Soul's Requiem (Chapter 20)
Yunho felt sick, his mind reeling from the scene that had just played before his eyes. Jaejoong looking back at him with fearful eyes, as if he were looking for the answer of what to do. Yunho had told himself that he wasn’t going to tell Jaejoong to do it, but he saw something in the older male’s eyes that made him realize that the fear and pleading was probably written clear on his face. But how could it not be when he had a gun pointed at his head and the end of his life seemed within touching distance? As much as he hated to admit it, he was hoping with all his might that Jaejoong would agree to the rules.
When Jaejoong’s words of agreement rang through the room, Yunho wondered if he’d simply fooled himself into hearing those words that he so desperately wanted.
His doubt vanished when he realized that others in the room had heard the small statement. Henney’s face looked absolutely animalistic, his dark eyes alive with lust as he watched Jaejoong being forced to the floor. Sungmin and Mr. Lee seemed as they always did. Insane.
Yunho felt his heart stop when Jaejoong began to change his mind, his cries of panic ringing throughout the silent space.
It seemed that everything happened within a split-second. The machete lifted and Jaejoong let out a yell as the sharp blade pierced through his skin and bone, detaching his fingers from the rest of his hand.
His screams were ear-shattering in their intensity, most everyone flinched slightly as their looks of pleasure dimmed slightly. The only man in the room who seemed to have gained more pleasure after the deed was Henney. He was reclined in his chair, left leg thrown over his right as he sat and watched Jaejoong writhe on the floor.
Yunho felt his stomach churn dangerously, threatening to add to the mess of blood on the floor. Guilt was already setting in as he watched Jaejoong become soaked in his own blood.
What had he done? He had practically told Jaejoong to let them chop off nearly all his fingers.
Yunho shook his head slightly, as if that would erase everything that had happened over the past couple of days. Why had his life so suddenly become so full of pain and torture? Was this the punishment he got for all the things he had done in his life? Why then was it Jaejoong who seemed to be taking the brunt of everything? What heinous sin had he committed that would raise him up for such a cruel judgment?
Then it hit Yunho, leaving him slightly dizzy. The world was never fair,--as clichéd as that sounded--the villains got away and bad, horrendous things happened to people who didn’t deserve them. It was life on earth…and life was a bitch.
The screams had faded, but Jaejoong was still sobbing on the floor, clutching his tattered hand close to his body. His hair was matted with the blood on the floor, and his face was smeared with the red liquid, giving him a slightly demented quality.
“Very nice. I find it quite interesting that you would be willing to give up your future as a pianist in order to help such a vile man.” Daniel spoke above Jaejoong’s sobs, a slight smile setting his face to shining like some kind of Greek god.
Jaejoong’s sobs become slightly less as he opened his eyes wide with shock, his gaze trained on Yunho. It was almost possible to see the gears cranking in his head as Henney’s words suck fully into place.
Yunho wished that they would kill him now.
“Right, well have him taken to Leeteuk to have the bleeding stopped. I wouldn’t want him to die before we’re finished with him.” Mr. Lee motioned for Jungsu and Raewon as he spoke, gesturing lightly at Jaejoong’s bloodied form with his opposite hand.
Yunho had the sudden urge to snap at them; to yell at them until they left Jaejoong alone. How could he every repay what Jaejoong had done for him? How could he ever seek the other man’s forgiveness for something like this? He made the resolution at that moment, to fully gain Jaejoong’s forgiveness, no matter the price he had to pay.
He watched as Jaejoong’s shirt was removed and wrapped around his stump-like hand to ensure that there would be no blood on the floor in the hallways. Had it not been for the gun pointed at his head, Yunho would have made the stupid move of jumping out and trying to stop them from leaving. But being the coward that he was, he did nothing. Yes, he was a coward and he knew it. What kind of man could claim to be brave and strong and then practically beg another man to sacrifice so much for him? He was disgusting.
After Jaejoong’s sobs had faded away, Mr. Lee turned his attention onto Yunho, his eyes skimming over his chest where the many cuts resided.
“Do you know that the last time I saw you, you hardly came up to my elbow?” He stated out of the blue, seeming totally unaffected by the gory scene laid out before him. In fact, he seemed ticked-pink by the sight of three fingers lying on the ground in a pool of crimson blood.
“The last time I saw you, you weren’t such a greedy, cowardly bastard.” Yunho spat darkly, fighting back the rage that he felt towards himself and every other man in the room.
“Rest assured that when the time comes, you’ll lay dying in a pool of your own blood, looking up the barrel of my gun.” He said the words in a deadly-soft voice, eyes narrowing darkly as he thought of the revenge he was going to seek no matter how long it took to get it.
Despite a slight lifting of his eyebrows, Mr. Lee made no response to Yunho, seeming to have a rather flippant attitude towards the threat that had been made on his life.
“I do love to play games.” He stated suddenly as he reclined in his chair, his hands resting lightly in his lap. “Would you like to play a game with me, Yunho?” He questioned, a wicked smile growing on his weathered features.
