Gankutsuou Fan Fiction ❯ Gankutsuou Reborn ❯ Return To Paris ( Chapter 12 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
GANKUTSUOU REBORN
© October __, 2005 By Rory V. Pascual


CHAPTER TWELVE: Return To Paris

"Paris! Paris! PARIS!"

Albert watched in undisguised amusement as an exuberant Etienne raced down the portable stairs, the small suitcase containing his meager belongings swinging wildly in his right hand. To his pleasant surprise, the singer had caught the attention of everyone in the spaceport. With smiles on their faces, it was all too obvious that they were wondering who this charming young man in their midst was.

A hard shove sent Albert stumbling the rest of the way down the stairs. Whirling, he saw Eugenie and Haydee giggling at the top.

"What's the big idea?" he shouted at them, waving an angry fist. "I could've broken my neck!"

With her arms akimbo, Eugenie berated him, "You're such a slow poke, Albert! If you don't hurry up, you're going to lose him!"

"And who are you to order me around, woman?" Albert snarled back.

Haydee straightened up, her brows rising in intimidating. "Should I make it a royal command then, Monsieur Ambassador?"

Infuriated by the fact that he was ganged upon by two females, Albert raced after the singer, yelling, "Hey, Etienne! Wait up, will you?" the laughter of Haydee and Eugenie ringing in his ears.

Albert found Etienne squatting before a toy seller, grinning in glee at the wind-up yellow ducklings swimming in a basin.

"Look, Albert!" Etienne laughed as he let one toy nibble on his finger with its beak. "Aren't they cute? So many fascinating things to see in Paris!"

"Etienne…" The young envoy rolled his eyes upwards. "This is just the rocket port."

The singer pointed to the gigantic sign hanging above their heads. "What does that say?"

"Paris Intergalactic Airport. But…"

"So this rocket port is still a part of Paris." Etienne gave his lover a disapproving scowl. "Don't dampen my good mood, Albert."

"What I meant was there are more exciting things to see in the city itself, certainly more astounding than toy ducklings."

"Hmmph!" the singer snorted haughtily, his nose lifted in the air. To Albert's chagrin, Etienne pulled out a silver coin from his pocket and bought one toy. Stowing it carefully inside his suitcase together with his book and the pocket watch, he murmured beaming, "My previous keepsake from Paris!"

That comment brought a smile to Albert's lips. His gentle Nightingale was free now. It was not surprising that he would find joy in the littlest things.

At that moment, Baptistin ran over to them, very excited. "You know, I was wondering why the rocket port seems crowded today. They're having a fashion shoot at one of the launch pads. Want to come watch, Etienne?"

"I don't know." Etienne pouted angrily in his lover's direction. "He said there's nothing interesting to see in a rocket port."

"Well, not usually, but it's not everyday you get to watch a live fashion pictorial." Baptistin grabbed the singer's hand and started pulling him along before he could argue. "Come on! Let's go!"

With a shake of his head, Albert followed close behind him. Arriving at the location, Albert was surprised to see the Pharaon docked there. The Count's former starship, it was given as a gift to the son of its original owner. Willowy thin models posed and preened before the starship while the photographers barked out orders and took their pictures.

Then, from among the ogling crew of the Pharaon, Captain Maximilien Morrel stepped forward and ran over to his young friend.

"Albert, is that you?" Maximilien shook his hand warmly. "Fancy meeting you here. Aren't you supposed to be in Luna?"

Albert gave the former military man a tight hug. "I was, but Ambassador DeQuervain gave me a vacation. What's going on?"

"The editor of a fashion magazine contacted me three days ago, asking if he could use the Pharaon as a stylish backdrop for a fashion spread they were doing. It's money. I couldn't say no. Besides, the added publicity will do well for business." Maximilien gazed lovingly at the starship. "The Count took great care of her. I'm glad."

"True," Albert agreed with him. "The Count once admitted to me that he took great pride in piloting such an enormous ship. He was really in love with her."

Maximilien saw the flash of sorrow on his friend's face. "I'm sorry, Albert. I didn't mean to bring up the past."

"No harm done. What can memories do after all?" Still, wanting to change the subject, Albert inquired, "Where's Valentine, by the way? How is she?"

A timid voice answered behind him, "I'm quite well, my dear Albert. It's so nice to see you again."

"Valentine!" Albert was pleased to see Franz's former fiancée as beautiful as ever. His face brightened even more at the sight of the two red-haired twins tagging along behind her. "Are these your children?"

