見合い ~ miai ~ 2/? [Aoi/Uruha, Aoi/Kai]
Title: 見合い ~ miai ~
Chapters: 2/?
Author: veroxion
Beta: sciencesaves
Genre: Romance/Angst/Historical
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Language, Sex, Age Difference, Cross Dressing, Mention of Prostitution, Character Death, Use of Real Names + OC's
Bands: the GazettE, Kiryu + more
Pairing/Characters: Aoi/Uruha, Aoi/Kai + more
Synopsis: "The villagers are worried that both clans will go to war with each other. We can't allow that to happen. The Shiroyama clan have promised to agree to an alliance, under one condition. We have to provide them with a bride."
Comments: I sincerely hope this was worth the wait! I am really proud of this chapter and it's all thanks to my wonderful beta. Words can't express how lucky I am to have her. I'm so grateful for everything she did to make this what it is. Anyway, enjoy the chapter and let me know what you think! :)
[PREVIOUS CHAPTER]
-x-
Yutaka desperately willed the sleep to fade from his eyes as he packed his futon away, making sure it fit snugly in the closet before he left the sanctuary of his room, bare feet padding against the tatami. He made his way to the kitchens to prepare the morning meal for his master, who was no doubt still wrapped up in bed dreading the inevitable events of the day. Yutaka's chest felt tight and heavy, emotions weighing him down. With some effort, he managed to suppress the poisonous feeling of finality that curled and twisted inside him, and went about his daily morning duties.
The house was fresh and airy, after he had opened the shouji for the morning breeze to blow through and the servant hummed to himself as he cooked, trying to cheer himself up before he would go and wake the clan heir. He hissed as he burnt one of his fingers on the hot fire that burst from the kamado, but didn't bother to douse it with cold water. It would have to wait until later. His master came before everything else.
Smiling happily as he littered a small wooden breakfast tray with food, he carried it towards a bedroom he knew all too well and knelt down before the fusuma, placing the tray aside for a moment. “Yuu?” he called softly, only hearing a lazy groan in reply but no attempt at anything else. The brunet had to smile fondly at the heir's lack of enthusiasm for waking up, before he slid the door open and stepped inside with the tray.
He padded to where the the large futon was laid out and could only chuckle as he saw Yuu open one eye suspiciously before squeezing it shut again dramatically. His forehead wrinkled in the process, his entire face scrunching up and it looked as if he had eaten something sour that didn’t agree with him.
“Yuu, it is time to wake up.” Yutaka cooed softly as if speaking to a young child as he sat beside the futon, placing the breakfast tray down beside the bed. He reached out, rough fingers gently grazing his master's pale cheek, which jumped and twitched under his attentive touch as the brunet tried to coax the older man awake as carefully as possible. Yuu groaned in protest, rolling over onto his side with a huff, his back facing Yutaka.
“Don’t want to.” he retorted stubbornly, wishing for Yutaka to simply leave him alone to drift back off into a peaceful slumber. He could almost see the disapproving frown that had overtaken Yutaka's face as he leaned closer to the futon, determined to wake the heir up. “You have to get up today, Yuu.” he whispered, trying to sound as enthusiastic and encouraging as possible as he tried to remove the covers. Yuu tugged them back instantly, refusing to budge.
Yutaka bit his lip in frustration and resisted the urge to heave a sigh. Of all the days Yuu decided to be childish and refuse to get out of bed, it had to be one of the most important days for the Shiroyama clan yet. He could understand why his master was being so uncooperative but he had hoped Yuu would have taken kindly to being woken up by him at least, and not give him a hard time. He thought wrong, and now, it seems, he would have some trouble trying to get Yuu out of bed. “Takemasa-san and Junji-san are waiting outside.” he told the raven, who just scrunched his nose up in distaste as Yutaka tried to pry his fingers away from the quilt.
“Dismiss them.” Yuu ordered carelessly, closing his eyes as the morning light streaming in through the shouji bathed his tired face in a pale yellow glow. He grumbled under his breath and cursed the sun before he ducked stealthily under the blankets. He could smell the breakfast Yutaka had prepared for him, and while his stomach growled impatiently for his morning meal, the temptation was not enough to convince him to emerge from the darkness of the covers.
Frowning irritably, Yutaka stood up and glared down at the futon in mock anger, watching as Yuu shifted under the covers in an attempt to get comfortable again. He rolled his chocolate brown eyes at the childish behaviour, finally deciding to leave him alone for now. Even though the heir had to get up at some point today, Yutaka wasn't in the mood to play games. He had other duties to attend to, to keep the house in good condition-especially if it was going to be inhabited by a lady sometime soon.
“At least eat your breakfast while it is still warm.” he called over his shoulder as he left the room, the fusuma sliding shut behind him. He could almost see the self-satisfied smirk on Yuu's face and imagined him triumphantly emerging from under the covers now that he had left to devour his meal in victory. Yutaka couldn't help but smile at the image as he moved throughout the rooms of the house, stopping only when he heard muffled voices and movement from outside the itakarado. His dark eyebrows furrowed in confusion at the voice that certainly didn't belong to Takemasa or Junji.
Something clenched horribly in his gut as he strode towards the front door and he nearly recoiled when he recognized the angry voice.
“Yuu-sama, I know you are in there!” The voice boomed from outside, loud and demanding. “I’m coming in.”
Letting out a shaky sigh, Yutaka moved to open the door, and almost fell backwards as it flew open with force and a samurai barged hastily inside. Yutaka didn't waste a moment and bowed low, his long ponytail slipping over his shoulder, slapping against his cheek roughly. “Suzuki-san.” he greeted, gritting his teeth as he was forced to subject to his superior.
From under his dusty brown bangs, Yutaka watched warily as Suzuki Akira flicked some of his dirty blond hair from his guarded eyes, resentment and distaste evident in the way his eyes moved over the servant’s bowing form. They stared at each other for a moment in a silent challenge. The servant knew very well that if the samurai didn’t have the patterned cloth covering his nose then his nostrils would be flaring in irritation. He was nothing more than a nuisance to this man, after all. Finally, the blond decided to speak.
“Get out of my sight, danshou. I have no business with you.” Akira grumbled in disgust, shoving his way past Yutaka rudely and kicking off his shoes. He wasted no time, not sparing the servant another glance before heading straight towards Yuu's bedroom. “Suzuki-san, please, wait!” Yutaka called out frantically, stopping himself within centimeters of gripping the fabric of Akira's clothing to hold him back, finally deciding the punishment for doing so was not worth it. “Yuu-sama is still-”
“There are no excuses!” Akira spat over his shoulder, annoyed at the servant’s continued protests. “If he is being a stubborn, spoiled brat, then I'm sure the clan elders will not mind me putting him in his place.” Akira arrived at the fusuma in no time at all, pulling it open so roughly that it rattled in protest. “Yuu!” he yelled, stepping heavily into the room. His anger sparked as his eyes fell upon the clan heir, who was still in bed, hidden beneath the covers. His meal was half-eaten, and Yutaka could only guess he had quickly retreated back into bed when he had heard the samurai's voice echo throughout the house.
Akira scowled darkly and resisted the urge to kick the lump of flesh in front of him for his impudence. “Stop acting like a selfish bastard, and get the fuck up.” he spat out, looming over the futon. His foot tapped impatiently, and he could feel Yutaka's worried gaze on them both but ignored the servant’s pleading eyes.
“Dropped the pretenses?” Yuu retorted, his tone snide. He was well aware that Akira only made attempts to treat him civilly when others were present, to uphold the the respect that was supposed to be given the heir of the clan. Here though, in Yuu's house, the forced kindness seemed to fade into oblivion, and the heir was met with the raw, bitter hate Akira possessed and directed towards him. Yuu was often surprised the other man hadn't drawn his katana in his presence, but knew the punishment for the act would be great enough to prevent him from doing so. It was a silent victory the heir claimed, and often dangled in front of the samurai.
“Please, Suzuki-san, be more considerate.” Yutaka pleaded from where he stood at the fusuma, frantic eyes darting between the two men. “You know he is-”
“Get out, danshou! You are not wanted or needed here.” Akira snapped, advancing towards him swiftly. Yutaka visibly gulped and took a step backwards as the samurai got closer to him, easily intimidated by the predatory look that spread over the samurai's face, his hand lingering on his katana in warning. “You will not be needed after today. You should go back to where you came from, you filthy whore.” he whispered snidely, his breath hot as it fanned over pale, red cheeks.
Yutaka let out a shaky breath, fists clenched by his sides. Anger and hurt swept through him, but he stubbornly refused to show much Akira's words truly affected him. He knew, that it would only add fuel to the fire. Instead he simply clenched his fists tighter, until his fingernails bit sharply into the skin of his palms. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Akira's hand twitch, and braced himself for a hit, but Yuu's voice cut through the air swiftly, stopping any kind of attack Akira possibly planned to execute. “Enough. Leave now, Akira. I am, as you can see, awake. Why don’t you go report back to those elders now.” he ordered, sitting up in the futon. His dark hair spilled softly over his shoulders, and his equally dark ebony eyes were narrowed in warning, as if daring Akira to defy him. The other man was tempted to.
