Revenant

revenant (n.): one that returns after death or a long absence

On a stormy night, a child in his sleep was handed to a stranger. The child showed no signs of waking up despite the chaos around him. The stranger exchanged some words with the man at the door who was as well-dressed as a noble and had a grim look on his face. The stranger entered his car and drove away with a grin. A redheaded butler on the second floor unblinkingly watched the scene unfold. Blood dripped from his lower lip, but the pain was ignored.

Years later, the child has grown into a beautiful teenage boy. Garbed in alluring kimonos, men lined up especially for him. He was the doll of their dreams and desires. Their hands groped all over his body, their lips devoured him, and he no longer struggled. He was just a doll now.

One night, he was called for again. The manager said that this man has booked for him a month earlier than anyone.

"He's a sharp one, this one is." The manager then left the room. "He paid dearly for this one night. Entertain him well, ya hear me, Tatsuna?"

"Yes," came the monotonous response.

Night came, and the beautiful boy waited in his assigned quarter. The sliding door opened to reveal a man in western clothing. He looked like a butler and nostalgia brought some light into the teen's eyes.

"You certainly look beautiful tonight," the redhead greeted with a smile.

"Thank you, please take care of me for tonight." The bluenette bowed and smiled gracefully at the redhead.

After removing his guest's coat, Tatsuna proceeded to pour sake for his guest in the most elegant manner possible. The beads of his headpiece chinked along his movements.

"Your hair has gotten considerably longer," he heard his guest mutter.

"Yes?" he looked up, but the redhead merely smiled at him and shook his head.

"Your hair seems well-maintained."

"It is a need here, after all."

The man then smiled slyly. "They tell me that you are one of the most valued courtesans they have. I'm surprised no one has paid for you yet."

The young bluenette remained silent for a moment, and then spoke, "It cannot be helped. It is easy to get tired of something."

Soon, Tatsuna placed the cup of sake in front of his guest. He scrutinized the man as he took a sip. Noticing the stain at the corner of his lip, Tatsuna dabbed a piece of napkin on it. Their faces were incredibly close that, for a moment, the man lost his composure. Unconsciously, Tatsuna was amused with it. It was after a few more hours of drinking and leisure conversations that the redhead finally revealed his intentions.

"Do you like it here?" Tatsuna's guest inquired, his cheeks slightly flushed from the liquor.

"Many men have asked me that same question." Tatsuna took a sip, his blush more prominent than his guest's.

"The people are ... kind enough. And I don't know what I'll do if I ever get out," Tatsuna added after a short silence. "Somehow... this doesn't exactly seem so bad."

He graced his guest with a small yet contented smile.

His guest drank quietly for a time and then said, "I'm sure there is more to you than this docile doll they turned you into."

Tatsuna looked at the man in puzzlement, and the man gazed into him.

"Who is this man? Why does he seem to know me?" Tetsuna thought. "And what is this familiar feeling?"

Stuttering, Tatsuna asked, "W-who are you?"

"It's been a long time, Young Master Tetsuya."

Tatsuna's eyes widened as the redhead bowed deeply in his seat. "My apologies for not informing you earlier. I needed to confirm if it really was you."

Tatsuna was still too stunned to speak. But he gritted his teeth and then rushed over to the man, wrapping him in a tight embrace.

"Sei," He muttered. "What took you so long?"

"My sincerest apologies, young master," Seijuurou returned the embrace. "Things weren't so easy."

Just as Tatsuna was still basking in his butler's embrace, he found himself lying on the floor with Seijuurou on top of him. His butler wore a mischievous smile as he kissed his master's forehead, then his brow, and cheek. Tatsuna became flustered at the thought of what's to come. Unknown to him, the light erased by years of hopelessness and docility has returned to his eyes.

"Why do I feel embarrassed all of a sudden?" He thought to himself, as he closed his eyes and clutched at Seijuurou's vest.

Seijuurou's face was so close, and their lips were almost touching to the point that Tatsuna can feel his breath on his lips. And then Seijuurou chuckled.

