White Rabbit

Note: This chapter has some Spanish...more than usual. I'm not a fluent speaker, and anyone who is I'm open for correction. In fact...that's a PLEASE CORRECT ME! If I'm wrong that is...^^' (Replies to reviews at the end) Onto the story! Oh, and as further note...I have no idea how much prostitutes charge! (Ashi gives a price in this chap...x_x)


Chapter Ten

The moment he stepped into the bar, Ashi knew not to get his hopes up over the already populated area. As he suspected, Toni greeted him with mild agitation and high expectancies, taking him back to his office for yet another ‘discussion’ on his now frequent misconducts in punctuality and appearances. The problems, understandably, got dealt with swiftly, and he gave no further objection.

Almost a week since his original trouble. Monday. By the time he got finished with inside duties, somewhere approaching midnight, he felt, again, like simply going home. Even knowing that the fever still edged at resurfacing, and that a long night couldn’t help it, his money ran low, and he’d already missed four days worth of second hand pay, having skipped Saturday and Sunday.

Several more usual visitors greeted his appearance with varying emotions, surprise and relief the most abundant of them, and he got many minor greetings.

“Shi!” He looked up to his addresser, a woman, looking about eighteen or nineteen in appearance, with similarly scant dress to himself. Dark, short-cut hair hung just above her shoulder-line with heavy make-up hiding any original features of her face. “You’re back. Haven’t seen you for awhile now, kid, what you been up to?”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Yari, you know I come and go. I had some...problems with business and had to keep scarce. I only missed a few days.”

She grinned, ruby lips pulling back to display white teeth with a mischievous flash. “Not to many problems then, eh? Don’t tell me you got another mess with the police?”

He shrugged, pulling out for a cig as he moved toward his usual corner. “It was a minor mess. I’m over it.”

“You push it, Shi, you really do, you know that?”

He smirked. “Actually...I believe I more take than push, don’t you think?” She rolled her eyes, a matching cigaret already in her mouth as she watched him leave, shaking her head and tossing out a puff of smoke.

After her, several others came, and in the end, Ashi finished with a long tossed conversation between himself and Boj, who also worried, apparently a decent deal, over him gone for the past days. Finally, as he actually finished all up, it looked around one in the morning when he really did settle to the silence, and he secretly hoped it simply to late to find a prospect. Not even five minutes it seemed, and that hope flattened at the sound of an engine.

He looked up in slight confusion to the basic, four door black car. The single man inside almost instantly stopped in front of him and walked out, looking down as the albiri, in his fatigue, chose to sit. Ashi gave a forced smile to the man above. “See something to your liking, sir?”

“¿Cuántos tu cuestas? “ The man’s tone came rough and low, to the point, and Ashi stood, frowning just slightly.

“Depends. Do you speak English? “

“Sí, pero no mucho. Conteste la pregunta.”

“Doscientos cada hora. More if you’re rough.”

“Tu hará, entra el coche.”

Ashi nodded and followed the other man into the vehicle, trying desperately to ignore a rising feeling of dread. Again, he felt the night couldn’t end well. But then again, it wasn’t like he hadn’t dealt with strange men before...

They drove, Ashi sat beside him, but with no other there, the man kept his attention on the road, or tried to. The rabbit noted several flickered glances his way, some more lingering than others.

“Who are you bringing me to?” Ashi finally questioned, impatient and increasingly frustrated over the length of the drive. The man shook his head.

“Does not matter. Mi boss es...secret. Sí?”

The rabbit pouted and the man frowned at the look. “I just want to know a name...why can’t you tell me...please? Just a name...” His tone had changed from begging to more a purr and he watched the other tense.

“No es importante....”

“One name won’t hurt you...” The other’s eyes flickered to him, undecided, and the smaller man risked a tiny brush, just gracing, across the man’s leg. “Por favor?” He could almost feel the man’s debate, and he didn’t know why exactly, it didn’t usually matter, but this time, he wanted a name. Dark brown, almost black eyes lowered in indecision and violet met the gaze. Finally, with a sort of choked and gruff tone, the words came out.

