Ghosts of the Past
May. 3rd, 2014 08:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
write_my_dreamsTitle: Ghosts of the Past
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
write_my_dreams
Pairing: None
Genre: AU, supernatural, drama
Warning: Unbetaed. No content to warn about.
Disclaimer: The mentioned band members do not belong to me but the setting, the story, and the writing are mine. I make no profit from writing this.
Rating: PG-13
Chapter(s): 1/1
Summary: When the Midnight Rose Inn suffers a strange power outage in certain rooms, head mechanic Hiroki insists that he go into the closed off basement to check on the old generator and the wiring. Tsunehito comes with him to ensure he has enough light and finsd himself the repeating the scenario that Asagi's grandmother was in when she was his age.
Author's Comment: This idea came to me last month while I was listening to Diaura on the way to class/wanting to be done so I could watch more Supernatural. That and my favoritism of Tsunehito combined to make this fic. It was easy to write at first then I kept changing my mind about how I wanted things to go so it became hell to write. Finally finishing it now!
Today had started out as another ordinary day at the Midnight Rose Inn. Head bartender Tsuzuku trying to get Koichi to have a threesome with him and Ryoga, Yuuki scolding Ruiza for eating too many of the cookies he was supposed to leave out for guests, Tsunehito threatening Tsuzuku with bodily harm for looking up his skirt while Tsunehito was going up the stairs… Things had changed about an hour ago when the power in the bar, four bedrooms, and lobby abruptly went out. Aside from those rooms, the old Victorian-turned-hotel had no problems. Owner Asagi had sent Hide-Zou to check the power box and the backup generators. He’d even called the electric company to ensure that nothing was amiss. All three met with the same results: nothing was out of the ordinary. There was no logical explanation for the power outages in certain rooms.
“I wish I knew why the power went out,” Hiroki grumbled. As head mechanic, he insisted on going into the closed-off basement to examine the wiring and the old generator. Tsunehito came with him to ensure that Hiroki had enough light to work by.
“Me too.” The redhead angled the flashlight towards the stairs so he or Hiroki wouldn’t trip. Hiroki since he had his toolbox tucked under his arm and a lantern in his free hand, Tsunehito since he was wearing a dress. Despite the risks of perverts like Tsuzuku or Ryoga looking up his skirt, the redhead had always enjoyed wearing pretty clothes. Something his boss had been more than happy to outfit him in when Tsunehito started working at the Midnight Rose Inn. Thinking of Asagi and the maid uniform he’d given Tsunehito made him smile, although that smile soon faded when he recalled Asagi’s reluctance to hand over the keys to the basement. What was so bad about the basement? Why was it closed off anyway? None of the other employees could tell him. All they knew was that the basement had been inaccessible since the time Asagi’s grandmother ran the hotel.
Tsunehito paused when they reached the bottom of the stairs. Ahead were the double doors leading into the basement. Not only was a padlocked chain keeping the doors shut tight, but each door had its own separate lock. A faded “Keep Out” sign had been nailed into the old wood of the first door. Well that looked ominous. “…Has it always been like this?” he asked, glancing back at Hiroki.
The mechanic brushed his ponytail back. “I think so.”
Tsunehito fumbled for the keys. “I wonder if the wiring really is the problem,” he mused. “Midnight Rose is an old building…” he trailed off, not wanting to mention that the building was supposed to be haunted.
Hiroki gave him a look. “Do you really believe the hotel ghosts are responsible?”
“You’ve worked here longer than me,” Tsunehito replied. “You know strange things happen.” When he first started at the hotel, he’d been just as skeptical as Hiroki. Why should he believe in ghosts when he’d never had a paranormal experience? Now, after having been here for almost a year, Tsunehito no longer considered himself a skeptic. He hadn’t seen any of the ghosts but he’d heard voices, been touched by someone he couldn’t see. It was also impossible not to notice how Asagi’s cats refused to go near certain rooms or would hiss, fur standing on end as they darted down the hall.
Hiroki frowned. “As you said, the Midnight Rose is an old building. There are probably rats downstairs and they’ve been chewing on the wires.”
Tsunehito shrugged. “I guess we’ll find out.” He inserted a small, gold key into the padlock. It clicked open and he removed it and the chain before unlocking the doors. Tsunehito grasped the handle of one. The door let out a long, ominous creak as he eased it open. He grimaced at the sound and stepped into the basement. Dust motes swirled in the beam of his flashlight, making him cough as his boots dislodged more dust from the ground. Tsunehito took a mask out of his apron pocket and pulled it over his head. “Better put your mask on.” Good thing Asagi had insisted that he and Hiroki bring masks with them.
The toolbox clinked as Hiroki set it down. Tsunehito shone his flashlight around the dark basement, curious about the closed off area. There was no furniture in sight but there were old stains on the floor. Casting a quick glance at Hiroki to ensure he was busy with his mask, Tsunehito crouched down so he could point his flashlight at one of the stains. He swallowed and quickly stood. Bloodstains. Great… dark, creaking doors, and the ground was stained with old blood. Tsunehito had a feeling he’d be going to the bar after this to get a drink. A sentiment that Hiroki would surely share.
“I can’t believe how much dust is down here.” Hiroki’s voice was muffled by the mask. Tools rattled again as he picked up the box.
“Me neither.” Tsunehito smoothed his hair back. “I’ll let you take the lead.” Tsunehito didn’t know where the old generator was and probably wouldn't even know what it looked like even if it was right in front of him. Hiroki nodded and walked past him. The generator wasn’t too far from the door and was placed against the far right wall.
“Here it is.” Hiroki set his toolbox down in front of the generator. There was barely any dust on it, making Tsunehito wonder who had been down here recently enough to disturb the dust. Asagi? Someone else? Maybe it was just another mystery of the hotel.
