Broken Wings - Chapter Twenty Five
Yazoo hid in a shadowed corner, following Verian's path very closely and moving without so much as a whisper of leather. The boy was oblivious to his follower, and continued onward.
After a while, Yazoo began to tire of the ridiculously easy chase. He could follow the footsteps with his eyes closed, and Verian wasn't even trying to be silent. Sighing, he decided to draw his gun-blade, letting the weak breath of metal against its sheathe ring unhindered.
It was enough.
Verian turned, alarmed. "Who's there?" he demanded. "Show yourself!"
Yazoo smiled, enjoying the twist on the otherwise uneventful mission. "I don't mean you harm," he said softly. "Yet, anyway."
Verian made eye contact with him, seeming to be taken aback by Yazoo's sudden appearance. "What are you doing here? It's late."
"Yes," Yazoo agreed. "Yes, it is. Then what might you be doing?"
Verian frowned.
Yazoo continued. "Not that you need to know, but I am simply following orders. You happen to be a part of them. It's nothing personal, really."
"What do you mean by 'orders'?"
Yazoo grinned. "It's typical you see. I was given an errand, and I wisely chose to complete it."
"I know what an order is!" Verian hissed, not at all amused by Yazoo's dry humor. "Who sent you? What concern am I to you?"
"You are affiliating with Aralyn, and therefore, you are every bit my concern."
"I have the right to pursue whom I will, do I not?"
"The right, yes. However, your doing so displays a great lack of both intelligence and morality."
"Who sent you?" Verian demanded again.
Yazoo waited for several long moments, but then decided to give him an answer. "You know him…or have at least heard of him…as the man to which Aralyn is married."
To Yazoo's great amusement, Verian's eyes widened dramatically and he stumbled. The shock quickly turned to rage. "Give me a name."
"When you act as an assassin under a greater power, it is unwise to give such information so freely when your employer will undoubtedly find out. He wishes to remain in the shadows, and so he will remain."
"Give me a name!" Verian cried, drawing a short knife and pointing it at his opponent, who only smiled.
"My orders are to avoid unnecessary casualties, but know this, Verian: should you continue to seek Aralyn out, I will have no choice but to intervene."
"She and I are bound by laws that one such as you cannot comprehend. I will not relent until she is mine!"
"I have warned you," Yazoo said. "You make it seem as if you care for Aralyn's safety, but I see through you. If it is your best interests you are looking for, heed my advice and leave her."
Verian lunged, but his knife severed only thin air. Yazoo was gone.
A/N: The two characters (besides Sephiroth and Aralyn) that play vital roles are Vincent and Yazoo. I have great things planned for the both of them. Tomorrow I get my wisdom teeth out, and so I may or may not write more depending on how long it takes me to come out of the drugged state and/or how much pain I am in. Yay.
Rinnyzito, you are barking up the tree that's right next to the right one. :D