"…eto…Seto…"
The distant voice was ringing within his mind. He was there, at Akazakura Jinja, below the trees dressed in their autumn colors…and there was he…the man who made him so helpless and happy at the same time, was swishing among them with a smile on his face and a glow in his beautiful crimson eyes. Yami Muto. He was dressed in kimono in the red color of garnet and the orange of the setting sun above him. He appeared like a water spirit within flaming water cause in his eyes everything had become slower. Even Yami swishing around the tree branches seemed like walking into liquid air and from his mouth was coming his sweet deep voice, calling him by name and his voice came distant to his ears…like he was in a dream…
"…-sama…Seto!"
Seto Kaiba came back to reality at the sound of that high-pitched, childish voice, his daydream stopping at once and realizing he was in his office, with his chin resting upon his palm, supporting by the elbow. He was before his computer but the page was half-empty in an essay he started but never finished. And the one who called his name was not Yami…but Mokuba.
"Mokuba! Can you tell me, for goodness sake, why you are screaming like that?" Kaiba covered his startling with irritation
Mokuba looked at him in a look that could be interpreted also as "has sun hit your head?"
"I have been calling your name half an hour now! I even came close and called you, Nii-sama. I even called you by your name but you didn't answer! I heard you humbling 'hmm' or something and you continue standing like this. I got worried and came closer and even shook you but nothing! You had a strange dreamy look in your face and a strange smile I had never seen before! You worried me sick, Nii-sama!"
Seto was remained speechless in front of his brother for the first time in his life. Not because Mokuba had spoken so much so fast, not at all, he was used to it, but because of the fact that he was so taken in by his daydreaming that he didn't even feel his brother shaking him. Normally he wouldn't daydream at all, yet alone be so drawn into his dreams that would forget about everything that have to do with the outside world; his job or his brother.
"He's everywhere in my mind…" he thought miserably, "It's like an addiction to drugs…but worse…"
Indeed the past weeks, no, the past months he just couldn't live unless he saw him. He held the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger.
"Say, Nii-sama…"
Mokuba's voice brought him back to the topic.
"…You've been acting strange lately"
"I am sorry, Mokuba. I might be tired these days"
"Does this have to do with the place you go almost every day the past weeks?"
Seto was less shocked by the fact Mokuba noticed what was going on in his head than the fact he knew about his trips to Kyoto, even if he wasn't aware of his destination or the reason he traveled.
"And how in all hells…?"
"I know. I heard you walking out once or twice. I was worried about you"
"I was going to Kyoto" Seto answered truthfully, not bothering try to make up a lie that would perplex things, "I had some business there"
That was only half-lie. The word "business" to him actually meant "reason". However his brother wasn't willing to let him be like that.
"Business? And has this business have a name or not?"
"Jeez, Mokuba! I don't remember hiring you as private detective!"
Mokuba giggled.
"Well?"
"I visit a temple" Seto finally admitted with a sigh, "I have some plans about a new gaming platform. Recently more children play games that have to do with historical mumbo-jumbo and so I do some research there. The shrine has a rich library"
That too was not a lie…well, not completely. He indeed visited the shrine's library and read some books…once or maybe twice. Yami had suggested him to do it.
"It's Akazakura Jinja. I think you remember it" Seto concluded.
"Yes! I remember. It was where we went last year and watched that performance. It was wonderful! So?"
"Well the dancer we saw is the…shrine's owner and he allowed me to read some of the documents"
He had said it with absolute calm (and secretly congratulated himself for that) but in reality his heart was flattering. He didn't want to say the name of that man…just in case Mokuba read the emotions in his eyes no matter how hard he would try to hide them. Mokuba smiled or better…smirked!
"I see. So I guess it has to do with that package you ordered some weeks ago"
He said and glanced at a grand, white, carton package at the corner of the office tied close with a small thin rope.
"Oh, shut up, Mokuba! It's business!" Seto said to his excuse, "This is business. If you want to take something you must pay for it. It is only my way to pay back this man for allowing me to touch his old, freaking books."
What he didn't say was that there was another reason for the package. Of course he would never say it aloud or admit it to his brother. Not even over his dead body! He quit the attempt of continuing the essay and he switched the computer off. He checked his watch. It was already late at noon.
"Mokuba, I have to go" he said standing up and fixing his tie a little
"To Kyoto?" his brother smirked
"To Kyoto!" Kaiba growled in response, "I will be back at night"
"I want to come along!" Mokuba jumped before him.
The young CEO sighed miserably. He knew that even if he said "no" to Mokuba when he was determined about something, Mokuba was capable of hanging from his jacket in order to literally stick along, or…hide in the box. They truly were brothers after all… Both of them were stubborn like mules when they wanted to.
"Fine but take your scarf. It might be cold outside"
It was middle of autumn after all, and temperature had started to drop…
Despite the fact he had done this trip a hundred times, every time seemed like an eternity. When they reached the shrine it was already late in the afternoon and the sky had worn all the colors of twilight; crimson and purple. They started climbing up the stairs. They reached the top and they stood there, searching the empty yard with their eyes. The showered in dying sun's light yard was surrounded by the brownish purple color of autumn, since the leaves had started to fall from the trees slowly, creating a carpet of colors on the yard's ground and the leaves that were still on the branches were also illuminated by the matching sunlight.
"Where's everyone?" Mokuba asked
"It has a few people here" Seto explained, "Rarely ever you find someone this late of hour"
He was surprised even with himself by the fact he had come to know this temple so well.
"Let's go Mokuba" the brunette man said, taking Mokuba by the hand while holding the large (and not to mention heavy) package under his other arm.
