"Master, won't you go to bed?" he asked, his tone suddenly very cold. "After all, even if you didn't know, you'd better go on and to take advantage of me, hadn't you?" He was trying to remain quiet and polite, as any slave had been taught, but what he liked to call his "dark side" was breaking surface. He had found his Master quite pretty, and very young, younger than he was, with nice girl's features. He didn't want to scare him.

"What did you say?" Kamui answered, still angry at Hokuto. "Who do you think I am?"

"Then why are you staying here if you don't want to act like a Master? Am I not good-looking enough for you? Or are you just scared?" Souichi stopped. He was going too far. He had been too caustic. If his Master decided to report his words to the trainers, he was going to have a hard time. Slaves weren't meant to act and speak as if they had a proper mind.

Kamui looked at him, his face suddenly sad. "I didn't mean to offend you," he said to a stunned Souichi. "It's just I have a few. problems now, and I was quite surprised to learn about this. All of that. Sorry. I don't find you ugly at all. You're very pretty in fact."

Kamui bit his tongue. What had he just said??? He must have slipped his tongue. Next to him, Souichi was slowly recovering of his amazement. A Master, making apologies? That was something new!! And his Master's cheeks were slightly red. How nice. Souichi felt a rush of joy overflow him, nd he repressed the urge to jump on his Master to hug him. He liked nice people. And this new Master seemed to be nice. He wanted to keep him.

"Thank you Master, Souichi finally managed to say. "I'm glad you like me."

"Please, don't call me "Master". I.I don't feel comfortable with the idea. (Kamui seemed to realise something) Anyway, I'm not going to stay in your room. I'm going back to strangle the fool who dragged me into this."

Souichi burst out laughing, and Kamui felt stupid. Had he said something funny? He hadn't meant to say anything funny.

"But Master, you can't leave this place in the middle of the night," Souichi lied with assurance, with his most sensual voice, "Just stay till morning. I'll take care of you."

"Bbbbut I don't want you to take care of me!! I-I-I-I just want to go home!!" Souichi's face fell, and for an instant, he seemed on the verge of crying.

"As you please," he muttered, trying to hide his sorrow. His feelings were overflowing him tonight, which was no good. But he liked this boy, he couldn't help it.

Seeing his face, Kamui felt his heart melting. He couldn't leave the poor boy in the middle of the night, feeling rejected. It reminded him of his own situation, and he didn't want to make this pretty boy sad.

"Please, don't be sad," he said, placing - reluctantly, cause he hadn't touched someone for a long time - a hand on his shoulder. "I'll stay overnight, but no longer."

Souichi's eyes shone, and he agreed with a vigorous nod of his head. "May I ask you your name, Master?, Souichi asked happily, sure the night would be enough to convince this new Master to keep him.

"I'm Kamui Shirou. Call me Kamui."

"Master Kamui, would...."

"No "master" please! I just can't stand it!!"

"But I can't call you by your only name, Master. No one here would allow it."

".... well, I guess I've got to accept that."

Master Kamui was thoughtful, and Souichi grabbed the opportunity to approach him, so as they were standing nearly skin to skin. "You should return to bed Master Kamui," Souichi said. "Do you want me to come with you?"

Kamui jumped at the proposal. "No way! Ano, I mean. no. I don't need that. And don't worry, I'll let you sleep in your own bed, I'll sleep on the ground."

"No!" Souichi almost shouted. "Please don't! I'll sleep on the floor if you don't want me in your bed." Kamui was uncomfortable with the idea of Souichi sleeping on the floor. It didn't seem. fair. It was his room. Well, there was a solution, but Kamui wasn't more comfortable with it, for different reasons.

"Would you mind sleeping with me?" Kamui finally proposed, struggling with his own confused feelings. In the past few months, he hadn't allowed anyone to touch him if unnecessary, and now, he was inviting this perfect stranger, who - moreover - was a prostitute, to sleep next to him in his bed! Well, technically it wasn't his bed, and he had nothing in mind other than sleep, but. he felt he wouldn't mind that much a gentle touch of this boy on his hair or face. It was something he had lost for so long, the
longing of a gentle touch on his cheek. He didn't know why he felt so secure with this mere boy, him, who saved the world and lost his heart by doing so. Perhaps some parts of his heart were still buried deep inside, and awakening, slowly.

