Chapter 2 Glance into the Past
Author's note: I'm really, really sorry for not updating for so long (ducks all the junk thrown at me) but my pc's been acting stupid, and I had to write it all over again! Anyway, this is a fic I'm going to finish no matter what, and about Between You and Me, it's coming on, but I'm not going to post any yet because I want to proof read, okay? Anyway, enjoy this one, and if's confusing, the past chapter was actually an except taken from a book, which will be revealed in this chapter onwards, okay?
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ "Nice book," Rikku looked over her sister's shoulder. Yuna furiously tried to hide it. "Rikku! Didn't I tell you not to sneak up on me like that?!"
"Only when you're so deaf you didn't hear me call," Rikku pointed out with asperity. "Besides, you should be thankful to me - Tidus is getting irritated down there."
Yuna instantly threw the book aside and was struggling with her shoes. "Tidus?! Why didn't you tell me?!"
"I just did," Rikku grinned and picked up the discarded book. 'Memories of a Mercenary'? What kind of trash is this?"
"Hey," Yuna snatched it back. "Don't insult this, okay? It's a...study on how the sadist criminal would suffer his punishment." Her tone was stammering, but Rikku knew.
"He's dead," Rikku said flatly. "He's been dead for five years, and you're reading some crazy speculation about his punishment before death? Come on, Yuna,"
Yuna was blushing now. "Rikku! I was just - I just wanted to know what made him do it..."
"They say he's invincible," Rikku shook her head, remembering the horrible event ten years ago. It was beyond her, why some people actually worshipped this - this murderer. Perhaps it was because he seemed almost inhuman - the way he performed his crimes with perfection, leaving no trace of his presence. Perhaps it was also because he never killed unless necessary, or unless it was part of the bargain. And once he had set out to kill, not even Doomsday will stop him.
"He's dead." Rikku repeated firmly, and lightened her mood. "And if you don't get down fast enough, you will be too, even if Tidus can't kill you nicely enough!"
"Who's killing who?" A cold voice came from the doorway and both Rikku and Yuna's heart chilled. Yuna hastily excused herself and hurried to meet Tidus, leaving Rikku alone. The young girl gulped. The woman standing in the doorway wasn't looking pleased. "Uh... just a metaphor?" She offered squeakily and icy blue eyes narrowed at her pathetic excuse. "I will be having guests," She said shortly. "Do not make any noise like the racket you caused just now, understand?"
Rikku nodded. "Yes, Quisty."
The woman softened. "Why don't you go out? See what Yuna's up to," The last was meant as a joke, but Quisty cannot tell a joke without making it sound like a threat. Rikku nodded and grinned, trying to mask her fear. "Right!!! I'll bring my camera too!"
Quisty nodded and disappeared. Rikku heaved a sigh and sat down on the bed, gathering her scattered thoughts. Quisty had that effect on people. Guess that's what makes her so successful - too successful, perhaps. Living in a world of violence, it might have been her only option. Either you get rich or die trying. And Rikku understood. Her sister was only trying to survive. But in doing so, she had killed the part of her that rendered her human - emotions.
She heard Tidus' car squeal away from the place, and she sighed. She wasn't in the mood for a shopping spree, let alone spying on Yuna. Yuna wasn't really her sister - neither was Quisty. The older woman had taken the two of them under her wing when their parents were murdered, but Quisty didn't do it for charity. She had that knack of seeing things in people - and she had seen something in the two of them that was worth saving. Rikku had been trained as a combat specialist, ranging from hand-to-hand combat to handling an AR-Rifle. And Yuna was the perfect spy. She could masquerade as almost anyone, swapping her quiet, shy persona for a brash street-girl to a snobbish royalty. And in return, Quisty had given them a life, never getting in their way unless they got in hers. Rikku knew she should be thankful, but sometimes she felt hurt. She couldn't blame Yuna for trying to find out what made 'Storm' kill her parents. She had asked Quisty many times, but she had refused to say anything. And when they heard that 'Storm' had been executed, she had felt bitter. Bitter that he was not tortured for all the lives he had taken. For a few days Rikku had rebelled against Quisty's order that they do not go to the trial and threatened to leave. Quisty had pointed out that if they feel that they can do better, then they are welcomed to.
