Author's Notes: Here's another chapter up and this is one of the few reasons why I wanted to set the entire story to mature rating initially. Be forewarned. Hope you enjoy the read and review.
Chapter 14: Toolbox
Ringgg!
"Judgment Branch 177, Konori Mii speaking."
….
"Where did you get this?"
…
"Alright, thank you for the information. Good bye."
Clack
"Kuroko! Uiharu! We have something!"
AUTHENTICATION CONFIRMED.
ACCESSING…
LOADING DATA
YOU HAVE MAIL.
Click
It is expensive but the cheese is ready.
REPLY FORWARD DELETE MOVE
Click
ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO DELETE THIS MAIL?
Click
FILE DELETED
"So Yori, how did you become a child error?" Harumi Ren enquired about Yori's childhood. The cakes necessary for the little party are almost ready. The icing on top the brown cakes are all that's left to be done. Harumi was doing one and Yori the other.
Yori opened up his past. "That was a long time ago when I was about your age. My parents died to protect me from someone."
Harumi replied in turn with guilt. "I'm sorry."
Yori waved it off. "Don't worry about it. It's long past now. What is your case?"
"My parents passed away in a car crash when I was two years old." Harumi explained hers.
Yori finished off his cake and put the ice aside. "They must be a beautiful looking husband and wife."
"Why do you think that way?" Harumi was done as well.
Yori turned and pulled at Harumi's cheeks. "Otherwise, how am I seeing this lovey dovey cutesy little girl here?"
"Oi! Stop it!"
MEMORY PLAYBACK: APPROXIMATE DATE TWO YEARS AGO
Yori opened his eyes as morning sunlight entered through the window. He wasn't familiar with this room. It has hospital white walls with a brown door. He is on a bed with a small extendable table by the side. A cabinet was to his left. He tried to get up but cringed at the sudden pain at his abdomen. He rested his back against the metal railing of the bed. Where am I? Someone had definitely changed him for he isn't in his normal clothes. He is in some blue hospital clothes.
As the morning got brighter, he had a sense of where he is now. A hospital huh… His memories of the past night began to return. Down from the assassination to the moment he was flying to hit the ground several storeys high. He felt the bandages on his arms and chest. They were red with his blood but not to the point it's soaked. He pulled the blanket off him. It's time to leave.
He heard footsteps, a bad sign. He hid himself beside the door. The door opened and a doctor entered. Yori could say his features resemble a frog but he kept it to himself. He lunged and wrapped an arm around the doctor's neck "I presume you're the one who treated me?"
The doctor appeared rather calm. "Yes, I did Mr Yuu Tatsuya. You had a number of lethally dangerous injuries. However, it has been cleared." The doctor wasn't doing anything, not even panicking. "You will have a full recovery within a few weeks."
"I see. Where's my stuff then?" Yori want to retrieve his things and leave. Wherever he is, it isn't safe. He has too much dangerous materials.
The doctor answered. "It's safe and sound in the cabinet right there. We won't do anything about it if that is what you are wondering."
Yori was not assured. "I want out, now."
"Then feel free to do so. You just have to monitor your injuries and be careful." The doctor gave his permission.
Yori smirked. "You're quite a doctor, letting me leave that easily."
"I've faced enough people who just want to get out for various reasons. I do know one especially who needs to keep his bills down from the frequent visits. Thus, I will let you leave on condition that you take proper care of yourself."
"That won't be a problem." Yori loosened up his grip on the doctor. "What's your name? I thought doctors have some courtesy."
"Since you have a fake name, you can just call me …Heaven Canceller." The doctor got a good breath of air as Yori let go and disappeared. The cabinet door was ajar, all done in a second. The doctor nodded in intrigued observation.
Two weeks later, Yori was back to work while listening to the bass beat of the same music. He was cleaning up the table after restoring his ammunition stores for his relatively new twin pistols. They had been oiled and polish to gleam on the red cloth at the clean side of the table. The door knocked five times. Yori knew who it was from the signal. He did take a peek through the peephole just in case. In the clear, he opened the door.
