[ Multi-chapter ] Behind the paper doors, Chapter 9 - part 1
Title : Behind the paper doors
Author: rainbowdots888
Pairings: Ryo x Ohkura, Hinted Yoko x Hina
Rating: PG -15
Length: Multi-chapter (9-1)
Words: 2432
Genre: Romance, angst, AU
Disclaimer: Too bad for me, I am not owning these men...just this story.
Summary: Ooku AU. Ohkura is a young man struggling to earn a position in the Ooku. Just for the background, in case you don't know about these manga and movie (go watch it !!), the roles are reversed and the Shogun is a woman, as men are decimated by a terrible disease outside of the walls of the palace. Young and beautiful men are sent to live at the Ooku by their families in the hope they can become someone important and escape the disease.
*****************
The sun hadn't risen yet when both of them met in a deserted hallway of the palace. They had spent their night preparing their departure, selecting the few things that would be absolutely necessary outside. Few clothes, a sword for each of them and a bit of gold to start. Ohkura had thought about this as he packed... If they managed to settle down far from civilization, grow their own food or even build their own shelter, there were good chances to live long years together far from the madness of men and the desolation of the disease. If they were lucky, that is.
They walked down the corridors in silence, among the shadows, avoiding the open doors and people waking up. On their way they met Yasu, the accomplice who would seal the tunnel after they had left. He was the only person in the Ooku they could trust, despite his fear of being caught.
“Are you sure you two want to do that ?” He said with a small and worried voice.
Ryo put a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder. They looked at each other for a while, as a silent goodbye.
“Yes... We need to. There's nothing here left for us. I'll miss you though, my friend.”
“I'll miss you too. Don't do anything stupid and stay far from the city, I don't want to see your dead body brought back inside those walls by guards.”
Ohkura took a step and in the most reassuring voice he could manage, answered :
“I'll do my best to protect him. I'm the reason he leaves, it's my responsibility.”
“Hey ! Don't speak as if I'm a girl ! I can fight...”
Yasu let out a small chuckle before hugging strongly his friend. His eyes were wet but he tried to hide it with a smile.
“Let's go, I want you outside before dawn.”
They followed him to the wall where the tunnel had been dug, behind the kitchens. Silently they removed one by one the things that were stored before the entrance. But when there was nothing left to remove it became all too clear that someone had already sealed their escape route. The wall was flat and plain when few weeks ago there was a man sized hole running under the thick fortification. They froze in silence, realizing that they might have been found out.
“What the hell ? Who di....” Cried out Ryo loudly. His voice filled with anger echoed in the palace, and was replaced suddenly by another. More mature, colder.
“I did that. Well, not me technically, but the outcome is the same.” Tamaki was standing behind them, in the shadows of a porch, waiting with armed guards. “Ohkura, dear... Did you think you could escape me ? If I have to give you to that brat at least I'll be rewarded. But if you leave what do I have left ? How could you do that to me ? I could almost forgive you for fucking that piece of shit of a squire but... running away... after all that I did for you...”
He suddenly surged forward and slapped Ohkura with all his strength. The awful sound reverberated on the walls around them, along with the young man's cry of pain. The strength of the blow had caught him unaware and sent him to the ground, almost knocked out. A panic-striken Ryo fell on his knees and tried to help his lover up, as Tamaki was giving orders.
“Seize the two servants, lock them in the cells. I'll take care of the rest.”
Everything was blurry around him, but Ohkura could feel the hands of Ryo being forcefully removed from him, and most of all could hear the other's enraged screams as the guards were taking him far away. Once again, the palace had kept promises : no one should live happily and genuinely in love within or outside of its walls.
