Gone But Not Forgotten (chapter 6) [FIC]
Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 10:34 pm
The sound of the city was faint but constant, even after midnight.
Kaname felt a brief shiver, standing by the open door that led to a spacious veranda situated directly above the ground level entrance porch of Carcosa.
She didn’t feel comfortable stepping out into the late evening air in her nightgown, even though the vantage point would provide her with a wonderful view of the surrounding area, including the skyline of Kuala Lumpur city centre.
All of her nightwear was in the form of lingerie, nightgowns, or exotic robes. Every time she managed to buy a pair of simple pajamas, preferably with stripes, they mysteriously disappeared when she left her rooms. She had no doubt who was ultimately behind all that.
“I wish I was back in Tokyo.” She sighed, pulling her hair back from her face. What she wouldn’t give to wake up, finding that it had all been a bad dream. More than anything, she wished she could go to bed at night, hug her faithful Bonta Kun, and sleep until her noisy alarm clock enticed her to get going in the morning. Her sleep in Malaysia had been fitful at best. Some nights, she didn’t get any rest at all.
Kaname looked around the Seri Ehsan suite. The four-poster king-size bed was so elegant. It was Victorian in style, as was the rest of the furnishings in that room, and the adjoining living room and sitting room areas. The décor was luxurious beyond anything she had ever seen. Marble from island of Langkawi was used in the bathrooms. The basins and surrounding accessories were gold-plated. Most of the carpets were handmade, and the walls were adorned with local paintings and batik. Tags on the back of the furniture indicated that some was specially commissioned, while others were actual antiques.
None of that meant anything to her. Before, she would have been ecstatic beyond words, had she been able to spend some kind of getaway with Sousuke or her friends in a place like this. Stomach rumbling, she walked over to an elegant serving set and picked up one of the small cucumber sandwiches that had been placed in her room earlier. She eschewed all pretence at daintiness, as she demolished one bowl of strawberries with cream. After that, pastries, scones, and popiah disappeared from the elegant China plates.
The Wedgwood tea was cold now, but she didn’t mind. Holding the teacup in her hand, she sipped at it absentmindedly, looking around the room. Her eyes lingered on a large ornate bird cage. The symbolism was striking, and not unintentional. The cage had been a gift from Leonard. Naturally, he had been very grand in his presentation, claiming that he didn’t want for her to feel alone. That was a lie. The more isolated she felt, the more drawn to him she would be… or so he hoped. The true message was clear enough. She was a bird in a cage, with all that implied.
“Uhhh…”
That small avian voice had Kaname smiling for the first time that day. Inside the cage, Hope stirred. That was the name that she had given to the Ringneck Parakeet. She had originally intended to name it ‘Otaku’, but would never be that cruel to the beautiful creature.
“Uhhh… uhhh…”
That word was certainly nostalgic, was it not? It had been one of Sousuke’s trademark utterances. It was the first thing she had taught Hope to say, once she had brought herself to pay any attention to the bird. She was as obstinate then as she was today: any gift that she received from Leonard started off hated or ignored. If it was something worth caring about, her opinion would change only when she convinced herself that liking it did not put her in the young man’s debt, or signify that she had somehow given in.
“Leonard…”
Kaname frowned. That was not a name she wanted to hear now, standing there in her night clothes, scone crumbs falling off her and onto the floor. “Say the whole thing, pretty bird.”
Ringneck Parakeets are some of the most beautiful of all parrots. Their speaking ability can outrank that of smaller birds, although their speech may not be quite as clear as the larger parrot species. They usually begin talking at around one year of age, though some start much earlier depending on how much time and energy the owner expends on training. To maintain a bond with the owner, these social creatures must be given adequate quality attention and play time on a daily basis. If subjected to the amount of attention required only by daily necessary chores of watering, feeding and cage maintenance, they will become nippy and unfriendly quite quickly. Kaname could relate with Hope in that regard.
“Leonard…”
Kaname frowned. The last thing she ever wanted to have happen was for Tessa’s brother to visit her room, and hear Hope say this name and nothing else. Who knows what impression he might walk away with? Walking over to the serving table, she picked up a cracker she hadn’t eaten. She held it up near the bars of the bird cage.
“Come on, Hope. Say the whole thing, pretty bird.” Kaname eyed the parakeet, just as the bird kept watch on the cracker. Hope was a graceful, elegant, and distinguished bird, with a slender bodies and a long tapered tail. Her coloring was a soft pastel blue that looked to have been painted on with an artists brush.
“Leonard is a jerk…”
Kaname smiled before yawning deep and long. She slid the cracker into the cage, watching as Hope took it in her beak, before grasping it with her foot. “That’s a good bird. That’s a very good bird.” Sighing, she thought of Sousuke again. It had been easier to coax Hope to speak, than it had been getting any kind of satisfying conversation out of the young soldier. But, Sousuke had been making progress.