They walked a bit further. The absolute silence was everywhere. Only some autumn bird's cry could pierce that serenity. Seto's ears also could catch the sound of a stream of water. Something inside him told him to head towards there. So he did. Soon they found themselves to the backside of the shrine. Seto knew there was the small lake Yami used to purify himself before some important ritual in the temple. Yami had taken him here once and explained to him why that stream was there. Anyway, as they walked around the corner to get to the backside of the temple they came before a large space full with plants. When Seto had visited this part of the temple it was summer and so the plain was full with yellow, dry and high grass. However now it was autumn it was all dressed in red. A meadow of Cluster Amaryllis flowers was extending through the lane till where their eyes could see.
Despite the fact it was autumn, wind was nice and cool and not cold. The light breeze was making the flowers swing from side to side softly as if some gentle female hand was caressing them. There he found the small platform, which led to the small lake. And there… inside the crystal-clear water…was he…the man of his dreams. Yami was knelt to the shallow water with his hands clasped together in a prayer and his eyes were closed. He was dressed only in his koshimaki and his short-sleeved blouse (in other words his undergarments) while on the platform, carefully folded, was his white yukata, so he would wear it right after he would come out of the water. His head was also wet (obviously he had poured some water with his palms a few moments ago) and also moving softly in the evening breeze. The cotton cloth was soaked and plastered against his skin. The water was shallow and clear and so, Seto could see his body below its surface. While knelt, the water reached up to his stomach. The surface of the water was calm like mirror, reflecting the red sun in it perfectly.
Yami had his back at them but Seto could clearly picture Yami's face to that. He swallowed hard, suddenly not trusting his fortitude anymore. He had never seen Yami wet before, praying like this in the water. He felt strange admiration for the simplest thing; how Yami was sitting in the water so calmly without even shivering from cold. The evening was not cold but it was no summer either. Water was not warm to sit in there for hours and hours. He couldn't tell how long Yami was in there before they came. He could have barely got into the water or he could have been in there for hours. One thing he knew for sure; Yami looked absolutely peaceful, like the lake he was knelt in.
Yami felt their presence and unclasped his hands. He half-turned his torso to see who was there. His lips slowly drew in a small smile that made Seto's heart melt (especially since he could see the flaming sunlight reflected in those ruby eyes).
"Seto…" he whispered in union with the soft sounds water made when he moved
Kaiba cleared his throat, hearing him addressing him so informally in front of his brother. When Yami spotted Mokuba his smile grew kinder.
"Oh, you brought company" he said
"He insisted on coming" Seto replied trying to take his best ice-expression
Yami turned to the kid.
"Then you must be the famous Mokuba. Seto has said so much about you!"
Mokuba blushed at the sudden attention.
"Really?"
"Sorry we interrupted your prayer" Kaiba said fast before the situation became a little bit too awkward for him
"No, it's okay. I was about to get out anyway" Yami said and stood up slowly and turning fully to face them.
Seto wished a hundred times he hadn't done it. The cotton, thin cloth was totally plastered against his skin and Kaiba could clearly see the lines of his body beyond the material, for the first time that is. He realized in his shock that he was about to stare and so he turned his head to the side, pretending being irritated.
"Cover yourself, Muto, for goodness sake!"
Yami chuckled at that. Seto wished he wouldn't see the blush that was threatening to cover his cheekbones and if he did, to interpret it as light of the dying sun.
"Okay Seto" Yami said and bent down to pick his yukata and wear it
Mokuba was not so shy though. Approached Yami and held his hand looking up at him (for his head barely reached Yami's waistline).
"I really admired you dance!" he said truthfully, "It was amazing!"
Yami smiled at the kid and Seto Kaiba's heart melted at the gentle smile that could be maternal, paternal and fraternal at the same time.
"Thank you very much" Yami said in his baritone voice full of gratitude, "You're really flattering me"
He then raised his head towards Seto's direction, who immediately tried to avoid his crimson gaze. Yami's eye fell upon the white box below Kaiba's arm.
"Seto what do you have there?" asked curious.
Before poor Kaiba had even the chance to answer Mokuba barged in.
"He ordered it for you! He said he wanted to thank you for…the documents"
The last one was expressed with slight irony, as if Mokuba knew his true purpose. When Yami looked up at Seto surprised, Seto tensed both annoyed and intimidated. In the end he gave up on hiding behind his finger and extended the package to Yami.
"Otanjoubi…omedettou…" he said dryly. God knew how hard was for him to say those two words.
Even Yami gasped in surprise accepting the heavy package and placing it on the wooden platform to untie the rope holding the box's cover and opened it. Immediately he cupped his mouth with his palm shocked at the sight. Inside the package was folded a wonderful kimono made out of black, luxurious silk covered completely with crimson patterns of ivy and flowers. Yami carefully, as if he was raising air itself, took the kimono out of the box and ran his fingers upon the wonderful material. He brought it to his cheek and rubbed his cheek upon it, eyes closed as if he could hear the fabulous cloth singing to him. The box also contained the under-kimono with purely snow-white collar and on it had patterns of birds made of red goldthreads. It also had an obi in the color of fallen leaves (perhaps with a hint of crimson) with leave patterns. That kimono was so familiar.
So that was what he wanted his mother's picture for! The kimono his mother was wearing in that picture was property of the okiya she lived in and therefore when she stopped being a geisha in order to marry his father, she leaved the okiya behind and this cloth as well. But here he was now, holding a kimono with similar patterns and colors but also had the details that was making it his. It was like having his mother back again. Tears glowed at the corners of his eyes but he held them back heroically. He looked up from his kneeling position to Seto with gratefulness he hadn't showed before.
"Seto…I…I don't know what to say…!"
