Disclaimer: I still don't own anything mentioned in this fic except for Amathera and Gay Pride Kuriboh. I especially do not own chocobos, KFC, werewolves, Touzoku Bakura's sexy self, or any sort of weaponry. Honest!
A single, light gust of wind picked up a lone piece of paper, leading it in an elegant dance through the air. It twirled past trees and people and chattering squirrels, and a werewolf chased after it howling in glee, shedding huge chunks of fur in its excitement. The paper flew on, held in the arms of its partner, until it smacked up against a rather well-developed chest hard enough to bruise.
"Oh my!" Amathera gasped as she snatched up the paper, one hand over her injured bosom. "What's this?" The werewolf slunk away, whimpering, to chase after a toddler.
Tidus shifted to peer over her shoulder. She was leaning back against him, her flowing silvery hair spread across his muscled chest like liquid diamonds. Sort of. Her astonished red eyes took in the article on the paper, and her breath caught in her throat.
"What does it say?" he asked, absently slipping one hand across her waist to stroke her stomach.
"I'm holding it right here. Surely you can see it."
"I can't read."
Amathera paused, and then decided she was feeling magnanimous today, so she summarized the article for him. "Apparently, they are searching for a chocobo who is…uhm…that's an awfully big word, I don't know if you'd understand it. Heehee, uhm, the chocobo is being sought after because it apparently burned down about two dozen KFC restaurants nation-wide and supposedly has plans to take on Purdue Headquarters as well. It has gathered an army of renegade chocobos and is marching upon the headquarters as we speak." There was a picture of an otherwise innocent-looking chocobo carrying a chaingun. Deciding to cash in on this unexpected hazard, she gave a soft whimper, sounding for all she was worth like a frightened maiden just like her father taught her. "I'm scared."
His arm tightened around her. "Don't worry," he breathed in her ear, his voice cracking like a child just hitting puberty. "I can protect you from any danger."
"Even them?" she squeaked, pointing at Rikku and Auron with one delicate, manicured finger. The two were cuddled up close as could be on a fluffy pink blanket with moons and stars and a rainbow, and Auron was feeding Rikku what appeared to be chocolate-covered acorns. A chipmunk sat nearby, looking despondent.
"Well," Tidus replied, his sexy brow furrowing. "I don't know about that."
Rikku suddenly frowned and looked over at them. "What do ya th'o't you're looking at? Ya' know what I'm sayin'?" she snapped, eyes flashing. "Do I need ta come over dere an' teach ya some manners? Brace yourself foo'!"
Auron frowned and whispered something, and the girl settled down, though there was still fire in her eyes. Amathera thought that must be rather painful.
"I don't understand what she sees in him," she murmured to Tidus, reveling in how pretty his tanned arm looked against the flimsy material of her dress. Now, if only there was no dress… "I mean, he's icky, and old, and…well, isn't he dead?"
Tidus blinked in confusion, a baby question mark floating over its head. Its life was cut tragically short as a mockingbird swept in and devoured it. "Dead?" he repeated. "He looks pretty alive to me."
"Dead!" a bird echoed from high overhead. "Dead! Dead!"
Amathera turned her head to the side so she could gaze at him uncomfortably. "Seymour told me he's an unsent," she said conspiratorially, her bloodied eyes darkening with an unknown emotion. Tiny flecks of gray and yellow floated in her over-large orbs. Her full, glossed lips parted, a tiny pink tongue darting out to moisten them and taste the berry of her gloss. Tidus was momentarily stunned.
"Don't say such things!" Tidus hissed finally, stiffening. "You could get detention for that, or worse!" He looked so noble, pressed against a tree, looking so very concerned for her welfare, just like a true knight.
In reality, he would rather be out on the field playing violent, full-contact games with his friend Wakka. However, he would never get laid that way, unless he played for the other team, and that really wasn't his thing. He had a pretty caged bird sitting in his lap, and he was not willing to let her get away. She was prettier than Yuna, and much less boring.
"But what if it's true?" she insisted, though she felt the urge to back down before his concerned brown eyes. Her gaze slid back to the happy couple, and she shuddered. "Loathsome."
