How long had he been detained in the darkness? How long had he been imprisoned? How much longer would he have to wait? He didn't know. But it no longer mattered.

Kirie clutched the vermillion sphere to his chest, confirming its warmth and sharing its pulse. He was okay. He wasn't afraid. He needed nothing else as long as he held the sphere to his chest.

Because it embodied all of Kirie's hopes and dreams.

He held, hugged and kissed it. Licked, nibbled and sucked it. Again and again. And waited patiently. In time, the large, vermillion egg would hatch into the thing Kirie desired most.

Slowly, gradually, the hue and shape changed. The egg hatched and morphed. At last, a human form emerged. Lithe and naked, with black hair. The thing Kirie longed and yearned for lay before him, like an offering consecrated only to him.

Bridling his pounding heart, Kirie drew closer and sang an incantation into the human's ear. The name of the consecrated offering. His sweet and beloved—

"—Riki."

The closed eyelids faintly opened. The obsidian eyes, mirroring the imprisoning darkness and brimming with moist heat, looked up at Kirie.

"Riki—"

Again, Kirie murmured the name and kissed him reverently. When he did, Riki stroked his hair. Taking that as a sign, Kirie kissed him more ardently.

Riki— Riki—

The feast had only just begun. There was no telling when it would end.