Chapter Ten

Interrupted Truths, (Silenced Truths), Hopeful Truths...

They resettled in their circular position on the floor. "Before we begin," Draco said abruptly. "I believe there should be a few rules put in place."

Mamoru raised an eyebrow. "Rules, eh? Where's the fun with putting rules on something?" he said teasingly.

Draco smirked slightly. "No worries, they are rather simple. Truths, I suppose, can get as personal as one may desire to know about the other.. Dares can be as risqué as you feel comfortable issuing. The dares that are given have to be completed, or three consequences given in there stead. And please," he concluded, "refrain from excessively childish requests." He pointed his gaze at Goyle, who looked back with innocent eyes.

"Good rules," Duo said approvingly. "I'll begin! Usagi.." Usagi shifted uncomfortably, but smiled at him. "Truth or Dare?"

"Truth," she answered rather quickly.

"No fun," he teased. Pondering what question he should ask, a smile broadened upon his lips as he thought of one. "You're quite the looker, how many people have you kissed in your life so far?"

Usagi blushed slightly as she averted her eyes. "Two," she answered softly.

Duo raised an eyebrow. "Two...But...I kissed you... and Draco..." His eyes widened slightly. "You're meaning to tell me that Draco and I are the only two people to ever kiss you?" he all but exclaimed.

She nodded mutely.

"But...but..." He was at a loss for words. "So was I your first kiss?"

"No."

"Draco?"

"Yes."

"How was it?"

"Wonderful..." Usagi couldn't stop from answering his questions, being as they were all under the truth-spell. She blushed slightly as Draco smirked from his position next to her.

"When was it?"

"My second day here...Three days ago," she murmured, wishing he would stop with all of the questions. His turn was by far over.

"You only received your first kiss three days ago?" he asked incredulously.

"Yes.."

"And how many times have you been kissed since then?"

Silence. "I've lost count," she mumbled, blushing deeply. Pansy scowled furiously.

"Duo," Draco interrupted sharply. "Wait until it is your turn again. I think you've had your fair share of a turn," he admonished mockingly. Usagi sighed with blessed relief. "Your turn, dearest Gryffindor," Draco murmured from next to her. Shifting uncomfortably, she gazed at each person in the room. Her eyes settled on Pansy, filling with a disgust she was not accustomed to feeling toward someone.

"Pansy," she said sweetly. "Truth or Dare?"

Pansy scowled viciously at her. "Truth," she all but barked.

"Are you jealous of me?" Oh, the blessed moment she had wished for when agreeing to play this game. Just to hear that lovely word spill from Pansy's mouth.

Pansy's face contorted as she tried to fight the spell. "Yes," she croaked out.

Usagi contained herself from doing a small dance of victory. Rather, she pressed on in the same manner Duo did. "Why?"

"Because you're so much prettier than I am and you're getting to stay with Draco for two weeks and will probably end up sleeping with him."

Usagi's eyes widened slightly from her overly blunt response, as did Pansy's. "So you want to sleep with Draco?" she asked innocently.

"Yes."

"And you really think I'm going to?"

"Yes."

"I wouldn't worry so much about that," Usagi huffed with exasperation. That was ridiculous!

"Oh really?" Draco inquired, his eyebrow raising slightly.

Usagi wisely chose not to verbalize a response, shaking her head. Having hesitated too long with onslaughting another question, Pansy took it that it was now her turn. "Draco," she all but whined. "Truth or Dare!"

He was not one to usually cower-out with 'truths', but he scarce trusted that lust-driven female.. "Truth," he answered breezily.

"Do you care about me?" she whimpered pitifully.

"Yes." She was a close acquaintance to him, after all. Perhaps the question and answer were misinterpreted on both of their parts.

"If you had to choose between me and Usagi, who would you choose?"

"Usagi."

"Why? What's so special about her..." Pansy snorted softly. Looking at Usagi, she smiled cruelly. "Would you sleep with her?"

"Yes." Draco's gaze shifted to Usagi, watching her blush uncomfortably.

"Do you love her?" Pansy waited triumphantly. Nothing hurt more to a petty girl like Usagi than lust without love.

Silence. And more silence.. Duo's eyebrows drew together quite high. He had placed the spell on everyone quite effectively he was sure.. why was no answer coming from Draco..?

Finally, the blond's mouth parted slightly as an answer fell from his lips. "I don't know."

Usagi's eyes widened considerably. Surely, she was expecting a flat out "no"... what did this mean..? Her head began to swim with confusing thoughts.

"What do you mean?" Pansy hissed in a deadly quiet voice.

"I don't know what love is, therefore it's nearly impossible to answer that question," he replied against his will. His eyes narrowed slightly. "Enough. My turn." He turned his gaze to Marcus. "Truth or Dare."

"Dare," Marcus challenged with a small grin.

