No. 6: Corruption Spreads
By: TheWildFool2011
(I do not own No. 6, nor do I own the amazing characters.) (6 years later)
Chapter 03: The Attack
"Shion!" Nezumi shook Shion violently.
"Agh!" the force of the banging on the door knocked Rikiga off balance. Inukashi helped him retaliate by pushing the door closed once again. "Look Eve we can't keep these guys out for long!" he pressed all his weight against the door.
"I know that!"
"Then hurry up and wake that dumbass!" Inukashi snapped back. Her dogs also joined in and pressed their paws against the door.
"You damn idiot…" Nezumi muttered. He pulled Shion's sleeping form to his feet and smacked him across the cheek. His He awakening was startling startled by this as the two grasped each other so they wouldn't fall over. "Finally, you'rer awake." A long sigh escaped Nezumi.
"Um…" Shion rubbed his eyes with his free hand. "What's going on…?" he looked around to see the room jam-packed with Inukashi's dogs and Haru and Yuki near the window. His question was ignored as Nezumi let go of him to look out the window.
"Dog-Keeper!" Yuki shouted as he looked outside. Nezumi pushed him to the side, taking in the jumping distance.
"Dammit…" Nezumi grunted. He turned immediately to Shion. "You're going last with me and Rikiga."
Rikiga looked at Nezumi. "So we're jumping that? Isn't it a good distance from the ground?!"
Nezumi walked over to the window, "Yes, but Dog-Keeper, Haru and you kid…" Yuki stood straight up as Nezumi pointed him out, "You are all going first, with this covering you." He held up his infamous scarf, known the protection against anything.
"Err…" Yuki stammered as he blinked at the scarf given to him. "T-this is going to p-protect us from the impact?!" his hands shook as shivered violently. The thought of jumping two stories wasn't so appealing to him.
"Shut up and just do it!" Inukashi shouted at Yuki. A few more of her dogs came from behind her, to take her place. She snatched the scarf from Yuki and wrapped it around herself, Haru and Yuki.
"Alright…" she sighed and turned to Nezumi. "Rat?"
"Look if this is some sappy shit, then tell me later!" Nezumi ran over to the door to place more weight against it. "Shion, grabbed the couch you were on and move it this direction! Now hurry it up!"
Shion nodded. He grabbed onto the couch, though his arms still ached he began pulling the couch. Inukashi looked at them and turned her back, "Just come down alive. I'm not patching you up." The three jumped out of the window wrapped in the scarf securely.
"God dammit! Eve hold the door." Rikiga moved allowing Nezumi to take his spot. He grabbed hold on another couch that Nezumi laid on earlier. As soon as he was close enough, Nezumi and the dogs backed off from barricading the door.
Nezumi ran to Shion's aid, hauling the couch to the door. He shifted it so that one arm faced upwards and the other down. He grabbed Shion by his arm and looked out the window.
"Inukashi and the others are on the run…" he muttered.
Rikiga came from behind, "Where to? The woods?" Nezumi nodded. He looked at the dogs who growled at the door. "Uh, Eve?"
"Take Shion with you old man." He pushed Shion over to Rikiga.
Shion looked at Nezumi and then to the dogs. "You…you're staying with the dogs to help them escape?"
Nezumi nodded statically. "Dog-Keeper would kill me if I left her mutts up here to fend for their own. Don't even worry about me, I'll be out of here in no time." He flipped his switch blade out. All his mice and rats, with the exception of Cravat, crawled from Nezumi's pocket to Shion's.
"Wait, Eve doesn't your hand still-?"
Nezumi nodded once again as he removed the couch he had set up. "Hurts like a two dollar whore, but I'm not complaining. Yo, old man, don't lose Shion." Rikiga nodded and grabbed on tightly to Shion.
Shion's eyes lit up, "Wait! Rat we don't have to do this! I have a better idea. I'm not fitting to lose you to these bastards…" Shion walked to the rooms' closet searching.
