Spiderwebs

Spiderwebs Chapter Six


The first thing Tane felt was the pounding in his head. As he hadn't had the money for alcohol lately it couldn't mean anything good. He tested his movement and discovered both his legs and arms were bound. Further evidence that whatever was happening was most likely bad news. Any likelyhood otherwise would have to have been preceded by a large intake of alcohol, which he already knew not to be the case. Back to square one.

Memory returned in a sickening rush that only years of experience kept from giving away his consciousness. Shuji had threatened Kyousuke. Had kidnapped him. An act that Tane would make sure was Goto's brainless second's final act. As soon as he got away from whoever currently had him tied up.

He'd long since gotten past threats to his own life - which tended to occur on a nearly daily basis. He had little respect for his own continued existence, and the list of people he placed above his own life was - not shockingly - extremely short. His brother, however, was one of those people and he would definately have to make Shuji pay for dragging him into this. But if Shuji had left him, then he couldn't be being held by Gato. And he doubted Tane would have let him awaken naturally from the knock-out. There was one final option that came to mind, but it - too - did not fit.

His best chance at escape was to allow his capturer to continue to think he was unconscious. But without knowing who his capturer was he couldn't really form a plan to escape. And the only way to get that information was to allow it to be known he was awake. 'Can't ever be something easy.' He thought to himself. He tested the bonds again, but found them secure. A voice interrupted before he could think of his next move.

"You can stop pretending anytime. I know you're awake. You've tested your bonds twice."

The voice was smooth and polished. So much for option three. One last thought came to mind,, and he opened his eyes to look up at the man in front of him. The light pierced his eyes - making him wince slightly. He took in Jin's appearance and snorted. "Ah. You must be him."

"And you can only be Tane." Jin replied - seated casually across from where he was tied up.

"My reputation proceeds me, I see."

"Figured you were the only one incompetent enough to be left at the apartment after firing a gun." Jin smirked at the scowl shot his way. "So - you going to tell me who it was?"

"Gato, of course. Tadeo was already there."

"Does idiocy run in the family?" Jin asked casually. "I meant who kidnapped Daiki."

Tane's eyes narrowed at the insult, but at the question he chuckled. "Isn't that the question on everybody's mine? Funny thing is how everyone thinks I've got the answer. But I didn't see Daiki get kidnapped.

Jin frowned as he digested the information. "So, who are you protecting? And are they worth your brother's life?"

"What makes you think I care about the kid?"

"Didn't think you did. But someone fired that shot. No body. No blood. Just you. So it wasn't Gato's men. And if you were just trying to get away you'd have fired more than one shot."

"Heh. Not bad." Tane admitted. "But that was when Shuji's thugs had a gun to his head. Now it's different. After all, he's worth more to Gato alive. I'm sure you can attest to that."

Jin stood slowly, his movements unrushed as he took the few steps to tower over Tane. The other looked up at him scornfully, until Jin kicked him in the stomach. Tane crumpled with a sharp exhale of air, and before he could recover Jin slammed another kick into his face - sending him sprawling.

Managing to suck air back into his lungs, Tane pushed himself up on one arm - spitting a mouthful of blood onto the carpet. "That was unexpected. You actually care about my brother, huh?"

"Let's put it this way.:" Jin crouched in front of him. "I promised Amagai not to make him cry too much. That's the only reason you're making it out of this alive. Seeing as you're the one who dragged him into this to begin with."

Tane didn't look up at him, but he was silent for a minute. "It's ironic, really. Seeing as that's why I walked out to begin with. Because I knew I'd just end up dragging him down with me."

"Spare me the sob story. If you ever really wanted to protect him, you'd have stayed away."

"I did at first. For three years. Ran into him by chance."

"Right." Jin stood up. "Then, like any caring, protective elder brother would, you suckered him into paying your debts."

"It was supposed to be a one time thing."

Jin walked over to the table to pour himself a drink. "Where have I heard that one before?"

"You think he needs you to protect him, huh? Don't fool yourself. Kid don't need anyone. He attracts people like a dog attracts fleas. If you weren't there, someone else would be."

"So, that's your excuse, is it? No need to save him from Gato, because eventually someone else will? And in the meantime?"

"He'll survive. He always does. He's tougher than he looks."

"He's stubborn. There's a difference."

"Same end result. He'll survive." Tane pushed himself up onto his knees, favoring Jin with a a sneer. "Go ahead. Tell yourself he needs you, but he doesn't. You just want him to - because you want him."

