Sacrifice part 6

[krystalkatzfics]

 Nino woke to the feeling of hunger gnawing at his insides. He stretched out on the bed temporarily forgetting where he was until he looked up and saw the beautiful silken canopy above his head. He had believed that it was just a plain yellow silk but now he could see that it was over stitched with various shades of yellow depicting animals, flowers, and trees. Like everything else in the room, it was luxurious, and he couldn’t believe that it was intended for him. The space beside him on the bed was empty and he felt a pang of loneliness his eyes once again going to the window hoping that his family was alright and that they knew that he was safe. A knock on the door pulled him out of his thoughts and he jumped out of the bed calling;

“I’m awake…I mean…Um…”

“Little Master?” The bright and cheerful voice from outside called through the wood sounding almost as though he were about to laugh. “Is it okay for me to come in?”

“Ye-Yes, sir, I…Yeah…” Nino stammered, and the door creaked open to reveal the Lord’s servant. Aiba Masaki. The man was dressed in a rich green kimono, he was more handsome than Nino ha first thought him to be when he had seen him outside and Nino was worried that he might be col to him but he soon saw that the man was smiling at him as though he were his best friend, he just didn’t know it yet.

“Good evening, Little Master, my name is Aiba Masaki. I am house spirit and servant to the lord of the mountain”

“You’re…You’re a ghost?” Nino’s eyes bulged out of his face as his mouth dropped open into a huge circle of surprise and some fear. He didn’t know why he was so shocked. He was in an unseen castle at the top of a mountain with the lord of Death. Masaki chuckled and shook his head correcting him lightly with a soft and pleasant;

“I’m a spirit, I was born one and will die one, humans become ghosts.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t…I don’t really understand”

“It’s okay, little master, it’s your first day here, ne? You’ll understand when you’ve learned more with the lord” Masaki smiled again and then reached out to pat his arm. Unlike Jun, the Spirit’s hand was warm against his skin and Nino knew that the relief must have shown in his face as the Spirit smiled sympathetically “You get used to the coldness…Or rather…You don’t but you forget about it…”

“Thank-you” Nino didn’t quite know what he was thanking him for, but it felt like the right thing to say. Masaki smiled again squeezing at his shoulder before pulling away and heading to the bathing area. Nino hadn’t even looked in that part of the room properly yet, but he couldn’t believe that he had his own bath heated by a fire underneath. Masaki seemed to be happy enough stoking the fire and feeding it with the woodchips from the bucket.

“I came to ask if you wanted your meal downstairs or if you wanted it brought to your room” Masaki asked as he righted himself and then turned back to look at him.

“Will the lord be joining me?” Nino asked hopefully. The lord of the mountain should be terrifying to him. Being brought up in the village of shadows that meant that all his life he had been brought up on stories of the lord and his fearsome wrath. Jun wasn’t like that. He was soft spoken, and seemed as though he genuinely cared about him.

“I think he will, he hasn’t eaten yet”

“He does eat then?”

“Of course, he does. I know that it may seem strange to be living with death, but you’ll find that we are perfectly normal, little master” Masaki seemed as though he really believed that, and Nino didn’t mention how strange it was that a house spirit had told him that. His mother had told him about House Spirits. That they were the guardians of the house they lived in. Not all houses had them, but those that did were lucky. It was a tradition in the village that they would try to coax a house spirit into their home.

“People in the village try to lure house spirits into their homes, they use milk and honey” Nino whispered absently, and Masaki let out a loud, almost beautiful, laugh that filled the room around them with warmth.

“Sake would work better but I do rather like honey and warm milk” Masaki told him through a playful chuckle. “Humans are amusing. So, where would you like your dinner, little master?”

“I…I can go down…” He nodded wanting to see more of the castle and Masaki smiled again nodding as he tested the water of the bath with his elbow. Seeming satisfied he got back up and then stretched out his back before wiping his arm and coaxing him towards the bath.

“Why don’t you have a quick bath and then I will help you dress” The happy man told him and slowly Nino started to undress. The clothes he wore were finer than any that he had worn throughout his life, but they were nothing in comparison to the splendour of the home or the fine clothes Masaki was wearing. He felt a little ashamed as he removed the clothes and dropped them to the floor, but Masaki smiled understandingly “Little Master, you should know that I am a house spirit bound to not only this house but all that reside inside, from the moment you stepped through the doors of my lord’s home you became my little master, so you have no fear of me. I will never judge you and moreover I hope that one day we will be friends”

“I hope so too” Nino smiled before heading over to the bath and stepping inside. He was surprised by the gentle warmth of the water that washed around him. It smelt sweet, almost like honey, and seemed to soak into his body leaving it soft and squeaky. Masaki messed around in the wardrobe for a while laying clothes out on the bed before he came over and took a jug.

“Let me wash your hair. Bend forward, little master” The spirit told him, and Nino did as he was told once again surprised that he was being treated so well. “You have lovely long hair, it almost reaches your bum!”

“My mum never liked me to cut it”

“I’m not surprised, it’s beautiful, and so soft” Masaki ran his fingers through his hair several times as he rubbed in soaps and oils which left him feeling completely pampered and spoilt. Once he was done Masaki wrapped him in a large fluffy blanket and then led him to the fire where he helped dry his hair and brushed it through with a pearl set comb. “No wonder the lord wanted you as his consort, you are beautiful, little master…”

“Not…Not compared to you…And the lord” Nino flushed looking at the beautiful man in front of him and Masaki flicked his nose.

“I can’t lie to those in this house, little master, you’re beautiful. One day you will see that too. Let’s get you dressed. The lord will be waiting for you”

TBC

A/N: I hope that this is okay >.<

Comments

[yumi_usagi]

Yay the story is back!
I love this Aimiya chapter! So cute! I can see they will be best friends on no time!
Thanks for sharing!

[reveetoile]

I misread the first sentence at first like "He felt something gnawing at his side" and I was surprised how calm Nino was XDD

But it is really cute. Aiba is so nice to him

[jheili]

Thanks for sharing! Aiba taking care of Nino is cute.<3

[gambitsfox]

Nino is all clean and ready to see Jun again.....I think Jun will like what he sees.😊💜💛

[denyclamp]

I missed this universe!
Masaki so warm and cosy as always! Nino will very soon feel better with himself and his new life with these 2!
Can't wait to see how Masaki dresses and prepares him for the lord!