Amber Memories, Forgotten
-Your Love, Thank You-
A/N: Kaeda's background would be fully revealed here, and the relationship takes another step.
I'm quite uncomfortable with the long length- is it okay with you?
Sorry that thsi is a week late- school's really busy D:
Do you know that feeling, Aki?
You know, that feeling when your heart shrivels and hurts to the extent where it drains it completely;
Leaving nothing other than a deep dull pain.
You would have wished to be dead then to struggle trying to keep alive.
Struggling, struggling like fish out of water, except that death comes nowhere near.
Hey Aki, have you experience it before?
Because I'm sorry if you did, since it's only now that I know how much love can torment one.
The chilly sensation washed down her naked body, cleansing her confusion and frustration. It left a trail where it had begun, something that everything does. However water has a special ability. It is different. It will evaporate and be gone, unlike her evil deeds.
Lady Kaeda Amber could smell the fragrance of her soap as she rubbed it upon her skin. It made her feel more like a mere mortal, simple actions like that. Yet no matter how much she scrubbed, the stain of blood would never, never go off.
But she had never despised water. It was the solution to her problem, the remedy of disaster, and the knife to her life. She recalled someone who was lighting her candle when it suddenly went off. Annoyed at her various failed attempts to relight the burning flame again, the young woman swept her finger across the table and the candle burnt its proud flames once again. Except that it was licking the floor this time round, devouring everything it could that laid in its path. It was uncontrollable, those green flames, so much so that even her tears could not cease those fire.
Water had the ability to kill, like her. Soon, her body would start to convulse strongly as it struggled against to break through the water surface. It would be a tedious fight but a short one. She hoped. She heard the screams, as someone dragged her out of the mansion; people bustling around the area in their attempts to stop the fire. However the people inside could not be rescued, it was too dangerous they said, as they stood helplessly outside to witness and hear the shrieks and crashing sounds of falling debris. Soon, the horrible sound stopped. Soon, the fire did too. Soon, her heart ceased function.
Then, her body would stop the transport of oxygen to her blood, draining in poison and toxic. She left for the Black Order the very next day; a way to avoid the commotions and her own feelings. They trained her well and hard, never questioning her past. Yet the young woman could not help but feel homesick, returning home for a short visit barely three days later. That was she saw it- or them, whatever you classify those horrendous monsters.
Gradually, her body would start to relent, slowly giving up its fight because it knew that it would not work to keep on fighting. It never did, anyway. The two horror-stricken skeletons were yelling straight down at her very own father, their shrieks all too familiar, resembling the two whom had lost their lives due to her foolishness. The creator was nowhere to be seen even though he would have enjoyed the scene of murder committed right before his eyes. Her legs struggled to move. It could not. Yet the blood never spilled, not on her father, anyway, even though she was a step too late. With crimson hair swaying along with the bloodied atmosphere, he defeated the two with a perfect shot, piercing their body together.
Water would seep into her body, filling her lungs, her stomach, her everything. The aftereffect would come off as a relief, as the soul leaves the body for a better life. It would no longer be tied to this tragic Earth. Like love, it would have the key to unlock freedom. Except that she had lost it once and once again. She remembered the kiss planted softly upon her forehead as she accepted the young lord's hand to mount off his horse that particular day. His voice was tender as he fetched her back home, telling her to take care and sleep tight for the night. She was to listen, wasn't she? Everyone has to sleep no matter how tiring or shocking a day would be. So shocking to know that the person she had so pinned for was just right there for her but she could not accept him.
Kaeda took a deep breath and stepped out of her bath, which was an indication to her maids to start jostling around her. The thick mist from her bath now filled the void area in the bathing room, clouding the features of those around her. Then that was when she saw his image.
The young lady took a second look and stared hard. It could not been. Not him. It had been three years ago, but it was impossible not to recognize that soft tuft of black hair and large blue eyes.
Brother, she said under her breath, inaudible to the people around her. Did they see him too?
