Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/13932192.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Graphic_Depictions_Of_Violence, Rape/Non-Con, Underage
  Category:
      M/M
  Fandom:
      Lamento_-BEYOND_THE_VOID-, Kuroshitsuji_|_Black_Butler
  Relationship:
      Konoe/Rai_(Lamento)
  Character:
      Konoe_(Lamento), Rai_(Lamento), Bardo_(Lamento), Ciel_Phantomhive
  Additional Tags:
      alternative_universe, Alternate_Universe_-_Pirate, Pirates, Intimidation,
      Rape/Non-con_Elements, Violence, Ciel_makes_a_cameo_appearance_in_chapter
      1, because_Rai_has_a_fucking_eyepatch, Sexual_Slavery, smut_with_plot,
      Porn_With_Plot, because_pirates, it_seemed_like_a_good_idea_at_the_time,
      I_have_it_out_for_Konoe, Non-Consensual_Touching, Non-Consensual
      Spanking, Bathing/Washing, Exposition, Nudity, Piercing, Nipple
      Piercings, Non-Consensual_Body_Modification, Alternate_Universe,
      Alternate_Universe_-_Fantasy, Fantasy, Blow_Jobs, First_Meetings, First
      Kiss, First_Time_Blow_Jobs, Public_Blow_Jobs, Public_Sex, Public_Claiming
  Stats:
      Published: 2018-03-11 Updated: 2018-03-29 Chapters: 6/? Words: 24209
****** Siren of the Sea ******
by SonicoSenpai
Summary
     In this AU, Konoe finds himself abducted by a pirate slaving ship,
     captained by the terrifying Captain Rai. His ability to sing is
     inadvertently discovered when trying to help a sick young fellow
     kitten Ciel, who hasn’t dealt with the capture well. His comforting
     Siren’s melody was heard throughout the ship, and catches the
     captain’s eye. Will he be able to hold his own, against this fearsome
     seafaring devil?
***** Chapter 1 *****
Chapter Summary
     Konoe is below deck, trying to care for a fellow sick captive, young
     Ciel, who is ailing. In order to help this young kitten, he grooms
     him, snuggles up next to him to share body heat, and hums a tune. The
     tune is what catches the attention of the Captain of the Murderous
     Joy.
The space below deck is dark and cramped when I awake. I feel my body swaying
gently, even though it is firmly planted on the dirty floor, which smells of
days old vomit, shit, and piss. I know I’m not alone, but the cramped quarters
are strangely quiet, the wood of the ship creaking slowly, a foreign sound in
my ears.
When we first arrived, I tried keeping track of the days since I’d been
abducted, but the light that peeked through the cracks in the ceiling was so
slim I lost interest, along with the food in my belly. We were provided with
several waste buckets, and we made good use of them. None of the prisoners had
been to sea before, and we were fairly far out—at least, I assumed we were from
the swell of the ship.
I keep my tail curled around my body as I stay huddled in my small corner.
Several cats had been removed from these quarters already: those who complained
the loudest, for example, or those who had drawn claws or dared to bare fangs
at their captors. I was tempted to defend myself, of course. But what could I
do? We were hopelessly outnumbered, and tremendously outsized.
These seafaring cats were rough, tall, brawny, scarred creatures, some nearly
twice my stature. I’m from the land-locked village of Karou, which, as it turns
out, is quite isolated from the world. I’ve never seen cats this size. I’d been
trained to fight and defend my territory, but I’d been easily disarmed in the
forest, easily outnumbered when these pirates plundered my camp.
I’d drifted off to sleep—meaning only to rest my wearing legs on a trip to the
city of Ransen. I’d gotten myself turned around on the road, and found the
coast of Sisa instead. I was sure I was alone. It turns out I was mistaken—as
were the dozen other captives currently sharing this tiny cell. Gods only knew
where we were headed, and what they wanted with us. I didn’t have any skills
that could be put to use. So making myself as invisible as possible seemed the
best option.
In the group, there is a young cat who is very ill. He has been unable to
retain any stale bread or even water. I’m afraid he may die here, and there is
nothing I can do for him. He is frightened, and he stopped speaking yesterday.
His skin is very pale, his eyes a watery aquamarine, and his hair, ears, and
tail look gray in the light, but are probably raven when clean and groomed.
I’m tempted to call for help, but I know if I do, I may be taken away like the
others. And none of them have returned. We heard screams, but no one knows what
became of them. I put my hand between the shivering kitten’s ears—they look so
soft in the dark—and he feels hot to my touch. He doesn’t flinch under my
touch, merely quivering beneath my fingers.
I whisper to the older captive next to us—probably in his 30s, I guess, “This
young kitten is very ill. I think he has a fever. He has finally stopped
vomiting, but I think it’s because there’s nothing left in his stomach.”
The older cat glances at me for a second and replies, “Well, that’s more food
for the rest of us, isn’t it?”
I’m shocked by his callousness, and I don’t know how to respond. I feel anger
welling up inside.
“What, are you going to do something about it? Call for help? Don’t you know
what happened to those other cats?”
“What happened to them?” I ask. I have no idea what happened to them, so I
wonder how he can be so sure.
“This is a pirate slaving ship. We are to be sold off as slaves. If we don’t
behave, we will be beaten, raped, tortured, and thrown overboard. If that’s
what you want, why don’t you try to get help for him?”
Fear creeps up in my belly, and I feel a shudder run through me. I saw the size
of the cats who captured us, and the idea of them putting their hands on me
revolts me. But then, I turn my head to the small kitten next to me, watching
his messy ears twitch in discomfort. He didn’t want this, and he can’t even be
fifteen.
I curl my body around his—I’m freezing in this damp air, too, but sharing body
heat will help—and I fluff out the fur on my tail, wrapping it around us both.
His whole body is shaking, and I feel so sorry for him. I tentatively try
grooming his ears with my tongue, and I feel his body relax and melt against
mine.
Even if this won’t help him in the long run, giving him just a little comfort,
a little companionship, even if I’m afraid, too, is the least I can do. I
whisper directly into his ear, “It’s OK. You’re going to be all right. I know
you’re afraid. But I’m here with you. I won’t leave you. I’ll do my best to
protect you. It’s going to be OK.”
And slowly, I can feel the tension leaking out of his body.
I hear the older cat huff and say, “Fine, you get sick then, too. That’ll just
mean more food for me.”
“Don’t listen to him,” I whisper, very softly. And I can feel the young kitten
purring. “I’m Konoe. What’s your name?”
I haven’t heard him say a single word within the past day, so I don’t expect
him to speak. He surprises me when he softly replies with his name. “I’m Ciel.”
“What a nice name.” I can feel my own purr in the back of my throat, and I
start to hum. I’ve been a lone cat for many years—since my mother passed when I
was only eight—and I remember many songs she sang to comfort me. I always sing
when I’m alone, be it to comfort myself, to make myself feel better when I’m
ill, or just to feel less alone. She loved my voice, and I’ve continued singing
to this day.
My song is different than voiced songs—it’s hard to explain. I feel an
emotion—in this case, I want to comfort Ciel, hoping he feels better, and I
want him to know I am here for him. And with those emotions, a song emerges
from my body. As I’m wrapped around him, I imagine that I am glowing, tendrils
of soft light reaching from my body like slim fingers out to his. And this is
what the melody of the music does, into his ears, mind, and body, and Ciel
finds it soothing.
I’ve rarely had the chance to try this on another cat. In fact, this is the
first time. I’m pleased to see Ciel relax even further, and I watch him close
his eyes in peaceful slumber. The melody is soft, gentle and soothing, and it
soothes me, as well. Strangely, I realize that the imagined glowing light from
my song shows that there are dozens and dozens of tick marks scratched onto the
walls, as if someone was here for a very long time.
What I don’t expect, however, is within the first five minutes of my song, that
the door to the lower cabin bursts open with a crash. I’m shocked out of my
reverie, and Ciel freezes in my arms. It’s one of our captors—this one hugely
heavy set and brawny, with an orange tiger pattern on his long, thick tail and
ears, dark hair and a beard. He throws open the cage door when he enters. He
looks quite old to me, and has a loud booming voice.
“What was that singing? Who is responsible for that noise? The Captain wants to
see the cat who was singing that tune, right this minute!”
Filled with terror, I didn’t realize I’d been doing anything offensive. The
other captives in the cell cower on the floor, and the older guy, the one who
wants my share of the food, points at me, saying, “It’s that one in the corner.
He has some complaints, too.”
My jaw drops as the tiger grabs the scruff of my neck and pulls me to my feet.
“Complaints, eh?” I notice he’s missing a hand. One of his hands has been
replaced by a hook, which he proceeds to run down the side of my cheek. “You
think you can run this ship better, do you?”
I open my mouth, and I’m shaking so much I can’t even produce a single word.
“How did we miss this one down here? You’re quite a sweet thing.” The tiger
turns back to that tattletale. “Damn, are you sure he was the one singing?”
“Y-yessir. He was complaining that smaller c-cat had been ill and not well
taken care of.”
What a liar! I’m shaking with rage as well as fear, but the words won’t come. I
try again—the cat grabbing me by my neck is easily twice my size. I kick out my
legs, struggling to be put down, accidentally kicking him in the shin.
“Oi? Hey now! You’re coming with me!” And he hoists me over his shoulder like a
sack of flour, over his shoulder, patting my ass with his hand much more
affectionately than I’m comfortable with. That’s enough—and I find my voice.
“Put me go! Let down! Stop! Get off your hands on me!” And my words are all
fucked up.
The tiger cat roars with laughter, rubbing my ass again. “My gods, are we gonna
have fun with you! What, did I make the little kitty angry? You poor little
thing! Your tail is all fluffy! Look at that!”
He grabs my tail, and I hate it—I have a crooked tail, and he makes a beeline
straight for it.
“Aww, it’s a lucky tail! You know, Captain has a weak spot for crooked tails,
you know!” He licks it, and I can’t help shivering—and not just from the
overpowering sensation running through me. I’m filled with fear of what’s
coming next. I desperately fight the tears I feel in the corner of my eyes,
especially when I feel him walking toward the door.
“Ciel!” I shout. “It’s all right, Ciel. You’re going to be all right!”
I can feel the tiger chuckling underneath my body as he walks up the stairs.
“Oh, yeah, I’m sure your little friend will be quite all right. If I were you,
I’d be more worried about myself...”
Another bolt of fear shoots through me. He carries me up a flight of stairs and
down a narrow hallway. It’s hard to catch my bearings since I’m upside down,
but I think we end up toward the front if the ship. He knocks at a door, and I
hear a deep voice from behind the door, “Enter!”
Unceremoniously, I’m dumped on the floor, and I hit my head on a built-in
cabinet on the way down.
This must be the Captain’s quarters. I look around in amazement. It’s like
something out of a fairytale. The dark wood cabinets are meticulously
maintained, with lots of storage space. I see a fine uniform coat hanging
beside the door, decorated with what look like official battle medals from
Sisa’s navy—why would the captain of a pirate ship have an official Sisa
uniform?On my right, I see a large, sumptuous bed covered in navy and burgundy
bedding, animal furs, and more lush pillows I’ve ever seen, and drapes that can
close it off from the rest of the cabin. On the left, it’s the command center,
a table covered in maps, a sextant, other navigational tools, a handheld
telescope, and measurement devices I don’t recognize. Several chairs surround
the table, and at one, I clearly identify the Captain.
I know he’s the Captain, even though his hat is on the table, carelessly off to
the side. He’s armed with both a dagger and a longsword, which, even though
he’s alone in his chambers, he hasn’t removed front his person. I can tell he’s
in charge. And not just from his black eyepatch.
He is easily as tall as the brawny tiger, but much leaner and younger. His skin
is almost pale enough to be called white. He has hair down to his waist,
falling in wispy silver layers, not daring to get in his way. The remaining eye
in his chiseled, handsome face shines an icy, pale blue, surrounded by
sumptuous think lashes, and misses nothing. His ears are small and rounded, and
cock forward, showing interest in me.
Why would he be concerned with my song?I wonder. In his presence, I feel
several things simultaneously. First, from my position on the floor, I feel
very afraid for coming to his attention. Second, I’m absolutely captivated, and
I cannot look away. While he may be fearsome, he’s incredibly attractive. I
find myself gawking.
“What is this?” Even his voice is gorgeous. “What is this piece of filth doing
on the floor, dirtying up my cabin?”
“Apologies, Captain,” the tiger speaks boldly. “At your request, this is the
source of the song you heard.”
“That song was produced by this... filthy runt?” The Captain is out of his
chair. In two strides of those long, muscular legs (though I’m trying not to
look) and a shake of a long, bushy white tail, he’s at my side, grabbing my
chin. I don’t want to meet his gaze—I’m terrified of this man—but he jerks my
face up to meet his gaze.
That cool blue eye searches my face. “Hmm. I wonder. He might clean up well.
I’m surprised at his size. There’s nothing to him.”
He looks at the tiger. “Yet I know what I heard. He is the Siren. Be sure to
keep the others away from him—this one belongs to me. See to it that he’s
cleaned up, and bring him back to my quarters.”
The terror in my body is morphing into complete panic. I try to pull my face
away from the iron grip, but I can’t. Several small fearful noises pass my
lips, and I try to swallow them down. I whisper, “No.”
The handsome, fine features in front of me soften a little at my resistance.
“Are you frightened? Ah, perhaps you should be. However...” and the hand drops
from my chin, down to my throat, where it takes a firm hold, taking my breath
away. “I don’t see that you have much say in this matter. And besides...” The
hand wanders down a little more, flattening out over my chest and stomach, and
suddenly violently palming my groin, where it grabs me quite firmly.
I hear a strange, lewd sigh—a mix between a yelp and a purr—coming from my
mouth. No one has ever touched me there, or like this before. My dick responds
instantly to his touch, blood from my head rushing straight into that area,
leaving me lightheaded and my lips numb.
His face is so close to mine that I feel his lips brushing my ear. “I’ve been
looking for you for a long time. And look?” Another squeeze down there, making
me gasp. “You came right to me! Literally, fell right into the palm of my hand.
I think we should have some fun together, don’t you?”
I feel a small puff of breath from his mouth into my ear, and in shock, I
shrink as far into the corner as I can. He laughs heartily, saying, “You’re
really not doing the legend of the Siren justice, kitten, wearing your
virginity so openly on your face like you do!”
Turning to the tiger, he repeats, “Mine. And only mine. Make sure that is
understood, or there will be consequences.”
