Strings of fate (Elmeida ~ Raiji)

[Raiji]

Name: Shinji

Age: 19

Personality: timid, easily confused, ditsy, he can also get unreasonably stubborn

 

 

Shinji's life has been a series of a unfortunate events. Being the unwanted child, his parents left him at the orphanage when he was only 6 years old. It seemed like Shinji's gentle constitution combined with his coy demeanor only encouraged cruelty in others, leaving him in a constant circle of beating and desperate attempts to run away. Too scared to end his own life, his thoughts lied with the hope of getting adopted and years later his wish was granted. For a moment it seemed that Shinji's faith has finally turned, but he ended up being nothing more than a test subject for the man that was supposed to be his father. Even though he tried to escape that dreadful place numerous times, he was always found just to be dragged back to the cage he hated so much.

[Elmeida]

Name: Kagami Beaudecraft

Age: 22

Personality: reserved, selfish, cunning, spoiled, manipulative, doesn't stop at anything to get what he wants.

Description:

Born as the only son of the wealthy Beaudecraft family, Kagami had his future already laid out for him. Though rebellious, spoiled and hard to handle, he always excelled in everything he did. After his parents died due to poisoning, Kagami distrusted everyone including his family members, who were prime suspects for his parents' sudden death. He took on his father's business at the ripe age of twenty. He uses everything and everyone to his advantage and thinks money is the solution to everything.

[Raiji]

Warm, fuzzy feeling woke Shinji up and even before he opened his eyes, his lips stretched into a soft smile. He loved evenings, it was the only part of the day sun found its way through the barred window high on the wall, illuminating the room with a pale light.

 

Carefully, he scratched yet another mark in the dirty wooden floor of his cage. "72." He said to no one in particular. 72 days he was locked up, 72 days since he managed to run away only to get dragged back to this damn place. He let his eyes glance around the room he was in before sighing softly. It was a dirty, dark place and he never truly understood why he also had to be locked in a cage. Wasn't the room he learned to hate from the bottom of his heart enough?

 

Shinji frowned seeing the state of his nails, since he got turned he had an almost irresistible urge to lick himself clean every day. Rather silly. He thought returning his gaze back to the only piece of sky he could see from his cage.

 

Not long after, his ears twitched softly on the sound of footsteps approaching the room he was locked in. Oh right, I was supposed to be sold today. He frowned once again quickly banishing the thought of clawing his way out, as he would only get drugged or beaten up again. "Maybe they decide they don't want us after all, hmm?" Shinji nervously grabbed an old teddy, the only personal idem he was allowed to have, before pulling it close to his chest. Besides, who would want to buy a... freak like me? The stuffed animal replied with nothing but a sorrowful squeak.

[Elmeida]

Anyone who'd ever worked with Kagami Beaudecraft knew he wasn't a patient man. He paced his office after completing a seven-million-dollar deal. With his cunning and manipulative demeanor, his recipients would willingly clasp hands with the renowned Beaudecraft company. He looked out his large wall to wall window, taking in sight the beautiful sunset.

'I hate it,' he thought. He hated anything he couldn't get his hands on. Looking at the city which was ten stories below, a smirk split across his refined face. Now that he'd finished his work for today, it was time for some fun. Maybe he'd go to the black market, deciding on that, he turned on his heel leaving his ever neat office.

He didn't like it there, he just loved pissing off his male secretary Towa, who followed him like a shadow everywhere. He took long strides out the lobby and into his posh Mercedes, his appearance mirrored his elegance and class. Of course his secretary was in the car, waiting for him.

"Where do you plan on going today, young master?" Towa asked, not at all surprised that Kagami was leaving the office early.

Kagami ignored the question. Giving the driver orders on where to go, he relaxed in his seat looking out his window.

"Why go there again, it's not recommendable for your image, young master." Towa said, although he expected to be ignored again.

"...I might find something interesting." Kagami replied, a coy smile on his face. None of them spoke the rest of the way.

 

The black market, also known as the dirtiest place in the city, it lived up to its name. The car zipped through the crowds of people trying to find a suitable and, most importantly, safe place to park. Kagami's eyes searched through the crowds of hawkers and their goods.

Rare plants, no. Jewelry, no. He sighed in frustration, nothing caught his eye. He was about to tell the driver to go back when he saw a catchy sign which read, "rare animal for sale." It didn't pique his interest but the fact that it was 'animal' and not 'animals' meant that it was only one. He had to get his hands on it or maybe just set his sights on it.

"Carry the checkbook." he ordered Towa while getting off the car. It disgusted him when people would brush his shoulder while walking. 'This animal better be worth it,' he thought bitterly. Entering the dingy and shabby hall, he immediately noticed one of his clients.

