Trauma For Truth: Part II

Forty Minutes following Mikogami's killing...

With a trembling heart, the Demon Ashikabi's thoughts raced behind her blindfolded eyes. The van had now come to a screeching halt, and the sound of the driver's door opening and slamming shut was thunderous in her ears. She gasped and swallowed.

"Alright, we're here," the doctor claimed, glancing back at her and the pretty boy. "You can take the blindfolds off now."

"Oh, um…okay," she replied, clearly shaken.

"R-right aw-way, s- sir," Shiina said, still stricken with hypothermia.

As instructed, the two undid their blindfolds, and slowly lowered them to their seats where they were soon forgotten. Before they could make out their surroundings, the doctor's massive accomplice slid the door open. The sudden 'woosh', coupled with the close proximity of the man's mass and volume drew a surprised gasp from them both.

The colossal mute stared at the frightened young pair's twitching eyes and their gaping pupils for a brief moment before stepping aside to allow them through the open door. Directing his thumb over the shoulder, he motioned them to get out.

Dr. Gordon exited the van as the muscle shepherded the two, closing the door as he extracted his cell phone.

XXXXXX

With a neatly folded napkin, John Kramer wiped the excess of milky cereal grain from his lips.

His cell phone vibrated. Pushing the bowl aside, he flipped it open, seeing Dr. Gordon's blinking text.

He put it on speaker and set it back on the table.

"I assume we have an update, doctor?"

'Yep, we're here. Though with one less than we had originally hoped…'

"Unfortunate..." he coughed."But for one to anticipate all plans working perfectly in execution would be foolish. Either way…"

He flipped on his hood, glancing back at the gore-smeared chair and 'tool' used by his first…official recruit. "I look forward to finally meeting them face to face."

XXXXXX

"We'll be up momentarily."

He snapped the phone shut, and directed his eyes back to the Demon and Reaper.

"Mr. Mathis does not like to keep John waiting," The blonde healer claimed. "I suggest the two of you do as he indicates, else he might get…agitated…"

"Eh?!" They replied in shaken unison. "Err…right!"

They complied almost immediately once the doctor said that. Despite having assisted in kidnapping them, Dr. Gordon backed away a healthy distance, seeming to be just as intimidated as they were. Come to think of it, the ride was quiet the entire trip. The whole thirty minutes. Not once was a single word spoken by either of them. The two just got in the van as asked, put the blindfolds on, and simply sat there, waiting as their hearts sank in paranoia. They didn't dare go against the muscle's gesture; a wise decision on their part.

The two saw they were now in an underground parking garage, no doubt abandoned. But then again, why wouldn't it be? The last thing a kidnapper would want would be for their base of operations to be out in broad daylight where anyone might see. The air was stale and quite moldy, but at least the lighting was decent. And, as Dr. Gordon had promised, it was MUCH warmer than the building they were in previously, much to Shiina's relief. His condition was much improved at this point; the van's AC got quite warm during the trip, but his body was still weak and his voice still had that notable stutter.

"W-w-where are we?" Yukari asked out of habit. She knew the answer wouldn't be very specific, if she would get one at all, that is.

"Do you honestly expect us to answer that?" the doctor answered, matter of factly. Yukari sneered in response. "Please follow me up the stairwell and try not to lag behind. Mr. Mathis will be following us up and I doubt he'd be too pleased if you were to dilly dally."

Yukari's thoughts began to tremble like an epileptic. We're gonna be killed. We're gonna be killed. We're gonna be killed…

XXXXXX

John's attention diverted from the contents of his filing cabinet to the light rapping beyond his door.

Pushing the drawer back in, he responded to the knocking and muffled mumbling on the opposite side.

"It's open."

The door started to creak; the mumbling became more coherent.

"-are you sure, Yukari?" asked the pretty boy out of concern.

"Yes, I'm sure," the demonic matron replied, speaking under her breath. "It's just a little bruise."

She continued. "Now just let me do the talking, Shiina. He's my brother, after all…"

Dr. Gordon showed the two inside with a slight motion of his arm; an all-new ambiance flooded their senses upon their very first steps in.

