Master
I wake.
I roll over. The boy is still sleeping, back propped against the wall. His cheek rests on his bound hands.
I'm surprised he's still even here. I half expected him to slit my throat and run off in the night. But he didn't.
It seems I judged his situation well. He is a street urchin who has no place to go and no one to go to. No trade. No money. Nothing but the clothes on his back and what he can steal from others. The fact that he was caught shows he isn't a very successful thief.
He will stay and serve me well.
I sit up, slipping my legs over the side of the bed. The floor is cool beneath my bare feet. The air chill against my naked skin.
The boy stirs. Moaning softly. His eyes are still closed.
I turn away, pulling on some clothes. I braid my hair tightly. I throw it over my shoulder. It's a heavy weight against my back.
I face the boy.
His blue eyes are slits. Watching me.
"Did you sleep well?"
He sits. Studying me.
I untie him. He stands, rubbing his wrists. His blue eyes never leave my face. They are searching. Searching for my reason. Why I would keep him from punishment.
His stomach growls. Embarrassment reddens his cheeks. He lowers his gaze.
I smile at this. 'He is still a growing boy.' I resist the urge to run my nail along his jaw.
"I will show you the kitchen." I open the door. Leading. I hear him following me. "From now on I expect you to fetch breakfast each morning."
"Yes, Master."
I glance over my shoulder. I barely suppress my cackle.
It's almost a dream come true. Being called master.
The kitchen is bustling. Cooks are always busy preparing food. Jia notices us first. Walking over she studies the boy. Her eyes questioning, assessing. The boy is doing likewise, except with a little more attraction.
This will do no good. I can't have the boy making eyes at Jia and I can't rely on Jia to not do the same. Something will have to be done. A little illusion, a glamour perhaps. Or a little manipulation, twisting of emotions.
"Ryo Chuin." She nods her head politely.
"Jia." I say her name smoothly. My gaze catching hers. I communicate in that glance, an apology, almost, at least that's what she will interpret it as. She nods. "I will need bath water to be sent to my room, along with some clothes, a screen and a mat." I will keep her from Kuroudo with the false hope of having me.
"Of course." She nods, lowering her eyes. "You will be performing tonight?" I nod. "Ryo Chuin, who is the boy?" She asks timidly, remembering my bursts of anger.
"He is my servant, Kuroudo."
The head chef hands me a plate of fresh rolls.
We return to my room.
A few minutes later a screen is brought in. It is absolutely beautiful. Cranes wade through long grass, their elegant wings spread for flight or sinuous necks curved downward, hunting. When I asked Jia for a screen, I never thought one so magnificent as this would be produced.
I have the servants, struggling under its weight, place the screen in front of the tub.
I admire the cranes while I wait for water to be brought.
There is a sharp knock. Kuroudo is sitting. Lost in his thoughts. Not noticing.
"Kuroudo." I startle him. "Get the door."
He jumps at my command. Opening the door, Jia enters. Struggling with two buckets of steaming water. Kuroudo takes one, receiving a blush from Jia. They pour the water into the tub. Jia turns to leave, bowing. She closes the door behind her.
"The bath is for you." He stares. Blue eyes watching. "I can't have a servant of mine reek." He reddens. "While you are bathing," how I wish I could stay, "I will get you appropriate clothing."
I leave the room. Standing outside the door, I wait. It is a long time before I hear movement. I shake my head in amusement as I hear a yelp and a splash.
I continue down the hall.
I pull the burnoose from the peg.
[ ]
Outside it is bright and hot. I make my way quickly to the clothing shop. This will be a short trip. I know exactly where to go and what I want.
I turn a corner. Sticking to the shadows.
Something simple, but well fitted.
I walk into the shop where I first had my "run in" with Kuroudo. It is dark inside. I take a moment to let my eyes adjust. The man behind the counter smiles at me. I have become his favorite customer. I performer needs costumes and he happens to have the best selection. I personally despise the man. He over charges and has an awful sense of fashion.
I find a white shirt, open at the collar and a pair of dark blue pants. I buy them. The old man gives me a discount and hopes that I return soon.
Next I find shoes. The boy will need work shoes and boots. I also need boots. Riding boots, for when I return to Nakago. I can hardly be wearing house slippers when I first present myself to my shogun.
I find the shoemaker. Along with two pairs of black knee high boots, I find a black belt. It will define the boy's waist and bring out the width of his shoulders.