'Seems I'm not the only one with a dirty little secret,' he thought how he could use it to his advantage. After Towa wiped a seat for him, he sat, patiently waiting for the bidding to begin...

[Raiji]

"You want to get out of this mess, don't you?" Shinji slowly nodded, still not moving an inch from from his safe spot.

"Come on now, boy." Old man barked at him, annoyance glinting in his eyes. He threw old, leather collar right next to Shinji's feet and nudged his head. "You know the drill."

Deep blue eyes glanced over a small stun gun the man had in his right hand before turning back to evil grin creeping across his face. Shinji knew what will happen if he doesn't do what he was told and he really didn't feel like being electrocuted today. Carefully, he fastened the collar around his neck and shoved his hand through the bars to be chained, still holding a tattered animal in his hands.

 

Shinji growled under his breath as the old man pushed him down to his knees. If they fed him properly, maybe he would've fought his way out of this, but he was starved and he did in no way liked that gun. Not a moment later, heavy chain attached to his collar was secured around a massive steel ring, leaving him with barely any freedom to move his head. So he just wrapped his tail around his feet, in a poor attempt to comfort himself, and once again decided to wait for his destiny to play out.

 

 

"Gentlemen and.." The old man coughed. "A lady."

Shinji peered under his lashes only to find a room filled with people staring right back at him, and that only made him more nervous. Quickly, he returned his gaze back to his toy, only half heatedly listening to the old man explaining all the different 'tricks' he could do. I wonder which one of them will take me home tonight..

Someone pulled his chain rather harsh and he gulped painfully, his neck still bruised from the last time they made him wear the collar. "Do it boy, or you'll never again see the light of day, I swear." The old man whispered to him before turning back to the crowd, one hand still resting on the chain.

 

It was a sick joke he loved so much. Oh how he hated that man. So much, he was willing to do almost anything to get as far away from him as possible. "Meow~" Shinji blushed fiercely giving everyone an embarrassing look before doing his best to hide his face in his hands.

[Elmeida]

"...cute..." the word escaped Kagami's lips.

Kagami could only stare at the rare animal, quite a beauty too. What was it? A hybrid? Whatever it was, it definitely caught his interest which meant he had to have it. His hand supported his head and his legs crossed, a cocky grin on his face.

"Old man! I'll buy him, name your price." he shouted from his seat, oblivious of the stares he got. His eyes only focused on the rare animal.

[Raiji]

Someone shouted and Shinji's head flew up on its own only to find a pair of eyes staring at him. He.. wants me? He managed to stop his lips stretching into a smile, but his tail wriggled happily betraying him. As his captivator recited a set of numbers he couldn't help but glance back at the guy looking at him. He's rather pretty too. That weird urge forcing him to lick himself clean appeared again and he softly cursed under his breath.

 

Soon, the old man pulled the set of keys from his pocket and unlocked the chain that kept Shinji bounded to the wall. Shinji's eyes lit up as he raised his hands a bit, hoping he would also remove the ones around his wrists, but the old man wasn't paying attention anymore.

 

"Come claim your new pet, sir." He said dangling the keys in his hand.

[Elmeida]

'Pet? I see, that's one thing I don't have.' Kagami thought as he stood from his seat. He didn't even bat an eye when he was told the price. He strode to them leisurely, he wasn't in a rush since he'd already got what he wanted.

'like I thought, there's nothing money can't buy.' he wrote and signed the check handing it to the old man. Once again, he glanced at the strange animal, his tail was wriggling. It took years of etiquette and training for him not to laugh on the spot.

'Nothing should be different, he's just a new toy.' though he told himself that, Kagami couldn't help but think otherwise. Noting that he was chained up like a slave, he ordered the old man to release him. After he did, Kagami held out his hand to his pet.

"You're mine now." he said waiting for his pet to take his hand. His actions surprised him. Never had he stooped so low as to hold out his hand to someone, but why was it that it seemed natural?

[Raiji]

As the young man approached, Shinji noticed other people were starting to leave and a soft sigh escaped his lips. He really didn't like being in the center of attention, but for some reason he didn't mind the certain pair of eyes that barely let him out of sight.

 

The old man frowned upon releasing Shinji. "You're making a mistake, sir." His wrists were sore from the years of bonding and Shinji growled quietly at him.

He was free now. If I run through the crowd I can probably surprise them and get out. But the thoughts of escaping quickly vanished as the young man offered him his hand. Shinji blinked a couple of times, confusion clearly written all over his face. No one has ever done anything like that.

 

Shyly, he took the said man's hand in his and slowly stood up. Feeling the heat rising to his cheeks Shinji looked down quickly, he couldn't help but blush on the thought that he belonged someone now.

