*Right, okay...time for deep breath. We're paying Brandon another visit. Word to the wise - you may feel the need to pause at some point. This is one of those chapters...While writing it, I had to stop several times, and remind myself that it was fiction. Both my betas struggled with it too. The only comfort I can give you is that this is the worst scene with Brandon that I'm going to depict. It's not the worse thing that happens, but the other part...well, more on that later.
Daichi was not in a good mood when he woke up that morning. As much as his head hurt, however, he wouldn't consider sleeping any longer. I rested long enough as it is. I need to see how my instructions concerning James have been carried out.
A deep sense of disappointment reminded the man of his failure to control the Shitenno the night before, though he'd actually accomplished what he had set out to do. I cannot believe we lost the demon when he was already in our grasp. I am truly grateful that I said nothing about it to Yukiko. Having James is better than nothing. He will serve as the beginning for gaining dominance over them.
I don't think the Shitenno are so complicated to figure out. It is clear that they have limitations. They can be hurt, and even killed if Takashi will allow it. Daichi growled quietly at the thought. They appear to have much knowledge, and yet they don't know everything.
Daichi snorted as he considered Haruko, the slave that had once belonged to Takashi's deceased son. She was claimed by the Shitenno as their own. The orange demon insisted that she was a gift that should be protected at all costs. But we had that woman for months in our keep, and I know Shirou did as he pleased with her. The demons did not stand up for her then. They could not find her. It was not until after the woman escaped…
Daichi's brow furrowed suddenly. They could not track the woman, at least, not in the beginning. We also caught the Shitenno unaware at that house in Chelsea, and again at the Lab in Okinawa. The blue one, he was surprised to see us. No, they don't know everything. Those times when they were able to track us down, it was only after we already had one of their kind in chains.
It makes sense, I suppose. Out of his curiosity over the demons Takashi went too easy on them. He allowed them many opportunities when their spirits could have communicated with the others outside. I guess it is for the best that we did not capture the purple one last night, as much as I want my revenge, and the chance to please Takashi. Attempting to hold it with so few resources at my disposal would not have been wise.
Daichi's mood lifted dramatically with the realization, and at the thought of the time he was about to spend with Brandon. He'd left the prisoner in the hands of his men after an initial assault to "welcome" the man to their current dwelling.
Truth be told, Daichi was proud of the location he'd been able to acquire with so little money in his hands. The situation was far from ideal, but the close quarters with the Club operating directly above them made Daichi feel both daring and shrewd at the same time.
By placing ourselves in the middle of the action, we make it that much more difficult for the Shitenno to infiltrate. They cannot afford to be seen, nor would they expect us to be in such a place. I think there is some merit in this, and I hope Takashi sees it too.
Daichi approached two alert men who were standing guard over the door to a storage closet. He smiled grimly at the warriors as they bowed their heads in deference. Daichi stepped up to the small window and peered at the shirtless prisoner who was lying on his side.
"How long have you allowed him to rest?" Daichi asked.
"Close to two hours," one of the men supplied.
Daichi shook his head in disapproval. "That's too long. I told you, you have to stay on top of him. Did you learn nothing in your time with Takashi-sama?"
"We stand ready to learn from you, Daichi-san," the other replied.
Daichi was pleased with the answer, and therefore didn't berate them any further. That is not how loyalty is won, he told himself, smiling at the men once more. "When a person is broken, it is usually not the result of a single session. Breaking someone is a process that should happen gradually, usually over the course of building confrontations. It is not only physical, but mental as well.
"You have to be aware of exactly how far you can push your prisoner, without killing him. When a captive has information you want, it's important to create a situation where he desires to die, but is not capable of doing so. You must remove every source of comfort and hope, until he is left with nothing to sustain him.
"That is when an individual breaks. I have seen Takashi-sama do it many times, and he is the true Master. But I managed to pick up many tricks from him, which will help guide me in handling James now. The exercise I am going to engage him in this morning is physical, but I want you to pay heed to the way the mental side will come into play afterward. Lying to a prisoner can be even more demoralizing than injuring him. Are you keeping plenty of ice on hand?"
