Chapter 5: The Runes
"They should wake soon, have a nice hot bath ready for them and some fresh fruit," a light chuckle, "They will be scared when they see us."
"Do you really think so Tohma? Na no da."
"Ryuichi we kidnapped them and brought them here, of course they will be frightened. Although the next part will be the hardest," explained Tohma with a heavy sigh.
"You mean explaining why they will think that we are people from modern Japan, the runes and the portal?" wondered Ryuichi out loud, clutching a plush puppy doll.
Tohma nodded, "Yes these people are our only hope and that includes the blonde in the dungeon and his lover," Pause "Although I'm worried I haven't heard their minds speak for quite sometime. Maybe these two can tell us more." The man with platinum hair looked at the two sleeping men.
"They look so much like the ones you sent to modern Japan," Ryuichi mentioned, looking on amazed at the people they captured.
Hours went by before Shuichi began to stir. Mmm, it was so warm and cozy and he inhaled the scent of burning aromatic cedar. Wait, cedar? Was this a dream, Shuichi wondered as he opened his eyes. The arched wooden beams of the ceiling greeted his eyes, as well as the small room he was in. It was moderately decorated, but it looked more like a cabin. He looked to his right and spotted Yuki.
Yuki!
Shuichi bolted up to a sitting position and stared at his lover who was sleeping on a bed, covered with a down comforter. He looked peaceful, practically buried under the covers, sleeping on his side and face snugly against the pillow. Shuichi spotted the fire on the other side of the room, burning brightly and sending out its warmth.
Where am I? Then he recalled that the last thing he remembered was Yuki and him were walking through the village town when…
"Oh you're awake," went a familiar voice.
Shuichi swung his eyes towards the voice and an inhaled sharply, startled. "Ryuichi?" he murmured.
The man dressed in a beige shirt, with long frilly cuffs, belted with thick rawhide came closer. He carried a doll that looked like a puppy, its fur matted and its body lumpy looking. Shuichi's eyes noticed the dark brown trousers he wore and solid boots.
"Ryuichi, where is Kumagoro?" wondered Shuichi, who got out of bed to stand and face his singing rival.
"Kuma who?" asked Ryuichi.
"He means the doll your other half carries around Ryuichi," spoke Tohma, who appeared in the room.
Shuichi practically face faulted at the sight of Tohma. He was wearing a burgundy vest, laced up the front, with a white shirt beneath and long sleeves, a cravat at his throat. His pants were the same colour with white stockings and soft buckled black shoes. Although, atop of his attire was a black cloak, the hood was down and his blonde hair was much longer than usual. Shuichi blinked and rubbed his eyes.
"Mr. Seguchi?" Shuichi mumbled in the sight of the president of NG.
"I'm afraid this might be a little difficult for you Shuichi. Yes I know who you are; for there are a lot of things we must tell you. But first we should wait until your friend wakes up. He needs to hear all this too," spoke Tohma mysteriously. "Until then, don't fear us, we brought you here for a very good reason. Please let me take you to the bath so you can freshen up."
Blinking like he must be dreaming still, Shuichi didn't move. Instead he crawled up onto Yuki's bed and started to nudge him awake, "Yuki, I'm having a nightmare, wake up." But Yuki only mumbled something and in one swift move he pushed Shuichi off the bed.
"Too loud…go away…" Yuki droned in his sleep.
"Yuki!" Shuichi cried, getting to his feet. "We're in some weird place and not at home!"
The blonde novelist opened his eyes and gazed upon Shuichi with utter annoyance. He hated when the pink punk bothered him when he trying to sleep. Yuki thoroughly enjoyed his slumber and barked loudly when he was disturbed. But he felt another presence in the room and shifted his gaze at the other two.
Thud.
Yuki couldn't scramble out of bed fast enough that he fell out of bed and peered over the side. His eyes widened at Ryuichi and Tohma. "Fucking hell you two scared the shit out of me!" Yuki snapped. "What the hell are you doing here?" he looked around, "Where the hell am I? And what costume party did I miss?" Yuki laughed falsely. "You guys look ridiculous."
