Once Yuuki was carefully placed in bed, the atmosphere shifted palpably. The room felt charged with tension, an unsettling mix of vulnerability and power that hung in the air like a heavy fog. Ryu turned to the maid, his voice icy and authoritative. “Clean him up,” he commanded, his sharp eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation with keen focus. “And make sure to put cuffs on his ankles, securing him to the bed.”

The maid nodded dutifully, her demeanor professional as she moved briskly to obey his orders. Ryu watched her with a steady gaze, a sense of satisfaction coursing through him. Here, in this moment, he wielded control of an intoxicating power over the boy lying there, so unguarded and unconscious, a stark reminder of the lengths Ryu had gone to for his revenge.

 As the maid went about her task, Ryu’s mind began to drift, unwelcome memories intermingling with the stark reality of the present. Vivid recollections of the past surged forward, each one a raw reminder of the pain and chaos that had shaped him. The very feelings of vengeance that had driven him to this point resurfaced, their intensity accompanied by a flicker of doubt. He could almost hear the haunting echoes of his parents and those screams that still reverberated, the sense of violation that had marred his childhood innocence.

 But the onslaught of guilt was abruptly interrupted as his thoughts shifted to the day ahead. An important board meeting loomed in the distance, one that could determine the trajectory of his business dealings in a world that thrived on manipulation and power plays. He couldn’t afford to miss it, not when so much was at stake. The weight of his obligations pressed down on him, a constant reminder of the life he had built amidst the very chaos he had thought he could escape.

 “Make it quick,” he instructed the maid with growing urgency, adjusting his jacket as he mentally prepared for the impending meeting. He felt the tension coil in his muscles, the need to strike a delicate balance between his personal vendetta and the professional responsibilities that were ever demanding. “I’ll be back shortly.”

 As he turned to leave the room, he cast one last glance back at Yuuki. The boy would remain there, tied and utterly helpless, a pawn in Ryu’s elaborate game of revenge. The thought sent a shiver of satisfaction through him, yet uncertainty plucked at his mind. There was something almost poetic about it—he would return to find Yuuki awake, likely confused and completely at his mercy. It was a plan that not only satisfied his desire for retribution but also allowed him to maintain the façade of a controlled businessman.

Stepping out into the hallway, Ryu was joined by his subordinate, who had been waiting outside. They walked with purpose, the sound of their footsteps muted against the luxurious carpet. Yet, as he moved away from the room, the unsettling feeling nagged at him, like a distant echo he couldn't quite silence. Each step he took reminded him of the choice he had made, and the invisible chains began to wrap around him, paralleling the cuffs on Yuuki’s ankles.

He was acutely aware of the duality of his situation. While the prospect of vengeance thrilled him, there was also the reality of holding a boy who had done no wrong, a boy whose only fault was being tied to the source of his anguish. This internal struggle tugged at something softer within him, something he had buried beneath layers of anger and pain for far too long.

As he walked toward the meeting room, a plan began to form in the recesses of his mind. A mental list of contingencies and rituals to uphold his power in the business realm. Yet, the image of Yuuki's innocent face lingered, dimming his resolve. Little did he know, the events of the day were destined to unfold in ways he could not foresee, setting in motion a series of reactions that would challenge everything Ryu believed about revenge, power, and ultimately, the price of his actions.

                                                                           ***

Ryu returned few hours later, the atmosphere thick with a potent mix of anticipation and uncertainty. Every step he took echoed off the luxurious marble floors, heightening the tension that pulsed through him. As he entered his bedroom, the sight that greeted him was simultaneously a reminder of his recent actions and a visceral trigger for his burning desires.

 Yuuki lay draped across the bed, his slender form swathed in a flowing white robe that seemed to glow in the soft light of the room. The fabric had slipped slightly, revealing the gentle curve of his back and hinting at the soft, vulnerable skin that lay beneath. Ryu's breath caught in his throat as he gazed upon the boy, captivated by the jarring contrast between Yuuki's almost ethereal frame and the raw strength that radiated from him like an aura. Every detail about him seemed designed to enchant, from the way his hair fell in loose, tousled waves, to the sharp angles of his jawline, and the gentle curve of his shoulders. The overall effect was one of mesmerizing beauty, a siren's call that drew him in with an irresistible force, threatening to consume him whole.

 The maid, lingering by the doorway, sensed the shift in the air as Ryu’s gaze fell on the boy. When he inquired if the boy had awakened, the maid shook her head slowly, confirming his silent dread. A mix of excitement and impatience coursed through him; he wanted to be alone with him, to explore the feelings brewing within him without any distractions.