Maximilien beamed like the proud father that he was. Urging the twins forward, he waved to the little girl first. "This is Clementine." Gesturing to the boy, he introduced, "And this is Jacques. Children, this is your Uncle Albert. I thought I'd bring them along to watch the photo shoot."

Jacques' lower lip jutted out in a sullen pout. "I thought this would be better than those opera shows Mama and Papa take us to."

"All we've seen are snooty women as thin as toothpicks posing before noisy photographers," Clementine gave her own assessment. "Boring as hell!"

"CHILDREN!" Valentine was truly shocked. "Oh, please forgive them, Albert! They can be such heathens sometimes. They're always playing with the members of Maximilien's crew. I'm afraid their roughneck ways are having a bad influence on them."

"I don't think it's that bad," Albert countered. "At least, they're exposed to different types of people. They should be free to explore the world."

Valentine nodded in agreement. "Back then, we were imprisoned by our nobility." She gave her family a fond smile. "But we thankfully escaped from that trap so we could pursue our own happiness. If it weren't for Franz, God bless his soul, I wouldn't be with Maximilien right now, and I wouldn't have had these two wonderful children. And I must not forget…the Count…"

"The Count? But why?"

Maximilien urged his pretty wife, "Go on, Valentine. Tell Albert everything that you told me."

"The Count went to the mansion the evening before Maximilien, Franz and Renaud came to get me. Father was not at home at that time," Valentine began. "He gave me an antidote for the poison. I was still very weak then and all I could do was look at his face. I could never forget those glowing marks on his forehead."

Albert started at the mention of those facial marks. Gankutsuou!

Valentine continued, "Strangely enough, I did not feel any fear. There was such kindness in those eyes, and I knew that he had saved me. When he spoke, it seemed as if there were two voices coming out of his mouth .He told me that it would take days before I could recover my strength. What I could not forget were the last words he said to me."

"What, Valentine?" Albert asked breathlessly. "What did the Count tell you?"

The young woman closed her eyes as she remembered that one moment that the enigmatic nobleman had actually spoken to her. "His cold hand was soothing on my fevered brow as he said, 'Forgive us for not coming to you sooner. We were only told about your condition this morning, hours after Albert had come to the villa. He was so concerned for your well being that the poor boy ran through heavy rain just to seek our help. If there is anyone that you should thank, it is not we but Albert. There isn't any boon that we will deny Albert."

Us…our…we… Words indicative of plurality. A clear hint of the two personalities existing within the Count of Monte Cristo – Edmond Dantes and the demon Gankutsuou. But what could those words he had spoken to Valentine mean?

It was Maximilien who answered his silent query. "I concur with Valentine on this. Both of us firmly believe that the Count, and that includes the being inside him, may not be evil."

Albert was about to say something when he found himself entangled by eager limbs that made movement difficult. He grimaced in disgust as his face was smothered by perfumed kisses.

"I knew my eyes were not fooling me! Oh, Albert! Seven years may have passed, but you are still sooooo handsome!"

Albert's eyes flew wide as the person holding him lowered large dark sunglasses to reveal a mischievous, pretty face he had not seen in years. "PEPPO!"

"One and the same!" Peppo exclaimed, sticking his tongue out playfully. Puckering his lips together, he asked, "How about a kiss for old times' sake?"

"No way, Peppo!" Albert cried in panic, searching through the crowd for any sign of Baptistin and his lover. As he tried in vain to extricate himself from that near choking embrace, he looked to Maximilien and Valentine for assistance, only to be given amused smiles. "Peppo, damn it! Let me go! Someone might see us and…"

Too late! Angry, narrowed mismatched eyes peered over the young envoy's shoulder and a menacing voice inquired, "Albert…who is…this person…sucking on your face?"

Albert made a long evading jump, carrying Peppo with him. He turned as white as a sheet to see Etienne scowling back at him with his arms folded over his chest.

Peppo was momentarily struck silent before he blurted out, "COUNT!" Even Maximilien and Valentine were just as stunned. The same could not be said for Jacques and Clementine. The two children were eagerly waiting for what was about to happen next.

Eugenie, Haydee and Bertuccio happened to be passing by at that moment. Approaching the small tense group, the pianist waved to her two friends, "Hi, Valentine, Maximilien!" Seeing the expression on their faces as they stared at the singer, she realized what had happened. "No, no! This isn't the Count of Monte Cristo!"

Haydee, however, exchanged knowing glances with Bertuccio and Baptistin.

