A/N: Well here is part 3 of The Beast and The Stray Arc and hopefully by the end of this weekend I can first this arc with the Final chapter and Epilogue. Aside from that Wowie Zowie, more and more people are reading this story and so please allow me to express my gratitude.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND SUPPORT!
Anyways on to the Story
(Drumroll)
DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING BUT THESE CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS THAT WILL BE RELEASE ON THE WAR THUNDER FORUM BECAUSE WINNING AN ONLINE ARGUMENT IS EVERYTHING. ALL CHARACTERS AND PROPERTIES BELONG TO LILITH SOFT AND OTHER COMPANIES.
Chapter 9
The Beast and The Stray
Part 3: The Suffering that Binds Us.
***Meanwhile back at Gosha Academy***
Igawa Asagi's Office
" Fuuma-kun, what are you doing here?" Asagi asked as she saw Kotaro waiting outside her office.
"Igawa-sama, do you have a minute? I need to ask you something." Kotaro asked and Asagi opened the door for him.
" What is it Fuuma-kun?" Asagi asked after they both sat down in her office.
" It's about my clan. I heard that you are in charge of making sure our requests get taken care of so I decided to come to you directly and request something personal. Please let me have... Kaiser in my Independent Rangers Squad." Kotaro asked, " Look I know he has a certain... stigma but so do I as the current head of the Fuuma Clan after the Failure of the Fuuma Revolt. Kaiser potential as well as his combat experience is near borderline absurd but the man get results, all he need is direction from someone who has the mind to utilize him correctly."
Asagi remained silent while looking out her window and into the academy grounds as students of all age were going to and from with their peaceful lives.
" Igawa-sama? Did you hear what I just said?"
Asagi turned back to face Kotaro with an expression full of doubt.
"Fuuma-kun, while it's true that your new Taimanin Task Force Squad is something that could change how the entire Task Force operates as I would like to continue working with you on it but... I will not put a loose cannon and criminal such as Kaiser on such an elite force without any solid evidence that he can be trusted. After his last incident, The Elders are on edge with allowing him access to our organizations inner most workings."
"What do you mean Igawa-san?" Kotaro asked hesitantly as he knew Kaiser was on thin ice with the Elders after he rescued his adoptive mother and disobey them but what does Asagi mean by calling Kaiser a Criminal. " What do you mean by criminal?"
" Fuuma-kun what I'm about to tell you is something that could get me into trouble so we have to keep this a secret for now. I can trust you right? If I give you this classified information, you promise not to go to the Elders behind my back.
Kotaro slowly nodded his head as he understood that Lady Asagi was giving him the utmost confidence as to disclose something of a sensitive nature pertaining to Kaiser Wrath.
"There has been some disturbances here in Gosha Village, lately." Asagi explained further.
"Disturbances? How so Igawa-san?"
"Someone has been messing with things that are best left alone, selling information on Taimanin abilities and technology, sabotaging with intel we have that even I don't have access to. There are those that suspect Kaiser is behind those incidents, but no concrete proof has been presented as of yet. It's part of the reason why Kaiser was sent away on this mission to Tokyo as to investigate these claims without him present should he use his influence he has within the Mizuki Clan... The Elders want to make sure they can assure Kaiser's loyalty to the Taimanin cause and to Gosha Village."
Kotaro stood there dumbfounded as he heard these claims.
"Are you fucking kidding me! Kaiser hates demons with a passion, and he would never do something that would knowingly put his family in danger. Those Old Fucks have it out for him and would look for any excuse to execute Kaiser. Tell me Asagi-sama you don't honestly believe that Kaiser is a traitor, do you?" Kotaro yelled with anger clearly evident in his voice as Asagi was taken aback by this outburst.
" Of course not! Fuuma-kun, it's just that the Taimanin are all paranoid of him since he is an...Outsider with no ties to any of the clans, and since our true nature was revealed to the public at the end of the Dies Irae Incident things have gotten... difficult. Even with my position and popularity I cannot guarantee anyone's safety if they cross the Elders." Asagi answered back as Kotaro remained silent for a moment before sighing in defeat.
"Does Shiranui know about this?" Kotaro asked nervously as he knew these were serious allegations against her adopted son that would cause a stir with the Mizuki Clan.
"What do you think?" Asagi said in a rhetorical manner. "If Shiranui caught wind of her son being accused of treason again she might unite the progressive clans once more and start another revolt. The Taimanin do not need another Civil War after the one your father caused." Asagi said sternly as Kotaro remained silent before leaving Asagi alone in her office, contemplating how complicated the situation with Kaiser has just gotten.
*** Back in Tokyo***
Kaiser investigated the areas that he got from the Black Lily Hostess Club as he looked for the main base of operations of the Red Dragons as he was narrowing down possible locations of their main base. A couple of days have passed since Kaiser took on this mission, and during that time, he had made connections with prostitutes, gamblers, arms dealers, and even a demon, much to his personal disgust. As his personal network of informants grew, so did he narrow his investigation of the Red Dragons.
