Tortured By Light
Series: Kingdom Hearts
Categories: AU-ish, Angst, Violence, Yaoi, Adventure, Etc.
Warnings: The usual…
Summary: Ansem has stolen or rather copied Riku's physical appearance and the two battle against each other in the dark side of Kingdom Hearts; a new dimension of worlds. Sora searches for his friend, but will he ever find Riku, and will they ever be able to seal the true doors of light?
Disclaimer: It should be pretty obvious by now what is and is not mine…
Author's Note: Thought I was dead didn't you? I'm not dead, just had a bit of Writer's Block. Anyway this is a fairly angsty, violent chapter, so read at your own risk.
IMPORTANT NOTE: You need to have read my first fic "Bound by Darkness" in order for this fic to make any sense.
WARNING: I ignore flames; so if you have any, I suggest you save your energy because I don't give a shit.
Chapter 6: Sacrifices
Seymour felt his heart break as he was taken to the temple springs to be cleansed. Armed guards stood watch all around the perimeter while he was manhandled by three priests. They tore off what was left of his robes and scrubbed viciously at his abused skin with rough rags. Seymour couldn't help but jerk and twist in their grips as he desperately tried to escape the pain. One of his 'cleansers' seemed to take an added pleasure by constantly tugging at his hair. Once they had finished, Seymour was dressed in ebony robes that were simple but less than modest since they made no attempt to hide his chest. Seymour figured it was so the executioner wouldn't have to rip the fabric when he gutted him. However, Seymour would soon find out another reason for the open chest robes.
Since the guado had gone back to their original superstitious religion, they decided to take special measures to ensure that Seymour's death would appease their gods. Hence, Seymour was taken deep into the temple and tied down to an altar while a priest prepared various threatening tools. Seymour squirmed frantically as the priest brought such a tool close to his exposed chest.
For the next few hours before dawn, several guado priests and guards stood in the temple watching with morbid satisfaction as the head priest continued to carve delicate ritualistic symbols upon each of Seymour's breasts. Seymour's screams echoed in the temple chamber until he exhausted himself to the point he passed out.
Ansem wandered the surreal paths of Guadosalom until dawn, he could sense Riku but it was hindered by the onslaught of alien scents that were present. There was no doubt in his mind that Riku knew he was near because he could faintly make out the slight tinge of anticipation that was subtly mimicked in his heart. It was as if his heart was alerting him to Riku's emotions, however, it also meant that Riku no doubt was to some extent aware of his.
As the sun rose on Guadosalom, the thickening darkness could be seen disturbingly closer and the wind carried an overall sense of dread and sorrow as if the souls of the dead were crying from their earthen graves. Seymour was led out in an orderly procession to a nearby hilltop where a rather short guado dressed in mauve robes that draped over his face waited patiently with a sacrificial dagger in his right hand. The villagers watched silently from a distance but their glares bore down upon Seymour far more than any spoken insult ever could. Ansem, the man with Riku's face who had captured him was busy scanning the area in search for Riku. However, Ansem would not be able to smell Riku this time, since a few yards away from all the action, hidden behind a hut; Riku was ready with his keyblade and quite miserably saturated with perfume strong enough to mask a skunk. Sephiroth meanwhile watched the events from a high spot that gave him a good view of everyone.
Seymour was forced to kneel before the executioner, who made no move nor did he speak. The head priest began his monologue and Sephiroth pulled a strange vial from a hidden pocket in his coat. The vial's label was hard to read except for one name, "Jenova". As the head priest's speech neared its end, Sephiroth gave the vial a gentle squeeze close to his heart and turned to aim it at Ansem who had made no move to hide himself in the crowd.
"Well, here goes nothing… I need your help mother." Sephiroth flung the vial towards Ansem and managed strike the ground next to Ansem's feet. The sudden shattered object startled Ansem momentarily and he watched calmly as the glowing puddle at his feet grew and manifested into a large bundle of mutated biological mass.
"Impressive." Whispered Ansem with a twisted grin as his eyes instantly locked onto those of Sephiroth's. The villagers however panicked and ran to escape the huge abomination. Seymour watched the spectacle in shock until a soft hand reached out from the mauve robes to grab his wrist and lead him away from the diversion caused by Sephiroth. Riku had already created a portal but the gate was draining his energy at a frighteningly quick rate. Riku' knees buckled and he fell but he didn't stop focusing his energy. Riku struggled to hold the gate open so that the others could make it. Kuja and Seymour were quick to meet him and they quickly went to his side in an attempt to somehow help him.
"Don't worry about me just go! I'll hold it open for Sephiroth but you two need to head out now."
"I can help!" pleaded Seymour. Kuja glanced at Seymour doubtfully but Seymour brushed off the silent cynicism and gently placed his hands on Riku's shoulders. Suddenly, Seymour's body began to give off a warm blue light and Riku could feel himself strengthen under Seymour's touch.