“Have some respect, Yuu-sama.” Akira growled out, before giving a reluctant bow to the clan heir. “I shall take my leave then.” he said, before he glared at Yutaka, lip curling at the sight of someone he found inferior in every way. The samurai muttered something unintelligible under his breath before he pushed past the servant to get out of the room, silently fuming. His footsteps boomed loudly throughout the house before the itakarado slammed noisily, making Yutaka shudder and flinch, though he was relieved that Akira had left them.
Silence hung between the two occupants in the room and Yutaka gripped his arm tightly, staring down at his feet awkwardly. He didn't know what to say, so he decided to be quiet. He always hated when Akira decided to make a rare appearance at the house, and Yutaka knew his master felt the same way, even if it the matter was never spoken about between them. If it weren't for Akira being such a well-respected samurai who the elders took a personal interest in, he was sure the man would have been demoted, or even sentenced to a worse fate for his disrespect towards Yuu-but such things were trivial to the clan heir, and Yutaka knew he would never speak out about it.
“Kai,” Yuu called softly, “come sit with me.” Yutaka noticed a shaky edge to his usually smooth voice, as his downturned hand beckoned for the servant to come closer. A smile blossomed on Yutaka's face at the use of his pet name, and he happily approached Yuu to sit down beside the futon, leaning in as if almost expecting the gentle kiss pressed against his own lips. Yuu's hand ghosted over his cheek, his touch as light as a feather before it delved into the dusty brown strands of hair, pulling the tresses from their confines.
Yutaka's hair fell free, only for it to soon be tangled within Yuu's grasp, as the heir tilted his lover's head back and deepened the kiss. A small whimper escaped from the servant as he willingly submitted to his master's loving ministrations. He felt a firm hand grip his thigh as the clan heir leaned closer, tongue dipping into Yutaka's mouth without warning, searching to meet his own.
Yutaka moaned softly as he felt his tongue tangle with Yuu's, his heart beating faster when the hand on his thigh pulled back the fabric of his yukata, stroking the soft skin there. He let out a weak sound of protest, a chuckle escaping him as the raven haired man stubbornly squeezed him to hold him in place, fervent kisses running down his cheek. “Yuu, we need to stop.” he lectured, pushing on the heir's shoulders.
The heir just grunted in reply, lips finding his lover's again even as Yutaka no longer responded, turning his face away to make him stop.
Yuu sighed in frustration as he pulled back, giving in to Yutaka's protests. He stroked the other man's cheek as his lover panted, slightly out of breath from the passionate kiss, as he tried to give a stern, reprimanding glare to his master. They both knew they had no time for such affections so early in the morning, especially not on a day like today. Despite the interruptions so far, Yutaka was very aware that Takemasa and Junji were waiting patiently outside and he had no intention to keep them waiting any longer. Apparently, Yuu was aware of this also.
“You can let them in.” he announced, his heart swelling and aching in longing as he admired the wide smile that revealed his lover's dimples. Yutaka moved the breakfast tray closer to the futon, gesturing to the pair to the food. “You should finish eating while I fetch them.” he advised, a light blush covering his cheeks when Yuu leaned in to press one last kiss onto his mouth, velvet lips trailing along his cheek, hot breath fanning over his ear as a confession was whispered. “You should know, I am not in the mood for this kind of meal.”
“Keep thoughts like that to yourself.” Yutaka murmured back, cheeks stained crimson as he pulled away, watching his lover pout childishly over his blatant rejection before he picked up his chopsticks to resume eating.
Watching briefly from the door, Yutaka quickly secured his hair in a ponytail to both prevent it from interfering with his daily chores as well as to look presentable for the important company the house would soon be receiving. His dark orbs locked with Yuu's for a moment and by habit, he bowed before leaving to let their guests inside.
Chuckling to himself at the brunet's amusing antics, the heir held his chopsticks, hands pressed together for a prayer before he began to eat, mind mulling over the events that would take place today. Yuu sighed to himself as he ate, not really wanting to dwell on it too much and pushing the unwanted thoughts from his mind. He continued to eat his breakfast in a comfortable silence that was only interrupted by a bird’s song, floating in from outside. Despite the turmoil within, the atmosphere was peaceful and relaxing.
Until the fusuma slid open, announcing that he had company.
“Good morning, Yuu-sama! Kujou-san is here!”
Yuu's dark eyebrows drifted north at Takemasa's cheerful greeting, eyeing the tailor's bright teal kimono with some distaste, hoping that he wouldn't be forced into wearing such gauche clothing. “We managed to finish the kamishimo on time, Yuu-sama. The dyed fabrics turned out great.” Takemasa explained as he set down a box containing the finished garment. Junji lingered in the doorway, as Yutaka quietly sat down.
“I do not care.” Yuu grumbled, popping a piece of simmered fish into his mouth and chewing thoughtfully. Takemasa frowned as he removed the the black kataginu and hakama that made up the simple, yet elegant kamishimo that had been designed and created especially for this day.
“You should be happy you are meeting your bride today,” The tailor chided in exasperation, sitting down and ensuring that everything was satisfactory with the fabric, dye and shape of the clothing, before he began to make final changes to the garment Yuu would wear for today's special occasion, sewing the fabric together with ease as he spoke. “At least pretend you're excited.” Takemasa urged, placing his tools aside as he finished adjusting the material of the kamishimo.
Yuu huffed and folded his arms, a frown etched upon his features. “I have no intentions for this marriage, other than the protection of the village.” he stated clearly, as he thought about his older brother and the duty that had been abruptly forced down to him after the heir had fallen in battle. Pushing the feeling of spite and envy away, the raven haired man fixed Takemasa with a hard stare. “You are well aware I have no interest in the company of women.”
“You should stop pestering me while I am trying to enjoy my meal.” Yuu grumbled, finishing off what remained of his morning meal before he placed his chopsticks down, and nodded towards Yutaka so that he could take the tray away. The servant did what was expected of him, bowing before he left the room without a word.
From where he was stood in the doorway, Junji snorted a little. “You are expected to produce heirs with this bride.” The samurai informed, but Yuu just rolled his dark onyx eyes, dismissing the words with a quick flick of his hand, declaring the idea preposterous. “Kyoko-sama is barren. The only one who can provide an heir for the family line is you.” Junji pondered out loud, causing Yuu to fall silent for a moment at the mention of his sister and her inability to bear children.
“I am not expected to lay with this woman. This is a sacrifice I have made, to please the clan elders. I am sure they know that very well.” Yuu replied gruffly, inwardly sneering at the elderly persons that the clan looked up to for leadership and guidance. They had caused nothing but grief for the second heir, and Yuu had finally decided to give in to their pleas, if only to placate them, so that they would no longer pester him with their incessant orders and trivial expectations.
Yuu had not been groomed to lead the clan; the forgotten second son who kept to the shadows. Preferring to delve passionately into the delicate world of fine art and painting, rather than the rough and ruthless world of the sword he had shunned when forced to train by the clan. He had admittedly grown fond of the freedom he had been afforded, without judgemental eyes watching his every move-but those days had withered away into nothing, and as much as he despised it, Yuu was aware he had a duty to carry out to the villagers.
“I do not want anyone to suffer the same fate as my brother. War will not erupt in the village, or even reach it. That is why I agreed to this. I will prevent as many casualties as I can.”
An eerie silence filled the room at the mention of the late heir, the only sound that could be heard was the pleasant chirp of birds outside, oblivious to the solemn atmosphere that had developed within the house. Takemasa awkwardly busied himself with folding the clothing neatly, preparing them for use. Junji stared off into the distance, before he slowly slipped off down the hallway, deciding it would be best for him to wait for Takemasa to finish by himself.
“Takemasa-kun, you can leave as well. Kai will help me dress.” Yuu informed as he rose from the bed. Takemasa frowned for a moment, eyes meeting Yutaka's across the room. Those chestnut orbs seemed to smile back at him, urging him politely to leave and not risk angering the heir. The tailor glanced ruefully down at the creation he had spent many sleepless nights on before he sighed to himself, dusting off his kimono as he eased himself up off the floor, bowing low as the raven haired man stood in front of him.
Yutaka made no noise as he packed away the futon, leaving the room spacious and near bare.
“I hope you like it, Yuu-sama.” Takemasa requested, grumbling in his mind at the heir's lack of appreciation for his hard work, before he left to meet up with Junji outside. The closing of the itakarado made Yutaka remove himself from the tatami, padding over to where Yuu now stood in front of a long glass mirror.
Almost hesitantly, Yutaka reached out to untie the string that held the sleeping yukata in place, fingers brushing the cloth from his master's broad shoulders as it pooled to a heap on the floor. Yuu cocked an eyebrow at his indecision, but didn't question it as the brunet turned away to fetch the hakama. Yuu stepped into them and Yutaka was quick to pull the black pants up before he started to tie it.
