Of Slaves and Gods

Was it normal? Hell no! How was this happening to him? How did he end up here, of all places? Life sucked. And that bastard in the sky loved torturing him. Damn gods. Damn, fucking gods!

Thanks mom, he thought bitterly, saving yourself like that. Throwing me out onto the street just so you could win the heart of that bastard!

It had been months since his mother had kicked him out. Her new boyfriend didn’t want someone else’s child. Well he didn’t want another father, either! He didn’t care. Why would he care? He told his loving friends he was moving to live with his aunt and they dropped the subject of his situation. They all still loathed his mother just as much as he did, though. He loved his friends. He couldn’t go to them now, though. His mom would be arrested for abuse, if she pleads her case well enough, they would be back together until she dumped him again. Then, he would be moved to an orphanage. Fuck that!

Hear that, Kenzo? You stupid god! F-U-C-K that! I’m not gonna go to any fucked up orphanage because of that bitch. No way, no how.

He sighed, kicking at a nearby box. This sucked. Someone walked by the door and the lock clicked. A head popped into the room.

“Hey, you! Don’t kick things around in here.”

“Shut up, ya bastard! Let me outta here! I’m gonna call the cops on you!”

“Be quiet, Kid. You’re gonna get it if you bother the higher ups!”

“I have a name, ya jerk!”

“So?”

He growled and the man backed away.

“Yeah, run away, you punk!”

Voices sounded outside and he quieted, straining to hear.

“What’s going on here?”

“The new kid’s acting up, boss. He won’t be quiet.”

Boss?

Another man came into the room, glowering down at him. His eyes examined him quickly, pausing slightly at his ragged shirt and the bruises on his face.

“Why won’t you be quiet?”

“Because you guys locked me up someplace, you dick! You friggin’ kidnapped me!”

“You were homeless, a common street rat.”

“I have a mom, you know! She’ll call the cops looking for me,” he lied.

“Why are you wearing such tattered things, then? Does your mother not have enough money to support the both of you?”

“Uh, no, that’s not it.”

“Then what?”

God, this guy is annoying! Why’s he so uptight?

“I asked you a question.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Answer me, then.”

“I don’t feel like it.”

The man strode over to him, “You were so talkative a minute ago. Answer me.”

“No.”

He leaned down and slapped him, hard, across the face, “Answer.”

He grabbed his aching cheek, standing up angrily, “I’m gonna knock the shit outta you!”

The man looked down at him, a smile playing at his lips.

“How old are you?”

“Fifteen.”

“You’re barely five feet.”

“I’m five foot, two! Thank you very much!”

“You’re so small,” the man laughed. “What’s your name?”

“I have no reason to tell you!”

“Fine. I’ll call you what I want, then. Now, you’ll do as I say. Understand… Shorty?”

“Fine! My name is Zana! W-What’s yours?”

“It’s Kaito. You’ll call me Sir, though.”

“Hmm. And how old are you, SIR?”

“That is none of your concern.”

“You don’t look too old…Late twenties, maybe?”

The man raised an eyebrow, “You’re the rude one, aren’t you?”

“Hey, I’m just guessing. I guessed a young age, too. I told you mine, now you tell me yours!”

“I’m twenty-eight.”

“I was right!”

“It’s late. The lights will be turned off soon. Stay quiet, Zana. Understand?”

Zana looked worried, “Why will the lights be turned off? Is everything gonna be pitch black?”

Kaito smiled, “Are you afraid of the dark?”

“Well, the thing is…I’ve never been in pitch black. I’ve always had the stars and the moon to light up the sky…”

Kaito looked at him, simply staring.

“Knock it off already!”

“Come with me.”

“What?”

“Are you deaf? Come. With. Me. Now.”

Zana stood, walking out of the windowless room and following Kaito down the hallway, sticking his tongue out at the man who had scolded him earlier.

