Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2014 23:21:52 GMT -5
The usual hustle and bustle of the streets of Omega seemed busy as usual. Making quite the odd pair, a cloaked Saiyan child and a humanoid alien dressed entirely in black, Azuki and Lilith made their way through the crowd, that hated hand clutched tightly around the three-year old's as so not to lose him amongst the sea of people and aliens. Back a year ago, before he was used to Omega, the young Saiyan had never seen so many various races and peoples, having spent the first two years of his life veritably hidden on New Vegeta. Though… shortly after his second birthday his mother brought him here, and seemingly without reason, left him in the care of “his aunt” Lilith. The memory made him angry, and he began to squeeze Lilith’s hand hard, almost white knuckled. She held back firm, never one to make much of a little pain. As the memory left the child’s immediate thoughts he relaxed and it was gone as quick, such was the mind of a child.
The familiar skyline of the city, and in particular, the Skyen lounge quickly came into focus. The pair had made their way inside as they had done numerous times before and headed back towards third booth from the back. The child slid to the inner part of the booth as Lilith gracefully sat next to him. Their usual waitress came over to the two of them only mere moments after they had sat down, placing a bowl of rice in front of Azuki who happily indulged in it, his appetite, like all Saiyans, voracious. The waitress bent down and whispered something into Lilith’s ear. The waitress smiled and placed down the child’s second bowl, prepared as usual for him. Azuki ignored the two of them, enjoying his rice, and Lilith had whispered back and sent the waitress away. She smiled down at Azuki and patted his arm as he dug into his food. He shot her a quick smile but was too focused on eating. A short while had passed and the waitress had returned with a small man.
The man had about him an air of danger, and despite himself Azuki withdrew into the booth, placing Lilith as much in between the two as possible. The man’s stubbled jaw was moving back and forth as if he was trying to figure out exactly what it was he was trying to say. He rubbed it with a hand as he sat down.
“Have… Have you heard the news already?” He said in a hushed, almost reverent voice. Something was wrong, even the child could pick up on that. Something had happened, and from the man’s voice, that something was bad. Lilith too had picked up on this. Her eyes glanced from the boy to the man and back. Those that worked for Lilith had learned not to ask about the young child’s presence. Keeping an ear on the conversation, the boy tended to his third bowl of rice. Lilith shook her head, but her eyes told him to continue with his information.
“I… I’m uncertain how to put this… The Saiyan royal family… They’re all dead… All of them aside from Ninjin and Akassa.” The words tumbled from his mouth as if they couldn’t be kept in. The news was shocking enough, or it seemed to be. Lilith’s mouth dropped open slightly, more show of emotion that Azuki had ever seen her show to one of her clients before. This too caught the man by surprise and if anything he became more nervous. As soon as the expression came it was gone. Azuki usually paid little attention to Lilith’s conversations she had with her clients as most of the time they were boring and nothing relevant to him. But this had to do with Saiyans. His people… His kind… This time he was intent to listen to every detail he could.
The man fumbled over his words before pressing on. “I… You see…” He paused to calm himself and gather his thoughts. “Akassa… has slaughtered them all.” Azuki was seemingly shocked. Why would Saiyans be killing one another? All of his memories from New Vegeta and the Saiyans that lived there were violent ones but nothing as permanent as death had ever been around him. Lilith only nodded in response to the man’s words. Her informant continued on.
“Akassa has laid claim to the Saiyan throne as well... From my reports Ninjin is off world so he was safe from the… massacre that occurred. Even then the details are still vague on exactly what has occurred in the Saiyan court…”
He trails off and Lilith lets out a sigh of frustration. “Vague details don’t do anything for me, Marth.” The man almost flinched at her words but she was unfazed by his reaction. Azuki, unbeknownst to Lilith, and Marth was still zoned in to every word they said and motion they made, trying to read exactly what was happening.
“You need to get more information and make it more defined and less vague.” She was assertive with him. He scowled but she cut him off before he could reply to her. “I understand the great amount of risk this puts you in but you know I always pay you well Marth…” A smirk danced across her lips as she shot a glance over to the waitress that had ushered Marth over to the table. Marth turned and looked at her almost longingly as she was taking an order from a group of aliens seated around a table. Marth sighed and turned back to Lilith a remorseful look on his face.
“Of course Lilith. You make all of the work I do for you worth it.” He stands up and looks at Lilith and the child with an empty bowl. He lowers his head in a sign of respect and turns to leave but Lilith reaches out, catching his coat before he can get too far. She looks at him with a dead-pan serious face.
“The second you know the whereabouts and status of Ninjin, you will inform me in the next. Understood?” It sounded like a threat to Azuki but Marth bowed his head low once more before turning on his heels and heading towards the door. Though, only after shooting the waitress another longing look.
