Stalking

[Barnabas "Bip" Wilkson]

The afternoon was bright, the birds, though some large enough to swoop down and take a small child, chirped (or screeched) happily, and the boogies... well, the boogies were usual. Naelona was probably bossing around a more timid being, it being a human or a boogie, perhaps both. Tristan was probably rescuing a human damsel in distress, thinking that it was the 'right' thing to do. Idiot. And Garland... Hell if anyone knew what the old boogie was doing. Ever.

And then there was Darion.

This boogie was on the prowl, much like his best friend, Loki. The large panther was silently padding along side him, his eyes looking for his prize. But this was much more helpful, as his fingers lightly held a string that was his relationship with a certain girl... Aione. Lightly holding this 'string', he could find the girl easily. The connection was growing stronger and stronger, the thread growing with each step. Pausing before a door, he grinned. She was in the kitchen? How helpful... Now he could cut her up right here and begin the terror.

Opening the door silently, the deranged stalker of a boogie peered in, spying upon his victim. The black panther at his side crouched, knowing stealth as second nature, his black, shining fur blending in well with what little shadows were given. The red-haired pest had alluded him and strained him and the very thin patience Darion had. Now it was time for the real fun to be had.

[Aione Higurashi]

It had started with one of her less-brilliant ideas, as most of this incidents seemed to spawn from. Aione hadn't mentioned to anyone that she was going to try and cook today, so, of course, nobody would know she was in the kitchen. That by itself was stupid, considering she had a way of hurting herself when cooking. But that wasn't why it was a bad idea. Ai, dressed in a long-sleeved white dress, continued whisking the eggs in the bowl she'd set up, completley unaware she was being followed. Inner Ai wasn't as clueless.

Something feels off...and very familiar... the voice hissed, edging on Ai's nervous side. But it was ignored. She was to busy trying to not splatter herself with the raw, possibly-diseased food she was working on. "Shut up you stupid..." she started, then she froze and set the bowl down. She covered her mouth withboth hands, blinking. Great. Now I'm talking outloud to myself. I'm losing it. Aione shook her head wearily and leaned against the counter.

Then she caught the sound of the door opening. It was faint, but the room was so quiet she couldn't miss it. Now who could that be? the voice mused, perking the redhead's curiosity slightly. She could only think of a few people she'd meet here...Ada-chan, Kris, maybe...so she turned about to face the crack in the door. She couldn't see who it was, it was too dark. It's never a good sign when they peek though a crack... Inner Ai murmered. Ai took a cautious step forward.

"Ano...who's there?"

[Barnabas "Bip" Wilkson]

The door remained opened jsut a crack for only a moment. The door then eased back, closing once again. So it probably wasn't wo--

BAM!

Darion kicked the door off it's hinges, storming purposefully through the broken frame his boots thumping with confidence as Loki slipped in behind him, fangs barred at the girl, prowling with nothing less than menace. A grim smirk was on Darion's smooth face, the orange eyes burning like a fire of ... bad thoughts. Very bad thoughts. The boogie swiftly made his way to the girl and snatched her up by the neck, hoisting her off the ground, letting her feet dangle more than mere inches from the floor. Loki leapt onto the counter she had been working, knocking over her prepared food, growling at her back.

Darion gave Aione a sickly sweet smile, pulling her face close to his. "Why, hello there, Aione Higurashi..." The demented boogie hissed, stealing a kiss from her lips before a scream could escape them. "Have you missed me?" Darion chuckled darkly, already eying all of the relationships stringing off Ai's body. Looking at one of them, the boogie examined it. Seemed to be just some young boy she had met the other day... Reaching up with his free hand, he plucked it, changing it from a pleasant acquaintance to someone she would hate with a fiery passion. She would probably assault the random child next she saw him.

Oh yes... This was only the beginning.

[Aione Higurashi]

Aione drew a sharp breath, silver eyes suddenly filled with terror. She threw a confused look at the man and then towards the large black cat, backing away instinctivley from the obvious danger. But before she could retreat far enough, his hand was on her thoat, and she was in the air, hands gripped around his wrist in a vain attempt to loosen his grip. Inner Ai let out a low growl. The sudden memory hit Aione like lightning.

"Y-You...!!"

The redhead girl reached despratley for a name, but nothing came to her. She was a bit preoccupided with the huge panther snarling behind her and the man drawing her even closer. Ai froze as he stole a kiss from her, making her blood run cold, then her arms started to work again and she pounded his arm. "Let me g-go!" she shreiked, thrashing weakly under the Boogie's grip. Her struggling breath stopped as she caught his eyes. Familiar orange. She inhaled sharply.

"...Darion..."

Ai barley noticed the change in her feelings for one of the other slaves. She met him the other day, and he'd been pretty nice. Now, for whatever the reason, she loathed the very thought of him. But she didn't know why.

[Barnabas "Bip" Wilkson]

The grim smile held it's place as Ai was drawn close to the evil being's face. "Aw... You remember me? I'm honored, my little pet..." Darion cooed, a crooked finger gently caressing her soft, soft cheek. "I'm so sorry I missed out on your first days of Wonderland and being my slave. I had to find that obnoxiously hard brother of yours. He was a sneaky bastard, but he's here with us too." A light chuckle, full of nothing but fowl intentions and evil undertones escaped his lips as he turned Ai, purposefully in such a way that would make her neck very sore for the next day or so. "I see my prize hasn't been too beat up yet... Good. More for me."

