Title: Ai no Honoo

Author: Andy-chan (antimiya88)

Pairings: Ohmiya, Sakuraiba (both main pairings)

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

Rating: PG-15

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   /   Part 6   /   Part 7   /   Part 8   /   Part 9   /   Part 10   /   Part 11

Part 12   /   Part 13

“He wants us all there?” Nino couldn’t stop his heart pounding rapidly.

“Kazunari… Have faith in me…” Satoshi whispered close to his lover’s ear as he hugged him tightly. “Everything is going to be fine…”

Jun though kept his eyes on the man standing at the corner of the room with his face buried in his hands. He knew that the other was afraid of the possibility not to leave along with them. “Sakurai-san?” he tried to sound calm but the other suddenly stood up with his eyes locked in a random spot on the floor.

“I will go first…”

“He asked for all of you…”

“No, Matsumoto-san. I will go first… I owe it to him and to Masaki…”

“You won’t be alone…” Satoshi said as he walked towards the other “I will speak with the Emperor if necessary and…”

“No” Sho cut him off. “I will be the one dealing with it… I will be the one who will face his destiny alone… I feel as if I have done nothing… Ninomiya-san put his life at stake with that daimyo, you, Ohno-san, have come up with everything, Matsumoto-san has also played an important role, my love is almost dead and here I am having done nothing…”

“If it wasn’t for you, then the evidence wouldn’t exist… Those documents were the ones that saved us…”

“Yes… but it was you, Ohno-san, the one that found them in the first place. I simply…”

“You simply revealed everything…” Jun interrupted him. “You might feel as if you have done nothing heroic but believe me… not all heroes are the dramatic ones… sometimes the ones not in the spotlight deserve more… You were able to remain calm... to concentrate on a work that requires such focus on the detail yet you were able to succeed in that and reveal everything you had to when you knew that the one you loved was lying in a bed a few chambers away having put his life in the merge for you… I honestly do not know, if I was able to do that myself…”

“You might say that but I feel as if I’m hiding…”

“You’re not-”

“But I won’t be hiding anymore…” Sho continued as if he had heard nothing.

Jun sighed and made a nod to Satoshi and Nino to leave them alone.

“We will head off first” Satoshi said and took Nino by his hand in order to leave the other two alone.

As soon as the other two left them, Jun came closer to the other man and looked at him straight in the eyes. “Everything is going to be alright…”

“He knows… doesn’t he?” Sho whispered with a trembling voice. It wasn’t a question… it was a statement. As the first traces of tears made their appearance, Jun pulled him into a hug.

“He does… but he’s not a cruel man… I’m sure he won’t do anything that might-”

“I knew that Masaki wouldn’t be able to leave like that…” Sho smiled bitterly as he freed himself from Jun’s embrace. “He owed his Majesty very much to just sneak away from him…”

“Aiba-kun wanted to be honest… and honesty never hurts…”

“It does… when the other is someone you love and he reveals to you that he doesn’t love you back…”

“You are making a mistake here, Sakurai-san… because Aiba-kun admitted his love to the Emperor…” Sho frowned at the hearing of that, staring at the man in front of him confused. Jun smiled and continued speaking. “He loved him truthfully… perhaps not as a lover… you should know that better than me… but he loved him… and that was what he wanted to tell him before leaving him. I’m sure that he did what he felt as the right thing… but in the same time something that wouldn’t put in danger the plan… he’s risking his life for it… for you…”

“I know… but still I…”

“Please, have faith in him…”

“I will be here next to you… I won’t let his sacrifice go in vain…”

“I always thought you hated Masaki…” Sho whispered, lowering his head.

“I never hated him… I admit I felt jealousy at first… he was the one having taken the man I loved away from me… but I couldn’t hate him… he looked too innocent and pure to actually hate him…”

“But you knew…”

Jun lowered his head. “I did… and I was furious… I couldn’t believe that he would be able to play with the Emperor’s feelings like that… I thought that he simply wanted to have fun but then… I realized he was in love with you… and I became frustrated… I knew how love felt and I couldn’t deny that it was something way too powerful to overcome it but… it was when I heard him crying in his room… it was a morning after he had come back from you… I was shocked… he was feeling guilty for betraying you and the Emperor… It was then that I decided not to speak… because I knew that his feelings for his Majesty were not fake… I admire him… and if I may, he does know the Emperor in a different way from you… he did what he had to do but never forget that he loves you…” Sho nodded softly. “Let’s go… the others are waiting for us there…”

***

“I want to be on my own…” Sho said once they were out of the Emperor’s chambers.