Kaito walked up flights of winding stairs, saying nothing. Occasionally, he glanced back to make sure Zana was behind him. Zana followed him silently, finally complaining when they climbed the fifth staircase.

“Where are we going? My feet are killing me.”

Kaito smiled, “I’m surprised you lasted this long. That’s amazing.”

“Shut up,” he growled back. “Where are we going?”

“Upstairs,” he said, looking back at Zana as if he was the stupidest person in the world.

“I know that!” he screamed. “What’s upstairs?”

Kaito pulled him close and covered his mouth, “Hush. You’ll wake the others?”

“What others?” Zana asked after managing to wiggle away from Kaito’s grasp.

“The others who live here.”

“Where are we?”

“I’ll answer your questions when we reach the room. Come along, Zana.”

Zana scowled but followed him up the stairs and finally into a small door. The door led into an extravagant hallway, lined with beautiful portraits and carpeted. Zana stopped, awe-struck. Kaito pulled his arm impatiently and dragged him along the hallway, opening a large, wooden door, and shoving him into the room.

Once again, Zana had to stop to admire all the lavish things around him. In front of him was a large room, over-stuffed couches and chairs strewn about it in a strangely stylish way. A chandelier hung from the high ceiling and the crystal sparkled in the light. Zana’s mouth hung open as he looked over to the bar and dining table to the left, amazed that one person could own all this. Kaito gave him a shove and he stumbled into the room, glaring back at him.

“What’d you do that for?”

“You wouldn’t move,” he replied casually, getting himself a glass of wine.

“Hey! You said you’d answer my questions! So, number one: Where am I?”

“You’re at a trading organization.”

“Huh?”

“The company trades humanly pleasures.”

Everything snapped in Zana. He understood it, “I-I’m in a sex slave trade? I’m not even that good looking!”

Kaito smiled, “Not at the moment. You’re covered in dirt and your clothes are horrid. The bruises on you aren’t too appealing and, quite frankly, you reek.”

Zana scowled, “Not everyone can constantly smell of flowers like you do!”

Kaito motioned him to sit and Zana did, relishing the feel of the soft cushions. “Tell me how you came to be on the street. You said you had a mother.”

“I do. She’s just a bitch, that’s all. My dad died not too long ago and she found this stuck up guy to date. He didn’t want another guy’s kid so she kicked me to the curb. She’s only with him for the money.”

“Does she know where you are? Or…Where you were last, I should say.”

“No. She didn’t even take a second glance at me when she slammed the door on me.”

Kaito smiled, “So the threat that she would call the police was a lie.”

Zana gulped, realizing his error. “Uh…So, you’re a slave dealer, huh?”

“Do not call me that.”

“Well, you are,” he muttered. “So, how many people do you have locked up down there?”

“A few. They were all homeless youths.”

“So you just take advantage of them? How nice.”

“Be quiet,” Kaito ordered.

“What? But, you--.”

Kaito shot him an evil glare and Zana quieted. Kaito rose and went to the door, opening it just as another man was about to knock, “Yes?”

“Ah, Kaito, you know that frightens me. What happened about the disturbance downstairs?”

“I took care of it.”

“I see. Very good, Kaito, as usual. I suppose I’ll be off then. I was just told to check. Goodnight.”

Kaito closed the door.

“Who was that?”

“No one of your concern.”

“Was he talking about me?”

“Yes.”

“It is of my concern then, huh?”

Kaito sat back down, “Hush, he might hear you.”

“Who is he?”

“A business partner, that’s all.”

“Oh. Why is it bad if he hears me?”

“You’re not meant to be up here.”

“Than why did you bring me?”

“Because I’m going to have you stay up here. I just should’ve waited until I signed a few papers, that’s all.”

“Huh?”

“I’m going to buy you.”

“What?” Zana couldn’t help it, he leapt to his feet in disbelief.

“Hush,” Kaito scolded.

“Why would you do that?”