Tsunehito watched as Hiroki set the lantern down by the generator and opened his toolbox. Before the mechanic could even touch the generator, glass shattering from further away caught their attention. Tsunehito raised his flashlight to shine the beam down the hallway. The beam couldn’t penetrate through the darkness so whatever had been broken was too far away for Tsunehito to see.
“…What else is down here?”
Hiroki moved to stand next to him. “I didn't think there was anything.”
“Is the basement just one large room?”
“There’s the main room that we’re in now. Down the hallway are two other rooms. Asagi said they were used for storage back in the day. There shouldn’t be anything breakable down here but who knows. It’s been closed off for so long.” Hiroki shrugged as he turned back to the generator.
Tsunehito half expected something paranormal to happen. When nothing changed he slowly turned back to Hiroki. He watched the mechanic crouch in front of the generator and examine it. “So is the generator the cause of the power outages?”
Hiroki was quiet for a few moments before responding. “It’s unlikely. This generator doesn’t even seem to be running anymore so I say we can rule it out. It must be the wiring then.” He straightened, brushing off his jeans before walking over to the wall. Tsunehito was about to follow him when he heard breaking glass again in the same direction the sound had come from earlier. What was going on? Maybe he should investigate.”
The redhead glanced at Hiroki. “I’m going to look around.” He waited for the mechanic to protest, to insist that he stay here instead of wandering off.
Hiroki did neither. “All right. I’ll call your name if I need more light.”
“Okay.” Tsunehito walked away from Hiroki. The cautious part of his brain recalled the horror movies he’d watched, how the first idiot to leave the group always got killed. That going off by himself in the closed-off basement of a haunted hotel was surely a bad idea. Tsunehito was too curious about the basement to listen to caution so he continued on. As he walked, he was surprised to find that the basement was much larger than he had expected it to be. Once he paused and glanced back to see that Hiroki and his lantern seemed so far away. Still, Tsunehito had yet to see anything besides dust, bloodstains on the floor, and more dust. He was starting to wonder if he’d imagined the glass breaking earlier. He wasn’t ready to stop looking just yet though. Tsunehito blinked when his flashlight beam landed on the half-open door to one of the rooms that Hiroki had mentioned. Had the breaking glass come from in here? Tsunehito pulled his mask down as he entered the room. A dusty old table against the far wall seemed to be the only furnishing.
The sensation of being watched made the fine hairs on the back of Tsunehito’s neck stand up. It wasn’t uncommon in the old hotel but was especially eerie down here. He tightened his grip on the flashlight and stepped forward, almost dropping it when something cracked loudly beneath his boot. Tsunehito shone the flashlight on the ground as he slowly moved his foot off the whatever that he’d broken. The shattered remains of a medicine bottle were on the tile. Tsunehito crouched down, nudging one of the shards with the tip of his boot. Asagi had told him that the hotel was used as a morgue and field hospital during the war. It shouldn’t surprise him that there would still be medicine bottles down here. Tsunehito stood again then dropped the flashlight with a startled gasp. He stumbled back, heart hammering at the sight of the long-dead soldier standing before him. He wore a crimson uniform and had one red eye while the right was white. Like Snow White he had pale skin, black hair, and blood-red lips. Tsunehito had the nagging suspicion that it wasn’t lipstick on this soldier though. There was an eerie glint to his mismatched eyes as he studied the redhead.
Tsunehito took another step back. “W-Who are you?” his voice came out as a whisper. This was the first time Tsunehito had seen one of the ghosts with his own eyes. Desperately, he wished he’d seen another ghost before this spirit. Just looking at him sent shivers down his spine.
“So curious, princess. My name is Yo-ka,” the spirit purred. His voice was deep but charming despite the mad gleam in his eyes.
The name made Tsunehito bristle. “Princess?” he spat, eyes darting to the fallen flashlight. He didn't dare lean down to pick it up for fear of what this spirit would do if Tsunehito took his eyes off him.
The ghost’s dark chuckle sent a wave of fear washing over him. “I had hoped for another to be my princess. But you…” he stepped closer. “You remind me of her. So beautiful, so delicate. You even have her fire.” He reached out to slide his fingers through Tsunehito’s hair. “My princess for eternity.”
Shaking, Tsunehito slapped Yo-ka’s hand away. “HIROKI!” he screamed as loudly as he could.
“Tsune?” Hiroki sounded alarmed as he called his name. “Tsune, what happened?”
Before Tsunehito could respond, Yo-ka vanished. The redhead’s only warning that something bad was about to happen to him was the spirit’s cold breath on the back of his neck. “Oh, princess. I wish you hadn’t done that.” Tsunehito felt a sharp pain and then the world went black.
* * *
Yo-ka caught the redhead when he went limp. He turned his princess so he could see his face then frowned as he saw the line of blood at his temple. Yo-ka brushed his sleeve over the blood then smoothed soft, red hair back to get a better look at his princess’s beautiful face. Those long lashes, pale skin, that petite frame. So similar and yet so different from the woman who had claimed his heart so many years ago. She with her long black hair and blue dresses. The gentle hands that changed his bandages after his injuries in the war. How he wanted her… he would have done anything for her. Yet for all his love, she had rejected him. And escaped him when he tried to trap her for eternity with him. But now… now he had replaced her. The slender, pretty redhead in the maid dress was perfect. His beautiful princess. He would never let the redhead go. Never let him out of his sight.
They would be together. For all eternity.
