Whispers in the Dark, Part 6 A Side Story by MokonaChiirushia and Hokuto Kuzuki *A week and a half later, things are as normal as they ever have been. Sailor Bob is working in the kitchen, Joker is currently dealing with a customer in the dining room, and Tetsuya is working in his office as usual.* Sailor Bob: *cleaning knives and being very, very careful while doing so* Sailor Bob: *is being constantly reminded of his suicide attempt because of this* Joker: *quietly discussing a drug run, hears a large group of people entering the restaurant and gives them a quick glance, then does a double take as he notices the gun bulges under the people's coats* Operative in Front(Leader): *in quick whisper to other operatives* Now! Operatives: *draw out guns simultaneously* Operatives: *aim at every person in the restaurant that they can see* Leader: *pulls out his own gun* Everybody hit the ground now! This is an official government operation! Joker: !.! *pushes the person he was talking with to the ground and gets there himself, pulling out a gun but not firing it yet* Shit! How'd these lunks get past security?! Tetsuya: *hears the lead operative yelling all the way back in his office, narrows his eyes* Leader: Now, everyone put your hands on your heads and stay there until he - *gestures at another operative* - tells you otherwise, and there will be no trouble. Leader: *leads the other ops towards the kitchen* Sailor Bob: *hears commotion, but stays put* Joker: *curses under his breath, tries sneaking closer to the remaining operative; has to move slowly so as not to attract attention* Operative 2: *pulls out a flamethrower* Unless you all wanna burn, I suggest you keep still and quiet. Joker: *curses more - VERY quietly - but stays put* Tetsuya: *slips the beads in his rosary so that the string is bare, quietly moves to right outside the kitchen* Sailor Bob: *decides to keep the knives handy, just in case self-defense is necessary* Leader: *waving gun around kitchen* Everyone hold still and don't move! This is an official government operation! Sailor Bob: !.# Head Cook: *under breath* Yeah, that's going to impress THIS crowd... Sailor Bob: *tries to hide* Leader: Just surrender the person known as Sailor Bob, and no one will get hurt. Tetsuya: *clenches the rosary tightly, then walks into the kitchen, seeming calm* What is the meaning of this? Sailor Bob: *is still trying to hide* Sailor Bob: *and not doing a wonderful job* Leader: ?.? Who are you? *of course does not recognize Tetsuya, since no one does* Tetsuya: I am the owner of this restaurant. Why have you forced your way in bearing arms? You could be arrested for such a breach of the peace. Operative 3: *Finds Sailor Bob, who has moved away from the knives and is therefore defenseless. Pulls him out of hiding.* Is this one it, sir? Leader: *mostly ignoring Tetsuya* Official government operation... *compares Sailor Bob with the picture he was given* I think so, yes. Bring him along, anyway. Sailor Bob: IYA!!!! Sailor Bob: *struggles* Operative 3: Come on, it'll be easier if we don't have to hurt you. Tetsuya: *is instantly beside operative 3, grabs his arm* Let him go. Operative 3: ?.? Tetsuya: *twists arm* I said, let him go. He goes nowhere that is not of his own free will. Operative 3: *in pain* Yes, sir... *lets Bob go* Sailor Bob: *runs away and hides behind random member of the kitchen staff* ;.#... Tetsuya: Good. Leader: Who do you think you are, assaulting a government employee?! We have been authorized to - Tetsuya: *turns to face him, quiet but furious* In my restaurant, you are not authorized for anything. Get out. Sailor Bob: ;.#... Random Member of Kitchen Staff Whom Bob is Hiding Behind: *Glares menacingly at the other operatives. Has knife in hand.* Staff Member: *has always been fond of Bob, since he's happy and cute and a hard worker* Leader: *points gun at Tetsuya* I am a government official on legitimate business. I am authorized to shoot people who detain me. Don't be the first one - just hand him over. Sailor Bob: *Is very, very afraid... But almost wishes Tetsuya would just do it...