This Is Gospel (ShimaxYukio)

68. Throne

Shima's nervous.

It's extremely uncharacteristic but it's the truth. He'd have faced anyone else---the military even---before he wanted to face Yamantaka. He was a man to be feared. He broke spirits before he broke bones. It was unnerving how sweet he could be while he did it.

And Shima thought he was an evil, sadistic bastard.

"Are you alright?"

Ling's voice pulled him out of his thoughts from the passenger side and he gave him a jerky nod. "Yeah. Apprehensive is all." He admitted. The teasing smile he recieved caught him a bit off guard. "The bulletproof man is fearful. Not to poke fun at your situation, but that is quite laughable." He said. Shima smiled back at him.

"Yeah, I guess it is."

Shima can't remember ever feeling this scared. The only time he honestly felt fearful of anything was when he thought that Bon was going to die. Even then, it wasn't fear for himself that he had felt. It was fear for Bon. Fear for Aimi. Fear for Rin. For the first time in a long time, he feared for his own well-being. It was annoying, but at th e same time it was refreshing in a way.

"Not that I care, but being scared won't help. If you're going to die then die with dignity at least. It would be boring to have you die without so much as a show out of it." Amaimon said from the back seat. Ling shot a glare at him from the rear view mirror, almost unable to stop himself from face palming when he saw the assassin eating a lollipop suggestively.

"He certainly is a...strange character."

"A fucking weird ass is what he is."

"Play nice, Renzo."

It silenced as soon as Xstacy came into view. At first, it seemed a little ridiculous that he would bring Yukio here where they would be so easy to find. Then, the more he thought it over, Shima realized that Yama wanted to be found. He wanted this to happen on his terms---on his field. It wasn't Yukio that he wanted in particularly but because Yukio meant everything to Shima, he had to destroy him too. Spiritually. Emotionally. Mentally. What a sick bastard he truly was.

What Shima didn't understand is why he betrayed him...or what it was that he wanted. He couldn't remember doing anything to warrant such hostility from the man. It had been ages since their wager and Shima had won fair and square. Could this be some sort of revenge for that? He couldn't really be that petty. Could he?

They sat there a moment, unsure of what to do next.

'Renzo. You with me?' His father's voice came in from the other side of his earpiece.

"Yeah, I'm here. We're gonna go in now."

'Godspeed, son.'

#

Yukio wondered how many days it had been since he had been locked in Yamantaka's dungeon. There's a collar around his neck where it's attached to a leash that confines him to the bed. He wasn't allowed to wear clothing, but Yama does allow him to stand and stretch every now and again when his limbs get stiff. He feeds him, bathes him, and allows him to sleep. He hasn't physically harmed him, but whenever he gets bored he comes to 'play' with him. He's long since stopped resisting. If he doesn't resist, Yama won't inject those nasty drugs into him.

Speaking of Yama...

"You've barely touched your food, baby. Aren't you hungry?"

Yukio visibly flinched at the way he called him baby, but he shook his head in response shortly after. Yama took a seat next to him, cupping his cheek with his hand. "Remember what we talk about with using your words, hon?" He scolded gently.