Author's Note: Wow, six chapters and done, again. Well, I promised you I was straying away from the original ending. I hope you enjoy.
Brainwashing and Blackmail
Chapter 6: Loyal To The Bitter End
Natsuno and Dr. Ozaki met with Akira and Kaori. These were the only humans Natsuno could trust with his existence; the only ones who knew what was really going on. He explained the situation to them. He and Dr. Ozaki had agreed it would be better to wait for the remaining villagers to be gathered at the Kagura festival before making a move, but now things had changed. Natsuno had been invited in, and they had made it personal.
"Why do you have to fight them, you could be killed!" Kaori worried.
"I'm already dead, Kaori-Chan," Natsuno sighed, "It doesn't matter one way or another what happens to me. But I can't leave Tohru with them any longer. I never liked him having to go back to them in the first place. I'm sure you'd do the same if Akira was in there," he explained.
Kaori nodded. "Yes, I suppose you're right."
"So you need our blood to help you fight the monsters, Natsuno-Niisan?" Akira asked.
Natsuno nodded. "I'm not fond of the stuff, and would prefer not to ask it of any of you," he assured them. "I can survive without it, but it makes me stronger. If I'm going into their lair, I need your help. I figure if you each willingly give it, the blood of three humans will give me the strength to reach their 'Queen' and take out as many of them as I can in the process."
"Yuuki-Kun?" Kaori asked hesitantly, "What about Megumi-Chan?"
Natsuno sighed, "She was your best friend, Kaori, I understand that, and I'm sorry to be so crass about her. But that pink bitch has robbed me of too much since I came here, and she's the one who took your parents. I have a special stake in store for her. Ozaki-Sensei, I have a special one for the bastard who took your wife, too."
"You know which one bit Kyouko?" Dr. Ozaki asked, flicking the ashes from his cigarette. Natsuno nodded. "You certainly are well informed about them, aren't you, kid?" He was equally saddened and impressed.
"I need you to find an excuse to keep Muroi-San away from Kanemasa while I'm there, Ozaki-Sensei," Natsuno said.
"Why would Seishin…?" Dr. Ozaki started to ask.
"I'm sorry to inform you your boyfriend's in bed with the enemy, too," Natsuno sighed. "According to Tohru, Seishin and Sunako have been having midnight rendezvous for months. They became even more frequent after Kyouko turned. Tohru has no idea how much Seishin knows about Sunako's intentions, so I'm not asking you to kill him. The last thing I want is for something like that to happen between the two of you as well. But I need him to stay away from Kanemasa while I'm there. If he shows up and tries to protect Sunako, I will be forced to kill him, and I'd rather not take a human life. I'd also prefer as many humans as possible be kept away from any panicked Shiki. It's dangerous for him to be there either way."
Toshio Ozaki took another drag off his cigarette and blew out the smoke. "I'll keep him busy, don't worry about that."
Natsuno raised an eyebrow, that statement almost sounded sexually suggestive. Kaori noticed that too, as her face flushed a bright red. Akira was only thirteen, though, the Dr.'s suggestive overtones had completely eluded him. The three of them agreed to Natsuno's request. Starting with the oldest, Dr. Ozaki, and working to the youngest, Akira, Natsuno drank from each of them. He did his best to make it as painless as possible, and only took what he needed. The three of them were a little woozy afterward, but no worse for wear otherwise. Natsuno gave Akira and Kaori enough money to pay their bus fare back to the city and sent them on their way. Toshio left to find Seishin, and Natsuno made his way for Kanemasa. This would all end tonight.
Natsuno approached Kanemasa, it was eerily quiet. None of the Shiki seemed to be nearby, but the gates were open. "Well, I guess that means come on in," Natsuno said. He passed through the gates and approached the doors.
The gates slammed shut and the doors slowly swung open. Natsuno took a step backwards as Megumi trotted outside. "Hello there, Yuuki-Kun," she giggled happily.