She clenched her fists, before telling herself to relax and calm down. A prior conversation came to mind, one which took place in this very room not long after she had been given the Parakeet. Leonard had commented on Hope, saying that the bird might be capable of saying more than her previous pet had. He had been making a derogatory joke about Sousuke. Smiling that superior smile of his, he had made other snide comments while praising the bird.
“Leonard is a creep…”
“That’s right, Hope.” Kaname nodded. “Mommy has more crackers for her clever bird.” She smiled again, watching the bird bob its head. Her smile vanished when she heard some voices outside. Walking out onto a dark part of the veranda, she peered over the side. One of the maids who worked at the mansions maintained by Amalgam was outside flirting with one of the guards. “Great. Like I really needed to see that.”
The topic of seduction was not something that Kaname had wanted to think about again. No, not think about. Worry about. While she found fewer reasons to doubt herself once she realized that Leonard was using some kind of Whispered connection with her to manipulate her emotions, she still couldn’t be certain that she wasn’t somehow attracted to Leonard on her own.
“I’d rather deal with Shirai,” Kaname whispered. Shirai had been a pest, someone she could easily handle, without interference from Sousuke. While both men were quite full of themselves, Leonard at least had some reason to think highly of himself. He was incredibly handsome, in a mysterious kind of way. His body was lithe and graceful, even though he wasn’t really an athlete. Genius did not begin to explain his intellect. Refined was another word that failed to describe him, his manner of speech, and his patronage of literary arts, sculpture, and paintings. Even at his age, he was a leader, and a man with a firm grasp on power, and a clear understanding of how it can be used to manipulate people and events.
Yes, she would definitely prefer to have Shirai pressuring her. There was no way that a jerk like that would ever find his way into her heart. Leonard was far more dangerous. The fact that he openly stated what his goals and intentions were did not make it easier for her to deal with him. Even when she forced herself to be very contrary, his words seemed so persuasive. And, what was seduction, other than the use of sexual desire to persuade someone to act the way that the seducer wanted?
“It’s not like I really want to… you know…” Kaname bit her lip. She was a normal girl. In the past, she had thought about sex, wondering where and when her first intimate encounter would be. The question of ‘who’ had never mattered much, until she admitted to herself how she felt about Sousuke. Just like she had fantasized about his taking her into his arms and kissing her, she had dreamed about even more personal things. “But that jerk…” Leonard had stolen her first kiss from her. Could he go even further? Would she let him? Did she have any choice?
Kaname’s heart was beating faster. There was a hint of moisture on her brow. She swallowed hard, wrestling with a small kernel of doubt. She remembered Leonard’s first kiss with her. She had never told Sousuke about that. Even more, she hadn’t mentioned the Arastols, or her winning of Wraith’s life. Why hadn’t she told him? Was it shame? Or, had she been worried that she could be swept off her feet by the mysterious young man? She blushed, remembering how she had been dressed at the time.
“He’s the enemy,” Kaname said, firmly, regaining some of her composure. “He’s cold, manipulative, and selfish. He told me that Sousuke’s a killer; but, how many deaths have come at his command, or because of weapons that he’s developed. How can someone like him be trusted?”
“Uhhh… uhhh… uhhh…”
Kaname clutched her nightgown with one hand. Hope’s verbalizing had her comparing Sousuke to Leonard. She had a very good idea of Sousuke’s strengths and weaknesses. There had never been any reason to doubt his loyalty, even when he had left for Hong Kong without telling her. She had been devastated and terribly hurt. Even now, she couldn’t believe that she had gone off to find him and bring him back. The only thing that had ever gotten between them was orders. That, and the insinuations that Leonard had made.
“He’s such an idiot, sometimes. Honestly.” Kaname was speaking about Sousuke. She smiled for a moment, before she began worrying again. Sousuke was an idiot in some ways. But, he had a good heart. He was strong. He was brave. He would give his life for her without a moment’s regret. And, he always did his best to keep his word. That was one of the things that allowed her to hope. That, and the fact that he had admitted his love for her.
Yes, there couldn’t be a much bigger contrast than between Sousuke Sagara and Leonard Testarossa. That much was certain. She wondered what kind of life she would have, if she ever escaped and found Sousuke again. She wondered what things would be like, if she gave into Leonard the way that he wanted her to.
“SOUSUKE!”
Hope’s raucous call had Kaname jumping. She wondered if that was how she herself had sounded, all of those times that she scolded Sousuke Sagara, Sergeant of Mithril. Yawning again, she went to lie down, praying that she might be able to grab at least a little shut eye. After a few minutes, she found herself snuggling under her duvet, warm and toasty, feeling like a queen, worries slipping away bit by bit..
As she lay there looking up at the ceiling, she thought about her family and friends. She wondered how her father and sister were, and whether they would meet with a minor accident as Leonard had implied. She tried to picture how her friends must be doing, wishing that she could be back in school herself. What did Kyouko, Maya, Ryo, Ren and the others think about her? How were they doing? Would she ever see them again?
