"He's indeed as beautiful as you two had described. So white, so pure, so fragile. Ahh, he made my inner desire pop out, that's no good, no good…"
Hideo and Katsuo trembled with slight fear and disgust when they heard his words. The two were being summoned by their superior again, and it looks like he had called them just to boast to them about being with Killua. Since their superior had his eyes on the one they had desired so much, they had to reluctantly let go of the one they had visited frequently in the past.
Why?
Because nothing comes out good when you mess with Ryou, and his marked property.
And that is the harsh truth for those in absolute power.
"Ah, Ryou-sama has come again." Killua beamed with happiness when he saw his frequent customer.
Gon frowned in slight jealously. Killua didn't have to be that happy right? Is that Ryou-sama really that nice of a person?
Killua noticed that Gon had suddenly gone silent and immediately linked up. He jogged over to Gon and with quick stealth, placed a chaste peck on his cheek.
"Don't be jealous. You know that I'm just happy that a customer doesn't want me to service him that way."
Gon sighed in exasperation. He knows, he of course understands! But he just couldn't control his emotions. Just try experiencing witnessing your lover being euphoric when his customer comes, that feeling is awful.
Gon faked a slight smile and nodded in understanding. He could not do anything to stop him anyway could he? Killua pouted a little at Gon's unwillingness, but goes off just the same. If he had kept Ryou-sama waiting any longer, Ms Ran would have his head.
"Killua, looking great and beautiful as always."
Killua blushed under his comment. He just could not get used to this kind of thing.
"Thank you for your praise Ryou-sama, but I'm not that pretty as what you had said."
"Nonsense, if you are ranked second, nobody will take the first place. Anyway, tonight I have come with a little harmless and beneficial proposal for you."
Killua blinked in surprise and curiosity. Proposal?
In response to his confusion, Ryou-sama chuckled a bit before answering, "It's nothing big, I would just want you to accept this proposal of being my mistress. I have a wife, but I'm sure she doesn't mind…"
Killua tuned out the rest of his little persuasion speech. Proposal to be his mistress? Is he even hearing things correctly?
"E-Excuse me, but did I heard you wrongly? Did you just say—"
"Yes, Killua, you have not heard me wrongly. I do wish you to be my mistress. I promise I will be good to you. You also can your freedom as you wish. So what do you think of this proposal?"
Killua began to panic.
"W-What?! Mistress?! No way! N-No! W-What I meant wa-was…"
Ryou-sama's features had darkened significantly when he heard the fierce rejection coming out from the other party, and chose to let Killua see it clearly. Killua who had noticed his sour expression, kept quiet and averted his eyes away from his customer.
Ryou-sama suddenly stood up, which elicit a same response from Killua. His tone was hard and cold as he spoke:
"I will tolerate your actions tonight and will give you some more time to think about it. I will come again tomorrow night to hear your response again. But I do hope it's a favourable one. Do you understand what I'm saying here?"
Killua shivered slightly as if a cold wind had blown passed him. Feeling nothing but numb fear, he could only nod his head in response.
Ryou-sama muttered a "Good.", before slapping a wad of cash on the table and leaving the shop, leaving a scared-out-of-his-wits Killua behind him.
"Killua, what happened? You looked so pale."
Gon rushed over to his new found lover, and forced him to take a seat. He handed him a glass of water, but when Killua was receiving it, Gon noticed with slight worry that his hands are trembling.
Killua took his sip of water, his whole body still shivering slightly. He was shocked. He was afraid. He was terrified. What had happened to the Ryou-sama who he had assumed to know?
Or was just now the real side of him?
Amaki was just passing by when he noticed the distressed pair sitting in one corner. He furrowed his eyebrow when he saw the look of fear plastered on Killua's pale face, his senses all alert as he jogged towards them.
"Killua?"
Amaki wanted to butcher the person who dared to land Killua in such a pathetic state—his eyes screamed fear when he looked up slowly.
A rare serious look took over Amaki's worried expression and he grab Killua's shoulders firmly before he demanded:
"Explain, now."
Amaki clicked his tongue after Killua had told them his story. Killua had sure caught the eyes of someone who is a bastard.
Killua had calmed down now, his eyes darting to and fro from Amaki to Gon. He was concerned of how Gon will think. His eyes were unreadable.
"…Killua, do you want to marry him?"
Killua's world came to a complete stop; his senses noted dully that he had dropped his glass of water, the sound of glass shattering matches the sound of his heart breaking.
What did he just say?
Does Gon want him to marry him?
Gon was alarmed when the glass dropped to the ground, and his eyes darted towards Killua. His eyes were wide with surprise and betrayal, his mouth opened agape and tears welling up in his hurt eyes.
Gon immediately knew what Killua was jumping to conclusions and quickly hugged him tightly towards his chest, explaining in a rush, "No! That's not what I meant!"
Amaki sighed before he walked in front of Killua and grabbed his face to look at him, pinching his tear-streaked cheeks as he helped to explain things more clearly, "Killua, what Gon meant was if you really want to marry Ryou-sama, he will not blame you. He will respect your decision. He just wants to make you happy. Right Gon?"
Killua turned his head to see Gon nodding his head vigorously, and he quickly answered Gon, "No, I don't want to marry him. You should know that I love you…"
Gon gave his famous grin and hugged Killua even tighter. "That's good to hear then!"
"Pardon me if I had intruded your happy time, but we need to think of a way of how to reply to Ryou-sama."
Gon, with his eyes blazing with determination, just plainly said, "Just say that Killua doesn't want to. He cannot force Killua anyway."
Amaki want to smack Gon for being so naïve and senseless. Of course Ryou-sama has the ability to force Killua to marry. Just a sum of money can settle Ms Ran into selling Killua for marriage. Once he had bought Killua, Killua will be his property, and he can do whatever he wants, including the goddamn marriage.