“I wish I could go to the ceremony.” Yutaka whispered as he finished tying the hakama, making sure it was tight, yet comfortable. His ears picked up on the way Yuu sighed wearily, and for a moment, he regretted saying anything. The heir was usually very lenient about letting him speak freely, especially around him. The brunet wondered if he had made a mistake by voicing his wants, but when a warm hand drifted down the side of his face, he was told otherwise.
“You know why you cannot attend.” Yuu replied smoothly, tucking a brown tress of hair behind his servant's ear. “However much I'd like you to.” he added thoughtfully, before the heir ruefully withdrew his hand, letting it lay limp by his side. Yutaka let his lips graze over the palm of of his master's hand as it left, hearing his heart pound loudly in his ears.
Smiling sadly, Yutaka fitted the kataginu onto the clan heir, making sure the exaggerated shoulder pads were neat and aligned with one another before stepping back to survey his work proudly. Yuu shuffled around stiffly in his new clothing, trying to adjust to the restricting material. He had not worn anything this exquisite in quite some time, but knew it was a necessary requirement for today so he resisted the urge to take it off and slip into something more comfortable.
“I knew this day would come.” Yutaka informed as he picked up the fallen yukata, intending to wash it later with all the other clothing he had acquired throughout the week. “This woman, the one that you will marry, she is very lucky.” he admitted as he placed the laundry aside, watching as Yuu sat down in front of the mirror. Sitting behind the heir, the brunet picked up a small blue comb, running it through the dark strands.
Yuu hummed contentedly at the oddly soothing act and met his servant's eyes in the mirror. Yutaka broke the small visual contact and grabbed a handful of the long black locks, tying it with a thin piece of silk into a high ponytail, letting some of the scarce bangs frame the heir's face gracefully. Rising to his feet, Yuu sent his gaze to the menacing objects displayed on the other side of the room, and Yutaka gave his master a worried glance before he went to fetch the dual katana laid delicately on the stand.
Strapping them firmly to Yuu's side, the servant bit his lip, hesitating momentarily, before he let out his worries in a single breath. “Yuu?” he asked quietly, as the older man shuffled himself into a pair of tabi. “What is it?” he called over his shoulder, not expecting the tentative brush of Yutaka's fingers against his own. He stared down into his lover's eyes questioningly, concerned. “Kai, what is it?”
“Will I be made to leave the house?” Yutaka whispered, startled when his master lifted his chin up, stroking the soft skin reassuringly. “You will not. You shall stay here with me.” he stated firmly, leaving no room for discussion. Averting his eyes for a moment and staring at the shouji, the servant's shoulders slumped.
“I think I might be in the way, and I'm sure your wife won't appreciate me being around.” he commented dryly, sending Yuu a small smile before he averted his eyes.
Yuu scoffed, “It is not unusual for married men to have lovers.” He trailed his fingers along his lover's cheek fondly, skin warm and pink beneath his touch. “If she so desires, she may take lovers as well.” The heir replied simply, and the atmosphere melted into solemnity as Yutaka nodded wearily, still not convinced his presence would be a good thing. It never had been.
“I think you're ready.” Yutaka declared, and Yuu sighed in defeat, knowing that he was already late and people were expecting him. He would do this favour for the clan, and then he would no longer be obligated to answer any more of the elders pleas.
“Right. I just need a kiss then.” he announced, bringing the brunet servant close before placing a smooth, chaste kiss on his lips. It was a bare brushing of mouths in a way that promised more, and Yutaka felt warm love spread through him when Yuu lingered longer than necessary, lips trailing along his cheek.
“I hope it goes well.” he said when his lover finally pulled away, already heading towards the itakardo. Yutaka instinctively followed, intending to see him off at the door.
“I hope it goes quickly.” Yuu muttered under his breath irritably as he shuffled into his shoes, not missing the notorious way Yutaka rolled his chocolate brown eyes at his complaints.
“I hope you behave.” The servant lectured fondly, and the heir could only chuckle in amusement; wishing to only stay here in this house, where he had originally planned to spend his life, instead of leaving to accept a future he had neither wanted nor asked for.
“I promise I will, Kai.” Yuu remarked swiftly as he opened the door, trying not to frown in distaste when he saw that Akira was waiting for him the distance. His partner, Takanori, was standing near the door and greeted the heir with a casual nod of his blond head, which the heir returned with a polite smile and nod. He'd much rather prefer Junji to escort him, but apparently the other man had gone with Takemasa.
“I'll see you soon.” Yuu called over his shoulder, before he started to walk to where Akira waited, arms crossed over his chest impatiently and a deep frown etched upon the samurai's features.
Yutaka bit his lip as he watched his lover walk away, his attention snapping to Takanori when the shorter man spoke to him unexpectedly.
“I suggest you go inside and close the door.” The blond instructed, and the order sounded harsh but Yutaka knew better. “There are too many people around.” he advised, and Yutaka just gave the samurai a curt nod before the itakarado closed shut, sealing himself off from the prying eyes of the Shiroyama clan.
“Took long enough with your danshou.” Akira grunted harshly as the heir approached him, pushing himself off the tree he had been leaning on. Yuu seemed to ignore his crude words, but there was a smug air around him as he stared into the samurai's eyes. Yuu shrugged the insult off, having heard enough of Akira’s insults over the years for them to no longer affect him personally, even if the words were meant to degrade his lover.
“I can never tell who you're jealous of-him or me,” Yuu barked out a laugh, loving the way Akira's face flushed hot red in anger and embarrassment; his sharp eyes narrowing furiously. “Perhaps if you asked nicely, I would allow you into my bed... or his.” he petitioned lewdly, enjoying the scandal playing out on the other man's face.
“You sick bastard-”
“If you could follow me, Yuu-sama.” Takanori interrupted wearily, glowering at Akira and silently reprimanding him for his behaviour. Akira glared back, disliking the challenge in his partner's dark eyes as he heir just grinned in triumph, much to his annoyance. Yuu wriggled his dark eyebrows suggestively before he took a wordless step forward to follow his fellow samurai through the compound.
Upon arriving at their destined location, the heir found himself bombarded with instructions about the meeting that was soon to take place. Sit here, read this, sign that, don’t say this. He tried not to let it faze him, and managed to remain impassive until he spotted his mother making her way towards him through the crowd. The heir could barely suppress a cringe at the sight of her.
“So, you actually decided to come to your own wedding.” Natsumi commented incredulously, eyeing her son with a slight purse of her lips before she broke out into a beaming smile as she noticed his attire. Yuu felt a muscle in his cheek jump when she laid her hand there, an odd affectionate gesture she hadn't shown him in years. “I am glad you decided to do this.” she crooned, her belittling tone making him scowl. Her words were empty praise, and meaningless to Yuu, who shrugged her touch away with a sneer.
“I am not doing this for you,” he replied snidely, almost taking pleasure in the way Natsumi's face seemed to drop with disappointment and hurt. Yuu walked past her into the room, not sparing his other family members even a fleeting glance before he sat down beside his father, who regarded him somewhat apprehensively. The raven noticed the stare and lifted an eyebrow, relief flooding him when his father turned away without a word.
“The Takashima clan has arrived, Masaru-sama.” A servant announced a few minutes later, and the addressed man sent another hard stare towards his son before he turned back to the servant with his answer.
“You may send them in.”
-x-
Kouyou gripped the fabric of the juunihitoe tight as he stood in front of the fusuma. Behind him, Chiyo fretted with the faux strands of blond hair that had become tangled on the journey.
“Chiyo, stop, you're making him-her nervous.” Hiroshi chided glumly, as his wife's fussing hands reluctantly fell away from her work. She sighed dolefully, in remembrance of the times she had groomed her daughters in much the same way, and it did little to settle Kouyou's jumpy nerves as he started to fidget uncomfortably.
“They will notice.” he muttered, eyebrows drawn together as he worried incessantly, even as his mother tried to calm him by placing a gentle hand on his shoulder and squeezing it for reassurance. “Shh,” she cooed, rubbing at his back to try and soothe him. It helped somewhat, but when his mother withdrew her hand and stopped her kind actions, he felt faint again. “They will not notice. It will be fine.”
“Mama,” he whispered desperately, reverting back to the name he had once called his mother as a young child. “I just can’t-”
“They are ready for you, Takashima-san. Sincerest apologies for the wait.” A servant announced to them and Kouyou could feel his mind run blank as he stared at the imposing wooden door in front of him. He didn't want to do this he realized in abhorrence and took half a step back, biting his lip harshly to stop himself from trembling. The blond could feel his father's firm hand on his arm to steady him-or to prevent him from escaping. Not knowing which one it was, the heir could only let out a protesting whine before the fusuma opened before him.
