Chapter 9: Broken Wings.
Treno at night was beautiful but beneath this facade lay a city of crime and injustice. If you were rich Treno was as close to heaven as you were find likely to find whilst alive. If you were poor, however, it was simply a cold version of hell.
The crime rate had risen dramatically in the past few years, so much so that if a mugging didn't ocurr at least every twenty minutes, the residents would begin to feel uneasy.
The moon was wan in the night sky, while the stars shone brightly. The moonlight flooded in through the window of the master bedroom in Arahime Manor, illuminating an elegantly dressed lady as she rushed into the room.
Her perfectly manicured nails fumbled with the various hooks and fastenings which adorned her gown.Despite the sheer number of fastenings, it took her almost no time at all to remove herself from the silk dress. The dress was dumped on the floor where she once stood. Like a playful kitten she crawled across the queen-sized bed purring.
She was truly happy. It had been the longest time since she had last felt as amorous as she did at that moment. Her sweet smile indicated that she simply could not wait. Her lust was only heightened by the fact that she was about to break a taboo.
On this cold night, with the stars as her audience, Lady Mitsuko Arahime would share her bed, not with another lady.
It was not uncommon for the nobles of Treno to partake in all manner of perversions. After all, they could afford it. Unlike the ordinary citizens of Treno the status of the nobles made them exempt from jail time, of course exceptions came into this rule, murderers were still murderers, regardless of wealth, then again, isn't that what assassins are for?
With their great wealth they could buy the silence and finance the demise of anyone who crossed them. This ensured that the common street whores and even other nobles would not breath a word of what happened within the bedrooms of the wealthy.
Outside of the room, at the far end of the hallway, a woman in equally elegant attire stood beside the window. With great care, she quietly opened the window to allow the entrance of her partner in crime.
"My sweet!" Called Lady Arahime. "I lie in wait for your heavenly touch, I long to see your beauty by the light of dark. My sweet! Come forth!"
The woman at the window was moved by the poetry in the noble's words. It was at times like this she began to have second thought about what she was about to do. Before guilt had a chance to seize her, a head arrose on the opposite side of the window.
A man, with hair as red as fresh blood smiled at her.
"What took you so long?" She enquired. "Our lusting lady is getting impatient."
"Do you know how many locks were on that tool shed, all to protect a single ladder?"
"I told you to bring your own ladder."
"Don't you think that carrying a ladder through the streets at three in the morning would be a little conspicuous?" He retorted with his typical sarcasm.
"Okay, point taken. Listen, you take anything of value. And this time be quiet!"
"I made one mistake, once. Can't you just forget it?"
"Be silent tonight and I will. Anyway, I'd better go."
As she turned to walk, a single tear fell from her eye. These tasks were making her more and more depressed. To make love there must first be love. Without love she simply whoring herself to the lust of a stranger.
She thanked the gods that Beatrix could not see her now but she had no choice.
Having come to Treno with no money, she and her flame haired companion had no food or shelter. It was on that night that she was approached under the assumption that she was an opium fuelled whore. She played along with the desires of this 'customer' to gain enough gil for a night at a hotel.
For this disgrace, she and her companion saw no wrong in robbing the woman who had requested her company.
So it was and seemed to forever be. Steal from the rich and give to the poor.
Their burglary was not as self serving as people would assume. A great percentage of the money earned from the sale of stolen items was given to the local orphanage. This gesture relieved at least some of the guilt that the poor girl was feeling.
Close to the bedroom door, a large, antique mirror was flushed against the wall. In the glass she saw the image of her alter ego; the Angelic Whore. The beauty that stared back disgusted her. Very much like Treno, her own exterior was a facade. It only served to hide her true nature.
With a wipe of her hand, the solo tear was cast onto the floor.
She now was happy.
On the outside.
"My sweet, I bring my heart to you, my mind, spirit and soul. Unto me bring your embrace and it shall make me whole." That dreaded verse escaped her lips once more.
Her tortured self entered the room, bringing with her all the grace of heaven. This poor girl did not belong in this place. She deserved to be with the angels, despite her broken wings.
Her long, white ball gown trailed along the polished floor with a gentle sweeping sound.
"Undress for me, my sweet." Said Mitsuko.
Undress for me? I guess the poetic lady of before is her alter ego.
Lani removed her gown in a most provocative manner, teasing the Noble with an inch of flesh at a time.
When she wore nothing but black, silk underwear and suspenders she walked to the bed. Her high heeled shoes struck the floor as she moved.
