Chapter Ten
Kogami walked away from the army camp, not being able to stand the cheerful chatter of Sasayama's men, too worried about Akane to join in. She'd sworn to him she would be alright, and he trusted her; what he didn't trust was Makishima. The air around him was cool and still, so he decided to sit down under a tree. "Akane," he sighed. "You're okay, aren't you?" He glanced down at his sword, imagining stabbing it into the pathetic excuse Makishima called a heart. Or maybe he could make him suffer first, which Shinya was sure he would enjoy more. Then again, saying that, he would hate if he showed that vicious side of himself to Akane- what would she think of him then?
Behind him was a quiet whistling sound, a sound he had been forced to get well acquainted too over the years. He leapt away from where he was stood just as the sword struck the space he'd once occupied. Anger boiling, he drew his own sword, and faced his attacker. He was clad in black clothes with the Makishima crest on them, so it was no mystery who had sent him. "Shit, you weren't meant to dodge that," he growled.
"But I did," Shinya retorted. "And you know full well I can crush you without even trying too hard." With lightning speed, he swung his sword at the assailant's neck, but he brought his own sword up just in time to parry the blow. Shinya was prepared for it and immediately brought the blade back around, which his opponent barely dodged. Shinya wasn't quite done, knowing that he could find out about what happened Makishima had done to Akane in the short time they'd been apart, and he could only hope it was nothing to heinous. Makishima didn't strike him as the type to do anything particularly disgusting, but Shinya knew he'd want to inflict fear and worry into Akane by whatever means possible. Whilst images of Akane flew through his mind, his enemy had already launched another attack, which sent Shinya on the defensive. However, in his attempt to avoid one sword, he failed to notice a second attacker behind him, the sword slicing his shoulder. His legs were fast enough that he could run away and back to Sasayama's camp, but he refrained from doing so, since he would reveal Sasayama's army around the back, and it was also a dishonourable thing to. He hissed at the cut, but stood firm- he'd had much worse. The first launched yet another frenzied attack whilst the second moved behind him. In an act of sheer desperation, Shinya jerked his elbow into the second's stomach and swung his sword at the first, cutting through his abdomen; he staggered back and fell to his knees, clutching his wound. To make sure he didn't get up again, Shinya sent a foot to smash right into his face, hearing a distinct snap, telling him that he had likely broken his nose. He then turned his attention to the second, and feeling slightly disappointed that this was all Makishima had sent to take him down. The poor bastard must really have been underestimating him.
Without warning, he felt a sharp pain flare on his side, and when he looked down, he saw the hilt of a throwing dagger poking out from the flesh. Fortunately, it hadn't hit any vitals, but it still hurt like a bitch. He knew that by pulling it out he was going to bleed more, so he left it in for the time being- once he made it back to Sasayama's camp in the next ten minutes or so, he'd get it treated. "Damn, you're a tough bastard," the second commented before sprinting towards Shinya, who twisted to avoid being stabbed a second time, and realised the man's target hadn't been his body, but rather the knife, and watched as it was viciously yanked out, sending a little lump of flesh and a steady stream of blood. Behind him, he registered that two more men had stepped out from the brush, and was already internally groaning. Still, he rose his sword- he was taking at least two of them down with him before he admitted defeat. With all the energy left in his body, he launched at the one standing triumphantly above him, slamming his sword through his chest, and looked on serenely as the light flickered from his eyes. What did it matter? Akane wasn't there to see him in this state, and the situation had turned desperate.
One of the newcomers grabbed onto his back, tearing at the slice on his shoulder, making him wince, and Shinya felt a bottle being shoved in his mouth, and liquid being poured down his throat that tasted so revolting he nearly vomited. When it had registered that he'd actually swallowed it, it was too late for him to do anything as his head grew fuzzy and shadows overtook his vision. The last thing he remembered was Akane's smiling face beaming down at him, but he knew that she wasn't actually there. He felt incredibly lonely as his eyelids closed.
Akane was hit by a hard slap across her face that made the one she'd been given before seem tame. "I'm talking to you, Akane," Shogo stated calmly, almost peacefully, "and it's rude to ignore me." Akane didn't make a sound, knowing that if she spoke and said the wrong thing, she'd be punished for it. "Ah, sorry, that might bruise." Shogo placed his icy hand over the sore patch on her face where he'd just smacked her, the cold soothing it a little bit. Akane leant into his palm to numb the pain, but he took it to mean she was giving up and relenting to him- as if she'd ever do that, she thought angrily to herself. "And to think I came in here to tell you some really exciting news, and you just blank me."
"What is it?" her voice came out monotonous and uninterested, which was her general mood whenever Shogo came into the room.
"There's a guest staying with us right now," he grinned devilishly at her.
"A guest?" she echoed, her voice now laced with fear as anxiety bubbled in her chest.
"Well, he's nobody special if that's what you're worried about," he began to stroke her hair and the anxiety was replaced with disgust. When he spoke, she heard the sadism in his voice clearly. "He's just a rather nasty little dog that was dragged in off the street." He leant back in his chair, visibly smug when Akane flinched. "I think you know just who our guest is, don't you?"
She glared at him in utter hatred, which pleased him for whatever reason. Gritting her teeth, she snarled at him, "If you dare touch him, I'll chop your fucking head off." She knew her threat would get her punished, but she didn't care- they both knew that she would follow through on her word. The hand on her head paused and he stared at her, his face devoid and expressionless. His fingers curled in her locks, and she scarcely had time to react before she was flung inelegantly off her chair and onto the floor. He was straddling her again, this time his hands pushing on her throat and obstructing her throat. Akane's eyes bulged and she clawed at his hands, tearing at the pale skin. Just as black spots were appearing in her vision and her eyes were rolling into her skull, his grip lessened and she sucked in as much air as she could, spluttering and coughing all the while. He stared impassively at her and gradually removed his hands.
