Okay. So. New project. Yes, I'm still working on Golden Days and all the other stuff. Yes, I'm lazy. Anywayyyyyy… Warning: exactly what you think it is. Grimdark, overall fucked-up story. If you can't handle character death, heavy emphasis on femslash/yuri, and ample slices of delicious lime, don't read this. Also, don't think that because I portray a certain character in a negative light I'm bashing them or anything like that… it's just that it works for this fic, and I'm trying to keep their qualities as balanced as possible. ;A; Also, please help me with keeping the cast in character. XD Of course since this thing takes place ten years later, they should be expected to act differently, but if you think that a certain character is doing something he or she would NEVER do in a million years, please bring it up with me. PLEASU. Except Sakuya. I'm intentionally trying to make her future self different from her canon counterpart fir reasons you will soon learn, so… I'm rambling. Yeah. OKAY IT'S STORY TIEM.
Despair
Rin Fang
Chapter 1: Enter the Players
The tavern at the edge of the village was warm and glowing with cheer, creating a cozy contrast to the bleakness outside. The place was packed full of weary, typical blue-collar laborers, and the frost that rimmed their coats soon choked under the penetrating heat. All sorts of people would congregate there to wet their whistles after the long workday, so it was very hard to look out of place in that crossroads of normal and bizarre.
Well, it WAS at any rate until the door swung open and a woman staggered in on crutches. She was wrapped head to toe in gear and armed to the teeth, a bag slung across her shoulders. Shoving a few men to the side, she painfully ambled forward and shed her weapons and overcoat, taking a seat at the bar.
The woman wasn't really bothering anybody save the cigarette she smoked with candor, and she brushed her brunette hair across her eyes to block out unwelcome glances.
"What do ya want?" grunted the bartender, leaning into her so that she'd take notice.
She furrowed her worn brow a bit and snuffed out her cigarette, grinding it up against her pants.
"The usual," she answered brusquely, shooting him an icy glare. Although she was a regular at the bar, the sheer novelty of her appearance often made the staff stop and gawk. Well, she couldn't blame them—tough women weren't often seen in the capital of the country of Tusukuru, especially of her race. She was a rabbit-eared woman, or a Shakukopulu, with a petite build, sour expression, and amber eyes that sloped down and scowled… She was pretty nonetheless, even if she didn't make any effort at it, and she caught the attention of the man sitting next to her.
"Hello, madam," he started.
She glanced at him, then back to the bartender, uninterested.
"I was thinking… are you a…?"
"Whore, sir?" she finished, scrutinizing him. She knew well enough that her dress wasn't exactly modest, and she bent over him, exposing her cleavage just to spite him.
"Er, no!" he stuttered, flustered. "I was just…"
"I'm a huntress," she snapped, not letting him get a word in edgewise, "who works on the palace grounds."
"Uh… no offense? I was going to ask if you were a-vailable for tomorrow! What's with you?"
"I get stuff like that a lot," she explained. "And why would you ask that? What would I gain were I to answer?"
"It's a date!" he explained, voice rising in indignation. "I was asking you for a date!"
"Oh, is that it?" She looked him over again, and frowned. "I'm not that desperate."
Snickers could be heard around them, and the bartender came back with her drink, coffee laced with rum.
"Don't be too discouraged, tosh," said the bartender to the dejected fellow, "Artamos here just hates men."
"Me? Hate men?" She smirked. "Never. I just don't have much interest for them is all."
"Well, prove it and be gentler with m'customers!"
"Not unless you cut it with the stupid nickname."
She sipped her coffee, all the while savoring the chuckles of the eavesdroppers around her. Her most avid supporter, another tiger-eared woman sitting at a table way in the back, swaggered over to her, laughing.
It became apparent that the woman the bartender addressed as "Artamos" wasn't the only heavily armed female there that day. She was a mature woman, perhaps in her thirties, with a curvy figure that was strong as an oak, and her laughter rang out hearty and healthy throughout the tavern.
"Nasty as hell, girl!" she chuckled, giving the humiliated guy a pat on the back. "Anyway, I think that's a beautiful name."
"It means 'butcher'."