And they did not act on their own, rather they continued to live the life that had been given to them. Quisty had been generous enough to let them receive the money that they had earned from their missions, but never let them reveal their true identities to anyone, not even to Tidus, who was on the verge of marrying Yuna. Perhaps, she had said.
"Rikku?"
She snapped out of her thoughts and realized Yuna's intercom was buzzing. It was Quisty. "Yes?"
"Please come to my study, I have something to discuss with you." Her voice was, as usual, curt and brief. Rikku quickly straightened her appearance in the mirror. A calm looking girl of sixteen stared back with emerald- green eyes. Talk about an accomplished liar, she grinned to herself. I can even fool the mirror!
Quistis Trepe, aged 27 carefully set down her wire-rimmed spectacles on the oak desk before her. Most of her counterparts prefer steel and chrome, but she liked the old look. It gave her a sense of power, and she knew it intimidated people.
Kiros sighed as he ran a hand through his braided hair. He was a man well into his thirties, but he was still in this business, still sitting here with this woman, discussing fixes. It was one ritual about his life that he had grown to tolerate, but it doesn't mean he likes to sit here. He knew the other subordinates would give their eye teeth to be in the same room with Quistis Trepe, and he didn't blame them. She was a rare thing to be in this business of hired assassins and drug circulation. A woman who had risen to great heights with sheer will and determination - it gave the other drug lords something to talk about. And if he didn't know her better, he would have fallen in love with her. But Quistis Trepe is one woman you don't want to fall in love with. Ever since he had known her, she had sealed herself inside, letting only the ruthless killer surface. Her cerulean eyes gave nothing away, and she did not mince her words. If she said kill, then kill it is. She does not tolerate failure or incompetence; no employee makes the same mistake twice - they are eliminated the first time. That is why only the best gets to undertake the most dangerous and profitable missions.
The door slid open and Rikku walked in, dressed in a green baby tee and jeans. "You called?" She asked calmly and smiled at Kiros. He had to admire the girl. She was only sixteen, but was deadlier than arsenic. He had to acknowledge Quistis' instincts, sharpened by years of struggling in the slums. Quistis was one who knew how to balance logic and gut instincts, and she used them to great advantage. Kiros supposed he should be honored to stay this long in her service.
"Is Yuna out?' Quistis asked without looking up from her papers and Rikku nodded. "I think Tidus is gonna propose," She giggled, despite knowing well that Quistis would merely give a hint of a smile. In all the years she had lived with her, Quistis never laughed. Her expressions normally alternate between cool indifference to disgust, or deadly anger. But that didn't stop the girl from cracking jokes with her benefactor, or 'sister' as she called Quistis.
"Good," Quistis said shortly and shuffled the papers. "I have a job for you, and I need your utmost concentration in this one, Rikku." Good ol Quisty, Rikku thought. Always straight to the point. "What is it? Nicking? Disposing?"
This time the smile was a little wider, but not sufficient enough. "You will have to eliminate, but you might be surprised." She said quietly. "In fact, I don't think I should let you, but I seem to have no other...qualified hands."
Rikku narrowed her eyes. Quistis never had any second thoughts when she gave out fixes... this must be something strange. "Just gimme. I can do it."
The woman stared full into her eyes, searching. Rikku stared back. "I have never failed you before."
Quistis halted, and nodded in satisfaction. "I expected you to say so, but still, I need to tell you what you're up against this time. If you have any doubts, please tell me, and I will undertake this fix myself."
Quistis, going on a mission?! That clearly indicates that this was one hell of a fix, or Quistis would never bother to have it done. "Just tell me."
Quistis set the papers aside and linked her fingers. "The individual is a drug chain operator in Galbadia." She began. "I've been tracking his progress, and it seems to me that he is beginning to be more than a mere annoyance - he has already killed twenty of our lower men and sources tell me he's spreading into Balamb. I don't want this threat. However, he's very...slick."
