**A.N.: What's this? Amalgam has been given free time? It's amazing what you can do after dropping one of your seven classes and are on spring break. It is already March. Heck. Anyway, this chapter was tricky to get back into and I ended up rewriting... pretty much all of it. The old version didn't work for me, as it was basically a birthday present to myself and very self indulgent. Not great for story telling. This is the first part of two, (Sorry Weeble, yes I'm doing the thing you told me not to) but I had to write most of the second part before I could publish this in case I needed to change any details to match (I did).
Thank you to those who reviewed and hello to new followers! Without further ado: **
Jadoku resisted the urge to scuff his feet along the floor as he walked a step behind Himitsu, letting him lead the way. He'd somehow thought they'd turn the corner and suddenly be wherever Taishou was holed up, but the longer they walked, the more lost Jadoku became. Perhaps he should have taken Himitsu up on his offer of a map. At least then he'd have a relative idea of where they were, instead of depending on Himitsu to get them back to where they'd been. If there was going to be a return trip at all…
This place was far more vast than his own wanderings had even begun to cover, and Jadoku had doubts there was an end. His hands clenched where they were hidden in the pockets of a thin jacket that he'd been provided, fingernails scraping uselessly along the scaled flesh, as Himitsu turned down another hallway. Just how much further did they need to go? The trip had already dragged out long enough to wear down any resolve Jadoku had dredged up, giving time for the seeds of dread to grow, disorientation building on the dizziness that still hadn't subsided fully.
It didn't help that Himitsu seemed to know, and be on good terms with, everyone they came across. The phantom feeling of a vice at Jadoku's throat increased with every person the man in front of him stopped to talk to, with every person who acted like Jadoku wasn't there, or worse, glanced at him every now and then in curiosity or fear.
What, exactly, had they been told? Jadoku buried his hands further in his pockets. What did they know about any of this?
After a pocket-sized eternity, the two eventually reached a promising set of doors. To the side of the closed entryway was a small, black panel with what at first glance looked like an intricate '4' engraved on it. Jadoku wracked his brain to try and remember where he'd seen the symbol before, but didn't have time to dwell on it when Himitsu unlocked and flipped up the casing on the panel, hiding the shape. Himitsu swiped a card, waited for the small indicator light to turn from red to yellow to green, and only then quickly entered a series of numbers into the keypad.
Jadoku watched numbly as he swiped a second card at the end of the clearly practiced action, and the doors slid open to reveal the inside of an elevator. It no longer came as much of a surprise that Himitsu had that kind of knowledge or access. Shifting his stance uneasily, Jadoku realized he just had to accept that he knew basically nothing about him; that everything could change on his whim. Not a comforting thought at best.
He moved forward as if to enter when Himitsu quickly reached out an arm to stop him, watching for some indicator Jadoku couldn't discern. Whatever changed, he couldn't spot it, but after a moment Himitsu relaxed and stepped inside, motioning for Jadoku to follow with a grin. An instant after Jadoku crossed the threshold, the door shut quickly behind him, a quiet clang echoing through the small space. Was this entire place some sort of death trap?
Jadoku folded his arms as they began to descend, uncertain if leaning against the walls of the elevator to steady himself would activate some unknown sensor and blast him out of existence. This was ridiculous, and not doing anything to ease his mind. He startled when Himitsu verbally addressed him for the first time since he'd said where they were going.
"Would'ja relax? Geez, ya act like I'm takin' you to yer death or something."
"You mean you're not?" Jadoku sniped back, trying to keep the tone in jest, but failing spectacularly.
Himitsu scoffed, frowning over at Jadoku. "D'you really think we'd wait this long if that's what we were gonna do?"
Jadoku frowned.
So now it's 'we'?
"I don't know." Jadoku grit out.
How could he just act like everything was that simple?
