Welcome to Gaia! ::

He had asked, why had he asked? “She’s alive.” She tried to make her voice sound somewhat enthusiastic but barely. The tears were already threatening to escape. “We have to go back.” She didn’t elaborate much, though she had never been one to talk a lot. Hopefully that would pass.

Neko seemed relieved, not doubting Mitsu’s words. Of course, he wanted his thoughts to be true so any reassurance was easily excepted. “We already established we needed to go back. But we need another way in.” Neko started to think.

“I,” Mitsu paused looking up at the two. “Know another way in.” Her heart began to pound again. This felt wrong, but what else could she do? She didn’t want to die but at the same time she didn’t want to betray the trust of her friends. Her face seemed to give way to her thoughts a little as she had her internal struggle.

Mitsu tried the best she could to not look upset. The guilt she felt was deeply seeded now, especially seeing that she had falsely raised both Neko and Yuki’s hopes about Hitsu’s state. What would they do to her when they found out it wasn’t true? What would they think? The more she thought about it the more Mitsu thought she might be better off letting the poison take her than trying to explain her betrayal. But then there was Suto, one way or another he would make sure she paid for not following through with his plan.

Neko nodded to Yuki, “Yeah, I’m doing better. In fact, lets get going. I’m sure by the time we get there I’ll be as good as new.” Pushing himself away from the wall, Neko tested himself and found he could finally balance on his own. Good, he was off to a good start. Turning back to Mitsu he nodded to her. “Show us the way.”

Mitsu hesitated for a moment then nodded. “Follow me.” Turning toward the door Mitsu lead them outside and back into the ravaged city. She did not follow the same path she had come to find them but instead headed to the rocky hills about a mile behind the hospital. It was a long journey that took them through buildings and wreckage and finally to a small frozen lake. Mitsu proved to have no trouble walking across the ice of the lake, but in his current state Neko found himself on more than one occasion slipping up and nearly falling.

“What the hell!” Catching his balance again Neko continued on like a toddler just learning to walk. “Is there not an easier way to get to this place?”

Mitsu looked back nearly half way across the lake herself. “I…it would be a long walk, it’s quickest to just go across. Besides,” Mitsu seemed to remember the trouble now. “There is a h..high electric ********,” Neko kept going looking back at Yuki. “Just keep focused.” He knew this would probably be hard for him. “Keep your sister in mind.”

Crossing the lake took longer than expected and Mitsu knew she was running close on time. From there the trip wasn’t much longer. About another ten minutes at best and they were at the rocky hillside. Getting down on all fours Mitsu began to sniff around the fallen snow for any sign of an entrance. The snow had built up so much that it was impossible to see. After a moment of searching and walking, Mitsu seemed to come across a familiar scent. Unsure of what it was she began to dig into the snow and came upon something she hadn’t wanted to see. For a moment she was silent, her eyes wide with shock as she stared down into the face of a dead tech long since forgotten under the fallen snow. That had been the smell she found so familiar, death. Trying to recompose herself, Mitsu pulled the snow back down on top of the tech to cover him up. “W…we’re not far.” What did the rest of it look like?

Neko only nodded to Mitsu, paying little mind to the snow she had just been digging in. Maybe it was a marker? Not really concerned with it he followed close until she stopped again.

“H…here.” Mitsu began to dig into the snow, clawing away at the ice the covered the entrance. It didn’t take her long to unbury a decent sized hole for them all to fit through. A little hesitant, Mitsu started to take the first step inside before Neko stopped her.

“Let me go first.”

“No, I don’t think that would be a –“ Neko silenced her by placing a finger to her mouth. “Shh, we can’t have you getting hurt. Just wait here for a moment while Yuki and I check it out.”

Mitsu looked scared but Neko tried to reassure her before he ducked into the small hole and into a long tunnel deep within the hillside. At first it seemed normal, a little warmer than outside, but then a smell hit him that he was all too familiar with and it nearly made his stomach lurch. Placing a hand over his sensitive nose, Neko moved on and finally found the source of the smell. There was a doorway not to far away just around a corner, but around it lay the carnage of death. Lab techs lay strewn about like the remains of dolls, their entrails covering the ground, the walls, and even the ceiling. The entire place had been painted in blood and claw marks were evident on the stone walls and the techs. Over all it looked like a war zone that had gone horribly wrong. “By god.” Neko muttered unsure what else to say. What could have done this?

