Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Love On A Leash ❯ Nushi ( Chapter 25 )

Love On A Leash

 

By: Atsureki

 

Disclaimers: I have a dog called Aja (sort for Ajax) does that make the boys mine? /hopeful look/ Didn't think so…

 

Paring: Ran/Ken, Yoji/Omi

 

Warnings: AU, Yaoi. OCC, Angst, Slavery and some other stuff.

 

Notes: Stuff written in Italic are thoughts.

 

N/A: The title translates to: owner, master, lover, god, which I thought was appropriate.

 

Chapter 25. Nushi

 

Ken wasn't picked out for the first group of slaves shown to the floor, he wasn't picked out for the second or the third one either. When he finally was chained to his pole only a handful of buyers bothered to look him over. The brunet kept quiet and allowed the people passing him by to see the scars, bruises and cuts, knowing that it would keep the price down. Besides, he was in no shape to do much of anything. The burly guard and the sadistic man with the baton at the shipping company had really done a number on him.

 

Ken was used to it though and at the moment he simply didn't give a flying fuck if he looked like death warmed over. Soon they would march him up to the floor and then it wouldn't be long before he could see Aya again. The brunet leaned against the pole, trying to keep some weight off of his left leg and closed his eyes. He was in desperate need of some sleep and he wouldn't say no to a couple of painkillers, but even more so he needed to see Aya.

 

“305 to the floor!” Someone unchained him from the pole and more or less dragged him towards the sales floor. Ken limped along unenthusiastically and didn't even make an effort to scan the buyers, he trusted Aya to place the highest bid.

 

The bids were low and slow and in the end he went for a fraction of what he had the last time. Ken almost smiled, glad that he had saved Aya some money. He was lead to the pick up area and impatiently waited, looking around to spot crimson hair. What he found was a small blonde slave who practically launched himself at Ken. It was pure luck that kept them on their feet.

 

“Ken-kun! Finally, I thought we'd never get here,” Omi chirped and then his face became serious. “What did they do to you? Just who the hell…”

 

“You can ask questions later,” a voice interrupted and Yoji smiled as he gently removed his lover from the battered slave. “Let's blow this joint.” Ken looked around and frowned.

 

“Aya?” he asked quietly and ran his eyes over the bustle of the people again. Yoji scowled at the floor and his hands clenched into fists.

 

“My dear cousin sends his regards and…”

 

“Yotan!” Omi snapped and gave his lover a glare that clearly told him to shut up. “Ken-kun, Aya-kun got into a little pickle. He's with a doctor.” The small blond led them towards the exit as he spoke.

 

“Omi,” Ken said quietly but firmly, “don't lie to me, please. I need to hear the truth.”

 

“I will tell you everything Ken-kun, but first you need to wash up, get some clothes on and eat something. Then you need to see a doctor and Aya, all right?” Brown eyes searched blue for a long time, trying to decide if what had been said was the truth. It appeared that Ken found it to be so because he nodded and followed the two blonds to their car.

 

/&/

 

Omi had hoped that a shower and clean, real, clothes would make Ken look better but the truth was that with all the bruises it didn't make much of a difference. The brunet hadn't said a word since they left the auction but his posture showed how exhausted he was and that he was keeping himself upright by sheer willpower. Yoji arranged for a doctor to check up on the beaten slave and made sure that they were never left alone.

 

While Ken got dressed again Omi attached his tag to the new thin collar and threw away the stiff leather collar they had given the brunet at the auction. Ken didn't break his silence when the collar was put on him but his eyes couldn't hide his disappointment at the name stamped on his tag. Omi sighed heavily. He had hoped that Ken would've understood the reason for Aya's refusal to be registered as his owner; apparently the brown haired slave didn't see it that way. But then again, Ken had been a slave for a long time and Omi didn't think that he shared Aya's view on the whole owner situation.

 

“Okay, so there's a million different pills you have to take for 10 days and some disgusting ointment that goes on your leg,” Yoji announced as he entered the room. “Now is everyone ready?”

 

“Aya?” Ken inquired quietly.

 

“Yes, let's go see my dear cousin, shall we?”

