-Ring-Doh: Part 12-


The Fuwa Inn was in the distance as he lowered himself at the stables, holding Kyoko close to him as he did so. He doubted the idea of there actually being magic in this world, he also doubted that she was actually under some sort of spell. The most likely thing was she had been drugged, yet what he couldn't figure out was what was so special about taking her back to the place she had been taken from in the first place. "What am I supposed to do?" He sighed shifting her in his arms. His eyes turned back towards the horse, 'Need to take care of him, find a way to sneak her into the Inn without anyone finding, plus keep Lady Fuwa in the dark about all this.'

"I see he did this again..." Kuon's eyes turned towards the woman in front of him. She was clearly younger than Kyoko but only by a few years at much. Her brown hair seemed darker due to her fair white skin. As he looked into her eyes he realized that they were grey and seemed to lack a light within them. His eyes narrowed slightly, only for her to glare. Releasing the strain of Kyoko's hair her eyes widen before she turned her face away from him. Her arms wrapping around her middle in a hug.

Kuon found himself staring at her before looking away. He felt guilty because it seemed to him that the woman before him had seen a ghost. Her expression was far haunting, almost as if she was going to cry. "Who are you exactly?" His eyes trailed back down to Kyoko before sighing heavily, "and what do you know about what happened to her?" It really was coming back down to her tonight wasn't it? 'Just what is going on here?' He watched as the woman turned to look at him, there was a sad longing in her eyes before shaking her head and moving to take the horse reins he followed her into the stables, not sure what else he could do at the moment seeing as he didn't exactly have a plan for how to deal with sneaking a girl into the Inn. 'This whole thing is ridiculous when I think about it.'

She motioned for him to sit on a stack of hay as she began to take care of the horse, "My name is Ruriko." Her eyes turned to look at him slightly but Kuon wasn't sure what she was expecting but every time she looked at him, there was so much sorrow in her eyes. Even her smile seemed truly sad. He wanted to ask her about it but for some unknown reason, he found himself holding back that question as if getting that answer would only cause him to question even more about what was going on. "As for what happened to her, she's a Misonoi."

Kuon sighed as he looked down at the sleeping girl, "What does her family name have to do with anything?"

Ruriko stared at him, "You really aren't him at all." her voice sounded so broken to him but there was an anger inside, "Did he not ever tell you anything about this place?" She rested her head against the flank of the horse for a moment, "Then again how many years has it been... you might not even... nevermind."

The confusion that he was feeling was only growing worse the more she talked but he smiled, "I'm afraid I'm not from around here. My name is Ren Tsuruga and I came here because the Hizuri family hired me to scout out some land around this area." Actually, that wasn't exactly the truth, that had once been the plan back before Rick's death and the pain that his family held by it because he had left his fiance alone in the world and no one could understand why he would commit suicide like they had been told.

"You are not a Hizuri?"

He smiled gently at her before looking back down at Kyoko he knew that by saying nothing that it could cause a problem. "Like I said my name is Ren Tsuruga, the Hizuri family have blond hair." Well that wasn't exactly true either, though his father did lighten his hair as much as possible it had taken him years to do so but it still wasn't exactly blond but as he aged he supposed it wouldn't matter as much. All he knew was that his father personally wanted to look more like his wife and son.

"Is that so... forgive me then. You just look like him." Kuon couldn't help but want to pat the girl on the head. He wasn't exactly sure who he looked like other than his father but he knew his father hadn't been in Ring-Doh since before he was born so there was no way that this girl knew him. Unless perhaps through a photo. He had no uncles or aunts, there were no cousins. Though he supposed it was possible that perhaps his grandfather who had siblings could have come here and their children perhaps looked something like them, but his grandfather had two sisters, they would not hold the Hizuri name so again he was at a lost.

Kuon eyes moved back towards Kyoko, even with the talking she had not awoken. He ran a hand across her cheek pushing her hair out of her face. "She'll be fine, she only needs to be a few feet from where she was taken." Kuon's eyes shot up towards her and she smiled that sad smile of hers.

