For Liveman family

[tsukigata]

I grin, as I look over my shoulder to the unconscious form of their son. I have Jinmers with me as well. I have yet to find Mazenda, Obler, Ashura, or the great Bias-sama. But I will prevail.

I will hurt the Livemen.

I will have my vengeance.

Comments

[redfalcon]

We've had Megumi remove the boys to a temporary place of safety. I don't know what excuse she's given them. I hope it's one simple enough for me to remember later.

Meanwhile, while Jou recuperates from being half-drowned, I continue the attempt to get in touch with Katsumi over one or other communicator.

[tsukigata]

I look up at the boy's unconscious face, and I smile.

I tap the communicator. "Yuusuke?"

[redfalcon]

"YOU!" I'm making no effort to keep the volume low, partly because I don't in fact care and partly so that Katsumi will be able to hear me if he's nearby, "what have you done with our son?"

[tsukigata]

I laugh. It is a low, booming laugh, one modelled on Bias-sama, and I enjoy it.

"Ah, Yuusuke. Is that any way to greet an old friend? I've merely been taking care of him for you." I stand up, holding the communicator, and stroke the unconscious boy's hair. "After all, Jou proved himself incapable of caring for him. Also incapable of swimming."

[redfalcon]

"Friend my fat ARSE. So where is he?" I know, I know. I shouldn't be giving him what he wants.

I bet he thinks he sounds just like Bias. He doesn't.

[tsukigata]

"Come to the bridge," I say, my voice caressingly soft. "Let me see you."

We are not on the bridge, but nearby. When he appears on the bridge my trap will be sprung.

booty shot

[redfalcon]

"How stupid do you think I am? I won't just go to the bridge alone." I may not have been so hot at school, but I'm also not as thick as he apparently assumes.

had to happen XD

[tsukigata]

"Stupid enough," I tell him affectionately. "If you want to see your son again, you'll come quickly. You plus whoever else you may have on hand. But don't bring that Yellow of yours. He's useless."

it is a very beautiful butt

[redfalcon]

I'm going to bring Jou anyway. And we will not rush in blindly. We will check, for traps, you understand, "damn you to the deepest hell."

I wish we didn't see quite so much of him from the side, though, lol

[tsukigata]

"I've already been there," I tell him, richly amused. I sign off, and wait.

[redfalcon]

Jou and I need to work out how to do this without driving into any traps. I fill him in on everything as best as I can and remind him that we need to go about this as carefully as possible. I will go ahead, both because I haven't been half-drowned therefore am better able to defend myself and because I'm the one Kemp wants to see.

[yellowlion]

I'm kind of hanging off Yuusuke when he talks, partly because I don't feel good, and partly because I'm anxious as hell.

Things never go well when Kemp's taunting Yuusuke. It's been a long time, but I could never forget that. But there's no choice. Yuusuke's aware of what Kemp's like, at least.

[redfalcon]

"How are we going to do this?" I whisper. I don't know if Kemp has actually bugged our car or whatever but either way I'm not taking any chances.

[yellowlion]

I look at him in bewilderment. "I -- I don't know," I admit. "You go one way, I'll go the other?"

We weren't exactly known for cunning plans even back when we were officially active.

[redfalcon]

I pull out a metal detector. During one of my many mid-life crises I bought it to go hunting for old coins and other such things that are pretty boring but fetch bajillions at auction, "we need this. It'll pick up any bugs or bombs."

[yellowlion]

...

I nod. "Good idea."

[redfalcon]

I explain to Jou that the best plan would be to get out the detector and use it to scan every inch of ground before we take a step forward. Like clearing a minefield, see? It should keep us safe from exploding things, and, if we're lucky, many kinds of snare or trap.

[yellowlion]

I'm finding it incredibly hard to concentrate, and I've sat through five billion incorrect recitations of the periodic table during tests, with barely a yawn.

That is a smart idea, though.

"You think it's really Kemp?" I murmur to Yuusuke after I'm done nodding and agreeing with him. "Or someone pretending to be Kemp?"

We buried him.

[redfalcon]

... Actually, that's a good question. It sure as hell sounded like Kemp, "well, you saw him. What'd he look like? Who else would take Katsumi?"

[yellowlion]

I shrug helplessly. "Looked like him, but hell if I know. I guess we go by Occam's Razor, and how much does it suck that the simplest solution is for someone to be resurrected from death?"

[redfalcon]

I wave the metal detector, "whoever he is, he's dangerous. He's set a trap. We need to be careful, so let's use this and don't make any sudden moves."

[yellowlion]

I nod. "I'll go first. I'll be your shield."

Just like old times. I don't have the brain power to go second and watch, just now, anyway.

[redfalcon]

I frown, "you're not disposable you know. We should go together. The kids need both their dads." I.e. in one piece.

[yellowlion]

I blink at him dazedly. "But you're the only one in decent condition and if you don't get to Katsumi, he's screwed," I manage. "I'll be okay."

[redfalcon]

"Yeah, but you know, never leave a man behind and all that." I pat his arm, "c'mon. After all this time you think I'd just use you as a human shield?"

[yellowlion]

"I would've thought that'd make you more inclined to use me as a shield," I say ruefully. "And you were happy enough to do it back when we were active!"

Not that I'm not appreciative. The two of us aren't always all that demonstrative, though I know he loves me and he should damn well know I love him.

[redfalcon]

"Yeah, but we're, like, old now. Megumi and the kids need us."

I need him, too.

"Right." I switch on the metal detector and swing it in a wide arc around us. No bleeping. I don't know if that means that there are no bombs or that the thing isn't actually working.

[yellowlion]

I squeeze his shoulder, and fall in next to him. I still feel like crap, but if this is where he needs me, focusing, helping this way, then of course I'll do it. I'd follow him anywhere.

There's a beeping from the left.

[redfalcon]

"THERE'S SOMETHING OVER THERE," I hiss in a wonderful stage whisper. It could be any number of things, such as the drain cover or lamp post only metres away. But it could also be a mine.

I'm not taking any chances. I move to the right.