Author's Note: Alright, so the story is moving forward. I'm still surprised at how quickly I've been able to put this out. While I still have a few moments of writer's block, I think I'm doing okay. Please let me know what you think? I'd really love to hear your comments on what is happening in the story so far. Are you enjoying it? Are you going to keep reading it?
Chika groaned slowly regaining consciousness. His entire body ached and each movement sent pain through him. It took the zombie a moment to remember why his body hurt so much. He groaned again at the memory and slowly blinked his eyes open. He could hear Shiba nearby, talking to someone. He assumed the other was on the phone since he never heard any response. Shiba must've heard him wake up because soon he was there, at Chika's back, rubbing it. Chika shuddered and rolled away from him.
"Don't touch me." Chika managed to say. His voice was hoarse from screaming. Painfully he sat up, dropping his legs over the edge of the bed. "Where have you brought me?" Any information he could gain would be helpful at this point. Knowing where he was could help him in escaping to safety.
Shiba moved closer across the bed, putting one arm around him and pulling him back. "Our new home. Don't you like it?" Shiba started to stroke the younger zombie's hair.
Chika pushed him away sitting up again and tried standing almost falling instantly. "No, I don't. Let me leave, Shiba. N-ngh.." He caught himself on one of the bed posts and held himself up. He turned enough to face the other.
"Awww, my little Chika, you don't like it? But it's so nice here. No one to bother us." Shiba smiled. He moved gracefully from the bed and started taking his shirt off.
"What the hell are you doing?" Chika asked, his grip on the post growing tighter. He didn't like the looks Shiba kept giving him.
Shiba dropped his shirt on the bed and moved closer. "You're all dirty and covered in blood. You need a shower, Chika." He moved closer reaching out his hands for Chika's Yukata.
Chika glared and smacked his hands away. "I said don't touch me! I can take care of myself. Besides it's your fault, don't go trying to make it better." Chika steadied himself and moved away, walking unbalanced.
"You're so mean." Shiba pouted.
"Chk. Don't even." Chika turned from him, trying to decide if he could run or not. With how stiff his body was, he didn't think he'd get very far. Better to wait until he had enough energy to fight. Chika looked down at his right hand, opening and closing it. If only he could summon his katana, then he'd stand a chance. But at his current condition he'd do nothing more than hurt himself.
Shiba moved up behind him, wrapping his arms around his waist. Chika's body tensed; has hands fumbling to pull the older zombie away. Shiba chuckled behind him, holding him easily. He buried his face in Chika's hair, drawing in a long breath. One hand traveled downwards slowly. Chika's eyes widened and he threw his elbow back, catching Shiba off guard. Chika gasped falling forward and only barely managed to catch himself before hitting the floor.
"What the hell do you think you were doing?" Chika asked, his eyes still wide. "Don't go doing things like that!"
Shiba chuckled, rubbing his side. "You got one on me. Weak but good shot." Shiba shook his head. "You really need to get cleaned up. You'll ruin everything you touch." Shiba gestured towards the blood on the bed. "You're still injured you know."
"Ch. I hadn't noticed." Chika said. "Bastard." Chika moved his hand to his chest, feeling the dried blood there. He grunted his frustration. "Hand me a towel and I'll shower. Alone." Chika glared at the last word.
Shiba shook his head. "You can barely stand. I doubt you can stand through a whole shower." He smirked, picking up a towel from the bench at the end of the bed.
"I'll be fine. I will not allow you to just watch me do everything. If you insist on forcing me to stay here at least give me some kind of privacy!" Chika yelled staggering towards Shiba.
"Alright, alright. I'll let you shower alone. Just don't hurt yourself." Shiba said handing him the towel. "I'll be waiting." Shiba said a little too cheerily.
"Ch. Like you care." Chika took the towel and started towards the bathroom.
Shiba grabbed his arm, holding him tightly. "I do care, Chika." His voice darkened slightly. "If anything happens to you while you are away from me…Well, I'm the only one allowed to touch you." Shiba released the younger boy and turned to move to the desk at the other side of the room.
Chika shuddered closing his eyes and muttered under his breath. "Disgusting bastard." He slowly made his way to the bathroom and locked the door behind him, leaning his back against it.
