Good Help
The Mountains of Osaka, 1901
Aburame Shino sat alone in the guest room, staring at the chest. It was obviously old, the carvings worn around the opening through frequent use. Shino wondered what was so valuable that he was sent during the cover of night to fetch it. As an up and coming agent in Akimichi's syndicate, the fetching of some old, fancy bauble was quite beneath him. He fumed at the implication that he was a mere lackey. His eyes burned with anger at the chest, teeth gritting in fury.
Yet a few minutes later, he took a moment's pause..What if...I was entrusted with this mission because only I could be trusted to do so? He rubbed absently at his beard as he considered this shift in logic. As I gain in reputation, it is obvious that Akimichi will depend upon me to manage much larger and more important affairs...perhaps this is simply a test? One who is willing to properly manage inconsequential affairs is one who will also be able to manage more substantial ones.
Thoroughly pleased with his assessment, he now looked at the trunk with new eyes. I wonder what was so important that it had to be hidden at this old shrine. The widow here is odd, but seemed earnest, if not a little distant.
Shino rose from his futon and moved to sit cross-legged before the chest. Held shut with a wooden fastener, Shino contemplated the riches inside. Unfortunately his vision was not perfect with the gas lamp and the moonlight streaming through the open shoji-door. The warm light illuminated well enough, but the shadows were deeper and more pronounced where the moonlight did not spread it's cool glow. And as the wind outside picked up, the occasional cloud would cover the moonlight in its entirety. The odd, distant crackle of lightening in the distance warned of a storm approaching.
Shino slid the chest a few feet closer towards the light, contemplating it's weight. It was a large box but surprisingly light. He could feel a weight inside but it was not very heavy, which would explain how the Widow was able to maneuver it into his room.
They say these old Shinto shrines have a lot of hidden treasures. Gifts were always given to the Priest and his family in return for good luck and prosperity. And this shrine is over two hundred years old! Imagine the wealth that could be inside this chest?
Shino reached out and gently removed the wooden peg that held the chest closed and laid it gently to the side. He studied the box again for a long moment, weighing the possibility of revelation. Finally, he moved to action, opening the lid slowly and quietly.
There was all black inside, he could not see clearly into the chest but he knew something was there. He slipped a hand into the center of the blackness and touched wood. His fingers slid the strange material covering the box aside and found the wood formed the shape of a rectangle...another wooden box? Intrigued, he slipped both hands into the chest, pushing aside the protective material and bringing the black box into the light.
Suddenly a gust of wind blew out the gas lamp, Shino had not noticed the moon's complete recession behind thick and angry clouds. Like the sound of small drums, fat drops of water began to fall upon the leaves and wooden structure of the house in a sudden fit. Shino, eyes straining in the dark put the small box down and began to make his way back towards the gas lamp when he began to feel a little strange. His head felt a bit light and his movements became sluggish. Alarmed, he leaned back against the wall and took a deep breath. He tried to lift his hand to test his forehead, but found that he could not. In fact, he found that he could barely move at all.
The pattern of rain began to lighten, become sporadic. A golden light approached from outside his room. A feminine figure holding a gas lamp. Shino's racing heart calmed a bit at the knowledge that the widow was close. "In here! I need help!" The widow paused before she could pass the door and knelt, placing the gas lamp down. She slid a hand between the wall and the shoji, opening it a few inches before using both hands to push the door completely open as well-trained and respectable women are want to do.
Rising gracefully, the widow lifted the gas lamp and padded inside the room. Her eyes swept the room going from Shino to the chest and back to Shino. Tsking she set the lamp down on the table and knelt beside the man. Her soft voice within the strangly dark japanese skin sent chills up Shino's spine.
"I see you've been where you were not bidden to go."
She studied him, "Did it not occur to you to study what was in the chest before you reached into it?"
Shino nods, "I looked."
She watched him through narrowed eyes and reaches into her kimono sleeve, pulling out a small folded piece of paper. "Do you know what this is?"
Shino nodded, "Yes...it's the letter that I was told to give you...but why are you asking me that now? I feel strange. My arms won't move. I can't feel my legs."
The widow nodded absently as she opened the paper, "I know, dear."
Heart beating faster, Shino yelled, "What do you mean you know? What's going on here?!"
The widow, quietly scanning the letter spoke softly, "The more upset you get, the faster the poison spreads. I suggest you calm down."
"Calm down! Do you know what Akimichi-O will do to you when he hears what you have done?!? I am his right hand! I am his most trusted advisor! He will bring such vengeance upon you that you will die screaming into the next life and the life after that!"
