No. 6: Corruption Spreads
By: TheWildFool2011
(I do not own No. 6, nor do I own the amazing characters.) (6 years later)
Chapter 01: The Coming Storm
Inukashi smiled to herself, thinking about how successful she had become after taking part in the destruction of No. 6's walls. She and Rikiga had worked together as information brokers and he had begun helping out at Inukashi's dog motel.
She had new improvements installed into a few of the rooms in the motel, such as heating, but she also increased the prices to get the good rooms.
"Ah…what a good life…" she laid back on one of her dog's back. A knock came at her door. She sighed heavily, "Come in…"
Rikiga came in with a hand full of paper work, "People, need information Dog-keeper and they are complaining." He sat down on an old sofa across from her.
"So? Haven't you been trying to reach out to the contacts?" she spat back at him sourly. She had to admit though paper work was backing up really bad and it was annoying her.
"Well yeah! But, they haven't turned back any good information that is need and I've been going around and giving people's refunds-"
Inukashi jumped from where she was seated. "What the HELL did you just say?! Giving refunds back?! Are you fucking stupid?!" her yelling almost scared most of the younger dog's into hiding. The older dogs began showing their teeth at Rikiga.
He defensively put his hands up in front of him, as if to hope that she wouldn't step any closer. "Now, now…it was only a few amount of people…" he muttered and then looked down at the papers in his grasp.
"A few, huh…?" Inukashi crept closer to Rikiga. She snatched the papers from his grip, "Get this shit straight or the partnership is through! You got it?!"
Rikiga sighed and shrugged his shoulder, "I don't know what you expect me to do, but alright. I'll see if I can give it another look-see…"
"Off with you old man." Inukashi replied bitterly. She watched as Rikiga left the room, and then turned her attention to the papers at hand. One of the puppies began yapping, much to Inukashi's annoyance.
"Will you please quiet…down…?" as soon as she looked over to what the puppy was seemingly fascinated with, she was almost scared half to death. Inukashi decided to give a closer look at what seemed to look like a small mouse.
"Rat…?" Inukashi lit up with a huge smile on her face. "Rat's alive?!" the mouse ran over towards her dropping a message in her open-palm. The mouse sat patiently, but with a look of urgency.
Inukashi shook her head attentively as she read through the message a few more time. "Tch, that idiot is always getting himself into something." Without more thought she grabbed the mouse and placed him in her pocket.
She grabbed her old torn cloak and draped it over her shoulder, "Alright, boys and gals we have an idiot to save." She only took the younger well trained dogs, allowing the elder one's to rest and the pups to play.
As she made her way down the steps of the exceedingly large motel, it seemed more of a hectic mess than any other normal day for them. Some of the customers were complaining to her, but she directed them to the information desk area.
"Yeah…I know, I know. But at least try! My partnership is on the line here, and everyone knows a partnership with the Dog-Keeper is a good one…" Rikiga slumped his shoulder, "Look, just hop to it! I'll pay you triple for whatever information you can find for these people!"
"Looks like you're having some sort of trouble old man." Inukashi snorted with a serious expression.
Rikiga ended the call and took his hat off his head. He smirked slightly, "Well look who's talking. You look like you're ready to climb a damn mountain kid…aren't you a little too old for that?" he shove his hat in his back pocket.
"Tch! Shut up and get back to work if you wish to keep your precious partnership…" Inukashi walked out the door without another word.
Rikiga muttered under his breath as he went to help other worker's attend to the complaints of customers. "Alright, if I can have you attention please!" he said as loudly as possible.
"Aw, shit…I know this guy…he'll put us in the prostitution ring for sure…" a flamboyant young man muttered to his friend. His comment granted Rikiga weary looks.
Another customer shouted from the crowd, "Hey! Are you going to hurry your ass up?! We people don't have time for this shit!"
"Yeah, I have to go to the market before it closes!"