"Such manly words, from someone who can't survive…" Nezumi muttered. He shook his head, "Shion go. I swear to god if you don't leave now, I'll turn this blade on you." He glared at Shion who was wrapped up in his search.
Rikiga looked from the two and then back at the door. He nervously looked out the window, it was still a clearing but he wonder for how long.
"Ah ha! Found one." Shion pulled out ragged blanket. Nezumi blinked a few times. "If I can find more of these….or at least-" he abruptly stopped and took off his jacket, followed by his dress shirt.
"Shion…?" Nezumi stopped when Shion started to take his jacket off. "What the hell are you doing?! This isn't going to work."
"It'll at least make the impact more bearable. Rikiga can you take off your jacket and shirt?" Shion asked politely with a serious look. Rikiga looked at him slightly puzzled by complied in the end.
As soon as Shion finished tying the shirts and jackets together he tossed it out the window to measure the distance. "Still too long of a distance…" he hauled the makeshift rope back into the room.
Nezumi tapped his foot, "Look, I'm just about ready to shove you out of the window." He was stuck odd as Shion began to take off his pants. "W-what the shit are you doing?! Are you fucking stupid?!"
Rikiga twitched slightly when Shion turned to him. "Uhh?"
"Pants."
"SAY WHAT?!" Rikiga and Nezumi stared at Shion like he was crazy. Rikiga almost didn't want to comply, favoring the original plan. Shion tied his pants to extend their cloth rope.
"Eve…" Rikiga looked miserable as he sat in the corner waiting for Shion to finish. The only thing that was needed was Nezumi's pants. "Give up your pants."
"To hell with that!" he spat back. Shion gave him puppy dog eyes, which didn't work on him at all. Without any warning, Shion started to unbuckle Nezumi's pants. "S-Shion! What the fuck!" he grabbed Shion's arms immediately.
"Huh? Come on Rat, we have to hurry up! That barricade won't last long." Shion shook Nezumi's grip and finally pulled his pants down. He then instructed the taller man to step away from his pants.
"You really have no shame or regret do you…?" Nezumi asked slightly surprised at the new situation. Shion threw the cloth rope out the window once again.
"Got it! It should be smooth sailing from here on out. Everyone grab a dog." Shion turned around with a proud smile on his face. Al the dogs walked over to the window and looked down. A small whimper escape most. "Don't worry you guys will be safe and sound."
Nezumi flipped his blade closed. He walked over to Shion and smacked him against the head. "Dumbass…" he looked at the dogs, which was a nice count of six. Not all of the dogs were of carrying size which troubled him. "How are we going to get these two dogs down there?"
Shion rubbed his head and looked at the two large dogs. "I…I'm really not sure." He then went on another search.
"What are we going to do with this kid…?" Rikiga grumbled with his arms across his chest.
"Shion, I think these mutts will be alright. They seem able enough to protect themselves." Nezumi patted both the dogs on the head. He then scooped up two of the medium sized dogs. Rikiga proceeded to do the same. Cravat jumped from Nezumi's shoulder to the larger dogs' head.
"B-but-"
Nezumi grabbed the rope with his free hand. Shion looked at the dogs, one with the help of the other held the makeshift rope in their mouth.
"Cravat's go this shit, he won't let anything happen to them." Nezumi replied to his friends' uneasiness. Rikiga followed behind him with the dogs holding their balance on his shoulders. Shion sighed and followed behind the two.
"Let go of me! I didn't do anything!"
Inukashi, Yuki along with Haru watched from under Nezumi's scarf as people were loaded into the back of compact trucks. Moonlit popped from Yuki's hat almost scaring him half to death.
"Sh-!" before he could scream anything, Inukashi covered his mouth. They looked at each other for a few minutes, until a gunshot rang out. Followed by the gunshot was a dull thud and crying. Yuki then pulled Haru from the gruesome sight.
"Load 'em up!" a soldier said as he kicked one of the dead bodies. As soon as the group was loaded in, another truck came. It looked as if they were doing a head count.
