Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Digimon 222: Dark Masquerade ❯ Crumbling ( Chapter 3 )

Ice'is Blue does not own Digimon. She's quite content writing fanfiction for it and receiving no money for her efforts. ^_^

Author's Notes:

Thank you to everyone who reviewed! Reviews, questions, and constructive criticisms are greatly appreciated. And, a round of applause for Rae-chan, for keeping me and this story on track. ^_^

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Digimon: 222 -- Dark Masquerade


by Ice'is Blue




Chapter 3: Crumbling

Racing. Pounding. Thumping. The beating of Taichi's heart was too much for him to handle. After locking the door to Yamato's room and switching off the light, Taichi dropped shakily to the floor. His knees were no longer strong enough to support him.I can't believe I just kissed him.

He hadn't meant to do that. He'd promised Koushiro that he wouldn't let his emotions interfere with his judgement. Yet kissing Yamato had felt so right. Taichi let his head cradle in his hands for a moment as he allowed himself the luxury of reliving the taste and feel of Yamato's skin. True, Yamato had been scared. Yet beneath that emotion, there seemed to be... Yearning? Acceptance? Desire? It was as if the blond entertained feelings that matched his own.But why?

Although Yamato had called him on his name's similarity and had seemed to accept Taichi's explanation, there was no other sign of recognition.He doesn't remember me. It's like that day in the storage room never happened.

Taichi didn't know whether or not to be relieved. It was the one part of this plan that everything hinged on. Would Yamato remember him? Apparently not. Regardless that it was probably better off that the man had forgotten him, Taichi felt his heart sink just a tiny bit.It shouldn't be like this. I should march back in there and tell him everything.

But he couldn't. Although Yamato had acted exactly as if he were a victim in all of this, Koushiro did have a point in saying that keeping up an act for such a short time would be simple.But when he thought I was a slave, he acted kindly... not even complaining when I caused him pain while treating his injuries. Surely that counts for something?

Maybe after tomorrow he could tell him the truth. If everything was still going smoothly, there was no point in dragging out the lie.

Feeling more tired now than he had been in a long while, Taichi returned to his room.

A blinking light on the machine signaled that a message was waiting for him. He pushed the button and Koushiro's recorded voice spoke, "Hey, Taichi. The Council of Lords came looking for me since they couldn't find you and you've been skipping out on their meetings. I informed them that you were busy with a top-secret project, but they insisted that there are several plans that need your approval before they can be finalized. If you quit playing with Yamato before you've exhausted yourself, you can check the files I uploaded to the 'Urgent' directory on your computer. Have a nice night."

After the initial bout of irritation at Koushiro, Taichi spent a long moment feeling properly guilty for neglecting his duties. Not only was he the High Lord for the entire island, he was the High Lord that protected a territory operating on the slightest levels of slavery possible. He really didn't have the time to be getting distracted.

Scrolling through the pages, he was pleased to see that the new crops were doing well. In Japan, as in most places, the land was polluted and it was very difficult to cleanse and keep pure. Water, on the other hand, was everywhere and very easy to clean and monitor for purity. Taichi's lands, although they extended over only one-eighth of Japan, provided food for three-quarters of the country's population. It was the strong hydroponics and artificial light technology that brought power and wealth to his family, his grandfather passing on the secret to Taichi's father only. His uncle, Lord Motomiya, had only gotten control of land by marriage to Jun and Daisuke's mother. Taichi sighed. Jun he could do without, but he missed his cousin, Daisuke, like a younger brother.

He forced his mind back to reading the proposed plans. Four of them he could approve with little hesitation. The fifth, however, required a careful decision. The plant managers wanted to put another subterranean 'ponics bay beneath the Miyazaki land. The controversy over the bay's placement stemmed from the fact that above ground, the Miyazaki land was a wildlife preserve. Yet, the location of the land in question was ideal and the bays themselves caused no surface disruptions. Knowing that the locations of the bays were chosen as much for secrecy as anything else, Taichi authorized the bay's construction. It would be the perfect concealed spot. Who would think to drill beneath a wildlife preserve?

Bleary eyes looked at the chronometer on the desk. He'd been working for more than three hours. Not necessarily a long time, but difficult when considering the late hour and his early rising. He typed a message to Koushiro then switched off the computer:Join me up here for breakfast tomorrow, and come prepared with arguments. I'm telling Yamato everything tomorrow afternoon if he keeps behaving like he did yesterday.

***

Trying to contain his general disapproval, Koushiro thumped his breakfast tray down on the table with only slightly more force than was necessary. "Okay." Focusing on Taichi, he wasted no time in getting down to business. "Now that you've had your preliminary fun with Yamato, tell me the news from dinner."

Taichi put up no resistance to the request, probably realizing that he would be unable to delay thinking about the consequences of last night's talk any longer. And, Koushiro suspected, probably grateful to be avoiding the topic of Yamato. Taichi paused a moment before speaking. "The biggest news is that there are rumors that Lord Otis might be retiring. It's a shock to everyone, since we expected him to keep his fingers clutched around the reins to Eternal Nanotech Enterprises for as long as those machines in his body will let him. But the source is a good one and Lord Kidou confirmed the accuracy of the report as well."

Koushiro sat back to digest that bit of news. "I'll agree, it does sound unlikely," he said, his uncertainty leaking through to his voice. "But if it is true..."Why would Otis give up control? He can live forever with those nanotechs he's designed exclusively for himself.

"If it's true..." Taichi continued softly, "Power's going to be shifting. And I don't like it that Kidou seems to know what's going on. He's nearly as bad as Yagami's supposed to be."

Koushiro let his mind examine the ever-expanding web of possibilities based on the permutations of choice and circumstance. "If Otis really is stepping aside, then this might be our chance to step in and change things. Our position is stable enough to provide resistance against whatever new regime might spring up. But if we want to make a lasting difference, we'll need to know more about what's going on."

Taichi nodded in agreement. "Would it be too dangerous to put the question to our contacts in Kidou? They would be in the best position to know something."

Espionage and counter-espionage among the High Lords were common. The network of spies that Koushiro managed had suffered heavy losses recently and his uncertainty of whether or not the leak had been fixed suggested that it was not fixed.Still, it's important enough to risk it...

"A few of our operatives remain in Kidou," Koushiro answered. "The main communications lines are questionable, but if I put the word out through one of the emergency channels, our plans should remain undiscovered."

"Do it then. And also ask for information on what Kidou's up to. Shin and Shu weren't with him. They could be planning something for their father." Taichi scratched at the back of his neck. "And speaking of planning something... That hacker calling himself 'the Kaizer' has a definite agenda. Most of the dinner conversations were complaints about his activities. He's attacking the bank accounts of wealthy Lords. We're lucky we haven't been hit yet. They're keeping it from the news reports to discourage copycat crimes, but the problem is quite severe. Nobody knows who he is or even where he's operating from since the crimes range all over Japan." Taichi paused. "He could be an ally for our cause. We should try tracking him down and getting in contact with him. It'll be difficult, but with your skills, I know you can do it."Lucky, Koushiro thought derisively. He thinks we're lucky that we haven't suffered an attack from the Kaizer. What the hell does he think I do all day? Push keys at random for the fun of it? The Kaizer's attacked us ten times in the past month. And I've told him this. How can he not remember?

The only conclusion available was that having Yamato here was distracting his friend from giving his usual quality of leadership. Yet despite his lapses in memory, Taichi did have a point. A man with skills like the Kaizer's would be a beneficial ally. But it was the same problem as with Yamato. Taichi was just too damn trusting.

Still, getting a location for the Kaizer would be a good idea, even if they didn't approach him or her for an alliance. He could spare at least one of his agents for the search. Now... if only he could turn up some information on Yamato.

He'd not been stewing idly these past twenty-four hours. But all of his requests for reports on Masaharu and Yamato's activities had been unfulfilled. Either there was nothing to find, or whatever they were up to was cunningly planned.There's just too much deception. And I'll bet my favorite hard drive that Taichi won't tell me that he kissed Yamato. He knows I'm watching him when they're together, but he hasn't even brought it up. I know it'll sound like I'm jealous, but --

"Koushiro?" Taichi was looking at him questioningly.

Right. Taichi. Otis. Kaizer. He'd let his brain wander away in the middle of a conversation. "I'll make the necessary contacts for both Otis and the Kaizer after we're done talking here."

The frown creasing Taichi's brow remained. "Are you okay, Kou?"

Koushiro sucked in a breath. He'd been thinking about this ever since he'd gotten Taichi's message in the small hours of the morning. Now was as good a time as any to say something. "I saw the kiss on the surveillance monitor. And I can see the signs. You're distracted and forgetting about everything that's important when you're around him." He held up one hand to forestall Taichi's defensive comment. "But, I acknowledge that one possible solution is to trust him and tell him everything. So go ahead. It's your decision, really. It doesn't matter that if you're wrong, and he really is spying on us for his father or someone else, that it'll destroy the secret we've worked for years to protect. It doesn't matter that the people your family has protected for generations will be put in danger."

Taichi opened his mouth.

"No, shut up," the genius ordered harshly, cutting of any response from the Lord. "You were the one that told me to come prepared with an argument. And you should know by now that I follow your orders to the letter when it's in your best interest. So listen."

Taichi shut his mouth. Perhaps he had brains inside all that hair after all.

"I told you before that I trust your judgement. And I still do. And I want to see you happy." Koushiro felt his anger fizzle. "With all the shit you've had to deal with ever since your father disappeared, you deserve a bit of happiness more than anyone else. But you can't be wrong on this one, my friend. The stakes are even higher now that Otis is planning something. You care about Yamato. I get that. But this chance to make a difference is bigger than him. Bigger than you. Bigger than me. You've got to stay focused."

Taichi waited a few seconds to be sure Koushiro was done speaking, then smiled at him. "Whoever said you weren't good at speeches?"

Koushiro slitted his eyes in mock-annoyance. "Don't tease a man who has complete access to your computer if you value your dignity," he threatened.

The brunet grinned and put up his hands in defense and surrender. "Hey, I wasn't teasing, I was complimenting."

He snorted. "Funny how coming from you it amounts to nearly the same thing."

"I am a master of many talents," Taichi boasted.

"Well," the genius said, rising from his seat. "Get changed and go use your talent for character judgement on our new guest," Koushiro told his friend.

He left the 'Don't screw up.' hanging in the air, unsaid.

***

Yamato awoke to darkness and painful hunger. It was impossible to tell what time it was, or even what day it was. There were no windows, no light switches, not even a muted glow around the edges of the door that would drive some of the darkness away. He was trapped in a world with a complete absence of light. The blackness, a comforting balm to his thoughts as he had drifted to sleep with hopeful memories of Taichi, was now empty and frightening.

Yamato rose from the mattress and moved across the carpet, his hands outstretched and searching for the doorway to the small lavatory. Although he was bothered slightly by the fact that he didn't feel the need to relieve himself, it was probably for the best. He didn't trust his aim in such an unfamiliar setting and he doubted that anyone would be cleaning up after him.

Blindly, his hands found the sink and started the flow of water. The feeling of cool wetness on his face and hands was refreshing in the neutral temperature of the room. He took a long drink and the weight of the liquid staved off the worst of the hunger pains. The only thing he'd eaten yesterday had been that revolting mush... and he hadn't kept that down. No wonder his stomach ached.What sort of existence is this?