“As you wish” Satoshi said, knowing that this was a battle that Sho wanted to face alone.

Jun gave him a small nod and asked for the Emperor’s permission to open the door.

“Enter” the voice from the other side reached their ears and it was clearly weakened and above all sad.

Sho took a deep breath and kneeled on the floor as he placed his hand on the door to slide it open. The first thing he noticed was the Emperor sitting at the edge of the bed, holding with both hands Masaki’s cold one, his eyes being swollen and red. He tried to calm his heartbeat down as he entered the room and closed the door behind him.

“You wished to see me, your Majesty”

“I did… please stand up, Sakurai-san… and come closer” Sho did as he was told, his head hanging down. “Read this…” he was given a letter. He started reading and his heart felt almost painful against his ribs. “Masaki is speaking of you, isn’t he…?”

Sho bit his lower lip, his eyes being shut tightly.

“Speak…”

“Yes, your Majesty…” Sho’s voice came out as a whisper.

“Since when?”

“I…”

“I only wish to know the truth… So tell me… since when?”

“It was a couple of years ago… when your Majesty had left the palace for a few weeks to-”

“I’m asking you since when you fell in love with him… if you actually did of course…”

Sho dared to look the other in the eyes. “I did. Since I saw him for the first time…”

“And that was when?” the Emperor insisted.

“The first night you asked for him to dance during the dinner with the Chinese messengers… He had something captivating in him… I had seen other members of the Ooku and they were always caused an indifference in me but he… from the moment our eyes met, it was as if I was casted a spell… I followed his every move… I felt as if being drawn to him with a power I couldn’t explain… and…” he hesitated for a moment. He had already said things he shouldn’t.

“Continue…” the Emperor asked him in a strangely calm way.

“And… I knew that the way he was seeking for my eyes was similar to mine… always… Whenever I saw him sitting by your side, my heart was aching painfully in my chest but I knew I had no right… even feeling this way was something to be punished for… but I also knew that there was nothing I could do about those feelings. I had tried to convince myself that it was nothing but every single time I did so, I failed. As time passed, I felt sadder and sadder… miserable… but what made me feel even more miserable was the sadness that was ghosting on his eyes as soon as they met with mine… I felt as if I was making the man I loved suffer… and that made my guilt become bigger as well… That’s why I started avoiding him… I almost never attended the dinners or the places we might have come across… It was successful for a couple of months but…”

“But he came to you when I was absent from the palace…”

Sho gasped at the hearing of the last words but knew that he couldn’t avoid the truth anymore. “Yes… I know that I should have sent him away… to deny him but… I couldn’t... Feeling him so close to me… All I wanted to do was to show him the love I had for him… to show him how much I cared… to feel him in my arms… It was paradise and hell in the same time… I had made mine the man I loved the most but on the other hand, I knew that he would never, ever belong to me… And then… I had betrayed you… a man that had shown me nothing else than fairness… I didn’t know how to face you… I felt guilty…”

“Yet you continued on seeing each other for years…”

“Your Majesty, I…”

“You say you felt guilty but you kept sharing his bed hundreds of times…”

“I did… I always felt guilty… because of you and because of him… Sometimes he had fallen asleep, he would cry… there were silent tears but I knew that he felt torn between his feelings for me and the betrayal for you…” Sho replied in a whisper, feeling all strength leaving his body.

“What am I supposed to do with you?” the Emperor asked as he stood up from the bed, cutting Sho’s words.

“That lies to your judgement, your Majesty…”

“Have you regretted it?”

Sho felt his heartbeat accelerating in a crazy rhythm. “I know I have betrayed you, hundreds of times… I know that you have all the right to punish me… but I cannot lie to you, your Majesty. I do not regret it”

Sho felt the Emperor standing next to him. “Look at me, Sakurai-san” Sho did as he was asked. It was the first time that he was standing so close to the Emperor and he could distinguish all kinds of emotions being reflected in his eyes. “Do you want me to send you to death?”

“You have every right to do that… but I can’t lie to you anymore, your Majesty… you do not deserve it…”

“You really don’t regret it… even now… even when you know that most likely you’ll face death!” the Emperor muttered his eyes piercing deeply into Sho’s soul.

“No, I don’t” the answer was firm, leaving no doubt.

“Why?”

Sho took a deep breath. “Because I love him”

The Emperor said nothing. For a couple of seconds, he kept staring at Sho who remained silent.

