Touhou looked over at his companion after Shito had left. He studied the shinigami's body language and smirked slightly. "You seem to have been disturbed seeing Shito-sama." Touhou spoke sitting down in his chair. He leaned his elbows on the desk and locked his fingers together, his chin resting upon them lightly. He looked up at Shiba to wait for the response.
"Not at all." Shiba said waving his hand. "More of an interest at how well behaved he was. However do you manage?" Shiba smiled tilting his head slightly forward.
"It is merely a matter of exorcist mastery." Touhou answered. "Or simply knowing how to handle one's own personal responsibilities when it comes to caring for another." The Exorcist's sickeningly sweet smile slowly appeared. He pushed back from the desk and leaned back in his chair. Both hands lay across his stomach, fingers laced together.
Shiba watched him a moment. "I believe you are correct. Though each person is different. They have different needs." Shiba chuckled slightly. "My little Chika for example."
"Ah yes. Akatsuki-kun never was very good at taking orders was he?" Touhou arched his brow. "Are you having troubles with your pet?"
Shiba scoffed then returned his gaze to Touhou, a smirk on his lips. "Not at all." The shinigami moved forward and leaned against the wall nearest to Touhou. "You'd be surprised at the progress we've made over the last few days. Though he's still physically weak from his injuries and rotting hand. Things should become more enjoyable once he's whole again."
Touhou closed his eyes and nodded. "So it would seem." He remained silent for a few moments before opening his eyes again and turned his chair to face Shiba. "Perhaps he could use a little more help. I would do it myself, but I am a very busy man." Touhou stood and moved around his desk to slowly pace the floor space in front of it. "Shito Shao Ye doesn't quite seem convinced yet."
Shiba looked at him, arms folded across his chest. "Is that so?" He chuckled quietly before continuing. "Are you asking for assistance in convincing him?"
Touhou shook his head. "I am in no need of your help." The Exorcist locked eyes with Shiba. "I merely need a private audience with Akatsuki-kun."
Shiba stood up straight to face Touhou. He dropped both hands and slid one inside his pants pocket. "What exactly would you be doing that can't be done in my presence?"
"Nothing to worry about, I can assure you." Touhou nodded in reassurance. "I will only be speaking to him. I believe he will speak more openly without your presence." Touhou smiled almost gently. "I am accustomed to this sort of conversation."
Shiba regarded him a moment. He wasn't sure what Touhou was getting at. Why he'd even want to be near Chika. He narrowed his eyes slightly watching the Exorcist in front of him. "I suppose it should be alright. Just don't harm him. In his weakened state, exorcism wouldn't bode well."
Touhou laughed a quick, short burst. "Of course not. I wouldn't dream of it. I only use exorcism when I need it. Such a pathetic mutt as Akatsuki-kun isn't worth the energy."
"I would appreciate it, if you showed more respect, Touhou. I do not speak ill of your Shito-sama." Shiba chided as if scolding a child.
Touhou smiled and nodded bowing his head. "So it would seem." He moved forward and carefully wrapped the hand in Shiba's towel. "Would you mind waiting out in the courtyards or somewhere while I speak with him?"
"You wish to do it now?" Shiba asked. He hadn't expected Touhou's request to come so quickly.
"Why yes, of course. We don't have time to waste if we wish this to work." Touhou nodded tucking the wrapped hand carefully against his body. "I'll only be a short while. Please?" Touhou gestured towards the door for Shiba to exit ahead of him.
Shiba sighed and nodded. He moved as suggested and left the room, stopping just outside the door. "Please remember, he is quite vulnerable now. He doesn't need you to convince him of anything. Chika understands."
Touhou smiled and nodded his agreement. "Of course. If you will excuse me?" Touhou turned on his heel and moved down the hallway. He carried the severed hand in both of his. The scent of rotting teased his nostrils but didn't bother him. Years of serving the rotting body of Lao Ye gave him a tolerance to it. He hadn't a need to worry about Shiba going to speak with Shito. The guards would stop him, assuming he found the room in which he was housed.
The Exorcist rather enjoyed his status amongst the Xu Fu Mafia. No one bothered him or stopped him as he moved about unnecessarily. Even if they wondered where he was going, no one questioned him. When he ordered the creation of the bedroom suite at the top of one of their buildings, there was no discussion needed. He was obeyed immediately. By all intents and purposes, Touhou was the true leader of the Xu Fu. No one else ever spoke to, or had contact with the Head Dragon Lao Ye. This was not something he enjoyed, though he knew it was the best position for him to accomplish the things he wished. For that, Touhou quietly did as he was requested and lived the rest of his life as though he had no master at all.
He flashed a look at two men standing in the hallway as he neared them. One noticed his presence and quickly took the other's arm pulling him out of the center of the hallway. Both bowed their heads politely as the Exorcist passed them. Neither dared to speak again until he had turned the corner. Touhou smiled to himself, a slight chuckle shook his shoulders. He didn't care if they saw his reaction, nor did it matter.
