Asotsuko: Ch. Two (NaNoWriMo '10)

Please excuse all grammar mistakes, for I will not be going back to edit this at all until I hit 50,000 words. So there are bound to be tons of mistakes. As well as other things that I have noticed that I changed in later chapters that I did not change in the Prologue. Please bare with me, its NaNoWriMo and I am already struggling to keep up with my word count schedules :p I hope you all enjoy this!

Glancing at his brothers in annoyance, he slightly lifted his shoulders trying to let them know, silently, he wanted them to remove their hands. Neither one of them removed their grips on his shoulders. Rafferty actually tightened his grip instead.

You know what’s going to happen next… Ryker ignored the comment.

Their mother stood near the back of the library gazing out the large windows that looked over the court yard. She slowly turned when her sons entered the library and her static face warmed instantly.

“Mother,” the three of them said with a slight bow. Rook and Rafferty pushing Ryker into the bow.

“My boys,” she said happily and went to embrace each of them. The moment his brother’s hands left Ryker’s shoulders he took a small step back. When his mother went to hug him he left his arms limp at his side and simply turned his head when she went to kiss his cheek. She narrowed her eyes at him for a second, recovering with another warm, fake smile and moved towards Rook.

“What brings you all the way out here Mother?” Rafferty asked breaking the silence. Ryker was not the only one who wanted to end this as fast as possible. It was never a good thing when their mother came to visit. She was a wicked, bitter woman who never got over not being as good as her sister, who ended up marrying the prince. For years, her Riusu was slowly starting to destroy her body. It was the only disease that Byari could catch, and there was no cure. Ryker wished his mother was the same beautiful person, on the inside and out, that she was when the boys were younger.

“The humans are starting to cause trouble near Redding. There is talk that they will start a war with us in the near future,” she said in disgust. She did not try to hid her hate for humans. “We need you boys in the capital. Your father would have been here to call on you , but…” she paused glancing at Ryker, “ I insisted that I come. I have some great news.” Ryker frowned his body slumping, he hoped that he did not have to argue with his mother this visit. He glared at his bothers, he will repay them later.

“Ah, what’s the great news?” Rook asked slowly.

“The King’s precious niece wishes to meet you Ryker,” she said all too happily. “You will court her.” It was not a question, or suggestion. His mother was demanding him to court this girl. He swallowed slowly.

“Court?” Rafferty asked softly. Rafferty knew his brother too well to not know how this was going to end up.

“You can not push me into some marriage mother,” Ryker said acidly. Rook winced and retreated from his mother and brother. “I will choose who I want to marry. One can not be forced to take a Mate.”

“You will be forced! I was forced! My father was forced. This is how our family works,” she said in a quiet tone. Her body trembled with rage.

“Marry off Raff first! He is the oldest!” protested Ryker. Rafferty raised an eyebrow, he was watching his mother closely. It surprised Raff that she was controlling her rage. “I will not take a Mate until I am ready. I won’t mate the wrong person like father did,” he spat as he turned his back to his mother and made his way for the door. The sudden blow left his mother speechless. Rook watched his brother leave with shock.

Well put, but a little harsh. Something I would do. Ryker ignored Ravi. He stopped walking once he heard the door close behind him. He took a few calming breaths closing his eyes, and imagined his favorite spot to escape from everything. He opened his eyes when he felt a breeze sweep across his face.

He slowly opened his eyes looking and leaned against the weather worn railing. He gazed at the high mountains that stood behind the large lake, and watched the water ripple in the wind. The old watchtower swayed slightly as the breeze picked up speed. The golden sun slowly crept behind the mountains and plastered its wondrous setting colors onto the darkening sky. He could feel Ravi getting restless inside him. As he felt every time day turned to night. Before Ravi even spoke the question that was floating through their consciousness, Ryker spoke.

“Do not think I will let you have control tonight,” he said out loud.

One of these days I will just, take control, Ravi replied. Ryker scuffed at his remark.

“You won’t be able to take control that easily and you know it. How many times have you fail?”

And how many times have I succeeded? Ravi shot back quickly. Ryker some what paled pushing back the memories of when Ravi had fully taken control. He remained silent, watching the sun’s colors fade into the darkness of night. You do not trust me. Ravi stated.

