A/N: Another chapter has surfaced. I know some of you were looking forward to the reunion but alas...I've still more to do before that happens.
Touhou paced the floor of his large office, one hand to his chin, the other wrapped around his waist. The horrific feelings he'd felt, while in the presence of Chika, were slowly leaving him. The very idea made him feel ill to his stomach. The mutt didn't deserve any such feelings, especially from him. In a rare show of frustration, Touhou shoved the papers from his desk. The scattering pieces spilled all across the floor, some floating on an unseen draft of air. The Exorcist sighed as the sounds quieted around him. He'd known the possibility of feedback was possible. The spell wasn't used much in the history of the Touhou, thus only one other case was presented where the emotional feedback was so strong the exorcist using it eventually gave in and fell in love with the monster he was trying to control.
"Never in hell." Touhou spoke to himself. He frowned, looking out the window. No one moved without his consent. The grounds were empty of personnel as always. No one really traveled near his office unless they wished to catch his gaze. Often times that meant being sent out on dangerous tasks, or even just sent out for coffee and tea. It didn't matter what sort of mood he was in, it just mattered what he wanted. They never questioned him. Those who did, were never heard from again. Thus his subordinates moved according to his will. All of them, except for Shito.
Touhou leaned against the edge of his desk, both arms folded over his chest. His best guess was that Shito had somehow broken the spell put over his mind. That must be the reason for the emotions leaving Touhou. "I'll have to see to him soon. Firstly to see how the spell was broken. Secondly to retrieve the hand once again." Touhou sighed looking at the papers on the ground. "What a mess." The Exorcist stood once again and moved for the door, opening it swiftly.
"You there!" He spoke strongly to the guard down the hall. The man snapped his heels together and turned.
"Sir!" He replied sharply.
Touhou smiled and gestured inside his office. "Clean that mess up." He stepped down the hall towards the man, passing him. "If you read any of it, you'll never get the chance to think it over. Lock the door when you are finished." Touhou offered a smile then continued walking down the hallway. The guard, remained stiffly where he was while Touhou was near, then quickly hurried into the office and stacked the papers neatly, as fast as he could. Touhou chuckled silently to himself. He enjoyed how obedient his subordinates were. It had taken a bit of work, but now none of them would dare betray him.
The walk to Shito's room was long but Touhou didn't mind. He rather enjoyed his time on his own. It gave him time to think through everything clearly. At the moment his thoughts were centered around how to handle Shito now that his spell had been broken. He had half expected it after all. Eventually Shito would have seen through it. He was a brilliant boy, Touhou knew that. It's part of what excited him about Shito. The way that beautiful, perfect monster kept him guessing. It was so intriguing. Even if it was a struggle. Touhou wasn't too bothered by it though. Each time he was able to show Shito his power, his strength and complete control over the zombie's entire existence.
A sly smile slowly spread across his face as he entered the building in which Shito was living. He fixed his jacket as he approached the unguarded door. They hadn't really seen it necessary to stay near the door at all times. Two men turned the corner during their rounds and looked up to see Touhou approaching them.
"Ah, sir." The taller of the two guards spoke politely. "What brings you to these corridors? Ah- Could it be you need Shito Shao ye?"
Touhou looked at the two guards a moment, regarding them. He then nodded. "I've no other reason to enter into this building do I?" Touhou raised his head, looking at them down his nose then looks down again, eyes narrowed. "All has been quiet here, correct? Nothing out of the normal?"
"Ah, no sir." The smaller guard responded, not meeting his master's eyes. "We've not seen or heard anything that would arouse suspicion."
Touhou watched him a moment. "Raise your head when speaking. It's revolting to see a coward in my presence."
The man snapped his head up and spoke a little too quickly. "Yes, sir!"
"Please pardon him, sir. He hasn't been here as long as the rest of us." The taller spoke to help his junior.
