Chapter 1: Beauty and the Beast

…

Iason Mink, golden child of Jupiter, found himself faced with a conundrum. It wasn't something he experienced often, this feeling of… boredom. Or maybe, perhaps, he had always felt this way, and was just now taking the time out of his schedule to process the information.

He had made arrangements with his Black Market overseer to pick him up later on today for a brief meeting. Maybe he'd find something of interest while he was out. Though, he somehow doubted that. Midas wasn't exactly known for much entertainmentwise. Nothing that would suit him anyway. He found the simpering fools that crawled the streets far too dull, his lip curling with just the thought of them.

Raoul had suggested a pet, if he recalled. His friend had been rather persistent in him purchasing the newest model he'd help to create. Apparently they were all the rave with his fellow brethren.

He'd just gotten rid of his last pet, the thing was far too old to be of any use. He had purchased the male, dark-haired and puny, about six years ago. Iason couldn't remember ever having any interest in owning a pet, and he'd gone to just about every pet show, auction, or private viewing imaginable…

Pets held no intelligence, no skill other than that of the sexual nature, not to mention they were very high maintenance. He didn't have the time for them. He'd been fortunate with his last pet- the male seemed to do well enough on his own, with the help of his furnature. But never once did the Blondie acknowledge him, given some indication that he was even in the room. From what he understood this was not appropriate behavior when handling them. His brothers would dote, fondle, and caress their pets yet he never felt the desire to himself. So when his purebred came of age he sold him off to one of the brothels in Midas, and decided he would be done with the burdening creatures entirely.

But now here he was, back to his original thought.

Iason closed his eyes, the slightest bit of irritation tugging at his perfect face.

…

"Hey watch it, ya damned brat!"

"Slow it the fuck down, kid!"

He paid them no mind as he shoved his way past the occasional straggler along the streets. He had a mission, and that mission involved the mongrel whom had just turned the corner at the junk shop, wild black hair flowing in the breeze.

"Riki! Hey wait up!"

The girl paused and turned, dark eyes swiveling to the tiny boy who attached himself to her hip, hands tugging at her pants. She grinned.

"Riki, Riki, Riki! Guess what I got?"

After a moment of contemplation she shrugged and continued in her paced walking, the bundle attached to her squealing as he was flung forward.

"Do I get a hint?"

"Noooo," the cheeky kid laughed letting go of her belt loop to run up ahead. She studied him, eyes traveling down to the bulging back pocket of the boy's pants.

"Imma guess... A wallet."

He stopped running and spun, glaring at her. "Lucky guess!"

"Ain't nothing lucky about it, kid."

Stealing was something one had to do at that age, or you died of starvation. Riki had learned this early in life, being kicked out of guardian at the age of eight she had to learn how the gigs worked and quickly.

Females were rarely released from the breeding grounds of Amoi, she being the one of two that had been released in twenty years. She soon had surrounded herself with her fellow childhood friends, all of them being males, and learned how to defend herself properly. A year later and they had formed a small gang known today as Bison. It wasn't much of anything back then, being only small kids they had to train themselves in the arts of conning, lifting, and proper aim with guns and knives. Today however they were highly skilled and fairly well known and they were only in their preteens.

"Go home, Sikes. You did good."

She continued on walking, her long muscular legs setting a quick yet comfortable pace as she moved swiftly and silently throughout the small city. She had not the slightest clue as to where she wanted to go, but knew she would eventually end up there.

And that was how she wandered her way into Midas.

…

A sliver hover vehicle slowed to a stop in front of Jupiter tower. lason wasted no time, quickly getting in, not even waiting for the redheaded driver to open the door for him. "Black market." was all he needed to say before his well trained market boss sped off towards the back roads of Midas.

The ride in itself was quiet like usual, neither of the men being much of the social kind. The slight hum of the car and the soft breathing of them both being the only sounds. Ice blue eyes drifted their way to gaze out the tinted windows. The owner of them seeing everything yet nothing as the world outside morphed into a colorful blur the faster the car sped up.

As they pulled behind the buildings of Midas, Katze slowed down the car considerably, no longer having to compete with traffic. They passed ally after ally. Each had their fair share of trash bins or homeless bums. Iason had seen it all before, passing these same spaces many times. It was nothing but a routine by now and he nether enjoyed it nor despised it. It was simply pure duty and obligation to live and breathe every moment of his life, and he will always know it as such.

