Himmels: Yeehaw, chapter 10 in the house! :3 Miss us? Did you think we forgot? Haha, never! It has been a while since we updated, but as well tell everyone, we never give up on a story unless we have a true reason. Getting bored or busy isn't a good enough reason for us.

Draculina: So, anyway... This is more of just a filler chapter, of sorts. Technically, it isn't a filler chapter, because its leading up to a stronger one and introducing new characters, but... its just not as amusing to us, so it is called a filler, lol.

Chapter 10

Tromos

"With each passing day, I didn't lose hope. I fought to have more."

--Amy Tan

'A party?' Yuki thought, blinking up at his caretaker.

Hatsuharu and Kureno had entered their cell late in the morning and waved the customers away from the bars, which made Yuki and Ritsu sigh quietly in relief. The protectors sat on the low bed and began to explain to them the plans for late this evening. Hatsuharu twirled his finger around a strand of Yuki's hair and smiled at the curious look that always reached his slave's eye.

"Lady Akito offered to have you all at a party tonight. It's at Achilles home." Hatsuharu told him with a smile, "There will be a lot of people there, some even from different cities. It should be..." he hesitated, "...amusing."

Yuki frowned at his hesitation and Hatsuharu comforted him with pets on the head, "Don't worry, pretty boy. You and Ritsu will not be the only ones there. Your caretaker will be there also, does that make you feel better?" a small smile came to Hatsuharu's lips, so Yuki responded a little with a twitch of his own corners.

"All right," Kureno stood, bringing Ritsu up with him, "bath time."

The duo colored hair caretaker stood also and lifted his protégée up by a grip on his arm. He kept the gentle, but firm grasp on Yuki's arm as they exited the cell and walked toward the arrival chambers where the stone hole in the ground was. After locking the door, the caretakers had the slaves sit against the same wall that they did when they first took their bath. The chore of filling the hole was met with grumbles from Hatsuharu and Kureno, but they didn't procrastinate.

When the last bucket of warm water was thrown into the pit, sighs were heard and the protectorates crossed the room to start undressing the slaves. Yuki looked away from Hatsuharu when his tiny skirts were untied, ever embarrassed with such an act. He made sure that Hatsuharu was a bit farther ahead of him, to save himself with even redder cheeks, before he was led to the pit.

Going down to his knees, Yuki touched the water with a toe before slowly letting his foot disappear underneath the liquid. Not a burning warm or too cool feeling met him, so Yuki slid forward a bit and then lowered himself in. Ritsu was soon to follow, trusting Yuki's judgment. Hatsuharu and Kureno had them dip their heads back, so water would soak into their hair and then cloths were used to scrub their bodies.

Both Yuki and Ritsu jumped in surprise when a rather harsh knock was placed on the thick door. Ritsu, who was enjoying the playful teases Kureno was giving him, watched his caretaker rise with a frown. Kureno then disengaged the lock and opened the door when he crossed the room. Akito brushed him aside and quickly waltzed into the small chambers, like it was a king's hall. Hatsuharu stood respectfully, but Yuki had noticed some time earlier that Kureno seemed to be the more dedicated of the two.

Leaning down and grabbing a hold of Yuki's chin, she inspected for any smudges of dirt or other imperfections that could mar his beauty while saying absently, "How do you think they'll do among so many? They are very new to this world."

"Personally-," Hatsuharu started.

"Not you." Akito rolled her eyes with a glance in his direction, "Kureno, answer me."

Ritsu's caretaker frowned and flicked his eyes to both of them, not liking being caught in the middle, but then answered slowly, "I think that they are very new to this lifestyle and it could be a big step for them, but..." he changed his opinion course when a disgruntled stare was issued from Akito, "The step could also be a form of getting them used to the new way of life."

Now it was Hatsuharu's turn to be annoyed with the man. Yuki's caretaker cast him a chilly leer and Kureno answered with an apologetic shrug.