Chills traveled up and down their spines as their eyes slowly wandered around what could only be described as a workshop of horrors. Littered amongst the shelves and tables, dozens of unnerving parasitic mechanisms and contraptions shined in the flickering fluorescent light as they lay in wait for their new hosts; many were rusted and required further maintenance.

Sodden with dry blood, an examination chair sat amongst tools of destruction. Rooted to it was another mechanism composed of tightly compacted knives dripping blood on a red stain that seemed to have slowly expanded over time.
All this while a bowl of half-finished cereal sat on the desk in front of them.

Wonderful.

The color drained from their complexions and they swallowed the air with a gaping gulp in unison.

What the hell had they gotten themselves into?

"Please excuse the unsightly mess," a hooded John Kramer said, sauntering out from behind one of the shelves to greet his awaited guests. "I have been quite busy as of late, and have yet the chance to clean up."

Setting his calloused hands down on the table, he ascended his head to rendezvous with their angst-ridden eyes. Although they didn't have a clear view of his aging face, he could sense they were afraid, confused, and nauseated. John always gave off a rather distinct aura with his presence as well as his presentation, but looking further into their eyes…he could feel a strong sense of preservation within them; Yukari in particular. He could tell she would be far more confrontational than most of his other…subjects…despite what her current body language may give off.

"Now," he began."I'm sure you have plenty of questions you would like answers to…"

He took a swig of his drink, wiping away the excess before swallowing."Answers which you are more than entitled to…"

The strange, deep hollowed rasp of the hooded man's voice shook the two to the point where they felt its rough texture brush against their cores ever so slightly; like sandpaper to one's fingernail.

Yukari swallowed yet another mouthful of air. She responded, voice shaken. "Ju-just what is it that you want with us? Who are you? And where is Minato?"

"A reasonable question," he continued. "People on the outside have come to know me as Jigsaw; a title I personally frown upon…and my reasons for bringing the two of you here are quite simple. I called upon the two of you today to give the both of you the opportunity to assist me…"

He paused.

"Assist you?" she reiterated, glancing at the blood-soaked chair once more, then back to Jigsaw. She swallowed again. "With what?"

"Hmpf," he scoffed."An opportunity to assist in putting an end to the game which has torn apart the lives of so many…including your own…as well as your brother's."

My brother's? "Wait…are you talking about the Sekirei Plan?"

Jigsaw blinked. "That I am, Miss Sahashi."

"But if you needed our help, why did you kidnap Minato and try to have us killed?" she asked.

"Oh, you mistake my methods, Miss Sahashi," Jigsaw explained. "My motivations were not to kill, but rehabilitate."

"REHABILITATE?!" she shouted, the skin around her heart hardening. "You forced me to bleed out and Shiina to damn near freeze to death just to save the life of some spoiled little shit who tried to turn my pretty boy into his toy!"

"I did not force either of you to do anything," he corrected, undaunted as ever. "I left the decision of Mr. Mikogami's fate in your hands, and you chose to be merciful; something I commend you for."

"So what were we supposed to do?!" she barked back. "Just let him drown and be marked as killers for the rest of our lives?! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK WE ARE?! HEARTLESS?!"

He remained calm. It was as if he expected this outburst of emotion. "But you see, that's where you're wrong. Hayato's fate was his own doing. The way he lived his life and the despicable actions he committed against society, including the two of you, is what put him in that situation. If he had lived his life differently, as opposed to walking over the feelings of others to claim what he selfishly desired, he would have never been tested."

"But why us?" Shiina softly inquired. "What did you need us for?"

"Yeah, I'm just a college student! What help can I be?!" Yukari continued, her tone harsher. "If this was Mikogami's doing, why involve us in this?!"

John downed another mouthful of his beverage. He licked his lips. "I wanted to see just how fearsome the both of you actually were. To see if your infamous reputation did, in fact, precede you."

With a casual trot, he walks over to one of the shelves, dusting off one of his contraptions. The pair's eyes followed. "Behind the Discipline Squad, the two of you are the most feared Ashikabi and Sekirei in the Sekirei Plan. Given your history with Hayato, I found that putting the three of you in the same game would be more efficient, as it would have provided me with a more…genuine outcome and clearer understanding of the degree of purity within your hearts."