Etienne smiled at the couple and said, "I'm always mistaken for this Count. I am not he." Without saying anything else, he went back to glaring at Albert and Peppo.

Bertuccio nudged Baptistin, who was helplessly scratching his head. "What's going on? And what's Peppo doing here?"

"It looks like a war is about to break out," Baptistin replied, nodding in the direction of the angry singer.

To his dismay, the twins were cheering, "CAT FIGHT! CAT FIGHT!" which caused the crew of the Pharaon to hurry over to them as well.

Feeling trapped between a rock and a hard place, Albert somehow managed to squeak out an introduction, "Etienne, I would like you to meet my friends – Captain Maximilien Morrel and his lovely wife, Valentine. And these are their children, Jacques and Clementine."

Etienne bowed to them graciously. "I am pleased to meet you." His voice low and threatening, he glared at the infuriating model dangling around Albert's neck. "I'm going to ask again, Albert. Who…is this…person?"

Swallowing hard, Albert stammered, "This is Peppo, also an…old friend of mine. Peppo, I'd like you to meet Etienne Delacroix."

"Charmed to meet you," Peppo said icily, as he extended his right hand, expecting that the singer would kiss it.

Instead, Etienne took his fingertips as though he were holding a wiggling cockroach and gave it a lame shake. "I wish I could say the same about you." His frown darkened into a scowl as Peppo embraced his lover again. "Do you mind getting your tentacles off my boyfriend?"

"Tentacles?" Peppo gasped out in grievous affront. "Are you calling moi, one of the highest paid fashion models in Paris, an octopus?"

"Actually, you look more like a squid to me. I can't believe Paris' top fashion designers are even paying you a ducat." Etienne turned to his nervous lover. "Albert, are you telling me that it is in vogue here in Paris for men to dress as…"

The word "women" was never uttered, since Baptistin clamped both hands over the singer's mouth and dragged him away. Still, Etienne managed to grab hold of Peppo's collar that he too was pulled along.

"Now, now, calm down!" Baptistin said, trying to placate the two angry figures.

To his shock, pink marks flared on Etienne's brow as Gankutsuou emerged, his odd-colored eyes ablaze.

"So it is you!" Peppo declared. "But how…"

"Shut your mouth, fool!" Gankutsuou hissed, sensing the troubled glances that were being thrown behind his back. "What is more important…" He decided to blunt. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Staking my claim," Peppo answered in a matter-of-fact tone of voice. "Albert was my first love, remember?"

"Well, he never loved you. He loves me, so there!"

:You know this exasperating transvestite, Gankutsuou?: Etienne inquired. The entity could feel that, same as he, the singer wanted to throttle the living daylight out of the model.

:Unfortunately, yes. And Peppo was the one person who was never intimidated by me.: Gankutsuou rounded on the model, "Stay away from Albert, if you know what's good for you!"

"Who are you to order me around?" Peppo poked his finger in Gankutsuou's eye before sauntering back to Albert's side. The entity's hands flew to his forehead, crying out more in surprise than from pain.

"I'M GOING TO KILL HIM!" Gankutsuou snarled. Thankfully, both Bertuccio and Baptistin hauled him away before he could inflict bodily harm upon the haughty model.

"Calm down, my lord!" Bertuccio hastily whispered in his ears. "You don't want them finding out about you!"

With a snort, Gankutsuou glared at his two bodyguards for a moment and retreated, but not before snatching the guitar from the hands of the surprised First Mate of the Pharaon, Penelon. He strode over to a nearby crate and sat down, plucking out a few notes on the instrument.

Nodding to each other, Jacques and Clementine approached the singer, wide grins on their young faces.

"What?" Etienne asked, frowning.

"Aren't you two going to fight?" Jacques inquired in turn.

"A gentleman doesn't fight with a woman," was the singer's simple reply.

Clementine cocked her head to the side. "But Peppo's a man. I don't know why people can't see that he isn't a girl at all."

Etienne patted the little girl's head. "We share the same sentiments, but I don't want to cause any trouble. It's my first time here in Paris." He leaned close to the twins. "Listen. Do you want me to sing to you?"

"It won't be one of those boring opera songs, right?" Jacques said hopefully.

"Anything but opera!" Clementine agreed with her brother. "There's this one song though that Papa always sings to Mama, but he always sings it out of tune. It's called 'O Sole Mio'. Think you can sing that? For us and for my Mama?"

Jacques frowned. "Isn't that an opera song?"