The image soon began to clear up such that she could now see every fine detail that she had so remembered on her younger brother. It was him, no doubt. An overwhelming urge came over Kaeda to approach the figure. However she could not. The young lady knew too well that these images often disappear when you go after them. Instead, she waited, waited for the image to do something; anything really. Then he began to speak.
"Sister," it said, his voice gentle and young as she had remembered. The young lady felt herself smiling. Words formed at the edge of her throat, yet it failed to come up. "We really wish that you would be happy. It doesn't matter at all, just go please. Please go for your happiness. Duty or desire, it no longer matter."
The young boy grinned sadly at her, before closing his eyes in satisfaction when he noted that his sister's composure finally sinking. It was her way of admitting. Slowly, his features began to fuse together, mixing reality and illusion together, until it mixed to a cauldron of nothing before disappearing.
"Our lady!" yelled the maids as they rushed to help up the fallen general. It must be the heat and ventilation, they asserted.
Kaeda shook her head sternly. Reassuring the others that she was fine, she requested for them to hasten their pace. As they did upon her orders, Kaeda took a second look back at where the image had been.
It was only the mirror. Or was it?
The young lady took a deep breath as her lady maid tightened her corset, and sighed out when she finally emerged from the bathing room. And there in her room she spied a crimson tulip tucked neatly between her bed sheets and that was the indication for her to go.
Excusing the maids out on the pretence of being tired, she picked up the sealed letter next to the tulip.
"Baron Josepher Cornfield. Broker. To be assassinated for crime," she muttered to herself before snapping her fingers together, bringing up flames that consumed the letter and flower. Thereafter, she casted the ash aside and leaped out of her room via her window.
Another idiot born to this world; another monster that brings agony to this world.
Tyki inhaled his cigarette deeply as he sat half soaking in the bathtub, thoughts playing in his mind about what the Earl had said. Obviously, he had allowed for the marriage to happen and so would have wanted it to be settled as soon as possible. The young man knew that it would be easier for Kaeda Amber to accept him now but a lingering thought still troubled him.
There was something indescribably different.
Shaking his head to knock off the silly thought, Tyki laughed at his redundant worry before climbing out of the bathtub, with water droplets still clinging to his body, refusing to let go.
The kiss he had left on her still throbbed on his lips. He knew he had fallen deep, and a part of him resented that. He had allowed someone to intrude the four walls he had so build around himself since becoming a Noah. He had allowed someone to reopen the trove of human memories since accepting the curse. But it did not matter anymore.
As Tyki allowed his servants to prepare his clothes, a smile cracked his lips apart. Now, he was ready to meet her again.
"Oh Lady Amber," said the aristocrat aloud as he tried to conceal his startled state to find the latter behind him out of the sudden. "It's really a surprise to see you here. How may I assist you?"
Kaeda allowed a polite smile over painted lips, her eyes blinking slow at the man while her emotions remained cool. "Everything," said the young lady. "But I think I would be a greater help to you instead."
"How so?" taunted the man as he gestured for the lady to sit down while he prepared some tea for her- there were no servants around.
"Like with what you have been doing for the past few months, Baron?" replied the lady as she accepted the cup of English tea from the young man.
The latter looked up in surprise. "So you have heard, my lady?"
"But of course," smiled Kaeda as she observed the man, sensing no regrets. No one else knew that they were meeting, of course, but she had to do this quickly. "I'm interested in this quick get-rich business you have."
The baron laughed hoarsely as he nodded. "Yes, yes, that's what I do to get additional income. But you see, it's a rather confidential and tricky business."
"How so?" questioned the young lady as she cocked her head a little, feigning ignorance.
The young baron roared in amusement before sticking his head close to Kaeda's, exhaling his darn breath close to her face. "The one in control meets only who he wants to, my lady. It's not everyone's choice and chance to get rich. Nonetheless, I make a good deal. You see, a broker has the ability to make everyone happy."
"I see. So you don't think that there's anything wrong with what you are doing then?" asked Kaeda as she tried hard to suppress the overpowering anger. Impatient, she began to tap her feet against the carpeted floor. The strong smell of rum in the man's breath and disgust of his face so near hers was choking her. "There's nothing wrong with getting quick money by killing others?"
