I might have more Tomo chapters since he's a very complex character. Ha, you can almost imagine how many Nakago chapters I have in mind. After writing so many fictions that are based in the real world, I realized I miss writing about ones that are inside the book. That's why I'm updating this story. Hope you like it!Btw, I don't know the capital of Konan!
Princess-of-doctors: Oh great! Just tell me if it's turning out too mature so I can place it in M. Thanks for the vampire suggestions too!
ThePinkMartini: I love Amiboshi's character in the previous chapters and seriously, he's a very fitting character for Yui! I don't know if it's just me or their characteristics just mesh well…
Obsessed Dreamer: Haha, I really can't divulge if Nakago is a foe or not. All I can say is that Yui will have a hard time convincing him and he will demand something very for Tomo and Yui… I find them cute together!
Disclaimer: FY is not mine.
Thousand Masks
By Slavedriver2008
YUI COULD NOT help but look around the large houses that glimmered in red lights as they passed. They had been in Souun, the East capital of the Konan Empire, for almost three days. It was a city near the eastern border of Konan where the Lord was the Emperor's first born son. She had heard of what happened to the Seishuku dynasty through stories she overheard in gatherings.
The eldest son, from the Konan Empress, had been demoted when the said son of Suzaku arrived. The young emperor, reputed to be of incomparable beauty, took over the throne while his older brother was given the Souun castle. For her, Souun was better than the capital Eiyoh. If she will live in Konan, she wanted Souun, but that was not possible. The only place for her in the southern country was the capital.
She knew Saihitei. They made a promise.
Yui wondered if she still needed to fulfill that promise. She was after all, no longer the Kutou no hime. She also wondered, as the moon casted its silver rays upon the moat, what would have happened if his brother survived. Would she end up in another country, betrothed to keep peace like what had become of her mother? Or would she be given her own piece of land to rule? She smiled. She would love the latter option but she doubted if that was possible. Kutou was ruled by the Emperor, the six provinces in the Empire were ruled by the Lords of Kutou, of various noble houses. The capital Shinryu was the bastion of power of the Emperor and his clout over the provinces never waned regardless of the family that ruled it.
Yui realized, as the lights in the district lit up one by one, that if she wanted her own castle, she would have to rule over Shinryu, the seat of power of the Hongou house. But it was impossible. No woman had sat on the Dragon Throne. Women were never meant to rule, she can imagine the magistrates saying like a decree. Women were too fickle-minded and soft-hearted to oversee the affairs of a big empire. The house belonged to the Empress but everything else belonged to the Emperor.
She accidentally collided with the figure before her and the handsome man turned with a venomous glare. She swallowed hard, clutching the man's bag of clothes closer to her chest. Shinji was in charge of the horses and slept with them, which made him comfortable. She, on the other hand, was left to serve the star performer of the troupe. Ryou-sama raised an eyebrow, his gray eyes glistening among the red paper lanterns above him.
"What did I tell you about colliding with me?" he asked and she rummaged through her head. She had forgotten what he said because of the incidents in the past few days. She looked back apologetically. He had barred her from speaking the whole day when she asked too many questions about Chiyo's departure. She had almost forgotten not to speak, maybe because Ryou-sama was not as scary as Chiyo claimed him to be. "What is on your mind? Speak or I shall hit you," he said sternly.
"Gomen nasai Ryou-sama, I have never been to Konan," she explained.
It was the truth, she had never stepped foot in the southern country and everything she saw in the area was new and intriguing. Red bricked houses and red lanterns filled what her eyes can see. In Kutou, everything was in shades of the waters and the sky. And the lights, she had never seen so many red lights in one street alone! Her eyes sparkled at the lanterns above them, momentarily forgetting that the bishounen was talking to her.
"Do you want to know where we are?" he said with a smirk, obviously entertained by the reactions on her face.
"Souun City, the East capital of Kounan," she said before she can control herself. The man frowned, evidently annoyed.
"Yes, and we are in a red light district," he purred and she blinked. Red light district? He seemed to have read her thoughts. "The red district is a place where men go to be happy," he said sweetly. "If Chiyo didn't run away, she would have been sold to one of the houses here." She gasped with eyes wide, a reaction he was fond of seeing. She realized what the district was for and her stomach clenched. The red district was like a harem; instead of nobles and generals, it was a place for the male masses.