"Shimizu…" Natsuno's voice held no emotions; no fear, no hate, no love, no enthusiasm, nothing. The utterance of her name was dry, simple, and deadpan.
Megumi frowned. "Aren't you happy to see me, Yuuki-Kun?" she asked, batting her eyelashes at him. "I was so happy when Tatsumi-Kun told me you hadn't been cremated, and that you were coming to join us here." She slipped up to Natsuno and leaned in for an attempted kiss.
Tatsumi smiled. He was watching from the window in his room. It was angled well enough to see out into the courtyard, without being noticed. This was good for him, because he was forcing the still bound and gagged Tohru to watch as the scene played out.
Natsuno tried to lean away from Megumi for a moment, before realizing he had a better opportunity if he played along. Megumi smiled and threw her arms around Natsuno when she saw he wasn't fighting back. "Oh, Yuuki-Kun! I knew you really cared," she giggled, once again leaning in for her kiss.
Natsuno let Megumi's lips touch his. Tohru couldn't believe his eyes. He tried to pull away from Tatsumi and scream, neither of which was accomplished. Natsuno smirked. "Gotch'ya'," he said as he pulled away from Megumi's lips and jabbed a wooden stake through her heart. Attached to the stake was the good luck charm that Kaori had bought for Megumi's birthday, the same one that had been discarded at her grave. Megumi shrieked in pain and horror as the stake buried its way into her heart. "Rot in hell, bitch!" Natsuno snarled as he pushed her away.
"Damn it!" Tatsumi growled. Tohru breathed a sigh of relief, glad to see the whole thing had been a rouse.
Tatsumi was his next target, he'd take out whatever Shiki got in his way, but he was saving his energy for Tatsumi. Natsuno was in luck, on his way to find Tatsumi, he found the Kirishiki couple, Chizuru and Seishirou. Seishirou was human, Natsuno couldn't kill him, but Chizuru was a Shiki. The Kirishiki couple passed themselves off as Sunako's parents, but in truth, Sunako was much older than either, looking at Chizuru as a daughter. He saw an opportunity. As a Jinrou, Natsuno could bleed Shiki. A Shiki could feed from humans and Jinrou; but Jinrou seemed to be able to feed from any source. It was odd how a creature sired by the Shiki could be so much stronger and appear to have fewer weaknesses. Natsuno grabbed the end of Seishirou's gun with one hand and flung the human to the side. He bit into Chizuru's neck, draining her of several ounces of blood before staking her with one of his spares. Tatsumi wanted to exhibit the strength of the Jinrou? Natsuno was going to take him on with as much of an edge as he could get! Of course, Natsuno refused to kill Seishirou. The human had been winded by hitting the wall. Natsuno bit Seishirou's neck as well. Drinking from the Kirishiki couple, Natsuno now had the blood of four humans and a Shiki running through his veins. He hypnotized Seishirou, knowing there was still a third Jinrou, Yoshie, running loose. He would leave Seishirou to handle her.
As Natsuno made his way for Tatsumi's room, Nao approached him. "Y-Yuuki-Kun, right?" she asked.
Natsuno hesitated, so far none of the other Shiki had tried to stop and talk with him. "Nao, right?" he asked, cautiously.
She nodded her head. Her husband had been close friends with Toshio Ozaki and Seishin Muroi when they were kids. Having been turned, Nao had slowly killed off her husband, her child, and her in-laws, hoping to bring them 'to this side', so she could have her happy family forever. But none of them had come back. Everyone of them had passed from the mortal coil, leaving her alone. Natsuno found Nao's confession almost sobering in the moment. Nao held her hands together in front of her chest and bowed her head. "Yuuki-Kun, please tell me you have a stake in there for me?" she sobbed. "If I can't have my family with me, then I don't want to be here anymore." Natsuno heaved a sigh, feeling sorry for Nao. He pulled out a stake and gave her a sorrowful smile. She smiled and backed against the wall. "Thank you, Yuuki-Kun. Please, make it quick!"
