Disclaimer: I don't own anyone but General Hartham. Get it got it good? Okay.
Yoru: Well, this hasn't gotten many reviews, but people keep putting it on their Story Alert, so I thought I'd update. Next time I won't be so nice. You actually have to review to get an update.
Kuronue: Seriously. She needs at least 5 next time.
Kazahaya grabbed Nayuki as the boy passed his room and pulled him inside.
"Prince Kazahaya…"
"We're alone, Nayuki."
"Fine, Kazahaya. But what are you doing?" Nayuki gently disentangled himself from Kazahaya with a small smile.
"Have you been in General Hartham's room?" Kazahaya asked quietly.
"No."
"Damn it." Kazahaya sat on his bed, head in his hands.
"Why?"
"I want to know what his pet is."
Nayuki burst out laughing, "That's just like you, Kazahaya!"
Mukofujiwara stuck his head in the room.
"Ack!" Nayuki scrambled to find the rag he had been cleaning with.
"Nayuki, you are supposed to be working."
"I know! I'm sorry!"
"Mukofujiwara!" Kazahaya leapt up and grabbed the bigger man's shirt, pulling him down to eye level.
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"Have you been in General Hartham's room? And call me Kazahaya."
"Yes, I have, and no, I will not call you by your first name."
"What's his pet? And you better or I'll turn you in for insubordination."
"I refuse to tell you. And you will not."
"Why do you refuse to tell me?" Kazahaya let go of Mukofujiwara and sat back down on his bed.
"I know you, Your Highness. You will be heartbroken." With that, he left the room before Kazahaya could question him further.
"What does that mean?" asked Kazahaya. Nayuki shrugged.
"Maybe it's a puppy or something. I have to go."
Kazahaya pondered Mukofujiwara's words long after Nayuki had gone. Suddenly he sat upright and headed for the door.
He glanced around warily before opening the General's door silently. Nothing growled or barked, so he proceeded into the room. He didn't know when the General would be back, so he made his way across the living area quickly and into the bedroom. Opening the door soundlessly, he peered in.
There was the bolt with the chain attached, but he couldn't see what was on the other end. He snuck farther into the room, and stopped at the sight that lay before him.
A boy.
A naked, chained boy.
Kazahaya's heart broke in his chest.
The boy was possibly a little older than himself, pale and dark-haired. Kazahaya's eyes widened as the boy turned over in his sleep.
He was outrageously handsome.
Kazahaya found it odd that, unlike most pleasure slaves, there was no feminine beauty to this boy. He looked as though he could be a labor slave, but his state of undress and placement of scars suggested otherwise. He was badly bruised and scarred in many places, but Kazahaya still thought he was insanely attractive.
He knelt down to get a closer look, and the boy's eyes opened.
They stared at each other for a minute.
Then the boy leaped back, eyes wide, scrambling backward until his back hit the wall. He pulled his legs up to cover himself and glared at Kazahaya.
"Sorry. I'm sorry. I mean, I didn't mean to barge in and ogle you, but I wanted to know what kind of pet the General was talking about and…"
The boy's eyes had widened at the word "pet", and now they were narrowed, holding unabashed hatred. Whether it was directed at him or the General, Kazahaya couldn't guess.
"Sorry. What's your name?"
Still no response.
"Look, I know you're a slave, but you can talk to me."
The boy rolled his eyes and made a cross sign over his throat.
"You're mute?"
A nod.
"Born that way?"
The boy shook his head and pointed at the bed.
"Oh. The General took your voice away?"
The boy shrugged, as if to say "more or less."
"I see, I think. Can you help me figure out your name?"
The boy sent him a glare.
"I'm Kazahaya. I want to know your name."
The glare continued. Kazahaya frowned.
"I'm trying to be nice!"
The glare turned into a smirk.
"You jerk! I wanted to be your friend!"
Suddenly the door to the apartment opened, and Kazahaya jumped to his feet.
"I'll be back another day!" Wrenching the window open, he climbed out and dropped to the ground. He had gone a step or two when he heard noises, and realized he had forgotten to close the window. He inched closer and waited for an opportune moment to close it.
"You opened the window? Did anyone tell you that you could do that?" The sound of a sharp slap rang out, making Kazahaya wince. He hadn't meant to get the boy in trouble.
"Now lay down. I'm in the mood for you."
Kazahaya was frozen. He couldn't move.
"I said lay down, damn it!"
He peeked over the windowsill, and his eyes widened. General Hartham had grabbed the boy's ankle and dragged him down to the floor. The boy was fighting, all traces of a smirk gone as he tried to stop his sadistic owner. Kazahaya felt tears running down his face as the General crushed his lips onto the boy's, forcing his tongue in and purging his slave's mouth viciously.
How can anyone be so cruel?
Kazahaya wrenched himself away when the General pulled down his pants. He didn't want to see it. He ran away as fast as he could.
A/N: Okay, dear readers, they have met. Now, if you want more, give reviews. I want to know your feelings. No flames, though. I hope you can see now why the summary mentions the fact that Kazahaya's innocence may not survive his relationship with Rikuo. It didn't necessarily mean they were going to have sex. Next chapter, Kazahaya will confront his father and Saiga will enter the story. If you review.