Mitsu followed through the hole shortly after Yuki and quickly repeated his action by covering her face as well. When she had gotten to the carnage she let out a startled gasp looking at each of the deceased techs in turn. Faintly she seemed to remember what had happened, her anger, and her enjoyment in causing them pain. One by one she had picked them off and crushed them as if they were merely bugs standing in her way. Her eyes traveled from the techs to the blood, to the claw marks on the wall. They were deeply made and though she didn’t remember doing it she knew it was her. Stepping closer she traced a shaky hand over one of the marks on the wall until Yuki spoke up.

“I-I-its not much further,” Her voice stammered more than usual and she was visibly shaking. What had she done? Drawing in an unsteady breath, Mitsu made her way through the field of fallen humans to the door just beyond them. Reaching out with an unsteady hand she pushed the door open to reveal a lighted staircase. Turning slowly she looked back at the two trying her best not to focus on the bloodshed. It was evident though that it bothered her. “T-t-this way.” And with that she descended the stairs rather quickly to escape the scene. She didn’t want to be there any longer than she had to be.

Neko had regretted that Mitsu had to see the death, though he did not know that she was upset for other reasons. Casting a worried glance to Yuki he followed behind Mitsu and descended the staircase as well. Hopefully this event wouldn’t be to scarring for her.

Mitsu wasted no time to reach the end of the stairs and waited for Neko and Yuki to follow. She listened for a moment before moving on, creeping the door open lightly. Good, there was no sign of anyone, at least yet. Maybe they would be able to sneak in and sneak out, but then what would happen to her? The possibility of dying had crossed Mitsu’s mind before; it had always lingered in her thoughts. But now that she was actually faced with the reality of she would die she was scared, terrified. Taking in another deep breath trying to calm her nerves, Mitsu moved on into the hallway and took the first available right.

She continued taking rights leading them down what seemed like endless hallways. All was quiet, as it had been before, not a single person in sight. For Mitsu is only seemed to make the anticipation of someone showing up all that much worse. Maybe she should tell them, warn them before it was too late? Before taking another right, Mitsu stopped. She could tell they were getting close, the smell of bleach was in the air from where they had cleaned the hallway of blood, but it was hard to determine how close they really were.

Before she turned the corner she stopped short, she needed to tell them. She had to tell them. This wasn’t right. “I..I’m sorry. I-“

“As you should be,” Suto interrupted as he stepped lightly around the corner and drew Mitsu to him. She let out a squeak of fright but did not fight him as he drew her near and held her close.

“Mitsu!” Neko started to step forward but Suto held up his hand, a smile playing across his face.

“I would stand your ground.” As Suto spoke his men began to fill the halls surrounding Yuki and Neko from all angles. These men were different than the normal techs that they had seen earlier. They were brutish, and large, and only a few looked vaguely human. No doubt they were some of Suto’s rejected experiments now subject to his will. “You are running a bit late, my pet, I was beginning to worry you would not return.”

“L..late? But-“

“Late?” Neko asked as well, his voice not hiding the anger that was starting to rise.

“Never fear,” Suto smiled knowing what Mitsu was concerned about and ignoring Neko for the moment. Leaning down he pressed his face next to hers and whispered into her ear. “You were never poisoned my sweet, just given your vitamins.” His grin grew. “How does it feel to betray your friends for no reason?” Mitsu shuttered in his grasp, drawing up shaky hands to cover her mouth. She didn’t dare turn to look at Neko and Yuki.

“Hey!” Neko spoke up, eyeing the creatures that were slowly closing in on them. “Answer me! Mitsu what is this creep talking about?!”

There was no answer from Mitsu but Suto was obliged to give one. “Simple, she lead you here on my order. She is an obedient little thing, isn’t she?” Suto took a step back into the crowd of minions, Mitsu held close, a dark smile looming on his features above all else.

