Shades of Yesterday

by

Draco's Daughter

Disclaimer: See chapter 1

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Chapter Two: Learning the Ropes

Saïx's grip on Reno's arm was tight, preventing escape and effectively steering him through the winding hallways of the palace. How Saïx knew where he was going was a marvel to Reno. All pathways seemed the same to visitors to the palace.

"Where are you taking me?" Reno finally asked after a few minutes.

"The Harem Quarters. You will soon learn the route. For now, be content that you have me to lead you," Saïx replied. The entrance to the Harem Quarters was flanked by two masked guards with spears as well as swords by their sides.

"Who's this, Saïx?" One asked as they crossed their spears, preventing further progress.

"His Majesty's newest acquisition. Let me pass for I am his teacher for the time being," Saïx answered, pushing against one's spear.

"Forgive me my suspicions, I meant only to protect the King's interests," the guard said. They uncrossed their spears, allowing the pair to pass. A beaded curtain separated the Harem Quarters from the rest of the palace. A short hallway and a few stairs led to a large common room, a large pillow pit in the center of the room filled with blankets and plush pillows as well as large cushions. Two men reclined within, carrying on an animated conversation. Several good sized arrow slits in the stone walls served as crude windows, through which sunlight poured in, and a large ledge served as a bench on which to sit and look at the outside world. One man sat there, reading a book. Shelving covered one wall with a table and several chairs off in one corner.

"This is the Great Room, free time is spent here," Saïx explained. Quickly, he led Reno into an office. At a large oaken desk sat a large, dark-skinned man who was looking over several papers. "Barret?"

"What up, Saïx?" Barret asked, looking up from his work.

"We've a new resident. He needs to be registered and equipped," Saïx replied, motioning to Reno. Barret looked the new boy over, pulling out a fair-sized book.

"This is the Harem Ledger. Every name of every harem member from each king is in this book, written by their own hand," Barret explained, opening it to a marked page. He passed a feather quill to Reno, when the red-head hesitated, Saïx scoffed.

"Make no mistake, signing this is only a formality. You still belong to the king," Saïx said. Reno sighed and signed his name below a list of signatures starting with Saïx's. Once that was accomplished, a long list of papers had to be filled out, documenting as much about Reno as possible: clothing sizes, a basic background about where he came from and what he did, things like that. Of course, Reno did falsify some things, remembering what Balthier had said about how the people of Nibelheim thought poorly of Turks.

"Alright, Saï, he's all yours to train as the king demands," Barret said once they were finished. The blue-haired man nodded. Saïx took Reno out of Barret's office, leading him down a hallway.

"If you ever need anything, speak with Barret. He's the Harem Manager, keeper of records, and general overseer. The King places great trust in him," Saïx said. They entered into the bath chambers at the end of the hallway. Steam rose from the central pool, making the room quite humid and warm. "The one thing nearly all harems have in common, the Communal Bath. As a rule, the bath is the best area for socialization between Harem members. You wash yourself clean in one of the private showers then soak in the main pool, speaking with the others at your leisure. Of course, you will soon learn who to avoid and the other member's bathing schedules. Since this is usually when I bathe, you will do so as well. It is obvious you haven't had the chance lately." Reno wasn't sure if he should feel insulted at the blue-haired man's last comment. He was sure he didn't stink too badly, just the normal scents that came with traveling: smoke, dust, chocobo, ect. Of course, Reno couldn't deny the pure bliss of warm water on tired skin. Saïx went into a nearby closet, pulling out two robes and four towels.

"Thanks," Reno said, taking a robe and a pair of towels from Saïx.

"Soaps and oils are provided in each individual stall, just close off the curtain and you won't be disturbed. The robe is to be worn once we prepare to leave," Saïx instructed. Reno nodded as he picked one of the stalls, closing the curtain as he was told. A spigot in the shape of a dragon's head allowed a stream of water to pour over one's body, release and amount of water was controlled by a pull chain. Reno quickly located a peg for the robe and a low bench to set the towels and his clothing. Stripping off the clothing Marluxia had placed on him, his hand settled on his collar, wondering what he was supposed to do about it.

"Hey, Saïx?" He called, hoping the man hadn't gone far.

"Yes?" was the man's reply. His voice came from the stall to Reno's right.

"What do I do about the collar?"

"Don't worry about it right now. The King will have you a new one made soon. That one shall be removed in a few weeks. Just work around it for right now," with a sigh, Reno began cleaning himself, trying to keep the velvet lining from getting wet.