The young baron clicked his tongue in disapproval as he removed his head from her curtly. Narrowing his eyes, he scrutinized her momentarily before shooting back. "You're not really interested in this business, are you? As far as I remembered, your butler had just died recently. I believe he had been a close confide to you. You know, with the help of my boss, I can help you bring him back, my lady."
Casting a piteous glance at the man, Kaeda could only shake her head. She began to fiddle with the two objects hidden in her boots, picking the normal black pistol. "Aren't you remorseful?"
"About?" The baron cocked his eyebrow, wary of the young lady. "I don't see what you're getting at. By doing this, I'm making everyone happy. This is a healthy cycle, don't you see? People dying would be brought back and I get to earn quick bucks too. It's a fortune, it's a miracle, and it's a blessing-!"
The man stopped suddenly as he felt a brutally cold object placed at the temple of his head. Alarmed, he stared at the young lady whom had already gotten off her seat. "What is this about, my lady? If you are not interested in this deal you can always-"
"Shut up," snapped Kaeda as she pulled the trigger of her gun, closing her eyes when she felt the man going limp. This deal has to be off eternally, she thought, as she bent over the man to check for his pulse. Cold and dead, she noted, before leaping out of the gaping window.
I'm sorry, Brother, sometimes duty does have to come first.
"Kaeda dear," erupted a voice from seeming nowhere. The young lady stopped abruptly, looking around her tensely before noticing that it had come from an approaching carriage. Inside it was Lord Tyki Mikk waving at her with his signature grin. Smiling a little, Kaeda nodded her head slightly in response to his greetings. "I was just about to go Amber's estate to fetch you. What a pleasant surprise to see my lovely fiancée here."
"I…" stuttered Kaeda as she tried to brush her hair back. Just her luck to meet him before she could get back home, she thought. "I'm certainly glad to see my lord too."
Tyki smiled in amusement before offering his hand out to her. "Come, let's go somewhere."
The latter nodded her head awkwardly and accepted his hand as he helped her into the cabin. As the man sat facing her, he could not help but observe how her behavior. This was the woman. Has she recovered from the truth? He pondered bemusedly before knocking against the wooden carriage for the chauffeur to start moving. The horse gave a little grunt before it begun trotting, and soon they were heading for their destination.
It had been three days since he last visited her, telling her the truth that shocked no one but herself. Indeed, it had upset and confused him why she had chosen the vagabond him inside of aristocrat side, but it soon dawned upon this young man that it would have been better this way. Now, she was back by his side again, sitting the exact same way she did when he first saw her, except that her eyes were now wandering everywhere but on him. Or so he thought.
"May I know where we are heading?" asked the young lady as she suddenly looked at Tyki, a confused expression hanged over her features.
Tyki chortled and glanced out of the cabin's window, suddenly remembering that she had readily accepted his invitation for a walk without really knowing where they were heading. He did, however, and had planned a surprise for her. "You'll see soon enough," replied Tyki and the pair fall into silence after that.
As the young lady observed, the carriage was now out of the city and was heading to the forest. An uncomfortable feeling seized her but she tried to suppress the urge to question his motives. They never questioned each other's motive before, then anyway.
The sight of flaming trees soon came into, burning their sides when some of the branches grew close enough to them. This country was filled with maple trees. The young lady tried not to reach out for the maple leaves, and was startled when a deep laugh came from the other man.
"We'll walk from here, dear," chuckled Tyki as he signaled for the carriage to stop before leaping out of the cabin. Offering his hand out, he grinned when the blush on her face was noticeable. She had not change much, it seemed. With much tenderness, the young lady accepted his hand gracefully and stepped out of the carriage, and before she was conscious of her new surroundings yet, she come feel herself being dragged forward by the man. "Let's take a nice long walk."
Lady Kaeda Amber kept quiet, allowing the aristocrat to do whatever he deemed fit first. It had confused even herself whether she had accepted the latter's invitation due to her own emotions or her duties. Duty over desire; somehow it did not seem to apply here anymore, or was it?
