Hybrids: Chapter Six

There was a girl behind Yagi that he stood projectingly in front of her. Something told Yagi that she was very important to him and not to allow the shadowy figure in front of them to hurt her. The girl gripped Yagi’s shirt as the figure moved forward, black substance dripping from its fingers as it lifted its hand and pointed at Yagi. With a quick blink the pointing finger turned to a barrel of a gun and Yagi turned around to shield the girl as the triggered was pulled.

Yagi jumped awake and wildly looked around his surroundings. He put a hand to his head and sighed in relief when he realized he was still waiting outside the recovery room with Branson as they continued to wait for Victor, Ryan, and Sako to be done with their training.

“You okay?” Branson asked.

Yagi glanced at him and tried to relax, his heart still racing in his chest. “Yeah. Just…dozed off for a minute.”

Branson nodded. “You know, Ryan is always like that.” Branson told him as he nudged his arm. “She enjoys getting people riled up. She’s pretty though, huh?”

Yagi didn’t answer him. Yes, she was pretty, but she was also very annoying.

Branson sat straighter. “See, the key is to never let her get the last word. Also, she gets in trouble a lot, so I wouldn’t try to go and get mixed up in it. Don’t agree to any idea she has.” He warned.

“She looks like trouble.” Yagi added with a scoff.

He laughed, “Yeah but I think she likes it though. She likes getting people confused and riled up. Victor thinks that the only reason she acts that way is because she has pride for being the first to change in our section. Boys mature later obviously, and it must be the case also for angel or demon dormancy, but she still takes it to her advantage. She taught Victor, you know.”

Yagi touched his bandages to see if was still bleeding. “No, I didn’t know that.” He replied flatly.

Branson sighed in boredom as he rested his head against the wall the bench was seated again. “You’re not a big talker, huh?” Branson asked after a minute.

Yagi examined his hand to see if there was any blood before glancing up at the other half angel.

“Do you not like to talk?” Branson asked.

Yagi shifted his weight in discomfort, “No I…I just really only ever talk to Sakuro.” He admitted as the door to Sako’s room opened.

Ryan walked out with a scowl as she closed the door behind her. She crossed her arms and leaned against the door jam. “Yeah, Sako here don’t talk much either.”

“Well, Ryan, he’s probably scared after all that’s happened.” Branson said. “This change hasn’t necessarily been easy for him. I mean Leader almost got him to attack Yagi. This is a lot to process.”

Rolling her blue eyes, she scoffed, “No really? I didn’t know that!” She said sarcastically. She put a hand on her hip. “If he’s that scared then I don’t know what we’re going to do. He might as well be sucking his thumb in a corner. He refused to talk to me and just told me to leave when he decided to grace me with his voice.”

Yagi was growing irritated. “Then that means he didn’t give you permission to call him Sako either.” Yagi told her. “He wouldn’t just give it to you right after he meets you. And don’t say that about him. Branson is right, he’s been through a lot.”

She glared at him, “How the hell is he going to give me permission when he doesn’t talk, genius? I swear all that kid knows is ‘yes’, ‘no’, and ‘maybe’. In case you haven’t put two and two together, Yashagami, the communication between him, Victor and me is crucial here. Tell me, does he ever say more than just one word?”

Yagi glanced at the door, wondering if Sako was able to hear them. “Yeah. Sometimes you can’t get him to shut up.” Yagi answered. Irritated, he blew some of his stained blond hair out of his eyes, hoping the blood would wash out.

Branson spoke up, “Ryan, you should still respect that Sakuro doesn’t want you to call him Sako if he didn’t give you permission.”

She walked forward and placed a hand on the wall behind him, leaning over him. “If I want to call that brat Sako, I’ll call him Sako. Understand? So how about instead of worrying about the baby’s feelings being hurt you start respecting me, angel?” The words spilled out of her mouth like it was a bitter poison and Branson kept his eyes down.