He resisted the urge to force his fist into the nearest wall and instead, cautiously felt his way back to the mattress and punched it repeatedly.Sold by my own father as a sex slave. Punch. To that bastard Yagami. Punch. Who gloated and said sickening things. Punch. Ningyou. Punch.

Am I just a doll? Punch. A doll to be played with? Punch. A doll to keep pretty, and use, and abuse? Punch. A doll to use. Punch. A doll to abuse. Punch. A doll to keep in its dark box. Punch.

No time. Punch. No light. Punch. No food. Punch. No one to trust. Punch. No way out. Punch.

Alone, naked, in the dark. Punch. Waiting. Punch. For that beautiful. Punch. Smiling. Punch. Brown-haired. Punch. Brown-eyed. Punch. Prick. Punch. To visit. Punch.

He acted. Punch. So kind. Punch. So gentle. Punch. He acted. Punch. It wasn't real. Punch. He acted. Punch. It was all an act. Punch. Made me care. Punch. Made me hope. Punch. Made me fall. Punch. For an act. Punch. Made me crave. Punch. Made me desire. Punch. An act.

Punch. Punch. Punch. Punch. Punch. Punch. Punch. Punch...

He finally collapsed, heart racing and lungs heaving.I can't be weak, he told himself. I've got to be strong. Get it together, Yamato.

For one terrifying moment, he thought he would lose it again -- that this time, instead of feeling anger, he would break down and not be able to stop crying. The darkness of the room became an almost tangible emptiness in his heart. He felt himself falling into it, felt himself reaching out for anything that would keep him from falling into the despair.

His savior, it came softly at first -- a mere wisp of frost that snaked around his limbs, enfolding them in a comforting armor of ice, restraining his movements and keeping him from falling simultaneously. Cold fingers brushed up his spine with the unerring certainty of a long-time lover and swept over the back of his skull to flutter lightly against his face, hardening his expression wherever they touched. The chill blew down from his chin, down his neck, and squeezed at his throat just long enough to make him relinquish control of that part of his body too. From there it seeped into the skin of his chest and sank deeper and deeper until it finally hardened like a shell around his heart.

Then the falling stopped.

His arms, legs, face, throat, and heart were encased in protective ice. He tested a smile and was satisfied knowing the emotion stopped there. His heart remained coldly unaffected. His eyes still just two chips of frost.There now. Isn't that better? the cool voice asked him, achingly familiar. We're safe now.

Yamato started to nod in agreement, but then noticed a burning in the area between his legs. It was hot, aching, burning, need. No, he begged. I don't want to feel. He tried to squirm away, but the heat followed him, staying centered in his groin. Touching the warmth with his hand only served to melt the coolness shielding his fingers.Shhh. It can't hurt us, the cold told him, smoothing tendrils of ice across the unprotected hand, making it numb again. If we ignore it, it will go away, it soothed. We'll make it go away.

Now. Yamato pleaded. Make it stop now.

Patience, the frost breathed in his ear. The liar's powers are strong. Do not feel ashamed that you are responding to his false charm. I will be with you and protect us. Ignore the warmth. We don't need it. We don't want it. It will soon learn it has no place in our life and will disappear. Let me have control. I will keep us safe.

If he answered, he had no conscious memory of doing so. Yamato opened his eyes, his breathing finally having returned to normal after his earlier exertions. The emotions that had plagued and confused him were distant, locked away. His worries were gone. He smiled and it traveled no further than his lips.

The mask had slipped into place.

This time, when Yamato sat in the dark, he waited with a very different purpose.

When the Lord came looking for Ningyou, he would find Lord Yamato instead.

***

After their morning meal, Taichi did as Koushiro had suggested and changed from his casual clothes to the navy-blue uniform. He donned the mask briefly to return the breakfast cart and pick up a tray of food for Yamato. Once those tasks were done, he wasted no time in replacing the mask on its stand.

Mood cheerful and expectant, he balanced the tray on one hand, keyed in the entry code, then flipped the light switch outside Yamato's room and entered.

Seeing that the blond was already awake, he called out cheerfully. "Good morning, Yamato!"

Yamato turned his head in Taichi's direction. "Is it?" he asked simply.

"Huh?" Taichi was confused.

The blue eyes were void of expression. "Is it morning? Is it good?" His bare shoulders lifted up in a shrug. "Take your pick. I can't tell either."What's happened to my lightly blushing companion? Taichi wondered and his discomfort grew as Yamato said no more. Then he noticed that Yamato wasn't looking at him, but had focused on the tray of food in his hands.

Oh shit. I never fed him a second meal yesterday. He must be starving. Hikari took better care of Miko when she first got her. No wonder he's pissed.

Satisfied that hunger was the reason behind the shy man's upset expression, Taichi remembered almost too late that in his role of 'bad guy', he wasn't in a position to apologize overly much.

"You hungry?" he forced himself to ask lightly, as if the answer weren't obvious.

Yamato's glare intensified. "Yes. If that's my food, give it to me now."

Taichi backed up a step, then pressed forwards with a frown. "You wanna try a 'please' with that?"

Yamato turned on the mattress to face him, making no motion to cover himself. "I don't care whose pet you are, my father is a High Lord. You are beneath me."

Taichi fought to keep himself from taking another step backward. That's... that's just uncalled for. "Yamato... what happened to you?"

The blue eyes were cold. "Call me 'Ningyou'. We wouldn't want you getting in trouble with Yagami, now would we?"What's going on? "I don't care what you want to be called. I want to know what happened. Why aren't you acting the same as yesterday?"

Yamato snorted. "You would like me weak and sniveling like that." The blond twitched in disgust. "Despite my appallingly uncollected behavior yesterday, I'll warn you just this once. It's not wise to fraternize with prisoners." He looked up at Taichi, eyes hard. "Or with enemies."

Taichi sucked in a breath, feeling like he'd been punched in the gut. "Is that what we are? Enemies?"Yamato?

Yamato cocked his head and gave a small smile that in no way conveyed happiness. "That's entirely up to you. Given your status, you're one of the few people in this fortress who could help me escape. So, are you going to help me?"Why? Why, Yamato? If you'd acted like you were yesterday, I could have justified letting you go... but this...

"I can't just let you walk out of here," Taichi said, shaking his head sadly.

Yamato's eyes locked with his. "Yes you can. But you won't. There's a difference." He turned his head away. "So there's your answer. We're enemies."

This wasn't going at all like Taichi had planned. He struggled with his shock, knowing that he needed to seem strong, but he lost. Yamato's words hurt too much. They were true.

"But..." he faltered, failing to understand the change. "But, I've been kind to you."

"I didn't ask you to be kind," the icy response came. "The only thing I've ever asked of you was to let me go. You won't even do that. So, you're not being kind at all. Don't kid yourself. It's a sign of a weak mind."

Taichi shut his eyes and gathered his strength. Of all the things I expected to find when I came in here... He hated the patheticness that had crept into his voice. Why weren't the words coming out right? They'd never failed him before. He knew he was handling this new version of Yamato badly and that he had to get out and return with a better game plan.

Taichi was proud that when he finally opened his eyes, the hurt he'd been feeling was buried deep. "Eat your food," he said in a monotone. "I'll be back soon to administer your first lesson."

Yamato shrugged. "Suit yourself. It's not like I have much of a choice."

Hands shaking, he placed the food tray on the ground and then made a hasty retreat. Outside the door, he bitterly cursed whatever had caused the personality switch.Why are you making me do this, Yamato? And what sort of lesson can I 'teach' him? He'll be expecting some sort of sexual lesson, but I can't do that to him. So, then what else is there?

Once again, he found himself sinking to sit on the floor of the corridor. He scratched at the fibers of the carpet to relieve some of the tension he was feeling, but all he accomplished was making bits of crumbs and dirt leap about with his movements.Yuck. And to top off my wonderful morning, this floor's filthy. When was the last time I cleaned? It's got to be more than six months, but...

Taichi's expression slowly brightened when he found he couldn't exactly remember. Since servants weren't allowed on the floor, even to clean... the place accumulated dirt until Taichi, Hikari, or Koushiro decided to clean it. Main rooms were kept tidy, but an out of the way section of the level like this... What delightful luck that now another person was allowed in this restricted area of the fortress. Smiling slightly, he went off to collect the rarely-used cleaning supplies.

***

Yamato made himself wait a full minute before he rushed to the tray of food on the floor. Unlike the first meal, this food was excellent and the lack of eating utensils didn't even bother him as much as it should have. His hands got the job accomplished and that was all that mattered to his stomach. Once the worst of the hunger was gone, he slowed his pace considerably, knowing that too much too soon could be just as bad as too little food. By the time the tray was cleared of everything edible, Yamato was content to relax on the floor with his back propped up against the wall.

He considered the tray for its potential as a weapon, but had to reluctantly discard that idea. The tray was of sturdy, smooth metal with rounded corners and slight indentations to prevent foods from mixing with their neighbors. The lack of sharp edges made it unsuitable as a slashing weapon and its light weight ensured that even if he hit Yagami's pet in the head with it, no serious injury could be caused. Or perhaps, he just wasn't creative enough to use it as a tool for escape.

There was a part of him, though, that was afraid to escape. As much as he hated the lying bastard, he had to admit that so far, he'd been sheltered from the horrors that most newly acquired slaves were forced to endure. Yamato had no clue what possible dangers might be present in Yagami's fortress and being naked, unless for some unfathomable reason non-slaves went about unclothed, he would be instantly spotted as an escaping slave. Yet, if he did manage to overcome his captor, taking his clothes should be a simple matter. He let his mind puzzle over the possibilities before resigning himself to the fact that it was just a bad idea in general. Attacking the brown haired man without a plan or knowledge of his surroundings would only lead to his immediate recapture.

With a sigh of equal parts of frustration and boredom, he pulled himself from the lethargic state created by his full belly and went into the small bathroom area. Now that the lights were on, getting a drink was much easier. He drank his fill, then let the water wash over his lips, relishing the cold, tingling caress of the liquid flowing across those two sensitive pieces of flesh.You did well, facing the liar. You did well in remembering that we are superior to him.

Yamato trembled at the memory, but responded to the voice that was indistinguishable from his own. I'm worried about the upcoming lesson. I made him mad acting like that.

No, you made him scared. You confused him. Seeing the desperate look on his face was worth it. We won.

Yamato shut off the faucet and stood, the water making a slow trickle into nothingness down his chin. He was calmer now -- stronger with the food and drink. Whatever was coming, he could face it. Whatever the Lord might choose to teach him, he was ready.

Yagami's pet didn't make him wait long. The man stepped into the room, took note of the empty tray in the near corner, and focused on Yamato in the far corner. He stepped closer to the mattress.

"Lie down on your stomach, hand behind your back," the order came.

Yamato held his ground. "Make me." The man's brown eyes narrowed in displeasure.Good. Feel mad. You can't order me around.

The Lord ran a hand through his messy hair. "You don't need to fight me on this," he said. His voice holding less frustration than Yamato expected. "I won't harm you." It was almost soothing -- a tone he hadn't heard directed toward him in a very long time.

Yamato rolled his eyes, half at his captor and half at the turn his own thoughts had taken. "For now, perhaps," he conceded, unwilling to push the point further. "But we both know whose boots you lick," he added, giving them both a needed reminder of the Lord's true purpose here.

