Doing it for Himself

Sparrow sat in the silence of the night time garden, listening to the distant rumbles of the hunting lions. He was happy here, and so was his brother. He was torn inside though. He was not equipped with a brace, like his brothers here. He smiled at that thought. They had accepted him and Blue both so easily, calling them brother from the moment they set foot inside the glorious mansion. But that was not what was on his mind at the moment. He rose, moving to the entrance to the hedge maze and walking in. He allowed himself to get lost in it as he got lost in his thoughts. He remembered where she lived, and that is what bothered him. He meant so little to that witch that she had not even deigned to give him a name, and yet his savior, without even knowing him, had shown him such great kindness within a few short minutes of finding him, blessing him with a name and a true home just as fast and easily. He wanted to go back, to see if she had found another like him to torment, to torture for her own pleasure, but if he went back without a way to defend himself, he might not leave again, to return to the one he had taken to calling his evening star within his own mind. As he realized he had reached the center, he knew what he had to do. He would not get a brace like the others, but he had another, even better way to do it, with his...special talents in mind.

MusiKai gaped a little at the clone.

"Wow Sparrow, you took to the sword and dagger play better than I thought you would." They had been working late at night, while the living slept, taking advantage of the long night hours. "I think I've taught you all I can."

SparrowKai almost beamed with pride and accomplishment. He had done what he had wanted, he had learned everything that he could, and was no longer as defenseless as when he had first been found. He bowed to MusiKai and went inside to his room. He dug through his new clothes, selecting a pair of skin tight black leather pants, and a tight sheer black muscle shirt. To this outfit he added a pair of black suede boots, a single silver chain necklace, and he put his hair in a single ponytail cascading down his back. Just as he prepared to put his suede jacket on, he heard a knock on his door.

Arania smiled as she waited in the hall, knocking again. She knew he was in there, Mus had told her, she wanted to see how he was settling in here at Haven. She watched the door open and looked over what the stunningly handsome Kai was wearing, her eyes drinking in the image in black. She saw his hair pulled back, a small strand hanging over one of his eyes, before her eyes moved lower. She took in the shirt he wore, his white skin showing through the sheer material, his nipples showing. Her eyes landed on the bulge in the skin tight pants and her jaw dropped. Her eyes rolled back in her head and, before his stunned eyes, THUD!! She hit the floor, the sound echoing in the hallway.

He blinked, looking at the form on the floor before him. He didn't have much experience with women, she was the only one he had any semblance of a relationship with, so he had no idea what to do with the flower that lay before him. Then he remembered seeing Cupid with a thudded Ketana before, and tried to do the same his brother did. He gently picked her up, carrying her into the bedroom and laying her on the soft sheets. He could not resist the chance and tenderly kissed her, before gently brushing the hair away from her face and whispering her name. Her eyes fluttered, slowly opening, she shivered at the closeness of the man before her, and he stood, not wanting to make her any more nervous. He gulped, and went to get her a drink of water.

She sat up to drink it, forcing herself calm again. She smiled gently, reassuring him she was okay. He swallowed hard, fighting the urge to take her in his arms again. She had someone. When she asked where he was going, he almost didn't hear her. He blinked a couple times and she asked again, and he told her his plan.

She smiled a little, darkly, and his eyes widened at the look on her face. It scared him, he had seen the same look on HER face. She saw his reaction and quickly went to him.

"Sparrow, I'm sorry. I should not react like that. I hate that woman without knowing her, for what she did to you and to Blue. If you will allow it, I would like to go with you to ensure this."

He smiled, that look was not the same he realized. He nodded, and started to go over the details with her. After that, she rushed to change, and when she returned, it was his turn to hit the floor.

She laughed a little, MusiKai's reaction had been the same as she had left the bedroom. She stood in the hallway, dressed in a black leather miniskirt, the bottom of the skirt just barely covering her. For the top she wore a tiny black bikini with a fishnet off the shoulder shirt over it, they both left her flat smooth stomach exposed. On her neck she wore a matching black leather collar, silver spikes going all the way around her neck. Her long blue hair was worn up in a ponytail. Her lips were made up in blood red lipstick, on her eyes she wore glittery purple eye shadow. Her boots were calf high, black leather 6 inch stiletto heels, under which she wore fishnet stockings.

After a few moments he woke, and stood shakily, her hand on his arm, helping him steady himself.

"I hope you like, since if your plan is to work, I need to look the part."