Not long after her eyes closed, a knock at her door startled her awake. The knock had been a courtesy, but not much of one. With a slight creak, the wooden door opened, and Leonard stepped into the room. He was wearing a long black robe, that reached down past his ankles. The design was such that it looked like it was a frozen ebony waterfall. His chest was partially exposed. A gleam of light reflected off of a silver necklace at his neck.
“Wh-Wh-What are you doing here?” Kaname found herself sliding down slightly in her bed, pulling the cover tightly to her. Once again, she found herself wishing that the door had locks, not that locks would stop Leonard. Arastols sort of made locks obsolete.
“I neglected to say good night to you earlier,” Leonard said. “I apologize. I have so many things that require my attention. This evening, we needed to discuss the latest advances that came courtesy of Bunny Morauta.” He watched Kaname’s face, waiting to see if that name caused a reaction.
“Who?” Kaname frowned. Then, her eyes widened. “Wait… Bunny… I’ve heard that name before…” She tried to remember where. How man people named Bunny could there be? “Hey… wasn’t he the guy… the one that had a crush on your sister… the guy who designed Arbalest.”
“Precisely,” Leonard said, smoothly walking further into the room. He smiled a flat smile, seeing how Kaname pulled the blankets up over her chin. She looked defiant, but she was clearly on the defensive, feeling at a distinct disadvantage. “He was also responsible for the design of the M9, among other things. But, to most of the world, it appeared that he had committed suicide.”
“But he came to work for you instead?” Kaname scowled. “Why, because he was angry at Tessa? Or because you had something that he wanted?” She made a face. There were few things that she despised more than traitors. That thought had her swallowing hard. Was she a traitor, given what she had done regarding her reservoir of Black Technology? Did she have any right judging others, after submitting willingly to her sessions on the Sieve?
“There’s always something that someone wants,” Leonard said, as if he was lecturing a child. “It isn’t usually difficult finding out what it is. And, generosity is a virtue, is it not?” He treated the girl to his most disarming smile, sending her a low level Whispered message that should have her feeling more relaxed.
“Well, if you’re such a great guy, you could let me out of this place, and let me go home.” Kaname found herself sitting up, still clutching the bed cover to her.
“Is that what you truly want?” Leonard asked, working the resonance effect the way a violinist works his instrument. “Would you simply walk out of the door, and buy a ticket to Japan, if I told you that Amalgam no longer has any interest in your family and friends?”
“I… well…” Kaname wanted to scream. Part of her clearly wanted to say ‘yes’. No, part of her wanted to shout ‘You bet!’ But, the words wouldn’t come out. Instead, she let the cover fall away from her. She stammered, saying “N-… N-… No…” She felt her breathing quicken. Her pulse was racing. She had some early understanding that Leonard’s catching her by surprise and in a compromising position had blunted any resistance she could make to his Whispered power.
“Leonard is a creep…”
Hope’s timely words broke the spell somewhat. Kaname managed to pull the covers back up over her nightgown.
“How charming,” Leonard drawled. He stared at the bird cage for a moment, before his features softened and he looked back at Kaname. “Mister Morauta… or, I should call him Captain Morauta… is not the only member of Mithril who chose to work for a more insightful and far-reaching organization.” He walked over to the serving table and picked up a cracker. He closed his fist, and allowed the crumbs to fall to the floor.
“You call hiring traitors, far-reaching?” Kaname felt some of her obstinate spunk coming back.
“Yes,” Leonard said, picking up another cracker, that one for eating. “I certainly do. Arbalest was certainly a fine creation. I gave a number of our forces a difficult time in the past. But, Verial was a step beyond.” He looked at the cracker for a moment, before scooping up some strawberries on it. “While many of the advances for that machine came from here…” He tapped his forehead. “…Much of the success is due to Mister Morauta.”
“SOUSUKE… SOUSUKE…”
“Well, it’s a very talkative bird, isn’t it?” Leonard raised one eyebrow, seeing Kaname blush ever so slightly. Looking outside of the large windows, he held out his hand. “There’s a large moon out tonight. It’s quite a beautiful evening. Why don’t we continue our conversation on the veranda?”
“What? Dressed like this?” Kaname began to shake her head, but stopped. “That wouldn’t be… but you see… the moon is rather…” Before she knew it, she had slid out of her bed and slipped on a pair of expensive fuzzy slippers. “I suppose I could use some fresh air…” No, she didn’t want to go out there! And, the air would be plenty fresh as soon as Leonard left the room.
“If you’re cold, I could lend you my robe.” Leonard waved his hand in a very subtle gesture. He remembered the time that he had offered to let the girl have his cloak, not long after he had saved her from an assassin.
“N-N-No… I’m fine…” Kaname felt weak in the knees. Her head was spinning. Why was she acting like a shy school girl? How could she resist the effect that Leonard was having on her?
The two of them strolled out onto the large covered balcony that ran along the front of the building. This portion was not glassed in, allowing them to smell the scent of the gardens and hear the rustle of the leaves on the nearest trees. The view of the moon, hanging large and gibbous over the city, was breathtaking.