* * *
Hiroki dropped his flashlight when he heard Tsunehito scream his name. He could hear the terror in the redhead’s voice and immediately sprang away from the wires. “Tsune? Tsune, what happened?” he called, grabbing his flashlight as he rushed in the direction of the scream. He waited for a response but there was nothing. “Tsunehito!” he called his name louder, biting his lip as he looked around. Tsunehito had left footprints in the dust but there was no other sign of the redhead. Hiroki pulled his mask off. He called Tsunehito's name again slowing down when he saw the footprints turning towards and entering a room with a closed door. The doorknob was locked when he tried to turn it. Swearing, Hiroki raised his foot and kicked the door. The old wood groaned beneath his boot and he kicked it harder. After two more kicks the door finally burst open. Hiroki entered the room and stared in horror at the red-clad man holding Tsunehito’s limp form in his arms.
“Let him go!” Hiroki lunged at the soldier, gripping his flashlight tighter to use it as a weapon.
Laughing, the soldier stepped aside. “I have waited decades to have my princess. Why should I give him to you now?”
Decades? How could this man have waited decades if… Hiroki’s eyes widened in horror as the soldier—ghost—flickered. Shit! Ghosts were real! How could he defeat a ghost to save Tsunehito? Maybe this ghost was weak against light since he’d been in the basement for so long? Hiroki shone the flashlight beam directly into the ghost’s eyes. He hissed in pain, taking his arm out from under Tsunehito’s knees so he could shield his eyes against the light. Hiroki kept the flashlight trained on the ghost as he rushed forward and snatched Tsunehito with his free hand.
“Leave him alone!” Hiroki swung the flashlight at the ghost like a club then stared in shock as the flashlight passed through the soldier’s chest. A red, smoky haze formed around his body and then the ghost vanished. Heart pounding Hiroki draped Tsunehito over his shoulder, keeping a hand on his back to support him as he ran out of the room. Hiroki pointed the flashlight ahead of him in case the ghost should return. There was no sign of him until Hiroki placed his boot on the first step. The ghost suddenly appeared on the upper steps. His eyes narrowed as he reached out for Tsunehito.
“Release my princess. He is mine,” the ghost growled as he moved closer.
Before Hiroki could do anything, Asagi stepped into view at the top of the stairs. A flashlight was clasped in his hand and he swung it through the ghost just as Hiroki had done in the storage room. Hissing in anger, the ghost vanished.
“Upstairs. Now,” Asagi ordered.
Hiroki bolted up the steps after his boss. Once the mechanic was out of the basement Asagi kicked the doors shut. He quickly locked the doors and secured them with the padlock again before turning to Hiroki with a heavy sigh. “Yo-ka, the spirit you just saw, is the reason my grandmother closed the basement. Did he hurt Tsunehito?”
“I think he stunned him.” Hiroki tucked the flashlight into his pocket then gently moved Tsunehito off his shoulder to cradle him in his arms. Asagi would surely offer to carry him but Hiroki was reluctant to let the redhead out of sight or reach. If he hadn’t been so hardheaded none of this would have happened.
“Stunned him?” Asagi frowned. He brushed his hair back behind his ears then leaned down to examine the still unconscious redhead. He felt Tsunehito’s head then straightened. “He’ll have a bump and quite the headache. Tsune’s strong though; once he’s had some rest and a drink he should be fine.”
Hiroki swallowed. A drink. That was something he was in desperate need of. He had to see to Tsunehito first though. He could put the redhead in his room and watch over him until he woke up. Ensure he was safe and reassure him that Yo-ka wouldn’t be laying a single dead finger on him again.
“Let’s put Tsune in my room,” Asagi suggested. “My cats will watch over him and keep the ghosts away.”
Hiroki frowned. A person should be watching over Tsunehito. Not a bunch of cats. Asagi’s precious cats were his children though and he surely wouldn’t understand Hiroki’s complaint. “I’ll stay with him too, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.”
Hiroki adjusted his grip on the redhead. “Has that ghost… Yo-ka… always been down there?” he asked. He glanced back at the doors wondering if they could truly contain Yo-ka. If anything could contain a ghost.
Asagi bit his lip as he glanced back. “I’d rather wait to talk about him until we’re in my room.”
Hiroki didn’t push him.
*
Asagi unlocked the door to his suite then walked inside. As far as Hiroki knew the owner had always lived in this room to manage the Midnight Rose Inn. He’d been in here several times before and knew that most of the furnishings were as old as the hotel itself although some Asagi had added himself. He preferred a Victorian style of décor with roses as a main motif. The room was also home to Asagi’s four cats although they had free reign in the Midnight Rose and weren’t always confined to the suite. Two, a fluffy grey female and an orange and white tom, came up to the door to greet him meowing as they rubbed against his legs. Asagi beamed as he leaned down to pet his precious cats.
“You two need to help watch over Tsune, okay? A bad ghost wants to hurt him and we can’t have that happening.”
Hiroki shifted awkwardly as he listened to his boss babbling to the cats. Some people went a little overboard with their pets. Although it wasn’t nearly as bad as Ruiza cooing to the cakes he frosted. “Oh you’re so delicious!” Hiroki suppressed a shudder as he toed off his boots. He carried Tsunehito over to Asagi’s king-sized bed where the third cat, a black and white female, was curled up on the rose comforter. The fourth was probably around somewhere waiting to dart out in front of him to trip him. Hiroki gently laid Tsunehito down on the bed. He unlaced the redhead’s boots so Asagi’s bed would stay clean then carried them back to the entry to lay them next to his. Hiroki picked up a blanket (also rose print) folded at the foot of the bed. He draped that over Tsunehito then fluffed up the pillows to make him as comfortable as possible. He hoped the redhead would stir but there was nothing, body still limp before him. Hiroki brushed his hair back to check where Yo-ka had hit him. Would they need to bring Tsunehito to the hospital to ensure he didn’t have a concussion?
“Would you like a drink?” Asagi asked.
