As promissed, here is the next chapter an second part of Kuja's past with Ariane. I hope you like it ...
Love is the drug
Kuja returned to Treno tired and store. He was welcomed by his personal servant, a man in an orange suit that served as the Auction House's receptionist.
"Welcome back, my lord. Did the party go well?"
Kuja sighed and slumped in the nearest chair.
"Just get a bath ready. I need to rest."
Once he found the strength to move, he went straight to the expensive bathroom of his estate, a white place with marble floor, gold pipes, a well-decorated bath and a sink. Undressing, he fell in the bath and let the hot water relax his sore muscles. Damn all that, it had been ages since he fought like that … As he washed his hairs with lavender shampoo, he remembered Ariane. The woman had proved to be an absolutely lethal fighter. Were he less skilled, their battle would have killed him. And yet, compared to other people he'd seen, he was very lucky. After all, the mightiest general of Alexandria lost an eye to the maiden …
His mind drifted to the girl. Ariane, what a sweet name! And what a sweet body too. Kuja had no shame admitting the maiden was by far the most beautiful creature he's ever seen. And the most powerful too, given the hard time he had that night. The mage shook his head. He may not like the thought, but it seemed he was totally falling for her. Ariane … Beautiful as a fiery dawn, fascinating as a dancing flame, dangerous as a raging inferno, she was the true incarnation of fire. His stomach started to burn and stir. Desire. He desired Ariane more than anything else in this world. All of a sudden, all his schemes seemed petty compared to the true and living beauty of the red maiden. Getting out of the bath and taking a towel, he went to bed. Forget about world domination. If he couldn't dominate this one woman, he was no worth being an angel, even less one of death. Before he closed his eyes, Kuja promised himself. Ariane would be his.
The next happened almost eventless. The man had his estate to take care of and it took most of his free time. There were things only he could get done. By the end of the afternoon-he knew it was the afternoon only because of the clock in his office- the receptionist came, his suit in a mess and his hairs all loose. Kuja raised a brow. What was happening?
"Sir, I heard there are troubles at an estate welt to the town!"
"And in what am I concerned, Jarim?"
The man took his breath.
"The owner of this estate corresponds to the description you gave us of Ariane Flamedancer."
Kuja jumped from his chair.
"Ariane? Where is she?"
As soon as he knew the estate's location, Kuja was gliding there, a spell already in hand. He arrived just in time to see Ariane being tightly held by a mod of angry nobles. She was partially unconscious from a blow to her head and there were weights to her feet. Kuja quickly got what they would do to her: they would drown her! Not thinking twice, he shot a sphere of magic among the crowd.
"Stop this at once!"
The startled nobles looked at Kuja who descended from the sky, spheres of light hovering around him. The mage landed before the two nobles holding Ariane and took the maiden in his hands. In a swift move, she was free of her bonds.
"This woman is under my protection." Kuja declared. "Anyone harming her, I will punish him with my own hand. Is that clear?"
The nobles shivered before the mage severe tone. A few nodded.
"Understood, Lord King."
Kuja quickly brought Ariane home and placed her in his softest bed. He gave orders that she was taken care of and went to eat something until she woke up.
Ariane awoke in a soft bed with red and gold sheets. A familiar figure was towering above her, a kind smile covering his face.
"Welcome back, sweet angel."
The maiden blinked several times.
"Kuja …?"
The man caressed her cheeks.
"I came as soon as I heard you were in troubles. How are you feeling?"
Ariane closed her eyes.
"Why did you save me?"
Kuja smirked.
"Let's say my poor heart was longing for your presence after our fight last night."
Ariane raised a brow.
"Really? You're quite a poet, Kuja."
Her eyes narrowed.
"In all honesty, what do you want?"
"You."
Ariane was surprised by the blunt answer.
"You want me? How comes? I'm not even a noble!"
Kuja shook his head.
"It doesn't matter. You are safe right now. I told those fools that you were under my protection. You may not be a noble but, as long as I say otherwise, you will be treated as such."
Ariane sniggered.
"How kind …"
The next days passed in a blur. They got her belongings from her estate and transferred them in his, spent time together, getting to know each other more, and talked during hours about their experience of life. They attended parties where Kuja's shadow served as a protective cloak for the young flame-wielder, and Ariane could finally enjoy high life fearlessly. They grew close during that time. As Kuja thought, the maiden under his wing was truly someone unique. And over time, Ariane herself began having feelings for Kuja.