Kouyou shuddered in horror as his almond eyes landed on the first man he saw, and his mind ridiculously told him that it was him. A strong, proud face with a mop of thick black hair that was neatly pulled back. The man’s features were hard and etched with age, but his eyes held a certain degree of kindness, smile lines apparent despite his stern expression, that served to soothe the blond’s jittery nerves somewhat. Was this the man he was going to marry? To Kouyou, he was certainly too old to-
His eyes unknowingly wandered to the stoic-looking younger man sitting unobtrusively behind the man who the blond could now assume to be the father of the groom and he nearly heaved a sigh of relief. The man, while clearly older than himself, was the youngest male in the room and he held himself in a prideful manner. Kouyou squinted to get a better look at him, taking in features considered exceptionally handsome. His hair was long and dark, the black strands framing a roguish face and his eyes were pools of coal, calculating yet with an essence of generosity. The heir had to look away when their eyes met, feeling the back of his neck dampen with sweat as his betrothed gave him what could be considered a reassuring smile.
Swallowing thickly and trying to hide the sudden wave of fear that overcame him, Kouyou willed himself to take a deep breath and try not to feel faint, even as a rush of nausea overcame him when he took a step inside the room, feeling the tatami give slightly beneath the tabi he wore; his geta had been discarded at the door earlier.
The room was thick with expectation and unnervingly quiet, and Kouyou could feel the calculating gazes he was receiving from the members of the Shiroyama clan raking over every detail of his dress and appearance. He apprehensively took a step forward, only to catch the fabric of the juunihitoe, teetering precariously on one foot before stumbling forward rather clumsily into the room. It wouldn't have been so embarrassing if the room continued to keep the tense silence, but it was broken callously as the heir of the Shiroyama clan burst out in impetuous laughter.
Yuu slapped his palm over his mouth to try and control the chuckling snort from escaping him as he and everyone else in the room watched the elegantly dressed heiress stumble and nearly fall to the ground; it was as if she had never walked in a juunihitoe in her life. He felt his mother pinch his side viciously to try and keep him silent. “Control yourself.” she snapped, her whisper magnified to a near shout in the quiet room. Finally able to stop, the heir bit his lip in amusement and watched as the Takashima heiress straightened herself up, flushing a bright red as she pushed golden strands of hair away from her face. He felt guilty for a moment, for laughing so inconsiderately at her obvious nervousness, but shrugged it away-no one seemed to share his humour, and he wasn't about to apologize for such a minor offence.
Kouyou let out a shaky breath, straightening his shoulders and trying very hard to feign composure, suddenly feeling very self-conscious as his parents moved to stand beside him. The blond could feel his mother's anxious gaze, and he flashed what he hoped was a convincing smile. All he wanted to do was hide, to bury himself deep inside a dark hole where no one would be able to find him-to get as far away from this place as possible.
Instead he managed to bow politely, remembering to place his hands in front of him delicately when the head of the Shiroyama clan stood up, his family following almost obediently.
“I apologize for my son’s rudeness.” Masaru spoke first, his deep voice low and apologetic. Yuu inwardly scoffed at his father's words, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. He noticed his sister giving him a hard glare with eyes that mirrored his own, silently berating him in place of their mother who was certainly shooting daggers at his back with her own dark eyes. The heir returned the glare until she turned her head away in annoyance, jaw clenching and lips twitching as if she wanted to say something to him; she would no doubt give him an ear-full later. His attention shifted away from his sister and mother back to the important task at hand when he heard Masaru making his introduction. He could feel the clan elders’ penetrative gaze on him as he stepped forward smoothly, trying his best not to show reluctance or hesitation in his actions.
Kouyou listened attentively to the various introductions of those members of the Shiroyama clan present, watching carefully as the younger raven haired man stepped closer to him. Only then did Kouyou notice the katana strapped tightly to his waist, and he cringed inwardly at the sight. He hadn't known that his betrothed was a samurai, and was suddenly bothered by it.
“Shiroyama Yuu, my second son.” Masaru introduced, one eyebrow twitching in irritation when Yuu simply lowered his head slightly in a greeting not worthy of such a grand occasion-but the Takashima clan didn't seem to mind or even notice as Hiroshi eagerly took the blond's hand and held it out for Yuu to take.
“Takashima Kouyou, my... daughter.” he replied, releasing a deep sigh of relief as Yuu wordlessly took Kouyou's hand with his own, holding it gently. The supposed heiress shivered at the touch and feel of calloused skin against his own, staring at the fingers that stroked his knuckles soothingly for a moment before raising his gaze to meet Yuu's. The Shiroyama heir's face was cool and collected, but Kouyou could detect the slightest hint of a smile playing on his full lips, and it made him gulp and look away hurriedly.
“Come, you will need to sign this.” Yuu released Kouyou's hand immediately, turning around to follow the clan elder that had spoken. The blond watched Yuu’s retreating back momentarily before he was ushered forward by his mother, who squeezed his arm lightly in encouragement. Presented with a scroll, Kouyou observed Yuu quickly sign his name on it without any kind of hesitation before stepping aside so that the blond could sign.
優
Kouyou bit his lip to try and hide his snicker at the kanji used for Yuu's name. He could hardly consider the man he had just met gentle, based on his tough appearance and earlier rudeness. It took him a moment to realize the elders were staring at him expectantly. He hastily took the brush that was offered to him, feeling his cheeks heating in mild embarrassment as wrote his own name as neatly as possible. Calligraphy had never been his forte and he noticed with a pout that his writing looked messy, almost childlike, in comparison to Yuu’s clean, decisive strokes.
Yuu watched as the blond signed the contract that would bind them as husband and wife. While he knew the details of the contract, he found it rather odd that the Takashima heir didn’t bother to read the text before writing her name. He had his own reasons for skipping over most of the scroll, not wanting to let his anger get the best of him as he read, in detail, the ‘plan for alliance’ the clan elders had concocted. The heir would have freely offered his support to assist in the war that was spreading like wildfire through the nation and looming darkly over the village, without the petition for a bride from the Takashima clan. It was a contemptible move by the elders and he’d be damned if he was going to live out the fantasy they had created for him. He vowed that this would be the last thing he did for them. After this, he owed them nothing and would wipe his hands clean of their power games.
He was still staring when Kouyou lifted his head, bright brown eyes meeting his questionably. A compliment was on the tip of his tongue, because the shades of gold that shone and swirled in the blond’s orbs reminded him strongly of changing leaves and a fresh autumn day; the heir lived up to her name. Yuu sharply turned away, breaking eye-contact, when he noticed that Kouyou had begun to scrutinize him as with the same level of intensity.
“Until the dinner celebration tonight held in your honour, you are welcome to roam the grounds.” Masaru explained as the elders packed the scroll cementing the alliance between clans away. Yuu tapped his foot impatiently, having completed what he came here to do and having no other reason to stay now that he had successfully done what was expected of him.
“Yuu, I am sure Takashima-san would enjoy a tour of the gardens.”
“What?” Yuu asked irritably. He folded his arms over his chest and tried his best not to glare, even as the skin on his forehead wrinkled and his jaw became tense. “You can’t expect me to-”
“Yuu,” Natsumi cut in, her voice lowered in warning as she stepped up beside him. “Don’t you dare refuse.” she hissed, her eyes frantically darting to where Kouyou was standing helplessly with his parents, who looked mildly astonished at the scene. She smiled sweetly, but to her son who had the pleasure of experiencing his mother’s anger when no one else was present, it looked forced and pained. Chiyo hesitantly returned the smile, even as something made her gut turn. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but something about the other woman made her feel uncomfortable.
“Have some manners and take your lovely bride around the compound.” Natsumi tried to reason, even as Yuu’s lips worked into a distasteful frown. He thought hard for a moment before he sighed. “I have other things to do.” he muttered under his breath before he levelled his mother with a emotionless stare.
“Fine.” he snapped out grumpily before turning around to leave, deciding it wasn’t worth his mother’s wrath to ignore this relatively simple request. He called out abruptly for Kouyou to follow him and after the blond shared a look of hesitance with his mother, who offered him an encouraging smile, he reluctantly followed Yuu out of the room, trying to swallow the solid lump that had formed in his throat.
Kouyou bit the inside of his cheek and sullenly followed after the Shiroyama heir, whose pace was brisk and fast. He had told himself that this was for the good of the clan and those under the protection of the clan, that he could do this. He had worked up the courage to get this far. However, only now did it seem to occur to him that the rest of his life would be spent living a lie, hiding behind a feminine facade while being forced to be with a man he had only just met.
Expression bitter, Kouyou spitefully glared at Yuu’s back and in a sudden act of immaturity, wished a world of misfortune upon him.
-x-
Comments: I nearly killed myself writing those Aoi/Kai scenes. It's surprisingly hard writing stuff like that when the pairing isn't your favourite. That's why this chapter took so damn long. At least Yuu has finally been introduced! Anyone want to take a guess as to how old he is? XD
Also, just so it is known: 男娼 - danshou - male prostitute. OH SNAP. If any of the other Japanese terms need to be explained, then feel free to ask (^^) I honestly think I'm boring everyone with the snail pace of this story but it gets better, I promise! Thanks for all the support I've received so far. I appreciate it so much.