Touhou sneered a little but quickly hid it away. "See to it that you learn our ways very quickly. That is all." The Exorcist waved them both off slightly irritated at having been interrupted. He turns sharply on his heel and walked the rest of the way down the hallway towards Shito's bedroom door. He stood outside it a moment before pulling the small key ring from his pocket. The soft jangle barely registered in the hall as he slid the key into the lock turning it swiftly as he pushed the door open.
Shito turned sharply from the window, his hands resting on the heavy drapes, pulled nearly closed. His eyes narrowed seeing Touhou as he snapped the drapes the rest of the way. He turned to face the Exorcist, folding his arms over his chest.
Touhou chuckled latching the door behind him and turned the lock. He walked slowly around the room touching and shifting things as he went. Shito's glare deepened and he shuffled his feet in impatience. Touhou ignored him and kept doing as he pleased. He explored the room, purposely moving things to annoy Shito.
"What do you want?" Shito growled. Had he been in his right mind, he would have used a different tone but at the present he was too angry to care. Still, Touhou ignored him as he continued to move about the room. Shito let out a frustrated sigh and stalked over, taking Touhou's arm in his hand. "Touhou!" He nearly yelled. "What. Do. You. Want?" Shito spit venom with each word. Finally Touhou acknowledged Shito's presence.
"Do not touch me with that hand." Touhou said in a low voice. His on hand moved swiftly, back-handing Shito's left cheek. Jarred, Shito released the man's arm and stepped back, holding his cheek, eyes widened slightly.
"It's my hand, Touhou, no Chi- Akatsuki's." Shito said.
"That doesn't matter anymore." Touhou sneered."As I've told you before that hand is tainted." Touhou gave Shito a very disapproving look. "Even your mind is tainted." Touhou stepped away from Shito almost like he had a disease.
Shito stared at him, his eye brows furrowed. Does he know?The living corpse thought to himself. He took another step back standing right against the drapes. He watched as the man paced the room further then eventually sat down on the bed. Shito's breath caught ever so slightly in his throat. He feared that Bekko and Sotetsu would be discovered in the room if Touhou stayed much longer. He swallowed feeling the Exorcist's eyes move towards him.
Touhou's expression was nearly unreadable but Shito could see the underlying emotion of anger. The man watched Shito in silence for several more minutes before he spoke again, breaking the silence. " Tell me Shito-sama. And please…be completely honest. What do you feel exactly for Akatsuki-kun?" His eyes meet Shito's in a dead lock.
Shito looked at him a moment. "I love him." He said. Normally he would try to hide it but he just didn't seem to care any longer. Touhou seemed to know already so what purpose would there be in lying about it? "I love him and I want him back." Shito reiterated, his eyes serious.
Touhou's eyes narrowed at the confession. He'd known that was the case but hearing it said to his own face was another matter. "Well that doesn't really matter now does it?" Touhou stood. "He's not yours to claim." The Exorcist took a step closer one hand raised across his chest, the soft pink glow at his fingertips. "In fact…you aren't in the position to claim at all. You're nothing but a perfect monster, Shito-sama. You can't possibly find love." The man's lips curled into a rueful smile as he stepped even closer.
"You don't know anything about me…or love." Shito glared not having anywhere to go as his back was against the window. "Why can't you just leave me alone?"
Touhou laughed a little as he stepped closer still, only inches away. "Don't try to hide anything, Shito. I have felt your true emotions. They were nothing but a mere fantasy. You'll never taste what you desire." Touhou's dark smile grew. "He's not the man you once knew. It's pitiful really…a soulless doll with no purpose. Ch. He barely even looked at me."
Shito's eyes faltered a little. "What…did you do to him?"
Touhou regarded him a moment. "I would never touch the mutt. I've done nothing more than speak to him." Touhou reached out and cupped Shito's face in his palm looking into his eyes, his expression changing. "He never mentioned you, when I spoke to him. That, Shito-sama, is the honest truth."
