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Coincidence	By : Kiba Category: +. to F > Ai no Kusabi Views: 9481 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Ai no Kusabi, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 19
- 20
- 21
***

Any spelling and grammatical errors are the Beta�s.

To cocoko5:

Thank you for your review and yes, the twin-furnitures took Raven and Kris away after the pairing. They carried the pets to the bathroom and cleaned them up.

Dear readers:

I apologize for the delay. Moving and finals keep me busy and the internet-connection isn't established yet
[Practically it is but they are not able to deliver the required technique.]

I promise not to neglect the story as long as there are people reading it. Thanks to all of you for your patience!

***

chapter 20: choices I

�Tell me, Kris, leave tonight or live that way?�

�Leave.�

�This is the answer I wanted to hear.�

Raven got a hold on the furniture's hand, �Get lost! Same goes for you � move away from him!�
He pushed the startled youth against the tiles of the bathroom yanking Kris with him to their feet.

�Call the master. �

The other twin furniture, the one at Kris' side, blocked their way. Raven gifted him with a predatory grin,�Don't fight me! �
He drove him to his knees with one efficient move making a dash for the exit, dragging the Feron behind.
His grip became painful and tears welled up in Kris� eyes. He winced, �You hurt me.� but Raven refused to answer, nor did he seem to mind him. His pupils widened as if he was drugged and the hair on his neck stood on end.

You startle me.

They made their way through the side wing and the back floor.
With his sharp ears Kris could still hear the noise of the party but nothing happened.
Nobody approached them, nor gave his ring an impulse.
Raven made an eerie sound deep in his throat and the apartment entrance door slid open.
The same way went for all other doors on their way to the garage.
Kris expected something to happen, maybe an alert but still nothing.

Raven moved them to Raoul's private car and pushed him in. Kris stiffened in the front passenger seat.
It was evident that there existed a side to Raven beyond his reach which especially frightened him.
The mongrel sunk into his seat and crooked. Every muscle in his body tensed.
His skin felt feverish, it heated more and more while he remained absent-minded.
Raven groaned again, �don't fight me!� and the air car lifted off.

You startle me.

~~

The air car crashed into the landing platform with a loud crack and the air was pressed out of Kris' lungs.
Raven woke for a second, smiled at him before he collapsed.

�Raven!�

He reached for the mongrel but bucked back when someone opened the doors from the outside. Kris was blinded by the light.

�Welcome to Lucius Point.�

A man, dressed in a gray coarse coat, covered Raven with a blanket and hoisted him out of the car, the Feron following hard on them, �No!� Another man stopped him, gently laying a blanket around his shoulders,

�He over-strained himself. We will help him.�

Kris pushed against the hold on him. He was panicking at the prospect of being separated from Raven.

�No harm will be done.�

A third man, obviously the leader, turned to them. Kris found himself looking into one of the most beautiful faces he had ever seen. The man was undoubtedly an elite, maybe a Blondie, but his hair was hidden and he couldn't decide on that point. Defined features and brilliant blue eyes betrayed an extraordinary intelligence. Kris held his breath, when the man in an icy, bone-chilling voice announced, �I have no patience in dealing with you at the moment. You may accompany him, given you stay quiet. If you can't, I will stun you. Your choice. �

�I'm quiet.�

�Good boy.�

~~

How much time passed?

Raven couldn't tell. He felt relaxed.

'Welcome back, Black Beauty! Wake up now.'

Raven refused.

'Who are you?'

'Already forgotten? I'm aggrieved.'

Raven sorted through his memories.

'Ajax?'

'Are you ready for a real meeting?'

'What do I have to do?'

The other one chuckled, 'Just open your eyes.'

Foolish.

Raven's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Strong hands helped him into an upright position.
He moved one palm over his neck. The tingling was still there and to be honest - it felt good.

�You made me wait for you.�

�Was I worth it?�

Ajax chuckled again, �Time means little to me.�

�Guess that's no.�

Still weak, he involuntarily fell against Ajax' chest.

�You have to prove your worth to me but your abilities are outstanding.�

There was something else, something he ought to remember.

�Kris!�

�I'm here.�

Raven turned his head to the side and thrust an arm out to him. The boy rushed to him and nuzzling his cheek against Raven's hand,
�I thought I'd lost you. �

�I'm sorry, little one.�

Ajax moved him from the bed, holding him by his hips and ignoring the Feron completely.

�I will show you our sanctuary.�

�Not without him.�

�I see.�

There it was again, that fucking serenity that got on Raven's nerves for the past two years. This self-assertion in everything they did. It screamed 'elite' all over the place.

