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Lovers Sonata

Chapter 2

~ The Strings That Strum Us~

"You little Fungus, that's for yesterday. Remember one thing. You work for us and not the other way around. That little bitch Ami saved your ass and even went as far out of her way as to beg and grovel for your life. So do yourself a favour and keep your mouth shut, or next time you'll be fed to some starved Swinubs the boss uses to dispose of bodies."

Dimitri was stunned at the violence that this Zubat possessed, and he felt some shame within himself knowing he didn't want to cause any trouble for Ami. He felt disgusted with himself being a Breloom and being unable to fight like one, it was a huge down factor. He kept his composure and repressed himself, and if he did retaliate he probably wouldn't have won anyhow.

"If you don't want trouble then stay out of our way. What we talk about is none of your business. It doesn't concern you. If you step out of your line again I swear, neither you, nor Ami, will stop me from killing you." Marcel looked down at Dimitri as he waved his finger.

Marcel spat on Dimitri before walking away. Dimitri staggered up knowing he should just finish the task and stay quiet, but could he really do this? Was it really in him to stay shut up whilst shitheads like Marcel and Jason said whatever they wanted and acted like such imperious assholes? Even though these guys were bastards he knew they weren't criminals. Killing them would just land him in jail.

For a moment a thought strayed from his former occupation, how he wished them to be on the blacklist with four digits hanging over their heads. No mercy for the enemy, no remorse for the dying, if they were wanted, just put a bullet to their heads. That was their way and what had once been his way as well.

Dimitri's chin throbbed and he thought he could use an ice pack right about now. He attached the final cable, finishing the task he was doing before he was interrupted. He rose up to his feet, he felt sadness and disappointment why this was happening, but this was no reason to quit just because he had been punched twice already, he had seen worse days. He turned around and stopped immediately, almost running into Ami. Dimitri gave a small start and he was startled for a moment, she had popped up from nowhere or maybe he had just been too distracted to notice she was walking this way.

"Ami? You scared me there. Haha, I didn't expect to see you here before the show."

There was a little laugh that blossomed from her mouth.

"Hehe, I sometimes come out to stage before a show. It just helps me get a feel of things, familiarise myself so I don't feel so alienated. It's just so I can feel a little more acquainted with the stage." She let her gaze wonder and explore, her eyes examining every detail and even the floor boards on which she stood.

Dimitri knew he should thank her, her boss seemed a psycho and he was indebted to her for saving his life. He wasn't sure who this secret boss was but his boss was Davis, a human. Davis was way too kind and by no means malicious or otherwise, but it seemed something was way off and there was another hand at work here. Wasn't Davis the owner of Records? Maybe it was time to meet up with Davis, he would be attending tonight and possibly clear up a few questions, and a formal complaint against Marcel and Jason might help keep them in check.

"Ouch, what happened to your face?" Ami stared at the swollen chin with worry.

"I had a slight trip, but it's okay now. It doesn't hurt at all." Dimitri replied, wanting to let it slide, but Ami prodded Dimitri with her finger to challenge his statement, and he whipped his head away with a small yelp.

"Now that doesn't sound like it doesn't hurt at all, does it?" She seemed almost playful with her actions. "There's some ice in the back and a med kit. It looks a little grazed, but let's take care of it shall we?"

Ami reached out, taking him by the hand, Dimi felt a little embarrassed but didn't object. He had to admit he was still surprised this was a famous rock artist. She was so different that he couldn't begin to explain the way she was. There was much more a gentle friend and it seemed the limelight hadn't taken a toll on her personality. Everything felt special about her, and he couldn't tell what it was, but her actions as she led him hand in hand were sincere. Though there was no romantic involvement, he felt it was close.

"I just read that ... that's really sweet but I'm not inclined that way. I'm just helping you sort your face out." Ami glanced over. He knew that there was still something off, sometimes she read his mind with the clarity of day light and other times she was unable to pick up on his thoughts at all. Was this stress of exposure? Or maybe it was this mysterious boss?

1855hrs, 12 February 2010, Friday

The Breloom sat on a mahogany stool as Ami tended to him. The room to which she had led him was calming with a dim lighting and carried a cosy feeling that felt rather snug. He glanced around, seeing various clothing on the racks, Ami's clothes to be exact. He realised this was her private changing room.

"Hey, aren't you going to get ready for your performance tonight?"