“I won’t be a pawn in any of your sick games.” Yunho spat back in a defiant voice, lifting his chin slightly in an unconscious attempt to regain some of the pride that had been stolen so brutally from him.
“Well, that is a pity, because there are consequences for not playing…” Mr. Lee trailed off and eyed Yunho for a long moment, letting his words steep in the silence before he began again. “If you don’t play my game, I’ll kill the man that just gave such a sacrifice for you. Now how ungrateful would you be if you let him die simply because you didn’t feel like playing my game?”
Yunho swallowed back the bile that was rising in his throat, his mind becoming slightly numb from the realization that he had no control, nothing that gave him any kind of boost in the situation. The only power he had was over Jaejoong’s life. He had the ability to selfishly refuse the game, or to sacrifice himself, just as Jaejoong had done for him.
“What’s the game.” He asked darkly, knowing that whatever it was, he would do it to save Jaejoong.
“Well, you see, we have cameras installed in your cell and as I was watching the two of you, I realized how easy it would be for the two of you to fall in love. You’ll have to forgive me, I really am such a romantic in this sense. The kiss that you two shared was utterly heart wrenching and I find myself wondering what it would be like to see the two of you in love.”
Yunho could feel the horror building in his chest along with the sense of violation that came with knowing they had been monitoring everything that Jaejoong and Yunho had said to each other.
“So,” Mr. Lee continued, “the game is simple. All you have to do is get Jaejoong to fall in love with you. If you manage to do that…I’ll spare his life and set him free. The only catch is that you have to tell him in the end what you did to him.” Mr. Lee looked on the edge of insanity at that moment, his eyes full of a wild sort of desire. It was clear that he viewed the people around him as nothing more than toys to be played with.
“So what’s your answer? Yes or no? Do make it quick, because I don’t want Leeteuk wasting medical supplies on someone that I’ll have to kill.”
What was his answer? It was ultimately a lose-lost situation for both of them; however, it would end much worse for Jaejoong. Yunho’s ultimate dilemma was choosing whether Jaejoong would rather die now after going through so much pain and becoming so scarred, or if he would rather have his heart shattered and thrown onto the top of his pile of emotional hurt.
“Jaejoong hates me.” He muttered into the stillness, his body tensed as he waited for the response.
“No he doesn’t. If he hated you, he would never have sacrificed himself like that. It would be your blood on the floor right now if he really hated you that much.” Daniel cut in, eyebrows lifting slightly as he met Yunho’s icy gaze without trouble.
“What if it doesn’t work?”
“Then I kill you both for losing the game.” He responded without hesitation, a slight smile lifting his mouth upwards. “The world doesn’t need more losers.”
He was back at the same question again. Hurt Jaejoong emotionally, or watch him get killed.
Oh the choices.
“How long do I have?” Yunho questioned in defeat, his shoulders slumping slightly as he spoke. He kept telling himself that this was better for Jaejoong. The other male could get over a broken heart…but he couldn’t come back to life after getting shot in the head. It was better for Jaejoong this way. Also, if this worked, Yunho would be securing Jaejoong’s freedom. That was the ultimate gain in the end.
“No longer than one month.” Mr. Lee responded easily, his eyes glowing with triumph as Yunho surrendered to his will.
“One month? That’s hardly anything!” Yunho growled, his body tensing again at the unrealistic restrictions that were being placed on his shoulders. How in the world was he supposed to turn Jaejoong from hating him to love him in the short span of a month?
Jaejoong neither trusted nor respected him, two things that Yunho had found rather important in the building of a relationship. It didn’t help matters that Yunho and Jaejoong had almost completely shattered their trust in each other over the time they had been together.
“You’d be surprised what people will do in desperate situations. Besides, you’re a fairly good looking man, I’m sure it won’t be that hard for you.” Mr. Lee chuckled slightly before he stood from his chair and strode towards Yunho, the heel of his shoe smashing one of the fingers that had been left on the floor.
“You can start showing your devotion to him by cleaning up his messes. Do have fun falling in love, Yunho.” He commented lightly before he strode past Yunho, leaving bloody footprints in his wake.
Daniel stood from his chair and carefully made his way around the blood, obviously not wanting to get his designers shoes dirty. By the time he’d made his way around, he and Yunho were the only two left in the room.
“Such a fall from your pedestal.” He commented lightly, his head shaking in a mockery of disappointment.
“For future reference, Jaejoong likes to beg for his sex.” He chuckled slightly, seeming to enjoy the enraged light that swept over Yunho’s face.
“So how many people here actually work for you, Henney? I figure Sungmin has to be one of them. He was practically drooling over you the entire time and his loyalty had always been rather flighty. I’m thinking Raewon,. Jungmin and Jungsu as well.” Yunho narrowed his eyes, standing up straighter and tensing his body slightly, this was not a fight he would back away from.
