Author's Note: Wakashūdo was the dominant Japanese practice of what the West would call homosexuality. "Among the samurai class, adult men were (by definition) not permitted to take the wakashū role; only preadult boys (or, later, lower-class men) were considered legitimate targets of homosexual desire." [Wikipedia]
Exploring classism and sexual role-reversal in a culture is my aim here. Oh, and some good tender love scenes. First chapter's a teaser only, forgive the length.
Toguro had sold his fish at the market, and still reeked of salt and brine and low-tide. He smiled as he returned to his lonely shack and saw the smoke rising, the burner on, and smelled food cooking. He walked a little quicker, sweeping aside the rush matting over the door and ducking into the hut.
The delicate redhead lad was stirring together a hot pot, with real meat. He didn't glance up as Toguro entered, knowing his footsteps and discarding the idea of them being a threat.
Toguro smiled then. "My lord," he said diffidently, pulling out a knife and beginning to gut and prepare the fish he'd intended for his dinner.
"My wakashu," Kurama teased softly.
That night it seemed they ate like kings.