“So, it seems that my gift of the Parakeet may have been a miscalculation.” Leonard stood close to Kaname, who he walked over to the very edge of the porch. “You taught it that boy’s name, as well as mine. But, the bird does not seem to call out derisive things with his.” He pushed a stray strand of hair away from Kaname’s face, before leaning closer to her.
“Well… you see… that was just…” Kaname clenched her fists. But, she felt the resistance flowing out of her, as if someone had pulled a plug.
“Do you still think about him?” Leonard asked, running his hand up her arm to her shoulder. The moonlight shining on his hair made him look like something that walked out of Faerie. “Do you love him?” He brought his hand down along the side of her torso, resting it on her hip. “Are you satisfied with someone like that?”
“I… he… we…” Kaname shivered. She tried to picture Sousuke, but couldn’t. She was aware only of Leonard’s touch, which was sending warmth spreading slowly throughout her. His mental influence had her thoughts and feelings dancing like a marionettes.
“Someone like him is beyond saving,” Leonard said, inching closer still. “I’m sure you know that in your heart.” The frills from his robe brushed against Kaname’s bare skin. “But, that doesn’t mean that everyone is beyond redemption. If you wanted, you could probably save me.” He bent over and placed a slow light kiss on her forehead. The sound she made had him smiling.
“You…” Kaname felt drawn even stronger to Leonard. It was as if his heart was crying out for help, and hers was eager to answer it. Was that some hidden desire of hers, to change him for the good? Did he really want that? Or, was this just another way to tug at her emotions? “I…”
“Kaname Chidori… you are a truly remarkable woman… I have never known your like.” Leonard spoke those words into her ear, his lips brushing across her earlobe. “We deserve each other… we are two of a kind… think of what we could have together…” He felt the thrill of anticipation he felt whenever he was on the verge of a great conquest, whether it was something in the business or personal arena. The web he was weaving had no flaws. How could the naïve girl hope to escape?
“We…” Kaname felt as if she was merging slowly with the darkness. It was as if her body had lost all boundaries, all limitations. The sound of Leonard’s voice reverberated through her, keeping pace with the rush of blood in her ears.
“Would you like me to kiss you?” Leonard asked, moving away from her slightly.
‘No’, Kaname thought. 'No… No… No… NONONONO… NO!’ and 'I care about Sousuke, not you'. But, those thoughts never found the way to her tongue. “Yes.”
“Ahhh…” Leonard leaned over and placed his lips on hers. He leaned his weight against her body, crushing her against the edge of the veranda. He ran his hand over her body until she flinched and began kissing him back. Feeling her surrender, he stopped and took a few steps away.
Kaname felt as if she was being torn in two. Part of her wanted to collapse in the corner, weeping. Another part was too stunned to know what she felt. Yet another part didn’t want the embrace to end.
“I think it is time that we took our relationship to the fullest height,” Leonard said, smoothing one hand along his robe. “But, I believe a girl like you would enjoy anticipating such things.” He shook his hair, and then closed his robe a slight bit more. “I’ll let you think about that for a while. I’ll be back before dawn.” With that, he turned and left the veranda, walking over to the door to Kaname’s suite. Turning, he said “One is not born a woman. One becomes one.”
As soon as the door closed behind Leonard, Kaname slumped against the outer wall of the balcony. Slowly, she slid down to lay on the cold tile floor. She no longer felt one with the night. Instead, it felt as if the darkness had a palpable weight, and it was all pressing down on her. Whatever desires she had felt disappeared as soon as the door shut.
She didn’t know what to think. There was no doubt about Leonard. He would show no sign of guilt or regret. For all she knew, he might be so absorbed with himself, that he might even be surprised to find that she was upset by his actions, even though they were no doubt skillfully panned and executed. He probably had no real concept of love, and would never be able to inspire love in others, despite his ability to manipulate the feelings of another Whispered. No doubt, his restrained promiscuity was more due to his lack of restraint than any real attraction to her. There was nothing she could do or say that might deter him, as he likely feared nothing, and needed nothing.
No, there was no doubt about Leonard. Once again, all of the uncertainty centered on her. She had kissed him back. It was all too easy to assert that her actions were due solely to his mental influence. Was that really true? She had felt excited. She had lost herself in that embrace. Why? Why was this happening to her? What could she possibly do?
“I don’t know what would be worse… his making me a woman…” Kaname closed her eyes and bit her lip. “…Or, my enjoying it…” She began crying. Before she knew it, she was sobbing. Had she been open to reason at the moment, her tears would have given her the only answer she really needed. This was not something that she truly wanted.
“SOUSUKE… SOUSUKE… SOUSUKE…”
Hope’s call had Kaname putting her face in her hands, the tears finding their way between her loosely closed fingers. In the past, when things looked the darkest, Sousuke had always managed to arrive just in time, saving her. How could that possibly happen now? How could he possibly know where she was? How could one man make his way through Leonard’s defenses, find her, and escape unharmed?
This was no Fairy Tale. There were no such things as Knights in Shining Armor.