But little did he know that today would be different. It would dictate the rest of his life, the funny thing being it wouldn't take the ending of two worlds to change it. No, all it it would take is a single moment of hesitation. A single second of true nature and curiosity to dictate the rational mind, and years from now, when he sat on his last dying breath, would not regret at all what his eyes saw.

A flash of black…

"Katze, stop the car."

These words were so simply spoken with no conviction or emptiness, but merely of pure interest.

The hover vehicle gently slowed to a graceful stop at the end of an alleyway. The blonde behind the dark windows narrowed his eyes at the scene.

There, amongst a small group of men was a dark haired...women.

…

Riki had to have been at this for ten minutes if not more.

Her body ached with each convulsion of her muscles as she twisted and swung in the unusual dance of battle. Her knuckles were bloodied and torn, and her eyes ablaze with intense fire as she threw a blow that nearly landed a man unconscious. Her ears listened in for each heavily planted step of the small Midas gang members feet as they tried to trade their own deadly blows, and at the same time trying to dodge hers.

Being in the odds of six to one, the odds in themselves were not in her favor. However that meant nothing to one such as her. Mongrels were raised in blood and pain while these boys were coddled and comforted by money and a good living. She knew how to push past the weighing of her limbs whilst they could not. Her mind could still think and plan while the Midas men could only focus on the pain they were not used to receiving.

A bulky male to her left slipped a blade from his boot and attempted to plunge it into her exposed stomach. But Riki was faster, to his dismay, and dodged the incoming weapon with a quick pivot of her body. She slammed her right leg into the man's side causing his breath to be ripped from his lungs, and crumple to his knees.

The black haired girl then produced a butterfly knife from her own run down shoe, and with great speed stabbed the man in the throat. His eyes grew comically wide as the feeling of warm blood filled his lungs, while pain erupted everywhere else on his body. He began to convulse uncontrollably. His breathing became ragged, and he desperately clawed at his neck ripping his skin raw. Red liquid spilled from his mouth and eyes causing his vision to blur and making breathing nearly impossible.

He glared at the monster above him that held a look of pure distaste written clear as day on her features. Right before his body succumbed to the death the blade in his throat had promised him, he attempted to say what he thought of such a look coming from a lowlife mongrel.

"Gr...ack...te-..."

Riki, with no sign in her face that she had just killed a man, grabbed her favorite weapon from the now dead body and leaped away from a fist aimed at her temple. She slipped her dainty fingers within the black blade's handle and flung her armed hand behind herself, catching a boy with white hair off guard. The smaller male cried out in pain as her knife slashed through his right leg cutting through muscles and tendons, blood splattered on both Riki herself and the cold cement.

And it was warm.

Riki grinned.

The male staggered back nearly loosing balance, pain etched into his little boy features. Gaining his footing slightly, he lunged at the girl in a fit of rage only to freeze when the dark haired beast leaped over his body and landed behind him with only the grace of a wild cat.

A strong yet feminine arm slid around his neck faster than he could blink and his mouth fought to take in air as the appendage tightened like a coiling snake, not allowing the much needed oxygen to pass to his burning lungs. The boy could hear his gang yelling at him to break free, encouraging him to fight back. The angry yells and cries broke forth a sense of panic and fear, but the chance to do anything faded when the feeling of a cold object being plunged into his chest took hold of his senses.

Green eyes cast down in shock, not knowing what to make of the black blade sticking out of his chest just above his heart. Pain rattled his very core when he realized what was happening and he let out a scream of agony as red stained his shirt. He began to struggle now as the corners of his mind were starting to shut down. The arms constricting him began to loosen as his movements became very weak. It almost seemed as if the arms were comforting him, hugging him in a sweet state of reassurance. Darkness welcomed him as the pain faded, leaving him comfortably cold. The women holding him was warm, and he snuggled into her soft chest, smelling the scent of blood, sweat, and something he knew was totally her and her alone. She was a terrifying woman.

And this was his last thought as death stole him.

The dark beauty could feel it when the still warm body went limp in her hold and gently let it sink to the ground at her feet. The young man's blood pooled about him, tainting the air around it to reek of the copper smelling liquid.

She let her midnight gaze wander lazily up to the remaining men. Her body was relaxed and her hand that still held her bloody weapon was twirling it, red droplets being flung with the quick movements.

"Do ya still want ta fight me?"

Riki chuckled in amusement at seeing the hate filled glares.

"So... Is that a yes, then?"