“So, he wasn’t betrayed…”

Sho frowned, confused. “What?”

“Masaki… he was always innocent… sensitive… not afraid to feel… it hurt me when he made it clear to me that he didn’t love me the way I did… but I can’t deny that I hadn’t known… even if it was only a feeling… I knew that no matter how much I tried to make him mine he never was… his body perhaps yes but his soul… never… but I can’t come to hate him… nor even get angry with him… I couldn’t do anything… he’s precious to me so the thing I wanted the most for him was not to be betrayed by the one he fell in love with… it was the least I could ask for and I’m glad he was proven right…”

“Your Majesty…”

“Say nothing more. I’m hurt and I do feel betrayed… but I know that I have no right to judge you… not when I was trying so selfishly to keep him by my side… not when I deeply inside knew he wasn’t sharing my feelings… yet I tried heartlessly impose them on him…”

“But…” Sho tried to speak just to hush as the Emperor raised his hand.

“Kami-sama made me pay… and I accept my defeat… Masaki… isn’t with us anymore…” the Emperor whispered with tears glittering in his eyes. “I will leave you with him for some time before I call for the priest… You are the one he loved… and… you loved him back…”

“You mean…” Sho couldn’t hold his tears back.

“Say your goodbyes to him…” the Emperor said in a shaky voice, having turned his back on Sho “…but after that I wish not to see you again. You may go wherever you wish… I promise I won’t hunt you down and kill you but you have to leave this palace immediately. Otherwise I won’t be able to guarantee anything. Understood?”

Sho kneeled on the floor, bowing deeply so that his head was touching the floor. He heard the door being opened and closed, before daring to raise his head up. Tears were falling down his cheeks as he went to the lying figure of Masaki, taking him in his arms.

“We did it, my love… we did it… we are free…” he kept whispering in his lover’s eyes. “You just have to come back to me… as you promised me… Keep strong my love…” he caressed feather like Masaki’s cheeks before locking their lips together. “I love you, so much… so much…”
………………………………………………..


The Emperor led the ones waiting for him outside to a room close to his bedroom. Nino looked as a small prey facing his hunter and Satoshi cursed himself inside for not being able to take him in his arms to calm him down. He knew that this phase of the plan was probably the most crucial one. A single mistake and everything could go in vain. For a couple of minutes there was an intense silence crawling in the room, no one daring to break it.

“Jun I have called for the priest…” the Emperor said, his back facing the others. “You should go and get Masaki ready. As the responsible of the Ooku, you are in charge of the ceremony”

Jun and Satoshi looked each other for a second before Jun bowed. “As you wish”

“Priest?! Masaki-kun?!” Nino asked clearly shocked. “What could that mean? Matsumoto-san? What happened to Masaki-kun?”

“He was ill, Ninomiya-kun… and… he couldn’t survive…” Jun replied lowering his head, before turning to the Emperor. “With your permission, your Majesty” and with that left the room. There wasn’t much time and everything should be done before the priest.

“Nooooooo! No! He’s my friend! He can’t die! He can’t! He had promised me that we will be there for me! He can’t…” Nino’s body was shaking due to the sobs but no one dared to say anything.

Satoshi could only lower his head. He knew he was making his lover suffer but if they wanted to guarantee Masaki’s escape they couldn’t risk for the Emperor to think that it might be a lie. I am sorry, Kazunari… I keep hurting you but this is the last time… I promise…

As Nino continued crying, the Emperor came closer placing his hands on the latter’s shoulders. “I am glad you were able to call him a friend. He kept asking me how it felt… I wish I could explain it to him properly but I couldn’t… I’m sure he’ll be looking at you from the sky… He always wanted to have one… and I’m sure he won’t let you down…”

“But… Masaki-kun… we were supposed to-”

“Your Majesty…” Satoshi spoke knowing that they should hurry before Nino made a mistake in front of the Emperor.

“You are right. I called you here because I took my decisions” the Emperor announced, turning once again his back on them.

Satoshi took the chance and gripped Nino’s hand to give him strength. It was then that he heard Nino gasping; probably after realizing what he had almost revealed in front of the Emperor.

“But before that I want to ask something you, Ninomiya-kun…”

“Of course, your Majesty”

“Is it true that you come from the same village with Ohno Satoshi?”

“Yes…”

“And what do you feel for him?”

“What?” Nino asked before he could control himself. He felt cold sweat running down his temples but tried to clear his mind. Satoshi was next to him. No matter what, Satoshi was there.