Shuichi reminded Yuki of their being kidnapped last night.
This time Yuki regarded the two with an angered look. That's right the two eyes in the dark, two cloaked people, "It was you two…why?"
Tohma sighed, "I see that we must talk now then. I don't want to scare you but you are far from home…"
"No shit Sherlock," Yuki tossed at him.
"Please listen to what Tohma has to say," Ryuichi told Yuki and Shuichi. "We brought you here because, you're the chosen ones."
Shuichi and Yuki looked at each other and then back to Tohma and Ryuichi, "The chosen ones?" they said at the same time.
Tohma smiled softly and said, "Yes, recently we discovered that there was another world, your world. It seemed like dark magic, and for the longest time we feared it. But there is a purpose to everything that happens and discovering that there was another world beyond ours, told us we should investigate. We are members of The Guild and bearers of runes ourselves. Runes have a mind of their own and they choose if they wish to be with you or not. Your friend Hiroshi, the one that has been captured by the king, he is the host of a rune too. The mark on his hand…"
"How did you know about that?!" Shuichi asked quickly.
"Bearer's of runes can talk to each other telepathically, although only when a person allows it. If not there would be voices in your head all the time and that would drive you mad," Ryuichi indulged. He held out his left hand and showed them a mark that was similar to what Hiro had displayed at the river. "These runes dictate everything that happens in our world. We don't choose to have them, they choose us. A rune cannot simply be used by anyone. A rune accepts the host, will it become part of them."
Yuki blinked and shook his head like he was listening to some kid's fairy tale. "Alright this is nuts. All we want to do is go home."
They ignored Yuki and Tohma offered, "There is a reason you have come here…"
"Because his idiot friend dragged us here!" hollered Yuki, running a frustrated hand through his hair. He dug for his cigarettes.
"It doesn't matter, everything happens for a reason. Your friend came here looking for another friend of yours correct?" Tohma questioned.
Yuki and Shu nodded yes.
"They both have found a rune. How do you suppose Claude and Hiroshi they got them?" Tohma questioned some more and took a seat in a chair near the fireplace. He crossed his legs and placed clasped hands on his knee.
Yuki and Shuichi shrugged.
"They got them because we sent two people from this world into your world. The runes directed our actions into letting the blonde gun man and the musician find them. There is a reason for that. They along with you will save our world," Tohma expressed sternly.
Realizing this was beyond a dream or nightmare, Shuichi couldn't believe what he was hearing. Save their world? Was this some kind of cruel joke being played on them, a game that someone was controlling with a remote?
"So why didn't you just talk to K and Hiroshi with your minds and tell them how to get free?" Shuichi questioned. Why drag him and Yuki into this, they didn't have a rune. What were they supposed to do?
"Because they are already close to the king…we thought that could be some kind of advantage," went Tohma with a tight smile.
"This is crazy," Yuki breathed and inhaled on a freshly lit cigarette. He blew out the smoke asking, "From everything we've heard, it seems you want us to stop the king, no?"
Tohma nodded and smiled, "Exactly."
Yuki sighed, "Look we aren't killers, why don't you take care of it yourselves? You have magic, go deal with it."
Ryuichi stepped in closer, he looked rather serious. "There are two kinds of runes. True runes, the most powerful of all magical runes—in which there are only twenty seven of them. Or common runes like the ones Tohma and I have. It is told they rained down onto the earth from the heavens and that they are all runes are related to each other like one big family. That is why we can talk telepathically, although that can be easily overcome by magic. But common magic won't stop the king. We know that you belong here to help us Yuki and Shuichi, because these True runes have asked for you," the man went and held out two stones. One shimmered like water and the other looked dry like a desert stone. "These are the True Water and True Earth runes. They are extremely powerful runes, and I believe they are destined to be yours; for the time being. Tohma and I can't wear a True rune or we would have tried to stop the king ourselves. No one knows how the rune decides on its host, so all we can do is search for the living thing that can."