Etienne laughed at the little boy's query. Strumming the opening the notes of the song, he said, "Opera song or not, I'm sure you're going to enjoy this."
Che bella cosa, 'na Iurnata 'e soleN'aria serena doppo 'na tempestaPe' ll'aria fresca pare già 'na festa...Che bella cosa 'na iurnata 'e soleMa n'atu sole cchiù bello, ohi nè'o sole mio, sta nfronte a te'o sole, o sole miosta nfronte a te, sta nfronte a te !Lùcene 'e llastre d'à fenesta toia,'na lavannara canta e se, ne vantae pe' tramente terce, spanne e cantalùceno 'e llastre d'à fenesta toiaMa n'atu sole cchiù bello, ohi nè'o sole mio, sta nfronte a te'o sole, 'o sole miosta nfronte a te, stanfronte a te !Quanno fa notte e 'o sole se ne scenne,mme vene quase 'na malincuniasotto 'a fenesta toia restarriaquanno fa notte e 'o sole se ne scenneMa n'atu sole, cchiù bello, ohi nè'o sole mio sta nfronte a te'o sole, 'o sole miosta nfronte a te, sta nfronte a te !
The singer's lovely voice instantly caught the attention of Penelon. Ambling towards them, he whispered during the instrumental break, "Mind if I accompany you, Signore?"

"Why, of course!" Etienne exclaimed. "I'd be very happy!"

Clearing his throat, the Pharaon's First Mate sang second voice, blending so beautifully with the Nightingale that everyone within hearing range stopped. The other crewmembers of the Pharaon went to the two men, listening avidly to them. Soon, even passengers who have disembarked from nearby spaceships and those still waiting for their flights began to gather around the small group.

Ever desirous of attention, this sudden shift of focus from him to his perceived rival only caused Peppo's temper to rise. Draping his arm proprietorially around Albert's waist, he sneered, "You always liked them hot and feisty, didn't you, Albert? I bet you didn't tell Monsieur Delacroix that you had lost your virginity to me seven years ago in Luna. I will always claim the distinction of being Albert's first."

Etienne's ears perked up at that comment. He was practically pounding on the guitar strings as he declared, "But certainly never Albert's last. I don't need to dress up like a woman to make the Ambassador to Luna fall in love with me!"

"Go get him, Etienne!" cheered the twins in bloodthirsty glee.

"This is getting worse by the minute," Eugenie mumbled to Haydee, who could only nod in agreement.

"Oh, really?" Peppo started prancing and posing around Albert, who was by then sweating profusely. "I don't think he even has fine assets like mine to keep a man." Albert grunted as Peppo thrust two perfectly formed mounds at his chest. "Aren't they wonderful, Albert?" he murmured huskily.

"HAH! He calls that fake cleavage 'assets'? I wonder what he stuffed in there anyway! Probably old socks, because they smell from waaaaay over here!" All this Etienne sang, astonishingly, to the tune of the song, causing Penelon to nearly choke with laughter.

Peppo was not about to admit defeat. Looking at Etienne derisively from head to toe, he grimaced and remarked, "For heaven's sake, Albert! Where did you find him? Pray tell, what does a lowborn like him have to offer you anyway? Let me offer you this advice, my dear. Bedmates are easily discarded once the novelty of the experience fades away."

That insult proved to be too much for the singer. "You dare ridicule me?" Etienne snarled. "Let me show you my true talent then!"

Pausing at the very end of the song, Etienne took a deep breath. Then, he ripped through the high note with a vengeance. That one note was so loud and powerful that everyone clapped their hands over their ears. It was impossible for a man to reach a range that high, yet Etienne did it effortlessly, even sustaining the note for a full minute. Such was the power of his voice that the camera lenses of the photographers broke. Even Peppo's sunglasses shattered.

There was a triumphant smile on Etienne's lips as he stopped singing. "Tell me, Monsieur Peppo." He said this with clear emphasis on the word 'monsieur'. "Can your fake assets even compare with the voice of the Nightingale of Luna?"

At once, startled gasps rose among the onlookers.

"The Nightingale of Luna?" one woman exclaimed. "He is the Nightingale of Luna?"

"That talented singer from La Decadenza?" another man asked his companion.

Albert slapped his hand to his forehead. "Great! Just great! So much for anonymity!" Already, the crowd was closing in on them, asking questions and begging for another song from the singer. Even the photographers had begun taking snapshots of Luna's Nightingale. Etienne, who was clearly not used to this much attention, was close to panicking.

A shrill whistle pierced the air, and little Clementine climbed up on top of the crate beside Etienne. Even Jacques took his place at the singer's opposite side.

