Shades of Yesterday
by
Draco's Daughter

Disclaimer: None of this is mine. I'm just playing with these characters and will put them back when I am done.

A/N: This a fic I've been working on since last year. It got me through the last semester of High School. It's still not complete, but here is the first chapter.

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Chapter One: A New Life

From time beyond memory, the royal house of Midgar had a special force known as the Turks. Their name was derived from the fact that the original Turks were all from the wandering tribe of the same name. They were the best of the best in espionage, assassination, and other such covert operations requiring stealth and silence. Their service exclusively belonged to the Shinra Dynasty of Midgar. Trained from young ages, no man or woman from any other kingdom could ever surpass their skill. It was in the oaths that they swore not to fail, never to bungle their missions, lest Shinra's name be soiled by their mishaps. Over the years, few had ever failed, until Reno joined their ranks. The twenty-five year old had been working for Prince Rufus de Shinra for the past six years, trying to keep his head above water in the sea of life.

But Reno had a problem, when it came to sneaking, kidnapping, and killing he had no trouble, but espionage wasn't his forte. He had begged Rufus not to send him on a mission to Kalm to obtain certain secrets about their royal family, telling him he wasn't the man for the job. But the Prince has sent him on it regardless, ignoring his pleas. When Reno came back injured and empty handed, the spoilt Prince went into a rage. Reno had gotten a few lashes for his failure, being just the latest in a long line of similar mishaps.

Reno lay belly down on his rough cot in the Turk's barracks. A cure spell had stopped the bleeding but the pain of the lashing had yet to subsidize. He lifted up his head as he heard the approach of one of his fellow Turks, Tseng by the sound of the steps. It was easy for the Turks to pick one another out through the sound of their footsteps, each having a unique walk.

"Reno?" the head Turk gently asked. Reno sat up to face his leader, wincing at the pain in his back.

"What's the Prince's will?" Reno inquired. Upon seeing Tseng's expression, he knew the news wasn't good.

"He commands you to be sold into slavery. Agents of the nearest Auction House are to come at first light tomorrow. He says that you'd do better as a slave," Tseng replied. Reno's head and shoulders slumped forward in defeat. So this was it, his days as a free man were over; his failures had cost him dearly. "All is not lost, Reno, you are stealthy, you could escape."

"But then I'd be a wanted man, Tseng, you know just as well as I what they do to run away slaves when they're caught, yo, and they're always caught," Reno retorted, flopping back on his cot. Tseng sighed heavily, he would never wish this fate on anyone, especially not on Reno, a free spirit by nature, he wouldn't cope well with any master who treated him as a thing, not a person, as slave masters were wont to do.

"I will pray for you, Reno, seeing as you never pray for yourself," Tseng said, moving to his own cot to lie down and mull over the day's events. Reno tried to go to sleep, but his back still protested its punishment.

The next day, three men accompanied Prince Rufus into the Turk's barrack. One was skinny and rat-faced, the other two were big and burly, obviously the Auction House Manager and his flunkies.

Rufus's four main Turks were already awake and active. Reno stood in the center of the room, head held high, ready to face his bleak future. Rude held on to a sobbing Elena as Tseng fell into place beside Rude.

"Long farewells do not become men like us, don't you think?" Rufus said. Reno didn't reply, having nothing more to say to his Prince. "This is the man. You've been paid to take him, so proceed." The rat-faced man snapped his fingers and the two guards began binding Reno's writs before him, hobbling his feet so he couldn't run, and finally placing a cold iron slave collar around his neck. They then led him outside to the servant's courtyard and onto a cart, trying his collar's rope lead to it. The other three Turks had followed and watched in silence as Reno was taken away, probably never to be seen again.

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Slave Auction Houses are the dingiest, dirtiest, most dilapidated places in Midgar. Slaves are kept tied to stakes stuck in the dirt floor, having only enough rope to move a few feet in any direction, and oft there are five or six all tied to one stake. Food is dished out in small, meager portions and is probably some of the worst known to man. Fighting is common among the slaves kept on the same stakes, usually over food.

