((Writing this now and putting it in my flash drive so I don't accidentally use it in the 50 or so notebooks that I've written in. I've lost quite a few ideas thanks to that... Well, anyway...

Thanks to and Deathfairy78 for the wonderful reviews. They really helped put a smile on my face. And thanks to ToxicFireStarter and . for favoriting this story and myself as it's author. I'm really so very happy to gain approval from everyone who likes this story and any others.

If there are any suggestions or ideas that you guys want me to put in here, lemme know. I would love to read them and see if I can implement them into the torture- I mean, love-life of Mori-Sexy-abs... Tee hee! Well, here we go!))

Chapter 10: Meditation

Artemis bit her lip against her swarming emotions. Still nestled against Takashi's chest, breathing his lovely masculine aroma, she knew she had to stop this before it was too late- before she forgot what it was like to be a true slave. Pulling away, she looked up at the tall young man and smiled. "What did you need, Master? Was it about the talk with your father?"

At that last question, she saw the gears turn in his head and his face flushed through his stoic features. Was it such a bad talk? "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to bring it up. If Master doesn't want to discuss it, I will not ask again..."

Takashi shook his head with a sigh. How was he supposed to do this? Talk to her about the talk he just had... that was just too much. He needed to meditate on it, to calm his mind before he totally lost it. Maybe his mother was onto something about the whole 'becoming a monk to control yourself' thing.

After gently ruffling her hair to get her to not worry about it, he said, "It's nothing to concern yourself with. But my mother does not want either of us committing... acts of adultery... okay?"

"adultery? But... Master is too young to be married. It is not adultery if you want to... use me..."

He choked suddenly, face even brighter. "Um... she would prefer if I would wait for marriage."

"... Master... that's cheating. I would not dare come between you and your wife. I promise... I don't want to see her heart break..." Artemis looked sadly up at him. She knew that if he ordered it, she would have to. But she really, REALLY hoped that this was just a test.

Mori sighed, his face slowly returning to normal. She didn't get it. Perhaps that was a good thing. So long as that didn't mean she was refusing the idea of being with him. At least she had integrity... And this discussion was slowly bringing him back from his moment of embarrassment.

"That's good... please follow me. We should both meditate before supper..."

The raven-haired female blinked in alarm and looked to the floor where she'd dropped the flour she'd bought. Luckily, it hadn't broken open. Bending down, she picked it up. "I need to get this to the kitchen, Master. I-"

The bag was taken from her, held in one of Takashi's strong arms. She looked at him, about to protest when he took her hand. "Let's get to the kitchen. Then we'll meditate." He smiled down at her before leading her to the kitchen.

The chef looked at the opening door. The moment he saw the young master with the new girl and flour, he suppressed his urge to yell at her for being so late. Instead, he accepted the bag with a stiff smile. "What took you so long, young lady...? Did the limo have a problem?"

Artemis looked at her hands nervously. " I-I didn't take a limo. I w-walked... I'm sorry for being so late..."

The chef looked two steps to exploding in rage. How stupid could you get, walking all that way to get flour that was needed ASAP!? Thanks to her, the meal was set back! But Takashi's presence kept his temper in check. His lips thinned as he feigned a warm look. "Next time... just take a car... when you go on an errand of great importance..." He went back to work, a scowl on his features. IF she would ever go on another errand again... Definitely NOT on his life.

The Morinozuka heir lead his slave out of the kitchen and deep into the house where the meditation chamber was located. It was a mostly empty room that smelled of incense and inner tranquility. A few cushions were there, meant for one to sit on before meditating.

Letting go of her hand, he asked, "Do you know how to meditate?" At the shake of her head, he tried to explain. "Sit on the pillow, close your mind, clear your thoughts, let peace come in with the breath- chaos exits your body when you exhale..."

Artemis followed Takashi's example, trying to do as he did. It was very unusual for a slave to rest like this. But Takashi was her master and she would do what he wanted her to. Try as she might, she couldn't get her legs to cross like his but given that she was in a kimono, she couldn't even cross them "indian-style". So she had to settle for sitting on her legs on the pillow beside the kendoka, closing her eyes to emulate her mind shutting off the world. Her breathing was calm and in sync with her master's. And amazingly, she felt her body slowly relax.

Roughly ten minutes into the meditation, she opened her eyes and looked at Mori, taking in his handsomeness and his height. He'd been talking about adultery but wouldn't touch her... The slave girl couldn't help but entertain the thought of him touching her as a lover would. She knew that, without a doubt, she'd have problems having a normal relationship. If Takashi was the type of man to like to watch, she would willingly be forced into the act of sex with whomever he commanded her to sleep with. Bondage, mutilation... anything he wanted from her, she would give.

But he didn't seem to want her in any way like that. He would never look at her with love, never touch her or give her pleasure just because he wanted to see her that way. And she could never return those feelings. Her station did not allow her such... such...

She sighed softly, shutting her eyes once more. Even in her thoughts, the words that could express exactly how it would be- they escaped her. But she knew that thinking about it made her sad. She willed herself not to cry. Crying only brought more pain.

Artemis tried to get back to meditating but Takashi gently placed a hand on her shoulder. She opened her eyes, hoping she was hiding her inner turmoil, her inner desire. She could tell by his eyes that he detected something wrong with her. She knew now that her eyes were begging him to not say a word.

A small smile crossed her face, surprising even her. But the irony of it was... her master rarely spoke. So there was no need to silently beg him for something like that. "Master, are you finished with your meditation?" She kept her voice soft, just in case. But at this point, she was sure that if he were to revoke her speaking privileges, he would tell her. He wouldn't trap her just for the sake of punishing her. And it was unusual for her to have such faith in a man, even if he were her desired master.

He nodded, standing up before offering a hand to her. He smiled when she took it without hesitation. Perhaps he was getting closer to getting her to like him as a man and not her owner.

((Well, there you have it. I hope you like it and don't worry. Artemis isn't losing her slave-nature. While she's loosening up around Takashi, the rest of the Host Club will not get the same treatment. Read and review, please and thank you!))