Chapter 12

NOTICE: if when you read chapter 11 it ended in Ishikawa passing out than you need to re-read the last chapter, I've re-written it a little.

Warning, graphic physical abuse and rape.

Haruka had no idea when he finally passed out or fell asleep that night. His entire body throbbed with pain. He desperately wanted just a few minutes of peace. He knew he was moaning aloud but couldn't find it within himself to care. All he wanted was release. He had a sudden flashback of the day he had been taken and his thoughts about "only" having to wait 72 hours for release. He laughed bitterly. He had had no idea what being tortured for information meant back then. No matter how much training one had, nothing could prepare you for reality. He thought of his brothers and that made him remember his talk with them on why he had wanted to work on anti-terrorism. He must remember that lives, possibly hundreds of them, depended on him not giving away information.

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Iwase's face held a gentle smile as he watched the scenery on the side of the road go by. He was sitting in a bus, the final stage of the trip to Nyuto Onsen, a selection of hot springs in northern Japan. He and Haruka had chosen a rather rustic ryokan to stay in and he looked forward to soaking out whatever tension might still be in their bodies in the various hot springs in the area.

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Haruka knew it was morning when he heard footsteps entering the room. After 36 hours with no food and little sleep, he was starting finding it hard to think. Sometimes he forgot where he was or what had happened to him (courtesy of the fever he had started running). But being yanked up off the floor and pinned to the wall brought everything back to him in a rush. Suddenly a hand grabbed his chin and the blindfold was yanked off his head. He blinked dazedly in the sudden light and then shuddered when he saw Crusader's face right in front of his.

Crusader looked deep into the eyes of the man in front of him. The hazel eyes were no longer sharp and clear, nor did he see the anger and fire that had been in them the day before. Maybe now he could get what he wanted.

"Well?" he lightly slapped the face in front of him. "What about those codes? Give them to me!"

Haruka flinched from the slap and hated himself for it. But still, he couldn't give the man what he wanted. Too many lives were at stake. He said nothing, just shifted his eyes so that he didn't have to look at the cruel face in front of him. Another blow to his face, this one much harder.

"I want those codes. GIVE THEM TO ME!

Rhythmic blows began to fall on his face. He felt his lip split open again and another blow caught the corner of his left eye sending a blinding flash across his vision and along with a sharp pain that made him close his eyes. Finally just as he began to pass out, the blows stopped. Dimly he heard something about water and braced himself for the cold. Instead he felt a cup held against his lips and water spilled into his mouth.

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Iwase frowned as he put his suitcase down in the suit of rooms registered to Ishikawa and himself. He knew he was early, but still; he had hoped to find Ishikawa already here. Oh well, he was probably still on the road. He looked at the yukatas laid out for the two of them and grinned. As usual, he would have to ask the desk for a larger size. One size fit all did not apply to a man of his height (6'4") and build.

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Haruka's arms were forced over his head at an angle from his body. He winced as his full weight came down on his shoulders, already sore from the day before. His arms were over his head and spread out but not parallel to his body. He thought this angle was one that would eventually cause his shoulders to dislocate. Thinking about why things were being done to him helped him cope with what was going on. But it didn't seem to be helping as much as before. He felt weak all over and knew he was feverish. He wanted to cry out and tell them to stop, that he'd give them anything they wanted if they would quit this and leave him alone. Once again he reminded himself of all those who could die if Crusader had access to the codes.

The blindfold was settled back over his eyes. "One last chance Haruka, give me those code." Haruka didn't even listen to the words. He had remembered that it was Wednesday. The day he was supposed to meet at the hot springs with Iwase. He'd looked at information for all the different ryokan's so he knew what the place looked like. He'd been anticipating a quite couple of days with Iwase, both of them – what was that? A scream ripped from his throat as a burning on his underarm intensified into a white hot pain. As he continued screaming he smelt burning flesh and blackness descended.

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Iwase looked around the hotel room. He had changed into a yukata that fit him and put all his clothes away. He had studied the brouchers on the small table in the room that told of all the different activities the ryochan had to offer their guests and still Ishikawa hadn't arrived. Now what? He really didn't want to soak in one of the hot springs until he had company. He smiled softly. Yes, it would be so much more fun once Haruka had arrived.

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It wasn't just the water that woke him up this time but also the a slapping across his face. A body was pressed up close to him, invading his personal space but able to feel every muscle of his that moved. As he woke up and muscles changed from lax to tense, the slapping stopped. After a long moment the body pressed against his moved away. He shuddered as the invader moved away from his personal space. "Well, that was fun." A small metal click. "Would like to feel it on your other arm."

"No, please, don't." Hanuka didn't recognize his own voice, broken and pleading.

"You know how to stop me, give me those codes."

"I can't, I can't." Tears began to roll down his face. "Please, not again."

"Then give me those codes!"

There was nothing but silence and the whimpering of pain. Then screams. When the screams had turned to hoarse almost soundless cries and repeated, mindless pleas to stop; the men finally left the room.

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Iwase opened his eyes slowly and rolled over on the futon. He gazed around the windows puzzled. He had lain down for a short nap and... it was almost dark out? He looked around the room. Nothing had changed; Haruka's luggage wasn't in the room, the second yukata hadn't been moved. Could Haruka not be here? But if it was already dark... he frowned and got up to go talk to the front desk. When he found that he was correct and Ishikawa had not yet checked in; his frown grew even deeper. No matter what, he was sure Haruka would have been here by now. And he hadn't called to say he would be late. Haruka checked his phone. No, no calls. He headed back to the room. He'd call Nishiwaki. He would assure Iwase that all was fine, that he'd heard from Haruka that morning and he was just running late. Maybe there had been a car accident? The roads here were all mountain ones. Maybe Haruka was in a hotel somewhere along the way, sick. Maybe...

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Haruka could think of nothing but the burning agony in his shoulders. He wasn't aware of the whimpers of pain that filled the room. Suddenly he felt a body press against his from the back. He knew the feel, the shape, the smell. He hated it. The man rubbed his naked body against Haruka's.

"What nice little cries you have. Who would have guessed it'd be so easy to break your spirit."

"No, don't."

"Aww, what's the matter little bitch, you don't like this?" An obscene caress wrung another "Stop" from him. "But you haven't given Crusader those codes yet. I get to do this as much as I want until you do. So go ahead and hold out. Day after day I will look forward to our nights together."The man laughed as he slid himself up and down Haruka's body.

Haruka tried to move to get away from him. "No, no little one. Stay still for me." The man bent over and then suddenly grabbed the back of Haruka's neck with his mouth. His teeth sank in deeply and Haruka felt the pain blend with that of the man plunging into him. He seemed to be using his teeth to hold Haruka still as he tore into his body. The pain was even worse than the first time. Haruka tried to scream but all that came out were hoarse pants. Finally he slumped against the wall unable to move or to even protest as the rapist added other bites to other parts of his body. He shuddered and wondered if the man was a cannibal, all the bites were bleeding. His mind told him that he was wandering in this thoughts, that this was just another part of his torture. But some part of his mind insisted on continuing with pictures of pieces of flesh being torn out of his body.