Chapter 21: Writers' and Editors' Celebration (part 4)
Benedict went to the bathroom humming the Riddle This song. He liked the song as the door opened and locked. He slowly turned to face Toyo Felmer aka Toyo Taka standing at the door. Toyo glared at him and said, "who are you?"
Toyo slowly pulled out a gun, Colt Python Double Action Revolver, from his side and loaded it at Benedict's face then slowly lowered it. He said, "I know you are not a normal person. I saw you watching me the entire party…you saw my actions…didn't you?"
"You did something to Aikawa's boyfriend's drink, I saw that." Benedict's hand slipped over his phone and Tilly's button.
Benedict noticed the gun's symbol…a lotus smothered in blood…this was the Murder Lotus, one of the forefathers of the Hunassha. He tried to keep calm since he felt both fear and excitement. Not many lower-end Hunassha, like himself, met one of the legendary Hunassha leaders. Of course, this meant one of two things…one, Hetzumi Taka was that guy Benedict smirked at or two…Murder Lotus was planning an assassination at the party. He leaned more towards one but two…looked promising as well as the gun was pointed at Benedict's chest.
Toyo said, "What is your name, or face the silent death of a nameless corpse." His gun was known to be very silent…and his every victim was never found after the death.
Benedict said, "Parjure…Benedict Arnold, Taka." He said his in breathless admiration at his own fear but the pure power behind Toyo's glare. Toyo really did strike fear into Benedict…but also just amazement as well.
Toyo lowered his gun as he said, "you know of me…you must be one of Bullmus's pawns. You are very foolish to think I would let you live after seeing what I have done to Conto." He raised his gun and pointed at Benedict's chest.
Benedict said, "Then kill me. I have nothing left to say to you since I refuse to beg for my pathetic existence. You also would not bore me with your monologue since you are the great Murder Lotus…killing quickly and silently is your game…yet I live. What a predicament? How can one victim live when…you promised me death? Kill me if you wish to do so."
Toyo slowly smiled…the fear and cold that entered Benedict's body. Benedict wanted to call Tilly and save himself. But he had to be calm. Benedict knew for a fact Murder Lotus was not a waiter in killing others…oh no, Murder Lotus would always kill his targets in a matter of seconds with various modes of weapons, which guns and poisons were the top two. Murder Lotus put his gun away…
Benedict gulped as he felt his time was being counted…he knew that Kurt, Tilly and even Bullmus were close. They had a feeling too that Hetzumi may come to the party, but the three of them hid because they were not invited. Benedict said, "I will watch for her…and call if there is any problems."
Bullmus warned, "watch the crowd she is in…we need to know her strengths and weaknesses now. We only know Conto is in there…he is enough of a problem. But other gains will be to our advantage, be aware of everything."
Benedict nodded as he crossed the street to the Imperial Hotel…only four hours ago.
Four hours ago, Benedict felt this mission was easy…just surveillance of Conto and others in his crowd…then came Hetzumi. Of course, he guessed it was her in the masculine disguise, but then came Toyo with his wife…that solidified Benedict's guess. He kept to the shadows of the party near the food as he watched the bunny and Conto drinking.
Conto did not look so threatening…Kurt said this asshole made Kurt train even harder to prepare for this ninja. Then Toyo talked to him as they talked with a tense air. Benedict watched as Toyo slip some kind of powder into Conto's drink…he felt the urge to say something, but he just watched Conto drink the alcohol with a smirk…was that poison did to Murder Lotus's victims by making them…happy?
Benedict watched Conto leave as he went out as well. He needed to leave for a moment to both go to the bathroom and give his report…but here he stood with a gun in his face. Death and life stood at his only way of escape; Toyo did not move but smiled.
Toyo's smile was so cold, devilish, and challenging that Benedict almost felt the gun was better than this torture. Toyo crossed his arms and looked over Benedict. He said, "You seem different to me then Bullmus's regulars…"
Benedict smiled back as he said, "So…you checked my future with the Faerie Court before coming, right? When will you realize that this magic crap is not real…" He stalled as the gun was whipped out and a bullet was shot past his left cheek. Benedict felt the blood slowly fall as Toyo glared at Benedict.
Toyo snarled, "Benedict, I have heard of that name…wait, the New York Post editor…what would my son need with you?"
Benedict's eyes enlarged as he stared at Toyo…he only met Bullmus a few times but…Bullmus was related to Murder Lotus! No…but…Benedict remembered the red eyes…every Taka must have that shade…Benedict said, "Calm yourself, Mr. Taka. We can talk sensibly than recklessly kill each other."
Toyo almost said something but snarled, "take out what you are holding in your pocket."
Benedict showed the phone as Toyo shot it. He released the phone and smirked.
Toyo snarled, "ten minutes…my son has been always guaranteed to appear in ten minutes. Tell me how you found out about the Faerie Court."
Benedict smirked and wiped the blood from his cheek. He said, "fools in the Hunassha would not know some of your secrets…I know enough to say so. Or, I should say Striker Butcher's secrets."
Toyo loaded another bullet and said, "Who?"
Benedict snarled, "Does it matter?"
SLAM! The door was slammed from the outside, but the locked door was strong…Toyo moved as he snarled, "Bullmus has some good men…damn. I will see you again." He moved to a toilet and closed the door.
SLAM! The door opened as Kurt and Tilly came into the bathroom. They looked at Benedict and saw he was okay.
Benedict stared at the door where Toyo Taka went into…a swirl of yellow, pink and blue powder came from under the door.
Kurt and Tilly opened the door…no Toyo Taka sat or stood there…not a trace of powder either…Toyo Taka vanished…
Benedict gasped and lowered to the floor as Kurt and Tilly investigated the bathroom. Tilly gasped as Kurt said, "What is it?"
"Benedict!" She raced to her friend and checked on him. Tilly slowly said, "The bullet in the wall…its Murder Lotus's."
Kurt checked on the bullet as Tilly looked at Benedict. She said, "Are you okay?"
Benedict barely breathed as he said, "that…was so…amazing…he was…so scary and cool at the same time…I can hardly breathe…" He felt normal since he knew those bullets were normal…the colored bullets, which Murder Lotus kept for special assassinations, were never seen…the bullet in the wall was a lead bullet that could be seen in any weapon store. Murder Lotus was not a fool to bring his special bullets to a party of this magnitude …but how did he disappear?
Kurt used a knife to pull out the bullet as he used his tool belt to cover the bullet hole. He stuffed the bullet into his pocket as he finished the new plaster on the wall. He said, "We should leave. Bullmus said Hetzumi left the party crying, so our mission is futile. You will explain the details of the party at your apartment, and Bullmus will return to base until further notice. I will take your information to him, understand Benedict?" Kurt turned to Benedict as Benedict nodded.
The three went out of the bathroom as Tilly quickly fixed the door.
Benedict looked inside the bathroom…for a small blood stain on the floor…the bathroom looked like before. He quickly went back in and cleaned his blood up.
Just like he told Asahina, everyone in Kurt's crew were masters at getting information and keeping silent. Messes led to problems, so they kept many materials on their bodies to hide the evidence. The three of them left as no one noticed a change in the men's bathroom.
A/N: a short one for the long ones I currently written….not done with this series yet XD But soon….there will be a new chapters with different couples and new stories to be read.