The warrior on his left nodded eagerly. "The freezer is full, for now at least."
"Bring me two pitchers of water. I will not begin until you return."
"Yes, Daichi-san."
Daichi didn't stay to watch the guard leave, but opened the door to the storage closet instead. As he ducked inside the room, he noticed Brandon's shoulder blades stiffen at his approach.
Good. He was not asleep.
"Time to get up, James. My men allowed you too long to rest," he announced.
The younger man didn't speak to him, not that Daichi had expected him to do so. He reveled in the bruises and abrasions that were far more prominent on Brandon's face than they'd been the night before.
We are off to a good start, but I have a lot of ground to cover.
His captive groaned softly as Daichi cast him over his shoulder without a trace of gentleness. He could have been carrying a sack of grain as far as he was concerned. The man didn't bother struggling as Daichi carried him out into the open room.
Daichi's eyes searched the ceiling, looking for a strong pipe to serve his purpose. When he located one that was large enough, he cast Brandon to the ground and released the manacles pinning his wrists momentarily.
"Kenta, grab the stool, and then come help me get him into position," he called to the remaining guard that trailed behind him.
The man retrieved the requested item, and came over to support the captive's frame while Daichi bound his wrists around the pipe.
"Now let him go," Daichi instructed. He nodded with satisfaction as the manacles held, and the prisoner was successfully suspended from the pipe. He ran his fingers over the well-defined muscles in Brandon's back, smiling over what he had in mind.
Daichi had no intention of asking the man any questions, not until he had Brandon where he wanted him. He left the stool in place for the other guard, who was coming with the water he'd ordered.
At his motion, the warrior understood what Daichi wanted without the man being forced to speak the command. The guard climbed the stool to get nearer to Brandon and dumped both pitchers of ice water over him. The young man gasped under the cold assault, shivering violently.
"Do you want more?" the guard asked Daichi.
"No, Eiji, that is enough for the moment. Stand back with Kenta, and prepare to learn a lesson from me."
The leather strap felt at home in Daichi's hands. He didn't normally bother with weapons in combat, but for the purpose of breaking, Takashi-sama had encouraged their use. Over time Daichi had developed a particular fondness for the simplicity of the instrument.
"Why did I have you soak him first, Eiji?" he asked importantly.
"Because the cold can intensify pain?"
"You are correct. I am undecided in how far I am going to push our guest today. I am merely going to begin, and see how he fares over a period of a few minutes." Daichi took a stance behind the prisoner, but continued addressing his men. "We need have no fear of excess noise, because of the way these walls and ceiling have been insulated. No one will hear him outside, so we don't have to take extra steps to muffle him."
Without any further words, Daichi laid the strap across the man's back with a powerful snap, smirking at the painful response it elicited. He didn't miss a beat as he struck the leather across his back three more times in succession. He felt his blood lust pulsing with every blow he delivered. Daichi fed off the pain he inflicted, and was close to whipping himself into a full blown frenzy.
He'd been at it for over ten minutes before he forced himself to take a breath. Takashi-sama has always been there to slow me down in times past, but I have to control myself here. This man is surely not as strong as one of the Shitenno, so I ought to check how he is faring.
Brandon's body was limp, and Daichi could hear him heaving for breath. He noted the depth and width of the wounds he'd drawn on the prisoner's back, and circled around front to look the young man in the eyes. His captive swallowed, but maintained steely eye contact with him.
Daichi cracked a smile. He could go a little longer, easily.
The Asian man raised the strap again, bringing it down across his prisoner's chest. Daichi took a new thrill in seeing the pain etched in Brandon's eyes, and spent a few more minutes unleashing part of the rage that had been building up over a year and a half.
Brandon was barely aware of his surroundings as someone fussed with the manacles that were chaining his arms to the overhead pipe. He had no control over his body as he was lowered down, and dropped unceremoniously on his stomach. Through the fiery burn of his injuries, he had little time to enjoy the first freedom his arms had experienced since being taken.
He focused on breathing, removing himself from the thought of pain as much as humanly possible. Brandon was still trying to regulate his airway when a foot crashed into his side, and someone yanked him onto his back. Fresh lacerations protested the action fiercely.