"Hold out your hands," Tohma told them and leaned in closer.
"I don't know if I want magic…" Yuki started but was cut off when Shuichi hollered.
"I want to do magic!" The pink haired singer jumped in front of Yuki, holding out his hand. To be strong and powerful, to be the best of all time, to be under the spotlight, Shuichi wanted it! "Bring it on."
"Shu!" Yuki cried and pushed Shuichi away from the stones.
"I have to help Hiro!" Shuichi screamed back. "What else are we going to do? We can't go home! And I can't leave my best friend there!" He went stood again with his hand held out.
"Fucking idiot," Yuki cursed under his breath. He didn't want to admit but the moron had a point. "Fine," he grumbled and held out his hand.
Tohma got up this time to watch closely. Yuki and Shuichi gazed upon the stones, and just like Hiro and K before them. They found themselves drawn to the runes, their hands reaching forward without their control. In moments each held a rune; a true rune.
Looking over the stone like it was nothing more than a marble to be played with, made Yuki and Shuichi relax for a moment. No big deal, just a rock, these guys would tell them what to do right? But just as the thoughts crossed their minds, the runes seemed to disappear under their skin, and into their hands.
Both Yuki and Shuichi gasped.
"Haha! I knew it!" declared Tohma. "You are the chosen ones for the true runes. Yuki has earth and Shuichi has water, how appropriate. Maybe we can end the tyranny after all but there are still two others that have to join us. They will be here as soon as your doubles bring them here," went Tohma.
"Our doubles?" wondered Shuichi, who was looking over his hand. His eyes widened at the wavy water like symbol that appeared on the back. "Wow look at yours," Shuichi exclaimed and grabbed Yuki's hand. The writer bore the mark like that of a rock splitting in two.
"You have to understand, that just because you are in this different world; does not mean that a person that looks like you and has the same name doesn't live here. The people that we sent to modern Japan look just like Yuki and yourself Shuichi. They are part of The Guild and when we don't gather to fight some evil force. We lead normal lives," Tohma explained. "I know it is all very confusing. We took way to long to understand it ourselves. I can't imagine what my other self is like in Japan," Tohma murmured.
Yuki snorted.
Tohma looked at the fellow blonde, "Am I an evil manipulative person or something?"
"Not evil sir…or I mean Tohma," Shuichi offered. "You're my boss in Japan. Didn't you already know all this though?"
"I haven't been to the other world. I only sent the other Yuki and Shuichi. The runes guided us to the portal that leads there," Tohma went.
"So two people that looks like us, left those stones…I mean runes for K and Hiro to find? Because they are bearers of true runes as well?" Yuki bombed them with his questions.
"That's right," Ryuichi sang happily and placed his plushie on Yuki's head.
"Even your other self is a freak," Yuki muttered and brushed the doll off his head.
"The king has shut off their minds I think. Hiro and K have not being communicating telepathically. The last I felt of your friends was Hiro feeling a lot of fear and then warmth. It's very confusing; they don't open their minds very often. Plus they probably don't know how it all works. And your other friend K," Tohma looked away, "his last thoughts were quite dire but he loves Hiro very much, I hope that alone will be enough to keep him alive until we gather at the castle gates."
Shuichi blushed. He hadn't heard anyone talk to freely about his manager and Hiro in love. But this wasn't the same Tohma as it was back home. Deep down inside Shuichi was beginning to feel sorry for his manager and Hiro.
The singer wondered, "How did the king shut off their minds?"
Tohma sighed, "The king is the bearer of a true rune himself, the Sovereign rune to be exact. It is very powerful and its true form is that of a three headed dragon. Some runes have forms of living things, while others, like yours, are that of nature. Water, earth, fire and wind for example. There is also one more thing about people who have true runes…they live forever and do not age."
"The king is over three thousand years old," Ryuichi put forth.
Shuichi's widened his eyes in surprise, "Three thousand years old?"
