Fake Fan Fiction ❯ Greek Love ❯ The oracle ( Chapter 9 )

*Hi! Some other Fake characters will be making an appearance (if briefly) in this Ch! Hope you enjoy!

 

 

Disclaimer: I don't own Fake

 

 

Reluctantly, Ryo opened his eyes to the bright morning light and a repetitive knocking on his skull.

 

"Ryooooo!" a high voice whined from above him. Ryo looked up to see Bikky rapping his knuckles against his head and grabbed the offending hand.

 

"I'm up already!" Ryo said groggily.

 

"You locked me out last night!" cried Bikky as Ryo's heavy-lidded gaze settled upon the boy.

 

"Wha-?" Ryo tried to think why he would've locked the door to his room, then he looked around and realized he wasn't in his room at all. He was in Dee's. Suddenly the events of the previous evening flooded his head and he was wide awake.

 

"Well, good morning to you too, Bikky!" Ryo said ruefully as he sat up and ran his fingers through his ruffled hair.

 

"Why was the door locked? I thought I heard you in here and then I couldn't get in! Dee didn't DO anything to you did he?" Bikky asked with a scowl, obviously thinking Dee capable of any number of torturous acts.

 

"No- no! I'm fine, Bikky," Ryo sputtered out, not sure if he wanted to have to explain just what Dee had 'done' to him. "We just needed some privacy..." he finished under his breath, trying not to turn red at the thought of what Bikky might have heard.

 

The boy still looked skeptical, his arms folded across his chest, but, mercifully, a knock sounded on the door.

 

"Breakfast!" squealed the boy. If anything would distract Bikky, it was food! He hopped off the bed and ran over to the small table where the servants were delivering the morning meal.

 

Sighing, Ryo fell back into bed, unable to raise just yet. Now that he was awake, his head was spinning with thoughts of the previous night. First, he realized that the doors between his room and this one must've been rigged to lock behind him. And Dee must have known it and deliberately teased him about it. But whatever frustration or annoyance Ryo might have felt over this idea was driven out of his head as he remembered Dee's final words before dozing off to sleep, "...I love you, Ryo."

 

"Young master?" said Mother, who's head was now hovering over the honey-blond on the bed.

 

"Y-yes?" answered Ryo, sitting up to face the older woman. No matter how many times she called him by it, the title still seemed odd to young man.

 

Mother smiled at the foreigner's shyness and told him, "Dee has been called away on business matters, he asked me to inform you that he regretted having to leave you so early and he will be back as soon as he is able."

 

Ahh, so that's why he's gone, thought Ryo. For a moment he had wondered if the raven haired man had regretted his words and so left before having to face him. A sigh of relief Ryo hadn't known he'd been holding escaped his lips.

 

"Thank you, Mother," he said, using the same term of affection that his master did with the kindly, elderly woman.

 

"No need," she replied. Then, with a knowing smile, she added, "Now eat up, young master. You look exhausted, you must keep up your stamina!"

 

Ryo flushed crimson at the implications of her words and simply responded, "Yes, I am hungry..."

 

As he ate, the blond man wondered what he should say to Dee once he saw him. He was glad he had been given some time to collect his thoughts, but he doubted any amount of time would be able to clarify them. Did he love this tall, dark man? He... he just didn't know...

 

 

Not long after finishing their meal, Bikky went off to the kitchens to join Mother. She had offered to show the boy how to make his favorite dessert concoction. Ryo was grateful for the peace and quiet, but it was soon interrupted.

 

"Ryo! Good afternoon!" Dee said brightly, walking into the man's room where he was pouring over Bikky's latest notes.

 

The blond man was relieved to see his master in such a cheerful mood. He had expected him to be somewhat withdrawn, sulky even, until he received a response to his declaration of feelings. But like always, the darkly handsome man surprised him.

 

"Good afternoon, Dee!" Ryo replied with equal enthusiasm and lightness as the other man kneeled down next to his chair and brushed the hair from his eyes.

 

"I've finished all my business early and arranged for a a little 'outing' for us," the man said, smiling.

 

"What kind of-?"

 

"It's a surprise," Dee said, clipping off Ryo's words. And, pulling him up from the chair, he pressed a gentle kiss to the smaller man's lips, informing him, "We have to leave soon, so you must get ready."

 

"W-wait!" called Ryo after him. "Where are we going? What should I where?" he asked. Ryo hadn't been outside the walls of Dee's property since the day he was delivered to him and he didn't know if it would be appropriate to wear one of kimonos (Dee had commissioned several to be made after the fashion of his first from a local tailor) while strolling the streets of Athens.

