Darker than Black: Host Club
Chapter Five: It Takes a Liar to Know a Good Liar
A/N: Sorry for the long wait. I just haven't been able to concentrate on writing recently. Thank you to Sakabatou77 for his help in helping me get this chapter and the next one finished. I should have the next chapter out a lot sooner than this one. Enjoy the fight...
xxx
Misaki stared puzzled while Li looked at the MI-6 agent dumbfounded. He wasn't serious about attacking Li; it had to be one of his jokes again.
However, as she stepped forward to demand him to stop playing around, the MI-6 agent charged at Li to jab Li in the face with his right fist. Li stumbled back, grasped his nose with his hands as blood spewed out of it, and dropped onto his butt.
"Li-kun!" Misaki yelled.
She motioned over to Li, kneeling next him. Misaki pulled Li's hands away to have blood pour like a waterfall.
"Think he broke my nose," babbled Li, unable to breathe through his nose.
Misaki forced Li to lift his head up and pinch it in hopes of stopping the bleeding. She then looked up at November Eleven angrily.
"What are you doing, Jack?" she yelled.
"Out of the way, Misaki!" shouted November Eleven.
"No!" She stood before him with her chest sticking outwards, as though to heighten her authority over November Eleven. "I won't let you bully him. He is no match for you what-so-ever!"
"It's all a lie, Misaki. He's playing you."
Li slowly stood while holding his nose up. He trained his eyes towards Misaki and November Eleven, and cried, "I'm sorry… I didn't know you were attracted to Kirihara-san!"
November Eleven pushed Misaki aside and kicked at Li. Li's eyes widened as he frantically jumped to avoid getting his jaw broken, and lost his footing to fall on the ground. He gasped like a little girl when November Eleven rose his foot, and forced Li to squirm backwards while spreading his legs, as the agent stomped downwards.
"That's far from it, and you know it," commented November Eleven, continuing his downward assault. "It takes a liar to know a good liar. That's what we are. Now admit what you are!"
His movements increased in speed, giving him the chance to connect with a few blows. He then kicked his side to where November Eleven heard and felt Li's ribcage breaking.
Li rolled onto his side while holding his left side, and muttered, "Ahhh, ouch."
November Eleven was about to attack him again, but stopped as Misaki stepped before him with her arms spread outwards.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" she screamed. "You want to kill him?"
"Yes I do, Misaki," admitted the agent. "You have to put your feelings for this boy aside and come to the conclusion of who he is. It all makes perfect sense. He is the Black Reaper. Mr. 201-BK."
Misaki's heart beat heavily, remembering the times when she believed Li and BK201 were two of the same, but her emotions didn't want to accept that. She wanted Li to be Li.
"You're going to die, if you don't fight back," he commented to Li.
Misaki looked on in horror.
Li slowly settled to his knees, and then fought to stand. Misaki looked over her shoulders at him petrified at his condition and then cursed for taking her eyes off the agent. He charged past her and performed a right kick to send Li flying into a wall.
"AAHH!" yelled Li, as he struck it, and then fell to his knees.
November Eleven walked casually towards Li with a smile of accomplishment on his face.
Li struggled to stand with his arms around his stomach while using the wall for support. He found it hard to breathe from his broken ribs, and noticed he was sweating as though he had a fever.
November Eleven stopped before him and began cracking his knuckles with glee.
"You know… you'll… get arthritis… if you keep… doing that," Li huffed.
November Eleven ignored his warning, brought back his fist, and swung it forward. Without warning, and to Misaki's surprise, Li dodged left awkwardly to have the blond agent's fist smash into the building. Li heard sounds that resembled bones cracking under a ton of pressure.
The blond hollered in pain, turned around and glared at Li with a devilish smile, causing Li's eyes to widen in panic. Before he knew it, November Eleven's foot was arcing towards Li's jaw. Miraculously, and inconceivably, Li moved to his right, as November Eleven's foot grazed his hair. He dropped to his knees to have a swirling left kick hover over to skim a few strands of hair, and then hopped over a sweeping right kick.
Misaki was awe struck at Li's dance routine with November Eleven. It simulated an awkward version of drunken boxing. Li looked as if he was a frightened child being confronted by a hideous clown in an amusement park, and he was trying to find the front gate to escape its grasp. It was the complete opposite of BK-201, who should be the one striking fear into the clown with just a glance.
