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AnK - Black Moon Rising	By : ElegantPaws Category: +. to F > Ai no Kusabi Views: 12900 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: Stating the obvious, I do not own Ai No Kusabi nor do profit from this little endeavour other than the sheer joy of clacking the keys and doffing my cap in reverence to Yoshihara Rieko for creating such complex and intriguing characters.

Chapter List
- 18
- 19
- 20
Now for the pre-amble. My editor, whom I adore, had an hilarious view of Katze and Raoul's internal conversation. Dead on accurate. Had to share.

Again, loved Donovan's subtly hysterical cameo, LOL! And Raoul... Oh God, what a priceless piece of work he is. I just had this weird little imaginary conversation running through my head as I was reading his and Katze's scene.

RAOUL: Soo-oo... Not that I care, but... why are you in bed?

KATZE: I'm tired.

RAOUL: Right. Soo-oo... Not that I care. Y'know. But... did you see Admon?

KATZE: Yup.

RAOUL: Right. Soo-oo... seriously, not that I care or anything like that, but... what did he touch? Did he touch anything? Did he kiss you? Did you get naked? Why're you naked now? Were you naked when Admon was there?

KATZE: Twit.

*GRINS ASS OFF*

Black Moon Rising
By: ElegantPaws with all due deference to Yoshihara Rieko
Edited by: Ainzfern
Key Pairing: Raoul/Katze
Rating: Mature � Implied
Parts: WIP � 18 of 25
Reviews are fuel.
Doffs cap to Asimov�s Three Laws�and continued eternal thanks to A_ngua and Ainzfern for love and encouragement in a tale with a differing spin. Oh and as always to my muse, who I like to call IT, who keeps battering me until each chapter is typed. IT has a wicked advantage. IT knows where each chapter ends.

Chapter 18 of 25 � Slave to the Rhythm (Post OVA)