"With me, James?" Daichi asked snidely.
Brandon wanted to spit in his face, and if he'd had the energy, he probably would have. He had to settle for glaring at Daichi to partially cover for his persistent fear.
"I can have more water brought if you have need," Daichi offered casually.
Slowly, painfully, Brandon sat up partially on his elbows. "Van al Infierno."
Daichi chuckled. "I am needing an interpreter for you, James. I think that is enough for this hour. I am sure you miss your room."
Not really, no, Brandon thought regretfully. But it sure beats dealing with you.
His breath seized in his chest as the two guards jerked him by the arms on some unseen signal, and dragged him backward toward the space that was too small to be considered a real room. Brandon hated giving the men any knowledge that they were hurting him, but he couldn't refrain from reacting painfully to the way they handled him.
It isn't necessary. They could carry me, the jerks, he thought crossly. Then again, am I honestly getting irritated with the bad guys for acting like bad guys? He grimaced at the thought of the bacteria he was going to pick up through open wounds. I wonder how long it'll take for infection to kill me if they don't.
Brandon rolled his eyes. Way to think positive. No more dying talk. The guys will come after me.
When they dropped him in his cell, Brandon figured he had maybe another hour before he'd be bothered again. That belief was corrected when Daichi showed back up at the doorway almost immediately.
"I think we talk now maybe," Daichi said.
"I have nothing to say," Brandon said shortly. Not true. I've got all kinds of things I'd love to say to your face, but then I'll end up hurting worse than I already am.
"That is what I thought, so I keep this short. I have something to show you, James."
Could you leave me alone for five minutes? Is that too much to ask? Really?
Nevertheless, when Daichi rolled a familiar piece of luggage into the room, he craned his neck to see it.
"Why on earth do you have my bag? I guarantee there's nothing in there that you're going to want." Brandon was baffled.
Daichi laughed. "You were to take plane." In a flash, the man held up his boarding pass from the flight he was supposed to have been on.
"What?"
"You leave last night. This is what your friends think."
Brandon stiffened as Daichi's words sunk in. My God. This can't be happening.
"So I expect no interruption. There is much to look forward to," Daichi told him.
Brandon felt like the closet was shrinking, becoming even smaller. No. They have to realize something's wrong. There's got to be something to set them off. Donny's too smart for that, and Leo—
"You want to hope for them to come, no doubt." Daichi grinned. "But you are in my world, and they see nothing."
Brandon snorted. "You're fooling yourself. When have they failed to catch up with you?"
"You believe in your Shitenno, but they have failed. Haruko is proof of that."
Why is he bringing Calley into this?
"The orange demon—"
"He has a name," Brandon interrupted boldly.
"Do I care? As I said, the demon called Haruko a 'gift', but they allow Shirou to hold her for months."
Brandon was tempted to roll his eyes again. The turtles didn't even know Calley at that point, idiot.
"Many girls went from us to new owners, which the Shitenno never rescued. They still are not found."
Brandon's eyes narrowed. "How do you sleep at night?"
Daichi smiled at him. "It is easy. I don't care, James. Nor do I care for you. I will make your life hell, like others the demons cannot see."
He's wrong. I know he's wrong, but I'm not going to correct him again. Let him think they're not coming. It's only a matter of time before they realize I'm missing.
"You still believe, but that will change. I take pleasure in stealing that hope from you."
Brandon fought to avoid cringing as the man towered over him. Daichi roughly turned him over, twisting his arms together to replace the manacles Brandon hadn't missed. He gasped as Daichi intentionally flexed his right arm at an unnatural angle, and applied painful pressure.
He tried to steel himself against the agony, to remain as impassive as stone, but his body wouldn't cooperate with him. Brandon's eyes watered as Daichi still wasn't satisfied to release his arm. He cried out as he felt a bone snap, and cursed the man loudly under duress.
Daichi finished binding his arms, and his fingers closed on Brandon's hair to force his head up. "I give you time to think, James."
Brandon trembled on the cement. The pain in his arm was canceling everything else out, so that he didn't notice Daichi was gone until he heard the door close.
Look for me, guys! Please look for me!