****************
He was brought back to his rooms and locked in there for days. People without faces, without voices, were taking care of him, tidying his place, cleaning him. He refused to eat. Nothing had taste anymore and even the resentful speeches of Tamaki were not arousing any reaction in him. This slap and the following separation had emptied him of any remaining strength. He wanted to die here, lying on his futons, forgotten by everyone. His life had been a series of disappointments and the only person that he would have fought for could very well be dead already. The older man didn't say a thing about Ryo's condition, as if the squire had never existed. Ohkura had lost the count of days, maybe weeks, as he stayed prostrate, food being forced in his throat to keep him alive. And finally the door on the outside opened again. Suddenly he could see the garden, burned by the summer sun and the maple trees turning red already. Autumn was here and he had no will to survive.
****************
One day as he had been left alone by his anonymous servants, he heard a small voice coming from the engawa, calling his name. The sound of it was somewhat familiar but his tired mind couldn't put a face on it. He stood up as fast as he could, his body being weak and exhausted. It seemed that despite the food deprivation, it was not yet ready to die, holding him barely enough to walk to the door and slide it open. Behind the door was Yokoyama, waiting for a response. He swiftly jumped into the room and closed the panel. He looked at Ohkura from head to toe, silently evaluating his ex-ennemy.
“Wow. You look terrible. But even like that, you're still prettier than me... I'm jealous.” He laughed at that, satisfied with the joke. Ohkura rocked dangerously on his feet, and was caught by the other who brought him carefully back to his bed.
“Y-you told them... you were the only one to know... You betrayed us.” His voice was weak and so inaudible that the older man had to lean towards him to hear something.
“No I didn't. Believe me, I did betrayed people in my life, but this time's not my fault. I guess Tamaki knew for quite a long time already... He is surprising sometimes.”
“How about Ryo... Did they kill him ? He wouldn't tell me...”
“Well, your boyfriend is still alive. Don't worry for him, he's particularly tough.”
Ohkura cried then, from relief but also concern. If Ryo was alive, it meant there was hope, still. But it meant also that their sufferings had not come to an end. Yokoyama seemed embarrassed to be here, holding in his arms this young skinny guy, sobbing like a child.
“Oh come on, I'm bringing you good news... You can't do this to me...”
“Thank you.”
“Okay, this is really embarassing now. Stop.”
“W-what are you doing here ? Why did you come to see me ?”
“Oh it's very simple. Murakami-sama is going to free your boyfriend. I don't know when, though. Since he has caught you both running away, Tamaki-sama has become unbearable. He parades everywhere saying that he keeps you for the Shogun, that you are his and that she will marry you very soon. He's really arrogant and has started sending his opponents outside of the walls to punish them. She's crazy in love with you so she accepts everything he asks. The situation is dangerous for us... The only way to threaten his power is to use our two star-crossed lovers...”
He paused then, letting the idea sink in Ohkura's brain. The young man was trying to catch every implication of what he was told.
“... So ! The question is: do you want to see your dearest again, renounce to your status and then be sent into exile with him, dragging Tamaki-sama into your fall or stay the Shogun's pet and preserve your comfort and security, without Ryo, of course. It's your choice... We're not vile enough to play with your lives without asking.”
He was smiling triumphantly, knowing the answer already. He had won and that made him shine, despite the terrible scar that crossed his face.
“I must admit you played well... But she's not going to let us go, she'll kill us if she knows.”
“She won't. Murakami-sama will be here to persuade her that living outside is the equivalent to a death sentence. You'll be thrown out. If you accept, we'll do that for you, we'll win anyway.”
“So let me make this clear. You want to free Ryo, and then bring us to the Shogun. How will this make Tamaki fall ?”
“We'll be sure to tell her that he put Ryo in your bed and then complotted to take your place. She's mad enough to believe it, you know that. Plus, your “protector” has countless ennemies now, everyone is ready to testify against him.”
The plan was risky but he had nothing to lose anymore. And a tiny hope was better than none.
“Alright. But I want to see Ryo first. I need to speak to him.”
“Of course... But rest first. You don't want him to see you like that. Oh, and eat something. I'll send someone with food later.”
“I don't know why I keep trusting you...”
