Riki's Submission

** Hmmm. Nobody likes AnK? Or you hate the way I tell the story?

I know at least one person is reading. (Private contact.) Said person has never seen the Anime, so is really confused. I've told her more of the 'real story' (still way open to interpretation), and will send her a copy of my DVD.

Anyway, I guess I'll keep posting til Riki submits. Would be really nice if someone left a comment ... **

~~ begin chapter 2

When Iason returned to the bedroom, he stared at Riki coldly, then summoned Daryl to take the mongrel to the White Room. Daryl unhooked the chains quickly and efficiently. “Follow me.”

Riki struggled to his feet without his usual grace, his muscles stiff and sore from a day in the training rack. He looked at Iason for only a moment before obeying, too exhausted to rebel further.

And too anxious to be away from the source of his pain and humiliation...

Daryl opened a door and stepped back. Riki entered the bare white room, lit overhead by a glaring bulb that hurt his eyes after the soft darkness of Iason’s bedroom. Daryl came in only long enough to point out the bathroom facilities. “I have to go clean up your mess in master Iason’s bedroom now,” he said in obvious irritation.

Riki turned his anger on the slight, young furniture. “Complain to your Blondie master, you little… slave.” Riki could think of no better word, no greater insult. This boy, Daryl, had chosen his life, had freely submitted to castration, had given himself to Iason. Riki raised his voice. “The prick forced me to do it.”

“Mongrel scum,” was the last thing Riki heard as the door shut. He hated the words. He’d heard them far too often in his young life. Always said with hate and condemnation. Just because he had been born.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead as he stumbled to the toilet. Damn him, damn him, damn him. He wasn’t sure if his mental tirade was for the furniture or for Iason. Both, damn them!

Riki looked suspiciously at the bath tub. He hated the man who had brought him here. The Blondie, powerful, beautiful and seductive. Iason. He hated this place. But… somehow… the thought of a warm bath pushed all the other thoughts away, and he turned on the water. Fumbling through the bottles on the edge of the tub, he opened a few and sniffed them.

Glancing at the door to be sure no one was watching, he selected the bottle with the sweet lavender smells, and poured the liquid into the bath water. Checking behind himself once more, he stepped in the tub and sank into the water and billowing bubbles. In the rooms he shared with Guy, there was a single small shower, its walls crumbling, never enough hot water for them both to be clean at once.

This large, empty room - clean, with unlimited hot water, and towels - was, in its own way, a luxury Riki had never seen. Could not ignore…

Bubbles, he thought. Absurd. Men don’t bath in bubbles. But the warm water and the sweet soothing scent lulled him and he relaxed in the water, the bubbles gradually rising over his body.

To Riki’s surprise, he jerked awake when he heard the door click open. Twisting quickly, he looked into Iason’s cold stare. Was there amusement on that beautiful face, laughter in those piercing blue eyes? “I knew you were nothing but a common slut.”

Riki stood in the tub, his fists clenched at his sides. “You know nothing about me. And I did not come to you willingly.”

Iason’s eyes swept over the beautifully shaped body, admiring the firm muscles in the mongrel’s chest and belly. But his eyes stopped at the fuzz of bubbles in the curly hair at the boy’s groin. “I know enough, Riki. You look quite fetching in the bubbles. And the scent almost covers your normal odor of garbage.” Iason twisted his mouth in a deliberate sneer, intending to hurt and humiliate. “Perhaps, in time, you may become an acceptable pet.” Iason met Riki’s eyes again. “Perhaps.” Iason turned away. “You will be fed later.” The door closed again.

Riki glared, and looked for something to throw. The bottles on the tub. He picked them up and hurled them at the door. They shattered, and the smells in the room became over-powering. Riki sank back in the cooling water and held his head in his hands.
~~

When Daryl came again, he was furious to see the broken bottles and oozing contents. “I will tell master Iason, Riki. You will be punished. You will be sorry for this.”

Riki jumped up from the floor, where he had lay down, dropping the towel he had wrapped around himself so carefully. He picked up a piece of glass and held it at the furniture’s throat. “Keep your fucking mouth shut or I’ll kill you.”

At that moment, the pain hit again, and Riki sank to his knees. He dropped the glass splinter before he gripped his cock. He didn’t scream this time, just fell forward over his knees and groaned. “Damn you, Iason.”

For a moment, Daryl watched in satisfaction, glad Riki was punished, but then he saw the blood from his knees spreading on the white tiles. “Get up. Let me see to you.”

Riki didn’t look up until he felt Daryl’s hand on his arm. When he spoke, his voice was trembling. “Why?”

Daryl’s voice was softer. “Because you’re bleeding. And if I don’t, you’ll make a huge mess on the floor.”

Riki nodded dumbly and started to rise. But he fell quickly and Daryl held out a hand to help him. Riki took it.

Daryl led him back to the tub, and helped him sit on the edge. “I must get medicines and bandages. Please stay here until I get back.”

Riki’s head fell to his chest. “Whatever.”

~~

Daryl went to the first aid supplies in the hall closet, and was startled when Iason appeared at his side. He looked up quickly and back down.

