Chapter Seventeen: Dinner Party:

A beautifully set table: white silk tablecloth, gold chopsticks, a bouquet of fresh cut irises sat in a vase, and a single white candle lit on the table. He sat at this lovely table, drinking sake. He looked nice on this occasion in black and white traditional kimono. His lips curved into a twisted smile.

"Ah!" he said. "That's good!" He looked up when he heard the door slide open.

"Oh good," he said. "You're here."

Not by choice; he made her come here. How? That damn white feather that landed on her chest. It dissolved into her body and her chains fell off. Suddenly, her body sat up for no reason. She wasn't in control anymore, so she couldn't stop herself. What's happening to me? Once the cage door opened, she just simply walked out. Not like when Meixiang took control of her body out of hiding; this had malice backed with it in foul-scented way. In twenty minutes, here she was. In huge dining hall-like set-up. He smirked at her.

"Take a seat," he commanded. Her feet led her to the chair and she sat down.

"Good girl," he said. "You look a little hungry." He picked up his golden spoon.

"Try the soup!" he said. "I made it myself. You'll like it." As he spoke, her hand picked up her own spoon. He saw contempt in her eyes. It was to be expected. She's still refused to be broken. This meal would speed things up. He dipped his spoon into the soup. Against her will, she took the first bite. Disgust shot through her brain.

"What is this?" she cried.

"Pumpkin soup with bitter herbs," he replied. "Eat it!"

"No!" she whimpered.

"I said eat it!" He forced her to finish the bitter soup. Oh what a good time to throw up now. Yet, pride refused to let her give him the satisfaction. Gross! He lowered his spoon.

"Yum!" he said. "Now for the second course." He rang a white gold bell on the table. A shadow-like creature appeared with a silver tray in its hands. He took the tray and nodded. He served the bamboo plates. She looked down at the meal. She recoiled in disgust at her plate. Live snails? He gave her a twisted smile.

"Eat up," he said. Like a puppet master with a marionette, he made her pick up a snail and put it in her mouth. Her face twisted into about to throw up as she chewed and swallowed the raw, live creature.

"Open your mouth," he ordered her. "I want to see it gone." She complied as she tried to stomach the first snail. He inspected the inside for a few more seconds. When he was satisfied, he smirked at her.

"Very good," he remarked. "Now finished the rest."

"Go to Hell!" she hissed. He ignored her and made her eat the remaining six crawling snails. She kept trying to stomach each one. He took it in with each time she made a face. The checking of each one added insult to injury.

"Now for the main course!" he bragged. He rang the bell for the tray. Her mumbling caught his ear.

"Hm?" he asked.

"Why?" she questioned. Her captor made an odd face at her.

"Why what?" he asked.

"Why do you put me through this?"

He smirked as he took another sip of sake. "Again with the questions, huh?" He set down his glass. "Very well. Since you've kept up so far, I will tell you. It's because I love you."

"Liar!"

"What was that?"

"Liar! Return me back to me body now!"

He smirked as he shook his head at her. "I'm afraid I can't do that."

"And why not?" she demanded.

"My, my, my, you talk too much," he replied. "I have a new rule now."

"What?" she asked. He put up two fingers and drew them out in front of him. She tried to ask what he was doing when she found herself unable to speak. She tried to do so, but her voice was gone. He sat back, smiling.

"Much better," he said. "Just in time for the main course. Curry Peking duck with curry rice and natto along with goya chanpuru on the side." She recoiled again at her plate. He sat back, smiling.

"Eat up, my love," he said. "It's all for you." She cast him an icy glare. What else could she do? He held her sitting in place and took her voice. She came close to throwing up halfway through this unappealing meal, but he refused to let her do so.

"Eat," he commanded. She squeaked as if to beg him to stop.

"No," he insisted. "You have to finish your plate. Otherwise, you won't get dessert." He continued to force her to eat the disaster known as dinner. When she was done, he set down the chopsticks.

"Whew! That was good!" He glanced at his pet. False pity coated his face.

"Aw," he cooed. "Going to be sick already, hm?" She gritted her teeth at him. He chuckled at her resilience.

"Okay then," he said. "Time for dessert." He rang the bell once more. The final tray came to them. Bitter chocolate squares soaked with a bitter wine. He licked his lips at her.

"Hope you're still hungry," he told her. "Because we're at the best part!" He picked up the chocolate and ate up. The squares tore up her stomach even further. The sickness reached unbearable levels. Still, he made her keep eating.

"You don't want to hurt my feelings, do you?" he asked in between bites. "After all, I made this whole meal myself just for you." Down went more of �Tsuzuki�s specialty� squares. After dessert, he raised his glass.

"To us!" he said. "To us and our love." The bitter raspberry sake didn't help her stomach either. He grinned after his last drink.

"Ah!" he said. Those cruel violet eyes turned to his captive. "And now, you can go," he said. Her restraints fell free and she hurried out of the dining hall.

"Keep it all down!" he yelled after her. That lasted for only thirty seconds. In the hallway, she emptied out the contents of her stomach.