"I wonder how vulnerable Akatsuki-kun truly is?" Touhou thought to himself. He had a slight doubt at Shiba's abilities to control the unruly boy. Part of his reason for speaking with Chika was to see how far along he'd come. The first time he'd met Chika, he'd wanted to test the filthy mutt's abilities against his own. He'd wanted to torture him, to see what drove him to do what he did. Perhaps later on, he would get the chance. In his weakened state, Touhou knew Chika was no match for Exorcism. He'd wait until a day further along when he was completely healed.
The elevator doors opened as Touhou approached them just as one of the men in charge of taking care of Chika exited. He carried an empty tray under his arm. Touhou nodded to him and waited as he passed by before stepping aboard the elevator. He pressed the button with a lazy movement of his hand and stood in the direct center as the machine began its ascent.
Touhou turned the small package in his hand and opened it, looking over the hand that had once belonged completely to Chika. Shito hadn't wrapped it to help the decaying, though he'd had better treatments on it, than Chika did. It was interesting how the two hands rotted and decayed at different rates. Touhou believed it could have been because of the circumstances in which they each became zombies. Shito was born as one, Chika became one after dying. Perhaps it was that simple fact was the explanation. Touhou smiled wrapping it up again. It was the only explanation. Death was a very peculiar thing. The living dead, were more so. The rules seemed to change the moment the body began moving again.
Touhou's thoughts were interrupted by the elevator doors as they slid open. The tiny bell signaled arrival. He ducked his head slightly and walked out onto the carpet. He turned easily on one heel then moved down the corridor to the special room that was reserved just for Chika. With skilled fingers, he pulled a key from his pocket and unlocked the door, almost too quietly to hear from inside. He pushed the door open and stepped inside, closing it silently behind him. He stood there a moment waiting to be acknowledged by the pale creature upon the bed.
Chika moved slightly when he didn't feel the bed shift beneath him. If Shiba had returned he would surely be next to him. He stiffened slightly and turned to look over his shoulder slowly. His dull, gold eyes took a few moments to process who it was that stood in the room with him. His expression didn't change but Touhou was certain he saw a faint brightening in the filthy mutt's eyes.
"Touhou." Chika said simply. He stared at the Exorcist a few moments longer.
"Of course." Touhou responded, not yet moving from his place by the door. He was intrigued at the quiet, somber nature this boy now had. He found it pitiful, sad even how quickly the once raging, greedy, obnoxious zombie had changed.
Chika nodded his own response then weakly pushed himself up into a sitting position. His thin legs dangled over the edge of the bed, bare and appearing fragile. He cradled his exposed wrist against his chest, protecting it. His eyes slowly dragged back up to look at Touhou. Chika didn't say anything for a while and merely watched him.
Touhou cocked his head to one side after a few minutes then took a step forward. Chika's body tensed ever so slightly. To the untrained eye, the movement would have gone completely unnoticed. The Exorcist ceased his movement a moment. He studied Chika without words. Each time he took a step closer, Chika seemed to tense.
"Akatsuki-kun, you seem afraid of something." Touhou's voice was as is heard in normal conversation. He wasn't speaking with the intentions of threats or teasing. He merely stated a fact. One which he knew was true and neither party could deny it.
Chika remained silent a moment forcing his shoulders to relax, the blanket clutched tightly in his only hand. The knuckles on his left hand had turned white and his hand shook. "Some things cannot be controlled." He spoke softly, his voice dry and harsh. He hadn't had anything to drink in quite some time. Partially because he refused any he was offered. He didn't trust it. How could he? Shiba had drugged him once before and Chika wasn't about to let it happen again.
Touhou smiled slightly at the comment. So the boy had become wise in the last week. The Exorcist shook his head and closed the distance between himself and Chika. He stood directly in front of him and waited for the zombie to look up at him. Once Chika's head had tilted upwards, Touhou slowly bent down and held out the small package he carried. "I've personally brought your hand to you, Akatsuki-kun." Touhou unwrapped it with one hand. "Please, take it and allow it to regenerate as it should."
Chika blinked and stared down at the hand. Touhou himself had brought it? The mere fact was troubling. Touhou never once did anything for anyone other than himself and the occasion of Lao Ye. Chika knew that much. His left hand reached out slowly and lifted his right, the one that truly belonged to his body. He held it a moment before attaching it to his empty wrist. He could feel the pain in the rotting flesh once again as it longed for its rightful owner. Chika always felt a change whenever his original hand was reattached. It was an odd feeling, not of being made whole but of having something back that was lost. It was a feeling that neither Chika, nor Shito had ever been able to really describe.