"Put it on!" Kaiba simply said, as if giving an order, "I want to see you in it"
Yami smiled and nodded. He stood up holding the box in both hands and headed towards the shrine. Kaiba was left behind with his eyes always stuck on him…
Inside his room Yami had almost finished tying his kimono. He was only missing the obi and he was ready. He stopped for a second to hug himself and feel the material around him like a maternal embrace. This kimono was a real work of art and he couldn't believe he was wearing something like that. And Kaiba had bought it, no, ordered it especially for him! God knew how much it should have cost him! While he had all those in mind he heard the rice paper doors opening behind him. He had his back at the door but he knew who it was.
"Are you done?" Seto asked.
"Yeah. I am coming. Give me some time to fix the obi and…"
"Leave it. Let me help…" he retorted picking the heavy silk up.
Yami was surprised for one more time.
"You know how to tie the obi, Seto?"
But Kaiba was already wrapping the material around Yami's stomach. Then he started tying it behind his back. His fingers were moving so fast, Yami could swear he was being dressed by a professional. Seto was putting the one rope after the other, tying it in a blink of an eye and then placing the next one, tapping the material with the back of his hands' in order to fix the knob properly to form the famous "taiko musubi" knob. In the beginning when Seto was making the order for the kimono was thinking that Yami should wear the "darari obi" instead. The dramatic way would suit him better like the divine creature he was to him. After all he was barely fifteen years old and this obi was suited for geisha up to 20 years of age. However he re-considered it. Yami was far from an "apprentice" geisha and he did not deserve to be treated as one, therefore he ordered for the obi that would suit to a geisha and not a maiko. He finished tying the last part of it and he half-smirked, satisfied with the result.
Yami on the other hand was speechless. Still he hadn't turned around and Seto could see only his back.
"Thank you…" Yami said in a low voice, still in a shock by Seto's skill to tie the kimono, "You can wait outside. I'll be out shortly"
"Alright…" Kaiba said walking out of the room and pulling the door closed behind him.
He was waiting outside with Mokuba. The twilight had started turning into dusk when he heard the sound of wooden joori. He turned around and froze. Yami was standing there, dressed in the kimono he bought for him. Seto thanked all gods for the first time in his life that the kimono-maker had managed to copy the pattern of Yami's mother's kimono. However instead of red, the collar was pure snow-white. His mother was a maiko in the picture however Yami was surely a professional. Also he congratulated himself for picking this color of obi. It was like the autumn leaves. His nostrils caught the discreet essence of a slight perfume. Yami placed a small bottle inside his obi and then looked up and smiled.
"Well?" he asked
Seto didn't need to pretend he hadn't heard the question. He was left speechless anyway. All he could do was look. Even the furi were falling elegantly to Yami's sides. Once again it was Mokuba the one to run around Yami like a child running at Christmas tree and said.
"You're so beautiful!"
Yami once more smiled at the boy and bowed his head:
"Bocchan is the most kind!"
Seto felt his heart flattering once more hearing Yami using the formal form of speaking and Mokuba giggling at that.
"Well?" Yami asked, "Now what? Were are we going?"
In the end they ended up walking in the town so they could "find a place to celebrate Yami's birthday" as Mokuba said. They concluded in a small restaurant where they enjoyed hot sukiyaki, Seto enjoyed some warm, tasty amakuchi sake. Yami was always serving him the geisha way. It was like having their private geisha! Seto was feeling shivers down his spine every time Yami would reveal the inside of his wrist or smile to him a smile that hid many promises and none of them. No wonder he was so good in his job. Even Yami was asked ("half-forced") to wet his lips a little to taste the sake, just for the sake of the day. Yami even served Mokuba, who was having juice, the geisha way. After the food they enjoyed some ohagi. Seto knew that Yami was a great sweet tooth, like his brother. Even Seto, who didn't particularly like sweets, ate with them.
Night was moving smoothly and soon they were heading towards the temple again. Seto was holding Mokuba in his arms, who was fast asleep, while Yami was walking beside him.
"Seto…I have no words to thank you enough for today. It was the best birthday I ever had. You shouldn't have done this for me!"
Seto Kaiba was ready to scream "Stop blabbering, Muto!" but instead he was shocked to hear his mouth forming the words:
"It was nothing…really"
"Nothing? You bought me this wonderful kimono, suited enough to see the emperor himself with, you introduced me your brother and you took us out for a wonderful night and bought us delicious dinner. This doesn't sound like 'nothing' to me. It means a lot…really…"
Seto looked at Yami with the corner of his eye.
"Your welcome…" finally the voice that sounded like his responded, shocking him once again.
They reached Akazakura Jinja and Seto Kaiba placed Mokuba on a pillow on the floor. Yami smiled.
"I'll make some coffee" he said heading to the kitchen.
Seto Kaiba didn't really have time (or will) to argue at that. Strangely Yami had made him tea and meals countless times but he had never made him coffee before. Soon the essence of fresh-brewed coffee filled the air.
"You'll drink too?" Seto asked. Yami nodded.
"Well it is not like I hate coffee. I am just more of a tea person but I'll drink some to accompany you…"
Yami joined Seto after a while bringing with him two cups of steaming coffee.
"Black coffee, right?" Yami asked giving it to him
"Yeah…" Kaiba admitted taking it, "How did you know?"
"It was my father's favorite… He was a businessman like you as you remember. A lawyer. He enjoyed black coffee so I guessed you would like it that way… You know…"
Yami looked at him deeply in the eyes and for the first time Seto Kaiba saw so much depth in them.
"…Sometimes you resemble him…"
The young CEO didn't know how to respond to that, or how to express what he truly felt. Instead of that, he brought the sweet-smelling coffee to his nose and took a sip of it.
"Well? How it is…?"
"Umai…" Seto Kaiba whispered the compliment for the first time in his life, so naturally as if he was used at complimenting people. His voice was barely above a whisper.