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Once clean, Reno dried off somewhat, wrapping the towel around his waist as best he could. Opening the curtain, Reno looked out, seeking Saïx. The man, still dripping wet, was settling his other towel and robe on a wooden bench.

"Come on out, Reno. Bring everything," Saïx said before turning to slip into the main pool. Slowly, Reno exited, clutching everything to his chest and settling it down next to Saïx's things. Looking around, he took off the towel he wrapped around his waist. Quickly, he slipped into the pool next to Saïx. The man was meditating, his blue hair damp. Reno did find the much warmer water quite soothing. It did nothing for the awkwardness he felt, sitting on the shelf with Saïx. Things got a bit more awkward as another man approached. At its deepest, the pool was about chest high, from the other side of the pool, a man of about thirty waded over.

"Hey, Saï, this a new guy?" He asked, his dark locks wet. Bright amethyst eyes stood out against lightly tanned skin.

"Yes, Zack. This is his Majesty's latest acquisition," Saïx replied, opening just one yellow eye a little.

"You got a name, new acquisition?" Zack asked, plopping down in-between Reno and Saïx, reclining against the edge of the pool.

"Reno," he introduced himself. Zack smiled cheekily.

"That's an interesting name. Where you from? You look Midgarian," Zack inquired.

"Yeah, I am," Reno replied. Zack nodded, very relaxed.

"I lived in Gongaga in my youth. I came to Nibelheim as a mercenary but stayed on Lord Cloud's good graces," Zack said. Saïx scoffed as the dark haired man's story. Zack chuckled, a sly smile on his lips. "Okay, so maybe I did a few things in my time that warrant enslavement. Ask me another time, I'm getting pruny." With that he climbed out of the pool, giving himself a little shake, sprinkling Saïx and Reno with droplets of water. With a small wave, he began walking off to another bench on the other side of the room.

"Zack is just one of those strange criminal cases," Saïx said, going back to his meditation. Reno was still surprised at the fact Saïx and Zack were so comfortable with being in the nude around other men. Even as he mused, several other guys joined them in the pool, all three around twenty.

"Hey Saïx!" One greeted, writing out his long, purple hair on the tile floor before pinning them up to keep them from getting wetter.

"Rune, Jibben, Alisdiar," Saïx greeted with a nod to each man.

"You attending the King tonight?" The shaggy-haired, green eyed one asked.

"Yes, Alisdair, at dinner and afterwards," Saïx replied. "I'm also apprenticing the new kid." Reno smiled meekly.

"Hiya! I'm Alisdair, these two are Rune and Jibben, you're?" The young man said, motioning to his companions. Rune was the one with long purple hair, while Jibben had short dirty-blonde hair.

"Reno, the new guy," he replied.

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it all pretty quickly, I know I did. Vincent's a really good master," Alisdair said, smiling. He and his companions moved off, splashing each other playfully.

"Come, I'm to get no peace with you out in the open," Saïx said with a sigh, getting out and re-drying himself off before putting on his robe, wringing out his hair. Reno copied his actions, wringing out the horse-tail at the base of his neck. Bundling up his clothing, they left the towels in a wicker basket underneath the bench. Saïx led him out of the bath, back into the hallway. A series of doors ran along both sides, three on each side. Saïx opened the second one on the right side, ushering Reno in.

It was sparsely decorated with a bed draped in deep blue cloth, a large cedar chest emblazoned with the cycle of the moon, a tapestry was hung on one wall, depicting a goddess against the half moon and stars.

"How'd you manage all this?" Reno asked, looking around. It was small, big enough for only two people at maximum space usage.

"Being good has its advantages, sixteen years of loyalty is worth it in the long run. I think one of the rooms is still open, become a favorite and you may earn it," Saïx said, digging through his chest, pulling out clothing for dinner and dressing. There was a knock at the door; he nodded at Reno to open it, which he did. A white haired young man stood there.

"Barret pulled some basic things for the new guy, said his name was Wren-o or something, told me to come to you," he said. A small, neatly-folded pile of clothing sat in his arms.

"Thank you, Wiess," Saïx said, relieving the man of his burden. "And he's called Reno." Shutting the door, he handed the pile to Reno. He took them, setting them down on the bed and seeking something suitable. It was all soft and loose-fitting. There were several long-sleeve tunics and several sleeveless ones.