“I'm your only hope Ohkura. And you know I'm smart enough to make this work.” He left the room then, with on his face one of those indecipherable smiles he displayed at court. Ohkura may have just signed a pact with the devil.
****************
Yokoyama had left him rest for more than a day. Knowing that Ryo was still alive and that he would see him soon gave him back strengh and some zest for life. When the other came for him he was waiting nervously next to his door, afraid of being observed.
“Are you sure it's okay ? We won't be seen ?”
“We gave away enough money to ensure discretion tonight, don't worry... I don't wan't to die either.”
He followed Yokoyama through the corridors, stopping from time to time to catch his breath. It had been too long since he had had proper exercise and the stress weighed on his lungs.When finally their entered the cells pavillion, the whole atmosphere changed. There were dozens of rooms, all blocked with bamboo bars, too small for an adult to stand or stretch out legs. Narrow windows were providing just enough light to know if it was day or night. In fact, the cells were enlighted with oil lamps and torches which allowed the young man to see bodies shrivelled up on the ground, some of them weeping or talking to imaginary beings. His heart clenched and suddenly he realised that Ryo too could be changed by now. Himself was skinnier and tired but his lover could have turned crazy in such a place, or even hate him for having let the situation drag out so long. All of a sudden his guide stopped and gestured towards a cell where someone was sleeping.
“Here he is. Take your time, the guards were bribed and the other prisoners are nuts... I'm waiting for you outside. Whatever you tell him, don't think you can plot something against us. We have common interests, so stay simple.”
He left at that, walking slowly towards the exit as if this place had no effect on him whatsoever. In the throne room or in the cells this man seemed to feel like home.
Ohkura fell on his knees and passing his hand between the bamboo bars called almost desperately Ryo. He reached the silhouette's shoulder and pushed slightly to wake him up. The other jolted back, surprised to be touched inside his cage. He was somehow changed but his face did not bear any traces of madness. He was skinnier too and his hair had grown almost to his shoulders. The black and shiny mass was falling in supple curls, covering partly his dark eyes. A blue shadow crept on his cheeks aging him considerably. When he saw the young man, he didn't move and instead screwed up his eyes, inwardly debating if Ohkura was real or not.
“Ryo ! It's you … You're alive...” his voice came out broken and drowned in the sobs. Ohkura was extending his arm as far as he could to reach the other's figure. Suddenly realizing that it was not an illusion, Ryo rushed towards him. He passed his hands through the bars as well and caught his lover's face in his palms. The touch was soft and tender, very far from what one could expect from a prisoner looking that wild.
“They... they told me you were dead. That... the Shogun... killed you out of rage...”
“They told me nothing... I didn't know if you were here or not. Alive or dead. I wanted to die so much... but they fed me like an animal and locked me in. I'm sorry I did not fight more to find you, I'm so sorry...” Ohkura was now crying without restrain, drowning his lover's hands in his tears.
“I don't care... You are alive. And I lived long enough to see you again.”
They looked at each other for a few seconds that seemed like an eternity, connecting their thoughts, getting used to the other's presence again. The young man took one of those beloved hands he had missed so much and planted a soft kiss on its palm. He then kept it in between his own hands, eager of the other's intoxicating warmth.
“We can leave. Let's get you outside of this... place.”
“What ? How ?”
“Yokoyama's here, I'll explain everything but we have one more chance to escape and not much time. Are you with me ?”
“Always... But should we trust him ?”
“We have no choice my love. It's still better than living one more second without you...”
He then ran to their new accomplice, waiting outside. Both of them opened the cell and carried Ryo out of the prison. His legs were so weak he couldn't walk alone and needed a support. When they came out, the cool air of the outside surrounded them and the newly freed man breathed deeply, filling his lungs with life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 9, part 1 is here. It took quite a long time and I'm sorry, because it's really long. Part 2 is already written and ready to be posted, it will be online tomorrow. I wanted at first to post it as one but the chapter wasn't "balanced" so I decided to divide it. Last chapter will be n°10 so I hope you'll enjoy the end of this story as I do.