 With a curt, dismissive wave of his hand, He sent the maid scurrying away, the soft click of the door as it closed behind her a signal that he was now alone with the boy. He turned his full attention to Yuuki, his eyes drinking in the sight of the younger boy's tranquil form, stretched out on the bed like a delicate, porcelain doll. Ryu's approach, his movements deliberate as he sat down on the edge of the mattress, his weight sinking into the plush surface.

 As he gazed at Yuuki's flawless complexion, Ryu's fingers twitched with an almost irresistible urge to reach out, to touch, to explore. The boy's blond hair, tumbled down around his face like a cascade of silk, seemed to tease Ryu with its softness, beckoning him to come closer. He leaned in, his movements tentative, his fingers extending to graze the silky strands, marveling at how they slipped between his fingertips like a gentle summer breeze. The sensation was almost hypnotic, and Ryu found himself becoming lost in the simple, tactile pleasure of touching Yuuki's hair.

 As he sat there, his fingers woven through the soft, golden locks, Ryu's mind began to wander, drawn back to his own past. He recalled the hardships he had faced, the struggles he had endured, and the scars he had borne, all of which stood in stark contrast to the gentle, pampered existence that Yuuki seemed to have led. The boy had been well cared for, cosseted and protected, and Ryu couldn't help but feel a pang of curiosity, of wonder, at the differences between their two lives, and the ways in which those differences had shaped them into the people they were today.

 Yuuki looked peaceful, completely unaware of the whirlwind of emotions stirring within Ryu's chest. His gaze traveled from the boy’s hair to his lips, and he couldn’t resist brushing his fingertip lightly against them. An intoxicating wild beauty emanated from his face, igniting something deep within Ryu that was thrilling.

 The robe clung to Yuuki's form, the smooth fabric accentuating his slightly tanned skin and hinting at athleticism. Ryu felt a thick rush of desire envelop him, an urge to close the distance between them becoming harder to suppress. In that moment, the duality of his emotions was almost overwhelming, a tumultuous tide of lust and something deeper churning within him.

 He felt an overwhelming urge to crush the boy, to break him and remake him in his own image, to exert his dominance and control over the fragile, vulnerable form that lay before him. Yet, simultaneously, a surge of desire coursed through his veins, a primal longing to claim his body, to forge a bond that would transcend the dark, tangled history that tied them together. He yearned to possess the boy, to make him his own, to brand him with his touch and his presence.

Ryu had always been the type of guy who effortlessly attracted anyone, his charisma and magnetism drawing people to him like a moth to a flame. He had everything: wealth, good looks, and a confident air that commanded attention. But now, standing before Yuuki, something shifted within him, like a seismic tremor that rattled the foundations of his very being. It was more than just revenge that drew him in, more than just a desire to claim and dominate. It was the unguarded way Yuuki's calm sleeping face seemed to radiate an aura of peace, the slight way his hair fell over his forehead, casting a gentle shadow that accentuated the delicate features of his face.

As Ryu gazed at the boy, he felt a rush of heat course through his veins, his heart pounding in his chest like a drum. He was caught off guard by the intensity of his own emotions, by the way his body seemed to respond to the mere presence of this boy. He approached cautiously, as if afraid to invade the soft, golden light that seemed to surround Yuuki, as if afraid to shatter the fragile tranquility that filled the room. His movements were hesitant, his footsteps quiet, as if he was trying not to startle the boy, or perhaps, as if he was trying not to startle himself.

Ryu's instincts screamed at him to be careful, to tread softly, to avoid doing anything that might shatter the fragile bond that was forming between them. And yet, despite his reservations, despite his better judgment, he found himself reaching out, his fingers extending to brush against Yuuki's arm.

"I shouldn't..." he whispered, the words escaping his lips like a confession, a admission of his own weakness. His voice was barely audible, a soft, husky murmur that seemed to carry on the air like a promise. His pulse pounding in his ears, as he waited for some sign, some signal, that Yuuki was aware of his presence, that he was awake, and watching, and waiting. But Yuuki remained still, his face serene, his breathing steady, and Ryu was left to wonder, to ponder, the true nature of his own desires, and the secrets that lay hidden beneath the surface of his own troubled heart.

Every touch sent a spark through him, igniting an unfamiliar warmth. He moved closer, feeling the tension between them grow, driven by a force he couldn’t resist. He slowly began to slip inside the robe, his fingers traced the softness of his skin, each caress igniting a fire within him he never anticipated. His touch was gentle, yet insistent, his fingers probing the sensitive areas of the boy’s body with a reverence that bordered on worship. Every inch of skin he touched seemed to come alive, as if the very essence of Yuuki's being was responding to his caress.