My word is my bond 2/?
Title: My word is my bond
Pairing: Aiba Masaki/ Matsumoto Jun; Ninomiya Kazunari/ Sakurai Sho
Rating: up to NC-17, but PG-13 most of the time
Warning: It’s dystopia mixed with steampunk and futuristic elements combined with elements from the 18th century, I guess... So it’s a little bit darker at some points, but nothing too dark, I promise.
Summary: The world in 2300 has changed. The society is divided in humans and slaves. Slaves are born and sold to fulfil their masters’ needs and desires. There are only a few masters who see their slaves as humans - like the Sakurai brothers. But it’s hard to hide this, when the rest of the world wants to see the slaves as ‘things to use’ and not as humans.
Note: I tried my best with the steampunk genre, but I think it became a mixture between some genres, nevertheless I hope you’ll like my new multi chapter <3 Sakumiya and JunBa will both have a lot of spotlight, and Ohno will be part of the story too ^__^
“We are here,” Masaki said when the carriage stopped. “Nino, take the bags.” Masaki felt the cold air touching his face when he stepped out of it. The winter, which had been in the north, was gone. The air was warm and Masaki had the feeling that the sweat was running down his back.
He helped Jun to stand up and stepped out of the carriage. “We need to get him into the house before someone sees us,” Masaki said.
“The car is gone, so I think there is no one at home,” Sho said. “Let’s move to our rooms.”
Masaki nodded. He opened the door and let Sho slip into the house first. Nino followed him. “Come, that way.”
Masaki could see Nino looking back at him and Jun. “Follow Sho for now, I take care of Jun.” He smiled at Nino.
Nino nodded at him and turned back to Sho to walk behind him upstairs.
Masaki supported Jun downstairs where his room had been. Their parents had their rooms on the ground floor while Sho lived on the upper floor, and Masaki lived in quite expensive furnished cellar rooms. He had an own stairway to a small winter garden where he planted his own bonsais, orchids and some plants for medicines. He wasn’t only studying medicine, he made it part of his daily life. Next to this he had a bunch of animals in his winter garden and outside in the area which belonged to his parents.
His dog lay on the stairs, staring at him with disinterest when he came down. Just when he saw that Masaki wasn’t alone, he looked up and came to him. He prodded Jun’s hand with his snout and licked over it. “Sam, go to your place now, please. I need to take care of him.” Masaki patted the dogs head and walked to his sleeping room.
He placed Jun on the bed and covered him in three thick blankets, but Jun was still trembling. “Lemon, strawberry and apple. That’s no good,” Masaki sighed. He placed his hand on Jun’s forehead. He was still glowing. He slowly took the slaves hand and tasted his pulse. “Far too high.”
Masaki took his water boiler and got himself some water. He walked to his winter garden. “Herbs…silver grass, colonial bamboo and pink orchid,” he whispered. He took a few leaves and blossoms and walked back to the kitchen. He took a cup to put the herbs into it. He infused the herbs with the hot water and stirred it. The water turned slightly green. The smell wasn’t that nice, but Masaki knew that it would work against Jun’s fever till he’d know what exactly caused Jun’s illness. He walked back to Jun and slapped his cheeks softly. “Jun, wake up.”
The slave opened his eyes a little bit, but closed them immediately again. Masaki stood up and walked to his fridge. He opened it and pulled out a box which was tightly closed. He walked back to Jun and opened the box a little bit in front of Jun’s nose. Jun coughed and arched his back. For a moment he was awake, but Masaki knew he had to be quick, because that mixture didn’t last long. “Drink this, it will make you feel better.”
Jun looked at him sceptically, but finally gave in and drank the liquid. He coughed out loud. “That’s disgusting.” He looked at Masaki. “Sorry, Master.” He bowed.
“Don’t be stupid, lay back again,” Masaki said. “Jun, what have you eaten? What was that fruit?” Masaki wanted to know.
“Strawlemon,” Jun pressed out. He fought against fainting again. “Where is Nino?”
“That’s no good, Jun. This fruit is poisonous.” Masaki sighed. “But we’ll help you. And I’ll bring Nino to you later on.” He promised.
