CHARACTERS/PAIRINGS: Slight AsamixFei, YohxFei, Overall AsamixAkihito

RATING: PG, Overall M

WARNING: Drug use, prostitution, historical AU, angst, drama, non/dub-con

DISCLAIMER: Yamane Ayano owns recognizable VF characters. Some plot/ideas borrowed from Mede Shireru Yoru no Junjou by Itsuke Kaname. No copyright infringement intended.

AN: Historical drama requested by darkhime88, concrit/comments are appreciated, especially since I've never tried historical AU before and might not be doing it right.

Akihito's breath came in pants and gasps as he ran, his legs carrying him as fast and as far as he could go. He ran with everything within him because he didn't want the men chasing after him to catch him; he could hear his heartbeat pounding in his ears and feel his muscles straining under the onslaught.

Dodging between wooden and bamboo row houses, he felt splinters in his feet as he moved, trying his best to get away. Yes, he was barefooted because they surprised him and he ran left his slippers, which would have slowed him down anyways. What the men wanted he had no idea, but he didn't want to find out because they seemed dangerous. Though if he had to guess he would say his father borrowed money again and couldn't pay it back. The man was a notorious gambler and drunk who often abused him when he couldn't get his fix. His lungs burned and muscles ached from the effort, but he pushed forward because whatever the cause for his current circumstances were it couldn't be good.

The town tavern came in to view and he sprinted towards it as the shout to catch him got louder. He knew wherever liquor was one could usually find a crowd, if even a small one that he hoped he could get lost in. There was a group of people at the entrance that he was sure would provide enough cover for him to get lost in, and with an extra burst of speed he moved forward.

People gasped in surprise and shock as he dodged around and bumped into them while they moved, but before Akihito could reach his destination he was grabbed from behind and yanked backwards, causing him to fall painfully on his back, hitting his head and back and crying out at the white hot surge of pain that ensued. A hand was clasped over his mouth while the men dragged him out of view, causing him to kick and wriggle in protest. His hazel eyes widened in fear when he was slammed against the wooden wall of one of the houses they were sandwiched between and he looked at the men blearily.

"Don't damage the merchandise, we'll get more for him in mint condition," the man with his hand still covering Akihito's mouth said. The other one, the one with a hand on his shoulder snickered in agreement.

Merchandise?

The hand over his mouth grabbed his chin suddenly and painfully while inspecting his face and Akihito held his breath in fear of what was to come.

"With a bath we'll get a decent amount for him," the one doing the inspecting muttered. "He's pretty enough to become one of those boys."

"Yeah, I'd pay for one of those boys right now," the other laughed, a sickening sound that sent a shiver through Akihito.

Akihito felt his stomach drop at the implication. Were they taking him to Shoumise?

"He'll fetch a good amount at Oomise. If he isn't of their standard Shoumise will have to do, though we'll get less for him there."

"No…" Akihito muttered lowly because his throat suddenly felt drier, like cotton was wedged in between and wouldn't budge. He didn't want to become a prostitute. He tried even harder to break free of his captors hold, but they only laughed at his futility.

There was suddenly a prickling sensation in his right arm, and when he turned his head to look he saw the needle being removed from his vein; the bastards had drugged him.

"You son of a…" Akihito started to curse when the hands holding him in place retreated, but the drug worked quickly and before he knew it he was out cold.

******VF******

Later that night Akihito was delivered, clean and fresh and wrapped in a dark blue silk kimono held together by a red obi to the brothel in Oomise; the most sophisticated and high ranking brothel in all of Edo, Japan. It masqueraded as a teahouse on the surface, but everybody from the area knew what really went on there and the clientele the place catered to. He wondered why they would even consider taking him in when he was sure he wasn't cute or doll-like to match their criteria. He had to kneel in a waiting room on tatami mats with other young soon-to-be apprentice courtesans, or maiko as they were formally called, all dressed in the finest silk, who were led outside one by one to be evaluated.

Akihito's stomach churned unpleasantly as he watched the occupants of the room slowly leave, not knowing what their, or his fate was. He didn't want to be here, he didn't want to be sold like merchandise because his father couldn't hold his own.

He didn't want to give up his body to anybody unless it was on his own terms.