Anger flashed across the other's face, followed by something that might have been yearning. "What if I promise I won't ever hurt you?"

Yamato's response was immediate and needed no words: He laughed. It was a slow chuckle that built to something that sounded slightly insane, even to his own ears.

The man moved to stand beside the mattress, looking down at him with a frown. "Enough. Well? What if?"

Yamato gave him a look that clearly expressed he thought the other was an idiot. "If you promise, I'd call you a liar. Though, that's not the first thing you've lied to me about," he said all too casually, picking at the fabric of the mattress. Then he locked eyes with the brunet. Would telling the truth be so bad? "Merely being here hurts me," he said pointedly. The look on the other man's face held an answering sorrow that gave Yamato strength to hope. "If you helped me escape..."

Brown eyes looked away and closed. "Anything but that." His expression was unreadable.

Things clicked into place for Yamato. The bastard was willing to do almost anything for him, but only if Yamato remained docile... Or maybe if Yamato were to offer something the Lord wanted... He put on a seductive smile and dragged his finger from the man's knee to his hip. Yagami's pet jolted under his touch. "Then I could help you overthrow Yagami. Surely he has weaknesses. You could tell them to me. We could take him down together. Surely you'd like to take your turn on top." Yamato hid his smile as the words had the intended effect on his captor.

Brown eyes were open wide with shock. He backed away a step. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was using you to test me."

"Really? And how many of his slaves has he let you fuck in an attempt to 'test' you? How many have you used and hurt to prove yourself?" he taunted.

The Lord moved forward and had him by his throat before Yamato could try to defend himself. The fingers were tight, but not choking. For the first time in Yamato's memory, his brown eyes were hard. "I swear to you that I will only hurt you if it is necessary. That's the best I can offer. Now, lie down. Don't make it necessary, Yamato."Say something snotty, the voice urged, as he was torn between doing just that and complying with the Lord's request.

He hated the sound of his name coming from the other's lips. It was too much like a sensual caress. "My name is Ningyou. Or has your puny brain forgotten that fact?" he challenged.

The hand around his neck was removed.

The brunet knelt so that they were eye-to-eye. "I know your name well, Yamato. It is you who can't remember mine," he said softly, stroking his cheek. "And you never will, will you?"

Yamato opened his mouth to respond, but the stroking stopped and a finger, held briefly against his lips, kept him silent.

"Please, just lie down."

Yamato felt his heart constrict. The Lord looked so sad and tired.He's just lying some more, his mind whispered. He's mumbling nonsense to confuse you. Fight him. If you keep pushing, he'll break.

That... was true, he decided. But did he really want him to break? The other man was still gazing at him, waiting for his reaction.

Keep pushing.

And he was about to, but when he opened his mouth to say the words, they wouldn't come and his arms ached to pull Taichi closer. He was tired of fighting -- tired of pretending an animosity he wasn't even sure why he had begun in the first place.He lies to you. He makes you feel for him.

But wouldn't it be better if he enjoyed it? His captivity wasn't about to disappear anytime soon. If Taichi was willing to be gentle... Or maybe that was what the Lord was waiting for. What if once Yamato felt comfortable, the Lord would change into a monster and use every soft moment between them as a weapon?He lies. Keep push--

Sad, tired brown eyes. Taichi's eyes."What if I promised that I wouldn't ever hurt you?"

Surely... as long as he kept some distance between them... surely it wouldn't hurt to give in just this once."Please, just lie down."

He smirked at the man and lay down on his belly. "Well, since you said please," he told him.

Then Yamato tensed, not sure of the situation he'd just gotten himself into. He still didn't know why the Lord wanted him to lie down.

Taichi didn't let him worry about it for long. His hair was brushed aside and the weight of the collar fell heavily against his neck as it was snapped closed.

Yamato made no move to stop the bastard, but said with detached acidity, "So much for your promise of not hurting me."

"You're going out for a bit," he was informed. "That collar is as much for your protection as it is for anything else."

Failing to see how the collar would actually help him, he focused on the part that he could understand. "Where am I going?"

The Lord's hand gripped Yamato's shoulder and steered him toward the door. "You'll see."

Yamato passed through the doorway and entered the corridor. He glanced around, carefully noting his surroundings. Behind him, there was a keypad next to his door. To his right, the passageway ended in a set of double doors. In the opposite direction, it met up with another that ran perpendicular. Other doors lined the sides in both directions, each possessing keypad locks like his own. On the floor to his left, partially hidden by navy blue encased legs, was a hunk of antiquated machinery and something that looked... fluffy.

"You will dust and vacuum this section, then move into the adjoining corridor and repeat your task there. I'll leave it up to you to imagine what this lesson is supposed to be teaching you."

He was getting his wish to see outside his room. But... Yamato stifled the urge to laugh. "Cleaning? Overseeing the machine is slaves' work, unless you're talking about programing it to the hall's parameters."

"No, you had it right the first time. It's slaves' work. You could do with some physical labor after being cooped up in your room for all this time. You should be thanking me for this chance."Arrogant bastard.

Yamato glared. "Interesting. You would make a wounded man perform physical labor? How kind of you. Thank you for considering all the pain I'm in from the beating my father gave me."

"You're in pain?" The look of confusion, worry, and surprise on Taichi's face was almost cute.That same face is the one that smiles when he's helping his master torture someone.

Yamato felt his face darken in anger. "It's not like I'm going to bounce back to normal with a bit of goo," he snapped, gesturing to his discolored chest. "Of course it..." He stretched and bent to prove his point, growing confused himself when the pain that should have been there, wasn't. "It doesn't hurt. What did you do to me?"

The bastard had the nerve to chuckle. "Don't scare me like that, Yamato. And as for what I did to you, all I did was rub in that cream."That cream can't possibly have done all of this. Was I out longer than a few hours?

He searched backwards with his mind, trying to pin down the sensations he felt when he first awoke, then sucked in a breath when he did remember.I didn't hurt when I woke up. My bruises were sore, yes... but I know one of my ribs cracked... and yet I've been sleeping on my stomach. That shouldn't be possible.

Taichi was still talking when Yamato returned from his inner monologue. "...so the bones should be most of the way knit by now. You just have to take it easy and make sure you move around a bit so that things don't stiffen up."

Yamato was then informed that the vacuuming machine had to be propelled and directed by human power and the Lord explained that 'a close friend of mine likes to fiddle with antique machines' when Yamato had wondered how the thing was still operating. The power cells strapped to the contraption's side certainly suggested that they'd not been designed to fit there originally.

More banter ensued, then Taichi was looking at him, expecting an answer on his willingness to perform the assigned task. Yamato pondered this and was mildly annoyed that he gave the matter any consideration at all. Defiance still screamed through him, yet Taichi's promise of another decent meal and a solitary bath later on in the day seemed a fair reward for less than an hour of physical labor. He gave the brunet his grudging assent.

Taichi unexpectedly left him alone to do his chore, although it made sense that the Lord had better things to do than watch him clean. The motions were as mindlessly easy as he'd expected and before too long the corridor showed a definite improvement. The cross-corridor beckoned.

But so did the double doors at the end of the hall. Unlike the rest, they were made of precious wood. Not the tiny pieces that were commonly all that was seen, but giant, solid pieces of wood. Yagami had to have several thousand fortunes stored away if he could waste such money on easily breached doors. He went back down the corridor, trying all of the doors as he went. The double doors were old-fashioned enough to have knobs and Yamato turned one just for fun, knowing that like the others, it would be locked somehow too.

Surprisingly, the door opened.

Inside, it was set up as a bedroom. But it couldn't possibly be Taichi's. The amount of dust in the room was astounding. Even the bed and pillows were covered in it. The room hadn't been used in years. He stepped further in, cataloguing, trying to solve the mystery. A few articles of dark clothing were scattered on the floor and he found it odd that they were still lying there. Everything was untouched... except for that.

There was a comfy looking armchair in the corner of the room. The table next to it had been cleaned recently. Lying on the table, the album (or so the word on the book's cover suggested) was completely free of dust. Yamato gave in to the urge to sit on something other than a mattress. He brought the album to his lap, letting his fingers play over the soft imitation leather grain on the cover. Now to see what was so special.

The cover was only a quarter of the way lifted when Taichi caught his attention from the doorway. "This is not your room," the brunet said softly, but there was steel beneath the tone.

Yamato shrugged and proceeded in examining his find. "It's not yours, either," he answered mildly.

One second the Lord was standing in the door, in the next, he was shutting the album on Yamato's fingers and pulling the book roughly away. The man replaced the album, then forced Yamato back into the hallway, his hand harshly gripping the bare shoulder. Yamato was whirled around to face his captor.

"This door stays unlocked," Yamato was told flatly. "You are never to come in here again," the man added with a shake. "Violation of this space is something that I am quite willing to punish you for. Am I understood?" Taichi's eyes were flared with emotion.

Yamato reached behind himself and pulled the open door shut. "Fine." It was interesting that Taichi had been protective of the album. His mind leapt to the logical conclusion. "Who died?"

"No one," the Lord said in a tone that left no room for argument, his fingers tightening enough to leave four crescents pressed into Yamato's skin. Brown eyes swept over Yamato's work in the corridor. "You've been at this long enough. Back to your room."

Confusion flickered through him. Wasn't the whole point of this exercise to humiliate him by having him perform slaves' labor in front of other people's eyes? He hadn't seen a soul except for Taichi. He hadn't even peeked around the corner into the next hallway. He was losing his chance to explore. The vacuum was still lying in a heap. Maybe Taichi would let him put it away. "But the supplies... and I didn't..."

"They'll be taken care of. Now move. Your door's still unlocked." Yamato was turned loose without the expected shove.Is he angry this time? He said he'd hurt me if I went back in there. Why send me back to my room?

Yamato remained still, puzzling through Taichi's strange command. Then the man's presence grew behind him, coming to stand so close that Yamato suspected the other was inhaling his hair.Idiot. Lies and Trust. He gives you one and you give him the other.

"Move," the Lord ordered.

Yamato did. Why was he so afraid of Taichi hurting him? It would just be like getting hurt by anyone else, wouldn't it?

"Belly back on the mattress, use your arms to pillow your head."It doesn't matter what he does to me, anyway.

He was tired and obeyed without argument this time. And, as it was too much of an effort to crane his neck around to look at the man, he settled for staring at the wall and wondering what the Lord would do now.

Fingers stroked from the top of his spine and out across his shoulder blades, each time, returning to the center and traveling a bit lower down his spine. The idea that the larger man was merely teasing him before a punishment didn't seem right. Soon, those same movements placed a slight pressure on his ribs. Then it clicked.So that's what he's doing... checking my injuries.

"Feel pain anywhere?" The question was made with clinical detachment.

"No," Yamato answered with equal detachment.

"Hm," was the short reply. The hands lifted momentarily, only to return, brushing the hair away so that the collar could be removed. After the weight lifted, an unexpected kiss was pressed onto the back of his neck. "Flip over."

Yamato cursed himself for shivering and obeyed, telling himself that there wasn't anything Taichi could do to him that he wasn't prepared for. Face to face with his captor, he resisted the twin urges to look away and close his eyes. He watched the face of the man that was touching him.So warm... He squelched the thought before it fully took shape.