“Carlos...y...Jaques?” He looked nervous even as he said them, but that never got to the rabbit.

Carlos

Ashi felt a cold chill at the first mention. He knew that name. Oh yes, he definitely knew that name. Those simple words gave him all new incentive, and he knew, that instant. He had to get out of the car. Fast.

Finally, whether he noticed Ashi’s pale reaction or not, the man spoke again. “Why you special, eh? Man want you, no otre hombre, sólo usted. You so great, conejo?”

Then the idea hit him, plain and simple, and he could only pray it worked as he turned an all to satisfied smirk on the older man. “You want to know?” The man glanced his way, and Ashi could swear he saw him swallow as he again dropped a light hand to the man’s leg, this time not quite so discretely. “I’m sure I could give you something for your trouble...driving me all the way out here...have a few extra bucks?” The man became instantly flustered and Ashi didn’t hide his pleasure.

The grown man’s cheeks tinted brightly now and his hands held tight to the wheel. “Yo no...emm...” Ashi’s smirk shone positively gleeful. Going well so far...

Never one to use a seat belt anyway, he slid over easily, hardly worried about the situation despite the obvious distraction to the driver, that basically being the main point anyway, and only hoping to god this plan wouldn’t get him killed.

“So...what’s your name, hm?” He trailed his hand down and felt the other’s breath tighten.

“Eh...Pedro. Pero-“

“How well do you drive?” The man gave him a puzzled look till he slipped down directly to the source of the problem and the man gave a choked groan, eyes briefly shutting before staring ahead to the road determinedly.

“I...I no...mmm...yo no conozco el inglés...”

“Just tell me...do you want me to stop?” He pressed again at the rising bulge and took the whispered shaking of the head as a ‘no’. A few movements, enough to send stems of pleasure but nothing remotely satisfying, and the man spoke again.

“Ahora.” He hissed it lowly and Ashi understood, slipping his fingers easily to lower the zip, and moving down the next instant. A strangled moan accompanied the move as the man bucked up to his mouth, knuckles white on the wheel now, and Ashi could almost see his plan working. Now all he needed was a little luck and...

He felt the car swerve slightly, and responded by moving up, circling his lips full around the shaft but taking up a small rhythm. The car definitely swerved and he smirked, silently praying in turn to whatever god would listen as he prepared all his body for rapid movement should he need it, though still continuing his task at hand.

He did it by instinct now, little thought, all focus on the intrepid movement of the car. Up, down, one, two, three... The man screamed.

“¡Arbol!”

Ashi jumped back instantly, feeling the vehicle’s irregular movement swing into a truly dangerous left spin. It all played out in less than a second, the swerve, spin, darkness, and the booming crash as Ashi braced his best for impact.

...

He didn’t know how long it took to regain full consciousness. He came back in a sort of haze at first, head pounding, trying to remember, but when he did, he instantly went on alert.

First things first, he tested to make sure each part of him still moved, and found, with pleasant surprise, that he escaped with not more than a possible minor head concussion, though he didn’t no much about medicine and doubted anything could be severe considering he still moved. That behind him, he shrugged off bodily injuries and moved onto assessing the situation.

Dark. The car smoked, he glanced over to the driver’s seat and found the other in a complete state of stillness, either unconscious or dead. He whispered a silent apology and another rushed prayer before moving over to check for breath, pulse. His spirits leapt as he found both and he let out a great sigh of relief. At least he hadn’t killed anyone.

Considering the man hadn’t died, he figured he still deserved some payment for his efforts, and after little trouble, found the man’s wallet. Opening it, he found quite a bundle of bills and, deciding the attempt on his life deserved extra, he slipped the whole thing behind him with little to no ill conscience on it. Surely a few thousand was pay enough for the trauma, right? Especially if he had a concussion, yeah, that explained it. It all payed for his concussion.

He smirked lightly, slipping away from him then easily. “And you were such a good sport about it to...I do hope Carlos isn’t in to bad of a mood when you wake up...” He chuckled, but moved quickly back to business.