Masaru Akihiko entered the small apartment. "Good to see you're alive from your first mishap."
Yori frowned. "At least the job was done."
"If you're up for it, here's another job. " Masaru plopped a file onto the coffee table. "The guy's a known doctor but security's a lot more lax. This is something to get you back in shape." Yori opened the file and take a look at the picture.
Yori raised an eyebrow. "Heaven Canceller…why target a doctor?"
Masaru gave a word of his experience. "It's probably some grudge or competition. Remember, we don't have business to delve into that. Money's a hundred grand USD. Are you up for it?"
Yori mulled it over. "Hmm…I'm not interested." He had enough money to get by. Now the jobs he needs are the ones that get favours. These favours are what he can use to find Takeo.
Masaru knows what he's thinking. "The employer is highly influential in Academy City. He can help with your case."
Yori looked at the file again. Should he reconsider? The doctor did save him from death. Takeo however must be found at all cost. For the sake of his purpose, what must be done must be done. "I'll do it."
Saten gave a sigh. "It's sad to have the Monday Blues again." It is now noon after school. They day before at the orphanage was fun. They had enjoyed the cake, played some songs and games. Add some more teasing Yori's cooking skills while at it too.
Misaka sighed as well. "Classes are back again argh! I really could use a break from all we had to do last week!" It had been a busy week from the conflict against Australia, Kiharas and the kids. School is over and they are at a park having some ice cream to suit their sweet taste. "Kuroko and Uiharu are at Judgment as usual about work." That leaves the two of them for their girl talk.
"Hai hai." Saten responded. "Maybe I'll take the time to learn more about Yori. He is still single after all." Kuroko was very persistent in her friendship against Yori. She had said.
"He's an ex criminal and I'm a vigilante. We should already be enemies as it is. Feel free to be interested in him."
Misaka felt sweat sprouting. "You're still interested in him huh."
Saten expressed her opinion. "I think it's more to curiosity. Since you have experience, what do you think?"
Misaka's face went red. "My time with that idiot is nothing!" Oh really? I don't think so…
Saten sneered and teased. "You seem to still like him aren't you?"
Misaka said sharply. "I don't like him anymore! Why should I after he betrayed me?"
"The way you act is saying otherwise." Saten giggled. Her sharp eyes caught an opportunity. "Speaking about him…he's here." They looked to their right and there he is. Kamijou Touma is walking by on his business. Saten feigned realization. "I remember I have something to pass to him!" She started to jog to Kamijou Touma and incidentally trip in front of him with the ice cream in her hand.
Thud!
Splat
"Fukou da." Touma said as he doesn't admire the green ice cream stains on his school uniform. He had left his dorm just to purchase some groceries to cook for the night.
Saten laughed with a hand behind her head. "Ah Touma, I'm so sorry! Let me clean that up for you." She began wiping his shirt with some tissue paper. At the distance, Misaka choked at the sight of it.
Misaka felt an inner fire burning in her. She didn't know why. It just did. Her fist tightened as she started to move. She stood up as Saten finished cleaning up the mess. Saten quickly got up and said. "I have to go now so I'll see you later!" She made her escape as Touma just looks on with a puzzled face.
Touma turned back to see Misaka. "Oh hi."
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" Touma managed to discern the shape of death milliseconds before it struck him in the face.
DANG!
A dust cloud and bits of concrete spread around from the magnitude of Misaka's power punch. Passer-by's stared at the young girl breathing hard at here exertion. Head buried partially in the ground, Touma squeaked in a near death state. "Fukou da."
"So what is it for you to call me?" Yori said as he entered the Judgment Branch 177's office. It is already sunset. Inside, Kuroko, Uiharu and Konori are frantic at their work.
Konori explained as she worked to gather more information. "We just got a tip as where to Kihara Jiro will be. He is hiding in a safe house at the 3rd residential area at the 1st District."
Kuroko complained. "I would have him by now if you'd let me go earlier!"
Konori said sharply. "Alerting Anti-Skill might tip him off and I will not allow you to go alone. We have to confirm the authenticity of the information too. Now at least you have some help."