"I was trained to become a priest myself, let me help; it's the least I can do." replied Seymour to Riku and Kuja's curious expressions.
"Thanks Seymour," spoke Riku, "Kuja, go ahead and leap through the gate, we'll join you momentarily.
Kuja gave Riku a hesitant look but seeing no alternative action to take, he did as he was told and disappeared through Riku's gate.
While the biomass known as Jenova wreaked havoc upon the guado, Ansem was far more interested in the one who summoned it. Sephiroth watched Ansem carefully and then darted along the rooftop to where Riku would be waiting. However, he hadn't been expecting Ansem to suddenly appear in front of him either. It had never occurred to Sephiroth that anyone besides himself could ever be able to move that fast.
"Going somewhere?" taunted Ansem.
"Ansem!"
"And you are?"
"Sephiroth."
"Ah yes, I remember now. I believe I heard about you fighting in the arena at one time. You were looking for someone yes?"
"That's none of your concern."
"Oh but it is, I make it my concern." Ansem's amber eyes locked on Sephiroth's emerald eyes and he proceeded to step closer to the one winged angel. "You see Sephiroth, I know exactly who it is you seek, and what's more I know where he is."
"You dare to presume to bribe me?"
"Call it what you will Sephiroth… Like it or not, you will never be able to find him on your own. Go from world to world for as long as you want, you'll never find him; the universe is far too vast. Give me what I want and I'll give you Cloud!"
The name spoken from Ansem's lips caused a sorrowful shiver to run up Sephiroth's spine. Ansem watched the turmoil in Sephiroth's eyes with delight as he leaned in to take advantage of the shook up warrior and plant a firm kiss upon Sephiroth's lips. Sephiroth jerked away from the sudden contact and glared menacingly at Ansem who smiled mockingly at him.
"So what will it be Sephiroth? You can either continue this tiresome game with those fools below or you can sacrifice your queen for the greater good of your king? Check?"
"Forget it! You spit out lies as if it were venom! Cloud would never approve of something so evil!"
"And here I thought you to be the realistic one. Cloud isn't without faults himself. Why even as we speak he is probably killing another innocent life in search for you."
"What are you saying?"
"You really didn't know?" Ansem began to laugh darkly at Sephiroth, "Before you ever showed up at that arena, your beloved Cloud had been busy fulfilling a contract with Hades, the lord of the dead. He agreed to carry out missions that involved the murder of innocents so that he could be granted power in order to find you."
"That's a lie that you will not taint my ears with twice." Sephiroth's tone was ice cold and deadly and he brought his sword up to barely touch Ansem's throat.
"I pity your ignorance Sephiroth, the truth is that everyone falls from grace sooner or later in order to get what they want. You yourself are guilty of that."
"That was a long time ago and I do not plan on repeating past mistakes!"
"A pity…"
Sephiroth stood motionless and stared at Ansem until a wild tentacle from Jenova suddenly reached out to wrap around Ansem and carry him off. Ansem yelled out in angry surprise and Sephiroth gave a smirk as Ansem was whisked off.
"Thanks again mother."
Sephiroth ran as fast as he could before Ansem would be able to free himself and joined up with Riku and Seymour.
"Where's Kuja?"
"Already through the portal, we need to hurry; I can't keep replenishing Riku's mana for much longer; it drains me as well."
Sephiroth nodded and went into the gate where he was quickly joined by Seymour and Riku.
"What took you so long?" gasped Riku.
"I got delayed; I do apologize. Are you two alright?"
"As far as I can tell." answered Riku as he glanced to Seymour who was idly thumbing his new chest adornments.
"By the way, where's Kuja?" asked Sephiroth as he looked around their new scenery. It appeared they were just outside of some sort of desert city. The walls that surrounded the city were tall and made out of an odd material, like sand but unnaturally solid. Huge purple plants of coiled thorns and thick vines were the primary vegetation along with very few twig-like trees. Otherwise the landscape was filled with odd obelisk formations and bright red flowers that seemed to be well suited for the sandy terrain. As for Kuja, there didn't seem to be any trace of him anywhere.
"Do you think he went looking for a bathhouse in the city?" asked Riku.
"I wouldn't be surprised, but still, his absence bothers me. We should probably get a room at the nearest inn and try to find him. After all, Kuja's not the sort that blends into a crowd anyway." said Sephiroth as he examined the ground once more until something caught his eye.
"What's that?" asked Seymour as Sephiroth reached down to pick something up from beneath a large purple thorn bush.
"Isn't that Kuja's disguise?" asked Riku. Sephiroth nodded stoically as his fist clenched the cloth in silent worry for the half-pint narcissist wizard.
"We should hurry." urged Seymour who was still rather shook up over the recent events that had just sent his life down an uncertain spiral. Sephiroth dropped the cloth and was followed by Riku and Seymour as they made their way to the city's main gates.
