Mod Setting
(pleese R&R, n' R&R some more.)
Chapter Five: A Solution
Drake's footsteps were light against the grass. His mind still found it amazing how he actually stared into real faces that were none other than what he believed to fantasy. Back home they were just video game mods. No one that would talk back you. They only existed within the mind, but in this alternate home they surrounded him. They were as alive as any other being, and it boggled his mind whenever he stopped to think about just how they came to be. They were alive in his dreams, but those dreams were just CGI replays of what happened in the game. He found himself standing there. Reaching out to touch one of them on the shoulder. To ask them. To beg for such a world to be real. Then he woke up, and begain his agonizing morning routines.
The comfort of being trapped in another world that was a little bit more satisfying invigorated him. He just realized that he had escaped a band of city gunners while driving at high speeds and missed a train. For one to doubt that the pen was working they would have to be extremely stupid. The air actually felt fresher, and the lovely atmosphere encouraged a drive or a morning jog but he held back thinking that he would take care of that much later. Relaxation was what he wanted... Yes. He could stay here...forever perhaps. He never heard from grandpa till his last days. Who knew how long he stayed away from earth? As long as he wanted. Tracey didn't necessarily say that his vacation was short, but was it really a vacation. No. It wasn't fun witnessing his favorite characters in trouble while he hung back on a wall and changed fate. He had to make it better for everybody. Only seeing all of their smiles could put his mind at rest. He kneeled down and watched the skies above. Playing with a few doves that came to rest on the grass. He coaxed one over ,and let her walk on his arm. It was probably one of Fakami's trained birds and they were on the loose again. Seeing her run down the front lawn chasing them with every single breath she had in her body hoping they wouldn't get lost, and cause Jecht to come out, and start complaining again.
" Tara! Come back!" She yelled. Her gloved hands stretched out as she spotted the rest of the pack instantly with her sharp aqua colored eyes, and began signaling for them to fly back, but her main bird was missing. She walked up the front lawn approaching Drake slowly from behind. Kneeled over and tapped his shoulder. Drake didn't turn around but held out his arm revealing her baby bird. standing on his arm she collected Tara and walked over to the visitor.
" Hey how'd you do that?" she asked. setting Tara in her cage and pulling her small sweater back over her shoulders that previously hung loosely around her arms and blouse. The breeze had a chilly edge on it, and she was mainly used to hot weather even wearing her tight jeans as a precaution
Drake turned around with a casual twist on his lips. The same that Tidus had. His dark eyes, and pale face stared back at Fakami. he slid his cap to the side and answered her to make sure that it wasn't over his face making a bad gesture.
" I'm a little in touch with nature. The calmer you are at heart, the more life respects you. From the way these birds get antsy around you, it seems that you're a bit stressed." His arms were out as he explained with a 'what do you expect' expression. He gave her a real cool smile. One that he knew might've been dangerous enough to melt her with Jecht around but it was just the way he smiled. He couldn't help it at all.
" I guess that's why the rest of the kids-" (by which she was reffering to Tidus, Yuna, and Lulu) "-respect you so much. It's been awhile since we've had a peaceful personaility around here." She nodded and took up the birdcage carefully before starting to walk away. Drake followed.
" It does get pretty hectic around here anyways, but the benefit of having guests is that people realize it's not proper to argue such, and then things start to get a little calmer you know?"
" Yeah." Drake agreed seeing the smoke trail of cool air through the wind " Especially with Lulu around. Things have been a bit more quiet. God your house is nice."
He gazed up at it's incredible size. A person could seriously get lost in there. All the beatiful pillars, classic design and walkways, great balcony views, and rec areas surrounding it with a large pool in the back. A person could get used to this lifestyle, but when you had such goods life never got easier for you. Everyone pressed on you, and made sure you never had the chance to enjoy it. Thinking about it made Drake glad that he wasn't rich .
Tidus and Yuna had gone off running. He came up slowly and unenthusiastically on his way upstairs to the guest room. Lulu sat covered in one of Fakami's silk white bed robes sitting by the fire. She'd stopped crying, and was fast asleep. He'd done it once so may be she wouldn't mind if he woke her up. He sat down by her and put his hand to her face. She grabbed his hand and held it close to her body, still dreaming.
" I feel a little better just stay here please."
" Sure." He leaned over to kiss both her tits again. Black Dragon-like 'L' symbols were painted lightly on her breasts above her nips. It would have been real torture to brand or tatoo them on, but with the joker she'd been with he'd think it was possible. She breathed out a relaxing sigh as he buried his face between them both. Her hands grasped him again and she murmured for him not to leave. Between kisses he spoke to her. His hands went under her thighs raising up her leg. She accepted his touch, and sighed as he kept kissing her body.
" I don't believe it's only been a few days, and it's come to this." he stopped. " Well how does it feel to be free?"
"I can't put it into words." She sat up and thought about it as he caught his breath." Just better than before....I'm willing to live with that." her voice was still as dream-like as ever. It had Drake wondering whether he was coming out of the dream, and it made him nervous again. But he still held her trying to put the thought out of his mind.
" I've never known a boy like you. You're just unique in every way." She stared at him.
" Sounds pretty hard to say. We haven't known each other long."
" I'd fall into the arms of any other man just to escape...and was lucky I found the right one."
She was kind of pushing on the drama a bit, but then again you really couldn't say she was, after the night they had been through.
" Odd I think. I never thought I'd have that sort of impact...On anyone." Drake thought about his past. " Am I that much of a suprise to you or are you really wanting to say goodbye to your past?"