"Choose wisely what to wear, when, Nibel winters are tough. As you accumulate years, you'll accumulate clothing items. Washing's done bi-weekly, different ranks on different days." Saïx was dressed and had begun working on his hair as Reno dressed. The man revealed a looking glass hidden behind the tapestry, using it to work on re-taming his hair. It was nearly dry now. Once they were both presentable, Saïx led Reno out of the room, shutting the door behind them.

----

They once again traveled the winding passages from the harem to another room somewhere deep in the palace. The large doorway was extravagantly carved, showing the protective images of the god Chaos and the goddess Discord, the gods serving to keep them King's life from harm, for these were his chambers. They entered into a main chamber, a large fireplace in one corner, several bookcases full of texts and trinkets, chairs, and a desk. The King himself sat at the desk, working on a document. His long, dark hair spilled over his shoulders and his bangs obscured his dark, red eyes. Hearing the door open and close, he looked up, smiling as he stood to greet Saïx with a fond kiss. Vincent then gave Reno a look-over, his eyes critical.

"Well, he does clean up well. Maybe he's worth something after all," Vincent mused. Reno averted his eyes, staring at the floor. "Dog! Speak your name to me!" Reno's head snapped up at the command. Vincent's voice had been soft and gentle with Saïx, but had shifted to his "king" voice when he spoke to Reno.

"I am Reno, milord," he replied. Vincent's eyes narrowed, betraying nothing but the hard edge he was known for.

"A good name for a mongrel," he commented. At that moment, a guardsman entered the room. The horned Chaos mask hid his face and the long, dark purple cloak obscured his form, hiding the saber at his side.

"Supper is ready. We await you, my King, and your attendants," he said, bowing to Vincent. At a motion of Vincent's hand, the guard straightened.

"Go, we will follow."

--

The castle dining hall was full of guardsmen and servants. Vincent sat at the head of the high table, Saïx right next to him on the double-wide chair. The harem slave was fed tidbits off his master's plate. Reno was allowed to plop down at the wall behind Vincent's chair. He had heard Saïx and Vincent talking about trying to impress the emissaries of Cosmo Canyon, a young man called Nanaki, who came with what some called a fire-cat. Relations needed to be improved between Nibelheim and Cosmo Canyon, so the princeling was attended by Vincent's slave Yuffie, a gift from Wutai.

Next to Vincent sat his consuls, four intelligent men who were said to be totally devoted to Nibelheim and Vincent. At his right hand sat an empty chair, a place set for a royal family member. Vincent stood, all others in the room following, glasses raised.

"To Chaos and Discord, we ask for the safe return of the Asphodel in the coming months," he said, offering the prayer to the impulsive gods. A mummer of agreement went around the room. Reno assumed the place at Vincent's right had been left for this Asphodel person. After that, the dinner began.

"Good Acheron, do you still intend to name her your heir?" A silver-haired man at Vincent's left asked. His deeply tanned skin showed him to be something of an outdoorsman.

"I've every intent, Xemnas. My will shall be done," Vincent replied.

"Such politics bore me so," Saïx lied, allowing Vincent an easy escape from that conversation.

Once dinner was complete, Vincent and Saïx retired to the King's chambers. The King had a bit more paperwork to do before heading to bed. Saïx reclined before the fire, stretched out on the rug like a large dog. Reno had taken a wall for himself. The doors opened once again, admitting the Chaos guard from before.

"Good evening, my King," he said, bowing.

"Good evening, Tal, could you make sure Reno will be comfortable this night?" Vincent asked. The Chaos Guard, Tal, bowed again and headed into the bed chamber to carry out his lord's orders.

A large, shaggy beast then entered, gently padding his way over to Vincent, seeking attention from his master. The beast's purple fur and red mane made it quite exotic.

"Good Galian, where've you been all evening?" Vincent asked, rubbing the animal's head before it lay down at his feet. Saïx stretched out, popping his back, he was full, warm, and drowsy.

"Why does Xemnas contest Eris's right to rule?" Saïx asked as the sound of Vincent's quill filled the room.

"He fears her. He somehow thinks she will be too great of a change. If she rules, she will be the first Queen of my line," Vincent replied.

"Does he not see the reports from Griffon's Keep?" Saïx inquired, sitting up. Reno was pretty much lost. He had no idea who they were talking about; he wanted to ask but was somewhat frightened of how Vincent might respond. Nosy slaves didn't last long in Midgar.

"He does, he doubts them and thinks them doctored by me or someone in the Keep," Vincent said. Saïx shook his head in disbelief. Xemnas could be thick-headed but this was ridiculous. Vincent set his quill down, rubbing his eyes. Saïx immediately got up and moved behind his master, rubbing the King's shoulders. Vincent immediately relaxed, leaning back.