Kaiser arrived at a bar that brokers in information about the underworld; this place could lead him to another piece of the puzzle regarding the location of the Red Dragons and their main base.
The two-story building was relatively small in comparison to other bars or nightclubs in Tokyo, and due to its name, "Baldi's Bar" was known for having a rough and disreputable clientele who preferred to get drunk or deal in illicit activities away from any government eyes. After making an arrangement with one of the bouncers outside and showing some money around the place, Kaiser was able to get into the place and sit at a table he wanted, but unfortunately, the owner wasn't in at the moment. Kaiser decided to wait at the bar and hopefully catch him coming in as he drank a glass of water on ice. It was a Thursday evening, and while it was early, most patrons were already drunk and either passed out or looked ready to pass out.
"Excuse me, sir, I am looking for one of your regular customers." Kaiser asked the bartender politely but received only a rude glare in return.
Kaiser snarled as he was about to say something before thinking better about it. Instead, the bartender gave Kaiser directions to where the man could be found as he pointed towards the backrooms as he took off his shades to look him in the eye.
"Sorry kid, you just have that kind of aura." The bartender said nervously as he knew Kaiser wasn't someone he should fuck with.
Kaiser thanked the bartender for his help and headed into a backroom, where he was greeted by a fat old man sitting around a round table playing poker with some low life criminals. He had several empty shot glasses on the table, and the stench of cheap alcohol permeated throughout the room. The dealer gestured for the guards to leave them alone before saying.
"Well, I heard that there was some hotshot reporter looking to rock the boat in order to find people who don't want to be found... So pray tell boy, who are you?"
Kaiser took a seat and had a relaxed look before answering, "Well, I do live for the thrill of breaking in a big scoop... The name's Katsuo Madra, and I am a Freelance Reporter."
"Hahahha, that is the first time someone has the balls to be snooping around here, but I got no reason not to talk after all, this may prove beneficial to me... My name's Banjou Fujioka, or just 'Baldi' to my regular customers. Anyways, I run this establishment and provide many services for those with deep pockets."
Baldy took a cigarette from one of his associates at the table and lit it up as smoke started to fill the room. "Do you really want to find people that don't want to be found, kid?"
"Well, I wouldn't be in this job if being a bitch was a requirement, but if it's compensation is what you want, then I can provide Mr. Baldy." Kaiser said in a cocky and unconcerned manner to the gangster boss. "I just want to know if the info that I need is accurate, like whether a certain person came here or any details on his business with your organization."
"Very well, I understand. I will give you all of the details I have, which should be enough if it hinders my competitors." Baldy Fujioka finished his cigarette as he prepared to give the reporter some much-needed answers. "Now who exactly are you trying to find because I hate people looking down on me?"
"The Red Dragons and... Yuichi Hoshi. I need to know who runs them and where they are at. Get me that info, and I'll make sure your pockets are full; seems fair, no?"
Baldy thought over it before agreeing and calling back some of the goons he had kicked out earlier. He wrote down on a notepad an address that was connected to one of his warehouses.
"Their warehouse is here, and I trust you won't get any ideas about going there and causing trouble, because if you do well... I'm not responsible for what happens to you."
He gestured for two of his associates to lead Kaiser to the back door and leave him in an alleyway. Kaiser took a deep breath as he finally had a solid lead as he looked at the note Blady gave him with directions to the Red Dragon warehouse located on the docks of Jujuku District. Kaiser took a deep breath and looked at the skyline's lights as the rain began to gently fall on him.
"That went better than expected...maybe with this, I can actually get something done." Kaiser said as he made his way to the address before the rain could soak through his clothes or before he could catch a cold. Kaiser began his run to the docks.
The people stared at Kaiser as they all mumbled that he was perhaps an actor or some foreign artist, but it was due to his choice in clothing, as he wore a leather trench coat over a white dress shirt and tied with blue jeans. Kaiser usually wore whatever he felt like but knew some people might give him trouble if he stood out so much, so he wore normal clothing to blend in, but it was difficult with his physical appearance. It also didn't help that he just so happened to love dressing like an old-time mobster and punk, but he didn't mind dressing differently to fit the role.
"Well here it is; time to take a look inside and see what I can find." Kaiser said to himself as he arrived at the docks.
The docks were scarcely guarded as Kaiser snuck around, avoiding detection. The guard posts were mostly unmanned except for two that kept watchful eyes on the cargo containers and buildings around them. One container was guarded by two men standing with one smoking as another sat in a chair reading a magazine. Kaiser noticed how easy it would be to sneak up from behind and slit their throats without them knowing as he held his hands close to his trench coat, ready to draw his knife at any second.
However, the thought of killing sent a shiver through Kaiser's spine. While Kaiser reveled in bloodshed and violence, he was able to keep his violent impulses in check with a calm mind, just like his father taught him to. As he snuck his way inside one of the buildings, Kaiser kept his guard up, being ready for anything that could cause him trouble. As he explored the building, he noticed a young man in an expensive business suit tied to a chair.