" Both." she told him.
" Well the past can be taken away. It can all be taken away if you do this thing for us. He will never walk the streets. You'll never have to see his face again...except in an orange jumpsuit with shackles."
" B-but. It won't get rid of the memories." she closed her eyes feeling safe around him.
They flashed in her mind again. He came down Francis avenue wearing his shades with an evil teeth smile crossing his face under the hot sun. Still in a pimp's clothing. Out came his walther and he pointed right at her. As the shot went off, she woke up all shook up again.
" They're still haunting you huh?"
Lulu nodded. Trying to supress the tears. She felt so dumb tearing up constantly, but maybe life was too hard for her.
" Poor baby." He hugged her.
The door opened, and Jecht came barging through.
" Listen guys. Maybe since this is my boy's home I don't mind, but you remember that in my prescence you want to keep your little stuff discreet all right?"
" Yessir." Drake didn't want to give him a reason.
" Come on. The detectives and lawyers are downstairs."
They acknowlegded how strange it was that the witnesses were at the suspects house, but they were given enough info to satisfy them. Drake held her hand. Yuna sitting by her for some form of 'sisterly' encouragement, while Tidus kept silent not wanting any trouble. When Drake explained why they had come it was well understood.
" Now for the big part.."
Weeks Later.
News reporters were there. Cameras. Some of the family and relatives. She was much more brave on the stand as the judge, and the attorney directed her through questioning. She didn't give the prosecutor any card that he was looking for.
" Miss Lulu. You've been with Seymour....?"
" Ever since I was 10."
" You've met some of his friends yes?"
" Yes."
" What sort of business did he hold at his club on 'no-business' days?"
" He traded his drugs with other pushers that came in. He had one big delivery. That was the night he got Rena high on his new stuff and she OD'd. Like that." She sniffled at the memory of a lost friend then kept on talking.
" Anyways I saw him get up and leave numerous times that night. Later he'd brought these guys dressed in black sweaters...
(Fade out. Fade in to Drake's testimony)
" It was around 1:00. When I came out I was heading over to 'Damien's' right across the street these two people covered in ski masks shoved me rushing on their way into the parking lot.
"And did you see anything else?" asked the prosecutor
" A car had pulled out rather speedily. It was kind of a hot looking model."
Tidus sunk his head in his seat. Yuna knotted her hands up. It wasn't smart to do it in public but they were nervous enough to pull their hairs out.
" It looked somewhat like a 2000 type Mustang. Convertible."
(Fade out)
As the proceedings went along soon the guest records list was pulled up. Since Seymour did keep track of such things, and it was his downfall every car that came in was also noted with every guest ever since he started making it his law that only hot rides could enter. Drake had nothing to do with it. He parked on the curb a while away. And before he knew it they were confirming what they saw.
Tidus stuck to his guns, kept his face straight, and didn't let the DA kick his ass. As they started putting the time slots together Drake kept wondering why it didn't make anymore sense to these people.
He decided to twiddle the pen around a little bit more. Boy was he ever right about Lulu. Perhaps the women in the jury would believe Tidus was innocent and believe that Seymour had stuff planted in his car just because they felt sympathy for her. She really defended Tidus by calling every other person around the club bastards, and him innocent because he was a total stranger. Just like the OJ Simpson case it was going to turn into an entirely different issue at stake, and from the drama of it all, people would make the verdict based on that instead of 'who did the drugs belong to'. Not only that but Seymour had gotten rather antsy in his seat. Drake noticed him glaring and scowling at her. Anymore, and the guy could be asked to leave.
Then he looked at he jury. They looked like they were pretty fair people. Listening with open ears. It made him almost wish he knew what they were thinking...but it was just a hypothetical. He really didn't want-
The pen gave him exactly what he asked for.
The atmosphere around him became dark. He looked at all of their faces again. Those were people who didn't like superstars like Tidus one bit. They'd love to see him locked up. His face off the TV screens, taking away the greatness of basketball. Didn't even think an innocent guy deserved a chance. They were all going to say 'guilty.'
Yuna was a little on edge sitting next to him squeezing his hand. He tapped her shoulder
" Oh. I'm sorry." She whispered
Flexing his fingers. He directed his attention back to the jury. Poor Yuna. She didn't know what was going to happen. Los Angeles was apparently not a home for her boyfriend. It was like an outsider walking into the wrong saloon where everybody hated you instantly, and would shoot you on spot if you said something dumb. She just didn't know at all. That something was going to come along that would seperate her from the only person she ever loved in her life. Something so unfair, and even unjust. If the story was that she'd been through many boyfriends, who all treated her like a bitch, and she lost a true friend who knew what sort of reaction it would bring. She had cried enough tears.
It was time to change history.
He didn't think he would have to do it but apparently he wasn't given any other choice.
Through every single session that was held afterwards he kept on testing out the pen keeping it hidden under his shirt. Rubbing it for good luck. It was right then that he discovered how this world worked. Everything was falling towards this path of doom, and he had the power to change things to his liking. He wanted good things so in turn wrongs were righted lives were saved and such.
Now he was going to right this wrong.
Suprised that the bailiff had even let him keep his pen thinking it wasn't a weapon, he covered it's glowing effect under his hand hiding the rest of it under his shirt sleeve. He didn't want to show the thing with somebody looking. He waited till Yuna looked over in the other direction. His brain reported to him.
