Hi! I just want to say thank you so much for reading and giving me feedback on my story! I finally reached 500 reviews and I am extremely grateful :') I hope you enjoy this chapter! :D
Hiroki sank to his knees, in front of the wide-open door. His face was stoic for just a second, and then small tears began cascading down his pink-tinted cheeks. The man sniffled, and finally, broke down. He sobbed bitterly into his hands, hating himself, Nowaki, Miyagi, the guards...everyone who seemed to screw up his happiness. To him, happiness didn't exist without Nowaki in it.
"What do I do now? Without Nowaki...I am nothing," Hiroki whispered to himself, immediately slamming a hand to his mouth.
Miyagi moved from his position near his wife, to kneel on the floor in front of Hiroki.
"That's not true," the elder spoke softly, placing a comforting hand on Hiroki's back.
"It is!" Hiroki yelled, shrugging Miyagi off. "Why didn't he take me!? I don't get it!"
"Well...at least you're safe here. We'll do whatever we can to get Nowaki back," Miyagi spoke softly, comforting the weeping man.
"Really? Because I think that of all the people you're the one who wanted him gone the most because you-" Hiroki looked up to see that Risako and Shinobu were still in the room, looking at him in curiosity.
He wasn't a monster to just out Miyagi like that.
"Just please...leave me alone right now," the brunet wiped up his eyes, staggered up, and walked to his room. The last the three heard was a long slam of the door.
"I feel so bad for him," Risako's face contorted in sheer pity.
Miyagi and Shinobu stared incredulously at the teary-eyed woman. They never saw the apparently-heartless Risako get genuinely emotional and feel pity for a stranger.
"What!" Risako barked at the two, using the back of her hand to quickly wipe up a single tear that rolled down.
"Sorry...it's nothing," Miyagi murmured.
There was really nothing to be done. Everything was over. Miyagi should have felt relief, but he couldn't. The haunted gaze in Hiroki's eyes really frightened him. He had messed up and he knew it. But oh, how desperately he wanted to keep Hiroki all to himself. He wanted the snappy brunet to give him a chance. A small window through which he could get to Hiroki and make him his. However, that window now seemed forever shut, as Hiroki mourned the departure of his beloved.
Nowaki sat in the car, his hands still tied behind his back, extremely uncomfortable. Anxiety was eating him alive, crawling through his skin, slithering in his bones. What was going to happen now? Surely Akihiko would be in a rage, when really, he had no right to be.
'I hate him.'
This thought kept circling in Nowaki's mind, sending raging fire through his veins.
'After everything. After the sessions, the talks, I thought he understood. I thought he would lay off us. That man has no gratitude. I can't stand him!' the slave shut his eyes tightly, willing his anger to subside
"You excited to go home big guy?"
Nowaki bit his tongue, tensing his jaw. He looked out the window, seeing the city go by him in lightning speed. How he wished that he was a bird, so he could fly out of the open window, back to Hiroki.
'He's left there all alone...he doesn't even know these people. They seem nice, but that woman...she's really judgmental. What if she tries to hurt Hiro-san? He's fragile now. He needs me...' Nowaki swallowed thickly, when he felt an elbow nudge his ribs.
"You just gonna sit like that till we get there?" one of the men asked playfully
"Answer when you're asked a question," the driver commanded sternly, shooting Nowaki a dangerous glance.
"Sorry," Nowaki offered quietly, moving his wrists as much as he could to get them into a better position.
The tall men felt the anxiety settle over him again. He couldn't think of the worst possible scenario of when he gets back to his cell. He didn't want to sound ungrateful, but after the comfortable atmosphere in Miyagi's home, he wasn't sure how he would adjust to the harsh conditions once more. He remembered the beatings, the rapes, the tears...everything. Closing his eyes, images of the horror haunted him. Everything replayed itself in his mind. Nowaki eventually willed his body to relax enough to fall into a terror-filled sleep.
"Hey...Akihiko...um I don't really know how to start but-"
"The men took Nowaki today didn't they?" Akihiko sat in a plush chair, dragging on his cigarette.
