• Chapter I: The Gift

    The sky was a pale blue giving way to lavenders as the sun had long since died over the lands. Watching the eerie calm from the black carriage window, the tall man closed his eyes. He was long since accustomed to quenching all desire of freedom. Only in his mind could he freely feel the air, the still perfection, the purity of the time between day and night. He could feel the fiery burn of the lash marks across his back as the coarse fabric of his shirt rubbed against the fresh wounds. He had lashed out, something that had become a rare occasion in his ten years of service.

    'Service, a polite term if there ever was one.' he thought darkly, his eyes like blue ice glaring at the forest in the distance.

    No, he was not a servant. He was a slave, a pleasure slave. A whore.

    It wasn't always like that. Once he had been free, a boy who had the whole world ahead of him...until the day Queen Yumi Komagata saw him. She saw potential and he had been capture at the age of twelve and forced into her service. He had been put under the control of the Obedience Choker, the thick black leather band around his neck that send blinding pain through his body when his sadistic owner saw the need to punish or beckon him. Maybe that was one of the things that had molded him into who he was today, the most sought after pleasure slave in Yumi's court. The Sadist. Known to be both stunningly handome and stunningly cruel. A mix of beauty and horror.

    And after ten long years serving the b***h Queen, here he was on his way to the kingdom of Bluenight . Made a gift to be given it's new queen.

    'What are you up to, Yumi?' he wondered.

    Of all her slaves, she was most possessive of him, and it was quite costly for one night with him. His skills, however, were legendary and he was sure she had gained quite a profit from him over the years. He deduced that she was hoping he would destroy this new, young queen. Or it was possible that this queen was even a bigger b***h than Yumi. Ever since she took up Shishio as her Consort, he was no longer 'in her favor'.

    'How interesting. Yumi is a bigger fool than I thought.' he mused, a smirk gracing his stoic face.

    If she thought he was going to be used as one of her pawns, she was sadly mistaken. Closing his eyes, he leaned back against the stiff leather inside of the coach. Whatever Yumi was up to, he would just have to throw her plans awry. And maybe, he thought with a wry smirk that had been known to fill panic in many, just maybe he would amuse himself showing his new owner just why he was called 'The Sadist'.

    A thought crossed his mind, the words of the gypsy mystic Megumi ringing through his mind.

    'Your fate awaits you...in her hands as hers does in yours. She has the power to change your bonds.'

    Always cryptic, there was always something haunting in the woman's maroon colored eyes. She was an attractive looking woman, with long black hair and a curvaceous figure. She was one of the few women who didn't demand his services, but then Megumi was smart. She knew the consequences of a night with him. Aside from that she had once mentioned she too was destined to meet someone she would be bound to for life.

    She deserved more than to be trapped in Yumi's court, seen as a laughing stock.

    Meet his fate? He had long ago ceased to believe in fate and destiny, when he watched those men without mercy slide a sword into his mother's heart. He remembered the haunted look in her eyes when they took him away, as if she saw the pain and suffering he would endure since that day forward.

    He shifted, feeling the whip marks once more and stifled a curse.

    Queens...he hated the whole lot of them.

    Perhaps this new one would indeed entertain him.

    Yumi sighed in content has she leaned back in her throne, a smirk on her face. Aoshi would soon arrive to his destination and hopefully cause trouble. Such a perfect weapon he was, a cold, heartless b*****d who could most likely seduce anyone he pleased too, which was never the case really. He was still very skilled despite his frigidness, making her wonder what he was like in heated passion. She had never seen any warm side of Aoshi, he was always cold. Her curiosity had waned, especially now that Shishio was her Consort. He was a man with passion. With fire. And so she sent Aoshi to that young fool of a queen, with hopes of laying the seed of destruction.

    Soon, very soon, everything would be hers.

    "What deliciously malicious thoughts are circulating in your pretty little head?"

    Yumi turned her gaze to the tall man with long brown hair standing next to her throne.

    She smirked, tracing her fingers up and down his arm.

    "Oh, just how Aoshi might prove more efficient in another Queen's court."

    "Is that so?" Shishio murmured, stilling her fingers with one of his hands. His thumb made massaging circles around her hand, his eyes burning into her.

    Yumi stood up quickly, grabbing him roughly by the collar of his shirt and pulling him into a throat-swabbing kiss.

    "Jealous?" she murmured against his lips.

    "Hardly, since I know he never truly bedded you."

    "And how do you know this?" she asked venomously.

    "I have my ways." he replied flatly, secretly enjoying her irritation.