"Huh...who's there?" Said the man as he heard Kaiser behind him.
Kaiser says that this man was around in his early 20s and was considered good-looking compared to your average man, but Kaiser could tell that he was as superficial as they come, as the man looked weak and probably didn't have a spine, almost like a worm, all of which Kaiser looked down upon.
"Shhhhh... keep it down and I might consider rescuing you... what's your name?" Kaiser asked as he tried to free the young man.
"Arakawa...my name is Arakawa. I'm a member of the Minshin Party that's run by Muneichi Yazaki, a senator of the Japanese government." Arakawa said in a scared tone, "Please help me, and I'll make it worth your while."
Kaiser saw no value in helping this man but knew that leaving him here was not an option that Asagi would approve of, though he couldn't figure out why anyone would want to kidnap a mere low-level politician like this Arakawa fellow. Kaiser had heard about Muneichi Yazaki but never knew anything else other than what he heard from others, which were rumors about how corrupt he was or that he owned sex slaves and that the police stayed silent for fear of losing their jobs, or so the rumors went, but then again Kaiser could less about the politics of Japan.
"It doesn't matter...why are you tied up here anyway? Surely they didn't kidnap you because of your looks." Kasie said jokingly as Arakawa visibly flinched at the backhand compliment.
"Well, I was investigating the Red Dragon crime syndicate and was hoping to find something in order to catch them red-handed in transporting the drugs and sex slaves to the Tokyo Kingdom." Arakawa said nervously.
Kaiser scoffed as seeing this weak-looking politician considered doing anything that would help the people he represented, but if this let Arakawa get recognition and helped him climb the political ladder, then it would make sense that this pretty fuck-boy politician would risk his life to rise above his current station.
Kaiser, however, did not want any part in this worm plans, so he ignored Arakawa's pathetic rambling and continued to work on freeing the bound politician. After Kaiser was able to loosen the bindings, he freed Arakawa as the politician tried to stand up on his own unsteady legs. A loud sound was heard as it was soon followed by a gunshot that rang throughout the warehouse. The bullet hit Kaiser on the back of his shoulder with enough force to almost knock him off his feet as he stumbled to stay standing.
The Sniper had a bead on Kaiser and Arakawa as he lined up his next shot. He fired again at Kaiser, who quickly rolls off to the side in time to avoid another shot. The Sniper decided that it was time for him to reposition himself as he started walking towards higher cover. Arakawa saw his chance for freedom as he quickly untied himself from the chair while Kaiser drew his three-barrel revolver gun and fired back at the masked shooter.
The sniper took cover before firing another round, only for Kaiser to dodge it again with Arakawa hiding. After escaping his binds, he was looking for a way out when he saw a door that would lead him outside. The cowardly politician sought cover as to not get shot at as any further rounds that would surely hit him otherwise.
Kaiser knew he needed to fight back against this unseen foe; otherwise, he would soon get flanked by the other thugs nearby who surely heard the gunshots. Unbeknownst to the sniper, the young Taimanin had taken notice of the sniper's movements and was now able to predict them step by step. This allowed his enemy to fire a shot into nothing but air, as Kaiser would stay in cover between shots while the sniper tried to reposition himself and aim his rifle around trying to find his target.
This worked for a bit as Kaiser was able to close the distance towards the sniper, but the sniper tried again, and this time got a clean line of fire on Kaiser, who was out of cover but was not fast enough to dodge in time as a bullet pierced the young man's right shoulder, knocking the wind out of him before he stumbled on the ground.
"FFFFUUUUUUCCCCKKKK!" Kaiser yelled out as the bullet hit him in the shoulder.
With his shoulder bleeding, the bullet did pierce his skin, but Crimson Energy began to heal the injury. He knew that the next shot would kill him.
As the sniper moved closer, Kaiser rolled backwards onto his feet and took cover behind one of the shelves holding a bunch of boxes as Arakawa could be heard screaming outside with the sounds of heavy footsteps coming towards his direction. The Taimanin fired two more bullets at the sniper from his gun before reloading.
"Is that all you got, Pussy? Come out and face me!" Kaiser taunted loudly only to hear more footsteps enter the building and his target begin walking towards the back door where Arakawa had made his escape.
Kaiser was pinned, but he had a plan to get out of this situation, and it could not fail. His body suddenly began to feel very hot as the Crimson Energy inside him rose to levels never seen before since the Dies Irae Incident and without warning. With this new strength invigorating his muscles and his focus becoming razor sharp, Kaiser vanished with inhumane speed, only for him to reappear several seconds later as he crossed the warehouse in no time as the crimson power kept rising higher.
Kaiser was able instinctively to channel this power into himself as he enhanced his speed and strength. Running at short but incredible speeds, Kaiser was able to seemingly disappear and reappear as he moved faster than what the normal human eye can track. This, however, did have a downside, as humans were never meant to push their bodies to such limits that it drained on Kaiser's stamina.