"One day it's 'you need to go see him before you get dragged there,' or whatever you said, and with that-" Jadoku gestured at the door in frustration. "-I couldn't have. I have no idea what any of you want from-"
Jadoku cut off when the doors opened again, not having noticed that they'd finally stopped. Arrival scattered his train of thought, and Kyouji wanted nothing more than to just go back upstairs and pretend like none of this was happening. The Yama he was used to dealing with was bad enough, but at least there was some knowledge of what to expect, and quite frankly, he was laughable in the face of someone who had actual power. Kyouji's words refused to return.
"Well, ya can't blame him for the extra security." Himitsu's frown eased up as he considered something, observing Kyouji's rigid stance and sudden silence. "He's not going to smite ya or anything if y'ain't perfect, you know. He's difficult to piss off."
Himitsu nudged him forward when he failed to respond, and Kyouji returned his hands to his pockets as he exited the elevator. He turned back when he didn't hear Himitsu following.
"Last door at the end o' the hall. Y'll know it when ya see it." Himitsu nodded in the direction.
Kyouji stared at him. He wasn't coming?
"Lift'll take ya back up whenever, no problem." Himitsu pressed a button inside the elevator, glancing up as the doors began to close. His mouth creased in a smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes. "What? I'm not gonna drag ya there."
Kyouji blinked and he was already gone. He reached a hand towards the button beside the elevator, but managed to stop himself before he could press it. That'd be a sign of weakness, and he'd already shown everyone here too much. He lowered his arm as a second thought when it started to shake slightly and turned away from the doors, trying to gather himself again.
He didn't notice much as his feet carried him forward, his footsteps echoing loudly no matter how softly he walked. It was so quiet down here, one could almost pretend nothing else existed. It would be a great place to hide away. Or make someone disappear.
Kyouji hesitated once he reached the end of the hall, tugging absentmindedly on the band around his wrist. Himitsu hadn't been exaggerating about the door. On it was the same symbol as before: the Jupiter symbol, he now recalled.
…now what?
He didn't know if he was supposed to knock or wait or just go on in, but every second he stood there made him think turning back towards the elevator was a better idea. Himitsu'd said it'd take him back up whenever, right? He could leave, and just deal with all this later. Kyouji shook his head, feeling the lingering threads of dizziness begin to finally fade. Delaying would only make this worse. He took another step forward, deciding knocking couldn't hurt, when he heard a click and the door swung outward just enough to indicate it was open.
Kyouji grasped the edge and pulled the door open wide enough to enter, keeping his gaze down on the tiled floor as his heart hammered in his throat. The door fell shut behind him, and the noise echoed through the large area.
"I expected you here sooner."
Endless words and apologies stuck in Kyouji's throat when the voice reached him. Despite the words, the man's tone didn't sound like chastisement. If anything, it was a statement of fact laced with curiosity, as if it were odd for someone to act outside of his expectations. It was merely an observation. But Kyouji hesitated to depend on that, mentally putting it on the list of reasons he could be displeased with him. He had nothing to say.
"Come here." Taishou's voice left no room for argument, delivered as one who knows he would not be denied would.
Kyouji moved forward, glancing around peripherally at the area, not lifting his gaze to the man in front of him. On one side there were a few desks pulled together, with scientific instruments, only a few of which Kyouji recognized, neatly arranged on top of them. Filing cabinets framed that side's wall, but it was nothing compared to the rows of what he guessed were movable shelves, as no one could fit through the tiny gap between most of them, on the other side of the room. Tidy though it was, this was unmistakably a work area. Himitsu had said he was working on something, but Kyouji had still thought he'd be sitting around, 'working' the way he assumed most bosses did.
The front of another desk met Kyouji's gaze, and he stopped walking a respectful distance from it. Steeling himself, he glanced up slowly, careful not to look Taishou in the eye. He hadn't expected him to be standing… or that tall. Perhaps he should have, considering he was related to Mr. Yama. But beyond that and the obvious ethnic traits, if he hadn't already known, Kyouji wouldn't have guessed a relation. Maybe if the Yama he knew lost his fat but retained his strength, he and Taishou would look more alike…
Either way, there was something about how this man carried himself, as if nothing could shake him, that made Kyouji feel very small. He looked down at the folders on the desk instead, staring unseeingly. Kyouji could feel the calculating gaze on him, and he willed himself to remain still. Even without touch, the sensation of being picked apart by sight alone and examined in pieces couldn't be shaken.
