Title: Ai no Honoo

Author: Andy-chan (antimiya88)

Pairings: Ohmiya, Sakuraiba (both main pairings)

Genre: Historical AU, Romance, Drama, Angst (slight)

Rating: R - NC17(-ish)

Summary: Ninomiya Kazunari is a former courtesan, chosen to enter the Emperor's Ooku. There, he meets different people: The Emperor's favorite, Aiba Masaki who, at first glance, seems cheerful and perfectly adjusted to his life there, but proves to be someone with important secrets. He also meets Ohno Satoshi, Ooku's main guard who despises the concept of the Ooku and looks down at its members - particularly the male ones. Nino thinks that the best would be to stay away from him as much as possible. He knows his position well, even if he hates it.The only thing that keeps him strong is a memory...

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the boys, unfortunately.

Part 1   /   Part 2   /   Part 3   /   Part 4   /   Part 5

Nino couldn’t utter a word as he saw the way the blade of the katana was flirting with Yorimoto’s skin. He had never seen Satoshi’s eyes having so much determination before and he couldn’t help but feel scared. If something happened there was a high chance of causing trouble to both of them since Yorimoto was a man of power, close to the Emperor taken that he was his guest. The daimyo’s hand though remained on his arm, as if he had nothing to fear.

“Ohno…” Yorimoto whispered his lips forming the slightest hint of smirk. “Who would have thought that we’d meet again…?”

“I asked you something if I remember correctly… ” the guard said in the same hostile tone his eyes narrowing deeply ignoring the questioning eyes of Nino. “You are forbidden to be here… you do know that, right? If you don’t let Ninomiya free, I swear I’ll have your throat cut or perhaps you prefer to have my katana pierce your spine? It works both ways for me you know…”

The daimyo raised both his hands in the air but Satoshi didn’t loosen his grip. “I did as you said so…”

“You…” Satoshi growled to Nino “Go back to your house!”

It was only when Nino had vanished from there when he took the katana back to its case.

“I warn you…”

The daimyo burst into laughs. “You warn me? Who would have thought?! Ohno Satoshi… the famous Ohno Satoshi warns me… Listen… I don’t know how you managed to escape and what is more to survive for all these years…  and little do I care… you managed though to persuade the Emperor to put you into such an important position… I should congratulate you… your capability in scheming must be magnificent but please… do not forget that as much as of a whisperer you might be three times of betrayal causes your head… First the lord of your patrimonial village… then the shogun… and now the Emperor himself… be aware…”

Satoshi who was listening to Yorimoto’s words with his head hanging low looked up smirking. “I warn you Yorimoto… If you come and wander around the Ooku again you’ll be dead before you realize what happened… The Emperor is very sensitive with its members… do not forget that… As for the betrayal that you spoke of, I should remind you that I only follow orders… which happen to be clear… Now please… I’m sure his Majesty asked you to rest… Good night my lord…” his tone was ironic as he stepped aside to make way to the daimyo that left cursing.

“I should have killed you when I still could…” Satoshi hissed under his breath, both his hands clenching into fists as he saw the older man entering the back side of the main building. “Bastard…”
***

Nino was walking up and down in his bedroom lost in his thoughts. First there was Yorimoto… a man he had wished never to meet again… He had kept the fact that he used to be taken by the Daimyo a secret… he preferred to have Jun think that his parents sold him to ‘Hanabira’. If the Emperor found out that he used to belong to one of the Daimyos, there was a chance to be sent back to him. He shivered even at the thought of it… He had spent enough nights having nightmares about those disgusting hands roaming his naked body… taking him selfishly… painfully…

“Care enough to explain?” a voice was suddenly heard behind him causing him to startle. Nino didn’t dare to turn around and just lowered his head. “I asked you something!” the guard’s voice was heard once again, higher and angrier than before but Nino remained silent. “Damn you… speak!” Satoshi gripped the other’s arm and forcefully turned him around. “Why the hell was Yorimoto saying those things to you? What is your relation with him?”

“I…” Nino tried to speak but in the end couldn’t. His body gave in the sobs and the spasms that soon followed them making Satoshi give up and sighing wrap his arms around Nino’s slim waist, bringing him closer to his body.