"Don't misunderstand my words," he added when seeing Souichi's face, "I'm not proposing anything! But I don't want you to sleep on the floor for me."

"Thank you," Souichi growled, making Kamui jump. The dark-haired boy seemed upset, for no reason. Had he said something or what? Souichi didn't seem upset finally, but truly angry and all the angrier because he was trying to hide it from Kamui. "You're very kind to me, Master," he continued, his tone really unpleasant. Were he outside the palace, in the normal world, where everything settled into huge kekkais or frightening maboroshis, he couldn't have stood this tone of voice for more than three seconds. But he felt disarmed. He said nothing.

They went to the bed together, Kamui eyeing Souichi when he thought the latter - still snappish - wasn't staring at him. Perhaps he shouldn't have proposed anything when he didn't know his own feelings. Feeling Souichi's warmth next to him was awakening almost-forgotten sensations and bittersweet memories. His companion was curled next to him, apparently trying to calm down. After a few moment, Kamui couldn't stand it. He bent over Souichi's tense form, sensing his own heart beating madly.

"What's the problem?, he asked the more nicely he could. Souichi grunted, and answered something unintelligible, violently turning his back to Kamui.

"What?"

Turning back, Souichi hurled coldly : "Just let me sleep, since you're not able to do something!"

Kamui withdrew, almost shacking with. what? Fear? Disappointment? Anyway, that Souichi had a strange disposition! Kamui reinstalled himself in the bed, sighting, turning his back to Souichi. He should have known that kind of relationship couldn't have lead him anywhere. Nevertheless, he felt so disappointed. He was beginning to sink into sleep when a pair of strong arms encircled him.

"I'm sorry," Souichi whispered in his ear, a hot breath against his skin making him shiver. "I shouldn't have. I'm sorry Master. Sometimes, my mood changes so quickly."

Kamui nodded, unable to move, either to yield or to resist to Souichi's embrace.

"Please, let me show you how sorry I am." Souichi hugged him, and gently kissed his neck, just beneath the ear, and Kamui couldn't help a shiver. How long had he been wanting such a sweet touch? But :

"Don't go any further," he said. "I don't want to. It's not fair."

"Why?" Souichi whispered, excitement filling him, sensing that his Master was slowly but surely yielding. He had seemed so lonely to Souichi, in need of love and tenderness. He wasn't sure he could cure him in only one night, or even in more, but he could always try. a memory of his very first Mistress flicked in his mind, although he hadn't heard of her for years now. She and Master Kamui were quite alike. except that his new Master looked much more destroyed than what she had been, although he was younger. She had told Souichi she had been abused by a relative, but.what had happened to him? He seemed so small, so unsecured in his arms. it must be his first time. Souichi was sure of that, already regretting his former outburst.

"I don't want to sleep with someone I don't love. and who doesn't love me. That's not good."

Souichi buried his face in Kamui's neck. "I like you. very much," he whispered. "I'm not lying you know. I mean it."

Kamui swallowed. "I don't care if you don't love me. (".yet", he mentally added). Why not enjoy what little happiness we can give to each other? There is so few to grab sometimes." He embraced Kamui more, and began to rain kisses on his neck till his collarbone. He made him turn so that they were facing each other.

"I want you to like me," Souichi admitted. "Really. Don't you want to try to?" Kamui was feebly trying to move him back. "I'll be glad to be yours for as long as you'll want me. You're so nice, so pretty. you've been so tactful with me."

Kamui nearly jumped at those words. Nice? Pretty? Tactful? He must have been speaking of someone else... Except that... he remembered, too clearly for his own taste, one long-gone day when Fuuma had said things like that.

Well, he had said those things many times after that, except they no longer were loving compliments, but promises of violence. Kamui felt tears coming to his eyes, while Souichi continued to kiss him tenderly, almost delicately. It felt so right, to be touched like that, and surrounded that sweet reassuring warmth. Slowly, he began to return the embrace, his eyes full of tears, without really knowing why he was yielding, except that it felt so good to be here, with somebody very close. Somebody who wasn't threatening but protective, even if Kamui was the strongest of the two. The thought that Souichi was perhaps only doing his job crossed his mind. But his embrace was too tender to give him serious doubts. Surely, Souichi did like him. at least a little. Kamui himself was truly beginning to like him too, in fact, he had liked him as soon as he had seen him. But it was so difficult for him to acknowledge that, after everything that had happened the previous months. Liking somebody meant death to him. or so it had, until now. The War was over, wasn't it?. He had wondered whether he had a place or not in this world after the end of the war. Perhaps he had found some new place to stand, at least for one night, in those warm arms. He kissed him back, slowly at first, but quickly gaining confidence.