"It is not our place to judge others," Tidus said sagely, the brightest thing to ever pop out of his mouth. The only thing that lessened the impact of his lesson was that the last few words came out in a high-pitched squeak.
"I suppose not," she readily agreed. She had to remain on her One True Love of the Moment's good side, after all, and it just wouldn't do to disagree with his pious statement. "But I think that man might have a problem with it. Isn't that Cid, Rikku's father?"
A tall, bald man was steadily making his way to the couple like a bull through weeds, absently chucking people out of his way or simply mowing them down. He was clad in bright orange pants with suspenders over his bare, chiseled, hairy, scar-crossed chest. He had an oddly shaped cap on that made Amathera think of old-fashioned train conductors, and a pipe was stuck in his mouth almost as if it were an afterthought. His boots were covered in caked mud and various other things she did not wish to dwell upon. He left a bloody trail as he walked, stable and confident.
All in all, he was a pretty daunting sight.
"What iz dis here? What 'chew thinking man?" he bellowed, coming to a stop inches away from a petrified Rikku and a stony-faced Auron. "What do ya th'o't you're doin' wiff muh ma fuckin' daughter, nig? Brace yourself foo'! Unhand her or I will beat yo' ass all ye damn hood ratz. "
Rikku leapt to her feet, spilling food onto the blanket. "He's muh ma fuckin nig, an' ya can't whack him! I'm old enough ta make muh ma fuckin' own decisions, father, so back off 'bfoe I hurt ya! an dat boil on mah ass." Rikku was yelling, barely an inch away from his face. Her arms were waving wildly, and her cheeks were flushed with rage.
"Like father, like daughter," Amathera muttered. Tidus chuckled before catching himself and slipping a hand into his pocket.
Without saying another word, the man reached deep into his dirty pocket and withdrew a cell phone, spilling out random objects on the ground, a few bugs scattering away happily. A golden dagger glinted ominously in the sun, a stylized Egyptian eye etched on the sheath. He stared his daughter down while he carefully dialed and spoke to the police. He then calmly replaced the phone.
"Pick up dat trash, ho, an' git yourself in line and shit," he snapped.
Rikku burst into tears but did as her father demanded, all the while sniffling and shooting dark looks at Auron, who still sat with an indifferent look on his face. His mouth was turned down into a frown, and his eyes looked weary, but other than that, he was as stony-faced as always.
He even LOOKS dead, Amathera sulked. Just the thought of those two together is going to give me nightmares for the rest of the week! It might even turn my hair gray prematurely! Oh, what would Seto say if he saw me, a mere maid, with gray hair?
Before long a few well-armed policemen showed up, carrying semi-automatic weapons and full bullet-proof armor. With a wail Rikku threw herself on Auron, pleading with them not to hurt him and beseeching her father to just listen to her and not be so mean, interspersed with vile threats and dire omens. He was, however, unrelenting, and the policemen brutally kicked Rikku away and snapped handcuffs on the still-unmoving Auron.
Rikku snapped. With a feral cry she launched herself at the policemen, screaming and pulling hair and kicking them ineffectively. They restrained her easily, until she somehow got ahold of her father's golden dagger. Blood spilled, the dagger eagerly absorbing the liquid, and one policeman slumped to the ground, as unmoving as his prisoner. Aghast at her actions, she dropped the dagger.
A figure lurking in the shadows he seemed to carry with him chuckled and eyed the blade with interest. No one seemed to notice that when Rikku dropped the blade, it failed to hit the ground.
Amathera choked and buried her face against Tidus' chest, angled so that she could still watch out of one eye. Her friends would adore her rendition of this juicy piece of gossip. She inhaled deeply, reveling in the scent of manly cologne.
The remaining policemen piled on Rikku, forcing her to the ground and twisting her arms behind her back painfully to handcuff her as well. She sputtered and writhed and swore the entire time, yelling for her father to help her, but it was all in vain. When she finally stood, she was bound and bleeding, her clothing in tatters. As she was led away with Auron, she glared foully at her father and spat at his feet.
He backhanded her, leaving a bright red mark on her cheek. "Never disrespect yo' father like dat, ho! You gots shamed me taday! Ya'll is mad stupid." He then turned and strode away, sparing no backwards glance for his daughter and her over-aged lover.