"Now would be the time for introductions, but it seems they are unnecessary." Taishou gathered the contents belonging to the open folder together, straightening them and replacing them in their proper place. "Kyouji Shakuzai."
Kyouji froze, before remembering that was what he'd chosen to go by as his 'fake' name. Perhaps Himitsu had—
"You go by Jadoku now, do you not?" Taishou continued, studying Kyouji's reaction and pausing only long enough for Kyouji to give a slight nod. "You were their first, perhaps only… success." His tone clearly indicated he thought otherwise. "And yet, they couldn't be bothered to check in on you to discover their efforts hadn't in fact been fruitless."
Success? What is he talking about? Am I supposed to know?
Despite Kyouji's continued silence, Dr. Yamada remained undeterred. "Though I suppose that worked out for you, in the end."
Taishou tucked the folders away into the lower compartments of the desk, and Kyouji for the first time wondered about their contents. He should have really looked when he had the chance. Taishou then beckoned him forward, to the desk itself.
"Show me your hands."
Kyouji barely contained a grimace at the command. He'd been poked and prodded quite enough recently for his tastes. While none of the handful of people put in charge of documenting the scaling on his hands and what remained on his arm had actually touched him, it had set him on edge anyway. They'd been far too intrigued for his comfort by the photos they'd taken and the sample he'd accidentally left behind when a few fell loose during the inspection.
Afterwards, he hadn't even been able to hide them again, his gloves confiscated, likely in search of other loose scales that could have gotten caught in the cloth. It seemed increasingly likely that while he was here, none of his secrets would be allowed to remain so. Ignoring the discomfort best he could, Kyouji moved forward, presenting his hands palm up, and keeping his gaze on the desk rather than the freakish green coating that had only just begun to dull.
Dr. Yamada drew one hand closer to himself, observing it and making mental notes regarding the current texture and the lack of a reflexive response when pressure was introduced. Kyouji could feel the contact distantly, and even without looking, once again felt like some sort of specimen under a microscope. Even so, he wasn't about to move. If he seemed threatening in any way, there was no doubt Taishou had some form of quick access to whatever controlled the band around his wrist. Kyouji wasn't about to risk it. When his hand was finally released, he shoved them both back in his pockets.
"And how long will these last without outside influence?" It was the first direct question Taishou had asked of him that couldn't be answered with a yes or no, and yet Kyouji could only guess at the answer.
"I'm not sure… I don't usually get burned." Kyouji shrugged, struggling to come up with an acceptable response. "Maybe another week, depending."
It had only taken a single week for his previous scrape-up to begin to shed its protective layer, allowing new skin to see the light of day (or lack thereof, down here) for the first time. The raw sensation of the first couple of days with the new skin was always a little uncomfortable, moving from barely being able to feel anything at all in that spot to being able to feel the air that brushed past as he walked. Hands were finicky, however, and almost a full week later were only just beginning to dull in color.
The answer was apparently satisfactory, as Taishou simply nodded in response, entering something into the computer to the side before turning to Kyouji again. "I have been informed that you have taken an interest in observing Subject 36, care to explain?"
Kyouji could not stop the look of confusion that passed over his face.
"The child," Taishou elaborated.
"Is that not allowed?" Kyouji knew he was avoiding the question, but he doubted 'I don't trust your people not to do something to him' would go over very well.
Taishou smirked. Kyouji's response had been an answer in itself. "You have not inhibited anything yet, and at this point, you won't have time to. So, as of right now, there are no problems with it. Simply a curiosity."
"'At this point'?" Kyouji questioned. He wasn't under the impression that it had really been an option any earlier, either.
"As I'm sure you've been told, we will not be able to keep him as long as originally planned," Taishou began to explain. "The issue with sedating him is growing exponentially, and fully containing him would require actions I'm frankly not willing to do for something short-term. The security of this location is more important than this side project, no matter how interesting."
"You don't already have something that would work? He's just—" The phrase died on Kyouji's lips. He wasn't 'just a kid'. How easy it was to forget.