“You are my animalistic side. Of course I would not trust a beast,” Ryker stated. He heard Ravi growl in annoyance. The sound vibrated into his chest. Ryker thought, for a split second, he was the one growling. He tighten the constraints around Ravi quickly, double checking he had him in place. “The burden of having more power, is having to deal with a more powerful you,” he stated dully.

I will take control one of these days…I will choose our mate Ry. There will be no mistake about that, warned Ravi. As Ryker was thinking of a remark, there was a sensation that ran through his body. He frowned confused. He heard Ravi growl dangerously inside his mind, and he felt his body start to tingle painfully. He winced when he felt Ravi powerfully and forcefully slam against his concealed barriers. Ryker could feel the familiar burning sensation of the markings across his skin as Ravi started to break out of his bondages.

“Ravi stop!” he demanded reinforcing the concealments, wincing at every mental blow Ravi lashed out. Ryker placed his head in his hands trying to understand the primitive growls Ravi was speaking, to understand why he was fighting for control now. “Stop!” he demanded again and sent a wave of his Riusu at Ravi to snap him out of his enraged state. Ryker continued to mentally attack Ravi and force the concealments tighter around him.

Once Ryker got Ravi back under control, he was panting heavily with one knee on the ground to support himself up. Ravi shook against his invisible chains in Ryker’s mind, growling lowly. “What the hell was that about Ravi?” he asked furious. “You will stay locked away until I decide when you can come out,” Ryker said in a low dangerous voice. He struggled to his feet and wiped the sweat off his forehead. He turned to walk away, his green eyes glowing in the darkness.

--

Ryker crept back into the ancient mansion not making a sound. He hid his presence and Riusu so no one would detect that he was back. His mind was racing with thoughts, coming up with theories to why Ravi reacted the way he did. The only idea he came up with was to ask his father. Who was miles away in Redding, right where his mother wanted him to be. His brow furrowed as he slipped pass hallways. He would have to go with his brother’s to Redding. His mother would press meeting the King’s nie-.

Ryker paused his thoughts when Ravi growled louder at the thought of the young woman his mother wanted him to court. His face grew more grim. He had not came that close to losing to Ravi for control since he was young, that was over 140 years ago. Somehow he knew that if it came down to it, Ravi would gain control if finding their true mate would be threatened in any way.

Ry snapped out his thoughts quickly and quickly pulled the Liusuke around him. Rook turned around the corner looking confused for a moment, staring at the spot where Ryker was standing, invisible, than looked away continuing to walk down the hall shaking his head. Ryker let out the breath he was holding once Rook turned another corner disappearing. He let the thin layer of Liusuke leave his skin as he proceeded to make his way toward his chambers.

“Ry,” came the scruff voice of his older brother. Ryker slowly turned and faced his brother not speaking. They stood staring at each other for a couple moments.

Both trying to decide which would break the silence. Ryker sighed and put his hands up in defeat.

“I’ll go to Redding. No tricks,” he said. Rafferty raised his eye brows in surprise.

“What’s the hidden agenda?” Rafferty asked knowing his brother too well.

“No hidden agenda,” quickly replied Ryker.

“Ry, don’t lie to me.”

“Don’t think you can order me around anymore Raff. We aren’t little boys anymore,” warned Ryker narrowing his eyes slightly.

“I am not challenging you Ry, we are past that point,” Rafferty said softly letting his facial features drop. For the first time, Ryker noticed his brother looked warn and old.

“Raff… he almost got lose…” Ryker whispered looking at the ground. Raff was the first to view the power of Ravi, was the first to be attacked by the enormous beast that lived inside Ryker.

Rafferty left his face emotionless. “I am glad Kione is nothing like Ravi,” Rafferty confessed. Kione was the most passive of three brother’s other halves. Ryker did not comment and just stared at the ground. He felt his brother’s strong hand clamp down on his shoulder and squeeze apathetically. “You have the talent to control him. Other Byari are not so lucky when they have another half like yours,” he said trying to comfort his brother. “Many have been destroyed by theirs, and yet, you were given even more power than yours.”

“Yeah,” Ryker said avoiding his brother’s gaze. Raff was the only one Ryker let see him vulnerable. In everyone’s eyes, Ryker Neben was not feeble.

“Try to avoid mother as much as possible,” Rafferty suggested, hinting the reason why Ravi almost took control. Ryker held back a small laugh. He glanced at his brother was walking down the hall. “Rook is looking for you also,” he called over his shoulder and disappeared in a split second.