"Really?" Yami asked as if Kaiba's words had lit up the hope inside him
"This is the first time I taste such a good coffee…" Seto whispered again taking another sip almost greedily but yet slowly to enjoy every single drop.
Yami smiled.
"Yokatta…" he also whispered and took a sip as well.
For half an hour no one spoke and the only thing breaking the silence was the sound of the coffee sipping, Mokuba's soft breathing and the sizzle the fire did while burning the candle snuff. A night butterfly soon started flattering its brown wings around it.
"Thank you…" Seto Kaiba whispered again, "For taking care of my brother…"
"You must not thank me for something that gave me such a pleasure, Seto. Mokuba is a great child…"
And the next thing Yami did totally made Seto's heart bounce so hard in his chest that he had the impression it had cracked the ribs from the inside in the process, or better, at once; Yami extended his hand to take his in it. A simple and even friendly gesture that made Seto's palms sweat and his head feel dizzy. At the same time Yami finished his previous statement.
"…You have done great job raising him…"
The awkward silence fell into the room once more like a cloud and only the cicadas that didn't yet go to sleep for the autumn were singing outside to break it. Both of them had remained still to the same position till Yami finally let go of Seto's hand and smiled in a new tone as if nothing had happened.
"You know…" he said, "There is an old story about a boy who lived in this town. Long, long ago…when this town was still a small lane full with rice fields…
Kikuri…Kikuri… Black-eyed boy
Where are you heading this late in twilight?
Night is full with demons. Night is full with demons…
Aren't you scared?
No, I'm not, I'm Kikuri with the black eyes…
Give me that branch of rice…
I'm not afraid, I am not afraid…"
Seto Kaiba stopped to hear Yami's deep voice singing, like the air, the breeze that was accompanying him outside…and the cicadas kept on singing…
Kri…Kri…Kri…
Autumn passed in a breath. It soon gave its place to the snows of winter, painting everything in white. And winter too gave its place to spring when the grass would turn green and soon the trees starting getting their green leaves back. One thing didn't change for sure; Seto Kaiba, the CEO and president of Kaiba Corporation, the gaming company, continued visiting Kyoto even sooner now, talking with Yami, the dancer and male geisha, the shrine "miko" of Akazakura Jinja. Especially now that Mokuba knew about his travels in Kyoto he felt as if a weight had left his shoulders. One day (Ohanami Festival was one week away) he was sitting alone with Yami in the shrine enjoying some warm green tea together after a tea ceremony, of course. Spring might have come in but the weather was still cool and nights were perfect for a cup of tea, or so Yami said. Yami was dressed in a sweet, green kimono with leave patterns and a few trees at the hem of his kimono. The obi he was wearing had bright yellow color with flower patterns made with copper-colored threads. It was Seto's gift. Since that birthday day, Seto Kaiba often sent kimonos to Yami and the only thing he asked in return was…to see him in them. Those kimonos were not so…luxurious like the first one he had given him, but the material they were made of was for sure something even the best geisha would be jealous of. Already in teahouses many geisha asked Yami where he got his Dana. Yami would always chuckle and ask them what they are talking about as if they had said some joke. "It's a friend's gift" he always said. He too was flattered by Kaiba's gifts. Because of his mother he had a weak spot for good kimonos. When Seto didn't send him kimonos he sent him some perfume each time advising him which kimono to wear it with.
Yami was flattered by those gifts even if he didn't really know the reason for them, or better, he didn't want to think about it. The only thing he wanted was to enjoy Seto's company. Yami sipped once more from his teacup.
"You know, Seto…" it had become like second nature to him, calling Kaiba by his name, "In one week it is the Ohanami Festival"
"It is. What of it?"
Frogs were heard from somewhere away in the forest around the temple.
"Well, this year there will be no show or event in this shrine but I have been asked to dance in the Gala that night"
Yes. Seto knew about the Gala. It was a boring dance he took invitation for. There were supposed to be famous personalities from all over the world; artists, athletes, businessmen even politicians.
"I will be dancing a dance taken out of the myth of our shrine" Yami continued, "It is the scene with Akaku Akio seeing his dead wife below the sakura tree of this shrine, he tries to kill himself with his katana sword but he is hesitating. In the end he goes mad and cuts his throat with the sword and dies"
"Well?"
"Well I was wondering whether you wanted to come"
The frogs kept on their constant singing in their own rhythm.
Kero…Kero…Kero…
"Maybe…" Seto answered enigmatically after taking a sip from his tea, "I don't know"
Yami smiled or better smirked and the frogs continued their constant "kero, kero"
The night was bright not because of the starlit sky but also because of the lights on that building. The center of Kyoto was so different than the small town Akazakura Jinja was! Seto Kaiba, dressed in his best tuxedo, was trying not to look very annoyed by people (or nervous about what he was about to see)
"I still can't believe it how you managed to get me into this, Muto!" he said fixing his tie.
Yami, next to him, was dressed in a simple, gray kimono. His clothes were all inside the changing rooms, waiting for him to get dressed for the show. He wasn't nervous, or at least he didn't look like it.
"Come on now, Seto. It is not that bad. After all…" he smirked, "I don't remember tying you with a rope and forcing you coming along!" he said repeating the phrase Seto once had told him while they were heading to the cemetery.
"Humph!" Seto smirked half-defeated by his disarming smile.
Even in the lights of the buildings, the sakura trees were all around them in full-bloom always trying to gain the attention they deserved. Celebrities kept on coming in their cars one by one. They were dressed into their most formal attires. Even geisha and maiko had come there to entertain the clients later, during dinner. A tall and thin figure appeared in the crowd. She looked Asian but not Japanese. She was dressed in a Chinese, short yellow dress and she was holding a matching fan.
