「Eternal Bond With A Guardian Angel」《Chapter 1 - Second Chance》
Title:: Eternal Bond With A Guardian Angel
Pairing:: Ohno Satoshi/Ninomiya Kazunari
Genre:: royalty!au, slavery!au, angst, romance, drama
Lenght:: chaptered
Word Count:: 4558 words
Rating:: R (hints of torture and sex)
Note:: this is a remastered version of the posted and unfinished fic, The Days Became A Story.
Summary:: Centuries ago, the country was controlled by Lords who used slaves for multiple tasts. As they weren't considered as humans, they could be tortured and raped that no one would stop them. And in the middle of that, Ninomiya Kazunari was sold to Lord Imada, having to live the worst of the worst in order to survive another day. Until his execution for rebellion arrived and unexpectedly, his guardian angel appeared to save and protect him from that world full of despicable monsters. No matter if after, falling in love with him would mean to have to pay a big price.
CHAPTER 1 - Second Chance
In a world where the slavery was what moved the economy of many countries selling and buying their slaves like if they were simple rubbish to use, a 17-years-old boy called Ninomiya Kazunari was being sold to a Lord by his own parents. He would go to join the hell for those who became simple toys for despicable humans. Ninomiya did not know why his parents were doing that if he was their son, he could not understand why his parents wanted that type of life for him, that type of treatment for his son. That betrayal was engraved into the boy's pupils, just remembering that the only family he had did not care about him at all as long as they could sell him as easy as that, just saying sorry, but not stopping anyone from taking him with them.
The last moment he could see his parents was when the Lord was paying them the amount of money their son worth. After that, two men, who were backing the Lord, pushed him until a carriage which was moved by two horses. Ninomiya did not know where he was going to live or what was going to happen to him. He was terribly scared and the Lord by his side, who seemed a despicable one, did not help him to relax when his hand was raised until his ear to touch his short hair.
“Behave well and we will be good friends, okay?” the Lord whispered in his ear and Ninomiya turned around his head feeling his body disgusting after that simple touch by his new sir. He was not made to be the slave of anyone.
“I won't be friend of a person who abuses weak people” the brave boy said looking straight to his eyes while challenging the Lord. He did not know what he was doing, but his father always taught him that having fears was his weak spot and he should not show it to anyone. Even if that would take him to the disgrace.
“What a pity... I thought that you wouldn’t need training” the Lord sighed disappointed and Ninomiya frowned deeply. What did that mean?
“I'm not a dog” the boy spat his words not being carefully and the Lord started to be tired. In a fast move, he caught his neck against the seat to cut his breath. At that moment, his eyes were widened and a big scare filled his body, thinking he was going to be killed in that carriage.
“Since now, you will do what I order you, okay?” he spoke lowly, drowning the boy as the latter tried to remove his hand unsuccessfully. He opted to nod as he could and the Lord dropped his throat. Ninomiya coughed hardly breathing oxygen again. It had been a hit of reality of how hard the things were outside. How it was even worse than what everyone rumoured around. So somehow, that day was when he learned to follow the rules of his new life if he wanted to fight in the future against the slavery before being dead.
*****
His first impression of his new home was good; a mansion full of luxuries and every type of commodities. Indeed, who lived there could feel like a real prince, just admiring the expensive furniture decorating every single room, making everything look like perfect. However, his hopes were broken when they crossed a hallway until the North wing where all his slaves lived. The walls were full of scratches, the ceiling was cracked, his room was small and shared with another seven slaves who slept in bunk beds. He could see how everything was dirty and insects seemed as part of the house. He was really disgusted to be there, knowing that was his new home from now one. So the Lord's servants left him with the rest, they would explain him how this hell worked.
First of all, no matter if he was ill, injured or satisfying his necessities - eating, sleeping - he had to serve Lord's demands at the same instant his call reached him. He had tasks such as cleaning the mansion, backing the Lord, entertaining the Lord, even satisfying Lord's sexual necessities, which were often. If he disobeyed some of those tasks or Lord's orders, he was going to be punished physically with lashes until his skin would bleed and he would shout for mercy. That was how the Lord trained them there so no one would give him problems.
The schedule for every day was hard too - he had to wake up at five o'clock, the only food to eat was a bit of bread and water so there were times when they escaped to get more food, but that was being so dangerous lately because the Lord was noticing the lack of food and marked them as principal thieves so the punishments were being harder since then. And during the rest of the day he would be waiting for Lord's orders or following them already.
“If you follow his orders, you may be happy here” one of them said smiling. Ninomiya was not sure at all of his words. Who was crazy enough to be happy there? To accept such treatment? He would prefer to die before accepting the fact he was not human anymore.
“I can't be happy being used by an asshole...” the boy spoke in his rudest way and everyone tried to cover his mouth. It seemed like walls could listen to those comments.
“Be careful, Lord Imada killed a slave for insulting him” another one told him with a scared face. Ninomiya frowned deeply. So those were the limits he crossed in order to maintain everyone under his rules. That only made him even more despicable and his hate towards that Lord just increased.