Souichi was enjoying this. He felt himself slowly melting, warmth invading his body from head to toe, gaining his heart and brain. For a moment, he thought he was holding some little bird in his arms. Master Kamui was so thin, so delicate. Souichi brushed his Master's eyes to see his beautiful golden eyes, shining in the darkness. Kamui was still completely dressed, so Souichi began to undress him. He didn't think his Master could take control of all this. That didn't matter at all. Souichi was feeling helpful and gentle, wanting to give his little Master as much tenderness as he could. So he was surprised when Kamui took his shirt off, showing the slave's fine muscles, results of years of training since his arrival in the palace.

They kissed again, and Souichi felt Kamui's tongue meeting his without the slightest hint of reluctance. He kissed his belly, descending until his mouth touched Kamui's belt. He then removed his pants, feeling his blood boiling. He licked and kissed his Master's belly until he reached his already hard sex. Kamui was shivering, having lost control of his own reactions. All that mattered now was Souichi's touch, his fingers and tongue, hot and warm against his skin.

"Please, don't stop," he muttered as Souichi was stopping to watch his face flushed with pleasure. He didn't need to say it twice. His Master was so beautiful like this. He began to stroke his sex with his hands, then remove his Master's briefs. He waited a few seconds, for Kamui to feel a little more helpless and receptive to his caresses, then slowly began to lick his shaft's tip. Kamui suddenly cried, and Souichi smiled. That's what he had been expecting. So he continued to lick with all his skill to make Kamui enjoy it the most. Kamui was shivering under him, sighting heavily, unable to speak. Without asking for his assent, Souichi stopped sucking, turned him on his belly, and began to kiss and prepare his ass for what was coming next. Kamui moaned when Souichi stroke his buttocks and spread them. He knew what would come next, and waited for it. He felt so hot, so demanding in Souichi's embrace. He was completely oblivious of whatever other than Souichi's touch. Still, he couldn't repress a sob when thinking that after this night, he would be alone. again. But all those thoughts were pushed away when Souichi licked one of his fingers and pushed it in Kamui's anus, making him sigh and shiver, feeling no pain yet.

"Are you OK?" Souichi asked, and he continued to move his finger inside of Kamui after having seen his nod, then introduced a second one to stretch him better. Kamui was sweating heavily although he was letting Souichi do all the work. When finally Souichi thought Kamui was ready, he kissed him on the neck and without any further talk, he entered him, slowly at first, then with more strength as Kamui didn't seem to be in pain. It wasn't that painful, but.. The sensation of being entered like that, someone getting that close to him was bringing him on the verge of crying. But what an incredible feeling! He had never felt that right, feeling accepted, loved, and completed, at least. Whole. But Souichi began to speed up his trusts, to slam Kamui harder against him, and he lost all control, all kind of thought to dissolve himself in the lovemaking. Souichi had grabbed his throbbing sex and was stroking it, making him cry and beg in pleasure.

Finally he couldn't hold it any more and came, spilling semen all over the bed, and Souichi came quickly after him.

They were lying in the dark, silent, Kamui still in Souichi's arm. Sensing no reaction from his Master, Souichi tried to find something to say, something adequate, before he realised that Kamui had already slipped to sleep. After having tried to wash him as neatly as he could without waking him, Souichi also yielded to sleep, and they spent the night in each other arms.

When Kamui awoke, he wondered for a while where he was. But it didn't matter. He was feeling so good, so sated, that he could have slept a few more hours without even worrying whether he was in a safe place or not. He was stretching himself when a sudden pain made him remind of what had happened the night before.

"My God, he thought, "It can't be. I couldn't possibly have."

He stood up in his bed, searching for a body next to him, but none was in sight. He heard a noise coming for the bathing pool in the centre of the room, and get up to face Souichi. What would he say? Kamui was feeling a little guilty with all of this. Surely, it had been a mistake. He was beginning to like this Souichi, and that was bad news, he thought.

Souichi was sitting beside the pool. He turned to face Kamui, and smiled: "Good morning Master. Have you slept well?"