"Is Ryou-sama—"
"If Aki would only agree to sleep in my bed, I would never go to such a place," he cut her and she flushed in response.
Since Chiyo ran away with Hiku-sama, she had become Ryou-sama's servant. She combed his hair every night, slept on the floor of his room, arranged everything in his carriage, prepared his food, his make-up, his clothes for every night of performance. He would teach her what mask to paint on his beautiful face and she learned which colors denoted a certain trait. She felt proud in those instances, it meant he trusted her. He asked her once, as a pun, what was her favorite play and she mentioned Seiryuu and the Seven Generals. He laughed and asked her who she liked most.
"Seiryuu, of course," she responded in high spirits. The answer made him smirk.
"Tonight you will like General Tomo and you will realize he is better than any other warrior," he said in a high pitched voice.
True enough, when the curtains parted, she ended up liking the illusionist. Maybe it was of the way he moved on stage or the way Ryou-sama portrayed him. He looked very much like General Tomo, Yui thought it would be easier if he ended up being one of the warriors instead of just pretending. Happy as those nights were, the adventures of Seiryuu were folded and kept in one of the boxes when they crossed the border. In Konan, people pay to see the winged beast Suzaku's adventures.
The troupe had been performing night after night to earn money for the journey inland. Food and taxes ate up majority of the finances, she overheard the troupe leader in a fist of anger one night. They had to stay inside the carriages and park near the gates, eat very little, and perform more shows than usual, sometimes in nobles' houses but most often on the streets. The schedule made Ryou-sama more impatient and ill-tempered. He would always scream, but he never hit her the way he hit Chiyo. She liked being in Ryou-sama's carriage, she never dreamt of nightmares while in his presence.
The performer had been going out almost every night as well, staying out until morning and sleeping very little. She would see spots of blood on his clothes but she never probed. Ryou-sama hated questions, but liked doing the inquiring. Last night, he returned earlier than normal. Shinji was already sleeping with the horses and she was on the floor, clinging to the blanket.
"Aki…" he called very softly, in a manner that made her heart beat wild. "Come here… the bed is more comfortable…" he cooed, calling her name countless times.
She didn't move. For the first time since she began sleeping in his carriage, she was scared. She imagined the commander and his awful breath. She silently wished the blond swordsman was around but she eventually fell asleep, wary of any aggressiveness from the performer.
"But Ryou-sama, I am a boy," she said softly. He smirked and licked his lips. "You should sleep with a beautiful woman," she whispered, looking down. Her chest tightened and she clutched the older man's things. He smirked.
"Come, my beautiful woman waits for me," he said, turning away. Her eyes widened. Was he really planning to sleep with a woman in one of the houses? But she thought he was frigid, she thought… Her chest tightened and an unexplainable feeling filled her. If he wanted her in his bed, why would he want another woman? She was suddenly feeling very angry.
"Ryou-sama! The okami had been waiting for your arrival!" a woman with a low neckline called seductively when they stepped inside one of the houses.
Yui flushed, she had such big breasts. She wondered if she'll grow that way, her ladies-in-waiting always used to point out that she was not very gifted. The performer bowed and smiled thinly. The woman blushed and Yui's chest tightened again.
"Would you bring me to her room now? I'm afraid I don't have much time to spare," he said in a silky voice that made the woman flush harder. The woman turned to her and her eyes widened.
"Oh, you've brought—"
"The boy will be waiting for me outside the room. I do not entrust my clothes to anyone else," he said and the woman nodded, hesitant.
The woman ushered them to the topmost floor and called to the okami. After acknowledging them, the woman slid open the door and Ryou-sama stepped inside. Yui was not given the chance to look as the woman pulled her immediately from the door.
"Do not wander too much, ne? I will be back after an hour." She nodded and the woman left, ushering another customer into one of the rooms.
Yui leaned on the wall across the door, waiting. Silence moved inside and after awhile, she could hear a woman's faint voice, calling the performer in tones that rivaled Chiyo. She wanted to walk inside and pull the performer away. She doesn't want him to seek the comfort of another woman and she doesn't know why she felt that way.