Dr. Yamada raised an eyebrow at that. "You think he should be kept here longer?"
Kyouji hesitated. Was it better for the kid to stay here, where at least there was some measure of control over what happened to him, or would it be best to get him passed on, where there was a chance at him being ransomed back? It wasn't as if Mr. Yama was very fond of keeping his word. Still, if there was money involved, it was far more likely…
"No. You're right." Kyouji frowned slightly in thought.
"Hm." Taishou considered him for a moment. "To answer your question, no, we currently do not have a place that could safely contain that sort of firepower and still have him be of any use to us."
…firepower?
"Sedating him in the first place involved risks we shouldn't have had to undertake at all, though thankfully he was willing to cooperate after an initial outburst. He behaved quite intelligently, but we will not count on that. We also do not want him escaping while he is aware. It would risk him leading someone back here." There was a threat underlying Taishou's words, or at least it seemed so to Kyouji. "It is rare that we take subjects here, volatile as they can be, as you likely guessed from his low number."
"And what's mine?" The question was sharp, and Kyouji wondered if he should have just kept his mouth shut.
Taishou chuckled, looking down at him. "There's no need." Kyouji once again felt small. "You are to be referred to by your name, and unless you cause issues here, anything further will never be necessary."
…Issues? But what would count as 'causing issues'?
"I… don't understand." Kyouji suppressed a wince when the statement slipped out. He was wasting Taishou's time, he could feel it. He needed to leave.
"Fear, while useful, is not binding," Taishou stated, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You chose to be here, so forcing anything while you are willing to cooperate would be a waste of resources."
Then what's this cuff on my wrist supposed to be for? Aesthetic?
But Kyouji held his tongue. Questioning could mean being uncooperative, and it was bad enough that he was becoming less and less sure of his footing here. One minute it's better, the next it's worse. Could nothing be straight-forward? Just lock him away in a lab and get it over with.
Kyouji internally recoiled at that last thought. No, actually don't do that. Kill him first; at least he wouldn't know what was happening if he were dead. He tried to avoid the train of thought that that was essentially what he had handed the kid over for, but it was inescapable. Kyouji reminded himself that he could not shake his head to try and rid himself of the thoughts in this moment, and he would just have to try and tamp down the guilt biting at the back of his throat.
Too late now…
Dr. Yamada studied him for a moment, having not missed the micro expressions that had flitted across Kyouji's face. "Report to the observation room you are so fond of frequenting. There is no reason to hold him here much longer. Further instruction will be given there." This conversation was clearly over. "You are dismissed, Jadoku."
Kyouji nodded, doing his level best not to run as he left.
It was dark, and everything was cold.
Ice water ran through his veins and warmed so so slowly with every pulse of his heart.
He was lying on something… something solid. Yes, things existed outside of himself.
The chill began to abate.
There was something. A noise. A constant beep muffled through the distance it had to travel.
It wasn't so dark now.
A pinprick. Pain. Small, and slight, but ice washed through him again.
The sound faded.
It was dark. Everything was cold.
"Told ya it was getting' worse." Himitsu tapped against the glass of the observation room. "They tell ya what ya need to do now?"
Kyouji nodded, having been briefed the day before what he'd need to do. They'd inject nearly a full dose into the kid before transportation, and it was his job to deliver him, armed with a full dose for when this one wore off. Himitsu had alerted him that the time was near, and he'd headed over immediately. It wasn't like Kyouji had anything to do besides sit around and try not to do anything that might make them think this was necessary to do to him, and sleeping was certainly out of the question. He'd sleep when this was all over.
"One minor thing they might not have told ya." Himitsu held two fingers close together to show how small it was. "He's startin' to give off serious heat, even unconscious. We've got somethin' to wrap him in, and his lil outfit seems ta do the trick, but don't be dumb, 'kay?"
Great.
"Anything else I should know about?" Kyouji wanted to be sure they were actually telling him things instead of dealing on simply a 'need to know' basis. In this case, he needed to know everything.