"Yea...um, are you sure that was the best decision? We would have housed Nowaki you know. We have room," Miyagi's worried voice sounded on the other line of the phone.
"Are you trying to steal my property?" Akihiko's voice held a tone of indifference.
"Hah...no, not really. It's just that..." Miyagi was incredibly uncomfortable, "the parting was...how do I put it...rather dramatic."
"Oh shit. Did Kamijou cause a scene again? What a bitch...sorry about that," Akihiko apologized, his eyes cold, staring straight ahead of him.
"They were in pain, Akihiko. Heck, we all were. I mean," Miyagi cupped his hand on the phone and mumbled, "even Risako teared up."
"Isn't this what you wanted? No distractions? Now you have Kamijou all to yourself. Have fun," Akihiko was becoming aggravated, preparing to slam down the receiver.
"Yes, yes Akihiko but I can't help but feel sympathy for Nowaki."
"Oh yea? Well he's not different than any of the others. I don't see why you're defending him so strongly, Miyagi. You yourself said that you hate the guy. Anyway, I needed him," Akihiko said matter-of-factly.
Miyagi winced on the other line, "Yea...but don't you have others?"
"Nowaki's special," Akihiko's eyes gleamed.
"Ugh," Miyagi gagged, "Whatever. Just saying...the way those two clung to each other got to me. I'm not going to start judging you though. I just thought...I don't know," Miyagi shook his head.
"He's mine. I need him most of all," Akihiko stated firmly, "And as for your whole 'I except you' crap, you're not really playing your part."
"Akihiko, you sound a bit tense. Is everything alright? Did something happen?"
"No...just a lot of stress lately," Akihiko sighed, stubbing out his cig.
"Stress? From what?!" the elder laughed, "You're living the dream! You don't know how lucky you are."
"Uhuh," Akihiko said, his tone hinting a bit of sadness. "I guess."
"Just...go easy on him alright? Yea, I thought I'd hate his guts too, but Nowaki's a good kid."
"Yea, sure," the silver-haired man offered, "I have to go now okay?"
"Mmhmm. Good luck with everything. Bye."
Akihiko put down the phone, and got off his chair.
'I wonder where he is now. What is he doing? Is he thinking of me? Of what happened? I have to go see him. I miss his presence,' with these thoughts, Akihiko left his room, quickly walking down the hallways, silently counting the room numbers.
Akihko let out his breath when he finally saw the room. That one door hid his newest treasure. Gently knocking on it, Akihiko held his breath. Nothing.
"No...this isn't happening again, no way," the man's heart started beating fast, until he couldn't take it anymore.
His hands shook, as he reached or his pocket to retrieve the keys. He drew in his breath, not sure what to expect as he opened the door. Surely, Misaki had not escaped. The keys rattled in Akihiko's sweaty hand, as he tried to fit the key into the lock.
"Misaki," Akihiko cooed gently, popping his head into the door.
Violet eyes noticed a lump laying on the bed, it's limbs withdrawn into itself.
"Misaki," Akihiko called louder.
The lump just hugged itself tighter, it's spine tensing.
Akihiko's eyes softened, "You're adorable."
He walked closer to Misaki, noting with dismay how the boy withdrew himself, edging farther from the elder.
"Don't be scared, it's just me. I'm not going to hurt you," Akihiko placed a large hand on Misaki's back, it's coldness chilling Misaki to the core.
"D-d-don't touch m-m-me," Misaki blubbered, his voice barely hiding the fact that he had been crying.
"Misaki," Akihiko breathed sympathetically, "what happened?"
For the first time, Misaki turned slowly and looked at Akihiko. His eyes were puffy, and bloodshot-red. His whole face was red, with tear stains down his cheeks.
"You- you know very well what happened! You r-r..." Misaki burst into tears.
Akihiko stared at the boy until it finally hit him. His purple irises widened in pure shock. Had their lovemaking been misinterpreted by his lover? Had it been seen as an act of brutality rather than an act of love to his slave?
"You think I raped you?" Akihko couldn't help but sound a bit angry and hurt.