RYOU CHUUIN WAS never a patient man, and so was the woman in front of him. She had summoned him countless times whenever they perform in Souun. She had always paid him well and he had always worked double to satisfy the woman.
"You grew more beautiful while you were away," the woman teased, showing off her plump breasts. She smiled seductively and he laughed at the excitement that sketched on the woman's eyes.
"The air of Kutou is good on my skin," he noted. The woman walked toward him and cupped his chin. He hated being touched but he had to allow this dirty woman to do so. His stomach clenched but he had to play along. He needed to earn more money for the troupe leader. If he doesn't, he'll resort to selling the boy. Boy, eh? Chuuin thought, smiling mischievously to the woman.
"You don't have to work if you stay with me," she whispered, leaning down to plant a kiss on the performer's lips. "Hmmm… you lips are still soft and silky," she whispered. "But alas, I have to wait for months and I only get to hire you for a night. Tell me Chuuin, how many women do you sleep with aside from me?"
Chuuin laughed to hide the disgust on his face. He scooped the woman into his arms and pushed her to the bed, feigning desire. He moved his hands over her slim waist and the woman murmured as he moved his nose on her neck. When she closed her eyes he flicked his hands to reveal a clam shell. With a quick movement of his thumb, the shell parted and bluish light glimmered, covering them both in a sea of light.
A familiar power filled him, heat pooling on his right thigh. He hated this power but he used it nonetheless. This power saved him countless times, from being abused by men and women who fancy his face and body. If he will it, he can use it to kill. He did so, a long time ago, when he was young and his power had yet to mature. He killed the man in anger, his body bleeding and in pain.
His powers led him to the kind of life he had. He cursed it countless times, blamed it for being abandoned by his family, for living in the streets until he was found and taken in by the hellish life of the theater. His brows creased and the woman moaned loud under him. She was completely under his spell, reveling in a dream she wanted to have but will never happen. He will never give his body to her. His loyalty, his body, his heart all belonged to one woman.
"Chuuin…" she moaned twisting on the bed.
Chuuin moved away as the woman moved on her own. He wanted to laugh at her helpless pathetic state. He sat down on the chair and smirked. One day he will find her, he will perform before her, see the beautiful smile on her face. He closed his eyes and let his mind wander to a time more than ten years ago, in the capital of his country, when he first saw her young face. He glanced at the glimmering pearl and smiled, closing his eyes and letting his consciousness fleet back to that time, when he was young and clean and pure. As the sounds of heavy moans filled the room, Chuuin had the look of satisfaction on his face.
Tonight he will allow himself to dream, for a brief moment he wanted to be in her presence. She was not his priestess but she was more valuable than the god who turned his back on him. Whenever he left Kutou, he missed her more. And the heaviness in his chest would never wane. She was the sole reason he loved that damn country. If it weren't for her, he would have turned away like the god he hated his whole life.
Her beautiful face filled his image as the pearl glimmered more, showing off lines that conjured a dragon wrapped around a silver ring.
YUI FLUSHED WHEN she heard the okami scream the performer's name in ecstasy. She covered her face and stepped away from the room, to avoid hearing another unnecessary sound. She was feeling lighter and lighter and she felt like screaming from the familiar power that filled her. She touched her forehead to dispel the wondrous effect of the power on her system. She was about to let the feeling engulf her when a shrill loud voice came from the room beside hers. She turned, still dizzy, and saw a noisy redhead arguing with a companion.
"Genrou, you're seventeen now for god's sake. You need to have experience!" the evidently older man with a scar on his face told the former, who was now clinging to a pole.
"Na-ah! You ain't gonna fool me, Kouji. Why don't ya go inside and have yer fun? I'll wait here!" he said and the man sighed and scratched his head.
"Okay, if you say so. But next time, you're gonna have to do it too! Ya gotta gain a reputation!"
When the redhead was left alone, he slowly slid down from the pole and abruptly turned with brows creased. Yui chuckled and covered her mouth, looking away, shaking her head to dispel the tingling sensation that enveloped her body earlier. She turned to him again but he was gone. When she leaned on the wall, she almost screamed when the redhead sniggered beside her.