To her, Li was like the Karate Kid trying to learn a little defense so that the school bully couldn't harm him.
The MI-6 agent started to throw a left jab, but as he brought it forth, Li moved out of its path and accidentally tripped the blond to have him stumble into a pile of trash.
Misaki, still tongue tied at the whole fiasco, couldn't help but chuckle at November Eleven's misfortune. However, to her, it served him right. This wasn't any way to prove BK-201's identity.
Li wasn't even attacking November Eleven. He was merely dodging the attacks, which in itself was mind-boggling, especially after the beating he just took.
Now, she had the funny feeling that Li was playing with November Eleven.
The MI-6 agent stood from the pile of trash with noodles hanging off his suit jacket, a banana peel on top of his head, and grimy clothes. He brushed off the waste and sinisterly smiled at Li. Li found his lips curling into a smile since November Eleven was oblivious about the banana peel.
"You're really quick," pointed out Jack. "I have no doubt in my mind now, you're a contractor."
Misaki winced from November Eleven's statement. He had to be wrong about that; at least she hoped he was. Besides, what does being quick have anything to do with being a contractor? Unless, he really believed that he was BK-201.
She wondered if she should stop the fight, but November Eleven seemed keen on wanting to prove he was right. Even if Li was BK-201, he was skilled enough in martial arts and didn't need to use his power. There was no way the blonde's trick would work.
The MI-6 agent charged at Li, making Li's eyes widen and turn around to run off, as the banana peel slipped off November Eleven.
Even though Misaki feared for Li's life, she couldn't prevent herself from laughing at Li rashly waving his hands in the air and running around in circles.
"Please... I didn't mean any harm!" shouted Li.
Misaki was dumbfounded to hear that from the man who was going to walk her home. She wished he would have a little bit more of a backbone and cuss at Jack for his behavior.
They continued running in circles. Moments later November Eleven slipped on the banana peel to perform a backwards flip, and landed head first in front of Li.
"Ah, are you all right?" Li asked, looking down at him, as if he was bowing to him in apology.
Misaki placed her hand over her mouth to hold in her laughter, but she couldn't fight it off.
Her phone began to vibrate, which made her reach into her pocket and pull it out to see Saitou was calling.
"What is it, Saitou?" she answered.
"Chief, where are you?" he asked.
"I'm on my way home," she informed, while she watched Li and November Eleven's little race around the tight alley.
She was amazed at how fast Li could run with a broken ribcage. He ran by a black cat, startling it to make it jump on November Eleven's face.
The MI-6 agent fought relentlessly with the black cat, as it scratched and clawed his face, and then he grabbed the cat's coat to fling it towards Li. The cat straightened itself out during flight, its bell around its neck rattling, and landed before Li.
The cat turned to face November Eleven while hissing, and stuck up its right paw, as though it was giving the bird. It started to run off, but Li stepped on its tail, causing the cat to meow in agony. Li snatched up the cat and, as he drew back his arm, the cat's eyes widened twice its size, and then began crawling and scratching to get free. Li threw it; the cat hysterically meowed while simulating a rocket at November Eleven. November Eleven slanted his eyes, stepped aside to catch the cat by its tail, and twirled it a few times before tossing it back. The cat spun swiftly counter-clockwise, its meow sounding like a engine trying to start on a cold and snowy morning, and found itself whizzing by Li harmlessly to plow into a trash pile, scattering things about.
Li, Misaki, and November Eleven gazed at the pile, as though to see if the mammal was all right, and within seconds the mangled fur ball dizzily stumbled out from under a bag. It mournfully meowed, as though it was trying to say, "Woe is me!" flopped on its stomach, and threw up. It continued meowing while it seemed to gaze up at Li, and give him an unpleasant look. It clumsily stood, and staggered off into a nearby alley.
On the sidelines, Misaki found herself bellowing in laughter due to the cat's performance, and she knew she had to take it seriously. She tried to gather her composure so she could stop the monstrosity going on. However, as she did, she remembered she was on the phone with Saitou who was yelling in her ear.
"CHEIF! ARE YOU STILL THERE?"
"Oh, sorry, Saitou, I got distracted," she apologized. "What is it? Make it quick!"
"BK-201 was just spotted in Shinjuku by some pedestrians!"
"What?" Misaki asked, surprised. She looked back at Li who was gazing at November Eleven with a perplexed look. She returned her attention to her phone. "How certain are we on the description the witnesses gave?"