“Everyone works for me, they just don’t realize it until it’s too late.” Henney smirked lightly before he side-stepped Yunho and strode from the room in an almost lazy manner, as if he had hardly a care in the world.
“Mop and bucket are in the corner.” Yunho heard a voice echo through the hallway, the tone sounding slightly like Raewon’s rather nasally Korean.
There was indeed a dry mop and an empty bucket in the far left corner of the room. Yunho couldn’t imagine getting the large puddle of blood cleaned for at least two hours. The thought of having to remaining standing so long made his entire body ache.
He was trying not to look at the fingers on the ground. He didn’t want to be reminded that he’d just agreed to break the heart of the man who had given such a sacrifice.
“I’m doing what’s best for him.” Yunho told himself firmly, refusing to let tat nagging guilt eat away at his resolve. If he didn’t accomplish this, both he and Jaejoong would die here and probably just be thrown into a river and left to decompose. He couldn’t and would not let that happen to them. No matter how many hearts he had to break.
=-------------------------------------------------=
“Do you know what I find odd?” Hankyung’s voice caused the other men at the table to raise their heads and give him rather questioning looks.
“I find it odd that Jaejoong would have been taken to Italy. The Jungs don’t have a strong support in Italy. In fact, their presence there is minuscule at best. It seems beyond insane that they would take Jaejoong there.”
“So you think our informant lied to us?” Changmin questioned as he closed the lid of his laptop and pulled his third cup of coffee closer. He too had noticed that the Jungs lacked a stable presence in Italy, which had made him doubt the whole story to begin with.
“The guy got sniped and fell from the thirtieth floor of his apartment building for talking to our guys. The report says that he was highly nervous and uncomfortable with out guys being there. Obviously he’d been threatened…and anyone that was going to lie to the opposite side, wouldn’t put themselves in danger to give false information.” Eunhyuk jumped in as he slide a manila folder across the table for the others to look at.
“The guy was named Lenard Ashe. Not anyone highly important. He was on a business trip to South Korea and flew to New York to attend a meeting before heading back to Arizona. He either got shot at a highly convenient moment, or whoever kidnapped Jaejoong and Yunho is having people followed to make sure they don’t snitch.”
Changmin glanced up from the folder, his brow wrinkled as he realized something Eunhyuk had said. “Whoever kidnapped Jaejoong AND Yunho? The Jungs are the ones that orchestrated all of this.” He flipped the folder closed, nonintegrated in reading about a man that wouldn’t do anything to help them get to Jaejoong faster.
“I don’t think they planned for this to happen.” Eunhyuk fired back easily, crossing his arms over his chest as he balanced his chair on its two back legs.
“Firstly, you already said that the Jungs hardly have any presence in Italy, so it would make no sense for them to go to Italy in the first place. Secondly, why board a flight heading for America? It would hardly be worth the trouble of keeping track of all the passenger to make sure they didn’t snitch about the secret landing in Italy. If you ask me, I think the plane was hijacked and flown to Italy where Jaejoong and Yunho were taken prisoner by another gang.” Eunhyuk finished off with a triumphant smirk, his pride in himself obvious in his dark eyes.
“What would be the reason for another gang to get in on this mess?” Changmin questioned, still finding himself reluctant to believe Eunhyuk’s idea. If that were the case, then it would open up all new branches that would have to be explored. The whole nature of their fight would have to be looked at in a different prospective.
“Don’t know.” Eunhyuk shrugged his shoulders as he set the front legs of the chair back onto the ground. “But I think it makes more sense then the Jungs going to a place where they have hardly any man power and next to no supplies. It’s just not smart.”
“Okay, so assuming you’re correct, which gang?” Changmin questioned, eyebrows lifting slightly as he held Eunhyuk’s gaze.
“Besides the Kims, Jungs, and Kwons, there are only two other Organizations that exist. The Choi Organization and the Lee Organization. The Choi Organization runs manly in Korea and Egypt with some American branches. But just guess where the Lee Organization headquarters are based.”
“Italy?” Changmin breathed, almost too shocked to believe this bit of news. If that was the case, then finding Jaejoong had just become a much simpler task. Finding the Lee Organization was going to be much easier that searching for the miniscule bases of the Jungs in Italy.
“I want their headquarters pin-pointed by three. Start bringing in all our men, I want us at full strength when we crash the Lee’s party.” Changmin growled as he pushed himself away from the table, his body thrumming with a need to get up and move, to be productive.
“Changmin,” Eunhyuk called, drawing Changmin’s attention back towards him, “I’ve actually got someone who can go in and get some things going on the inside. He’s a bit pricey but he happens to owe me a favor.”
“What do you mean?” Changmin question, his brow furrowing slightly as he tried to grasp Eunhyuk’s point. They didn’t need someone to go in before them. They would go bursting into the Lee Organization and take Jaejoong back by force. He was tired to be so sneaky, like a fucking coward. The time to fight was there, and he wasn’t about to sit on his hands any longer.
