Disclaimer- Don't own `em, because if I did, it wouldn't be up to me
when I finished writing Dragonbreath 4, it would be some guy I never
heard of…oh, this takes a bizarre twist later, which I may write
another fic about.

   Koushiro sprawled on a plush chair in his master's room, trying
not to fall asleep. His master might bring him a treat if he'd been
good enough…he closed his eyes in happiness. Maybe something that had
chocolate…his master usually brought him something back, after all,
he did everything he was asked to, as well as he could.
   His master was kind, and cared about him. Koushiro loved him, not
because he was supposed to, but because his master had earned it. The
others didn't love his master's brothers, but he loved his master…and
he dared to hope that someday his master would love him as well. As
it was, he was very affectionate toward his pleasure slave, his
eighteenth birthday's present. Koushiro was hardly ever punished for
things he hadn't meant to do, like knocking over a lamp by accident.
   When his master came in, he was asleep, laying on the chair. Jyou
smiled at the pleasure slave as he undressed from his formal
clothing. He pulled on a nightshirt, then carried the boy to the room
that came off of his own, tucking the redhead into the bed that was
sunken into the floor, with about six inches from the top of the
mattress to the rest of the floor.
   He kissed the boy's forehead, taking the carefully wrapped cake
and leaving it on the side.  Koushiro was always obedient, always
willing…he deserved the treat. Jyou knew how the little redhead
looked forward to the exotic treats, things that Jyou would sample at
a function or dance, and take some home for the boy. Koushiro wasn't
allowed out of the castle at all, and anything that was from another
place fascinated him. Jyou had a collection of knickknacks from
around the world, and with permission, Koushiro would play with them.
Koushiro had known only the slave market, then the warm shelter of
the castle.
   Shelter that was misplaced. Jyou knew full well that the boy
longed to see something new and exciting, but Jyou's father made his
sons keep their little toys inside. He smiled, remembering his
eighteenth birthday, trying to choose one of the scared boys out of
their cage. Koushiro had been scared, afraid he'd be chosen by an
owner who'd abuse him. But he was still obedient, coming closer when
asked. Jyou had brushed kind fingers over the perfect face, and the
boy had closed his eyes to savor the feel. Jyou had immediately asked
for him.
   Koushiro was sleeping soundly, and Jyou crept out of the room,
knowing full well his brothers wouldn't have bothered. For that
matter, he was sure they had the wrong slaves. Each fancied the
other's pleasure slave…he was content with Koushiro. Koushiro, his
loyal and affectionate lover…though it was more of a dream, really.
Koushiro was a slave, and if Jyou wanted…Jyou could kill him with no
remorse, no consequences.
   He would never try, though. Koushiro would have haunted him with
those large eyes, filled with tears.
   Koushiro awoke the next morning, finding the cake and eating it
immediately. Some of the servants were cruel to him, and might take
it if he didn't.
   It wasn't his job to pick up things…it was his job to keep his
master satisfied with him. And he did that well, his master always
complemented him after, and let him sleep in his bed.
   He felt absurdly proud that he was able to fulfill his master's
needs. After all, who else could say they'd had the youngest son of
Lord Kido? Koushiro was enough for the young noble, and Koushiro was
thankful. He dreaded the day Jyou was married…he'd be sold to the
highest bidder, or sent to work elsewhere in the castle. He was
afraid…he'd been lucky in that Jyou didn't hurt him on purpose, but
who knew what another master would do to him?
   Jyou came into his room, beckoning. He could only surrender to the
man who held him so in thrall…
   Jyou smoothed the hair out of Koushiro's face, darting his tongue
out to lick the sweaty skin of the boy's shoulder as he thrust deeper
into the warm flesh.
   He should feel bad for doing this without preparing the boy. But
he was angry, and release was enough to drive the bad thoughts that
came from what his father had just told him.
   `Jyou…you're quite the lucky fellow…'
   Harder and harder, barely hearing his slave's scream.
   `It's a match made in heaven, and it will profit the family…'
   Koushiro was begging him to stop hurting him, and he made a note
in his mind to apologize later, and spoil him for a bit.
   `The princess will be a good wife…'
   The princess was a slut. A slut who liked girls. He'd be trapped,
though. And having a pleasure slave would be out of the question…
which brought his mind back to Koushiro, who was so devoted to him,
who he was taking all the hurt out on. Koushiro really didn't deserve
it, but better to drive the boy away now than to have him crushed
later, when he was sold to the buyer who'd had dibs on him forever…
someone who would abuse him terribly.
   Koushiro, who loved him like no other…
   He whispered a heartfelt apology as he came, knowing the boy was
in pain…blood was dribbling down his thighs. Koushiro loved him, yes,
but he was also interested in a relatively happy life, which he'd
never gotten with Jyou.
   Jyou carefully cleaned Koushiro off, whispering apologies, and
giving him kisses. Koushiro clung to him, unsure of himself, but
trying to please.