~~~
Nino looked left and right. This house was amazing. He had never been in such wealthy family. He looked out of the window. There were gardens and far away he could see the sea. It was warm here, and his tired and almost frozen limbs felt immediately better again. Nino hated the cold winter after all. “Is this all your property, master?”
Sho nodded. “Our family is famous. My father was one of the big five men during world war 4. He made a lot of money with finding a way to get back peaceful times.”
“And you don’t have any slaves, master?” Nino was astonished. He had seen rich families, and he had been with them. They mostly had up to ten slaves, depending on what they needed them for. Some worked in the household, some were working on the fields and gardens, and some were for personal enjoyment.
“We have two house maids, and one butler,” Sho explained. “My parents don’t like the idea of selling young boys to families. That’s why they never had slaves.”
Nino nodded. “But you have two female house maids?”
Sho nodded. “Our neighbour died one year ago, and my parents didn’t want to see the women get somewhere else. They feared that they’d get into something bad.”
While boys got sold in a very young age, women were allowed to stay with their families, at least till they were old enough to work in the household. Poor families had no other chance then selling their children to survive on their own. Nino felt something in him clenching. He couldn’t even remember his family. “And now you wanted slaves, master?”
Sho laughed out. „Oh, no I never wanted to have a slave. But Masaki does.” Sho raised his hands. “Oh, but he really doesn’t want to have you out of a bad reason. But he shall explain everything on his own.”
Nino was torn between afraid and relieved. He still didn’t know what would happen to them now, but his feeling wasn’t all that bad. “Am I allowed to see Jun, master?” Nino wanted to know. He was afraid about Jun’s condition and he feared that Jun wasn’t save here. He wanted to be at his side now.
“Later, Nino. But first of all you take a shower. I bring you some fresh clothes,” Sho said.
He walked up to a big closet and pulled out some pants and a shirt. He grabbed a towel from the chair and handed everything to Nino. “The door over there is the bathroom, go and get yourself a warm shower. We’ll talk about everything later on.”
Nino nodded at him and walked up to the bathroom. He got rid of his old clothes. He had the feeling that he pulled of his old life, and he hoped that was something positive.
Nino stepped under the shower. The hot water ran down his back, covering him in a warm and fuzzy feeling. His legs slowly started warming up and the tension in him started fading. He looked around. The bathroom was covered in black and white marble stones and next to the bathtub there was the shower and a kind of whirlpool. This room was double sized from the one Nino had lived with 8 other boys in the shop. He was still careful about being too happy to be here, but the start with Sho and Masaki wasn't that bad at all. And he would be able to stay here together with Jun, so he wouldn't be alone if there'd be any troubles for them.
Jun ... Nino shivered. What should he do when something would happen to Jun? Were Masaki and Sho really able to help Jun? Nino stepped out of the shower and took the big towel Sho had prepared for him. He breathed in deeply. The shower gel smelled like heaven for Nino. He had always been someone who liked to be clean and good smelling, but he wasn't allowed to have something fancy as slave, but sometimes he wondered if some shower gel and a few good looking clothes were too much he wished for.
He took the clothes and slipped into the pants and the shirt Sho had prepared for him. They were a little too big, but it was okay for now. Nino walked back to the big living room Sho had for himself. Sho sat there, reading on a strange thing, which looked like a brick. “Oh, you are done,” he said with a smile.
“The clothes do not fit you, I am sorry, we'll get you something new when Jun feels better,” Sho added.
Nino felt observed, and he blushed. Even though he was used to be stared at. “Thank you, master.”
Sho pointed at the place next to him. “Sit down please.”
Nino nibbled on his lower lip. He didn't want to talk back, but he wanted to see Jun. Sho was still smiling at him, his dark eyes resting on Nino. “I just have a few instructions for you, and then we'll be immediately on the way downstairs, I promise.”
Nino nodded. He sat on the ground next to Sho. Sho blinked at him. “You can sit on the couch.”
Nino shifted nervously. “Sorry, master.” He stood up and took place next to the other.
“Okay, let me tell you some basics you should better be aware of, or we get in bigger troubles.”