I step back into the road. Returning to the inn.
It is well past noon.
[ ]
The boy is clean standing in his dirty clothes. Looking lost.
I scowl. "You take a bath to get clean and then put something clean on. Not your soiled clothes." I push him behind the screen. Handing him the new clothes. "Put these on. And give me those rags."
He soon tosses over his old clothes. He walks from behind the screen.
I catch my breath. The pants are a little loose, but the shirt hangs open, revealing a well- muscled chest.
"Excellent." I whisper to myself. "Here," I say to him, "this belt will help." I walk up to him. I circle my arms around his waist, putting on the belt. He jumps. I breathe in his masculine scent. My hair brushes his arm. He shivers. "That looks much better." I step back to look at him.
'Nakago.' He is the exact image of my shogun.
"I am going to practice for my performance tonight. You can stay and watch, or find something else to occupy your time. After the performance, have a hot bath ready for me." I begin my mental exercises. He sits. Blue eyes watching. I picture the illusion and then I conjure it. Butterflies. Golden- shimmering butterflies fill the room. Kuroudo gasps. Eyes wide, wondering. He lifts a hand, trying to catch one. It disappears in a cloud of dust. Bathing his face in an orange glow.
I clear my mind. The room empties.
[ ]
I open the door. Kuroudo is sitting on his mat. A bath is waiting for me.
The inn was crowded tonight. The ale and sake flowing more freely than normal. A rowdy bunch. They wore me out.
This bath is going to feel wonderful.
I pull off my overcoat, hanging it on a peg. I sit. I yank off my boots. I grab a cloth from the table and wipe the paint from my face.
I stand, half naked, pulling my hair from its ties. Piece by piece it cascades down my back. One tie is knotted. It's on the back of my head. I can't reach it to untie it.
"Kuroudo," his name rolls of my tongue, "untie this for me."
He hesitates, stepping forward, taking my hair into his hands. He undoes the tie. Fingers tangled in my hair. Turning my head, his fingers slip through my locks. He stiffens, jerking his hands away.
"Thank you." I purr, looking into his face. He does not meet my eyes.
Behind the screen, I pull off my pants. I slip into the steaming water with a sigh. Resting my eyes.
Darkness.
I wake.
I roll over. The boy is still sleeping, back propped against the wall. His cheek rests on his bound hands.
I'm surprised he's still even here. I half expected him to slit my throat and run off in the night. But he didn't.
It seems I judged his situation well. He is a street urchin who has no place to go and no one to go to. No trade. No money. Nothing but the clothes on his back and what he can steal from others. The fact that he was caught shows he isn't a very successful thief.
He will stay and serve me well.
I sit up, slipping my legs over the side of the bed. The floor is cool beneath my bare feet. The air chill against my naked skin.
The boy stirs. Moaning softly. His eyes are still closed.
I turn away, pulling on some clothes. I braid my hair tightly. I throw it over my shoulder. It's a heavy weight against my back.
I face the boy.
His blue eyes are slits. Watching me.
"Did you sleep well?"
He sits. Studying me.
I untie him. He stands, rubbing his wrists. His blue eyes never leave my face. They are searching. Searching for my reason. Why I would keep him from punishment.
His stomach growls. Embarrassment reddens his cheeks. He lowers his gaze.
I smile at this. 'He is still a growing boy.' I resist the urge to run my nail along his jaw.
"I will show you the kitchen." I open the door. Leading. I hear him following me. "From now on I expect you to fetch breakfast each morning."
"Yes, Master."
I glance over my shoulder. I barely suppress my cackle.
It's almost a dream come true. Being called master.
The kitchen is bustling. Cooks are always busy preparing food. Jia notices us first. Walking over she studies the boy. Her eyes questioning, assessing. The boy is doing likewise, except with a little more attraction.
This will do no good. I can't have the boy making eyes at Jia and I can't rely on Jia to not do the same. Something will have to be done. A little illusion, a glamour perhaps. Or a little manipulation, twisting of emotions.
"Ryo Chuin." She nods her head politely.
"Jia." I say her name smoothly. My gaze catching hers. I communicate in that glance, an apology, almost, at least that's what she will interpret it as. She nods. "I will need bath water to be sent to my room, along with some clothes, a screen and a mat." I will keep her from Kuroudo with the false hope of having me.
"Of course." She nods, lowering her eyes. "You will be performing tonight?" I nod. "Ryo Chuin, who is the boy?" She asks timidly, remembering my bursts of anger.
