Beyond fate, there is always choice

Title: Beyond fate, there is always choice
Author: Ainzfern
Genre: Ai no Kusabi – Post OVA
Code: Raoul/Katze - Iason/Riki (Chey Neeson, Tahna Lam)
Story edits and Beta – Lena
Rating: R/NC-17
Parts: WIP – 0/?
Summary: Set several months after the events of ‘To thine own self’ - a disturbing series of events threatens the stability of the Tanagura Syndicate and creates grave issues for Iason Mink’s formerly undisputed leadership; Katze’s courage and Raoul Am’s strength are tested to the limit when the ex-Furniture is dragged into a nightmare not of his own making; and amidst rapidly escalating events, Chey Neeson takes on a surprisingly unexpected, and unquestionably personal, challenge.
Archiving: Cool - if you want to - just let me know.
Feedback: Sure. All comments welcomed! ainzfern@hotmail.com

Author’s Notes: The list of color-caste names for each of the Elite levels comes directly from the third Ai no Kusabi novel, courtesy of the endlessly knowledgeable Lena! As follows: Black-elites - Onyx, Red-elites - Rubies, Green-elites - Jades, Blue-elites - Sapphires, Silver-elites - Platinas, and of course Golden-elites – Blondies.




“There is no chance, no destiny, no fate, that can hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul” - Ella Wheeler Wilcox


PROLOGUE

(The night of the explosion at Dana Bahn)


The tall and dignified Elite, standing before the large glass window of the opulent living room in his palatial residence in Apathia, stared through his own translucent reflection at the beautiful twin moons of Amoi. Although his flawless face was perfectly composed and his large moon-silvered eyes showed only clear serenity, inside he was carrying a burden of sorrow deeper than he had ever known.

He was alone, most unusually, in this grand house tonight but for one other person – his little male Pet, Tian. The Elite now waited with uncharacteristic patience for the aforementioned Pet to complete his evening ablutions and join him here in the main room.

It was Tian’s Birthday today. The sole reason the Elite had brought him here to Apathia, leaving his Furniture and his other young Pets to their own devices back in Eos.

He heard a soft foot fall behind him and he turned, smiling, his sharp eyes inspecting Tian’s appearance with the same deep sense of pleasure he always got when looking upon the young man. Tian had chosen soft deep green satin for his sleeping attire tonight. Loose low-slung pants and a fitted sleeveless vest, showing his elegant collarbones and his flat, toned stomach to maximum effect.

Oh, he was beautiful… his Master had to admit that.

Tian was different to any other Pet he had ever purchased and not just in appearance, although it had to be said the young man was absolutely exquisite. Thick, dark auburn hair and the most soulful sea-green eyes, perfect alabaster skin and a beautifully proportioned body the likes of which any ancient deity might have envied. This alone had contributed to his vastly expensive asking price – a price his Elite Master had been more than willing to pay after one single viewing. But, had the Academy known of Tian’s genuinely acquiescing nature back then, chances were his asking price would have skyrocketed beyond even his Master’s purse.

Tian was a perfectly lovely Pet, in every way. Softly spoken, happily obedient and completely trusting of his Master’s whims and directions. He could so easily have played off his good looks, sullenly insisting on only the best and most beautiful partners at the Pet shows in Apathia, but he did not. Instead, he willingly went with whatever partner was selected for him and did his best in every way to give and receive pleasure in order to enhance the voyeuristic experience of the Elites observing from beyond the stage. He enjoyed the other outings, the shopping expeditions, the treats and the gifts – of course… but he was just as content to curl up next to his Master while the Elite worked on files at home late into the night, resting his head on his Master’s knee and providing unobtrusive and pleasant company, happy to have as his only reward the occasional gentle stroke of long fingers over his silky soft hair.

He was his Master’s absolute favorite.

Perhaps, upon reflection the Elite was forced to admit, as he held out one hand to beckon his Pet closer, Tian was more than that. As an Elite, as befitting his status and his station, he would never admit such things aloud but, he dreamed of Tian. Of him and Tian together, somewhere safe – where prying and disapproving eyes could not judge them, where he could finally hold his Pet in his arms the way he desperately wanted to, touching him without censor or hesitation. Calling him ‘lover’. Free to know him as beloved in every way.

Impossible. Unacceptable. It could never, would never, be.

