Deepest Breath
Title: Deepest Breath
Rating: PG
Pairing: KyuMin,
Genre: Kinda angst, Romance,
Summary: 17th century setting. An orphan named Kyuhyun got stuck with rotten relatives. One day a letter fell on his feet, addressed to him. Who will be the man who saves him?
"...their purpose isn't to save you but to show you how to save yourself."
- existence of Angels
His heartbeat started to slow down.
The coldness of the pavement had started to creep deep into his skin making him shiver very badly. He wanted to stand up, to run, to feel warm but his body's failing on him. He had been motionless for hours and can only move his eyes. Suddenly something cold was falling on his cheeks. He looked up and saw it was snowing. His ripped clothes wasn't doing anything much to protect him. As he stared at the dim lamp post from a distance, he slowly felt his eyes were getting heavy.
[Is this the end...?]
As he closed his eyes, darkness enveloped him.
[I don't want to die yet...!] he wished desperately.
[Is that your wish?]
His eyes flew open to find where the voice came from but he can't see anything.
[Yes, yes, please!]
[It's not free...] the voice snickered.
And then he thought of something that he owns. Something that no one can easily get.
[My soul. Take it]
It was like he could hear the other voice grinning.
[Consider your wish granted.]
The dim lamp post suddenly appeared in front of him and gave light to his surroundings. As he squinted, a carriage stopped across the street. A man stepped down and immediately walked to him.
__________
I.
Kyuhyun sat on a barrel as he ate a week old bread. He was taking a rest after cleaning and preparing breakfast for his relatives. He was also massaging his knees for he spent scrubbing the floor for hours. 10 years of age and his body already aches like a 50 year old. He sighed and looked at the sky instead. He was happy that it was a sunny day. As he was taking a bite, the man who was walking by dropped something. He saw that it was a letter. He immediately picked it up and ran after the man who dropped it but as soon as he searched for the stranger, he was gone. All men were wearing cloaks and he got confused. When he looked at the letter, he saw a name written on it.
His name.
II.
It was only at midnight, right before the candle ran out that Kyuhyun remembered the letter in his pocket. He opened the letter and read what was written on it.
Run away.
Right at that moment he heard thundering footsteps outside. Then his door suddenly opened. It was his Uncle and his Aunt.
They went straight for his luggage right at the end of the room and snapped it open. There they saw a loaf of bread and a small cheese.
"You bastard!" and his uncle smacked him on the head. "Where'd you get that bread?! I knew you were stealing!"
"I bought that sir! With my own money!"
"How in bloody hell do you have money?!"
Kyuhyun's eyes went in terror as he realized he spilled his secret. That he had been working on the side as a paper route boy.
"He must have some money hidden somewhere!" his Aunt said.
"You stupid boy!" his Uncle slapped him on the head. " You're so greedy like your parents! It's so great that they're dead!"
Kyuhyun's anger suddenly rise and he charged the man with his head but he was easily kicked away.
"This child has no idea how terrible his parents was." And the two adults laughed.
They then searched around his stuff and when they turned over his mattress was when they saw the money he has been saving.
"No! Please no!" Kyuhyun tried to stop them but he was pushed so hard he got thrown on the wall and hit his head.
His uncle then saw the letter.
"Oh you're planning to run away huh?!"
After punishing him, he later threw Kyuhyun's weak body right on the street.
"Don't help this child! He's a thief!"
III.
Kyuhyun was surprised at the man who was on his knees, looking at him. This man took off his glove on held Kyuhyun's forehead.
After that, as the guy immediately tried to carry him, Kyuhyun howled in pain. The man had held his cuts.
"I-I'm sorry! SMITH!"
The chauffer immediately stepped down the carriage and went beside the man.
"This child is injured badly, we must carry him carefully inside t he carriage."
"Yes, master."
And they both worked on carrying Kyuhyun carefully. Kyuhyun can't help but wail in pain every time he's touched as he had tons of cuts and bruises all over his body.
Once he was finally brought inside the carriage, the man had wrapped a warm blanket around him and carefully held him. It felt so warm and comfortable, a feeling he hadn't encountered for years. It was so nice for him that he fell asleep immediately.