Hiroki glanced up. His boss seemed to be done greeting the cats and was now standing in front of the fridge. “Please.” Asagi probably just had wine but any alcohol was better than none at this point. Hiroki glanced around to see if there was a chair that wasn’t covered in cat hair. Giving up on that, he sat down in one and stretched out his legs. It felt good to sit after everything that happened downstairs.
Asagi took two beers out of the fridge, surprising Hiroki since he expected his boss to come out with a bottle of his favorite red wine. He cracked the caps off handing one bottle to Hiroki before pulling up a chair to join him. “I figured we could use something stronger than wine tonight,” he explained when he saw the questioning look on the mechanic’s face.
Hiroki smiled a little. “Smart.” He sipped the beer then looked at Asagi again. “So what… what is Yo-ka doing here? And why did he go after Tsunehito?”
“Tell me what happened downstairs first.”
Hiroki shifted in discomfort. He wasn’t looking forward to admitting that he’d carelessly let Tsunehito go off on his own. Especially now that he knew the Midnight Rose Inn was well and truly haunted. “I was checking the generator when we heard glass breaking from further ahead. I didn’t think there was anything in the basement still so I didn’t think much of it. Until it happened again a few minutes later. Tsunehito decided to investigate so he left.”
Asagi looked appalled. “Hiroki! How could you let him go alone?”
“I didn’t think anything would happen!” Hiroki protested. “I’ve worked for you for four years now. You know I’ve always been a skeptic… until tonight.” He sighed as he rubbed his temples. It was still overwhelming to have seen and fought against a ghost.
Asagi frowned as he took another sip of his beer. “What happened once he walked away?”
“Nothing at first. Then a few minutes later I heard him scream my name. I called for him and when he didn’t answer I went looking for him. I saw his footprints in the dust and they led into one of the rooms.”
Asagi tensed. “Which room?”
Hiroki blinked. “Um, the first one I think.” He watched the color drain from Asagi’s already pale face. “…Asagi? What’s so horrible about that room?” Was it Yo-ka’s lair?
Asagi’s eyes closed as if in pain. “Because my grandmother nearly died in that room when she was Tsunehito’s age.”
“Did Yo-ka try to kill her? He kept… he kept calling Tsunehito his princess. Said that he’d waited decades.”
Asagi winced. “He did. You know the Midnight Rose Inn was converted to a field hospital during the war while the basement was used as a morgue.” He waited for Hiroki’s nod then continued, “near the end of the war a group of injured soldiers were brought to the Midnight Rose. One of them was Yo-ka. He fell in love with my grandmother while she tended his injuries. Once he was well enough to leave, he asked her to marry him. She was already engaged to her sweetheart though so she declined.”
“Guessing that didn’t sit well with Yo-ka.” Hiroki frowned as he thought back to the fury he’d seen on the ghost’s face when he’d seen the mechanic carrying Tsunehito.
“He was devastated.” Asagi set his beer bottle on an end table then got up to go over to his nightstand which had several pictures on it. He picked up a frame and returned to his chair, sitting down and showing Hiroki a black and white photo of an absolutely beautiful woman with long black hair, a beautiful smile, and similar features to Asagi. She wore a 40s style dress and had her hair pulled over her shoulder. “This is my grandmother when she was twenty-three.”
“She’s beautiful,” Hiroki said. “I can see why Yo-ka fell in love with her.”
Asagi gently set the frame on the end table and picked up his beer again. “After she refused his proposal, Yo-ka left the Midnight Rose. That was the last time my grandmother saw him as a flesh and blood man. About a year later she was alone in the basement during a power outage when she saw him appear before her in a crimson uniform. He dragged her into the room and said she would be his princess for eternity. She was only able to escape by shining her flashlight directly into his eyes. As you’ve noticed… he doesn’t like light. After that she closed off the basement to keep herself and her staff saved. The basement has only been opened three times since then. When you asked to look at the old generator and the wires I… I thought that Yo-ka might have moved on. Given up. I put both of you in danger by being naïve and I am sorry about that. I should never have let the two of you go down there just as you should never have let Tsunehito out of your sight. Young, beautiful… he’s exactly Yo-ka’s type.” Asagi rubbed his temples then looked over at Hiroki.
“I’ll be more careful from now on,” Hiroki vowed. “Now that I know that the Midnight Rose Inn truly has ghosts.” How many times had he brushed the ghost stories off over the years? The experience in the basement had opened his eyes to their presence now and made him more aware of how he needed to look out for Tsunehito.
Notes
1) Yo-ka's look is based off the "Taidou" PV. Amazing song and Yo-ka looks extremely hot in that uniform.
2) Watching Season 2 Episode 11 of Supernatural triggered the idea for this fic.
3) I have other scenes in mind with the Midnight Rose Inn but I don't know if I'm going to be writing them. Did have an entertaining one of Tsuzuku being haunted by a priest who hates Tsuzuku since he's such a horrible sinner.
4) Also... not sure where the Hiroki x Tsune hints came from. That's not a pairing I've thought of but Hiroki turned more fussy and protective of him.
Author:
write_my_dreamsPairing: None
Genre: AU, supernatural, drama
Warning: Unbetaed. No content to warn about.
Disclaimer: The mentioned band members do not belong to me but the setting, the story, and the writing are mine. I make no profit from writing this.
Rating: PG-13
Chapter(s): 1/1
Summary: When the Midnight Rose Inn suffers a strange power outage in certain rooms, head mechanic Hiroki insists that he go into the closed off basement to check on the old generator and the wiring. Tsunehito comes with him to ensure he has enough light and finsd himself the repeating the scenario that Asagi's grandmother was in when she was his age.
Author's Comment: This idea came to me last month while I was listening to Diaura on the way to class/wanting to be done so I could watch more Supernatural. That and my favoritism of Tsunehito combined to make this fic. It was easy to write at first then I kept changing my mind about how I wanted things to go so it became hell to write. Finally finishing it now!
