Her Fate

Duke slowly tugged the door closed behind him with a long squealing protest from the hinges. The clunking of his shoes against the stone floor were joined by the echo of a second set as Royal Highness approached the older man. The typical masks were both in place over the faces of the two but the mask did nothing to hide the massive smirk on Duke's face as he wiped a last little bit of blood from his hands, the white cloth irreversibly tainted by the young girls blood. His ghostly cold eyes lifted to watch the boy approach him. He was keeping the mask in place for the events that were to come later but the youth before him had a different purpose for wearing his. The youth had taken to wearing the mask constantly again just to hide his expression from the leader. The previous incidents had inflicted a good deal of shame on the boy, which was delicious and perfect. The plan to break that annoying bit of morality left in him was going well enough.

Yuzen's eyes were directed at him but not quite able to lift to meet his. "Did you kill her?" He asked flatly, seemingly disinterested.

The leader shook his head, long ponytail swaying down the center of his back. "No, not quite yet. I punished her a bit for now but she will get it far worse soon."

"What will the next step be, Duke? What are your orders?" Akizuki's eye lifted to see Duke's face only a moment before insecurity made them fall away again.

Rather than answering the man simply shouldered past the boy with a slight motion of his hand to indicate the order to follow. Akizuki fell into step silently behind him like a puppy following its owner. As he walked, Duke eyed his hands and swiped the stained cloth over them a few more times. He disliked having blood on his hands, it looked unsightly. He had always been one that kept up his appearance, never letting it slide. His pride would never allow him to look any less than he deemed proper for someone of his standing. The soon to be master of the universe could hardly be expected to allow the unsightly stains to remain.

His blue eyes flashed back to the dejected boy following him, glinting a bit. For all that stoic and cold manner, the boy was really no more than a child desperate for approval. Earning back the favor he had been stripped of was all he could focus on. In such a state he would be able to get anything from him, which was how he liked it. These children were the best for him. Each of them were throwaways and they knew it. If not with him, they had no place to hide from the cruel world, so they were his. It was not as if he could let them forget it, ever. The older man slowed his pace until he could move in beside the teenager.

"Akizuki, you seem so tense. Are you afraid of what is about to happen?" The verbal jab hit home, he could tell by the slight wince at the pointed indication of cowardice. "We have been planning for this for some time. Why are you worried so suddenly? Don't you believe in me anymore?"

That hit deep into the target, "No, no, Duke!" Yuzen's head snapped to look at him, eyes wide. "I would never doubt you! I trust you with my life, you know that! I owe you everything and I would follow you anywhere!" The prick of fear showed in his voice, "I'm not worried at all."

Duke slid his hand onto the soft flesh of the teen's neck, "Then what has been bothering you? You know you can tell me anything, don't you? No matter what, you know I am always here for you." With his fingers hooked on the back of the boy's neck, he pulled him to his chest.

Yuzen did not resist the act of seeming comfort, used to the fatherly gestures from Duke, "I know..." He let his head rest securely against his leader's chest.

"Now, let's go speak with the others." Duke squeezed his fingers lightly into the tender flesh before pulling back and resumed walking to the gathering room.

Once again the teen meekly followed behind, falling into the rhythmical step of the older man. It took all his effort not to let his emotions show. He was glad of the mask covering part of his face, anything to hide the truth from Duke. His throat was constricted almost so harshly that he could not breathe at all. He could not shake the deep feeling boiling inside him; feelings of shame and fear. He did not want to disappoint Duke. If Duke did not think him trustworthy, what would he do? He wanted to be able to make him proud. He wanted to be just like his leader, his savior. His feet fell hard as he struggled to hold back the shuddering breath threatening to shake his frame. The worst feeling was knowing he was the weakest of all. If anything happened he knew he would be the weakest link in this group and he could not endure that thought. It made him ache deep inside his chest. Outcast to the world, why could he not at least do well among his own kind? Was there nothing he could do right? He could not fail here... if he did, where else was there to go? Duke did not like failures, he knew that, and it terrified him more than anything else in the world. He pitied the girl locked in that room but he had already done too much regarding her. Duke would kill her soon and her pain would be over. Things had been easier before she came and after she was gone they would be again.

Taruto was pacing the floor wildly as he explained everything to Kisshu. His wild motions with his limbs betrayed the obvious trembling in his hands. His amber eyes still implicating the impact the incident had on him. Each word moved so swiftly they almost tripped over the next to get out. The small alien had been shaken to the core. As much as he would hate to admit it, he cared about the Mews, looking to them as friends. Seeing one of them harmed like that, and seemingly because of him, was a little more than he could stand.