Apparently, they’d crashed head on into some roadside tree, and now sat, in the middle of no where, dead of night, smashed up against it’s trunk. Ashi grumbled, but decided it far better than some other options and took a breath before pushing his way out from the car and scrambling to a stand in. The cold, dewed grass giving beneath him and cold meeting his very exposed skin with nipping persistence. Damn, he hated cold.

He frowned slightly. “Alright. I escaped. Now what?” Of course, no one answered and he shivered slightly with displeasure, glaring ahead to nothing. “Fine, you know what? You can save me now Garnen!” He paused. Waited. “Anytime!” He didn’t really expect any sufficient answer but at the continued silence and seeming abandonment of the night road, he cursed.

His breath hazed, visible before him in the cold, only serving to dampen his mood. “Shit. I guess I’m walking then...”

Glancing back and forth between his two options, he opted for the opposite direction of where the car faced, figuring the farther from Carlos the better, and silently hoping for civilization soon, though still cursing his wear. “I mean seriously, who’s gonna pick up a hitch-hiking transvestite prostitute at three in the morning?”

He didn’t know how long he walked, couldn’t count, didn’t know how far he went or even where he headed, but by the time light first began edging at the horizon, he felt like collapsing, his feet burning in likely the most inappropriate walking shoes available, and the already clingy cloth at his legs plastering against him to where he could swear they wanted to merge with his flesh.

He stumbled, wavered, but continued, some unknown instinct pushing him on to who-knows-where, with great insistence. One foot in front of the other, one more step. He tripped and swore, feeling the pavement scrape back at skin but ignoring the tint of red and stumbling to a stand. Somehow, he knew where he was, and no matter what, he couldn’t stop now.

One more. The surroundings looked so different now. Five steps. The light cast brighter now, tinting almost yellow, pink and purple with morning. Ten. Newer streets, different, so different. Modern, cleaner, but familiar.

He knew this place, hazily registered his direction and moved up the driveway, swayed at the door, blinked, and finally knocked. Long seconds, dragging, prolonged. He raised his hand to knock again, uncertain now, but the door opened and he stared, smiled weakly, hand still raised in a half-fist as he mumbled shakily. “Hi, Garnen...I think...I might need just a little...h-he...lp...”

Garnen stared, hardly registering, blankly transfixed on the form before him. It felt like a trance, watching the rabbit sway, waver. Only when lavender fluttered shut did he take action, hastily catching the falling form as Ashi collapsed, fainted in his arms.

He frowned slightly, glancing over the unconscious man and trying in vain to puzzle out how this occurred. He wasn’t heavy, so the position strained nothing, but he eventually re-situated him anyway, turning it to a cradle and giving a frustrated, half-glare to the sleeping form, as if Ashi could still gain from, or, in this case, at least give some appropriate reaction. The albiri did no such thing however, understandably, and Garnen settled with carrying him inside, grumbling the whole while.

As he entered he set Ashi first on the couch and stepped back, trying to get at least some idea of what lead to this event. The rabbit wore a tiny, skin tight top with netted, translucent sleeves, the tightest, most uncomfortable looking leather pants he’d ever viewed, and laced, thick-healed boots. Nothing looked sensible, and all fit like glue to his skin.

“Hooking again then.” Garnen sighed and shook his head, but frowned as he found the scuffed elbows, red still and obviously cut. “What have you been doing? Ashi...you can be so stupid...”

“And...you’re just...a p-perfect...genius...” The rabbit man mumbled, shakily, on bridge just between sleep and consciousness.

The officer’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, then narrowed. “How long have you been awake?”

“I felt dead...does that count?”

“You sound alive.” The man grumbled, glancing over the spread form with noticeably less revulsion than the first time, now merely simple disapproval. “What did you do, Ashi? You look...bad.”

The rabbit chuckled lightly, tired as violet wavered, lifting up to meet the other’s shakily. “Can’t we...discuss this later? It’s...mm...a...long...st-“ He yawned. “...story. I’m tired.” Garnen snorted, at a loss for the man’s appearance.