Other began muttering amongst themselves. Rikiga stomped his foot, gaining the attention back once more, "Look, and listen here people. This is not, and I repeat this is NOT a prostitution ring. You're not getting whore off or anything, this is just a booth to answer and help you in any way shape or form."
"How the hell are we supposed to trust you?! I heard you tried to get that once actress to whore herself out and almost got your ass handed to!"
Rikiga grunted, "More like almost got killed…" he cleared his voice once more to speak up to the crowd, "Ignore any and all rumors you have heard about me. None of them are true. I would never do a thing like that…"
"Pfft, I can sense the lies coming off of you…it's like a horrid pile of dead people odor that you can get rid of…" a young man whispered to what looked like his twin brother. His brother nodded agreeing.
"Grr, shut it you!" Rikiga yelled at the one man. The twin's threw their middle finger up at him, making him more on edge.
The mouse popped its head out. He climbed all the way to Inukashi's shoulder. "You know where to go I assume?" she replied with her eyebrow up. The mouse squeaked happily. "Good, now off with you then. Lead the way!"
The mouse jumped off her shoulder, and landed gracefully and began to run through the streets. Inukashi jumped on one of the larger dogs back and they head off.
The area they were running through was extremely familiar, but the trails that they were taking was completely different. The ruins from years ago all the shallow graves, it was all the same and was never going to change.
After the down fall of No. 6, the citizens inside had come to extend from the inside to the outside. Inukashi would have never thought she would see that, never in a life time. And there was only two people who made that possible.
Inukashi smiled to herself as she thought about the last time she had saw Shion and Nezumi. She had constantly thought about Nezumi and how he was doing, if he had survive, and the messenger mouse proved that he was out there still.
"Hey!" Inukashi yelled out as they had come to a sudden stop. She was almost through off the larger dogs' back, but managed to keep a good grip, "Damn, mouse wha-?!"
Inukashi immediately got off the dogs' back. A familiar dark blue scarf was sticking out from underneath the rubble. 'Rat?!' her mind screamed loudly. She desperately shoved the rubble to the side with the help of her dogs.
"Rat?! Come on Rat where are you?! Answer me?!" Inukashi only got more frantic as the silence was broke by a manic laugh. She turned around defensively whipping out her knife.
"You haven't changed a bit…"
Her knife dropped to the floor as she watched a familiar face come from the shadows. It was Nezumi, bloodied and battered, with that haunting smirk on his face.
"You…you're…"
"Yeah, alive and kicking. Glad to see you didn't ignore my message." Nezumi managed to crack a smile before falling forward. Inukashi without thinking caught him in her arms.
"The Rat came crawling back after all, huh?" Inukashi replied smugly. "You're bleeding like a mutt from the streets…"
Inukashi did her best to lift Nezumi from off the ground. With the help of the larger dog that she was riding, Nezumi was placed securely on his back. "Alright…" she looked down to feel something crawl up her pants leg and pop out from her shirt. Her eyes twitched, 'Dammit, what kind of mice did Rat make…?'
"Well, off we…!" Inukashi paused for a moment and push one more rock off the dark blue scarf. She grabbed it and tied it around her waist. "Now, we can depart. Mice, I can handle getting back on my own, just don't jump on the ground, cuz I'm not coming back for you!"
The whole group began to run off back to the Dog Motel. Deep down inside, Inukashi felt that there was a dark storm coming their way, and that their free days are soon to be over. She found herself unable to look back at the seemingly normal western plains.
"Shion, come look at this son." Karan called from the cellar.
Shion continued to stock the shelves, "Be down there in a minute mom." He looked outside of the window and sighed heavily. For some reason, he had been thinking long and hard about No. 6's history.
A squeak intruded his thoughts. He glanced down, "Ah, Hamlet!" bent down and allowed the small mouse to crawl into his palm, "What's wrong…? You done too? I understand…" he patted the white mouse on the head with one single finger.