"Pretty good, Chief. Black coat, short black hair, split double-sided blades, and a mask you wouldn't see at a festival booth."
November Eleven had it wrong about Li being BK201.
"Good work, Saitou," congratulated Misaki, picturing him sitting up straight from her praise. "I leave you with the duty to check things out since I'm kind of busy here."
"What? Not again, Chief! Don't leave me to this task alone!"
"Then bring Kouno with you."
Misaki pulled her phone away from her ear before Saitou could say, "But…" and shifted her attention back towards November Eleven and Li.
"Stop this!" she yelled.
Li's head turned to face Misaki, allowing the blond man to charge up to Li and grab his shirt to pin him up against a wall. Li looked at him petrified while throwing up his arms in defense.
"Now, admit you're a contractor!" demanded November Eleven.
"A… a… contractor?" questioned Li. "What… what do mean?"
November Eleven pulled up on Li's shirt, choked him slightly, and stated, "You know what I mean."
"Jack!" shouted Misaki.
November Eleven ignored her and waited for Li to spill out something he knew nothing about.
"All right, all right. You got me," babbled Li, surprising Misaki.
He really was a contractor. How could she not know? What was his star and his power? Was his stomach growling his price? Perhaps it was eating a lot of food, or worse, standing in a bathroom stall with a girl.
Misaki stood waiting for his answer, her heart pounding heavily with every passing second.
"I… I used to be a contractor," confessed Li.
"Used to be?" questioned November Eleven, as Misaki's right eyelid rose.
"When I was at my home in China. My… my uncle made me a contractor."
"Your uncle… made you a contractor?"
"Yes, when I was still in High School."
Misaki's heart sank. How could someone do such a thing to his nephew? It was horrible and unforgivable, and if she ever met his uncle, she would make him pay for turning such a sweet man like Li into a contractor.
Suddenly, a thought came to her that didn't make sense. How could someone make someone a contractor since it wasn't understood how he or she becomes one?
"I… I did some work under the table for him so that he wouldn't have to pay the Chinese government a huge amount of money."
November Eleven looked on dumbfounded, as Misaki found herself laughing again. However, November Eleven rid his baffled look, and pushed up on Li's neck.
"Stop playing dumb!" he yelled.
"All right, I did a job for my neighbor," Li choked out. "Is that what you wanted to know?"
November Eleven pulled out something from his pocket, placed it against Li's throat. "I know you're BK-201."
"Jack, that's enough!" screamed Misaki, as she ran to Li's rescue. She placed her hand on November Eleven's arm, and stared in his eyes. "He's not him!"
November Eleven pushed her aside, and pressed harder on Li's throat, making Li seem as though he was scared for his life.
Concerned that Jack was going to kill Li, Misaki reached down, pulled up her dress and pulled out her gun. She clicked off the safety and fired a round into the ground.
November Eleven and Li jumped, having the MI-6 agent drop his weapon, and turn around, as he and Li stared at her dumbfounded.
"Enough you two!" she shouted, as she approached November Eleven and threw her phone at him. He released Li and snatched the phone like a baseball. "Talk to Saitou."
The blond glanced at her with a blank look, but then put the phone to his ear.
"Hello," he greeted. A few seconds passed. "Say that again?"
Misaki walked over to Li and asked, "Are you all right?"
"Hai," he assured, rubbing his throat and then looked down at the weapon November Eleven had been holding. "An icicle? It's not that cold outside!"
"What? BK-201 is in Shinjuku?" yelled November, as Li looked at him baffled.
He closed the phone, threw it back to Misaki, and ran towards the train station.
"What was that all about?" Li asked.
"He's just jealous," replied Misaki. "He could have at least apologized to you before running off."
"Is he an ex-boyfriend?"
"Hardly," Misaki frowned while shaking her head. "There's no way I would go out with him since he reeks of tobacco."
Li looked at her stupefied. Suddenly, his stomach growled louder than an airplane's engine, reminding them they were on their way to get something to eat. Misaki giggled while Li grabbed at his stomach and smiled sheepishly.
"I guess the fight made you even hungrier," she laughed. She relinquished her laughter, as her stomach turned over. "And me as well. The restaurant is a little ways down."
Misaki then looked at Li's condition, as she could see a hint of pain in his eyes while he held his side. There was also blood that was dripping from his nose onto his white shirt.