Today had started out as another ordinary day at the Midnight Rose Inn. Head bartender Tsuzuku trying to get Koichi to have a threesome with him and Ryoga, Yuuki scolding Ruiza for eating too many of the cookies he was supposed to leave out for guests, Tsunehito threatening Tsuzuku with bodily harm for looking up his skirt while Tsunehito was going up the stairs… Things had changed about an hour ago when the power in the bar, four bedrooms, and lobby abruptly went out. Aside from those rooms, the old Victorian-turned-hotel had no problems. Owner Asagi had sent Hide-Zou to check the power box and the backup generators. He’d even called the electric company to ensure that nothing was amiss. All three met with the same results: nothing was out of the ordinary. There was no logical explanation for the power outages in certain rooms.
“I wish I knew why the power went out,” Hiroki grumbled. As head mechanic, he insisted on going into the closed-off basement to examine the wiring and the old generator. Tsunehito came with him to ensure that Hiroki had enough light to work by.
“Me too.” The redhead angled the flashlight towards the stairs so he or Hiroki wouldn’t trip. Hiroki since he had his toolbox tucked under his arm and a lantern in his free hand, Tsunehito since he was wearing a dress. Despite the risks of perverts like Tsuzuku or Ryoga looking up his skirt, the redhead had always enjoyed wearing pretty clothes. Something his boss had been more than happy to outfit him in when Tsunehito started working at the Midnight Rose Inn. Thinking of Asagi and the maid uniform he’d given Tsunehito made him smile, although that smile soon faded when he recalled Asagi’s reluctance to hand over the keys to the basement. What was so bad about the basement? Why was it closed off anyway? None of the other employees could tell him. All they knew was that the basement had been inaccessible since the time Asagi’s grandmother ran the hotel.
Tsunehito paused when they reached the bottom of the stairs. Ahead were the double doors leading into the basement. Not only was a padlocked chain keeping the doors shut tight, but each door had its own separate lock. A faded “Keep Out” sign had been nailed into the old wood of the first door. Well that looked ominous. “…Has it always been like this?” he asked, glancing back at Hiroki.
The mechanic brushed his ponytail back. “I think so.”
Tsunehito fumbled for the keys. “I wonder if the wiring really is the problem,” he mused. “Midnight Rose is an old building…” he trailed off, not wanting to mention that the building was supposed to be haunted.
Hiroki gave him a look. “Do you really believe the hotel ghosts are responsible?”
“You’ve worked here longer than me,” Tsunehito replied. “You know strange things happen.” When he first started at the hotel, he’d been just as skeptical as Hiroki. Why should he believe in ghosts when he’d never had a paranormal experience? Now, after having been here for almost a year, Tsunehito no longer considered himself a skeptic. He hadn’t seen any of the ghosts but he’d heard voices, been touched by someone he couldn’t see. It was also impossible not to notice how Asagi’s cats refused to go near certain rooms or would hiss, fur standing on end as they darted down the hall.
Hiroki frowned. “As you said, the Midnight Rose is an old building. There are probably rats downstairs and they’ve been chewing on the wires.”
Tsunehito shrugged. “I guess we’ll find out.” He inserted a small, gold key into the padlock. It clicked open and he removed it and the chain before unlocking the doors. Tsunehito grasped the handle of one. The door let out a long, ominous creak as he eased it open. He grimaced at the sound and stepped into the basement. Dust motes swirled in the beam of his flashlight, making him cough as his boots dislodged more dust from the ground. Tsunehito took a mask out of his apron pocket and pulled it over his head. “Better put your mask on.” Good thing Asagi had insisted that he and Hiroki bring masks with them.
The toolbox clinked as Hiroki set it down. Tsunehito shone his flashlight around the dark basement, curious about the closed off area. There was no furniture in sight but there were old stains on the floor. Casting a quick glance at Hiroki to ensure he was busy with his mask, Tsunehito crouched down so he could point his flashlight at one of the stains. He swallowed and quickly stood. Bloodstains. Great… dark, creaking doors, and the ground was stained with old blood. Tsunehito had a feeling he’d be going to the bar after this to get a drink. A sentiment that Hiroki would surely share.
“I can’t believe how much dust is down here.” Hiroki’s voice was muffled by the mask. Tools rattled again as he picked up the box.
“Me neither.” Tsunehito smoothed his hair back. “I’ll let you take the lead.” Tsunehito didn’t know where the old generator was and probably wouldn't even know what it looked like even if it was right in front of him. Hiroki nodded and walked past him. The generator wasn’t too far from the door and was placed against the far right wall.
“Here it is.” Hiroki set his toolbox down in front of the generator. There was barely any dust on it, making Tsunehito wonder who had been down here recently enough to disturb the dust. Asagi? Someone else? Maybe it was just another mystery of the hotel.
Tsunehito watched as Hiroki set the lantern down by the generator and opened his toolbox. Before the mechanic could even touch the generator, glass shattering from further away caught their attention. Tsunehito raised his flashlight to shine the beam down the hallway. The beam couldn’t penetrate through the darkness so whatever had been broken was too far away for Tsunehito to see.
“…What else is down here?”
Hiroki moved to stand next to him. “I didn't think there was anything.”
“Is the basement just one large room?”
“There’s the main room that we’re in now. Down the hallway are two other rooms. Asagi said they were used for storage back in the day. There shouldn’t be anything breakable down here but who knows. It’s been closed off for so long.” Hiroki shrugged as he turned back to the generator.
Tsunehito half expected something paranormal to happen. When nothing changed he slowly turned back to Hiroki. He watched the mechanic crouch in front of the generator and examine it. “So is the generator the cause of the power outages?”