"Nah, don't think so." Himitsu folded his arms, thinking on it. "It'll just be you an' me, and even then, I'm just going to do the drivin'. This whole thing with Baby Yama is yer stuff, I'm just gonna make sure he gets out of here."
"You're driving?" Kyouji didn't remember that being part of the explanation.
"Oi, I'll have you know I'm an excellent driver." Himitsu shrugged. "And I'm bored out of my damn mind around here. It'll give me somethin' to do."
"Thought you were messing with the phone." Kyouji had figured that'd keep him busy for at least a little while.
"Finished that." Himitsu leaned his head against the wall. "Not even challengin' anymore. Ya want it?"
"I don't need it."
"Suit yerself." Himitsu glanced over when someone signaled him. "Ah, looks like we're startin'."
There was a slight commotion as they entered the room, as a few techs kept their distance from the child on the bed, a large swath of material in the hands of one of them.
"What's the problem?" Himitsu challenged.
"We can't get near him, he's giving off too much. We… may have waited a little too long between dosages," One of them explained hurriedly, holding something close to herself. "H-he still needs this dose, but—" She shrugged helplessly. "Someone went to find something flame-retardant we might use, but he could wake up before then."
Himitsu walked to where they were standing and extended an arm experimentally. The temperature skyrocketed the closer one got to the kid.
"Ya tried using that?" Himitsu pointed at the cloth they held.
"That's not how heat works." The man holding it frowned. "Besides, we'd still need to move it to the subject, and somehow inject him without burning our hands doing so."
Kyouji frowned, walking up to the woman who held the dose. "Give it to me."
She hesitated, glancing at Himitsu, who simply shrugged, willing to watch for now. She passed it over, and Kyouji took the material from the man, not waiting for permission, before going to the bedside. It was a lot warmer over here, but Kyouji kept his breathing slow and it wasn't too bad... kind of like standing in the sun for too long during the summer. He moved the syringe in his scaled hand, deciding the direct approach was probably better than trying to get it into the IV.
The sensation of temperature was markedly different between his scaled hand and where they tapered off at the wrist, so Kyouji made the injection fast to prevent additional burns. The temperature dropped immediately, and Kyouji draped the material over the kid, waiting until one of the others hurriedly came and unhooked the IV before securing it around him fully. The kid was still as light as ever when Kyouji lifted him, but they'd have to watch the temperature issue.
Himitsu grinned. "'Fire cannot kill a dragon.'"
"I'm not a dragon." Kyouji hissed at him as he passed. If he had been, he could have avoided being burned in the first place.
"It's a quote, geez—"
Kyouji squinted at the harsh glare of early morning sunlight that came through the front windows once they were finally within city limits again. The air felt heavier, and the smells of the city bombarded his senses to the point he almost gagged on them. Home sweet home...
He glanced back to where the kid was bundled up, laid across a seat. It didn't look very comfortable, but it wasn't like he was conscious… Kyouji checked his grip on the syringe in his hand, tucked away in his pocket, unsure if he'd really want to use it. Sure, it might be necessary if the kid started burning a hole through the car, but otherwise, it might be best not to. It was one thing to be unconscious in the presence of someone who knew what they were doing, and who had no reason to harm you. Mr. Yama was another problem altogether.
Besides, Kyouji thought with a smirk, wouldn't that just be a lovely surprise to leave on his doorstep?
He'd decide closer to arrival, but they'd gone a fair distance with no unusual reaction from the kid. Kyouji drummed his fingers against his leg in thought, brushing a stray lock of hair out of his eyes. The longer he waited, the more he questioned just handing the kid over. In this case, not only was the child in more danger, but there wasn't really a reason to do so? Unless this was part of the bigger job.
But if Himitsu was right, and that was a big if, he didn't need to be on Mr. Yama's good side anymore… There was still the issue of whatever he owed Himitsu, but he was well aware creditors weren't overly picky about where the money owed came from. He wasn't even completely sure he'd get paid for this part. This had been to allow him access to things again, which he had and would sorely need if he was going to survive on his own. Did adding Dr. Yamada and all of that into the equation make it better or worse not to deliver?