As soon as he cleared the entrance to Skyen lounge Lilith let out a groan and ran her fingers through her hair. That news was starling to say the least. How in the world had Akassa gathered the power to defeat Tsyuo? “Who is Assaka and Ninjin?” Azuki piqued. Lilith almost jumped, forgetting that the child was sitting next to her. She turned and looked at the small child sitting next to her. His fiery red hair a mess atop his head and his mother’s emerald green eyes were filled with curiosity. She smiled down at the child that she had been caring for, for over a year. But this only seemed to frustrate him slightly as his curiosity turned into ire.
“Don’t give me that smile Lilith! I want to know.” He began to throw a small tantrum. “Why don’t you ever talk about my race or my people to me!? Clearly there is something wrong with what’s happening to them!? Why is this Akassa woman, or man, killing the royal family!? Why is Ninjin so important to you!?” His anger was welling up in him and preparing to explode out of him. Lilith just looked at him with pity. His rage was about to burst out of him when suddenly hot tears began to roll down his face. The tears were budding in his eyes as the words came out of his mouth. “Where’s my mother?”
Lilith was less prepared for this question than the question of who was Ninjin. Sadness began to dwell within her as well, knowing the suffering this boy was going through. The child was looking up at her still with all sorts of emotions combined. Anger. Deep sadness. Confusion. She glanced around to make sure that no one could see and then wrapped her arms around him and pressed his head into her chest to comfort him. She stroked his hair attempting to soothe him.
“Soon little one. Soon I will be able to tell you.” She had said in a hushed voice. This only made him cry harder but she felt his anger wash away with his tears.
They sat there like that for some time. The boy sniffling, finally pulled away from her, wiping the moistness from under his eyes. She sat there rubbing his back, still comforting the child. He rubbed his face and looked back up at her.
His words were meek but define: “I’m hungry again...” Lilith couldn’t help but let out a laugh. Her laugh made Azuki smile and she waved over that same waitress over.
“Could you get Mr. Snow over here another bowl of rice?” The child was excited at the mention of food and puffed out his chest at the mention of being called “Mr.”
The waitress smiled down at the Azuki. “Anything for you Madam Lilith and Mister Snow.” She bowed before heading back to the kitchen.
A little while had passed with the two of them sitting in Lilith’s booth talking. Azuki had plowed through seven more bowls of rice within the couple of hours they had been there. As he was about to ask for his eighth bowl of rice Lilith cut him off “You know we have combat training today Snow. It would be unwise of you to eat any more than you have already.” Azuki pouted but sighed, agreeing with her. He was excited and nervous all at once. Today was the day where he was going to begin his weapon training and Lilith had been teasing him with a surprise for the past few weeks. Lilith raised from her booth and extended her hand to grasp his.
Azuki frowned at her. “Do you need to hold my hand everywhere we go?” She gave him that sly smile that she was known for and said no words. He let out a groan as he scooched out of the booth and begrudgingly slid his fingers between hers. She lifted the cloak over his head and the two left the restaurant of the Skyen Lounge and headed towards the elevator that would eventually bring them to the pent house. There, his training would begin.
The familiar skyline of the city, and in particular, the Skyen lounge quickly came into focus. The pair had made their way inside as they had done numerous times before and headed back towards third booth from the back. The child slid to the inner part of the booth as Lilith gracefully sat next to him. Their usual waitress came over to the two of them only mere moments after they had sat down, placing a bowl of rice in front of Azuki who happily indulged in it, his appetite, like all Saiyans, voracious. The waitress bent down and whispered something into Lilith’s ear. The waitress smiled and placed down the child’s second bowl, prepared as usual for him. Azuki ignored the two of them, enjoying his rice, and Lilith had whispered back and sent the waitress away. She smiled down at Azuki and patted his arm as he dug into his food. He shot her a quick smile but was too focused on eating. A short while had passed and the waitress had returned with a small man.
The man had about him an air of danger, and despite himself Azuki withdrew into the booth, placing Lilith as much in between the two as possible. The man’s stubbled jaw was moving back and forth as if he was trying to figure out exactly what it was he was trying to say. He rubbed it with a hand as he sat down.
“Have… Have you heard the news already?” He said in a hushed, almost reverent voice. Something was wrong, even the child could pick up on that. Something had happened, and from the man’s voice, that something was bad. Lilith too had picked up on this. Her eyes glanced from the boy to the man and back. Those that worked for Lilith had learned not to ask about the young child’s presence. Keeping an ear on the conversation, the boy tended to his third bowl of rice. Lilith shook her head, but her eyes told him to continue with his information.
“I… I’m uncertain how to put this… The Saiyan royal family… They’re all dead… All of them aside from Ninjin and Akassa.” The words tumbled from his mouth as if they couldn’t be kept in. The news was shocking enough, or it seemed to be. Lilith’s mouth dropped open slightly, more show of emotion that Azuki had ever seen her show to one of her clients before. This too caught the man by surprise and if anything he became more nervous. As soon as the expression came it was gone. Azuki usually paid little attention to Lilith’s conversations she had with her clients as most of the time they were boring and nothing relevant to him. But this had to do with Saiyans. His people… His kind… This time he was intent to listen to every detail he could.