"But maybe we should take you to the hospital instead," she indicated.
She reached into her purse and handed him a handkerchief.
"No, I'm alright," replied Li, as he wiped the blood away from his nose.
"All right? Didn't Nove… Jack break your ribs?"
"No, I'm fine," Li smiled, as his stomach growled again. "I am hungry though. Shall we go?"
Li held out his arm for her.
She looked at him concerned, but didn't think anything more of it, as she gazed upon his smile. She locked her arm with his, both smiling, and departed the tight dark alley. They walked a block before turning a corner and headed down a busy retail street, which was lit up with neon signs and car lights.
They walked past a couple of shoe stores, giving Misaki the urge to stop in one to pick up a comfortable pair of shoes for her. However, since she didn't like it when Kanami dragged her out shopping, she didn't want to put that type of burden on Li. Moreover, it was so crowded she felt that she would be in there for hours to where her stomach would mimic Li's. She figured her feet would be all right as long as they walked slowly. However, she would have to soak them all night when she got home.
To their luck, the restaurants where closer than the previous one, and as Li headed for a fancy restaurant, he noticed Misaki was making her way into McDoness.
Li scratched the back of his head while smiling sheepishly, and chuckled.
He entered to see her ordering two double cheeseburgers with large fries, soda, a chicken sandwich, and a shrimp wrap.
To Li, that was an appetizer. He ordered ten teriyaki burgers, four shrimp filets, eight chicken filets, five shrimp wraps, and two green teas. However, since the cashier had been staring dumbstruck at the dry blood on his face and clothes, Li had to repeat his order.
After taking it, the young female cashier asked, "Eh, do you two need any more drinks for the other guests?"
"No, all that is ours," smiled Li.
"EH, NO WAY!" the cashier jumped. "Oh I mean, is that all?"
Misaki and Li nodded.
After waiting a few minutes for their food, they exited the restaurant to sit at a table outside, and began eating their food. Misaki glanced up at Li to see him downing his food and noticed a small wound on his neck left by November Eleven. She was happy that Saitou had called about spotting BK-201. If he hadn't, November Eleven would have seriously injured Li due to the fact that he was a contractor. She wondered if she should have taken him to the hospital instead. However, he would have been stuck eating hospital food. It could have been worse; he could have been killed.
However, that call didn't let Li off the hook since she remembered BK-201's reaction to her calling him Li. According to Saitou, he had been spotted in Shinjuku, and the information hadn't come from Kanami, which told her that BK-201 hadn't used his power. Li could have had someone else parade around as BK-201 to get her suspicions off him.
Not that it really mattered to her anymore. She would love to find out for sure, but even if he was BK201, she didn't really care. The one thing she loved about him was his hungry appetite, and that wasn't something that could be faked; at least his stomach growling like a lion, that is.
She was curious to know what lie he would fabricate for being able to dodge November Eleven's attacks the way he had.
"So where did you learn to fight?" Misaki inquired, after she swallowed part of her cheeseburger.
"I wouldn't call that fighting," he commented, with his mouth full.
"You were able to dodge Jack's attacks," she replied, amazingly understanding the words coming out of his mouth. "There aren't too many people who can do that."
"I'm Chinese," he replied, his mouth still stuffed with food. Misaki looked at him confused. Li finished swallowing his wrap and took a sip of his green tea, as Misaki took a bite of one of her wraps waiting for an answer. "Martial Arts is a required class. I was usually the one to get beat up though and never took any trophies at tournaments."
"You could win an eating contest, though," Misaki remarked, but in the back of her mind, she couldn't help but think he was lying.
However, she couldn't prevent herself from laughing at her comment and ended up spitting her food all over what was left of her uneaten food.
Li looked at her stupefied while she continued to laugh, but then he found himself joining in.
Even if he was BK-201, he had saved her life more than once, which didn't make him a bad guy. He was just a contractor that worked for another organization and followed orders to get paid.
It would be easier if I could ask, "Li-kun, are you BK-201?"
Nevertheless, that was easier said than done. Not that he would give her a straight answer anyway.
Suddenly, she noticed his confused face, making her wonder why he was staring at her like that, until she realized she had blurted out the question.
To be continued…
xxx
A/N: Again, sorry for the late update. If you ever would like to know the status of my stories, I randomly post about it on my LJ. There's a link on my profile page and a fanfiction tag.
Hope you enjoyed! :)