Kyouji suppressed a sigh, leaning his head against the cool glass on the door of the car. They couldn't just dump the kid out though, and quite honestly he'd rather Mr. Yama deal with the go-between involving Hiro. That was one person he could stand to never have to encounter again. Not after this…
Himitsu pulled the car off the main street, around the corner and a short distance from where the delivery was to take place.
"Alrighty. He already knows yer on the way, so we're go ta go." Himitsu shifted the car into park, leaning back against the seat. "An' look, I didn't even crash on the way. I should get a medal."
"There wasn't anyone else on the road." Kyouji preferred talking about this to focusing on what they were here for.
"There was so, you were just stuck up in yer head and didn't notice." Himitsu tapped the side of his temple to demonstrate.
That… was probably true.
Kyouji just stared ahead, having no rebuttal to that.
Himitsu frowned at him. "It's just a delivery, what's got you all…" He made a vague gesture with his hands.
Kyouji remained silent, unbuckling his seatbelt and pushing open the car door, shivering in the brisk air despite the jacket he'd been provided. He wasn't going to get into something Himitsu didn't actually care about. He was just running his mouth. Like always.
"Ya plannin' on using the stuff?" Himitsu had noticed he'd left it in his pocket and was making no move to use it as he approached the kid. "Now might be a good time…"
Kyouji simply shook his head. Not unless I have to.
"Whatever man, not my problem anymore." Himitsu shrugged, taking out his phone. "I'll just be waitin' fer you to finish. May take a lap around the block."
Kyouji was only half listening as he tugged open the side door. The kid looked so vulnerable lying there, and with no immediate rush forcing his hand, Kyouji hesitated. Was it even possible to deliver him to where he belonged without being detected? Surely that was wishful thinking…
"What's the hold-up? Do ya need me to hold yer hand an' walk ya through it?" Himitsu chimed in unhelpfully from the front seat, watching Kyouji pause in his actions. "First, pick up the kid…"
Kyouji frowned over at him, gathering the bundle in his arms and slamming the door shut with his foot behind him. He mildly hoped he'd left a dent, before remembering that maybe that wouldn't be a good thing. Glancing back to check, however, Kyouji saw that Himitsu's grin was unchanged and the other man simply waved at him through the window.
"Well, it took you long enough." Mr. Yama spoke from where he was settled in an oversized recliner.
It didn't look like the enormous man would be able to move anytime soon, at least not without considerable effort. Perhaps that was what the three other people were there for. Kyouji discarded the idea when they looked over at him as if he'd interrupted something, but he wasn't going to act like he should feel responsible that Yama had double booked. This was just a delivery. No more, no less.
Kyouji didn't bother to suppress an unimpressed look as he entered the meeting place, glancing around before laying Tadashi on a ratty couch shoved against a wall. He knew better than to respond to Mr. Yama's previous statement. It was just better to keep your mouth shut most of the time, here.
The three strangers returned to whatever conversation they'd been having amongst themselves, and it took Kyouji a moment to mentally switch languages. It'd been a while since he'd heard people conversing in pure Japanese rather than English or some mix of the two languages.
("—lucky this time, Arata, but it better not be a bust. Too many of them are already in the wind.") The smaller man scolded the other.
Kyouji did his best not to react, he clearly wasn't meant to be a part of this conversation. He leaned against the arm of the couch, wondering what, or maybe who, they'd lost.
There was a confident air around the taller man, Arata, bordering on arrogance. ("Nah, we've already found our kitty, it's only a matter of time. Have a little faith, Oliver.")
Kitty?
The woman rolled her eyes and stepped forward to Yama, looking between him and over at the couch where the Tadashi and Jadoku were.
("That him?")
When she received a nod, she took another step forward assertively. ("You'd better be right, or you know who you'll answer to.")
Kyouji shifted uneasily, pulling on the band still around his wrist and glancing back at the kid behind him as if to check he was still there. He reminded himself to stick to English. "Who are they?"
"None of your concern, now is it?" Mr. Yama brushed him off, turning back to the woman. ("So what about it?")
