Disclaimer: The characters will be slightly different. Rated T for the time being, this may be changed at a later date. I will also admit that this is inspired by the Ring-Doh in the manga. Also please remember I don't own Skip Beat and the story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred. With that said I hope you enjoy.
A/N: This story takes place in the about 1850s, so things like the steam trains, traveling across the ocean, toilets [1778] were things for the wealthy. A husband could beat their wife and no one would bat an eye. A woman was only good as her husband and his status basically. It is also about the time that nursing became a field that women could go into. Yet for the most part, a woman working outside of the home is frown upon.
Ring-Doh in this story is the name of a seaport town, it is named as such due to the Temple of Ring-Doh made do the mystery sound of bells echoing in the wind that is said to lure people to their deaths.
-Ring-Doh: Part 1-
Kyoko kept her eyes lowered as Lady Fuwa paced back and forth, her hands were folded in front of her in proper etiquette, she knew to keep her back straight, to never show her own true emotions. These were all things taught to her from the moment her mother had dropped her off here to be put into the care of Lady Fuwa and her husband. Her own mother had never wanted her and after her father had died and the fact her father had willed everything to her, not that she could touch until her 20th birthday unless she married but then it would simply go to her husband, not her. Her mother had been more than happy to chase her dreams of becoming a nurse it wasn't as if her parents had been married anyways, no she was a bastard but being born a female had some blessings, that status didn't play as high as it did with men, adding that she had inheritance and well it up her value. That was why Kyoko was extremely lucky to have been placed into the care of Lady Fuwa and Lord Fuwa and they were both very kind to her or they had been until she had gotten older until she was no longer as an innocent child. It would have all been a perfect set up for her, she could likely get a job as a governess in time if she was lucky. She would be eighteen at the end of the year and then she could try and make her case somewhere.
'Well minus the fact I'm being trained to take Lady's Fuwa's place one day' the bitter thought echoed into her mind. There was a time that this would have been the greatest news in her heart. Yet that was no longer the case, Lord Shoutaro made it rather clear that to him she was far too proper, boring, ugly, plain, stupid. The list went on and to prove his point home he always was found with what was deemed the most beautiful among those who lived in this town. He also did other things all to prove his superiority to her. Not that she found them exactly smart, she was pretty sure for most of them you wouldn't want them budgeting anything, no they were better sitting pretty and making babies.
The town itself was not exactly small but nor was it large. The town was broken into two sections near the cape. A beautiful sandy beach that spread as far as the eye could see and that was what made the town full of life really. The fact that people from far and near traveled the sea, that gave them a bit of a port town feeling but there were far bigger ports, not that Kyoko had ever seen them. The main part of the town was built into the side of the cliff, where many homes and businesses scattered. It was only the rich and high-class families that found themselves living above the cliff itself and looking down into the cape. Not that she was actually allowed to do so. The fact none of those who lived high on the cliff dare go to the edge. So they could not see the beauty that she had seen the beauty she knew and the freedom that beckoned her to the edge. Yes, the sound of bells could be heard above but Ring-Doh had so much beauty that high society just turned a blind eye too.
"Are you even listening to me?" Lady's Fuwa's voice was sharp and she mentally winced.
"Forgive me Lady Fuwa," she said lowering her head ever so more.
The older woman sighed heavily her hands folded in front of her as she stared down at the young woman before her. "Kyoko, I realize that you dislike it here."
Kyoko, "Not at all Lady Fuwa, I'm very blessed to be have taken in by you and your husband." She lowered her head "I was just lost in my own thoughts. I promise it won't happen again."
Lady Fuwa shook her head, "Yes you are indeed very blessed. Still, you must remember your place here Kyoko."