The widow's eyes slowly slid to meet Shino's. The look cold. "Do you know what was in that chest? Within that box?"
Shino frowned at the change in conversation.
"Trust, Aburame-kun. You were being tested and you have failed. Well..you failed in other ways as well, but this was your last chance. What will Akimichi do when he hears of what I've done to you? Well, he'll probably send up your replacement and test him in the same manner. In the meantime, there is one more thing I must do before the poison reaches your mind and kills you." She folded the letter and slips it back into her sleeve, then hesitated, "But first..."
She reached toward him and took his limp hand in hers. She raised it up into the light and slowly, gently pulled the fabric of his sleeves up to his elbow. "Look down."
Aburame's eyes widen when he finds his arm covered in black...things..they shone dully in the warm light. Closer examination...Leeches!
The widow reached again, carefully and plucked a swollen leech from his arm. Her eyes on her victim, she raised the leech to her lips and slipped the wiggling creature into her mouth. She smiled as the sickening sound of squishing became audible in the suddenly quiet night. She smiled again, displaying teeth covered in black juices and red blood.
Shino screamed.
The widow covered his mouth with her hand, ice cold and obviously without life. She spoke softly, "The more excited you get..the faster you will die. However, if you are able to keep yourself calm...the poison may well lose its grip upon you. In either way, if you scream again, I'm going to shove a leech into your mouth and we'll both see how well you like it." With another ghastly smile, she removed her hand and returned to feasting on the squiggling insects.
Shino bit down hard on his lower lip. So hard that skin split and blood flowed. Tears poured in waves of misery down his cheeks. But he would not scream. If there was the slightest chance he could survive to get his vengeance..he would fight to do so. Demon or not, I will have my revenge..and hell itself will tremble at my wrath!
The widow watched the growing fire in the man's eyes with amusement. She leaned in close, as if to kiss Shino and laved her still coated tongue up along the trail of blood flowing down Shino's chin to his lips, sliding from side to side sinuously. Shino determined, kept his lips shut tight and closed his eyes, tears pouring anew. She smiled again, widely and then stood...as Shino's left hand began to twitch she turned and walked to the door.
His whisper reached her in the night, "Is it over?"
She turned to look at him, "Not yet." Standing, half of her body out of view, small steps were heard approaching. With the light within the room, Shino was unable to tell the shape of the approaching person outside the room. The widow slowly stepped back into the room, her hand linked with..small fingers? A child's hand?
The widow and a young boy of perhaps twelve years enters the room. Shino frowned as he tried to work his sluggish mind into figuring out the significance of his new guest.
The widow brought her reluctant guest closer to the light, closer to Shino's paralyzed form. The boy tried to hide behind her, his eyes wide with fear. The widow made introductions, "Motohume Kei, this is Aburame Shino. Do you know him?"
The boy's wide eyes searched up into the woman's face and nodded slowly. The widow knelt down beside the boy, hands on his shoulders. She caressed his cheek, "Is this the man who hurt you?"
In that instant, Shino realized the importance of the young boy. His heart began to beat again in fear.
The boy looked down at the ground and only reluctantly nodded in shame. The widow nodded in return and reached behind her back, slowly unsheathing a bladed weapon. Only when it's short blade hit the light did Shino realize that was a tanto, a long dagger. The widow fit the blade into the boys hands.
"If you would see justice done...take it as you will."
Shino's eyes widened as the boys fingers tightened onto the blade and young, hurt, burning eyes drilled through his soul. The boy was gasping and shaking. He approached the paralyzed man.
Shino opened his mouth..only to hear whispered fiercely into his ear.
"Don't you dare scream."
He turned his head sharply and recoiled at the inhuman monster residing in mortal flesh at his side. He slid sideways onto the floor, arms and legs tingling yet still unable to control their motion. The boy sat down in front of him and then directed his attention elsewhere, where Shino's eyes could not follow. He watched the legs of the young boy he'd raped up close. Remembering the savage pleasure he had gotten from holding them wide-spread...
A strange pressure below his waist. He could not see! He couldn't tell what was happening.
"Show Aburame-kun what you've just shown me, Kei."
Almost robotically, the young boy turned, hands and wrists covered in blood. He held a bit of flesh in his hands. It was only after a moment's pause when the boy let the bit of flesh slip out of his hands and land right next to Shino's head did he realize what it used to be.
Shino screamed while his eyes stared at his stolen manhood. He screamed again and again as the affects of the poison in his system began to fade abruptly away..pain moving with haste to establish itself into his groin.
Kei looked at the widow. The widow looked at Kei, "Is that all you want? You could take his life."