Natsuno pierced the stake through her heart. "I hope you find your family on the other side," he said as the stake pinned her to the wall. He pushed the stake in deep and gently brushed her long black hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ears.
Natsuno found his way to Tatsumi's room, he could smell the green-haired Jinrou hiding on the other side of the door. "TATSUMI!" Natsuno called out, "Get out here!"
Tohru watched the look on Tatsumi's face, clearly this wasn't the way the green-haired Jinrou had expected tonight to go. "You idiot, he knows what you've done, doesn't he?" Tohru thought to himself, as he remembered Natsuno's words. 'He touches you and I'll kill him.'
Tatsumi opened the door. "Well, it seems you've made your reply more than clear," he said. "Looks like you won't be joining us after all."
"You should have known better than to send Shimizu out to greet me," Natsuno replied with a smug smile. "Now, I'll let you live long enough for you to release Tohru."
"Not a good idea," Tatsumi smirked, turning to let Natsuno see the bound and gagged Tohru. "He hasn't eaten in a few days, he could drain us both if I let him go right now."
"You bastard," Natsuno growled, when he saw Tohru.
"I told you I was using him as a little chew toy," Tatsumi chuckled. "What's the matter, don't like other people playing with your stuff?"
Natsuno snatched Tatsumi up by the neck, "My Tohru-Chan," and threw him into the wall on the other side of the hallway, "Isn't just some thing you can toy around with!" He ran to Tohru's side and removed the gag. "Tohru-Chan?"
"I'm alright, Natsuno," Tohru sighed, "Just a bit weak."
Natsuno pulled a pocket knife from his pocket. Flipping it open, he slipped it into Tohru's hand. "Cut yourself free, if you can. I've got to clean house." He grabbed the last two special stakes he'd had in tow, one for Tatsumi, and one for Sunako and tucked them into his jacket. Tatsumi wasn't going to get away with a simple staking. He wanted this bastard to suffer. He left the bag with the other stakes next to Tohru and went back out into the hall.
Tohru did his best to cut through the ropes. All the while he could hear the two Jinrou fighting it out in the hallway. Natsuno was proving faster and stronger than Tatsumi could have ever imagined. Tatsumi managed to land a few swift blows, but Natsuno countered them harder and stronger.
Sunako finally arrived on the scene, having heard all the commotion, she heard the gunshot as Seishirou shot Yoshie in the head, followed by another as he turned the gun on himself. Everyone around her was dieing, again. She had been hoping for a visit from Seishin Muroi tonight, but he had not shown, either. Sunako gasped in horror as she came across the battle between the two Jinrou. Natsuno had decided enough was enough, he had enough strength in him tonight he could have taken on both of Sunako's Jinrou at the same time. With one last blow, he threw Tatsumi to floor and pierced the stake through the Jinrou's heart.
"NOOOOOO!" Sunako shrieked. Natsuno looked up, he'd never even noticed she had arrived. "Tatsumi!? Tatsumi!" She ran to the green haired Jinrou's side, laying his head in her lap.
"S-Sunako, I'm sorry," Tatsumi managed to gasp out before his body stopped moving.
"No! Tatsumi, don't leave me," she sobbed, stroking the top of her Jinrou's head.
Tohru staggered out of Tatsumi's room, having finally cut through the ropes, but still very weak. "You two were close?" Natsuno asked, staying on his guard.
"Why? Why take my Tatsumi away from me?" she sobbed.
"You didn't see him as family, did you?" Tohru gasped, leaning against the door. The gasp wasn't over the sight before him, it was a forced attempt to speak. He recognized Sunako's reactions. This was not a woman holding her lost husband, nor a mother holding her lost child. This was a frightened little girl cradling her first dog after a terrible accident. "Chizuru you saw as a daughter. But Tatsumi, he wasn't a child or lover to you, he was more like a pet."