( Here's your chance. Go now!) The procedure was simple. He found out why it didn't work as easliy the last few times he used it. He had to hold it up in front of his eyes, and speak out his intention through his mind.
They were just about to come out the room when he made his wish. He had begun to suggest that the trick worked when he saw some of the people walking back. some scratching or shaking their heads feeling a bit disoriented. It made him want to chuckle, but he kept a straight face.
(Throw my buddies in prison will ya? Not on my watch guys.)
" What is the jury's verdict" asked the judge. Wishing he was out playing golf right then
" On the charge of illegal possession of drugs we find the defendant 'Sir Tidus' ....."
Yuna was really on edge right then. Her heart beating like the end of the world was about to come, and sitting back Drake just relaxed and smiled
"-Not guilty."
She breathed out easy. A smattering of conversation came among the people in the courtroom. Yuna looked over to Drake and gave him a little five before the judge called for order
" On the charge of illegal possesion of a firearm we find the defendant.......not guilty."
This time everyone burst out in confusion just like they did in a movie. Tears of joy coming out of Yuna's eyes. wanting to hug the first person she saw. Then she looked over to Tidus. As order finally came they let the judge make his final sayings then his hands were let free.
She embraced him tighter than she had ever done before. Tears coming out of both their eyes they were locked tightly, only seperated by the mob that pushed them out of the courtroom.
He thanked his lawyer, and family for supporting him when put in front of the news camera. Drake never got to see it but inside he could tell how happy Tidus probably was. Getting into his Jeep he found his cap and plopped it on his head again. He saw one of those officers come up to him. It was a suprise at first but then again after thinking about it he couldn't see Auron as anybody else.
" I don't know how it happened but I guess the rich have their ways of even getting by the law." Auron sneered.
" Well we heard the case right? So it was all a coincedence. I mean the odds seem unlikely but they showed everything on the video tape. So I think you've found your suspect.
" Seymour's not going home apparently, but what's on the news is even worse."
" Like what?" Drake inquired putting on a look that made him seem totally unknowing. He wouldn't ever let a cop have a card to play against him.
Auron's radio came on. he couldn't stay because he had a bust to make. A rather unusual moment, but when Drake went back to the car he heard the location they were heading off to. Seymour's club. A violent turnout was coming up, and the DEA had confirmed there were drugs being hidden in there. Lulu walked over to Drake. Her arms wrapping around him still put that good chill down his back but he hid it well.
" You did great up there." Drake told her. By listening to her he had almost been convinced the whole time that the case was in the bag.
" You weren't so bad yourself." she let go halfway to look up into his eyes.
Sure he had a ho', but it was Lulu for crying out loud. Other game fans back in reality would go nuts and pass out just seeing her on earth. she didn't have so much of an atitude when you got to know her, and perhaps Seymour's crazed atitude had changed her to that soft spoken person within, and what she needed was someone who would treat her with care. Well he was up for the posistion. There was no doubt about that. Not only that but he actually knew how to talk to her. Other people from the city they had atitiudes. They didn't like dumb little outsiders like him with their friendly faces. Pro's wouldn't sleep with anyone. If you didn't have the fresh talk or something to show you didn't get the chick., but this was so different. All he had to do was be himself the way his folks taught him.
" Wanna grab something to eat?" he offered
" Yeah. I was kinda starving in there."
" All righty." He walked over to her side, opened the door and took her hand as she stepped in. Trying to play the gentleman act to the extreme, but it would only make her love him more.
" Thank you."
" No problem miss."
Kinoc worked for the cartel. It was him all this time. Backstabber was his middle name. Auron watches his line of henchmen come up to the front door. Nothing happens for awhile
The DEA were all waiting around undercover nothing heard yet. The SWAT armored men with sub machine guns were waiting inside the truck, until orders were given. They would only go in when things got very ugly. Not even a peeping noise was made. They looked like a casual group of men fancing each other's cars, going on about life or something that their targets inside would never suspect while at the same time talking on radio. All of a sudden, squad SUV's pull right up on the scene. A few FBI agents tried to go in first with some show off take down. and they bit it as shots went off from the darkness inside the club. Then one of the henchmen, a blond guy in a hawaiian shirt dressed in casual clothes with no armor came out holding a Full Uzi and fired out at the agents. Bullets grazing the cars outside. More of the henchmen ended up defending themselves behind the their supply trucks which were stuck right out in the open lot behind the club A van came around the corner into the street trying to drive-by-shoot the agent post from behind
Auron caught it, quickly bringing up his M92F and nailed the driver in the front seat with quick eye and trigger work, blood springing out of the drivers forehead yet at the same time, the hit caused a trigger spasm in his hand forcing him to fire his Uzi at the gathering of DEA agents.
Auron saw his partner go down. Not Brady, but his original guy. The fact that it happened was enough to put time into slow motion he wanted to stop right there but some one had already ran over to cover him. He didn't have time to lose his mind he only had time to react and...
Another suprise henchman had jumped out the back of the drive by van raising his weapon only to meet two hard shots that sent his weapon flying out of his hand, was almost about to reach for a small back up piece in his pant leg and knock off the agent. Auron saw it in his eyes. If he had the chance he would kill him, but he didn't give him the chance and downed him.
Kinoc could be seen flying through the alley way out into the street as his hench men supplied cover. Clips reloaded on all sides and the standoff continued. Auron had his eyes on his target for weeks, and his guys knew it. That was why one of the back up squadmen in armor waved to him yelling.
" It's Kinoc over there! Get him."
