Chapter 69

Life is but a Game

Here we are guys the brand new arc! I know that there is usually an omake between arcs, however I just couldn't resist fitting the main character with his number. This will be another serious arc, but I wanted this event to happen when Tsunayoshi was still young. Then the next arc will be fluffier.

So warnings of an emotionally heavy, yet fluffy chapter.

Screaming. That's the most common sound in this place. It's almost continuous. Maybe our Keepers like this sound, maybe it pleasures them. But I won't give them that satisfaction. I will not scream out, no matter what they do to me. We have almost become numb to the sound, we are almost insensitive to the meaning of the sound. Someone else screaming means it's not me, not one of my precious people. That, for the time being, we are safe. When I have had enough of that sound, when I have the strength to- for I must be careful with what little strength I have-, sometimes I block it out, stop it reaching us. But when the door clangs open, the noise enters along with two of our Keepers, and there is nothing I can do to stop it. For now I must save my strength for what is coming up next.

I smile at my dearest as they pull me out of my confinement. "Everything will be fine." I mouth to her. She looks so worried, so fragile in her tattered clothing, gripping the metal bars for all she is worth. But I know she is not as fragile as she seems, she was brought up here too, just like me. Just like an exotic pet in confinement. Under that fragile exterior is a strong girl, one brought up on Estraneo ideals and the ideals created to fight against our confinement. She will be fine for the time being, the other two shall take care of her through what comforting words they can offer.

A deafening bang separates the four of us, the iron metal door closed, and harsh hands push me in the usual direction, as if I don't know where I am supposed to be going. Down the dark corridors as usual, down a set of steps, down another corridor. It all looks the same, a sterile maze of white tiles.

One of my Keepers kicks me since I'm not moving quick enough. I have to grit my teeth against a shouted retort. It will get me nothing, except the possibility of more punches and kicks. It is better to just get up and continue on moving.

I hate it.

I will not let them rule over me. One day the tables will turn, one day they shall regret their actions. Their ambition and greed shall backfire. I will make sure of it. This place is a den of selfishness where our Keepers do whatever they please, go to any measures to get what they want. This is something I have learnt from them. They have taught me that the world is in the palm of my hand. If I want something then all I have to do is take it. That this is a world where the strong rule and the weak die. The Estraneo will be the strongest Family in the world one day, with everyone bowing at our feet, giving us our every whim. The four of us are merely soldiers built towards that cause. We are told that if we survive, if we make the Estraneo strong, then we can have all that we desire. At the moment, my greatest desire is to get away from them, away from this confinement and be free in the outside world. In the world outside of those black metal bars.

I can only imagine what the outside looks like. I have forgotten it.

I do not fight their lead, I do as I'm told, whilst gritting my teeth to stop myself lashing out. There is no need to lash out, I have to tell myself, for these fools are helping me. I just need to work through this unbearable treatment and think about the future instead. They think that I am a good little experiment, that I see their vision and have embraced it. That I am willing to be a sacrifice for the good of the Family.

They are wrong.

I walk into the operating theatre with my head held high, defiance in my eyes, for this is the most I can get away with. I need my energy to survive, I can't afford to waste energy on healing wounds. I look around me and notice that Tsunayoshi's Guardian Verde isn't here. He wasn't always, sometimes the Estraneo went on ahead without him. But at least since he had officially taken over, well over a year ago now, these experiments had been going better. Results were beginning to show and the four of us were in less pain. But he wasn't here… this is going to hurt, I know it. But like a good experiment, I sit, lay back, and brace myself for the hell to come.

"Cheer up, byon!" shouts Ken, stretching as he walks out of his cell. "You know it's all going to be fine. He said it's going to be fine so it will. You've just got to trust him!" Ken nods to himself, forcing himself to believe his own words. Ken had always been an optimist, you had to be to beat the oppressive atmosphere in this place.

Chrome nods too, believing in Ken's words. Mukuro had always come back, every single time. Always. So he would this time too. But the fear was always there, the fear that one day he might not come back. There had been some times that Mukuro nearly hadn't come back, especially before the nice green haired Science Man started looking after them. There had been times where Mukuro would come back unconscious and remain so for days, tossing and turning as if in a nightmare. Those times were the worst. It was horrible to see him like that, it scared all of them down to the core. He had done this 5 times so far, over the past year, at least from what she could remember. And each time, after one of these nightmares, he would wake up and smirk at them, a smirk worthy of the Devil himself. The other two would get excited, Ken especially, for they knew what the smirk meant. That Mukuro had learnt another power.