Kisshu sat still as a stone on the bed as he listened. His haggard breathing revealed the terror welling within him. Each word that spilled from his friend's mouth deepened all the fear he felt before. He felt the same as he had when he was trapped in the darkness. His chest ached as images of Ichigo's battered body filled his mind. The thought of her hurt that way sent icy chills through him. Just listening made him feel like he wanted to crawl out of his skin. He couldn't stand any of this or the helpless feeling it gave him in the pit of his stomach.

"And I don't even know what was happening, she just started coughing up blood. I didn't see anything touch her but..." The little alien hugged his arms to his chest. "Before we could stop them she was just in the air. They grabbed her up out of Akasaka's arms and were gone just like that!"

The café owner flinched at the mention of the girl being stolen from his arms. His long dark hair swayed as he shifted his weight uncomfortably. The cheerful, glass-half-full human was not wearing a smile anymore. Guilt was written all over his sculpted features, clearly taking on the responsibility. It was not as if he could have stopped what happened but that fact did not seem to matter. Perhaps he too was feeling helpless and responsible. He took on the responsibility for the Mew Mews as much as Shirogane always had.

Lettuce stood close to him, lightly clinging to his arm, eyes red from tears. The shy and delicate girl was having trouble dealing with seeing one of her best friends hurt so. Of all of them, Lettuce was always the one to nurture others first. Her kind and gentle heart was sensitive to the pain of others. She cared deeply about everyone, but Ichigo had been one of her first friends in the group.

Zakuro stood stoically against the wall with her arms crossed under her breasts but anyone that knew her would know full well how tormented she truly was. Her face was emotionless but her eyes betrayed her. Spoken or unspoken, she was taking this on the chin. The she wolf had always taken a great part of the protector roll in the group. She often seemed like the harsh, but good big sister to the Mews. It killed her to have seen a member of her team tormented so, and even more, and dear friend. Ichigo had always believed in her right from the start. She shifted and moved closer to Keiichiro, some insecure part of her seeking out the comfort he tended to bring to the group.

"Kisshu..." Taruto's wide eyes turned to lock with the older alien, "I'm sorry! I tried, I did! I didn't mean to let them get her." His voice cracked and faltered as his head dropped low to hide the emotion nearly spilling out in liquid form. "I'm sorry, Kisshu."

Kisshu rose from the bed, despite the instant protests his body made against the act, and moved to the boy's side, "This was not your fault, Taru." His long fingers weaved into the brown hair and pulled Taruto's head against his shoulder.

The boy did not resist the partial hug, wanting so badly to behave like a man, but too emotional to pull of the stoic nature Pai would have. It was times like these that he was reminded just how young Taruto still was. He was still very much a child even though he had grown. Kisshu was struggling with everything in him to remain as composed as he had been. It took so much effort not to reveal the sheer agony in his heart. His pride as a warrior refused to allow him to show all the emotion within him, but if he did, he would be no different than Taruto. His own feelings of helplessness and failure plagued him with every breath. It was so much to take in. He could not seem to take in a full breath of air anymore, breathing deeply to fill his lungs but never managing to.

"I may know where they are." Kisshu worked to still the slight quake in his voice. "I've been to the place they are keeping her." His eyes turned to the others slowly. "We need to at least try to find her. If she is there we will get her out no matter what!"

The alien released Taruto and glided past him to exit. He hurried off the ship, not waiting to see if they were following. At this point he did not care at all if they followed or if he went alone. While Taruto had been explaining things to him his memory had been slowly coming back in snatches. His memory was hazy but he felt sure he knew where that place had been. When he planted the killer moth atop the tower he smelled all those same scents. Those sounds coming from outside those walls were the sounds he heard when he was picking his target. If he was right, they would have the upper hand. They would have no way of knowing he could tell where he had been kept. Drugged or not, his senses were always higher than a human, and he was sure. If they could just get there fast enough he was sure they would get to Ichigo in time. They just had to get to her! He noticed only slightly when Taruto, Pudding hanging on his arm, joined the alien's side.

Something inside him felt like it was cracking. Everyone had their breaking point. The rage and hate was bubbling up inside him until he was not sure he would ever be calm again. The only thing he could think of was how he would kill the people that took her from him and tormented her. There was nothing in the world that would stop him from making them pay now. His fists clenched hard at his sides, claws digging into his palms. Kisshu drew his lower lip in to chew it, fangs digging in. His pulse was racing with the fury he felt. It was time to get that bunch of fools.