"Ya look funny out there missy," he said, laughing at her.
"I'm not a missy, I'm a boy," she squeaked, making sure it was not too loud for Ryou-sama to hear.
"Don't underestimate me. I grew with ma ma's big breasts so I know ya're not a boy, I can see through ya—" he looked at her chest and she slapped him, covering her chest. "Ow, why you! Geez, that's why I hate women!"
"Ssshhh! Gomen for slapping you. I'll never do it again but please don't scream that I'm a girl," she said in a tight voice. The redhead smirked and then laughed sheepishly.
"Ya have Kutou in yer tongue," he noted and she stiffened. He rubbed his nose. "As long as yer not attacking us, am fine with ya here."
"Well, you also have a thick accent," she stated and he smirked. "What province did you come from?" she asked curiously. The man eyed her suspiciously and after debating whether she was trustworthy or not, he pointed to a silhouette of a mountain which can be seen from where they stood.
"See that? That's where I live. Mt. Reikaku," he said. She nodded.
"Are you a monk?" she asked stupidly and the man's eyes widened.
"Hey are ya stupid or what? Do I look like a monk to ya? I'm a bandit. B-A-N-D-I-T!" Yui nodded slowly, still couldn't believe that he was a bandit. For one, he was too noisy and he gets too much attention with the hair. She smiled, he was a very amusing man. "Across the mountain is the capital. When ya'r not busy, ya should visit us. I'll let ya pass fer free—"
A throat cleared and they both turned to the door. Ryou-sama eyed them murderously. "Stop flirting, we're going back to the carriage," he said in a tight voice. Yui nodded vigorously and waved to his new friend, who waved back. Ryou-sama's cold hand tightened on her wrist and pulled her away. "I go out to work and you flirt with anyone," he breathed out as they left the red district.
"I was not—"
"SILENCE—WHO TOLD YOU TO SPEAK?" he bellowed, pulling her roughly. When they reached the carriage, the other performers sniggered. Yui knew what thoughts they have of them. Ryou-sama, after all was not the type to let anyone sleep on his carriage.
"What? A lover's quarrel? You're too caring of your boy toy, Ryou!" one of the performers called out and the star performer did not even glance at their direction. Everyone laughed and Ryou-sama angrily pushed her inside the carriage. "If I were you, I'd teach that boy how to earn money instead of just satisfying your nightly needs!" Another round of laughter came before the performer closed the door.
Silence filled the carriage and the dark-haired bishounen threw a bag of coins on the table. Yui was caught with surprise, he was not carrying anything earlier. Where did he…? He also placed a closed clam shell beside the coins. It piqued her curiosity, what was it? He sat down on the bed and took off his shoes. To her surprise, he untied his robe and hastily threw it on the bed. Yui immediately looked away, focusing on the numerous clothes that were on the floor and on the shell on the table. Ryou-sama had the habit of changing clothes in front of her and she tried to act normal when he does. She reached for the shell and he slapped her hand. It throbbed.
"Don't ever touch that," he commanded.
"Ryou-sama… what is that?" she asked, making him smirk.
"Who said you can speak and ask questions?" he told her, turning toward the bed to arrange his robe. She looked away and instead focused on the clothes on the floor. He was a very sloppy man, how can Chiyo clean his carriage every now and then? "This is what I use to earn money. Aki, do you want to see a person you value?" he asked and she turned, eyes wide. "I can bring back people as if they were alive."
Yui's heart skipped a beat. He stood up and smirked, reading the confusion he lit in her. Blue eyes looked at the closed shell. Can it bring back her father? Can it bring her back to the days of being hime? He tightened his hold of the shell, fingering the sides, tempting her.
"Can it bring back someone I lost…?" she asked and his gray eyes glared back.
"I'm an illusionist, not a sorcerer," he noted, hiding the shell inside his robe. "It'd be a waste to use it on you. I earn more money with this," he said. "It is my only treasure—and it keeps me safe."