* Tetsuya: No. *in a movement too quick for the eye, has grabbed the lead operative's wrist and broken it, taking the gun* Get out now. Sailor Bob: !.# Leader: *cradles wrist, but looks more angry than injured* That was the wrong move. You've just committed a major felony, attacking a government employee... Tetsuya: 9.9 *has done much worse* Sailor Bob: *at government employee* ^-#;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; Leader: *speaking to the operatives* Get Sailor Bob and take care of this smartass! *points at Tetsuya* Other Operatives: *Half overpower the kitchen staff member who was protecting Bob, and grab him. The other half start shooting at Tetsuya.* Tetsuya: *dodges the bullets, kicks most of their legs out from under them* Operatives: *go down and try to keep shooting, to no avail* Tetsuya: *goes through them like a whirlwind, taking guns and breaking arms or necks - whichever is handiest* Operatives: *die off like flies being sprayed* Leader: 0.0!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Leader: *with the broken wrist, can't do anything to help* Tetsuya: *finishing, pulls out the rosary and wraps it around the lead operative's neck* Operatives: *are all dead* Leader: D- don't... *petrified* Tetsuya: *coolly* I would give you a message to take back to the person who ordered this foolish raid. Sailor Bob: *is also petrified* Sailor Bob: *wants to say "don't," but can't seem to move* Tetsuya: But - I think you will make a better message, instead. *pulls the string tight, but not so tightly that the operative breaks his neck instead of strangling* Leader: *dies, slowly, clawing at Tetsuya's sleeve* Sailor Bob: !.# Sailor Bob: *is absolutely horrified* Tetsuya: *drops the body and puts the rosary back in his pocket, turns to Sailor Bob* Are you all right? Sailor Bob: *is just staring at Tetsuya* Tetsuya: *looks around at the bodies in the kitchen, only a few of which are still twitching* Tetsuya: *looks back at Sailor Bob* Yes? Kitchen Staff Member Whom Bob Was Hiding Behind: *is okay, a little scratched up, but okay* Sailor Bob: *is petrified with shock and horror* Tetsuya: *walks toward him* Are you all right? They didn't hurt you, did they? Sailor Bob: *starts backing away* No... Tetsuya: *stops, puzzled* Then what's wrong? *looks completely innocent* Sailor Bob: *continues backing away* N- no... Tetsuya: They would have taken you back. This is a bit of a mess, I know, but it will teach them a lesson. They will not attempt such a foolhardy attack again. Sailor Bob: B- b- but... Head Cook: *having peeked out into the dining room, reports* Boss, there's one more guy out there with a flamethrower. He's got everyone on the ground, and I think his trigger finger's getting itchy. Tetsuya: *points at random staff member* Go out the back and go in the front. Take care of the last operative. Operative 2: *is swinging the flamethrower around randomly, with a strange glint in his eye* Random Staff Member: *leaves through the back, sneaks in, and shoots the last operative in the back* Operative 2: *dies* Joker: *sighs in relief, gets up and goes straight for the kitchen* Boss! Bob-chan! You guys okay?! Tetsuya: *calm as ever* Yes. Sailor Bob: *is still horrified* Joker: *looks at the bodies* ~.- Yeah, I can tell. Which one do you want sent back? Sailor Bob: *and shocked* Tetsuya: This one will do. *hauls the lead operative's body up by the back of his shirt* Standard message. Joker: Gotcha. Sailor Bob: *shudders and looks away* Sailor Bob: *Only to see more bloody corpses... Finally, looks at the wall, his back turned to Tetsuya and Joker.* Joker: *looks at Sailor Bob* Um - in a minute, boss? Tetsuya: *SLIGHTLY cooler than usual* There is no rush. Tetsuya: *begins piling the corpses for easy disposal later* Sailor Bob: *Keeps seeing the man clawing at Tetsuya as he suffocates...