Beelzebub adventures chapter 5
Tatsuya Himekawa swallowed the last piece of bread and cheese he was given by his captors. After four days inside the small iron cage, his captors had thrown him in. We could almost feel his bruised skin start to rust along with the metal bars. The merciless sun cooked him whenever the raid band was merciless enough to place his cart away from the protection of trees. At night, he thanked it still was not winter. He was at the very limit of his endurance. He could barely remember how he got there and why. He could tell that he was no longer in his world when realizing his captors and fellow captives had skin and hair of crazy colors, had extra body parts that shouldn't had been on a human body, spoke an unintelligible language, and dressed in a fashion more akin to Warcraft cosplayers than sound people.
"Seems being one of Oga's 'generals' got me into deep shit again.'' Himekawa thought while drinking the last sip of water inside the metal jar he was given. "Or the turds want big cash. I doubt how they can use yens or even dollars in this world though. Maybe they will buy gold on Earth and that's what they'll use it here, unless gold is not a precious metal here…''
After countless minutes theorizing on the possible economic implications of his kidnapping, Himekawa got tired of thinking and leaned on the cage floor. Looking at the door, he gave a last hopeless glance to the lock, knowing he no longer have the strength to break it, nor the endurance to fight the guards watching him. His shirt and all his non-lethal weapons were locked away in a secured place. Resigned to wait for whatever thing had to happen, he closed his eyes and thought of home, trying to think on how his family was reacting to the sudden disappearance of their beloved eldest son and heir. His parents were probably figuring out which Yakuza family might had kidnapped or killed him, probably contacting Kanzaki's family for help, and probably doing some kidnappings and interrogations of their own. His thoughts soon wondered to Kugayama, his childhood friend and secret fiancé. She suffered enough with him completely friend zoning her, yet working a just few feet away from her side at his office every day. They had a semi normal relationship after she started to dress as a girl again, graduated, and applied for a job at his father's company. They enjoyed shooting videogames, talked a lot and went for drinks from time to time, but he couldn't still bring himself to like her as their families wanted. Every night, he practiced the speech he would eventually have to tell his own parents that he rejects the arrangement they had made for him and that he "repudiated'' his fiancée. The speech he would have to tell her was obviously not going to be as harsh, but not easier to deliver at all. He knew that after that, he would probably lose his only and best childhood friend forever. She hadn't made too much of a scene the first time he rejected her the time he and Oga had taken Beel mother's picture from her vault, but on that occasion, she at least hoped he would eventually accept her if she became more feminine. But this time, the road ended. With the sad feelings flooding his mind, his mind soon drifted into sleep.
A guard leaning his back on the side of the cage woke him up. He looked at the sky and soon realized he had slept at least half the afternoon. Not knowing what else to do and too tired to think, he resigned to just watch the camp members on their normal routines. Some played dice on the ground, others sparred with their wooden spears or wooden swords, others just drank their asses off. Soon enough, he got bored and just closed his eyes and tried to doze while listening at the conversation of his guards. Suddenly, his surroundings got excited with catcalls and insults at what probably was the arrival of more recaptured slaves that tried to escape the night before. Himekawa opened his eyes to realize he was right. Three raider demons appeared with the pretty black haired girl who approached his cage a couple days before. This time, the bandits had tied her to a wooden rung by ankles and wrists, as if she was caught. It made sense considering she knew how to use a spear, proven by the two guards she had killed the night before, escaping afterwards, with four other slaves that had been already brought back to the camp earlier that day.
"Tell the boss we brought him a spirited filly he will love to ride!'' The leader of the squad, a bearded and bald blob with pox scars in his cheeks bragged while caressing the cheek of the girl.
The camp exploded in laughter.
"You want me to show you how we caught and had a bit of fun with her?'' the leader asks.
While the blob made gimmicks and told his story, one of the demons holding the girl stared straight at Himekawa's eyes. The brown haired male looking at him had a strange familiarity Himekawa could not understand. Neither could he understand why he suddenly felt way more energetic, as if the man had ignited a fire inside him. It was not anger, but something way more powerful, a feeling he hadn't experienced since years ago but one he remembered very well. Soon enough, the Zebul zeal started to shine on his hand.
"Long time no see, general.'' Himekawa thought with a smile, knowing that the moment for him to make a move was still to come very soon. Again, he was right.
While the raiders exploded with laughter, homoerotic jokes and shouts of disgust, the brown hair man looked at Himekawa again, giving him a definite power up that almost made him scream.
"So that's your signal, huh?'' Himekawa thinks to himself.
In the blink of an eye, the man created five Zebul blasts facing in every direction around him. None of the demons could react before being burned alive by the energy blasts shot. Taking advantage of the confusion, Himekawa charged to the door of the cage and hit the lock until it was broken. Being careful to stomp the corpses of the fallen guards, he took his hair bangs away from his forehead and looked at the chaos scene around him. To his amazement, none of the Zebul blasts had hit the cages with slaves.
Two of the demons who held the girl were changing in appearance, had already untied her and grabbing weapons, preparing to face the remaining guards, who were arriving to the scene. The brown hair man walked up to Himekawa, his own appearance changing into a more familiar one, the one Himekawa was the happiest to see.
"You should have kept yourself that appearance, Oga. You looked way better that way.'' Himekawa says.
"You're welcome. You should keep that look, you look way better off as Sephiroth than as an Elvis wannabee." Oga says.
Oga and Himekawa grin and shake each other hands.
"Now, if you excuse me, I need my glasses and weapons if you want me to be of any help. Cover me please.'' Himekawa asks.