"… Oh. So…"
"Yes?"
"You like women."
"They interest me."
"Oh, I see. So that's what you're into." Her azure eyes flashed, meeting her partner's gaze. "I don't blame you, personally. Might I join your kind company? I used to live at the palace way back in the day, and have been dying to find out news about it! I could even buy you a drink, if you'd like."
"Whatever you want. Two, even!"
"Well, I suppose I can't refuse an offer like that. Sit."
Pulling up a stool and cramming it between her and the man who had been put down, she stretched and yawned.
"Cigarette?" offered the woman Artamos to her, pushing her pack toward her.
"No, none of that," she replied, "I'm just glad to be in the of such a fine woman."
Both tiger and rabbit smirked at the man from before, who, humiliated, moved to a different table.
"Fine? Not nearly as beautiful as you. I'm handicapped. Unmarriageable."
"Those crutches don't seem to be keeping you down, you know."
"All right, you caught me." She smirked. "I was in a rather… unfortunate accident when I was a girl, and have found it painful to move around without crutches since them. I can still move quickly, but the going gets clumsy when hunting…"
"And you come from Kunnekamun?"
"Yes."
She raised an eyebrow, and her partner shrunk back, realizing that she potentially offended her.
"I'm sorry…"
"It's fine... I've moved on from the Great War. I mean, you're a Giriyagina and all. Two almost extinct races, congregated together—think of it! It's almost as if fate brought us here!"
The Giriyagina laughed at her dark joke, relaxing and ordering a sake for herself, a whiskey for her companion.
"A toast to dead countries, m'dear?"
"Toast."
They clinked glasses.
"So, before we begin, do you have a name or something?"
"But of course! I'm Karura, a mercenary. And you? Or is 'Artamos' good enough?"
"Ah, I figured as much from your weaponry. My name's Sakuya, actually."
"Eh? Sounds familiar."
"Probably is." She swirled her finger in the liquor, staring down at it. "I've been working for the Emperor for a decade now."
"Mmm… speaking of which, how is he? I've been wondering about my old friends."
"Hmm? Benawi. I guess he's doing all right. There's been little violence in the surrounding countries as of late, and all the leaders of other lands and the Onkami Yario and whatnot have been discussing abolishing the feudal economy altogether…"
"Doesn't interest me, to tell you the truth. Do you speak with him often? Is he married?"
Sakuya gave a loud, out of place laugh.
"Far from it! And no, we don't speak. Probably better we don't anymore."
"Uhh…" Karura managed a lopsided smile at the odd comment. "General Kurou?"
"He's the one who's married. Qualms riots every so often."
"Oboro and the twins? The baby?"
"We haven't seen them in years. I wouldn't know."
"Kamyu? Urutorii? Munto?"
"The old man and the Oryankuru are about the same as ever. Kamyu still refuses to study, as always. I don't know what's going to become of the girl."
"And finally, Eruruu and Aruruu?"
"The medicine women, correct? Eruruu's taken up practice in the village, and has enjoyed modest success. Still unmarried, though."
"Probably hanging on to ol' Emperor Hakuoro, even though he left, right? She loved him… I do pity her. She shouldn't hang on to hopeless dreams."
Sakuya tensed up at this, causing Karura to again press the matter of the aforementioned Aruruu.
"Yes," said Sakuya quietly, "I suppose that's a good idea. The so-called 'little girl' you inquired about is all grown up now. She takes care of the animals and stuff. Consequently, I'm not popular with her."
Sakuya gave what passed for a girlish giggle.
"Blunt, aren't you? Well, thanks for the info."
"No problem at all. You certainly have interesting friends."
"Yeah." Karura set down her cup and wiped some of the liquor off her lips, touching Sakuya's hand. "I might visit them later. I'm staying here for a few weeks or so, as my fighting partner is currently marooned on a mission in Evinkuruga, and we agreed to meet up here."
"Your lover?"
"No, just friends. She doesn't… have the same passion for women as I do. You single?"
Karura squeezed her hand even harder now, bringing it up to her lips and kissing it. Sakuya blushed. The alcohol was starting to get to her, making her loosen up a bit. She paused for a moment, twirling a finger through Karura's black braided locks.