"Mesdames, Messieurs!" Clementine cried. "Please show some manners! Monsieur Etienne has just arrived in Paris! Please give him room!"

"If you don't and continue to persist," added Jacques, "Monsieur Etienne might not be able to perform at the Opera House! Singers need space!"

Taking the children's cue, the crew of the Pharaon formed a protective cordon around the Nightingale.

Maximilien, amazed at his children's quick thinking, called out to Albert, "Get him out of here! Now!"

Penelon gave Etienne a wink. "You owe us another song next time, Monsieur Nightingale. Look us up at Morrel et Fil if you should ever visit Marseille."

Etienne smiled at the First Mate, as well as the two smart children. "I promise I will. I want to sing with you again, Signore."

Albert seized the singer's hand and, with the help of the Pharaon's crew and his friends, was able to break through the crowd. They dashed into the carriage that Baptistin and Bertuccio had conveniently rolled up in front of them, and rode off before anyone could think of giving chase.

Sagging into his seat, Albert breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought we'd never get out of there." Turning to the singer, he scolded, "Etienne, I'm surprised at you. Why did you let Peppo get on your nerves like that? Can't you tell that he was only teasing you? You had to expose him as a man as well. Can you just imagine the repercussions that could have on his career?"

Chastened, Etienne lowered his head. "I'm sorry, Albert. I was just so…jealous, seeing him embracing you like that. It's just not right. I…my heart just couldn't take it."

"But did you see me embrace him?" Albert pulled his lover into a tender hug and gave him a kiss on the lips. "You know that my embraces and kisses are reserved only for you. You have absolutely nothing to fear from Peppo. To tell you the truth, it was he who helped me save Eugenie when she was about to be wedded against her will to Andrea Cavalcanti."

The singer looked at Albert in surprise. "I didn't know that. I guess I owe Peppo my apologies then."

"Yes, you do, and you have many opportunities to do so since you'll be staying with me from now on." Albert laughed lightly. "God bless that Peppo though. If it wasn't for him, I would never have known how jealous you could be."

"I'm sorry. I promise I won't let jealousy overwhelm me again."

"It's all right." Albert gave his precious Nightingale a meaningful smile. "Now I know how deeply you love me."

Etienne sighed as he leaned against his lover. "I'm surprised that you only realized that just now." He traced a teasing finger down Albert's body, but his lover stopped him before he could go any lower.

"We shall have enough time for that in our bedchamber tonight," Albert said, although he can feel his member stiffening within his trousers. "For now, look out the window. Enjoy the sights."

That, Etienne did. Like an excited child, the singer eagerly took in the wonderful sights the city of Paris had to offer. He marveled at the recently completed Eiffel Tower and the restored Arc D'Triomphe, asking Albert questions about these structures as well as the city's colorful history. Etienne was particularly humbled to behold the Paris Opera House. It had been a dream for him to sing at that great hall. Now that dream was just right in his grasp.

The carriage turned at Champs-Elysees. Seeing the newly renovated No. 30, Etienne felt a shiver go up his spine.

"Albert…" the singer pointed to the manse. "What is that place?"

"It used to be the residence of…a friend… of mine," Albert answered reluctantly, for he too was pained to see that stately mansion that once belonged to the man he had first loved.

Etienne noticed the sorrow on Albert's face and stopped himself from prying any further. However, the busy street caused the carriage to pull to a halt right in front of No. 30 Champs-Elysees. At once, images began flooding into the Nightingale's brain like a torrent.

A ruined mansion that lay in an artificial sea…

A golden eye peering up from the water…

A chamber of gold containing a glowing cocoon from which he slumbered…

A frightful awakening…

And a shadowy face leering above him as he was pulled out from the ground….

"Etienne! ETIENNE!"

The singer looked at his concerned lover beside him. It was only then that Etienne realized that he had been gripping the sides of his head. His face was wet with his tears.

"What happened to you, Etienne?" Albert asked worriedly. "Did you have another headache? For awhile there, I thought you were about to go into a seizure."

Etienne pressed his face to Albert's shirt. "Please get me away from this place, Albert. Please! I don't know why, but it frightens me!"

"You heard the man, Baptistin! I think we've had enough sightseeing for today."

Baptistin, luckily, remembered a shortcut and he urged the horses into the small alley. Albert noticed that, not once, did Etienne glance back at the mansion that was No. 30 Champs-Elysees.

Strangely enough, all throughout their brief sightseeing tour of the city of Paris, Gankutsuou had remained silent.


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