"What kind of drug was used and what's in the house that counteracts it?" Magic just couldn't be real, that was the only thing that he could be sure of. Science was changing the world, science was explaining why things happened. Gods and spells, his rational mind wouldn't accept it, those were the ideas and beliefs of foolish men.

"Not a believer..." she looked away as though seeing something in the distance, "I wasn't either. That was my mistake, a foolish mistake." She balled her hands into fists before looking back at him, "Where was she when time stopped?"

Kuon had to admit that he was missing time but that didn't mean much either, there were plenty of ways to paralyze a man. "Wait you said you weren't either, you aren't a local then?" That would make the most sense, someone who traveled here, likely coming across from such things. Besides, it wasn't like he was going to tell her where they were outside of being in the Fuwa Inn at the time.

"You could say I'm one now." She tilted her head, her hair falling over her shoulders as she looked at him. "The Gods and their followers... they aren't like you." She moved towards him, "You should go, Lady Fuwa isn't a nice woman." She moved towards him and leaned forward, her hair falling over his arms as she dropped her voice, "and it's far from safe to talk here." She pulled away turning away, "Go. Lady Fuwa will be moving from her lover's room soon, she will check on the girl." Her eyes turned towards him, "she must not find you both together if you care for her at all."

Kuon watched as she left the stable, leaving the door open feeling more confused than when he had first met the woman.


She could feel the wall and the floor under her, yet her head felt heavy and just opening her eyes made her dizzy and upset her stomach. 'Right, this has happened a few times' she wasn't sure what caused it. Normally she woke up around Kanae or Hiou as a child she was found sometimes by Shoutaro or one of the other servants in the Inn. The Doctor in Ring-Doh couldn't find a reason, he just assumed it was due to being out in the sun or exhausting herself, that one had always made Lady Fuwa mad. That was fully due to the fact that it made her look bad. A child of a Lord even being his bastard daughter had to be held at a different standard. Sometimes she wondered if it would not have been better to have been born a boy instead, but she knew deep down had she been she would have been married off to some young woman instead. 'Guess marriage was always in the pictured.'

"Kyoko" she tried to open her eyes but quickly shut them waving her hand slightly, she would be fine. The hand that touched her forehead pushing her hair from her face, "Do you feel sick?" His voice was low but it held concern for her still.

"I'm fine" Even if she wasn't, that would be her answer. That was the only answer she would ever be able to give. Besides this wasn't Kanae or Hiou who she could be more honest with. This was, she couldn't think who it was at the moment her head just wouldn't stop pounding, "I'm fine. Don't worry, please go back to bed." She leaned her head against the cool wall. Kyoko was torn, she wanted them to leave but at the same time, she didn't want them to leave. She wrapped her arms around herself as she heard their footsteps move away, walking back down the hall. 'Of course' she wanted to laugh but she knew that would only make her head hurt more. 'I'll just rest a little longer... but why was I out here in the first place?'

Kyoko mentally winced as she heard what sounded like a drunken laugh, it didn't take her more than a moment to realize it was Lady Fuwa. Her eyes snapped open and she regretted doing it the moment she did as she pulled her legs to her chest holding her head, trying to keep the room from spinning. She had learned long ago, if she got sick, she still had to clean it up. Kyoko held the cry as she felt nails digging into her hair as her head was yanked up.

"I thought it was you. What the hell are you doing out here in the halls so late at night." She hissed, the smell of acholic was making Kyoko feel more sick than normal. "Are you trying to sneak into someone's room?" Kyoko wasn't even sure exactly where she was, but she had to be near the stairs, so most likely halfway between the private rooms of the Fuwa family and the VIP rooms where her own room was at so she could take care of them with Kanae.

"No, I..." she tried to focus on the woman in front of her, but that just made everything worse so she just allowed her eyes to dim, to not focus. It slowly began to ease the sickness that was washing over her.

"Are you drunk?" she hissed under her breath.

The laughter that was wanting to bubble out of her chest, was far too much. Yet years of practice had helped her control her true emotions, under the mask of the perfect hostess. "No of course, not Lady Fuwa, my illness is back is all."

