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
10. Butler's Gamble
Jiiya, simply put, was scared shitless.
But given the proximity of Spider's jaws to his face, the butler figured he could at least be given some slack.
"What's your favorite part, Scorpio?" Spider's legs wriggled in delight as she savored her prey's helplessness. Venomous drool already filled her mouth, which added a slurpy quality to her husky voice. "I, myself, am particularly fond of the intestines." Her legs paused in their never-ending twitch. "You know, I'd be willing to share. Dinner for two?"
Scorpio slouched in his seat, chair turned slightly away to avoid looking at Spider.
"No thanks. Just take your meal and go." Jiiya thought Scorpio's voice sounded thick and hoarse, much like Bocchama when holding back tears.
"You're no fun, Scorpio." A ghastly pout. "But very generous," she added graciously. "If I were you, I would want to take care of backstabbing vermin myself and here you are giving it to me."
"Not without a price," Scorpio grumbled, his back still turned. "In exchange, never appear before me again."
"Can I at least unwrap your lovely gift and sample it?" Jiiya shuddered as he felt the barbed legs pick him up and begin to unravel the cocoon. His arms hugged tight across his chest, heart pulsing madly in his throat.
I only have one chance.
"Hmm, what's this?" Spider had reached his arms, which were clasped tightly. "What have you got there, old man?" All eight of her eyes narrowed. "Give it to me."
Jiiya tried not to retch on the smell of decaying flesh.
"No," he said. Freeing his legs, Jiiya gave Spider the hardest kick he could muster.
Spider shrieked, doubling over as she clutched her abdomen. With a snap of her jaws, she spat out a sticky web string, forcing Jiiya's arms open. With a snort, she kicked the precious package the butler was protecting clear across the room. Her jaws clicked an accelerating staccato, too furious for words.
"You'll pay for that," she promised and lunged.
A scream.
Scorpio wonders if humans were masochistic by nature. There was no other reason to explain why he hurts so much.
What was infuriating was that the pain seemed to be localized near his heart, but everything else, from the fingers to his head—oh especially the head—seemed to hurt too. He shivers, clenching his fists, the winter of emotions stealing his body's warmth away.
Scorpio contemplates whether or not it had to do with his poisoned state.
Scorpio does not look at Jiiya. Didn't want to. Wanted to. Destroy the old man for hurting him.
But it's Jiiya!
The Worm shudders. Where had that voice come from? It didn't sound like anything it would say. Or would it? Scorpio couldn't remember.
Didn't you know? The longer we maintain a human personality, the greater the risk the personality will take over.
Hence why Scorpio made up his mind to let Spider have her way. Not that he wanted to, but he had to make a point.
I am Scorpio Worm, not Kamishiro Tsurugi.
Yet he could not shut his ears to Spider's taunting and Jiiya's pain.
Why, Jiiya? Jiiya would never hurt me!
Well, he did, so shut up.
To Scorpio's displeasure, a human head fell into his lap. For a split-second, panic set in—Jiiya's?—but logic took over when Scorpio realized the head was desiccated and had been so for some time. Stringy black strands of hair clung to the skull, which was swathed in bits of web.
Some dried up leftover, Scorpio thought but then something red caught his eye. Curious, Scorpio combed the hair loose with his fingers.
A red ribbon, embroidered with roses, fell out.
Nee-chan! Doesn't this ribbon suit you?
I really shouldn't, Tsu-chan. We've already bought so much.
But it looks good on you—I'm getting it for you. You'd better wear it everyday.
All right, Tsu-chan.
Scorpio dropped the head. With practiced ease, his poison tail whip appeared in his hand.
He struck.
"What are you doing?" Spider wailed, a gash across her cheek. She retreated just in time to avoid being strangled. Jiiya, mostly free from the web cocoon, sat up, mouth parted in astonishment.
"Get out of the way, Jiiya!" Scorpio snarled, snapping his whip back. He leapt onto the table and ran.
Spider retreated to the corner of the room, rapidly spinning herself a makeshift shelter. Scorpio's claw made quick work of the web strands, still glistening and wet. Meanwhile, his tail whip lashed out again and again, repeatedly injecting Spider with his venom.
Nee-chan! Nee-chan! Nee-chan!
Scorpio had never been so angry. Faintly, he wondered how he ever thought humans were weak—if sheer fury lent so much power. Scorpio's claws were never sharper, his tail never quicker, his legs never stronger. Spider screamed as he forced her out of the corner, breaking two of her legs in the process. He ignored her cries as he tore out her spinnerets and relished in her fear.
"Let me go! I give up!" Spider wailed, shrinking from the pain. She gasped when Scorpio snap off another leg. And another.
"How many legs does a spider have? Let's count off the rest, shall we?"
Another crack.
Nee-chanNee-chanNee-chanNee-chanNEE-CHAN
"Bocchama, that's enough."
Scorpio froze, mind trapped under layers of incoherent thought.
"A spider has eight legs, Bocchama, and I do believe you've counted them all." Jiiya got to his feet, back straight and footsteps sure. "Will you cease your madness? You've proven your point."
"Go to hell, old man," Scorpio snarled, struggling to hold himself together. He stomped on Spider's abdomen for good measure.
Jiiya slapped him across the cheek, his cheeks wrinkling with anger.
"You will not speak in that tone with me, Kamishiro Tsurugi. It does not befit one of your status to use such language."
Scorpio lunged. Its body—half Scorpio, half Tsurugi—landed on the butler, who fell backwards onto the floor with a startled grunt.
Spider, who lay sprawled on the ground in pieces, lifted her head.
"It's not the human who's weak, Scorpio." She giggled shrilly. "It's—"
Scorpio's claw reached out and sliced Spider's head clean off.
Butler and worm sat there on the polished floor, breathing heavily.
Scorpio was the first to speak.
"The dining room's a mess."
"Would you like me to have it remodeled?" Jiiya delicately asked. A pause. "Perhaps this suits you better."
Scorpio snorted, shrugging off stray web strands from his suit.
"Have this and the garden fixed first thing in the morning."
Suddenly, Scorpio stumbled as he turned away, his back in the butler's plain view.
Jiiya sharply drew in a breath.
"Bocchama, you have something in your back."
Scorpio clucked its tongue as it wrenched out the web arrow from its back.
"Tch. I know. I wouldn't worry. Auto-generative healing powers and all that."
"You're bleeding," Jiiya said quietly, watching the blood flow outwards thick and fast.
Before Scorpio could dignify the butler with a response, he collapsed into Jiiya's arms.
Next Time: Child's Tale