Chapters: 2/?
Author: veroxion
Beta: sciencesaves
Genre: Romance/Angst/Historical
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Language, Sex, Age Difference, Cross Dressing, Mention of Prostitution, Character Death, Use of Real Names + OC's
Bands: the GazettE, Kiryu + more
Pairing/Characters: Aoi/Uruha, Aoi/Kai + more
Synopsis: "The villagers are worried that both clans will go to war with each other. We can't allow that to happen. The Shiroyama clan have promised to agree to an alliance, under one condition. We have to provide them with a bride."
Comments: I sincerely hope this was worth the wait! I am really proud of this chapter and it's all thanks to my wonderful beta. Words can't express how lucky I am to have her. I'm so grateful for everything she did to make this what it is. Anyway, enjoy the chapter and let me know what you think! :)
[PREVIOUS CHAPTER]
-x-
Yutaka desperately willed the sleep to fade from his eyes as he packed his futon away, making sure it fit snugly in the closet before he left the sanctuary of his room, bare feet padding against the tatami. He made his way to the kitchens to prepare the morning meal for his master, who was no doubt still wrapped up in bed dreading the inevitable events of the day. Yutaka's chest felt tight and heavy, emotions weighing him down. With some effort, he managed to suppress the poisonous feeling of finality that curled and twisted inside him, and went about his daily morning duties.
The house was fresh and airy, after he had opened the shouji for the morning breeze to blow through and the servant hummed to himself as he cooked, trying to cheer himself up before he would go and wake the clan heir. He hissed as he burnt one of his fingers on the hot fire that burst from the kamado, but didn't bother to douse it with cold water. It would have to wait until later. His master came before everything else.
Smiling happily as he littered a small wooden breakfast tray with food, he carried it towards a bedroom he knew all too well and knelt down before the fusuma, placing the tray aside for a moment. “Yuu?” he called softly, only hearing a lazy groan in reply but no attempt at anything else. The brunet had to smile fondly at the heir's lack of enthusiasm for waking up, before he slid the door open and stepped inside with the tray.
He padded to where the the large futon was laid out and could only chuckle as he saw Yuu open one eye suspiciously before squeezing it shut again dramatically. His forehead wrinkled in the process, his entire face scrunching up and it looked as if he had eaten something sour that didn’t agree with him.
“Yuu, it is time to wake up.” Yutaka cooed softly as if speaking to a young child as he sat beside the futon, placing the breakfast tray down beside the bed. He reached out, rough fingers gently grazing his master's pale cheek, which jumped and twitched under his attentive touch as the brunet tried to coax the older man awake as carefully as possible. Yuu groaned in protest, rolling over onto his side with a huff, his back facing Yutaka.
“Don’t want to.” he retorted stubbornly, wishing for Yutaka to simply leave him alone to drift back off into a peaceful slumber. He could almost see the disapproving frown that had overtaken Yutaka's face as he leaned closer to the futon, determined to wake the heir up. “You have to get up today, Yuu.” he whispered, trying to sound as enthusiastic and encouraging as possible as he tried to remove the covers. Yuu tugged them back instantly, refusing to budge.
Yutaka bit his lip in frustration and resisted the urge to heave a sigh. Of all the days Yuu decided to be childish and refuse to get out of bed, it had to be one of the most important days for the Shiroyama clan yet. He could understand why his master was being so uncooperative but he had hoped Yuu would have taken kindly to being woken up by him at least, and not give him a hard time. He thought wrong, and now, it seems, he would have some trouble trying to get Yuu out of bed. “Takemasa-san and Junji-san are waiting outside.” he told the raven, who just scrunched his nose up in distaste as Yutaka tried to pry his fingers away from the quilt.
“Dismiss them.” Yuu ordered carelessly, closing his eyes as the morning light streaming in through the shouji bathed his tired face in a pale yellow glow. He grumbled under his breath and cursed the sun before he ducked stealthily under the blankets. He could smell the breakfast Yutaka had prepared for him, and while his stomach growled impatiently for his morning meal, the temptation was not enough to convince him to emerge from the darkness of the covers.
Frowning irritably, Yutaka stood up and glared down at the futon in mock anger, watching as Yuu shifted under the covers in an attempt to get comfortable again. He rolled his chocolate brown eyes at the childish behaviour, finally deciding to leave him alone for now. Even though the heir had to get up at some point today, Yutaka wasn't in the mood to play games. He had other duties to attend to, to keep the house in good condition-especially if it was going to be inhabited by a lady sometime soon.
“At least eat your breakfast while it is still warm.” he called over his shoulder as he left the room, the fusuma sliding shut behind him. He could almost see the self-satisfied smirk on Yuu's face and imagined him triumphantly emerging from under the covers now that he had left to devour his meal in victory. Yutaka couldn't help but smile at the image as he moved throughout the rooms of the house, stopping only when he heard muffled voices and movement from outside the itakarado. His dark eyebrows furrowed in confusion at the voice that certainly didn't belong to Takemasa or Junji.
Something clenched horribly in his gut as he strode towards the front door and he nearly recoiled when he recognized the angry voice.
“Yuu-sama, I know you are in there!” The voice boomed from outside, loud and demanding. “I’m coming in.”
Letting out a shaky sigh, Yutaka moved to open the door, and almost fell backwards as it flew open with force and a samurai barged hastily inside. Yutaka didn't waste a moment and bowed low, his long ponytail slipping over his shoulder, slapping against his cheek roughly. “Suzuki-san.” he greeted, gritting his teeth as he was forced to subject to his superior.
From under his dusty brown bangs, Yutaka watched warily as Suzuki Akira flicked some of his dirty blond hair from his guarded eyes, resentment and distaste evident in the way his eyes moved over the servant’s bowing form. They stared at each other for a moment in a silent challenge. The servant knew very well that if the samurai didn’t have the patterned cloth covering his nose then his nostrils would be flaring in irritation. He was nothing more than a nuisance to this man, after all. Finally, the blond decided to speak.
“Get out of my sight, danshou. I have no business with you.” Akira grumbled in disgust, shoving his way past Yutaka rudely and kicking off his shoes. He wasted no time, not sparing the servant another glance before heading straight towards Yuu's bedroom. “Suzuki-san, please, wait!” Yutaka called out frantically, stopping himself within centimeters of gripping the fabric of Akira's clothing to hold him back, finally deciding the punishment for doing so was not worth it. “Yuu-sama is still-”
“There are no excuses!” Akira spat over his shoulder, annoyed at the servant’s continued protests. “If he is being a stubborn, spoiled brat, then I'm sure the clan elders will not mind me putting him in his place.” Akira arrived at the fusuma in no time at all, pulling it open so roughly that it rattled in protest. “Yuu!” he yelled, stepping heavily into the room. His anger sparked as his eyes fell upon the clan heir, who was still in bed, hidden beneath the covers. His meal was half-eaten, and Yutaka could only guess he had quickly retreated back into bed when he had heard the samurai's voice echo throughout the house.
Akira scowled darkly and resisted the urge to kick the lump of flesh in front of him for his impudence. “Stop acting like a selfish bastard, and get the fuck up.” he spat out, looming over the futon. His foot tapped impatiently, and he could feel Yutaka's worried gaze on them both but ignored the servant’s pleading eyes.
“Dropped the pretenses?” Yuu retorted, his tone snide. He was well aware that Akira only made attempts to treat him civilly when others were present, to uphold the the respect that was supposed to be given the heir of the clan. Here though, in Yuu's house, the forced kindness seemed to fade into oblivion, and the heir was met with the raw, bitter hate Akira possessed and directed towards him. Yuu was often surprised the other man hadn't drawn his katana in his presence, but knew the punishment for the act would be great enough to prevent him from doing so. It was a silent victory the heir claimed, and often dangled in front of the samurai.
“Please, Suzuki-san, be more considerate.” Yutaka pleaded from where he stood at the fusuma, frantic eyes darting between the two men. “You know he is-”
“Get out, danshou! You are not wanted or needed here.” Akira snapped, advancing towards him swiftly. Yutaka visibly gulped and took a step backwards as the samurai got closer to him, easily intimidated by the predatory look that spread over the samurai's face, his hand lingering on his katana in warning. “You will not be needed after today. You should go back to where you came from, you filthy whore.” he whispered snidely, his breath hot as it fanned over pale, red cheeks.
Yutaka let out a shaky breath, fists clenched by his sides. Anger and hurt swept through him, but he stubbornly refused to show much Akira's words truly affected him. He knew, that it would only add fuel to the fire. Instead he simply clenched his fists tighter, until his fingernails bit sharply into the skin of his palms. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Akira's hand twitch, and braced himself for a hit, but Yuu's voice cut through the air swiftly, stopping any kind of attack Akira possibly planned to execute. “Enough. Leave now, Akira. I am, as you can see, awake. Why don’t you go report back to those elders now.” he ordered, sitting up in the futon. His dark hair spilled softly over his shoulders, and his equally dark ebony eyes were narrowed in warning, as if daring Akira to defy him. The other man was tempted to.