“Yes. We can.” He came forward to the couch. “Would you prefer the bed?”

“I just want to sleep.”

“I can carry you.”

“That would be nice. You’re warm.”

Garnen frowned just slightly, considering those words carefully even as he bent. He originally planned on simply cradling the man, but as he moved down, Ashi circled his arms, catching around his neck and Garnen paused, in minor surprise, before shrugging it off and giving in, allowing as the other’s head rest plainly against his shoulder. In some ways, it almost felt comforting, but he pushed that thought away quickly.

By the time he reached the top of the stairs, the albiri slept again, peacefully in slumber against his shoulder and falling back to a steady, simple rhythm. By the time he reached the bed, the simple task of untangling him came the most pressing difficulty, but with a little work, he got the man down, completely out, and once again, spread across his bed.

He frowned. “Why is it you always end up in my bed? I better not start making a habit of this...” His words came low, grumbled, but somehow, despite all, something told him he was already making very much a habit of it, and he didn’t mind.

He sighed and checked his watch, just past six. “Damn.” On the present course, he figured nothing would get him back to sleep, so he shook his head and settled for looking for breakfast. Even as he focused on eating though, his thoughts kept turning back to the rabbit. Wondering, speculating, and only serving to frustrate himself further with all the unanswered questions.

That morning passed, slow, and as continually unsatisfying as it began. He took to regularly going up, and checking on the sleeping rabbit, each time finding, with minor frustration, that he still kept perfectly unconscious, with no sign of waking either. Eventually, he decided on a new strategy, and, consequently, a way to distract his time.

*~*

Ashi had, in fact, woken several times, but never felt like waking, and gladly slipped back into the comforting embrace of sleep each time. This time though, not simple luck, but smell, woke him and his eyes opened, fluttered, lazy, till he registered the exact aroma and he shot up instantly.

“Chocolate!”

Garnen looked up abruptly, book in hand, at the sudden exclamation. He sat now, half-cross-legged, one leg up and the other down off the edge of the bed, and a full, partially opened doughnut box laying precariously across his lap. He chuckled lightly at Ashi’s reaction, setting his book down and giving the rabbit a curious look. “I wondered if that would wake you...”

The pink-haired man didn’t deviate his stare from the food, scrambling for a better position on the bed. “Give me some.”

“I think they’re close enough, you can come get them yourself. But really, you should have something besides doughnuts everyday...it’s not-“ He paused as Ashi clamored, onto all fours as he got up from the bed and still there as he reached for the sweet confections. Garnen blinked. “Do you put a hole in every pair of your pants?”

Lavender flickered up. “What?”

“Your tail. How do you deal with it?”

Ashi smirked with a small chuckle. “Shame, shame, Garnen...you wouldn’t be staring at my ass now, would you?”

“I-...no, it’s-“ His eyes instinctually snapped to the movement as the white puff wriggled, just the tiniest bit, a flicker, but Ashi laughed nonetheless, eyes bright now with accomplishment.

“Of course not. Never you. Right? Why would any sane, right minded man like you have any interest in some slutty, half-dead playboy that turns up on his doorstep every so often...” He reached over and caught an especially chocolate-coated doughnut, lavender glancing up briefly, locking on almond, curious chocolate brown, meeting his gaze. “It makes no sense...it’s probably even illegal. A police officer...a prostitute?”

“Rape is illegal, sex with a minor is illegal, prostitution is illegal...but if it’s willing...and nobody get’s paid for it...it’s not against the law.” Garnen said it by instinct, merely looking at his own doughnut now, not eating as he considered, frowning over the man’s words. Wait, what was he considering?? That didn’t make any sense! His frown deepened as he realized his own thoughts. He couldn’t possibly-

“You missed a spot.”

“Wha-“ Garnen looked up from his daze only to freeze on the spot. A hand pressed on his leg, warm and steady, as Ashi moved forward for balance. He felt snared, immobile as the other came up, slender form so close, pressing against him. A single, satiny ear brushed just over his cheek before Ashi’s true intention came to form, pink tongue flicking out, ever so briefly, across the very corner of his lips, and retreating just as fast.