“And when you have to satisfy him... What do you do?” Ninomiya raised his innocent gaze feeling himself lost and out of place. He was too young for that. Ninomiya thought that his first time would be special with the person he loved, not being raped by an arrogant Lord. But obviously, every type of plan he had for his future was now ruined. He would be raped. He knew that was his fate. Then, why was he unable to accept it? There was no way he heard that and try not to stop it.
“Don’t worry about that, he doesn't choose someone below 20 years old” the first who talked before answered him with a warm smile. But that did not calm the boy. It meant that he could be relaxed only three years more and after that, the real hell would start. He needed to plan something, but everything seemed crazy and useless. All of them would throw him to a sure death, so what should he do? What was the right option to choose?
*****
The days went by slowly. Ninomiya was already really tired. He had less food there than in his home and his body felt sick and his mind dizzy. It was already hard to walk sometimes so it was normal if he ended up falling on the floor because of that. His body was already full of scratches and his clothes did not seem as such anymore. But he still had to run through the whole mansion because the spoiled Lord wanted everything at the next second or he would receive severe hits. He even laughed when a slave was being tortured in front of his own eyes, enjoying it. And Ninomiya could see he did not punish them to teach them only, but also because he loved to see their suffering faces exclaiming for mercy. That could not have forgiveness, it was impossible such being could have forgiveness for doing that.
And he wanted to yell at him everything, shout how disgusting he was, how he was better dead than alive, but his mouth only spoke ‘yes, my Lord' when his own body was paralyzed by fear. He had found a coward person who was being used because he was scared of death, he was too scared that one day he would disappear after having been killed by torturing. They used that weak spot in humans to feel powerful not caring about the rest, only they existed in their selfish world. Empathy was a word which did not exist in their vocabulary, the word which ruled their minds was only power and it leaded to the whole slavery system which existed nowadays.
That was why they killed everyone who opposed to their Lords. They were afraid that someone could change it because their lives would break completely. They would lose everything and all the acts they were committing now would be severely punished. They only had money and slaves. No one to care, no one to love, no one to worry. Their lives were empty and the selfishness occupied that space in their dark souls. If slaves disappeared, they would become just murders. And karma would invert the coin.
Ninomiya learned it after one year there. The more he observed his Lord, the more sorrow he felt in his heart. Although the Lord deserved that sadness and loneliness in his life after breaking and killing a lot of people, Ninomiya felt sad every time he watched the Lord knowing that type of people had had a day when they had decided to become that. Because humans were born free of guilt and full of innocence. So actually, the worst part of all of that was the simple fact other humans made them became monsters. And if no one stopped that, the world would just continue being filled with monsters.
*****
Two years after joining that house, Ninomiya was totally used to bite his tongue in the worst moments, but he was a person and he did a lot of mistakes. He had been punished hard by Lord's guards a lot of times. His whole body was full of scratches which did not heal because when they started to, the guards hit him again and the wounds were opened again. However, he never asked for mercy, he never opened his mouth, he never shouted by the pain. He just bit his lower lip until making it bleed because he preferred that before giving him the satisfaction of hearing eve a single pray from him.
Even his roommates were worried about his serious condition because they had never seen another slave as hurt as him, but Ninomiya did not complain or reject any work. He always stood up to work even if his body was about to break abruptly. The boy understood that if it continued much more, he would die due to the infections in his wounds or malnutrition because sometimes he could not eat as a punishment, but he was sure of one thing - he would never give the Lord what he wanted, he would always appear in front of him, looking at his eyes challenging him to play who would die first. Even if Ninomiya knew it would be him.
*****
Three years after he was still bearing the pain, the tiredness and the rage without saying a word. Since a few months, he cried alone in a room in ruins out of the mansion. He had never cried before because his father told him that men did not cry, but his strength was only an illusion inside of him already. Probably, he was at the verge of his limits and not only physically, because those had been surpassed long time ago, but mentally. His mind could not get any strength more not to think of the pain, it could not avoid the panic to be punished, it had no more sanity left already. So he cried, he cried out all his frustration. He had realized long time ago the only reason why he was still living was just to see his Lord die. And nothing else.
Just in the worst situation, his Lord called him to go at his room. Ninomiya walked slowly because his legs could not move well, having to lean on the walls, almost dragging his body as fast as he could not to be punched for being slow, and he reached the room where his Lord was waiting for him. He was sitting on a big bed in the middle of the most luxury bedroom in that mansion. Ninomiya just waited in front of the door until hearing a voice ordering him to sit beside him and somehow, his body was covered with goosebumps. It was fear. And it increased when he had the Lord at just ten centimetres of his face over that big bed.
“Your turn arrived, little whore” the Lord said so closely to Ninomiya, using a disgusting voice which froze him completely. Then, he realized it while widening his eyes knowing what it meant. He did a quick calculation in his mind - he was already twenty years old. He had forgotten even his own age, he had forgotten how much time had gone by. He could not believe he had not done anything to escape from there in three years. After all, he had done what the other slaves said, he just got used to that world. And that just filled his soul with anger toward himself.