"Stop worrying so much. It adds years to your fair face. Eris will return within a the next few months, safe and ready to rule her kingdom," Saïx's voice was calm and soothing as his hands worked out the knots in Vincent's shoulders and back. The King made small noises of pleasure, urging Saïx to keep up his work. The blue-haired man leaned down to place a small kiss on his master's brow. Reno forced himself to avert his eyes. He had never seen two men so trusting and unguarded with one another like this. Midgar was strict in its sodomy laws. Rufus had no tolerance for such strange behavior and the Turks had been occasionally called upon to punish such law-breakers.

When the bed chamber door opened once again, revealing Tal, Reno looked up. The Chaos guard nodded at him, sitting down on a small platform in a corner, lighting a pair of incense burners in front of him. The smell of jasmine filled the room, relaxing its occupants further. Vincent stood, taking Saïx's hand and began leading him towards the bedroom.

"I take my leave of you, Tal. Rest easy my friend," the King said. Tal had begun to meditate, eyes hidden behind his mask. "Reno, come." After a moment's hesitation, Reno did as he was told. Once the door was closed behind all three men, Saïx began to undress Vincent, removing his kingly robes and carefully placing them in the wardrobe. The lavishly decorated room was a far cry from the harem quarters. Where the rooms there were small, the King's chambers were comfortably large. Another fireplace warmed the room excellently, tapestries showing the region's main god, Chaos, hung on the walls and thick rugs covered the stone floors. The bed was the room's most prominent feature. Three men could lay side-by-side on it comfortably with room to spare.

A chaise lounge with plush cushions and a tick blanket sat in a corner, Reno figured that's where he was to sleep.

"Observe close, Reno, these will be your duties soon," Saïx whispered to him as he passed by.

"Never shall I do such duties," Reno hissed. His mind would not allow him to even consider attending Vincent in such ways. Reno's wards were met by a deep chuckle from Vincent. He was pouring two cups of wine, a smile upon his lips.

"They are always defiant in the beginning. That will soon change," the king said, drinking.

"I will never bend to your will," Reno said. Saïx paused, eyes closing. Reno wouldn't last long at this rate. All he cloud do was hope Vincent would remain in good humor.

"You weren't asked to speak, dog," Vincent said, his tone back to a Kingly one. Reno's eyes held strong contempt for this man. "Speak again without permission and I shall muzzle you." With that Vincent returned to Saïx, handing the servant the other wine cup. Reno looked away, sitting down on the chaise lounge. It was going to be a long night.

---

Reno awoke slowly the next morning, wondering where he was. The softness of the chaise brought him back to the present. Slowly looking around, memories from the previous day and night before came rushing back to him. It didn't help that Saïx and Vincent were still cuddled up, even if they began to stir.

"What's the hour?" Vincent asked, running his fingers through Saïx's hair. Saïx stretched slightly.

"What does it matter? If no one's barging in, the kingdom's safe, and we're still comfortable, what does it matter?" Saïx asked, relaxed and pulling Vincent into a good, long kiss. Reno held still trying not to be noticed. Vincent looked over at Reno.

"Come, dog," the king commanded. Reno slowly got up, smoothing down his rumpled clothes, and began walking towards the bed. "Sit there." Reno sat carefully at about Vincent's feet. The King sat up, covers pooling around his waist.

"His spirit is good, quite strong, how long until you think you can have him tamed?" Vincent asked Saïx, caressing the man's cheek.

"A month, maybe less," Saïx replied. Reno felt anger gnaw at the pit of his stomach. They were talking as if he wasn't in the room. If this kind of treatment persisted, he might simply go mad.

"Move closer, dog," Vincent commanded. Reno inched up until he was sitting directly in front of the king. Vincent's eyes roamed over Reno's face, examining it critically. The next thing surprised Reno greatly. Vincent leaned forward and caught Reno's lips in a kiss; Reno struggled as Vincent pushed him onto his back. Reno attempted to shove Vincent off him. Vincent broke the kiss but kept Reno pinned.

"Dog has bite to back up his bark, hmmm? Or are you still biting with milk teeth, pup?" Vincent asked.

"Get off!" Reno demanded. He was answered with Vincent's deep chuckle.

"We'll play again soon, pup, for now your request is granted, ask nicely next time if you want to keep your face and body free of bruises. Saïx, please escort Reno back to the Harem Quarters, and begin his training," Vincent commanded.