"Is the information authentic?" Kuroko asked for confirmation.
Uiharu was still working furiously on the computer. "I can't find any authenticity of the information so far."
Kuroko made up her mind. "We can't waste the chance. Let's go."
Understanding the situation, Yori opened the office door. "Let's not waste any further time then."
"Ouch, ouch!" Touma winced in pain.
"Stop moving you idiot!" Misaka struggled to apply the medicine soaked cotton dab onto Touma's head. They were now on the same bench that Saten and Misaka had been conversing on. Side to side, Misaka had been trying to treat the injury induced by her but her patient isn't so cooperative.
Touma retorted. "It was your fault for hitting me this hard!"
Misaka shot back. "It's your fault to go flirting around with Saten!"
Touma pleaded his innocence. "I didn't even do anything!" Misaka pressed the dab harder. "Ow! Ow! Cut it out already!"
Misaka grouched. "You complain a lot for something so insignificant."
"The cracked floor says otherwise." The retort came. "Haih….it's such an unfortunate day." He had to rush through his huge workload of homework and even that now still remains incomplete. The only reason he is out now is to get some food to cook for dinner for him and Index. That is only due to Index's painful insistence.
"That's because of your attitude." She finished applying the medicine. "That will probably take a few hours to recover."
"More like a few days." Touma loosened the muscles of his limbs in a weak attempt to ease the pain. "It's going to be dinner time. I suppose we'll get something to eat."
Misaka waved him off. "Enjoy your dinner, I have something to do."
"If that is so, Misaka 10032 will provide the necessary company as Misaka prepares the next step." The two turned around in minor surprise. Misaka Imouto 10032 towered slightly behind them.
The original grabbed Touma's arm and began to drag him along the road. "Ah, I remember that appointment was cancelled. Let's go!"
Several steps later with Kamijou resisting against being dragged like a toy, Kamijou's cell phone rang. Misaka paused her dragging to let him answer it.
Touma answered but he could not say a word for Yori spoke in an extremely worried manner.
"Shit!"
Twenty minutes ago…
Yori chambered a round to each of his pistols. "This is where he's hiding eh." The target location is a few houses away. The residential here are the two story remote houses, being a residential area for the staff in the centre of city administration.
"If this tip is correct, then it should be." Kuroko rolled up her cell phone. The night is getting darker. Oddly, the lights for this street aren't working, leaving it pitch black. "Make sure nobody leaves the house."
Yori gently leapt and borrowed a spot on a roof. "I got my thermals on. Go get him." He'll be watching from just next door.
Kuroko took the direct approach, the front door. She knocked but there is no answer. Locks are useless against me. She has jurisdiction this time and with that no qualms of forcing an entry. She touched the knob and teleported it to the sided. The entire knob lay on the floor, allowing easy access. Inside is dark black. There are no lights at all. The only illumination she had was from the other houses outside. Even so with their assistance, it was difficult to see inside. A typical furnishing for a normal home was in her view. Kuroko walked carefully through the hallway to clear the rooms one by one in the dark. Turning the lights on might alert whoever may be in this building.
Kitchen: clear
Storeroom: clear
Dining room: clear
First floor cleared
She went up to the second floor. She could see the faint glow of light under a door. She prepared her muscles before kicking open the door. Inside, it is empty save for a person with a white lab coat looking at a bright computer screen. Kuroko called out. "Kihara Jiro! You are under arrest for development of harmful weapons against Academy City!" There is no response.
She warned as she took a few steps forward. "You will raise your hands to where I can see them or you will be struck with one of my nails." Again there is no response. She stepped forward and teleported a nail into the right shoulder. It is a relatively minor wound but it gets the job done. It made its mark but it stirred something from Kuroko. Why does it sound like metal?
Before she could even twitch after, she was already hanging in the air from the neck by a large metallic hand. She reached to try to ease the pressure at her throat. She realized how serious the situation has become when she saw raw changing LEDs on its chest. This is bad!