He thought about escaping, but they were in a windowless room and the men escorting them were muscular and intimidating, as if they were chosen to make sure those with thoughts along lines of his own were deterred from trying anything. Not to mention that even though he was scheming in his head and taking in his surroundings, his body was surprisingly acquiescent. Although he kept telling himself to move, to run, to do something, his limbs refused to co-operate. He didn't know what kind of drugs those men gave him, but the command leaving his brain was not meeting his nerve endings and it was frustrating.

He watched as the two guards walked over to him, each of them holding him under his arms until he was on his feet. Despite his increasing doubt and fear he still didn't have the strength to do as he wished.

The wooden floorboards were sturdy and smooth as the three of them walked, unlike the splinters and creaks that could be felt in his old home that his father refused to renovate. He could use only one side of his futon to sleep on at nights because the other side had too many splinters embedded between the fabrics. He vaguely registered the shoka style flower vases lining each door he passed while perched on a single, small wooden table about waist high. He was escorted down a hallway to a sliding door on the right, and when he entered he was greeted by a brown haired man who wore an expensive looking three piece suit, sitting in an expensive looking high chair and twirling a small cane between his fingers while watching him. He had waist length, shining, beautiful hair and a lanky appearance, though there was something evil about the smile he had on his face.

Akihito was led to the first of the three steps that led up to the man, but before he could break the threshold he was forced to get on his knees again and look the man in the eyes. The cane was extended and came to rub lightly along his left jaw then the right while he was evaluated by the man's intimidating brown eyes. He glared in defiance.

"How old is he?"

The man's voice was deep and rich, authoritarian and something churned unpleasantly in Akihito's stomach. He hoped he wouldn't be their type. He prayed he was rejected.

There was the rustle of parchment being unfolded behind him and Akihito listened as one of the guards answered the question.

"He's fourteen years old, Yuudai-sama."

"How much does the old man want?"

At the mention of old man Akihito's frown deepened, so his father did sell him to this brothel after all. He wasn't certain before although he highly suspected it, but now he had concrete proof.

"Five hundred thousand yen, but when we deduct what he owes the company he'll be left with only fifteen percent of that amount."

The man, Yuudai-sama, smiled wickedly. "Strip him."

"Wha…?" was all Akihito managed to blurt out before he was grabbed and his obi removed, which allowed his kimono to fall easily from around his shoulders, exposing his upper body while it pooled around his legs. His stomach dropped from the lecherous gaze he received and he turned his head to the side.

The cane was upon him again, and this time it was flicked across his nipples and he trembled from the feel before bringing both hands up to cover his chest.

"Bend him over."

A grunt of unease was all Akihito could get out when he was roughly pushed to the floor with his ass sticking up in the air. The man stood and walked behind him, each step of his leather shoes reverberating through Akihito's chest like a gavel sentencing him to his demise. His fingers clenched painfully when a hand cupped one of his ass cheeks and he visibly trembled. His eyes widened when a finger circled his anus before pressing inside slowly, pushing past his resistance and making him feel like he wanted to throw up. He writhed and tried to get away from the uncomfortable feeling but was held in place by the two guards.

"Stop, please…" the blond moaned in pain, it was the worst feeling ever.

"So tight…he's sensitive and pretty enough," the man muttered pleasingly behind him and Akihito's ass muscles clenched tighter in response, as if trying to force the finger out. His stomach did flip flops and his head started pounding while his heart rate sped up. There was a light sheen of sweat covering his body and he suddenly felt nauseous and weak. The thing is, he had no idea when he passed out; just that one moment he was conscious and the next he was not.

******VF******

It was a comfortable cool, like the sort of calming opposite to one's burning body. It originated through Akihito's forehead and even though he could only register darkness, whatever the cool item was it was slowly pulling him back to the surface of reality.

His sense of touch was the first to return, and he realized he was on a futon, on his back with his head resting on a takamakura, a small support for his head and neck which was a lot better for aligning one's spine as opposed to those westerner's pillows.

Next was his sense of smell, and he realized there was a soft scent of freshness surrounding him like the bloom of a clean and warm summer day. His eyes opened then, albeit blearily and the fuzzy outline of a woman's face could be seen leaning over him. She had long, fluent hair, small eyes, sharp nose, small pink lips and a petite face.

It took the few seconds needed for Akihito's vision to focus properly for him to realize that the 'woman' was a man. Sitting up suddenly, the wet towel fell from his forehead, but he had to lie back down because the sudden movement caused his head to pound like crazy and his vision to swim once again.

