Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Wandering Souls ❯ Time to Bleed pt2 ( Chapter 6 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Katzztar 
While the two forces are fghting, Kuwabara inetogates Benjiro for information ... using street methods.
Anime/Manga: Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Romance / Mystery / Drama | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 08.08.2004 | Updated On: 02.24.2006 | Pages: 2 | Words: 4.6K | Visits: 228 | Status: Work In Progress
While the two forces are fghting, Kuwabara inetogates Benjiro for information ... using street methods.
Anime/Manga: Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Romance / Mystery / Drama | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 08.08.2004 | Updated On: 02.24.2006 | Pages: 2 | Words: 4.6K | Visits: 228 | Status: Work In Progress
Ch 5 pt 2 Time to Bleed
A quick look told him that Benjiro is sitting in the living room. With a nudge of telekinesis, Kuwabara opened the backdoor. He made his way through the house silently as a ghost. Not once did he go through the wrong door or turn down the wrong hallway, thanks to his reikan. Within three minutes he was standing in the shadows of a hallway leading into the living room, hiding behind a hideous statue.
One could suppose that the statue may have been a western goddess, Greek most likely, however, now it looks like it belongs in a college frat house--after the keg party. The statue now sported roach clips on the exposed nipples and a jock strap was hung around the neck. Someone had even painted the robes hanging off its waist a sickening combination of hot pink with neon green polka dots.
‘Looks like Benjiro threw a house party as soon as his parents’ airplane took off.’ Kuwabara’s gaze skimmed over the room, taking in the amount of empty bottles and beer cans. ‘He is most likely still feeling a hangover. Baka, his gang attacked mine and here he is--letting his guard down, getting drunk! What a baka. It’s a good thing that that his parents said that they would call this evening, he doesn’t dare have another party until after that.--Though I suppose that it’s a good thing I do know what time they will call.’ With a grin, Kuwabara looked at his watch that showed there were still five minutes until the attack on the theater.
There was a specific reason that Kuwabara wanted the attack on the Aka Doragons’ hideout to happen at ten p.m., on the dot. One of Kuwabara’s street informants had previously made friendly contacts with Benjiro’s parents and promised to call their hotel if Benjiro started to have any parties in their home. Aikido aka Kitkat did not call about last night’s party. Kuwabara had planned this venture with his contact several days ago. Kitkat would call Benjiro’s mom today and tell her that her son plans to have a party tonight after he gets off the phone with his mother. Since Mrs. Takihashi usually calls her son between 7-8, Kitkat said that Benjiro would have a party going by ten, complete with a prostitute. Well, they were not lying about the prostitute.
There is one quirk about Mrs. Takihashi that Kuwabara liked. That woman enjoyed embarrassing her son. If there are people around, the greater she humiliates him. Mrs. Takihashi told Kitkat that she planned on calling at 10 PM and activate the house’s system that connects to the phone and make a very loud announcement. Another thing to like about her is that she is punctual. When she says that she will call at a certain time, then she will call at that exact time and not a minute after.
With three minutes left to countdown, Benjiro’s companion finally raised her head. From his hiding spot, Kuwabara could not see what the girl was doing but he doubted that was merely resting her head in Benjiro’s lap. Especially with the sounds of slurping before and now a zipper being pulled. Well, Mrs. Takihashi’s call will take care of the prostitute.
One minute left now.
At thirty seconds until ten, Kuwabara covered his ears.
…3 A loud beeping made Benjiro and the prostitute jump. “Aw, hell no…” Benjiro sighed as the house intercom connected to the telephone. There are only two people who have access for that--his parents. Only his mother would do that at this time of night.
…2 Oh yeah, that woman has turned up the volume. “That old bitch, does she have someone watching…”
…1
“BENJIRO! YOU ARE SUCH AN UNGRATEFUL SON! I TOLD YOU NOT TO HAVE ANY OF THOSE DAMNED GANG MEMBERS OVER AND NO WILD PARTIES IN MY HOME!” Mrs. Takihashi’s voice boomed throughout the house. The entire neighborhood could hear it whenever she did this to her son. Benjiro attempted to yell that he was not having a party but he was cut off by his mother.
“I ALSO SAID NOT TO HAVE ANY WHORES IN MY HOUSE! I AM STILL PAYING FOR YOU TO GET TREATMENTS FOR HERPES! YOU ALREADY HAD SHYLLISYS ONCE BEFORE! LET’S NOT FORGET ABOUT THE GIRL YOU GOT PREGNANT LAST SUMMER! THAT FILTHY SLUT BETTER GET OUT OF MY HOUSE BEFORE YOU KNOCK UP A SECOND BITCH OR BEFORE YOU CATCH SOMETHING ELSE! ACTUALLY, WITH YOUR HISTORY, IT’S MORE LIKELY THAT YOU WOULD GIVE HER AIDS!”