He was sweating in his polo shirt that day running as fast as he could. Reloading and climbing over a fence rushing into a garden apartment area far back behind the lot.
Kinoc didn't know where to run. He followed only his instinct because his brain simply refused to function in a time of danger. His suit torn from falling all around the place amongst broken glass and shattering wood. He lugged the suitcase that carried his profits for selling dust in Vegas. More than he'd ever achieved and he could lose it. He saw the nearest apartment, and bolted through. Bleeding out of an empty handed arm from a gun shot He passed ver a bunch of childern watching cartoons. THeir mother screaming about what all the fuss was he ran into the backyard jumping over the balcony seeing another building across a small street where he could head up a ladder. Perhaps the roof would give him an advantage. All he knew was that he had to hurry.
Auron was close behind flashing his badge telling the woman not to worry at all, that he was the goodguy.
" DEA!" Is anyone in the house?"
" He left out the balcony!" The woman told him.
He gave her a nod and kept on his way spotting his enemy running up a roof. He jumped out the backyard, went into the street over by the next alley, ran to the ladder and climbed up furiously. Nothing waiting at the top. Good. Kinoc was gone though. Didn't see the little rat anywhere. The pipe that hit him sent him to the floor faster than he could even yell out in pain but he dealt with it and turned around on his back pointing at the drug dealer himself who had just gotten out his little pocket .22. automatic They simply pointed at each other's faces. No one made a move. Their breaths were hard but Kinoc was smiling seeing Auron's face look weak the way it was.
" Surrender. Your little game ends here and now." he told Kinoc
" You gotta be kidding me you little shit. You know you wouldn't shoot an old friend."
" Try me." beads of sweat came down the agent's face but he was stern.
Kinoc wasn't going to waste his time. This was an age old trick they used to play before Auron knew he was criminal. Play roulette with automatics and see who still had a bullet left chambered when they knew they were empty. This wacko was a weird dealer but he was wise. He heard all of Auron's shots like a dogs ear could pick up the sound of it's prey half a mile away, and he was counting every single shot. all fifteen rounds gone. He may have wasted some rounds but he was usre that he won right then and there.
" Goodbye old friend."
(Click! Click! Click! Click! Click!)
No! It couldn't be possible! He couldn't be ou-"
Auron foot swept him to the ground letting off one round in the air to scare his opponent down and confirm that he had more than enough bullets for him then held him at gunpoint reading the man his rights as he lay down. His suitcase five feet away from him knowing that his empire had come crashing down.
They were singing along to Incubus together drake was on the wheel again taking a light cruise. They eyed down their favorite places and saw a fairly good looking restaurant on the corner.
" I thought that case would never end I swear. The DA. see that guy was pushing me."
" I know. He's got such an atitude you'd think the guy never had a hobby just spent the entire night thinking of ways to put Tidus, and perhaps the rest of us in jail on something else."
" The world is crazy I tell ya, and it makes you sick-oh how bout this one over here?"
" I hear the steaks and salads are nice. Can you cover all this?"
" Yeah I've got money." Drake smiled. Thanks to a little magic pen work some of his rusty old Washington's became Jackson's and even a few Franklins. Goodness! He loved that thing
He didn't see the jeep behind him at all. Nor was that other driver paying attention. When he felt that rear end it gave him a jolt.
" Lord in Christ help these arrogant little....give me time to park will ya?" he muttered
He didn't like parallel parking but if you lived in the city then you had to like it. He remembered why he hated it when he felt that crash. He didn't show his anger when he got out but trudged over to the jeep and looked at the driver. He had to use the pen a lot more often. Maybe if he juiced it up a bit more life would be sweeter.
" Tell me you didn't mean to do that-Rikku?"
" Huh? How do you know my name?"
" Who doesn't you're one of the main cast of Final-"
He stopped right there.
(You idiot! She doesn't know that! Not in this world.)
He noticed the guitar case and stickers in the back of the car. The rest of the Al Bhed's were staring at him but he quickly regained himself.
" I'm sorry. I didn't know it was you but I'm a big fan. I've seen you play downtown a lot before you went big."
" Ugh. What've I done? I give my fans autographs and now I accidentally rear end their cars. I guess albums don't do as well when you cause more road agitation. Or at least not this year. Sorry buddy." She patted his shoulder. " We'll get to fixing it right away." she got down to take a look at what she just did.
" Oh crap." she got on her cell phone and called for a tow truck. While ther rest of her brothers and cousins got out and started helping.
" Thanks. It means a lot." Lulu told her
" Hey aren't you from Seymour's club?"
" Dunno what you're talking about." Lulu tried to keep it in secret.
" Hottest ass in town and she doesn't even recognize her own self? You said for 600 bucks we could get the job."
" The fuck's going on?" Drake was rather confused
" I'm kidding. I'm not a 'dike' or anything like that. I'm straight. I just wanted to see how you'd react."
" That's not a good joke on your part." Drake advised. " Anyways.. getting back to the issue at hand..."
" We've got it covered right guys?" She interrupted while getting back to the guys
Her brothers nodded their heads.
(pleese R&R, n' R&R some more.)
Preview to next chapter/Authors Note:
The pen seems to have a mind of it's own. Drake thinks he's seen enough of this world and wants to go back home but there's a glitch not to mention if Lulu finds out about his plans ofr departure...things will not be happy. Plus the family feuds btwn Jecht, and Braska explode just while Tidus is planning to propose during vacation. Plus I've got more occupations to think up for even the lower cast people. The end of the line is awhile away so hang on
(pleese R&R, n' R&R some more.)