"But we had to kill him anyway!" she pointed out loudly. "That brat tried to murder Shiina because it was part of the rules or something!"

"Indeed, it was…" John inhaled deeply through his nostrils before cocking his head back to them. "Your test was much more complicated than simply testing your moral codes, however. It also had a far more important purpose."

Yukari's eyes followed as Jigsaw casually went about his business. "Oh, I'd love to see how you justify this!"

He continued. "To see how far you were willing to go to protect the ones you love and hold dear, as well as how much you would sacrifice to ensure their safety."

He turned towards them, dropping his arms to his side as he approached the table again. "That is what I need in order to bring an end to this Sekirei Plan: individuals who are willing and able to protect their loved ones by any means necessary…and the fact that the two of you stand here before me in one piece more than proves your dedication."

"So we were your…guinea pigs?! Lab rats?!"

"I prefer the term 'subjects' or 'clients', as I find that referring to them as diseased rodents and filthy pests would imply that their life has no purpose or value outside of scientific servitude."

"You're a hypocrite," Yukari accused. "If you look at your 'subjects' or 'clients' the way you say you do, then why did you ensure that there would be a casualty at the end of our test despite the outcome?!"

A long moment then passed. John lowered his head and reached for the bottom of his hood. "Those who do not appreciate life…"

The Demonic pair swallowed a gaping gulp, witnessing the man known as Jigsaw pull back his hood with a languid tug as if to savor the moment, gradually revealing his well-shaven trim.

"…do not deserve life."

They were shocked; he looked like any ordinary dry, wrinkly old man. His cold, neutral expression, however, made them realize that they were dealing with a true psychopath.

The freshly shaven madman began to pace in a slow left-to-right stride behind his desk as he went on. Not once did he break eye contact with the Reaper's mistress.

"I perceived many possible scenarios to play out during your game, Miss Sahashi, and while the final outcome was something I had anticipated, there were many other outcomes with less…graphic climaxes."

He continued. "I look at every possibility and expect the unexpected. I take a deck of cards, shuffle it, and see how the game plays out…" He paused."But unlike the Sekirei Plan, there is a chance for survival."

"Is that so?" Yukari questioned. "Tell me then, 'dealer', how could we have all gotten away with our lives? Way I see it, in order for us to complete the 'game', either the two of us or Mikogami had to die. And if that wasn't enough, you even encouraged us to leave the poor bastard to drown! How do you explain that?!"

...

"…Hayato's life…is out of his hands. The decision of whether or not he survives falls upon you, though I implore you…to do the opposite…"

...

"It was but a simple warning alluding to what may have been his inevitable treachery, Miss Sahashi," he explained. "You were free to take it or leave it as you wished. You have your own minds and can make your own decisions. Said decisions the three of you made during your time as my subjects are what dictated the outcome. I was but an observer."

"That still doesn't tell us how we could have all lived!"

Dr. Gordon clapped Yukari on the shoulder to get her attention, but that only served to make her angrier.

"Get your mitts off me, old man!" She slapped his wrist away.

"Agh!" He took a step away, holding his hand to his chest as he stroked it. "This may take some time to explain, but please bear with me..."

A few minutes later...

Shiina went pale after Dr. Gordon's explanation ended. "Mikogami was poisoned…and you stitched the cure into my stomach?!"

He immediately undid the blanket around his person and looked down. There it was…

He looked as if he were about to faint. "…I think I'm going to be sick."

He started to go limp.

"Shiina!" Yukari pulled the pretty boy into her arms as his dainty legs turned to jelly and collapsed. She turned her focus to the doctor. "You are a sick man, doctor! A sick man!"

"Now, now," the doctor said, putting his hands up. "Yes, I did make an incision on Shiina's stomach, but rest assured there is nothing 'stitched' inside. That is only what Jigsaw wanted Mikogami to believe. It was part of his final test, which he failed."