“Shhh…” he whispered close to Nino’s ear. “It’s ok…” he could feel Nino’s hands gripping desperately on his yukata and couldn’t help but feel sorry for the trembling and obviously scared to death figure in front of him. His hand caressed the younger one’s hair in an attempt to calm him down. “It’s ok… I’m sorry for yelling at you…”

They remained like that for several minutes till Nino had stopped the intense crying and was just resting his head on Satoshi’s shoulder. “He’s the one who took me from my parents when I was twelve…” Nino whispered out of the blue, still remaining close to the other. “… As…” Nino gulped, closing his eyes tightly as he spoke, trembling the rest of his sentence. “…payment for my family’s debt…”

Satoshi was left dumbfounded. “They sold you to him?!”

“They… didn’t have a choice… he would kill us all… he…”

“But Ninomiya…” Satoshi made Nino look at him. “You… you were only a kid…”

“I…” Nino spoke his eyes not daring meeting the guard’s ones “… he waited until I was older… till then he would only kiss me on the chick… caress my hand… my back… but he waited till…” he bit his lower lip ashamed of himself.

“Don’t…” Satoshi said abruptly. “Don’t feel ashamed… please… you are not the one to… he… he’s the one to be blamed… he was touching a child…”

“I told you I…”

“You escaped?” Satoshi asked cutting Nino off. He could see and understand partially why Nino would try to justify the daimyo’s behavior on him but that didn’t mean that there was a reason for it… not when the other was such a bastard.

“I…” Nino bit his lower lip “I did… will… will you… reveal it?”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because I escaped when I was a lord’s possession…”

Satoshi sighed as he brought his hand on top of Nino’s head. “I won’t… Besides you were no one’s possession… A person shouldn’t be considered a possession… You don’t have to worry… As a matter of fact that surprised me…”

“Surprised… you?” Nino asked with difficulty his eyes daring to look straight at the other’s for the first time since the guard had entered his room.

“Why?”

“Because that makes us two… You see… I escaped from Yorimoto’s land myself…”

“What?” Nino asked purely surprised.

“I just couldn’t serve someone like him… even if I had to… I hate him with all my heart…”

“You mean…”

“I was one of the samurais in his service… I never wanted to though… but unfortunately a samurai is bounded to be at the service of the lord to whom the place he’s born in belongs …”

Nino’s mind was trying to grasp everything. Then…

“I bet he’s the one who gave you Ninomiya as your last name…”

“Yes…” Nino replied lowering his head.

“Tell me… what is your real surname? I promise you I won’t reveal it to anyone… Neither Matsumoto Jun, nor the Emperor himself… but… I want to know…”

“Why?” Nino insisted.

“I… I just want to know…” Satoshi said with a blunt that made Nino shudder. The latter could feel the way the other asked him in an almost desperate way.

Nino took a deep breath before answering in a low tone. “I… My name is… Ya… suda… Yasuda Kazunari…”

“Yasuda?!” Satoshi exclaimed his eyes bulging while his hands that till then were holding on the other fell down.

“Y- yes… why?”

Satoshi left the room without saying anything back, leaving astonished Nino behind. What… what did just happen? Could it be that…? But… No… it can’t be… right…?
………………………………………………


“Undress for me… Masaki…” the Emperor asked once he sat down on his bed, his expensive kimono opened revealing a part of his well built torso.

“As you wish… Noriyuki… but you would have to help me with my obi first…” Masaki replied as sweet as possible as he sat, his back on the Emperor who quickly untied the certainly complicated tie.

“Now show me how beautiful you are…” he whispered, his hand tracing the side of Masaki’s neck, making the latter involuntarily stiffen under his light touch. “… And please… relax… it’s just me… Masaki…”

Masaki gulped and quickly stood up in front of the older man fulfilling his wish, making sure his moves were slow and sensual. His mind was going crazy. It was the second time the Emperor would talk to him like that and for some reason it made him think that he somehow knew… or at least suspected and that made his heart beating crazily against his ribs. He didn’t care about him… but he didn’t even want to think that something might happen to Sho…

That night he tried to show more passionate… unlike the previous ones during the last two years his mind wasn’t locked away… it was there… concentrated… on every look…. on every touch… or reaction of the Emperor… he had to make sure that the latter would believe that he was there for him and no one else… even if that was painful.