Kaname felt a brief shiver, standing by the open door that led to a spacious veranda situated directly above the ground level entrance porch of Carcosa.
She didn’t feel comfortable stepping out into the late evening air in her nightgown, even though the vantage point would provide her with a wonderful view of the surrounding area, including the skyline of Kuala Lumpur city centre.
All of her nightwear was in the form of lingerie, nightgowns, or exotic robes. Every time she managed to buy a pair of simple pajamas, preferably with stripes, they mysteriously disappeared when she left her rooms. She had no doubt who was ultimately behind all that.
“I wish I was back in Tokyo.” She sighed, pulling her hair back from her face. What she wouldn’t give to wake up, finding that it had all been a bad dream. More than anything, she wished she could go to bed at night, hug her faithful Bonta Kun, and sleep until her noisy alarm clock enticed her to get going in the morning. Her sleep in Malaysia had been fitful at best. Some nights, she didn’t get any rest at all.
Kaname looked around the Seri Ehsan suite. The four-poster king-size bed was so elegant. It was Victorian in style, as was the rest of the furnishings in that room, and the adjoining living room and sitting room areas. The décor was luxurious beyond anything she had ever seen. Marble from island of Langkawi was used in the bathrooms. The basins and surrounding accessories were gold-plated. Most of the carpets were handmade, and the walls were adorned with local paintings and batik. Tags on the back of the furniture indicated that some was specially commissioned, while others were actual antiques.
None of that meant anything to her. Before, she would have been ecstatic beyond words, had she been able to spend some kind of getaway with Sousuke or her friends in a place like this. Stomach rumbling, she walked over to an elegant serving set and picked up one of the small cucumber sandwiches that had been placed in her room earlier. She eschewed all pretence at daintiness, as she demolished one bowl of strawberries with cream. After that, pastries, scones, and popiah disappeared from the elegant China plates.
The Wedgwood tea was cold now, but she didn’t mind. Holding the teacup in her hand, she sipped at it absentmindedly, looking around the room. Her eyes lingered on a large ornate bird cage. The symbolism was striking, and not unintentional. The cage had been a gift from Leonard. Naturally, he had been very grand in his presentation, claiming that he didn’t want for her to feel alone. That was a lie. The more isolated she felt, the more drawn to him she would be… or so he hoped. The true message was clear enough. She was a bird in a cage, with all that implied.
“Uhhh…”
That small avian voice had Kaname smiling for the first time that day. Inside the cage, Hope stirred. That was the name that she had given to the Ringneck Parakeet. She had originally intended to name it ‘Otaku’, but would never be that cruel to the beautiful creature.
“Uhhh… uhhh…”
That word was certainly nostalgic, was it not? It had been one of Sousuke’s trademark utterances. It was the first thing she had taught Hope to say, once she had brought herself to pay any attention to the bird. She was as obstinate then as she was today: any gift that she received from Leonard started off hated or ignored. If it was something worth caring about, her opinion would change only when she convinced herself that liking it did not put her in the young man’s debt, or signify that she had somehow given in.
“Leonard…”
Kaname frowned. That was not a name she wanted to hear now, standing there in her night clothes, scone crumbs falling off her and onto the floor. “Say the whole thing, pretty bird.”
Ringneck Parakeets are some of the most beautiful of all parrots. Their speaking ability can outrank that of smaller birds, although their speech may not be quite as clear as the larger parrot species. They usually begin talking at around one year of age, though some start much earlier depending on how much time and energy the owner expends on training. To maintain a bond with the owner, these social creatures must be given adequate quality attention and play time on a daily basis. If subjected to the amount of attention required only by daily necessary chores of watering, feeding and cage maintenance, they will become nippy and unfriendly quite quickly. Kaname could relate with Hope in that regard.
“Leonard…”
Kaname frowned. The last thing she ever wanted to have happen was for Tessa’s brother to visit her room, and hear Hope say this name and nothing else. Who knows what impression he might walk away with? Walking over to the serving table, she picked up a cracker she hadn’t eaten. She held it up near the bars of the bird cage.
“Come on, Hope. Say the whole thing, pretty bird.” Kaname eyed the parakeet, just as the bird kept watch on the cracker. Hope was a graceful, elegant, and distinguished bird, with a slender bodies and a long tapered tail. Her coloring was a soft pastel blue that looked to have been painted on with an artists brush.
“Leonard is a jerk…”
Kaname smiled before yawning deep and long. She slid the cracker into the cage, watching as Hope took it in her beak, before grasping it with her foot. “That’s a good bird. That’s a very good bird.” Sighing, she thought of Sousuke again. It had been easier to coax Hope to speak, than it had been getting any kind of satisfying conversation out of the young soldier. But, Sousuke had been making progress.
She clenched her fists, before telling herself to relax and calm down. A prior conversation came to mind, one which took place in this very room not long after she had been given the Parakeet. Leonard had commented on Hope, saying that the bird might be capable of saying more than her previous pet had. He had been making a derogatory joke about Sousuke. Smiling that superior smile of his, he had made other snide comments while praising the bird.
