"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres."
-1 Corinthians 13:4-7
"Third Desire"
By: FenixPhoenix (Giselle González)
Chapter 9: "Revelations"
Onime no Kyo woke up feeling eyes digging a hole on the side of his face. It was a strange feeling and it had been that, which had prompted him to wake in disorientation. The first thing he did was groan. His body was still aching, probably by the lack of proper rest. He shook his tiredness aside and sought out the source of all his latest troubles. He found her sitting on her knees right beside him, peering at his face silently.
"What are you looking at, woman?" he snapped.
Her eyes lowered to the floor as if in fear. Kyo had to do a double take. Had he sounded meaner than usual? He knew he hadn't. If anything, he sounded kinder than usual. So what the hell was wrong with her? Yuya was not someone who took such rudeness from him this lightly or quietly.
"What the hell is the matter with you?" he couldn't hide his irritation. The damn woman flinched and Kyo rolled his eyes. He leaned forward in order to better peer at her face, wondering if she was coming down with some other sickness.
"I'm sorry, master." Yuya bowed to him; her forehead touching the back of her hands, which were placed on the floor before her. "It will not happen again."
Submissive, that was the first word that popped into his head. He quirked an eyebrow and, for a second, wondered if she was joking. She wasn't though. She wouldn't have been able to hold her laughter for so long if she had.
Kyo crossed his arms and knitted his brow thoughtfully. Perhaps this was a side-effect of the medicine he'd given her the night before? If that was it, then it was probably temporary. Kyo decided that he liked the explanation and so shook the concern away for now.
"That's right!" he leered with amused arrogance. "You are my servant and it was about time you started acting like one. Now go and fetch me some sake!"
"As you wish, master," she raised to answer his command without any objections.
Before she could reach the paper door, Kyo intercepted her. He looked down at her hard and she glanced at him once in open confusion, before lowering her gaze to the floor. Yuya fucking submissive! That had to be a joke, right?
A moment of inactivity followed. Kyo wasn't sure what to feel or think anymore. He wasn't sure how to proceed at all. The thing was, Kyo hadn't intended her on actually complying with his order in such a 'servant-like' way. He was even disappointed at her lack of enthusiasm in cursing him. He had expected her protests of how he should get it himself and one or two facial expressions displaying her anger.
"Follow me," he said as he left the room. Yuya followed closely behind in complete and utter silence.
When he reached the next room, he sat down and –before any questions could be asked—told the two individuals inside what happened, omitting some of the events from the day before. Kyo didn't know what had made him come to them. Perhaps the hope that at least Akira would know what he was dealing with.
The men sat close to Yuya, inspecting her. Benitora frowned at her lack of… well, by her change. Like Kyo'd done before, they too waited -expecting her to laugh at any seconds with explanations of this being nothing more than a joke. And like before, nothing changed, not even her.
"What happened again?" Benitora turned to look at him, crossing his arms as though it was all Kyo's fault.
"I already told you. Clean your ears, servant number one," Kyo replied humorlessly.
"So when you woke up she was already like this…" Akira hummed thoughtfully.
Kyo remained silent. He'd already told them what happened. There was no point in repeating himself. It was not as if things could change just by talking about them. Of course, that was not really what was keeping him quiet. He was feeling rather angry and, in some level, even distressed by her new behavior. Kyo didn't feel like having his companions finding this out. It was not as if he wanted them to start thinking he actually cared for the annoying girl now, did he?
"Yuya-han… how are you feeling?" Benitora crawled even closer to her, his concern evident in every line of his face.
Yuya turned to look at Kyo. He almost broke the cup of sake he was holding. Damn her! She was actually asking him for fucking permission to talk! Not wanting to drag this longer than was necessary, he nodded with clumsily contained irritation.
"I'm feeling as my master wishes me to feel," she stated politely, her words devoid of any actual emotion. It was as if this was a response in another language drilled inside her head. She was speaking without any real understanding.
Kyo hated it, this, her!
"Where are Sasuke and Yukimura?" demanded Kyo. He hadn't heard a peep from them, or seen them for that matter, since yesterday afternoon. As if in answer to his question the shoji slid open, revealing the mention pair.
"Ne-chan!" Sasuke approached the girl, sounding relieved. "I'm glad you're okay!"
Yuya gave the boy a puzzled look, either because she had not understood what he'd said or because she couldn't remember him, was of no importance. What really mattered was to get her back to the way she was, which, naturally, was the wish of everyone inside the small room -even Kyo would never admit that out loud.
"What is wrong with her?" Sasuke wasn't pleased.