"I told you before, didn't I?" he muttered, almost soothingly. "I don't like that pretty mouth of yours saying such ugly things."
"The truth often is," she quipped, and he smiled.
"It is, you're right," he agreed. "However, that wasn't the truth now, was it? Just a very, very bad lie." His hand cupped the cheek that he had struck earlier. "And I would appreciate honesty in this relationship, Akane." He looked away. "I'm very angry at you, you know."
"What for? Running away from you after you killed my parents?" she spat. "I can't believe why anybody would want to escape the man responsible for their family's deaths."
"What for?" his voice was below a whisper now, since he was so close to her, his breath ghosting over her skin. He lifted her left hand up and kissed one finger. "One. Running away from me, even though you belong to me." He moved onto her second, sucking on it slightly, and then her third. "Two. Kissing that hunting dog, knowing full well you were being unfaithful to me. Three. Begging for that dirty-" he bit painfully down on her finger, puncturing the skin, "-disgusting hound to fuck you." He was well and truly pissed off with her. She hadn't heard him swear before. "What was it you were saying? Asking him to take you, begging him please and more." He laughed at her expression, biting down harder so the blood trickled down her finger, where he licked it off. Akane wanted to slap him, but she could tell she was already in trouble as it was. He gradually released her hand, spots of blood smudged around his lips. "Where did he put that tongue of his, I wonder, Akane?" He moved his lips down to her neck, where he bit down, and hard, drawing blood, before licking her up her neck. Akane tried to push him off, but no matter how much strength, he just wouldn't move.
He sat up away from her, admiring the blood smeared over her neck. "I'll summon Mika to clean you up. I need you to be beautiful for me when I get back," he stood up and grinned. "I'm going to go and visit our dearest guest, Akane. Wait for me, won't you?" He left, and ordered the servant outside to go and find Mika Shimotsuki.
Akane knew that this was her chance to leave, but knew she wouldn't get very far in her kimono, which was a reflection of her status within the castle. She was the sole heir of Emperor Tsunemori, which meant one day, she would be an Empress. That meant that this was her castle, and she was in charge now; therefore, she couldn't allow Makishima to hold her prisoner here, or tell her how to act, or what to say. Nor could she allow him to touch her without her consent. Nobody - ever – could do that to her. She sat up, resolve renewed, and stalked over to the door. She peered out, and seeing nobody, made her way down to the dungeons, where Shogo had thrown Toko and Sho earlier that day. She drew her knife, and she knew that nothing could prevent her from using it. She needed to see Shinya again.
Shinya Kogami had never felt worse before- all the hangovers he'd had in his life didn't come close to the intensity of this headache, nor the nausea swirling around in his gut. He groaned, wanting to lie down, but when he realised he was being suspended by what felt like shackles. Oh, I've gone and fucked it up, he thought to himself.
"It's nice to finally see you again, Shinya Kogami," a voice resounded from out of his field of vision, but it didn't take a genius to figure out who it belonged to.
"I wish I could say the same thing," Kogami managed to croak out.
"Well, I see your sense of humour hasn't gone," Makishima stepped in front of him, wielding a knife. Kogami wasn't too bothered about the knife, and his eyes saw that his wounds from the fight earlier had been patched up expertly. Makishima must want him alive, then, and knowing him, Shinya figured he was about to be tortured, which was always fun. He rolled his eyes and braced himself for the horrendous pain he was about to put in, unable to stop it.
"Stop talking, I have a headache," he sneered at the silver-haired man. However, his bravado was just hiding the fact that he really, really wasn't looking forward to the inevitable. Now that he had grown used to the lighting in the room, he could see all sorts of gruesome devices, some he could tell that had been frequently used. Probably by Makishima, and hopefully not on Akane.
"It's alright, I shan't be talking for very long," Makishima smiled. "As a respectable ruler, I have to punish those who commit sins, don't you agree?" He stood taller than the kneeling Shinya, glaring down at him. "Do you know what your sins are?" Shinya remained silent, really wishing he would get it over and done with, but again, Makishima didn't strike him as the type- he was one who savoured and loved any sort of pain with a passion. "One- snatching my Akane from me and holding her hostage," he held out a finger, and then raised a second, "Two- stealing my Akane's first kiss away from her. Such a thing should be reserved for one's significant other." He raised a third finger, and Kogami already knew what the third object would be. "Three- corrupting my Akane." He approached the samurai and punched him in the gut, winding him, but Shogo ignored Shinya's struggled pants for air. "Or rather, fucking my Akane, knowing that she belongs to me."
"'Your' Akane?" Kogami smiled ironically at the term. "She belongs to you? Don't be stupid."
"So what then, she belongs to you?" Makishima vanished out of Kogami's eyesight.
"She belongs with me, but not to me," Shinya smiled. He was going to regret winding him up in several minutes time, but it would be worth it. "You think she's just a possession? That'll come and bite you in the ass eventually." It ended up being him who felt the burn as there was a horrible snapping sound, and he felt something impossibly fast zoom down his back and split in the skin. "A whip?" Shinya strained to keep the pain out of his voice. "That's original."
"Oh, it's only the beginning, dog," Makishima promised him. "I'll make sure you regret ever daring to touch my Akane."