The bed he lay upon still bore the scents and stains of the night before.

His kimono was laid out fastidiously on the now-spotless table, but he wasn't much in the mood to wear it. Besides which, it hardly would've suited his ruined face. Kagamine had attempted to engage him in conversation, but he hadn't been much in the mood for that, either, so at some length, the boy had left him. His thoughts were all in disorder. He hardly knew which to consider first.

Being brought there as Kamui's servant- he supposed he should've considered it an honor. It was true he could never have stayed as he was, and, roughly speaking, this granted him some slight increase of status, but the memory of Kagamine tossing down those coins in exchange for his life-

Perhaps it wouldn't have hurt so badly if Kamui hadn't also banished Shion to his room because of his injured face. Was that the only reason? Surely his kind and gentle lord would never demand that he stay there past the appointed time, but-

Why had Kamui been so concerned that someone should see him? Perhaps he was a jealous man, and Kagamine had only been lying to him in order to get what he wanted-

No. Kagamine really *did* want to protect him. Kamui would've wished to protect him too, but from what? He remembered what the man had said to him-

He forced himself to take even breaths. Panicking like this would be entirely useless.

"Shion," a voice called softly from the threshold. Kamui was standing there, smiling at him, his hands overburdened with trays of food-

"Here, my lord," he answered, rushing to help him. "I am surprised you did not drop all this somewhere along the way."

"I am not as clumsy as some," the daimyo teased as they carried the trays to the table. Shion's shoulder brushed against him as he set his burden down, prompting a fugitive blush.

"Lord Kamui, forgive me-"

"If you are to live here, little bird, you must stop asking my forgiveness for every random time we come into contact with one another."

Shion nodded slowly. Kamui was right.

"I have been anxious, my lord," he admitted.

The daimyo kissed his forehead. "I would think it strange if you were not. Do you think your nerves are settled enough for you to eat?"

It all smelled incredibly delicious, and Shion, at that point, was famished.

He nodded eagerly, and Kamui chuckled at his enthusiasm.

"Have your fill, then," he murmured, patting at Shion's hand. The touch was unexpected. Shion stared down at his fingers as Kamui drew them away.

"My lord," he began, "why do you touch me like that?"

The man raised an eyebrow at him, settling in across from him at the table. "Is it so uncommon for a man to touch the one he loves, in all ways, at all possible moments?"

Shion frowned at him.

Kamui sighed. "I swear, I want to give that man one of his own beatings, more and more, with time." He tilted back his bowl, draining off the rich broth. "Not just the apothecary, either, but every man who ever claimed to love you."

Shion gave him a shy smile. "And who says anyone ever claimed that, my lord?"

"You would never have lain with them had they not."

This response stunned Shion into silence. He gazed down at his food for a moment before quietly picking up the utensils. Touching them, even looking at them, set him blushing, after what had happened here last night.

"I apologize for Kagamine's actions," the man murmured softly. "The decision of whether or not to leave should have been yours. He should not have made it for you."

"I- do not truly think there was another way."

"Then you would have chosen it for yourself, Shion, and made peace with it. As it is-" Kamui paused, leaning closer. "That gold was intended to free you, not bind you to someone else, nor would I have you stay with me on account of it. You are not my slave, nor anyone else's."

Shion stared up at him, utterly overcome with a sweet and spreading warmth. "I have never felt that I was such," he answered.

"Not even last night?" Kamui suddenly smiled at him, his former seriousness forgotten.

Shion laughed. "Perhaps," he admitted. "If only a little."

The daimyo reached out to take his hand. Those fingers were so large and warm, so steady.

"If you still wish to stay, however," he murmured, "you may regard that gold as a dowry."

Shion lowered his eyes, a hot blush overcoming his cheeks. "Whoever comes to be your wife might resent that, Lord Kamui."

"No one will ever come to me but you." He pressed Shion's hand to his lips and kissed it with a softness which left it aching. "I told you, once I had you, I would never allow you to fly from me again. If you have not given yourself over to me completely, it is the proper time to say it."

He gazed up at Kamui. That hot blush felt as though it was coloring half of his body. Kagamine had already told him Lord Kamui's intentions. The daimyo had taken his time and waited because he wished to court Shion, and now that they'd finally been together, tried each other and found it fulfilling, he owed Kamui an answer.

"I am yours. Completely," he whispered.

Kamui's smile was so warm as to be absolutely scorching. "I am halfway tempted to lay you out on this table again, but it would be such a shame to waste all this food Toshi worked so hard to prepare. I am not entirely certain he would forgive me for doing so more than once."

Shion grinned. "I doubt he would know-"

"You may be sure that Kagamine has complained to him about it already." Kamui sighed. "That dear boy is utterly tactless."

Shion stiffened at the mention of his name. "My lord," he began quietly, "about Kagamine-"

The daimyo raised an elegant eyebrow at him, shovelling a generous portion of food into his mouth. "If you are going to say that you kissed him, I already know."

His jaw dropped open. He stared at Kamui, stunned speechless for a moment. "And yet you still asked me-?"

"Why should that change anything between us?" The daimyo shook his head. "Kagamine is reckless, stubborn, and disobedient, along with a thousand other thorny and difficult things, but the affection he holds for you is honest, and deep."

"I do not know how to respond to his feelings," Shion sighed. "I have only barely just met him."

"Then, are you at all fond of him, my beloved?"