“Have some respect, Yuu-sama.” Akira growled out, before giving a reluctant bow to the clan heir. “I shall take my leave then.” he said, before he glared at Yutaka, lip curling at the sight of someone he found inferior in every way. The samurai muttered something unintelligible under his breath before he pushed past the servant to get out of the room, silently fuming. His footsteps boomed loudly throughout the house before the itakarado slammed noisily, making Yutaka shudder and flinch, though he was relieved that Akira had left them.
Silence hung between the two occupants in the room and Yutaka gripped his arm tightly, staring down at his feet awkwardly. He didn't know what to say, so he decided to be quiet. He always hated when Akira decided to make a rare appearance at the house, and Yutaka knew his master felt the same way, even if it the matter was never spoken about between them. If it weren't for Akira being such a well-respected samurai who the elders took a personal interest in, he was sure the man would have been demoted, or even sentenced to a worse fate for his disrespect towards Yuu-but such things were trivial to the clan heir, and Yutaka knew he would never speak out about it.
“Kai,” Yuu called softly, “come sit with me.” Yutaka noticed a shaky edge to his usually smooth voice, as his downturned hand beckoned for the servant to come closer. A smile blossomed on Yutaka's face at the use of his pet name, and he happily approached Yuu to sit down beside the futon, leaning in as if almost expecting the gentle kiss pressed against his own lips. Yuu's hand ghosted over his cheek, his touch as light as a feather before it delved into the dusty brown strands of hair, pulling the tresses from their confines.
Yutaka's hair fell free, only for it to soon be tangled within Yuu's grasp, as the heir tilted his lover's head back and deepened the kiss. A small whimper escaped from the servant as he willingly submitted to his master's loving ministrations. He felt a firm hand grip his thigh as the clan heir leaned closer, tongue dipping into Yutaka's mouth without warning, searching to meet his own.
Yutaka moaned softly as he felt his tongue tangle with Yuu's, his heart beating faster when the hand on his thigh pulled back the fabric of his yukata, stroking the soft skin there. He let out a weak sound of protest, a chuckle escaping him as the raven haired man stubbornly squeezed him to hold him in place, fervent kisses running down his cheek. “Yuu, we need to stop.” he lectured, pushing on the heir's shoulders.
The heir just grunted in reply, lips finding his lover's again even as Yutaka no longer responded, turning his face away to make him stop.
Yuu sighed in frustration as he pulled back, giving in to Yutaka's protests. He stroked the other man's cheek as his lover panted, slightly out of breath from the passionate kiss, as he tried to give a stern, reprimanding glare to his master. They both knew they had no time for such affections so early in the morning, especially not on a day like today. Despite the interruptions so far, Yutaka was very aware that Takemasa and Junji were waiting patiently outside and he had no intention to keep them waiting any longer. Apparently, Yuu was aware of this also.
“You can let them in.” he announced, his heart swelling and aching in longing as he admired the wide smile that revealed his lover's dimples. Yutaka moved the breakfast tray closer to the futon, gesturing to the pair to the food. “You should finish eating while I fetch them.” he advised, a light blush covering his cheeks when Yuu leaned in to press one last kiss onto his mouth, velvet lips trailing along his cheek, hot breath fanning over his ear as a confession was whispered. “You should know, I am not in the mood for this kind of meal.”
“Keep thoughts like that to yourself.” Yutaka murmured back, cheeks stained crimson as he pulled away, watching his lover pout childishly over his blatant rejection before he picked up his chopsticks to resume eating.
Watching briefly from the door, Yutaka quickly secured his hair in a ponytail to both prevent it from interfering with his daily chores as well as to look presentable for the important company the house would soon be receiving. His dark orbs locked with Yuu's for a moment and by habit, he bowed before leaving to let their guests inside.
Chuckling to himself at the brunet's amusing antics, the heir held his chopsticks, hands pressed together for a prayer before he began to eat, mind mulling over the events that would take place today. Yuu sighed to himself as he ate, not really wanting to dwell on it too much and pushing the unwanted thoughts from his mind. He continued to eat his breakfast in a comfortable silence that was only interrupted by a bird’s song, floating in from outside. Despite the turmoil within, the atmosphere was peaceful and relaxing.
Until the fusuma slid open, announcing that he had company.
“Good morning, Yuu-sama! Kujou-san is here!”
Yuu's dark eyebrows drifted north at Takemasa's cheerful greeting, eyeing the tailor's bright teal kimono with some distaste, hoping that he wouldn't be forced into wearing such gauche clothing. “We managed to finish the kamishimo on time, Yuu-sama. The dyed fabrics turned out great.” Takemasa explained as he set down a box containing the finished garment. Junji lingered in the doorway, as Yutaka quietly sat down.
“I do not care.” Yuu grumbled, popping a piece of simmered fish into his mouth and chewing thoughtfully. Takemasa frowned as he removed the the black kataginu and hakama that made up the simple, yet elegant kamishimo that had been designed and created especially for this day.
“You should be happy you are meeting your bride today,” The tailor chided in exasperation, sitting down and ensuring that everything was satisfactory with the fabric, dye and shape of the clothing, before he began to make final changes to the garment Yuu would wear for today's special occasion, sewing the fabric together with ease as he spoke. “At least pretend you're excited.” Takemasa urged, placing his tools aside as he finished adjusting the material of the kamishimo.
Yuu huffed and folded his arms, a frown etched upon his features. “I have no intentions for this marriage, other than the protection of the village.” he stated clearly, as he thought about his older brother and the duty that had been abruptly forced down to him after the heir had fallen in battle. Pushing the feeling of spite and envy away, the raven haired man fixed Takemasa with a hard stare. “You are well aware I have no interest in the company of women.”
“You should stop pestering me while I am trying to enjoy my meal.” Yuu grumbled, finishing off what remained of his morning meal before he placed his chopsticks down, and nodded towards Yutaka so that he could take the tray away. The servant did what was expected of him, bowing before he left the room without a word.
From where he was stood in the doorway, Junji snorted a little. “You are expected to produce heirs with this bride.” The samurai informed, but Yuu just rolled his dark onyx eyes, dismissing the words with a quick flick of his hand, declaring the idea preposterous. “Kyoko-sama is barren. The only one who can provide an heir for the family line is you.” Junji pondered out loud, causing Yuu to fall silent for a moment at the mention of his sister and her inability to bear children.
“I am not expected to lay with this woman. This is a sacrifice I have made, to please the clan elders. I am sure they know that very well.” Yuu replied gruffly, inwardly sneering at the elderly persons that the clan looked up to for leadership and guidance. They had caused nothing but grief for the second heir, and Yuu had finally decided to give in to their pleas, if only to placate them, so that they would no longer pester him with their incessant orders and trivial expectations.
Yuu had not been groomed to lead the clan; the forgotten second son who kept to the shadows. Preferring to delve passionately into the delicate world of fine art and painting, rather than the rough and ruthless world of the sword he had shunned when forced to train by the clan. He had admittedly grown fond of the freedom he had been afforded, without judgemental eyes watching his every move-but those days had withered away into nothing, and as much as he despised it, Yuu was aware he had a duty to carry out to the villagers.
“I do not want anyone to suffer the same fate as my brother. War will not erupt in the village, or even reach it. That is why I agreed to this. I will prevent as many casualties as I can.”
An eerie silence filled the room at the mention of the late heir, the only sound that could be heard was the pleasant chirp of birds outside, oblivious to the solemn atmosphere that had developed within the house. Takemasa awkwardly busied himself with folding the clothing neatly, preparing them for use. Junji stared off into the distance, before he slowly slipped off down the hallway, deciding it would be best for him to wait for Takemasa to finish by himself.
“Takemasa-kun, you can leave as well. Kai will help me dress.” Yuu informed as he rose from the bed. Takemasa frowned for a moment, eyes meeting Yutaka's across the room. Those chestnut orbs seemed to smile back at him, urging him politely to leave and not risk angering the heir. The tailor glanced ruefully down at the creation he had spent many sleepless nights on before he sighed to himself, dusting off his kimono as he eased himself up off the floor, bowing low as the raven haired man stood in front of him.
Yutaka made no noise as he packed away the futon, leaving the room spacious and near bare.
“I hope you like it, Yuu-sama.” Takemasa requested, grumbling in his mind at the heir's lack of appreciation for his hard work, before he left to meet up with Junji outside. The closing of the itakarado made Yutaka remove himself from the tatami, padding over to where Yuu now stood in front of a long glass mirror.
Almost hesitantly, Yutaka reached out to untie the string that held the sleeping yukata in place, fingers brushing the cloth from his master's broad shoulders as it pooled to a heap on the floor. Yuu cocked an eyebrow at his indecision, but didn't question it as the brunet turned away to fetch the hakama. Yuu stepped into them and Yutaka was quick to pull the black pants up before he started to tie it.