The young man looked down at the mewling creature and shook his head. "I don't want it." He handed the bloody tanto back to the widow. "You take it."
The widow smiled and hugged the young man. "You are a better person than I, Kei. I am so very proud of you. If you like, tomorrow you are free to return to your town."
The young boy stared at the widow with aged eyes. He touches her cheek, "I want to stay here with you."
The widow blinked slowly and frowned, "I don't think that is a good idea."
The child smiled, "I know what you are. I've seen you try to hide it, but I know. And I am not afraid. Please let me stay. This is where I am meant to be. At your side."
The widow stared incredulously at the boy and then began to laugh, ignoring the weeping and cursing carrying on behind her. "We'll discuss this further at a later time. You've given me Aburame-kun's life and I intend to not waste it." She turns her gaze to the man who has managed to lay his hands over the bleeding portion of his anatomy. "Why don't you leave me alone with him? Or better yet..there is a lovely sakura tree in the back yard. And there is a shovel next to the back door...dig him a place to rest beside the roots of my tree, dear." She smiled as the boy rushed off joyously to do her bidding.
Shino glared at the woman, "You can't kill me."
The widow's brows arched as she brought the tanto to her lips to lick off the blood. "Watch me."
She sheathed the tanto behind her back and knelt again beside the fallen man. She then slipped down so that she laid side by side with her victim. Almost like lovers, they lay entangled in one another. The widow smiled again, her monsterous visage terrifying with it's proximity. Displaying her enlargened fangs she smiled and then kissed Shino soundly on the lips. Slowly she traced her fangs along his cheek and down his neck.
Shino screamed as he felt the inevitablity of his death approaching.
The widow silenced his scream by tearing out his throat and lapping at the richly flowing blood.
-----------
"Kei-san, do me a favour. Will you deliver this letter to Akimichi-sama in Higashi-Osaka for me?"
"Hai!"
The boy eagerly slipped on his shoes and accepted the letter and the small bundle of food he would need for the journey.
"Be careful and hurry straight back, alright?"
"Hai! Ittikimasu!" (I'm leaving.)
"Itterashai!" (Hurry home.)
------
Akimichi-sensei,
Your choice was completely acceptable. Keep him with you for the next four years and return him. He will be more than suitable for my needs at that time. Thank you for your generous offer. The Goddess Inari is well pleased with your sacrifice.
Yamagami Seiko
Aburame Shino sat alone in the guest room, staring at the chest. It was obviously old, the carvings worn around the opening through frequent use. Shino wondered what was so valuable that he was sent during the cover of night to fetch it. As an up and coming agent in Akimichi's syndicate, the fetching of some old, fancy bauble was quite beneath him. He fumed at the implication that he was a mere lackey. His eyes burned with anger at the chest, teeth gritting in fury.
Yet a few minutes later, he took a moment's pause..What if...I was entrusted with this mission because only I could be trusted to do so? He rubbed absently at his beard as he considered this shift in logic. As I gain in reputation, it is obvious that Akimichi will depend upon me to manage much larger and more important affairs...perhaps this is simply a test? One who is willing to properly manage inconsequential affairs is one who will also be able to manage more substantial ones.
Thoroughly pleased with his assessment, he now looked at the trunk with new eyes. I wonder what was so important that it had to be hidden at this old shrine. The widow here is odd, but seemed earnest, if not a little distant.
Shino rose from his futon and moved to sit cross-legged before the chest. Held shut with a wooden fastener, Shino contemplated the riches inside. Unfortunately his vision was not perfect with the gas lamp and the moonlight streaming through the open shoji-door. The warm light illuminated well enough, but the shadows were deeper and more pronounced where the moonlight did not spread it's cool glow. And as the wind outside picked up, the occasional cloud would cover the moonlight in its entirety. The odd, distant crackle of lightening in the distance warned of a storm approaching.
Shino slid the chest a few feet closer towards the light, contemplating it's weight. It was a large box but surprisingly light. He could feel a weight inside but it was not very heavy, which would explain how the Widow was able to maneuver it into his room.
They say these old Shinto shrines have a lot of hidden treasures. Gifts were always given to the Priest and his family in return for good luck and prosperity. And this shrine is over two hundred years old! Imagine the wealth that could be inside this chest?
Shino reached out and gently removed the wooden peg that held the chest closed and laid it gently to the side. He studied the box again for a long moment, weighing the possibility of revelation. Finally, he moved to action, opening the lid slowly and quietly.
There was all black inside, he could not see clearly into the chest but he knew something was there. He slipped a hand into the center of the blackness and touched wood. His fingers slid the strange material covering the box aside and found the wood formed the shape of a rectangle...another wooden box? Intrigued, he slipped both hands into the chest, pushing aside the protective material and bringing the black box into the light.