"So I have to take him out, or cripple his business?"
"Kill him, preferably," Quistis leaned back. "But I never ask you to go out without supplying you with data, and this time is no exception. However I must warn you, one aspect will make you think twice."
Rikku stiffened. What is she getting at?! She stole a glance at Kiros and saw the man was twiddling with his katanas.
"The name is Seifer," Quistis tossed a folder across the table. "Seifer Almasy, aged 30. A bastard child, but we traced it anyway."
Rikku giggled. "You took your investigation that far? What does it matter?"
Quistis narrowed her eyes. "It matters. Initially my research did not intend to go that deep, but I found something interesting - and that prompted me to continue. Seifer Almasy is an alias. His real name in unknown, but he came from Esthar."
Rikku flipped through the files nonchalantly. A picture of a handsome blonde stared at her, green eyes challenging. "Good looking. Is that what you're afraid of?"
"Read further."
Rikku scanned the page, flipped to another and frowned. Seifer Almasy came from a orphanage in Centra after the Fifth massacre... claimed his parents were killed. Search did not turn up his parents, and he remained an orphan until he was of age. Then he was sent to Deling, where he built his empire.
"What does this mean?" Rikku asked not getting it. That he was part of the mob that was killed?"
Quistis closed her eyes, reliving the memory. The Fifth Massacre had been a great event. It happened shortly after she had just founded her own clan, and it was one of the memories that will haunt you forever. Five hundred people killed with a single blast... Her mind turned to the event that night, when she learnt to fear, from the very embodiment of Fear himself.
She had only founded her small agency then, and was on the underground to 'fix' someone. Her target was riding in the underground subway then, and it was late at night. That was perfect, since the subway was relatively empty. She had gotten into the carriage and sat opposite her target, and sat next to a sullen-looking man with a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes, listening to his discman. She remembered that there were only a few civilians, four of those being Yuna and Rikku's parents...
Footnote: Reviews, pretty please????
Author's note: I'm really, really sorry for not updating for so long (ducks all the junk thrown at me) but my pc's been acting stupid, and I had to write it all over again! Anyway, this is a fic I'm going to finish no matter what, and about Between You and Me, it's coming on, but I'm not going to post any yet because I want to proof read, okay? Anyway, enjoy this one, and if's confusing, the past chapter was actually an except taken from a book, which will be revealed in this chapter onwards, okay?
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ "Nice book," Rikku looked over her sister's shoulder. Yuna furiously tried to hide it. "Rikku! Didn't I tell you not to sneak up on me like that?!"
"Only when you're so deaf you didn't hear me call," Rikku pointed out with asperity. "Besides, you should be thankful to me - Tidus is getting irritated down there."
Yuna instantly threw the book aside and was struggling with her shoes. "Tidus?! Why didn't you tell me?!"
"I just did," Rikku grinned and picked up the discarded book. 'Memories of a Mercenary'? What kind of trash is this?"
"Hey," Yuna snatched it back. "Don't insult this, okay? It's a...study on how the sadist criminal would suffer his punishment." Her tone was stammering, but Rikku knew.
"He's dead," Rikku said flatly. "He's been dead for five years, and you're reading some crazy speculation about his punishment before death? Come on, Yuna,"
Yuna was blushing now. "Rikku! I was just - I just wanted to know what made him do it..."
"They say he's invincible," Rikku shook her head, remembering the horrible event ten years ago. It was beyond her, why some people actually worshipped this - this murderer. Perhaps it was because he seemed almost inhuman - the way he performed his crimes with perfection, leaving no trace of his presence. Perhaps it was also because he never killed unless necessary, or unless it was part of the bargain. And once he had set out to kill, not even Doomsday will stop him.
"He's dead." Rikku repeated firmly, and lightened her mood. "And if you don't get down fast enough, you will be too, even if Tidus can't kill you nicely enough!"