To Yuki’s question Mitsu was unable to answer. How could she answer? Everything she had said was a lie, a horrible lie to save herself. Finally daring to look up, Mitsu cast a small glance in Yuki and Neko’s direction, hoping for some sort of understanding, clinging to some hope that they wouldn’t be angry, but the first thing she saw was Neko’s scolding eyes. That was the only answer she needed, she didn’t dare look at Yuki.

“I wouldn’t worry about your sister any longer,” Suto said taking another step back and taking hold of the collar of Mitsu’s shirt. It gave him easier control and a better ability to lead her along. “I told Mitsu to tell you she was alive and well. An incentive, if you will, to get you to come back.”

“You b*****d,” Neko hissed, his eyes looking dangerously at Suto. Dark energy began to swirl and gather in Neko’s hand. He no longer cared, Suto was going to pay for what he had done and if Mitsu was in the way so be it. Wasting no time, Neko hurled the ball of energy at the scientist but a group of his minions jumped in its path, blocking its intended target. Within a few short seconds their bodies began to disintegrate and turn to ash. “s**t!” Neko spat getting ready for a second attack but the minions around them were ready to make their move.

One by one they jumped toward Yuki and Neko and after a few failed attempts and a few more down and dead, Neko was finally captured. He struggled the entire time, looking for some kind of weak spot that he could break free but the grip they had on his arms were like vises.

“Interesting,” Suto commented looking Neko over and focusing on his tail. “A Nekomata. Very rare. I’m surprised you’ve lived this long.” Suto smiled. “A treasure indeed.” Turning to his men, Suto gave them strict orders. “Take them to a containment room. Make sure it’s sealed good and tight.”

“You will pay for this!” Neko yelled as Suto’s men began to haul him and Yuki away. He continued to struggle to break free, all he wanted was the land a hit, just one hit and he would be a bit more satisfied. Not that it would help bring Hitsu back but it would surely make him feel better. Clawing and pulling seemed to do no good as the creatures that had a hold of them dragged them down the hall to a small room. Both Neko and Yuki were thrown inside and the door was locked after them. There was no glass wall in this room, only concrete and metal, obviously to deter from breakouts.

It hadn’t taken long for Neko to collect himself off the floor, but he still hadn’t been in time to stop the door from closing. “********,” Beating on the door with tightly closed fists, Neko tried to find a way out. “Let us out of here!” He gave a few more punches and a well aimed kick before he finally gave up and rested leaning up against the door. His energy hadn’t fully returned yet so he was still tiring out easily.

Once the two were out of sight Suto turned his attention back to Mitsu. She had her face buried in her hands, tears streaming between her fingers. It was a picture of beauty. Jerking her forward Suto turned to his closest associate. “Take her. Give her thirty lashings and put her in solitary confinement room A-4.”

Mitsu seemed to give little notice to switching handlers as Suto’s associate took hold of her arm and lead her down the hallway. It wasn’t until they were back in the testing area that she dared look up again and saw a man standing in front of her with a whip. The scream that so wished to escape got caught in her throat as she stared forward in fear. She barely had time to react otherwise as she was forced around and the first lashing struck her across the shoulder blades. At first she made no noise but after the fifth strike her screams carried out into the halls.

“s**t,” Neko hissed as he took a seat on the floor. He rested there bringing his knees up and placing his elbows on them. Leaning his head back against the door he tried to think of a plan. What was he going to do? How were they going to get out of here? A quick glance in Yuki’s direction told him he was going to be of little help but it was really no surprise. It was hard for him to even imagine Hitsu was gone. It seemed not that long ago that he had been sitting at their table and Hitsu was cooking dinner for Yuki and him. He focused on her smiling face for a moment trying to keep that image in his head but it was tainted with the thought of her screaming and dying in pain. Clenching his eyes shut tightly Neko couldn’t keep the tears from welling up at the thought of Hitsu’s death. How could he have not been able to save her?

Suto smiled at the sound of Mitsu’s screams echoing through the halls. It was like a sweet melody floating in the air. Pleased that his punishment was being carried out Suto made his way down the hall and to the left. Stopping in front of a large metal door Suto paused for a moment before he swiped his key card in the machine in place of a handle to open it. A beep sounded and he entered the room with a sense of business.