The man fumbled over his words before pressing on. “I… You see…” He paused to calm himself and gather his thoughts. “Akassa… has slaughtered them all.” Azuki was seemingly shocked. Why would Saiyans be killing one another? All of his memories from New Vegeta and the Saiyans that lived there were violent ones but nothing as permanent as death had ever been around him. Lilith only nodded in response to the man’s words. Her informant continued on.
“Akassa has laid claim to the Saiyan throne as well... From my reports Ninjin is off world so he was safe from the… massacre that occurred. Even then the details are still vague on exactly what has occurred in the Saiyan court…”
He trails off and Lilith lets out a sigh of frustration. “Vague details don’t do anything for me, Marth.” The man almost flinched at her words but she was unfazed by his reaction. Azuki, unbeknownst to Lilith, and Marth was still zoned in to every word they said and motion they made, trying to read exactly what was happening.
“You need to get more information and make it more defined and less vague.” She was assertive with him. He scowled but she cut him off before he could reply to her. “I understand the great amount of risk this puts you in but you know I always pay you well Marth…” A smirk danced across her lips as she shot a glance over to the waitress that had ushered Marth over to the table. Marth turned and looked at her almost longingly as she was taking an order from a group of aliens seated around a table. Marth sighed and turned back to Lilith a remorseful look on his face.
“Of course Lilith. You make all of the work I do for you worth it.” He stands up and looks at Lilith and the child with an empty bowl. He lowers his head in a sign of respect and turns to leave but Lilith reaches out, catching his coat before he can get too far. She looks at him with a dead-pan serious face.
“The second you know the whereabouts and status of Ninjin, you will inform me in the next. Understood?” It sounded like a threat to Azuki but Marth bowed his head low once more before turning on his heels and heading towards the door. Though, only after shooting the waitress another longing look.
As soon as he cleared the entrance to Skyen lounge Lilith let out a groan and ran her fingers through her hair. That news was starling to say the least. How in the world had Akassa gathered the power to defeat Tsyuo? “Who is Assaka and Ninjin?” Azuki piqued. Lilith almost jumped, forgetting that the child was sitting next to her. She turned and looked at the small child sitting next to her. His fiery red hair a mess atop his head and his mother’s emerald green eyes were filled with curiosity. She smiled down at the child that she had been caring for, for over a year. But this only seemed to frustrate him slightly as his curiosity turned into ire.
“Don’t give me that smile Lilith! I want to know.” He began to throw a small tantrum. “Why don’t you ever talk about my race or my people to me!? Clearly there is something wrong with what’s happening to them!? Why is this Akassa woman, or man, killing the royal family!? Why is Ninjin so important to you!?” His anger was welling up in him and preparing to explode out of him. Lilith just looked at him with pity. His rage was about to burst out of him when suddenly hot tears began to roll down his face. The tears were budding in his eyes as the words came out of his mouth. “Where’s my mother?”
Lilith was less prepared for this question than the question of who was Ninjin. Sadness began to dwell within her as well, knowing the suffering this boy was going through. The child was looking up at her still with all sorts of emotions combined. Anger. Deep sadness. Confusion. She glanced around to make sure that no one could see and then wrapped her arms around him and pressed his head into her chest to comfort him. She stroked his hair attempting to soothe him.
“Soon little one. Soon I will be able to tell you.” She had said in a hushed voice. This only made him cry harder but she felt his anger wash away with his tears.
They sat there like that for some time. The boy sniffling, finally pulled away from her, wiping the moistness from under his eyes. She sat there rubbing his back, still comforting the child. He rubbed his face and looked back up at her.
His words were meek but define: “I’m hungry again...” Lilith couldn’t help but let out a laugh. Her laugh made Azuki smile and she waved over that same waitress over.
“Could you get Mr. Snow over here another bowl of rice?” The child was excited at the mention of food and puffed out his chest at the mention of being called “Mr.”
The waitress smiled down at the Azuki. “Anything for you Madam Lilith and Mister Snow.” She bowed before heading back to the kitchen.
A little while had passed with the two of them sitting in Lilith’s booth talking. Azuki had plowed through seven more bowls of rice within the couple of hours they had been there. As he was about to ask for his eighth bowl of rice Lilith cut him off “You know we have combat training today Snow. It would be unwise of you to eat any more than you have already.” Azuki pouted but sighed, agreeing with her. He was excited and nervous all at once. Today was the day where he was going to begin his weapon training and Lilith had been teasing him with a surprise for the past few weeks. Lilith raised from her booth and extended her hand to grasp his.
Azuki frowned at her. “Do you need to hold my hand everywhere we go?” She gave him that sly smile that she was known for and said no words. He let out a groan as he scooched out of the booth and begrudgingly slid his fingers between hers. She lifted the cloak over his head and the two left the restaurant of the Skyen Lounge and headed towards the elevator that would eventually bring them to the pent house. There, his training would begin.