“Masaki… you’re so beautiful like that…” Noriyuki whispered in Masaki’s ear as he kept thrusting in him, his lips attaching on his sweaty skin, kissing and sucking it. “Say my name…”

Masaki looked at the man’s eyes and saw fear mixed with desperation. “Nori… yuki… ah…” he couldn’t help but moan as his prostate was perfectly hit by the slow yet strong thrusts.

“You’re so beautiful and you’re mine… mine…” the Emperor changed his angle a bit and quickened his rhythm. Masaki knew that he was close so he clenched his walls around him as much as possible gaining a groan. Immediately, his lips were claimed into a forceful kiss as he felt the hot cum filling him. It only took a few strokes on his throbbing erection to ejaculate between their stomachs.

“I love you…” the Emperor whispered still remaining inside Masaki. “I love you so much…”

“Noriyuki…”

The Emperor smiled bitterly and slid off sitting next to his lover. “I guess… you will never say it back…”

Masaki gasped, sitting up himself. “I…”

“You don’t have to lie… You know that I despise liars the most… It’s just that I wish I could hear it from your lips… but I can’t force your feelings… I…” the Emperor turned on his left so that he could see Masaki’s face that was slightly lowered, covered by a shadow. “I… would never impose you to do so Masaki… I… only wish… I can forgive you… you know that… but… what I can’t forgive is not respecting me… lying to me…”

“I…”

The Emperor stood up and put on his silk robe before purring fresh water in a glass. “There was a golden brooch found in one of my younger brother’s chambers… It is weird that it looked exactly the same with the one I had given you as a present last year…”

Masaki felt all the air from his lungs escaping away, leaving him completely breathless.

“I…” Masaki hushed when he saw the Emperor’s hand raised as a sign for him to stop.

“That made me realize two things. One… how much people would plot against you just because you’re my favorite… and two… I can’t even dare to think of you giving yourself to someone else… I know that it was probably someone from the Ooku trying to portray you but…” the Emperor turned around and walked closer to Masaki who was still on the bed till his face was only a few inches away from the other’s one.
“I won’t bear the idea of you being touched by another man…” the Emperor continued, his voice showing his desperation “I can’t Masaki… you’re mine… Even though I know that you’d never betray me like that… I… just can’t… and the last thing I want is to start suspecting you… I would hate myself… but… I can’t help it… I love you too much so… I took a decision last night… you… won’t be a part of the Ooku anymore…”

“What?” Masaki whispered still trying to grasp what the other had just said. “You… you will send me away? I…”

The Emperor kissed the top of his hair. “No… I will keep you close to me… I want you to take the position of my official mistress… you’ll move to the free chambers next to mine… There are some matters to be taken care of first… you’re male… but I believe that next month everything will be fine…” Masaki was left as if he was struck by lightning. “You will be mine Masaki… mine forever…” his ears could catch with difficulty what the other was saying.

Mistress? No… No… I… I can’t… I must talk to Sho… We… we have to run away from here…
………………………………………………


Sho was working very hard since early morning… he wished to not think… not think about the Emperor and how he spent his night. Sho hadn’t slept so well and certainly the satisfied look of the Emperor this morning when he entered Sho’s office to entrust some important papers wasn’t actually helping him.

Hours had passed since then and Sho was looking at the papers he was given. He couldn’t understand why the Emperor would be so secretive about it but the more he looked at them the more he was getting confused. Yorimoto is his Majesty’s guest… then why? He skipped lunch as the mystery started being unveiled in front of him. There were so many plots… hidden plans… betrayers around the Emperor and all that when he was somehow a part of the ones betraying. He couldn’t help but feel guilty himself… more because he couldn’t actually feel guilty when he thought of his emotions about Masaki and the nights he had spent with him during those last years.

“Don’t tell me that…” Sho couldn’t believe his eyes. “What kind of man is he? Playing with double parties? And all of that for power?”

It was in the afternoon when he was asked to see the Emperor.

“So?”

