A/N: Since I already made one in Chapter 9, I'll make this short. This chapter is dedicated to Ranmen (and Rabelais), hence the title of the chapter. I've been getting reviews on his rating for being a bastard (thank you, Hathor, for your suggestion) and one of them (of course, thanks again Hathor) rated him 12. Why don't we see about that? Hope you don't mind.
BEFORE YOU PROCEED: THIS IS FOR READERS WHO CAN HANDLE THE TOTAL BASTARD RANMEN. READ ON YOUR OWN RISK. Thank you.
Chapter 10: Why He's a Bastard
Rabelais watched as his master and the high priest leave the room. They have been talking and formulating plans for the past hours that it seemed neither noticed that the sky has already darkened. It was such a soothing natural phenomena. The night. He used to be frightened whenever it approaches. But not anymore. He used to love it once he went pass his fear. But it didn't last long, though. He was numb now. He was emotionless.
The servant gave a humorless chuckle at his thoughts. Look at what he had become. Some lowly servant, unworthy to have his desires fulfilled, to even attain a small amount of freedom because all he instructed to do was to keep his mouth shut and obey. It was unfair. Why him? He did nothing.
But then again, perhaps he did deserve this. Perhaps he deserved this punishment for his foolishness. He was so naive then, so blinded by his desire to fail to realize the harsh reality that would taint his whole being. It was so wonderful then, being a young man full of opportunities and a fierce determination to protect. Now, he wasn't even worth a single coin of gold.
It started well, his life. It was always full of laughter and love even though they belonged only to the lower class of society. All he wanted then was to be a soldier, to be able to join the pharaoh's army and protect his family and friends. It started simple enough. Until the twist of fate made him lose those he vowed to protect and meet Ranmen.
Ranmen, from what he told Rabelais when they first met, was practicing casting spells. At that time, all he could was make things float. But he vowed to become a powerful mage. And when they started talking of the past, he refused to give out his part. But Rabelais, he didn't push the other. He kept silent and shifted to another topic.
Their friendship soon developed. It bloomed until they were as close as blood brothers. He vowed to protect Ranmen, to find a way to always fulfill his promise whatever happens. But it wasn't relatively easy. Ranmen loved the thrill of running away. He loved danger and death. It only made him wonder when it would come. And still, despite these, Rabelais stayed. He couldn't think of anything else to do but to be with his brother-at-arms.
If only he realized in that early stage how huge of a mistake it was.
Flashback
"Rabelais, are you awake?" he had called. It was late in the night when Ranmen arrived, drunk and utterly furious. His reasons behind it, however, were unknown to him. He had stayed awake all that time, waiting for his friend. It was always like this. There's no harm to it, is there?
"Yes, I am, as always. Do you want to talk?" Rabelais asked, walking over to the other, who was clutching something in his hand. And although he was curious to what it was, Rabelais remained silent, knowing it was better not to anger his already boiling friend.
"If you don't mind, I'd be willing to tell you what bothers me," Ranmen said.
He expected an outburst, or even a harsh 'No'. He even expected Ranmen to storm out and tell him that he needs to think. But not this. Not this sincere statement that even sounded like a plea for him to consider.
Rabelais decided to sit down beside the other and waited patiently for the other to speak. He would do anything to make the other smile again. He was like his younger brother, who must not be hurt because of him. Ever.
Seconds turned to minutes, until the time span grew. The silence was unbearable. He was curious, he wanted to help, what's taking Ranmen so long to talk?
"Ranmen?" he asked, wondering if his friend had gone to sleep.
"Don't worry, I was only thinking," Ranmen answered before facing his friend.
"If it would only burden you more, Ranmen, then you may not tell me if you want to. I'm not forcing you to tell me what's bothering you, dear friend," Rabelais said.
With a sigh, Ranmen started to talk again, "My desire for someone is getting stronger. I don't even know if I can quench it anymore." He could see the other's eyes widen. But Rabelais didn't know who it was. And he need not know.
It was, after all, his stupid fault. But then, at least he had a parting gift.
"What can I do? I'll help you if I can," Rabelais said.
Ranmen stared at him, smiled before going back to the pendant.
The night after that, Ranmen left and went home later than usual. Rabelais, however, had fallen asleep while waiting for him, and this only angered the drunk man. His hormones were on a rampage, his friend was there, lying peacefully on the mattress. What trouble can it be? Besides, Rabelais owed him.
Without second thoughts (What do you expect from someone who's drunk?), he pounced on the sleeping form, his lips curving into a wicked grin. "Did you have a relaxing sleep, my friend?" he asked.
"Ranmen, you're here. I apologize for falling asleep, I was so tired," Rabelais explained, realizing the other was still not letting him go, he stared at the one on top of him quizzically, "What's going on, Ranmen?"
"Nothing really. You're very attractive, do you know that?" Ranmen said, tracing patters on the other's clothed chest.
Rabelais frowned, his blush not that evident in his face, "What's going on? Why are you talking that way?" he asked. Ranmen only grinned at him before suddenly capturing his lips in a bruising kiss.