The shoes; left on at her partner's request were aching her poor feet but it was best not to disappoint.
The ways of these nobles confuse me. Why is it wrong for me to love another female but perfectly acceptable for them to take part in depraved act that they may desire?
She crawled across the noble's body before planting a kiss on her neck.
For now keep up the pretence. Give him time Lani, give him time.
Silence came to inhabit the room. Nothing but the sound of lips colliding and hearts beating could be heard could be heard.
SMASH!
"What was that!?" Asked Mitsuko
"Nothing my sweet." Words shot out of Lani's mouth as she made a rushed attempt to calm her victim. "Come with me on a journey to the stars where I'll shall grant you access to heaven."
The calm returned, as did the kisses and all was well for a time...
SMASH!
Damnit Coral! What are you doing? Redecorating?
"There it is again!"
Lani was thrown from atop the noble who charged out of the room in her underwear. Quickly Lani threw on a housecoat that was draped over the dressing table. Before exiting through the bedroom window, she called out a warning to her companion.
"She's onto us! Run!"
She shimmied down the drain pipe at great haste. A short while later she was met by her ally on the porch of the house. At incredible speed the criminals ran into the night.
"I'm being robbed! Help me!" Screamed the noble. Her cries fell on no ears.
She now severely regretted granting her servants leave, so that she could indulge in a little female to female copulation. In her underwear she ran to the porch before slumping to the floor and crying.
A distance from the weeping noble Lani and her companion halted at a gable end.
The pain in their leg muscles began to subside and their rapid breathing began to slow in pace.
"Lani?" The words left his lips between pants.
"Yes?" She replied.
"You go to the hostel and I'll meet you there shortly."
"Okay."
He removed the rucksack from over his shoulder. The items, most likely various ornaments, jingled.
"How many things did you take? This sack is as light as a feather!"
"Look, I messed up okay? We can talk about it later. Just go so I can disguise our tracks."
"Okay, see you later."
This wasn't the first time and it probably wouldn't be the last occasion in which he would go off on his own. As he was an expert tracker he also knew how to hide a trail. She trusted him to take care of it.
The two criminals ran off in separate directions; the sound of their footsteps fading to silence.
------------------------
By the dull light of the moon, the noble sat with her arms around her knees, sobbing. Her cries were carried through the night air as the tears continued to pour. Her tears were not for the loss of her belongings but simply the for fact that she had been violated in this manner.
She heard heavy footsteps upon the gravel that lay outside the garden path. She looked up and sat in shock as that flame-haired man returned. She was frozen on the spot.
"You! What are you doing here!?" She yelled at him.
A smile crossed his bearded face. "A woman in distress," He began. "that's what I like to see."
Her mouth was covered by his large hands before another breath escaped. Control of her body returned, allowing her to kick, scratch and bite but it was useless. She was now helpless to whatever acts this man wished to subject her too.
She was thrown onto the floor inside the house. She saw the light of the moon one last time before the door slammed shut. Her screams were heard by none but her assailant, which only made her treatment more severe.
If only she hadn't had that noise-proof, wall insulation fitted.
If only she hadn't met that damned whore.
If only...
On the same night an angel had come to take her to heaven, the red demon had taken her to hell.
..................................
The Nanaki Hostel was possible the dirtiest, most disease ridden construction in the whole of Treno, if not Gaia. It was the type of place in which a cockroach would feel disgusted. It was a hovel of many smells. It was comparable to a toilet with beds.
It was open for business.
The gales that danced along the winding streets, forced open the door of the hostel in a display of courtesy for a weary traveller. The playful wind then proceeded to waltz down the streets and threw an elderly noble onto her backside.
She was bathed in light as she entered the reception room. The heat that engulfed her was rejuvenating. It was now evident why this place still brought custom. Quite simply, it was warm.
From where she stood she could see the hellish place in all its grotesque, lack of glory. The walls, which had almost certainly been white once were now were a dull brown. The pictures on the walls were uneven and unclean, almost as if this place had been neglected for years.
Before her, the proprietor of this establishment sat with a small, ornamental mirror in his hand inspecting his receding hairline.
"Less hair to shampoo," He sighed. "More face to wash."
DING!
The irritating sound of a bell rang at the desk.
The short balding man's many chins wobbled as he raised his head. From behind broken, discoloured teeth, words escaped.
"How can I be helping you, my dear lady?"