Uncallused hands continued to move, tracing over the discolorations on his skin and along the lines of his ribs.

"And here?" A finger hovered over the spot that had caused so much pain last night.

"It doesn't hurt." A fingertip touched him there, ever so lightly. Trembling, Yamato knocked the hand away from the rib. "I'm fine. Your cream did its trick. Quit being sneaky about feeling me up," he spat.

"Physical movement could have aggravated the injuries," the Lord answered levelly. "Just because you can't feel it, doesn't mean that you're completely better." But he made no further move to touch Yamato. Instead, he shifted to sit at the foot of the bed, his hands clasped in his lap. The expression on his face, for all its lack of emotion, made him look particularly vulnerable.

Yamato's anger sparked, recognizing the signs. He's about to lie to me again, he realized. By not fighting him, he thinks I've gone soft again. He'll try to manipulate me. And dammit, I was falling for it again!

"Yamato, I have to ask," Yagami's pet began. "Were you scared this morning? Is that why you acted so harshly?"

"You are to address me as Ningyou," Yamato reminded him with a bored tone. "And for your information, I was acting like myself. You're deluding yourself if you think you're going to win me over by being nice."

The bastard stiffened in response to his words.

Yamato smiled nastily. "So since today's activities were so much more strenuous than staring at the wall all day, if you aren't going to fuck me, get the hell out of my room and let me rest."

It took a few moments for the Lord to move, but the man did as he was requested and left without saying a word.

But for some reason, winning a battle with his keeper just wasn't as satisfying.

Despite his best efforts and the fact that he'd not been tired before, the look of pure disgust that was on Taichi's face before he left the room had Yamato crying himself to sleep.

***

The youngest son of Lord Kidou stepped into his rooms, fully intending to go straight to sleep after his wearying week. The sight that met him stopped him in his tracks.

Pink.

He couldn't even begin to catalogue the atrocities committed against his room. The only connection he could make between the flowers dripping off the bookshelves, the fabrics draped artistically over his furniture, the demonic fuzzy bunny slippers waiting just inside the door, and the multitude of other additions to his rooms, was that they all were some varying shade of pink.

Oh yes. Now he remembered. His favorite pleasure slave had been so distraught at his sudden departure that he had promised her she could redecorate in his absence. Surveying the results with a wince, Jyou moved through his rooms in search of his lovely flower. That he didn't find anything in the outer rooms did not surprise him. Since the hour was late, he opened the door to his bedroom quietly and was, again, shocked.

His previous dismay melting away, Jyou felt his lips pull upwards in a familiar, indulgent smile. The only difference made to his bedroom decor was the addition of a scattering of pink candles that flickered soft light over the curves of the bed's occupant. Mimi lay artfully arranged in her nudity on top of the covers, her hair curled and face painted to perfection... not that she was any less perfect without the enhancements. Feeling blood color his cheeks to match the outer rooms, Jyou gulped down the fluttery feeling in his stomach and mildly berated himself for acting like such a quivering virgin. Mimi had been reserved for his exclusive pleasure for quite some time.

After checking to see that the candles were placed on non-flammable surfaces, Jyou undressed and slipped under the covers. There was plenty of room on the large bed for him to sleep on the edge without disturbing the slumbering young woman. But then, as he lay, matching his breaths in time to the rise and fall of the soft flesh of her belly, the thought struck him that his pink flower might catch a chill during the night. Remembering the awkward and embarrassing result of his first (and last) attempt at carrying her, the young Lord opted to stroke the soft flesh of her cheek.

She let out a contented murmur and pressed herself into his caress. Her wide eyes blinked slowly open, then her semi-permanent smile wavered as she scrunched up her nose prettily.

"I wanted to stay awake to welcome you back," she said, pouting.

"That's all right," he assured her. "I'm too tired to do much more than cuddle before I fall asleep."

Jyou tugged her to the top of the bed then patted invitingly at a warm spot beneath the blankets. Ever-obedient to his desires, Mimi joined him and snuggled up against the length of his body. She looked up at him, a frown wrinkling her brow.

"Did you have a rough trip? You were gone for such a long time. I missed you."

Jyou wished that he could just relax into sleep without Mimi's near-incessant chatter, but he remembered that she rarely got news of the outside world. It was expected that she would be both worried for him and curious about what had happened.

Thinking back, he replied, "Lord Yamato ended the masque before the final slave that my father wanted had been shown. He was in a foul temper for the rest of the trip." He gave her an amused smile. "From the look of things, I trust you weren't too bored."

"Do you like it?" she asked hopefully. "I tried so hard to make everything perfect."

Although normally strictly honest, it was impossible for Jyou to say anything that would knowingly upset her. Despite Mimi's duties and status in life, she carried a purity and innocence within her that made it a crime to cause her pain. Jyou caught her lips in a kiss, then hedged, "I liked the bedroom best of all."

His effort was rewarded by her soft smile.

"But tell me, how did you gain access to everything?" Truly, he hadn't minded giving her free reign of decorating the chambers because he had thought that she wouldn't have access to much more than fabric and flowers of darker shades. Pink things were not something that his father stocked in large supply.

"Shun came to check up on me the day after you left. He found me looking over the fabric samples then offered to get me whatever else I wanted for the room."

That made more sense. Shin and their father frequently ignored Jyou, but the younger Lordly twin, Shun, took pleasure in teasing his brother. So... Shun was the one responsible for the explosion of pink in his suite of rooms. He contemplated having a word with his older brother, but decided against it. Shun would have won, anyway, and besides, Mimi was happy.

"He also let me order up some new things for my costume wardrobe," she added. "Want me to model them for you?"

Jyou smiled and held her so that her head was tucked beneath his chin. "Later, little flower," he chuckled. "Let me rest a bit so I can show you how much I appreciate seeing them."

She shifted so that she could draw lazy circles on his chest. "You said you were tired, but I could still give you pleasure," she said with a purr.

Jyou caught up her active hand and kissed each fingertip before returning her arm to her side. "That's a very tempting offer, little flower, but I honestly do need to sleep."

Rather than becoming upset at his gentle refusal, Mimi relented and snuggled closer to him. It was one of the things he loved about her the most -- she never demanded anything from him, never treated him like he was inferior, never was disappointed in him, never gave him anything less than her pure, sweet, unconditional love.

When her eyelids dropped as sleep reclaimed her, Jyou felt better about declining her offer. She needed her rest as much as he did.

But now with thoughts circling in his mind, sleep seemed a far-off thing.

"I missed you too, Mimi," he whispered, knowing that she wouldn't hear. He'd deliberately waited until she was asleep. It could never be said when she was awake. Jyou just wasn't that cruel.

He knew he was a fool for loving his slave. Only pain could come of it.

***

Yamato was miserable.

The perpetually smiling brunet hadn't returned that evening, nor had he turned up in the three empty days that had followed. He'd kept his promise, though. Delicious hot meals were shoved through the one-way flap at the bottom of his door. And the night of their... Yamato hesitated to call it a fight... that night, the Slavemaster had come to take him to bathe and had left him mercifully in peace after promising to cause him serious pain if the blond tried drowning himself -- not that Yamato was keen on suicide. He had just been grateful he didn't have to put up with that annoying red head like he had the last time.

For the next three days, the meals and lights came and went with pleasing regularity. But Taichi was achingly absent. The unending silence, mixed with boredom, made Yamato decide that the Lord was punishing him by making him go insane.

Taichi finally showed himself after Yamato had finished his morning meal. Yamato had been anticipating their meeting for a long time and definitely had a few choice words to tell the man. But although when Taichi opened the door he looked physically the same, it was as if there was a wall between them. They stared at each other for a long moment, Yamato's caustic words dying unsaid. Then the brunet spoke simply, "If you're bored, follow me," then he turned and walked down the corridor, leaving the door wide open.

Stepping outside of his room, Yamato's hand went to his bare throat. Did the collar really keep him safe? Was he in danger now? But Taichi had paused before reaching the cross-corridor and was tapping a code into a door's keypad. The taller man motioned for Yamato to enter.

Snarling at himself for acting so timid, Yamato thrust his head up proudly and stalked into the room... half afraid of finding a bed with straps and other painful devices... half afraid of the unimaginable alternative. He'd not expected to see exercise equipment contained in a very large cage, nor did he expect the comfortable chair and small shelves of books and crumbling papers. One wall was broken by a doorway that opened on a bathroom similar to the one in his room.

"The cage is unlocked when all weights are in place and locks itself when any heavy objects are removed from their holders," the Lord announced. "You will use this equipment regularly to keep yourself in shape. I recommend, however, that for today, you begin with the books. You are expected to be familiar with all of them. I will be back for you in six hours to check on your progress." He was halfway out the door when he turned back. "If you deliberately damage the contents of that bookcase, Yagami will know and you will be subject to a punishment even I cannot protect you from. Some of those are the only copies in existence." Taichi stopped to consider him. Yamato was expecting him to smile as he usually did, but he did not. Instead, the brown haired man turned and stepped the rest of the way through the door. "I know you're not stupid enough to damage such rare items, but the warning must be made." The door locked shut behind him.He didn't smile at me. Not once.

Not liking the answer that he knew he'd find if he began searching his feelings, Yamato went to the set of shelves. He had nothing better to do, really. After making a random selection of books and papers, he curled up in the chair and began to read, intent on shifting his mind away from Taichi.

It didn't take long for him to become immersed in the information before him. Some of it was historical records of the Yagami land, but the majority of it... He sifted through the pages quickly....thousands protest the destruction of the National Library... smaller libraries are slated to receive similar treatment in May... raids on personal libraries have already begun...

...Erebus, the sentient virus that began attacking early last month, has put a strangle-hold on all communications... archives destroyed... transmissions monitored... any messages or files containing forbidden keywords are deleted... efforts to use code to avoid the virus succeed for only a short time before Erebus adapts and breaks the code...

...all around the globe, people reported sightings of large groups of the mutant animals... strange abilities... attacks... scientists deny accusations of genetic tampering... death-toll mounting... bizarre link between the mutant attacks and the increased mortality rate of five-year olds...

...rumors have sprung up about the World Cup Organization planning major changes to next year's tournament rules... confirmation about the sport's future has not yet been received...

...thousands of prisoners were released from their cells today, only to be taken to the slave auction blocks that have sprung up around the country... "with such meager times, it is good to have the burden of supporting criminals removed," is the opinion of housewife Sachiko Akazuki... experts expect to see a drop in the crime rate now that lifelong slavery is the standard punishment...

...this is the last edition of the Asahi daily newspaper... all presses have been confiscated... we have enjoyed serving you information and wish you well in these wonderful times of change...

The more he read, the tighter his stomach twisted into a knot.This can't be possible. It can't be true.

The books and papers had to be false... part of some sick plan to dishearten him by first presenting, then ripping away, a reality without slavery, without monsters, without information being closely monitored by a select few.

Document after document chronicled major changes being made to society starting shortly after the year 2002... Changes that he easily recognized as the sources of the unfavorable aspects in his life.

The only time he moved from the chair was to grab another stack of papers or books and that was how Taichi found him when the Lord finally returned.

***

"Why are you doing this?" Yamato's words snapped out at Taichi before he had taken even two steps from the door.

Taichi allowed himself a brief smile, pleased that Yamato was finally acting predictably. This he could handle. "You'll have to be more specific," he said, knowing it would irritate the blond further.