“Leonard is a creep…”
“That’s right, Hope.” Kaname nodded. “Mommy has more crackers for her clever bird.” She smiled again, watching the bird bob its head. Her smile vanished when she heard some voices outside. Walking out onto a dark part of the veranda, she peered over the side. One of the maids who worked at the mansions maintained by Amalgam was outside flirting with one of the guards. “Great. Like I really needed to see that.”
The topic of seduction was not something that Kaname had wanted to think about again. No, not think about. Worry about. While she found fewer reasons to doubt herself once she realized that Leonard was using some kind of Whispered connection with her to manipulate her emotions, she still couldn’t be certain that she wasn’t somehow attracted to Leonard on her own.
“I’d rather deal with Shirai,” Kaname whispered. Shirai had been a pest, someone she could easily handle, without interference from Sousuke. While both men were quite full of themselves, Leonard at least had some reason to think highly of himself. He was incredibly handsome, in a mysterious kind of way. His body was lithe and graceful, even though he wasn’t really an athlete. Genius did not begin to explain his intellect. Refined was another word that failed to describe him, his manner of speech, and his patronage of literary arts, sculpture, and paintings. Even at his age, he was a leader, and a man with a firm grasp on power, and a clear understanding of how it can be used to manipulate people and events.
Yes, she would definitely prefer to have Shirai pressuring her. There was no way that a jerk like that would ever find his way into her heart. Leonard was far more dangerous. The fact that he openly stated what his goals and intentions were did not make it easier for her to deal with him. Even when she forced herself to be very contrary, his words seemed so persuasive. And, what was seduction, other than the use of sexual desire to persuade someone to act the way that the seducer wanted?
“It’s not like I really want to… you know…” Kaname bit her lip. She was a normal girl. In the past, she had thought about sex, wondering where and when her first intimate encounter would be. The question of ‘who’ had never mattered much, until she admitted to herself how she felt about Sousuke. Just like she had fantasized about his taking her into his arms and kissing her, she had dreamed about even more personal things. “But that jerk…” Leonard had stolen her first kiss from her. Could he go even further? Would she let him? Did she have any choice?
Kaname’s heart was beating faster. There was a hint of moisture on her brow. She swallowed hard, wrestling with a small kernel of doubt. She remembered Leonard’s first kiss with her. She had never told Sousuke about that. Even more, she hadn’t mentioned the Arastols, or her winning of Wraith’s life. Why hadn’t she told him? Was it shame? Or, had she been worried that she could be swept off her feet by the mysterious young man? She blushed, remembering how she had been dressed at the time.
“He’s the enemy,” Kaname said, firmly, regaining some of her composure. “He’s cold, manipulative, and selfish. He told me that Sousuke’s a killer; but, how many deaths have come at his command, or because of weapons that he’s developed. How can someone like him be trusted?”
“Uhhh… uhhh… uhhh…”
Kaname clutched her nightgown with one hand. Hope’s verbalizing had her comparing Sousuke to Leonard. She had a very good idea of Sousuke’s strengths and weaknesses. There had never been any reason to doubt his loyalty, even when he had left for Hong Kong without telling her. She had been devastated and terribly hurt. Even now, she couldn’t believe that she had gone off to find him and bring him back. The only thing that had ever gotten between them was orders. That, and the insinuations that Leonard had made.
“He’s such an idiot, sometimes. Honestly.” Kaname was speaking about Sousuke. She smiled for a moment, before she began worrying again. Sousuke was an idiot in some ways. But, he had a good heart. He was strong. He was brave. He would give his life for her without a moment’s regret. And, he always did his best to keep his word. That was one of the things that allowed her to hope. That, and the fact that he had admitted his love for her.
Yes, there couldn’t be a much bigger contrast than between Sousuke Sagara and Leonard Testarossa. That much was certain. She wondered what kind of life she would have, if she ever escaped and found Sousuke again. She wondered what things would be like, if she gave into Leonard the way that he wanted her to.
“SOUSUKE!”
Hope’s raucous call had Kaname jumping. She wondered if that was how she herself had sounded, all of those times that she scolded Sousuke Sagara, Sergeant of Mithril. Yawning again, she went to lie down, praying that she might be able to grab at least a little shut eye. After a few minutes, she found herself snuggling under her duvet, warm and toasty, feeling like a queen, worries slipping away bit by bit..
As she lay there looking up at the ceiling, she thought about her family and friends. She wondered how her father and sister were, and whether they would meet with a minor accident as Leonard had implied. She tried to picture how her friends must be doing, wishing that she could be back in school herself. What did Kyouko, Maya, Ryo, Ren and the others think about her? How were they doing? Would she ever see them again?
Not long after her eyes closed, a knock at her door startled her awake. The knock had been a courtesy, but not much of one. With a slight creak, the wooden door opened, and Leonard stepped into the room. He was wearing a long black robe, that reached down past his ankles. The design was such that it looked like it was a frozen ebony waterfall. His chest was partially exposed. A gleam of light reflected off of a silver necklace at his neck.