Ryker shook his head holding back a smile and walked in the direction he saw Rook take. As he walked he hesitantly checked the restraints on Ravi, making sure they were not getting lose. He felt his body slowly relax when he felt that Ravi’s Riusu was calm. He smiled again, pushing doubts aside, and searched for his brother. He expanded his own Riusu searching for familiar Riusu that Rook possessed. He felt the normal tug of his brother’s Riusu on one of the lower floors.

Rook help up his and pointed it at Ryker’s face the moment Ry appeared beside him. Rook smirked and turned his head looking at his brother. “I think a pay back in order, Ry,” he said. Ryker stood there smiling at Rook, his eyes teasing him to make the first move. Slowly Rook dropped his hand and laughed. “I think I will repay you when you least expect it.”

“As if you can catch me off guard,” Ryker said.

“I felt Ravi’s Riusu earlier…” Rook said in a low voice. Ryker almost missed what he said. He knew that one of Rook’s abilities was sensitive to Riusu and detecting tiny hints of them from far distances. It was also very difficult to hide from him, even with concealing his Riusu, he knew that Rook could find him. What confused him was why Rook walked pass him earlier. Ryker did not try to persuade Rook that he felt something different.

“Yeah, he had a fit,” Ryker said sitting down on the couch across from Rook.

“It’s been awhile since I’ve felt his Riusu. How do you handle it Ry,” Rook asked. Ryker glanced at his brother and noticed he looked pale.

“It’s not that bad. Its not to much to handle when you get to know him. He is just as lazy as me,” Ryker tried to joke. He noticed that it was not working. “Rook,” he said slowly.

“I never saw him out, but from what I see the damage,” Ryker winced trying not to remember, “that he can inflict so easily. Its obvious that he was locked away for so long, not able to bond with any Byari.”

“He is under control Rook,” Ryker stated. “He only wants to…” he paused trying not to blush. He choose his next words carefully, “He get’s to choose our..mate,” he said slowly. Rook starred at his brother confused for a moment than quickly flushed turning his gaze.

“Oh…” he said softly. Ryker smirked. Rook was always the shy reserved one, where as his other half, Ashwin, was the complete opposite. There were times when Ashwin would gain control and play tricks on everyone he came into contact with. Ryker liked to think of Ashwin as a casanova. When Rook was first learning how to somewhat control his beast, he would wake up in the middle of the night with women in his bed, not remembering anything. Ryker swore his brother was permanently scared for life.

“He only got so far out of his constraints because, I was... distracted,” Ryker confessed. “Something, happen. I was confused and he was enraged for some reason. I have yet to let him out of his tight box to let him speak.”

“You have an interesting beast Ry,” Rook said shaking his head.

“I think I would have more fun with Ashwin personally,” he teased watching his brother’s face turn a darker shade of red. Ryker smiled and laughed at his reaction. Rook grumbled something that Ryker couldn’t comprehend. “I will be going with you and Raff to Redding. I need to speak to father,” Ryker said standing up and stretching.

“You are coming?” Rook asked surprised.

“Isn’t that what I just said?”

“You are…obeying mother?” Rook slowly asked.

“Pff, as if,” Ryker shrugged off. “I need to speak to father.”

“You are going to have a hard time avoiding mother than…” Rook pointed out.

“I have an idea for that. I have been working on this for some time,” he slowly turned his back to his brother. Rook watched as his brother’s dark hair turned a different shade and slowly his body started to form a different, shorter shape. When he turned around Rook was staring at himself. Rook blinked a couple times in disbelief. The only thing that was slightly off, were the shade of green. Ryker’s eyes were always a sea green, rather than the deep emerald color Rafferty and Rook bared. Rook’s double did not have Ryker’s sea green eyes, rather a lighter shade of Rook’s eyes. No one would notice the difference unless they stood side by side.

Rook laughed and walked over inspecting his brother’s work. He lifted his arms testing the size and imperfections of his own skin. Even the small scratch on Rook’s chin Ryker duplicated. “Absolutely brilliant! Will you teach me how to do this?” he asked still looking over his own doppelganger.

“Perhaps,” replied Ryker instantly changing back to himself. “You know, I am always scared I will perform that wrong and be stuck in that appearance,” he gave a fake, over dramatic shiver, “how awful would that be?” he joked laughing. Rook punched his brother hard in the arm but laughed along with him.