Touhou stood and moved back a few steps to observe. Chika ignored the man's presence and held his hand to his chest. He could sense the slightest bit of Shito's scent upon the flesh. It was barely noticeable but he'd recognize Shito anywhere with that faint scent of Chinese perfume. Chika's lips twitched a tiny smile. It disappeared in a flash a mere second after it had come. The zombie let out a long breath. Slowly, he relaxed. He seemed to know that Touhou had not come to taunt or harm. His curiosity was slowly rising, however, as to the actual reason Touhou had come. He looked back up, dull eyes meeting Touhou's.
Touhou had a plain expression on his face, completely unreadable. Normally he would have relished in the sight. He disliked Chika Akatsuki, and would never pity him. The Exorcist's own thoughts surprised him. Perhaps what he was taking from Shito, was filtering into his own subconscious. Perhaps that was why he couldn't bring a smirk or slight taunt to his lips. He actually felt badly for the pitiful creature. Chika even reminded him slightly of Lao Ye. The thin body, skin nearly transparent, and rotting decay. It was a sight he hadn't expected to see. Not after just one week. Not even that. Days even. What had Shiba done to cause this drastic of a change. Was it the shinigami's core inside him? The possibility was quite real. Touhou pieced things together quickly in his head.
"I'd suggest you eat, Akatsuki-kun." Touhou spoke, breaking the silence. The sudden words caused Chika to jump. "You are not meant to die here. It would only cause trouble, you see." Why was Touhou speaking as if he cared? He shook his head again and backed further away. "Shiba-san will become most angry when he finds out." The last statement seemed to fit Touhou better. The Exorcist began to regain himself. The sudden emotions had become strong enough that he almost reached out to touch Chika. He'd thought he'd only be fighting Shito. He hadn't expected Shito's own desires to filter into his conscious mind. The spell did have repercussions but this hadn't been explained as one of them. Touhou would have to figure out why it happened. If this continued, he'd have to cease his spell on Shito's mind.
Chika didn't speak any response. He merely shifted his glance from his healing hand, to Touhou, then back again. The tray that had been brought earlier still sat untouched. The steam still seeped out from under the cover. The hot meal should have tempted Chika but it didn't. Touhou found that interesting. Chika was learning things he wasn't expected to. Being a zombie it wasn't necessary for him to eat as often as living humans, but he still needed the nourishment. His hand wouldn't heal properly if he didn't take care of the rest of his body's needs.
Touhou sighed quietly, fighting off the caring desires in his head. "You must eat. A filthy mutt like you would only become more so." Touhou managed a slight smirk.
"I will not trust anything given to me here." Chika spoke again. His gaze didn't move from the hand he held carefully in his lap. "I will not trust." The repeated section seemed childlike.
It was obvious that Chika was broken. He'd been brutally torn down and shaped into the empty doll he was now. Still, even without Shito's emotional influence on him, Touhou found the speed of the events slightly shocking. He hadn't expected Shiba to be right. While Chika still held a slight bit of hope that he'd see Shito again, he hadn't the fight or spirit to make it happen. Touhou knew it to be true, and thus didn't fear any retaliation. Chika was worthless, nothing.
Touhou looked at the boy a moment. Not sure why he'd come anymore. He'd wanted to observe and see what Shiba's tactics had done. But there was nothing more to observe. Everything was plain and in the open. Chika, even in his words, didn't try to hide it. Touhou had hoped for some small thing he could use. Something, even microscopic, that would aid him in distracting Shito from the idea that something was wrong. That was his main goal in coming. At least that is what he thought it was. But at the present, he wasn't certain. Was it his own will or Shito's influence that drove him to come up? Touhou wasn't certain. His confusion didn't bode well and he didn't like it. He narrowed his eyes slightly at Chika then turned quickly for the door. "I will be expecting that hand shortly. Eat. Let it heal. Consequences will be sure to follow if you don't." Touhou said quickly, then left. The door locks latching closed behind him.
Chika blinked, staring at the door a moment. Touhou's behavior was confusing to him as well. He shook his head to get the images from his mind. Touhou had looked at him for the briefest moment like Shito did when Chika had become injured. The sight was a little frightening since it came from an exorcist. One who very clearly displayed his strong dislike of Chika. He shook his head again and looked back down at the borrowed-and-returned, hand, slowly rubbing the back of it. Touhou had left him alone, which was what he wanted. He only hoped that Shiba would stay away for at least until the hands had to be switched again. The zombie hoped the hour would last a long time, though he knew he couldn't influence the flow of time at all. But little hopes kept him sane. So he clung to them tightly refusing to let go of them all. It was all he had. The one thing he had left was the hope that Shito still clung to hope as well.
Author's Note: There you are. Another chapter. This one is a little odd but I hope it makes sense to those who read it. Please, if you feel I could improve, let me know. Tell me what you think of this so I can become better at writing. Thank you for sticking with me this far.