Suddenly, he felt two hands on him, touching parts he would desire to never be touched by a man like him while having a mouth trying to kiss him dirtily. Something in his head exploded and his instinct forced him to push his Lord away strongly to try to escape. But, being unlucky, his legs could not hold on anymore and he fell over the floor, right beside where he had thrown him. The Lord, who was so pissed off, caught him by his old clothes to throw him on the bed hastily and trapped his arms against the mattress not to let him move anymore. The boy was still praying it was a nightmare. A horrible bad dream in the middle of the night. But it was not.
“Be still and I will forget what you've just done” his voice was severe, having a marked vain crossing his temple by the anger, and his eyes were staring at Ninomiya as if he was possessed by the evil itself. Even like that, he was so afraid that he tried again to escape almost crying for where he was feeling a hand. He did not want that, he did not want that hell in his life. He preferred to be dead instead of bearing another day like this. He had decided something - giving up was better than having hope in the nowhere.
Reaching the limit of his sanity, he looked around to find a lamp and his free hand grabbed it to hit his Lord's head. He fell over the bed without moving anymore and Ninomiya stood up not caring if he had killed him or just hurt him, the only thing he wanted was dying without being raped, just leaving this world without that trauma. So he stood up as he could and dragged his body until he got out of the room to run through the hallway. Then, his ears listened some shouts behind him. It was clear the guards were chasing him after finding the body of the Lord on the bed. His legs were unable to run faster, but he did not stop until he found the exit, a door filled with light, as if he was getting out of the hell. He felt free when his body was illuminated by the sunshine and like if he had reached his heaven, he fainted on the floor, thinking it was finally over.
*****
He thought he had rocks over his body by how hard moving was when his consciousness started to wake up. His eyes wanted to remain closed, thinking if he opened them, he would return to live, but he realized he had never died to start with. So his mind became blank when he discovered he was in a dungeon tied up by his wrist with chains which were leaving red marks on his skin. Well, it was not like he cared about some more. Ninomiya knew perfectly what would happen to him in a brief time for having hit a Lord and for not having fulfilled his demands. He had been sure that he was not made for that world and that was a proof. He had suffered so much because that exact reason, so it was time to finally end it.
That was why after an endless time, which was impossible to calculate, some guards came in the dungeon and untied his wrists to catch the boy by his armpits. He did not complain, just letting them take him where he was going to be executed. After a few seconds, they came out, the fresh air filling his lungs, but he also heard a lot of shouts as his eyes were unable to be opened because the strong light of the sun was destroying his pupils.
When he could see, he found a whole square full of people waiting for his death because he would be killed in front of dozens of people who loved their Lords. At that moment, he reaffirmed his decision of dying, knowing he was not made to survive in such a world. He just checked the landscape for last time before closing his eyes, remembering why he was allowing that and then, the guards left him kneeling on the floor so one of them took a katana to point at him. He felt it cold right beside his temple. It was a pressure which burned him just because he was sure he was going to die.
He closed his eyes tighter, feeling extremely scared of dying, listening to his death sentence and waiting for the cut on his body. He hated how everyone was wanting his death and a doubt appeared in his mind. Were his parent there watching how his son would be killed because they had sold him to the Lord? A tear fell over his cheek saying goodbye mentally. It was the last thought he wanted to have before losing his life, just the last one saying his farewell to the only possibly people who had loved him once.
“Stop it!” suddenly, a deep voice of a man resounded all over the square, shutting everyone down there because no one knew what was happening. “That slave is mine now, so take away your katana from him” he ordered with husky voice, not allowing even the attempt to hesitate and Ninomiya opened his eyes swiftly to see how the guard followed his orders, giving him a second chance to live. Then, he turned his head around and found his guardian angel; a handsome man who was looking at him with serious expression.
“Who...” Ninomiya's voice was weak and his throat was hurting a lot because it was really dry, he did not know when it had been the last time he drank water. After, a new guard caught him by his shoulders to leave that despicable show, not fulfilling the desire of everyone there to see how they killed him as if that was a circus. Slowly, they approached a carriage, moved by two horses and came in it to start to travel to somewhere he did not know yet. He did not know even what was happening, but his mind was so blurry, he did not care anymore. Then, the handsome man sat beside him as the guard closed the door to drive the horses.
That was the perfect chance Ninomiya had to glance at the unknown man and get some details of his expression. He was serious and his eyes were sleepy with a short hair covering a bit his forehead while he was biting his lower lip frenetically as he gulped twice. He seemed nervous somehow. For that reason, Ninomiya watched him for a long time being so curious about that person. Feeling a different aura, feeling good beside him. And he wondered how if he looked like a Lord.
“It’s uncomfortable” suddenly, he spoke, waking Ninomiya up from his first analysis and he frowned. “Your eyes over me all the time” right after, the boy turned his gaze down breathing deeply, realizing he was being pretty straight with his behaviour even if it was clear their levels in society were so different. He was nervous by his side after such a comment.
“I'm sorry, sir” he apologized in a whisper, filled with fear just in case he would punch him for being that dared with him. However, the man only looked at him with an unreadable expression.