~~~
Masaki roamed through his things. Damn, he hoped that Sho would come downstairs soon. Sho was a little older than Masaki and had a little more experience with complicated illnesses. He opened one of the old books he had once gotten from his grandfather. He could remember that he had read something about this fruit somewhere in his old books. “Damn, where are you,” Masaki cursed.
He could hear Jun moaning, arching his back in pain. “Okay,” Masaki said. “We'll get you a shower first.”
Masaki walked up to the bed and helped Jun standing up. He was sweating and he wasn't really conscious. “Come on, Jun, help me a little,” Masaki whined. He carried Jun to his bathroom and sat him on the border of his bathtub. Jun moved back and forth and Masaki was sure that he'd fall if he'd stop holding him.
Masaki opened Jun's kimono and undressed him. He froze when he saw Jun's upper body. Masaki had seen enough during his work as doctor, but this scars threatened him. What the hell had happened to Jun?
He helped Jun standing up. “I am sorry,” Masaki said when he pulled on Jun's clothes to get him completely naked. He helped Jun in the bathtub and turned on the warm water. Masaki had done this hundredth times already, because Jun wasn't the first patient who was unconscious or weak, but this time it felt different. This was his slave after all, and he didn't want to hurt him ... that sounded stupid, especially because the society had decided that slaves were here to get hurt and used. Masaki shook his head. He had never been someone who followed conventions.
Masaki washed Jun's body and helped him out of the tub again, covering him in a big towel. Jun's eyes fluttered open and he looked directly at Masaki. He smiled at Jun. “I bring you some clothes and then I bring you back to bed, okay?”
He could see something like a nod from Jun, before he closed his eyes again. Masaki headed up to his sleeping room and opened his ward robe. He took a random pyjama and walked back to Jun. Jun leaned forward, and he fell when Masaki grabbed him and fell back with Jun on top of him. “Ouch, okay, that's no good.” Masaki said. He could feel Jun's breath in his neck. It was unsteady and slow, way too slow. Masaki pushed Jun up and helped him in the fresh clothes before he carried him back to his bed. When he had covered him in his blankets, he could hear Sho and Nino coming downstairs.
~~~
“Yes, Master, I listen,” Nino said with a nervous feeling in him. He couldn't be disobedient now. Not till he’d know exactly how this place would become for them. Maybe he'd ruin something when he’d get too stubborn at this point. When he had been with his last owner, he started talking back at one point. It ended in getting punished almost every day, but in the end Nino got what he wanted: The owner gave him away, and Nino couldn't care less.
Sho nodded at him. “Good.” He turned to face Nino. He looked gentle, but Nino was sure that Sho could become really mad and angry if he got annoyed. “When we are with our family, call me Sakurai-san or master, okay?”
“Okay, master,” Nino said.
“You'll be a good slave when we are with our parents and their friends, got it?” Sho said harshly.
Nino just nodded. Would Sho show him his real face now? Was he strict like the other masters Nino had experienced so far?
“Okay, good. Same goes for Jun, but I am sure Masaki will tell him when he's awake,” Sho explained. His eyes got lighter again and the smile around his lips let some wrinkles occur. “And when we are alone or with Masaki, you can call me Sho, and please don't call me master when we are alone.” Nino blinked. Was Sho really that mild? “I feel so old when you call me like that,” he chuckled.
“Okay, master ...” Nino shook his head. “I mean Sho-san.” He smiled a bit and it felt weird. He hadn't smiled for so long. This was too good to be true. Nino pinched his arm, maybe he was dreaming.
“Let's go downstairs to the others. I hope Masaki has already a guess what's wrong with Jun.” Sho stood up and waited till Nino followed him.
Nino felt the cold stone touching his feet. He looked around. This house was huge. His old master had been the richest guy in his town, but this was definitely something different. This was probably one of the richest families in the whole country.
They walked downstairs and Nino thought that the cellar would be awkward and maybe dirty and maybe Masaki hadn't the status that Sho had with his rooms upstairs, but it was different. Masaki's rooms were noble and expensive, same like Sho's. Just that he had this stairs to a kind of winter garden at the backside. Nino stared at the room in surprise. He had lived in the cellar once, and he didn't even have a candle to lighten the room.