Donovan closed the door behind him. He didn�t much like leaving the Boss with that thing in the office, but Katze didn�t seem in the mood to �discuss� options at the moment.
The best he could do was to stand vigil with laser cocked.
Tops two seconds to override the entry code and blow that piece of pseudo shit to smithereens, or better yet, take it apart with his bare hands. He shivered in disgust, remembering what he had done with it.
For once Guy�s gut had been right, but for all the wrong reasons.
Folding long powerful arms across his broad chest, Donovan glared at his own shadowy reflection on the opposing wall. Fuck what he wouldn�t give for the port to be reopened and to be given the standing order to kill on sight.
He hoped the Boss knew what he was doing.
~~~BMR~~~
Admon cocked his head to one side and cautiously turned regarding the firm set of Katze�s shoulders as he examined the contents of the bookshelf behind the plasma screen. It was obvious that the black market dealer took great pleasure in his sparse yet rare collection by the reverent way he lifted the ancient tome from the sanctified space and lovingly turned the pages.
Actual pages that turned with text somewhat faded from myriad hands and time.

Simply unheard of for one such as he, a mongrel; not even the more affluent citizenry of Midas could boast such wealth or would desire it.
Such ostentation was distinctly Elite of sensibility.
Katze turned, slim dark filter unlit as he examined the text and smiled. Cognac eyes rose from the selected page and locked with Admon�s dark, merlot irises
The Karinese actually shivered in response, unable to decipher the exact content of that look. Only the Master had ever possessed such an inward gaze and only when displeased - never a good start.
Admon instinctively began to slowly reverse towards the couch in defeat.
�Sit.�
He nodded and lowered himself gracefully, folding the silky material of his robe about him, almost defensively.
Katze�s gaze fell upon his naked feet and he shook his head at the eccentricity before handing the open leather bound tome to him.
�Read this.�
Admon examined the spine, the text was almost unintelligible. At one point, the spine had been gold leafed, now only well embossed letters still bore gold flecked traces, like an antiquated jigsaw puzzle.
�Anthology?�
Katze�s continued to look through him, propping himself on the corner of the desk. �A collection of stories in this instance; focus on the page selected and the words in the first paragraph on the left hand side, Admon.�
The Karinese scanned quickly. A cold chill went through him as his eyes narrowed and full lips thinned into a line of disapproval. Katze and Donovan had heard the entirety of the conversation with the Blondie after all.
�Read them aloud, if you please.�
Admon noted the filter tip remained unlit as graceful fingers smoothed the paper surface again and again meditatively.
�The Three Laws of Robotics?�
Katze inclined his head, pale eyes glistening like a coiled serpent about to strike.
�Replace robot with android. It reads better.�
Having no choice, the Karinese began the recitation:
�One. An android may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.��
�You will never take it upon yourself to EVER threaten Kato again. I value him.�
Admon nodded as the cold prickling within his spine began to tingle in warning as Katze rose quietly and stood before him with a bland expression in place.
�Continue��
�Two. An android must obey any orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.��
�This is your home, for better or worse. I am your sole source of protection, Admon. Until this Master Niiro makes an appearance. If he does, then you are free to go. In case you missed it, I am a human being. Not so sure about your precious Master who left you for dead to fend for yourself. And a shit job you were doing of it in the very worst part of Ceres. How long did you think you would�ve lasted, if we hadn�t �found� you?�
Katze leaned forward, peering into shadowed eyes before finally lighting his smoke and inhaling deeply. �I want to trust you. I want to believe what you have told me. All I have to do is contact Sir Am and I suspect you would be�well, it doesn�t bear thinking about does it? Continue��
�Three. An android must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law. ��
�You get a chance to prove Law Three later today at the Auction. You will be accompanying me, as my guest. I have a business proposition for you.�
�Boss!�
The redhead sighed as Donovan burst through the door looking feral, blue eyes seeking the whereabouts of the Karinese and coming to rest on his quarry. The guard heaved a sigh of relief and looked at Katze with an apologetic expression.
His scarred lip quirked, �Kinda quiet in here and I just thought, you know�him being and you�okay, um�I�ll just,� Donovan pointed at the open port.
Katze really wanted to smile and only discipline prevented it. Humans and their apathy to droids and an alien variety to boot.
Jupiter be praised. Donovan was actually blushing with embarrassment as he holstered his laz-gun and sniffed, resuming his impassive stare at the Karinese and avoiding Katze�s knowing smirk.
�Excellent timing as always, Donovan, confine him to his quarters until fourteen hundred hours.�
White teeth gleamed in the slowly warming light of the new day. �You got it, Boss!�
Swaths of silk danced upon the self made current as Admon was unceremoniously and rather painfully ushered from the office. Katze looked away hurriedly. Donovan was using more force than was strictly necessary.
