My Perfect Killer

By Shirin (1998)

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Standard disclaimers apply.

Author's notes: This fic contains certain scenes of violence that may offend some readers. Proceed with caution. It was written in answer to WhiteCat's challenge on the YYHFFML (Yes! Definitely a mouthful!).

Hope it makes sense. C&Cs are always welcome!

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I rub my hands together, feeling a mixture of excitement and anticipation. It has taken me a long time to perfect the organism, long years of hard work. I flip open the door of the cage and sit back, watching the white laboratory mouse scamper towards freedom. Did it actually think that freedom could so easily be attained? I smile as I watch it hesitate, unsure of where to go.

Heh! Heh! Where can you go, little mouse?

I reach towards the other cage on the laboratory bench. Inside is a striped cat, a normal tabby.

"Miaow, miaow? Are you hungry? There's a nice mouse there. You like?" I cajole the feline as I set it free, watching it crouch in a stalking position upon seeing the shivering rodent. The tiny animal sits frozen, as though in fear. I lick my lips knowing that the organism has started to function. I sit back, watching, ready to take notes.

*****

It has seen me! I'm dead!

Why did that thing let me out? After all he has done to me, I thought that he would eventually kill me. Instead he has set me free. My heart was in my mouth as I ran out of that horrible cubicle, anxious to escape his cruel ministrations. I had thought that perhaps that devil had had a heart after all. Now I understand that he is only toying with me. He did want to kill me. Only he wants to watch me die at leisure, at the hands of my mortal enemy.

The cat ...It is readying itself. I shake, uncontrollably. I am afraid, yes but I am also glad that the end is near. Dying at the hands of this cat will be easier than anything that devil has planned for me, quicker. That is why I stay and not run. I am tired. I want to die. I am afraid but I will stand my ground...

The cat is ready to pounce. I close my eyes, preparing myself to feel its claws and its teeth on my flesh, ripping out my life's blood. Blood. Red, red blood.

Why do I see blood? Why is everything red? My heart! It was beating so fast before! Why has it slowed down? I feel calm...Is this what dying feels like? Ah! It hurts! The cat has not even touched me! Why does it hurt so? My heart! My hea...!

*****

Yes! The tumor has gained control!

At first, I thought that it had failed. But then I realise that it is taking a little bit longer because of its size. I have used a smaller version on the mouse, afraid that its tiny body would not have been able to handle the stress. I gasp as the mouse advances toward the cat. My breathing stops for a moment as I savour the sight, testament to my life's work.

Go, little one. Follow your heart. Follow what it says, for it tells you to do what I want you to do.

I have long put down my notes, not wanting to miss a single moment of the experiment, seeing my ultimate creation do my bidding.

Ah!

A sigh of satisfaction escapes my lips as the cat cowers before the mouse, baffled at the turn of events.

Heh! What will you do now, little pussy?

*****

The mouse looks up at the bigger animal before it without fear, without understanding. Its small black eyes are bright but empty, devoid of will. It scampers onto the paw of the surprised cat, clutching at the ginger fur, running up towards the cat's head. A look of alarm flashes across the cat's green eyes, realization dawning upon it that something was amiss.

But its realization comes too late.

The mouse bites down upon the cat's neck, near its main blood vessel. Its bite is deep, and it holds on, refusing to let go. The cat howls with pain and fury, jumping into action. It reaches for the rodent clinging onto its neck, claws extended, raking them across the tiny body. The blood of two different animals mingles and splashes across the table as they tumble amidst hisses and cries and laughter.

Ha!Ha!Ha! It works! It works!

I clap my hands in glee, unable to hold my happiness in any longer. The feeling of triumph sings in my heart as I see the two animals try to kill each other, my eyes avid and ravenous.

I wait a little longer until the cat has stopped moving before I get up. I move towards the table, pulling the cat toward me. It still lives, barely. Its eyes are glazed in stupor, its body bloody. Rasping breath escapes its lungs and at each exhalation, fresh blood pumps out of its torn neck. The mouse is still there, hanging for dear life. Except it has no life any more. It is dead. A pang of regret shoots through my heart but I brush it aside. In the name of my experiments, I must be ready to sacrifice certain things.

I pull the mouse off, tearing the cat's flesh even more. The cat has closed its eyes. I know its time is near but that is of no consequence. It has served its purpose. I have no further use for it. I hold up the dead mouse, admiring my handiwork. My first organic killing machine. Too bad it is dead. But I had expected it to die, hadn't I? But the mouse was only a vessel, the means towards an end. A gruesome end, I must admit.

My index finger pokes at the mouse's bloody back, searching for the implant. Ah! Here it is...my little pet. With two fingers, I rip it off the mouse's body, its tiny tentacles coming free, covered with the blood of its former host.

My little killer parasite. You have performed wonderfully!

I toss the mouse's body back to where the dying cat lies. Let it die with the image of its killer before its eyes. A cat killed by a mouse. My body shakes with laughter. I laugh heartily at my own joke, at my success, at my wonderful future.

I shall be famous! I shall be the Makai's first biowarfare scientist!

I shiver in anticipation as I place the killer tumor into a test tube of nutrient broth. My eyes fall upon the other glass containers on the bench. Lined up against the wall are five glass cylinders, each filled to the brim with nutrient broth. Floating in each cylinder are more of my beautiful pets, my perfect killer tumors. I flip through my notebook, noting down the success of my prototype.

Now comes the time for the second phase of my experiment. I need to know whether controlling a full-size human is as simply done. Humans? Why not? They are just the same as my laboratory specimens. Their lives are worthless and they are simple to control. I already have made my choice. I have already identified my specimens. They are already skilled in the arts of death and they are pure. Perfect for my purposes! If I can control them, I can control anybody!

The knocking on the door brings me back to the here and now. I pull the door open, irritated at the disturbance. It is one of my assistants.

"What is it?" I scream angrily at the smaller oni.

"D-Doctor! It-It's a message...from the Toguro br-brothers. An invitation...!"

An invitation?

I grab the small envelope from my assistant's hands, breaking the seal. My eyes light up at the printed words I find inside.

A tournament!

The timing could not be more perfect! And my work is already nearing its completion! Ah, I have a lot of work to do...

"Is the solution ready? The one for Mitamura-sensei?"

"Y-Yes, Doctor. It is ready. The others only await your orders. They can apply it immediately."

"Good! Tell them to get on it right away. Make sure no one sees them doing it," I order, putting my plans into action. "I'm going back to work. Make sure no one disturbs me, Kadou. But let me know as soon as Mitamura is incapacitated."

I turn back, closing the door to my laboratory, rereading the invitation card in my hand. I hardly hear my assistant's stammered reply.

"H-Hai! It shall be done, Dr. Ichigaki!"

-Finis-

Author's notes (again!):

As we all know, Dr. Ichgaki's experiment on humans worked. He succeeded in creating his 'perfect killing machines'. But how perfect? Hee! You didn't think I'd tell you, did you?