The Elite touched Tian’s dearly loved upturned face, smiling calmly once more, as if the thoughts whirling around in his head were nothing more than distant echoes on the night’s breeze. No Elite would ever jeopardize his position, his very life in Amoi, by sexually fraternizing and, even worse, emotionally bonding to a mere Pet.

But… the dreams remained.

“Are you wondering why we are here?” the Elite asked softly, leading his Pet towards a low sideboard where a selection of fine wines and crystal goblets awaited them.

Tian nodded, his gorgeous eyes looking up into his Master’s face, so trustingly, so full of open affection. “I am,” he replied, his voice soft as silk. “I was thinking… is it to do with today’s date?”

The Elite heart jolted a little at that last question, at the way it was asked with just a hint of trepidation in Tian’s tone. And he, better than anyone aside from the Pet himself, understood the reason for that tiny touch of fear.

Tian had turned twenty-one today.

Far too old, as dictated by societal laws and strict Elite conventions to remain as a Pet in any Elite’s household. His Master had already kept him a year longer than he should have, staying the inevitable for as long as he could.

But he could not bear the thought of turning Tian out into the streets of Midas. He could not stomach the idea of some foul brothel or whore pit, getting their mercenary claws into the young man, selling his body to whatever degenerate low-life citizen could scrape together the asking price. Killing his beauty, his gentle spirit, piece by piece through cruelty and over-use and mistreatment until one day alone and riddled with disease and half starving, his beautiful young Pet would simply turn his hopeless face and dead eyes to the grimy wall and fade from existence altogether.

No. He could not bear that.

Stroking his fingertips down the smooth and unflawed skin of Tian’s cheek, the Elite nodded at him. “Yes, Pet,” he confirmed his voice warm and filled with assurance. “The date is, indeed, the reason we are here tonight.” He handed Tian a filled goblet, taking the one beside it for himself.

Those huge eyes widened slightly, a full lower lip was caught between even white teeth as Tian waited, his whole body tense with his anxiety, for his Master to continue.

“I know that this date, this particular Birthday, must have been weighing heavily on your mind for some time, now,” The Elite said then, taking a small sip from his glass.

Taking a slightly larger sip from his own goblet, Tian nodded. “You can’t keep me anymore, can you?” he asked, the expression on his exquisite face clearly showing that he already knew the answer, his eyes beginning to fill, even as he smiled tremulously, putting a brave face upon it all.

“No,” The Elite touched Tian’s suddenly damp cheek, whisking away the single tear that fell. “I cannot. However…” he gripped Tain’s trembling shoulders with gentle hands. “What I can promise you is that I will not be sending you alone into Midas to fend for yourself. In fact, Tian my dear Pet, you will not be going anywhere.”

Staring at him, his eyes widening with impossible hope, Tian swallowed hard. “But… won’t you get into trouble?”

The Elite shook his head, his heart both aching and swelling with affection at his Pet’s soft question. “No,” he replied, picking up his glass of wine once more. “You’ll just have to trust me.”

Tian smiled immediately, a stunning smile of absolute trust and total adoration. “Of course I do,” he said with endearing honesty, relief and gratitude coloring his tone. “I always have.”

The Elite swallowed hard, masking the sudden stab of pain through his heart with another sip from his glass. “Then come,” he said, taking Tian’s hand and leading him toward he plush armchair that faced the large window. “Drink your wine, and sit by me for while.” He took his seat, smiling again when Tian gracefully knelt beside him, dutifully drained his glass before carefully setting it aside, and rested his head upon his Master’s knee, just as he had done for so many years.

What Tian did not know, could not possibly know, was that the wine he had just drunk was heavily laced with a powerful barbiturate and a mixture of Pancuronium and Potassium Chloride. Odorless and tasteless the combination would, within a few more minutes at best, first put the young Pet to sleep, before effectively paralyzing his diaphragm and stopping his heart.

Painless. Quick and very, very effective.

“Yes,” The Elite whispered, his throat tight and aching, as he stroked his fingers through Tian’s so-soft hair for the last time, “Sit by me… while I watch the night.”

And as he sat there, silently waiting, running his long fingers again and again over Tian’s silky head, listening as his Pet’s breathing grew shallower and shallower until it stopped altogether; he found that he could not weep.

No, he would not cry. Tears were not for men such as him. But his heart felt broken just the same.

The fact that he believed to his soul that he had done the right thing was cold comfort indeed.


TBC…