Draco smirked approvingly. "Minako complained earlier of receiving little action... Give her some amusement. A lap dance, if you would," he dared.

Minako's eyes widened slightly. "A...lap dance... from him...?"

Draco nodded.

Marcus certainly didn't have to be told twice. "Well we need some music for this," he stated. "No such thing as a lap dance without music."

Rei began to sing softly, her voice low and sultry. Usagi couldn't help but think how beautiful it sounded, listening with keen transfixion.

Marcus removed his shirt, fanning it over his head like a lasso before tossing it unceremoniously to the ground. While he may not have had the most attractive face of the bunch, his years of Quidditch certainly gave him a rather nicely shaped body. Minako's eyes widened as he grasped her hand, pulling her up and seating her instead on the couch.

Rei chuckled slightly in between the words of her song as Marcus did indeed begin his exotic dance against her.

"This is a sight… I will never forget," Goyle muttered incredulously.

"I'm so desperately tempted to record this somehow and show it to the rest of the Quidditch team," Draco said with a wistful sigh.

Rei's song came to a close, her words trailing off to a soft hum. Usagi couldn't help but clap slightly. "You have a beautiful voice," she murmured appreciatively.

Rei smiled slightly, a small blush of modesty tingling her cheeks. "Well thanks," she said softly.

"I um.." Minako couldn't quite find the right words. "Wow."

Marcus chuckled, retrieving his shirt and putting it back on slowly.

He surveyed the room. "Hmmm…" His eyes settled on Mamoru. "Mamoru, Truth or Dare?"

"Truth."

"Weakling," he muttered, shaking his head. "Fine, fine.. Tell us your most...interesting fantasy."

Mamoru glared, gritting his teeth against the reply. "To have sex wearing a long black and red cape, and white mask and--"

"Nevermind!" Marcus groaned, shaking his head to clear such images. "I apologize for asking."

(A.N. I'm sorry. I couldn't help taking a stab at Tuxedo Kamen xD)

Rei purred slightly. "Oh, I think it sounds rather nice..."

Mamoru rolled his eyes before shifting his gaze to Usagi. "Truth or Dare, Usagi." Her eyes met his briefly as her name rolled from his lips.

"Truth," she murmured. She refused to take any dares from any one of his friends.

He smiled at her, almost gently. "Tell us why you've become Draco's little slave... explain the whole situation to us, as Draco won't really disclose much information about it."

Usagi's heart filled with panic as Draco's eyes began to narrow with slight worry. She quickly raised her hands to her mouth, pressing hard as the truthful words stinged insistently upon her tongue. Wait a minute... why was she trying to shield the answer? His friends didn't seem completely heartless... maybe they would help her from the predicament.

She removed her hands, closing her eyes as the answer began tumbling from her lips. "It all started when Cra--" but that was as far as she got. Draco's lips pressed hard against hers, sealing the words with a bitter conviction. His eyes held dangerous promises for allowing herself to start. He pulled away just slightly after a moment. "I think our little get together has come to a close," he spoke quietly, bidding them all to leave.

Goyle sulked. "But I thought--"

"Now, would be the best advised course of action."

The others rose wordlessly, Crabbe hesitant in his retreat. Had Usagi began to say his name..? Did he have something to do with her being there? He looked at her for a moment, and her scared blue eyes locked with his own briefly. Small flashes danced teasingly through his mind, images he couldn't quite hold onto long enough to place. A frown hinted across his lips as he was unable to comprehend this. Shaking his head, he strode away with the rest of them.

Draco's lips crushed against hers again as the guests filed out, their paces slow and lingering as they watched the two with envious gazes. When Draco was sure everyone had left, he pulled away with a smoldering glare. "What the hell were you trying there?" he hissed.

Usagi glared back, refusing to answer... or at least she would have stayed silent if not for the fact of still being under the truth-spell. It would last an hour, if she recalled correctly. "I thought maybe..." Hearing herself beginning to answer, she clamped her hand over her mouth again.

"Oh no you don't," he muttered, grasping her hand firmly and pulling it away. "Now, what you were thinking?" he asked, letting his fingers encircle lightly around her wrist.

"I thought maybe if I got the truth out, your friends would be able to help me get out of here," she answered in a strained voice.

"My, my," he murmured. "Clever of you." He shifted slightly, releasing her wrist. "Is it really so bad for you here?" he questioned quietly.

Her eyes averted slightly. "I can't believe you can even ask that." She paused, not wanting to continue but having to. "Sometimes it's unbarable... and sometimes it's not so bad at all," she found herself answering truthfully. He was still under the spell too, she remembered. "Does it sadden you when I say I don't want to be here?" she asked tentively, hearing the uncertainty that had laced his voice.

"Yes," he replied. "It saddens me, and it angers me."

"But why?" she pressed carefully.