"I suppose this is as far as I go." He got up from Tatsuna, the mischievous smile still plastered on his face.

Tatsuna looked at him, all flustered and stunned.

"What is it, young master? Could you have expected me to go further?" Seijuurou then leaned close to Tatsuna's ear and whispered, "That can be arranged at your will."

Tatsuna crawled backwards and stuttered, "N-no! Of course not!"

He looked away, trying hard to compose himself. It was only then that he realized what Seijuurou did to him, and he smiled, mentally noting down to thank his butler later on.

Just then, Seijuurou told him that a car was waiting for them outside. Tatsuna grew puzzled, until his butler explained that the debt has been paid, and that he was just playing with him a little. Tatsuna blushed and did his best to intimidate Seijuurou with a glare, but the butler just laughed it off and called it "adorable".

Newly dressed into his noble and western garbs, Kuroko Tetsuya was escorted by Akashi Seijuurou down the brothel's wooden halls. His hair was tied back temporarily, his expression still doll-like, and his posture were still as polished as a courtesan's as they walked. The people around him were stunned, both his former co-workers and their clients. As much as some of them would like to congratulate him for having finished his job, for being freed from the life that stole the light from his eyes, they were left speechless by the recognition of his true identity.

"Thank you for all your years of service," The manager bowed deeply with a satisfied smile on his face, as his former employee neared the exit.

Tetsuya gave a curt nod and continued walking out of the brothel with Seijuurou at his heels.

A year has passed since Tetsuya rose to power once again. With the massacre of the entire Kuroko household years ago, the company had no choice but to accept him as their head, despite his disgraceful background. It was a mere rumor flitting around in the office that he was sold to a brothel, but it was enough for them to doubt him in the early months of his arrival. No matter how good of a boy he was or his family's reputation, a simple drop of ink was always smeared with delight by those who envy the powerful. But Tetsuya didn't let them faze him. He worked hard and stayed late at the office, going so far as to take documents home to the mansion. His efforts overwrote the past disgrace and near bankruptcy of the company on the year he was taken to the brothel. And he went even beyond it, surpassing his father who died in the massacre, whose face betrayed all expressions of regret even in his grave.

"You're working too hard," Seijuurou placed a cup of tea on his master's desk.

Tetsuya merely glanced at the cup in front of him before resuming his work. His butler sighs.

"Please get some proper rest, young master," Seijuurou added, as though divining Tetsuya's intentions. "You will not be of use to anyone if you end up in poor health."

Tetsuya stopped his typing but his eyes remained glued to the laptop's screen, contemplating his butler's words. And then he took the cup in front of him and a sip.

"It's still as I remembered as a child," Tetsuya looked at Seijuurou with a nostalgic smile, and Seijuurou responded with a satisfied nod.

Tetsuya finished the cup of milk and by then, Seijuurou leaned in and pressed his lips onto Tetsuya's who was too stunned to move as the redhead's tongue found its way inside his mouth, tasting every crevice until Seijuurou parted for breath. They were so close that Tetsuya can feel his breath on his lips as Seijuurou said, "So it was that sweet all along."

Having enjoyed his master's flustered state that drove him to quietude, Seijuurou chuckled as he took back the cup from his master's delicate hands and bowed his leave, reminding his master to turn in early for the night.

It was a couple of days later when Kuroko Tetsuya was visited by his childhood friend, Momoi Satsuki who was accompanied by her butler and their mutual childhood friend, Aomine Daiki. They had afternoon tea at the garden whose flowers were blooming beautifully, their scent wafted through the air, aiding to the pleasant atmosphere. Butlers and masters gathered around the album that Momoi brought with her. She excitedly recalled the moments she, Daiki and Tetsuya would have gotten themselves into trouble if Seijuurou hadn't helped cover for them.

"Tetsuya would have gotten the worst of it for protecting me," Momoi blushed at the thought and then quickly added, "You really saved us that time, Akashi!"