 

/&/

 

Ran had never had any problems with waiting before; his disposition had always been calm and patient. But the wait for his cousin and the two slaves was slowly driving him up the wall. The only reason he wasn't fidgeting was the boy who slept next to him and if they didn't hurry up even that wasn't going to stop him. He was occupying himself with glaring at the door, almost as if he expected them to materialize there because he willed it so. His will was obviously not up to par though because so far no one and nothing had appeared.

 

Ran grumbled a little and `entertained' himself by trying to force his stupid arm to move like he wanted it to. The uncooperative limb twitched but other than that the only thing he got for his efforts was a headache. When he was healed enough he would be put through therapy and with a little help from some higher power he'd be able to tie his shoelaces again. A flash of self-contempt lit his eyes.

 

He hadn't been brave enough to ask Orito exactly what 60 per cent mobility included, or excluded. Hopefully it was enough to allow him to wipe his own ass if not much more. A sarcastic laughter escaped the redhead and caused the boy next to him to stir slightly. Ran gently petted the boy's hair and Hiko settled down again.

 

As for work there wasn't much he could do until his arm was better and even then the prospects of him getting a job were slim. It wasn't because Ran lacked talent or that he didn't have experience but rather that he wouldn't be able to dig up the pretence of actually wanting a job. Money wasn't going to be a problem, probably never since killing bad people paid well, he had enough hobbies to keep himself busy and he wasn't sure he would ever find anything that could make him leave Ken for hours at a time.

 

Frowning slightly as he pursed his lips Ran thought about the brunet. There was nothing in the world that he wanted more than for everything to be all right now, but Ran wasn't an idiot. Ken would need time and care to heal emotionally and even though the redhead was a patient and, more often that not, a cold man he wouldn't be able to stand to watch Ken suffer for very long, a second or two at the most. How on earth was he supposed to support and nurture someone while his own damn heart wanted to run for cover?

 

/&/

 

Ken had been fidgeting with impatience all the way during the drive to the little private clinic where Aya was, but now, with just a door between them, he hesitated. He was afraid of finding out just how badly the redhead was hurt and the fact that he no longer belonged to the taller man made him feel timid. It might seem strange to a free man but Ken had spent too much time being owned to remember anything else.

 

When confronted with an owner the brunet knew exactly what was expected of him, even with Aya who was so different from the others, but now he didn't have a clue of what Aya was to him. Trembling with insecurity he finally managed to raise his hand and push the door open. The redhead was staring at the ceiling, his eyes thoughtful and his lips pursed in a way Ken thought was a little sad. Hiko was fast asleep, curled up against the tall man's side.

 

Just who did Aya want him to be and act like now? And why had the redhead refused to buy him? WHY? Ken observed the man he wanted to be owned by with incomprehension hammering away at his fragile soul. Not knowing how he was supposed to approach he simply snuck into the room and submissively kneeled by the bed, patiently waiting for an order, any order, to lessen the chaos in his head. He needed Aya to take the rains on this because he had no idea where they were headed and his biggest fear, second only to losing the redhead completely, was failing him.

 

“Ken?” That deep voice, always so soft and loving, made Ken bow deeper, his forehead almost touching the floor.

 

“I…” the brunet tried hesitantly not looking at his former owner. “I'm sorry.” He didn't like the way his voice trembled but he was afraid and felt so helpless.

 

“Ken, please get up.” The slave obeyed, even though his head screamed that he shouldn't because Aya was not his master. “What are you sorry for?” The redhead reached out his hand and Ken couldn't resist taking it, hugging it tightly to his chest.

 

“I'm sorry for… for… for whatever it is that I have done to offend you,” Ken blurted out, his words barely audible. “Please, punish me some other way, please Aya. I'll be good, I promise, just don't send me way.” The small white room became quiet and Ken fidget nervously. When the redhead didn't reply he looked up and met his former owner's sad eyes.

 

“You think I'm punishing you? Ken I'd never do that, you know I wouldn't.” Aya pulled him closer, made him lean against the bed and hugged him with one arm, his breath warm as it fanned across Ken's cheek. “But I will never be your owner again, do you understand?”

