Chapter Two

Zenarith shielded his eyes from the bright light as he stood on the wide steps outside the council building. Byakuya had remained inside to exchange some contact information with a few of the council members he planned on contacting later. Zenarith waited for him outside, nodding to a few council members as they departed for their in-city residences. This level of the city held many such residences for those who wanted a little more...real estate. The homes were large, with gardens on roof and ground, and a few of them were the elegant towering spires that filled Naunet Riva's cityscape.

Zenarith found that he always enjoyed looking at the city from here. The towering spires, and elegant arched walkways...the shining walls, vibrantly green gardens. It was a beautiful city to behold, and that was just the upper levels. There were the Residences, where the rich lived. This section held many residences for those who wanted a little more...real estate. The homes were large, with gardens on roof and ground, and a few of them were a part of the elegant towering spires that filled Naunet Riva's cityscape. Then there were the Towers, apartments that while beautiful, were often crowded, and the Lower City, where the markets and businesses were. Below the city itself, was the underwater terraces. There were three levels...Tier One held more businesses, the city Gardens, and the Aquarium. Tier Two was the most popular level with those who had augmented abilities. It was a quiet place, ideal because of its natural shielding because of the water surrounding it. And Tier Three was where the great hospital was located. It was set up that way for patient privacy, as well as safety for the rest of the City. In case of quarantine issues, Tier Three could be completely sealed off from the rest of the City. It had its own gardens for food growth, as well as its own separate transportation. It was practically it's own City.

Zenarith shook himself out of his thoughts and turned to look back at the Council Building, frowning slightly. It was unusual for Byakuya to take so long, even with getting contact information. Zenarith knew that most, if not all of the council members had already left, either by airship or by foot. His eyebrows furrowed, pale blue hair falling a bit into his face as a stray breeze swept by. It was a warm wind, unusual for this time of year. He sighed, and started back into the building, nodding to the guards in the entrance hall as he made his way inside once again. An odd prickle ran down his spine and he quickened his pace, opening the door to the Council Chamber. He paused in the doorway, pale blue eyes studying Byakuya's back.

The red-head was silent, pale, slender fingers brushing the thin, violet recording crystal once. The strange recording played again, gurgling wails and gasped words filling the now-empty room. Zenarith opened his mouth to speak, but fell silent again when Byakuya turned to face him, azure eyes filled with an un-readable emotion.

“It sounds...human,” he said softly. The other's eyebrows were drawn tightly into a frowning, confused expression. Zenarith leaned against the door frame, looking at the crystalline device again.

“In a way, I suppose,” he replied, studying the others face. “I was surprised when you asked to head the investigation.”

Byakuya let out a laugh. “Almost everyone was. You know more than anyone just how much I hate Them.”

Zenarith nodded slowly. 'Them' was Byakuya's word for the Bio-gens. The redhead rarely said the word 'Biogen' outside of Council matters. He had good reason to. The Bio-gens had destroyed nearly everything that meant anything to Byakuya. The trauma from those events left a deep, hate-filled scar on his soul...that hate fueled much of Byakuya's strength. Zenarith could only begin to imagine what this situation would do to him.

Byakuya turned back to the crystal, and re-wrapped it in velvet, slipping it into its case, exhaling slowly as he did so. He paused for a moment before picking up the case. “Zenarith...do you think...” he bit his lip, pausing, a frown on his face. “...Do you think that when humans are changed into Bio-gens...do they keep their humanity?”

Zenarith blinked. It was odd to hear such things from the other. “I don't know, to be honest,” he said, eyebrows furrowing. He studied Byakuya's drawn face, feeling a twinge of concern. He straightened and smiled widely at the redhead. “We'll find out though, I promise.” He grinned and continued. “Besides, I find it rather fascinating that the females can speak. Usually all you get to hear is 'uuuuughhhhghghgurugugurblahblah' from them.”