"What the hell are you talking about?!" Yukari shouted in anger, still clenching onto her woozy Sekirei.

"To see if Hayato had finally learned to appreciate the lives of others, as opposed to just his own," John continued, Yukari turning back towards him. "That is the sole purpose of all my games, Miss Sahashi: to help people who lack appreciation for life realize how much of a privilege it actually is; not to just themselves, but others as well."

The doctor went on, lighting up a Mild Seven. "If Mikogami would have decided to not resort to violence for his own survival, he would have passed his test."

"But he still would have died!" Yukari pointed out. "He was fucked no matter what!"

"Not necessarily," the doctor added, puffing out some smoke. "As the antidote to his ailment," he reached into his pocket, pulling out a vial, "was on my person the entire time."

"What?!"

"If Mikogami had been merciful, the game would have been successfully completed, and all three of you would have passed with minimal injury. I would have walked in, congratulated the three of you, and happily given the cure to him, as well as invited him to assist in ending the Sekirei Plan."

He sighed. "But…that didn't go so well in the end. Shame." He shrugged his shoulders. "Oh well, what can you do?"

"You mean instead of rushing into the room and giving Mikogami the cure when we released him, you just sat on your ass in some other room and waited for one of us to die?! For me to commit murder?!"

"I didn't have much of a choice in the matter, Yukari," he began. "John took every possible precaution to ensure the game didn't become, in his words, 'tainted'."

He motioned a slight tilt of the head in the direction of the hired muscle, who leaned his massive frame into the door, observing them in silence.

"You're a fucking coward," she spat in cold criticism. Tears welled up in her eyes. "That doesn't change the fact that I'm a killer now!"

"No, Yukari," John intervened. "What you did was go to every length possible to save Shiina's life. I was watching you, observing your actions as the game unfolded. I saw how dedicated you were to save the life of Mr. Mikogami, how heartbroken you were when you had to end his life to protect that of your Sekirei."

He continued as Yukari wept. "I saw everything inside of you come out to the surface in that moment; your dedication to the ones you hold dear, how much you love them, how much you would sacrifice to protect them. The degree of respect you have for the life of others is rare; the tears you shed as you stabbed Mr. Hayato to death more than proved this. The way they cascaded down your face showed me how much you despised what you were doing, but also what extremes you would go to. To keep the ones you love safe."

"You are by no means a murderer Yukari. You're as much of a murderer as a soldier is fighting for his or her country. You simply did what had to be done, and the fact that you gained no sense of enjoyment from it shows just how much life truly means to you…and how much you respect it."

Pulling a chair from his workshop, John approached his two honored guests. He slid the chair behind the pretty boy, whose brain was now regaining a steadier blood flow.

He helps Yukari situate him. "Tell me, Demon Ashikabi…are you grateful?"

She wiped away some tears. "For what?"

He glances at her. "To be alive?"

"What kind of question is that?" she asks. "Of course I am!"

"Some people don't realize how precious their lives, as well as the lives of their loved ones truly are until they're about to be taken away from them."

He increased the distance between himself and them, speaking over his shoulder. "I'm sure your brother knows this all too well."

She shook her head, blowing a sigh through her tear-moistened lips. "…Minato hasn't been the same since-"

"…the incident," Shiina continued, now somewhat conscious. "We were both there…and I couldn't do anything to stop it."

As the salt of his soul poured down his chin, Yukari yanked her pretty boy into a tight, albeit gentle, embrace. "No one could do anything to stop it, Shiina…it's not your fault."

"Ku was all I had before I met you…she was like my-"

"Like your little sister?" John inquired.

Shiina's calm demeanor suddenly sparked into something more serious. "Don't act as if you know me! As if you know what it's like losing someone so close to you!"

Crossing his arms, he leaned into the desk. "Oh, but I do know you, #107…and I know exactly what it feels like to lose someone dear."

He tilted his head. "I know how the both of you pursued Kusano, the lengths you went to in order to see her again; to ensure her safety. That's how you gained the infamous reputation of 'The Demon Ashikabi' and 'Reaper Sekirei', is it not?"