"Who's killing who?" A cold voice came from the doorway and both Rikku and Yuna's heart chilled. Yuna hastily excused herself and hurried to meet Tidus, leaving Rikku alone. The young girl gulped. The woman standing in the doorway wasn't looking pleased. "Uh... just a metaphor?" She offered squeakily and icy blue eyes narrowed at her pathetic excuse. "I will be having guests," She said shortly. "Do not make any noise like the racket you caused just now, understand?"
Rikku nodded. "Yes, Quisty."
The woman softened. "Why don't you go out? See what Yuna's up to," The last was meant as a joke, but Quisty cannot tell a joke without making it sound like a threat. Rikku nodded and grinned, trying to mask her fear. "Right!!! I'll bring my camera too!"
Quisty nodded and disappeared. Rikku heaved a sigh and sat down on the bed, gathering her scattered thoughts. Quisty had that effect on people. Guess that's what makes her so successful - too successful, perhaps. Living in a world of violence, it might have been her only option. Either you get rich or die trying. And Rikku understood. Her sister was only trying to survive. But in doing so, she had killed the part of her that rendered her human - emotions.
She heard Tidus' car squeal away from the place, and she sighed. She wasn't in the mood for a shopping spree, let alone spying on Yuna. Yuna wasn't really her sister - neither was Quisty. The older woman had taken the two of them under her wing when their parents were murdered, but Quisty didn't do it for charity. She had that knack of seeing things in people - and she had seen something in the two of them that was worth saving. Rikku had been trained as a combat specialist, ranging from hand-to-hand combat to handling an AR-Rifle. And Yuna was the perfect spy. She could masquerade as almost anyone, swapping her quiet, shy persona for a brash street-girl to a snobbish royalty. And in return, Quisty had given them a life, never getting in their way unless they got in hers. Rikku knew she should be thankful, but sometimes she felt hurt. She couldn't blame Yuna for trying to find out what made 'Storm' kill her parents. She had asked Quisty many times, but she had refused to say anything. And when they heard that 'Storm' had been executed, she had felt bitter. Bitter that he was not tortured for all the lives he had taken. For a few days Rikku had rebelled against Quisty's order that they do not go to the trial and threatened to leave. Quisty had pointed out that if they feel that they can do better, then they are welcomed to.
And they did not act on their own, rather they continued to live the life that had been given to them. Quisty had been generous enough to let them receive the money that they had earned from their missions, but never let them reveal their true identities to anyone, not even to Tidus, who was on the verge of marrying Yuna. Perhaps, she had said.
"Rikku?"
She snapped out of her thoughts and realized Yuna's intercom was buzzing. It was Quisty. "Yes?"
"Please come to my study, I have something to discuss with you." Her voice was, as usual, curt and brief. Rikku quickly straightened her appearance in the mirror. A calm looking girl of sixteen stared back with emerald- green eyes. Talk about an accomplished liar, she grinned to herself. I can even fool the mirror!
Quistis Trepe, aged 27 carefully set down her wire-rimmed spectacles on the oak desk before her. Most of her counterparts prefer steel and chrome, but she liked the old look. It gave her a sense of power, and she knew it intimidated people.
Kiros sighed as he ran a hand through his braided hair. He was a man well into his thirties, but he was still in this business, still sitting here with this woman, discussing fixes. It was one ritual about his life that he had grown to tolerate, but it doesn't mean he likes to sit here. He knew the other subordinates would give their eye teeth to be in the same room with Quistis Trepe, and he didn't blame them. She was a rare thing to be in this business of hired assassins and drug circulation. A woman who had risen to great heights with sheer will and determination - it gave the other drug lords something to talk about. And if he didn't know her better, he would have fallen in love with her. But Quistis Trepe is one woman you don't want to fall in love with. Ever since he had known her, she had sealed herself inside, letting only the ruthless killer surface. Her cerulean eyes gave nothing away, and she did not mince her words. If she said kill, then kill it is. She does not tolerate failure or incompetence; no employee makes the same mistake twice - they are eliminated the first time. That is why only the best gets to undertake the most dangerous and profitable missions.