He gives my ears a playful rub, and kisses me, full on the mouth, to my shock
and surprise. Who the hell does he think he is?
***** Chapter 2 *****
Chapter Summary
     Konoe is taken away by the tiger cat to get cleaned up, and it
     goes... about as well as things can go on a pirate ship.
     Triggers include: Non-consensual touching, bathing, and spanking,
     plus intimidation.
The tiger grabs me by the neck, dragging me out of the Captain’s quarters. I am
still shaking like a leaf after my interaction with the Captain. All joking
aside, shouldn’t I be equally as afraid of the tiger as I am of the silver-
haired cat? Yet, the look in that pale blue eye chilled me to the bone when he
implied that thing about ownership. Ownership of my person. And why? What could
he want with me?
As I’m being dragged down the hallway—I can walk, I’m not an object!—I look up
at the tiger, and consider asking him. I work hard at forming the words, since
my mouth has gone completely dry.
“Wh-what…?” My first attempt isn’t a success. I struggle with his fingers at my
throat and try again. “What does he want with me? What is he talking about?
What’s a Siren?”
The tiger is surprised to hear me talking, and glances down at me, not entirely
without interest. A gruff noise comes from his lungs, and he doesn’t slow his
steps. I’m guessing we are about midship as we enter a galley. It’s a kitchen.
“Meh, it couldn’t hurt to tell you, I suppose. You’ve never heard of the Siren
of the sea? Where is your hometown, kitten?” His voice doesn’t sound as gruff
as it was earlier. He places me on a bench, next to a large workspace.
The workspace looks oversized—at least for me, anyway. Maybe this is his
workspace? There are pots and pans everywhere, some tools I don’t recognize,
and some that I use at home for medicinal purposes. I briefly wonder why these
would be in the kitchen.
“Karou,” I say the name of my home village quietly. A knot forms in the back of
my throat, when I realize I may never see it again. I try to swallow. “Where
are we going, anyway?”
“So many questions, and so much to do. Do you have a name?”
“Konoe.”
“Konoe of Karou. I’m the first mate on board this vessel, and the Captain is
special to me. He’s taken an interest in you unlike anyone I’ve ever seen
before. I’m not sure if this is a good thing, but for your sake, I suggest you
start getting used to the idea.”
“An interest? What do you mean?” I feel like I’ve been pushed up close to the
edge of a cliff and forced to look over, and now I see an eternal fall into
darkness. That fear threatens to take over my mind, and my ears flatten against
my head, my fur bristling.
The tiger approaches me. “Konoe of Karou. Let’s try this again. I’m Bardo,
first mate of The Murderous Joy. It looks to me like you’re thinking of
running. Let me advise you against that course of action. There’s nowhere you
can go where we won’t find you, and running definitely won’t put you on the
Captain’s good side. You’d be better off if you just submit, here and now.”

I can hear my pulse racing loudly in my ears.

“Submit? T-to what?”
“Well, for now, he only asks I clean you up, and then return you to his
chambers. That is all. You look a mess.”
“I-i-i can do that myself.”

“I’m sure you can. But he didn’t ask you to do it, did you?” A somewhat devious
smile appears on Bardo’s lips. What does he mean to do?
“I don’t understand. W-what do you want?”
“Strip. Those clothes have got to go. We can’t have lice onThe Joy, and
certainly not in the Captain’s quarters. He’ll have my hide.”
What did he say? Lice? I don’t have lice. And I’m not going back in there!
I’m alarmed. Is he serious? I freeze in place, and don’t move a muscle. He must
be joking. He’s turned his back to the work area, and it looks like he’s
pulling out some tools—maybe a brush or a comb, and he’s pulling a pot of…
boiling water off the stove. Wait—boiling water?
“What are you going to do with that water?”
“Oh, this is for you. We’ve got to get you cleaned up.” His voice is even, but
his back is still turned away from me.
I look more carefully, and I’m sure that water is boiling. The hair stands up
on the back of my neck, and I’m not having any of this. Bardo is standing
between the door and me, but I’m sure I can make it. Especially if it means
that I’m not going to get boiled alive, or that my skin won’t be burned.What
the hell?
Using my claws to get a good grip, I spring off the bench, all at once, using
every last bit of strength I have in my body and both my arms and legs for
leverage. I even make it to the doorway and get the door open and my foot into
the hallway—but I realize too late I made one minor miscalculation. I’d
forgotten to keep my tail in line with my body. Bardo’s hook grabs my tail at
the last minute and pulls me back, forcing me back into the galley.
With a loud crash, I fall to the floor, and man, he used only the strength in
his arm to stop me! I make a pretty horrible squawk as I hit the ground and
groan in pain as I lie there, curling my tail close to my body defensively.
“Listen, Konoe of Karou,” Bardo’s voice is hovering over me—I won’t open my
eyes. I don’t want to see how close he is to me. “Do you know what would happen
to you if you’d made it to the deck?”
“Ugh—what?” I’m in terrible pain.
“If Master Gen had found out that you were escaping the Captain’s orders, you’d
be given a severe birching on your bare ass, in front of the entire crew—which,
in spite of the Captain’s insistence that you are his, he hasn’t marked you
yet, which isn’t in your favor. I seriously doubt things would end well for
you. I think you’re be better off staying with me.”
“What?”
“You don’t think I’m going to ignore your attempt to escape, do you? You just
tried to escape from me, a kind disabled old man with one arm. You better
believe you’re going to pay for it later! But for now, let’s get to the task at
hand. Strip. Get out of those clothes, and hop to it.”
My eyes fly open at his words, and my jaw drops, but I don’t know what to do.
“Get naked,” Bardo repeats. “Don’t make me say it again. You don’t want my help
because this hook isn’t kind to skin as pretty as yours.”
I feel a shiver run through my body, and tears well up in my eyes. I refuse to
cry in front of this old pervert! The Captain said—
“The Captain said I was his.” I stand up, and take off my shirt over my head.
The shirt smells disgusting—it practically stands up on its own it’s got so
much filth attached to it. I throw it on the floor in anger.
“That he did.” Bardo crosses his arms, watching me with a crafty look in his
eyes.
I kick off my boots, angrily. They too are covered in filth.
“What?” I ask, keeping my tone confident, to keep the tears from falling. I
move my hands to my sash and apron, tearing both of my body in one motion. “See
something you like?”
“Certainly. Although, you’re a little scrawny, aren’t you? You need a little
more meat on your bones, in my opinion.” 
“You don’t have to look if I offend,” I say, puffing out my chest, noticing my
fur has bristled up even further. I move my hands to my belt and take it off,
too, tossing it aside carelessly. Scrawny? What the hell!
 “You’re pretty young, aren’t you? Not twenty?”
“I’ll be twenty this year. I think.” I add the last two words very quietly. 
“Oh? You think? Your parents have so many litters they couldn’t remember when
you were born?”
“No!” I snap, my hands resting on the waistband of my pants. Bardo isn’t
meeting my eyes. He totally is checking out my body. I rip off my pants. “I’m
alone in this world. My father died before I was born. Mom died when I was
seven or eight, I don’t know how old I was.”
He meets my gaze then, quite suddenly. I lift my head proudly.I’m not going to
give this guy the pleasure of seeing my tears, my humiliation. I toss my pants
aside and meet his gaze, and think, Fuck you.
But his face is softer now. He looks... sad, nostalgic, almost heart broken.
Why? I don’t need your fucking pity. Fucking pirate. He opens his mouth as if
to say something, and then closes it. He tries again.
“Konoe of Karou, I’m sorry. I was insensitive.” A short pause.
“It was long ago. Make nothing of it. I just don’t know exactly how old I am.”
“Didn’t the people in your village help raise you?”
“The people in my village hoped I would die so they could have my family’s
land. They were surprised I could feed myself at eight years old, and that I
survived. I learned to fight, protect my territory, but I wasn’t accepted in
the community.” I am standing in my underwear, and I look at Bardo rather
awkwardly.
I think the most confident move would be to bravely divest myself of my last
filthy garment, but that boiling water frightens me. Do sailors not feel the
heat the same way other cats do? I’m afraid he may just dump it on me.
“Get rid of those, and come along then,” Bardo says suddenly, nodding to my
underwear, and turning on his heel.
He takes the pot of water off the stove and adds it to a small tub, already
partially filled, resting the floor behind the counter. I hadn’t seen it since
I’d been sitting on the bench, and then I’d run off toward the doorway. 
I comply meekly, feeling a blush rise all the way to my ears. I didn’t really
think he was going to eat me, did I? Of course cats don’t bathe in boiling
water.
“On a ship, hot water can be hard to come by. We can get it here in the
kitchen, and it’s brought to the Captain’s quarters anytime he requests it.
While you’re technically his, he likes to keep his quarters pretty clean, and
you’re… a mess right now. Let’s see if we can get you up to his standards.”
He helps me into the water—and it feels wonderful and smells good. I can’t
place the scent. It smells like mint and rosemary and another herb I can’t
place. I can’t remember the last time I had a warm bath. He pours water over my
head, and soaps up my hair and ears, massaging it with his huge hands so firmly
and thoroughly that I can hardly think.
He pulls my legs back down under the water so he can rinse my hair—and I hear
him say, “I need to check you for lice.”

“I don’t have any.”

“That’s what you say, but you saw the Captain’s pride and joy with your own
eyes. He’d kill me if I allowed you into his quarters tonight without checking
you myself.”

Wait—what did he mean? Into his quarters tonight? My eyes open wide in response
to that statement, and I’m rewarded with soap in them.
“Keep your eyes closed, kitten, or the soap is gonna burn. Let me rinse them
for you. Here—“
He gently rinses the soap from my eyes. He isn’t a mean cat, I realize. In
fact, as he runs the comb through my hair methodically, I begin to enjoy the
touch. It feels good.
He hands me a cloth. 
“I trust you. You clean up your body, give yourself a good rub down, while I’m
going through your hair.”

The galley is light from the torches as well as from the stove, I realize, but
Bardo’s vision must be very good. He’s examining my hair very closely, combing
through each strand, then pulling it aside. It pulls a little at the root, but
he tries to be gentle. He even goes through the fur of my ears. It occurs to me
that he might also want to go through the fur on my tail, and I start to feel
uncomfortable and worry.
I don’t like other cats touching my tail, and it’s still awfully sore from when
he pulled it so hard earlier. When I merely think about him touching it with
that comb, a little shiver runs through it and all the way up my spine. I don’t
think I’ll be able to tolerate that kind of intimacy.
So while he’s looking through the fur on my ear, I ask casually, “Cats don’t
tend to get lice on their tails, do they?”
“Oh, they certainly do."
“…”
After a pause, I try again. 
“Will you have to use that comb on my tail?” I can’t keep the desperation out
of my voice. 
“Is there a problem? Are you itching or something?”
“No! Nothing like that! I don’t have lice. I just don’t think I will be able to
stand it. I don’t like my tail to be touched. It’s very sensitive.”
Bardo stops combing for a moment and tilts my chin in his direction. I hate
this. I feel like a child, and I’ve never been treated as a child. I may look
small, but I am an adult here.
“You are adorable.”
His words surprise me—so much that a  stupid-sounding shocked noise drops out
of my mouth.
“Huh?”
“I don’t want to worry you, but if you don’t think you can handle me combing
your tail for lice, what in the hell are you going to do tonight? In the
Captain’s quarters? Again, I don’t want to worry you—I really did do my best
with him—I tried, but he is the type to prefer a good fight to a good fuck. And
so, he doesn’t have that much experience. I’m genuinely afraid for you.”
“What? What are you talking about? I’m a guy! What is there to be afraid of?”
As the words leave my mouth, I am forming the thoughts, I remember the look the
silver cat was giving me,  and fear starts creeping in again.
“Oh, you’ll find out soon enough. You poor thing. You really did grow up
isolated. You haven’t even had your first heat yet, have you?”
“My first what?" Did he say "heat"? Something gets hot? Am I going to get
burned?
Bardo looks terribly concerned, but he also has that wicked smile on his face,
which both confuses and worries me. I wonder what I should do, but the fear in
my body takes over, and I start to panic, standing up in the water, splashing
around as I do so.
“No, no, no, don’t you panic—we’re not done here—and what are you doing—and
stop splashing!” Bardo can get very loud, it turns out. He grabs something from
the side of the tub, and I barely register seeing his hand coming down against
my ass—my gods, is he about to hit me? 
Oh my gods, he just hit me! The sound is ear-splitting—I hear it first—a loud,
wet smack—I can’t believe how loud it is—and then before I can process the
sound, I feel it. Shit! Gods, as loud as it was, it hurts twice as much! What
the hell was that!? No way in hell was that just his hand! Holy shit—my ass is
burning! 
And before I finish feeling the burn in my ass, I hear another slap, also as
equally loud and as wet, equally as shocking, and my voice makes it out of my
mouth in a yelping cry this time—hopeless, helpless, it sounds like a squeak—so
damn embarrassing! And this one hurts even worse the second time than it did
the first, because the second blow hit a little lower, just at the spot where
my leg and ass connect, and holy shit—is that painful!
Those tears that were threatening to come out earlier in humiliation are right
there again, poised and ready to go—if he hits me again, I’m sure I won’t be
able to keep them in. I squeeze my legs together, take in a deep breath and sit
back down in the tub, immersing my burning ass in the hot water once again. I
see a hairbrush in his hand—he’s picked it up from along side the tub and that
was his implement.
“Don’t you do that! No panicking while I’m in the room.” Bardo says sternly.
“Anyway, I still probably owe you a few more swats for when you tried to run
off.” He rubs my shoulders in a friendly way. “You took those pretty well. I’m
impressed. But shit, if your ass isn’t made for that, I don’t know whose is. If
you know what’s good for you, you’ll do what you’re told, when you’re told, and
you keep that thing covered at all costs. Just my advice from a guy whose been
around a lot longer than you have.”
“Keep what covered?” I ask.
“Good gods,” he mutters. “You are just the greenest kid we’ve ever had on
board, aren’t you?” Bardo leans toward my face.
Speaking of kids, my mind races to Ciel. “Bardo, do you cook? How are
your medical skills? There’s a kid down in the cells where I was held, he’s
young, and he’s really sick. I think he might die. He can’t keep anything down.
That’s actually why I was singing.” 
I feel horrible it’s taken me this long to remember Ciel.Please let him be
okay!