A laser blade whizzed past her head, narrowly missing her right ear.

"Guess it was."

The girl had to drop low when a leg shot out in a sharp roundhouse, a cry of anger following through the dense air. Animalistic gilt sparked in her eyes as she continued to dodge the legs and arms, weaving in and out of the attacks. She leaped onto an old trashcan using it to propel herself into the air, twisting her body in such a way that she landed gracefully on the balls of her feet.

Riki went to dodge as an arm came down upon her, but a leg shot out from a man already on the ground, causing her to trip and fall. Her body was immediately pinned down and held still. She attempted to struggle in their tight hold, but thought better of it when a knife was harshly pressed to the base of her throat.

"Ha! Now who's the helpless little bitch?! Beg me for forgiveness, and maybe I'll make it less painful!"

Black eyes narrowed dangerously as tan fists clenched. Riki begged for no one. Certainly not some low life Midasian.

"Go fuck yourself, ya piece of shit!"

Her head snapped to the side with the impact of the much anticipated slap. A slight burning quickly made itself known on Riki's skin. The mongrel growled low, but could do no more due to her bound limbs. The Midas man looked down at her with hatred and disgust, wasting no more time in pulling out a laser knife from his pants pocket. His lips twitched into a sick grin as he carelessly dangled the sharp glowing blade in front of Riki's face.

The women curled her lip at the offending weapon that swung innocently in front of her nose, knowing that it was going to be the thing that ended her miserable life. She didn't want to die- no one ever really did, but she was far too stubborn to beg. Besides, she wasn't under the impression that these fuckers would let her walk out of here even if it was with her tail between her legs.

"This is your last chance mongrel. Beg me to forgive you... Or die slowly and a hell of a lot more painfully."

Night slicked eyes met a careless grey in amusement. Thick bloodstained lips parted in a feral smirk of defiance.

"I don't bow for anyone. Not you, not Jupiter, and certainly not quick death," she gathered spit in her mouth and let it fly all over the male's face.

All time seemed to stop as all three men stood wide eyed at the thick and bloody saliva that dripped off their boss's face. A vein popped on the side of his neck, his skin morphing red, eyes blazing.

"Hold that bitch down!"

Riki wanted to wince in pain but refrained when the hands that had her pinned tightened considerably.

Not one to run from a fight, she stared death right in the face as the man stood above her form with the knife raised high into the air, and still continued to watch as the man began to plunge it downwards towards her exposed abdomen. However she lost her nerve when it came close and she shut her eyes tightly, waiting for it all to be over with soon, waiting for a searing pain to be welcomed into her exhausted body.

"Ack!"

The cry of pain filled the dense city air.

But…

Riki cracked open an eye.

The man who only seconds ago was ready to end her existence, was being forcefully lifted off of the ground. His face was contorted in aguish as his right wrist was in the process of being crushed in a frighteningly solid hold.

Tall.

Strong.

Blonde strands of sun kissed hair.

It took a second to click. But with the clothing and fancy hair she had a sinking feeling what stood before her now was far scarier than any punk with a knife.

The thugs holding her down immediately let go as they caught eye of what it was that interrupted them. Without thinking they all charged out of the ally, yelling and begging for forgiveness. The man that was still in the elite's hold was dropped carelessly to the ground like unwanted trash. He grabbed his abused wrist with his left hand, whimpering as he too followed suit of the others.

All the mongrel could do was stare at the being before her with wide eyes. The man was clothed in what could only be a syndicate uniform made from the finest of silk, the red and pure white cloth held him skin tight and proceeded to accentuate his muscled physique. His head rested on broad shoulders that supported strong arms. He had a magnificent expanse of chest and a rock hard torso. Long and powerful legs that helped this man stand at a good 6'7 feet. His blond hair was pale in color and reached mid back; the shiny strands were almost bland to look at but fitted the beautiful being.

Mongrels knew of the crowned princes of Amoi, and you would have to be incredibly stupid not to recognize one. However no one from her part of town had actually... Seen one. Such beings were only whispered about in darkened alleys or shady nightclubs, no one really knowing who the elite class were or what they partook in, only that the separation in the social ladder was infinite. It took a moment for it to process that a king had just saved a lowly peasant, for what reason, Riki was still unsure of.

The man seemed somewhat shocked himself as his ice blue gaze stared back down at her. For a moment it seemed the royal prince was at a loss of how to go about the situation.

