It had been weeks since the boy was brought in but Kaito couldn't stop thinking about him. The effect he had on him was frustrating. He called for many other prostitutes, the pretty ones, the chaste looking, even those who seemed slightly intimidating, twice or thrice a day.
Nothing helped.
The same face clouded his mind every single time.
Kaito clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction. The prince knew he wanted him, but his pride prevented him from doing so.
"Your Highness?"
The girl beneath him sat up, face washed blank with confusion. His Highness had pulled out unexpectedly in the middle of their intimate intercourse.
"It's fine, you may leave," Kaito sighed exasperatedly, still situated between her legs.
"But your highness is still-"
"Just leave."
The girl dressed herself promptly and trudged out whimpering, completely bummed out for being the fifth unfortunate soul the prince had rejected this week. Kaito collapsed onto his bed with another sigh. It was of no use. No one could compare to the boy anymore.
"Hakuba," Kaito demanded calmly.
His assistant invaded the room almost immediately as if waiting to be called.
"Your Highness."
"Bring me that male." He finally gave in.
It took Saguru a while to process that. Lately, his Highness had been sending all his prostitutes home. Maybe he just wasn't very fond of the ones he was bringing in. "Your Highness, we have other ladies available-"
"I don't care, bring him to me."
This ridiculous condition got to the point where even the mere thought of him made Kaito hot. The more he tried to reject it, the more he wanted him. Offended and annoyed for being unable to control himself, the prince gave in to his lust. Months progressed to weeks and weeks turned to days. Eventually, Kaito was calling for him almost every day.
"Why do you always leave right after?" Kaito inquired softly, gazing lethargically at the boy panting heavily next to him, back imprinted with his intense bites. He didn't know why he asked either, it was none of his concern.
The boy ascended, wincing in discomfort as a hand reached behind to support his lower back. Sensing that he was most probably going to disregard his question, the prince shut his eyes. He had gotten used to his silence.
Kaito drifted into consciousness, and then back out. The sudden shifting of the sheets momentarily brought Kaito back. His eyelids slip open, lenses focusing on the boy's refined waist.
"I do not wish to rest next to someone who's using me for sex," was his firm response.
Kaito scowled in discontent, his fatigue restricting him from doing more. He felt his chest tighten.
Something inside him ached.
But the next time Kaito called for him, he wasn't sure what provoked it, the prince reached out for his arm and pulled him over. Though in full command, he felt completely powerless as he demanded the boy to stay.
"I am unworthy to remain by your side, your highness," he replied, blue enchanting sapphire-like eyes reflecting the cold moonlight.
"It's an order. Stay here or I'll throw you in prison,"
Through the darkness, Kaito left him untouched, their distant backs facing each other. The prince couldn't figure out why he was acting like this. Those prostitutes were mostly deemed too 'filthy' for his taste but not him. Something about this boy felt opulent, his aura so compelling it had defeated him.
Watery daylight set in, allowing patches of yellow to filter through the room's thin window shades. Eyes flickering open, Kaito let out an exasperated sigh as he rolled over, somewhat relieved to be faced with the same aloof body. Though he lay there muted, Kaito was fully aware of his consciousness.
Whether or not he slept a wink was a question that the prince didn't want an answer to.
Groaning lowly, Kaito climbed out of bed to call for an assistant and ordered the maids to arrange a warm bath. "Clean yourself," he said to the boy before exiting.
That very same evening, Kaito requested the boy to accompany him for dinner.
"Sit down," the prince, dressed in his usual red sokutai, commanded from his table once the doors slid open and signalled to the floor chair opposite him. The boy scanned the grandiose dining room as he approached, bowing politely before settling onto his designated seat. Kaito eyed his dreamboat for a brief second.
"I've called for you countless times but I still don't know your name," he began, reaching forward for the teapot.
"It's Kudo Shinichi."
Kaito made a sound of approval as he refilled his cup.
Kudo, huh.
The prince was certain he heard that last name before, somehow, somewhere. He couldn't remember. "Is it fine if I call you 'Shinichi'?"
"If you wish, your highness,"
Kaito smiled softly, delighted.
"Shinichi,"
He tested. A sense of warmth filled his chest. A sort of warmth that welcomed him home.
Said person lifted his head, eyes enlarging slightly. "Yes?"
Grinning this time, the prince placed a pair of wooden chopsticks across the table. "Help yourself to some food, Shinichi."
Shinichi gazed curiously at the prince's earnest midnight blue eyes before picking his utensils up, unable to read his intentions. He watched sharply as Kaito grabbed his own pair of chopsticks and fetched for some pickles. Assuring himself that the prince wasn't trying to poison him, Shinichi reached for an approachable piece of meat without expecting his chopsticks to clash the prince's. Shinichi withdrew his pair and lowered his head impulsively, "I'm very sorry."
Kaito blinked in surprise before letting out a short laugh. "Are you that scared of me?"
"N-no, definitely not, your highness."
The prince noticed his trembling fingers and sighed awkwardly. Anyone would probably be afraid of offending a royal like him and he did leave a rather harsh impression, after all, he reasoned.
"Well, then, go on and eat, Shinichi."
Shinichi acceded to his request, stretching his arm forward to pick some food. Kaito watched silently as he ate. Polite table etiquette. Healthy eating habits. More vegetables and limited amounts of meat, probably to maintain his lean figure.