Sensibly, the Karinese offered no outward resistance.
Katze snickered as his formidable mind shifted perspective. He almost loved his minder in that moment. Gazing at the chronometer atop his desk, he smiled. Two entire hours, he could lie down, completely undisturbed for two hours.
The redhead toed off his shoes and wriggled his toes making a beeline for his bedroom; two entire hours, of no Raoul Am, no Admon, no nothin� just sleep.
Tired eyes closed as the portable com he wore at his waist vibrated. Katze almost moaned as his shoulders slumped and he pressed the open frequency. . Not for the first time, he began to wonder if the Blondie in question had dormant psychic genes.
�Yes, Sir Am?�
There was a pregnant pause as he entered his bedroom and he shifted the com, placing it in the docking station on his nightstand and turned in the direction he knew the holo screen would appear.
�Katze, why are you not using visual mode?�
Sighing loudly, the mongrel sat atop the rumpled sheets and removed his clothing slowly before hitting the visual prompt. As expected the holographic image of a pissed Raoul Am, seated resplendently behind the desk in his study came to view, long and elegant, no longer gloved fingers thrumming the ancient wooden desk.
�I do not appreciate being kept waiting, Katze.�
The redhead fluffed his pillows, observing the time stamp; yep, two hours, if he could get rid of the bastard by humoring him.
�How may I be of service, Sir Am?�
A pale brow quirked as sea green eyes narrowed speculatively. �You are in bed? What of the proposed meeting?�
�Done.�
Raoul�s lips pursed, a thick golden lock tossed irritably by deft fingers.
�And?�
�He is the most perfect android I have ever seen. He almost rivals your kind. I�m keeping him, Sir Am.�
The Elite�s brow furrowed then smoothed.
�Where is he?�
With a deep exhalation the mongrel glared at the holo image with no small amount of exasperation. �In his quarters, Sir Am, where else would he be at this hour?�
Katze noted, the angry line about full lips had retreated and broad shoulders relaxed somewhat as the Elite pinned him with a supercilious glare.
�What are you doing in bed?�
The urge to retort, �isn�t that fucking obvious� was quashed, replaced by the more genial and appropriate. �I need rest, Sir Am. I will be there at the appointed hour his Excellency commanded. Is there something I can do for you in the meantime, Sir Am?�
�Ahh about that, I might be somewhat delayed. In fact, consider this a countermand to Iason�s original order.�
Was it his imagination or did the Blondie actually look furtive?
Bottle green eyes glowered briefly at the mongrel�s speculative gaze and the clear delight he saw in those exotic amber depths. �You need not look so relieved, Katze. All of this could change on a credits notice. I believe in being prepared and thought it appropriate to apprise you of possible changes to our original itinerary.�

Katze retrieved the pillows on the opposing side of the bed with flourish and pounded them briefly before adjusting them behind his head.
�Uuuuhhh huh��
Raoul pinched the bridge of his nose with infinite delicacy. �Tone, Katze.�
He had to do something to stave off the urge to genuinely laugh. Raoul was hiding something and badly too; for him to countermand his Excellency boded ill.
The smile that had almost reached his eyes faltered as he turned to regard the silent Elite.
�What�s wrong, Raoul?�
A pale brow arched as the Blondie steepled his fingers, regarding Katze with a pensive expression.
�You have a peculiar habit that usually occurs under strong emotional stimuli.�
Cold amber eyes flickered over the handsome face, searching. �What would that be, Sir Am?�
�You called me Raoul without giving it thought and not for the first time.�
Katze blushed openly, nervously fingering his bang. �I apologize, Sir Am. It will never happen again.�
The Elite waved dismissively. �Understandable in the throes of passion to be sure, one is hardly thinking with their head at such times. It will be overlooked in future.�
The redhead snorted.
Raoul glared. �Did I say something amusing, mongrel?�
Shaking his head, Katze snorted again, almost openly laughing. �You said thinking with your head. I can think of one head doing all the thinking at that point, Sir Am.�
Raoul�s bland expression was priceless as he cleared his throat. �Droll.�
Katze shrugged. �You asked, Sir Am. Now, will you tell me what is wrong, please?�
The diffident gaze grew hooded while long elegant fingers tapped the desks wooden surface.
�Riki is indisposed and might require my medical expertise.�
Huffing softly to himself, the dealer reached for his stash and lit a black nocturne. �I fuckin� told him to get his ass home on time, but noooo.�
�Yes, this tendency you all have for defiance is irritating to say the least.�
Pointedly ignored Raoul�s intended barb and responding to the internal com instead, the mongrel smiled apologetically at the Elite, �One moment, Sir Am. Just have to get this, if it�s not too much trouble?�
�Kato, bring coffee, strong and black. Oh and make sure Admon is ready in the next hour and a half. I�ve changed my mind.�
Raoul listened intently as instructions were passed. Perhaps at another time the banter could have proved moderately amusing what with the servant�s disapproval and obvious concern about his Master�s lack of sleep, but Katze had mentioned that Admon creature � again, setting his teeth on edge.