Love ♥
Author: rainbowdots888
Pairings: Ryo x Ohkura, Hinted Yoko x Hina
Rating: PG -15
Length: Multi-chapter (9-1)
Words: 2432
Genre: Romance, angst, AU
Disclaimer: Too bad for me, I am not owning these men...just this story.
Summary: Ooku AU. Ohkura is a young man struggling to earn a position in the Ooku. Just for the background, in case you don't know about these manga and movie (go watch it !!), the roles are reversed and the Shogun is a woman, as men are decimated by a terrible disease outside of the walls of the palace. Young and beautiful men are sent to live at the Ooku by their families in the hope they can become someone important and escape the disease.
*****************
The sun hadn't risen yet when both of them met in a deserted hallway of the palace. They had spent their night preparing their departure, selecting the few things that would be absolutely necessary outside. Few clothes, a sword for each of them and a bit of gold to start. Ohkura had thought about this as he packed... If they managed to settle down far from civilization, grow their own food or even build their own shelter, there were good chances to live long years together far from the madness of men and the desolation of the disease. If they were lucky, that is.
They walked down the corridors in silence, among the shadows, avoiding the open doors and people waking up. On their way they met Yasu, the accomplice who would seal the tunnel after they had left. He was the only person in the Ooku they could trust, despite his fear of being caught.
“Are you sure you two want to do that ?” He said with a small and worried voice.
Ryo put a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder. They looked at each other for a while, as a silent goodbye.
“Yes... We need to. There's nothing here left for us. I'll miss you though, my friend.”
“I'll miss you too. Don't do anything stupid and stay far from the city, I don't want to see your dead body brought back inside those walls by guards.”
Ohkura took a step and in the most reassuring voice he could manage, answered :
“I'll do my best to protect him. I'm the reason he leaves, it's my responsibility.”
“Hey ! Don't speak as if I'm a girl ! I can fight...”
Yasu let out a small chuckle before hugging strongly his friend. His eyes were wet but he tried to hide it with a smile.
“Let's go, I want you outside before dawn.”
They followed him to the wall where the tunnel had been dug, behind the kitchens. Silently they removed one by one the things that were stored before the entrance. But when there was nothing left to remove it became all too clear that someone had already sealed their escape route. The wall was flat and plain when few weeks ago there was a man sized hole running under the thick fortification. They froze in silence, realizing that they might have been found out.
“What the hell ? Who di....” Cried out Ryo loudly. His voice filled with anger echoed in the palace, and was replaced suddenly by another. More mature, colder.
“I did that. Well, not me technically, but the outcome is the same.” Tamaki was standing behind them, in the shadows of a porch, waiting with armed guards. “Ohkura, dear... Did you think you could escape me ? If I have to give you to that brat at least I'll be rewarded. But if you leave what do I have left ? How could you do that to me ? I could almost forgive you for fucking that piece of shit of a squire but... running away... after all that I did for you...”
He suddenly surged forward and slapped Ohkura with all his strength. The awful sound reverberated on the walls around them, along with the young man's cry of pain. The strength of the blow had caught him unaware and sent him to the ground, almost knocked out. A panic-striken Ryo fell on his knees and tried to help his lover up, as Tamaki was giving orders.
“Seize the two servants, lock them in the cells. I'll take care of the rest.”
Everything was blurry around him, but Ohkura could feel the hands of Ryo being forcefully removed from him, and most of all could hear the other's enraged screams as the guards were taking him far away. Once again, the palace had kept promises : no one should live happily and genuinely in love within or outside of its walls.