Yui looked at the spot where he placed it. Silence fell between them, she looked at the bulge on his robe and he eyed her with a satisfied reaction. "I will teach you how to make money," he suddenly said. She lifted her head, surprised. "If you want to stay in this troupe, you have to know how to use your body." She was taken aback and she held firmly to one of his robes. Was Kotoku right all along? He looked at her intently. "Come here…"
"Ryou-sama…?"
"Come… I'll be gentle…" She stood transfixed. Had she made the wrong move by joining the troupe? Did Chiyo know everything and made the right decision by running away? My heart already belongs to someone…"Aki…"
She shook her head and before she could stop herself, she dropped his robe and hurriedly left his carriage. He didn't run after her nor did he call her back. He only watched her leave in a look that knew all too well what it felt to be left behind.
TEARS STREAKED DOWN her face as she walked around Konan's prosperous city. The merchants were closing their fares for the night but light continued to shine above them. In some streets, the lanterns were being fanned out as the residents settle for the night. Coldness brushed through her body and she shivered involuntarily. In Konan, she learned, the days were hot and humid but the nights were cold.
She treaded the path toward the Souun Castle. She had never been in this place and she briefly reminisced if he was here. He was one of the few people she met intimately. They were still young when he came, wearing a robe of fiery hues. She was seven, she can recall. He was beautiful, probably more beautiful than she. His father gave her plums and she remembered eating them under the shade of the cherry blossoms with him. He was ten, a shy boy with lonely hazel eyes.
Since then, he would always send her plums. But he never came back to Kutou.
She wanted to return to that time, when she had everything she wanted. How can she lose everything in one night? How can Seiryuu give her a mission she doesn't know how to fulfill? Where were the warriors? Where was the priestess? As she walked in the cold night, she realized she wanted to go home. She would give everything to return to her old life.
Yui shook her head, she was over this depressing stage. But her emotions were easily assuaged by Ryou-sama's shell. When he offered it, she was tempted to accept, regardless of the consequences. Maybe if she slept with him, he will let her use it. Once, just once. She wanted to see her father again. But she was scared of returning to the performer's carriage. She was scared of being in his bed. She was scared of him.
The sound of running water emanated in the air and when she looked up, finding a fountain in the middle of the park. The sound relaxed her and she remembered the long baths she no longer had the leisure of having. She walked toward it, transfixed at the crystal waters that shined under the moon. The repetitive movements caught her attention and she willingly placed her hand on the cold liquid, letting it pass by her fingers. She smiled as it washed the negative emotions in her chest.
When she looked up, a pair of hazel eyes bore into her. She gasped when she saw a young man—a breathtaking handsome young man—sitting on the side pulpit, watching her every move. She took her hand away and stepped back. He stood up quickly, facing her and spoke before she turned.
"Are you lost?" he asked, in a smooth baritone voice. She shook her head. Their eyes met and a familiar sensation filled her. His eyes were lovely. "It's a dangerous night to be out," he said softly, walking forward. He held her gaze.
"I can say the same to you," she answered. He smiled, in a manner that made her face warm.
"You have Kutou in your tongue," he noticed. "Did you come from the capital?" he asked and her heart palpitated wildly. What was he supposed to tell him? "From Shinryu, did you come from Shinryu?"
"Do you know anyone from the capital?" she asked, reading the eagerness in his voice. "I'm not from the capital…" she lied, looking down to hide her eyes. She was not a very good liar. "I'm sorry…"
The man slumped on the fountain's edge and sighed. "I know someone from the capital… Gomen nasai for asking too much." Yui looked up at his troubled face. "What is your name?" he asked and she fidgeted.
"Name…?"
"Name. What is your name?" he repeated.
"It's rude to ask for someone's name and not introduce yourself," she said. His eyes brightened. He looked at her intently and then laughed very lightly.
"Offering your name to ask for another person's is a tradition that is only practiced in Shinryu," he pointed out and she flushed. She had forgotten that detail! The hard journey was erasing her knowledge of the various houses! "As a matter of fact, the ruling house is famous for keeping such a tradition."
"For a Southerner, you know very much about Kutou," she said, trying to tease him. He laughed again, this time louder.