“He would if that were possible.” Yagi said as he stood up. She really did have pride for being the first half-demon, he thought. “You don’t deserve respect if you’re going to be an ass.”

Ryan removed her hand from the wall and straightened as she looked at him with hate. Before she could say anything, the door opened and Victor called for Ryan, “Hey, I need you back in here. You guys too. Doctor wants to see how long Sakuro can go without changing to his demon. He could use some support.”

Ryan scoffed. “We’re literally just wasting our time.”

They all went in, and Yagi stood in the farthest corner of the room as he watched Doctor finish loosely restraining Sako. “Are you sure you want to do this, Sakuro? You haven’t even trained for two hours. You should–”

“The more I do, the better it’ll be. Just time me. I need a goal to help me stay focused.” Sako told him. He looked at Yagi and Branson as Doctor pulled a vial from his pocket.

Nurse walked in with some water and Doctor told her to put it aside so she could help Sako. She smiled warmly at the struggling half-demon and rubbed his arm, “Just let us know when you’re ready.” She said.

Sako took a deep breath for a moment and told them to do it. Reluctantly Doctor opened the vial and held it under Sakuro’s nose. The atmosphere tensed when he immediately started coughing. Ryan stood next to him, “Remember, you're in control. Focus on something else. Don’t let the demon control you. Focus”

He coughed more but still no black blood came. Sako groaned and shook his head. His head fell in defeat, his black hair covering his eyes and blood dripped out of his mouth and onto his shirt. He growled darkly and Ryan frowned, looking at Doctor, “Stop the timer.”

“But he’s still there, Ryan.” Victor said, stepping forward.

Sako tried to pull out of the restraints and looked up at Doctor with his eyes now faded to black. He tried to snap at Doctor and Ryan pushed him back and pinned his shoulders down to the bed, “Still there, huh?” She asked Victor. Victor frowned and quickly worked around Ryan as he tightened the restraints. She looked at Sako, “Alright, now relax. You don’t need their blood to be Saruko. Control it.”

Sako looked like he wanted to kill her as he snarled, trying to bite her hands. But Ryan showed no fear. She stood there, hands on his shoulders as she watched him. After about three minutes of this tense moment, he came back. “How long until I lost it?” He asked breathlessly with closed eyes.

“One minute and five seconds.” Doctor told him. “Good job.” He said as he patted Sako’s leg. He began to release Sakuro and had him sit up, handing him the glass of water to wash out the remaining blood still in his mouth. Sako used the water with closed eyes and Yagi’s eyes widened in surprise when he saw how black the water was tinted when Sako spit it back into the cup.

“Are you feeling okay, Sakuro?” Doctor asked as he took the glass from him.

Sako nodded slowly as he began to pass out. Ryan helped him lay down and Doctor pulled a sheet over him and had everyone leave.

Ryan sighed as she stood back looking Sako, “Thankfully he’ll become strong enough the more he trains, then he’ll stay awake after doing this. It’ll take time though. This kid is strong though, I’ll give him that. Victor didn’t even make it to a full minute. The first few times take a lot out of you.”

While Victor argued that he was in control longer than that, Yagi felt better about this. Maybe one day Sako wouldn’t change and want to kill him for blood. Maybe he would always be the Sako Yagi grew up with and knew.

He watched as Doctor took Nurse’s place next to Sako. He hated seeing his friend so weak and helpless. He knew Sako would have to give it him all to control himself, but this would be exhausting for him. Doctor pulled another blanket over Sako and spoke to Yagi. “He’s going to need you, Yagi. I know you’re scared of him but he’s much more terrified of himself. Many of his kind committed suicide because they feared themselves so much. You’re the only one Sakuro listen to.”

Yagi nodded. “I’ll be there for him. You have my word. We’re brothers and we stick together.”

He stayed a moment longer before making his way to his room where he spent the rest of the day. He sat thinking of ways that he could help Sakuro without putting himself in danger but in every scenario, he ended up with the same horrible conclusion. With another failed scenario in mind, he tore his hands through his hair. “How can I help you if you’re just going to kill me?” He muttered.