Almost daily, wealthy agents come and look over the stock to find slaves for various tasks: big, strong men to work in forests and mines, young boys to serves as doorkeepers or pages, women to cook and clean. If a rare beauty appears, she is quickly snatched up as a pleasure slave, oft to bear children to barren aristocrats to lazy to divorce their older wives for younger brides. Reno had been on the market for two weeks, always overlooked because of his, now, slightly exaggerated scrawniness, dirt-streaked face, and rat's nest hair. The weekend Auctions came and passed, but no one saw any potential in the young man.

One day, the Auction House was all a-buzz, more so than usual. Slaves were being switched around, women who had not seen baths in weeks were trying to fix themselves up a bit, and the Rat-faced manager was looking even more frazzled than usual.

"What's going on?" Reno asked one of his stake-mates, a young woman named Alyss that had been in the Auction House for two years now. Reno didn't understand why no one wanted her, she was fair of face but had an exaggerated limp from a poorly set broken leg.

"Balthier's in town," she replied.

"Balthier?"

"One of the top class slave traders. They say he only buys for the King of Nibelheim. To be purchased by him is a great honor." At her words, a handsome man with short blond hair entered the Auction House. Dressed in a white poet's shirt and black breeches, he appeared elegant yet practical. The manager greeted him with much bowing and flourishes. Baltheir would have none of that, already beginning to looks down the rows of stakes.

"Your selection's no better than any other House I've visited in this dingy city," Reno heard the trader comment.

"Look at this one here, sir. With a little cleaning she could prove valuable," the manager said, showing Baltheir a girl no older than sixteen. Balthier only scoffed.

"My clientele does not desire a young woman with a fair face, he seeks personality," Balthier retorted. He stopped at a man with numerous tattoos and a powerful build, grimacing. "Do you have anything with a slight build but a strong spirit?" The manager looked around, thinking.

"I'm afraid that type is hard to come by in these parts, Kalm's Houses have more of that kind," he replied.

"What of the red-head?" Reno's shock was evident. After two weeks of being ignored, he was being looked at by the best in the business?!

"Him? He is a recent acquisition," the manger said, waving his hand.

"I'd like to examine him closer," Baltheir said, looking Reno up and down. "He might just be what I'm looking for." A guard stepped forward and untied Reno from his take, leading him into a private room Reno had never seen before. The manager and Balthier followed a few steps behind. Once inside, Reno's rope was tied to a ring in the wall.

"Strip," Balthier commanded.

"Excuse me?" Reno asked, aghast.

"Don't question orders, slave!" The manager moved to slap Reno for his defiance. Reno squeezed his eyes shut; this wouldn't be the first time he had been struck. But the blow never landed, Balthier had the man's wrist in his grasp.

"You damage him, he's of no use to me. Scaring from previous masters will be enough of a selling challenge, bruises will make my job harder," Balthier warned. The manager's hand went limp in Baltheir's grip.

"Then how do you intend to discipline him?" The manager asked. Baltheir just smirked.

"I've a way with slaves," he replied. "Strip, slave." This time, Reno followed the command, embarrassed and avoiding looking at the other three men in the room. Balthier immediately began examining him, first looking at him from all angles, turning him around as needed. He then proceeded to examine Reno's face, looking at his eyes, teeth, ears, ect. He traced his fingers along Reno's twin tattoos, the marks of his particular Turk clan. Through the process, Reno felt like a chocobo being examined before a race. The most awkward part was when Baltheir took a few moments to examine his equipment. The man's hands were warm to the touch, especially considering the chill in the room.

Reno couldn't help but squirm as Balthier finished his examination. The man turned to the Auction House manager, a pleased expression on his face.

"He's scrawny, but good food will solve that little issue. What the asking price?" The manager silently conferred with the guard for a few moments, in which Reno was allowed to re-dress.

"6,000 gil," the manager said, Balthier scoffed.

"He's worth barely 2,000," Balthier said.

"No lower than 5,500."

