• Chapter II: Companion

    Misao stifled a yawn as she walked down the long, empty hallway illuminated by the pale moonlight cascading through the windows. Along with the stress of running a kingdom, possibly threats, and court matters, she now had the recent events adding to her unease. A pleasure slave...

    'What is Queen Yumi thinking?' she pondered.

    She may be young, but she was not that naive. She knew Queen Yumi's character and felt there was more behind the gift. Could that man be an assassin? But...if that was the case, he would not wear the Obedience Choker. Furrowing her eyebrows, she rubbed the bridge of her nose and cracked her knuckles. She was worn out and tired, and thankful to finally be able to rest. She closed her eyes for a moment, and the image of the pleasure slave appeared.

    A slight blush appeared on her cheeks as she sighed. Whatever the circumstances, the man was probably the most handsome one she'd ever seen. Blue eyes, black hair... but...there was something about him. A coldness.

    Opening and closing the door or her chambers she leaned against it and looked down at her feet.

    'A pleasure slave...what am I supposed to do with one?'

    Her thoughts were interrupted by a pair of hands sliding against her neck softly.

    Her eyes shot open as she looked up into Aoshi's darkened face, noticing the eerie gleam in his eyes and the grim line of his mouth. He traced his fingers up and down the side of her neck before grasping her by the throat and moving his face closer to hers.

    "Do not scream, because I will have crushed your throat before your guards even reach the door."

    She gasped, eyes widened as her face went pale.

    "W..What..."

    "I will not serve you, or any other queen anymore. Relinquish the control to the Choker or I will snap your neck." he whispered harshly. He could feel her trembling, see the panic and fear in her seafoam blue orbs. A part of his mind frowned, wanting to ease those fears and let go of her...but his freedom was more important. Most other queens would probably fight, sneer, threaten...

    But she remained utterly still in terror, like a frightened doe.

    Gripped by panic, Misao blindly acted...and used the Obedience Choker.

    Aoshi's eyes widened momentarily before he fell to his knees and groaned in pain, grabbing his head as his body shook. Misao watched him in shock, her fear forgotten as she fell to her knees and placed her hands on his shoulders.

    "Are you all right?" she whispered, her voice quaking as she smoothed his bangs out of his eyes.

    He looked her in the eyes, surprised.

    No one had ever touched him with such gentleness.

    He didn't respond, and stood up on shaky legs, the pain still lingering. It was like being stuck by thundering, burning, stabbing...

    He never got used to the pain.

    "I...I'm so sorry." she murmured, biting her trembling lower lip.

    Aoshi looked at her once more, unsure of what to make of her. He had threatened her, hands wrapped around her delicate throat, and she was apologizing for hurting him in self-defense? Was she different from the others?

    "The pain is gone. Do not worry." he murmured, as he walked over to closest object to sit on, her bed. She turned her gaze away from his and walked to her dressor, pulling out a night gown and disappearing into another small room, emerging minutes later in a lavender, short-sleeved nightgown that fell her ankles.

    Aoshi realized he needed to get up, he was in a queen's bed, the last place he ever wanted to be. But his body protested as he tried to stand.

    "Please don't! I mean..it's all right for you to stay there." she said, walking over to the other side of the bed and climbing into it.

    He crawled over to her side weakly, sitting next to her.

    "And what do you want of me? I am yours now..." he murmured, turning on his side to face her.

    "I...while that is the case, I am not ready for those kinds of activities." she whispered, her face reddening.

    If he had the capability left, he might have smiled at that.

    "And I would prefer to not service a child."

    Misao narrowed her eyes at him and frowned.

    "I am hardly a child."

    Aoshi bowed his head in defeat.

    "Forgive me for my rudeness, your majesty." he murmured, the words laced with sarcasm.

    "Please just call me Misao. You obviously hold no respect for queens, so forcing you to call me as such would be rather pointless."

    He blinked, smirking.

    "I suppose."

    He layed his head back on the pillows, noting they were very comfortable. It was odd, he hadn't imagined he would be sharing a bed with a fourteen year old queen, especially one he had threatened minutes earlier.

    Misao for her part was confused by her actions. He had attacked her and threatened her...and yet...the slight desperation in his words, the image of him in pain...

    How many times had he been put through such pain? Enough to leave him full of bitterness? In that moment she had felt sorry for him. And also, in his eyes she had seen in briefly.

    A lonliness...one she understood all too well.

    "Aoshi...I am not in need of a pleasure slave at this time, so perhaps it would be best for you to act as my companion."

