AN:  This is growing on me…But in a good way :D  I still don't own Digimon, and we still have the same couples, yada yada yada

The next morning when Ken work up, he found Takeru still asleep.  He wondered what had upset his new slave to the point of hysterics.  Well, there's nothing to do about that until Takeru wakes up.  But maybe Koushiro might know something that could have set him off, thought Ken.

Ken carefully got out of bed, so not to disturb Takeru.  Takeru slept peacefully on.  Ken walked back to his own bedroom and got dressed for the day, after sending a message to Koushiro to talk to him as soon as possible.  Just after Ken had finished his morning rituals, Koushiro walked in.

"Yes?"

"Did anything unusual happen to set Takeru off like that last night?"

Koushiro slowly shook his head.  "He seemed a little overwhelmed with all the attention, but I didn't think anything of it.  I just assumed that he would be full of questions today about what he is supposed to do around here."

Ken nodded to himself.  "I doubt that he was ever trained to be in a harem."

"But that is good in his case, isn't it?" Ken looked up at the question. "I mean, you aren't going to have a 'normal' harem anyway."

"True.  I just wanted him to be in a safe place and get used to living here.  And what happens happens."

"Looking at his actions last night, I think that it's very possible that he will fall in love with you."

"But why the screaming?"

"I don't know….Jyou did say that he found some rope burns on his wrists.  Maybe it's connected to that?"

"Maybe he was tortured in the past."

"Yet, Jyou said that there weren't any on his ankles.  Why just his wrists?  It doesn't fit."

"It seems like only Takeru would know the answers."  Ken sighed.  "I guess I need to talk to him this morning.  I wanted to give him time to adjust, but this needs to be solved.  There isn't any reason for him to be afraid here."

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Takeru woke up dreaming of red and brown.  When he woke up, he was jolted back into reality.  He had been sold to a new owner, but still had no idea what he was supposed to be doing.  Takeru sat up in his bed and looked around.  He had never seen a room like this given to a slave.  But he had been asked what he would want.  He didn't know what to tell Koushiro.  He didn't understand why he was so important, but the other slaves acted like he was the most important thing to them.

Takeru got up and found the new clothes that Prince Ken had bought him yesterday.  He slowly put them on still wondering what was going to happen to him.  He walked out the door to try to find Koushiro or someone to ask where he was supposed to report.  Outside of the door was a large sunlit room.  On a low table was laid out breakfast and Jyou was sitting down at the table eating.  Takeru walked toward him.

Jyou looked up.  "Good morning.  Are you ready for breakfast?"

"I guess so…Do you know where I'm supposed to go this morning?"

"Koushiro didn't say.  He just left to see Prince Ken, so I'm sure he'll know more when he gets back.  Why don't you sit down and eat."

Takeru sat down carefully.  He was waiting for something else.  He faintly remembered waking up last night, but Jyou wasn't saying anything.  Maybe he didn't scream at night anymore?  Takeru started eating while he wondered.

"How often do you have nightmares?" asked Jyou casually.

Takeru dropped his fork with a clatter.  "I'm sorry.  I'll try not to wake everyone up again."  He looked down at his lap.

"So then you do it often?"

Takeru nodded his head, but still didn't look up.

Koushiro walked in at that moment and sat down at the table with Jyou and Takeru.  He leaned over to kiss Jyou and then looked at Takeru.  "Good morning.  How are you doing, Takeru?"

Takeru looked slowly up at Koushiro.  "I'm ready to learn what I'm supposed to be doing today."

"Nothing," responded Koushiro.  "The Prince would like to see you sometimes this morning, but beyond that all you have to do is to settle in here."

Takeru looked at Koushiro stunned.  "I don't have a job?"

Koushiro smiled at Takeru.  "No.  All you have to do is enjoy yourself.  You have the run of the harem.  You probably shouldn't leave unless you tell me or Jyou where you are going.  And you can't leave the palace without getting permission from Prince Ken.  Beyond that, if you want something, ask me or one of the slaves for it, and we'll try to find it for you."

"I don't understand."

"You don't have to worry about that.  You do need to talk to Ken, though.  He's very worried about your screaming last night."

Takeru sighed.  "I don't know how to stop myself from screaming.  I've done it every night for a long time."

"Every night?" asked Jyou.

Takeru nodded.  "My last masters had me gagged and tied up at night so I wouldn't wake everyone up.  That's the only way I know to stop it."

Koushiro studied Takeru.  "Are you sure that's the only way? You did stop last night.  Don't you remember me and Jyou waking you up?"

Takeru shook his head.  "Not really."

"We woke you up and then Ken came in," explained Koushiro.  "Ken stayed the night with you and you settled down to sleep."

Takeru realized that for some reason, he had decided he was safe with Ken last night.  Why he had made that decision when he wasn't really awake, he wasn't sure.  "I should go and talk to the Prince," said Takeru.

"Eat breakfast first," said Jyou with a smile.  "It will help you face the day.  It always helps me."

"Ah, that's what I need to do then?" asked Koushiro smiling at Jyou.  "I need to just feed you breakfast all day, and then you'll stop worrying?"

Jyou kissed Koushiro.  "I doubt it.  How about you try to make me think of something else?"

"I do have to work, love.  I can't spend all my day in bed…"

Takeru giggled at the two.  He wondered if he could stay here for a long time.  Jyou and Koushiro were definitely friendly, and if Prince Ken was really as nice as Koushiro made him seem, then things would be good here.