In the aftermath, the only sound to be heard was the front door banging open as the humiliated girl ran off. Benjiro went to close the door, he thought of the reason his parents gave for the intercom system being installed. “I never hear mom and dad use that system to ‘keep in contact’. What bull shit. That old bitch probably installed it with the sole purpose of embarrassing me.”
“Most likely.” A deep voice replied from behind the statue that Benjiro enjoyed painting the night before. As he spun around at the unwelcome voice, pain exploded from Benjiro’s jaw. He didn’t have time to register that he just received an uppercut from the leader of a rival gang. He was unconscious from the massive blow before he reached the floor.
As the fogginess of regaining consciousness began to clear, Benjiro noticed something was amiss. He could not raise his arms to his aching jaw, nor could he straighten out his legs. After a few eye blinks cleared his vision, he saw why. His legs were bent so he sat on his heels. The ankles tied to his thighs, in such a manner that it prevents him from rising or kicking. However, it’s the way his arms are tied down to the low table that caused Benjiro to go pale in sheer terror.
Benjiro sat, more like crouched, at the table with his arms tied down at the shoulders, elbows and wrists. That was not the end of it though. Each finger and thumb was also spread wide and tied down to what looked like a wheel or wire frame. The fingers tied down by individual strands on each section of each digit in such a manner that will allow the finger to still be tied down as a piece of the finger is cut off at the knuckle.
“From the fear radiating off of you, I see you recognize the position you’re in.” Kuwabara watched as Benjiro attempted to look over his shoulder to see his attacker. “The ‘Liar’s Repose’, it’s one of the most feared methods of interrogation on the streets. In case you don’t remember how it goes: I ask you a question. If you refuse to answer or lie, I cut off a part of a finger, starting at the knuckles right under the nails, going from one finger to the next. Then I will go to the next row of knuckles, then to the third row, where the finger joins the palm. That’s three sections on four fingers that I can cut off. Three times four equals twelve plus the two sections of the thumb. That is fourteen pieces I can cut off of one hand if you lie to me or refuse to tell me what I want to hear. Then there is the other hand—if you last that long. Only one person has, Atari The Maimed Dragon, back in 1963.”
Kuwabara finally walked around to sit in front of Benjiro, who took notice of a few items that Kuwabara brought. A note book and pen, a list of names, a butterfly knife, and worse of all was the soldering iron which will used to cauterize the bloody stumps his fingers will become.
With the flick of his wrist, Kuwabara opened the shiv which has a blade as thin as a stiletto. “ You know what, Benjiro? People are always misjudging me.” He stated as he tossed the shiv from one hand to another, then back again. Benjiro watch with dread growing in the pit of his stomach. “ Most people think that since I lead a street gang, since I enjoy fighting, that I have no honor, or self-control, not so. People think that since I got a 7% on one, one, science test that must mean I am stupid. Again, that’s not so; I merely didn’t try and didn’t care about school at that point. In one week I raised my grade from that 7% to a 53%. Tell me Benjiro, if I was so stupid, how could I raise my science score up by 46 points in one week? Not to mention that Gai Technical High has accepted me. That is a college annex high school,that's right, a college annex! They wouldn’t accept me if I was an idiot. If I was stupid, how could I arrange this ambush on you, the second-hand of the Aka Doragon?"
At that question, Kuwabara used the flat side of his shiv to raise Benjiro’s chin so they were looking eye-to-eye. Benjiro tried to calm his voice as he spoke. “You’re just trying to intimidate me—it won’t work!”
“Truth is that you are intimidated. The leader of the rival gang your boys attacked is personally dealing with you.” With no effort at all, Kuwabara sank the knife into the wooden table—five inches from the prisoner’s nose. “Remember this; I am the Great Kuwabara Kazuma, the only one who can challenge Urameshi Yusuke. I’m the only one who has his friendship and alliance on the streets.” Pausing for a moment, Kuwabara thought about how Urameshi has been treating him lately. They were still allies but is there still anything left of friendship? With the awakening of Urameshi's demon blood, a rift seems to have formed. Well, the thugs don’t need to know anything about that.
“Unlike Urameshi, I have followers, a gang.” The tantai were supposed to be a team, but they operated noting like a gang and they were very loosely organized. Yusuke was the ‘team leader’ only because Hiei and Kurama never had prior experience with Kuwabara before meeting him on the mission to Maze Castle. Yusuke was the official detective of Spirit world with the two demons assigned to help him as a means of serving their paroles. Yusuke had, by a stroke of blind luck, defeated Hiei before. That act gained Yusuke a small bit of respect from Hiei but not devotion. Hiei is far too independent for that. In truth, there is no true strength of leadership in this ragtag band of adventurers.