“Please, Bardo.Please. I will do anything. Please. Help him. Get him something
warm to eat, and a blanket. There’s another captive down there who doesn’t care
about him, and isn’t helpful. If I’m not there to help, I’m afraid he will die.
He won’t have anyone to take care of him, if I’m not headed back tonight.
Please. He needs help. He’s a good kid. He isn’t even 15 yet, I bet.”
“Really?” There’s a strange, silken quality to Bardo’s voice I didn’t notice
before, and his face is very close to mine. “Is he as cute as you are?”
Gods, this cat really is a pervert. But whatever it takes to get Ciel warm and
safe.“Yes. He’s cuter, actually. He has dark hair and deep blue eyes, and he’s
super sweet. But he’s got a fever. I tried grooming him and it helped a little.
That’s why I was singing to him.”
“Wait. Did you sing to him? You were singing to him?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“The Captain gets these terrible headaches. They prevent him from sleeping,
from eating, from doing anything. He has to surround himself in darkness. He
looks like death when they come over him. Even since he lost that eye, these
have been coming on more frequently, like they are possessing him, almost like
they are taking over his soul. But when he heard your song, his pain was
relieved. He said it was like your voice cured his pain. He said something
about your song being the Siren’s song. I heard it, too—and it made me feel
quite good, too, and I wasn’t even ailing at the time. The Captain is sure you
healed him.”
I’m a little surprised. It’s taking awhile for all the information Bardo just
gave me to catch up in my head, for some strange reason. My brain isn’t working
quite right. Is it because something smells funny? But what did he say again?
The beautiful, regal, elegant-looking Captain gets painful headaches like that?
The thought makes my heart ache. (Why? He scared me just a few minutes ago,
didn’t he?)
“How often doe he get these headaches?”
“He won’t tell me. But I think they have been interrupting his sleep. And he’s
been obsessing about navigating these waters for weeks, looking for this Siren.
I just didn’t believe it till I heard your voice myself. Hand me your tail.”
I don’t want to.
“Did you like the feel of the hairbrush against your ass? Because I actually
really enjoyed it. I also loved the noise you made when I spanked you with it.
It looked great, too—you jiggle in all the right places.”
“What!?” A shocked, angry noise comes out of my mouth. Who looks at something
like that?! I’m horrified. 
“We can do this in one of two ways. The easy way, in which you hand me your
tail right when I ask you. Or, the hard way, in which I spank theliving
daylights out of that perfectly round little behind of yours with my hairbrush,
and then you hand my your tail like I’ve asked. Either way,you’re going to hand
me your tail.”
I consider the options. I’m not sure I believe there are only two options.
“Your face looks like you think there may be more than two options. Let me
assure youthere are only these two options.”
I look down, ashamed, and then I timidly hand Bardo my tail.
“I’m not going to hurt you. I’ve been doing this a long time.”
And he doesn’t. He’s very gentle—more gentle than he was with the hair on my
head. He’s a cat, so he knows how to handle another cat’s tail. Plus, because
I’m not trying to escape, he doesn’t have to pull. He starts carefully combing
through the fur. It’s not exactly comfortable, but it isn’t horrible. I just
haven’t had another cat touch me in such and intimate way in such a long time,
it’s a strange experience.
When he reaches the hooked part, I feel like he spends an unnecessary amount of
time on it, so I turn to see what he is doing. I hate that part of my tail. I
think I broke it right around the time my mother died, and I didn’t know that
you’re supposed to set the bone to help it heal straight. So it healed crooked.
And every time I look at it, I think of Mom and my inability to care for
myself, and it makes me feel inadequate.
“What are you doing? Isn’t it enough?” I sound crabby.
“I’ve never seen a tail like this. You know, seafarers consider this a lucky
tail.”
“Well, I’m sorry I have a crooked tail.”
“No, I’m saying I like it. It’s a cool tail—it’s great to have such a unique
tail.”
“Well, excuse me for having such a unique tail, then.”
Bardo sighs. “You really are young, and you don’t know how to take a
compliment. I like your tail. It’s an unusually muscular and firm—like a
whip—and your fur, while short, once it’s clean, it’s amazingly thick and
plush. I had no idea you had blonde fur underneath all this grime. Rai is so
totally going to fall for you.”
“Rai?”
“The Captain. His name is Rai. Didn’t I mention?”
I pause for a moment, as Bardo is combing my tail. 
“This may be a strange time to ask.” As I’m sitting in front of this old guy,
without a stitch on, and he’s cleaning my tail of all things, and he’s spanked
my bare ass only minutes before. He’s seen all of me.And I'm very vulnerable.
Why is my mouth going on like this? “Do you know the Captain as more than just
the Captain? You seem very fond of him.”
Bardo looks at my face in surprise. “How did you pick up on that? Hell, maybe
you really are a Siren of the Sea, like Rai said. Is there magic in your
family?”
“Magic?” His question has confused me enough to stop asking my own. There's a
bit of a pause here, while I consider the implications of magic. It hurts my
brain.
“So, Konoe of Karou. You know how you were uncomfortable about me combing
through your tail fur? Lucky you, it’s all done. But unfortunately, that’s not
quite the last bit of fur I have to comb through.”
“It isn’t?” I ask. I’m getting sleepy from sitting in the bath. Plus, something
has been tickling my nose and making me feel weird. I know my brain isn’t
working right.
“Here, sweet kitty, you’re tired. Let’s help you out of the tub, first.” He
helps me stand up and starts to dry me off. It smells really nice. I mean, it
smells really good. “The good thing is that I put a little catnip in the water
to help you smell nice. Rai likes it, and it should help you relax a little,
too. Frankly, you’re going to need al the help you can get.”
Catnip? “Is that what smells so good?”
“No, you are what smells so good,” Bardo replies. “But let me finish. I can’t
bring you back to his quarters just yet. We’ve got two more things to attend
to. Do you know what?”
“Mmmm.” I’m feeling really strange and sleepy. He said something about looking
through all my fur. He did, didn’t he? He got my hair, my ears, and my tail…
what else is there? Wait. I freeze up a moment and peek at Bardo over the towel
he’s using to dry me off.
“You don’t mean…” I make a face. I'm terribly embarrassed.
“Well, critters are just like cats. They like it where it’s nice and warm and
active.”

“Whaaa?” Another strange exclamation comes out of my mouth. I have certainly
done nothing active such as Bardo is implying, especially not since I’ve been
here. I guess they don’t know me, though. And the thought of perfect silver
hair floats through my mind.Why is that in my head?
“What do you want me to do?” I’m mortified. I can’t think of a time in my life
where I’ve been more humiliated.
“Don’t worry about it.” Bardo says. “I also function as the ship’s doctor, in
dire emergencies. If you’ve seen one, you’ve pretty much seen them all.” I
wonder what kind of crew activities or illness cause the crew to have to show
their privates to Bardo, and is it all at the same time? Wow. I really don’t
know much about sailing. “Just sit still, right where you are.”
I obey, and he has his comb again. Ugh. The only way this could get worse is if
he found something, I suppose. And I giggle. I can’t help it. 
“Something funny?” Bardo asks, not looking up from the comb. 
“Well, what if you find something? Am I still ‘his’?” I make my voice sound
deeper when I say the word "his."
“Oh hell, yes. He’d probably just take his frustration out on you another way.
You’d better pray to the gods I don’t find anything.”
I should be afraid of that statement, but I giggle again instead. Bardo
replies, “Someone is pretty sensitive to catnip.”
I ask, “Who?” I’m looking around the room warily, for whoever it is Bardo is
talking about.
“Gods, you are hopeless. What are we going to do with you? He may really eat
you alive.” Bardo is looking at my face now.
“I am hungry, now that you mention it.” The words are spilling out of my mouth
in a hurry, and I can't stop them. I feel so different, so strange, strangely
talkative.
“Shit, maybe that catnip was a bad idea. Man, just don't let him kill you.”
“Kill me? I won't be able to help him if he kills me. What was the other
thing?” I ask.
“Hmm?”
“You said there were two things to attend to. What’s the other thing.”
“Oh. The other thing was to punish you for trying to escape from me earlier.”
I feel a sharp intake of breath from my mouth—I didn’t even mean to. it just
kind of happened on its own—and I cover my butt with both my hands and look
down at the floor in front of me.
“Ah, but when you’re like this, I can’t bring myself to do anything to you.
You're just too cute. Shall we save it for another time? Or perhaps I might
just mention to your owner that you weren’t very corporative when we first
started, but you improved, and he can deal with it as he sees fit?”
“Oh no, don’t tell him. Plus…” My voice wanders off a little.
“What is it?”

“Well, I’m not wearing anything," I say this in a whisper, in case Bardo has
forgotten. It seems he has. "I can’t go in there not wearing any clothes. That
doesn’t seem very… respectful.”
“Oh, doesn’t it?” Bardo’s voice sounds oddly full of mischief. “Don't you think
he might enjoy seeing you naked?”
I look away, blushing fiercely. 
“I don’t want to think about that.”
“You’d better start thinking about it pretty soon. Like—real soon.”
“Don’t you have something I can wear?” I’m close to begging and pleading.
“Please? It’s just not dignified. What if he is having a headache, and I show
up naked? I don't know if I sing when I'm naked.”
“Konoe of Karou, he will be delighted to see you in anything—or nothing at all.
Let’s get your fur brushed out, but I will find you something to wear in the
meantime.” Bardo turns to one of the many cabinets. Really, I’d be thrilled
with a pair of underwear that didn’t stand up on their own.
I don’t want to say that, of course. That would be extremely undignified.
I feel a chill run through my body. It’s cold in here, but I don’t care to
stand any closer to the fire. The fire makes me nervous. I’m not going to tell
Bardo, however. He’s already seen me at my most vulnerable. I don't want to do
anything else embarrassing or shameful.
He pulls out a clean, crisp pair of undershorts for me—even in my size, and in
black, not too risqué. I wonder why they are here, and right away, I push that
thought out of my mind, trying not to think about it. It’s a slaving ship,
after all. I put them on. And then he proceeds to comb out my fur.
“Comb closer to the fire. It’s warmer.”
“I’m fine,” I insist, flinching as little as I can whenever I hear the flames
popping on the stove. “I’m not cold,” my teeth chattering as an obvious
indication of my lie.
“You’re not, are you?” Bardo says, with slight irritation. But he leaves me
alone for once, and lets me suffer on my own. At least until my fur is gleaming
and shining in the firelight—I don’t even recognize my own tail—it’s fluffy and
gorgeous, shiny and beautiful. Finally he says, “All right, You are ready." I
feel him lean over me, a give me a surprisingly swift and sweet lick on the
ear, which makes my shoulder lift up, all by itself. "Let’s go.” And he leads
the way back to the Captain’s quarters. I feel my heart give a mysterious leap,
and I fight the urge to run in the opposite direction.
***** Chapter 3 *****
Chapter Summary
     Back in Captain Rai’s quarters, Konoe is marked as the Captain’s
     property, much to his dismay. Rai tries to prepare him for the ordeal
     to come in front of the crew—where he is informed he will need to be
     publicly claimed as Rai’s, or run the risk of being taken by the rest
     of the crew (at once).
     Trigger warnings: non-con touching, piercing, masturbation,
     penetration, groping, and restraint in this chapter. It will be worse
     in the next chapter.
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
My mind is hazy and fuzzy from whatever it is Bardo put in the bath water, so
as much as my brain is urging me to run from this experience, I end up
cooperating all the way back to the Captain’s quarters. To my surprise, the
chambers are empty when we arrive, but Bardo is unperturbed and seems almost
relieved.
He leads me to the built-in bed when I hear the alarm in my head sound.
However, my body lets itself be pushed against the soft furs, pillows, and
blankets, and Bardo drapes another warm blanket over my clean body.
“Just try to be quiet, and get some rest,” he advises, an earnest look in his
eyes. “That is what you need right now. I’m sure he will return in a moment.
Keep quiet.”
What, if I am quiet, he will forget I’m even here?
But when the cabin door opens, I realize why Bardo has told me to keep quiet.
In that short time, I’d forgotten just how intimidating the Captain really is.
He takes long strides into the chamber, tossing his hat onto the table. Even
the way he strips off his coat—while in private—shows complete confidence in
his role as commander of this band of unruly pirates. He has a certain elegance
to him, though, that the others I’ve encountered on board do not. There’s a
nobility, a pride in the way he carries himself. It’s strange, I think, for a
commander of a pirate vessel. Maybe he wasn’t always a pirate?
I try not to stare, and I keep very still, but he stops what he’s doing just
the same. I hear some jingling and clanking noise in his hands. Of course, he
hasn’t forgotten about me.
“You’re so quiet.” He turns to look toward me, that gorgeous icy blue eye
taking my gaze like he owns it. His powerful gaze make the hair on the back of
my neck stand up, and I nearly flinch under its power alone, but I manage to
maintain eye contact. It’s in our genes to maintain power using eye contact. I
see he uses his powerful gaze to its full advantage, but I’m no slouch either.
I know how to project my gaze, too, though that strange scent from the bath is
affecting me rather powerfully.
For example, why do I find his eye beautiful? But it is, and as he approaches
the draped bed, where I am lying among the pillows—well, where I am propped up,
so I could see when he entered the room—I notice there isn’t a single thing
about his form or face that is physically displeasing or unappealing. He is
tall, lean, and devastatingly handsome. He is extraordinarily muscular, and his
clothing is cut perfectly to show off these features. Might it be possible that
this pirate is a little vain? Are pirates vain creatures? I don’t know.
I’m captivated by his hair. He’s sitting on the side of the bed now—large
enough for four cats my size, or maybe two of his—I’m tempted to reach out and
touch. It looks so soft, the way it shimmers under the soft light of the lamps,
like spun silk or thin strands of silver thread. I’d never dare, though.
As these timid thoughts cross my mind, I’m appalled to watch my own hands
stretch out, grasping a handful—tenderly, gently, like a lover might—just to
feel it slipping through my fingers. I’m mesmerized at the sensation of each
strand sliding through my hands. It feels even softer than it looks. It floats
like silk because that’s its actual texture. It has such a mystical quality.
This is such a soft feature for a cat with otherwise hard lines—a large and
strong body, an unbreakable gaze, a commanding and resounding voice, chiseled
facial features: a long nose, sculpted cheekbones, an angled jaw, and a
slightly pointed chin. Then, in juxtaposition, there’s this amazingly soft
hair—right in my hands—and atop his head, a pair of even softer, rounded ears,
which I long to touch, but they are just out of my reach. I wonder if his tail
is this soft, too....
