Out of the Embers

With the new AAF.net requirements; Ai no Kusabi does not belong to me: it did come from the Juno ppl however, and the actual authress, who i dont remember. Enjoy either way.


Sulfur and ash. Building material acting as so much kindling, angry orange and yellow blazing across the surface. Embers and soot danced in the air in a twisted parody of a waltz. The heat was nearly unbearable, ever so slowly coming nearer, trying to get a lick at his exposed side. Faint, nearly unvisibible blonde hairs singed against the heat present.

Iason grimaced, and tried not to think about the blood pooling from his legs. What would get him first, he idly wondered, hemorrhaging to the end, or the fire? No matter. He was defeated, crowed by a mere street punk, and that, that in itself was a fate already worse than the death he was facing.

He’d sent Riki off with the cretin, and now he was left alone. Alone, save for the company of greedy flames eager to make his acquaintance.

It was not a good feeling.

~~~~~

His breaths heavy and labored, cluttered by the swirling noxious gases, Riki labored to carry Guy away from the danger. It was only right, after I-Iason... Damn him, Why couldn’t he do something else, something that would make Riki hate him? Even more than he thought he already did? No, no, he couldn’t. Couldn’t go the selfish route, leave Guy back there to perish, leave Riki with a clear conscience to escape, run, curse his Blondie master. Anything.

“Guy,” he struggled to breathe, to speak, make himself known,” We have to go back.”

“What?” came the dazed reply. Riki hear a wheeze from the long haired mongrel as they stumbled along.

“To Iason. He’s still back there,” Riki stated, slowing his step.

“Good,” the reply came. Riki looked down and saw his former pairing partner with a look of pained satisfication. Through the abused face, Riki could make out the strained look of pleasure at this news.

“No” Riki replied, his tightening grip on Guy, causing him to cry out as he undoubtly put pressure onto some of his battered tissue.

“Can you walk?” Riki asked after a moment, loosening his hold. Guy looked at him through puffy swollen cheeks, a small trickle of blood coming from an abrasion under his left eye. After a moment, he nodded. “Good.” A shifting of the shoulders, and Riki set his fellow societal outcast aside. He pointed towards the dark and safe region in the distance. To the safety the cool air offered, outside the flaming dome, “Keep going straight.” Riki turned back to look at the flames to the side, and behind them.

“W-what? What are you doing?” Guy demanded, his good arm coming up to grasp Riki’s wrist.

“I’m going...” Riki trailed off, looking off into the searing miasma.

“The hell you are!” the force in Guy’s voice stunned Riki, as did the intensifying grip on his wrist.

“Guy.” Riki whispered the name.

“You’re still too weak. The operation, for that ring...” vile disdain was clear in his tone even as he faded off. Riki thought better than to press the fact that he had performed the actual procedure, using acquired tricks of street doctoring. Now was not the time. ” You can’t.”

“I’ve gotta. I’m going,” dark eyes flashing, taking in the battered body of his former pairing partner, inadequate to face any more abuse,” You can’t stop me.” The mongrel turned back to face the flames, making his obviously pained gait back to the wreckage.

Guy watched him for a split second before biting down on the inside of his cheek. Taking a deep breath in the sulphuric air, he turned about-face, and went after his lover back into the flames.

~~~~

A Blondies constitution was strong than that of an average Midas citizen. Physically, they were taller, stronger, lovely as well as well adapted to illness and allergies. Of course they were intelligent and quick-witted. These attributes, Iason supposed with his sluggish thoughts, was what kept him conscious for so long. It seemed almost cursive. He felt the unbearable roast of his side, brazenly heated even from an impressive distance away. Stray hair curled from the intensity of the fire, frizzed into nothingness.

A wind composed of fire blew his way, bring momentary coolness, before the wave of fire unforgivingly fondled him. Something structurally large had fallen, the impact sending a cruel wind of flame and false hope. Ash flew, displaced from the landing. Some of it speckled the pale white skin, quickly blistering. Embers had been mixed with the fiery soot. Iason couldn’t’ recall hearing any loud sounds, just a vague thw-amp noise in the distance.

Iason’s last images had been of the mongrel, with that rapscallion perched over his shoulder, nearly unconscious for the rightful assault Iason had performed on him. He allowed himself a smile despite the flaming heat on his face that cried at the wound. The punk had removed Riki’s pet ring, and in the only way possible. He’d utterly spoiled Riki’s body form himself and the dark haired man. Iason could -or could have - still enjoyed him, but he allowed his pet to receive as much pleasure, wanted or not, from their trysting.

His resolved quietly crumbling, Iason’s ramrod back lost its support. He jerked to one side. His am reached out instinctively, trying to break the tumble and attempted to steady himself . The gravely pavement under his arm branded itself into his skin. The only sign of discomfort was a clenching of the eyes, the upward raise of the pale eyebrows. Gathering himself, Iason was able to once more pull his expression into something more appropriate. He schooled a look of indifference into his features, though no one was around, and Jupiter herself was not there to enforce the principles she set for her children.

Though his arm refused to listen to him at first, Iason pulled the limb straight. Ultimately, he was able to force himself into an upright position. He bowed his head almost involuntarily, and allowed himself the laborious task of breathing. It was becoming somewhat of a challenge. The fire picking up pace now, precious air was expendable when it sat next to the greedy flames. A lone Blondie could not pull into himself enough oxygen to continue this parody of quickly extinguishing life. Or to even crawl away, knuckles grazing the broken pavement, to shove a torn body away from a quickly approaching death. No, Iason would not do that, not ever.