“I’m Lord Ohno Satoshi, your name?” the Lord said with nice voice and Ninomiya widened his eyes, having almost a heart attack when his ears listened to his name. That Lord was so famous in his country for being the coldest one. Everyone was scared of being his slave because nobody got out of his mansion with life. Many rumours were spread around about him, none of them was good, though. He was the most respected Lord exactly because of that, no one knew if what people said was true and he never confirmed or denied it, so everyone decided not to even try to check it.
“N-Ninomiya Kazunari” he said his name hesitantly and Ohno nodded, just looking normal, there was no glimpse of evil behaviour surrounding him. Then, the boy wondered what he should believe.
“Since today, you will be my personal slave” he said confident, calm, he did not express any emotion less a deep calmness, but Ninomiya shook his head completely, being amazed by his words. Wondering what that even mean and abruptly, the worst things started to cross him mind, assuring him he had gotten out of hell to join something worse.
“My apologies, my Lord, but I did not understand” Ninomiya confessed, being intrigued by the word ‘personal’. The Lord only smiled, showing something else than just a cold masquerade. Ninomiya, somehow, could not handle his need to glance at him and watch it.
“It means that only you can satisfy my deepest necessities” his words were calm and his eyes continued looking forwards, never looking at him, but even like that, he could see how Ninomiya grabbed his own clothes, realizing his worst dream had come true. He did not reject his last Lord to be a personal whore of the most important Lord of the country. He did not care about his surname, it was not a privilege for him to be that. He just wanted to be free.
“I...” he tried to say no. To reject him. But his fear was stronger inside of him after all. That brave boy, who did not stay in silence, was killed the day he joined Lord Imada's mansion. There was not any single glimpse more of the Ninomiya Kazunari who was brave and dared to oppose to even the worst person. His mind was too confused and the fear was already even inside his bones, engraved in his soul.
However, the Lord saw his behaviour and decided not to confuse him in that way. “I was joking, sorry” he smiled warmly as his hand rubbed his forehead and Ninomiya raised his head to find a wonderful man by his side. Why did his eyes not look at another thing that it was not Lord Ohno? “I don't like their system. Especially, I hate the sexual part so be at ease, I won't ask you anything like that. Take it like being my maid, okay?” he explained with low voice. At first, the boy thought he was joking again, because it was pretty impossible that could be true, but after waiting for his laugh again, nothing came and he understood he was saying the truth now. Ninomiya felt like he had won the biggest prize that day. Somehow, all he had to live had been worth it to reach that point where hope was still inside of him. So his eyes were filled with tears, thinking life was giving him a second chance.
“T-thank you so much for saving me!” he bowed almost touching his legs with his nose, feeling how some tears felt over them by how touched he was. He listened to a laugh, though, and when his eyes looked again at the Lord, he was gazing at him for first time, showing an amused expression. He was mesmerizing...
“Why don't you sleep a bit? The trip is long and you don't seem in good condition” the boy thought he was dreaming. Existing a Lord so kind and nice should be impossible. There was no way Lord Ohno could be that nice and warm with him when the space between their status were abysmal. However, Ninomiya accepted, desiring to sleep properly for the first time in a long time. He was so tired and his head was aching as hell since he fainted after escaping from his last Lord.
Then, Ohno stayed in silence to let him sleep for real and that was glory for him. He could fall asleep so quickly not having nightmares as every night since he arrived at his last mansion. If he was so tired, it was because he could not sleep well everyday and he stayed awake whole nights wondering why his parents had sold him so easily for a bit of money. It hurt him more than any punishment or treatment.
He ended up thinking that even if his parents had done it so easily, it was because they did not love him. After all, he had always provoked problems and they had to fix them. His family was so humble and they lived only to pay debts to Lords. Ninomiya always hated himself for not understanding their situation and having been a nuisance who only asked for food and new clothes because the rest of his friends made fun of him for wearing old ones or not having a bento to eat. During those years, he realized that he was just being selfish, never understanding what was really surrounding him.
Maybe that provoked their hate towards him until the point of selling him to a Lord who would make his life the worst possible. Perhaps they had searched for his misfortune on purpose because he deserved it after all. Possibly that had been the punishment they had decided for him after years of being a nuisance in that house. But he begged for a bit happiness although he agreed that he deserved misfortune after behaving like that. In the point he was, he needed some happiness or he would die of grief. There was no more strength inside of him...
Abruptly, he felt a hand over his shoulder shaking it a bit and a soft voice called his name. “Kazunari, wake up, we have arrived” he opened his eyes slowly to find out Lord Ohno was there waiting for him. How had this person won the title of the coldest Lord of the country if he was being so warmth with him? For Kazunari, he was like the sun which was healing him.
TBC...
//Hi! Long time no see you! It's interesting how I don't arrive with a new fic (even if it seems so, but with a remastered version of The Days Became A Story, which was abandoned 2 years ago >~< I'm so sorry for that. But here I am, rewriting it to be able to finish it this time for sure! Actually, I'm posting the first chapter to see if you're interested in it yet and want me to rewrite and end it completely, so tell me in the comments, please!