Chapter Five: A Solution
Drake's footsteps were light against the grass. His mind still found it amazing how he actually stared into real faces that were none other than what he believed to fantasy. Back home they were just video game mods. No one that would talk back you. They only existed within the mind, but in this alternate home they surrounded him. They were as alive as any other being, and it boggled his mind whenever he stopped to think about just how they came to be. They were alive in his dreams, but those dreams were just CGI replays of what happened in the game. He found himself standing there. Reaching out to touch one of them on the shoulder. To ask them. To beg for such a world to be real. Then he woke up, and begain his agonizing morning routines.
The comfort of being trapped in another world that was a little bit more satisfying invigorated him. He just realized that he had escaped a band of city gunners while driving at high speeds and missed a train. For one to doubt that the pen was working they would have to be extremely stupid. The air actually felt fresher, and the lovely atmosphere encouraged a drive or a morning jog but he held back thinking that he would take care of that much later. Relaxation was what he wanted... Yes. He could stay here...forever perhaps. He never heard from grandpa till his last days. Who knew how long he stayed away from earth? As long as he wanted. Tracey didn't necessarily say that his vacation was short, but was it really a vacation. No. It wasn't fun witnessing his favorite characters in trouble while he hung back on a wall and changed fate. He had to make it better for everybody. Only seeing all of their smiles could put his mind at rest. He kneeled down and watched the skies above. Playing with a few doves that came to rest on the grass. He coaxed one over ,and let her walk on his arm. It was probably one of Fakami's trained birds and they were on the loose again. Seeing her run down the front lawn chasing them with every single breath she had in her body hoping they wouldn't get lost, and cause Jecht to come out, and start complaining again.
" Tara! Come back!" She yelled. Her gloved hands stretched out as she spotted the rest of the pack instantly with her sharp aqua colored eyes, and began signaling for them to fly back, but her main bird was missing. She walked up the front lawn approaching Drake slowly from behind. Kneeled over and tapped his shoulder. Drake didn't turn around but held out his arm revealing her baby bird. standing on his arm she collected Tara and walked over to the visitor.
" Hey how'd you do that?" she asked. setting Tara in her cage and pulling her small sweater back over her shoulders that previously hung loosely around her arms and blouse. The breeze had a chilly edge on it, and she was mainly used to hot weather even wearing her tight jeans as a precaution
Drake turned around with a casual twist on his lips. The same that Tidus had. His dark eyes, and pale face stared back at Fakami. he slid his cap to the side and answered her to make sure that it wasn't over his face making a bad gesture.
" I'm a little in touch with nature. The calmer you are at heart, the more life respects you. From the way these birds get antsy around you, it seems that you're a bit stressed." His arms were out as he explained with a 'what do you expect' expression. He gave her a real cool smile. One that he knew might've been dangerous enough to melt her with Jecht around but it was just the way he smiled. He couldn't help it at all.
" I guess that's why the rest of the kids-" (by which she was reffering to Tidus, Yuna, and Lulu) "-respect you so much. It's been awhile since we've had a peaceful personaility around here." She nodded and took up the birdcage carefully before starting to walk away. Drake followed.
" It does get pretty hectic around here anyways, but the benefit of having guests is that people realize it's not proper to argue such, and then things start to get a little calmer you know?"
" Yeah." Drake agreed seeing the smoke trail of cool air through the wind " Especially with Lulu around. Things have been a bit more quiet. God your house is nice."
He gazed up at it's incredible size. A person could seriously get lost in there. All the beatiful pillars, classic design and walkways, great balcony views, and rec areas surrounding it with a large pool in the back. A person could get used to this lifestyle, but when you had such goods life never got easier for you. Everyone pressed on you, and made sure you never had the chance to enjoy it. Thinking about it made Drake glad that he wasn't rich .
Tidus and Yuna had gone off running. He came up slowly and unenthusiastically on his way upstairs to the guest room. Lulu sat covered in one of Fakami's silk white bed robes sitting by the fire. She'd stopped crying, and was fast asleep. He'd done it once so may be she wouldn't mind if he woke her up. He sat down by her and put his hand to her face. She grabbed his hand and held it close to her body, still dreaming.
" I feel a little better just stay here please."
" Sure." He leaned over to kiss both her tits again. Black Dragon-like 'L' symbols were painted lightly on her breasts above her nips. It would have been real torture to brand or tatoo them on, but with the joker she'd been with he'd think it was possible. She breathed out a relaxing sigh as he buried his face between them both. Her hands grasped him again and she murmured for him not to leave. Between kisses he spoke to her. His hands went under her thighs raising up her leg. She accepted his touch, and sighed as he kept kissing her body.
" I don't believe it's only been a few days, and it's come to this." he stopped. " Well how does it feel to be free?"
"I can't put it into words." She sat up and thought about it as he caught his breath." Just better than before....I'm willing to live with that." her voice was still as dream-like as ever. It had Drake wondering whether he was coming out of the dream, and it made him nervous again. But he still held her trying to put the thought out of his mind.
" I've never known a boy like you. You're just unique in every way." She stared at him.
" Sounds pretty hard to say. We haven't known each other long."
" I'd fall into the arms of any other man just to escape...and was lucky I found the right one."
She was kind of pushing on the drama a bit, but then again you really couldn't say she was, after the night they had been through.
" Odd I think. I never thought I'd have that sort of impact...On anyone." Drake thought about his past. " Am I that much of a suprise to you or are you really wanting to say goodbye to your past?"