She seemed to have already gotten her makeup sorted, but have yet to select the outfit she would wear. The coldest sensation came to rest on his chin as she instructed him. "Okay, just hold it there a moment. Don't worry, I only need a dress, but my boss wants me to wear one of these three. I feel a little uncomfortable but I should be fine after a couple of songs."

Dimitri held the tea cloth wrapping the ice to his chin. He didn't understand why she didn't wear what she wanted.

"As per your thought, the boss decides what I wear. And I just read what happened earlier. I'm glad you were thinking of me when you chose not to retaliate. I don't think I could have saved your life a second time. You should stay clear of Marcel and Jason."

It seemed she knew what had happened earlier after all. He was happy he had made the right choice, but why was she being so kind to him? She hardly knew him.

"Haha, I don't know. I guess it's just the right thing to do. Wouldn't you help another?"

Dimitri had his thoughts answered, and yes, he believed he would have done the same. Do unto others what you want others to do unto you. It was a good rule to follow but one last thing bugged him, she had saved his life? But what had happened?

"Ami, I'm sincerely sorry to have caused you so much trouble. What happened last night when you went to the boss, is Davis that bad?"

Ami stared at Dimitri with a look of dilemma on her face. Maybe it was in the interest of his safety. If he understood the possible danger he might place himself in, he would be more cautious around here. She decided to take the plunge.

"Davis isn't the sole owner of Record. He's just a figurehead. The one who pulls his strings as well as mine is another pokemon. His name is Durai, well built and stocky. He's a Rhyperior. And he's actually got a huge bounty." Ami took a deep breath. The Breloom was listening with pure interest. "He's extremely dangerous, and not even his own men are safe. If they fail a task he wouldn't think twice about killing them. The Records is just a cover up so he can draw income and lay low while he dispatches enemies from the shadows."

She stopped again to evaluate Dimitri's thoughts, and sensed there was no fear but only concern for her safety. Ami let a gentle smile grace her lips to assure him that she would be alright.

"Don't worry about me. I'm in no danger as long as I do what I have to. Most of the money he's making comes from me, and he's not going to kill me. Davis didn't have enough money to fund Records, so Durai approached him with a proposition and promised to back him with large sums of money acquired through drug trafficking and money laundering. He also promised Davis a new rock sensation that will elevate Records, provided Davis sold him 60% of the business. Davis was resistant at first but soon found he wasn't in any position to negotiate. A no meant a bullet to the head."

"When I was sixteen my father borrowed money from Durai. I saw him for the first time when he came to my father's shop. He told my father it was time to pay up. My father had the money to pay him, but there was something off. My father could sign his name but that's all he could do, he couldn't read and my grandmother never taught him." A tear slid down her face as she spoke, Dimitri knew something bad had happened.

"The bastard had written into the original contract the interest of 300%, not the 3% he had initially agreed. There was no way my father could pay such a large sum. Durai insisted that he should have read the contract before signing, knowing my father couldn't read. Originally he got his men to read only the terms to my father, ignoring the interest entirely."

Dimitri slowly swirled his tail around, raising it to her face to gently wipe her tears, as she stood there recounting her traumatic past. He still wasn't certain why she was choosing to disclose such sensitive history to him, but letting her finish would ease her pain a little, and he wanted to know now.

"Durai then told my father he would kill me and that would settle the score. My father was stunned and began begging for my life. I screamed. That was when Durai changed his mind. He said he wanted me. It was simple as he put it, give me the girl or I will kill her. The Rhyperior laughed at my father and said he would even pay him a little. I was sold, and that was five years ago."

It was horrible how anyone could be treated as an object and even sold. He had no idea she was living a nightmare, not the stardom he had imagined, and was more worried about her than ever. Dimitri felt he wanted to take her away from this pain and suffering, he wanted her to be free and not a thing for this asshole.

"Did he ever?" Dimitri asked cautiously, not wanting to pry, but almost needing to know if he had ever done anything inappropriate to her. Ami's heart was pacing fast, this was a hard question to answer but she would, after all she had already told him everything else.

"Yes. The night he bought me. At first it hurt, but when he didn't stop I began getting use to it, and it stopped bothering me over time. Later he made me sleep with others, and tonight I'm supposed to be the plaything for the governor of Goldenrod city. Durai gets a lot of authorities off his hands if I sleep with the governor."

