There, all fixed! Thanks, Apropos' Knife! Oh yes, see the end of the chapter for further notes.
Standard disclaimer goes right here.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The doctor in question was lounging under a large maple tree, lingering in the dark shadows the massive plant cast in protest of the artificial lights blazing above it. As was his nature, he remained standing, hands tucked into his pockets, eyes watching everything from under his hat. Akabane was curious. Would the neko show up tonight or would the Get Backers keep her? Ginji-kun's interest in the cat-woman was obvious, despite the dire tidings she bore. What was even more curious was why he was standing here waiting for her. For the first time in a long time, Akabane wanted to see another killer at work. Normally, such people stood in his way and were disposed of. True killers, the ones that shared his lust and perhaps his views, were so few and far between. Ban-kun was one. He knew the joy of taking a life, but he kept it under firm check, no doubt because of his partner. Ginji-kun didn't like killing, thought it wrong. A bad thing. Such a simple, childish way of putting it. Bad. Akabane supposed that was part of Ginji-kun's charm, the reason he lusted after the blond retriever. Oh yes, he wanted Ginji-kun, very badly. Either in play or in a fight, preferably both. Ginji-kun was so afraid of him, it was delightful to watch. Because Akabane could see the fatal interest, that small spark of understanding. Ginji-kun had killed. He knew the rush of power and part of him still yearned for it. Whether it was more or less then Ban-kun, Akabane wasn't sure. He wouldn't mind taking Ban-kun, for that matter. The man with the Evil Eye also put up a very good fight, and was quite attractive. Lean and dark and so very sarcastic. Oh yes, Ban-kun would be a lot of fun to break, because he would fight to the very end and never admit how much he had enjoyed it. Ginji-kun would quiver and weep and turn to that adorable chibi form before he surrendered. Ginji-kun would surrender completely, Ban-kun would surrender and deny it. So many delicious possibilities. Akabane smirked, feeling his scalpels shift under his skin. He was getting excited. However, tonight, only the blood lust would be satisfied. Felis had the Get Backers safely tucked away in her hotel room. He would let them be for now. After all, what was the point of rushing such a wonderful experience as seduction? The most satisfying surrenders came after a long chase.
"Meow." Akabane looked directly at the stray cat that was walking towards him, eyeshine blocking out the color of the irises. It sat down just outside the shadow of the maple and studied him.
"Good evening, Felis-san." He tipped his hat to the stray. With a strange shiver and sudden surge of flesh, Felis rose up from the cat-form. Her eyes still shone greenish white and her whiskers were in full display. Akabane took a moment to admire the large ears framing her head. Women were, to him, a lot like statues. Nice to look at, but cold and impersonal. This mutant woman was different. She reminded him of the sleek big cats he sympathized for at the zoo. Predators should be allowed their freedom.
"Good evening, Akabane-sama. I am honored you took this offer. It's not often I find another predator willing to share his territory."
"I would think you'd find predators rare to begin with." She joined him in the shadows, her eyes disappearing behind a pair of non-reflective sunglasses.
"Not so much. I find predators on every street corner, but they are more like dogs or untrained kittens. Too weak to be of any threat."
"You really are a cat person, aren't you?"
"It is my blood. My supervisor thinks I'm going feral."
"Are you?" Akabane asked softly, his voice taking on a hint of suggestion. He was rewarded with a flash of white, sharp teeth.
"Oh yes," She matched his voice and tone and he gifted her with his own hungry smile.
"Well then, Neko. Welcome to my hunting grounds." He turned and walked away, heading for a nearby alley. She fell in beside and half a pace behind him, letting him lead but showing herself his equal. He smirked, amused. She was no match for his speed, but her stealth was impressive. He hadn't heard her until she was getting close. Even now, he could just make out her breathing, slow and steady. It didn't take long to find prey, three thugs lingering in a nearby alley. Akabane ghosted to his left with a whisper of an offer. A faint purr came from Felis' throat as she approached the trio. They were casing the sidewalk, looking for an easy target. She slid into the strip of darkness left by a street light and shifted back to housecat. Walking right past the thugs, she turned back into human and crept up behind the one in the middle. With one clean stroke of claws, she cut his throat. The splatter of blood and faint gurgle caught his companions' attention. They screamed, turning towards the alley. Akabane ducked out of the path of another blood spray and sauntered to the entrance. The second man was missing his larynx and a good chunk of esophagus. Akabane stepped over the bodies and saw Felis playing with the third victim. He was holding a knife, swiping at her wildly. Her hands were drenched in blood, ruby drops falling from garnet claws. A familiar smile was on her face as she dodged the blade. Her glasses were gone and her eyes shone.