" Both." she told him.
" Well the past can be taken away. It can all be taken away if you do this thing for us. He will never walk the streets. You'll never have to see his face again...except in an orange jumpsuit with shackles."
" B-but. It won't get rid of the memories." she closed her eyes feeling safe around him.
They flashed in her mind again. He came down Francis avenue wearing his shades with an evil teeth smile crossing his face under the hot sun. Still in a pimp's clothing. Out came his walther and he pointed right at her. As the shot went off, she woke up all shook up again.
" They're still haunting you huh?"
Lulu nodded. Trying to supress the tears. She felt so dumb tearing up constantly, but maybe life was too hard for her.
" Poor baby." He hugged her.
The door opened, and Jecht came barging through.
" Listen guys. Maybe since this is my boy's home I don't mind, but you remember that in my prescence you want to keep your little stuff discreet all right?"
" Yessir." Drake didn't want to give him a reason.
" Come on. The detectives and lawyers are downstairs."
They acknowlegded how strange it was that the witnesses were at the suspects house, but they were given enough info to satisfy them. Drake held her hand. Yuna sitting by her for some form of 'sisterly' encouragement, while Tidus kept silent not wanting any trouble. When Drake explained why they had come it was well understood.
" Now for the big part.."
Weeks Later.
News reporters were there. Cameras. Some of the family and relatives. She was much more brave on the stand as the judge, and the attorney directed her through questioning. She didn't give the prosecutor any card that he was looking for.
" Miss Lulu. You've been with Seymour....?"
" Ever since I was 10."
" You've met some of his friends yes?"
" Yes."
" What sort of business did he hold at his club on 'no-business' days?"
" He traded his drugs with other pushers that came in. He had one big delivery. That was the night he got Rena high on his new stuff and she OD'd. Like that." She sniffled at the memory of a lost friend then kept on talking.
" Anyways I saw him get up and leave numerous times that night. Later he'd brought these guys dressed in black sweaters...
(Fade out. Fade in to Drake's testimony)
" It was around 1:00. When I came out I was heading over to 'Damien's' right across the street these two people covered in ski masks shoved me rushing on their way into the parking lot.
"And did you see anything else?" asked the prosecutor
" A car had pulled out rather speedily. It was kind of a hot looking model."
Tidus sunk his head in his seat. Yuna knotted her hands up. It wasn't smart to do it in public but they were nervous enough to pull their hairs out.
" It looked somewhat like a 2000 type Mustang. Convertible."
(Fade out)
As the proceedings went along soon the guest records list was pulled up. Since Seymour did keep track of such things, and it was his downfall every car that came in was also noted with every guest ever since he started making it his law that only hot rides could enter. Drake had nothing to do with it. He parked on the curb a while away. And before he knew it they were confirming what they saw.
Tidus stuck to his guns, kept his face straight, and didn't let the DA kick his ass. As they started putting the time slots together Drake kept wondering why it didn't make anymore sense to these people.
He decided to twiddle the pen around a little bit more. Boy was he ever right about Lulu. Perhaps the women in the jury would believe Tidus was innocent and believe that Seymour had stuff planted in his car just because they felt sympathy for her. She really defended Tidus by calling every other person around the club bastards, and him innocent because he was a total stranger. Just like the OJ Simpson case it was going to turn into an entirely different issue at stake, and from the drama of it all, people would make the verdict based on that instead of 'who did the drugs belong to'. Not only that but Seymour had gotten rather antsy in his seat. Drake noticed him glaring and scowling at her. Anymore, and the guy could be asked to leave.
Then he looked at he jury. They looked like they were pretty fair people. Listening with open ears. It made him almost wish he knew what they were thinking...but it was just a hypothetical. He really didn't want-
The pen gave him exactly what he asked for.
The atmosphere around him became dark. He looked at all of their faces again. Those were people who didn't like superstars like Tidus one bit. They'd love to see him locked up. His face off the TV screens, taking away the greatness of basketball. Didn't even think an innocent guy deserved a chance. They were all going to say 'guilty.'
Yuna was a little on edge sitting next to him squeezing his hand. He tapped her shoulder
" Oh. I'm sorry." She whispered
Flexing his fingers. He directed his attention back to the jury. Poor Yuna. She didn't know what was going to happen. Los Angeles was apparently not a home for her boyfriend. It was like an outsider walking into the wrong saloon where everybody hated you instantly, and would shoot you on spot if you said something dumb. She just didn't know at all. That something was going to come along that would seperate her from the only person she ever loved in her life. Something so unfair, and even unjust. If the story was that she'd been through many boyfriends, who all treated her like a bitch, and she lost a true friend who knew what sort of reaction it would bring. She had cried enough tears.
It was time to change history.
He didn't think he would have to do it but apparently he wasn't given any other choice.
Through every single session that was held afterwards he kept on testing out the pen keeping it hidden under his shirt. Rubbing it for good luck. It was right then that he discovered how this world worked. Everything was falling towards this path of doom, and he had the power to change things to his liking. He wanted good things so in turn wrongs were righted lives were saved and such.
Now he was going to right this wrong.
Suprised that the bailiff had even let him keep his pen thinking it wasn't a weapon, he covered it's glowing effect under his hand hiding the rest of it under his shirt sleeve. He didn't want to show the thing with somebody looking. He waited till Yuna looked over in the other direction. His brain reported to him.