 

The brunet didn't answer because he wasn't sure he understood anything except that he wasn't going to be living with Aya, that the effortless action of making himself the owner of one little slave was more that Aya was prepared to do for him. Ken bit his lip so hard he got the metallic tang of blood in his mouth. And since Aya wasn't one to shy away from going the distance his reluctance was because he no longer wanted to tie himself to a slave...

 

“I understand,” the slave whispered and backed away, hot tears demanding to be let out. A warm soft hand cupped his face and he was forced to look straight into bottomless amethyst eyes scarred by old sorrow and pain.

 

“No, you don't understand,” Aya murmured and wiped away a tear that had managed to escape onto the brunet's eyelashes. “I love you Ken and if I was your owner you would do everything and anything I asked you to, right?” Ken frowned in confusion.

 

“Of course!”

 

“Ken I don't want you to do what I want, I want you to do what YOU want because YOU want to do it. If you're going to be with me, live with me it's going to have to be because it's what YOU want. All you have to do is say and do that, no one is going to be angry with you or punish you in any way shape or form.”

 

“But I… I belong to Yoji, I can't…” Ken objected fretfully and his body automatically cowered.

 

“No Ken!” Aya's voice was hard and sharp and his thin eyebrows were knitted together. “You know Yoji would never keep you from doing whatever you want and this is exactly what I'm talking about. I can't be with you if you can't say no to me.” The slave glared at his shoes, frustrated because Aya didn't seem to comprehend where Ken was coming from at all.

 

“I don't want to say no to you,” Ken growled softly, the unsteady flicker of stubborn determination burning a little brighter inside. “I don't want to not do everything and anything you ask of me. I don't want to live with Yoji and I don't want you to feel sorry for the way I am,” he continued persistently, a hint of harshness in his voice.

 

“Ken I don't…”

 

“You can't change that I'm a slave, you can't undo what the others did to me,” the brunet interrupted and reached for the taller man's hand. “I'll try to do better, but you can't order me to stop being who and what I am. I LOVE you Aya and don't for a second think that my feelings aren't real just because I might not be able to object to being put on a leash and paraded around Tokyo like a dog.”

 

“I would never do that!” Aya growled and held the smaller man a little tighter.

 

“I know and I know that you'd never hit me for doing something wrong or simply because you needed to take out your anger on something. And you would never allow strangers to rape me in some seedy club just because it would hurt and humiliate me. Intentionally you'd never force me to do anything. It would be your legal right though, in the eyes of the law you wouldn't be doing anything wrong, most people would probably even consent to it. But you wouldn't do that to me. I love you and I NEED to belong to you. So, buy me back from Yoji,” the slave requested, not a trace of begging anywhere.

 

“But I…” Aya gave him a bewildered look and Ken smiled softly at him.

 

“I trust you and I love you, those things matter to you, right?” The redhead nodded. “You love me and you need me, right?” Ken watched as Aya nodded again. “Those things matter to me. I have to be owned by someone and I pick you to be that someone, please don't argue with me Aya.” For a moment Aya looked like he was going to object yet again but then he sighed and pulled the slave to him, burying his face in Ken's neck.

 

“If you're sure this is what YOU want, I'll talk to Yoji,” the redhead murmured and brushed his lips against the slave's.

 

“It is. When are you coming home?”

 

“In two days.” Over Aya's shoulder Ken met Hiko's green eyes and the child smiled brightly at him.

 

“Are you going to stay with us until then?” the boy asked and ruffled his hair even more than sleep had managed.

 

“I'm sure Yoji won't mind and Omi would love to have you.” Ken extracted himself from his soon to be owner and frowned thoughtfully.

 

“I'd rather go home,” he admitted after a few moments of silence. “I've been away long enough as it is.” It was true that he had but he also needed to be where he was sure Aya would return. Besides, the way Yoji and Omi acted together only made him miss the redhead more.

 

“We'll swing by my cousin's place on the way back,” Yoji suddenly said from the doorway. “I'll fix the registration too, no point in waiting, right Ken?” The brunet grinned shyly at the tall blond.

 

“I've waited long enough,” he agreed and snuggled back into Aya's arms.

 

TBC

 

I have to admit that it is tempting to just leave it like this and say it's done and over with but… I'm suffering from separation anxiety! /rolls eyes/ Ja/Atsureki