Disclaimer: I do not own the Kamen Rider Kabuto TV show or franchise, nor am I profiting from these materials in any way. This fic was written solely for pleasure.
Chapter Notes: 3 years before canon.
The Butler and the Worm
By fieryrondo
9. Lord's Choice
"This is really quite a lovely nest. You've done well since we last dined."
Scorpio Worm scoffed.
"You're as tasteless as ever, Spider. You'd think a hag like you would have better manners, leaving that repulsive thing in my backyard."
Though the body Spider assumed was beautiful, the hungry look she opted was anything but. Jiiya noted that she—unlike Scorpio Worm—appeared distinctly uncomfortable. Legs jiggled restlessly in her seat and her fingers twitched. Her eyes shifted left and right so rapidly, it was a wonder she didn't get dizzy.
"You're so comfortable in that human skin of yours," she purred to Scorpio Worm. In the dinner candlelight, Jiiya caught a flash of fangs behind her scarlet lips. "I'm jealous."
"Who wouldn't be?" Scorpio Worm replied, lounging in his seat, looking entirely at ease. One hand nonchalantly twirled a soupspoon. "Frankly, if I were as pathetic as you, I'd be jealous of me too."
Spider chuckled, her voice disdainfully melodic. "There's no need to be so rude. We might have gone off the wrong foot—"
"Hardly surprising, considering how many extra feet you have—"
Spider swallowed, her pretty little throat twitching. "You're not still mad that I killed the mother, are you?"
That got Jiiya's attention fast.
Scorpio Worm ceased in his spoon twirling. Kamishiro Tsurugi's face froze, a mosaic of fear, anger, and guilt.
Spider grinned, her teeth a nightmare of pearly white.
"I forgot how young you are, Scorpio." Spider delicately raised her goblet, a mocking toast. "But that's what makes you so…delightful."
"How revolting." A raised pinky as he lifted his goblet in return.
The signal, Bocchama's cue. But Jiiya's feet were rooted from behind the door.
"I hoped you wouldn't begrudge me too much for that!" Spider said, a sparkle in her eye. "You had the same idea, too. You were so inexperienced—it must have been your first time." She licked her lips. "Was it such a big shock when you copied your first human?"
Jiiya watched as Scorpio's hand tightened on the spoon.
"I wondered what you would do once you copied the brat," Spider continued. "What a sight you were, it was hard to tell who was more upset—you or the brat."
"Kouta," Scorpio interrupted.
"Was that his name?" Lips curved in an all-knowing smile. "Such a noisy little thing. But then again, all children are very much alike—it's so hard to tell them apart. It's funny that you remember."
"Maybe your brains fell out with all that spinning you do," Scorpio suggested. "Wouldn't surprise me."
"How long have you been in that body?" Spider asked suddenly. "One week? Or two?"
"What does it matter to you? In any case, I've forgotten."
"You don't know?" Spider cocked her head before rising to her feet. "Have you lost your mind?"
"No, but you'll lose your head if you don't sit back down," Scorpio snapped.
Spider slowly retreated to her seat but continued gazing thoughtfully at her host.
"You are in great danger," she finally said. "Don't you see what's happening to you?"
"Continue to speak in riddles and you'll suffer my displeasure."
Spider's eyes widened. "You were never this eloquent, Scorpio! You're already being devoured."
Scorpio's fingers snapped the spoon in half. The bowl fell somewhere past Jiiya's feet.
"What do you mean?" Scorpio asked, his voice dangerous and quiet.
"There's a reason why we don't stay in the human guises we mimic for long," Spider said. With a sigh, she shed her human disguise, revealing her arachnid self in its grotesque glory. Scorpio recoiled at the transformation but held steady his gaze.
"Why's that?" Scorpio asked. He already dreaded the answer, which lingered in the back of his mind, barely concealed.
"It's so we don't lose ourselves, silly Scorpio," Spider said. Her smirk on her true face was even more vomit inducing than it was in her human shell. "Didn't you know? The longer we maintain a human personality, the greater the risk the personality will take over. This is very rare of course, almost unheard of." Her legs—all eight of them—twitched. "Humans are so very delicious but their minds are absolutely disgusting, almost indigestible."
"It's why we don't leave loose ends," Spider continued with relish. "As a weaver, I have knowledge of such things." Her jaws opened in a crude imitation of a human smile. "I can help you, Scorpio."
"I don't need any help. Especially from you."
"Poor, poor Scorpio, you honestly don't know what's going on? What's happening to you?" Spider crooned. "Like I said, a Worm must take care of all the loose ends." Her eyes flicked to the door. "I understand you took care of the female but there's still one more. Inconveniently still breathing."
Scorpio snarled in the back of his throat. "The butler's mine. Stay out of it—it's none of your business—"
"Even if I told you that your butler has been poisoning your food this entire time?"
Silence.
"You lie."
"Would I have any reason to lie to you, Scorpio? You might begrudge me for ruining a past hunt but I wouldn't deceive you about something as important as this." She tossed an empty amber vial down on the table, where it shattered. "One of the little ones by the window caught him pouring this into your meal this morning."
Scorpio hissed.
"Jiiya!"
Without hesitation, the butler opened the door.
Only to be encased in a cocoon of spider's silk.
Though it was difficult to breathe, Jiiya forced himself to stay calm.
"You called?"
Kamishiro Tsurugi's eyes narrowed into slits. Jiiya found the gaze—utterly angry and human—almost comforting.
"Did you poison me, Jiiya?"
The cocoon tightened.
"Yes, I did, Worm, and I'd gladly do it again."
"Cheeky old man!" Spider purred, propelling the butler towards her with her length of web. "You don't mind if I tenderize him a little, do you Scorpio?"
Jiiya could not look upon Scorpio's face from his position (prone, face-down on the ground) but he did not need to look to despair.
After a moment's pause, Scorpio spoke.
"By all means, go ahead."
Next Time: Butler's Gamble