“So having a gang makes me more of a force on the streets than him. That’s why everyone is so keen on beating me. They accept that they can never defeat Urameshi. However, Urameshi has beaten me—and he's the only thug to do that. So all you bakas get the idea that you can defeat me. Why, that would be next to beating my pal. Urameshi and I are the top dogs, tough as junkyard dogs—if not tougher.” In the few seconds of silence, he remembered the fights that he and Yusuke had been in… either at each others sides or at each others throats. “You wimps think that if you can defeat me then you can make a name for yourselves. Well, it hasn’t worked, so two rival groups decide to work together and ambush my gang—with the intent of killing my closest friends!”
Kuwabara paused to get a hold on his temper. Despite how he often acted, he does know how to control his temper. “This brings us back to underestimating me. You bastards think that I would loose control over their deaths, that I would be an easy target. FOOLS!” Glaring at Benjiro, he went on. “I set this all up. None of you friends at the theater will be coming to help you. They were attacked at the same time your dear mother called. With her booming voice, none of the few neighbors around here would care about some fight in the abandoned areas.”
Benjiro saw a small ray of hope amidst the gloom. “That’s right! My mother called and brought attention to the house! You messed up there Kuwabara!” With a sense of relief, Benjiro gave into a bout of maniacal laughter.
However, that relief vanished as Kuwabara joined in, laughing heartily.
“BAKA! How many times do I have to tell you that I set this all up? Yes, even your dear mommy’s phone call is part of my plan. If you ever paid attention to your neighborhood, you would have noticed that the few neighbors you have, tended to leave their houses or bolt themselves inside whenever you have some members over.” It’s true that they are quite afraid of the gangs and attempt to hide or take a more drastic route to get away from the questionable gangs. “That’s why several of your former neighbors were so willing to move and sold their home and bit of land to your rich parents. Those that stayed, ignore your house. Since everyone thinks that you are having another party, no one will come over. Since they think you have the gang over, your neighbors are too frightened of retaliation to call the police.”
Kuwabara walked around Benjiro and the table three times in silence to give time for the reality to sink in. Then, in a low and deadly calm voice, he voiced that reality.
“There is no one to save you.”
Neither of the two rival gang members saw a small figure merge with the shadows behind the statue.
With a quick motion, Kuwabara sat down and pulled the knife free. “Enough chitchat, it’s time for business. I want some names and locations, Benjiro. Tell me who was involved in the attack on the Menboku Yaiba. Who tortured Okubo, Sawamura and Kirishima? Where can I find them?”
Pale as a ghost, Benjiro began to panic. “Please don’t do this! You’re supposed to be a good guy! What about your honor?!”
“Honor…” Kuwabara gave a short laugh. “Everybody, every society has different thoughts on honor—what honor is and what honor means.” Smiling ruefully at the doomed youth, he continued. “Remember this; I am a gang leader whose gang was attacked two weeks ago. A handful of my men and women died, three of them were tortured to death. Seven of my gang are still being held hostage. My honor as the leader demands that I free those hostages and avenge the dead; using street methods. The ‘Liar’s Repose’ is a street method, so it doesn’t go against my honor code. You have no way out but to answer me.”
For two minutes the only sound in the house was the rapid breathing of the captive dragon.
The mind is a funny thing, in stressful situations; it often homes in on mundane facts or other such nonsense. Kuwabara appeared to be in a state almost no one would believe—calm. That calm is what unnerved Benjiro. This cold and calm side to Kuwabara is far more unpleasant than the energetic and aggressive side that everyone is used to. And in this state of being unnerved and scared for his life, Benjiro’s mind was desperate for a distraction, a little tidbit to pay attention to.
‘What the…’ Oddly, Benjiro notice the television was off. ‘I put in a movie about ten minutes before mother called…I couldn’t have been out that long!—That bastard, he touched my TV!’ Suddenly, he became aware that Kuwabara was asking something.
“I’ll ask only one more time. I’ll warn you now Benjiro, I don’t like repeating myself. Where are the leaders of the Aka Doragon and Supaida no Yoru?”
“I don’t know where Akira went to… he said he had some ‘important business’ and didn’t tell us where or how long he would be away!” He stared at the deadly knife in fear.
“Benjiro, look at me.” When the captive looked up at his captor, dread filled the room. “Have you forgotten that I am psychic? I can tell that what you said is only half true and part is a lie.”
“AAIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEE!” Blood sprayed as the knife arched down to land on the joint that lay under the nail of Benjiro’s left index finger. In one swift movement, Kuwabara had cut off the first section of the said finger. Kuwabara ignored the drops of blood that had landed on his chest as he laid the bloody knife down and picked up the white hot instrument.
“ARGGGGHHH!” In the haze of pain, Benjiro couldn’t decide which was worse; the cutting off of a section of a finger or the cauterizing of the wound. The smell of burnt flesh filled the room as he lost consciousness.