A full on grin flashed across his face a split second before tossing Ai to the side, sending her through the air, over an island counter, and to land painfully on the floor. "Do you have a preference of how you want me to terrorize you and your brother, or should I just... surprise you?" The boogie asked, leaning against the counter on the opposite side of the island, looking down at the spilled eggs. Loki had slipped down and was slinking around the island, crouched down and approaching Aione. His fangs weren't being shown, but obviously the cat was being threatening. Very.

[Aione Higurashi]

His voice and touch sent shivers down her spine as Ai hung there, helplessly clawing Darion's sleeve. She turned her head sharply from his touch, growling low as he spoke...and he had the nerve to mention kidnapping Sori. She snapped, letting Inner Ai voice her opinion. "I already saw him, you son of a bitch. And if you lay one finger on him..." her voice was cut-off when her neck was twisted, and a shrill cry replaced her threat. That was going to bruise.

More for him. I'm fucked.

Her neck didn't seem to hurt so much as she was thrown across the room, landing on the hard floor and crashing her shoulders and head into a counter. She felt her shoulder crack. Aione couldn't even yelp in pain, because her neck was killing her. She rubbed the back of her head carefully, checking for a bump. Instead she felt a warm liquid mixed in with her hair. "Shit..." she whispered, moving her hand back to her view. Red. Blood. Double shit. Ai pushed herself up weakily, ignoring the throbbing in her arms.

"...s-surprise me, t-teme..." Her silver glare kept on the man, terror clear in her eyes. She glanced at the cat quickly, moving back as much as her pain allowed. Which wasn't very far. Why try to run? He'll just find you again. He always did...

He's really going to kill me now, isn't he?

[Barnabas "Bip" Wilkson]

"...ha!" The laughter started slowly, but built, the crescendo halting at a point before mad cackling, before the sound ebbed down to a chuckle. "Oh my... ha ha... That was great... You threatening me..." Darion mused, wiping his eye to resemble as if a tear were to leave one of his fiery eyes. But Aione would know better. This creature couldn't cry. "But I warn you this one time: Do it again and I assure you that something you treasure will go missing." Tilting his head, he watched Loki have all the fun... That wouldn't do...

Loki approached Ai, leaning close to her face, sniffing for a moment. The identifiable sound of metal scraping could be heard again, causing Loki to lazily turn it's head, eying Darion with a large cooking knife. The boogie was examining it, turning it this way and that. "Have I ever told you that I feel I should pick up cooking, my dear, dear Aione?" The man cooed, eyes sliding away from his tool and to the injured girl. "Perhaps I should make some Sori Stew? With a hint of Aione, for a kick? I think that the smell would be as lovely as you would taste." His hand shifted from a relaxed hold onto the knife to a tight grip. "But then again... I never liked waiting to cook my food... I love raw meat squelching between my teeth."

[Aione Higurashi]

Aione flinched away as Loki got to close, putting one arm up to cover her face from the large cat, eyes squeezed shut to hide the panic in them. Has anyone ever tried staring a huge panther straight in the face? No? Didn't think so. Her eyes reopened at the sound of metal, but she still didn't face Darion. She could almost see his expression in her head with every word. Her arm lowered slightly when Loki glanced towards its master. Ai swallowed.

"C-Cooking was never my thing, personally..." she stammered, inching a bit farther back. Her diamond gaze darted around the room, looking for some way to defend herself. A shard of glass from the shattered basin (the one she'd been using to whisk) stood out, only a foot away. That'll do. Aione moved towards it slowly, making sure Loki didn't notice. As she picked up the large shard, she cut her hand on it, her expression changed from terrorized to challenging. "...but you can't make stew without the right tools...let me get you a bowl."

And she threw the glass, like a dart, right at Darion, aiming for the hand holding the blade.

[Barnabas "Bip" Wilkson]

The cat reacted quickly, a large paw pressing against Ai's chest, putting the large feline's weight on her fragile body. It snarled, getting inches from Aione's face, the fangs looking nothing less than daggers stuck in the jaws of an angry beast. With space barely for the human to turn her head, the panther gave a loud roar, the stench of rotting meat from between it's large teeth rolling over like a storm into her face. The claws had shown themselves, pressing threateningly into the girl's skin, but not so much to shed her to tiny bits, the state most found after making contact with Loki's powerful claws. But even with this show of speed and power, the large cat couldn't stop the projectile from leaving her hand, it's course unaffected.

Darion saw her inching one way, but didn't put two and two together until he saw the glass flying towards him. There was no moment of shock in his eyes, only the look of anger. In the flash of an eye, the knife was dropped, the targeted hand snatching the g lass out of the air, two fingers stopping the momentum. The empty hand moved under at the same time, snatching the knife up again. But why stop there? Coiling back, he launched the knife from the side, it sailing through the air. A few moments after Loki's roar would fade, the knife would plunge half it's blade length into the supportive cabinet behind her. "Why would you do that, love?" Darion asked, his sarcastic tone dropping to a dangerous growl. It held not a tone of anger... but that meant it was far more dangerous. Clenching the glass in his fist, it shattered easily, falling to the ground as the boogie moved around the island, drawing closer and closer to the unprotected slave.