“Wh-Wh-What are you doing here?” Kaname found herself sliding down slightly in her bed, pulling the cover tightly to her. Once again, she found herself wishing that the door had locks, not that locks would stop Leonard. Arastols sort of made locks obsolete.
“I neglected to say good night to you earlier,” Leonard said. “I apologize. I have so many things that require my attention. This evening, we needed to discuss the latest advances that came courtesy of Bunny Morauta.” He watched Kaname’s face, waiting to see if that name caused a reaction.
“Who?” Kaname frowned. Then, her eyes widened. “Wait… Bunny… I’ve heard that name before…” She tried to remember where. How man people named Bunny could there be? “Hey… wasn’t he the guy… the one that had a crush on your sister… the guy who designed Arbalest.”
“Precisely,” Leonard said, smoothly walking further into the room. He smiled a flat smile, seeing how Kaname pulled the blankets up over her chin. She looked defiant, but she was clearly on the defensive, feeling at a distinct disadvantage. “He was also responsible for the design of the M9, among other things. But, to most of the world, it appeared that he had committed suicide.”
“But he came to work for you instead?” Kaname scowled. “Why, because he was angry at Tessa? Or because you had something that he wanted?” She made a face. There were few things that she despised more than traitors. That thought had her swallowing hard. Was she a traitor, given what she had done regarding her reservoir of Black Technology? Did she have any right judging others, after submitting willingly to her sessions on the Sieve?
“There’s always something that someone wants,” Leonard said, as if he was lecturing a child. “It isn’t usually difficult finding out what it is. And, generosity is a virtue, is it not?” He treated the girl to his most disarming smile, sending her a low level Whispered message that should have her feeling more relaxed.
“Well, if you’re such a great guy, you could let me out of this place, and let me go home.” Kaname found herself sitting up, still clutching the bed cover to her.
“Is that what you truly want?” Leonard asked, working the resonance effect the way a violinist works his instrument. “Would you simply walk out of the door, and buy a ticket to Japan, if I told you that Amalgam no longer has any interest in your family and friends?”
“I… well…” Kaname wanted to scream. Part of her clearly wanted to say ‘yes’. No, part of her wanted to shout ‘You bet!’ But, the words wouldn’t come out. Instead, she let the cover fall away from her. She stammered, saying “N-… N-… No…” She felt her breathing quicken. Her pulse was racing. She had some early understanding that Leonard’s catching her by surprise and in a compromising position had blunted any resistance she could make to his Whispered power.
“Leonard is a creep…”
Hope’s timely words broke the spell somewhat. Kaname managed to pull the covers back up over her nightgown.
“How charming,” Leonard drawled. He stared at the bird cage for a moment, before his features softened and he looked back at Kaname. “Mister Morauta… or, I should call him Captain Morauta… is not the only member of Mithril who chose to work for a more insightful and far-reaching organization.” He walked over to the serving table and picked up a cracker. He closed his fist, and allowed the crumbs to fall to the floor.
“You call hiring traitors, far-reaching?” Kaname felt some of her obstinate spunk coming back.
“Yes,” Leonard said, picking up another cracker, that one for eating. “I certainly do. Arbalest was certainly a fine creation. I gave a number of our forces a difficult time in the past. But, Verial was a step beyond.” He looked at the cracker for a moment, before scooping up some strawberries on it. “While many of the advances for that machine came from here…” He tapped his forehead. “…Much of the success is due to Mister Morauta.”
“SOUSUKE… SOUSUKE…”
“Well, it’s a very talkative bird, isn’t it?” Leonard raised one eyebrow, seeing Kaname blush ever so slightly. Looking outside of the large windows, he held out his hand. “There’s a large moon out tonight. It’s quite a beautiful evening. Why don’t we continue our conversation on the veranda?”
“What? Dressed like this?” Kaname began to shake her head, but stopped. “That wouldn’t be… but you see… the moon is rather…” Before she knew it, she had slid out of her bed and slipped on a pair of expensive fuzzy slippers. “I suppose I could use some fresh air…” No, she didn’t want to go out there! And, the air would be plenty fresh as soon as Leonard left the room.
“If you’re cold, I could lend you my robe.” Leonard waved his hand in a very subtle gesture. He remembered the time that he had offered to let the girl have his cloak, not long after he had saved her from an assassin.
“N-N-No… I’m fine…” Kaname felt weak in the knees. Her head was spinning. Why was she acting like a shy school girl? How could she resist the effect that Leonard was having on her?
The two of them strolled out onto the large covered balcony that ran along the front of the building. This portion was not glassed in, allowing them to smell the scent of the gardens and hear the rustle of the leaves on the nearest trees. The view of the moon, hanging large and gibbous over the city, was breathtaking.
“So, it seems that my gift of the Parakeet may have been a miscalculation.” Leonard stood close to Kaname, who he walked over to the very edge of the porch. “You taught it that boy’s name, as well as mine. But, the bird does not seem to call out derisive things with his.” He pushed a stray strand of hair away from Kaname’s face, before leaning closer to her.