The man glanced angrily between the two of them. "Don't say I didn't warn you." he muttered dropping the chains and Shinji's ears drooped sadly. If he keeps this up, my new... master will leave me. He thought shifting closer to the man whose hand he unintentionally squeezed. He just wanted to get out of this place.

[Elmeida]

Feeling a pair of warm hands squeeze his was a strange feeling, he'd never let anyone touch him needlessly. The feeling of being relied on was, as always, satisfying.

"Thank you for your advice but I know when I'm making a mistake and this isn't one of them." he told the old man coldly, Towa could swear he saw icicles forming, the temperature around them dropping degree by degree. Kagami never lashed out, his anger was the cold kind which he could use effectively. Kagami hated it when people thought they knew what was right, just like his relatives. Squeezing the hand back, he sauntered out of the hall, dragging his pet with him.

Now that he had gotten what he wanted, there was no need to linger any longer. The congested air in the market was suffocating him, the faster they got out of there, the better. Opening the door, motioning his pet to get in first. Though he was spoiled, he still had etiquette.

"I'm sure you also don't want to stay here a moment longer, right?" he smiled warmly, not wanting to alarm his pet.

[Raiji]

Shinji nodded and tried to return the smile, feeling the heat once again rising to his cheeks. Gosh, that man made him blush more than anyone did in all the years before.

He glanced nervously over the shiny car and the man who held the door open for him. That was another first. "Thank you." He managed to choke out before awkwardly getting in the car. Surprisingly, he liked the feeling of his master hand in his but he didn't feel like he had the right to complain when he let him go. He got out of that terrible place and that was something he was more than grateful for.

 

Carefully putting the teddy in his lap and wrapping it with his tail, he noticed a driver's surprised glances in the car's mirror. A driver too? There were a lot of people working for the man that just bought him. He quickly glanced at the man that was following them all this time, only to see him curiously looking back. Shinji's ears twitched slightly, everyone was observing him and he really didn't like that.

 

He glanced out the opposite window, pretending to look over the crowded street instead of his new master. "Where-" Shinji cleared his throat, his tail fidgeting slightly. "Where are we going?"

[Elmeida]

Intrigued by his pet's mannerisms, Kagami couldn't help but stare. He ordered the shocked driver to start the car, he understood why the other two were shocked, he was still surprised himself to see such a rare thing.

"We're going to your new home, er..." Kagami hadn't even asked his name yet, did he even have one?

"Pardon me, your name?" he asked his pet, still staring at him. Towa was surprised Kagami was showing his friendly nature, if he had one, to the creature. He had a feeling his master was planning something. Glancing back again at the animal, he felt sorry for him...

[Raiji]

"Shinji." He replied tilting his head slightly. "It's Shinji." The man was staring at him now and in all honesty, he understood why. It's not like you see something like me every day, is it? The thought almost made him frown, but he chose to disregard unwanted feelings that started to boil deep inside him. They were driving towards his new home and that was all that mattered right now, his new place just had to be better than the cage he was locked in for the last few years. Wasn't this exactly what he wanted after all?

 

"And yours?" Shinji asked staring back at his master for a moment too long, for some reason it was too hard not to. Soon though, a sad squeak spread thorough the car as he suddenly squeezed his toy, remembering he had manners once, long time ago. "If you don't mind me asking, that is." He added coyly.

[Elmeida]

Kagami just smiled when Shinji asked his name.

'Shinji huh? that's a nice name.' he thought as he continuously stared at Shinji, his eyes dancing in amusement. He toyed with the thought of telling him to call him 'master'

"Kagami..." he answered, intentionally leaving out his last name. He didn't know if Shinji had heard of the plutocrats the Beaudecraft family and he wasn't planning to tell him. Most attitudes changed after he introduced himself with his full name, no one was different, even him...

A smirk split across his face as his hand slowly reached to Shinji's tail, taking it in his hands gently.

"...but you can call me master, Shinji." he said in a husky voice, one he used many-a-times to sway women off their feet. If he had acquired a toy, why not play with it?

[Raiji]

"Kagami.." Shinji whispered pondering why the said man didn't say his last name too. Shinji would've said his but the old man never bothered to let him know it, or share his. Before he got a chance to think about it for too long, Kagami took Shinji's tail in his hands and he couldn't help but twitch it slightly. It was one of his soft spots and although his previous owner did some terrible things to him, he never tried to be sensitive or pay too much attention to Shinji's reactions.

 

Tingling sensation, not completely unpleasant, ran through Shinj's spine and he blushed furiously as his ears jerked slightly, playing along with the rest of his body. Although he tried his best to hide the delight that was the product of one single touch, Kagami's voice didn't at all help with that and he had to ask himself what kind of impression he was giving to the man, or to the rest of the people in the car.