“I wish I could go to the ceremony.” Yutaka whispered as he finished tying the hakama, making sure it was tight, yet comfortable. His ears picked up on the way Yuu sighed wearily, and for a moment, he regretted saying anything. The heir was usually very lenient about letting him speak freely, especially around him. The brunet wondered if he had made a mistake by voicing his wants, but when a warm hand drifted down the side of his face, he was told otherwise.
“You know why you cannot attend.” Yuu replied smoothly, tucking a brown tress of hair behind his servant's ear. “However much I'd like you to.” he added thoughtfully, before the heir ruefully withdrew his hand, letting it lay limp by his side. Yutaka let his lips graze over the palm of of his master's hand as it left, hearing his heart pound loudly in his ears.
Smiling sadly, Yutaka fitted the kataginu onto the clan heir, making sure the exaggerated shoulder pads were neat and aligned with one another before stepping back to survey his work proudly. Yuu shuffled around stiffly in his new clothing, trying to adjust to the restricting material. He had not worn anything this exquisite in quite some time, but knew it was a necessary requirement for today so he resisted the urge to take it off and slip into something more comfortable.
“I knew this day would come.” Yutaka informed as he picked up the fallen yukata, intending to wash it later with all the other clothing he had acquired throughout the week. “This woman, the one that you will marry, she is very lucky.” he admitted as he placed the laundry aside, watching as Yuu sat down in front of the mirror. Sitting behind the heir, the brunet picked up a small blue comb, running it through the dark strands.
Yuu hummed contentedly at the oddly soothing act and met his servant's eyes in the mirror. Yutaka broke the small visual contact and grabbed a handful of the long black locks, tying it with a thin piece of silk into a high ponytail, letting some of the scarce bangs frame the heir's face gracefully. Rising to his feet, Yuu sent his gaze to the menacing objects displayed on the other side of the room, and Yutaka gave his master a worried glance before he went to fetch the dual katana laid delicately on the stand.
Strapping them firmly to Yuu's side, the servant bit his lip, hesitating momentarily, before he let out his worries in a single breath. “Yuu?” he asked quietly, as the older man shuffled himself into a pair of tabi. “What is it?” he called over his shoulder, not expecting the tentative brush of Yutaka's fingers against his own. He stared down into his lover's eyes questioningly, concerned. “Kai, what is it?”
“Will I be made to leave the house?” Yutaka whispered, startled when his master lifted his chin up, stroking the soft skin reassuringly. “You will not. You shall stay here with me.” he stated firmly, leaving no room for discussion. Averting his eyes for a moment and staring at the shouji, the servant's shoulders slumped.
“I think I might be in the way, and I'm sure your wife won't appreciate me being around.” he commented dryly, sending Yuu a small smile before he averted his eyes.
Yuu scoffed, “It is not unusual for married men to have lovers.” He trailed his fingers along his lover's cheek fondly, skin warm and pink beneath his touch. “If she so desires, she may take lovers as well.” The heir replied simply, and the atmosphere melted into solemnity as Yutaka nodded wearily, still not convinced his presence would be a good thing. It never had been.
“I think you're ready.” Yutaka declared, and Yuu sighed in defeat, knowing that he was already late and people were expecting him. He would do this favour for the clan, and then he would no longer be obligated to answer any more of the elders pleas.
“Right. I just need a kiss then.” he announced, bringing the brunet servant close before placing a smooth, chaste kiss on his lips. It was a bare brushing of mouths in a way that promised more, and Yutaka felt warm love spread through him when Yuu lingered longer than necessary, lips trailing along his cheek.
“I hope it goes well.” he said when his lover finally pulled away, already heading towards the itakardo. Yutaka instinctively followed, intending to see him off at the door.
“I hope it goes quickly.” Yuu muttered under his breath irritably as he shuffled into his shoes, not missing the notorious way Yutaka rolled his chocolate brown eyes at his complaints.
“I hope you behave.” The servant lectured fondly, and the heir could only chuckle in amusement; wishing to only stay here in this house, where he had originally planned to spend his life, instead of leaving to accept a future he had neither wanted nor asked for.
“I promise I will, Kai.” Yuu remarked swiftly as he opened the door, trying not to frown in distaste when he saw that Akira was waiting for him the distance. His partner, Takanori, was standing near the door and greeted the heir with a casual nod of his blond head, which the heir returned with a polite smile and nod. He'd much rather prefer Junji to escort him, but apparently the other man had gone with Takemasa.
“I'll see you soon.” Yuu called over his shoulder, before he started to walk to where Akira waited, arms crossed over his chest impatiently and a deep frown etched upon the samurai's features.
Yutaka bit his lip as he watched his lover walk away, his attention snapping to Takanori when the shorter man spoke to him unexpectedly.
“I suggest you go inside and close the door.” The blond instructed, and the order sounded harsh but Yutaka knew better. “There are too many people around.” he advised, and Yutaka just gave the samurai a curt nod before the itakarado closed shut, sealing himself off from the prying eyes of the Shiroyama clan.
“Took long enough with your danshou.” Akira grunted harshly as the heir approached him, pushing himself off the tree he had been leaning on. Yuu seemed to ignore his crude words, but there was a smug air around him as he stared into the samurai's eyes. Yuu shrugged the insult off, having heard enough of Akira’s insults over the years for them to no longer affect him personally, even if the words were meant to degrade his lover.
“I can never tell who you're jealous of-him or me,” Yuu barked out a laugh, loving the way Akira's face flushed hot red in anger and embarrassment; his sharp eyes narrowing furiously. “Perhaps if you asked nicely, I would allow you into my bed... or his.” he petitioned lewdly, enjoying the scandal playing out on the other man's face.
“You sick bastard-”
“If you could follow me, Yuu-sama.” Takanori interrupted wearily, glowering at Akira and silently reprimanding him for his behaviour. Akira glared back, disliking the challenge in his partner's dark eyes as he heir just grinned in triumph, much to his annoyance. Yuu wriggled his dark eyebrows suggestively before he took a wordless step forward to follow his fellow samurai through the compound.
Upon arriving at their destined location, the heir found himself bombarded with instructions about the meeting that was soon to take place. Sit here, read this, sign that, don’t say this. He tried not to let it faze him, and managed to remain impassive until he spotted his mother making her way towards him through the crowd. The heir could barely suppress a cringe at the sight of her.
“So, you actually decided to come to your own wedding.” Natsumi commented incredulously, eyeing her son with a slight purse of her lips before she broke out into a beaming smile as she noticed his attire. Yuu felt a muscle in his cheek jump when she laid her hand there, an odd affectionate gesture she hadn't shown him in years. “I am glad you decided to do this.” she crooned, her belittling tone making him scowl. Her words were empty praise, and meaningless to Yuu, who shrugged her touch away with a sneer.
“I am not doing this for you,” he replied snidely, almost taking pleasure in the way Natsumi's face seemed to drop with disappointment and hurt. Yuu walked past her into the room, not sparing his other family members even a fleeting glance before he sat down beside his father, who regarded him somewhat apprehensively. The raven noticed the stare and lifted an eyebrow, relief flooding him when his father turned away without a word.
“The Takashima clan has arrived, Masaru-sama.” A servant announced a few minutes later, and the addressed man sent another hard stare towards his son before he turned back to the servant with his answer.
“You may send them in.”
-x-
Kouyou gripped the fabric of the juunihitoe tight as he stood in front of the fusuma. Behind him, Chiyo fretted with the faux strands of blond hair that had become tangled on the journey.
“Chiyo, stop, you're making him-her nervous.” Hiroshi chided glumly, as his wife's fussing hands reluctantly fell away from her work. She sighed dolefully, in remembrance of the times she had groomed her daughters in much the same way, and it did little to settle Kouyou's jumpy nerves as he started to fidget uncomfortably.
“They will notice.” he muttered, eyebrows drawn together as he worried incessantly, even as his mother tried to calm him by placing a gentle hand on his shoulder and squeezing it for reassurance. “Shh,” she cooed, rubbing at his back to try and soothe him. It helped somewhat, but when his mother withdrew her hand and stopped her kind actions, he felt faint again. “They will not notice. It will be fine.”
“Mama,” he whispered desperately, reverting back to the name he had once called his mother as a young child. “I just can’t-”
“They are ready for you, Takashima-san. Sincerest apologies for the wait.” A servant announced to them and Kouyou could feel his mind run blank as he stared at the imposing wooden door in front of him. He didn't want to do this he realized in abhorrence and took half a step back, biting his lip harshly to stop himself from trembling. The blond could feel his father's firm hand on his arm to steady him-or to prevent him from escaping. Not knowing which one it was, the heir could only let out a protesting whine before the fusuma opened before him.