“Instead of rushing off into the unknown, we should have someone go before us, someone who can observe and also tip the scales in our favor.”
“Oh hell no!” Hankyung burst out as he jumped from his spot at the table, his chair clattering to the floor behind him. “You are not talking about that insane, psychopathic murderer!” He turned fiery eyes on Eunhyuk, daring the male to answer him back.
“Why not? He knows what he’s doing and he’s good at it!” Eunhyuk fired back, standing from his chair to match Hankyung glare-for-glare.
“Well thank you.” The voice sounded so quiet that Changmin wondered at how it seemed to fill the entire kitchen. He spun around to look at the kitchen entrance, only to be greeted by the figure of a sickly-thin male. He was covered in tattoos and piercing; his hair spiked out from underneath the black, ten-gallon hat he had perched atop his head in a rather odd manner. He was dressed in all black, save for the silver chain that hung from his belt loop.
“I know I’m early, but I got off work sooner than I thought I would.” Something in his voice sounded off, as if he were on the verge of simply singing the words. It was rather disconcerting when combined with the serious cast of his facial features.
Hankyung paled slightly as he turned and glanced at the other man, his gaze only remaining there a second before he quickly sank into his chair and refused to let his gaze move from the tabletop.
“Who are you?” Changmin questioned, only sparing Hankyung a quick glance before returning his attention onto the stranger.
“Me?” The male questioned with a slightly pleased smile, “Why I’m the great Miyavi!” He swept the hat off his hand and gave an over-exaggerated bow. “I’m the master of the shadows and the lord of fear. I bring death and destruction upon any who oppose me and ravage those that offend me…and maybe just mutilate my friends.” He added the last part as if he couldn’t help himself but to tell the entire truth on the matter.
Changmin stood shocked for a moment, unable to fully grasp what the other male had just said. Miyavi? That sounded Japanese, but the male was speaking perfect Korean, as if he’d been doing it all his life. So in the face of that rather disturbing introduction, did he dare to ask again who the other male was? No, he didn’t. Truthfully, the smaller male frightened him with the air of unconcern and insanity that seemed to saturate his very being. Changmin wanted to stay as far away as possible. So he turned and looked at Eunhyuk with raised brow, waiting for the other male to explain.
“Uhh…Miyavi is an assassin of sorts.” He responded lamely, gesturing to the smaller male as if to hand the rest of the explanation off to him.
“I’ve been killing people since I was seven. So I have plenty of credentials.” He stated in a matter-of-fact voice, as if the fact that he’d been killing people since he was seven was hardly something to be concerned about.
“What a second. How the hell did you get in here?” Changmin growled, suddenly realizing that none of the maids had called to warn him about a visitor coming. Plus there was a code that was required to get into the training facility and main headquarters. There was no way Miyavi could have gotten in without help from one of the members.
“Codes are such an easy thing to break and silence is always easily conquered. The rest lies with human stupidity and the lack of attention.” Miyavi shrugged his shoulders as if this explanation, being enough for him, would be good enough for the rest of the group.
“You broke in?” Changmin found himself growling, his anger already stirring within the pit of his stomach.
Miyavi tilted his head to the left slightly, eyebrows pulling inward, “I didn’t break a single thing. The doors always open for the harbingers of doom.” He shot a beaming smile at Changmin before his face fell back into a look of seriousness.
“What do you think?” Eunhyuk questioned Changmin, his eyes large and hopeful.
“I think this is the weirdest idea you’ve ever had.” Changmin responded as he tilted his head to the side slightly and studied Miyavi a bit closer. “What exactly would he do?”
“I’d kill them all in the sleep. I’d tie them up and cut off their skin while they’re still alive. I’d make myself a coat. I’ve always wanted a nice coat…maybe some shoes. I’ll cut off all their fingers and toes and eat them for dinner.”
“Okay, that’s enough.” Changmin lifted his hand to silence the other male, his stomach already turning dangerously at the images that were cropping up in his head.
“So you’re going to go in and start weakening the defenses on the inside?” Changmin questioned after he took a moment to regain his equanimity.
“Not weaken. Destroy.” Miyavi corrected as if out of habit, his eyes never losing their almost childish glint.
“You know where Jaejoong is being held?” He asked as he leaned his hip against the kitchen counter, eyes dark and contemplative as he studied Miyavi. The other male was insane, without a doubt, but he didn’t seem to mind at all. Changmin had no doubt in his mind that Miyavi would do everything that he had said he would, which made him worry for Jaejoong’s safety. How could he trust Jaejoong in the hands of someone who was so clearly unstable?
“I know everything.” Miyavi responded with a confidant lift of his chin, a slight smile still dancing across his face.
Changmin stood in silent contemplation for a moment before he sighed and let his shoulders slump. “Fine, but if you hurt Jaejoong, I will make sure it’s the last thing you do.” He warned darkly, doing his best not to cower before the smaller male.
