Sapphire Vixen
--By SunFireVixen--
Chapter 44: The Battle of Price Against Value
Sapphire opened her eyes wide, sweat trickling down her forehead.
She panted slightly, looking down at the ground.
'Someone is using my blade!' She panicked, and hoped that it maybe Kai had dropped it somewhere and one of the maids had picked it up.
Sapphire could feel pain in her chest, urging her to follow the source of the intense power she was feeling.
She closed her eyes shut and scowled. She took a step forward, and fell to the ground. She clawed at the carpet.
She let out a small cry as she bent down to meet the ground. She couldn't take it anymore-
Sapphire jumped up, sprinted out of Fei's room, her collar jingling as she turned the corner of a hallway.Her eyes glowed a malevolent red before she jumped out of the window.
Before she could hit the ground, she swiftly materialized into her Firefox form. She jumped away gracefully, her scarlet coat matching the color of the setting sun.
---
Kai turned, and met two pools of dark emerald-green eyes. His expression changed into a frightening glower that Emerald ignored.
"You're probably not going to want to listen-"
"I'm relieved that you understand. Now leave."
Emerald glared at him as she ignored this. "All of this…everything Fei has done is because he is using Sapphire. If he doesn't have Sapphire, he is nothing-"
"Then why des she stay with him!" Kai yelled as he crushed the letter in his hand.
"I can't… say-"
"I thought so-"
"I am programmed to follow orders. It's impossible to say anything freely. And when I return, Fei will do my daily sound checkup. He will know every word I have said, to you, to Sapphire- to everyone I have communicated with." Emerald looked up at him again. "And when he knows, I will receive punishment."
He stared at her. She did not express any sign of fear. "You are lying."
"You think I don't fear what he's doing to Sapphire and Aquamarine? What pain they could be in right now?" She growled, her voice rising. She glared at Kai. "Everyday we run a risk of being hurt by Fei. And you don't have a clue why we support this. It's so sickening that she has a interest in-" she stopped talking.
"Do me a favor and shut up, Emerald. If you say anymore I'll be the one to rip you apart." Aquamarine stepped away from Emerald, removing her gun from Emerald's side.
"What are you doing here?" Emerald growled her eyes wide with terror. "You're supposed to be guarding-"
"I am. She's outside." Aquamarine placed her gun into the pocket of her loose belt.
"Who's outside?" Kai asked his voice urgent. They turned to look at him, reluctant expressions on both their faces.
"...no one." Aquamarine uttered, moving in front of the door, her eyes fixed on him.
Kai switched his stare from Aquamarine to Emerald.
"Why won't you let me see her?" Kai asked, a scowl forming his features. She avoided his gaze, her eyes shifty and undecided.
"Let's just call it…rules." Aquamarine said no hint of amusement or sarcasm in her voice.
"Kai!"
A small gasp escaped from his throat. He recognized Sapphire's voice and automatically, his legs responded by making a swift sprint towards the door. Unfortunately, Emerald stepped in front of Aquamarine, helping her block the door.
She glared up at him. "You don't know how much danger you can put her in by just looking at her," she murmured in a dangerous voice, extending out her arms, shielding Aquamarine and Kai's only exit.
She banged her small fists on the door. Tears formed at the corners of her almond-shaped eyes. Her sapphire-blue eyes brimmed with tears as she slid down the door, her small hands trying to turn the locked doorknob.
"Kai…" she whined.
"No, Sapphire," Aquamarine's voice said behind the closed door.
She banged on the door again, this time weaker. "I…I need to…see him…" she whimpered.
"Will you pay the price Sapphire? Will you do it just to see him once and once only?" Emerald screamed, frightening Sapphire, making her back away from the door.
Kai could hear her small sobs and hiccups. He could rugby tackle these clones, blast the door with Sapphire's blade (or just yank it open) and escape with Sapphire, but he was thinking about what Emerald had said.
What is the price to see someone you have smiled at fondly in almost two days?
---
"What should I do with you…skin you right now or let you have a 5 minute head start before I shoot you?" A wide smirk appeared on the man's rough features. The Firefoxes hissed as they glared at Boris. They bared their black claws, growling.