 

Dee paused in the doorway to consider. "Hmmm... I suppose you should wear a traditional draped tunic. Although, if you'd rather wear a yukata?" the man asked, tilting his head questioningly.

 

"How should I know better than you what to put on if I don't know where we're going?" Ryo asked in a slightly amused voice.

 

Smiling, the dark haired man answered, "The tunic then, I think."

 

"All right," replied the blond man, "I'll be ready in just a minute."

 

 

It was an odd experience stepping out with Dee into the bustling city. He was glad Bikky had been left with Mother during this trip. It was one less thing for him to think about. The foreign man had become so used to the comforting halls and passages of Dee's home that he'd forgotten how out of place he really was. His master catered to his tastes within those walls, had respected his customs, but, in the streets of Athens, everything was so strange, almost hostile, in the eyes of the young man. It was quite a culture shock.

 

Not to mention that, out here, he had to walk obediently behind his master. It didn't matter how Dee treated him inside his own home, companion or not, the honey-blond was nothing but a pretty, dressed-up slave on the streets. Never in his life had Ryo felt so on display- except, of course, when he had first arrived in the city, chained and in rags. Somehow, this new feeling of scrutiny was even more acute. Before he had been one of numerous slaves hauled into the city, not even worth a second glance. Now, however, his exotic looks and well-sculpted body drew the attention of many passers-by. And, because of his lowly status, they felt no need to hide their glances or be in any way discreet.

 

It was very unnerving.

 

But the older man had warned him. "You might not feel very comfortable in the crowd," he had explained. "Just stick close to me."

 

Ryo did his best, but it didn't seem to matter how closely he walked behind Dee, he still felt eyes, and the occasional stray hand, openly assessing him. It was only the angry looks of his dark haired master that kept people from constantly pawing at him. And each time someone crossed the line, Ryo would see Dee's eyes narrow dangerously and he could almost hear the unspoken command: 'MINE'.

 

Finally, they stopped in front of a large, majestic stone building, seated on a hill top, slightly apart from the cramped streets. It wasn't as ornate or sizable as some of the temples Ryo had seen in his travels, but it was impressive nonetheless.

 

"We're here," Dee said cryptically, grinning.

 

They stepped inside the shadows of the temple walls and the sticky heat of the crowded streets was left behind. With the lush statues and elaborate stone-work surrounding him, Ryo found himself reluctantly move forward. He would've liked a whole day just to stare up at the craftsmanship about him, but Dee was briskly walking ahead.

 

When a particularly captivating relief along the wall caught his eye, Ryo ran right into a tall man with hair even lighter than his own. Berating himself for his wandering, flighty mind, Ryo tried his best to apologize.

 

"I- I'm so sorry!" he said, then stopped. Was he even allowed to address someone of high rank? And what would be the punishment if this obviously well-to-do man decided an apology wasn't good enough? Could he be whipped for such an incursion?

 

His brain whirling with thoughts of impending doom, the young man didn't notice the smile spreading slowly on the face above him. Then he was suddenly shocked into stillness as the fair haired man reached a hand up to catch his chin between two fingers.

 

"Lovely," whispered the stranger, tilting his head this way and that in his evaluation. Ryo had no idea what to say or do, so he simply stood their dumbly, a feverish blush creeping across his cheeks as the man evaluated him. The predatory gaze of this man seemed to look right through him, eying every inch of him greedily. There was something in that look that made an involuntary shiver run down Ryo's spine. That determined, knowing stare, it was so familiar. So much like Dee's, he thought. Only this pair of perusing eyes lacked the raven haired man's warmth and humor.

 

"Do you have a name, boy?" demanded the man in a silky tone, heavy with lust.

 

"His name isn't any concern of YOURS," came an angry voice from behind the two men.

 

In a flash, the stranger's hand was snatched away and his body spun around to face a very infuriated Dee. "Don't touch him, Berkely," Dee ground out in his fury.

 

"Well, well! Dee, it's been a while!" Berkely replied in a congenial tone, as if the man before him didn't have his wrist in a vice-grip and looked about ready to pummel him silly.

 

"Yours duties have been slacking lately, but with a such a delightful distraction as this," he said nodding toward Ryo, "who could blame you?"

 

With great strength of will, Dee dropped Berkely's hand and said to him coolly, "Leave us."

 

Again, the fair haired man smiled as if Dee wasn't staring daggers at him and said in a friendly voice, "A little possessive of your things, aren't you?"

 

"He's not a thing," retorted Dee, his ears turning red in his effort not to smack that mocking grin off of the man's face.

 

"Dee..." came a small girl's voice as she stepped up to the circle of men. "The oracle is ready for you."

