Inspired by Destroys30's art "assassin" Assassin by Destroys30 on DeviantArt

While riding his motorcycle home from Boss' shack Koji noticed a strange looking cave outside the city, a cave that was not there a while ago. He went closer to it, then got off his bike and went inside for a closer look, taking out a flashlight. As he went further inside, he noticed the walls were slime-covered, and that there were thin wires running down the sides. "Weird…" he whispered as he got closer to the wall. He was about to touch a wire when he felt a harsh electrical jolt on his back. He let out a yell before falling to the ground. The last thing he heard before darkness claimed him was an electronic sounding laugh.

He woke up to a sharp pain that coursed through his body. His was tied to the slimy wall of the cave by the wires he was looking at. The wires were razor sharp, cutting into his him every time he moved. He looked in front of him to find a dark mecha beast that was his size, staring at him maliciously. At its side stood the family thorn at it side.
"Doctor Hell," Koji hissed. "I should have known."

"And a good day to you as well, Koji Kabuto!" Hell replied with a malicious smile. "How do you like my new hideout?"

"Nice. It suits you perfectly. Now what do you want from me!?"

"Why thank you! I think it's perfect! I have my guard here," he patted the mecha beast. "And the entrance is perfect for capturing nosy intruders! As for what I want? Why dear boy, I want to hear you scream in agony!" he laughed. "I'm not going to kill you, yet. No, dear Koji. I want to make you suffer. Slowly. See, my new mecha beast is equipped with all kinds of ways to hurt you, and I wish to try them all."

Koji spat at him. "Do your worst. I won't give you the pleasure of screaming! And you will NOT break me!"
"We shall see, boy." Hell looked at the mecha beast. "Begin."

The beast started with its tail, which resembled an electric cord. It shoved its tail into Koji's side, making him let out a yelp in pain from the shock as well as the wire cutting him, a punishment for his movements.

After what seemed like hours, Koji slumped over with a moan, his mind a haze of pain and exhaustion.
Janus smiled at Hell. "Shall we wake him up for more, my lord?"

Hell shook his head. "Let him rest, or try to. We don't want this to end TOO quickly, now do we? Keep a guard on him, while I take my magnificent mecha beast over for a fine tuning." He chuckled. "Let me see what other devices I can put into him to use on our guest."

The evil scientist went into the next room, then cackled as he fine-tuned his new mecha. "Once I finish with Kabuto, I'll use it on that pesky Tsurugi next." He finished with the fine tuning, then sent it out to torture his hated captive some more. He stayed in his lab, content in listening to Koji's screams of pain. "Finally! I knew he had a breaking point!" he cackled gleefully. He went over some notes, working on his next plan.

Janus frowned as Koji once again fell limp. "Why Koji, where is your defiance, your stamina?" Before she could speak further, she heard sounds of fighting coming from the cave's entrance. "What fool would dare!?" She looked at Koji, who seemed to be grinning. "Don't think you'll be saved. There is no one here to help yo-" She was suddenly stopped by a hard kick in the ribs that knocked the wind out of her.

"Leave him alone you BITCH!" roared a very enraged Tetsuya. The Great Mazinger pilot kicked her again, knocking her out before she could call for help.

The mecha beast started towards Koji, but was immediately stopped by a kick that freed its head from its body.

Tetsuya went over to Koji. Seeing his brother like this filled him with concern and a seething rage from within. He gently cut off the wires, then held him close. "Koji…my gods what have they done to you?" he whispered, fighting back tears. He gently lowered him to the floor. "I'll get you home. Rest now." He kissed his forehead, then stood up.

Doctor Hell raised an eyebrow, wondering what was going on. Koji was no longer screaming, but Janus did for a moment, and there was a crash. His questions were answered by a loud crash as a kick tore down the door. Before he could react, Tetsuya's steel like hand grabbed his throat and shoved him against the wall. The look on the pilot's face was that of a demon about to drag his soul to hell.

"You. YOU did this to him!" Tetsuya growled. "YOU are gonna feel every inch of his pain!" He threw punches and kicks that would shatter bone. He then threw him to the floor.

"I will kill you if you EVER touch him again!" he said into his ear. He stood up and delivered one more kick to the head before leaving.

Koji's eyes opened slightly as he felt himself being gently lifted into strong arms and carried out of the nightmarish cave. "T-Tet-"

"Shh, I'm here." He replied gently. "You're safe now."

At the science institute, Tetsuya stayed at his brother's side while the medical team worked on Koji's wounds. When they were done, he sat beside Koji's bed and held his hand. One of the doctors, an old wartime medic, warned Tetsuya that Koji may have nightmares from the torture.

"He has you, and the rest of your family." He reassured the Great Mazinger pilot. "With your support, he'll pull through those nightmares."

Tetsuya thanked him, intent on supporting his brother in every way.

Koji was alright during the day, knowing that he was safe due to his own strength and resilience. It was at night that the nightmares would come, where he would wake up covered in sweat, screaming Tetsuya's name. Tetsuya started sleeping with him, his comforting presence chasing away the nightmares. Shiro and Jun made him a dreamcatcher, which the Mazinger pilot hung over his bed. Nuke, remembering his grandmother's stories, told Koji how he could try to control his nightmares. Koji laughed, but then tried it out. One night, as the nightmare began, he willed himself to grow a Mazinger suit of armor to free himself and trash his tormentors. On another night, he willed for Tetsuya to barge in and be 10 feet tall, stomping his tormentors flat.

The nightmares eventually receded, thanks to the love of his family and friends.

THE END