"Don't push yourself too hard, lie back down," the man instructed with a hand on the kid's shoulder. It was obvious he wasn't well and the last thing he wanted was for him to become even worse for wear. The kid was his newly appointed apprentice maiko after all.

"W…who are you?" Akihito asked in a raspy voice after a few seconds of willing his ailment away. He took a closer look at the man, who reached beside him for something before he realized he was handed a glass of water.

He drank greedily to help wet his parched throat.

"I'm Lui Feilong, your Onii-san, and you'll be my assistant through the duration of your stay here until I say otherwise," the man answered in a soft, non threatening voice.

Akihito suddenly became wary, and he put the glass down before getting into a sitting position slowly. He remembered all that happened before he passed out and really wished he could strangle his father right now; the man sold him to a fucking brothel.

"You were forced to come here, weren't you?"

Akihito looked at the man then, and it only registered now when his head was a little less hazy that the man before him was Chinese based on the accent to his voice. But then the question sunk in and his brows knitted into a tight frown.

"How did you know?"

"Most as young as you are. You're under aged, so for now you will be groomed into becoming the perfect Courtesan by me, your appointed guardian for the time being," Feilong answered.

"I don't want to sell my body to anybody," Akihito bit out, clenching his fingers at his side in rebellion. There's no way he'll sit in this type of environment for another second, he'll find a way to escape, to be free, to be his own man.

"You'll be relatively safe until you turn sixteen. And don't try to run away, if they can't bring you back they'll find you and kill you. You have to work here to pay back the money that was paid for you."

Akihito didn't buy that one bit, there must be a way to get out of here. And it wasn't fair for him to end up like this with no say in what he wanted to do with himself. It wasn't fair at all.

"We'll see."

Feilong only sighed in resignation; they all started out like this until reality set in.

"How did I end up here?" Akihito asked after looking around the vast and sparsely decorated room. There was a hassock, two futons (one of which he was currently on), a chest of drawers and a full length mirror to one wall. Right by the door was another shoka style flower display like the ones he passed earlier.

"I was the only courtesan in need of a maiko, so I had to take you in," Feilong answered.

The blond looked closely at the Chinese man and realized he was avoiding his gaze. "What happened to him?"

"He was buried yesterday," Feilong sighed and Akihito felt his blood run cold.

******VF******

A week later, after he was basically taught most of the inner workings of the brothel, like the time he and the other maikos had to gather for food, baths and delegated tasks, Akihito was a little more fascinated and frustrated by everything. He still didn't want to be here, but had found himself more interested and curious about the Courtesans themselves. Most were people like himself, ending up in this type of situation instead of wanting it and only doing what they did to get by. They weren't allowed outside the brothel walls at all and most of the other maikos he interacted with had dreams of leaving like he himself did.

Akihito found himself sitting behind Feilong and combing out his hair while said man knelt on a cushion before a wide oval mirror with his red floral kimono pooled around him like steady, settled water. He liked combing Feilong's hair, it was incredibly soft and easy to manage.

Akihito also realized he'd broken his promise to himself, because even though he tried to escape, he was caught and almost beaten for his efforts. Luckily Feilong was there to plead his case and as the greatest Courtesan in Oomise and his guardian; the man had vast influence in a lot of matters regarding the brothel. Feilong promised to keep an eye on him and make sure he didn't try it again in exchange for escaping his punishment, but he couldn't promise Feilong that, not with the way he felt about how normal it was to be surrounded by such sexual indiscretion. Some of the courtesans were loud and some were shameless, but Feilong never had to ask for customers, they always came to him.

It was close to 3:30pm when Akihito put the comb down and informed his onii-san (he could be punished by the mistress of the house if he was ever out of line with any of his seniors, so he had to refer all by their correct suffixes until he was old enough to become more important and could be granted leeway in his attitude) he was finished. By 3:45 Feilong normally had a customer come in that made him uneasy. The man was a Daimyo, the youngest one he'd ever seen at twenty eight, called Asami Ryuichi. He was a kokushu whose village produced more than 300,000 bushels of rice annually and from the rumors he heard, the man had vast amount of retainers; samurais to whom he was held responsible. The man's appointment as a young master came shortly after he sided with and built a strong relationship with Iwyasu Tokugawa, the founder of Japan's last great feudal house. But said man irked him on so many levels. He hated the way he was so demanding and stubborn, like he thought everybody would be frightened by his presence (though most were).