"This," Yamato said, holding up one of the rarer books in the collection. "Why do I have access to these? What are they? Why, out of all the people in the world, does Yagami have them? Why would Yagami be interested in writings saying that slaves didn't always exist?"

Yamato was trembling -- the same as when Taichi had let him out of the room. And like then, Taichi tamped down his urges and didn't take the two steps necessary to cross the wide space between them. He didn't offer the comfort he so desperately wanted to give.

"To keep other people from possessing them," he told Yamato. And it was true. His father had collected them in secret to prevent them from being destroyed.

"Why keep them around? Why not destroy them?"

Was it that Yamato thought these were fabricated for his benefit? Taichi would have to correct that errant notion. "What happens when truth is destroyed?" he crooned. "Where does it go when it's pushed so firmly out of people's minds? What happens when everything is based on a lie?"

Yamato was staring at him, eyes wide.

Taichi was ready. He'd prepared everything carefully -- knew exactly what to say. "Yagami keeps them around as proof. Proof that, yes, the world had a chance at happiness, but people were able to take it away. These documents are a reminder of power," he said, running his hand up the blond's arm, over his shoulder, across his chest, and up his neck to grasp his chin and make it impossible for that frozen expression to turn away. "As for why you've been instructed to read them... We wanted you to know the true history of this world."

"True?" Yamato's voice was cracking along with his composure. "These can't be true." Whatever mask the man with ice-blue eyes had sealed himself behind, it was cracking now and Taichi didn't dare stop chipping away at it, word by word.

"They can't be true?" he mimicked. "You know what that would mean, then, if they weren't. It would mean that this awful existence that you live in would be normal -- that it's nothing out of the ordinary. All the things that happen to slaves... all the things that could be happening to you. Do you like living in that little room? Do you like it that Yagami owns you? I never pictured you as a masochist... or one to deny all hope."

Yamato was struggling against him now, but the smaller man had been unable to break free. His point proven, Taichi released the pale chin. "I hate you," Yamato spat, scrambling out of the chair and darting into the cage. "I hate you more than I hate him," he picked up a weight and, as designed, the door slammed shut. Whatever the blond had been hiding behind was gone now. Emotions were raging across his face unchecked. "Leave me the fuck alone. You're just playing with my head!"A head that works well in a crisis, Taichi mused, impressed that Yamato had remembered the instructions for the cage and had been able to use them to his advantage. Taichi could open the cage himself, of course, but making Yamato come out would be much more interesting.

Taichi smiled. He'd prepared for this scenario. "Out of the cage, Yamato. No hiding. We aren't done talking yet."

Yamato dropped the weight and it fell with a loud clang. "It takes two to have a conversation and I'm through letting you manipulate me."

Plans and words were put on hold as a feeling of triumph rushed through him. Was that what was troubling the blond?

Taichi reflected back on all the uncharacteristic outbursts Yamato had made, neglecting the fact that he was basing Yamato's normal personality on his own imagined ideal. Each had occurred at a time when the blond could understandably have been feeling weak or manipulated. There were still the not-so-easily explainable comments about overthrowing Yagami, but those could be pushed aside for the moment. As long as Yamato didn't try to seduce him, Taichi wouldn't worry about that possibility. For the moment, he could believe that Yamato truly meant them no harm and that he was merely responding out of fear. A weight he hadn't felt until just now, lifted from his heart.

He returned his attention back to Yamato, unable to keep his happiness fully contained. In Taichi's earlier silence, the blond had moved away from him to the furthest side of the cage. Taichi was grateful that his back was turned. He hated seeing the bruises on Yamato's chest. Even though Yamato insisted they didn't pain him, there had to have been emotional pain at his father's betrayal.

Or was it not a surprise? Was Yamato conspiring with Masaharu? Taichi refused to think about this being a trap for him. He'd stay cautious -- it would be protection enough. For even though he was sure now that Yamato was a victim, he'd follow through with the rest of the plan he and Koushiro had come up with.

Yamato would be given a chance to escape. Not yet, but soon. Maybe as early as three days from now. That would give him plenty of time to set things in motion.

But first he had to find out one more thing and he would use their mutual attraction to each other to do it. At least, the attraction seemed to be mutual. The blond had just announced his hatred, but that didn't belie the fact that he became distracted if Taichi was touching him. Although it pained him to use caresses as a tool to make Yamato more pliant, it would be a delight to feel that soft skin beneath his hands. He only hoped he would be able to pull himself back when he got the information he needed or if things got too intense.

"Yamato," he called. "Consider this a warning that the metal floor you're standing on is hooked up to an electric current. I don't want to hurt you, but if you don't come out of there, I'll zap you and carry you out."

The blond still didn't turn around. Things would have to be played out very carefully.

Taichi began a count-down, hoping Yamato wouldn't test him. The threat was valid -- the cage could actually shock Yamato, but Taichi wasn't sure he could go through with it.

"Five... four... three..."

***

Yamato heard the count-down, but really, he was more curious about what Taichi would do if he didn't obey.

"Three... two... one..."

Yamato didn't move. Taichi didn't speak. At least five minutes passed in silence... not that Yamato was counting. His mask had been ripped away. The hate and anger he felt had dropped steadily as the time stretched and his nervousness was increasing. His inability to see Taichi's expression and his unease on that matter made him be the one to break first. "So, aren't you going to..." He trailed off.

"I was going to wait until you decided it would be in your best interest to do as I ask," Taichi said. "I didn't have time to test this cage recently. I think the techs set the stun to mild, but it's difficult to tell. I really don't want to hurt you, Yamato. I just want to talk with you a bit more. Come on out of there."

Yamato heard Taichi start to circle the cage and he moved to the opposite side, keeping his back to the man and an even distance between them. Taichi didn't move to face him again, so seemingly, the Lord was going to wait for him to come out on his own. But that wouldn't be anytime soon if Yamato had his way.

More than anything else, he wanted to be alone. It was too much to handle. Too much to think about. He couldn't seem to regain the frozen indifference the mask had granted him. To think that there was a time when slavery wasn't so ingrained in society -- all his life he'd wished things were different.

In his father's fortress, he'd been alone in enduring the chafe of slavery. None of the lesser lords seemed troubled or bothered. Even the slaves themselves, including the ones who fought against their servitude, never questioned the social order. Those who rebelled did so to keep themselves sane. There was no hope in them for a different future. Some of the slaves were grateful for the reprieve he gave them from cruelty, but most ignored it or feared it or hated him for it because it reminded them that they were people. And the boy... Iori. Yamato doubted that Iori, wherever his soul was, was thanking him.

Here in Yagami's clutches, he was treated better than he'd ever expected, but it left him afraid of what situation he'd find himself in when the dream ended. The only way he knew to deal with the stress was by wearing the mask. But the gentle, soothing tone in Taichi's voice wasn't helping his failing battle to rebuild the crumbled shield. Taichi was slowly wearing his resistence down and now... there were times when Yamato didn't even want to fight it anymore.

He chanced a glance back over his shoulder. Taichi's hands were raised above his head and were curled around two of the bars of the cage, supporting him as he leaned against them. His forehead, too, was pressed to the rounded dark metal strips. Eyes closed, mouth tightly shut, face guarded against letting emotion show -- he almost looked like he was sleeping, but there was a tenseness in his muscles that suggested otherwise.

Taichi was both the best and the worst thing about his enslavement to Yagami. For as much as his own harsh words suggested otherwise, he knew he was becoming dependant on Taichi. He needed to see the brunet's smile. The gentle touches and kisses... as much as they disgusted him, they gave him pleasure, kept him feeling protected.

He kept waiting for Taichi's personality to change -- for the Lord to use the feelings Yamato couldn't control against him. And so he kept on provoking him... hoping to get the farce of kindness over with so he could adjust to his captivity. He knew that the longer he was treated kindly, the more it would hurt when that kindness was changed to cruelty.

And now, Yagami had apparently ordered him to learn the 'truth' about the world. In the midst of it all, he was left to wonder why Taichi seemed so eager for him to accept the idea that the world had been a different place at one time. The only conclusion that made any sense was that it would hurt him more to know that things could be different, but that he was powerless to help himself. It was just another kink to add to Yagami's cruel ways, but it didn't fit with Taichi's behavior.

The Lord was trying to manipulate him -- the kindness was just another tool to that end. But he seemed to genuinely want to talk. Maybe with more information, even if it was only more of Taichi's lies, he could piece together what was going on. Nothing was getting accomplished by both of them staying silent.But I have to stay in control for this. I can't let him confuse me.

He took another few breaths to make sure he had a strong grip on his actions -- he couldn't afford another emotional outburst. When he was as calm and collected as he could manage, he retrieved the weight and set it into its place. The cell door rattled open with a clang. Taichi's eyes shot open and stared at him in surprise. Yamato took the few short paces that would bring him out of the barred enclosure and he went to the closest corner in the back of the room, still needing something to hide himself with.

He knelt in the corner, legs tucked under him, with his head facing away from the rest of the room. It wasn't the most comfortable position and he couldn't rise quickly, but it left him feeling the least exposed. Hands over his lap and a foot protecting his crack, he was almost decent. Taichi came closer, then, and Yamato resolved that he wouldn't be the first to speak. He wouldn't give the man that satisfaction again.

Warm hands rested lightly on his shoulders. "Thank you," was Taichi's quiet opening remark. Yamato shut his eyes, blocking away the warmth, and refused to acknowledge the other's presence. "I'm glad you came out on your own," Taichi continued slowly, with the same soft tone. "If you're ready to talk, I have some questions for you." The hands stroked his shoulders. "Answer them and I'll leave you alone for today. That's what you want, isn't it? Time to think?" Taichi knelt behind him, their similar heights making it so that Yamato could feel the brunet's lips moving against his hair. "Just answer me this: what would you do in a world without slaves?"

What was the Lord playing at? The question was pointless. He worked to keep the bitterness from his voice as he spoke. "It doesn't matter. That world will never exist."

"Why do you say that?" The hands went from stroking along his skin to massaging the tense areas of his neck and shoulders.

Yamato wanted to fight the touch, wanted to pull away, but he couldn't let Taichi win. He couldn't let the Lord know how much his warmth affected him. If he just answered the damn foolish questions, maybe he'd finally be left alone. Taichi had promised to go away.

"People were meant to be slaves," Yamato found himself saying, the words echoing his earlier thoughts, the ones he'd had before Taichi arrived. "Your books, the same ones that tell of 'free' worlds, refer back to even older civilizations that were based on a structure like the one now. Slaves existed, even back then, if your precious books are true."

There really wasn't much hope in the past. People had been blind enough to be controlled. The world deserved what it got. Yamato let out a laugh at the irony. He finally understood what his father had been trying to teach him. It was a shame he'd learned the lesson only now that he was exiled for showing pointless mercy to creatures that were far better off having the security of being controlled. Being slaves removed them from having the responsibility of taking care of themselves, of having to make and uphold their own decisions.

"There are weak people and there are strong people, and the strong will always try to control the weak. I'm one of the strong," he said, daring Taichi to disagree. The man behind him remained silent, but the hands clamped down on him tightly. Yamato pressed on. "Slaves will always exist. They're meant to be controlled by the stronger people, by people like us. By people like me."