Finally with some time alone Chika opened his Yukata and studied his bruised and battered body in the mirror. Dark bruises littered his arms and legs. His wrists were swollen and red, raw from the bindings. Gingerly he touched a gash just above his left temple. The blood had spilled and matted in his hair. Chika let out a long breath, wincing at the pain in his chest. He turned his head to one side revealing several red marks and love bites up and down his neck. Chika closed his eyes in shame and embarrassment. He leaned his hands heavily on the sick. His breathing became ragged as he tried to keep his composure. Chika gritted his teeth and swallowed hard. Tears threatened to spill down his face disgracing him further.
"You have to stay strong through this." Chika said to his reflection in the mirror. "No one is going to help you. This is just you. Stay strong no matter what happens." Chika's composure started to fall again as he spoke to him-self. He was finding it difficult to do as he'd been instructing. The silver-haired zombie shook his head and stood up again. He stumbled towards the shower and turned the water on. He leaned against the wall and carefully started unwrapping his bandages. He'd have to be careful to not dislodge any of the clotting to keep it from bleeding out again.
"Ah…ha…ha…." Chika grimaced, the bandages tugged at his wound as he gently pulled them away. "Cheh…attacking…me at a weak point….bastard…." He dropped the useless strips on the floor not caring if they found the garbage or not. He reached his hand inside and tested the water stream to make sure it was at the right temperature. "Perfect."
Chika pulled off his Yukata and slowly, painfully he stepped into the shower. He shivered at first but soon his body started to relax. It was the first time, since he'd woken up with Shiba in his room, that he felt warm again. His shivering ceased and he slowly moved his hands over his body, washing everything he could away. The disgusting stickiness between his legs melted down the drain followed by water dyed pink. Chika found a sponge scrubber hanging on the faucet and picked it up. He squeezed some soup onto it and worked it into a lather. He scrubbed himself down, slowly at first but then almost in hysteria he started scrubbing harder and faster. He became angry when the bruises wouldn't go away from scrubbing. He scrubbed harder working himself into a frenzy before a searing pain jolted through his body. He cried out, dropping the sponge and leaned against the shower wall, panting. His tears mixed with the water streaming down his face. Chika couldn't hold it in any longer. He'd hit his breakdown. The tears flowed in sobs and nothing he did, stopped them. So he stood there, in the warmth of the shower letting it out in his brief time of privacy.
"Chika? Is everything okay in there?" Shiba knocked on the door. It was unnerving how sincere he actually sounded. Chika gasped shaking his head.
"I-I'm fine! Don't come in here!" Chika responded hastily. The last thing he wanted was for Shiba to come in while he was naked. "I'm fine!" He said once more.
"Well….alright…" Shiba said from the other side of the door. He stood there a moment then walked away.
Chika sighed in relief after several minutes. He let out a harsh breath and slowly sank to the bottom of the shower. He sat there, his knees pulled up to his chest, the water pouring over him. Chika stared at the wall opposite him in a daze. The water swirled around the drain, slowly growing clear. His body still ached, mostly in places he would never be able to reach or clean. Chika stayed there for so long he'd lost track of the time. He hadn't noticed until the water started to run cold, chilling him. Shivering, cold, and wrinkled fingers closed around the handles turning the water off. Chika waited as long as he could stand before pulling himself up and stepping from the shower. He shivered at the chilled air around him. Quickly he grabbed the towel and wrapped it around himself, drying his skin carefully.
"D-Damnit…" Chika said frustrated. He hadn't any clean clothes in the bathroom to dress into. Nor did he have fresh bandages to dress his wounds. He clenched his teeth angry at himself for failing to think of it sooner. He'd have to either walk out there in his towel…or somehow convince Shiba to bring clothes to him. Either way…he was at the mercy of Shiba Reichirou. "Damnit." He said again. Chika shook his head and wrapped the towel tightly around his waist. Slowly he opened the door a crack and peeked his head out. He blushed in embarrassment. "S-shiba…" He called.
"Hmm? Is something wrong, my little Chika?" Shiba asked. He stood and walked toward the door.
"I…I need clothes….and bandages." Chika said looking down. He hid the rest of his body behind the door, bracing against it, in case Shiba tried to force his way inside.
Shiba laughed. "Forgot them did you? Don't worry, I'll get them for you." Shiba turned and walked towards the closet pulling something out then walked back towards him. "Here you are. Something special as a house warming gift." Shiba held the box out for Chika to take.
