Adult-FanFiction.org : Anime

AnK - Black Moon Rising	By : ElegantPaws Category: +. to F > Ai no Kusabi Views: 13025 -:- 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
- 28
- 29
- 30
Black Moon Rising

By: ElegantPaws with all due deference to Yoshihara Rieko

Edited by: Ainzfern

Key Pairing: Raoul/Katze

Rating: Mature

Parts: WIP � 28 of ?

Reviews are fuel.

"He is victorious if he knows where and when not to fight.�
~~~
Sun Tzu

Chapter 28 of ? � The Web of Illusion (Post OVA)

Raoul�s temper had not improved in the last hour. Still he remained, now half dressed and glowering as only an Elite could who was visibly out of sorts, a rarity in and of itself. Kato hummed peacefully as he strung the needle for the fourth time, mumbling to himself about the light or lack thereof on his old eyes.

�This is ridiculous! Have someone bring me a new tunic immediately!�

Kato tut tuted and shifted on the chaise at the bottom of the bed, while Raoul stalked the perimeter of the bedroom. �Forgive the tedium, Sir Am. Someone of your importance is never to be kept waiting but appearances are everything. It is never a good idea to upset Mr. Katze, Sir Am, allow me to finish.�

Raoul pursed his lips in lieu of a glower.

�Mr. Katze will insist on the old ways when convenient and I must admit I have come to enjoy the warp and weft of it after much trial and error. It brings me peace, these small acts of contrition.�

A pale unimpressed brow rose watching the deft movements of gnarled fingers as silken thread was drawn through the minor tear at the shoulder.

There was veracity to his statement. The damage was hardly noticeable now. No comment would be made as he strode through Eos Tower, though his mind favoured another destination at the moment and the thorough throttling of a redheaded mongrel.

�How did you acquire those?� Raoul pointed dispassionately at the thin silver metal of varying heights used for the repair.

Eyes set in a wizened face looked up and focussed briefly on the being that spoke before returning in earnest to their task. �One never asks where a gift comes from here, Sir Am. It is simple a gift and a chance to practice a lost art.

�Antiquated claptrap and highly inefficient. You have pierced your skin twice in the process of repair.� Raoul countered with flippant wave of wrist. �See to it your foul DNA is not part and parcel of this darning you insist upon.�

�Rest assured I have been careful not to soil your vestment with my unworthy blood, Sir Am.�

�You are stalling, Kato.�

The manservant glanced sideways at the Elite and held his tongue. �Are you hungry? I do not know your ways, Sir Am, but Mr. Katze�s irritability is usually fuelled by hunger.�

The Blondie�s brows furrowed. There was a familiar tone there. The real question was, nurture or nature? Raoul suspected a little of both with the attractive malcontent who ran this den of inequity.

�This is of no import, Kato. Get on with this ludicrous task you insist upon. Had I not been, been...� he refused to give the act actual voice, though the base of his skull still throbbed. �I would not require the services of a clearly blind and idiotic servant in the employ of that mongrel.�

Bowing with obvious difficulty, Kato took a deep breath to ease the pain of the audible pop of his back.

Narrow emerald eyes had found another flaw in this fatuous mongrel. Surely the wretched dealer saw the defective incompetent for what he was? He was clearly at the end of his usefulness. It really would be best to put him down. Raoul pursed his lips and glared down at the little man. �I could leave without it, you know?�

�Why yes you could, Sir Am, but a gentleman should always look the part or so I have been told, repeatedly by Mr. Katze.�

�And he would know of this how?� Raoul snapped derisively, stopping in mid prowl.

�Because he is a gentle man, Sir Am. He does what he must. Not what he wants.�

�Meaning?�

�He is honourable to a fault to those who serve. Few notice the intrinsic value in the seemingly flawed. He prefers it that way. It gives him the edge when dealing with those who perceive him as weak, usually to their detriment.�

A flip of luxurious golden curls and a diffident gaze was the only response to the servant�s retort.

�I believe you both have an inkling as to the others true nature, hence the intrigue � the obvious attraction.�

�Be very careful, Kato,� Raoul hissed with narrowed eyes. �These incendiary suppositions of yours are not welcome. Do not presume to understand my views with respect to that duplicitous, cantankerous, upstart of a flawed...�

�Man?�

Raoul sniffed indignantly, �Mongrel.�

�Yes, of course, Sir Am. You know best.� Kato rose deferentially and padded across the thick carpeting with the tunic held high for final inspection. Even to the Elite�s discerning gaze, the rent was invisible, excellent workmanship, most irritating.

The Elite�s lips thinned.

�Would the honoured guest require anything further before departing for Eos Tower, perhaps an analgesic? You look to be in pain, Sir Am.�

�Thank you, no, Kato. I think it best for all concerned that I do not avail myself of the redoubtable pharmacopeia ready to hand, legalities being what they are. Questions might be asked.�

�Understood, Sir Am. Plausible deniability is always preferred.�

Raoul sighed aloud while lowering himself sufficiently to accommodate the miniscule being to more easily fit the tunic across broad shoulders. The sooner he got away from the inane humming the better. However did Katze tolerate it on a daily basis?

�Definitely nurture with just a hint of passive aggression thrown in for good measure. Why not utilize the opportunity to advantage? The wretched little mongrel cannot refuse.�

�Admon�s quarters. I wish to examine it, immediately.�

The command had been worth the momentary confusion and yet cunning, fraught with opportunity, returned to twinkling dark brown eyes.

�Yeees. Of course, Sir Am, your superior intellect may shed light on the object I found secreted amidst his bed linens this afternoon.�

Funny but just for a second, the Chief Medical Officer of Tanagura felt used.

