Geisha (Shinobi Saga) (4 page)

For his part, Zenshiro tried to make his entry swift and brutal. The blood coating his length when he withdrew almost a disappointment, an albeit painful lubricant he would have loved to forgo. “See what happens when you resist me, Ama-chan? You brought this on yourself.”

The shadow wolf surrendered his body to the assault, mind wandering away to contemplate the various tortures he’d like to inflict on his so-called teacher.

“Talk to me, slut. Is this what you like? It must be, you aren’t even fighting back.”

The whispered taunts edged their way into Yoshi’s consciousness. He knew better than to listen, but the long day and months of stress had eroded his self-protective instincts. “You want to fight? Fine, let’s fight,” he muttered.

The sharp elbow driven into his solar plexus caught Zenshiro by surprise, as did the crushing heel strike that fractured his foot. “You bitch,” he roared, struggling to regain his feet. “I’ll kill you for that.”

“And how would you explain it to your master?” The shadow wolf wrapped a surprisingly strong hand around his guard’s throat and hoisted him up to eye level. “You can’t kill me without forfeiting your own life. Take this as a warning, my patience with you has run out.” He removed his hand and Zenshiro slumped to the shower floor, gasping for air. “I am going to bed … alone. Bother me before morning and it will be the last thing you ever do.”

Yoshi turned off the water and grabbed a towel. “By the way, call me a woman again and I swear I will castrate you. And get that foot looked at, if it isn’t set properly you’ll end up permanently crippled.”

***

The news of Zenshiro’s split lip and obviously painful limp spread like wildfire, and it wasn’t long before the other maiko started digging for details. “So, Ama,” Tsubaki whispered as they twisted and turned through an elaborate fan dance. “What happened? Were you actually attacked?”

“Of course not. What on earth are you talking about?”

“Your guard. I heard he was injured rescuing you from some yakuza who were trying to kidnap you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. He’s a clumsy oaf who slipped in the shower.” The corners of Yoshi’s mouth quirked in a near smile. “Whatever you do, don’t pay it any mind. He’s full enough of himself as it is.”

“Girls, stop gossiping and pay attention,” the dance teacher barked. “We only have a few days left to get this right. Now, once more from the beginning.”

After rehearsal the other maiko hurried back to the okiya for dinner while Yoshi trudged to the music mistress’s for another evening of tedious repetition and correction. Hours later he finally emerged, ignoring the lounging guard who ghosted after him as he unsteadily picked his way through the crowded streets. Catcalls and whistles directed at him fell on deaf ears, and any foolish enough to approach the seemingly vulnerable maiko changed their mind when they caught sight of the scowling man limping determinedly after her.

The shadow wolf showered quickly and made his way to the futon, fighting off the urge to sleep as he waited for retaliation that never came. Zenshiro instead opted to sit at the kotatsu and drink his way through the night.

Just after dawn Yoshi felt the futon shift, eyes snapping open as he rolled to face his obviously inebriated guard. “It’s morning, damn it,” Zenshiro slurred. “Like it or not I need to rest. Shake me when you finish showering. Don’t know why you need two showers a day, anyway. You sure act like a woman.” Before a retort was even formulated he was snoring loudly.

A quick breakfast of miso soup and rice and a short shower later and the shadow wolf found himself shaking the unconscious guard. When he got no response after three attempts he gave up and hurriedly finished his preparations, setting off to enjoy his small taste of freedom.

As the day drew on without any sign of his omnipresent shadow Yoshi’s mood lightened. He even gossiped with the other maiko when the dance instructor’s back was turned. He caught himself laughing and realized his deception was getting too easy, and, perhaps, some of Zenshiro’s taunts were truer than he’d like to admit.

The rest of the afternoon went by in a haze. The shadow wolf went through the motions perfectly, but his mind was miles away, dissecting every action of the last few months in an attempt to salvage his battered psyche. By the time he left the music mistress Yoshi was almost glad to see his guard leaning against the gate.