It was a challenge. He wasn't sure if he believed himself, things were all muddled. But he had to say it -- had to see how Taichi would respond. The clenched hands, not quite bruising him, suggested anger. Then he was released.

Taichi scooted closer, his knees splitting to rest against either side of Yamato's huddled form. An arm snaked around his bare middle and rather than tugging Yamato out of the corner, the brunet used the leverage to pull himself closer. Yamato was gathered back to rest against the warm chest, one of Taichi's arms curled around him, keeping him close... the other delicately roaming over his naked torso.

With the mask gone, without the cool indifference to keep it at bay, desire rushed through him. He knew he should struggle, knew he shouldn't let Taichi touch him without him making some scathing comment. But...

Taichi kissed the juncture of his neck and shoulders, sucking softly, then he fluttered his tongue against the sensitized skin. He eventually drew away and leaned around to whisper hotly in Yamato's ear, "I know you're strong. I've seen your strength many times. You don't have to prove it to me. I already know." The hand holding him motionless moved and joined the other in its dance across his chest. "That's why I'm surprised that you're so reluctant to hope." Taichi leaned around and whispered in his other ear, "Don't you agree that the world could be made better?"

Yamato shook his head -- partly to clear his mind, partly in denial of Taichi's statement. "This is the society we live in, the society we were meant to live in. It can't be changed."

A moist tongue dragged its way across his back at the same time one hand twisted his nipple sharply. Unable to stop himself from reacting, he arched backwards, head falling back to land on the Lord's shoulder while his hips thrust backward.

Taichi groaned deeply at the contact, but didn't thrust against him as Yamato had expected. The Lord was getting aroused. Yamato could feel it. Yet, he was holding himself back. Yamato felt Taichi kiss his throat instead.

"What if it's not?" Taichi asked him between the attacks he was making on Yamato's neck. "What if you're wrong? Society can change if there is someone willing to stand up and change it."

He couldn't think. Too long. It had been too long since someone made him feel this way. In the back of his mind, he remembered that Taichi was doing this to manipulate him. But did it really matter?

One of Taichi's nips landed harder than the rest, causing him to gasp for air. "Answer the question," the Lord demanded, nuzzling the sore spot.

Yamato tried to ask him to repeat the question... it had gone completely out of his head... but all that came out was a needy whimper. Taichi seemed to understand, though. "What if it were possible to fix our society?" he whispered, finally backing off a little and letting Yamato catch some needed breath.

"Some things," Yamato answered, heart pounding, "are too badly broken to be fixed." He knew. He was one of them.

Strangely, it wasn't Taichi who had broken him. Now that the mask was gone, he didn't know who he was anymore. Had the mask ever really existed? Had he just pretended to be an ass to please his father, or had he only been nice because long ago someone special had made him promise? He remembered a slave... a slave who had been more of a father than Masaharu. He'd been manipulated from a very young age -- that much was obvious, but by who?

With the mask gone, what was left? What was real? His feelings right now, he couldn't even trust them. He hated being owned by Yagami, but Taichi's heat... He was losing his mind. "Some things are just too badly broken," he repeated to himself.

"And some things aren't." Taichi's voice, suddenly hard and insistent, shook him to semi-alertness. The man's hands, unmoving, were wrapped around his waist now. Again, warm breath tickled his hair. They were both kneeling as they had before. A long-forgotten ache had Yamato turning halfway and seeking the comfort of Taichi's lips with his own. They melted together for one flashing moment, then Taichi firmly pulled away. "How can you determine if it's worth it before you even try?"

That last had been asked so softly, yet intent brown eyes demanded a response.

Yamato struggled against a gnawing pain. What is he trying to do? Why does he want me to hope? Nothing's worth it. He won't let me go. There's no stopping Yagami. This kindness is just temporary. And his words came out bitter. "Whoever fights against the system is going to end up dead. The same for any fool naive enough to follow them."

"Like you?" Yamato felt his face go pale at Taichi's words. Gone were the Lord's smiles -- his eyes were hard and serious. "Yagami told me what Masaharu said about you. He said that he was getting rid of you because you were too kind to slaves. Is it true?"

"So that's what this is all about." Yamato cursed himself repeatedly. He was such an idiot. The way Taichi had acted before when Yamato had suggested getting rid of Yagami together -- it all made sense. Taichi was testing him to see if he was a worthy ally. If Taichi learned the truth, that he had been foolish enough to try to fix what couldn't be helped... Then it hit him. There was no way Taichi could see him as an ally. Less than two minutes ago, they'd been a few garments away from having sex on the floor.Despite what he says, Taichi thinks I'm weak... a thing to be used.

And the thought made him burn, all his pent up passion turning to anger.

"You just love thinking I'm weak," he snarled, wrenching himself away from the Lord. The corner, the awkward position he was in, and the circle of Taichi's arms kept him from moving much, but at least they weren't still touching everywhere. He had regained some control over himself. "My father got rid of me because I was turning into competition. And while there is some truth to what he said, it is largely a matter of perspective. Kindness can be worse than cruelty. My methods just happened to clash with his own."

Taichi sighed, eyes troubled. "Why is it so important to you to not seem weak?"

"Why is it so important for you to prove that I am?" Yamato countered. When the Lord didn't respond, Yamato continued. "You're manipulating me. I know it. I don't know why, but you are. You want me to hope, but you refuse me my freedom. How would you feel? Would you like it?"

Instead of apologizing (the least likely) or getting angry (the most likely), Taichi smiled slightly at that, then nodded as if coming to a decision. He released Yamato, placed a swift kiss on his shoulder, then stood. Yamato immediately scooted away, pressing himself further into the corner.

"I'm going to get something. Please stay here, okay?"

The brunet was out the door before the words could register. Moments later, something thudded down in the hall and Yamato thought he heard Taichi grunt. The door was slammed open and his mattress was hefted through, landing with a muffled thump on the floor in front of the cage.He brought my bed?

Now that his thinking was a bit clearer, Yamato was fairly sure that it wouldn't be a good idea to get close to Taichi. He wondered if the Lord would force him now. Rather than betray his weakness, he stayed silent and settled for glaring at the mattress. Taichi walked over and knelt down beside him. When Yamato checked, Taichi's expression was still soft, but that wasn't an assurance of anything. Yamato suppressed a shiver. Although it wasn't a good idea, Taichi might be nice enough to make it pleasurable. His thoughts drifted back to how the Lord had covered his neck in kisses.

"Hey," Taichi said, drawing his attention. "You don't have to look at me like that. I'm not going to do anything." He stood and offered Yamato a hand up. "I'll be busy for the next few days. I just figured that if I brought your bed in here, you could sleep, exercise, and read on your own schedule. You can control the lights in this room yourself," he said, nodding at a keypad by the door.

Yamato stood with Taichi's help, feeling both disappointed and relieved that the mattress was for his use only. And... a little angry. Taichi had evaded his questions. The Lord turned to go, but Yamato snagged his sleeve. "You're still manipulating me," he said, issuing the challenge.

The Lord turned back and raised one hand to run his fingers through Yamato's hair. Yamato permitted the touch, but he refused to let himself lean into the caress or give any outward sign that he appreciated it. "It's what needs to be done," Taichi said at last, a haunted look in his eyes. "Please bear with it a little longer. You're almost through this, Yamato."

Yamato nearly cried in frustration. "Almost through what?" It felt like he was playing a game but nobody had bothered to tell him the rules.

Lips crushed heavily against his own, with no hint of the earlier tenderness. It was a kiss of all-consuming need. "I can't tell you," Taichi said after they had broken apart for breath. "Just don't stop being strong, don't stop hoping... and when it's all over, please forgive me."

Yamato searched the other's pained eyes for any clue to what he was talking about. "What exactly do I need to forgive you for?" Worry and confusion were twisting his insides. He desperately wanted to know what was going on.

Taichi stroked a lock of hair out of Yamato's eyes, tucking it safely behind his ear. The grin splitting his face was forced. "Forget about it. It doesn't matter." He kissed Yamato again, softly this time. "I know you won't forgive me, so don't worry about it."

"How can I trust you when you tell me not to?" Yamato asked.

Taichi turned away and headed for the door. "I need to go," he said, avoiding the issue again. "There are things that I need to take care of. And I said that I would leave you alone to think if you answered my questions. I haven't forgotten that."

Yamato was about to tell him... Well, he wasn't sure what he wanted to say. He wanted to know the truth. He wanted Taichi to stay. He wanted a straight answer. He wanted to know why Taichi was manipulating him. He wanted... It was a moot point, however, as Taichi used Yamato's moment of indecision to leave.

After heaving a sigh and deciding that the chair was a better brooding place than the mattress, Yamato sat there and began to think.

His first thought, naturally, was how thinking had gotten him into this mess in the first place.

***

Daisuke let a few bubbles of air escape from his lips, then flipped his dripping hair and face up out of the small round tub. He shook away most of the excess water but some still remained to trickle down the back of his neck, where it mixed with the sweat from his warm-up. Excited voices, loud and raucous, were amplified by the ceramic tiles of the locker room. He grinned. His team would do well today. He was sure of it.

The upcoming game was only a practice game for Daisuke's team before they began the professional level Sakura Cup, but it was also a reward for the champions of the college level Motomiya Cup. If the winners of the Motomiya Cup could also defeat his team, then each member would have his pick of Lord Motomiya's slaves.

One of his players jogged up to him, a hulk of a man who was on the team not because of his skill but for his brute strength. "Hey, Captain! Who're we playing again?"

Before Daisuke could answer, another teammate knocked on the man's skull with an exasperated smile. "Tamachi University won the Cup. Man, I can't believe you didn't watch the final match. Their captain's amazing!"

The larger man waggled his eyebrows and said, "Hey, I was occupied, if you know what I mean." Moving more quickly than one would expect for a man of his size, he caught his attacker in an armlock, then proceeded to lift him into the air.

Daisuke chuckled. "Okay, that's enough. Save it for the field." At his order, the two disengaged. He turned his attention back to getting ready and tried to pay little attention to the continued chatter of his team.

"Hey, I've been down to the prize box already, and boy, do they have some nice pieces of ass in there. Plenty of good flesh to go around."

"There's only ten in there. The Tamachi captain's slave hasn't been delivered yet."

"I heard that he talks to himself a lot."

"Maybe he's overconfident and thinks he doesn't need to bring one."

"Must be some sort of 'genius' thing."

"Nah, no way he'd do that. The penalty for not having a slave in the prize box when you lose is pretty steep. And if he can't pay, he'll have to serve the captain himself for a contracted time. The guy's supposed to be a genius. There's no way he wouldn't bring a slave."

"Yeah. Who in their right mind would want to be the captain's slave?"

"Whatever. I just want to make sure I get me a nice piece of ass."

Although he'd intended to ignore them, Daisuke rolled his eyes. "Play first, enjoy the spoils of victory later!" he barked. Daisuke glanced around the locker room, making sure to meet the eyes of each team member. His expression was bright, but there was a firm strength beneath the smile. He was the leader of this group of men and he wanted to see them win. Overconfidence and lack of focus could be their downfall. "They're the ones who are supposed to be cocky and confident from having just been proclaimed the best in my father's lands," he admonished the rowdy group. "We will not degrade that title by slacking off and giving them an easy win. If they want to win the pick of my father's slaves, we're going to make damn sure that they work for that honor."