Hope you like this new version with even new title(!), although the events haven't changed, I added like 2k-3k words more per chapter! Also, I won't have a schedule to post it, but I can assure you I will work on it every day ✌
Tomoya~
Pairing:: Ohno Satoshi/Ninomiya Kazunari
Genre:: royalty!au, slavery!au, angst, romance, drama
Lenght:: chaptered
Word Count:: 4558 words
Rating:: R (hints of torture and sex)
Note:: this is a remastered version of the posted and unfinished fic, The Days Became A Story.
Summary:: Centuries ago, the country was controlled by Lords who used slaves for multiple tasts. As they weren't considered as humans, they could be tortured and raped that no one would stop them. And in the middle of that, Ninomiya Kazunari was sold to Lord Imada, having to live the worst of the worst in order to survive another day. Until his execution for rebellion arrived and unexpectedly, his guardian angel appeared to save and protect him from that world full of despicable monsters. No matter if after, falling in love with him would mean to have to pay a big price.
CHAPTER 1 - Second Chance
In a world where the slavery was what moved the economy of many countries selling and buying their slaves like if they were simple rubbish to use, a 17-years-old boy called Ninomiya Kazunari was being sold to a Lord by his own parents. He would go to join the hell for those who became simple toys for despicable humans. Ninomiya did not know why his parents were doing that if he was their son, he could not understand why his parents wanted that type of life for him, that type of treatment for his son. That betrayal was engraved into the boy's pupils, just remembering that the only family he had did not care about him at all as long as they could sell him as easy as that, just saying sorry, but not stopping anyone from taking him with them.
The last moment he could see his parents was when the Lord was paying them the amount of money their son worth. After that, two men, who were backing the Lord, pushed him until a carriage which was moved by two horses. Ninomiya did not know where he was going to live or what was going to happen to him. He was terribly scared and the Lord by his side, who seemed a despicable one, did not help him to relax when his hand was raised until his ear to touch his short hair.
“Behave well and we will be good friends, okay?” the Lord whispered in his ear and Ninomiya turned around his head feeling his body disgusting after that simple touch by his new sir. He was not made to be the slave of anyone.
“I won't be friend of a person who abuses weak people” the brave boy said looking straight to his eyes while challenging the Lord. He did not know what he was doing, but his father always taught him that having fears was his weak spot and he should not show it to anyone. Even if that would take him to the disgrace.
“What a pity... I thought that you wouldn’t need training” the Lord sighed disappointed and Ninomiya frowned deeply. What did that mean?
“I'm not a dog” the boy spat his words not being carefully and the Lord started to be tired. In a fast move, he caught his neck against the seat to cut his breath. At that moment, his eyes were widened and a big scare filled his body, thinking he was going to be killed in that carriage.
“Since now, you will do what I order you, okay?” he spoke lowly, drowning the boy as the latter tried to remove his hand unsuccessfully. He opted to nod as he could and the Lord dropped his throat. Ninomiya coughed hardly breathing oxygen again. It had been a hit of reality of how hard the things were outside. How it was even worse than what everyone rumoured around. So somehow, that day was when he learned to follow the rules of his new life if he wanted to fight in the future against the slavery before being dead.
*****
His first impression of his new home was good; a mansion full of luxuries and every type of commodities. Indeed, who lived there could feel like a real prince, just admiring the expensive furniture decorating every single room, making everything look like perfect. However, his hopes were broken when they crossed a hallway until the North wing where all his slaves lived. The walls were full of scratches, the ceiling was cracked, his room was small and shared with another seven slaves who slept in bunk beds. He could see how everything was dirty and insects seemed as part of the house. He was really disgusted to be there, knowing that was his new home from now one. So the Lord's servants left him with the rest, they would explain him how this hell worked.
First of all, no matter if he was ill, injured or satisfying his necessities - eating, sleeping - he had to serve Lord's demands at the same instant his call reached him. He had tasks such as cleaning the mansion, backing the Lord, entertaining the Lord, even satisfying Lord's sexual necessities, which were often. If he disobeyed some of those tasks or Lord's orders, he was going to be punished physically with lashes until his skin would bleed and he would shout for mercy. That was how the Lord trained them there so no one would give him problems.
The schedule for every day was hard too - he had to wake up at five o'clock, the only food to eat was a bit of bread and water so there were times when they escaped to get more food, but that was being so dangerous lately because the Lord was noticing the lack of food and marked them as principal thieves so the punishments were being harder since then. And during the rest of the day he would be waiting for Lord's orders or following them already.
“If you follow his orders, you may be happy here” one of them said smiling. Ninomiya was not sure at all of his words. Who was crazy enough to be happy there? To accept such treatment? He would prefer to die before accepting the fact he was not human anymore.
“I can't be happy being used by an asshole...” the boy spoke in his rudest way and everyone tried to cover his mouth. It seemed like walls could listen to those comments.
“Be careful, Lord Imada killed a slave for insulting him” another one told him with a scared face. Ninomiya frowned deeply. So those were the limits he crossed in order to maintain everyone under his rules. That only made him even more despicable and his hate towards that Lord just increased.