"Just how the hell do you know all this?!" The mistress demanded.

"I have my sources, Miss Sahashi," he answered. "And my information is always accurate, as well as backed up with irrefutable evidence."

"Plus…" Bending his knees, John pushes himself off the desk. "I don't lie; especially not to my subjects…that would be unprofessional."

He took possession of a wrench and began tightening screws on one of the many contraptions he had lying about. "Now as I mentioned before, the Sekirei Plan must be put to an end, and the both of you are a vital element in ensuring that my ambitions succeed."

"How so?" Shiina inquired.

"Isn't it obvious, Shiina?" Yukari pointed out. "I'm the 'game master's' daughter."

A brief, wide-eyed expression struck Dr. Gordon when he heard this. She knows? Impressive. This Sahashi girl really knows how to think things through. Must be in her blood…

"What better way to get into someone's head than to first target their family?" she continued. "That's most likely why this guy kidnapped Minato; he knew how much I cared about him. Decided to use that as leverage to get me on his side."

"That is…quite accurate, Miss Sahashi. Not my main motivation, but close nonetheless." He sat back down. "So, will you like more details?"

"Don't bother," she spat. She approached the desk, slamming her hands upon the craftsmanship, and leaning in closer. "I'm not going to do a damn thing you say until I see my brother! I want to see Minato right now!"

John smirked. "But of course, Miss Sahashi. All you need do is ask." He turned to Dr. Gordon. "Dr. Gordon, Mr. Mathis, would you kindly escort our guests to Mr. Sahashi's quarters?"

"Certainly sir," the good doctor replied. "I need to treat Shiina's hypothermia anyway."

He motioned them towards the door. "Come, this way."

XXX-Takami's Game Continues-XXX

Takami couldn't help but smirk, knowing she was in control. She would have lit a cigarette if she had one on her.
"So, Yukari," she said, as though they weren't in such a serious situation and just discussing the day's proceedings, "Why are you working with Jigsaw?"

Her eyes narrowed as she ended her question, and Yukari, despite herself, couldn't stifle the embarrassed blush that had formed due to her being found out so quickly.

She fidgeted, thinking back to all those other times she'd gotten into trouble with her mother when she was a child. Her ability to sit down was painfully taken from her for quite a while each time…wait! SHE was in control here, not her mother! She glared defiantly at Takami, her teeth bared.

"Hey, I'm the one asking questions here, Mom!" she snarled.

Takami's smirk never went away. She still knew which buttons to push with this girl - a side effect of being her mother, of course.

"Hmph," she belittled. "So then ask away!"

"Fine, I will!" she shouted back. "First off, just how the hell do you know about Jigsaw?!"

"Pfft; Minato did research on the guy a few years ago, and I read through his presentation a good fifteen times. I'm his mother; do you really think I don't keep tabs on this shit?"

"Yeah, without him knowing, I bet!" spat back her daughter. "You're always going behind our backs and leaving us constantly in the dark!"

"Do you really think I want to, Yukari?" she asked. "I would love nothing more than to be a family again, but I have commitments."

Okay, Yukari thought. Time to segue into the first question. "Oh, really? And what might these 'commitments' be?"

Takami's pupils darted from one side to the other as a confused half smirk formed on her contorting visage. "Yukari…I told you…I work for a pharmaceutical company…"

Yukari reached into her pocket, extracting something. "Bullshit!"

Following some hesitation, she pressed a button.

*Fzzzzzzzt…zzzzt…

"AGH-!"

Electricity coursed up the Sahashi matron's leg like a lightning rod. For a split second, her body locked up, trapping her free will inside. Takami collapsed from her chair and down to the floor, her body still convulsing as her burning skin continued to crawl.

Yukari released the button; her mother regained her senses a moment later, weakly rolling onto her knees. With shaken hyperventilation, Takami looked into Yukari's eyes with a dumbfounded, slack-jawed stare. Her daughter had tears in her eyes, yet her expression kept its stern posture.

"Yukari…" Takami weakly said. "I'm your mother, your provider! How could you do this to me?"

