"Mr. Okada, sir, your car is here"
"Good, tell them I'll be down in five minutes"
Okada was old, and it was showed. He was beginning to have trouble walking without the aid of a stout cane, and his breathing now grew short after very little exertion. He was nearly seventy, and he knew he couldn't hold onto this job much longer. It was time to retire.
He sat in his most familiar place, his grand, well-loved office. He probably spent two thirds of every day sitting in here, conducting his business. He would miss it greatly.
The question of his successor was not going to be hard; his aide was most capable, and much younger than he had been when he took up this position. Thoughts of the security of the establishment without him were not high on his list of priorities. No, he was simply concerned with what he would do when he retired. He knew he ought to have stepped down several years ago, when the pressure of the job mounted up, but the idea that he would no longer have access to his own property, that he had spent years acquiring, was reprehensible. The very thought of actually having to pay to spent time with his boys was the biggest reason he'd stayed on so long. Regrettably, he'd delayed as much as he could, but his time was finally up now. He'd need to start preparing things for his retirement within the next month.
In any case, he had places to be, so this would have to wait. Calling his aide, he rose from his seat and seized his cane. As always, his aide was prompt, and at his side in seconds. Dressed smartly in a neat suit, and with his wavy black hair carefully combed, he stood to attention sharply, rather like a soldier reporting for duty. He was young, at least for a man of his position, only thirty five, but nevertheless experienced, intelligent and with a keen sense for business. He was certainly the best man for the job.
"Sir, there's a matter that requires your attention, just before you go, concerning one of our boys"
"Oh?"
"Our occupant in room five has made some interesting requests. He is asking for a job"
"A job?"
Both men had left the office and were now making their way to the main staircase; Okada's car was waiting.
"Yes sir. He's one of the older ones we have, he's been here for five years now, and he's twenty. I've observed some interesting qualities in him over the last few years. He's been less than friendly with the others, in fact he's been almost violent. He would appear to have an ideal personality for our line of work, and he has expressed interest in becoming an employee of yours, even if it's just a guard"
"That is most unusual. Room five...is he the very tall, hard-faced one, with black hair?"
"Yes sir, I've no idea what his name is, he's never said"
Okada could recall the boy now, indeed he certainly had been here for a long time. Most didn't last more than a few years, but he'd been here since he was fifteen, and had seemingly been unfazed. He'd grown up to be surprisingly huge, considering they did not provide their boys with much nutrition.
"I'm not overly fond of him, much too strong and fierce for me. And if he's twenty now, he's really not got much value left as one of my boys. I think his employment would be a good idea, provided you're sure he would be loyal?"
"Most certainly, sir. As I said, he seems to be almost eager to be on the dispatching end in regards to the other boys. He wouldn't think of ruining his chance"
"Very well. Tell him he will be a special case, and will be granted his request"
"Right away, sir"
His aide turned and began to walk back down the hallway, headed for the Rooms. Okada was about to start down the long set of stairs when he remembered an important detail his new employee would need to know, and leaned back around to call to his aide.
"One thing to remember, he is not to ever use his original name, he's to find himself a new one immediately"
"Oh of course, sir, he knows that. He's more than happy to discard his original name, and he's already requested to be called Blain"
"Very well, Blain it is. I want all this sorted by the time I get back, ok, Higuchi?"
"Absolutely, sir"
Okada turned and continued down the stairs. He had no worries about this boy's employment, he knew Higuchi was smart enough to make sure it went smoothly, and he was a good judge of character. If Higuchi thought the boy would make a good, loyal worker, then he would.
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Blain was twenty eight.
He'd been employed as a guard at this place for eight years now, and he had to say, it had failed to get old. Getting to manhandle all the new groups of boys, and watch them cower in front of him, would never lose its charm. They were such weak little shits. He'd been one of them, once, for five years, but he'd risen above it through sheer strength. He'd proved himself as a real man, the only one to ever do so. The rest were pathetic, and deserved all they got.
But while he still enjoyed his guard duties, he was still very eager to hear what this "new job", Higuchi had called him up to his office to discuss, was all about. He knew Higuchi was finally shaking things up, like been planning to do since he became the boss.
Blain's first boss, Okada, had retired about a year after he'd been employed, and Higuchi had stepped up in his place. In the seven years since, he'd been planning an overhaul of the whole business, claiming that it was old-fashioned, inefficient and yielded poor results. Blain supposed he was right, really. Their operation right now (and had done for decades) consisted of them snatching random boys from the street, always homeless ones. It meant their selection was limited, so they couldn't pick and choose which ones to take, even if they weren't all that valuable. Blain was grateful they'd had this system until now, as it had gotten him off the streets, which he'd been on since he was six, and ultimately to this job, but he agreed it was time for a change.