�How does an elite end up in the Wasteland?�

�Even Jupiter's children fall into oblivion.�

All sense of time�s passage was unfelt in this place so that the ride down the elevator shaft seemed to last an
eternity until it came to a halt bringing the mongrel out of his thoughts back to the present situation.
Eventually the doors slid open, revealing a surreal world where the organic and artificial met in cold sterile
harmony that was beautiful. Raven stared in amazement into a wide hall.
The only light source was provided by the dim blue shimmering from several inclined tubes.
At once, he realized where he was standing, �Growth chambers. �

�The first generation you see in this chamber. We hoped to wake the second by now.
However, your master was quite effective in delaying our schedule.�

The chambers were serialized in a round about pattern in an empty alcove. In each chamber reposed a child about five years of age. Each one dazzling beautiful, pale and blond, just unnaturally beautiful, it was obvious that nature had no hand in this realm of artificially created life. Raven walked from chamber to chamber, sliding his hand close to the surface, �Have they...?�

�Awareness? Yes.�

�But the mental stability? If only Jupiter...�

�Not everything your master was taught about Jupiter is correct, but I admit the balancing is a problem.
We need Dreamers to manage it. Dreamers like you.�

Raven stopped, turning to regard Ajax with a horrified expression marking his face. The whirlwind in his head was going to blast the last bit of sense out of him. When he reached a tube near the centre, he was forced to stop in his tracks. The boy in the chamber looked familiar. Dark blond waves surrounded a face with a wild touch.

�His name is Liam.�

Raven eyes widened in shock as he looked from the life form in the chamber to its creator, �You can't! �

He was pale as a sheet of paper but Ajax smiled, �It's just a coincidence. His eye colour is gray.�

The mongrel touched the surface of the chamber and whispered, �Liam. �

Ajax gripped his shoulders.

�It is time to proof your worth. Let me introduce you to the infants.�

Stabbed right in the back, no was not an option but did he want to decline?
Revulsion and curiosity tugged at his mind as he looked into the chamber seeing a small boy.

Never!

Nyet waited for them in front of the dreaming room. He still hadn't introduced himself and he had no intension to do it now. He approached Raven and ran a medical quick check over him. Eying the results on the small screen he turned to Ajax and declined with a shake of the head. Ajax nodded and moved Raven's head up for to look in the boy's exhausted face.

�I almost forgot that you are only a mongrel. Nyet will take you to your quarters. Rest today. The training starts tomorrow sharp five.�

Nyet turned and bolted towards a stairway. The boys could do nothing but hurry behind.

Clearly, there was something going on with this man.

�Are you alright?� Kris asked. �You were in bad shape last night.�

Raven, who normally hated being fussed over, was touched from the boy�s concern and gave him a warm smile. The night before had been disturbing on so many levels, but he decided he was going to try and get the best out of it.

Nyet led them to an underground crew accommodation. The room itself was small but it contained a sitting area and a bathroom with a shower-cubicle. Eight sleeping berths were inset in the wall. Their slide doors were the main luxury, the quarter provided.

�Water runs only one hour each day. Put up a schedule with your roommates. The dining hall is down the corridor. � He opened a small drawer, �An exchange for clothes and everything you need for now. Questions? �

Tons of. Where to begin?

When Raven failed to answer quickly, Nyet stated, �Fine,� and prepared to leave. Kris asked in the last possible moment,
�Where do I sleep?�

�Third row, top bunk.� With thus he left the astounded boys.

�That guy is gruff.�

Raven nodded. Caring for anything but sleep right now, he climbed into bed stretching out on the mattress. Of course the little redhead followed, nuzzling against him. He let him be, pressed a kiss to his head and closed his arms protectively around him, �Sleep well.�

~

Nyet picked him up in the morning, continuing being gruff, �You are late.�

Raven felt still sleepy and didn't even find the strength to comment. He got up, being careful not to wake Kris and trudged behind Nyet.

Once the door closed behind them, excitement spread out in the room, whose residents wanted to catch a glimpse of the newbies. Kris was regarded with curiosity.

�What's the use of that little thing?�

�I�ve heard he's a pet.�

�A pet?�

�I've heard that too.�

�He can entertain us.�

The questioner pushed him aside giving Kris a wake up call, �He pet!�

The boy's eyes widened. A few pairs of eyes lingered on him and none of them particular friendly. He slapped at the hand reaching for him and hugged his legs tight to himself.

�Make yourself useful!�

�How?� He didn't understand.

Another one of the more or minder rude looking onlookers leered at him, �Entertain us!�

Kris threw him a killing glance and spit into his face. The bunch growled and laughed.

�Quite the wild thing.�

�Don't act coy. You're already used to this.�

�Think of us as your masters.�

Kris wanted to throw up. His anger got the better of him. He kicked out, hitting the nearby sitting man in the face. The one who woke him grabbed his ankle and dragged him out of the bunk.

�Let go of me, you bastard!�

He kicked and struggled and finally clanked his teeth in the man's arm. As a result his back hit the concrete rather hard, when the man tossed him against it. Everybody's attention was drawn to him. All in all a lousy situation, on top of it all Kris grumbling stomach made his presence known.

Oh no, not that!

Fortunately everybody was hungry and a siren howling announced �Mealtime!�

The pet was immediately forgotten and the pack hurried to get to the dining hall. Only the man, who had been bitten by Kris, remained in the quarter. He got cleaning supplies from a locker and chucked them to Kris,

�No work � no food. Clean the room!�

~

They lay on the mattress next to each other, exhausted and disillusioned. Ajax' words still vivid on his mind, Raven sank into a light slumber.