   Jyou sadly watched as Koushiro dressed and left, looking for the
healer. Koushiro was such a simple boy…he'd never had to think of
what he was going to do with his life. He only needed to be sure that
his master didn't hurt him, which was his biggest fear…even then,
Koushiro would be willing. Just like he had been moments earlier.
Koushiro loved him, simple love, that was unchangeable. He'd been
kind…he almost thought that the boy wanted to be his beloved as well.
   Considering that he was engaged to the princess Mimi, it seemed
unlikely that he'd ever be allowed to reciprocate Koushiro's
bittersweet devotion.
   Koushiro returned, to snuggle. He figured Jyou hadn't meant it, he
needed to relieve some sort of frustration. He loved having Jyou
wrapped around him like a real lover, instead of the odd relationship
they had. Here, he could pretend that Jyou and he were resting after
a gentle session of making love, instead of having been pounded
unmercifully until he bled. Jyou was never exactly gentle with him.
He wasn't fragile, he wouldn't break. But he sometimes wished that
Jyou would treat him as if he was. It would make his life that much
more bearable…
   He lived for treats and affection. Slightly sad, but then, some
people lived for less.
   Besides, there was the window. How lovely it would be to go
outside and soak up sunshine…the last time he'd done that, it had
been for the precious five minutes that the sun shone through the
window in Jyou's room. He wondered how it would feel to curl up in
warm soft grass and let the light warm his chilled frame…but he would
never be allowed. He might hurt himself out in the world, and that
wasn't allowed…even though he longed to be in the sunlight, to lose
the paleness of his skin…
   Jyou left, apologizing once more, and Koushiro went to the window
seat, watching as others enjoyed the outside. He reached his hand out
to see the sunlight dance over it.
   He went to the door in the kitchen that led outside. He stared,
pressing himself against it, wanting more than ever to let himself
rejoice in the light and warmth.
   It would be so simple to open the door and let himself slip into
the light…but he didn't know what would happen if he did. Would he be
scolded, punished, beaten..? Would he be forbidden to ever see any
light again?
   He knelt there, almost worshipful, praying to any god he'd ever
heard of that he'd one day be allowed out into the world…maybe they
would let him go free when his master was married…
   In his heart, he knew he was too valuable to ever have that
happen. He loved his master, but he loved the light more…upsetting
his master might mean he never saw light again…
   His fears. Being hurt by an abusive master, and darkness. He'd
seen slaves who had abusive masters, and he'd never forgotten. And
he'd had enough of darkness in the slave pens. He couldn't sleep in
it, not with the inky blackness curling around him…
   He tentatively gave the door a push.
   It swung open, allowing him to smell the fresh air, cut grass…
   Before he knew what he was doing, he was outside, blissfully
letting the sun wash his body in rays of light, drinking in the
scents, the sights, as little as there was. It was wonderful, and he
curled into the long grass to savor it. Why wasn't he allowed out? It
was warm, perfect…why wasn't he allowed to partake of the wonder that
lay in it?
   Jyou had found him, and he scrambled to his feet, scared of the
look he was being given. It was one of despair, which usually meant
he was going to be punished. He trembled in fear, knowing that he'd
disobeyed the biggest rule. Would Jyou hurt him on purpose?
   No…Jyou was leading him to a room. Why..? But as the room was
opened, he understood.
   He sank to his knees beside Jyou, clutching the man's knees. "Not
the dark…" he whimpered, feeling very pitiful. "I'll be good, I won't
ever go out again, I promise…please, anything but the dark…"
   "I'm sorry, Koushiro, but you need to learn your place," came the
firm reply, and the redhead was shoved into the room.
   The door shut and locked, and Koushiro worked himself into a
frenzy, scratching in fear, screaming as the dark enveloped him.
   "JYOU!!! Please, I'll be good, I promise…" He sobbed himself into
oblivion, one hand still stretched toward the door in a silent
promise, a gesture of helplessness.
   Jyou opened the door the next morning, finding what he supposed
was the sleeping boy stretched on the floor. "Koushiro, wake up…you
can come out now, surely it wasn't that bad…"
   The boy didn't move. Jyou took a step forward, touching the boy's
shoulder. It was cold…so cold…
   Koushiro was dead. Gone…he'd killed him. By placing him in the
darkness for a night, he'd killed him.
   `Jyou…no, please, I'll be good…I promise…'
   `Anything, I promise…'
   `Just not the dark…'
   `Not the dark…'
   Jyou gasped as the words resounded inside his head, from an
unknown source, for the first time noticing the gouges in the wood,
the bloody fingers…the arm still stretched toward salvation. And his
cries had gone ignored.
   Koushiro had been scared to death. With no way of knowing how long
Jyou was going to leave him in there…
   The room was colder than he remembered it being, and his knees
were freezing. But still, in his mind was the cry of `Not the dark…'.
   Some people claimed to see the spirit of the little pleasure
slave, staring longingly out a window, or whimpering within the room
that was forever his own. And always, a cry of fear. `Not the dark…'
   Koushiro had loved his master, but he loved the light more. He
died for his first and last touch of it.
   `Not the dark…'
   FIN