A tap came to Inukashi's back, as she defensively jumped. She let out a sigh of relief. "Thank god it's you…" she then glanced at the boys again. They had the dogs with them but, they also didn't have most of their clothes on. "Um…yeah you know what I won't even go there with you guys. Put some clothes on and stop the idiocy."
"Not my fault." Rikiga replied as he untied his clothes from the makeshift rope. Nezumi quietly did the same. Shion peeked from the bushes watching the soldier point their guns at innocent people. It wasn't too long before a dead body came rolling the groups way.
"Holy shit!" Inukashi exclaimed silently as she backed away from the body. Yuki and Haru did the same as they stared at it.
After Nezumi was fully dressed his rats and mice crawled back into his jacket pocket. He took his scarf from Inukashi, while helping her to a standing position. "Don't let it bother you too much. You've done worse right?" he winked his eye at her.
"Shut it Rat…" she hugged herself silently. Yuki stood up and patted her on the shoulder giving her a smile. "Where are the other two?" she muttered.
"Had to leave them, but Cravat is with them. And I doubt those guys would shoot two dogs." Shion replied back as he searched the body.
"Never knew you were one to search a dead body." Nezumi said as he watched his friend go through the dead man's pockets.
Shion paused for a moment and huffed. "Well after having climbed dead bodies and being told 'Oh Shion whatever you see don't change.' I've adapted a few needed survival skills." He pulled out a communication bracelet. "Ah, id bracelet! Just what I need."
"So what now?" Rikiga asked looking at Nezumi. Nezumi looked at the clearing which was filled with a few soldiers and then glanced at the woods behind them.
"The woods." He started towards the wooded area.
"B-but my-" Inukashi was cut off when Shion placed his hand on her back, motioning her to move forward.
"I have a tracker on Moonlit and Cravat so they can find each other. One is with us so Cravat and your dogs shouldn't have too much of a hard time finding us." Nezumi replied blandly. Moonlit jumped from Yuki's shoulder, following after his master.
"T-that thing…?" Yuki exclaimed dumbfounded. He had Haru on his shoulder and reluctantly followed him. Rikiga did the same with the dogs close on his heels.
"You know…" Yuki started off silently. Haru was wearing his hat, and constantly shifted around on his back. He ignored this a bared through it.
"What?" Inukashi asked as she strutted through the loose branches. The others stayed silent, but alert.
"I really hate rats…" he grunted as Haru slapped him on his cheek.
"Oh, trust me they despise you too." Nezumi replied with a hidden smirk. Shion chuckled to himself.
Rikiga walked closer to Yuki causing the teen to look up. "Don't worry too much. You'll get use to 'em."
"Says someone who is a fan of Rat, yet was frightened by one of his pets." Inukashi exclaimed sarcastically.
Most of them snickered at the memory, with the exception of Yuki. Shion walked up to the front with Nezumi.
"Rat…are you alright? Is your hand okay?" he asked silently.
A smirk formed on Nezumi's face. "Don't worry so much about me." He then grabbed Shion's hand, quickly pushing his jacket sleeve back. "You're the one who's been bleeding like crazy. Sorry you got hurt…" he muttered. "I'll try to find some bandages for you once we are in a safe place."
Shion glanced down at his own arms. Fresh blood had covered his lower jacket sleeves, but he ignore the pain. Slipping his hand comfortably around Nezumi's. "I-I'll be fine. I can survive…" they continued to push through the rough terrain.
With no warning given Inukashi was shot in the leg. Yuki grabbed her by the shoulder, "What the-?!" more shots began to ring out in their direction.
"The little shits went this way! Come on move out!" a commander yelled to his unit.
"What?" Nezumi whipped his head around to see Inukashi being half held by Yuki. "Shit…they're checking the woods!" he let go of Shion, to grab Inukashi bridal style. Inukashi bit her lip to keep from screaming out, but tears streamed down her face.