Suddenly a gust of wind blew out the gas lamp, Shino had not noticed the moon's complete recession behind thick and angry clouds. Like the sound of small drums, fat drops of water began to fall upon the leaves and wooden structure of the house in a sudden fit. Shino, eyes straining in the dark put the small box down and began to make his way back towards the gas lamp when he began to feel a little strange. His head felt a bit light and his movements became sluggish. Alarmed, he leaned back against the wall and took a deep breath. He tried to lift his hand to test his forehead, but found that he could not. In fact, he found that he could barely move at all.
The pattern of rain began to lighten, become sporadic. A golden light approached from outside his room. A feminine figure holding a gas lamp. Shino's racing heart calmed a bit at the knowledge that the widow was close. "In here! I need help!" The widow paused before she could pass the door and knelt, placing the gas lamp down. She slid a hand between the wall and the shoji, opening it a few inches before using both hands to push the door completely open as well-trained and respectable women are want to do.
Rising gracefully, the widow lifted the gas lamp and padded inside the room. Her eyes swept the room going from Shino to the chest and back to Shino. Tsking she set the lamp down on the table and knelt beside the man. Her soft voice within the strangly dark japanese skin sent chills up Shino's spine.
"I see you've been where you were not bidden to go."
She studied him, "Did it not occur to you to study what was in the chest before you reached into it?"
Shino nods, "I looked."
She watched him through narrowed eyes and reaches into her kimono sleeve, pulling out a small folded piece of paper. "Do you know what this is?"
Shino nodded, "Yes...it's the letter that I was told to give you...but why are you asking me that now? I feel strange. My arms won't move. I can't feel my legs."
The widow nodded absently as she opened the paper, "I know, dear."
Heart beating faster, Shino yelled, "What do you mean you know? What's going on here?!"
The widow, quietly scanning the letter spoke softly, "The more upset you get, the faster the poison spreads. I suggest you calm down."
"Calm down! Do you know what Akimichi-O will do to you when he hears what you have done?!? I am his right hand! I am his most trusted advisor! He will bring such vengeance upon you that you will die screaming into the next life and the life after that!"
The widow's eyes slowly slid to meet Shino's. The look cold. "Do you know what was in that chest? Within that box?"
Shino frowned at the change in conversation.
"Trust, Aburame-kun. You were being tested and you have failed. Well..you failed in other ways as well, but this was your last chance. What will Akimichi do when he hears of what I've done to you? Well, he'll probably send up your replacement and test him in the same manner. In the meantime, there is one more thing I must do before the poison reaches your mind and kills you." She folded the letter and slips it back into her sleeve, then hesitated, "But first..."
She reached toward him and took his limp hand in hers. She raised it up into the light and slowly, gently pulled the fabric of his sleeves up to his elbow. "Look down."
Aburame's eyes widen when he finds his arm covered in black...things..they shone dully in the warm light. Closer examination...Leeches!
The widow reached again, carefully and plucked a swollen leech from his arm. Her eyes on her victim, she raised the leech to her lips and slipped the wiggling creature into her mouth. She smiled as the sickening sound of squishing became audible in the suddenly quiet night. She smiled again, displaying teeth covered in black juices and red blood.
Shino screamed.
The widow covered his mouth with her hand, ice cold and obviously without life. She spoke softly, "The more excited you get..the faster you will die. However, if you are able to keep yourself calm...the poison may well lose its grip upon you. In either way, if you scream again, I'm going to shove a leech into your mouth and we'll both see how well you like it." With another ghastly smile, she removed her hand and returned to feasting on the squiggling insects.
Shino bit down hard on his lower lip. So hard that skin split and blood flowed. Tears poured in waves of misery down his cheeks. But he would not scream. If there was the slightest chance he could survive to get his vengeance..he would fight to do so. Demon or not, I will have my revenge..and hell itself will tremble at my wrath!
The widow watched the growing fire in the man's eyes with amusement. She leaned in close, as if to kiss Shino and laved her still coated tongue up along the trail of blood flowing down Shino's chin to his lips, sliding from side to side sinuously. Shino determined, kept his lips shut tight and closed his eyes, tears pouring anew. She smiled again, widely and then stood...as Shino's left hand began to twitch she turned and walked to the door.
His whisper reached her in the night, "Is it over?"
She turned to look at him, "Not yet." Standing, half of her body out of view, small steps were heard approaching. With the light within the room, Shino was unable to tell the shape of the approaching person outside the room. The widow slowly stepped back into the room, her hand linked with..small fingers? A child's hand?