“Everything was written in secret code your Majesty… I managed to break it…”

“Speak…”

“Yorimoto came here as the shoguns’ insider…”

The Emperor hit his hand harshly on the table in front of him. “I never trusted his nature… I knew he was always after power but I offered him everything I could… I really thought I could buy him but it seems not… he tried to mislead me…”

“No…” Sho dared to cut the Emperor off because he knew otherwise the other wouldn’t hear everything he had to say. “No… your Majesty… the information he presented you is true… I double crossed it with the writings in those papers… I believe he plays with both sides… probably wanting to gain as much as possible so that he can claim himself as the ulterior winner…”

“This man’s greediness is worse than I could have ever imagined… Anyway… we can’t say anything yet… make him suspicious would only worsen things…”

“I agree on that your Majesty…” Sho said.

“As for you Sakurai… You did a marvelous job… I knew I did the right thing when I hired you!” Sho smiled and bowed not daring to say anything. “If what you said come with other kind of proof you can have whatever you want! You just have to ask me!”

“Your Majesty?”

“Even if it’s money… or even one of my concubines… Some of them are really beautiful with the silkiest skin… I saw one of them… she was really noticing you out… You only have to name it... But first I have to make sure I get some evidence… As you go out please, tell the guard outside to inform Ohno Satoshi that I wish to see him right now…”

Sho only bowed feeling his heart beating like crazy. Could it be a chance? The chance he was waiting for? God… could that mean that… I will be able to be with the love of my life together… free? But… I shouldn’t tell him yet… The last thing I wish is to raise his hopes and then crush them… But I swear one way or another I’ll find a way out… Masaki deserves to be happy…
……………………………………………


Jun was walking up and down in his room. This has never happened before… Never! He was still trying to comprehend fully what Masaki had told him earlier. Mistress?! How could that be possible? Masaki is male… it is against the rules…

“You still can’t believe that your little perfect plan went wrong?” a voice was heard behind him making him stop. “Pity…”

He turned around looking at the other with eyes that were throwing flames. “What are you doing here?”

“How do you dare to speak to me like that? Where is your Highness?! At least…” Toma replied as he walked closer to Jun who was still standing at his spot. “But I forgive you… you must be pretty upset that your little plan of the partial exposure actually brought this Aiba right into my brother’s arms… You should consider yourself for matchmaking… you seem to be doing pretty good…”

“Don’t forget that I still hold you in hand… your Highness…”

“I never said our deal is off… but I don’t see the point…”

“I will say everything! I’ll tell his Majesty that the man he intends to make him his mistress is someone who enjoys his personal secretary’s touches more…”

“And then you’ll have to reveal how and since when you know and you’ll be hated by my brother… Is that what you want?”

Jun narrowed his eyes but said nothing in reply. He knew he didn’t want that… he just wanted to proof to the Emperor that no one wanted him… no one cared for him the way he did… but then… Toma was right. He would end up being hated… hated because he actually entrapped Masaki with Sho as well as because he had lied himself.

He turned his glance on the young prince who continued on looking at him with a rather amused look. “So… I guess you’re here to make fun of me?”

Toma shook his head. “No… I just thought it would be interested to see Matsumoto Jun crushed for once… I never had the chance before… not even when he announced in front of everyone that Masaki would take your place and from number one, you’d officially retire from the Ooku to become the responsible for it…”

Jun smirked bitterly. “You saw enough… and don’t forget that our deal is still on… Dare to say anything and you’ll face exile!”

Toma moved closer and tilted his head on the one side. “I know… I know… But… what you do not seem to know or at least realize is that what you feel about my brother is probably not love… just… bitterness… an obsession, if you want, for being turned down… you’re a very proud person… Matsumoto Jun… Think about it… Love isn’t something that’s supposed to be selfless…? Something that makes you want to see the one you love happy, even if he’s with someone else…?” Toma caught the perplexed look on Jun’s face and smiled. “Just saying… See you Matsumoto-san…” and with that left him alone.

Jun fell on the floor as Toma’s last words kept replaying in his mind. He’s speaking nonsense… of… of course I love him… I do… I really do…
…………………………………………..


It was pitch dark when Sho heard a soft knock on his door. Confused, he got off his futon and went closer. His heart skipped a beat when he realized that the one at the other side must be his secret lover. Without wasting any more minutes, he slid the door open revealing Masaki who was dressed up as a servant.

“Come inside…” he whispered, making sure they weren’t noticed. “Masaki… my love… what are you doing here? How did you get dressed like that?”