"Because I've grown fond of your presence here and do not wish for you to leave." He frowned slightly at having to answer, but deep down perhaps, a little part of him wanted her to know these things.

Usagi sighed softly, propping herself up on the floor. "There's such a good person beneath your cruelty, Draco," she whispered softly. "If only you'd show a little kindness, it would be so much easier to get along in life."

"Kindness?" he repeated dimly.

Usagi nodded faintly. "Seeing with your friends is kind of an odd thing," she admitted. "You seem like you'd be such a social, amiable person, having friends because of your personality rather than your power..." She trailed off slightly, watching his gaze become almost thoughtful. "I could teach you," she said after a long moment.

A pale, delicate eyebrow rose rather high. "Eh?"

"It's possible to teach kindness, to a degree," Usagi said gently, trying hard to not let her hope brim too high. "Just little things...Compliments, selfless acts, polite actions..."

Draco looked rather intrigued. "I'd be willing to hear what you had to say regarding this matter," he answered quietly. Perhaps it could be a learning experience.

"Really?" she whispered uncertainly, hardly believing he'd agree.

He couldn't even let a snide remark past his lips. When did this truth-spell wear off, anyway..? "Yes, really."

Usagi smiled perhaps her first truest smile in her time of being there. Once again... maybe, just maybe, things could get better. A frail, desperate hope rose within her once again, and she let herself cling to it tightly. She saw in his eyes a desperate yearning to understand things, to understand himself and his actions. She stood up from her seated position on the floor, and he followed suit. Looking up at him, she smiled again, moving closer.

Draco tensed, taking a sharp intake of breath as her arms encircled around his back softly, pressing herself against him. Her head rested warmly against his chest, her arms enveloping him in perhaps his first real hug. He relaxed slightly as a few moments past, hesitantly placing his arms around her and reciproacting the action. "Sometimes," she murmured against him, her words muffled slightly against his shirt, "comfort and kindness can be found within the simplest of actions."

He drew away from her slowly, his hands sliding to rest on her waist and merely hold her slightly at arm's length, looking into her eyes with a wary sort of curiosity. "Is that so?" he spoke softly, his gaze drifting to her lips which were curved into a hopeful smile. Why... why she did she feel such hope towards him?

"Hai," she murmured, laying her head against his chest again, keeping her slight amusement at bay that his heart would quicken from such an action, but remain seemingly unwavered by passionate kisses. She let her eyes drift shut briefly, feeling his arm loop around her again, his fingers brushing delicate circles against her back.

He rested his chin lightly against the top of her head, merely embracing the smaller girl and letting a sense of comfort come from this action. It was nicehe realized, merely holding her body against him and feeling her warmth. He drew away again, his eyes flickering with uncertain emotions. She didn't say anything as his lips touched against hers, reflecting nothing cruel nor malicious. His hand splayed gently against the small of her back as her arms came to encircle loosely around his neck instead. It was the slightest of kisses, a gentle act one might do to show...

Kindness.

Usagi couldn't help it. Such hope, she felt... She closed her eyes and sighed with content, letting her fingers stroke softly against his neck. He shivered slightly, willing himself to not deepen the kiss. He spoke instead, his lips brushing in a caress against her own. "What do you feel for me?" he asked.

Usagi pulled away slightly, fearing the answer that would come from her lips. "Fear," she replied, "attraction...confusion."

"You're afraid of me?" he asked softly, his icy blue eyes holding a look of intrigue. He recalled asking her this, and recalled her quick answer.

"Sort of," she said. "Moreso when you're.. you know, exercising your role as trying to be my superior and... when you kiss me," she continued, her voice slightly feeble. "I get afraid when you kiss me."

A frown marred across his lips. "Why?"

Silence for a moment. "Because I enjoy it," she mumbled, trying to muffle her words somehow. "I like when you kiss me, but it's wrong to like it."

He couldn't help a small smirk. "And why, Usa, is it wrong?"

The nickname startled her slightly. "Because you're not the kind of person I should have..." She kissed him quickly, using his own method to silence herself. He replied to the kiss, a sufficient way of hiding his amused smile. He pulled away after a moment, her eyes averting from the sensual smile he gave her. "Why is it wrong?" he pressed gently.

"...Because you're not the kind of person I should be falling in love with."

Not many things in life surprised Draco to the point of rendering him speechless. This was one of those rare moments. What... what had she just said? "And... how do you know it's love?" he asked after a moment, his voice calm and impassive.

Usagi pressed her lips together tightly, not wanting to answer anymore questions. He waited rather patiently as she spell got the better of her, her answer falling in an unceremonious stutter of words.