Kyoko wanted to laugh but she knew better. 'I have never been allowed to think otherwise' she bitterly thought as she lowered her head once again towards the older woman, "Forgive me Lady Fuwa" she spoke softly. She had to fight her urge to hold her arm. This was not allowed to her, all her movements had to be carefully placed, her facial features had to be perfectly schooled. No one, most of all Lady Fuwa could ever know otherwise what her mind was screaming. Just like she could never tell the woman the truth, no one could ever know that she had gone to the edge of the cliff, had looked outwards towards the cape, had known its beauty, knew it's peace. Just like they could never know about the young man she had met there, or later the older man she had met who told her to never return to the edge again. Yet the bells called to her, the pulled her with their promise of peace and happiness.
Lady Fuwa smiled softly at her "Raise your head Kyoko and tell me what is the first thing you must never do."
Kyoko did as she was asked, "I am never to go to the edge, for the cape, I am to pretend that the Ring-Doh does not ring no matter how enticing it can sound."
"And why is that Kyoko?" Lady Fuwa asked.
Kyoko didn't believe it but that's because she had heard the whispers of the others of high class. It took all her willpower to speak. "Tlaloc is the giver of life for us but it goes with a cost, he takes a soul with once a year to keep us safe and whoever hears the bells and becomes enticed by them is his chosen victim."
Lady Fuwa smiled warmly towards the girl, "Very good Kyoko." Kyoko watched as the older woman made her way towards the window looking out towards the gardens of the Fuwas grounds. "Now we have an important guest coming." Her eyes turned towards Kyoko for a moment before looking back towards the window "The Hizuri family is sending another representative." Kyoko didn't miss the frown on the woman's face.
There were only two ways to expand one's land here, the first was of course through a marriage union, which she knew that Lady Fuwa was planning to do when it came to her. Kyoko reminded herself all over again that her father had once owned the largest plot of land and while she could not touch the funds there was someone in the bank some lawyer she had never met before taking care of everything. They communicated with her mother, at least until her 20th birthday and then they would inform her of what they had been doing with her funds. 'Unless Lady Fuwa gets her way and I am stuck with Shoutaro until death does us part' she could not bear to think of a life where she was forced to honor and obey him. Her only hope was to stay in this place until she was 20 years old, pray that her mother would forget about, pray to Tlaloc and the Priests of Ring-Doh for the last couple of years to free her from her chains. The other was, of course, was buying another family out, as the Hizuri family had not daughters only a son, the chances were high that he was actually being sent to find a proper bride the inner bubble of laughter at the thought of Shoutaro being second best wanted to burst but she kept her face neutral. Yet the fear of the unknown bothered her at least she would know what to expect when it came to Shoutaro but perhaps this representative could be an out, maybe he had a pretty sister who could marry Shoutaro 'No I wouldn't wish that on anyone' she mentally sighed.
Still, there was a question that was burning in the back of her head, "Why would they return here after what happened last time Lady Fuwa?" It wasn't her place she should have known that to ask such a question but Lady Fuwa turned her eyes towards her, the frowning before shaking her head. Kyoko found herself relaxing for a moment, 'Stupid don't ask questions!' she snapped at herself.
"The Hizuri's don't believe in Tlaloc, they believe that the Priests of Ring-Doh are just some silly cult." She huffed under her breath, "Superstitions they say, but we know better don't we my dear?"
Kyoko bowed her head, "Yes Lady Fuwa" the truth of the matter was she didn't believe in it herself. Not that she disbelieved in the God himself or those who served him. No, what she disbelieved was that he wanted to take souls with him to the underworld. In her heart she just couldn't see someone who breathes life into the crops, fills their nets with fish would be such a heartless God. Yet she knew better the last time she brought up such questions to this woman, she had been slapped repeatedly until she was begging for mercy, that had been when she had run. Ran as fast as her little legs could carry her. Right to the edge of the cliff, looking down towards the cape in all it's beauty. That had been when she met the first of the two beings to change her mind.
"Now most importantly we are not to have anyone speak of this matter, Ring-Doh is off limits," she said with a firm look in her direction. "If I find anyone saying such things to this most important guest, to chance away they will pay for it dearly." Lady Fuwa waved her hand, "Make sure the room for our guest is prepared properly, you are dismissed."