"She has been like that ever since she woke," whined Benitora. "She's been acting like a mindless servant. I don't like this!"
"So this is what he meant," Yukimura knelt in front of Yuya, gazing into her eyes, as if searching for something.
"Explain, Sanada," Kyo's tone held a warning. His temper had been fried enough.
Blue eyes met red.
"Sakaki Kenji," Yukimura answered, moving to sit by Kyo.
Sanada Yukimura closed his eyes, recalling what had transpired not too long ago, in a room on the opposite side of this Inn.
Yukimura stayed hidden from view, waiting for his target to appear. He saw him minutes later. Kenji was walking down the corridor, most probably heading for his room. He was chanting a strange lullaby. It was peaceful and mysterious and Yukimura felt a shiver run down his spine at the sound.
He stopped near his hiding spot and Yukimura knew he'd been found.
"Sanada Yukimura," Kenji greeted gently. "I am honored to be sought by someone so famous but, to what do I owe this pleasure?"
Yukimura faked an easy smile and moved out of the shadows, stepping into the man's path. "Tell me something, Sakaki Kenji, what is it that you want from Yuya-san?"
"Oh, have you come to ask me what I have done to that beautiful creature?"
"Indeed," Yukimura's tone dried out. "I would very much like to know what you've done to her." His voice became cheerful again, "So if you could be so kind as to tell me."
"Then by all means," Kenji raised an arm as if in invitation, "follow me and I shall answer all you questions."
"Why don't you just answer them here?" Yukimura's sense of danger was spiking, signaling that this might be a trap.
"Because I believe I have another visitor waiting for me in my room," Kenji explained casually, "I think he is one of your men, by the way."
Yukimura cursed inwardly. Well, it would be rude of him to turn down an invitation so graciously given! So putting his jolly mask back on, he followed Kenji down the hall.
"So this is that idiot's doing?" Kyo's voice was a mixture of amusement, interest and building fury. Yukimura couldn't blame him. Kenji was proving to be a challenging opponent and Kyo would have been happy to have it so. However, targeting Yuya was a mistake and Kyo would not have it stand.
"What happened afterwards?" asked Akira.
Yukimura pondered the question. Or, more accurately, searched for the best answer to a bugging dilemma: should he tell them what Sakaki had said? Or should he advise Kyo to go the man personally?
"Speak," Kyo ordered, his patience clearly lacking.
"I believe it's best if you go and talk to the man yourself," Yukimura decided. "This is a matter that concerns just the two of you."
"Sakaki and Kyo?" asked Benitora, trying to understand what was happening.
"Kyo and Yuya," corrected Yukimura with a shrug, taking Kyo's sake bottle and pouring himself a cup.
Kyo seemed thoughtful for a moment longer. Then, without a word, he rose and strolled towards the exit. "Follow me, woman," he ordered, sliding the door open.
Yuya rose to her feet rapidly and followed the retreating figure, both of them disappearing out the door.
-o0o-
Sakaki Kenji was in the Inn's garden, studying the fountain's architecture. His swords were secured to his waist and he kept stroking the hilts absently. He was never comfortable without them.
He looked up at the sky, admiring the mosaic of soft colors as the sun began its retreat. It was as if the sky was on fire. Sunset was the most beautiful part of the day.
He felt someone coming and smiled. So, Yukimura had sent him after all. He turned to the hall, sure enough Kyo was coming. Kenji's eyes softened when he noticed that he wasn't alone. He'd brought a gift with him as well.
"What a wonderful surprise. Was it Yukimura-san the one who sent you?"
"I thought I told you not to mess with my property," Kyo's tone was as cold as his crimson eyes.
"And I did not," Kenji assured. "In fact, you should be thankful to me."
Kenji could tell the statement had caught Onime no Kyo off guard. It took him a while to find his words again.
"Oh, and why is that?" his voice turned amused. Kenji wondered if he was faking confidence. It didn't matter, though. None of this did, except for Yuya.
"I have transformed her into what you wanted," Kenji said, his lips curving into a genuine smile.
Kyo kept silent and waited expressionless for some kind of explanation. Fine, Kenji would give it to him.
"What is Yuya-san to you? Said I." Kenji saw crimson eyes lit with realization. "She is my servant, said you."
If looks could kill, Kyo's glare would have done the trick. But it didn't matter. Because Kenji had spoken naught by the truth. Those had been Kyo's exact words and he could not take them back, could he?
"So Kyo," he asked, moving towards him slowly. "If she is only your servant… then why don't you sell her to me?"
To be Continued…