Nino looked around and he could see the door to a sleeping room was open just far enough to see Jun lying there. “Jun,” Nino said. He wanted to walk up to him, but he remembered that he wasn't allowed to walk without allowance. He stopped and looked at Sho.
“Please wait a moment. I want to make sure that his illness isn't infectious,” Sho said.
They walked up to Masaki, who sat on a bar chair next to the cooking island in the middle of the room. He read in various old looking books, but he looked up when they came closer to him.
~~~
Masaki opened the book he had once gotten from his grandfather. He had once told him that this book was more than 200 years old. “Strawberries and lemons combined with apple and a certain poison,” Masaki murmured.
He looked at Sho and Nino approaching him. “Have you found something, Ma-chan?”
Masaki shook his head. “I found the fruits in this book, but not the combined fruit, and we need this, because we need to make sure which poison is in this fruit.”
Sho nodded at him. Masaki looked at the slave next to Sho. He didn't seem that afraid anymore, but his body language was still like a shy stray cat. “Nino, do you know anything else about this fruit?” Masaki asked.
“No, sorry, master,” Nino said to Masaki.
“I thought you talk with him about speaking with us, Sho?” Masaki asked his brother. He really didn't want to be called like that.
“Nino, Masaki and I think same about handling you and Jun. So please call him Masaki or Sakurai-san, not master or anything else like that, except we are with others. They don't need to know about our good hearted Masaki,” Sho said with a smile.
“Hey you are equal good hearted,” Masaki complained. “So don't tell me that it's only me.”
“True,” Sho chuckled. “But really, Nino, please be careful when we are with others. It might end bad if someone finds out that we handle you with respect.” Sho got earnest again.
Masaki shivered. It was the sad truth. They had to be careful to not uncover their intentions, otherwise it would end bad for all of them.
Masaki heard footsteps on the stairs. His heartbeat rose. He hoped it wasn't already too late, because when the wrong people heard them, they'd be in major troubles.
“Oh, Satoshi,” Masaki sighed in relieve.
Nino bowed deeply and got on his knees when Satoshi entered the room. “Oh, please get up.” Satoshi smiled at them.
“Nino, this is Satoshi our dearest friend. He studies biology and I called him to help me with this poisoned fruit. If someone is able to know about it, it's him,” Masaki explained. Satoshi was the only friend they really trusted.
“Where's Ryo?” Sho asked.
“He is outside, I saw your family coming home, so I left him outside,” Satoshi said. He was the one who had the idea with buying a slave. Satoshi had bought Ryo some months ago, and he had same thoughts like Masaki. He wanted to help someone, but he was extreme careful with handling Ryo in society.
“Nino, Satoshi is the one who got me to the idea of buying a slave. You can act normal towards him,” Masaki explained.
“Nice to meet you, Nino,” Satoshi said. “Maybe you should go upstairs to your parents and their friends first, and we talk about the sick slave later on?” He suggested.
Masaki frowned. To talk with his parents wouldn’t be that bad, but the friends his father had, were another problem. They would complain about their slaves staying inside. He didn't know what to say. Sho must have seen his worried expression. “Don't worry, let me talk, okay?”
Masaki nodded at his brother. “Satoshi can you stay with Jun and take care of him?” Masaki asked.
Satoshi nodded at him. “Sure. Oh, and Nino, please be really careful when you are upstairs now, because their parents have guests, and it wouldn't be good if it get revealed what Masaki and Sho have in mind.”
Nino bowed. “Of course, master.”
“Satoshi,” Satoshi grinned at him. “Just Satoshi please.”
A/N: So here is chapter 2. ^^ Thanks soooo much for all your lovely comments. I was nervous about this story, because it's rather dark and it's a rare pair story, but I was soooo amazed about the bunch of comments. I really jumped up and down in delight because of you <3
So now we have Satoshi's appearance and Aiba tries everything to help Jun, while Sho explains their life to Nino. What do you think? They really are rich, and their father is in politics. And we know about their home <3
Will Satoshi, Sho and Masaki be able to help Jun?