Next morning he woke up in a four poster bed. The room was dimly lit by the sunshine peeking from the heavy curtains. His arms and legs were full of bandages. He tried to sit up but winced in body pain.
"Oh sire, please don't move much. You're still healing."
A nurse suddenly went next to him to check his pulse. "Do you want anything for breakfast?"
"Oh, uhm..." Kyuhyun blushed. He wasn't used to being served.
"How about buttermilk pancakes, would you like that?"
"Yes, yes! I mean, yes please...?"
He spent 2 days in bed just resting and sleeping. The only person he was able to talk to was the nurse taking care of him.
"Wook-shi.. where am I?"
"You're in master Sungmin's mansion."
"Master Sungmin?" He has no idea who that person was.
"Yes. He found you on the street and took you in."
"Oh..." Kyuhyun suddenly remembered the voices in his head at that time.
[Was that real? Or was I just imagining it?]
On the 3rd day, he finally stood up while his nurse was sleeping by the couch. He opened one of the curtains and was surprised by the view outside his window wall. There was a hectare of harden right outside and it was full of shrubs and flowers. He drew all the curtains and saw how wonderful the room he was in. It was like the room a duke, with the fireplace and great paintings. The ivory floor and the fancy design. He can't believe he's in this room.
"Mr. Kyuhyun, why are you up?" Ryeowook, the nurse asked.
"Can I go out now?"
Kyuhyun was given permission to finally go out of his room and visit the garden. While he and Ryeowook were walking inside the mansion, the more he can't believe where he was.
"Master Sungmin must be a very rich man!"
"He is."
And at the main entrance of the house, there was a painting of the Lee family. The child looked very happy. He was smiling and just by looking, Kyuhyun felt warm.
"May I ask how old is he now?"
"From what I know, he's presently 25."
"Where are his parents?"
"They have passed away in a terrible accident and he was left alone to manage everything."
Kyuhyun looked at the painting again. He felt his heart broke as he saw how Sungmin used to smile.
III.
It's been a month since Kyuhyun had stayed at the mansion but he had never met its owner. He heard that the man was always busy. So one day, he dedicated himself to find him. He walked around the house and hid from the servants. Ever since he was taken at this house, he can finally eat all the food he wants, wear nice clothes and have real shoes on his feet. If there was anything his parents have taught him, it's to never forget to express your gratitude.
As he was walking at the study room one time, he heard a man talking. He peeked inside and saw the man who saved him.
[Is this Master Sungmin?]
He was leaning against the study table with a telephone on his ear.
"Convince him...Do whatever you can. I need to have his company!" the man shouted. He was obviously angry as he annoyingly crumples his hair. "Look, the reason why I hired you is to spy on him. Now use whatever you have found and threaten him. I NEED THAT BLOODY COMPANY!"
Kyuhyun on his bottom when he tried walking backwards because of fear. This wasn't the same person that was in the painting. He saw Master Sungmin looked in his direction and was walking towards him. He tried to stand up but lost the ability to move due to panic.
As soon as Sungmin was on the door, he looked at Kyuhyun for a second and shut the door hard on his face.
IV.
Kyuhyun went back to the same room the next day. This time he was carrying a tray of food. He convinced the servants to let him bring the food to the study room.
"But why?"
"Because I want to be able to talk to him."
Once he knocked and the door was opened, Sungmin raised an eyebrow at him.
"What are you doing?"
"It's time for lunch Mr. Lee."
"Why are you bringing the food?"
"As a thank you for everything you have done for me, Sir."
"Tomorrow don't bring me my food."
But he did. And the next day, and the next day and the day after that and so on.
One day it was the servant who brought it.
"Where's the rotten child?"
"In his room Sire. He had a cold from playing too much outside."
The next day, Kyuhyun found Sungmin sleeping on a chair beside his bed.
IV.
Sungmin invited Kyuhyun to eat out and shop for his new things. Once they were at the city, people were discreetly looking at them.
"Look, it's the bad luck."
"Poor kid who's with him."
"I hope he doesn't come into my store. I might get bankrupt!"'
Kyuhyun was surprised by the remarks he's hearing. He then looked up to Sungmin, worried that he might be hurt by this. But his hyung just smiled and crumpled his hair fondly.
"Why do they say that?"