Kaiser dodged and weaved his way through the dock as he made way to the sniper, using his speed to close the distance quickly while dodging stray shots in the process. Using the shipping containers and crates as cover, Kaiser lined up his next shots and aimed his Three Barrell Revolver at the snipers head that had just turned around to take a final shot at Kaiser before they both fired. The gunman moved fast as well, but not fast enough as the bullet impacted against his forehead, causing it to Bloom like a Rose on the docks floor.
Arakawa then made himself known as he left his hiding spot, yelling, "D-Did you just kill him?! Now we have to get out of here before more show up! Come on, let's go; that means you too, Kaiser!" He said, turning to look at the other man, who was staring intently at the corpse on the floor.
"How do you know my name?" Kaiser asked as he remembered he never told this politician his name before. "I'm pretty sure, I didn't tell you jack shit about my name..."
Kaiser was ready to aim his gun at Arakawa, but before he could, he was hit with a dart on his back.
"What the?!" Kaiser turned around and saw Arakawa holding a dart gun as he shot Kaiser with a tranquilizer.
"You...little...piece of..." was all Kaiser managed to say as he felt the tranquilizer starting to take effect on him. Arakawa panicked as he saw that Tranquilizer was not knocking out Kaiser fast enough as he shot him with another dart to sedate him.
"Y-You fucking freak just die already!" Arakawa yelled as he backed up to a wall of another warehouse as Kaiser slowly approached him.
Kaiser's hand reached out to strangle Arakawa as his fingers slowly wrapped themselves around the sniveling politician's neck as he finally passed out on his feet before his hand could throttle the life out of the corrupt politician. As Arakawa eyes looked at the unconscious Taimanin with fear, he let out a sigh of relief as he had made it through yet another situation with his life intact. He reached out to grab one of Kaiser's hands to pry off his throat.
...
...
...
It was sudden, but Kaiser's hand on reflex began to unconsciously strangle Arakawa's throat, who was trying to break Kaiser's grip as he felt his windpipe slowly being crushed.
It was The Beast decided to make himself known as he walks towards, at a leisurely pace, Arakawa.
"Quite a grip he has, huh?" Yuichi commented as he saw Kaiser choking the life out of Arakawa. "Still...I can't believe one man caused us all this trouble...then again, I would have loved to fight against him, one on one, to see if he is as strong as the rumors say."
Yuichi could care less about Arakawa, but however slimy and corrupt he was, Arakawa had his uses for his master, so he grabbed Kaiser's hand as he managed to pry his fingers from Arakawa's throat.
"(cough) (cough) Ugh." Arakawa let out a groan as he fell on his back onto the floor, holding his throat for a few seconds before sitting up straight, coughing and gasping for air.
"We don't have much time, you fool." Yuichi said not wanting to hear Arakawa complaining at a time like this.
"What do we do with him?" Arakawa asked, pointing to the still unconscious Kaiser standing in front of them.
"He is more valuable to me alive than dead, as per My Master's instructions." Yuichi said as he thought about what he should do with Kaiser after seeing their transport arrive.
"I guess we could put him back in the car trunk, but I doubt it will hold him for long," Yuichi said, thinking aloud while trying to come up with a solution to their problem. "Take him to the Facility in the slums where we are keeping that woman from before. My Master will want to personally see to it that this Taimanin pays for his insolence against House Inma."
"Well, good the helpers can drag his ass away from me...far away from me." Arakawa commented, trying not to think about if and when Kaiser would wake up at this moment and strangling him again. It was out of his instinctual fear that he needed a few seconds to recover after being choked nearly to death by him earlier. If it took too long to get him secured in the car, then they would have another mess on their hands, which was the last thing Arakawa needed right now as he had his own problems with a certain Politician, who was the only one strong enough to go against the Mishin Party.
*** Unknown Location***
In the Slums, at an isolated rundown building that was surrounded by shanty-built houses away from the public eye, it stood as a testament to the rotting decay of the city. Locked up in a maximum security holding cell was a young man awaiting for a certain Lord to arrive.
Kaiser woke up and saw himself in a cell room with his arms hanging up from the ceiling as a heavy chain was securing his wrist. As he stood hanging in the dimly lit room, it smelled of mildew and... blood.
Kaiser looked around to find that there was but one steel door with a sliding eye cover as well as no windows inside the room keeping him in. His throat was dry, but otherwise nothing else seemed wrong with him, so he began to work his hands, trying to break free of the chains.
"Ah, you're finally awake."
Kaiser heard a voice as he turned his attention to the door as he saw Arakawa enter, as well as a familiar face who was wearing a red leather jacket with a gray tank top underneath, as well as black cargo military-style pants and boots.
"You." Kaiser said, narrowing his eyes as he glared daggers in the Arakawa direction, or more specifically at the young man behind him.
The Stray let out a growl.