"No higher than 3,000."

"Come Baltheir, I've an Auction House to think of."

"Good sir, is he so desired that I must pay out my entire pocket and be poor for my journey to Nibelhiem?"

"4,200, no less."

"Make it an even 4,000 and you've got a deal."

"Fine!" Money changed hands as Reno's rope was untied and given to Baltheir. The trader bowed to the manager, pulling Reno along and out of the Auction House.

Reno blinked as his eyes met sunlight for the first time in two weeks. Balthier took hold of Reno's arm, keeping him from crashing into anything as his eyes re-adjusted to the harsh sunlight. Balthier's cart saw a ways away, guarded by a young blond boy sitting on one of the chocobos.

"How'd it go?" He asked, seeing Reno.

"Quite well. You'll come to the next sale so you may see how it works, Vaan," Baltheir said, loading Reno into the card, trying his to a metal ring before tying his hands and feet to keep him from trying to escape. "We need to reach Junon quickly, the boat leaves in a week's time. I'd like to get to Costa del Sol sometime before the winter storms prevent passage."

The trip to Junon took several days thanks to the chocobos. During the whole trip, neither Baltheir nor Vaan ever spoke to Reno, merely making sure the bonds and collar weren't doing too much damage and giving him his portion of the traveling rations, He took them without question and ate gratefully, the dried fruit and meat were ten times better than anything the Auction House have ever given him.

"Can you do anything?" Baltheir asked him one night.

"What do you mean?" Reno asked, confused by the question.

"Surely you've some marketable talent. What did you do before the Auction House? You seem to be too educated and free-spirited to have been born into slavery or to have been enslaved for very long."

"I was in the service of Prince Rufus, as a Turk." Baltheir grimaced, in places like Nibelhiem, Turks weren't respected like they were in Midgar. Things like that could make or break a sale if the purchaser found out.

"Well, let's just keep that to ourselves. Take note Vaan, some points should not be sold." The younger blond nodded. Reno had come to learn that Vaan was Balthier's apprentice. The seventeen year old would become a slave trader in a few years. Balthier had been a Master trader for five years; his trading career had begun at sixteen. Over the years he had built up quite the reputation as a good quality trader, only finding the best quality slaves from all over Gaia for the top buyers, usually high ranking nobles and royalty. He had the highest commission rate of any slave merchant, especially from the Nibelhiem area.

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The port city of Junon was a hive of activity. Goods from all over the world were bought and sold here. Slaves, exotic fruits, Wutai silk, and so much more could be found there. Reno's senses were bombarded with sights and smells, the only thing keeping him moving was the rope attached to his collar and Vaan's insistent tugging. The chocobo cart had been abandoned, only the birds would be going with them. Balthier managed them in the crowds, having a bit more experience with them than Vaan.

They made their way through the crowds, heading for the docks, as quickly as possible. Baltheir was looking for the cargo ship he had secured their passage on. The captain was an old friend, long had they partnered in this venture of slave trading. They passed a long line of ships moored, some gearing up for their next journey, others unloading their cargo for sale here. The one they were looking for was moored at the end of the line. Her captain stood at the top of the gangplank, watching as supplies were loaded. He was yet another blond, his hair windswept from his long months at sea and his faced scarred from facing pirates intent on stealing his ship.

"Good Baltheir, you nearly arrived too late, we sail on the morrow," he said when they arrived, clapping the slave trader on the back in a brotherly manner.

"Now, Basch, have I ever been too late? My cargo needs to be stored, as do my brids," Baltheir replied. Basch then spied Reno as Vaan led him up the gangplank and onto the main deck. A crew member was already working to get Baltheir's chocobos below deck.

"You sure that scrawny thing will be able to impress Nibelheim's king?" Basch asked, stopping Vaan's progress to examine Reno closer.

"He should clean up well. I'm taking him to Marluxia first, the man works wonders on bad-looking slaves," Baltheir said. Basch shrugged, allowing Vaan to contine. Baltheir was known for his ability to match slave and master well, but there were some cases where he was wrong. He just hoped Baltheir wasn't wasting his money on a poor quality slave.