"I have a feeling something is going to happen. I don't know…am-" he paused for a moment and shook his head. He allowed Hamlet to crawl up to seat himself on his shoulder. "Coming down mom!" he finished setting the freshly baked bread in the window seal.
Shion made his way carefully down the creaky stairs. He stopped as soon as his mom came into full view. "You called?" he asked.
Karan looked up over to her son and motioned him to come closer. Shion obeyed and leapt the last few remaining steps. "Mom, what's wrong-?" he soon quieted down when she pulled up the news on her identification bracelet.
"It has come to our attention that there has been some sort of issue going on inside of No. 6." One reporter said as he turned to another man who was elderly and clearly shady man. "How would you respond to this minister?"
The older man cleared his throat, "Ahem, yes it has come to almost all the remaining cities attentions. But we will find those who participated in the destruction of No. 6's walls, and the many deaths within. The punishment with be sever, if not deadly. I would, however, urge those other cities not to be in communication with those of No. 6."
"So, you plan to kill them minister?" the reported asked with a worried expression.
"No, only question and if they refuse to answer, we will be forced to torture until they answer the needed questions." The older man sharpened his eyes.
Shion furrowed his brow and looked at his mother. Karan frowned, "I…we aren't going to go through the same thing again are we Shion?" her shoulders shook. Shion placed his hands on his mothers' shoulders, "Mom, nothing is going to happen. I promise…"
"But what if this is like…" she looked up into Shion's amber red eyes. "Shion, I refuse to go to any of the cities. I will not go through the same thing again…I've already lost YoMing and I almost lost you. I will never set foot in another city like No. 6."
"Mom…" Shion hugged her and gritted his teeth. "Nothing will happen. I won't let nothing happen to you. As long as we stay where we are at, they would not have any chance of getting to us. And if they try…" he closed his eyes tightly and hugged Karan as if he was going to lose her right there.
"I just won't let anything happen to you mom…" Karan looked shocked and then her expression softened. She hugged him back and whispered her gratitude for having such a caring son.
Shion pulled back with a smile. "Now, I have to get back to work. Deliveries won't make it to the clients themselves will it?" he smiled carefree. Karan smiled back lightly.
He had made sure that his mother would be fine before he left, constantly asking questions. He grabbed his boxes that he needed to deliver and set off on his bicycle.
"Be careful out there Shion!" Karan shouted out. She stared on watching as Shion pedaled off. Glancing down she saw that Hamlet followed behind him. "Be safe…" she muttered and then walked back into the bakery shop.
Shion hummed tones of Nezumi's songs to himself as he pedal to the correct addresses. He still thought long and hard about Nezumi, and how he saved him all those years ago. And also, how he would not leave his side when he passed.
"Today should be a good day…" he used his hand as a reflector of the bright sunlight.
"Today IS NOT a good day…" Rikiga flung the papers over the room. He was practically distressed over the all the complaints.
Inukashi finished dressing Nezumi's wounds. "Oh, shut up old man. You complain just as much as the customers flow." Sighing she watched as Nezumi's chest slowly rose and fall.
"Well, aside from all the shit that's been going on today, I'd have to say it was quite the shocker to see Eve…" Rikiga exclaimed with a wary eye. "But, thing is…I thought he was dead along with Shion."
"Pfft, you aren't the only one…" Inukashi shifted throughout Nezumi's jacket, "I think something's wrong."
"Like you digging in my jacket." Nezumi replied irritably causing the two to jump. Inukashi's color from her face turned pale as her heart rapidly. Nezumi snatched his leather jacket from Inukashi, "Prying eyes have to stay away right?"
"Please…" Inukashi started off, her eye twitched. "Please don't do that crap again!" she pulled her knees close against her chest.
"Whatever…" Nezumi muttered he squirmed uncomfortably. "Don't look through my stuff." He said through clenched teeth.
Rikiga looked out the window, "What's with the sudden appearance Eve? You had me and Dog-Keeper here all-"
"Cut the sappy speech old man." Nezumi blurted out. He sighed, "I didn't come here to relax or anything. I'm here to ask of your help."