"You're... You're evil," she whispered. "You're cruel and heartless... I'm here because of such a cruel thing you did.. taking away my friend... and yet... yet I'm finding myself thinking about you all the time.. not in the normal aspect, but in the 'maybe he'll be nicer to me today' kind of way.. the way you look at me sometimes, it excites and makes me feel things I've never felt before.. And when you kiss me, I feel so irrational and wanting to act on it, wanting to do things I've never thought of before.. you make me feel so many things... and I fear one of those things might be love."

Draco pressed his tongue lightly against the inside of his cheek, not at all sure what kind of response he should give her. "And... if I allowed you to teach me the ways of love and kindness, you feel it would be more acceptable to feel this way about me?"

"I don't know," she said with a sigh. "You can't change who a person is, you can only give them insight on how they can better themselves. But they have to want to do that... And... if you change who you are...it's not the same person that I'm f-falling for... And I can't change the way you feel about me... I don't remember the word... unrequited?" she mumbled uncertainly.

"That's the word you're looking for, but I don't know if it's true."

Usagi remained quiet, remembering Draco's answer to Pansy's question of if he loved her. I don't know.

"Do you care for me?" she asked softly, remembering Pansy had asked that in reference to herself, wondering what his reply would be as well.

"Yes."

"But.. do you view me as nothing more than a lowly Gryffindor?"

"No."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Seriously?"

"Ye..Usagi," he said with a plaintive sigh, seeing her getting ready to verify it for a third time.

"What else do you view me as?" she pressed, getting a little revenge for his previous series of questions.

He glared slightly. "I view you as someone I could possibly..." His words trailed off and he looked at her with a smirk. "Seems an hour has passed." He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. She sighed wearily, relieved the truth-spell would wear off now, but saddened she hadn't gotten an answer. He spoke quietly, a breathly hair above a whisper. "Perhaps, someone I could come to reciprocate to feeling for in such a way," he murmured.

Usagi felt a hint of a smile touch the corner of her lips, watching as he pulled away from her slightly. "I will agree to this under one condition."

She tilted her head slightly, bidding him to continue.

"You teach me the ways of love... and I'll teach you the ways of lust." He snickered softly as a blush rose to her cheeks, her entire body tensing. "So innocent," he murmured, shaking his head.

"But..." Usagi cleared her throat, trying to point out what she hoped was a rational point. "You've never... done anything either... So how would you know what to.. teach?" she mumbled hesitantly, hoping she worded it adequately.

His eyebrow rose slightly, amusing shadowing his features. "My, my... is that doubt in me, Usa? Or are you curious to find out?"

The blush deepened slightly, her eyes averting from his. "I..." She bit her lower lip gently. "Well that would defy the point of trying to teach you kindness," she concluded with an unconvincing nod.

"Oh?" he murmured, his voice low and languid. "I disagree. I think you'd find a great deal of... enjoyable kindness from my actions." Oh, how he did love to watch her fidget, so flustered and nervous. "I think this little prospect intrigues you."

How grateful she was the truth-spell had worn off! "I... well...I don't know you very well," she attempted to rationalize.

"I can think of no better way for us to get very acquainted most quickly."

She made a startled little noise, shaking her head. "N-no, that's not what I meant, or how you would ever go about it.. or..." she stammered slightly over her words, causing him to laugh richly.

"Oh, you're definitely fun to play with," he chuckled, patting the top of her head affectionately before drawing away from her completely. "Come. Have dinner with me."

She followed wordlessly, her head lowered somewhat to hide her deep blush, quite ponderous in thought. Love and lust... two very delicate emotions to deal with. It was very hard to act rationally when dealing with either of two, and both were quite wary topics of uncertainty. Attempting to sort through a tempestuous mess of the two swirling together?

Why, that could be positively dangerous...

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Ehehehe. Fun, fun... Thank you all soo much for the reviews ;) They're truly what keeps me so very inspired!

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To: Starlite Savior, Funkangel, Cheerios, Usagi no Megami, Flame Ivy Moon, koldy, TsukinoGoddess, Flawwa, Silver Moon Lit Goddess, Draysa, Silver Moon Goddess1, Serenity Voldemort Riddle, Dark Universe, Not a flame, S. Nestor, Seren Lunar Echo, InvisibleRain, RtisTykSyko, liza, Lucilia-chan, Bambi Star, Kawaii Usa, Ivy Tearen... Thank you all so much for reviewing! .:hugs and hands out cookies:. Hope you liked this chapter!

Next time on... Slave...

More "lessons" ensue, however this time both Draco and Usagi are 'teachers' and 'students' to one another... Usagi attempts to express the lighter points of love and kindness, while Draco begins to show Usagi the darker points of lust and attraction. Happiness and saddness... Loyalty and Cruelty... Love and Lust.. sometimes, they are merely shadowing facets of one another, all resting atop the very same coin.. Let the emotions unwravel in next time's episode, "Teach Me Kindness, Teach Me Cruelty."