“Because you’re interesting. I like what you said about the stars, too. You’ll stay and live with me here, obey my rules, and you will not leave my suite unless you’re with me.”

“I can’t believe this!”

Kaito rose, “Your bedroom is this way.”

Zana perked up at the thought of his own bed, following Kaito down a small hallway. Kaito opened a door and presented Zana with a room of medium size. Zana walked in nervously, looking around.

“Hey…So, this is my room?”

“Yes.”

“Just mine?”

“Yes.”

“Forever?”

Kaito smiled, “If you manage to behave.”

Zana ignored the comment, instead examining the soft bed.

“What’s that?” Zana asked, pointing to a pole in the corner of the room.

“Your pole.”

“You want a pole dance or something? I’m not giving you any pole dances.”

Kaito laughed, “No. It’s much to short, as you can see. If you’re naughty, I’ll chain you up in here, or wherever I want. There’s one in each room.”

“What? You can’t do that!”

“Yes I can. I own you now. That window has a perfect view of the moon. Now, come with me.”

“You don’t own me.”

Kaito turned back to him, acknowledging Zana’s defiant glare with annoyance. “Yes, I do. Do you want me to show you?”

Zana blinked, “How?”

“Bu chaining you up and giving you a sound whipping. Would you like that, Zana?”

He paled at the threat, “You wouldn’t.”

“I would. Now, come with me.”

Zana followed him as Kaito led him on a tour of the suite. He pointed out the kitchen, the library, the toilet, and the master bedroom.

“That is where I will sleep. You’re not to go in without my permission.”

Zana shrugged, “That’s the rule for everyone’s room. Same for me.”

“No, Zana. As your owner, I do not need your consent.”

“But--.”

“Come along. There’s one more stop.”

Zana trudged behind him, glancing back at the door to the master bedroom angrily.

Kaito stopped in front of a door and opened it, leading Zana inside. It was the bathroom, a large tub in the middle of the room with an equally large shower to the side. Kaito turned on the water, perfecting the temperature and pouring in bath oils and soaps. He called Zana over.

“Take off your clothes,” he ordered, “and get in.”

“After you leave!”

“Do it, Zana, now.”

Frightened by the evil glare in Kaito’s eye, Zana quickly disrobed, using a towel to block his nakedness before he slid into the tub. Kaito laughed at him, tugging off his own clothes and climbing into the tub behind him.

“Ack! Get out, you pervert!”

“How many times must I tell you to be quiet? Stop splashing around and dunk your head in. I’ll wash your hair.”

“I can wash myself!”

“Just do as I say, Zana,” he scolded.

“God, quit treating me like a little kid.”

“I’ll treat you however I want. Now, stop wiggling and let me wash your hair.”

Zana sat, allowing Kaito to run his fingers through his own, golden hair. He hadn’t cut it for a while and it now reached his shoulders. It knotted and twisted angrily and Zana had given up trying to take care of it. Kaito’s touch, however, calmed him as he massaged his scalp. Soon, he relaxed, leaning back against him as the man rinsed his hair. Kaito scrubbed him furiously, determined to get every speck of dirt off him. Zana writhed and complained, finally able to get away long enough to dunk under the water and rinse himself of any soap.

Kaito climbed out of the tub, drying himself and doffing a pair of loose pajama bottoms. He look down at Zana for a moment, his hand to his mouth, thinking. Finally, he left the room and Zana took the opportunity to climb out and dry off, wrapping the towel around his waist, securely, before Kaito came back.

“Wear this,” he commanded, handing him a large shirt.

“Just this?”

“I don’t have anything your size. That should be long enough for you. I’ll order clothes tomorrow. Follow me.”

Zana quickly pulled the shirt over his head. The old thing reached his knees. He scrambled after Kaito down the hallway and they ended up at his room.

“Get some sleep, Zana.”

“Oh…Um, goodnight, then, I guess.”

Kaito nodded, “Goodnight.”