“I think my question is pretty clear…” the Emperor insisted, throwing him a glance. “And from the way your cheeks have reddened I’m sure you have understood it correctly”

“I… he… he’s someone precious to me… He’s the one who helped me survive till now…” Nino managed to whisper lowering his head.

“What do you mean by that?”

“We knew each other when we were young… I was only a child… but he wouldn’t treat me like one… he always made me feel that I had strength inside of me… his words are the ones that always made me want to continue on living…”

“And when you met him here?”

“I… didn’t know… I was afraid of him… to be honest… but last night when he saved me with Matsumoto-san… he saw the pendant I had and then he asked me things… it was then I realized who he was…”

“And now that you realized who this man is?”

“I don’t understand, your Maje-”

“You love him, don’t you?” the Emperor asked him without giving him the chance to complete his sentence.

“I…” Nino muttered with a trembling voice as he turned his gaze on Satoshi who was looking back at him supportively. “I do…”

“Ohno-san, you know that after what happened yesterday, I can’t hold Ninomiya-kun in the Ooku”

“I know it very well, your Majesty”

“You should know that there are two options for him left. Whether to remain in the palace as a servant or to leave under the protection of someone who would accept him as he is” Ohno limited himself to only nod. He knew he was in no position to talk yet. “As you should also know, Matsumoto Jun, I mean Matsushima Junichi has denied to go back to the shogunate and serve me. It is an important position which requires trust and I can only think of one person… This person is no one else but you, Ohno-san”

Satoshi bowed deeply. “If your Majesty, entrusts it to me then all I can say is that it is my honor to serve you…”

“Is there anything you’d wish?”

“Yes. I would like to have Ninomiya Kazunari as my official mistress”

The Emperor smiled. “I knew you loved him back… I could recognize the anger in your voice as you revealed everything on the Board and the fact that Yorimoto’s hand was missing was another proof…”

“Your Majesty…” Satoshi mumbled frowning.

“He’s yours…”

Nino was left watching the scene astonished. His heart was screaming from joy since he would be finally able to live with the man he loved the most but on the other hand, it was aching because of Masaki. After everything, Masaki-kun and Sakurai-san couldn’t be happy in the end… Why?

“Ninomiya-kun, you should never hurt this man”

“I love him with all my heart, your Majesty. My only intention is to make him happy”

“I’m glad to hear that. He deserves it…” the Emperor whispered. “Now please go and get ready. After the executions you will be asked to go. The travel will probably take a week and no matter what we should not allow to any followers of the enemy get any power back in their hands”

“As you wish, your Majesty. With your permission” Both Satoshi and Nino bowed and were ready to leave the room when they heard the Emperor speaking again.

“You can also take Sakurai Sho with you. He’s no longer welcome in the palace but I know that he was a precious assistant when it came to reveal the truth… So if you wish…”

Satoshi bowed one more time. “I will speak with him, your Majesty and if he agrees I would gladly have him accompany me to the shogunate”

“You may leave now. I wish to remain alone”

Satoshi sighed but took Nino’s hand and got out of the room, leaving the Emperor on his own.

“Aniki… Masaki-kun…”

“We have no time… You have sent your and Aiba-san’s clothes where I told you to?”

Nino nodded fast. “Yes but…”

“Do not worry! Everything is going according to the plan… I just hope that Matsumoto had enough time to make the exchange before the priest…”

“But…” Nino started mumbling before gasping at the realization of Satoshi’s words. “You mean… your former lover…”

Satoshi smirked before pecking fast Nino’s lips. “My love, I had told you that Ohkura would get the place he deserved…”

“But then Masaki-kun?”

“Later… go and get everything ready. We don’t have much time ahead of us…”

Nino nodded and ran towards the small hut he was living till then. Then could that mean that everything is alright?
……………………………………………………


“The executions have taken place. All that is left is Aiba Masaki’s funeral…” a guard announced to the Emperor who had ordered Ohno Satoshi to be present, not having the strength to see his younger brother losing his head.

“Has Matsumoto-san finished with the preparations of the body?”

“They have informed me that the priest is already there” the guard answered as he bowed.

Very well. I am coming…”

The Emperor looked up at the sky where the horizon melted together dark violet and orange shades. With this everything will have finished… A hot tear rolled down on his cheek. Perhaps I will be able to make a new start… Perhaps I will be strong enough…

***

“With that you will be perfect!” Jun muttered as he placed the last piece of cloth on the body.