 

Shinji coughed softly trying to get at least some of his composure back. "Master it is then."

[Elmeida]

Oh yes, no one could resist Kagami and his charms, that's what he thought. But, somehow, it was he who couldn't resist Shinji's charms. He decided that was enough teasing, he didn't want Towa and his driver to indulge themselves in eye candy, for free that is. Besides, he was a selfish, spoiled rich kid, it wouldn't be surprising if he locked Shinji in his room though he knew it was wrong.

Glancing at Shinji, he noted, as if for the first time, his unsightly state. Had he been locked up his whole life? Was this his first time outside perhaps? He was itching with curiosity but he knew he couldn't ask. It would be rude and not to mention embarrassing to Shinji, not that he didn't want to embarrass him...heck, he wanted that more than anything! To see him with that lovely shade of pink on his face while blushing.

'I'm sure that's not the only thing that's pink,' Kagami thought, a smirk which spelled mischief split his face. Looking out the window to vent out his perverted mind, he saw, by the familiar types of trees and buildings, that they were near. The huge rift between the high and middle-class was obvious, including their lifestyles.

The car entered a lane, there were no houses or congested buildings like in the city. Only gates, of high quality and security, were five kilometers or more away from each other. There were no mansions in sight apart from the boulevard of autumn trees and street lights. The road stretched and they drove for about an hour till they reached the last gate in that lane, it was grander than most. The driver swiped a card to a laser placed outside the gate, it beeped and the gates opened, revealing more boulevards of trees and a never ending, meandering, brick built road. They entered and almost immediately the gates closed. A large manor was visible behind some trees after driving for about twenty minutes or so_the street lights lighting their path since it was already dark.

There was a cul-de-sac, with a fountain in the middle, right in front the manor. As stated, large and also majestic, the exterior was made of white marble which meant it couldn't peel off like paint. From the outside, you could see the large french windows and balconies. With the trees, trimmed and manicured gardens, the architecture; you could've thought it was one of those overly-expensive houses advertised in 'homes' magazine. Despite its outward appearance, the large mansion stood for almost a century.

Though anyone would be amazed at the sight of it, Kagami only had a face full of boredom. Towa, no matter how many times he saw it, would still be captured, mesmerized. The driver kicked to the curb right in front of it where there was a flight of lengthy stairs leading to the mahogany double doors. A line of eight servants, most of them maids dressed in their lacy uniforms, were waiting outside as if it was a day-to-day routine.

Kagami hated that feeling of being home, partly because of his nosy and irritating relatives and partly because he didn't like it. But now that he had Shinji, it meant he didn't have to be alone anymore. Turning to Shinji with a look of a ten year old boy who found his favorite toy, he smiled at him.

"How do you like your new home, Shinji?" he asked, patiently waiting for the reply...

[Raiji]

As they left the city and entered the area of endless gates and trees, Shinji could only stare out the window and slowly sink deeper into his chair. The man who bought him was... rich to say at least and he had nothing. Nothing except his old toy, and he couldn't help but wonder how is he going to ever repay the favour. As the car pulled in front of the house, neko allowed himself a quick glance at his master but the expression he saw confused him for a moment. How could anyone be bored with all of this? Shinji was sure it was almost impossible to ever fully investigate each and every room in the house, not to talk about the rest of the property.

 

"Uhh..." Shinji sighed at the question but Kagami's smile prompted him to do the same. "It's... rather huge." He chuckled shyly. Soon after, Shinji opened the door and pulled out of the car, stealing yet another glance at the house before him. Striding to his master's door he wondered what on earth was he supposed to do here. It seemed Kagami had more than enough servants at his disposal and he did his best not to look at them, but the entourage showed no restrain while staring right at him. As blue eyes glanced back to the car, patiently waiting for his master to step out, he could see his reflection on the black window. His ears drooped sadly, tail following soon after, when he once again realized how different his appearance was from everything that surrounded him. He was supposed to live in this perfect house with all these never ending stares? Yet again that rather strange urge to lick himself clean appeared and neko could not deny he could use a bath and some clean clothes.

 

Although he was standing there for no more than a couple of moments, Shinji decided he won't take it any more so he opened the door and looked at Kagami, expectation clearly written all over his face. The way his driver and assistant whose names he never learned regarded him, Shinji was sure his master's entourage wouldn't dare to stare at him nonchalantly as they did up till now if the said man was standing next to him. A strange, uncomfortable sensation fell upon him and although he would never picture himself as someone clingy, the idea of not being near the man he met barely hours ago, made him rather uncomfortable.

Shinji wriggled a bit, half nervous~half excited as he flashed Kagami a joyous smile. "Shall we?"