~~~BMR~~~

Their second encounter had gone badly.

Amidst the barely suppressed aggression cloaked beneath the pleasant well modulated laughter of guests Raoul Am pondered the Furniture, who silently observed the varied gathering of Commonwealth citizenry and the few Elites. The polite thrust and parry of trite conversation was Iason�s forte, not so his Second-in-Command who found it irritating to say the least.

Cocktail parties were always a bore to the Chief Medical Officer of Tanagura. In truth, these little gatherings tested his patience, what with repetition of unworthy gossip, blatant innuendo and the endless need for his fellow Elite to jockey for Iason�s attentions, while his Pets sat in the background petulantly awaiting their call to entertain the distinguished guests with their sensual expertise. Sure to be a perverse thrill for the off world dignitaries attending tonight�s post supper indulgence.

Raoul�s searching green eyes drifted toward the Furniture for the third or fourth time that evening, he hadn�t kept count. No he hadn�t moved in the last five minutes, but those golden eyes, almost like clockwork, scanned the select guests for need not yet met, always on the periphery with refreshment tray at the ready or a modulated word to the attending staff hired for the evening.

It was masterful that suitably blank, yet attentive expression awaiting the slightest inclination of a guest�s head or the quixotic whims of his Master. Never once did he fail to maintain an eye on his charges, the exceptionally beautiful and calculatingly indolent Pets of Iason Mink, suggestively clad.

An odd colour green for a Furniture, but Iason�s eye for aesthetics reigned supreme tonight. Rich emerald satin clung to his lean angular body in flowing waves that accentuated his perfect elfin form.

The robe was an expensive cut to be sure and modest by Tanagura standards, but still, his presence radiated light with each subtle, graceful movement of servility. A different form of attractiveness that called the eye again and again in its quiet refinement that bespoke studied grace and sensuality.

Illumined was the flawless ivory skin atop high exotically tilted cheekbones. The diffident mouth both lush and yet restrained stood as counterpoint in the exceptionally well proportioned physiognomy and still there was the topper, that virulently red mane that defied understanding for a mongrel; it needed a trim. How had Iason overlooked this pertinent detail of appearance? Just soft silken waves touched his shoulders with no practiced artifice, begging to be touched.

Raoul palm flexed involuntarily, suppressing the urge that came from nowhere. Self consciously the Elite shifted on the low seating in the quiet nook, oblivious to the ramble of Sir Niiro as he absently watched the milling crowd about them.

�So what do you think, Raoul? Should we? It seems an excellent opportunity.� Sir Niiro asked, gray eyes alert as he regarded his friend, following the trajectory of the Medical Man�s pensive gaze with growing disquiet. This had not been the first time during their conversation that Sir Raoul Am had lost his focus on the rather edifying conversation about the mongrel genome and recent findings stored in the antiquated records of the Abyss. They had actually found the samples flash frozen and still viable, despite Jupiter�s best efforts at subterfuge.

The Blondie turned and regarded the Ruby examining the face before him with new eyes, finally giving the anomalous thought a name. Their respective countenances were remarkably similar in structure. It would not do to point this out to Sir Niiro the striking similarities of features to that of a mongrel, much less a juvenile he had chosen for the Mink household.

Those sharp gray eyes held a question, a rather embarrassing one he had no intentions of addressing as to why he had been watching the Furniture.

