Kirihi [Kai x Ruki One Shot]
Title: Kirihi.
Author: gioiadivisione
Theme: 002 07. Can You Keep a Secret - Utada Hikaru.
Rating: PG, AU [19th Century Japan]
Pairing: Kai x Ruki
Band: The GazettE
Disclaimer: I do not own Ruki, Kai, or the GazettE, I just own these words.
Summary: What lay at the end of an unraveling web of lies.
Comments: Written for 50stories , Beta'd by konicoffee , inspired by Memoirs of a Geisha.
Takanori adjusted the obi on his delicate kimono, sure this would be his last time to don the elaborate guise he'd hidden behind for so many years. This was to be the final dance of the lie that was his very existence.
At the age of seven he had been taken from his home, sold to an okiya as a little girl, and beaten for his captor's mistake. It was months before the matron of the house truly looked at him, recognizing a distinct beauty even under the layers of grime and bruises he'd earned as a slave.
Little time was wasted after that, his skin was scrubbed raw and daily reminders that he was to forget that he was a boy, to never speak in a voice lower than an octave over his normal tone, never to reveal what he really was. He was to become the biggest fraud in Kyoto; he was to become geisha.
At sixteen he no longer remembered the sound of his own voice, or how he looked without the fragile white makeup smeared across his already fair skin. He barely remembered his real name, having been introduced as Kirihi since his debut at fourteen as a maiko, an apprentice geisha and the little "sister" of a famed geisha named Kiriake.
Takanori had lived in a tiny world kept hidden within the broader schemes of Kyoto. His okiya had become a den of lies; every person admitted entrance into the house, into his secret, was handpicked and bribed into silence by the matron. Even he was aware that if he were ever betrayed, it would likely be the death of him.
It wasn't until he was twenty-two that any suspicion arose. What full-fledged geisha had never sold their biggest commodity to the highest bidder? In 1894 the most prized item in the geisha districts of Kyoto and even Tokyo was the mizuage, the virginity of a maiko.
Not long after his twenty-third birthday, Kiriake and his matron could no longer delay the inevitable, and registered him with a teahouse to begin the bidding. Knowing this could tear apart their well-harbored masquerade, they had arranged for a series of false bidders, men that were bribed through the household to make bids that would, inevitably, be paid through the okiya itself.
What they hadn't bargained for was betrayal, for one of their own to seek out a man with more interest in Kirihi than anyone would have expected and let him know the bidding had begun. A man they were not paying to keep their secret, and had no obligations to do so once it was revealed.
That man was Uke Yutaka, a prominent businessman from Tokushima. Takanori had entertained him many times throughout the years in various teahouses and parties throughout Kyoto and had frequently sought him out when he was in town. With more money than the matron, nor Kiriake and her danna would be able to pay, Yutaka easily had the winning bid the night their world was set on fire.
And now there was nothing left to do but wait. To wait for what destiny this unavoidable night set upon Takanori as he sat in the empty hotel room before the prearranged white linen covered futon; whether it be a future of shame, or no future at all.
"I'm sorry I'm late, the train was delayed just outside of the city," Yutaka spoke gently as he entered the room, bowing curtly before taking his seat at the small table arranged with tea. Takanori quickly moved to pour him a cup in the manner long instilled with training.
Takanori was unsure of just when he should follow Kiriake's advice, advice that was meant to save him being revealed through more difficult means, advice that might lend him to more mercy than he deserved. Sitting across from Yutaka, he was unable to meet his eyes. Shame was written so clearly across the young geisha's features, both because of why he was here and what he was about to reveal.
"I am so sorry, Mr. Uke, but I must stop this before it begins. I am not who you think I am, sir. My name is Taka-" Takanori was shocked to see the man hold up his hand to silence him.
"Takanori, I already know." Yutaka's smile was genuine as he gazed at the man across from him. "There is a geisha in your house named Michizono. I have long been friends with her, and she was the one that told me of your secret. Ah ah," he held his hand up once again at the look of betrayal striking it's way across Takanori's face. "Do not think she led you into a trap, she did not do this to hurt you. She did this because she knows I have a secret of my own. Can you keep a secret, Takanori?"
Takanori's face flushed as the man repeated his real name to him once again; it had been so long since he'd heard it uttered by anyone other than Michizono. "Yes, sir." He bowed low to enforce the sentiment of his words, still concerned what the future might entail now that he was revealed.
Yutaka reached to where Takanori was bowed, placing a hand lightly under his chin to pull him back to sitting. Taking the chance while he still had the man facing him, Kai leaned forward and placed his lips against his softly before whispering against them, "I do not care that you're a man, so long as you don't care that I like that you are."
{{Sequel: Takanori.}}
[AN: Kirihi and Kiriake were both old stage names of Ruki's meaning Red Mist [thank you hystericalhyena for this information. Michizono is a historical Geisha name meaning Righteous Path and Garden, I thought it was fitting for her role. A danna is a fixed patron that has taken a Geisha as his mistress. Sorry for the history lessons with the terms in this, I am rather enraptured by the history of the Geisha myself at the moment, and have been looking further into it than just reading Memoirs of a Geisha. I am not quite 100% thrilled with the way this turned out but it's been kicking around in my head for quite a while now.
Also I know I was planning to make a comm for my writing before I posted this but I'm too lazy atm, I'll get it done tomorrow I promise!]