The switch in his brain that controlled charisma was turned on but the whole control panel may as well have been broken. The poor man was blessed with a face that even a blind mother would have a hard time loving.
"Hello, sir. I wish to rent a room at your fine establishment."
"Fine establishment indeed!" He yelled. "You know as well as I do, that this place is as clean as an outhouse."
"Uh, indeed. How much will it be for the night?"
"That will be twelve-thousand gil."
"Twelve thousand?"
"I know, its steep but coal isn't exactly free around here. What with the nobles taxing everything."
"I take your point sir. Twelve-thousand it is then."
The man withdrew a ledger from a shelf within the desk. From a nearby drawer he fished out a pot of ink and a quill.
"What is your name?" He asked. The business end of the quill fell into the ink as he awaited an answer.
"Miss Potter."
When the details had been written and the cash handed over Beatrix was given a key.
"That'll be room six-seven-three."
"Thank you."
"You will also find that your bed is in fact clean, with fresh sheets. I believe that my customers deserve at least that."
"That is kind of you sir. Good night."
"Sweet dreams."
-------------------------------------------------
As Beatrix lay on her bed she thought of the poor chocobo whom she had left at the Treno stables. Would it even be there in the morning?
Treno was like that, it bred paranoia. When she began to doze off, she could hear the voices in the next room grow louder.
"I cant believe you did that!" Came a female voice.
"It was a mistake! Okay?"
This time, it was a male voice.
"But! She!"
"Forget her."
"I'm not going to do this anymore!" She screamed. "I won't!"
"Come here." He beckoned.
"No!"
"Come here!"
As the voices continued, Beatrix recognised one of them. It was Lani! Without placing her boots on, she charged from her room into the hall. The door of the room next to hers was shattered by her bare foot.
Splinters fell onto the floor, while some where embedded in the soles of her feet. The dirt on the floor stuck to her heels as she ran into the room.
There she was! It was Lani. What was he doing? He was grabbing her!
"Get off of her!" Beatrix screamed.
Within moments she had grabbed the flame-haired man by his throat and thrown him halfway across the room. He lay on the floor while Beatrix stood over him. Her sword was held close to his Adam's apple. Even if she couldn't judge distance, she couldn't miss at this range.
Before Beatrix had the chance to strike the blow that would avenge her mother, she felt a strong blow hit her side. Save the Queen was thrown to the floor as she and Lani rolled across the floor. Lani held her tightly in her arms, to stop her attacking the man.
"What are you!? Lani! Let me go!" She screamed.
"Beatrix! Beatrix! It's not him! It isn't who you think it is!"
"What do you! It is! It is that bastard!"
The anger building up inside Beatrix was immense. Her heart was racing and adrenaline was being pumped through her blood stream at an alarming rate.
"Beatrix. It's not him." Said Lani. The girl's voice seemed to take on a motherly tone.
"It has to be." The warrior's voice lowered. She sounded upset. "It has to be." It was at this moment that tears fell from her undamaged eye. "Why can't I find him!" She sobbed. "I have to make him pay! I made a promise..."
Lani loosened her grip and began to hug Beatrix.
"We can help you do that."
"You can?" She asked between sobs.
"Yes."
"Lani?" She asked, in the fashion of a curious child. "If that isn't him, who is he?"
Her eyes turned to the slumped body, that lay against the wall. As he glanced back at her, her heart began to beat rapidly again. Lani's grip was the only thing that prevented her from attacking him.
His face was the same, right down to the wiry hair on his face. That long, untidy hair upon his head remained. It was him... right?
With his hand held against his aching spine, he stumbled to his feet. There was an unspoken apology between them as they glared at each other. He now towered above her with his eyes cast down.
"Hello Beatrix. My name is Amarant Coral..."
Her breathing began to slow, as Lani's embrace calmed her. The tears began to cease as she listened to his words.
"The man that you seek is named Amethyst. He is my father..."
-----------------------------------
HA! You thought it was Amarant! Which would make no sense at all because he is ages with Beatrix.
I could have made this AU but that would have been a cop out. I wished for this to be a story which may have actually happened within the FF9 timeline.
On the issue of the lesbian subplot:
This story is not and will not be a YURI fic.
I hope that those of you who have remained loyal despite this addition take no offence in the beginning paragraphs of this chapter. I added this because I wished to point out more issues that we deal with in this world, namely corruption. If you have enough money, you can do more or less whatever you want.
To everyone who reads this story, I wish to thank you. Your kind words, help me get through this weird little life of mine.
Thanks,
Joe.