"Who is she?" Seto asked seeing her taking a glance of them and then turning her head elsewhere as if they were stinking or anything (despite the fact they were dozens of meters away)
"Vivian Wong" Yami replied, "She is a very important link between Japan and China"
"Ah yes I have heard of her but never seen her. Why the…temper?"
"Nothing serious, don't worry. She once came to one of the ochaya I was working in and asked me out but I rejected her. She hasn't forgiven me ever since I guess"
Seto's heart filled with hope. He rejected her? Why? He didn't have time to ask or even think cause Yami said again:
"Don't worry Seto…you just relax…and focus on the music…"
The sound of the hyoshigi was announcing the dancer's appearance to stage. They started slowly and then faster and faster till… With one swift move Yami opened the curtain. The flute and the hyoshigi were the only ones playing now, causing a mystical atmosphere to the long, catwalk-like stage. Yami was dressed like he was never before. He was dressed in a pure-crimson red kimono with no patterns and it was tied with an obi with even darker crimson color. It was hard to tell what was the most crimson thing; the clothing or Yami's ruby eyes. His face was painted white and his eyes were toned with black eyeliner around. He was wearing extremely high geta that were making him look twice as tall as any man in that room that was now staring at him wide-eyed and open-mouthed. Yami turned his head to the side with a sudden move. By chance that was the way Seto was seated. Seto Kaiba had never seen such a look on Yami's face. It was like he was in pure desperation. Like he didn't know where to look at first. Yami started dragging the tall sandals and drew a katana sword out of the belt he was wearing. The dim light ran on its blade. The sword was not sharpened but by the way Yami was holding or swinging it, was fooling even the most experienced author. Yami raised the sword with his blade in a straight line. His hands holding it were shaking, shaking as if Yami had forgotten even how to hold it. He then raised it to his neck with the "sharp part" ready to cut the vein of life that existed there, but now the sword was shaking worse. The hero was hesitating. He wanted to follow his beloved, dead wife, but the instinct of life was fighting back. Everyone was focused now, as some fake, white petals started falling from the ceiling, holding his or her breath. Yami's scared and desperate eyes were looking around constantly. "What should I do?" his eyes were asking, "what's the right decision?"
He bent his knees holding the sword but as the music was "warning" the spectators for the climax, Yami's eyes changed completely. He was now looking at the blade with the absolute look of insanity and frenzy while his hand was caressing it from behind as if it was the most beloved thing in the world and suddenly the lights lit red, painting red the sakura flowers and Yami started swinging around the sword in circles like the absolute madman as if he wanted to cut all petals in half. He got down from the high sandals and was dancing around as if he was in a terrible illusion being hunted down by demons and ghosts and he didn't know which way to run to and then with a swift move the sword "slit" his throat and escaped his hands (making some spectators gasp in terror and ecstasy as if they really waited for blood to come out of the "wound"). Yami started spinning around as if fighting between death and insanity, he ran, he span, he ran and ran and…he fell to the ground. When all spectators were holding their breaths, as though they were wondering whether he would stand again, Yami raised himself from the floor to end the dance by bending his body backwards forming an arch. And the audience burst out clapping, applauding and cheering.
Seto found himself applauding like he had never applauded before, as if his hands were now enthusiastic more than his paralyzed mind. Was that Yami? Was that Akaku Akio? Was he a divine figure itself? What?
Yami raised himself from the stage once more as the applauding continued and he bowed his head to everyone… His tri-colored spiky hair was now full with red gold dust and some fake sakura petals…
A few party fireworks with paper ribbons exploded, announcing Yami's entrance into the grand hall where everyone was still applauding. He bowed his head with a smile to everyone and walked gracefully across the hall to take a seat right next to Seto Kaiba. He was dressed in a fine silk kimono, white like clouds with golden and gold-orange patterns while the under-kimono was a soft crème color. His obi was copper-colored with soft, purple flower patterns. The music had already started to play and geisha were serving people like always but usually only one thing could be heard to all tables; the comments considering the flawless, as most people said, performance.
"A toast to the best geisha in the world!" one of the men said raising his glass, "Kampai!"
"Kampai!" everyone answered to him almost in union and they all drank.
By pure chance, across the same table, right opposite Yami and Seto was sitting Vivian Wong with a younger (as it seemed) girl who was dressed in a turquoise-colored dress. Vivian flapped the fan.
"What a beautiful dance, yes Tao Min?" she said to her company but loud enough for people close to her to the table hear her, "His moves were so hypnotic that you wouldn't even notice his feet!"
Some of the men close to her chuckled. Seto Kaiba growled and drank his sake in one sip. Yami noticed but his face wore that mask-like expression of smile while serving Kaiba again.
"Wong-sama is so kind to me for complimenting me and at the same time making criticism so I can improve in the future! I do not know what to say"
Vivian flapped her fan again.
"Sometimes best option is silence"
"I couldn't agree more! What a better advice to follow than your own!" Yami said airily with the smile still frozen to his face.
Seto Kaiba couldn't read him. By the way he was speaking he showed like he enjoyed this word game of cat and mouse but he couldn't tell whether he was boiling inside or if he was ready to cry. Vivian didn't seem to quit.
"Oh dear!" she sighed as if she didn't know what god to speak to, "It's okay" she said to a man close to her, "Teens these days. I was like that once, I think"
"But of course!" Yami retorted cheerfully, "But it has been such a very long…long…long, time"
More laughter came across the table, Vivian chuckled too not to show the joke had been against her. Seto was silent all time long and sipped his sake once more. A man sitting next to Yami spilled his sake on him while laughing. Yami smiled at him softly.
"Mister's cup is empty…I hope mister will allow me to re-fill it" and he did
Seto sipped sake again and he nearly bit the porcelain cup in jealousy. He gulped its content at once seeing the man Yami served before, whispering something in Yami's ear and then both of them chuckle. He didn't care if that was part of Yami's acting. He banged his small glass on the table before him.