( Here's your chance. Go now!) The procedure was simple. He found out why it didn't work as easliy the last few times he used it. He had to hold it up in front of his eyes, and speak out his intention through his mind.
They were just about to come out the room when he made his wish. He had begun to suggest that the trick worked when he saw some of the people walking back. some scratching or shaking their heads feeling a bit disoriented. It made him want to chuckle, but he kept a straight face.
(Throw my buddies in prison will ya? Not on my watch guys.)
" What is the jury's verdict" asked the judge. Wishing he was out playing golf right then
" On the charge of illegal possession of drugs we find the defendant 'Sir Tidus' ....."
Yuna was really on edge right then. Her heart beating like the end of the world was about to come, and sitting back Drake just relaxed and smiled
"-Not guilty."
She breathed out easy. A smattering of conversation came among the people in the courtroom. Yuna looked over to Drake and gave him a little five before the judge called for order
" On the charge of illegal possesion of a firearm we find the defendant.......not guilty."
This time everyone burst out in confusion just like they did in a movie. Tears of joy coming out of Yuna's eyes. wanting to hug the first person she saw. Then she looked over to Tidus. As order finally came they let the judge make his final sayings then his hands were let free.
She embraced him tighter than she had ever done before. Tears coming out of both their eyes they were locked tightly, only seperated by the mob that pushed them out of the courtroom.
He thanked his lawyer, and family for supporting him when put in front of the news camera. Drake never got to see it but inside he could tell how happy Tidus probably was. Getting into his Jeep he found his cap and plopped it on his head again. He saw one of those officers come up to him. It was a suprise at first but then again after thinking about it he couldn't see Auron as anybody else.
" I don't know how it happened but I guess the rich have their ways of even getting by the law." Auron sneered.
" Well we heard the case right? So it was all a coincedence. I mean the odds seem unlikely but they showed everything on the video tape. So I think you've found your suspect.
" Seymour's not going home apparently, but what's on the news is even worse."
" Like what?" Drake inquired putting on a look that made him seem totally unknowing. He wouldn't ever let a cop have a card to play against him.
Auron's radio came on. he couldn't stay because he had a bust to make. A rather unusual moment, but when Drake went back to the car he heard the location they were heading off to. Seymour's club. A violent turnout was coming up, and the DEA had confirmed there were drugs being hidden in there. Lulu walked over to Drake. Her arms wrapping around him still put that good chill down his back but he hid it well.
" You did great up there." Drake told her. By listening to her he had almost been convinced the whole time that the case was in the bag.
" You weren't so bad yourself." she let go halfway to look up into his eyes.
Sure he had a ho', but it was Lulu for crying out loud. Other game fans back in reality would go nuts and pass out just seeing her on earth. she didn't have so much of an atitude when you got to know her, and perhaps Seymour's crazed atitude had changed her to that soft spoken person within, and what she needed was someone who would treat her with care. Well he was up for the posistion. There was no doubt about that. Not only that but he actually knew how to talk to her. Other people from the city they had atitiudes. They didn't like dumb little outsiders like him with their friendly faces. Pro's wouldn't sleep with anyone. If you didn't have the fresh talk or something to show you didn't get the chick., but this was so different. All he had to do was be himself the way his folks taught him.
" Wanna grab something to eat?" he offered
" Yeah. I was kinda starving in there."
" All righty." He walked over to her side, opened the door and took her hand as she stepped in. Trying to play the gentleman act to the extreme, but it would only make her love him more.
" Thank you."
" No problem miss."
Kinoc worked for the cartel. It was him all this time. Backstabber was his middle name. Auron watches his line of henchmen come up to the front door. Nothing happens for awhile
The DEA were all waiting around undercover nothing heard yet. The SWAT armored men with sub machine guns were waiting inside the truck, until orders were given. They would only go in when things got very ugly. Not even a peeping noise was made. They looked like a casual group of men fancing each other's cars, going on about life or something that their targets inside would never suspect while at the same time talking on radio. All of a sudden, squad SUV's pull right up on the scene. A few FBI agents tried to go in first with some show off take down. and they bit it as shots went off from the darkness inside the club. Then one of the henchmen, a blond guy in a hawaiian shirt dressed in casual clothes with no armor came out holding a Full Uzi and fired out at the agents. Bullets grazing the cars outside. More of the henchmen ended up defending themselves behind the their supply trucks which were stuck right out in the open lot behind the club A van came around the corner into the street trying to drive-by-shoot the agent post from behind
Auron caught it, quickly bringing up his M92F and nailed the driver in the front seat with quick eye and trigger work, blood springing out of the drivers forehead yet at the same time, the hit caused a trigger spasm in his hand forcing him to fire his Uzi at the gathering of DEA agents.
Auron saw his partner go down. Not Brady, but his original guy. The fact that it happened was enough to put time into slow motion he wanted to stop right there but some one had already ran over to cover him. He didn't have time to lose his mind he only had time to react and...
Another suprise henchman had jumped out the back of the drive by van raising his weapon only to meet two hard shots that sent his weapon flying out of his hand, was almost about to reach for a small back up piece in his pant leg and knock off the agent. Auron saw it in his eyes. If he had the chance he would kill him, but he didn't give him the chance and downed him.
Kinoc could be seen flying through the alley way out into the street as his hench men supplied cover. Clips reloaded on all sides and the standoff continued. Auron had his eyes on his target for weeks, and his guys knew it. That was why one of the back up squadmen in armor waved to him yelling.
" It's Kinoc over there! Get him."