"What is it?" Chika narrowed his eyes. "I asked for my clothes."
"These are your clothes. Well, they are now anyways." Shiba smiled and opened the box. "See? A nice new Yukata just for you. It's a beautiful color don't you think?"
"You're disgusting. Now get my real clothes." Chika said. "I refuse to wear that thing."
Shiba narrowed his eyes. "Rejecting my gift, Chika? How very rude of you. After all I've given you." Shiba turned to move back to the closet. Chika opened the door ever so slightly more to watch him. Without warning Shiba disappeared from view.
"Wha-" Chika said surprised. The door burst open towards him, jarring him hard. Shiba's hand reached out of nowhere and latched onto his arm, nails digging into his skin. "S-shiba!" Chika cried in sudden fear.
"I'll teach you to reject me." Shiba said as he forced the door open and pulled Chika out of his bathroom sanctuary. He jerked him so hard Chika was afraid his arm would be ripped from its socket. Shiba shoved him to the ground and was instantly on top of him, pinning him to the floor. "You will not reject me, Chika. If I ask you to wear something you will, no questions asked. Is that understood?" Shiba asked his eyes burning in anger.
Chika shook beneath him. What had happened to his old friend? Why was he doing this? This wasn't the Shiba Reichirou he'd known in middle school. Something had changed in him. Something horrible. "S-Shiba I-" Shiba slapped his face, hard, snapping his head to the side.
"I said do you understand?" Shiba yelled shaking him. "Answer me!" Shiba pressed his hand against Chika's wounded chest sending jolts of pain throughout his torso.
"AH!" Chika cried out. The sudden surge of violence caught him off-guard. He didn't know how to respond. He couldn't with that pain in his chest. He choked on his own blood and tried desperately to turn to the side.
"Answer me!" Shiba yelled again.
"Y-yes! Yes!" Chika somehow managed to force out. The words gurgled, spitting blood out onto Shiba's face and shirt.
"Good." Shiba said climbing off of him.
Chika rolled onto his side and coughed, trying to clear his throat so he could breathe again. Blood spilled onto the carpet, staining it red. He shook violently his body begging for oxygen. Finally, Chika was able to draw in a harsh breath, filling his lungs with air. Shiba stood above him watching, his anger still flared.
"Now look what you've done. You've gotten blood all over our nice carpet. It'll have to be cleaned right away. Now stop your shivering and get dressed." Shiba bent over and grabbed Chika's arm, hauling him to his feet. "Lift your arms so I can wrap your injuries."
Chika nodded and painfully lifted his arms. Shiba wiped harshly at the blood that had dripped before wrapping the clean bandage around his torso. Once he was done he took each of Chika's wrists and bandaged them as well before picking up the Yukata and unfolding it.
"Drop the towel." He said.
"W-what?" Chika asked, unsure if he'd heard him right.
"I said drop the towel. I am going to dress you." Shiba said. His voice angry. "Do not keep me waiting. Now drop it!"
Chika jumped and slowly moved his hands towards the towel. Shiba lost his patience and reached out, ripping it away, completely exposing him. He smacked at Chika's hands as the boy tried to cover himself.
"Do not hide from me!" Shiba slapped his face again. "Now arms out!"
Shaking Chika did as he was ordered. His face red from being slapped and also out of utter shame. How could he have been reduced to this? Shiba slid the Yukata on, one arm at a time and reached around Chika's body, tying it closed. Chika did his best to stay still. He didn't want to aggravate Shiba any further at the moment. Shiba stepped away leaving him there. After about a minute, Chika slowly turned to look for him. Shiba stood a few feet away, his face completely changing when he saw the bruise forming on Chika's cheek.
"My little Chika…." He said, voice gentle. Completely changed in less than a minute. He moved to Chika, taking his face gently in one hand and kissed his red cheek. "There, all better." Shiba said taking the still shivering Chika into his arms. Chika resisted only slightly before being wrapped in Shiba's embrace. He'd lost his will for a moment after being stripped of his dignity yet again by his old friend. Shiba held him close, stroking his hair in an act of comfort. Chika stayed there, arms at his sides. He wasn't going to fight right now and Shiba knew it. He couldn't help but smirk at this small act of submission.
"Soon," Shiba thought. "Soon he will submit fully to me. And then he will be mine forever."