Mukuro would then give her a gentle smile, ruffle her hair and check to see if she was still alright. His illusions were weakened during this time, meaning that she had to provide some of them herself. A few times, during the first and second time this had happened, she had fallen ill, coughing blood as her organs started disappearing. The Estraneo did what they could to keep her alive, until Mukuro was awake to do his job again properly. It was frightening, the feeling of being at death's door once again. It scared her because she didn't want to die. Even living like this was better than being dead. She knew many of the experiments didn't see it this way, but she did. What small child wanted to die?

Chrome looks up at Ken and smiles, because it's hard not to smile at him. He just looks so silly, like a giant lion cuddly toy, especially when his tongue hung out like it was now. He was always there to cheer her up.

Him and Chikusa stand in the middle of the room, out of their cells whilst they could. Ken stands on a few boxes and peeks out of the tiny window. Hmm, seems like no one was watching them. Good. Ken jumps down before reaching into the small bag he carried everywhere with him. These clothes didn't have pockets, so the Estraneo gave him the bag instead. Chrome looks up in interest, wondering which pair he was going to bring out now. She tilts her head when she doesn't recognise the shape of those ones. But as soon as the teeth cartridge goes in, it's easy enough to tell where they were from.

"Monkey channel!" He says. He shivers as the change overtakes him. It gets easier and easier with every transformation, as bone and muscle get used to the idea of shifting and stretching. But even so, Chrome still hears the hiss that leaves his lips as he bends forwards in pain. Chikusa is there immediately, rubbing circles on his back and whispering words of encouragement. Ken grabs the front of Chikusa's shirt, head still bowed towards the floor as he breaths in deeply between his fangs. Ken is careful not to scratch Chikusa with his newly formed claws though.

The first of a new transformation type is always the worst, all three think, knowing from previous experience. Each of Ken's new channels were painful until he got used to them.

Eventually Ken's breathing evens out and he releases the front of Chikusa's shirt. Before Chikusa knows it, Ken's leapt on him and curled his body around him, feet resting on one hip whilst Ken leans over the other shoulder.

"Ooo-aaa-aa-a, this is great byon! Hehe, can't catch me Kakki-pii!" He laughs, his feet and hands dodging Chikusa's as the boy tried to chuck Ken off. Ken keeps on laughing, with the occasional monkey-ish shriek added in absently. Before Chikusa can get too mad, Ken jumps off him and swings around their small room.

Chrome and Chikusa wince when he falls off the top of a pile of boxes, still not used to this new form. But as always, Ken just laughs it off, gets back up again and continues where he left off. He climbs back up the boxes before taking a flying leap towards the bars. "EEE-eee-EEEKK!" He smacks face first into them, far too dazed to try to catch the bars as he slides back down to earth.

He blinks blearily, staring up at the ceiling, stars dancing in his eyes.

"O-ooh-a-ah?" he mumbles, animal talk coming out naturally in his confused state, especially since the Chanel was still inserted in his jaw. An apathetic yet surely concerned face appears in his vision, looking down at him. If it was anyone else, Ken would hate that emotionless face, thinking it was mocking him, but this was Chikusa and he couldn't help it. It was just the repercussions of the Estraneo messing around inside his brain. Ken knew that Chikusa was concerned, especially when that oh so common whispered phrase is said.

"How troublesome."

That makes Ken grins widely, almost wide enough to dislodge the cartridge in his jaw. He stands back up and shakes himself down like the animal he is. He claps Chikusa on the back. He knows that Chikusa was worried since Chikusa didn't dodge his hand. With Chikusa's heightened body reactions, he could have easily dodged it if he wanted to.

For the third time, Ken climbs the dangerous pile of boxes, determined to get it right this time. With this Monkey Chanel he would be as free as a monkey through the trees. Just watch. He jumps again, knowing what to do differently, and latches onto the bars with hands that bend more than usual. His bare feet curl around the bars and he hangs there, suspended for a few moments before a loud whoop leaves his mouth. "Oooh! Eeek! Ooooo-aaa-aa-aaaa! Did you see that! How awesome was I?" He bounces around, leaping from one bar to another, not even caring about the few times he misses and skids down the bars. Like always, he just recovers and continues on leaping and shouting and screeching.