Lady Fuwa swung her away from her, Kyoko flinched as she hit the wall again. "What if you were seen?" she didn't need to know that Lady Fuwa was nervous "and out of your room at this time of night." There was more than just her being seen and Kyoko knew that well enough. More so when her head was turning in the direction that she had no reason to be at.

'There is no reason for her to care about those down that all' and she couldn't help but smile sadly she had been seen, hadn't she? It had just taken her a moment to realize who it was who had found her this time and it hurt more for some reason. "Right... Mr. Tsuruga" the words were more of a whisper, ones she never actually meant to say out loud either. Yet it was too late, she had done just that and she felt those nails digging into her shoulders. Shaking her like some rag doll and she felt sick to her stomach all over again.

"What do you say about Ren?" All Kyoko could think about the woman who's voice was low to not wake anyone was that you could feel the anger and fury flowing off of her. She had forgotten for a moment that that was her newest lover. Again a wave of nausea washed over her but this time if she didn't get this woman to stop she very well may empty her stomach.

"Lady Fuwa... if you keep shaking me, I will be sick." all at once she was released. Which Kyoko was thankful for she pulled her legs to her chest again holding her head, this time she felt the woman lower herself kneeing 'of course she wants to make sure nothing is between us.' She was stupid she knew that. Yet it wasn't as if there wasn't already the most likely change that he had been with her, it would be odd if he hadn't. Lady Fuwa was pretty well known if you asked her for getting her targets. 'Though there is a chance once was enough for him.' That had happened a few times, which had always put the woman in a sour mood. It also made it more dangerous for anyone who she thought might be the one they really wanted or showed any interested in. It wouldn't be the first time someone disappeared, to never been seen or heard from again. "I think the reason that he doesn't stay in the dining hall with us is that he is homesick."

"Homesick?" Kyoko lifted her head slightly to look at the woman who was in thought.

'No. I don't want to think about them together... even if they already... no.' She really needed to massage her head because she needed to focus but she knew with Lady Fuwa she would just take it as an insult. "Yes, I mean food wise. He travels so much right?" She watched the woman nod her head, "He likely hasn't been home in a lot of time either. Always eating what is local in whatever port he is in." If she didn't feel so sick she wouldn't be in this new mess and dragging that man into it either. Yet the only other thing that Kyoko could do to ever sway Lady Fuwa to do what she wanted, like being punished in place of others, was that she was used to helping Lady Fuwa lure the men that were harder for her to get. "I was thinking that maybe if we made something from his hometown." Well, that was all she really had at this moment and if it didn't work well it was better than dealing with her head at the moment and the only reason she really even had that thought at all was that it was something she really had been thinking about when it came to him. The idea that he might really just miss his home.

"Hm. That's not a bad idea." Lady Fuwa said standing up. "Where is he from?"

"I'm not sure Lady Fuwa, I only clean and bring his food to him." Which was for the most part true she barely remembered what happened earlier in the night. She knew her bedding was destroyed, which might be why she was out here in the first place, but why did she no longer feel the need to tell her. 'Likely because my head is already punishment enough' she thought to hold her head.

"Well hurry off to your room." Lady Fuwa rose to her feet and looked at her. "Next time you feel the urge to tell me something, wait until the morning." She said turning away stalking down the hall. Kyoko leaned her head against the wall she knew she should say something but right now she had no desire and it wasn't as if she would be heard anyways.


Kuon waited within his room, his door cracked just enough to listen. He likely wouldn't have heard a thing if he wasn't trying to hear. He mentally groaned when he heard his name being brought up. 'Great' he mentally ran a hand through his hair, he really didn't want to deal with that woman and had he been told not to be caught with Kyoko there wouldn't have left her side. It was clear to him when she started to awake that her head was spinning, the first thing that came to his mind was to put her on solid ground which meant sadly in the hallway near the stairs. Then he had heard Lady Fuwa and while he had hated to leave her where he didn't have much of a choice at the moment. He had quickly and quietly made his way back to his room, just moments before Lady Fuwa's voice traveled down the hall.