Hiroki was quiet for a few moments before responding. “It’s unlikely. This generator doesn’t even seem to be running anymore so I say we can rule it out. It must be the wiring then.” He straightened, brushing off his jeans before walking over to the wall. Tsunehito was about to follow him when he heard breaking glass again in the same direction the sound had come from earlier. What was going on? Maybe he should investigate.”
The redhead glanced at Hiroki. “I’m going to look around.” He waited for the mechanic to protest, to insist that he stay here instead of wandering off.
Hiroki did neither. “All right. I’ll call your name if I need more light.”
“Okay.” Tsunehito walked away from Hiroki. The cautious part of his brain recalled the horror movies he’d watched, how the first idiot to leave the group always got killed. That going off by himself in the closed-off basement of a haunted hotel was surely a bad idea. Tsunehito was too curious about the basement to listen to caution so he continued on. As he walked, he was surprised to find that the basement was much larger than he had expected it to be. Once he paused and glanced back to see that Hiroki and his lantern seemed so far away. Still, Tsunehito had yet to see anything besides dust, bloodstains on the floor, and more dust. He was starting to wonder if he’d imagined the glass breaking earlier. He wasn’t ready to stop looking just yet though. Tsunehito blinked when his flashlight beam landed on the half-open door to one of the rooms that Hiroki had mentioned. Had the breaking glass come from in here? Tsunehito pulled his mask down as he entered the room. A dusty old table against the far wall seemed to be the only furnishing.
The sensation of being watched made the fine hairs on the back of Tsunehito’s neck stand up. It wasn’t uncommon in the old hotel but was especially eerie down here. He tightened his grip on the flashlight and stepped forward, almost dropping it when something cracked loudly beneath his boot. Tsunehito shone the flashlight on the ground as he slowly moved his foot off the whatever that he’d broken. The shattered remains of a medicine bottle were on the tile. Tsunehito crouched down, nudging one of the shards with the tip of his boot. Asagi had told him that the hotel was used as a morgue and field hospital during the war. It shouldn’t surprise him that there would still be medicine bottles down here. Tsunehito stood again then dropped the flashlight with a startled gasp. He stumbled back, heart hammering at the sight of the long-dead soldier standing before him. He wore a crimson uniform and had one red eye while the right was white. Like Snow White he had pale skin, black hair, and blood-red lips. Tsunehito had the nagging suspicion that it wasn’t lipstick on this soldier though. There was an eerie glint to his mismatched eyes as he studied the redhead.
Tsunehito took another step back. “W-Who are you?” his voice came out as a whisper. This was the first time Tsunehito had seen one of the ghosts with his own eyes. Desperately, he wished he’d seen another ghost before this spirit. Just looking at him sent shivers down his spine.
“So curious, princess. My name is Yo-ka,” the spirit purred. His voice was deep but charming despite the mad gleam in his eyes.
The name made Tsunehito bristle. “Princess?” he spat, eyes darting to the fallen flashlight. He didn't dare lean down to pick it up for fear of what this spirit would do if Tsunehito took his eyes off him.
The ghost’s dark chuckle sent a wave of fear washing over him. “I had hoped for another to be my princess. But you…” he stepped closer. “You remind me of her. So beautiful, so delicate. You even have her fire.” He reached out to slide his fingers through Tsunehito’s hair. “My princess for eternity.”
Shaking, Tsunehito slapped Yo-ka’s hand away. “HIROKI!” he screamed as loudly as he could.
“Tsune?” Hiroki sounded alarmed as he called his name. “Tsune, what happened?”
Before Tsunehito could respond, Yo-ka vanished. The redhead’s only warning that something bad was about to happen to him was the spirit’s cold breath on the back of his neck. “Oh, princess. I wish you hadn’t done that.” Tsunehito felt a sharp pain and then the world went black.
* * *
Yo-ka caught the redhead when he went limp. He turned his princess so he could see his face then frowned as he saw the line of blood at his temple. Yo-ka brushed his sleeve over the blood then smoothed soft, red hair back to get a better look at his princess’s beautiful face. Those long lashes, pale skin, that petite frame. So similar and yet so different from the woman who had claimed his heart so many years ago. She with her long black hair and blue dresses. The gentle hands that changed his bandages after his injuries in the war. How he wanted her… he would have done anything for her. Yet for all his love, she had rejected him. And escaped him when he tried to trap her for eternity with him. But now… now he had replaced her. The slender, pretty redhead in the maid dress was perfect. His beautiful princess. He would never let the redhead go. Never let him out of his sight.
They would be together. For all eternity.
* * *
Hiroki dropped his flashlight when he heard Tsunehito scream his name. He could hear the terror in the redhead’s voice and immediately sprang away from the wires. “Tsune? Tsune, what happened?” he called, grabbing his flashlight as he rushed in the direction of the scream. He waited for a response but there was nothing. “Tsunehito!” he called his name louder, biting his lip as he looked around. Tsunehito had left footprints in the dust but there was no other sign of the redhead. Hiroki pulled his mask off. He called Tsunehito's name again slowing down when he saw the footprints turning towards and entering a room with a closed door. The doorknob was locked when he tried to turn it. Swearing, Hiroki raised his foot and kicked the door. The old wood groaned beneath his boot and he kicked it harder. After two more kicks the door finally burst open. Hiroki entered the room and stared in horror at the red-clad man holding Tsunehito’s limp form in his arms.
“Let him go!” Hiroki lunged at the soldier, gripping his flashlight tighter to use it as a weapon.
Laughing, the soldier stepped aside. “I have waited decades to have my princess. Why should I give him to you now?”