"I know you did. You waited till I was d-drunk so that I c-couldn't resist," Misaki started hiccup-sobbing, "and you took advantage of me. That's pretty low...considering you could have screwed me any time you wanted anyway."
"I didn't rape you! We... made love," Akihiko's voice wavered.
Misaki's words couldn't help but pierce Akihiko's growing happiness ever since that night.
"I wouldn't call it that," Misaki rolled over to his side once more, not being able to face his attacker.
"How could you say that! I told you everything. I thought you understood!" Akihiko was started to get really angry, raising his voice at Misaki.
Misaki froze, scared to make the wrong move. He didn't want to get beat by his captor.
"Why are you so scared of me..." Akihiko's voice shook from the sadness and anger he suddenly felt.
"That's a dumb question," Misaki scoffed.
"Look at me!" Akihiko yelled, grabbing the teen's wrist and spinning him around.
"You stole me! You stole me, kept me in a pitch-black room, forced me to strip and then raped me! H-How else," Misaki wiped up the tears now spilling from his eyes, "how else am I supposed to feel!"
"I haven't raped you!" Akihiko slammed his head on the heel of his hand in frustration.
In a frenzy, Akihiko pulled up his shirt sleeve, pointing frantically to the scars that plagued his arm.
"Don't you remember this? All of it?"
Misaki stared in confusion at the scars, trying to recall anything from that night.
"N-not really," the teen whimpered, still deadly-scared of his master.
Misaki couldn't look Akihiko straight in the eye. The cold violet sent shivers of fear through him.
Akihiko clenched his jaw, feeling as if he'd been stabbed with a thousand knives. He had told Misaki everything about him, and the boy didn't remember.
In despair, the older man grabbed both of Misaki's wrists, shaking the boy, "Look at me! You don't remember anything besides that?"
Misaki winced at the tight grip on his skin. He wasn't comfortable with having the master so close to him.
"I-I remember you told me s-some sad story and I fell for it. And then you-you took advantage of me," Misaki averted his eyes.
The silver-haired man stared back at his slave in bafflement.
"And here I thought I could trust you. Thought that you, unlike everybody, understood me. But you're no better. You're worse than all the other whores! You can just forget that things ever happened for your own sake, not thinking of anyone else!"
Misaki's eyes watered in fear. What had he done wrong? He didn't know.
"Please let me go," Misaki's voice was almost a whisper.
"I can't. You're mine now. And you yourself committed to that," Akihiko's stare was cold, cruel.
Misaki winced at the reminder of what happened.
"Maybe this can jot your memory," Akihiko forced his lips on Misaki's.
"Stop!" Misaki panicked, waving his still-trapped fists around.
Akihiko ran his hands down Misaki's arms, gently, trying to suppress his own anger and calm Misaki down. However, it was to no avail.
Misaki bit Akihiko's tongue, punching the man hard in his chest. Akihiko, shocked, stepped back and stared incredulously at Misaki.
"I hate you," Misaki trembled, awaiting the final blow that would knock him out.
At that Akihiko's eyes widened, and a small tear rolled down his cheekbone.
"Well that's really too bad. I was just going to get you out of this cell. I guess you like your new home a lot," his voice was low, a cruel smirk playing on his lips, seeing Misaki's stunned expression.
"Please, let me go," Misaki whimpered, " I want to go home."
"And where exactly is that?" Akihiko crossed his arms.
"I- I want to go back to my parents," the brunet said sadly.
"Poor boy, still in denial of your situation. You still don't get it? They're not even your parents anymore. You're my property. And property has no family," the elder informed his slave.
"Stop saying that about me! I'm not property!"
"You know what? You weren't," Akihiko smiled sadly to himself, "until you betrayed me."
"Betrayed?!"
"Yes! I told you everything about me! Secrets that I have never told anybody else," Akihiko hissed bitterly.
The brunet concentrated, trying to find truth in his captor's words. A sudden realization hit Misaki. He now remembered exactly what Akihiko had told him. Guilt overtook the boy, but it quickly turned into disbelief.
"You just told me that to sleep with me. You knew that if you got me all emotional, then I wouldn't put up that much of a fight!"