“You did an amazing job. It’s way too hard to tell the difference…”

“When someone’s facial characteristics are similar with careful apply of powder and color, they can be made look the same…”

“I hope the priest won’t tell the difference…” Sho mumbled anxiously.

“It’s the Emperor you should be more worried about but there’s no way he will recognize him…”

“But still I’m afraid…”

“Sakurai-san… you should hurry and get ready. Masaki will be waking up very soon if he hasn’t already. I do think that you should be there when he does so…”

“And you?”

“I will be where my place is…” Jun said as he stood up and opened the secret door. “Now go and promise to take care of him…”

“I will” Sho said with traces of tears glittering in his eyes before leaving the room.

“Everything is ready now…” Jun muttered under his breath as he placed the light white cloth on top of the cold face. “And now you are ready to meet your friends, Ohkura Tadayoshi…” with a proud smile on his face, he walked towards the door and called for the priest.

Soon the latter accompanied with the Emperor came inside the room to take the body out. The ceremony took place at the north part of the garden. The Emperor avoided to look at the one placed on top of a bed made of small cut woods. “Be strong, please…” Jun kept whispering to him, to make the other only hold his hand tightly, as if without it he would fall. My love… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…

The priest kept on with all the words before making a nod to the Emperor to take a hold of the torch and place it at the base. “May leave in piece…” his voice was trembling but everything happened as it should.

Soon, dark red flames covered the body, eliminating slowly every part of it. The Emperor said nothing more. His stare was locked on the fire with Jun holding his hand. After everything was done and the ashes were gathered in the prepared small, ceramic bottle, he took it in his hand and walked slowly to the lake.

“Noriyuki…” Jun whispered his heart aching seeing the man in front of him devastated as he was at the moment.

The Emperor said nothing. He opened the bottle and with one move he scattered them in the water. “I want him to be free…”

Jun dared neither to say anything, nor to come closer to the other. He felt useless… completely useless.

“You know…” the Emperor’s voice brought him back from his thoughts. “In a way I feel relieved… that Masaki’s gone… if he hadn’t then I would have forced him to be with me as my mistress and that would have made him miserable… and I would have failed both as a protector and as a man… I would have made myself miserable with time… I was blinded by selfishness… I must admit I’m thankful I didn’t become a monster in the end… because Masaki… he believed so much in me… always… and I’d have failed him…”

“Noriyuki…”

“But he made a mistake… he said that I deserved love…”

“And you do…” Jun spoke before he could control himself. He stepped closer to the older man and as he stood in front of him, placed without any hesitation his hands around the other’s neck. “You deserve to be loved…”

“Jun…”

“I wouldn’t love you if you didn’t deserve it… I have been betrayed in my life… I grew up thinking only of hatred and revenge… you managed to make me feel warm inside when I was cold… it was your eyes that made me realize that there was still love in this world… there were still people that deserved it… and I have never regretted it… I loved you… I love you and I will continue on loving you till I close my eyes…” The Emperor was left speechless. “If you wish you can doubt me but… you can’t doubt Aiba Masaki… he could see clearly through you… you know it… so stop saying such things… You wouldn’t end up hurting him… I know you wouldn’t… I know cause I-”

Jun didn’t have the chance to finish his words as he felt the Emperor’s lips claim his in an almost desperate way. After realizing what was happening, he tilted his head on the side and brought his hands on the other’s nape to bring him even closer. It felt as if he was ten years younger… strong and fearless. He could feel the sadness, the desperation and the agony of the other and he wanted to eliminate all of them… he wanted to reassure him that he wouldn’t betray him… that he would never leave his side… and more importantly that he was someone deserved to be loved.

“Jun…” the Emperor whispered as he broke the kiss, panting.

Jun smiled warmly as he caressed the other’s cheeks. “I love you Noriyuki… I love you with all my heart…”

“But I…”

“You are the most wonderful man I have ever met… and you should say nothing more… just know that I love you…”

“You are willing to do whatever I ask you to?”

Jun frowned confused by the Emperor’s words but nodded anyway. “Of course…”

“Then from now on you stop being the responsible of the Ooku”

“But who will be the-”

“Because I decided to dismiss everyone. The members are free to go back to their villages. I will provide them with an amount of money to be able to adjust for the first months… I have no desire to keep people who serve me only because they feel indebted to me…”

“Then I am also one of them…?” Jun asked, fear ghosting on his eyes.

“You want to…? I thought you’d never leave my side…”

“OF COURSE NOT! I want to stay here with you… even as a servant… as whatever you want me… please Noriyuki… please…”

The Emperor smiled and hugged Jun tightly. “You will have to take your things and place them in the chamber next to mine”

Jun couldn’t believe his ears. “You mean…?”