Kuwabara poured cold water over the luckless victim five minutes later in order to wake him. “Tell me what part you lied about Benjiro. You claimed that you didn’t know where Tachikawa Akira went or how long he will be gone. One is true while the other is not. Which one, Benjiro? Tell me!”
“I…I…can’t!” Benjiro wailed in despair, his face paled as the knife was raised. “It’s a curse! We can’t say it because of a curse stops us!” He had closed his eyes in fear, but after mentioning the curse…no pain of the knife came. Upon opening his eyes, he saw the blade had stopped a mere two centimeters above the middle finger of his left hand.
In that ghastly calm voice Kuwabara asked what curse he spoke of. “There is a curse of forgetfulness. Akira had it cast on his own gang so that you or your gang won’t find out what he’s up to. This is all I can say before it is activated. If we talk to any of the Menboku Yaiba about what he’s up to then the curse of forgetfulness causes that information ….well, we forget it and can’t say.”
Taking a few calming breaths, Kuwabara resisted the urge to slam the knife down. He had heard that Tachikawa had taken an interest in the supernatural; this low level curse seems to prove it. “I know a few things of curses. For instance this type of curse is triggered if and only if you speak of the forbidden topic. However… it does not work if I ask questions that you can answer by a nod of the head.” Such a method is slow but it will get around the topic without triggering the curse.
So began a line of questions answered by a nod or a shake of the head. While ‘Do you where your leader is?’ was followed by a nod, ‘What is he up to?’ got a negative shake of the head.
Thirty minutes later, Kuwabara knew that Tachikawa was not currently in Japan and that he has been gone for four days. Tachikawa also had an unknown ally besides the Supaida no Yoru. Only the two gang leaders know the identity of this ally. Beyond that…nothing else. So Kuwabara decided to continue with his other questions. “Tell me where the leader of the Supaida no Yoru is?”
The answering by nodding or shaking of the head gave Benjiro some time to compose himself-as much as he can while his arms and hands are tied down. After all, it’s been half an hour into the interrogation and he’s lost only one fingertip. He forgotten the one rule of the street when you are being questioned by a rival gang—don’t get cocky, it can lead to death.
“I don’t know where Motomoto Daisuke is—AGHHHH!” Once again the silver arch of the shiv landed on a finger. Blood sprayed both of them as the tip of the previously spared middle finger finally falls victim to fate.
“You were warned not to lie to me. Dai is dead. He was leader of Supaida no Yoru for two months before he was killed. You forget that I can see ghosts. I met Dai’s ghost some time ago and learned that Samejima Minoru stabbed Motomoto Daisuke outside a theater.” Kuwabara showed no reaction to the drops of blood that rolled down his left cheek as he cauterized the newly wounded finger, ignoring the cries of agony from his prisoner. ‘If they did not torture my friends, if they did not still have seven of my gang as hostages, this would not be necessary. I will do what I have to rescue those captured and avenge my friends.’
The figure hidden well in the shadows watched as Kuwabara continued with the interrogation. Watched as Kuwabara continued to be sprayed by an enemy's blood. This turn of events greatly surprised him. He had always though of the tall punk as a child who was ignorant of the real world. The sight of Kuwabara actually torturing a prisoner is making him realize that Kuwabara isn't so naive as perviously thought. After all, it's hard to think of a guy as innocent when he is cutting off the fingers of someone's hand ... one digit at a time.
Three hours later, Kuwabara stood over from Benjiro’s corpse that was missing all the finger tips on the left hand and two fingers were cut off at the second row of knuckles. Now he knew where the hostages were. And when Samejima would come back into town. There were plans to be made. As he walked past the statue, he commented, “They should have stuck with the classic coconut bra, don’t you think Hiei?”
“I made certain that I would not be seen.” Came the reply as Hiei stepped out from behind the statue.
“I didn’t see you, I sensed you. There is a difference. Your youki may have been hidden,but your emotions give you away more than you think.” Kuwabara never slowed in walking out of the house. For a couple of minutes they walked in silence until they turned into a deserted alleyway. Kuwabara silently took off the medical gloves he was wearing along with the trench coat, throwing both into an empty trash can.
Hiei watched in silence as the tall human struck a match and threw it onto the blood-soaked cloth. “Hn, that little thing will take too much time to burn that into ashes.” As soon as he finished talking, a wave of the demon's hand caused the fire inside the can to blaze high, leaving nothing but ashes inside.
Kuwabara raised an eyebrow at this but said nothing…this time. ‘Maybe with him seeing this side of me makes him see me as more than a child…. Then again who knows what Hiei thinks?’