They continued to run from their oppressors, all while dodging bullets. Coming to a gap they skidded to a halt. Shion looked down, "Rat! There's nothing but water down there!" Yuki looked over the edge along with him.
The dogs growled at their pursuers. Rikiga scanned the whole area for any break through. Nezumi looked back and then looked at the gapping land. He then made the decision to plant his foot at the edge of the land. Inukashi looked at him wide-eyed. "Don't worry. You won't feel a thing…let's hope the water isn't too shallow."
"Eve you-" Rikiga jumped when a bullet flew past his foot. "Ah, screw this! Pups come on we're diving in!" he jumped in, followed by a nice sum of Inukashi's dogs. Nezumi handed his scarf to Shion, who in turn covered Yuki and Haru with it. When the last of them jumped, a few bullets grazed Yuki's calf.
The landing was bearable but, they didn't want to get separated from each other. "Guys, we can't get separated from each other, understood?!" Nezumi shouted as he kept, Inukashi and himself afloat.
Rikiga grabbed onto Shion's wrist. "Yuki grabbed onto Eve!" he exclaimed as the current drifted them farther down. Nezumi swam closer to Yuki, allowing Inukashi to hook her arm around him. Luckily for the group, they washed upon land instead of going down a waterfall.
Rikiga crawled out of the water with Shion in tow. The river was no long it's clear blue color as blood tainted it's beauty.
"Ahh shit…I don't think I landed right…" Rikiga grumbled he looked down at his leg. A part of his bone was sticking out due to his sloppy landing. Shion breathed heavy, coughing up water. "Yuki…everyone…you guys alright?"
Yuki shook his head. Haru climbed off his back and sat down. "M-my leg…I think I got shot in my leg…" Nezumi huffed and closed his eyes. Both Inukashi and Yuki were injured along with Rikiga who sported a broken ankle.
"Those bastards have some sloppy shooting skills…" Nezumi laughed to himself, his heart beating rapidly.
"Rat," Shion stared up at the sky.
"Huh…?"
"They really are after us huh?"
"Yeah they are…they really are Shion. Us and everyone we've ever known or even came in contact with." Nezumi hugged Inukashi to his chest. "What a world…" Inukashi lightened up from biting her lip. "Dog-Keeper…you'll be okay. I know you've never been shot or even injured like this. I'll make sure you're alright."
"Head count, whose shot?" Shion asked. Inukashi and Yuki raised their hands. "Alright, two and one broken ankle." Nezumi dug in his pocket, pulling a switch blade.
"Since Shion is the master genius here, he'll be taking care of the bullet wounds. I'll be handling you Rikiga." Nezumi lifted into a sitting position. He patted Inukashi on the head before sliding her off his lap.
Shion nodded and walked over to Inukashi attentively. Yuki waited for his turn to get a bullet carved out of his calf. He didn't seem all too thrilled about being shot and washed down a river.
"You make it sound like porno…" Rikiga muttered. His weakening voice made it clear that he was about to pass out.
"Tch, in your sick mind old man…" Inukashi spat. She felt like knocking Shion out for digging through her side with the switch blade. But seeing as though she had no choice, she complied silently.
Nezumi stood and brushed himself off. "Why not? We need a little humor around." He looked at Haru, who seemed slightly terrified as he clutched Yuki's shirt. The dogs they had with them had already started to sniff around, and most laid down near Inukashi. "Right then…I don't think we'll be seeing any civilization for a bit."
After the others were dressed for their wounds. With exception of Rikiga, whose splints didn't seem to hold well, they walked through the woods. Shion messed around with the id bracelet he took. Yuki treaded close towing Haru in hand. Inukashi, on the other hand, was forced to spectate the view from Shion's back.
"Shion are you getting anything from that damn thing?" Nezumi asked. His legs wobbled from Rikiga's dead weight. Shion shook his head. "Damn."
"No shit Rat." Inukashi replied irritably.