"Your quarters as the same as always, Baltheir, hopefully the sea will be kind to us on this trip."

Reno sat in the hold, mind now ablaze with the idea of escape. His rope had been tied around a ring in a post, a bed of straw lie beneath him, and the chocobos were penned right next to him, a rope serving as a barrier between them. He had been left alone Vaan had left some time ago, probably to help Baltheir with preparations for departure. Slowly, he had been working on getting his hands out of their bonds. Once that task was accomplished, he waited until the ship grew still before making his next move. Carefully, as not to awaken the dozing chocobos, he untied the rope from his collar. The steel ring would be easy to remove once he was free and had broken into a blacksmith's shop, it would be a joy to have it removed, seeing as it was chaffing rather badly. Creeping quietly, he snuck out of the hold, looking around for anyone. The night's sky was beautiful, but the full moon would make his escape a bit more difficult. It wasn't anything he could help; he would just have to be careful. Seeing no one on deck, he began running for the pier, until he was tripped by something and knocked over the head.

"And that, Vaan, is how to catch a run away slave," Balthier said in that smug voice of his. Reno cursed, the throbbing in his head lulling him into the darkness of sleep.

The movement of the ship was what awoke Reno, rubbing his still throbbing head he slowly sat up. Baltheir sat on a barrel nearby, braiding a new rope. Vaan was attending to the chocobos, looking a bit green.

"Good, you're awake. I was worried you had checked out on us permanently," Balthier commented, not missing a beat in his work.

"How long was I out?" Reno inquired, he then noticed his collar hadn't been re-tied nor was he bound in any way.

"Several days. We thought it a small hassle to tie you back up now we're at sea, you've nowhere to run, and if you try to jump overboard the beasts of the sea will devour you in a most spectacular show, and we don't want that, now, do we?" Baltheir's tone indicated that he'd be most displeased if Reno decided to do that. "We'll arrive in Costa del Sol in about two weeks; you've that time to clean your act up or severe repercussions will occur."

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The rest of the trip was uneventful, save for the time the chocobos got restless and began racing around the hold. Reno himself aided in their re-corralling, strongly desiring not to get trampled by the big birds.

"If you can't sell him to His Majesty, let me buy him, Balthier, he'd make a good deck hand," Basch commented, watching Reno as he helped calm one of the large birds, stroking its beak.

"But will you be able to afford my asking price, Basch?" Baltheir asked.

"What, you can't cut an old friend a deal? You're worse than a pirate trying to sell stolen goods," Basch replied.

"I am ten times worse, because I'm a Slave Trader."

Eventually, Reno was re-bound as they neared Costa del Sol. It was slightly smaller than Junon in terms of its harbor, but it was twice as alive. Colorful people from all over the world were bartering and trading in the open-air market; local children, tanned from their long days playing in the sun, ran about laughing and playing. Reno was distracted at every turn, giving Vaan a hard time. After they found an inn with a stable for the chocobos, Balthier took over Reno's rope. Having more experience in leading slaves in large crowds, he efficiently pulled Reno along, moving away from the waterfront markets and heading for the more residential part of town.

They finally stopped at a quiet villa not too far from the market. The white-washed walls and terra-cotta roof gave it a bit of character, which was just one way to describe this villa's owner.

"Marluxia!" Baltheir called loudly once they entered the courtyard. "I've got some merchandise for you to review!" Reno heard a door open and shut as a man appeared on the upper landing of the main house. His short pink hair was set in the current choppy style and his clothing was in the peak of fashion with gaudy prints and colors.

"What've you brought for me this time, Balthier?" He asked. Balthier tugged Reno's lead, pulling the recently purchased slave forward a few stumbling steps. Upon seeing the dirty, grimy man, Marluxia quickly descended the stairs to get a closer look. Balthier dropped the rope as two serving men shut the courtyard's heavy wooden doors to prevent escape. Marluxia immediately set about examining Reno. "My, my, my. He does need work if he's to turn a profit. Where're you selling him?"