"Your will be done, my liege."

-----

Once Saïx and Reno were back in the comfort of the Harem Quarters, they ate a light breakfast. The harem had a long table hidden with foods one could snack on all day: fruits, bread, wine, cheeses, and an assortment of day to day meals cooked by the castle's chef. Vincent made sure his Harem was all cared for, come hell or high water.

Reno ate gratefully. He had learned to appreciate food when he got it, especially good food. Saïx ate sparingly, picking at his food.

"You do understand that Vincent is being lenient with you because you're new. Once you've been here for a time, you won't be able to pull such stunts. He'll tolerate it for only so long," Saïx said.

"Let him do his worst, I'm never going to yield to him," Reno stated. Saïx sighed heavily. He wouldn't want to see Reno sent to the mines to work, it had happened before. If you weren't submitting to Vincent's will, you were sent away to work so that the kingdom's money wasn't wasted. Once they finished eating, Saïx took Reno into the Great Room, sitting on the window bench.

"Let's begin your education. We'll start with Harem rank and rules within our area. Your rank is based on the length of time you've been here and how much Vincent likes you. The first few members of a harem are called the Originators, they've the most power. I am one of Vincent's Originators. Barret and Cid are the others. Barret is the Harem Overseer, he's the one who makes sure our needs are met and the Harem isn't overspending.

"You earn rank with time and respect from the various members of the harem. Right now, you're at the bottom of the ladder, being the new kid. You sleep here, in the Great Room pillow pit. One of the shelves will be assigned to you and that is where you will keep your personal items and clothing," Saïx explained.

"So what's with the masked guards?" Reno asked, setting his chin on his knees.

"The guards are masked to prevent human interference. The ones with demonic masks, dark hair, and long capes are the Chaos guards. They're Vincent's personal bodyguards and their faces are always covered. They are the elite with about ten or fifteen at any given time. Under them are the Hellmaskers, the ones with porcelain masks and white hair. They're our equivalent of the Turks, you do know who those are, right?" Reno nodded. "Anyways, they do Vincent's dirty work but also serve as messengers within the kingdom and palace. The last group of guards are the Death Gigases. They're the all-purpose guards. Some guard the Harem, others walk the battlements." Reno's head was already spinning with the information. This was going to take much longer to get used too than he originally thought.

"Now, a large number of the Harem are political gifts to Vincent. They've given as a show of goodwill, especially those who're the children or siblings of aristocratic houses from different regions. These are the important ones. Vincent has to play carefully with these harem members, choosing which ones to have at his side when certain dignitaries drop by for a visit," Saïx said as they relaxed in the bath around noon. Zack relaxed nearby.

"Who're the political ones?" Reno asked.

"That, I'll let you find out for yourself. Ask around, most will tell you their stories if you're polite. It'll be good training for how you need to speak to Vincent. I must go play the part of obedient slave now; you're on your own. If you need anything, ask," Saïx said as he climbed out of the bath. Reno watched as Saïx dried and put on his robe, heading for his room.

"Curious little duck, aren't ya?" Zack inquired, moving to take Saïx's vacated spot.

"I figure, the more info I have, the better off I'll be," Reno replied.

"You were a Turk, weren't you?" Reno was taken aback. He hadn't said anything about that to anyone, remembering what Balthier had said to him about what people here thought of Turks. But then he remembered that Zack had said he was originally from Gongaga, not Nibelheim.

"And if I was?"

"Your secret's safe with me. I just figured you're Midgarian, you keep asking questions, and you have that non-descript appearance most Turks seem to possess. I'm also an ex-mercenary; I needed to know these things about people back then." Zack flipped a wet lock away from his face, sending small droplets of water around.

"How'd you end up here?" Reno asked. Zack smiled his cheeky smile.

"Once upon a time, there was a mercenary named Zack Fair. He was the best of the best, one day he began working for House Strife, under Cloud. Then he was convicted of a crime he didn't commit. To save his life, Cloud made a slave of Zack Fair. They were happy together until Cloud got married to continue his line. The wife didn't appreciate slaves and made Cloud give Zack away. The King took Zack in, giving Cloud permission to see Zack whenever he liked. Vincent took me in when no one else wanted me. I owe him big time," the dark haired man replied. Reno swirled his finger around in the water, thinking. Vincent seemed like a good man, but one could never be totally sure.

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A/N: Well, there you go! If you have any questions, feel free to review, pm, or e-mail me. Thanks to my reviewers and readers thus far.