He nodded eagerly, agreeing that she looked absolutely perfect, and they headed down to the garage. She had convinced Angel to let her borrow the little red Ferrari, and they got into it, close in the cramped space of the car. He gave her directions as she drove, and finally they pulled up in front of a seedy shop that bore a sign. The sign was decorated in whips, chains, and other bondage items. The shop's name was in neon red, reading "The Kai Punishment Store".

She saw his eyes glaze over as he looked in the shop. Arania reassuringly squeezed his shoulder, whispering to him.

"Remember, we're here to make sure she doesn't do it again. You will never have to come back again, I promise you."

He nodded, hearing her words, and allowing them to sink into his heart as true. He climbed out of his seat and went around to her side, opening the door, and kneeling by the car. She didn't like this, but they must make it look real, so he had to act like he was owned, and properly trained. She climbed out, adjusting her outfit, walking snobbishly in front of him, he hung his head and followed. Her heart reached out to him, knowing that he must be hurting terribly to do this. She waited for him to open the door, and walked in, looking around, hiding her shock at the cruelty of the items she saw.

Hanging on the back wall of the shop was a man, his arms and legs spread eagle, chained to the wall. Across his font were criss crossed whip marks, red and raw. His head hung down, and from the hair alone, both Arania and Sparrow could tell he was a Kai.

Arania barely was able to contain her fury. She looked at the implements of torture and banged on the counter.

"SERVICE!! I WANT SERVICE NOW!!!" Her eyes glowed in the dimly lit store, something that she could not control. A very weak and ragged looking man darted out the door from a back room and out of the store at the sound of her loud voice. A woman came out from the back room, wearing a black kimono decorated in silver thread, shaped as spikes and chains. She felt Sparrow press into her back, and it didn't take her but a second to figure out this was the woman who had hurt him.

"May I help you madam?" The tall blonde woman looked down her nose at Arania, then over at Sparrow, her nose wrinkling at him. She returned her gaze to the obvious owner.

"Yeah, is that Kai there yours?" Arania stood her full height in her anger, back stiff and straight. She briefly turned to Sparrow. She whispered something into his ear and he moved to the door of the store. The woman nodded, her attention on Arania, having dismissed the Kai as beneath her, and thus undeserving of any attention.

"Yes ma'am. He makes quite a good display don't you agree?" She laughed cruelly, and reached up, dragging claw like nails down his legs. "I give him just enough of that protoblood to keep him alive."

Arania heard a soft click from behind her, and rose into the air to the shock of the other woman. Her eyes started to glow brightly, illuminating the room as it crackled with power. Sparks flew from her fingertips blowing up lightbulbs left and right. Sparrow gaped in amazement at the sight before him, and watched as this cruelty would be stopped once and for all.

Arania glared down at the woman before her. She looked back up at the floating woman and laughed.

"Oh puh-leeze" The blonde rolled her eyes. "A special effects stunt like this is not going to intimidate me. You're not the first who has tried to shut my shop down. I am not going anywhere."

Arania laughed, her voice echoing and crackling with the power at her fingertips. She pointed a finger at each of the chains binding the Kai to the wall and launched a single bolt at them. They melted around his arms and legs and he dropped to the floor. The blonde quaked in fear, this was no special effects show. Arania moved and hovered over the cowering woman, while Sparrow went to use the phone under the counter.

"You are lucky he does not wish you dead woman." Arania glowered, part of her disappointed she could not hurt her. "But you will not ever hurt another Kai again. If I find out you do, I will return, and I will kill you, whether anyone wishes it or not."

As she settled on the floor, she heard the sounds of sirens, and quickly moved to chain the woman up to await the police. Sparrow carried the injured Kai out of the store to the car, and Arania quickly followed. They finally went home.

Arania filled the new Kai with protoblood while Sparrow went to get all of the others, telling them of what happened. He glowed as he healed finally, sitting up in the chair, clutching the blanket to his chest, realizing he was no longer a prisoner or a slave as Arania explained where he was.

He looked around at the others as they entered, and the gathering before him assured him he was safe and welcome here. He smiled and nodded.

"But I need a new name. I can not live as the name she gave me. Do any of you have a suggestion?"

A few days later, at dinner.

The newest addition to the family stands at the head of the table, very very gently tapping the champagne glass in his hand.

"I have an announcement to make. I have chosen my name."

As the humming and whispers die down, his head lowers, unused to such attention.

"From this night forth I wish to be known as RedemptionKai, for that is what I have been given thanks to the kindness of all of you here in Haven"