“I found them… it doesn’t matter how… look… I made up my mind… We can escape from here… by bribing one of the guards… or by faking our deaths… I could pretend to be ill and go to the healer and then take one of those weird poisons and we could run away… you’re good with letters… you… you could make us fake papers and we could live together… free… We will be able to pass the first months if I sell all the jewelry the Emperor has given me and some of my kimonos… they are pure silk… from China… the best quality… we will be fine… we only have to organi-”

“Masaki what happened?” Sho asked concerned. It was clear in his lover’s face that there was an anxiety he had never seen before. “You can tell me…” he said as he brought his hand to caress softly the other’s hair.

“Sho… the Emperor…” tears were forming in Masaki’s eyes as he spoke the words. “He… he told me that he wants to keep me by his side because he can’t bear the idea of me being touched by another man… he… he doesn’t know but… my golden brooch… my golden brooch was found in his brother’s chambers… I can’t understand how… but… if only you saw him last night… but the worse is that…” Masaki bit his lower lip, lowering his head not wanting to face Sho.

“What?” Sho asked more worried by seeing Masaki’s hesitation.

“He told me that… I won’t be a part of the Ooku anymore…”

“How?” Sho felt as if he was struck by lightning. “Why? I thought you… were his… favorite…” he whispered with difficulty.

“I am… that’s why he told me he wants me to take the place of his mistress…”

“What?”

“… so that I could live next to his chambers… away from here… it will be a jail for me… but we have some time… there’s some kind of regulation… I didn’t understand well but we have some time… please… we must go as long as we still have some time ahead of us… please Sho…”

Sho was left with his mouth open. His heart was pounding crazily inside his chest. He didn’t have as much time as he wanted. But then… Ohno Satoshi… the Emperor asked for him as I left him… If only we could work together… The evidence would be in our hands faster and then I can name Masaki as my prize…

“Sho?” Masaki asked frowning, his eyebrows almost knitting together. “Say something… please…”

Sho hesitated whether he should say something or not to his lover but seeing him like that couldn’t help but decide to speak. “My love… there’s a chance for us… I can’t say what… but earlier I spoke with the Emperor and if something happens fast then there’s a high possibility of being able to have you with his permission…”

Masaki grabbed Sho’s arms. “You mean it?”

“Yes…” Sho said smiling. “But please my love… Don’t forget that I have to be sure first… Don’t worry… one way or another we will be together… I promise you…”

“I love you… I love you so much Sho…”

Sho smiled as he leaned closer so that their lips were almost touching. “I love you too…” he muttered as his hand cupped Masaki’s chin, bringing their mouths together, into a slow yet passionate kiss.

You will be mine Masaki… forever…
……………………………………………….


Satoshi couldn’t sleep… not after what he had realized. He was looking outside, in the dark sky, covered with hundreds of shiny stars. It was mysteriously beautiful… reminding him somehow of the sky he used to look when he was young at his village.

He shook his head in an attempt to calm down his racing heartbeat but failed. Why? Why did you have to make me remember the time I used to be innocent… with emotions… feelings… dreams for the future… actually a human…? Why?
---

“You’re here again!”

“Is that a bad thing?” the younger boy said pouting as he sat by the lake.

“No… I was just wondering…” Satoshi said smiling as he brought his attention back to fishing. “But I’m worried about your mum… lately you’re always out of the house… If I didn’t know you better I’d say that your house is this lake… and that would be a bit weird for a kid like you!” he continued playfully.

“I’m not a kid! I’m 11 years old!” the younger boy said in an almost angry tone. “And I am wherever I like to be… I was working with father on our field in the morning so now I can be here!”

Satoshi burst into laughs. “Fine! I was just kidding! You can be wherever you want! Just don’t make fast moves… I want to have dinner tonight!”

“Don’t worry… I…” the younger one’s voice lowered as he spoke “I just want to see you while fishing… You somehow look interesting when you’re concentrated!”

“And stop making fun of me!” Satoshi replied trying to suppress his laugh.

No one was willing to pass time with him from their village. He was always the weird one. He didn’t like to talk much… neither to gossip… he preferred to be focused on the things he loved… fishing and making crafts…

“Do I have anything on my face?”

“No!” the younger boy answered almost panicking.

Satoshi put the small fish he had just caught into the bucket before kneeling closer to the other, narrowing his eyes. “Then… why are you staring at me since you came here? I must have something weird on my face… or is it that you find it funny like everyone?”