Almond eyes stared, transfixed as lavender lifted slightly, veiled behind the hood of long, matching, candy pink lashes. “I told you, missed a spot. Chocolate. Just a crumb.” He smiled becomingly, hinting, so faintly, at that tiny bit of mischief, and pink lips twitched up to it, bright, rosy and soft. “I got it though.” His lips graced, one last movement, almost unnoticeably light, across his cheek before he sat back, smirk hidden behind the shield of his doughnut as he took to eating it again.

Garnen stared. “A crumb.”

Ashi nodded, then giggled. “Don’t you trust me, officer?”

“No.” The answer came immediately, cut and assured, and the rabbit gaped in mock hurt.

“You’re so defensive! Couldn’t you try? Pretty please? I can be a trustworthy person...” Ashi trailed off as he thought on these words and laughed out loud even as Garnen gave an incredulously disbelieving expression.

“Uh-huh. Trustworthy...yeah. I’d sooner trust a poker dealer....or my lawyer.” The smaller man pouted, and Garnen couldn’t have picked a more adorable expression, but didn’t get time to consider this slip of thought as Ashi interrupted him.

“So...what happens now?”

The officer frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”

“I mean...you’ve come to my rescue...at least twice now...and-“

“You fell in my arms this morning, that wasn’t my fault.” Garnen pointed out quietly and Ashi glanced up, considering.

“Fault...a problem. Do you think it’s wrong? If you don’t want me here-“

“No! I-...” The smaller man raised an eyebrow and Garnen pinned the bridge of his nose in frustration, trying to rethink his words this time. “I mean...no. I...you can stay...until...you feel better, or...something.”

“I feel better...I wasn’t really sick, just...tired.” They sat in uneasy silence, each lost, debating, so much on the tip of each tongue, but neither knowing how to start. Finally, after mild debate and lack of things to say, Garnen spoke up.

“You want to go somewhere?”

“What?” Ashi looked up, surprised.

“I said-“

“I heard you...are you asking me on a date?”

The officer groaned and dropped his head in his hands, shaking it slowly. “I don’t think so...I’m just...” Ashi looked on the perfect edge of giggles and Garnen glared heatedly. “I’m bored, alright! Let’s just...what do you feel like?”

The rabbit shrugged. “I haven’t even said yes yet.” His smile looked bright, warm, but filled now with laughter and mischief. The other man grumbled.

“Well?”

“Well what?”

“Do you want to go somewhere?”

“With you?”

“Yes with me! Dammit, who’d you think you’d be going with?” Ashi smirked and shrugged, but kept silent. “You’re making this very difficult, Ashi.” The other man looked unfazed and took a bite of doughnut, smirk fully in place and Garnen watched his tongue circle, taking in every bit of crumb, sure not to miss a speck.

“What’ll you give me?”

“I have to pay you now?”

Ashi glanced up. “Doesn’t have to be money.”

Garnen frowned, frustrated. “Well what do you want? I can’t just-“

“How about a kiss?”

“A kiss.” His stared, disbelieving. Ashi nodded.

“I’ll go on a date with you-“

“It’s not a date.”

The rabbit shrugged, uncaring and continued as if not interrupted. “-if you promise, that at the end, you’ll give me a kiss. Kay?”


Note: There we go! Nice end, right? Anyway, I love reviews! Thank you so so so much to those that do! (Especially on a regular basis, but thank you too to those that decide to drop in every now and then, I appreciate them all!)

For those that don't know: Conejo-rabbit
¿Cuántos tu cuestas?- How much do you cost?
Sí, pero no mucho.-Yes, but not a lot.
Conteste la pregunta.-Answer the question.
Doscientos cada hora.-Two hundred per hour.
Tu hará, entra el coche.-You'll do, get in the car.
Ahora-Now
¡Arbol!-Tree.