Suddenly, my mind starts to catch up with what my body is doing. I hear a
strange utterance fall from my mouth—it sounds shocked. And indeed, I am
shocked by my own actions. I really cannot believe I am touching him in this
way—like a lover—without his permission—and taking liberties with hair that I
have heard he is very sensitive about and cares for very much. I’m mortified
that I dared do such a thing, before even introducing myself! I realize what
I’m doing, and before I stop myself, that dreadful noise has fallen from my
lips. I guiltily look up at the eye I know must be bearing down on me with
disdain and the gods only know what else.
I’m even more surprised at the face staking back at me, however.
The Captain’s facial features have softened—so much, that he looks almost like
a different cat. As he is watching his hair in my hands, how I carefully
examine it, running it through my fingers as though it, entranced, he looks at
me with warmth. Is it warmth? Something I don’t dare recognize in his eye—it
almost looks like passion. It frightens me, and that’s when I drop those
strands, more valuable than silver, from my hands, as well as my hands, to my
sides.
“Do I frighten you?” His voice is low and musical, the words gently spoken. His
own hands reach out and take mine—comparing them in size, turning mine over in
his, feeling the knuckles and bones of each, as if memorizing them. He rubs his
thumbs against my palms, which I find simultaneously relaxing and excessively
distracting.
I don’t know whether to answer his question honestly. When he lifts one of my
hands to his lips, keeping that single pale blue eye trained on my own, which
I’m sure I couldn’t open any wider, planting a light kiss on the back with his
soft lips, and following the kiss with a slight lick with his rough tongue, my
astonishment grows even further.
I accidentally release another one of those dumb-sounding shocked noises, and
reflexively try to yank one of my hands back, with the purpose of covering my
mouth. But he refuses to release either, eyebrows raising slightly.
“You don’t like me holding your hands?”
“N-no, it’s not that,” I manage to stutter. “I j-just don’t know why I’m making
all these embarrassing sounds in front of you!”
I feel my face and chest heating up, which means my ears are going to go next.
I can just feel the heat spreading into them with horror. I watch as his
expression changes from simple curiosity to surprise to utter delight.
“Your ears turn pink when you blush?” He cannot hide awe and the pleasure in
his voice.
“Well, it’s a n-natural thing, isn’t it?” Of course they do, and it’s a rather
sore point with me since I blush very easily. But don’t all pale haired cats
have the same issues? I’m sure he’s the same!“Don’t yours do the same?”
“They absolutely do not.” He speaks with conviction tinted with pride, while
letting one of my hands go, so he can run his fingers through the fur on my
ears, which is warm and getting warmer with the topic of conversation, and
therefore probably turning even pinker as we speak.
“W-what? That can’t be true! You’re a very pale cat—white or silver. Don’t you
blush all the time?”
“No. I’m not sure why, but I rarely blush.” He leans his body in closer to me.
“And, I enjoy watching and rather envy cats who do.”
I feel a damp sensation in my ear—was I just licked? I get the romantic nature
of kissing a hand, but licking an ear? That I do not understand. When it
happens again, I lift my shoulder to try to protect myself against any other
attack, and I try to push the larger cat away, to no avail. “What are you
doing?”
“This blushing business is going to be a problem.” The words sound directly
into my ear, as I’m pushed down into the bed. I continue my struggle to escape,
all to no avail. “I adore seeing your emotions on display on your face and your
body, but I do not think this is going to go over well with the crew.”
“The crew?” I’m feeling rather desperate now—with the continued licking, my
body is starting to respond, and I feel ashamed. Specifically, I feel blood
rushing into my waist and hips, even though it’s my ears getting the attention.
I don’t understand why my body is responding like this! I really don’t want him
to notice!
“They are ruffians.” The Captain uses this word as if it explains everything.
My ears flick down close to my head, hoping this will discourage any further
assault, as escape appears hopeless.
“Ruffians,” I repeat. I use both hands to push against Rai’s chest, hoping to
be able to get him off of me this way.
Rai takes both of my hands in one of his own, and pins them over my head, more
than easily, causing another embarrassing noise of concern leak from my throat.
Wit’s my hands restrained, I can’t even cover my mouth! This is no good.
“Yes.” The downy fur white inside my ears is being moved with each breathy
word, and I can’t help but squirm beneath the larger cat, especially now that I
can’t move my hands. “They will want you for themselves unless I mark you right
away, and take you for myself.” These words are followed by a very wet lick,
right in the downy fur deep in my ear, which, while very loud, also sends
chills down my spine and into my tail.
Rai’s face briefly floats in front of mine, dragging his luscious silver hair
over my chest, hovering over me for a moment.
“Because, as I’ve said, I’ve been searching for you for a long, long time. You
are mine. And I do not share.”
“Share?” I dare to ask in a small voice, as loud as I can muster.
“It means I will protect you from them.” Rai reaches to the side table next to
the bed, where I saw him leave that noisy package earlier. “I’ve brought you a
gift.”
“A gift? Why? I don’t require any gift. I will gladly help you with headaches,
and you don’t need to do anything for me. Bardo told me you are suffering, and
I’ll all I can to help. But you don’t have to do anything for me. I just don’t
want to be away from home for too long. We don’t have to make this a thing, and
I don’t require payment. As long as I can go home, I’ll do anything.”
The Captain has turned his head to face me again, and he is staring at me—maybe
staring isn’t the right word. Maybe glaring is the better word. Did I upset
him?
“I think you misunderstand. You said you’d do anything to help me?” His voice
sounds reasonable and light, unlike the look in that eye.
“Anything. I don’t think anyone should suffer. Especially not someone as grand
as—“ I stop myself suddenly. What was that? What was I going to say?
Even Rai seems a little surprised by my words. But he graciously pulls himself
together and continues. “Why not allow me to give you my gift if that is my
preference?”
“Um. All right.” I’m instantly quieted, abashed and shy, realizing I may have
gone overboard. I manage to silence myself.
Rai brings a small cloth to the bed, displaying the most beautiful jewelry I
have ever seen.
“In order to protect you from the crew, as well as any on land who may have a
quarrel with me, I would like to mark you as my own. I’ve chosen the best
pieces from my collection of treasure, and I think these will suit you.”
I notice that he hasn’t asked me if I would wear them, or if I would like them.
Perhaps because I’ve already said I’d do “anything,” I’ve already assented?
There are a pair of wide gold cuffs—very wide—engraved with beautiful
scrollwork—elegant, without being gaudy. There is a second matching pair as
well which look slightly larger—maybe in case the first pair didn’t fit, I
guess?
“Your frame is so delicate,” the pirate captain comments, holding my wrist
between two of his large fingers.”I’m afraid I might accidentally snap your
wrist.” He turns to face me again.
“Please know this—I do not want to hurt you. There may come a time in which I
will have to— because of who I am and the rules we must follow while at sea.
But I will make it up to you if I ever hurt you and it isn’t justified. Do you
understand what I am saying?”
He tilts my chin up to meet his eyes. I nod slowly, afraid of what will happen
if I don’t acknowledge his words.
“What do they call you, kitten?”
“K-Konoe.” Desperately trying to be bold, I still manage to stutter my own
name.
“My darling, Konoe, you may call me Rai in the privacy of these quarters.
However, in front of the crew, call me Captain.” Rai is opening the hinged
bracelet, has placed it on my wrist, and closes it. I notice it locks with a
tiny key.
“It suits you beautifully.” Rai takes my other hand and puts on the other
bracelet as well, locking it in place. “The lock signifies that you are taken.”
The keys are worn on a chain around his neck, which he already is wearing.
I turn my wrists over and notice that there is an attachment on the outside of
each bracelet as if something might be attached there. I study it, but Rai has
moved on to the next piece.
It’s a matching gold collar, also hinged and covered in gorgeous scroll work.
He puts it around my neck, and it feels cold—giving me a pleasant little weight
where there was none before. Also I realizes this also has several more of the
same loops that the bracelets have. I’m about to ask, but Rai is pulling the
blanket from my body. I remember I’m wearing only underwear, and I’m overcome
with shyness.
“Stop! What are you doing?” The panic is apparent in my voice.
“Shh, young one, you are all right. I just need your feet. These are for your
ankles.”
“My ankles?” I’m a little taken aback—and shocked enough to let him grab my
foot. Wow—he moves fast!
“Yes, it’s a matching set. See how lovely you look?”
Before I can complain, I see the first cuff locking around my foot, and I must
agree—it is beautiful. I have never worn jewelry—I have never owned any. I had
a ring that belonged to my father, but otherwise, nothing. Once the second cuff
is on, the set is complete, and it looks perfect. Although, I strangely feel
even more naked with the jewelry on than I did wearing the underwear alone. I
feel a little embarrassed.
There are still several items left on the cloth. Two small bars with sparkling
gems at either end, a (very pirate-looking) small gold hoop with a sparkling
gem swinging from it, and a long delicate chain. There’s also an item I don’t
recognize at all. It has a sparkling jewel at one end, and the other is shaped
like an elongated sphere, or perhaps more like a three-dimensional spade, like
from a playing card. I have no idea what it is, but it looks beautiful. To my
surprise, however, Rai pulls me into a sitting position, and feeds me something
to drink from of a glass bottle left on the side table.
It’s very strong—and I choke a little, but I take as much as he gives me, as
best as I can. I hear Rai chuckle a little, saying, “Bardo said you were a
virgin, and suggested I show you as much kindness as possible. We’ve got a
public performance this evening, and I don’t want to hurt you. So maybe we
should start in here.”
Rai takes a swig out of the bottle, and kisses me on the mouth. First by
pressing his lips against my unsuspecting ones gently a few times, he runs his
tongue across my closed lips, demanding entrance, then quickly taking it. He
holds my face in his hands, encouraging my jaw to open by pressing gently on
the side of my face. I realize too late that Rai is up to something else, while
he’s overwhelming me with his mouth. He’s attached something to the cuffs
around my wrists, and then to the bed—and suddenly, while my mouth is occupied,
being completely invaded by Rai’s tongue—his long tongue stroking mine, firm
and demanding, as if Rai already owns me, in fact—my arms are pulled over my
head and firmly restrained.
I let out a small protesting cry, which sounds more like a murmuring sigh right
into Rai’s mouth since I can’t move. I realize both my hands are restrained,
and Rai has free access to my body. His hands travel down my bare sides,
sending shivers up my spine, all the way down my tail.
When my mouth is finally released, I turns my head away from Rai—in fear? In
anger? In protest?—but I meet his eye from the side.
“What are you doing to me? Let me go!”
Is this the true purpose of this new jewelry? Restraint? Why would I need to be
restrained?A bolt of fear courses through my body, but it strangely sends
another visible shudder through me, and I see the corners of Rai’s mouth curve
up in satisfaction. Is he enjoying this?
“Your body doesn’t seem to dislike it.” Rai has backed up from my smaller body,
examining me intently, as if looking for something. I notice his eyes resting
on my crotch—which, even through my underwear, shows that I am hardened beyond
anything I’ve ever felt in my life.
“Don’t look at me!” I blush furiously, my own gaze dropping, mortification
multiplying, but as much as I think I hate that large cat staring at me, the
fact that he’s looking at me is turning me on even further. Why am I even like
this? What is going on with me?
“Why not? You’re quite an amazing sight. I can’t believe how well you’ve
cleaned up—and how well you’re responding. You look—” I feel a soft touch on my
ears again, and I shiver despite myself. “Beautiful. And I have to mark you as
my own before the crew sees you. Don’t you want my protection?”
“I don’t need your protection!” My gaze meets Rai’s icy one boldly. “I don’t
want your protection. I can protect myself.”
“Can you? Even from ten cats the size of Bardo, attacking you at the same time,
you think? Would you rather they have their way with you?” I feel the hand from
my ear wandering down my bare back toward my tail. I try to arch away from the
hand, but that makes my body push into his, so I don’t know how to move. It
makes me shudder and sigh audibly, and I can’t cover my mouth to prevent the
sound from escaping.
“Don’t touch me!” I struggle to try to escape the touch, lashing my tail.
“Perhaps you misunderstood me earlier.” Rai’s tone has changed slightly. It’s
dropped in volume, and the warmth of his voice has suddenly vanished as well.
The iciness brings chills to my skin, bringing goosebumps to the surface. I
feel his hand on my chin, light as a feather, tilting it up slightly, making me
meet that cool gaze once more.
“When I said you were mine, I wasn’t asking your permission, nor your opinion.”
The look in that eye is unwavering. “I don’t mind a little spunk in my chamber.
But I’m warning you, you’d best not defy my wishes in front of the crew. I run
a very tight ship.”
There’s a power in that voice, in that gaze, that truly frightens me.
“I punish crew members who disobey my orders. Ruthlessly. You wouldn’t be an
exception. In fact, I think I might enjoy punishing you a little too much.” The
hand on my tail has moved to my ass and gives it a firm squeeze, and I release
another strangled sound.
“So, shall we get started then?”
I release another strange sound, unintentionally, from my throat, and softly
echo, “Get started? With w-what?”
“Marking you, of course.” I feel his hands smoothing over my chest, and they
don’t tickle like I expect like they ought to. They make me shiver, they make
my body quiver. My skin reaches out to him like it wants his touch—and I don’t
know if it’s because of how his fingers are touching me, or because of that
damn scent in the air, or because the state my body is in—butI need it to stop.
“I think thought this might be a good place.” I feel his fingers stop at my
nipples—squeezing slightly, twisting them between his thumbs and forefingers,
making them stand up erect and at attention, blood rushing to the area, and it
feels amazing.
Wait—he wants to mark me there? What is he talking about?
“W-wait—J-just a second—“ I start to stutter, but I don’t get a chance, because
he lowers his face to my right nipple, raising his eye to my face. His hair is
brushing the rest of my body—it’s covering me, feeling soft like silk, so much
thicker up when it’s brushing close next to me—and he smells so good.
“Ah—“ as his tongue brushes over my skin, and then, “Ugh—ouch!” I yelp, as I
feel his teeth against me, pulling against my soft flesh, I feel his fangs on
skin that no one has ever touched.
“Sensitive, are you? See how your skin responds to me?” I see him reach to the
side table again, and he brings the bottle up to my chest, pouring
liquid against my chest.