Raoul pinched the bridge of his nose and feigned fatigue. �Sir Niiro, forgive me. To what were you referring?�

Niiro smiled indulgently inclining his head in the direction of the thoroughly inebriated dignitaries holding forth with great volume by the balcony doors. �Exceptionally attractive for a mongrel don�t you think? Sakura even had the nerve to point out our similarities. Can you imagine?�

�Hadn�t noticed.�

The Blondie snorted defensively and casually sipping his wine, studying the flute�s contents as he spoke. �Can we return to the subject at hand? I believe it pertained to mongrel DNA and the original samples archived?�

�Ahh so you were listening? I did wonder. You seemed lost. Is it the eyes? They are rather an unusual hue for a human, but with his genetics it is a given. A throwback if you like. It is why I had chosen him as a subject of study. The other two being a few years younger proved too erratic and impossible to control under clinical trials. His fundamental temperament sufficed.�

Raoul shrugged, uncomfortable with the line of conversation. �I suppose.�

Ignoring the noncommittal retort the Ruby continued, pointedly looking at the Furniture in question and delicately tapping the rim of his near empty glass for a refill. �You are not the only one to have noticed the remarkably attractive castrate this night. He seems to have caused a stir.�

�Really, the things you say for shock value, Sir Niiro. Perhaps you have had too much.� Raoul responded covering the rim of the wine glass held by the Ruby in censure as the subject of the conversation approached.

Sir Niiro�s eyes sparkled maliciously as he studied his friend�s discomfort and slapped the Blondie�s hand away.

Truth be told, he was enjoying the appearance of the tightly coiled shoulder muscles of his party companion with each graceful, precise motion of the mongrel as he elegantly retrieved the empty glass and offered a fresh libation to the Ruby without uttering a word.

�Furniture, the party by the balcony doors are in need of your attentions too. See to it, will you?�

Secretively, Raoul followed Katze�s cautious amber gaze. The servant inclined his head a fraction, acknowledging the command wordlessly.

Raoul did not appreciate the cut of their stance, particularly the larger dark haired reprobate with the too bright smile that towered above the mongrel menacingly. Off-world patrons of suspect intent by the glazed, licentious smirks all focussed on the castrate�s body, did not sit well with the Blondie.

�Entirely inappropriate.�

Their deviant intent was so clearly etched upon their faces. So typical of the sexually repressed, absolutely no discipline in conduct towards the object of their collective lust based upon curiosity alone.

Raoul suddenly felt the need to stretch as he flexed involuntarily. It was growing warm in the room. Perhaps some air.

�Are they aware he is a castrate? Perhaps someone should edify them? Would you care to join me on the balcony, the air grows tight?�

�Oh dear, someone wants to play hero to a mongrel. Why spoil the fun? Far be it for us to interfere with their little fantasies. What is the harm in it? They will find out soon enough. That ridiculously puritanical streak does not become you, Raoul. This is their first trip to Amoi and their first Pet Party, protocol be damned. Might enliven an otherwise boring evening, of banal conversations?�

�Because, my dear Sir Niiro, these Commonwealth traders are hardly the usual guests of Sir Mink. The entertainment for the night does not include the Furniture. It is disrespectful to our leader, much less the object of their fancy. Mongrel he might be, but he is the property of Jupiter�s chosen and as such is sacrosanct.�

�You seem to forget, Raoul, I chose him for this household for myriad reasons, one of which was his descent, anomalous and diluted as it is.�

Sniffing dismissively at his friend�s near fascist predisposition for protocol Sir Niiro looked about the room for something more to his liking and stood, adjusting the dark maroon silk robe he had chosen to wear, despite Raoul�s edicts to follow proper dress codes as befitted the Ruby�s rank.

�I�m bored. Where is our esteemed leader? The last time I saw him he was surrounded by some Commonwealth jackals and heading for the library. Should we investigate? Might prove diverting, at least he will find the prospects interesting as to our collective ancestry and the First One herself.�

�Niiro, I am warning you. Divulging the means of your early trials will not win favour.� Raoul hissed softy, though his eyes searched with growing alarm. He sighed with relief finally spotting the green shift and its occupant.

The Ruby patted the cheek of the irritable Blondie. �Not to worry, my dear. Your secret is quite safe with me.�

The mongrel was still with the miscreants, one of which had taken it upon himself to toy with one of the billowing sleeves of the Furniture�s gown, using it as a leach. Raoul did wonder fleetingly if the man�s face would crack with the width of his smile and how disproportionately sharp his incisors seemed, even from across the room.

Raoul felt the blood rising to his face as the hand ghosted over the mongrel�s back, feigning interest in the cut and design of the garment. The owner of said hand was slowly leading the castrate onto the balcony with a furtive glance over one broad shoulder.

This was not a brothel where such conduct was akin to foreplay and the damn Furniture wasn�t exactly deporting himself correctly under the circumstances either. What had become of that spine he saw, however fleeting?

True, he could see that Katze wanted to recoil from the touch, while dutifully answering the questions posed to him. A few more guests within the group joined the discourse and followed, carefully closing the doors behind them.