"Nibelheim, were else? His Majesty is my best customer, I'm certain he'll like this one," Baltheir replied, crossing his arms. Vaan shifted uncomfortably behind his master.

"Oh, but you won't turn a profit without my help."

"You're the best Marluxia and I know how you like a challenge. If you're not up to doing it I can always take him to the Honeybee Inn…"

"You take him to those fools at Honeybee Inn, they'll ruin him. You'd best be sure he sells well, it's going to take a lot of work."

"I have the upmost faith in you." Marluxia clapped his hands and the same two serving men took Reno into one of the first floor rooms. It was equipped with a large tub, full to the brim with water. Immediately, Reno's bonds were cut, his uncomfortable steel collar removed, and his shabby slave's clothing was stripped away before being forced into the tub. He resisted at this point, trying to climb out, roughly he was held in as Marluxia came forward with various soaps and oils.

"You'll be a good little slave and do as I say or I'll have my men hold you down, bruising your fair skin. Yes, I can tell you have the fair Midgar complexion under all that grime, bruises show up far too easily on Midgar stock. If you're bruised, you won't sell well, putting all my hard work to waste," Marluxia threatened. Reno quieted as the scrubbing began. The three men scrubbed down every inch of his skin, removing the grime accumulated at the auction house. As the two serving men took over that task, Marluxia started work on Reno's rat's nest hair. The washing and combing drastically hurt Reno's scalp, causing him to yelp in pain whenever Marluxia was working at a particularly tough snag. The pink-haired man muttered under his breath whenever he hit such snags; something about the poor quality conditions of Midgar slave auction houses. Once that task was accomplished, Marluxia began looking at Reno's cleaned and combed hair.

"Hmmm. He's being taken to His Royal Majesty of Nibelhiem, who has impeccable taste. This current long Midgar style won't do, oh no… hmmm. I wonder…" Marluxia mused. He picked up a pair of scissors and set to work. Reno flinched at every snip of Marluxia's scissors as his hair was cut, long locks falling to the floor. Every so often, Marluxia would face Reno head on to see how it was progressing. After a few minutes, he tied off a horse-tail at the base of Reno's neck and teased the main body a bit. Reno was then allotted a loin cloth as he was led back out into the courtyard. Balthier and Vaan had seated themselves on the edge of the central fountain, waiting. As Reno was led out, Balthier stood and crossed over to get a better look.

"You never cease to amaze me, Marluxia," he said quietly, looking at Reno from every angle.

"Yes, yes. Once again have I taken a beast of the Underworld and turned it into one of the heavenly host. But we're not done yet. We still must dress him appropriately, you will aide me," Marluxia said, leading the pair into another part of the villa. The room was full of various fabrics and clothing pieces, Reno was placed on a pedestal and Marluxia immediately began taking measurements as Balthier positioned himself near the door. "What's the current fashion in the Nibel mountain range for pleasure slaves?"

"Dark colors, black specifically. But Vincent seems to enjoy something that reflects the slave's past region," Balthier supplied.

"Stylish… yet rustic… Regional… yet ethnic. Hmmm," with that Marluxia was digging through the piles of clothing, trying to find something that would fit Reno. With a triumphant cry, he pulled out a pair of leather breeches, smiling almost evilly. He tossed them to Reno, who instinctively caught them. "Put them on!" With a bit of hesitation, Reno put on the tight leather breeches.

"The people of Midgar oft go around like this," Balthier stated, motioning to Reno. Marluxia scoffed.

"Don't be daft, darling, he's far too scrawny to go around showing an undefined stomach. No, here's what he needs." Marluxia pulled a black, silken jerkin from another pile, helping Reno into it. It buttoned up but left the neck and upper chest exposed. "One last thing… his new collar."

"Ahh, yes, the most major selling point. That steel one will not do, too much chaffing with an unlined steel collar," Balthier stated. Marluxia nodded, going through a nice stack of collars.