Yori swept his thermal sights around, his real eye closed to avoid visual conflicts. Kuroko is slow and steady… His vision suddenly lit up full white. That meant heat, a lot of heat. He opened his real eye, cancelling out the thermal effect. A huge explosion has gone out, blasting smoke off the broken windows. She's inside! He yelled as he leapt straight into the burning building.
"KUROKO!"
Yori opened his eyes and shuddered. His bone and flesh hand balled into a fist. He is now in the hospital, sitting at one of the empty benches. He heard footsteps rushing his way. He already knew who it will be. Damn it. He stood up as Misaka asked urgently.
"Where is she?"
Yori pointed to the red neon light a little to their left. "Surgery's still ongoing."
"What in the world happened?" Toum wanted the back story. Yori complied, explaining from the tip about Kihara Jiro down to what was actually a trap.
Misaka said as she tightened her fist. "That pervert idiot…why did she have to do it alone?"
She was starting to lose herself in rage when Touma assured her.
"Have faith. Things will be okay." The red neon light turned off, signifying end of surgery. The frog faced doctor exited the operating room still in his surgical clothes.
The doctor immediately reported. "She's in a critical condition. She had multiple second to third degree burns with some deep lacerations from the metallic fragments in her flesh. She is stable for now but her recovery is up to herself."
Misaka asked. "Can we see her?"
The doctor nodded. "She's in the ICU now though you can only watch from the outside." The former couple followed the doctor to see their friend but not Yori. He went the other way, all the way out of the hospital.
He took a deep breath. Nobody is around right now. Everyone is having dinner or about to. Even the insects are gone. Yori tightened his fists as his emotions rose from the deep depths.
"FUCK!" He smashed the ground with his mechanical fist. He chanted with every blow that is akin to a piledriver.
"FUCK!"
"FUCK!"
"FUCK!"
"FUCK!"
"FUCKKKK!"
Yori screamed his raw rage out of his system. A small crater on the floor is testimony to his anger. He took several deep breaths as he decided his next mission. He looked up to the streets, his eyes blood red. "Now where the fuck did I put that blue toolbox?"
Ringgg
"Yes Yori?"
"Uiharu, Kuroko's been hurt bad. She's been critically hurt."
A gasp on the phone
"Uiharu, she'll live for now but I want you to do one thing."
"…What is it?"
"Backtrack and find me the source of that tip."
Those were the words Yori said an hour ago. Uiharu swiftly managed through some miracle work he doesn't give a damn about to find the source. Nao Takumi, a low ranked Skill out. They're certainly daring enough to mess with me. Yori now stood outside a small apartment at the strange district, with his blue toolbox.
He retrieved only one of his pistols, the Devil's Trigger. He will need just that. He read the address that Uiharu gave him on his cell. Six floors, he's right at the top….good. Yori kicked the front door open. Inside, a couple of men and teenagers were lazing around with alcohol and cigarettes by the stairway. The elevator to the side showed out of order. They all stared at him as he raised his gun and fired.
Bam!
Bam!
Bam!
Bam!
Bam!
Five shots, five deaths. Yori shot a round straight up. "Nao Takumi! I'm coming for you!" With one hand, he reloaded his gun and went up the stairs. The next three floors are void of anyone. The doors are shut and presumably locked in fear. The fifth floor had some hastily prepared defences. Bullets shot out from above, stopping Yori's progress. Someone shouted.
"Whoever you are, we'll kill you!"
Yori smiled and licked his lips. "This is going to be so…enjoyable." He engaged his time flow and sped up the flight of stairs. Each floor has a total of six doors. One of the men defending is hiding behind one that's ajar enough for the pistol barrel to stick out. Another four were hiding behind a makeshift barricade of furniture. The furniture is placed such that Yori would have his back to it when he climbs up the stairs. It would be easy pickings if it wasn't for Yori.
He slipped into a crouch, firing at the bullets that come towards him. His bullets made their mark, deflecting them to the side instead of the contrary full stop. He swung the toolbox at the overturned table with more force than a regular young boy can exert. It pushed the table hard along with the men to slam into the wall behind them. Yori stepped forward, his gun arm firing blankly through the door. With time induced flow, his bullet's penetration is more powerful as well. The door opened fully as the gunman inside collapsed. Yori gave the smirk of the devil as he executed the four men pinned by the desk in cold blood.