"I couldn't have the young master getting himself into too much trouble as well, my lady," He glanced briefly at Kuroko who was smiling fondly at the photos. His own smile disappeared. "Unlike some butlers, that is." His glare shifted to Aomine who was avoiding his gaze in anticipation of criticism.

"Can you cut it out, Akashi? Not every butler is perfect like you," The blueheaded butler commented.

"Daiki, be more respectful to Akashi!" Momoi intervened.

Aomine merely grunted his dissatisfaction.

"The pie should be ready by now. Excuse me for a moment." Seijuurou left the three and made his way to the kitchen with his mood fouled, not suspecting his master's gaze following him until he disappeared beyond the halls.

That night, Seijuurou waited outside the bathroom until Tetsuya finished his bath as usual. He received the soiled clothes and used towel as his master stepped out of the room and headed for his bed.

"Ms. Momoi certainly has grown since then, hasn't she young master?" Seijuurou probed. "Despite her childish demeanor, she has been able to study overseas all this time."

Tetsuya nodded with a fond smile. "Momoi has changed a lot. It was surprising that she hasn't visited me until today, until I found out she was busy."

"Perhaps, you can consider her to bear the future heir to the company then?" Seijuurou said it lightly as a joke, and partly to probe his master's feelings for the girl.

There was a thoughtful silence as Tetsuya seriously considered the idea. It made Seijuurou nervous for once in years, more nervous than the massacre. His eyes wandered towards the bedside table that suddenly had a picture of the young Kuroko Tetsuya with his mother, Momoi, and Aomine.

"That does seem like a good idea," Tetsuya admitted, and Seijuurou found himself taken aback.

Biting his lower lip in frustration, he let go of the clothes and towel, and pinned Tetsuya to the bed, pressing his weight so as to not let the latter escape. Before Tetsuya can utter a word, Seijuurou had already quieted him with his lips, pressing intensely and passionately onto his. He tried to push Seijuurou away but he melted under that kiss, under that touch as his butler undressed him without breaking the kiss. Seijuurou took off his gloves and let his hands caress Tetsuya's slim and pale body, his lips traced down Tetsuya's neck, leaving marks along the way. He heard his master groan and moan in both pleasure and pain, but he was not contented. He slid his hands lower, observing Tetsuya's reddening face, lost of all composure, his eyes clouded with desire.

"Is that the face you show those men at the brothel?" Seijuurou taunted. "It has been a while since you've been touched by another man, hasn't it young master?"

Tetsuya was so dazed, so drowned in pleasure that he can't find the voice to answer back. He merely grabbed Seijuurou's vest, scrambling to remove his partner's clothes.

As Seijuurou made love to Tetsuya who was clawing on his back at every thrust, he thought bitterly, "Do you like her? After everything I did for you, will you leave me then?"

It was unacceptable. He held on to Tetsuya tightly as he moved. He kissed away Tetsuya's tears, he silenced his painful moans with his lips.

"I will never let you go," Seijuurou muttered under his breath.

"Se-Sei!" Tetsuya called on his name in a ragged breath.

"Tetsuya," Seijuurou whispered into his ear, as their bodies both stiffened, and then fell beside each other.

Seijuurou watched as after a few breaths, Tetsuya fell asleep. After wiping the mess on his young master, he pulled the blanket over Tetsuya's body and kissed him goodnight on the forehead. Glancing at the picture on the table, he took it, tucking it in his breast pocket after putting on his coat. He turned off the lights in Tetsuya's room and proceeded to the kitchen with his thoughts rampaging through his mind, but kept a calm facade.

"I promised you everything with my loyalty."

He stopped in front of the stove.

"I became everything that you desired."

He made sure the gas was on before lighting the stove.

"You need no childhood friends,"

He stared into the flames.

"Nor possible fiancees,"

He threw the picture into the fire.

"Nor a family."

Seijuurou watched the photograph crumple into nothingness as it was devoured hungrily by the flames.

"You don't need a world beyond me."

-End-