"'Morning." Kamui was unable to say something else. He would have liked to find something nice to say, because he knew he had come to like Souichi a lot, but he didn't know how to behave in front of him. If he began to act. let's say, nicely, towards him, and if Souichi didn't like him, he would pass for an idiot. But if Souichi liked him and he behaved badly, he would hurt him.

"What about you?" he finally asked.

"Wonderfully!" he smiled, and Kamui smiled back without thinking. "Would you like to take a bath, Master?"

Kamui nodded, but refused that Souichi undress him. He kept repeating he was no Master, cause the thought of Souichi acting like someone's slave made him uneasy. Besides, the thought that, once he would have left, Souichi would be given to someone else, someone would could treat him like a dog, well, this thought made him furious. The mere idea of the palace made him uneasy, it had from the very beginning. But he felt involved with Souichi now. It could seem stupid, just after one night, but there was something special about that boy. Something he couldn't describe. Anyway, for the first time in so many months, he had forgotten about the war and its consequences. He felt light-headed. He didn't mention his departure, and neither did Souichi.

After all, he could spend a few days here, since he was getting along so well with Souichi. He was wondering about all that in the bathing pool when he heard the sound of water and furious steps behind him. Was Souichi out of the bath? He seemed angry all of a sudden. What the hell?.

"What is it Souichi?" Kamui asked

"Nothing," Souichi answered coldly. "Nothing at all."

"Are you sure? You seem upset to me."

"None of your business!" Souichi growled. "Please take note that I tend to be temperamental, in case you didn't notice."

Kamui was stunned. What was the problem? He hadn't said anything bad, had he? Why was Souichi reacting like that?

Kamui stood up outside of the bathing pool, catching an appreciative although slightly mocking glance from Souichi. He rushed toward a towel before speaking : "I'm sorry if I did offend you."

Souichi shrugged his shoulders, and turned away, picking up some of his clothes that were lying on the ground.

Kamui felt cold suddenly. He thought he had found a friend, and that friend was turning his back to him, without any reason. No, he couldn't point any reason to explain Souichi's sudden anger.

"Can I do something for you?" he proposed, coming in for a surprised glance.

"You're the Master," Souichi answered plainly. "When will you give me orders for me to follow?"

"This is enough!" Kamui exploded, his quick temper making surface again. "Stop calling me Master or I'll get angry too, and it couldn't be very nice! And tell me what's going on!!"

Souichi looked at him and sighed irritably. "There's no problem. Just my bad temper." He began walking in the dark side of the room, Kamui on his tracks, trying to talk to him quite angrily, when the latter unconsciously let his towel drop on the ground. Kamui slipped on his wet towel, crossed the room on his bottom like a rocket, going beyond a stunned Souichi and landing in the opposite wall, his nose crashing against it with a painful noise.

Immediately, Souichi was at his side, worrying, once more nice and helpful. "Are you hurt? Kamui! Answer me!"

"I think my nose is broken," Kamui said, without removing his face from the wall.

"My God!" Souichi wailed over. "I'll call someone!!" He was getting up when Kamui caught his hand. He turned his face to face Souichi. No bloodstains on his angel's face.

"Keep cool Souichi," he said. "Just a joke."

Souichi looked at him, incredulous, then made a face : " It wasn't very nice of you," he said with a hint of displeasure, but not angry any more. "I don't like that kind of joke, especially when..."

"Especially when what?"

"Especially when it's about you. I was worried."

"Really?" Kamui asked hopefully.

"Really."

Souichi helped Kamui to stand up, and was rewarded with a happy smile. Could his Master have come to get attached to him? It a bittersweet idea, for no one of his previous Masters or Mistresses had had feelings towards him. After all, he had been their slave, and nothing more. Although this lack of feeling hadn't disturbed him till yet, it was beginning to make him fear his next Owner. Eventually, Master Kamui would leave him, and he would fall between other hands. Few chances they'd be as soft as Master Kamui's. He wasn't treating him like the slave he was, and it felt good although strange at first. He had heard stories about Masters or Mistresses brought to the palace (especially those brought here without knowing anything about the slaves), and who really fell in love with their slave. Anyway, he didn't think he was in love. He just felt right, in Kamui's presence. But he didn't want to think further. Such thoughts were just not for Keys. They were up to the Owner.