"The woman I am destined to marry is in Kutou. It is only proper that I learn what I can about her country," he said and she flushed. It was very seldom for citizens of each country to cross-marry. As much as possible, each practices purity of race.
"I see," she answered. "Why do you ask if I'm from the capital?"
"I heard the Emperor has fallen." A sad smile left her. The other countries knew what happened. Would they attack and conquer them now that the hierarchy was in disarray? "I want to know if you heard any news of the Hongou house." She clutched her hands together.
"I have been traveling and heard no news…" she lied again. "Since you seem to know the affairs of Kutou, may I ask what you know?" He turned with a deadpan expression, and then his eyes bore hurt. "Any news of the succession?" she asked.
"I heard that it's a tug-of-war between the Murasaki house and the Shi. Whoever can field the most men gets the Dragon Throne," he said sadly. "You are with the theater aren't you?" he asked and she was taken with surprise. "I saw you being dragged by one of the performers earlier. What was his name? Was it Chuuin Ryou…?"
"You know him!" she said, a little too loudly.
"I saw him perform once, in Eiyoh. He was holding on to something I knew very well." He stood up and looked at the sky in those sad hazel eyes. If they were under the cherry blossoms, Yui would mistake him as boy in her memories. "You should be heading back, I am serious when I said the streets are dangerous at night," he reminded and she nodded. "Your master might not take your night wandering lightly," he told her again and she nodded, smiling.
"Hai, Ryou-sama probably needs me," she said with a sad face.
"You didn't give me your name," he whispered. She looked up to him and smiled softly.
"When we meet again, I will tell you my name."
She turned and he smiled, watching her leaving form. Her feet quickened and she eventually ran toward the carriage, cheeks burning. She somehow felt better. If Ryou-sama asked her to sleep with him, she will decline respectfully, not run away. The performer deserved a response, didn't he give her the option?
When she reached the gates, she immediately entered the purple carriage, looking forward to seeing him in front of the mirror, combing his long beautiful hair. He would glare and then berate her but even with the annoyance sketched on his face, the performer would never lift a hand to hurt her.
The carriage was bare when she arrived, even the candles were out. Ryou-sama never slept in the dark, a candle had to be burning during the night. The light pink shell caught her attention and she walked toward the table, watching it intently. Before she could control herself, she opened the shell and found a sole pearl. She gasped. Engraved on the pearl was the emblem of the Hongou house.
"How did he…?" A faint cry came from outside the carriage and she closed the shell, afraid he might see her tinkering with his treasure. Silence came again and a crackle of the whip came, slapping against skin. Was it Ryou-sama's voice? She held the shell near her palpitating heart.
It is my only treasure—and it keeps me safe…
Yui ran out and headed toward the troupe leader's carriage. Her forehead throbbed lightly and her head was spinning. The skin on her back stood on end as the cold night moved slowly. Her thigh throbbed, something was wrong but she cannot identify what. The sounds came out louder from the black carriage and her heart palpitated wildly when she slowly peeked from the door. She could not see clearly but she can see his pale smooth skin and ebony shiny hair.
"Does it hurt, huh Chuuin?" the leader asked as a heavy whisper. He clutched the man's hair and pushed him further. Pain shot through the star performer's face and his face contorted in a way she had never seen before. The bed rocked and the performer gritted his teeth, clutching the sheets tightly even though his hands were tied. His pale eyes turned and it met hers.
Yui stepped back immediately and ran toward the carriage, trembling. She closed the door and sat on the floor, listening to the night. Tears fell from her eyes and she wiped them as the images continued to drill on her memories. She sobbed uncontrollably, matching the pained voices of the man she called master. When she saw Chiyo in the same position, she bore a satisfied happy reaction, unlike the performer.
The latter was in pain.
A/N: Whoa, this one went longer than normal. Hope you didn't get bored. By the way, everything in the Gaiden novels are supposed to coincide with this fiction. Also, the warriors of all the gods are living in the same lifetime. Yui meeting some Suzaku warriors is an obvious bias on my part. ;) I added the Tasuki scene to add humor and Hotohori to add conflict. When I think of the Seiryuu warriors, I can't help but wrap up something tragic. Hmmm… Please do leave reviews! :]