* Joker: *goes over to Sailor Bob and hugs him* You okay, sweetheart? Sailor Bob: *closes his eyes, but can still see it* No... Joker: *still hugging him* What's the matter? Sailor Bob: *very quietly, as if he's in a trance* I feel like... I want... to claw my eyes out... Joker: !.! Joker: *puts his own hands over Sailor Bob's, as if to stop him* Were you - were you watching the boss take care of that lot? Sailor Bob: *nods, slowly* Joker: *rests his head on top of Sailor Bob's* I'm sorry, love... *sounds truly sincere* I've seen him do that before... Joker: I've seen a lot of awful things in my job and never flinched, but I still can't always watch the boss. He isn't human sometimes. Tetsuya: *can hear every word they say perfectly clearly, but does not let on; just keeps working* Sailor Bob: *is shaking* So much... blood... Sailor Bob: *his eyes have a strange, far-away look* Just like... Just like...! Joker: ?.? Sailor Bob: *begins shaking violently, his eyes very far away* Kaasan...! Kaasan! Joker: !.! Bob-chan! Joker: *starts shaking him* Bob-chan, wake up! It's not real! It's just a dream! Tetsuya: *comes over, hearing that* What's happened? Sailor Bob: *closes his eyes, still shaking, and collapses against Joker, starting to sob quietly* Joker: *holds him, stroking his hair* Sssh... ssssh... it's all right... Tetsuya: *just looks at them* Tetsuya: *empty-eyed, no heart pangs, no nothing; just a look* Sailor Bob: *manages to calm down, somewhat, but isn't quite ready to let go of Joker* Joker: *doesn't see that look, keeps holding Sailor Bob* Come on - let's get out of here... We can go somewhere nice... Tetsuya: Yes. Please do. *sounding normal - for Tetsuya* I will clean this up and take care of the - message. Sailor Bob: *continues clinging to Joker* Joker: *continues holding him* Sssh... it's all right... *starts trying to lead him out of the restaurant through the back way* Sailor Bob: *is led* Tetsuya: *finishes piling up the random bodies, including the guy from the dining room* Tetsuya: *using a fancy ivory-hilted knife, inscribes a message on the lead operative's back in Japanese* "Last warning. The next time - this will be you. The Boss." Joker: *takes Sailor Bob back to his apartment, figuring that it will be safe* Sailor Bob: *is pretty much too traumatized to care as long as Joker doesn't leave him* Joker: *sticks with him the whole way* Sailor Bob: *be's very clingy and generally traumatized* Joker: *at the apartment, makes them both green tea, then snuggles while he sips* Sailor Bob: *snuggles back, ignoring tea* Joker: *hesitantly* That thing with the boss - it really bothered you, didn't it... *not really asking, just thinks it would be good to get that whole conversation over and done with* Sailor Bob: *nods* Sailor Bob: *Isn't as distressed as before, but can still see the man being strangled...* Joker: *sighs and snuggles* I don't suppose I'd really get it - I've just been doing this stuff for too long... Joker: I'm really sorry you had to see it, though. Sailor Bob: *snuggles back* D... daijoubu... Sailor Bob: *isn't really daijoubu, but doesn't want to be a complete and total nuisance* Sailor Bob: *Is always worried that he's bothering someone, somehow... Snuggles some more.* Joker: Sometimes... sometimes the boss scares me, too... and it's mostly been since that thing with Sugiyama... Joker: I mean, he was plenty scary before, too... but after that, it was like - like something in him just got stuck in a freezer... *snuggles* Sailor Bob: Hmm... Sailor Bob: *Thinks that's kinda sad...* Joker: *agrees* *Fade to an alley a day or so later. Sailor Bob is walking through it on an errand, accompanied by another busboy from the restaurant. Everything is going smoothly - so far...* Sailor Bob: *is chatting with the busboy as they walk* ^.# Busboy: *Is chatting back. Has been accompanying Bob since the incident, is very good with guns.* Government Operative: *steps out of a connecting alley, seemingly appearing out of nowhere; points a gun at the busboy, since Sailor Bob has been classified as harmless* Hold it right there! Sailor Bob: !.# Busboy: *tries to reach his own gun without the operative knowing it* Operative: *spots the movement* I said hold it! Busboy: *freezes* Sailor Bob: *recognizes the person as being an operative, starts backing away* Iya...! Operative: *makes a quick motion with the gun towards SB* That means you, too, Fifteen. Sailor Bob: !.