The Promise and the Threat

Co-written with Aya

A/N: A shorter chapter, but we hope you enjoy it. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! ^___^
Lisa: We are sorry for dragging things out a bit with Fujimaru, but he doesn't go down easy. ><

With a sneer firmly in place Fujimaru stepped over Ruka. After that blow to the head he wasn’t going to be going anywhere soon. Fujimaru was surprised he was even still conscious.

“You are so fucking pathetic. Didn’t you learn anything from Chiyo? Just because some playboy decides to fuck you doesn’t mean you are actually worth anything. If anything it means you are disposable.” He was now standing in front of the kneeling figure. Daisuike’s head was bowed, his hair covering his eyes. “Oh come on. I know you want to say something. Retaliate in some way.”

He shook his head, smirking as he saw Daisuike’s hands balled into fists. The rage was there, but so was that vaunted control. Even in this situation. He held up the cattle prod and chuckled seeing the blood on the side of it. He’d hit Sakata harder than he’d thought. It wouldn’t matter anyway since they were both dead. Raising the cattle prod he slammed it against the side of the dark head. Not as hard as he’d hit Sakata but hard enough to send Daisuike fully to the floor. He nodded his approval as Daisuike was instantly back up even though he could see the pain in his eyes.

“You forgot a rule.” Daisuike’s eyes narrowed, his lips thinning but he didn’t say anything. Fujimaru chuckled. “Never take your eyes off your opponent. I would have though you’d have learned that one well during training.”

The dark gaze waivered for just a moment and Fujimaru took the opportunity to knock him to the floor again. He was slower getting up this time. “Last time I was rushed. This time I think I’ll take my time. You better stay still Sakata you’ve probably got a nasty little concussion.”

He turned to the other boy. He was still struggling to get up. Shaking his head Fujimaru walked toward him. Maybe a shock would knock him out for now. Even if he was inconsequencial he was a distraction and he didn’t want any distractions right now. Hearing the noise behind him he pivoted ramming the activated prod into Daisuike’s chest watching him stagger and fall.

“You are entirely too easy to manipulate right now. I’m ashamed to call you my student. Former student anyway.”

Daisuike struggled to get up, his head ringing. Why was he letting Fujimaru do what he wanted? He needed to get in control and quickly. Looking up at the man the old insecurities and fears seemed to pull at him, slowing his movements. He'd endured so much at this man's hands, was he really going to let it continue. Part of him knew he deserved it, deserved the beat down and the humiliation that always came with it. Wasn't that what she'd always told him. He was worthless so he deserved it.

His eyes slid over to where Ruka lay on the floor his hands clutching his head. The urge to go to him was smothered under the overriding desire to finish this. One way or another he was going to end things. Ruka had shown him that he was not worthless. If Ruka felt that he was worth having around, then it had to mean something. No matter what anyone else said.

"Leave Ruka alone." Daisuike resisted the urge to rub at the spot on his chest where the prod had hit him. It was still burning. The sensation was one he'd never forget as long as he lived. "You said you'd let him go."

"Oh . . . I did. Sure. I'll let him go. There are just a few things that we need to discuss before that happens."

Daisuike glowered. He knew what Fujimaru meant by discuss. "Our 'discussion' has nothing to do with him."

"Oh but, I think it does." Fujimaru was standing before him again, his lips twisted in a sneer. "You've not told him anything have you? I can tell. I know you a lot better than you think I do. You like your secrets. Just like that little freak brother of yours. Though it did shock me to find out you are the okama of the family and not him. My informants got some wonderful photos of the two of you. If you are into that kind of porn."

Daisuike couldn't hold back the gasp. When had he ever been able to get photos of them? "What!"

Fujimaru chuckled. "You have no idea how much fun it is to mess with you, do you? To see that normally stone like face crack. It's almost as good as breaking someone. Though I only managed to break you physically last time."

Daisuike shuddered, shifting back trying to put some distance between them. He couldn't handle Fujimaru being so close. He flinched as the cattle prod activated again, the telltale low buzz quickening his pulse, making his head pound even harder. He took several deep breaths trying to get it back under control. Leaping to his feet he ducked to avod the swipe. Fujimaru was laughing and he could hear Ruka yelling. He couldn't take another hit with that thing. It would break his fragile control.

"Come on Suke . . . you have to be used to this by now. Fine." Fujimaru tossed the prod. It clattered as it landed on the table scattering several other torture devices. "There, now why don't you fight me. You were complaining about me not doing things fair last time. This fair enough for you?"

Ruka managed to make it to his hands and knees as he watched Daisuike warily circle Fujimaru. He looked around, anger surging through him, banishing the pain for the moment. He had to help Daisuike. The table. There were things on the table that he could use. If only he could walk, but his ankle wouldn't support his weight and everything kept spinning awkwardly when he'd move. Moving slowly, trying to hold back the wimpers he crawled for the table.