“Michiko will be sent to the other palace. I won’t send her to death but she will have no recognition as the Empress. If you were a woman you’d take her place but you are not. So, all I can offer you is the place of my official mistress… Are you willing to be my side like that?”

Jun thought they were making fun of him. “Noriyuki… I… I…”

“After everything… I realized that you are the only one who can make me feel human again…”

“I will make you feel the way you should…” Jun spoke as he leaned closer to kiss the older one. “I love you and I promise I will make you love me back…”

The Emperor laughed with tears running down his face. “I’m looking forward to it… but I have faith in you… You never fell behind my expectations…” and with that he led Jun into a slower, full of warmness kiss.

***

“He deserves it…” Nino whispered as he looked at the two men from Satoshi’s window.

“They both deserve it, Kazunari” Satoshi mumbled as he wrapped his arms around Nino’s waist.

“Would you believe me if I said that I will miss this place?” Nino mumbled under his breath as he made the first step out of Satoshi’s room.

“I would… because in a way I will miss it, too…”
……………………………………………………


“My love…” Sho said for the nth time. He wished to ease down his fear. According to Jun, Masaki should have already woken up or at least show some hints of waking up. “Everything is over now… We are free… we are finally free… Hadn’t you promised me…? That you would be with me no matter what?! I want to hear your voice… Please, my love, please…”

Sho was holding Masaki tightly in his hands, his lips touching feather like the other’s forehead. It wasn’t as cold as before and he could hear the pulse but still his eyes were remaining closed. He tried not to think negatively but the more time passed by, the more he felt anxious. “It’s already time for you to wake up… The others are coming… Come back to me, Masaki… please… Call my name again… I want to hear it coming out of your lips… Let me hear it or else I don’t know what I will do… please, my love… I beg you… don’t do that to me… Masaki, please…”

“Stupid…”

It was a whisper but made Sho gasp. He leaned a bit backwards and saw his lover having opened half way his eyes. “MASAKI!” Sho cried out and pulled his lover into a tight hug, still not believing that he had heard the other talking.

“Air… Sho…” Masaki whispered with difficulty, trying to push the other away.

“I’m sorry… I’m so stupid… Are you alight? Do you need water? You need to be warmer, colder perhaps? Something to eat?”

Masaki managed to place his trembling hand on top of Sho’s lips making him hush. “I am… fine… Sho feels… good…” a weak smile appeared on his face, making Sho cry out of relief and happiness in the same time.

“Everything is over my love… We are free…”

“And he?”

“He wasn’t mad at you… I couldn’t lie to him either… In a way he has forgiven us, Masaki… do not worry… The Emperor is a good and fair man…” Sho tried to reassure his lover, smiling fondly. “And I’m sure that he will find the happiness he deserves…”

“I am happy…” Masaki replied in the same weakened tone, the relief being visible in his eyes.

“No one will separate us now, my love… no one…” Sho said as he caressed the top of Masaki’s head, leaning closer to peck softly his forehead. “Soon, we will be out of here… Ohno-san and Ninomiya-kun are on their way…”

“I love you, Sho” Masaki said bringing both his hands around Sho’s shoulders.

“I love you too, Masaki…” Sho replied softly and locked their lips together.
………………………………………………….


“Everyone, I called you here because I would like to inform you of the changes that will take place after all the revelations that were heard previously in this room” the Emperor had called for the representatives of the Board after the executions. He knew that he should impose his presence before anyone appeared to doubt him. It was certainly a tough thing to do but he knew that he wasn’t alone anymore. Next to him, there was a man that would keep helping him stand up no matter how many times he might fall… and that was enough.

“First of all, all the traitors are no longer part of this world. Secondly, Matsushima Junichi has renounced his rights as the heir of the Matsushima shogunate. The latter will be under the command of Ohno Satoshi who from now on will have only myself above him. He will be leaving this palace after the handover ceremony along with his official mistress, Ninomiya Kazunari and his secretary, Sakurai Sho. They will also be accompanied by a couple of servants and guards of his choice”

“Matsushima Junichi that is standing next to me will be called by the name of Matsumoto Jun from now on and he will take the place of my official mistress…” the Emperor ignored the murmurs that covered the room and continued. “He will be treated though as the Empress. My wife shall remain such only by title. She will be sent to the other palace and live there with a few servants and guards. You will respect Jun and everything he wishes. I also dismiss the Ooku. Everyone shall be given a small amount of money in order to start over away from the palace. Tomorrow, I will announce further differences in the way of ruling the Board” The Emperor looked satisfied when everyone bowed down on the floor. “You may go now”

“Noriyuki, are you alright?” Jun asked him concerned.