The door slid open and Rikku walked in, dressed in a green baby tee and jeans. "You called?" She asked calmly and smiled at Kiros. He had to admire the girl. She was only sixteen, but was deadlier than arsenic. He had to acknowledge Quistis' instincts, sharpened by years of struggling in the slums. Quistis was one who knew how to balance logic and gut instincts, and she used them to great advantage. Kiros supposed he should be honored to stay this long in her service.
"Is Yuna out?' Quistis asked without looking up from her papers and Rikku nodded. "I think Tidus is gonna propose," She giggled, despite knowing well that Quistis would merely give a hint of a smile. In all the years she had lived with her, Quistis never laughed. Her expressions normally alternate between cool indifference to disgust, or deadly anger. But that didn't stop the girl from cracking jokes with her benefactor, or 'sister' as she called Quistis.
"Good," Quistis said shortly and shuffled the papers. "I have a job for you, and I need your utmost concentration in this one, Rikku." Good ol Quisty, Rikku thought. Always straight to the point. "What is it? Nicking? Disposing?"
This time the smile was a little wider, but not sufficient enough. "You will have to eliminate, but you might be surprised." She said quietly. "In fact, I don't think I should let you, but I seem to have no other...qualified hands."
Rikku narrowed her eyes. Quistis never had any second thoughts when she gave out fixes... this must be something strange. "Just gimme. I can do it."
The woman stared full into her eyes, searching. Rikku stared back. "I have never failed you before."
Quistis halted, and nodded in satisfaction. "I expected you to say so, but still, I need to tell you what you're up against this time. If you have any doubts, please tell me, and I will undertake this fix myself."
Quistis, going on a mission?! That clearly indicates that this was one hell of a fix, or Quistis would never bother to have it done. "Just tell me."
Quistis set the papers aside and linked her fingers. "The individual is a drug chain operator in Galbadia." She began. "I've been tracking his progress, and it seems to me that he is beginning to be more than a mere annoyance - he has already killed twenty of our lower men and sources tell me he's spreading into Balamb. I don't want this threat. However, he's very...slick."
"So I have to take him out, or cripple his business?"
"Kill him, preferably," Quistis leaned back. "But I never ask you to go out without supplying you with data, and this time is no exception. However I must warn you, one aspect will make you think twice."
Rikku stiffened. What is she getting at?! She stole a glance at Kiros and saw the man was twiddling with his katanas.
"The name is Seifer," Quistis tossed a folder across the table. "Seifer Almasy, aged 30. A bastard child, but we traced it anyway."
Rikku giggled. "You took your investigation that far? What does it matter?"
Quistis narrowed her eyes. "It matters. Initially my research did not intend to go that deep, but I found something interesting - and that prompted me to continue. Seifer Almasy is an alias. His real name in unknown, but he came from Esthar."
Rikku flipped through the files nonchalantly. A picture of a handsome blonde stared at her, green eyes challenging. "Good looking. Is that what you're afraid of?"
"Read further."
Rikku scanned the page, flipped to another and frowned. Seifer Almasy came from a orphanage in Centra after the Fifth massacre... claimed his parents were killed. Search did not turn up his parents, and he remained an orphan until he was of age. Then he was sent to Deling, where he built his empire.
"What does this mean?" Rikku asked not getting it. That he was part of the mob that was killed?"
Quistis closed her eyes, reliving the memory. The Fifth Massacre had been a great event. It happened shortly after she had just founded her own clan, and it was one of the memories that will haunt you forever. Five hundred people killed with a single blast... Her mind turned to the event that night, when she learnt to fear, from the very embodiment of Fear himself.
She had only founded her small agency then, and was on the underground to 'fix' someone. Her target was riding in the underground subway then, and it was late at night. That was perfect, since the subway was relatively empty. She had gotten into the carriage and sat opposite her target, and sat next to a sullen-looking man with a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes, listening to his discman. She remembered that there were only a few civilians, four of those being Yuna and Rikku's parents...
Footnote: Reviews, pretty please????