"So...I guess your involved with the Red Dragons, huh... Yuichi." Kaiser asked, as this confirms the strange feeling he had of the man who he had met at the park. " Still... Were you always a Red Dragon, or was that something you were forced into?"
Yuichi remained quiet as he moved to sit down on a stool in front of Kaiser, who was hanging from his hands as Yuichi pulled out a cigarette.
"So no comments on how I was stupid to let myself be captured or why I didn't just kill you right then and there? Or anything about how you and I are seeing each other again?" Kaiser asked.
"Tell me Katsuo-kun... or is that your real name? What did you feel when you first saw me at the park?" Yuichi asked as he smoked his cigarette.
"I felt... that you were trying to hide something. That you were trying to blend in with people who you saw as nothing more than... prey." Kaiser let out a sigh, "Look, I just want some answers from you... As long as you don't interfere with the work I have here, then I'll let you go. Also, my name is Kaiser, Kaiser Wrath."
"I know...when we met at the park, I knew there was more to you than your fake cover of you being a freelance reporter. I saw in your eyes a man willing to burn the world for his desires. A man who would stack mountains of corpses to see his adversaries dead. I saw someone who was like me. Tell me,Katsuo, aren't we one in the same?" Yuichi asked as he let his cigarette burn while staring at Kaiser with empty eyes.
"Awfully arrogant to say that we are the same, don'tcha think?" Kaiser replied, unsure about this question, "We are both different men... but I can't deny that we both crave blood and destruction from those who stand in our way... to fight and survive through any means possible against the chaos and madness all around us. In way, I guess we're alike in some ways... Yuichi."
"Hmmm...maybe we are? There is, however, a big difference between us, Katsuo-kun, and that is where we are standing right now, with me standing here free and alive while you... well, what is going to happen to you is not what I would wish upon my worst enemy. But here we are... Two men of similar natures but on opposite sides." Yuichi said as he took a final drag of his cigarette.
"Nah...aside from being fucked up, you and I couldn't be any more different... You cause pain and suffering to others to survive, while I suffer any pain to allow others to live. From where I'm standing, I'm the free one even if chained, while you are the one who shackles himself." Kaiser said coolly as he stared down at Yuichi, realizing there was no point in arguing with Yuichi anymore.
"Maybe Kaiser... but in the end, those who stand are the strong while the weak are but mere prey." As Yuichi said this, the door to the cell opened as young dark-tanned man with white hair stepped in. He wore a gray blazer with a white button-up shirt and black slacks with leather shoes. He had an air of arrogance and superiority towards everyone in the room, but as soon as his eyes fell on Kaiser, a deep-seated hatred toward him was made very clear.
"L..Lord Kuroi, you've arrived." Arakawa said nervously as he bowed towards his master while Yuichi got up from the stool as he stepped aside from Kaiser as Kuroi made his way towards him.
"So...you're this so-called Kaiser Wrath, The Mad Dog of Ruin, The Immortal Eater, The Living Apocalypse, and the Scourge of the Umbral Plains... humph, I was expecting more." Kuroi said with a scoff as he took a seat in front of Kaiser, who was still tied up. His golden eyes fixated themselves onto Kaiser's green ones.
"Sorry to burst your bubble for your disappointment, but that is fine with me; anything to piss you off is a win in my book. I just didn't expect such a weak-looking Bitch in front of me... (sniff) (sniff) smells like one too. Seriously, I don't know why the Taimanin or anyone around the world thinks you're a threat of any kind. No matter what image you have painted for yourself, I can't help but feel a little bit disappointed." Kaiser said smugly. "Oh, I would tell you that I would know of you, but frankly, after meeting you, I can't feel but laugh at you."
Kaiser laughs casually as he knew he had a unique gift of pissing people off, which caused both Kuroi and Yuichi to glare daggers at him.
"So defiant and yet... so foolish to have allowed yourself to be captured. Tell me, Human, do you know what it is that made me target you personally?" Kuroi asked in a mocking manner, as though he were talking to one of his underlings, "Do you remember what happened 2 years ago... on the night that you went on a rampage and nearly destroyed half of Tokyo and Yomihara?"
Kuroi glared at Kaiser as the man's temper was raising at the thought that this mere... human would dare defy or disrespect him.
"Ehh... A lot of shit happened during that time, like me fluking my civics test or me eating my little sister's pudding. By the way, can you keep that a secret? Your gonna have to be more specific as to what I did... Fuck Boy." Kaiser said in a mocking tone as he looked at Kuroi with nothing but cockiness and mockery. His attitude angered Kuroi greatly, and the dark man reached down to pull out a pocket watch from his pants.
"Very well. Allow me to refresh your memory, mongrel. There was a particular Taimanin who I had personally eyes set on—a woman who was going to be my first Sex Slave and Loyal Soldier to House Inma—a woman by the name of Mizuki Shiranui." Kuroi said with a sneer as he saw the look that Kaiser gave him as his face twisted into ravaging rage as he struggled against his restraints.