Miyavi’s eyes narrowed with slight annoyance as Changmin finished speaking. “You can’t kill death.” He snapped easily before he turned and simple breezed from the kitchen, not making a sound as he left.
Changmin hoped with all his might that he’d made the right decision.
When Jaejoong’s words of agreement rang through the room, Yunho wondered if he’d simply fooled himself into hearing those words that he so desperately wanted.
His doubt vanished when he realized that others in the room had heard the small statement. Henney’s face looked absolutely animalistic, his dark eyes alive with lust as he watched Jaejoong being forced to the floor. Sungmin and Mr. Lee seemed as they always did. Insane.
Yunho felt his heart stop when Jaejoong began to change his mind, his cries of panic ringing throughout the silent space.
It seemed that everything happened within a split-second. The machete lifted and Jaejoong let out a yell as the sharp blade pierced through his skin and bone, detaching his fingers from the rest of his hand.
His screams were ear-shattering in their intensity, most everyone flinched slightly as their looks of pleasure dimmed slightly. The only man in the room who seemed to have gained more pleasure after the deed was Henney. He was reclined in his chair, left leg thrown over his right as he sat and watched Jaejoong writhe on the floor.
Yunho felt his stomach churn dangerously, threatening to add to the mess of blood on the floor. Guilt was already setting in as he watched Jaejoong become soaked in his own blood.
What had he done? He had practically told Jaejoong to let them chop off nearly all his fingers.
Yunho shook his head slightly, as if that would erase everything that had happened over the past couple of days. Why had his life so suddenly become so full of pain and torture? Was this the punishment he got for all the things he had done in his life? Why then was it Jaejoong who seemed to be taking the brunt of everything? What heinous sin had he committed that would raise him up for such a cruel judgment?
Then it hit Yunho, leaving him slightly dizzy. The world was never fair,--as clichéd as that sounded--the villains got away and bad, horrendous things happened to people who didn’t deserve them. It was life on earth…and life was a bitch.
The screams had faded, but Jaejoong was still sobbing on the floor, clutching his tattered hand close to his body. His hair was matted with the blood on the floor, and his face was smeared with the red liquid, giving him a slightly demented quality.
“Very nice. I find it quite interesting that you would be willing to give up your future as a pianist in order to help such a vile man.” Daniel spoke above Jaejoong’s sobs, a slight smile setting his face to shining like some kind of Greek god.
Jaejoong’s sobs become slightly less as he opened his eyes wide with shock, his gaze trained on Yunho. It was almost possible to see the gears cranking in his head as Henney’s words suck fully into place.
Yunho wished that they would kill him now.
“Right, well have him taken to Leeteuk to have the bleeding stopped. I wouldn’t want him to die before we’re finished with him.” Mr. Lee motioned for Jungsu and Raewon as he spoke, gesturing lightly at Jaejoong’s bloodied form with his opposite hand.
Yunho had the sudden urge to snap at them; to yell at them until they left Jaejoong alone. How could he every repay what Jaejoong had done for him? How could he ever seek the other man’s forgiveness for something like this? He made the resolution at that moment, to fully gain Jaejoong’s forgiveness, no matter the price he had to pay.
He watched as Jaejoong’s shirt was removed and wrapped around his stump-like hand to ensure that there would be no blood on the floor in the hallways. Had it not been for the gun pointed at his head, Yunho would have made the stupid move of jumping out and trying to stop them from leaving. But being the coward that he was, he did nothing. Yes, he was a coward and he knew it. What kind of man could claim to be brave and strong and then practically beg another man to sacrifice so much for him? He was disgusting.
After Jaejoong’s sobs had faded away, Mr. Lee turned his attention onto Yunho, his eyes skimming over his chest where the many cuts resided.
“Do you know that the last time I saw you, you hardly came up to my elbow?” He stated out of the blue, seeming totally unaffected by the gory scene laid out before him. In fact, he seemed ticked-pink by the sight of three fingers lying on the ground in a pool of crimson blood.
“The last time I saw you, you weren’t such a greedy, cowardly bastard.” Yunho spat darkly, fighting back the rage that he felt towards himself and every other man in the room.
“Rest assured that when the time comes, you’ll lay dying in a pool of your own blood, looking up the barrel of my gun.” He said the words in a deadly-soft voice, eyes narrowing darkly as he thought of the revenge he was going to seek no matter how long it took to get it.
Despite a slight lifting of his eyebrows, Mr. Lee made no response to Yunho, seeming to have a rather flippant attitude towards the threat that had been made on his life.
“I do love to play games.” He stated suddenly as he reclined in his chair, his hands resting lightly in his lap. “Would you like to play a game with me, Yunho?” He questioned, a wicked smile growing on his weathered features.
“I won’t be a pawn in any of your sick games.” Yunho spat back in a defiant voice, lifting his chin slightly in an unconscious attempt to regain some of the pride that had been stolen so brutally from him.