"So, Shinichi, how do you usually return home?" He quizzed as a means to lift the hollow atmosphere.
"I walk back, your highness,"
"In that state?" A sudden twinge of guilt, "Don't you have a personal litter like the others?"
Shinichi shook his head subtly, barely bothered by the question. "I'm not very high-ranking. Not everyone wants a male."
Kaito frowned. He's right, though, considering the fact that the house only sent him in when there was no one else available.
"Hakuba,"
The attentive assistant stepped forward upon Kaito's call, "Yes, your highness?"
"Make sure he is sent back safely every time I call for him," he motioned, eyes fixated on Shinichi's growing expression. He opened his mouth but Kaito pressed on before he could even speak. "I also want a warm bath prepared for him in the morning."
"Understood," Saguru bowed, eyeing the boy that his highness had somehow grown interested in suspiciously.
Shinichi sulked and set his chopsticks aside. "I don't need that kind of treatment, your highness, purely out of humiliating pity."
Out of pity?
Kaito frowned, annoyed.
Was it? That's right, it had to be pity. Why else would he, the crown prince, do such a generous thing for a nobody like him?
Shinichi really knew how to push his buttons but his royalty and pride would never allow him to take the count. "You are in no position to reject an order from me."
"I brought a gift for everyone," Kaito announced proudly upon entering.
Behind him, Shinichi followed closely, head held low. It was his first time attending such an aristocratic yet corrupted gathering.
This time, Shinichi was instructed to accompany the prince to a small gathering with a group of officials. The house presented Shinichi in a slightly more revealing tangerine kimono that showed off his defined collarbones and seductive shoulders, accompanied with their most expensive cherry blossom ornament perched across his soft brown hair. Winning the crown prince's interest, it was no doubt that Shinichi was now regarded as the house's most prized prostitute.
"Another prostitute, your highness?" a slightly older official guessed, stroking his thick and well-groomed moustache keenly as he eyed Shinichi.
"Yes, beautiful, isn't he?" Kaito smirked, lifting Shinichi's chin with the tip of his index finger to reveal his face.
The table agreed noisily in sync before thanking his royal highness. Kaito grinned in satisfaction. Flaunting his possessions has always been his forte.
"What's his name, your highness?"
Ah, that's right. The prince would always reveal the names of the prettier ones so his loyal officials could easily call for them. Kaito paused at that simple inquiry and scowled. For some unknown reason, that question had bothered him.
It's Shinichi. Kudo Shinichi.
"That... is none of your concern."
Shinichi settled into an empty floor chair and watched as the prince strolled across the room to his designated seat, at the centre of attention and in between two elegant young courtesans. As Kaito began chatting with one of the renowned lawyers, the courtesans spruced the air with folk music and the waiters entered to fill the table with food.
Shinichi observed each individual, taking note of every single small detail and action and crafted their predictable life stories in his head. He didn't know how he did this. It was only natural.
The intellect was busy judging a depraved minister when he felt a hand reach down behind his waist. Shinichi turned over to face the same old man from before grinning at him, tongue licking his crooked tobacco-stained teeth. The defenceless boy clenched his fists tightly in discomfort as he forced an uneasy smile. This wasn't something new to him.
"You don't have to be shy," he whispered close to his ear, halitosis strong from years of smoking and drinking.
Shinichi inhaled violently as another wrinkled hand moved across his shoulders before sliding under to pinch his left nipple. Shutting his eyes, Shinichi let the old pervert play with his chest and back. There was nothing he could do. Calling for help would not only lead to pointless laughter but also get him punished. He was a good-for-nothing prostitute hired to please after all.
Shinichi felt the other hand behind him move further down to his bottom when unanticipatedly, the joyous music broke off and the room fell dead silent.
"General Namoto,"
Shinichi raised his head at the familiar oppressive voice, only to be faced with Kaito's intense glare. There was stillness but hostility in those midnight blue eyes.
"He's very alluring, I know," he continued, voice deepening with anger, "but I don't recall ever giving you the permission to touch him."
The revolting hand under Shinichi's sleeve pulled away abruptly. "I apologize," he said, faking a cough, "it's because your highness mentioned he's a gift so I thought-"
"I didn't ask for your excuse."
That plain statement was enough to shut him up completely. Kaito's attention shifted to Shinichi briefly before he turned to one of the courtesans beside him, "Move aside."
The young lady bowed respectfully upon rising and shifted to the nearest floor chair. The room remained tight-lipped as Kaito eyed Shinichi again.
"Come over."
The whole room's gaze followed the prostitute as he stepped across the room to seize the unoccupied seat by his highness. Shinichi yelped softly, however, when Kaito grabbed onto his wrist forcefully. "Who told you to sit over there? You weren't supposed to leave my side."
Shinichi nodded quietly, slightly relieved. Ironically, sitting by the crown prince's side felt way more comfortable than any of his minor officials. Though, no matter how many times Shinichi tried, he could never really read his thoughts.
Kaito released his grip but his heated glare persisted. Hissing under his breath, the prince reached over and rearranged Shinichi's drooping sleeves up to conceal his exposed shoulders before turning to the same lawyer with his brightest smile.
"Now, where were we?"