He entered Higuchi's office, and was surprised to find that he was not alone with his boss, but another man sat in one of the chairs facing the desk. Blain vaguely recognised him as another of the guards, but he couldn't recall his name. Higuchi motioned for Blain to sit in the second chair, looking impatient. Blain hid his slight confusion as he sat, thinking it better to remain as outwardly unshakable as he could. In this line of work, it was important to stay strong at all times.
"Right, I don't know whether you two are acquainted with each other, but assuming you're not, Blain, meet Carter, Carter, meet Blain. To get right to the point, you two are being partnered up from now on, and as I said to you both earlier, you're both graduating from guard duty. This system of taking vagrants from the street is wholly inefficient, and it is holding back a huge amount of potential profits. So I'm making you two my personal "hunters". You'll be tracking down groups of boys at a time, observing them for a while, and then taking them all in one swoop. What's more, you won't need to discriminate between statuses, any group is eligible. This means that you will only bring in the best, which will vastly increase our number of clients"
Blain knew such a plan would succeed in bringing in more customers, but it certainly sounded risky. Any group? Homeless boys wouldn't be missed, but others would not be so convenient.
"Isn't this a bit dangerous, boss? I mean, people will notice these groups"
"Maybe they will, but there'll be nothing they can do about it. I've spent the last few years greatly expanding this business' contacts, meaning many of these crimes will go un-investigated, and the ones that are, will not be done very enthusiastically. You'll be starting in two days. I've picked you two because you're the most capable of the men at my disposal. The men I have snatching boys at the moment won't do, they're just simple kidnappers. I want men that know this place and this operation inside and out, and ones I can trust, so I'm not hiring new men for this. You'll be working together indefinitely, so I suggest you get to know each other. That'll be all, dismissed"
The two exited quickly, both still quite surprised by the nature of their new jobs. Blain could not speak for Carter, but he certainly liked the sound of this new occupation.
"So, how'd you wind up in this business?"
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He'd only been at this new job for two months, but already he knew it was infinitely better than guard duty. The previous week, they'd brought in their first group, after a month of observation. The feeling of satisfaction from a plan going off without a hitch was truly something else. Not to mention being allowed to be as rough as he liked in bringing each member of the group into their new home. This was quite a lot of fun already.
They'd been kept at the warehouse at the docks up until today, a new practice Higuchi had implemented. Before each individual had been brought straight to the mansion, but Higuchi wished to only have already well trained groups entering his house. Blain wasn't complaining, he'd been granted to honour of "training" the group, which involved beating them into submission, a favourite pastime of his already.
The group of eight were now occupying their new homes, the newly renovated Rooms One through Three. It was these renovations that interested Blain the most of Higuchi's new developments. The previous system was to keep them individually in one of the five Rooms, but now Higuchi wished to keep them together in twos and threes. He said it would make them last longer, to have company. More importantly, the three Rooms were now completely soundproof.
The noise level from the Rooms had irritated Higuchi quite a lot in his time here. While the Rooms weren't where his clients conducted business, their occupants often needed to be disciplined regularly, and the sound of their screeches was most annoying to Higuchi while he was working. Blain himself liked the sound, he always had, but he'd gladly trade it for the implications of these new soundproof Rooms.
So now, he found himself wandering the third floor of the mansion, not far from the group's new residence. It was past midnight, and the building was completely silent. He'd been walking up and down this corridor for a long time; five years being dragged down it himself, eight years dragging others up and down it. Quite a lot of memories.
He'd been interested in a number of the boys he'd pulled down this corridor, but he'd never been able to do anything about it. He'd needed to get his fixes elsewhere. Now though...
Before he knew it, he'd wound up in front of Room Two, it's key in his hand, being guided towards the lock. He opened the door and slipped in quickly.
Its three occupants were curled up, but still awake, for they immediately looked up at their visitor, startled. The centre one had caught Blain's eye in particular during the weeks of observation. He was young, probably no older than twelve, with dark, wavy hair, and huge blue eyes. He reminded Blain of a boy he used to bully when he'd first been bought in here at fifteen. Thanks to him the boy hadn't lasted much more than a year. Blain was hopeful that having two other males to support him would mean this boy lasted a lot longer.
"If any of you tell a single person outside this room what I'm doing in here, I'll personally kill all three of you, got that?"