“I’m surprised to see you’re still here.” Zenshiro moved closer, looming over the seemingly fragile figure in the brightly colored kimono. “I would have thought you’d run while you had the chance.”

“I can’t run. Like it or not my orders are clear. I am to do as the Mochizuki no Shuhan bids until I hear otherwise. As he sent me here, I’m duty bound to stay.”

“Well, I guess that means it’s time for me to take you home.” A shiver ran down Yoshi’s spine, the threatening undertone in his guard’s words was clear.

“About the other night…”

“I don’t want to talk about that,” Zenshiro stated flatly. “In fact, I don’t want to talk at all.”

Once they reached the apartment the shadow wolf tried again. “Did you get your foot looked at?”

“Can you, just once, do as I say? Hurry up and get undressed, I have no patience for your slow shit tonight.”

Yoshi quickly shed his kimono and pulled the pins from his hair. “Where do you want me?”

“Bathroom,” his guard grunted. “I’m going to give you an enema first.”

“That really isn’t necessary,” the shadow wolf squeaked.

“Yes, it is.” Zenshiro shoved the startled shinobi into the shower compartment, pushing him down on all fours. He admired the trembling figure for a moment before roughly inserting the nozzle. A sadistic grin twisted his features as a single tear tracked down the finely boned face.

Once, twice, three times he was filled and emptied. The humiliation was worse than any torture Yoshi had ever suffered and he vowed to get his revenge when the opportunity presented itself. “Okay, I think you’re clean enough.”

The shadow wolf tried to stand, but his shaky legs didn’t want to hold his weight. “Dry yourself off and go kneel on the bed,” his guard commanded. “And be quick about it.”

Eager to get whatever was in store for him over with, Yoshi hurried to comply. He knelt submissively, head bowed, while Zenshiro watched with approval. “Since you don’t want to continue our games, I’m going to give you a break,” he explained. “Instead, I think we’ll try some deprivation training.”

Large hands reached around and grabbed the shadow wolf’s cock, stroking it roughly until it hardened. Then a slotted steel cage was quickly slipped over it, a small padlock ensuring it could not be removed. “And now for the other side,” Zenshiro proclaimed. “You’ll be thankful for that enema, I don’t plan on removing this until you’ve learned to appreciate my attentions.”

Yoshi tensed as a heavy metal buttplug was slowly inserted. Once it was seated he relaxed slightly, it was hardly the worst thing he’d had to bear. Then his guard slowly turned the protruding handle and it began to spread, forcing his inner walls wider and wider. “That should do for now.” Zenshiro chuckled as he inserted a small key and locked it in position. “A couple of days like this and you’ll be begging for my cock.”

“Don’t hold your breath,” Yoshi shot back. “Anything is preferable to you.”

By the next morning the shadow wolf was rethinking his rash defiance. Dressing was agony, the weight of the cage and the lock in his ass making every movement torturous. By the time dance rehearsal started his usual grace had deserted him, and he drew the ire of all the other maiko when they had to restart repeatedly because of his awkward motions.

On the way back to the apartment he tried to convince Zenshiro he’d changed his attitude, but the pleading fell on deaf ears. “I’ll be the laughing stock of the hana-machi if I try to perform like this,” Yoshi explained. “Our return to the Shuhan is dependent on my success.”

“I guess you’ll have a lot of explaining to do, then.”

By the time the third day of his confinement rolled around the shadow wolf was frantic. The dance instructor threatened to pull him from the lineup, prompting a round of giggling taunts from the other maiko. To make matters worse, the okasan lectured him for over an hour on the importance of taking his commitments seriously. For the first time in his life he was tempted to forgo his orders and just escape, although the thought of living indefinitely with his torture devices in place made him realize the futility of such action.

When they returned to the apartment late that night Yoshi swallowed his pride and prostrated himself at his guard’s feet. “I humbly beg that you release me so that I may properly serve you,” he whispered.

“Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?” Zenshiro stroked the shadow wolf’s tear-stained face. “Kneel on the bed.” The cock cage was unlocked and slipped off, and then, finally, the key was inserted in the anal lock and the spread leaves were slowly retracted so it could be slipped out.