# Sailor Bob: *stops* No...! Operative: *contradicting himself* Come here, Fifteen. You're going back home with me. Sailor Bob: No, no, no! Operative: *mimicking his tone of voice* Yes, yes, yes! Operative: *motions with the gun again* Come with me. NOW. Operative: This is NOT a request. Sailor Bob: *doesn't move to run or come towards him* Busboy: *noticing that the operative is busy, bolts* Operative: *tries to get a good lock, but can't* Shit! Well, by the time he's found help, we'll be outta here... Operative: Now COME ON! *motions impatiently with the gun* Busboy: *runs back to the restaurant, alerts Tetsuya, since Joker seems to be gone* Sailor Bob: NO! Tetsuya: *is on his way instantly, almost before the busboy is finished talking to him* Operative: *grabs Sailor Bob's arm before he can move* I SAID COME ON! Sailor Bob: NO!!! Sailor Bob: *stupidly tries to get away now that he's caught* Operative: *keeps firm hold of him, starts trying to pull him into the alley he appeared out of* Sailor Bob: *is pulled, struggling like crazy* IYA!!!! Operative: *shakes him* Be quiet! *points the gun at his head* Sailor Bob: *stills* Operative: *continues dragging him, through that alley and into another one* Sailor Bob: *is silently praying for someone to come help him* Tetsuya: *having run the entire way, appears and has the rosary wrapped around the operative's neck at roughly lightspeed* Sailor Bob: ;.#? Operative: !.! Tetsuya: *pulling the string tighter, though not yet strangling him; almost hisses the next words* Are your commanders really that foolish, or just stupid? Operative: Rfrfmsfs... snrgsdfm... *can't really speak through the string* Sailor Bob: *has released himself and fled to the other side of the alley* ;.#! Gov. Operative 2: *from a fire escape above everyone's head* They're not foolish enough to send out a man alone. Operative 2: *jumps down from the fire escape, anime-style, and lands behind Sailor Bob* Tetsuya: *drops the first operative and tries to push Sailor Bob away from the second* Operative 1: *falls to the ground, wheezing, and doesn't move* Operative 2: *puts a gun to the back of Bob's head before he can do so* If you don't want him dead, don't move any closer. Tetsuya: *holds perfectly still* Sailor Bob: *is still* !.# Operative 2: What makes him so incredibly important to you? Operative 2: Why do you go so far to protect him? Operative 2: What use have you got for a beat-up brat with amnesia? Tetsuya: He is a part of my organization. I take care of my own. Operative 2: *laughs* But what use is he? Is that your only reason? Loyalty? *laughs again* Maybe I should just kill him. Operative 2: *puts a slight pressure on the trigger* Tetsuya: *freezing cold* No. Operative 2: You'd kill me, of course. But that would put an end to your troubles, wouldn't it? It would also put an end to the government interfering. Sailor Bob: *closes his eyes* Please... Operative 2: ?.? Sailor Bob: *opens them again, slowly* Please, kill me... Tetsuya: NO! *makes a move towards the operative, trying to distract him* Sailor Bob: I'm just a nuisance to everyone anyway... Operative 2: *smirks* See? Even HE agrees with me. Tetsuya: *being completely illogical for reasons even he doesn't understand* No. It - isn't true... Operative 2: Or maybe... I could just do... THIS! *with one swift motion, takes off the eyepatch, expecting Tetsuya to be horribly affected by it* Tetsuya: ?.? Sailor Bob: ?.? Operative 2: What the...?! Tetsuya: ~.- Is something supposed to happen? Operative 2: *looks into Bob's eyes* O.O! *starts making strange noises* Sailor Bob: !.! Tetsuya: ?.? Tetsuya: *with rosary in hand, moves towards the operative, intending to finish him and then go back for the other one* Operative 2: *Has gone insane, because of Bob's confusion. Ignoring Tetsuya, he starts clawing at his eyes and screaming.