TBC~
Author’s notes= On the informant Kitkat = I got the nickname from a reviewer at aff.n. Kitkat was the only one to answer the trivia question of which new characters were not original charachers; answers are= Samejima and Tachikawa. Both are bullies from the Manga, as was Motomoto Daisuke ‘Dai’. This is the only appearance/mention of Kitkat. I rarely plug other people in my fics …………..
Yup, the figure that appeared in last chapter ‘reaching into the back of his hair, was NOT Kurama but Hiei…he was untying the bandana XD
A quick look told him that Benjiro is sitting in the living room. With a nudge of telekinesis, Kuwabara opened the backdoor. He made his way through the house silently as a ghost. Not once did he go through the wrong door or turn down the wrong hallway, thanks to his reikan. Within three minutes he was standing in the shadows of a hallway leading into the living room, hiding behind a hideous statue.
One could suppose that the statue may have been a western goddess, Greek most likely, however, now it looks like it belongs in a college frat house--after the keg party. The statue now sported roach clips on the exposed nipples and a jock strap was hung around the neck. Someone had even painted the robes hanging off its waist a sickening combination of hot pink with neon green polka dots.
‘Looks like Benjiro threw a house party as soon as his parents’ airplane took off.’ Kuwabara’s gaze skimmed over the room, taking in the amount of empty bottles and beer cans. ‘He is most likely still feeling a hangover. Baka, his gang attacked mine and here he is--letting his guard down, getting drunk! What a baka. It’s a good thing that that his parents said that they would call this evening, he doesn’t dare have another party until after that.--Though I suppose that it’s a good thing I do know what time they will call.’ With a grin, Kuwabara looked at his watch that showed there were still five minutes until the attack on the theater.
There was a specific reason that Kuwabara wanted the attack on the Aka Doragons’ hideout to happen at ten p.m., on the dot. One of Kuwabara’s street informants had previously made friendly contacts with Benjiro’s parents and promised to call their hotel if Benjiro started to have any parties in their home. Aikido aka Kitkat did not call about last night’s party. Kuwabara had planned this venture with his contact several days ago. Kitkat would call Benjiro’s mom today and tell her that her son plans to have a party tonight after he gets off the phone with his mother. Since Mrs. Takihashi usually calls her son between 7-8, Kitkat said that Benjiro would have a party going by ten, complete with a prostitute. Well, they were not lying about the prostitute.
There is one quirk about Mrs. Takihashi that Kuwabara liked. That woman enjoyed embarrassing her son. If there are people around, the greater she humiliates him. Mrs. Takihashi told Kitkat that she planned on calling at 10 PM and activate the house’s system that connects to the phone and make a very loud announcement. Another thing to like about her is that she is punctual. When she says that she will call at a certain time, then she will call at that exact time and not a minute after.
With three minutes left to countdown, Benjiro’s companion finally raised her head. From his hiding spot, Kuwabara could not see what the girl was doing but he doubted that was merely resting her head in Benjiro’s lap. Especially with the sounds of slurping before and now a zipper being pulled. Well, Mrs. Takihashi’s call will take care of the prostitute.
One minute left now.
At thirty seconds until ten, Kuwabara covered his ears.
…3 A loud beeping made Benjiro and the prostitute jump. “Aw, hell no…” Benjiro sighed as the house intercom connected to the telephone. There are only two people who have access for that--his parents. Only his mother would do that at this time of night.
…2 Oh yeah, that woman has turned up the volume. “That old bitch, does she have someone watching…”
…1
“BENJIRO! YOU ARE SUCH AN UNGRATEFUL SON! I TOLD YOU NOT TO HAVE ANY OF THOSE DAMNED GANG MEMBERS OVER AND NO WILD PARTIES IN MY HOME!” Mrs. Takihashi’s voice boomed throughout the house. The entire neighborhood could hear it whenever she did this to her son. Benjiro attempted to yell that he was not having a party but he was cut off by his mother.
“I ALSO SAID NOT TO HAVE ANY WHORES IN MY HOUSE! I AM STILL PAYING FOR YOU TO GET TREATMENTS FOR HERPES! YOU ALREADY HAD SHYLLISYS ONCE BEFORE! LET’S NOT FORGET ABOUT THE GIRL YOU GOT PREGNANT LAST SUMMER! THAT FILTHY SLUT BETTER GET OUT OF MY HOUSE BEFORE YOU KNOCK UP A SECOND BITCH OR BEFORE YOU CATCH SOMETHING ELSE! ACTUALLY, WITH YOUR HISTORY, IT’S MORE LIKELY THAT YOU WOULD GIVE HER AIDS!”
In the aftermath, the only sound to be heard was the front door banging open as the humiliated girl ran off. Benjiro went to close the door, he thought of the reason his parents gave for the intercom system being installed. “I never hear mom and dad use that system to ‘keep in contact’. What bull shit. That old bitch probably installed it with the sole purpose of embarrassing me.”