“No… I find it beautiful! Ah… I…” the other tried to hide his embarrassment as his cheeks grew deep red. “I mean…”

Satoshi chuckled as he patted the younger one’s head. “You’re so cute when you blush!” he stood up taking the bucket in his hand and turned around to leave. “Hey… Tomorrow isn’t your birthday?”

“Yes…” a whisper reached Satoshi’s ears.

“Will you be here…? I want to give you something…”

“I’ll be here! For sure!”

“I’m glad! Goodnight!” Satoshi mumbled as he started walking away.

“Goodnight… Aniki…”
---

“Aniki…” suddenly a voice was heard from behind, snapping Satoshi out of his thoughts. He didn’t have to guess who it was the one who had spoken.

Satoshi said nothing; neither did he turn around.

“Look at me…” Nino’s voice was heard again but the guard showed no will to look at him. With determined steps he went closer to the other grabbing his left arm turning him around. “I said look at me…”

“You…” Satoshi mumbled with his head hanging down. “You should leave… It’s not right for you to be here… this late… please… you…”

“I won’t leave…” Nino with a firm voice. “I won’t leave until you answer to me…”

“I have nothing to answer…”

Nino brought both his hands on Satoshi’s shoulders. “You are aniki… You are him… I know you are… even if you have changed this much… That’s why I kept dreaming of him in your form… because it was actually you… That’s why you left me like that when I revealed my true name to you…”

“I…” Satoshi sighed. “Please… leave…”

“I won’t…” Nino replied fast, decidedly.

“Aniki is dead…” Satoshi muttered in a flat, unemotional voice.

“He’s not! He’s here… right in front of my eyes… talking to me…”

“You’re making a mistake… Ninomiya… Your Aniki is dead…” Satoshi said coldly.

“No!” Nino insisted in an even higher tone.

“I said that-” Satoshi tried to speak while pushing Nino towards his door but was left astonished feeling the other claiming his lips in such powerful way that made his mind go blank.

Without realizing exactly what was happening Satoshi found himself having pushed Nino down on his futon, with him on top, the dark blue kimono the younger was wearing opened revealing a part of his cream-like skin. He was ready to move away when Nino’s hands gripped his yukata sleeves. “I was always dreaming of you… waiting for you… wishing to see you again… you are the reason for me being sane till now… being strong… I’m yours… Aniki… I always was…”

“I…” Satoshi said with a trembling voice.

“I want to feel your touch… Satoshi…”

 Satoshi closed his eyes. He knew well that if he surrendered now there was no way back. He opened them looking straight at Nino who had now opened his kimono completely with his eyes locked on Satoshi’s full of hope and lust.

“I want to be yours” Nino whispered, bringing his face close to Satoshi’s “…completely… unconditionally… just yours…”




TO BE CONTINUED…






A.N. Sooo minna! Here's part 6!!! ^_^ I'm really sorry for not sticking with my weekly post but with family, friends and Christmas shopping it was impossible for me to post it earlier.... *bows apologetically*

Now........
Many things happened in this chapter, ne?! Firstly, we have Satoshi saving Nino from Yorimoto... *_* I had told you the latter will play an important role revealing a lot about the past and in particular, Ohmiya's possible connection! :D But from what we saw he might play a role for Sakuraiba as well! We'll see what happens in the next one!!! Sho might have to take things in his hands! ;)
Also... the Emperor doesn't know about Sakuraiba but he suspects and seems to be determined to keep Masaki by his side forever... he loves him perhaps too much; up to the point to be a bit obsessive...I'll explain his character more in the next one! I promise!!! ^^
As for Toma's plan... the one who's behind of the whole thing is, as many of you already guessed, Jun! Remember though that this doesn't necessarily makes him the bad guy... there are many aspects of him that are to be revealed! *whispers* take into account his mysterious interaction with Ohno! ;)
And finally! We learn something important... who Aniki is! Yes!!! *throws confetti* It's Ohno! xD Nino seems to be pretty determined to become his! We'll see what happens next but Ohmiya will definitely have to talk... a lot! There will be important revelations about their past... you'll see! ^^

I can promise you that the real action finally starts! ;D



I really hope you enjoyed it and as always your comments are <333!!!