Every body wanted that man, Asami, and even though he did admit he was handsome, he was a bit turned off by the man's cold demeanor and wayward attitude. He only ever saw him entering Feilong's quarters a few times, and he was glad that was all the contact he had with the man.

Feilong also had another frequent customer, a trader called Yoh and he was way more tolerant of the humble man than he was of the young lord.

Feilong ran a hand through his hair and smiled at Akihito. "It's lovely, thank you for your time."

Akihito blushed, which he found himself doing a lot lately, before bowing in thanks. Feilong was so beautiful with his thick eyelashes and doll like appearance he couldn't help feeling overwhelmed. Not to mention he was nice, which might not have been the case since a lot of the other maikos whispered about emotionally abusive onii-sans. He took up the silver tray with Feilong's special comb and brush and deposited it on the side table beside the mirror.

Feilong was about to excuse Akihito when he remembered he repaired the Zori that was damaged when his young charge tried to escape. He wanted to give it to him before he left because Akihito had mentioned to him when he just got it that it was his favorite because of how comfortable it felt.

"Akihito-kun, I have something for you."

Surprised, and overly curious as to what Feilong had gotten him, Akihito stood and watched as the man walked over to his built in closet. Feilong opened the sliding paper doors before bending, making sure to maneuver his kimono so he didn't kneel on it before taking some thing off the floor. When the man gracefully approached him he held out the straw slippers he'd damaged while trying to run away. Taking the item, Akihito beamed at the man.

"Thank you, Feilong-sama."

Feilong smiled warmly at the look on Akihito's face, he was so cute. Then a chuckle left his lips when the kid kicked off the zori he was currently wearing, one borrowed from another maiko, and replaced it with his own. He ruffled the kid's blond hair lightly while Akihito kept glancing at his feet happily.

"It's alright Aki-kun, run along now and get something to eat," Feilong said. Those hazel eyes looked at him warmly and his smile widened.

"I'm grateful, Feilong-sama," Akihito reiterated with a deep bow. He turned to leave, not looking before him in his haze of happiness at Feilong's kindness and when he was to go through the door, he bumped into something hard and fell on his butt unceremoniously.

"Ow, what the hell was that?" Akihito asked while rubbing his sore behind before he looked up at the wall he must have ran into. A piercing set of golden eyes looked back at him, one eyebrow raised in perpetual question and he frowned at the sight of the 'wall'.

Asami had never met such an unsophisticated and feisty maiko; he liked him.

"Asami, Takaba!" Feilong exclaimed at the collision.

"You could have told me you were standing there, bastard," Akihito bit out while trying to get into a standing position.

The young Daimyo was highly amused at the kid's brazenness.

"Akihito…" Feilong directed at the young blond sternly. "…you know you're not supposed to speak to customers in such a tone."

Akihito looked at the man dressed in a dark blue hakama with grey obi and his scabbard tied to his waist uncouthly, before wiping it off his face and turning to look at Feilong apologetically. "I'm sorry."

Feilong nodded in acquiescence, then watched as Asami stood there for a second before stepping to the side so his young apprentice could walk out.

When Akihito turned back to the man, he realized there was mirth dancing behind those piercing golden eyes, and when he mouthed for him to move it, it pissed him off more that the man smirked down at him like this was amusing. Who the hell did he think he was? He liked humble Yoh much more than he did this annoying man.

Asami faced Feilong with his smirk when the young blond stormed out of the room and shut the door behind him. "Cute. I like picking on your new apprentice, he's interesting."

Feilong looked at Asami before stating tiredly. "Please don't rile him, he has a very short temper."

"So I've noticed, but shouldn't you be telling him to be careful of me? I am paying my money after all," Asami answered while walking over to the beautiful man before him, who sighed in return before giving him a wayward glance. He placed his scabbard on the floor before placing a hand on top of Feilong's head, then running his fingers through the soft tresses. He wasn't in the mood for foreplay and he pulled Feilong flush against him, liking the way his cheeks became a rosy hue at the implication. He loosened the *obijime, then the obi before allowing the silk of the kimono to glide off his lover's shoulders, then he told Feilong in as husky a voice as possible, to get on his knees and open his mouth.

/Tbc

*Obijime-the sash that keeps the obi in place.