“Most likely.” A deep voice replied from behind the statue that Benjiro enjoyed painting the night before. As he spun around at the unwelcome voice, pain exploded from Benjiro’s jaw. He didn’t have time to register that he just received an uppercut from the leader of a rival gang. He was unconscious from the massive blow before he reached the floor.
As the fogginess of regaining consciousness began to clear, Benjiro noticed something was amiss. He could not raise his arms to his aching jaw, nor could he straighten out his legs. After a few eye blinks cleared his vision, he saw why. His legs were bent so he sat on his heels. The ankles tied to his thighs, in such a manner that it prevents him from rising or kicking. However, it’s the way his arms are tied down to the low table that caused Benjiro to go pale in sheer terror.
Benjiro sat, more like crouched, at the table with his arms tied down at the shoulders, elbows and wrists. That was not the end of it though. Each finger and thumb was also spread wide and tied down to what looked like a wheel or wire frame. The fingers tied down by individual strands on each section of each digit in such a manner that will allow the finger to still be tied down as a piece of the finger is cut off at the knuckle.
“From the fear radiating off of you, I see you recognize the position you’re in.” Kuwabara watched as Benjiro attempted to look over his shoulder to see his attacker. “The ‘Liar’s Repose’, it’s one of the most feared methods of interrogation on the streets. In case you don’t remember how it goes: I ask you a question. If you refuse to answer or lie, I cut off a part of a finger, starting at the knuckles right under the nails, going from one finger to the next. Then I will go to the next row of knuckles, then to the third row, where the finger joins the palm. That’s three sections on four fingers that I can cut off. Three times four equals twelve plus the two sections of the thumb. That is fourteen pieces I can cut off of one hand if you lie to me or refuse to tell me what I want to hear. Then there is the other hand—if you last that long. Only one person has, Atari The Maimed Dragon, back in 1963.”
Kuwabara finally walked around to sit in front of Benjiro, who took notice of a few items that Kuwabara brought. A note book and pen, a list of names, a butterfly knife, and worse of all was the soldering iron which will used to cauterize the bloody stumps his fingers will become.
With the flick of his wrist, Kuwabara opened the shiv which has a blade as thin as a stiletto. “ You know what, Benjiro? People are always misjudging me.” He stated as he tossed the shiv from one hand to another, then back again. Benjiro watch with dread growing in the pit of his stomach. “ Most people think that since I lead a street gang, since I enjoy fighting, that I have no honor, or self-control, not so. People think that since I got a 7% on one, one, science test that must mean I am stupid. Again, that’s not so; I merely didn’t try and didn’t care about school at that point. In one week I raised my grade from that 7% to a 53%. Tell me Benjiro, if I was so stupid, how could I raise my science score up by 46 points in one week? Not to mention that Gai Technical High has accepted me. That is a college annex high school,that's right, a college annex! They wouldn’t accept me if I was an idiot. If I was stupid, how could I arrange this ambush on you, the second-hand of the Aka Doragon?"
At that question, Kuwabara used the flat side of his shiv to raise Benjiro’s chin so they were looking eye-to-eye. Benjiro tried to calm his voice as he spoke. “You’re just trying to intimidate me—it won’t work!”
“Truth is that you are intimidated. The leader of the rival gang your boys attacked is personally dealing with you.” With no effort at all, Kuwabara sank the knife into the wooden table—five inches from the prisoner’s nose. “Remember this; I am the Great Kuwabara Kazuma, the only one who can challenge Urameshi Yusuke. I’m the only one who has his friendship and alliance on the streets.” Pausing for a moment, Kuwabara thought about how Urameshi has been treating him lately. They were still allies but is there still anything left of friendship? With the awakening of Urameshi's demon blood, a rift seems to have formed. Well, the thugs don’t need to know anything about that.
“Unlike Urameshi, I have followers, a gang.” The tantai were supposed to be a team, but they operated noting like a gang and they were very loosely organized. Yusuke was the ‘team leader’ only because Hiei and Kurama never had prior experience with Kuwabara before meeting him on the mission to Maze Castle. Yusuke was the official detective of Spirit world with the two demons assigned to help him as a means of serving their paroles. Yusuke had, by a stroke of blind luck, defeated Hiei before. That act gained Yusuke a small bit of respect from Hiei but not devotion. Hiei is far too independent for that. In truth, there is no true strength of leadership in this ragtag band of adventurers.
“So having a gang makes me more of a force on the streets than him. That’s why everyone is so keen on beating me. They accept that they can never defeat Urameshi. However, Urameshi has beaten me—and he's the only thug to do that. So all you bakas get the idea that you can defeat me. Why, that would be next to beating my pal. Urameshi and I are the top dogs, tough as junkyard dogs—if not tougher.” In the few seconds of silence, he remembered the fights that he and Yusuke had been in… either at each others sides or at each others throats. “You wimps think that if you can defeat me then you can make a name for yourselves. Well, it hasn’t worked, so two rival groups decide to work together and ambush my gang—with the intent of killing my closest friends!”