"We definitely need a better one to hide those chafe marks and to make sure new ones don't appear. Something lined with velvet will help greatly, with his extravagant hair and light skin tone a silver one would work well. Ah! I've just the one, been saving it for a while," Marluxia held up a silver collar lined with blue velvet. The collar had an ornate knot pattern running along it with a nicely sized lock. He snapped it into place around Reno's neck, locating a pair of fur-lined, leather shackles to bind Reno's hands. A steel chain was connected to the collar, finishing the look.

"He's going to sell quite well. Maybe I can even get full asking price," Balthier mused. Marluxia had a smug look on his face, confident in his work.

"With luck, you might be able to. Remember, I get half of whatever he gives you. Don't go spending my portion on drink," Marluxia warned, wagging a finger at Balthier.

"I promise to bring you back your promised prize. If I do exceptionally well, I'll see about ordering you some fresh Nibelheim silver."

"I will not be some submissive bed warmer for some arrogant king," Reno said softly. Marluxia and Balthier both looked at him with contempt in their eyes.

"You listen well, slave, you've no choice. It's either warm His Majesty's Bed or work in the mines. If you've been any other kind of slave, I would have hit you for your cheek, but damaged goods don't sell well, especially with the King of Nibelhiem," Marluxia's tone had been warm with Balthier, his partner in the pleasure slave trade for the past six years, but he suddenly turned harsh and cold with Reno. He jerked the red-head off of the pedestal, handing the chain to Balthier. "Now! Go out there and make Marluxia proud!" He gave Reno a little shove, making him stumble a bit. Baltheir chuckled as he led Reno back out into the courtyard.

"Vaan, come, we leave for Nibelheim tonight!" he ordered.

The caravan that Balthier was with was made up mostly of merchants looking to trade for Nibelheim's raw minerals. Everyone knew the best ore, silver, and mithril could be found in the Nibelheim range, making its people, and therefore it's King, wealthy. Reno was allowed to ride in one of the carts hauling a cloth merchant's goods, mostly fine Wutaian silk. He was chained firmly to the cart to prevent escape. Baltheir and Vaan rode atop their Chocobos, staying behind the cart to keep an eye on Reno. The journey took a few weeks and the caravan increased and decreased in size as they traveled through the various cities. Finally, they entered into the Nibel area.

Guarded on three sides by mountains, Nibelheim had few worries of attack. Their enemies were few in recent years, thanks mostly to the political skills of its current king. Baltheir and Vaan waited a day, renting a room in the local inn, before heading for the palace. Baltheir made sure Reno was cleaned up as well as his own appearance was suitable.

"You're to remain silent," Baltheir said the next morning as he got ready. "Anything you say could make or break this deal, especially if it's something concerning your past."

"So I'm just to sit there and look pretty?" Reno asked, sulking in a corner.

"Pretty much, yes," Balthier replied, smiling.

"So, who is this mysterious king you're selling me to? At least let me know what I'm up against," Reno inquired.

"His Royal Majesty Vincent Valentine, King of Nibelheim and all its territories. The traditional title of Acheron has been his for the past two decades. A wise ruler, by all accounts, his reign began at twenty-seven, at forty-six he plans to step down soon," Balthier explained. "You'll like him; they always do in the end."

The palace of the Valentine dynasty was a noble home carved out of the living rock of Mt. Nibel. It had taken several generations of kings before it had been complete. Reno was awed by its beauty and majesty. He did not have long to stare at the outside, as he was dragged inside by Vaan.

Vincent Valentine was the twenty-second king of the Valentine dynasty. His reign was marked by peace among the three great households of the Nibel Mountains: Strife, Crescent, and Valentine. Their flags oft few together, with Valentine's as the highest, over the fortress whenever Sephiroth and Cloud were at court. On this day, the two men were at their individual estates, so their flags were not flying.

The three men were taken to the throne room by a masked guard, who also announced their presence.