He would get Ichigo out today! He would rescue her himself while the others distracted the Crusaders. That masked bastard would not get the better of him this time. Never again! This time he would get Ichigo away from him. They could just see how powerful aliens could really be! Unlike with Ichigo, he had no wish to keep those humans alive. He would not hold back anymore, he would rip into their throats and shred them from the inside out. The crazed look he had when he battled the Blue Knight for Ichigo was glinting in his eyes. No one would ever have Ichigo but him, not ever! He waited all this time to have her and no one would ever take her from him again. No matter what he had to do he would reclaim her.

Ichigo made him soft but he was already remembering his warrior side. When he was with her she brought out all the qualities in him that were good. There was another thing his love for her brought out of him - this side of him that Ichigo feared, the crazed and reckless side, showing through in his golden eyes - that was the other thing she brought out in him. His jaw was set in a determined rage that he really only felt when his kitty was involved. He would never forgive them for touching her, never. This was going to end. Ichigo would never have to worry about those people again because he was going to shred all of them into pieces.

The long black coat billowed as Duke turned swiftly on his heels to face the group, ready to reveal more of his precious plan to them. He could not hold back the cold smile nearly swallowing his face. He could feel energy rushing through his veins as he prepared to let them in on a little more of his greatest joy. This was his high, his pride, his shot of adrenaline. It was nothing compared to what was to come once things had finally peeked, but it was a shot in the arm of pleasure. Soon, things would fall into place. Soon, he would have started that war of the worlds, literally. Soon, he would have two worlds in the palm of his hand to crush at his pleasure.

"We will be getting visitors later on so we will need to be ready to welcome them." A rumbling laugh rose from his throat, "We could hardly give them any less than the best of welcomes, could we?"

Happy Child made a leap of joy into the air, blond hair swaying with the motion, "We get to have fun with them, right!" His grin matched Duke's and his eyes danced with glee, "This will be fun, right?"

Duke hummed with approval, "Yes, there will be great fun, Utamaro." His toes tapped against the floor, "I will tell you all what you must do in a moment so we can put on a grand show. I will tell you a bit about our goal first though, just to be sure we are all of one mind."

Happy Child rocked back and forth on his heels, grin still firm on his face. "How are we going to deal with them this time, Duke?"

He tapped a finger to his chin as he eyed them, pacing a bit. He moved to stare into the large mirror hanging on the wall before his eyes detected a bit of odd movement next to his head. He chuckled and lifted his hand. Duke flicked a moth out of the air and it landed in a basin of water on the table beside him. All eyes turned to the struggling moth in the water. It flailed wildly, trying to fly, but it's wings were already useless. It worked to swim to the sides.

"You see, we are like this water, and the others are like that moth. For now, the moth still believes it will survive, sure it can get to the sides and does not realize its fate." As the moth drew nearer to the side Duke stirred the water to push it back to the center again.

Sweet Juliet looked from the bowl to their leader. "I don't think I understand your point."

Duke smiled. "Well, you see, it is slowly drowning as it struggles. The water is slowly killing it." He stared back down at the moth who was struggling for the side again, and flicked the water a second time. "Our job is to be this water as well as to ensure they do not reach the side of the bowl to crawl out. Our job is to ensure that they die."

The moths struggling had slowed as it grew weaker. Only one or two legs moved occasionally. The water soaked into the wings making them look darker and darker. A wicked smile was on their leader's face as he watched, amused by his own demonstrative lesson. They all watched, poised over the bowl of water, until its movements finally stilled altogether and it floated dead over the waters surface. Though it struggled hard it could not overcome the death the water had to offer. The creature's fate had been sealed the moment it crossed paths with Duke, but it was not the only thing that would have a potentially fatal encounter with this man.

Duke turned from his place over the water bowl and walked to his chair, "If the alien is nearly as bright as he seems, they will be here soon. That was the whole purpose of letting him go, after all."

"So, we are going to set a trap for them when they get here? What kind this time?" Blue Bayou asked in a bored tone.

"That will be the fun part!" Duke dropped into his chair and linked his fingers under his chin. "The girl is still alive so we will simply use her. Live bait is always the most ideal for big game hunting."

"And just which of them is the game? Is it the Mew Mews or that Alien?" Yura asked in her smooth, star worthy voice.