"You're lying. You've done nothing but lie to me since I got here." Shito responded. He moved away from the window, his shoulder brushing passed Touhou, knocking him aside a little. He didn't care what Touhou had to say. He just wanted him gone and out of the way so he could find Chika. He frowned as he plopped himself down in his chair, leaning his chin on his fist and staring out at the room, anywhere but where Touhou stood.
The Exorcist sighed audibly and walked over towards him. Touhou gently took Shito's face in his hand directing the boy's eyes towards him. "Please look at me Shito-sama." Touhou cooed as if he spoke to a small child. Reluctantly, Shito did as he was asked, his wine red eyes meeting the cold dark eyes of the man he hated most. No. Almost, Shiba now held that. "I'm not lying to you. I haven't the reason. I just thought I'd let you know." Touhou leaned in closer, trapping Shito in his chair, his face inches away once again. "What will you do? You are nothing to him. He didn't ask where you were. He didn't ask how you felt. He didn't even murmur a word pertaining to your existence. He's forgotten you. He's probably glad to be rid of you." Touhou smiled that sickeningly sweet smile. His voice thick as honey. "And who would blame him? Someone like you? Who could love you, Shito? No one will. You were not born to be loved. You were born a monster. Disgustingly beautiful. That's all you are. Nothing more, nothing less. You are not meant to be in this human world. Yet here you are. Staining it with your forbidden existence."
Shito's eyes faltered slightly but he managed to keep a glare shooting into Touhou's eyes. Part of him believed those words. He always had. And up until now they had been true. Everyone thought him a monster, a freak. He didn't age. To humans that wasn't normal. Some called him a demon. Some even tried to vanquish him in the past. It was ingrained in his memory that he would never be wanted. Only possessed by Lao Ye, obsessed by Touhou. It wasn't a life. It truly was an existence. Could it really be that's what Chika felt as well? Maybe those words carved into his hand were just some cruel sick joke they were all playing on him.
"Touhou…please stop telling me those things." Shito's voice sounded a little fallen. Partly because he believed what Touhou said, and partly because he wanted Touhou to think he believe him. If Touhou would be satisfied, he would leave. Then Shito would be able to further plan and discuss with Bekko and Sotestu on how to find Chika. He'd have to wait until he saw Chika for himself before he believed the words he'd been given completely. "I…I don't want to hear them."
Touhou stood and arched his head back a little, looking at Shito down the bridge of his nose. "I see…" He smirks a little. "I need you to remove that hand, Shito."
Shito pulled his head up. "What?" He unconsciously held the hand tighter in his other.
"It's been an hour. Soon it'll start to rot again. You know you can't keep your own hand for much longer." Touhou said holding out a white towel for Shito to place the hand into.
Shito's eyes widened ever so slightly. He wouldn't be able to summon his revolver without that hand. Nonetheless he couldn't let Touhou know of his plans. Hesitantly, Shito removed the hand, instantly feeling the loss, and settled it gently in the towel. Within seconds Touhou had wrapped it up in a bundle and started heading for the door. He stopped once there and turned to look at Shito once more. "I will return shortly. Please be patient Shao Ye." He said unlocking the door and stepped out.
Shito heard the latches lock once more and he sighed, letting his body slump in the chair, the exposed wrist held carefully against his chest. Bekko and Sotetsu slowly moved from their respective hiding places to stand around him. Sotetsu's expression was obviously angry and disturbed. Bekko held up a hand to stop the words he knew would come spilling forth.
"Shito-kun. We have to work fast." Bekko said.
Shito nodded. "I know." He turned towards the window and looked out at what he thought was the right building. "Hang in there Akatsuki…" He touched the window pane with his one hand and closed his eyes leaning his forehead against it. "Hang in there…just a little longer. I'll find you."
A/N: And there you are. Once again, thank you all for reading thus far. And for reviewing. It really helps to motivate my writing and make it the best I can at this point.