When eating happen had been brought up he wanted to smile, 'Of course, that would be her thought process' he leaned his head against the edge of the door frame. 'I guess she worries about me, even if I'm just a guest here.' It was such a strange feeling, she didn't seem to have any real desire for him and the only time she seemed to show any desire to even be touched by him was when she was suffering so much that it had worried but Kanae and Hiou. 'Which means that Lady Fuwa has to be very violent' now that he had time to really think about it. The real question was, did the Lords of this household know exactly how bad she was and if so, why didn't they do anything to correct it? His eyes trailed towards the door across from his own room, 'Or maybe that was the answer.'

He waited until he was sure enough time had passed before opening the door to his room the rest of the way, peaking out he realized right away that Kyoko was still sitting in the hall, her head still resting against the wall and her legs pulled tightly to her, that had been the only real change he noticed. Quietly as when he had left he made his way to her, kneeling before her he placed a hand over her mouth, as her eyes shot open. 'So she's really not feeling well' he placed a finger to his lip to hush her as he removed his hand and then carefully lifted her up off the ground. Logically he should put her in her own room but he knew Kanae and Hiou were out so he simply went into the other woman's room and sat her down on the futon. With the way that other woman cared about Kyoko, he was sure she wouldn't mind the girl resting in the room.

Not once did she opened her eyes since he picked her up off the floor, yet it didn't go unnoticed by him, the way her fingers knead her temples once he had sat her down as if the movement alone was making her ill. 'This cannot be normal.' Even if it was just a headache, the fact was he had seen how unfocus her eyes were when she had opened them in the hall. Yet adding this all together he realized something was not right, truly not right.

"Thank you Mr. Tsuruga..." he watched as she went to bow her head from where she sat before holding her head once more.

"Does moving make it worse?" He reached over pushing a strain of her hair out of her face again.

"I'm fine." She pushed his hand away. His sigh echoing within the room.

"I'm sorry to have troubled you but I really am fine. I just need to rest."

Kuon watched as she pulled her legs to her chest, resting her forehead against her knees. He frowned not sure why she was sitting instead of laying down if she needed to rest. "Perhaps you should lay down..." he reached over to push her into a laying position which caused her eyes to shoot open as she gasped. The surprised on her face with the flush of her face told him exactly what was the matter and he mentally cursed himself. "Ah right, sorry." He muttered before releasing her and standing up. "Miss Kanae and Lord Hiou will be back soon." Every part of his being was telling him he shouldn't leave her, that it was extremely unwise to do so. Worse off he wasn't sure he should allow her to sleep, seeing how she had been drugged into a coma-like state in the first place. "Does... this happen often?" He wasn't sure why he felt the need to ask, perhaps to ease his own mind that it would really be alright to leave her. Hiou hadn't said anything about not letting her fall back to sleep so maybe it really would be alright.

"When I was younger, not so much now that I've gotten older. It's nothing to worry about, even the Doctor here said as much." Somehow he wasn't so sure that it wasn't something to worry about. Kuon made a mental note to ask Hiou about it, "You need to leave though." She said looking towards the door, his eyes followed her own before looking back at her. "You can't show kindness to any of us who work here. Not if you value them in any way."

Kuon eyes narrowed, that seemed to be the common factor. Don't get caught with Kyoko, don't let Lady Fuwa find out. 'Just how dangerous is that woman?' He balled his hand in a fist, "Tell me, do you fear her?"

"I cannot answer that question. Please leave." She said pulling the blankets up and laying down, he watched as she turned on her side away from him.

Sighing heavily he opened the door, peeking out once before leaving. She hadn't need to answer, the way she responded was enough, it wasn't for own health and safety that she feared the woman. The times she had stood up and taken the blame for something made that much clear, she feared what that woman would do or could do to those who worked here. 'Yet could she kill someone?' The thought of Rick ran through his mind. 'I need more information.'


A/N: I know it's a bit confusing, yes everyone else around Kuon/Ren knows exactly what is happening in Ring-Doh [or at least enough depending on the person] That's why it's a bit hard because I don't want to give it away just yet. However! Let's see if anyone picked up the hint that was in this chapter!