After thinking briefly and stroking Yuki's chin with her index finger, she said, "They'll be fine. They'll expect new ones from us anyway." After a momentary pause, she asked, "Is this one getting better?" The finger stopped its rhythmic slide across his jaw and applied pressure, so his head tilted upwards, "He was rather...unattractive on the personality side when he first came, yes?"

"I didn't find anything wro-,"

Kureno cut Hatsuharu off quickly, "Yes, his character has improved greatly since his arrival. He has calmed down very much. The customers have even been complimenting on his and Ritsu's temperament lately."

"Wonderful." Akito smiled and stood.

Both Yuki and Ritsu looked over to Kureno and wondered if any of what he said was a lie. Either way, it saved the slaves from some punishment. After giving Ritsu a pet on the head, she walked over to the door while saying, "Make them beautiful."

"Yes." Kureno nodded.

When Akito left, Hatsuharu immediately rounded on Kureno, "You know, she isn't always right. You have a mind of your own, try using it sometime. You'll find that it is very gratifying and gives you a sense of intelligence."

"I'm sorry, my friend." Was all Kureno said and then knelt down beside Ritsu and resumed his scrubbing.

With another icy glare, Hatsuharu sat roughly on the ground once more and Yuki heard him mumble as he dipped the washcloth into the water, "Fool..."

The slave stared at him until he looked up and then he tilted his head, in question. Hatsuharu smiled lightly, raising the cloth after he wrung it out and wiped at the places on his chin and jaw where Akito touched, "It's nothing, you curious little fiend."

'Fiend?' A smile lit Yuki's face and he almost let a little small chuckle escape his throat.

Seeing how this made him laugh, Hatsuharu let the casual smile come back to his face and he played, "Why are you laughing? You are a little fiend. Stop giggling at me. I'm a terrifying caretaker. Fear me!"

With sudden boldness, Yuki rubbed his cheek against Hatsuharu's wrist when he reached down to scrub a shoulder. This surprised and pleased the caretaker, with a tiny laugh, Hatsuharu ran a knuckle down Yuki's face and said, "Look Kureno, he really did calm down. Isn't that great?"

The smile almost disappeared from Yuki's face when he saw that his brief preview of affection wasn't given any heed, but didn't let it damper his spirits too much.

To give them time to soak a little longer, Kureno and Hatsuharu left Yuki and Ritsu within the bath while they looked through a variety of different formal, yet still rather revealing, party robes. Blinking, Yuki watched them with his nose under the water. Soon losing interest, he looked over to his companion and saw that he was really quite amused running his fingers through his golden hair, liking the smooth feeling that slipped between his outstretched fingers. Taking a small breath of air before submerging his face again, Yuki sucked in some water and then spit it at Ritsu when he wasn't looking.

Ritsu shut his eyes tight with surprise and then gave Yuki a look, speedily lifting his arms and then giving him a great splash. Yuki wiped away the water from his eyes and pushed aside the hair that fell into his vision with a grin.

He prepared an avenging splash, but the easygoing voice of Hatsuharu came then, "You know, we'll be the ones cleaning that up..."

Blinking, Ritsu and Yuki let their arms slip into the water again and stared up at their caretakers. With sly pursed lips, Yuki caught the water between his palms and reached out, letting it drop onto Hatsuharu's feet.

"Hey!" the man kicked out, trying to get it off. Thinking he'd laugh, Yuki beamed and stared up at him. The reaction, however, wasn't what was expected, "Erasmus! Stop playing around! You too, Crysanthos!"

Yuki blinked once more and then let his face fall. Ritsu also felt chastised and the look Kureno shot them easily stilled their playful notions. Humbled, the slaves sat back in the water, quiet and obedient.

After deciding on the styles and colors of the robes that only whores would wear, Hatsuharu turned around, holding them in his arms and then rolled his eyes at the slaves' sulking faces, "Good Lord..." he mumbled, "Sensitive things... Come on out of that thing." He motioned to Yuki.