Iason spoke first. “How badly is he hurt?”

“Not so bad sir, though he may have some glass slivers in his knees.”

“Can you handle the injuries, or should I send for a doctor?”

Daryl looked up. Iason was seldom so concerned about his pets. “You would get a doctor for him, master?”

Iason’s face was his usual blank mask. “He must be able to please me.”

“Yes, sir. Of course, sir. I… I think I can handle it, sir.”

Iason was amused but his face did not reflect it. Nor his voice. “Let me know if you change your mind after treating him.”

Daryl bowed and Iason was gone when he lifted his head again. He took his supplies back to the White Room. Riki was as he had been left, sitting on the side of the tub, his chin touching his chest. Blood was running down his legs, but not yet on the floor.

“Turn around, please, so your feet are in the tub,” Daryl said softly. Riki moved as he was requested. Daryl pulled the shower head out and turned on the water, washing away the blood. He blotted Riki’s legs dry carefully. “Can you turn back now so I can examine the cuts?”

Riki opened his mouth, tempted to curse the young man, but he stopped himself. He twisted himself around until his feet were on the floor. He flinched when Daryl touched his knee. “Shit. That hurts!”

Daryl’s voice was soft. “You did it to yourself, Riki. I don’t mean to hurt you.”

Riki stared at the soft brown hair between his knees, and sighed deeply. The boy – the furniture – was right. He had done it to himself. But his pride was back, he would not admit fault to Daryl. He held himself still as Daryl prodded and poked, clenching his teeth to hold in any hint of the pain he felt. When the boy leaned back, and the biting pain in his knees eased, Riki said softly. “Your name is Daryl?” The boy nodded as he began to rub ointment on the cuts. “You really came to this bastard willingly?”

Daryl looked up before he applied the bandages. “Master Iason is not a bastard, Riki. He’s a very good master if you obey him.”

The sarcasm was back in Riki’s voice. “And how do you know that? Have you had other Blondie masters?”

Daryl chose not to take offense. “No, of course not. But I’ve met some. Master Iason takes very good care of his furniture and pets. He gives us rooms of our own and good food. You should be grateful to belong to him, Riki.”

Riki’s voice was incredulous. “Grateful? I was a free man. I don’t want to belong to anyone.”

“Well, you do now.” It was a flat statement of fact. “Make the best of it. Master Iason has never taken a mongrel pet before.” Daryl’s voice became very low. “He takes a great chance in bringing you here. Jupiter will be angry when she finds out.”

Jupiter. The AI who ran this world. “Jupiter is real?” Riki asked. “In Midas, we thought she was just some legend.”

“Oh, Jupiter is very real.” Daryl’s voice rose in pride. “I’ve seen her communicate with master Iason. He’s her favorite of all the Blondies.” He spoke softly again. “I cannot imagine why he would risk upsetting her for you.”

The comment hurt Riki’s pride. He felt stung. “And just what is wrong with me?”

Daryl stood. “Oh, you’re very beautiful, Riki – for a mongrel. But master Iason can have any pet he wants.” Daryl went to clean the mess from the floor, carefully getting up all the glass, and then wiping up all their spilled contents. He turned to leave.

Riki stood quickly. “The prick said he would send me food. When is it coming?”

Daryl looked at him in irritation. “When I have the time. Looking after you is hardly my only duty.”

Riki watched him go. And felt just a little guilty for his petulance. But not much. He sat on the naked tile floor and leaned his back against the wall.

~~

The damn light never went off. The room was always glaringly bright. And the choices for sleeping were the tub or the floor. With no cover at all. Daryl brought food twice a day. At least, Riki assumed the schedule was daily. He learned quickly that warm water was available only at certain times, so relaxing in a hot bath to relieve his boredom was seldom an option.

He cursed and fumed almost every time Daryl showed up. Or sulked without saying a word. In time, he thought he would go insane. Finally, he resorted to begging. “Stay with me for a while. Just a little. Please. Talk to me.” But Daryl only looked at him sadly and left again. Riki was surprised at the loneliness he felt, humiliated at how much he looked forward to Daryl’s brief visits, even if the boy didn’t talk to him. Just to see another human being...

Riki thought he was watched, although he supposed the pet ring might be set up to blast him with pain automatically, if he attempted to amuse himself by masturbating. By the end of the second week, he’d stopped trying. Now, he just sat against the wall, marking time by Daryl’s visits. In another week, he began exercising, doing what he could without any equipment or weights.

Finally, he lost track of how many days had passed, and sank into apathy, not even reacting when Daryl came. He looked longingly at the bottles on the tub, wanting to cut his wrists, but the bottles were soft plastic now, no longer capable of being turned into weapons. Iason had thought of everything. Had isolated him completely. Had taken away anything he might use to create havoc, anything he could use to hurt someone else… or himself.

Water, he thought. Maybe I could drown. Yeah, just slip below the surface during a bath. He decided to wait until Daryl brought a towel. That would mean the hot water was available. He laughed at himself. Pathetic. I have to have warm water to kill myself. But it was something to look forward to. He curled against the wall, and made a pillow of his arm.

~~end chapter 2