 

"Oracle?" whispered Ryo under his breath in wonder.

 

"Better hurry along," Berkely said snidely, "Diana doesn't like to be kept waiting." And with that the platinum-blond swept from the room. But not before stealing a little squeeze from Ryo's behind.

 

"Come on," Dee said curtly, turning his back and waving Ryo forward as the girl lead them away.

 

The young blond man was grateful that his master hadn't seen Berkely's groping; he didn't think the limits of Dee's tolerance could be pushed much further. Trying to stifle the heat rushing to his face after the encounter, Ryo hurried after the older man and into a dark, cool chamber.

 

"She'll be with you shortly," said the small girl with silvery hair as she turned to close the large door behind them.

 

"Thank you, Carol," replied Dee, his voice calmer now. As wrathful as he had felt to see his rival standing there, ogling Ryo, he needed to clear his head before the oracle arrived. He had requested insight into his personal life. Specifically in relation to the man who he had brought with him. Although the oracle didn't always tell people what they wanted to hear, Dee was still hopeful of receiving a positive answer.

 

To his left stood Ryo, attempting to collect his thoughts. He'd heard about the oracles of Greece, of course, but he'd never consulted any such source on his many travels. When he was a child, however, he could remember his mother telling him tales of the shamanesses in her native country. They were wondrous, often frightening stories and the honey-blond wondered what this prophetess would offer to him and his master- and why his master had decided to take him here

.

But all such questions were pushed aside when the form of a slender, light haired woman entered the room. She walked slowly but purposefully through the echoing, high-ceilinged chamber, her flowing gown following behind her with a faint hiss over the floor, before sitting upon the large, elevated stone seat at the center.

 

"Kneel," Dee whispered over his shoulder and Ryo quickly complied.

 

They waited for a few moments in silence. The woman, Diana, seemed to be breathing deeply, settling into a trance state perhaps. The air had a faint sweet smell and before long Ryo felt his head grow light from it.

 

None of them knew that, far below them, in the deepest chambers of the temple, from whence Diana had just ascended, that a special kind of gas was emitting from the wide fissures in the stone ground. They had no idea of it's narcotic-like effects on the nervous system, but, like at Delphi, this gas was the fuel of the priestess's visions.

 

"I have been informed of the reason for your visit," Diana said, her strong voice suddenly splitting the air. Ryo wondered how she would've known this, then guessed Dee had told Carol earlier and the acolyte had relayed the message while they were squabbling with Berkely.

 

Not sure if he should, but unable to resist, Ryo looked up at the oracle. He caught her eye and she smiled down at him. For a person of such high authority, she had a very personable, infectious smile and he couldn't help but grin back. Was it just the dim light, or was there a mischievous glint in her eye? Just by looking at him, she seemed to know or guess most of his thoughts and the blond man found it a bit disconcerting. And she appeared to enjoy her power of perception over him- not at all the austere attitude Ryo would have thought a priestess would have.

 

Unexpectedly, she descended from her high throne and walked slowly toward them. With a gesture of her hand, she bid them raise and, passing Dee, came to stop before Ryo, eying him closely. One soft hand tenderly touched his cheek and she said to him in a playful, rich voice, "Your logic, though a gift, can often blind you from the truth of your heart. Your true desires are not always what you wish them to be, but they cannot be compromised. The more you struggle against them, the more hopelessly entangled you will become."

 

Leaving Ryo bewildered and a bit shaken, she turned and walked toward Dee. With an increasingly blurry head, Ryo watched Diana move behind the raven haired man and lean up to look over his shoulder as she whispered into his ear.

 

Both of their eyes were fix fixed on Ryo.

 

The young man couldn't make out her words, but he watched his master's face as she spoke in hushed tones and his heart pounded in his chest. Dee's face looked stricken, a sad, knowing look in his eye as if the prophetess spoke words he had long expected to hear but dreaded nonetheless. With a sorrowful nod, Dee acknowledged her words and Diana left as slowly and solemnly as she had come.

 

Without waiting for the young acolyte to return, Dee stepped forward and and pushed open the door, fresh air slapping their faces as they left the room. Anxious but unable to voice his concerns, Ryo simply followed his master out past the temple entrance and back to Dee's home.

 

 

*_*

*******The temple is set up the best I could describe to the real thing. There were several oracles around Greece, not just in Delphi and most had access to the"gas" springs". Sorry Diana and Carol couldn't make bigger appearances. And I had to tone Diana down a bit b/c she's a priestess and all (and I had to make her one because of her name... ok, she's named after a Roman goddess, not Greek, but let's not split hairs shall we??)

 

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it!