"My glass! Is empty!" he said dryly.
Yami turned at him and smiled.
"So I see…" he said and started re-filling it.
Vivian grabbed the chance to get the attention again.
"Yami Muto appears to be more popular with men than with women. Cute, isn't it?"
Yami was ready to answer but he was interrupted by the banging sound close to him. Seto had done it after gulping down its content and for one more time Yami satisfied his wish. Therefore it was another man who answered to Vivian in the end.
"My dear, it is harder for a man to entertain men, especially those who have eyes only for women. You must give him that credit."
"I won't disagree, I am just saying that perhaps Yami himself might enjoy guys' attention more than women's. Haven't you heard that to rumors?"
"No"
Seto was boiling with anger. Yami noticed and held his hand when no one was looking as if begging him to keep his cool.
"Well" Vivian continued, "Not that there is something bad about it but…I personally believe we should keep under control such…abnormalities…"
Seto Kaiba had passed the point of patience. He shot up from his chair.
"Shut up!" he yelled.
Yami had shot up from his chair with his palms against Seto's broad chest whispering
"Seto! Please! Don't!"
Vivian too rose from her chair, shocked from what she had just heard.
"What did you say?"
"You heard me! I said shut up or I'll make you regret every word you said! Since you were born till now!"
"Seto, please!"
Vivian cursed something in Chinese. If all tables weren't looking at them now they sure did when Seto tried to make a step closer to her, completely ignoring the low, Japanese table, and he would have done it if Yami weren't still holding him.
"Seto please, don't! It's not worth it. It's enough! Please let her be…Let's go home now…let's go home…"
He was practically begging him, having dropped all his previous "kind speaking" and happy masks. Now the emotions in his eyes were genuine. Finally Seto relaxed a bit and shook Yami off. He then started storming towards the exit with Yami bowing apologetically to people around and soon following him, leaving the shocked Vivian behind…
In the limo they didn't speak at all but when they reached Akazakura Jinja they headed straight to Yami's room so Yami could put the extra stuff in his drawers. The futon was already open just in case they would be too late to come back. Only then, Yami spoke when he removed a small bottle of perfume from his obi to put it to his drawer.
"What you just did was careless. What if that incident back there was doing bad to you and your company? She wasn't worth it"
"She was speaking bad of you!" Seto said as if that explained everything.
"So what if she did? You cannot be an artist, no, a human being, Seto, if you can't handle bad criticism! You have no idea how many times they accused me for many things. They even said I earn my living as…as a… Anyway by sleeping with people! But it was not worth it! I care about you too much to allow you ruin your future-…"
He didn't have the chance to finish what he was saying cause Seto had grabbed him in an embrace; so passionate that Yami had forgot how to inhale, yet alone to speak.
"S-Se…to…?" Yami questioned as soon as he found his voice.
"You talk too much" Seto growled, "Be quiet for a little"
And the next thing Yami knew was that Seto's mouth had landed upon his so fast that the younger male's eyes widened in shock. There was no softness in Seto's kiss. Only hunger. Hunger he had gathered all those times they were (and weren't) together. Suddenly Yami's eyes closed slowly, giving into the kiss and wrapping his arms around Seto's neck. That was as unexpected as blissful to Seto who kissed him as if there was no tomorrow with his tongue entering Yami's mouth. He released it only for air and then his lips moved to Yami's neck, planting kisses to it. Yami gasped.
"S-Seto…! S-Stop!"
He didn't. On the contrary he continued. He continued even harder, lowering the kimono from Yami's shoulder revealing his creamy flesh for the first time.
"S-Seto!" Yami said again, "You…you don't know what you are doing!…You're drunk…and confused… P-Please…Ahh…stop!"
"I am not drunk!" Seto growled deeply in his throat as his fingers were untying the obi fast enough so Yami wouldn't have the chance to protest! "And I know very well what I am doing! I think I've waited long enough!"
He removed Yami's silk kimono leaving him only with the cotton yukata. He threw Yami on the futon and hovered over him, undoing his tie. Yami was ready to protest but Kaiba silenced with a kiss. Yami almost weakly had grabbed Seto's tuxedo's jacket. The CEO was feeling hot and it wasn't the alcohol at fault. He threw the tie away and also removed the jacket, throwing it somewhere in the room, not really caring where it landed. He grabbed Yami's arm and started kissing the inside of it with passion, oh that creamy hand that had teased him for so long now.
"Seto!…Seto please, Set-Ooohhhhh!" Yami's protest was turned into a soft moan and a shiver.
He had never felt like that before. He didn't know what to do; the right thing or the thing his entire soul and body was screaming for?
"Tonight I'll be your Dana!" Seto growled
"Dana?!"
"Tonight you'll belong to me!"
"Belong!?"
"Exactly! For so long I waited! I have earned the right being your Dana and I have paid more than enough for it!"
"S-Setoo please…you…you don't know what you're-OH!" he arched his back in a particular bite in the base of his neck where his racing pulse was.
Yami tried to struggle but Kaiba was way stronger than he was in arms. Kaiba held Yami's wrists with one hand while with the other he undid his shirt buttons till he threw the shirt somewhere in the room. He started kissing and sucking Yami's neck again.
"Ohhh!" Yami was now moaning, not protesting, not begging for it to stop, he was moaning in ecstasy as Seto's skillful hands were working on the yukata and the undergarments below, "Ohhh…S-Seto!"
"Yami…" Seto moaned in response, one of the rare occasions he spoke his name and the first one he uttered it like this
"Seto…"
"Yami…"
Their moans and sighs filled the night. Next morning found them next to each other. Seto was sleeping on his side on the futon with his face towards Yami. Yami was awake and lieing on his back, both of them bare-naked. Yami turned to look at Kaiba's sleeping form and smiled. His finger knuckles caressed Seto's cheek…
"Why can't you simply stop it!" Seto bellowed
"And I already told you there is no way for me to quit my job! Is my life!"