Without waiting for a response, he crossed the room, closing in on the terrified boy cowering between the others. He knew they'd "got it"; after all he'd shown them during their first week, they would know better than to cross him. He'd never have to really worry about being found out; no one could actually be stupid enough to risk telling anyone after all.
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"Malik, I've got something to tell you"
Yami had been returned to his room, and the three of them had been separated for the first time in weeks, with all three chained up again. They'd been sitting only a moment before Yami had spoken.
"I can't let you suffer any extra punishment any more, it has to stop"
Malik immediately looked worried, the implications of Yami's words not lost of him.
"You didn't..."
"I had to. I know Blain's made his threats, but we have to take the risk if we're to stop him doing this to you. I told Higuchi, and he's sent his men to get Blain already. It'll be over soon"
Malik sat for moment, frozen in shock, his eyes locked on Yami's, before dropping his face into his hands.
"Gods, what did you do? We're going to die..."
"We're not going to die, Malik, Blain's already finished, he'll be caught off guard when they get to him, and he'll never touch you again. I told you I'd keep you safe, and this is what was necessary"
"Yami, what have you done? You think a couple of guys will stop him? He'll kill us all! I can't believe you'd put us in such danger, I'm not worth that!"
Yami was surprised at Malik's almost hysterical reaction; he'd expected him to be at least pleased. Of course, he was still scared of Blain, so it was natural to think he'd come back to get them. But he'd get better, once Blain was apprehended; Yami would protect him, like he'd promised.
Malik was shaking, his face still buried in his hands. Yami looked around at Yuugi, who looked similarly frightened, his already huge eyes wide in fear.
"Please, both of you, don't be scared. I'm telling you, there's no chance of us getting hurt, he's got no way of knowing that the guards are coming to get him. We're safe, I promise you"
Malik raised his head to stare at Yami, looking utterly panic-stricken.
"Why would you do it? I'm not worth it! So what if he's raping me, that's my problem. I don't want either of you in danger because of me! Why...why would you do it? I can take all the punishment, there was no need to do it!"
"Malik...I had to. I can't have you suffer even more than the rest of us. It's my fault you're even here"
Surprise registered on Malik's face, even through his panic.
"Wha...what do you mean, your fault?"
"You're only here because of me. If I hadn't stayed, you wouldn't have been in Japan, you'd have been at home, with your family, where you should be. It's my doing, and that makes me responsible for your well being. I won't have any harm come to you if it can be avoided. I just want...no, I need to keep you safe. You can understand that, right? I have to"
Malik looked speechless, simply gazing at Yami for several moments.
"...that's why? You think it's your fault? It's not your doing at all. I probably would have ended up coming to Japan even if you hadn't stayed. I did more than enough damage to Yuugi and the others, and I would need to make that up to them too. Even if you'd left, I'd still be here, in fact I'd be even worse, because I wouldn't have had you helping me cope"
"But...but even then, Malik, it's my fault. You were trying to defend me when you kicked Blain that first night, that's what got him interested in you. If I hadn't been there, he'd have left you alone"
"No, he wouldn't have, he didn't really care about that, it was just an excuse, he would have found some other one, and I'd still be here with one less person to help me cope"
"He's right, Yami"
Yami turned to see Yuugi still looking quite frightened, but now with a sad, sympathetic look in his eyes.
"Aibou?"
"It's not your fault, it never was. It's only their fault, these men. None of us is to blame, and especially not you. You've helped the two of us more than you could imagine, I wouldn't have survived without you, and I don't think Malik would have either"
"But...still, I'm supposed to be protecting you, and I couldn't let him hurt Malik again. He would have destroyed you eventually, Malik, he had to be stopped, he had to be"
Malik shook his head, a defiant expression on his face.
"I don't want you two in danger, I don't care what happens to me, I just want you two safe. You shouldn't have told him, Yami, you should have left Blain do what he wants. It was only once a week, I could have survived"
"No Malik, I could have let it happen any more, it was too much. And I've told you, there's no way for him to know, there's no way for him to-"
The door suddenly opened, and was quickly shut again.
"So...which one is the snitch?"
The bottom dropped from Yami's stomach, following by a nearly paralysing shock resonating throughout his body. He could not believe this, how could Blain have known...?
"Well? Which one ratted me out? Quickly!"
"Me"
Without thinking, Yami blurted out the answer, only to find that his confession was contested, as both Yuugi and Malik had replied in exactly the same way.
"All three of you? Right. United as one, are we? Doesn't matter, in any case"
He began to advance, stepping briskly towards the three of them.