'You are not ready! Master your gift � don't let it master you.'

After the first lesson, Ajax flatly refused to introduce him to the infants.

'Try harder!'

Maddened by the harsh words and treatment, he managed to establish a connection but Ajax still wasn't satisfied.

'Not good. Control your anger.'

Ajax was right. Raven only exploit his potential when provoked beyond a certain point and afterwards he acted on instinct � far away from controlled. Ajax didn't let him get away with anything. This school was hard school.
Raven sighed unable to fall asleep and turned to Kris, �How was your day, little one?�

�Lousy.�

After the first few weeks, they had fallen into a routine. Raven was never one to complain, if it wasn't for Kris, who was usually left hungry at the end of the day.
The little redhead leaned pouting against the wall. He had been teased and groped for about the umpteenth time for his origin as a pet.

�It�s just their way to blow off steam, since we�re all packed in here together for such long periods of time,� Raven paused and his eyes took on a soft, thoughtful expression, �I don't think they mean to harm you.�

�I know but it's annoying. Doesn't it disturb you?�

Of course Raven got the same attention but he was hardly around because Ajax horded his time for training purposes.

Kris faked a smile, �You better get up, and you don�t want to be late!�

Raven nodded and reluctantly made his way to the shower, leaving Kris alone with his thoughts.

He had just freshly clothed, when it got noisy on the floor.

�What's going on?�

�They lost one of the infants.�

�No!�

Fear built in Raven. He dashed out of the room without thinking and ran to the sanctuary.

Not Liam, not Liam, not Liam was all he could think. His heart gave a leap when he entered the sanctuary.

Not Liam!

He inhaled deeply, involuntarily slowing down and holding his breath.

Please!

He approached the alcove near the centre, not even noticing the wetness on his own cheeks.

Still there.

He sighed in relief and sank down in front of the alcove. Strong hands came to rest on his shoulders.

�Ajax...�

�Do you understand now?�

It was that very moment when Raven, kneeling in front of Liam's alcove, admitted to himself that his fear of overstepping boundaries without knowing what was beyond prevented him from exploring his potential. Fear of the unknown, his self-doubt, his insecurity was hindering his progress. Things he was causing within his very own self. Time to take charge and control for not only his sake but Kris�s sake that he had dragged along for this ride. Time to take responsibility!

�Show me what's necessary. I can do it. I will do it.�

~~~

And so he did. After only a couple of days Ajax finally gave his permission. He selected a technician for Raven, explaining,

�He adjusts you to the system and monitors your brainwaves. While dreaming you entrust your life to him.�

�I want Kris.�

To Raven's surprise Ajax gave in without arguing and summoned the Feron to the dreaming room.

Kris watched from behind the glass plate, when he lowered Raven into a gel filled basin while Nyet explained, �The fluid includes a neuroleptic substance. It prevents the Dreamer from any damage to the nervous system. �

Ajax undressed and sunk into another basin. The room darkened but the glowing gel produced dancing lights to the ceiling. There were fifteen basins in the room, all connected to each other and a system in the centre.

�We have nine Dreamers. The mongrel is the tithe. The rest is additional.�

�His name is Raven.�
�Mongrels got names. So what?�

�You are mean.�

�I don't give a shit on your opinion, pet. You are just another mouth to fill. �

Harsh words.

�You think it is enough when he earns your food? I don't. You will have to work.�

Nyet pulled him close to the workstation he was standing on, �Pay attention! The red line shows Ajax, the blue your mongrel. We have to watch over them, while they are dreaming. That means monitor their brainwaves and adjust the system to them. Can you learn that, pet?�

Kris nodded. He felt humiliated but was careful to memorize every explained detail.

�Normally more Dreamers are linked to the system. Concentrate only on the mongrel. One of the other lines gets erratic � not your problem.�

�Why is he so important? �

�They are all important. They balance the infants.�

�What are you going to do with the infants?�

�Recreate Amoi's future. �

Nyet angrily readjusted the system to Raven, �You are not paying attention!�

�Just a mongrel?�

�Quit that sarcastic tone! Dreamers are rare. I won't loose one because of a stupid pet!�

�Stop calling me pet!�

�Shut up! No one pampers you here and that pretty look of yours will fade. Crawl back to your master and lick his boots!�

Kris felt the urge to punch him. Nyet's reaction was over the top.

�Shut up yourself! I haven't been asked if I wanted to become a pet. It's not all fun and roses. You know nothing about me and you sure as hell have no right to judge me! ... What's that button for?�

They gave up on quarreling and limited the conversation to necessary tasks. Eventually the two Dreamers, who seemed to have lasted an eternity inside of the basins, needed attention. A humming cut into the silence.

�They wake.�

Nyet handed Kris a large towel and took him along into the basin room.

�You did well. Maybe you are worthwhile feeding after all.�
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Coincidence