Jin was silent a minute, then he sat down the glass without having touched the contents. "We can do this two ways. You can tell me the third party. Or I can hand you over to Tadeo and let him get the name out of you."

"You think Tadeo would have better luck?"

"I think Tadeo has aligned himself with Gato. How else would Gato's men have known who Katsuki was?"

Tane froze, his eyes widening as realization stuck. His jaw clenched around a snarl. "Tadeo..."

The first thing Katsuki felt was the cold. He felt terribly cold. He wasn't wearing a shirt or socks, and the ground beneath him felt cold and hard like cement or stone. The pain seeped in next. Pounding through his head not unlike a hangover. As memory flooded back, his head shot up - meaning to take in his surroundings. But the movement made him feel nauseous, and he laid his head back on the cold floor with a groan.

"Awake I see." Shuji's voice made his blood run cold. His mouth felt too dry to speak even if he could come up with a reply. "Not in the mood to talk to me? Thirsty, maybe?"

Cold water was dumped over him, and Katsuki gasped - fear pushing him to sit up even though the water only lasted a minute. Shuji stood over him holding an empty pitcher. He seemed to be in a basement of some kind. Cement walls surrounded the room - a set of stairs up the only way out. Overhead lights lit the room dimly as several seemed to be burnt out. His head still pounded, and he shivered from the cold water now soaking him. He glowered at Shuji, but clenched his jaw shut - not speaking.

Shuji only smirked at him, reaching out to grasp his chin. "So there is fire in there. Now I'll have to decide if you look more tempting angry or afraid."

Katsuki yanked his chin out of his hands, though he found keeping his balance not easy with his hands and feet tied. He ended up leaning on his hands to keep upright. He gave a cry when Shuji grabbed a handful of hair and yanked his head back. He then slid a finger down his neck.

"Wet is definately good, though. Such versatility will make for a better sale." He shoved him down on the ground then.

Fear forced him to sit up, though - and words from his mouth. "Sale?"

"For Daiki's ransom of course." A third voice, all to familiar spoke.

Katsuki turned to the stairs where Tadeo was slowly descending. "You-...? You treacherous-"

"You aren't among my men, so it can hardly be considered treachery." Tadeo cut him off. "And your brother's incompetence - if that is indeed what it was - has put me in a difficult position. You see, Gato paid our ransom. Only for Daiki to be kidnapped before being returned.."

"So return the money."" Katsuki ground out.

"Being an honest business man he offered." Shuji broke in. "But we deemed it was inadequeate at that point. Which brings us to you."

"Originally Gato wanted Tane, for revenge of course. But it wasn't hard to convince Shuji you would be far more profitable." Tadeo finished explaining - coming up to him.

"You. Bastard."

Tadeo only reached out a finger to stroke his cheek. "I meant what I said at your apartment, though. I shall miss doing business with you." Katsuki yanked his face away - spitting at him, but Tadeo only seemed amused by his vehemence. "I may very well pay to have you myself. But at a later time when all this has been resolved." Standing, he nodded at Shuji. "I'll be in touch."

"Of course." Shuji nodded, turning back to Katsuki as Tadeo headed for the stairs. "I'll have some food brought to you. Too weak, you're of no use to anyone."

Katsuki managed to hold the glare until he heard the door close and lock behind Shuji. Then he slid layed down and let the fear wash over him. Frustrated tears welled in his eyes as he tried to think the situation through. All led to the conclusion that he couldn't escape, and that the chance of rescue was unlike to happen in time. He curled up into a ball as he began to shiver. "Damn you, Tane." He whispered. "You and me..."

"I hate the rain." Tane stood at the window of the rundown motel room he'd taken them to.

He'd agreed to take him to meet the third party, not that Jin trusted him to keep his word. But he'd contacted someone briefly at any rate. If it was a trap, he was confident in his abilities to turn the tables and get the info he needed off of someone else. If that did happen he'd make sure things ended badly for Tane as well. Even if it would mean breaking his promise to Amagai.

He glanced up from where he was propped on the dresser - which had seemed a cleaner choice than the bed or chairs. "Seems to run in the family."

"You don't know, do you?" Tane asked, not looking back.

Jin sighed. He'd hoped at the least the other man would keep his mouth shut for awhile. That was apparently asking too much, though. "Know what? He asked in a bored tone.

"Why Kyousuke hates water."