“Ack!” I protest loudly. The alcohol feels cold against my skin, and my nipple
raises itself to its fullest, most upright position. He cleans off the excess
liquid with his tongue. His tongue feels so much rougher than mine—and the
feeling of it drives me a little crazy, making me breathe faster, making me
feel dizzy. With a little of the liquid left in his mouth, he kisses me, making
sure to stroke my tongue thoroughly, leaving the strong taste of alcohol in my
mouth. It adds to my already woozy feeling.
I watch him bring something else against my chest—it sparkles in the low light
of the lamp—it looks like a needle—oh my gods! It is a needle—and I try shrink
back in terror, but there’s nowhere to go in these restraints. I see it pierce
the skin before I feel a cold, sharp pain, right where he bit me. He glances to
my face, just briefly as if to check on me, flashing me a smile, and I’m
shocked to feel him press the other hand against my groin.
The sound released from my mouth was supposed to be a pained cry—it hurts, and
burns suddenly—he’s piercing a needle all the way through that sensitive
flesh—but it doesn’t come out like that at all. Instead, I hear a desperate
mewling sound coming from my throat, mixed with a growl, and I draw my claws
and bare fangs involuntarily.
“You like it, don’t you?” Rai asks. I watch as the needle makes its way through
my skin, and he takes one of the longer pieces of jewelry from the cloth,
rinsing it in alcohol. “I wouldn’t have pegged you as one of those—but I think
we will get along very well.”
I watch as he threads the gold bar through the newly made hole in my skin—it’s
fascinating and strange, making me light-headed. It feels so bizarre, like
watching someone else’s body—and I hear myself growl again. He caps the open
end of the bar with a jewel.
“These are diamonds,” he explains, as he threads the sparkling gem on the end.
“They are very rare—hard to find, hard to mine, hard to cut, and once cut,
sharp enough to cut through most other elements. I find them beautiful. Each of
these,” he continues, now rinsing my left nipple with alcohol, “is one of a
kind. None other can be found like it in the world. As suits you.”
I realize he is planning to pierce my other side. My growling gets louder, and
I start to struggle. He grabs my chin, and says, “When the crew sees these
markings, they will stay away from you. They will know you are mine.” His lips
are on mine again, and he licks my fangs.
Soon enough I feel the needle piercing through my flesh again. With
fascination, I can’t look away. But my growling is growing louder, and again, I
feel his other hand palming me—down there. And my dick is responding. Why? Why
am I getting hard when I’m in pain?
“Have you always enjoyed pain?” His tone sounds strange—mostly fascinated, but
passionate and a little out of breath, I realize—does he feel it, too?And I
watch him, now threading the second jeweled bar through the left hole. Looking
down at my chest, I realize I look like a different cat.
The delicate gold chain is attached to both bars, then to the collar around my
neck, draping subtly at my chest in a gentle triangular shape. Rai rinses each
newly opened wound with a little extra alcohol. I hiss at the contact—it burns
intensely. I feel my back lifting up off the bed, and I bare my fangs again,
and I’m growling loudly with claws drawn. With my hands restrained, however,
I’m helpless.
Rai sits back to look at me and sighs. He licks off the excess liquid but
doesn’t swallow any of it. Instead, he forces it into my mouth, despite my
growling and hissing protests, ignoring my fangs—not caring that I might bite
him.
I’m angry at this point—I think I’m angry. I don’t want his markings, I don’t
like his markings. But I’m incredibly aroused, and I feel... helpless.
“You look... delectable.” I hear it whispered in my ear, and I’m horrified. I
see Rai rinsing the needle in alcohol again, and realize that there are still
two items left on that cloth.
I want to ask what the hoop is for, but I’m too upset. I feel him licking my
right ear, leaving it freezing cold with the alcohol on his tongue. And then
suddenly, he grabs my chin with one of his hands, pressing my left cheek to the
bed. That cold right ear suddenly starts to burn, and I feel that needle
piercing the soft skin at the tip—and I let out a loud cry, and tears escape my
eyes this time.
This time, the pain is different from the pain from my nipples. I feel the cry
coming from the core of my body. A red-hot song starts from within me, and a
melody starts to form. I can feel the familiar vibration of sound, and my body
starts to sing.
The melody soothes me—soothing the pain in my ear, as well as the pain in my
nipples, which feel strangely heavy with the jewelry. I imagine my body
glowing, and see tendrils of light floating lightly out of my body, lighting up
the room and my surroundings, giving my soul peace.
The melody is gentle and soft, not aggressive, much to my surprise, so my claws
retract, but my fur is still bristled, and my fangs still show. To my
eyes—Rai’s hair shines and sparkles in the light—an almost golden hue, rather
than silver—and he looks beautiful. He’s looking at my face now, but I still
feel the needle in my ear, feeling oddly heavy and strange. His expression is
peculiar, I notice. It’s almost as though he, too, can see the illusion of
light—the melody—that I imagine I see.
Wait. Can he see it?
“What is this? What are you doing? Is this…?”
I watch as his hands float out to try to touch the tendrils of light that I
see. He can see them! I’m not imagining them?! Is this light real? Has this
always been real? And all this time, I thought I was just imaging this light.
“This is the Siren’s song. I didn’t know you could sing for your own benefit.”
He has stopped fiddling with my ear at this point, but it still feels strangely
heavy.
“No,” I respond. “Not a siren. This is just me humming.” I try to explain.
“This is what I’ve always done, when I express sorrow or pain, or sometimes
joy—any kind of overwhelming emotion or sensation. This humming comes out like
this. I didn’t think anyone else could see this light, though. I thought I was
imagining the light.”
“It sounds beautiful.” Rai says. “Your voice—it sounds so mysterious. Not just
in my ears. It echoes within my heart.” He is looking directly into my eyes
when he says these words. “This is what I heard—long ago—when I was young,
before I went to sea, when I was wandering the northern forests. I’ve been
looking for you ever since. Do you understand?”
There is a desperation in his voice I haven’t heard before. It sounds almost
pained, or needy. It’s soft and gentle. And then, he takes my lips with his
again, and this is not gentle or soft—but it definitely maintains the same
desperation and neediness. I feel his hands in my hair, on the back of my head,
pushing my face into his, while he buries his tongue deep in my throat—almost
deep enough to choke me.
But my song doesn’t stop. I cannot stop the humming. My body is completely
overwhelmed, and it’s almost as though the song is a defense against all these
new feelings. On top of the strange melody coming from me, I can hear sighs of
pleasure spilling from my mouth and throat into his, along with a purr—I think
it’s mine, at least.
When he finally releases me, I am limp in his arms, and I feel spent. He takes
a moment to remove the needle from my ear, and I feel a pinch as he (probably)
slips the hoop inside.
“I need a visible mark, in case your chest isn’t on display,” he explains. “I’m
sorry it pained you. I didn’t mean to overwhelm you—but I love to hear your
voice.” He licks the offended ear gently—and his mouth is cold—he probably has
rinsed it with the alcohol again.
I feel dizzy and out of sorts. I want him to stop. I don’t want this. At least,
I think I don’t want this, as I feel his hands sliding down my back again
toward my waist. The song is quieting down, but I can still feel my body
humming softly.
One of his hands grabs the chain connecting the two new piercings on my
nipples, and I give a little cry.It hurts!
“Please—don’t—it hurts—“
“Are you sure it hurts?” The voice asks, and I feel his lips press against my
neck. Another hand slips down further and boldly fingers the waistband of my
underwear.
“Stop—don’t touch—“
“You don’t want me to touch this?” His hand grabs my shaft—palming the head
first, which is dripping wet. “You’re so wet—dripping and eager to be touched.”
I groan into the sensation—his strokes down the length of my dick
are smooth—and I feel each one of his fingers, and my body arches up into his
hand, much to my dismay.
“N-no—“ I argue. “I d-don’t want this.” I feel a sharp pain, as his fangs bite
into my collarbone, followed by his tongue and lips, with a gentle lick and
kiss.
“How do you know what you want, if you haven’t tried it yet?” The words
whispered against my collarbone sound so tempting.
“Get off me!” I try again, but fail to make my body comply, as my hips, against
my will, press themselves into Rai’s hands, aching for his touch. Why am I like
this? What is happening to me?I am close to tears in my frustration.
Rai turns to face me.
“Like I said, I don’t mind a little spunk. But as I said, we have a public
performance approaching soon. Like, in a few minutes.”
“W-what performance?” I breathlessly ask, the words starting to sink in.
“Public? How? What do you mean?”
“I need to show the crew that you belong to me, and not just in name.”
Fear strikes my heart, and I quiver, my tail, which is painfully bristled out
to its fullest, droops between my legs. “I don’t understand.”
“I think you do. Why don’t you let me help prepare you, in here, just a little,
so you won’t be in quite so much pain?”
“Pain? I really don’t understand. Please. Can’t you—You’re the Captain—Can’t
you...? Please, please. Help me?” I feel the tears falling from my eyes, as
realization comes into focus.
“That’s what I’m trying to do. We have a little more time. Relax your body.
Your body knows what to do, and I think if you just go with the flow, you will
be so much more comfortable later.” His tone sounds almost kind, all sense of
threat is gone.
But I’m afraid, quivering and shaking in his arms. He gently kisses the tears
from my eyes—and continues what he has been—and gives that chain another gentle
tug. It brings such a strange surge of pain and pleasure so dangerously close
to my groin. I’m sure it has to be from what he’s doing with his other
hand—stroking me like that.
I realize I’m breathing really fast—from fear? Panic? Pleasure?I feel him tug
my tail, near the base, which makes me arch my back again, and brings another
sigh from my mouth. I don’t want my arms restrained—I’m pulling against the
restraints now, fighting against them, huffing my breath, and he brings his
lips to mine, kissing me roughly.
I feel the hand at the base of my tail slip down toward my entrance, and I
stiffen, but he isn’t discouraged. He continues circling that most private area
with his finger, and he presses against the head of my dick—hard—with his other
hand, and I can’t help the noise I make—it’s past lewd.
“What are you—?” I’m afraid—very afraid—of what he will do to me.
“Just relax.” That rumbling low voice is purring and low, almost a growl, and a
command. I can’t disobey. And with his stroking, it’s easy to feel the
pleasure. And my restrained arms won’t let me move. I feel his hands make a
smooth switch, and then a finger slips inside my ass—covered in my own
fluids—and after a small burst a pain, and a moan from my lips—I’m shocked to
hear a sigh of indulgence coming from my throat.
It feels so good—my body wants his finger inside me, gripping his knuckles as
he slides in and out, as he hooks his finger as though searching for something.
I don’t understand where these feelings are coming from, and they frighten me.
I try to concentrate on the smooth sensation of the hand stroking my cock—hard
and smooth—to distract myself from any guilt and confusion.
My vision suddenly flashes white—feeling like the ground drops from underneath
me—just for a moment—a wave of near nausea coming over me along with a
frightening wave of pleasure from something brushed deep within my insides. My
indulgent sigh is exchanged for a near scream.
This cannot be my body, and I feel the blood rushing to my cock in a hurry.
What was that?
“Ah—I see,” I hear a pleased chuckled, and he brushes the spot again—this time
a little more softly, and this time, I can’t help the noise that issues from my
mouth, nor the expression on my face.
“I can’t—Stop—please stop——wait—I’m—going to—I can’t—“
“Just come.” The gentle command growled low in my ears, and I don’t wait for
him to change his mind. The pleasure in my hips surges, as he brushes that spot
a third time—only a third time—and I feel a finger pressing into the slit of my
dick almost painfully. I feel a rush of pleasure from my body—rising up from my
waist and hips, and my insides clench around his finger, as I climax into Rai’s
palm—I can’t even hear the lewd sounds my body is making at this point.
The pleasure surges around me—all the stress I’ve felt throughout the day seems
to come bursting out in waves—and I feel myself relaxing with every breath as
the world darkens from its pure silver hue—the same shade as that gorgeous
hair.
I’ve come from his fucking me with his hands alone, and as I come down from my
high—a deep wave of shame comes over me, along with a deep red flush. I feel
Rai pulling his finger out, and replacing it with something else—a little
wider, a little shorter, and a lot cooler—is it that last piece of jewelry I
saw on the cloth, I wonder? It isn’t painful, and it feels heavy, but I can
tell it’s there. I wonder if it has a purpose.
As I lie there, I feel him cleaning me up, very gently, with a towel, and he
pulls up my underwear, as if I were something breakable and precious. I feel
him toying with the chain on my chest, but I keep my eyes closed, and I don’t
look at him.
I feel my ears burning.
“Your ears are pink again.” My shame is incredibly heavy. As are my nipples.
“You are adorable.”
Adorable?I’m appalled. What exactly is my role here?I refuse to open my eyes.
But I feel a hand in my hair and on my ear—the one that hasn’t been pierced.
“Perhaps some clothing would be in order.” Rai releases my arms from the
restraints. Instead of getting dressed, however, I pull my arms up against my
body, curling up in a small ball. It feels amazing to have my arms to myself
again.
“Please, just a moment,” I’m finding myself begging, my voice close to tears.
“Please.” My voice sounds so small.
“I can hardly resist if you ask like that,” Rai replies. “You have three
minutes. I’ll get your clothes. Just rest.”
I can hear shuffling, and after the short time is up, I find clothing ready.
I’m not impressed with the selection. The shirt—if it can be called that—has
long sleeves and shoulders, but it’s open at the chest and abdomen, to show off
my nipple piercings, chain and collar, and my belly. It’s very fine black
leather, however, and very smooth, and it fits very tightly. Rai helps me lace
it up in the back so it fits properly.
The black leather pants are form fitting—so form fitting that I can’t wear
underwear underneath them. Rai states, “It looks like it’s the pants or the
underwear. Your choice. I’m happy with either.” He has a wry smile on his face,
and watches as I remove the underwear to put on the pants. I try to remove the
thing from my ass—and he gives me a rather harsh look to stop me. Also, when I
wear the pants, I realize the sides of the legs lace up, so they don’t do much
for warmth. And if I were to be aroused in these, well, everyone would notice.
I’m given a pair of soft leather shoes, which show off the gold anklets
nicely—so my bracelets, anklets, and collar are all nicely on display. Next Rai
runs a brush through my hair—and that feels surprisingly pleasant. When he is
finished, he also brushes out my tail, making it shine as nicely as his does.
He puts on his coat and his hat—I notice I don’t get a hat as grand as his—and
he turns to me.
“Konoe.” I turn my face up to his. That pale blue eye is looking down at me
intently. “Remember, out on deck, you are to address me as Captain. This is not
going to be a pleasant experience for you, but I hope it will be less
unpleasant than it could have been, and I promise, it’s for your own good.”