[Aione Higurashi]

As soon as she had moved, the cat was already on her. The weight of its paw was crushing her chest, and Ai found it harder to breath now than when she'd been choaked. And it wasn't because the huge cat had her lung under its hold...it was the fact that she'd actually thrown the glass that scared her. That had been a stupid move. A very, very stupid move. Loki snarled right in Aione's face and she turned away quickly, eyes closed again, shoulders shaking noticably in fear of the huge animal and its fangs.

Her diamond eyes snapped open as the blade soared past her eyes, hitting the wooden door just centimeters away from her. Apparently he had percision along with strength. Dammit. Ai glanced at Darion, head still turned, watching him approach. She forgot how to breath again, Innerai's newest threat dieing on her tounge.

[Barnabas "Bip" Wilkson]

The boots thumped against the hard floor of the kitchen, moving with care. It slowed and stopped before Aione, crouching down to be eye level with the girl. Loki moved to the side, his paw still holding the poor, poor girl in place. His burning eyes held a deep, deep loathing for the girl. "Now, my dear Aione... You will die. Not today. Tomorrow? Perhaps. The next day? If you survive. I will follow you. You are mine, slave. I claim you as my own. I may not be up to date with masters and slaves, but I brought you here, kicking and screaming, and I will rule you. I will make sure that whatever happiness is apart of your life," He paused, a smirk appearing on his lips. "Is torn away. And when I kill you..." Darion reached forward, toying with another ribbon which he could only see, twisting it around, altering her feelings toward him. Hate, love, fear, apathy... and then a strong sense to want to get in his pants. He held this lustful desire for a moment, letting her yearn for his loins... then release it, allowing her original emotions to shine through once more. "I will twist your own wants and needs. I will break your ties with what you cherish... You will die knowing that you aren't known, loved, or cared for. You will die by my hand, Aione Higurashi. Mark my words!"

[Aione Higurashi]

Her mind was spiralling out of her control. That was the only explination for everything that was happening. One second, she was cowering in fear, expecting the psycotic Boogie to snip her life short right there and then. Then, like the flick of a light switch, deep loathing radiated in her chest. At first Aione thought it was Innerai taking control, but then the emotion was killed just like the first and replaced anew. Her face went pink this time, heart pounding way to quickly. Another switch, cowering again. Another, she felt nothing at all. While Ai's head swirled on her shoulders, one conciousness in her head stayed still.

Innerai snarled. She knew when she was being messed with, even if her idiot other self didn't.

Another flick, another twist of the thread, and the rapid beating in Ai's chest stared up again. Her silver eyes looked up at Darion without fear, a familiar echo of wanting in them. A cold smile crept on her face. She wanted him to threaten her...she liked it. Innerai started to yowl in unheard protest. That emotion lasted a bit longer than the others, then it vanished as well, leaving Ai even more confused.

Her smile dropped as she caught the last words, her hands reaching up to her heart. Death. Death didn't mean much to her. But ties...bonds were. Bonds to her family, bonds to her friends, bonds to everyone...Oniisama...she felt her body slacken.

[Barnabas "Bip" Wilkson]

A smooth hand cupped Aione's cheek, almost like a lover. The hand turned her face to look at Darion once again, a smirk in place. "Don't think I enjoy this too much... I'll miss your pretty face and..." The orange orbs traveled across her body in a glance before returning to the girl's face. "beautiful body. A great deal. I'll make it worth both of our whiles though, dearest Aione. Just you wait," Darion chuckled to himself before placing his lips roughly on Ai's, stealing another kiss. This one was meant to hurt on multiple levels. Pulling away after the ironic show of affection, Darion stood up, towering over the cowering girl. "Loki," The boogie said, looking down at the weak girl, "Unless I call for you, I want you to keep Aione under your watchful eye. Stay out of sight and make sure she doesn't speak of this moment or the fact you are following her. Why would he say it out loud? So Aione would know the boundaries. If she tried to run to another, possibly that rag-tag group of 'rebels' rumors spoke of?

With a 'hmph', Darion turned, his long jacket swishing behind him, even smacking the terrified Aione in the face, just for that extra kick. "But not right now, Loki... We'll let her think of her fate and all of those she'll lose..." The boogie also wanted Ai to be in constant fear of the cat leaping out at her. On all technicality, and Darion had thought this through, he didn't say Loki couldn't attack the girl. Later there'd be instructions to do no more than maim, as her death would be by his hands and his hands only. The click clack of his boots on the tile floor ceased at the door he had entered. Darion turned around, an evil smile stuck on his lips. "Until next time I see you, Aione... And it will be soon. Very soon." Kicking his foot back, the door swung open, allowing Darion to smoothyl turn and leave, another flourish of his long jacket. Loki paused as the door was swinging closed and gave one final snarl before exiting the room behind his master.