Loveless

A few days passed, and Suzuka's presence remained unknown to the enforcers that patrolled the area. Everyday, using his free time and shadows along the the house, the young boy would deliver meals and bandages to the Shotaro, much to her surprise. Surprisingly, the child received no abuse withing the four days that passed, until...



"Hey Tatsuma, did ya hear? Some anti-Zigguraut rebel was reported to be hiding out around here."



"Yeah, I know. One of the enforcers was just asking with Dad a few questions not too long ago. Hey, Shotaro!" The rough older brother called as Shotaro carefully laid the barrel he toted before him.



"That reminds me, you've been sleeping outside all this week. You haven't heard anything suspicious around here, have you?" Tatsuma threatened as he lifted the tiny child by his collar, only to drop him.



"This is the best time to show off my sword skills. I'm gonna strike that rebel dead where he stands!" In one fluid motion, Tatsuma drew his sword on the fruit barrel. It slowly slid in two as the top section divided as well.



"You really shouldn't have done that, Tatsuma. Swinging your sword around like that can be dangerous. You really are a wild beast when you draw your sword." The calm younger brother spoke, smoking from his brass pipe. Upon noticing that it was the child's responsible to deliver the barrel of plums, an evil idea came to the the Jinmaru's mind.



"Uh-oh! Looks like Shotaro messed up and broke another barrel!" Jinmaru spoke loudly.

"...The hell was that?! You broke yet another barrel? I've had enough of your incompetence, you little bastard...!"



"Oh? I must say, your family is indeed wicked themselves. Do you know the meaning as to why you are treated this way?" The answer remained unknown to the battered child. Even if he did know the answer, his voice was broken from his crying.



"Hmm...come with me. I'll treat you injuries." Shotaro motioned to stop Suzuka, lest she be discovered by a wandering enforcer. The bandaged woman took the child's small, bruised hand and led him stealthily throughout the of the shed and into the woods. Within it depths, several hot springs were scattered about, but only one interested Suzuka.



"This is a unique hot spring that not only soothes the body, but also treats the wounds of the those who bathe in its waters." Suzuka pointed to a large spring, glowing with a cool, cerulean aura.



"Undress and hop in, I'll be in shortly." The child obeyed as he carefully entered the hot spring with his small, wounded frame only to realize that this particular hot spring was not as hot as its name suggested. When Suzuka entered the hot spring, the surrounding mist obscured her figure, not that Shotaro cared.



"I'll start with your back, let me know if you have an itch." Suzuka carefully rubbed the child's back with the spring's mystic water as he began to notice its unique properties.



"Huh? The pain, its--" Shotaro felt his lingering pains faded away as his bruises did the same.



"It's working already? Your body must have an interesting reception to this spring. (He has such beautiful skin, how long had this child been abused?) Okay, turn around."



Suzuka took care as she washed Shotaro's right eye as she held the lone strands of darkness that veiled it. Upon closely witnessing Shotaro's cat-like pupils encased in his violet irises, Suzuka realized how much his eyes reminded her of her own.



"Miss Tsukikage, why are you doing this for me?" As Shotaro brought this question to mind, Suzuka began to wonder herself, realizing that her taking Shotaro to the hot springs was done purely on impulse.



"I guess because I felt like it. (He reminds me so much of myself...when I was a child.) Why do you ask?"



"This is the first time that anyone, at all, has shown me kindness like this...the kindness I never knew existed."



As Suzuka lifted Shotaro's head, she was so entranced by the small boy's angelic beauty that Suzuka momentarily pictured Shotaro as a young girl. After returning to her senses, Suzuka and the newly rejuvenated Shotaro returned to his home, with the young boy heading off first. As the young boy returned to his origin of abuse, another set of eyes carefully watched him, slowly moistening her lips.



"Hey, Danbiru! Are you here?"

"Hmm? Oh, Asmo! What brings my favorite customer here today?"

"Actually, it concerns the bishota* working for you..."

"Huh?"

"I-I mean the young boy you have working for you?"

"Shotaro? What would you want with him?"

"Well, you see..." The elegant woman whispered in the drunkard's ear. He leaned back with a eerily disturbed expression.



"I didn't know you were into that..."

"I will pay you handsomely, of course. Well, what do you say?" Asmodai presented Danbiru with a small case filled with money.



"That's what I like about you, Asmo. You're a straightforward...(scratch that) businesswoman. You can have Shotaro, I couldn't care less about him." Both smiled wickedly at thier gain.



After completing the labor assigned to him, Shotaro heard his name being called from afar. Upon reaching the front door of the house, the child noticed his foster father was in the company of an attractive woman in complete contrast to the drunkard. After being introduced, the older woman took the child by the hand as he accompanied her to her home for dinner.



Inside, Asmodai allowed her young guest to take a bath after accomplishing so much hard labor at home. All the while as Shotaro cleansed his pearly skin, Asmodai watched carefully from the door's crack at the flawless, prepubescent beauty bathing before her.







*Note: Bishota literally means 'beautiful young boy' in Japanese.