"And he's been reigning terror for just as long. His only wife died a few years ago and his son…" Ryuichi held his puppy doll firmly, "…well we haven't seen his son for a few years. We don't know where he is and he's the rightful heir to the throne. He should be about forty years old now."
Yuki and Shuichi listened. They sighed.
"Look I'll show you to the bath and give you some food. You must be starved and in need of time to yourselves to absorb all this. I'll explain how to use the runes properly later. Come follow me," Tohma told the two men and led them to a small room with a steaming square pool of water. "Its fresh water from the river behind our cottage here, take all the time you need."
Shuichi watched the wooden door close behind Tohma as he left the room. Thumbing over the mark on his right hand, he turned to look at Yuki. He was about to open his mouth to speak but Yuki seized him by the shoulders and pulled him into a kiss. Stunned by the passionate display, Shuichi welcomed the kiss like a moth to a flame. Their mouths moved over each other's, not even opening yet to taste.
Yuki pulled back and breathed as he pawed at Shuichi's clothes. "I'm not going to die here without having you at least one more time," Yuki said desperately and added sweetly, "Besides I can't die and not show you how much you mean to me, Shuichi."
Purr, Yuki said his name; it was like an aphrodisiac when he said it. Shuichi nodded with enthusiasm, oh yes he completely understood. Lover's in a dangerous time, just like that song. He threw himself at Yuki, "I won't let you die Yuki!" Shuichi said impassioned.
It might have been a good idea if Tohma had explained the way the runes work before he sent them to the bath. But it was too late as the space above their heads got misty and a warm rain began to fall on them. Yuki and Shuichi looked up, surprised but their entire bodies began to feel extremely…rejuvenated. That was the only word to describe it. Rejuvenated. It was like the rain was healing all that ails them—Shuichi looked at the back of his hand.
"It's glowing a bright blue," Yuki breathed. "You're casting magic." For some reason this idea was turning Yuki on. His lover was charged enough by his love that he set off Shuichi's new magic. "I hope that rain doesn't symbolize tears," he whispered and pulled up Shuichi's shirt, it was heavy and wet.
Shuichi smiled and went up on his toes to smoother Yuki in another kiss, this time opening his mouth to allow their tongues to dance. Who cares if they were in a strange cottage in the forest? It didn't matter so long as they were together and preferably naked and fucking like rabbits.
They let the nectar of each other's kiss drain down each others throats. At the same time, hands peeled off wet clothing and the warm rain continued to drizzle from above like a warm shower.
Once Shuichi had Yuki naked, he sneaked his palms over soft pale skin. Teasing his lover with brushes of his hand against slippery skin, Shuichi caused an eruption of goosebumps. He loved how he could do this to Yuki and make him sigh or suck in his breath. Because it was Yuki letting go and being free and Shuichi loved when he could do that to his man. Yuki deserved that freedom, even for just a little while.
"I love you so much Yuki, let's just do this task and go home," urged Shuichi as he moved his kisses over Yuki's neck.
Yuki moaned a tiny agreement and took over Shuichi's assault. He wanted to taste his boy, draw his tongue over sweet flesh. Sure they were a bit dirty but a little dirt never got in the way of wild need-to-have sex. Besides the rain was adding saltiness to Shuichi's skin and reminding him that they were not far from a bath. He took Shuichi's hand and beckoned him into the water.
In one swift move Yuki tossed Shuichi into the water. The bath was big enough, almost like a Japanese communal bath, which he could just jump in like a pool…well almost. Shuichi spluttered and laughed at Yuki's playfulness. It never ceased to surprise him when his blonde lover displayed such acts.
The pool being quite shallow, Yuki sat and dunked under the refreshing water. It was bliss. He pushed back wet hair and patted the water. "Come here Shuichi."