"Our prey for the day is not one group, it is the whole... Kisshu will bring the others to us. My plans hold a lot with Kisshu but the others will be of equal use." Duke chuckled and crossed one leg over the other. "With the girl here, we can get every last one of them. Now that she defied me it is her only use so don't hold back. You need not worry about breaking her, it doesn't matter. I have to break her into pieces soon anyway."

"Weren't you going to break her all along, Duke?" Utamaro chimed in, "I thought you were always planning to break those two toys."

Duke's eye lifted to the child, "Of course I did, but not as soon as now. I had hoped to use them a while before they were useless. The alien and the girl will still be my puppets. I had to rethink a few details, but it is prefect this way too. Using them, the war will be at hand very soon." He crooned happily, "I will play with those puppets a little more though."

At last, Royal Highness spoke up, "Play with them how? What else besides bait can the girl be now?"

Duke uncrossed his legs and leaned forward in his chair, "I will play the lovebirds. Kisshu wants her so badly, I will allow him that... at a price."

The leader continued to explain what each of them were to do once the guests arrived. He had no intention of letting the Mew Mews in, only Kisshu. They each had their own trap to walk into. That was easy enough considering the way the house was constructed. It was old and riddled with passages. Getting ride of, capturing the others was a trifle of a task. Only fools stormed a king's castle without knowing what traps awaited. This castle of theirs was far more complex than the would be rescuers could guess. The outside was normal enough but the inside was a different story. When one was in their own element they always had the upper hand. The Crusaders had been instructed on their individual tasks so they hurried off to ready the trappings. He noticed only mildly that Sweet Juliet seemed un-attentive to his words but he was sure she heard him.

Duke snapped his fingers, "Takenori, before you attend to that, bring the girl in here to me."

A nod and slight grunt was all the response the Crusader leader got from the boy but that was fine enough. He reclined, long legs stretched out in front of him. His eyes drifted closed reluctantly. Being in two minds at once always was tiring. Now that he was alone it was mildly catching up to him. It was hard to remain awake as he waited for the girl to be brought in. It took only a few minutes before he had fallen into a mild sleep. Unfortunately for him, around the same time Tatara had arrived with the girl. The sound of metal chains dragging over cold stone alerted him to the approach so he sat up again as the strong teen brought in the limp body and set her in Duke's lap. Blue Bayou did not stay or speak, only left to attend his assignments.

Sleepy blue eyes scanned the face of the unconscious girl. It was a pity he had to break this toy so soon. She would have been fun to play with much longer. He liked sets, and she was part of a set. They would still be fun to play with. Only for now was she more useful alive than dead. He would keep her alive long enough to accomplish the creation of his new plan. She owed him that much for demolishing his first plan the way she had. It irked him to no end that she defied him.

"I would have broken you more gently if you had been a good girl, you know." He ran a finger over her jawline thoughtfully, blood oozing between his fingers. "You will hurt most when you have to watch what I do to him because of you. I know that pain will be more than what I did to punish you this time. I warned you so many times, little girl." He dug out the stained cloth he used to brush the blood away from his hands the last time and swiped it over her face.

He cleaned away a bit of blood from the girls color drained face. She looked so lifeless this way, not that he cared. He liked her better this way than when she struggled against his every order. She deserved to be punished after refusing his commands that way. How did she not think he would be angry with her? He cupped a hand under her head to lift it up to see her face better. Now that he thought of it a bit more, he was not only going to be getting the set of the two lovers but the collection of Mew Mews as well. He could save that project for a little later, after the war had begun, and he was bored. He would catch them now but play with them later.

"Ichigo, can you hear me?" He leaned closer to her, lips brushing the curve of her ear, "Do you want to see Kisshu again? I am going to let you see him today."

Her eyelids twitched but did not open, "Kisshu..." She spoke the word breathlessly but desperately.

"That's right. I will let you see him. Aren't you thankful?" Duke simpered, amused by her weakness.

A single tear edged its way from the corner of her eye, spilling down her face, "Kisshu..."

"Soon." He smirked and pulled her limp body into a sitting position, cradling her like a doll. "He will be here soon."

He traced his finger over the line he made earlier in her skin with Kisshu's blade. It seemed so fitting to carve at her with her dream love's possession. There was something beautifully betraying about it. The blade the alien used to protect her had now carved into her flesh. He had even carved a Kisshu's name into her thigh just for good measure. A laugh shook him as he pondered what sort of expression the boy would have when he saw his little love.

AN:

Duke

Yura Yamashita- Sweet Juliet

Takenori Tatara- Blue Bayou

Akizuki Yuzen- Royal Highness

Utamaro- Happy Child