The room was dark, and the huge room occupied all the Firefoxes the S.E.A. robots had captured. The only light source came from the open door behind the purple-haired man.
But it was covered when a shadow overcame Boris'.
"You will do none unless I allow you to."
Boris immediately turned around to look up at Fei. His face wasn't visible in the dark, and Boris smiled. "Yes, Sir. I apologize." Under his breath he muttered something similar to 'Damned brat' in Russian.
"If you would like me to keep feeding you scientists, I suggest you hold your tongue, Boris."
Boris scowled, wondering how the silver-haired boy had heard him. Fei descended, his giant shadow shrinking, making the Firefoxes visible.
"I was blessed with great hearing." Fei answered his unspoken question. "And I eat my carrots, so I can see that idiotic expression on your face."
"Sorry sir-"
"I don't have a use for your apologies, Boris."
'Then what the hell does this stupid kid want?' a voice screamed in his head. He was tired of the spoiled boy of fifteen to tell him and his men what to do.
Fei stared at a group of Firefoxes- one of them licked at its paw, one groomed another, others slept soundlessly, and other stared at him as if they were puppies that had just come from a bathroom break, waiting to get into the house.
He had to admit, their fur were well taken care of, and they alllookedperfectly healthy. He stared hard at one of them as it slept. Why do they not try to escape?
"Have you thought about my deal, Mister Fei?"
"I didn't need to."
"Really? That's-"
"She's priceless."
"You mean… she's free or-"
"She's not for sale." Fei glared at him. In the low light, his silver eyes glinted with malice. A smirk formed Boris's thin lips.
"Everything has a price." He turned and climbed the stairs, then disappeared.
The Firefoxes shuffled behind him, calming down at last. He stared down at the floor; his cold hands stuffed into his pants pockets.
---
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm asking if you can or can't…"
She made a cute pout, pressed a finger against her lips, and looked up at the sky, wondering. He recognized it as her 'thinking pose'.
"Well…"
"See? You can't."
"Hmm…" She suddenly gasped, and her eyes lit up. "I know how!"
She grabbed his hand, and happily dragged him away. She would always do that, oblivious to all his complaints about 'blood circulation' and 'loss of emotion' and something else about his arm.
Almost four years had slipped by when Eiko, the girl that dragged him, had heard his cries, ventured out alone in a soft blizzard, pulled him out, and dragged him into her home. She asked him if he wanted hot chocolate, and when he said no, she bugged him until he gave in.
When he was about to take a sip, she gasped loudly, told him to stop, and carefully plopped five giant marshmallows into his cup. It took a while for him to finish it because she talked nonstop for over half an hour. He nodded in agreement (even if he didn't know what she was talking about) at certain times.
However, the snow was gone, and the beautiful and warm sun embraced them this summer season.
Fei stared up at the sky. Fluffy white clouds spotted the sky here and there, and a light breeze shuffled his silver hair. He smiled. Everything was perfect.
"We're here!"
She halted suddenly, and he almost crashed into her back if he hadn't stopped.
"The ice cream parlor?" he asked curiously.
"Yup!"
"How does this answer my question?" He turned towards her, a questioning look on his face. She smiled mischievously, and took his hand again.
"You'll see!" With that said, she happily dragged him into the shop.
"Hello! What can I get you both today?" asked the man behind the counter with a wide smile across his face. They both returned the smile, and Eiko piped up.
"Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, and Cookies and Cream for me, please!" she said.
"Here you go." The ice cream man held out their ice creams and Eiko reached into her pocket and dropped the money on the counter. They took their ice creams and thanked him.
They exited the shop, and they sat at one of the tables nearby. Eiko licked at her ice cream happily. He did the same, a wide grin on his face.
She stopped to smile at him. "So! How do you feel?"
"What do you mean?"
"Are you sad?"
He stopped to stare at her. "Are you kidding? I'm feeling the exact opposite!"
"Well, there you go!" she said happily, and continued to lick at her ice cream.
He smiled, his eyes flashing with excitement.
"You can buy happiness!" she exclaimed happily.
---
Fei scowled, shaking his head.
"You're wrong." He turned, his shadow broadening behind him. "I'm rich. Yet I can't buy something that compares to the happiness that you offer…"