Oh, sure it isn't.
The smaller man, Oliver, suddenly fixed his eyes on Kyouji, looking closely before abruptly turning to Arata. ("No. Bad idea. Cut the losses now-")
("Calm down.") Arata grinned easily. ("Don't worry, I can handle it. I've dealt with the Thing, haven't I?")
Kyouji's teeth were set on edge. Possibilities were starting to click in his mind but he wasn't sure what to do about it. He could still be entirely wrong.
("Yuna,") Oliver implored, looking to the woman who spoke to Yama.
Yuna looked skeptically over at Oliver before shaking her head at Yama, having reached her decision. ("Just what we've agreed on.")
Mr. Yama looked disappointed, but shrugged, addressing Kyouji again. "I trust you've handled any… issues?"
Resisting the urge to check the syringe in his pocket at those words, Kyouji narrowed his gaze. That was a pointed question if there was one, and it would be helpful if he knew exactly what Mr. Yama had been told about what was going on. The presence of the others was bad enough, but with the chance that Tadashi would end up back with his brother decreasing by the second, he needed to figure out the game.
Swallowing down the spark of anxiety, Kyouji met the large man's gaze.
"Won't be any problems."
Kyouji's words were met with a smirk.
"You should hope not."
He doesn't have power over you. He doesn't—
…who am I kidding?
Kyouji clenched his fists where he'd shoved them into the jacket pockets, but otherwise remained motionless, watching for some sign of what would happen next. Best case scenario he assumed Mr. Yama had some way of contacting Hiro for the ransom money, and it would be better if Kyouji were gone before his arrival. But Kyouji wasn't entirely stupid. That wasn't what was happening. Maybe he should just—
When Arata moved towards him, he steadied his grip on the syringe in his pocket and stood, subconsciously putting himself between them and the kid.
Arata smirked at Kyouji's display, looking down at him. "Now then, there's no way you haven't noticed. The kid's 'special,' after all. He can't be left in the hands of simple thugs to trade around."
Kyouji grit his teeth, knowing he should probably leave while he had the chance.
"Simple?" Mr. Yama frowned over at Arata, taking offense to the phrasing. ("Money is money. There he is, take him and be on your way.")
Kyouji remained in front of Tadashi. This wasn't what was supposed to happen. If, or rather 'when' as it was looking now, they did take him, what was it for? To sell him again as some oddity… or worse? The kid would probably never get home, and have who knows what done to him.
Their previous words echoed in his mind. Who exactly had they lost? And were they trying to find them… or replacements? He didn't know enough. There wasn't enough time. He didn't know who they were or what they wanted or what they could do and they were right in front of him and he needed to figure out what to do. Or run.
But could he accept that?
The woman eyed him, weighing something in her mind. Arata glanced back and caught her look, smirking as he spoke to her.
("It's not as dangerous as you think. I could get you both if it came to it. Show you what I can really do.")
She laughed shortly, and he scowled, pride wounded. Arata's gaze snapped back to Kyouji, who still hadn't moved, frozen in indecision. He took a menacing step forward. No one was going to stand in his way.
Mr. Yama tried to wave the man down, dismissing the idea that Kyouji would do anything as he turned to speak to him. "I told you to get the kid. You did. You're off the hook. Now leave, Jadoku."
But Arata's words had rooted Kyouji in place.
Both?
If these people were here because the kid was 'special' as they put it, what did that mean… for him?
…He wouldn't. Except he completely would.
Mr. Yama sat there with a smug look on his face, quite pleased with himself and how things had turned out.
Jadoku wanted to see it destroyed.
A false smile danced across Arata's face. "Now then, be reasonable." But his stance proved he was hoping Jadoku would do anything but that.
Jadoku felt a flash of anger and clenched his jaw, Japanese words dripping out like venom.
("Like hell.")
**A.N.: Hey go check out some of the fanart that's been done for this at the blog bh6-rise-of-the-phoenix under the bh6 rotp tag. A huge thanks to those who took the time to do it! Off to sleep and then work on the rest of the next half. Reviews are welcomed! **