Kyoko bowed deeply towards Lady Fuwa "As you wish Lady Fuwa, I shall see to it." With that she backed away slowly, keeping her head bowed slightly, the door shutting behind her. A single glanced told her no one was nearby and so she allowed herself to relax for just a moment, she lowered her eyes as she wondered why they were keeping this from their guests, most of them enjoyed such fables as they called it. They always were more tempted to go to the edge to look out, it drew their attention and kept them coming back for more.
'I see...' she thought bitterly, 'You wish to chance him away by making this place seem lacking' she lifted her head upwards towards the ceiling as she sighed heavily. 'Still... seven years ago' her mind thought back to when she was eleven years old and the first time one of their representatives stayed here, he had ended up being taken by Tlaloc or so that's what she had been told, 'Chosen by Tlaloc, lured in by the bells of Ring-Doh' but she knew there was more than that. He was chosen alright but she was sure it wasn't by Tlaloc, no she wanted to believe in the best of him whoever he really was. 'Hopefully, this will not turn out the same as last time.' Yet she couldn't shake the feeling that a life was going to be called, given to Tlaloc rather he wanted that life or not.
Kuon Hizuri was the only son of Kuu and Juliena Hizuri they were known around the world for having a hand in everything. From hotels, imports and exports, shops, restaurants and fashion. It was said that Kuu had the golden touch but the truth was it was likely the duo power of the Takarada family and the Hizuri family which together formed one of the strongest businesses that people had begun to refer to as a corporation though they had no real name as of yet to even be called a business. Still, they had plenty of associates and that was who Kuon was pretending to be right now under the name of Ren Tsuruga working with his assistant Yukihito Yashiro to help expand this little seaport town. At least that was the story that they were telling anyone who asked. They needed the land of course for such a thing to happen, they needed a place to run the business and a place for those like the Hizuri to come and rest and watch the little people. It would give Kuon plenty of reason to not only be where high society was in this town but to go down below to where the people really lived and worked.
"Are you sure about this Kuon?" Yashiro asked looking at his charge, sure he had dyed his hair so that it was brown but his emerald green eyes still couldn't be hidden away. Yet Yashiro had to admit that the difference between his blonde hair and this brown was shocking, it also helped that Kuon was pretending to be a man who was perfect gentlemen, far too kind if you asked Yashiro. Even how Ren and Kuon handle those women who were foolish enough to throw themselves at them was different. Were Kuon would become cold and distance. Ren had kindly turned them down, that wasn't to say that Kuon hadn't had plenty of women in his chambers during the time they had worked together but he knew better than anyone else that none of those women really held his heart and when they tried to make him prove otherwise he simply said his farewells to them. Still, their whole way of handling things was different and he wasn't sure exactly how well his friend and boss was going to handle this in the long run.
Kuon flashed one of those smiles at Yashiro who sighed heavily, "What did you call me Yukihito?"
Yashiro looked towards him, "Forgive me, Ren." He shook his head, "But still are you sure about this?" He nodded towards the Fuwa two-story Japanese styled home. It was, of course, an Inn but only those with the funds could get inside. If you didn't have the funds then there was no way they would allow you to step foot into there and it was said to be one of the most relaxing places in this town, the inn had a natural hot spring. This hot spring had warmed the walls and floors of this home, at least on the first floor and while one might not be able to take a room, they did have a small restaurant on the side that was said to serve some of the best Japanese style foods. They even had little plays and shows with dancers and a tea ceremony. The only thing that struck Yashiro as odd was the chosen deity of this place, a God from far across the ocean.
Kuon turned his eyes back towards the building, "Yes. I'm sure about this."
A/N: Tlaloc - A god in the Aztec religion. He was the Supreme God of rain but also a God of earthly fertility and water [ a giver of life and sustenance because water] he was also a minor God of death [those who died violently dealing with water, lighting, certain diseases and child sacrifices]