"Get away! Get away you freak!" The man tried to turn and run, only to stop short when he saw Akabane.
"Dr. Jackal! Oh, shit!" He turned back just in time for Felis to pounce on him and take him to the ground, one hand behind his head to protect the skull. Akabane cocked his head.
"You. Have any blood diseases? Do any drugs?" Felis asked, her voice harsh.
"N…n…no." The man stammered. Felis bared her fangs.
"Oh good." The thug screamed when she latched onto his neck and bit down hard, right over the artery. Blood gushed out from around her mouth and the scream was very short lived. Akabane smirked as he watched her feed, lapping at the blood pouring from the fatal wound. She drank her fill and rose slowly, gracefully, a satiated creature of the night. Akabane tipped his hat to her.
"Not as fast as I am, but quite…ruthless. I give you points for style, my dear Neko. The cuts on this one's throat are artistic. Perfectly even all the way across. You could almost take someone's head off with those claws of yours."
"I haven't mastered the art of taking one particular feline's ability and manifesting it in human form. But I'm working on it." Felis stripped off her gloves, tossing them carelessly aside. She began grooming herself, licking her hands and rubbing them across her face, sliding her whiskers through her fingers and sucking the blood from her skin. Akabane gave her one of his rare, true smiles.
"Is it wise, leaving such evidence behind?"
"Are three men dead by what looks like an animal uncommon this close to the Limitless Fortress?"
"No, but gloves soaked in the victims' blood are."
"You know best." Felis finished her grooming, only a faint stain of red on her lips giving mute testimony to her feast. She walked over and picked up the gloves, tugging them back on.
"Will I have the honor and pleasure of watching you hunt now? Or do you wish to share prey?"
"You've given me a lovely treat. It is customary in Japan to exchange favors. But I'm afraid you won't be able to see much."
"I may not see, but I will hear."
"As you wish." Akabane turned and left the alley, Felis following on his right flank. He stopped and beckoned her forward.
"How can you choose prey if you're behind me?"
"Me choose? But I don't know what you like." Felis said, appearing beside him. He twisted the brim to peer at her as they walked towards the Fortress
"Use your senses, dear Lady Neko and keep in mind how high I hold Ginji-kun in regard."
"You enjoy giving challenges as much as you do receiving them."
"How odd it is, that a female gaijin understands me."
"Well, you know what they say about great minds." Akabane chuckled, very amused. They passed the border into the Limitless Fortress's sphere of influence and Felis shivered, her tail bristling suddenly.
"There are eyes and ears here, high above us." She looked up, ears flattening against her skull.
"You are most perceptive, Lady Neko. That," He stopped and gestured to the highest towers, "is Babylon City. We are on the border of Lower Town and between us and them is the Beltline. The higher you go, the harder it is."
"Really? So, in order to find a worthy opponent for you, we have to go up."
"Occasionally, those above descend to this level, but there must be…enticement." Akabane smirked. As usual, his presence had been noted and the word was spreading. His companion was also being noted and reported on. Her ears cocked back and forth, tail swinging from side to side, occasionally brushing against his coat. He ignored the invasion of space, preferring instead to observe her.
"I wonder," She said, and with a short run, sprang onto a nearby rooftop. It was an impressive jump, comparing favorably with Ginji-kun's frightened leaps. Akabane smirked and followed her as she ran across the roofs that bordered the Fortress. After several minutes, she stopped and frowned up at the City.
"Did you want to go inside?" Akabane asked in her ear. She didn't flinch, merely tapped her foot.
"They won't come out if we stay here, will they?"
"Oh, they might, if only out of curiosity, but they won't show themselves. You haven't trespassed. Yet."
"Is this part of your territory, Akabane-sama?"
"All of Tokyo is my territory," He purred, holding his hat against a sudden breeze. She turned to smile at him, canines gleaming.