****************
He was brought back to his rooms and locked in there for days. People without faces, without voices, were taking care of him, tidying his place, cleaning him. He refused to eat. Nothing had taste anymore and even the resentful speeches of Tamaki were not arousing any reaction in him. This slap and the following separation had emptied him of any remaining strength. He wanted to die here, lying on his futons, forgotten by everyone. His life had been a series of disappointments and the only person that he would have fought for could very well be dead already. The older man didn't say a thing about Ryo's condition, as if the squire had never existed. Ohkura had lost the count of days, maybe weeks, as he stayed prostrate, food being forced in his throat to keep him alive. And finally the door on the outside opened again. Suddenly he could see the garden, burned by the summer sun and the maple trees turning red already. Autumn was here and he had no will to survive.
****************
One day as he had been left alone by his anonymous servants, he heard a small voice coming from the engawa, calling his name. The sound of it was somewhat familiar but his tired mind couldn't put a face on it. He stood up as fast as he could, his body being weak and exhausted. It seemed that despite the food deprivation, it was not yet ready to die, holding him barely enough to walk to the door and slide it open. Behind the door was Yokoyama, waiting for a response. He swiftly jumped into the room and closed the panel. He looked at Ohkura from head to toe, silently evaluating his ex-ennemy.
“Wow. You look terrible. But even like that, you're still prettier than me... I'm jealous.” He laughed at that, satisfied with the joke. Ohkura rocked dangerously on his feet, and was caught by the other who brought him carefully back to his bed.
“Y-you told them... you were the only one to know... You betrayed us.” His voice was weak and so inaudible that the older man had to lean towards him to hear something.
“No I didn't. Believe me, I did betrayed people in my life, but this time's not my fault. I guess Tamaki knew for quite a long time already... He is surprising sometimes.”
“How about Ryo... Did they kill him ? He wouldn't tell me...”
“Well, your boyfriend is still alive. Don't worry for him, he's particularly tough.”
Ohkura cried then, from relief but also concern. If Ryo was alive, it meant there was hope, still. But it meant also that their sufferings had not come to an end. Yokoyama seemed embarrassed to be here, holding in his arms this young skinny guy, sobbing like a child.
“Oh come on, I'm bringing you good news... You can't do this to me...”
“Thank you.”
“Okay, this is really embarassing now. Stop.”
“W-what are you doing here ? Why did you come to see me ?”
“Oh it's very simple. Murakami-sama is going to free your boyfriend. I don't know when, though. Since he has caught you both running away, Tamaki-sama has become unbearable. He parades everywhere saying that he keeps you for the Shogun, that you are his and that she will marry you very soon. He's really arrogant and has started sending his opponents outside of the walls to punish them. She's crazy in love with you so she accepts everything he asks. The situation is dangerous for us... The only way to threaten his power is to use our two star-crossed lovers...”
He paused then, letting the idea sink in Ohkura's brain. The young man was trying to catch every implication of what he was told.
“... So ! The question is: do you want to see your dearest again, renounce to your status and then be sent into exile with him, dragging Tamaki-sama into your fall or stay the Shogun's pet and preserve your comfort and security, without Ryo, of course. It's your choice... We're not vile enough to play with your lives without asking.”
He was smiling triumphantly, knowing the answer already. He had won and that made him shine, despite the terrible scar that crossed his face.
“I must admit you played well... But she's not going to let us go, she'll kill us if she knows.”
“She won't. Murakami-sama will be here to persuade her that living outside is the equivalent to a death sentence. You'll be thrown out. If you accept, we'll do that for you, we'll win anyway.”
“So let me make this clear. You want to free Ryo, and then bring us to the Shogun. How will this make Tamaki fall ?”
“We'll be sure to tell her that he put Ryo in your bed and then complotted to take your place. She's mad enough to believe it, you know that. Plus, your “protector” has countless ennemies now, everyone is ready to testify against him.”
The plan was risky but he had nothing to lose anymore. And a tiny hope was better than none.
“Alright. But I want to see Ryo first. I need to speak to him.”
“Of course... But rest first. You don't want him to see you like that. Oh, and eat something. I'll send someone with food later.”
“I don't know why I keep trusting you...”
“I'm your only hope Ohkura. And you know I'm smart enough to make this work.” He left the room then, with on his face one of those indecipherable smiles he displayed at court. Ohkura may have just signed a pact with the devil.