“Well… you see… that was just…” Kaname clenched her fists. But, she felt the resistance flowing out of her, as if someone had pulled a plug.
“Do you still think about him?” Leonard asked, running his hand up her arm to her shoulder. The moonlight shining on his hair made him look like something that walked out of Faerie. “Do you love him?” He brought his hand down along the side of her torso, resting it on her hip. “Are you satisfied with someone like that?”
“I… he… we…” Kaname shivered. She tried to picture Sousuke, but couldn’t. She was aware only of Leonard’s touch, which was sending warmth spreading slowly throughout her. His mental influence had her thoughts and feelings dancing like a marionettes.
“Someone like him is beyond saving,” Leonard said, inching closer still. “I’m sure you know that in your heart.” The frills from his robe brushed against Kaname’s bare skin. “But, that doesn’t mean that everyone is beyond redemption. If you wanted, you could probably save me.” He bent over and placed a slow light kiss on her forehead. The sound she made had him smiling.
“You…” Kaname felt drawn even stronger to Leonard. It was as if his heart was crying out for help, and hers was eager to answer it. Was that some hidden desire of hers, to change him for the good? Did he really want that? Or, was this just another way to tug at her emotions? “I…”
“Kaname Chidori… you are a truly remarkable woman… I have never known your like.” Leonard spoke those words into her ear, his lips brushing across her earlobe. “We deserve each other… we are two of a kind… think of what we could have together…” He felt the thrill of anticipation he felt whenever he was on the verge of a great conquest, whether it was something in the business or personal arena. The web he was weaving had no flaws. How could the naïve girl hope to escape?
“We…” Kaname felt as if she was merging slowly with the darkness. It was as if her body had lost all boundaries, all limitations. The sound of Leonard’s voice reverberated through her, keeping pace with the rush of blood in her ears.
“Would you like me to kiss you?” Leonard asked, moving away from her slightly.
‘No’, Kaname thought. 'No… No… No… NONONONO… NO!’ and 'I care about Sousuke, not you'. But, those thoughts never found the way to her tongue. “Yes.”
“Ahhh…” Leonard leaned over and placed his lips on hers. He leaned his weight against her body, crushing her against the edge of the veranda. He ran his hand over her body until she flinched and began kissing him back. Feeling her surrender, he stopped and took a few steps away.
Kaname felt as if she was being torn in two. Part of her wanted to collapse in the corner, weeping. Another part was too stunned to know what she felt. Yet another part didn’t want the embrace to end.
“I think it is time that we took our relationship to the fullest height,” Leonard said, smoothing one hand along his robe. “But, I believe a girl like you would enjoy anticipating such things.” He shook his hair, and then closed his robe a slight bit more. “I’ll let you think about that for a while. I’ll be back before dawn.” With that, he turned and left the veranda, walking over to the door to Kaname’s suite. Turning, he said “One is not born a woman. One becomes one.”
As soon as the door closed behind Leonard, Kaname slumped against the outer wall of the balcony. Slowly, she slid down to lay on the cold tile floor. She no longer felt one with the night. Instead, it felt as if the darkness had a palpable weight, and it was all pressing down on her. Whatever desires she had felt disappeared as soon as the door shut.
She didn’t know what to think. There was no doubt about Leonard. He would show no sign of guilt or regret. For all she knew, he might be so absorbed with himself, that he might even be surprised to find that she was upset by his actions, even though they were no doubt skillfully panned and executed. He probably had no real concept of love, and would never be able to inspire love in others, despite his ability to manipulate the feelings of another Whispered. No doubt, his restrained promiscuity was more due to his lack of restraint than any real attraction to her. There was nothing she could do or say that might deter him, as he likely feared nothing, and needed nothing.
No, there was no doubt about Leonard. Once again, all of the uncertainty centered on her. She had kissed him back. It was all too easy to assert that her actions were due solely to his mental influence. Was that really true? She had felt excited. She had lost herself in that embrace. Why? Why was this happening to her? What could she possibly do?
“I don’t know what would be worse… his making me a woman…” Kaname closed her eyes and bit her lip. “…Or, my enjoying it…” She began crying. Before she knew it, she was sobbing. Had she been open to reason at the moment, her tears would have given her the only answer she really needed. This was not something that she truly wanted.
“SOUSUKE… SOUSUKE… SOUSUKE…”
Hope’s call had Kaname putting her face in her hands, the tears finding their way between her loosely closed fingers. In the past, when things looked the darkest, Sousuke had always managed to arrive just in time, saving her. How could that possibly happen now? How could he possibly know where she was? How could one man make his way through Leonard’s defenses, find her, and escape unharmed?
This was no Fairy Tale. There were no such things as Knights in Shining Armor.
I'm refusing to read any more chapters till Sousuke rescues Kaname, lol. Can't let a fanfic affect my uni life...
As it was, it's been hard figuring out how a genius and smooth operator like him could be defeated. Ahhhh. It's so easy. Just make him an idiot.