* Sailor Bob: !.! Operative 2: *runs off, still doing so* Tetsuya: *follows him, with vague thoughts of a mercy killing* Operative 1: *in the confusion, sneaks away* Sailor Bob: *grabs his eyepatch and covers up his eye* Sailor Bob: *Notices the gun lying by him, contemplates...* Tetsuya: *not having followed the second operative very far, notices the way Bob's looking at the gun* Tetsuya: *sharply* Leave that. It is unnecessary. Sailor Bob: *eeps, leaves it* Tetsuya: *begins following the second operative in earnest, not a difficult thing to do what with the screaming and clawing at eyes bit* Operative 2: *after a little while, hunches down in an alley and begins muttering to himself, nonsense words mostly* Tetsuya: *has the rosary in hand, definitely feeling - "merciful"* Operative 2: *Starts screaming again, out of nowhere. Doesn't move, just screams.* Tetsuya: *wraps the string around the operative's neck, preparing to strangle the guy* Sailor Bob: *having followed Tetsuya* Don't...! Tetsuya: *turns around and looks at him, raising one eyebrow* Are you quite sure? Sailor Bob: *looks pityingly and guiltily at the operative, who's humming and ignoring both of them* He can't hurt anyone now... Tetsuya: He almost shot you. *which is enough reason for Tetsuya* And he is quite insane. Is living that much - better - for him? *sounds slightly bitter at that* Sailor Bob: Everyone has a right to live. And it is my fault... Sailor Bob: Please, Tetsuya-san... Don't. Tetsuya: *sighs* If you insist... *doesn't really have an inarguable logical reason to back up killing the operative, so supposes this one can slide* Tetsuya: *puts the rosary back in his pocket, turns to Sailor Bob* But what turned him into - that? Sailor Bob: *looks away* My... eye. Tetsuya: The one he apparently thought would affect me somehow. Sailor Bob: Yes... Tetsuya: *looks at him, curious and interested* How does it work? Sailor Bob: *looks panicked* I... I don't know... Tetsuya: *moves a little closer* What does it do, then? How does it affect people? Sailor Bob: *backs away, not liking the look on Tetsuya's face* I- it depends... Tetsuya: *doesn't move any closer* On what? Sailor Bob: My emotions... the person... Tetsuya: I see. Tetsuya: We should go back now. Tetsuya: *begins walking back, not looking back to see if Sailor Bob is following* Sailor Bob: *follows, thinking rapidly about many, many things* Tetsuya: *mind is racing with the many possibilities inherent in having the loyalty of someone with Sailor Bob's powers* Sailor Bob: *can tell that Tetsuya's thinking about how he could use his eye* Tetsuya: *at the restaurant, goes to send out some people on fact-finding missions* Sailor Bob: *goes to the kitchen, still thinking* Sailor Bob: *Stops thinking. Now's the time to act. Goes to the Head Cook and tells him he has a message to take to someone.* Head Cook: *gives him the okay* Sailor Bob: *Is about to leave, then... Turns back to the head cook.* And.. if Joker-chan comes back before I do... Tell him... tell him I love him. *blushes, then leaves* Head Cook: *flustered* Uh, sure. No problem. Sailor Bob: *acts like he's just heading out, but as soon as he's out of sight of the restaurant, runs at top speed, just to get away, to someplace no one can find him* Tetsuya: *passing through the kitchen, notices that Sailor Bob is gone, but assumes he's just gone to find Joker or extra mushrooms or something* Sailor Bob: *hours later, after running for long periods of time with only short rests, stops in a deserted alley to sleep for the night* Sailor Bob: *Panting, sits down with his back against the alley wall. Starts thinking about where he'd normally be at this time.* Sailor Bob: *the enormity of what he's just done engulfs him suddenly* J... Joker-chan... G- gomen nasai... Sailor Bob: *unable to stand the awful loneliness, buries his face in his hands and starts to cry* *Fade out, and end "Whispers in the Dark.* Credits: Tetsuya: Hokuto Kuzuki Sailor Bob: MokonaChiirushia Joker: Hokuto Kuzuki Operatives 2: MokonaChiirushia Lead Operative: Hokuto Kuzuki Other Operatives: MokonaChiirushia Head Cook: Hokuto Kuzuki Random Kitchen Staff Member: MokonaChiirushia Operative 1: Hokuto Kuzuki Busboy: MokonaChiirushia