"I've been here twenty five years. I've been employed here for twenty years. I've been doing this particular job for twelve years. And I've been doing little bitches like you three for all twelve of those years. Now that's finished, thanks to you. I don't know if I'm making it out of this building alive, maybe, maybe not. But one thing's for sure, either way, you're dead"
He halted, a few feet in front of them, his eyes travelling between the three of them, seemingly looking for a target.
Yami could not recall a moment in his life when he had felt more terrified. His entire body was seized up, almost rigid with fear. He had brought this on his Aibou, and Malik. He'd doomed them....
Blain turned and took a step towards Malik, who had pinned himself against the wall, desperately trying to keep away from the vengeful man bearing down on him.
"NO! Don't hurt him! I'll tell them I lied, that you did nothing, I'll take any punishment of their's, just don't hurt either of them!"
Yami had failed them both. He'd sent them to their deaths with his recklessness.
"Please! Don't hurt-"
Blain turned abruptly and kicked Yami squarely in the chest, sending him flying back, and smashing against the wall.
"Shut the fuck up! You're all dead, so shut up and take it!"
"No...no...it was me who told on you, just hurt me and leave them go..."
Blain moved forward and sent his fist flying directly at Yami's face. Having no time to react, it struck him heavily on his right cheek, snapping his head back and causing him to collapse once again
"Please, he's lying, it wasn't him, it was me, take your anger out on me, and leave, don't hurt them!
Yuugi's pleading had no effect on Blain who turned back towards Malik, looking truly deranged.
"T-They're both lying...they're just trying to help me, it's m-me you want, so do what you like, just leave them out of it. Please!"
Malik, though still clearly terrified, seemed almost resigned to his fate. Malik had been wrong, it was Yami's fault, he knew it was, he had led Malik to this through his own selfish actions.
Blain stepped forwards and wrenched Malik away from the wall, flinging him face down onto the floor. He moved around behind him, and seized him by the hair, jerking him up, onto his knees.
"Shame I don't have my gun, it would have been quick for you three then. So much the better for me, I want to see you die slowly for this, you stupid, stupid fucking little FUCKING BITCH!"
He jammed his hand into his pocket, and pulled out what looked to be a long, thin metal wire.
"NO! NO DON'T HURT HIM! LEAVE HIM ALONE!"
Yami and Yuugi shouted in unison, but Blain paid them no heed, and wrapped the wire around Malik's neck in a loop, and without a second's hesitation, pulled it taut.
"NO!"
Malik's lungs emptied of air immediately, the air rattling through his compressed throat. His eyes bulged, his mouth wide open, desperately trying to inhale, while his fingers scrambled uselessly as the wire, unable to muster the energy to pull it off.
"MALIK!"
Blain's face was contorted in a savage expression of anger and pleasure melded into one, with his teeth clenched so tightly they might shatter, as he pulled the loop tighter and tighter
"PLEASE, STOP! STOP!"
Horrible, frantic rasping could be heard, as Malik tried over and over to draw in air, trying to cling to any bit of life he could. His tanned face was changing colour, to a dark, awful purple.
Yami and Yuugi could do nothing but fight against their chains in a mad frenzy, trying to get closer to Malik, but forced to watch the life draining out of him slowly.
"MALIK...no..."
Malik's hands had begun lose strength, and drop away from his throat, as his whole body started to go limp, even as a last few attempts to draw breath could be hurt.
Suddenly, all the screams, the rasps, everything, was drowned out by a vast roar of sound that ripped through the room like an explosion, and Malik and Yami were abruptly covered in red, as Blain's head disappeared inside a huge spray of scarlet mist. The roar subsided, leaving a moment of silence, before Blain dropped heavily to the ground behind Malik, who drew in a great, rattling breath as the wire loosened. He fell face down, still pulling in vast, shaking breaths.
Yami could not comprehend what had happened, simply staring, dumbfounded, at Malik and Blain as they lay on the floor, only one still breathing. An unimaginable amount of blood had sprayed everywhere from Blain's head, which now had a sizable entrance wound on his forehead, while the entire back of his head had been blown apart, and was still gushing blood onto the floor.
Understanding finally breaking through Yami's shocked exterior, he turned to look at the other side of the room.
Higuchi stood just in front of the open door, a large handgun clutched in his right hand, still pointed at the spot where Blain had been standing. He lowered the gun slowly, staring intently at Blain's body.
"MALIK!"
Yuugi had apparently recovered from the shock of the sudden gunshot, as he was again pulling at the chain, trying to get to Malik. Yami looked over at Higuchi, who understood immediately, and crossed the room towards them. He unlocked both of them from their restraints, and they wasted no time in scrambling over to where Malik lay shaking.