Then with a flick of a switch the Blondie's eyes filled with clarity and were replaced with hardened steel.

"A mongrel."

The word was spat out with such pity and spite that it sent a chill down Riki's spine. For the first time in a long time, an all too familiar sinking feeling gripped at her chest. It was the sickening feeling of fear…

And she hated it.

Leaping up from the cold cement, her pain and situation forgotten, she hissed at the man with hate and anger daring him to say anything more about what she was. The elite however, just stayed still and silent, his eyes burning her wherever they traveled, seeming to be inspecting every ounce of skin.

Riki knew she couldn't take the man on, only a fool would think so highly of themselves. And if she ran he would think her a coward and that was just unacceptable. So the only question was...

What was she to do now?

…

He was…

Fascinated.

It was young, dark and wild. Pure animal with the mane of black hair cascading down her back. Muscular and scarred, bloody from the fight and drenched with sweat. He wasn't sure if he was repulsed or disturbingly curious.

"What the fuck ya staring at?"

He was ripped from his musings from the voice of the girl, the question had been growled out fierily, a good match for the wild beast it belonged to. She had a heavy accent that informed him she had a lack of education, the words flowing like water from her lips as she didn't bother herself with proper pronunciation. Iason kept his face straight and showed nothing. His mask of ice ever present.

"At you."

The interesting creature hissed at him in displeasure. That hard, slim body crouching a tad lower resting the body weight on the balls of calloused feet. She literally looked like a wild animal ready to pounce on him.

He almost found that entertaining.

"I didn't ask to be saved. So if you're waiting for a 'thank you'..."

Still crouched low, as if waiting for lason to strike, she glared up at his now amused blue eyes. It was painfully obvious that this girl was waiting for a negative response, if not daring him, not knowing anything else. But it was clear she was ready to give her own in return.

"I desire no compensation from the likes of yourself, mongrel."

It was an immediate reaction, she stood smoothly, tall, shoulders raised back, her hands clenching at her sides. This mutt had something to prove. It was obvious with the way she held herself, her mannerisms when speaking to him, her glaring hatred. She was ashamed, deep inside of what she was, and he knew that with a bit of prodding she'd leap over mountains just to impress him. Not because she liked him, or even because he was a ruling power of Amoi. She'd do this for anyone- simply due to the fact that she didn't want to be looked down upon. She wanted to be better than what she was, wanted to rise above her title and become something impressive.

"I refuse, to owe anything to anyone. Especially to someone like you," her tone became nasty. He had greatly upset her and she was trying to mask it with venom and arrogance. The mutt was so easily see-through.

"This way."

He wasn't sure what it was that made him follow. He knew it was a mistake, his mind exploring every scenario where this could go wrong… but for once in his life, Iason didn't care.

So he took one step- then another, until he was walking towards the darkness the street rat had entered through. He let it consume him as he crossed over, somewhere deep inside knowing there was no turning back.

….

From the hover car a richly red-headed figure sat in silence, enjoying a lit cherry, as his eyes followed the two forms before darkness enveloped them. Thin lips twitched upwards in a small smirk of knowing amusement.

He had a strong feeling it would not be the last time he laid his eyes on that mongrel.

….

UPDATE: this has been edited on 9-18-17. It's been a long time since I've even looked at these first two chapters, so I finally went back and touched them up a bit. I took away some things, and added others. I destroyed Riki's accent because god that made for fucking awful dialogue (whoever brought that up to me in PM you were so right), and I took out paragraphs that were just- no… they were just- *gags*

I'm still not completely happy with this, but if I was honest I really don't want to do a complete revamp of this story because that just takes too much time and I already have enough trouble updating as it is. It would take me forever to start over. So I settled for taking out the worst and cringiest parts of the story. I guess we'll go from here. Hopefully I have the newest chapter up sometime this month, but we'll see. Thanks for the patience and kind words though guys, you're the best!

Hey guys! So I'm new to this whole world of posting stories. And yes I'm a big fan of ai no kusabi, and I love lason and Riki! But alas I'm just not comfortable writing yaoi yet; however I do love reading it. So as a new author in this site I would really like it if ya'll tell me what you think, what I need to work on, etc. I would appreciate it greatly. This chapter was basically an intro to everything, and in my opinion rather boring, so I tried my best to spice it up best I could. I wanted ya'll to get a feel for Riki's female character. Next chapter we have a bit of a time jump and some hot smexy action.

Thanks,

Dark77