As the pair strolled on the dirt pathway among the rows of glowing trees, Kaeda allowed herself to relax a little as she took in her surroundings. Maples; something that they so often viewed together. The vibrant colors of these leaves would allow them to take the back seat, allow them to drop their pretence for the time being and allow them to immerse in their emotions. The leaves, she observed, had just turned dark orange, with some portions of the leaves still lingering with a hue of yellow. Soon, they would fall. Like stars and all things in the world, everything beautiful has to end no matter what.
"I'm glad that we have stopped quarreling," said Tyki suddenly as he looked straight ahead, feeling pleased.
Kaeda nodded, unsure what to say. It was a deception, anyhow.
Tyki continued to divert his attention straight ahead, willing himself to trust the woman next to him and not look at her. It would be easier anyway, for a monster like him to say such things without looking at the person he wanted to both hurt and love so much. Laughing awkwardly, he spoke. "You know, I have always wanted to wake up with someone warm by my side."
Kaeda darted her gaze back at the young man who had spoke out of the sudden, realizing how his voice was all soft and sincere that it seemed to slide into her ears and finally travel down to stop her heart. Did he possess such strong power? Feeling awkward, Kaeda smiled politely. "I do remember that Rhode has a dog, doesn't she?"
The young lord ignored her. "Someone who will welcome me from after a long day, asking after my day and making me glad that I'm home already," continued the man as he took in the sound of the rustling leaves surrounding them; and her beautiful voice, of course.
"I'm upmost certain that the dog would be delighted to see you home. Your family too, of course," answered Kaeda, wondering where this would lead to. The wind was howling around them, and as it brushed passed their ears, she could almost hear them mocking her. Or was it her mother encouraging her on?
Tyki sighed, noticing how small the maples this year were. Did they lack something in their lives to grow too? "Someone whom I can comfort in and spends an eternity with..."
"I…" muttered Kaeda but her voice soon trail off when she realized that it did not sound at all right. Feeling the blush on her face deepening, she was about to rephrase her words when the sight of him looking down at her caught her, and hence stole her breath. That sight was all it seemed to take for her to remember the alluring smell of his smooth skin, the strength in his tender arms and his soft moisture full on her lips.
"Someone I can seal my destiny with," continued Tyki as he fed her the words when his lips hovered over hers at the barest proximity. He enjoyed how those black eyes of her now looked straight into his amber ones, and wished for a brief second for them to be the old chestnut instead.
Plucking him from the overwhelming urge to just touch those soft pink lips, Tyki stepped back and kneeled down, taking one of her hands in his. With a small peck over her smooth knuckles, he looked down with a momentarily sign of boyish embarrassment and nervousness, as if uncertain and ridiculing himself for doing such a thing that only humans would do.
"I have not really done it formally, my lady," said the young man as he slowly looked up at Kaeda's surprised and confused state. Reaching into his pocket, he took out a small parcel in which he presented to the young lady. "I'll be there for you whenever you fall, Kaeda."
"My lord," gasped the latter mildly as she looked upon the ring that was supposed to bind lovers together so that they could enjoy eternal happiness. Words could not bring themselves together. The stone it held shone dazzlingly back at her, as if that was all it needed to attain happiness. Tyki took it upon his stride and slid the ring through her finger, glad for a moment that he had chosen the right size.
"I'll take care of you, no matter what the circumstances be," he ended off, sealing his breath with hers as he stood up, allowing the curves and lines of his lips to meet hers snuggly. It had come to Kaeda as a shock initially and had confused her too when her lips responded on its own, melting under his touch. As he moved his arms to embrace her even tighter, he could feel her trembling and hungry, craving for something that both of them yearned so much for so long. His tongue was now seeking entrance into her mouth, its tip probing hers little by little.
"Let's make this official to the gentry next week, Kaeda dear," he said in between, making sure that he would heed the Earl's words too. He felt a little nod from Kaeda and soon cast away his Noah identity, absorbed by the latter's affection.
Was this all they needed to be happy?