"It was your mother's life and her life ended years now! You don't need a job and you know it!"
"You've never even considered that perhaps I WANT one though!"
It has been a year since the day Yami and Kaiba became one and the sakura trees were blooming again but after some time Kaiba showed his other face. He was over-protective with his lover and sometimes driving him insane in anger when was saying to him to quit his job at teahouses. Seto couldn't bare the thought of losing Yami to some drunken bastard who simply wanted someone to warm his bed. He was over-protective and he knew it but at the same time he wanted to be. The past weeks they did nothing more but fight all the time.
"…And I'll say it again, I won't quit my job!" Yami bellowed as his ruby eyes seemed like sparkling with real fire.
"If I see you in any teahouse again, then you can forget about me! My boyfriend has no place among drunkards and prostitutes!"
"Then perhaps I should forget about you now! There is no way I am quitting the job I love so much! Just listen to yourself! You don't even mean what you are saying!"
"I mean it and I'll do it! I'll do it now!"
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
As Seto turned his back and walked away, Yami was left behind, into Akazakura Jinja. It has been so long they were fighting…perhaps it would be better this way. A relationship that was this tormenting should end, right? Right? But tears streamed down Yami's face and he didn't bother to stop them…
Seto on the other hand gathered some stuff from his room in the shrine and was ready to leave. His heart ached inside. He heard soft footsteps and saw Yami at the door. There was no longer anger in his face. Only sorrow.
"So…you're leaving…" he said. It was more a remark rather than a question. His voice showed he had calmed from before.
"Yeah…" he said taking his bag, "Perhaps it was a mistake. We are made out of different material after all…" he said and walked past him
But it didn't seem a mistake. On the contrary every step of the staircase he was climbing down to get away from the shrine, was making him feel like he was now making the mistake…
Yami was alone…he mopped his tears and saw some photos. All contained himself and Seto and sometimes Mokuba. He smiled at a photo with him standing close to Seto, wearing a yellow summer kimono with golden sun patterns and an obi in bordeaux color and watermelon patterns. He flipped the photo and scoffed at a photo with Mokuba trying to save his ice-cream from falling while Yami was laughing and Seto had his arms open ready to catch the tripping Mokuba. More tears streamed down his face not only sad ones but also happy ones. Happy for the days they shared, sad to see them leave and all he can do is wave them goodbye. No it was a mistake! This must not happen! The way he was dressed, in a red kimono with white petal patterns and ran. He carelessly wore his joori and started running out the temple.
"Seto!" he was thinking, "Seto! Seto! Seto!"
He was running down the stairs like the waterfall streaming down the rock, perhaps even faster, and when he reached the bottom he kept on running.
"It's not too late! It's not too late! It can't be too late!"
He saw him walking on the street
"Se-…" but the call was drowned in his throat
He saw a car heading to him.
"SETO!" he yelled warningly.
Kaiba barely got the chance to turn his head there before feeling a strong push and being thrown out of the way and on the asphalt. Almost the same time he heard the car's breaks shrieking and the sound of the crush.
"Yami!" he called and then screamed in terror, "NOOOO!"
Yami was fallen, motionless on the asphalt with his beautiful face on it. Seto ran to him, knelt and half raised him in his arms.
"Yami! Yami! Answer me! Open your eyes! Yami! Yami!"
Yami still had his eyes closed no matter how much Seto shook him in his arms. Seto felt something liquid and sticky. He looked and saw blood covering his palms.
"Oh, no! No! No, no!" he was mumbling completely not caring about the crowds that had gathered around.
"Yami! Don't die! Don't die on me! You can't!"
Only then Yami's eyes trembled open but the rubies were no longer the same living rubies he had seen. They were liquid in tears and they had the shadow of death in them. But he smiled! Even in his terrible pain he smiled and his smile was saying, "I'm glad you're fine" He was glad! For goodness sake he was lieing bleeding in the middle of the streets in terrible pain and still he was worried about him?! And smiling?! Even in his terrible pain was smiling! Weakly, yes, but was smiling?!
"S-Se…"
"Don't speak! Keep your strength! Help is coming! Soon!"
Still holding Yami's upper body in the crook of his arm, he struggled his hand in his pocket to find his cell phone.
"Hold on a second and…"
But Yami's trembling hand cupped his phone-holding one.
"S-Seto…" Yami whispered in a dying whisper, "T-Take me there…p-please…."
Kaiba knew very well what Yami was talking about.
"Are you crazy? You will go there after you get well! You have all time before you, you hear me?!"
More people had gathered around. Yami's eyes were steady even now.
"Please…" he repeated
Seto looked at him and then clenched his teeth and eyes.
"Dammit!" he half-yelled so he wouldn't cry and then as if he was turned into a robot that follows orders, picked Yami up, bridal style and stood up.
The circle around them grew wider as if they had seen a dead man rising. Seto started carrying Yami towards the shrine stairs once more. People would just stand aside to let him pass as if they were afraid they would be contaminated by the Plague. Kaiba's arms were steady but Yami was hanging soullessly in them.
He climbed up and for the first time he felt no real fatigue. It was like carrying the air itself and not the limb body. It was as if Yami was growing lighter with every drop of blood he lost. A huge bloodstain had passed even through the silk kimono and was growing bigger and bigger and all darker painting the white petals on his kimono, red. Even Seto's shirt was stained in blood but he paid no mind. He only kept on climbing one step at a time till he reached the top. He carried Yami to one of the backsides of the temple where the sakura trees were. They were all dressed in their spring, white dresses. The breeze was now blowing, sending the white petals flying everywhere like snowflakes. He walked to one tree, the one showered with the more daylight. It had the red ribbon around it. He remembered as if it was yesterday since the last time Yami had tied it there. His eyes were burning with years that were threatening to let go.