They confessed on a starry night. Laurent and Maria had organized a party to celebrate the girl's pregnancy and, of course, neither Ariane nor Kuja could say no. That night, as she watched the future parents dancing on the floor, Ariane felt a tingle in her heart. Was it jealousy? Deep inside, the maiden was a woman and a potential mother. Having children was a part of her nature. Lost in thoughts, she didn't feel Kuja nearing her.
"Ariane?"
"Oh, Kuja?"
The woman turned to him, surprised.
"I didn't hear you coming."
"I can see that."
They leaned against the stone fence of the balcony, the flame-wielder finding haven in her protector's arms. Kuja closed his eyes and enjoyed her presence. She smelled of rose and acacia, and it was getting him thoroughly drunk. He shook his head and brought it closer to Ariane's, his lips caressing her. Ariane closed her eyes and slid a hand under the man's chest-pieces. Shifting, she found herself in his embrace, his face at mere inches of hers. She brought a hand to his cheek, softly cupping it …
Their kiss was beyond words. For Kuja, it felt as if time itself had stopped. As for Ariane, she became totally oblivious of the world around. When they parted, Kuja took something from his sleeve.
"Here. I know … it may be a little early but … I really wanted to give it to you."
He looked deep in her amethyst eyes.
"I love you, Ariane. This is the reason I saved you when you were in danger, and the reason I brought you home and took care of you. Now I want to go further."
He opened the small box, revealing two rings. One was silver with a small amethyst pearl while the other was exactly the same, except it was gold with a ruby on it. Ariane's eyes widened when she understood what they meant.
"Kuja … are you serious?"
The mage laughed lightly.
"Did I ever joke about our relationship before?"
He took the silver ring and placed it on her hand. Then he took the golden ring and put it on his. Ariane looked at it, then at the mage. Kuja starred back at her.
"Ariane, my love, my fiery angel, would you marry me?"
The maiden stood in shock before pulling herself back. She gave the wedding ring a look and closed her eyes.
"Of course I would! I love you so much!"
On this she hugged him as tight as she could. Their lips met again in a passionate kiss as Laurent and Maria looked at the newly betrothed, a smile on their face.
"Took them long enough." The man said.
They married two weeks later, because it took them two weeks to set everything in place. The celebration was absolutely grandiose. The newlyweds were incredibly beautiful and looked like a king and a queen. Finally, Kuja declared Ariane his wife and gave her the kiss, officially making her the new queen of Treno. As they promised, Maria was Ariane's maid while her husband served the same role with Kuja. The girl's chest was becoming bigger every passing day, much to Ariane's jealousy.
(Warning, the following part can be rated M ...)
Later that night, when everyone went away and the lovers were finally alone, Kuja pinned his wife to a wall and kissed her with passion, his hands stripping her of her clothes. The maiden was just as passionate. Soon, they rolled into bed and let go of their feelings. He bit her throat, she balled her fists in his hairs, he savored the taste of her skin, she caressed his magnificent body … He pressed her against him as she entangled her fingers in the silky silver fur that covered his chest and forearms. He growled, heat overflowing as a wave of lust. She moaned his name like a lullaby, longing, desiring. Then they crossed the edge and he made her his. Or was it her who made him hers? Ariane was just too wild to be tamed and Kuja too stubborn to surrender to someone, even his wife. Especially his wife. His silver tail wrapped around her waist and hips as she rode him, deep moaning escaping their throat. When dawn finally came, it found them tenderly cradled against one another.
(End of the M-rated part.)
The days went on and Kuja soon found out he couldn't get enough of the girl. She was his drug, his breath of life. He who sought to make her his, he didn't know who belonged to whom anymore. In the end, it didn't matter. He was with her and this was enough to make him happy. Yet, one day, Ariane told him something that overjoyed him to no end. Sneaking in his back, pressing her delicately-shaped figure against him, she muttered in his ear.
"Kuja? I have a wonderful new for you."
Kuja turned to her, a smile on his face.
"And what is it, my so precious phoenix?"
"I am pregnant."
And so, you can easily guess what's next ... Right, Silver? Well, for you to see the child prodigy, you'll have to wait 'til next week. Believe me, you'll like him.
See you soon!