Decades? How could this man have waited decades if… Hiroki’s eyes widened in horror as the soldier—ghost—flickered. Shit! Ghosts were real! How could he defeat a ghost to save Tsunehito? Maybe this ghost was weak against light since he’d been in the basement for so long? Hiroki shone the flashlight beam directly into the ghost’s eyes. He hissed in pain, taking his arm out from under Tsunehito’s knees so he could shield his eyes against the light. Hiroki kept the flashlight trained on the ghost as he rushed forward and snatched Tsunehito with his free hand.
“Leave him alone!” Hiroki swung the flashlight at the ghost like a club then stared in shock as the flashlight passed through the soldier’s chest. A red, smoky haze formed around his body and then the ghost vanished. Heart pounding Hiroki draped Tsunehito over his shoulder, keeping a hand on his back to support him as he ran out of the room. Hiroki pointed the flashlight ahead of him in case the ghost should return. There was no sign of him until Hiroki placed his boot on the first step. The ghost suddenly appeared on the upper steps. His eyes narrowed as he reached out for Tsunehito.
“Release my princess. He is mine,” the ghost growled as he moved closer.
Before Hiroki could do anything, Asagi stepped into view at the top of the stairs. A flashlight was clasped in his hand and he swung it through the ghost just as Hiroki had done in the storage room. Hissing in anger, the ghost vanished.
“Upstairs. Now,” Asagi ordered.
Hiroki bolted up the steps after his boss. Once the mechanic was out of the basement Asagi kicked the doors shut. He quickly locked the doors and secured them with the padlock again before turning to Hiroki with a heavy sigh. “Yo-ka, the spirit you just saw, is the reason my grandmother closed the basement. Did he hurt Tsunehito?”
“I think he stunned him.” Hiroki tucked the flashlight into his pocket then gently moved Tsunehito off his shoulder to cradle him in his arms. Asagi would surely offer to carry him but Hiroki was reluctant to let the redhead out of sight or reach. If he hadn’t been so hardheaded none of this would have happened.
“Stunned him?” Asagi frowned. He brushed his hair back behind his ears then leaned down to examine the still unconscious redhead. He felt Tsunehito’s head then straightened. “He’ll have a bump and quite the headache. Tsune’s strong though; once he’s had some rest and a drink he should be fine.”
Hiroki swallowed. A drink. That was something he was in desperate need of. He had to see to Tsunehito first though. He could put the redhead in his room and watch over him until he woke up. Ensure he was safe and reassure him that Yo-ka wouldn’t be laying a single dead finger on him again.
“Let’s put Tsune in my room,” Asagi suggested. “My cats will watch over him and keep the ghosts away.”
Hiroki frowned. A person should be watching over Tsunehito. Not a bunch of cats. Asagi’s precious cats were his children though and he surely wouldn’t understand Hiroki’s complaint. “I’ll stay with him too, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.”
Hiroki adjusted his grip on the redhead. “Has that ghost… Yo-ka… always been down there?” he asked. He glanced back at the doors wondering if they could truly contain Yo-ka. If anything could contain a ghost.
Asagi bit his lip as he glanced back. “I’d rather wait to talk about him until we’re in my room.”
Hiroki didn’t push him.
*
Asagi unlocked the door to his suite then walked inside. As far as Hiroki knew the owner had always lived in this room to manage the Midnight Rose Inn. He’d been in here several times before and knew that most of the furnishings were as old as the hotel itself although some Asagi had added himself. He preferred a Victorian style of décor with roses as a main motif. The room was also home to Asagi’s four cats although they had free reign in the Midnight Rose and weren’t always confined to the suite. Two, a fluffy grey female and an orange and white tom, came up to the door to greet him meowing as they rubbed against his legs. Asagi beamed as he leaned down to pet his precious cats.
“You two need to help watch over Tsune, okay? A bad ghost wants to hurt him and we can’t have that happening.”
Hiroki shifted awkwardly as he listened to his boss babbling to the cats. Some people went a little overboard with their pets. Although it wasn’t nearly as bad as Ruiza cooing to the cakes he frosted. “Oh you’re so delicious!” Hiroki suppressed a shudder as he toed off his boots. He carried Tsunehito over to Asagi’s king-sized bed where the third cat, a black and white female, was curled up on the rose comforter. The fourth was probably around somewhere waiting to dart out in front of him to trip him. Hiroki gently laid Tsunehito down on the bed. He unlaced the redhead’s boots so Asagi’s bed would stay clean then carried them back to the entry to lay them next to his. Hiroki picked up a blanket (also rose print) folded at the foot of the bed. He draped that over Tsunehito then fluffed up the pillows to make him as comfortable as possible. He hoped the redhead would stir but there was nothing, body still limp before him. Hiroki brushed his hair back to check where Yo-ka had hit him. Would they need to bring Tsunehito to the hospital to ensure he didn’t have a concussion?
“Would you like a drink?” Asagi asked.
Hiroki glanced up. His boss seemed to be done greeting the cats and was now standing in front of the fridge. “Please.” Asagi probably just had wine but any alcohol was better than none at this point. Hiroki glanced around to see if there was a chair that wasn’t covered in cat hair. Giving up on that, he sat down in one and stretched out his legs. It felt good to sit after everything that happened downstairs.
Asagi took two beers out of the fridge, surprising Hiroki since he expected his boss to come out with a bottle of his favorite red wine. He cracked the caps off handing one bottle to Hiroki before pulling up a chair to join him. “I figured we could use something stronger than wine tonight,” he explained when he saw the questioning look on the mechanic’s face.
Hiroki smiled a little. “Smart.” He sipped the beer then looked at Asagi again. “So what… what is Yo-ka doing here? And why did he go after Tsunehito?”
“Tell me what happened downstairs first.”