"Eve?! Needing help from an old man and a kid who owns a dog motel?!" Rikiga said with a little shock in his expression. Nezumi gritted his teeth and nodded firmly. "What could possibly be going on now?"
Inukashi remained silent and looked in Nezumi's direction. Nezumi grabbed a note from his jacket pocket, "I've made a few friends from my travels. Actually contacts and they are from the other cities to the far west."
"Get to the point Rat!" Inukashi glared at the dark haired young man. He in return ignored her and handed her a torn letter. She gave him a stink-eye before reading over the letter to herself.
"East, far east. No. 2, another so called paradise city. Just as screwed up as the rest." Nezumi muttered and closed his eyes. He tried not to squirm as much, due to his recently stitched wounds.
Inukashi peeked over the paper, "This is bullshit right?" she balled the paper up and threw it at Nezumi's back. "Total crap! This your idea of a joke?!"
"Can I…?" Rikiga started off. Inukashi shot him down with an angry glare. "Um, right…I'll be quiet now."
Nezumi turned over but, not without a sharp gasp escaping. He grabbed the balled up piece of paper and threw it in Rikiga's direction. "Read it. And it's no joke, do I look like I'm laughing to you Dog-Keeper?"
His expression was never as serious as when they used to talk about Shion. Inukashi's eyes widened slightly, "Dammit…" she gripped her arms tightly. Rikiga quickly read over the letter, "I'll be damned…we're all screwed."
"Shut the hell up old man!" Inukashi yelled in his direction. Rikiga frowned with his lip poked out, "I was just telling the truth. By the looks of this letter, your contact is dead…?"
Nezumi nodded again, "Dead as the sun is bright. Keep that letter, I might need you to do something about it later…right now I'm going to get some sleep." He faced his back to them again. Inukashi stood from where she sat and walked out of the room without a word.
Rikiga looked out the window, "So…Eve don't mean to bother you or anything…" Nezumi sighed heavily thinking to himself 'Yeah you do mean to bug the shit out of me.'
"What is it?"
"Shion…did he…?"
"Yeah, he's alive…I'm not sure about now though. Due to his complete obviousness and his submissive nature…" Nezumi smiled lightly as he thought of the white haired boy. "If you're so worried why don't you speak to his mother?"
"I can't just do that!" Rikiga gripped his hat, "You kids just don't get it. Well, I'm going to go back to work before Dog-Keeper hands my ass back to me…" he dragged his feet across the floor as he left.
"Pathetic as usual." Nezumi muttered. His extra mice that he had crawled over his shoulder. Some laid down, others stared at him waiting for orders. "Ready to see that idiot Shion again?" he poked the dark brown rat on its nose.
Digging in his jacket once more he pulled out a small roll of paper and a pencil. After he finish writing the message he pulled out a mini capsule, placing the message within. Nezumi allowed the rat to take the note from him, "Alright, Cravat you know what to do."
The robotic rat squeaked before taking off and crawling out of the cracked window. 'Hopefully you're still alive Shion…' Nezumi rolled onto his back to relieve the sharp pain in his side. The mice on his shoulders move to lay closer to his face.
"Mom, I'm home!" Shion took his shoes off at the door and carried them upstairs. "Mom?" he looked around through the rooms upstairs and found her sleep in her room already. He smiled lightly, "Night mom…"
Shion placed his shoes under his bed. He sat down on his bed, and Hamlet crawled up his shoulder, "A pretty nice day today huh?" the mouse squeaked. Shion snickered lightly.
He soon got dressed in his pajamas and from the corner of his eye he spotted a dark brown rat. He squinted his eyes, "Cravat…? Cravat!" he walked over to the rat. "What are you- wait is it Rat? Is something wrong with him?!"
The rat dropped the mini capsule in Shion's hand. He then climb up his shoulder standing next to Hamlet. Shion walked over to his study desk and proceeded to read the message.