“Well, that is a pity, because there are consequences for not playing…” Mr. Lee trailed off and eyed Yunho for a long moment, letting his words steep in the silence before he began again. “If you don’t play my game, I’ll kill the man that just gave such a sacrifice for you. Now how ungrateful would you be if you let him die simply because you didn’t feel like playing my game?”
Yunho swallowed back the bile that was rising in his throat, his mind becoming slightly numb from the realization that he had no control, nothing that gave him any kind of boost in the situation. The only power he had was over Jaejoong’s life. He had the ability to selfishly refuse the game, or to sacrifice himself, just as Jaejoong had done for him.
“What’s the game.” He asked darkly, knowing that whatever it was, he would do it to save Jaejoong.
“Well, you see, we have cameras installed in your cell and as I was watching the two of you, I realized how easy it would be for the two of you to fall in love. You’ll have to forgive me, I really am such a romantic in this sense. The kiss that you two shared was utterly heart wrenching and I find myself wondering what it would be like to see the two of you in love.”
Yunho could feel the horror building in his chest along with the sense of violation that came with knowing they had been monitoring everything that Jaejoong and Yunho had said to each other.
“So,” Mr. Lee continued, “the game is simple. All you have to do is get Jaejoong to fall in love with you. If you manage to do that…I’ll spare his life and set him free. The only catch is that you have to tell him in the end what you did to him.” Mr. Lee looked on the edge of insanity at that moment, his eyes full of a wild sort of desire. It was clear that he viewed the people around him as nothing more than toys to be played with.
“So what’s your answer? Yes or no? Do make it quick, because I don’t want Leeteuk wasting medical supplies on someone that I’ll have to kill.”
What was his answer? It was ultimately a lose-lost situation for both of them; however, it would end much worse for Jaejoong. Yunho’s ultimate dilemma was choosing whether Jaejoong would rather die now after going through so much pain and becoming so scarred, or if he would rather have his heart shattered and thrown onto the top of his pile of emotional hurt.
“Jaejoong hates me.” He muttered into the stillness, his body tensed as he waited for the response.
“No he doesn’t. If he hated you, he would never have sacrificed himself like that. It would be your blood on the floor right now if he really hated you that much.” Daniel cut in, eyebrows lifting slightly as he met Yunho’s icy gaze without trouble.
“What if it doesn’t work?”
“Then I kill you both for losing the game.” He responded without hesitation, a slight smile lifting his mouth upwards. “The world doesn’t need more losers.”
He was back at the same question again. Hurt Jaejoong emotionally, or watch him get killed.
Oh the choices.
“How long do I have?” Yunho questioned in defeat, his shoulders slumping slightly as he spoke. He kept telling himself that this was better for Jaejoong. The other male could get over a broken heart…but he couldn’t come back to life after getting shot in the head. It was better for Jaejoong this way. Also, if this worked, Yunho would be securing Jaejoong’s freedom. That was the ultimate gain in the end.
“No longer than one month.” Mr. Lee responded easily, his eyes glowing with triumph as Yunho surrendered to his will.
“One month? That’s hardly anything!” Yunho growled, his body tensing again at the unrealistic restrictions that were being placed on his shoulders. How in the world was he supposed to turn Jaejoong from hating him to love him in the short span of a month?
Jaejoong neither trusted nor respected him, two things that Yunho had found rather important in the building of a relationship. It didn’t help matters that Yunho and Jaejoong had almost completely shattered their trust in each other over the time they had been together.
“You’d be surprised what people will do in desperate situations. Besides, you’re a fairly good looking man, I’m sure it won’t be that hard for you.” Mr. Lee chuckled slightly before he stood from his chair and strode towards Yunho, the heel of his shoe smashing one of the fingers that had been left on the floor.
“You can start showing your devotion to him by cleaning up his messes. Do have fun falling in love, Yunho.” He commented lightly before he strode past Yunho, leaving bloody footprints in his wake.
Daniel stood from his chair and carefully made his way around the blood, obviously not wanting to get his designers shoes dirty. By the time he’d made his way around, he and Yunho were the only two left in the room.
“Such a fall from your pedestal.” He commented lightly, his head shaking in a mockery of disappointment.
“For future reference, Jaejoong likes to beg for his sex.” He chuckled slightly, seeming to enjoy the enraged light that swept over Yunho’s face.
“So how many people here actually work for you, Henney? I figure Sungmin has to be one of them. He was practically drooling over you the entire time and his loyalty had always been rather flighty. I’m thinking Raewon,. Jungmin and Jungsu as well.” Yunho narrowed his eyes, standing up straighter and tensing his body slightly, this was not a fight he would back away from.
“Everyone works for me, they just don’t realize it until it’s too late.” Henney smirked lightly before he side-stepped Yunho and strode from the room in an almost lazy manner, as if he had hardly a care in the world.