“And when you have to satisfy him... What do you do?” Ninomiya raised his innocent gaze feeling himself lost and out of place. He was too young for that. Ninomiya thought that his first time would be special with the person he loved, not being raped by an arrogant Lord. But obviously, every type of plan he had for his future was now ruined. He would be raped. He knew that was his fate. Then, why was he unable to accept it? There was no way he heard that and try not to stop it.
“Don’t worry about that, he doesn't choose someone below 20 years old” the first who talked before answered him with a warm smile. But that did not calm the boy. It meant that he could be relaxed only three years more and after that, the real hell would start. He needed to plan something, but everything seemed crazy and useless. All of them would throw him to a sure death, so what should he do? What was the right option to choose?
*****
The days went by slowly. Ninomiya was already really tired. He had less food there than in his home and his body felt sick and his mind dizzy. It was already hard to walk sometimes so it was normal if he ended up falling on the floor because of that. His body was already full of scratches and his clothes did not seem as such anymore. But he still had to run through the whole mansion because the spoiled Lord wanted everything at the next second or he would receive severe hits. He even laughed when a slave was being tortured in front of his own eyes, enjoying it. And Ninomiya could see he did not punish them to teach them only, but also because he loved to see their suffering faces exclaiming for mercy. That could not have forgiveness, it was impossible such being could have forgiveness for doing that.
And he wanted to yell at him everything, shout how disgusting he was, how he was better dead than alive, but his mouth only spoke ‘yes, my Lord' when his own body was paralyzed by fear. He had found a coward person who was being used because he was scared of death, he was too scared that one day he would disappear after having been killed by torturing. They used that weak spot in humans to feel powerful not caring about the rest, only they existed in their selfish world. Empathy was a word which did not exist in their vocabulary, the word which ruled their minds was only power and it leaded to the whole slavery system which existed nowadays.
That was why they killed everyone who opposed to their Lords. They were afraid that someone could change it because their lives would break completely. They would lose everything and all the acts they were committing now would be severely punished. They only had money and slaves. No one to care, no one to love, no one to worry. Their lives were empty and the selfishness occupied that space in their dark souls. If slaves disappeared, they would become just murders. And karma would invert the coin.
Ninomiya learned it after one year there. The more he observed his Lord, the more sorrow he felt in his heart. Although the Lord deserved that sadness and loneliness in his life after breaking and killing a lot of people, Ninomiya felt sad every time he watched the Lord knowing that type of people had had a day when they had decided to become that. Because humans were born free of guilt and full of innocence. So actually, the worst part of all of that was the simple fact other humans made them became monsters. And if no one stopped that, the world would just continue being filled with monsters.
*****
Two years after joining that house, Ninomiya was totally used to bite his tongue in the worst moments, but he was a person and he did a lot of mistakes. He had been punished hard by Lord's guards a lot of times. His whole body was full of scratches which did not heal because when they started to, the guards hit him again and the wounds were opened again. However, he never asked for mercy, he never opened his mouth, he never shouted by the pain. He just bit his lower lip until making it bleed because he preferred that before giving him the satisfaction of hearing eve a single pray from him.
Even his roommates were worried about his serious condition because they had never seen another slave as hurt as him, but Ninomiya did not complain or reject any work. He always stood up to work even if his body was about to break abruptly. The boy understood that if it continued much more, he would die due to the infections in his wounds or malnutrition because sometimes he could not eat as a punishment, but he was sure of one thing - he would never give the Lord what he wanted, he would always appear in front of him, looking at his eyes challenging him to play who would die first. Even if Ninomiya knew it would be him.
*****
Three years after he was still bearing the pain, the tiredness and the rage without saying a word. Since a few months, he cried alone in a room in ruins out of the mansion. He had never cried before because his father told him that men did not cry, but his strength was only an illusion inside of him already. Probably, he was at the verge of his limits and not only physically, because those had been surpassed long time ago, but mentally. His mind could not get any strength more not to think of the pain, it could not avoid the panic to be punished, it had no more sanity left already. So he cried, he cried out all his frustration. He had realized long time ago the only reason why he was still living was just to see his Lord die. And nothing else.
Just in the worst situation, his Lord called him to go at his room. Ninomiya walked slowly because his legs could not move well, having to lean on the walls, almost dragging his body as fast as he could not to be punched for being slow, and he reached the room where his Lord was waiting for him. He was sitting on a big bed in the middle of the most luxury bedroom in that mansion. Ninomiya just waited in front of the door until hearing a voice ordering him to sit beside him and somehow, his body was covered with goosebumps. It was fear. And it increased when he had the Lord at just ten centimetres of his face over that big bed.
“Your turn arrived, little whore” the Lord said so closely to Ninomiya, using a disgusting voice which froze him completely. Then, he realized it while widening his eyes knowing what it meant. He did a quick calculation in his mind - he was already twenty years old. He had forgotten even his own age, he had forgotten how much time had gone by. He could not believe he had not done anything to escape from there in three years. After all, he had done what the other slaves said, he just got used to that world. And that just filled his soul with anger toward himself.