Yami pulled the now loose wire from around Malik's neck, seeing a deep, red line encircling his throat, and both he and Yuugi put their arms underneath Malik and lifted him up, onto his knees. They supported him underneath his arms, as he still seemed to struggle for breath, though his natural tanned colour had now returned to his face.
Higuchi released Malik from his chain, and Yami and Yuugi quickly dragged him away from Blain's bloody, limp body, across the room to Yuugi's mattress, the only one free of bloodstains. Higuchi turned and began to walk back across the room.
Yami could not take this, how could Blain have gotten up here without Higuchi's men noticing? This couldn't be a coincidence.
"What the fuck did you do, you son of a bitch!?"
Higuchi looked around at him indifferently.
"I knew Blain well enough to know he wouldn't leave without honouring his vow to kill you if you told. I also expect his partner told him my men were coming for him. He stole my property, so I was the only one who was going to punish him. As predicted, the fool threw his life away and snuck up here, exactly what I'd been waiting alone for. You made ideal bait"
Bait? He'd used them to lure him up on purpose? He'd throw their lives in jeopardy to settle a score?
"You fucking bastard! You nearly got us killed for that?"
"Of course, I was less concerned with your well being than I was which making sure he got what he deserved for touching my property. That's that. I'll have them clear away the body in a moment. Stay put-"
Without warning, through the open door, came the sounds of gunshots, apparently from downstairs. At least four sounded off, before stopping, leaving another shocked silence in the room.
"What the fuck-"
Higuchi, a look of both rage and disbelief on his face, gave no so much as a glance to the three boys, before rushing out of the room, barely managing to slam the door behind him.
A moment passed in silence, as Yami and Yuugi cradled Malik between them, trying to avoid looking at the bloody mess to their right.
"Malik...I'm so sorry...I was only trying to....fuck it. I'm sorry...I'll never forgive...sorry-"
"Don't be"
Malik' voice was weak, almost a croak, but it was nonetheless firm.
"You only did what you thought was best, and we're ok...we're ok"
"He's right, Yami, don't blame yourself, it's their fault, not ours"
Yuugi couldn't have been more right. Yami could see that fully once again. He'd been telling them during their first few weeks that no one but these men were to blame, but in the last few days, he'd lost sight of that, and blamed himself instead. That would get them nowhere.
Blain was dead, and Malik was safe from his Saturday assaults, but he was still not safe in this place. Higuchi had just played a dangerous game with their lives, just for retribution. None of them were safe here, how long would it be before he did something like that again? How long before it claimed one of them? Or all of them? Their minds were no longer the only thing at stake in this place, their very lives were in danger now.
In fact, they'd been in danger all along, Yami had just failed to realise it, being focused on the physical abuse. There would never be any routine to this place, they couldn't just put up a wall and ignore the exploitation, hoping to live out a life here. They could not stay here.
It was as though a fire had lit in Yami's mind, reawakening his burning desire to see his friends free from this place. And then, it came to him.
"The door..."
"What?"
"He didn't lock the door...Higuchi, he was rushing...he left the door open!"
Yuugi and Malik both looked up, the same realisation coming to them.
"Ok, this is it, we're getting out of here!"
Despite the chance at freedom, Yami could not forget the many ways this could go wrong. He could not put Yuugi and Malik in danger again, they had to be safe.
He rose to his feet, truly determined once again.
"You two stay here, I'm going out there to find the others, and find an escape route safely, then I'll come back, and we're all get out of here. It's the safest way to do"
"Yami, I can't let you-"
"No, it has to be this way, I won't have you endangered because of me again. I'll only be a few minutes, they're busy with whatever is going on downstairs"
Without waiting for any more responses, he quickly crossed the room and seized the doorknob. He turned it, and to his immense relief, the door opened.
Turning back, he stared at Yuugi and Malik, both still on the floor, once again looked frightened, but now for entirely different reasons.
"Don't worry about me, just wait here, I'll be back soon. I love you, Aibou, and I'll get you both out of this, I promise"
And with that, he slipped out of the room, into the hall.
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I love cliffhangers, don't you? I enjoyed writing this chapter quite alot, flashbacks are fun to explore.
I hope no one finds the backstory introduced in this chapter unecessary, I thought it would make Blain's death resonate a bit more if you knew where it was he came from, awhile also showing you just what might to some of the boys if they stay here for an extended length of time.
Next chapter will pick up right where this one left off, and will be the start of the story's climax
As always, feel free to concrit, and point out any flaws you see in the story. Thanks very much for reading