“Mop and bucket are in the corner.” Yunho heard a voice echo through the hallway, the tone sounding slightly like Raewon’s rather nasally Korean.
There was indeed a dry mop and an empty bucket in the far left corner of the room. Yunho couldn’t imagine getting the large puddle of blood cleaned for at least two hours. The thought of having to remaining standing so long made his entire body ache.
He was trying not to look at the fingers on the ground. He didn’t want to be reminded that he’d just agreed to break the heart of the man who had given such a sacrifice.
“I’m doing what’s best for him.” Yunho told himself firmly, refusing to let tat nagging guilt eat away at his resolve. If he didn’t accomplish this, both he and Jaejoong would die here and probably just be thrown into a river and left to decompose. He couldn’t and would not let that happen to them. No matter how many hearts he had to break.
=-------------------------------------------------=
“Do you know what I find odd?” Hankyung’s voice caused the other men at the table to raise their heads and give him rather questioning looks.
“I find it odd that Jaejoong would have been taken to Italy. The Jungs don’t have a strong support in Italy. In fact, their presence there is minuscule at best. It seems beyond insane that they would take Jaejoong there.”
“So you think our informant lied to us?” Changmin questioned as he closed the lid of his laptop and pulled his third cup of coffee closer. He too had noticed that the Jungs lacked a stable presence in Italy, which had made him doubt the whole story to begin with.
“The guy got sniped and fell from the thirtieth floor of his apartment building for talking to our guys. The report says that he was highly nervous and uncomfortable with out guys being there. Obviously he’d been threatened…and anyone that was going to lie to the opposite side, wouldn’t put themselves in danger to give false information.” Eunhyuk jumped in as he slide a manila folder across the table for the others to look at.
“The guy was named Lenard Ashe. Not anyone highly important. He was on a business trip to South Korea and flew to New York to attend a meeting before heading back to Arizona. He either got shot at a highly convenient moment, or whoever kidnapped Jaejoong and Yunho is having people followed to make sure they don’t snitch.”
Changmin glanced up from the folder, his brow wrinkled as he realized something Eunhyuk had said. “Whoever kidnapped Jaejoong AND Yunho? The Jungs are the ones that orchestrated all of this.” He flipped the folder closed, nonintegrated in reading about a man that wouldn’t do anything to help them get to Jaejoong faster.
“I don’t think they planned for this to happen.” Eunhyuk fired back easily, crossing his arms over his chest as he balanced his chair on its two back legs.
“Firstly, you already said that the Jungs hardly have any presence in Italy, so it would make no sense for them to go to Italy in the first place. Secondly, why board a flight heading for America? It would hardly be worth the trouble of keeping track of all the passenger to make sure they didn’t snitch about the secret landing in Italy. If you ask me, I think the plane was hijacked and flown to Italy where Jaejoong and Yunho were taken prisoner by another gang.” Eunhyuk finished off with a triumphant smirk, his pride in himself obvious in his dark eyes.
“What would be the reason for another gang to get in on this mess?” Changmin questioned, still finding himself reluctant to believe Eunhyuk’s idea. If that were the case, then it would open up all new branches that would have to be explored. The whole nature of their fight would have to be looked at in a different prospective.
“Don’t know.” Eunhyuk shrugged his shoulders as he set the front legs of the chair back onto the ground. “But I think it makes more sense then the Jungs going to a place where they have hardly any man power and next to no supplies. It’s just not smart.”
“Okay, so assuming you’re correct, which gang?” Changmin questioned, eyebrows lifting slightly as he held Eunhyuk’s gaze.
“Besides the Kims, Jungs, and Kwons, there are only two other Organizations that exist. The Choi Organization and the Lee Organization. The Choi Organization runs manly in Korea and Egypt with some American branches. But just guess where the Lee Organization headquarters are based.”
“Italy?” Changmin breathed, almost too shocked to believe this bit of news. If that was the case, then finding Jaejoong had just become a much simpler task. Finding the Lee Organization was going to be much easier that searching for the miniscule bases of the Jungs in Italy.
“I want their headquarters pin-pointed by three. Start bringing in all our men, I want us at full strength when we crash the Lee’s party.” Changmin growled as he pushed himself away from the table, his body thrumming with a need to get up and move, to be productive.
“Changmin,” Eunhyuk called, drawing Changmin’s attention back towards him, “I’ve actually got someone who can go in and get some things going on the inside. He’s a bit pricey but he happens to owe me a favor.”
“What do you mean?” Changmin question, his brow furrowing slightly as he tried to grasp Eunhyuk’s point. They didn’t need someone to go in before them. They would go bursting into the Lee Organization and take Jaejoong back by force. He was tired to be so sneaky, like a fucking coward. The time to fight was there, and he wasn’t about to sit on his hands any longer.
“Instead of rushing off into the unknown, we should have someone go before us, someone who can observe and also tip the scales in our favor.”