She looked up at Natsuno. "Why?" she asked.
Natsuno walked over to Tohru, letting the blonde Shiki lean on him. "Just as your Jinrou would do anything to protect you," he said, "I would do anything to protect my Shiki, too."
"Natsuno…" Tohru blushed and smiled.
"Tohru-Chan, what the hell did he do to you?" Natsuno asked, sadly looking Tohru over.
"I'll be fine, Natsuno," Tohru said softly.
"Liar, you're starved," Natsuno said. He could tell Tohru was trying not to bite him, while Sunako's presence still posed a threat.
Sunako stood up and walked over to them. "I can't control either one of you," she sighed sadly. "I'm the 'Queen' of this clan, and yet you're both immune to my hypnotism. How is it, Tohru Mutou, that you are the only other Shiki to sire a Jinrou? And how is it that he's acting so freely?"
Natsuno smiled. "You don't get it, do you? Tohru never had to hypnotize me. Did you sire the other two Jinrou yourself?" Sunako nodded meekly. "Did you hypnotize them, or did you befriend them?"
"I befriended them," Sunako answered confusedly.
"Then if Toshio hadn't kept him away, Seishin Muroi would have become a Jinrou eventually, too," Natsuno said.
"I don't understand?" Sunako said.
"Perhaps the 'lover's embrace' is forbidden, not because of who can control who or because of the two growing to hate one another over time," Natsuno said. "But because it creates Jinrou. We're stronger than the Shiki that Sire us, but will do anything to keep them safe, and do so willingly. But other Okiagari see themselves as inferior and don't want us to flourish." Natsuno shook his head, "No, Tohru-Chan never had to hypnotize me. When he explained things, I willingly gave him my blood. But then…" Natsuno looked over at the blonde and smiled sweetly at him. "He had me wrapped around his finger when we were still humans. From the moment he called me by my first name, I knew I was his; loyal to the bitter end." Natsuno threw down the stake he'd set aside for Sunako, she had suffered much loss tonight.
"Natsuno," Tohru smiled, pleasantly surprised to hear those words.
"Go!" Sunako said. "I will leave Sotoba tomorrow night. I never want to see the two of you again."
"Thank you, Sunako," Tohru said.
"Just so you know," Natsuno warned, "If we do cross paths again. If you pull another stunt like this, I won't be so merciful."
Sunako nodded, looking down at Natsuno's discarded stake. It had been a long time since someone had scolded her like a child. Her eyes sadly fell on Tatsumi's lifeless body. "You have my word, I won't bring such destruction upon another town ever again. Perhaps you're right, Yuuki-Kun? Perhaps there is a better way, a way we can coexist with the humans. I hope you and Tohru-Kun find it together. Please, leave me now."
Tohru and Natsuno nodded. With Tohru leaning on Natsuno's shoulder, they quietly left Kanemasa. Natsuno lead Tohru back to his father's house. It was the only place in Sotoba that would still be open to both of them. Natsuno sat gently sat Tohru on the couch. Up until now Tohru had been willingly leaning on Natsuno's shoulder for support. But the ordeal Tohru'd been through over the past few days had left him understandably shaken, and he was weak and starving. He had been getting gradually weaker since he freed himself from the ropes, and the trip from Kanemasa to Natsuno's father's house had given him enough time for everything that had happened since Tatsumi had caught him to really sink in. Natsuno took off his shirt and sat down on the couch. He gently reached over for Tohru, who made an unconscious half frightened movement to pull away. Natsuno frowned. "Tohru-Chan," he sighed, worriedly. He gently reached for his Shiki, cupping his warm hands over Tohru's cold ones. "Tohru, it's ok, it's just me," Natsuno whispered comfortingly, "No one's going to hurt you anymore, love." Tohru blinked and slowly turned his gaze back to Natsuno. Natsuno smiled and reached up, gently caressing Tohru's cheek. "It's alright, Tohru, come here." Tohru didn't need someone to be forceful with him right now. He needed someone gentle and understanding.