Nao is in a panic. He threw a bunch of clothes into a small suitcase. I got to get out of here! There is an emergency escape stairs outside his window. If he hurried, he might be able to use the time bought for him. Cash! Cash! He grabbed a bunch of paper money and stuffed it into his pockets.
He opened the window as the gunfire inside turned quiet. Why is it so quiet? Maybe his friends were successful at fending off the mysterious attacker. He lowered the suitcase. The silence is very uneasing. The door opened…and everything went black.
Am I dead?
"No, you're not dead…yet" The black cloth was removed from covering Nao's eyes. His assailant stood tall in front of him. He is tied to a chair, hands and legs bound in his apartment room. The assailant opened a blue toolbox that he brought for it certainly wasn't his. From the toolbox, he took out a bottle of hydrogen peroxide, a bottle of hydrochloric acid, forceps, scalpel, a taser, a box of matches, a saw, a bottle of gunpowder, a set of hammer and nails, more nylon rope, a wrench and last but not least his wakizashi. "You are in very deep shit now."
Nao gave a question. "Who the hell are you?" Yori struck the man's face with a fist.
"Speak only when I want you too." Yori chose the wakizashi for his opening. "Do you know why we're here today?"
"No."
Yori yelled. "We're here tonight because of your goddamn tip!" He struck the face with another fist. "You've caused a friend of mine to be hurt really really bad…"
"I didn't do anything."
Yori stabbed Nao's left thigh with the wakizashi. Nao screamed in pain as Yori shot back. "Did I ask for a goddamn answer?" Yori twisted the blade a full ninety degrees, eliciting even more screams.
"What do you want from me? I'll tell you anything!" Nao pleaded for freedom.
"Did I say I wanted information? Your fucking big mouth caused MY FRIEND TO BE HURT! I DON'T FUCKING LIKE THAT YOU FUCKING PIECE OF FUCK!" Yori pulled the blade sharply, cutting even more damage. Blood is pooling up quickly in the midst of the man's wailing.
Yori put the bloodied wakizashi aside. He went to the list of prepared items. "What I want…is to make you feel every bit of that pain before you die."
Nao realized how deep under he is going to be as Yori went through the list. "Let's see how we should start things off." He picked up each item in sequence. "I wonder how I should start off with the pain meter. Should we start it off hot or chokingly pleasurable?" Nao didn't reply. He's in too much pain to give an answer. "No matter then, let's start off with electricity. I know it's a good one since it's my favourite." Yori picked up the taser and turned it on.
The gunslinger pressed the taser against the Skillout's neck. He let the sharp metal prod against the skin. "Have you heard? A taser can deliver up to 1200 volts." He activated it, sending electricity throughout Nao's entire body. After two seconds, he let go. "If used constantly long enough, I heard it can even burn people. I reckon we should try that tonight." Yori fired it up again, pulling more shrieks from Nao. He held it longer this time, forming a burn from the power. "Ah, that looks like a nice mark." Yori tossed the taser onto the bed.
He moved on to the next tool. "Let's make it look even bigger." Yori grabbed the bottle of hydrogen peroxide and opened the cap. He poured it like a little stream of fluid onto the burn. Nao's eyes widened uncontrollably from the pain. His voice is frozen from the electric shocks earlier. Yori switched to the hydrochloric acid then, adding more burn to it. While it neutralized the hydrogen peroxide, it made a side product which he intends to finish it off with. He now turned to the box of matches as tiny crystals form on the surface of the injured burn. "Let's see what happens." The result was fantastic. Fire burned on the skin, aided by the salts that formed.
Nao has his voice returned for he screamed like no tomorrow. His arms and legs shook uncontrollably in convulsions. The ropes held tight to them and in control. Yori said by Nao's neck. "How's that feel? We got a long way to go tonight…"
Nobody outside would be able to hear the man scream. What Yori just gave was just the appetizer…now the real screaming marathon will begin.