After two weeks of training and healing Sako was back in his room, but since he wasn’t eighteen yet like Yagi, he couldn’t go out of his room whenever he wanted. Yagi decided to keep Sako company by staying in his own room all day and talking to him through the vent. It was the safest way to talk to him because his friend was still in training and could possibly lose control and attack Yagi. And Yagi didn’t feel like he wanted to test his fate.

One day during training Doctor asked Sako for his arm. Sakuro looked at him with confusion but placed his wrist in the waiting hand. Doctor secured a silver cuff onto his wrist and Sakuro pulled his hand away. “What is this?” He asked as he examined it. It didn’t look much more than a thick bracelet that hugged his arm.

“It’s a device made to monitor your heart rate and control you if you can’t snap out of it.”

Sako scowled and tried to pry it off his arm. “No thanks.” He growled when he couldn’t take it off and stuck his arm out to Doctor. “Take it off.”

Doctor didn’t move. “It’s not my decision, Sakuro. Leader and his team made this device and chose to test it on you to see how well it works. I’m can’t take it off because only Leader has the only key too.”

Sako was obviously struggling to control his anger. “Is this some sort of sick joke?” He moved closer to Doctor, sticking his arm out again. “Take it off. Now.”

Leader walked into the room, his hands behind his straight back. “It won’t be removed until I decide you are ready.”

“It won’t do anything if you can control yourself, Sakuro. Just think of it as a heart monitor.” Doctor told him. He looked at Victor who was waiting for them to finish so they could train. “You can resume training.”

Yagi quietly walked out of his room and stood outside of Sakuro’s door next to Doctor. He tried to make as little sound as possible so Sako wouldn’t know he was there. He looked at the towering man next to him and notice the eagerness that glinted in Leader’s eyes. “Combat training.” He clarified.

Victor looked around the room. “There’s not much room here for that, Leader.”

“In some cases, you will have even more limited space.” Leader told him. “Summon your demons and start.”

“Can you do that, Sako?” Victor asked.

He shook his head. “I don’t know how to. Usually, the blood always triggers it.” Sako explained.

Leader clicked his tongue in disappointment and walked forward. “Fine. If you want to be particular…” He stood in front of Sako and looked at him for a second, his expression unreadable. With his hands still behind his back he took a step back and kicked Sako’s in the chest, sending the half demon on his rear. Sako looked up in surprise just as a familiar red liquid was thrown onto him, splattering onto his face and clothes. Sako stared up at the man in horror before his eyes began to fade into the dark color.

Leader smiled in approval. “There we go.” He slipped the vial into Victor’s pocket. “And now he’s going to fight you for the rest.”

Sako’s hands gripped his head as he shook it back and forth. “No. I don’t want this.” He kept his head down as he fought to control himself, black blood dripping through his teeth.

Leader rolled his eyes and pulled out a shock rod from his jacket. He walked over to Sakuro as he turned it on and placed it on Sakuro’s side. Sakuro fell to his side screaming in the agony and Leader stood over him. “I gave you a command. Fight!”

Sakuro got onto his hands and knees and Leader shocked him again. Sakuro turned around and grabbed the rob from his hands and threw it to the side. Leader took a step back as Sakuro then tried to grab him before Victor tackled him.

The young men became like animals. Sakuro could smell the blood on Victor and wanted it. Both of them wrestled in the ground for a moment, each trying to get on top of the other. Yagi hoped Victor would win and get Sakuro to control himself but that wasn’t the result. Instead, Victor was spun onto his back and Sakuro pinned his arms down with his legs. Victor tried to get free but not fast enough before Sakuro had bit his jugular. Victor gritted his teeth and managed to kick him off. He stood up and touched his neck feeling his blood trickling down his chest. “You damn rat!” He yelled.