Silence descended over the bright, sunny park, save for the moans of those unfortunates who had gotten in Cid's way. Animation returned to the passersby as if nothing had happened, people stepping blithely over the wounded and dead. A few animals warily approached the prone forms, eagerness glittering in their eyes, and any valuables the people had once owned soon found themselves in new hands.
Overall, Amathera was not pleased.
"They ruined it!" she squealed indignantly as she got to her feet, waving her arms around and throwing a minor tantrum. True to her nature, the childish act and the flush to her cheeks only added to her beauty. She opened her mouth to let fly more absurd complaints, but choked them back when she was hit in the forehead by a pair of dice. Angrily, she snatched them out of the air as they fell, her reflexes quick as a snake, and spun to face her enemy, something physical she could take out her frustrations upon.
Otogi simply crossed his arms and stared at her, looking less than impressed. "You look like a small child who has been denied a sweet," he said condescendingly, his black hair bristling like a cat's fur. "Try growing up." He then turned and walked away, tossing a few more dice behind him to catch in her gleaming hair.
Mouth opening and closing, eyes darkening almost to a coal black, the girl was absolutely speechless. No one had ever spoken back to her like that, not even her own parents! How dare that boy! Who did he think he was, berating her like a little sister! Boys had some nerve!
Lulu wouldn't have let him get away with that, a voice in her head snickered. Lulu would have taught that boy to treat you with respect, and then kissed all of your tears away. But you chased her away, and now she's never ever coming back, and all you have left is me.
Amathera gritted her teeth and clutched her head. "Shut up!" she cried out loud, arms trembling.
"Thera, dear, who are you talking to?"
Tidus' girly voice snapped her out of it, and she lowered her arms, a few tears leaking from her eyes. She did not respond.
He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, his touch warm and soothing. "Are you all right?"
"No!" she shrieked as she brushed his hand away, tears spilling freely. She spun sharply, the dice still lodged in her silky hair, and dashed off blindly, sobbing. People dashed out of her way, admiring her as she fled, the sun gleaming off of her silvery hair so prettily. The girl shined like a beacon, and it drew the shadowed figure after her.
"I will have your Sennen Item," he boasted to the empty air, his tanned fingers stroking an oversized pendant on his chest. The spines dangling from the ring-like pendant were pointing directly towards the girl he stalked. "And then I shall make you my bride, just to spite Pharaoh and his little brood of cheerleaders. I shall stick you in a gilded cage, and take you out to sing at my whim. We shall rule the world side by side and spit on Pharaoh's dead body!" He threw back his head and laughed maniacally.
Amathera eventually slowed and came to a stop, leaning against a massive tree for support. She spent a few minutes calming down and catching her breath; usually she could sprint like a gazelle and not grow tired, but she had been too upset to control her breathing like Seto's bodyguards had taught her to do. Her nose and cheeks were red, her hair mussed, and her pretty dress disheveled. She felt positively wretched.
You're ugly, you know, the voice said with scorn. You may be pretty on the outside, but inside, you're ugly. No one would ever want you, not even that bi-polar boy Seymour. They just want to keep you around as an ornament because they know you're truly a hag. They want to use you and throw you away like the useless little doll you are.
"Stop it…" she whimpered, pressing her face into the bark of the tree, heedless of the scratches sprouting on her delicate skin. She dug her fingers into the tree, her manicured nails snapping. Blood trailed down her wrists and dripped onto the ground, creating a small, dark puddle. She felt the pain and embraced it, for it drove that awful voice away. "Just leave me alone…"
"So, it is solitude you fancy?" a dry voice said from the side. "I'll gladly provide that for you, sweet one."
She gasped, startled, but before she could move, she was pinned. A tall, hard body pressed against her, keeping her lodged firmly against the tree, unable to do more than squirm uselessly. A sun-darkened hand circled around her wrist, drawing her bloodied fingers to his mouth. A soft, wet tongue lapped at her.
"You taste good, my little bird," a husky voice snickered.
A rush of air, pain exploding in the back of her skull, and all went dark.