****************
Yokoyama had left him rest for more than a day. Knowing that Ryo was still alive and that he would see him soon gave him back strengh and some zest for life. When the other came for him he was waiting nervously next to his door, afraid of being observed.
“Are you sure it's okay ? We won't be seen ?”
“We gave away enough money to ensure discretion tonight, don't worry... I don't wan't to die either.”
He followed Yokoyama through the corridors, stopping from time to time to catch his breath. It had been too long since he had had proper exercise and the stress weighed on his lungs.When finally their entered the cells pavillion, the whole atmosphere changed. There were dozens of rooms, all blocked with bamboo bars, too small for an adult to stand or stretch out legs. Narrow windows were providing just enough light to know if it was day or night. In fact, the cells were enlighted with oil lamps and torches which allowed the young man to see bodies shrivelled up on the ground, some of them weeping or talking to imaginary beings. His heart clenched and suddenly he realised that Ryo too could be changed by now. Himself was skinnier and tired but his lover could have turned crazy in such a place, or even hate him for having let the situation drag out so long. All of a sudden his guide stopped and gestured towards a cell where someone was sleeping.
“Here he is. Take your time, the guards were bribed and the other prisoners are nuts... I'm waiting for you outside. Whatever you tell him, don't think you can plot something against us. We have common interests, so stay simple.”
He left at that, walking slowly towards the exit as if this place had no effect on him whatsoever. In the throne room or in the cells this man seemed to feel like home.
Ohkura fell on his knees and passing his hand between the bamboo bars called almost desperately Ryo. He reached the silhouette's shoulder and pushed slightly to wake him up. The other jolted back, surprised to be touched inside his cage. He was somehow changed but his face did not bear any traces of madness. He was skinnier too and his hair had grown almost to his shoulders. The black and shiny mass was falling in supple curls, covering partly his dark eyes. A blue shadow crept on his cheeks aging him considerably. When he saw the young man, he didn't move and instead screwed up his eyes, inwardly debating if Ohkura was real or not.
“Ryo ! It's you … You're alive...” his voice came out broken and drowned in the sobs. Ohkura was extending his arm as far as he could to reach the other's figure. Suddenly realizing that it was not an illusion, Ryo rushed towards him. He passed his hands through the bars as well and caught his lover's face in his palms. The touch was soft and tender, very far from what one could expect from a prisoner looking that wild.
“They... they told me you were dead. That... the Shogun... killed you out of rage...”
“They told me nothing... I didn't know if you were here or not. Alive or dead. I wanted to die so much... but they fed me like an animal and locked me in. I'm sorry I did not fight more to find you, I'm so sorry...” Ohkura was now crying without restrain, drowning his lover's hands in his tears.
“I don't care... You are alive. And I lived long enough to see you again.”
They looked at each other for a few seconds that seemed like an eternity, connecting their thoughts, getting used to the other's presence again. The young man took one of those beloved hands he had missed so much and planted a soft kiss on its palm. He then kept it in between his own hands, eager of the other's intoxicating warmth.
“We can leave. Let's get you outside of this... place.”
“What ? How ?”
“Yokoyama's here, I'll explain everything but we have one more chance to escape and not much time. Are you with me ?”
“Always... But should we trust him ?”
“We have no choice my love. It's still better than living one more second without you...”
He then ran to their new accomplice, waiting outside. Both of them opened the cell and carried Ryo out of the prison. His legs were so weak he couldn't walk alone and needed a support. When they came out, the cool air of the outside surrounded them and the newly freed man breathed deeply, filling his lungs with life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 9, part 1 is here. It took quite a long time and I'm sorry, because it's really long. Part 2 is already written and ready to be posted, it will be online tomorrow. I wanted at first to post it as one but the chapter wasn't "balanced" so I decided to divide it. Last chapter will be n°10 so I hope you'll enjoy the end of this story as I do.
Love ♥