"SHUT UP!" she roared, voice cracking from emotions being overwhelmed. "I've had it up to here with your lies! I know full well that you work for MBI as a high-ranking scientist! Now talk!"

Grasping at the edge of the table, Takami starts pulling herself back to her feet with a gradual tug. "Which also happens to be…" She sat back in the chair. "…ungh…a pharmaceutical company…"

"Sure, but that's not your real job, now is it? No, no, your position is far more serious than what you let on."

"What kind of sick crap has Jigsaw filled your head with, Yukari?!"

"Something called 'truth'!"

"Don't get fresh with me, child!" the Sahashi matron snarled with the slam of her fist. "I always figured that you knew I worked for MBI. You were always more observant than your meandering brother…not to mention nosier." She rolled her eyes. "It's a sad day to see that your daughter has more balls than your son."

"Don't you dare insult Minato like that you Cunt!" Yukari shouted, thumbing the button again.

*Fzzzzzzt!

"AGH!"

She released it, a furious fire burned away the teary moisture in her eyes as she closed in and grabbed her by the throat, hoisting her up against the wall. "You're the reason he's in this situation mom! This is all your fault!"

"…what situation?" she questioned as she recovered, fear churning in her stomach. "Yukari…what happened to Minato? TELL ME! Where is he?!"

"Allow me to show you." Yukari stepped aside, hand still tight upon her throat and tosses her back to the table. Takami's abdomen slammed into the edge as her head collapsed to it.

XXX-Jigsaw's Lair, Minato's Quarter's-XXX

Head over heels, Yukari rushed through the door and into Dr. Gordon's infirm as soon as the aforementioned doctor opened it.

It was much cleaner and presentable than the other areas of the buildings she passed through.

In the medical chamber sat several rows of hospital cots, each spaced out a good distance from each other and sectioned off by their respective dividers and curtains.

On the central cot, the Demon Ashikabi's older sibling, Minato Sahashi, lay motionless in peaceful slumber. He was shirtless, covered up to his waist in a white sheet. Three IV's pumped differing fluids into his arm.

"Minato!"

Yukari made a beeline towards him the moment he entered her line of sight; Shiina followed close behind.

She leaped on the bed with the swiftness of a cheetah, ensnaring his body in a tight, loving embrace as if it were the last time she would ever see him as it very well could be.

Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes, dripping onto his exposed chest.

"Minato!" she sobbed. "Minato…I never thought I would see you again!"

There was no response. He just lay there, unmoving.

She lifted her head from his still body. "…Minato?"

She began to push him. "Minato?"

Her pushing escalated into her rocking the body back and forth, getting more frantic by the second. "Come on, wake up!"

Was this some kind of sick joke? Did they kill Minato and replace the body with some sort of dummy? All these thoughts entered her mind, which nearly sent her out of control and into a homicidal rage. But then, she felt his breath against her cheek as she leaned in to sob some more. She then checked his pulse, and sure enough, his heart was still beating. It was a faint throbbing, but it was still pumping. He was still warm, too.

"I'm afraid he isn't going to wake up for quite some time, Yukari," Dr. Gordon regretfully informed. "Not until his use comes."

She turned around. "W-What?"

The doctor sighed. "In order to ensure cooperation, Jigsaw ordered me to weaken your brother's vital signs. He'll live, but he needs to stay here on life support until he fully recovers, which should take no less than two weeks."

"T-Two weeks…" Yukari paraphrased in disbelief. "What did you do to him?!"

She then felt the hand that of her pretty boy pat her on the shoulder. She looked up at him.

"It's alright, Yukari," he began. "At least we know he's alive."

She embraced her brother's body once more. "It's okay, Minato. Everything's going to be alright. Your sister is here now…and no one will ever take you from me again."

"I'll protect you…" She pulled away, kissing him on the forehead with a quivering smile. "…now and forever."

The moment was then interrupted…and crushed to pieces. "You know he can't hear a word you're saying, right?"

The Demon Ashikabi and Reaper Sekirei both took a glance in the direction of the familiar voice; the voice which haunted their darkest nightmares since the incident. Leaning against the doorway was none other than the Black Sekirei herself.