The concrete radiated the smell of rain, and the steps that echoed on it created a hollow sound as the lone occupant walked down the dead end street, his stride smooth and purposeful. Aoyagi Ritsuka had changed much over the last seven years. The soft tangled wind blew at his back making the edges of his modern black trench coat crack with the newness of the fabric.
As he neared the end of the street and climbed the seemingly rickety wooden stairs he heard the fait strains of classical music of Vivaldi's Four seasons coming out of the back of the newly remodeled apartment, including a large deck where his lover and Sentoki Agatsuma Soubi often worked.
Fishing into his pocket he drew a sleek computerized keep into his hand and silently unlocked the door and let himself in. As he let out a slow breath, his body visually relaxed and he felt the slow winding tension ease. He loved coming home and when Soubi had realized how comfortable he had become in this apartment he had bought and redone the entire interior of the building. He had blown out all the walls from two other apartments and had created a large, modern loft that he had created for the soul purpose of pleasing his Sacrifice.
As his fingers worked the asymmetrical zipper his eyes roamed over the comfortable yet minimal space, stepping deeper into the apartment he heard the sliding glass door open as Soubi came in; the usual cigarette dangling from his lips and holding several brushes in thick bottomed mason jars soaking in turpentine. Ritsuka watched intently as Soubi squatted setting the jars carefully on the floor near the wall.
Agatsuma Soubi at twenty-seven was still one of the most beautiful people Ritisuka had ever seen. The thick blond hair was in its usual high ponytail almost like a living thing, the hair quivering with the small movements whenever Soubi moved his head. The thick, pale gold waterfall had grown out nearly reaching his waist making the man look even more exotic than he already was. It made Ritsuka hold his breath.
"If you get anything on those jeans, you're a dead man." Almost petulantly he threw the coat onto the massive bed that took up most of the space in the middle of the apartment. The minute he threw the coat down he regretted his actions. At almost nineteen he felt ridiculous responding like a child, and had honestly thought that he had gotten over acting like this.
" Yes, I know. But you know I never do." Soubi smiled and stood the new jeans slipping lower on his hips showing a sliver of pale skin between the shirt and the waistband, Ritsuka's mouth went dry as Soubi stretched like a cat almost carelessly.
"How was your day?" The question came out careful and very neutral.
Ritsuka sighed and found a safe subject to cling to as he leaned against the stainless steal counter that separated the bed from the kitchen. They were back at this phase, playing the waiting game until Ritsuka could do what he already knew what would happen.
"Kio called today." He shifted his weight and waited for the appropriate reply.
"Oh, What did he want? I thought he was working on that new line. I haven't spoken to him in a few days."
Ritsuka sighed dramatically.
"Kio wants "Rikka" " He paused making the air quotations around the name. "and you to model for him again for the ad campaign"
Soubi pondered, visibly thinking as his fingers traced the thick leather collar around his throat. It had become part of Soubi's everyday wear the leather had silver engraved spells blocking out and overriding Seimi's name Beloved from the Sentoki until Ritskua was ready to permanently mark him for himself.
"I thought we were not going to do it anymore."
Ritsuka gave a shallow shrug of reply tasting the tension in the air rise between them. Soubi sensed the mood and moved beside him his hands gentled over his hip pulling Ritsuka back into his arms. The time clicked in rapid succession to both of their heart beats as Soubi buried his face into Ritsuka's neck.
"Master, please." The voice was soft and breathy, making the building heat spread through Ritsuka. Feeling the arms around him the younger man felt completely secure feeling like his new second skin slide into place, removing any doubt or hesitation he might have had. As the calmness stilled him, he wrapped his wrist tightly around Soubi's wrist.
"Yes." The words slipped out with the tight authoritative tone and he felt Soubi's body tremble at his back. For a moment he felt the old world come back, he felt no regret as he knew that with each time this happened he slipped deeper into himself.
Into being a Master.