Dimitri felt sickened how anyone could use anyone else like this, how this Durai could just prostitute her. He was glad she opened up to him though, she looked like she needed a shoulder to cry on. Maybe the poor thing just had no one to share her burden with for so long and it just came out.

Ami drew her arms around Dimitri as her tears flowed freely.

"I'm sorry, I only wished to prevent you from doing something stupid and I ended up telling you this much. I bet you think I'm a whore now." She was too grieved by her own words to be able to read what Dimitri was thinking.

"I don't think you're a whore. Why don't you just run away?" He asked.

"I can't, I have to do this. I don't care if he kills me, but what if he kills my father?"

Dimitri couldn't reply. He had no other ideas, but he wanted to be here for her, to share her burden if she had no other. He stroked his tail up and down her back to comfort and sooth her the best he could.

1921hrs, 12 February 2010, Friday

There was a knock on the door as Ami pushed herself away, rubbing the tears from her face. The makeup crew had arrived to touch up her makeup, which was now a mess of black smudges on her face. Dimitri felt he was finally getting closer to her, and he wanted to become the friend that she needed.

"I guess I better get going, you'll need to get ready. Good luck with your performance." Dimitri said with a loving smile in a small attempt to uplift her mood.

"Thanks for listening, Dimi. Please, just don't get yourself hurt anymore"

After the heartbreaking chat with Ami, he knew there was no point in meeting up with Davis, there was probably nothing he could do. The poor sap was just as much a victim in this whole affair.

2005hrs, 12 February 2010, Friday

Waves of applause streaked across the red leathered chairs and balconies as the beauty of the limelight adjusted the mike to her chest height. So many people had been anticipating this concert, to hear her sing to the softer acoustics and other instrumentals in their original forms.

Ami let her hand glide along the neck of her guitar, descending into the minor chords as the sound of her music filled the hall of the old opera house. There was clapping to welcome her first song, and the cello soon joined, followed by the taps of the percussion instruments.

The crowd watched as she sat in her black silks with her hair tied in a small coil and half falling down the side of her face, her cheeks rosy and her eyes finished with eyeshade. She looked more elegant than she had the previous night, but there was something in her contrast of appearances that made her further enchanting, and even though she wasn't as revealing tonight, it didn't detract her appeal. In her long evening dress she looked wonderful.

She wore her smile to greet the audience but her eyes couldn't hide the emotional strife in which she was writhing. Her only escape seemed through her songs. The power of her vocals reached out to the adoring fans who were gathered tonight and even those at home, letting the riffs of her new songs fill the atmosphere.

"Thank you guys who came out tonight. This is a special song for you. It's new so you wouldn't have heard it before. It's called Gates to the Afterlife, and will be out on my new album that will be released next month. I hope you like it."

"It's a nice night to rise again

Where the air is chilled it bites

And the blood moon sits on a starlit raven sky

Slumped in spread clouds of azure and crimson light

So I choose to breath today the rotting and decay

On the voice of sorrow he hymns that call

It's the call of the dead and for me to awake

One last look and then impossible to evade

This is my lush graveyard

I ponder the world from here

Come and lie in my earth

I'll wait to cherish your embrace

This is my lush graveyard

This is my scarlet meadow

Forever binds me to the afterlife

One day to eternity and rest in peace

And it's a morgue of dead symphonies

The music plays no more to sooth

In the silent intermissions tears fall

Into the void of misconceiving we all go"

Once again enchantment overtook Dimitri. Her vocals echoed such diversity, it was an amazing display how a pokemon could captivate so many people. How he had managed to forgo such talent was through his own lack of appreciation in rock and metal, but he felt he had rectified that. Rock could be as beautiful as any other piece of well written music.

Dimitri stood to the corner of the stage, closing his eyes to let her voice echo to him. Once more it cast that magical pleasure that he had experienced the other night. Her song ended with a soft note, and the audience erupted into applause, as if any person whom her voice touched had miraculously converted into followers. Ami wasn't just a pretty face, she seemed to have it all on stage.

He just watched from the shadows. Maybe he wanted more for Ami, a better life. He knew the secret that none of her fans knew, the dark secret she had shared with him. He still didn't understand why she did choose to speak about such a thing, but it must have meant she had trust in him. Gardevoirs had good intuition and perception that went beyond the shell we all wore.

The night flowed without the slightest glitch, however Dimitri was deeply troubled for what she would be forced to do after the concert. He wished there was something he could do, but from where he stood he wasn't sure how he could do anything without putting her father in danger.