    "As you wish." he murmured, eyes starting to close. He was so tired.

    He heard the rustle of sheets as she pulled the covers over herself, and him. He could feel her shifting and heard her sigh softly and her breathing steadied, signalling she had fallen asleep.

    He felt her still shift and stilled when she had snuggled herself next to him, draping an arm over his chest and burying her face into the side of his arm. He wasn't sure why he responded, but he found himself wrapping an arm around her and holding her closer as he finally drifted off to sleep.

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    Feeling warmth all over, Misao's eyes fluttered open as she felt the gentle warmth of sunlight on her face, and the strong warmth of Aoshi against her back. Her cheeks reddened when she realized she had curled up to him in her sleep, but his arms were wrapped around her so she wondered if perhaps he did not protest too much. With his eyes closed and his features relaxed, he appeared boyish and she began to wonder how old he was.

    She sat up and felt him shifting and watched as he opened his eyes and glanced up at her and sat up, rubbing a hand over his eyes.

    "Good morning, your..Misao." he corrected himself.

    "Good morning Aoshi." she replied, glancing away and feeling ackward. It was the first time she had ever shared a bed with a man. She shuffled out of bed and retrieved a robe from her dressor, yawning softly. She watched as Aoshi stood up and stretched and couldn't help but ask.

    "How old are you?"

    He turned his gaze to her.

    "Twenty-two." he replied.

    Misao's eyes widened slightly and she smiled softly.

    "You look older than that. I suppose it's how you carry yourself, and well, you're rather tall and serious looking."

    He smirked at that. It was true, many assumed him to be older than he was because of his height and serious demeanor. He walked over to Misao and glanced down at her, lifting her long braid and toying with it.

    "You don't look your age either. You look younger than fourteen." he stated bluntly, amused by the annoyed expression that stole over her features.

    She moved away from him and crossed her arms, turning to back to him.

    "As my companion, I demand you NEVER repeat such insults again."

    He detected the slight playfullness in her voice and smirked.

    "As you wish my lady, I shall treat you as well as any gentleman would."

    She turned and smiled at him, her eyebrow arching.

    "Then I suppose I should call you Lord Aoshi, if you plan on being gentlemanly." she looked him over and sighed.

    "Is there a problem Misao?"

    "You need clothes. I suspect you only came with the clothes you're wearing now."

    "Yes."

    "Well, I'll have Shiro and Kuro escort you to the clothing shops to provide you with a wardrobe. Don't worry about cost. I prefer those who serve me to be comfortable." she murmured.

    He simply stared at her, noticing she could go from shy to playful to regal within a span of a minute. Yumi had never given him free reign to choose a wardrobe, he had been given hand-me downs. As she flitted around the room he cleared his throat.

    "Shall I be residing in these chambers as well?"

    She paused in her steps and looked at him blankly.

    "I...No, I will, of course, provide you with your own room." she stammered.

    "You are the first queen I beleive to not want me in her bed. Interesting."

    She blinked at him and blushed.

    "Well, I mean..It wasn't terrible, but I think it would appropiate and I wouldn't have to worry about possible strangling."

    His face grew serious and he closed his eyes, frowning.

    "I apologize Misao. It was a moment of desperation." he said softly.

    "I forgive you, Aoshi. I...think I understand why. You hate being a pleasure slave, and you've been treated badly, I could see it in your eyes. That is mostly why I've made you my companion. Your role of pleasure slave ends today, Aoshi."

    He opened his eyes and met her soft gaze, and felt a strange warmth in his chest.

    No longer a pleasure slave. He bent down on one knee and bowed his head before her.

    "I pledge my service to you Misao, from this day on I am your loyal servant."

    Misao walked to him and placed her hands on his shoulder and surprised him and her by brushing her lips softly against his forehead.

    "I do not ask you to bow before me, but I accept your pledge. Please stand." she murmured.

    Aoshi stood up and looked down at her, his eyes softening breifly.

    "It will be intriguing."

    "What's that?" she asked, her gaze meeting his.

    "Seeing the kind of woman you'll be someday."

    She blinked at him and looked away.

    "I will notify Shiro and Kuro to accompany you at once. If you'll excuse me." she muttered and went into another room to change.

    He walked towards the window and stepped out onto the balcony, feeling the sun against his skin and breathed in the fresh air.

    No longer a pleasure slave. For the first time in over ten years, Aoshi felt a stirring of happiness in his heart.

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