Kuwabara paused to get a hold on his temper. Despite how he often acted, he does know how to control his temper. “This brings us back to underestimating me. You bastards think that I would loose control over their deaths, that I would be an easy target. FOOLS!” Glaring at Benjiro, he went on. “I set this all up. None of you friends at the theater will be coming to help you. They were attacked at the same time your dear mother called. With her booming voice, none of the few neighbors around here would care about some fight in the abandoned areas.”
Benjiro saw a small ray of hope amidst the gloom. “That’s right! My mother called and brought attention to the house! You messed up there Kuwabara!” With a sense of relief, Benjiro gave into a bout of maniacal laughter.
However, that relief vanished as Kuwabara joined in, laughing heartily.
“BAKA! How many times do I have to tell you that I set this all up? Yes, even your dear mommy’s phone call is part of my plan. If you ever paid attention to your neighborhood, you would have noticed that the few neighbors you have, tended to leave their houses or bolt themselves inside whenever you have some members over.” It’s true that they are quite afraid of the gangs and attempt to hide or take a more drastic route to get away from the questionable gangs. “That’s why several of your former neighbors were so willing to move and sold their home and bit of land to your rich parents. Those that stayed, ignore your house. Since everyone thinks that you are having another party, no one will come over. Since they think you have the gang over, your neighbors are too frightened of retaliation to call the police.”
Kuwabara walked around Benjiro and the table three times in silence to give time for the reality to sink in. Then, in a low and deadly calm voice, he voiced that reality.
“There is no one to save you.”
Neither of the two rival gang members saw a small figure merge with the shadows behind the statue.
With a quick motion, Kuwabara sat down and pulled the knife free. “Enough chitchat, it’s time for business. I want some names and locations, Benjiro. Tell me who was involved in the attack on the Menboku Yaiba. Who tortured Okubo, Sawamura and Kirishima? Where can I find them?”
Pale as a ghost, Benjiro began to panic. “Please don’t do this! You’re supposed to be a good guy! What about your honor?!”
“Honor…” Kuwabara gave a short laugh. “Everybody, every society has different thoughts on honor—what honor is and what honor means.” Smiling ruefully at the doomed youth, he continued. “Remember this; I am a gang leader whose gang was attacked two weeks ago. A handful of my men and women died, three of them were tortured to death. Seven of my gang are still being held hostage. My honor as the leader demands that I free those hostages and avenge the dead; using street methods. The ‘Liar’s Repose’ is a street method, so it doesn’t go against my honor code. You have no way out but to answer me.”
For two minutes the only sound in the house was the rapid breathing of the captive dragon.
The mind is a funny thing, in stressful situations; it often homes in on mundane facts or other such nonsense. Kuwabara appeared to be in a state almost no one would believe—calm. That calm is what unnerved Benjiro. This cold and calm side to Kuwabara is far more unpleasant than the energetic and aggressive side that everyone is used to. And in this state of being unnerved and scared for his life, Benjiro’s mind was desperate for a distraction, a little tidbit to pay attention to.
‘What the…’ Oddly, Benjiro notice the television was off. ‘I put in a movie about ten minutes before mother called…I couldn’t have been out that long!—That bastard, he touched my TV!’ Suddenly, he became aware that Kuwabara was asking something.
“I’ll ask only one more time. I’ll warn you now Benjiro, I don’t like repeating myself. Where are the leaders of the Aka Doragon and Supaida no Yoru?”
“I don’t know where Akira went to… he said he had some ‘important business’ and didn’t tell us where or how long he would be away!” He stared at the deadly knife in fear.
“Benjiro, look at me.” When the captive looked up at his captor, dread filled the room. “Have you forgotten that I am psychic? I can tell that what you said is only half true and part is a lie.”
“AAIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEE!” Blood sprayed as the knife arched down to land on the joint that lay under the nail of Benjiro’s left index finger. In one swift movement, Kuwabara had cut off the first section of the said finger. Kuwabara ignored the drops of blood that had landed on his chest as he laid the bloody knife down and picked up the white hot instrument.
“ARGGGGHHH!” In the haze of pain, Benjiro couldn’t decide which was worse; the cutting off of a section of a finger or the cauterizing of the wound. The smell of burnt flesh filled the room as he lost consciousness.
Kuwabara poured cold water over the luckless victim five minutes later in order to wake him. “Tell me what part you lied about Benjiro. You claimed that you didn’t know where Tachikawa Akira went or how long he will be gone. One is true while the other is not. Which one, Benjiro? Tell me!”