“Oh hell no!” Hankyung burst out as he jumped from his spot at the table, his chair clattering to the floor behind him. “You are not talking about that insane, psychopathic murderer!” He turned fiery eyes on Eunhyuk, daring the male to answer him back.
“Why not? He knows what he’s doing and he’s good at it!” Eunhyuk fired back, standing from his chair to match Hankyung glare-for-glare.
“Well thank you.” The voice sounded so quiet that Changmin wondered at how it seemed to fill the entire kitchen. He spun around to look at the kitchen entrance, only to be greeted by the figure of a sickly-thin male. He was covered in tattoos and piercing; his hair spiked out from underneath the black, ten-gallon hat he had perched atop his head in a rather odd manner. He was dressed in all black, save for the silver chain that hung from his belt loop.
“I know I’m early, but I got off work sooner than I thought I would.” Something in his voice sounded off, as if he were on the verge of simply singing the words. It was rather disconcerting when combined with the serious cast of his facial features.
Hankyung paled slightly as he turned and glanced at the other man, his gaze only remaining there a second before he quickly sank into his chair and refused to let his gaze move from the tabletop.
“Who are you?” Changmin questioned, only sparing Hankyung a quick glance before returning his attention onto the stranger.
“Me?” The male questioned with a slightly pleased smile, “Why I’m the great Miyavi!” He swept the hat off his hand and gave an over-exaggerated bow. “I’m the master of the shadows and the lord of fear. I bring death and destruction upon any who oppose me and ravage those that offend me…and maybe just mutilate my friends.” He added the last part as if he couldn’t help himself but to tell the entire truth on the matter.
Changmin stood shocked for a moment, unable to fully grasp what the other male had just said. Miyavi? That sounded Japanese, but the male was speaking perfect Korean, as if he’d been doing it all his life. So in the face of that rather disturbing introduction, did he dare to ask again who the other male was? No, he didn’t. Truthfully, the smaller male frightened him with the air of unconcern and insanity that seemed to saturate his very being. Changmin wanted to stay as far away as possible. So he turned and looked at Eunhyuk with raised brow, waiting for the other male to explain.
“Uhh…Miyavi is an assassin of sorts.” He responded lamely, gesturing to the smaller male as if to hand the rest of the explanation off to him.
“I’ve been killing people since I was seven. So I have plenty of credentials.” He stated in a matter-of-fact voice, as if the fact that he’d been killing people since he was seven was hardly something to be concerned about.
“What a second. How the hell did you get in here?” Changmin growled, suddenly realizing that none of the maids had called to warn him about a visitor coming. Plus there was a code that was required to get into the training facility and main headquarters. There was no way Miyavi could have gotten in without help from one of the members.
“Codes are such an easy thing to break and silence is always easily conquered. The rest lies with human stupidity and the lack of attention.” Miyavi shrugged his shoulders as if this explanation, being enough for him, would be good enough for the rest of the group.
“You broke in?” Changmin found himself growling, his anger already stirring within the pit of his stomach.
Miyavi tilted his head to the left slightly, eyebrows pulling inward, “I didn’t break a single thing. The doors always open for the harbingers of doom.” He shot a beaming smile at Changmin before his face fell back into a look of seriousness.
“What do you think?” Eunhyuk questioned Changmin, his eyes large and hopeful.
“I think this is the weirdest idea you’ve ever had.” Changmin responded as he tilted his head to the side slightly and studied Miyavi a bit closer. “What exactly would he do?”
“I’d kill them all in the sleep. I’d tie them up and cut off their skin while they’re still alive. I’d make myself a coat. I’ve always wanted a nice coat…maybe some shoes. I’ll cut off all their fingers and toes and eat them for dinner.”
“Okay, that’s enough.” Changmin lifted his hand to silence the other male, his stomach already turning dangerously at the images that were cropping up in his head.
“So you’re going to go in and start weakening the defenses on the inside?” Changmin questioned after he took a moment to regain his equanimity.
“Not weaken. Destroy.” Miyavi corrected as if out of habit, his eyes never losing their almost childish glint.
“You know where Jaejoong is being held?” He asked as he leaned his hip against the kitchen counter, eyes dark and contemplative as he studied Miyavi. The other male was insane, without a doubt, but he didn’t seem to mind at all. Changmin had no doubt in his mind that Miyavi would do everything that he had said he would, which made him worry for Jaejoong’s safety. How could he trust Jaejoong in the hands of someone who was so clearly unstable?
“I know everything.” Miyavi responded with a confidant lift of his chin, a slight smile still dancing across his face.
Changmin stood in silent contemplation for a moment before he sighed and let his shoulders slump. “Fine, but if you hurt Jaejoong, I will make sure it’s the last thing you do.” He warned darkly, doing his best not to cower before the smaller male.
Miyavi’s eyes narrowed with slight annoyance as Changmin finished speaking. “You can’t kill death.” He snapped easily before he turned and simple breezed from the kitchen, not making a sound as he left.
Changmin hoped with all his might that he’d made the right decision.