"Nobody asked you keeper of the mutts." Nezumi replied smug and blunt.
Inadvertently Inukashi placed Shion in a semi-choke-hold , "You little piece of-!"
Shion let out an aggravated sigh. He grabbed Inukashi's arm with one hand loosening her grip, "I know this isn't something that was planned, but we need to work together on this." He went back to looking at the id communication device, "And I need concentration, I'm not getting a strong signal due to all these trees and all of you back talking each other isn't helping anything get better."
Inukashi smacked him in his head, "Hallelujah we have a dork in the group." Yuki rolled his eyes, limping closely behind the two. "Hey, Shion got any pain killers? My side hurts like crazy…"
"No." he replied bluntly through clinched teeth. In frustration he pulled his arm back and with all his might launched the communication device into the brush.
"Please tell me you did not just…" Yuki stared in the direction it was thrown. Shion hooked his arms under Inukashi's legs to secure her, ignoring Yuki's silent complaints.
Haru tugged at his hand causing him to advert his attention. "What's wrong Haru?" he stopped, allowing the child to climb on his back. "Want a piggy back ride like your ma?"
"I'm not his mother!" Inukashi buried her face into Shion's hair. "Gosh, why do you insist on saying stupid shit Yuki?!"
"Well you are very motherly, Dog-Keeper." Nezumi exclaimed sarcastically.
Inukashi hung her arms loosely Shion's neck. "Put a plug in it Rat." She squirmed around slightly. "Um, guys are we going to find a place to rest…?" it seemed no matter where she looked, the forest just darkened.
"Traveling like this is tiring…" Shion continued to tread behind Nezumi, though he was a little dismayed. He was extremely worried about him mother and had no means of getting contact with her.
Inukashi lifted her hand and poked his cheek, "You are so easy to read. Stop worrying so much."
It was hours before the group could reach a closed in area that would keep them high and dry. Nezumi had a pile of loose branches in his arms. He sat them down before Inukashi and the others. Yuki and Shion worked on trying to get the fire started.
"Feels like we're having a camp out." Yuki cut his eyes over at Shion, who was happily striking the rocks together.
Yuki wiped the sweat off his forehead. "Let's just get the fire going." Nezumi dug through his pocket to make their fire making process easier. "Have a lighter?" Yuki asked as he almost got more than a few sparks going.
Nezumi shrugged, "Nothing, keep trying and you guys should-"
"Got it!" Shion dropped the two rocks and blew at the fire. Yuki cover one side while Nezumi the other. He laid back one he was finished. Nezumi scooted himself closer to Shion. "Um…Rat?"
"Hm?" Nezumi took off his leather jacket and used it as a cushion. He laid parallel with Shion, facing him. "Well, come on tell me. I'd like to get sleep too ya know." He raised his brow when he witnessed a smile creep Shion's face. It was genuine yet sad.
"Do you think my mother is going to be alright…? I couldn't even patch through on the id bracelet and I'm-" a familiar finger poked his cheek once again. From the corner of his eye on his right side, Inukashi stared at him intently.
"You worry too much."
"What Dog-Keeper said." Nezumi chuckled and closed his eyes.
"Sir, we've lost the target. I repeat, we've lost the target." The commander waited for a response. The others searched high and low for the group. "Sir?"
"Keep searching for him. I want him alive."
"Sir." The commander turned to his men who awaited his orders. "Well boys keep your eyes sharp. You all know the target. The boy with the white hair, and a snake like scar."
"Sir, Yes sir commander!" they all marched away from the divided land, back towards the clearing. One of the soldiers spotted something from the corner of his eye. He picked up what seemed to be a charm necklace and stuffed it in his pocket before proceeding to the others.
"Private Katsumi, go to the front of the lines. You'll be driving one of the convoys." The commander motion him to the front. Katsumi nodded and jogged to the frontlines. "Alright, once we get to the clearing we will all be finishing a head count. Anyone who opposes is working for the white-haired demon."