Byakuya covered his mouth to stifle a laugh, his shoulders lifting. Zenarith's grin widened. At least he was able to get the other out of his strange mood for the moment. That was most certainly a relief. Byakuya smiled softly at him, shaking his head. “Oh you,” he said, holding back another laugh. “You'll be the death of me.”

Another odd chill coursed down Zenarith's spine, but he ignored it, grinning and holding out a hand to the other. “Come on, let's go home, shall we?” he said softly. Byakuya nodded, taking hold of Zenarith's hand, his pale skin abnormally warm to the touch. Zenarith's smile grew and he lifted the hand to his lips, kissing it softly. “We've some planning to do,” he said, holding the hand near to his lips.

A rosy blush colored the redhead's pale cheeks, and his eyebrows raised slightly. “Oh? And what sort of planning do you mean?” he breathed softly. Zenarith chuckled and shook his head, his pale, silvery-blue hair falling into his face as he held back a laugh.

“Not the kind of planning I'm certain you're thinking of,” he retorted, winking at his lover, eyes twinkling mischievously. “That sort of thing is for later.”

The redhead's eyes glinted with an inner light, a smirk pulling at the corners of his lips. “Is that so?” He murmured, tilting his head to the side, the warm breeze rising again, sending Byakuya's hair fluttering around his head in a vibrant crimson halo.

Zenarith's breath caught in his chest. There were times when Byakuya looked so eerily beautiful...moments when his features seemed like living works of art. His cheeks colored slightly at that thought, memories of previous encounters fluttering through his mind. He shoved those thoughts aside for the moment. They had more important things to focus on. Matters to attend to. Yes. Very important things...perhaps dinner. On the upper terrace? He wondered just how to ask Byakuya to dinner. He shook his head again. He was rather certain that he must look like an idiot right now. How many people honestly had mental conversations with themselves over their thoughts? Probably quite a few, but Zenarith certainly felt alone in his mannerisms.
Byakuya shook his head, smiling widely. Zenarith grinned sheepishly and squeezed Byakuya's hand once before letting go. He started down the wide steps, Byakuya at his side. He heard a faint buzzing noise, hair raising on the back of his neck. His skin tightened, the tiny hairs on his arms rising. He glanced at Byakuya, who was rubbing his arms irritatedly. He glanced around, seeing a flash of light. “Duck!” he cried out, pushing Byakuya to the side and rolling out of the way just as a loud crackling pop sounded just where Byakuya had been standing, a black scorch mark smoking on the stone.

Byakuya pulled himself up, rubbing his arm where it had scraped along the stone, took one glance at the scorch mark and pulled himself up to his full height, flame wrapping around him , an angry, spiraling snake of fiery fury. He balled his hands, eyes darkened with anger, tendrils of flame swirling around his head along with his hair in a furious halo.

The air grew noticeably colder as Zenarith's eyes darted around, searching for the attacker. He held a hand up towards Byakuya. “Calm down,” he said, his voice soft as he touched the others hand. He needed Byakuya to stop his flames in order to protect him. Fire and ice didn't mix well in situations like this. He was about to say more when he heard that odd buzzing sound again. He spun, hands pulling moisture from the air around them, solidifying it, forming a thin, very hard sphere of ice around himself and Byakuya. He barely had it formed when there was that flash of light, accompanied by a crackling pop, and the ice shattered into miniscule pieces, snow floating through the air.

There was a steaming hiss, and tendrils of flame snapped through the air, darting along the same path the light had taken, devouring the snow, the heat turning it to rain droplets that steamed as they hit the ground.

There was a startled cry on a nearby rooftop, and Byakuya gave Zenarith a satisfied smirk that faded when there was a bright flash of light, the signature crackling pop, and then silence...ash from the rooftop floating through the air. A bit of ash landed on Byakuya's cheek, and he paled, wiping it off with his finger. “Zenarith...I didn't do that...” he said softly, eyes wide.

Zenarith's stomach churned. That last flash of light..had been brighter than the previous ones. “Self-destruct...” he whispered, eyes trained on the now-empty roof near them.