He would die first. And he would. Iason was resigned and ready, as much as his clouded mind could be.

At first, the Blondie didn’t even notice the approaching figures. His eyes looked forward and then to another distant part, and back again. Ths time the elongated blobs were approaching, through unsteady steps, leery of the enclosing fire. Iason watched through cool, faltering eyes, as the forms approached, first out line, and then details, coming in clearly.

“Riki,” Iason whispered, though he doubt he heard him. His throat was parched, his tongue dry as paper. His words were broken crisps in the atmosphere.

“We’re getting you out,” Riki whispered back, his own voice nearly stolen by the flames.

We? Iason looked at his other companion. He found strength to narrow his eyes upon recognition. The mongrel bastard who’d stolen Riki’s attentions- and Riki’s manhood! A grimace must have passed over his face, for his mongrel pet made slow assurances in his ear.

“We’re getting out of here,” the deep alto came again, spoken outside the shell of Iason’s ear. Pressure was put under his arms, one on his left where Riki was, and after a moment, on his right. The other mongrel. He also applied deep touch, using what strength Iason hadn’t beaten out of him the first time to aid him; no doubt from fear of some kind of retribution from Riki or any of Iason’s contacts.

“Oh God,” Iason heard Riki as he’d slowly made progress from his fallen state. Iason looked at him, his eyes blinking blearily. Riki’s eyes were wide, and staring downwards,” It won’t stop...”

Iason tried to figure out what his pet meant, but his head... like his thoughts.. were trying to get away from him. Upon that time came the realization that he was hemoraging somewhat profusely. Iason peered as best as he could down at his stumps. He gritted his teeth against the shock, the realization, and the pain that burned his entire lower abdomen, searing spikes jagging their way up. Somethings had been best left ignored, shuffled into a apathetic closet.

Closing his eyes, he allowed his head to loll back into the juncture of Riki's shoulder and neck. This produced a sense of panic in his pet, who wasted the strained oxygen supply

"No, Iason! No, don't go to sleep. Stay awake," the strained breathed pleaded with him. Iason responded with a brief opening of his eyes, and a weak gentle smile on his face. Thuis thoughts started to swim as he heard Riki call his name repeatedly.

Another voice intercepted his conscious. The other mongrel, was instructing Riki in a harsh commanding voice.

"Push him down, pull his legs up. You have to get them up. Get it up! It'll keep the bleeding down," the angry voice snarled angrily. Iason heard a brief muffled exchange beween the two, before he felt his world turn head over heels as he was hoisted. And then nothing at all.

~~~~

A deep sharp pain, his heart beating faster and faster, his breath coming in fast and faster increments...

Iason bolted upwards, attempting to clutch at his chest. The canvas around his wrists and chest immobilized him from doing such a thing.

"Ah," he snarled aloud, the taste of the flames still too close for his comfort. He jerked at his hands, wishing them free, to clutch at his heart. His chest... it ached. Sweet merciful Jupiter, it burned!

"Sir Mink, please, stabilize yourself!" a medical attendant Iason had never met was at his side," I injected you with a small dose of adrenaline, to wake you. We need to check on the progress."

"Ah, what?" Iason longed for the use of his hands, to wipe at the sweat gathered at his brow, a result from the stimulate shot. His heart only now started to soothe, with the return to his senses. Now that he knew where he was.

"From your injuries, sir. They were extensive, to be minimal in speech, and the blood loss," the attendant shook his head," In addition to the smoke inhalation and burns. Grafting technology is very progressive."

"Where is..." Iason tried to think, but his head swam at the motions.

"Your secondary estate proprietor?" he misunderstood who Iason longed for. "You are able to see him briefly before we begin. Or you are able to wait until after the evaluation is complete."

"Now... I think," Iason replied sluggishly, fighting against the queasy feeling the stimulant left. Secondary estate proprietor... Raoul. The Blondie who took charge of all of medical, financial, and executive rights should Iason ever be injured seriously or, if his death should occur, inherit all his accomplishments. A large amount indeed, a precarious position, yet Iason trusted no one but Raoul.

"Very well. This will make the treatment easier," the attendant nodded as he disappeared through a pair of doors intended to blend entirely into the walls. This left Iason with nothing but a few moment to recall madcap images of what occurred before he'd passed out. Collapsed, while also hauled away at best speed towards a dimming safety. Riki, oh hell, where was Riki?! The struggled against the restraints with no real result. He felt tired from the effort, almost nauseated.

"There now, Iason. It wouldn't due for you to strain yourself when you've only so recently come from stasis-surgery," Raoul's unforgettable voice greeted him. Iason halted his actions long enough to look over at him.

"Raoul! Dammit, where's Riki?" the Blondie felt ready to pull against his restraints, fight his way free. The attendant seemed to notice, and gave an imploring look to Raoul.

"He's with me, Mink. I've kept him with my household for the time being," Raoul responded evenly. Iason breathed a sigh of relief that ended quickly when he realized that he meant that the mongrel had been with Raoul, a man who made no small disdain over his existence, and in his home. Iason was about to upstart, possibly upset his wound dressings, when Raoul pacified him with the last thing he'd ever expected his friend to say. "I must say, I can see why you kept him."

Iason recline again the restrains loosened. So, his pet was being well taken care of by his close associate. This eased his troubled heart greatly, and then and ugly thought crossed his mind.

"The filth! That mongrel! Gai. Guy! What of him? Where is the dirty alley rat?!" Iason bolted upwards, the restrained barely containing him as he moved. "I'll kill him myself!"

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Enjoy the new eye-friendly formatting of Ch 1