Instinctively, Raoul stood and righted his tunic before bowing to the surprised Ruby who looked at him quizzically. �Where are you going? Surely you are not leaving before the best part? It might actually do you some good. I believe there will be a m�nage-a-quatre tonight.�

�Enjoy, Niiro. I must see about rescuing Iason. The sooner these uncouth barbarians get their fill, the sooner we avoid an interstellar incident. In case you have not noticed, the balcony doors are closed and the Furniture is being held captive by those eight reprobates.�

Full lips smirked at the Blondie before licking the rim of the flute suggestively before turning his gaze away from the his furious brethren. �Really? Such naughty boys...�

Raoul�s eyes narrowed. Niiro was an incorrigible mischief maker when he was of a mind.

�Excuse me, Sir Niiro. Entertain yourself as you see fit.�

�You run along, my dear. I believe I�ll join them, just to make sure things are on the up and up. It�s the least I can do, to put your mind at ease, no?�

Raoul turned and left swiftly, moving stealthily through the crowded living space towards the library, where he knew his friend was engaged in secret negotiations, the real purpose of the gathering.

Niiro was on form tonight, Raoul thought irritably. His exceptional hearing heard the shattering of glass beyond the closed balcony doors, but wilfully ignored it as he gritted his teeth at the malicious laughter he heard coming from Sir Niiro, followed by guttural wolf-like calls.

Despite their shared inquisitive scientific predisposition long founded in youth, there were moments like these where the overtly dissipated aspects of Ruby�s nature gave the Elite pause. It had much to do with why he was despised amongst his own caste, who found him over-privileged and far too protected from the usual morays of his class.

Tapping softly on the door, that familiar silken baritone granted him entry.

Raoul breathed a low sigh of relief looking into those cool, questioning ice blue eyes.

�You are needed immediately without, Sir Mink.�

~~~BMR~~~

The darkened, nondescript little abode had recently been cleaned as the antiseptic odour made clear. Raoul was grateful. Far preferable to the less than subtle pheromones of the android that permeated his being and currently his mongrel; the real source of his earlier rage now that he gave it thought.

Kato shuffled forward with the silver box that looked a miniature version of the one procured by the broker.

Inspecting the coverlet malevolently the Blondie perched on the edge of the bedding and studied the delicate machine before cautiously lifting the lid with the expected result. Harmonious musical notes filled the air though halting at first as a serpentine array of light ushered forth like eventually hitting the opposing wall in a plume of intertwined colours.

�Sir Niiro�s insignia, his pretensions know no bounds.�

Raoul heard the manservant�s sharp intake of breath as he fell to his knees and stared at the slowly turning symbol with clasped hands as if in prayer.

�Kato, what are you doing?�

�Jupiter be praised. It was here right under our noses.� The manservant intoned softly with awe filled eyes, almost moved to tears.

The elderly man rocked back and forth lost to the query of the perplexed Elite who stood and regarded the peculiar motions of the mongrel�s body with suspicion.

�All this time, I�ve waited. The useless acquisitions in search of it, just following the clues and all the while Admon held its secret.�

There were actual tears running down the wrinkled face; tears of reverence as the elderly male mumbled incoherently oblivious to the Elite bent over him, studying the response with growing disquiet.

Retreating from the bowing form, Raoul felt the back of his knees connect with the soft corner of the bed. He sat without conscious thought, mesmerized by the glowing coils before him and the subtle play of ancient melody from the object he still held in his ungloved hands.

It felt hot to the touch. The syncopated cords of the ancient simplistic melody line casting his mind further in an endless spiral and in the process, however absently he realized Kato�s movements were timed as the music gave way to words that drifted between the individual notes of the piece.

�Within each crimson drop is a history and if followed to its true end can reveal all manner of secrets, some of which could rock the foundations of long held beliefs. It is the Dark Moon Rising, Admon.�

~~~BMR~~~

Katze�s amber gaze travelled over the exquisite countenance of the android as he stood behind his true Master with a beatific smile.

It was almost as if he did not care that his beloved Ruby was not withstanding a barbed inquisition from the resplendent ideal of humanoid perfection as sanctioned by Jupiter.

The dealer knew that expression all too well; a cloak of civility that garnered inner privacy, while the mind wandered to a safer place, away from the inequities of the living in supplication.

No it was more than that the redhead realized intuitively, lighting another cigarette. Admon was somewhere and he could only guess with which someone � Raoul. The question was, to what end?

Author�s Note

I ask for your patience. This was the right place to leave the chapter. BELIEVE ME. Hang in there. Get some tissues for the next chapter. Just warning you now, so you think Katze is not emotive in his silences? Then I got some swamp land for ya. See you soon.

28

29

30

You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

AnK - Black Moon Rising