Trickster Kitsune: I had a feeling Tray shouldn't be trusted... >_>... Friends don't just randomly jump you and molest you. (Unless you want them too, but that's a whole different story.) ^_^;

The last part of the chapter is very suspicious. Hm... I had a feeling there would be some issues with Ashi getting close to Garnen.

Please update soon!

I'm not doing any betaing at the moment since school is eating my brain (two 15 page papers due in less than a month! ;_;...).

I forgot to add this in a previous review, but thanks for reviewing "Snowfall"! And no, the two characters in it aren't Shen and Namazzi. They are just two nameless victims of my muse. ^_^

Aye. But Tray is special...I'm undecided on whether he's totally evil...or just misunderstood as of yet...*considers* Yes, yes. People in Ashi's world tend to have a thing against police...*chuckle* I suppose it's understandable.

Two fifteen pagers? Eeesh. Brutal. Good luck with that. Whatcha taking?

Yay! Not Shen and Namazzi...^_^ They just looked like them...phew. Poor little victims... Thanks for continuing to review!

FlamesEmbrace: I was gonna be lazy and leave without reviewing (again) but I figured, for a Thanksgiving present. :D I'm really starting to enjoy this story; the characters are very realistic and likeable, and the writing style is very good and constantly getting better. And it makes me feel special, 'cause I can understand the spanish tidbits. ^^() Please update soon!

Well thank you for choosing to review this time! It's so nice to get feedback. Inspiring. You know Spanish? There's some more in this chapter...quite a bit actually. If it's wrong please tell me! I'm not all that fluent. ^^' I think I got it right...

MoonlightChaser: I love it in so many ways, it's just lovely, please keep up the fantastic work. I loved the part in the shower, your humor is great very well kempt with each character. I also enjoy your ability to keep certain attributes of each character from slipping into another one. It's lovely work, as I can't stop saying.
Please, do keep posting and happy thanksgiving :)
Ariel Pryor

Thank you! The part in the shower just kind of came in...I didn't even think much about it...but it seems appreciated. ^^' I'm glad you like the characters...I have such fun clashing personalities if you couldn't tell. x_x ^_^ I hope you had a nice thanksgiving too! *currently enjoying leftovers for breakfast, lunch, and dinner* o__o ^^'

Falcon Bertille: Wonderful update! I liked the fact that Ashi's refusal to hide what he is inspired Lan to take out his contact lenses, It shows that even though Ashi is a whore, he still has strength, and can serve as a good example. And I was really excited to learn more about the "immortal ties" -- I'd been wondering about that for awhile, and you did a great job answering all my questions. What an interesting world you've created! Also, I loved the shower scene. Such vivid, sensual, details. Very erotic. But now it looks like poor, sweet Lan has turned traitor! Ack! You have me on the edge of my seat waiting for the next chapter.

Love,
Falcon

I answered all your questions? Yay! I've been fussing with myself over not having much information on that whole area. I know how it all works...but don't have it really explained well to my readers. I'm glad your questions got answered! If you're still confused...I'll try to get in some more explinations in the future. ^^'

Lan! Eeesh. Yes, well...I'm not actually sure yet. I'm glad the vote is devided...the traitor could be either Lan or Tray. (If you'll remember, Tray where's opal contacts, but hides dark gold behind them, so I'm trying to decide who to pin on this one...x_x). Next chapter here! I know you'll be gone, I hope you have a great time with your husband!

Jukebox: Ah the plot thickens - friends betraying the poor rabbit and an evil menace on the horizon. I wonder how long Shi has been whoring to have been with literally thousands of men when he's only 22ish?

Ah, I'm such a dork. I did the math... *takes breath* Alright, you'll learn more about this in the next chapter but...here it goes.

Ashi's twenty-two; he's been whoring since he was twelve. Ten years. (Oh my, does that number sound familiar? Anyway...) So yeah, ten years. If you figure he got a different man every night, then that's 3,650 men (365x10).

Obviously, I take into account he hasn't picked up every day since then...but, considering he does pick up quite a lot, and that some days he may even get more than one...I figure he's sure to get at least over two thousand...so, literally. Thousands of men. ^^'