As he reached the tree and knelt below it he placed Yami on the grass and on fallen sakura petals. Above them light was playing with the blossoms casing them feeling as if they were under the water surface. Seto was still holding Yami's upper body in his amrs.
"Yami here we are"
Yami had his eyes closed and he wasn't moving.
"Yami! Yami! Please! Don't die! Don't die on me! Open your eyes!"
Yami's eyes once more trembled open and looked up at those "breaks of light" through the sakura petals. A weak smile crept on his lips.
"K-Kirei…" he whispered with effort
"You'll see it again! Yami! Yami!"
Yami's eyes started to close and he leaned his head back… His eyes closed forever.
"Yami…Yami! No! No!"
And suddenly a strong air started to blow, as if all sakura petals were dancing around them in a whirlwind of white. Seto squeezed Yami in his arms and cried…he cried like he had never cried in his life… And the Sakura petals were like flying twisting towards the sky…a whirlwind of white…and red…
PLEASE READ:
Well...the story which first chapter was a gift to SlytherinTonks (DA) has come to its third part! I am so happy it did come out at last! I hope you liked it. My main inspiration continues being the "Memoirs of a Geisha" movie/book but also the inspiration for the first scene at Akazakura Jinja was given to me after watching Jigoku Shoujo anime by the world Enma Ai (The Jigoku Shoujo/Hell Girl) lived in.
Japanese words:
Koshimaki: Kind of underwear. It looks like a pair of white pants. Over it usually is a short sleeved shirt like cloth it is tied around the waist. Over it usually the under-kimono/yukata is worn and over it the main kimono.
Otanjoubi omedettou: A typical wish for someone's birthday. It literally means "Congratulations for your birthday"
Obi: The kimono's "belt". For females is an extremely wide, long and heavy piece of clothing. It is tied around the waist and behind the back in many and complicated ways
Okiya: Geisha house. Where geisha live and get training from. During old times the head of the Okiya was called "Okaa-san" ("Mother"). A geisha also gets her Onee-san ("Big sister") the one who will protect her, show her the job and make her known.
Taiko musubi: Literaly it means "drum bow". It is a way for geishas to tie the obi. It forms something like a small pillow or a small drum and this is where the name came from.
Darari Obi: Technically it means "floating obi" It is the most impressive way for an obi to be tied. It starts from the female's back and it falls almost till the floor It is used only by apprentice geisha girls.
Maiko: Apprentice Geisha
Furi: The "pocket" formed between the kimono's long edge of the sleeve and the actual sleeve.
Bocchan: It means "young Master"
Sukiyaki: Type of japanese food. Usually there is fire in the middle where food is constantly boiling to remain hot while they add in it the meat and the vegetables and eat together
Amakuchi: It is the "sweet" sake. Like wines can be dry, half-sweet or sweet exactly the same way there are dry and sweet sake. The sweet sake is the Amakuchi. The opposite dry sake is called "Karakuchi"
Ohagi: Type of traditional japanese sweet, made out of sweet rice flour.
Umai: By word it means "sweet" but also it can mean "tasty" or "delicious" like it happens in this story
Yokatta; Technically means "It was good" but in cases like this one in the chapter it also means "Thank God!" or "Thank goodness!" or "I'm glad"
Akaku: Despite the fact in this story it is used like sirname, in reality it means "turning read" from the color "aka" (red) or akai
Kero Kero: This is the sound effect for the frog's croaking in japanese manga.
Geta: The extremely high jooi/sandals you can see also in the Snow Dance of Memoirs of a Geisha movie. Those shoes used to be worn by prostitutes called "Oiran"
Kampai: Means "Cheers!"
Kirei: Means "Pretty" or "Beautiful"
Story Trivia:
The autumn environment of Akazakura Jinja was inspired by Jigoku Shoujo/Hell Girl "Realm of Eternal Twilight" in which Enma Ai lived. The place they found Yami sitting in the water purifying himself and praying kind of looked like this: . /ecd4145307…
Cluster Amarilys or Red Spider Lily or Hurricane Lily is a flower that blooms in Japan around in the middle of autumn. For Japanese people is a symbolic flower. Is connected with death. We usually find it in their cemeteries. Its formal name is Lycoris Radiata but Japanese call it Higanbana ("flower of the autumn equinox") wiki/Lycoris_…
.gr/… I can imagine the Jigoku Shoujo OST: Kumo to Rouba to Shoujo or something similar playing it that scene ( watch?v=BGk-Ym… )
Also for the people who didn't see through it...is a hint for the end of this story. The same goes for the night butterfly (in many myths a butterfly represents the soul)
The song Yami is supposed to be singing is not real and I invented it along with the myth. I do not know if something like this exists. If you want to have a hint of how Japanese singing is check this out watch?v=cglT-H… (Musume Dojoji). Of course here Yami sings more softly and slowly and without music.
Yami's dance with the red kimono was inspired by Sayuri's Snow Dance with the difference he is holding the katana sword instead of the umbrella and what is falling over him would be the imitation of sakura petals (and then red sakura petals) watch?v=63FxLM…
(btw in the end of the video you get to see Sayuri wearing a darari obi and Mameha next to her wearing the taiko musubi obi)
The kimono Yami is supposed to be wearing resembles the one Sayuri has in her video but mostly 's picture but with scarlet red color instead of crimson.
The last scene was inspired by Kung Fu Panda OST Oogway's Death music watch?v=YVYQcG…
(for those who have watched the movie, the scene is simply magical)