“I am not but I will be… Where is Ohno Satoshi?”

“I think he waits for your call…”

“Call him… I want to be over with it…” the Emperor said as he threw himself back at his seat.

“As you wish… my love…” Jun whispered and left the room.

***

“Ninomiya-kun?” Jun asked as he entered Satoshi’s room to find him being on his own.

“He’s waiting with Sakurai-san and Aiba-san… He has woken up… Everything went fine…” Satoshi replied as he put on the last piece of his formal attire.

“Are you ready?” Jun asked him.

“Yes and no…” Satoshi replied honestly causing the other to muffle a laugh.

“I know you are… I would have killed you back then, if I wasn’t sure about you…”

Satoshi laughed. “You never change…”

“Neither do you…” Jun snapped back at him and moved to the door. “But now come on…” Satoshi followed Jun nervously. “Remember I wouldn’t entrust the shogunate of my family to someone who didn’t deserve it…”

“Thank you… Matsumoto Jun…”

“No. I should be the one to thank you, Ohno Satoshi”

Satoshi placed his hand on the door. “Please, be happy… you deserve it…”

Jun smiled. “You too… but now go… and never forget… you’re not alone anymore…”

Satoshi took a deep breath and entered the room where the Emperor was waiting for him along with the two representatives of the Board. He knew that once he would step out of it again he would never be the same man again. This will be the last thing for you here, Satoshi…
…………………………………………………


Jun frowned as he felt the sunrays hitting on his face. Slowly, he opened his eyes finding Noriyuki looking back at him. “Is it already morning? You should have woken me up…”

A couple of days had passed by and the Emperor had demanded him to be with him every night. Even the day they would walk in the garden, they would read, they would discuss. It was as if for the first time they actually got to know each other.

“I didn’t want to… You looked so peaceful, sleeping like that… so beautiful… I wanted to treasure this sight as much as possible…”

“Noriyuki…” Jun whined, feeling his face getting redder.

“It might be a bit late but I want to tell you something…”

Jun frowned and sat up on the bed revealing his naked torso. “What do you mean? The sun is not even-”

“I love you…” Jun couldn’t utter a single word. “And I was blind not to be able to have seen it earlier…” the Emperor continued pulling Jun into a hug, claiming his lips forcefully.

Jun let the other make him fall back on the bed. “Why?” his voice was trembling but he wanted to know.

“Because with you I don’t need words… This special bond that Masaki had spoken of in his last letter… I finally realized that it really exists… and it’s with no one else but you… Jun…”

“Noriyuki…”

“Say nothing more… my love…” were the last words the Emperor whispered before locking their lips back together. Jun had experienced many things but being treasured like that by the man he loved was something that he couldn’t believe in his craziest dreams… yet it was true. He was finally loved back… truthfully and unconditionally.
………………………………………………


“Look, Sho! It’s so beautiful! It’s colder than the palace and the air feels so fresher! Don’t you agree?” Masaki was looking outside of the window like a small kid, making everyone smile.

“Of course it is, my love!” Sho murmured at his ear as he kept holding him in his arms protectively. Masaki had finally found his strength back but he couldn’t help but feel unease for his lover. “Remember! You shouldn’t force yourself! We still have one day till we reach the shogunate… please…”

“But I feel alright now, Sho… you are always overprotective…” Masaki whined, pouting.

Sho sighed. “What do you expect me to do? I almost lost you and you know it!”

“You said it yourself… almost… I’m here… safe in your arms…”

“Masaki…” Sho tried to speak but was hushed by his lover’s lips on his.

“It’s just been so many years since I was able to look at the nature… I’m sorry if I made you worry…”

“Masaki…”

Masaki smiled and caressed his lover’s cheeks. “I am truly happy now, Sho. I have you and my friends… right, Kazunari-kun?”

Nino nodded smiling widely. “Of course, Masaki-kun!”

Masaki turned his gaze back to Sho and kissed him softly, before nesting deeper into the other’s arms. “You believe me?”

“Yes, my love… I do…” Sho whispered fondly and closed his eyes as the carriage kept on his way to the north.
---

“I can’t believe we are going back home…” Nino whispered as his eyes kept following the scenery that constantly kept changing outside.