He was sweating in his polo shirt that day running as fast as he could. Reloading and climbing over a fence rushing into a garden apartment area far back behind the lot.
Kinoc didn't know where to run. He followed only his instinct because his brain simply refused to function in a time of danger. His suit torn from falling all around the place amongst broken glass and shattering wood. He lugged the suitcase that carried his profits for selling dust in Vegas. More than he'd ever achieved and he could lose it. He saw the nearest apartment, and bolted through. Bleeding out of an empty handed arm from a gun shot He passed ver a bunch of childern watching cartoons. THeir mother screaming about what all the fuss was he ran into the backyard jumping over the balcony seeing another building across a small street where he could head up a ladder. Perhaps the roof would give him an advantage. All he knew was that he had to hurry.
Auron was close behind flashing his badge telling the woman not to worry at all, that he was the goodguy.
" DEA!" Is anyone in the house?"
" He left out the balcony!" The woman told him.
He gave her a nod and kept on his way spotting his enemy running up a roof. He jumped out the backyard, went into the street over by the next alley, ran to the ladder and climbed up furiously. Nothing waiting at the top. Good. Kinoc was gone though. Didn't see the little rat anywhere. The pipe that hit him sent him to the floor faster than he could even yell out in pain but he dealt with it and turned around on his back pointing at the drug dealer himself who had just gotten out his little pocket .22. automatic They simply pointed at each other's faces. No one made a move. Their breaths were hard but Kinoc was smiling seeing Auron's face look weak the way it was.
" Surrender. Your little game ends here and now." he told Kinoc
" You gotta be kidding me you little shit. You know you wouldn't shoot an old friend."
" Try me." beads of sweat came down the agent's face but he was stern.
Kinoc wasn't going to waste his time. This was an age old trick they used to play before Auron knew he was criminal. Play roulette with automatics and see who still had a bullet left chambered when they knew they were empty. This wacko was a weird dealer but he was wise. He heard all of Auron's shots like a dogs ear could pick up the sound of it's prey half a mile away, and he was counting every single shot. all fifteen rounds gone. He may have wasted some rounds but he was usre that he won right then and there.
" Goodbye old friend."
(Click! Click! Click! Click! Click!)
No! It couldn't be possible! He couldn't be ou-"
Auron foot swept him to the ground letting off one round in the air to scare his opponent down and confirm that he had more than enough bullets for him then held him at gunpoint reading the man his rights as he lay down. His suitcase five feet away from him knowing that his empire had come crashing down.
They were singing along to Incubus together drake was on the wheel again taking a light cruise. They eyed down their favorite places and saw a fairly good looking restaurant on the corner.
" I thought that case would never end I swear. The DA. see that guy was pushing me."
" I know. He's got such an atitude you'd think the guy never had a hobby just spent the entire night thinking of ways to put Tidus, and perhaps the rest of us in jail on something else."
" The world is crazy I tell ya, and it makes you sick-oh how bout this one over here?"
" I hear the steaks and salads are nice. Can you cover all this?"
" Yeah I've got money." Drake smiled. Thanks to a little magic pen work some of his rusty old Washington's became Jackson's and even a few Franklins. Goodness! He loved that thing
He didn't see the jeep behind him at all. Nor was that other driver paying attention. When he felt that rear end it gave him a jolt.
" Lord in Christ help these arrogant little....give me time to park will ya?" he muttered
He didn't like parallel parking but if you lived in the city then you had to like it. He remembered why he hated it when he felt that crash. He didn't show his anger when he got out but trudged over to the jeep and looked at the driver. He had to use the pen a lot more often. Maybe if he juiced it up a bit more life would be sweeter.
" Tell me you didn't mean to do that-Rikku?"
" Huh? How do you know my name?"
" Who doesn't you're one of the main cast of Final-"
He stopped right there.
(You idiot! She doesn't know that! Not in this world.)
He noticed the guitar case and stickers in the back of the car. The rest of the Al Bhed's were staring at him but he quickly regained himself.
" I'm sorry. I didn't know it was you but I'm a big fan. I've seen you play downtown a lot before you went big."
" Ugh. What've I done? I give my fans autographs and now I accidentally rear end their cars. I guess albums don't do as well when you cause more road agitation. Or at least not this year. Sorry buddy." She patted his shoulder. " We'll get to fixing it right away." she got down to take a look at what she just did.
" Oh crap." she got on her cell phone and called for a tow truck. While ther rest of her brothers and cousins got out and started helping.
" Thanks. It means a lot." Lulu told her
" Hey aren't you from Seymour's club?"
" Dunno what you're talking about." Lulu tried to keep it in secret.
" Hottest ass in town and she doesn't even recognize her own self? You said for 600 bucks we could get the job."
" The fuck's going on?" Drake was rather confused
" I'm kidding. I'm not a 'dike' or anything like that. I'm straight. I just wanted to see how you'd react."
" That's not a good joke on your part." Drake advised. " Anyways.. getting back to the issue at hand..."
" We've got it covered right guys?" She interrupted while getting back to the guys
Her brothers nodded their heads.
(pleese R&R, n' R&R some more.)
Preview to next chapter/Authors Note:
The pen seems to have a mind of it's own. Drake thinks he's seen enough of this world and wants to go back home but there's a glitch not to mention if Lulu finds out about his plans ofr departure...things will not be happy. Plus the family feuds btwn Jecht, and Braska explode just while Tidus is planning to propose during vacation. Plus I've got more occupations to think up for even the lower cast people. The end of the line is awhile away so hang on