Once the kiss broke, his eyed had widened, "Why did you do that in your current state?" he said.
"You taste delicious. I should have taste you before," Ranmen answered, completely hinting that he was not himself before swooping down and ravaging the form beneath him.
Rabelais started to struggle, his arms on the other's shoulders, pushing the other away from him but the other was somehow stronger and pushed him deeper into the mattress. Was this the kind of help Ranmen wanted from him? To be some kind of… whore?
"Ranmen, stop this!" he remarked, pushing the other with all the strength he could muster. Ranmen fell, his eyes wide surprised before narrowing in anger. Before Rabelais could do anything, Ranmen started to chant something and he was starting to get dizzy. Once the last word of the supposed spell left the other's mouth, he was helplessly bound and vulnerable.
When did Ranmen become so powerful with his spells?
Ranmen started to laugh maniacally before completing his task. Soon, Rabelais was crying in pain as his friend, he thought was once, pummeled into his body with great force that it seemed to break his unprepared body into two.
"RANMEN STOP!" he cried. He was getting dizzy, his arms were already dumb due to the bounds. Oh how he'd give anything for this to end.
"RANMEN, STOP!" he cried again before collapsing into a faint. Not even three seconds had passed when Ranmen, though he heard the other's pleas, released inside of him and fell over him, pulling out quickly.
Once gaining the state of mind he always had, he cried in horror as the blood stained the sheets, Rabelais' unconscious form lay there, bruised and weakened. Was this his doing? Of course it was.
He rose and took a wet cloth before cleaning his friend up, who woke up a few hours later beside the sleeping Ranmen. Rabelais cried out in slight fear and started to move away.
"What's wrong with you? You're overreacting, it's only me." Ranmen asked.
"You had the guts to ask me that? You took advantage of me, Ranmen! How do you expect me to react?" Rabelais answered.
"Look, I'm sorry. I wasn't myself," Ranmen said.
"I trusted you!"
"Who cares? I said I'm sorry. I was drunk. I wasn't thinking like myself," Ranmen answered back, "Besides, I know you want me. You've been looking at me since the first time we met."
"So you decided to use it against me?"
Ranmen stared at his friend a long time, taken aback. Rabelais noticed it before he shivered, seeing the familiar twinkle in the other's now charcoal-black eyes.
"You'll forget it eventually. After all, weren't you the one who said you'd help me if you can? Well here's the chance," he spat before licking his lips.
Rabelais' eyes widened. Before he knew it, he was knocked unconscious. Eventually, he would wake up and see more blood and bruises on his body. What did he do wrong to deserve this?
End Flashback
"Rabelais!"
The servant rose and went to answer his master's call, "Yes, master?" he asked with a bow of respect.
Ranmen stared at him before his blood started to boil. Why is it that he always loathed this servant of his when the other used to be his most trusted friend in the world? Perhaps that was the payment for working with the Dark Lord.
"You would do anything I would order, wouldn't you, Rabelais?" he asked.
Rabelais looked up to meet his gaze. "Yes, master," he answered coldly as usual. He no longer felt the apprehension, or the fear. Ranmen had taken away his emotions gradually. He was nothing compared to the person he was long ago.
And by the look his master was giving, he wouldn't return to that person ever.
"That's all. Leave," Ranmen said, "Before you go, Rabelais, I want you to come to my bedchambers tonight. Am I understood?"
"Yes master."
Later, when the sun was about to rise, Rabelais left his master's bedchambers trying his best not to limp. He took a quick bath before he was seen and tore his bloodied robe into pieces. He need no reminder of what he has become.
It had scarred his skin.
Flashback
"Why do you continue this when you know you desire him not me?" he had asked.
"You will shut your mouth, Rabelais," Ranmen ordered as he bound the other's hands.
"I am not him."
"Honestly, you only helped me in one thing," Ranmen said.
Rabelais kept silent, biting his lip as to not let the pained cry leave his mouth as Ranmen suddenly entered without preparation, as usual.
"You helped me realize how much I hate the High Priest and you."
End Flashback
He would have cried if he wanted to. He would have shouted just to relieve himself of even a small amount of pain he felt. But he couldn't. His tears had dried a long time ago. His voice was hoarse. Ranmen had already made sure that his life would be a miserable one that death could not answer.
He wanted death to claim him last night. He wanted to die. It was all a mistake. Their friendship was a hoax. It never really existed. Ranmen lied to him. Ranmen used him. And how foolish he was to fall for this simple trick.
Their supposed friendship? It was over.
Ranmen never realized his efforts, he never even thanked him. Those promises he made to Ranmen, he fulfilled them all but Ranmen, he was another case. Thinking about him, Rabelais now knew he wanted to hate and kill Ranmen too. He wanted Ranmen to die.
A/N: Now I truly hate Ranmen. Haha… By the way, remind you on your opinions regarding a sequel for 'You'll Be Safe Here' are truly needed. Thank you.