Suddenly, he felt two hands on him, touching parts he would desire to never be touched by a man like him while having a mouth trying to kiss him dirtily. Something in his head exploded and his instinct forced him to push his Lord away strongly to try to escape. But, being unlucky, his legs could not hold on anymore and he fell over the floor, right beside where he had thrown him. The Lord, who was so pissed off, caught him by his old clothes to throw him on the bed hastily and trapped his arms against the mattress not to let him move anymore. The boy was still praying it was a nightmare. A horrible bad dream in the middle of the night. But it was not.
“Be still and I will forget what you've just done” his voice was severe, having a marked vain crossing his temple by the anger, and his eyes were staring at Ninomiya as if he was possessed by the evil itself. Even like that, he was so afraid that he tried again to escape almost crying for where he was feeling a hand. He did not want that, he did not want that hell in his life. He preferred to be dead instead of bearing another day like this. He had decided something - giving up was better than having hope in the nowhere.
Reaching the limit of his sanity, he looked around to find a lamp and his free hand grabbed it to hit his Lord's head. He fell over the bed without moving anymore and Ninomiya stood up not caring if he had killed him or just hurt him, the only thing he wanted was dying without being raped, just leaving this world without that trauma. So he stood up as he could and dragged his body until he got out of the room to run through the hallway. Then, his ears listened some shouts behind him. It was clear the guards were chasing him after finding the body of the Lord on the bed. His legs were unable to run faster, but he did not stop until he found the exit, a door filled with light, as if he was getting out of the hell. He felt free when his body was illuminated by the sunshine and like if he had reached his heaven, he fainted on the floor, thinking it was finally over.
*****
He thought he had rocks over his body by how hard moving was when his consciousness started to wake up. His eyes wanted to remain closed, thinking if he opened them, he would return to live, but he realized he had never died to start with. So his mind became blank when he discovered he was in a dungeon tied up by his wrist with chains which were leaving red marks on his skin. Well, it was not like he cared about some more. Ninomiya knew perfectly what would happen to him in a brief time for having hit a Lord and for not having fulfilled his demands. He had been sure that he was not made for that world and that was a proof. He had suffered so much because that exact reason, so it was time to finally end it.
That was why after an endless time, which was impossible to calculate, some guards came in the dungeon and untied his wrists to catch the boy by his armpits. He did not complain, just letting them take him where he was going to be executed. After a few seconds, they came out, the fresh air filling his lungs, but he also heard a lot of shouts as his eyes were unable to be opened because the strong light of the sun was destroying his pupils.
When he could see, he found a whole square full of people waiting for his death because he would be killed in front of dozens of people who loved their Lords. At that moment, he reaffirmed his decision of dying, knowing he was not made to survive in such a world. He just checked the landscape for last time before closing his eyes, remembering why he was allowing that and then, the guards left him kneeling on the floor so one of them took a katana to point at him. He felt it cold right beside his temple. It was a pressure which burned him just because he was sure he was going to die.
He closed his eyes tighter, feeling extremely scared of dying, listening to his death sentence and waiting for the cut on his body. He hated how everyone was wanting his death and a doubt appeared in his mind. Were his parent there watching how his son would be killed because they had sold him to the Lord? A tear fell over his cheek saying goodbye mentally. It was the last thought he wanted to have before losing his life, just the last one saying his farewell to the only possibly people who had loved him once.
“Stop it!” suddenly, a deep voice of a man resounded all over the square, shutting everyone down there because no one knew what was happening. “That slave is mine now, so take away your katana from him” he ordered with husky voice, not allowing even the attempt to hesitate and Ninomiya opened his eyes swiftly to see how the guard followed his orders, giving him a second chance to live. Then, he turned his head around and found his guardian angel; a handsome man who was looking at him with serious expression.
“Who...” Ninomiya's voice was weak and his throat was hurting a lot because it was really dry, he did not know when it had been the last time he drank water. After, a new guard caught him by his shoulders to leave that despicable show, not fulfilling the desire of everyone there to see how they killed him as if that was a circus. Slowly, they approached a carriage, moved by two horses and came in it to start to travel to somewhere he did not know yet. He did not know even what was happening, but his mind was so blurry, he did not care anymore. Then, the handsome man sat beside him as the guard closed the door to drive the horses.
That was the perfect chance Ninomiya had to glance at the unknown man and get some details of his expression. He was serious and his eyes were sleepy with a short hair covering a bit his forehead while he was biting his lower lip frenetically as he gulped twice. He seemed nervous somehow. For that reason, Ninomiya watched him for a long time being so curious about that person. Feeling a different aura, feeling good beside him. And he wondered how if he looked like a Lord.
“It’s uncomfortable” suddenly, he spoke, waking Ninomiya up from his first analysis and he frowned. “Your eyes over me all the time” right after, the boy turned his gaze down breathing deeply, realizing he was being pretty straight with his behaviour even if it was clear their levels in society were so different. He was nervous by his side after such a comment.
“I'm sorry, sir” he apologized in a whisper, filled with fear just in case he would punch him for being that dared with him. However, the man only looked at him with an unreadable expression.