He takes a large link brass chain from the wall, and attaches it to my collar
and wrists. I feel my stomach dropping to the floor. He gives the delicate
chain on my chest a light tug, sending a surprising bolt to my groin. What the
hell? I make a strange noise, bringing my hand up to my mouth, as if to catch
it before it escapes.
“You look gorgeous.” He gives me a quick smile. “Let’s go, and get this over
with.”
Chapter End Notes
     I really do love Rai x Konoe, but I must have it out for him in this
     fiction, and most of mine. Lots of non-con stuff for him, sorry!
***** Chapter 4 *****
Chapter Summary
     Short fluff chapter to add much-needed character development to Rai
     and Konoe, just before they go on deck. I know, it’s a little sugary
     sweet and weird, but I wanted to add something here that isn’t all
     violent and gross.
I follow Rai—no, I’d better get used to this sooner rather than later—Captain
Rai—into the hallway, and then into a labyrinth of hallways, not paying
attention to where I’m led. Truthfully, my heart is pounding so loudly in my
ears that I really can’t pay attention to where we are headed. I’ve always had
a hard time with directions anyway. In this relatively small space, I would
probably be confused even if I were clearheaded. I keep my eye on that proud,
white tail in front of me, swishing side to side with every long stride.
I feel my body breaking out in a nervous sweat. I don’t know what the point of
all that was, back in his quarters. Thinking about it now makes heat rise to my
face and my ears burn in shame. When I drop my eyes to the ground, I can see
that even my chest is pink, through my embarrassingly revealing shirt. I feel a
shiver run down my spine. Why did he do all that to me back there? What is
going to happen to me now? What exactly is involved in this claiming business,
and why does it have to happen in front of his crew? How did I even get myself
into this situation?
As soon as that thought appears in my head, familiar self-loathing appears with
it, hand in hand, a giant dark cloud floating over my head. I’m filled with
regret. How could I let myself be captured so easily? Why did I even try to
escape my village? Should I have just stayed there? I couldn’t have, really—I
would have been killed. Perhaps I should have waited for Tokino. I should have
gone with him the last time he invited me. I didn’t because I didn’t want to
impose on his family. I told him I would come to him if things got worse in my
village. And then they had.
I escaped by the hair of my teeth with only the clothes on my back. Or I
thought I’d escaped. Only to have the crew of this ship come across my camp on
my fourth day in the forest. I wonder, what were the chances of our paths
crossing like this? Sisa is a large mass of land, isn’t it? I hadn’t been that
close to the coast, had I?
I just can’t get these circumstances to line up correctly. It’s like a dream
here, like it isn’t real. Pirates? Really? Piercings? And then, this business
of being a siren? On one hand, I’m filled with regret, yes, but on the other, I
feel a strange sense of something else, maybe fate. What if ours was a fated
meeting? I look up at the tall, straight back in front of me, and that long,
(beautiful) silver hair. And just as I look up, Rai—no, Captain Rai—turns to
meet my eye. The corners of his mouth are raised just a hint, and he actually
winks at me. I’m shocked at this, and I can’t suppress a sound indicating my
shock from my mouth.
He pulls me closer to him. He could do this by pulling on the chains attached
to my wrists, but he doesn’t. Instead, he pulls my shoulder in close to his
body. He feels so warm and strong, so steady and unmovable. It feels like he
really will protect me. I hide my face in his chest for a moment, holding back
my tears. I didn’t realize how filled with emotion I am.
“Let me tell you again.” His voice reverberates in my ears, as he holds me
tightly in his arms. “I’ve been looking for you for a long, long time. I am
certain it was your song I heard so many years ago. You are the one I’ve been
searching for all these years. I will never let you go.”
I feel his hand against my chin, as he gently tips my face upwards, so I can
see his expression.
“You’re about to meet the crew I’ve assembled—these are the cats I’ve gathered
over the years, all for the purpose of trying to find you. And they have
finally come through for me. They are the best at what they do, but they are an
unruly bunch. I have to show them I mean it when I say you are mine. Promise me
that you will do what I ask of you, without question, once we are on deck, even
if it seems distasteful. It’s the only way I know to keep them away from you.
If you don’t, I don’t know how to protect you.”
I drop my gaze to the floor.
“Konoe.”
When he says my name, I feel a shiver run through my body, the fur fluffing up
on my ears and bristling on my tail, and the hair on the back of my neck
standing straight up. What is this feeling? Has he done something to me? What
is happening to me? I feel a tender touch brush the nape of my neck, as he
tilts my head upwards again. He stoops down slightly to my level, meeting my
eyes.
“Promise me you will obey me. This is for your protection. You must promise
me.”
If he’s going to ask me like this, I can’t deny him. Not after how he touched
me earlier in his quarters… I just can’t find it in me to refuse. But then I
feel his hand brush one of exposed nipple piercings, making me inhale sharply.
I don’t want to obey. I want to resist. I have a stubborn urge to resist. I
didn’t want this. I didn’t ask for this.
“My protection? What are you talking about? Aren’t you really talking about
what you want me to do?”
“Konoe.” When my name falls from his mouth, he rounds his lips slightly,
looking like he is tasting me (and my name) while he says it out loud. It looks
incredibly sensual, and it’s terribly distracting. “Members of this crew who
disobey the Captain’s orders are subject to severe lashings and other harsh
physical punishment. Is that why you want?” He isn’t threatening me, I realize,
but warning me. Maybe I should listen to him after all. Another shiver runs
through my body, and my tail twitches in response. I really hope he didn’t
notice that.
“I will do my best.” My voice is quiet, timid, and shy.
“I am sorry I had to hurt you with the piercings. But you will see—they will
protect you. My crew won’t dare lay a hand on you.”
I think of Bardo. He didn’t seem so bad; in fact, he seemed almost kind. But I
haven’t met the rest of the crew yet, so perhaps they are mean and cruel. I’m
still a little overwhelmed by our earlier interaction, so that thought
disappears quickly when a new question burns at the tip of my tongue.
“What exactly will you expect me to do?”
Rai looks away from me, a slightly troubled expression on his face. “The crew
expects me to claim you, in front of them.”
“I don’t understand what that means.” I press further. Rai looked away! Why?
Doesn’t he want me to know? He doesn’t want to tell me? Now I’m even more
nervous.
There’s a short pause. Rai opens his mouth again, looking in my eyes. His face
is very serious, and it frightens me. “Claim you physically. In front of them.
Claim your body.”
“M-my body? D-don’t the piercings do that?”
“No.” He lets out a frustrated sigh. “This is why I was... warming you up a
little in my quarters. You haven’t experienced your first heat yet, have you?”
“Heat?” I ask. I have no idea what he’s talking about.
“My gods.” Rai sounds even more exasperated. “What did they teach you in Karou,
anyway? Don’t they teach the young about Ribikan mating rituals where you grew
up?” He pinches the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger for a few
moments before continuing, voice sounding more patient now. “The crew will want
to see something more… intimate than what we did in my quarters.”
“Oh. I see,” I respond, but it takes a moment for my mind to process the
meaning of his words. “What?! M-more intimate? Than that?!” I’m horrified. I
cannot imagine.
“That’s why I suggested we warm you up a bit first.” Rai looks away from me
again and doesn’t meet my gaze. I look down to the floor, completely at a loss.
A steamy whisper sounds in my ear,  breathy and quite unlike the voice he’s
been using so far.
“That last gift should also be helping you, even now, while you are just
standing here. Can you feel it?” I feel his hand touch my lower back, which is
exposed, just above the waistband of my tight pants, where he brushes
downwards ever so slightly. The downward stroke hints as to which gift he’s
referring, much to my mortification. Then he grabs my tail at the base, rather
firmly, pulling my body close to his.
My face flushes hot, and l am really embarrassed. I can’t answer his question,
but I do feel that last jeweled gift of his—he’d insisted I leave it right
where it was—and it’s adding a rather pleasant sensation and weight just below
my tail. When he grabs my tail like that, I would have expected the pressure to
hurt, but it doesn’t. Not at all. It feels amazing—and I’m shocked by this
feeling. It makes me arch my back, and I find myself pressing my body into his
when I’m pulled close, an embarrassing, pleasured sound squeezed from me, mixed
with a purr.
He grabs my jaw firmly, meeting my eyes once more.
“I’ve been searching for you all this time, Konoe. I will not let this or any
single event traumatize you or damage you in any way. It may be strange and
new, but I need you to trust me. Just do as I ask, even if you are afraid. I
will do my best not to hurt you. Keep your eyes on me, and ignore everyone
else.”
With those words, he puts his mouth on mine, and kisses me, hard. He rubs his
tongue against mine with such fervor that I actually believe his words. Maybe
he actually has been looking for me for as long as he says he has. Although
that can’t possibly be true. He must have me confused with someone else, but I
don’t want to disappoint him. Part of me desperately wants to believe I am the
cat he’s been searching for. Then, the other part thinks that if I can be of
help to him, I will, but I don’t want to be in this situation right now.
I pull my mouth away as soon as I get the chance.
“Rai. I know you think it’s me, but is it possible you’ve confused me with
someone else? I will be helpful to you anyway I can, but I don’t think it’s me
you want. I think you must have me confused with a cat who actually can do
something. I’m just a simple cat from Karou. There’s nothing special about me.
I don’t think I’m the one you’ve been looking for, and I’m certainly not this
siren person. I don’t want to disappoint you—“
“Konoe.”
Both his hands are gently holding my face now, and his pale blue eye looks
deeply into my honey-colored ones. I feel my body quivering. It must be fear—it
can’t be desire. I know it can’t be desire. I’m not that kind of cat!
“I know you are afraid. Please trust me. I heard your song, and there is no
mistaking it. You are my Siren.”
When I look into his eye, I feel his earnestness. It’s like Rai has pushed all
his intense longing—not for some made-up fairytale character—but for me,
Konoe—into his words and into his gaze. I can’t help but want to relax into his
arms. It’s foolish of me to want to trust him. I know it’s reckless. I know it
is. My body is screaming at me, my brain is warning me, but my heart welcomes
his words, and there’s more! I feel like I’ve finally found home. I don’t know
what it is, but something in this cool, silver cat burns hotter than fire,
hotter than anything I’ve ever felt. And it’s burning for me.
I take a deep, shaky breath, and Rai smiles. And he is smiling at me. His smile
is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, lighting up that cool blue eye and
melting its icy blue hue. It brings joy to my heart and tears to my eyes. I
feel so much warmth that I can almost ignore the metal clanking sounds of the
chains around my wrists when he takes my hand and leads me out onto the deck.
***** Chapter 5 *****
Chapter Summary
     Out on deck, Konoe learns what it means to be claimed by someone.
     Ciel makes another appearance.
     Warnings: Public blowjob, public groping, non-con drug use (I'm
     counting catnip as a drug in this series), and dub-con sexual
     activities.
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
My ears twitch every which way once we step outside onto the deck, just from
the overwhelming amount of noise. I don’t know where to look in all the
raucousness. I’m a little surprised since I haven’t heard this amount of noise
(caused by cats) ever in my life.
There are a lot of cats out here. Looking around me, I count about three dozen,
and all of them are larger breeds than me, close to Rai’s and Bardo in height,
some brawny and seasoned, some lean and slim, and all look quite rough. I see
one only small cat, standing next to Bardo—he is smaller than I am, his shiny
dark hair and ears sparkling under the pale light of the moon of shadow. I
notice his eyes are a lovely blue, and when he looks up, I see it’s Ciel. I’m
relieved to see that he’s all right—he is standing unassisted and looks much
better than he did the last time I saw him. I give Bardo my most grateful
glance. He must have helped him.
There’s a strange anxious look in both of their eyes, and I notice something
sparkling in Ciel’s ear—it looks like a silver hoop. His ear has been pierced,
just like mine! His clothing is quite different from mine, however. He’s
wearing something that looks like a kitchen uniform, so I wonder if he will be
working with Bardo.
I consider this for a moment and then look down at my outfit, which is drawing
some attention—including that of Ciel’s and Bardo’s. If Ciel is wearing a
chef’s whites and an apron, it probably means he will be working in the
kitchen, under Bardo. So—what does my outfit say about me? What exactly will my
function be? I feel a familiar heat rising in my ears again.
My abdomen is exposed, my nipple piercings are on display, the chain connecting
them is showing them off, my wrists and ankles are cuffed and chained, ready to
restrain me. (I can't help noticing Ciel is not restrained in any way at all.)
 My pants ride low on my hips and show off every curve of my ass. There isn’t a
movement that doesn’t expose what my feelings are. So what exactly is my role
on this ship? I look up at Rai, fear settling in my heart again. I’m not the
ship’s whore, am I? He did say he didn’t want to share me, but what exactly
doesn’t he want to share? I’m really scared.
Bardo gives me a friendly grin and a rather lascivious wink, which frightens me
even more, and I try to cower behind Rai. He keeps me right next to him,
however, displaying me proudly next to him. I hear him clear his throat,
readying himself to speak. As soon as he does this, the crew silences its rowdy
behavior, much to my surprise.
“Welcome, crew of The Murderous Joy. We have some business to discuss during
this muster. First Mate Bardo, would you like to begin?”
Bardo puffs up his chest and opens his mouth.
“I’d like to welcome our new member, Ciel, to the crew. He’ll be training under
me in the kitchens, and I’ve claimed him as my own, as you can see." He
gestures to the ring in Ciel's ear. "I’ll be taking full responsibility for
him.”
“I see. Ciel, are you willing to obey the rules here on The Murderous Joy, no
matter what we ask of you?”
Ciel looks terrified but has been coached well. He looks at Rai directly and
answers, “Yes sir, Captain Rai.”
“Do you acknowledge Bardo as your protector?”
“I do.”
“Are there any objections?” Rai aims his sharp gaze at the rest of the crew,
and Bardo fluffs out the fur on his tail, slightly bares fangs and draws his
claws, moving his body in front of Ciel's, symbolizing his status as
his protector. No one speaks.
“As there are no objections, then, from this day forward, Bardo has laid claim
to Ciel and will be held responsible for his safety and behavior.”
Wow. That was easy. That wasn’t at all what I expected. If that’s all it is,
there shouldn't be a problem with me, will there? I hear both Ciel and Bardo
let out a breath they’ve been holding.
“Onto the next order of business,” Rai continues. “I’d like to thank you, my
crew, for the amazing job you’ve done. You’ve managed to locate the Siren.”