Kouyou shuddered in horror as his almond eyes landed on the first man he saw, and his mind ridiculously told him that it was him. A strong, proud face with a mop of thick black hair that was neatly pulled back. The man’s features were hard and etched with age, but his eyes held a certain degree of kindness, smile lines apparent despite his stern expression, that served to soothe the blond’s jittery nerves somewhat. Was this the man he was going to marry? To Kouyou, he was certainly too old to-
His eyes unknowingly wandered to the stoic-looking younger man sitting unobtrusively behind the man who the blond could now assume to be the father of the groom and he nearly heaved a sigh of relief. The man, while clearly older than himself, was the youngest male in the room and he held himself in a prideful manner. Kouyou squinted to get a better look at him, taking in features considered exceptionally handsome. His hair was long and dark, the black strands framing a roguish face and his eyes were pools of coal, calculating yet with an essence of generosity. The heir had to look away when their eyes met, feeling the back of his neck dampen with sweat as his betrothed gave him what could be considered a reassuring smile.
Swallowing thickly and trying to hide the sudden wave of fear that overcame him, Kouyou willed himself to take a deep breath and try not to feel faint, even as a rush of nausea overcame him when he took a step inside the room, feeling the tatami give slightly beneath the tabi he wore; his geta had been discarded at the door earlier.
The room was thick with expectation and unnervingly quiet, and Kouyou could feel the calculating gazes he was receiving from the members of the Shiroyama clan raking over every detail of his dress and appearance. He apprehensively took a step forward, only to catch the fabric of the juunihitoe, teetering precariously on one foot before stumbling forward rather clumsily into the room. It wouldn't have been so embarrassing if the room continued to keep the tense silence, but it was broken callously as the heir of the Shiroyama clan burst out in impetuous laughter.
Yuu slapped his palm over his mouth to try and control the chuckling snort from escaping him as he and everyone else in the room watched the elegantly dressed heiress stumble and nearly fall to the ground; it was as if she had never walked in a juunihitoe in her life. He felt his mother pinch his side viciously to try and keep him silent. “Control yourself.” she snapped, her whisper magnified to a near shout in the quiet room. Finally able to stop, the heir bit his lip in amusement and watched as the Takashima heiress straightened herself up, flushing a bright red as she pushed golden strands of hair away from her face. He felt guilty for a moment, for laughing so inconsiderately at her obvious nervousness, but shrugged it away-no one seemed to share his humour, and he wasn't about to apologize for such a minor offence.
Kouyou let out a shaky breath, straightening his shoulders and trying very hard to feign composure, suddenly feeling very self-conscious as his parents moved to stand beside him. The blond could feel his mother's anxious gaze, and he flashed what he hoped was a convincing smile. All he wanted to do was hide, to bury himself deep inside a dark hole where no one would be able to find him-to get as far away from this place as possible.
Instead he managed to bow politely, remembering to place his hands in front of him delicately when the head of the Shiroyama clan stood up, his family following almost obediently.
“I apologize for my son’s rudeness.” Masaru spoke first, his deep voice low and apologetic. Yuu inwardly scoffed at his father's words, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. He noticed his sister giving him a hard glare with eyes that mirrored his own, silently berating him in place of their mother who was certainly shooting daggers at his back with her own dark eyes. The heir returned the glare until she turned her head away in annoyance, jaw clenching and lips twitching as if she wanted to say something to him; she would no doubt give him an ear-full later. His attention shifted away from his sister and mother back to the important task at hand when he heard Masaru making his introduction. He could feel the clan elders’ penetrative gaze on him as he stepped forward smoothly, trying his best not to show reluctance or hesitation in his actions.
Kouyou listened attentively to the various introductions of those members of the Shiroyama clan present, watching carefully as the younger raven haired man stepped closer to him. Only then did Kouyou notice the katana strapped tightly to his waist, and he cringed inwardly at the sight. He hadn't known that his betrothed was a samurai, and was suddenly bothered by it.
“Shiroyama Yuu, my second son.” Masaru introduced, one eyebrow twitching in irritation when Yuu simply lowered his head slightly in a greeting not worthy of such a grand occasion-but the Takashima clan didn't seem to mind or even notice as Hiroshi eagerly took the blond's hand and held it out for Yuu to take.
“Takashima Kouyou, my... daughter.” he replied, releasing a deep sigh of relief as Yuu wordlessly took Kouyou's hand with his own, holding it gently. The supposed heiress shivered at the touch and feel of calloused skin against his own, staring at the fingers that stroked his knuckles soothingly for a moment before raising his gaze to meet Yuu's. The Shiroyama heir's face was cool and collected, but Kouyou could detect the slightest hint of a smile playing on his full lips, and it made him gulp and look away hurriedly.
“Come, you will need to sign this.” Yuu released Kouyou's hand immediately, turning around to follow the clan elder that had spoken. The blond watched Yuu’s retreating back momentarily before he was ushered forward by his mother, who squeezed his arm lightly in encouragement. Presented with a scroll, Kouyou observed Yuu quickly sign his name on it without any kind of hesitation before stepping aside so that the blond could sign.
優
Kouyou bit his lip to try and hide his snicker at the kanji used for Yuu's name. He could hardly consider the man he had just met gentle, based on his tough appearance and earlier rudeness. It took him a moment to realize the elders were staring at him expectantly. He hastily took the brush that was offered to him, feeling his cheeks heating in mild embarrassment as wrote his own name as neatly as possible. Calligraphy had never been his forte and he noticed with a pout that his writing looked messy, almost childlike, in comparison to Yuu’s clean, decisive strokes.
Yuu watched as the blond signed the contract that would bind them as husband and wife. While he knew the details of the contract, he found it rather odd that the Takashima heir didn’t bother to read the text before writing her name. He had his own reasons for skipping over most of the scroll, not wanting to let his anger get the best of him as he read, in detail, the ‘plan for alliance’ the clan elders had concocted. The heir would have freely offered his support to assist in the war that was spreading like wildfire through the nation and looming darkly over the village, without the petition for a bride from the Takashima clan. It was a contemptible move by the elders and he’d be damned if he was going to live out the fantasy they had created for him. He vowed that this would be the last thing he did for them. After this, he owed them nothing and would wipe his hands clean of their power games.
He was still staring when Kouyou lifted his head, bright brown eyes meeting his questionably. A compliment was on the tip of his tongue, because the shades of gold that shone and swirled in the blond’s orbs reminded him strongly of changing leaves and a fresh autumn day; the heir lived up to her name. Yuu sharply turned away, breaking eye-contact, when he noticed that Kouyou had begun to scrutinize him as with the same level of intensity.
“Until the dinner celebration tonight held in your honour, you are welcome to roam the grounds.” Masaru explained as the elders packed the scroll cementing the alliance between clans away. Yuu tapped his foot impatiently, having completed what he came here to do and having no other reason to stay now that he had successfully done what was expected of him.
“Yuu, I am sure Takashima-san would enjoy a tour of the gardens.”
“What?” Yuu asked irritably. He folded his arms over his chest and tried his best not to glare, even as the skin on his forehead wrinkled and his jaw became tense. “You can’t expect me to-”
“Yuu,” Natsumi cut in, her voice lowered in warning as she stepped up beside him. “Don’t you dare refuse.” she hissed, her eyes frantically darting to where Kouyou was standing helplessly with his parents, who looked mildly astonished at the scene. She smiled sweetly, but to her son who had the pleasure of experiencing his mother’s anger when no one else was present, it looked forced and pained. Chiyo hesitantly returned the smile, even as something made her gut turn. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but something about the other woman made her feel uncomfortable.
“Have some manners and take your lovely bride around the compound.” Natsumi tried to reason, even as Yuu’s lips worked into a distasteful frown. He thought hard for a moment before he sighed. “I have other things to do.” he muttered under his breath before he levelled his mother with a emotionless stare.
“Fine.” he snapped out grumpily before turning around to leave, deciding it wasn’t worth his mother’s wrath to ignore this relatively simple request. He called out abruptly for Kouyou to follow him and after the blond shared a look of hesitance with his mother, who offered him an encouraging smile, he reluctantly followed Yuu out of the room, trying to swallow the solid lump that had formed in his throat.
Kouyou bit the inside of his cheek and sullenly followed after the Shiroyama heir, whose pace was brisk and fast. He had told himself that this was for the good of the clan and those under the protection of the clan, that he could do this. He had worked up the courage to get this far. However, only now did it seem to occur to him that the rest of his life would be spent living a lie, hiding behind a feminine facade while being forced to be with a man he had only just met.
Expression bitter, Kouyou spitefully glared at Yuu’s back and in a sudden act of immaturity, wished a world of misfortune upon him.
-x-
Comments: I nearly killed myself writing those Aoi/Kai scenes. It's surprisingly hard writing stuff like that when the pairing isn't your favourite. That's why this chapter took so damn long. At least Yuu has finally been introduced! Anyone want to take a guess as to how old he is? XD
Also, just so it is known: 男娼 - danshou - male prostitute. OH SNAP. If any of the other Japanese terms need to be explained, then feel free to ask (^^) I honestly think I'm boring everyone with the snail pace of this story but it gets better, I promise! Thanks for all the support I've received so far. I appreciate it so much.