Pairing: Aiba Masaki/ Matsumoto Jun; Ninomiya Kazunari/ Sakurai Sho
Rating: up to NC-17, but PG-13 most of the time
Warning: It’s dystopia mixed with steampunk and futuristic elements combined with elements from the 18th century, I guess... So it’s a little bit darker at some points, but nothing too dark, I promise.
Summary: The world in 2300 has changed. The society is divided in humans and slaves. Slaves are born and sold to fulfil their masters’ needs and desires. There are only a few masters who see their slaves as humans - like the Sakurai brothers. But it’s hard to hide this, when the rest of the world wants to see the slaves as ‘things to use’ and not as humans.
Note: I tried my best with the steampunk genre, but I think it became a mixture between some genres, nevertheless I hope you’ll like my new multi chapter <3 Sakumiya and JunBa will both have a lot of spotlight, and Ohno will be part of the story too ^__^
“We are here,” Masaki said when the carriage stopped. “Nino, take the bags.” Masaki felt the cold air touching his face when he stepped out of it. The winter, which had been in the north, was gone. The air was warm and Masaki had the feeling that the sweat was running down his back.
He helped Jun to stand up and stepped out of the carriage. “We need to get him into the house before someone sees us,” Masaki said.
“The car is gone, so I think there is no one at home,” Sho said. “Let’s move to our rooms.”
Masaki nodded. He opened the door and let Sho slip into the house first. Nino followed him. “Come, that way.”
Masaki could see Nino looking back at him and Jun. “Follow Sho for now, I take care of Jun.” He smiled at Nino.
Nino nodded at him and turned back to Sho to walk behind him upstairs.
Masaki supported Jun downstairs where his room had been. Their parents had their rooms on the ground floor while Sho lived on the upper floor, and Masaki lived in quite expensive furnished cellar rooms. He had an own stairway to a small winter garden where he planted his own bonsais, orchids and some plants for medicines. He wasn’t only studying medicine, he made it part of his daily life. Next to this he had a bunch of animals in his winter garden and outside in the area which belonged to his parents.
His dog lay on the stairs, staring at him with disinterest when he came down. Just when he saw that Masaki wasn’t alone, he looked up and came to him. He prodded Jun’s hand with his snout and licked over it. “Sam, go to your place now, please. I need to take care of him.” Masaki patted the dogs head and walked to his sleeping room.
He placed Jun on the bed and covered him in three thick blankets, but Jun was still trembling. “Lemon, strawberry and apple. That’s no good,” Masaki sighed. He placed his hand on Jun’s forehead. He was still glowing. He slowly took the slaves hand and tasted his pulse. “Far too high.”
Masaki took his water boiler and got himself some water. He walked to his winter garden. “Herbs…silver grass, colonial bamboo and pink orchid,” he whispered. He took a few leaves and blossoms and walked back to the kitchen. He took a cup to put the herbs into it. He infused the herbs with the hot water and stirred it. The water turned slightly green. The smell wasn’t that nice, but Masaki knew that it would work against Jun’s fever till he’d know what exactly caused Jun’s illness. He walked back to Jun and slapped his cheeks softly. “Jun, wake up.”
The slave opened his eyes a little bit, but closed them immediately again. Masaki stood up and walked to his fridge. He opened it and pulled out a box which was tightly closed. He walked back to Jun and opened the box a little bit in front of Jun’s nose. Jun coughed and arched his back. For a moment he was awake, but Masaki knew he had to be quick, because that mixture didn’t last long. “Drink this, it will make you feel better.”
Jun looked at him sceptically, but finally gave in and drank the liquid. He coughed out loud. “That’s disgusting.” He looked at Masaki. “Sorry, Master.” He bowed.
“Don’t be stupid, lay back again,” Masaki said. “Jun, what have you eaten? What was that fruit?” Masaki wanted to know.
“Strawlemon,” Jun pressed out. He fought against fainting again. “Where is Nino?”
“That’s no good, Jun. This fruit is poisonous.” Masaki sighed. “But we’ll help you. And I’ll bring Nino to you later on.” He promised.