There’s a collective gasp among the crew on the deck and some murmuring among
them.
“He was found among the last group of captives. Allow me to introduce you to
Konoe of Karou. I am hereby laying claim to him.”
The deck is dead silent, and all eyes turn to me. I’m suddenly very aware of my
skimpy outfit, as I feel over three dozen pairs of eyes crawling over me,
creeping up my bare skin and the outline of my body, which is still in an
embarrassing state of half-arousal from Rai’s fervent kisses from minutes
earlier.
Did he do this on purpose? I think he must have known, and I feel irritation
rising with the shame of this public examination. I angrily flash my eyes at
Rai. He returns my gaze with an ultra-soft, imploring expression, all funneled
into that single pale blue eye of his. Before I can make a sound, his lips
move. They form the words, “trust me,” without making a sound. It softens my
heart and my anger, just a little.
That’s right. He said this would be unpleasant. Maybe it's his status as
captain, or my status, whatever it is, that makes this procedure harder than
Ciel’s. I glance down at my feet, but the minute I break eye contact, I hear my
chains rattling. I look up again, and Rai is imploring me to keep eyes on him.
I see his hand make some kind of signal, but I have no idea what it means. It
looks like he’s holding two fingers down, and flicking them towards his face,
but such a small motion so the crew wouldn’t notice. Well, I suppose they are
checking me out right now anyway. Probably looking at my outrageous outfit, I’d
guess.
“I’m sure you can see I’ve marked him already.” His voice rings loudly across
the deck. He’s scanning the faces of his crew carefully. He toys with the
delicate chain on my chest, pulling it slightly. It makes me wince—I think in
pain. (At least, I hope it's in pain—but what if it isn’t? What if it’s
something else? What if it’s pleasure? Wouldn’t that mean I’m really screwed
up? Do I want this cat to hurt me? I don’t want to be hurt—I know I don’t. My
nipples are still very tender, and I’d almost forgotten there’s a hoop in my
ear. I almost cry out when I feel his hand on that as well.)
“This is the only time I will be having this conversation, so listen up. I do
not share. This is the cat I’ve been seeking for the past ten years. He is the
reason behind your job, this ship, and this crew. I’ve invested every last
penny from every bounty in my search for him. You’ve been a mighty help to me,
and I appreciate it more than you will know. I’ve got a hefty finder’s fee and
bonus for each and every one of you, as promised.”
He looks at me once again and pulls me closer to his body, so I’m standing in
front of him.
“But you’ve worked with me a long while, and you know that I do not share. Keep
your hands off this cat. He is my property. I will be taking full
responsibility for his behavior, and he is mine.”
He runs his hands along both sides of my body in a showy, protective gesture.
It tickles me a little, and I try not to squirm.
“I realize he is a beautiful cat, and he has some unusual qualities as far as
his voice is concerned. You may speak to him if you wish, and you may make him
feel welcome on board The Joy. But if any of you should lay even a single
finger on him without my prior permission or order, I will kill you without
hesitation.”
He keeps his voice completely calm when he says these words, which somehow
makes them even more terrifying.
“Have I made myself clear? Are there any objections?” I sigh with relief,
thinking the worst must be over since this is how Ciel’s claiming went. Except
that’s when several voices start speaking in turn, one right after another.
“Boss, what if this cat says we did something to him when we really didn’t? We
don’t know him from Adam. He can’t be trusted. I don’t want him to make shit up
about me that could get me killed!”
“Captain, that guy is a young runt, a baby! How can he possibly be the Siren
you’ve been searching for all these years? Are you sure you haven’t made a
mistake?”
“Sir, cats from Karou are raised as fighters from an early age. Even this baby
boy might be dangerous! How do we know he isn’t going to kill you in your
sleep? He can’t be trusted!”
“It’s in my bones—just look at him! He’s oozing sex appeal—you can tell he
wants it! If he is the Siren, he could seduce any of us with his song, and we’d
be helpless against his charms! And yet you’d hold us accountable for that?
Boss, that’s just cruel!”
“I’m from a village neighboring Karou, and that place is ruthless. They kill
and eat cats who don’t follow their laws. It’s barbaric, Captain! We can’t let
him become part of this crew!”
“I just don’t like it! You can’t just give some unknown kitten this kind of
power over the rest of us, who have earned your trust, just like that!”
“Silence!” Rai’s loud voice booms across the deck—hushing all chatter in an
instant. “I understand your concerns, so let me address them.” He aims his gaze
toward the first cat.
“Kil, you only just met him, so stay out of his way, and keep your damn hands
off him. He will leave you alone because he has to obey me while onboard this
ship. You’ll have no concerns then.”
“Ul, let me worry about what goes on inside the captain’s quarters, especially
at night.“ A raucous cheer comes up from the crowd at this remark. “You seem to
have forgotten your own heritage. Aren’t each of us killers? Weren’t we all
raised the same way? In that sense, he should fit right in.”
“Max, I’m sure there's no mistake. I’ve heard his song, and it’s the same. Each
Siren has his own song. We met when we were both young. I think he isn’t aware
that he is a Siren himself, but that doesn’t make him less of one.”
He scans the deck once more.
“This cat obeys me in everything, as you will soon see.” He meets my eyes
again, and I see that hand signal. He addresses me. “Kneel, kitten.”
I obey without hesitating. The sound of his commanding voice is terribly
impressive. I’m ashamed to admit it, but when he orders me around like this, it
sends shivers up and down my spine, and I can feel the blood rushing to my
lower half. It's almost enough to make me dizzy! (Good thing I'm already on my
knees...)
He holds his hand out, and I see a large ring on his middle finger with a huge
ruby on it. “Do you swear your loyalty to me, as your captain and protector,
and promise to obey me in all your actions, even while using your gift?"
I’m not sure what to do, so I take his hand in both of my small ones, and I nod
and look up to meet his eyes.
“I require an audible answer, young one.” His tone is softer for me than it is
for the crew.
“I do.” I manage to say quietly.
“Kiss the ring to seal your oath.”
I obey, keeping my eyes trained on his—and gods, his voice. I can feel my dick
straining against my pants. And when I realize that, I also remember what I’m
wearing. So everyone else can probably see it, too. My face heats up, and I can
feel it creeping into my ears.
I notice his facial expression changes slightly—his mouth twitches—and then one
of his hands comes out to stroke my ears. He pulls me to my feet again, and I
hear a slight whisper, “Pink again—so cute!”
And then he pulls me into a kiss. I don’t mean a peck on the cheek, either. I
mean, he tries to eat me alive in front of his crew. I’m just a little
frightened when I hear the cheers, but I’m quickly swept off my feet by the
sensation of that kiss. I have my hands pressed against his chest as if to push
him away, but I have no power to resist. I feel a hand against the back of my
head, and another on the small of my back, pulling me in close to his body and
making me stand on tiptoe to reach his mouth.
His tongue is stroking mine again—long, bold strokes—and it feels amazing. He
smells so good—and he tastes different. I think he may have eaten something
just before we came out on deck—I saw him pop something in his mouth—and he
tastes like mint. It reminds me of the scent that was in the bathwater,
actually. And the longer he is kissing me, the more I want to be kissed, and
the more I want to kiss him back.
I find my body melting into his, and he folds me into his arms, running his
hands all over me—down my ass again, along my sides—that makes me shiver!—and
even to the front waistband of my pants, which he uses to pull me closer still.
I feel my anxiety and fear dissolving into a puddle of fervent desire and need,
and I don’t understand where this is coming from!
When he pulls away from my mouth, I keep going, kissing his jaw, his throat,
his barely exposed chest—every piece of skin I can see. I kiss his hands and
suck on his fingers. I don’t know what has happened to me—I just know I have to
kiss him.
I think I hear more noise from the crowd, but I ignore it. Rai sinks into a
strangely fancy chair, pulling me along with him, and I can’t help myself. I’m
more than eager—I’m anxious for this. Is this the performance he means? Did he
give me something just now? I look at his face, and I see a small smile, and I
hear him whisper, “Ah, good, it’s working—I slipped you a little catnip from
Bardo. It should make things a little easier for you.”
Easier?What the hell?
“I don’t know what is wrong with me,” I whisper, flustered, as I pull another
one of his fingers out of my mouth to make room for the next one. He indulges
me, allowing me to suck on his fingers. “I don’t know what I’m doing!”
“You’re doing great,” the praise he whispers into my ears is an amazing turn-
on, and I can feel liquid dripping from my cock, even though he hasn’t even
touched me. “You feel amazing—so good. This is just perfect—keep it up.”
I feel him unbutton my pants and, even with as tight as they are, he is able to
slip them down enough to expose my dick. He pulls my dick out, which is now
completely wet, and I release the strangest noise I’ve ever heard myself make,
and I do not even care. I’m desperate for him to touch me. We just did
this—less than an hour ago—and here I am, all worked up again. What the hell?!
I feel each one of his fingers against me as he uses my own fluids to stroke my
cock ever so slowly—it’s such a teasingly slow way to stroke me that I get a
little frustrated. But when he presses his thumb into the slit, another lewd
noise comes from my mouth—and I realize my surroundings have fallen
surprisingly silent.
Keeping his fingers in my mouth—they are teasing my tongue mercilessly—I boldly
unbutton his trousers and take out his dick. I’m really going to do this. I
haven’t seen him yet, and when I release him from the constraints of his pants,
the differences in our stature becomes frighteningly apparent. But I’m
desperate. I pull his fingers out of my mouth and lean over his cock and
lovingly take a long lick—grooming style, from the base all the way to the
tip—on the underside of the shaft. He is already erect and dripping,
too—probably from our earlier activities—he can’t be comfortable—but I don’t
know what I’m supposed to do next.
When I hear a small groan from him—I know that was right, so I continue. I take
as much of him as I can into my mouth, all these lewd sighs still coming from
me, as he continues jerking me off. I can hear the noise of his hand on my
dick, and it should embarrass me—but it doesn’t. It’s turning me on even more.
I feel my pants slipping a bit lower, and I feel his other hand playing with
that jeweled gift that’s been in my ass this entire time—and I hear a
collective inhale from behind me. I don’t have time to worry about it right
now, though. I’m busy trying to get Rai to make more sounds like he was before.
He’s so quiet when aroused when I can’t help myself—and I want him as messed up
as I am.
Saliva mixed with precum is dripping from the corners of my lips, down my chin
and chest onto the deck, as I’m sighing and wrapping my tongue around his
entire girth. To make up for our differences in size, I start moving my
head—bobbing up and down, trying to get all of him covered.
That’s when I notice a song forming in my body—different from anything I’ve
ever felt before. This one is white hot (or maybe silver?) at its core. It’s
surprisingly gentle, but at the same time erotic. I think this song is me
expressing these new sexual feelings I haven’t experienced with another person,
and the strange protective tie Rai has to me. The song says, “I want you. I
desire you. I desire only you. I desire you so much I can’t breathe. I want
you. Let me have you. Give yourself over to me.”
I meet Rai’s eyes again, my mouth still around his dick, and his eyes are wide
open, and he is suddenly distracted by the song.
“Is that— Are you...?” he tries to ask but falls silent. Then, listening to a
little more closely—I see his eyes close half-way, but he still watches me, and
his hands stop their movement momentarily, resting on my body where they are in
stunned silence.
I definitely do not stop. I take this chance to give it everything I’ve got—I
am also purring, and I’m sure he can feel the vibrations in the back of my
throat. And within a few minutes, I can feel his dick grow even larger in my
mouth—almost large enough to choke me—and then, I hear and feel him stuttering
and then sighing in pleasure—and what a sound that is in my ears! 
I feel him try to push me away just before he climaxes—maybe he doesn’t want to
come in my mouth—but I don’t move. I take him—all of him—in a single swallow. I
also make a point of licking off his dick in long, slow, tender licks—from the
hilt all the way to the tender tip—all the while maintaining eye contact with
him, while he is still quivering from his release.
I suddenly feel the eyes of the crew on me—and realize that I’ve done all this
out on the deck in front of everyone. I’m still incredibly worked up, however,
quite literally caught with my pants down.
“I think that was enough of a show for everyone,” I can hear Rai’s voice, husky
and sexy, and very relaxed. I suddenly feel weightless as he lifts me up off
the ground, throwing me over his shoulder, bare ass in the cold night air.
“Consider that a one-time privilege, and as close as any of you will ever get
to my Siren.”
I feel myself swaying slightly, my dick incredibly hard and uncomfortably
pressed against Rai's shoulder, as he heads for the door. I hear loud cheering
and applause behind us as we exit—and I’m a little confused as to whether I’m
in trouble or I did what I was supposed to do. I feel a hand on my ass just
then, and I feel Rai playing with that jeweled item again.
“That was... rather extraordinary,” I hear Rai murmur. “Come, it looks like you
need a little care, yourself, Konoe.”
Chapter End Notes
     This didn't turn nearly as violent as I was anticipating. I'm rather
     relieved.
***** Chapter 6 *****
Chapter Summary
     After Konoe's public claiming, he is left hanging in several
     respects. Rai carries him back to the captain's quarters for a brief
     discussion and some much-needed physical care.
     Notes: There's a consensual (OMFG) blow job in this chapter. Well, I
     think from Konoe's point of view, it's wanted and consensual. I'm not
     going to think about it too much.
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
I find myself back in the Captain’s quarters before I realize it, and my body
hasn’t cooled off yet. Rai sets me down on the bed, and to my utter
frustration, he pulls up a chair and takes a seat. What is he doing? Didn’t he
just say he would take care of me? Of course, I can't ask for it. And then, I
wonder, what exactly do I mean by "it"?
“I wonder,” his voice sounds thoughtful, and his eye meets mine, as he pulls
his chair up next to the bed. “I wonder if you might be a little more self-
aware in this condition.”
“Self-aware?” I ask. I really don’t care what he’s talking about. I’m feeling
two things right now: First, I’m nervous. I can’t tell if he’s upset by my
actions above deck. Did I displease him? Is that why he is acting withdrawn and
cold? Second, my body ison fire. I don’t know how else to describe it, and it's
unfamiliar and inexplicable. My dick is hard, and I can smell his scent from
where I am lying here in bed. I still have his taste in my mouth. When I close
my eyes, if only to blink (and I am deliberately blinking slowly), I can still
feel his cock filling my mouth, which is making me hard enough to burst. My
clothes are in complete disarray, and I don’t know what to do or why I’m even
like this. I feel my body shaking, even as I try to stay calm. I think I should
at least pull up my pants, so I’m not so shamefully exposed like I am.