Author: gioiadivisione
Theme: 002 07. Can You Keep a Secret - Utada Hikaru.
Rating: PG, AU [19th Century Japan]
Pairing: Kai x Ruki
Band: The GazettE
Disclaimer: I do not own Ruki, Kai, or the GazettE, I just own these words.
Summary: What lay at the end of an unraveling web of lies.
Comments: Written for 50stories , Beta'd by konicoffee , inspired by Memoirs of a Geisha.
Takanori adjusted the obi on his delicate kimono, sure this would be his last time to don the elaborate guise he'd hidden behind for so many years. This was to be the final dance of the lie that was his very existence.
At the age of seven he had been taken from his home, sold to an okiya as a little girl, and beaten for his captor's mistake. It was months before the matron of the house truly looked at him, recognizing a distinct beauty even under the layers of grime and bruises he'd earned as a slave.
Little time was wasted after that, his skin was scrubbed raw and daily reminders that he was to forget that he was a boy, to never speak in a voice lower than an octave over his normal tone, never to reveal what he really was. He was to become the biggest fraud in Kyoto; he was to become geisha.
At sixteen he no longer remembered the sound of his own voice, or how he looked without the fragile white makeup smeared across his already fair skin. He barely remembered his real name, having been introduced as Kirihi since his debut at fourteen as a maiko, an apprentice geisha and the little "sister" of a famed geisha named Kiriake.
Takanori had lived in a tiny world kept hidden within the broader schemes of Kyoto. His okiya had become a den of lies; every person admitted entrance into the house, into his secret, was handpicked and bribed into silence by the matron. Even he was aware that if he were ever betrayed, it would likely be the death of him.
It wasn't until he was twenty-two that any suspicion arose. What full-fledged geisha had never sold their biggest commodity to the highest bidder? In 1894 the most prized item in the geisha districts of Kyoto and even Tokyo was the mizuage, the virginity of a maiko.
Not long after his twenty-third birthday, Kiriake and his matron could no longer delay the inevitable, and registered him with a teahouse to begin the bidding. Knowing this could tear apart their well-harbored masquerade, they had arranged for a series of false bidders, men that were bribed through the household to make bids that would, inevitably, be paid through the okiya itself.
What they hadn't bargained for was betrayal, for one of their own to seek out a man with more interest in Kirihi than anyone would have expected and let him know the bidding had begun. A man they were not paying to keep their secret, and had no obligations to do so once it was revealed.
That man was Uke Yutaka, a prominent businessman from Tokushima. Takanori had entertained him many times throughout the years in various teahouses and parties throughout Kyoto and had frequently sought him out when he was in town. With more money than the matron, nor Kiriake and her danna would be able to pay, Yutaka easily had the winning bid the night their world was set on fire.
And now there was nothing left to do but wait. To wait for what destiny this unavoidable night set upon Takanori as he sat in the empty hotel room before the prearranged white linen covered futon; whether it be a future of shame, or no future at all.
"I'm sorry I'm late, the train was delayed just outside of the city," Yutaka spoke gently as he entered the room, bowing curtly before taking his seat at the small table arranged with tea. Takanori quickly moved to pour him a cup in the manner long instilled with training.
Takanori was unsure of just when he should follow Kiriake's advice, advice that was meant to save him being revealed through more difficult means, advice that might lend him to more mercy than he deserved. Sitting across from Yutaka, he was unable to meet his eyes. Shame was written so clearly across the young geisha's features, both because of why he was here and what he was about to reveal.
"I am so sorry, Mr. Uke, but I must stop this before it begins. I am not who you think I am, sir. My name is Taka-" Takanori was shocked to see the man hold up his hand to silence him.
"Takanori, I already know." Yutaka's smile was genuine as he gazed at the man across from him. "There is a geisha in your house named Michizono. I have long been friends with her, and she was the one that told me of your secret. Ah ah," he held his hand up once again at the look of betrayal striking it's way across Takanori's face. "Do not think she led you into a trap, she did not do this to hurt you. She did this because she knows I have a secret of my own. Can you keep a secret, Takanori?"
Takanori's face flushed as the man repeated his real name to him once again; it had been so long since he'd heard it uttered by anyone other than Michizono. "Yes, sir." He bowed low to enforce the sentiment of his words, still concerned what the future might entail now that he was revealed.
Yutaka reached to where Takanori was bowed, placing a hand lightly under his chin to pull him back to sitting. Taking the chance while he still had the man facing him, Kai leaned forward and placed his lips against his softly before whispering against them, "I do not care that you're a man, so long as you don't care that I like that you are."
{{Sequel: Takanori.}}
[AN: Kirihi and Kiriake were both old stage names of Ruki's meaning Red Mist [thank you hystericalhyena for this information. Michizono is a historical Geisha name meaning Righteous Path and Garden, I thought it was fitting for her role. A danna is a fixed patron that has taken a Geisha as his mistress. Sorry for the history lessons with the terms in this, I am rather enraptured by the history of the Geisha myself at the moment, and have been looking further into it than just reading Memoirs of a Geisha. I am not quite 100% thrilled with the way this turned out but it's been kicking around in my head for quite a while now.
Also I know I was planning to make a comm for my writing before I posted this but I'm too lazy atm, I'll get it done tomorrow I promise!]