"IT WAS YOU! YOU WERE THE PIECE OF SHIT, WHO TRIED TO TAKE MY MOTHER!" Kaiser yelled as he tried to break free of chains on him, as he wanted nothing more than to savagely beat the one who was behind his family's suffering. "My mother was almost taken away from me and my sister; it was you who hurt my family. All the pain and sadness was by your hands!" He said angrily, looking over at Kuroi with murder in his eyes as nothing but a red haze clouded Kaiser's green eyes... as they faintly flickered into a crimson color.
"Y-Yuichi!" Arakawa screams in fear as he takes a few steps back behind Kuroi as Mad Dog's anger explodes as the sound of the chains on his wrist is straining to contain the Rage of a Wild Stray as his howls echo throughout the room.
Kuroi simply smiled at his as he continued speaking, "And it would have happened if it wasn't for you... she was going to serve me and the House of Inma if you hadn't barged in and ruined everything. Shiranui was supposed to have been happy serving me while abandoning you and her family for the sake of pleasure, but I will say this though: the suffering she endured for months was... Exquisite. I have to say... Her body was delicious, and for days I had her on the brink of madness as I molded her into a woman of my liking."
Kuroi walked close to Kaiser as he sat down on the stool in front of him face-to-face.
"Your mother was going to be my most loyal assassin and sex slave living in bliss, serving me and the needs of House Inma. I don't take kindly to those who take things that belong to me. I despise you, Kaiser Wrath. I despise that fact that a mere human thought he could stand against one of the 9 Noble Demon Houses, you who had the audacity to think you could fight against your Betters? Did you think you could get away with it and not suffer the consequences? ...UTTERLY RIDICULOUS!"
Kuroi stood up as he punched Kaiser in the face before grabbing his chin, lifting it so that their eyes met. The two of them were only a foot apart now as they glared at each other with such intensity that one could feel a slight heat radiating off from both of their bodies.
The Stray gave Kuroi a feral smile as he spitted blood into Kuroi's eye in defiance.
"I'm gonna kill you... I am gonna kill you and everyone who's connected to you. Mark. My. Words." Kaiser said as his blood was boiling into an inferno, as the man who was solely responsible for nearly tearing his family apart stood in front of him. "Once I am done with you... there won't be enough of you left to fit in a bucket... I'm gonna make you Suffer... You have made an enemy for life, Demon Scum."
"You are nothing more than a filthy little commoner! A filthy mongrel stray mutt that was raised by the Taimanin to be some kind of personal rabid hound to those of Gosha Village. How dare you spit at me?!" Kuroi yells while wiping his eyes off of the blood Kaiser spit into.
The Stray just continued smiling at his prey.
"I know what I am to them. A 'Mad Dog', right? Not fit to have my own life or freedom, to always be used by others. Let alone have a say in anything important or worth listening to." Kaiser then let out a small chuckle as he knew how others viewed him. "But the people in my life have shown me time and time again what love means and how precious my humanity is; they showed me that I'm so much more than a Mad Dog...and when I get back home, they'll be there...waiting for me."
Kuroi gave Kaiser one last look of anger as this Mongrel was not breaking or suffering as he had wanted him to before he stood up and walked over towards the cell door. "Yuichi, make sure he suffers...in the most painful manner possible, but don't kill him... I have plans for this 'Mad Dog'." Kuroi said without even turning around to look at Yuichi as he began walking away out of the cell.
"Understood My Lord, I'll make sure he won't die for a long time." Yuichi replied with a slight grin on his face. "Let's start now, as it shouldn't take very long, because you see..."
After those words left Yuichi's mouth, Kaiser looked up and started laughing hysterically in the chair he was chained up to still before he was punched in the gut.
"I'm going to take my time with you, Katsuo... I'll make sure to keep you alive...barely." Yuichi said to Kaiser using his fake name.
Kaiser stopped laughing after that and looked over at Yuichi, giving him a serious stare as he spoke, "You...fucking piece of shit. You think you have what it takes to break me? Hmmmm? I'm going to laugh while you struggle to make your master happy. I may be a Mad Stray Dog but at least I can live like a Human."
Kaiser's words trailed off slightly at the end of his sentence as he broke eye contact and turned away from Yuichi.
"Alright then, Katsuo... we'll see who laughs last." Yuichi said as he closed the door to Kaiser's cell
Wailing of suffering and pain echos through the cell as Yuichi tortured Kaiser, from beatings to waterboarding with a canvas bag over his head and even an electric car battery as the two cables sparked with electricity as Kaiser was shocked for hours on end, slowly wearing down his body and mind in the process.
None of that really mattered to Kaiser; all he cared about was getting home. Back to Shiranui, Yukikaze, Rinko, and everyone else in Gosha Village. His plan had gone well so far. Find the Red Dragons and identify who was running the show as well as shutting them down. He figured that all of the drug dealers and slavers had been gathered in one place if someone like Kuroi, who was apart of House Inma, was here personally to deal with him, would probably be in the most secure place that would be their main base of operations. The idiot had done the work for him as he knew...nothing will remain standing once The Mad Dog of Ruin is through.
