighted you were able to make it."
"Katsu," Yusuke pushed his way through the small clump of people to stand before her, to look down into those light hazel eyes. "It's been too long."
"Oh?" She intoned, a patronizing ring to her words. "So it seems, Mr. Urameshi. Now, what could be so urgent that you would speak so rudely to my honored guests?"
Yusuke swallowed twice, and gently took her hands in his. "I've told you before, Katty. I love you."
Katsu smiled, an odd expression that didn't reach her eyes. "And what makes you think that?"
Yusuke looked ataken back. "What d'ya mean? I care for you. Completely."
Katsu leaned in, and Yusuke, accompanied by the other lordly onlookers, held his breath. Katsu's eyes flickered up, devilishly sexy and dangerously smooth.
"In what world, form, or body have you ever deserved me?"
Yusuke dropped her hands silently.
"I am your moon, Mr. Urameshi, and you're the child longing to reach me one day." A small smile overtook her lips as one newly freed hand tugged on his shabby lapel. "Keep looking up into the sky. Keep longing for me, and the farther away I'll go."
"No." Yusuke whispered.
"Oh, yes." She replied, voice soft. "I don't love you. I'm too far above you. In every way. And yet, you still want me?"
Looking heartsick, Yusuke nodded.
"Foolish little boy." Katsu said, mock pity in her voice.
"It's just the fucking computer," Yusuke mumbled. "You're not really here."
"True as that may be," Dream-Katsu whispered. "You know the basic message is real. You have never deserved me. You didn't even really deserve Kaiko. Why do you drag me down with you, Detective?"
"No! SHUT UP!" Yusuke screamed. Clasping his hands to his ears, Yusuke screamed again. "I SAID, SHUT UP!"
"Why?" Dream-Katsu didn't relent. "Why do you have me following you so naively? If you loved me, why put me through so much pain?"
"NO!" Yusuke fell to his knees, and the world went dark again.
KaibaCorp
Emiko rocked the sobbing Katsu gently, kneeling where Katsu had fallen, her knees becoming too weak to hold her.
"Shh," Emiko comforted. "He knew it wasn't real. We'll save him, you'll see."
Kiamo's face was drawn and pale as she continued to stare up at the black screen. Seto sat, hands poised above the keys, shock written plainly on his handsome face.
"He's not weak!" Katsu sobbed. "He'll keep fighting and it'll just get w-worse!"
Emiko stroked her friend's hair gently, allowing Katsu's tears to soak her shirt. She bit her lip, looking up at Kiamo. The blonde girl shrugged fearfully, also unaware of what to say to comfort Katsu. After a few moments, Katsu began to slowly quiet down. She hiccoughed a few times, trying to will herself into a state of calm.
"You okay?" Kiamo asked.
"Ye-yeah." Katsu nodded, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand.
"Seto." Emiko's voice was low. "Please, show us the other two." Her words meant concern for all of the captives, but her tone clearly stated: Show me that my mate is surviving.
"I'm not sure that's the wisest-" Seto started.
"Show me the damn transmit." Emiko's voice was hardly above a growl.
Seto hesitated, and then pressed a few more keys to change views. He only hoped Emiko would be able to handle whatever horror was waiting.
End Chapter
Okay, I think eight pages is enough of a chapter for this 'ole Authoress. My wristy-thinger (I swear, it's a technical term) is being put to good use tonight!
Ah, today was fun. Props to those Tableans who thought of a picnic in the park! ('Twas very enjoyable, it 'twas...Then I went bowling! Squee for gutter-balls! LadyKatsu, your sister f-ing rocks at bowling…darn her…)
So…because I'm not tired, here's a short preview/ synopsis of the UPCOMING CHAPTER!
Hiei and Ankara are making their way to Human World when Hiei's unseen stalker decides to use the pretty Apparition as "the proper leverage." Hiei has to make some split-second decisions that could end him in a tank with nanites swimming around his brain with the rest of the Spirit Detecting squad if he isn't careful!
Back at home, Katsu, Emiko, Kiamo and Seto just now fully understand the danger the nanites present when they get a peak inside of Kurama's personal nightmare. With guilt and worry hampering their better judgment, will our budding heroines make some terrible mistakes?
Ran and Narrin, being fully aware of the danger such actions may present to their future child, are rushing in to help Katsu and Emiko. But, with Emiko and Katsu ready to charge in unaided, will the katana-slinging florist and the smooth-talking momma-to-be make it in time?
NEXT TIME, ON YUJO CHRONICLES!
Cut to credits!
Cue the Authoress theme song!
(Rides away on the Broom 'O' Doom…)