Once they arrived, no one checked them for any sort of clearance; they were admitted as if there was nothing out of the ordinary. Within the city walls, people crowded the streets of a bustling bazaar that seemed equipped to sell anything from silverware and fine silks to exotic drugs and slaves. One such booth was receiving a rather noticeable crowd and Riku poked gently at Sephiroth so that he would stop and hopefully see what the fuss was all about. Sephiroth saw a beautiful woman being put on display for a hungry crowd of onlookers, to publicly degrade a human being in such a way was beyond intolerable for Sephiroth and he quickly looked the other way in search for an inn. Farther up the road a similar crowd of excited boisterous men could be seen trailing out a nearby tent. Their frantic yells were hard to differentiate but when one man suddenly said "silver" and "tail"; all three visitors stopped in their tracks.
"Riku, You and Seymour wait here for me; I'll go check it out."
Riku and Seymour nodded in agreement and stood under an awning while Sephiroth made his way to the tent. Sephiroth's aura was more than enough to get the hasty men to move out of his way as he weaved into the tent to see what all the commotion was about. Upon seeing the situation, Sephiroth couldn't say that he was surprised but he was still outraged at what had been done to Kuja.
There in the middle of a tent full of loud and unruly men, Kuja had been thrown into the middle like a horse to be inspected by possible buyers. Kuja had an odd bracelet on, which Sephiroth had no doubt was suppressing Kuja's powers. To say Kuja was mad would have been an understatement, the mage was absolutely livid. From all sides, hands reached out to grab, touch, and inspect the silver mage with a tail. One particular man had managed to get a solid grip on Kuja and was inspecting his teeth while another began stroking his long silver hair. However, when one of the men became so bold as to grab Kuja's tail; the angry mage suddenly jerked away from his other prospective buyers and spun onto the man who had touched his tail. Without warning, Kuja leaped onto the man and bit him in the face. The crowd was furious at Kuja's lack of subordination and shouts began to arise that he be punished. Kuja was so angry that he almost didn't see the pair of eyes watching him from the crowd that seemed slightly illuminated.
"Sephiroth!" was all that got past Kuja's lips before a sudden blow to the hip and back from a leather belt sent Kuja sprawled onto the floor. Kuja fought to get free as a pair of men wearing identical robes hastily picked Kuja up and threw him into a small cage. Kuja shook the bars frantically, the cage was too small and he could barely stand within its confines.
"Release me at once! I demand you release me! Curse you all!" Kuja's threats went unheard as the crowd laughed and jeered at him. Remarks such as "He's certainly a feisty one", "Tough to train that one", "Such an exotic color", and "nothing like a healthy sex slave" made Sephiroth want to kill every man in sight and rescue Kuja. At last, a man with more jewels than any other present announced that the "new import preview" was finished and that he would be auctioned off the next day. Sephiroth desperately wanted Kuja freed but knew that to take action now would make getting supplies, escaping, and avoiding too much attention harder than they needed to be. Sephiroth knew that the slave traders would not risk devaluing their merchandise and therefore Kuja would be fine until the auction. Sephiroth decided that from there it would be a simple matter to rescue Kuja by buying him and that at least now he knew where the mage was. In the mean time, it would seem that Sephiroth, Riku, and Seymour would have to come up with some munny and in a city such as this there were no doubt a few extra heavy purses that needed to lose some weight. Sephiroth smirked at the thought, once this was all over, he didn't plan on ever letting the cocky mage hear the end of it.
Riku and Seymour waited patiently for Sephiroth to return, each wore a defiant stoic expression on their faces that warded off several passersby. As Sephiroth approached they waved for him eagerly to emphasize to their rather unruly onlookers that they were with someone formidable.
"Sephiroth, something is wrong with these people. They won't stop staring at us. Anyway, did you find Kuja?" asked Riku.
"Yeah I found him… Scantily clad peacock got himself caught by slave traders and my guess is that it's not for his charming disposition nor his skills for manual labor that's getting him noticed."
"Oh my God! Sephiroth you left him!" stammered Riku.
"Now's not the time to cause a ruckus. First we need a room, then supplies, after that we'll see if we can't steal enough money to buy Kuja and walk right out of here."
"Are you sure that's going to work?" asked Seymour.
"No, nothing's ever for certain, but I see no other alternative other than busting him out right now, causing an uproar, and leaving a trail for Ansem to follow. Besides, his highness could use a good dose of reality."
"You're cold Sephiroth." said Riku in disbelief.
"Duly Noted." replied Sephiroth.
To Be Continued…
Author's Note: Yay I updated fast this time! Now that Seymour's safe, what will become of Kuja? Will Sephiroth and the others be able to afford him or will he be sold off to Don Corneo? What if Riku's not as good at pick pocketing as he thinks he is? This and more in the next episode… (I know that sound cheesy but I couldn't resist. ^_^)