~~~
Nino looked left and right. This house was amazing. He had never been in such wealthy family. He looked out of the window. There were gardens and far away he could see the sea. It was warm here, and his tired and almost frozen limbs felt immediately better again. Nino hated the cold winter after all. “Is this all your property, master?”
Sho nodded. “Our family is famous. My father was one of the big five men during world war 4. He made a lot of money with finding a way to get back peaceful times.”
“And you don’t have any slaves, master?” Nino was astonished. He had seen rich families, and he had been with them. They mostly had up to ten slaves, depending on what they needed them for. Some worked in the household, some were working on the fields and gardens, and some were for personal enjoyment.
“We have two house maids, and one butler,” Sho explained. “My parents don’t like the idea of selling young boys to families. That’s why they never had slaves.”
Nino nodded. “But you have two female house maids?”
Sho nodded. “Our neighbour died one year ago, and my parents didn’t want to see the women get somewhere else. They feared that they’d get into something bad.”
While boys got sold in a very young age, women were allowed to stay with their families, at least till they were old enough to work in the household. Poor families had no other chance then selling their children to survive on their own. Nino felt something in him clenching. He couldn’t even remember his family. “And now you wanted slaves, master?”
Sho laughed out. „Oh, no I never wanted to have a slave. But Masaki does.” Sho raised his hands. “Oh, but he really doesn’t want to have you out of a bad reason. But he shall explain everything on his own.”
Nino was torn between afraid and relieved. He still didn’t know what would happen to them now, but his feeling wasn’t all that bad. “Am I allowed to see Jun, master?” Nino wanted to know. He was afraid about Jun’s condition and he feared that Jun wasn’t save here. He wanted to be at his side now.
“Later, Nino. But first of all you take a shower. I bring you some fresh clothes,” Sho said.
He walked up to a big closet and pulled out some pants and a shirt. He grabbed a towel from the chair and handed everything to Nino. “The door over there is the bathroom, go and get yourself a warm shower. We’ll talk about everything later on.”
Nino nodded at him and walked up to the bathroom. He got rid of his old clothes. He had the feeling that he pulled of his old life, and he hoped that was something positive.
Nino stepped under the shower. The hot water ran down his back, covering him in a warm and fuzzy feeling. His legs slowly started warming up and the tension in him started fading. He looked around. The bathroom was covered in black and white marble stones and next to the bathtub there was the shower and a kind of whirlpool. This room was double sized from the one Nino had lived with 8 other boys in the shop. He was still careful about being too happy to be here, but the start with Sho and Masaki wasn't that bad at all. And he would be able to stay here together with Jun, so he wouldn't be alone if there'd be any troubles for them.
Jun ... Nino shivered. What should he do when something would happen to Jun? Were Masaki and Sho really able to help Jun? Nino stepped out of the shower and took the big towel Sho had prepared for him. He breathed in deeply. The shower gel smelled like heaven for Nino. He had always been someone who liked to be clean and good smelling, but he wasn't allowed to have something fancy as slave, but sometimes he wondered if some shower gel and a few good looking clothes were too much he wished for.
He took the clothes and slipped into the pants and the shirt Sho had prepared for him. They were a little too big, but it was okay for now. Nino walked back to the big living room Sho had for himself. Sho sat there, reading on a strange thing, which looked like a brick. “Oh, you are done,” he said with a smile.
“The clothes do not fit you, I am sorry, we'll get you something new when Jun feels better,” Sho added.
Nino felt observed, and he blushed. Even though he was used to be stared at. “Thank you, master.”
Sho pointed at the place next to him. “Sit down please.”
Nino nibbled on his lower lip. He didn't want to talk back, but he wanted to see Jun. Sho was still smiling at him, his dark eyes resting on Nino. “I just have a few instructions for you, and then we'll be immediately on the way downstairs, I promise.”
Nino nodded. He sat on the ground next to Sho. Sho blinked at him. “You can sit on the couch.”
Nino shifted nervously. “Sorry, master.” He stood up and took place next to the other.
“Okay, let me tell you some basics you should better be aware of, or we get in bigger troubles.”