Daisuike's eyes widened as he saw Ruka moving realizing he was going for the table. He had to keep Fujimaru distracted so he didn't hurt Ruka any worse. Glaring at the larger man, he gestured for him to come forward.
"You think you can beat me in a fair fight? Maybe it's you whose forgotten training."

Ducking under the first swing Daisuike landed to quick blows to his side and back sending him stumbling.

"You fucking shit. I'm going to make sure you are dead this time if I have to cut your fucking heart out."

Daisuike feignted to the side, but miscalculated Fujimaru's speed. He grunted, the air rushing out of his lungs as the blow connect solidly on his side. Collapsing to his knees he gasped an arm around his waist.

"You didn't think I forgot you are still injured. That had to hurt. Don't worry. I'm going to reopen every wound I gave you last time."

Daisuike yelped as his hair was grabbed and he was drug to his feet. He flung up a arm to try to ward off the blows. The first hit made everything go dark for a moment and he struggled to focus. He lashed out trying to land a hit and was laughed at. He was slammed to the ground, his head bouncing off the concrete points of light bursting around him. He gagged as Fujimaru wrapped a hand around his throat a knee placed in his stomach.

"You have a lot to learn, boy. One lesson you fail at . . . knowing when to choose your battles. You are in no condition to be fighting, yet here you are."

Daisuike tried to pry the hand loose to get some air while at the same time sliding his other hand into his pocket. He wasn't going to be able to take Fujimaru like this, even as much as that thought infuriated him. He just wasn't up to it. Finding the call device he pulled it out only to have his wrist grabbed and his hand slammed into the concrete hard enough he thought one of his fingers might be broken.

"So, you didn't get rid of all your weapons." Fujimaru leaned down over him, the muddy brown eyes calculating. “Maybe you do have a few surprises left.”

Daisuike started to say something and was shocked to see Ruka standing behind Fujimaru a tazer in his hand.

“No wait Ru-“ His whole body seized up as Ruka shocked Fujimaru with the tazer. With a roar Fujimaru surged up knocking Ruka clean off his feet. Trying to shake off the effects Daisuike grabbed the device pressing the button. Fujimaru was pulling back to hit Ruka and Daisuike just barely managed to grab his arm before he could, getting hauled forward.

Fujimaru could scarcely believe the little bitch had dared to try anything. He grunted as Daisuike's weight hit him nearly sending them both down. Twisting around he slammed his fist into Daisuike's face knocking him back.

"You fucked up big time."

Daisuike barely rolled to the side in time to avoid the downward swing of the prod. He scrambled to his feet glancing at Ruka.

"Get out of here. Now!"

“I’m not leaving you!”

Daisuike heard Ruka's shout and it cost him a moment's concentration. "Ruka! Don't-"

He was slammed to the ground as Fujimaru tackled him. He gagged as crushing fingers suddenly gripped his throat. His hands gripped Fujimaru's arm trying to pry him away.

Fujimaru turned to look at Ruka his eyes a bit wild. "Come on, you wanna join?"

He could feel Daisuike thrashing under him and it only excited him more making him squeeze harder. He smiled hearing Daisuike gasping for air. This was going to be almost too easy. Sitting back Fujimaru pulled the still struggling Daisuike with him until they were both standing.

"You really want to stick around to watch him die?" He grinned as Daisuike's struggles got weaker his eyes starting to glaze over. "You gonna drop that or do I strangle him right now."

Ruka hesitated for a moment but then tossed the tazer aside. He didn't want Daisuike to get hurt, but the moment he could he was going to get a weapon and make Fujimaru pay for hurting Daisuike. For now they were at his mercy.

Slowly he started to back away, only to stop hearing the roar of an engine. That sounded like Fuji's car. Fuji's car meant Fuji and Masa! Looking around he then yelped and stumbled backwards as the large opened and a car sped inside screeching to a stop. Fuji and Masu flung open the doors jumping out.

"Seems we're needed here."

"Seems so."

"You guys! What the hell-" Ruka was cut off by a thundering sound of engines, it sounded worse than a race track and it got closer and louder and honestly Ruka thought the sound was going to burst his chest open. That's when he thought his heat was going to leap out of his chest.

Cars upon cars started to pour into the factory surrounding them all. Several non-descript cars were in the mix of racers and Ruka was slightly confused by them.

"We brought some back up for you Daisuike. Though. . . I think it's a little much."

Fujimaru glared down at Daisuike. "You disappoint me. I thought you'd want to take care of this on your own."

Daisuike narrowed his eyes trying to see past the dark spots on his vision. He felt like he was going to pass out any moment from lack of oxygen. The roar of engines barely registering over the roaring in his ears. If only he could get to his knife. Why had he let the one at his ankle and not the one at his belt?

He collapsed in a heap as Fujimaru dropped him. He struggled to get his limbs to move, to do anything. There was a flash of steel above him and his eyes widened seeing the knife coming down at him.

"No! Daisuike!"

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A/N: We would apologize for leaving it like this, but we like to keep you coming back for more. You can blame brohne. Be watching for the next book since this is the end of The Promise and the Threat. The next novel is called Falling Down.