The guard knelt in front of Yoshi, gathering him in his arms and stroking his hair. “See how nice this can be,” he whispered. “I so prefer it when you don’t fight me. Let me remind you of how good I can make you feel.”

The kiss was unexpectedly tender, slow, almost chaste. Zenshiro’s tongue slipped out to trace the shadow wolf’s soft lower lip before gently teasing its way inside to map every nook and cranny of his mouth. Yoshi clung to him, bonelessly melting against his guard’s strong chest as his own tongue joined in the tantalizing dance.

They swayed together, both reveling in the unexpected sweetness of the moment. For the first time in his life the shadow wolf didn’t stop to analyze what was happening or second guess his feelings, surrendering, instead, to the draw of a loving touch in a life that had never known one. Zenshiro unexpectedly found himself in possession of what he had been craving all along. The thought of the reclusive shinobi willingly yielding to his advances filled him with heady pride, and he regretted the harshness of their earlier encounters.

“I'm sorry I've been so hard on you,” the guard murmured. “I just wanted you so badly, and you hate me.”

“I never said I hated you,” Yoshi retorted. “I don't appreciate having no control over my life, especially when it comes to sex. If circumstances were different, perhaps … but it's too late for that now. Time doesn't run backwards, I can neither restore my innocence or forget the things you've done to me. In a few days we'll be heading back to your Shuhan, and our time will be over for good. It's better for both of us to leave things as they've been.”

“And if I want more?” Zenshiro's question wrung a wry smile from the shadow wolf.

“Do you really want to defy your master? Leave behind everyone and everything you believe in for a man who will never trust you? Let it go, for both our sakes. I would prefer not to lose my life due to your Shuhan's jealousy.” Yoshi broke eye contact, once more submissively lowering his gaze. “Just do whatever you had planned and then let me rest.”

“I can't force you, not now. I wanted to, so badly, but … just go to sleep. You've had a hard week and you need to be well rested for your performance tomorrow.”

“Will you stay with me?” The shadow wolf's simple request twisted a knife in Zenshiro's heart. He cursed whoever set Yoshi on this path, consigning him to a life devoid of pleasure.

“For a bit, until you fall asleep,” the guard murmured, running a hand soothingly through long, icy locks. Mismatched eyes watched him suspiciously until exhaustion finally overcame the shadow wolf's defenses and they fluttered shut. Zenshiro continued the repetitive motion long after his charge had slipped into sleep, lost in contemplation of the sacrifices demanded of ninja and whether, in the end, duty was worthy of its demands.

***

Yoshi waited with the other maiko, hidden off stage as the audience gathered. Several of the girls peeked out at the crowd, rushing to tell the others about the various dignitaries visible in the front rows. “I’m sure to find a rich patron after tonight,” Tsubaki squealed. “I have what every man is looking for.”

“Keep telling yourself that,” Momoko shot back. “Who’s going to even notice you in the back row? Ama’s the one everyone will be watching.”

The shadow wolf raised his hands in appeasement. “I’d just as soon not be here at all. I’ll be happy to trade spots with you.”

“There will be no changes.” The dance mistress had been listening to the chatter and decided to cut short any plans to sabotage her carefully choreographed presentation. “Ama is in the front because she earned it. Work harder and, perhaps, next year will be your turn.”

“I hate you,” Tsubaki hissed as they lined up for the first number. “I wish you never came to the okiya. You've ruined everything.”

“It wasn't my idea,” Yoshi muttered. “I'll gladly trade places with you. I doubt you'd enjoy the attentions of a cruel old tyrant. Be careful what you wish for.”

After the dancing was finished all the maiko passed out into the hall to mingle with the audience while the stage was reset for the music performances. The shadow wolf lagged behind the others, unwilling to expose his disguise to further scrutiny. As soon as he emerged, a familiar face caught his eye. “Orders for you,” the Kobayashi ninja explained as he slipped a note into Yoshi's frozen hand. “You're to report back to headquarters within the week.”