2217hrs, 12 February 2010, Friday

Every song brought applause and cries for encores, but the time came as she stood up, sliding her guitar to the side, and bowed to the crowd. It was a wonderful sight as flowers were thrown onto the stage.

Dimitri waited for her to appear backstage to congratulate her, but soon enough crew members were greeting and swarming about her. He paced down the dark corridor with small clacks of his heels on the marble floor. He wanted to wait till everyone was gone before he dismantled and unhooked the equipment. It was too noisy for him with so many backstage fans. Mostly this was down to being worried about Ami tonight.

He ended up walking around the corridors while he drifted, finally coming across a vacant chair in a quiet part of the opera house. There wasn't much to do but wait till he could start taking things apart. He sat down on one of the cushioned chairs that ran in a row down this particular corridor, his head hung low staring at the floor and lost in thoughts.

2234hrs, 12 February 2010, Friday

He felt a hand take hold of his shoulder and Dimitri's head cocked back, seeing Ami there. He wasn't sure how she had gotten there or how she had known he was here. He couldn't come up with anything to say, and he was glad she spoke first.

"Hey short stuff, no congrats?" She asked with that same smile she had gotten so used to hiding her emotions with.

"Hehe, I was going to but I just figured it probably would be the same as everyone else. But how did you find me?"

"I was expecting you to greet me more than anyone else to be honest. And it wasn't hard to find you, you were still in my radius, so I just filtered out your thoughts and followed them here."

"I feel so useless. Even though I know what's going to happen tonight I can't even do anything about it."

"You worry about me like you've known for me a long time, and I've never come across anyone else like you before. It's almost strange."

"How can you be so relaxed, when you know what's going to happen tonight? I would have done anything to prevent it, then you wouldn't have to go through this."

"Well, it's me not you, and you shouldn't worry about me getting hurt. I know you care about me, but you'll get used to it like I have. I don't like it and it makes me feel dirty, but there's nothing you or I can do to change it."

Ami leaned down to the Breloom and placed her lips to his, it came so abruptly that no one could have expected it, but she was actually kissing him.

His eyes closed, feeling like waves washing over him, a rush that made him feel light-headed, and if he hadn't already been sitting he would have fallen over. The tenderness of her lips pressed over his, and his heart began to beat so fast it was skipping beats. His excitement was rocketing with her tongue sliding between his lips.

Ami withdrew her lips, leaving Dimitri stunned and speechless, he could hardly comprehend what had happened. It wasn't just something he had imagined, she had really kissed him.

"That was the first time I've sensed such emotions coming from anyone I've kissed. You really are one of a kind, Dimi." Ami giggled, then resumed a serious tone. "I know you're scared for me, but just remember I'll be fine. And don't do anything stupid or reckless."

Dimi hung his head from her gaze, again unable to look at her. He felt completely hopeless as a Breloom. Her hand stroked along his chin, tilting his head to look at her.

"Would you mind accompanying me tomorrow? I'll be outside the hotel in the black limo, I'll roll the window down when I see you, and we can chat all the way to Violet City."

"That would be great." He didn't want her to go, but he knew she had to.

"So it's a date, see you tomorrow at 9!" Ami said with a cheery tone.

2357hrs, 12 February 2010, Friday

It had been a fairly easy day for him. Taking equipment apart was far easier then putting it together and he had finished in no time flat. He couldn't wait to kick his feet back and hit the sack. At least the hotel was fairly close, only two blocks away and he was already at the door. Dimitri flung back the door to the apartment that was strangely unlocked.

Something was off, because he could clearly remember himself locking the door when he left earlier today. Had Marcel or Jason come to do him over? It wouldn't surprise him if they had. Dimitri reached down to the clasps of his tool kit and took out a large wrench. It wasn't a good weapon but it was the only thing he had. Dimitri listened for the slightest sounds, and there were gulping sounds. He reached out to his left while raising his wrench to take out this intruder, and he darted forward, to almost instantly stop right there in his tracks.

"Glacie? What the hell are you doing here?" asked Dimitri in confusion, the wrench dropping from his claws as he stared at the female Blaziken curled up very comfortably on the sofa.

"Hey Dimi, just thought I could stop by to see an old friend. If you still think of me as a friend." She was in an unusually tight suit zipped all the way up to her neck, almost like a cat suit, and it wasn't like her.