"Because all the business that goes bankrupt, I buy them."
"Is this why lots of people don't like you?"
"Yes."
"But it's not your fault they can't handle their business well."
Sungmin laughed.
"Just eat Kyuhyun. You need it."
That day, as they were walking back to the carriage, Kyuhyun's shoelace got untied. He stopped for a minute to tie it when suddenly someone covered his mouth and carried him away.
V.
Kyuhyun was chained. His cheek was bleeding and has a black eye. The people who kidnapped him beat him up after forcing him to tell them Sungmin's the codes for Sungmin's deposit box.
"I don't know anything!"
"Oh Kyuhyun. It's impossible for you to not know anything. Precious Kyuhyun. Do you even know why Sungmin takes care of you so much?"
Kyuhyun looked at them in surprise.
"What an unfortunate boy.. your parents died due to a tragic accident. "
Sungmin was already outside of the room, ready to save Kyuhyun.
"Don't make a fool out of me."
"Excuse me?"
"I don't need your pity."
"Thanks to my fate I get to meet Mr Lee. It's true that there are hardships but I don't think I'm unfortunate. On the contrary I'm happy!"
Sungmin can't help but smile. He cocked his shotgun and kicked the door open.
VI.
Kyuhyun went to the study room, carrying Sungmin's food.
"What the- you're supposed to be resting!"
But Kyuhyun just smiled cheekily which made him flinch because the cut on his cheek got affected.
"Tsk, tsk. You're so stubborn as always," Sungmin said as he took the tray from his dongsaeng.
Kyuhyun then noticed the dagger lying on Sungmin's table.
"Why do you always have that spear with you?" he asked.
Sungmin sighed first then smiled. "Just in case."
"Just in case what?"
"Just in case I get really tired of it all."
Sungmin was considered to be the king of karma. Every business of his enemies that he encounters all bankrupts or ends in tragedies.
VII.
Sungmin found it endearing that there's always Kyuhyun smiling at him. The boy just follows him wherever he goes. Always giving him what he needs, surprising him with hugs or trying to make him laugh.
"Kyuhyun." Sungmin said his dongsaeng's name as they were having tea one time at the veranda.
"Don't you ever wonder why you're here?"
"Well....sometimes. But I'm happy here." Kyuhyun said as he munched on the scones.
"Don't you want to know why?"
"Whatever it is, I know it's because you care for me. That's why I care so much for you too."
"What if..." Sungmin stared at the distance.
"Yes?"
"What if everything was just a lie?"
Kyuhyun once again just smiled.
" Then it's the most beautiful lie I ever had."
VIII.
People were standing outside the mansion. They were protesting, cursing, throwing stuff and setting everything that can burn on fire.
Sungmin was in his study room. Drinking rum while watching what's happening outside.
"Hyung? We must run too." Kyuhyun held Sungmin's hand and pulled it gently.
"Did you know my parents knew yours?"
Kyuhyun smiled weakly. "I know."
Sungmin looked at his dongsaeng with surprise.
"But they didn't die because of you."
"What?"
"You lost your family because of my parents."
Dark flashes of memory started going in Sungmin's mind.
And the boy was right. It was Kyuhyun's parents who were the bad luck. They stole, they deceived, they ruined everything and passed the blame to the Lee family.
Sungmin kneeled down and hugged his dongsaeng.
"I'm so sorry, hyung." Kyuhyun was now crying. "I'm the bad luck."
A torch crashed against one window and fire have started in the study room.
"You can now let go of your burden."
"What are you saying?"
Kyuhyun then let go from Sungmin's arms and walked backwards.
"I'm your retribution."
Kyuhyun then took the spear knife right on the table and speared his own heart.
"I'm setting the devil free."
And a gush of white feathers blasted in front of Sungmin.
XIII.
Sungmin woke up from a bad dream.
He sat up on his bed and placed his head on his knees. Then his eyes shifted at the table near his bed.
The spear.
He immediately dressed up and asked his carriage to be brought to a certain street.
And there, he saw Kyuhyun. All bruised and smiling at him.
"We meet again." His dongsaeng said weakly.
And Sungmin carried Kyuhyun back to his carriage.
"This time, I don't need saving."
Kyuhyun smiled.
"You always do."