Shuichi splashed his way over and straddled Yuki's lap. From the growl in Yuki's throat, Shuichi was sure he enjoyed how their cocks pressed up together. The singer ground a little more just for good measure, making Yuki purr more loudly. Shuichi had one fear; he scanned the room for something oily. They needed lube and he wasn't going to take it raw. He was a man of love not pain. Yuki had to slick up or else, Shuichi thought. He spotted some rubbing oils on a small table in the corner. YES! He dove for it and picked up a small pot of body oil.
Splashing back Shuichi re-claimed his spot on Yuki's lap. They kissed and Shuichi's magical rain continued to drizzle down, making them laugh a little. It was a very strange thing to see. But also quickly forgotten in their horny state and soon hands not only roamed but they stroked each other's erections.
"Oh gawd…I'm going to fuck that hole of yours so hard," Yuki went in a lewd yet daunting manner.
This was the great thing about tubs that had a deck or platform around it. All Yuki had to do was stand in the tub, feet in the steaming hot water, and watch Shuichi crawl out and offer himself.
Rawr.
Yuki feeling a little like an animal out her in the crazy wild and leaned down to bite Shuichi's bare bum. He bit until Shuichi squealed.
And then he did it again.
"Ow Yuki…" Shuichi whined, "I'll bite your ass if you don't stop that."
"But how can I resist such a ripe thing in front of me?" Yuki said teasingly. But he wasn't out to hurt his lover, only to make him whine like it was so easy to do. He was horny and he wanted to feel himself buried inside of Shuichi. So he picked up the pot of oil that Shuichi had so eagerly looked for and slicked up his fingers.
Sniffing the stuff first, Yuki wasn't sure he trusted the "other" Ryuichi and Tohma people. But nothing seemed off beat about the oil and he played a fingertip over Shu's tight hole.
Not for long, Yuki thought naughtily.
Yuki slipped in a finger and stroked the hot wells of Shuichi's ass. The boy was moaning out now, Yuki couldn't believe how noisy of a lover he was. Sometimes he had to kiss the twit just to make him silent. In many ways the thought of shocking the weirdo look-alikes outside sorta made Yuki smirk.
"It's alright Shuichi, I wanna hear you cry out," Yuki coaxed, let the bastards deal with a bit of their shit for a few minutes he thought. Maybe they'd get off on it or something.
But he forgot about them and went back to his task of making Shuichi squirm and peel out a million, 'I love you Yuki's". Knowing that his singer boy was slippery and ready, Yuki entered him.
"I love you Yuki!" cried Shuichi over the initial thrust. Yuki began to move in and out of him, each stoke feeling so gooood. Shuichi moaned and leaned forward, pushing his butt a little higher. It looked like he was praying but his chanted, "Oh Yuki, yes mmm…ahhh Yuki…harder."
Yuki gave it to him harder. Oh yes! So good!
They didn't notice but Shuichi's magic was working with Yuki's. And all at once a downpour broke from the sky and the ground began to rumble. Unable to stop, Yuki fucked Shuichi to the breaking point. The point when everything was beautiful again and blissful. He reached around Shuichi and stroked his cock, gripping firmly as he came deep inside of his lover.
Thunder rumbled from the storm that Shuichi's magic had created above their heads. And the whole building shook like an earthquake and Yuki noticed his symbol was glowing yellow. He grunted, sighed and pumped Shuichi's cock. Moments later Shuichi cried out and shot laces of semen all over the deck of the tub.
As they caught their breaths and held each other in post-sex snuggling, the rumbling calmed down and the rainfall stopped. They looked at each other like they had just had sex in some kind of themepark.
"That had to be the best and yet weirdest sex I have ever had," Yuki murmured into Shuichi's ear.
Shuichi only chuckled. He was totally digging this new magic. "I wanna find out how else we can add this magic to our sex lives," he said to Yuki and sat down in the tub.
Yuki shrugged; maybe all this wasn't so bad. But had he caused the ground to do all that rumbling? He did after all get the Earth rune, he thought reaching for his cigarettes, "Aww fuck Shu, your rain soaked my cigarettes. We need Hiro again."
They laughed.