Kaiser saw Yukikaze's face as she was smiling at him and pulling at his arm as she dragged him towards a alone tree on the cliff face that overlooked the vast Cerulean ocean. Rinko and Tatsuro were waiting at the cliffside. He saw Asuka and Kirara, who smiled/scowled at him as they approached the cliff face. Kotaro was in there as well with a lazy smile, along with Shikanoskue and Hebiko. As everyone talked and laughed, Kaiser was smiling as the sun, the ocean, and company were all that he needed in life. He was suddenly hugged from behind as a familiar scent of Lotus filled his senses and the sweet voice of his mother gave him peace.
"Come Back...Kaiser...Please, Come Back Home."
He was suddenly awoken from his delusions as a splash of cold water hit him in the face, waking him up.
"Your a fucking asshole... Yuichi... Tell me...how long are you...gonna keep...this up...because I got all night... Buddy." Kaiser gasped out as he was getting his bearings together.
"You are a Tough Guy aren't you... Katsuo? I enjoy our short time together, and with how much pain you can handle... I feel like with you I can finally be myself around you." Yuichi said as he readies the next torture device. "I don't want to hide my true nature."
"Ah fuck...please don't tell me your into guys?" Kaiser groaned as he was worried that Yuichi might 'play for the other team'.
Kaiser's torture continues as Yuichi raises Electrodes above his head, ready to bring them down and deliver more pain on top of the constant electrical shocks.
"This will increase your sensitivity by 10 fold. We usually use this on our..."Live Products" in order to break them in with pleasure before we move on to the next step of making them sex slaves... I wonder how it will work for something other than pleasure? Even I had never used this for anything other than making bitches cum nonstop... I will be interested in testing this out on you. You might even like it, Buddy."
"Heh...'That Worm' would love this asshole..." Kaiser thought to himself as Yuichi attached the electrode to his head as once again the House of Pain was in chorus with the screams of suffering.
As the torture continued, Kaiser not once begged or cried out for mercy, as he just bore with the pain as he always had...as he always will.
Yuichi grew bored.
"I must say... I'm impressed. You last longer than most and without once breaking... Do you like the pain?" Yuichi asked as he tilted his head to the side in curiosity.
"Nah... I ain't one of those freaks... I just know whatever you do to me is nothing... my body... my body remembers pain from a past I can't even remember... I don't even know who I am... All I know is the pain." Kaiser said as he felt strange sharing this with his enemy Yuichi.
He did not trust the man at all, but maybe in this small moment of weakness and agony with a small bit of wanting someone who could understand was shared between them.
"Is that so? My earliest memory was one of pain. From the day I was brought into this world screaming and kicking, I knew that all that awaited me was misery. My mother died giving birth to me and my father—well, he wasn't much of a presence in my life. As a child, I knew that survival was all that matters, and it was all I knew; from fighting with other children to hiding from the adults, I lived as I saw fit." Yuichi smiled as he remembered his early days of youth and the pain he experienced.
"So what? You gave up your humanity and lived like a beast then?" Kaiser gasps out as this conversation was only respite from the torture.
"If we were born as humans, then why do we suffer then? Why were we given human emotions and souls, then why do we have the instincts of beasts? I never understood things like mercy or empathy, but sympathy was something I understood well, as I wanted others to feel what I felt—to embrace their bloodlust and live with the natural order... I killed my own father to survive, I killed friends and partners to protect myself, and I killed others...because I enjoy taking life in order to validate my own. The strong live and the weak shall perish, what other reason do I need to live other than that alone.
"... Your beyond hope, Yuichi. You're just an animal living off of violence. Someone needs to put you down." Kaiser said as he looked at the one who shares so much with him but at the same time has never felt more alienated than he does now with Yuichi. He was human, and he would hold on to that Humanity of his no matter what.
"Your body responds well to torture and your will...it seems to get stronger from it every minute. The human body can only handle so much before it breaks down, but the mind... it seems that you have broken through that point several times now. A simple sadistic pervert like you should have broken long ago." Yuichi says as he walks over to a tray with a set of knives on it ranging from precision instruments to more jagged and serrated edges meant to inflict pain.
He picks a scalpel-like knife to use.
"Making a lot of assumptions here, Buddy. I don't like the pain... I just feel alive when my life is on the line. It gives me pleasure to give in to my bloodlust and to give into this hate that is not of my own. I've always hated that part of myself and was hoping to get rid of it someday." Kaiser said as he watched Yuichi grab a knife and gently put it across his bare chest. "Strange... I never told anyone about these thoughts of mine... Only you, Buddy."
Kaiser felt familiarity with Yuichi about giving into the more violent impulses they had, as both have fought to validate their own existence.