Sakuro smiled and Yagi realized both now had fang like canines. Sakuro braced himself for another round and Victor came at him swinging punches. Sakuro either blocked or dodged them with ease before once again sending Victor onto his back. Victor tried to get Sakuro off, but he was overpowered. He lay in pain as Sakuro bite him. Victor pulled the vial out of his pocket and threw it to the side, but Sako paid no mind it.

Doctor stepped forward. “Shock him! Shock him now!” He yelled at Leader. “He’ll kill Victor!”

Yagi watched in horror as Victor became exhausted and could no longer fight off Sako. His strength had left him and he now lay on the ground with Sako on his knees hunched over him biting his neck and drinking the blood.

“I thought demons only wanted angel blood.” Yagi said. His voice only a whisper that echoed his fear.

Leader frowned and lifted up his arm, his sleeve falling to his elbow and revealing a cuff with a screen on it latched onto his arm. He tapped the screen and Sako tensed in response, his fingers turning into fists as he tried to get more of the blood.

Victor's eyes were now back to their normal color, and he tried again to push Sako away. Leader continued to hold his finger against the screen until Sakuro let go of Victor and scrambled away holding his arm like it was on fire. But his eyes and fangs remained the same. He began to scream in pain trying to claw off the device off his arm.

“Damnit.” Leader muttered. He glanced at Doctor, “You’re going to have to shock him out while I have him under control.”

“But I…I…”

“Pick up the rod and shock him!” Leader yelled at him.

Doctor swallowed hard but didn’t move.

Yagi didn’t know what was happening. He didn't know why his feet moved against his will and his hands betrayed him as he picked up the rod. Within a blink of a second, he found Sakuro laying unconscious while Leader continued to press the screen and Yagi held the rod to his friend’s side.

He stopped when he realized what he done, and the rod fell to his feet. Yagi looked at the blood on the ground. The black blood that had dripped from Victor and Sako’s mouths and the blood that spilled from Victor’s wound. Yagi fell to his knees and stared at his friend’s limp body. He couldn’t think. He couldn’t move. Yagi was numb. It was only the touch from Doctor placing his hand on his shoulder that brought him back to reality. When he looked up at the pained face, he felt tears fall from his eyes. “What have I done?”

“You were strong. You did nothing wrong. I was the one who didn’t react. I’m sorry, Yagi.”

Yagi looked around and saw Victor was now sitting against a wall with his hand covering the wound. Victor gave him a weak thumbs up and sighed as his hand fell onto his lap, “I didn’t see that one coming.”

Since then, the cuff had been raised to a stronger setting and Sako was not permitted to have it removed until further notice. Luckily, they hadn’t had to use it again.

But everyday Victor and Ryan trained with him. Doctor and Leader would always be there with them, observing and timing how long Sako could last when Leader used angel blood. The time became longer and longer.

There was one thing in particular that Branson and Yagi both agreed they hated the most of Sako’s training: none of the blood used on him was theirs. It made Yagi sick to think that someone might not have been giving their blood willingly and that his friend craved it so much that he didn’t even think about it.

Branson sighed and shifted his weight in the chair. “I’ll best to just not let the thought distract us. Let’s just believe someone is okay with their blood being used.”

Yagi nodded and hopped off his bed, placing another origami creation of a frog on his bookcase. He stared at them for a moment. “Even if it isn’t, we’ll get out of here.”

Branson nodded and stood up. “Yeah.” He stretched and headed towards the door. “It’s late. I’m going to head off to bed before I get in trouble for curfew. G’night.”

Yagi didn’t turn to watch him leave. He didn’t respond either. He waited for Branson to leave before he looked at the vent. “Sakuro? Are you awake?” He asked. As he got closer, he realized the vent was closed so it his friend was unable to hear him.

He sighed and got into bed, pulling the covers up close to his chin. “Don’t think about it, Yagi. Just go to sleep.” He told himself. He closed his eyes. “No more nightmares.”