"Then yes, I would love to go inside." Akabane smiled at her and walked to the edge of the roof, stepping off into space. She followed, landing easily on her feet and turning in his direction, a foot behind her. He nodded and led the way to one of his preferred entrances. There was no need for stealth in this game, they were the hunters tonight. Barely five minutes into Lower Town they encountered one of the gangs that thrived in the bowels of the beast. Ten men appeared, surrounding them easily. Felis looked around, ears twitching, one fang peeking through her lips. Akabane noted her expression briefly before turning his attention to the new arrivals.
"I do believe this is yours, Doctor Jackal," Felis said clearly. The men looked nervous, but stood their ground.
"Oh good. I was hoping this wouldn't be boring." He drew his scalpels as he ran, dancing through the circle of men, gracing each man's back with three distinctive slashes, branding their bodies with deadly accuracy. As he cut his opponents down, he kept one eye on Felis. Her ears twitched in his direction and when he appeared beside her, she nodded. One by one, the gang toppled to the floor, large red "J"s covering their backs, blood seeping into their clothes. Akabane withdrew his scalpels and tugged on his brim.
"Ten to three."
"I didn't know you like to keep track."
"Just for tonight, Lady Neko." He started walking and she matched his stride.
"Of course, you will win. You're as fast as Quicksilver with better control."
"Quicksilver?"
"Another Brotherhood agent. His only ability is his speed."
"Predictable."
"Yes." Akabane turned down a different corridor, heading up. Lady Neko darted to her right as he turned in her direction. A gurgle, a thump and she returned, twirling an automatic pistol around her finger. The body of a teenager lay behind a pillar, blood pooling beneath him.
"Ten to four."
"That is dangerous, you know."
"Not when the safety's on." She tossed the gun over her shoulder, it landed on the body and slid to the ground.
"You do not make distinctions."
"When guns are involved? Never. I'm not fast enough to dodge bullets."
"He would not have fired."
"I didn't know that." She grinned, her tail rising up her back to curl on her shoulder.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------An hour later, Felis was starting to get bored. Akabane was well ahead of her in the body count, fifteen to eight, and all they had encountered were low level thugs, not a mutant or enhanced human among them. They reached an open area that included full length windows, the glass missing. Felis wandered over one of them, stretching her arms over her head.
"Bored, Lady Neko?" Akabane asked, joining her at the window. They stared down into the depths of Lower Town. By her estimation, they were about ten stories up.
"A little. I was hoping to see someone of real caliber by now." Her left ear twitched and she spun around, tail lashing out. Akabane smirked and pulled his hat brim low over his eyes.
"A fine night, isn't it, Kagami-kun?" He asked. The handsome blond man smiled at the pair.
"Indeed it is. What prize have you brought to the Limitless Fortress, Kuroudo-kun?" He approached slowly, hands in his pockets. Akabane moved aside. Felis looked the newcomer over and smiled.
"You smell like glass and crystal. Are you from the City?"
"Indeed I am, Miss?"
"You can call me Neko." Felis lowered her tail, bringing it around in front of her and waving the tip in a mocking manner. Akabane chuckled. Kagami smiled.
"What a charming little pet you've found, Doctor Jackal. Does she do any tricks?"
"A few," Akabane admitted. Felis' eyes shifted quickly between the two.
"Ah, so I'm not the only one. Tell me, Doctor, did I succeed?"
"Indeed you did, Lady Neko. This one is a master of illusions."
"You mean, you dragged this poor woman up here just to show her a fight?" Kagami laughed, shaking his head. His earring gleamed in the light. "Doctor Jackal, I thought you didn't like females."
"I don't. But it is rude to refuse a lady's request. She wanted to meet someone from Babylon City."
"Then I will give my name. Kyouji Kagami, Lady Neko, at your service." Kagami bowed slightly.
"You shouldn't make offers you can't keep, Kyouji-san," Felis said chidingly, taking a step back and to her right.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Ok, here's the situation. I'm stuck. Totally and completely. I need help. Who should fight?
1. Akabane and Kyouji.
2. Kyouji and Felis.
3. Akabane and Felis. (cause we know how much Kyouji likes to run away).
So far I have two votes for the second and one vote for "Don't hijack your own story." (grins) Believe me, if I could decide, I wouldn't be doing this. Sadly, I can't decide! So, please vote in a review! I will take any and all ballots until January 1st, so you still have a few days. After the first, if I don't hear from anyone else, I'll go with what I have. Thank you everyone who has participated!