The widow and a young boy of perhaps twelve years enters the room. Shino frowned as he tried to work his sluggish mind into figuring out the significance of his new guest.
The widow brought her reluctant guest closer to the light, closer to Shino's paralyzed form. The boy tried to hide behind her, his eyes wide with fear. The widow made introductions, "Motohume Kei, this is Aburame Shino. Do you know him?"
The boy's wide eyes searched up into the woman's face and nodded slowly. The widow knelt down beside the boy, hands on his shoulders. She caressed his cheek, "Is this the man who hurt you?"
In that instant, Shino realized the importance of the young boy. His heart began to beat again in fear.
The boy looked down at the ground and only reluctantly nodded in shame. The widow nodded in return and reached behind her back, slowly unsheathing a bladed weapon. Only when it's short blade hit the light did Shino realize that was a tanto, a long dagger. The widow fit the blade into the boys hands.
"If you would see justice done...take it as you will."
Shino's eyes widened as the boys fingers tightened onto the blade and young, hurt, burning eyes drilled through his soul. The boy was gasping and shaking. He approached the paralyzed man.
Shino opened his mouth..only to hear whispered fiercely into his ear.
"Don't you dare scream."
He turned his head sharply and recoiled at the inhuman monster residing in mortal flesh at his side. He slid sideways onto the floor, arms and legs tingling yet still unable to control their motion. The boy sat down in front of him and then directed his attention elsewhere, where Shino's eyes could not follow. He watched the legs of the young boy he'd raped up close. Remembering the savage pleasure he had gotten from holding them wide-spread...
A strange pressure below his waist. He could not see! He couldn't tell what was happening.
"Show Aburame-kun what you've just shown me, Kei."
Almost robotically, the young boy turned, hands and wrists covered in blood. He held a bit of flesh in his hands. It was only after a moment's pause when the boy let the bit of flesh slip out of his hands and land right next to Shino's head did he realize what it used to be.
Shino screamed while his eyes stared at his stolen manhood. He screamed again and again as the affects of the poison in his system began to fade abruptly away..pain moving with haste to establish itself into his groin.
Kei looked at the widow. The widow looked at Kei, "Is that all you want? You could take his life."
The young man looked down at the mewling creature and shook his head. "I don't want it." He handed the bloody tanto back to the widow. "You take it."
The widow smiled and hugged the young man. "You are a better person than I, Kei. I am so very proud of you. If you like, tomorrow you are free to return to your town."
The young boy stared at the widow with aged eyes. He touches her cheek, "I want to stay here with you."
The widow blinked slowly and frowned, "I don't think that is a good idea."
The child smiled, "I know what you are. I've seen you try to hide it, but I know. And I am not afraid. Please let me stay. This is where I am meant to be. At your side."
The widow stared incredulously at the boy and then began to laugh, ignoring the weeping and cursing carrying on behind her. "We'll discuss this further at a later time. You've given me Aburame-kun's life and I intend to not waste it." She turns her gaze to the man who has managed to lay his hands over the bleeding portion of his anatomy. "Why don't you leave me alone with him? Or better yet..there is a lovely sakura tree in the back yard. And there is a shovel next to the back door...dig him a place to rest beside the roots of my tree, dear." She smiled as the boy rushed off joyously to do her bidding.
Shino glared at the woman, "You can't kill me."
The widow's brows arched as she brought the tanto to her lips to lick off the blood. "Watch me."
She sheathed the tanto behind her back and knelt again beside the fallen man. She then slipped down so that she laid side by side with her victim. Almost like lovers, they lay entangled in one another. The widow smiled again, her monsterous visage terrifying with it's proximity. Displaying her enlargened fangs she smiled and then kissed Shino soundly on the lips. Slowly she traced her fangs along his cheek and down his neck.
Shino screamed as he felt the inevitablity of his death approaching.
The widow silenced his scream by tearing out his throat and lapping at the richly flowing blood.
-----------
"Kei-san, do me a favour. Will you deliver this letter to Akimichi-sama in Higashi-Osaka for me?"
"Hai!"
The boy eagerly slipped on his shoes and accepted the letter and the small bundle of food he would need for the journey.
"Be careful and hurry straight back, alright?"
"Hai! Ittikimasu!" (I'm leaving.)
"Itterashai!" (Hurry home.)
------
Akimichi-sensei,
Your choice was completely acceptable. Keep him with you for the next four years and return him. He will be more than suitable for my needs at that time. Thank you for your generous offer. The Goddess Inari is well pleased with your sacrifice.
Yamagami Seiko