Hiroki shifted in discomfort. He wasn’t looking forward to admitting that he’d carelessly let Tsunehito go off on his own. Especially now that he knew the Midnight Rose Inn was well and truly haunted. “I was checking the generator when we heard glass breaking from further ahead. I didn’t think there was anything in the basement still so I didn’t think much of it. Until it happened again a few minutes later. Tsunehito decided to investigate so he left.”
Asagi looked appalled. “Hiroki! How could you let him go alone?”
“I didn’t think anything would happen!” Hiroki protested. “I’ve worked for you for four years now. You know I’ve always been a skeptic… until tonight.” He sighed as he rubbed his temples. It was still overwhelming to have seen and fought against a ghost.
Asagi frowned as he took another sip of his beer. “What happened once he walked away?”
“Nothing at first. Then a few minutes later I heard him scream my name. I called for him and when he didn’t answer I went looking for him. I saw his footprints in the dust and they led into one of the rooms.”
Asagi tensed. “Which room?”
Hiroki blinked. “Um, the first one I think.” He watched the color drain from Asagi’s already pale face. “…Asagi? What’s so horrible about that room?” Was it Yo-ka’s lair?
Asagi’s eyes closed as if in pain. “Because my grandmother nearly died in that room when she was Tsunehito’s age.”
“Did Yo-ka try to kill her? He kept… he kept calling Tsunehito his princess. Said that he’d waited decades.”
Asagi winced. “He did. You know the Midnight Rose Inn was converted to a field hospital during the war while the basement was used as a morgue.” He waited for Hiroki’s nod then continued, “near the end of the war a group of injured soldiers were brought to the Midnight Rose. One of them was Yo-ka. He fell in love with my grandmother while she tended his injuries. Once he was well enough to leave, he asked her to marry him. She was already engaged to her sweetheart though so she declined.”
“Guessing that didn’t sit well with Yo-ka.” Hiroki frowned as he thought back to the fury he’d seen on the ghost’s face when he’d seen the mechanic carrying Tsunehito.
“He was devastated.” Asagi set his beer bottle on an end table then got up to go over to his nightstand which had several pictures on it. He picked up a frame and returned to his chair, sitting down and showing Hiroki a black and white photo of an absolutely beautiful woman with long black hair, a beautiful smile, and similar features to Asagi. She wore a 40s style dress and had her hair pulled over her shoulder. “This is my grandmother when she was twenty-three.”
“She’s beautiful,” Hiroki said. “I can see why Yo-ka fell in love with her.”
Asagi gently set the frame on the end table and picked up his beer again. “After she refused his proposal, Yo-ka left the Midnight Rose. That was the last time my grandmother saw him as a flesh and blood man. About a year later she was alone in the basement during a power outage when she saw him appear before her in a crimson uniform. He dragged her into the room and said she would be his princess for eternity. She was only able to escape by shining her flashlight directly into his eyes. As you’ve noticed… he doesn’t like light. After that she closed off the basement to keep herself and her staff saved. The basement has only been opened three times since then. When you asked to look at the old generator and the wires I… I thought that Yo-ka might have moved on. Given up. I put both of you in danger by being naïve and I am sorry about that. I should never have let the two of you go down there just as you should never have let Tsunehito out of your sight. Young, beautiful… he’s exactly Yo-ka’s type.” Asagi rubbed his temples then looked over at Hiroki.
“I’ll be more careful from now on,” Hiroki vowed. “Now that I know that the Midnight Rose Inn truly has ghosts.” How many times had he brushed the ghost stories off over the years? The experience in the basement had opened his eyes to their presence now and made him more aware of how he needed to look out for Tsunehito.
Notes
1) Yo-ka's look is based off the "Taidou" PV. Amazing song and Yo-ka looks extremely hot in that uniform.
2) Watching Season 2 Episode 11 of Supernatural triggered the idea for this fic.
3) I have other scenes in mind with the Midnight Rose Inn but I don't know if I'm going to be writing them. Did have an entertaining one of Tsuzuku being haunted by a priest who hates Tsuzuku since he's such a horrible sinner.
4) Also... not sure where the Hiroki x Tsune hints came from. That's not a pairing I've thought of but Hiroki turned more fussy and protective of him.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2014-05-04 07:28 pm (UTC)A priest hating Tzk? Oh please write that! That is going to be soooo much fun XD
And Koichi should play with Tzk and Ryoga for a bit once in a while~~
no subject
Date: 2014-05-05 02:35 am (UTC)Isn't the visual entertaining? Tsuzuku heading back to his room after his latest fuck with random staff member of choice that day/night/whatever and just hears this angry hiss or whatever. Oh they would love if Koichi joined them.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-06 08:58 am (UTC)Tzk is such a perv :p
Who is this moral and humble priest by the way? Lol!
no subject
Date: 2014-06-19 01:10 pm (UTC)Tsu's speciality is being a perv
Lol, no clue. Some long dead guy probably
(Late comment. Blah)
no subject
Date: 2014-05-04 08:44 pm (UTC)Poor Tsune. That must have been heck of a fright and uh-oh Yo-ka put him over his shoulder. Ghost better run lol Tsune'll go down and give him what for for tossing him over his shoulder like that and then probably banish him XD
I can imagine running into a ghost with eyes like that alone would be frightening enough but then to have a possessive determined one to boot.. yeah no :)
I'm glad you finished it honey and posted it. You leave me wanting more as always <3
no subject
Date: 2014-05-05 02:37 am (UTC)Tsune was terrified. I think you've confused the boys XD Yo-ka has him bridal style so he can see hsi pretty face. Hiroki is the one who puts Tsune over his shoulder but that's just so he can have one hand free for the flashlight. But Tsune would love to go down and banish him for capturing him and making him the damsel in distress.
Oh definitely. Yo-ka will be haunting Tsune's dreams for a while after this.
If I didn't have the vampires I would play around with this series some more but... not sure it's going to happen