He looked over at the newer members of the team and the ones who had not shown up for the earlier strategy meeting. "Their captain is their main scorer. The other ten are brutes. None of the 'spread the skill' strategy for that team. The Tamachi captain's been credited with forty-five goals in the same game. And he's quick. They call him 'the rocket' so stay out of his way as much as possible. Otherwise, you'll foul yourself accidentally by touching him. I want everyone to stick to running interference on the rest of the team. I'll deal with their captain."

Despite the feeling that things would go well today, Daisuke was a bit anxious to play against Ken. He knew the captain's name well. Reports of the young man's many talents, both on and off the field, were everywhere in the media. He was an excellent student in the field of genetics and he could run and play like a demon on the field. Added to this was his unusual coloring -- indigo hair paired with pale violet eyes. Daisuke had always wondered what the man would be like in person.

Now he had his chance.

He and the team made the quick trek from the locker room to the field. The walls, a dark gray, were lined with seats packed with eager spectators. Overhead, metal catwalks supported the gigantic lights that illuminated the field. Ken and his team were already waiting.

"Greetings, playing against you is an honor," Ken said, extending his hand.

Daisuke grinned. "May the best team win." They shook, Daisuke exerting a bit more pressure than was necessary.

Ken's returned grip was much stronger than his pale, slender hands would have suggested. "Let's play," he answered smoothly, violet eyes glinting at the challenge.

The game began, Ken quickly taking control of the ball.Wow. I knew he was fast, but this is incredible.

Rising to the challenge, he put on more speed, but soon Ken was in front of the goal and ready to make his shot.

Daisuke felt a spurt of anger that the university student was about to score a goal this soon into the game. He cut out to the side and did a nasty sliding block. After his impact with the ground, time slowed to a crawl.

Ken actually took his attention off the ball to briefly stare deep into Daisuke's eyes. The indigo haired man then kicked the ball up and over Daisuke's extended leg and seconds later, the ball slammed into the goal net. The normal flow of time resumed.

Daisuke got up and brushed himself off. Ken passed him on the way to center field. "Just a bit of friendly advice," he husked in a seductive voice. "That play never works on me, so save your energy and don't try it again."

Daisuke flashed a shit-eating grin. "It won't ever be that close again. Enjoy that goal, it's the last one you'll make." They faced off against each other at the center of the field as they waited for the ball to be brought back into play. "I'm going to run circles around you," Daisuke promised.

"I look forward to seeing you try," Ken returned evenly.

Then the ball was dropped and the field exploded into activity.

Despite the earlier bravado, it was a difficult game for both captains. After Ken's initial goal, Daisuke managed to score twice, then Ken, then Daisuke again. They were down to the last few minutes of the game, the score 3-2 in favor of Daisuke's team.

Daisuke could feel the exhaustion creeping up on him. That last goal had been incredibly difficult to score. His lungs ached as they struggled to get enough oxygen to his muscles. That distraction was enough to let Ken gain control of the ball and the indigo haired player wasted no time making his way to the goal.

Daisuke shook himself with an order to focus and raced down the field after Ken. Although his team was up by one, if Ken was allowed this shot, the game would be tied and would move into sudden-death when the time expired. Daisuke wasn't confident that he could stop Ken. He had never faced a captain so close to his own skill level, and, while he had a high level of endurance, Ken had made him work extremely hard for that last goal. And more surprisingly, Daisuke didn't really care if Ken won. He'd earned it.

Putting on an extra burst of speed so that he was running along-side Ken, Daisuke decided that he'd only put a token effort into blocking Ken's shot. Knowing from experience that Ken would maneuver the ball out of the way with ease and make the tying shot, Daisuke did a sliding kick, landing him on his side. As he looked up into Ken's violet eyes, he felt his foot strike across something hard and then connect with rubbery softness. The ball was sent spinning out of bounds.

For just a brief moment, Daisuke thought he could see Ken smiling, but that didn't make any sense. The buzzer sounded, ending the game, and Ken's face was once again unreadable. The crowd that was gathered to watch erupted into noise, but Daisuke didn't bother noticing if they were cheering or booing. He kept his attention fixed on the other team's captain.

The Tamachi man offered him a hand up, which Daisuke accepted.

"Congratulations on a well-played game," Ken offered politely as they separated.

"Uh... thanks. Congratulations to you too," Daisuke responded, extending his hand. They shook and Daisuke continued in a lower voice, "You know, I was sure that you were going to make that goal. I didn't really expect to block you. Is your leg all right? Sorry about that," he said, having noticed the blood leaking through.

This time, when Ken smiled, Daisuke was sure of it.

"No need to apologize. I barely felt it. I was too focused on scoring that last goal and didn't see you coming." He stepped closer and his eyes traced along the edges of Daisuke's face. "But I don't mind losing to you. I am glad to have finally met a worthy adversary. I'll be in touch so we can work out the penalty for my team losing."

"Oh, that's okay," Daisuke was quick to assure him. "I think we can handle distributing the slaves in the prize box on our own."

"That may be true, but I don't keep a slave in the prize box." Violet eyes studied Daisuke intently. "It makes the game more interesting. And I like the pressure."

There was something about the look in Ken's eyes that nagged at him... made him feel like an experiment that was being studied. But Daisuke brushed the feeling away, knowing he was thinking too much, and shrugged. He didn't mind if he got a slave or not. "That's fine. You can just pay me the penalty money for not offering a slave and we'll be even." He turned to go, but Ken caught his shoulder.

"You're not understanding me. I should put this more clearly..." Again, there was the feeling of being studied, scrutinized -- devoured by those pale violet eyes. Daisuke tensed, heart pounding, and waited for Ken to continue. "Tamachi is an expensive university. I'm there on scholarship and the little money that I gain from grants and endorsements goes to cover my living expenses. I don't keep slaves and I don't have the money to pay the fine. I'll be taking the third option."

Daisuke's eyes widened against his will. Ken was planning to become his slave. He felt his mouth go dry. "Uh..." he managed.

"I'll be in touch," Ken said bowing. Then he looked up and locked gazes with Daisuke. "Master," he husked. With a quirk of the lips that was more smirk than smile, the man turned and went back to his team.

A tingle ran up Daisuke's spine.

If there had been malice in those words, he would have understood. He would have been able to accept Ken's disappointment about losing and not being financially able to pay the penalty. But there had been neither malice nor disappointment, only anticipation. How was he supposed to react to the seductive throb in Ken's voice? Was that the way he talked to everyone? But there had been desire in his eyes as he'd said the word, 'Master'... or at least Daisuke thought there had been.How am I going to handle this?

Even if it was only temporary, what was he supposed to do with Ken as his slave?

Then came the more unsettling thought -- what was it that Ken wanted him to do?

***

~Master?~ Wormmon's soft voice echoed in Ken's head. ~Can I come out now?~

Ken's eyes narrowed in annoyance, but he went to his sports bag and removed the creature from its protective case. "You're lucky I'm in a good mood," he murmured just loud enough for the digimon to hear and stowed the oversized caterpillar underneath the hair at the back of his neck. "Otherwise, you'd be staying in there until I get home."

~Your plan is going well, then?~

Ken smiled. The little game was lost, true. But the winning of the bigger game was now possible. "Yes. As Daisuke's 'slave,' I will have entry to that fool's rooms and from there, I can easily access the rest of Lord Motomiya's fortress. After a few days, the world will feel the wrath of the Kaizer."

He was in the middle of gathering his things, when the creature interrupted him again.

~Master? Who are you thinking of?~

Ken only stopped the snarl of anger because he was in a public place. "I told you to stay out of my head, monster," he whispered fiercely. "If I want you to know something, I'll tell you out loud."

~But just now, your thoughts were so warm. It surprised me. Who were you thinking of?~ the caterpillar insisted.

Ken sent a blast of hate and disapproval down their mental link and felt the creature cringe away. "Learn your place," he uttered as he took the thing from his body and threw it back into its container. The beast wisely stayed quiet. "If you behave yourself, I might be lenient enough to let you out when I return home."

~You're right, Master. I was mistaken.~ The apology came hesitantly, the sender unsure if the words would be accepted.

Ken softly snorted at the understatement, but let the caterpillar feel a bit of approval as he closed the perforated lid.Stupid thing, Ken thought, looking at the container. It's not warmth. The brat will serve his purpose, then I'll be rid of him. This desire for Lord Daisuke is just a passing fascination.

Ken, the Kaizer, menace to both Lords and digimon, glanced at Daisuke's turned back, then shouldered the bag and began the journey to his tiny apartment and the computers it contained.

***

Lady Jun glared at her younger brother. "Quit pacing. You're distracting me and my lines are coming out crooked." He had only been in the room for a few moments, but it was enough to break her concentration.

Daisuke complied, plopping into a cushy chair positioned by one of the many large windows. Moments later, he began kicking his heels rhythmically against the underside of his seat -- an equally undesirable action.

Jun put down her paintbrush, exasperated. "Don't you have somewhere else to be?" she questioned. "Didn't you just win your big game? Shouldn't you be celebrating with the guys, or something?"

Daisuke merely grunted in response.

Jun's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "You're pouting. Why are you choosing to pout in the room that I happen to be in?"

"I'm not pouting." The kicking stopped. "I'm looking for my favorite shirt."

Jun reminded herself firmly that she loved her brother. "Sitting down?"

Daisuke shrugged. "I'm taking a break and checking outside at the same time."

"Yeah, you can keep telling yourself that," she said, taking off her painting smock. "Or..." She walked behind his chair and rapped her knuckles on his thick skull. "You can talk to me about what's bugging you so I can get back to my painting."

Daisuke folded his arms on the windowsill and rested his chin atop them, his earlier restless energy degraded to melancholy. "Am so looking outside," he said without putting much fight into the argument.

When he said nothing more, Jun tried to sort out what might be troubling him. Ignoring Daisuke's uncharacteristic mood was out of the question. The boy was a social creature. The shirt was a flimsy excuse and they both knew it. If he were truly fine, he would be out with his teammates right now.

Experience told her that Daisuke was probably in the room in order to talk to her about what was on his mind. He wasn't forthcoming with the details, expecting her to drag it out of him instead. The signs all suggested that this latest shift in his moods was because of a guy.

Her little brother preferred the sexual company of men. Jun was fine with it and their parents didn't mind as long as he kept a low-profile during his activities. The only person who seemed to have a problem with his preference was Daisuke himself. Coupling that insecurity with his never-give-up attitude, Jun was left with one usually-competent baby brother who was particularly vulnerable in the realm of the heart.

She considered her options. The direct approach was out. Daisuke was maddeningly stubborn about revealing his weaknesses. That left force, coercion, and bribery. Not feeling up to performing the first two, she pulled a chair next to Daisuke's, retrieved the plate of snacks from beside her easel, sat down, and dangled a cookie in front of Daisuke's nose.

Plying him with his favorite food wasn't entirely fair, but at the moment, Jun was more concerned about her drying paint and Daisuke's mental state than she was about keeping her manipulations ethical. Not that any of her schemes ever were.

As always, the cookie worked. The boy's nose twitched and his eyes switched to focus on the cookie, following its movement as Jun waved it back and forth. When he lunged forward to sink his teeth into the cookie, Jun snatched it away and took a large bite out of it. Daisuke looked crushed. She directed his attention to the plate in her lap.

"You can have one if you tell me what's going on."