While pulling up my pants is my intention, my hands run down my sides in such a
sensual way, as though I’m showing myself off. And then another weird noise
comes out of my mouth, when I mean to indicate surprise in what my body is
doing. But it doesn’t sound like surprise. It sounds like sexual desire, and I
do not understand what is happening to my body. What is wrong? Why am I like
this? My ears are burning up!
“You’re like this, and your ears and face are bright pink,” Rai states the
obvious again. “Yet, you are coming on to me, throwing yourself at me. It’s a
strange juxtaposition—innocent and lascivious at the same time. Sexy and
immature."
“Lascivious? Sexy?” I ask. “I don’t know what you mean.” My voice comes out
breathy and strange—I sound like he did, right after he heard my song,
actually. What is wrong with me? I think the tremors in my body must be visible
at this point, at least my trembling hands must be obvious. He reaches out to
them, touching my fingertips, and I feel a jolt, like electricity, run through
my body. I can’t suppress the sound that escapes my lips in response. 
“You’re shaking.” Rai looks up to me, from my fingers, again. “You’re not
afraid, are you?”
I don’t know how to answer. I am afraid. I am terrified. I don’t know what is
the matter with me. Tears spring to my eyes in response to his question, and he
takes both of my hands in his.
“You’re scared. Why are you afraid?” He brings my hands to his lips, leaning
his face toward me, and my shaking only gets worse. “The worst is over, and you
did so well. You did just what I asked, and performed more than
admirably—better than in my wildest dreams.”
His voice is so soft and gentle. Tears slip down my face when my mind finally
processes the words he is saying. He reaches up to brush them from my cheeks.
“What’s this? Tears?” His voice softens even more, and I notice he’s moved to
the bed next to me, and that comforts me. “Talk to me. Tell me what is wrong,
little one.”
I take a deep, quivering breath before I open my mouth.
“I was afraid I’d displeased you.”
“What. How? How on earth could that have displeased me?”
“I didn’t know what to do, or what to expect, and my body kind of did its own
thing. I felt afraid of everyone watching—it was so different from Bardo and
Ciel. I didn’t know what you expected or what the crew expected. And the way
Ciel was dressed was so different from the way I am dressed. I don’t know what
my role is. And then, I tasted something in your mouth, and everything just
got... weird.”
“Weird? What do you mean?”
“I wasn’t making decisions. I was just kind of... acting on instinct. I didn’t
know what I should do, and my body just kind of acted on its own.”
“Weren’t you aware of what you were doing?”
“Well, I was, yes. And I’m sorry. I am so ashamed of doing those things in
front of your crew!”
I can’t hold back the sobs anymore, and I dissolve into tears. They flow
freely, and my breath becomes uneven. My chest heaves with shame, and I can’t
meet Rai’s eye. 
“I’m not like that! I’ve never done those things before—not even in private.
I’ve barely done things like that to my own body. I don’t know what came over
me. It was like something inside me broke open, and I couldn’t help myself—“
I suddenly feel Rai’s hand against my jaw, and he tilts my chin up to meet his
eye. The other hand is behind my head, in my hair, in my ears. 
“Hush. That is the Siren’s gift, Konoe. You are the Siren of Sisa, and you
showed yourself in front of my crew. It is a frightening power, I know—I felt
it, too—I felt it before, in your song, even. I think the catnip may have
loosened your power over it. You keep it locked inside yourself. But it’s still
there, inside you, ready to burst into bloom. I want this part of you. This is
what I have been looking for, and I want to see this part of you. You don’t
need to be ashamed. It is truly beautiful. It's one of the wonders of the
world.”
I’m shocked at his words. Doesn't he have any modesty? I don't know how to
respond for a few moments.
“But didn’t I embarrass you? Not even in front of your crew? I was licking your
fingers. I licked your—I even had your—I mean, I licked you in front of your
crew!” I can’t even say what I did out loud.
“No. It wasn’t embarrassing. They are more than envious. In fact, if anything,
I’m afraid you did your job a little too well. I’m afraid that, while they know
you are mine, seeing your... enthusiasm and your gifts may be too enticing for
a few members of my crew. I will have to keep an eye on you to ensure they keep
their hands to themselves.” 
“What do you mean?” I really don’t understand what he is saying. He continues
brushing the tears from my face.
“I mean, I know several of the crew members would do almost anything to get you
in their cabins to spend an evening alone with you. I’d give my life to protect
you from them.”
I’m quiet for a moment, and then I say, “It’s not going to come to that. I’m a
cat of Karou, after all.”
I see Rai’s mouth curve up in amusement. “That, you are, my kitten.”
I’m getting so tired of him calling me that.
“So... are you becoming more aware of the gifts you have, after this evening’s
activities? I mean, your gifts as a Siren?”
I think about this for a moment. I’m not really sure what he's talking about.
“I don’t know.” I have this anxious, itchy feeling in my body which still burns
and aches for touch. I don’t really want to be having this conversation right
now. In fact, why are we talking about this, when there are more urgent matters
at hand? I begin again, using a very quiet, timid tone of voice.
“Rai, um, I think I need to—That is, would you mind if I just—Um. Hmm. I’m not
sure how to say this. I’m uncomfortable like this. My body needs a release. I
was wondering, could I have a little privacy?”
I look up at Rai’s face just in time to see his eyebrows raise in surprise.
Then, quite suddenly, he laughs out loud. I’m struck again by what a beautiful
sound his laughter is, and it doesn’t help my current condition at all. Yet I
still find myself getting a little annoyed. I move away from him until my back
is pressed against the wall.
“Is that what you have in mind?” Rai says once he manages to get ahold of
himself. “I’ll admit, it’s practical. But you know, I’m right here.” As he
murmurs those last three words, he brings his body right up close mine.
Now, I’m struck with exactly how large of a cat he is, and I find myself quite
intimidated. He is the commanding captain of this pirate ship, not the cat
whose dick I was sucking so fervently just minutes ago—and I need to stop
thinking about that because this is just getting painful!
I look up at his face, while his silver hair sweeps across my bare chest, and I
desperately try to ignore the sensation. I fail miserably.
“That’s true, but I assumed you would just be tired after all that,” I say in a
quiet voice.
“Ho?” Comes his answer. “You assumed that, did you? After you sang me a song
like that? That’s what you assumed?”
“What about the song? It was just a song! I didn’t sing it on purpose!”
“Ho?” Comes the voice again—and I feel him lick me, in quite an aggressive,
hungry way, from my collarbone all the way to my throat—almost like he might
eat me or even take a bite. I feel gooseflesh there which radiates out into my
arms, and a noise escapes me. “You didn’t sing it on purpose, you say? Well,
who do you think should take responsibility for it, then, if not you?”
“Gah!” Another gasp comes out of my mouth as he licks me a second time. I’m
starting to feel fear—what if he really does bite me? I don’t really know him,
and the way he is licking me is very strange, and it’s making me feel so weird,
and I don’t know what to do. “You’re the one who fed me the catnip! I wouldn’t
have acted so strange if I hadn’t had the catnip! I think it’s probably your
fault for giving it to me in the first place, isn’t it?!”
I look at his eye now, meeting my gaze, and it’s full of heat and passion—so
much that I’m not sure what I should do. I’m truly frightened—I feel a little
like a caged animal, trapped in this bed surrounded by walls on three sides.
But is this feeling really fear? Or is it something else? Anticipation?
Expectation? Arousal?
I take a breath, keeping eye contact, and I reach out to this shining, gorgeous
cat above me, reaching into his hair—touching the silver strands falling around
his face, floating around his shoulders onto my chest and stomach. I run my
hands through the strands—they feel so soft. Like silk. And I remember—this cat
is not all hard lines. He is not all hard words. He has been searching for me.
He is also this silver hair, which is so soft and silky that it tickles when it
touches my skin. Even when he acts like he might eat me alive, he still has
this hair.
That is when I feel a song begin inside me again—amazingly, it’s another new
melody. I don't deliberately sing this tune. It's like something inside me
reaches out to him, just like my hands reached out for his hair. I’m not sure
where all this music is coming from, but it seems to be bursting forth all at
once, all today—and this song is intended for the silver cat hanging over me,
right at this moment, too.
This melody is lilting, turning, swirling in my head—and it seems to say, “I’m
glad you found me. I was searching for you, too. I remember you. My heart
remembers you. Even if my mind has forgotten, my heart will never forget. I am
yours. Make me yours.”
I hear this melody coming from my body, and I am utterly shocked and appalled.
I don’t know understand where the music or sound or kind-of lyrics are coming
from, or what to do in response, or if these are even my thoughts and feelings,
but they seem to be coming from me. How can I remember him? Have we met before?
Do my heart and body know something my mind has forgotten? I am terrified. I’m
afraid of what this giant cat might do to me, when I provoke him like this,
offer myself to him like this—except when I see Rai’s response. While the
melody indicates I am submitting to him, my mind isn’t nearly ready to do that
yet. And my body—gods, my body is in turmoil. It’s still so aroused from the
catnip and touching Rai’s body earlier it doesn’t know which way is up. I think
if given a chance, my body would betray my mind in a second and do anything he
liked with pleasure. Absolute pleasure.
But Rai's response is kind and gentle. He calms himself—and he turns into that
softer cat again once he hears the melody. He starts caressing me, ever so
gently—along my sides and wrapping around my back. My shirt comes off, sliding
down my arms. I feel my pants slipping down my legs next. He must have taken my
shoes off when he set me on the bed, and I didn’t even notice.
I see him at my feet right now, and he takes one foot in his hands and pops my
toes into his mouth. My body jerks at this, but I enjoy the feeling of his
tongue on my toes. He’s grooming my toes—quite roughly.
I watch as his tongue licks the sole of my foot and moves up my ankle, working
its way around my calf and lower leg—carefully smoothing the hair in the right
direction. He’s holding my leg in his hands, and his hands are creeping upwards
toward my thigh. He lowers his face along my knee, and then to the inside of my
leg and then inside my thigh, and I feel myself blushing. His slow movements
and the anticipation of where he is headed makes my dick strain painfully, but
I try to keep my mouth closed. I don’t want to listen to these weird sighs
coming out of me, but noise keeps leaking out of the corners of my mouth.
I briefly consider fighting him off at this point—but the song in my body is
still humming smoothly, and it’s affecting me, too. I want him to take me. I
want him to have all of me. I’m not exactly sure what that means, but I want
it.
I want it so much that my mouth opens, and I hear myself say, “All of me. I
want you to take all of me.”
He looks up right before he reaches my balls, and he answers me. 
“You’re not ready yet. You need to be in heat first before I take you. I don’t
want to hurt you. I don’t want to do this before you’re ready before your body
is ready. Well, I want to, but I think we need to wait. I can tell it’s coming
soon. Mating season is not long from now. I’ve heard it’s healthier for you
this way. And there are other things we can do until then.”
And then, with that, keeping his eye on me, he envelopes my dripping cock with
his mouth, his hand grasping my balls, and I experience an amazing, almost
suffocating pleasure. I want to close my eyes in ecstasy, but I don’t want to
look away from his face. I can’t look away from his eye, watching me, watching
my facial expressions, watching me revel in pleasure. I know that’s what he is
doing.
I know that’s what he’s doing because it’s what I did as well, and it’s such an
amazing turn on that I can hardly stand it! It feels like only minutes before
I’m approaching my limit, and I warn him, “Ah—if you keep this up—I’m going
to—I’m almost—I’m about to—please—ah—please—oh please—Rai—“
And yes, I shamelessly call out his name, loudly.
The melody my body is making has changed into something else. It sounds like
pure pleasure. No words, only pleasure. It’s strange and terribly erotic.I feel
shivers running up and down my spine, and when I feel him grip the base of my
tail in one hand and the hilt of my dick in the other, I completely lose
control. The world flashes white (or silver—in my eyes), and I lose track of my
consciousness. Deep waves of pleasure radiate from my hips outward into my
stomach and torso—and at the moment, I feel him pull out the jeweled plug from
my ass. It sends additional waves of pleasure into my legs, and I can’t help
the noise coming out of my mouth now. My body jolts, quakes, and shivers,
completely on its own—and the relief I feel afterward is fantastic.
I open my eyes—I squeezed them shut momentarily, I guess—to find Rai’s face
hovering over mine. His silver hair is brushing against my body, and his hands
are running up and down my sides, leaving trails of ticklish sensation. As soon
as my eyes are fully open, he kisses my mouth—my lips first, very softly—then
he licks them with his tongue and gains entrance to my mouth. After that
climax, I couldn’t resist even if I wanted to. He tastes slightly bitter—and I
realize with a shock that I’m tasting myself on his tongue.
When he pulls away, he keeps his hands in my hair, and strokes my ears, lying
down behind me on the bed. I feel a little strange—he’s fully clothed, and I’m
completely nude—but I’m so relaxed now that I really don’t mind all that much.
“So,” he asks, “was that better than having me step out if the room for a
moment?” He pulls my body closer to his, and I feel his tongue on the outside
of my ear now, in long, slow, grooming licks, and it sort of tickles. 
I twist my body around to get a better look at his face. Is he playing with me?
Teasing me?
“What.” That pale blue eye twinkles in the warm light of the lamps. “Your ears
are pink again. I don’t understand how you can make such sounds, do such things
with your body, and then have pink ears after all that. It’s quite adorable.”
I think he is smiling again, and his teasing is embarrassing me! I can feel the
heat absolutely flooding my face now, sinking down into my chest as well. 
“Aww, look! It’s even creeping down to your piercings...” Rai’s voice is filled
with more awe than I’d prefer to hear right now, and I turn my face away again,
thankful that he's behind me, so I don't have to meet his gaze.
I feel his mouth against my ear immediately, and the words flow in, whispering
and low. “You are amazing, you know.”
I still don’t understand what my role is supposed to be, however. A Siren? What
does a Siren do? What gifts am I supposed to have? Is this a weird sex thing?
The thought terrifies me and yet intrigues me at the same time. This is what
runs through my mind as I allow his soft grooming strokes to hypnotize me and
lull me into sleep. I am asleep by the time he's finished, and he's tucked me
into bed, wrapping my body up in a blanket.
Chapter End Notes
     I'm well aware the characters, particularly Konoe, are going OOC
     here. I'm thinking in comparison to how much he tends to get beat up
     and suffers in the rest of my fics, he deserves a little power. So
     I'm kind of excited to see how things go from here.
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