Planting his arms to the ground, Yuki hoisted himself up and out of the pit. Standing self-consciously, Yuki brought his arms to his chest and looked away from his caretaker as he approached. Taking a towel from the stack of clothes upon the shelf to the side, Hatsuharu quickly started to dry the slighter boy. Yuki tensed uncomfortably at the rather personal touches and wished for nothing other than a mere set of skirts to ease his anxiety of being nude in front of another.

After shaking his hair and having his caretaker run the towel over it, Yuki watched him as he fumbled with the robes. Glancing over, Yuki saw that Kureno had almost gotten Ritsu's on, only having a tad of trouble on getting the dye to rub off on Ritsu's face from his wet hair. His companion's robes were dyed orange and, like Yuki's, they were held to the body by a belt around the waist, which made the boys look impossibly thinner than they already were. Their whole sides were visible, from their underarms all the way to their calves. Yuki wondered bitterly if they were designed this way for easy access.

Once the revealing robes were on the skinny bodies of the slaves, they were sat down and Hatsuharu and Kureno proceeded with their hair. At that point, two other whores had come in with their caretakers.

One of the two, a boy, had short light brown hair. His eyes were very beautiful; they gave him both an angry and mysterious appearance. Yuki couldn't help, but smile, at his standoffish attitude that seemed to radiate from him. He took one little glace at Yuki and Ritsu, but didn't give them the time of day with anything more. Charming, if you were into a stubborn personality. A gorgeous boy, yes, but far too young. He couldn't have been older than thirteen.

The girl looked around fourteen and equally as beautiful as her companion. Her overall temperament that she gave off was very shy. A blush easily filled her cheeks when she saw the other two slaves and she tried her hardest not to keep from staring. She had a set of large, brown eyes that complimented her round features. Her hair was a honey yellow and was unusually cut off at the shoulders, except for two long strands on either side of her face that tickled her collar bone. Very unusual style for a girl, but it suited her nicely.

The caretakers they had set them down relatively near Yuki and Ritsu and the two companions kept feeling the inkling to glance over at them. They haven't had any friendly contact from another people, other than Kureno and Hatsuharu, for a long while.

"Bion, Carpus." Greeted Hatsuharu and Kureno with grins, then Kureno asked, "How's it going with the little Ares over there?"

The boy sitting down on the ground, close to his female friend, glared up at Kureno, which only made the older man laugh.

"My Anicetus is as unbearable as usual." Bion ruffled the boy's hair, making him let out a growl of frustration.

Bending down with a smile, Kureno placed a finger under the girl's chin and asked, "And what of his angelic partner?"

Carpus said with a smirk, "Tryphosa can do no wrong and you are perfectly aware of that, my good friend."

"Yes, it is Aphrodite and Ares in the flesh!" Kureno laughed again and left Tryphosa with a bright blush spreading over her face.

While Bion and Carpus waited for the other men that entered to empty the pit, Carpus looked down to Yuki and a small and crooked smile lit his face, "He has a unique face, no? They are both beautiful, but this one must get a lot of attention with those soft curves around his face."

"Yes, a lot of people are interested in Erasmus." Hatsuharu nodded, "But most don't like it when the whore puts up a fight."

"Ah, so he is like mine!" Bion laughed.

"Uh... Not that bad." The duo colored man said honestly and made no move to apologize, "Erasmas has gotten a lot better though."

Another ache came to Yuki. He didn't like to think that he has given up, because he hasn't. He would never give up on getting out of the torture house and these men were rather dumb to think he would.

"If he is the counterpart to him," Carpus indicated to Yuki and Anicetus, "Then this one," he stroked Ritsu's soft hair, making him match the girl with the flush, "must be the counterpart of mine. I'll always think that Tryphosa is more beautiful though." He waved his hand.

"Crysanthos is perfect!" Kureno quickly defended.