"You were the one who asked! You asked why I was hurting my slaves! And you told me that if I told you everything, we would... make love," Akihiko was desperate, trying to remind Misaki of what happened.
Misaki pursed his lips. He remember everything clearly now. He couldn't deny any of it. The story of the rape of his master, the tears, the scars, and then...
But what could he do now? Nothing. He couldn't admit to it. It was embarrassing. And with the side effects of their night, Misaki was struck with horror.
"You remember now, don't you," Akihiko said with a bittersweet smile.
Misaki looked at his captor, his green eyes wide and fearful.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Now that you remember, why do you still resent me? See? You gave yourself to me. Why must you refuse me now," Akihiko spoke with sadness and despair etched in his voice.
The brunet gapped, unable to say it. He couldn't tell Akihiko. What would the man say?
Memories of their passion flooded back into his head. How he'd wanted to kiss Akihiko, to touch him. How he'd found him beautiful, and had wanted to heal the hurting man. Why couldn't he feel it now? Staring at the master, Misaki couldn't feel the warmth and happiness that he'd felt before. Something about the man was different. He'd put up the controlling persona again. Even as the man was breaking down in front of him, Misaki still felt fear. Fear for what the man might do to him.
'What if he decides to...take me again? What if it's painful and bloody? What would he do if he found out my secret?'
"W-what are you going to do to me?" Misaki asked, his whole frame shaking
"Nothing. I can't do anything to you," Akihiko kneeled in front of his slave. "I love you too much to hurt you. I was going to ...but I can't. You're too precious for me. All that's left for me to do is wait. Wait for your recognition and acceptance," Akihiko stared into the green pools that had enticed him so long ago.
Misaki felt tears in his eyes. This was way too confusing. The man's moods were as unstable as ever. One moment Akihiko was about to rape him, and the next he's kneeling in front of him, putting Misaki in control.
"I-I can't," Misaki choked out.
'Why the hell am I feeling bad for him now! It's those damned eyes. They see right through me, pierce me, hypnotize me.'
"Don't let anything hold you back. Please be with me," Akihiko begged quietly.
"I can't," Misaki said in a smaller voice.
"Why not?"
'It's so embarrassing to say,' Misaki gulped.
"I-I don't...I don't want to... I can't!" Misaki rambled.
"It's okay. You don't have to do that," Akihiko assured his love.
"Why do you like me so much? I'm just a whore," Misaki asked sadly.
"You're not a whore. And I don't just 'like you'. I love you. I can't live without you anymore. I need you," the man breathed, trying to win over Misaki's trust.
Slowly, his cold hands moved to touch Misaki's smaller ones.
Misaki flinched away. When he saw that the man wasn't going to assault him, he turned his face towards Akihiko.
"Just a minute ago, you were so angry... you scare me," Misaki's voice had a small tremble to it.
"I'm sorry...I guess you've noticed by now that...I can't control my emotions too well. I'm very sorry. And just so you know, I had no intention of hurting you," Akihiko confessed, even though he had to admit that he wasn't too sure about the last part.
The attraction was there; Misaki couldn't deny it. He had, unintentionally, come to like his master. However, it was more of Akihiko's looks than anything that attracted Misaki.
'Maybe if he really does change, we can be together. I want to help him, but what if he stays cruel and heartless?'
"A-and there's another thing..." Misaki said, his cheeks flushing.
"What is it, love?"
"I can't be with you if...if you continue to..."
"I won't I promise."
"I love you, Misaki. I mean it," Akihiko moved in to gently embrace the boy.
"Okay," Misaki said, nervously.
"Come with me," Akihiko took Misaki's hand, gently pulling him up.
"Where are we going?" Misaki's voice shook from the cold in his cellar.
Akihiko noted the dark circles underneath Misaki's eyes. The boy was also skinnier.
"Have you been eating?" Akihiko asked with worry.
"Not since..." Misaki didn't dare look at the other man. His cheeks were blazing.
"Are you insane?!" the man's hands traveled to Misaki's sides, feeling the weight loss.
"Lets go," Akihiko pulled Misaki with him.
"Where!?"
"My room," the man said, his mind set on bringing Misaki into good shape.