"A-a-haa." The noise is quiet, muffled, but the boys still hear it. Both simultaneously look towards their third member, towards their sister, and notice her curled up, hands to her stomach and knees to her chest. They can't see her face under the layer of dirty purple hair

"M-Mu-ku… Mu-ro… Mu-ku-ro." She stutters, her voice tight.

The pair immediately rush over, Ken jumping down from the bars to land right by her side.

"Chrome! Chrome. Hey Stupid Girl answer me!" Ken shouts, grabbing her shoulders.

"Chrome, are you okay?" Chikusa asks. Sounds like a silly question, with her gasping and wreathing on the floor, but when you live in a scientific experimentation facility, that question has a whole new meaning. It was meant in relation to everything they have been through.

When Chrome reaches out, the pair automatically put their hands in hers. She was a sister in distress, what else were they going to do? She squeezes them tightly, sharing the pain she felt, letting it out of her through them. They didn't mind, this didn't even hurt. Slowly they pull her up into a sitting position. Ken uses his new manoeuvring abilities to reach out and grab the Mukurowl toy and sit it on her lap. She looks up and smiles at them. The pair blink, since her eyes are not their usual shade, but far more purple.

"Chrome?" Chikusa prompts, watching the girl carefully. There is not much that two children can do in this situation. They are not medical professionals, nor scientists. They cannot look after Chrome and make her better in a medical sense. But the four of them are used to having to look after each other with only the minimal amount of help. As long as they stick together, then the children would get through it. Or so they believed. The adults in this place were certainly not to be trusted to help.

It is clear that her smile is forced; there is sweat running down her face whilst she bites her lip. She takes in a deep breath, closing her eyes as she did so.

"Picture it."

"Believe it."

"Force it to be true."

She repeats those three phrases to herself again and again as she moves her hands from where the boys held them to her stomach. She never let go of their hands though. The boys definitely know what's going on now, if the purple eyes hadn't alerted them. They had heard those three phrases to death over a year ago. Those were Mammon's words. They were her way of explaining to a three year old child how illusions worked. At four, Chrome still didn't know how illusions really worked. Words about control and perception were useless to her. But forcing a picture in her head to become reality was easy, simple to understand.

The boys hold her hand tighter, willing her to complete the illusion. They don't say anything in case they disrupt her concentration. Creating her own illusionary organs is hard for her since she doesn't have a clue what they do or how they work. Mukuro, being those few years older, understood the basic functions better. All Chrome could do was fill in the foundation that Mukuro still had going and strengthen it with her own power. It Mukuro's own illusions ever failed completely… if he were to die… they she'd most likely die with him. Without another illusionist the Estraneo had no use of her. For she was experiment number 96, the illusion powered half dead soldier. She was living proof that someone could be kept alive through illusionary powers. Proof that Mist Flames could create an army of injured yet fully functioning soldiers.

Slowly her breathing calms down again, the pain leaves her face and she looks back up at the pair with a real half smile on her face. She would be fine for now.

"Is Mukuro alright?" asks Ken. If she was like this, then it meant that something had happened to Mukuro.

"Everything will be fine." She says, repeating Ken's words from earlier. "Again." She whispers. "He's gone to sleep again." The pair nod. They were too young to know the word unconscious, so to them Mukuro was just in a sleep he wouldn't wake up from.

"I wonder what powers he will get this time?" wonders Chikusa, brushing some hair away from Chrome's face.

"I wonder. I bet it's going to be something really really cool! Last time he could call for animals!" Ken cheers. Animals appearing from mid-air that weren't illusions was super super cool! Like magic.

The two boys continue to discuss what new powers Mukuro might end up with as Chrome lays down, using Mukurowl as a pillow. She was tired. Creating illusions was very strenuous for her. She didn't want to do anything but lay here with her two brothers and listen to them argue once again, waiting for Mukuro's return.

For everything was going to be okay. It just had to be.

I think you might be able to tell why this is going to be a 'heavy' arc, but I hope you'll all find it interesting.

See you all next chapter!

Phantom Hitman 1412

First Published 10 January 2013