Yuichi just nodded his head and slowly began to drag the knife across Kaiser's skin, creating a large, deep gash in his chest. Blood quickly flowed out, and Kaiser gritted his teeth together as the amplifier increased the sensitivity to pain. It felt like a hot metal was burning across his chest, and the blade was also coated with a toxin that amplifies the pain of what it cuts.
"Let's try this again, shall we? What is it that makes you feel alive?" Yuichi asked.
"Killing...Demons...Those who stand against me... REVENGE... WRATH!" Kaiser yelled out as Yuichi cut into him.
He was alone just like he always was—nothing but emptiness and silence, as only the dead gave him companionship.
Kaiser came into existence in a world that was colored gray, and with no warmth, the only color that seemed to dye it was the crimson water that flowed from the lives of others. The only things that gave him meaning were his loved ones, but with them out of reach, he craved something more...
Kaiser just wanted someone who could understand him—to understand this anger that had been burning inside his heart for as long as he could remember. This hatred and violent impulses were always something that was inside of him, trying to claw it's way out every time he fought against demons or evil, as no matter how many enemies he kills or battles he fought, nothing ever seems to change, and it all seems like some kind of video game that is never over.
It is an endless cycle of bloodshed until he died a violent and brutal death. Only then would the curse be released.
As long as there was a demon in front of him, Kaiser would fight. It did not matter if they were male, female, young, or old because no matter who they were, they would fall before him eventually, and it gave him that sense of euphoria and pleasure. With every fight comes death, and when someone dies by his hand, it brings a sense of relief to the madness that afflicts his soul.
This disgusted Kaiser, as he knew that if others found out about his sick pleasures, they would surely turn their backs on him, including his family. He couldn't bear to see his adoptive mother and little sister look at him with disgust and fear, as they would most surely banish him from their lives. Kaiser would take his secret to the grave and possibly eliminate anyone who knew the truth about him.
Yuichi kept cutting Kaiser as he talked to him, "You're like me, Buddy... Nothing matters in life except killing or being killed. Life itself has no meaning if there is no pain, no struggle. I have nothing outside of my pure instincts to survive, to fight on behalf of my own life, and nothing else. Rank, personal history, birth, race, sex, even the name that's given to you... it's all meaningless," Yuichi points the knife at Kaiser as he once again cuts deeply across his abdomen, threatening to disembowel him, "I never felt so complete as when I kill others and to someday have someone kill me... maybe that's why I hope you'll be the one to do it... Buddy."
Blood flowed out of Kaiser's wounds as he was hanging like a piece of meat at a butcher's shop. Chained and bleeding, but it was not enough to be fatal... yet.
Kaiser struggled to stay conscience with his own blood running down his numerous wounds all over his body like red rivers. It was amazing that this Kaiser was still awake and alive after what Yuichi had put him through.
"Well, I think that is enough for today, Buddy. We'll continue tomorrow." Yuichi put away its equipment and left the room as Kaiser was left hanging from his chained wrist in his cell, bleeding...but not broken.
The door closed behind him and locked tightly as if to tell him that this would be his hell now, as it served as a reminder that he would never see his family again... but nothing would stop him from fulfilling his promise. The pain was constant, as it hurts like nothing he had ever experienced, but he tried to ignore the pain and focused on staying alive. The thought of killing that monster gave Kaiser a goal to look forward to as he would make sure that these bastards would know His Wrath.
In the deep thoughts of his mind, Kaiser hated to admit it, but deep down inside he knew there was truth to what Yuichi said—maybe they weren't so different.
Kaiser was hanging in his cell as he focused on his breathing as he took deep breaths as his wounds slowly began to heal with crimson energy flickering across his body. Early in his life, Kaiser discovered that he was extremely durable and could heal from most wounds, like Murasaki, but there were caveats, such as the stamina it drained from him and that it was not instantaneously. He also was unable to regenerate lost limbs, as Kaiser knew he wasn't completely immortal like Murasaki.
Hanging from his cell, Kaiser was thinking of a way to escape and destroy the Red Dragon Organization. His healing factor allowed him to heal most of his wounds but not enough to fight back at full strength, and it wasn't even close to going against Yuichi without some sort of advantage. He took another breath and tried to rip the chains apart, but they held strong as Kaiser tried pulling with all his strength against them, but it was useless as he had to wait for an opportunity to get off instead of breaking them.
As Kaiser waited in that cell waiting for certain death or the opportunity to kill his escape, he heard footsteps outside his cell that made their way over to his cell door to unlock it.
A/N: Woah... that was rough for our protagonist but hopefully I was able to convey the dilemma that Kaiser faces as I tried to base his bloodlust from Illecebra of Soul Sacrifice game and and Caim from Drakengard, as it does give Kaiser a unbreakable will with added berserker strength but it also makes him lose his mind drowning his senses to everyone around him... basically a human bomb of anger and repress issues. So what plan does our daring protagonist have and how will this saga end? Find out in the Next Chapter.
Chapter 10
The Beast and The Stray
Part 4: The Departed and The Promise