    'It bothers you doesn't it? That you never really had him...oh well.' he thought.

    Yumi trailed her lips up and down the side of his neck suddenly.

    "My darling Shishio, you seem to forget...I am Queen and you..."

    She bit down hard, breaking skin and drawing blood.

    "Are my servant." she finished, licking the blood from her lips.

    Shishio grabbed her roughly, pulling her closer.

    "Then I think I want to serve you right now." he said, emphasizing the 'serve' part.

    Yumi didn't miss the innuendo. Licking her lips again she grinned.

    "I suppose I can sacrifice my throne for a temporary one."

    He didn't miss the meaning her words either as he sat on her throne, with her straddling him.

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    Aoshi's mouth was a grim line as he was escorted through the soft blue tinted hall leading to the throne room. He noted everything was blue-toned, once his favorite color when such things mattered. He recalled years ago being in a similar position, but at that time he had struggled. Now he simply followed passively, quietly. He noticed a couple of the palace guards eyeing the entourage with curiosity and confusion. It almost made him smirk. He shifted his wrists, which her clamped together in metal shackles. As they reached the throne room he noticed the lighting in it was soft, coming from chandeliers. A contrast to the dimness of Yumi's throne room. There were mirrors and decorative swords on the wall, and yet the room had a warm feel somehow.

    Suddenly he was wretched to his knees, made to face the floor.

    "Your majesty, we come baring a gift from Queen Yumi of Hexarc." one of his escorts said.

    "What gift may that be?" a voice, that of an old man, asked. Probably the Queen's advisor.

    "A pleasure slave, her best one."

    He heard a soft gasp and lifted his gaze to the throne...and felt himself drowning in the largest and bluest eyes he had ever seen.

    Skin like porcelain, hair like a raven's wing...she was...a child.

    "A...a pleasure slave?" the old man choked out.

    "Yes, this man here. Our Queen wished to send a gesture of friendship to you, Queen Misao."

    At that, Aoshi was jerked to his feet, never breaking his eye contact with the young queen.

    He didn't miss the nervous look in her face, no matter how hard she tried to hide it. There was panic there.

    "I..see. Please give your queen my thanks for her gift." she said, her voice an attempt at remaining even.

    His eyes never left hers as his escorts stepped to the throne to give her the ring that controlled his Obedience

    Choker. Even when the escorts removed his shackles his eyes still remained on her.

    'I will protect her, I will serve her!' his mind suddenly echoed, his thoughts stunning him. Where had that come from?

    Her gaze changed that to one of regal determination quickly.

    "What is your name?" she asked.

    "Aoshi." he replied.

    "Shiro, Kuro. Escort Aoshi to my chambers." she said, indicating the two guards to her left.

    "Yes your majesty." they replied, eying Aoshi warily.

    It was with no wonder, here he was a pleasure slave now owned by a child Queen.

    What WAS Yumi's game?

    He glanced once more at the young queen, who turned her gaze away from him.

    He narrowed his eyes as he was escorted away, and he wondered just what was in store for him.

    A child. He was now owned by a child.

    He wouldn't take her lightly, no. He knew age had no factor when it came cruelty, a lesson he had learned firsthand. They soon arrived at the Queen's chambers.

    He was ushered inside a large room decorated in soft blues and lavenders and furnished with wood. His gaze went habitually to the bed. It was large with navy and dark violet sheets and quilts and matching canopy. Cozy looking. He briefly wondered whether or not he would have to feel the material against his bare skin, and winced at his thoughts. A child..she was a child.

    He looked to the thin guard as he lightly rubbed his chaffed wrists.

    "How old is she?" he asked.

    "Fourteen." Shiro replied solemnly.

    Aoshi nodded and walked towards the chaise lounge and sat there, staring at nothing.

    Shiro and Kuro left him, doing their best to hide the disapproving glances. Aoshi was not offended. He understand their feelings. Here he was a pleasure slave from the court of Yumi Komagata, given to a fourteen year old.

    Did they really think he would perform his 'services' for her?

    He noticed a scent, a soft fragrance...it reminded him of the lillies his mother used to keep near a window long ago.

    Just who was this queen, this Misao? She did not seem frail, she had shown some strength in her words. Her guards were protective, making him wonder what she was like. Was she as cruel and heartless as the other queens?

    None the less, he didn't intend to take the time to find out.

    She was a child, there was no way she would outmatch his strength.

    This queen would learn right away what it was like to dance with the Sadist.

    And then he would escape.

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    PLEASE R&R