“I’m Lord Ohno Satoshi, your name?” the Lord said with nice voice and Ninomiya widened his eyes, having almost a heart attack when his ears listened to his name. That Lord was so famous in his country for being the coldest one. Everyone was scared of being his slave because nobody got out of his mansion with life. Many rumours were spread around about him, none of them was good, though. He was the most respected Lord exactly because of that, no one knew if what people said was true and he never confirmed or denied it, so everyone decided not to even try to check it.
“N-Ninomiya Kazunari” he said his name hesitantly and Ohno nodded, just looking normal, there was no glimpse of evil behaviour surrounding him. Then, the boy wondered what he should believe.
“Since today, you will be my personal slave” he said confident, calm, he did not express any emotion less a deep calmness, but Ninomiya shook his head completely, being amazed by his words. Wondering what that even mean and abruptly, the worst things started to cross him mind, assuring him he had gotten out of hell to join something worse.
“My apologies, my Lord, but I did not understand” Ninomiya confessed, being intrigued by the word ‘personal’. The Lord only smiled, showing something else than just a cold masquerade. Ninomiya, somehow, could not handle his need to glance at him and watch it.
“It means that only you can satisfy my deepest necessities” his words were calm and his eyes continued looking forwards, never looking at him, but even like that, he could see how Ninomiya grabbed his own clothes, realizing his worst dream had come true. He did not reject his last Lord to be a personal whore of the most important Lord of the country. He did not care about his surname, it was not a privilege for him to be that. He just wanted to be free.
“I...” he tried to say no. To reject him. But his fear was stronger inside of him after all. That brave boy, who did not stay in silence, was killed the day he joined Lord Imada's mansion. There was not any single glimpse more of the Ninomiya Kazunari who was brave and dared to oppose to even the worst person. His mind was too confused and the fear was already even inside his bones, engraved in his soul.
However, the Lord saw his behaviour and decided not to confuse him in that way. “I was joking, sorry” he smiled warmly as his hand rubbed his forehead and Ninomiya raised his head to find a wonderful man by his side. Why did his eyes not look at another thing that it was not Lord Ohno? “I don't like their system. Especially, I hate the sexual part so be at ease, I won't ask you anything like that. Take it like being my maid, okay?” he explained with low voice. At first, the boy thought he was joking again, because it was pretty impossible that could be true, but after waiting for his laugh again, nothing came and he understood he was saying the truth now. Ninomiya felt like he had won the biggest prize that day. Somehow, all he had to live had been worth it to reach that point where hope was still inside of him. So his eyes were filled with tears, thinking life was giving him a second chance.
“T-thank you so much for saving me!” he bowed almost touching his legs with his nose, feeling how some tears felt over them by how touched he was. He listened to a laugh, though, and when his eyes looked again at the Lord, he was gazing at him for first time, showing an amused expression. He was mesmerizing...
“Why don't you sleep a bit? The trip is long and you don't seem in good condition” the boy thought he was dreaming. Existing a Lord so kind and nice should be impossible. There was no way Lord Ohno could be that nice and warm with him when the space between their status were abysmal. However, Ninomiya accepted, desiring to sleep properly for the first time in a long time. He was so tired and his head was aching as hell since he fainted after escaping from his last Lord.
Then, Ohno stayed in silence to let him sleep for real and that was glory for him. He could fall asleep so quickly not having nightmares as every night since he arrived at his last mansion. If he was so tired, it was because he could not sleep well everyday and he stayed awake whole nights wondering why his parents had sold him so easily for a bit of money. It hurt him more than any punishment or treatment.
He ended up thinking that even if his parents had done it so easily, it was because they did not love him. After all, he had always provoked problems and they had to fix them. His family was so humble and they lived only to pay debts to Lords. Ninomiya always hated himself for not understanding their situation and having been a nuisance who only asked for food and new clothes because the rest of his friends made fun of him for wearing old ones or not having a bento to eat. During those years, he realized that he was just being selfish, never understanding what was really surrounding him.
Maybe that provoked their hate towards him until the point of selling him to a Lord who would make his life the worst possible. Perhaps they had searched for his misfortune on purpose because he deserved it after all. Possibly that had been the punishment they had decided for him after years of being a nuisance in that house. But he begged for a bit happiness although he agreed that he deserved misfortune after behaving like that. In the point he was, he needed some happiness or he would die of grief. There was no more strength inside of him...
Abruptly, he felt a hand over his shoulder shaking it a bit and a soft voice called his name. “Kazunari, wake up, we have arrived” he opened his eyes slowly to find out Lord Ohno was there waiting for him. How had this person won the title of the coldest Lord of the country if he was being so warmth with him? For Kazunari, he was like the sun which was healing him.
TBC...
//Hi! Long time no see you! It's interesting how I don't arrive with a new fic (even if it seems so, but with a remastered version of The Days Became A Story, which was abandoned 2 years ago >~< I'm so sorry for that. But here I am, rewriting it to be able to finish it this time for sure! Actually, I'm posting the first chapter to see if you're interested in it yet and want me to rewrite and end it completely, so tell me in the comments, please!
Hope you like this new version with even new title(!), although the events haven't changed, I added like 2k-3k words more per chapter! Also, I won't have a schedule to post it, but I can assure you I will work on it every day ✌
Tomoya~