"Five," he said, still focused on the plate.

"Four," Jun countered. "You'll make yourself sick if you eat too many so soon after the game."

Daisuke nodded in agreement and reached for a cookie, not looking nearly as happy as he should. Jun reviewed her previous words.The game, her mind supplied. Something happened at the game... with a guy? One of his teammates, maybe? Maybe she had been wrong before about it being a love problem.

Daisuke reached for his second cookie, but she held the plate out of his reach. Rather than stretching out of the chair to reach past her to the plate, he slouched backwards in a near-boneless lump.

"Talk."

"The captain of the team we played today is named Ken. He's a really good player. I had a hard time playing against him."

Jun managed to keep herself from laughing, knowing he would never forgive her if she did. "You're upset that there's someone better at soccer than you?" she prodded gently as she passed him a cookie.

"Not exactly." Daisuke nibbled on the edge. "I'd never played against him before. He's new -- some sort of super-genius who transferred to Tamachi University less than a year ago. Not only is he a great player, he led the team in an undefeated streak through the championships."

He looked down, biting at his lip before shoving the rest of the fist-sized cookie in his mouth. Jun silently handed him another one.

"His team should've won, or at least tied with us... but I pulled a sliding block at the last second and we ended up winning."

"So he's not as good as you thought? And you're disappointed?"

Daisuke shook his head. "No. That's the problem. He is that good. That block shouldn't have worked, but it did. And I don't think that it had anything to do with luck. I know this will sound crazy, but I'm wondering if he did it on purpose."

The third cookie, untouched, was being crushed to crumbs in her brother's lap. "Do you think someone was betting on the game and offered him a reward for losing?" Jun questioned, sliding a paint-free palette onto his legs to catch the crumbs.

"No." Her brother moved his head side to side, slowly, as if he were unsure. "He was looking at me... funny. And then I found out that he doesn't keep a slave in the prize box and that he won't be paying the fine."

Jun sucked in a breath at the realization of what that meant. "He's coming here, then?"

He glanced down, noticed his hands were empty, then began picking at the crumbs in his lap. "We haven't arranged it yet, but I can tell that's what he wants." He hesitated, then kept on speaking. "The funny look he was giving me... He wants me."

She removed the palette of crumbs and held out another cookie. "What do you want?"

Daisuke curled up defensively in the chair and made no motion to take the offered treat. He whispered something into his legs. Jun gently touched his knee and he repeated himself, louder. "I want to get to know him better."

She scooted closer. "There's nothing wrong with that," she told him, searching his eyes for some sign that this time would be the time that he wouldn't hate himself for loving. But the shadows were still there.

"It's not right. I don't want to be his master," he said forcefully. "I don't want it to be like that."

"Who says it has to?"

"He did." Her brother stared into the space between them, refusing to meet her gaze. "Called me 'master' right there on the field. It..." A tremor rocked through him and he hid his face in his arms.

That was an answer she wasn't expecting. "Maybe he was teasing." Daisuke looked up at her, a faint blush still on his cheeks. She gave him a knowing look. "I have it on good authority that you're quite enjoyable to tease."

He uncurled, sat up straighter, and glared at her. "That's not the point," he snapped. "I don't want to like him," he continued in a softer voice.

"But you already do," she half asked, half told him. His nod was nearly imperceptible, but it was there. "Well then, little brother," she said as she stood, "I suggest that you negotiate the terms of your contract with him very carefully. This is the perfect opportunity to get what you want. You can keep him close and at arm's length at the same time. If this captain is willing to accommodate, take him up on the offer. It's not what I'd choose for you, but really, what it sounds like you want is a good fuck with no strings attached. The opportunity's there. Go for it."

Daisuke gaped at her, jaw hanging wide open.

Unable to resist, she popped the previously forgotten fourth cookie into his mouth.Let him chew on that a while.

***

Salamon paused outside the door. The room smelled of machinery, sickness, and something... else.

"Come on, Miko." Hikari was holding the door open wide enough for her to slip through. Her Chosen had been tending to the recently acquired humans for over a week now, but this was the first time she'd been allowed to accompany her into this particular room. "You're lucky the doctor lets you come with me to visit the patients. Otherwise, you'd have to entertain yourself."

'Miko.' It wasn't her name, but trapped in this form incapable of speech, there wasn't much she could do to correct the error. Besides, with her name changing each time she evolved, there wasn't much point in getting attached to any particular one. It was enough to know that her Chosen was addressing her.

It was difficult, living in this de-evolved form without speech. Normally, she had telepathic powers to counter the lack of an effective mouth and vocal cords, but ever since she had been brought to the fortress, those powers of communication were gone. Overall, though, it was an easy existence. Hikari and Taichi would talk to her, just as if she understood, and she allowed enough of her intellect to show through so that they believed her to be a cat of above-average intelligence.

Hikari was becoming impatient, so cautiously, she entered, whiskers twitching. She didn't follow Hikari because she needed entertainment -- it was so that she could be there to protect her. And from the feeling that she got from this room, it was a good thing that she was here. The scent of wrongness was stronger now that she was in the room, becoming even more intense as she approached the still figure on the bed.

Hikari brushed a hand across the old man's forehead. "It's so sad," she murmured. "To be freed and now trapped in just another prison." She looked down sadly at Salamon. "But we can't rescue him from his own mind." Hikari reached down and scratched Salamon behind her ears.

The scent on Hikari's hand was different... but not completely unrecognized.Who is this old man? Why does he smell familiar?

Hikari continued with her duties and picked up the chart. "Well, Gennai," she said to the comatose man. "You're safe now and we'll take care of you until you want to wake up."Gennai... It can't be.

Her Chosen moved away, writing something down on the chart. Now that Hikari had her back turned, there was a chance of sneaking a peek without earning a scolding. Salamon made the easy jump to the foot of the bed and walked softly alongside the body to get a better look.

Seeing the man's face, her eyes widened in shock. He was older... much older than she had seen him last, with the aging not equivalent to the decade that had passed.

She mournfully nuzzled his cheek in the hope of finding some spark of life, but the skin was dry and fragile against the moistness of her nose. The others -- the other Chosen and digimon -- had wondered what became of the ancient humanoid digimon. They would never know, but now she did. He had been enslaved in the human world. And now he appeared to be wasting away, his body showing the passing of dozens of years instead of only ten.

But the bad scent was there -- connected to Gennai somehow. If his current situation was something that had been done to him, there might still be time. While most digimon at this level of power could produce blasts of air, sound, water, or fire, her talent had always been healing.

"Miko!" Hikari exclaimed quietly, finally noticing her and not wanting to disturb the other patients. "You're not supposed to be up there. This is no time to be taking a nap."

Knowing that Hikari was a sucker for the cute and innocent act, Salamon stretched out on her back, paws in the air, and blinked up at her Chosen. Then she curled into a ball, tucked her tail over her nose, and feigned sleep.

Her Chosen sighed. "I suppose you're not hurting anything. Stay there while I finish my rounds." She softly stroked Salamon's head. "I'll be back for you later." Her expression changed to a stern one. "No running off like you've been doing lately. You've been making me worry."

Salamon slowly unshuttered one eye in response and then let the eyelid fall shut again.

Once Hikari left to see to the other arrivals, Salamon resettled herself into a more alert position at Gennai's side. She let the power build for a moment and then released it gently. Instead of a soft pink cloud of power, all that came out of her mouth was a slender thread of pink fog. But even that small amount made a difference. Where the fog had touched his smallest finger, Gennai's skin was flushed with renewed health. The surrounding skin retained its gray tone, but Salamon was certain that with enough power he could be healed of whatever was affecting him.

But therein lay the problem. She was too weak.

The healing fog would work if she had more energy, but where would she get it?

Salamon hesitated at the answer her mind supplied. The amount of power she would need to heal Gennai of whatever had been done to him was too great to acquire from eating food alone. There was, however, one other way that digimon could gain power... blood. And while the blood of regular humans was powerful, the blood of a Chosen was a hundred times so. In order to heal Gennai she would either have to drain a human dry or drink briefly from a Chosen.

She jumped down from the bed and began to pace across the floor.

Although she was already tainted, Salamon couldn't kill another human -- that ability to accept another's sacrifice was as lost to her as her angelic form. For a moment, the memory of Jeri's slowly cooling body came back to her. She viciously forced the memory away. Hikari was her Chosen now and Salamon would protect her.

The blood would have to come from a Chosen. But causing Hikari pain was completely out of the question and she suspected that she would be equally hesitant to harm Taichi or his best friend. That meant she would have to find the new Chosen.

Each unpartnered Chosen gave off a vibration of energy that a digimon in close proximity could sense. After Taichi had returned from his last trip, it had taken only a short while for her to discover that instead of two unpartnered Chosen, she was sensing three. In her curiosity, she'd already gone looking for the Chosen, and had consequently made Hikari worry at her absences in the process. Based on where the new Chosen's energy could not be sensed and Hikari's newly limited movement about Taichi's level of the fortress, it was most likely that Taichi was keeping the Chosen isolated on his floor.

Having to repeat the action several times before it succeeded, Salamon leapt up and swiped at the doorknob. The only way to get onto Taichi's floor unnoticed was under a food cart. But the problem with that strategy was that Taichi didn't always ask for a cart of food. She would have to be patient then, and hope Hikari forgave her for disappearing again. After reaching the kitchens unseen, she slipped beneath one of the cloth-draped carts and settled down to wait.

Briefly, she wondered why the vibrations from the Chosen never changed in direction of origin, but she quickly dismissed the matter as it was of comparatively little importance.

Gennai was here. The newest group of Chosen was gathering -- Hikari, Taichi, Koushiro, and now this new person. Something was starting and it was up to her to protect those gathered here. The unpartnered Chosen were safe enough in this fortress, away from the energy-hungry digimon that would seek to drain them of their power, but it would be safer once they were bonded to a digimon loyal to them. After the bonding, the tingling beacon signaling digimon of their Chosen status would cease. They would seem on all counts like any other human, save for the fact that they would be protected by a digimon partner.

But where they would find that many untainted and loyal digimon, she didn't know. Most of her kind were only interested in power. Those who had once been gentle were either dominated by those more powerful or they had become the tormentors in an effort to escape their tortured existence.

The unchecked influence of Myotismon had destroyed both the digital and human worlds. He had to be stopped, but countless groups of Chosen had tried and failed. Of the last group, Salamon was the only one left alive. She needed Gennai.

Gennai would know what to do. He had been guiding the different sets of Chosen in their battle for more than two hundred years. Without him, that history of failure would be lost. Without him, those children newly Chosen to replace the ones who had been killed would have little chance of saving both their worlds.

Again, the memory of Jeri's death swelled up within her.Why? Why is it that of all of us, I was the only one to survive the death of my Chosen? Like the other partners, I drank her blood to become stronger so that I could protect those remaining. But...

Feathers.

Feathers of the purest white, turning gray, decaying, rotting away, falling.

Feathers falling.NO!

She wasn't a monster. She'd only take a little bit of blood from this new person. Just a few mouthfuls of power that she could store away and use to heal Gennai.

But first she had to reach the hidden Chosen.

The minutes ticked by and still she waited for Taichi to request a food cart. As she hid beneath the cloth, memories, hopes, and fears were her only company.

************************************



Added Chapter 3: 06-06-03

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