"The trader Baltheir and his apprentice Vaan, they've merchandise, milord," he said in a clear voice as the three approached the throne. Baltheir bowed low with a flourish, Vaan awkwardly trying to copy his master's actions, save for the flourishes. Reno was forced on to his knees by a well-placed, light kick from the young blonde. The throne was set on a raised dais; it was an imposing construct of heavy grey stone with black and red cloth trappings. But it couldn't be compared to the man sitting on it, at full height he stood a little over six feet, long raven hair accented his pale skin well and kept out of his eyes by a crimson headband. His eyes were his most imposing feature, blood-red pools that could frighten even the bravest of men. Sitting on a pouf a head lower than the King was a blue-haired man with luminous yellow eyes, handsome in his features with a fur-lined slave collar adorning his neck. His quiet obedience made it clear he had been in the King's service for a great amount of time.

"What've you brought this time, Baltheir?" He asked, standing up and coming to clap the familiar man on the shoulder. Baltheir immediately went to Reno, forcing the red-head's face into the King's view.

"Midgar stock, good quality from what I've seen in my travels," Baltheir stated. The dark ruler looked at Reno long and hard.

"Why did you insist on bringing me this poor piece of flesh?" He asked, narrowing his crimson eyes at the red-head. "Honestly, Baltheir, if this is the kind of quality Midgar produces, I'm certain that I do not desire any slave that may be purchased from that region."

"Take a closer look, my king, he doesn't look like much at first sight, but…" Baltheir scrambled to get Vincent's attention.

"Baltheir, stop digging yourself into a deeper grave," Vincent said, turning to return to his throne, lovingly stroking his slave's cheek. "He's barely even quality enough to work in my mines." Reno couldn't take it. He never really had the ability to control his temper whenever people around him were talking about him and he couldn't defend himself.

"I would rather work in your mines and prove myself than just sit next to you like some loyal pet!" Reno yelled, his anger uncontrollable. Baltheir moved to silence him, possibly ignoring his usual "no physical punishment" code. That was, until he heard Vincent's deep chuckle.

"I wonder if he has bite to back up the bark?" Vincent mused. "What do you think, Saïx?" The blue-haired man's smile told the king all he needed to know.

"I'm sorry, my King, perhaps I should sell him elsewhere," Baltheir said, bowing and moving to pull Reno to his feet.

"Why should you do that? Let us go see if we cannot work something out," Vincent said, motioning to a doorway on the other side of the room. They left together, leaving Vaan, Reno, and Saïx. The silence that followed was deafening.

"Well, how have you been recently, Vaan?" Saïx asked, breaking the silence.

"Okay, the training's been interesting. There's a lot more to slave trading than I originally thought," Vaan replied, fidgeting with Reno's chain.

"You still want to be a Master Trader then?" The slave asked, picking a bit of dirt from underneath his nails.

"If not a Master, then at least Baltheir's assistant," the young man replied. Reno couldn't help but notice the familiarity that the two had when they spoke to one another. He was curious as to how they had come by this. Their conversation was cut short by the opening of the door, revealing Vincent and Baltheir. The trader strode forward with purpose to Vaan. The young man tensed, thinking the deal had gone sour. Reno couldn't tell what was coming next because the Trader's expression was so guarded. Vaan made ready to lead Reno out with him until Balthier whispered something into his ear. The boy released the chain and, with one last look at Reno, left with his master. Reno watched them go, a confused expression on his face.

"If you had hoped to find work as a slave in the mines, I'm afraid you're out of luck," Vincent said, pulling Reno into a standing position, looking him over. "Saïx, take him to the Harem Quarters and get him a bath. The stench of Midgar is still easy to detect on him."

"Your will be done, my king," Saïx replied, standing and bowing.
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A/N: I have chosen to use characters from Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy XII as opposed to Original Characters in major roles. This was done because I could not create OCs to my liking to fit those roles. I hope I will be forgiven for the random VincentSaix, but I believe it to be an interesting pairing. This story is VERY AU, if you have any questions about any of my choices or actions, please feel free to PM, review, or even e-mail me. I will answer them to the best of my ability.

If you like what you see or feel you need to critique, please feel free to review.