Jin scowled. Not liking the turn in conversation. He didn't like being toyed with - and that was exactly what Tane was doing. Dangling snipes of info like you would a dog's bone. But he wouldn't find him so easy to bait. "Why do I have the feeling that short of gagging you, there's no way to stop you from telling me."

"Kid would fall for a smart ass. He really is just like her."

Curious inspite himself, Jin watched Tane, but said nothing to encourage or discourage him. For a long minute he wondered if he really intended to let the subject drop, but then Tane started speaking again.

"Heard said they warned her about him. That he wasn't worthy of her. Nothing but trouble. Heh. Kind of like me. After he got himself killed in a deal gone wrong she moved us back to her home town. Some tiny fishing village down south. I hated it on sight. Was always causing trouble. Which was what I was out doing the night the Tsunami hit.

"It's funny how they don't go into details when you're underage. It just "Something went wrong". Something went wrong alright. There was no warnings. Nobody on the shore should have stood a chance. But the rescuers found him alive three days later. Ever seen a body that's been in the water that long? Soaks in water like a sponge - it's pretty grotesque. But I overheard the rescue worker say they had to physically pry his hands off her body. Funny thing is he didn't cry. Not even at her funeral. Not even one tear. Only saw him cry once after that. When I took him out drinking shortly before I left."

"Katsuki always cries when he's drunk." Jin offered cooly.

"Get him drunk often?" Tane's voice held a darker tone to it.

"No. I don't like it when he gets drunk."

"Because he cries? Or because you don't like to see him cry?"

"..."

"He was never anything but trouble for her. How do I know the same isn't true about you for him?"

"You don't. But you do know that you're nothing but trouble for him."

"..." Tane was silent this time. After a moment more of looking out the window, he turned to look over his shoulder at Jin. "Nobody I train my gunsights on lives. Who you can throw down in a fight won't stop a bullet between the eyes. So you watch your step with my kid brother. Because I don't do second chances."

Jin slid off the dresser, his eyes narrowing as he met Tane's gaze. "You think you have the right to give him away? He isn't yours. Never was. You don't get a say."

"Oh, I have a say. But it will be with bullets, not words."

"Then it's your rights you're giving up. And when this is all over you walk. And you don't contact him again. Ever."

Tane scowled, his lips curling into a snarl. "One mistake." He warned.

"I don't make mistakes." Jin stated.

After another long moment Tane whirled back to the window. He froze, and his eyes narrowed - a frown turning the corners of his mouth a second. Then his expression cleared. "They're here. Stay out of sight a minute."

Jin didn't respond, but he didn't stop him from stepping outside. He stepped over to the window - watching as Tane approached a tall, broad shouldered man. The two began to exchange words. From their stances he could see the exchange grow heated. He surveyed the area around them - spotting several more men in hiding. The conversation seemed to have ended, and the man was following Tane towards the door.

Jin's eyes narrowed, and he stepped out into the parking lot. Both Tane and the other man froze. Tane opened his mouth to speak, but Jin didn't give him a chance. The gunshot echoed even through the storm. Tane dropped to his knees, clutching his thinh and the man ducked behind a car, pulling out his own gun.

"What the hell's wrong with you?" Tane growled.

"Where's who's in charge?" Jin didn't even look at him as some of the men in hiding stepped into the parking lot - their own guns trained on him.

"Are you blind or dumb?" The man who'd been following Tane asked.

"Neither. That's why I'm asking." Jin replied with a smirk. A second gunshot sounded and Jin hissed in both pain and frustration when the gun flew out of his hand - hitting the pavement several feet away. He turned to where the shot had come from, noting Tane had done the same.

The scarf and hat were gone, but he still wore the trenchcoat from the meeting in the alley. Long dark hair clung to his face due to the pouring rain. It emphasized the youth of his features, but there was nothing youthful about the cold, calculating eyes sizing Jin up. He stepped lightly over to stand in front of Tane. "Get up, ugly. You're making me look bad." Tane pushed himself to his feet, wincing. He watched the young man in front of him carefully.

Jin couldn't stop the chuckle from escaping.

"Something funny, Blue Boy?" The young man asked, his gun still pointing at Jin.

"Just finished putting the pieces together." Jin replied, smirking. "It all makes alot more sense now. I'd normally say it was a pleasure to meet you, but under the circumstances, I'm sure we can both forgo the pleasantries...Gato Daiki."

To Be Continued...