"No problem.'' Oga says, cracking his knuckles.
While his friends covered his back, Himekawa rushed to one of the chests on the side of the cart. Breaking the lock, he looked until he found his broken glasses. His Stun Baton and his new secret weapon were, however, intact.
Standing up again, he barely dodged a Kick from his right side, coming from a orange haired acquaintance he loved and despised in equal measure. The Kick ended up knocking out two guards at his left.
"You could warn me at least, you dipshit!'' Himekawa roared.
"Be grateful that I saved your ass, you useless four eyes!'' Kanzaki roared back.
Kanzaki Kicks a guard strong enough to take out the a group of guards and went his own way. Himekawa looked at his surroundings. Oga was soloing a group of at least 80 demons by his side, Furuichi with a sword on each had, was making sliced ham out of another group, while the once victim girl had turned into an Amazon by impaling more foes with a spear.
A minute passed and the battle was over. A bit disappointed of not being able to get his sweet revenge from his captors, Himekawa suddenly remembered that there was still someone remaining. Soon enough, Oga and the gang were surrounding him.
"There's still one more left, guys. The bastard is at his tent in the center of the camp. That coward hasn't come to aid his men, so I will have even more pleasure when paying him back'' Himekawa says.
"Himekawa, look at yourself. Even with that power up you will fall in agony after the effect goes away.'' Furuichi argued.
"If four eyes wants to get his assed kicked, let it be, Baka-ichi. I'll save him when he can get no more to show him who's his real daddy.'' Kanzaki says.
"And I'll make you eat those words, metal mouth. Now let's go.'' Himekawa says.
After a few turns, they arrived to Goldo's quarters, which resembled a circus
main tent.
"Please don't tell me we're going to face whom I think.'' Kanzaki complained.
A few seconds later, a blob that dwarfed the one Furuichi had impersonated got out of the tent. An 8 feet and a half tall clown in red and blue attire with horns protruding from his wig went out to meet them with a death stare.
"Who would have thought it, a non queer version of Ivankov from One Piece." Oga amusingly says.
"So this useless clowns couldn't deal with some filthy humans and their little bitch? Never mind, they were not worthy of being under my command. I'll get better ones in the next town.'' the clown spoke in a deep and unusually calm voice.
"A CEO who treats his personnel like crap will eventually stagnate in mediocrity and be surpassed by those who actually know how to manage them, clown. I'll teach you about management after I beat your ass.'' Himekawa stood in guard.
"Let the show begin, then, human.'' Goldo says.
Goldo's hands popped off of his body in fists and flew to Himekawa. Himekawa turns really surprised and barely avoided the attack.
"What the…?" Himekawa surprisingly says.
"A mix of Ivankov and Buggy. They really like One Piece in Hell, it seems" Oga amusingly says.
Himekawa dodged the incoming fists again and charged to close the distance with his foe. Goldo's hands flew back to his body, his legs popping off and flying immediately after, spinning like boomerangs. Himekawa jumped over one of them and used their momentum to launch himself towards the clown shocking him with his Stun Baton. Goldo screamed in pain and backpedaled.
"This time is for the magicians, not for the clowns." Himekawa smiled and charged again.
It was almost too late before Himekawa noticed one of the hands of Goldo's hands was missing, being barely able to deflect it at the last second. Goldo took advantage off by taking out a gigantic Knife and a Clown Mace, then charging towards him. Himekawa dodges every swing and ran toward Goldo. Goldo's body parts popped off, evading Himekawa's attack.
"Can't hit me with that lame ass metal bar, boy." Goldo taunted.
"The only lame thing here is your show." Himekawa teases back.
Shocking everyone, Himekawa extended his Stun Baton into at least ten more segments and whipped the air, creating an energy extension resembling an Electric Whip. Goldo was able to dodge the first swing to his head, only to be lassoed by the torso. Fifty thousand volts made the clown scream in agony.
"Gaaah!" Goldo cried.
Desperate, the clown detached all of his extremities and charged at Himekawa, his head hiding inside his torso with the latter rolling like a gigantic sphere towards Himekawa.
"Thanks for being my volunteer for my last trick!'' Himekawa thanked.
Himekawa took out a Brass Knuckle from his pocket. Making his Zebul seal shine more than ever, the weapon got shrouded by a sphere of electric energy, landing a powerful Punch with the body of the clown after disintegrating the body parts that flew in front as decoy. "Stun Knuckles!"
"Arrrgh!" Goldo cried, flying back and knocking out every tent behind him until he ended up 300 feet away from the camp.
"Abra kadabra.'' Himekawa bowed before his amazed public, out of whom Furuichi and Areta applauded, soon joined by the crowd of freed townspeople, who were observing the fight from cover.
"Nice new toys you got there, four eyes.'' Kanzaki compliments.
''You'll enjoy it's magic very soon too, if you wish.'' Himekawa says, as he smirks.
The townspeople cheered for the heroes that saved them.
"Thank you so much for saving everyone!" Areta happily thanked.
"We heroes are always happy to help." Furuichi says, trying to act cool.
"When do we call ourselves heroes?" Kanzaki wonders.
"How about we have a big feast for our victory? You all deserve it." Areta suggests.
"Sorry, but we don't have time to stay. We have to save our friends before something bad happened to them." Oga says.
"That's too bad. I hope one day I can make it up to you guys." Areta says.
"There's one thing you can do for me." Furuichi says. Furuichi closes his eyes and made a kissy face.
Suddenly, Kanzaki pulls Furuichi away and start heading out. "Let's get going, Creep-ichi."
Areta smiles and waves bye to the heroes while the townspeople join her.