Killua then spoke up, "I agree with Gon. Although I understand that he still has his ways to force me, I will try my best to negotiate this matter with him peacefully. How the talk end, will depend on his reaction to my rejection."
Amaki looked helplessly at Killua, knowing that his friend have got a point here.
Now he could only pray that everything will go way as they wish to…
"Hmmm, so he was an orphan huh? Interesting. Yoru, prepare some men. We are going to pay a visit to a certain orphanage."
"Yes, Ryou-sama."
"…What are you all planning to do? The orphanage is closed for today sire…"
"Hmmm, what's your name little girl?"
"A-Asami..."
"Good girl." A pat on the head. "Take her."
"W-What?! No! Sire! Please don't—"A ruthless punch in the gut.
"Shut up woman. Nobody asked for your opinion here."
"Sensei! Sensei! Help me!"
Cries, wails, desperate screams.
"Knock her out, her screams are annoying."
"Yes Ryou-sama."
A scream that died halfway.
"Hmmm, cut for me a lock of her hair. It should serve its purpose well enough."
Yes Ryou-sama."
Snip.
An evil laughter filled the night.
The next night quickly arrived.
Killua find himself biting his nails in anxiousness. What if Ryou-sama doesn't accept no as an answer? He's not stupid. He knows that anyone with no worries in finance have the power and money to buy what he desires, and Killua was afraid that Ryou-sama will not be an exception.
Especially after what he had witnessed yesterday night.
To be honest, he was shocked to see the one hundred and eighty degrees change of personality of Ryou-sama. He had always been nice and patient towards him, with no desire to engage in sexual activities with him. He was the only one that Killua feel rarely comfortable with a customer. That was why Killua had always looked forward to their meetings every night.
Until the night before.
No doubt, Killua had felt a little betrayal at the sudden change of character. He should have known that all officials are just wealthy bastards that only know how to use their authority and money to get the things they want.
Damn corrupted bastards.
Rage was slowly surging within Killua, his previous nervousness replaced by the bubbling anger. Why should he be afraid of him? He just had to decline the offer as politely and calmly as he can and quickly escape. That's all.
Killua nodded to himself in self-encouragement. He need not be afraid at all!
"Killua~ Ryou-sama is here~"
The annoyingly sweet voice of Ms Ran startled him from his train of thoughts. Killua gulped nervously despite the pep talk he had done just now, his anger dissipating quickly in an instant. He clutched the material of his only piece of clothing tightly and began to make his way over very slowly.
Where's Gon now when he need him the most?
Killua can see Ryou-sama swirling his glass of wine as he was nearing him. Even after Killua had sat down beside him, quite a distance away, Ryou-sama didn't even look up once.
Killua bit his lower lip and thought, did he not notice me?
Just when Killua was about to call out to the other, Ryou-sama interrupted him by speaking suddenly, his voice cold and superior:
"I sure hope I can get a reply I want from you tonight."
Killua averted his eyes away; it was obvious that Ryou-sama was trying to threaten him with that authority of his. And guess what? Killua will not be terrified of him!
"Then I'm sorry to let you hear this: I must decline your offer."
His voice did not shake one bit and he sounded confident. Way to go, me!
"Oh? Is that so?"
Killus froze in the middle of his mental victory dance. Wait. Something's not right.
"Then what will you say when you see this?"
Killua widened his eyes in horror. No way…i-it couldn't be…
Pinched between Ryou-sama's thumb and forefinger was a lock of hair. It wasn't any lock of hair. Its colour alerted Killua in a bad manner, the colour that looked so familiar…
The colour of hair belonging to Asami.
…N-No, he wouldn't…And it doesn't really mean its Asami right? That might be someone else with the same hair colour!
"Ah, the little girl, how adorable. Asami, was it?"
Something snapped within Killua and he pounced on Ryou-sama, his hands clutching the silk fabric of Ryou-sama's clothing.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER GODDAMN BASTARD?!"
The commotion attracted a crowd surrounding their table, and a few of Killua's colleagues went forward to control the thrashing Killua.
Ryou-sama brushed imaginary dirt from his clothing when he was released, regaining his composure once more, but with an addition of an evil smirk plastered on his face. "Relax Killua, I didn't do anything bad to her. She's just resting comfortably in my home, shielded from the cold and hunger. But I don't know what will happen to her if you continue to refuse me…"
Killua bit his lip until it bled, that jerk was threatening him!
In the corner of his eyes, he noticed that Gon and Amaki had rushed forward to help control Killua, confusion and panic written all over their faces.
"I will give you another chance, Killua. You see, I'm a patient man. But I always make sure that my patience comes with a reward in the end. So, you better not disappoint me when I come to visit tomorrow night."
With the smirk still plastered on his face, he placed a wad of cash on the table before passing by Killua to leave, his smirk widening if possible when he saw the look of pure rage on Killua's face.
Killua spat ungraciously on the floor when he couldn't do anything to stop the bastard from leaving, earning a few disgusted gasps from the crowd.
He couldn't care that much; his only concern now is Asami's safety.
Asami, I hope you are alright.
I'm so so so so sorry for this late update. *bows 90 degrees* School schedule was hectic and I was stressed out. So many things to do, so little time. Even though I have a week of holiday (it should be called a term break actually), I find myself coming back to school for most of the days. I have tests after this term break and I have not even studied for half of the subjects. Excuses, excuses, excuses. I really should stop this. Anyway, I hope this chapter will make up for the wait if it's possible. I really tried to make it longer. Well, I hope I can find time for the next update. *sighs* Well, hope that I will be able to update again within this year, adieu~