~~~
Masaki roamed through his things. Damn, he hoped that Sho would come downstairs soon. Sho was a little older than Masaki and had a little more experience with complicated illnesses. He opened one of the old books he had once gotten from his grandfather. He could remember that he had read something about this fruit somewhere in his old books. “Damn, where are you,” Masaki cursed.
He could hear Jun moaning, arching his back in pain. “Okay,” Masaki said. “We'll get you a shower first.”
Masaki walked up to the bed and helped Jun standing up. He was sweating and he wasn't really conscious. “Come on, Jun, help me a little,” Masaki whined. He carried Jun to his bathroom and sat him on the border of his bathtub. Jun moved back and forth and Masaki was sure that he'd fall if he'd stop holding him.
Masaki opened Jun's kimono and undressed him. He froze when he saw Jun's upper body. Masaki had seen enough during his work as doctor, but this scars threatened him. What the hell had happened to Jun?
He helped Jun standing up. “I am sorry,” Masaki said when he pulled on Jun's clothes to get him completely naked. He helped Jun in the bathtub and turned on the warm water. Masaki had done this hundredth times already, because Jun wasn't the first patient who was unconscious or weak, but this time it felt different. This was his slave after all, and he didn't want to hurt him ... that sounded stupid, especially because the society had decided that slaves were here to get hurt and used. Masaki shook his head. He had never been someone who followed conventions.
Masaki washed Jun's body and helped him out of the tub again, covering him in a big towel. Jun's eyes fluttered open and he looked directly at Masaki. He smiled at Jun. “I bring you some clothes and then I bring you back to bed, okay?”
He could see something like a nod from Jun, before he closed his eyes again. Masaki headed up to his sleeping room and opened his ward robe. He took a random pyjama and walked back to Jun. Jun leaned forward, and he fell when Masaki grabbed him and fell back with Jun on top of him. “Ouch, okay, that's no good.” Masaki said. He could feel Jun's breath in his neck. It was unsteady and slow, way too slow. Masaki pushed Jun up and helped him in the fresh clothes before he carried him back to his bed. When he had covered him in his blankets, he could hear Sho and Nino coming downstairs.
~~~
“Yes, Master, I listen,” Nino said with a nervous feeling in him. He couldn't be disobedient now. Not till he’d know exactly how this place would become for them. Maybe he'd ruin something when he’d get too stubborn at this point. When he had been with his last owner, he started talking back at one point. It ended in getting punished almost every day, but in the end Nino got what he wanted: The owner gave him away, and Nino couldn't care less.
Sho nodded at him. “Good.” He turned to face Nino. He looked gentle, but Nino was sure that Sho could become really mad and angry if he got annoyed. “When we are with our family, call me Sakurai-san or master, okay?”
“Okay, master,” Nino said.
“You'll be a good slave when we are with our parents and their friends, got it?” Sho said harshly.
Nino just nodded. Would Sho show him his real face now? Was he strict like the other masters Nino had experienced so far?
“Okay, good. Same goes for Jun, but I am sure Masaki will tell him when he's awake,” Sho explained. His eyes got lighter again and the smile around his lips let some wrinkles occur. “And when we are alone or with Masaki, you can call me Sho, and please don't call me master when we are alone.” Nino blinked. Was Sho really that mild? “I feel so old when you call me like that,” he chuckled.
“Okay, master ...” Nino shook his head. “I mean Sho-san.” He smiled a bit and it felt weird. He hadn't smiled for so long. This was too good to be true. Nino pinched his arm, maybe he was dreaming.
“Let's go downstairs to the others. I hope Masaki has already a guess what's wrong with Jun.” Sho stood up and waited till Nino followed him.
Nino felt the cold stone touching his feet. He looked around. This house was huge. His old master had been the richest guy in his town, but this was definitely something different. This was probably one of the richest families in the whole country.
They walked downstairs and Nino thought that the cellar would be awkward and maybe dirty and maybe Masaki hadn't the status that Sho had with his rooms upstairs, but it was different. Masaki's rooms were noble and expensive, same like Sho's. Just that he had this stairs to a kind of winter garden at the backside. Nino stared at the room in surprise. He had lived in the cellar once, and he didn't even have a candle to lighten the room.