“I…I…can’t!” Benjiro wailed in despair, his face paled as the knife was raised. “It’s a curse! We can’t say it because of a curse stops us!” He had closed his eyes in fear, but after mentioning the curse…no pain of the knife came. Upon opening his eyes, he saw the blade had stopped a mere two centimeters above the middle finger of his left hand.
In that ghastly calm voice Kuwabara asked what curse he spoke of. “There is a curse of forgetfulness. Akira had it cast on his own gang so that you or your gang won’t find out what he’s up to. This is all I can say before it is activated. If we talk to any of the Menboku Yaiba about what he’s up to then the curse of forgetfulness causes that information ….well, we forget it and can’t say.”
Taking a few calming breaths, Kuwabara resisted the urge to slam the knife down. He had heard that Tachikawa had taken an interest in the supernatural; this low level curse seems to prove it. “I know a few things of curses. For instance this type of curse is triggered if and only if you speak of the forbidden topic. However… it does not work if I ask questions that you can answer by a nod of the head.” Such a method is slow but it will get around the topic without triggering the curse.
So began a line of questions answered by a nod or a shake of the head. While ‘Do you where your leader is?’ was followed by a nod, ‘What is he up to?’ got a negative shake of the head.
Thirty minutes later, Kuwabara knew that Tachikawa was not currently in Japan and that he has been gone for four days. Tachikawa also had an unknown ally besides the Supaida no Yoru. Only the two gang leaders know the identity of this ally. Beyond that…nothing else. So Kuwabara decided to continue with his other questions. “Tell me where the leader of the Supaida no Yoru is?”
The answering by nodding or shaking of the head gave Benjiro some time to compose himself-as much as he can while his arms and hands are tied down. After all, it’s been half an hour into the interrogation and he’s lost only one fingertip. He forgotten the one rule of the street when you are being questioned by a rival gang—don’t get cocky, it can lead to death.
“I don’t know where Motomoto Daisuke is—AGHHHH!” Once again the silver arch of the shiv landed on a finger. Blood sprayed both of them as the tip of the previously spared middle finger finally falls victim to fate.
“You were warned not to lie to me. Dai is dead. He was leader of Supaida no Yoru for two months before he was killed. You forget that I can see ghosts. I met Dai’s ghost some time ago and learned that Samejima Minoru stabbed Motomoto Daisuke outside a theater.” Kuwabara showed no reaction to the drops of blood that rolled down his left cheek as he cauterized the newly wounded finger, ignoring the cries of agony from his prisoner. ‘If they did not torture my friends, if they did not still have seven of my gang as hostages, this would not be necessary. I will do what I have to rescue those captured and avenge my friends.’
The figure hidden well in the shadows watched as Kuwabara continued with the interrogation. Watched as Kuwabara continued to be sprayed by an enemy's blood. This turn of events greatly surprised him. He had always though of the tall punk as a child who was ignorant of the real world. The sight of Kuwabara actually torturing a prisoner is making him realize that Kuwabara isn't so naive as perviously thought. After all, it's hard to think of a guy as innocent when he is cutting off the fingers of someone's hand ... one digit at a time.
Three hours later, Kuwabara stood over from Benjiro’s corpse that was missing all the finger tips on the left hand and two fingers were cut off at the second row of knuckles. Now he knew where the hostages were. And when Samejima would come back into town. There were plans to be made. As he walked past the statue, he commented, “They should have stuck with the classic coconut bra, don’t you think Hiei?”
“I made certain that I would not be seen.” Came the reply as Hiei stepped out from behind the statue.
“I didn’t see you, I sensed you. There is a difference. Your youki may have been hidden,but your emotions give you away more than you think.” Kuwabara never slowed in walking out of the house. For a couple of minutes they walked in silence until they turned into a deserted alleyway. Kuwabara silently took off the medical gloves he was wearing along with the trench coat, throwing both into an empty trash can.
Hiei watched in silence as the tall human struck a match and threw it onto the blood-soaked cloth. “Hn, that little thing will take too much time to burn that into ashes.” As soon as he finished talking, a wave of the demon's hand caused the fire inside the can to blaze high, leaving nothing but ashes inside.
Kuwabara raised an eyebrow at this but said nothing…this time. ‘Maybe with him seeing this side of me makes him see me as more than a child…. Then again who knows what Hiei thinks?’
TBC~
Author’s notes= On the informant Kitkat = I got the nickname from a reviewer at aff.n. Kitkat was the only one to answer the trivia question of which new characters were not original charachers; answers are= Samejima and Tachikawa. Both are bullies from the Manga, as was Motomoto Daisuke ‘Dai’. This is the only appearance/mention of Kitkat. I rarely plug other people in my fics …………..
Yup, the figure that appeared in last chapter ‘reaching into the back of his hair, was NOT Kurama but Hiei…he was untying the bandana XD