"He is my servant, Kuroudo."
The head chef hands me a plate of fresh rolls.
We return to my room.
A few minutes later a screen is brought in. It is absolutely beautiful. Cranes wade through long grass, their elegant wings spread for flight or sinuous necks curved downward, hunting. When I asked Jia for a screen, I never thought one so magnificent as this would be produced.
I have the servants, struggling under its weight, place the screen in front of the tub.
I admire the cranes while I wait for water to be brought.
There is a sharp knock. Kuroudo is sitting. Lost in his thoughts. Not noticing.
"Kuroudo." I startle him. "Get the door."
He jumps at my command. Opening the door, Jia enters. Struggling with two buckets of steaming water. Kuroudo takes one, receiving a blush from Jia. They pour the water into the tub. Jia turns to leave, bowing. She closes the door behind her.
"The bath is for you." He stares. Blue eyes watching. "I can't have a servant of mine reek." He reddens. "While you are bathing," how I wish I could stay, "I will get you appropriate clothing."
I leave the room. Standing outside the door, I wait. It is a long time before I hear movement. I shake my head in amusement as I hear a yelp and a splash.
I continue down the hall.
I pull the burnoose from the peg.
[ ]
Outside it is bright and hot. I make my way quickly to the clothing shop. This will be a short trip. I know exactly where to go and what I want.
I turn a corner. Sticking to the shadows.
Something simple, but well fitted.
I walk into the shop where I first had my "run in" with Kuroudo. It is dark inside. I take a moment to let my eyes adjust. The man behind the counter smiles at me. I have become his favorite customer. I performer needs costumes and he happens to have the best selection. I personally despise the man. He over charges and has an awful sense of fashion.
I find a white shirt, open at the collar and a pair of dark blue pants. I buy them. The old man gives me a discount and hopes that I return soon.
Next I find shoes. The boy will need work shoes and boots. I also need boots. Riding boots, for when I return to Nakago. I can hardly be wearing house slippers when I first present myself to my shogun.
I find the shoemaker. Along with two pairs of black knee high boots, I find a black belt. It will define the boy's waist and bring out the width of his shoulders.
I step back into the road. Returning to the inn.
It is well past noon.
[ ]
The boy is clean standing in his dirty clothes. Looking lost.
I scowl. "You take a bath to get clean and then put something clean on. Not your soiled clothes." I push him behind the screen. Handing him the new clothes. "Put these on. And give me those rags."
He soon tosses over his old clothes. He walks from behind the screen.
I catch my breath. The pants are a little loose, but the shirt hangs open, revealing a well- muscled chest.
"Excellent." I whisper to myself. "Here," I say to him, "this belt will help." I walk up to him. I circle my arms around his waist, putting on the belt. He jumps. I breathe in his masculine scent. My hair brushes his arm. He shivers. "That looks much better." I step back to look at him.
'Nakago.' He is the exact image of my shogun.
"I am going to practice for my performance tonight. You can stay and watch, or find something else to occupy your time. After the performance, have a hot bath ready for me." I begin my mental exercises. He sits. Blue eyes watching. I picture the illusion and then I conjure it. Butterflies. Golden- shimmering butterflies fill the room. Kuroudo gasps. Eyes wide, wondering. He lifts a hand, trying to catch one. It disappears in a cloud of dust. Bathing his face in an orange glow.
I clear my mind. The room empties.
[ ]
I open the door. Kuroudo is sitting on his mat. A bath is waiting for me.
The inn was crowded tonight. The ale and sake flowing more freely than normal. A rowdy bunch. They wore me out.
This bath is going to feel wonderful.
I pull off my overcoat, hanging it on a peg. I sit. I yank off my boots. I grab a cloth from the table and wipe the paint from my face.
I stand, half naked, pulling my hair from its ties. Piece by piece it cascades down my back. One tie is knotted. It's on the back of my head. I can't reach it to untie it.
"Kuroudo," his name rolls of my tongue, "untie this for me."
He hesitates, stepping forward, taking my hair into his hands. He undoes the tie. Fingers tangled in my hair. Turning my head, his fingers slip through my locks. He stiffens, jerking his hands away.
"Thank you." I purr, looking into his face. He does not meet my eyes.
Behind the screen, I pull off my pants. I slip into the steaming water with a sigh. Resting my eyes.
Darkness.