Yuki and Ritsu blinked at each other and wondered why they were all competing. Was this normal? At that point, however, it didn't matter as much, for the men were finished with emptying the pit and now it was Bion's and Carpus' job to fill it up again with fresh water. Going back to the shelves, Hatsuharu and Kureno dug through various and stunning jewelry.

"Hello." Yuki took the opportunity quickly to speak with the other two.

Tryphosa looked up, but then away quickly once more, with a muttered 'hello' back. The boy, however, barely raised his eyes to them.

"Are those your real names?" Yuki wanted them to talk.

"Of course not, you simpleton." Anicetus said plainly, "I am Hiro. I choose not to respond to the name they give me."

Yuki ignored his first statement and beamed, "I'm Yuki! This here is Ritsu."

"Yuki... don't speak so loudly. They might hear." Ritsu warned, touching his arm and glancing over to make sure they didn't take notice.

"Let them." Hiro waved his hand in a similar motion to Carpus', with an arrogant voice to match it also.

"I'm Kisa." The girl said quietly, smiling up at Yuki.

"I'll take it you both are going to the party as well?" Yuki asked.

"What is with your irritating accent?" Hiro grumbled at him, but answered his question anyway, "Yes, that is why we are bathing today, I'm assuming."

Ritsu spoke up with a sigh at that, "It is good that others will be there..."

"How?" Hiro snorted, "Strength in numbers doesn't work here, wise one. We're all going to be taken tonight and you all know it."

"Don't talk that way, Hiro..." Kisa bit her bottom lip.

Yuki looked to her with sympathy. Though, they all go through the same amount of pain, he imagined that this place must hurt a woman on a more personal level. It really wasn't a surprise that Kisa was so quiet and sad looking. Before they could continue speaking, Hatsuharu and Kureno returned and started to wrap the jewels around the slaves' necks, wrists, and ankles. More paint was applied to their eyelids and thin leather sandals were slipped onto their small feet.

"Beautiful, yes?" Hatsuharu observed, looking at Yuki with a smile.

Carpus looked away from his work of scrubbing Kisa's head gently and toward Yuki and Ritsu. Bion grinned and agreed eagerly, but Carpus just shrugged and turned back to the girl.

Standing them up, Yuki and Ritsu were inspected once more by Hatsuharu and Kureno, this time from a distance.

"Turn around." Kureno ordered.

They blinked, but obeyed, while looking back at the caretakers, curiously.

"Maybe they're too pretty..." Hatsuharu mumbled with a sigh.

Kureno sighed also, but put on a smile for Ritsu and guided him to the door.

"We'll be waiting for you two outside." Hatsuharu said to Bion and Carpus.

Carpus nodded, "The others will be out there also. We're almost done with this, so tell Akito that Anicetus and Tryphosa will be ready soon."

"Sure thing." Kureno said and then the slaves were guided out.

Though a lot of leg and side was showing, Yuki felt more comfortable in these clothes, rather than the flimsy hand rag, as he liked to call it, that they usually made him wear. The slaves that remained within the "house" watched Yuki and Ritsu proceed down the hall with pondering looks. Obviously, wondering what happened at parties, or rather, what happened to the whores that are sent to entertain.

Yuki, however, figured what would happen, but he would try to avoid it, nonetheless.

Himmels: Now, lets all hope it won't take us nearly as long to finish the next chapter as it did this one. Well, like we said up there, we didn't exactly make this chapter too amusing or anything, but it is a step forward to the party that Draculina has been wanting to do.

Draculina: Yup, yup! If y'all don't mine, I'd like to steer this story more toward Hatsuharu and Yuki. This chapter leads up to a situation (not a good one, though. Your hint of the day!) and then the situation after that leads up to something better! A lot better...

Himmels: Hope everyone is doing well! Oh, by the way, if you are ever wondering how the latest chapter is going, just go to our profile and you'll see if its being written or not.

Draculina: Please review! Hopefully, we'll be able to write some more later! Your reviews shall be our inspiration!