"I see you're all comfortable and helping yourself to my last bottle of Whisky, so I might as well be hospitable."

"You ever thought about joining us again? I mean the new Leafeon's good. And cute too, heh heh. But we could always do with more help. You're drawing the short straw if you're planning on being a technician for the rest of your life."

"So that's the reason you're here? Anyway the technician thing is just your opinion, and I wasn't made for a thug's life."

"Come on you constant downer, it's not like we're doing bad things. And you seem unusually down today, so what's the deal?"

"Women problems." Dimitri replied with a slow sigh.

"So why don't you tell me and I might be able to help you out? After all, I am a woman."

"Woman, you're more like a gossip monster."

"Yeah real funny, don't go changing the subject you started. And leave the rebutting to the pros."

"Alright fine. I've known this Gardevoir for a couple of days and I think I'm in love."

"It's not love. You're only in love with the idea that you're in love, but if that's what you want, go ahead." Glacie said, almost uncaringly.

"What do you mean it's not love? Are you telling me that's not what I'm feeling?"

"It's something you probably won't understand. Being in love with someone is different. How well do you know this person anyway? Her favourite colour? Her favourite food? What are her hobbies? Do you know anything which you may have in common?"

Dimitri looked down, realizing his love was somewhat of a fantasy. Those simple questions had stumped him.

"You may be right, but you don't have to stab me with it."

"It's just the truth, but there's the problem. How can you get so close with her if you don't even know her? Which proves my point. And one more thing. In a Gardevoir's eyes everyone's a bastard, but who's less of a bastard will decide who's her friend."

"So she thinks I'm a bastard? Haha." Dimitri replied with some surprise and amusement.

"We're all bastards, some just less then others."

What Glacie had said made a lot of sense, and he had to know more about Ami if he even hoped to become her friend.

"By the way, what's her name?"

"Amirtha."

Glacie's eyes widened, a frown developed between her eyebrows.

"I'm going to let you in on something. Don't get mixed up with her. She's already belongs to someone else, owned, if you will. So just forget about her."

"I can't leave her. Besides, I'm already too mixed up in this mess to turn away."

"As long as you don't get in the way. Hanzael's my job. He's the guy who holds more shares in the label you work for than anyone else. And remind me if you've gotten any better in physical combat."

"I thought Durai was the silent partner."

"Yes and no. Hanzael was too hot on the list so he changed his alias. There are people who're hunting Hanzael and Durai at the same time but not knowing they're actually the same guy. Pretty stupid if you ask me, but he's probably going to change his name again now that his current alias's also high on the list."

Dimitri resented this kingpin, he knew illegal slavery still happened but had never come across any cases himself. Maybe it was pure stupidity that crossed his mind, but he wanted to save Ami. Dimitri fell into deep thoughts, pondering how to take him down. Even if he was a haphazard romantic with no chance in hell, he could at least try to save her.

"Dimitri?" Glacie said, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"What?"

"I know that look. It's that same look you had on your face three years ago when you went out to play hero, and came back with a communited radial fracture, a distal radial fracture, an intertrochanteric fracture, a femoral fracture, two dislocations, eleven broken ribs and five skull fractures." Glacie stated as if it was nothing.

Dimitri remembered too well, the screws and splints he had to insert into his bones and the three-month rehabilitation after that incident, but it was different this time. He wasn't the same stupid and naive Breloom he was back then.

"Glacie, I have a request." There was a flame in Dimitri's eyes that burned to make a difference. "Leave this to me ... please?"

Glacie sighed, then nodded. "Not that I care. Just try not to end up losing an arm or something like that this time. I'll be there to finish my job in another two days, so you'll have till about midnight. I assume you're coming back?"

"Take the money for all I care, I'm not going back. I want to do this ... I need to."

"She must really mean something to you for you to go so far just for her. But I hope you know what you're doing, Dimi."

As Glacie departed with the whiskey bottle in her claws she looked over her shoulder for a last time, as if she knew he wouldn't be coming back.

"Good luck, Cruz Necro. And don't forget your guns."

End Message - I hope you enjoy this chapter, and its worth the wait ^_^ please remember to leave comments and feedback if you have enjoyed it, or even if you haven't. The next chapter will be up in a few days. Thank you for the time you've taken out to read this. I've also decided against overhauling this old story as newer fiction waits to be written.