“I can’t believe it either…” Satoshi whispered as he brought their intertwined fingers to his mouth and pecked each one of them.

“I want us to go the lake again… in our village…”

“What for?”

“I want to leave my pendant…” Nino said looking straight into Satoshi’s eyes.

“But I thought that you loved this pendant…”

“I do love it… it was the one that kept me strong all of these years… It was the only thing I had from you… but I don’t need it anymore… I don’t need to be strong anymore and neither do I need to have something from you… That’s why because I am free and I have you… I do not need anything else anymore… I want to put an end to that chapter of my life and I want to start a new one… not with my memories of Aniki but with my moments with Satoshi…”

Satoshi didn’t know what to say. It was rare for him to be left speechless yet the more time he passed with his lover the more he felt that way. “I love you, Kazunari…”

“Oh… I love you more, Ohno-sama…”

Satoshi looked at him with narrowed eyes. “You know I do not like it when you call me like that!”

Nino muffled a laugh. “Shhh… I know… I know… I just wanted to tease you… you should be aware of the fact that I love no one else in this world but simply Satoshi…”

Satoshi gripped Nino’s chin. “That’s what I wanted to hear… you little brat…” and with that he crushed their lips together ignoring the fact that they weren’t alone in the carriage. It wasn’t till a few seconds later when he heard the drivers voice outside causing him to break it.

“Ohno-sama, the horses should rest a bit. If you agree we could stop for a little while”

“Fine!” he growled clearly annoyed.

“This driver always chooses the worst moment to call for a break!” Masaki said as he opened the door of the carriage and stepped outside followed by the others.
---

Satoshi looked at Masaki staring at the horizon and Sho who was looking at his lover fondly. He turned his gaze to Nino who had closed his eyes, letting the air hit on his face, smiling. He then looked up to the sky with the smallest hint of smile on his own face. It was perhaps the first time that he remembered of Jun’s last words; “…and never forget… you’re not alone anymore…” He realized then that the other was right; he had friends… he had someone who could truthfully call his family… yes… he wasn’t alone anymore.




THE END







A.N. Sooo minna here's the last part of Ai no Honoo!!! ^_^ I can't believe that it finally came to an end! I tried to have everything making sense! At first, I thought to make it an NC but then I couldn't... I decided to keep it fluffier... I think it gave it another dynamic like that, don't you agree?! The chapter is loooong once again (more than 7.000 words) - so hopefully that will compensate you for the time it took me to post it! ><"
So...
Sho finally had his part on the spotlight! I kinda felt sorry for him in this fic... because Masaki even if he was the sleeping beauty he had played his role through his letter... So I wanted to give Sho his chance as well! xD I think that he was brave in front of the Emperor admitting his love like that and thankfully the other didn't punish him! Masaki's letter did play its role, right?! ;)
Ohmiya also made it clear to the Emperor that they want to be together and they are able to leave the palace in their new capacities! :D Luckily, Ohno covered up Nino who almost revealed unnecessary things in front of the Emperor! xD Nino has been very strong but I wanted to show another part of his... the clumsier (and cuter) one... ^^
And you all found out the reason - if you hadn't found out already that is - why I chose Ohkura Tadayoshi as Ohno's former lover! He might be a bit taller than Aiba but their body type is similar and make-up as Jun said could make miracles! xDD
Sakuraiba are also together!!! yay! Finally Masaki woke up! My poor baby... I seriously missed him in the last couple of chapters but luckily he woke up and everything is fine!
And of course Jun found the place he deserves in the Emperor's heart! I know that many of you wanted them to be together! And they are - as if I wouldn't make them have their own happy ending! xD I think that Noriyuki might have already been in love with Jun but was blinded by the need to be close to the innocence and purity that Masaki was... he kept him by his side selfishly... and love can never be selfish, don't you agree?! At least, he realized it now and he can be happy!
At the end, I added a small Sakuraiba/Ohmiya flluff scene to make it up to you for all the angst and the drama in this series!
I don't know whether this end was the one you were expecting or not, I just want to say that I enjoyed writing 'Ai no Honoo' very much! It was my dream to write a historical one and I managed to finish it! The  idea kept growing in me for almsot a year now so gladly it was written down till the last word!
Last but not least, I want to thank all of you who took a few minutes to leave me a comment! It really meant a lot to me and it gave me strength to continue till the end despite the difficultiies with rl! Hontou ni arigatou gozaimasu!!! *bows*


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



Hope to see you in my upcoming fics as well!



Lots of love,
Andy ^_^