"Natsuno…" Tohru whispered, cautiously sliding close to his Jinrou.
"It's ok," Natsuno said again, gently wrapping his arms around Tohru, gently stroking his hand through Tohru's honey blonde curls. He gently pulled Tohru up into his lap. Tohru closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around Natsuno. He nuzzled Natsuno's neck, taking in the Jinrou's scent. He was almost afraid to bite and feed. "Tohru," Natsuno said, "It's ok, take your time, but I know you're hungry, and you'll heal faster if you feed. I've taken from four humans and a Shiki tonight, I doubt you could drain me dry as easily as you seem to be worried you will."
Tohru nodded quietly, hugging Natsuno tighter. He nuzzled his face into Natsuno's neck, gently kissing at it before finally baring his fangs and biting into it. He felt Natsuno's usual twitch accompanied with that soft gasp of pleasure, as the Jinrou's body stiffened, allowing the Shiki to feed. Tohru knew he didn't need to be afraid of hurting Natsuno, he also knew he didn't need to be afraid of Natsuno. As he fed, he realized he'd let his fear over what had happen try to push him away from the only one he could trust.
Natsuno smiled as he felt Tohru's embrace become stronger and more sincere, no longer frightened, but safe and comforted. Tohru slowly pulled away from Natsuno's neck, having drank his fill and gently kissed it. "Feeling better?" Natsuno asked sweetly.
Tohru nodded. "Much better!" He smiled and snuggled deep into Natsuno's chest. "Thank you, Natsuno. It was awful what they put me through, but I'm going to be ok. Now that I'm with you, I'm going to be fine."
Natsuno smiled. "I was worried sick when you didn't show up. When Tatsumi told me he'd used you as…" Natsuno stopped, he couldn't even repeat the words Tatsumi used, and considering Tohru's previous state of mind it was probably best he didn't, "When he told me he had you, I could have killed him on the spot." He sighed and leaned in, passionately kissing Tohru's lips. "I meant what I said, Tohru. I've been yours since you first said my name. I'll do anything to keep you safe."
"Even pretending to kiss Megumi, I noticed," Tohru said with a weak smile.
Natsuno stiffened. "You saw that?"
"Tatsumi was making me watch. I was too weak to pull free, but I wanted to break out of those ropes and rip that bitch's throat out myself," Tohru said.
Natsuno smiled, not the answer he'd expected from Tohru, but then he only knew what Tatsumi had done, not Shimizu. "She and Tatsumi can't hurt either of us any more, Tohru-Chan. And you don't have to worry about anyone ever taking me away from you. Like I said, I'm loyal to the bitter end."
They decided to stay at Natsuno's father's house for a few days, so Tohru could regain his strength before leaving Sotoba together completely. As the night of the Kagura festival fell on the town, the villagers found themselves celebrating the end of a long, taxing string of deaths, while Tohru and Natsuno made their way for the city.
As the two teenaged Okiagari walked away, they stopped and turned to take one last look at the town. The town that had brought them together, the town that had torn them apart, killed them, and brought them back again, giving them a second chance to be together, the town surrounded by death, it looked so small in the distance, now. Natsuno, the blue-haired Day Walker took the hand of the older moonlight-bound blonde. They were leaving their friends and family behind, but they still had each other. Tohru had always felt safer with Natsuno and he with Tohru, they were all they needed anymore.
"Are you ready, Tohru-Chan?" Natsuno asked, softly.
Tohru turned to look his Jinrou in the eyes and smiled with a nod. "Yeah, I'm ready, Natsuno. Together or not at all, right?" he parroted Natsuno.
Natsuno smiled and nodded back. "That's right, Tohru. Together or not at all." One last glance at the town, and they left.