Nino looked around and he could see the door to a sleeping room was open just far enough to see Jun lying there. “Jun,” Nino said. He wanted to walk up to him, but he remembered that he wasn't allowed to walk without allowance. He stopped and looked at Sho.
“Please wait a moment. I want to make sure that his illness isn't infectious,” Sho said.
They walked up to Masaki, who sat on a bar chair next to the cooking island in the middle of the room. He read in various old looking books, but he looked up when they came closer to him.
~~~
Masaki opened the book he had once gotten from his grandfather. He had once told him that this book was more than 200 years old. “Strawberries and lemons combined with apple and a certain poison,” Masaki murmured.
He looked at Sho and Nino approaching him. “Have you found something, Ma-chan?”
Masaki shook his head. “I found the fruits in this book, but not the combined fruit, and we need this, because we need to make sure which poison is in this fruit.”
Sho nodded at him. Masaki looked at the slave next to Sho. He didn't seem that afraid anymore, but his body language was still like a shy stray cat. “Nino, do you know anything else about this fruit?” Masaki asked.
“No, sorry, master,” Nino said to Masaki.
“I thought you talk with him about speaking with us, Sho?” Masaki asked his brother. He really didn't want to be called like that.
“Nino, Masaki and I think same about handling you and Jun. So please call him Masaki or Sakurai-san, not master or anything else like that, except we are with others. They don't need to know about our good hearted Masaki,” Sho said with a smile.
“Hey you are equal good hearted,” Masaki complained. “So don't tell me that it's only me.”
“True,” Sho chuckled. “But really, Nino, please be careful when we are with others. It might end bad if someone finds out that we handle you with respect.” Sho got earnest again.
Masaki shivered. It was the sad truth. They had to be careful to not uncover their intentions, otherwise it would end bad for all of them.
Masaki heard footsteps on the stairs. His heartbeat rose. He hoped it wasn't already too late, because when the wrong people heard them, they'd be in major troubles.
“Oh, Satoshi,” Masaki sighed in relieve.
Nino bowed deeply and got on his knees when Satoshi entered the room. “Oh, please get up.” Satoshi smiled at them.
“Nino, this is Satoshi our dearest friend. He studies biology and I called him to help me with this poisoned fruit. If someone is able to know about it, it's him,” Masaki explained. Satoshi was the only friend they really trusted.
“Where's Ryo?” Sho asked.
“He is outside, I saw your family coming home, so I left him outside,” Satoshi said. He was the one who had the idea with buying a slave. Satoshi had bought Ryo some months ago, and he had same thoughts like Masaki. He wanted to help someone, but he was extreme careful with handling Ryo in society.
“Nino, Satoshi is the one who got me to the idea of buying a slave. You can act normal towards him,” Masaki explained.
“Nice to meet you, Nino,” Satoshi said. “Maybe you should go upstairs to your parents and their friends first, and we talk about the sick slave later on?” He suggested.
Masaki frowned. To talk with his parents wouldn’t be that bad, but the friends his father had, were another problem. They would complain about their slaves staying inside. He didn't know what to say. Sho must have seen his worried expression. “Don't worry, let me talk, okay?”
Masaki nodded at his brother. “Satoshi can you stay with Jun and take care of him?” Masaki asked.
Satoshi nodded at him. “Sure. Oh, and Nino, please be really careful when you are upstairs now, because their parents have guests, and it wouldn't be good if it get revealed what Masaki and Sho have in mind.”
Nino bowed. “Of course, master.”
“Satoshi,” Satoshi grinned at him. “Just Satoshi please.”
A/N: So here is chapter 2. ^^ Thanks soooo much for all your lovely comments. I was nervous about this story, because it's rather dark and it's a rare pair story, but I was soooo amazed about the bunch of comments. I really jumped up and down in delight because of you <3
So now we have Satoshi's appearance and Aiba tries everything to help Jun, while Sho explains their life to Nino. What do you think? They really are rich, and their father is in politics. And we know about their home <3
Will Satoshi, Sho and Masaki be able to help Jun?