�So what�s the damage this time, anything broken?�
The warm beguiling tone rendered his internal musings mute as the attractive, silk shrouded mongrel lit another of those sweetly scented concoctions. He could almost smell it, from memory alone.
At the moment, Riki was the least of the Elite�s concerns. What was Admon being readied for?
�Suffice it to say, your fellow mongrel will be out and about causing all manner of havoc within the week. It has always amazed me his ability to heal, almost as rapidly as you do. Must be a byproduct of that genetic stew you call a bloodline.�
Katze smiled secretively. �True. Mongrels by nature tend to be hardy stock, Sir Am. Survival of the fittest, so to speak. It is only the rare breeds that tend to perpetuate genetic flaws thought to be desirable, generation after generation. They can afford that luxury. We simply die if we can�t pass muster.�
The dealer saw the abrupt icy shift of the Elite�s gaze. Maybe this time he had gone too far. Fuck, why couldn�t he keep his mouth shut? Many had been mind wiped for less.
Raoul glared down his perfect patrician nose at the mongrel. �Hardly, the genetically flawed are disposed of, as my Academy Pets will attest.�
�Yeah, but who said anything about Pets?� Katze�s gaze shifted a fraction as he lowered his eyes with a self-conscious twitch of auburn bangs. �Of course, Sir Am, my comment was out of line. I apologize. Please put it down to fatigue, a common human frailty of which you have no concept.�
Golden brows furrowed in suspicion. Why was Katze being so obeisant? His observations did have some limited merit with respect to quite a few Off World specimens currently in the genetics labs at Guardian. He could not have possibly meant Elites? What a laughable concept. They were the pinnacle of fostered evolution. The envy of the Commonwealth for intellect, aesthetics and longevity.
Still the mongrel was genuinely afraid. Those long elegant fingers twitched as they rose to his lips with the filter tip, despite his attempt at control and the irritating flip of bangs was always a sign of discomfort.
Raoul knew he had won this round, but it felt an empty victory.
�Katze? Don�t be tedious. Look at me.�
Surprisingly, the fearful gaze that met his cautiously beneath sooty lashes was in no way gratifying.
�It is unlike you to surrender so readily.�
Mesmerizing golden orbs grew hard and opaque.
�There is no sport without your pathetic attempt at witty observation to counter.�
Finally, the vaguest whisper of a smirk touched those delectably maleable lips. It would do.
�Thanks, I have my moments...Sir Am.�
The light had returned to those sensual pools of light as well � much preferable.
�Riki�s current condition, Sir Am?�
�More to the point, Katze, what is Admon being made ready for?�
The dealer pursed his lips in irritation. Weird though, Raoul seemed inordinately pleased by his obvious annoyance as the sheets were thrown back and the mongrel began dressing again.
�Well? Tit for tat, I believe is the phrase of the moment.� Raoul purred enjoying the view, making a mental note that for their next encounter. He would insist on a slow stripping of the mongrel, perhaps even making a game of it.
Katze turned to face the holo image hearing Raoul�s sharp intake of breath and unconsciously adjusting.
The dealer regretted it instantly as the Elite�s gaze shifted to his inseam with a lascivious grin that spoke volumes. Shit, if he could bottle that look, he�d be richer than Iason Mink, not to mention have a perpetual hard on to contend with.
�Excuse me, Sir Am?� Damn but he was picking up some weird assed expressions. That one had to be from Riki himself.
�It would seem there was a disagreement that did not go in the dark mongrel�s favor.�
The redhead pursed his lips and waved the silent shadow into the room beyond Raoul�s visual. �Okay, let me guess, one of their sick little games?�
Pale brows lifted quizzically. �Sick is such a harsh term. One would prefer adventurous.�
Katze snorted, bowing decorously to the fussy attendant who once again made himself scarce post handing the steaming mug to his master.
Fascinating, truly it was, how the mongrel shifted the cup and sniffed with evident pleasure before closing his eyes and taking a sip.
Raoul re-crossed his legs, his groin feeling decidedly envious of the rim of the cup.
�Whatever, Sir Am, will I be allowed to see him, Riki I mean, when I pick you up?�
�No. We have other matters to attend to.�
�Sir Niiro?�
The Elite slowly nodded, �And Admon�s purpose amongst others. What is he being readied for?�
Shaking his head, Katze placed the mug on the night table. �He will become my eyes and ears for what I cannot sense. I have this feeling some shit is about to come down and he is my only form of early warning, my only defense.�
This offended the Elite, though he could not fathom why, as he regarded the lithe, shadowed figure whose silhouette was shrouded in darkness.
Katze for the first time looked inordinately small and defenseless � most disconcerting.
�You will come now. Leave that thing in his quarters for the time being.�
Before the dealer could argue the change, the com link was abruptly cut.
Fuck, but he was gonna kill that overgrown brat one day!
Pale amber looked to the rising sun beyond the window and sniffed the remainder of his mug before finishing the dark elixir.
One day, just not today.
EP

Happy Saturday!

EP...When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be...

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AnK - Black Moon Rising