"Well, yes. To tell you the truth, I've been for years."
"Well, so have I."
Karura leaned into her so that she could whiff Sakuya. Whatever she washed with made her smell masculine, and there was the slightest undertone of blood and sweat to it, but it was somehow agreeable to her.
"Are you coming on to me?" asked Sakuya, a grin flitting at the corners of her lips. "Or are you just drunk?"
"I only do foolish things when I'm hammered, and not trying to hook a woman like you would be stupid of me indeed! Nope, I'm sober."
"Well so am I… I think. You seem interesting, Karura. Now do you want to date me or what?"
"Why wouldn't I? I'd do anything for you."
It was more than a little melodramatic, but Sakuya grinned, leaning in to her and brushing her lips against her cheek. "Anything, you say? Why don't you buy me that second drink?"
"Easy enough. Now, tell me about yourself. It's unusual to find a female hunter."
"Well, I WAS a maid," explained Sakuya, polishing off her first glass of whiskey, ordering another. "At least when I came to the palace as a girl. But some… things happened, and I just had to get out, so I took the first position available, and here I am now. Don't think of my job as glamorous or anything. All I do is cull the vermin and sickly animals."
"How boring."
Swigging the last drop of liquor, Sakuya rested her chin upon the table and sighed.
"Whiskey is a potent drink, isn't it?"
"Drunk already?"
"And how 'bout you."
"I'm good at holding my liquor."
"That's… nice."
She began to nod off, only to have Karura jerk her up into alertness.
"So, are you drunk enough to kiss me yet?"
"Kiss you?"
The huntress yawned.
"We haven't even known each other an evening."
"I know."
"Well…" She rolled over, pulling her companion's chin down so that their faces were staring at each other head on.
"I suppose I'm drunk enough to be horny, but I'm not drunk enough to consider the repercussions of my actions."
Having the full power of the liquor take effect, she slurred her words a little.
"But I'm also too drunk to care."
And with that, she dragged Karura down and locked lips with her, plying her tongue against her teeth. They stayed that way for a few minutes, with Karura pressing Sakuya spread-eagle across the bar, almost licking her in pure lust. It would've escalated to something more, too, hadn't the bartender jerked her up by the braid and lectured.
"Get a room, lezzies!" he scowled, trying to peel her off of her conquest. "You're not the only ones using this counter, and you're scaring off m'customers!"
Karura smirked and yawned, leaving Sakuya to fend for herself.
"Oh, but things were starting to get good! Still, I understand, sir."
"My apologies," slurred Sakuya as she swung herself into a sitting position, "I get tactless when I've had too much."
"Ain't that the truth? Now, behave yourselves!"
"Killjoy," muttered Karura as the man stalked off. "Well, I DO suppose we've been here a while. Say, you wanna come back to my place for a bit?"
"Ah!" Sakuya licked her lips greedily, but then her ears fell and she frowned. "Your offer is tempting, but I have to refuse. I have some… unfinished work tonight."
"Oh, sorry to have kept you, then!"
"It's not your fault—slipped my mind. Tell you what, why don't we meet up here shortly after daybreak tomorrow, and I'll show you 'round the palace?"
She winked, fumbling for her equipment. Karura even had to assist her with the bulk, and heartily agreed as she helped her with the laborious task. It was a good few minutes before she was able to amble out again, and Karura followed her out. Evening was nigh in the town, and already the tenders were coming out to light the street torches. Karura wanted to yell a word of goodbye to Sakuya, as well as one last question she thought of, but the Shakukopulu was off at breakneck speed.
"I wonder where she's going that's so important?" she grunted, before turning back to the bar for another glass of sake or two… or ten. The person she wanted to inquire about wasn't important to her, anyway, and was just a product of her own morbid curiosity. She shouldn't expect Sakuya to know. Besides, that person was probably already dead.
So there you have it. Two thousand words and absolutely nothing happens except for some background info, and you all get to learn how gay this thing is going to be exactly. Personally, I don't blame you if you just skipped to the random crack pairing make out scene… stay tuned for actual plot next chapter!